The Doherty Hotel - a historic, independently owned hotel in Clare, Michigan with a catering department that actually cooks yummy food and truly caters to the specific needs of their conference customers.
I was delighted to wake up today to find Chris Brogan’s new post on Detroit in my RSS reader. From where I’m sitting, I don’t think enough ‘atta boys’ can be sent Michigan’s way. Despite all the publicity scars they’ve endured from national media, national politicians and even their neighbor Canada, Michigan’s passionate citizens have persevered and are under the radar turning lemons into lemonade at a mind-numbing rate.
A local taco joint in Almont City, Michigan – a really small town where more than 100 folks came out to learn how to do small business better. That’s passion to succeed.
Two years ago next month, I had the privilege to keynote the Michigan Downtown Conference. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of visiting community after community and meeting business owner after business owner and to work with state and development agencies across the state – and all the time, I was learning firsthand what passion and perseverance really looks like. In Michigan, more than any other place we’ve worked, they “get” social media, and they’re using the power of human relationships to change their world and transform their image from the inside out.
If your small business is in a rut – just look to the passionate folks in Michigan for some inspiration. Is your local community or state in need of a boost of energy or even a complete image overhaul? Connect with some passionate folks in Michigan – they’ll show you how it’s done.
Need some places to start?
My first recommendation and go to person in general is my friend Joe Borgstrom (@JoeBorgstrom), a guy that didn’t wait for permission and created enormous buzz that reaped big dividends for Michigan’s downtowns among media, politicians and local shoppers alike by personally taking Michigan’s Main Street initiative into the social media world – and keeping it human and real every step of the way. He’s the guy that made the “OPEN” video happen – a video that went viral all over the U.S. last year, and he’s the commander of the simply brilliant Pure Michigan Living initiative. You should also know his wife, Kirsten, because now her PR genius unveiled at Travel Michigan is now available to the world (Congrats, Kirsten, on being another cool Michigan entrepreneur!).
Catching Fireflies is in a rehabbed train depot in downtown Rochester, Michigan.
Check out the passion at Getz’s (@getzs, Getz on Facebook) – the third largest Carhartt dealer in the nation – at home in an old building in downtown Marquette, Michigan – and running what can only be described as a Santa’s workshop on the top floor.
I’m also in love with Sandy at the Howell’s Mainstreet Winery (Howell’s Mainstreet Winery on Facebook) – where a great couple, both former auto industry folks, combined some passion with savings to start a wildly successful micro-winery, classes, and wine shop in a great downtown building in Howell, Michigan.
April at Catching Fireflies (@whimsicalgifts, Catching Fireflies on Facebook) in downtown Rochester, Michigan also has a store in Berkeley – and a fantastic wholesale line that is bringing money into the state every time she goes to market to sell. She’s creative and brilliant when it comes to making human connections using Facebook, Twitter, her blog and regular e-mails. I can never resist her passionate offers – or her fun notes stuffed in my packages when they arrive.
There’s Motorless Motion (Motorless Motion on Facebook, @motorlessmotion on Twitter), a little bicycle shop in Mt. Pleasant that loves people and educating customers – and now they can do it on Twitter and Facebook and reach the world with their information – and sell bike parts that way, too. There are the local cops who bought the floundering donut shop in downtown Clare, renamed it Cops & Donuts (Cops & Donuts on Facebook) – and made the national news in the process.
Marianna with the owner of Starring, a brilliant art gallery experience started by a former automotive exec.
And there are dozens and dozens more stories just like these – where pure passion is sprouting “green” for folks in Michigan.
Watch out world.
Michigan’s identity is transforming from the inside out. After spending some time there, I want to be more like those folks. Hardworking, passionate, friendly, helpful people they are…
How about you?
Yes, we are ALIVE in Michigan. Thanks for noticing! Check out u TUBE “Open for Business Howell Michigan” thanks again Marianne,
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed the post!
Thanks so much for your kind words, both of our state and of me personally. I know I couldn’t do the things I get to do without the help of my team who helps maintain and create content for the various social media channels, in addition to the great work they do everyday for our communities.
I also want to recognize the fire you guys lit under us to do all of this. You inspired us to embrace the technology to tell our story. Thank you.
Btw, I know am also thankful of the shoutout to my lovely and talented wife, Kirsten, as well. Her new website, PubHoundPR.com should be up in a few weeks.
It’s been a pleasure, Joe. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much for the shout-out to Catching Fireflies and Downtown Rochester. You know that you are my Facebook inspiration. We would have never realized the potential impact social media could have on our marketing efforts without your encouragement and guidance.
You’re making me blush. Glad you liked it!
I’m pleased to report that PubHound Public Relations, owned by Kirsten Borgstrom, is pleased to have rolled out their new website yesterday.
http://www.PubHoundPR.com