I unwound my first business and watched as it nearly destroyed my life. I had believed it was my moment, but it did not feel like a story arc worth celebrating. Next, my marriage collapsed. I had deeply believed it was meant to last forever, so I tried channeling my feelings into rebuilding through the changes.

I made endless lists of all the things I could do to be a better leader, friend, son, or partner. It seemed like turning myself inside out was the only way to feel safe, so I did it relentlessly. Slowly, I learned to stop trying to fix everything. I started to give myself some grace.

I understood the chance to rest as a privilege and the chance to rebuild as a rare opportunity. Writing allowed me to come back to life. It was freeing to feel like I could lose everything and still be myself. I found my voice.

This is what Unicorn Flames is built from. Imaginative. Adaptive. Experimental. Nonconformist.

My lifelong passion for technology, marketing, and teaching now shapes how I help people and teams adapt, learn, and build. I help companies hire marketing talent, redesign how their marketing and communications teams work with Claude automations, and teach teams how to use AI with skill, confidence, and good judgment.

Innovation happens through co-creation.

Here is how you can participate:

Midwest Marketing Meetup

Thursday, October 15, 4:30 to 6:00 PM ET Bamboo Grand Rapids (Theater Lounge), 2 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids

A free gathering for marketers, founders, creatives, and technologists. No pitch, just good conversation. Bring a colleague if you like.

Register free for October 15 here »

After October, the next two are December 17 and February 18.

Open Coworking with Unicorn Flames

Free, every other Wednesday, at Bamboo Grand Rapids (2 Fulton St W). Coffee, espresso, cold brew, and printing available. Come work, stay as long as you like.

Spotlight

Avery Terpstra is the designer behind our rebrand. The new Unicorn Flames look, from the wordmark and submark to the icons and brand guidelines, is Avery’s work. I’m excited to share it with you and give Avery a proper thank-you.

Around the community

West Michigan Marketing Jobs. Nathan Pohl’s weekly roundup of marketing openings across West Michigan. Unicorn Flames sponsors it. Read the latest roundup or browse past issues.

FlourishGR: The Financial Safety Net Every Woman Needs. Thursday, September 24, 8:45 to 10:00 AM ET. Liz McVoy’s network for ambitious women business owners and entrepreneurs in Grand Rapids, with guest speaker Meghan Vanderlugt. $15. Get a ticket.

No Agenda. Sara Klele’s casual, no-agenda happy hour for the West Michigan creative community. Want the next invite? Join Sara’s list.

Listen

During Tech Week Grand Rapids, ThinkTank set out to record 100 podcasts in five days, live at Studio Bamboo. I sat down with Josh for one of them. We talked about hiring marketers when every job post draws 300 applications, why relationships are worth more now than they have ever been, and the question I ask clients most: “but why are we doing this?”

Watch my segment on YouTube (about 17 minutes). Then see the whole project at techweekpodcast.com.

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I hope to see you soon!

Tim Haines Unicorn Flames

Midwest Marketing Meetup is hosted at Bamboo (Grand Rapids), which graciously provides the space. Sponsored by Unicorn Flames.

This is the September issue of the Unicorn Flames monthly. Get the next one in your inbox: subscribe below.