May 1st Is a Milestone for MRJ

"Business isn't always about cold outreach and lead funnels. Sometimes it's about being present enough in your community that the right people find their way back to you."

May 1st Is a Milestone for MRJ

Today, my daughter Micah Grant officially joins the team as Senior Digital Marketing Consultant. She's graduating from Wayne State University this month, and watching her step into this role has been one of the best things I've experienced as a father and a founder. MRJ is no longer just me. That changes everything about what we can build.

This week also reminded me why staying visible matters. Tom O'Brien, President of the Old Redford Re-Development Group, viewed my LinkedIn profile. That one signal opened a conversation I wouldn't have had otherwise. The revitalization work happening on Lahser and Grand River — the Redford Theatre, Artist Village, new housing — is exactly the kind of Detroit story that deserves a bigger audience. We're in early conversations about how MRJ can help tell it.

Sometimes the most meaningful business conversations start with the people who already know who you are.

The MRJ AI Readiness Audit is now live. If you've been wondering where to start with AI, this is it — a written roadmap for your organization in one focused session. Starting at $497. Email info@mrjcdetroit.com to book your free 20-minute discovery call.

The Intelligence That's Already in Your Business — You're Just Not Using It

I attended a HubSpot event this week called "The Smarketing Shift" — a conversation about what happens when sales and marketing teams stop operating in silos and start building a true joint strategy. Add AI into that equation and the opportunity becomes extraordinary.

Here's the insight that stuck with me: most organizations are sitting on a mountain of data — email open rates, website traffic, CRM activity — and not connecting it to their actual revenue decisions. AI doesn't just help you create content faster. It helps you understand which content, which outreach, and which conversations are actually moving the needle.

For small businesses and nonprofits, that intelligence used to cost six figures and require a dedicated analyst. In 2026, it costs a few hundred dollars a month and runs in the background automatically. The playing field has changed. The question is who's paying attention.

Why I Do This

This has been a week of milestones close to home too — watching my kids each build things of their own, in their own ways. Detroit raised me to believe you put in the work and let the results speak. I'm still following that advice.

One Thing I'd Ask You to Do This Week

Stay visible. Update your LinkedIn. Post something real. Let people know what you're building. Tom O'Brien found me because I was showing up online consistently. You never know who's watching — or who's ready to reconnect.

Think about one person you've lost touch with — someone who knew you before you were who you are now — and reach out. Not with an agenda. Just to say you're watching and you're proud.

— Redic Grant, Founder, MRJ Consulting. info@mrjcdetroit.com · 313-701-5970 · mrjcdetroit.com