What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your job and why?
My challenge is helping clients understand if they want something out of marketing, then they need to be willing to invest in marketing. The greatest investment they can make in marketing is their time. It is a difficult mind shift to trust that hitting the pause button is sometimes the best approach to getting marketing efforts on the right track. In my opinion, successful outcomes in marketing are less dependent on a healthy budget or access to top-level creative talent.
If you peel back the layers, you’ll find marketing success is a result of a disciplined approach to marketing and the secret ingredient you’ll find there is time — leadership’s time to articulate business goals that set up a well-defined marketing strategy, and time spent brainstorming and collaborating across the organization on what’s really possible to execute at a high level and consistent basis. These types of conversations fuel the ability to craft a realistic marketing plan that is then mindfully executed with top-down buy-in and across the organization.
The rewards I have found are when clients, especially leadership, have the “aha” moment and feel the benefit of their investment of time has been well spent.
Who do you look up to or admire in business and why?
I have enjoyed watching the success of Sarah Mullins, co-owner of A La Crate Rentals. Sarah and I met 10-plus years ago and had the opportunity to work on a few projects together. We started our businesses around the same time and shared with each other our highs and lows of getting a new business off the ground. I remember her telling me about her business idea and it sounded like a great niche, but I had no idea A La Crate Rentals would take off like it has. But I’m also not surprised. I know Sarah’s work ethic — she’s creative and she has always had her clients best interest at heart.
What has been the high point of your career so far?
The high point of my career has been the last 24 months of Weber Marketing.
Through my client work, networking groups, and speaking engagements, I’ve been able to educate that before a company or organization jumps to tactical land (billboards, radio, digital, etc.) that it is OK to hit the pause button and stop and think. Is this the right direction? Are they being proactive or reactive? Do they have the right team to execute with success?
Whether I’m standing up in front of an audience of 30 or working one on one with a small marketing department, I thrive on being able to roll up my sleeves and help clients build a roadmap to marketing success.
In the months to come, I look forward to continuing to help organizations feel confident in their ability to do great things in marketing.
Thinking back on your career, what advice would you give your 21-year-old self?
Yes, you may have a dream of owning your own business someday but soak up all the experience you can now from every opportunity that is put in front of you. And don’t let the people who doubt you hold you back. Even if they “don’t get the way you think,” know your dyslexic way of thinking has a place in the workforce. Thinking through an idea or project back to front (unlike the norm of start to finish) and the types of questions you ask, turns out to be one of your greatest assets.
What would you say are the best things about living and working in Dane County?
People are willing to help you in whatever your dream or passion is, you just need to be willing to take a risk, put yourself out there, and take advantage of opportunities when they are put in front of you. The only person that is going to give up on your dream is you. The majority of the people I have met in my professional career in the Dane County area are responsive, supportive, and helpful.
Do you have any secret talents or abilities that people would be surprised to discover?
If there was a competition on how to make the most of leftovers and odds and ends in the fridge, I think I would win. I’m pretty good at opening up the fridge and then just start compiling things into the pan and it turns out well. The secret is too not over season the combined leftovers because they already have their own flavor. AND if you have picky eaters in the house, like I do, don’t tell them it’s leftovers. Just tell them it’s a new recipe you are trying out and leave it at that.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Even if it’s just for a few minutes, I love watching the TV show Friends. We don’t have cable so I got my regular fix by watching Friends on Netflix. Unfortunately, last year Netflix announced they were going to remove Friends from their menu at the end of 2019. Mid-December 2019 hit and I was on a mission to finish out all 10 seasons before year end. My family thought I was a bit crazy but I finished season 10 the last week of December. On Jan. 1, I turned Netflix on just to see if Friends was still listed. It wasn’t. Thankfully, I still have my DVD set that I can pop in, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
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