Erica Allison

It’s a Beautiful Day. Slow Down and Enjoy It.

By Erica Allison  (Published Jun 7, 2013)
11 Comments

Self Discovery

Tremendously cheesy, I know. Bear with me. I’m feeling sentimental today. I just dropped my son off for his last day of school as a 4th grader. That means one more year in the safety of the Elementary School world and one more year before I send him off into the world of (queue the menacing music…) Middle School.

I looked at H and seriously wondered, “where did the time go?” and “can we stop time just for a little while.” I must have said it out loud because with his trademark grin and twinkle in his eyes, he said, “no, Mom. I have a sleep over tomorrow night.”

Speeding through life…

What triggered all of this sentimentality for me was not just the ride over on the last day of school, but the music playing on the radio as we traveled.  It’s a Beautiful Day — the entire All That You Can’t Leave Behind album — was played over and over and over during my pregnancy with H, to the point that we had it programmed to play (loudly) as we drove to the hospital to deliver him. We really liked it.

I’ve always been in a rush. As a child, I was in a rush to get to school. As a high school student, I was in a rush to get to college. In college, I was in a rush to be “an adult” and begin my life. That tendency to speed through life sets us up to miss things. For those of us on the fast track, until we’re hit with a major occurrence, we don’t stop, or even slow down. We just keep moving forward.

…and Business

The same applies to business. Whenever we speed through client work to meet deadlines or to get it done, we inevitably make a mistake or miss something. Most of the time (95%, I’d say), it all works out. We’re known for doing a pretty darn good job around here. For me, however, that percentage of error due to speeding through is what bites. It stings. It stings so much, that we’ve now adjusted delivery schedules to accommodate an extra day of review, and putting into place triggers to remind us to double check and to get a set of eyes outside of our own to look at things. It’s worth it. The trick? Making sure everyone, especially the client, understands the importance of slowing it down a bit.

The System I’m Missing

If you were to ask anyone on my team lately what my latest focus is, you’d get a chuckle and the following:

  • systems
  • processes
  • jumping the chasm

I know I’m a nut job most of the time, but there’s one thing for certain: I value the quality of work that we provide and the skill set possessed by those who deliver it. I value it so much so that I’m indeed obsessed with systems and processes and making sure we’re air tight before crossing over from one level of business growth to the next (that’s the chasm – ask them, I have it drawn on our white board).

I know the systems for my business will get worked out and we’ll make it safely across the chasm. What I worry about even more? Making sure I develop my own system to slow down and soak it up. I want to also recognize that the interruptions along the way…the ones that make me stop my forward motion cold…are the ones that I need to value most. As I was reminded at church on Sunday, it’s in the interruptions that we find discovery. Absolutely.

Many of you know that I have been reminded of how precious life is lately. As a result, I am indeed trying to slow down and enjoy moments. My wish for all of us is this:

Welcome the interruptions that flood in some days and remember that most of the time, it really is a beautiful day.

Autumn Thompson

Tales from the Field: Raising an Entrepreneur

By Autumn Thompson  (Published May 3, 2013)
9 Comments

Join me in welcoming our very own Autumn Thompson, Online Account Manager and all around chaos tamer at ADG. She has a very special story to tell about her daughter that I for one think is just awesome. I’m sure you will, too!

ducttapewallets

My daughter is quickly approaching the eight year mark.  As I look back at those fast fleeing years, I’ve always encouraged her to feel like she can do or become anything she wants.  Sometimes it doesn’t come naturally, like sports, but with hard work and practice, you can get there.   I try to indulge her creativity even when it is a struggle for me.  I tell her she can be the president, an astronaut, a teacher, yes, even a horse trainer.  But, I always wonder if she actually gets what I’m saying.  I encourage her to visit me at work.  It’s more than sitting at a desk.  I encourage her and her scout troop to talk to women business owners like Erica Allison, who graciously endured an afternoon of 20 brownies asking her about her business.  I encourage her to be inspired.  I’ve seen a spark lately that tells me she does get it.

They Really Do Listen After All

I have been invited to Africa this summer on a mission trip with Compassion International.  Before I committed to such a large undertaking, I had to talk to my family. They are more than supportive of my trip. My daughter wanted to make sure I brought her something back and of course, take lots of pictures! This sort of trip requires us to do some fundraising because of the expense involved.

The Spark that Sticks

My daughter decided she was going to start her own business. Her proceeds would go to help fund my trip.  We had many discussions about starting a business. What type of product would you sell?  Who is your audience? What costs are involved?  After much thought and a morning art class, she found her passion for duct tape wallets.  She recruited six of her friends to help her sell her wares. After a few days, she learned a valuable lesson on competition as the six friends decide to start their own businesses. They didn’t venture into duct tape but they are competing for the allowances of the other children.

As she gets more creative, she has evolved her line into pencil holders, tote bags, pens and hair bows. We have spent numerous hours together finding the right tape, contemplating on what will hold up and what will sell.  I encouraged her to name her business. After several days of brain storming, she thought of it: Sticky Fingers. She said “that’s because that’s what you have after dealing with duct tape.”

stickyfingers

We’ve spent a few hours making signs and yes, a Facebook page. (I figure I might as well teach her about social media!) Granted, as the sole investor, I’m in the hole. But the life lesson my daughter is learning on how running a business isn’t always easy or glamorous is all the return I need on my investment.

Who knows, the seeds we are planting today might blossom into a world famous designer. I can’t wait to find out!

 

Autumn ThompsonAutumn can be found online via Twitter, LinkedIn, and the ADG Facebook page. She’s one tough “mudder,’ having killed it on the USMC Mud Run, crushed up some color on a Color Run, and pretty much killing it 5 days a week doing Cross Fit, running, or keeping up with her active daughter and husband. We’re lucky to have her here at ADG!

 

Erica Allison

Before You Endorse Me, At Least Get to Know Me

By Erica Allison  (Published Apr 5, 2013)
10 Comments

LinkedIn Centipede Participants in the 2010 ING Bay to Breakers

At the risk of sounding ungrateful here, please, for the love of all things genuine, stop endorsing me on LinkedIn for things you’ve never seen or heard me do!

I know. That’s going to get me just what I asked for, right? All of a sudden my endorsements for skills that I should possess are going to take a nose dive. I’m fine with that. You know why? Because unless you’ve seen me do it, been the benefactor of the results produced by my work, or heard me speak, then don’t endorse me. Continue reading →

Erica Allison

Making my iPad Work for Me! 4 Must Have Tools

By Erica Allison  (Published Mar 12, 2013)
7 Comments

I know I’m fairly late to the game on this one, but I’m sure there are others out there who struggle with making their iPad the workhorse that their laptop really is. And yes, I’m a PC, more than I’m a Mac. Don’t get excited.

Not one to have a toy that really should be a business tool, I’ve been on a quest to make it right. I’m happy to say that I’ve found success. As I mentioned above, I KNOW I’m not alone here and I also know that I’m surrounded by really smart people who already make their iPad work for them, rather than the other way around. I’m counting on those smart folks to share their favorite tools, apps and tricks in the comments.

If you don’t want to watchthe video, here are my four must have tools:

1. Belkin Bluetooth Keyboard, with case.

2. Evernote.

3. Google Drive.

4. Office2 HD

(As you can see, I’ve not yet mastered blogging on my iPad. I will return and provide links when I’m not in a hurry!).

 

Your turn! What are your favorite tools to make your iPad business ready?

Erica Allison

Moving from Message Makers to Mission Keepers

By Erica Allison  (Published Feb 22, 2013)
14 Comments

Macostones Megaphone

This morning, as always, I woke to NPR. In and out of sleep mode I happened to catch this wonderful story with publicist Marvin Levy, Steven Spielberg’s #1 marketer, message maker and above all else, his mission keeper. What I loved about this story, was not so much the fun publicity nuggets the interviewer was trying to pull from Levy, but more the role that Levy (80 something wonder and still going strong) continues to fiercely embody…even today.

Levy knows and understands his client, in this case Steven Spielberg, better than most. He gets the mission that is Spielberg and he makes sure that he guards it and doesn’t throw it under the next trendy bus rolling through town.

The Mission Keeper Role Isn’t for Everyone

I often marvel at the role that our firm plays with our clients. For our long term, strategic accounts, we go well beyond the role of “message maker” to one of mission keeper. We become a member of their advisory team. We make sure we know what makes their business tick and what keeps it strong; we make sure we know their true mission.

Then? We set about guarding their mission.  This approach is not for everyone.

Let me be clear. Understanding and safeguarding the mission of your client, as a marketing firm, should be your goal anyway. Actually doing it in a world where clients come and go and your value based service can be viewed via a commodities lens? That’s tough. That is where the mission keepers stand apart from the message makers.

Not a Yes Man (Woman)

What our clients find when they work with us is that we are not going to be that firm that says “yes” to everything and churns out exactly what they throw at us. We’re thinking about what’s best for their business, based on a thorough exploration and understanding, as we’re also identifying what messages will resonate best with their customers and their market.

Sometimes, that goes well and sometimes, well…it’s challenging. We overcome that challenge by demonstrating that we understand the mission and weave it into everything that we do. Trust also helps.

So, no, we’re not a yes man organization. We’re mission keepers. We’ll say no when we think it’s not in the best interest of your business. We’ll offer reasons why and we’ll also provide you with alternatives.

I’d like to think that’s what’s kept Marvin Levy at it for 40 plus years in this business. I’d like to think that’s what will keep us at it as well.

image via Flickr

 

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