Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Wes Morton, Founder and CEO of Creativ Strategies, located in Venice, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Creativ Strategies is a full-service marketing consultancy for media, entertainment, and tech firms. We usually service small to mid-market companies that need to make the next step in their marketing efforts. These companies might be technical founders with no marketing expertise or midsized companies with marketing teams lacking certain expertise within their organization. We provide them with smart strategies and the marketing experts to execute them.
Tell us about yourself
I've been an adman for about ten years now, working my way through two talent agencies, multiple large holding companies, and entertainment marketing firms. Ultimately, we work with clients that interest us - those at the forefront of media, entertainment, and technology. The motivation comes from learning something new every day and applying that knowledge to help our roster of clients. Nothing fails to surprise me day-to-day, which keeps things interesting.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
A concrete metric is making it to half-a-million dollars in revenue in one year. No investors, funders, or debt. Just great clients and good work.
More personally, it's building a smart team of marketing professionals who I simply enjoy working with. It makes the advertising industry fun. What's better than making cool stuff with your friends?
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Loneliness. I came prepared to tackle the business aspects - accounting, finance, SOWs, lawyers, taxes, payroll, HR, hiring, firing, contracts, and clients. I never figured entrepreneurship would come with the solitary feeling of climbing a mountain alone.
When you work at a company, you share comradery and fun with your fellow employees. Being the boss is a step apart. Having a close friend network, hobbies, and cultivating a culture of honesty within your own employees makes you feel less alone.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Go work for someone else first. You don't know shit coming out of school. A job is a fantastic way to learn an industry, develop a network, and hone your skills while getting paid to do it. You can always start and business to advance that industry later.
- Early in your career, what you learn is more important than what you earn.
- Surround yourself with people that are better than you at their specialty. Your accountant should know more about taxes, your lawyer about contract language, and your marketer about messaging. Deferring to others' knowledge and expertise makes you a better leader.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://creativstrategies.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/producerwes/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProducerWesM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwesleymorton/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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