Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in advertising but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Emily Parcell, Owner & Partner of Wildfire Mail, located in Des Moines, IA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Wildfire Mail is a political consulting firm specializing in persuasion direct mail and campaign strategy for Democratic candidates and progressive organizations.
Tell us about yourself
I'm quickly approaching 25 years in the political space. I became active in politics while in college, took a year off school to work on campaigns, and never looked back. I spent the first decade of my career working in various campaign jobs and transitioned into direct political mail as a way to "take a break" from the campaign trail. I ended up loving it and launched my own mail firm in 2015.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Keeping this thing going. Seriously though, I never in a million years saw myself as a business owner or even had that as any kind of goal. I was recruited by a former colleague to go into business with him and decided I was at a point in my life and career where it was "now or never" to take a chance to start my own company. Now that I'm eight years into it, I think the biggest accomplishment is building a team and a company culture I'm really proud of.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Being a business owner is a second full-time job. You have to continue to chart a vision and course for the company, communicate that throughout the company, make any number of administrative and business decisions that you may or may not have encountered before, and do the thing your business offers. In my case, I have to help my business partner run the company and also do direct mail and political strategy for multiple clients around the country. It's at least two full-time jobs in one.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
If you want to start your own business, don't wait until you have all the answers, and don't tell yourself you can't because you "didn't go to school for it." I've never gone to business school; my BA is in History. I love reading historical fiction and nonfiction, but that's about the extent I ever use my degree. In my experience, running a business has been very much an on-the-job training skill set. You can get foundational context, metrics to track, and best practice approaches from business books, online seminars, and mentorship/coaching relationships, all of which I use regularly. If you have a good idea, a strong work ethic, and are willing to take a chance on yourself, give it a go. The worst that can happen is it doesn't work out. Then you can try again.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.wildfirecontact.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilyparcell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wildfire-contact/
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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