Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like? Did you have any particular experiences/stories that shaped your adult life?

I grew up just outside of Washington DC in Bethesda, Maryland. I grew up the youngest of 5 brothers so having a strong, tight nuclear family of all boys definitely shaped who I am. Growing up with brothers being the youngest was a lot of fun as there was a lot of game playing and creativity. We could always find a way to make something fun together which I think has helped in my marketing career. Also, being the youngest you tend to observe a lot more and can learn from the successes and failures of others before you make them yourself!

I was a big soccer player so I enjoyed playing team sports and being part of something bigger than me. It was super rewarding and I feel like that attitude has carried over into life and business.

What is something you wish you would’ve realized earlier in your life?

I wasn’t a big networker back in the day. Maybe it seemed so much harder growing up or maybe I didn’t feel like I had anything to say. But, today, you can find/meet/email anyone that is of interest to you pretty easily. Don’t wait, go ask them if they want to grab a cup of coffee, ask/learn a few things, and expand your network of friends and knowledge. Networking now is fun!

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?

That’s a tough one. I think it is more of a question of time/resources/budget for all the types of decisions you make. Hearing things like, “just run some FB ads” before you’ve maximized your site experience/make your site conversion-friendly (enough) is a waste. Before you burn money on ads, make sure the site is ready to deliver. Or, do a blog sounds great but without serious traffic, a blog is a waste as it will never get to the top of Google. The best way to do things these days is to build/own your own channel, be confident enough to get out there, make it interesting, and it will grow!

Tell me about one of the darker periods you’ve experienced in life. How you came out of it and what you learned from it?

In my early twenties, I got hit by a softball that was line driven at me while pitching and it broke my jaw. It was a horrific accident and set me back (but I got lucky as I could have died/lost an eye etc.), but it propelled a whole new line of life destiny choices from quitting a job I didn’t like, to traveling around the world, to teaching high school, to writing a book, to getting my MBA, to finally getting to me where I am today. Most importantly, it really helped me realize you only get one rodeo at life – make it as good as possible.

What is one thing that you do that you feel has been the biggest contributor to your success so far?

I read a ton of business and marketing blogs daily. I find it is a great way to “take that break’ between activities. There are a lot of smart individuals/experts out there that know more than me, and that is okay. What I feel I’m good at is figuring out what I can take from these blogs/individuals and apply their key points that will have the biggest return for my specific company. Most of my positions running marketing departments are limited by resources, so seeing the big picture and knowing what will move the needle best are critical activities.

What is your morning routine?

My morning routine is pretty basic but I like to stretch every morning for like 15 minutes. I wake up typically in the 7 range. Usually, I will have a cup of coffee and knock out some emails that others need an answer for right away, and then check my favorite sites before diving into the normal activities.

What habit or behavior that you have pursued for a few years has most improved your life?

One of my previous company’s motto was Do It Now. That mental state of mind of not waiting to do something/attacking/being aggressive is really key to being successful. Don’t put things off till tomorrow if you can knock it out today. Another habit/concept is, Nobody Cares, Work Harder. There’s always someone who will work harder/wants it more/people want results. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to put in the time and work your butt off. You’ll have some failures, but hopefully more and bigger successes if you do go the distance. “Hustle beats talent if talent doesn’t hustle!”

I’ve learned in my time in marketing there is very very very rarely a magic wand to success… it is a grind!

What are your strategies for being productive and using your time most efficiently?

Do other people’s requests first. They are waiting on you for an answer. You can always do your own stuff at any time of the day. Knock out the quick stuff first so you don’t think about it more than it actually takes to do – like seeing the same email in your inbox all day. Work in spurts, I like to go to coffee shops so I like to go for 2-3 hour sessions and stay really focused while there then take a break. Do your key work when you are most productive – so if you are best late at night – do it then, or early in the morning if that is your thing.

What book(s) have influenced your life the most? Why?

I don’t think one book stands out amongst the rest, but one of my favorite business books I read a while back that I always think about for how simple, yet profound its key point is, is The Paradox of Choice – Why Less Is More by Barry Schwartz.

Just thought it was a great read on how too many choices makes things harder/worse and people less satisfied. I think it really applies to business as well as having too many choices makes you dabble in too many things, and then not do anything well versus staying focused.

I also enjoyed the Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fu*k by Mark Manson. While not for everyone, I really felt he had an honest approach/angle that hit home for me and that could be very relatable to many individuals.

Of course, the one book that had the most influence on me was my own book that I wrote! Twenties Talk: The Unpaved Road of Life After College.

Do you have any quotes you live by or think of often?

These quotes always stick out to me.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.”– Mark Twain

“Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted.” — Einstein

All these quotes I actually have in my book!