Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Pennington.
Heather, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Back in 2000, I had an opportunity of a lifetime to represent Kennesaw State University against Duke, Yale and Harvard in the New Ventures World Competition at the University of Nebraska. My blueprint business plan was launched from the competition where Day Three Media, Inc. became a reality. The real life experiences gained from launching, owning and operating a successful media company, to taking a company from brick and mortar to virtual, and then 16 years later to the sale of the business, taught me not only textbook applications but real life decisions that each leader must face in the global marketplace.
I graduated with my B.A. from Kennesaw State University in 2001 and completed my Masters in business, December 2016, from Kennesaw State University and was accepted into the Doctorate program at KSU in 2017. After studying in Cuba in April 2015, I wrote a white paper on How U.S. Companies Should Approach Marketing in Cuba Post Embargo and was awarded a Global Engagement Certification for my work. Over the last decade, I’ve published numerous articles, been invited to speak and lecture for different groups and clubs. I have experienced my share of successes and failures, but as I have always said, failures are not failures if you learned something! I had opened a pet boutique called Love Our Pooch and after a year, I closed it. The business was a lot of fun. The branding was incredible to develop; however, the cash flow needed was considerably higher than what I had planned for. So many people would beat themselves up and become paralyzed, but I chose to try and learn from all the mistakes to help me in my other company, a consulting firm “I Speak Business.” How can I really learn in life if there are not also failures to be my teacher.
Today I have a broader, more diverse business acumen that helps me to help my clients with their businesses. Through all the professional experiences that have taught me over the last 28 years, I am currently writing my first business book called “Make the Best You.” In this book, I hope to inspire others to see areas that they too can learn and become the greatest version of themselves. I share a combination of research, stories, and take aways in an engaging and inspiring format. I am really excited and hope to have it published by this fall.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are many smooth days, but there have also been some serious struggles along the way. Being an Entrepreneur is constantly evaluating reward versus risk. There are times when running your business in the early years that you pay all your employees and do not make anything. The beginning years are some of the hardest because most people would not like the number of hours and work involved while dealing with the stress of cash flow or work for years barely making anything. I think it is important for those of us who have been down this road to be transparent with the younger people who are considering this path. It is not always glamorous. It is truly a give and take as well as personality fit. It takes grit and perseverance to see a new business through growth and generating positive cash flow.
Another facet dealing with struggle is employees and people. I once heard someone say that companies could run perfectly if you just took the people out of it. People all come from different walks, pasts, feelings and different world views. It takes a strong leader that can navigate the difficulties that arise with employees and create a collaborative team culture.
All in all, there are people who are wired for Entrepreneurship! It makes me excited when I meet those people to encourage them in their pursuit of the American dream.
Tell us more about the business.
I started my Consulting Firm. I speak Business about seven years ago. I formed this firm after seeing a need in the business space. It was during my 16 years of owning Day Three Media and us producing media (websites, videos, marketing material) that so many of the companies had no idea of the “why.” The majority of the organizations knew they needed marketing collateral but failed to be able to answer some of the very important questions as to what problem were they solving for their customers? What sets them apart from their competitors? Did they perform research on the competition? What were the key things they needed to communicate to that customer. I saw over the years that marketing was such a fascinating discipline, but very few understood it. That is what inspired me to start a marketing firm that focused on researching before ever establishing a strategy. The research should drive the strategy, the strategy should drive the marketing, and the marketing should be producing results. We take pride in being a full service firm that takes our clients by the hand from the very beginning all the way into execution and management.
It is amazing how many businesses, regardless of size that do not have a software platform or CRM that they are utilizing and all the company’s intellectual knowledge is walking around in the heads of their employees. When the business has a turnover, each person that leaves takes that knowledge with them. We also help in operations to help business owners capture that knowledge into a platform. Each year a client stays with us, we continue to build and make changes focusing on the overall growth of the organization. That is really what sets us apart. Not to mention the marketing should be working with the sales department and we consult in several areas besides marketing to bring about growth. We have the feeling of large firm expertise with a small firm relationship!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I know everyone has different feelings about luck. I however, am not a person who believes in luck. I think everything good or bad has a reason in our lives for us to learn from. We can not control what happens to us but we certainly can control how we respond. I have no doubt that the good Lord above has watched over me from the very moment I was brought into this world. He has been my helper in all things and I do believe he wants everyone to come to him for their purpose and fulfillment. We can search high and low, as I had done for many years but have come to the place that there is no ride like a ride with Jesus. The author and perfecter of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ispeakbusiness.com
- Phone: 678-735-0493
- Email: heather@ispeakbusiness.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ispeakbus
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ispeak_business
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/i-speak-business-powder-springs
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBVCyVsIf290HTwcIGwdgKg/videos
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