Good-bye Portland; Hello my life

Life in Joplin lately has been a lesson in the philosophy of "do what you can, for whom you can, when you can, because you can". When I set out on this journey I hoped others would understand it was not my intention to take something away from them, but to receive what they would give. Understanding that nuance helped me relax and just be thankful that perfect strangers would give me an extraordinary gift.

The goal of this trip was to be inspired. Sometimes you meet someone and you feel inspired to be like them. On a much deeper level, only truly confident people can inspire you to be a better version of yourself. When you are inspired beyond mimicry, the experience can let you into your own life in a new way. 

Good-bye Portland; Hello my life.  I am ready.  

Our Frank and Open Conversation

The starkness of a wide-open vista when you can actually see the cement foundation of where your design studio once stood is in the literal sense, awesome. While there is a flat-lining of what you had, there is also an ever-increasing beat arising with a compelling drive to bring to life something better.  At Frank Creative, their mantra to "cut the crap and keep the creative" was precisely the rythym I needed to hear.

"Hello, may I speak with Frank?"

There really should be a jar for employees to donate a nickel anytime a solicitor calls asking for Frank. I am thinking they could save up for a massive party. There is no Frank, but there if you need a frank and open conversation about stellar branding and marketing, you'll love this place. Looking back on my conversation with Steve Tallman of Frank Creative, that was the exactly what I received.

Our discussion about building core competencies within our agencies was riveting. While Frank Creative has led within an industry niche, Little Bird Marketing specializes in a type of brand.  The nuanced differences are interesting, but regardless, the focus should remain on the agency's core competency.  As far as core competencies go, it is easy to see that Frank Creative certainly builds on their amazing ability to brand and position.  Ultimately, they are master storytellers. Being able to see that objectively about a fellow agency helped me to really understand that the things we do each day at Little Bird Marketing, from Facebook management to web design, strategic brand positioning to graphic design, etc. only  service to our larger competency of increasing the buyer's identification and affinity for that brand.  That is why we choose to work with premier brands or luxury experiences.  David Karstad, Creative Director at Frank Creative drove home the truth by saying, "you are ultimately defined by the work you don't take".  I couldn't agree more.

It doesn't hurt that they have a rockin' studio.

Cappuccino and Conversation with Lindsey

My conversation with Lindsey Charlet of HUB Collective was like hanging out with your big sister (if your big sister just happens to be a snappy dresser, poised team leader and a successful entrepreneur). It was Lindsey's poise that inspired me most. Her ability to listen and share equally was a treat.


I immediately resonated with her focus on office culture and fully accepted her advice to continue, as she put it, "to control my own climate". Her focus on quality in relationships, trust amongst her team, and a continual dedication to communicating a clear vision creates the ground work for great work.


I shared with her my concerns in facing so much transition at once.  In the midst of so much change it is difficult to sort out what to keep and what to shed. A healthy fear of a myopic vantage point is what spurred me on across the country to gain some perspective. To that end, Lindsey gave me a stronger focus on the bigger picture.  She conjured up the imagery of clinging to a rock in the middle of a river. As you continue to hold on, the water around you beats down and provides a steady stream of pummeling. Steeped in the moment, letting go does not seem like an option. There's a cliché in there and yet, when the advice to move with the current comes from someone who has already been there, the truth rises to the surface. As artists we want to move against the current, but as business owners with faith in our established culture and abilities we can let go and find joy in the new thing that comes.


I'm grateful for the candid conversation, the chance to see professional humility from such a successful woman, and a genuine love of the work we produce.  The amazing cappuccino didn't hurt.

Blue Sky on the Horizon

The concept of this journey was predicated on the belief that if given the chance, people would share. This couldn't have been more affirmed than on my first stop at Blue Sky Web Development. 

In a field which is visually based and typically art driven, Rich Mayo has a knack for numbers and a penchant for kindness. On one hand, he is a believer in tracking logical patterns of peoples' behavior on the web. This belief is the basis for his drive toward outcome-based web strategies for the ultimate success of his client. On the other hand, he is a standout for his soft-spoken openness.  

It was easy to get Rich talking and sharing ideas about running a web development company.  Our conversation ranging from technical issues, integrated strategies and managing client expectations was effortless. Easing into a stand-up team meeting in late morning gave me a glimpse of his philosophy for shared responsibility and built-in accountability. Speaking to someone who has seen many more changes in computing than I have was refreshing. 

Big thanks and nothing but blue sky right back attcha.

LiTTLE BIRD MARKETING RECEIVING HELP FROM PORTLAND, OREGON AREA BUSINESSES

Press Release 8/1/2011

An amazing journey for insight and encouragement that will take Little Bird owner, Priscilla McKinney, along with Jani Putnam of Off the Map Photography who will be chronicling the journey to the Portland, Oregon area for an inspirational quest. 

After serving marketing clients through the historic F5 tornado on May 22^nd, the team at Little Bird Marketing arrived to work on June 14^th, only to watch their creative studio burn to the ground.  What to some may have seemed like insult to injury has become a positive turn of events. “I am going to see this as an opportunity to rethink how our company can be better, and make some changes every owner wishes they could make with a clean slate,” commented Priscilla McKinney, owner of Little Bird Marketing. 

The rethink process led her to a crazy idea which took some hard work to pull together.   Through contacting agency owners, web developers and creatives, a schedule of visits were coordinated as follows:

Monday, August 1^st – visit with Rich Mayo of Blue Sky Web Development

Tuesday, August 2^nd – visit with Lindsey Charlet of Hub Collective

Wednesday, August 3^rd – visit with Steve Tallman of FRANK Creative

“I like to think of it as a vocational vacation,” said Priscilla McKinney, President of Little Bird Marketing. “It was a big ask of agencies knowing we all work on pressing deadlines and multiple projects, but I needed something big to get me out of my crisis mode.  The real goal is to see things from a new perspective and come away inspired from within our own industry to come back and help Joplin rebuild bigger and better.”

The idea can be easily described as a very, very short internship.  But, it really is more of a “fly on the wall” concept to allow another business owner and creative to see how others in the industry handle the challenges of the day to day. 

Rich Mayo, President of Blue Sky Web Development was the first to jump on board.  With some personal connection to Kansas City, the difficulties facing Joplin businesses today seemed more real.  Hub Collective embraced the idea as well. 

Stay tuned for more inspired posts and photos!