By Andy Valadez, StealthMarketer/The Marketing Evangelist
Summary: This life-summary offers insight into the day in the life of a “Strategic Marketer”or in the case of Andy Valadez, The Marketing Evangelist/StealthMarketer. There is much more to Marketing than most people think. Many get caught up in demographic studies, product design, pricing strategy, zip code analysis, consumer buying behavior, distribution, search strategy, sales, etc. All of this is important. A Marketer should be involved in the process, but one rarely gets to see how things get done. I thought this article might contribute to the dialogue of what “Strategic Marketing” is all about. The path to success looks different for the one walking it or trying to make it happen. This is an observation into my world.
I love what we do! Let me say that again, I’m ecstatic about what we do. Many of my friends and clients are “shocked and awed” by the “wake” we are building in the Market (local and nationally), as am I. We hear common phrases like, “I didn’t know you were doing this” or “Wow! How did you get involved in this project?” I do have to admit, that we have been flying under the radar, one of the reasons I go by “StealthMarketer”. I mean, I once tried to get some publicity from some local business-type journals, but they decided there wasn’t a story (that happens).
So, I just let the stories unfold. In fact, the Houston Chronicle picked up a story on “Operation Kingdom Assignment” and did a two-page feature that lead to a new client and an award via, Leesa and Denny Bellesi, Author of The Kingdom Assignment, called “The WELLDONE AWARDS”, which were held this year at Aliso Viejo, CA, you can check out my blog on that whirlwind trip to the “OC” and Hollywood.
Then my buddy Kevin Price has included me in all of his media ventures and my company keeps popping up on the radar on radio, TV, and the web (thanks Kevin). Recently the “Open Door Mission” wrote about my involvement with their organization and my trusted friend Bill Adams (we went and looked at Ferraris). This story was distributed to over 40,000 of the mission’s supporters. I was really excited when I help found the hit radio show The BusinessMakers (www.TheBusinessMakers.com) two years ago and that is an on-going story.
Anyway, I am not a media hound, but I do love to inspire people to do great things and live their lives to the fullest, utilizing their talents, their treasure, and their time (thanks Denny and Leesa)! So, here is a glimpse into one of my typical days. I hope it inspires and encourages you.
My company founders are highly capable people and could probably tell a similar a story and a few of my readers could probably do the same! My team has been battle tested, each an expert in their field of TV, Radio, Photography, Sales, and Organization and Marketing.
Let’s see, I will start with (9/19). I got up early to pray, read a few chapters of I Corinthians (the new-testament bible), and read a few pages of “Epic” the book by John Eldridge (given to me by Denny Bellesi when I visited he in his wife in beautiful Southern California). I have learned that my life is not my own and that the need to pray has become so important to me, so that I can make effective decisions. Prayer used to seem odd to me, but as I have gotten older, it is the wisest thing I can do. I know so many people use prayer as an excuse to “not make” a decision. People that know me, know I make decisions fast and move quickly to capitalize on opportunities.
Each day brings new opportunities and I am finding that I need to be prepared for anything these days, while keeping a “laser beam” focus of keeping my life in perspective as the “Marketing Machine” grows. I usually get to walk my oldest girl Kayla (check out her blog) to the bus stop, her little sister Kenna loves to tag along. They hug each other goodbye as the oldest boards the bus. This morning I am on the phone with my business partner Steve Levine of Steve Levine Real Estate Media (www.SteveLevineMedia.com) to talk about our radio opportunities and website updates we had done. We have an opportunity for him and a few guests to be on a live radio show this weekend, so we are working through the details. He loves when I can get him on the radio and TV, as he likes to say “I am the talent”. I enjoy getting him what he wants! Steve is the publisher of Real Estate Executive magazine, a magazine that goes out to the top 3,100 realtors in Houston exclusively. He is an amazing guy.
My neighbor Andre has been blind for several years and it seems that the Lord has allowed me to work from home and be on hand to take him to his taxi stop each day at the local Food Town. Of course, Andre always asks me what is going on in my business, so I give him a daily brief and we talk about his family. I admire him for persevering through life and am concerned about his missing out on the opportunity to see his young children grow up. I have recently added him to my prayer list and asking God to restore his sight (will you join me?). Yeah, I do believe in miracles, because I am living in the “Miracle Zone” these days.
Well, I walk into my office and sit at my desk deciding what I should do next. I could clear off my desk and get everything organized or I can jump to start the day. I decide to jump in and start the day. I turn on my AOL Instant Messenger and Instant message my wife, who is the greatest partner. She believes in me and what we are building and my deepest prayer is that she would be extremely blessed for her sacrifice. She is a great mom! I mean I couldn’t do what she does for our family. I admire her greatly and I couldn’t do what I do without her.
I get a reply from Monique Sontag from Lovell-Fairchild Communications regarding assistance with some interviews for the people who created “Facing the Giants”. I know many have not seen this movie, but I encourage everyone to see it with their family. I had offered to help them with interviews and Monique e-mailed me a couple of weeks ago and I have gotten the ball rolling on the interview of Stephen Kendrick, Co-writer and Producer of “Facing the Giants” and “Fly Wheel” (a re-released movie coming in November). Anyway, I completed that interview that you can hear at this link: Sherwood Pictures
I follow-up on the opportunity to get George Foreman for the Houston Business Expo (my team helped get Mr. Jim McIngvale and Kirby Jon Caldwell). R.D. Yoder, President of Houston Networking News asked me if I could get a sports figure and “low an behold” I meet a lawyer that calls Mr. Foreman for me, along with Ken Norton, McCoy McClemore, and gives me Leon Spinks home number. Yeah, I know it is crazy! Anyway, I met this emerging lawyer client by chance and it turns out he has several screenplays of his national cases that have been featured in the media, and wants to turn into movies. So, we have been talking about every other day. I manage to build trust with people. This client is in his 70’s, so I feel blessed to know that he values my accomplishments enough to have me explore his life’s work and see if I can help him. I will do my best to see what I can do.
I reply to an e-mail from the #1 web developer in our market. I have befriended this successful executive and I feel proud of the spirited e-mail dialogue I have with him on occasions. He likes my style and I do have a way of challenging people to think about their opportunities. I have his trust and he has mine. I am praying for great news for his company and hope to be at liberty to discuss it when it happens.
Well, daylight was burning and I needed to get on the road. Before I do get on the road, I call my photography partner to follow-up on an opportunity to meet his friend who started a movie website in Katy that gets 1,000,000 hits a month. He wants me to meet him, because he thinks we have so much to talk about (the guys name is Andy – wow). Mainly, Andy wants to know how he can make money with this extreme web traffic. We will meet next week. I call my buddy Barry who lives in Katy to see if we are going to talk about all of these venture opportunities I have pulled together. Barry’s company Visitors2Cash.com is an amazing resource for people on the web who want to make money. Barry is also a musician with “Life Of Riley”, check out their music video.
I had promised my Pastor that I would take him a copy of the screenplay for a movie project, “School of Redemption” (www.SchoolOfRedemption.com) which has won 5 Dove Awards from the Dove Foundation out of the gate and many other awards since its creation. We are talking about creating a “Film Festival” after seeing the success of Sherwood Baptist Church’s involvement with “Facing the Giants”. I want him to help me make this happen. Turns out he knows the Senior Pastor at Sherwood. They were friends back in the 80’s in Ft. Worth (what a small world). So, that is very encouraging. As a producer for film, I have to connect all of the dots. Mainly, how to raise the money for my movie projects which can be a lot of work and getting the interest from distribution, but this is the world I thrive in.
I decide to take my 4-year old Kenna with me because I rarely get to spend time with her alone. You can probably imagine her excitement at the announcement of our little trip (she reminds of the little girl in the movie “Little Miss Sunshine” as she runs around the house trying to find her shoes). I get to my church and find that my pastor is out, which is okay as I didn’t make an appointment. So, I leave him a copy of the screenplay and a copy of “Facing the Giants” DVD (I want him to specifically see how the movie was made). My pastor is a big fan of movies hosting an annual series called “God in the Movies”, so I know he is going to love being a part of my project or least knowing about it. I go upstairs to meet with our Treasure Island children’s ministry director. A couple of weeks earlier, my daughter Kayla was allowed to sing a song she wrote and the director wants my daughter and I to perform a couple of skits as a father and daughter team. She briefs me on the concept and I advise my daughter later that night that the script is on its way. She wants to be an actress, musician, fashion designer, business owner, author, model, and more! She is inspired for her age and dreams bigger than I do.
We leave the church and my daughter Kenna knows there is a stop at the playground, somewhere in this journey. Being self-employed, I have to figure out a way to make her happy and keep my objectives for the day intact. We decide to stop in at Chick-fil-A, where they have an indoor playground. Truett Cathy, the founder once sent me an autographed copy of one of his books that I cherish. I had asked for his interview for The BusinessMakers radio show and sent him a thank you letter. I felt that people needed to hear his story in the Houston market and appreciated that this 86 year-old (at the time) business man, made time for the one-hour interview. I still keep in touch with the people at Chick-fil-A. One of the Marketers in town is going to help me with “School of Redemption” once in is “in the can” (finished movie) to help garner the interest and promotion of the movie by the Chick-fil-A franchise group (over 3,800 units nationally).
While in line, I see young lady who works for Mustang Engineering. I introduce myself and ask her if she knows a friend of mine who works there and she tells she does. I give her my card and ask her to have him call me. I recently met a guy who has a “Robotic” technology for the petroleum industry and I want to talk to him about it. My friend and I had talked over the weekend about it, but he forgot to call me, etc. The old premise of follow-up, follow-up, follow-up prevails in business. So, I think he will be impressed by the alternate communication model I used to get his attention. However, I am still waiting for the call today, so I will call him as soon as I am done with this article.
My daughter enjoys her lunch and our time together. She finishes fast, because she wants to go play. I decide to let her play until she gets tired and I am on the phone with the managing partner of T4 Pictures to schedule a conference call with a gentleman who can help with our movie. The assistance comes in the form of the possibility of getting a young female actress of Oscar fame for the main character and top music talent of Houston fame for the music or other music artists. All we have to do is showcase his book in the film a couple of times, which will add to the humor of the story. Of course this news, gets the team ecstatic as we know we can get our movie funded with an Oscar winner on board (remember this is all in pre-development). Again, I am excited, but this stuff is happening to me a lot these days. I am very grateful, but I know that God has a plan and I just get to play a part. What freedom!
Well my daughter, wearies and decides she wants an ice cream. I let her enjoy this and we leave for my home office. I have a 4PM conference call with the producer, two managing partners and myself. We all agree that we have a great plan and now we are awaiting the news that we have a movie deal! Your prayers would be appreciated!! I get a call today from the author and he is already making contact with some key people on our behalf.
I e-mail my sales team in progress. We have about 8 people who want to come on board and work with my team (if you are looking for a sales position call us!). We are representing some great opportunities and of course need a stellar sales force to work on other projects in the works.
Later in the evening I talk to a friend of mine who created the music videos for the “Getto Boyz”. He wants to get back into the movie business and I have an opportunity for him. He and I set-up a meeting with this top lawyer to see if we have a new “production company” in the works. I read an e-mail from Alex Kendrick’s, director of “Facing the Giants”, assistant and reply back to her. I shut down my computer, enjoy dinner with my family, and while my wife prepares the children for bed, I go into “Market Research” mode. I have just ordered Season 2 of “Entourage” from Netflix, the HBO award winning series. The kids are in bed and my wife joins me for one episode, before we call it another day. I swear my life is just like Ari Gold’s, only tamer.
If you are interested in learning how to live like a Strategic Marketer, we would be happy to talk to you. You can reach us at 281.463.4560 or e-mail: info@marketingdynamics.org
Andy Valadez is President and Founder of Marketing Dynamics, a Strategic Marketing firm working with emerging entrepreneurs and growth-oriented companies, movie makers, authors, musicians, media personalities fashionistas, television shows, technologists, networkers, non-profit organizations, and real estate professionals with gross annual sales under $50M. Andy graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA Degree in Marketing focusing on Public Relations, Promotion Strategy, and Sales. He also received an Applied Business Certificate from Tulane University in New Orleans and served our country as a United States Marine during Desert Storm/Shield. Visit www.TheMarketingVortex.com (blog)
