Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kyle Golding. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kyle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

I started The Golding Group 12 years ago when I realized my last “corporate” job was destined to fizzle out the same way every corporate marketing job does. I knew there was a better way to provide strategic, sustainable economic growth for organizations through business process innovation & marketing integration not just the traditional paid advertising model of hourly fees for creative and media buying commissions. I wanted to use my experience building organizations from the inside out by providing expertise in all phases of operation, specific to each of our client’s needs and not the ego of my boss or a “how we have always done it” mentality. I had freelanced before, but it was never sustainable. This time, I partnered with other professionals with similar, but different enough, backgrounds to cover a large area of business development between all of us. By working with like-minded entrepreneurs, we create something stronger than any of us could on our own. By utilizing a decidedly different business model, we were automatically disruptive the moment we went from a side hustle to a full-time job.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an entrepreneurial-minded professional with a diverse skillset that includes launching and operating businesses and consulting with businesses across multiple industries locally, nationally, and worldwide. For the past 12 years, I have been specifically focused on partnering with clients to provide solutions centered around strategic planning, business process management, profitability and corporate culture.

I started my first business as a teenager. Over my 35+ year career, I have owned and operated businesses in multiple industries, sometimes more than one at a time. I have positioned, marketed and managed musicians, start-ups, small businesses, corporations and nonprofits to local, national and worldwide success. I am currently the CEO and Chief Strategic Idealist for The Golding Group, an award-winning think tank of strategic planning, business process management, integrated marketing and public relations experts with offices in Oklahoma City and Philadelphia.

Our focus is on growing organizations from the inside out. We provide expertise in all phases of operation, specific to each client’s needs. Our creative, top-to-bottom approach is what makes working with The Golding Group a completely different experience. We start with research, setting the right goals, defining the audience and evaluating market factors to develop the most effective and efficient strategy, budget and tactics. Then, creative execution follows the strategic plan to deliver the most impact, adjusting as audiences provide feedback.

Our team of subject matter experts develops strategies and determines the most effective action plans, then executes them. The Golding Group creates marketing that can be measured, adjusted and then repeated by incorporating data trends, best practices and audience feedback in a two-way conversation.

Since 2011, The Golding Group has earned 30+ communications awards, high-profile media appearances and an impressive client list. The Golding Group partnered with local and regional economic development organizations through the pandemic to provide emergency support to distressed small businesses.

I also offer business advice and motivation as host of the #SaturdayMorningHustle podcast, co-host of The Golding Group Strategic Growth podcast and host of a monthly podcast for the Oklahoma Venture Forum.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

In addition to The Golding Group, I have a side hustle startup VORTTX Training and Testing, a SaaS platform for emergency response training required for staff of long-term care facilities. I was approached by my (now) business partner to take his service idea from the drawing board to startup. We both believed so much in business potential, that doing a side hustle seemed the best route so we could both fund VORTTX with our day jobs plus tap into my resources and expertise as a business/product development/marketing specialist. Not having to hire for that allowed us to keep the budget down and the need for cash infusion low. After the first year as a side hustle, VORTTX is now taking off on its own and producing profit.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the idea that competition, other people or other businesses, as something hostile or limiting to my success. When I was a teenager and into my 20’s I worked in the music business. I wasn’t very talented as a musician, but I was very good with the technical aspects of audio production for live performances or studio recordings. I was willing to work more than anyone else to prove my worth and create opportunities for myself. I used my work ethic as a weapon, pushing others out of my way in order to elevate myself. I thought this was how you got ahead, but I had it all wrong. As many opportunities as I created for myself were balanced with people who didn’t like my attitude or appreciate my methods.

After years of experience, changing industries and ultimately starting over (twice) I learned that collaboration is more important than competition. Other people or businesses doing similar things to what I’m involved in is an asset, not a detriment. With 20+ years of experience after leaving the music industry, I now fully embrace the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. I now mentor my clients to focus on their audience, value proposition and processes instead of trying to “beat” their competition. Do what you do as well as possible, provide value and attract the right audiences for the right reasons. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing, but instead pay attention to your team, audience and product/service. There is no limit to success. Other people winning takes nothing away from you. The only competition is you improving yourself every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thegoldinggroup.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekylegolding/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaturdayMorningHustle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegolding/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KyleGolding
• Youtube: https://bit.ly/SMHvideos
• Other: https://saturdaymorninghustle.com/ https://kylegolding.com/

Image Credits
danielle mayes photo 28 = Danielle Mayes