Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Kobylensky
Hi Paul, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started playing guitar when I was 13 years old and had a one-track mind ever since. I even went to college for journalism with the goal of ne day writing for guitar magazines. Once I graduated, I went right to work in the guitar industry and have never left the music world.
In 2015, I was hired as a copywriter at the largest online music retailer out there. While I was there, I noticed that many of the brands we worked with struggled to market themselves. It was either an afterthought, or they went with generalized marketing agencies that have no idea how to communicate with the musical community.
They needed someone with a weird blend of musical gear expertise, marketing skills, and a musical background. As a working musician who already uses and follows these brands and products, I realized I was that guy.
I left Sweetwater in 2019 and started my current company, The New Rockstar. I offer everything from freelance copy and content writing to web design and branding consulting.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a business is never a smooth road. That said, I got some important advice early on. My friend, who also runs his own company, told me, “Shit years happen. Just be ready for them and keep going.”
He was right. The pandemic lockdowns hit within six months of me leaving my job and starting my company. I was just getting off the ground and lost all my contracts overnight.
Whenever something like that happens, we have two options. We can quit or we can keep going. As blunt as it sounds, that’s really all there is to it. I believed in what I was doing and knew things would swing back around. So, I dug in and pushed forward.
Running any business is a constant lesson in what you don’t know. New struggles always come up, and I often feel like a professional mistake-maker. I just go back to my friend’s advice. It’s never steered me wrong.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a freelance music marketer who focuses on the music, musical instruments, and professional audio industries.
For me, it’s all about storytelling and the people and products behind the stories. My mission is to define my clients’ stories and tell them to the right audience in the most compelling way. I do it through services like copywriting, content planning/creation/management, basic web design, SEO, and branding.
What sets my company apart from other agencies is music itself. It’s kind of like the Hair Club for Men thing. I’m not only my clients’ marketer; I’m also their audience. I already know their products, their brand, and their audience. I am one of them!
I think that’s missing from so many marketing agencies today. Marketing and technology are moving so fast that we get caught up in the process and forget about what makes our clients special.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is achieving your goals. Be 100% honest with yourself and define those goals. Trying to make a few bucks on the side for some spending cash and founding a multi-million dollar brand are equally legitimate. Be true to yourself and work to achieve that goal. Boom, you’re successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thenewrockstar.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobyguitar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenewrockstar.net
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQhPq7W0uHpfpBPXiJEjGw
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6RFSGiB6y6F8WZ2JGv2fTG?si=XM__X7LFRUaOw59lJRtlow
Image Credits
Seymour Duncan, Friedman Amplification, Buesching Photography, Sweetwater, Wampler Pedals