Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Taylor
Hi Allison, 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?
My story takes a lot of twists and turns. I’ve worked in a lot of industries and for a lot of bosses over the years. There have been several times that I’ve taken a step back and said “Am I the problem here?” *Cue Taylor Swift*
I went to culinary school of all things but in a lot of ways it makes sense. It was a way to be creative in a job. Way before digital marketing was a ‘thing.’
But after working in various restaurant settings, doing catering and everything in between it became very clear to me that working in the food industry was going to be a hard life to life if I wanted to be a wife and mother.
So I found myself working in a bank, literally opening letters in the loan department to make sure that our borrowers had not let their insurance coverage lapse.
Talk about soul sucking!
Fast forward a lot, I found myself accepting a job at a digital marketing agency as a total newbie in the space. I was so very eager to learn, and I realized that this wasn’t going to be the place to do it. I was going to networking events, selling the package and I’ll never forget coming back after I sold my first website and I asked my boss “now, what?” He said and I quote “You build the site, you didn’t think that someone would hold you hand and do if for you, did you?”
I realized I was in for a lot of learning and fast.
At the same company, we had an SEO add on package and I asked for some clarification on “how to do SEO” and my boss laughed and rubbed his hands together and said “SEO is magic, we don’t have to do anything”
I knew from that point that I wasn’t going to sit back and sell something that we weren’t actually doing for our clients. So I took it upon myself to learn the basics of SEO.
That’s when I realized that I was really good at it.
I found myself working for several different agencies for the next few years, all with the same result. Me asking questions and realizing that what was promised, often wasn’t what clients were getting. Often times the staff of each agency, realizing that we hadn’t done work for the client since the last meeting we had with them and quickly scrambling to produce something, anything that we can show.
From that point I decided I wanted to work for a company in house. And I got a job offer that ended up being 3 times what I was currently making.
It was a life changing salary for my little family.
I ignored every single red flag, from weird vibes in the interview to negative upon negative Glassdoor review, because the money was going to make such a difference.
The money and everything else made a big difference. I was given KPIs that were not even close to obtainable. We had weekly leadership calls where people were belittled and called on the carpet, even if it wasn’t deserved. Friends would text me on Tuesday mornings wishing me good luck because they knew it was my hard day. But I pushed on. It was going to change and I could make a difference.
Except I couldn’t.
The only thing that changed was me. I developed an eye twitch, wasn’t able to fall asleep with out a meditation app, my jaw started popping every time I opened it and I was working round the clock trying to meet my unobtainable goals.
And I got the call I knew was coming. After working the entire Thanksgiving weekend.
The Monday after Thanksgiving I was let go.
And from that point on I swore I would never put the fate of my financial future in the hands of one company.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been the farthest thing from a smooth road. If anything, when the road was smooth I knew that something would quickly change.
The biggest struggles were the people the “bosses” that I encountered. Perhaps I just can’t work for someone. Maybe most visionaries are a bit ‘difficult’ or maybe my picker is off.
Or maybe it really is me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in transparent digital marketing for companies. I’ve worked for enough agencies now that I can tell you if they are honest or full of it when they make promises.
I am most proud of myself for taking a bet on myself. I am proud of myself for not just taking money from companies because thats what they were paying for previously.
I’d like to think that my transparency with my clients is what sets me apart.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I love Jocko Willink. His podcast is amazing and his thoughts on leadership is something that I try very hard to apply in my own life.
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