We were lucky to catch up with Amanda & Jason Mazzo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda & Jason, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
Jason & I (Amanda) were both creative freelancers (a videographer and graphic designer, respectively) when we met in 2011. After we married in 2013, we were sitting on the couch one day when I wondered out loud, “What would happen if we combined forces and brought our skills under one umbrella? What would it look like if we worked with other contractors to grow services beyond our scope to work with larger clients?” With that question, Mazzo Media was born.
Because we were already committed to each other and the work we’d done individually for 10+ years prior, we felt this was a worthwhile endeavor. In marriage with each other, and in business with our creative partners, we believe that we’re stronger together. Holding relationships and community as one of our top priorities, we knew our company model would work. 9 years later, here we are!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
Mazzo Media is a creative studio in East Nashville and we work with people, brands, and organizations nationwide to tell their stories through videography, photography, graphic design and social content.
In addition to short-term projects, one of our favorite things to do is come alongside organizations as an extension of their team. We’ve found that many companies lack robust in-house marketing resources because they’re so focused on the nuts and bolts of day-to-day demands. Something’s got to give and we get it! But, this is where we thrive: freeing up their time by taking ownership of creative marketing, so our clients can get back to what they do best.
Because of how Mazzo Media is structured, we have the flexibility to work with clients of varied sizes in a wide range of industries. Jason is famous for saying “have camera, will travel!” No one can tell your organization’s stories better than you and your team. While technology is wonderful, allowing us to connect with anyone anywhere at any time, we really enjoy being on location and capturing those stories, while working face-to-face in our clients’ element.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
With the constant barrage of social media and hustle culture, it’s easy for entrepreneurs to feel like they have to do it all and be everything to everyone. With that, workaholism is often glorified. There is literally always work to be done.
When we founded Mazzo Media as newlyweds, it felt important that we do things differently. We planned strategically and set boundaries around where we worked and when we worked. I don’t think we unlearned the lesson of overworking on purpose, but drawing a hard line between in-office hours and time off has been a gift to us – not just personally, but professionally, too.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
100%! Amanda is a bookworm that is also “Dare to Lead” Trained so she’ll recommend anything by Brené Brown, although “Gifts of Imperfection” is one of her favorites. We are also big fans of CJ Casciotta’s “Get Weird” which has helped us lean in to what makes us different, rather than falling for comparison and trying to emulate what everyone else is doing. He writes, “We’re weird because it’s the best way to show others they belong in a world that often tells them they don’t. The second you decide to use your crooked nose, your awkward smile, or your offbeat perspective rather than hide it is the second you’ll find a whole bunch of people who now feel permission to be themselves too.”
We can recommend “The Road Back to You” as it has been helpful in understanding how to relate to different personalities. We also love books like “Steal Like an Artist” (Austin Kleon) and “Wreck this Journal” (Keri Smith) for exercises in building creativity. Currently, we’re reading “Pink Goldfish 2.0” by Stan Phelps & David Rendall – another great book for defying normal and exploiting imperfection!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mazzomedia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mazzomedia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MazzoMedia
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mazzomedia/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mazzomedia