Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mel Carroll. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
I am asked often if I am happy being my own boss / if I miss having a “regular job” and my answer is “yes and no, respectively” – please allow me to elaborate.
The “not-so regular jobs” that I have been so very fortunate to have had gave me the valuable knowledge and experience I needed to launch Total Asylem Marketing & PR in 2008.
To say it has been, and continues to be a challenge would be an understatement, however the creative freedom, flexibility and satisfaction of helping clients to achieve their goals and successes confirms that this is in fact my purpose.
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?
A native Texan that has made Las Vegas home for myself and my business, Total Asylem Marketing & PR for twenty plus years.
Born in Dallas and grew up in the small town of Kaufman, Texas on a farm with a rock road. I am thankful and wish that every child could grow up as I did with supportive parents that encouraged me to be a respectful person with manners and to excel in school, while learning responsibility and independence via the animals and growing food in a garden on the farm.
Being a cancer survivor at a young age greatly influences who I am as an individual. Even if I have a bad day, as we all do from time to time – it is still a good day because I am alive to live it!
My bachelor’s degree (BA) in Marketing / Marketing Management provided a solid foundation for my career, I also received certifications as a recording engineer from The Recording Workshop and in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality from The International Aviation and Travel Academy – however my degree and these certifications do not compare to real world / hands-on experience and consistently striving to stay current with the always evolving technologies that influence these industries.
Prior to moving to Las Vegas, I lived in Santa Cruz, CA and working for an advertising agency confirmed that I was on the right career path – however, I realized that Las Vegas is the “Tradeshow Capital of the World” and my passion was coordinating events/conventions, etc. so I decided to make the move and was welcomed by LED, Inc. in Henderson as the Marketing Manager of their Safety Products Division.
I have also held the title of Director of Marketing for Hybrid Technologies, a public company (HYBT) that pioneered converting combustion engine vehicles to electric. With this position I traveled extensively coordinating media junkets, international auto tradeshows and coordinating the delivery of electric vehicles to celebrities such as Jay Leno, George Clooney and Lyor Cohen, as well as supplying NASA with their first electric fleet, promoting the first electric chopper for the fallen officers of the CA Highway Patrol, negotiated with Wal Mart Corporate and exhibited at Google Zeitgeist announcing the first electric NY Taxi Cab with Tesla / Elon Musk co-exhibiting and meeting then Vice President Al Gore.
As Marketing Manager for Drake Automotive Group, I focused on the 50th Anniversary of the Mustang, I coordinated both events in Charlotte, NC and in Las Vegas, NV, the restoration of the 1964 ½ Ford Mustang convertible, one of the first off the assembly line and the photo shoot for the cover and feature article of Mustang Monthly Magazine as well as coordinated the most successful SEMA booth in the companies’ history.
As Marketing Director for Real Water I worked directly with local athletes on digital campaigns and coordinated the REAL MMA events sponsored and hosted by Sam’s Town Casino & Hotel.
I also co-founded and helped take public BRK, Inc. (BRKK).
Total Asylem Marketing & PR provides services such as branding, custom logo and website design, digital marketing campaigns, custom social media and blog posts, media relations, tradeshow management and overall business development.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Hands down the book, The Art of War has been the most influential resource for both myself as an entrepreneur to manage conflict, focus on strengths and observe the industry, competitors and evolving technology as well as aiding my clients’ in effective strategic marketing planning.
Have you ever had to pivot?
For the past twelve years I have had a “side kick”, TEX, my pit bull that attended every meeting, travelled with me both national and internationally, inspired me creatively, was a community servant as a volunteer firefighter and was Total Asylem’s brand personality that my clients adored and looked forward to seeing.
Tex’s passing in December of last year has had a profound affect on me both personally and professionally and is an ongoing challenge with the void of her presence.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.totalasylem.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalasylem
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melcarrolltotalasylem/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melcarrollvideos