We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melissa Mederos. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melissa below.

Melissa, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

This is the only question that tends to shake me up when it comes down to my goals, when I’m at a loss for motivation, when things aren’t quite going my way, and when I doubt myself.

I normally find myself trying to figure out if what I want is to leave a legacy at a grand scale by making an impact or influence on society, or if I’d be content building a legacy that I can pass down to my family. The answer is, I want both. I want to be able to pass down traditions, values, and stories to my family in hopes that the next generation has an even greater chance at fulfilling their dreams. On the flip side, I want to create something or be remembered for something long after I’m gone.

There’s a quote that says “In the end, we will all be stories” by Margaret Atwood. When I think about that quote, I just hope that the story that is told about me once I’m gone is a good one. That I was a respectable person, that I upheld strong principles, that I was relentless in my pursuit of success, that I was honest and loyal, and that the people around me could count on me to be there when they needed me most. I think more than material things (although inventions are what make the world go round), the feeling of fulfillment is ultimately what humans are in search of.

So to answer the question, I hope to leave a legacy that takes various forms: achievements, ideas, innovations, social impact, mentorship, philanthropy, and family/personal values. It’s a lot, but I’m just stacking the bricks day by day.

Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am the owner of a commercial photography. business, Pryme Production. It is a B2B business that specializes in hospitality, product, and headshot photography. Some of my clients include hotels, interior design firms, and mid-large-size product brands.

During Covid, business slowed down significantly. There was no way to meet for in-person shoots and due to economic turmoil, I found myself pivoting to another dream of mine – writing children’s books. That’s when I opened up my second business, Millennial Publishing Co. I’d always wanted to be an author but grammar, literature, and long-form writing has never been my forte. I have always been a kid at heart and I felt that children’s picture books were something I could get on board with. Specifically, rhyming books since it’s what I remember from my childhood.

In June of 2022, I published my first book, “Tic & Twitch: A Story About Tourette Syndrome”. In August of 2023, I published my second book – “Oh, the Clouds You’ll See”. I also assisted in publishing “RISE: the UNCIVIL Mentality”. My goal with this publishing business is to help aspiring authors publish their books via KDP and Ingram Spark while continuing my journey.
Everyone has a story to tell, and I just want to assist in getting that story out.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth has always been my main source of new clients. If you do good work, you commit yourself to your craft, and you don’t half-ass the job then chances are that the work will speak for itself and your clients will spread the message. Also, being self-aware enough to admit when there was a mess up, which is bound to happen. Being transparent with the client is always a good thing and they will respect you for it.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I’m a huge fan of books and podcasts. Here are some of my favorites.

On Business and pricing: The Futur by Chris Do (Youtube)
On Negotiating: Chris Voss (MasterClass) and Never Split the Difference (Book)
On Finances and Taxes: Tax-Free Wealth by Tom Wheelwright and Robert Kiyosaki (Book)

Some others:
– Relentless by Tim Grover
– Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
– Men, Women, and Money by Kevin O’Leary
– Atomic Habits by James Clear
– The Power of One More by Ed Mylett

Contact Info:

• Website: www.prymeproduction.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/prymeproduction
• Other: Millennial Publishing Co: www.millennialpublishingco.com
• Instagram: @millennialpublishingco

Image Credits
Pryme Production