We recently connected with Miles Starkey and have shared our conversation below.

Miles, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Imagine waking up everyday as a kid and walking to breakfast, hands already sweating, thoughts racing and creativity on full throttle… you sit down, eat breakfast, parents say bye then the story to your day lay unwritten.

“What have you done that’s productive today?” My dad would ask at dinner. My answer, while not always true at first, set me on the path that finds me today. I’m not endorsing kid shame for being a kid for kids sake, but they set me up for being a hard worker, problem solver and bridging needs wherever they could be found. I’d mow lawns, set up a lemonade empire or even try walking a cat for a dollar. It was never about the money, but it was always about making my parents see the world as I did and whether I could find an issue to solve or at least become involved in someone else’s life in some way or another.

We’re all incredibly busy nowadays and whether we’d like to admit it or not, the ways to enjoy life just keep finding a means to distract us from our goals or helping others achieve theirs. Just to give an example, I’m not even sure writing this, that I’ll make the deadline… have a newborn, moving, started my own company, hunting, etc – there were plenty of excuses I could name, but when it comes down to it – we should all make time to do the things that are important to us and especially others.

You can understand why doing something for yourself might be beneficial, but in this case, taking the time to write this and hoping just one person will ask themselves about their own motivations, will have served its purpose. I’m no preacher and I’m not a perfect worker bee, but the message I’m attempting to convey is that when you share your productivity with others (if for the sake of your parents or yourself) then you are making an impact in the lives of other people, heck, maybe inspiring them. You’re writing them into your success story or better yet helping them wrangle their dreams and ultimately, you’re also learning how to pull yourself just a bit closer to having an answer to that damn question.

What have you done productive today?

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I sometimes wonder who writes our story or lights a path for us to follow, but at this point… I’m just thankful they made me a but of a risk taker.

I may have made a bad decision three days before I graduated college, which ultimately earned me community service time. After school, I sought after opportunities to fulfill those hours and nonprofit work, came to be wildly rewarding. There’s something about not getting paid to do something for someone else and helping solve problems that illicits the “good human” pat on the back feeling.

I grew up in the church, I believe in God, but ultimately we all want to be good humans despite what we think or believe. I’d imagine that most of us seek the joy to the end of a long day, tired and beat, with a sense of purpose, and hopefully something to show for it.

I’m lucky to have had several opportunities so far and whether I asked for them or not.., to be a faithful servant, and I hope there are many more to come.

Currently, I am the Executive Director to the Hope Campaign where we connect creatives to causes through projects and events. (Side note: look up Andi Scull – she’s the best boss I’ve EVER had and she played a huge role in my development) I’m also a tired dad to a newborn, a loving husband and frenchie companion. I love hunting, but more specifically the outdoors. I can’t live without creating art, and if you learned a little bit more about me than you’d know, I also have productivity ingrained in my soul. I also started a general contracting company recently that is nothing compared to the challenge of the new dad job, but it is a close second.

Lastly, I’m always here for the chance to hunt someone find their voice, so help me down if you want to talk shop.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Networking… Talking to anyone and everyone and attempting to keep your mouth shut long enough to hear how you can help solve a problem or create value for them.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I can’t share one specific instance, but I know daily that if you are not flexible in the decisions that you make and not willing to pivot, then you are only as good as a tool with one utility. A Swiss Army knife can be a Jack of all trades and perhaps a master of a few. Stay loose, but stay focused.