We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Norman Merrifield a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Norman , appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

The journey from idea to execution parallels the intricate process of crafting a chart-topping hit that moves the crowd. At 808Education, we orchestrate executive ideas into harmonious melodies in the form of professional learning that resonates with their brand, beliefs, and bottom line, akin to composing a hip-hop classic. The genesis of 808Ed was ignited by a visionary leader’s fervent desire to propel her team beyond the confines of conventional expectations and status quo realities. Facing the constraints of limited meeting time juxtaposed with an expansive clientele clamoring for attentive stewardship, developmental opportunities, and the regular infusion of invigorating meetings, our journey began. And who was this trailblazer, you ask? None other than an elementary school principal. In the beatbox of successful presentations, our melody lies in unraveling the enigma of instructional leadership so that professional learning surpasses community expectations and serves as a replicable FRAME that the team can implement. Like a battle-tested emcee on an unfamiliar subway train, we guide our clients through the nuances of curating an atmosphere for growth, transformation, and the cultivation of boundless enthusiasm. Our secret? It’s the fusion of passion, instructional design, acute research, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, much like the alchemy behind a timeless hit that resonates through the ages. Find your beat and stay in tune with the people who do the work.

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?

My professional career began in the hallowed halls of a middle school classroom, where I stood as a beacon of affirmative HBCU flavor, even as my heartbeat to the drum of the party and the allure of the stage. In those days, crafting quality sounds required more than just passion—it demanded a hefty investment of time and resources in traditional studios and skilled engineers. Yet, driven by a relentless thirst to create and an insatiable craving to feel the steel in my palm I turned to audio engineering and embarked on a nocturnal odyssey at SAE Institute. Amidst the glow of LED screens and the hum of two-inch tape, I learned about production technology that transferred seamlessly into how I approached teaching and learning. I was free from the confines of traditional teaching methods and my students were able to engage with the restricted curricular content from a strength-based creative perspective.

The impact was profound on my instructional practices my mother who was a retired principal encouraged me to start presenting what we were doing to other educators. Armed with the knowledge and the passion to share it, I hit the streets and began perfecting my professional development in school libraries and cafeterias for hungry practitioners. And in that journey, the seeds of 808Education were sown.

Today, 808Education stands tall, a testament to the power of innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Focused on crafting “Better Meetings For Busy People,” we empower clients across all sectors to facilitate learning experiences that transcend the mundane, rooted in their brand, belief, and bottom line.
From the classroom to the boardroom, our mission remains unwavering: to revolutionize the way we learn, grow, and thrive, one meeting at a time.

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

The echo of Frederick Douglass’s “The Heroic Slave” significantly impacted my entrepreneurial philosophy of “never turn back”. Although categorized as fiction, its pages are steeped in the unyielding truths of our enslaved ancestors, serving as a philosophical guiding light. When I founded 808Education, I had way more ambition and family responsibilities ambitions than clients so the financial cliff was a looming and influential force on my thinking. Yet, in the shadow of monetary uncertainty, the abyss of doubt threatened to swallow me whole. Fridays became a battleground of despair, as my employed friends collected their wages I was teetering on the precipice of “turning back”, scouring LinkedIn for jobs and conventional stability. But within the pages of Douglass’s masterpiece, I found solace, inspiration, and a roadmap to emancipation.

In the book, Madison Washington steals his freedom from a southern plantation, leaving behind his wife and family. During the first week of his traumatic journey, Brotha Washington finds himself back on the plantation due to a serious foot injury and an astrological navigation error. This unexpected turn of events forces him to measure the pain of freedom against the promise of bondage, and he never turns back.

Through the tale of Madison Washington’s audacious bid for freedom, I confronted the stark reality of sacrifice and the allure of complacency. Despite encountering setbacks, Washington’s unwavering resolve never faltered and his journey forced me to confront the true cost of my aspirations and the profound impact on my loved ones.

Today, when I navigate the digital landscape of LinkedIn, it is not in search of salvation through employment, but rather to share, connect, and celebrate never turning back.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Throughout my entrepreneurial journey in the learning and development market, I’ve found that centering our training solutions on the mission and vision of our clients at 808Ed has been instrumental in building a trusting reputation. It is easy for other firms to prioritize their own products and solutions as we all jockey for business but the true success in learning and development comes from designing solutions that align with the diverse and unique goals and aspirations of our clients. By focusing on our client’s vision and mission, 808Education demonstrates a commitment to the success of our partners beyond just delivering a service. Our service sequence is Discover, Design, Refine, and Deliver. Take the time to understand their strengths and training objectives so that our models help them celebrate assets. Design solutions through meaningful collaboration, so the resources convey that 808Ed is invested in their success. Refine the draft products based on direct feedback to ensure we are aligning our efforts with our client’s mission and vision. Throughout the process, we are preparing them to deliver more impactful results in-house so that the leaders build cultural capital with the team and own the success of engaging and effective professional learning experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: 808ed.com
• Instagram: @normanlmerrifield and @808Edu
• Facebook: @normanlmerrifield
• Linkedin: Norman Merrifield, M.Ed.

Image Credits
Ashley Callahan-Payne Photography