Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Suzan McDowell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Suzan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you’re open to it, can you talk to us about the best (or worst) investment you’ve made. What’s the backstory and the relevant context behind why you made the investment
Never, never, NEVER buy a huge overpriced name brand printer that you don’t need and you can’t afford.
Not only are they a rip off, that one evil printer, over time, actually cost me $63K. I’m so embarrassed to even acknowledge that monumentally bad financial decision. Adding insult to injury, the printer is obsolete 20 minutes after you buy it. In addition, you still have to pay for the additional printing costs – like a little thing called color! When the end is in sight, after 5000 years of overpaying, you are required to send them a letter at least 60 days before contract expiration informing them that you are sending the printer back, or they’ll just automatically start a new un-cancellable contract. My printer rep, who was tall, handsome and unforgivably fraudulent, told me in the history of the company he had only seen one entity get out of the contract and that was a church.
If you’re a small business, don’t sign a long-term contract for a printer without an attorney and be careful not to buy one that is too big for your needs. My sincere and heartfelt advice is to buy a perfectly useful $750 printer and when you have super large jobs go to a print store like UPS or Fedex, who have those same big fancy machines too — which they can actually afford.
There are a few things that are guaranteed to set me off; some personal, some political, some professional – but buying that printer and getting stuck paying for years and years and years really made me feel not smart. The saddest thing is I knew and trusted the person, the son of a colleague, who ripped me off without a blink.
Buyer beware. @dothemath
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
I was the top salesperson for WHQT/HOT 105, the #1 radio station in South Florida., a job I loved and did really well, for a long time. As time went on, I became increasingly in touch with my creative side and wanted to expand my world to include more. At the same time, in my volunteer efforts as Vice Chair of Planned Parenthood Miami, I was asked to produce a “Safe Sex in the City” party at the impressive Britto store on South Beach. I loved the experience because it allowed me work with a bunch of creative resources outside the station. The event, which I pulled off with the help of some good friends, was a huge success. After weeks of joyfully being able produce the event from my creative perspective and executing my cool ideas, I realized my life as a radio rep was over.
A few months later, Sadie McBean, then owner of Ginger Bay, a popular Jamaican restaurant in Hollywood, FL, asked me to put together a marketing plan to increase her dinner business and promote a reggae block party. I told her I had no idea how to do that. “I’m a radio salesperson, I don’t know how to do marketing“. She rolled her eyes, called BS and told me to go put a proposal together. I was so scared since I was pretty sure it was a conflict with my job – but I was more scared of Sadie..
I went back to her with a made-up marketing proposal and waited for her to reject it. Instead, she agreed and said “I’ll give you a $10,000 deposit on the campaign. Who should I write the check to?” OMG is all I was thinking, how did I get here?! What am I going to do now? I believed I had no idea how to do this thing Sadie is making me do.
So, with my orders clear, I went about the business of registering my surprise company with the state and choosing a name that was unique and underscored my surety that we are all connected, we are all ONE. Circle of One Marketing was born on December 17, 2001. .
My first project with Sadie was a stunning success. Then Sadie referred me to another client. I faked my way through that campaign too- and it was another huge success.
For a year and a half, I walked around the long, busy halls at HOT 105 and ran my secret, tiny ad agency in plain sight, sometimes handling accounts on both sides (more commission baby!). As a natural risk taker, it was a really exciting and terrifying time – learning how to do something new under the radar, while keeping up with my real job, was thrilling! Discovering I was good at it gave me new life. My time at the radio station truly prepared me for Circle of One.
These revelations, along with the money I had banked from my agency earnings, 401K and stocks – and most importantly, a client willing to pay me a fair monthly retainer, gave me the courage to leave HOT 105, a job that shaped my entire career., a job I loved, working with people I loved.
Some of my co-workers thought I’d never leave the station and one idiot even referred to me as “the furniture”. When I resigned, my big boss, a man I admired and respected, instead of being shocked at losing his cash cow, laughed at me. He chuckled actually, amused. He said there was no way I could do it and all the reps who tried to have an agency inevitably came running back. Then, this legend of a man opened his mouth and said “baby, go back and sit at your desk”. For about 60 seconds I freaked out, I doubted my huge decision and had an entire conversation in my head – “what am I doing – I make a gazillion dollars here – why would I leave- I’m a single mother – you’re going to fail- this is stupid – you’re stupid – he’s a genius – he’s right – I should stay.” All of that went through my head.
Then I remembered my little agency that I ran right under their noses for 18 months, had grossed $460K in its first year. In that surreal moment of mental and emotional terror, I remembered who I was and whose I was! For the record, I am eternally grateful to him for doubting me. It has been the wind under my wings, and I have succeeded just to prove him wrong. I owe him a debt of gratitude.
As I dropped the mic and walked out of his office like I was Beyonce, I adopted what is now my personal motto “the one who says it cannot be done, should not interrupt the ONE doing it.”
Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?
I have thought my life was over so many times.
There was the time we were producing an important event, in a sticky locale, for a very prestigious client. Everything was in place; my team was on it! I went to pick up the food and the BBQ restaurant told me they had sold our food because they had a busy holiday weekend. WTF. I swear that actually happened. An hour before my event for 300 people and I had no food. I thought my life was over.
As I freaked out, my event director, the lovely and talented Flora Sweet, called Publix for sides and found a BBQ ribs and chicken vendor, paid him double to meet us at the park in 1 hour with a truck full of food for 300 people. I don’t know how, but he showed up ready to go and eager to please. It was on time, delicious, plentiful and nobody knew the difference.
The Circle came through beautifully. and the client extended my contract by 6 months.
As it turns out, my life was not over.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.
circleofonemarketing.com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/circleofonemktg/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ circleofonemarketing - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/suzan- mcdowell-01a4574/ - Twitter: @circleofonemktg
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Headshot in blue/green jumpsuit and photo in green dress/Legacy in background: Credit: A.J. Shorter Legacy 50 Most Powerful cover shot: 3PM Media