Bio
"Satisfaction in what I do day-to-day is paramount."
​Born to entrepreneurs, Myra was born "determined," and destined to follow in their footsteps. As young curious-minded entrepreneurial types do, Myra tried out many different job positions. She got her start in business early at the age of 14, working full-time in a fast-paced popular bagel bakery in the bustling Old Towne section of Pasadena (CA). Her work ethic quickly got her promoted, and before she had turned 15 she was in a management position managing people twice her age. "Looking back on it, it's hard to believe. But it didn't seem too mature a lifestyle at the time." She remarks.
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Among her early positions was an assistant sales position, delivering BMW's to the "VIPs in Hollywood" for their extended test-drives. A dealership owner had poached her, and a year later, she got poached again. This time working for a property owner. She helped manage rentals, learning firsthand about landlording from maintenance, how to run a maintenance crew through to mortgage finance and acquisitions. Her boss, who she calls Uncle, taught her to run the numbers before becoming "emotionally invested" in a property. "Don't drive by until you've run the numbers!" he would say. An entrepreneur himself, he gave her a toolbox- a literal one, but also her business toolbox. "I am ever grateful to him. Looking back, I can see just how formational that experience was."
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Her first business was an independent film production company in Los Angeles, "an invaluable, thrilling trial-by-fire" education that cemented how she has pursued business to this day. She was asked to produce a short 35mm film. Knowing nothing of the industry, she asked, "What does a producer do?" The answer was simply, "They make it happen." So she figured out what she needed to, often informally interviewing people and making "practice phone calls" using an alias. That first production went off without a hitch. So she put out an ad and just like that- she got work, rented an office, and was in business. She was entrusted by strangers with managing budgets where thousands of dollars were spent each
I'm just so serious! ;)
day. "It was an environment of making the nearly impossible come true, day after day." ​​
When Myra was 27, Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Due to the government's inaction, she was compelled to help. She didn't mean to start another company. "It just happened." She co-founded an emergency disaster relief non-profit. It required her to relocate temporarily to Louisiana. It was "all day long, every day for over a year". It was more intense than producing. "The world got smaller. I found myself in rooms with community stakeholders- business owners, judges... I realized that I can have a large impact simply by being a do-er. I didn't need to have experience. I needed to keep asking questions and keep pushing things forward." But the NP grew too fast, and front-line work was too hard on her heart. It went on to grow internationally and did beautiful work, including aiding thousands of refugees in Greece for years.
Among her other endeavors, Myra also started a sustainable timber flooring company in New Zealand, championing sustainability for upmarket and commercial projects across the country during a recession. The business grew quickly (over 300% YOY) and became a well-respected leader in the market. You can tell she is particularly proud of this business.​​ One thing this interviewer can't skip over is that Myra didn't choose to be an entrepreneur. She didn't have a choice in this part of her life's path. Perhaps it is inborn. She loves a challenge. She loves problem-solving. She craves efficiency. She makes decisions autonomously. She trusts herself whether her opinion is formed by gut instinct or backed by the data. She doesn't mind having all the weight of a company's success or failure on her shoulders.
"The market is the test. The market is my report card." she says. She seeks satisfaction in creating something from what started out as just an idea. "It's so rewarding."
All of her business experiences allow her to connect with a wide variety of clients as a consultant. She chooses to work with small businesses. "The small business formula makes sense. They have a product or service. The community needs it. Big companies inevitably equal compromise for the employee and for the community." She loves to share what she has learned and to challenge people to think differently. She reminds them that while starting a business is hard, small businesses are important. "They provide us with an income we can feel proud of, and diversify the products and services available in the marketplace, and perhaps most importantly- accountability. I don't want a world dominated by shareholder-driven corporations. I want a world of varied mom-and-pop companies,"
Myra is an ​​INTJ-A.
About My Approach
Psychology of Business
I use a psychology of business approach to assist business owners to understand the foundations of psychology that permeate all business endeavors. There isn’t an area of a business's success that isn’t rooted in psychology. The psychology of business approach should create the foundation for guiding the operational structure of the business, as well as the creative e.g. media assets. It is all psychology. The importance of this can't be understated. Do you want your ad to be seen? Do you want to keep your employees long-term? Understanding what drives people helps business owners in all areas- from keeping employees optimally productive, to getting clients in the door, to strong sales numbers. Using calculable human nature, we increase revenue and create smart business practices.
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Full-Circle Marketing
The most successful marketing understands just how large the marketing umbrella is and incorporates a mixture of a tried and true psychological principles. Marketing extends to every part of your business that interacts with the customer. So, is customer service part of marketing? If all of your marketing efforts lead customers through your door to then be turned off by your crabby receptionist- did your marketing plan fall short? Full-circle marketing is more effective. It follows the customers experience to maximize satisfaction at every point maximizing your investment.
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Business-Based Creative
Approaching creative assets for your brand with an adept understanding of the basic principals of business is the first crucial component to effective creative assets. Incorporating necessary psychological principles to achieve your desired outcome, is the second. Surprisingly, the majority of creatives are not taught about business and thus there is often a disjoint in marketing materials- one of the most crucial parts of a business's success. (Why are the larger corporations so much better at marketing? Yes- they have the capital. But they also have marketing agencies. At agencies, business minds and creative minds work together to create marketing materials. You need both sides of this coin!)
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Sustainable Business Practices
I am a proponent of sustainable business practices. Happy work environments equal low turnover. Burnout is costly for the human experiencing it, and also to the company that suffers from low productivity and/or high attrition. Creating a work environment that allows its employees to feel valued is what is best for ROI. What do your employees need?
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My Favorite Quote for Business:
"You don't know- what you don't know."
