We were lucky to catch up with Amber Miller recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amber, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I believe my strong work ethic stems from a variety of past/present experiences as well as the desire to achieve future goals. First and foremost, my parents instilled in me the value of hard work and perseverance from a young age. Growing up, I saw my mom and dad work extremely long hours, and give every last inch of themselves to my brother and I to give us the BEST childhood experience that every kid dreams of — one that they wish they had received. They taught me that nothing in life comes easy and that if you want to achieve your goals, you have to be willing to put in the effort and then some — 100% doesn’t cut it anymore, you have to give 200%. Watching them inspired me to adopt the same “hustler” mindset. I’m grateful to have had such strong role models in my life, and I know that their influence has helped me become the hardworking entrepreneur and dedicated individual that I am today.
Secondly, my time as a gymnast and a D1 collegiate athlete at Virginia Tech, taught me the importance of having a strong work ethic. The demanding training schedule and high expectations of being a collegiate athlete required me to be disciplined and dedicated. I quickly realized that success in gymnastics/college cheerleading, and in life, is directly related to the amount of effort and work that you are willing to put in. The challenging and rigorous nature of gymnastics helped me develop a resilient mindset and a willingness to push myself beyond my limits. I learned that failure is a necessary part of growth and that it’s the hard work and persistence that pays off in the end. The lessons I learned on the mat have translated into other areas of my life, and I now approach challenges with the same dedication and determination that I did as an athlete.
In addition, a hard work ethic is essential for running a successful business. As an entrepreneur, you need to be willing to put in the time and effort required to build and grow your company. This means working long hours, taking on difficult challenges, and being persistent in the face of obstacles. You need to be able to set clear goals, develop a plan to achieve them, and execute that plan with precision. Consistently delivering quality products or services, meeting deadlines, and exceeding expectations are all essential elements of building trust and credibility in the business world. Ultimately, a hard work ethic is what sets successful entrepreneurs apart from the rest. It’s what drives them to keep pushing forward, even when faced with challenges or setbacks. Those who are willing to work hard and stay committed to their goals (even more so during the struggles and challenges) are more likely to achieve success in the long run.
Combine all three of the above aspects and throw my ultimate fear of being average on top of it — or not achieving my full potential both personally and professionally — is NEVER something I am willing to sacrifice. I believe that every single person on this Earth was given a purpose and has unique talents and abilities, and I don’t want to waste mine by settling for mediocrity.
Looking towards my future, I am driven by my desire to be the perfect parent to my future family (as my parents did for me). I want to be able to give them the world and provide for them in all aspects of their life.
Hard work is a key ingredient in achieving success, and I strive to be the best version of myself every single day in all that I do. I’ve always been motivated to push myself beyond my limits and exceed my own expectations, regardless of others opinions, whether it’s in my personal life or in my career. I find that when I stay focused on my goals and work hard to achieve them, I feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that keeps me motivated to continue pushing myself — shout out to my fellow enneagram 3’s out there!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Amber Miller, a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Journalism with a concentration in videography and a Bachelor of Science in Family Consumer Science. I was a D1 collegiate cheerleader throughout my career as a Hokie, a member of Alpha Phi sorority, and worked closely with the VT Athletics Marketing Department. I am the CEO of Pretty as Peaches LLC — a social media marketing and digital advertising company. I am the co-owner of Double Tap Marketing LLC, as well as an Account Manager for several brands at Power Move Marketing. Additionally, I am also on the marketing advisory board for Armed Forces Brewing Company. If you are local to Virginia, you may even see me on local commercials up and down the East Coast as a talent for Studio Center and MMG.
For Pretty as Peaches LLC, I specialize in influencer marketing. I partner with brands such as Dunkin, Kroger, Nurtec ODT, Pepsi, etc for digital marketing and content creation.
For Double Tap Marketing LLC, I am the co-owner and operate the “influencer marketing” side of the business. This is similar to Pretty as Peaches LLC, yet I am on the completely opposite end of the collaboration. I am organizing campaigns, selecting influencers, creating briefs, drawing up contracts, discussing with the brands/business, etc. I am currently assisting with the influencer strategy for: The Dirty Buffalo Chesapeake, Dermacare Hampton Roads, Skydive Suffolk, BobbyB Entertainment, and Sundays Sun & Spa Shop.
For Power Move Marketing, I am an Account Manager specializing in brand partnerships, influencer marketing, and content creation. To put this in more simple terms, we are your one stop shop for all things Marketing, such as: Digital ads, website design, social media management, content creation, SEO, Blog write ups, social media growth, Email Campaigns/SMS, E-commerce consulting, Public Relations, and much more. Currently, I am the Account Manager for: Living Juice, pitchLogic, Verdure Medical, Natural Earth, Simply Skin by Sara, and a handful of personal branding clients.
For Armed Forces Brewing Company, I am on the marketing advisory board to assist in commercial shoots, content creation, advertising, etc. I work closely with the advisory team: Ray Care (former Navy SEAL), Robert J O’Neill (Former SEAL team 6 Operator), Darren McBurnett (former Navy SEAL), and many more to push this company to success! We launched on July 4th of 2021, so we have all been working diligently to expand our market. There is a BIG surprise in the near future that unfortunately am not able to discuss just yet, but be on the lookout for a huge announcement in the coming months!
As a local talent, I work with Studio Center and MMG for commercials and TV shows. If you’re local to the 757, I often can be seen in commercials for: Casey Auto Group, Busch Gardens, and Water Country USA.
Needless to say, I stay VERY busy in my career. But again, I love every second of it and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I am so blessed to have grown so quickly in the marketing space and have the opportunity to meet all of the incredible people I work with!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I stand by my original question…. work ethic is everything. In addition to a hard work ethic, perseverance/tenacity. Perseverance is a challenging quality to acquire and develop. When faced with adversity in the workplace, perseverance is what will set you apart from the rest. & if perseverance does not work, having tenacity will push you to carve out your own pathway with new discoveries to achieve a goal when the old ways were no longer working. It is when you are faced with obstacles, deadlines, uncomfortable situations, etc. when you discover who you truly are. Then… you grow as an individual and prosper in your career! Lastly, this was a tough one to only pick three qualities… but in the world of marketing, I find it essential to have a contagious personality. You want your audience and clientele to thrive in your energy.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Absolutely, I am always looking to partner or collaborate with new people/brands. As I mentioned previously, I cover all ranges of marketing: influencer marketing, content creation, social media management, blogs/SEO, email marketing, and SO much more. As a content creator/influencer, I am always on the hunt for brands to collaborate with! As a digital marketing professional, I am always ecstatic to discover how I can best support you and your marketing efforts! There are a few ways to connect with me:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.prettyaspeaches.com
Instagram: @ambermiller9
Tiktok: @prettyaspeaches
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.prettyaspeaches.com
- Instagram: @ambermiller9
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prettyaspeachesblog/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-miller-86b17bb3/
- Twitter: @amber_miller9
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyMkYo0kx69bz7hWhHgbjMQ
- Yelp: N/A
- SoundCloud: N/A
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prettyaspeaches Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/prettyaspeaches/pins
Image Credits
For both photos of myself and my fiance, credit goes to “Kacee Nubine Photography”
