We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Megan Neri a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Megan, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
My definition of self-care is the act of proactively ensuring you are putting yourself first in giving your body, mind, and emotions what they need to feel good. I think in today’s world, self-care is extremely underrated and often viewed as being selfish. However, the way I see it is you simply cannot show up for anyone or anything else unless you are in fact, your best self. How do I do that? Consistent, dynamic, and effective self-care routines in perpetuity. There is no end date, it’s built in for life.
My specific self-care routine may seem obvious but that magic word “consistency” is what makes it effective. I have what I call a baseline routine which consists of eating well on a pescatarian diet, working out at least 5 days a week, a full 8 hours of sleep per night, taking my daily vitamins, and dedicated reading time each week whether that be a fiction book or material dedicated to the industry in which I work. I also always make sure I’m spending time with family and friends for good deep laughs and a full heart.
There is a dynamic side to my routine as well. Activities that I may not do daily but assist in making me feel good. Occasionally I take magnesium baths, ride my bike down the trail, lay in my sauna blanket, try a new tea, explore a new wellness trend and so much more. I was once given an accolade for “most likely to be on a new health kick”! I think it’s important to see what else is out there helps you feel good. The same routine can get stale and can easily lead to falling off or taking breaks when you shouldn’t.
So, what has all of this done for me? To put it lightly – so much. My self-care routine has helped keep my mind strong, making me a better leader and employee in my career. It has given me a strong body, so that I can keep moving and independently handle physical, mental, and emotional parts of life that will always inevitably happen. It’s given me resilience, courage, ambition, strength, motivation and so much more to be the absolute best person I can be for myself and for all who depend on me to show up.
Though all of this, I have also learned that it’s okay to rest. Rest is self-care. Giving yourself a break and some grace during challenging times IS necessary to keep moving forward. I strongly believe society has taught us that we have to constantly be on the move, we can’t give ourselves a break otherwise we fall behind, or someone else gets the upper hand. That’s not true. Every body needs rest, no matter who you are, and that’s not just self-care, but also self-love. Through everything that I accomplish in any given day, I also make sure I rest when my body needs it. There have been times when I would power through and not listen to what I need, and it has definitely resulted in digression. And honestly, that’s okay too. The important part is getting back up and moving forward should you find yourself in that position.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a Senior Director of Partnership Development at DMi Partners, a full-service digital marketing agency based in Philadelphia. I support a team of insanely talented individuals who help find opportunities for our clients through different partnerships ranging from mass media outlets and influencers all the way to tech and loyalty partners. Not only do we help find said opportunities, but we are consistently finding new partners to launch and develop with our team and our clients. A large part of my role is also helping my team grow as individuals. Supporting them in their career path and making sure they are thriving and are fulfilled in what they are doing on a day-to-day basis. There are a million reasons why I love what I do and the company I work for, but the most exciting part about my role is leading my team to impactful growth opportunities. It’s incredibly rewarding to see my team achieve success. Furthermore, it’s even more rewarding to work next to individuals who break down barriers and find areas of growth that no one else is thinking about.
The way we operate is so unique. We don’t keep our teams stagnant; we keep our teams growing. We are always thinking about how we can be better for our clients, partners and team, what is new, what is next, how can we tap into these things. Our brains and creative juices are always flowing, and the most beautiful part about it is that it comes naturally, and it’s filled with passion. Our affiliate division just recently launched 2 new services outside of traditional affiliate: Amazon management and TikTik Shop Management. We are also working closely with partners like iHeart Media to explore affiliate campaigns, which has never been done before!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back at my career journey, I think the three qualities that I have learned that were most impactful was and still is my ambition, resilience, and curiosity. I am incredibly goal oriented. Hitting numbers and seeing success makes me tick. It gives me something to work towards and the feeling of accomplishing something that brings value to others is a feeling that I crave regularly. On the flip side, when things don’t go as planned (and let’s be real, this will happen) I find myself to be resilient. I can bounce back from anything, and rather quickly. There’s always going to be obstacles, challenges, areas that can’t be fixed at the snap of a finger, and being able to withstand those challenges and power through is key to building your empire. Lastly, I’m always and forever going to be curious. I don’t and will never know everything, and I think that’s so beautiful. I can surround myself with individuals, books, and resources that continuously teach me more, in ever facet of life.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
The most impactful person who has helped me overcome challenges and helped me develop essential skills to be successful is hands down my leader, mentor, and friend, Kristina Nolan. Kristina is one of those rare individuals in the world who has qualities that will not only challenge and grow you, but with lead you with empathy and compassion, which is the perfect combination to genuinely nurture someone. She is talented beyond words and is laser focused on building people up to be the most amazing person they can be. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Kristina for years on a professional and personal level, and I am forever grateful that she is in my life. I honestly with everyone could have a Kristina Nolan in their life.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganneri/
