Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Debra Pivko. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Debra , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Life has a funny way of throwing you curve balls just when you think you’ve got it all figured out. I remember the day I was laid off from my job at Beachbody – a company that had been my whole world for eight years, where I’d made countless friendships and poured my heart into my copywriting work. Losing that was more than just losing a job… It felt like losing a piece of myself. But it wasn’t even the end of that chapter. The very next day, I received my cancer diagnosis.
In one moment, the ground beneath me vanished. Everything I thought I knew about stability, success, and health was suddenly upended. But I knew I had a choice: I could let these setbacks consume me, or I could take every ounce of energy I had left and use it to fight back, get through it, and then figure out a way to rebuild my body, my career, and my life.
Facing cancer was a test of resilience like nothing I’d experienced. The treatments left me bedridden and in agonizing, unrelenting daily pain for years. Basic tasks like getting food from the market or even walking became monumental challenges. And yet, I kept telling myself, “You’ve been here before, in different ways. You’ve faced setbacks and have found a way forward – even if the path wasn’t clear.” I clung to the belief that if I could just start with what I knew, learn from each day, and rebuild brick by brick, I’d make it through.
Meanwhile, I found ways to stay connected to the work that inspired me, using every bit of creativity and resourcefulness I had. Through online networking, I built a clientele for Intrigue Creative, my copywriting agency, even managing a team of 20 writers at one point – from bed in my pajamas. And I would no longer sulk when losing a client, but appreciate the learnings and get excited for the next adventure to come as nothing is meant to last forever. The 80/20 rule became my mantra – focusing 80% of my energy on the top 20% of efforts that would yield results. It was about working smart, conserving my energy, and finding ways to thrive in my new reality. I had to let go of prior expectations I had for life and take things one day at a time.
It took years, patience, and a relentless spirit, but eventually, I found a way out of the pain and was able to walk again without having to count the seconds before a spasm would kick in where my lats were surgically removed and build muscle even with no estrogen in my body. That journey taught me that resilience isn’t just about enduring hardship; it’s about seeing every struggle as a lesson, something to be learned and eventually overcome. I even shifted my outlook on life, realizing that financial success alone isn’t the path to true fulfillment – thought housing in LA is not cheap. Real meaning lies in nurturing all parts of life – from passions and friendships to health and wellness – and these fuel overall success. The setbacks may have been painful, but they also taught me to live more fully, appreciate everything, and celebrate every tiny win.
Over time, I poured this newfound energy and curiosity into new projects. I launched FemalePowerPlayers.com to spotlight remarkable women in business, facing countless challenges along the way but holding tight to the “why” behind the mission. Part of my why was trying to be social again from home and open to new ways of thinking and doing and when I felt like I had nothing to give, it became my gift to others, which brought me so much joy and opportunity. Each small win was a reminder to keep going, to stay resilient even when the road was rough. And I learned a ton from starting this new passion project and each of the incredible women I interview and feature.
Through all this, I’ve learned that life is as much about spreading things out and pacing myself as it is about those big leaps forward. I remember a time when it would take weeks to recover from a night out or a trip as I’m still on cancer meds, but now I value balance, spacing things out, and using what I’ve learned to protect my health and energy. Experience has shown me time and again that there’s power in resilience, and it’s something worth developing – because the curve balls keep coming.
Today, as AI and tools like ChatGPT come onto the scene, my resilience has taught me to see them as opportunities, not threats. While others may worry about the challenges, I’m choosing to keep an open mind. I believe there’s potential here to help others and to find new ways to fulfill my purpose and help others. Life may feel like being a rumba vacuum constantly hitting the wall when trying to figure out how to proceed forward in various situations, but I’ve found my way many times before which gives me hope I can usually find it again in any situation and that you can too. I’ll keep learning, keep growing, and keep moving (with lovely rest breaks of course)– because that’s what resilience is all about.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m passionate about using my creative skills to help brands tell their stories in a way that captivates audiences and drives results. Through my agency, Intrigue Creative, I do more than just write copy – I strategize a marketing plan alongside my clients, helping them craft compelling messaging funnels that get to the heart of what excites their customers and solves their challenges. Whether it’s direct response tactics, ad and landing page creation, headline brainstorming, writing commercials, or developing a brand voice that resonates, I focus on creating copy that stops people in their tracks and makes them want to know more and make their life better through incredible products and services.
In addition to IntrigueCreative.com, I founded FemalePowerPlayers.com, a platform dedicated to spotlighting incredible women in business. Through written interviews and articles, I get to highlight the stories, insights, and achievements of women who are making a difference in their fields. I’m also proud to feature these profiles in my fiancé’s Affiliate Ball e-newsletter, amplifying their stories and offers to a broader audience.
Speaking of Affiliate Ball, I’m affectionately known as the “Gold Meddler” in my fiancé’s businesses, which include affiliateball.com, the largest networking event for performance marketers, and the AFFY Expo and Awards at affyexpo.com. I absolutely love getting hands-on here – meeting and greeting everyone, noting what everyone is working on for biz collabs, brainstorming with my fiancé daily, shouting out our amazing sponsors from the stage, bringing sponsors to the green room to hang with the famous music artists, and even doing red carpet interviews during the awards. These events are an incredible way to bring people together, foster connections, and celebrate the marketing industry, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep building Intrigue Creative and Female Power Players, bringing new voices and stories to the forefront and crafting campaigns that inspire and drive action. I’m also loving playing with all the new AI tools and teaching others how to use them for their businesses. Plus, my neice’s excitement about them inspires me to learn more just to show her. Whether through my own business or supporting my fiancé’s ventures, I’m committed to creating experiences and connections that matter.
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, I’d say three qualities or skills have been most impactful in my journey.
The first is a deep understanding of people – their desires, motivations, doubts, and emotions. This skill isn’t just valuable for getting work; it’s essential for doing it well, especially when it comes to writing sales copy. I learned early on that effective copy isn’t written to a vague audience; it’s crafted with one specific person in mind. By truly understanding the emotions and motivations of that single reader, I can create words that resonate and inspire action. This approach doesn’t just apply to copywriting; anyone can benefit from connecting with others in this way, whether in personal interactions or broader communication. My advice? Get curious about people. Listen to them, pay attention to the little things that make them tick, and practice empathy – it’ll open doors in ways you might not expect.
The second quality is my ability to figure things out and see the big picture. When I’m working on something new, I don’t let the initial complexity frustrate me; I come at it with a mix of experience and fresh eyes. Often, this helps me find a more efficient way to approach a problem or recognize early on if it’s not the right fit for me. In those cases, I’m comfortable outsourcing to someone who can handle it better. This ability to stay calm and assess the big picture has saved me a lot of time and energy over the years. For those starting out, I’d say this: don’t be intimidated by the unknown. Approach new challenges with a mindset of discovery, and don’t hesitate to delegate when something isn’t in your zone of genius.
Finally, I’d say focusing on strengths has been key. I’ve learned that self-awareness is powerful. When you know what you enjoy and excel at, you’re better able to recognize when a task aligns with your strengths – and when it doesn’t. It’s like each experience comes together like a puzzle and you may not know the end result just yet, but if you’re following your strengths and passions and connecting with people that inspire you, the answers will eventually click and the opportunities create themselves. I remember one time during the pandemic, I panicked and took a job that ended up completely draining me. I was working with developers to figure out the Amazon algorithm to boost product sales, and it became clear pretty quickly that it wasn’t the right fit. The role wasn’t aligned with my skills or interests, and it took more energy than it gave back. I realized that I took it out of fear, not alignment, which has backfired a few times until I learned that lesson.That experience was a lesson in that learning what you don’t enjoy or do well is just as important as knowing what you excel at. Focusing on what you’re naturally drawn to will give you a sense of flow and fulfillment, and when you concentrate on that, things tend to work out.
My advice? Take the time to know yourself – what you’re great at, what energizes you, and what doesn’t. When an opportunity aligns with that understanding, you’ll feel it, and things will click into place.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes, I’m always open to partnering with passionate business owners and marketers looking to elevate their brand and boost conversions. Through my agency, Intrigue Creative, I offer a range of copywriting services designed to get results. Whether you need landing pages, email acquisition series, brand voice guides, scripts, ads, blogs, advertorials, or more, I’d love to help you create copy that resonates and converts. I offer as little as one day of booking, and I’m happy to provide a complimentary consultation to discuss your needs. If you’re interested, feel free to reach out at debra@intriguecreative.com – let’s see how we can make your brand stand out!
I’m also looking for remarkable businesswomen who are eager to share their stories and showcase their products or services. If you’d like to be spotlighted on FemalePowerPlayers.com and reach an audience of over 90,000 business owners and performance marketers through the Affiliate Ball e-newsletter, I’d love to connect with you. This platform celebrates women in business, and I’m excited to help you reach a wider community that’s always eager to support inspiring businesswomen. Email debrapivko@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.intriguecreative.com and http://www.femalepowerplayers.com
- Facebook: Debra Pivko
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrapivko/
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