Meet Brenton Thomas

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brenton Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brenton, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience is the result of years spent overcoming adversity in countless forms. It all began with sports, particularly basketball. It was my family’s obsession. Growing up, my parents signed me up for every basketball league they could find, forcing me to adapt to different personalities on every team. Through this, I learned an invaluable lesson: no matter the challenge, you keep pushing forward.

When my basketball career came to an end, I entered the corporate world where a whole new set of obstacles awaited. Office politics, tough managers, and harsh criticism tested me in ways I hadn’t expected. From being told I wasn’t good enough to dealing with managers who’d yell at every misstep, it wasn’t easy to navigate.

But I adapted. I got better. And soon, I landed my dream marketing job at 30. Then, three months later, I was let go. That turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. Losing that job sparked the beginning of my own digital marketing agency and my life has never been better!

Every tough moment in my journey, from the basketball court to the boardroom to business ownership, has shaped me. What once felt like setbacks were really building blocks that strengthened my resilience, character, and work ethic along the way.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the founder of a Portland-based digital marketing agency, where my passion lies in driving business growth through impactful digital ad campaigns. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching our clients’ businesses thrive as a direct result of the strategies we implement. At the core, our mission is simple: Deliver value that translates into measurable revenue.

Before starting my own agency, I gained experience working with several other digital marketing agencies. One thing that always stood out to me was the lack of effort. Agencies often capped the time spent on each client’s account, regardless of campaign performance. That’s why, when I founded my agency, I made it a priority to focus on quality over quotas. My team and I dedicate the time needed to perfect every campaign, working tirelessly to ensure the best results. It’s this commitment to detail and genuine care for our clients that sets us apart.

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?

Reflecting on my career journey, three words stand out as the most influential: persistence, patience, and staying self-focused. Let me break each one down.

First, persistence. Along the way, plenty of people told me my dreams were unrealistic, or simply didn’t listen when I shared my vision. It’s not always ill-intentioned, but often, they’re projecting their own doubts or limitations. But persistence means pushing forward regardless of the opinions of others, trusting in your own path.

Second, patience. It took years before I saw real progress toward my goals. But when you’re driven by passion, patience becomes easier. Passion fuels your ability to wait for your dreams to materialize because you know the reward is worth the journey.

Finally, staying self-focused. In an era of social media, it’s easier than ever to compare yourself to others. Instagram is filled with highlight reels that don’t always reflect reality. For years, I kept my head down, set my own goals, and charted my own path, without getting caught up in what others were doing. That focus made all the difference.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

The people who played the biggest role in helping me overcome emotional challenges on my path to success were my wife and family. Their support was invaluable.

On the technical side, I reached out to several professionals on LinkedIn, asking if they’d be willing to mentor me in digital marketing. Their guidance was incredibly helpful. For a long time, I believed that the right manager in a corporate setting would teach me everything I needed to excel in the field. But that never happened, and it made me realize I had to take my growth into my own hands. So, I committed to watching an hour of digital marketing videos every night before bed. That investment in myself made all the difference!

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