We were lucky to catch up with Cory Hicks recently and have shared our conversation below.
Cory, 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 was born & raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. I grew up playing basketball, and was fortunate to get a scholarship to play in college, leading me to Texas.
Being a part of a championship team, basketball has revealed to me the importance of preparation, repetition, & belief. Basketball has allowed me to practice the skill of ‘showing up’ & outworking when most people quit.
A powerful quote that I live by:
‘The way you do anything is how you do everything.’
Despite when things aren’t going the ideal way you envisioned, it takes humility, discipline, and maturity to still show up.
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?
I work with paid media & as a creative, utilizing my creativity in various forms such as photography, graphic design, and videography.
As a former athlete, I truly value & appreciate clear communication, professionalism, & strategy. These are the same fundamentals that build the foundation for effective marketing. Marketing has allowed me to connect with others beyond the surface level, which has been the most fulfilling part of the journey.
In September 2023, I founded my marketing agency, Notify Media & Marketing here in Dallas. We are based on this premise:
Only make work you are proud of.
Notify is driven to provide an effective marketing experience with photography & videography, aiming to professionally & proudly reflect your personal brand or business. In the near future, we plan to expand by integrating our eye-catching creations with the paid media buying process for maximum return on investment.
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?
The most impactful qualities in my journey were understanding the concept of delayed gratification, curiosity, & being authentic to yourself.
Delayed gratification refers to the ability to resist the temptation of immediate rewards in favor of receiving a more substantial reward later on. It’s all about exercising patience and self-control to achieve long-term goals rather than giving in to instant gratification. I look at time differently than most.
My approach is by dissecting time into seasons. Whether it is a season of learning, a season of application, a season of holding off, or a season of seeking opportunity. All of these seasons play an important part in the journey. It helps you become intentional with every step toward your desired destination.
When it comes to curiosity, it’s about the desire to learn, explore, and understand new things. It’s the skill to ask questions & seek knowledge.
Ultimately, staying true to who you are is paramount. I read a power statement in a book once, and it said “You escape competition with authenticity”. From what I’ve seen, embracing your authenticity has a captivating power. Regrettably, many individuals stray from their genuine selves.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing both of my parents did for me was introduce me to God. By relying on Jesus Christ, it reminds me that I don’t need to be in control. I pray to God every day, seeking his wisdom and guidance for every decision in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://notifymediamarketing.square.site
- Instagram: cantguardcory
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corynhicks/
- Other: Personal Portfolio: https://corynhicks.myportfolio.com
