Meet Mary Carley

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

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Mary with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic comes from my upbringing. My grandfather was a small business owner in St. Louis. He started working at a very young age and was very successful in the automobile industry, Both of my parents worked until retirement and now volunteer for a variety of organizations. I believe that role modeling positive behaviors is crucial to developing a strong work ethic, I was recently sharing a story with a group of young people about how I worked in healthcare while attending graduate school. Currently I work full time while running my own business and volunteering for organizations such as Albion College and Impact 100. I would not have it any other way. I am naturally a high energy person and I gain so much from these experiences. I really feel that my strong work ethic is one of my defining features.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My career in health and human services spans thirty-five years. I have broad management experience in a variety of organizations having designed and implemented medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, behavioral health benefits and wellness programs in public health organizations, hospitals, health plans and corporations. I have seen healthcare from just about every angle including the purchaser, provider, hospital and payer. I have a BA in Biology and Human Services from Albion College and a MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. I also serve on the Marketing Committee of Impact100 Metro Detroit.

As far as my creative side, I founded Carley Creative Concepts in 2016 and have been blogging and posting to social media ever since. My main client is the Heathers Club of Bloomfield Hills but I have other social media clients as well. I also work with several brands on influencer marketing campaigns.

I use my website and social media accounts to share my new posts as well as my newsletters. I have been working on increasing my reach on social media channels such as Instagram and TikTok.

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?
I would say that you have to put yourself out there and try new things. I did not know how to use social media or how to design a website or even how to put a post up once I designed my webpage. I taught myself by watching videos and studying what was available on the web. I believe you also must have a strong willingness to put in the work and never give up. Even when you have hard days or you feel like it is impossible, there is always a way. Reach out to your network, friends and family. There is always someone who can help or listen.
Lastly, try new things. Whether through a job or a volunteer opportunity, I like to try new things and learn new things. It is the key to success and longevity.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I find it useful to write in my journal. I am a list maker and that helps me to write down what needs to be done. I believe this skill is what makes me a good project manager. I have a keen awareness of the steps needed to get things done and the drive to keep work moving. I also exercise to help with my mental health. Whether walking on the treadmill at the gym, going to yoga or playing golf, physical activity is so important to me. When I move a little bit each day, I feel better, and I sleep better.

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