Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sam Malone. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sam, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
I believe the best way to avoid burnout is focusing on how you start/end the day. Burnout is a by-product of grinding it out in a non-stop manner. A burnout victim only sees work as his/her primary target. I love to start the day with prayer and a sweaty workout. During weights and cardio, I’m too whooped to even think about work. I wrap up the day with “sofa time” with my beautiful bride of 32+ years. We just kick off our shoes and talk; no TV, cell phones, laptops, nuttin’. Sofa time comes with footsies & flirting… but no technological distractions. Don’t get me wrong, entrepreneurs NEED to drive hard during the day (and sometimes nights). But make sure your daily time is bookended with faith, cardio & communications. After all, what’s more important…increased market share, or how well you built a marriage and raised respectful, God-loving children?
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I LOVE coming to work at 512 New Media! That’s the Marketing/Media company I founded 10 years ago. We are laser-focused professionals who help our clients become more successful. We create, deliver and add value to their brand/campaign. I oversee all the creative content. 30 years of Houston morning radio has given me incredible insight into message creation. Our amazing web development staff builds eye-catching websites while our video teams shoot and produce outstanding video commercials and Social Media content. And the great news is…it’s all IN HOUSE. We don’t farm out our production, development OR creative. That way, clients get the most streamlined delivery and cost-effective pricing.
Why marketing? The transiti0n from radio to marketing was…effortless. During my radio days hosting the morning show on 104 KRBE, clients were always asking for my advice about scripts for TV commercials, insight about print ads and creative suggestions for billboards. One car dealership hired me to produce a video, even though I didn’t own a camera. BTW, that media campaign was hilarious! That led to more work. I was creating all this media content while on the radio! One minute I’m hanging out with Olivia Newton-John (pictured) or Aerosmith (pictured), then off to write copy for a TV commercial. After spending time with other marketing professionals, I decided to open my open company, based on the fundamentals of creativity, honesty & transparency.
It’s a great feeling when a marketing plan comes to life and scores wildly for the client. Luckily, the 512 New Media family gets to experience that quite often.
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?
Three skills that I have preached over the years are well known to my team:
1) Don’t assume you know what the other person (client) is talking about
2) Don’t volunteer information
3) Schmooze, Schmooze, Schmooze
These 3 skills have fared well for me. However, the younger generation (the yoots) will certainly have problems with all 3. Most have their faces buried in their screens, making it impossible for them to absorb all that a client has to offer.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
Both my mom and dad proudly worked for the city of Philadelphia. At first, just my dad worked, while mom stayed home to raise 3 rowdy sons. Then the dentist said I needed braces. To pay for the orthodontia, my mother went back to work. So growing up, money was always tight. At the age of 14, I asked my mom for new jeans. At the time, every shirt and pair of pants I ever had were all hand-me-downs. I finally wanted my own darn blue jeans. She asked me how much they cost. I told her about a new store selling them for $19.99 a pair. Mom was quite honest and told me they could not afford to give me that much money, and insisted I get a job to afford the new pants. I took that as a challenge, and started looking for any employment I could find. At first I shoveled snow (made $100 in one day), then became a busboy in a Greek seafood restaurant. Got my first restaurant kitchen job at 15 years old..and never stopped. By being honest about our financial situation, my parents lit a spark of self-taught financial independence that still lives with me today!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.512NewMedia.com
