Meet Stephanie Shaver

We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Shaver recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I’d say my resilience was pretty well developed during 2020 as the pandemic hit. I had been working with local chambers of commerce and community development agencies as my day job/career and had upfront access to the struggles of local businesses and nonprofits. I had zero plan to start my own end-to-end, full-service marketing agency, but when I saw how uncertain times were, I wanted to be on the front line helping businesses stay in business. That’s how Project 4 was born.

Launching Project 4 during the pandemic was a rollercoaster! Seeing so many businesses and nonprofits struggling with business and their marketing efforts really fueled my determination. Their resilience was awe-inspiring. Helping people (and communities) succeed has always been a core value of mine, and Project 4 is an extension of that. I realized that resilience is the foundation for anyone trying to build something great, and I definitely got a crash course in it.

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?

At Project 4, we’re obsessed with marketing. We’re not just an agency; we’re your partners in crafting captivating campaigns that drive results. From the initial spark of an idea to the final, polished product, we’ve got you covered.

We’re a full-service, end-to-end marketing agency with a zest for what we do! We’re always on the pulse of the latest trends, user behaviors, and design breakthroughs, ensuring our client brand stays ahead of the curve. Our passion lies in transforming marketing dreams into reality. From strategy to execution, the Project 4 team is here to support our clients.

What sets us apart? It’s simple: we genuinely care about our client’s business.

We love what we do and most importantly we love what our clients do too! We’re committed to building long-lasting partnerships based on trust, transparency, and exceptional results. We educate our clients on how to maintain marketing efforts in-house if that’s what they need, or we take on the full scope of work and do it 4 you! We want our clients to want us, not need us.

All assets and ad accounts are owned by the client and never held under our agency. It’s a core value of ours to be of service to clients and never hold assets created for them from them (which a lot of agencies do.)

Our services include (but aren’t limited to):

– Comprehensive marketing strategies
– Expert brand consulting and identity development
– Website design and development
– Search engine optimization (SEO) + (SEG),
– Search engine marketing (SEM)
– Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising on platforms like Google and Meta
– Engaging social media management and content creation
– Effective public relations campaigns
– Print and digital graphic design
– Traditional advertising across TV, radio, and print
– And that’s just the beginning! We’re always expanding our offerings to meet the evolving needs of our clients.

If any of your readers are ready to turn their marketing vision into a reality – Contact us for a free discovery call at www.Project4Marketing.com

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 believe the three most impactful qualities on my path have been:

Passion:

A genuine enthusiasm for what I do has been the driving force behind my success. I’m passionate about marketing and helping others succeed, which fuels my creativity, motivation, and dedication. I look forward to my work day because I’m passionate about what I do.

Lifelong Learning:

The marketing industry is constantly evolving. Staying curious and committed to continuous education has been essential. It’s about more than just staying updated; it’s about nurturing a growth mindset. User behavior and technology are ALWAYS changing. A commitment to education and my curiosity have had a huge impact on where I am today.

Self-Belief:

Believing in my abilities has been the #1 “thing” for overcoming challenges and achieving my goals. Trusting my instincts, setting high standards, and celebrating my wins. Imposter syndrome can sneak in, when that happens I have to remind myself of my experience, my abilities, and my values. Believing in myself, with the support of others, is the fuel behind it all.

For those starting their career in marketing or starting their own company, I recommend:

Find Your Spark – Discover what truly excites you! Passion is contagious and will propel you and your career forward.

Learn Something New – Invest time in learning new skills and staying informed about industry trends. There’s always something new to discover or master.

Be Your Own Cheerleader – Believe in yourself and your potential! Be excited not stressed. Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. Use setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Feeling overwhelmed comes with the territory of running your own company. The first 3 years were the hardest and most overwhelming. I learned to trust myself and my team to hit goals. Trusting the process is huge for me when I get bogged down with tasks.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of work. Taking time for myself helps maintain balance, and turns out, it really helps me with productivity too!

Here are some strategies that have helped me:

Unplug and recharge. Stepping away from my screens and distractions allows my mind to rest and rejuvenate. Whether it’s going for a walk, listening to music, meditating, or simply sitting on my porch, disconnecting helps me regain perspective.

Setting clear boundaries. Establishing a clear work-life balance schedule was huge for me. I’ve found that designating specific work hours and avoiding work-related activities outside of those times helps me to truly relax and recharge. This was the hardest for me! It’s important to remember life is more than what you do, but who you are. Enjoy life and keep clear boundaries with work hours.

Prioritizing tasks each day. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, it’s helpful to create a to-do list and prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. Breaking down larger projects into smaller, more manageable steps reduces my feelings of overwhelm. I plan out my weeks and months with project “to-do’s” and follow-ups. This helps get it out of my mind and keeps my team and I on track.

Learning and practicing mindfulness has made a huge impact when dealing with overwhelm. Focusing on the present moment helps me to manage stress and anxiety. Mindfulness techniques like deep breathing and meditation have been great for calming my mind. A quick 10-minute guided meditation or walking meditation is my go-to for when my mind starts spinning.

And when I’m really overwhelmed – I schedule an afternoon massage and call it a day 🙂 We can’t be 100% every day, and I’ve learned that’s OK.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Project4Marketing.com