We recently connected with Mariel Cunningham and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mariel, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
For the first few years in business I had the feeling that my success was a fluke. Whilst I was making some big sales I worried deep down that each sale might be my last. Many businesses aren’t profitable in their first few years and here I was turning a profit immediately. This was my first company and I was figuring out things as I went. In 2021 I saw a big shift where Porter & Pearl made an annual revenue of over $3M. At that point I started to feel like I was actually good at this and had found my calling. I decided to invest in a business coach to help me switch my mindset from feeling like I was running an accidentally successful business to being a proud intentional CEO. That shift has helped me step into more visibility and as such more opportunities. I feel like I’ve earned the right to claim the title of CEO and business owner. Whenever I catch myself having doubts about my abilities, I just look at what I have already achieved. As Marie Forleo says “everything is figureoutable”.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I run an exclusive experience concierge business specializing in celebrity meet and greets, VIP events, memorabilia and premium custom requests. After ten years working in business development for marketing agencies in Australia I decided to try something a little different. When I moved to San Francisco I worked at a start-up that ran an online auction platform to win unique experiences. I was quickly promoted to Director of Premium Experiences where I looked after our high net worth clients fulfilling their custom requests. This was where I discovered the world of luxury concierge services and celebrity experiences. No two days were the same and every phone call brought a new and exciting request.
When the company was acquired, I along with many of my colleagues, was laid off. I was devastated but I took the opportunity to do something I had always dreamed of. I started my own business, Porter & Pearl. I have delivered everything from meeting movie stars on the red carpet, playing tennis with a pro at Wimbledon, birthday video messages from famous musicians, and sourcing screen matched lightsabers from Star Wars movies, and more! I feel so blessed to do this. I get to play a part in making people’s dreams come true. My clients see me as their wingwoman to get them whatever they want. With an enviable little black book of celebrity contacts my access spans the globe which means I get to work with some of the richest most influential people in the world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think first and foremost, learn as much as you can in your career. There is so much I learned on the job and relationships I built in my past roles that really have created the foundation for my business. Never burn bridges as you never know you might run into down the line or who’s help you might need to call on. If you’re dreaming of starting your own company but not quite there yet, then every job is an opportunity to learn a skill that will serve you down the line. I am extremely resourceful and scrappy. Even if I don’t know how to do or get something, I know I’ll find a way because of my past experiences.
Secondly, start before you’re ready. I had no clue how to set up a business but there are so many resources online that can guide you. You’d be surprised how simple it is. In the past I suffered from paralysis of analysis but since then I have learned that progress is so much more powerful than perfection. When I lost my job I decided to start my business the very next day with zero down time to over think and talk myself out of it. Action breeds motivation!
Finally, you don’t have to do it alone. Life as a solopreneur can be really hard but it doesn’t have to be that way. Join entrepreneur communities either in person or online. Feel supported through shared experiences and learn from other people’s mistakes. I invested in a business mastermind group and it showed me how fun running my own company can be. I think we often forget that when we fall into the habit of grind and hustle but this group helped me to orient the way I ran my business to pleasure and I am forever grateful for that.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I mentioned earlier that I worked with a business coach for six months. That time was without a doubt the happiest within my business. I felt like business had been a grind and I had nobody to share the journey with. I was figuring out everything from taxes, to credit card payments to email marketing myself. It was so great to share my accomplishments and fears with someone else. Most of all, I enjoyed the accountability. Sometimes its hard to feel motivated so to have someone (I was paying) to keep me on track meant I did all the things I was supposed to. I loved having someone to bounce ideas off who had been there before. She was amazing at holding my vision of success and reminding me of my “why” when the going got tough.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.porterandpearl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/porter_and_pearl/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/porter-pearl/
Image Credits
Jenny Lawson
