We’re looking forward to introducing you to Channing Muller. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Channing, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I just ran the Chicago Marathon for the 4th time, and my 14th marathon overall! It is hands-down the best day in Chicago. I could not stop smilling the whole time. The way the city shows up for you and creates this 26.2 mile party of so many different cultures is just fantastic. Truly an unbelievably happy day in the city!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I began my career in journalism before switching to the advertising side of media, then onto marketing and sales coaching. As I moved from each role to the next, I continued freelancing in the former capacity. Eventually those freelance projects would all come together to be what is now DCM Communications.
When you start a company the first questions you must answer are:
1. Who is your target market?
2. What solution can you offer to solve their problem?
3. Why would they hire you over someone else?
I knew a baseline of marketing-related services I would offer to answer #2, but then I needed to figure out “Why would someone hire DCM for marketing or PR over any other agency that’s more established?”
The answer to that became clear very quickly: because I know the event industry.
I had years of experience interviewing event professionals about their work so I knew the talent, their problems AND how to solve them.
So I positioned DCM to specialize in helping event companies improve their brand & marketing communications, what we still do to this day.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I keenly remembering being told, “don’t be so emotional” or “you’re too much.”
As I got further into adulthood though, I came to realize that my emotional nature is precisely what seems to resonate with people. Whether I am on a stage speaking to a group of 150, or just a 1-1 video call, my authentic response to a topic, idea or person’s business comes through loud and clear.
That “emotional” nature leaves no doubt that I am both passionate about what I do and helping others stand out in what THEY do.
Turns out it’s also what has made people remember me long after I left the room. Being emotional isn’t something to be tampered or seen a hinderance, but rather harnessed and embraced since it’s what makes me stand out.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
As an endurance runner I know a lot about suffering. Miles 20-23 of any marathon are usually, though not always, a sufferfest.
What you learn in those miles is how to persevere. What are the mantras you can receite to keep you moving forward? How do you want to feel after you get through this hard part? What will future you be saying?
Success on the other side of suffering is what feels amazing. Being able to look back at the hard part and say, “Yes, it was challenging but I still DID it. I made it through.” That teaches us grit so that when another hard time/season/issue comes up, we know we CAN handle it because we’ve done hard things before and did not give up.
We may need to slow down, take a break or a few deep breaths, but forward is forward and it does get better.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
100%!
That being said, the public me is not ALL of who I am. It’s a portion of it. I think you can be 100% the real you in any situation, but just because we *can* share a lot about ourselves does not mean we *need* to or should have to share all of who we are.
What you see online about me and my life is very much the real me. It’s just not all of me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
That your physical health should be priortized above all else. That means workouts go on the schedule daily and are not able to get cancelled for a meeting. Doctors appointments are set in stone, no moving.
So many people tend to push these things off in favor of work or another commitment they think takes priority in the moment and these things can “be done later,” but if we do not take care of our physical health there may not be a later.
As a two-time heart attack survivor, I can tell you from personal experience to never take your physical health for granted becuase when you do not have it, nothing else matters but getting it back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dcmcommunications.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dcmcommunications
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/channingmuller/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
