New Beginnings

Today is my last day at Nebo. For the past 2.5 years I’ve had the pleasure of working with an extremely talented team of digital marketers and watching them mature not only as SEOs but as colleagues, peers, and friends. Brian, Kimm, and Adam took a chance on me when I moved to Atlanta and the opportunities they provided for me have not only made me a better marketer but also a better manager, salesman, public speaker, and mentor. I learned how to run a business, how to build and maintain a brand, and how to communicate effectively. I gained a more intimate understanding of the web design and development process, a practice that had always been familiarly foreign to me. I earned my first conference speaking gig and honed my presentation skills. The past 2.5 years have been an exercise in constant innovation and self-improvement for which I will always be grateful. More important than my personal growth, the most gratifying aspect of my time at Nebo was participating in the development of our SEO team. I watched Stephanie mature from a role player to a true and independent leader, actively setting professional goals and surpassing them faster than anyone (I think herself included) could have imagined. I saw Nate, one of the smartest and most creative technical SEOs I’ve ever worked with, consistently seek criticism and work every day to polish his communication skills so that the rest of the world can appreciate the value he brings to the table. To demonstrate how far he’s come, in our first meeting with a client he said “um” 43 times in a 2-minute span and now we’re starting a marketing podcast together. He still has a long way to go in terms of PB&J eating contests though… I remember when Sarah came in for her interview with a marketing background but only the most rudimentary understanding of SEO; Stephanie and I hired her based on pure hustle and it remains to this day one of the greatest business decisions I’ve ever made. And lastly, I’ll certainly miss the countless Google+ Hangout hours logged with Lauren, more than anyone else on the team, discussing the nuances of SEO and watching her thirst for knowledge develop before my eyes. So what’s next for me? For years I’ve dreamed of owning my own business, setting the strategic direction and owning the responsibility of executing on that direction. I’ve spent every day of my career in pursuit of that goal and the time has come to finally turn that dream into a reality. On Monday, I officially start work for Agora Inbound, my digital marketing consulting business with a specific focus on SEO. Why Agora Inbound? In ancient Greek times, the agora was the marketplace; if you expected to have a successful business and to interact with potential customers, a presence within the agora was essential. The Internet is the modern day equivalent of the agora, a communal environment where businesses and consumers interact to exchange goods and services. In 2014, a presence on the Web is essential and my passion is helping business owners leverage the unprecedented opportunity this modern day agora presents. Taking the plunge into small business ownership elicits a curious combination of anxiety and exhilaration, simultaneously intimidating and enthralling. Pursuing your dreams does put you at risk for failure, but more importantly it puts you at risk for success. Sooner or later, you have to trust in your preparedness, your expertise, and above all else your passion. After all, a goal properly set is halfway reached. So, as they say, onwards and upwards!