Maurisa Potts - Spotted MP
How/what did you start your business?
I decided to go out on my own in 2008 after leaving a great 20+ year journey in corporate America. Prior to going out on my own, I was the Marketing & Communications Director for the Crystal City Business Improvement District. Folks thought I was crazy to go out on my own in 2008 as it was during the height of the financial recession. I love being a marketer and communicator, but I was also a new mom back then and wanted to continue to do what I love, but under my own terms and freedom. October 2008 I announced that I was launching my marketing/PR/events practice (via my business network and connections) and within a week, I got my first project - which was to craft a strategic marketing and communications plan for a technology company.
What inspires you?
What is inspiring me right now are all the folks that are adapting, pivoting, or creating new ways to do business during a pandemic. I have seen so much creative ideas and innovation come out during these challenging times. In a weird way, sometimes it takes a hardship or a difficult moment to create some magnificent works of art and I am seeing it everyday on how the clients I served have adapted to this new normal. It inspires me everyday and proves that anything is possible and “can’t” is an excuse. Two recent quotes I like that inspire me are: “You are being presented with two choices: Evolve or Repeat” and “We can do big, scary and hard things. We can.”
What motivates you?
What motivates me are a couple of things:
#1 I love figuring out the best strategies for my clients and providing recommended counsel. People don’t understand, regardless if you’re in marketing, communications or anything like that, you have to continue to court a relationship. That’s something that has always been key to me: getting to know individuals first before you do business. Also, I love that every day is different from my seat. That’s what I thrive on.
#2 When individuals think you are “too small” to handle a project or engagement and that fire in your belly kicks in to prove them wrong. Industry colleagues have labeled me a “small yet mighty” work ethic in which I have turned into a fun mantra for my business.
What are you most proud of?
Being in the seat of storytelling and helping clients build their brand from a strategic marketing and communications standpoint. My work during COVID has not slowed down, in fact, clients know they need even more for their stories to be told and/or assistance in adjusting their communication and marketing strategies. It’s been non-stop handling crisis PR, communications planning, updating strategic plans, and creating new ways for clients to do business. I am beyond grateful to be able to still help my clients get through these challenging times.
Separate from this, I am proud of taking a leap of faith and going out on my own during the big financial recession in 2008. I was on maternity leave as with a newborn at home. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that 2020 marks 12 years since I took that leap of faith and I am grateful to still be going strong.
Tell us something that folks wouldn't know about you?
I am an avid sports fan. If I wasn’t doing my current dream job, I would love to work in the sports industry and help grow women of color leaders in the sports marketing arena.
Separate from this, my old time favorite artist is Prince. If anyone wants to challenge me to Prince trivia I am sure they will lose. Ha! I am also a super fan of Stevie Nicks.
Tell us about a time you overcame a challenge?
Early in my career, I learned a valuable lesson when I under-communicated with a client. When I realized what I had done wrong, I immediately took responsibility. I learned the value of communicating, even the tough or negative information, and why it’s important to establish trust.
How do you overcome adversity?
#1 Surround yourself with positive people. Be selective with the people you surround yourself with. Indirectly they will affect your mood and your outlook. When you are in an emotional state of mind, it’s important to surround yourself with people who are supportive and encouraging. Overcoming adversity can be a challenge; when you have a supportive team helping you move forward, it’s much easier to accept yourself.
#2 Start investing in yourself. There is no greater investment than the investment within your own personal development. Experiencing adversity is a great excuse for people not to take charge of their lives. We all face adversity in some way. What makes one individual succeed and another not is how they handle their adversity. Many of us allow challenges to defeat us. What we need to focus on is developing into a stronger and wiser individual because of the challenges. There is no better way to do so than developing and investing in yourself. Listen to pod-cast, workout, create space to have me-time, meditate, make self care a priority. It’s about starting that momentum moving forward rather than backward.
What advice would you give someone who wants to start their own business?
#1 Don’t let failure be a deterrent: Even the best laid plan and intentions sometimes don’t make the cut. Most will face these pivotal moments. Don’t spend time on why it happened, but how you respond to it is what separates the successes from failures.
#2 Have a plan: What’s your plan? How will you deal with a crisis? How will you deal with failure or defeat? What are your offerings? How will you operate as a business? What resources do you need? Always have a plan and even take it a step further and create what I call “scenarios or contingency plans” if something goes wrong or if the business climate changes. Having that plan in place will give you a quicker response time and will allow you to bounce back sooner during challenges.
#3 Use your resources: Have an amazing support group as your network to help provide support and encouragement. Don’t go it alone! Call on your trusted advisers and contacts and use them heavily as mentors, brainstorm teams, advice, vent sessions, etc.
#4 And finally, when starting out, I think we can sometimes overthink things or be paralyzed with fear or feel that everything has to be done perfectly or not at all. I think we worry about making mistakes, but on a deeper level, we worry about ‘failing’. Do the best you possibly can in all areas of your business, but when you make a mistake, just learn from it. There is no failure, just feedback.