#NYCShopSmall — Interview with Amanda Duke from Duke and Co. Media.
#NYCShopSmall is about giving those small businesses a voice, in a different and special way.
Amanda Duke is no stranger to the online business world. A world where so many business owners struggle to maintain their presence. Duke and Co Media specializes in consulting, event production and media. They are currently located in Atlanta but service businesses in NYC as well! If you’re a business owner and need a little guidance to push your business to the next level, Amanda and I are doing a giveaway for a free consultation! More details below…
#NYCShopSmall: So tell me more about what you do..
Amanda Duke: So a little about me…
I’ve always loved photography. Since I was a child I was always looking at photos and also taking them, whenever possible. When I went to college I started as an Art major to pursue photography. About a year in, I fell victim to all of the noise around me because everyone said photography isn’t a “real job”.
So I changed my major to education to have a secure career to walk right into. I graduated May of 2007 and shortly after, the economy tanked making it impossible for new teachers, like myself, to get a job. Luckily during college, I was working as a pharmacy tech so I ended up staying there for 8 more years.
Finally, in 2015 I decided to leave and take on photography full time. I quickly learned that I was not prepared for being an entrepreneur.
“No one tells you about the dark side of owning your own business. It’s difficult and lonely.”
I learned that there’s a difference in loving photography and serving and satisfying a client. It limits you artistically in a lot of ways until you decide to just do you and serve the people that like your style. It’s a hard lesson to learn in the beginning and still is three years later.
In 2017, I started working for a regional wedding magazine and had the role of Director of Sales and Marketing. Sales is not really my thing but I learned that I love meeting new business owners, connecting with them, and helping them grow their businesses.
While working an event for the company, someone approached me asking if I would consider working for them marketing events. After chatting for a bit and hearing everything she needed to be done, I realized I had been doing that very same thing for friends.
“Fortunately for me, it’s easy to understand business struggles and their plans for the future, come up with a strategy, and help them move forward effectively.”
At the beginning of this year I decided to take that talent and start marketing that passion to serve more clients.
#NYCSS: So now you fit both passions in at once.
Do you often kick yourself for listening to everyone else while in college or are you happy with how you got to where you are now?
Amanda: In some ways I kick myself but I am a firm believer in, you end up where you’re supposed to be and that no experience is truly wasted. There are people in my life I would have never met or become close with if I left my pharmacy job when I graduated.
#NYCSS: Knowing all that you do now and experiencing everything that you have, what advice would you give someone thinking about or starting a business in your field?
Amanda: I would say don’t wait, start working toward your goal today.
“Even if you can’t go full time, or don’t tell anyone what your plans are, do something every single day that pushes you toward that goal.”
Find someone who’s already thriving in a similar field and connect with them. Find a mentor or coach to find out the good, bad, and ugly of that business. You may find out that it’s not exactly what you want and it just might help you redefine your path, or it may reaffirm your decision to move forward. Either way, you’ll know what to expect and be more prepared.
“Bring your own unique spin to your industry, don’t conform to the will of others.
Customers are ultimately there because of what you bring to the table and what makes your business stand out.”
Don’t be afraid to be different, if they wanted something else they’d be doing business with your competitors!
#NYCSS: Wow! Insanely great advice! Honestly, those are some things that motivated me to start this project.
Where do you see yourself and your business within the next year?
Amanda: Hopefully growing my client base and helping them create content and strategies to grow their businesses.
#NYCSS: Are there any projects you’re currently working on? Maybe ones that will help build your clientele?
Amanda: I’m currently working with a client, Nailed It DIY. They’re in the process of expanding and franchising their business across the US. We worked on getting them featured on Rebecca Jarvis’ podcast, “No Limits”.
#NYCSS: Very cool!
How long did it take you to accomplish your first major goal for your business?
Amanda: I don’t know that I have yet! Getting the client on Rebecca Jarvis’ podcast was a pretty big accomplishment, so I’d say 4 months.
#NYCSS: Doesn’t matter how big or small the goal is, just matters that you’ve met it!
What are three things you’ve told yourself that kept you going during your darkest hour?
Amanda: It’ll all work out, it always does!
Just Keep moving!
“Failure is always a possibility, but giving up is never an option!”
#NYCSS: That’s some damn good advice for people to push through!
You mentioned early about the economy crashing just when you were about to make a major career move. If the economy crashed again and you went out of business today, what would you do tomorrow?
Amanda: If the economy crashed again, people would need my business more than ever to help find them creative ways to climb out of the trenches. So, tomorrow I’d be working!
#NYCSS: I love the positivity, it’s insanely contagious!
What inspires you to do what you do?
Amanda: With the content creation portion, it’s just the drive to translate what’s inside my imagination into reality.
With strategy, I just enjoy solving problems and genuinely love seeing people succeed in their business or life in general.
#NYCSS: I feel like we have a similar mindset. I love helping business owners in areas where I thrive and they struggle, I feel like I can really provide them with value instead of another sales pitch.
What’s something you’d like to do or try by the end of the year, that you’ve never done before?
Amanda: I would love to host some type of educational event for small business owners.
Or…go to Europe!
#NYCSS: Or hopefully both!
What technology innovation, would you say, made the most impact on your life?
Amanda: Is the entire internet an appropriate answer?
“The internet, social media, smartphones, they all give us access to opportunities and people that we otherwise wouldn’t have access to.”
I can go online right now and find contact information for businesses, celebrities, that girl I went to high-school with 17 years ago and be speaking with them in a matter of hours, minutes or even seconds.
“A generation ago, that wasn’t fathomable.”
#NYCSS: Agreed!
If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what would it be?
Amanda: If I could pick up a skill in an instant it would definitely be public speaking. I do better in a round table or panel situation versus standing and giving a speech or talk. I prepare, I practice and in my head I rock it, but in reality I stiffen up and it’s just not my gift. But I wish it was!
#NYCSS: Public speaking is definitely daunting and intimidating.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve seen, heard, or read this week?
Amanda: I was listening to the “No Limits” podcast and heard something like 2% of all venture capital investments go to female owned and operated businesses. That’s insane to me considering that women make up over 50% of the worlds population!
“It makes me wonder if it’s because they just aren’t asking for the investments or if they aren’t taken as seriously as their male counterparts.”
#NYCSS: It could also be because most people don’t know the resources that are out there and available.
Okay, time for some weird/fun questions!
You’re a new addition to the crayon box, what color would you be and why?
Amanda: I’d probably say some shade of grey because nothing is ever black or white to me. I can see both sides of the coin and usually reside somewhere in the middle philosophically.
#NYCSS: Interesting!
What’s your favorite place in the world?
Amanda: Favorite place in the world, NYC! 110%!
#NYCSS: It is pretty great!
Would you rather live in a house with see-through walls in the city or in the same house, but in the middle of a forest far from civilization?
Amanda: I’d choose the city!
#NYCSS: Would you rather never lose your phone again or never lose your keys again?
Amanda: Phone
#NYCSS: Would you rather be 10 minutes late or 20 minutes early?
Amanda: Late! It’s a problem.
#NYCSS: That’s the first ‘late’ answer I’ve gotten, but I understand!
Would you rather know the history of every object you touched or be able to talk to animals?
Amanda: Be able to talk to animals! I always wonder what my dog is thinking.
#NYCSS: Same!
Would you rather travel the world for a year all expenses paid or have $50,000 to spend on whatever you want?
Amanda: $50k!
