Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken Womack.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am both an artist and an entrepreneur. I create art based on concepts and ideas that I think are big and important – or at least interesting to me. And I own a business that is essentially “art with a purpose”. I live for creating concepts, ideas and the rush of the starting something new.
MindHandle has been around for 7 years but it really started almost 15 years ago when I took a leap and started Shift Option J, a one-man creative shop. After successful stints at some big name ad agencies, I was looking for a way to be more involved in the creative process on my own terms. I went through a series of solely owned companies and partnerships that eventually led to the MindHandle that now exists.
Today, we’re a small creative and branding agency with 5 employees. I had heard someone use the expression “Mind Handle” years before in a meeting and knew it was the perfect name for a company that is all about creating ideas that are powerful enough to take hold in the consumer’s mind. I actually bought the URL and sat on it until the time was right.
My goal is for MindHandle to be a holistically healthy company balancing high-quality creative work, financial stability, employee satisfaction and community impact. I believe to be truly excellent in what we do, we have to be truly excellent to ourselves. I believe in honoring bursts of brilliance, relishing spontaneity, harnessing focused creative energy, promoting unencumbered downtime & flexibility and nurturing personal growth.
SPECIAL CULTURE NOTE: Our agency patron saint is Sterling Archer, the super spy from the show “Archer” on FX. We have Archer Days you can use to take off when you need to get your head right. Or if you’re hungover, or whatever. We have cardboard cutouts of the characters in the office. #phrasing
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s advertising, so let’s call “smooth” a goal. We’ve had extraordinary luck/fortune in that we’ve attracted good clients who allow us to do great work. We put a lot of effort into attracting these types of relationships – it’s not an accident. We’ve fired a lot of clients who don’t fit the profile we desire: allowing great work, being cool to work with, respecting the craft. So if we’re defining struggles in our business, it’s locating clients with a similar mindset that allows us to grow and succeed together.
I believe strongly in the power of positive thinking (the Law of Attraction) and that you can manifest abundance in your business. Our agency culture is focused on “what could be” instead of getting caught up in “what is.”
MindHandle – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
MindHandle is a creative and branding agency best known for world-class merchandising and menu design for multi-unit restaurants. Restaurants are our passion and we have been lucky to have worked with Chili’s, La Madeleine, Pizza Hut, WingStreet, TGI Friday’s, Pollo Campero, Cotton Patch Cafe and Texas Land & Cattle.
We also have worked in healthcare, packaged goods, real estate investment / financial and a big box retail.
Essentially, if it is a creative need, we can and have done it well. TV campaigns, brand identity, print, web development, content development, sales promotion – you name it.
We are most proud of the creative work we do for our clients, but more importantly, how we get that work done. We deliver it on time, on budget and with a smile. We live by the belief that we only earn the next project based on the strength of the last one.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is defined for me in two ways; inward and outward, and both are vital.
Outwardly, we define it for MindHandle as developing work that helps to build our clients’ brands and their business. Sales are the metric we are all judged by in our field, and when our work is performing well for our clients, we derive great satisfaction from that. We have a lot of pride in our work and it’s thrill when it performs well. It also sustains us and allows us to attract more business.
Inwardly success is about doing right by others. It’s not enough to move the needle for clients. We need to give back and be good people and citizens. We curate the agency culture based on this ideal, and we select co-workers with this in mind. The collective character of the group is defined by the acts of the individuals. Our goals are to do great work and be great people. Good always returns to you.
Contact Info:
- Address: 12600 Coit Road, Suite 150
Dallas, Texas 75251 - Website: http://mindhandle.com/
- Email: info@mindhandle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ideastakehold/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindhandle/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindhandle
- Other: https://www.kenwomack.com/shop-art
Image Credit:
Guillaume Garrigue
Agent 485
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