Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarsha Polk.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tarsha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As long as I can remember, I knew I wanted a career in business. On career day in middle school, I dressed up in my mother’s suit jacket and pearls and carried a briefcase to school. Something about being a businesswoman was appealing to me. I even participated in the Junior Achievement program, an organization that teaches financial literacy and entrepreneurship to K-12th graders. There is where I landed my first marketing role as VP of Public relations for our group project. The older I got, the more involved I became in business groups and organizations throughout high school and college. My dream was to climb the corporate ladder and become a marketing VP, so I did what I thought would put me on the path to that level of success. I finished my undergraduate degree and went on to grad school where I double majored in marketing and e-Business. After three years of working at a fortune 500 company, I was denied an internal transfer. You see, I was hand-picked to work on a special project team to launch a new division within the company. When I was asked to join the team, I had to get the okay from my boss who felt I didn’t meet the requirements to transfer. That was a real eye-opener for me. I quit that job because I felt someone else was in control of my destiny and I didn’t like that. After a few weeks of networking to find another job, I was approached by several small business owners who needed marketing assistance. I started out doing some freelance marketing work. One day, I came across a gentleman I met at a previous event. He couldn’t remember my name, so he said, “hey you’re that marketing lady aren’t you”? And, that’s how the Marketing Lady was born. In my forthcoming book, “Making an Impact: How to Build a Powerful Personal Brand,” I share my entrepreneurial journey and give tips on how to create a personal brand.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting, building and growing a brand has not been easy. From slow paying to no paying clients, health issues and divorce, my journey as an entrepreneur has had its share of challenges. What has helped me stay afloat is my faith in God, my closest friends, and my mastermind group. While the journey has been bumpy, I don’t regret anything.
The Marketing Lady – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Marketing Lady, LLC is a firm that provides actionable strategies using innovative ideas and methods! We see above and beyond the norm and think outside the box selecting the best ideas and approaches for the greatest return on your investment. We offer marketing coaching, training and consulting services designed to help entrepreneurs tell their brand story using digital marketing strategies. As the founder, I’ve been honored to receive numerous awards for my leadership and entrepreneurial expertise.With over 20 years in marketing, I’ve trained and coached over 1,000 small business owners, and spoken in 42 states on the topics of marketing and business strategies. The impact we’ve had on thousands is what sets us apart from other marketing firms. Our most career-defining moment was when the firm was contracted by the NFL for Super Bowl XLV (45).
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Well for me, defining success is not about how much money we make or the number of rewards we receive. It’s the impact that we’ve made in the life of an entrepreneur. Ten years ago, I coached an aspiring entrepreneur who obtained his barber’s license to become self-employed. I worked with him on developing a strategy to open up his own shop. Fast forward to today. He has a successful barber shop that has several barbers and gives back to the community. That’s how I measure success. Knowing that I inspired someone to live their dreams through entrepreneurship.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themarketinglady.com
- Phone: 972-987-0565
- Facebook: facebook.com/themarketinglady
- Twitter: @tmarketinglady
- Other: LinkedIn.com/in/tarshapolk
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