Bailey Powell Aldrich shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Bailey Powell, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I think integrity is one of the most critical, underrated qualities a person can possess. Doing the right thing when no one’s watching is a testament to a person’s core values and what I respect most in others. It all goes back to the golden rule: treating people the way you’d like to be treated.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Bailey Powell Aldrich, and I am the Owner and Publisher of Fort Worth Key Magazine, a city guide established in 1936 by Amon G. Carter for the Texas Centennial. The monthly magazine has been in continuous print for 89 years, and has been available online since 1995. I’m a one-woman masthead and the third generation of Powells to work on Fort Worth Key!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
While my parents instilled my foundational integrity and general value of hard work, there’s one professional experience I find myself referring to over and over. In college, I assisted my aunt, an interior designer working primarily in Fort Worth and Arlington. Of course, I learned a lot about things like staging rooms, fabrics, corresponding color ways, and hanging art. However, I learned the most about relationship management and the importance of remembering personalized details about clients, reminding them how special they are. While any affirmations extended to business, it was really about meeting a person where they are, on a human level. She also always verbalized her sincere gratitude to everyone she worked with, whether it be a client, handy person, wholesaler, accountant—she treated everyone equally, with kindness and grace. I think these soft skills are imperative to success.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Humility! Not only does being humbled inform your next business move, it also arms you with empathy for those around you in and out of the workplace. Life is hard, and it’s important to feel seen and understood.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That print is dying! A quick Google will show Gen Z appreciates the tactility of print, and that paper’s being embraced in general due to digital fatigue. What’s more, studies have shown that readers trust print ads more than digital ads. The former signals a more sincere investment in what’s being advertised, while digital can feel spammy at times. Paper and digital go hand-in-hand, and a lot of people are losing out by not embracing print.
For example, a Fortune article states the following: “Generation Z has unexpectedly become the primary driver behind the rapidly growing analog music and print book economies in the U.S. and U.K. “
https://fortune.com/2024/07/05/concerts-lps-cds-print-gen-zs-enthusiasm-all-things-touchable-resurrecting-analog-economy-costing-parents-retail-entertainment-personal-finance/
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was kind, quick to take accountability and apologize for my misgivings, and wanted everyone to win, especially fellow women.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fortworthkey.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortworthkey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortWorthKey/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fortworthkey
