Ashley Spriggs of Pivot Media on the power of genuine relationships

Describe your business in a few words?

We are a media firm that gets your message the attention it deserves. We offer services in Public Relations and Podcast Management.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

It was the right time! I was growing my client list as an independent contractor and needed to hire a team to support me, so I just went for it. Here we are 18 months later with 14+ clients!

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

Funny enough, I was a counselor working at a clinic. Totally different than where I am now, but life always plays out the way it is supposed to.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I truly never thought this is where I would be but then again, my dad is an entrepreneur so it is in my blood!

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

Relationships - genuine relationships! I focused on connecting with people; not just through email but on social media, Zoom, network groups, and more. Connections matter! And it proved itself when we grew from 4 to 14 clients in the first 6 months.

We always learn the most from our mistakes, share a time with us that you made a mistake or had a challenging time in business and what you learned from it?

Navigating the RIGHT team is such a challenge! You never know if someone is the best fit until you start working with them. And sometimes they end up not being the best for you, and you for them. Making the choice to release someone never gets easier, but it is always the healthiest thing for both Pivot and the person. I never want to hold someone back in their skills!

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

Before I started Pivot, I was working with a client and we have been together for almost 4 years now. And this fall, she is releasing her first book! Pivot gets to be part of her book release and it is a full circle moment. We both dreamed of this for a long time!

When hiring for your team, what is your go-to interview question? Please share any hiring tips you can share from your experience?

What is your coffee order? Haha! That is always something I want to know - it says a lot about a person. 

But for real, I love knowing what makes them thrive. How do they work best? In what roles do they excel?

How has your business or industry been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

We doubled in team size and client size since the pandemic, which I am incredibly grateful for! 

The podcast industry grew + the need for PR increased! I loved seeing people step into creative zones this last year, and need a team to support that.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

Growth + groove. That is my motto for the next 5 years! We will grow to a media agency that supports a wide range of clients and we will find our groove as an agency.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned in 2020?

Be authentic! In the world of media + PR, people often build relationships for personal gain. But in 2020, I found that more than ever there was a need for true authenticity in building connections with other people.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting your business?

Goodness, just do it. Don't wait for the perfect time! There is no such thing in the world of entrepreneurship.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

I believe it can exist, but there is too much pressure for it to be perfect. It never will be! Life is full of seasons, and you have to remain flexible. I am a wife, mama to 3 littles ones, a pastor's wife, and an entrepreneur. My life is meshed together beautifully, and to try and force it to be perfectly separate causes more stress than needed. 

But I have learned this -- it is ok for life to look out of balance sometimes. Seasons come and go, schedules change, responsibilities shift ... and that is OK! Figure out a rhythm for what you need RIGHT NOW. It can change ... let it change! Don't get stuck trying to make it a perfect block schedule.

What's something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I still sleep with a stuffed animal duck ... that I got when I was born 31 years ago (haha!)

What are your top 3 tips to stay productive each day?

1. Coffee - could not survive without it on my desk!

2. Set a 'Top 3' list for the day - write out 3 things you need to accomplish and let those be the priority. If you do more, great! But if you did these 3 things, you did enough!

3. Music - oh, a good playlist makes or breaks the work vibe.

What does being an Entreprenista mean to you?

Community. Genuine community that supports, rallys, and encourages one another.