209 E. Macclenny Ave. Macclenny, Florida 32063
So…it was one of those come-to Jesus meetings I have with myself at least a couple times a year. The topic du jour was my business. I’d opened Melody Bussey, Inc in 2011 and it had gone through several iterations, expansions, contractions, and now….now, sitting at my kitchen table, a glass of wine in hand I realized that there was zero way I could squeeze any more money out of this business model.
It was a sobering realization. So, do I just sell it off, scrap it for parts, throw myself on the floor and have a right tantrum?
I chose the tantrum.
Wasn’t my finest moment. And I’m only sharing it here because it led to one of my greatest AHA moments…and something that you may also find good to know.
So…there I was, on the tile floor in my kitchen, holding on to the kitchen chair like a long-lost friend, feeling pretty low. I took a moment from the proverbial boo-hoo’ing to look over at my cat sitting in the comfy chair in the living room. She was sitting at an angle to keep an eye on me. Clearly, she was not impressed by my behavior because it was keeping her awake. I reached over and pulled a dish towel off the counter and started to wipe my face when my Bernedoodle dog, Riley, came shuffling in. He walked right up to me, sat, then dropped a ball into my lap. Because that will obviously make it better.
I sat there blinking at him. “What?”
He swipes at me with his paw as if to say, “C’mon..play some ball.”
Why not, I thought—it’s not like I have any grand solutions smacking me in the face. So, I stood up, finished off the last swig of wine, and went outside to throw the ball for Riley.
Mind you, my thoughts were not on the ball, or Riley, or the sunshine that was overhead that day.
My tool of choice this particular day was one of those plastic flinging tools for dogs and I sent that ball to the end of the yard. Yay, me. But Riley didn’t go after it. He just stood there looking at me, tongue hanging out, obviously the happiest he’s ever been in the whole entire span of his existence.
Sighing heavily….I started walking toward where the ball had fallen, but Riley grabbed the plastic flinging tool bringing me up short, and started to play tug of war with the tool! “No, you silly dog. Let’s go get the ball.”
And I kid you not….down out of the large live oak tree where the ball was still rolling to a stop…this huge owl comes out of the tree, snatches that ball) and takes the hell off with it!
I’m looking at Riley, like, did you see that, man? The bird just took your ball!!
Nope. He was adamant. The toy for today was clearly to be the tool and NOT the ball. Who cares about the ball or the bird. So, I went with the flow and we played with the tool. And then it dawned on me. He knew he could play with the ball, but instead he redirected his focus to something that wasn’t an obvious toy. And the owl clearly knew what it wanted. Hmmm….I was pretty sure there was some message being sent to me there.
And thus Impact Creative branding was born. I realized back then that it’s not about piecemealing one bit here and there for businesses, as I had been with Melody Bussey, Inc. See if you’ve told yourself any of these:
That’s piecemealing it. And it doesn’t work.
But what’s a small business to do about that? Sell plasma for money?
You don’t have to.
It’s about making the smart decisions and doing several things simultaneously without breaking the bank. Just like my dog moving his focus to something most wouldn’t have thought important, and an owl doing something unexpected, I realized it was important to focus on what I could control. To focus on what would make me stand out, make me different, and make an impact and offer real change, for those who would use my company’s services.
And here’s what came of that wine-soaked game of catch with my dog, and the owl thief.
It’s different because it doesn’t take 6 weeks to 3 months long to do a complete Branding Package.
It takes 3 days
Maybe you’re new to branding, maybe you’ve heard the term thrown around but don’t know how that would benefit you, or if you even need it.
In a crowded and competitive marketplace, where countless brands vie for consumers’ attention, time, and money, standing out isn’t optional—it’s essential. Branding defines who you are, what you offer, and why you’re the superior choice over competitors. It’s not just about recognition;
it’s about creating a compelling reason for your ideal customers to choose you. Strong branding is the foundation for survival in the market and the catalyst for long-term success. And I’m glad I figured it out. You need to, too.
Maybe you’re not down on the kitchen floor yet, and you’re only one pour into your wine routine, but if you want to talk about how you can not only survive but thrive with your business, let’s talk. That’s all. No BS, no hard selling, just info. It’s the information I wish someone had given me before I spit-shined my kitchen floor. You totally got this, and I’d love to show you how.
