Hard Truths Learned From Building a Business with Heather Adams, Choice Media and Communications

In this episode of Inside Great Minds with Adam Outland, Adam interviews Heather Adams, the founder and CEO of Choice Media & Communications. The central theme of this episode is about evolving who you are as a leader and entrepreneur to scale a business in order to design the life you want.

As a leader and innovator in the PR landscape, Heather discusses the essential components for a business to have clarity in its messaging. She shares her storyteller roots and how important it is for any business to aspire to be storytellers, as well. She also discusses how she generates exposure for her clients and overcomes the challenges of an ever-evolving public relations industry.

Key Takeaways ◾️ The importance of relationship building in almost all aspects of your business, from sales to providing services, and building a team. ◾️ The two hard truths she learned while building Choice: finding partners she could trust and pricing to grow. ◾️ After being laid off, Heather stood up for herself and the future she wanted to create. She advocated for herself and teaches the mindset others can follow to build the life they want. ◾️ Listening to your ideal client can lead to opportunities, both as a leader and in expanding a business. ◾️ The opportunities found during the COVID lockdowns when all of her clients were in crisis mode simultaneously, and how business owners should look at challenges as a way to grow.

Quotes After being laid off: "My husband looked at me and he said, 'I don't want you to take your next step out of fear.' You know, 'You have worked so hard to build this career and professional success that you've achieved. Go and carve out and design the life that you are wanting.'"

When it comes to scaling her business: "I used to believe that I was a really good manager and that I also could get in the trenches. And I think as I've matured and grown and also gotten feedback, I've learned that those are areas where I have some gifting, but it's not like my superpower. And so it's best to, as my mentor taught me, hire better and smarter than you and get people in those roles that can really help you in that in that regard."

How to stay competitive in any industry: "Well, if we weren't constantly evolving and staying on top of the latest trends, the technology, the way people are receiving their information, different formats -- podcasts didn't exist back then, right -- then we would be non existent. So, I think you constantly have to be evolving, developing, and staying educated."

Advice she would give to her 20-something self: "Number one, I would say calm down. Like, just relax, and rest more, you know. The second thing I would say is the size of your office, the title that you have, and the salary that you make does not define how successful you are, how happy you are, or what kind of leader you are."

About Heather Adams Heather is the communications whiz who leads Choice's impressive team of women, and one man, as they serve preeminent voices in publishing, government, lifestyle, entertainment, business, and faith-based arenas. A sincere focus on connecting with people has resulted in a diverse list of past and present clientele that reads like a who's who of contemporary thought leadership and compelling characters: Rev. Billy Graham, President Jimmy Carter, Dave Ramsey, Jen Hatmaker, The Bachelor's Sean Lowe, Ernie Johnson, Robin McGraw, the Johnny Cash family, Rick Warren, Marcus Buckingham, WWE Hall of Fame Shawn Michaels, John Maxwell, and Max Lucado, among others, have all called on her. Heather has played an instrumental role in helping more than 100 authors land spots on The New York Times best-sellers and secured clients coverage in elite national media.

Prior to founding Choice, Heather was head of Heather Adams Consulting, a branding, communication, and public relations firm she launched after serving as Director of Publicity at Thomas Nelson Publishers, a division of HarperCollins.

Heather is a proud alumna of the University of Georgia. She lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with her husband Matthew Adams, and their two young sons, Dixon and Thackston.

Related Links Heather on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heatherdixonadams

Heather on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/heatherdixonadams

Choice Website and Blog http://www.choicepublicity.com

Choice on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ChoicePublicity

Choice on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/choicepublicity

Inside Great Minds Instagram https://www.instagram.com/insidegreatmindsadam

Inside Great Minds Facebook https://www.facebook.com/insidegreatminds

Inside Great Minds Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/171523550878662

Inside Great Minds LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/insidegreatminds

Adam Outland LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-outland-54458912