Marketing takes courage, especially for a maker, artisan, or business artist. The word courage derives from cor, the Latin word for heart. Author and vulnerability expert Brenée Brown explains an early meaning in which the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” We’re vulnerable when we open our hearts.
A maker myself, I bridge the language of marketing to creative thinkers.
As founder of Merrigan Group LLC, I mentor women in their 50s (and beyond) to market their talents. I advise and assist with strategic planning, social media and other choices to re-frame your status quo.
Beading, the art that brought me alive and focused me on “the place of no pattern” gives me impetus to share raw courage with you.
In a comfortable introductory conversation we explore a path that will fit you and your business. My focus on progressive communications lets me approach each situation differently. Using intuition and spontaneity, I guide conversations to ‘light bulb moments’ and solutions that work. Traditionalists call this strategic but I like to think of it as aligning business objectives with heart/soul values.
Some of the elements we’ll consider include your goals, your concerns, where you are now and where you want to go. Our web meeting room will let me share screens, demo solutions and give us the opportunity to interact. The resulting recording gives you the flexibility to listen again and again and use the material we cover as a resource.
Our first meeting is a get-acquainted session during which we assess your needs, talents and strengths. (And you assess me at the same time!). The follow up meeting includes recommendations for strategic direction and a written bullet-point plan. You can then elect to implement on your own or, in conjunction with my Marketing Catalyst plan.
Once we complete our initial call, I draft a three-step recommendation which you may choose to implement yourself or, we follow through together. What happens next?
My Marketing Catalyst program is a 90-day program during which we tackle your number one priority. Of course, this also includes the Marketing JumpStart as our beginning touchpoint. Together we set weekly benchmarks and tasks. I hold you accountable and cheer your progress every step of the way. We meet every other week and keep specific communications in-between.
The beauty of plan agreement: I’m with you every step of the way for 90 days. Using an every-other-week Zoom meeting, we assess progress and set next steps.
No question. Marketing takes courage. I’ll help you find yours. This collaborative plan works with you and for you IF you’re ready to do the work. Experience fast focus and incredible success. I understand (and have likely experienced) everything in between. This is so personal. I’m ready to get on your side of the desk/studio and go forward. Are you ready?
“Thank you for the opportunity to take the class last night. The energy in the room was wonderful. People were very kind and generous of heart. I find it fascinating that the simple act of tying a knot stopped my monkey mind in its tracks and forced me to mentally go to a different place. It was both humbling and illuminating. While describing the evening to my dear friend I found myself tearing up. We spend so much time trying to fit ourselves into the molds others create in order to ensure survival (ie, a job and a paycheck) that the act itself seems to be sapping the very life force out of us. Surely there must be some way to strike a balance. Be proud, Mary Ellen- I received all of that wisdom by participating in your bead class! ~ Barbara F.
“I had so much fun in Saturday’s class!” ~ Jill B.
“Your class was a success. Mary Ellen’s instructions are excellent and she keeps it light and fun. I always learn new techniques and problem-solving techniques.” ~ Pat V.
“Very interesting, informative class.” ~ Diana D.
It’s been about three months since I first had a strategy conversation with you. The first few sessions were intense as I had many things to consider in my approach to art. Your email follow-ups to me after our conversations listed down the most important things which I needed to think about and resolve. Your lists were such a huge help. I kept notes from our talk, but without your clear, insightful bullet lists of things to pay attention to, I would have fallen back into confusion. I found your advice and outlines so useful and encouraging.
Later, as a follow-up to my having an exhibition, you helped me to turn around a negative situation. Once again your advice and guidance completely shifted my perspective. You helped me identify how I could turn a disappointing situation into a positive and productive experience. You advised me to leverage an opportunity out of the closing day of my exhibit! Upon that advice I created an event with ads in local media and newspapers.. Instead of a sad experience it became a celebration. Thank you so much!
Since March, I have continued to be more involved in using social media for self-promotion. In the past, it has taken me up to a year to secure another solo exhibition, but with your encouraging advice and my using social media more wisely, I already have an exhibition underway right now with another solo exhibition booked for next May 2018.
I am so grateful for your advice. I believe that because you are a working artist and astute business woman, you intuit many of the problems and hesitations artists feel regarding their work. Your understanding of how to use social media intelligently as an artist has been a special gift. Thank you so much.
You have my permission to use any of my comments to clients who would need your services should they wish to hear from a previous client. I unreservedly recommend Mary Ellen’s service. If you follow through with your “homework” , the results will be more than worth the efforts. Mary Ellen has a true gift for empowering creative people to see their value and experience tangible rewards for their uniqueness.
Mary Ellen is fun and informative! Her love of beading reflects in her work.
Your class was a success. Mary Ellen’s instructions are excellent and she keeps it light and fun. I always learn new techniques and problem-solving techniques.
I had so much fun in Saturday’s class!
Mary Ellen put her finger on how frightened I was of marketing in meeting number one. Her coaching allowed me to organize my thoughts about social media, define solutions for my business and then tweak the approach based on what was/wasn’t working.