At 26, my marketing agency is on track to hit half a million this year! ✈️ This is what I wish I knew at the start...

Most importantly — you can definitely do this, too

A few years ago, I sat in a conference room with a team of part-time interns, looked ahead three years, and sheepishly said, “I’d like to hit half a million in yearly revenue by 2027.” I didn’t really know what that meant, but it sounded kind of right.

We’re on track to go beyond this number this year! We’ve doubled in revenue every year Migrate has existed.

Migrate is my marketing agency. We focus on creating momentum for lifestyle brands and creators. I love marketing because I know it's a powerful tool for taking people where they want to go — signing book deals, meeting financial goals, achieving creative fulfillment, supporting their families, landing a dream partnership, etc.

The early days when I was trying to come up with a new name, thanks to a cease and desist I got in the mail (read: losing my mind)

We’re truly just getting started, and I am only at the beginning of my professional journey. Here are the things I wish I had known at the start — and many I continue to remind myself daily.

An office happy hour and my team at Southern C this past January.

Building a business to scale is not for the weak, but it is certainly possible for anyone who decides they can. These are the things that have honestly helped, and I hope the transparency can help you. You can do this, too.

1. Cliche but true — It’s all about who you know

I started my agency from my college dorm room when projects started coming to my email. From there, we have grown primarily through referrals and word of mouth. Without a network, Migrate would not be going anywhere.

There are many ways to do this — including, but not limited to: reaching out to people via DM, attending as many events as possible, sending emails, asking the people you know if they can introduce you to someone new, doing free work for someone with a good word, and more. A college professor once told me that when you meet someone, always ask them who else they think you should know. In my experience, people enjoy connecting others.

My most formative mentor - Beth Troy (college professor mentioned), and my sister’s first day as my first intern (didn’t last long)

Note: Try not to ask people to coffee. I don’t know a single person who can stop in the middle of their morning. Send a thoughtful question or find them at an event! Send a thank you after. Maybe even a gift! If you really want to meet them, do anything to thoughtfully be in their orbit.