I recently wrote a guest-post for the agency’s blog, and d.trio co-founder Megan Devine offered to reciprocate with an interview piece. If you’re interested in marketing, copywriting, freelancing (or all of the above) you might wanna stick around to hear Ms. Devine’s seasoned perspectives.

About ten years ago, you founded d.trio with two of your colleagues. What made you guys decide to set out on your own, instead of continuing your careers within a more established agency?

We loved what we were doing but we honestly thought we could do it better and be more client focused without the barriers that the agency management put up. We were already making the big client decisions for the agency. We wanted to see where our ideas, passion and unique business model would take us.

What were some of the biggest challenges during d.trio’s first year of business? How did you push through them?

The biggest challenges were building a business structure in the midst of doing business. We had great relationships from being in the industry for years, but we needed to secure enough credit to cover the large projects we landed and be able to do “business as usual” seamlessly without the clients feeling that we were a brand new business (even though they did know, obviously). We were fortunate to have relationships in the banking industry for a line of credit and also received credit from our vendors based on our previous relationships. We supported each other, hired freelancers to fill in the gaps and focused on customer service. We also didn’t skimp on technology, hired a great attorney and got good advice from other entrepreneurs who had been through it.

d.trio has a fairly small staff, but you hire freelancers for specific projects. What qualities does the “ideal freelancer” possess?

We look at the talent, experience (portfolio) and the freelancers work process (collaborator or independent, structured or loose, etc.). They need to be personable and able to work quickly – to understand the scope of a project and work within the tight timelines we traditionally have. Being able to understand strategy and how copy and creative need to come together to make an idea stronger is important. Having worked within an agency at some point is a plus and it’s important that our design freelancers are able to organize and collect creative files and deliver them to the client or printer error-free.

Your agency is expanding its services — especially in the social media realm. Do you think traditional / offline marketing campaigns (like direct mail packets) are still powerful, or is social media reigning supreme?

I believe that offline married with online is the ideal combination, though I know that’s not the sexy answer. Traditional/offline marketing campaigns drive people to online channels, and give people options which is always good in marketing. Social is a beautiful medium for getting real with your brand, connecting with customers and getting direct feedback – that’s what marketing is all about. There are industries where this is a natural – like retail – where you can tell your story and strengthen your brand through customer engagement with your products. Customers will tell you what they like and what they don’t like so you can improve your brand experience. Not every company will have that ideal situation, but even in B to B there are great social opportunities through using multiple social channels. Recent studies show that companies are using three channels (online and offline) to make buying decisions. Social media is an important part of changing marketing as we know it – until the next big thing arrives.

What advice would you give to someone who’s interested in a career in marketing?

First of all, be sure you love what you do. Marketing is a volatile career. You need to have a mix of skills to be successful as well as tough skin. Get to know the different marketing channels and how they all work together. If you’re a graphic artist or copy writer, make sure your skills are up to par and take continuing education courses to keep up. You need to be able to work in the digital space and also understand traditional channels and how to design or write for the different areas. Be open to new things and be able to look at things from the end-customer’s perspective – your job is to make the marketing relevant, interesting and understood. It’s a big job.

Where do you go for a shot of inspiration when your creative juices are running dry?

For a run if I don’t have much time. Otherwise, the mountains, a lake, the ocean – anywhere there’s an expanse that makes me feel the calming power of nature. You need to get out of the minutia of the daily job and look up and out to renew your creativity. I also love to get out and be social or make myself physically tired through sports. There’s no more restorative sleep like the sleep you get when physically exhausted.

How do you feel about Vegemite?

I’ve never tried it but I would! You have to be open to new things in this ever-changing world.

Follow d.trio on Twitter @dtrio, and follow Megan at @megand3.

So, when she asked if I’d be willing to help promote her Authentic Happiness Guide — a 4-week coaching bootcamp for women going through a “quarter-life crisis” — I was like, “for shizz!”

Sink down a little deeper in your chair and read Nailah’s stance on happiness. This lady knows what she’s talkin’ about.

The 4 Big Happiness Truths by Nailah Blades

As a life coach, I work every day with people who simply want to be happier. And who can blame them? We talk an awful lot about happiness in our society and how to chase it down. We see examples of happy people and are told the things to do that should make us happier but we’re still left feeling unhappy or unfulfilled. Happiness is a tricky subject but I believe there are Four Big Truths about Happiness that we should all be aware of.

Happiness is Deeply Personal

Expectations suck. And expectations about happiness are even suckier. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that there is a simple formula that when followed will lead you straight to happiness. But happiness is very rarely dependent upon outside forces. We’ve all seen cases of people who are dreadfully unhappy despite the seemingly great life they lead. Fancy cars and cute jeans and shiny electronics are all lovely things, but if you’re not in touch with what truly makes you over the moon happy, then they’re just expensive distractions.  Moreover it’s a mistake to believe that the things that make other people happy will do the same for you.  Running may make Suzy feel fantastic but it may just make you feel sweaty. Looking towards what makes other people happy or expecting certain things to make us happier is a surefire way to making yourself miserable. Happiness is an innately personal thing. You are the only person who can truly decide what makes your heart soar.

Happiness is a Journey

How many times have you thought “Once I a get a new job, I’ll be happy” or “When I lose 10 pounds, I’ll be happy.” I do it all the time. Heck, I caught myself thinking this way today. The problem with these “if-then” statements is that it takes us away from the present and makes us focus on this mystical future where we will be swan diving into tubs filled with happiness. This is an especially dangerous thought process as it is not usually the arrival at these goals that makes us happier, but the actual process of working towards something bigger than ourselves. What’s more is because we are so consumed with the arriving we lose focus on the now. The present. The journey. We find ourselves constantly racing towards something bigger and better instead of appreciating where we are at this very moment. Instead of thinking ‘When I publish my first book, I’ll finally be happy’ think ‘Being creative is super important to me and incorporating writing into my everyday life makes me happy.

Happiness is Hard Work

Sometimes pinpointing what makes us truly happy can take a little bit of work. You may have shoved what makes you happy so far down that it takes some digging to get it back to the surface. Or you may have told yourself that the thing that makes you happy is silly or a waste of time and to forget about it. But remember, spending Saturdays painting beautiful canvases is not a silly, waste of time if it makes you happy. Tuning into our authentic happiness channel takes a lot of soul-searching and requires you to be honest with yourself about who you truly are but it’s most certainly worth it. Plus figuring out what really makes you tick, helps everything else in your life to fall into place much more easily.

Doing Unhappy Things will Never Make you Happy

This seems like a no-brainer but if you’re honest with yourself you can probably point to a handful of things that you do that make you terribly unhappy. Stop doing those things. They are counter-productive to your overall happiness.

Happiness doesn’t have to be this unobtainable thing looming in the distance. With a little work and a bit of soul-searching everyone can lead a life filled to the brim with happiness. And that’s what we all truly deserve.

Nailah Blades is a Los Angeles-based life coach who specializes in the quarter life experience. She is currently launching The Authentic Happiness Guide, a 4-week workshop to living life authentically, and would love for you to join her. She writes about personal growth, authentic happiness and everyday joy at PolkaDotCoaching and can be spotted on Twitter at @NailahBlades.

Can’t quite recall what happened this past month? Me neither. Good thing there’s Google. And the “filter by month” post feature in WordPress.

Without further ado … here’s a hand-picked bouquet of the last 30 days. It’s a Unicornicopia!

For your perusal:

♥ How To Maximize A Freak-Out Session. Building a freelance career isn’t all Beyonce and bubble tea. There’s heartache and dry heaving, too. Fear not! Three tips to ferry you through the funk.

♥ Gigs, Rates, Love + the Near Future. A little teaser about things to come. P.S. I’ve hired Rebecca Pollock to design my new website, and she’s the bee’s knees. Patient. Insightful. Pro-fessional.

♥ Rock the Tabula Rasa: Why Being a “Blank Slate” Is Pretty Damn Fine. Want a job? But got no applicable skills? Don’t lie + fluff. Just re-package and glow.

Shameless Self-Promotion, Events + Updates:

♥ Blades of Glory. The vivacious Nailah Blades of Polka Dot Coaching interviewed me about job-quittin’ + quarter-life crisis management. P.S. Keep it locked right here for a special guest-post announcement from Ms. Blades on the morrow.

♥ Buh-bye, Brooklyn. Hello, LA. My NYC sojourn has ended, and after a brief respite at my Twin Cities Haus, I’m bounding over to the City of Angels for a 10-day sojourn. Wanna say “hi” in person — in a public, non-axe-murdery place? Let me know!

♥ Ring Ring, Plz. I finally crawled out of my troglodyte cave and upgraded to a smartphone, so now I’m itching for any excuse to stroke the purdy touch-screen buttons. Well shucks, here’s a thought: you can book a FREE 15-minute consultation call to hash out your writing, editing and organizational woes.

♥ Oh, and hey. I updated my own resume the other day. Practicing what I preach. And all that.

Sally forth, September!

*Lennie. Verb. Def: To squeeze to death with ferocious fondness. See: Of Mice & Men.

When I learned that Amy had NEVER been interviewed before (guh-whuuuh?!?) I immediately swooped in to steal her interviewginity. She consented. So here we are.

1. Quick! In 140 characters or less (cuz it’s the Twitter generation, doncha know) tell us who you are, and what you’re gunning for.

I’m a copy-writing, champagne-popping, coffee-drinking, list-making blogger living in Sacramento, CA. I live for good music & great stories.

2. You are crazy cute, and your blog – Just A Titch — is adorable. As a lady-blogger, do you feel “pressure” to stay insanely upbeat?

One comment I hear fairly regularly is that I’m “much nicer on my blog” than I am in real life. I’m not sure that it’s that I’m nicer, but I do tend to be really positive online because I know that I am really turned off when I read of problems but see little effort to make things better. I also tend to be very pro-active about taking care of things that bother me in my life offline, and I think that translates in my writing. My blog is also a place where I tend to work out how I’m feeling about things, and trying to see the positive, writing about it can help me get on track. On the other hand, I tend to shy away from writing some of my best stories and being really honest for fear of it being received as negative or snarky. I’m definitely working on striking a balance between honesty and relentless optimism.

3. Your background is in education, but you’ve recently shifted into a slightly different line of work. Tell us about that transition — and the biggest “life lesson” from the past year.

Sometime last year, I read something along the lines of, “The things you spend your free time doing is what you should be doing for your line of work.” Because I loved teaching so much, I never considered doing much else, but then I noticed how much time I spent reading blogs, writing my own and engaging with social media. When I found out that I was officially laid off, I was upset, but I was also able to recognize that I wasn’t at my happiest where I was. I made a list of all the ways I wanted to feel in my new job — not necessarily what that job had to be, but how I wanted to feel. I put things like “valued” and “comfortable with the fact that I have a social media presence” (my old job was terrified of my blog and Twitter presence!). When the school year ended, I was relentless about applying for jobs that were in teaching but also jobs that utilized my other interests. When my current job came up — a hybrid of writing/social media and customer service — it seemed like a perfect balance. Thankfully, my employer felt the same way and I literally accepted a dream position. About a week into my job, I found my list again, and it was the most amazing moment of realizing that my hard work had paid off into getting a position that made me happy. I’m trying to translate the effort I put into getting a job into doing other things I want to do, like losing weight and doing some more freelance writing.

If I learned anything in the past year, it’s that I’m capable of surprising myself. Last year, if anyone had told me that I’d be making money from writing, doing some freelancing and working for a company I’ve loved and respected, I wouldn’t have believed that I was capable. I think that being confident in your abilities and working your tail off to showcase those can lead to success. If you constantly put yourself out there for opportunities you’re excited about, it’s likely to pay off.

4. Is there a particular quote or song lyric that really sums up your soul + spirit?

I use lyrics to define different times in my life, but lately, I’ve been really into Metric and my girl-crush Emily Haines. I love the lyric from “Help, I’m Alive” that says “If my life is mine, what shouldn’t I do? I get wherever I’m goin’, I get whatever I need…” To me, it’s a perfect balance between going for what I want, because defining my life really is up to me and a testament to the fact that things really do always work out and to worry less. Not sure that’s what the brilliant minds of Metric had in mind, but it works for me. I’m also doing a lot of secret dancing to “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry. But don’t tell anyone.

5. Do a little self-pimping, please. What kind of clients are you cruising for, and if the Internet could grant you one wish, what would it be?

I’m passionate about raw, genuine stories. So, whether that’s telling more of my own story, helping a new blogger get all set up and helping them develop a mission or getting a small business online with Twitter / Facebook / blogging which can help drive new business and create a community, than I’m into it. I’ve helped create content and curate info for a few businesses and I am loving writing copy about cool businesses for my current gig. If you need some help with that, I’m your lady. I’m also seeking awesome people to interview for my own blog — and by awesome, I mean anyone with a story that they’re willing to share. And finally, a secret wish: I read a scary amount of music blogs and see as many shows as my wallet will allow each year, and yet, that never makes it into my blog. I’d love a chance to write about music. But ultimately? I just wanna write my own story and help others share their own. Period.

Follow Amy on Twitter @JustATitch, and try not to Lennie her too hard.

I feel compelled to celebrate, as only a gay / groovy / Swedish / Jewish / scholarly / smutty / socially-conscious / writer / editor / organization freak can … with a triumvirate of treats!

{ 1 } One the day of my blog-o-versary — September 10, 2010 — I hereby solemnly swear to release a neat little 3-page resource guide of my favorite logo makers, cover letter tips, personal mission statement generators and general branding goodness. Free. For you. And yo’ momma too.

ALSO!

{ 2 } The first 3 people to comment on this post will score a customized personal branding logo for their stationary, blog header, sidebar widget or business cards — for $22.50 (aka, 50% off). What do my designs look like? Like this.

ALSO!

{ 3 } If you write your comment in the form of a haiku or limerick that makes me cackle, I will tack on a 60-minute phone or Skype session to crunch through your branding / networking / job-hunting / self-presentation / skill-articulation woes — for $35 (aka, almost 50% off).

ALSO!

If you’d like to interview me for your site (or podcast or video series or anarchist ‘zine or corporate newsletter) I will be a very joyful blog-o-versarian. Because I inhale publicity opportunities like a sweet summer breeze. So e-mail me.

Hoookay. Comments, plz.

Clients often bubble into my inbox when they’re facing a career chasm. They want to quit their job. They’ve been laid off. They want to crack into a new industry. They want to set their cubicle ablaze and dance ’round the pyre. Oftentimes, they need a coach / therapist / guru, not a writer / editor / organization freak — and I tell ‘em so.

But sometimes, the situation is a little murkier: they’ve got a dream and they’re ready to pounce, but they don’t really have any experience. Or testimonials. Or credentials. Or a portfolio. Or…anything. Who’s gonna hire a walking, talking tabula rasa?

Actually, plenty of folks. It’s all about packaging + transparency.

If you’re still in the blank slate phase of your empire-building, that’s okay. Everyone starts there. The key is to build credibility and attract clients while “keeping it real” and being forthright about your qualifications.

How to … build credibility

+ GO PRO BONO. At least for a minute or two. If you’re an aspiring food photographer who’s never had a photo published, start snapping pics for local restaurant menus in exchange for free coffee and dessert. Build up a reasonable portfolio. Then set your rates accordingly.

+ GET CERTIFIED. If your chosen vocation has a union, forum, guild, group or troupe, join it. Unless it’s super-lame. In which case, skip the formal certificate. Instead …

+ GET A MENTOR. Find someone who is living your dream, send them a platonic love letter, and pitch yourself as their willing apprentice.

How to … keep it real

+ DON’T LIE. DUH. If a client asks you how long you’ve been working as a professional pastry chef, and the correct answer is “six months,” then say, “six months.” However …

+ POLISH THE TRUTH TILL IT GLEAMS. Maybe you’ve only been a professional pastry chef for six months, but you’ve been an avid culinary experimenter since age twelve, and you won a pie-baking contest at age sixteen, and you wrote your senior thesis on “Yeast and Yeoman in the Middle Ages,” and you run a blog about toaster ovens, and, and, and … y’feel me? Say that stuff, too. Passion is the portal to validity.

+ KNOW YOUR LIMITS. If your new employer asks you to caramelize six dozen crème brulées – but you’ve never so much as handled a blowtorch — then say, “whoa, nelly!” Be upfront about your areas of expertise — and less-pertise. They’ll be grateful for your honesty. And no one goes home with scorch marks.

For further words of wisdom on honesty, clarity + the striking power of telling it like it goddamn is, absorb: The Secret to Success by Danielle LaPorte, Authentic Personal Branding with Hubert Rampersad and Build a Killer Online Portfolio from Freelance Switch.

{ Polygon Design by Tshisuaka Tshiakatumba }

A couple life updates. Dig in.

Gigs + Rates.

I’ve recently taken on a couple of long-term, ongoing clients (most notably Danielle LaPorte of WhiteHotTruth.com, who y’all should start worshipping tout de suite). I’m still working with short-term clients for quick turnaround gigs, but my current rates for itty-bitty one-off projects are about to JUMP. Cuz I’m worth it. And so are you.

Translation: if you wanna lock me down to spiff up your resume (or CV, or cover letter, or press release, or bio, or — you get the picture) at my old rate scale, you better book a consultation call on the jif. And thank you kindly.

Love + The Big Mission.

I’ve often stated that my ultimate goal is to provide top-tier branding, copywriting and promotional support to people facing severe & unusual career obstacles — and I mean it. So along with raising my rates (see above), I’ll also be creating a scholarship fund, which clients can voluntarily donate to (or not). It’ll help me sustainably extend my services to people who’ve got the skills, but not the dough.

Sites + Slickness.

In addition to Unicorns for Socialism, I also have a portfolio site. A lil’ later this fall, I’ll be consolidating both of my online haunts into a single, uber-tight presence. You’ll also see a color palette shift and a slick, modernist vibe. Fewer hearts, and more harpoons. But still unicorns. Plenty of ‘em.

I bid you adieu with this image.

XO. AF.

Welcome to Things I Love Thursday!

A weekly round-up of ferocious praise and vehement fist-pumping.

The TILT concept originally sprang from the mind of Gala Darling. I’m proud to march in the virtual TILT parade, too.

With further ado … Here’s. What. I. Love. Now.

♥ USHER

I have a deep-running obsession with hip hop and R&B … both the “good” stuff and the “bad” stuff (if you’re into elitist / hipster categories, which I’m not). Last week, I downloaded Usher’s new album RAYMOND VS. RAYMOND (which got slammed on one of my favorite radio shows, Sound Opinions — for shame!).

Usher is back to his old clubbing / cheating / unapologetically cad-ish ways … and I’M LOVING IT! I’ve had the album on permanent repeat for 4 days straight. “Lil Freak,” “So Many Girls” and “More” are the snazziest tracks, in my humble opinion.

Here’s the video for Usher’s “OMG” featuring will.i.am. Not the strongest track on the album, but still pretty frickin’ fun:

♥ Whoopie Pies

My sister-in-law Marisa recently asked me, “have you ever had a Whoopie Pie?” The answer was “no” … which, as she informed me, was unacceptable. So I got my bootie over to Trois Pommes Patisserie for their infamous whoopie. I purchased a traditional chocolate pie, a pumpkin pie and … wait for it … a red velvet pie. Um so, yeah. Yeah. Yeaaah.

♥ Green Tea.

Largely due to the fact that my brother and his wife don’t have any coffee in their apartment (I’m dog-sitting for them) I’ve been drinking a lot of green tea. I feel very calm, serene and productive. Like I’m permanently preparing to share sushi with a yogi.

I’m planning to visit The Tea Set while I’m in NYC. They have a flavor called “Organic Sensual Good Night,” which sounds intriguing.

♥ Bits O’ Honey.

Random links & treats: the intuitive + potent Hiro Boga, How to identify a great resume writer by Rosa Elizabeth Vargas, Escape from Cubicle Nation, the (FREE!) electronic fax service from eFax, The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, the fact that Pee-wee Herman is on Twitter and the entire first paragraph of this spa description (so magnificently pretentious!).

“You must pass your days in song. Let your whole life be a song. ~ Sai Baba”

Happy Thursday, y’all! Please share your own TILTs in the comments, or link back to yo’ blogz.

I’ll be dog-sitting a little gremlin named Pip…

And eating toasted bagels with vegetable crudité + belly lox…

And listening to Usher’s “Raymond Vs. Raymond” album on repeat. Forevvvvs…

If you’re in the ‘hood, and you’re a nice person, I’d love to make your acquaintance. Shoot me an e-mail, plz.

I’ll be writing / editing / blogging / tweeting / tousling my hair / kicking up my heels all the live-long day, so stay tuned for travel photos + riotous recaps.

Peace out for nowz … ♥

If you’re new around here, a quick history lesson: TILT originally sprang from the mind of Gala Darling, International Playgirl.

Lots of bloggers (myself included) have joined the TILT parade — it’s a stellar way to shout your gratitude into the Interwebz, and connect with other kidlets who are feelin’ the love, too.

With further ado … here’s what I’m crushing on, gushing over and blushing about this week!

♥ Prop 8 = OVAH.

In case you missed the news, Proposition 8 — the nasty one that forbid same-sex couples from getting hitched — got overturned in California yesterday. To quote the venerable (and extremely sweaty) Joe Cocker, “love lifts us up where we belong.”

♥ Fries. Thrice.

I’m pretty sure I’ve already blogged about the Tri-Fry Tasting Tower at Burger Jones, but it bears repeating. Look at my GF snarfing down a crispy morsel. So cute, I wanna crumble.

♥ Maniacal Aventures.

Last Saturday, Annie & I were in the car waaay too long, and I was getting punchy. Then I saw a road sign: “Entering the Minnesota Road Research Facility. Tune to AM 530.” Obviously, I had to adjust my dial … and thus began an epic adventure into the scintillating world of asphalt research.

Little did we know, but we were driving across the world’s largest pavement laboratory AT THAT VERY MOMENT! Lured by the dulcet tones of the pre-recorded radio announcer’s voice, we became obsessed with finding the entrance to the main research facility.

We found it. But it was closed and gated. Quite a scenic detour, nonetheless.

♥ National Public Radio Exposure.

You know what’s kinda awesome? Hearing your voice on the radio … ‘specially when the show is about economics, and you’re talking about electro-hip-hop. Listen to my “Marketplace” clip right here, and check out my extended “Road Warriors” Playlist here.

♥ Bits O’ Honey.

Couple random links & treats: Hyperbole & a Half (thanks, Anna!), Charlatan, Martyr, Hustler, free vector art from Clkr, the secret to success, the Does Follow Twitter app, Kenny G Quotations, Finnish Disco Dancing, and ZOMG STANKY LEGG!!

“Eh, you better fan yourself, cuz I can tell that you’re hot / Want you to wind it up, lean back and show yo’ sock” ~ GS Boyz | “Stanky Legg”

Happy Thursday, y’all! Please share your own TILTs in the comments, or link back to yo’ blogz.

{ “Charlatan, Martyr, Hustler” poster via Joey Roth }