Lauri Cook, Owner

Unique DNA Marketing Strategist for Small Businesses

“Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been bullied enough or frightened enough to hold it back. They have become victims, pawns in a senseless system that uses them up and undervalues them. It’s time to stop complying with the system and draw your own map. Stop settling for what’s good enough and start creating art that matters. Stop asking what’s in it for you and start giving gifts that change people.” —Seth Godin, Linchpin

After 15 years of experience working as a marketing manager or director for two multi-million dollar national HR/recruitment firms, I got a wake up call in February 2009. Due to setbacks caused by the failing economy, my employer reduced my employment to part-time. Of course, the news was devastating at first, but I soon realized that this was actually a blessing in disguise, as most challenging situations are. Opportunity was staring me right in the face.

After working all these years with employers that were financially-led as opposed to being customer-focused, I was still exploding with passion and love for marketing. Even though I was used to complying with a system that did not embed marketing in all aspects of its business, I never stopped challenging leaders to approach marketing strategically rather than tactically. Business decisions continued to be made based on short-term cost, rather than long-term impact on customers; and differentiation was lost in a sea of commoditized products and service offerings.

At risk of falling into the same type of environment at another company, I decided it was time for me to stop settling – to draw my own map and start creating art that matters. I decided to dust off the business plan I wrote in graduate school.

My motivation, at this point in my career, is not so much about earning potential…but rather, it is about influencing change and helping businesses succeed using marketing strategy as a guide, rather than an afterthought.

My  value to you is the important foundational work – the discovery process – that results in a single idea to make your business stand out; and the direction I provide after uncovering your core marketing message to bring your business continued success.