Meet Steve Phipps | Founder & President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Steve Phipps and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steve, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial bent, going back to elementary school when I first thought about starting a business. In 2014, I was VP of a digital marketing agency and had a very promising future there. Then the CEO passed away unexpectedly from a kayaking accident. HIs loss sent the agency into a tailspin which left me with three choices: go to work for another agency, find a corporate marketing job, or start my own agency. It became very clear that launching out on my own was the best option. And that led to the start of Wayfind Marketing in February 2015.

What should our readers know about your business?
Getting to where I am now has been anything but a straight path. I’ve had great experiences and significant disappointments, ranging from unplanned career detours that led to years in jobs that were a drudge to leading teams of dynamic professionals I love working with.

Two key lessons I’ve learned through my experiences are: 1) seek wise counsel. I have been blessed by having wise leaders who both encourage and challenge me, without whom I would be stuck in a career bog. And 2) persevere in the wilderness seasons. All too often, I’ve seen people give up because things got hard. Good things don’t come easy.

My goal as a marketer, and our goal as an agency, is to help our clients grow their businesses so they can do more good. I believe we are unique in how we bring strategy development and coaching together to guide our clients forward. In fact, we are focusing more on coaching our clients on how to do their own marketing (content in particular), so they can have greater control over their own success. This flies in the face of how most agencies are operating.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since I’m unfamiliar with LA, I’ll use my hometown of Memphis.

One of the first places I would take my best friend would be Shelby Farms. It’s the country’s largest urban park and has great hiking trails. It’s an oasis in the city.

We’d definitely go by the Hub to get some coffee, especially the pour-over. We’d also plan to swing by SOB East to get a drink and dinner.

Railgarten is another stop on the agenda – a great place to hang out, catch local bands, and grab a bite to eat.

And, of course, we’d catch a Grizzlies game at FedEx Forum.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s hard to narrow it down to just one person or thing. Here are several shoutouts…

I started my marketing career working with multiple Chick-fil-A franchise owners in 1998. That opportunity pushed me into marketing at full speed. I continued with Chick-fil-A a few years later as a franchise owner, where I learned many invaluable business and leadership lessons which I still apply today.

Two coaching programs I’ll also give shoutouts to StoryBrand and They Ask, You Answer. I am certified by both programs, and each has equipped my team and me with tools and knowledge to help our clients get better results. And both have helped me refine and hone my coaching and leadership skills.

Website: https://wayfindmarketing.com

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/stevephipps

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayfindmarketing