After years in the making, Decibel Agency is born. Who are we? Why should you give a yolk?
Hi! It's nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by the hatchery.
I'm thrilled to be embarking on this new journey called Decibel—and it's particularly auspicious that the agency launched today, on National Bird Day.
Though I just made the decision to start my own business in August 2021, the idea has been gestating for a long time. I've spent 20+ years in PR, marketing, promotions, brand, etc. Even when not working in the industry, I followed along and absorbed the advertising and marketing around me, both fantastic and deplorable. I always had big dreams.
So why now? Freedom. (Cue "Freebird.")
Even before COVID-19, I'd been considering next steps. I was in an MBA program and had been at my company and in my job for longer than I could have imagined. But when the virus descended like a Malayan pit viper festival riding clouds of mustard gas, the need to take control of life called louder than ever.
Why are we on this planet? How can work be meaningful? How do I want to spend my days? Who owns my life, my creativity, my physical and mental well-being?
Life is not about work, but since I have to make a living, it's up to me to build a work life that fits into my more encompassing life goals. When I leave this planet, will I have made the most of this life? Will I have used my talents to their maximum potential?
By building Decibel, I'll be working on my own terms and creating a culture of respect and partnership. Colleagues will learn and grow, our souls will be nourished by the creative campaigns we create, and our clients will reap the rewards.
So why should you give a "yolk" about all this? Because Decibel's values affect you:
Decibel values time, for ourselves and for our clients. Employees feeling overloaded? Time to hire more people, even if just contract. And we won't schedule unnecessary meetings. That means we're full of energy and giving you our best.
Decibel values good judgement.* I don't care if people WFH or from a beach, as long as they get the job done, with high quality and a customer-first level of integrity. Trusting employees also empowers them to be more creative and come up with provocative solutions for our clients.
Decibel values creativity. "We've-always-done-it-this-way" is a 29-character curse word. We don't "think outside the box" or "circle back" but we do aim to create unique, attention-grabbing campaigns and will follow up with you regularly to ensure you're informed and involved, in plain language.
Decibel values humor. Think about it. What's getting us through corona-rama is not the doom-scrolling; it's the humor. How do you survive all the ups and downs of life if you can't laugh? Humor is also a highly effective way to make genuine connections with customers. Of course, it's not always appropriate. But when it is, why not bond over a corny bird joke or two? (How did the egg cross the road?**)
People have said I'm brave. I don't think so. I listened to the universe and I planned. My motto is sine metu, Latin for "without fear." So why not? No risk, no reward. Create your own opportunity. Success is creating a life you want to live in right now. Don't be a hungry ghost.
As Lynyrd Skynyrd sings in Free Bird:
For I must be traveling on now
'Cause there's too many places I've got to see
...
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now***
Thanks for reading!
karen
Founder/CCO