Featured Hustler : Dear Charlie Marketing

Our Featured Hustler of the week is Charlie Bland from Dear Charlie Marketing. Charlie has been in business for 3 years now and has completed our High-End Hustlers program. Her business Dear Charlie Marketing develops customer-centric, strategic marketing for retail and e-com businesses. They do everything from strategy right through to making it happen.

In today’s conversation, we dive in to all things Dear Charlie Marketing (DCM)… why she does she she does, her biggest takeaways from the program and of course her future goals for DCM.

A conversation with Charlie Bland from Dear Charlie Marketing

Where are you right now?
I’m in the process of giving my business a huge level-up after an incredible last 6 months (for which I’m so grateful). Right this second, I’m sat at my desk in my new office in Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast. I’m in the process of hiring my first permanent employee and gearing up to celebrate DCM’s third birthday in September. So many exciting things are happening!

Tea or coffee?
A large flat white, every time.

Tell us a bit about what you do at Dear Charlie Marketing?
We create customer-centric, strategic marketing for retail and e-com businesses. We do everything from strategy right through to making it happen.

Why do you do what you do?
I really believe that small and independent business is where it’s at. They’re the businesses that aren’t just chasing profit, but often also trying to do something better for the world. We have so many incredible small and independent businesses here in Australia and I really want to help those guys get more moments in the spotlight vs. the big names.

I really hope the work we do helps those business owners reclaim some free time and stop them from working 24/7, 365 on their businesses by reducing the marketing overwhelm and helping them understand where the wins are in their businesses. It’s OK to not have zillion dollar marketing budgets like the big brands if you’re smart with how you use the money you do have.

What rituals do you have in place to help you get the most out of your day?
I take my dog, Buddy, to work everyday and he is the perfect reminder to step away from the desk mid-morning and at lunchtime to get out for a quick walk, feel the sun on my skin and come back to the office with more perspective and a fresh perspective.

How do you get into flow?
I often struggle to focus and to find my flow, but I’ve found working in short focused bursts using the Pomodoro method really helps me to re-centre and get things done. It also forces me to focus on one task at a time – I am terrible for trying to do too many things at once.

What is your favourite thing about running your business?
Feeling empowered to make decisions to try and build a business that avoids that toxic marketing agency culture that anyone who’s worked agency-side knows all too well.

What book, podcast & song are you jamming to at the moment?

I’m currently reading The Big Leap by Gaye Hendrix. A fantastic recommendation from Pru!

I’m actually not a huge podcast listener (just me?), but I love getting my news fix through podcasts so I’d say pretty boring things like The Squiz and the Economist Radio (and One Wild Ride – of course!)

Right now I’m loving listening to old Amy Winehouse. Her voice is so amazing.

If you could have dinner with 3 people (dead or alive), who would they be & why?
This is so tough! Probably with my girlfriends from home (the UK)! I miss them (can I invite them all?)

What has been your biggest takeaway from High-End Hustlers so far?
How important taking the time to step back, visualise what’s happening and really follow where your soul is taking you. Feels very woo, but it helps me stay true to myself and know that the hard work is worth it in the long-run. This is a marathon not a sprint for DCM!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
I’d be so proud of myself and so grateful for everyone who helped make it happen if in 5 years time I could have my own office, a team of 3-5 people and a portfolio of clients who really set my soul on fire. I’m delivering my workshop series quarterly and my team is delivering the best strategy, tailored for our clients’ individual needs. Hopefully, I’ve succeeded in creating a workplace that’s inclusive and provides opportunities for everyone (myself included) to look after themselves more. I’d like to have a zero hustle culture workplace, where my team takes the time to step away and do a yoga class or hit the gym if that’s what they need to keep their brains happy and then deliver the most incredible work for our clients.

Best piece of business advice you have been given?
I read this in a magazine when I was in my early 20s and I still think about it all the time: ‘Never work for appreciation or recognition because it may never come. Work so you feel satisfied that what you’ve done is the best you could give.’