Staff Writer
This month, in partnership with AdventHealth for Women, we’re recognizing some of the women in our community who are selflessly giving to others while raising families, supporting their loved ones and/or building their careers. Whether they know it or not, their stories inspire other women near and far. One of those women is Melanie Miller.
Meet Melanie:
Melanie Miller, Speaker, Marketing & Social Media Expert, CEO-Playbook Marketing Solutions
Playbook Marketing Solutions delivers proven social media solutions & marketing results. Melanie has had multiple years of experience working with high-profile clients and helping small businesses to grow their brand awareness, which gives us a unique insight into what is needed to make your marketing successful. With 20 years of experience as a promotional manager, Melanie also coaches businesses and individual entrepreneurs, offering proven tools and strategies to gain increased exposure and ultimately increase revenue. By offering strategic branding, social media, and marketing coaching, Melanie found herself as a sought-after public speaker, sharing her experience and savvy with the marketing community around the country. Melanie has a long list of clients that reads like a Who’s Who of corporate America: AOL, HP, ESPN, Comcast, Freddie Mac, Fannie May, Unisys, Six Flags, Geico, Advent Healthcare, Ford, Chevy, Toyota—and 100+ NFL athletes.
What is your WHY?
The old saying is that if your WHY doesn’t make you cry then you need to really dig in & discover what it is that will. My two precious daughters, Alexia and Alyssa. Seeing them grow into women of faith, accomplishing things that make a difference and having the heart to love people. As a momma you pour your very being into your babies. To see them soar in life, help them with their battles and live their life to the fullest. The effort that a mother must place into her children is SELFLESS. I love them more than life itself. However, as all women know they grow up and we become their advocate. As I get older, it is even more important to me to be that example of love–caring and living with a compassionate spirit toward others that they will think about as they grow older. I pray more than anything they too will live with a spirit that impacts those around them, becoming difference makers in this world just like my own mother taught me.
On your toughest of days, what motivates you to put one foot in front of the other?
These days are tough. This world is a hard place but what I have found is that serving & blessing others brings me so much joy. The recipe for curing any bad day for me is to go be a blessing to someone else. What can I do to help them win in life? How can I put a smile on their face? The recipe for dealing with your toughest day is to find the reward that comes in not what you receive but what impact comes from seeing someone smile. In my office, I have a sign that is a daily reminder of this very thing. It says ‘Always pray to have the eyes to see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad and a soul that NEVER loses faith in God’.
Have you drawn inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.
My mom was a single mother for years. She raised my brother and I on a teacher income. She did everything she could to make sure we had our needs met, were involved in sports and stayed out of trouble. She was a business owner , talented award winning cosmetologist teaching thousands of students how to win in their career. Her creativeness was passed down to me through my marketing talents. Her never quit mentality taught me to be a champion. She sat me in church every Sunday even though as a teen I did not want to go. It ended up being the greatest gift she could have given me. The only example I have ever had has been that I was always made for more.
What is the one word that perfectly explains who you are?
Generous.
My life is centered on the work that I do to help others. When I worked as a nurse, it taught me how to really have compassion and love for people. Now as a marketing leader in business, I carry that compassion into the workplace helping businesses WIN in their marketing strategies. There is nothing better in this world than to serve others, helping them to accomplish their goals. Volunteering in the community is the most generous thing anyone can do. It costs nothing but yet provides such a return of joy to your life. Some of my greatest wins have been helping my church ReThink Life, serving the corporate leadership at AdventHealth Community Board for the last three years and helping to raise millions of dollars for charities over the last 20 years.
Would you change anything about how you have handled challenges or successes thus far in your life?
My success has been shaped and molded out of my struggles. I would never change some of these because they have shaped me into a great leader as a woman. I am now able to help others effectively become who they need to be. Without challenges you have no growth as a leader. They used to hurt me, I would cry and feel broken inside. I would try to look perfect like nothing was wrong but here is the truth. When we don’t share our stories, we can never show the greatest of the power that God has placed in us that leads to a victory.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of what has been accomplished in my life here in Orlando in only 4 years. Through my business Playbook Marketing Solutions. It has been a privilege every single day to help grow & market businesses that need a talented woman with a feisty can do spirit. Through Nonanextlevel.net, myself and Linda Travelute are coaching businesses with a system we created where marketing is merged with leadership. It is a monthly meeting that meets in Lake Nona at the Drive Shack. Many say the meetings are like a business pep rally every month full of excitement where we are helping businesses learn how to position themselves as leaders & grow their marketing efforts to the Next Level of business.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it?
The biggest challenge I have faced was moving from the Washington, DC area to Orlando over 4 years ago. I have had a successful 20 plus year career marketing the most AMAZING NFL superstars that are men of great faith & good character. I worked with the top leadership of major corporations doing thousands of appearances and engagements. To make a decision to support my husband’s dream as a successful PGA golf professional in Florida where golf is a way of life. There is nothing like starting over where no one knows you and what seems like no one cares. However, what I learned from Ken Harvey-one of my best friends that played for Washington Football Club told me this one thing. He said you cannot win unless you get in the game. You have to show up for yourself and make a determination that you will NOT stop until you win. As a woman, it is not easy to earn the respect of a new business in Orlando where no one may know you but with a mindset of a can-do spirit your dreams will blossom into something amazing. My next level is on its way & I am loving taking so many new businesses with me on this beautiful life journey.
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