We are so happy to welcome Adam Deck to our team!
This is Adam:
We asked him a few questions so you can get to know him a bit better.
What do you enjoy most about digital marketing and advertising?
I would say the experience of being a catalyst for connecting the online world with our client’s unique product has been the most exciting and rewarding part of my time in the marketing field. It feels great to help make those connections happen.
Have you ever owned a business?
Yes, I’ve owned a few. I owned a small local business in the construction trades, painting houses for a few years. It was a sometimes messy, but immensely satisfying and meditative style of job mixed with an outlet for a busy and active way of applying myself to a quite physical job. I owned that for 2 years and got my feet wet (I often used my feet to paint) with feeling out cost-effective ways to get our name out there and rank well online, against our competition.
The second business I opened with my partner and it was a bit more adventurous; introducing our small city to a fully plant-based and gluten-free restaurant. We knew starting a such a “niche” business could be a huge risk, especially since no one else had done it in our area before, but we follower our heart anyway. We started with two employees and after outgrowing our space within two years, we moved to a larger downtown restaurant space and had a team of 12 staff. We had daily specials, a larger menu, were honored to have won two environmental awards and multiple customer service awards, and were growing our name and brand in our city. I did not have any previous restaurant experience so I literally threw myself in there and learned as much as I could from our amazing community, some generous mentors, and supportive friends and family. I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur or freelancer and it allowed me to create something I was passionate about.
What do you enjoy about running a business?
I really enjoy the strategy side of being an entrepreneur – getting to test out new ideas and collect data through trends and results. I love the problem solving that goes along with the dozens of daily issues that come up against your business and assessing what the best solution would be for each situation. Also, seeing something that you created or crafted get to be enjoyed by others – that is something that I looked forward to every day!
What was one of the biggest challenges you experienced while running your businesses?
The biggest challenge I faced with my painting business was competing with a large number of other painting companies in our area. Marketing to our customers in a way that highlighted our quality workmanship and branded our business to stand out in the search rankings was extremely important to our success. With my restaurant, the challenge was, surprisingly, not always finding more patrons, but managing a strong team of qualified staff and upholding a high standard of quality control, as we wanted every customer to have an exceptional experience. It takes a lot of time and energy to train employees to embrace your standards and confidently represent your vision.
What are your favorite things to do, outside of working for Mycelium Marketing?
I have really started to dive deep into music and learn to play the Baritone Saxophone. I fell in love with the woodwind after seeing a few New York subway bands make some incredible live music down in the underground of NY city (although, from my home on Youtube, unfortunately).
I also find it magical to forage and eat wild food from the forest! I enjoy the process of identifying and finding edible plants and learning how they can be used, almost as much as the act of preparing and eating them.
Coolest place you’ve traveled to and explored?
The coolest place I have been is Northern California, where I was awestruck entering the Redwood forest; experiencing the enormous giants that lined the coastal highway. The only time I have felt the way I did then was seeing the Rocky Mountains for the first time. Exploring the old overgrown forests was so refreshing and remarkable, stepping into such an old, mysterious wild place.
Favorite food?
My favorite food, hands down, is the Mexican Burrito! All the delicious plant-based fixings: sweet potato, Mexican rice, refried beans, guacamole, salsas, hot sauces, cilantro, lettuce, caramelized onion ….too many to name! Yum! If I was on a deserted island, and I could only eat one food – I hope it’s burritos.
What do you do to manage stress in your life?
I have always been a very active person and find the best way to release stress is to do some type of outdoor activity or exercise. I am an avid road cyclist so getting out on the saddle and hitting some hill climbs or explore some forested back roads is the perfect stress reliever when I am feeling a little tense.
What’s your favorite type of landscape?
I enjoy mountains; vast and majestic. I love to visit British Columbia and take in the mountainscape of the Rocky Mountains, especially during a summer sunset. It’s both rugged and covered with refreshing coniferous forests as far as the eye can see!
Favorite type of music?
For the last few years I’ve been really digging the “Brass House” genre; band instruments played in an upbeat house tempo that makes you want to dance. My favorite being the band “Too Many Zooz” who I believe coined “Brass House” and are so good at creating fun music.
If you weren’t a human, what would you be?
I would really want to be a Cheetah. In recreational sports, I have always wanted to move fast and I have a competitive spirit when it comes to speed. I love the heat and the sun as well as the plains where they roam. Although I feel like I might make a lousy hunter and carnivore as I am vegetarian, so I might just make friends with the gazelles and frequent potlucks, sharing salad recipes. ☺
Facebook or Instagram?
I have been using Instagram daily for the last few years and that is where I am most active and where I turn to see what’s happening in the world. I enjoy the cleanness and simple layout of Instagram as well as the platform’s ease of use. I am a very visual person so it satisfies me to see the story of my favorite artists and figures through pictures and videos.
Your 3 favorite people to follow on Instagram and why?
1. Leo Pellegrino (@Leopfollowme) – I love seeing what Leo P. posts as he is very active online and creates a huge amount of story content. He takes you on tour with him and plays unique solo pieces that you don’t get to see anywhere else. You also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of set-up, warm-up, post show, and even his family life. He is a very interesting and talented guy!
2. Dr. Michael Greger (@nutrition_facts_org) – My most trusted source of nutritional information and facts. I feel grateful to have Dr. Greger by my side when navigating the confusing and sometimes conflicting data out there on what to eat and what not eat. Posts and information with peer-reviewed study references make me feel confident in what I am reading.
3. Paul Stamets (@paulstamets) – An always inspiring feed of medicinal and edible/culinary mushrooms. Paul posts so much information about the scientific side of wild-crafting as well as the deep connection of mycology and the health of the planet.
