Alvin Woods

Be gentle with yourself and fight against the urge to rush because there is no template for success. Trust your instincts and don’t settle for mediocrity being packaged as opportunity.

 

Alvin J. Woods, entrepreneur and brand strategist, is CEO of The Media Model, a Brand Development and Public Relations agency that targets Millennials and Generation Z consumers. His company works with businesses in the following industries: Consumer Packaged Goods; Lifestyle; Entertainment – Film, TV & Music; Medical Cannabis & Accessories; Food & Beverage; Alcohol & Spirits; Technology; Books; Fashion & Accessories; Beauty; Luxury; Health & Wellness; Philanthropy; Sports; Education; Fitness; and Social Media.

Prior to founding his company, Woods worked as an advertising account executive and a public relations strategist at prominent New York City agencies. He has been featured as a small business expert and PR industry contributor for various media outlets that include: U.S. News & World Report; Yahoo! Finance; A.R.T.S.Y Magazine; How to Quit Working Radio; and Huffington Post.

Woods is a graduate of Southern University and A&M College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Master of Arts degree in Communication from the Louisiana-based HBCU.

Woods lives in New York City and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Where did the idea for The Media Model come from?

The Media Model business concept was conceived after working at both advertising and public relations firms and realizing that there was a need for a hybrid communication agency that authentically spoke to people that look like me. I’ve always struggled with why advertising and public relations were separate entities and was convinced that a team offering a holistic approach to build brand buzz would reach a more diverse audience.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My typical day begins with 10-minutes of silent meditation followed by at least an hour of exercise before drafting proposals, developing concepts and storyboards, pitching clients, and a lot of email correspondence. The burst of physical activity at the start of my day is a great catalyst for productivity and gives me time to get mentally organized.

I also tend to keep an ongoing task list, which is updated every evening, and prepares me for the next day. I generally keep the same daily schedule excluding Saturday, unless on a specific deadline.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I consistently scribble topline ideas on a notepad. Weekly, I select a few of those ideas and develop tentative action plans before setting them aside. The next week, I come back to those action plans with a fresh mindset to determine if the ideas can be fully realized.

What’s one trend that excites you?

A new push for the adoption of cryptocurrency as payment solutions for consultants, experts and consumers online is fascinating! I tend to take a lot of consulting and “scope of work” conference calls and Experty is a new app where calls are powered by Cryptocurrencies, allowing consultants to be paid instantly for their time.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Although it took time to get accustomed to it – leaving my cell phone in another room while working is a daily habit that keeps me productive. Between the hours of 11am to 4pm my phone is out of eyesight and reach, and I only take conference calls from a business line connected at my desk.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be gentle with yourself and fight against the urge to rush because there is no template for success. Trust your instincts and don’t settle for mediocrity being packaged as opportunity. Also, take complete responsibility for your actions.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Whatever you’re working on is only important to you and your immediate network. No one else cares about you and your projects until you make them care by authentically tapping into their respective interests with engaging content.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I recommend that everyone starts their respective day with at least 10-minutes of silent meditation before allowing outside energy to impact your mood.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Managing client expectations is a main focal point of my business. I’ve been able to elevate as a CEO and sustain growth by remaining transparent with clients as a “real person,” not just interacting as a know-it-all executive trying to impress with shallow corporate verbiage.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

During the first year of launching my business, I was deeply invested in personal challenges that some clients were having as if those conflicts were my own. Providing the luxury service of media features across platforms made me too eager to deliver results, even when clients gave personal excuses on payment delays. My business was on the verge of collapse because I was being too lenient.

Now, I put much more value on the 24-hours that we are all given each day. Time is money and business services require a budget.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Find a new audience by creating an eBook that combines your expertise and skillset for an informative guide that targets your business industry or entrepreneurs.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I recently purchased several packs of Quick Peek smart storage labels to get organized and it changed my life! All you do is download the free app, apply a label to the box, take a photo of the contents being stored away, and later scan the label to see what’s inside. I save so much time looking through inventory and files.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

We use Cision to connect with media influencers across the world and produce results based on client goals, regardless of industry. The software has been a primary catalyst to build a general lifestyle communication company.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

“We-Commerce: How to Create, Collaborate, and Succeed in the Sharing Economy” – this will help transform your business model so that you and your brand are in step with today’s fast evolving business mandates.

What is your favorite quote?

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb.

Everything takes times and you will never be younger than you are today, so get to work on your dreams and goals.

Key Learnings:

• Set aside 10-minutes to meditate and an hour for exercising to enhance daily productivity.
• Detach from your cell phone during peak work hours.
• There is no template for success, don’t settle for mediocrity being packaged as opportunity, and take complete responsibility for your actions.
• Read “We-Commerce: How to Create, Collaborate, and Succeed in the Sharing Economy” to transform your business model and stay aligned with today’s fast evolving business mandates.

Connect:

Twitter: @TheMediaModel ‏
Alvin Woods on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvinl1/