Amanda is the CEO and Co-Founder of Go To Market, a woman-owned branded merchandise business looking to revolutionize the way the world handles swag. Before Go To Market, Amanda was the Founder and CEO of Urban Girl Squad, the premier social networking group for women in their 20s and 30s in NYC. Amanda lives in NYC with her husband, two kids and rescue dog and loves running, racing, cycling, and bike touring.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
The key to a productive day for me starts the night before. I keep a paper list on my desk with my top three objectives for the day and I put them in order. Then when I have time to work, it’s all about executing my vision and not scrambling to figure out what to do.
My work time is limited by being a parent of two kids, a dog mom, and my dedication to a daily workout. So I try to be as laser-focused as possible during my dedicated work blocks.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I’m more of a “ready, shoot, aim” type of entrepreneur so I tend to run towards my goals and then design a plan as I go. It’s served me well in business and in getting things done. Of course I need to pull back often and see which ideas are serving my bigger goals, but I don’t put on a lot of brakes when it comes to getting my ideas off the ground.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m thrilled that people are caring more and more about sustainability and reducing waste. It is a big part of the reason I started my business; I can’t stand seeing the sheer amount of waste present in the swag and branded merchandise industry.
My gen Alpha kids are absolutely appalled by excess waste, so I’m excited to see how future generations take sustainability to the next level.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I am a devotee of David Allen’s Getting Things Done. Inbox Zero and the concept of touching emails only once is the single greatest thing that’s helped my work life over the years. It takes discipline to stick with it and I go through phases when I do this more and less; however, whenever I am adhering to these ideas I am soaring through my work.
What advice would you give your younger self?
One thing I sorely needed when I was younger was perspective. It’s so hard to see any moment in your life as part of a big picture but it really is the key to weathering tough times. In my career I was often stuck in “it will always be this way” thinking.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
I really truly hate branded pens. I think they are wasteful and nobody should be printing them.
My strong opinion is that the job of branded merchandise is to build the relationship between the company and the people who receive the merchandise. Pens don’t do the job!
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I get outside to walk my dog several times a day and it is the single best thing for my business and overall health. Taking real screen breaks — not just to grab a snack from the fridge — and getting fresh air will recharge your brain and give much needed perspective on business challenges.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
If I’m feeling overwhelmed or unfocused, the first thing I do is check if I’ve exercised that day. Heading to the gym will always clear the cobwebs in my mind, and I think it’s because it forces me to take big breaths and control my breathing.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Whenever people ask me how I’ve been successful growing my businesses, the answer lies in networking and maintaining a lot of work relationships. I put a lot of time into phone calls and connecting people within my network to each other. I connect with people on a personal level, which is rewarding in and of itself, but it also makes a fantastic referral network for when people have a need in branded merchandise and swag.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I had a business that I started between my first company and the one I am running now that failed before it even got off the ground. It felt embarrassing because I had told all of my friends and family about it and then had to report to everyone that it didn’t work out.
What helped me the most in overcoming the failure was knowing that I got out early and made the right decision to shut down the business. I could have stuck with it out of pride and forced myself to stick with it but leaving was the smartest and best choice. I took comfort in knowing that I made the right choice!
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
When you’re printing branded merchandise and swag — which you should absolutely do to build your business — do not just print your logo on things. Consider your company vibe and values and try to translate those into your swag. Your team and fans will love it.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I love using the combination of Siri and the reminders app on my phone to capture ideas as they come to me in my life when I’m not working. “Hey Siri, remind me to … in 3 hours”. This way I’m not trying to hang on to thoughts as I move throughout my day, and I can capture the good ideas I have when I’m out doing other things.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
I bought rechargeable electric hand warmers from amazon for around $30 and it has made the biggest difference in my life. It’s cold in NYC in the winter and my fingers are often in pain from the cold. Keeping these in my pockets is a dream.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
My three favorite, most impactful books are:
– David Allen’s Getting Things Done
– James Clear’s Atomic Habits
– Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly
Each of these books has changed my thinking in a fundamental way and has genuinely improved my life.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently watched ALL of the Marvel movies in chronological order with my kids and was surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed it. Especially around the election and divisive politics, it’s really nice to dive into a world of superheroes!
Key learnings:
- When you’re designing branded merchandise and swag, think about your company vibe and values — not just your logo
- Productivity is all about organizing your ideas ahead of time so that you’re not making “what should I do” decisions in the moment
- Making meaningful connections with your professional network isn’t just good for business — it will also build you up personally