You have to think about how you’re going to handle fear. You can either let it fuel you or paralyze you. And that choice can make all the difference in what happens next.
In an industry flooded with competition, Arshad Madhani knows exactly how to navigate through it all. As a Digital Marketing Expert, Madhani has built his entire career in helping others succeed through consulting. And by building ironclad marketing strategies. He works closely with his clients to rebuild and reshape their approach in meeting their company goals.
Madhani received his MBA from Texas A&M International University in 2011. And ever since, he has consistently and passionately put his innovative ideas to work. His vision to tackle challenges in the digital marketing world is incredibly telling of his passion for helping other entrepreneurs.
Currently located in Atlanta, GA, Arshad dedicates his time to really hone in on the troubles that are ailing his clients. He lays out plans for them to put into action, so that their brand awareness can stay up to par. From his own experiences, Madhani makes it a habit to walk his clients through every situation they present to him.
There are a lot of working components while he’s consulting, but his expertise shines a light on things that his clients are thankful for. His ability to look further out in the process also helps set up campaigns for them. They’re able to take advantage of the groundwork he lays out and he gets to see others shine.
What inspired you to pursue a career as a Digital Marketing Expert?
I’ve always just really loved the fast-paced work that digital marketing and consulting bring. I also look back to when I was younger, because I was always creating things and then trying to sell it to my family or friends. I was essentially “marketing” products to people from the get-go, and didn’t notice how much I enjoyed do it until later. I had an “aha” moment and the rest is history.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My work days can be all over the place. Sometimes I’m going full speed, and other times I have the opportunity to lay out the “blueprints” for my clients. I even have the chance to listen to a podcast or two! A lot of it is being creative 24/7, which gives me the chance for new growth and learning opportunities.
I use Breeze a lot because it gets my life in order. I always utilize 2 calendars every day to see what my workflow is going to be like for the week. And I’m almost constantly listening to music to help me decompress at the end of the day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
By using notes upon notes! I also have a lot of voice memos of thoughts that’ll pop into my head, or I’ll study and observe what others in my field are doing. The beginning of an idea can come from meetings I have where we brainstorm for a few hours. Then after stringing things together there’s finally a fully formed idea!
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’ve always been interested in how video as a marketing medium has been so innovative. And continues to do so even after 10 plus years. People just aren’t going to spend a lot of time reading without getting distracted. They want quick results and what’s quicker than video? I think that while it does take a lot of work, people can see outstanding marketing results from building a video library. People find your info trustworthy, and it’s an easy way to spread brand awareness.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Honestly it’s one of the easiest life hacks I’ve ever come across but wouldn’t have thought to do earlier. Before I go to bed at night I now leave my phone on a dresser that’s far away from me. Sometimes I’ll even leave it on the floor by the door to the bedroom.
When my alarm goes off, I’m forced to get out of bed and start the day, knowing that I can’t keep hitting the snooze button. I’d have to get up to turn it off! So since I already have to get up, I usually don’t head back to bed. I’ve made this a habit of mine and it helps me wake up on time and get ready to tackle new challenges.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To not let the fear of failure ever get in the way. Sometimes things just aren’t going to pan out. But that shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your dreams and goals. You have to think about how you’re going to handle fear. You can either let it fuel you or paralyze you. And that choice can make all the difference in what happens next.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Being the best at something isn’t the most important thing. It’s more about the journey, what you learn along the way and how to reshape your thinking. Being the best is great, but if you want to be the best 100% of the time you’re going to burn out. There’s other things at play to focus on.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Constantly seek out knowledge. That’s how you get better at what you want to do. You won’t ever know everything. So, have humility in understanding that even when you’re an expert, there are people or pieces of content out there that can broaden your horizons.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
As a consultant it’s a little different for me. In a sense, I’m growing my business by creating networks with people. I’m building relationships with my clients to prove I’m trustworthy and capable of delivering the results they’re after. And that’s what I am always aiming for. It’s helped me by extending my service reach!
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
We’ve all made mistakes. It’s just how the world goes. But I had to learn how to truly help people by listening to them. I thought I was a great listener, and understood how to help my clients. But when I first started out I soon noticed I was just projecting, or assuming what they wanted. I’ve since changed that approach to assist in my clients’ success stories in a more productive manner.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Maybe an app or a program that helps partner kids with reading programs. I have friends who work with students and when I hear that they aren’t at the level of understanding they should be at, it makes me think this could be a valuable tool.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I found a deal for a great cooking class that extended over a period of two days! I’m trying to learn more recipes because I really enjoy creating new dishes. It’s also partially because I watch a lot of cooking shows and always feel inspired to try out different things.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Well as I mentioned before I do think Breeze is great at helping me organize my workflow. But I also like RescueTime because it keeps me on track and makes me aware of how much time I’m actually spending on every campaign I provide assistance in.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“The Accidental Creative” by Todd Henry is a fantastic read! It’s not a book that’s geared solely for digital marketers, but it’s quick and just discusses the process of creating practices that cultivate great ideas.
What is your favorite quote?
“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” – Elbert Hubbard
Key learnings:
● Don’t let fear get in the way of your success
● Stay organized and focused to accomplish your daily goals
● You will never stop learning or honing your craft. And that’s completely fine.
● Always be willing to network so you can grow professionally.
Connect:
Arshad Madhani on LinkedIn:
Arshad Madhani on Facebook:
Arshad Madhani on Twitter:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.