Each time an opportunity has presented itself, I ask myself two questions: what is my part? where is the solution? We are all here to grow and that is it – since the moment our bodies are born, the grow and they don’t stop until death.
Maggie is a producer, director, and writer with over 16 years of experience in film and television production. A graduate of Boston University with a degree in Advertising and Anthropology, Maggie began her career at the law firm of Greenberg Traurig during the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston abuse cases. From there she made the leap to New York City to pursue a career in film and television, working as a producer on hit shows including Ugly Betty, Bored to Death and Gotham. She moved to Los Angeles in the spring of 2017 to join Clique Brands producing editorial video content for their websites Byrdie, Who What Wear and MyDomaine. In 2018, she left to focus full-time on building The Deep Agency, a full-service creative agency dedicated to the wellness community. Maggie is also a 200 RYT Yoga Instructor and Reiki Practitioner who uses her training to cope with the immense pressures of the fast-paced world of production.
Where did the idea for The Deep Agency come from?
After a decade working in television and film production, I was worn down from being surrounded by so frenetic energy and constant stressors. In 2015, I began to practice yoga and meditation daily, which ultimately led to yoga teacher training while working on the very demanding show, Gotham. It was during teacher training, the I began to notice a common missing ingredient for most wellness practitioners – they were excellent teachers but they had limited knowledge surrounding marketing, publicity, and clear communications. It was during this period that the seed for The Deep Agency was planted. And after living in LA for a year and working for a digital media company, I was introduced to Rachel Marlowe, my co-founder. From there, we created a solid and well-considered platform for the wellness industry and called it The Deep Agency.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My mornings begin with a mantra-driven meditation given to me by my teacher, Swami Chetanananda from 630-7AM. I still teach yoga several times a week, so most mornings begin with yoga or a walk. I do my “scrolling meditations” while I have my coffee – this is how I operate intuitively as a communications director. During my internet scrolling, I am intutitively introduced to people that I feel clients should collaborate, or press that we should reach out to – I have even found retailers this way. After that, I spend the mornings on phone calls or meeting writing deadlines. Most afternoons, I keep for myself to either hike, or read or spend with people that I love.
How do you bring ideas to life?
It’s all about the intuition and having an open heart and mind. It sounds completely out there – but that’s how I get my best ideas – I just let them come and take the next right action. For example, I personally partnered with goo.ey phone cases to create the world’s first reiki-charged crystal phone case that sticks to glass – we called it aura.call x goo.ey and we sell it on Amazon. I had an idea one day during my scrolling meditations that we should put black tourmaline, which is scientifically-proven to vacuum harmful electromagnetic frequencies from electronics, into the back of a phone case. I reached out to Rachel Verghis, the CEO, and she loved it and thus we made a run of 600. I was blown away with gratitude because celebrities like Morena Baccarin and Molly Stern both have one and shared about it on their social media channels.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Global Awareness. The next generation’s commitment to accountability is exhilarating. My hope for the future is that trends like this become habits or the next trend will be our extinction.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
My ability to multi-task has by-far been my greatest strength, as an entrepreneur. However, it’s right up there with my ability to communicate with all different types of people.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Stop worrying, dream bigger, save more money and don’t drink. I think I had way more fear around taking risks when I was younger. I overcame a dependency on alcohol in my late twenties and with that came a sense of fearlessness. I had already been through the worst and had nothing to lose when I entered my thirties.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
When you do nothing, everything happens.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Love. Find love somewhere in something or someone everyday.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Honestly, being led by my intuition. Most of my clients have come to me – I have never advertised or done outreach – it isn’t how I roll. When you do nothing, everything happens. Of course, you have to take some action, but truthfully, by being open and ready – my business grew exactly how I needed it to. I call it the business of intuition.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I don’t believe in failures. I believe in opportunities to learn lessons. Each time an opportunity has presented itself, I ask myself two questions: what is my part? where is the solution? We are all here to grow and that is it – since the moment our bodies are born, the grow and they don’t stop until death. So, every failure and every success is an opportunity to grow. It helps me disassociate from fear and welcome success and exploration into any situation.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I have a dream of creating higher-conscious television channel like HBO or Netflix! I have worked in the wellness space for the past two years, and while everyone does work together, there is a natural seperation that occurs; however, people Like that are practicing different types of wellness activities and inspiration (I like to call them wellness toe-dippers) might need a bit of meditation today, but yoga tomorrow or high-impact dance aerobics the next day – what if there was a website or channel to go to to access all of the different modalities of wellness and well-being?
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I spent $100 to donate to the Joslin Center for Diabetes. My best friend from Boston University is running in the Falmouth Road Race to raise awareness and money for research. My ability to be charitable and participate in every type of community is essential to the survival of our global community and humanity. So, anytime I donate money it’s an investment in the future and that’s always money well spent.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Honestly, Google Drive has been the most useful to me. I love everything about it. It helps keep me organized and on top of things. I also use it for creative decks and proposals, mail, tracking press out reach and sales. Literally, everything!
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Be Here Now by Ram Dass because it changed my life. I believe the reason why will be different for everyone and completely personal. For me, it offered unimaginable possibility.
What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote today (it changes daily) is from Socrates. “True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.”
Key Learnings:
- Live intuitively
- Take the next right action
- Be generous with your time and money
- Find love in everything
- When you do nothing, everything happens
Connect:
www.thedeepagency.com
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.