Founder and Chief Creative Officer Jamal Hipps leads MPYER Marketing & Advertising in developing branding strategies to communicate clients’ messages. Hipps finds his daily dose of wisdom by turning to Proverbs.
What is one statement you would say about yourself now that you would not have said 10 years ago? “This year, MPYER Marketing & Advertising will be celebrating our 10th year in business!”
What was the first album you ever bought, and do you still listen to it? The first album that I ever bought was “Purple Rain,” by Prince. Yes, it’s Prince! I definitely still listen to it.
What book do you find yourself rereading repeatedly, and why? The Book of Proverbs … and “The Culture Code,” by Clotaire Rapaille. … The Book of Proverbs, the Bible book of wisdom, consists of 31 chapters that I read daily. … In “The Culture Code,” Clotaire Rapille does a great job of using examples, such as objects, occupations or daily routines, to explain how people from around the world view these items differently based on nostalgic memories, cultural teachings or unique societal norms.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? My last 10 years have been spent developing and growing a company, which has required a lot of time and a few missed opportunities. Even though I have truly enjoyed every step of the process and have no regrets, I see my next 10 years consisting of traveling the world with my family and friends, sharing unique experiences and creating priceless memories.
What advice would you give to a young professional about to enter the workforce for the first time? Don’t try to have it all figured out or fear asking questions. … While it is important to be prepared, experiencing the unknown with an open mind can afford you the opportunity of learning the things you need to know to fulfill your job requirements.
Tell us about your ideal day off in Nashville. I would start my day off joining the M.A.D.E. Fitness team for an intense workout or a Percy Warner mountain bike trail ride, hit Post East in East Nashville to enjoy a light early morning breakfast and coffee on one of their outside tables, stop by FLIP Men’s to see what new items they have in stock, have a late lunch and a Principle Cigar at Frothy Monkey while listening to music and close out the day enjoying a happy hour with my parents and a few friends on a patio somewhere downtown.
What do you credit most for your success? Learning the power of prayer, understanding the benefit of patience in not rushing decisions or stressing over delayed answers, while remaining persistent in the pursuit of goals and dreams, have not only guided my career but are the sole reason for my life successes.
Nashville is growing fast. Where/how can the area’s young professionals have the most impact on the future of the city? Nashville’s young professionals can have the most impact on the future of our growing city by sowing seeds in the development of our community. Whether it is by exploring a personal passion in volunteering with a nonprofit, joining a civic group or a professional organization to see a desired change in our city, there are several opportunities to contribute to the growth and direction of Nashville. Additionally, in the process of working with other like-minded individuals you will find that your personal and professional networks will grow. Relationships are everything, and will be essential in making a lasting impact on the City of Nashville.
When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was 10 years old, I wanted to be a corporate lawyer and work in marketing. At that time, I had an aunt who was a corporate lawyer and personal friends to several celebrities, as well as a father who worked in marketing and always had the coolest toys, games and gifts (to be recognized at an older age as “branded promotional items”). The impression of their jobs left me with excitement, wondering how I can meet these cool people and have unique toys, while getting paid. As I got older and began exploring both career paths, I found that they can actually work hand in hand. Whether it was working as a game day Intern for the Tennessee Titans or interning in the marketing department of AmSouth Bank (now Regions), I found most creative ideas used to advertise products or services, no matter how awesome they were, had to survive the fine-tooth comb of the legal department for final approval. While I truly respect and appreciate the necessary value of the legal profession, I realized that I really enjoyed the creative art of figuring out how something could work versus detailing why it may not work. From there, every obstacle of creative survival became an exciting challenge that I still enjoy to this day. Very rarely do I get the chance to hang out with celebrities. However, I do get the chance to join in developing branding campaigns that may consist of finding the coolest toys, games and gifts (branded promotional items) for our clients.
What is the best career choice you’ve made? Relinquishing the familiar is the best career choice I’ve made thus far. After being laid off from the only job I had known for seven years right out of college, I found myself at a place of uncertainty. I was approached with opportunities to work for other financial institutions and like-minded entities. However, instead of returning to the familiar corporate environment, I viewed this career transition as a blessed opportunity to explore the unknown. I decided to pursue a personal desire of working within the world of advertising. Granted, this journey presented several opportunities for quitting and easily returning to a world I previously knew, I decided to remain steadfast and fulfill my aspirations. This career choice afforded me the opportunity of learning patience, persistence and the power of prayer. There are no mistakes and that all things happen for a reason. It is because of those things that I am where I am today and still enjoying the journey.
What is the worst career choice you’ve made, and what did you learn from it? When MPYER first started, we initially did a lot of service and product trades. Over time, I began realizing that value is subjective. Even though I knew that our services were correctly priced by industry standards, I was finding that worth may not be fairly perceived by our trading counterparts; which, resulted in a unfair balance in trade. From this, I learned that clearly communicating expectations, deliverables and projected costs upfront, are key in eliminating ambiguity and establishing value moving forward.
If you could go back in time 10 years and send yourself an anonymous text, what would it say? Hey! FYI... Today’s NO will always be tomorrow’s bigger YES!
What is your motto for success in 10 words or less? Prayer, Patience & Persistence = Attainment
Title: Founder and chief creative officer
Age: 39
Email: jamal@mpyer.com
Website: mpyer.com
Twitter: @MPYER
Education: Middle Tennessee State University, business administration; Belmont University, MBA
