I’ve been involved with the internet and computers as long as I can remember. In fact, my first memories involve me being 8 years old and taking the phone off the hook and placing it onto the modem so that I could “type” to my neighbor across the street, Georgeanne. Georgeanne was my friend Eric’s mom. My parents owned and published a magazine, so as a child, I had access to two top of the line IBM computers at home- and back in 1985 that was more than the average household for sure!

I remember my mother reprimanding me whenever I tried to type with two fingers- she insisted that if I was going to use the computer, I must learn to type correctly. I was armed with Mavis Beacon software, as well as various books on BASIC and BASICA programming. Again, as a child, I had a leg up on technology from the start.

My interest in both technology and marketing held steadfast through the years, as I watched time pass and video games move from arcades and into homes. Just as the word processors and computers slowly replaced typewriters. And then, the internet became fairly commonplace with America Online v1.0 when I was about 14 or 15. I remember being chastised for using too many hours of AOL many times as a kid, as well as the 1400baud rate that we used to connect. I was thrilled when it was upgraded to 2800baud and an unlimited monthly rate. I’m sure my parents were too!

Now, that seems like so long ago- in a world where we are instantly connected by various means. It’s always amazing to me how far we’ve come with technology in such a short period of time, but also how far we have left to go. I’m excited for the future.

Relating this to marketing, I have always been able to grasp the future turn of events in an almost uncanny way. Back in 1998, years before most radio stations were selling advertising on their websites and focusing on what they now call “Non-Spot Radio Revenue”, I suggested to my father, who was working as a General Manager of a radio station in Fort Lauderdale/Miami, that he should speak to the owner of the station and push the use of internet advertising because it was going to be the wave of the future. As it turns out, after selling the radio station, the former owner branched out into an online radio venture.

Years later, I worked part time at another radio station in Northeastern PA, doing their web development and email blasts for the stations. At that time, the iPod was new, so I kept mentioning that we should move into providing more online content for our radio listeners, by doing podcasts or videos and have them available for download to their computers or iPods/Mp3 players. Two years later, it was implemented nation-wide.

These days, I still do the same thing. I sense trends and have an uncanny knack to sense a winner- whether it be a song that I just know will hit number 1, or a business idea that just needs a kick start to move in the right direction. This is one of the ideas why working for myself is such a blessing. I get to help other people with their business, moving it forward, and helping it develop in ways they’ve imagined.

Back when I was very small, I sat in our attic playroom and disassembled one of our two Fisher Price cassette recorders (my record player was far too valuable- and the cassette player in question was my younger sister’s), and then put it back together. I just wanted to see how it worked. I do this today with businesses, in a sense. Through research, I look at all the pieces and then I assist in placing them together in such a way that makes things run more efficiently as a whole.

And now, with Carry On Commerce, I look forward to working with you and your company- whether it be small or large. I hope that the little window into memories of my past will help you to understand a little more of who I am and how I think. I know that I can help you too! Fill out the form at Carry On Commerce and I’ll be in touch!

-Audrey