Deborah Myers, CEO of VirtuArte, is a specialist in assisting businesses and individuals to cultivate a culture of genuine gratitude through meaningful and thoughtful gestures of appreciation. Among the suggested gestures of appreciation are the unique handcrafted items, Deborah finds during her travels in the developing world, that can be given as gifts. In doing so VirtuArte is assisting artisans to generate a sustainable income, continue their traditional craftsmanship, and pass their skills on to the next generation.

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Website: https://www.virtuarte.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahemyers/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.e.myers
https://www.facebook.com/VirtuArte/

FULL INTERVIEW

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Transcription

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[00:00:02.20] – Intro

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

[00:00:29.80] – Gresham Harkless

Hello. Hello. Hello. This is Gresh from the I AM CEO podcast. I have a very special guest on the show today. I have Deborah Myers of VertuArt. Deborah is awesome to have you on the show.

[00:00:39.20] – Deborah Myers

Thank you so much for inviting me. I'm looking forward to this.

[00:00:42.20] – Gresham Harkless

Definitely looking forward to it as well too. And what I wanted to do is just read a little bit more about Deborah so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing. Deborah is the CEO of Virtue Art, a specialist in assisting businesses and individuals to cultivate a culture of genuine gratitude through meaningful and thoughtful gestures of appreciation. Among the suggested gestures of appreciation are the unique handcrafted items Deborah finds during her travels in the developed developing world that can be given as gifts. In doing so, virtual arts is assisting artisans to generate a sustainable income, continue their traditional craftsmanship, and pass their skills on to the next generation. Deborah, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?

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[00:01:21.40] – Deborah Myers

I am ready.

[00:01:22.50] – Gresham Harkless

Awesome. Let's do it. So to kick everything off, I wanted to rewind the clock a little bit and hear a little bit more about what I call your CEO story. We'll let you get started with the business.

[00:01:30.79] – Deborah Myers

So before I started my business, I had a background in international economic development and international government affairs. So I worked first for an international organization, the Inter-American Development Bank, and that's really where I discovered my interest in developing country issues and my passion for travel. From thereafter, spending time there, I got the opportunity then to move into the private slash corporate, sector. And I worked for a French multinational company, an American multinational company, and a British multinational company.

And in each of those cases, I was still really fortunate to be able to focus on developing world issues and travel. I have had the opportunity to travel to visit and spend time in seventy-two countries. So I have, you know, Europe but also Asia, Africa, and Latin America. So during those years of traveling, and I still travel, and when I started my business I wanted to, do something that would still give me that opportunity, so I shopped. And I had grown up in a bicultural home, my mother was Mexican, I was always interested in different cultures and also in terms of what people were making. You know there was it, you know, jewelry, weavings, textiles, you know, hand carvings.

And so I always set time aside so that I could, could see and buy and bring back either things for myself or, gifts for friends. So when I decided that it was time to make a shift in terms of what I was doing, it took me a little soul searching, but I realized that really I was passionate about a, developing country issues, b as I said before I still wanted to do something that allowed me to travel internationally. I wanted to have an economic development impact and I wanted to see if I could do something that would empower women. And that's what led me to create virtual art.

[00:03:43.50] – Gresham Harkless

Nice. I definitely appreciate that. And I think when you're able to kinda do that one thing and be able to kinda hit all of those different aspects and have that effect that you're having on, obviously, you know, the people that are recipients of gifts, but also those artists and the people that are creating it. And, of course, women as well too. I think that's a phenomenal way that you've been able to kinda, I don't know if you meant to mastermind it, but to have that, impact by some of the by the business that you have, I think that's truly phenomenal.

[00:04:07.09] – Deborah Myers

When I started so when I started the business, it was really focusing on the artisans and helping them, you know, in terms of generating a sustainable income, through using their traditional skills. Because one of the things I did find when I was, you know, in my previous part of my career is that the younger generations were not interested in learning the traditional skills because they just couldn't see how they were gonna make an income, generate an income from that. So they opted to then migrate into the cities because they felt that that was really a place where they could find a better job and a better life.

And unfortunately, in a lot of places that, hasn't happened and, that's a whole other, discussion. But so when I saw that, the other thing that it made me realize is that these skills are, as I said before, passed down from generation to generation. They're not written down anymore. So if a generation decides not to learn them, then they're lost. And because these skills are, embedded in the culture, these, these places are losing part of their culture, which I, you know, thought it which is just, you know, sad. That's all I can say is sad. So that was really my first focus. So I went from just importing products with that focus, then I pivoted a bit and I started helping people become more intentional gift-givers because a lot of people don't enjoy shopping for gifts. They wait till the last minute. They don't know what to buy.

They buy something that they like themselves, or they will purchase a gift card and then are not happy, you know when the recipient isn't overjoyed with what they have been given, then they say, see, you know, it's not worth my time. So I started working with people to find what I called the perfect gift for their, for their gifting, occasion. But really what it boiled down to is getting to know the person that you're gonna give a gift to. And so I would just start asking people questions about the individual, and it was, you know, what do they wear? What's their favorite color? You know, what are their interests?

What are their hobbies? Have they traveled? And I guess not surprisingly, a lot of people just didn't know the answers to those questions. And so really and that's why their gifts were not, didn't have this impact that they wanted to because they just weren't meaningful. And the way to to give a meaningful gift is to get to know your the person who you're gonna give it to. So from there, some of so I started with individuals doing birthday gifts and anniversary gifts, Mother's Day gifts, and then moved. Some of my customers came back and said, you know, I have a client that I would, you know, wanna show my appreciation to and would like to give a gift. So I started working on client thank you gifts, client referral gifts, board gifts, and speaker gifts.

Although along the same lines, when I would ask, well, tell me about your client. Well, if people didn't know about their friends and family, you know, talking about and knowing a client was, you know, a whole different different thing. So people who worked with me started realizing how important that was because the clients just came back with such, joy in, a, about getting, you know, a a gift, and then b, about really seeing that that their that person heard them, understood them, knew them. So about, I guess, two years ago or eighteen months ago, I decided well, I started thinking about, well, what would happen with the company if they did this consistently versus just consistently? So pivoted a little bit again, and now I'm working with companies to develop, a strategy, a year-long strategy for those clients that want to strengthen their relationship  VIP level.

[00:08:31.19] – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. That makes so much sense, and I absolutely love that. And, you know, for even lack of a better term, like, as you said, you know, people, sometimes they don't know about their clients or people that they're working with. But even if they do know, I think, for lack of a better term, art the artistry that you got that you have to be able to kinda see those details and be able to see how that can, I guess, be manifested in a gift, for that person? And I think so many times, we may not know things about people to be able to give gifts. But even if we do know the art of gift giving and being able to kinda make that impact that we're seeking to have, I think it's something that, you know, you excel at and definitely is something phenomenal that you're able to accomplish. So, do you feel like that is what I call your secret sauce? Is the thing you feel kinda sets you apart your ability to kinda see that and make those connections?

[00:09:16.89] – Deborah Myers

Yes. And, and it's only something that I've discovered as my, you know, as my business, you know, has been pivoting. Mhmm. But yes. Absolutely. And people have then, you know, come back to me and, you know, and just said, you know, I can't believe that you, you know, you found that perfect thing. And I, you know, I try to do you know, when people come to me, I do try and see first if there's something within the inventory that I have of handcrafted items. But sometimes it's just literally impossible. And I had one client come to me who was working with the CFO of a company in South Dakota.

And he came and he had worked with me before, so he knew the drill. And he so he came back and he said, so this person, really is a fan of hockey and, and has a hobby of going ice fishing. And, of course, I thought, okay. I have absolutely nothing that's going to, you know, work with either of those those two things. So I set out and did some research in terms of that kind the what that people use when they go out ice fishing and came up with three options and sent them, to my client. And he selected the one. We wrapped it and then shipped it out to his client. And, again, his client was just like, you know, thank you so much.

I've been thinking about, you know, buying this item, and I just haven't gotten around to it. And, oh, by the way, my brother's going to love you too because now I don't have to keep borrowing his. So so, yes, I would say and I, you know, you know, people talk about, you know, when, you know, something that they're good at, they just have the feeling. And I am that way. When I see that item after, you know, thinking through and doing some research, but or I've had the time where somebody will start talking to me and I'll go, oh, I know the perfect gift. Mhmm. And, ninety-nine point nine percent of the time, people will select what I believe would be the, you know, the perfect gift. Because I always give them options.

I don't want them to think I'm just trying to, you know, you know, be, you know, directing them in terms of what they what they wanna give. Right. But that, you know, I just feel so it's just one of those adrenaline rushes I have to say. I was like, oh, this is gonna be so great when the person opens it. And for people who in the past have not been, haven't done that well in terms of gift giving, because what we also do is that we will wrap the gift. And if it's one of our, if it's one of my artisans, then we will also put in the handwritten card about how the product was made, where it came from, and about the artist.

And so it's not the other thing I wanna tell people, it's not just the gift, but it's how it's presented to the person. So when we either deliver the gift to the person who's gonna give it to his or her client, their face in terms of just how beautiful the package is and this is what they're going to be giving is also as, important to me as when the person then gives the gift and then comes back to me and just was is just beaming because, you know, it the person just loved the, you know, loved the item. So, yes, you are correct. That is my genius zone, and I love it.

[00:12:45.79] – Gresham Harkless

I wanted to, switch gears a little bit, and I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be like an app, a book, or a habit that you have, but what's something that makes you more effective and efficient?

[00:12:57.00] – Deborah Myers

So I have become I will not say that I have always been, but I've become an early riser.

[00:13:04.20] – Gresham Harkless

Mhmm.

[00:13:04.60] – Deborah Myers

And so the first, depending on, you know, how early, but the first thirty to thirty minutes to an hour are my time. So I will journal a bit. I then, will do my, you know, gratitudes and intentions for the day. I will then, read. I try and read, one. I'm I'm trying to always be reading a business book to, you know, continue to to learn. So I'm I try and read one chapter, but if the chapter's too long, then I'll read half a chapter. But read a segment out of a business book, and then I'll go take a shower. But that's kind of the way that I set up my day.

[00:13:51.70] – Gresham Harkless

So I wanted to ask you now for what I call a CEO nugget. So that could be a word of wisdom or a piece of advice, could be around, you know, gift giving as we talked about as well too, or it might even be something you would tell your younger business self.

[00:14:03.00] – Deborah Myers

So I would tell my younger business self and I would tell other people that in the early part of my career, I didn't do this, is self-care. Taking care, you know, taking care of yourself.

[00:14:15.39] – Gresham Harkless

I definitely appreciate that nugget. So I want to ask you now my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. We're open to having different, quote, unquote, CEOs on the show. So, Deborah, what does being a CEO mean to you?

[00:14:27.29] – Deborah Myers

It has given me the opportunity to, work in my to discover and work in my zone of genius. It's also given me the opportunity to have flexibility in my life.

[00:14:41.10] – Gresham Harkless

I truly appreciate that definition, and I appreciate your time even more. What I wanted to do is pass you the mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional you can let our readers and listeners know, and, of course, how best they can get ahold of you and find out about all the awesome things you're working on.

[00:14:54.60] – Deborah Myers

So, you can go to my website. Now I will say that we are in the in process of, making some changes and updating the website. But, right now, if you're interested in terms of the kinds of products that we have from our artisans from around the world, please go to w w w dot virtuart, and that's b I r t u a r t e dot com. And, we will we're in the process, as I said, of putting up all the information about our client appreciation, and the services that we provide. So give us a few weeks with regard to that. You can also find us on Facebook at Facebook, slash virtue art. I also am on LinkedIn, and that's LinkedIn at Deborah dot e dot Myers. And feel free to, send me an email, send me a message if you have any questions, and, I look forward to talking to you.

[00:15:58.10] – Gresham Harkless

Awesome. Thank you so much again, Deborah. We will definitely have the links and information in the show notes so that everybody can follow up with you as well. But I truly appreciate everything that you're doing and being able to kinda make an impact in so many different ways, on so many different levels for so many different people. And, it's just a reminder of why we should be doing what it is that we do, and I think you're an embodiment of that if I can say the least. So I truly appreciate you, and I hope you have a phenomenal

[00:16:22.20] – Outro

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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