IAM1027- CEO Provides Impactful Communication Solutions

Marissa Eyon is in her 3rd year of being an entrepreneur as CEO of FASTSIGNS of Springfield. Her passion for people really helps her and her team provides impactful communication solutions. With Marissa's civilian Navy experience, she ensures her products are high quality and can easily meet any requirements or regulations your complex project might require. When Marissa isn't helping her team deliver awesome signs, she spends as many free moments with her husband of 20 years and three children.

• CEO Hack: Book- The Power of Habit
• CEO Nugget: Stay flexible
• CEO Defined: Responsibility, being able to provide as well as helping employees grow

Website: http://www.fastsigns.com/2251

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastsignsofspringfieldva/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FASTSIGNSofSpringfieldVA
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/fastsigns2251

Full Interview:

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Transcription

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00:15 – Intro

Are you ready to hear business stories and learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and level up your business from awesome CEOs, entrepreneurs, and founders without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you've come to the right place. Gresh values your time and is ready to share with you the valuable info you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

00:42 – Gresham Harkless

Hello, Hello, Hello. This is Gresh from the IMCEO Podcast. I have a very, very special guest on the show today. I have Marisa Eon of Fast Signs of Springfield. Marisa, it's awesome to have you on the show.

00:51 – Marissa Eyon

Thank you so much, Gresham. Glad to be here.

00:54 – Gresham Harkless

Definitely super excited to have you on as well. Before we jump into the interview, I want to read a little bit more about Marisa so you can hear about her and her team and all the awesome things that they're doing. And Marissa is in her third year of being an entrepreneur as the CEO of Fast Signs of Springfield. Her passion for people really helps her and her team provides impactful communication solutions. With Marissa's Civil Navy experience, She ensures her products are high quality and can easily meet any requirements or regulations your complex project might require.

01:23 – Gresham Harkless

Marissa isn't helping her team deliver awesome signs. She spends many free moments with her husband of 20 years and her 3 children. Marissa, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?

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01:33 – Marissa Eyon

Absolutely, thank you.

01:35 – Gresham Harkless

Awesome, well let's do it then. So to kind of kick everything off, I wanted to hear a little bit more about how you got started, what I like to call your CEO story.

01:42 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, thank you so much. So you did a great job of reading my background, but started on the West Coast. I feel like that's a big deal, you know, living out here. And I just had such a fantastic career as a, started as an engineer, and then a project manager and manager ended up as a director here at the Navy Yard in DC. So through this process, I just became so hungry to just learn more. So I went and got my MBA while working full time. I feel like that's another like, I'm a crazy kind of person. And yeah, UVA was such a great program. And through that, my entrepreneurial spirit was just awoken. And I said I've got to try this. So as long as a company was really helping people and dynamic, then that would be a business I would look at seriously. And this one became available. And I just couldn't believe how perfect of a fit it was. So I bought this business in the summer of 2018.

02:38 – Gresham Harkless

Nice, well, I absolutely love that. And I think it's the woo-has or the wahoos for UVA. Wahoos, wahoos. There we go. I knew it, I was somewhat close, but I love how you.

02:48 – Marissa Eyon

I know I'm like a cowboy, sorry.

02:51 – Gresham Harkless
Yeah, there we go. There will be no jokes like that anytime soon.

02:54 – Marissa Eyon

That's edited, I got it, I got it.

02:56 – Gresham Harkless

But no, I appreciate all the experience and everything that you've been able to put into the business. And I know from our connecting, obviously, that we provide really great experience and really great help to the clients that come into the doors. And I love how it kind of sounds like the experience that you have from the engineering to the MBA and everything in between and all around has helped you to kind of be able to lay that foundation and make an impact in the area.

03:20 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, I can't even, I have nothing but gratitude for all the experience that it just, you have to use every skill as a CEO and so you just use as many tools in your toolbag. I'm so, I'm very grateful for that.

03:33 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, absolutely. Definitely we find out as, you know, being entrepreneurial and in leadership, often you have to find, you know, unique tools in your tool belt to be able to solve a lot of the solutions. So varied backgrounds sometimes provide an experience to do that. And so speaking of being able to provide solutions, I wanted to drill down a little bit more into how you work with your clients and how you provide the products and services for them. Could you take us through that?

03:54 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, all of us here are visual communication experts, and our whole mission life is just to get your message out. We know that you're working so hard, and you have all of your own things to worry about, but let us, with the designing in-house, suggest the right products for you, We tailor to different markets in particular, and we really just tailor solutions from everything from the manufacturer, the installation, from your simple yard sign to, you know, call me now to vehicle graphics. And then we even do big building electrical projects with the big permanent signs for the brick and mortars who are making it through.

04:40 – Gresham Harkless

yeah, I definitely appreciate that you know kind of like the full service of all those things but I think and definitely correct me if I'm wrong, that impactful communication solutions, I think a lot of times when we don't look at signs, we don't look at those things as being able to kind of communicate who you are and what it is that you do. So I love that you're able to kind of, for lack of a better term, sounds like bridge that gap between the signs and what the company should be and hoping to communicate.

05:04 – Marissa Eyon

Exactly, and I think Gresham, you do such a great job. I mean, you've got your awesome photo behind you and you've got the decal on your microphone. It's so important that those subtle little things just keep your message, keep on brand, and keep who you are, but it's at the right place at the right time. You're not just throwing money away with, you know, a vehicle graphic would not fit you at all.

05:27 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, absolutely. It's just as important as being, you know, strategic about what it is that you're doing. So I love that you help kind of translate that and help people to kind of make that come to fruition. And so would you consider that to be what I like to call your secret sauce? The thing you feel kind of sets either you personally or the organization apart and makes you unique. Is it the ability to bridge that gap and have those things come to fruition?

05:48 – Marissa Eyon 

Exactly, we just, don't treat people as transactions. It's absolutely about community. And we love having an impact on the local community. And our customers tell us the biggest reason they come back is we're just so speaking friendly. Our whole culture, they say, what do you guys drink here? What's in your coffee? Because we are just 100% positive. We're here to help you grow. We know how stressful it is to have your own business. And so let us just take some of that stress off and really help you keep growing. So that's what we absolutely love about the job and what I think makes us unique is just our friendly, friendly culture.

06:26 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, and that's absolutely huge. And I love, I say so often during the podcast that we forget about the human aspect of business and being able to kind of just, obviously, we all have businesses, there's, you know, numbers we have to keep in line with and all those things and pay attention to, but sometimes we forget about, especially when we work with the business community, the stress that comes with that and being able to kind of provide that light when someone comes in the door is looking for something goes a long way because it really builds those long-term relationships create that connection that lasts forever.

06:56 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, and as a new business owner myself, it's been so great to share not only just sign advice, but also, you know, what they should do for this and that and how they should set up their company. Also, there's just, you have a million questions and they're still to the day is not a one-stop shop, one book, one podcast that will give you all the answers. So it's great to just as humans, you know, hey, we're all in this together.

07:20 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, and that's why I love that community piece that you mentioned because I think so many times in business and in entrepreneurship, you can kind of feel lonely, you can feel unprepared and not sure where to turn from. So to be able to have the ability to kind of lean into that community and hear all the expertise and advice that you guys have helps out so much. Awesome, awesome, awesome. So 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 an app, a book, or a habit that you have, but what's something that makes you more effective and efficient?

07:51 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, I love it. And I want to say E, all of the above, right?

07:55 – Gresham Harkless

Exactly.

07:58 – Marissa Eyon

So really based on my faith, as well as the Navy experience, It's been such a great experience for me going up to just respect everyone, but it is all about the habit. And so I've loved the book called The Power of Habit, and I won't try to pronounce his name, but it's Charles D. something. And it just broke it down to, you've got to just have these little baby steps and habits to end up in a good place. And then I had an old pastor kind of say the same thing. You can't end up in a destination And the beast's surprised when every step you took got you there. So, and if there's anybody, you know, movie buff or case some older people may be listening hopefully, but there's the what about Bob, right? And just baby stuff, baby stuff. I think that's that's the biggest trick, the biggest habit.

08:48 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, I love that. And I think so many times we get so wrapped up in, as you said, the destination and what it takes to get there that we forget that, I think, I'm gonna probably butcher the quote, but I think The thousand-mile journey begins with small simple steps and something along those lines. Sorry for whoever actually said that. But at the end of the day, just understanding each of those details, I think in business or in life, and how that aligns us and gets us to where we want to be is so important because we can kind of get lost in the sauce when we're running our businesses or living our lives that we forget about the habits that we create and how that creates our lives and our futures.

09:23 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, I mean my favorite is when people tell me about their dream and you know you're like, okay well what are you doing to get there? And we're like, But it's a dream. Yeah, but you know, I gotta break that down.

09:34 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, what is the saying? The quickest way to eat an elephant is onebite at a time when you have that dream, that fruition.

09:40 – Marissa Eyon

You gotta break it down so that you can execute it.

09:40 – Gresham Harkless

So absolutely appreciate that. And so I wanted to ask you now for what I call a CEO nugget. So this could be a word of wisdom or a piece of advice. It might be something you would tell a client or if you happened to be a time machine, you might tell your younger business self.

09:56 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, I think the key word for me is flexibility. You absolutely just, could be the best planner, the most OCD person, and it's just not going to go the way you planned. If you know that upfront and stay flexible, then you can just ride the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur and keep your cool. And I think that's the difference between a real leader is just keeping your cool and being flexible. You're able to pivot wherever the market tells you you need to go, how you need to change your products or your delivery or remote workers or not remote workers, all of that. You just, I think being flexible is just like the most important characteristic you have to have.

10:39 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, it's absolutely huge and it's so funny that you say that because I read, you know, a while ago that the symbol of kind of success and power is often kind of attributed to the rock because the rock is powerful, it can't move, but really it should be water. Because water is permeable, it can go through anything. If it has enough kind of, I guess, speed, it can pick up rocks and move them. And I think as we're experiencing now that you have to be flexible, you have to be okay with change and make those adjustments in our businesses and our lives, or we might not be where we ultimately hope to be.

11:16 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, absolutely. And I love every water analogy thing from the Navy. But it is the most formidable element we have. It's pretty amazing.

11:27 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, and it makes up a good part of the world as well too, in our bodies as well. So that always helps. So I wanted to ask you my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. And we're hoping to have different quote-unquote CEOs on the show. So Marissa, what does being a CEO mean to you?

11:42 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, well, the most important thing to me is really just the responsibility that maybe being a first born it's like something you just have. I want to take it on the whole world and take care of everyone. So really have that responsibility to my local community and help all those business owners grow. Just entrusting me is just a really big deal. But I think beyond that, it's really my employees being able to provide amazing jobs where everybody can learn and grow and just wherever they're at, helping them get to that next level, even if it's not with me, I just love watching people grow.

And so I love the life experience that you get to walk through with people. I've had engagements first babies and first mortgages. And it's just like such a privilege to be able to walk along with those people and be in that position of power to really, yeah, it's fine. We can do a remote work situation. Yeah, that's fine. We can odd shift here and there. And It's just such a great feeling of accomplishment when somebody goes through these things and you are able to help them along the way.

12:53 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, that's so huge. And I love that word that you use, privilege, because I think so many times we can get caught up in the task and things that we're doing. But I think it was something along the lines. I heard that it's not something you have to do, it's something you get to do. And I think when you start to change that perspective and understand that you get to see people grow, you get to play a big part in seeing things come to fruition, it's absolutely huge. And I love that analogy you kind of spoke to as well too, as being the firstborn. And I think so many times, when we look at our businesses in a lot of the same ways where we're helping people, and like we might help your siblings and help the family to be able to get to where they want to be and succeed whatever way they hope to, that's really something that we can kind of step into as business leaders.

13:37 – Marissa Eyon

Yeah, absolutely. I hope that people don't lose sight of that because there are enough other things to distract us. But at the end of the day, why are we here is to bring value to other people. And you start with people closest to you, I think, and go from there.

13:50 – Gresham Harkless

Yes, absolutely. And let it trickle down from there. So Marissa, truly appreciate that definition. And I appreciate your time even more. What I wanted to do is just 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 a hold of you and find out about all the awesome things your team is working on.

14:07 – Marissa Eyon

Awesome. I just want to say to this community in particular, that being a CEO is no joke. It is tough. It is really tough, But I just wouldn't trade it for the world. And I recommend anybody else who's willing to try, wants to try, do it. Jump in, use your support network, and do it. The impact on my family, with my husband and my 3 kids, 2 of them are teenagers. And they just absolutely love going around town and seeing the work that mom's done or the work that they've even helped produce. And it's just like confidence at such a deep level, being able to help the community in such a tangible way.

And with the amazing customers that I've had, I mean, the reason why we've scaled so quickly is because everyone keeps coming back for more and giving us referrals to all their friends. So back to that privileged world, we're just so grateful to be part of that journey. And I'd love to help anybody else out there who's in the Northern Virginia area. I can be reached at, we're at Fast Lines at Springfield, right off Backlick Road, right by the Parkway, if you're familiar. And the best way is to email 2251 at Fastlines.com. Or of course, just give us a call, at 703-913-5300. And we just would love to help you.

15:27 – Gresham Harkless

Awesome Awesome Awesome truly appreciate that Marissa we will have the links and information in the show notes as well so that everybody can get ahold of you and come and visit as well too. But I truly appreciate the impact that you talked about. Sometimes we can forget, what we have in our family, the work that we do, and how that comes to fruition in the community that we have. So I appreciate you for being a leader and doing that so well in this community. And I appreciate your time, of course, and I hope you have a great rest of the day.

15:52 – 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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