“I remember the day I Discovered that I could sell things across the World Online, from a laptop.”
I started freelancing in 2012, launched my first agency in 2015 and haven’t looked back since.
I’ve experimented and expanded my focus over the years, including launching my own brands, but at my core, I love growing brands online.
In 2011 I managed my first Google Ads campaign.
No I wasn’t one of those crazy smart teens who got introduced in high school and started making money online as a teenager. I got the tail end of the crazy boom in the 2000’s, and did get to learn a ton from those early pioneers.
I got my start at 22 and fresh out of school. Regardless of my start, my exposure to SEO and Google Ads taught me the power of digital reach. Prior to that I had learned Marketing theory from Uni, but nothing that could effect the bottom line so, tangibly.
I remember my boss Brian teaching me how to manage the Google Ads campaign, among many other great marketing tips – shout out Brian!
If I recall, that’s the last cover letter I ever created:
I knew I needed to learn more so I convinced the company to split the cost for me to attend an “Online Lead Generation” seminar. Best money every spent. The seminar speaker hired me the next week to start at his agency. Now I had the chance to learn from other specialists and work on larger brands, just the experience I wanted.
I took 2 years to learn the tricks of the trade. I had exposure to SEO at this agency but realized eventually there was a much bigger SEO world I was yet to learn about. I did however get to learn from some excellent paid media managers and this really set the tone for my paid media skillset.
That’s when I launched the first agency, with two business partners. I took the leap, cashed out my RRSPs and used every single dollar of savings…I went all in.
We built a brand, we launched a site, and we even got clients…but ultimately that business failed for a multitude of reasons. Valuable experience.
Ok, on to the next. I went in-house to some agencies again as a consultant/contractor and gained more experience for 2.5 years. This gave me a lot more exposure to growing boutique agencies and a community of like-minded specialists I needed to thrive alongside.
Here comes agency number 2. What a fun ride this one was, started with much more experience and with very complementary colleagues. The agency that would one day become NAV43 started and took off quickly.
As we scaled this new agency, In 2015/16, myself alongside 3 other like-minded folks, knew we had a great idea. We spent $20k of our own money and built a working proto-type of a Bluetooth beacon system that could attribute in-store sales to online ads through analytics.
Unfortunately we didn’t have the network or know how to fundraise and start up a tech company, we were looking in the wrong places. To this day, I’d say my biggest missed opportunity from a business perspective. We were early and had a great idea.
Our attention was taken elsewhere and we sold agency 2 to start agency 3 with a new vision and new partners. NAV43 and Navigate Technologies began. This gave me my first experience with building a team for the agency and running a tech company with a burn rate. I don’t advise doing both at once…
This agency and the experience gained working with so many awesome companies also gave me the opportunity to launch so many digital ventures.
- Ecommerce Store with Augmented Reality integration
- WordPress Plugin
- Local Lead Gen Company – Water Restoration Services
- Launched Co-Working Airbnb in Panama
- Amazon Associates Content Affiliate Site
- Course Creator for Niche development
- YouTube Creator
- Dropship Store
- Amazon FBA
- Affiliate Marketer
- Content Site Owner – multiple
Shiny bauble syndrome is real when things are going well. But focus is needed when times are tough.
Most never really took off past some side income, but all gave me some valuable experience that along with my client work has led me to today. I didn’t even go into all the great wins that my agency and I have had for my clients (Feel free to explore those – here).
I’ve scaled my agency to 7 figures as of 2018 and just hit my first 6-figures with one of my niches in 2023. Excited for 2024 and the years to come where I can take on the next challenge.
Where I’m at now
You’ve made it this far, so here’s a little more about present-day me 😀
You can find me up in Toronto, Canada, where I live with my partner in the west end of the city, close to our agency office which is perfect biking distance. Although don’t be surprised to find me traveling around the world. Because, well, it’s cold up here in the North.
I am an avid traveler who loves to explore and take in new cultures to feed the soul. I feel lucky to have traveled as much as I have to this day, and look forward to seeing a whole lot more. Travelling and living abroad and gaining these life experiences has
I wouldn’t call myself a digital nomad these days. I tried that for a bit and enjoyed it but I’m settled in to Toronto to continue to build my agency and owned brands.
I’m part of an amazing group called Rhodium Weekend where I have some amazing peers and mentors across digital businesses. I stay tuned into my marketing mastermind communities for the latest in the industry. It’s an exciting time to be in digital. You’re as strong as the team and people around you in my opinion.
I’m a big sports fan as well as Fantasy League Commissioner for both Football and Hockey Leagues.
I’m a die-hard Montreal Canadiens fan. I even had a fun little foray as a Hockey Content Creator / YouTuber running a channel for a Montreal publisher (Rocket Sports Media) called the Habs Fan Forum.
Finally, for my fellow nerds, I’m an avid fantasy reader, I both play and DM DnD and MTG, and love my Table Top community 😀
Just a few other things about me for those interested to know 🙂. I’m always interested in potential investment opps that align with my values and hobbies so feel free to reach out if you have one – [email protected].
