Exploring Life & Business with Stu Swineford of Relish Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stu Swineford.

Hi Stu, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I went to college to become a physician and, while working through the application and interview process, started working as a salesperson at a bike company in Boulder. I was a competitive road, mountain, and track cyclist at the time, and selling bikes and bike parts came naturally for me.

One day, the owner asked me to join him for a lunch ride. After thinking to myself, “Well, that’s a weird way to fire someone,” I agreed and he asked if I would like to write copy for the company. A short time later, the graphic designer quit, and, knowing how to start up the Mac, I volunteered to take over the role – finding myself the Marketing Director of one of the top catalog bike companies at the age of 23.

I held a variety of positions over the following years: at ad agencies, dot com start-ups, outdoor eCommerce brands… and after filling pretty much every role necessary to run a marketing agency, embarked on the journey as an entrepreneur in 2007, eventually rolling a small company I co-founded into Relish Studio in 2008. We’ve been helping good people do great things by facilitating relationship-building at scale ever since.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When asked about linear career trajectories I often joke, “A squiggle is a line, right?” Like most people, my career path has not always been a smooth road. Fortunately, I enjoy trails and often employ the road less traveled on my adventures, so have welcomed the challenges faced along the way.

I’ve certainly had my fair share of ups and downs during the course of my career whether those be layoffs, re-org, taking job opportunities that weren’t as well-suited to my talents or temperament as I first thought, or simply weathering economic downturns and global pandemics that adversely affected revenues. I like to view challenges as opportunities and live by the skiing metaphor – If you aren’t falling down once in a while, you aren’t pushing yourself hard enough.

As you know, we’re big fans of Relish Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Relish, we help people do great things by facilitating relationship-building at scale. We employ a strategy-first approach to helping our client partners achieve their goals online by helping them guide their audience through the buyer’s lifecycle that transforms strangers into avid customers. We start with strategy – gaining a full understanding of where our clients are now and where they are hoping to go.

From there, we provide solutions to support their needs – from brand creation to WordPress web design and development to content creation and traffic generation services to marketing coaching and Fractional CMO services – and help them reach their goals. Over the course of our tenure, we have helped hundreds of business leaders reach their fullest potential, working with everyone from start-up solopreneurs to Fortune 200 organizations.

We work with organizations in both the for and non-profit sectors and seek partnerships with business leaders who are purpose-focused, growth-oriented, and understand the value of investing in their businesses. One of our core values is “Always be learning” and we seek to help our clients embrace this value as well by helping them understand the “why” behind our recommendations. We love coaching and serving as our clients’ Fractional CMOs.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I believe strongly in investing in oneself and that having a coach or mentor is an incredibly valuable investment one can make in their growth and progress. We all see life from our perspective, Engaging with a coach or mentor opens up an entirely different angle from which you can see what’s ahead.

In terms of finding a coach or mentor, I recommend asking your network if they have connections to whom you should be introduced. Ask a lot of questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most challenges in business (and life) are not unique. Others have faced and overcome similar obstacles and you are not alone. One great question to ask in almost every interaction is, “Who else should I be talking to?” I’ve gotten a lot of great introductions from simply asking that question.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://relishstudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relishcolorado/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelishStudio
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/company/relish-studio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Relishstudio
• Other: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sswineford