Meet Jim LaSalle: Partner, CSO, Resident John Travolta

Since the employees here at Ferocious Media have been a close knit group from the get-go, we want you to get to know us just as well as we know each other. To help you do so, we sat down with our Chief Sales Officer (and resident John Travolta *video to follow*), Jim LaSalle, and asked him about everything from life at Ferocious Media to the future of digital marketing and more – let’s take a look at what he had to say:

Q: What do you think makes a successful business – successful?

A: A solid vision, good processes, great people, “driven” leaders (get it).

Q: What other business leaders do you look up to and why?

A: I have learned a lot from leaders in sports – when I was younger, these leaders were easier to relate to. I read a book by Rick Pitino called Success is a Choice when I was 24 and it truly changed the trajectory of my career. Bill Belichick, Vince Lombardi and other great coaches have very motivational outlooks on athletics and they translate well to business.

Q: Can you recommend any books to aspiring digital marketing pros?

A: I love Napoleon Hill’s books Think and Grow Rich and Outwitting the Devil – I have read both multiple times. Otherwise, The Zen Factor (Jacqueline Hope), Power of Intention (Wayne Dyer), Drive (Daniel H. Pink), and The Challenger Sale (Matthew Dixon) are all great reads on what motivates people to action and how to stay on course and get what you want.

Q: On your best day at work, the day you come home and think you have the best job in the world, what did you do that day?

A: Great question – it happens almost every day! To understand why I really have to explain the difference between what I used to do vs. what I currently do.

I love what we have built here and remember the days where we were growing really fast and we all had to wear a lot of hats – which was tough. At one point, I was selling, managing the sales team, working closer with our CEO Kevin in the day to day operations, managing all of my accounts, doing all the paperwork and administrative tasks, creating reports, and building new websites for clients! It was probably an 80 hour work week.

These days, I get to see my children in the morning, focus on new and existing client strategy and media plans during the day. Do more networking with other business owners, go to the gym on my way home and get home in time for dinner most nights. What makes it extra special is having the support system and great department leaders who provide the services to our clients so I can continue to focus on driving business success. While I am still working a full work week, it’s not an 80 hour work week, and I have more fun doing what I do because I trust the team supporting our sales efforts.

Q: What are some of the skills of your top team members?

A: We have a great team and everyone is really different – each person brings an exciting dynamic.

• Our VP of Engineering is brilliant, loves to challenge himself. He is always reading, learning, and improving his skill set.
• Our Technology Director loves to get into the nitty gritty of things and figure out how it all works. Today he spends most of his time developing our rather detailed CRM system, but he is also quite adept at ALL things technical (hardware, software systems, and all things IT).
• Our Senior Executive VP is ridiculously organized, very smart and has an uncanny ability to see how certain things may affect other processes and people in short order. She also is able to focus on specific goals and targets to get things done.
• Our National Brands team has great communication skills and an inherent ability to build relationships. They have the ability to overcome objections and position things to clients in a way that the client probably has not considered.
• Our Vice President can keep any situation light. Even in times where there may be tension or stress, he can say something that will make everyone laugh and feel comfortable.
• Our CEO has a long view and is able to see the path that will keep us on track. He is one of the most even-tempered people I know. He is great to bounce things off of and will give you some things that you may not have considered. He is the “steady hand” on the Ferocious Media rudder!

Q: What was your “aha” moment? The moment you realized that the digital marketing industry was where you wanted to be.

A: When I saw how many businesses I was helping – jobs I was creating because of that success – and the gratitude of clients.

Q: What advice do you have for businesses looking to enhance their online presence?

A: Create a long term strategy, have a timeline for implementation, track what is working, test out new things, adapt the plan…rinse and repeat.

Q: What challenges are there with digital marketing and how can business leaders overcome them?

A: Often times, business leaders do not fully understand the digital marketing space. As such – finding the right people to implement the right strategy, or even putting together the right strategy, can be challenging. Finding a trustworthy digital marketing company is more effective and less costly than hiring just anyone because they are “good with computers.”

Q: What do you think the future of digital marketing looks like?

A: Watch the movie Minority Report and pay attention to the personalized advertising that plays while Tom Cruise walks through the mall. That’s what I think it looks like.

Q: How do you see Ferocious Media changing in two years, and how do you see yourself creating that change?

A: First, moving our HQ to Islandia – that will be an adjustment for us as a company. Two years out is a long time in the digital world, we may be providing a service that does not even exist yet! I guess I can create that change by trying to find it.

Q: What is the hardest decision you’ve made so far?

A: To succeed. Its an everyday commitment that I chose to do almost 20 years ago. It is easy to drift through life and take what comes your way. It is definitely harder to go and take what you want – but once you decide to do it, it becomes a part of you.

Q: Do you have a favorite customer success story?

A: My favorite customer story has to be one of a client who managed to be in the right place, at the right time. Back in December of 2009, this client was starting up a radio rental business – think Nextels, Walkie Talkies, etc.  – for anyone who needed extra security for events. We worked with him to create a website, then began a search engine marketing campaign for his new company – great! Sidebar, this client goes to a charity event the following month, January 2010, and wins a brand new, just introduced, original iPad.

He later receives a call from a prospect looking to rent a laptop. Without a laptop in his inventory, he instead offers his new iPad. This customer went nuts since iPads were brand new! We immediately added an iPad rental page onto his website and began promoting this feature online. Today, he has over 500 iPads and has successfully built a business off of his raffle prize and having the right online presence!

Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?

A: My two children – James and Jessica.

Q: How do you think people will remember you?

A: I hope that they remember me because I made an impact on them in some way….other than that Worked Hard, Played Hard, Good Husband and Father – and excellent John Travolta impersonator.

Ferocious Media is an award-winning, full-service digital marketing agency that offers solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes. To begin growing your business with us, call 1-800-454-9103 today.