Bobby Marsden
Founder Marsden Designs
Tell me about your time in advertising. How did you get started and why did you leave?
I started in advertising after I discovered you could get great health benefits. Prior to taking a salaried position at Fallon Minneapolis, I had earned an income as an independent contractor and had always had the bare minimum for health coverage. My son needed braces and orthodontic work done and I was looking at a large out-of-pocket expense and fortuitously, I had been in conversations with a producer at Fallon who offered me a gig as a Managing Producer for a department called “The Assembly Line” which was responsible for minor post-production work, dubs, and trafficking. We also worked to support new business initiatives. It was a great place to learn the business and if I had to describe my time there…I’d say “trial by fire.”
From there, I worked for a variety if agencies, then moved to the production side as an EP, and then moved into entertainment for Netflix. You could say I worked all sides of the fence (if there could be three sides to a fence).
What I discovered is…I am not an employee. I am an entrepreneur. So I left that type of working arrangement and have owned my own consulting business for the last 5 years. Having done that, I have diversified what I do to earn an income simply because I approach life with an entrepreneurial mindset – anything is possible with no ceiling or ‘rules’. I still produce content and work with advertising agencies and production companies, but as a vendor. I also design and build furniture, and run a travel blog & podcast which will eventually re-launch as a travel service company in support of the experiential outdoor hospitality industry.
How did the idea for your new venture come about?
I figured out what my why is and what I’m comfortable with. I’m comfortable being uncomfortable and I like to have ownership in what I do.
What was your first step in starting your new venture?
My first step on the consulting side was to simply extend what I was already doing, with the understanding that I’d be 100% responsible for new business.
With furniture, I began putting my work out in the world with a focus on attracting new opportunities.
I don’t see any idea tried as a failure. The word failure is related to judgement and I have none. For myself and others. It’s a waste of time. You try something. Then you try something else. And you keep going until you’re dead. Life is a perpetual game of chess with no winner, loser or conclusion. You just stop playing one day. And this take on life means, for me, that failure does not exist.
Did you have help along the way?
Yes – always. Family and friends. You can choose one these groups so choose wisely.
What would you do differently if you did it again?
Nothing. Life is just a collection of strung together moments and I try to be as present in the current moment as possible.
What advice do you wish you had before you started?
None. I like to learn as I go.
What's the single biggest mistake you made in doing this?
No judgement. No mistakes. We do the best we can with what we have in the moment.
What is the single most important thing that contributed to your success?
I don’t look at success as a real thing, just like I don’t consider failure as a real thing. What I appreciate is the support of my family and friends. It’s always where I draw my inspiration from.
Do you miss your old life?
No because I am enjoying where I am now.
