Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Kandel.
Hi Melissa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I guess my story can go back as far as 9 years old, when I first really got into writing. I remember having a school assignment to write a short story of about 100 words and I came into school with a typed-up, 10-page novella (something about witches and shoelaces that were magical). I’ve always loved the written word and in college, decided to study creative writing and American literature. After college, I went to grad school for journalism and a week after I graduated, my professor, who was the managing editor at the largest real estate magazine in the country, sent me a Facebook message asking if I’d like to work on a six-week project at the magazine. Of course, I agreed (I had no job yet, and hadn’t even started applying for any) and of course, the “six-week project” turned into almost a year at the publication and a position as contributing editor. So, there I was on the breaking news and marketing beats when a press release comes through my desk about a new real estate brand launching soon, called Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. It was the first ever large-scale instance of a consumer-facing Berkshire Hathaway brand, which I knew meant it would be a big deal. Immediately, I set up interviews with the CEO and president of the brokerage network and one week later, I got a call from the communications director basically asking if I’d fly out to the headquarters in Irvine and interview for a position as senior writer of the brand. (He’d read my clips from the magazine.) Fast forward five years and I’m living in Southern California, promoted to the youngest-ever director of PR, communications and digital media for the brand worldwide. But something was off. I could feel it. Somewhere around my fifth year of working there, I took a road trip up the coast for my cousin’s wedding in Oakland. As I drove up the twisting Pacific Coast Highway, the cliffs of Big Sur wrapped with dramatic awe all around me, I knew: I was about to quit my (very good and stable) job to start a business of my own. In 2018, little word studio, Inc. – taken from the name of a blog I’d started a few years back – was born. Four years later, we work with some of the biggest real estate brands and executives, and some of the most successful teams, agents and brokerages around the globe. We also work with large brands in other industries, like entertainment, e-commerce, proptech, health/wellness and more. I am a third-generation entrepreneur; this path feels natural and right to me, and I look forward to what’s ahead for this growing business!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In a word: no. In another word: Covid. When Covid first began, I wasn’t sure what would happen to my business. It was a very scary time for everyone, but as a business owner with uncertainty thrumming through your every day WITHOUT a global pandemic, it makes things even more uncertain. In the early days of Covid, I just started working even harder – longer hours, more output, and support to the max for clients who were just as unsure about the future as we were. Every day was a new challenge to meet but it made me and my team stronger because we tackled every obstacle with the belief that we could – and would – overcome.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
We are a boutique agency focused on high-quality content. I’m a writer from the very beginning, so everything we produce for clients always has to meet that standard of literary excellence, whether it’s words that will go on a company landing page, an e-Card or a keynote speech. I think our clients would say we’re really known for that creative energy and high level of quality – it’s also what I’m most proud of about the things we do.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I guess my perseverance? No matter what happens, you always have to keep moving forward as an entrepreneur. A setback, a bump in the road – these things aren’t meant to stop you, they’re meant to help you re-focus on the path ahead. I know it sounds corny but it really isn’t about the destination, it’s about the journey. In some ways, the journey IS the destination.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littlewordstudio.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/littlewordstudio
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/littlewordstudio
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/lilwordstudio
- TikTok: littlewordstudio
Image Credits
Michael White Film Photography
