Daily Inspiration: Meet Amy Wieser Willson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Wieser Willson.

Hi Amy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
While I probably would have told you 20 years ago that my dream “job” would be telling people’s stories and creating art, the practical side of me never fully believed I could make a living doing that. But here I am, literally living that dream. Four years ago, I started Neon Loon Communications, a public relations and marketing business based in Ottertail, Minnesota. The business has grown beyond my expectations, and it has been incredible having the opportunity to work with various clients to help them accomplish their goals. Few things bring me more joy than being able to tell others’ stories, whether a combat veteran, a construction worker, or an executive. Everybody has a story, but not everybody has somebody who can get to the heart of it and share it in a way that resonates with others. For me, storytelling sets the foundation for all communications and marketing. It’s not a product but a story that best connects with audiences. Upon those stories, I stack how we can best communicate them to the desired audience through websites, social media content, electronic newsletters, press releases, animated videos, or even crisis communication plans. While running Neon Loon Communications, I also developed my style as an embroidery artist. Six of my favorite people in this world call me “grandma,” which is a better title than even “company president!” Thus, Grandma Amy Stitches gives me the umbrella to explore my creativity while sharing my love of travel with others. While I stitch on various media, embroidering on photos I have taken around the world has become my signature art. Before beginning these businesses, I worked in journalism, corporate communications, and marketing. I also served in the military for 20 years, including a 15-month deployment to Iraq from 2003-05. Those experiences have helped me grow and reach the point where I am today, and I know today’s experiences are helping to shape my future, as well.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m not sure that anything worth achieving comes easily. We try, learn, grow, and then repeat the process by trying something else. I’ve fallen on my face at times, both figuratively and literally as I’m rather clumsy, but I strive to get back up and try again. I work to continue learning, whether from others or via formal education. I even got a Ph.D. so that I had an incentive to learn more. Nothing drives learning faster than some deadlines! Being a partially disabled veteran has presented some struggles, but it also has opened my eyes further to the challenges we all face in one way or another in our lives. While most people look like they have it together on the outside, we never know what battles they are fighting on the inside. For somebody focused more on the creative arts, it can also be a struggle to manage accounting and legal needs. Finding trusted, competent people to help in the areas that aren’t strong or even a passion is, I feel, the key to success. Don’t let yourself get burned out on the business side of things if that’s not what your calling is. No matter what, try to surround yourself with people smarter than you. If you’re ever in Ottertail (or Moorhead, Minnesota, where I also spend a lot of time), let’s connect over coffee or a dram of bourbon and see what we can learn from one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.neonloon.com
• Instagram:www.instagram.com/grandmaamystitches/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/GrandmaAmyStitches
• Other: www.grandmaamy.com