The Magic of Meráki

I learned to read when I was four, solidifying my continued status as an official Word Nerd. Reading led to a lifetime of devouring, sharing, and telling stories and the meanings behind them.

I especially love words without a direct English translation. Are you familiar with kummerspeck? This German word literally translates to "grief bacon": the weight we gain when we eat our sad feelings. Wild, right?

If you could bottle up my passion, creativity, sideways thinking, and love of people and connection, Eau de Jenny would be Meráki. This Greek concept is my favorite word in any language. My Brand Essence is tattooed on my inner wrist as a constant reminder and North Star.

Loosely translated, Meráki (meh-rah-key) is the part of yourself you put into the things that you make.

Just like Grandma puts love and care into the food she makes (and gets upset if you don't have seconds), I leave a part of myself behind in everything I create.

I graduated in the middle of the Great Recession with a relatively useless, expensive piece of paper in hand, no job prospects, and a fierce desire to stay in Cincinnati, no matter what it took.

Luckily, the time I spent in college as managing editor of Cincinnati news outlet UrbanCincy and getting into fights on Twitter led to a network of local connections and entry to the brave new world of digital marketing.

Between and during full time positions, I've freelanced, contracted, and had short term stints as a designer, marketer, account executive, journalist, brand strategist, consultant... even a kickball team commissioner. This cornucopia of opportunities created stepping stones on the meandering path towards my long-term goal: Brand Strategy.

Listing each one resulted in a 5 page resume, and I needed a name for the LLC I created in 2017. Meráki was an obvious choice. Creative Solutions encompasses the variety and depth of my skills and experience.

My sometimes-side hustle grows and evolves alongside me. These days I'm focusing on brand building and strategy for medium-sized businesses who need to firm up their foundation in order to grow.

I contract with and recommend digital marketers and designers to help execute the work—I know my strengths, and after a decade of social media marketing, I'm happy to never schedule a Facebook post again, if I can help it.

These days, words surround me - the art on my wall, the conversations I create, the tweets I fire off, and the ink embedded in my skin: a reminder of my outlook on life.