Amanda Newman Organizations: Paducah Chamber Membership & Marketing Committee, Paducah Quilt Murals Board Member What is one of the biggest challenges that you’ve had to overcome in your professional career? The biggest challenge in my field right now is competing with other design tools like Canva or AI. While they can be helpful for basic design needs, you run the risk of blending in with overused, generic templates and images. I focus on highlighting the value that custom branding and design can bring to a business and how it helps them standout from the crowd and attract clients. I’ve embraced the use of Canva by offering custom template designs. It’s the best of both worlds - clients still get a unique design but are able to update it themselves. Win, win! What career achievement makes you most proud? I’m most proud of being a female entrepreneur and putting myself out there. As a self-proclaimed introvert, I’ve learned a lot about what I’m capable of and how to push myself out of my comfort zone. I’m chasing my dreams and growing in ways I never imagined, professionally and creatively. What is the best piece of business advice that you’ve ever received? The best advice I’ve received was more so from being led by example. Growing up, I watched my dad work hard with integrity and perseverance. Seeing his work ethic and how he treated people taught me that working hard, delivering quality work, and treating people right is the best way to keep clients happy and loyal. While his business was in the river industry, using these same principles in my business has helped build lasting client relationships that make me so proud. I have such a passion for all things design and helping my clients reach their full potential! Austin Kennady Organizations: Kentucky Bar Association, Kentucky Justice Association, Kentucky Bar Foundation Life Fellow, Million Dollar Advocate Forum What is one of the biggest challenges that you’ve had to overcome in your professional career? Helping people during what is often one of the hardest or worst times of their lives will never not be challenging. It can be difficult at times to be both empathetic and objective. As a lawyer, you can’t let emotions dictate decision making or the advice you give your clients. Almost every client or potential client is different too. Learning to communicate with them in a way that is both effective and compassionate is something I’ve worked hard to navigate in my career. What career achievement makes you most proud? While I’m proud of several career achievements, such as being licensed to practice in multiple states and gaining admission into The Million Dollar Advocate Forum, I always try to remember that (1) if I represent my clients to the best of my ability, the rest, including career accolades, will follow; and (2) any success or achievements have been in large part due to help and guidance from my colleagues and mentors. What is the best piece of business advice that you’ve ever received? “Under promise but always over deliver.” There is so much that is often out of your control as a lawyer. One thing that is in your control is to always give clients sound, reasonable advice based on the facts and circumstances of their particular case, and not just tell them what they want to hear. You’re their advocate and voice of reason, not a cheerleader. Working hard but also having humility will go a long way in showing clients and adversaries that you will do what you say you will. Dallas Jo Conner Organizations: Casa by the Lakes Board Chair, KY Lake Chamber of Commerce Board Member, KY Lake Chamber Leadership MC Leadership Team, West KY Regional Chamber Alliance Board Member What is one of the biggest challenges that you’ve had to overcome in your professional career? I would say that learning how to navigate and maintain a healthy work-life balance was one of the biggest challenges that I’ve had to overcome and still have to work on from time to time. Work used to be my life and I used to put it ahead of everything else, which wasn’t a terrible thing as I was working towards the goal of what I wanted to do in my career. However, if you never take break, you tend to burnout, as well as miss out on milestones. I got married a little later in life than most, and have a bonus son, so I started doing small things to turn off my “work brain” to be present for “family time and activities” and progressed from there. I can even take a vacation without checking my email now! And that has also carried over into my charcuterie business. Setting boundaries is healthy in your professional and personal life! What is the best piece of business advice that you’ve ever received? It is okay to fail as long as you “fail forward.” Success doesn’t happen overnight and success is not achieved without failure. It is okay to fail, but own it, learn from it, and know you are not alone in it. We are all in the trenches on the daily, even when things like social media only highlight the successes and wins, but usually not the failures. This has impacted me and my career to know that I am not alone and I can not only learn from others, but from my failures too, and can share those experiences as teachable moments for myself and my team. Sponsored by 40 Under Forty Attorney, Bryant Law Center Branding & Website Designer, Amanda Newman Design Business Development Officer, Marshall County Market, CFSB INTHEVUE.COM | SEPTEMBER 2024 9
