South Florida Women in Business with Cheryl Goldstein {south florida business portrait photographer}

I am extremely excited to re-introduce my blog series, South Florida Women in Business, which highlights female small business owners in the South Florida community. Today, I am going to introduce you to Cheryl Goldstein, owner of Campfire Creative Marketing, a very talented woman from Hollywood, Florida, who has worked in broadcasting, marketing and advertising, and is now bringing her creativity and energy to her new business.

Tell us about your business: 

Campfire Creative Marketing is a full-service firm that helps camps boost enrollment and increase awareness through branding, traditional advertising, digital marketing, video production and grassroot efforts.

How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I’ve been in the marketing and television industry for over 25 years. A couple of years ago I was hired to do a project for an overnight camp. The project allowed me to stretch my creativity, and it inspired me to start researching the camp industry. I discovered there was a need for a full- service marketing firm that could look at the big picture. In addition, I am able to offer an outside perspective to an industry that often relies on tradition. I was a lifelong camper and now my daughter adores her summer camp experiences. By shifting my professional focus to promoting this most cherished industry I can combine my passion for life-long friendships, storytelling and entrepreneurship. 

What were your first steps to starting your business?   And if you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

In 2000 I left the television industry and I started my first company Insane Creative. I learned at that time that you must have a solid business plan in place in order to help you reach your goals and stay focused. Before launching Campfire Creative Marketing, I again made my business plan a priority. I also developed my marketing plan which is always harder to do for myself then for my clients! With those two details in place I was confident that my business would flourish. 

I really don’t think I would do anything differently if I had to do it again. I strongly believe that if you have a path and a vision then everything else will fall into place. Of course, you may need to make adjustments along the way and that’s ok! 

What is the biggest challenge about owning and running your own business?

Balancing work, family and my time is the hardest thing for me to do. I always feel like I’m being pulled in a thousand directions and I want everything to be perfect. I need to make a conscious effort to set aside my work time and to schedule in my personal time and not get distracted.

What is the most rewarding thing about owning your own business?

I love the freedom I have as my own business owner. I’m able to focus on projects that I really enjoy, and I get to pick and choose when and how I am going to get the jobs done. I also like that every day is different. Sometimes I am the creative director and then other days I am the sales manager. It has allowed me to grow and learn different aspects of business.

Where do you see your business heading in the next few years?

I hope to continue to spark ideas and produce customized CAMPaigns. I’d like to help more camps focus on developing long term marketing plans that will allow their businesses to grow. 

Do you have a morning routine or schedule that helps maximize your time and productivity?

I am a morning person. I’m also a little bit OCD…ok a lot OCD!  I always wake up at least an hour before my daughter to give me time to sort out my day. I have my production schedule that keeps my projects on track and then I totally rely on my to do list for all the personal obligations. After my daughter gets to school I train on the water or in the gym before I do anything else. It helps me clear my mind and if I don’t do it right away then it will never happen. 

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who is starting their own business, what would it be?

Don’t let fear stand in your way! If it’s something you believe in then do it. BUT be smart about it. Do the research and make sure you have everything lined up before you launch your company.  Have a plan in place but be flexible, because not everything always goes according to plan.

Are there any particular resources or tools that you recommend to other small business owners that have helped you run your business

There are a million productivity tools, banking tools, etc that are available.. But more important than tools, my mentors have been essential in helping me run my business.  These are people that I can learn from, trust and go to for advice. 

How do you balance work, family and fun?

As I mentioned before this is the hardest thing for me to achieve. For so many years I’ve focused on doing things for everyone else.  I recently realized that I can’t achieve my goals unless I’m doing the things that also make me happy. So now I insist on spending a little time each day on my well-being. Of course, I still have my other responsibilities. Therefore, time management is extremely important. If I need to stop what I’m doing in the middle of the day to be a “Mom” then I may need to work a little later that night. That’s ok because being flexible with my time is one of the perks of owning my own business. 

What is an accomplishment that you are very proud of?
I have two accomplishments I’m extremely proud of - one professional and one personal. As a television producer one of the highest achievements is to win an Emmy Award. I’ve won three Emmy Awards in my career. The second event that I am proud of is a personal accomplishment. This past summer I competed in the Crossing For A Cure which is a paddle board race from Bimini to Lake Worth (80 miles). What I realized with both things is that winning is awesome! However, it’s all the hard work, time and dedication leading up to the win that really makes the difference.

If you were stranded on an island and could only have three things, what would they be?

My daughter Joey

My paddle board and paddle (this is gonna count as one set hehe)

and a machete 

 When you are not at work, where can we find you?

On the ocean paddle boarding!

You can find out more information on the website for Campfire Creative Marketing - https://www.campfirecreativemarketing.com/