Building Creativity – Meet Mike Rose
Mike Rose has studied a wide range of business strategies, coaching and styles. He’s taken the ones he believes are best and incorporated them into his company, Mojo Media Labs. He’s also a returning EO Dallas member. He was in our chapter for 10 years, left and joined Vistage, and is now ready to return for at least another 10 years.
One of the things Mike says he missed while he was away from EO is the camaraderie. With Forums, chapters and the entire organization run largely by member volunteers, the culture of EO is more personal than what he found with the “other” group. He likens it to “the difference between a tribe and crowd – it comes down to leadership. EO has a sense of caring, like a family. It’s got transparent goals, intentions, encouragement and empowerment. EO is instant connections. EO is a tribe.”
The funny thing is Mike didn’t want to be an entrepreneur. He grew up with his parents owning a family business, and “I learned enough in high school, the last thing I wanted to do was run a business. I went pre-med and bio-chemistry in college. I was running away from the family business. I graduated and went to work with a lab in Fort Worth.”
Over time, though, Mike couldn’t resist the entrepreneurial pull. When he qualified for EO in 2005, he had a print and promotional, product-driven business. Customers started to ask for additional services like creative, web design, messaging. Mike saw that the digital side was the future. He started Mojo Media to answer digital space need. The company name, Mojo Media Labs, is an extension of his time in the science labs; and his team brings the mojo. “It’s media, the creative; lab, the science; and people, the mojo.”
Mojo Media Labs is a digital marketing firm, creating revenue via data-driven processes. “We improve the revenue generation for our clients,” Mike said. “We guarantee that we’ll create accurate data to make decisions and be easy and fun to work with. So many agencies make it too difficult and don’t have professional services to keep it delivering value back to the clients. Our purpose is to enrich lives. We do that by helping stakeholders by Helping yoU Grow Smarter (HUGS), which is one of our values.”
Mike has embraced the Great Game of Business philosophy and instilled it in the company. Everyone knows the financials, and everyone has some responsibility for a line item on the Profit and Loss sheet. Mojo Media Labs is certified Certified ROWE (Results Only Work Environment) agency. This allows people to work anywhere, anyplace, anytime. Mike explained, “Work isn’t a place you go, it’s a thing you do. We manage results, not people. We treat people like adults. We’re in a creative space, so work doesn’t happen just 9-5.” In fact, because of this philosophy, Mike and his team were able to easily navigate changes from Covid. In fact, they were counseling clients on how to manage remote work.
Mojo Media Labs helps clients build sites and processes that clients can manage. “If you’re a client, your websites should be controlled by YOU, not the agency. We empower you to do that. If you need us, we’re here. But you as a client can do what you want. That way we can do the things that will help you build your business grow. The CRM is super strong as well. We work only with Salesforce and HubSpot.”
Mike and his wife, Nikole, run the business together. They are a blended family of 4 kids: 2 college-age daughters and 2 high school boys. They’ve also recently gotten into owning, running, and enjoying rental homes in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.
Personally, Mike feels that he’s approaching a crossroads. He’s written a book and wants to teach others the business lessons he’s learned. “I have all this freedom and don’t want to waste it. I almost feel like I’m ready to go into retirement. I have to figure out what’s next.”
Mike also extends an invitation to his fellow EOers to use his space at Highway 114 and O’Connor in Irving. He has 9,000 square feet including several meeting rooms. “I’m open to hosting mini events and Forums,” he said.
Gestures of giving like this are Mike’s forte. He just wants to be helpful and useful. And we’re glad he’s back in EO.
