Meet Jim Manley | Founder and CEO, Manley Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jim Manley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jim, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I look back, I’ve been taking intentional risks my entire life. My grandmother once said to me before she passed that she lived her life as fully as she could. That sentiment really stuck with me and it’s how I’ve chosen to live my life both personally and professionally. My risks are made with intention, especially in business, as I have a responsibility to my team and clients and have to consider what’s best for them too. But the reality is you go through this life one time, and I would hate to look back and regret missing out on experiences and opportunities that could enhance the lives of me and my family, my clients and team.

Since I was young, I’ve made big decisions through talking to my 80-year-old self. I sit and ask myself if the opportunity presented to me is something that I’ll regret not doing as an older man. I did this when I graduated college in December of 1992 and decided to move to Phoenix with my guitar without a concrete plan. It’s also how I chose to leave a 14 year career in journalism to start Manley Creative. When you take risks with intention, you know there will be factors out of your control, but you also understand this is the choice that will make you happy, and ultimately, that’s what makes it worth it.

What should our readers know about your business?
Manley Creative is a creative agency specializing in production and digital. Our work breathes life into brands through authentic storytelling that evokes emotion with audiences across multiple mediums. While we represent brands across the U.S. and worldwide, we don’t run like a typical large-scale agency. All creative services are completed with equipment in-house and clients have direct lines of communication to our team no matter how small or large the scope of their project is. We’ve created some truly memorable work through storytelling, which always keeps me energized and excited, but I would say I’m most proud of my employees. I’m so proud of how they’ve embraced our core values as a company and the culture that we’ve built over the last 20 years. I’m truly invested in my team, and I love seeing them grow both personally and professionally.

It wasn’t easy to get going, and it’s still not easy! When I started Manley, I had to learn how to run a business while I was actually running a business. And there’s no finish line, because there’s always an opportunity to grow and process to build on. I’ve loved puzzles since I was a child, and I’ve often correlated leading Manley to working on a large puzzle. There’s always a challenging piece, but it never stops being rewarding.

It’s also been instrumental having mentors, fellow business owners and peers I can talk to. I find that I learn the most from connecting with others about their first-hand experiences.

It’s not a secret that leading a team while ensuring client satisfaction has its challenges. At Manley, we’ve developed processes and standards that empower our team to stay ahead of the curve, help projects run smoothly and keep clients happy. As a team, we work hard to make sure our processes are not only being implemented, but continue to evolve as we do. These processes have really helped me navigate through challenges, especially those we experienced in 2020 and 2021. That period was a true test for any business owner. During a time when things seemed really unpredictable, it’s invaluable to have disciplines in place to help us stay the course and continue to be great partners to our clients through the work we do.

Despite challenges, it’s important to keep what’s important top-of-mind, always. And for me, I wholeheartedly believe in giving back to the community, especially as it pertains to the arts. Manley is really a product of what I’ve been passionate about since I was five years old, which is authentic storytelling. The more successful the agency has become, the more time I can give back to younger generations who share these same interests I’ve had since I was a kid. I’m currently the President of the Board for the Phoenix Theatre Company. The position allows me to bring my marketing expertise to support artists and help their organization flourish in our community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Without a doubt, one of the first stops we’d hit up is the Phoenix Theatre Company. In my opinion, they have some of the best live performances in the country. It should be on everyone’s top five must-do’s when they come to the Valley. I’m a huge baseball fan, so anyone who visits me during the spring through fall can expect to go to a Diamondbacks game. For dinner, I love spending an evening at Christopher’s at the Wrigley Mansion. The food is fantastic and the atmosphere is unparalleled. The restaurant overlooks the entire city and is really an unforgettable experience. And when we’re not busy around town, we’ll relax in my backyard where we’ll play music, swim and just enjoy the beautiful weather Phoenix has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom has always had the viewpoint that if something isn’t going well, it’s up to you to fix it. There’s a solution for everything and it’s never productive to put blame on other people. I’ve watched her lead by this example as far back as I can remember. This perspective is not only how I approach challenges, but I believe is the key to my successes in both business and life.

Website: www.manleycreative.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manleycreativeteam

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-manley-6836618

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manleycreativeteam