Meet Marilen Crump | Business Developer and Marketing Strategist

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

Hi Marilen, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
I believe that every day brings new opportunities and from time to time, we need to consider our options. It’s not so much that you “give up” on a direction or an idea, but more about leaning into what makes sense. In business, there are times that what we offer may not be resonating with our audience and if that is the case, then a plan must be set to rectify that.

I do a ton of analyzing and assessment on a regular basis to ensure that I am still connected to my purpose. The word IKIGAI is from a Japanese philosophy to help you discover your purpose. You ask four simple questions… “What do I love? What am I good at? What can I get paid for? What does the world need?” Answering these keeps me aligned and moving in a direction that absolutely helps me to thrive in so many ways.

There are many people in our current culture taking control of their future which I find very encouraging for our communities. The new term floating around is the “The Great Resignation” – it is people “giving up” their current positions and jobs to pursue something else. Some people are choosing to become entrepreneurs, which is perfect for the work that I do. I help people clarify the next steps in setting up a business plan and I’m thrilled about the wonderful people I get to serve because they are taking the leap towards their dreams.

What should our readers know about your business?
I created ARTINSPIRED when I was a senior at Sweet Briar College before graduating in the year 2000. Back then, it was a way for me to house all the services I was doing as a freelancer. I was doing professional film photography, teaching ballroom dance, performing in musicals, and programming websites. Things would eventually progress to me running self-development classes in a brick and mortar studio to include an art gallery and wellness classes. At one point, we had three locations in Hampton Roads, VA. During the pandemic in 2020, we scaled back to one location and 100% of our services were performed online. This was not a tough transition as we had been doing virtual classes and creating online learning communities for the past several years.

As 2022 approaches, we are relaunching some of our pre-pandemic services and expanding back into a second location that can accommodate our workshops and retreats.

I think this journey has always been about shifting in smart ways to allow for innovation and continued alignment with my personal vision. The magic of being the owner of a business is that you don’t have to ask for approval – you simply flow with what is going to be the best-case scenario for all the parties involved which includes clients, community, and staff.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am all about nature these days. I think everyone needs a moment to simply unplug and focus on something non-electronic. I would definitely find all my favorite foods and beverage and perhaps create a smorgasbord style picnic in a park setting. I would also try to find any obscure art in the city and take a bunch of selfies and pics for the ‘gram. It would be all about conversation and memory building. Quality time is all about experiencing joy and bonding.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The most influential person in my life has been my husband, Kenneth Crump. When we met he had such belief in me that I would be successful. He taught me so much about mindset and dedication to family that has really changed the way I function in the world. I feel really blessed to have a mentor and best friend that is a true partner.

Website: https://marilencrump.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilencrump/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilenCrump

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

Youtube: https://bit.ly/youtubedreamcatcher

Other: https://artinspired.com