Meet Marven Neptune | Founder

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

Hi Marven, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My approach to work/life balance has made a complete one-eighty over the years, and sleep has been one of the biggest factors in that change. I always enjoyed the rush of meeting goals and getting things done even if it meant working nonstop, but as a result I had very little time or energy left after work to be fully present and engaged in other activities. Once I started unlearning the “go-go-go” mentality and implementing rest and self-care into my schedule, not only was I able to execute more in less time, but my relationships with loved ones and with God started flourishing as well.

To me, work/life balance means having a work regimen that allows me to create space for the things and people I love the most. That’s God, family, friends and myself. My approach to work-life balance has made a complete 180 over the years, and self-care has been the biggest factor in that change. Getting eight hours of sleep—except on weekends and date night—and taking multiple mental breaks during the day have helped me to reach maximum productivity without burning out. Don’t get me wrong, keeping a consistent sleep schedule was very challenging for me because I’ve always been a night owl. Not to mention I lived in New York City, a.k.a. the “city that never sleeps” for over a decade, so I had a lot to unlearn. Nowadays to stay consistent in my daily routine, I use calendars, to-do lists and detailed spreadsheets. People have told me that I’m “doing the most”, but if it works it works. In fact, I recommend everyone try it because having a system keeps you on track with your long term goals and holds you accountable every step of the way.

What should our readers know about your business?
Myers, Briggs and my best friends can all agree that I am a massive introvert, but I always find it exciting to meet and get to know purpose-driven creatives and entrepreneurs. As a Haitian man, one of my favorite things about my current location is the abundance of Black Excellence. There is nothing more powerful than a village of dreamers united in their goal to make a difference and build generational wealth. The heart of my digital marketing business is to give a voice to business owners like them who are unheard in their industry even when using the loudest marketing tools. Essentially, what we do is help them define their message and take their dream client on a journey that ends in a sale. The execution looks different depending on the needs, but the end goal is always the same: growth, revenue and purpose.

One thing I learned is that if I am going to build an empire, I can’t do it all on my own. We all need a village to help us achieve greatness, just like we would need an army to win a war. Plus, what good is an achievement if you have no one to celebrate it with? I also learned that to achieve anything extraordinary you have to be willing to do things that you’ve never done before, no matter how scary they may be. That was especially challenging for me when it came to public speaking because I struggled with social anxiety and was very shy growing up. I have so many instances of “hey, it wasn’t that bad” moments after taking on ventures that seemed scary at first.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is no shortage of fun things to do in my area. If my best friend was visiting, we definitely would have breakfast at the Atlanta Breakfast Club at least once during the week. We both love music, so Georgia’s Juke Joint would be a great spot for dinner and live music, and alternatively we would have dinner at Capital Grille, where they serve my second-favorite lobster mac & cheese dish, my mother-in-law’s being the first. We’d probably visit a park such as Piedmont Park or the Atlanta Botanical garden to just walk and talk and absorb the peaceful scenery. Lastly, we would catch a movie in the evening at a drive-in movie theater. After all of that, he might just decide to stay in Atlanta for good.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am thankful to God because without Him on my side, I would be an anxious mess and I would not have had the confidence to take the acts of courage that led me to accomplish my biggest goals. I am also grateful for my lovely wife, my best friend, life companion, teammate, business partner, music partner, supporter…basically my everything. She brought the best out of me from the beginning and still does everyday. And I wouldn’t be where I am today without the values instilled by my family. My spiritual convictions, entrepreneurial spirit and family values all came from watching the examples in my household.

Website: elusive.studio

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/marvenneptune