Meet Mickey Mellen

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

Hi Mickey, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
Working with a partner. It was largely luck that we ended up together to build this business, but sticking with her has had the best possible outcome. We are fortunate that we have very different skill sets, with mine behind development-focused and hers design-focused, but with a very similar viewpoint on life. We’ve agreed on how to grow the company, who to hire, and all of the little pieces along the way with very little friction. If I could do it all over again, I’d start with her by my side every time.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Like a few other folks we’ve met over the years, we didn’t really mean to start this company. We just wanted to team up and build some websites, and over the years it’s blossomed into a fantastic little company.

That’s been great, but the downside is that we weren’t as prepared as we should have been for what was coming, so we’ve learned along the way. We’ve had a handful of essential coaches to help us out, and we’ve read many dozens of books to help get us up to speed. In some ways it’s nice to have done it this was, as it allowed us to be more flexible in how we grow, but it certainly has had its challenges too. Learning to hire, set payroll, deal with slow periods, and all of the challenges that come with a company have been in our path, and so far we’ve made it through all of them. We’re excited to see what’s to come!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It very much depends on which friend it is, but Atlanta has some fun touristy places to check out that even the locals hit from time to time. My top three would include:

1. An Atlanta Braves baseball game, inside the new Truist Park. It’s a great stadium with an amazing atmosphere outside of the park and it’s always a fun event.
2. The Atlanta Aquarium, one of the largest in the world. Timing is key, because it can get very busy, but if you go at the right time it’s a fantastic experience.
3. The World of Coke museum. This isn’t a place you’d revisit often, but it’s one that you need to check out. You’ll learn the history of the Coca-Cola company, and get to test various Coke products from around the world.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s absolutely my business partner, Ali Green. Both of our lives have changed dramatically since we started the company in 2009 (with new houses and new children along the way), but we’ve both stayed committed to growing this company in a way that works well with our lives.

Ali lives her life, and encourages our team to live theirs, through the idea of “scheduled variety”. It’s less of a work/life balance and more of a work/life blend. We encourage our team to take some time during the day for their family if needed, and then just catch up on work when it is easier for them. She’s driven this culture and it’s been fantastic for everyone.

Website: https://www.mickmel.com/

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

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

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mickmel