Hi, I am
Nicholas McGill
Chief Experience Officer & Senior Strategist
Email: nicholas@heroikmedia.com
Phone: (865) 248-5309
About Me
Who I Am
I’m a nerd with people skills. I have been an entrepreneur since I was 10 years old. I built my first PC at age 12 and got in some trouble for allegedly hacking into a federal database or two. I had a front row seat to the ups and downs of the shifting of business and society from analog to digital paradigms.
I Develop, Implement & Manage Digital Strategy From Thought to Profit
I create digital strategies that inform and guide programs, projects and initiatives that allow your organization to create value for lucrative returns.
I Bring Businesses to the Bleeding Edge of The Digital Age
I overhaul, update and develop businesses to be competitive in the Digital Age is formidable work. This requires complex work that spans almost every nook and cranny of the business.
I Make it Real & Keep it Real With AI.
I bring a pragmatic lens to the world of Artificial Intelligence. AI is a big world filled with possibilities and limitations. Understanding the limitations of artificial intelligence, not only in its current form, but at an architectural level, is critical to discerning strategies for practical adoption and application.
i Offer a Discerning View the FinTech Landscape.
I provide an informed discerning, vigilant and skeptical eye of someone who doesn’t automatically drink the Kool-Aid but can discern possible opportunities in the space. I can help keep the rugs from being pulled from under you.
i Lead Lean, Innovation Initiatives.
Things change in real-time, so being resourceful, creative, and trying new things in measured ways is required.
i Ruck, Train, Equip & Support Teams of Elite Operators.
I provide powerful communications tools, specialized tools for elite teams of high-performers to be at the top of their game even when starting from a green field or a blank sheet of paper.
skills
I am a creative & analytical problem-solving rocket surgeon.
Develop Digital Strategy From Thought To Profit
I Bring Businesses to the Bleeding Edge of The Digital Age
I am Mission Ready For Life
I bring purpose, intensity, and tenacity when the situation calls for it.
I Lead Lean Innovation Initiatives
I Offer a Discerning View the FinTech Landscape
I Create High Performance Culture
I run a No Bull**** Rodeo - I am a Straight Shooter
I am a student of history and proud patriot.
My skills have straddled a few main buckets: Information Technology, Media, Analytics, Art and Architecture. My skillset requires a mix of critcal, analytical and creative thinking. I started in IT, focusing on management, service, and support, then formally brought in my creative talents for design and content creation. I’ve worked on projects for businesses and associations of all sizes and development stages. The intermingling of those areas informed my viewpoint of information architecture, resource procurement, leadership, management strategies and so on.
I am a digital ranger, and used to working on projects that are either green-field, or complete tear-downs. Starting from scratch with a white board, pad of paper and pencil excites me.
- Digital Strategy 92%
- Information – Managing, Measuring, & Monetizing 84%
- Web Design 82%
- Information Architecture 78%
- Communications, Writing & Presentation 89%
- Information Technology 88%
- Innovation / Creative Complex Problem Solving 89%
- Product Management 82%
- Marketing & Integrated Communications 84%
EDUCATION
Nerd Alert
I am a perpetual student, and have led in fields long before there were curriculums to define them. I try to stay versed on industry standards, if only for contrast material, and inspire innovation through necessity. I coined the term Digital Liquidity and started the Digital Liquidity Project when I was 14 years old. This has been a 20+ year multi-discpilinary journey essentially a committed study to the information architecture and factors in play that affect the flow, value, reception and transaction of information.
Business
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Business Data Management & Communications Specialization – University of Illinois |
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AI for Business Specialization – University of Pennsylvania |
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Entrepreneurship Specialization – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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Omnichannel Retail Strategy Specialization – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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Leading the Modern Day Business Specialization – University of Virginia – Boston Consulting Group |
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Digital Transformation – University of Virginia – Boston Consulting Group |
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Design Thinking For Innovation – University of Virginia – Darden School of Business |
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AI Strategy & Governance – Wharton Online |
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Digital Product Management: Fundamentals – University of Virginia – Darden School of Business |
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Customer Centric IT Strategy – University of Virginia – Darden School of Business |
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Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector, Nonprofit Organizations, Nonprofit Leadership and Governance – University of Buffalo SUNY |
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Predictive Analytics and Data Mining – University of Illinois |
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StrategyX: Competitive Advantage Wharton Online |
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Antifragile: Cultivating Entrepreneurship & Antifragility to Thrive in a Fast-Paced World MITx |
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Google Project Management Specialization – Google |
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Attended Computer Engineering Program – Sacramento State University |
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Attended English/ Interdisciplinary Studies – American River College |
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Attended English / Interdisciplinary Studies – Sacramento City College |
Financial Technology (FinTech)
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Decentralized Finance (DeFi): The Future of Finance Specialization – Duke University |
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DeFi: Opportunities and Risks – Duke University |
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DeFi: Deep Dive – Duke Univeristy |
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DeFi: Infrastructure – Duke University |
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Fintech: Foundations & Applications of Financial Technology Specialization – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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Application of AI, InsurTech, and Real Estate Technology Certificate – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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AI Applications in Marketing and Finance – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination – West Virginia University |
Marketing
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Content Strategy For Professionals Specialization – Northwestern University |
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Omnichannel Retail Strategy Specialization – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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Retail Marketing Strategy – Wharton Online |
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Influence – Wharton Online |
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Improving Communication Skills – Wharton Online |
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Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content |
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The Strategy of Content Marketing – UC Davis |
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Fundamentals of Digital Marketing – Google |
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Inbound Sales – HubSpot |
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Frictionless Sales – HubSpot |
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Email Marketing – HubSpot |
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Growth Driven Desaign – HubSpot |
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Inbound Sales – HubSpot |
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Frictionless Sales – HubSpot |
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Social Media – HubSpot |
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Inbound Marketing – HubSpot |
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Content Marketing Toolkit – SEMRUSH |
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SEO Fundamentals -SEMRUSH |
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Social Media Marketing Fundamentals SEMRUSH |
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Site Audit – SEMRUSH |
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PPC Fundamentals – SEMRUSH |
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SEO Toolkit – SEMRUSH |
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Keyword Research – SEMRUSH |
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Technical SEO – SEMRUSH |
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Social Media Toolkit – SEMRUSH |
Tech Stack
My Education and experience in Tech is vast, stemming from running and advising tech startups, to businesses from small mom and pop to the enterprise. Keeping up with the speed of business in the Digital Age. I don’t consider myself a master, just in pursuit of mastery and betterment with the flexible toolkit I use in my day to day work with clients. Tech Stacks these days are proprietary for good reasons. Here is a list of tools that are common in my tech stack.
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Notion Mastery – Marie Poulin 2X |
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Managing Google Workspace – Google Cloud |
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Google Workspace Security – Goolge Cloud |
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Google Workspace Mail Management – Google Cloud |
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Google Professional Workspace Administrator – Google Cloud |
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Google UX Design Specialization – Google |
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Developing AR/VR/MR/XR Apps with WebXR, Unity & Unreal – University of Michigan |
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User Experience & Interaction Design for AR/VR/MR/XR – University of Michigan |
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Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization – University of Michigan |
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HubSpot Growth-Driven Design – HubSpot |
I am self taught on these Additional Tools I’ve used for years:
| WordPress | |
| SEMRUSH | |
| HubSpot | |
| Google WorkSpace (Docs, Sheets, etc.) | |
| ChatGPT | |
| Jasper AI | |
| Claude AI | |
| R Studio | |
| Adobe Creative Suite | |
| Canva | |
| MS Office | |
| Logikcull | |
| X1 eDiscovery | |
| Slack | |
| Captivate | |
| Spotify | |
| SoundCloud | |
| iTunes / Apple Play Upload | |
| Discord | |
| Zoom | |
| OBS Studio | |
| Figma | |
| Miro | |
| Divi | |
| ToDoist | |
| Trello | |
| Affinity Photo | |
| Affinity Illustrator |
Construction
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Construction Management Specialization – Columbia University |
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Construction Finance – Columbia University |
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Construction Project Management – Columbia University |
AI & Machine Learning
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Predictive Analytics and Data Mining – University of Illinois |
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AI for Business Specialization Certificate – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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AI Strategy and Governance – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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AI Applications in People Management – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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AI Applications in Marketing and Finance – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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AI Fundamentals for Non-Data Scientists – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
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Application of AI, InsurTech, and Real Estate Technology Certificate – University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Online |
Legal + Ediscovery
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American Contract Law I & II – Yale |
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Digital Forensics Concepts – Infosec |
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Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination – West Virginia University |
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Eight Phases of Pretrial eDiscovery – EDEC – Arkfeld |
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Advanced IT for Legal Professionals – EDEC – Arkfeld |
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Advanced ESI Pretrial Discovery – Critical Issues Strategy and Tactics – EDEC – Arkfeld |
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Certified Ediscovery Specialist – EDEC – Arkfeld |
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Managing Google Workspace – Google Cloud |
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Google Workspace Security – Goolge Cloud |
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Google Workspace Mail Management – Google Cloud |
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Google Professional Workspace Administrator – Google Cloud |
Design
| Institution | Achievement |
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Google UX Design Specialization – Google |
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Developing AR/VR/MR/XR Apps with WebXR, Unity & Unreal – University of Michigan |
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User Experience & Interaction Design for AR/VR/MR/XR – University of Michigan |
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Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization – University of Michigan |
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HubSpot Growth-Driven Design – HubSpot |
Health & Personal Development
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Improving Your Business Through a Culture of Health Harvard University – HarvardX |
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The Science of Well-Being – Yale University |
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Leading the Life You Want – University of Pennsylvania Wharton Online |
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Success – University of Pennsylvania Wharton Online |
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Achieving Personal and Professional Success Specialization – University of Pennsylvania Wharton Online |
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Hacking Exercise For Health – McMaster University |
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Mindware: Critical Thinking for the Information Age – University of Michigan |
Energy
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Oil and Gas Industry Operations and Markets – Duke University |
Featured Achievements
Things I’m Proud Of
I keep a victory board of my achievements, and use them to help me keep up momentum and performance. I am most proud of the things I achieve with teams. Shared victories are the best!
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Interests & Topics I Follow
I love spending time with my family. I love to write, create, draw, organize, and build entire digital worlds. I also love to hike, ruck, run, mud, and race.
Origin Story
Who I Am
At age 14, I coined the phrase “Digital Liquidity” and started by study of information through the lens of its most natural behavior – to flow and move. I (still) study the factors that affect the flow and value of information as it travels from device to device, platform to platform, off the screen, into the human brain, and into communities, economies and societies. From the way we consume, learn, to the way we present, perform and teach, all forms of delivery, interaction and exchange, person to person, or machine, or between machines, back and forth and beyond.
Along with my tech savvy, I’ve also been a business geek the entire time. While other kids were reading comics, I was selling them so I could buy and read expired issues of Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review.
I ran my own IT practice as a teenager, and eventually expanded into other fields like new media and management consulting. Heroik was created in 2007, and it has been growing ever since.
Fast-forward a few decades, my skills and experience increased and expanded, I am still a creative, problem-solving explorer, and American patriot. As a family man, proud husband and father of two lovely daughters, and all our business interests, I have a full plate and lead it with a full heart.
Personality & Culture
How I am & What I Care About
I am Mission Ready For Life
I come prepared with an adaptive toolkit and mindset, ready to apply to situations as planned, and as we find them.
Faith, Honor & Integrity
Faith in the almighty provides me with a moral compass, a means of moving in alignment with a purpose bigger than myself, and inviting others to join. That same compass is the foundation for trust and relationships. Character is best defined under pressure, when no one is looking. Do we stay the course or stray?
I Create High Performance Culture
Developing a High Performance Culture starts with principles that inform habits, that guide routines, rituals, processes, and generate trophies and artifacts along the way.
I run a No Bull**** Rodeo – I am a Straight Shooter
I tell it like it is and do not waste time in games of dysfunctional corp speak. I take the blows and blame, and give my team credit and support. I’m here to DTFW (Do The Formidable Work).
I bring purpose, intensity, and tenacity when the situation calls for it.
I am the type of guy you come to when you figure out that the soft stuff doesn’t work, when the mission is hard, and it’s time to do real work.
I am a student of history and proud patriot.
I believe the US Constitution and the founding of the nation as a Constitutional Republic was a brilliant effort to preserve individual freedom in this Great Nation. And I care a lot about it and our country. Call me crazy if you wish.
Sometimes I write About Writing
Normalizing Censorship: 12 Hard Truths About Online “Community Guidelines” and Soft Censorship Models You Can’t Afford to Ignore
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9 Reasons You Should Offer a Free Roadmap (Like Heroik’s Cup of Clarity) to Build Trust and Close More Deals
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12 Sneaky Ways Big Tech Is Bleeding You Dry: The Hidden Price Hike Hustle
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10 Hard Truths About Information Management That Will Transform Your Business
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Consulting for Nonprofits: 13 Concrete Strategies To Get The Most Bang For Your Buck
Working in a nonprofit is no easy task. You're in the trenches, fighting the good fight every day. But let's face it – sometimes you need backup. That's where consultants come in. But here's the million-dollar question: Are you squeezing every ounce of value from your...
9 Brutal Truths About AI in Business: Why The ‘Easy Button’ Might Be Your Downfall
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Traffic vs. Transactions: 16 Brutal Truths About Content That The SEO “Experts” Don’t Want You To Know
You're gonna need a fresh coffee for this one, because I am about to unpack 16 layers of BS and stupidity that so-called SEO "experts" and platforms have been feeding you. This isn't just another rant – it's a wake-up call that could save your business from the...
The Ultimate Guide to Content Creation for Social Media: 20 Tips for Busy People to Maximize Impact
You're busy spinning plates, wearing multiple hats, building empires, closing deals, and changing the world. But here's the cold, hard truth: If you're not letting the world know you exist with your content creation, you're leaving mountains of cash on the table. What...
The Ultimate Digital Transformation Roadmap: 16 Steps to Maximize Value and Scale Your Business
In today's fast-paced business world, digital transformation is no longer optional—it's essential. Every company that wants to remain competitive must embrace digital change. But let’s be real. Jumping into the digital transformation process without a roadmap is like...
19 Ways to Get the Most Value from Your Content Marketing Plan
If you want to win in business today, it’s not about having the most flashy products or the best prices; it's about dominating with value. And where does that value live? It’s in the content. But just pumping out articles, videos, and posts isn’t enough. You need a...
20 Ways to Get the Most Value From Web Design Companies
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20 Rules for Getting Maximum Value from a Consultant: The Ultimate Consulting Definition
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Digital Marketing is What Now? The 18 Proven Principles to Scale Your Business Fast
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15 Common Challenges in Integrated Communications and How to Overcome Them
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Mastering Multi-Channel Marketing: 10 Steps to Unified Success
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The Hidden Costs of Neglecting Digital Program Management: 11 Pitfalls and Solutions
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16 Untold Truths Why Your Digital Strategy Is Failing And How to Turn It Around
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The VIP Experience: 10 Concierge Tactics To Help You Elevate Your High-Value Prospects
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Hello, I’m Nicholas
CXO & Sr. Strategist
one Trick Pony
I help established business owners create Growth Engines from Thought to Profit(TM). My goal is to give my clients the strategies, systems, skills, tactics and mental frameworks they need to maximize their power, performance, and impact.
Heroik Growth Engines are a combination of people, systems, and TLC: Technology, Leadership, and Culture. I advise, collaborate and implement strategic plans in cross-functional ways; looking at the various complex activity systems of business and orchestrate them in ways that deliver sustainable competitive advantage.
Along the way, I train CEO’s, executive and management teams on Heroik methods to improve performance, production, and get them otherwise Mission Ready for Life. Sometimes I even help companies design their brand narrative, digital marketing strategy, content strategy, drive SEO, and create their entire information architecture.
Develop a World Class Brand
Bring the brand to life in a way that aligns with your value proposition and experience design of your company.
Craft a Heroik Brand Narrative
I help companies define the story that captivates their audience and drives their content.
Open & Optimize Referral Pipelines
Develop referral systems that provide a sustainable, predictable deal flow.
Content Strategy
Content is STILL king and you haven’t started yet? The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
KPI Clarity
Key Performance Indicators can only be clear when aligned to clear goals and the conditions of the company.
Define Target Market in HD
You cannot afford to be vague when defining your target market.
Get Skin In The Game
Heroik is unique in our fee structure tied to the performance of your business. This ensures our every move is designed to fatten the bottom line.
DISCERNING ANALYSIS
If you need no-bull rodeo and straight talk to ensure you get the truth, you’ll want Heroik analysis. We’re industry agnostic and don’t profit by perpetuating fairytales and business myths.
Social Super Powers
Guess what? Content is the king of social as well.
Get an Innovative Edge Over The Competition
There are opportunities for innovation everywhere, it merely takes a discerning eye. Often innovation is technical, nuanced, incremental, boring at first, and then… lucrative. Take the time to Do The Formidable Work and make it happen.
Strategy Based On Real Capacity
Strategic goals and objectives should be mapped to real capacity (not hope or hype).
Refine Systems & Processes
Changing how you operate can free up time and money, as well as generate more of both.
Self Reinforcing Activity Systems
Activity Systems that come together and reinforce each other give you an edge your competitors struggle to understand.
PinPoint Your Position in HD
If you don’t have your positioning defined in HD, you’re not ready for the Digital Age, and you’ll find it hard to navigate. Let’s fix that.
Customer Personas
Who are your customers? Why do they come to you? Why does your market go to your competitor? It’s time to get beyond demographics and deep dive into psychographics and personas.
Make Your STRATEGY a Priority.
I certainly will.
DOMINATE YOUR MARKET
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Eliminate Noise & Optimize Processes
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Create More Room For Growth
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