10 Years On: Who Am I—and Why?

Written By JoAnn Gometz

A decade. In early September, I found myself in the midst of negotiations to purchase a house that I can call both home and office for the foreseeable future.

As I began thinking in terms of 10-year appliances, a 20-year roof, and a 30-year mortgage, it hit me. I’ve been working solo for a decade.

The time has certainly been eventful. It started with the realization that I bring high value to precise efforts, efficiently, and guided by a strong moral compass. As an employee in traditional agencies, those approaches chafed against the status quo. As a consultant, leaning into them brings ease.   

That’s shown up in the big moments of the last 10 years:

  • Earning a Master of Arts in creative nonfiction

  • Bidding farewell to my last remaining grandparent

  • Making a solo multi-month nationwide (and Vancouver!) research trip

  • Working with more than 100 global names and grassroots clients

  • Moving from upstate New York to the heart of New Mexico

  • Surviving (personally and professionally) a pandemic

  • Adopting one big, smart, goofy Rez dog

  • Connecting with the new evolution of a long-ago name-brand client

  • Walking my mother through the process of Alzheimer’s diagnosis

  • Repositioning myself with help from a great business coaching group

  • Buying a little house with a big heart

  • And much, much more

My values come through in so much of what I do. Yes, they include common human characteristics like gratitude and service. And I’ve found that truth, hope, adventure, courage, and wonder guide me well at work and well beyond.

Thinking back through these years, I’ve realized that different people remember me when I was primarily editing, building processes, writing, mentoring, pitching, or something else. Yet, in each of those moments, they called on me to identify opportunities and build strategy (and materials) to help them succeed.

That’s why, 10 years on, I’ve put a stake in the ground as a marketing and content strategy consultant. I am still happy to write the meaty, meaningful content that comes from that strategy—but understanding an audience, defining the purpose of the work, and setting clear direction all come first.

Ready to build the next decade together? I am. Let’s get started.

JoAnn Gometz