I am Chief Executive Boss Lady of naming firm Eat My Words, and a leading and outspoken authority on brand names. My breakthrough creativity book, Hello, My Name is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick, is considered “the brand name Bible” and was named a Top 10 Marketing Book by Inc. Magazine.
Since 2005, my firm and I have created love-at-first sight brand names for clients from Amazon to Xerox. My own name hall of fame includes Wendy’s Baconator, the Neato robotic vacuum, Smitten ice cream, Spanish language school Gringo Lingo, frozen yogurt franchise Spoon Me, and the Church of Cupcakes.
In my free time, I create imaginative succulent arrangements in unexpected containers that I find by scouring my local flea market. I volunteer as the Activities Chair for my local women’s club. And I am an active host for Petal Share, www.petalshare.org. We rescue flowers from florists, retailers, and events then repurpose them into arrangements in donated vases. We share them with residents and caregivers at senior centers, homeless shelters, veterans’ centers, children’s hospitals and more. I see my 87 year old mother once a week. We enjoy going on walks at the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, attending lectures at the Ocean Beach Historical Society, and streaming classic movies.
I love living by the ocean in my Barbie Dream House. I turned our pool house into my office where I have a view of a colorful surfboard fence, tropical tiki bar, and two giant inflatable pink flamingoes, Maui and Wowie. My faithful rescue pup JoJo is often at my feet or lounging on her fluffy pink dog bed. She is obsessed with her Mr. Bill chew toy that exclaims “Oh, noooooooooo!” My partner, Glenn, is the proud co-author of children’s book, Derby Learns to Surf, about a real-life surfing dog, Derby California, who you may know from the TV show, The Pack. He is also the founder of Call Glenn Again Handyman & Home Services, a local business with 12 employees who primarily work within a 2-mile radius of our home.
Q: Where were you born, where were you raised, and where do you currently live (City, State/Province, Country)?
I was born and raised in the beautiful seaside town of La Jolla in Southern California. After living in San Francisco most of my adult life, I returned to San Diego five years ago to be close to my mom. I now live walking distance from the water in Pt. Loma / Ocean Beach.
Q: What is one of your favorite quotes or lines in a song or movie and why does it resonate with you?
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – Pablo Picasso. I believe if you have a gift, you should share it with the world.
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
I was an advertising copywriter and every once in awhile I would get thrown a bone and get to name something. I loved it but had no idea that “professional namer” was actually a career. When I discovered this, I switched gears and became a namer.
Q: What do you enjoy most about what you do?
When I’m coming up with name ideas, it’s like going on a treasure hunt — I never know what I’m going to come up with when I start looking for ideas and playing with words.
Q: What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
You are doing everything right despite not following the herd. Keep daring to be different and following your dream to be in advertising.
Q: What is one of your favorite places to be or travel to?
I’ve traveled to 50 countries on 6 continents. Favorite places include New Zealand, Hong Kong, Cuba, Egypt, Bali, and Southern Africa. Fun fact: I rode bareback on an ostrich in South Africa, ate barbecued squirrel with the Hadzabe bushmen in Tanzania, and was chased by the secret police in Libya.
Q: If you could choose anyone (past or present, fictional or real) with whom to have lunch, who would it be and why?
My father, who passed away in 1995. I have scattered his ashes all over the world in places he visited and would love to talk about travel with him and catch him up on my life.
Q: Who inspires you to be the best version of yourself?
My partner, Glenn. He donated a kidney to a complete stranger and always puts others first.
Q: How did you first discover “The Go-Giver”?
A wise man named Anthony Sandberg gave me the book years ago and I was reintroduced to it by Joey Vitale.
Q: Who would you like to see featured on The Faces Of The Go-Giver Community and why?
Brian Schilling. He jumped right in and is already so engaged in the community.
Q: Finally, how can we know if someone we come in contact with is a good connection or prospective customer/client for you?
Mid to large size companies that make lots of consumer products that need creative names. Ideal industries are food & beverage, cosmetics, pet food, toy companies, consumer electronics, home goods, and personal care. Also, companies going through a rebrand that need a new name.
Please include your website link if you have one!
https://eatmywords.com
