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August 16, 2025 36 mins
Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of "Why Won't They Do What I Tell Them To Do?" where we dive into the real challenges of leadership and accountability. Today, I'm chatting with Karen Murphy, President of FVM Advertising, about her journey from fresh out of college to running a full-service marketing agency in Philadelphia. We cover everything from applying mom multitasking skills to client relationships, handling team resistance, and evolving how we give instructions for better buy-in. Karen shares practical tips on sparking creativity, resolving disagreements, and motivating teams to align with your vision. If you're a business leader struggling with stagnant growth or team dynamics, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you step up and make those big moves. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more leadership strategies!

 

Guest Introduction: Folks, I've got Karen Murphy here, President of FVM Advertising, a small but mighty marketing agency in the greater Philadelphia area. She's been with FVM since 2003, starting fresh out of college, and now leads a team of copywriters, designers, developers, and strategists helping clients with branding, campaigns, and messaging. With her background in communications and a knack for editing that turned into a passion for business writing, Karen brings fresh perspectives on leadership, especially blending life as a mom with running an agency. She's got some great stories on accountability that tie right into our show's focus.

 

Key Takeaways:
  • You know, multitasking as a mom teaches patience and quick planning—apply that to client relationships, and you'll build stronger bonds even in tough moments.
  • When teams push back, dig into the why; it might reveal a real issue you hadn't thought of, turning resistance into better outcomes.
  • Giving instructions? Evolve by sharing context and emotional stakes—it gets everyone invested and accountable.
  • Spark creativity by prepping ideas and immersing in the industry; throwing out examples can inspire your team to nail campaigns.
  • Handle disagreements with respect and clear objectives; sometimes testing options lets the best idea win.
  • If someone's not engaged, it's a sign—align tasks with passions to avoid mailing it in and boost overall performance.

 

Chapter Markers: 0:00 Intro 0:23 Guest Introduction 1:02 Karen's Background and Career Path 2:00 Discovering Passion for Editing and Communication 5:00 Leadership Lessons from Motherhood 8:00 Handling Team Resistance and Motivation 12:00 Evolving Instructions for Better Compliance 15:00 Sparking Creativity in Campaigns 18:00 Resolving Disagreements in Creative Teams 20:00 Frustrations with Non-Engaged Team Members 25:00 Key Insights on Accountability 34:00 Connecting with People and Sales Growth 36:00 Closing and Final Thoughts

 

Keywords: John Yankanich, Karen Murphy, FVM Advertising, leadership accountability, marketing agency, team motivation, client relationships, creative campaigns, business growth, Philadelphia marketing, podcast leadership, team resistance, multitasking mom, sales strategies, Why Won't They Do What I Tell Them To Do?
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