Making the Connection With Steph Somogyi Miller and Tyler Hamilton
Meet Tyler & Steph
After joining forces to start their own PR company, Steph Miller and Tyler Hamilton continue to kill it with making the moves to bring their clients front and center. Read more on their reason for doing and why their work relationship is one of their most valued connections.
Name.
Stephanie Somogyi Miller
Occupations, affiliations and projects.
Principal of Spread and Hamilgold. Effectively I'm a connector. I spend most of my time making sure people connect with who they need to meet and focus on helping them accomplish their public relations and marketing goals. I've also assumed this role in my personal life. I love to bring people together, to see new friendships form and to be a part of it. I find I’m usually the “glue". With regards to different projects, I'm a serial entrepreneur. I’m sure Tyler would agree when I say we are ALWAYS coming up with new business ideas. There are a few ideas brewing…if only there was more time in the day!
People Who Do focuses on those who excel at moving forward throughout their passions in life, why is it important to you to “do”?
I’m always thinking, my mind races. I wish my brain would take a little vacay sometimes but I've come to the conclusion that that's not my path. So for me, making sure that my clients, family and friends are in a good place makes "doing" all the time worth it. I have a passion for really knowing and understanding people; for discovering different perspectives and seeing how a change of perspective can create a shift. I love what I do for work, but if I had more time, my choice of "doing" would not revolve around working with people who already "have" rather I'd spend my time helping those who don't possess the knowledge or means they need to get where they want to go. And do it through compassion and understanding.
To date, what accomplishments are you most proud of?
Man...I'm so damn proud I've kept my kids alive for 4 years! Ha! Being a mom to twin girls is hard! They are not easy little people! But I love them so much. I'm also very proud of my relationship with my husband. He is a good man, and together we have an effortlessness that I think is rare. He is kind and patient. He has a way of making me feel whole in a way no one else can. I knew I was going to marry him on our first date and I'm proud I was able to convince him to marry me. I'm also proud of my business and what we do. It's still funny to think that we've been growing this for 12 years...Holy crap I'm old! I started at 22 with a cell phone and a fax line (yep you heard me...FAX machine).
What’s your favorite lesson you’ve ever learned, ever?
I grew up surrounded with the philosophy that you can only really trust your family, but I think that viewpoint is flawed. The best lesson was realizing the friends you make along your journey are just as important and can influence you in ways your family never can. That's not to say my family isn't super important! (I can already see my moms face.)
“I’m always thinking, my mind races. I wish my brain would take a little vacay sometimes but I’ve come to the conclusion that that’s not my path. So for me, making sure that my clients, family and friends are in a good place makes “doing” all the time worth it.”
You're a Co-Owner at your own PR/Marketing company. What's your favorite thing about that?
There are so many cool things about being a co-owner. The many incredible people we work with, the group of people who comprise our team that simply kick ass every day and think nothing of it, but my absolute favorite is Tyler. I was given the opportunity, by some miracle, to form this most sincere partnership. I have the highest level of respect and love for Tyler. She is the truest definitions of a work wife. We are full time partners and sometimes it feels as soon as we say good night, we are greeting each other good morning. I wouldn't have it any other way.
What's your go-to song to put you in a better mood?
With or Without You - U2, Into the mystic - Van Morisson, Fields of Gold - Sting, Stolen Away - Dave Matthews Band, Redemption Song - Bob Marley, Alone - Heart, Cascades of Color - Ananda Project, Wicked Game -Chris Isaak, Nessun Dorma - Turandot, I love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett...and really anything from the 80's.
Top 5 people you would invite to a dinner party.
My grandfather I never met, Jon Stewart, Steve Martin, Charlie Hunnam (ok shoot me! Need some eye candy!), Melinda Gates.
3 words you want to be remembered by.
Loyal, Compassionate, Fierce.
By "do-ing", you create your own unique legacy. How do you want your legacy to look/be remembered?
I love what we do, but I'm not curing cancer here. I believe that by helping others achieve their goals we leave a lasting impression on their lives and that brings me satisfaction. But when I think about leaving a legacy, I think of my girls. Hopefully they grow up to be compassionate, smart women who set no limitations on their success. That they find joy in whatever path they choose. That they feel supported in those choices. That they pull strength from within during tough moments. And that maybe a little bit of that strength is learned from me.
Name.
Tyler Hamilton
Occupations, affiliations and projects.
Principal, SPREAD…I also occasionally write on my blog "Walk Far Together"…and I have several books at various stages, but who doesn't, right? :)
“People Who Do” focuses on those who excel at moving forward throughout their passions in life, why is it important to you to “do”?
Because I believe that's why we were put here. Human beings are gifted with this amazing capacity to create, to inspire, to love. When we don't do that, we squander that gift. So I try, not always succeeding, to live into that idea. Create something, inspire someone, love unconditionally. If I'm not doing, what am I doing here? Plus, I get bored pretty easily. Monotony and I are not friends. Doing the same thing all the time makes me crazy, some people like routine and to some extent I do too…for my kids sake if nothing else…but making my days different, experiencing new things, having a project in the works…that's what gets my juices flowing.
To date, what accomplishments (of any kind) are you most proud of?
My family. It's cliché, but they are. I love full out. And that's what my family is all about.
#1 motivating mantra to get through tough moments.
Oh boy, my dad was always so good with advice, he and my mom have always been great at talking me through the tough times. We weren't so much the "this too shall pass folks" because we realized that that's not always the case. But that doesn't mean you can't get through it anyway. Which leads me to my mantra I suppose. "Everyone has their own bag of rocks. You can either look at it and describe it or pick it up and move forward." It always reminds me of two things. 1. I am a strong person, I can definitely handle my bag of rocks even if I need to shift it or set it down for a minute. I can always carry it. 2. Everyone has one. I'm not alone. Being in a tough spot is always easier to bear when you realize you aren't alone.
“Everyone has their own bag of rocks. You can either look at it and describe it or pick it up and move forward. It always reminds me of two things - 1. I am a strong person, I can definitely handle my bag of rocks even if I need to shift it or set it down for a minute. I can always carry it. 2. Everyone has one. I’m not alone. Being in a tough spot is always easier to bear when you realize you aren’t alone.”
What’s your favorite thing you’ve learned so far this year?
Ha! How much time do you have? My kids teach me something new everyday. But I guess one of the things I've learned has to do with my health. I was feeling really unhealthy in January. Sluggish, tired, overweight, depressed. And that's not me. Or at least I didn't want it to be. So I decided to make some changes. I took some serious steps – new eating habits, new work out routine, ran in two community races (and I hate to run, or at least I did). I am in such a better place in five short months. So I guess I learned that I'm powerful and I'm an athlete. It should be noted that I am not alone in this. Everyone is powerful and everyone has an inner athlete, they just need to wake up to that reality.
What’s your favorite lesson you’ve ever learned, ever?
"It's better to be overdressed than underdressed." That's a Dad-ism. The man never wore jeans except for yard work. He was dapper and showed it in everything he did. He and my mom taught me about what real marriage is, how to live life in color, how to put family first…and every time I think of that lesson, of treating everything like an event for which it is worth getting "dressed", I smile because it embodies who my dad was.
What's your go-to song to put you in a better mood?
Oh my gosh, depends on the day. But "Into the Mystic" always makes me dream of the Carolina beaches, which is one of my happy places. I love current stuff that I'll have on my workout mix to get me energized, but that changes with the time. Music that always gets me is often from growing up - "Dancing with Myself", "Life is a Highway", "Come on Eileen", "Livin' on a Prayer", "Just Like Heaven", "Ants Marching" and "Once in a Lifetime" for sure. That just scratches the surface because like most people of my generation, on some level my life has had a soundtrack…part "The Big Chill", part "Grosse Pointe Blank", part "The Breakfast Club", part "Jerry McGuire".
Top 5 people you would invite to a dinner party.
My Dad, My cousin Dave (both deceased, and both hilarious), Tina Fey, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Doris Kearns Goodwin. Five brilliant people who are at once thought provoking, hilarious, articulate and humble. I could just sit and listen.
You're a Co-Owner at your own PR/Marketing company. What's your favorite thing about that?
Easy, Steph.
3 words you want to be remembered by.
"She loved unconditionally."
By "do-ing", you create your own unique legacy. How do you want your legacy to look/be remembered?
That I loved full out. Stuff doesn't matter…it may make you comfortable, but once you get to a certain point, it doesn't matter. What matters at the end of the day is how you love…that's it. So I hope if people remember me, they are reminded to love unconditionally.
Click here to find more of Steph & Tyler's work at Spread PR.