Community Highlights: Meet Ryan Love of LoveLanguage Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Love.

Hi Ryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story, quite frankly, is unlikely. More of an accident of circumstance than the results of strict, well-thought-out plan. After graduating high school, I took up writing as a hobby and a way to keep my mind busy as I wrestled with the first years of early adulthood that sprout from adolescence. I became obsessed with storytelling, and still write to this day, with some publishing credits to boast.

When I entered college, I struggled to find my footing as to what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing (as many do—but honestly, what does college major have to do with career path anymore?), and at the encouragement of my parents, found a major that sat at the intersection of practical applications in the real world and something I was mildly interested in. That’s how I found marketing. I learned that there was entire divisions of companies devoted to telling stories about products, brands, and companies themselves, and I was all in. So, I majored in marketing and picked up a minor in political science just to add flavor.

After graduation, I like many others struggled to find that first post-college job in a pandemic-ridden world, and leaned even more into my love for storytelling to keep myself occupied and sort out all of the angst I was overwhelemed with. I wrote my first novella and produced it all on my own, and even hosted a podcast about film on the side. Eventually, I found a job with a major tech company doing B2B (business to business) software sales.

I was making good money. I had the marquee job. I moved into a new apartment. I climbed the mountain. I did what tens of thousands of people that have come to the Bay Area from literally all around the world to do—I made it in Silicon Valley.

But, something wasn’t right. Something was missing. The spark and excitement in life began to fade away, and every day started to blur into one big long poem of monotony.

Then, the dam started to break. As a perk, my company offered leave for an entire quarter with a guaranteed job when I got back. I took the offer, and my life changed forever. I went and visited the island in Greece that my grandfather was born and raised on for seven weeks. I made friends and met long-lost family. I discovered my roots. I learned how people are supposed to live. Not just exist. I even hired a tutor to teach me the language (who I still work with to this day). It was the single most important decision I have ever made in my life. To this day, just thinking about the island and how much it means to me makes me want to cry.

And then I got back, and the spark started to go away again. I started to spiral. I spent morning hearing live Greek music in my head over, smelling and hearing the island like I was literally back there soaking up all the sights and culture. What was I going to do? It was a part of my soul and I wanted it to be a part of my life forever.

Then one day, the dam didn’t break, it exploded.

Layoffs.

The words hit like a hammer to the back of my head. Thousands of employees, gone. My entire office, closed. The short, hot, post-COVID boom had busted. And we were thrown back out onto the streets.

What was I going to do? Go back to the island, obviously. And I did. For three more summers. And in the meantime, I started searching for a way that I could work while I was there—to prolong my stays and dive deeper into this existential meteor that crash-landed into my life.

But I realized, the way was right in front of me: marketing.

I studied it in school, I was already trained to do it. So I did.

I started LoveLanguage Media. I devoted my time to telling other business’ stories on their behalf, and building them marketing systems that brought customers right to their front doors while doing it. I have worked with everyone from half-century-old family restaurants, to AI startups and even political campaigns for national office.

I stumbled into this whole thing. I’m not sure why I’m so unbelievably blessed and lucky to be doing what I’m doing, and to be in the situation that I am in, but looking back on it, it all seemed inevitable—like the pieces were all falling into place to make this happen—even if at the time, every event just seemed like one rolling disaster after another.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been smooth at all. But that’s the point, it’s not supposed to be. I first struggled with even getting clients, understanding my offering, and systematizing what I do so that I can deliver results on time.

I had to wander out in the wilderness for a long time just building my own website and working for free (or close to it) just to build a portfolio and prove myself. I was a one-man operation throwing myself against a wall to see what would stick.

Like, I was doing business. Just me. That’s an insane thing to do? Why would I do that? I’m still working on an answer, I’ll get back to you when I have it.

Long nights, early mornings, cancelled plans with friends and family. I’ve done it all, and there’s more of it to come—guaranteed.

But like I said, that’s the point. Life and real growth don’t happen while you sitting on the couch, they happen while you’re standing on the edge of the cliff.

As you know, we’re big fans of LoveLanguage Media. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
LoveLanguage Media is a boutique marketing agency that creates custom marketing funnels to bring business online and drive customers (and revenue) to our clients doorsteps.

We specialize in web design, digital ads, graphic design, and logos and branding, and use all four to tell our customers’ unique stories.

With LoveLanguage Media, I set out to create an experience for my clients, not just a vendor. Something that dives deep into the bones of every organization they work with, and seamlessly integrate as a partner that understands them, not just a vendor that delivers ad creatives.

When working with LoveLanguage, clients won’t even receive a proposal until three to four interactions into our time working together. Because it takes time to get to know someone enough to talk about their best qualities to someone else, and that’s exactly what we do.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lessons I’ve learned is patience and humility.

You can have everything you want in life, but you can’t have it all at once. We’ve all heard that before. Well, guess what, it’s true. And that’s what I’ve learned over the last few years.

When I was a kid, my dad always used to tell me that “the universe has a way of humbling everyone”. I learned that very well when I was laid off. And I learn it every day when I talk about my business to other people that don’t know who I am or what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lovelanguagemedia.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanalove/