Although my first business was arguably a Cool Aid stand, one could say my first true entrepreneurial endeavor was a neighborhood carnival. From the inception of the idea through the execution of the event, I brought to life a small carnival in our backyard, driveway, and garage. I recruited a team, created products, established budgets and pricing, developed a marketing plan, assumed some risk (including a broken window that ultimately cost more than our profits), and put on the finest carnival ever held at 872 S. Prospect Street.

Of course that isn't the whole story, I also experienced what some might call my first business failure. The way my family tells the story is that the whole event was an impressive thing for such a young kid, but as my mother gazed down from the breakfast nook window, she couldn't help but chuckle when she realized there were no children to attend the carnival because I had already recruited all the neighborhood kids to build and staff the event.

If you build it, they may not come

Now I know this was my first important business lesson: Just because you build it, doesn't mean "they will come." I forgot to focus on what I now believe is the most important thing--people. Without people to attend a carnival, it isn't much of a carnival.

This became the thread that connects my career over the years--a wholehearted focus on people. Deep down the thing that has mattered most to me is having a positive impact on people. As a result my career has been an interesting mix of nonprofit and for-profit work. While working for others though I kept encountering broken practices, systems, and ideologies that frustrated me. I'd catch myself saying, "Nonprofits would be so much better if they learned from the business world, and businesses would be so much better if they learned from nonprofits."

Entrepreneurs solve problems

Since I simply couldn't be content with things as they are, I had to create something different. Taking what we've learned and looking at our experiences as a foundation for something better, we've built Graziani Multimedia.

While marketing as a profession has some pretty sleazy characters, and the history of advertising is riddled with questionable manipulations, we believe that a marketing agency can be and do more than what people expect. We believe in marketing as a force for good in the world.

We are digital do-gooders

If top-notch marketing can sell millions of blankets with arms, the "last pan you'll ever need," and sneakers that light up, then certainly it can be used thoughtfully to end domestic violence, improve education, or alleviate poverty.

As it turns out I'm not alone in my notion that business and social impact go hand in hand. Organizations that blend the best of the business and nonprofit worlds are no longer an idea, but a reality. Social entrepreneurship is creating meaningful impact by putting people first. At Graziani Multimedia we help social ventures amplify their impact in a digital world.

Grounded in gratitude, focused on people

We count ourselves fortunate to work with businesses and nonprofits that do meaningful work and we're always up for a challenge. Putting people first isn't just something nice to do, it's good business.

Want to amplify your impact? Download our free ebook to learn more about transforming your marketing by putting people first: