Meet Harmon Colvett – Find the need, deliver the extraordinary
For most of us, conjuring moments of greatness, introspection, and sheer innovation in our junior year of high school is not something we would easily recount. That is unless you are Harmon Colvett.
In gathering the content for this blog series on ways people were thriving during the pandemic in creative and innovative ways, I posted a call for entries on LinkedIn to see if any of my connections might know of a person who fits this remit. To my delight, Amy Junge, Regional Executive Director of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital submitted Harmon’s story along with a picture of him in a canary yellow suit that was so inspiring and intriguing. I was motivated to tell his story.
Harmon is a member of the St. Jude Leadership Society (SJLS), which is where Amy heard him relay during one of their Thursday Night Leadership Learning Sessions what he had been doing during sheltering-in-place that underscored what one of his closest mentors, Lisa David, always told him, “when looking for a business, you have to identify a need then figure out a way to fulfill that need.”
The real magic unfolded, though, when I conducted a phone interview with Harmon to gather more information on his story. While most teenagers are mourning the loss of missed athletic events, proms, graduations and such, Harmon has been busy devising ways to supplement his income during the summer since his planned summer job as an intern at a law firm was off the table.
Rooted in his advice from his mentor to identify a [business] need and then fulfill it, he noticed that many small businesses (namely restaurants) struggle with setting up and managing their online reputations and social media presence. This was an ah-ha moment. “Small businesses have a need, and I can [will] find a way to fulfill it,” said Harmon.
Wired for greatness
Harmon relied on his innate tech-savvy abilities that he developed over the years, helping his family troubleshoot all things technology related. “Being the eldest of all my cousins, I am often called upon to help with technology and digital platforms.” With his knowledge of technology combined with bridging the underserved needs for small restaurants, he enrolled in Google Digital Garage to become certified in digital marketing and social media, where he proudly received a 92% on the final exam. He now has a growing roster of clients that he helps develop and manage their social media platforms.
“Both Lisa David and the SJLS continuously encourage me to start with my passion, find a need, and use my talents to meet that need. Through Lisa’s coaching, my digital marketing training, and my SJLS experience, I have learned that my true passion is helping people.”
Pulling a rabbit out of a hat
Harmon’s entrepreneurial spirit reaches far beyond for-profit endeavors. He has also exercised it in fundraising for St Jude’s. As part of being a member of SJLS, you’re required to raise $2,500. How you raise funds is up to you.
Harmon has surpassed the fundraising goal, and as of this writing is at $3,482 (to be exact). How did he do it? …ingenuity with a touch of remarkability. He has performed pressure washing services, other odd jobs, and magic shows that include card tricks and balloon animals for birthday parties delivered in a canary yellow suit, which is, by far, his favorite way to fundraise. When his friends donate to St Jude’s, he thanks them by hand delivering a plate of his grandma’s famous chocolate chip cookies wearing a tuxedo.
And how did he market himself? “Once I taught my parents, aunts, uncle, and grandma how to post on social media, they would simply post that picture of me in a yellow suit and tell their friends to hire me for their kids’ birthdays.”
Helping others who need it most
As Harmon will be entering his senior year at Memphis University School in the fall, he will continue to build on his insatiable need to help others now and in the future. He yearns to make a difference in the legal system and plans to pursue a law degree as either a District Attorney or Public Defender. He loves the fast-paced, on-your-feet, thinking required in trial law. The thought of being able to help those in need that too often get the short end of the stick sounds like the optimal way to fulfill both his passion and purpose.
You can find Harmon on Instagram @harmon.colvett or connect with him on LinkedIn. He is someone worth watching to see just how far he rises.
In part three of my blog series, you will read about Jeff Armstrong, Co-founder, and CEO of Mindful Communications. Jeff has used the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to sharpen his business plan to help people and organizations find the most effective solutions to gain healthy, productive, and competitive advantages in all areas of their life.
Meet Harmon Colvett – Find the need, deliver the extraordinary
For most of us, conjuring moments of greatness, introspection, and sheer innovation in our junior year of high school is not something we would easily recount. That is unless you are Harmon Colvett.
In gathering the content for this blog series on ways people were thriving during the pandemic in creative and innovative ways, I posted a call for entries on LinkedIn to see if any of my connections might know of a person who fits this remit. To my delight, Amy Junge, Regional Executive Director of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital submitted Harmon’s story along with a picture of him in a canary yellow suit that was so inspiring and intriguing. I was motivated to tell his story.
Harmon is a member of the St. Jude Leadership Society (SJLS), which is where Amy heard him relay during one of their Thursday Night Leadership Learning Sessions what he had been doing during sheltering-in-place that underscored what one of his closest mentors, Lisa David, always told him, “when looking for a business, you have to identify a need then figure out a way to fulfill that need.”
The real magic unfolded, though, when I conducted a phone interview with Harmon to gather more information on his story. While most teenagers are mourning the loss of missed athletic events, proms, graduations and such, Harmon has been busy devising ways to supplement his income during the summer since his planned summer job as an intern at a law firm was off the table.
Rooted in his advice from his mentor to identify a [business] need and then fulfill it, he noticed that many small businesses (namely restaurants) struggle with setting up and managing their online reputations and social media presence. This was an ah-ha moment. “Small businesses have a need, and I can [will] find a way to fulfill it,” said Harmon.
Wired for greatness
Harmon relied on his innate tech-savvy abilities that he developed over the years, helping his family troubleshoot all things technology related. “Being the eldest of all my cousins, I am often called upon to help with technology and digital platforms.” With his knowledge of technology combined with bridging the underserved needs for small restaurants, he enrolled in Google Digital Garage to become certified in digital marketing and social media, where he proudly received a 92% on the final exam. He now has a growing roster of clients that he helps develop and manage their social media platforms.
“Both Lisa David and the SJLS continuously encourage me to start with my passion, find a need, and use my talents to meet that need. Through Lisa’s coaching, my digital marketing training, and my SJLS experience, I have learned that my true passion is helping people.”
Pulling a rabbit out of a hat
Harmon’s entrepreneurial spirit reaches far beyond for-profit endeavors. He has also exercised it in fundraising for St Jude’s. As part of being a member of SJLS, you’re required to raise $2,500. How you raise funds is up to you.
Harmon has surpassed the fundraising goal, and as of this writing is at $3,482 (to be exact). How did he do it? …ingenuity with a touch of remarkability. He has performed pressure washing services, other odd jobs, and magic shows that include card tricks and balloon animals for birthday parties delivered in a canary yellow suit, which is, by far, his favorite way to fundraise. When his friends donate to St Jude’s, he thanks them by hand delivering a plate of his grandma’s famous chocolate chip cookies wearing a tuxedo.
And how did he market himself? “Once I taught my parents, aunts, uncle, and grandma how to post on social media, they would simply post that picture of me in a yellow suit and tell their friends to hire me for their kids’ birthdays.”
Helping others who need it most
As Harmon will be entering his senior year at Memphis University School in the fall, he will continue to build on his insatiable need to help others now and in the future. He yearns to make a difference in the legal system and plans to pursue a law degree as either a District Attorney or Public Defender. He loves the fast-paced, on-your-feet, thinking required in trial law. The thought of being able to help those in need that too often get the short end of the stick sounds like the optimal way to fulfill both his passion and purpose.
You can find Harmon on Instagram @harmon.colvett or connect with him on LinkedIn. He is someone worth watching to see just how far he rises.
In part three of my blog series, you will read about Jeff Armstrong, Co-founder, and CEO of Mindful Communications. Jeff has used the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to sharpen his business plan to help people and organizations find the most effective solutions to gain healthy, productive, and competitive advantages in all areas of their life.
Michelle is Mariola Unlimited’s Chief Brand Officer and has 20 years of experience in branding and marketing strategy. Her blog is dedicated to sharing her mastery of marketing best practices, insights into building brand equity, and her reflections on creating intentional cultures and the leaders that make it happen.
