Meet Joe Dudeck | Owner, Marketing Agency

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Dudeck and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Over the past nine years as a business owner, I’ve found myself at this Go On or Give Up crossroads many times, typically after a rough client, a project doesn’t go as well as I’d hoped, a proposal never gets signed, etc. And in those moments, I’ve found how quickly shame likes to swoop in and pluck at the already thin line between “that was bad” and “I am bad” — eventually leading me to explore whether or not I should shut the doors and go back to refill a cubicle in corporate life.

But these have always been healthy moments for me.

They’ve allowed me to pause from the push. They’ve opened opportunities to get outside my mind and lean into people — like my wife, team, business coach, and partners — who can speak truth into me. And they’ve allowed me to relive the story of why I started this business in the first place, breathe in how it feeds my soul, and reexamine if slight shifts do need to be made.

And so far, the answer that’s returned has always been to keep moving forward.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Simply put, we love to tell big stories for small businesses at our agency in Colorado Springs.

And “big” doesn’t necessarily mean grandiose. We’re not into littering the world with embellished content. Rather, we love first finding clients who have authentic, inviting, and transformative business stories to tell before capturing and creating meaningful brands, websites, blogs, social posts, podcasts, and photographs for them. It’s not about screaming the loudest and the longest, but speaking in terms and tones that inspire the right crowd.

The name “Keyhole Marketing” comes from our passion for helping clients see what exists behind the closed doors in front of them and then giving them the keys to get where they want to be.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my family moved to Colorado from Indiana, we intentionally sought out a house where people could enjoy their own space, stay as long as they want, and feel at home throughout their stay. And we were very fortunate to find just that in Colorado Springs.

While there’s so much to see and do here, we always let visiting friends and family know that no agenda can be the best agenda. Take some time to breathe in the air. Let the mountains speak to you. Sit on a boulder or stand at the base, absorbing the many perspectives this landscape affords.

But we also love to point people toward the following list of favorite destinations throughout Colorado.

Pack some water and take a hike to the top of Blodgett Peak, or find a cool day to stroll through the Paint Mines. You can also embrace your inner tourist and explore Garden of the Gods, trudge up the Manitou Incline, or drive to the top of Pike’s Peak to check out the new Summit House — or take the reopened Cog Railway instead! Of course, we also suggest avoiding the crowds and hiking around Ute Valley Park — careful to avoid the rattle snakes by staying on the trails.

You could also drive down the Front Range to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo — one of the top 10 zoos in the U.S. Or continue south and check out the Royal Gorge from the bridge, the railroad, or while whitewater rafting with Echo Canyon River Expeditions. Or make a day of it by driving all the way down to Great Sand Dunes National Park. No matter the destination, just don’t forget to stop at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey in Cañon City on your way back for a couple bottles.

If science and history are your things, be sure to check out the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, and the National Museum of World War II Aviation. When it opens again, the chapel on the U.S. Air Force Academy is also a must stop.

When you get hungry and thirsty, we’ve also got you covered (all pre-approved by my wife as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free friendly). For grub, hit up C.O.A.T.I.; Edelweiss German Restaurant; Garden of the Gods Cafe; Good Neighbor Meeting House; Jake & Telly’s Greek Taverna; Kura Japanese; Lazy Dog; Snooze; Dos Santos; The Rabbit Hole; Urban Egg; and Lolley’s Ice Cream.

For coffee, we suggest 1979 Coffee; Building 3 Coffee; Loyal Coffee, and Switchback Coffee Roaster. For libations, we recommend Trinity Brewing; The Axe and the Oak Whiskey House; The Wild Goose Meeting House; Principal’s Office; and Stir Coffee and Cocktails.

And if you’re looking for some road trips, head to Buena Vista and/or Salida for the day; drive through Rocky Mountain National Park; try to find some moose in Walden; ski in Summit County; or take a hot soak in Steamboat Springs — amongst a billion other things.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Any shoutout in my life has to begin with my wife, Lindsay, who has been a consummate champion for me — picking me up when life kicks me down, sticking with me through the darkest seasons of life, and helping me to turn down the volume in order to do the holy inner work.

She’s exceptionally talented in her own career, and I’ve gained so much by watching her evolve and grow over the years. She continues to model to me how motivation, boldness, belief, resiliency, peace, compassion, and humility live out best in the workplace.

Website: https://www.keyholemarketing.us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keyholemarketing

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/keyhole-marketing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keyholemarketing

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3HVViSdNU_Z7UvfbscAZlg

Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k9dNDOcdpqkzW1b2kpNmg