Meet Mark “Aspen” Santana | Marketing Director & Bartender

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Aspen Santana and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark “Aspen”, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My work life balance has become so much healthier since I have started my own business in full force. It’s a strange phenomenon actually, because I’m actually busier than I’ve ever been. There are days where I wake up to my phone, ringing with alerts alarms, and phone calls and meetings to attend, virtually or over the phone. from that point on, it feels like it just doesn’t stop, until the moment comes where it does. Then comes writing up marketing reports, and working on content. At the same time, I feel freer and happier, like I have found the balance in my life that I’ve always craved. that is the difference between just working a job and building a business. It’s a bit of a paradox, but I am really enjoying my new work life balance. And I still have time to enjoy the things that I want to do, catching up with a friend, going out for dinner and watching sports on TV, getting a quick afternoon tan in by the poolside, and checking in on my family. I love where I am at right now, and the direction my life is heading.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Symply Marketing is a small boutique marketing firm that is based out of Miami, FL with an office in New York, NY and in Vail, CO.

We specialize in digital marketing, brand strategization, and the marketing of small businesses from east to west. Being a boutique marketing firm, we aren’t looking to play the numbers game. We have no interest in pumping a bunch of companies and businesses through a pipeline and making money off volume.

What we are interested in is the genuine success of small businesses, which we believe are the backbone to America. We will fight to get small businesses the attention and growth that they deserve. We sit with our clients and ask what it is that their goals are, for both the short and long-term. Then map out the road to success. Their success is our success.

I think that level of care, empathy, passion, and attention that we are able to provide. Our clients is what truly sets us apart. Something that is getting lost in this digital era is the personal touch in business and life. Building that level of trust and connection with our clients is incredibly important to us. We know we can do the job. We also know we will do it exceptionally well. We stand out because we acknowledge the people we are working with before the business.

Getting to this point was not easy. I’ve gone through a lot in the last 11 years that almost feels like it was all in preparation for where I am now and where I’m going. I fell in love with bartending, and it felt incredible to find something that I ended up being really good at. I refined myself to be incredibly knowledgeable as a mixologist, service oriented, weird unyielding patience and empathy, and refine my communication skills. Ultimately, these all contributed towards my new found confidence.

I faced nights where I slept in my car, and times where I was living out of hotels and motels for months at a time. Ultimately, I faced a lot of discouragement and doubt. Thankfully, I’ve had fantastic people in my corner who have always believed in me. They taught me to have faith in myself, and would spark my flame whenever it would go out.

Working events and holding various bar positions across the country ended up helping me build a vast network of friends, contacts, and connections. I learned the soft and hard skills of marketing before I even knew that marketing was ultimately what I wanted to do. Now, here I am, over a decade later, ready to move into the next phase of my life, and as I approach my 30th birthday, I am ready to tackle anything.

The biggest lesson that I’ve learned from all of this is that once you find what you want to do, and you are able to focus on the goals you set for yourself, then there is truly no limit to what you can do. It just takes time, confidence, and dedication.

Something that I want the world to know about my story is that a lot of people have the wrong idea about my life. Going to all the places that I’ve been, and even doing a lot of the things that I’ve done, they haven’t come easy, and something people don’t see are the nights where I’ve had complete breakdowns and days where I didn’t know where my next meal was going to come from while I was off living my nomadic gypsy lifestyle, as my family puts it.

I want people to know that in life, you have to take risks, and we may end up in the pit of the unknown, but I’ve found that most of the times I’ve taken a big chance, things pan out. Fortune truly does favor the bold, so live boldly!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would begin with taking my best friend on a drive to the Killian Cafe on Killian Parkway in Kendall for breakfast. It is my favorite breakfast place in Miami-Dade county. The food is always consistently delicious. The service friendly, snd the environment is warm and inviting. It’s a great way to start to the day.

After that, we would head down to John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo to kayak and walk the trails throughout the park before the sun starts to intensify. Once it does, that means it’s lunch time.

For lunch, it would be a must to go to the Lazy Lobster on Overseas Highway. I’m a sucker for anywhere that has good lobster dishes, but the fried escargot is actually a something that I am surprisingly fond of from the Lazy Lobster. Ever since my first time dining out there and daring to try the dish, I now take anyone I can there and try to share the experience. It’s hard getting people to actually agree, but I promise that it is so good!

After a nice relaxing lunch, we’d head back to the mainland and start getting ready to do some sight seeing of the real Miami. To me, that would be shopping at The Falls, driving up Krome Ave to the Tamiami Trail and heading into Shark Valley, and then turn it around and head into the city.

We’d walk Bayfront Park in Bayside, and of course, a trip to Miami isn’t complete without exploring Brickell. My choice for dinner however wouldn’t actually be in Miami, but in downtown Fort Lauderdale at one of favorite restaurants, at Bandoleros Taqueria, located at 208 SW 2nd St. The service is truly top tier, and the food is beyond anything you’d expect. Everything from the chicken taquitos to the birra style tacos are executed so flavorfully and so well, you’ll want to just want to order everything on their menu. The cocktails are just the cherry on top.

After that, I think we’d be too exhausted for anything more beyond that in a single day (haha).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people on this list that deserve recognition for the role they’ve played in my life, whether it be as a mentor, a supportive friend, a teacher, and then inspiration. I couldn’t possibly name everyone. But for starters, I’ve had so many teachers, who had believed in me at a time that I didn’t believe in myself, and the same goes for friends and a couple of particular people. Who have looked out for a particularly well in times of need. I spent a good amount of time being lost in life so for those people who know who they are, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. Most particularly, I want to acknowledge my grandfather, who just recently passed, Juan Nuñez. I wish he could see the marketing business that I’m building today and the direction that it is heading in. His passing has a profound affect on me. I hope he is looking down on me proudly.

Website: https://instagram.com/symplymarketing

Instagram: https://instagram.com/_markaspen