Meet Sharayah Colter | Founder & Principal, Colter & Co.

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

Hi Sharayah, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Integrity is the most important value to me because it is such an umbrella value. With a foundation of integrity, you can build upward with both strength and beauty, but without that foundation, all efforts will fail and ultimately will have been in vain. Integrity requires honesty, diligence, excellence, and an inner character committed to doing things the right way whether or not anyone is watching. Integrity is a value that makes the longterm difference and that separates good ideas from great success.

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?
Colter & Co. is a full-service communication firm serving clients throughout the United States and internationally. One of our chief aims is to pursue excellence in every project our team undertakes. As a Christian, I take seriously Scripture’s admonition to “work heartily, as unto the Lord and not to men.” Working diligently and giving each project and client our best effort is non-negotiable, and I do believe that commitment sets us apart from some firms. In current culture, the “good enough” philosophy is lamentably common. How much can you do to just squeak by? But at Colter & Co., our aim is to work on every project as if it were our own. That means more rounds of revisions and caring about every punctuation mark. It means measuring down to 1/32 of an inch. It means more layers of strategy, more thorough contingency plans, more late nights, and more double checking. There are plenty of groups who will get something done “fastest,” “cheapest,” or “easiest.” We will get it done with excellence.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Having lived in DFW for 15+ years before relocating to Tennessee, the draw to return to one of the fastest growing metro areas in the nation was strong and ultimately did reel us back in to Dallas. We love the plethora of Tex-Mex patios in DFW, the intertwining of urban and rural areas, and of course, the people. We look forward to welcoming friends for a Christmas visit soon and plan to show them the best of the metroplex — fajitas at Joe T. Garcias, a stroll through Legacy West, dinner and carriage rides in Highland Park Village, ice skating in the Galleria, and a few nights in the Adolphus.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without the support and encouragement of my husband, Scott, Colter & Co. would not be what it is today — a thriving firm with more than 100 clients and many opportunities on the horizon. I am immensely grateful for the sounding board and confidant I have in Scott. As a young student studying journalism in college, I recall my professors and advisors frequently reminding us that everyone needs an editor. No writer is so good that their work product cannot be improved by a second set of eyes checking for errors, looking for ways to be more succinct, and noting areas that could be improved from good to great. Life and business are just the same. Everyone benefits from someone who will help consider pros and cons, who will challenge mediocre ideas, and who will counter faulty thinking with reason and boost confidence when it lags. Even while juggling work, family, and navigating a demanding doctorate degree program, Scott never failed to encourage me to take appropriate risks or to bolster my dedication to continuing what I had begun. It is such a joy that we now have the blessing of sharing much of the load of managing Colter & Co. together. Some people say they couldn’t work with their spouse, but from my perspective, there is no situation I can imagine enjoying more than sharing not just my evenings and weekends with my best friend and most trusted advisor, but a large part of the workweek as well. With communication, mutual respect, and genuinely shared values and interests, working together has proven to be a fantastic route for us in both business and personal life.

Website: colterco.com

Instagram: @sharayahcolter

Twitter: @sharayahcolter

Image Credits
Ronnie Mosley