We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ryan Palmer. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Ryan, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Everyone’s got their morning routine. Some people journal. Some do yoga. I do a little reading and take a shower. Then I start a pot of coffee, turn on some Black Sabbath, and throw sharp objects at a circle on my wall while the caffeine enters my bloodstream. The goal is one bullseye before I’m allowed to check email. Helps me remember what winning feels like. You try starting your day without a win and see how motivated you feel. First-throw bullseyes mean it’s going to be a killer day — Ryan-tifically proven, don’t fact-check me. The 47-throw mornings? Those build character. Or stubbornness. Probably stubbornness.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ryan Palmer, founder of Palmer Creative Co. We’re a full-service creative agency in Southern Illinois. What sets us apart is how everything we do connects. Our branding and design work is serious top-shelf craftsmanship. We design visual identities and websites that are genuinely stunning. Then we layer in marketing systems that run like machines. Ads, automated follow ups, AI integration, email sequences. Every piece of the puzzle working together to turn attention into revenue. We’re working on some incredible branding and website projects right now where clients get both sides of this. The creative excellence that makes people stop and look, and the marketing infrastructure that converts that attention into growth.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I had bilateral retinoblastoma when I was 18 months old. Eye cancer in both eyes. I survived, kept both eyes, and have perfect vision. Even though I don’t remember it much, that early brush with losing my sight is why I care so much about visuals and creating things that are genuinely beautiful. It shaped how I see the world. Then, just last year, they found a tumor in my jaw. For three months, doctors told me it was certainly cancer again. Thankfully, it wasn’t. But sitting with that for three months while running a business forces you to think about mortality in a way most people avoid. When it turned out benign, I didn’t just feel relieved. I felt like I’d been given clarity. Life is limited. Do what you want. Do it now. Do it beautifully.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
No. Not really. I’ve had rough stretches where I questioned decisions or wondered if I was doing things the hard way, but giving up never crossed my mind. Once I commit to something, I see it through. It’s just how I’m wired.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
That Michael Jackson is still alive. He faked his death and appeared on Larry King as Dave Dave. Go watch that 2009 interview. The mannerisms are identical, the voice is barely disguised, the way he talks about MJ is too knowing. I can’t prove it beyond reasonable doubt, but I’ve seen enough to believe the man staged his own exit and got away with it.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Washing dishes. I’d use paper plates for everything. Cereal? Paper bowl. Steak dinner? Paper plate. Fancy occasion? Fancy paper plate. I’ve got a decade left, I’m not spending it elbow-deep in soapy water pretending I care about water spots on glassware.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://palmercreative.co
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/palmercreativeco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/palmer-creative-co
- Twitter: https://x.com/PalmerCreative_
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/palmercreativeco
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/palmer-creative-co-marion-3
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PalmerCreativeCo
