“People may not remember what you did or what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel,” marketing entrepreneur Mary Verdin explained to The Tribune’s Top 20 Under 40 Award winners Thursday at the Madonna Inn.

She was invited to give the keynote speech for the event, which each year honors San Luis Obispo County leaders younger than 40 who excel in their profession and in their service to the community.

Verdin, owner and founder of a marketing firm of the same name, shared that advice and eight other things she’s learned in the eight years since she started her business, first as the sole employee in a 275-square-foot San Luis Obispo office, and now with 12 employees and several industry awards earned.

Among the other lessons shared: embrace clients, who are the reason for working; treat employees well; keep your word; give back to the community; take risks; take on challenges; keep growing and evolving; and strive for balance.

For Verdin, achieving balance has meant making her work, where not a meeting goes by without mentioning her children in some way, feel like play.

“And maybe sometimes — lots of times — the lines can blur and you can have it all,” she said, telling the Top 20 Under 40 Award winners that she expects much more from them in the years to come.

See photos of the Top 20 Under 40 winners »