I grew up in Boston, the oldest of 3 to a single mom. Growing up my mother taught myself and my siblings a solid work ethic and the importance of networking. I have created my own business over the past 3 years with these traits at the forefront of my mission.
I absolutely love connecting people to technology and information that can help them build both their professional and creative development. It took me a long time to find my own space professionally, and through the help and belief in me from others I am where I am today. I want to help others discover their promise through using tools and resources to better their lives. I am thrilled I am able to wake up every day and consult with small businesses like myself by educating through social media and technology.
I am a digital strategist that offers consulting, writing, workshops, and coaching. My areas of expertise are social media marketing, content strategy, community management, and developing a cohesive online strategy.
I started my business in the late summer of 2012 after making the decision that working in the tech industry at tech companies was not my cup of tea and did not compliment my ethics. I felt I could better serve people like myself who owned small businesses, instead of working within an industry that seemed to only elevate the privileged. I started my consulting business because I love learning about technology, social media, and ways of communicating online — I wanted to share what I learned with others who may not be able to access this info as easily.
I also work hard at giving back through free information and resources via my newsletter, free office hours, and sharing content to those around me and online. (My profile pic is of me at a workshop last summer for inner city teens in Boston.) I think my biggest challenge as a small business owner is time, there is always so much to do — as a small business owner you wear many hats. I work tirelessly on being as productive as possible, being realistic about that productivity, then worrying I should be doing more. It’s a constant cycle.
My customers are mainly women who work within creative fields (art, illustration, photography, boutique owners, bloggers, designers, etc), but I also do larger projects with creative companies. My goals for my business within the future is to keep growing, offer more products, and continue to speak at more events. I am most proud of the fact that I help other business owners realize that technology is not something to be feared or overwhelmed by but a tool to help them find their promise in life. That makes me feel really good.
I am going to spend the loan on a new 15 inch Apple laptop and monitor. In total the computer is $2601.00 with 2.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz, Apple Care, and tax; and the monitor is $400+.
I expect this purchase to help me continue to build my consulting business, and offer me a more efficient, newer piece of equipment. My business will be impacted by this loan because it will offer me the opportunity to use a faster, better machine to create the products and educational tools I am working on every day. The loan will impact my life by offering me a sigh of relief that I do not have to put myself in dire straits to replace an old piece of machinery.