How I Gained Control Of My Happiness

Guest Post - Written by Jessica Howell 

A little over a year ago, I found myself having a panic attack in my little apartment. My boyfriend at the time (now fiancé) was trying to calm me down as best he could. Eventually after an hour of tears, deep breaths, and talking it out — we decided that it was in my best interest (for my mental and physical health) that I needed to quite my job.

At that time, I was trying to do it all. I was working full time at a marketing firm as lead community manager. I was in charge of managing all the social media accounts for seven different clients, responsible for creating content for said clients, building two websites, and being the sole point of contact for all of our accounts. My boss was paying me a dollar over minimum wage, yelling at me daily for my mistakes and expecting me to pat my head, rub my stomach, and jump on one foot all at the same time. Each day I left work feeling more miserable then the last. Eventually, I hit my breaking point — que said panic attack.

That night, I took charge of my happiness and decided to switch paths in life. The next day, I put in my two weeks and declared that I would be a social media consultant. Once the initial shock and fear about working for myself began to settle, everything else in life become clearer. I was ready! I could do this!

During my last two weeks at the firm I gained my first two clients for my new social media company. You know that cliché saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? Well, part of that’s true. I just so happened to know social media, and two people I knew at the time needed help with their digital marketing. I got lucky! Really lucky! I just so happened to be at the right place, at the right time. (There’s another cliché for you!)

Since then, my career in social media marketing has blossomed into a booming business. Each new client or new connection, has found me the same way my first ones did — right time, right place. After a few months working the self-employed game, I saw a need in the market that wasn’t being filled. Bloggers, entrepreneurs, and creatives all needed to be on social media to grow their business but most of them couldn’t afford a high-priced marketing firm or even a part-time consultant to help them out.

From this basic need, I developed social studio — a two-day social media workshop that teaches people how to grow their online presence and make authentic connections with their audience. If you’re interested in learning more about social media marketing check out our next workshop, happening in San Diego on January 24-25.

Of the many things that I believe — I feel that working for yourself and becoming a successful entrepreneur is possible! If you want to make your dreams a reality, you must have a sense of purpose, a certain level of perfection, and even a little bit of obsession. If you have all three then you’re set, now all you have to do is choose your own path…