This is a bi-weekly series where I share stories from others who are redesigning careers that align to their values, interests, and lifestyle. Want to be featured? Reply to this email and let me know!

I met Marika through a community my business coach used to run. 

After connecting on LinkedIn, I started following her content. She’d record herself yapping to the camera with her microphone in hand, and I loved how authentic she was. It was like I already knew her! 

Since then, we’ve exchanged LinkedIn DMs exchanging stories about the challenges with entrepreneurship and supporting each others’ businesses. 

We talk about the scariest parts of solopreneurship, why it pays off to be weirder on LinkedIn, and how being pulled in a million directions actually can be fun.

It started when my 18-year-old self decided to go to war with our local zoning administration and turned our backyard into an “intimate outdoor wedding venue.” I made the website, built up our social media, and got us featured in some articles. 

My first “real job” out of college was at an independent coworking space called The Haven, the only job I’ve ever enjoyed. My role was to make sure everyone had fun, but the entrepreneurial itch came back.

Through that community, I was able to walk away from my full-time job with a full roster of social media clients and eventually pivoted to LinkedIn. Now, I’ve built my brand around thought leadership for women, rather than churning out trending content.

I’m currently doing a massive wobble. I love working with solopreneurs, but I also hate being constrained by a tight budget. Those two things often go hand in hand, unfortunately. So I’ve been branching out a bit—still doing LinkedIn work with solopreneurs but also taking on more local social media clients with a wider scope.

Now I’m experimenting with different types of businesses, like clinics and med spas. It’s all an experiment, really. 

In my teenage wedding venue director days, entrepreneurship didn’t feel scary because I wasn’t sacrificing anything. When I actually had a full-time job and let go of that income to pursue entrepreneurship again, it felt much scarier. I had rent to pay. 

The fear presented itself through workaholism. I felt like I needed to secure a million clients at once and be perfect for each of them at all times, or else I was a failure who would go broke. 

I had to go home for the summer, and let go of pretty much all of my clients just to close that chapter. It was necessary for my growth, and I rebuilt in the fall, but part of me definitely wishes that it never had to get to that point. 

I believe it’s the most effective way for business owners to market. It’s where the actual deals and collaborations go down. It’s a great way for people who weren’t born rich and well-connected to become rich and well-connected. I’m not rich yet, at least not monetarily, but there is so much that I love about it. 

For most of my life, I felt like I had to tuck away my ambitions and nerdiness. On LinkedIn, those things are celebrated. That feels good. 

I actually love feeling pulled in a hundred directions. That’s my preferred state of being. 

This is why traditional types of employment never worked for me. I get bored very easily. I recently wrote down all of the projects I’ve got going on, and it was 21. 

I genuinely feel my best when I allow myself to pursue 21 creative outlets at once, without pressure to do any of them well. I love floundering around and making a fool of myself. It’s not for everyone, but that’s when I reach flow state. 

It’s a philosophical argument I have with myself daily. What to share, what not to share? A healthy dose of authenticity includes boundaries. 

On LinkedIn, I think of authentic visibility as showing up exactly as you are and saying what you want to say. 

Recently, someone told me he was forcing himself to post after a layoff because he hates posturing and “saucing himself up.” And I thought, “Hold on sir! It’s good to get out of your comfort zone, but there are enough men in suits who are ‘thrilled to announce’... I want to see you livestream yourself crying on the kitchen floor.” 

Just kidding, but in response to sterile corporate culture, vulnerability can get taken too far. We’ve got to find a middle ground.

I never thought my humor would be welcome in the workplace, but it’s the opposite. I think people like working with me because I make them laugh.

At the end of the day, we all want to have a good time. 

I’ve always volunteered for causes I’m passionate about, and it’s led to some of my best networking opportunities and paying clients. 

There’s a huge overlap between my volunteer work and my business. I’ve found a lot of my soul people through nonprofit work. I am way more likely to hire someone who I’ve volunteered with. It’s an environment where you wear your heart on your sleeve. It’s a good way to get to know someone fast and see what they really value. 

I never know. This isn’t necessarily business-related, but I’ve been spending a lot of time on the arts recently. I’m hosting an open mic series this summer that’s going to blend aspects of comedy, poetry, and good old-fashioned storytelling.

It would be fun to incorporate even more of those artistic, experimental pieces into my daily work. 

LinkedIn (could you guess?) for sure.

I also recommend people check out my 10-post visibility challenge (it’s free!)