We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rebecca Otis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Rebecca, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Taking risks is probably the thing that has taught me the most about myself and helped me to build my confidence.
The first risk that comes to mind is when I quit my corporate job in the middle of the pandemic. I was absolutely terrified I was making a huge mistake, but that job no longer made me happy. At that point, I had a hard time seeing the value in my work and in myself, but luckily I had a great group of people supporting me along the way. After some time sorting through how I was feeling, I got the idea to start my business managing social media for small businesses in Madison, WI. Within a year of starting Essence Social Media I was able to support myself, which was a huge thing for me. It made me realize how capable, determined and talented I am. Even more so, it made me realize that no one knows what they’re doing at the beginning, but they do it anyway. Overtime you hone your skills and master whatever it is that you do, but no one starts a business without a whole lot work, self-doubt and anxiety.
The next risk happened in my second year in business. I dropped my highest paying client. The relationship with them started off good, but I became very aware that their values and priorities as a company were not aligned with mine. I thought about it for a long time, because this was a huge portion of my income. When I finally made the decision, I knew I had to find new clients fast. I reached out to my network, and I just have to say I have the best clients and mentors. They’re the most incredible people, and they came through for me when I needed them. I rebounded from losing that one client within a couple months. This risk was where I learned to trust my gut feelings and set firm boundaries. Plus, it was a good reminder to me that there is an entire group of people ready to back me up.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I started my company Essence Social Media back in 2022. The biggest thing I wanted to do with it was help small business owners.
I grew up in Burlington, WI, which is a town of about 10,000 people. Small businesses were the majority of the businesses in town. There were a few chains, but for the most part every place you went was one of one and had been around for years, if not decades. Fast forward to me living in Madison in 2022, where small businesses were struggling to hang on due to the pandemic. Something about it all struck something in me, and I had a feeling I could do something about it. Social media isn’t a magic bullet for financial problems, but when used in a strategic way it can absolutely help to get some new people through the doors. So, I went to work. One by one, I showed business owners the impact social media can have in the perception of their business and in their bottom line.
The thing I find most exciting about my work is getting to collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs. I learn so much from my clients, and I hope they learn something from me too (even if it’s just that creating Instagram Reels really isn’t that hard haha). I also very much enjoy the photography and videography portion of my job. Even when I was little, I loved taking pictures. My family gifted me my first DSLR camera when I was a teenager, and it’s still the camera I use for my work now. I may upgrade one day, but my Nikon D3400 will always be special to me.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Just start. It’s not going to be perfect or how you picture in your head. It’s going to take a lot of late nights and determination, but it will be worth it.
2. Trust yourself sooner. If you believe in it with your whole heart, others will too.
3. Lead with authenticity and kindness. Don’t try to be someone you aren’t, and provide offers you truly believe in.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Right now, the biggest challenge I’m facing is scaling. I currently work with a part-time contractor, who helps me with scheduling out content for some of my clients. Even with his help, I am at a point where I can’t take on more work. It’s a great problem to have, and I’m very happy and grateful.
A couple years ago I probably would’ve thrown up a hiring notice immediately, but now I think it’s important to take time to think through bigger decisions. Plus, I need to answer a few things about the future. What role do I want to play in my business? What am I okay with delegating to someone else? The answer will come one way or another, but there’s no reason to rush.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.essencesocialmediamgmt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essence_socialmedia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essencesocialmediamanagement
Image Credits
Image Credit to Rebecca Otis and Essence Social Media.
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