We were lucky to catch up with Molly Amber recently and have shared our conversation below.
Molly, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
From a young age, I’ve enjoyed sharing my experiences with others via photography and storytelling. My parents got me a digital camera when I was ~10 years old and I immediately became obsessed with capturing anything that spoke to me. I knew early on that writing and storytelling would be a big part of my journey, but it’s taken me some time to discover my true purpose in life.
Due to both family and societal pressure, I decided to go to law school and become an attorney. I believed that my extroverted nature along with my writing skills would be the perfect fit for a legal career path. Though I really did enjoy law school and all of the experiences that came along with it, I’ve come to realize over the past seven years that I prefer learning about law to actually practicing it. When everything shut down in 2020 due to the pandemic and I was suddenly working from home–and suddenly didn’t have the social aspect of seeing my coworkers and friends every day–I realized that I needed to fill my time with something that brought me joy. That’s when I started writing for fun again.
I was sorely missing travel and going out to restaurants, so I started to backlog my food and travel experiences. I wanted a way to keep track of my trips and share my experiences with friends and family, so I started a travel blog and a food and travel Instagram. Through both of these things, I started to meet more and more people online who shared the same passions as me. This online networking is what led me to so many incredible opportunities to write about travel, food, and lifestyle for local publications (primarily Seattleite, Fabulous Washington, and SIP Magazine).
Through my involvement with these publications, I’ve had the chance to do things I’ve always dreamt of doing. I’ve been on more than 20 press trips around the country (including one in Hawaii and two outside of the country!), where transport, lodging, dining, and activities are often completely comped. I’ve visited countless restaurants and wineries, I’ve attended so many awesome events, and I’ve met and worked with so many amazing people. The best part about it is that I get to share all of these experiences with my readers and followers through photos and storytelling.
Earlier this summer, I finally worked up the courage to leave the legal field (at least temporarily!). I quit my job of almost seven years to pursue my writing and content creation career full time. In the end, I found my purpose by following my passions and connecting with others in the industry who share those same passions. This is the end of an era for me but the beginning of a beautiful new one. I want to continue traveling the world and experiencing everything good that life has to offer, and I want to put these experiences into words and photos to inspire others to do the same. That’s my dream, and my purpose.
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’m a lawyer turned travel writer! I am extremely passionate about traveling and experiencing new places, cultures, foods, etc. I love being able to explore the world, whether it’s another country or a local destination, and I love being able to share my travel experiences with others in hopes to educate and inspire. There is so much power in storytelling, and I think it’s so special to be able to do that while also doing something that I love.
In addition to writing, I have also started doing more content creation! I’ve already gotten to partner with some amazing brands, and I’m so excited to continue to grow my platform. My biggest goal and dream is to work for myself, from anywhere in the world, so I hope to continue working with tourism boards, hotels, restaurants, airlines, you name it!
Quitting my full time job earlier this summer has allowed me more time and energy to focus on my passions of writing and content creation, and I am so happy that I took that leap.
There are lots of exciting things coming–feel free to follow along my adventures at @mollywanderstheworld!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think the first and most important skill that has been impactful in my journey is the ability to tell a powerful story. This is so important as a writer and photographer. After that, I would say that my curiosity, openness, and empathy have been extremely impactful in my journey. These qualities have shaped me into the person that I am today, and are what have brought me some of the coolest travel writing opportunities.
For folks early in their journey, my advice would be to just go for it. Don’t wait until you feel “ready,” just do it. The truth is that we are never fully ready for anything, and I find that it’s easier to keep going after you face that initial fear.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes! I am always looking for new folks to collaborate with. I am constantly seeking inspiration for new stories. Whether it’s a new restaurant, chef, or hotel to spotlight, or a must-visit city that people need to hear more about… I am always on the lookout for the next exciting thing to explore and share with the world. Send me your pitches!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://muckrack.com/molly-amber
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollywanderstheworld
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollyamber
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
