An Inspired Chat with Amanda Russell

We recently had the chance to connect with Amanda Russell and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
As a mom of 3 super active and involved kids, every day looks a little bit different! After getting my kids off to their respective schools, I have about 6 hours of dedicated work time. This is when I’ll catch up on emails, schedule meetings, or get lost in a client’s project.

The afternoon rush starts at about 3:30, when I have to prepare myself to sit in the elementary school pick-up line! I make the most of my time there by doing my daily Duolingo lesson and then scrolling through Threads.

After school, we’re either running to my daughters’ dance studio, their tumbling gym, or another sports practice for my son. There is *always* something to do!

While they’re in their activities, I’m often working on my laptop to wrap up work that I hadn’t gotten to finish or catch up with my clients via email. If it’s a miracle day where I don’t have any work to do, I love to read or do crossword puzzles on my Kindle.

After that, it’s home for dinner, showers, and a few spare minutes of family time, before we go to bed to do it all over again! Life is incredibly busy right now, but I really wouldn’t have it any other way.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Amanda Russell, the owner of Chaos Coordination, a small copywriting and content strategy firm. Chaos Coordination has been based in Delaware since 2019, but we’ve served clients all across the country. By focusing on captivating landing pages, SEO-enriched website copy, and blogs that please both human readers and algorithmic crawlers, we help our clients build brands from their unique and intriguing stories.

I’ve always been really interested in people’s stories, especially business owners. I want to know how you developed an idea into a full-fledged business and how it can help other people. Never in a million years did I think that my curiosity would turn into a thriving business that helped me be named to the Delaware Business Times’ 40 Inspiring Leaders Under 40 list this year!

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I always believed that everyone had to fit into a certain box. I grew up going to Catholic school from kindergarten to 12th grade, where everyone had a specific role to play. I believed that those rigid guidelines carried into adulthood. I thought that I would always know the next step to take because it would always be laid out for me.

Now, as an adult, I understand that couldn’t be further from the truth. There isn’t always a plan laid out for us. Actually, it’s more likely that there won’t be a plan to follow. We all have to make our own paths, and it’s okay if the plan changes from time to time.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t believe them.

All of the doubters. The people who said you’re “too much” or “not enough.” They’re wrong. There isn’t one set way to be in this world. There’s actually a place for all of us. You will succeed – in business and in life. Eventually, you’ll find the people who love you for who you are. Hold on tight to them, and forget everyone else.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yea. I’ve tried to be mysterious and hold certain parts of my personality back, but who has time for that? What you see is truly what you get. I’m loud, sarcastic, and sometimes out of pocket, but I care a lot and I’ll always help people who need it.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
YES! I always thought that making a lot of money in a corporate law firm was what I wanted. But then I got there. I was a paralegal at a well-known firm with my own office, and let me tell you: I hated every second of it.

Now, I work in sweatpants out of my dining room-turned-office with my two dogs all day and I couldn’t be happier. Sometimes, it’s not about following the path you’ve been told you want, but instead actually creating one that truly aligns with your actual goals. Making that switch from business casual and billion-dollar trusts to Amazon leggings and small business websites was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chaoscoordinationllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaoscoordinationllc;
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-courtney-russell/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaoscoordinationllc
• Other: https://www.threads.com/chaoscoordinationllc

Image Credits
Ashlee Emerson Photography