Meet Sean Misa

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sean Misa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sean, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome can be challenging and confusing. Most of the time, I feel like I have it under control, knowing I’ve earned my place and worked hard to be where I am—a position where clients value and respect what I offer. But occasionally, when I’m working alongside professionals I look up to or get an unexpected big client early in my career, the feeling resurfaces. In those moments, I start doubting myself, thinking, “Why did they choose me? What if I can’t meet their expectations?”

When these thoughts arise, I take a step back and remind myself why they chose me in the first place—they saw my portfolio, appreciated my skills, and loved my work. To ensure I meet their expectations, I rely on systems and processes that keep us aligned. For instance, I create moodboards to make sure we share the same vision for style, props, and overall direction. Then, I develop a detailed shot list, complete with rough sketches of each image idea, which gets approved by the client to avoid any surprises.

For larger photoshoots, I also prepare a production day schedule with 15-minute time slots to ensure we stay on track. These steps help the shoot run smoothly, make the best use of our time, and ensure we hit every shot. By having these processes in place, I can confidently say I’ve done everything possible to ensure the success of the shoot and deliver great results.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am the founder of MisaHungry Media, which specializes in serving the food and beverage consumer packaged goods (CPG) market. We work with brands to elevate their image by crafting high-quality visuals that resonate with their target audience. Our goal is to increase brand awareness and ensure that your customers see your brand in the best possible light, through professional photography and tailored content that tells your unique story.

By focusing on what makes their products stand out, we create imagery that captures attention and conveys the essence of their brand. Whether they’re launching a new product or refreshing your brand’s identity, our approach is designed to help their business connect with consumers on a deeper level. You can learn more about our services and view our portfolio at misahungry.com.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three most valuable qualities and skills that helped me on my journey are:

1. Sales Experience: Working as a salesperson taught me how to effectively sell products and services. I also learned not to take rejection or discouraging responses personally, which helped me build resilience.
2. Organizational Skills: My time as an insurance agent taught me how to stay organized and create systems that are easy to navigate, which is crucial for running a business efficiently.
3. Graphic Design: Learning graphic design gave me the ability to create professional imagery using tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, which has been essential for building strong visual content.

For those early in their journey, my advice is to focus on continuous learning. Learn from blogs, people, experiences, and seek out mentorships. Mentorships, in particular, have been invaluable in helping me grow my business, sharpen my skills, and deepen my knowledge.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

My goal for my business is to expand by gaining more clients and eventually building a creative team. I envision a group of people with whom I can collaborate, share ideas, and delegate certain aspects of the business. Essentially, I want to grow MisaHungry Media into an agency-style operation, with specialists in various areas of the food and beverage sector. This would allow us to offer more comprehensive services while ensuring that each area is handled by professionals with deep expertise.

The main challenge in achieving this goal is finding the right clients, especially those who can help drive the business forward. Securing clients on retainer would provide a stable, reliable income, which is key to scaling up. To reach this goal, I’m focusing on several strategies that work together. I’m experimenting with new SEO techniques to drive more traffic to my website, staying consistent with social media content, and cold emailing potential clients. Rather than viewing each “no” as a setback, I’m reframing it as progress, aiming to collect 100 “no’s” as a way of tracking my efforts toward securing more clients.

By pursuing these strategies, I see each small achievement as a step closer to my larger goal of building a successful, full-service agency.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://misahungry.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/misa.hungry
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanmisa/