Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Holley Snaith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Holley , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I am happy to be talking with you today! I don’t think I developed the ability to take risks, instead, it was a decision I made. Attending the University of Florida, a diverse school with people from all walks of life, inspired me to broaden my horizons, because, before that, I preferred to stay in my comfort zone. But college opened my eyes to a whole new world of opportunity and fascinating people. After I graduated, I was no longer afraid to push my boundaries and take chances, regardless of how uncertain the outcome appeared. The first big risk I took was moving to New York to intern at the FDR Library. Interns do not make much money, if they make any at all, and my time there was only intended to last a few months. After that, I had no plans. Throughout the internship, I worked hard to establish myself and made connections, and I ended up staying and working there for two years.
Then, I moved to California for another internship at the Richard Nixon Foundation. Once again, I had no plan, I just took the opportunity. Eventually, that too turned into a full-time job opportunity. Becoming a freelancer was another risk, because I no longer had the job security I had before, and I was working with entrepreneurs in industries I had no prior experience in. Honestly, when I, a historian who had worked at presidential libraries, began working with a real estate investor, I was unsure as to how it would work out. However, I believe that I have more to lose by not taking a risk.
I no longer worry about playing it safe when it comes to my professional trajectory, instead, I focus on playing it smart. I am very mindful of my professional reputation, which I have worked hard to build as a historian, writer, and freelancer, and I know what I am capable of. More importantly, my faith has matured, and I trust God to guide me in my journey and in making the right decisions.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You must do the thing that you think you cannot do.” This inspires me to move forward, armed with faith and confidence, and do it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As a historian, I have been privileged to work in historical restoration, museum exhibit curation, and of course, research and writing. When I first started my career, I focused primarily on political history, extensively researching Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and curating an exhibit on Pat Nixon at the University of Southern California. As a freelancer, I have branched out and written articles on Loretta Lynn, DeFord Bailey, Frank Sinatra, and others. This fall, I have new articles in American Heritage Magazine and The Historians coming out, and I will be on a couple of podcasts discussing my research.
In addition, I am a content writer, an editor, and a researcher. One of my more recent contracts is as a content writer for an AI software company. In just a brief period, I have learned so much about technology and how AI is already impacting different sectors.
There is so much to love about one I do. For one thing, I feel like I am always learning, whether it be about a person, a period in history, an art, or even business. I also share these stories with others through my writing, podcasts, or any other medium. It is incredibly gratifying to know that there are people out there who learn from me and appreciate my work.
I am blessed to be able to continue to pursue my love for history while also being a multifaceted professional who is constantly evolving. Right now, I have the best of both worlds.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The first three qualities that come to mind that have had the most impact on me are integrity, humility, and curiosity. Being a person of integrity is especially important to me, personally and professionally. If I am given a task, it is my responsibility to complete it within a reasonable time. Therefore, when I give my word, I do everything I can to keep it. There are times when I slip, make a mistake, or discover I cannot meet a deadline, but that is where having effective communication skills comes into play.
As for humility, anyone who has ever had any kind of success should understand and adopt a humble attitude. I appreciate compliments, and positive words of affirmation keep me going, but I cannot take all the credit for every good thing I have done. This does not mean that I overlook my talents and worth, instead, I look to humility to remain grounded.
Being a curious person is a wonderful thing. I would not have taken the risks that I discussed earlier had it not been for being curious to learn, explore various places, and meet new people. If I was curious about what was behind a certain door, I opened it to find out. Curiosity has allowed me to flourish, and I have seen it spark new interests in young people as well.
I suggest that anyone who is just starting on their journey first have a solid understanding of what these three qualities mean. I have studied people in history who possessed and practiced these qualities and learned from them. Above all, I have learned by living and implementing them when the proper opportunity arose.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
In the past year, I have appeared on a handful of podcasts, undertaken new contracts, participated in interviews such as this one, presented ideas to publications, and met some intriguing people through my research and work. I have grown more accustomed to promoting myself and my work because I understand it is important to my professional growth. This correlates with what we discussed about taking risks and venturing outside of my comfort zone. All of that would not have happened had I played it safe and kept doing the same routine thing. Growth comes every time I reach out to someone regarding a research idea or interview for a new contract. I know that I cannot sit around and wait for a new opportunity to come to me, I must take the initiative.
Finally, I am more excited about what is to come and the changes that are around the corner. I believe that, although my journey has been a blessed and exciting one so far, the best is yet to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.holleysnaith.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holleysnaith/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holleysnaith/
- Other: https://medium.com/@holleysnaith
Image Credits
All images courtesy of Holley Snaith
