Story & Lesson Highlights with Amanda Kacperowski of Tampa, Florida

Amanda Kacperowski shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
When I’m building websites, I enter a time warp. One minute it’s 2 p.m., the next thing I know it’s midnight and I’m still adjusting a button by two pixels. I’m a total perfectionist, happily refreshing the site 20 times before sending it to a client, because somewhere between font choices and color gradients, I lose track of time and find my happy place.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Amanda Kacperowski, owner of 24 East Creative Agency. We offer full-scope marketing services for brands at every stage of their journey, from ambitious startups to established businesses looking to build brand awareness or get that extra boost they need.

I’ve been in marketing for over 10 years, but I started 24 East when I was just 24 with nothing but a dream, a big creative streak, and a stubborn streak that refuses to hear the word “no.” In the middle of the pandemic, I decided to go for it with no backup plan and no option to fail.

Fast forward to today, we just celebrated 5 years in business. We’re still growing, still creating, and still obsessed with helping our clients tell their stories in a way that gets them noticed.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was shy, a bit of a yes-person, and always trying to be the overachiever. I didn’t handle constructive criticism well and used to feel proud when I was given more work instead of a raise.

Fast forward to now, I’ve definitely grown out of my shell. While I still love making our clients happy, I’ve found space to really show my creativity and collaborate with them, rather than just being told what to do.

Now, constructive criticism is something I actively seek because I know it’s how I improve and grow. Shyness is no longer an option for me, and I’m really proud of how far I’ve come. If you met me in high school, you probably wouldn’t have known much about me because I didn’t talk much unless you were a close friend haha!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
At the start of my career, I was busy and grateful to be busy, but it quickly became almost too much all at once. It felt like every client needed everything at the same time, and I developed extreme anxiety. I was working 80-plus hours a week and kept hearing, “That’s just what happens when you own your own business.” Meanwhile, I’d see my friends finishing their 9-to-5 jobs right on the dot and enjoying relaxed evenings, while I still had a long to-do list hanging over me.

Taking vacations was tough because it was just me. If I stepped away, who would handle the work? I’d travel but always had my laptop with me, and eventually, my friends and family got annoyed because I couldn’t fully disconnect. I never really felt like I had a vacation, which eventually led to burnout.

It’s only in the last year or two that I’ve started setting clear boundaries for myself and my clients. No more answering emails at 10 p.m. on a weekday or weekends. No more being a yes-person. I feel like I’m finally finding myself again and learning what real work-life balance looks like.

There was definitely a time I almost gave up and thought about going back to corporate just to get my time back, but I realized that’s not the answer. It’s all about balance, health, and putting yourself first.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
In marketing, I’m always telling my clients that when it comes to social media followers, quality beats quantity every time.

I’ve heard so many times, “We need a ton of followers to be taken seriously” or “You gotta hit a certain number to get clients or be legit.” But honestly, that’s just not how it works. Not every follower is actually your target audience, and having a big follower count doesn’t mean people are really paying attention or buying what you’re selling.

Sometimes having a smaller group of engaged followers who actually care about what you do is way better than a huge number of people who just scroll past your posts. The same goes for influencers—a micro-influencer with a tight-knit, active audience can be way more effective than one with millions of followers who barely engage.

At the end of the day, it’s all about real connections and trust, not just the numbers on your profile.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing? 
What I’ll regret not doing is learning to work on my business, not just in it. I’ve realized that to truly scale and grow, I need to shift my focus from handling every little detail myself to stepping back, prioritizing big-picture strategy, and preparing to build a strong team around me. It’s a work in progress, but it’s something I know I can’t put off.

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