Melissa Brown
Copper Sky Social Media
Tolleson, AZ USA
"Get help. Get support. If you just stay in yourself, you can’t see things—you can’t see the forest for the trees."
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Melissa's work combines: Entrepreneurship, Business, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I'll occasionally get hit with the thought that I should get a 'normal' job and work for someone else, especially when things with my business were so uncertain during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that thought is always fleeting. After getting a taste of working for myself, I don't think I could ever go back to being managed by someone else. I know this is what I'm meant to be doing.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
Glendale Community College
Bachelor's Degree
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
Arizona State University
Certification
Social Media Marketing
Rio Salado College
Certification
Social Media Marketing
Chandler/Gilbert Community College
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
It had always been expected of me to go to college but I couldn’t afford to go to a university right away, so I took community college classes until I was able to transfer to Arizona State University.
2.
After graduating, I worked as a development coordinator for Phoenix Art Museum, a sales associate for Kate Spade, and then an account representative for a vitamin manufacturer.
3.
While working for the vitamin manufacturer, I felt bored and unfulfilled, so I took on the opportunity to manage social media for a friend’s small business for fun.
4.
Six months later, I realized that social media was actually something I could do as a side hustle for other businesses.
5.
I set up my social media business and began networking—I eventually found myself managing social media for a handful of clients while still working full-time for the vitamin manufacturing company.
6.
While working, I took social media marketing classes to bolster my skills and make sure I was giving my best to my clients.
7.
When the company I worked for was bought out, I was laid off and given a severance package, which I used as start-up money to progress my social media marketing work to a full-time career.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Maybe I should go back to working a 'normal' job.
How I responded:
I'll occasionally get hit with the thought that I should get a 'normal' job and work for someone else, especially when things with my business were so uncertain during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that thought is always fleeting. After getting a taste of working for myself, I don't think I could ever go back to being managed by someone else. I know this is what I'm meant to be doing.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, 75% of my clients cancelled overnight. It was stressful and scary because the world was in turmoil and my business was up in the air. I just had to trust in the process, wait it out, and keep myself grounded.
When I struggled with imposter syndrome, I sought help from a coach that helps businesswomen struggling with imposter syndrome. I corrected my negative internal dialogue and now have the tools to help myself if I ever deal with these struggles again.