“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over.” | F. Scott Fitzgerald
CANVAS REBEL Stories & Insights: The Story Behind Your Mission
We were lucky to catch up with Erica Adams recently and have shared our conversation below.
Erica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My mission for starting Mountain Girl Creative stemmed from wanting to express my creativity on my own terms and have my work revolve around my life, not the other way around. I always had a passion for photography, writing, and all things creative, but for many years, I was behind the scenes and using my idea’s to grow other’s small businesses. I was exhausted from working in the demanding corporate world and realized I needed to prioritize my daughter and myself. It’s so gratifying to see my dream come to life, have my voice heard, and have my work appreciated. Most importantly, I have more time for my daughter, can focus on what’s truly important, and am proof that with commitment, drive, and dedication, it’s never too late to go after what you want. I am inspired by other women entrepreneurs working on their own terms, and I enjoy supporting small business owners in growing their businesses with purpose.
Erica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I loved art from a very young age and always found writing and photography as outlets of expression and a way to navigate my life. After taking photography classes and attending art school for graphic design, I found my calling in marketing. Helping small businesses grow their brands, capture their missions, and connect with their audience really fueled me. When I started writing copy for press releases, social media, and other marketing materials, I realized I had a talent for writing. My blog and social media gave me the freedom to express myself and share my voice in a way that seemed to resonate with others. Agencies, media companies, and small businesses connected with my work and began hiring me to produce articles, blogs, website copy, create content, and help grow their online presence.
Mountain Girl Creative is unique in that marketing is not one size fits all, and people crave a personal connection to a brand. Every business needs to understand what their client is craving and share what makes them special. Copy, social media, and content aren’t just about keywords, SEO, or getting found on Google. It’s about simplicity and understanding the big picture. I truly care about my clients and am dedicated to ensuring their message is custom-tailored to their needs. Because of my experience in marketing in various industries, I know how to simplify the message and uncomplicate content. Nothing makes me happier than helping business owners capture their brand in a way that not only grows their business, but that is uniquely personal to them. Everyone knows entrepreneurs pour themselves into their small businesses, so it fills me up knowing I’m helping someone else grow their lifelong dream.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
As a recovering perfectionist, I had to get over my fear of failure. Since I’m a self-taught writer, I had to come to terms with learning from mistakes, taking criticism, researching, and being willing to ask for clarification. I also realized that growth might be slow or there might be setbacks, but it’s essential to give yourself time to understand a new industry or evolve with where the demand is. Sometimes it’s tempting to want to be an expert in every field, but it’s ok to niche down, to pass on projects that aren’t a good fit, or to understand when it’s better to refer clients to other experts in an industry. I also think it’s essential to learn boundaries and know your worth. With many of us working from home, juggling family and workloads at an all-time high, you must know when to say no, schedule time for self-care, and make time for what fills you up to burn out.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
My most significant transitions have been learning new techniques and technology and evolving my skills into what’s in demand. For years I loved film, and developing my own photographs, but digital was a transition that needed to happen. Print magazines were always my favorite to write for, but again the market shifted, so thus, it took adjustments to more online content. Blogs have also transitioned into more podcasts, so I’ve worked at learning the industry. Website copy became in high demand, so I had to pivot into where agencies needed assistance. Social media’s shift to more video content has also pushed me to learn new platforms, which I really enjoy. As long as new technology allows me to continue sharing my creativity, exploring and learning are exciting. All creatives must be brave when trying new technology and embracing unique aspects of the marketing universe. It moves quickly and takes out-of-the-box thinking to make it work.
Original feature from CanvasRebel: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-erica-adams/
Mountain Girl Creative 