Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Olivia Grant. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Olivia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I have learned very quickly that success is subjective. Growing up, I always had this grandiose idea of success: lots of money, famous, living in a big city, etc. Through growing my business, I’ve realize that success can be different for everyone. Success to me means having a flexible schedule, the ability to work and travel, having clients I love and call friends, and having the ability to pivot and try new things. So with that in mind, how success is achieved really depends on the person and how they define it. For me, achieving my success meant working hard but also taking care of myself and having balance. Grinding, overworking myself, and burning out actually took me farther away from the success I craved than balance did. I strongly believe that in order to show up as the best version of myself in my business, I need to take time for self care and self development. When I shifted my mindset away from the hustle and grind to a more balanced and intentional approach, that’s when the magic happened in business AND personal life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have my own production company called Olivia Grant Creative. I specialize in video production and social media content creation. Right before the pandemic, I was in a job that just wasn’t right for me. I could feel it, my bosses could feel it, and we parted ways. Then, pretty much immediately after leaving that job, the pandemic hit.

I knew immediately that I wanted to start my own business and discovered there was a huge need from local organizations for high quality media to keep themselves afloat during the pandemic. My first job was recording a social distanced graduation and editing the clips together for the seniors to watch on an outdoor big screen. From there, my business took off. My only form of advertising in the last 3 years has been word of mouth and the quality of my work that I post on social media (@oliviakgrant on Instagram).

I have shot and edited videos for brands like L.L. Bean, Mcdonald’s, and Walmart. Some of these projects
were brand collaborations for an influencer that have gotten up to 3 million views. I have brought
high-quality content to New York farms, hospitals, skincare brands, boutiques, jewelry companies,
storefronts, nonprofits, and more. Video storytelling is a powerful medium that can be game-changing for
businesses. I have seen it firsthand with the work done for my local clients.

My mission has always stayed the same: use the power of media to tell important stories. Whether that be the story of a brand, a business, a non-profit, a couple, an influencer, the list goes on. My video storytelling skills are what set me apart.

I am proud of my ability to make my clients feel great. When we are shooting, I want them to feel like rockstars. I want them to know their story is important and that their doing a great job. If you can have a positive and fun relationship with clients, the work ALWAYS turns out better.

My next move in my business is to grow my social media channels and personal brand to eventually become the main part of my business!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Running a business as a creative person can be tough. I really don’t love the administrative business side of things: billing, invoicing, contracts, etc, but it’s all necessary. The best investment I ever made in my business (more than any gear) was hiring an accountant. They helped me decide which business structure was right for me which was huge. I have an S- Corporation because of their advice. They also make sure I am all set up for tax season and take so much worry off my plate. Because of them, I can focus more on the creative side of my business! I highly recommend you talk to an accountant as soon as you can in the process of starting a business.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Take a risk and just ASK! I landed my first huge national brand because I put myself out there and asked. I knew the chances were so slim, but what was the harm in asking? I offered to get footage of an event the company was having near me and just asked that if they used it, they’d tag me (this was early in my business so I wanted the exposure). They said yes! Well I ended up sending them the footage and they loved it so much that they wanted to purchase the files. You just never know, Have faith in your work and figure it out as you go.

Contact Info:

• Website: oliviagrantcreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviakgrant/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviagrantcreative/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@oliviagrantcreative?si=TFRs8wscyYh87BOS

Image Credits
Megan Putney Photography Kara Dry Photography Olivia Grant Creative