We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Risa Hartsough. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Risa below.

Risa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I’m a freelance and contract organic social media manager, currently working with a company called Rescue Spot that utilizes technology that makes the adoption, foster, and volunteer process easier, but just as thorough. They’re helping rescues and shelters across the country get dogs and cats loving forever homes and off of euthanasia lists.

My work hours are spent searching through hundreds of adoptable dogs and cats on Rescue Spot’s website, finding the ones who more urgently need a home. I build content to highlight them, making it as compelling and informative as possible. It makes me cry every day. It’s gutwrenching. It’s bittersweet.

I used to wake up dreading logging into my work computer, given “urgent” tasks that didn’t help anyone except my rich bosses get richer. But that’s corporate America, right? It was soul-sucking. Now I wake up, care for my own five rescue pets, and move on to work that helps give animals the same second chance my babies got. It feeds my soul instead of starving it.

All this to say, I truly and wholeheartedly hope everyone finds something, whether it’s a job or a hobby, that brings them this much joy and purpose. Oh, and that soul-sucking job you have? It’s not worth it.

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’m Risa, I’m 30 and have about 13 years of creative experience. I had my first internship when I was 16 or 17. I learned about working at a newspaper, how to edit copy, and how to formulate a story. I’ve always loved writing and wanted to dip my toes in early. After that, I worked with the third largest regional magazine in the country and that role helped launch me into my career. I continued working with them throughout college and got my first “big girl job” post-grad. My boss was very “Devil Wears Prada” but I had incredible co-workers who were also mentors – they’re now some of my very best friends. I left there still loving all things writing, creative, and luxury lifestyle, but felt I had to move on. I freelanced and did copywriting, social media, blog writing, email marketing – you name it, I tried it and I liked it all. During this time I was volunteering at a local arts non-profit. Their marketing director approached me one day and said, “I’m going on maternity leave soon. Want to fill in for me?” Of course I said, HECK YEAH! I had been itching for more meaningful work, which is why I was freelancing in different industries and volunteering. Well, she never came back from her maternity leave and I stayed on full-time. It was during that time that I fell in love with social media and wanted that to become my niche. I was born and raised NY and didn’t think I’d leave, but I applied to jobs all over the country and landed in Tampa, Florida. I worked corporate and it was soul-sucking. I experienced sexual harassment, greedy and anti-LGBTQ+ red tape and policy, and bullying from a girl who called my tattoos trashy. After years of trying to enact change at a hopeless company, I moved on to a smaller company. After a little over a year of similar experiences – sexist comments about women and the expectation to work during a family emergency, I said FUCK THIS. I started freelancing and taking contracts and it was the best decision I ever made. I won’t lie and say it’s for everyone. I’m very fortunate to have benefits through my husband’s job which allows me to do this work and not need a full-time company with good benefits. But I tripled my salary from when I was working corporate. I finally fulfilled my dream of working with good, kind people doing good things. I have the free time to take on other fun creative passions, like Rack 1 Vintage, my small business selling vintage clothing an accessories. Doing that has allowed me to connect with other creatives, like my friend Renee Foster who was also featured here. She’s a rad local business owner here in Saint Pete. She’s my friend, my hairstylist, she cares about her community and her family, her dogs – she took a chance on my business and has be set up a rack of vintage in her salon for her customers to shop. Who does that?! GOOD PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT OTHERS. I’m so fulfilled and grateful for my career journey.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

You need to be the first one in the office and the last one out. You need to marry rich. You need to work full-time.

Those are just a few things I had to unlearn. The richest and happiest people I know are not the ones who do all of the above. They have boundaries. They make choices based on their heart and soul and love. They work smarter, not harder. It took me till my late twenties to learn this. I was burnt out because I put in extra hours, didn’t have boundaries, and worked non-stop. And for what? I make shit money, miss out on spending time with my loved ones, and be cranky and tired all the time? Life is too short. Fuck that. I work for me, I answer to me. I do what brings me joy. I create quality, results-driven work for my clients. And if I finish by 1 pm, I can close my laptop and enjoy the sunshine. THAT is the rich life.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

How to foster loyalty is simple. Be yourself, be genuine, but get your shit done. If you build trust with your client, do what you say you’re going to do, build quality work, you’re golden.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @risahart (personal) @getsocialwithrisa (business) @rack1vintage (vintage business)
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/getsocialwithrisa/

Image Credits
Photo with my dog bb – @reaganaleea