We recently connected with Alan And Ruben Hernandez- Villon and have shared our conversation below.
Alan and Ruben, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Yes, we’ve been fortunate to earn a full-time living from our creative work. Our journey began in Alan’s small bedroom with just a ring light and an iPhone. Initially, it wasn’t easy; we had to build our audience from scratch, which required relentless dedication and creativity. Our first major milestone was hitting 10,000 followers, which gave us the confidence to explore monetization options.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7lM-Yzunme/?img_index=1
One significant step was collaborating with brands, which started with small partnerships and grew as our audience expanded. Our collaborations with Fabletics, Athena Razors, and other brands were turning points that allowed us to turn our passion into a profession.
Alan and Ruben, 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?
We’re Alan and Ruben, and we’ve built our social media brands “alantimoteov” and “rubenhndzv” around our lives, comedy, and various interests like cooking, travel, and fashion. We create a mix of lifestyle content, including engaging comedy skits, travel vlogs, food, and discussions about mental health and relationships.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C-q5cNsvYW2/
What sets us apart is our authentic connection with our audience. We share not just the highlights but also the struggles, creating a genuine bond with our followers. Our content is relatable and often includes behind-the-scenes glimpses into our lives, which fosters a strong community.
We’re most proud of our ability to stay true to ourselves and our audience through the ups and downs of social media. We want our followers to know that we’re here to provide laughter, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. Our goal is to make a positive impact and remain authentic throughout our journey.
@alantimoteov cooking Green Chicken Enchiladas
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
We had never prioritize our mental health until we were forced to. Back in 2021, we experienced a severe mental breakdown from burnout, trying to keep up with the fast-paced demands of social media while also figuring out who we were. It felt like we were passengers in our own lives, living in a way that others thought we should.
After getting the help we needed and focusing on our mental health, we became advocates for understanding that it’s okay to ask for help and that nobody can be “on” 24/7. We continue to have what some might call “uncomfortable conversations” to help others. We take each day as it comes and try not to stress about things we can’t control.
Whenever we feel burnout, we allow ourselves to take a step back, engage in activities that bring us joy—like date nights, spending time with family, or laughing with friends—and return to creating when we feel less stressed.
Our advice to others is not to be too hard on themselves and to take it one day at a time. Social media should be fun, so make it just that!
https://www.instagram.com/p/C8dNVM_v6i-/?img_index=8
We make sure to give ourselves time to recharge. Even though social media is our job, it isn’t our entire life. This was something we had to learn the hard way. Being chronically online made us feel like we had to keep up with trends, stay relevant, and respond to every comment, which led to burnout and a loss of passion for creating.
Now, we’ve learned to “clock out” and set our phones aside to focus on other aspects of life. We’ve found that doing three things daily—one related to our career, one that enhances our physical and mental well-being, and one that brings us joy, whether it’s with our spouse, friends, or family—helps us stay balanced and sane.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Our goal is to balance creating content that is primarily comedy with addressing real-life topics. We feel incredibly blessed to have built an audience that supports us not only during the good times but also during challenging moments. Our followers are open to having real conversations and are there for us when we’re not at our best.
We frequently discuss our mental health journey across all our platforms and aim to uplift others. By sharing our story, we allow ourselves to be vulnerable about the struggles we’ve faced, which helps others feel seen and understood.
Don’t forget to follow ‘alantimoteov’ and “rubenhndzv”, support our work with likes and shares, and shop our favorite items:
https://bit.ly/alanandruben
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@alantimoteov
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubenhndzv/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.tiktok.com/@rubenhndzv?lang=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-hernandez-villon-8b9110306
- Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/alantimoteov/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/alanandruben
