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

Hi Alexis, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

For fourteen years I have run a business in skincare. I still do, but now I am working ON the business instead of inside of it. Being allowed to take a step back because it is officially self-sustaining is the best feeling. However, a mature business doesn’t happen overnight. It takes work, mistakes, a little pain, a lot of sleepless nights, and one KEY factor that so many business owners reject, forget, or choose not to partake in: Networking.

When I began as an entrepreneur, I decided at 23 years old it would be a great idea to leave my tiny town of Minnesota and go where the people “cared” more about their appearance: Silicone Valley. I found myself in Los Angeles with barely a penny to my name, not a single friend, but with big dreams. I slowly built my business via Facebook by introducing myself to new friends and hearing their stories in hopes they would ask to hear mine. Unfortunately, our tech-savvy world gives socially acceptable freedom to ignore messages and a conversations that would have taken 5 minutes in person ended up taking a week online. There had to be a better way.

I googled “how to meet people” and this new word called “networking” popped up. I proceeded to google “networking in Los Angeles” and was bombarded with hundreds of options. Picking one, I showed up on a random Thursday night and discovered people just like me; eager business owners who needed to make connections to grow. It has been fourteen years since then and networking is what allowed everything back then -and today- to become what it is. I utilize(d) networking everywhere I lived, all 9 states, 3 countries, and my new home in South Carolina.

The most important lesson I learned in my past job, the one that has helped me grow my new one in Social Media Influence Marketing, is the power of networking. Meeting people as nervous as I am, making friends, gaining trust, and delivering on promises made in person.

Alexis, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was raised in a small, midwest town and recognized how important our community and neighbors were to each other. We took advice before purchasing, we asked opinions before moving forward with an idea, we constantly leaned on each other for support. This is what drives my ambitions as a Social Media Influencer and Content Creator today. My goal is to be a resource for my audience, to show places, foods, fashions that bring joy to their lives.

For the past 14 years, I have owned a business in skincare. As an ingredient expert in my field, I turned to instagram as a way to share tips and tricks on taking care of ones lipid barrier (skin.) As I shared, my audience grew. The more vulnerable and open I was with them, the more they learned to trust and accept my guidance. In time, my audience grew to a healthy number and my business in skincare did as well. I found I have a passion for helping others in all aspects of life, more than just skin, and my business is now a secondary child to my Social Media Marketing.

As an adventurer, constantly chasing a notion of romanticism and living a life “out loud” I am so proud of my audience for dreaming bigger, encouraging my journey and in turn progressing their own, and I am so proud to finally wrap up my first year as an official Social Media Content Creator.

If someone follows me, they will find raw happiness all over my page. Achievable happiness. Places that bring happiness: whether that be in Thailand or a Glamping trip, a new restaurant somewhere fun to explore, or simply a glimpse into my own love and fertility journey. The businesses I partner with always align with that important goal. If something doesn’t provide joy, then it has no space on my page.

I am so fortunate to have partnered with companies that see the value in positivity. Most of them hire me because I have an in-depth desire to story-tell in all of my content, because I take professional quality photos and videos, and because I am not afraid to speak on camera or have my voice heard. I cater to the businesses that nurture their relationships with women -as that is the majority of my following- and have a Type-A obsessive desire to overdeliver and never miss a deadline.

As an adventurer, I am constantly chasing a notion of romanticism and living a life “out loud.” You could say I am afraid of the word normal, and it has made for some incredibly exciting stories to share. Like being married around the world. Ask me about that one later.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience is the name of the game for all entrepreneurs. We hear no far more than we hear yes. However, my resilience story is still underway in this current moment and the biggest “no” I hear is from myself. I have been creating on social media for 15 years, but just completed one year as an income earning professional. The biggest challenge I have had to overcome is my own mindset. The Imposter Syndrome voice that says “I’m not good enough.”

Trades for service were my bread and butter for years, but it took strength to look past the impressions that the industry is crowded or my content wasn’t professional enough. Last year, I finally stood up and decided I wouldn’t know unless I tried.

This is an every day battle, and one I don’t struggle with alone. Those tiny voices of doubt are present in so many of us, but every day is a chance to practice resilience -to stand up and challenge it. Every day is a new opportunity to write a new chapter, share a new business, document a new adventure, and help inspire a new person by living a life loud enough that others can learn from it.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Reputation is everything. It is so hard to regain once it is lost. This is something I protect at all costs by trying to be a good person and living a life unapologetically. We won’t always see eye to eye with everyone, but if we are living in our own truths, then who can fault us for our beliefs? That being said, I do think there is a time and place for our voices and opinions, especially when you are representing other businesses and they are trusting you to make them look good.

I think my life is meant to be lived as an example to others. I always aim to be genuine, positive, and to see the best in every situation. This allows the businesses I work with to trust I will do the same for them. However, I am also very honest and open. For example, I have recently shared about fertility concerns, something so many women can relate to. I also share when something in the world makes me sad and ask my audience how they turn the frowns upside down and find happiness again.

Being open, honest, vulnerable, but always kind, compassionate, with an open mind is -why I believe- people have followed me. No fancy TikTok dances to get attention, no fads or trends to go viral, I am just real, raw, and live a happy life. Something we all strive for: happiness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://classandsunshine.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classandsunshine/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexis.simmons.739/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-thompson-bb941849/

Image Credits

Most of these were iPhone on a tripod haha