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

Arden, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2019 I left my six-figure job to start my own business. I have worked for the federal government for 7.5 years. My mental health was declining at that job, and I took a month and a half off from work to go to therapy for the first time and began to evaluate my life and where I wanted to go. I was extremely unhappy and wanted to be in a more creative space and eventually start my own business. I left that government job and got a new position as a contractor. I worked for them for a year, using my new salary increase to fund my upcoming departure. I left after a year having paid off all of my student loan debts, and I decided to start my own social media management agency. I originally wanted to focus on more creative pursuits but needed a “money-maker,” which is how CEI Media LLC came to be. Social media management allows me to be creative and help other small business owners. I’m also a writer, podcaster, and artist. All things that focus on storytelling in some way!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I founded CEI Media LLC in 2020 following the launch of The Fun with Friends Podcast in 2019. After over ten years of federal employment, I decided it was time to turn my ideas and passions for photography, marketing and branding, and podcasting into a full-time business.

Through all of my ventures, my goals are to encourage others to be bold and try new things, whether starting a business, a podcast, or just trying something new.

I’ve always been creative and have dabbled in everything from dancing to writing poetry and fiction to illustration and photography. I’m just in love with the act of storytelling, no matter what form it takes.

I also enjoy teaching others how they can share their stories through branding and marketing, graphics, social media, or podcasting. I love creating safe and fun spaces for my clients to be fearless, express themselves, and bring their ideas to life.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a people pleaser working in the corporate world, I was always rewarded for putting others first and solving their problems, even while my mental and physical health was failing. Working for myself and putting myself first has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to learn. I’ve always put others first, even as a child and even more so as an adult. This has impacted my business in various ways, from imposter syndrome to not wanting to charge clients prices that might be too high because I don’t want to “hurt their feels” or seem “greedy” to them. I’ve had to learn that I’m worth what I’m charging and that my work is worth that. It’s an ongoing journey, and I’m still learning, but I would say to every creative and small business owner out there that you are well worth what you’re charging, so don’t be afraid to ask what you’re worth.

Part of being a business owner is also knowing when and how to ask for assistance. I recently merged my business CEI Media LLC with another marketing firm Social Mocha Marketing and we’re now operating under Social Mocha Marketing and are growing as a business and helping small businesses and non-profits with their social media presence.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Where to start?! Our brains work differently! Many creatives struggle to do what’s “normal” because our brains often work differently than yours. For example, it’s hard for me to adhere to what society has deemed “normal” working hours. I’m most productive between 10 pm and 2 am; I feel the most awake and ready to work. So a work day to me might be from 1 pm – 2 am. Trying to force myself to fit into the 9-5 doesn’t work. It makes me less productive, which doesn’t benefit anyone. I also think there’s the “starving artist” perception. Some may think that to be an artist or creative means that you’re constantly struggling and that it’s not a real career because of this. That’s not true. While there is a struggle that can be said for any job, I think it’s important to encourage people, especially young people, to pursue their creativity. I think it’s even more essential to enable them to explore all of their options; artists and creatives don’t just exist within galleries; there’s a whole world of opportunity to tap into.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.socialmochamarketing.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/socialmochamarketing  |  instagram.com/ArdenCoutts