We were lucky to catch up with Carolina Hoar Perez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Carolina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Before becoming a Social Media Manager, I started my online business as a Virtual Assistant. I quickly learned within my first year that the tasks and projects that brought me the most joy all surrounded marketing. I found myself excited talking about content strategies for platforms like Instagram and Pinterest – so I knew by the start of year two it was time to make the pivot.
Prior to this, I had over 7 years of experience in administration. I’ve always had a passion for business. It was the reason I continued an admin role as it helped me learn so much about back-end operations. I gained skills like teamwork, strong organization, and problem-solving. While these skills on their own didn’t create the role – I did see them as a foundation for wanting to become an online service provider. My mindset was that I would take all of those skills, combine them with my drive to pursue this new role, add in self-taught knowledge, and completely learn as I go.
That’s when YouTube became my best friend. YouTube is filled with free in-depth information on marketing strategies, Instagram tips, and how to manage Pinterest. I would spend hours researching and taking notes between lunch breaks and before bed. Practicing on your own social media accounts is also a great way to give your strategies a test run.
3 months into becoming an online service provider, I gained the support of a business coach, Jessica Hawks. I joined her Digital Creatives Academy which I fully believe helped me speed up the process of becoming a full-time business owner. Not only with the legalities part but with the marketing resources she provided throughout the course.
Over the past years, and especially early on, I struggled a lot with imposter syndrome. Even after successfully helping clients gain traction with their social media, it’s a feeling that would trickle in. I would question the work I was delivering or my self-worth with my pricing. The thought of <i>”because I don’t have a bachelor’s degree, I am not worthy of x,y, and z”</i> often popped up in my head. To move past these feelings, I had to build positive coping exercises. I would remind myself of my achievements. I would stop comparing myself to others and look at actionable steps towards growth.
In all, I would say determination is the most essential skill to jump into a creative career path. It’s a quality necessary for an industry continuously changing and growing. Where the algorithm and trends are constantly developing. Determination is what will help you overcome the obstacles and fears you will 100% face.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hola, my name is Carolina. I have an associate’s degree in Business and have been a Social Media Manager for a little over 4 years now. I am also a Latina content creator, sharing travel, fashion, and life abroad. While my home is Eugene, OR – I am currently working out of Barcelona, Spain.
It was around 2020 during the middle of the pandemic that I started researching for remote positions. I was a flight attendant at the time and realized that the demanding lifestyle wasn’t something I wanted for a long-term career. I made it my goal to find something part-time that I could manage along with being a stewardess. Keep in mind, I have worked a minimum of two jobs since I was 16. I knew my workload was going to increase but I made sure to tell myself it was going to be temporary.
When I came across the role of a Virtual Assistant, it made sense. I had admin and some marketing experience so this seemed fitting. I didn’t hesitate and 2 days later I launched my VA business. 3 months in, I made enough to supplement my flight attendant income and decided to go full-time. After one year of supporting clients with their operation tasks, I niched down to social media management services. Making this pivot was probably one of the best decisions for my business.
As a Social Media Manager, I specialize in creating dynamic content strategies that drive engagement and foster community. I help brands get seen across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Currently, my clients consist of many creatives in the wedding industry. From wedding photographers, planners, and florists. However, I very much believe in making decisions based on intuition. This leads me to work with brands and local small businesses I align with. Rooted in authenticity and mindfulness, my goal is to showcase what makes each business unique and strengthen their online presence.
I started content creation on TikTok in 2023 as a creative outlet. TikTok has always seemed less intimidating to me than other platforms. It’s a space when I can have fun with what I share and connect with like-minded creatives. I’ve collaborated with exciting brands like Beyond Yoga and Volo Beauty. Now I also capture content for events and weddings.
A dream pinch-me moment is definitely living abroad. Traveling is deep love of mine and I feel very fortunate to be able to combine it with what I do for a living. I’m pretty proud of the growth this career has allowed me to achieve. Each client and collaboration fuels my passion and those passions continue to build. If there is anything you can take away from my story, it is to listen to your creative heart and follow your gut.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
The book Atomic Habits by James Clear is the reason why my morning routine starts with making my bed. It gave me an eye-opening perspective on the importance of building habits. Making my bed every morning means I automatically start the day on a positive note. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and is the one thing I know I can control, no matter the outcome of my day.
Entrepreneurship means a lot of self-motivation all while taking risks. This is why I focused on a lot of self-help material when first starting a business. On one side, I was researching the how-tos and logistics of becoming an online service provider. On the other – it was podcasts and audiobooks that helped keep me inspired. It’s vital to feed yourself with knowledge from personal growth experts. Because when you are your own boss, nobody else is going to do it for you. The author James Clear was that expert for me. He helped me build positive and practical habits to start my journey as an entrepreneur.
As a visual and auditory learner, I heavily rely on podcasts. Brene Brown is a research professor who studies and specializes in courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. All categories entrepreneurs are pretty familiar with.
She released her podcast, Unlocking Us, the same year I became a Virtual Assistant. I listened to her first episode and was hooked. Each episode focuses on different topics in her studies, but most importantly feels like genuine heart-to-heart conversations. Sometimes with a special guest and sometimes just on her own. One of my favorites is a two-part episode with – you guessed it – James Clear. I HIGHLY recommend you give it a listen, it will blow your mind.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I’ve met a lot of like-minded individuals since pursuing a creative career path, including my now lifelong best friend. Working in social media, I’ve been intentional with fostering a community that focuses on supporting one another. A<i> ‘community over competition’ </i>mindset. It’s incredibly rewarding to be working together and not against each other. There is room for other creatives in this industry, don’t let others tell you otherwise.
Probably the most fulfilling part, on a personal level, is getting out of the 9-to-5 cubicle job. As a creative person, those types of jobs felt restricting and negatively impacted my mental health. At the time, I compared it to my worth. I used to think that it was my highest capacity of growth. Oh boy, was I wrong.
Over my time as an entrepreneur, I have gained an insane amount of confidence and learned my true potential. All worth getting out of my comfort zone for. There’s still so much to look forward to. I’ll be continuing to set new goals while creating A LOT of content along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carolina-delpilar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscarolinadelpilar + https://www.instagram.com/carolinahoarperez
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinadelpilar
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinahoarperez
https://www.tiktok.com/@itscarolinadelpilar
Image Credits
Photos by: https://www.instagram.com/shootervisuals https://www.instagram.com/jackiesterna https://www.instagram.com/lamirasocials