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

Hi Dakota, thanks for 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.

I think taking a chance on yourself and moving forward with starting a business is a really big risk. It’s probably the biggest risk I’ve taken, besides moving to LA at 18. But that didn’t feel like a risk at the time. That felt like an adventure. This business owner thing felt significantly riskier. Putting myself solely in charge of how I earn a living was a decision that quite literally had me in tears at some moments. Not because I didn’t think I could do it, but because I knew it was the right decision and that scared me.

I was working part time as a creative director for someone I have known for years and was given the incredible opportunity to take a client on as my own. Life was taking my boss in another direction, and I had the time, so why not right. I started with one client. I didn’t feel like a business owner then, it just felt like I had my job and then I had a side hustle. But a few months later is when the big transition came. My boss at the time came to me and asked if I was interested in taking her clients on as my own. She was pursuing a new opportunity and was looking to transition her clients to someone she could confidently trust would meet their needs. The obvious answer would have been an immediate yes. But admittedly, I was scared. Being a full time business owner is a huge step up from having a side hustle. So I sat on the decision for a couple days. Again, I knew I could do it. It was just such a big step. But, the logical side of me knew I’d be silly to say no. Here I was, essentially being handed a business. That doesn’t just happen everyday. So I took many deep breaths and said I would do it.

And now here I am, working for myself full time! I still have moments where I panic a little. After all, being a business owner is not for the faint of heart. But I am so happy I took the risk. There is so much comfort that comes with having a “regular” 9-5 job, but I’ve never been a typical 9-5 girl. The risk of me being my own boss has allowed me to make a living doing what I love and what I know I’m good at. And I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Dakota, 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?

I am Dakota Scott Schambach, the owner of Syrup & Scott – A Digital Media Agency. Syrup & Scott (S&S) is a full service digital media agency specializing in digital media management and creative virtual assistance. At S&S, I take aesthetics very seriously. I live and breathe good design coupled with intriguing copy and I believe there’s always reason to add a little extra hint of sweetness (syrup) to whatever it is you’re cooking up. I work closely with influencers, bloggers, and entrepreneurs to bring their creative visions to life. I get to spend my days doing so many different things. I offer ghost and copy writing, blog management, branding and logo design, Pinterest management, affiliate marketing assistance, and more!

I like to tell people that I just sort of fell into this industry. If you would’ve told me back in 2017 that this is where I’d end up, I would’ve thought you were crazy. Mainly because influencer marketing wasn’t really a thing, but also because this is such a niche industry to get into. In 2017, I started working super part time for someone who owned their own social media management agency. She had a client come to her asking if she knew anyone who could manage blogs and write blog posts, so she said that she could. And over the years she transitioned her business from social media management to blogger and influencer assistance. Eventually, when she was ready to move on, she came to me and asked if I was interested in taking on her clients. Already having one client of my own, I knew I had to say yes to her offer. But my yes didn’t come without hesitation. I remember crying to my mom because I just didn’t know if I was ready to be a full time business owner. It was such a huge step up from being an assistant on the side. I sat on the decision for a few days. But ultimately knew it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

I’ve always been a lover of blogs. In fact, Syrup & Scott started out as a blog back when I thought I wanted to make it big as a blogger. Plans changed but it’s funny how still ended up working with blogs for a living, just on the backend of things. I really can’t imagine doing any other job. It’s like I was meant to work in this industry.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is getting to bring a vision to life for someone who doesn’t have a clear depiction of what they want. I see things so specifically from my point of view so whether its how a logo should look or how a blog post should flow. So usually as soon as a project is thrown my way I can picture the outcome of it. But not everybody is like that. Especially if they aren’t innately creative.

I graduated from fashion school and I once had a teacher say that people hire you [a creative] because they don’t know what they want. And I don’t always think that’s the case. I think there’s many instances where maybe they do and they don’t know how to execute it. But often times when I’m working, whether it’s on a logo or a blog post, I am left in the driver’s seat making decisions on how someone is going to represent themselves because they themselves are unsure how to do so. And when I nail it with whatever I am working on, and the client loves it as much as I do, it makes me feel so good.

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?

I think a big thing non-creatives will struggle to understand about my journey is the why. Why not work a normal 9-5? Why put yourself through the stress of owning a business? Why not choose a traditional career path? Etc. And to that I say, because I don’t want to haha! I have known since high school that I didn’t want to work a corporate job. I just knew the lifestyle wasn’t for me. I applied to one college, The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, and was accepted my junior year of high school and that was that. And since I graduated I have really only ever worked for small businesses. So it only makes sense that after working for small businesses, I now I have my own. And even though sometimes I long for the stability a corporate position can often provide, I really can’t imagine giving up the flexibility and work life balance I have right now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.syrupandscott.com/the-agency
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakota_scottt/