We were lucky to catch up with Flo Erickson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Flo, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I really think there are three key components to success. A goal, a plan, and a mindset.

First you start of with your goal. If your goal is success, you first have to define what that means to you in its entirety and what you are hoping to gain from it. You also have to be realistic with your self about roadblocks or instances that may happen along the way that can hinder you from success. Being mindful or anticipating these factors in the beginning will help you down the road. When I started out as a content creator my only goal in mind was to be successful in what I set out to do – and that was to build a community of people with similar interests and create a safe space to share them, but I knew it would require a certain amount of patience, work, and time.

Next, you develop your plan of action. This component is may sound vague, but there is so much that goes into planning, especially when it comes to content creation. On the outside (in my case) you only see outfits and activities showcased with aesthetic photos/videos, catchy tunes and relatable captions. Behind the scenes there is so much planning that goes into each photo, video, outfit, etc. Not only do I have to create posts to maintain my audience and grow, but there are also things that I have to research and consider such as markets, current trends, SEO optimization and that’s only to name a few. In my case the “planning” is constant and never ending and incredibly important to the outcome of my goals. As I continue to grow and develop experience, the planning comes more naturally, but that isn’t to say that things always go to plan or work out in my favor.

Having a positive, determined, and driven mindset is one the most important components that drive success. You can create a goal and establish a plan of action, but if you cannot face the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows, the disappointments and the confusions that can and will arise in any situation and continue to push forward without folding, that will be the detriment to everything you set out to do. You have to go into each journey knowing and expecting that there will be trials and tribulations and you have to be able to face them in a way that does discourage you from continuing on. It takes a strong will to overcome 100 “nos” to reach that one “yes,” but a strong, determined mindset cannot be stopped no matter what adversity is thrown their way. It is not easy when you are first starting out as a content creator, no matter what your specialty is. When I pitched myself to my first five brands for collaborations, I was turned down by every single one. Actually, one did not even respond to me. I could have let that be the end of my efforts and quit, told myself I was not good enough and walked away, but instead I let that drive me to work harder and to continue trying. Fast forward a year and I am working with multiple brands and continuing to grow.

To me success is exactly what you make of it and what you put into it and through my experiences over the years that is what I have learned. You define your own success and what that means to you, and that’s special because that is something that no one can take away from you. I truly believe that if you have a goal, a plan of action, and a positive mindset with the will to keep going, nothing can stop anyone from reaching their version of success!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a fashion and lifestyle content creator located in Houston, Texas. Before moving to Texas in late 2022 I lived in small town, NE Ohio where I had begun exploring the world of content creation through fashion and outfits. It wasn’t until moving to Houston and exploring this beautiful city that I was inspired to expand my horizons and share more of my life and activities.

It would really make me feel good when I would go out with my friends and family or my husband and I would get so many compliments on my outfits or questions about where I bought certain pieces. It happened all the time and the more I would step out of my comfort zone, the more it would happen. I immediately noticed that girls with similar body types to mine would often comment about how they “never thought they could wear something like that” until they saw it on someone with a similar build (me), and then would end up trying it out themselves! It was so empowering to see! After learning about the world of “content creation” I was so inspired and wanted to share this happiness, that was brought to me my expressing myself through style, with everyone else and so I began posting online. I think the thing I am most proud of is the community I continue to build. I started this to encourage and inspire others, but my community is constantly encouraging and inspiring ME to reach for new lengths and it means so much to me. It is a big reason why when I moved to Houston, I started opening up and sharing more including activities I am doing/places I am going. Not only did my community want to see it, but they also saw the potential I had to grow into something bigger and that truly means the world to me.

I love showing and sharing what I am wearing and what I am up to and my goal is for people to look at me, an incredibly average person just living life, and see that we don’t have to be rich, we don’t have to be famous, we don’t have to have 100s of thousands of followers, but we still can romanticize and love our simple but REAL lives. You can wear the clothes and do the things that make you feel good and explore life no matter what age you are. You’re allowed to have hard times and bounce back, you’re allowed to move on from the mistakes you made in your past and become a better version of yourself. You can be and embrace the person you are, unapologetically you! That is who I am, that is what I promote, and that is what you’re going to get from me, authentically, always.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I honestly wish I could go back and not be so nervous to reach out to other creators for suggestions and help. I wish I knew that just because someone has 100,000 followers doesn’t mean that they are not willing to respond to your DM and answer your question or guide you or that they do not want to see you grow and be successful too. When I first started out, I felt so alone in this industry – I was just starting out and convinced myself that the people who were more successful than me did not want anything to do with me until I reached a certain level of “clout” (LOL). I never thought it was an option to reach out for help, I thought it was sort of an “unspoken” rule to just work hard and establish your own resources and connections. When moving to Houston I quickly realized that there were SO MANY people willing to help, educate, refer you, etc. and I learned this still without speaking up and asking. There are so many amazing people here who have mentioned my name or assisted me in establishing connections and have truly helped me get my foot in the door and expand my self brand into Houston and I could not be more thankful. My advice to anyone starting out is do not be afraid to ask for help. You just might be surprised by the lengths people are willing to go to help you!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creator, aside from the experiences it sometimes affords you, are without a doubt the connections you make along the way. I have been so fortunate to meet and form relationships, both virtually and in person, with some of the most authentic individuals through this platform. I have met strangers on the internet that have turned in to friends, I have reconnected and rebuilt old relationships and I continue to have and provide a safe space for anyone who needs one. It is truly incredible the feeling that comes from feeling so loved and supported and as if you are making an impact/difference. To see people inspired and encouraged, to hear their stories of success and to be trusted to know their struggles, its crazy to think that you could form such connections through fashion and life activities, but you can, and I have, and I wouldn’t trade that for all of the money in the world.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @FloGirlFinds
• Facebook: FloGirl Finds

Image Credits
John Erickson Photos