We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Helen Abutidze. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Helen below.
Helen, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
It was 2021, the year after I had graduated college. My whole life, I had been told the formula to success was to get an education and work a 9-5 for the rest of my life. So, without knowing any better, I was doing just that. I was working as a Video Partnerships Associate for a company in Manhattan. The 9-5 was really more like a 8-8 or sometimes 7-10. I was MISERABLE. I wasn’t eating right, I wasn’t sleeping, and most importantly my mental health was deteriorating.
However, I knew I had a passion in social media. I was working with a micro-influencer on the weekends, virtually assisting her with social tasks when she needed an extra hand. My love for social media grew even more so there was only one thing left to do. Quit the 9-5 that I had been told my whole life I needed.
Growing up as a first-generation American, I was always told a stable job was the most important. No one really told me the loophole to life was NOT working a 9-5. Stability was extremely important to me but if it was costing me my mental health, it wasn’t worth it.
After I put in my two weeks notice at my 9-5, it was time to do some soul searching. My passions lied within short-form video content and social media. I started emailing every influencer/content creator I could think of, pitching myself to them and asking to help manage their socials. Soon after I sent out dozens of emails, I received an emailed back from one of the creators I had written. I was living in New Jersey at the time so I booked the quickest flight out to LA, met her for lunch, and got the job immediately. Shortly after, I moved out to LA to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
Fast forward to today, I realize and acknowledge just how important it is to take risks. Even if it doesn’t seem like the “stable” thing to do, in the long run, it will be the only thing that heals you. And remember, everything good is on the opposite side of fear.
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.
To those of you who don’t know me very well, I’m a first-generation American living in Los Angeles. I got my degree in Digital Marketing and Communications in 2020. Shortly after that, I discovered my passion for Casting and Social Media. When I was 14, I got my first job and I haven’t stopped working since. Determination to succeed has kept me going each and every day.
There is still a lot that I have left to do. I’m nowhere near where I want to be, but I acknowledge that success does not occur overnight. I surround myself with a supportive group of friends who keep me grounded. We all motivate and encourage one another to be the best versions of ourselves and hold one another accountable to our goals. Having a support system like this is essential when finding the success we desire. I’m grateful for where I am so far in life, but this is just the beginning. I’m eager to bring more of my visions to life and create a future for myself that I’ve always wanted.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
There was a book I read written by Daymond John called ‘Rise and Grind’. The book shares stories from different individuals and talks about how they have overcome certain challenges and have grown to their success.
There was one specific story that stood out and resonated with me. The woman sharing her story was a first generation American, similar to me. She had written about the struggles of leaving home and how difficult it was to leave her parents. Her parents didn’t want her to leave the state but she had to do what was best for her and her career.
I was in a similar scenario when I was leaving my small home town in New Jersey. My parents left their home country of Georgia to create a better life for me, yet here I was, wanting to move all the way across the country to Los Angeles. For the longest time I felt a tremendous amount of guilt for this, until I read a quote from this book. The woman sharing her story essentially wrote about how taking that leap of faith helped grow her success. She then said something along the lines of “where would my family and I be, if I had not left that day”. To this day, this is one of my favorite quotes of all time.
The moment I read that quote, I knew the specific reason I had picked up that book to begin with. So I could resonate with that writer and finally forgive myself for leaving home. Although it is still one of the hardest things I have had to do, I know that one day this will all be worth it.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
There is truly nothing more rewarding than waking up every day and being excited about a project you’re working on. Not only that but I am constantly meeting and working with talent that I have full faith in.
I have met so many of my close friends through my work. A lot of these friends are creators. Believing in their brand and vision not only empowers me, but it makes me want to be better. They truly inspire me in more ways than they could ever imagine. I’m beyond lucky to be surrounded by such hard working, talented individuals.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenabutidze/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenabutidze/