Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeremy Swick. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jeremy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

To answer this, I need to take us a back a little bit. It was 2017 and I had finished grad school at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, earning my Masters in Public History. I had the opportunity to do an amazing internship at the H.H. Bennett Studio, a historic photography studio and museum, in the Wisconsin Dells, WI. Eventually that internship ended, and I moved back in with my folks in the Milwaukee area. I needed work and I needed it fast. I ended up working second shift cleaning schools. Actually, I was supposed to be managing cleaners but with a job with such a high turnover rate, I ended up cleaning most nights. I also worked at a media company putting up gas station posters downtown in the middle of winter. For all my ATLiens, the thing about winter in Wisco, it gets cold. Like really cold. With what I was doing I also couldn’t wear gloves, as I needed the finger dexterity to move the posters around.
Anyways, I finally got that call an opportunity to stay in the museum field in 2018. Shortly after I moved up to Minnesota (A state I always told my college friends “I would never move to”). To start another museum adventure. The thing about many entry level museum jobs, they are for terms instead of permanent jobs. This one was 15 months. Clock started the day I started!
I thought surely this can be my next 5-10+ years trying to find a footing in the field. I also was broke, I mean like broke, broke. I’ve always been someone who loves going to goodwill, buying something for a few bucks and then flipping it on eBay for a profit. I needed to figure out a way to supplement my museum income.

After 40+ hours on Google & YouTube I learned a bit more about creating social media content. Less about being a consumer of social, rather a way to use it to make money. So I started with making a Fiverr account (gig economy am I right?). Well to my surprise, it worked! I had my first client!
I fell in love with it. Creating content for others to share on their pages. I’ll admit, my first few clients were rough. I was learning on the fly, one thing I know about myself, I’ve realized when things get challenging I choose to lean into them rather than run away. I kept working to create new ways of content. I took a never say “no” mentality!

I would have a client ask, “What do you know about click funnels? Can you make a logo? What about running Ads?” At the time, I might not have known how to exactly do that. However, I learned from two college degrees, you can do almost anything if you take some time to learn how to do it!

It’s now 2022 and I’m still here! I love working with clients, while also maintain my job in the museum field!

Jeremy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Well, by day I’m an experienced Historian, Curator, Archivist, with a passion for history, education. By night I’m an established Social Media Content Creator & Small Business Owner. Known on social channels as @TheAverageHistorian. Why? Just an “average guy” who loves playing rugby, talking history and continually learning. I’m determined to chase goals which have led to extraordinary experiences.

As I’ve mentioned, my social media agency came from a desire to want more than what my 9-5 could afford me. Both on a financial and emotional level. I realized that loving my field but being “broke” didn’t have to be synonymous. I could stay in the field while also making a living wage. I have professionally worked at several institutions ranging from a historic photography museum to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame. Currently Archivist at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society. Extensive experience working in the digital space as a social media manager and content creator.

I’m currently at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society & Museum as their Archivist and love what I’m doing both in the museum space and the social media landscape.

In regards to my company, SWICKMedia offers a creative and unique approach to digital marketing, social media content, and branding. Not to go all “Liam Neeson” but we have a unique set of skills … to help take your business to the next level. We offer premium turnkey monthly service to create social media content, manage social media accounts, and even create iconic logos for your business, product or brand.

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

To be honest, one of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative is when brands actually use my creative. (I know that’s what they pay me to do). However, it’s still something I will always marvel at. Especially when they start seeing results in the “fresh” take at how they post and distribute on social.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that I had to stay “inside” the box or mold of what I was “supposed” to be! This has been something that I think I struggled a lot with when I first started out on my journey. The classic “what are you going to do with a history degree? Teach?” rang in my ears. The answer was “yes, I suppose”. While I am forever thankful for my education program for helping me hone my soft people skills, self-confidence, problem solving abilities and fostering my love for history, I wasn’t destined to stay in the classroom.

I had the opportunity to attend graduate school at UW-Eau Claire, the same place I earned my B.A. With many people saying and thinking “oh I told him, what was he going to do with two history degrees? Teach? That didn’t even work out?” Something inside me (actually a great support system of people who believed in me), decided to keep pushing. I kept on the path and ended up at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, pretty sweet right? It was and it made me believe I can actually do things I set my mind to. The same could be said about my opportunity at the College Football Hall of Fame. It was a bit audacious at 24 to become the Historian & Curator in my field. Right?

I still remember when I finally had the opportunity to head down to Atlanta for my in-person interview, I figured after the long (I mean long) process of getting to this point, if worse came to worst I at least had the opportunity to visit Atlanta. A place I hadn’t been since the 2007 Final Four. Thankfully my mind works in practical optimism. It just makes sense to be positive. So, I quickly started to think, what if I actually got this job? I facetimed one of my favorite humans KJ (aka Kendra – an awesome leader and someone I greatly admire and appreciate for all the incredible things she continues to do and being a great supporter of all my ambitions!) and we talked about all the possibilities of what could be! I also did it at what would become my favorite places, New Realm Brewery situated right on the Beltline in ATL.

When I got back to my hotel (pizza and beer in hand). I had to take a look in the mirror and realize if I was actually going to move across the country to a brand-new city, brand new environment, not knowing anyone in the southern part of the U.S. I had to be myself.

So, I went for it. In the interview I was the most “myself” I had ever been. I talked about not only my skills and qualifications but also my love for playing rugby, drinking craft beer, and cheering on the 13x World Champion Green Bay Packers! Apparently, it had an impact, as a few months later I had packed up my bags and was living in Atlanta!

That was a major “unlock” moment for me. I’ve gotten a lot better at moving on my own terms and being confident in those decisions. At the end of the day when we get to a fork in the road, we never will know what the alternative “could have” been.

Why can’t I be a social media agency owner [AND] an archivist, historian and curator? The answer is, I totally can!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.swickmedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swickmedia414/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swickmedia
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jeremyswick
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/realjswick
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragehistorian/