We recently connected with Karen McBride and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Karen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with 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’ve always dreamed of starting a business of my very own. I even started little hobby businesses throughout my young adulthood. Always hoping and dreaming that one would take off, but never really knowing what it would take for that to happen. I knew I loved doing creative things and loved the idea of getting to spend my time doing things that I was passionate about. But, I could never find an idea that stuck around long enough to see it through.

I ended up getting a job right out of college and worked there for six years. I was comfortable, making enough money, and just started my family with my husband and newborn. Things were okay, but I knew there was more. I knew I wasn’t okay with the status quo and wanted a way to spend more time with my family, knowing that time passes by faster than we want, especially in those baby days.

We were living with my parents at the time, saving up to buy a house so we could take the full leap into adulthood in a city where prices were constantly increasing. I decided to start doing some Virtual Assistant work on the side to make some extra income and see what this online business world was like.

I became passionate about my work with clients and started looking for ways to learn and do more. Once I saw that it was actually something I could make my paycheck with, I decided it was time to take the leap under the security of my parent’s roof and my husband’s complete support. It didn’t feel like a risk at the time, but I put my two weeks in and jumped.

More work started to come my way, and in no time, I was making the same amount I was before, but I was getting to spend more time with my son and husband. It was incredible! My son turned one, and the next week, the world began shutting down with a virus no one could understand.

Suddenly, clients were backing out, and my husband was teaching his students from the kitchen table. It all felt weighty and scary. This is the real risk began. While everyone was scrambling to find comfort, I tried my best to keep pushing forward. I stepped out of the agencies I was working for and started to build the business I wanted for myself and my family. Just a few months later, we bought our first house.

All in 2020, when the world was running wild.

It all seemed like a risk, but we weren’t scared. We were confident in the steps we were taking and understood that the risk was completely worth it. The steps were small but deep. The work we were doing as a family brought us closer together and made us more dependent on each other.

To this day, I look back and am in awe of the steps we took in full faith that it was all going to work out. And it did! Not without more steps and leaps, a whirlwind second pregnancy, and now being a family of four with a small business that is thriving with the most amazing, faithful clients. I’ve truly built the dream business I was always longing for, and it’s working out! Not to mention, I’ve been able to bring one of my best friends along for the ride and am taking the small steps towards two projects I hope will become more just like this first dream.

Risks are never easy, especially when you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Whether you’re a parent, a wife, a beginner, or any other box you’d like to put yourself in, the steps you take toward your dreams can be terrifying. I’ve come to learn that it’s because when we start to walk toward the dream, we are forced to start letting other people inside. The vulnerability of that wide entrance can feel like too much for some, so they slam the door shut.

But, I’d love to encourage anyone who is feeling the pull to walk in the direction of their dreams to let the uncomfortable feelings roll over them, let your loved ones ask questions and support you in the ways they know how, and trust that the dream is worth it. I promise it can absolutely change your life. Just like it did for me.

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

I go by Karen Joy in the online space because too many Karens gave us a bad name. So, I always introduce myself as a nice Karen. It is always sure to bring someone a chuckle, especially my older sister, who at six, named me. My business, Joy-Filled Marketing, is a small boutique studio that focuses on design, copywriting, and organic marketing for helpers like therapists, psychologists, nutritionists, doulas, and more! I love helping women who help others. It just feels natural to me.

I actually received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in counseling with the full intention of becoming a therapist. I learned graphic and website design from a coworker who became an incredible mentor. She let me figure it out and make mistakes, and for that, I will always be grateful. And honestly, marketing is just how my brain works. I’ve always loved the strategy of selling, even when I didn’t know what that truly was. To this day, my dad knows when I’m going to ask him for something because I start with a big case as to why it’s meant to be.

I am self-taught through and through, which once made me nervous to say because, you know, imposter syndrome is real. But now I try to see it as my superpower because I know I can figure things out. My services are mostly focused on retainers with clients who have now been with me for years, and I’m incredibly grateful. While I love bringing in new clients, my long-term clients bring me so much joy.

I also have a deep desire to help more women take steps toward starting their biggest dreams. So, I’ve started a new venture that’s just beginning called She Started Co. I’m hoping that through sharing the stories of other women who have started their dreams and creating tools to make the start easier, more and more women will feel confident that the step isn’t as scary as they might think it is.

I’ve also recently started running a city-wide community for families called St. Pete Kids because I love helping people make new friends.

I’m definitely a multi-passionate entrepreneur, but I think it’s fun to stay on my toes and try new things.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

At my previous job, there was a rule to be perfect that wasn’t communicated, but everyone knew. Any mistake was met with someone saying that we should know better and do better. This left all of us in a constant state of survival as we walked on eggshells to ensure that everything was just right. When I started my business and began making mistakes, as most normal people do, I struggled with the huge emotions and fears that would crash into me. I would run to my husband and tell him that the client was surely going to fire me because I messed up.

Thankfully, as I’ve mentioned numerous times now, I work with some of the most amazing people that always assure me that mistakes are normal and perfection is unrealistic. Three clients that I’ve now had the pleasure of working with for years have helped me over and over release this anxiety and fear to be okay with making a mistake.

Here’s the lesson, mistakes happen and should be expected, and your worth is not reliant on how perfect you can be in any part of your life. I’m still working on holding tight to that, and I hope others will begin to do the same.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My biggest piece of advice when it comes to building an audience on social media is to be yourself and be okay with it going slowly. When I first started out, I held this very perfectionistic view of how I appeared on social media. I thought it always had to look highly professional, and I couldn’t make a mistake or do the wrong thing.

The reality is the people that are meant to work with you are going to be attracted to the real you. And they are going to figure it out eventually. Ultimately, people want to work with real, authentic people, especially in the service industry. They want to feel like they can trust you and what you have to offer them. And that trust will carry you a long way.

Your audience becomes your community and your sounding board for new ideas and opportunities. Lower the stage as often as possible, to you remember that you’re not above them, but just a few steps ahead of them. While everyone wants the expert, humility and kindness will take you so much farther. Imposter syndrome rears it’s ugly head when we feel like we have to be the professional expert and nothing more, but that’s just not a reality.

People want to see themselves in your business, and that can only happen when you’re a real person too.

A practical piece of advice? Be sure the social media platform you’re building your audience on actually holds the people you’re dreaming to work with. If they aren’t there, go somewhere else.    

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joyfilledmarketing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfilledmarketing/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shestarted.co/

Image Credits
Christina Jones Photo