We recently connected with Kennedy Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Kennedy, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I have spent the majority of my adult life trying to decide what success means for me. So far, I have learned one big lesson that I think everyone must learn before the become “successful”.

To be successful, you must be a failure. You must learn how to fail and be okay with it. You must learn how to pick yourself back up after a plan backfires. I believe that true success is when you master the art of failing. We learn most from our mistakes, so after failing so many times success is only inevitable. How could you ever achieve success in any matter if you give up after failing once?

Another key component of being successful, I believe, is being a leader. Being a leader in your industry, family, friend group. I think to be successful you must know what it feels like to fail so you can lift others up when it happens to them.

To be successful it takes hard work and dedication to your craft. It takes the ability to master your mind and align your vibration to that of what success means to you. Everyone’s definition of success varies, but it is up to them to step into that vibration that is successful to them.

I have witnessed many successful people in my industry, and one of the most noticeable things always occurs. When they hit their definition of success, they want to bring everyone up to that same vibration with them. They feel inspired and motivated to help others achieve their definition of success.

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

Kennedy Shay Creative LLC is the company I do all my digital media and marketing from. I also own another company, Well Versed Magazine, but Kennedy Shay Creative is where I provide service-based business. Ever since I was a little girl, I always felt that I had creative energy surging through me. The smallest things in life would inspire me and get my mind churning with creative ideas.

When I started my first business venture in high school, creating and selling jewelry, that’s when I knew I wanted to be in the digital space. I was obsessed with the fact that I had the freedom to create a whole brand online, design a website, and create graphics to advertise my products. As the years went on, I was known in my community as the “social media girl” because I always knew the latest tricks when it came to Instagram.

I started working with local Phoenix brands to help create their brand identity, establish a social media presence for marketing, and write copy for their websites. I basically took their brands and established lots of online realty as I like to call it. I enjoyed helping brands with every creative aspect of digital marketing from design, photography, marketing, and writing.

I developed a creative digital media and marketing business because it covers all the digital services I provide such as monthly social media management, digital marketing, copy writing, marketing strategy calls, web design, and email management.

Due to my magazine company being in the wellness industry, I place a heavy focus on working with brands in the wellness space. I am always able to develop a personal relationship with my clients because I have spent so many years doing digital media for my own wellness brand. I love the fact that most clients I work with in the wellness industry usually always end up being featured in the magazine or on our website somehow. Having a foot in the door in that space is beneficial for both parties. I make the strongest bonds with my clients and that’s why I love what I do!

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I 100% did and I am quite proud. In my first year of college is when I first started providing businesses with digital marketing and social media services. I first started off doing it free because I had no idea it was an actual service that people were charging for. I continued to work with local businesses and landed gigs just by word of mouth.

My first paid gig was after I realized how much time I was devoting to this business. I took the initiative to tell the owner that I needed to be paid and he reluctantly fought back. In the end we finally agreed on a set amount I would be paid for my service (an amount I am laughing at today).

Throughout my years I had continued my services as a side hustle while usually balancing out a waitressing job or paid internship with a random company. I even ended up woking for a hair transplant doctor at one point.

I finally decided with all the businesses that needed my help, I should make a legitimate business out of it. I formed my first LLC under the name Kennedy Shay Creative (Shay is my middle name). I decided I wanted to get serious about my services, so I invested in some social media marketing coaching. In coaching, I learned all the necessary legal, marketing, branding, and technical aspects I needed to really launch by business.

After being let go from an internship for a clothing company in Los Angeles, I was tired of working for other people. I knew I had the skills and knowledge to start running my own digital marketing service full time. I was about halfway through my coaching program when I was let go, so it was a perfect time for me to go all in on my business.

I started promoting my services on my own social media and offering my assistance to business owners I already knew. About 3 weeks after I was let go, I finally landed my first legal independent contractor job under my LLC. A few weeks later, I had a lead for another client and was being referred to other businesses.

Now, I am working full time for myself managing Kennedy Shay Creative and Well Versed Magazine. This is still only the beginning and I am excited to see how I grow in the coming years.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When transitioning to working for myself as an independent contractor, there were so many times I wanted to give up and just get a restaurant job that would bring me quick cash. This was a toxic loophole for me, as it happened every time I wanted to pursue my dreams of creating my own service-based business.

I was aware that if I went that route and worked at a restaurant, I would be losing precious time that I could be spending building my business. It was between setting myself up for success in the long term or making quick cash in the short term.

I finally decided to ditch the safety net of the restaurant industry and go all in on my own business. It was the first time I had ever done that and it was one of the most uncomfortable feelings in the world. But it was so worth it. I pushed through the terribly uncomfortable feeling. I saw all my friends making great money working as waitresses and the feeling dug me in to the ground. All day and all night I would work on building my business model and sharing my knowledge with the world.

The growth that comes from chasing your dreams and believing in yourself is truly magical. I definitely had reaped the reward in the long term.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kennedyshaysmith.com
• Instagram: kennedyshaysmith
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedy.smith.581525
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kennedy-smith-1871771b0
• Twitter: kennsmithh

Image Credits
Image credit for portrait of Kennedy (image without hat) – Shot by Demian Bretta