We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marissa Potts. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marissa below.

Marissa , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.

I’m always blown away by the response I receive when I encourage students to go to school for something they are passionate about- whether people around them think they can make a career out of it or not. When I went to college, I really wanted to study something creative- theater, journalism, videography, etc.- and I was told by multiple family members that it wasn’t a good idea because it’s hard to make it in creative industries. Now, I regret not pursing what I knew I wanted to do, because I got a degree that I don’t even use and I could have spent 4 years learning and growing in a field that I truly loved. I would really encourage parents and teachers to talk to your students and help them find the path that they want to take. Not everyone is going to be a doctor or lawyer, and we need people in creative industries if we plan to enjoy movies, tv shows, photography, and more throughout our lives.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

When people ask me what I do, I don’t even know where to start! I manage multiple creative platforms for myself called Little Mrs Mariss, where I talk all things Disney, style, thrifting, eco-consciousness, and positivity. I also write for an Orlando blog called The Orlando Real, and I love sharing some of my favorite places around Central Florida. I also manage a podcast called The Mouse Club Podcast, and although I’ve taken a little break from it, I feel so fortunate for all that I achieved as a podcaster and the incredible guests I got to speak to. My father is about to embark on his writing career as well, so I am excited to be a part of his editing team! Can you tell I thrive from being busy?

I really just want to be an authentic and positive person on the internet, someone that I would have looked up to when I was younger. My goal is to encourage people to pursue their dreams, work hard, and spread kindness overall because it’s a tough world out there! I also want to set myself apart from the influencers who focus on consumerism, because I really am passionate about eco-consciousness and love showing that you can be stylish, trendy, and fun without breaking the bank or contributing to a ton of waste.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

There is a huge misconception out there that to be a content creator or influencer you need a ton of money and fancy equipment to get started and I think that’s just not the case. For my first few years as a YouTuber, I used my cell phone to take videos and edit, and the quality was still great! Podcasting doesn’t even need a microphone, there are incredible apps that allow you to record right from your phone without needing any equipment at all. As far as buying outfits and materials for creating content goes, checkout thrift stores, online secondhand shops, and your own closet to find pieces that you can use in a brand new way! You would be surprised how many different ways there are to style a simple t-shirt. If you’re looking to make this a career, don’t be discouraged by slow seasons or that money doesn’t roll in right away. The money will come as you continue to grow, but I definitely don’t believe you need to invest in tons of equipment to start.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Another misconception about being in content creation is that it’s an easy job and that creators are just relaxing all week and living on vacation time everyday. It’s honestly really tricky for me to maintain a work schedule, because there’s always something more I can do to help my brand grow. There are always comments I can respond to, videos I can watch to learn new editing techniques, and engagement I can be making with other creators. For me, I don’t have a set 9-5 schedule and it’s pretty difficult to find a work life balance. I’m so thankful for this platform and the opportunities it’s given me to work from home on certain days and work with companies, but it’s definitely not all smooth sailing and it takes a lot of hard work and energy!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/littlemrsmariss
• Instagram: Instagram.com/littlemrsmariss
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlemrsmariss
• Youtube: YouTube.com/littlemrsmariss
• Other: The Mouse Club Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mouse-club/id1507694032