We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sharla Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sharla below.
Alright, Sharla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I left my career as a teacher/educator for media in 2017. Primarily my new job was to create educational resources for a website. But, I knew that I wanted to create content for media. But I also knew I needed more experience before anyone would consider me to create content for media. I could not shoot or edit, but knew that I desired to do so. I asked a director/producer for help and learned how to use Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop.
Once I felt confident in my use of Adobe, I took a risk by asking my daughter’s dance studio owner if I could take still photos of the dancers and shoot promos for the upcoming showcase. Surprisingly she said yes. That yes led me to create promos for not only the studio but later for my job at the time.
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?
I am a former teacher who left the classroom for good in 2017. I used to teach 7th and 8th-grade social studies and preservice teachers. Education was the family business and, even though I always loved media and writing, I found myself following my mother’s footsteps into education.
I loved the process of creating lessons, and the creativity involved, but did not enjoy teaching. I left education when I found an opening in the education department at a public broadcasting agency. I learned a lot at the agency. I was able to co-produce shows in addition to my education responsibilities. On the side, I helped friends create websites and promos.
I left the public broadcasting company to work for an educational software company. I did not think about pursuing content creation full-time until I was laid off in 2022 by the software company. Here I worked as a product manager, but also supported content creation. Being laid off from this company allowed me to become clear about my next steps. I have always loved content creation and decided this is the time to become the best I can be at it. Thus, School Me, Please was born.
Since then I have worked for a real estate company creating content for social media, as well as for other clients who own a charcuterie business. School Me, Pease services offer video shooting, editing as well as social media content creation.
I love listening to a client’s ideas about their product or service and creating media that builds a clientele.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have started several websites. My first was an educational website. This website provided educational consultation to parents. I ran this website for a year before I realized that while I have a background in education, I don’t need to use this as my only way of making a living.
I let that site go and started my School Me, Please website to create content as well as coach others on how to find the career of their dreams.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I am determined to create content that encourages and inspires. Content that resonates emotionally with others. I want to support others in reaching their goals. Using media I hope to help others in reaching the clients or careers of their dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.schoolmeplz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/school_me_plz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schoolmeplz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharla-brown/