We recently connected with Stetson Patton and have shared our conversation below.

Stetson, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

If I could go back, I 100% wish I had started my business sooner. Social media came out during my senior year of college, and from the beginning, I was completely obsessed with learning everything I could about the platforms. At the time, though, a “social media agency” wasn’t even a job or a thought. I was ahead of the curve—making over $100 an hour on the side helping people set up Facebook profiles (business pages didn’t exist yet) and linking their accounts to their websites. I knew social media was going to be huge, long before it became what it is today.

Looking back, I wish I had leaned into my entrepreneurial mindset more and let go of the idea that a traditional 9-5 job was the only path to security. If I had started my own agency back then, who knows what it could have grown into by now? The demand was there, but the timing was just a little off in terms of how I viewed it.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but there’s no doubt in my mind that starting sooner would have allowed me to get ahead of the game. However, I’m grateful for the journey, the learning curve, and where it’s led me today. It’s proof that even if you don’t start when you think you should, there’s always room to make something amazing happen.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For those who may not know me yet, I’m Stetson, founder of Socially Stetson LLC. My journey into social media marketing came through real-life, hands-on experience as a former boutique owner. Running a small business taught me firsthand the challenges that business owners face, from struggling to keep up with social media trends to trying to balance marketing with running day-to-day operations. It was through navigating my own business’s digital presence that I realized the massive impact a well-thought-out social media strategy could have—and I’ve been helping other entrepreneurs do the same ever since.

Today, Socially Stetson LLC is a full-service social media agency specializing in everything from content creation and strategy to videography, engagement, and community management. We help business owners grow their brands online, making sure they get discovered, engage meaningfully with their audiences, and turn those followers into loyal customers. Whether it’s teaching people how to navigate the latest Instagram updates or setting up automations with ManyChat, we pride ourselves on going beyond the basics and offering truly personalized strategies.

One of the things I’m most proud of is our Socially Growing Membership, where business owners around the world join forces to share, learn, and grow together in the digital marketing space. Our focus is on simplifying social media so that business owners can actually enjoy the process while seeing real results—and having fun along the way!

If there’s one thing I want people to know about us, it’s that Socially Stetson isn’t just an agency; it’s a partner in your success, built to empower entrepreneurs to shine and thrive online.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

Yes, there have been many times in my entrepreneurial journey when making payroll or just keeping the business running felt like an impossible task. As entrepreneurs, we need to accept that moments like this are going to happen—they’re part of the process. What I’ve learned to do when I find myself here is first, take a step back. I turn off my phone, disconnect from my computer, and let myself reset. I’ll listen to praise and worship music, regulate my nervous system, and remind myself of the bigger picture. I also reach out to friends who believe in me, who help me refocus on my strengths and figure out how to pivot.

And let’s be honest—true entrepreneurs probably think about getting a part-time job and burning their business down at least once a day. Ten minutes later, we’re brainstorming a new business idea, right? 😂

But seriously, I look at how my strengths can help me move forward and reflect on how my weaknesses may have gotten me into the situation. My business journey has been a rollercoaster, not a gradual climb. The key for me has been taking care of my mental, spiritual, and physical health. When those are in check, I feel much more capable of navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

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

A lesson I’ve had to unlearn is being a perfectionist. For so long, I believed that if I made everything flawless—every post, caption, or strategy—my clients would love the results. But the reality? It didn’t always work that way. I’ve poured hours into crafting what I thought was the perfect social media plan, only to have clients want something entirely different. I used to think, “I know better; I understand social media better.” But I had to let go of that mindset. It’s not always about profit, engagement, or growth for the client—it’s about having a presence and feeling good about what they see.

This became especially true when managing a team. Show 10 people a social media template, and you’ll get 10 different opinions. That’s when I realized I needed to stop overthinking and just act. Done is often better than perfect. It’s been a huge shift for me, but one that has allowed me to create, deliver, and adapt more effectively. I’ve learned that clients value their own vision, and my role is to bring that vision to life, even if it’s not how I initially see it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sociallystetson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stetsonkpatton/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stetson.patton.77
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stetsonkpatton/
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/socially-stetson/id1654819464

Image Credits

Amanda Morgan Photography
Sydney Dozier Photography