Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zane Landin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Zane, appreciate you joining us today. Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?

I started PositiveVibes Magazine with a good friend, Michelle Allende, when we were both university students at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Even though the digital magazine was born from a school project, we were both passionate about literature and mental health. As the magazine began to grow, with leaders, influencers, and advocates reaching out to us faster than we ever anticipated, we knew we needed additional support. I didn’t know anything about HR or hiring people, but I knew LinkedIn was an incredible resource. It is the most innovative, positive platform for career, culture, and identity development.

I didn’t know how to create a job post, but I proactively researched how. In the first 24 hours, we received an overwhelming number of applicants, largely nationwide university students. We were looking for unpaid interns contributing as content writers. It was exciting to see so many people interested in growing their skillset who were passionate about the vision of where we were heading with the magazine. It was clear people resonated with the wellness and mental health spaces.

I conducted interviews and was looking for eager students who wanted to learn, be involved in a startup, and bring something unique to the table. During the interviews, I made it clear their ideas were encouraged because we were figuring everything out. It was challenging to build a remote internship program. It was something I’d never done before. I had a vision, but like everything, we pivoted and adjusted. Working with students worldwide was compelling but presented different challenges like engagement and accountability.

We went through several phases but determined what worked best for the team. I worked closely with each intern to assess their goals and provide what they needed to complete them. Since they weren’t paid, I ensured they were given as much flexibility and freedom as possible. If they needed an extension or wouldn’t be able to attend a meeting, as long as they informed me beforehand, I would be happy. As a leader, I only wanted communication from them.

I have worked with over 40 writers and getting to know them has been a joy. One of my writers actually started her own blog and wrote about me. The blog post was about the power of a stranger’s kindness and how it changed her life. In a way, even though we worked together, I had never met her before. Moments like that make me proud and indicate I am doing something right. Seeing my writers succeed in their professional lives drives my passion more than anything. Without their support, this magazine wouldn’t be here, so I am very grateful for their dedication. Leading this program has furthered my desire to one day become a manager to empower others to be the most successful, happy, and fulfilled they can be. If I were to do everything over again, I wouldn’t change anything because the process is what taught me the most above anything else.

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

At the beginning of the infamous year 2020, when the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic, I studied communication and public relations at university. I was taking a mandatory Copyediting course for my major, and near the end of the semester, we students were assigned to create our own publication. At first, I wanted to create a digital publication dedicated to stories of the occult, UFOs, urban legends, and mysteries but being quite frank, the strict requirement of it needing to be “fictional” excluded that idea. I still absolutely love these topics and may pursue something similar in the future.

I didn’t know the project’s direction, so I decided to reflect on what I saw in the world. As someone passionate about mental health, I wanted there to be a push for mainstream storytelling for the mental health community. During COVID, there was even more awareness for mental health and wellbeing than ever. This was a golden moment for the mainstream media to share what people were experiencing. I was disappointed they failed to do so. Even today, there isn’t a massive push for mental health awareness. Once the media openly discusses mental health, awareness will drive change.

I had my friend, Michelle Allende, edit the project before I turned it in. I don’t know why, but I had a “Eureka” or inspired moment to start this. Thus, I decided to create a digital magazine called “PositiveVibes Magazine.” There is a real need for vulnerable-based storytelling on the mental health experience. Every day, ordinary people make a genuine difference in the lives of others, changing the course of the world, but we rarely hear from them. We only started with social media and now have over 21,000 followers across several platforms. I am grateful to share our content has interacted with hundreds of thousands of people.

I am in the process of establishing PVM as an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, partnering with different disability and mental health publications, and beginning a scholarship fund for students with disabilities. My dream is for the magazine to become the “PositiveVibes News Network (PVNN)” on television to share the optimistic stories and events happening worldwide, followed by an interview with a guest to discuss diverse topics about mental health, disability rights, wellness, empowerment, and holistic healing.

To say the magazine has changed my life would be an understatement. I have become more open-minded and curious about spirituality, wellness, and social issues. I speak with some of the most amazing people I have ever met, and I am gifted with their knowledge in every interview I conduct. Without this platform, I don’t know who I would be because It has unmistakably transformed my identity in almost every aspect. Don’t be afraid to try something new because you never know where it will take you.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I define resilience as the steadfast strength someone has to continue fighting for what they believe in despite what they have experienced. As people, I think it is essential to be resilient, but I understand if people don’t want to fight. In society, we never give people a break and just expect them to keep fighting every day. In such a fast-paced world, we don’t always remember to slow down. The pandemic taught us about reflection. We need to constantly reflect on why we do the things we do.

I think we have romanticized resiliency to the point where we shame people who give up or try something else. It is OK, and nothing wrong with giving yourself a mental break. If you think you should stop, I think you should be empowered to do so, not shamed for your decisions. Our paths aren’t linear, so we should recognize there is nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as we learn from them.

One of my most defining moments was when my mother passed away last year. Hearing she passed away left me motionless in my thoughts. It was a shocking moment I will never forget. My mom was my biggest supporter and always advocated for me. She stood behind me and was passionate about anything I was working on. I was starting to speak on a few podcasts before, and she was proud every time I said. Recently, I have been grateful to speak on so many podcasts and share my journey.

The following week, after she passed away, I worked on different professional projects, including the magazine, because I knew that was what she would want more than anything. She wouldn’t want me to lose sight of my vision for the world. Even though it was incredibly hard, I didn’t want to make her any less proud of me. I have faced many rejections and setbacks, which one faces even more if they put themselves out there more. But my mother’s story is the most powerful one that has made me even more resilient. Before, I wanted to make myself and my mom proud, but now, it is more than that. It is about imprinting her legacy in the hearts of others, so they can experience the selflessness and beauty she carried.

It pains me I don’t get to hear her thoughts, feel her love, and see her reaction to some of the most amazing things that have ever happened to me, like being invited to the White House as a mental health advocate and meeting President Joseph Biden. Even though she is physically not here, I know in my heart she is here in a spiritual capacity. I recently had a dream about her, and it was so clear. A wave of peace and tranquility fell over me, and I knew she was beside me. It was one of my most pleasant dreams, making me feel fulfilled and happy.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

As I mentioned before, PositiveVibes Magazine ultimately started off on social media, specifically Instagram. It is what I knew about the most, and I thought it would be the best tool for us to share our message. Social media is a beautiful way of creating community. I love being connected to people from across the world, right at my fingertips. Social media is also how I usually discover new people to feature in the magazine.

The first thing I would consider before starting your social media is your goal for social media and the message you want to spread. Are you looking for more sales and brand awareness, or are you just trying to build an online community? You may be looking to develop a more general audience of young people as an indie gaming company. Or you are selling an organic wellness product specifically for single moms of color within a specific age frame, which would be more of a niche market and audience. Whatever your goal is will impact how you build your audience. It will influence the content, the social media platforms you plan on using, and how your content will look.

Through the magazine, we are constantly sharing information on mental health, topics of wellness, and even spirituality. Even though our content has changed throughout two years, our mission has remained the same. Even though social media continually changes, you primarily change how you tell the message, not the message itself. Nowadays, people care about authentic brands. If your audience can see your integrity through your social media branding and messaging, that will make you successful in growing your brand.

You need to be proactive and diligent to know what is happening in your digital market. Do your own research on what is working for other brands. Determine your most relevant hashtags and see what is happening in the world of those communities. See the type of popular content from the brands using those hashtags. This will give you a solid idea of where to take your social media brand, see what exists, and the direction of your postings. Do not view successful brands as competitors because they are where you want to be. Consider engaging with their content and followers if you want to grow your brand. Maybe one day, you will even partner and work with them. They are your resource, not your enemy.

A social media brand isn’t only about the followers or the numbers. It is about building an engaging community interested in what you have to offer. That is a powerful thing and should not be taken lightly. Set good intentions when you are building an audience. Once you create a more recognizable brand, you must constantly interact with them through comments or content. It is one thing to build a brand, but how do you continue that path? Work closely with your following base because you can’t read minds. Ask them if you don’t know what your followers want to see.

Building a social media brand takes delicate time. It is not something that happens overnight. For the most part, a tiny percentage of content goes viral. We all want that moment in the spotlight, but it is unrealistic to expect it. Some may never reach it, and that is OK. Instead of focusing on that, stick to your message, and make a difference with your content–even if you impact one person, that should make you exceptionally proud.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://positivevibesmag.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivevibesmag/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Positivevibesmag/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positivevibesmag/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQdF0q0m1Ux1SkLdP9ulANA
• Other: Personal social media accounts: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zanelandin/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zane-landin-b2417a187/

Image Credits
The photos of me in the White House were taken by White House Staff Photographers.