Profiting from Passions: Episode 6
I have a incredible guest on today. Leah Gervais is the founder of the popular website Urban 20 Something. It is here that she teaches self-made millennials how to start
a side business and kill the 9-5. For all those who are wondering what it truly takes to be a successful blogger, Leah Gervais will show you how to do that and what matters
when you are starting a blog.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m Leah Gervais. I’m the founder of Urban 20 Something and the host of the Your Biggest Vision Show Podcast. I am an expert in email marketing and I help
entrepreneurs scale their businesses with marketing strategy and an extreme focus on success mindset.
What inspired you to create Urban 20 Something?
I went through a “quarter-life trap” when I knew that I was declining my law school acceptances, but had no idea what to do instead. I was working as a
paralegal and had planned on going to law school my entire life. So when a gut feeling told me to do otherwise, I listened, but I was terrified since I had no
idea what career to pursue instead. I started my blog to document my confused time in search of my career, but my blog ended up becoming my career.
Why is it difficult for millennials to quit their 9-5 to create their dream business?
It usually boils down to fear in some sense or another. Fear of a lack of stability, fear of disappointing their peers, family, or spouses, fear of failures, etc.
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It gave me the courage to say yes
How did blogging change your life?
It gave me the courage to say “yes” to myself. Above all, it taught me that whenever going for a goal, you do not have to have the entire plan mapped out. You just have to have the big
picture in mind, have faith in yourself, and have the courage to fail in trying routes to your ultimate goal.
What is the one thing that inspired you to keep hustling despite not seeing any traction?
Considering the alternative. It was difficult sometimes to keep going, but giving up and surrendering to the potential of not having my dream come true was not an option.
Do you think it is possible to create your dream life?
Of course! I don’t believe we’d be here if we couldn’t live in alignment with our deepest desires.
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We’re not meant to do this alone.
What strategies in your business did you implement to help it grow?
1- Focusing on growing my email list above all else. This meant investing in ecourses and people to teach me how, investing in advertising, and trying SO many different types of
emails, subject lines, sales techniques… you name it. It was a lot of trial and error and a big investment of time and money, but paid off above all else.
2- Finding support. We’re not meant to do this alone. My timeline sped up a lot when I started learning directly from others who had already accomplished what I was on a mission
to learn.
3- Staying consistent with my marketing. No dabbling!
If you could start from scratch, what is the one thing you would do?
Go ‘all in’ sooner. Looking back, I thought that it was taking me so invest was that I was being responsible by not spending money. I also thought my waiting to raise prices or
launch new programs was responsible. In hindsight, I was only holding myself back. If I could do it again, I would’ve been more proactive about getting out of my own way and
committing to my own success.
Do you thinking blogging relies more on passion than skillset?
It’s a mix of both. But I do think that more people have the talent than people that have the persistence. We can blame our talent (or lack thereof) for why things aren’t taking off,
but typically, it’s more about a lack of perseverance than a lack of talent.
What are the skills bloggers need if they want to be successful?
Content creation and marketing. You can choose whatever content you desire to create, so there’s no need to beat yourself up if writing isn’t your thing… you can do video instead!
That said, marketing is unavoidable. There’s no point in creating content if no one finds out about it.
If you could, what advice would you give to your younger self about anything?
Believe in yourself and know that you are worthy of any desire that you have. Don’t let your past failures or shortcomings define what you’re capable of now. There is a whole
world of wonder waiting for you and you cannot stand in your own way of it.
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Don’t let your past failures or shortcomings define what you’re capable of now.
Do you have anything that you would like to share?
Here my case study on how I went from $200/month in side hustle income to $4,000/month and even exceeded my 9-5 income WHILE STILL at my day job.
How can people reach you?
Website: Urban20Something.com
Instagram: @Urban20Something
Keep Pushing
Vanessa Gowora