Meet Trailblazer Kelsey Chapman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Chapman.

Kelsey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Four years ago, I started blogging with a friend. We had big aspirations to leverage a blogging platform for our dream of writing and publishing books. But we had ZERO dollars in the budget to market our passion project, so we had to get creative in getting our brand out there. We knew that we could create excellent content, but the likelihood of someone stumbling across our blog without marketing it was slim-to-none.

From there, we decided to pick one social media outlet, learn everything there was to know and utilize it to introduce our brand to the world — enter Instagram. Within just three months, we hit 10k followers, and within the year 40k. I know, we were surprised too!

We had no idea that our passion project would develop such a loyal following. It was as big of a surprise to us as to anyone. And our metric of success wasn’t just about followers, these numbers translated to visitors to our blog to read what we believed was encouraging and inspiring content, thus propelling us closer to our dream of reaching these same people with a book.

Fast forward to today and I am in the midst of writing my first manuscript with a Fall 2020 date for the book to be on shelves. Who would have thought a blog developed as a passion project could be the launching pad for one of my biggest dreams come to life?!

Rewind back to 2015, it was my initial stroke of luck with Instagram and realizing how many doors one platform opened for me that left me hungry for more. I was eager to dive deeper down the rabbit hole of digital marketing because if utilizing one platform could open so many doors for me, it could also help others to build exposure for their own dreams.

By the end of year one, I decided to launch done-for-you services which have since evolved into compiling what I’ve learned into eCourses and mentorship programs.

It was learning the ropes with my own brand that showed me just how much I love learning a marketing strategy, applying it, and sharing with anyone who would listen. I had a knack for marketing and helping to create brand awareness and wanted to help other small business owners to harness the power of digital marketing to create awareness for their businesses.

Today, I spend my time mostly in the consulting and mentoring spaces. It is a privilege to come alongside dreamers through eCourses, my year-long incubator Dram to Done, and in-person strategy sessions.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with anything, my business has evolved over time and had significant seasons of running and resting. A few years into my business, one algorithm changed that totally flipped my digital marketing agency upside down. It was a wake-up call that was a long time coming and had me rebuilding my business from the ground up.

In a way, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to simplify, to “trim the fat” on expenses, and move from done-for-you services to consultation. And it was a huge mindset lesson that expansion is often painful.

If you imagine a balloon stretching, one would imagine that the stretching is probably uncomfortable. For me, this rebuilding season was exactly that – an uncomfortable step in the direction of expansion.

As the old adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And in those hard moments in business, this phrase couldn’t be truer. While those hard seasons aren’t always rainbows and sunshine, they build resilience that will serve you well in your future endeavors.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Kelsey Chapman is a rising thought leader and online educator who helps creatives and entrepreneurs build their brand, steward their influence and work from freedom. She is passionate about teaching creatives how to walk with purpose in their gifts and live from a place of identity and rest so that they can thrive through all of life’s ups and downs.

After graduating college with a classic liberal arts degree and attending a program in Mozambique, Kelsey discovered that her itch to be her own boss wasn’t going away. She realized that her business savvy and desire to empower others were best utilized in the spheres of brand development and digital strategy, with a healthy dose of encouragement. In just two years, she transformed her part-time blog and side-hustle into a six-figure business. She currently leads an engaged audience of 90,000 followers online, hosts The Radiant Podcast, and empowers and equips female entrepreneurs through Dream To Done, her online mentorship program.

After coaching hundreds of creatives and working alongside some of the best in the business, Kelsey honed the skills necessary to become an influential speaker, writer, and thought leader. She wholeheartedly believes that dreams are worth pursuing and loves walking alongside those with big dreams to bring their visions to life in a tangible way!

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
100% of the biggest barriers is our own mindset. It might be our ideas around hustle, the belief that you have to be busy to be successful, or fears around raising our prices, but we often are the main thing holding ourselves back.

Sure there are forces outside of ourselves that can often act as a barrier, but the biggest hurdles to overcome (and the ones we are in control of) often exist in the twelve inches between our head and heart.

For me, mindset work has been a consistent priority in running my business. You never know what hurdles might creep up in any given season – money blocks, imposter syndrome, fear of the unknown – but with the right support, it’s totally conquerable.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kelseychapman.com
• Email: hello@kelseychapman.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/kelschapman
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelschapman
• Other: itunes.kelseychapman.com

Image Credit:
Jess Henderson

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