Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Schroeder.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a South Florida native who grew up always feeling different like I could do more, I could be more. I was fortunate enough to grow up with parents who believed in me 110%. My dad taught me to remove the word “can’t” from my vocabulary at a really young age and my mom was the perfect role model of “always do your best.” She has an insane work ethic. Because of these influences in my life, I always did good in school. However, I always felt like school wasn’t enough. I craved experiences more than anything, and that’s where my love of travel stemmed from, which I’ll get to. It wasn’t until Junior year of High School that I discovered my creativity and digital design skills. So, I signed up for yearbook class. Frankly, because it sounded easy but little did I know it would change the direction of my future immensely. By Senior year, I landed the position as photography editor (an early passion of mine), came up with the creative idea for the yearbook cover, and was awarded the most creative page in the book. This book was like my pride and joy and I truly was so proud of myself for helping create such a memorable piece history for my school and classmates
After High School, I found myself at Florida Atlantic University studying Marketing. Why not Graphic Design you ask? At the time, I thought a business degree would get me further, even though my soul was craving art. So I took the next best thing and opted in for a concentration in Advertising- that’s pretty creative right?!
I struggled hard my last few semesters of college. Between the idea of real-life kicking in, a family member diagnosed with Cancer, a rough break up, and five core curriculum classes, I landed myself in the hospital with stomach ulcers. That was my first real taste of the impact stress can have on your body.
I healed, graduated college, found my current partner, and decided to ditch the “American dream” and America in general and fly off to the United Kingdom with my boyfriend, where we lived for six months. Our goal was a year, but two broke corporate misfits quickly ran out of money after backpacking Europe for five weeks while there.
That trip was everything to me. I look back on it often and shock myself at how fearless I was then. Anyway, after six months we decided it was time to go home and start a “real life” or so they say. Before we even left England, I landed an interview at one of the top advertising agencies in South Florida, so I was actually looking forward to this new adventure. And less than two weeks of being back in the US, I had a starting position in the creative project management department.
I spent almost three years in the corporate grind and, to most that probably sounds like nothing, but to someone who was just traveling part of the world right before starting and growing up always feeling like there had to be something “more,” it was a long time. I fell in love with travel and it was about eight months into my career that I started craving it again.
That feeling so early on meant… Let’s just say, I’m not one for following the rules. And Facebook knew that. I was served a sponsored ad for a digital nomad community outside of Bali and I was instantly hooked. My entire life changed from that single ad- funny how I was in advertising. I immediately dropped $500 on two courses that would teach me how to build my own business online using skills that I already had: some graphic design and marketing. I spent my last year in corporate leaving the house at 8am, getting home around 7pm, and then working past midnight building a side business- a fully remote brand design studio. I was determined to get to the point where I could quit my corporate job and run my own business full time. Eventually, I signed my first client, who paid me monthly about what I was making at my corporate job for HALF the time.
And that’s where my business journey began. My corporate experience was a huge part of where I am now. For three years, I learned the ins and outs of how million dollar brands run successful ads and how the power of branding can scale you even further. I worked directly with creative directors, designers, and copywriters and was always consciously retaining everything I was consuming. That’s where I truly fell in love with Branding and how Nomadic Media & Design was formed.
My first year running my business full time was strictly design-focused. I was creating visual brands and websites for other entrepreneurs. After a year, I pivoted into the online coaching space and became a Personal Branding Coach for women entrepreneurs- helping them master their messaging, create a powerful brand story, and start aligning their business with who they are as an individual. Plus, they get all the pretty stuff too like the logos, colors, website, etc. The work I do gets more powerful each and every day that I’m an entrepreneur. It’s a wild world out here but having something to stand for, that means something. And that’s what I get to help my clients do.
Has it been a smooth road?
Hah! Not in any form of it. Remember when I said in College I got my first taste of the impact stress can have on one’s body? Yeah, that was nothing compared to what I experienced running my own business the last two years.
Let’s be real, sponsored ads or any ad really is always going to show you the highlight reel. Heck, social media in general is a highlight reel. So, it was easy for me to get sucked into this digital nomad, travel the world, “work whenever you want” facade. It all sounded amazing when I was sitting in a cubicle for 9 hours a day reminiscing on hostel bar crawls and Switzerland mountain hikes.
But entrepreneurship is anything but smooth. It’s basically like riding The Hulk at Islands of Adventure Orlando 100x a day- yeah it’s fun, but the constant dips and sharp turns really get to a person.
The first six months were great! I was taking advantage of having my own hours by hitting the beach every single day and stopping work at 3pm. But then you start to realize, “oh crap, I actually need to make some money here.” So, after six months of not signing a single new client, I decided I needed some guidance. It took me eight months to invest in my first ever business coach. Money mindset issues have always been a thing growing up in a middle-class family where you were taught to save any little bit of money you get. I pushed through those fears and dropped my first 2.5k on a business coach and from there, continued to invest in myself through high-level coaching support.
My business started to scale and I started thinking that I might actually be good at this business owner thing. Side note, that feeling doesn’t last long- remember the roller coaster analogy?
I eventually found myself obsessing over results, working 12 hours days, and doing the complete opposite of why I started this business in the first place – to experience freedom in many forms. In the online entrepreneur space, it’s so easy to get caught up in the “shoulds” and the shiny strategies that everyone seems to be selling. It’s also easy to really let yourself go and put self-care on the back burner. And that’s just what I did.
My mindset went to crap, I was prioritizing my business over myself and my relationships and the result of that wasn’t income, clients, or freedom but anxiety, stress, and self-diagnosed depression.
I eventually landed myself back in the hospital from severe back spasms caused by lack of physical activity and you guessed it, stress.
When was I going to learn? That time I did. I believe some of us have to experience things many times before we actually learn the lesson.
Because of that wake-up call, I was able to completely change my mindset and commit to the things that actually serve me. I learned to let go of the hustle mentality and adopt the idea that business CAN be easy. I invested in spiritual work and coaches and have done some healing around past traumas- and that’s what truly changed the game for me. But, there’s still a lot of work to be done.
I’ve pivoted my message since then and now my mission lies with helping women entrepreneurs create a feel-good brand and business that makes an impact and an income. We can’t have a successful brand that is an extension of ourselves IF we aren’t taking care of ourselves, setting healthy boundaries, and actually living that life of freedom we set out to live. Without these challenges, my work wouldn’t be as powerful as it is today.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Clearly, I love branding and not just from a visual standpoint but also from an embodiment standpoint. Guiding my clients to embody their brand is where real transformation and impact happens. That’s where I truly feel fulfilled in the work I do. So, like I said I initially started my business as a brand & graphic design studio and after a year, transitioned into the coaching space where I offer a hybrid experience for my clients. Both brand design and brand/business coaching is my most popular client experience and package. With this offer, I’m able to really help my clients create their brand identity. That means getting clear in the reputation they want to hold, establish values and a voice they can run their business from and learn how to attract dream clients through powerful messaging and storytelling.
I give them the strategy but the beauty of the work I get to do with personal brands is just giving my clients permission to just be them.
The power of personal branding is that there is no one size fits all, as entrepreneurs, there’s a lot of online noise and people claiming that their way is the only way. And after being in business for a few years now, I can tell you it’s just not true. The best results I’ve seen in my business is when I’m working with people who constantly remind me to check in with myself and see if what I’m doing is in fact aligned with who I am.
And the work I do helps people see who they are, the things they value, and how they can align their business and goals with just that.
I’m most proud of the transformations I’ve helped facilitate with those I’ve worked with. From seeing their faces light up when they receive a visual identity that’s beautiful and reflective of who they are to watching them embody their identity and feel confident in having a voice and something to stand for. I once had a client say, “She is not only a witty witchy professional at visuals and branding, I would strongly recommend her as a life coach too. The amount of confidence she can build in you representing yourself as your brand is priceless!” It’s all just so powerful.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely! The power of having an online business is you can build it from anywhere and with the Covid-19 situation that has occurred recently, I think people are really starting to see the power of having an online business. Being in a major city like Miami and the surrounding areas, I think there’s an advantage. We have co-working spaces, artist-inspired communities, entrepreneurial workshops, and so many connections that can be built not only online, but locally too. The work we can do truly is limitless.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nomadicmediaco.com
- Email: carly@nomadicmediaco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadicmediaco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomadicmediaco/
Image Credit:
Photography by my dad John Schroeder at Memory Shots
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