She’s been pushing boundaries and loving content marketing since her school years, but it was only when she was pregnant with her child in 2015 that she realised she wanted to be an inspiration, and leave a legacy in her name.

Swati Joshi left her corporate job and has since experienced some of the raw ups and downs of being an entrepreneur as she helps other ambitious business people thrive. She juggles family, work, and a social life, while being successful and growing in wisdom. This Spotlight Interview exemplifies that doing what you’re naturally skilled at can be a powerful path for business.

Tell us about you and your business/career, and what you were doing before?

I run a digital marketing firm called Influenshine, and it all started when I realized that I had been doing content marketing all my life! I was always involved in my school and university publications as an editor and contributor, and creating content came very naturally to me. So I started writing for a few businesses and for Huffington Post, and also learnt about SEO and social media.

I realized how powerful these tools were for businesses to stand out and succeed in today’s world, and so I started my own company with a mission to help businesses survive and thrive in this digital world. As the whole world is being disrupted by innovative digital technologies and the barriers to entry have become low, business has also become extremely competitive and complex.

I also had a quarter-life crisis when I was pregnant in 2015, and wanted to leave a strong legacy for my child when she grows up. It gave me the opportunity to rethink and re-orient my life. I quit my corporate job and started running my own business soon after.

How To Know If Entrepreneurship Is Right For You

Some of my friends tell me that they have an idea but they are not sure how to make it happen for various reasons.

My advice to them is that being an entrepreneur is a personal choice, and you should educate yourself about the pros and cons of doing it. It’s immensely satisfying, and also very challenging.

There are extreme highs, and extreme lows too. If you have a strong belief in your purpose, and have the right support system of friends and family, then definitely go for it. You can become whoever you want to be if you are determined, action-oriented and plan well.

Finding Strength In Work

Running your own business is very demanding, and I have done it with a small baby at home. There have definitely been times when I have felt like giving up, especially after spending a sleepless night with a crying baby; but I never did.

I believe strongly in what I do. I am a quick learner and I push my boundaries all the time. My husband has been a huge support, and if there’s one reason that I did not give up – it’s him. He has been a guide, a mentor, a friend, a supporter and, when needed, a sounding board.

My advice to fellow professionals who feel like calling it quits would be to draw support from those around you. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and talk to them when things are really low.

Sorry, You Can’t Do It Alone

My biggest challenge is to communicate to entrepreneurs the benefits of hiring a professional to handle certain jobs, instead of trying to do everything by themselves – digital marketing being one of them. Firstly, it takes them away from their core business and leaves them with less time to handle everything else.

Secondly, building up expertise takes time and practice, and they may be surprised with the results that a professional can bring to tasks – such as creating content. They may be saving in the short term, but think of all the missed opportunities!

Cash is like oxygen for any business, but having an open mind and being receptive to new trends and ideas can open doors for their business. I wish small businesses would look into the value and benefits of the marketing services, and think of it as an investment to grow their business instead of just a cost.

Start Early, Don’t Wait For Perfection

If I could do it all over again, I’d definitely have started earlier. A young business and a small baby isn’t the ideal combination. The other thing I would have done differently is to start networking with like-minded people earlier. I waited for a long time before going to get-togethers and networking meetings, and found them very useful and inspirational.

Use the power of digital marketing to reach your potential customers online, establish trust and authority, and become a leader in your industry.

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