"Trust your voice and vision" with Marisa Donnelly

Marisa Donnelly is a writer, editor, teacher/tutor, and founder of Be A Light Collective, a virtual and San Diego based writing/editing services company with a mission of re-shaping what traditional education looks like through a relationship-based learning lens. She is the author of Somewhere On A Highway, a collection of poems, and has published thousands of articles accumulating over 21.2+ million page views with bylines in Huffington Post, Bustle, BossBabe, Thought Catalog, and more. Marisa is the founder of Momish Moments, a vertical dedicated to empowering journeys of motherhood, and co-founder of Step By Step Parents, a resource platform for blended families. She currently resides in Ocean Beach, San Diego with her boyfriend, his son, and their dog, Styles. You can read more about her journey on her website, or connect with her socially on Facebook and Instagram.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago with a vision of becoming a teacher and writer since I was probably as young as four years old. My upbringing was a mix of creative and analytical—my mother was an artist and interior designer and my father was a systems engineer—so my brain, even from an early age, was pulled in many directions. 

I started my first blog when I was thirteen. Flash forward a few years, and I attended a small liberal arts university in upper Iowa where everything *officially* began. In my final two years of school, I was working on two 150-page written thesis projects, building three different blogs (education, personal, and healthy living), submitting my writing to various online verticals, and also getting my feet wet in the education world. When I was in the middle of my student teaching experience in my senior year, an article I had submitted to an online magazine went viral! On the heels of that, I applied and secured a full-time Staff Writer and Editor position. I worked for this magazine for several years before parting ways to start my own business. Now, I run several verticals across all my passion areas—education, lifestyle, parenting, relationships, fitness/health, and community—and I am incredibly blessed to work with clients worldwide.

What inspired you to start your business?

I have always been a multi-passionate person. My business, Be A Light Collective, really started from a drive to want to grow and help others through blending both of my main passions—teaching and writing—in a way that just wasn’t possible working for a larger company. 

I wanted to be able to invest in each of my contributing writers rather than simply “accept” or “reject” their work. I wanted to build relationships and have the freedom to share my voice with many outlets as opposed to one. My desire to connect with others was the deciding factor that pushed me to launch Be A Light Collective. Not only has this business provided the opportunity for me to pursue the desires of my heart, but it’s also become a community that has grown alongside me. I’m truly blessed. 

Where is your business based?

Be A Light Collective is based in San Diego, California but we are a virtual business—meaning anyone from anywhere can connect and work with us—as long as you have an internet connection.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

This sounds silly, but one of the first steps I took in actually starting my business was being real with myself about my fear and the fact that I was only holding myself back. I had a lot of negative self-talk before launching: “I don’t know what I’m doing,” “There are so many businesses out there,” “I don’t have a business background,” etc. and it almost kept me from starting. 

After I was able to push back against the fear (which is honestly the hardest part!), I started by creating a firm financial foundation. I researched what costs were involved in setting up an LLC, registering, getting an agent, etc. and made sure I was taking the necessary steps to start without feeling like I was in over my head. I also created social media platforms in order to bring awareness as I worked behind-the-scenes. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

What’s worked for me has been social media and prioritizing community. Social media is obviously effective in the way you can communicate with people all over the world, but in terms of community, I have always focused on relationships first and I think that’s what has drawn people in. 

When you know you’re not only getting services but entering into a support system—which is critical for working on writing as it’s very personal—then you’re more willing to connect and feel comfortable. (Which is the goal!)

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenges have been learning my own strengths, weaknesses, and negative voices. I launched my business as a one-woman show. While this was great (and in some ways still is), it’s also isolating and a big burden to bear alone. Something I’ve had to overcome (and if I’m being honest, I’m still working on it!) is the fact that I don’t have to wear my independence as a badge of honor. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to put down the load and let others carry it from time to time. 

I’ve also had to learn about my own weaknesses and failures and look them in the face (which isn’t easy, by the way). Being honest with yourself about things you could have done better is hard, but it’s necessary to work if you want to grow purposefully.

I’ve also had to battle negative voices, largely from myself. If I were to give advice to any budding business owners or entrepreneurs, it would be to recognize that sometimes the greatest enemy you’ll ever face is yourself. Please don’t lose sight of the reason why you started and hold onto that, even when you’re fighting with your own reflection. 

How do you stay focused?

I’m driven to be successful at my business because it’s something I’ve created from the ground up. Knowing that I have “skin in the game” is what keeps me going. What goes well (or what doesn’t) is a reflection of me and how much effort I’ve put in, so that pushes me to work really hard.

I also have a business with many different facets—content writing, editing, tutoring, writing coaching, social media content creation, etc.—which helps me to stay focused because there’s always something new I’m doing or working on. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

What sets Be A Light Collective apart is that we focus on relationships first. You can find an editor or coach anywhere these days, but choosing someone from a random online search doesn’t mean that person will invest in you and your craft. It doesn’t mean that person will truly *get it* and pour their heart into what you’re working on. That’s the difference with my company. We prioritize relationships and vulnerability, as this helps us learn about your vision and assist you in properly executing it—regardless of how big or small your project is. 

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

I lean on social media and word-of-mouth marketing quite often, but something else that has been very effective for me is creating strong websites. I can’t tell you how many people have found me and my services simply because of my website/business website. I would encourage anyone starting out to really work on this area because online *searchability* is so important.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Trust your voice and vision. This was the advice given to me in college by one of my favorite professors and it really stuck with me. He said it off-hand and I don’t think he even realized the weight of it, but his words inspired me to listen to the core of myself rather than my own doubts, insecurities, or outside judgments. 

If you’re feeling pushed to start a business, lean into that. If you’re inspired about something or feel driven to make a change, embrace that. Our inner feelings reveal so much to us, but too often we’re scared. Embrace that fear and trust yourself. You were meant to do something great.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

Such a great question! I think my current favorite app is Spotify because I love how I can choose a song and it will automatically create a playlist *mood* to help me write, relax, or get energized.

I don’t know if Medium classifies as a blog, per se, but I appreciate how many different writers, perspectives, and genuinely well-crafted content can be found on their pages. Lately, I’ve been really connecting with the “Human Parts” section. 

My favorite book is truly anything by Jodi Picoult, but probably Nineteen Minutes because it profoundly impacted how I see the world (especially because the first time I read it I was sixteen or seventeen). Her writing is incredible and I have always been in awe of how she captures narratives and perspectives from multiple characters.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Canva all the way! I love being able to create and customize my own graphics, as well as produce quality content for my clients without much hassle. I’m so thankful this platform came along because I’m a Photoshop novice and Canva helps to bridge that content creation gap. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

Such a great question! Two women I admire are Rachel Cargle for her fearlessness and authenticity and Jordan Lee Dooley for her transparency and devotion to her faith throughout her professional journey. I love how both of these women have evolved and how they’ve both created messages that resonate. 

How do you balance work and life?

Short answer: I don’t. Haha. Long answer: It’s a work in progress. I think what I’ve really tried to do is be intentional about the time I spend working vs. with my family. One of my *problems* (if you will) is that I love my work, so that makes it hard to break away sometimes. But in becoming a bonus mom to my boyfriend’s son over the past three years, I’ve learned the value of disconnecting and being present—so I strive to create my own boundaries and balance with both. (Sometimes that looks like working at 3 AM so I can have late afternoons off…not sure if that’s balance, but again, it’s a work in progress. Haha.)

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I love free writing or crafting poetry, talking with friends or family members on the phone, taking the dog for a walk, going to the beach, or sitting with my boyfriend’s son while he reads. As a business owner, I think I’ve really learned to appreciate the little things because they offer a break from the often craziness of a workday and they remind me of how blessed I am.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I’m in the process of launching a YouTube channel that’s focused on helping people disconnect from their busy lives and reprioritize when they’re feeling “stuck” or “frazzled.” I’m also working on some online courses and products for families who are struggling with distance learning/remote learning and don’t know where to turn. There’s a book draft somewhere in the to-do list, too.  

How can our readers connect with you?

I’m active on Facebook and Instagram primarily. I have my website and business website, as well as the VulnerABILITY Podcast if you like listening to people talk! But for more of the behind-the-scenes, you can check out my personal blog.