Story & Lesson Highlights with Sierra Scott of SoCal

We recently had the chance to connect with Sierra Scott and have shared our conversation below.

Sierra, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
People are funny, so there are a lot of misconceptions, but currently, the thought that AI will solve all their problems. A lot of times customers are like, “AI can do that” because they’re skeptical about hiring a person if they can get AI to do it for cheaper, or free. My answer is always, “Sure. It definitely can.” Which is an answer that’s true; I absolutely agree and believe that. However, my followup to them is always to ask 1) Do you know how to use AI? 2) How long is it going to take you to learn it? (if they don’t) 3) Can you tell when it’s wrong, and if so could you fix it? 4) Will it execute your vision the way you actually envision it? AI is great, it can do a lot of things – it can code, create art, give you guidance… but it’s a tool, and tools are only as good as the tool wielder.

So yeah, if you’re thinking of replacing a human made product with AI instead, just remember there are a bunch of questions you should be asking yourself and if any of the answers are no, maybe or I don’t know, just get a developer.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Sierra. Some people call me I.T. Girl as well. I’m a Software Developer, Entrepreneur and sometimes model, all within the arts and education space. I work with a lot of small to medium sized businesses helping them build their websites and brands, sometimes from the ground up and sometimes as a rebrand. My audience and clients come to me for advice on education, how to get into tech, how to build their businesses using tech and hacks on learning.

If you’ve got a business and you’re looking to start or grow your business in a smart and affordable way – I’m your girl.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I’d say at the root, the thing that breaks the bonds between people is undervaluing them. It’s something that happens all the time & a lot of times, without us even meaning to. On the most basic level, people’s work tends to be undervalued – we saw it most clearly during the pandemic and again now during the government shutdown. You had the lowest paid workers going to work while everyone else stayed home, and TSA going to work recently without pay. If you work and took time getting degrees and/ or certifications and then being underpaid or people questioning why they should pay the rate you quote them. Immediately that breaks bonds. If you’re undervaluing someone’s work worth, I guarantee they’ve lost respect for you.

Then on the more interpersonal side, undervaluing someone’s feelings is the quickest way to break a bond. If someone tells you something or shows you some sort of vulnerability, and you dismiss it… out. Immediately their feelings for you are going to change.

To restore the bond after it’s been broken… that’s difficult. To be honest, I’m not sure that they ever get fully restored, but if you want to try, accountability should be taken. It’s always a good first step. Also, making amends in whatever way is appropriate. If it’s work value – pay people what they’re worth. If it’s emotions, do the thing the person wanted you to do in the first place so maybe they feel that their reaction/ concerns were understood.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
I miss when social media was fun. It’s just not that fun anymore. I don’t scroll that often, but when I do, even the “feel good” content is 90% engineered to induce a certain response. You can see it, and you can feel it, there’s just a level of being disingenuous that’s palpable. There are very few genuinely sincere people there now and I miss when it was just mostly ‘outcasts’ and kinda socially awkward or super artsy people who just wanted to share their interests and creations… I think we’re in the network television era of the internet now and I miss when it was less like a giant, never ending ad.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I LOVE foundations! Such a weird thing to say right? lol Truly though, I live by foundations! In my opinion, the easiest way to tell a fad from a foundational shift is if it’s truly unique. For example – the wheel; Before the wheel, we were carrying things ourselves right? We were maybe using animals or sacks but we didn’t have anything even remotely like the wheel that would allow us to transport things in that way – MASSIVE foundational shift! Then we’re gonna skip forward a bit, but, cars! Again, transporting us and things in a way that we couldn’t before – massive foundational shift! Built upon the wheel, but enhanced to a level that essentially turned it into something that’s way beyond the original foundation. That’s how I distinguish fads and actual, true foundational shifts; and to bring it to today’s perspective and a more modern conversation, our current technological “advances”… AI – foundational shift. It’s a huge enhancement (for better or worse) on the internet and how we work. Blockchain and NFTs, fads. They serve a purpose for some, but overall, not life changing enough for our species as a whole to be a foundational shift; at this point at least. So, if it changes everyone’s life – foundational; if it only changes the lives of some – fad.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Have I ever gotten what I wanted and found it unsatisfying?… A lot of times!

I’d say most times it’s because it came way after I had moved on and already come to terms with not having that thing.

For example, I wanted to be a singer growing up – that is what I trained for. Everyday I was singing and in the beginning I was really not good lol and I had terrible stage fright to boot; I was really shy… so many things. I never gave up though and for years I just practiced and showed up. Finally when I was 16 or 17 this new music production company came to my school choir room and said they were holding auditions for singers and that any of us could audition if we wanted. So I went, miraculously made the cut and ended up being put with this duo who already happened to be best friends. Initially I was so excited because I had girl friends, but these girls were 18, they liked to sing like me and it just seemed like after years of watching American Idol and just putting my heart & soul into it, I was FINALLY getting a chance to do what I loved.

Turns out, as with many girl groups, we didn’t gel. I think at that age and me being a pretty ‘boring’ kid (I didn’t drink or have a boyfriend or anything) they tried to stage a coup and kick me out the group, which honestly kinda hurt but I picked myself up and got over it. A few weeks later the label called me after we had all already parted ways and told me they decided to let the girls go and wanted to give me a solo project instead which is what I had thought I wanted before I had even joined the group. With everything that happened though, I was very cautious about it and ended up deciding it wasn’t for me because I had mentally already moved on.

That happens a lot of times for me and I’m sure for others where you’re so bent on getting something you want. You work for it every day, but then something happens or it just doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to, so you mentally move on and then when it does present itself the way you actually wanted in the first place, you’re kind of over it already.

I like to think of it as genie wishes now. Strive for what you want, but be incredibly, over specific so you get exactly that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.itgirl.dev
• Instagram: www.instagram.cmo/sierrascottxoxo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itgirlll

Image Credits
Inga Nova Photography