Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Formost.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The world opened up for me the moment I stopped pretending to be something I’m not.
I’ve always loved sharing stories in any and every way, whether it’s through writing, on stage, on screen, or even on social media. Because of my love for sharing stories and connecting with others, most people assume I’m an extrovert, but the truth is, I’ve always been secretly shy.
As a child, my parents were so concerned about my shyness they enrolled me in a community theatre program. You’d think an introvert would hate being on stage, but on the contrary, it allowed me to use my voice and connect with an audience as I’d never been able to in social situations.
I pursued a career in entertainment as an actress and writer for over a decade; I acted in plays in New York City, and I’ve been in major movies and TV shows in LA. But as time went on, I realized that the core of what really lit my fire wasn’t just performing, but rather, connecting to people through storytelling.
The more I dove into writing, the more “at home” I felt. When I took a fancy staff writing job at a women’s lifestyle site, I was exposed to a whole new world of women entrepreneurs who were building their dream businesses online. I was completely hooked and fascinated!
So when my entire team was laid off at the end of 2017, I was devastated. In fact, I was so devastated it threw me into a pretty deep depression. I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do next and I felt completely lost.
That’s when I made the most pivotal decision I’ve ever made: go to therapy.
Working with a therapist allowed me to define what I actually want out of life and embrace who I truly am. I learned how to say ‘no’, to set boundaries, and maybe most importantly, to get comfortable asking for help.
Through that deep work, I realized that I didn’t want to go back to working in an office, making someone else’s visions and dreams happen. I wanted to create my own business that helped other women like me who were afraid they were too old or too late to pursue a career they loved.
And that is how Magic Words Copywriting was born! I took my years of storytelling and writing skills, added a bunch of new skills on how to write for business, and created a company that helps women write how they talk, increase their sales, and create an online presence they’re proud of.
I have NEVER been more fulfilled or proud of what I’m sharing with the world!
Has it been a smooth road?
Running your own business comes with all kinds of challenges, both personal AND professional.
My biggest ongoing professional struggle has been busywork overwhelm. When you’re first starting out, you have to know how to do all things like email campaigns, social media, website building, etc. etc. And all that stuff doesn’t even have to do with actually working with clients! The best way I’ve found to handle it is to try and focus on one task at a time and to say ‘no’ to things that don’t actually move you closer to your goals.
Personally, I have struggled with what I like to call “comparisonitis”. Comparisonitis is the “disease” we all have sometimes where we compare ourselves to others who seem farther along than us. I’m constantly battling negative self-talk, imposter syndrome, and feeling like I’m behind all the time.
What helped me the most with battling “comparisonitis” was talking about it to other women online! That’s why I started by YouTube show “Find Your Magic”- a series of conversations with female entrepreneurs about what it’s REALLY like to do what you love.
Being open and vulnerable has helped me grow both as a human being as well as a business owner.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
The first question I usually get is, “what exactly IS ‘copywriting’?”
Copywriting is the art and science of using words to promote/sell a good or service. Anywhere you use words to promote your business, that’s “copy”. Websites, blog posts, emails, social media captions, and marketing campaigns are all examples of copywriting.
Literally, EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS needs copywriting!… But, writing can feel intimidating!
That’s where I come in.
I help female entrepreneurs find their “magic words” to clearly communicate who they are and what they offer in order to connect with and KEEP their dream clients.
What sets me apart is my deep sense of empathy…I don’t just want entrepreneurs to “sell” more, I want them to feel deeply seen and HEARD. A lot of copywriting companies are very focused on numbers and analytics and sales (which is absolutely part of what I do!). But my main goal is for women to feel completely heard, understood, and empowered in the echo chamber of the internet.
Besides business and copywriting resources and services, I film & produce a completely free YouTube series called “Find Your Magic” for women to talk about mental health and how it relates to business. It’s SO important to me to foster a sense of inclusion and belonging! We’re all just humans doin’ our best, after all.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely, I think LA is an excellent city for online entrepreneurs. There are so many of us out here! One of my favorite things about living and working in LA is that there are so many resources for those who work from home to connect and support each other in real life.
Plus, because of our beautiful weather, it’s a great place to take your laptop with you and do work out of the house. Working from home can be isolating, so living in a city as vibrant as LA gets us online creative entrepreneur types out of our sweatpants and into our communities!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.kelseyformost.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kelsey.writes
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelseyformostwrites
- Kelsey’s YouTube Show: Find Your Magic: http://www.youtube.com/c/kelseyformost
Image Credit:
Claude Charles, Shots By Top Notch
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
