Joyfully Ambitious: Emily Clark
We all dream of it at some point in our career, but Emily Clark actually did it: She left an established, 11-year job as an elementary teacher and started over as a copywriter. Now, she runs Elementary Marketing (appropriate name), a simple content marketing company that helps small businesses tell their stories and spread the word.
“I have always loved to write, but there’s also that strategy piece,” Emily says. “I think the teacher in me loves it. Getting people from point A to point C, and helping them build that bridge. That’s what I really enjoy doing with small businesses.”
Here, we talk career change, work-life balance, and finding community in solitary work.
Name: Emily Clark
Pronouns: She/her
Website: Elementarymarketing.com
Social media: @elementarymarketing.co
Was there a moment when you knew you were absolutely on the right path?
No! [Laughs.] Long story short, I totally became an entrepreneur by accident. Before I did what I do now, I was an elementary school teacher. I loved my career. I taught 11 years. I was like, this is not a career where I'm going to make it to 60 doing this. It's just not going to happen.
I've always loved to write, and I totally got targeted by an ad on Instagram that was selling me a copywriting course. That's how I landed what I'm doing now. Do I know I'm in the right field? I sure don't. Maybe don't include that in the blog. [Laughs.]
How do you handle self-doubt?
Relying on my people. I am a really loud self-critic. I would just say get people in your life that are really loud cheerleaders that believe in you when the voice is too loud and you know you're listening to it too much.
Is there a life or business mantra that you live by?
For me, wholehearted living is very important. Who I am in my business is who I am in my personal life. Connection and integrity are really important to me and my own growth, so bringing that to my business as well as my personal life.
How do you find joy in moments of uncertainty?*
Honestly, it's a lot of reminding myself like, I am okay in this moment right here. Trying to get really present. Of course, we all think about the future and we freak out, especially when things feel uncertain, especially with running a business. You have fluctuating income and it feels not as steady, but it just is life. I feel like all of us have learned, especially with the pandemic, like there’s nothing certain, so learning to ebb and flow with it. In those moments, I try to get in my body if I can. Go on a walk outside, or get on my yoga mat. But really get present and be like, you are okay. I know you're stressed about these things, but you can enjoy the fact that you have a hot cup of coffee and are getting to work from home and not an elementary classroom with a bunch of screaming kids, you know?
Is there another woman in your field that you admire?
I have some mentors who I really enjoy. Anna Hensel, they’re a website copywriter based here in Columbus, and I just love how authentically they show up as themselves. They built their business truly aligned to their values and being unapologetically themselves at the same time. That is what I aspire to be.
What does community mean to you and how do you cultivate it?
Community means that you are showing up as you are, and in doing that you really do make space for other people to do the same. I think when you're in a room with people who are being honest. Being a business owner is totally exciting and really fun; it's also fucking terrifying. When you hear other people acknowledge that, you're able to exhale a little bit. I think community for sure is finding those people that you can be truly yourself with and who have your best interests at heart — and that you can support them as well.
Because you need it. If I didn't meet other people doing what I'm doing, I would've definitely quit by now. It's a very solitary thing, writing and writing copy. You need a community desperately. It helps you not feel so alone.
What is your favorite part of your work?
I really enjoy the writing. I really enjoy getting to know businesses and what's important to them and getting to tell that story through their website copy in a way that they're like, wow, you really captured like exactly what I'm about. I really just enjoy the delight. That when you deliver something people are like, I love this, that feels very rewarding to me.
What is your favorite part of your day?
The fact I get to work at home with my dog. It’s the best.
What inspires you?
A lot. I'm easily inspired. In fact, I am somebody who is constantly reading nonfiction books on growth or downloading courses and I'm kind of like, you're too much in overload, so it's a sign of health for me to kind of lay the brakes a bit.
I've been finding a lot of comfort in nature in the last year of knowing that nature does not rush and things are always done. Trusting that the seeds you plant and tend well will harvest. It's just going to be okay. And the abundance nature provides. That has been a very good anchor for me in the last year.
