1.8 Brian, Creative Thinker & Art Director

A wise man would’ve set metrics. A smart person would’ve had milestones…mine was more kind of based on providing for the family.

– Brian’s response on how he measured success when he first started his business

---

---

---

---

Listen to the Work From Home Forever Podcast

NoCommute Newsletter

Looking for work-from-home jobs? Subscribe to our friends at the NoCommute newsletter. NoCommute is a free daily newsletter with just-posted remote jobs. Subscribe for free!

Meet Brian, Creative Thinker & Art Director

Brian joins us this episode to talk about his transition as a Creative Director for large corporations to running his own creative agency, ⁠Space Monkey Designs⁠, for the last 7 years.

Brian talks about his early manual labor jobs and how he witnessed the output of his hard work and earning his check for the week. This strong work ethic has been key to Brian’s approach in his corporate work career and running his own business.

On this episode, we talk about:

• Brian’s initial foray into running his own company presented some challenges early on
• He talks about his “brand of you” approach to his career and how he presents himself from his work with clients, colleagues and how he presents himself on social media
• Work-cations he and his wife take as they combine offsite work assignments and mini vacations

If you want to connect with Brian, you can find him on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ or his website, ⁠spacemonkeydesigns.com⁠.

Thanks for listening to our show!

As a new podcast, we really appreciate the positive feedback, reviews you leave for us on the podcast platform of your choice. It will help us get noticed and will help others find our show and help us to find new guests who want to tell their Work From Home Forever stories.

If you want to be a guest on the show, please visit our website, ⁠⁠wfhforever.com/tellyourstory⁠⁠. Please complete the brief online survey and we will be in contact with you.

Please subscribe to our show to download our latest episodes and if you like our show, please, share it with a friend.

Q & A with Brian

Why did you want to Work From Home Forever?

• I wanted to be able to pick and choose the projects that I worked on without having to conform to the narrative of companies that I didn’t align with 100% of the time.

How long have you been Working From Home, Forever?

• Going into year 7 of being self employed.

What trade offs, if any, did you make in order to Work From Home Forever?

• A paycheck every two weeks, benefits, the all elusive ‘off button’, social interaction at an arm’s length.

How do you manage work/life balance Working From Home, Forever?

• All work, no life… honestly my kids are grown, it’s just my wife and I. We can work from the road, so we have redefined work life balance by going on ‘work-cations’.

What’s your best advice to others who want to Work From Home Forever?

• Get an accountant, track your taxes, and clearly define ‘the brand of you’ and stay true it.

What are your three must-haves to Work From Home, Forever?

• Designated work area, designated non-work zones, and comfortable chairs.

S3 E5 Corey Walker: From Marketing Specialist to Instagram for Dummies – Work From Home Forever

In this episode of the Work From Home Forever podcast, we chat with Corey Walker, a social media agency owner and co-author of "Instagram for Dummies" and "Instagram for Business for Dummies." Corey shares her journey from working in a corporate cubicle to running her own successful social media agency from home. The catalyst for her transition was the desire to spend more time with her young daughter, who was in daycare while Corey felt unproductive in her office cubicle. Determined to find a better work-life balance, she began freelancing and eventually established her agency, The Marketing Specialist. Corey highlights the importance of having a dedicated office space at home and setting clear boundaries with clients to maintain a healthy work-life balance. She discusses how the rise of short-form video content has transformed digital marketing, noting the challenges small business owners face in creating engaging videos. Despite the obstacles, she emphasizes the necessity of leveraging platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn to connect with clients and grow their businesses. Corey also touches on the importance of maintaining personal connections and taking breaks to avoid burnout. She shares strategies for managing client expectations and stresses the value of networking and continuous learning to stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of social media marketing. Throughout the interview, Corey provides practical advice for those considering a transition to remote work, whether for a company or as an entrepreneur. Connect with Corey: Website: The Marketing Specialist Instagram: ⁠⁠CoreyCWalker ________________________  Do you love the show? Check out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠official merch page⁠⁠⁠ ⁠on Etsy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and support the show! ________________________

1. S3 E5 Corey Walker: From Marketing Specialist to Instagram for Dummies 32:24
2. S3 E4 Stay Fit While You Sit: Ergonomic Tips with Mike Jones 30:57
3. S3 E3 Creating a Kind Workplace: Michael G. Neece on Leading with Kindness 36:30
4. S3 E2 From Family Therapy to Bestselling Author: Jack Lawrence's Career Pivot 30:05
5. S3 E1 Building a Remote-First Culture: Insights from Danielle Cuomo of Virtual Assist USA 27:52