I was recently featured in an article for Rebel Kin: "BOSS WOMEN EVERY ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD FOLLOW"
Find the article here: https://rebelkin.com/blogs/entrepreneur-library/boss-women-every-entrepreneur-should-follow
ROBBIN REAY - RADIO PERSONALITY & TV HOST
@robbinreay
Tell us a bit about yourself! Hi! I’m Robbin, full-time Radio & TV Host in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and CEO of SPADE Social Strategy, a Social Media Marketing company I launched in 2017. For over 12 years, I have been broadcasting in some of Canada’s largest cities, which also means managing the social media platforms of these large-scale Radio and Television stations. I learned that it is imperative to keep up with social trends, and over a long period of time, I realised that my knowledge and skills in social media could help propel entrepreneurs and small companies in my community on social media. In 2017, I launched SPADE Social Strategy, offering Social Media Management, Consulting, and Audits. I truly believe that keeping up with social media trends and nurturing your online brand with the right strategies can make an impressive difference for your business on a digital landscape. When I’m not embarrassing myself live on the radio waves or researching the perfect hashtags for my clients, I’m likely playing a variety of sports, google-mapping my next adventure, or filming a new Youtube video. Most recently - I launched a YouTube channel called ‘Robbin Gets Real’ in partnership with MTKS Adventures where we go backstage with artists like Kygo, go up in a hot air balloon, or food giant bison on camera. You can watch our latest episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnUskg42Vsw What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur? I love a good challenge. Being a solo-entrepreneur is anything but easy, and it takes a lot of time, effort and dedication to be successful. Having so many clients with such different goals and strategies on social media, I love being able to adapt to each individual project and watch them succeed by using strategies I’ve provided them with. Watching a business grow in the digital landscape is a beautiful thing; social media truly is an incredible way to connect to the world and convey your message efficiently. I also love being able to work from anywhere. Having the freedom to work from my laptop or my phone wherever and whenever I want is truly the digital dream! What motivates you?
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From the moment I wake up in the morning, I’m always motivated to make a difference by the time I lay back in bed at night. I consistently engage with many other entrepreneurs who hustle every day to achieve their dreams, and affiliating myself with these types of individuals is incredibly motivating. The feeling of success from completing a project, helping a client, or hitting a milestone truly keeps me on my toes and motivates me to constantly be working towards the next challenge. What is the biggest challenge for you as an entrepreneur? Social media is constant; you HAVE to keep up, and it doesn’t wait for anyone. I find it challenging to find the perfect balance where work doesn’t interfere with life. Sometimes it interferes with precious time with loved ones, or even just the time you have set aside for yourself. I often find myself cutting into my own “personal time” to put out fires for clients in need of my help. As important as it is to take time for yourself to relax, recharge and reflect, being an entrepreneur can certainly take much of your time and attention which can ultimately cause a lot of stress for you and those around you. I might add - I don’t deal with stress well, and that makes things even harder when you’re in the middle of such a balancing act. Do you follow a certain morning routine or daily schedule to maximize productivity and well-being? Can you describe/outline your typical day? First things first: Coffee! I wake up every morning and before I do anything - I put on a pot of coffee. Next, I open up my laptop and sip my coffee while completing and scheduling my projects for the day. Most of my work with SPADE is done during the mornings, and any social media strategies and client inquiries will also take place before 12PM. I usually make a small “brunch”, and while I stuff my face - I start prepping for the daily radio show. This is essentially combing the internet for anything relevant and relatable that we could convert into a conversation on the air. Around 1PM I drive to the radio station, voice any advertisements that clients need me to voice, and we’re live at 2PM through 7PM on KiSS 105.3 Ottawa! After work, if I’m not hosting an event or attending a show, I’ll hit hit them gym or come home to make a proper dinner. I usually schedule the evenings to have at least a few hours to myself, but as you know - social media never stops. I’ll tie any loose ends that need to be tied during the evening, and then spend quality time either on the phone with my loved ones across the country, or at home or out on the town with family and friends. What has been your most satisfying moment in business? That is an incredibly tough question! I’ve been so fortunate to be involved with many charity projects over the years, and there is no better feeling than working with your community to help those in need. In January of 2018, shortly after the launch of SPADE, I created an initiative where a portion of profits went towards Children’s Hospitals in Ontario. The combination of helping clients with their business needs, but also supporting those in need is a very gratifying and heart-warming feeling, and I applaud any business who goes above and beyond to give back. What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule? Productivity for me starts with managing your time VERY wisely! I don’t know if I could live without my Google Calendar; I have every appointment, reminder, and event colour-coded by the day so I don’t miss a beat. I use Google Docs more than any normal human should, and I constantly take notes on my phone when I have new ideas, client questions or general errands to complete. I find that keeping your thoughts organized can be a challenge, and taking the time to unwind is key to being productive when you need to be. I struggle to relax, and I’m also not a strong sleeper, but I’ve found that ASMR Youtube Videos really help focus my mind and relax my whole body when I need to “turn off my brain” for a bit. I know people think ASMR videos are borderline nuts, but they’ve helped me tremendously on my most anxious days! Eating healthy, taking my vitamins and exercising also helps my brain function at its peak so I’m as efficient as possible throughout the day. Oh, and coffee, obviously. haha How do you generate new ideas? I always tell people, “the hampster on a wheel in my brain never stops”! I feel like I’ve always had a very creative way of thinking. Generating new ideas usually comes from being aware of my surroundings. Whether that’s watching what my competitors are doing well, and where they could improve, or seeing something from a new angle by changing my perspective - I always seem to have new ideas flowing through me, some crazier than others haha. I also find that discussing my ideas out loud with other like-minded individuals helps take an idea from good to great! Who has been your greatest inspiration? I am lucky to be surrounded by inspirational people every day. From entrepreneurs working their tails off to support their families, to other media personalities pushing the envelope with new ideas to create the next wave, I am constantly inspired by people who create their own successes by following their passions. A specific nod goes to my parents, who have taught me so many valuable lessons, even though they have been through every up and down that life could throw at them. They both put their heart into everything that they do, and that has taught me that no matter what happens in life, to always stay humble and never lose the passion. I’d also like to give credit to my ancestors who came over to Canada from England, they were challenged to start businesses to support their loved ones, one business which is still thriving today after over 80 successful years. Knowing what kind of strength and courage that must have taken has inspired me my whole life. What business-related book or podcasts has inspired you the most? (or, What is your favorite book or podcast?) Gary Vaynerchuck’s YouTube Channel - Any social media maven knows about “Gary Vee”. If you ever need a fire started under your butt, simply one “pep-talk video” from Gary Vee will do the deed. This guy has a no bull-sh*t approach to life, he takes every day by the horns, and inspires others to do the same without making excuses. He also knows exactly who he is, and doesn’t let anyone else’s opinion of him matter, which is something we all need a frank reminder of sometimes. ‘The Body Book’ by Cameron Diaz - Although this book is more focused on health and wellness, Cameron Diaz shares many of her experiences as an entertainer and an entrepreneur throughout, which felt very relatable to me. She explains how important it is to take care of your body and your mind from the inside out, covering “The Law of Hunger, The Science of Strength, and The Power of Knowledge”. An incredibly good read to keep you on track with a healthy entrepreneurial lifestyle and to learn to love your amazing body, highly recommended. ‘You Are A Badass’ by Jen Sincero - This book was given to me as a gift from another badass girlfriend of mine, and there are so many valuable snippets of advice and motivation in this book, it’s a must-read for any female entrepreneur! If you’re ever having a bad day or feel a lack of motivation, read a chapter or two of this book and you’ll instantly feel more inspired to be the best version of you that you can be. ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck’ by Mark Manson - This one may be cliche, but the message is still valid nonetheless. This book is a slap-in-the-face reminder to stop caring about others’ opinions of you, a VERY important aspect of the digital world we currently live in. I downloaded this book in Audiobook form, and listened to it for a month straight during my morning workout. I actually prefer Audiobooks to a physical copy, just because it allows me to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. What piece of advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs? If you’re passionate about something - GO for it. I’ve always had a “throw myself into the fire” approach, forcing myself to take on a huge challenge and equip myself with the tools necessary to exceed. Many would find that concept daunting or scary, but I truly feel that the things that scare us most in life, are usually the most worthwhile. Start developing a plan to take action. Learn. Read. Grow. Develop. Network. Get advice. Make Mistakes. Learn some more. Continue to nurture your goal and never stop learning. Challenge yourself. Reach a little higher. Exceed expectations. Become an example. But most importantly - never stop growing! Feel free to find me on instagram: @RobbinReay & @SPADEsocialstrategy You can tune into my radio show by listening online at www.kissottawa.com Visit my website for videos, interviews, pictures and audio: www.robbinreay.ca
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