Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Torres.
Emily, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Risking sounding cliche, I’ve always been a writer. At just 9 years old, I was holed up in my room, scribbling out short stories. Eventually, I started working as a staff writer for both my high school and college newspapers… and I was the go-to gal for any friends working on papers or creative samples.
In college, I finally took the plunge and started my own blog. I didn’t expect it to grow; I simply just needed an outlet for my thoughts during a pretty amazing (but simultaneously, tumultuous) time. But, pretty soon, I was receiving calls and messages from friends I hadn’t spoken to in years about my content that resonated with him. Soon after that, my blog was profiled national website.
When I graduated, I ended my blog. It felt the time to start a new chapter… and look for a paying job. But, after a few weeks, I really missed having an outlet to write and let my thoughts ebb and flow. So, between job applications (and truthfully, some 30 Rock and Breaking Bad binging), I started to teach myself HTML and CSS. I wanted to build my own website and blog and really take it seriously. So, after a few weeks, I had a website up and running and shifted my focus to talk about summer travels and some thoughts on living at home at age 21 without a job!
A few months later, I finally landed a job and headed down to San Diego, a totally new city. From there, my blogging really took over. I spent hours poring over site tweaks, writing my thoughts about being friendless in a new city and again, just hoping that maybe somewhere down the line, my content would resonate just with one person.
Fast forward three years, I still love this side project of mine. It’s my place to share honest thoughts and connect on a deeper level to those around me!
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely, not! It’s difficult to manage writing for my own blog, freelance writing…and working a full 9-to-5 job all at the same time. I now have a system down where I write before the day, but there’s definitely room for improvement! I’ve also struggled quite a bit with a comparison. Blogging and freelance writing is a pretty saturated industry, and it can be difficult to compare your followers, your page views, your brand partnerships with everyone else in the space. I’ve really had to return to the “why” behind my start: to write and to connect – on a big or small scale.
My biggest piece of advice is: say no. Sometimes, when you say no, you’re saying yes to yourself. Saying no has been instrumental for me to hit deadlines, and there’s always social opportunities out there later on.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Espresso & Endorphins story. Tell us more about the business.
My work is three-fold, for sure! I work at an advertising agency in the realm of Public Relations during my 9-to-5 with an emphasis on social media. I also blog for my own website, as I mentioned. Lastly, I freelance write, typically with health, fitness and lifestyle topics. On the side, I also consult on social media strategy! It’s busy, and I love every second of it.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I actually think PR and blogging are pretty female-dominated and for that, I feel lucky! I’m surrounded by a ton of badass women I can look up to. However, in general, I think we need a larger societal shift from both men and women to view women as leaders. I can go on for awhile, but let’s keep it concise.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.espressoandendorphins.com
- Email: emilyelysetorres@gmail.com
- Instagram: @espressoandendorphins
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/espressoandendorphins
- Twitter: @_EmilyElyse
- Other: www.emilyelyse.com
Image Credit:
Leah Bose
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