We recently had the chance to connect with Sarah Morgan and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sarah, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Their mental health. The world is overwhelming right now and I think a lot of people are struggling with their mental health for the first time. It’s easy to tell friends and family when you have a stomach bug or a headache, but to talk about struggling with mental health, anxiety, depression, is still taboo. Going to therapy, taking medication, taking time off. We haven’t learned enough about how to talk about it or how to help each other, so we stay silent. Being the first person to speak up about it can be uncomfortable but I’ve experienced how it gives others the opportunity to say how they’ve been feeling too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve been helping bloggers and business owners feel confident marketing themselves online since 2012.
My business, Dare to Grow, started as a side-hustle years ago when I was feeling antsy to leave my corporate job. No email list, no social media, just consistent blogging with a single page offering design services. But it worked. Slowly my audience grew. People clicked and commented, clients signed up, and I was able to quit my job and freelance full-time.
My teenage web design skills went a long way in starting my own business. Without that many of my clients didn’t know what to do after we launched their new websites. New apps, algorithm changes, endless ideas on social media. It’s overwhelming and intimidating when marketing isn’t your expertise.
My mission became helping people create valuable content for their blog, email list, and social media, and show up with confidence as the face of their business. So they can spend more time focused on their expertise and less time figuring out what to post where and what’s too much to share.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My grandmother, Ruth, who showed me how to be confidently creative. A baker, a quilter, a painter, a gardener, a musician, a snappy dresser. She picked up the violin at 75 and played until just days before she passed. She always had something for me to get into, my little ADHD brain constantly craving novelty. We’d dig into the bottom drawer of a tall green dresser and she’d come up with some way to make whatever project I dreamed up. Usually something I saw on TV or in a book. What I learned later on was that she did the same thing. She’d watch a chef on a morning show make something and then whip up something similar for dinner, replacing ingredients with whatever was on hand. Watching her enjoy the process without worrying whether it would turn out or taste perfect turned me into a “let’s just see what happens” creative too.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
That failure isn’t really a thing. It’s information, experience, education. It’s okay for something to not go the way you planned. It’s okay to realize you screwed up. It’s okay to try something else or start again. I’ve experienced them all and I know it’s not easy to remember when you worked really hard and aren’t happy with the results. But you can always try again. Or not.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Building a business online is easy and fast. Is it easier than stocking products and hiring employees in a physical store? Yes. I’m currently writing this from my couch which has been my workspace for over 10 years. I’m cozy, undistracted, working my chosen hours. It’s much easier. But once you get down to creating content consistently and putting yourself out there, things get challenging.
Most people will have to make hundreds of posts to gain traction and not everyone is prepared for that. If you can’t post every day, if you’re unsure about what to share, or don’t feel confident about what you’re creating – it’s going to take longer and feel more difficult. But if you can create habits that support creating content consistently and find ways to feel more like an authority, even when your bestie and mom are the only ones paying attention, you’ll start to see growth quicker.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I got them to try something they really wanted to do, but were nervous to start. I warn people sometimes to not share their big idea with me or I’ll convince them to do it. If you’ve been thinking about a business, a hobby, traveling, my ADHD brain will whip up an action plan so fast you’ll be scrambling to grab your phone and take notes. I’ve been teaching and coaching (and going to therapy) long enough to crush any excuse and make people feel comfortable taking the first step. And I choose to believe anything is possible. For me and for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://daretogrow.co
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/daretogrow.co
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/daretogrow.co
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/@daretogrow
- Other: Books: http://daretogrow.co/books
Image Credits
Stacy Keck
