“If you want to go further, move with a team,” says Wumi, a thriving content creator who has mastered the art of balancing corporate work and side hustles.
Who is Wumi Tuase?
I am a content creator and freelance writer. Hustler! (She adds happily) I always call myself a creative hustler.
What has been your career journey up to this point?
I have been creating content for over seven years now- built websites, and written and visual content. It has been really exciting, at first I was combining it with a 9 to 5 and a side business. (She is definitely a definition of you can do it all)
Do you still have a business on the side?
I actually took a break this year, because my body is not used to all this stress. I was doing so many things. So I do not have that particular business, but I run other businesses that I balance pretty well. I can still do it all but selectively.
What do you find most fulfilling about your job?
Anytime I get a message from a follower or someone that liked my work, someone inspired by what I do. It is very touching to know that my work inspires someone there.
If you had a choice to switch careers, what would you do?
Hmm...(thinks deeply for a second). I think this is where I am supposed to be. Public relations, I am currently handling it side by side but I want to do it full-time with fully sponsored content.
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Do you have a network community or colleagues in the same line of work or are you flying solo in your area of expertise?
Definitely not flying solo. If you are a creator you know that there is power in collaboration and being with the right people. I do have a team.
How important is this community to you?
I have now realised that it is important to have more than one head when you have to do something. For any project, I have my teammates who can do checks for me. There are things I might not see that they will see. It just makes it better.
Do you think referrals work in the job market?
Oh yes, (she brightens up) the best marketing is word of mouth. Once people mention your name/brand it builds your reputation. Referrals make this market thrive(PR, content creation).
What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to your career journey?
Everything. I have low expectations most of the time. (Puts on her humble face) When a brand approaches me and asks to work with me, I get to appreciate my hustle.
What advice would give a newbie in your field?
It is very easy to get overwhelmed especially in this era of social media. It is easy to think that you are not doing enough and ask yourself how can be better. But you need to remember that the people you are seeing started from somewhere, it is never an overnight success. You need consistency and hard work. This is a journey, and you need to be willing to take your journey as well. Those you look up to put in work to get where they are.
Looking for more words of wisdom, follow Wumi Tuase on her Instagram page.
