Molly Mann shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Molly, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I just celebrated 10 years at the business I work for, and I’m incredibly proud not just of the longevity, but all that I’ve accomplished and changed within my position in the last decade!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Molly, a social media manager and travel blogger here in Nashville. My love for writing began with a claim-to-fame after school writing class in elementary school that ended up showcasing my poems and short stories in our library. I was encouraged to open up every creative corner of my mind and to utilize it. Fast forward to college where I was full steam ahead with my journalism degree, but had no clue where to place it. Due to my illicit fear of stage fright, I knew broadcasting was not my path. My junior year I signed up to study abroad in the U.K. for a full semester. In short, it changed everything for me. It lit up the path my writing wanted to take. Three months in England and two weeks of backpacking around Europe and the rest is history. I’ve been feverishly buying plane tickets ever since.
Much to the encouragement of my friends, I began a travel blog in 2018 called Molls Around the World. For me, it wasn’t something I necessarily wanted to monetize or become an influencer from. I just wanted to share my experiences and hopefully connect with others who were venturing to the same places. Over time, the circle of my reach had widened. I started hearing from people I graduated with over a decade ago, friends of friends, and more who had heard of my travel blog and wanted my insight and recommendations. What began as a digital diary is now turning into a side hustle as I now offer a package / tiered system of travel planning.
My day job is working as a social media manager for Anderson Design Group, a graphic design firm that’s been operating for 30+ years in Nashville. They focus mainly on poster illustration, specifically travel art. I’ve been with them for 10 years and have been traveling to National Parks for 5 of those, taking product with me and shooting content for our social media platforms + getting reference photos for our designers to use when creating new designs. While accomplishing professional goals through work, I’ve also made content from these trips and used it for Molls Around the World. Two birds, one stone!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents have always had an incredible work ethic. Coupled with that is an expectation of themselves to show up with integrity, a teamwork attitude, and being flexible and open. Any job they’ve held has been with long tenures and it was a great example to me of what it means to work hard and earn the respect of others.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Wasting my time. I feel like it’s so precious and goes by too quickly, so I’m scared of spending time on things that won’t end up being longterm or as meaningful as I hope it to be. On the flipside, I think that fear has made me miss opportunities for things that weren’t meant to last, but could’ve still been valuable.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My travel blog + travel planning services. It’s been a long game and has had slower seasons, but it’s been my passion project for a few years and the biggest way I express myself so I’m not willing to give up on it even if progress on the reach is at a slower pace than I hoped for.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
Being by just about any body of water. It’s cliche to say the ocean, but it’s true. I feel realigned and completely calm when I’m able to get perspective from something so large.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mollsaroundtheworld.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollsaroundtheworld/
Image Credits
Mallory Madden Photography
Love You Oh So Photography
Jessica Jenkins Photography
