We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristen Van Nest and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Going from zero to a full blown business you can use to support yourself often takes 3-5 years, it’s not overnight. I always suggest people not give up their day job while they build. In addition, it’s important to find the fastest way to build up capital. When people say “work smart not hard” it starts with how can you work more efficiently? For example, is it worth teaching yourself everything you need to know about Instagram or using some of your current paycheck to pay for a contractor expert on Instagram to help you 3-5 hours a week. Furthermore, finding clients starts with telling everyone you know about your new venture so you can get referrals fast.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Creating my copywriter business and pursuing my writing path started with moving to LA from Shanghai. While here, I worked for my B2B clients during the day and did improv at night. Then during COVID, I could no longer perform and instead spent my free time writing. Through a book proposal, I was able to get a lit agent and through LinkedIn attract larger clients. Today, I have a team of freelancers who help me grow my business and like me, at the same time pursue their creative careers in LA.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d invite them for a hike on Runyon Canyon, lunch on the rooftop of The Britely WeHo Social Club, Happy Hour at Electric Owl, dinner at Laurel Hardware, and a late-night beer at The Surly Goat

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to thank Amalia Santa Maria, Alixandra Kupcik, my agent Mariah at D4EO and all the others who are experts at what they do and have helped my business grow!

Website: www.kristenvannest.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenvannest/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kristenvannest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristenVanNest

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/nightpantz

Image Credits
Greggy Wawa Photography

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