Julia Roy!

• Tweet

• Tweet

Ever since the modern workforce (that’s a relative term) began, it was taken for granted that the eldest members of any organization were in possession of the most information, money, and freedom. Young whippersnappers had no choice but to pay their dues in entry-level positions or worse yet, the mailroom, and after many long years of hard work and exhausting office politics, there was the possibility of reaching the top. The top – a place where nobody orders you around, you can take a nap in the middle of the day, or jet off to an exotic local on a moments notice – was a place usually reserved for a very few wrinkly, old men.

Then the Internet – and subsequently, social media – was born. Suddenly a whole new paradigm of commerce was in play, turning this top-down hierarchy on its head, and for those, like Julia Roy, who embraced it, the possibilities were limitless.

Now boasting an eye-watering 317,000 Facebook subscribers, 56,005 Twitter followers,  10,000 blog readers between her personal and professional blogs and her very own YouTube channel, Tweet Week, it’s clear that Julia Roy hasn’t just embraced social media, she is living it.

As a freelance consultant Julia has emerged as one of the most coveted experts organizations turn to when seeking assistance in crafting social strategy campaigns that improve engagement and brand awareness. Who better to teach you how to build your brand online than a woman who has been wildly successful in doing it for herself?

In just five years post college graduation, Julia Roy doesn’t just have a thriving career, she has one all her own.  If she feels like jetting off to an exotic local she does (we met poolside in Vegas over a couple margaritas on a Monday); if she feels like snoozing in the middle of the day she can (although I highly doubt that happens much), and most appealing to me, she has nobody looking over her shoulder (well, aside from her social media followers that is).

While the expanse of our digital reality has left many people in a sea of overwhelm, Julia Roy insists that it’s all about doing more with less. She so graciously shares her wisdom, about how exactly to be more productive and efficient online, on her newly launched site, workhacks.com.

A true innovator and creator, Julia Roy has designed an inspiring life on her own terms. She is living proof of what is possible when you are curious, motivated and believe in yourself! Now that’s WoW!

Name: Julia Roy

Age: 29

Occupation: Freelance Social Media Consultant and Productivity Expert

Hometown: Erie, PA

Current city of residence: New York, NY

Contact: http://twitter.com/juliaroy
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Ordinary Magic: If you were at a cocktail party and were asked to explain what you do in three sentences or less, what would you say?
JR:I help my clients develop and execute social marketing plans. I also consult businesses and individuals on how they can be more productive and efficient online. I am a student and teacher of technology, always looking forward to what is next and how we can leverage it to advance our businesses and ourselves.

Photo by Vanessa Grigoriadis for Vanity Fair (far left)

Ordinary Magic: What inspired you to head in that direction?
JR: I graduated from college in 2005 with a degree in International Relations and Public Policy, but knew right away that the career path was not right for me. I started a blog, joined newly created networks like YouTube, Twitter and Second Life. I became fascinated with the emerging social web and went around town pitching my knowledge and services to agencies in the area, eventually convincing a PR firm to hire me as their first Social Media Coordinator.

Ordinary Magic: What is your accomplishment that you are most proud of to date?
JR: Leaving my 9-5 job to venture out on my own as an independent consultant. Although day-to-day the work I do is basically the same as when I was in-house, there is nothing better than being able to own your time and be your own boss. It does have its own challenges, but the reward is a freedom and flexibility that I hope to be able to sustain for the rest of my life.

Ordinary Magic: What has the biggest turning point been in your life so far?
JR: Moving from Boston to NYC in 2007. It was a struggle, surviving on a small salary, trying to standout and stay on top of my industry and balancing work with play. It took me about a year to feel comfortable in the chaos that is New York City, but now I love it and cant imagine living anywhere else at this point in my life.

Ordinary Magic: What is your greatest passion?
JR: To always be learning and sharing with others. We are living in an amazing time, where knowledge is literally at our fingertips and the ability to connect and learn from people across country and across the world is so easy!

Ordinary Magic: What words of wisdom would you give your twenty-year old self?
JR: To look more to the future and less to today when making career and lifestyle decisions. Humans are programed to think locally and linearly, when we should be thinking globally and exponentially. The world we are living in is growing and changing so quickly, and in order to stay ahead you have to think bigger and open your mind to the unknown (and not be afraid of it).

Ordinary Magic: What was the last book you read?
JR: I just finished Abundance by Peter Diamandis. It is an incredible book that discusses the possibilities for the future of education, technology, healthcare, agriculture, etc. It paints a very optimistic picture of what we can achieve in each area if we continue to innovate and believe in our own human potential. A must read!

Ordinary Magic: What is your personal philosophy?
JR: Life is truly what we make of it. If your conscious (and subconscious) believes that you will fail at something, you will. However, with a simple change in mindset, you can achieve anything. Ever since I started practicing the simple act of believing that I am capable of anything, amazing things have happened in my life, both professionally and personally.

Ordinary Magic: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
JR: Don’t go to business school. When I graduated from college my first thought was, what school am I going to next. I feel so fortunate that I had a passion for a rising industry (social media) that did not require me going back to school. I love to learn, but would rather learn by doing (and get paid doing it!).

Ordinary Magic: If you could be anywhere in the world right now doing anything, what would it be?
JR: Teaching and/or helping bring technology and energy to third world countries. When the entire world has the keys to basic education, technology and energy, we will have done away with most of the pain and suffering in the world.

Ordinary Magic: What do you have gratitude for in this moment?
JR: I am grateful for the journey. Everyday is an opportunity to love, to give, to receive and to explore. I have gratitude that I have the wherewithal to embrace and experience everything that crosses my path.

Ordinary Magic: Do you have a Life Motto?
JR: I’ve touched on it a bit already, but my Life Motto is an unwavering belief that I can do anything, have anything and experience everything I want in life. When you open yourself up to the idea that you have unlimited potential and possibilities, success will come. When you are pessimistic and fail to believe you are capable of something, no matter how big or how small, you will struggle. The foundation of success in all areas of life is an unwavering belief that everything you want is out there ready for you to receive it, but you have first begin to truly believe it will be yours and follow your instincts on how you will get there.

Comments

comments