Azalee Maslow is the Founder of PrettyAF, a Las Vegas, Nevada-based digital marketing agency specializing in personal brands.
For more details, visit their website here.
Here we sit down with Azalee, to know a bit more about her journey as a personal branding coach.
Q. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
Azalee: There have been many moments in my life when I didn’t feel like I had control of the situation. Whether that be having to stay at a job I didn’t like because I couldn’t afford to leave or the trauma I went through as a child. So I saw being an entrepreneur as having the ultimate control of my life, my finances, and my time. And not only that, I’m able to help other people take back their control too. There’s nothing I want more than to one day have children and be able to be present with them because of what I’ve built. I also want them to know that they too are fully in control of their life and their future so my passion is really helping people figure that out.
Q. How did you get started?
Azalee: I graduated with my Master’s in Journalism and Media Studies and I started looking for jobs in journalism. I somehow landed a job in marketing at a music tech start-up but didn’t really know much about it. So I bought every course I could on marketing and over the course of 3 years I built out their marketing and customer support departments. Between their investors, I met, and the course creators I found online, I realized there were other options outside the 9 to 5. One of their investors hired me on the side to manage one of their other companies’ social media and that’s what started my agency. I then created my first digital course teaching others how to start managing social media accounts on the side and that’s how I started coaching.
Q. What was your biggest startup challenge? What steps did you take to overcome it? What did you learn?
Azalee: There’s a new challenge every day as an entrepreneur. But really, accepting that failure is a part of it so seeing your fails as opportunities to grow instead of feeling defeated. I was always an A/B student and a type A, perfectionist so when I started my business, I expected it to go the same way. Honestly, my first digital course launch did amazing and my first client fell into my lap so I was like sweet it’s only up from here. Boy was I wrong. What you don’t realize is most people only share their wins so here I am thinking it’s just going to be up and up and up. But it’s a rollercoaster. Once I met other business owners and actually got to know them, I realize it wasn’t just me. So I started celebrating even the smallest of wins and working with coaches to help make those dips a little less crazy.
Q. What is the Most Memorable Thing You’ve Done Since you Started your Business?
Azalee: Going full time in my business. I knew I wanted to for about three years before I actually did and to be honest, the only reason I did is because I was laid off because of the pandemic. I had an opportunity to focus on my business as I had never had before so that’s what I did (while lowkey freaking out and applying to jobs). Two years later here we are. Sometimes you have to be forced out of your comfort zone I suppose.
Q. What is one book you recommend, and why?
Azalee: The bible. No matter what you’re going through, or need help with, all the answers you need are in that book. I went through a really hard time a couple of years ago and I found all the answers I needed in there.
Q. What are your top 3 favourite online apps, tools, or resources and what do you love about them?
- Google or YouTube – “I don’t know” is no longer a good excuse. You have the answers at your fingertips. Half the time when someone says “wow how do you know that” I’m like “I just Googled it”.
- Audible or the Podcast App – I love learning on the go. We all just seem to get busier and busier but the amount you can learn through audiobooks and podcasts is insane. Listen while you’re driving, working, cleaning. It’s a great way to better yourself while getting whatever you need to done.
- Zoom – My clients live all over the world so being able to meet face-to-face and share screens with each other is kind of basic but I still think it’s really cool.
Q. In terms of legacy, what is the mark you’d like to leave on the world?
Azalee: I want to inspire and provide the tools for over a million people to follow and live out their dream. I believe each person was put here with specific talents and dreams for a reason and the more people that are doing what they love, the better the world will be as a whole.
Q. In one sentence, what’s the best advice you’d give to someone just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey?
Azalee: Figure out why you really want this and remind yourself of it every day.
To keep up to date with Azalee and her journey, connect with her on Instagram.
