Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrian Gentilcore.
Hi Adrian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I worked 40 years at a 9-5 most notably as a Financial Analyst for Wells Fargo for 27 years. But corporate life was getting old, so I decided to retire at the age of 58 to run my blogging and social media business that I had been running on the side for several years.
Three months after retirement, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and the pandemic came on within a few months of starting my treatments. So it was a pretty rough first year for me. But I was able to partner with an amazing woman in a related business who sent me a steady stream of referral clients and with her help, I was able to double my freelance business in 2020!
Now, I am fully recovered and I run my business with the help of my 73-year-old sister. I am expanding into new services to support other bloggers in addition to managing their social media and I’m adding 1:1 coaching for new bloggers and freelancers.
I love being able to run my own business. I make about the same money, but I work fewer hours, have much less stress, and have more control over my schedule and my workload. My clients are wonderful and many of them are local bloggers based here in Salt Lake.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I loved my 9-5 job until I didn’t. After many years with an amazing manager, we got a horrible manager and the entire department started to leave. I was doing the work of 3 people for the same pay. And the workload became unbearable, even for a workaholic like me.
Leaving was incredibly hard because I felt like I was leaving my friends on a sinking ship. But I’d already been working on my two blogs and business on the side for more than a decade, so I had a ready-made escape hatch that the others didn’t have. That’s why I think everyone needs a side hustle to fall back on.
Then obviously, the cancer was a big challenge. I had chemo, radiation, and three surgeries and most of them happened during the worst of the pandemic. Shockingly, my cancer treatments went surprisingly smoothly. I had very minimal side effects and while it was never fun, I came through it in much better shape than most.
As for my business, I was terrified that they would all quit as the pandemic drastically affected all industries, including blogging, but most of them stayed and I was able to get new clients, mostly from referrals from another local freelancer who wanted help for her clients.
So my business increased and I was able to hire several assistants. Then I had another downturn at the end of 2021, so I’ve been able to pivot into some new options to help people with other related services.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started out doing social media consulting for bloggers. Now, when most people hear about social media, they think of Instagram. Not me. I HATE Instagram. Instead, I do Pinterest management for a number of food bloggers, fashion bloggers, travel bloggers, and some local businesses.
But I like variety, so I’ve added in other services as well. I help people set up their newsletters and pop-ups, I do a bit of graphic design, and I’ve also started a coaching program to help new bloggers or new freelancers get started with their own businesses. There is a lot of tech stuff bloggers need to learn and I LOVE that stuff, so I help people with that.
I also run a lifestyle blog called Adrian’s Crazy Life where I help women calm down their crazy lives. I offer clutter coaching and debt-free coaching on that site. See what I mean about liking variety? But I like to be busy and I love to help people.
What are your plans for the future?
My husband retired about a year ago, so we’re hoping to travel more.
We are headed to Hawaii next month with a couple of our grown kids. And we just got a new addition to the family, a 2-year-old St. Bernard, so she’s keeping us pretty busy.
Business-wise, I’d like to expand my coaching. Especially after the isolation of the pandemic, I’m really working on trying to do more one-on-one work with people. I’d love to start a local blogging group to support new bloggers in the area.
Contact Info:
- Email: adrian@helpfornewbloggers.com
- Website: helpfornewbloggers.com / adrianscrazylife.com
- Instagram: @helpfornewbloggers
- Facebook: helpfornewbloggers
- Other: Pinterest.com/helpfornewbloggers or @adrianscrazylif (no E)
