'Making conscious choices literally gets me further in my life'
Start Up Campus Haarlem in conversation with Megan Lips
Megan Lips (20) is a Creative Business student in Rotterdam and started her own marketing & social media company FocusWorx.
Challenging myself to go out of my comfort zone
“I am a social and hardworking entrepreneur. If I have an idea, I want to do it right away. True, I am also a bit impatient but my impatience helps me to act quickly and seize opportunities. By challenging myself to go out of my comfort zone, I grow."
“I like to work with clients in a personal way. This allows me to listen and think along with them. Together we discover what the client is up against and how I can complement that. When I walk in somewhere, they experience it as refreshing. I may be young, but I've been making videos since I was 8 years old and have spent more hours in social media than many others. Being creative is just in me!”
"That's why Creative Business is such a good fit for me. Before this I did the vwo, but I shouldn't think about sitting in theory all day. I'm really in the right place now.”
Focus for the best results
“My company FocusWorx is an online marketing company specializing in social media. By engaging with my clients, we identify the best opportunities. Maybe social media is not always the best option. The name says it all, focus works. I let my clients do what they are good at and I relieve them of online marketing. That way we both focus on what we are good at and get the best results."
“At the moment I help a variety of companies. What I notice is that I like it when a company bring people together. That there is a movement or if a company dares to do something different. That's where I come into my own with refreshing and creative ideas. My approach is really hands-on. If they engage with me, I arrange everything from a to z.”
"Think photography, content creation of visuals, short films or reels, for example. I can also take over the entire social media management, in which case I create a social media calendar and make sure everything is scheduled on the right day and time. I prefer to create content that creates organic growth, but sometimes you just need an extra boost through ads. I can set that up as well so it really is a total package.”
There is always a way that works
“When clients have worked with me, I hope they are proud of how their business is presented online and also that it was beyond expectations. I always try to exceed expectations. If you can achieve measurable and visible results for a client, I get extra motivated by that. For a local dance school, I made a video series to recruit new members. When this actually happened, of course I really enjoyed it. That's exactly what I do it for."
"What I do is longer-term focused, I often have to tell myself that. If there are no immediate results, I don't want to get frustrated but I'm nonstop investigating what the cause might be. There is always a way that works. I keep going until it works.”
SUCH is really worth the travel time
“Since September I have been participating in the Growth program at Start Up Campus Haarlem. I am doing an internship at my own company and this is really a perfect combination. I was tipped off to SUCH by internship supervisor Wim Jagtenberg. He said 'this is really something for you' and I am so glad he said that. At SUCH I find exactly what I need. In the group are all other young entrepreneurs and we set goals together. The atmosphere is super fun and everyone thinks with each other. For example, I recently did a photo shoot for JumboGym, a company owned by other entrepreneurs in the group. It's valuable to spend a few hours every month with other young entrepreneurs. Everyone brings a different perspective and experience. SUCH is really worth the travel time.”
You have to work hard for it though
“If you stay in your head too much, an idea won't get off the ground. For me, it started when I read Michael Pilarczyk's book Master Your Mindset. If you want something really badly, it will work out. But you have to work hard for it.
"It's very exciting outside your comfort zone, but that's the only way to grow and make steps. I created my own reflection canvas. There I wrote down my annual and monthly goals and I check where I am each week. That way I know exactly what I have accomplished, learned and am grateful for this month. By making more conscious choices, I am literally moving forward in my life.”
Start Up Campus Haarlem is the place for entrepreneurial students at Inholland University of Applied Sciences. Through an inspiring five-month program of events and workshops, you work on entrepreneurial skills, and your network grows at lightning speed. Entrepreneurship begins at Start Up Campus Haarlem! Want to know when the next Start or Growth program starts? Check our Instagram or website.