Larissa Flite shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Larissa, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Right now, that would be reading! I rediscovered my love for books in 2024 after years away from them, university burnout will do that, especially as an English major. Last year, I ended up reading about 50 books and started wondering if I could double that and hit 100 in a year.
Since then, I’ve been reading for hours every day, both before and after work. And I’ve loved exploring all kinds of genres, fantasy, thrillers, feminist works, political books, and more. This year, I’ve been reading around eight or nine books a month, and I’m currently on book number 93!
This was a really fun challenge but I do not think I will be keeping up with in the future but I will definitely keep reading, just not quite as much.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Larissa, social media manager, wife, proud weenie dog mom of three, and vegan! I’m originally from Philly, PA, but I’ve been living in Florida for the past couple of years and I love it.
I graduated from East Stroudsburg University in December 2019 with a B.A. in English, a concentration in Digital Media, and a minor in Art History, just a few months before COVID hit. I had originally planned to work as a book editor, but finding a job during the pandemic turned out to be nearly impossible.
After months of sending out applications and hearing nothing back, I started working as a virtual assistant for a friend, doing a bit of everything, email newsletters, social media, content creation, admin work, and more. Eventually, I realized I wanted to take it full time and start my own business.
After my first year, I discovered that the social media side of things was what I loved the most, so I decided to specialize and become a full time social media manager. I’ve now been in business almost 5 years and I’ve worked with over 60 incredible businesses, from wedding planners and business coaches to web designers, photographers, and product based brands. I also love to work with social media agencies wanting to outsource their client’s social media engagement.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The need to compare myself and measure my success by what others are doing is something I’ve recently let go of. There used to be a part of me that constantly compared myself to other businesses and entrepreneurs in my industry. I’d see other social media managers growing their businesses, hiring teams, posting new content all the time, and offering a wide range of services, and I’d feel like I had to do the same to be successful, to be seen as a “real” social media manager, or to keep my clients happy. I even thought turning my business into an agency because that’s what everyone else seemed to be doing, even though, it wasn’t what I really wanted.
Now, I try to stay mindful and focus on what feels right for me and my business. I don’t pressure myself to post every day, and I’ve accepted that the agency route and endless list of services just aren’t for me. I genuinely enjoy keeping my business small, speaking directly with my clients, and being hands on in their accounts.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
The first couple of years in business were hard. I was constantly marketing myself, posting on social media every day, and taking new courses. It was a lot of work, and even though I wasn’t making much money, I was making something. In April 2024, I lost a few clients and nearly half of my income disappeared. I was so stressed, scrambling to find new clients, but with no luck for weeks. I even started debating whether I should find a local 9–5 job.
A few weeks later, I was applying for positions and mentally preparing to finish up with my remaining clients and close my business. But then, to my relief, I unexpectedly landed a huge client, and just like that, all thoughts of closing Social by Larissa stopped. That summer, I continued signing new clients and quickly became fully booked. I was tired, working nearly 10 hours a day, but I loved it. I felt so grateful that my clients chose to work with me.
Running your own business and relying solely on yourself for income is hard, but I really love the flexibility and freedom it gives me.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is real, but it’s not the whole me. I mean, how can anyone really know someone just through social media? I think it’s important to share parts of my life and my values with my clients and audience because connection matters. Being your authentic self is the best way to show people why they should want to follow you, work with you, buy from you, etc. Of course, I don’t share every moment of my life or every side of myself, but I do share the parts that feel the most important.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace on slow mornings. Waking up early, making my favorite oat milk latte, and curling up on the couch with my doxies and a good book. There’s usually some soft jazz playing in the background (it puts the dogs right to sleep, I swear).
It’s just one of the many perks of working from home and running my own business. There’s no rushing out the door to clock in somewhere, just slow, peaceful mornings spent with my dogs before diving into client work for the day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialbylarissa/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socialbylarissa
- Other: Email: socialbylarissa@gmail.com
