September 12, 2024
We were lucky to catch up with Danielle Hobson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Danielle, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Purpose, for me, is tied to my passion. It brings me happiness and allows me to help others, especially creatives who are also finding their journey.
When I seek direction, I return to the childhood interests that have always drawn me in. For me, those interests have always been photography, creative projects/design, and traveling —things I’ve loved since I was little and continue to do as an adult.
My mom contributed a lot to that side, as she encouraged my artistic side by buying me supplies. She also got me my first camera for my birthday, and took me traveling so I would become desensitized to unknown places and foods.
Overall, It’s incredibly rewarding to help others build their visions, finish ideas on the back burner, or navigate new experiences. There are many local talented, ambitious creatives out there who just need to discover that right connection or right advice. I strive to help with that, both personally and through my career.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I currently work within the PR space as an AE and Junior Designer, but I’m interested in pivoting my future career in Digital Marketing. Outside of work, I’m a photographer, travel blogger, and jewelry designer based in Seattle. I know it sounds like a lot—I sometimes feel like my weekends do to much!
What excites me most about my work is that it allows me to unleash my creative side and combine photography with meeting new people, something I get to experience when I solo travel for example.
I currently share my journeys on Instagram, where I document my adventures country by country, camera in hand, meeting new people and hearing their stories.
So far, I’ve traveled to 10 countries on my own. I’m currently working on overcoming my shyness about filming myself, as I have a ton of story-times to tell lol. Maybe I can complete that challenge by the end of this year, we’ll see.
Being new to Seattle, photography has been a medium for me to connect with others. So far I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with worldpackers, artist event organizations, and models. I really appreciate how welcoming the artist community here is, and I love contributing to other’s, especially when I can bring a smile when they see their photos.
My artistic side is fulfilled through creating jewelry for my brand, Clay Avocado, on Etsy. I first started making clay art in elementary school, gifting pieces to my teachers. One weekend, I felt the urge to revisit an activity from my childhood (after all I’m an adult now and can buy whatever artsy stuff I want). And so, Clay Avocado was born.
My brand mantra is to bring wearable color. I’m particularly drawn to tropical colors like blue, orange, yellow, and green. Seattle can be a bit gray, so I’m hoping to work against the grain with my designs lol.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that have had the most impact on my journey is taking risks, always doing my due diligence, and prioritizing self-care—mentally, physically, and in my career.
Burnout is very real, and yes, you can even burn out doing the things you love, so it’s important you take care of yourself.
Learning to take calculated risks is also important. Obviously, If something doesn’t feel right to your knowledge, you shouldn’t pursue it. But some risks are worth taking to develop your character and open up new opportunities.
Traveling, for instance, taught me a lot about who I am and who I want to be. Many people fear going it alone because being away from friends and family is a risk.
But solo travel builds confidence, betters your communication skills, and sharpens your ability to navigate challenging situations. It strengthens your problem-solving, de-escalation, organization, and financial skills. When you bring those experiences back with you, the rewards are invaluable.
Even pursuing your passions involves risk. You’re investing financially in something that might not get a return on investment, AND there’s the risk of burning out if you focus too much on the financial gain. So you have to get used to the challenges, and learn from them so you don’t repeat the same mistakes. Success in your passion is a process of trial and error.
And lastly, always do your due diligence—don’t just rely on advice from others. Do your own research, be mindful, and be demure.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I believe it’s important to focus on your strengths, but it’s equally important to become as well-rounded as possible.
The world is constantly evolving, with new methods and tools emerging over time. What works well for you today may not be as effective in the future. To stay prepared, it’s wise to train yourself in skills that might become relevant, and if you’re confused where to start, seek advice on where to focus your efforts.
Also many roles today are becoming multifunctional, including my own, and companies increasingly prefer candidates with skills or at least knowledge in multiple areas. This gives you an advantage by reducing the learning curve when new challenges arise and offers more flexibility in your career choices.
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