August-October 2024

Shaily Hakimian, known as the “Social Media Sherpa,” is a first generation American with Persian and Moroccan roots. She started her journey in social media before it was even recognized as a career. As a 15-year-old, she managed a Myspace group for an online community that played virtual versions of reality shows like Big Brother and Survivor. This early experience laid the foundation for her future in social media management.

Hakimian graduated from Indiana University with a degree in elementary education. However, her path took an unexpected turn when applying for a job at a digital agency. The application asked if she had experience managing online communities, and she realized her Myspace group management qualified. This revelation led her to pursue social media work more seriously.

Shaily’s journey to starting her business began with an unexpected windfall. About a decade ago, she attended an event for a company undergoing rebranding in the phone industry. The company held a raffle or social media contest to attract attendees to their event at an upscale venue. Shaily decided to participate and ended up winning a $200 prepaid gift card. Although she had been considering getting a website for her business, the expense had seemed daunting. The contest win provided her with what she calls a “weirdo blessing,” allowing her to fund her first website for a year. Shaily considers this $200 prize her “first investor,” and she vividly remembers how nervous she felt about spending the money, even though it wasn’t technically her own. This experience proved invaluable, teaching her how to approach spending as a business owner - a mindset quite different from personal finance. Notably, Shaily didn’t rely on traditional forms of startup capital like grants or silent partners. Instead, this small but significant win of $200 became the seed money that enabled her to establish her initial online presence, marking the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey.

Hakimian’s transition into entrepreneurship was gradual. She began by offering social media services to businesses, initially focusing on management. However, she found her niche when clients started asking for training rather than full management services. This shift led to the creation of her business, Your Social Media Sherpa. Shaily’s main goal in starting to work for herself was to have time freedom and flexibility. It was important to her that she had the freedom to volunteer with charities she cared about and pursue fun hobbies without anyone telling her how or when to work. Hakimian also appreciated the flexibility to work at unconventional times if that suited her brain better (like working at 5 AM sometimes). Shaily prioritized having control over her time and schedule as a key motivator for working for herself rather than in a traditional employment setting.

1. Test your offer early: She recommends following Noah Kagan’s advice to test if people are willing to pay for your service before fully launching.

2. Don’t focus on logos and branding immediately: Hakimian suggests concentrating on the core service first.

3. Be consistent: She emphasizes the importance of showing up regularly, even if it’s just with small actions.

4. Understand your value: Hakimian encourages entrepreneurs to recognize the full value of their expertise and charge accordingly.

5. Don’t overthink: She advises acting rather than getting stuck in the planning phase.

Through her work as the Social Media Sherpa, Shaily Hakimian continues to guide businesses and individuals through the complex landscape of social media, empowering them to build meaningful connections and achieve their goals.