Meet Morgan Forcey | Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Morgan Forcey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Morgan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Since I’ve become more entrepreneurially-minded throughout my young adulthood, balance is always something that i’ve struggled with. From the time that I started my creative career at 16, I can remember taking on every shoot I could schedule and missing out on a lot of things that might have otherwise contributed to my personal growth. Though this taught me to be a hard worker, I put a lot of pressure on myself at a young age (and still do 8 years later). I would find myself replying to client requests in the middle of the night, because I was so eager to get another shoot on the books. I realized this never worked, because I didn’t have the rest and conscious mind I needed to figure out a good balance for my schedule. For me personally, having a good work-life balance means being able to come home at the end of the day and not dread the next venture. At the end of the day, we should all be able to relax and enjoy the moment. No one should have to come home and still be thinking about work or having work-related conversations outside of work hours. As a freelancer/entrepreneur, you’re allowed to set these hours based on the balance that you want and need, which comes with a lot of discipline and self-control!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
At the age of sixteen, I turned my passion for capturing life into a small business and a way for me fund life’s many adventures. Just a few years after dedicating my talent to family, lifestyle and portrait photography, I realized I had a passion for helping individuals establish their personal brand and mission, so I began to tell stories with my work. My love for instilling confidence in people made me realize I wanted to do this on a much larger scale. I wanted to help people sell themselves. I wanted to make a noticeable contribution to the individual and their passion: their business. When I knew I could be a part of the creative process every step of the way, I was sold. For two and a half years, I had worked for a small healthcare practice doing their social media and helping plan smaller-scale events. On the other side of things, I had also been working front desk, which isn’t something I wanted to do forever. My ultimate goal was to find myself in a full-time creative position where I could have the creative freedom I had been craving. About halfway into my last position, I acquired my first social media client. My boyfriend’s dad, who owns a luxury lighting showroom in Buckhead took a chance on me, and hired me on as a freelance social media manager! I was able to combine my love for branding and photography during this venture and finally had a creative outlet. Due to having this position on my resume, I secured my second client at the time. This particular client found me on LinkedIn after one of her connections had liked my post looking for work. It was in the middle of Covid shutdown, and I was partially furloughed from my full-time job. Not only did I need to find another source of income, but I had more free time than I knew what to do with. I started brushing up on every necessary skill, educating myself and investing in resources that would make my job easier. About a month later, I was juggling an almost-full-time job, a couple of shifts per week at Starbucks as a barista and two freelance clients. Fast forward to just a month ago, I was hired on as a full-time Social Media Coordinator in an industry that I found myself wanting to learn more and more about. Everything about this industry fascinates me, and everyday I get to document patient experiences and help brand this business. Within a matter of just three years, I went from being a Starbucks barista without a college degree, to a full-time professional in my desired industry!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I really love Atlanta. In fact, i’ve lived here my entire life, however just a little bit north. Just recently, I moved to Buckhead and i’ve been trying to find time to explore everything I can to enjoy city life to the fullest. That being said, i’ve done my fair share of being a tourist in my own city. Anyone who knows me knows that I would do almost anything for a Vortex burger. If you’ve never been, it’s a biker bar with killer burgers and some of the most honest bartenders you’ll ever meet. Anyone who comes to visit me in the city is definitely trying a Vortex burger. If my guest desires dessert, i’m taking them to Cinnaholic. I discovered this place a couple of years back with my (then) vegan best friend and I find myself craving these vegan cinnamon rolls on the daily. Think a salad bar, but with cinnamon rolls… endless possibilities if you have a sweet tooth! And late night cravings always call for Cafe Intermezzo: a fancy coffee/dessert bar. This romantic dining experience is usually open late night, and features menu items such as alcoholic hot chocolate, espresso martinis and your favorite Starbucks frappuccino dupe (except with Vodka). This place has always held a special place in my heart!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of my biggest motivators and contributors to my successes is my boyfriend, Drew! We met a little over two years ago, around the time that I was starting to shift my career goals. We used to spend long week nights perfecting my resume, writing and re-writing my description and skills on LinkedIn and almost creating my ideal career from scratch. He’s always had the professionalism and people skills that i’ve desired in my work life, so I would always get excited when we would sit down and brainstorm my next move. It’s been really helpful having someone who can offer a different perspective, especially that of someone who has more work and world experience than myself. I like to laugh and say that he’s my number one fan, but he really is. Sometimes, I get these crazy ideas about what my next side hustle will be, and he’ll always tell me it’s a great idea!

Website: www.mforcey.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/emmforr

Image Credits
Morgan Forcey