Content in the Service of What Will (Hopefully) Outlast Me

I owe a lot to my career in tech.

No, no — there’s no punchline coming. I started in marketing and content during an intoxicating tech heyday: large, growing creative teams, big perks and benefits, flashy swag, kegs in the break room, and P-cards handed out like candy.

I’m not sure it’s like that for anyone anymore. But there’s been something so refreshing about being in a phase of my career that isn’t tech-obsessed. 

I’ve used my time and talents to help sell time-tracking software, payment fraud and cybersecurity solutions, e-commerce QuickBooks connectors, and theoretical advice about tech platforms.

I did well at those things, and sometimes, I think I want to go back to the tech life. But not right now. Eventually, doing well was buried under acquisitions, egos, scandals, pricing plans that changed every six months, and Big Brother employee monitoring.

Now that there’s a steady stream of news about layoffs and job cuts in numbers that would devastate the equivalent of a small town economy, I start to appreciate where I am now.

The furthest things from SAAS

These days, I’m working with conservation groups, water data managers, outdoor education providers, artists, fitness instructors, rodeo queen coaches, nonprofits, and environmental philosophers. And I'm doing so through genuine personal connections.

Really, it’s about as far away from SAAS and the word “leverage” as you can get. Tech plays a role in how things get made, of course. But my clients and partners aren’t selling technology solutions exclusively.

My corporate life circa 2019.

The content I create is serving places, resources, skill sets, and ideas that won’t burn up in a trendy boom but will hopefully outlast us all. 

For me, that work has greater meaning than good-better-best pricing, sprints, and arbitrary KPIs. As a result, the clients and contractors I work with are, in most cases, more appreciative of and excited for what I bring and how I bring it to the table. 

I’m not trying to say that arbitrary work doesn’t happen, that every day is altruistic, or that I sometimes struggle to say, "Yes, I work for myself now," with my whole chest. But going through those motions and overcoming them has bigger payoffs. 

The stakes are undoubtedly higher for me today and for people who are trying to make a difference in the natural world, support ethical outdoor practices, and help others become more confident and fulfilled.

If I can keep finding ways to create content and market in service and in selling, and (to be so for real) pay the mortgage, then maybe, one day, I won’t feel so indebted to tech.

Work that makes a difference is work we can do together

Hello, friend, fellow business owner, or team leader — my name is Skylar, and I do content. What is “content”? Everything: your website, emails, social posts, press releases, blogs, and videos.

With the right care and approach, each of these content areas works in harmony to foster connection to — and shape public perception around — your brand.

One of the most satisfying things I keep coming back to at this phase of my career is: “I don’t work for you, I work with you.” (Words I could never say in a traditional corporate setting.)

As happy as I am just to do what a client asks, the best work happens when we do it together, each playing an active role in success.

So if you’re looking for a partner, a sounding board, or a hands-on creator in marketing and content, I want to fill that space.

I designed my mini marketing packages as a low-risk way to see just how well we can work together — no retainers or long-term commitments. We move at your pace to meet your goals.