Anita Wong, Digital Overwhelm Strategist, Bommiemedia
As one of the UK's leading digital educators, I have successfully grown my YouTube channel to over 4500 subscribers. In return, it has educated over1000's people on YouTube, as my channel is just short of 1 million views.
I have successfully recorded, mapped out, and built focused courses for big brands such as Wave.video and Restream.io. I am also educating entrepreneurs on the strategies and technicalities of some of the most popular social media channels, such as Facebook and Instagram.
Previously an ICU nurse, I retrained in digital marketing after having my children and haven't looked back since. I have a successful digital academy and multiple online courses that serve the entrepreneurial workforce both locally and internationally.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
YouTube because it's where you can really be you on video, whether that's a prerecorded or live plus, it's the second-largest search engine, so it's a great platform to get found on through search.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I love to help other entrepreneurs master the tech needed to become visible. At the moment, I'm busy planning out a digital course creator programme to help entrepreneurs in their knowledge easily online.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I love helping demystify the online space and reduce overwhelm for the entrepreneurs I coach. It fills them with hope and excitement that they can really achieve their chosen path without being overwhelmed and actually start making some money.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Always believe in your own abilities, and you can achieve anything. The only thing standing in your way to achieving greatness is yourself!
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
To be a role model to my four daughters that anything is possible if you believe in your own abilities and you believe in yourself, anything is possible!
What are you proud of in your life so far?
Everything, every day, is a new adventure full of love, laughter and the occasional glass of wine.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Through taking part in conferences events in person or online.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
My confidence, I've always been good at talking to anyone, and this helps me meet new people. I've always been quite sporty, and as a child, I remember going to events on my own with my club and being in situations where I had to start the conversation. This is a skill I practised in my life when I was nursing and now as an entrepreneur.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
The world is a big place, full of opportunities waiting for you to grab hold of them. My parents were factory workers, and none of my family had been to university. So, the focus at home wasn't always on my school work or looking beyond the current situation. Instead, I have ensured that my own children know that there is far more to discover than your local area and that they should always strive to keep discovering.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I think at the moment it is The Rock - Dwayne Johnson, I've been following him on Instagram for some time, and he always inspires his followers so much with motivational talks, but he's also done so much over the last few years. From professional wrestler to movie star major entrepreneur, he's pushing the boundaries and inspires me to stay fit, believe in myself and push forward with my own ideas.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I'm currently World number five at BMX racing in the 40+ cruiser category, which I've held since 2020. Unfortunately, we've not had a world championship since then due to Covid, but this year, I'll be representing Great Britain in the 2022 World Championships in Nantes, France, in July.
My love for BMX stemmed from my childhood when I used to compete, and I restarted racing again about six years ago. This focus helps me keep fit, and I'm a regular I'm the gym. I also love to travel and have been to several amazing places with my family, for which I am very grateful to them.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
I was always online before the pandemic, so it did t really make much difference to me digitally, although at home, having my husband and four children all around did distract me a lot from maximising my digital presence during the pandemic; that said, I did see a large uptake of viewership on my YouTube channel which I continued to grow during the pandemic and after!
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
My most influential mentor is Sarah Ann Negus, the Modern-day Shaman™️ Working with Sarah has opened parts of me that I never knew existed. Because of this work, I'm now training to be an energetic breakthrough method practitioner, which encompasses energy work with my coaching.
I have mentored different entrepreneurs in the digital skills they need to move their businesses forward in various ways, including website building, funnel creation, marketing and now, more recently, mindset and energy work.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
To go for it, have a clear goal of how you would like to influence those you work with and try to niche into one or two areas that interlink to have a clear workflow for yourself and your clients.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
At the moment, with so much going on online, I'd say overwhelm and not having a clear plan of action that helps them identify where their digital dots are disconnected that cause people to fail or give up. Not identifying what to do first and what's important to their business growth is high up on the reasons for people failing.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"The only thing stopping you from succeeding is yourself. If you don't believe, then how can you expect others to believe in you as well."
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I think those who are attracting a large following in tune with their offering are doing it right; if you share-worthy content that connects with your audience, then you're doing it right.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success is when you wake up in the morning, and you're doing what you love!