From Video Editor to Agency Owner: What Building Hello Social Avenue Taught Me About Growth

Five years ago, my job was simple.

I was a video editor. Headphones on. Deadlines to hit. Work delivered.

I wasn’t thinking about scale, leadership, or growth. I was focused on doing good work and getting better at my craft.

I didn’t set out to build an agency. But one step led to another and Hello Social Avenue grew from there. From video editor to agency owner, here's what building Hello Social taught me about growth.

Looking back now, what’s surprised me most isn’t the growth itself. It’s what the journey taught me about business.

Growth Isn’t a Straight Line

When people see a business that’s grown, they often assume momentum was constant.

It wasn’t.

There were periods of confidence. And long periods of uncertainty.

Times when things felt like they were finally clicking. And times when it felt like I was making it up as I went along.

Growth didn’t come from one big decision. It came from lots of small ones, often made without full clarity.

Doing the Work Is Not the Same as Building the Business

In the early days, being busy felt like progress.

Editing. Filming. Posting. Responding.

But over time, it became clear that:

Doing the work doesn’t automatically build the business.

Systems matter. Structure matters. Decisions made away from the laptop matter.

The shift from operator to owner was uncomfortable, but necessary.

People Change Everything

One of the biggest turning points was realising I couldn’t — and shouldn’t — do everything myself.

Bringing people into the business changed the pace completely. It also changed the responsibility.

Suddenly, growth wasn’t just about ambition. It was about leadership, clarity, and trust.

That shift forces you to think longer term, whether you’re ready or not.

Confidence Comes After Action

This is something I wish I’d understood earlier.

I used to think confidence came first. That one day I’d feel ready.

In reality, confidence followed action. Messy action. Imperfect decisions. Learning in real time.

Most progress came from moving forward before I felt certain.

What I’d Tell My Earlier Self

If I could go back and offer advice, it wouldn’t be tactical.

It would be this:

• Keep things simple

• Don’t confuse movement with progress

• Build systems earlier than you think you need to

• And stop waiting to feel ready

Growth rarely feels comfortable while it’s happening.

Building Hello Social Avenue didn’t just teach me about marketing. It taught me about patience, perspective, and responsibility.

The biggest changes weren’t visible from the outside. They happened internally — in how decisions were made and priorities were set.

Growth isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing the right things, consistently, over time.