BTS of a social media manager: how working with Elizabeth Day changed my life
And why being brave and opening yourself up to potential failure can be the catalyst for seismic change
Hello! This week I decided to put pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard, I guess) to write about how I ended up working with Elizabeth Day as a social media manager for her podcast, How To Fail. When I texted Elizabeth to ask if she was okay with me telling this story, she replied with characteristic generosity and warmth that she would be honoured to be included. Copious amounts of heart emojis later, I sat down to write it.
If you know me, you will know that I have always admired Elizabeth Day. I have returned to her articles and books time and time again, listened to almost every episode of her podcast How To Fail, and found a deep sense of comfort and kinship in her presence on social media. She has a unique way of giving others permission to show up for themselves with vulnerability, honesty and authenticity, simply by sharing her own struggles and being open about failure.
It was a gloomy day in March 2023 when, from a cafe in central London, Elizabeth posted on her Instagram stories with a question that would quite literally change my life and career forever.
“Are there any social media managers who follow me?”
I was sat in my living room idly scrolling when I saw it pop up. I remember so vividly clicking to view the story, letting out a little squeal of surprise and composing a reply that didn’t immediately betray me as a superfan (spoiler alert: I failed at that last part)
“Meeeeee! I am! PICK ME.”
Quickly followed up by: “Sorry, that was maybe a bit much. But when Elizabeth Day calls, I answer.”
Luckily, she wasn’t put off by my very apparent enthusiasm, and so it began.
Looking back, it really felt as if we were meant to cross paths at precisely that time. I felt content in my work as a freelance social media manager, but I wasn’t particularly excited by the work itself; I knew that there was something more out there for me, but I didn’t know what that looked like. Turns out, it was podcast-shaped, and I just needed someone to present me with an opportunity to be vulnerable and put myself out there.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, was reaching the end of her tether with the How To Fail socials and didn’t know where else to turn. She posted on Instagram on a whim and within a day or two, we had met over Zoom (I got to meet King Huxley the cat, too. He really is the most handsome ginger cat ever). I remember thinking, “If I don’t get this gig, if I fail, at least I got to chat to Elizabeth Day face to face and tell her how much her work means to me.”
She sent me the most detailed and thoughtful email the very next morning, telling me that I was hired.
This was brand new territory for me, personally and professionally. I had admired this person from afar, felt a kinship with how she saw the world, found solace in the pages of her books, and now we were emailing back and forth as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Everything had changed. I kept having to remind myself that this wasn’t some kind of competition I had won by sending in my coupons from the cereal box; I deserved to be there. I had worked hard to be at that table, without even really knowing what I was working towards. Elizabeth believed in me, and that was all I needed.
Working on How To Fail was one of the most meaningful and surreal experiences of my professional career to date. The selfies Elizabeth would send me via WhatsApp still blow my mind even now; Gillian Anderson, Lucy Spraggan, Bear Grylls, Claudia Winkleman, Elliot Page, Dawn French, Marina Abramovich, Geri Halliwell Horner, Rylan Clark, all of whom showed up with such generosity and vulnerability. It was a privilege to witness and be a part of the creative process behind the scenes, from editing the social media clips together to writing the captions and scheduling the posts. I felt honoured to be holding these stories that were so generously shared and tried my best to give them the time and care that they deserved.
As a client, Elizabeth was as open-minded and collaborative as you could possibly wish a client to be. She trusted my creative process and encouraged me to experiment, and when I started creating lighthearted, funny memes to post, she embraced this new direction with open arms. During that summer of 2023, I finally turned my face to the sun and and found the light and creative inspiration that I hadn’t even realised was there.
Elizabeth was also incredibly generous; she still introduces me to friends and colleagues who need social media support to this day and has helped me to carve out a new career path without even realising it. I almost exclusively work with authors, podcasters and media personalities now and I feel like I’ve found my purpose; helping creative people to be visible online, without the faff.
My friend Emma once told me that it was because I was brave enough to show up on social media and respond to Elizabeth’s open ended request, that I eventually got to work with her. If I hadn’t chosen to be vulnerable in that moment, to open myself up to potential rejection, I simply wouldn’t be here. I think she’s bang on the money (and also an incredibly supportive and lovely friend.)
As Elizabeth herself says:
“Failure can be the world’s greatest teacher, if you let it. Failures can be nudges from the universe in a different direction.”
If I was ever a guest on How To Fail (here’s hoping), I think one of my failures would be that I constantly self sabotage and make things harder for myself - but working with Elizabeth was the one time when I allowed myself to fully believe that I deserved to be there. It was and continues to be a life changing experience.
Thank you, Elizabeth. You have changed the course of my life, transformed the way I move through the world and given me the confidence to do what I was always meant to do. You are a guiding light in what can often be a very foggy world for me and I am forever grateful.
Lauren x
Love this story and love how it was the reason I found you too! x
I love it when serendipitous moments and opportunities like that appear!