This blog is brought to you by Catherine Bagwell, Senior Account Coordinator at Girlilla Marketing.

If you had told college me that in a few years I’d buy my first house in Nashville, get my first dog, and find a job that lights me up, I probably would’ve laughed, panicked, or both. Growing up in Hendersonville, Tennessee, I spent a lot of time watching Music City from the outside, close enough to see all the excitement, the music, and the creative energy, but still feeling a world away. I could see the kind of life I wanted but wasn’t sure how to start my own version of that story. I worried, overthought, and second-guessed my way through the end of college and post-grad life, wondering if I’d ever really feel “in it” instead of just on the edge of it. But somehow, gradually, that dream started to become real.

Buying my first house here in Nashville felt like finally planting roots after years of uncertainty, proof that I could build something solid, even if I didn’t always feel like I had it all figured out. But that feeling wasn’t new. When I landed a job at Girlilla Marketing, it felt like a huge stroke of luck. I graduated college at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when finding a job seemed harder than ever. Most of my past work experience was in marketing, but nothing close to the kind of work I truly wanted to do. I applied to jobs I didn’t want out of necessity, while quietly hoping something more aligned with my dreams would come along. It started to feel impossible. I kept hearing, “Nobody loves their first job, you just need to get started!” Then it happened. I was connected with Girlilla Marketing, a small, women-led agency doing the exact work I had only imagined myself doing.

When I started at Girlilla, my first real job, I brought a heavy dose of imposter syndrome with me. I wasn’t sure if I was qualified or ready. In a fast-paced industry that rarely slows down, it was easy to assume everyone else had it figured out while I was just trying to keep up. But over time, I’ve learned that no one really has all the answers. We’re all figuring it out as we go, and in a space like Nashville that thrives on change and creativity, waiting to feel “ready” isn’t an option. Growth looks like showing up, moving with confidence, staying open to learning, trying, and getting it wrong every single day. That shift in mindset has grounded me just as much as the house I now get to call home.

While finding my footing, I’ve kept one guiding question in mind: How can I make my team’s job easier?  I feel my growth most in the moments where I can anticipate what’s needed before I’m asked. That mindset helped me realize that the little things aren’t so little. Digital marketing moves fast, but it runs on structure. Keeping that structure intact, and taking ownership of it, has allowed me to zoom out and contribute more meaningfully to the bigger picture of each project

An album release, for example, comes with a lot of moving parts. If I’ve already organized the cover art and social banners in a shared folder, or built out the content calendar in advance, we’re saving time and energy by not having to scramble last-minute. What might look like a small task behind the scenes often becomes the reason a big moment runs smoothly. Housekeeping isn’t a distraction from creative work; it’s the reason the creative can shine.

I’ve also been able to learn so much from my team simply by watching how they work. I’m grateful to be in a space where, for the most part, everyone is doing the same type of work I am. It creates an environment of shared experience and continuous learning which serves as my main source for encouragement and inspiration. Every day brings an opportunity to observe how my coworkers handle challenges: how they lead a call, manage feedback, or keep projects moving when plans inevitably shift. I pay attention to the words they choose, how they organize their time, and how they balance efficiency. It’s like a digital marketing masterclass, if I’m paying attention. As I grow in my position, I’m drawing from those moments in my own work: responding with more clarity, asking better questions, and showing up more prepared. Growth hasn’t always come from big feedback or formal wins; it can come quietly through observation and intention.

Despite these firsts (the house, the job, the milestones that feel so big on paper), I’m still learning and growing every day. The roots I’ve grown, both personally and professionally, didn’t appear overnight. They came from consistency, from being willing to try even when I felt unsure. Sometimes that growth is slow and invisible, happening beneath the surface while you’re just trying to stay present. But then one day, you look up and realize you’re proud of where you are, and even more grateful for how far you’ve come.

It’s easy to think success means achieving something big or arriving somewhere new. But I’m learning that it can also mean blooming right where you’re planted, with what you have, and who you are right now. It means giving yourself grace, while still pushing forward. That mindset shift, learning to bloom where I’m planted, has also helped quiet the constant urge to compare. As a gal in her late 20s who works in social media, the temptation to compare myself to others doing “bigger” things is always there. It’s easy to wonder if you’re doing enough and achieving fast enough. But comparison is a trap, and as the saying goes, it’s a true thief of joy. I remind myself often: everyone else’s path was never meant to be mine. Growth and success don’t follow a set timeline or definition. When I stop comparing, I’m able to start appreciating where I am, how far I’ve come, and everything I’m still becoming.

Thanks for reading,
Catherine