As the community manager of The Circle, Cecilia Hu is all about following your passion and doing what you love. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Cecilia runs a jewelry label as a side hustle that’s inspired by one of her trips to Santorini. Being around like-minded entrepreneurs every day at The Circle gives her inspiration to continue creating, as there’s no shortage of ideas bouncing around. Learn more about Cecilia in this Coworkers of the World spotlight!
How do you start off your day — aka what’s your morning routine?
I drink a glass of lemon water, do 15 minutes of facial skin care routine, and then eat breakfast while checking social media.
Which book has shaped your life or changed the way you think the most?
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
List 3 simple things in life that make you really happy:
- Travel
- Brunch
- Watching The Circle family grow.
What project are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on The Circle Pitch Feast. I love hearing about new and creative business ideas! It’s designed as a 90-day course, plus free workspace will be offered to the winning teams to assist them in developing the personal and business assets to grow an effective business. Stay tuned!
How did you get your idea or concept for the business?
For my own jewelry brand, the idea was inspired by my travel to Santorini.
For events/marketing for The Circle, the ideas mostly come from networking and through conversations I’ve had with other entrepreneurs. Plus, since I’m always working in a coworking space, there are plenty of ideas flowing around. It’s impossible not to be creative when you are in a creative community.
How do you advertise your business?
Referral marketing. Social media marketing is great, it’s good for branding. But in terms of bringing leads and increasing sales, it’s coming from people who’ve used your product, loved your service and refer it to their friends. It might be different for another industry, but at least for coworking, we are pretty lucky to have members referring new members.
What is the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done in 2018?
I finally hosted an event that I wanted to do for a long time called, “From Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur.” We had around 80 people in attendance, and I was so glad we were able to inspire the crowd. The warm feedback we received made me so happy.
What is your favorite coworking space and why?
The Circle, because of its community. The beauty of this community is it has a good mix of startups/small businesses and large businesses that have offices around the world. From both creative and professional industries, this combined community is where opportunities, inspiration, and magic happens. The eco-system built within the space has made it easier for businesses to grow and connect, especially small businesses.
How coworking has impacted your business?
The networking aspect of coworking has brought about many opportunities for me. I find most of my work by talking to people, and most jobs aren’t advertised. When you are surrounded by like-minded people, it actually motivates me to work harder and achieve more.
What are your 2019 goals? Both personal and business.
Personal: Tick off one more country on my travel list – Turkey.
Business: Work with The Circle to expand and build a larger community for entrepreneurs.
What are the podcasts you’re listening to right now and why?
I don’t listen to podcasts that much. The latest podcast I listened to is “Seize the Yay” by Spoonful of Sarah.
What is one piece of important advice you would like to leave with our readers?
If there’s something that you wanted to do for a long time, take that first step and JUST DO IT! It’s not that scary, just enjoy the ride. The last thing you want in life is to regret.
What is your go-to pump up song?
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson.
