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turn a passion into a personal brand with one goal in mind – breaking mental barriers and pushing the limits in physical and psychological health. Bryan started Bryan Chang Fitness in 2015 and has utilized social media – mainly Instagram – to connect with and help people reach their fitness goals.  I caught up with Bryan and discuss the importance of keeping connected during this time of uncertainty and how he’s used Instagram and Zoom as a way to help his 12.5K followers not lose sight of their goals. Bryan has to continually develop and create unique content, which can create stress and anxiety as he tries to stand apart in an already supersaturated content world. Bryan CHang The stress of trying to create different contentbryan chang

It’s an up hill battle. Building a community doesn’t happen over night and it takes dedication and tenacity.  The thing is, if we look at the audience of some “Influencers,” you can find yourself wondering how they built such a large audience.  The reality is, it isn’t so much about the size of the audience, it’s about how engaged they are.  That’s what makes an audience great, that’s what makes an audience compelling.  For Nhu – that engagement comes from just being herself. Nhu doesn’t have hundreds of thousands of followers. Her community of about 6,000 are passionate and engaged. For her it’s about sharing her passion and the beauty she sees in the world.  She started posting images of cars and car parts, and as can be expected her audience was 80% male. She wondered if she could shift that demographic make up and started to inject images of herself into her feed. As her feed becomes more personal she’s noticing an uptick in engagement and a change in those demographics. Nhu Nguyen The purpose of posting more of myself was to engage a different demographic.Nhu Nguyen View this post on Instagram Who's down for a joyride post quarantine? . . Flashback to the time @danielmorad coached this Nhub around @ctmp in a 991 GT3 #funtimes #wantmoreseattime #WomenWhoWrench #Shecanic #femcanic #femcanicgarage #GirlsWhoWorkOnCars #womeninStem #WomenInAutomotive #empoweredwomenempowerwomen #FemaleMechanic #LadyMechanic #WomanAndMachine. #girlswhobuildcars #GirlsWhoLoveCars #GirlsWhoFixCars #GirlMechanic #AutomotiveTechnician #AutomotiveMechanic #bossbabe #bossbabes #womenempowerment #women #womensupportingwomen #girlboss #bossypants A post shared by Dear_Nhu (@dear_nhu) on Apr 17, 2020 at 8:35pm PDT

Pack it all in for life on the road. That is what Coleman Molnar did many years ago…and he hasn’t looked back. Coleman and his partner Lisa left their jobs in the fashion and entertainment publication industry for the confines of a slightly used Westfaila camper van. And while that might see like a rash decision to most – they did so with a well defined plan. Along with their new camper van life, they launched a brand and agency … LietCo. The instagram account of the fledgling agency soon grew to cover 17,000 followers. The road hasn’t been easy – there have been bumps (and the odd breakdown) along the way but through it all they’ve managed to build a successful; influencer/lifestyle brand that companies seek to help bring awareness to their products. Coleman Molnar A real goal in growing our audience is to monetize it, then we are already there. Coleman MOLNAR View this post on Instagram Hello from our living room! And say hi to our new cat buddy! As many others, we’ve been using this isolation time to fix up our fixer upper. We’ve torn up the old carpet, removed baseboards, painted the ceiling and walls in the living/dining room (though this wall here is keeping its retro wood), and invested an alarming number of hours into salvaging the existing window trim by sanding, filling, caulking and painting. Also: we’ve befriended one of the neighbourhood feral cats. Meet Charlie. We spotted her six months ago when we first got the keys to the house, creeping around the property, always keeping her distance. She accepted treats a few times, if there was 10 feet between us, but otherwise was pretty timid. THEN on the weekend, while we were having a beer in our backyard, she caught a wave of bravery and came in for a pat. Things have moved quickly since and she’s spent the last two nights sleeping between us in bed! We’ve been calling her Ali, but, in chatting with a neighbour who feeds the resident strays, have learned she previously went by Charlie Chaplin (Chappie for short) because of the moustache-like markings on her nose and chin. She actually lived in our neighbour’s house for a few years until she got into a heated dispute with some of the other resident felines and shipped off. Loud noises and sudden movements still frighten her, and she still prefers the garden to the litter box, but she’s very sweet for a cat who’s been living outside sans any real human affection for the last few years. Who knows how long she’ll stick around, but for now, we all seem to be enjoying each other's company. A post shared by Lietco (@lietco) on Apr 16, 2020 at 2:27pm PDT

If everything is under control…you’re not moving fast enough. Words spoken by famed race car driver Mario Andretti. That statement seems to fit race car driver and entrepreneur Daniel Morad. Daniel began his career earlier than most when he competed competitively as a race car driver at the age of 8. Fast forward 20 years…really fast…he has created a resume that boasts many racing championships and a solid reputation as a top driving instructor. Daniel kept the pedal to the metal and diversified. He taught himself photography and videography…. blogging during race weekends….and building his audience. As his audience grew he co-founded “Moradness” a lifestyle brand focused on apparel and race inspired hats. The brand was designed as a perfect hybrid between fashion and his personal brand building. I had the chance to catch up with Daniel about building an audience and communities and promoting brands through his social channels as well as tips for people interested in turning their passions into content. Daniel Morad That’s the way to get noticed, by gaining knowledge in different areas. DANIEL MORAD View this post on Instagram The two places I’ve been spending most of my isolation in. Where have YOU been spending the most time during your isolation? A post shared by Daniel Morad (@danielmorad) on May 13, 2020 at 8:47pm PDT

Remember when you were a kid standing at the edge of a swimming pool. You were all set to go swimming and you were building up the courage to jump in. You knew that there would be a shock of cold but after that shock the fun would start. You closed your eyes and took a breath and jumped!  What is the secret to success? Whether that success is building an audience Starting a company and venturing out on your own as a content creator can be a lot like taking that first plunge. Marta Tryshak took that leap with the help of a financial grant and made a bold decision to start her own agency. She utilized her personal social channels as an outlet of support to curate content that would help market her services. Today I get the opportunity to virtually sit down with Marta and discuss what goes on behind the scenes as a young entrepreneur building a company in the online and content marketing industry. Marta Tryshak One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn in business is how to say no to money.MARTA TRYSHAK View this post on Instagram Sunday kind of mood on a Monday morning #StayHome A post shared by Marta Tryshak (@martatryshak) on Apr 6, 2020 at 11:34am PDT

What is the secret to success? Whether that success is building an audience or something else? It’s a question that’s been asked untold times yet we still ask it and the answer still evades us. The secret hasn’t evaded content creator and Porsche and beard enthusiast Magnus Walker. Magnus’ content success was jumpstarted when a short film about his obsession with classic Porsches, called Urban Outlaw, was released. From there lady luck smiled on him as shows like Top Gear highlight the film. Even though Magnus got a kickstart when building his community, he kept putting great content out and experimenting with new ways of connecting with his audience. As he describes it…is a hobby that’s gotten out of control. He keeps the content coming and continually explores new ways of connecting to his audience. Take his recent foray into a cooking show,  that’s about as far away from a Porsche and beard as you can get. Is the secret getting a kickstart from a large publication or organization? Is it the ability to continually publish great content or the ability to continually explore new ways of connecting? Magnus might have the answer. Magnus Walker and Porsche Love what you do.Magnus Walker View this post on Instagram Stay In N Grow , Now is the time to grow that facial hair you’ve always wanted , but never felt like you had the Patience or Freedom to do it . Show me what you got going so far with the #beardsof2020 (mustaches and lamb chops welcome too) #stayinandgrow A post shared by Magnus Walker (@magnuswalker) on Apr 13, 2020 at 1:38pm PDT

The dream of many people is to travel the world and get paid to do it.  It’s not as far fetched as you might think. Zach Brehl, a notable car spotter based out of Toronto, Canada is living that dream.  Zach started shooting cars about seven years ago.… way back in the days before Facebook had purchased Instagram for one billion dollars.  His content journey all started when Zach and his friend had a wager to see who could get the most Instagram followers. Shortly after winning that wager, he started to take the platform a little more seriously.  He invested in equipment and started to look at what other successful content creators were doing on the platform. Over the year he’s developed his own style, although he acknowledges that inspiration comes from others around him. Standing on the shoulder of giants. Zach Brehl Develop your own style and stick with it.Zach Brehl Flying around the world, photographing exotic cars. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. View this post on Instagram A few months back I shot the Taycan Turbo S with @steakandsizzle for @porschecanada. Here’s a few from the set #PorscheTaycan #Vancouver #stereotypicalweather A post shared by Zach Brehl (@zachbrehl) on Mar 6, 2020 at 10:11am PST Zach at work

What do you dream about doing?  If there was something you could be doing right now…like if you could drop everything and do this one thing what would it be?  This is a question that’s everyone’s thought about from time to time. But life gets in the way and we often end up doing what we do and dreaming of what we’d like to do. Jakob Pospieszynski decided that he’d like to spend more time with his Porsche. From a humble beginning participating on car forums, Jakob turned his passion into a streamlined YouTube channel releasing weekly shows about his Porsche 993. and…while building subscribers on YouTube he also built a significant Instagram following.  Jakob using his OSMO Whatever you are communicating needs to be as authentic as possible.Jakob Pospieszynski It takes persistence and hours of hard work to build a community, especially on YouTube. View this post on Instagram One thing I love to do when cruising in my Porsche 993 is stop at a rest-stop in the middle of nowhere, enjoy some fresh air and snap some pics. #ThrowbackThursday #DestinationPorsche A post shared by Jakob Pospieszynski (@911percent) on Jan 30, 2020 at 6:01am PST Jakob living his Porsche dream.

They say it takes ten thousand hours to master something…. and if you need proof there’s even a Macklemore song about it, so that makes it real. Now…not everyone subscribes to the ten thousand hour philosophy, but I’d argue that regardless of the hours, being great at something usually takes consistency, dedication and practice. This week I caught up with automotive photographer, publisher and reluctant influencer Lucas Scarfone of Scarfone Photo.  Lucas has been behind the camera shooting cars for the better part of sixteen years now. Over those years he’s steadily built an audience on Instagram that is more than just an audience…may have become friends. Lucases’ secret? Well, let’s find out… Lucas at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park The main thing is to just show up. That really is half the battle.Lucas Scarfone View this post on Instagram Another solo social distancing shoot with my friend’s beautiful 6-speed Ferrari 360 Modena this morning! I’m so fortunate to be able to shoot during these uncertain times. Thank you to all my friends for providing a safe, sanitary and contact free photography environment and trusting me with the keys to their special machines. This horse is also looking for a new home, keep an eye out for the full gallery this evening! A post shared by Lucas Scarfone (@scarfonephoto) on Mar 24, 2020 at 9:45am PDT Cars, Cameras & Lucas For over sixteen years Lucas has been behind the camera shooting cars and making friends. His Instagram account is as authentic as he is. Lucas Scarfone