If you’re thinking about starting your own business or diving into freelancing, it’s easy to feel unqualified. Maybe you don’t have a degree in marketing. Maybe you’ve never managed a campaign. Maybe you’re worried you’ll fail.
But here’s the truth: failure isn’t the end of the story—it’s often the beginning.
Just ask me. Ben Bennett. I jokingly call myself the worst Jr. Media Buyer in history—and yet that misstep was the stepping stone to building an entire creative department at Smart Marketer.
Chasing a Passion, Not a Path
I didn’t start out with a “marketing career” in mind. I was obsessed with video—shooting, editing, storytelling. That passion opened doors.
When a local distillery launched, I became their marketing director. I had no formal training, but I had a boss who gave me room to learn, and I soaked up everything I could. It wasn’t polished, but it was progress.
And that’s the thing: you don’t need the perfect path. You just need to start.
Catching Fire
In the middle of my learning curve, I found Smart Marketer’s Train My Traffic Person program. Molly Pittman became more than a teacher—she became a mentor.
Marketing clicked for me. I launched my own YouTube channel (Ben’s Big Drive), not because I had to, but because I couldn’t not share and create.
That fire is what freelancing and entrepreneurship are built on. Curiosity + persistence > credentials.
Taking the Leap
The alcohol industry has a lot of red tape, and eventually I knew I needed a new challenge. I told Molly I wanted to freelance full-time.
She said yes… then surprised me with a job offer instead: Jr. Media Buyer at Smart Marketer.
Spoiler alert: I was a terrible media buyer. ? But my eye for creative was valuable. I wasn’t helping with bid strategies—but I was helping shape ads, craft stories, and spark ideas.
And sometimes, finding your lane means realizing what you don’t do well.
Building From Scratch
From that spark, the Smart Marketer Creative Department was born. I had zero experience creating a service from scratch, but I had trust, support, and an incredible teammate in Melvin Cotton III (now our Creative Operations Manager). Together, we built the foundation.
Fast forward: today we’re a team of five, serving clients with strategy and storytelling. My number one goal? Making sure this team loves what they do and grows while delivering results.
Why This Matters for You
I share this not as a “look at me” story, but as proof:
- You don’t need to start as the best.
- You don’t need a perfect résumé.
- You just need to start, stay curious, and keep showing up.
Whether you’re considering launching your own business, freelancing, or starting something brand new—don’t wait for the perfect plan. Take the step that’s in front of you.
Because the “worst Jr. Media Buyer” can end up leading a department. And you can too, in your own way.
