MOCA Roundtable
Finding Joy and Connection in Social Media
MOCA Roundtables are shared resources that represent the collective wisdom of our community and invite you to explore real, experience-based insights from business owners who have been there.
This Roundtable discussion is about reframing your relationship with social media. We talk about how to show up authentically, finding joy and connection in social media content, and build a sustainable, human-centered presence online.
The Conversation
This Roundtable began with a conversation between Jess Hershey and Olivia Yokubonis about approaching social media with more authenticity, creativity, and ease. They talk about how to rediscover joy in content creation, show up in a way that feels true to who you are, and create a social presence without burnout. Inside the video:
10:15 – What It Really Means to Show Up Authentically
You don’t have to share everything to be authentic. Showing up authentically doesn’t mean opening up every part of your personal life, it means choosing what feels comfortable and true to you. Share the parts of your story that light you up and create space for connection, not oversharing.
22:40 – Finding Joy in Social Media Again
Find joy by working with your natural creativity. Content creation becomes easier and more fulfilling when you work with your natural energy and creativity, not against it. If an idea excites you, take action in that moment before the spark fades.
32:46 – Capture the Moment: Work with Your Natural Creativity
Your energy is important. People connect with your excitement and enthusiasm, not the polish of a perfectly edited post. Stop overthinking it and capture moments when inspiration strikes, even if things aren’t perfectly staged. Your energy is what makes your content something that a potential client will connect with.
39:43 – Simplifying Your Content Process
Simplify your strategy and repurpose what you already have. You don’t need to constantly create new ideas. Look back at the content you’ve already created and find ways to reuse it. Repurposing allows you to show up consistently without burning out. But also, you only need to show up on the platforms that feel good to you. If you’re not enjoying where you’re posting, you won’t stick with it. Lean into the platforms that spark your curiosity and excitement, and let go of the pressure to be everywhere at once.
47:34 – Shift Your Mindset and Let Go of Perfection
The goal isn’t to impress people, it’s to create human-to-human connection. If it’s to the detriment of your mindset, it’s not worth it.
Featured Experts
Learn more about the community members that participated in this Roundtable:
Olivia Yokubonis
Member Profile
Jess Hershey
Member Profile
Polina Ruvinsky
Member Profile
Community Insights
Members of our community joined the conversation, sharing their own experiences and advice for finding joy and connection in social media. These insights represent the real, lived wisdom of entrepreneurs who have struggled with social media and found ways to show up authentically and aligned in a noisy world.
Olivia Yokubonis
People hear the idea of being ‘authentic’ on social media and they assume it means sharing everything. But that’s not true. It’s not about being completely raw or exposed, it’s about talking like you’re talking to a friend. You get to choose which parts of your story to share. And that freedom can bring joy back into the process.
If social media is feeling like a burden, try this: write down all the things you could talk about for three minutes straight, no prep. Those are the things that light you up. You’re not here to be content machines. You’re here to connect. When you stop putting pressure on yourself to do it a certain way, you make space for ease and energy to return.
Play with the platforms that feel fun. You don’t have to be everywhere. Repurpose content if it makes your life easier. Sometimes the post you make in the moment, just because you felt it, is the one that resonates the most. Don’t overthink it.
And remember, it’s not about impressing people. It’s about making a human connection. If it’s to the detriment of your mindset, it’s not worth it. Let it be human. Let it be light. You can show up in a way that supports your peace and still have an impact.
Jess Hershey
Try to separate yourself from what you think you know about social media marketing. Start here: you don’t have to be on social media. You don’t have to be on every social media outlet. You don’t have to post a certain number of times a day, a week, or a month. And you don’t have to post about anything specific in any specific format.
Once you free yourself of those “have tos,” then you can take a deep breath and figure out what actually makes sense for you. There are tips and best practices that make sense to learn from. But a social media plan that works is going to be one that works for you. One where you can show up with joy and stay consistent. That’s what will reach your audience.
Try running some experiments. What type of content creation do you like? What inspires you? What resonates with your audience? Get playful. Be curious. Try something for a while and then have a checkpoint to reflect and adjust.
Most of all, be real. There is so much content out there. Marketing, at the heart of it, is about connection. To form real connections with real people, you need to be yourself.
Polina Ruvinsky
Social media is such a beautiful tool to help us communicate what we’re excited about, what we’re good at, and how we want to help. There are people out there looking for your offer. It feels noisy. But when you bring joy into what you’re putting out there, your people find you.
We don’t have to post every single day. But we want to stay consistent. I think of consistency as being willing to show up when I’m ready to be myself, not when I’m performing. We’ve been trained to perform. That’s not our fault. But now we have the opportunity to choose something else. Something more connected. If we can keep reminding ourselves of that intention, we can get into more of a rhythm and create a presence that our audience can see.
Resources
We asked our community to share their favorite resources related to finding joy and connection in social media. We hope you find them helpful!
Useful Tools
The 3 Minute Rule
This is Olivia’s favorite creative energy saver: take your phone and record a voice memo about the start of your business, challenges you’ve overcome, or current passions in your work. Spend 3 minutes talking freely. Then play it back and listen for moments of joy.
Free Resources
Social Media Platform Personalities
Which platforms make sense for you to be on? There are new platforms popping up every time. You don’t need to be on all of the platforms. Learn more about the platforms that are right for you.
Creating With Freedom
This Substack article explores common mental roadblocks that keep you from pressing publish on social media and how to overcome them.
Personal Brand Content That Converts
This is a guide to creating high-quality video content for your personal brand to engage your audience, build trust, and communicate your message effectively. These are simple, actionable tips to help you record top-tier content using your iPhone.
Related Offerings
Personal Brand Blueprint
Turn your story into strategy with a tailored roadmap for your personal brand. This session includes a comprehensive platform audit, a content performance breakdown, content pillar creation, and a content concept bank.
Olivia’s Office Hours
Book an office hours session with Olivia Yokubonis to strategize the launch or growth of your personal brand, navigate challenges in marketing and branding, and receive fresh ideas or expert feedback on your marketing plans.