Meet Amanda DiSilvestro | Content Marketer & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda DiSilvestro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I have always taken work-life balance very seriously. Living in San Diego and being in my 20s, I felt so energized to go to work every day and then sit at a coffee shop and work in the evenings. This worked for me because of where I was in my life, and I loved it! However, as I got older and found out I was pregnant with my first son, I knew I needed to make a shift and work less, but I didn’t exactly know how to do that. In a very unexpected turn of events, the pandemic helped make this decision for me when I got laid off from my job. I found myself on the way back home to Chicago to be near family, expecting the arrival of my son, and I had to really sit back and think about work-life balance. I went from going 100 mph to 0 almost instantly, and I had a choice to make in front of me. How much of my time do I want to spend working, while still making enough money, as well as making time for my growing family? This was when I decided to start my own business so that I could decide the hours I wanted to work, and although this has forced me to be very intentional about how I spend my time, I’ve been able to create this new balance that works for me. Had I stayed at the pace I was going, I’m not sure I would have been able to keep it all afloat.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I believe I got to where I am today professionally because I took risks. I had a wonderful job at an SEO agency where I worked from home (and traveled the world alone for the better part of one year) and worked hard to learn all I could about content marketing. While this job offered me my “dream” life, I knew that I wasn’t being challenged. I spent almost an entire year looking for the perfect next opportunity, and it wasn’t easy. I set the standard for myself that I wanted to work for a nonprofit that had meaning to me, and although it took a long time, I left my perfect work-from-home job for the chance to work at a nonprofit in San Diego. It was a huge risk, and a pay cut, but it opened my eyes to a different industry and type of work. One of my biggest professional accomplishments happened at this job — I found a video contest, created a video to enter the contest, won the contest, directed this winning video with a production company, and eventually, I won an Emmy award for that video. I am incredibly proud of this and feel that it gave me the confidence to continue to take risks and believe that I am in control of the career I want to create.

Flash forward a few years, and I landed truly my dream job at a travel company. When the pandemic hit and I was laid off from this job, I had a difficult time knowing what to do next. I found out I was going to have a baby around the same time, and my world was flipped upside down. This was a huge challenge I had to overcome, but I ultimately decided to take another risk and start my own business. I believe this was the best choice I could have made, and I think I was able to identify and make that choice because of my past professional experiences and all I learned not only about the industry but about how to be intentional in what I want and make it happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I always take my friends to Liberty Station — we eat at the public market, take a walk around and get drinks, and maybe even do a little bit of putting at the putting green. I think this is a great place to get a feel for San Diego, our food, and our history, all wrapped up in one afternoon.

Another thing I love to do is rent bikes and ride around the Bay. This is always a highlight of any trip.

For food, I have to take friends to Torpasta. It might not have the views or the ocean breeze, but a pasta sandwich is just as good in my opinion! I am also a huge fan of the vegetarian burrito at Ortega’s in Hillcrest. Again, it isn’t your “typical” burrito, but I have never tasted anything as good and I love showing friends more local spots.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband supported me through it all. While 2020 was a year of changes, he worked hard to provide for our family, opening up the opportunity for me to start my own business. I owe so much to his encouragement!

Website: https://planwritego.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandadisilvestro/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ADiSilvestro