Meet Molly McLaughlin | Jane of All Trades

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

Hi Molly, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
I have learned that remaining consistent and diligent is so underrated. Consistency plays a major role in the growth and progress of a business. I am a goal-chaser. It is helpful for me to gauge my progress by writing things down so I can cross them off my list and visually see what needs to be done as well as physically see my progress by checking off completed tasks. Even in times when I feel as though I am not accomplishing my goals I am able to look back at my lists to see that I am indeed working the plan and making progress. As I take a minute to reflect I realize that I have years worth of full notebooks that include hundreds of tasks, reminders, and completed thing which have documented my progress and growth.

It’s so important to remember that we are all on our own journey of entrepreneurship. Many of us are creating our own blueprints working to bring our visions to life. Success is subjective so it looks and feels different at different stages in the process. My suggestion is to enjoy the view at both the highs and the lows so we can remain grateful no regardless of which stage we’re in.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Ten10media was established in Connecticut 2019. It is the umbrella company to all things consumed. We offer services such as consulting, one on one stock education, event planning and management, as well as various administrative functions. Additionally, we make custom digital artwork and products specializing in shirts, hats and glassware. Since we don’t believe in limiting ourselves we continuously look forward to expanding our products and remain open to turning new ideas into finished products.

Ten10media will help to bring your vision to light. We organize, strategize and execute so that you can sit back with confidence knowing that we will handle the rest.

I am most proud of growth and perseverance. I am constantly learning and growing. I have taught myself how to do so many thing from graphic designing, creating websites, and filing taxes to trading stocks and doing a full-set of acrylic nails. lol I have always been of the mindset that I can do anything. I find inspiration all around me and I genuinely enjoy trying new things plus, I am not afraid to fail. Once I try it I can gauge how much time and effort is needed for me to get better at it. Depending how much I need to invest (time and money) in the craft I am able to gauge if it is worth it for me to keep going (financially).

Despite being shutdown as a result of the pandemic, I learned new skills, spent a lot of time self-educating, and continued to stay connected through social media most specifically via Clubhouse. I persevered through the shutdown and manage strengthen my network.

I have been building my business brick by brick since 2017. As a person with advanced degrees I went from working a minimum wage job making $10.10 an hour to owning my own business and living in New York City. I have channeled energy into learning and growing something I could be proud of. I am always trying to learn new skills and find new opportunities to expand my business and network. I have tried my best to remain fearless and optimistic through all of my experiences both good and bad. Never a loss, always a lesson.

It’s never easy. If it were easy everyone would do it. There is always doubt. There is always stress and conflict. There are always hard times and missed opportunities. But honestly, that’s what makes it all worth it. To me, there is “beauty in the struggle” (J. Cole reference). I have learned some of my most valuable lessons through the hardest times. In those moments I have had to dig deep within myself to overcome a variety of challenges. Each of those instances have helped to build my character as well as contribute more stepping stones for the business.

I have learned that protecting your work it crucial. Most creatives give so much of themselves through their work and it’s imperative to protect your physical and intellectual property because once it is out in the world anyone can use it for whatever they want unless you have legal protection over your work.

I have also learned the importance of contracts. It is imperative to have contracts that state the expections and demands of the agreement at hand. Both parties need to explicitly know what is required of them. This helps to mitigate confusion, misunderstandings and unnecessary back and forth. It is also particularly important for being paid in a timely fashion. It is always surprising to see what excuses and complications magically appear when services are rendered and payments are due. But I guess that’s all part of the learning process.

I want the world to know that I am a hardworking, creative person with high integrity. Business fundamentals are important to me and the operation of my company. I am very openminded and love helping people bring their vision to life. I come from humble beginnings but look forward to all the rewards from the endless grind to the top. If you are blessed with a vision it is your responsibility to live it out. Many people will not understand because it wasn’t given to them and that’s ok. Let that fire burn inside of you and don’t be afraid to add fuel to it every chance you get. Some of these talents, passions and gifts are way bigger than any us. We all have so much to offer the world. Don’t shy away from it, lean into it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend coming to visit me in New York City there are so many places I would want to take them. The beautiful thing is that no matter where you go you will meet interesting people, taste great food, experience culture and see sights that are only to be seen in NYC.

In order to provide them with an experience that would capture the essence of NYC I would take them to Hudson Yard. Although this is one of the newest landmarks in the City there is a lot to see. Coming out of the 7 train tunnel you immediately see the copper honey comb shaped Vessel for a great photo op. There is also the option to enjoy some luxury shopping in the mall.

Next we would go to the Shard, the largest walkout outdoor space in the western hemisphere for unmatched top to bottom views of all of Manhattan. We would leave the sky view and enter an immersive view of the city by walking the Manhattan High Line. There is this amazing path down an old railroad track where you walk above the traffic, cutting in and out of the buildings that appear to be eye level. There are plenty of pit stops for iconic pictures.

At this point I know we would be hungry and ready to grab a slice of the infamous NY style pizza at one of my favorite pizza shops, Suprema Pizza on on 8th Ave and 31st right out side of Madison Square Garden. They have the arguably some of the best gourmet slices in the City. From there we could catch a game, a concert, comedy show, or boxing match right in the legendary Garden.

After catching some entertainment I would take my friends about 12 blocks north to the Theater District for the best Italian dining at Carmine’s on West 44th Street. At this point I know their bellies would be full and their feet would be tired from walking all day.

This is all in just one day. The City has so many pockets jam packed with adventure. Each day I would take them to a different section of the City to experience a different part of the culture, food, and people all with a new opportunity to actually see new landmarks and spectacular views.

The best part of New York City is that you can visit so many different countries, cultures, and places all within the same 7 mile radius. There is truly no place like New York.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Firstly, I would like to shoutout my dear friend Livy, aka Fiyabomb. She recommended Ten10Media LLC to you all and I am so grateful for the opportunity. We have also worked together on various projects from road trips and traveling to curating galleries and signing business deals, Our relationship is so special to me because we share a love for business, art, food, great conversations, adventure and deep passionate love. To the wildly talented Olivia, thank you for being my friend.

Secondly and most definitely, I must shoutout my family: Mom, Pop, 5 sisters, 1 brother, nieces and nephews. Thank you for encouraging me and rooting for me every step of the way. Your unwavering belief in me and my success fuels the fire inside me to keep going. Having the support of those who have grown you and experienced your evolution is priceless. I aspire to continuously make you all proud. To my nieces and nephews I hope I am inspiring you to dream big. It’s not easy but it’s worth it. You can be exactly who you want to be and live the life you have always envisioned.

To my friends who have become family: Curtis and Luis, Josh and Eli, Javi, Darrell, Inez, Rachael, all of my Blue Devils, my What New York Sounds Like crew, and everyone in between. You all have welcomed me, embraced me and accepted me for exactly who I am. I have learned so much from you all. I am grateful for all of the memories, love, laughs, advice and adventures. You all have influenced me and inspired me to do better and be better for community. I love my community!

To my lifelong mentor, Larry Hall, thank you for always being in my corner. You have taught me so much about business and life. You are professionalism personified. You have always been a great example of hard work, commitment and success. Thank you for always encouraging me to “keep the faith” and “fight the good fight”.

Lastly, to my partner in crime, Jeff (Jay), a million thank yous to you! You have been the single most important person in the growth and success of Ten10Media. You have been my rock through every doubt, ‘no’, commission, booking, creative process, and every milestone. You have never been afraid to do the dirty work and never look for credit, but I own a lot of credit to you. Your loyalty and love is unmatched. I look forward to a lifetime of shared successes and adventures with you.

Website: ten10media.org

Instagram: ten10media.info and miss_prez_23

Other: Club House: Miss Prez – Club Name: All Inclusive with Ten10Media Discord: Miss Prez

Image Credits
Norman Oates Photography