Meet Rachel Sobel | Writer, Author, Storyteller, Speaker

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

Hi Rachel, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
Our kids are always watching and it feels like every single move we make is a teachable moment in some way. I think one of the most important things for my kids to see are not only the successes I celebrate, but how I rebound from failure. Life is filled with curveballs and I want my daughters to have a realistic view of the world as they get older. They’ve seen me stumble and face challenges, personally and professionally, but more importantly they have seen me pick myself up, dust myself off and keep on moving. Resilience is crucial and because our kids take cues from watching our own moments of resilience, there are so many opportunities to show them what it means to acknowledge the tough stuff but not to let it stop your momentum.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
WIth a 20-career in Public Relations (mostly launching tech startups around the country), my job has always been filled with writing. But when I left corporate America and started my own LLC and blog, it shifted everything. It allowed me to focus on what I wanted to write and who I wanted to write for. It’s the hardest I have ever worked in my life because you cannot turn off the hustle when you are self-employed. Every bit of time, every word you write, every event you attend, impacts your personal brand. People see a highly active Instagram account and think you have some cush job or that you “don’t really work” But the reality is that when you build an authentic brand using social media as a platform, you NEVER stop. Every single post, picture, caption, word, is calculated and steeped in strategy. I’m beyond proud that I have grown my Instagram account to over 100K, built an incredible and supportive community of mothers and women who just want to feel seen, became a published author, earned placements for my work in HuffPost, Scary Mommy, Today Show Parents, Romper, BuzzFeed, MommyNearest and others. I pinch myself when I look back at my appearances on NPR, The Doctors, The Tamron Hall Show and The Kelly Clarkson Show. All of this stemming from my hustle and constantly pushing myself to do more. I wish more people understood the level of commitment and drive it takes to leave the confines of a cubicle and go off on your own in a very noisy market. The challenges are huge but the payoff when you achieve success for something you have literally built with your own two hands is even bigger.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Anyone who knows me, understands that my life revolves around food so that would be a HUGE part of the experience all the way from Miami to Palm Beach. We’d grab açaí bowls from 3Natives for breakfast or lunch before heading to one of my favorite hotels in Palm beach, Eau Palm Beach for walk on the beach and a few hours at the spa where we would swing in those glorious hanging chairs and our toes dangling in the water below. One of my favorite spots in all of South Florida.

We would venture south to Fort Lauderdale to pick up a little afternoon snack and Batch, The Cookie Company (their cookies, especially the Twix ones are like a religious experience). I’d book a room that night at The Conrad Hotel to have al little staycation including dinner at my new favorite spot, Takato for as much sushi as they are willing to serve us.

The next day we’d head further south to Miami, pick up Panther Coffee, maybe a slice at Prince Street Pizza (because those pepperoni cups) and wander around Wynwood for the day. There would probably be a stop at The Salty Donut but not too much because I want to save room for dinner at Jeremy Ford’s restaurant, Stubborn Seed.

One of the best parts of living in South Florida is that we have access to a bevy of unbeliavable beaches, attractions and all the food stretching from dade to palm beach counties.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am fortunate to be surrounded by a phenomenal support system. It’s part luck and part having a strong enough sense of self to curate a safe space around me. My mother has ALWAYS been my number one cheerleader. Literally since middle school she has sent me out the door saying, “shake what your mama gave ya” and still at 45 it’s her favorite thing to say to me to provide encouragement and love. She has always taught me to use my voice and to not let others impact my happiness or get in my way of success. She’s feisty and hilarious and has completely set the tone for the people I allow in my inner circle and how I am raising my own two daughters.

Website: www.whineandcheezits.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/whineandcheezits

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-sobel-88a1102/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/whinecheezits

Facebook: www.facebook.com/whineandcheezits

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6IeLq4CGftKk3-ze_-cNg

Image Credits
All professional images are taken by Katharine Defalco Skolnick of Defalco Design