Fitting in is a short-term strategy that gets you nowhere. Standing out is a long-term strategy that takes guts • Seth Godin
Meet Magriet Groenewald.
Educator. Strategist. Entrepreneur. Social Media Maverick.
Creator and crackerjack whiz behind the 28-Day-Facebook-Hero challenge and the hugely successful Instagram workshop GRAM-it with local mega-influencer Minki van der Westhuizen.
With more than 21 000 followers on Facebook and a super fast growing Insta account, Magriet has the local Social Media scene sitting up and taking notice.
Take a peek into the very savvy mind of Bloem-based digital talent Magriet Groenewald.
Name:
Magriet
Surname:
Groenewald
Age:
38
Profession/Life’s work:
Social Media (Instagram and Facebook) online educator and strategist.
So, what’s your story?
Where were you born?
I was born in Clocolan. My parents are farmers in the Eastern Free State and I am one of 6 siblings – I have 4 sisters and a brother!
Where did you go to school?
Ficksburg Primary and Secondary school. I went to hostel from Sub A (Gr 1) and spent weekends and holidays on the farm.
Where and what did you study?
I started with Industrial engineering in Stellenbosch, but changed direction 2 years later when I came to Bloemfontein to study at the UFS.
I completed my B.Com Marketing as well as my Business Management Honours degree at KOVSIES. (Little did I know how the marketing landscape would change with the arrival of social media)!
What was your childhood dream?
To be a farmer and businesswomen like my mom and have my own farm with lots of horses.
What was your first job?
My first job after Varsity was being appointed as HR Manager at Moreson Poultry Farm.
Advice that shaped you career?
My dad always told the story of how the late Oom Dirk van Reenen went to the USA to learn and study about cattle and feedlots. He came back to SA and founded Sparta Beef.
I have always admired Oom Dirk and to this day, his thought process is something I live by – namely to go and find THE BEST mentors in the world and bring that knowledge back home to implement in my own business.
The implement-the-BEST-knowledge way of thinking has also shaped my decisions after “firing my boss” and setting up my own Social Media online educator and strategist business.
I searched for the best Internet marketing coaches in the world and invested in them so that I can become the best in my field in SA.
I have had wonderful coaches from AUS, Boston, NZ and countries all over. It did not come cheap but investing in yourself and your future will give you endless reward.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Knowing that I can stay in bed all day! I am serious.
After working for a boss for 10 years, I can literally stay in bed if I really want to, because my business is 100 % online.
BUT, for me to be able to have a choice and flexibility in future, I have to get up every day, put in the hours and make my business work.
Make no mistake. Being your own boss is very challenging.
The alternative is to find a corporate job… but I don’t want that.
What motivates you?
When people are inspired by what I do.
Knowing that if I did not face my challenges every single day, the people who I work with would not have the opportunity to learn from me.
How do you spend your down time?
Reading and sleeping… yes, I am a woman and we loooove sleeping.
What does success look like to you?
To me at this point in my life, catching a negative thought and dealing with it before it brings me down is success. For a long time in my life, I was the victim of my own inner critic.
Whenever I catch that inner critic wanting to derail my dream, my accomplishments and what I still need to do in my life, I consciously combat that negativity with a victorious way of thinking.
For now, that feeling is success for me!
What sets you apart as a Social Media educator?
My ability to inspire people to become a better version of themselves.
I have students from all walks of live. Young and old. Some as old as well… they did not want to share their age but, since they are retired from the university of Stellenbosch I guess they are about 65!
My students inspire me daily.
Even though the thought of teaching an advanced student of 65 might seem intimidating, I really do have a lot of patience and I’m confident that I have enough knowledge, experience and know how to help and teach younger as well as older students and keep them engaged and interested.
I am also someone who wants to be seen as taking people on the journey with me, where I still learn every day rather than someone that already knows everything.
Social media is ever changing. So, as much as I am an educator, I am also a student.
I currently work with a coach from Boston who is really amazing and a leader in the US in the online marketing field.
What are the most valuable lessons you have learnt in your career thus far?
Every single person has greatness in them. They sometimes just need someone to believe that they do.
If only people would start believing in themselves and the possibilities of their dreams, they will have the ability to really impact their family and their community.
What makes a great content creator?
Authenticity.
I believe in being ME. I create authentic content and I do not chase likes.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate likes! But, to me people engaging with my content and sending me DM’s after reading a post is where my hart really lies.
Give me 3 words that describes you best?
- I am courageous (something I have learned from my first boss).
- I am very creative when it comes to problem solving and
- I am super passionate about what I believe in.
What are your 3 biggest accomplishments in your career thus far?
- Definitely my Gram-it collaboration with MINKI van der Westhuizen. Being a speaker did not come naturally to me at all. I had to overcome a terrible fear of public speaking.
- Launching my online business. I have always dreamed of being able to work form anywhere in the world. It took some time to understand and learn all the techy stuff of having a 100 % online business. Achieving that understanding for me was huge. I remember my first online consultation with my coach in AUS, how worried I was about the technical side of things. And all I can remember about the call was the words: “it is absolutely possible”. Looking back, I have thought to myself many times what the reason was why she did not tell me how hard it was going to be. But, her words always kept me going – “It is absolutely possible” – through hard work and persistence.
- I am also very chuffed about how well I can help myself technically these days. Let me tell you, the tech stuff was something I NEVER used to be good at before!
I wish I could tell my 22-year-old self:
You are doing freaking awesome!
When I was 22, I used to think that I should already have achieved so much more in my life. Meanwhile, if only I knew how much I had achieved for a 22 year old by that point already, I would not have worried about being the “big thing” all the time.
Your hidden talent:
I’m a good Polo player.
I played polo in NZ and the UK in my younger years and even saddled a horse for Prince Harry… no, seriously!
I actually had to saddle a horse (my patrons horse) and take it up to Prince Harry and hold it for him to get up. He played a chukka on that horse.
What other Social Media personalities and influencers do you look up to?
- Rachel Hollis
- Rolene Strauss
- Mel Robbins
- Sue B Zimmerman (my current Insta coach)
What is one characteristic that you believe every entrepreneur should possess?
The ability to act regardless of emotion or fear. In short the most important characteristic is to be brave.
What advice would you give someone starting their career in Social Media?
In my opinion, there is no better career. The opportunities and earning potential is endless. So, just go for it!
What role does Social Media play in your business?
Social Media IS my business. So, I guess you could say… a MAJOR role 😉
Favourites:
- Colour: Rainbow. I just love all the colours
- Food: Michelle se kombuis (@michellesekombuis)
- Drink: Red Wine
- Band: Spoegwolf
- Singer: Pink!
- Brand: La Martina
- Happy place: On the farm
- Car: Prado
- If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be and why? Marie Forleo – I currently have a girl crush on her. Her quote (and book) has helped me overcome difficult and challenging situations by taking the time to figure out the answer. It’s almost like math… everything is figureoutable.
- Quote: Everything is Figureoutable – Marie Forle
- Book or Magazine: Girl, stop apologyzing – Rachel Hollis (My favourite changes every month with my new book on audible, but currently definitely this one).
- Online inspiration: Mel Robins
Concept:
- The Social Media Maverick by Jeani Meyer for Hello Smart Blog
Styling:
- Magriet Groenewald for Hello Smart Blog
T-shirt:
- I LOVE BFN for Hello Smart Blog
Photography:
- FJ Potgieter for Eye Poetry Photography
Location:
**Special Thanks:
THANK YOU to Jamandi and Petri of The Social Food Club for letting us do our Hello Smart Blog Magriet photoshoot mere days before your BIG opening!
Since then we’ve been very frequent patrons at your rocking abode. Congratulations and LOVE the vibe at your very cool space.
