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

Hi SERGELATO, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
If pursuing a dream or a hobby that you want people to pay attention to, you need create content that you love with the most amount of effort. I started off on YouTube in 2019, and it was (and still is) extremely hard to grow on there. Week after week, I would post videos that I thought were amazing and really good quality (even got a camera) and still no one really cared. It is upsetting, but that is usually an indicator that your content is not unique enough to capture an audience. That is when I transitioned into using TikTok to promote my hobby on there. I decided to do food reviews which are between 20 seconds and 2 minutes long. This was quicker and more easy to follow for the type of audience that I was searching for. I didn’t give up, but instead, I adapted and found that my audience was on tiktok. In addition, if you are not getting a lot of views, it is typically because your video wasn’t up to the quality that your competition posts. It is always good to learn from others, but also very important to be unique. Each time you fall flat on your face with a new approach is a learning lesson. You know what doesn’t work, and you keep moving until something clicks.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I work in Regulatory Affairs at a Healthcare company which has an amazing work-life balance. It also has a great work environment which is very beneficial to mental health, especially if you’re feeling down that your hobby creation recognition isn’t where you want it to be. A healthy atmosphere to complete work is crucial to not only productivity, but stability as well. I went to college, and graduated at the height of the pandemic, so finding a job wasn’t easy. I kept applying for jobs from May to November of 2020, but I didn’t sit around and only do that. I continued to film, and used all my free time to explore my surroundings and continue content creation. At my current job role, it was very foreign to me, so being fluid and able to learn is something that helped me. My professional career has a similar message to my content creation journey so far, don’t give up. Instead, use your knowledge and keep a positive attitude. Something may not stick right away, but if you apply the glue, it’ll stick eventually.

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 that was visiting Chicago, I would totally show them only the best spots around.

Activities: Chicago Bulls games or Cubs games, viewing room in the Willis Tower, Navy Pier, Field Museum, comedy show, go sight seeing on the Chicago River, Cloud Gate, Lincoln Park or Brookfield Zoo, the Art Institute of Chicago, and going to nightclubs like PRYSM and TAO CHICAGO.

Food: Au Cheval, Gibson’s Steak, RPM Steak, Siena Tavern, La Scarola, Fry The Coop, Adalina, Verzenay Patisserie, NOBU Chicago, Trattoria Gianni.

Drink: LondonHouse Rooftop, Roanoke, The Whale, NOBU Rooftop. Rooftops in Chicago are very beautiful!

Coffee: Verzenay, Maison Marcel, Good Amblers, Philz Coffee, The Wormhole, there are so many!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would definitely say my girlfriend and a few friends. A good circle of people that support your efforts to create something is very important. My girlfriend was there when I was walking around Chicago and asking her to film me with a giant camera and it is a little strange being the only one doing that in public places. However, she stuck around and actually offered suggestions and criticism on how to make it more appealing. As for my friends, a simple like and comment was really helpful in the early days on YouTube, and still is very helpful on TikTok. In addition, a friend that doesn’t get second hand embarrassment is someone you want to be with when trying to pursue your dreams and aspirations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realsergelato/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sergelato

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SERGELATO

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sergelato?lang=en

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.