Alexis Damen
Since launching Hustle Amsterdam in April 2020, I’ve enjoyed reading each entrepreneur interview. I’ve learned something new, felt inspired, and can also relate in some way or another to every founder I’ve featured so far. Then it dawned on me. I need to do mine!
Starting and scaling a business is probably one of the most challenging and rewarding things I’ve ever done. There are (many) moments when I want to quit, so thank you to everyone who has shared their story, read an article, or supported us on social media. I appreciate you!
Read on to find out how my idea for Hustle Amsterdam came about and what happened after I started and failed at my first business.
Hustle Amsterdam (HA): Where are you from? And what brings you to Amsterdam?
Alexis Damen (AD): I’m from New York, and decided on a whim last summer to move to Amsterdam. I didn’t have any clients here but knew a few people, had a great apartment opportunity, and the fact that I have a Dutch passport also made it easier for me. My father is from the Netherlands (Rotterdam), so while I was born and raised in the U.S. I grew up eating hagelslag and poffertjes for breakfast.
HA: Tell me about your business? What is your mission?
AD: Which one? Ha! I’ll start by telling you about Hustle Amsterdam. I started this platform after moving to Amsterdam because I was looking for a way to meet with fellow entrepreneurs and self-employed people. I thought it’d be a nice way to introduce myself and offer value to people instead of just asking for things.
So far it’s been going really well and I’m pleasantly surprised by the interest I’ve received. I’ve got a queue of interviews that I’m currently working on, I’m partnering with great companies like Business Breakfasts and BASE Conference (more in the works), and I’m also working on onboarding a few contributing writers so we can bring you more content that can help you through your unique entrepreneurial journey. I’ll be writing original articles, too.
My mission with Hustle Amsterdam is to empower entrepreneurs and leaders worldwide. I’d like you to feel like we’re a partner in your business journey. I want to connect, build community, and collaborate with people who are hustling like you (and me) to make dreams happen.
My other business is a 100% remote boutique digital marketing agency. We’re a small team — me plus a few freelancers — and help companies grow via various organic online marketing services. A few are social media management, email marketing, content writing for blogs and landing pages, and influencer partnerships. Recently we produced a virtual pop-up event due to not being able to have an in-person pop-up anymore.
Lastly, I feel it’s important to mention that it took me a long time to get to where I am now (and I still feel like I have a long way to go). I started my first business, a clothing brand called Alexis Mera, in 2014. I worked for 10 months to develop my first collection while still working a full-time job and then in February 2015 I launched and quit my comfortable corporate job.
I was completely naive, had no idea how to create and manage financial plans for a business, and hadn’t used social media much in my life up until that point. It was scary, but I was impulsive and determined to start something of my own. After working as a product developer in the fashion industry for almost 10 years it seemed like the best place to start.
I scaled my business from zero to 6 figures in about 16 months, but I literally had NO life. I woke up almost every day at 5 AM and didn’t make time for a social life, or for myself. To make it clear, just because I grew to 6 figures, it didn’t mean I had a huge profit — running a business is expensive! Especially a product-based business with inventory overhead. Scaling my business to the next level was a massive challenge and eventually I burned out. Making the decision to step away from my business was a long, hard, and emotional decision. However, I’m really happy about where my fearless (and sometimes stupid) first-time business decisions have brought me to today.
HA: How are you handling our new “normal” due to the coronavirus outbreak? What impact has it had on your business? How has the transition to working remotely been for you? Are you being strict with a routine or taking it day-by-day?
AD: Coronavirus hasn’t had a major impact on my day-to-day. I’ve been working from home since 2015. Luckily, my marketing services are still in demand, but I do think it’d be easier to onboard new clients more regularly if we weren’t experiencing a pandemic.
My daily routine varies. I’m most productive early in the morning, so I try to get up by 7 most days and usually start working immediately. I like to create a daily list the night before and work through around 5 - 8 action items for the day. If I don’t get the big things done in the morning, they usually don’t get crossed off. I’ve learned to take it easy on myself though, there’s always tomorrow.
HA: Why Hustle Amsterdam? What brought you to online media?
AD: If you asked me a few years ago if I’d ever start an online magazine or platform, I’d probably say no. What brought me here is simple. After moving to a new city, I was looking for a way to connect with people who are like me. However, now I realize there is so much more I can do with this platform — I’m really excited!
HA: What is the current state of Hustle Amsterdam? Do you have six and 12-month goals for your business?
AD: Hmm. Might be time to switch up this question. Can anyone think 12-months in advance right now? Our environment is so unpredictable at the moment, so it’s hard for me to think about what Hustle Amsterdam will be in 12 months. My short term focus is to continue empowering entrepreneurs and leaders through our interview series and to serve you content that’s helpful and educational. I’m also working to create more opportunities for connection.
HA: What kind of obstacles do you face in your company? How do you handle them?
AD: With any company I’ve had until now, my major obstacles have always been time and resources. I used to think everything had to get accomplished in one day, but now I realize how unrealistic that is. I handle this by being easier on myself and focusing more on the process. As a startup, financial resources are a challenge for many. I’ve mastered being scrappy, budgeting, and I’ll never make the rookie mistake of buying too much inventory again. I’ll also probably never start a product-based business again. But, never say never!
HA: What has been your most successful moment so far? And how do you celebrate your wins?
AD: I was chatting with a friend the other day about career goals and she told me she loves what I’m doing with Hustle Amsterdam and that I’m an inspiration. It made me smile and feel like I’ve found my way. Like Farell Biekman said in a previous interview, I grew into being an entrepreneur. I think growth is something to celebrate. How do I celebrate? Good question. I need to do that more!
HA: How have you accomplished what you have? Did you go to business school? Did you wing it? Fake it till you make it? Get really lucky?
AD: I’m definitely a fake it till you make it kinda gal. I joke about this, but I like to say my first business was my MBA.
HA: Did you fundraise for your business? If so, tell me about your experience.
AD: Nope. Always self-funded.
HA: How big is your team? And where are your team members located?
AD: At the moment, Hustle Amsterdam is just me, but I’m in the midst of onboarding a few contributing writers. For my digital marketing business, I have a team of three freelancers based in Amsterdam and the U.S. and I always welcome new freelancers who can bring something to the table that I’m not good at.
HA: Do you have a favorite motivational quote?
AD: My go-to line is “do what you love.” As for quotes, I recently came across this one that I like:
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank
HA: What 3 tips would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs? What do you wish you had known before you started?
AD: My 3 tips are:
Make sure you seek out the right people for the advice you need.
Be persistent.
Do as much as you can yourself in the beginning, but then ask for help.
I’m not sure if there’s something I wish I had known before starting. I think if I knew all that I know now, I may have never started. Being naive is a superpower when you start a business. You’re uninhibited and dive right in.
HA: How would you describe your working style?
AD: Methodical yet chaotic.
HA: When you’re not working on Hustle Amsterdam — where can we find you?
AD: Kickboxing at Underground or Mobile-Gym, cooking and drinking, hanging out with friends and family, or thinking about how to grow my businesses.
I think most of you can probably agree, your mind is always working on your business!
HA: How do you find work-life balance while being an entrepreneur?
AD: I try to be strict about not working on the weekend although I’m writing this right now at 7 AM on Saturday. Oops.
HA: What is your passion?
AD: To always be learning something new.
HA: What inspires you most about Amsterdam? Do you have any favorite spots to work or hangout?
AD: I love that Amsterdam is a small city that’s easy to live in yet there is so much to do. It’s energetic but relaxed and the architecture and canals are beautiful. Sometimes while I’m biking around I think to myself, “Wow, I can’t believe I live here.”
My favorite spots to work:
My apartment
Favorite places to hangout:
Westerpark
De Pijp — Calle Ocho and De Jappaner
And pretty much any park — they’re all beautiful!
HA: Anything else you’d like to add?
AD: Thank you everyone for being here! If you’re interested in getting interviewed for Hustle Amsterdam (or if you want to nominate someone), you/they can fill out this form. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a contributing writer, you can email hello@hustleamsterdam.com to pitch your ideas. I’m sharing four events from the community each month, so if you have something coming up, fill out this form.
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