Author: Kelsey Humphreys / Source: Entrepreneur

You may not know the name Sharon Rechter, but if you’re a Facebook user, I can almost guarantee you’ve seen one of the videos produced by her media business, First Media. The company, run by Rechter and her husband, is a multi-platform media company that creates content and experiences that “spark creativity in women and moms everywhere.” Their listicle and “lifehack” style videos targeted to women receive more than 900 million video views per month. It was recently announced that the company’s top Facebook publisher, Blossom, created the most shared video on Facebook of all time with 11 million shares and 347 million views. Blossom was also named the top seven Facebook publisher by Tubular Insights, and First Media’s other publishers, such as Blusher and So Yummy, are not far behind in views and shares.

First Media evolved from the couple’s first venture, BabyFirst, which is the leading commercial-free 24/7 network for young children and their parents. Founded in 2004, BabyFirst and its apps and programs are now part of the First Media umbrella, and it’s broadcast in more than 120 million households in over 35 countries.

Prior to BabyFirst, Rechter served as the vice president and head of operations for The Israeli Network (the Israeli television channel in the U.S.). Rechter calls herself a “recovering lawyer” and prior to television used her knowledge to head the strategic planning department at GNS Advertising in Israel.

Oh, and did I mention she runs her team of 90 employees with her husband and they have four children under the age of 10?

I was excited to meet at the First Media headquarters in Los Angeles and ask her about succeeding in broadcasting, creating viral videos, balancing her founder responsibilities and her roles at home and more. Whether you’re a podcaster, author, YouTuber or content marketer, you’ll enjoy these top eight lessons I learned for starting and building a successful content creation machine.

1. Turn your disadvantages into advantages.

Resourcefulness is one of the most common traits among the millionaires and celebrity influencers that I interview.

Rechter had to deal with being in the “boys club” of television years ago. She called her father during one particularly rough meeting and he encouraged her to cry, saying that no one could resist a woman that was crying. Rechter did not take his advice, but the conversation made her stop and think.

“It was interesting, because it gave me perspective that what others may perceive as a weakness … we can actually play it as an advantage. I look at it, as that, as women, we have not less opportunities, but different opportunities, and it’s up to us to grab them.”

Rechter realized that the company’s audience of young moms also loved content that was not parenting or baby related and its Facebook pages were born. Push yourself to stop making excuses and find a way to work with what you have, right now, where you are. Personally, I use the fact that I’m not yet a famous multimillionaire like my fellow talk show hosts as an advantage because I ask unique questions and viewers feel like I truly “get” the just-starting-out perspective.

2. Forge a path to get where you want to go.

Professionally, Rechter knew where she wanted BabyFirst to go and began pitching investors according to that vision. Personally, it has been said that Rechter is a woman who “has it all.” She doesn’t disagree, and explained that the secret is to master your time. A frequent traveler, she does miss family events, but she can schedule them in such a way to never miss a field trip or recital. How does one get to that point?

“I master my time. One should pick, not their next job, but their path. What is your path? Not today, not tomorrow,” she shared. “Work [toward] your path that eventually will put you in a position, where you’re paid enough, and given enough flexibility to manage your time.”

Figure out your end goal and work backwards, creating a path to get there, and then start executing one step at a time.

3. Be open to opportunities.

The couple did not have children when they launched BabyFirst. So, how did the couple come up with the idea? They, like other visionaries I’ve interviewed such as Seth Godin, Simon Sinek, James Altucher and Jon Acuff, are “noticers.” They had new parents over for dinner and noticed the couple had brought many blankets, gadgets and a DVD — a DVD the…

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