Zach Benson is the founder of Assistagram, an Instagram marketing agency with a network of over 220M members. Assistagram helps clients grow their Instagram accounts with authentic followers and facilitates training sessions for clients who want to be equipped with Instagram marketing techniques at a personal level. In addition to running Assistagram, Benson is an award-winning dancer who has taught clinics worldwide and an accomplished keynote speaker.
What made you decide to start Assistagram?
I was teaching dance in countries around the world when I severely injured my back. The doctor said I was done. My career was over in just that one moment.
A friend of mine started talking to me about Instagram and it intrigued me. Whenever I discover something new, I go all-in on it, so I spent hours every day learning everything I could about Instagram. I started the company when I realized that a lot of people could benefit from what I’d figured out.
What’s a challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are today?
I had a speech impediment until well into my 20’s, which made it almost impossible for me to say the letter R. I struggled a lot socially and academically. My speech therapist told me that if I couldn’t fix my speech impediment, I’d never amount to anything because no one could understand me. I quit. I thought she was right.
A few years later, a friend gifted me a breakdancing DVD and I must’ve watched it a hundred times. Dancing was a new way for me to express myself. It gave me back my confidence and self-esteem. I don’t think I could’ve done anything I’ve done — starting Assistagram, or even overcoming my speech impediment — without discovering dance.
What’s a motto you live by?
“The biggest risk of all is to not take one.” I heard that from the president of my college and it really stuck with me. I realized I didn’t want to live my life with regrets. That’s when I decided to make dance my career. Worst case, it didn’t work out — but I wanted to at least give it a try. While I eventually had to give up my dance career, I’m so glad I got to do it while it lasted.
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