Paige Burns is shifting her entire business from brand work to schools and nonprofits—and she's being refreshingly honest about how hard that pivot actually is. In this conversation, we dig into why networking still beats any sales funnel you can build, how hiring your "competitors" actually grows your business faster, and the one random conversation that's made her tens of thousands of dollars.

Key Takeaways

One networking conversation at a conference led to tens of thousands in referral work across multiple universities—proof that in-person connections still outperform any automated sales funnel
Hiring and collaborating with people you see as "competitors" creates a healthier business ecosystem and almost always comes back to benefit you
Being an introvert doesn't disqualify you from networking—Paige forced herself to attend one event per week when starting out, and it fundamentally changed her business and confidence
When pivoting your business focus (like Paige's shift from brand work to schools/nonprofits), don't expect overnight success—it's a longer play that requires patience and consistent effort

About Paige Burns

Paige Burns is the award-winning founder and creative director of Main Paige Media, a women-owned video production agency based in Beverly, Massachusetts. With over a decade of production experience from broadcast to mobile, Paige specializes in helping mission-driven organizations tell emotionally resonant, unscripted stories that spark action and build connection.

Main Paige Media creates docu-style brand films and strategic video content for purpose-driven small businesses, nonprofits, and schools. Under Paige's leadership, the team is known for its collaborative approach, thoughtful storytelling, and deep commitment to amplifying voices that are making a difference in their communities.

In This Episode

[00:00] Welcome to the show!
[02:52] Meet Paige Burns
[15:36] Goals and Creative Fulfillment
[23:31] Receiving Feedback
[25:43] A Male Dominate Field
[38:45] Collaborating With Others
[40:27] Impact of Networking
[45:57] Connect with Paige
[46:56] Outro

Quotes

"I didn't know what I didn't know. And I think that was really huge." — Paige Burns

"What you give is what you get... I have given away jobs to people I see as my competitors, because I'm like, I don't really want it, or I'm not available here, you take it. And that always comes back." — Paige Burns

"One conversation where I was just like, I want to talk to someone else who has this small university video job has made me tens of thousands of dollars." — Paige Burns

"The quickest way to build trust to get business is in person at events... don't let that be your 80% focus. Let that be 20%, maybe at most like 40%, and then spend the other 60 to 80% of your time cultivating relationships." — Ryan Koral

"I am a completely different person than I was in 2019 when I started my business. Because this has pushed me so far outside of my comfort zone, it has grown my confidence like tenfold." — Paige Burns

474. Why I Hire My Competitors with Paige Burns