Tom Donnelly is the creator behind The Classic Preppy, an Instagram community focused on classic menswear, traditional style and the idea that great style is meant to be lived in.

What began as a place to share a lifelong interest in preppy and classic style grew into something much more — a community of fellow enthusiasts, friendships with creators across the country, collaborations with menswear brands, and opportunities Tom never anticipated when he made his first post.

Along the way, he learned that building a meaningful presence on Instagram has far less to do with chasing viral moments than it does with consistency, authenticity, relationships and finding your own point of view.

Those experiences — including the successes, mistakes and lessons learned along the way — became the foundation for One Post at a Time: 17 Lessons I Wish I Knew When I Started.

Follow Tom on Instagram at @the_classic_preppy.