How to Thrive in Life & Blogging

This is what she shared in a nutshell:

• Know your why. Why did you start? What is your mission? For me, I started blogging to spread joy, faith, and inspiration. It’s that simple. Sometimes I get off track, but stopping to remember your why will always get you back on the right path.
• Know your voice. When I’m being lighthearted here on the blog, I write like I talk. I want it to seem like we’re having a conversation over coffee or tea. And sometimes I write like the English teacher I am, a little more serious but with so much passion. That’s part of my voice too. Never forget who are, and never forget that YOU are the only person who can tell YOUR story. 

• Consistency is key. Now this does not mean posting every M/W/F or even having a schedule. What this means is to be consistent with WHO YOU ARE when you do share. 
• Don’t be afraid to pivot. Don’t be afraid to try new things. When something isn’t working, change it up. You will figure it out. 
• Take time for yourself. You must take time to refill your cup. Otherwise, you won’t be any good to anybody or anything. You cannot do it all and do it well. That is definitely something I’ve learned through experience. You can read more about that here. 
• Set daily office hours. For anyone who works from home, you know that this can be a struggle. Setting office hours is something I’ve failed to do, but it’s something I am willing to work on.

• Write a letter of appreciation to someone. When you work on a project like a blog, there are so many people who end up helping you grow, not just professionally but personally. I think writing a letter of appreciation would be such a nice sentiment to remind the people who have helped you along the way that you appreciate and love them. 
• Learn how to say no. I’ve definitely learned how to do this, too. It’s not an easy feat, but it’s super important. Remember, you cannot do it all. Do less with more focus.
• Your musts are your passions. And your passions are what make you tick. Don’t let them die.
• The people who do follow you make you successful. This last point is blogging specific, but it’s an important one. I think as a blogger, you can get caught up with how many followers you have on social media, and the rat race of numbers and page views, but the bottom line is this: invest in the people who show up, because they are the ones helping you grow.

Alissa did a great job of reminding me why I started blogging in the first place. Why do you ever start something new? Usually it’s because you have a passion for it or you are being driven to do it.

A few more key notes that stayed with me from the rest of the speakers are these things:

• ALWAYS be transparent, honest, truthful, sincere, genuine, vulnerable, candid, and reliable. 
• Find a balance between imperfection and perfection. One is an escape, and the other is an anchor. You want to anchor your audience, but you also want them to be able to escape with you as well.
• Treat your blog posts like it’s your job. If this is something that is important to you, treat it with a high regard. 
• Be creative. In the blogging world, almost every story has probably already been done, but not by you. Put your own unique twist on something to make it your own. There is room for everyone, but not for copycats. 
• Be thoughtful, clear, and concise. I think this goes hand in hand with being a good communicator. It’s important in the blogging world and in life in general. 
• Be kind, patient, and professional. When you work with people, this is just part of the gig. It will take you far. 
• Develop an emotional connection. Get to know your people and let them really get to know you.
• Focus on what’s working. Why reinvent the wheel? Ask your readers what they like, analyze your analytics, and do more of that. 
• Big things often have small beginnings. Everyone starts somewhere. More often than not, you start from the bottom, and you work yourself up. Don’t stop climbing!
• Stay humble. This reminded me of the quote I read from Girlboss, “Don’t act like you’ve arrived when you haven’t even received an invitation.”
• Think outside the box. This is a must.  
• Community over competition. There is room for all of us to thrive. Don’t think of others as competition. When one of us succeeds, let’s celebrate that success with each other. If you’re a blogger, more than likely you didn’t start this just for you. You wanted to share your heart and passions with others. Building others up in the community you’ve created will only elevate you to the next level.