When I talk at blogger conferences I try to explain why I do what I do. I talk about goals and dreams and finding the things that fulfill your soul and then working hard until you get there. I try to teach them how to use the tools we have in place so that they may, as individuals, succeed. Or, at least, I try to. What I don’t talk about is the work. Blogs are hard work. There are a lot of things that you must do.
Content creation, writing, photography, marketing… it all takes a certain level of drive and most definitely a certain type of person.
(the talented Ali from Gimme Some Oven)
You Must
You must be willing to grow, daily. To learn and to seek to learn, and be willing to work harder than you will ever get credit for. You have to learn to be a jack of all trades.
Kalyn’s Kitchen via Newspapergrl
You must be willing to do the dirty work, willing to smile and nod when people ask you how they can work from home and get ‘free money’, willing to work 16 hours a day when you only get paid for 8, willing to see others profit from your ideas, from your knowledge, from your generosity, willing to accept the negative feedback. The criticism. The blatant disregard for human decency in those that hide behind a computer screen. You must not let them win.
You must be willing to smile when your spouse tries to explain what you do to others, knowing they will never understand and not complain when you realize you haven’t had a day off in 9 months. (Except to me. I will nod along with you.)
You must be willing to give your heart to others so that you can see who is willing to take it and then make them your tribe.
Remember your goals, your dreams, the music that makes your heart sing, and you persevere. You must.
I love your recipes.
I don’t have a blog but I am so in awe of those who do. I don’t know if I could have a blog cause I don’t know where to start at all. Thank you for your encouragement in all aspects of promoting my cupcakes on FB Instagram etc. You really are a mother, wife and woman who can do it all. xoxo
<3 I needed this today!
I LOVED everything about this post! Thank you for you for always inspiring us and all that you share! It was so nice meeting you at the conference – you totally rocked the presentation! 🙂
SO! Well! Said!!!!! Oh my, it’s certainly quite different than a “regular” job. I just find it amazing that with as long as blogs have been around, just how little people (some who are otherwise quite tech savvy) know about them. I think that’s why blog conferences are so nourishing for the soul. It’s a comfort zone where everyone around you “gets it” & you can just talk about things that matter to you without a whole lot of explanation.
Can’t wait for the time I can actually make it to the same conference as you 🙂
Thank you for sunshine–even on a rainy day! You make me laugh, make me want to bake, like, everything lol. You’re honest and share so much with your readers. Appreciate an inside glimpse of your world. Thank you for the daily inspiration. (And amazing recipes.). You’ll never know truly how many lives you’ve touched!
Loved this post! Thank you for always sharing and building up our community. It is a crazy world we live in, but I wouldn’t change it…thanks to people like you! I am so glad we were able to hangout recently! You are a rockstar in so many ways. Now, let’s talk about those kiddos…TOO cute for words! xo
<3 Loved spending some time with you. You and your hubby are fantastic!
I am NOT a rockstar, or even a blogger… I just bake for the fun of it! And when somebody tells me that I should start my own blog – I laugh in their face!! 🙂 I am in awe of all that you can do, and that you do, and what you do with love. Thank you very much but I’l just reap what you’ve sowed – and appreciate all that you do!! Because you ARE the RockStar!
You are so wise my friend!
This is so beautifully written and SO true Amanda! It was so nice to meet you last weekend — you are a rockstar and such an inspiration!
Thank you, thank you for this encouraging reminder! xoxoxo
🙂
I’m working on so many of these things. My “musts” right now feel so task oriented, it’s easy to lose touch with the why. I loved this post.
Thanks soul sister. <3
Love you, girl. This sums it all up perfectly. I am blessed to call you friend.
I love this! Thank you for your honesty and commitment. You are one of the people who I look up to most. For all the big things, but mostly for the little moments of this. xoxo