I recently did a very mundane thing I’d been meaning to FOREVER, and boy was I happy to cross it off the list: go through my browser bookmarks! I’ve been bookmarking for 3 years, and always forget to go back to them. I had a post in mind for months with the idea that I’d finally gather these inspiring posts I’d read and stored away to eventually share. They’re all on the very loose topics of creativity, being self-employed, business, blogging , and self-care. Basically TBM’s tagline!
Optional ways of reading: clear your afternoon on a rainy day and devour them all in a single sitting, or spread them out over 10 days and see how it motivates you… Your choice :)
1. The first line in Just Show Up on The Tiny Cactus is “one thing I’ve learned this last year is that it takes a lot of courage to stay in the middle. “ This resonates so much. I love the first steps, the getting started, the creative brainstorms. But what about the middle? I love the advice that you need to go back to what drives you every now and then. I’ve noticed that if while in the middle, I try to recreate that initial feeling of excitement, I’m so much more motivated in my work… and life.
2. Another lesson, The One Thing I’ve Learned About Balance by Design For Mankind is a short and sweet little reminder that a) things are never truly going to be balanced, and b) it’s your reaction to this imbalance that’s important. There’s a little more on balance on this previous post, and they both just open your eyes a little bit wider.
3. With Grace & Gold’s Why Being Yourself is a Great Business Decision might be my favorite business-y post ever. When we put on a persona for the sake of business (or social media) we eventually crash and burn. But when we get comfortable being ourselves, beautiful things happen. But this post isn’t just a fluffy “stay true to who you are!” mantra, it’s got 5 practical reasons that doing so will HELP your business. And they’re all so, so true. I could go on and on!
4. Another concept people sometimes struggle with when working on a new project or starting a business, is whether they’re creative enough. If this is ever you, Sally Rae Kim’s You Are Creative Enough on Yellow Conference should be in your back pocket. Most creatives are self-proclaimed, and those who don’t label themselves “A Creative” can get trapped in this limiting mindset. So, I think this is a good reminder to tell those around you too. (Learn more about creativity in our 2016 books post!)
5. I had to include Justina’s post on The Jungalow called Money Matters. Hers is one of the most creative blogs I’ve seen (I loooove it!), and I absolutely love how she addressed the idea of blogs as business and how they have a right make money. It’s very eye-opening and inspiring, but I wanted to share it for another reason too. Lots of people in our blog niche talk about income reports. This post is an excellent reminder to always look beyond that figure. There are tons of expenses with running a business, TONS. And tons of hours in a single post. Further, most bloggers at the point of bringing in crazy incomes worked for 3-5 years for free to get there. Once you average it all out, many bloggers are doing well, sure,—but they’re certainly not (usually) cashing in on their readership in some dishonest and unearned way. Plus, isn’t success something to be celebrated?
6. On a lighter note, I liked Thinking Like a 5 Year Old on Darling because if you really think about it, the way we think about obstacles and even success is wildly different as an adult. If we took some of the pressure off of ourselves, we might be able to let go of more, and move on to better things. I also agree that we should all do our best to keep that childlike wonder intact (as Wired to Create shares creative people often do), because it helps keep us inspired and excited.
7. I saw this post called Crystal Clear Visions by Kenna on Facebook and it resonated because she talks about the influence of other artists, how people will try to change your work, and how no one will love your vision if you don’t. It’s so true—you have to stick to what you know before you can expect other people to be behind you.
8. Do you read the Life & Business series on Design*Sponge? I loooove interviews with incredible women. The interview with Kristen Elise Brown on starting her biz touched on going from a job or freelance to owning your business, doing things spontaneously, and being willing to make investments.
9. This keeping the faith post on The Lifestyle Edit is a nice pick-me-up when you find yourself getting lost in the middle, the hard stuff, the unknown. We’re pretty big on keeping clear goals around here and for me these reminders keep me focused during long-term projects. PS, if you’re looking for interviews, they have lots of fascinating Q&As.
10. Last but not least, the post Why Self Awareness Is Your Greatest Asset on The Blissful Mind was like a great big sigh of relief for me. While sometimes my own self-awareness borders self-conscious, I can confidently say that these 10 points are 100% true for me, and I think will be for anyone else who is self-aware. I selfishly love this post for making me feel a bit more confident about this characteristic of mine, and I hope it does the same for you too!
While writing, I re-read them all carefully and thoughtfully, like I meant to when I first saved them. Of course, it took four hours, but now I’m feeling way to ready to chase those dreams! What about you?
Mallory says
I read that post by Justina recently too and found it so refreshing. Speaking of income reports and all of the buzz that seems to be surrounding them in the online community lately, have you read this post from byRegina? http://byregina.com/6-figure-blogger/ It speaks to a lot of related issues that I think you might find interesting. She’s one of my favorite bloggers because of her authenticity and the way she speaks her mind. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her in person a couple of times, and her personality really shines through in her blog and e-mail list.
Kelly says
Thanks so much for sharing our post here! We are so, so excited it provided encouragement and inspiration! :-) Have a wonderful day!