Leap of Faye

A Journey

I’m a New Red Tricycle Bump + Baby Contributor!

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Have you ever checked out Red Tricycle?

We’ve been perusing the site ever since we had our first child and began wondering, what is there to DO around here with little kids??

Writing For Red Tricycle

Thankfully, RedTri lists out daily local family-friendly events and activities in major metropolitan areas (e.g. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, etc.) We usually check it out each free weekend to find something the whole family can enjoy – and have found some real gems.

I recently learned that Red Tricycle expanded their site to include a Bump + Baby section. As I was pregnant with my third child at the time, all things BUMPS and BABIES were and remain naturally of interest to me! I’ve since become a fan of this section for all the pregnancy and baby product reviews, tips, and personal stories.

So I’m excited to share that I am now a regular contributor to Red Tricycle Bump + Baby! My first post was featured this week and is a lighthearted piece about the realities of parenting three children: you can check it out HERE. While you’re there, check out the rest of the site and perhaps find something fun for you and your littles to do this week.

And stay tuned – I will have more pieces on Bump + Baby forthcoming!

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Liebster Award

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liebster2I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Megan at Life in Font.  Thank you Megan!  I am flattered that you selected my blog as one of your nominations for this award.  For those of you who may not already be following Life in Font, it is a great resource with information about freelancing, writing, marketing, designing, and tea (I love tea!)  Megan has been successfully freelancing for over eight years now, and is inspiring to me as I have just begun my own freelancing journey.

Now, on to business.

What is the Liebster Award?

Good question.  “Liebster” is a German word meaning beloved or dearest.  In the blogging world, the Liebster Award is online recognition given by bloggers to other new bloggers for enjoying or valuing their work.  It is meant to highlight and credit favorite new up and coming blogs within our writing community.

Once nominated, a blogger is asked to answer 11 questions provided by the nominating blogger.  They are then expected to nominate 11 other favorite new bloggers and come up with a list of 11 new questions for those nominees.  This keeps the love going!

What are the rules for the Liebster Award?

Once you accept a nomination, you are expected to complete the following steps:

  • Thank and link to the blogger who nominated you (thank you again, Megan!)
  • Create a post on your blog, displaying the Liebster Award logo
  • Answer the 11 questions assigned by the blogger who nominated you
  • Provide rules/instructions for accepting the award
  • Nominate 11 new favorite bloggers for the Liebster Award
  • Come up with a list of 11 new questions for your nominees
  • Notify the nominees
  • Post your Liebster Award blog post link in the comments column of the related post of the blogger who nominated you

My responses to the 11 questions asked of me:

1.  How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?

I want to continue to grow my freelance business while also finding enough time to continue working on this blog.  I hope to successfully balance that with raising three young children (all ages 4 and under) while keeping my sanity intact!

2. What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?

Very good question.  I would say that my greatest failure was following only the money instead of my true interests once graduating college.  I knew in my heart that I wanted to continue my work in Psychology and/or writing and even had some opportunities offered to me by professors.  But I turned those down to continue my trajectory in the financial services industry.  I don’t regret the time I spent in that line of work as I learned and grew so much; however, the nagging feeling that I wasn’t doing what I was truly meant to be doing never left.  And now, at mid-life, I feel like I am starting all over when I could have been doing what I was really meant to be doing all along.  I write more about this on my About Me page.

So the big lesson learned for me is that money isn’t everything.  Sure, we all need it and we definitely all want to live comfortably – but beyond a certain point, how much is enough?  Isn’t your investment of time into fulfilling endeavors worth something as well?  I plan to share this lesson with my children as they get older.  I think we tend to get caught up in a single definition of success, yet need to remember that success at the core is following your destiny – not what society says your destiny should be.

3.  Tell me about your proudest achievement.

Definitely my children.  Granted they are still young, but raising them even at this stage is an achievement in and of itself!  I am already so proud of them.

Professionally, I would say self-financing my college education – working full-time during the day and going to school full-time at night (before the days of online coursework) while trying to make rent and pay the bills.  I don’t think I slept more than 4 hours a night the entire time, but it definitely built character and was well worth it in the end.

4.  Who has impacted you most in blogging and how?

There are several bloggers I follow and admire, but I would have to say that at this point in my life Katrina Alcorn of Working Moms Break has been a pivotal influence.  I first saw her TED Talk and then began following her blog and other writings.  While not all of her experiences are consistent with mine, I connected to her philosophies around juggling work and family in general, and the importance of flexibility in the modern workplace to prevent high performing employees from leaving due to stringent non-flexible policies.

Another favorite is Pete Adeney of Mr. Money Moustache.  A fellow-born Canadian, he and his wife successfully retired at age 30 through saving, spending more efficiently, and living the philosophy that says money doesn’t buy happiness.  He makes some great points and demonstrates how it is easy to get trapped in that hamster wheel if we do not take a deeper look into what our life goals really are.

5.  What do you do in your spare time?

What spare time??  I have two young children, a third on the way, am building a freelance business, and am blogging on the side.  Haha.  I know that this, too, shall pass – but right now I honestly have very little spare time.  When I do (or, more likely, when I carve some out even if I DON’T have it available), I love to travel with my family.  I read voraciously when I can, and I’ve been known to be a fan of trash reality TV (seriously – the trashier the better).  I’m a foodie at heart and love trying new restaurants and cuisines.  Time with my girlfriends, at the beach, and even just napping are all welcomed as well.

6.  Where would you like to be in blogging five years from now?

Honestly, I don’t know that I’ve mapped that far ahead (is that bad?)  I hope that I am still blogging and still enjoying it as much as I do today.  I hope that I have continued to build and nurture connections and relationships with other writers and readers.  I also hope to become a bit more personal and vulnerable in my writing, a challenge I sometimes struggle with but am working on.

7.  What inspired you to start your blog?

This is actually my second blog.  My first blog is a parenting blog inspired by the birth of my first son.  It focuses on my experiences as an “Advanced Maternal Age” mother – as well as my trials and tribulations with parenting in general.

I started this blog to chronicle my experiences in quitting a 20+ year highly compensated career in the financial services industry to at least try to pursue work that I feel I am meant to do (see my answer to question #2).  I felt that perhaps I wasn’t alone in this experience and wanted to connect with others going through the same, as well as others who are juggling their professional lives with their personal lives – including parents of young children.

8.  How do you motivate yourself to keep the blog up and running?

Through the connections I have made and hope to continue making.  I’ve already met some truly incredible people who have inspired, motivated, and helped me along the way.  Plus I am learning so much on a daily basis.  I feel like I’m experiencing this whole new world that I never realized existed.  Don’t get me wrong – I definitely have those days when I simply don’t feel like writing or am not in the mood to look at my blog.  And when that happens, I simply take those days off.  I’ve started to learn that the feeling (so far) doesn’t linger, and if I give myself a break then usually I feel inspired again shortly.

9.  What do you think is the best social media strategy for getting more visitors to a blog?

I think writing from the heart.  I know that sounds cliche, but it’s true.  It is what draws me to other blogs – when the writer is open, honest, and sharing something that resonates with me.  As far as social media goes, I think that these types of heartfelt posts are passed around without too much influence from the writer.  If someone feels connected to a piece, or it makes them laugh, or they learn something from it, they will want to pass it along without the need for the writer to heavily promote.

10.  Would you encourage other people to make their blog?

Depends on the person.  If the person truly loves to write, is interested in reflection, and has something to say – then absolutely!  I do a lot of writing nowadays, with blogging probably being the smallest slice of the pie, but the blogging is by far my favorite.  It allows me to think, reflect, write, and connect.  No matter what the niche, I think that there will always be people who connect with any type of blog or blogger.  It’s truly a great vehicle for cultivating new relationships and even opening doors to new opportunities.

11.  Is blogging your profession or just a hobby?

It is just a hobby for me right now.  I would love to get to the point one day when it becomes my single/sole profession but even if not, I do it for the joy of doing it above all else.

My Liebster Award Nominees

My questions for nominated bloggers:

  1. What inspires you to write?
  2. Who are your favorite bloggers, and why?
  3. What is one thing you could not live without, and why?
  4. What book has most inspired you, and why?
  5. What would a perfect weekend look like to you?
  6. What experiences have had the most profound effect on you?
  7. What television or movie character do you most identify with?
  8. Where is your favorite place in the world, and why?
  9. What do you enjoy most about blogging?
  10. What is the biggest risk you have taken, and did it pay off?
  11. What is your drink of choice?

Have fun – I look forward to seeing your answers and who you nominate!

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8 Tips Learned From My First Blogger Conference

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8 Lessons Learned From My First Blogger Conference

I was recently invited to attend a relatively local 2-day blogging conference, located about two hours from where I live.  At first I followed my initial reaction and ignored the invitation.  After all, I would have JUST launched my new blog a few days before the conference and besides that, I’ve never been to a blogging conference.  What the heck do people do at a blogging conference?!  I wouldn’t even know anyone.  I quickly put it out of my mind.

But then I received a second invite.  And this time I considered it more carefully.  It was pretty close to home and being held on convenient days.  Would I be passing up an opportunity if I didn’t go?  But I didn’t know anyone and maybe it would be a waste of my time.  But then – I wondered if this was just fear talking and decided to face it.  I made up my mind that I would go, and gave myself a goal of connecting with one person while there.  If I could do that, I figured it would have been worth it.

Fast-forward to a few days post conference, and I am SO glad that I went!  It was a really inspiring and eye-opening experience – I met so many incredible people, made some amazing contacts (many more than my goal of one), and listened to some truly educational and motivating talks.  I will admit that I had tentatively planned to leave around noon on the second day to beat the traffic home – but I was finding so much value that I stayed until the very end of the conference.  If you are considering a blogging conference, I highly recommend it!

I did learn some tips though for the next time (yes, I do plan to attend more).  Because I had no idea what to bring nor expect before attending this first one, I thought I would share what I learned with others to help with better preparation for an even better experience.

Get the insider's scoop on how to prepare for your first #Blogger #Conference! Share on X

Bring enough business cards.  And then bring a few more.

Fortunately, I was told to bring business cards so did have this ready.  I didn’t have much time, so quickly ordered a batch on VistaPrint.  I love  VistaPrint because they are cheap, fast, and they have an easy-to-use business card editor.  A few tips if ordering through them:

  • Make sure you include your logo on both the front and back of the card.
  • Include all social media names/contacts/handles to make it easy for people to contact you.
  • Include a phone number.
  • Consider including a QR code so that people can scan and immediately access your site.  I use QR Code Generator for mine.
  • It’s always a nice touch to include a personal photo.  I have mine on the back of the card to free up room on the front.
  • Upgrade to the higher-quality paper.  It does cost a bit more but is much more professional looking.
  • Always search for an online coupon or promo code before ordering through VistaPrint – they are largely available.
  • Once you order a specific volume of cards, you will be prompted immediately AFTER purchase to add additional cards for a lower price.  So if you’re waffling on volume, go with the lower volume amount and then add the additional at a discount post-checkout.

Make sure that you bring plenty of cards to the conference.  You will be handing them out to attendees, vendors, speakers, organizers, and others all throughout the event.  You can never have too many cards with you to distribute.  Quite a few bloggers shared that they wished they had brought more cards as they had run out early.

Bring a media kit.

This I did not do, but will next time.  I figured for the first time around, with a 3-day-old blog, it wouldn’t have provided much value.  Even so – it probably would have been good for me to have one ready.  I now recommend that every blogger have one created.  I had the opportunity to view many blogger media kits while at the conference, so will be building my own and then will post on how I did it.

Prepare a 60-second pitch.

You will likely have the opportunity to meet with many brands and vendors at the conference, and want to make the most of your time with them.  Prepare and rehearse a 60-second pitch on your blog: your name, your blog name, your premise, your topics, your readership, your social media reach, and any other interesting or compelling facts.  Do you love a particular brand that is being represented at the event?  Let them know!  There were a couple of brands at the conference I attended that I actually had blogged about on my other parenting blog – I let them know that and it helped to create an immediate connection.

Take initiative and ask questions.

Easier said than done, I know.  It can be a bit uncomfortable at your first conference when you don’t know anyone and are still figuring out how to navigate.  But it is well worth the effort!  Start by approaching other attendees and simply introducing yourself.  Ask where they’re from, and what their blog is about.  Ask questions about what they do and their goals.  I found that every attendee I connected with was equally looking to connect with others – and appreciated it when approached (just as I very much appreciated it when others approached me).

Don’t forget to approach brands and vendors as well.  Ask about their products, ask to test their products, and let them know if you’re interested in working with them.  Be creative!  I met a particular vendor who was selling certain products, and shared an idea I had about how the business could possibly be expanded further beyond a product line.  The vendor was interested and we will now be connecting on how to potentially partner on this secondary project.

Collect business cards.

You didn’t think you would only be handing out your business card, did you?  It is just as important to collect the cards of others you meet and connect with.  If they don’t offer you their card – ASK!  You can then go through them later to reach out to attendees and brands you’d like to work with, or simply connect on social media and through blogs.  Even if you don’t think that you are interested in connecting offline with certain people or brands you meet, get their card anyway.  You never know when an opportunity may arise and the person or company may be JUST the contact you need.

Leave the laptop at home.

This is personal preference, but I brought my laptop and regretted it.  Granted, I am much more accustomed to financial service and technology conferences where a laptop is a must.  I assumed it would be the same here – I could use the laptop to take notes and to work or follow up at night.  Alas, some much more seasoned blogger conference attendees taught me new/better tips:

  • Use your mobile phone instead.  Great slide being presented?  Take a picture of it.  Posted sign with a speaker’s credentials and social media channels?  Snap another photo.  The additional benefit here is that the pictures can immediately be posted on social media, helping to create buzz and sharing your enthusiasm for the speakers and their topics.
  • For things that are being said that are not presented, simply jot them down on a notepad.  Easy, fast, and much lighter to carry around than a laptop for two days.
  • Scrap the notion of working at night.  You’re at a conference!  And one of the reasons you’re there is to network!  Don’t waste your time holed up in a hotel room.  Attend the cocktail parties, go to dinner with a group of new friends, chat in the lobby.  Use the time you would otherwise be spending on your computer to create and nurture genuine connections with other like-minded people.

Attend all sessions.

I confessed earlier that I had planned on leaving early the second day to beat the traffic home.  Well, I didn’t do it.  And while traffic was indeed horrible, I am SO glad that I stayed for the entire time.  Had I snuck out early, I would have missed some of my favorite sessions of the entire conference.  I would have missed the opportunity to network and meet new people over lunch.  I would have not met certain people that I now plan to partner with.  And I would have missed the swag bags given out at the end!  So the lesson I learned was that if I commit myself to attending, then I am attending the entire event so I can take full advantage of all the opportunities offered.

Follow up after the conference.

Once the conference is over, start organizing the stacks of business cards you’ve obtained.  Reach out to others you’ve agreed to reach out to.  Send them emails, reference the conference, follow them on social media.  Follow up if needed.  Respond promptly to others who reach out to you – whether or not you’re interested in working together.  Maintain integrity and be true to your word.  If you promised to share something with someone – do it.  Continue to nurture the relationships even after the in-person conference to build your credibility and learn from all the wonderful new contacts you’ve made.

I hope you have as much fun at your first blogging conference as I had at mine!  I am sure there are other great tips that more seasoned attendees can provide – please share in the comments so we can all benefit.

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