It’s almost a New Year! I want to recap my year. You can catch my year in review today on all of my social media platforms. Beyond my year in review let’s talk about behind the scenes of what it took to make it all happen. Nothing just happens I remember that message from TD Jakes when I was a teenager. When your parents are preachers they play at the time tapes and CDs of preaching messages. The message that nothing just happens has stuck with me and I’m knocking on the door of 40 here soon.
Support in the New Year
Nothing just happens was about how everything that happens is for a reason and a season. We also are challenged to work hard. I worked my butt off this year and saw tremendous results in so many areas and not just blogging. I can’t tell you the amount of work to attend 3-4 events a week while being a mom and wife, work and consulting on the side if necessary. Yes you don’t have to quit a day job but I would be amiss to act as if I didn’t have the support of my husband turned partner.
He does whatever is necessary and that goes well above a husband’s duty. In order for me to be on location that means that any down time has to be used to prepare for when I will have an event. I am talking about meal prepping on Sundays. When Sundays become too busy and it has at times, I’ve been known to go to bed early and get up at 4am throwing several meals in the oven so my husband can come in the rear and take them out. We did whatever was necessary to make my dreams a reality.
Honor your Word in the New Year
If I tell someone I am coming to an event I only remember one time when my twin had major brain surgery having to back out. I also remember leaving the hospital to go and honor my word and heading back to ICU to be with her the whole night. After which turning around taking care of my kids and her child and be back and forth all day long at the hospital. These are the types of things that happen behind the scenes to push and run a blog on a full time schedule while life happens around you. It’s not for the faint at heart especially if you desire to ever make this a full time situation. I had to stay on top of my invoicing.
Handle Your Business
Handle my business without playing nice. This means be smiles when the cameras are on and be vigilant to get paid if an agreement was in place. These are the types of things no one prepares you for. Also my turn around time has always been 24 hours after an event often times being a lot faster than that. It had nothing to do with making sure I was seen but often times it’s about making sure that the company you represent gets the most of out of the PR. Also the blog is a brand and you want to be known and keep your word with blogging schedules.
This year has been met with some lows.
Disassociate in the New Year
I have had to disassociate with those who only sought me out for a blog but wanted to do things like ask me for an 800-1000 word blog, include pictures for shout out. That isn’t’ something you do for everyone. It’s one thing for a brand if in exchange for merchandise etc. and only if you really believe in them. That’s not something you get into the habit of offering. Knowing your worth and respecting my time has been key. Also people think I blog in real time all the time and that’s simply not the case. The Monday motivation and Sunday messages or other blogs along those lines are pre-edited and set to come out.
Oh and in talking about presetting a blog, it works until it doesn’t. I have had times when something preset crossed another blog I had set for a different time and date. Life happens. You have to be able to watch your social media platform. I also don’t have an issue when someone notices a mistake. It’s welcomed. I have to shout out my fellow blogger family who will send me updates to things like watermarking, etc. In 2020 all things will be watermarked unless it’s owned or given to me to use from a brand or company.
All Goals in the Holiday Season
I want you to understand that whether a blog, a guest appearance on a podcast, attending an event it’s all been out of love. When you love what you do really don’t work. However it takes a lot behind the scenes to bring you what you see from Toitimeblog. I hope I have made you proud of the content that has come from this blog. If there is ever anything you want to see more of you can as always email me. I will have my 2020 goals set for of course New Year’s Day!!!!!
Check back tomorrow. FYI I love setting goals. As a blogger if and when you are on point, your first quarter goals are already been worked on. Blogger schedules are always head of regular time. I wish you well as you prepare to turn up. When you wake up, as much as it sadness me to see people ride the waves of the #newmenewyear mindset. One thing I am aware of is the some people riding that wave never catches them to ride that wave for real. Beyond just the first month of excitement, people fall off. So don’t knock other folk’s intentions this season-let them be great because you never know they actually might just be great!
