Social Media Basics
Showing posts with label Social Media Basics. Show all posts
How to Set Effective Personal & Business Goals So You Actually Get Things Done
Instead of sitting, waiting, & wishing for things to happen, establish clear goals & create actionable tasks to complete them. There's no time to wait. NOW IS THE TIME. Follow these tips to make the most of your goals. Interested in establishing successful blogs?
Take it from me, someone who CONSTANTLY gets off track. These strategies increased my overall productivity compared to the month before.
Take it from me, someone who CONSTANTLY gets off track. These strategies increased my overall productivity compared to the month before.
1. WRITE IT DOWN
What good is a goal if you can't even remember it? Write your goals somewhere so you can see it. Type them in the notes section of your phone. Write it down on paper. Looking at your list serves as a constant reminder to strive for your goals.2. BE SPECIFIC
Simply saying "I want to blog more" doesn't amount to much. How often do you want to blog? For how long? On which days? Where? What were you doing before? Vagueness is not your friend. The small details make a difference. A better & more specific goal is: "I want to publish one blog per week for the next 4 weeks. I can commit to writing, editing, & photographing my post on Saturday mornings since that's my only free time."3. SHARE YOUR GOALS
What pushes you more (or is more embarrassing) than having a friend ask, "Did you ever finish that thing you were working on?" or "I thought you were going to give up watching so much Netflix." Sharing your goals might be the shove in the right direction. If you feel unmotivated, your friend asking "Whatever happened to...?" could be just what you need to keep going. So tell your friends & family! Share it on your blog or on social media. You could also hire me as your coach. :]4. DON'T GIVE UP
It isn't easy to create successful blogs these days. Whatever your goals are, don't give up if it doesn't happen or work out right away. Sometimes life gets in the way. Distractions happen, but don't let it completely derail you. Don't be discouraged if it doesn't instantly work out. Keep at it! I was blogging for 4 years before I earned even one cent!!5. DO IT
Don't just say you're going to do something, do it. Don't procrastinate. You want to workout more or write more? Well, get up off your butt & head to the gym or go on a walk or start typing on your laptop, even if you have nothing to say. Actions speak louder than words, so let your actions do the talking.
Related reading: The Real Reason I Quit My 9 to 5 Corporate Job
1 Year Self-Employment Update: Life as a Blogger, Influencer, Entrepreneur
Holy spicy guacamole.
I quit my job one year ago.
A lot happened. I chronicled all the details in my 3-month update & again in my 8-month update with a word of encouragement - I talked about my travels, my brand campaigns & sponsorships, & all those juicy details. But it's been a few months since then.
I ended up spending my one year self-employment anniversary in El Paso, Texas as part of a press trip!
Read my updates from Year 2 & Year 3!
It's crazy to think I gave my two weeks notice & quit my corporate job one year ago!! I recall that nerve-wracking day. How could I forget? I left the office for the last time feeling scared, excited, hopeful.
I had no idea what it would be like to be on my own as a San Diego blogger, influencer, & budding entrepreneur. Ups & downs. Highs & lows. Successes & failures. A bit of everything, really.
One year later, I’m walking around downtown El Paso, Texas for a familiarization tour with Visit El Paso. We had breakfast on a mountain at Franklin Mountains State Park, then I fed a state park AJ the giraffe. We hopped over to La Union, New Mexico for wine at La Viña Winery. It's all a part of the job. It's part of the ever-changing landscape of being a writer, a San Diego blogger, a content creator, a travel influencer, an inspirer.
Expect to see an El Paso travel guide in the upcoming weeks!
My El Paso, Texas press trip inspired my career even further. It reinforced the reason why I quit corporate America in the first place. Dare to follow your dreams, but more importantly, don’t forget to put in the work. In the day-to-day, it’s practically impossible to see your progress but you must believe, have strength, & faith & continue putting in the effort.
Dream on.
Work hard.
Live harder.
After weeks of struggling with self-doubt, I empowered myself to take action & LAUNCH.
I launched the July Blogger & Influencer Challenge as a way to cover some of the information in my private coaching but make it affordable & accessible to more people. Every weekday in July each registrant receives coaching content straight to their inbox geared for badass bloggers & influencers looking to increase their social media reach, following, opportunities, & income.
Need some help making progress on your blog or social media platform? Want guidance on how to get more views, followers, opportunities? Struggling to understand the online world or how to find readers/clients? Fill out my FREE Discovery Questionnaire if you're interested to find out about more coaching & how I can help you.
I launched the July Blogger & Influencer Challenge as a way to cover some of the information in my private coaching but make it affordable & accessible to more people. Every weekday in July each registrant receives coaching content straight to their inbox geared for badass bloggers & influencers looking to increase their social media reach, following, opportunities, & income.
Need some help making progress on your blog or social media platform? Want guidance on how to get more views, followers, opportunities? Struggling to understand the online world or how to find readers/clients? Fill out my FREE Discovery Questionnaire if you're interested to find out about more coaching & how I can help you.
Stay up-to-date on my travels & San Diego blogger adventures on Instagram & Instagram Stories.
So tell me: are you new around here? What kind of blog posts do you want to see? How can I HELP you? :]
Read This If You're on the Verge of Giving Up
Hello my friend,
It sounds like you're on the verge of giving up on that thing you've been working toward. That's a totally normal feeling. It's hard out there, been there myself. So, you're on the verge of giving up but you haven't quit quite yet. I just wanted to say...
THINGS ARE HAPPENING FOR YOU SO DON'T YOU STOP!!!
Don't forget that every single minuscule effort & thought that you put in matters. It matters in life, it matters for your dreams, it matters for your work, it matters in your relationships. Those big moments matter, but so do those teeny tiny ones!
The current struggle is that you can't see it. Since you can't see the changes, improvements, benefits, it feels like nothing is happening. Know that sometimes you have to BELIEVE. It's there. It's happening. Things are HAPPENING.
Believe in yourself. Believe in the process. Just believe.
I know that seems like a near impossible task.
But keep on keeping on.
Remember your goal.
Remember that success is a series of small wins.
Remember to do something each & every day, even if it's super small. After a year of daily effort, 365 tiny things turns into something huge.
Sometimes you have to do something scary or out of your comfort zone.
Ready for some real talk? I feel the saaaaame way. Sometimes I genuinely have no clue what to do next, which step to take, if it'll work. But that's all a part of the process. We're ALL winging life. We're ALL the oldest we've ever been.
I got out of my comfort zone just a few days ago at the Vans Warped Tour 2018 press kick off event. It's always a bit nerve-wracking for me to go to events. I have to hype myself & pump myself up just to step out the door. But it gets easier every time I do! I ended up having a blast eating rainbow sprinkle & Oreo ice cream, scoping out the Vans headquarters, & doing something new.
When I feel on the verge of giving up, I remember to breathe in & out. I remember that everything takes time & effort. I remember to focus on things that bring me joy, happiness, knowledge, love, friendship. I remember to believe. I remember that baby steps count, even if it's just a few steps out the door. It counts!
Remember to do something each & every day, even if it's super small. After a year of daily effort, 365 tiny things turns into something huge.
Sometimes you have to do something scary or out of your comfort zone.
Ready for some real talk? I feel the saaaaame way. Sometimes I genuinely have no clue what to do next, which step to take, if it'll work. But that's all a part of the process. We're ALL winging life. We're ALL the oldest we've ever been.
I got out of my comfort zone just a few days ago at the Vans Warped Tour 2018 press kick off event. It's always a bit nerve-wracking for me to go to events. I have to hype myself & pump myself up just to step out the door. But it gets easier every time I do! I ended up having a blast eating rainbow sprinkle & Oreo ice cream, scoping out the Vans headquarters, & doing something new.
When I feel on the verge of giving up, I remember to breathe in & out. I remember that everything takes time & effort. I remember to focus on things that bring me joy, happiness, knowledge, love, friendship. I remember to believe. I remember that baby steps count, even if it's just a few steps out the door. It counts!
What are your goals for 2018? What do you think of comfort zones? What are you struggling with right now? Leave a comment & join the discussion.
Staying Organized While Traveling, Blogging, & Working from Anywhere
Thank you to Tile, Inc., for sponsoring today’s post & inspiring me to keep track of everything that matters.
The last couple months have been so hectic as a new entrepreneur & there are no signs of it slowing down. Yesterday, I came home from a wedding only to realize I still hadn't unpacked from my Palm Springs trip two weeks ago. I kicked off my baby pink velvet pumps & walked over to my wall calendar to tally up the days until the next excursion.
Just as I thought. Later this week, I'm heading to Northern California for a media trip. I get to stay in a hotel room for one night to create buzz on my blog for their holiday amenities. It's going to be a blast! Then, yep, London is in 2 weeks.
I love this.
I love that this is my life.
I love that I am free. I can work from anywhere as long as I get Wi-Fi. Whether I'm crafting a blog post, sharing an update to my social media channels, or chatting via video call with one of my coaching clients, my workday feels like the summers of my childhood — long, exciting, beautiful, hopeful, marvelous, inspirational. But I always knew those childhood summer breaks from school would end.
Summer ended, but I'm still here. That's the beauty of it. That's the beauty of being your own boss, of being an entrepreneur, of being self-employed, working from ANYWHERE. You don't know what next month will hold or next year. It's all within my own hands.
But that's also the challenge.
I'm constantly switching suitcases, bags, folders, backpacks. Sometimes it's hard to keep track where everything is. Did I leave my camera charger in the Palm Springs suitcase? Where the heck is my planner? Which backpack is my favorite sweater in?
Cue Tile.
Use Tile & the Tile app to be a part of the lost-and-found community, where friends & strangers come together to find everything that matters. You can easily hook, stick, or slide a Tile onto or into anything you don’t want to lose like the earrings your grandmother gave you or Earnie the stuffed panda, & of course, keys, phones, wallets. I put Tile in my business planner.
My planner contains receipts, deadlines, tasks, & everything I could possibly need to stay organized while traveling, blogging, & working from anywhere.
Use Tile & the Tile app to be a part of the lost-and-found community, where friends & strangers come together to find everything that matters. You can easily hook, stick, or slide a Tile onto or into anything you don’t want to lose like the earrings your grandmother gave you or Earnie the stuffed panda, & of course, keys, phones, wallets. I put Tile in my business planner.
My planner contains receipts, deadlines, tasks, & everything I could possibly need to stay organized while traveling, blogging, & working from anywhere.
Tile gives me peace of mind so I can track my item in a jiffy. I use my phone to locate my planner & figure where it is. It ended up saving me time because rather than sifting through yesterday's suitcase & today's purse & everything in-between. Beep beep beep. I can find it right away.
My planner means a lot to me. It keeps me on track. It keeps me organized. It keeps me moving forward. It shows every single client session I've had this year. It's been there with me as I transitioned from corporate cubicle to the world of entrepreneurship. If there is something you can't stand to lose, put a Tile on it!
* Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Tile, Inc. As always, all opinions are 100% mine aka Carmen's. Learn more about my disclosure. :]
Success is a Series of Small Wins
Hey you,
I know you're a little stressed out lately. I know you've been feeling overworked & overwhelmed. I know you feel like your life is passing by & you're not really sure if you're doing what's best for your mind, body, spirit.
It feels like some people post all the wonderful things of life but never post sad days, those moments where you can't find any inspirational motivation. Those days where you get a paper cut, stub your toe, get laid off, & then get rear-ended. It Doesn't feel like life does that sometimes? Everything crappy and overwhelming all at once?
You wake up to the sound of the alarm & dread the rest of the day up until the moment you can come back home again. Then deep inside you still kind of dread it because you know you have to do the same thing again tomorrow.
You wake up to the sound of the alarm & dread the rest of the day up until the moment you can come back home again. Then deep inside you still kind of dread it because you know you have to do the same thing again tomorrow.
Success is a series of small wins. Things don't happen overnight; make sure you chip away at it day by day.
Life can get hard. Many days are good, some are better, and then of course there are those days where you feel like there's so much information and nothing gets done. If you're feeling completely overwhelmed, it's okay to ask for help or to get help. It may be difficult but mental health and wellness are such important parts of life.
Life is complex and it's hard to stay motivated and focused on what really matters. There's always something new, new information, new goals, new work to do. It always seems important at the time but that's where we need to take a moment to reflect. When we work all the time, it feels like you never have a free moment to learn, live, or focus on what you want.
That's why success is a series of small wins, it's not always big moments like graduating from school, getting engaged, adopting your first dog. Sometimes success is progress, making a positive change and impact on yourself, the people around you.
If your goal is to quit your job by the end of the year, what is something small you can do today to benefit yourself? Maybe it's updating your resume. Maybe it's putting $20 in savings. Maybe it's taking an online class. Maybe it's getting a certification. Maybe it's spending an hour reading industry news.
If you want to create your own business, how can you better prepare for it? Maybe it's taking a business class first. Maybe it's establishing your top goals for each quarter. Maybe it's buying a business license. Maybe it's taking an important first step such as setting up your website.
If your goal is to travel the world, what small step can you accomplish today? Maybe writing down a list of your top destinations. Maybe it's browsing flight deal options in the coming months. Maybe it's sending in your passport application. Maybe it's setting aside $20 each week to build your travel fund.
Remember: success is a series of small wins. Figure out your goal & move forward every day toward it. It may feel frustrating at times, almost like you're not making any progress at all. But just you wait & see.
Do something each day, even if it feels so ridiculously small. Because after a year of daily effort, 365 small things is actually quite enormous.
You can do this.
Your friend,
Carmen
Time Management Tips for Freelancers, Remote Workers, Bloggers
This post is sponsored by TP-Link, but the content & opinions expressed here are my own.
Read my yearly freelancing anniversary updates from Years 1, 2, & 3!
1. Use Quality Equipment
My laptop is less than two years old. My camera & lenses are around the same age. I use the Sony a6000. I need all these things to function as a blogger. I made sure to invest in myself in order to create a better business. I remember how excruciatingly slow the photo editing process was with my old (eight-year-old) laptop. Eliminate the struggle by using quality equipment.
Picture this: you're sitting at home working on a deadline, furiously typing away on your laptop. Your Wi-Fi signal flickers weakly then disappears into the abyss. Connection lost. How are you supposed to get your work done now?
I recently installed the all-new Deco M5 Wi-Fi system from TP-Link which covers my whole home with an interactive Internet access, allowing me to surf the web, stream to my devices, & download on a safe, reliable connection. Yippee! Set up was super simple using the TP-Link Deco app. After all, they're the word's #1 consumer Wi-Fi brand.
I recently installed the all-new Deco M5 Wi-Fi system from TP-Link which covers my whole home with an interactive Internet access, allowing me to surf the web, stream to my devices, & download on a safe, reliable connection. Yippee! Set up was super simple using the TP-Link Deco app. After all, they're the word's #1 consumer Wi-Fi brand.
TP-Link HomeCare has robust parental controls. You can manage & monitor allowance & access, regardless of the application or URL, even when you aren't home. Genius. Although I don't have kids, this is perfect for when Fred's 7-year-old niece comes to visit. Her mom can feel comfortable knowing we can apply the same house rules to our home too. Deco M5 is a whole-home Wi-Fi!
3. Plan Your Day
Write a list of everything that you need to do. Organize it in order of importance. Identify your goals for the day. Write everything out so you can keep yourself accountable. I jot down tasks in my planner as soon as I receive an email, get a campaign update, or follow up with a client. I noticed that since investing in a planner, I've been more efficient & less all over the place.4. Time Block Your Tasks
What is time blocking? Time blocking is a strategy to help maximize your time, increase productivity, & give you better structure by blocking out specific sets of time for each task. I like to do 30-minute or 60-minute blocks, depending on the amount of work or concentration needed. This allows me to set time aside to work on a variety of things without feeling like I missed something. I can always go back & apply another 30-60 minute chunk of time when needed.5. Batch Similar Tasks Together
My work from home time usually revolves around one of the following categories: writing, photographing, editing, coaching, social media, & sending emails. That said, I can use my planner & time blocking skills to get these tasks done in batches. I'll send out follow up emails to my blog coaching clients for a 30-minute block of time. I'll edit photos for three different blog posts in a 60-minutes block of time, etc. When applicable & feasible, batch similar tasks together.
Quality equipment & a fast Internet connection are the cornerstones to my time management. Without those, planning my day, time blocking my tasks, & batching similar tasks together wouldn't even be possible.
The Deco M5 Wi-Fi system gives me seamless & secure internet, so I can spend more time actually working — rather than trying to reset my Wi-Fi, unplug the router, & again, beg the internet faeries to do me a solid.
The Deco M5 Wi-Fi system gives me seamless & secure internet, so I can spend more time actually working — rather than trying to reset my Wi-Fi, unplug the router, & again, beg the internet faeries to do me a solid.
What are your time management tips? :]
* Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by TP-Link. As always, all opinions are 100% mine aka Carmen's. Learn more about my disclosure. :]
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