Guard your time fiercely. Be generous with it, but be intentional about it. Guard it the same way you guard your money. It’s the one resource with which we have increasingly less to do our life’s work, and to be with those we love. Say yes to those things first. (David duChemin)
I was honored to be the first featured interviewee in my friend Jasmine’s new #GirlBoss Spotlight blog series that debuted this week. When she sent me the list of questions, I felt an initial sense of panic- akin to what I used to feel back in school after the teacher would hand out a pop quiz. How would I be able to answer all of these? Why would anyone even care what I have to say? And then I just started writing…
It felt so good to share the things that I’m passionate about, and get on my female empowerment soapbox for a little while. It was a rush. After I finished answering 14 questions, I found myself wanting more. There was still so much left to say! I returned the completed questionnaire to Jasmine with somewhat of a heavy heart. I had loved that rush of writing, and as soon as I hit “send” on the reply, the feeling began to fade.
As I was reading the post that next day, I was struck by my own answer to one of her questions: You’re a busy bee, how do you keep sane and balance both your personal life plus entrepreneurial life? The most important thing as an entrepreneur is to remember what (or who) you’re doing all of this for. I thought immediately of Geek Glam. What (or who) is the blog for?
According to my SEO title and meta description, Geek Glam is a Dallas Fashion Blog. Last year, I got caught up in the pride of being accepted into affiliate networks like rewardStyle. And then, consequently, became discouraged, because I quickly learned I didn’t have the budget to buy new outfits for each post… can’t use “liketoknowit” on the dress I bought three years ago. I felt out of place at events with top local style bloggers I’ve admired and followed, who had no idea who the heck I was.
It made me sad when one of my new blogger photography clients/friends told me this weekend that she was so surprised when I followed her back on Instagram. She had been disappointed in the past leaving comments on the social network for bloggers she admired, and never hearing from them or receiving reciprocation. It made me sad first because I understood, and then because I realized that I was aspiring to reach a level of success as a fashion blogger that would put me in that category notorious for exclusivity and unattainability. Is that really what I was doing all of this for?
I’ve felt so inspired helping two of my blogger besties, Sevi and Valery, re-brand their blogs this week. Now that both sites are launched, I decided it was time to re-examine my own. This year, for planning goals and the direction of my blog, I purchased Powersheets. Spent some time yesterday filling out some of the prompts, including What Fires Me Up.
What fires me up is music, design, writing, photography. Capturing life, and being able to reflect on it. Things that light up my soul — the idea of justice and making a difference. Leaving the world a little more beautiful than when I came into it. Travel. Exploration. Learning.
While a pair of pretty new shoes or vivid shade of lipstick can make my heart race, those things do not give me purpose, and therefore should not be the primary focus of anything like this blog, in which I invest so much of my time.
It’s time for a change. To make time for what really matters. To feel that rush when writing new blog posts, and capturing images of my life. To be purposeful, intentional, and inspired with everything I do, say, and share. For the kind, wonderful followers I’ve gained over the years — please be patient with these changes, as I’m still figuring it out as I go along. This blog is called Geek Glam, so I’m sure that it will still encompass the “pretty” things that make up the latter half of the name, but I will be incorporating more lifestyle content and posts to help other bloggers and entrepreneurs. I understand that I may lose some of you with the re-focused direction… and so I thank you for having been with me on this journey, and helping me reach this new beginning.
For those that stay; to new and future readers… “I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.” ― Oprah Winfrey