Having started blogging almost a year ago, now feels like an appropriate time for an update.   If you frequent my site regularly you will be aware that I very rarely do a personal post.  In fact, I’m sat in front of my computer RIGHT NOW feeling kinda, well squirmy, as I write.

Don’t get me wrong, I will weave personal experiences into a post when I feel it adds value.  BUT, it is never the main focus.  My blog has always been mostly reserved for business and sharing practical tutorials…mostly.  But I have news that may affect my posting schedule and blog moving forwards.  Also, I’m really friggin’ excited and want to share it!

Just Give me a Reason

Everybody has reason for starting a creative project, mine was to provide a platform to improve and showcase my digital marketing skill set.  I had already been writing blogs and co-ordinating the social media at my day job.  But it only formed a small part of my role.  I don’t know whether it was because the other parts of my job were so mundane, but I became a wee bit obsessed with what little creative outlet I was given.  We’re talking 150% enthusiasm levels here.

A brief aside … Do I have any Bill Hicks fans in the room?  If so, do you remember his epic rant about marketing?  Well, I have carried that in the depths of my soul since I first witnessed ‘Relentless’ in my teens.  Honestly, I hate how much I flippin’ love this marketing gig.  I hate that I love discussing branding strategy, I hate that I love delving into all things analytics.  But it’s as much a part of me as my overbearing and unstructured Art.  Plus I’m BOSS at it.  #HumbleBrag

Anyway back to why I started my site.  Some people have a single reason for starting a blog, I have three …

Reason One 

I wanted to prove what I could do with no limitations and build up a portfolio of work that extended outside of my day job.  Whether this was showcasing an epic post about business and digital marketing, blogging advice or putting a spot light on my design work.

Reason Two 

I also knew that I could experiment more with my own stuff because any failures, would fall at my door and no one else’s.  I’m not scared to fail when it’s for myself, and I don’t think anyone should be.  If you failed, at least you gave a damn enough to try.  Which is more than those who criticise your actions from the safety of their armchairs are currently doing.

Reason Three

Err a bit awkward, but I am chronically ill.  Which sucks, but I’m not and will never be a victim.  I DO however need to think about earning a living.  If it ever gets so bad that I struggle to leave the house, then at least I’m carving a career path for myself that I can still do from home.

What Does a Year of Hard Work Look Like?

So here we are, a year later and 2018 to early 2019 was a total GRIND.  It encompassed the usual highs and lows of life, with a few hideous Fibromyalgia flare ups thrown in for good measure.  Ultimately, it was all about hard work, minimal down time and a withered social life.  But damn have I got something to show for it.

Let me put you in the picture … I have a day job to pay the bills, a digital marketing side gig, a weekly blog post, an Artists shop and finally a RedBubble shop.  ALL of which takes time, energy and maintenance.  This isn’t me complaining by the way, this is my personal choice and I knew it would require work to achieve my goals.  But now I’m at a point in which I feel it OK to take my foot off the gas pedal, and take a minute to breathe.

This next section may seem a tad self-aggrandizing.  But I’m not sharing this simply so I can enjoy the fruits of my labour.  But rather to provide motivation to anyone reading this who is stagnating and in need of a kick up the butt.

This is what a year of hard work has resulted in for me:

58 Published Blog Posts!

A Selection of Notebooks on RedBubble!

A Fine Art Shop on my Website!

A Body of Corporate Marketing and Design Work.

Which brings me to my final update and the reason I’m writing this post.

A year (almost) of hard work has paid off in more ways than one.  This pleases me greatly.  Not for the obvious reason that I have a small life win under my belt.  More so that I categorically do not want to live in a world that doesn’t reward people for hard work.

If I can be living proof of what hard work and discipline can achieve, then maybe the next human will feel inspired enough to ditch the excuses.  Believe me when I say, I want to live in a world full of people that have a sense of purpose and have pride in what they do.

The Final Scoop & a New Challenge

I am now working on a funded project through my day job.  The intention of the project is to offer support to local businesses.  I will be delivering a few hours of social media support a week to local businesses of all kinds.  This will be great for my developing portfolio, and it will be fantastic for local businesses too.

One of the best things about social media (cat memes aside) is that it has levelled the playing field between small business and more established corporations with massive marketing budgets.  I’m extremely passionate about helping others to bridge this gap and hope to form long term and meaningful business partnerships!

Whilst I’m unbelievably excited to sink my teeth into some new marketing projects, there is only so much ‘corporate energy’ I have to give.  The one thing that I’m unwilling to compromise on, is keeping time free to create Art.  Art is my love and it keeps me sane!  SO, my posting schedule may reduce as my other work load increases.

Although I plan to reduce the frequency of my posts, when I do sit down to write, I am committed to creating valuable content, including sharing the new things I am learning when it comes to digital media and blogging!

If you stuck it out until the end … Thank you so much for humouring me!  As always, I hope you left with something useful.

P.s. Why not buy me a coffee by clicking the icon below?  It’s like busking, but on the internet

P.p.s. If you enjoyed this why not check out my previous post by clicking the image below!