It’s never fun being unemployed unexpectedly. Well, the not having to go to work bit could be fun for some people, but for those of us who consider our career a huge part of who we are, not having a job to go to every day could feel dreadful. Staying motivated is crucial to your success. You can’t simply sit back and expect your next big opportunity to fall in your lap. It may, but it probably will not. So what can you do?

1. Take Inventory

Depending on your situation, you may feel a sense of calm or you may feel a sense of crazy. Fear, sadness, or relief are also common reactions to sudden and unforeseen change. Stop for a moment and assess where you are in relation to the situation. Do you have time to think about your next steps? Is income a huge factor at the moment. If you have a pressing need to be employed immediately to fend off collectors or you have to make rent then you’ll need to take action sooner rather than later. If you’ve been provided a severance or you have an emergency nest egg, you’ll have a better variety of options. Assess what you have and what you need and determine how much time you can comfortably take to recoup before jumping into the next stage of your journey. Set a specific date when you’ll expect to start the new job search so you’ll know exactly how much time you have to breathe. It’s much easier to let go when you know that you’re allowed to do so.

2. Breathe

Step back and take a moment. Big changes are jarring to the system. Depending on your inventory assessment, you should know how much breathing room you have. If you have time you can take a vacation, staycation, or just have a quick meditation. Whatever it is, take that time for yourself. You need to recoup and gather your senses. Figure out what you want to do next and give yourself the encouragement, kindness, and love that you need. Take care of yourself so that you’re ready for the next step. The more calm you can bring to yourself, the better adjusted you’ll be when you start seeking new employment, which will bring on its own stressors for sure.

3. Dress the Part

Once you’re done breathing and the date that you’ve set to start the job search has arrived, get up every day early — as though you already have a job. Dress as though you were going to work. If your job requires a hard hat, you can probably skip that, but basically, do whatever morning routine you’d regularly do if you already had the job you’re applying for. Getting up each day and into the groove of working can help chase away the blues and give you more energy and help you focus on the task at hand. It’s easy to get distracted, so keep the televisions off and limit visitors during your “working hours” so that you can stay on task.

4. Pound the Virtual Pavement

With all of the website available to find employment these days, you’ll want to have your online resume current and available. Make sure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you’re signed up with all of the websites offering positions in your field, as well as the general websites that allow you to apply filters to narrow the field to what you’re seeking (i.e. Indeed, Monster, etc.) Don’t forget to hit the career pages of the companies in your field. If you’ve always wanted to work somewhere, now is a great time to see what openings they have. Assign yourself a goal of how many positions to apply for daily. You’ll find that some will take more time than others, but the more you do, the better you’ll get at them. Try to reach your goal each day. Keep track of your work and, essentially, recognize that your job is to find a job and treat your work that way. When the interview process starts, you’ll be more motivated and alert because you’re already in “work mode” when you arrive. It’s ok to apply for and interview for positions that might be outside your comfort zone. In fact, I encourage it. You might find a hidden gem, or in the worst case, you’ll know exactly what you don’t want to do. Keep an open mind and greet each opportunity as if it’s your next big adventure.

5. Enlist Your Network

In addition to career sites and companies that entice you, you’ll want to reach out to your network. These are your friends, family, neighbors, former co-workers, gaming buddies, etc. Let people know you are on the lookout for something. Have your resume handy for them to send an email to their hiring department and don’t be shy about sharing it. The more eyes you have looking, the better your chances. If you have a solid network, someone will probably offer to refer you to a position in their company, especially since many companies offer a bonus to their employees if a referral gets hired. This is going to work in everyone’s best interest and it’s wise to take advantage of these opportunities if they fit your employment requirements.

Transition can be hard, but if you set goals and focus on each task, you’ll be able to create a manageable timeline. I believe that everything is easier when you have each step outlined ahead and know where you want to find yourself when you’ve completed your tasks.

You’ve got this.

I’m inspired by people who strive to live their dreams every day while supporting their family — many times on their own. Oftentimes these people are moms who work from home (WFH) while caring for their children (and perhaps other family members). They’re fierce mompreneurs — and their numbers are growing.

Working from home has become a reality for women and moms now more than ever. According to stats from GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com:

• The number of regular WFH jobs among the non-self-employed population has increased 103 percent since 2005.
• 3.7 million employees (2.8 percent of the workforce) now work from home at least half the time.
• About 22 percent of the self-employed population work primarily from home.

Why WFH?

Three words: family, freedom and flexibility.

For mompreneurs, the WFH lifestyle is all about quality of life. The flexibility that comes with working from home enables working moms to prioritize family — a real win. As Tessa Kampen of Guelph Mompreneurs explains:

“You do have a much more flexible work schedule so you don’t have to miss out on family functions and the like. You are present for what’s important to you. You can schedule time off when it suits you rather than someone else’s time schedule. You have the opportunity to make your family a priority and work when it is convenient for you … You are your own boss, so you make the rules.”

In essence, says Grace Moores, mom and owner of The Moores Group, you’re “in control of your own future.” And that’s a wonderful thing.

Three WFH ideas for extra income

So if you’re a parent looking to add some WFH flair to your everyday life, here are three job possibilities to make your ideal lifestyle a reality.

1. Social media management

Social media is everywhere. It’s often the first thing people see in the morning. They wake up, grab their phone, and browse Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. And those communities are great for small businesses.

Robin Read Griffin, mompreneur extraordinaire and a marketing communications consultant, knew that she had the perfect WFH mentality to help small- to medium-sized businesses. She says:

“The social media world is constantly evolving.”

With her unique background in photographic journalism and marketing, Robin is able to couple her knowledge of the internet with her people skills to provide social media management to her clients. And if you’re familiar with social media marketing tactics, you, too, can make a livable income by tweeting, posting, sharing and more!

2. Freelance editing/writing

Are you a wizard of words? Do you know the AP stylebook like the back of your hand? Then you’re in luck. Plenty of small business owners have great ideas, but they need a little help when it comes to articulating their thoughts.

There are a number of ways to wordsmith for business owners, including:

• Blog posts
• Email campaigns
• Website content

These WFH possibilities are a great way to bring in some extra cash. Brush up on your writing and editing skills and get to work! If you don’t already have a website, you can start with a personal domain to set up your online presence. Then, start looking for clients by visiting sites like Upwork.

3. Virtual assistant

This is a biggie for up-and-coming small businesses. When a startup gets moving, they don’t always have the bandwidth or manpower to handle all the details. That’s where you come in.

There are a number of reasons why a small business might seek out a WFH virtual assistant. Bookkeeping, scheduling, paperwork, email management and more — these everyday tasks can bog down the entrepreneur on the go. And if you’ve got the motivation, organization and skills to help, you can lighten their schedule while adding some weight to your pockets.

A few bonus ideas

As Corporate Accounts Manager for Mompreneurs (in addition to being a business owner and mom), Grace has seen a great many work-from-home businesses succeed. One she mentions is creating and making a product, such as an activity kit or kids’ scheduling tool.

Production and marketing costs mean this type of venture will likely require some investment up front. But if you’re passionate about your product, there’s a good chance someone else will be also.

Need some inspiration? Read all about how one Canadian mompreneur turns children’s artwork into lasting memories.

Another WFH possibility? Direct selling. Grace says some mompreneurs have seen success selling various vendor-supplied products — such as jewelry, essential oils, cosmetics and clothing. Again, this route might require some upfront investment, and you’d want to be certain it’s a product you strongly believe in.

“It takes time to build a business and initially starts as a supplemental income then expands into a livable income as the business grows,” Grace says. “Planning cashflow is key to building that success.”

You’ll need to know your way around a computer, email marketing, social media, and have a great customer-service attitude.

In conclusion

So there you have it. Three possible WFH ideas for fierce mompreneurs. If you find yourself considering WFH options, think about where your passion lies and how you’re currently managing your time.

Pro tip: Remember, it takes time to build a supplemental income, so don’t be afraid to put in a few extra hours at the beginning to get you started on the right track.

I’ll leave you with an extra piece of advice from a successful WFH mompreneur, Elaine Tan Comeau, founder and CEO of Easy Daysies Ltd.

“Book two hours aside for only income-generating tasks each morning. As a mompreneur or any entrepreneur, it is so easy to fill each moment of the day with tedious tasks that do not directly bring money into the business … When we schedule that two-hour block, it forces us to concentrate on just generating income for the business and not just being busy ‘doing’ business.”

Everyone can work from home, including you. Take this advice to heart and get out there — or rather, get into your home office — and start earning some extra cash.

Originally published at Garage.

There are few things I find as exhilarating as connecting with other people, but every opportunity I’ve been given to connect with the inspirational speakers, volunteers and attendees at BlogHer has completely blown me away. This year’s conference, BlogHer16: Experts Among Us, was no exception. It was amazing!

BlogHer16 was held at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles’ LA Live district — a hopping area that added to the event’s upbeat vibe. And, hey, a quick shout-out to all those SheKnows Media and BlogHer volunteers who kept us safe, sane, and walking in the right direction. Everyone was so polite and friendly that you couldn’t help feeling special and appreciated at every turn!

Though the official kickoff to BlogHer16 was the Evening at the Expo (more on that soon), the event really started way before that as attendees connected online in anticipation of the big weekend. We set plenty of plans in motion to meet, greet, eat, rideshare and room-share. The patient, caring and and helpful Melisa Wells kept our online group on-track, providing updates and answers before, during and after the conference. This woman is a superhero!

She’s one of the many BlogHer16 participants who make this conference truly memorable. Besides all of the great people at the event, here are some of my highlights:

BlogHer16: Evening at the Expo

The Evening at the Expo brought together the event’s sponsors and attending bloggers to mingle, sample and selfie. We reconnected with friends we hadn’t seen since last year, and visited booths representing a wide variety of interests and industries.

In the GoDaddy space, our #minihat photo booth, Conference Survival Kit Contest, and lounge-and-recharge area seemed to be a hit with the bloggers, entrepreneurs, customers and everyone else who stopped by to snap, chat, and take a load off.

Cj on Twitter

Loved meeting Kathy Kinney & Cindy Ratzlaff of @QueenofOwnLife & @BrandYou at #BlogHer16 #minihatpic.twitter.com/AGmkRoKzzz

Voices of the Year

One of my favorite parts of BlogHer year after year is the Voices of the Year presentation. This year did not disappoint. It’s so moving to watch bloggers sharing stories that tap into deep emotion. Throw Aisha Tyler into the mix as the emcee and you have a ballroom brimming with awesome.

Kait Scalisi, MPH on Twitter

"If we have a world of women supporting women, how incredible would that be?" @littlelizziev #BlogHer16 #VOTY

Amy Underwood Arndt on Twitter

"Fear was my best friend." Genocide refugee @clembihiga who left home at 8 to escape the violence. #VOTY #BlogHer16pic.twitter.com/4FI6OqydMt

Julie Ross Godar on Twitter

"We have the power to make the change from #oscarssowhite to #oscarssodiverse" - @aishatyler is tearing it up as #voty host at #BlogHer16

SheKnows Media created The Pitch as a platform and video series that elevates, connects and coaches female entrepreneurs. GoDaddy was a proud sponsor this year, and we were super-stoked to be a part of this event!

“Being an entrepreneur is harder than running Merrill Lynch — it’s also, by far, the most rewarding thing I’ve done.” ~ Sallie Krawcheck, CEO of Ellevest

Former Wall Street heavyweight Sallie Krawcheck, who co-founded and serves as CEO of Ellevest, kicked off The Pitch presentation with a motivational talk that encouraged women to take control of their financial destiny. “If you are not planning for it, you’re dreaming it,” she said.

Then, in front of a panel of esteemed judges including GoDaddy’s Lauren Antonoff, Senior VP of Presence and Commerce, The Pitch’s competitors each took the stage. Their ideas were creative, intense, thought-provoking, and as always, inspirational. After the judges and BlogHer attendees cast their votes, later that same day, Zahra Aljabri of Mode-sty was announced the big winner.

You can view all the pitches on the recording of our livestream.

BENEFICIENCE on Twitter

@thePositiveMOM_ #thanks for sharing about connect, have a great Saturday :) Grow followers ➪ http://bit.ly/free_followers_

Adda Birnir on Twitter

@InfluencerGirl @Skillcrush do it!! You won't regret it!!

SheKnows Media on Twitter

Choosing to be modest is as much about women owning their power as other choices. @ModeEsty to #ThePitch #BlogHer16pic.twitter.com/nnlKT7Bj43

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Known for her breakout role in TV’s hit series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar took to the stage to talk about her latest venture — foodstirs.com.

“I love the idea of creating something from an idea into something tactile … something you can see on a shelf,” Sarah said. Foodstirs specializes in kid-friendly food-crafting kits and signature baking mixes made with better-for-you ingredients.

Sarah admits that she was blessed to play Buffy at an early stage in her life. She achieved and exceeded her own expectations, and even paved the way for her future success. And while she appreciated her time on the show, she’s quick to acknowledge that there’s more to life than worrying over your image:

“If you spend your life worrying about your legacy and what people think about you, then you’re going to miss the moments.”

Moments with family. Moments with friends. Moments that propel your life forward. Those are the things Sarah touched on during her keynote speech. And, as someone who enjoys the thrill of a good challenge, she used her past experiences to reach new audiences and take Foodstirs from a personal dream to a full-fledged business.

Change the Cycle on Twitter

@WhollyART @SarahMGellar @ElisaC We couldn't agree more, sistah! #GirlPower How have you been enjoying #BlogHer16?

Understood on Twitter

@SarahMGellar on two working parents: "We can work at the same time and be incredibly present in our kids' lives." #BeUnderstood #BlogHer16

Stefany Banda on Twitter

"Failure works your success muscles into shape" - @SarahMGellar #BlogHer16

“I think we really have to learn as women that it’s OK to be strong AND feminine.” ~ Sheryl Crow

Musician, mom and breast cancer survivor Sheryl Crow advocated for women’s wellness — both physical and emotional. She talked about taking a step back from the spotlight to raise her sons, her experience with breast cancer (early detection is key to survival), and the importance of nurturing ourselves as much as we nurture those around us. “You’re constantly nourishing and the last person you nourish in your life is you,” she said. “For us to have peace in the world, we have to manifest peace in ourselves.”

Heather Hall on Twitter

"Being empowered means knowing that life is made up of circumstances that remind us who we are." @SherylCrow at #BlogHer16

Crystal Prater on Twitter

"It's ok to put your own oxygen mask on." @SherylCrow #BlogHer16 #ShesASurvivor #GoodAdvice

Megan Shuffleton on Twitter

"You guys are in the position where you can impart wisdom and instill hope and empower people." -@SherylCrow on influencers #BlogHer16

Kim Kardashian is no stranger to haters, but that’s never stopped her. Elisa Camahort Page, Chief Community Officer of SheKnows Media and BlogHer Co-Founder, interviewed Kim about her “unapologetic” life.

“Do something because you genuinely like it. Don’t look to the reaction for validation,” Kim said. As a pop-culture icon constantly in the public eye, she’s learned how to shape her social media sphere and block out digital negativity. She draws lines where she needs to — primarily keeping her children and private life with Kanye out of the spotlight — but admits to sharing approximately 80 percent of her life with us online.

In this world, if you don’t post something it doesn’t exist.” ~ Kim Kardashian

With her eye on the future, Kim has even started her own line of emojis called KIMOJI. Ever comfortable with her own body and image, she wasn’t afraid to push the limits with her creation. It seems that, with her cool disposition and popularity, any business venture is within the realm of possibility.

SHANNA TYLER on Twitter

Over her career, she has indeed proved people wrong and been unapologetically yourself, have to admire that @KimKardashian #BlogHer16

Princess Baby Diary on Twitter

"If you underestimate me, I would love to have a conversation with you. I love to prove people wrong." - @KimKardashian at #BlogHer16

Lucie on Twitter

"I do what makes me feel comfortable. You do what makes you comfortable and happy." Wonderful and inspirational @KimKardashian on #BlogHer16

BlogHer on Twitter

"I don't have to push my views on other people; if that's not you, it's okay. All love." ~@KimKardashian #BlogHer16pic.twitter.com/OyLgq7Vdmx

Most of us know her as either child-star, “Blossom,” or as Amy Farrah Fowler from “The Big Bang Theory,” but those of us at Mayim Bialik’s BlogHer16 keynote now know (and love) her for so much more! She’s a mom, she’s a writer, she’s an advocate for STEM careers for girls and she’s the creator of Grok Nation.

Oh, and if that isn’t enough, she’s also a neuroscientist.

As a self-proclaimed mom-nerd myself, I admit I’m a huge fan of all that Mayim represents. Her personality on stage was magnetic, and she had everyone in the audience nodding their heads while laughter scaled from giggling to uproarious.

Melanie Edwards on Twitter

"The idea is not to make science sexy, but to make science for everyone." ~ Mayim Bialik #Blogher16 #STEM

CarriageB4Marriage on Twitter

"I went from being an awkward child to an awkward teenager to an awkward public adult." - Mayim Bialik #BlogHer16 @missmayim

BlogHer16 was a fantastic journey into a variety of topics, trends and learning (I didn’t even get into all the awesome breakout sessions and workshops). Above all else, though, it was about the people — the attendees, organizers, sponsors and volunteers who make this conference great each year.

My third year at the conference felt like a warm reunion with old friends, some of whom I’ve spent time with before and well, some who are completely new to me. Old and new, full of differing opinions and passions, we all connected, inspired and learned together and from one another.

As Aisha Tyler stated so well, “We are the people who are making the change in the world we want to see.”

Originally published at Garage.

Wow. OK. Just a few. I don’t care! I’m charging forth and sharing my ideas with you because, no matter how many I read, I will probably spend time reading more of them, and if I’m lucky, you’ll read mine.

ALL OF THE LISTS!

Yes. I like lists. I like to make a list of what I want to accomplish for pretty much every daunting task I undertake. Let’s take the week for example. I make a list of all of the things I want to work on or complete each week. At the office, I keep that list in OneNote and for my personal needs, I rely on Google Calendar and Wunderlist. Wunderlist is a super cool app that you can sync up with other people in your life. It’s free and also super easy to use. If you have two people shopping in your household for groceries, you can sync up your lists and get notified whenever something is added or completed. That way you don’t go buying doubles, and even better, if you add something and your sync-pal is at the store — boom! Item purchased and checked of this list.

WRITING ALL THE LISTS!

I hear this all the time, “I never hand write anything anymore.” That’s fine, you don’t have to. I like writing things down. It helps me commit them to memory. For you writing may just be typing in a personal journal or keeping a note on your phone or computer, where you jot down daily thoughts, ideas, or to-dos. Helpful hint — if it’s a to-do with a deadline, put it in your calendar with a reminder. Honestly, I’m so much more likely to complete a task on or before a specific time if I have an alarm set to go off about it somewhere.

GIVE YOURSELF AMPLE TIME AND THEN A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT

When I am really struggling with staying on task, I assign time windows to each task. I always stretch the time a bit. It’s better to have more than to have less. This allows you to feel the pressure of needing to finish the task, without the over-pressure of not having enough time. For example, if it will take me 30 minutes to read through, sort, and respond to email, I will give myself 35 to 45 minutes on that task. I often put my to-do list in actual timed increments throughout the day. Staying on task is an off-and-on issue for me and it truly helps me to add times when I know my focus is a bit off. I also find that doing this on a regular basis keeps good working habits in check. Our minds are apt to wander, no matter who we are, but with practice, you’ll see improvements in that area.

ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE THINGS YOU’VE DONE!

This is a tough one. Seriously. At the end of the day, week, or even month if that’s easier, compile what you have completed. If you’ve kept your list of items you had to complete or if you have them in a calendar, just make a note of their completion. I like to do this weekly, but it’s really a personal choice. Acknowledging what you’ve completed will give you a sense of having been productive. So many days go by where we realize it’s Friday and wonder what happened to the week. I find it’s nice to be able to report on it, even if only to myself.

Acknowledging your accomplishments, helps you to realize just how productive you’ve actually been.

Be sure to include those things that pop into your day unexpected — not just the things on your to-do list. This is important because it may be those unexpected things that cause your to-do items to roll over to next week. Priorities, yo!

ASK FOR HELP

Can you ask people for help? Are you good at it? Will you teach me how to do this without feeling all those feelings? You know those feelings; guilt (why can’t I do this myself?) inconveniencing others (I don’t want to bother anyone,) and the dreaded loss of control (only I can do this right!) Our internal conversations are often our worst demons. Oh, and I know that if you’re like me, telling you to ask for help is a complete waste to time. Well, here I go… ASK FOR HELP. Start small. It’s easier that way. People ask me to proofread their writing all the time. I’m happy to do so. I would have a hard time having someone do it for me. Instead I read anything I write out loud to myself five time. Then I re-write it because it’s mine and I can. So, maybe don’t start with something that daunting. Start with something that’s quick, like researching a topic for you. Say I need a few links or dates or even a definition of a word. The minute I open that Google search page — a whole new world is open to me. SQUIRREL… What could take a minute is suddenly ten minutes of me reading about the origin of some word I never even knew existed and now I need to find a way to use it in daily conversation. Maybe I’m the only one, but someone is putting this stuff on the Internet so it can’t just be me. I hope.

BE WELL AND PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

Meditation over medication I say! If you’ve ever considered meditation or yoga or breathing exercises, but haven’t taken the time to give one or all of these a whirl, add one to your to-do list now! I’ve found that when I’m taking the time to practice mindfulness regularly in any form, my productivity increases naturally. If you haven’t even begun to try, I can recommend an app for that; Stop, Breathe, Think. It’s free on both iOS and Google Play. You input some information (if you like) about your general state of health and it gives you some 3 to 5 minute options for meditation. It’s a nice, short burst of mindfulness and may even prompt you to go further, which you should. Honestly though, everyone has 3 minutes in a day to give this a try. Take some time for yourself — I think you’ll be glad you did!

THERE YOU HAVE IT

So, go forth and makes lists, use the tools that work for you, recognize your achievements both big and small, ask for help, and always take care of yourself.

Thanks for reading and feel free to share any additional tips and tricks that have worked for you!

Personal brand? Well, it’s personal so it’s about me and it’s a brand so it’s like, what I stand for, right? Maybe it’s what people think of when they think of me? Or… maybe it’s those things that people see and experience that cause them to think about me.

Or… maybe… just maybe, it’s all of the above.

Personal brand. I think I have mine sorted out, but I have to wonder if I’ve got the knowledge and know-how to give you some tips on figuring out your own. I suppose so, I mean, why not really? Part of my own brand is my desire to help people so, let’s see if I can help.

Last night I was riding home from my Yoga Nidra class (yes, you should do Yoga Nidra — everyone should) and my friend says to me, “I want to be more social on Facebook.” She asks if I can help her with that. Now, she’s not in business for herself, but she may be someday. This definitely got the wheels in my head spinning. How could I help someone to create a social presence? She’d have to start with knowing her own brand, of course!

So, I decided to take a look at my own brand or rather, how people see my personal brand. I made a list based on what other people send me, share with me, post on my Facebook timeline, or generally anything preceded by, “This made me think of you.” or “You need this!”

Choose Your Focus

Things that people relate to Cj:

• Being a mom
• Star Trek
• Tinker Bell
• Glitter
• Don’t Stop Believing
• Cats (yes, I know… the Internet and cats… hush)
• GoDaddy

Some lesser known things might be that I collect lighthouses, I love reading, I have a Furby and it fascinates me, and my favorite band of all time is AC/DC. Please don’t mention Axl Rose to me right now mmmkay?

Knowing what you like and what resonates with you and the people who pay attention to you can help you start building that personal brand. Where do you want to put your focus? If your list is long, maybe pick one or two things you’ll make more prominent, but honestly… going “all in” is more my style.

Know Your Style

Now, you may not have noticed, but at no point above did I suggest coming up with something new to talk about. Your personal brand is about you. You may find things in the future that become a part of your list, but don’t feel required to search for new things immediately, unless searching for new things is a thing you’re always doing anyway. The same goes for your style. Don’t suddenly feel like you need to come up with a style. Instead, look at how you currently present yourself and then enhance that instead. If you try to be something you’re not, you’ll run into problems later when you get tired of it or it just becomes obvious and inconsistent. Be yourself! People talk about authenticity all the time these days and there’s a reason for that. Being authentic rocks! Of course if you’re a hermit who hates social media, I’m not sure what you’re trying to do or why you’re here, but go with it. There are probably other hermits out there who will totally relate to you.

Be Yourself

This may sound like I’m being redundant, but it’s worthy of repeating. You’re amazing and you should embrace that. Seriously. You go on now and be your amazing self. There are some personalities that have been made up for the purpose of entertainment, of course. That’s a different animal (or sometimes talking food?) but ultimately, if you’re representing yourself, don’t try to be something you’re not. There are exceptions where you may want to filter yourself mildly, but again, that depends on your style. An example would be when I was the host of a parenting podcast. Generally speaking, I would be myself, but on occasion I might have chosen not to express certain things on social media simply for the fact that they may be misconstrued by my listeners, or simply uninteresting. Another way to say it may be to just use common sense, unless you’re known for your wild misuse of common sense. In any case, just get down with your bad (or good, or wild, or adorable) self.

Be Where You’re Comfortable (but be willing to dip your toes)

Being comfortable, to me, is crucial in succeeding on any platform whether it be social media, public speaking, or group therapy… erm… I mean, round-table discussions. “But wait! Shouldn’t I step OUT of my comfort, zone, Cj?” Well, yes… but this is different. This is where you want to SHINE and show off your best self. Definitely step out of that comfort zone and challenge yourself, but when you’re creating your identity, start with what you know. You’ll grow from there. Confidence is important. Let me tell you, I used to be all the rage on Twitter. I tweeted multiple times a day. I couldn’t go long without reading the tweets of my followers and fans. I replied instantaneously. Get this — some of you might not believe it, but I was NOT an early Facebook adopter. I didn’t see the value of spending all my time there. It wasn’t until 2007 that I set up my Facebook and quite a bit of time after that before I put up housing and moved in. I still tweet, and try to do so daily, but Facebook is my shiny, happy place. If yours is Twitter, or Google Plus, or LinkedIn, then shine there. Maybe you’re a multi-tasker and you love to Pin and Instagram your way through the day. While you’re creating yourself and your brand, be where you want to be. If you’re spending too much time forcing something, it’s not going to be your best you. Do be sure to at least lock down your username or personal brand name at those other locations you don’t use as much, but don’t feel like you have to be active everywhere. You may want to later though so make sure you snag them and also, this will prevent imposters when you rise to your ultimate fame and fortune.

Appreciate Others and Share Content

There’s obviously much more information than I can cover in one post, but the last thing I’d like to mention for now is that regardless of who you are and what you’re sharing, you must appreciate your audience and they need to feel it. Remember to respond to comments, and thank people for sharing your content. You’ll also want to leave comments and share the content of those in your audience. In other words, be an audience member too. Social media is a community, not a monologue. For more awesome tips head over and check out the posts on Colby’s page. He’s offering up some great Social Media and Personal Branding tips as well.

Also, feel free to connect with me on Social. You can find links to all my social profiles at twinklergirl.com/cjphx.

“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”

Every day I strive to live a life of kindness. It would be an amazing thing to be able to teach others to do the same, but I think deep down, it’s not something that can be taught beyond your childhood years. I think it’s something you have to choose to do… every time, until it becomes a habit. Being kind is a very good habit to have.

I don’t know if I could say I was always kind. There was definitely a part of my life where I mostly just complained and lamented bitterly about the way my life had gone. I wasn’t an attractive child and I had a difficult time in elementary school because I was different, but when I look back on it now, I think we all had our hard lessons to learn and maybe I did get picked on a little more than other kids, but maybe other kids struggled more with lessons, or their families had financial issues, or they were neglected at home. As a kid, none of these possibilities occurred to me, nor were they presented to me as possibilities. As a kid, the most important person in our life is our self. As adults, we should definitely take care of ourselves, but we can choose to be more aware and thoughtful of how we treat others.

Thinking Kind Thoughts

As I grow and learn how to be an adult, I focus more on being kind to others. We’ve all seen the saying or some variation thereof,

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be Kind. Always.”

If we all were able to remember this at those moments when we’re thinking less of others, I believe we’d all be more successful, and potentially relaxed. For example, I’m getting in line in the drive-thru for my favorite coffee, Dutch Bros, and someone zips in front of me cutting me off. At that moment, I can choose to be angry that I may have to wait an extra three minutes, or I can choose to wonder if that person is having a bad morning, running late for work, or honestly just didn’t mean to do it. I’m sure you can guess which option is going to leave me feeling better for the day. And really, why ruin my coffee moment with such negativity, right?

Brand Kindness

While I’m on the topic of Dutch Bros, as a brand, they are simply marvelous. The type of treatment you will receive from them every day is addictive for me really. I know that I can go there, order a coffee, tea, Italian soda, or whatever, and I will be greeted with a happy welcome and asked how my day is going. Their baristas and runners are the face and personality of their brand. If you’re not familiar, just check out their Dutch Creed AKA Optimist’s Creed because it’s the epitome of how I love seeing a brand encourage their employees to treat people right and not just their customers, but everyone, including themselves. It resonates strength, optimism, and kindness! All of these traits can be contagious.

In my line of work talking to people daily is my main function. Saying it like that sounds a bit dreary because I’m calling it a “function” or a “job” when ultimately what I get to do every day is pretty amazing. Luckily for me, I get to spend hours daily being inspired by, learning about, and connecting with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever known. I’m an Advocacy Specialist. I connect with customers, small business owners, bloggers, entrepreneurs, and basically anyone who may need or want to have an online presence. As a representative of the company I work for, GoDaddy, I get to help people achieve their online goals. This gives me these incredible opportunities to help people with growing their influence, getting technical help when they need it, sharing their content, and connecting them to others who can also be part of their success. It’s a job I’m proud and very #blessed to have. Yeah, I totally hashtag blessed in the middle of my post…

This past weekend I was able to attend Ignite Phoenix. I bring this up here because it is a solid example of how people can get up and talk about the things that drive them; their passions. I’m passionate about kindness. If I were to do an Ignite presentation, that would be one of the first topics I’d consider. When I think about the job I do every day and how much I connect with people, I realize that in order for me to be successful, I absolutely have to be kind. Kindness is good for EVERYONE. Genuine kindness with no expectation of return is something that when given will be its own reward. Being successful at what I do starts with, ends with, and is wrapped in kindness, caring, and compassion. By thinking of others and being my authentic self (*buzzword) I’ve established an amazing community of friendships. People I completely love and appreciate because we are all kind and thoughtful with one another.

So, if I may be so bold, I’d like to leave you with a call to action for today and every day. Go out and be kind. Whether it’s in person, online, on the telephone, or anywhere — just remind yourself in each situation to be kind. Respond kindly or offer someone a genuine compliment. When you’re suddenly frustrated with a loved one or a stranger, take the road of kindness. Consider the other person’s perspective and mix that with your own gentleness and optimism and choose to be kind. It will make your day better and more importantly, it will make someone else’s better too!

I’ll never judge you for humblebragging in my comments section. I can’t wait to hear about your progress so feel free to share with me anytime!

P.S. You are amazing! ❤️

See, I was lucky enough to score enough bonus points with my boss to get this awesome adventure added to my “to do” list this year. Ok, truthfully, my co-worker who was scheduled to go had other obligations and I lucked out. Man, oh man, did I luck out! Did I mention that this was awesome?

Advocamp is a conference put on by Influitive. They tout it as “The biggest customer experience, engagement and advocacy event of the year.” It offers a load of great, experienced speakers who are expert marketers, entrepreneurs, consultants, strategists, founders, authors… well, you get the idea. These are people who know stuff about the kind of stuff I’m doing every day!

Advocacy

Interestingly, however, though there was a huge variety of speakers, there were some definite resounding themes — themes that I loved. Many were captured in quotes I was able to grab during the convention.

· “Lead with generosity. Follow with authenticity.” ~Keith Ferrazzi

· “The customer is really the hero.” ~Rajul Raj (and can we talk about Ecobee? I want one so bad!)

· “Your customers are your most influential salespeople and your employees are your most credible.” ~Joseph Jaffee

· “Stop selling and start educating. Stop selling and start helping.” ~Jill Rowley

· “Not answering complaints decreases customer advocacy, but answering customer complaints increases customer advocacy.” ~Jay Baer

· “Not everything we do is going to be measured, but we need to do it because it’s what’s best for our customers.” ~Jim Williams

Just about any advocacy expert will tell you that if you take care of your customers first, then and only then, will they be willing to take care of you. Sure, you can buy followers and pay people to say things you want them to say, but in the end, we all know that’s not authentic. There are many bloggers and social media influencers out there who don’t want to play that game anymore. I know because I’ve met them. Why wouldn’t they want to play? It’s simple. Promoting something you don’t believe in is inauthentic and it’s obvious.

Relationships are key. If you, as your brand, are engaging with and appreciating your customer, that’s going to elicit a much more genuine response than if you offer them free product or cash money for their compliments.

What I’d rather read is a story about what happened between you and a product. Whether good or bad, tell me a story. Be a storyteller, not a marketer. That’s me. I’m a storyteller. I don’t want to market to you. You know who I am. You know where I work and what I do and I will tell you how much I love and believe in my employer and my career, but I won’t sell it to you like a salesman. I’ve never been good at asking people to buy things — which is weird because I was an Avon lady for 10 years. Yeah that happened… moving on…

I will help customers in any way I can to achieve what they want to achieve. I believe one of the best ways I can help is by telling their story and sharing their content and helping them to grow their own influence. By being and advocate for my customers and my followers, I’m supporting them and their business.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m a fan of thanking people for their contributions and paying for shareable content. I actually send oodles of gifts and goodies, and I’m not just talking SWAG. I truly love to find out what one of my connections will appreciate and then enjoy the surprised voice in their tweet (because I’m not there to see the look on their face — thank you Social Media) when they receive their package.

I could ramble on for hours about this and I’m sure another post will occur, and hey, I’m totally engageable. Is that a word? I’m open to engagement. Not that I want to be engaged. I mean I want to be engaged, but not in the traditional sense. I just mean that I enjoy conversations and love answering questions so hit me up if you’ve got them.

Being a social butterfly isn’t easy. OK, that’s not true at all. For me, it’s very easy. It’s second nature actually. I probably don’t know how to be any other type of me. So, I’m sure you can imagine how excited I was when I heard about the new .social domain extension. It was as though someone was thinking of me and simply wanted to make me happy.

Of course, the existence of this amazing new domain really has nothing to do with me, but being social like I am, it’s pretty much all I talk about anymore.

The social differentiator

Whether you’re just building your own personal blog, blogging for profit, or building your business online, social media is going to be an important consideration. Are you reading this on your PC, laptop, or phone? You’re online somewhere, right? And if you’re in business of any kind, your customers are online, too, and they are looking for you.

Your online social interactions can win you new fans from among the millions of consumers getting social on the Web.

Connecting with your customers through social media can make all the difference. Your current and potential customers are posting on Facebook®, Instagram® and Pinterest®, sending clever tweets, and networking via LinkedIn® — on their lunch breaks. It’s a social world. And your online social interactions can win you new fans from among the millions of consumers getting social on the Web.

It’s time to get .social

The new .social domain extension makes your social intentions clear: you want to connect.

With a .social page for your brand, you can point to one descriptive, branded website address that’s home to all of your social identities. Think yourbusiness.social. This site might house feeds from your various social channels, cool photo and video galleries, a schedule of upcoming events … the social sky’s the limit.

Of course, if social media IS your business, then .social is the obvious go-to domain extension for you. What’s more? A site with a .social address will makes it easier for people to find your business online.

.social testimony

I admit .social is my personal favorite of all the new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) so far. Don’t get me wrong, I love the business-identifying gTLDs like .photography, .club, and the many others available, but .social is relevant for just about every kind of business.

Some of my social-savvy friends think so, too.

“To me, .social implies either social networks or the ability to meet people, events, etc.” ~ D. Patrick Lewis

What an amazing idea — using .social to create and promote events, groups and networks for in-person socializing! I love this!

“If I’m betting on a gTLD, it’s .social. Companies will register under this name not as a defensive move, but as a way to focus their fractured energies and let customers best choose how to stay informed.” ~ Evo Terra

I trust these guys — they know social media. Like them, I think .social can be an incredible tool for helping businesses reach their audience with one simple click.

The .social domain is available now… go here to find yours!

Originally published at Garage.