#FearlessMom Campaign

Maimah Karmo, a Liberian refugee and young mother of a toddler, was 32 when she received her breast cancer diagnosis. She was also engaged at the time, and her fiancé left her right before the wedding. Maimah's world turned upside-down, but instead of letting her disease beat her, Maimah turned her plight into action.

Maimah is the founder of the Tigerlily Foundation, an organization that educates, empowers and advocates for young women affected by breast cancer. The idea was born after her second chemotherapy treatment, and when she appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to tell her story, Oprah's advice was clear. "Write a book," Oprah instructed.

So Maimah did. Fearless: Awakening to My Life's Purpose Through Breast Cancer (Brown Books, October 2012) is about "my transformation," says Maimah, "and how I learned that a challenge can be a gift."

Fearless is a stunning account of Maimah's upbringing in Liberia—which was uprooted when she was 16 years old, and her family was forced to flee to the US—to living the American Dream, watching it all fall apart with a breast cancer diagnosis, and ultimately, bouncing back. Today, Maimah has single-handedly changed the world of breast cancer diagnosis and recovery, and her work has been celebrated everywhere from Redbook Magazine to ­­­­Good Morning America.

"I am dedicated to changing the breast cancer landscape and creating a legacy of a world free of breast cancer," says Maimah.

In 2009, L'Oreal's Paris Woman of Worth chose Maimah as the recipient of their Award, and the Congressional Black Caucus Leadership in Advocacy awarded Maimah in 2011. She and the Tigerlily Foundation have been profiled in numerous national outlets: O, the Oprah Magazine, Essence, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and Redbook. She has also appeared on national television media, including The Oprah Winfrey Show,Good Morning America, FOX, ABC News, and CBS.

 "The morning my life changed, I made a vow to live as loudly as possible. I would jump into the things that made me afraid; I would risk everything to feel, to live and to love. Most of all, I would be fully present in life and give of myself so that others may have the incredible joy I feel every day of my life," says Maimah.

How can you participate in the campaign for Fearless Moms?

Is there a mom in your life who is absolutely FEARLESS? Has she overcome odds that were overwhelmingly against her? Does she constantly take-on life’s curve balls with poise and positivity?  Above all, is she an overwhelming source of love, encouragement and inspiration? We’re on a mission to honor these leading ladies in our lives and need your help!

• Think of a Fearless Mom in your life and feature her on your blog. Share the post with Maimah Karmo on Twitter (@MaimahKarmo) with the hashtag, #FearlessMom and on Maimah’s Facebook page. 

• Send the link to your blog post featuring your selection for a Fearless Mom to Claire@prbythebook.com by December 31^st, 2012.

Five nominees will be selected to attend Maimah’s Fearless Female Conference next year. They will also receive Maimah’s book, Fearless: Awakening to My Purpose Through Breast Cancer.

about the author:

MAIMAH KARMO was born in Monrovia, Liberia, and lived there until fleeing to the United States with her family in 1989. She lived in New Jersey before moving to Virginia, where she currently resides with her daughter. Learn more at www.tigerlilyfoundation.com

Instant Gratification | Short-Term Gain

My social life is non-existent. Unless you count Friday nights when Baby Daddy drags me out to eat. Getting me to step foot outside of Headquarters is a struggle, but I don't put up much of a fight when it comes to food. 

People on the outside looking in send their condolences. They interpret my focus and self-discipline to mean I'm missing out. Deprived of fun. That couldn't be further from the truth. 

One thing I've learned along my journey is that you truly get out of life what you put into it. How you spend your time now will determine how your time will be spent later. 

image: ann par

Put in work on the front end. 

A short-term sacrifice in exchange for long-term payoffs. 

Selling Your Soul For Facebook Fans

Kita over at KoKoa Magazine cracked the case on all of those Facebook pages with thousands upon thousands of 'Likes'. She tweeted about it recently, saying some brands are buying their thumb-ups. 

She and I both agreed we weren't going out like that. I tweeted back saying I'll continue to grow my fashion blog page just like I've been doing - one click at a time. 

While I won't rule out purchasing FB ads in the future, you don't ever have to worry about me forking over my hard earned money for other fraudulent questionable social media marketing shenanigans. 

The conversation got me to thinking though. Like, how up until last week, I hadn't hit the 50 fan milestone yet. I was holding steady at 45 for quite some time. The biggest reason my page isn't growing is due to my lack of self-promotion. I publish content and engage, but that's about it. 

Last Sunday I got a new hairdo and shared a pic on my FB page. The photo was accompanied by this simple two word status update: "what'cha think?!" 

Within minutes thumbs starting flying left and right. When it was all said and done, 20% of my fans had weighed in by liking the update and the post was seen by 84 people. I then shared the post on my personal page and had three friends like discount thief. 

The small amount of effort I put into that update took me from 45 to 54 likes. An increase of 20%. 

A social media expert is going to read this and want to give me all kinds of tips and advice on being more strategic. It's not that serious right now. Will it take longer to hit the next milestone? Probably so. But that's ok.

The bottom line is that I already know what to do. I just need to do more of it. More often. 

VIDEO: Bloggy Boot Camp 2012

If you landed here and you're a blogger or you know a blogger - watching this video is a must. 

If you're a blogger searching for a blogging conference to attend - you're in luck. 

If you can't see the video CLICK HERE.

You still have time to get your ticket for Bloggy Boot Camp 2012: Brand Edition.

Got questions? Blast em below in the comments.

Wanna share your blogging conference experience?! Go ahead...in the comments below.

And if you know how to keep me from having these intoxicating looking YouTube thumbnails - please do tell!

How To Save Money When Going to a Conference

I'm headed to my first ever blogging conference in a couple of weeks. A larger conference like BlogHer is on my list to attend, but I wanted to ease into it by going to a smaller, more intimate one first. 

I can't actually remember the last time I've gone to a conference as an attendee. I'm usually speaking and the experience is totally different. Most times you don't have the opportunity to participate in other sessions because you're too busy working. And yes - it is work. 

Bloggy Boot Camp is touching down in Dallas, TX, the weekend of September 14th. I bought my ticket in March and booked my hotel room this weekend - which prompted me to write this post.

If you've ever traveled anywhere for any reason, I don't have to tell you how expensive it can be. Especially if you have to fly. When you throw conference tickets into the mix, it can add up quickly. And let's not talk about all the pricey add-on events....VIP parties, awards ceremonies, and the like. 

I got an email this weekend from the #BBCDAL team and it looks like their sponsors are footing the bills for the extra curricular activities. None of the party info was followed by "Buy Your Ticket" links. BAM! This is my kinda gig right here. 

Ok. So now. The reason for this post. 

Conferences always promote the special room rate they've negotiated with the hotel. One that's lower than the regular rate. $119 per night is the going price for Bloggy Boot Campers. Not wanting to pay that price, I attempted to get hotel sponsorship but couldn't. 

I have a client who works at DoubleTree by Hilton. I sent her an email asking if there were any promotions going on. No...I didn't ask for a hook-up. That's just tacky. 

Anyway, she hopped online and found a super low guaranteed rate of $89/night. When I got ready to book my room this weekend, there was even lower rate being offered. A $79 advance purchase rate. I must've typed about 95 miles per hour trying to get my info entered in! 

That's an $80 savings off of the conference room rate. 

Moral of the Story: Always do your research. It really does pay off in the long run. 

I'll be sharing more about the conference in the coming weeks so stay tuned. I'm really excited to be going. 

Do you have any advice you'd like to share to ensure I get the most out of it?

Yes...You Can't Do It Alone

When I launched the personal style blog, I thanked a few people who helped make it possible. When you read my Backstory, you'll see how my Daddy influenced my entrepreneurial endeavors. 

Throughout my entire life I've had somebody, somewhere giving me a hand-up (not to be confused with a hand-out) so I could then help myself.

I moved to Austin 21 years ago. Me and a couple of girls decided to come for the weekend and never went back to the small town we called home. They had family here. I didn't. That was my primary reason for wanting to stay. I needed to gain my independence and the only way I could do that was by leaving my family. I'm the youngest of four kids, my Daddy's 13th child, and needless to say - I was spoiled loved. I was going down the road of non-stop mistakes with my sisters, uncle, and mama bailing me out.

Fast forward to today. I've raised the most amazing daughter anyone could ask for, have a brilliant son following along in her footsteps while making imprints that are uniquely his own, and have been afforded the opportunity to work in a variety of fields. But most of all, I get the greatest joy and sense of accomplishment from what I do as an entrepreneur. 

And just like all of the people who welcomed me into their homes when I couldn't go and be with my family, I've been blessed to meet folks who embrace, inspire, and push me to achieve greatness in business. 

The notion that you can OR did do it alone is laughable. 

If you're striving for success and despite your efforts, you just can't seem to get there - it might be a good time to survey your circle of influence. Take inventory of your support group. Look at where your roots are planted in the community. 

Oh...you don't have any of that? 

Well it's about time you step away from the computer and start to really connect.

If you're any closer to your dreams today than you were yesterday, chances are, somebody helped you get there. 

Tea invited me to her Word Carnival. Wanna see what other bloggers/small business owners have to say about this topic? Go ahead...click here.

AT&T Penalizes Customers For Saving

While talking to my friend Linda last week, she mentioned she was going to call her home phone provider to have one of her features removed. We both have AT&T. I hadn't called them in a while to see what promotions they were offering, which would in turn lower my bill. Last time I did this I ended up saving 50% on internet service. 

Here's what happened when I called this past weekend:

$17 MONTHLY SAVINGS

Following Linda's lead, I cut back on the feature I no longer needed. In my case, it was long distance. It makes absolutely no sense when I have unlimited calling anywhere in the U.S. on my cell phone. 

My monthly plan went from $47 down to $30. 

There weren't any deals going on with internet service so I couldn't cut that cost, but believe me - I asked!

Here's what else happened:

$9.50 FEE FOR DOWNGRADING

They charged me for saving money. Can you believe that?!

I was penalized for getting rid of a service I didn't need. I don't know if this service fee was applied and explained when Linda changed her plan, but this type of stuff is something we should all be aware of as consumers. 

No matter what's happening with the economy and job market, companies are going to ensure they continue to get paid. One way or another. This is a prime example. 

It didn't cost AT&T one red cent to process the change in my plan. And likewise, had I called to upgrade my service, thus putting more money in their pockets, they would've thanked me for being a loyal customer and sent me on my merry way. 

Eliminating my landline all together isn't an option right now. It's still a necessity. Just because I have to have it, that doesn't mean I want to pay an arm and a leg for it. 

Thanks, AT&T, for the awesome customer experience. 

I owe you. No really. I owe you for this one. 

Judging By How Often I Do It

I've been going to the same hairstylist for the past five years. There have been a few times where I've had one night stands with other stylists. For good reasons. 

When she relocated to Houston for a while, I had to find someone else. And then I ran across a mobile stylist and that seemed like a dream come true. Problem: this person would show up late to Headquarters for my appointments...like really late. Getting my hair done at home was convenient, but not at the expense of my time. 

Ok...so I go get a haircut last week and before I leave, my stylist makes the comment that she won't see me for another six months. The person who works at the station next to her said, "Bye friend...we'll see you in October". 

Let's get something straight. I'm not a "get my hair did every week" kinda woman. 

In the past, yep. That was me. Every week I was sitting my happy ass down in my then-stylist's chair dishing out money like nobody's business. That money didn't include buying the hair! 

Would I do that today? Hell to the no. I value my money AND my time ever so differently. 

Now, I get my hair done when I need it. When it's getting too long and/or the color is fading (it's dyed a dark-dark-brown-almost-black color). The exception: when I have a paid appearance I need to show up to and I want to look the part of a polished professional worth the client/organization's investment. 

Anytime else - I'm in the bathroom doing my own hair. 

Here's the reason I'm bitching about this in the first place: for some reason, my stylist (and her nosey ass booth neighbor!) seem to think I'm a less valuable customer because of the frequency in which I visit the salon. That's so not true. 

One thing they're failing to realize is that I'm a loyal customer. 

The only stylist I get in bed with is Felice. That's it. The mobile stylist chick was giving her a run for her money though...I actually liked Mobile Girl's work and she used really good products on my hair. I just couldn't deal with the unprofessional tardiness. 

Sidenote: lack of professionalism among black hairstylists shall become an entirely different post...just wait. 

Here's what it all boils down to: I don't care if I only buy your product or service once a year - that one time - treat me like you care. 

'We The Customer' have choices. 

'We The Customer' can change our minds at any given moment and choose to do business elsewhere. 

The experience itself could be the reason our purchases are so few and far in between. 

p.s. - I love Felice. She and I have a heartwarmingly dysfunctional relationship. This is by no means an attack on her personally, but intended to shed light on the obstructed mentality some business owners have when it comes to customer appreciation.

The Emily Morgan Experience

More than 2.5 million people per year visit The Alamo. 

A couple of weekends ago, my family and I became a statistic.

I was invited to San Antonio by a client to facilitate a board leadership retreat. The kind of gig I absolutely love. You spend a few hours in a small intimate setting honing in on team building and laser focused strategizing.

As much as I enjoy meeting new people and helping them set their ideas into motion, a life of all work and no play is something I don't want to revert back to. I need both to exist in harmony with myself.

We stayed at the beautiful and historic Emily Morgan Hotel. 

The second-most photographed building in all of San Antonio.

When I googled the property and saw the exterior, I assumed the interior would reflect the original architecture of the structure. Something I'm not a fan of. We each have our own design preferences and mine is all about modern and contemporary spaces. 

The dark wood and clean lines balance the hotel's theme. You're able to appreciate the memorabilia without feeling like you're in a museum. Everywhere you look, you're reminded of the luxurious amenities and accommodations. 

The double-bed room was spacious and the kids enjoyed waking up to an Alamo. When I got back to the room on Friday after the retreat, the hotel staff had loaded us up with freshly baked cookies, beverages, and complimentary breakfast vouchers.

The property is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation at the end of the year. Here's what I would like to see incorporated into the upgrades:

• queen beds | traveling families often share a room and larger beds make for a better sleeping experience
• redesigned shower and tub | the jacuzzi style is nice, but the tub sits pretty high off the ground and stepping in was a bit tricky

The Emily Morgan Hotel is only two blocks from the Riverwalk, one of the most popular vacation spots in the U.S. So it doesn't matter if you're a business or leisure traveler - this conveniently located gem is the ultimate boutique destination offering superior quality and service at an exceptional value.

I'm looking forward to my next visit. 

Would you add San Antonio to your list of Texas cities to tour?!

The Dark Side of Online Friendships

There's something I've been wanting to share with you for a while now. I was waiting for the right time and decided the whole Facebook friend issue was a good segue. 

I've talked alot about the wonderful relationships I've developed as a result of the online connections I've made. What I haven't talked about are the ones I believed to be genuine and it turned out they were anything but. 

SITUATION #1:

A blogger and I connected on twitter last year and started reading/commenting/sharing each other's posts. She was very vocal about a particular stand she took when it came to mommy blogging and I shared some of the same views. Over time, it seemed like her tweets became more aggressive and self-centered. She was constantly retweeting the praise and recognition she was getting from others. 

Here's what I know about social media: you can use it however you choose, but I don't have to be subjected to it. It's that simple. That's what the unfollow button is for. So that's what I did. I unfollowed her. It had nothing to do with what I thought about her as a person, and everything to do with what I want coming across my timeline. Before I had a chance to explain to her why I had unfollowed, she'd gone over to Facebook and unfriended me. Ok great. Now I know all of the inbox messages we exchanged and the sentiment she shared when commenting on my blog posts should have been taken at face value. 

Here's where I'll also hold myself accountable. I shouldn't have been so naive in the first place. Lesson learned. 

SITUATION #2:

Another blogger and I began our online relationship back in 2008. In 2011 we became closer. I'm not sure how it happened, but we ended up exchanging phone numbers which led to daily text messages and a phone call at least a couple of times per month. I. Was. Thrilled! I'd finally found someone who had the same long-term blogging goals as myself. We bounced ideas off of each other, talked about her coming to Texas for a small blogging event I wanted to have, and ended up sharing very personal details about our private lives. Yes...more than what I already tell you here on my blog. 

And get this. I had told this person about Situation #1 and we both agreed if we ever had any issues with each other - perceived or otherwise - we'd talk about it. Well guess what? That didn't happen. I noticed she wasn't responding to my texts (when in the past, if she was busy she'd tell me...proactively, I might add) and the blog engagement stopped. I called twice and left voicemail messages asking what was wrong and never got a return phone call. 

I was really hurt. This wasn't anything like Situation #1. I walked away from that one and never thought twice about it. But person #2 and I had talked about this very thing and how we were actually friends and how friends don't treat each other that way. To this day - I've been trying to figure out what I did wrong. What did I say or do to offend her? It obviously had to be my fault. 

*By now, I'm sure you're thinking bloggers are extremely dysfunctional. My response to that: we're human. 

SITUATION #3:

This person is the one I've 'known' the shortest amount of time. She's an entrepreneur with a specific focus, but she goes outside of her niche to connect with other people. That was the thing I liked about her. She didn't stay inside her box of industry professionals. 

She sent an email telling me she was coming to town and extended an invitation to meet in person. You know I was all over that opportunity! Well, when it came time for her to be here, I followed up so we could finalize the details. Not a single response. 

You've got to be kidding me. What the hell is my problem?!

I waited a couple of weeks and sent her a note. And in that note, I told her if I'd done anything to upset her to please let me know. 

Can somebody let me know where I'm screwing up so I can fix it please?!

Well much to my surprise, I got a response back with an apology. It turns out she'd been experiencing a multitude of personal issues and her way of dealing with things was to shut down. Ohh how I can relate to that. 

Each one of these situations has taught me something different. And I guess the main takeaway is that the person you've known the longest may not be the person who you have the strongest relationship with. Communication is a two-way street and no matter how much I hold myself accountable, I can't take all of the blame for what may have gone wrong. 

Online relationships can be deceiving. All you have is a person's written word. Their comments, updates, etc. When you look at that and measure it against their actions, they should be aligned. Just like in real life. 

I've got to be really careful how I use the word friend. It doesn't mean I can't initiate new connections, it just means I can't lose sight of what's real and what's not. 

Why I Won't Be Your Facebook Friend

While making my blogging rounds, I came across an interesting post from Denise over at Nurturing Creativity. Title: Why I Axed Facebook. She starts off saying how she'd been wrestling with the decision for quite some time. 

Yours truly has gone back and forth with doing the same. 

And while I decided not to divorce Facebook completely, I did make the decision to reevaluate my friends. 

When I first joined FB (in December 2010 I think) I dove in with the, "I'm gonna use it for business...to market and get clients" mindset. Let me tell ya. THAT didn't last long at all. One would think my awful beginner experience on twitter had taught me a lesson. Everyone assured me FB was different...it's not like twitter. And in some ways - they're polar opposites. In others - they're identical.

I found myself pretty much accepting any and every friend request that came my way. Except for the obvious creepy ones. If me and the person had a few mutual friends, they were in. 

As I started to use FB for more of a personal communication platform, I realized I didn't want total strangers in the mix. Going in and unfriending those people wasn't hard at all. I didn't know them in the first place. We were by no means friends. I went from over 500 to a little over 300 in no time. As of right now, I'm at 325. I exed two more folks today. 

For some strange reason, I was trying to get down to a certain number. The exact opposite of what most people do. I was trying to convince myself that a smaller number meant the remaining friends were more meaningful. Mirroring how it typically happens in real life. FYI: I don't know anyone walking around with 3,718 friends. 

So what's my approach? 

Instead of looking at the number, I look at the level of interaction. If I'm talking to you and you're talking to me, then obviously we enjoy each other's conversation. Are we really friends?! Probably not. 

Why didn't I do this in the first place? Well I'll tell you why. Because whether you want to believe it or not - all social media platforms are based on numbers. The more the better. Without even realizing it, you fall victim to believing this is the right way to go about it, knowing good and well it ain't. 

If we haven't "spoken" to each other in months, clearly we aren't friends. If the last conversation we had was you wishing me happy birthday last year - no mi amigo. 

If you have all of your stuff auto-synced and never respond to anything I say, I don't want to be your friend. When I stop by and say hello, and you come back with something that gives you the opportunity to promote your service or product..yep...no friendship here. 

I may not be doing it the right way, but I am doing it MY way. And when it comes to me managing my online relationships - my way is the only way that matters. 

Warning: Abnormal Blogger Ahead

I had a birthday last week and you know what that means. A gazillion happy birthday wishes via Facebook. I make it a point to read and say thank you to every single one.

As I was scrolling through, there were a few that stuck out and made me laugh. In particular, the one from my friend Shonika. She included every possible thing she knew about me when outlining how I should celebrate. 

On the list: hot wings, martinis, and a gift card to a discount shopping store. 

How could someone I've only met in real life one time know so much about me? Occasionally we talk business on the phone, but is it normal for someone to know your favorite food and drink AND shopping habits merely from having an online relationship with you?!

It is if that's the kind of stuff you share - publicly without shame. 

At first, I hid behind a boring "professional" personality. Think 'corporate America online profile' filled with fancy jargon that doesn't mean jack to the rest of the world. I was that. I mean, that's still a part of who I am and always will be, but the truth of the matter is - there's so much more to Miss Donna. 

When I started talking about other things - the fun stuff, my likes, pet peeves, and dreams - that's when my blogging voice come alive. It was at that point I started to get emails and comments from readers sharing their stories as a result of me opening up. Richer relationships developed. I felt like my writing  was more meaningful. Its purpose went beyond pageviews.

You aren't perfect. You remind yourself every time you point to your flaws. 

Instead of looking down on yourself, allow your imperfections to work to your advantage.

I incorporate all of the weird, nerdy, "not normal" habits and hang-ups my family complains about into a memorable and relatable brand. 

I'm self-diagnosed with mild-to-moderate OCD and proud of it dammit! My blogging and coffee addictions don't need an intervention. If I'd rather watch reruns on CNBC instead of going bowling - don't knock it! 

Boldly embrace all of you. Own your authentic self - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I'm late to the party. Tea invited me to her Word Carnival ages ago, so when I needed a topic to write about today, I knew just where to go for inspiration.

Stairway to Success - PERSISTENCE

This is the third post in the Stairway to Success series.

CLICK HERE to see my thoughts on Ambition, which will then take you to the quote that started it all. 

PERSISTENCE

(n) - the act or quality of being persistent

PERSISTENT

(adj) - refusing to give up or let go; persevering obstinately

Anyone who has ever won at anything will tell you they couldn't have done it without the existence of this word.

Those who end up on the losing end, in most cases, didn't have the endurance to stay the course. 

I could've given up on a number of things a long time ago -specifically, my entrepreneurial dreams - but I chose not to. Continuing to forge ahead isn't about the action itself. It's about making the decision to do so. 

There are two sides of the persistent coin. The good and the bad. We sometimes only focus on the positive connotation of the word. Neglecting to look at the things we should give up. Those which prevent us from taking the next step up the stairs of success. 

Blaming our circumstances, wallowing in self-pity, and nurturing toxic relationships to name a few. For some, these things are constantly in the picture. A staple of one's daily life.

Persistently pulling you in the opposite direction you desire to go.

Going Out Of Business

There's a locally owned coffee shop I would go to at least once a week if it were closer to Headquarters. I've asked the owner on more than one occasion to open a store in my neighborhood. That's how much I enjoy his place. I'd choose it over The Crackhouse on any given day. 

The owner and I collaborated on a project and shared the spotlight for my first ever live tv interview. Something I'll never forget. 

In March 2012, he announced the closing of one of his stores. Publicly. He sent the information out to his blog subscribers (BTW: his blog is sent via newsletter, which isn't anything at all like the typical newsletter). The outpouring of support was unbelievable. That's what happens when business owners take the time to connect with their customers. On an emotional level. 

His latest update landed in my inbox last week. The subject line: Will Kick Butt Close Its Doors?

Thomas always crafts clever headlines to get you to open his stuff and I was praying this was another of those instances. After reading, I realized it wasn't. He shared that although sales at his existing location rose by 20% after closing the other location, Kick Butt Coffee still isn't profitable. 

If you've been following my blog, you know I'm no stranger to financial struggles. Some will criticize Thomas and I for airing our dirty laundry and others will admire our honesty. 

If people don't know what's wrong, they can't do anything to help make things right. When Thomas posted the news on Facebook, feedback and suggestions started flying all over the place. If we, his customers, want his doors to remain open - we have to know what's going on so we can do our part to keep him in business. I started brainstorming last night on ways to make that happen. 

Thomas can't sit around waiting for his caffeinated cohorts to spring into action. He has to do his part. And that he did by calling on his mentor. That's something I still haven't found. The right person - who's accessible  - who not only understands my vision and goals, but has accomplished them his/herself. 

Will Kick Butt be around for another five years? Will I finally get that big media break I've been looking for? 

I'm no fortune teller, but I believe a breakthrough is on the way...for Thomas and I both. I can feel it. 

Click here to read Kick Butt's story.

We Met, We Ate, We Blogged About It

One of the goals I have with social media is to actually meet as many of my online buddies in real life as I possibly can. 

There was the time when I flew to San Francisco and stayed with a total stranger - who I met on twitter. And then the other time when I invited a total stranger to come stay with me - who I met on twitter. And then Shonika came to Austin from D.C. and we got to meet in person after developing a close friendship - yeah, you guessed it - on twitter. 

Last month, Lynn Asummermoon Davis hit me up on Facebook and told me she was coming to town. I was really excited about this one!

Lynn and I have been online buddies since she stumbled across one of my guest posts in 2010 over at The Work at Home Woman. We've been reading each other's blogs, tweeting, and emailing since then. She's one of those kind of people who has the ability to make you smile just by reading her status updates. Always positive. Always encouraging. 

She's doing an awesome job of growing her social media business, A&D Media, which caters to small businesses and non-profit organizations. The fact that she dreams of even bigger things than she's doing now is contagiously inspirational. The few hours we spent together weren't enough. I invited myself to her place in Jersey so we can pick up where we left off here. 

After we consumed more food than we probably should have, we walked away feeling blessed to have had the opportunity to be in each other's presence. 

And did I tell you this was her first time flying?! 

I'm looking forward to our next encounter...on the east coast!

Email Confession: I Want to Remain Anonymous

Hi Donna,

Started a blog a few weeks ago.  I have been unemployed for over 10 months. What sparked the blog is my husband getting laid off.

I did a lot of what you said - looked for blogs about job hunting/unemployment and most of them are shut down (i'm assuming people eventually got a job) - LOL!

Not sure if you have any other advice.  My biggest obstacle is I want to keep anonymous for many reasons-

 1.  Bashing my old job/mgmt

 2.  In case I do get a job/dont want to hinder getting a job.

 Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your time!

-JC

*************

thanks for taking the time to reach out to me.

yes - quite a few blogs started by unemployed people who talk about their unemployment journey tend to fizzle out. i'm inclined to believe it's because they continue to write about what they don't have - a job - instead of using it as a way of "writing" themselves into a better future and new opportunities. there's not a stitch of data to support what i said. that's merely my opinion.

what are you wanting to accomplish with your blog? what's your reason for writing?

Hugs & Handshakes,

miss donna

*************

Originally I started to document my fun and ridiculous interview stories but now its growing into situations my husband is in and job search/interviewing/networking tips and thoughts based on my 10 months+ of experience.  Its hard being anonymous because I have a nice Facebook and Linked In following but I know most of those people personally and cant be sending them my blog when I am mentioned former managers, jobs etc.  I started a new Twitter but only have 8 followers.  I am following ANYTHING related to unemployment.  I am also posting on the Rants and Raves section of Craigslist one to two times daily.  Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time!
-JC

*************

ok got it.

so now that you've explained why you're writing, what is the outcome you desire? you didn't explain that part.

fill in this blank: By blogging, I want/hope to accomplish ______________________. make sense?!

*************
Help people get jobs, make money, get my thoughts out there?

Totally makes sense.  Hope the above makes sense!  LOL!
-JC

**************

 alrighty then...now we're getting somewhere!

1. help people get jobs - by continuing to blog about the negative aspects of unemployment and bashing your ex-employer, you won't accomplish this. all it does is serve as a constant reminder of your past. you are more than that. you wouldn't have survived in the sales industry all those years had  you not been. you can help people get jobs by sharing your expertise. what lessons do you have to offer someone trying to break into sales? what insider knowledge do you have that would be valuable to someone on the outside? those are the kinds of things people want to read which will help them get ahead.

2. make money - it can be done via blogging, but it takes time. it's pretty much impossible to do if you blog anonymously. having said that - expose yourself. people read blogs because they want to connect with the person behind the blog. we want to know that they're human. you have to be relatable and the only way you can do that is by allowing your readers to get to know you. ads are just one way to monetize. you need multiple income streams. once you establish yourself as an expert, you can then seek out speaking engagements. be bold and creative when it comes to your monetization plan.

3. get your thoughts out there - refocusing on all of the above will allow you to do just that...in a much more constructive way, i might add.
i hope this helps, JC. i appreciate you taking the time to send me a note and for trusting me enough to want to hear my thoughts (see #1). :)

let me know if there's anything else i can do for you and don't be a stranger!

Hugs & Handshakes,

miss donna

*************

Thank you so much for your amazing advice. You are absolutely right. I do need to move on. Unfortunately, I had a really horrible boss who put me down and treated me like garbage. Its hard to come back out of that after dealing with it for over four years. Even before your email, I have started to post more about tips rather than going backwards. I will definitely keep in touch.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH!!!!
-JC

It's not always an in-and-out situation. Getting to the root of the problem takes two way communication. Listening is critical.
Do you have a question for me? Feel free to send it my way. 

Wow! Christmas in May

have you ever gotten something that you totally weren't expecting and it turned out to be one of the best gifts ever?! well that's exactly what happened to me recently. take a look:

If you can't see the video CLICK HERE.

Join hundreds of other people and Like Wow Gift Boxes on Facebook and connect with them on twitter too!

who would you like to surprise with a Wow Gift Box?!

Disclosure: The good folks over at WowGiftBoxes.com reached out and asked if I'd be interested in receiving their product. I said, "Sure!", and offered to shoot this video to show my appreciation. As such, the opinions therein are expressly my own. 

STIR-TRY: Black Bean Chili Bowl

This wasn't meant to be a blog post. But when I snapped the picture to share on Facebook and it turned out pretty good - it became a blog post. 

It has been a while since I cooked for you. Although I don't consider this cooking really. I made something using one pot and a rice cooker. We all know cooking consists of using all the burners on the stove - simultaneously - along with the oven and possibly a George Foreman grill or the equivalent. All at the same time. 

When The Girl was little, she had a friend whose mom would make taco soup every time she spent the night at their house. It got to the point where I think my child wanted to go over there just so she could have taco soup. 

Fast forward to present time. My friend Wendi had a Christmas get together at her place last year. Guess what she had?! Umm hhmmm. Taco soup. And I did what I always do - forced Baby Daddy to pack some to go. If anybody gets talked about for walking outta people's houses with paper plates and aluminum foil - it'll be him. Not me. 

The recipe Wendi gave me was so simple I didn't even have to write it down. The first time I fixed it, I served it with Fritos corn chips like she did. Not a leftover in sight. 

The second time around I decided to do something different. 

Umm hhmmm.. I served it over rice. 

When The Boy saw his plate, he yelled to his sister, "Hurry! Come eat...mom made Chipotle!"

A few months ago, someone I follow on twitter tweeted the recipe for Kraft's Cheesy Chili Soup. I searched diligently for her blog post so I could credit her accordingly (I even commented on her post), but I can't find anything and I don't remember who it was. 

Mine is closer to Paula Deen's Taco Soup recipe. With modifications and omissions, of course. 

• I use black beans instead of pinto beans. I forgot kidney beans all together when I made it last week and nobody died as a result. 
• I only use 1 can of stewed diced tomatoes. The garlic and onion kind. DelMonte brand I think.
• I skip the olives and ranch seasoning. 
• I don't have time for all those garnishings like Paula does...just scoop some guacamole on top to add color and make it pretty. 
• Don't feel compelled to crockpot it. It works in a regular pot too and cooks much faster. 

So there you have it. Another recipe. 

You're welcome. 

Niche Blogging: Getting Paid

Now that the new blog is launched, I can go ahead and tell you how I made money from it prior to ever publishing my first post.

photo credit: krisolin

When I started this blog, one of the things I didn’t know was that it would take doing a number of different things to monetize it. I’d read articles where bloggers (most in the technology and social media fields) had been hired to perform services as a result of writing about certain things, and then organizations would reach out to the them to speak or consult on those topics. Not the easiest thing to do here since I talk about so much stuff.

My plan to monetize discountthief.com consisted of seven different methods. I categorized four out of the seven as “long-term”, meaning it would take building up an audience and following in order to make them happen. Still – I wrote them down.

Number 7 on my list was a service.

I had a very vague idea of the service I could possibly offer, but honestly, I didn’t think it would materialize until later. Much later. So as a result, I didn’t have a process or even a description for the service. I hadn’t started brainstorming that far ahead yet.

One Saturday at happy hour with my friend Chris, we were catching up and I mentioned the new blog to her. She was super excited and supportive, as always, and immediately started to tell me how I could offer a service by helping women discount shop. This was along the same lines as what I had envisioned myself.

The next day I had an email from Chris offering to hire me. She’d been wanting to go through her closet and determine what she needed to buy and what things she should part ways with. What she didn’t want to do was pay the approximate $600 for a half-day session with a certified image consultant. She trusted me enough to put her wardrobe and personal style in my hands.

The experience was a success (according to the feedback Chris gave me) and alot of fun! We created several new outfits just by using clothes she already had, and then compiled a shopping list of items and shoes to buy. We headed over to DSW and Marshalls and knocked it out in about 2 ½ hours.

Chris took off her black cardigan and heels and put on  her  bedazzled sandals - one outfit, two ways to wear it.

When Chris told her mom about my new gig and how pleased she was with the outcome, her mom hired me. This was going to be interesting because keep in mind – I didn’t have a system in place to tackle this in person, and figuring out how to accomplish it with an out of town client was sure to be a challenge. I was up for it. Chris’s mom purchased the outfits I picked out and may hire me again to shop for her when she goes on a cruise at the end of the year.

I said to myself: I can do this. I can really do this.

So as of today, my one week old personal style blog has already made a profit. The only thing I invested in was the $10 domain name back in September – with no actual idea of how it would be used.

And now the real work begins. Figuring out a strategy to land more paying clients!