I can’t believe The Fab Grad has been around for an entire year! *Dancing in my room as I type this post* The first word I think of as I reflect on my blog journey thus far is, PROUD. I am so proud of myself to take this leap of faith and just go for it! No joke, I’m tearing up right now just thinking about how much fun I’ve had creating this brand and how excited I am to watch it grow.
I’ve had dreams of starting my own platform since 8th grade when I use to (and still do) obsess over watching YouTube Beauty and Fashion “gurus”. Every time I would start something, I would always talk myself out of sharing it with the world. What people would think of me held me back every single time! Now, it’s hard for me to envision my life without some type of business, brand, or side hustle I can call my own. After a year of blogging, I’ve learned QUITE a bit about myself, social media, business, and others. I hope my reflections of what I’ve learned in my first year inspire you to start your own thing and push you to take a risk on your dreams! Here is What I’ve Learned in My First Year of Blogging:
Go at Your Own Pace
It’s easy to watch other people and want to compete with their success. Let me tell you that comparison leads to self-doubt and unnecessary worry. Just go at your own pace and DO YOU! So what if it takes you a year to reach 500 followers and someone else had over 2,000 followers in less than a year. Your journey is your own and you have to value it. Whatever is suppose to happen in your life is already planned out. Enjoy the ride that is already laid out for you and cheer on others as they go through their own journey.
Being Authentic > Being Popular
The current trend is to have a “perfectly curated” feed in order to gain more traffic towards your page or blog. To be honest, I would much rather be my authentic self and let ya’ll know how I’m feeling and what I’m doing in the moment rather than make my blog or social media look perfect to gain more popularity. This is where creating a community comes into play. Building relationships online is already hard. Having people trust what you say when they’ve never met you before is hard. So why not be your true and authentic self in the process? While I enjoy an aesthetically pleasing feed as well, I promise you it’ll make the process of creating your own brand so much easier if you just do what feels right to you. Let go of the rules and just have fun!
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
I had to force myself to get out of my comfort zone this year! For a while, I was even too nervous to call myself a “blogger” until a few months ago. But once I finally decided to go to an event, to reach out to a brand, to write how I truly felt, to proclaim that YES I am blogger! THAT’s when I made my biggest gains! Koreyelle (one of my fav girl bosses!) said an awesome quote in a recent podcast of hers that said, “Coins don’t come in your comfort zone!”. I literally screamed “yaaaaassss” in my car when I heard that. There’s going to be moments in your journey and in life in general when you just have to go for it! The more you get use to taking risks, the easier it will get. Listen to Koreyelle’s podcast here.
Learn From Others Mistakes
If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I found a new obsession with podcasts this year! Specifically, podcasts about social media marketing, women’s empowerment, and hearing other’s success stories. It’s my way of staying motivated, with my eye on the prize! Through all of this listening, I’ve learned SO much from other’s mistakes. Fun Fact: Simone (my name) means “to listen”. So I’ve always felt I had this natural tendency to listen to others, to God, and to my elders when they give me their truth. Of course follow your gut and use discernment, but don’t be afraid to take advice from others and watch how others get to their level of success.
Remember Your Why
This is so important. When I get annoyed with my blog or disappointed in my growth or stuck in what to write about, I always try to remember my why. I want to help young adults like myself navigate the adult world by sharing my own journey. It’s never been about making a bunch of money or having the most amount of followers on Instagram (even though it’s easy to start having those thoughts). Remembering your why keeps you grounded. It helps you discern what’s for you and what’s not. As you go through your journey, remember to reflect on your purpose and what you want to offer the world. Doing this will help you stay content and happy with what you’re doing and where you’re at in your journey.
Thank You!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU so much for supporting me, for reading my blog, and for allowing me to share my journey of adulthood with you. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. I hope you’ve enjoyed my reflections and advice on my first year of blogging! It’s been a great first year and I can’t wait to see what’s next! Be sure to follow me on Instagram as well (@thefabgrad) so you’re up to date on my daily happenings. Cheers to another year!
Love,
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