pursue your dreams: veronika of by the shore
Pursue Your Dreams is a weekly mini-series brought to you by a handful of talented handmade artists, bloggers, small business owners, and ladies who are chasing hard after their dreams. The series focuses on 3 insights they've learned about staying inspired, dealing with negativity, business tips, blogging, setting goals, marketing yourself, and more!
1 // Don’t run someone else’s race
Amen! When I first started blogging, I definitely got stuck on the notion I had to deliver a certain type of style and vibe in order for my blog to be popular, which is natural, I think, as we all want to excel at what we do. But over the years, I’ve learned to take pressure of myself and be exactly who I am. I’m a normal gal, my closet is small, I love simple outfits and I remix, a lot! That’s totally okay. There are no rules in blogging on who you should be. Be you, be real. I’m not one to get dressed up to blog. I prefer to focus on capturing my life in its most real and authentic form. Life is short and I don’t want to spend it living up to some imagined ideal. We are all fabulously unique and deserve to shine our light as bright as we can. So, let’s all vow to live authentically and not be running someone else’s race, okay?!
2 // Don’t wait
I have several girlfriends who are considering starting their own ventures. And I always warn them against waiting. Like, what’s there to wait for?! We are alive now and turning dreams into reality is not something to put off. I’m not saying we should all quit our day jobs and take some crazy leap of faith. Obviously, our bills need to be paid. But what I am suggesting is taking baby steps towards what you love. I started a blog, then an Etsy shop, now I’ve expanded to my own online shop and I’m working on a prints shop too. Baby steps! What’s your dream? Create measurable and attainable goals for yourself. Ask yourself, what you can do today, tomorrow and next week.It might be as simple as starting a blog about your passion, maybe eventually launching a small online shop, or writing an e-book, or selling a course, or landing a column in a local paper about the very thing you’re passionate about. I swear, opportunities are everywhere and they will find you!
3 // Keep your chin up
Being self employed may look glamourous, but I can ensure you there are days when I want to quit and just go back to a day job. There are days when I mope in my sweats, eat ice-cream and marathon
The Walking Dead
. Haha, no joke! And then there are days when I’m meeting clients, traveling, appearing in magazines, working with companies I love and riding the high of being my own boss. There are highs, and there are lows. Learning to keep your chin up and find the balance is key. I’ve learned that on the days I feel low, it’s best to pack it in and call it a day. I usually opt to do something creative, or go the gym and then meet up with a girlfriend for coffee. Getting plugged back in to day-to-day life is what revives my soul and keeps me energized to keep going. Well, that and a great outfit! ;)
