This past Saturday I had the pleasure of attending BlogPodium for the first time.  An event for lifestyle and design bloggers and an opportunity to come out from behind our computers to network, learn and be inspired.

My intention for the event was to connect and network with other fabulous lifestyle and design bloggers.  I didn't realize I would have so many AH-HA moments that literally smacked me on the forehead!!

So I thought I'd share with you

my top 3 takeaways from BlogPodium.

The morning started off perfectly with a hot steaming cup of Starbucks, a good friend to the right of me, a room full of creative bloggers and a keynote speaker who kicked off the morning and the event with a bang - Sarah Richardson!  Many successful, talented and amazing women spoke that day, but it really was Sarah's words that quite literally hit me in the head and made me evaluate where I was at!

Lesson # 1

"...do what you love", Sarah Richardson

When I first began life i design less than a year ago, my intention was to create a site to reflect what I loved at the moment, the journey that I was on and who I really was.  I think I did a pretty good job of achieving just that.  However .... and this is a big however ... in the last few months I feel like I stepped away from what is important to me and not sharing who I truly am.  Instead, I am trying to fit into a box that I've put myself in.  It doesn't feel as natural.  It's not a good fit.  It isn't true to what I love.  So, instead of writing posts that I think my readers will like, or creating art that I think my fans want to see, I will ....

{lesson learned} create more posts that are inspiring to me and that I love, and I will create the art that I have had swirling around in my head {that's how it feels}.  When you do what you love, you create out of passion.  Passion is what you grow from.  I truly believe that.

Lesson #2

"... build relationships", Sarah Richardson

This is something I am a huge advocate of.  Building relationships in every aspect of your life but also in business.  Building an online presence doesn't have to mean that you do it alone.  In fact, if you try and do it alone a) it will take forever, and b) what fun will that be?!  Here is where I am a little shy and my introvertedness {is that even a word} comes out.  So....

{lesson learned} I will step out of my comfort zone more and reach out to other people whom I admire and respect.  I will not be shy and will connect, build relationships and enjoy more camaraderie.  Ever feel like you've read a great blog post, facebook update, or tweet but never responded with a positive message?! Or shared with that person that you thought their post was great?! I'm guilty of that.  No more!

Lesson # 3

"... have a signature style", Sarah Richardson

This is a message that I've been hearing a lot these last few weeks.  I feel this links back to lesson #1 - do what you love -  but also do it your way! Instead of trying to fit into that box that we create for ourselves, step out and be who you really are!!

Be authentic.

What does that mean?  Be yourself.  Do what suits you.  Create in your own personal style.  Write in a way that feels natural to you.  Be who you truly are and not who you think people expect you to be.  This for me was the message that smacked me on the forehead big way! This is the message that inspired me to create life i design, focus on my passion of art and create what I love.  Lesson #3 is a biggie...

{lesson learned} Be authentic.  Period.  Be true to who I am, always.  Stop comparing what you are doing or not doing with others.  Be inspired, learn examples from, but be yourself! Easier said than done, so that is why I decided to create this iPhone freebie to remind me more often that I need to...

If you need a reminder to be authentic too, simply click on the image & save it to your iPhone!

Every day be reminded to be true to who you are.  Live every day the way you want to live and create with your personal flare and style.  Some will like it, some won't and that's ok.  What matters most is that you do what you love!!

Nicki

xo