Making plans and putting forth the effort can be miles apart. The first step can be difficult for some as many don’t know where to begin or what to do first. According to the "society of social media", starting means immediately pounding the pavement with action. In some cases, getting started entails getting motivated and inspired while creating a plan of action. Even seeking these can be beneficial and a step towards “making it happen”. For 2025, I decided to start with getting the motivation back as previous years have drained my energy and drive to go forth with the next big thing. The beginning stages are crucial moments because that’s when doubt and negativity creep in. Daily habits of waking up and “getting to it” can change as time goes on because of the constant “what ifs”. Surrounding the goal with inspiration can help one stick to the plan no matter how hard it is to get a foot off the ground. If your “start” isn’t pushing out immediate action, don’t worry! Look at these tips below to learn how you can get the necessary tools to be motivated for the start. Get an “idea” of how to begin or where you want to start It all starts with an idea. Keep a notepad (or use the phone app), to jot down ideas and creative flows that come to mind. Take pictures of inspirational nuggets and allow those details to come together to create something of your own. Seek out experts Many experts are waiting to give their inspiration and tips to help beginners. Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge they have to offer by tuning into their success stories, failures, and advice on how to navigate. Search for discussion panels and workshops within your field. (In most cases, they hold these events/discussions for FREE!) Using sites like Eventbrite is a good tool for finding these engagements and events. A simple word/phrase can spark something within you to hit the ground running. Talk with friends/colleagues There’s nothing like a great support system to help you get motivated and STAY motivated. Bounce ideas off them and get their honest feedback. This can serve in one or two ways; gain business advice (if they are savvy in that field) and views from a consumer’s perspective. Be open but be sure to share with those who are trustworthy and are going to lift you. In today’s world, we’re dealing with burnout, personal, and professional problems on top of creating and achieving dreams. That combination can make it hard to stay focused on entering a new venture that can be lucrative in the future. Don’t miss out because life is “lifing”. Start by getting that inspiration you need to guide you into action! AuthorThe Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey.
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This past week, I had the GREAT opportunity to attend the SHE Speaks CES 2025 - Women in Tech panel/mixer in Las Vegas. The panel discussion was a BIG motivational event to inspire women in this field to strive harder in creative works and entrepreneurship. Hearing from those who have "been there/done" while giving the REAL in their journeys was so inspiring and gave me the boost needed to move forward in the next chapter in my own business and creative endeavors. A few key takeaways:
We all need those moments where we are reminded and/or motivated by individuals in the same boat as you who have overcome obstacles as well as currently driving through! The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey. Keep it in RotationThe excitement surrounding a book release tends to die down after it has been on the market for a while. Book launch activities are complete, and initial sales and reviews are in. But the buzz around the book shouldn't fade because it is no longer a new release. Some authors take a break or start on another project not related to the book. More than most find themselves at a standstill asking: “What’s next?” The opportunity to gain new readers/followers for books and authors is endless. Take advantage of that when the hype around the book has died down. In addition, creating new and engaging promos for the book catches the attention of book lovers who may have missed the initial release. Many self-published authors are solely responsible for marketing/promoting their book(s). Fortunately, through the gift of social media, there are opportunities to gain a new buzz and new readers. Here are tips on refreshing the excitement about your book for yourself and your readers: I. Revisit and revamp book promotion content. How consumers receive and engage with content tends to change with new trends and styles of marketing products. Updating book blurbs and promotional text for social media and websites can help grab the attention of old and new readers. To do this, review previous promos and check the engagement from followers and book lovers. Use that as a guide to find keywords/phrases that received the most clicks, comments, and likes. In addition, look at the latest trends and searches on social media. Create a way for it to correlate with the book. Lastly, find new book excerpts to highlight, giving a fresh sneak peek to kick off a new promotion. II. Get some press. Media buzz opens your book to a range of potential buyers. Luckily, media features and interviews aren't only for a book launch. Follow up with previous media outlets and show how well the book has gained traction post-launch. Talk more about the response from readers to the book, highlighting the post-release excitement. The pandemic birthed a big wave of podcasters and bloggers. Find ones that highlight books, entrepreneurs, creatives, etc. Pitch your book/story when inquiring about being featured. If the book has been out for quite some time, include reviews and positive responses. Find an angle that makes the book stand out enough to be featured: What are the readers saying? What conversations does the book initiate? How is this book helpful in the current times? III. Take candid pictures. Consumers have become more visual with the booming rise of apps like Instagram and TikTok. Posting your book consistently on social media timelines is a reminder that this body of work is available. Social media has become the primary source for the general public to learn about products and services. Even though the release date has passed, a new wave of supporters is only a post away. Feature yourself and your book on social media outlets. Ignite the fun of your work by showing candids with your book OR placement in random setups/decor. Ask a friend or family member to take a selfie/picture with your book to show more people are happy with your work. IV. Book Giveaway. Everybody loves a freebie! Push the buzz about your book and get readers excited by hosting a book giveaway. New book lovers will sign up and get more details with the hope of winning a good read. The promotions surrounding the giveaway expand followers and subscribers. Include fresh content and add a few extras to enhance the chance of people signing up. (i.e. Character breakdowns, book quotes, etc.) Even if they don't win, there is still a chance they will learn more about the book and purchase it anyway. Sitting in the "post-launch" season isn't a place where books go to rest forever. There are so many new people to reach. Don’t allow them to miss out on your book. Keep it in rotation! The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey.Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. 3 Ways to Get the Most Out of the Route to SuccessWe are all so goal-driven, aren’t we? In the beginning, adrenaline kicks in and the grind begins. Focusing solely on the goal, the tenacity is at its peak, guiding through the way. Realistically, sometimes achieving goals may take a little longer than expected, causing discipline to wane and tenacity to decrease. No one thinks about how much “getting there” can weigh one down. The usual advice to keep going despite can grow tiresome. Yes, motivation is needed, however, what is left to do when the road to success gets too rocky? With a change in how the journey is interpreted, the road to goals won’t have to be so mentally muddy. What is often forgotten during the fight is that many rewards are given along the way, not just at the end. How do we switch that mindset and get the fight in us back? One great way is to narrow in on the journey in itself. There are always steps and/or levels to master when working towards a goal. Focus on and appreciate those steps. Here are three ways to help shift the mindset from driving fast toward an accomplishment to understanding, enjoying, and learning during the route to success. “Grab hold to the experience of it all to light your path.” 1. Ask: What do I want to experience? Nothing happens by accident, whether it's an observation or an encounter, things find us on our path for a purpose. By fully diving into the experience, small wins are much more satisfactory. Identifying what you want to experience can help achieve mini goals and provide the necessary resources/skills for the future. Perhaps you wanted to work with a key player in your field OR find a way to learn from them through panel sessions and workshops. Most entrepreneurs have worked jobs they hated to make ends meet. During that process, many who worked those odd/bad shaped them for their business endeavors. Grab hold to the experience of it all to light your path. 2. Be open to complementary possibilities/ventures. Starting with only one plan is normal. But if you’re feeling a shift, it's okay to explore to see where it leads. A complementary venture may take you from singing to acting or dancing. In building a business you may start with one product and find that you’re good at a service as well which could lead to building an even bigger brand. You never know how things will come full circle if you don’t follow the course. It is very possible to stay focused on a goal while trying something different. Even if it flops, you’ll be able to apply the lesson(s) learned. When deciding on a career, I started out wanting to be a Marketing Executive. I earned the degrees and did the internships, and once I finally got my foot in the door, things shifted. I was introduced to the world of digital marketing and web production. Being open to this change allowed me to learn amazing skills that helped me professionally and within my entrepreneurial activities. Had I not been open, I wouldn’t have been able to be self-sufficient in building/maintaining websites, email campaigns, and other digital logistics that help a business/brand grow. 3. Switch the style up and try again. Every approach you take won’t be the correct one. Which is why we must try again. However, you may want to re-try with a different approach. Setbacks happen, rest up and clear your mind when needed. A new idea may come during the wait. Start from scratch OR write down your approach and find areas where you can tweak the daily activities. Watch documentaries or videos about how others found their way. It won’t be the blueprint but there is much-needed motivation in hearing how someone else tried one, two, seven, or ten times and WON! “While understanding one’s journey, notice the great stories, lessons, and experiences come from within the path, not the destination.” We always see the results of someone’s success. However, they too have had moments of fear and doubt that could have taken them out of the game. While understanding one’s journey, notice that great stories, lessons, and experiences come from within the path, not the destination. It's never easy but very worth it. Stay the course by refocusing your mind and how you view your route to accomplishments. The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey. Nothing to give, nothing to say, nothing to create. I’m drained!A friend gave me great advice when things aren’t working out as you want, leave it alone. Don’t bother it, don’t touch it, don’t allow it to fester in your mind and spirit. There’s nothing left to do but allow things to organically come back together. And when the time is right, it does. At times, I find it hard to constantly create ways to simply…create. I can’t concentrate, can’t think, and don’t have the normal drive to sit at the computer. And when I do, the ideas just won’t come. I feel sluggish and tired, only wanting to lay in bed. It’s not that I don’t want to be productive I just can’t get with it. This is what I call burnout. It's more than having “writer’s block”. It’s a mental block, preventing me the ability to function at my full capacity. Time moves on and nothing happens. It becomes comfortable for me to “not do it”. Then it mentally takes a toll as I feel like I’m being lazy. I love to write. I love to create. I want to work. But my mind and body just won’t allow it. When this moment arises, I have no choice but to step back and regain focus on my own time. It can come from lack of sleep due to work and/or piling more on my plate to “keep up”. So, I want to share what I’ve learned during my moments of burning out. Be honest with yourself about what you can/can’t handle. It’s okay! How do you know you’re burnt out? One minute you’re going full force, producing at a fast pace. Then the next…boom, it hits you. Sluggish feelings and frustration set in because you can't produce like you used to. The feelings are hard to control and come out of. You have no choice but to go with the motions of irregular patterns thrown into your regular work routine. Whenever this feeling arises what can you do? First, it's best to identify what it is. Feeling the burnout can come in many forms. It can range from falling behind on personal and professional deadlines to staying in bed longer than the alarm clock(s). It can also show up in the physical form. Headaches, physical pains, tiredness, and even sickness. Getting hit with these symptoms can make you feel as if you’re inactive. Self-doubt kicks in, bringing you further down into a bad spiral. Instead of piling more work and forcing it, recognize what is happening to you. Understanding that you’re going through the motions of burning out, helps in dealing with it. When to leave things alone. As you deal with the mental and physical changes from being burnt out, you must know when to leave the work alone. Allowing it to just create space to recharge. Taking time away from your project, job, or whatever that’s draining you helps in refocusing your purpose while getting the necessary energy back. What if you’re not able to fully take time away? Peel a few layers off your tasks. Cutting back can be just as effective. Just as long as you’re not trying to operate at full speed while your energy is on empty. When your cell phone or laptop battery is low what do you do? Charge it. You don’t put more work on it or curse it because it's lacking productivity. What to do in the meantime. While stepping away or cutting back, it's best to fill those spaces with activities to refuel. Remember, taking this time is meant to help YOU. Not to take on a new stressor or do for someone else. This is all about getting your mind and spirit back to a place where you’re operating on 100%. Here are a few examples of what to do: Get ready for the abundance. Jump back in! After you have taken that necessary time, your mind and body have a way of letting you know that it’s time to jump back in. You can also test the waters if you’re feeling antsy but don’t hesitate to pull back if you’re feeling overwhelmed again. It tends to happen when you least expect it. All of a sudden, you feel better. The headaches are gone, and you feel like a new person. Once the burnout flows away from your recharging, you’ll tend to receive random overflows of ideas and creativity. You wake up one day on a full battery and you’re ready to go! Burning out is normal. It doesn’t equate to a lack of productivity. You can’t escape it if you’re constantly working hard towards your goals. We’ve all been there. Don’t worry because it's only temporary, as long as you take care of yourself. Sooner than you think, you’ll be able to get back on the saddle operating better than ever! The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey. |
"I LOVE to write and create. These are the diaries of how I work and deal in my world of writing and LIFE!"
- The Blakk Dahlia from the Heartbreak Diaries Book Series
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