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Giveaway: The End of Boring (GIVEAWAY CLOSED)

- October 26, 2018 | by April -

Only one person could inspire me to wear a crown of butterflies, a host of temporary tattoos and a witch-like outfit for a photoshoot.

(Spoiler: I liked it.)

Her name is Mayi Carles and when anyone describes her they use words like: entertaining, hilarious, smart, playful, cute, artistic, weird, imaginative, beautiful and witty.

You know what word they never use when describing Mayi or her brand?

Boring.

Hang out with Mayi and you’ll feel like you can conquer the world. Spend time scrolling through her Instagram account and you’ll laugh and smile and want to create something amazing of your own. Watch videos on her blog and you’ll spit out your coffee from laughter and you’ll feel like Beyonce dancing with her during her outtakes and you’ll learn how to run a successful business during it all.

But, you won’t be bored. You’ll never be bored.

One of Mayi’s greatest superpowers is that she can pull the extraordinary out of others.

She uses this superpower for good by teaching people how to make their brands distinct. Once a year, she opens her program, The End of Boring which is a master class on how to make a living by being yourself.

It includes 7 video lessons, missions, hand-crafted funsheets, office hours, a members-only space and a medal of honor upon graduation. The lessons range from choosing originality to finding your weirdos to the art of making money.

(video provided by the lovely Mayi Carles)

You can find out much more about The End of Boring right here but before you click that link, you need to keep reading…seriously…it’s worth it!

We’re both lucky this year.

I’m lucky because I get to work with all the women (hey, girl haaaaaaay!) who enroll for The End of Boring this year through a lesson I’m teaching all about ending boring content. (Say goodbye to dull blog posts and emails and social media posts FOREVER!)

You’re lucky because I’m giving away one seat to The End of Boring and you could win it.

Even though a golden ticket to The End of Boring is worth jumping through several hoops, I’m making this super duper easy on you.

Here’s how you enter:

If you want to enter to win a spot inside this master class, all you need to do is comment below with the number one reason you want to join THE END OF BORING. What do you think it’ll do for you and your business?

Leave your comment before October 30th at 11am EST.

THE WINNER OF THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLARISSA! CONGRATS!

Mayi will be in touch soon to get you hooked up with The End of Boring! YAY!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter. I loved reading through all of your answers and getting to know you better.

Interested in learning more about The End of Boring (I mean…who wouldn’t be)? Click here!

(If you’ve already joined The End of Boring, I’d also love to know in the comments cause we’re gonna be hanging out soon during my lesson!)

26 Comments · Filed Under: Creativity, Inspiration, Success

Must Read for Perfectionists (a.k.a. the Monica Gellers and Hermione Grangers of the World)

- October 8, 2018 | by April -

Should you publish your blog post even though you might not have caught every error or wait until you can read through it another 17 times?

Should you launch your website even though you designed it yourself (and…gasp!…you’re not a designer) because you’re brand new to business and you can’t afford a designer or wait until you save $6000 to afford your dream designer?

Should you start an Instagram account if your photos aren’t up to the level of a professional photographer or wait until you can take a few photography courses and get a DSLR camera?

Is it okay to sometimes put out or even strive for B or B- (instead of A) work?

This is something I haven’t stopped thinking about since listening to a conversation between Amy Porterfield and Jon Acuff where they briefly chatted about this on Amy’s podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy (here’s the specific episode if you want to give it a listen–highly recommend!).

I’ve always been of the mindset that you should put out your best work…ALWAYS. But, I follow that up with the idea that it means YOUR best work…not someone else’s standard.

What’s the point of publishing a book if you’re just going to give it most of your effort but not all?

Or, what’s the point of creating a painting that you phone in?

Even though I believe this, the idea of putting out “B” work is genius for a specific group of people: perfectionists.

(Hello, my name is April and I’m a recovering perfectionist. I could tell you some stories that would make you think I have major Paris Geller problems. Such as how I went to my Dean when I received my only B in grad school at NYU–every other grade I got was an A–to demand my grade be changed to an A.)

This “striving for B work” idea serves perfectionists because they never, ever think something is good enough.

I know creatives who’ve come up with brilliant blog post ideas but didn’t write them because they might not turn out perfect or as good as “so-and-so’s” blog posts.

I know creatives who have blog posts sitting on their hard drives that they never posted because after the nineteenth round of editing they still didn’t think they were up to snuff. (Oh yeah…you know who you are. I’m pointing my finger directly at you.)

I’ve worked with entrepreneurs who’ve thought about selling “x” for YEARS, but they haven’t done it.

Why? They couldn’t do it perfectly.

They couldn’t hire a website designer to put together the perfect website, they didn’t know everything there was to know about Etsy, they didn’t know how to take professional photos of their products, and they didn’t know how to write the perfect sales page.

And, guess what has happened?

Life has gone on and these people have missed chance after chance after chance. Possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars. Possibly connections that could’ve led to a book deal or a deal for a fabric line or getting their stationery into Anthropologie or teaching at CreativeLive or leaving that day job they despise.

Perfectionists live in fear.

They delete their photos instead of posting them on Instagram. They talk themselves out of doing a Facebook Live because they’re terrified people won’t join, or there will be awkward silences or they’ll stumble over their words (also known as being human and learning). They delete their helpful and entertaining video footage instead of creating a video for YouTube.

Fear is ruling their ability to create and share what they create.

If you fall into this group of people who constantly questions themselves and never shows their work because “it’s never good enough” and always talks themselves out of trying creative things because it won’t be perfect, this idea is for YOU.

Aim to put out “B” work.

This takes the pressure off of having to perfect things before you share them with the world. It gives you permission to publish that blog post that might have an error that you missed even though you went through five rounds of editing.

When you find yourself falling into the perfectionist trap, come back to this thought process and tell yourself that you’re going for a “B” today–not an “A.”

Now, being a perfectionist in recovery, I know how hard this is to actually do.

You want that “A” sooooooooooooo damn bad. It’s hard to let go.

It’s a muscle you build up. The more you do it, the easier it gets to stop carrying such a hard load on your shoulders and letting go of the little stuff.

We’re human.

We all make mistakes and almost all of us (except that loser at his keyboard wearing dirty underwear and spilling Cheetos on himself who’s waiting to hate on anybody) overlook mistakes, because we make them, too.

Remind yourself that you’re doing your best and if you don’t want to have regrets ten years from now, start sharing that “B” work!

Thank you to Amy Porterfield and Jon Acuff for starting this conversation and giving me the inspiration for this blog post!

Are you a perfectionist in recovery? Has this been holding you back from sharing any of your work or trying anything new like Instagram Live? Let’s chat about it in the comments below.

28 Comments · Filed Under: Happiness, Inspiration, Success

How to Get Motivated (Wine and Pizza Not Included)

- April 12, 2017 | by April -

We all have those days when we wake up and feel like declaring it a ‘mental health day’ which translates to watching Friends all day while eating a family-sized bag of potato chips.

I’m not opposed to a Friends break every once in awhile, especially when your brain needs a timeout. I’m always up to belly laugh at (and relate to) Monica’s neuroticism.

But, we’re getting off track.

The point I was trying to make is that it’s completely normal to dislike the work (or part of the work) that you’re so passionate about most days.

There have been days that I’ve groaned out loud just looking at my keyboard across the room or pulled out all my watercolor supplies just to have my inner creative say, “not today lady…not happening.”

Even though it’s a normal feeling, you don’t want to give up that easily. You want to work through it. You want your inner creative spirit to give you a push to get out of your black yoga pants with the hole in the right butt cheek that’s pretty much covered by a long t-shirt and give you an idea for a blog post, because it’s “due” today.

It’s one of the worst feelings to get to the end of the day and feel like you got nothing important accomplished.

And, what about when you hit a rough patch where you’re unmotivated for days or weeks or…gasp…months?

With this post, I’m going to help you take back control from that voice in your head whispering that you should “run out to get some skittles and buttered popcorn and spend your afternoon finding out whether or not Luke and Lorelia ever get married.”

These are my go-to ninja skills for getting yourself motivated enough to get out of pajamas and doing a happy butt wiggle when you think about diving into work:

1. Think about your why.

When I’m feeling really unmotivated, I’ve lost sight of my why.

Why I do what I do. Why I create a piece of free content every week. Why I run a membership program for creative entrepreneurs that’s priced the same as a t-shirt from Ann Taylor Loft.

I also think about the future. If I don’t do the work, what will my future look like (boring and bland without Anthropologie shopping sprees) versus what it will look like if I do the work (running a business that gives me the opportunity to create daily and supports my family, including my three ginormous labs that could eat an entire elephant for lunch).

Here are your two simple steps: 1. Think about why you do what you do. 2. Imagine the future (including details and the pros and cons of getting your butt off the couch and working).

If imagining the future doesn’t help you get motivated, then try my next tip.

2. Do one small thing.

We put a lot of pressure on ourselves and the overwhelm of a huge to-do list to reach our gigantic goals can derail our progress. Our brains can go into fight or flight or freeze mode when imagining a to-do list that you can never finish today or tomorrow or this week.

Try something for me. Put away that long to-do list. Seriously…get it out of your sight. Now, start another to-do list in your planner or on a post-it and only write down one small task. Something you can absolutely get done today.

That could be outlining your next blog post in 15 minutes or sketching in your sketchbook while waiting for the subway or brainstorming five titles for your webinar.

How does that feel? Better?

Once you’ve finished that small step, you’ll likely have gotten over that unmotivated bump and feel ready to delve into the next small step. And, if not, at least you accomplished something (which feels good, right?) and I’ve got some more tips for you to try.

3. Reward yourself.

I’m big on rewards. I give my brain a reward by having a written to-do list each day with a satisfying box next to each item to check when I’m done. That alone can give me a boost of motivating fairy dust.

As I check off a box, I look to the next item on my list because I want to get that one done and checked off, too.

But, if I need a bigger reward, I create one. For instance, I’ve rewarded myself with going out to eat with friends or buying a novel I’ve been eyeing or allowing myself to end my day early to do something I really want to do like play in my bullet journal.

Your reward doesn’t have to be material goods. I find that rewards that include an activity give me more motivation.

The other night, I rewarded myself after a long day of work by listening to an audiobook and fixing a huge pot of quinoa, lentil and kale stew. Usually my husband is the cook in our house (he looks really hot in his man apron), but I wanted to feel the enjoyment I get when I stand at the counter, cutting up veggies for 60 minutes (it was a TON of veggies) while I listen to a good book.

It might not seem like a reward, but for me, it totally was. I’ve gotten into a habit of working while my husband cooks dinner and while I appreciate that time he gives me, I wanted to rest my brain and do something automatic, liking chopping onions and carrots and tearing up bunches of kale.

4. Take a dance party break.

One of the easiest ways to trick your brain and body into getting motivated is to move your body and release some feel good endorphins. You could take a brisk walk around your neighborhood or you could have even more fun by turning on your favorite jams at the moment and dancing it out.

I know that exercise is often one of those things you don’t feel like doing when you’re already unmotivated but don’t think of it as exercise. Dancing around your living room like a fool is fun!

5. Talk to the right kind of friend.

You need other girl bosses in your life for this exact moment. Your friends who don’t run their own businesses or have their own side income probably don’t relate to your entrepreneurial drive and that’s okay.

That’s why you need friends who get it. You need to have at least one or two (or 130) creative entrepreneurs you can turn to when you need a pick-me-up.

“Sunday Society is a group where you can get almost instant feedback. I’ve posted in the FB group for help naming things, or titling blog posts, and I don’t have to wait long at all before people have given me ideas/feedback.” -Amanda Sue Howell, Magic in the Mess

When I’m feeling uninspired, I’ll ask Mayi Carles (my business and all things bestie) what she’s currently working on and her excitement for whatever project is currently keeping her hands covered in paint usually rubs off on me.

It’s also just nice to hear, “Yeah…I know that feeling but the good news is that it’ll pass,” from someone who understands and won’t say, “Well, if you’re not happy, why are you doing it? Just give up. It’s not worth it and you can join book club finally! YAY!”

“Sunday Society has kept me from feeling alone. Being a solo biz owner can get isolating and overwhelming with all the to-do’s. It is so nice to know you have a group of amazing ladies that support you. Everyone actually genuinely cares that you succeed. We keep each other motivated and accountable. I have never experienced this kind of connection in any other FB group. It is completely unique….it’s my village; I feel so grateful to be a part of this group.” -Neesha Merani, Paper Wand

6. Learn something new.

If you’re a lifelong learner like me, reading a couple chapters in a nonfiction book (highly recommend Organize Tomorrow Today) or watching a CreativeLive segment (like one from this course) or jumping on a webinar can be just the inspiration you need to move forward.

Maybe you’re bored because you haven’t been pushing yourself. Maybe you need to learn and try out some new techniques.

This usually gets my insides somersaulting with glee. Try it and see if it works for you.

7. Work in the right environment.

Change your location to see if that helps. If you’ve been working at home, take your laptop to a local coffee shop and see if the buzz of people (and shot of caffeine) helps your mood.

If you’ve been stuck inside, get outside. Go to a park or sit in your backyard and do a little work.

You could even try moving from your desk to your couch. Or make your desk more inviting by getting it organized and lighting a candle.

Our environments can have a greater impact than we realize and it might be just the thing that’s making you feel gloomy and distracted.

8. Think about what this really means.

If none of the ideas above help get you out of your funk and it’s been lingering for awhile, you should consider what this means.

Maybe you don’t love your business or what you have to do to run your business. Maybe you want to go in a new direction but are beating yourself up, because you’ve already spent hours and hours on your current side hustle. Maybe you need to hire a new team member so you can concentrate on the parts you enjoy.

Be honest with yourself. If you really don’t enjoy your work anymore, it’s probably not going to get better and the sooner you decide to move onto to something else, the better.

I pinky promise. I’ve been there myself a couple of times.

It’s a difficult decision to make, but it tops being miserable.

What about you? What helps you move past procrastination and lack of inspiration? Share in the comments below.

P.S. Have you been thinking about joining Sunday Society? Here’s how some of the women have said that Sunday Society keeps them motivated:

“Not only does April offer her wisdom and expertise daily (as well as live weekly calls), but each and every Sunday Society member jumps in, helps you, offers advice, and cheers you on. Since joining in February, not a day goes by where I can’t wait to check in and then get working on my own plans–and this is after YEARS of feeling stuck and afraid I would never be able to move forward with my dreams. April’s monthly challenges help make everything bite size and doable, and that’s also been key for me to stay on the motivation train. Love Sunday Society!” -Katie Meyers, Calming Creative

“If you have a question someone always answers. I found the march challenge super encouraging with the daily posts of what we had done, and it was super helpful to break it down in small bite-sized work. I even got virtual hugs when I was feeling a bit down! So thank you!” -Carla Montiel, Monmo & Co

“Sunday Society has helped me so much when it comes to procrastination. The Monday check-ins have helped me focus on the specific actions I need to do during the week and the Friday check-ins have motivated me to get all the to-dos done so I can feel accomplished.” -Katie Daniels Dunne, Crafty and Bright

“On days when I’m feeling totally unmotivated to work on my business, Sunday Society really helps me kick it into gear. When I think about blowing off a morning to do something else, I remember that there’s a whole group of women who are in the same self-employed boat with me. Sharing our goals with each other at the beginning of each week and sharing our progress and our wins at the end of each week helps me to feel like I’m accountable to someone. Having those “deadlines” in my mind and knowing that other people know about them too is a huge help when it comes to staying motivated to get things checked off of my to-do list.” -Erin Stewart, Aroma Culture

“I would get nothing done without Sunday Society! I love how I have a place to come for support and inspiration when I’m having a bad day and also a place for accountability and butt kicking when I’m being lazy and don’t feel like doing the work.” -Shelly Seward, The View From Where I Am

“I love that on Mondays we have the chance to post our goals for the week. I know that if I want to get something done that week, I need to share it on the Monday accountability post. Not only do I feel accountable to the promises I make to my Sunday Society friends when I share my goals, I also have people checking in with me throughout the week. It feels like just the right amounts of pressure to get it done, and fun when I get to share my progress throughout the week.” -Madeline Stoker, Madeline Shayne

“Sunday Society has helped me tackle my unmotivated days with not only consistent encouragement, but also accountability. Through this group, I have found not only a one-on-one accountability partner, but am also motivated by weekly and monthly challenges. I appreciate the consistent prompts, calls, posts and nudges to keep me headed in the right direction – even when I’m having one of “those” days, and it has made all the difference. I am truly more focused and productive because of Sunday Society.” -Julie Miller, Little Girl’s Pearls

These women are amazing! This is what I collected in only three hours. I asked them today, on the day I’m posting this for feedback on how Sunday Society keeps them motivated and this is what they said. Imagine if I had given them 24 hours. You want to be a part of this group if you’re looking for a serious (yet super fun) group of creative entrepreneurs who are working towards their dreams and will help you do the same.

6 Comments · Filed Under: Inspiration, Productivity

30 YouTube Channels I Adore: Business, Health, Books, Beauty and More

- March 9, 2017 | by April -

We live in this wonderful world filled with free information on building successful businesses, cooking healthy meals, money-saving DIYs, 20-minute yoga routines, learning how to fishtail braid your hair and more.

I’m a huge fan of YouTube and the creators who put tons of effort into publishing videos that are filled with knowledge and entertainment.

It’s not an easy task to come up with a catchy title, brainstorm what you want to say, set up the lighting, film a test video, adjust things, film another test video, adjust again, film the actual video, edit the video, find music for the background, etc.

So, I’m acknowledging my 30 favorite YouTube channels for today’s post. Some are related to business, some aren’t, but I’m sure you’ll find something in this list that you adore as well.

Happy viewing!

Business Channels

1. Lewis Howes

Lewis films his podcast episodes and publishes the videos on his YouTube channel. I enjoy the videos more than the podcasts and usually play them while I’m watercoloring or bullet journaling.

My favorite episode is this interview with Sara Blakely, the creator of Spanx. Her story of how she built her business inspired me to work harder every single day. It’s a must-watch (or listen) for all entrepreneurs.

2. Gary Vaynerchuk

I don’t work or live by the same values of 16-hour days, but I’m incredibly inspired by Gary’s hustle. If I’m feeling a little lazy, I watch one of Gary’s videos and it snaps me out of that fog.

3. Chase Jarvis

I started watching Chase’s channel when he hosted the 30 Days of Genius series, and I pretty much loved every episode. My top three favorites (if I have to choose) are: 30 Days of Genius with Seth Godin, 30 Days of Genius with Austin Kleon and 30 Days of Genius with Tim Ferris.

4. Marie TV

Marie’s videos are professionally made which makes them such a joy to watch. My favorites are the interviews, like this one with Cheryl Strayed. If you’re a writer and you haven’t watched that interview, stop everything immediately, brew a cup of tea (I recommend Liquorice and Mint by Tea Pigs) and dig in. It’s worth every single second.

Planning and Bullet Journaling Channels

5. Boho Berry

If you’ve been interested in bullet journaling but you don’t know where to start, I suggest watching some of Kara’s videos. Because a lot of entrepreneurs prioritize their businesses over themselves, one of her videos I really enjoyed was about tracking self care.

6. Full Flourish

This channel focuses on bullet journaling and minimalism and why she decided to make those changes in her life. She talks openly about depression and anxiety which I think a lot of people can relate to. Watch one of her ‘plan with me’ videos to see if you like her style.

7. The Reset Girl

Oh my goodness…I could spend all day watching her planning videos (and she creates and sells amazing planning stickers). Here’s an example of one of her fun ‘plan with me’ videos.

Crafty Channels

8. The Sorry Girls

They have a bunch of DIYs that are just plain fun but they have some that could really help your business while saving you money, like this DIY video backdrop.

9. Amy Tangerine

Amy puts up lots of different crafty videos, but I love her most recent video on bullet journaling and her videos on hand-lettering like this one.

10. Shayda Campbell

On this channel, you’ll find artsy tips, hand-lettering tutorials and fun DIYs. Here are three videos I reallllllllly like: 1) 10 Tips to Improve Your Painting 2) Styling Your Art for Social Media and 3) Hand Lettering with Pigma Micron Pens.

Lifestyle Channels

11. Mimi Ikonn

I’m a homebody but I enjoy watching travel vlogs to transport myself to that beautiful place without actually going there. I haven’t found another channel that even compares to how amazing this channel is with their travel videos. I suggest this one and this one and this one.

12. Amelia Liana

I started watching Amelia’s videos because I loved her style and then I realized that she has health issues and I could relate to her personal videos. Plus, this outfit challenge was so much fun to watch.

13. Sarah Nourse

Sarah’s channel is filled with daily vlogs, advice on how to save money and travel videos. Here are two of my favorites: Why I Went Vegan and Getting Debt Free Changed My Life.

14. In the Frow

Victoria is a fashion, beauty and travel vlogger. Her hair is the most beautiful shade and her luxury looks for less videos are incredible if you’re on a budget but love her luxury looks.

15. Claire Marshall

Love her voice. Love her style. Love her videos. This is one of my favs.

16. Christine Kobzeff

On Christine’s channel, you’ll find tips on building a capsule wardrobe, DIY aromatherapy ideas, and plant-based recipes.

17. Rachel Aust

The first video of Rachel’s I watched was 10 tidy habits that will change your life and I was hooked.

18. Tanya Burr

Tanya’s channel always gives me a boost of happiness. She’s always positive and upbeat. Two of my favorite videos are: 1) Most Worn Items In My Wardrobe and 2)  Khloe Kardashian Blue Smoky Eye Makeup Tutorial.

Book Channels

19. Books and Lala

If you’ve been a Blacksburg Belle reader for a bit, you know that I’m a reading addict. One of my favorite moments of the day is when I’m snuggling my husband and reading in bed. And, this is my go-to channel for book recommendations. Every month, she posts a video all about bookish news such as cover reveals and movie adaptations. Watch this video to see all the books she read in 2016.

20. Squibbles Reads

Joss at Squibbles Reads talks a lot about thrillers and mysteries and in the past year, I’ve picked up a bunch of thrillers that I’ve really enjoyed based on her recommendations. Check out her favorite books of 2016 to see if you have a similar taste in books.

21. Peace Love Books

Jess reads mainly romance novels and I’m a sucker for a good romance novel. Whenever I’m in the mood to read a book with lots of romance, I go to her channel. Through her channel, I found my favorite new adult romance writer, Samantha Young. Anybody else enjoy watching videos about other peoples’ reading goals?

22. Between Chapters

I’m pretty sure I’ve watched every single video on Trina’s channel. Because of her review of Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis, I picked it up, read it and really enjoyed it.

Health Channels

23. Niomi Smart

Niomi eats a plant-based diet and I enjoy her ‘what I eat in a day’ videos. The food always looks delicious and she gives me lots of ideas for healthy meals.

24. Yoga with Adriene

If you’re a complete beginner to yoga, Adriene has a great exercise video for you. Her teaching style is very soothing.

25. Boho Beautiful

If you often find yourself feeling anxious, you might get a lot of this channel, especially this yoga for anxiety video.

26. Tone It Up

If I’m not doing yoga or taking a walk for my exercise, I usually turn to the gals from Tone It Up. Ummmmm…yes I want a bombshell booty!

Beauty Channels

27. Kathleen Lights

Kathleen is hilarious, she’s honest (and will tell you when she doesn’t like something) and she creates makeup tutorials that seem doable for beginners. If I had to pick one video of hers for you to watch, it would be this one.

28. Jessica Braun

Jessica does a great job using drugstore products as well as high-end  products. If there’s a deal or a drugstore product that’s just as good as a luxury product, she’ll tell you. I’ve bought a handful of products based on her reviews and have liked all of them. My favorite videos are when she talks about products she’s used up like this one. I also love that she’s a teacher and creates killer videos every week.

29. Luxy Hair

If I’m ever hankering for a new hairstyle, this is my go-to channel. It’s how I learned to fishtail braid my hair and how to double fishtail braid my hair.

30. Casey Holmes

I adore her spirit and attitude. My favorites are her hits and misses like this one.

YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite YouTube channel? Share it in the comments below to spread the love.

16 Comments · Filed Under: Beauty, Creative Business Development, Creative Process, Creative Tutorials, Creativity, DIY, Health, Inspiration, Lifestyle

Nominate Your Favorite Badass Female Entrepreneurs: Girl Power!

- October 26, 2016 | by April -

Badass Female Entrepreneurs

Something that ruffles my tulle skirt is women putting down other women. The hate is out of control.

Ewwww…look at that roll of belly fat. Are you like pregnant or something?

Oh my gosh…you’re so skinny. Are you anorexic or something?

You’ve got the most annoying voice I’ve ever heard. I can’t possibly listen to you talk for more than a few minutes.

You seriously need to hire a stylist. You have no idea how to dress yourself.

You mispronounced such-and-such. You must be a total idiot.

You’re doing a makeup tutorial and you’ve got pimples. Who would ever want to look like you?

You look like you’re growing a beard with that chin hair. Why would anyone marry you?

How did you get 12k followers on Instagram? You’re so ugly.

(Yes…some of these have been comments I’ve received. It’s inevitable if you run an online business that includes live video, YouTube videos, speaking engagements or photos on social media.)

I feel like some people must forget that there’s a human being on the other side. Otherwise, why would you act like that (unless you’re a psychopath or hairy miserable troll)?

Why can’t we support each other, lift each other up? What’s the point of being rude and mean to someone you’ve never even met in person? Do you really believe that someone else’s success means your failure?

Imagine if we cheered each other on. What if we recommended our competitors when they’re a better fit for something? What if we approached things with a mindset of abundance, knowing that another entrepreneur’s success means there’s a better chance for all of us?

And, as someone who feels very strongly about this, I constantly ask myself what I can do to lift up other women. That’s how I got this idea.

Over the next couple of weeks, I’m compiling a list of 100 badass (and by badass, I mean courageous, smart, talented, passionate, confident) female entrepreneurs to watch in 2017. And, I need your help!

Please take five minutes to fill out this super short survey to nominate up to three female entrepreneurs who inspire or motivate you.

(And, if you want to nominate more than three, you’re my kind of girl. Just fill it out again.)

I mean…I could come up with the entire list, but that wouldn’t be as much fun. I want to know who you love to hear from–whose weekly blog post is a must-read, whose Instagram account do you stalk because you don’t want to miss a single update and whose emails make you want to squeal with joy when they pop into your inbox?

With your help, I know we can create a dynamic, exciting list. And, through that list, I know we’ll find lots of other entrepreneurs to connect with and follow. Let’s celebrate each other.

All I need from you today is to fill out this survey (unless you’d also like to send me a unicorn). I’ll post the list before the end of the year so be on the lookout for it!

Thanks for taking the time to participate (and for never telling me that my voice is the most annoying thing you’ve ever heard). You da best!

12 Comments · Filed Under: Inspiration

Why Some Make It and Others Don’t

- September 14, 2016 | by April -

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Do you ever think about why some entrepreneurs make it and others don’t?

Maybe you wonder why others have found success when you haven’t? You might put in the same amount of time and effort. Your products or services might even be better than your competitors, but somehow they’ve reached their business goals and you haven’t.

You feel like everybody else knows the secret handshake that lets them onto the gravy train and you’re stuck on the outside begging for a seat in the cattle car.

If you feel as if you’ve been trying to get to the next level in your business for a long time and it’s not working, please watch the video I created for you today.

Over the past six years, I’ve worked with thousands of creative entrepreneurs just like you through one-on-one consulting, group coaching, retreats and courses. While working with those creatives, one of the things I’ve tried to figure out is why some make it and others don’t. And, it’s not what you think it might be.

I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s mainly two things that separate the haves from the have-nots. I discuss them both in today’s video:

I’d love to know if there’s anything you’ve been ignoring because it’s hard to deal with and how you plan on changing it. Share in the comments below.

16 Comments · Filed Under: Inspiration, Productivity

Instagram Inspiration Challenge for the Month of April

- March 25, 2015 | by April -

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One of the questions I get asked over and over is: what type of content should I be sharing?

What should I blog about? What should I email my list about? What should I share on social media?

Sometimes we make this stuff way too difficult, because we’re overthinking it. It shouldn’t be that hard.

To get you inspired to share more photos on Instagram, I’ve created an Instagram Inspiration Challenge for the month of April. Creativity explodes when you’re given constraints. When you’ve got a focus, you’ll see that you come up with a lot more ideas. That’s the idea behind this challenge.

And if you want more people to follow you, you’ve got to be sharing new content regularly. Daily is even better.

Here’s how you participate:

1. Upload a photo on Instagram inspired by the phrase of the day. (Example: For April 1st, you want to publish a photo on Instagram inspired by “Life is Messy” and on April 2nd, you’ll publish a photo inspired by “Black and White.” And, you’ll continue throughout the month.) Do as many as you can…it’s okay to miss a day or two or more.

2. Include the hashtag #BelleInstaInspiration in the description of your photo so that we can find each others’ photos and follow each other!

3. Connect with the other women participating by searching for the hashtag #BelleInstaInspiration and like and comment on their photos. This challenge is about more than uploading content–it’s about connecting with each other and finding other creatives to follow on Instagram.

4. Download and print (right click and select “download linked file”) the list to keep at your desk as a daily reminder.

5. Comment below to let us know that you’re participating with the link to your Instagram profile.

And, because I want to make this challenge even more fun, I’ll be selecting a winner on May 1st.

That winner will receive: A Life is Messy Kitchen bundle ($67 value) that includes the digital kit, an artist signed copy of Life is Messy Kitchen and an exclusive coloring book with bonuses!

I’ll be picking the winner based on the person who participates the most and gives it her all. I’ll announce the winner right here on May 1st.

Belle Insta Winner

I’m publishing the list early in order to give you time to start planning and taking photos. I hope this challenge sparks your creativity.

173 Comments · Filed Under: Inspiration, Instagram, Social Media

Current Inspiration: Vintage Cameras

- October 26, 2013 | by April -

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1 Comment · Filed Under: Inspiration, Photography

Trish Bertrand on her creative process and how she began making jewelry

- May 14, 2013 | by April -

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I got started making jewelry purely by accident.

I have loved making things with my hands since I was a little girl, but had never considered jewelry. I was eating lunch with a dear friend and she kept complimenting me on the necklace I was wearing. She finally asked how much it cost. I blushed and said I spent wayyyy too much money on it, but I had to have it! She said, “You know, Trish, you could have made that yourself.” That’s all she said and the conversation moved forward never again mentioning jewelry. The rest is history.

I bought a cheapo beginner’s kit from Michael’s to see what this jewelry making mess was all about. I was hooked! My bead collection and obsession and Etsy business grew from there.

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I bead for many reasons.

Of course I would like to make money from my jewelry business, but it is not the primary reason I make jewelry. When I need a break from the “daily grind”, I shop for beads, I look at my collection, or I make jewelry. The whole creative process seems to speak to my soul.

The beads have a story to tell and the story changes with each individual that picks up the piece. As I create, the stresses in my life slip away. It’s just me and the beads and the creation that comes out of the process. Sometimes I have a clear path I know I am headed on for a piece. Other times, I have no idea what I am making. I begin selecting beads by shape, color, texture…whatever I feel at the moment. From there, I just manipulate until I have something beautiful in front of me. I create to music, while other times I create in total blissful silence.

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I do not force my creations either.

If I sit down and complete an entire piece, yippee skippee! If I sit down and can’t seem to pull it all together in a way that pleases my eye, that is perfectly fine too. The creation will come together when it is ready. I rarely ever create the same two pieces. Everything is OOAK: One of A Kind. I recently was asked to make lanyards for teachers at my school. Making 10-20 of the same pieces was incredibly boring. The teachers loved them, but for me, I felt really bored with the mundane. I love making different jewels and looking for new ideas for eclectic pieces. Of course, I would always honor requests for multiple pieces that are the same such as gifts, but I really thrive on the unique.

Lately, I am really drawn to African beads. I find that I am drawn to different beads at different times so I collect and wait until those beads transform into a lovely piece. Creating jewelry is addicting and rewarding for me!

You can find Trish on Facebook, on Etsy, and on her blog.

Would you like to share your creative process  or how you got started on Blacksburg Belle? Check out the details here.

7 Comments · Filed Under: Creative Process, Creativity, Inspiration

Current Inspiration: Vintage Photos

- March 2, 2013 | by April -

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I enjoy stopping by the local antique stores here in Blacksburg and rummaging through the vintage photos. I love using them in my artsy creations.

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1 Comment · Filed Under: Creativity, Inspiration

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