Pretty Handy Girl

{Disclaimer: This post is a departure from my normal DIY tutorials.

If you are craving the usual familiar Pretty Handy Girl posts, you may want to leave now and come back when our regularly scheduled program returns.}

I arrived home from Nashville on Saturday. It was so wonderful seeing the smiling faces of my boys at the airport.

I had a week I will always remember. A week where I absorbed enough wisdom, information, and friendships to make my head swim. A week that made me need a 2 hour nap early Saturday evening.

A week where I met my sister in looks.

Me (aka PHG) and Cindy (My Cottage Love launching this summer)

And my sister in soul.

PHG and Sandra - Sawdust and Paper Scraps

And many more women who I can truly call a sister in spirit. (Unfortunately, they aren't all pictured below. If I missed taking your picture, you know who you are!)

Marian, Kristen, Kim, Sandra, Layla, Erin, Ashley

In summary, this week was so inspiring to me, that I felt the need to share some of the pearls of wisdom I took away from Blissdom.

What is your intention, your purpose, your goal?

Write down your goal for blogging. YOU MUST HAVE A PURPOSE or you will be unable to stick with it for the long haul.

Blog for money and your account will run dry.
Blog for fame and you will find yourself alone.
Blog for attention and you will be ignored.

"If you can be yourself on your blog, then you will have no competition." - The Nester

Don't be someone you're not on your blog.
Don't copy anyone.
If you do use a photo, idea or portion of another blog, be sure to ask permission and definitely link back to their blog.

"Start as you mean to go on." - Old British expression.

In other words, start your blog as if it will be a huge success. Be prepared to be BIG one day.

Be professional from the start. Set your intention and stick to it. Determine now if you want to share photos of your children or your real name.

"Post the Awesome! Don't post mediocrity" - Scott Stratten

We all feel the pressure to keep on a schedule, but don't just post to post. If you aren't feeling inspired, ignore the pressure to put something out there.

Lack of inspiration? Take a break, lay down, go for a walk, get outside, call a friend. Or take a longer hiatus to re-group your thoughts and find your intention again.

" ...you are responsible for your happiness and you are responsible for the energy you bring to everything." - Oprah Winfrey

As a blog writer, it can be difficult to keep your spirits up. There are days when it seems that no one cares about you and your blog. Or worse yet, you receive a comment from a Troll.

About Trolls:

   {a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response...} - Wikipedia

Emotional currency: "Let's say we have $100 worth of emotional currency a day. Give it to people you care about, not to trolls. Don't even give them a $1 of your emotional currency." - Scott Stratten

Don't whine, complain or post negativity on twitter, facebook or your blog. Think about it before you rant. "Would you put those words on a 30 ft. billboard for your mother to see?" - Scott Stratten

"Let them hate you because they fear your success and their lack of success." - Scott Stratten

Make a short list (even if it is only one or two people) of people whose opinions you value above all others - Brené Brown, PhD

Taming the Green Eyed Monster:

It is so hard to read anyone's blog without your eyes wandering over to the Google friend follower or feedburner counters. You may find yourself measuring your blog against theirs. Or, wondering what makes them better and able to have more followers, comments, advertisers, etc. etc.

STOP! It is so important not to get sucked into feeling envious of your fellow bloggers. We all need to support one another and be happy and thrilled for another's success. Those that have succeeded are only paving the road for the rest of us.

If you do find yourself comparing. Turn your follower widgets off or hide them at the bottom of your blog. Pull out your blog intention statement and remind yourself why you are blogging.

Remember that no one reached 200,000 page views the first week they started blogging. Your blog will grow, give it time and recognize that it is a slow and steady incline if you stay true to your intent. But, also ask yourself, how will you measure the success of your blog? Refer back to your intention.

Re-think what is important in your life. Is it your followers, stats, income and/or readership? Or is it your physical family and relationships that are concrete and there for you even if you stop blogging tomorrow?

"Thank you for being a Friend that would Move a Body" - Brené Brown, PhD

We all need friends. But, as a blogger, we need good friends that also write blogs. Choose a network of blogging buddies that you can rely on:

as a sounding board
as someone to help you when you are stuck
as someone to help promote your blog
as someone who will be completely honest with you
as someone who will share information with you
as someone who will listen with a kind ear but won't dish about you later

This is probably the most important thing I learned at Blissdom. The need to create a network of other bloggers.

This may seem a little daunting. I admit going to a blog conference can help immensely with networking. But, it isn't mandatory. Email bloggers that have blogs similar to your own or that you admire. Email bloggers whose blogs are bigger and smaller than your own.

If you don't get a response or the out-stretched hand, don't sweat it. Just recognize that everyone is different and they may have their own support networks or just don't have the time to invest in a good friendship. Don't let it hurt your feelings.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of networking with newer bloggers or those with less followers. You may be surprised what they can teach you.

Case in point: This wonderfully smart and sweet blogger taught me more about advertising and Wordpress than anyone else at Blissdom:

PHG and Kristi (Creative Kristi)

Kristi was a business major, but she is also hard-working, determined, and one smart cookie. I urge you to check out her blog.

Build Each Other Up and Support One Another:

I have a song that has been running through my head since I heard Brian Walker and Crystal Bowersox (husband and wife singers) perform it the last night at Blissdom. It speaks to me about what we need to do for each other:

"I wanna be your mason baby, I wanna build a life with you...Bridges burn and buildings fall and time can tear down walls...but you will always have a home with me." - by Brian Walker with Crystal Bowersox