I’m back home and processing from another stellar, inspiring, and educational Design Bloggers Conference, and I had a life changing epiphany. Thanking Adam Japko of Esteem Media, with his accomplished team of Luba and Bob, plus the sponsors and speakers, for making another DBC conference a turning point for so many of us.
Watching so many major successful attendees and presenters over the 6 years that I have attended,
I NOW TRULY KNOW WHAT I AM NOT!
Into licensing products NOT
Develop a fabric or furniture line NOT
Going into E-Commerce in a big way NOT (maybe a little way)
Seeking major interior design projects as my only source of income NOT
Or designing furniture with a private label NOT
Ever having a stand alone retail shop NOT
Well then, “Who are you, Mitzi, and how and where do you go from here?”
At this conference I had to come to grips with who Mitzi is, requiring shedding unrealistic expectations and goals. Admiring uber talented women and their work is one thing. To be like them, is just not my purpose.
Here are some examples of “wonderfulness” that I admire but can’t compete with:
- Courtney Alison’s French Country Cottage blog and photography are magazine-worthy and beyond.
- Vicki Gladle Bolick’s depth and expert writing at Ace of Space
- And one of the DBC blog award winners, Laurel Bern, for her astute design sense with a humorous human touch, keep me waiting for her next post.
So since my only competition is me, where do I go from here? Carla Aston’s recap of Justina Blakeney‘s advice hit home. What are 3 words that describe who you are and what you do? Like Carla, I did this exercise and deducted these 3 descriptive words for Boomer Smarts® AKA Mitzi Beach:
AGELESS CLASSY DESIGNING
MY NEWS FLASH IS WHAT I AM
A professional interior designer
A trusted expert on design and lifestyles
A product reviewer
A brand ambassador and product sponsor
An influencer
So what social media from the Design Bloggers Conference will I use to accomplish my newly defined goals? Top on my list will be to incorporate the DBC speaker expert’s advice on the various aspects of doing social media especially Instagram, the hot topic. I’ll also be trying to decipher and implement all the SEO ranking “stuff” which is so critically important.
WHAT I WILL BE DOING
Workshops and Seminars
Speaking and Writing
Design and Consulting
Whew! This is really life’s challenge, isn’t it? Now, in my fourth quarter of life, what are my 3 “P’s”?
MY PURPOSE MY PASSION MY PLEASURE
Boomers, especially women, I hear this all the time. “Mitzi, I am so full of ideas, but I do not know how to make them happen or which ones to even attempt”.
I have been there done and that for many years. But the old adage of have a plan and work your plan truly is truth for any of us to achieve our purpose.
To that end, launching the “3 P’s” workshops will be now rather than “someday.” We know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and I have intended to launch my workshops for way too long!
However, I close with advice from two honored and respected women in this world of social media, Tobi Fairly and Saxon Henry.
Tobi has been at the conference many years even though not this year. I mention her because of her blog post “The Worst Thing You Can Do for Your Business” — On being who you are and not comparing or being jealous of others and their successes. This is water to us thirsting to be just our own person doing our own thing to which we are called and gifted to be doing right now.
And, the wonderfully delightful, Saxon Henry, taught me so much on writing but my take away from her was, “begin to tweak your platform in the direction of your passion.” Thank you, Saxon, because those few words affirmed what I had been contemplating for quite awhile. Now finally, I am taking those bold steps to step out and like Nike says, just do it Mitzi!
Well, almost closing but I cannot do so without also sharing these amazing design blogger friends that influence and teach me with their keen insights and design perspectives. Take a look and be glad you did!
Here’s a sampling of speakers and sponsors. No conference would be complete without them!
And that’s a wrap until DBC 2017 in LA!
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