It’s been an exciting couple of weeks around here. But before I spill the latest news, I have a question for you.
Are you trying to get noticed at what you do? Do you ever feel invisible and wonder whether it’s all worth the effort?
I think every blogger can identify with the uphill work it takes to launch a new blog and get it established. There are many moments of self-doubt and wondering if all the hard work is worth it. You might feel the same way about launching a new business, growing a brand, or trying to get established in a creative industry such as writing or design.
It’s a bit like the feeling you might get if you leapt onto stage wearing a hat made of pineapples and did a tap-dance with lots of jazz hands… then noticed that most of the audience weren’t even glancing your way. You start to think, gee, I must look pretty silly. I’m trying too hard. I shouldn’t have spent the last two months rehearsing my tap-dance and taking intensive classes and making a pineapple hat costume from locally-sourced, organically-grown pineapples. It’s too much effort. And so you slink sadly into the wings with your pineapple hat and never tap-dance again.
Or, perhaps the story goes like this. You do your dance. In the entire audience of hundreds of thousands, a handful of people clap. One or two even throw roses onto the stage and shout “bravo!” Encouraged, you decide to forget about the big audience you’re trying to reach and focus on the core group of people who like what you’ve done. After all, they are pretty awesome, and they’re worth your best effort.
So you come back night after night, and you do your dance. You take more classes and rehearse even harder and try new and more daring costumes, such as a dress hand-woven from Tahitian palm fronds and a hat incorporating live monkeys hanging from a tree. Nothing much changes with regard to your audience paying any more attention, except for that small group of people in the front few rows who always smile at you and throw bananas for your monkeys to eat. Gradually you get more confident, because smiles have that effect. You decide you’re going to stick with this and give it your best. Because your fans on the front row are awesome, and you like being able to make them happy, and your monkeys really like the bananas. So you keep working and dancing and practicing to get better and better at what you do.
And then, after what seems like a long time, and just when you least expect it, someone grabs you in the wings as you’re leaving the stage and says, “Hey! I really like your stuff! I think I can help you!” And just like magic, cool stuff starts to happen.
Except it’s not really magic, because it’s taken months and months of hard work and practice and research and effort, and all that time when you thought hardly anyone was watching, perhaps one or two people way back in the grandstands noticed all that effort and thought to themselves, “I like her stuff. That pineapple hat is really quite awesome. I would like more people to see what she’s doing, because I’m pretty sure they would like it too.”
So yeah…. that’s how I feel. I’m the dorky girl in the pineapple hat who decided to work really hard even when no-one was watching and who’s just had some cool stuff happen to her. First came the news that I’ve been accepted as a monthly contributor at the popular blog, Practically Functional. Next, I was invited to participate in a Summer blog hop with a whole group of fabulous bloggers – my project will be coming up in a couple of weeks!
And today I’m being featured on the Summer Spotlight Series hosted by Kenarry: Ideas for the Home, View from the Fridge, Oh, My! Creative and One Krieger Chick. The Summer Spotlight showcases awesome ideas from a different talented blogger each Friday throughout the Summer months (or winter, if you’re Aussie like me).
I encourage you to swing by their sites to check out the ideas they’re featuring from my blog as well as the entire Summer Spotlight series. You can also follow the hosts online to see the great ideas they share year-round:
Carrie of Kenarry: Ideas for the Home
Katie of View from the Fridge
Susan of Oh My! Creative
Ariean of One Krieger Chick
What does this all have to do with you?
I want to encourage you to keep going.
Do it for the people on the front row who love what you do. They’re worth it. There’s no instant success (and I’m certainly a long way from being one) but success is achievable – you just have to earn it by working hard and getting better at what you do.
The only magic is in not giving up.
And if you’re one of those people on the front row who’ve smiled at me in my silly hat? Thank you. Words can’t say how much it’s meant to me to have a group of strong supporters such as yourselves. Every comment, every like and share is a smile that has kept me going. I couldn’t have asked for a more lovely, generous and giving group as you have been in my early days as a blogger.
Have you ever felt like the dorky girl in the pineapple hat when you’re trying to establish something new? What tips would you add to help overcome discouragement?
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my guest feature here!
P.P.S. In case you’re wondering…. this is still not THE news I’ve been hinting at. How much excitement can you take? Stay tuned!
Karen, your post just made my day. This is incredibly well written and encouraging. Thank you for allowing us to feature your wonderful ideas this week in the Summer Spotlight. I'm looking forward to seeing a great tutorial on "How to Make a Fantastic Pineapple Hat Without Going Bananas" from you soon! 🙂
Oh, Karen…You just made my morning! I am so happy for you and all that you are achieving. You and your blog are beautiful and I am thrilled to feature you this week! Hope you have an Amazing weekend!
~Ariean
Ariean, you're the best! I'm so glad you stumbled across my blog and have been so generous in promoting my work. It means a lot coming from a talented blogger like you! Thanks so much for your sweet words – the feeling is certainly mutual! xo
LOL, Carrie, I'll get to work on that tutorial – I think it'll go viral! 😉 Thanks so much for your sweet words! True to form, I've been second-guessing myself ever since I hit "publish" and wondering if this post was just *too* goofy. I'm so glad you liked it and found it encouraging! That means a lot to me! xo
Karen, your post just made my day. This is incredibly well written and encouraging. Thank you for allowing us to feature your wonderful ideas this week in the Summer Spotlight. I'm looking forward to seeing a great tutorial on "How to Make a Fantastic Pineapple Hat Without Going Bananas" from you soon! 🙂
Oh, Karen…You just made my morning! I am so happy for you and all that you are achieving. You and your blog are beautiful and I am thrilled to feature you this week! Hope you have an Amazing weekend!
~Ariean
Ariean, you're the best! I'm so glad you stumbled across my blog and have been so generous in promoting my work. It means a lot coming from a talented blogger like you! Thanks so much for your sweet words – the feeling is certainly mutual! xo
LOL, Carrie, I'll get to work on that tutorial – I think it'll go viral! 😉 Thanks so much for your sweet words! True to form, I've been second-guessing myself ever since I hit "publish" and wondering if this post was just *too* goofy. I'm so glad you liked it and found it encouraging! That means a lot to me! xo
Hi Karen, Just popping over from the Summer Spotlight to follow you! Then after reading your post from today, I had to comment and let you know it totally resonated with me! I can't wait to explore most of your posts 🙂
Karen! Your post is adorable! You're such a good (and funny) writer, and so SUPER creative! I'm so thrilled to be featuring you today, and I'm so glad to hear good things are happening for you! You DESERVE it!! Can't wait to follow along (and hear your other piece of news)!! Thanks again for joining us in this Spotlight Series! Have a great weekend!
XO,
Katie @ View From The Fridge
Thank you so much, Katie! Your words gave me a big smile today! 🙂 I'm so glad to have discovered your blog as well!
I'm so glad this meant something to you! Bloggers understand! 🙂 I'm looking forward to checking out your blog as well! xo
Hi Karen, Just popping over from the Summer Spotlight to follow you! Then after reading your post from today, I had to comment and let you know it totally resonated with me! I can't wait to explore most of your posts 🙂
Karen! Your post is adorable! You're such a good (and funny) writer, and so SUPER creative! I'm so thrilled to be featuring you today, and I'm so glad to hear good things are happening for you! You DESERVE it!! Can't wait to follow along (and hear your other piece of news)!! Thanks again for joining us in this Spotlight Series! Have a great weekend!
XO,
Katie @ View From The Fridge
Thank you so much, Katie! Your words gave me a big smile today! 🙂 I'm so glad to have discovered your blog as well!
I'm so glad this meant something to you! Bloggers understand! 🙂 I'm looking forward to checking out your blog as well! xo
Wow Karen, these are amazing thing and yet still not THE secret. Congratulations! I'm at the awkward pineapple hat wearing stage right now and don't even know if I'm blogging just for my own sake to capture the memories or if I want to/can develop into a pro-blogger. I guess time will tell. In the mean time, I have loved discovering your blog and your personality shining through so brightly is what makes it such a joy to read. Good things definitely come to those who work hard and stay true to themselves.
Wow Karen, these are amazing thing and yet still not THE secret. Congratulations! I'm at the awkward pineapple hat wearing stage right now and don't even know if I'm blogging just for my own sake to capture the memories or if I want to/can develop into a pro-blogger. I guess time will tell. In the mean time, I have loved discovering your blog and your personality shining through so brightly is what makes it such a joy to read. Good things definitely come to those who work hard and stay true to themselves.
Thank you for your sweet encouragement, Fiona! I can definitely identify with feeling the way you do now. Keep at it! It will all be worthwhile! xo
Karen I look forward to your posts every week and although I never comment because I'm usually in a rush, I always enjoy seeing your projects. So even if it seems quiet at the other end, rest assured that there are people reading and appreciating your blogs (and sorry to not take the time to comment more often). By the way, after looking at some of the other blogs I think I still like yours the most!
Bec, thank you so much! You are a honey! I'm so glad to have you reading along, and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment – it means a lot to me! I totally understand not always having the time, I find it hard to comment on all the blogs I follow as well. Life is busy! I'm just glad you're here. 🙂 Thank you for those lovely kind words, you've given me a smile today! xo
Thank you for your sweet encouragement, Fiona! I can definitely identify with feeling the way you do now. Keep at it! It will all be worthwhile! xo
Karen I look forward to your posts every week and although I never comment because I'm usually in a rush, I always enjoy seeing your projects. So even if it seems quiet at the other end, rest assured that there are people reading and appreciating your blogs (and sorry to not take the time to comment more often). By the way, after looking at some of the other blogs I think I still like yours the most!
Bec, thank you so much! You are a honey! I'm so glad to have you reading along, and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment – it means a lot to me! I totally understand not always having the time, I find it hard to comment on all the blogs I follow as well. Life is busy! I'm just glad you're here. 🙂 Thank you for those lovely kind words, you've given me a smile today! xo
Well done for keeping on going. I used to blog (did so for years) but stopped as my boys needed that extra bit of attention, so yes I get what you mean, it is hard to keep going sometimes. Your blog is lovely, thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for the encouragement! xo
Well done for keeping on going. I used to blog (did so for years) but stopped as my boys needed that extra bit of attention, so yes I get what you mean, it is hard to keep going sometimes. Your blog is lovely, thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for the encouragement! xo
I was meant to see this article! I only stumbled upon it because I googled “pineapple hats” (don’t ask! haha), which led me to your article. This resonates with me to a T. Life does feel like a stage and maybe I need to put on a great big pineapple hat! I work in the fitness industry as a Pilates Instructor at an upscale gym and it is very competitive! I am competing for clients all the time with the personal trainers, the free group classes, etc. It’s a lot like those few front row people that only take notice and that are interested in taking up Pilates. Thank you for writing such in inspiring blog that I will happily share because I’m sure many people feel the same as I do, no matter what their profession or role in life. We can’t please everyone but I will put on my pineapple hat and take notice of the ones that I do!
Hi Michael! That is too funny!! I’m glad you stumbled upon my little blog and that this post resonated with you. I haven’t thought about this post in a while, so I read it again and was surprised how much it still holds true for me today. I can imagine it would be exactly the same for you in such a competitive industry. I read somewhere that when we focus on serving our clients as best as we can, the growth follows. I still often get caught up in chasing the growth and forget just to see and appreciate who is right in front of me and serve them the best way I can, so this is a great reminder for me too. Thanks for stopping by and I wish you all the best with your Pilates career!! xo