This is me once again delving into the land of the uncomfortable and …. vlogging.
Oh joy.
I think I have mentioned before that I joined a blogging group called #vlogmoms to force myself to learn more about video blogging and become more comfortable on screen.
I’m still working on it. But I digress….
This week’s topic has us discussing the topic of SANITY. And here is what I have to say about all that:
So, how about you? What do you do to relax, unwind and relieve your stress? Link up or leave a comment!
Jessica Smith enjoys more than a decade of marketing strategy, business development, and social media experience. She’s worked with big brands, start-ups, and media titans to craft their digital marketing strategy, identify impactful influencers, develop active and engaged communities, and generate conversations both online and off.
She recently launched her own venture – smith&moxie…an accessible digital marketing and social media solution.
A super user and first adopter, Jessica has been using Twitter and Facebook since 2007. She started connecting with people online in the late 1980′s when she started using Prodigy and in college in the mid-90′s she was learning and sharing with other college students on Greekpages.com. A graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, Jessica started her career at Sapient Corporation.
Jessica has been a speaker, moderator and panelist at several conferences including PRSA International Conference, Vocus Users Conference, M2Moms, Blogher, Blissdom, Type-A Mom Conference, and Blogalicious Weekend.
Listed on Hub Spot’s list of “100 Most Powerful Women on Twitter”, she was also named one of the Top 25 Most Influential and Powerful Women in Social Media in Immediate Influence Blog in Fall 2009, named one of the Nielsen Online’s Power Mom 50, #7 on Babble’s Top 50 Twitter Moms 2010, one of the 25 Women Who Rock Social Media by TopRankBlog in 2010 and #67 on BigMoneyWeb.com’s 200 Most Fearless Women Online and in Social Media in 2011.
Over the years, how have you learned to balance career and motherhood?
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say that I’ve achieved balance. But I have realized that lack of work life balance is more often than not self-inflicted. I’ve also tried harder in recent years to treat others’ work life balance as I’d ideally like to see mine treated: respecting their boundaries, understanding that we might not always be “synchronizing our watches”, and that the word “urgent” can mean many different things to many different people. Is there one particular parenting lesson you’ve learned about raising kids?
I’ve learned that no matter what…if you think about it, we’re all trying to do the best we can to provide the best for our kids. I’m also quickly learning the lesson that as my son gets older he’s inheriting a lot of my behaviors. This makes me more conscious of the example I’m setting and the result is being kinder to myself, showing compassion to others more, and learning from mistakes and moving on – not getting stuck in a moment.
Battling stress? Any advice?
Oh boy. I’m always looking for additional artillery for stress. I’ve been working out 2-4 times a week for the past month or so and it’s made a huge impact. I always knew that would be the case if I actually got moving. I schedule exercise time into my calendar now. Also, don’t underestimate the power of surrounding yourself with good girlfriends. The kind you can see in person. Having a strong network of digital friends can help get through rough times, but there’s something about having that powerful energy that comes from being in the same room with friends who care about you that really makes the difference.
Tools or products you can’t live without?
My Kindle. Vitamin Water Zero. This Mary Kay chunky lip pencil my friend Susannah gave me that looks orange to the naked eye but goes on the perfect coral color (she gave it to me because no one would buy it and now if I hear it’s going to be discontinued I’ll stock up!) and my Kate Spade bag. And let’s face it, I couldn’t live without my MacBook Pro.
Do you have an inspirational quote, motto or philosophy you can share with us?
Yes…”Sometimes You’re the Windshield, Sometimes You’re the Bug”…my mom used to play the song by Dire Straits a lot when I was growing up and well, the lyrics stuck.
And “Onward and Upward.” This was on a plaque in my Great Aunt Mare-Mare’s house, I lived with her when I first graduated from college and had moved to Boston to look for a job.
Both come in handy. Every. Day.
Favorite resources, books, or website?
Need to find your center career-wise? Read Daniel Pink.
Can’t keep off your iPad while you watch TV? At least check-in using Into Now
Want to get lost in a romantic novel? Try PO Box Love by Paola Calvetti or The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
I’ve been following your journey for quite some time now and I am so excited about your new direction! Fill us in?
I recently reached another crossroads in my career and decided to go on my own about a month ago. I am extremely grateful that in the past 30 days I’ve grown my business, smith&moxie, to a full roster of clients and have launched a side passion project, AwesomeAllies.com. I couldn’t have achieved that without the amazing support of my family, the incredible clients I’m working with, or the powerful inner circle of women I call girlfriends.
There is something so endearing about postcards. In the digital world we live in, they are a sweet throwback to an era gone bye. Tangible, inexpensive, yet meaningful.
If you feel the same way that I do about postcards, you’ll fall in love with Postagram. Postagram enables you to send your Instagram (and other) photos via snail mail in a thoroughly unique and memorable way.
Note: You will need either an iPhone or Droid as well as an Instagram account to utilize this tool. (A web app is also available for this tool.)
So simple:
Use the app or site to upload your photo
Add a message (140 characters allowed)
Pay $.99 fee
Send
Coolness factor: The picture is printed at 300 dpi on a heavy photo paper and comes surrounded by a postcard, from which the print can be “popped out.”
Nifty tip: Next time you find yourself at networking event or conference and want to make an impression, take a photo with a new acquaintance and before the evening ends, use the app to send them a quick postcard. A few days later they’ll receive a great reminder of your meeting. So cool!
This is the post where I admit to being slightly ashamed to use the title “runner.”
I’ve been such a slacker, friends.
Doing a little running here. Kind of running there. But nary a consistent week to show for it. *hanging head in shame*
And if I am being honest here, and I always am with the Internets, I really just wasn’t into it. I know, right?!
Me.
NOT INTO RUNNING.
Surely the Apocalypse was soon to follow.
I am happy to report that slowly I’ve been able to pull myself out of that dark place where running wasn’t a priority and back into the light. Thank goodness, you know? Because I am pretty sure that I drove my husband batty.
Running has, and always will be, crucial to my overall mental well-being. I rely on a good run to give me sanity, clarity, inspiration and motivation. I work in an incredibly creative industry and without inspiration… you’ve got nothing.
In order to pull myself back together I decided to set some running goals for the year:
One of the reasons I love my hometown so much is the hidden treasures it contains. I’ve been meaning to share some of my favorite discoveries for some time now.
Bear with me, I am in no way, shape, or form a photographer. But I do have an iPhone and I am not afraid to use it.
On the North End of Market Street in Frederick, MD you will find this stunning mosaic created by Jack Pabis, and Anthony and Evan Owens.
It is spectacular. Obviously.
If you take a closer look, you will see that the “man on a ladder” is not really a man at all, it is part of the piece. I love watching folks figure that out.
It is beautiful, bright and vibrant. One can’t help but smile and get inspired when passing it by…
