HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY SIMPLY E L L!!
Guys, I can’t believe it’s been exactly one year today that I made my very FIRST post on simply e l l’s insta feed…. doesn’t time fly!?🖤
In honor of simply e l l’s bday, I wanted to round up some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the past year:
1. Give what you get… and even better, give what you want. You know that bible scripture “treat your neighbor as thy self”? Keeping this concept in mind is key in this industry. I still cannot believe (in the best way possible) how much love and support I have gotten from not only followers, but FELLOW BLOGGERS…. aka girls that are working torwards the same exact goals as you. I have learned that giving all that I have to those around me results is having it returned ten-fold.
2. Comparison will be the end of you. Morbid, but so true. I have seen/heard of so many girls fall off from their blogs and goals because they look around, compare themselves to other bloggers/celebrities/etc. and feel inadequate. I have learned that whenever I find that I’m comparing myself to another blogger or influencer, it’s time for me to step back, unfollow them, and recenter myself. There is nothing wrong with being inspired by someone, but when that person starts to take a tole on the way you feel about yourself, there NEEDS to be boundaries.
3. The worst days are simply the light in the tunnel. Yes, omg yes. This one was one of the hardest for me to learn (and still learning), and I think it’s an industry wide stress. You’re having one of those weeks where a ton of your followers dropped off, none of the brands you want to work with are noticing you, and you got a big, fat NO from the collab you were trying to book. Yea…. these weeks suck. But I have found that if I don’t let myself get discouraged in those rainy days days, I find that shortly after, there is something so rewarding waiting. It may just be a mental thing, but overcoming a disappointing week and trudging forward is so empowering. Even in the worst weeks- KEEP GOING!
4. Do not do this alone. Community is family. I saved the best for last, because I 10000% believe that if I didn’t have the support system I did, I would have quit months ago. Blogging/instagramming/putting yourself out there like we do is…..well, horrifying! I was so nervous and self conscious to launch this blog, in fear that I would fail, and everyone would know about it. Each and everyday, I have external sources of motivation to keep this blog going. Whether it’s Shane giving me a pep talk, one of my friends promoting the blog to another friend, getting DM’s from you guys asking where I bought my look, THE LIST GOES ON. These little reminders that I can really do something with this platform is exactly what makes me type away each night on my phone/laptop! Also, like I mentioned above, the community of bloggers I have come across since starting simply e l l have been so incredibly welcoming, accepting, and freaking AMAZING! Moral of the story: do not try to do this alone. Keep your friends close and accept their help, and engulf yourself with others who are working towards the same goals!
Simply e l l, thank you for being my outlet and passion for the last year, and I cannot wait to see where we go from here!
Also, just so you know, even after a year, most of us still don’t have our S*** together…. Peep the picture below. #perfectionisoverrated
Simply,
e l l
