Leah Gervais from Urban 20 Something

by vanessa | Oct 21, 2019 | Creator interviews

Leah Gervais from

Urban 20 Something

Blog for self-made millennial women

who side-hustle and kill the 9-5

Profiting from Passions: Episode 6

I have a incredible guest on today. Leah Gervais is the founder of the popular website Urban 20 Something. It is here that she teaches self-made millennials how to start

a side business and kill the 9-5. For all those who are wondering what it truly takes to be a successful blogger, Leah Gervais will show you how to do that and what matters

when you are starting a blog.

Tell us a little about yourself?

I’m Leah Gervais. I’m the founder of Urban 20 Something and the host of the Your Biggest Vision Show Podcast. I am an expert in email marketing and I help

entrepreneurs scale their businesses with marketing strategy and an extreme focus on success mindset.

What inspired you to create Urban 20 Something?

I went through a “quarter-life trap” when I knew that I was declining my law school acceptances, but had no idea what to do instead. I was working as a

paralegal and had planned on going to law school my entire life. So when a gut feeling told me to do otherwise, I listened, but I was terrified since I had no

idea what career to pursue instead. I started my blog to document my confused time in search of my career, but my blog ended up becoming my career.

Why is it difficult for millennials to quit their 9-5 to create their dream business?

It usually boils down to fear in some sense or another. Fear of a lack of stability, fear of disappointing their peers, family, or spouses, fear of failures, etc.

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It gave me the courage to say yes

How did blogging change your life?

It gave me the courage to say “yes” to myself. Above all, it taught me that whenever going for a goal, you do not have to have the entire plan mapped out. You just have to have the big

picture in mind, have faith in yourself, and have the courage to fail in trying routes to your ultimate goal.

What is the one thing that inspired you to keep hustling despite not seeing any traction?

Considering the alternative. It was difficult sometimes to keep going, but giving up and surrendering to the potential of not having my dream come true was not an option.

Do you think it is possible to create your dream life?

Of course! I don’t believe we’d be here if we couldn’t live in alignment with our deepest desires.

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We’re not meant to do this alone.

What strategies in your business did you implement to help it grow?

1- Focusing on growing my email list above all else. This meant investing in ecourses and people to teach me how, investing in advertising, and trying SO many different types of

emails, subject lines, sales techniques… you name it. It was a lot of trial and error and a big investment of time and money, but paid off above all else.

2- Finding support. We’re not meant to do this alone. My timeline sped up a lot when I started learning directly from others who had already accomplished what I was on a mission

to learn.

3- Staying consistent with my marketing. No dabbling!

If you could start from scratch, what is the one thing you would do?

Go ‘all in’ sooner. Looking back, I thought that it was taking me so invest was that I was being responsible by not spending money. I also thought my waiting to raise prices or

launch new programs was responsible. In hindsight, I was only holding myself back. If I could do it again, I would’ve been more proactive about getting out of my own way and

committing to my own success.

Do you thinking blogging relies more on passion than skillset?

It’s a mix of both. But I do think that more people have the talent than people that have the persistence. We can blame our talent (or lack thereof) for why things aren’t taking off,

but typically, it’s more about a lack of perseverance than a lack of talent.

What are the skills bloggers need if they want to be successful?

Content creation and marketing. You can choose whatever content you desire to create, so there’s no need to beat yourself up if writing isn’t your thing… you can do video instead!

That said, marketing is unavoidable. There’s no point in creating content if no one finds out about it.

If you could, what advice would you give to your younger self about anything?

Believe in yourself and know that you are worthy of any desire that you have. Don’t let your past failures or shortcomings define what you’re capable of now. There is a whole

world of wonder waiting for you and you cannot stand in your own way of it.

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Don’t let your past failures or shortcomings define what you’re capable of now.

Do you have anything that you would like to share?

Here my case study on how I went from $200/month in side hustle income to $4,000/month and even exceeded my 9-5 income WHILE STILL at my day job.

How can people reach you?

Website: Urban20Something.com

Instagram: @Urban20Something

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Vanessa Gowora

Alexis Schroeder from FITnancials

by vanessa | Sep 16, 2019 | Blog, Creator interviews

Alexis Schroeder from

FITnancials

Pay off debt and start a side-hustle business

Profiting from Passions: Episode 5

Alexis Schroeder is the owner of FITnancials, a blog dedicated to serving women who want to achieve financial freedom and grow their online business. With budgeting and side

hustles, Alexis paid off over $40,000 of debt and made $80,000 her senior year of college.

Tell us a little about yourself?

Hi there! I’m Alexis and I’m a full-time blogger on 2 blogs, both Fitnancials, and a new blog called Thyme To Go Vegan. I recently paid off over $40,000 in debt and paid off my student loans in full the day I graduated from side hustles.

How did you start your blogging journey?

After high school, I went through a huge lifestyle change and ended up losing a bunch of weight and gaining muscle. Because of this, a lot of friends and

family asked me to start a blog to share my journey. I never started my blog to make money, it was solely to help people, which is why I dIdn’t make money from it for a long time.

How has blogging changed your life?

Building my business with my blog has given me a total lifestyle change. I’m in charge of my own schedule, take vacations when I want or need to, and I can make as much money as I want to. I’m not capped at a certain income like I was at my teaching job. I also sign sponsorship deals that make me enough money in one deal than I made in a full year as a teacher.

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It felt really good being able to do that.

At what point did you realize you were living the life you wanted?

When I was getting emails from readers saying I’ve helped them so much to the point where they are now full-time blogging, too. Such a big deal!

I even graduated my senior year of college making over $80,000 from blogging and side hustles. It was a big deal considering I was going into a field that would start me out at the low

$30’s. I also started making enough money where I could take my mom on her dream vacation to Alaska. It felt really good being able to do that.

Is it possible for people to design their dream life?

Yes, of course. So many of us just drift by in life without being intentional with how we spend our time. I used most of the entire last year on personal development, which has been a

game changer in growing my business, confidence, and overall happiness. All of this helped me work toward living my dream life, which is different for everyone. For me, that’s

spending as much time as possible with my family and dogs and enjoying the simple things in life, like a bike ride on a sunny day during the week instead of having to go to work.

What strategies did you implement in helping you become a six-figure blogger?

As I mentioned earlier, I spent a lot of time on personal development which made a drastic change. I didn’t know this before, but my mindset was holding me back in how much

money I think I could make or what type of business I was capable of running. I did a lot of mindset work to overcome some challenges, but I also worked heavily on learning

marketing strategies. People think blogging is just writing a few blog posts and publishing, when it’s very little of that.

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Running a profitable blog is running a legit business

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you first started out?

That blogging isn’t easy! I always thought it was a lot easier than it actually is. I had no idea how much work was involved. Running a profitable blog is running a legit business. It’s

like a running a brick and mortar but online. There’s a lot that goes into it. You need to be constantly open to learning new things and implementing new strategies to grow.

What mistakes did you make in the beginning?

So many! I was heavily focused on the writing and not enough on the marketing. I was expecting people to just read my blog and relying too heavily on Pinterest. Now, I work on

diversifying my traffic and getting it from various platforms.

I even have an entire blog post dedicated to all the blogging mistakes I made.

Do you thinking blogging relies more on passion than skillset?

I think a mixture of both, with an ability to learn new things. A lot of people quit when things get hard, which is why you see a lot of bloggers start a blog and not become full-time

bloggers. Blogging isn’t easy, so passion on the topic definitely helps, especially in the beginning when most people don’t make money.

What are the skills that new bloggers need if they want to be successful?

New bloggers should be patient, consistent, open to learning new things, and they NEED to make sure they implement what they learn. So many people are passive learners,

meaning they read or listen to a podcast, but they never implement what they’ve learned. Your blog is going nowhere if you don’t implement what you learn in courses, podcasts,

etc.

If you could, what advice would you give to your younger self about anything?

I’d tell myself to never give up, even if I want to. There were so many times I wanted to give up. I wish I hadn’t spent so much time thinking about throwing the towel in. Instead, I

should’ve worked on creating better monetization and traffic strategies instead of filling my brain with the clutter of wanting to quit.

What is the one thing you implemented in your business that made a huge impact?

A simple to-do list each day has made a huge difference in my daily productivity. There are so many things to do when it comes to blogging. The night before a working day, I

create a to-do list of tasks I need to complete. I’m less all over the place and more focused on things that need to get done.

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There were so many times I wanted to give up

Do you have anything that you would like to share?

I have a huge free resource page filled with guides and printables for people who want to achieve financial freedom or start an online biz. I’ve gotten really great feedback!

How can people reach you?

You can read more from me on Fitnancials. I’m most active on Facebook and Instagram.

Keep Pushing

Vanessa Gowora

Drew DuBoff Interview

by vanessa | Sep 9, 2019 | Creator interviews

Drew DuBoff of

Drew DuBoff

Start Scaling Successfully

Profiting From Passions: Episode 4

Every Monday, I deliver interviews from successful creators who are changing the game. I am super pumped to introduce you to Drew DuBoff. Drew has changed the blogging world by sharing how to scale up and grow successfully, he also started super young. His story is beyond incredible and goes to show you that when it comes to success if you put in the work and have a system in place, you will succeed.

Blogging like everything takes work, dedication and it requires you to put in the effort. Not doing that will result in you not making any strides with your business or ventures. That is why I created this blog series. To show you that it is indeed possible for you to make money from your passions and for you to make the right decisions. In the beginning, if you have no idea how to profit from your blog, you will make a lot of mistakes. This series is there so that you learn from people who were where you are right now and achieved success.

Today, Drew will share you insights on how he became a successful blogger and what it takes for you to become successful.

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m a full-time online entrepreneur, blogger, and freelancer since May 2019. I started my online business back in November 2017 because a social media marketing professor in college told me I should start a blog to differentiate myself in the interviewing company.

The company I wanted to work for ended up rejecting me after stage two, but I came out with an amazing, thriving, and prosperous business where I can impact people daily.

I coach bloggers looking to grow, scale, and outsource and I also freelance for 6-figure and 7-figure bloggers in the make money online space. I’ve carved out a great business at an age that most people would not expect. But, it’s what I’m using to pay off my student debt and no one can argue with that.

What inspired you to start a blog?

As I mentioned before, it was really because of a social media marketing professor.

She was more referencing a hobby blog than a business blog, but it didn’t matter to me.

Once the spark was there, I kindled it and was able to produce a business by the end of 2018 that far out-earned what I was making at my part-time college job.

Do you think it is possible to create a profitable blog from your passions?

Yes, absolutely!

But, make sure that your passions are YOURS and not what others think they are. When I first started, DrewDuBoff.com was NOT what it is today. It was a career advice blog. A blog that made precisely $0 despite the amount of money I was putting into it from freelancing. I chose that topic because I thought I was passionate about it, but I couldn’t be more wrong.

It’s what others thought I should blog about because they liked what I had to say. But, I never created content for it because it never felt right. In one year, I produced 3 posts. Now, I am blogging about what I am passionate about and I’m owning it. Heck, I’m even publishing over 30,000 words of content on my blog this month. I’m in my wheelhouse and I’m making money, but because it’s my passion and not someone else’s.

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Use blogging and online business to change your lifestyle.

What is your message and why do you think it is relevant today?

My message is to use blogging and online business to change your lifestyle. For me, that’s eliminating over $100,000 of student loan debt (not including grad school, which I’m in now).

But, for someone else, that could mean retiring early or paying off your mortgage. I believe that you can do that by outsourcing, scaling, and growing your business.

I take solopreneurs and whip ‘em into shape with sound business advice so they can become the leader and visionary in their business, not the one working in it. I think my message is relevant today because everyone wants to change their life. Who doesn’t? I think that my message is unique, though, because of how I’m the sherpa leading the way.

And, I’ve got the freelancing experience to show off that I know what I’m doing.

What is the main reason why most new bloggers fail?

Oh, this is a fun topic. In my opinion, most bloggers fail because they blog. Say what? Yes, I know it’s contradictory, but putting content on a blog is not the same thing as running a business or making money. Think of your blog as a vehicle to get from not making money in your business to making money. It’s HOW you accomplish what you want, but it’s not the WHAT.

You still need to understand business. Without business knowledge, you WILL fail. You’ll get to a point where you want to stop blogging and you probably will. Blogs don’t make money, businesses do. I heard that first from Natalie Bacon and it’s so true. I was able to make money from my business without putting new content out. Or, without even having posts.

I could make affiliate income from Facebook Messenger if I wanted to. But, instead, I choose the blog as a vehicle. That’s why I’m investing a lot of time and effort into building that up.

What is the one thing you would do differently if you were starting in your industry now?

If I were starting over, the first thing I would do is network. Your network so crucially important and most people don’t realize it until it’s too late. I’ve used my network to gain more freelance clients and 3x my business’ revenue in one month. You’ll be sadly looking at your bank account showing no money in it if you don’t take the time to build your network and leverage it in a time of need.

I did do this in the beginning, but on a VERY limited scale. I was only networking with a few select bloggers. But, I expanded later on and I just think of all the revenue I could’ve had if I started sooner.

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The number #1 key to success in my business is my network

Which people or books have had the most influence of your business growth and why?

There’s a book that I’m an evangelist for. It’s Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. I’ve been working hard with my virtual CFO to implement it. Basically, it’s an envelope budgeting system to help you control the cash flow in your business. And, it encourages lean entrepreneurship, which I’m all for.

Because of this system, I’ve been able to pay off my car and multiple student loans in just a few short months. It’s also set me up in a position so I know my budget for outsourcing and hiring contractors.

What would you say is the number #1 key to success in your business?

I think the #1 key to success in my business is my network. I’m probably starting to sound like a broken record, but it’s true. My network makes me more money than a lot of other things (especially my email list right now). I get people emailing me about gigs that can make me THOUSANDS per month, every single month. This just happened recently for an executive assistant position for a FB ads agency.

If someone in my network hadn’t reached out, I wouldn’t have gotten that job.

What strategies do you put in place in order for you to grow in your business?

I spend my time doing things that will get me growth. Sounds simple? It is. Don’t spend time on the low ROI tasks and instead focus on the ones with high ROI. Remember, I ignored my blog to focus on making money with freelance clients. Would you be willing to do the same? For me, the blog was low ROI. I constantly sacrifice tasks in my business (or outsource them) so that I can work on my business and not in it.

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Don’t get discouraged when you don’t make money in the first 4 – 6 months.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in starting your business and why?

The biggest obstacle is probably my mindset. I’m in a market that constantly pushes people to charge more for their services. I probably don’t charge as much as I should. But, that’s something that I’m working on. Then that has implications on my relationships with my clients. I definitely inhibit my growth when I think that my current clients should be my only clients. But, then if/when something happens I’m not prepared.

This happened earlier this month and I was not prepared. I spent a lot of time crying because I thought I wouldn’t recover. After my pity party, I got to work and leveraged my network. I gained multiple clients as a result. There are people in your tribe, audience, target market, client base, out there. You just need to open yourself up to it 🙂

What advice would you to anyone just starting out?

Just start. You’re going to waste SO much time in indecision if you don’t take the initial steps today. Don’t get discouraged when you don’t make money in the first 4-6 months. Don’t expect to be a raving success story off the bat. Spend time refining your craft and the results will come. I promise.

Do you have anything you would like to offer to my audience?

I have a Scaling Blueprint which you are more than welcome to download. Just head over to my website and check it out 🙂 I also offer coaching services if you think you’re at the stage to grow, scale, and outsource.

How can my audience reach you?

You can check out my site at DrewDuBoff.com.

A few additional links:

You can also always send me an email! Just head over to my site to contact me. I love hearing from struggling bloggers:)

Keep Pushing

Vanessa Gowora

Amira from A Self Guru Interview

by vanessa | Sep 2, 2019 | Blog, Creator interviews

Amira of

A Self Guru

Be The Master Of Your Own Destiny

Profiting From pASSIONS: Episode 3

This week on the Profiting From Passions Series, I am talking to Amira from A Self Guru.

Her Blogging journey is absolutely inspirational and goes to show that anything is possible if you put in the hard work. Amira proves that despite what your passions are, you can still be a blogger with a full-time job.

She’s a full-time lawyer and runs a six figure blog where she helps entrepreneurs with the legal side of their business while also coaching them on how to become the master of their own destiny.

Can you please introduce yourself to my audience

I’m a lawyer, blogger and business coach from ASelfGuru.com.

During the day, I work full-time as a lawyer and at nights and weekends, I’m a blogger and business coach. I teach other bloggers and entrepreneurs how to protect their online business legally along with the business skills they need to build a six figure business and become their own boss!

How did you start your blogging career

I started my blog on a whim when I got inspired by other successful bloggers. I’ve always wanted to make a greater impact in the lives of others through my legal and business expertise and blogging seemed like a great way to do that.

I’ve been working full-time as a lawyer for more than 8 years but have been teaching business and legal skills and coaching online entrepreneurs for over 10 years now. I have owned multiple businesses from a young age, so it was only natural for me to start a blog and bring those skills in my blogging business as well.

So I launched my blog in 7 days while working full-time as a lawyer! You can read all about that here.

Can you please tell us a little bit about your blogging journey?

I really love blogging because it allows me the freedom to work from anywhere at my own pace and reach a bigger audience.

It has been a very rewarding and enriching experience for me building a six figure blogging business in less than a year while working full-time as a lawyer!

I made my first $1000 blogging in my first month and then doubled that income in my second month when I made a total of $3700! From there, my income kept increasing until I made $20,000 in a month!

You can read my blogging journey of how I made $20,000 per month here.

So now I teach others how to do the same while also helping them protect their online business legally!

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I know I’ve found my life purpose with blogging.

At what point did you realize you were living the life you wanted?

I am still working towards it! Everything takes time and before a blogger, I’m a lawyer which I love! So it’s a tough decision for me to quit my job at this time.

But who knows what the future holds.

I know I’ve found my life purpose with blogging but it’s challenging to blog with a full-time job, so I believe once I start dedicating full-time to my blog, that’s

when I’ll be living the life I want!

What’s the one thing you wish you knew when you were first starting out?

There are quite a few things that come to mind! I actually wrote a post that answers this question!

It’s about the 7 blogging lessons I learned after making $10,000, and it talks about the different things I wish I knew before starting out.

If I had to name one thing right now, that would be learning Google SEO from the beginning. Both Google and Pinterest SEO are super important to

bring traffic to your blog!

So take the time to learn these from the beginning to maximize your time writing blog posts that actually rank well on Google. Same thing with Pinterest,

it’s an excellent source of free organic traffic but you have to learn the tips and tricks first.

I spent a lot of time learning Pinterest in the beginning, which really helped me but I neglected Google SEO and wish I had learned both simultaneously.

How has blogging changed your life?

It has taught me a new way to make money online while making a greater impact in the world with my products and coaching services. My legal

templates are used and appreciated by thousands of bloggers and entrepreneurs, and I can’t begin to describe how fulfilling that is!

I’ve worked personally with so many bloggers and entrepreneurs and have helped them grow their business. So it feels great teaching other bloggers and

entrepreneurs how to build a six figure blogging business from scratch even with a full-time job!

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If you have both then you have a perfect recipe for success.

Do you think that blogging relies more on passion than skillset?

No, I think you both! You need passion and skills to go hand in hand. If you only have the passion, you would still need to learn the skills to succeed as a

blogger, and if you only had the skills, you won’t go far without the passion. Makes sense? If you have both then you have a perfect recipe for success!

What are the skills that bloggers require if they want to be successful?

Great question! There are quite a few things you need to learn and master to be successful –

1. Learn how to blog legally – just like any business, with blogging, you need to learn how to blog legally and the first basic step is to make sure you have all 3 legal pages on your website before you launch! So take the time to invest in legal templates written by a lawyer such as my Legal Bundle to protect yourself and your business from lawsuits.

2. Learn email marketing and social media marketing – for this, I recommend investing in the right blogging tools and resources to learn from the experts. I’d say don’t waste time trying to learn everything on your own and get frustrated! Instead, invest in the right blogging courses and tools to get started painlessly. I’ve put together a list of all the blogging tools and resources that helped me grow and monetize my blog quickly. You can check them out here.

3. Manage your time wisely – blogging can be very time consuming and there’s always so much to do! So it’s very important to be disciplined and organized with your time if you want to be productive. Don’t spend too much time in the “thinking” phase and not take enough action. Sometimes, we tend to overthink and over-analyze things and that delays our progress.

What is the one mistake you made in the beginning that you wish you hadn’t made?

I already talked about it above – I didn’t learn Google SEO right away and that was a mistake because later, I had to go back and revise 20+ blog posts I had already written to optimize them for SEO, which was a huge pain! It ended up being a lot of work that I could have avoided and saved myself all that hassle if I had learned SEO from the beginning.

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Better late than never.

If you could, give advice to younger self about anything, what would it be?

I wish I had started blogging at a younger age, perhaps during college because I had a lot more time on my hands back then. But like they say, better late than

never, right?! 🙂

What was the one thing you implemented in your business that made a huge impact?

It was creating my own digital products that made a huge impact in my blogging business!

With your own products, you are in full control of your income instead of selling someone else’s product. I love affiliate marketing but I think you have to

diversify your blogging income and one of the ways I did that was by creating 10+ legal templates of my own.

These are legal templates that all bloggers need for their business at different stages.

For example, you need the Legal Bundle before you launch your blog. It includes all 3 legal pages you need on your website and those are your:

Privacy Policy
Disclaimer and Disclosures
Terms and Conditions

Same way, you need this written contract when you work with clients as a freelancer to do any kind of work. Both the freelancer and the client need this freelance

contract to work together.

Also, as a blogger, you may have heard about sponsored posts or even written one. Sponsored posts are a great way to make money blogging.

You get to work with your favorite brands and get paid to write sponsored content for them! But just like all other contracts, you need this sponsored posts contract to work with brands.

Check out the complete list of legal templates you need for your blogging business here.

Do you have anything that you would like to share?

Sure, here are 3 awesome offers for you –

1. Are you blogging legally? If you are a blogger or entrepreneur then make your website legally compliant within minutes with my best selling Legal Bundle.

The Legal Bundle is a discounted bundle of 3 templates (Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Terms and Conditions) that has helped thousands of bloggers and

entrepreneurs comply with the law and protect themselves legally.

Plus it comes with 9 additional bonuses worth $1175! You get the bonuses for free with the Legal Bundle. Learn more about the Legal Bundle here.

If you need any other legal templates for your business, then check out my legal store for all the templates available to you! Feel free to reach out if you are

looking for anything specific and don’t see it on my website.

2. Want to work with me personally to expand your business or go over your legal and business questions? Then sign up for a 30 minutes

business coaching call here and let’s work together to grow and monetize your business quickly while keeping it legal! I offer a really affordable monthly coaching program to support you as a mentor throughout your blogging and business journey. During our coaching calls, you can ask me anything, and I will show you how to become a six figure blogger.

I was a teacher before I became a lawyer, so you will see that I have a passion for teaching and really enjoy working with people!

3. Want some free legal and business tips or a cease and desist letter for copyright infringement? Check out these awesome freebies for you here.

How can people reach you?

You can easily connect with me on my blog at ASelfGuru.com, my Facebook group or on other social media platforms- Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Keep Pushing

Vanessa Gowora

Lidiya From Let’s Reach Success

by vanessa | Aug 26, 2019 | Blog, Creator interviews

Lidiya of

Let’s Reach Success

Achieve Financial Freedom and Start a blog

Creator Interviews: Episode 2

Every Monday, I deliver awesome interviews from successful creators who are changing the game. I am super pumped to introduce you to Lidiya of Let’s Reach Success. She teaches bloggers how to start a side-hustle from their blog and change their life. A few months ago, I came across Lidiya’s blog and I was super impressed how she changed her life through blogging. Her story is incredible and will definitely show you what is possible when it comes to blogging.

The reason why most people don’t go after their dreams is because they believe that they are can’t do it and that is what encouraged me to do an interview series on people using their passions to create a business based around that.

This is the second interview, please let me know which creator you would like me to interview and I will do that. So, here we go

Tell us a little about yourself

Hello. I’m Lidiya, a full-time blogger and lifestyle designer. I’m the creator of Let’s Reach Success where I help others achieve financial independence through

making money online so they can use that income to live their best life.

What inspired you to start a blog?

I initially began making money as a freelance writer, during which time I was also blogging for fun. Eventually, I learned more and more about the business model of blogging and realized this is the one thing I want to do. So, once my income increased, I left freelancing behind and devoted myself to full-time blogging.

I love that I can write about things that matter, no client tells me what to do and I can reach more people because I’m the one making sure the content is

promoted well and gets exposure. Also, the chance to provide real value and bring more visitors to my blog motivated me to update old content consistently, work with guest contributors and give them a chance to get published elsewhere and make each blog post easy to read and visually appealing.

When did you create Let’s Reach Success and why?

I started Let’s Reach Success back in March 2013 when I knew absolutely nothing about blogging. I just wanted to share what was on my mind and write about

personal development. That was my biggest passion so I decided to combine it with the best way to express myself – writing. The best thing about it is that I kept going. I slowly began gaining traffic and the income from freelance writing was motivating me to keep posting stuff on my blog so I can use it as my portfolio. But over time, it became a much bigger project than I expected so I started paying more attention to it.

After some time, I switched to a self-hosted WordPress site, optimized the platform better, built a presence on social media, learned from other bloggers, defined my niches better, made my content longer and better, etc.

Let’s Reach Success started as a hobby and was only on Personal Development but has now turned into a blog that gets over 100K monthly page views and is

sharing advice on making money online, starting a business on the side, lifestyle design and financial independence.

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The moment we feel too comfortable, it means we’re about to get stuck.

Who was your first mentor?

My first mentors were completely different from the people I’m following and learning from now. I actually wrote a post once listing 5 of them and how they’ve helped me shape my mindset. Here it is.

I read that you have been to a few countries, what has traveling taught you?

I always knew in theory that getting out of our comfort zone is something we should constantly be doing. The moment we feel too comfortable, it means we’re about to get stuck.

I practice leaving my comfort zone in multiple ways such as being social, trying new things, etc. But traveling is what really helps you taste life in a different way.

If you give it a chance (which means solo traveling, or just leaving your country for longer and seeing how people live, or maybe traveling full-time for a year or so), it can change the rest of your life in a positive way.

What is the one thing you wished you knew when you started blogging?

Even though my blogging journey was longer than that of others, I have no regrets. It was important for me to be forming the mindset of a full-time blogger and location independent business owner while making mistakes and learning all I could about the digital world.

However, a few things I could have done earlier include:

Investing in online courses – nothing beats learning a topic inside out from someone who’s already done it and the best way to do that online is to purchase one of their courses. I started doing that just in the last 1,5 years and it changed the game for me. I took one on affiliate marketing, then one on Pinterest (and saw immediate results), and currently I’m slowly going through a big course on becoming a six-figure blogger in which I’m taking steps to master affiliate marketing, creating strategic content and having a sales funnel.

Giving Pinterest a chance – I only did that in the last year and it’s because I’ve been studying the business models of bloggers in my niche. I love checking out their income reports. Together with that and thanks to the many bloggers I’ve interviewed for Let’s Reach Success, I started seeing what a big traffic source Pinterest could be for me. So I gave it a chance, started publishing content there on a regular basis, took an online course on the topic, and now part of my traffic is from there.

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Blogging changed my life in a positive way since I started it because I had my own project to work on.

When did you start making a living through blogging?

So, my first money online didn’t come directly from the blog – although it existed – but from freelancing. That was fine for me as I had a lot to learn about blogging, and – most importantly – to start believing I too can make money this way.

Eventually, I used my blog indirectly to earn an income which was by showing it to potential freelance clients. They liked it so they wanted me to write similar content for them too.

2 years after starting the blog, I began earning from sponsored posts. I joined marketplaces but people also started reaching out to me. And while I was undercharging as I didn’t know any better, it was the first income from my blog.

I was also selling my eBooks at that point and made some money through ads. As I come from Bulgaria and was living there up until 2,5 years ago, I didn’t need much money to be able to make a living from my online endeavors. That’s because it’s a cheap country and I could live with my parents so the rest was easy.

However, the more monetization methods I tested, the more my income increased. I could save some money, be braver when creating my vision for the future, invest back in my business, be a confident solopreneur paying my own taxes, etc.

Which brings me to the next life event which would have been impossible without my blog…

When did blogging start changing your life and how did it feel once it did?

Blogging changed my life in a positive way since the moment I started it because I had my own project to work on. I was playing with the design and topics, the brand and the services/products I offered. But the physical transformation began happening 2,5 years ago when I had enough money saved and left my home country to move to my ideal destination – the Netherlands.

As it’s still in the EU, I could simply move and test the lifestyle. So I spent a few months there and it worked well. I was happier than ever and even though I saw some big bills for the first time in my life as the country has a higher standard of living, I was okay with it. In fact, it helped me become more financially responsible, build discipline, and double my income.

I also traveled to Thailand for 5 weeks and lived pretty well there. When I came back, I settled down in the Netherlands, registered as a citizen of Amsterdam, and loved doing my work every day even more as now my motivation was to sustain that new lifestyle.

In 2018, I had my best year ever earning nearly $50K blogging, as shared in my annual income report. I also moved the online business to the Netherlands at the beginning of 2018 and am paying taxes here now. That allowed me to have more confidence and take action to find my own place (still renting, but my own studio in a good neighborhood which can be pretty hard to get in this city).

I did that 2 months ago and am now writing this from my home office that I love so much. It’s a new building with young professionals living in it and a co-working space downstairs so it’s basically made for people like me. That makes it impossible not to feel grateful every morning when I wake up and get to work for all the wonderful things that have come my way thanks to blogging.

Who inspires you and why?

Other bloggers doing the same but who are further in this journey. I’m lucky to have the chance to actually interview them for Let’s Reach Success now and each time I publish another such interview, I can feel the momentum. There’s so much to learn from every blogger as even though they might be using the same tools and have the same business model in mind, the little things they did along the way made the big difference for them.

That includes Alex and Lauren who started from nothing but are now earning $100K/month from their blogs and traveling the world.

More and more moms are achieving amazing things online thanks to blogging too. Such as Caroline who built a $100K parenting blog thanks to combing Pinterest and affiliate marketing, Elna Cain who has a freelance writing business and a blogging business and is raising her twins at the same time, and Suzi from StartaMomBlog who managed to retire her husband at 30 thanks to the income from her blog.

If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is.

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I want to help people believe it’s possible to make money online and encourage them to start a blog as soon as possible.

What mistakes did you make the first time around and if you had a chance to change it, would you?

Like many others, I waited until I found the courage to go from a WordPress.com site to a self-hosted one. The technical aspect scared me a bit but it was completely fine at the end.

I also didn’t dare e to raise my prices for sponsored posts and freelance writing thinking that no one would work with me then. It’s a common thing in the digital world. However, once I did it, it helped me double my income in 6 months and reach $5,000/month.

What is the impact you hope to create with your blog?

I want to help people believe it’s possible to make money online and encourage them to start a blog as soon as possible. Self-doubt is often the biggest barrier. So many people look at where the highest- paid bloggers are and think they’ll never get there. But they don’t need to. Earning $1000/month from a new blog is absolutely possible, they just need to find the right way, niche, and their audience. And that extra $1000 can be life-changing.

Thank you Lidiya, for agreeing to do this interview, do you have any free resources to give my audience?

Thank you too for having me! Yes, here are my 3 free courses.

How to Make Your First Money Online Freelancing

The Passive Income Boss

Launch Your Profitable Blog Today

Can you tell us what is a quote/saying that always keeps you going even when life gets harder

I like to remind myself that ‘it’s all a learning experience’. Having the mindset of a learner allows you to never let failure or other people bring you down and to look at new goals and challenges as a way to learn something new.

Also, in terms of personal relationships, believing in yourself or dealing with what life throw’s at you, I like to remind myself of a simple principle – that the only thing I can control in most cases is my reaction to what’s happening. And I’ve saved myself a lot of trouble and have improved my relationships with people thanks to being calm in the face of hardships, accepting things the way they are, and waiting for better times to come.

How can my readers reach you?

Feel free to check out Let’s Reach Success. If you’re on Pinterest, you can follow me here. And to contact me, email is the best way.

One more thing, Lidiya, I read about your awesome premium course “Financial Freedom Through

Blogging,” what does your course offer and what sets you apart from other blogging courses?

Financial Freedom Through Blogging is the biggest and most important digital product I’ve ever created. I’ve included all the things (only important ones that an aspiring blogger or one that’s been blogging for some time needs) that I’ve learned over the last 5 years which have allowed me to turn Let’s Reach Success into a money-making machine reaching over a million people every year.

What sets it apart from other blogging courses is that it shares my unique experience and that’s it huge (over 80 lectures!).

It covers all you need to know about starting, growing and monetizing a blog. Plus, how to actually enjoy that income once you have it (which is what I’m doing right now).

I only allowed myself to create such a product after I was a full-time blogger living in a new country and making real money online. To offer something like that before that point would be simply unfair to people. They want to learn from someone who’s already done what they are after, that’s why I share all my numbers (blog stats, monthly earnings, and expenses, etc.) in my detailed income reports.

The fun thing about Financial Freedom Through Blogging is that I’m promoting it by simply sharing my story. If others want similar results, they can check out the course. And any time I see more results with my blog, I make sure to update the course with even more practical steps and tips. You can find it here.

Keep Pushing

Vanessa Gowora

Motunde of Motty Inspires: The Millennial Blogger

by vanessa | Jul 12, 2019 | Blog, Creator interviews

Motunde Sotuminu of

Motty Inspires

A Millinnial Blog by A Millennial

Creator Interviews: Episode 1

Tell us a little about yourself

Heyyy! I’m Motunde Sotuminu; Motty for short. I’m from Nigeria and a recent Law graduate as well as the Founder and Blogger behind Motty Inspires. I blog on all things personal development, lifestyle, and empowerment for millennials.

Why did you decide to start a blog?

Well, I reached a turning point in my life and became heavily acquainted with personal development and it honestly changed my life in all areas i.e spiritually, academically, financially. In early 2016, I stumbled across a quote which said ‘I want to inspire people, I want someone to look at me and say because of you I didn’t give up.’ That summed up my mission in life and considering I had always loved to write, I was able to discover what exactly I wanted to blog on.

What is your message and why do you think it is relevant today?

My message is a message of hope, of inspiration and of empowerment to millennials. People who come across me today don’t realise what my journey was

like prior to me starting Motty Inspires. My story is one of hope against all odds and I’m here to give people the inspiration that if I can do it, you can too. I’ve

made a lot of mistakes in my life but my message to people does not let anything define or limit you, that includes your past, your background, circumstances,

etc. As long as there’s life, there’s still hope.

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My story is one of hope against all odds and I’m here to give people the inspiration that if I can do it, you can too.

What would you do differently if you were starting in your industry now?

Be patient with the process and focus on writing good content and building a solid audience and also be more confident in promoting my content. Stepping outside your comfort zone is scary but it is essential. There is no point in writing good content but it’s not read by anyone.

Which people or books have had the most influence on your growth and why?

I draw inspiration from different people, different situations and places. I think self-help books, in general, have influenced my growth as well as solidifying my relationship with God.

What would you say is the #1 key to success in your business?

Consistency and creating good content that people will like and will help them. I always say ‘if you work smart, keep at it, stay consistent, it’s only a matter of time before the opportunités you once prayed for start coming your way.’ There’s a quote which says ‘success comes when preparation meets opportunity.“ And I’m just beginning to get the recognition and opportunities because I’ve remained consistent against all odds. I have faced challenges, there have been tough days, there have been days where I compared my growth to others and questioned my abilities, but I remembered my WHY and this has kept me going.

What does a typical day in your week look like?

I’ve recently just finished university so things are going to switch up for me. But on average, I wake up around 6:30 or 7 am, pray and have devotion. I would then speak to my mum and head to the shower and get my day started. I would usually have lectures throughout the week with assignments or exams to prepare for. At the end of the day, I usually dedicate it to my blog- working on the weeks content, checking my stats, checking social media, responding to emails and catching up with family. I would end the day with prayer and back on Instagram again lol. And that’s how every typical day for me is like.

Talk about the biggest failure you’ve had. What did you learn from it?

I see failure as failure if that makes sense. There’s no big or small. I fail every day but what I think is important is learning from them and getting back up. And that’s why I think perfection is a myth. Don’t strive for perfection but strive for progress.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in starting your business and why?

Omg, having my website shut down was probably my biggest obstacle and it was a surprising and confusing moment for me. I came back home one day and went on my site only for it to show ‘php error’. I was freaking out but I just had to bury my head down and think of a solution. I knew giving up wasn’t even an option and I had invested some money in my blog, especially since I was self-hosting. So I had to spend money again to get a new domain, theme and get my site up and running. That was in April 2017, I’ve learned a lot from that experience.

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There’s a quote which says ‘success comes when preparation meets opportunity’

If you could, what would you say to the younger version of you?

Use your youth wisely. All those cutting corners and messing about won’t pay off. Be good, do good. Enjoy each moment. You don’t want to live life with regrets so do good. And be open, don’t hide your feelings, ask for help when you need it. Let God be your best friend. A personal relationship with God is the key to a successful and fulfilling life.

What advice would you give to anyone who is just starting on their business?

Make sure you know why you are starting and what you really want to do. You’ve got to be passionate and truly interested and willing to invest in your business. And it’s one thing to start but it’s another thing to continue. Consistency will unlock opportunities. It’s your key to success. If you hang in there and you show up, the opportunities will come knocking. There will be hard times but let your passion keep you going.

Where can people find you?

You can find me on my blog Motty Inspires, Twitter and Instagram.

Keep Pushing

Vanessa Gowora