Presents: Coach Hilda Hankerson Tell Us What Do You Do? I am a High School Girls Varsity Basketball Coach and Health and PE Dept. Chair at an Atlanta metro area High School. Please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today? My basketball journey began as a player at…
The Nerdy CEO presents Black Women Who Lead Series: Introducing Dr. Jennifer Whitmon
Presents Dr. Jennifer Whitmon
Tell Us What Do You Do?
I am a Microbiologist by training with experience in infectious diseases, diagnostics, lab systems, biosafety, and quality management. I have worked in three infectious centers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). I am currently a Laboratory Safety Manager within a National Center at the CDC. I am the primary point of contact between various offices and our center laboratories with over 200 lab staff. I am responsible for the implementation and evaluation of sound scientific and safety-related laboratory practices. I use my knowledge of general and specialized safety and occupational health practices, methods, and techniques that I learned while working in the laboratory as a microbiologist for over twenty years. In a nutshell, I make sure laboratory staff are safe while at work. In addition to my position at CDC, I serve as an Adjunct Faculty member at Touro University Worldwide, I teach healthcare courses within the School of Business and Edith Neumann School of Health and Human Services programs. I am also a certified health coach who focuses on food and how it is linked to health. I give clients strategies for eating healthy along with Christian inspiration.
Please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always had a love for science and wanted to become a primary care physician. I pursued a Biology degree as an undergraduate at Alabama State University. While there, I had the unique opportunity to participate in formal scientific research projects in the fields of microbiology and immunology. Participating in research summer internships at the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Wisconsin at Madison increased my desire to do research in the field of microbiology. As a graduate student at Clark Atlanta University (CAU), in the Master of Science degree program in Biology, I conducted research in viral immunology. After year two of graduate school, I accepted a position at the CDC as a contractor to work on respiratory bacterial pathogen study in an infectious disease laboratory. I later returned to CAU and completed a degree in Master of Arts degree in Science Education. I worked as contractor at CDC, then became a permanent employee and conducted clinical diagnostic research on exotic parasitic diseases, basic research in entomology and later returned to work with bacterial pathogens. Many of cutting-edge techniques and procedures, I learned while completing research projects as an undergraduate and graduate student. After more than twenty years (including contractor time) and going back to school to complete a doctorate in Health Science with a global health focus, I left the laboratory and moved into a science management biosafety leadership position at the agency.
What are some of the most important values you demonstrate as a leader?
Some important values I demonstrate as a leader are vision, inspiration, and mentorship. While I worked for many years in the laboratory at CDC, I had numerous opportunities to work with employees such as, junior level scientists, fellows, and students. I assisted them with not only their laboratory projects but found myself giving personal advice and career guidance. Years later, many of the former employees came back to visit or sent me notes stating how I helped them to make better decisions regarding school, career, or their personal lives. After multiple former employees reached back to contact me over time, I realized I was helping them cast vision, inspired them to do great things and I was being a mentor. At that point, I realized I had a gift for guiding others. One of my mentees once said to me, “I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders when our conversations are over.” That compliment made me aware of my values and importance as a leader.
What has been the biggest challenge throughout your career trajectory that you’ve had to overcome?
I have overcome so many challenges in my career. I would say my biggest challenge that I had to overcome throughout my career trajectory was been being pigeon-holed. Being pigeon-holed means, not being able to advance to higher positions based on your existing set of skills. In most of the positions, I have held, I have conducted basic research and development or clinical diagnostic research. As I sought to leave the “bench” and advance to administrative, management or leadership positions, I realized I did not have the skill sets to progress. To overcome these challenges, I was able to take training courses, but not able to do the required hands on work. What helped me to learn additional skills was being open to volunteer for various projects within and outside of my workplace. I also decided to go back to school at an older age and pursue a doctorate. It took me ten years to find the perfect degree program. What I mean is I was married with a family and needed to find a suitable degree that would benefit me in my career and other endeavors I wanted to pursue. Going back was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but also the most rewarding.
Can you give an example of your own personal experience with failure? How were you able to overcome it?
Wow, that’s a good question. I have so many examples, so here’s one. Before I pursued a career as a scientist, I aspired to go to medical school and become a primary care physician. Being raised in a small town in Alabama with few role models in STEM fields, I thought being a medical doctor was the only gainful career I could pursue. So, I applied to medical school and was not accepted. Because of the denial, I thought I had failed. Years later, after receiving my doctorate in health science with a concentration in global health, I was given an opportunity to teach a healthcare course to medical doctors. What I thought was failure, was God guiding me to a different path than what I thought was for me. What I learned was to not give up on your dreams but find another route to success, which may not look like what you had originally planned.
Heroes: What past leader you have worked with/ for you really admire and why?
One of my mentors and former supervisor was Dr. Jacquelyn Sampson, a research microbiologist at the CDC. Dr. Sampson who is now retired, is a brilliant African American female scientist who held numerous scientific patents. What I admire most about Dr. Sampson was that she was not only a dedicated scientist, and international expert in respiratory infectious diseases, but she was also a wife, mother and eventually a grandmother, who moved through life with grace, class, poise, and dignity. I learned so much from her, not only about our infectious disease studies but also things like navigating the agency to the importance of work-life balance. I am so grateful to have worked with her for over ten years and to have remained in touch with her after her retirement.
What are some of the top qualities and traits that you think is needed in order to succeed?
Some of the top qualities and traits I think you need to succeed are emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and good communication skills. Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of your emotions. Also, being able to control your emotions (when needed) and be aware of the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence doesn’t mean hiding your emotions or not having feelings, but it does mean managing your emotions and not being led by them. This trait also means you can show empathy and compassion for others. Self-awareness is related to emotional intelligence, it means knowing who you are, what your needs and values are. Being self-aware helps you to get help when needed and it also lets you know if you can help someone else or if you need additional resources. Self-awareness helps you to lead and even to be a team player. A final trait is that one needs to succeed is good communication. Good communication refers to oral and written communication as well as good listening skills. Another area of communication refers to non-verbal communication. Our voices and facial expressions can relay messages and your body can be displaying a different message.
Any major accomplishments you would like to share?
In my professional career, I am proud to have collaborated with scientists and contributed to the scientific literature by publishing scientific research articles, a book chapter and a patent. However, a major accomplishment was the writing and release of my Christian health book entitled “Put That Fried Chicken Down, Five Simple Steps for Southerners to Jumpstart Their Health Journey.” My book will help you to increase awareness of your diet, learn why you have poor eating habits, learn practical skills and strategies to improve your eating habits.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their career and life?
Don’t be afraid to take positive risks in your career and life. Pursue your degree, start a business or non-profit organization, apply for the new position, you get the idea. You never want to look back over your life and say “I wish I would have done…” At times fear will creep in to try to stop you from achieving your goals and dreams, but you must put fear to rest by pressing through and starting something new. My favorite scripture verse is Isaiah 43:19. It reads, Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Contact Info (includes: website information, product information, list of services, etc.)
Health Coaching Services:
- Virtual Smart Shopping (grocery) Tour
2. Individual Consultations
3. Virtual Book Clubs
Contact Info for Health Coaching:
Website: www.drjenniferwhitmon.com
Email: drjenniferwhitmon@gmail.com
Facebook: @drjwhitmonhealthcoach
Facebook Group- Put That Fried Chicken Down VIPs
Book: Put That Fried Chicken Down available where books are sold (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble)
Clubhouse: @jenniferwhitmon
This series is dedicated to highlighting trailblazing women of color that are leaders in their careers as well as in their communities. From public health professionals, to educators, professors, and influencers, these women bring in fresh perspectives, talent, and creativity. They continue to break barriers even till this day, which serves as a reminder that “women belong in all places where decisions are being made” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
So Long 2019….I See You 2020!
Oh, hey 2020!!!
WHEW!!! What a YEAR.
The Christmas break is a wonderful time to reflect on your year……..your success, your failures, on the lessons you’ve learned, and victories you’ve won. For me, I’ve experienced lessons of excitement, confusion, overwhelm, persistence, and FULFILLMENT.
I am beyond excited because I finally got started with something that I could call my own and I knew that it would be very fulfilling. I will admit this journey hasn’t been easy; some ups, some downs, some lessons learned, some tears, but along with that, also came love, joy, appreciation, and TRUST.
As the year comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the year I have had.
2019: Year in a Nutshell
At the start of 2019, still on maternity leave and NO job, I had a vision that I would start my own business. In fact it was the birth of my daughter that kicked off this whole thing. After going on multiple job interviews and getting ZERO offers, all while sometimes questioning myself yet remaining faithful and patient, I decided to just go for it. I honestly didn’t think I would explore the idea of it until later on. But what led me to wanting to start my own business especially after being unemployed for 10 months was:
- Not Waiting Around For Someone To Hire Me or Validate My Unique Talents And Skills.
- Establish Generational Wealth and Leave a Legacy For My Children And Family.
- Teach My Daughter That We As Women Can Do Anything and Be Anything We Want To Be.
My very own life experiences have inspired me to want to help others pursue their passion and accomplish their goals. More importantly, I want financial freedom and flexibility in my day to day schedule, and more time to do the things I love like spend time with my family and travel. Since February of 2019, I have begun the journey of chasing my dreams to entrepreneurship. I founded and created The Nerdy CEO as a platform to educate and encourage women to pursue and follow their dreams and ensuring that they have the support, resources, self-confidence, and conviction to achieve their goals.
In March, I returned back to work full-time as a Scientist all while still chasing the entrepreneurial dream. As I was re-adjusting to being back in the workforce after being out on maternity leave, I was silently working on building and developing my brand. What I learned during this process is that building a business doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes dedication, passion, consistency, early mornings, late nights, weekends, discipline, obedience, and most importantly, investing in yourself.
After many early mornings and late nights, I finally announced The Nerdy CEO publicly on my personal social media platforms and launched my website which was super exciting. We received so much love and support from many followers.
During the month of July, I released my very first eBooks, Think Like a Boss: The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Business and What’s Your Brand 101, which has already been a game changer for many of our readers.
Both of these eBooks are filled with:
- Action steps to get you EXECUTING.
- A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Business
- A Beginner’s Guide to Establishing Your Brand
- An Extensive List of Free and Paid Online Resources that I personally use for my business.
- Key Tips to Staying Focused on Your Journey to Success
Her new eBook, "What's Your Brand 101"....This is a great read and must have. Started reading this morning and finished in one day. Great nuggets and points when seeking clarity for your brand! I've applied a few strategies already. I recommend this to anyone building a brand or company that needs to sharpen their current one!
Not only was her eBook, "Think Like a Boss: Ultimate Guide for Starting a Business" an easy and quick read, it also provided me the extra motivation I needed to get my book ideas out of my head and onto my think pad. I have pushed ideas around for a long time, but now thanks to The Nerdy CEO, I have found my momentum. I cannot wait to see where this road leads. Hopefully, to the Times Best Seller List :).
You have reignited my desire to build my social media marketing company. I have reserved my name on godaddy, established my portfolio, and got my first few clients. Thanks so much.
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August was also a busy month because we launched our very first physical product, our “She Can & She Will” tanks in which was a huge hit as we closed out Summer 2019. This tank was created to empower and inspire women to create the life we love and to believe in ourselves. Even when you don’t know, believe you can, because you can.
Another highlight for the month of August was our feature in Voyage ATL, an Atlanta based online magazine that shares inspiring stories on up and coming businesses in the metro area. It is a platform that fosters collaboration and support for small businesses, independent artists, and entrepreneurs, local institutions, and those that make the city of Atlanta interesting.
Voyage ATL believes in changing the way people spend their money – rather than spending it with the big, cookie-cutter corporations they want their viewers to spend their money with the independent, creative, local entrepreneurs, small businesses and artists.
We were super excited about the feature as it gave us some exposure by being a new business and the opportunity to expand our network.
To read the full article, check it out here: http://voyageatl.com/interview/meet-marsenia-mathis-nerdy-ceo-powder-springs/.
Over the course of September and October, I wrote a Career Development Series on a previous blog post What is Career Fulfillment? and on our social feeds providing different tips to help you excel in your career and you’d be amazed at some of the feedback we received from members in the community in terms of getting promotions and landing new job opportunities. Absolutely AMAZING stuff!!!!
“I’ve been following your career tips from your Career Development series and I just
want you to know that I got the job I applied for.”
"Your Nerdy CEO career lessons kept me motivated each week. I updated my
resume to fit the job description I was applying for as you stated and I focused on
the prize. I am happy to announce that I received the job promotion. Thank you
soooo much for your weekly motivation.”
"After having my resume and cover letter re-written, I began to see an increase in call backs from job applications I recently submitted. If you're resume needs a face-lift, I highly recommend working with The Nerdy CEO. It was just the boost I needed to take my career to the next level."
"A cover letter is so important. I will skip over a resume if it doesn't have a cover letter with it".
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In November, I had the opportunity to be the guest keynote speaker for Year Up Greater Atlanta annual Women’s Conference. Not only was I able to introduce this platform, I was able to tell MY STORY and share my journey with hopes of inspiring the young budding professionals of the organization.
That’s a lot of BIG things for a small business to accomplish in such a short amount of time! Why am I re-capping all of this? Well as I look back on how much we have accomplished here at the Nerdy CEO in such a short amount of time, I can truly say that I am so thankful for this journey that I am on.
None of this happened overnight, but these small wins all have something in common. Something I now spend my time helping other women do. I started my own business to help other women follow their passion by discovering their dream career or dream business. It is changing my life in such a major way that I knew I had to share this others.
It is YOU that keeps me going hard EVERY single day. My ultimate goal is to build a company to help people (like you and me) and being dedicated to showing others that anything is possible. Yes, to some this may seem like small progress, but you know what, small wins lead to BIG results.
AND GUESS WHAT? We’re not stopping here. We’ve got huge plans for 2020 to take The Nerdy CEO to the next level some of which includes:
- Expanding our Brand to More Social Media Platforms
- Career Women Series Recognizing Some Trail Blazing Women in STEM
- Developing more Local & Global Partnerships
- Growing our Team
- Scholarship Give Away to (a graduating high school senior with pursuit of STEM focused major)
And sooo much more!
As we look back at 2019 to see such huge accomplishments in such a short amount of time, I can only imagine what 2020 has in store for us.
What's Your 20/20 Vision?
We are now approaching a new decade, and you’ve probably seen and heard a lot of talk about the year of 2020. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for success, setting my intentions, and manifesting my goals. What are some goals you would like to see manifest in 2020?
If you can imagine yourself where you want to be, then creating a vision for your future life not only helps you discover your true desires, it also helps bring them to pass. If you’re reading this blog post, remember you have a purpose to fulfill and it is time to challenge yourself and write your 2020 vision.
- Challenge yourself by writing your vision—your goals—so that you may see them unfold and come to pass.
- Challenge yourself by pursuing them.
- Challenge yourself by pushing yourself beyond your self-imposed limitations and excuses.
- Challenge yourself to achieve something specific every week or every month this year.
- Challenge yourself and go for it. Whatever “it” is, you can and will achieve it. If you go for it. So, “Just do it.”
As we wrap up this final week of the Holidays and this decade, I want to remind you of this magical decade ahead.
My wish for you is to take full advantage of this beautiful time by…
- Reflecting on the past year
- Step into those big visions, write them out and make it plain.
- Feel grounded in your present
- Plan, dream, and take much-needed rest.
It’s my favorite time of the year for so many reasons, but the BIG dreams that happen during this time always get me energized for the year ahead. Whether you have worked with me in one of my programs or are brand new to my tribe- thank you for being part of my community! I hope I can help you in 2020 by discovering your passion, your dream job, or new business.
Here’s wishing you much success in 2020!
The Gift That Keeps Giving
The Importance of Giving Back this Holiday Season
The Gift That Keeps Giving
It’s that time of year again. I just love the holidays!!!
Why? Well it’s the season where we express two major “G” terms: GRATITUDE and GIVING.
Can you imagine what the holidays would be like without expressing gratitude or “giving back” being such a major part of it? It isn’t something that some of us jump up for immediately and too many of us are focused on our day to day hustle and bustle to even consider the thought of giving back.
Volunteering and giving back to your community is so much more than just meeting some school or organization requirement(s). It’s an incredibly rewarding, and life-changing experience. Some people believe that you have to be rich or have tons of time to give back. However, that couldn’t be truer. You don’t need to be loaded to help. What you need is a heart of kindness, the sense of caring, and motivation.
PARTYING WITH A PURPOSE
By now you should know it is no secret that I like to help others. Personally, I feel like it’s a part of my responsibility in this world to give back. Giving back is where you give, and then you don’t expect anything back in return. No benefits for you, no recognition, nothing substantial gets sent your way. Your biggest reward is the realization that you’ve made a momentous difference and positive change in someone’s life.
If you know me personally, you should know that I’m a social butterfly and I’m always down for attending a social event especially a themed party (more of a reason to get dressed up :)). A few years back, the holidays were quickly approaching, and I had the idea to host an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party. Now anytime I, myself or my sisters host an event, we usually bring out the crowd. So, with the party in mind and being in the spirit of giving, I figured we could turn the Ugly Sweater Party into a “Party with a Purpose” brunch. And that’s exactly what we did. We reached out to several local charities and organizations and from there, we partnered with a local homeless shelter to help fulfill the needs they so desired. Since then, we’ve made an effort to implement this as our way of giving back every year around the holidays by asking our family and friends to donate toiletries, clothes, and shoes, for a Women and Children’s Shelter in the Atlanta metro area.
From this event, we were able to provide the Women and Children’s Shelter with an assortment of toys, clothes, and hygiene products. More importantly, we were able to provide support to someone- something a person needed to get back on their feet, to find a fresh start, and have hope for the future.
The feeling of kindness, humanity, and a sense of appreciation somehow awakens when we give to people. There is nothing greater to center our focus in this world than understanding just how much we have to be grateful for. This comes from being in direct contact with the act of giving to people who are less fortunate than ourselves.
GIVING BACK THROUGH MY BELOVED SORORITY
Another avenue I use as a source to “Give Back” and serve my community is through my beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Since joining the organization in 2005, I’ve participated in a countless number of volunteer and community service projects.
Perfect example: Just this year and alongside with my fellow Chapter sorors, we collected over 1,000 pairs of gently worn shoes for one of our program targets that will be used to donate to children and adults in less developed countries through partnerships with international organizations. Similarly, we collected pillowcases and used them to make dresses for little girls and shirts for little boys. The pillowcase dresses and shirts will be sent to under-served international areas as well to provide clothing for children in need that will enable them to attend school and go about their daily lives with the dignity of the basic necessity of clothing.
So, you see, when you are engaged in philanthropic and humanitarian activities you somehow can’t help but be touched as a human being. Your emotional awareness increases, your care and consideration for others is awakened and you are exposed to new and different people. You will grow ultimately as a person.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT ONE OF ATLANTA’S PREMIERE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Just last month, I was invited as a special guest to be the keynote speaker for Year Up Greater Atlanta annual Women’s’ Conference. The theme was ElevateHER: How to Empower and Elevate Women in the Workplace. Not only was I able to introduce this platform, I was able to tell my story and share my journey, in hopes of inspiring their young budding professionals. In that moment and even now, I want YOU, my readers and followers to know that your dreams aren’t too big. YOU are more than enough. YOU have the POWER to do and be ANYHTING your heart so desires. My heart was so full from this particular event and I felt such gratification afterwards because I know for certain I had touched someone’s life and that I made a difference.
A CHEERFUL GIVER
The attitude behind “Giving Back” really matters. There is a huge difference between buying stuff that you feel (or are) obligated to, and purposefully (and cheerfully) giving something to another person. The bible teaches us that is better to give than to receive. So, if you need a little boost to your giving attitude this year and the year to come, do a little meditating on some of my favorite scriptures below.
2 Corinthians 9: 6-8
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Proverbs 11:25
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
Do you feel a personal responsibility to help others?
Giving isn’t just about making a donation. It is about making a difference. Giving back to your community through non-profit organizations, volunteer groups, charity or other means does so much to help those in need and contribute to the common good. You can give back in many different ways. No matter how you do it, giving back to your community will touch many people’s lives. Whether it’s making a charitable donation to support a cause, volunteering at a local event, or helping a neighbor. Even the smallest good deed can awaken change and positively impact the community by providing a renewed sense of hope.
Motivational Tip: You have two hands. One to help yourself. The second to help others.
Mommy Moves & Money Moves: How to Find Balance between “Mommying” and Career.
Mommy Moves & Money Moves: How to Find Balance between “Mommying” and Career.
Everyone knows that moms are sheroes. It’s a job where you can’t just clock out at five and yet you’re working every hour under the sun. As a mom, you’re juggling a lot on your plate: being a wife, taking care of the house, taking care of the kids, taking care of yourself, and working a full-time job. You devote yourself to learning everything there is to know about “mommying”.
But for many new moms like myself, we have anxiety and this sense of expectancy to act as though nothing has changed at the office. After being away from work for ten months, I definitely felt like I had to prove to myself and to my colleagues that I had it all together and hadn’t missed a beat. But the reality of getting into the office extra early in the mornings to do some work to meet a deadline or being available in the late evenings to join fellow colleagues for Happy Hour is slim to non-existent.
Being a full-time working mother can lead to feelings of guilt and stress because of divided attention between work and family. I recently spoke with 5 working moms who work full-time, raise children, and maintain their homes, and here’s a synopsis of what they had to say about trying to balance career and home life:
1. “One thing I had to realize while raising two little humans and working full-time is that it is ok to let things fall through the cracks per se. It is perfectly ok if the kids have pizza for dinner because I didn’t have time to cook. It is perfectly ok to not have all of the clothes folded because we spent all Saturday playing outside. We as moms need to stop being so hard on ourselves and just let life happen.”
Nadia Rahaman, MBA , Director of Development at Fort Valley State University.
2. “Working full time and raising a family is extremely challenging. I often find myself trying to balance the two…trying to do my best at work, wanting to shine and climb the career ladder, while also trying to manage home, and more specifically my children. From sick babies at daycare, to routine medical appointments, and any issues at school that require me to miss work.
Then there are the day to day activities that require my attention after work like cooking, cleaning, homework, and extracurricular activities as well as wanting to spend quality time with my husband and children. All of it can be overwhelming and sometimes makes me feel that I’m not excelling at either. When I do feel like I’m excelling at one, I feel I’m “just getting by” or possibly even failing at the other”.
Cynthia M. Cain, MPA, Senior Administrative Manager at Georgia State University.
3. “Work-life balance is the Holy Grail for most working women. We put so much pressure on ourselves by trying to take care of everything both at work and at home that we often put ourselves on the back burner. Achieving the perfect work-life balance should not be our end goal because life is not perfect; we are not perfect people and that is okay! I am fortunate enough to be working with an incredible manager that helped me understand this concept. When I am at work, I focus all my efforts on doing a good job but once I am home I switch gears and do my best to be fully engaged with my kids and partner. However, the biggest challenge has been to make time for myself!
It took years but I realized that in order to succeed in my career and at home, I needed time to decompress, reset, and clear my mind. I am learning to make time to go to the gym a few times a week and to schedule time with my friends independent of work and family. This has been challenging especially when my travel schedule is hectic but when I make a point to do these things I notice that I am less stressed and in a better mood. Happy me = better mom, spouse, and professional”!
Brunie Burgos-White, Ph.D, Field Applications Scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
4. “It can be difficult to find the right balance with being a mom and working in the corporate world. I often feel guilty that my quality time with my family is so limited during the week due to my busy work schedule so I try to make our interactions count whenever possible. For example with my daughters, I do my best to incorporate girl talks on the way to school and while I’m doing their hair. We have meaningful conversations, I learn what’s going on with them, and it gives us something to look forward to.
Cara Freeman, MS, Provider Collaboration Manager., Sr. at Anthem, Inc.
5. “Working a full time job and raising a child is not an act of balance but integration. The opportunities that we have as adults allow us to be trailblazers for our kids and expose them to the world. Integration allows some of these experiences to be free of cost, educational, impromptu, and also mitigates stereotypes in society of what a “mom” or “woman” looks like.
My son reminds me that I am “real” whether in my white coat or in sweatpants and a cap. I am not defined by one individual title, but have the versatility to wear many hats. I am an asset to many but I find joy in being blessed to have all that I need to care for and enjoy my son. Do I miss him while I’m at work? Heck yeah! Do I get tired? Heck yeah! Do I take breaks? Heck yeah! Do I love it all? Heeeeck yeah! I am a true believer that all things work together in life. Live your life! You only get one shot at it”.
Monique Merritt-Atkins, Family Medicine Physician, M.D.
Women are inspiring. Between having children and handling work, we still manage to hold high-profile positions across different industries, we start our own businesses, and we raise families. As a first time mom to my now one year old daughter, working a fulltime job, and building a business from the ground up, I’m often asked, how do I “do it all”? My answer is simple…. I don’t. I do what I can and simply what needs to be done at that moment.
Prior to having a child, I believed in the idea that modern day women could “have it all” and “do it all”. You know the new age woman who has the career, marriage, health, happiness, and a relationship with her children simultaneously. Doesn’t seem like much right?
From my very own personal experience, I am learning that there is no one right answer on how to balance career and motherhood. I have also realized that I can’t do everything so I make a list of what is most important to me and what is the least important. Sometimes when I hear the word supermom, it gives me a little bit of anxiety because the term puts so much pressure on us women and creates a sense of overwhelm. But I remind myself daily that what doesn’t get done today, it’s perfectly ok. There’s always tomorrow. I no longer beat myself up about not getting the dishes washed after a long’s day work and coming home to cook a full course meal or if the clothes aren’t folded and put up right away once I’ve taken them out of the dryer.
With that disclosure, I share below 5 ways moms can balance work and life. Some of these tips I knew in advance thanks to some other awesome mothers out there (i.e. my sisters, my best girlfriends, and colleagues) for sharing wonderful advice. Now these are my go to ways that works for me. The key is to do what’s best for you and your family and focus on a plan, get organized, and find the right balance between profession and parenthood. How you do it depends on several distinctive factors: your home life, what you want, and the type of job you have.
1. Quit comparing yourself to other moms.
You know you do it. I’m even guilty of doing it from time to time. We compare ourselves to other moms all the time. In fact, it is human nature to compare ourselves to other people period. I don’t know why….we just do.
As moms, there are so many things we have to make decisions about. And we make them based on advice we’ve received, research we’ve done, and based on what we have actually seen that we did or didn’t like. Sometimes we are unsure of how it’s going to turn out.
So we look around us to see other parents in parallel life stages and we think that if they have measurable results, it will give us some perspective and provision for why we choose to do the things that we do. Instead of measuring yourself against other moms, compare the woman you are today to the woman you used to be. Surely you’ve made some huge accomplishments, both then and now. Give yourself credit for all the things you’re great at.
2. Mommy Guilt? Let it go.
The majority of mother’s I know (especially first time moms) have tremendous guilt, “Mommy Guilt” that is. Mom guilt is the feeling of guilt, doubt, anxiety, and uncertainty experienced by mothers when they worry they’re falling short of expectations in some way.
We work so hard to be good parents and we come down so hard on ourselves when we fall short of the expectations we set. We feel guilty for working, for dropping the kids off, for yelling, for not doing enough, or for pushing too hard.
Every time you start to feel guilty about something, take a pause and then name 5 things in your head or on paper that you are good at as a mom. Focusing on these 5 things will help you see the good things that you do and will help you shift your perspective and enjoy motherhood a whole lot more.
3. Time Management
For some, time management can be a challenging ability to master. In fact, many working mothers agree that there simply isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. Even the most organized working mom can become stressed out when short on time. I have learned some of the best time management secrets and they are to create an efficient morning routine, leave parental responsibilities at home when you’re at work, and when you walk in the door after work, put on your “mommy hat” and “wife hat” and leave your job responsibilities at the office.
- If you want to start your day without being frazzled, try getting organized the night before. I wrote about this in one of my previous blogs “My Super-Efficient Morning Routine” and preparing the night before. If you can pack lunches, laptop bags, lay out clothes, car keys, etc. the night before, it will save you so much time in the morning and can get you out of the house on time.
- When at your workplace, try to avoid wasting time as much as possible. That includes spontaneous Internet surfing, office gossiping, and long lunch breaks. These are deviations that will make you less productive. I know. I know. It’s hard sometimes to not get caught up in the moment but you have to focus on your tasks at work so that you can check off that to-do list.
- Similarly, when you walk in the door from work, put on that mommy/wife hat and give your undivided attention to your family. If your job requires you to take home work, complete these tasks AFTER the children are in bed. If you have the capability to work from home, make sure there is an end to your day, which means closing your home office door and leave work. It’s all about being present, engaged, and attentive in whatever role you are currently in.
4. Spend Time with Your Partner and Children
,After a long’s day at work, picking up the kids from school, you may have to go to the grocery store and run errands, then when you get home there’s the cooking, the clean-up, the preparation for the next day, the never ending attempt to make your home look somewhat spotless (if you have a toddler you will completely understand). So where in all of this do you get to spend time with your partner? Often times, if you’re busy with work and home, your partner is the first to get neglected. You have to remember to nurture your relationship with your partner, who’s often the number one person by your side.
If you can, start by having monthly date nights to get closer, feel rejuvenated, and enjoy each other’s company. Make time for conversations before bed whether it’s about what happened that day or if you’re making plans. The key thing is to communicate with one another. I promise, just by making the effort to talk to your partner on a daily basis, you will feel more connected with each other and less frustrated with your day-to-day routines. You will be able to keep up with what’s happening and both be on the same page when it comes to your family and each other. Fostering your relationship with your partner will bring back some excitement to the marriage or partnership and help you to “check in” with each other.
There is such a stereotype that working women don’t prioritize their children or relationships above their working commitments. Between work and life responsibilities, the days pass us by in the blink of an eye. That’s when mommy guilt comes in to play. Many career moms feel worried that they don’t spend enough time with their child(ren). Take Career Mom Cara Freeman, for example…..she says being a working mom of two girls with distinctly different personalities is very tricky and she’s learned to not try to parent them both the same but to learn their personalities and parent according to their needs. “One child may need more affection whereas the other may just need more patience to figure things out for herself”, she says.
As working moms, you have to put the needs of your partner and children first, then make time to build your dreams.
5. Self Care
The concept of self care is one that we hear about more and more these days. Finding “Me Time” is a necessity and can very well fit into your schedule if you manage your time wisely. A refreshing break will help you revitalize while taking care of personal needs. Because your time is divided between your home and career, be sure to manage your energy well.
You can’t be an effective spouse or parent if you’re always tired and cranky, so take some time to care for yourself to feel relaxed and effective. Run yourself a nice bubble bath at least once a week, do some recreational reading before bed, or treat yourself to a mani/pedi or spa day. Try to squeeze in time for some physical activity or concentrate on a hobby that interest you. The idea is to make time for yourself. Remember to eat well and get plenty of rest. These are simple things that even the smartest moms neglect.
Knowing when to say NO is a self-care tip that I’m personally learning and most moms tend to have a hard time with. Between your personal life and work, it feels like you’re always saying yes when people ask you for something. If you feel like you’re spread to thin, grant yourself the ultimate luxury by saying NO.
I hope that you’ve gained some insight on how to make mommy moves and money moves. Again, it’s about integration and what your ultimate goal is and what you’re trying to achieve at home and at the office. But don’t be too hard on yourself mom. You’ve got this! Pat yourself on the back!
P.S. This blog post is dedicated to my sweet little Maisyn who is my reason behind this new endeavor.
How To Start a Successful Blog & Make Money From It
8 Easy Steps to Setting Up a Blog that Makes Money
HOW TO START A SUCCESSFUL BLOG and MAKE MONEY FROM IT
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission on purchases and/or clicks. Rest assured, I only recommend products that I have personally tried and loved. Thanks for supporting The Nerdy CEO :).
Do you want to learn how to start a blog and actually get paid for it? If so, then you’re in the right place. In current times, blogging has been seen as a very relevant and sometimes lucrative means of sharing all sort of news and information including topics such as sports, politics, technology, entertainment, science, fashion, pets, lifestyle, etc. Some people even create blogs simply to share details about their personal life experiences for readers to learn from.
I personally believe that anyone can create a successful, inspiring, and profitable blog if they’re willing to put in the work, remain dedicated and consistent, and always keep learning how to do things better. Starting a blog isn’t as difficult as it may seem. However, there are still a lot of people that do not know how to get started. Most of them end up spending a lot of money without achieving the desired result they need.
My decision to starting my online business and learning how to blog and begin making money from it (on the side of my full-time job), is what led me to building this platform and eventually helping others do the same. And in this post, I’m going to walk you through my easy to follow step-by-step instructions to starting an attractive and professional looking blog and getting readers to love your content. It will take a little work on your part and a very small amount of money, but if you dedicate the time now, you will be set on a path that can lead you in the direction you never thought was possible.
By creating an eye-catching blog right from the start, you’re setting yourself up for success. It will help you grow your traffic much faster, build trust with your audience, and ultimately create a thriving online business with a healthy income.
I’m here to help guide you through this. In this guide for beginners, I’m going to show you everything you need to know when it comes to learning how to start a blog and eventually profit from it. So, if you’re ready to take a leap and learn how to start a blog, let’s get into this simple, step-by-step guide.
1. Pick Your Niche and Choose a Good Blog Topic
Yes! This is one of the important things you need to do when you are starting your blog. Really think about why you want to start a blog and what you want to achieve. You need to be clear on your vision for your blog and have a solid idea of what you want to write about.
While figuring out the name you want to choose, ensure that the name is in line with your passions, the niche you aim to write about in your blog, and the very brand you aim to represent. Your blog topic has to be unique, and if possible, specific. A lot of readers may not get easily attracted to your blog if you have so many topics or details in one blog. Most people create blogs about fashion, technology, science, sports, etc. It is very important to identify which one works well for you and excel at it. In summary, write about the things you love.
For starters, try to brainstorm 10-20 post ideas before you get started to make sure that you’re going in the right direction and have enough to talk about on your chosen topic.
2. Choose a domain name.
Now that you have your niche picked out…….great work. Let’s move on to the fun stuff. It’s time to choose your domain (site) name. This is very important. In order for people to know about your blog and read it, it has to be online. It should be something you like and something that relates to your niche, if possible. Mine is https://thenerdyceo.com. I love my domain name because it resonates with me as a person, my business brand, and my purpose for establishing this platform.
If you are sure that you are going to write about only one subject, then by all means pick a domain name that is very specific to your niche. However, if there’s a chance you would like to add more topics, it might be best to use a broader url. That way, it leaves it open for you to spread your wings without having to start a whole new blog. I do want to note that your url can be changed if you decide to change your mind.
Action Step: Write out a list of domain names you like and then do a search to see if it’s available. If the name is currently taken, there is really nothing you can do except to get a little creative. Try looking for synonyms of the word you were hoping to use. Trust me, after you start using a domain name for a while, it will start to feel like it was the name you were meant to have all along.
It is important to note that your domain name is not supposed to contain characters except a dash (-). If your desired extension (.com) has been taken, there are several other extensions that you can choose from. They are: .org, .co, .io, .co.uk, .co.us, etc. You can even choose a custom extension if you pay more.
Keep a short list of domain names and toss around which one you like best. Put some thought into this, but don’t let it paralyze you. Make a decision and move on to the next step which brings us to Web Hosting.
3. Host your Blog with Bluehost.
After choosing your domain name, the next thing you need to do in order to get your blog online is hosting. Hosting is the process of uploading your website or blog to a server. For those who intend to make money from their blog, it is very important that you pay for hosting.
I recommend using Bluehost for your hosting (that’s what I use with the Nerdy CEO). It’s very easy to launch your blog with their 1-click WordPress installation, and their customer service via phone or chat is excellent too.
BlueHost also has great plans that will help you get started in your hosting. If you intend to use WordPress.org (which we will discuss in the coming points), BlueHost comes in very highly recommended. It is simply the best hosting, and the beautiful thing about it is that it comes at an affordable price for beginners. Like we stated earlier, BlueHost gives you a free domain (.com) for the first year.
A Note about Costs: Having your site self-hosted will cost you a little bit of money. Sort of think of it as an investment for your business. This is a small price to pay to get your own business started. It’s an investment that can pay off over and over again if you put in the work.
Bluehost is the largest WordPress hosting company and are trusted by millions of bloggers (including myself). This current deal is as low as $3.95/mo depending on the plan you choose.
Select the “Get Started” GREEN button. There are 3 Choices for packages: Basic, Plus, and Choice Plus. If you are just starting out and you have limited resources, the basic plan will suit your needs just fine. But if you plan to have multiple sites in the future I would recommend you go with either “plus” or “choice plus”.
Click SELECT on your preferred plan to move to the next step.
As you can see on the screenshot below, there are 2 options:
Create a new domain – If you do not already own a domain for your blog yet, enter in your preferred domain name in the box and click NEXT:
I have a domain name – If you already own a domain (probably registered somewhere else), then enter your domain name in the box and click NEXT:
If you don’t have your domain name figured out yet, you can just select “Choose Free Domain Later” and proceed with the next steps.
Once you decide on your domain and confirm that it is available, you will need to create your Bluehost Account. Enter your details by filling in your order information.
After you create your Bluehost account, you will need to select your account plan and any package extras. You can choose your account plan based on how far in advance you want to pay for your hosting. When I first purchased hosting for The Nerdy CEO, I selected the 36 month account plan. The longer the length of time you pay for upfront, the cheaper the monthly price will be.
You don’t have to worry about selecting any of the package extras at this stage unless your plan doesn’t include Domain Privacy Protection. If your plan did not include this, I highly recommend that you purchase it as an add-on (so your name and contact information is not visible in the public domain registry).
The next section is Payment Information. Enter your credit/debit card information to pay for your web hosting. Remember that this is the total amount that you will pay for hosting for the time period that you selected for your Account Plan.
Fill in your payment details, agree to the terms of service, and click “Submit”.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! You did it! You are now officially a blog owner. But you’re not quite done yet! The next step is to create a password for your new Bluehost account.
Enter your password in both boxes, then agree to the terms of service, and click “Next”.
Once you create your password, you’re ready to log in to your new Bluehost account and get started installing and setting up WordPress.
Click the blue “Log In” button and enter your account details and password to log in to your Bluehost Account.
4. Getting Started with WordPress.
By now you have already decided on a niche for your blog, picked a domain name, and setup hosting for your site. Now, it’s time to get started with WordPress.
Like any other software program, it takes a little time to become an expert at WordPress. But, have no fear, WordPress is a very straightforward software program that will start making sense to you in no time.
WordPress is a widely used Content Management System (CMS). It is basically the software that will allow you to create and manage your digital content. It is very popular, and it is used by a lot of websites and blogs on the internet. One of the best things about getting started with Bluehost is that it will automatically install WordPress for you. This makes it super easy to get your blog started.
When you first log into WordPress, the dashboard may first appear to be daunting and confusing and you might find yourself getting overwhelmed with all of the options in the side bar. Spend some time clicking around to see the different sections. In reality, the layout is very simple and it will begin to make sense to you as you start playing around with it.
Here are some of the really important sections which can be found along the left hand menu:
- Posts: This is how and where you will write your posts
- Pages: These would be main categories of your site. Home page, About Me, Contact, etc.
- Appearance: This is how you customize the appearance of your site by choosing a theme in which we will discuss in the next step.
- Settings: A good place to start so you can begin filling in personalized information about your site.
Look through all the sections first before you start making any changes. When you have a level of knowledge and understanding, begin customizing your blog….start in Settings, then move on to Appearance.
Important Note: Do NOT I repeat, do NOT go ahead and click the button to launch your site at this stage. You’re not quite ready yet and I recommend getting your blog more established and looking the way you want it to before launching. Launch only when you feel like your website is up to par.
5. Choose a very good theme that suits your niche.
The next important thing I am going to cover is choosing a Theme. A theme is a template used to make your WordPress site look a certain way. The kind of theme you choose for your blog is part of what makes your blog stand out. A lot of readers will be first attracted to beautiful and eye catchy themes as well as pictures on your website. The theme you choose defines your blog in several ways.
Themes can be found on your site by going to the dashboard and clicking on Appearance, and then select Themes. There you will find a number of “Free” themes that are included with all WordPress installations. Some of the themes listed are pretty good, and may be good for getting your website started.
However, the disadvantage to free themes is that everyone that installs WordPress has access to these same themes. There may be many other sites out there that look like yours if you go this route. But, if you want your blog to stand out, I recommend purchasing a premium theme from a reliable source that offers ongoing support and updates to make sure that your theme remains up to date.
I purchased my very own theme with The Nerdy CEO from SparrowandSnow and I absolutely love it. I found their themes to be very unique, modern, and professionalthanks to its customizable settings: colors, fonts, layouts, and page configurations.
Installing your theme
Now, this part should be fairly simple; but it may vary depending on which theme you choose. If you’ve selected a theme from a reputable provider, it should come with step by step instructions (some will even provide a video tutorial) to complete the installation as well as how to customize the design once it is installed.
To install your theme, all you need to do is:
- Download the .zip file for the theme you purchased
- Open your WordPress dashboard
- Select“Appearance” on the left sidebar
- Select“Themes” from the drop down menu
- When the Themes page opens, click“Add New”
- On the next page, click“Upload Theme”
- Choose the .zip file that you previously downloaded and then click“Install Now”
- Once your theme is installed, click the“Activate” button to do so.
Note: If you feel this task to be overwhelming, your theme supplier will also offer installation services for an additional fee.
You have to carefully select either a free theme or purchase a paid theme that will be very good for your blog. After you have done this, you are free to start building your blog by getting a logo and creating your main pages.
Get a Logo
Once you’ve finished customizing your theme design, I recommend that you get a professional looking logo for your new blog. There are many places to go to get a great logo on the internet and there are many logo providers that will create you a logo for $5-$25. The fee varies depending on if you want a text based logo or a logo with a graphic image.
Look around and read the feedback. If you do have a bit of money left in your blog budget, you can find some lovely, reasonably priced logos from Fiverr, LogoScopic, or Ripl.
Or if you want to create your logo for free, there’s a free design website called Canva that is great for simple designs. I highly recommend it.
6. Start Creating Your Content.
Yes! You have reached the final stage of your blog creation. After you have customized your blog to suit your taste, you can now go ahead and start creating content. This is where you get to start really digging into your chosen blog topic.
There are two main questions that usually come up here and they are:
- What do I want to write about?
- How many posts do I need to create in order to launch?
Your first blog post should be something you will remember. Give it some thought. When you have a concept, just go with it. Make sure to tell a story in your post. You will build your audience by letting your personality shine through. Facts can be found anywhere, but presenting information in an informative and entertaining way will likely grow your following.
As with any content on your site, it doesn’t have to be perfect the first time it is published. It is very easy in WordPress to go back and revise posts or pages when you come up with new ideas. In fact, making changes and updates is looked upon favorably by Google and most readers.
Create and Publish Your Main Pages
Before you launch your blog, I recommend that you have some basic pages written and published. Some of these are necessary, while some are just nice to have. Your About Me page should be an easy one. Everyone loves talking about themselves. Tell everyone who you are and why you are starting this blog. If you have a particular background which qualifies you to be an expert on a subject, the place to toot your own horn is here J. Make sure you explain why you are doing this blog and also what makes you and it unique.
You should get started with the following pages:
- Home
- About
- Blog (I have my home and blog pages separate)
- Contact
- Privacy Policy
- Disclaimer
It is good to have at least a couple of really great posts ready before you launch so that your potential readers don’t just find an empty site if they happen to stumble upon your blog.
Don’t get too stuck on everything being perfect and complete before you launch. While it’s important to look polished and eye-catching, you really don’t need a ton of content to launch.
7. Prepare For Launch
As you are preparing to launch your brand new website, there are some additional tasks you should complete to make sure you’re fully operational and getting the traffic you need.
Sign Up For Google Analytics
This step is very important for new sites. Before you launch, you should definitely sign up for Google Analytics and make sure it is correctly set up on your site.
Google analytics will allow you to monitor your traffic right from the start and will provide valuable insights into all aspects of your blog traffic. You definitely want to be paying attention to this once you launch so that you can find your audience quicker and start increasing your page views.
Set Up Your Domain Email Address
Another important step that you should do before launching your blog is to set up an email account for your domain name.
This will allow you to have a specific email address for your domain, should subscribers want to contact you. For example, mine is hello@thenerdyceo.com.
I actually set my domain email address up through Bluehost. There are lots of good tutorials available to help you get set up. I recommend taking a look at this tutorial over at: https://my.bluehost.com/hosting/help/newemail.
Set Up Your Email Lists
Above I mentioned that you should set-up your domain email address and once you have that, you should set up your email list. One of the most important things you can do as a blogger is to establish an email list right from the start using an email service provider. Most established bloggers always talk about how they wish they had done it sooner.
This is where you will create all your emails that you send to your subscribers. For example, automated welcome and thank you emails and newsletters. You’ll use your email list to build the know, trust and like factor with your audience and nurture them into becoming buyers if you are selling your own products on your blog. Email marketing will play a big role in being profitable with your blog.
Set-up Your Social Media Accounts
Social media accounts play an important role in creating exposure for you and your blog content. In fact, some sponsors will pay for posts on your social media accounts if you can get a good following.
Do keep in mind that not all social media platforms will be applicable to your blog. A smart approach is to focus on growth of just 1-2 social media channels at a time. Pick whichever platform you feel like is the best fit for your message and your audience, as well as for your personality.
When you are setting up social media accounts, try using the same name as your site name. If it’s not available, pick something as close as possible. When that account is set up, share it in your personal profile(s) and invite your family and friends to like your page. Again tell everyone about your new blog and many will be interested in following you over there. For most of your social profiles, you will need to upload some cover graphics and/or a cover picture. If you have a logo, you can certainly use that.
Install a Few Basic Plugins
One last thing that I recommend you do before launching your blog is to install and set up some basic plugins. There are tons of plugins available, both paid and free.
To find the plugins page, go back to your WordPress dashboard again and find “Plugins” on your left sidebar. Then select “Add New”. Once you’re here you can search for your desired plugins. You’ll have to download the plugins you want and then activate them before you will be able to change the settings or use them.
For new bloggers just getting started, I recommend the following free plugins:
√Yoast SEO – This plugin is essential for helping you improve your post readability and ensure that your posts and pages are search engine optimized. This will mean that your posts have a better chance of ranking well in the Google search results in the future.
√Akismet – Helps block spam comments on your blog.
√MonsterInsights – This is a great plugin for Google Analytics. It will allow you to easily view your site stats once you get started.
8. Launch Your Blog
Are you overloaded yet? Whooooo!!!! You should give yourself a pat on the back, if you’ve made this far. Because this is the moment you’ve been waiting for……..You’re ready to LAUNCH!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
If you’ve followed all of the steps up to this point, you should have an eye catching blog set up the correct way.
The last thing you need to do to “go live” is to actually launch your blog.
To launch your blog, just follow these simple steps:
- Log into your WordPress dashboard, click on the “Bluehost”menu item on your left sidebar.
- Then click “Home”from the drop-down menu.
- Once you’re on the home page, the first thing you should see is a box that says “Launch Your Site”. Simply click the blue “Launch”button and enter the required details.
- Your site is now live!
Now that you’ve successfully created and launched your new blog, there are so many different things you can do to continue improving and growing your audience. Make sure that you continue to post great content and be consistent about it. Consistency is key. You may not start earning from your blog right away, but the most important thing is to never give up. I will later write a post about different ways to help monetize your blog so be on the lookout for that.
There you have it. I have given you 8 different step you can use to start and own a successful blog in 2019. As I mentioned earlier, it will require some work on your end, but the most important thing is to get started. So, grab your laptop, or any gadget you intend using to start your blog, go over to BlueHost, sign up, and get started.
If you found this guide helpful, I’d love it if you would spread the word. Share on social media to help others get started too. 🙂
Xo!
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