Always Be A Goal Digger Don’t Lose Your Shine

When I first started blogging John and I set a 5 year plan. We are half way through. It’s been 2 years and 8 months and I never dreamed I would be where I am at this point in my life. I am and will always be a GOAL DIGGER and in order to do that I need to keep making and working on my goals.

My very first goal as a blogger was to raise awareness for Adrenal Insufficiency and to somehow find a way to access the Adrenal Pump, a medication I so desperately needed. In fact it has been a long journey. It took years to get to the point but I did it. I accessed the pump and it made my quality of life better. I’m now on phase two which is to get the pump funded by the NHS which is a whole other battle and one I am working on. I can continue to share my experiences of Adrenal Insufficiency on the blog and continue to share my journey and I know it helps to spread awareness and to help others.

Another goal I had when I started out as a blogger was to reach 1 million page views. I was almost there after two years on the Days In Bed blog and nearly reaching this goal, I went and rebranded my blog. I got a new name The Inspiration Edit and with that new blog I had to start at o page views all over again. Well guess what… In a few weeks when my new blog reaches it’s first birthday I will have hit the 1 Million mark!

I know, I know, it’s crazy but I am almost there. In less than a year I will have had 1 million page views and will smash my page view goal at last. I will then have to set a new goal for page views ha ha!

One goal I had was for my blog to provide an income for my family. This is something that takes time, hard work and sacrifice. I can’t work on the blog in the way I’d like to due to my health and that can be for me frustrating at times but I am working hard and so is my hubby who helps out with lots of techy things including editing videos and together we will eventually reach our financial goals. We just have to work at it like any other couple.

When I first started blogging I thought it would be great to be an ambassador for a brand, to review a cool toy or go on a trip. We have done all of these things. I used to see bloggers reviewing amazing toys and think, I wish I could do that. I remember going to BritMums in 2015 during my first year of blogging and meeting some toy brands. They were not interested in working with me. I saw others who had attended get the toys to review and I wondered what I was doing wrong. Why I was not good enough. What more could I do. I learnt it was not about being good enough but about work. I had to work and work to get to that point.

So that is what I did. I begun reviewing toys which we got as a family for Sylvia’s birthday. I reviewed our own toys, Sylvia’s gifts and just kept writing until one year ago I was approached by Hasbro and asked to join the toy tribe. We now review amazing toys regular not just for Hasbro but for Disney stores and Smyths toys as well as a few other brands and we love it.

I just had to set a goal and work towards it and that’s what I did.

I spent 6 years at University studying for my degrees and I can honestly say I have worked harder on the blog, writing, promoting, studying, researching and implementing all I learn. My work as a blogger has been harder than anything I ever did at University. It is tough. I get rejection a lot. I get declined, sometimes feel like I failed. I get trolled, I’ve even been told that I should not be on my “human growth hormone medication” because I am fat enough and told to go and hang myself instead”. That’s what Trolls are like!

Yes! That is part of the cruel world of social media, nasty comments but you know what! I am a GOAL DIGGER! I am determined and I will keep fighting for what I want.

In the past few months I have had some amazing collaborations. One was at Disneyland of all places! We worked with A.O.com and I got an awesome new tablet and a LG Washing Machine. My page views have grown massively and I have been smashing my 2017 goals.

Despite my illness and feeling sick a lot I am doing all I can to become a success. I am a GOAL DIGGER. I have just set some new goals for September through to December 2017 and I wanted to share them here on the blog. So here they are,

GOAL DIGGER GOALS

Reach 1 Million page views by October 2017..

Figure out my ideal reader..

Plan Blog Content that I love to write..that makes me happy..

Reach 3000 followers on Facebook

Reach 20,000 followers on Twitter

Reach 8,000 followers on Instagram

Reach 10,000 followers on Pinterest

Make 2 new pins per week for old blog posts.

Work with brands on a Kids Christmas Gift Guide

Create a Youtube Video about my Adrenal Pump

Create an action plan to get the adrenal pump funded in 2018 and share online

Pitch for autumn/winter throws and cushions to spruce up the lounge

Attend BritMums and go on the Thames Cruise as a BritMums Finalist – Yeah! I am a finalist in the Inspire category!

Buy a new dress for BritMums

Get my hair mermaid coloured and then do new photos for the blog and social media

Have a family photo shoot and create an awesome intro for my new youtube channel

Work with Roco Clothing on their Autumn Kids dress collection

Do a Beauty and the Beast themed Fashion shoot with Sylvia

Continue to say no to people who undervalue my work

Speak Out about Abuse once per month

Get Published on a popular website before Christmas

Take a week off from Blogging and Social Media at Christmas

Create a blog plan in December for 2018

So these are my goals for the rest of the year. I am going to work hard despite my challenges and my illnesses and smash them! I know I can if I just work hard whenever I can.

Angela x