If your mind is already spinning and you are feeling a little guilty for not fully reading through contracts in the past as well as you maybe should have, don’t worry. In this blog, I’m breaking down 3 key parts of a contract to pay attention to and what they mean.

It’s no surprise that CES is one of the most anticipated events every year, as brands from all around the world show up to show off their latest innovative concepts. I had the pleasure of attending my first ever CES with Dell this year and while I knew it was going to be a good time, I didn’t expect to have also learned some key life lessons along the way.

With what’s left of this decade, I’m already putting together plans, ideas, and goals to conquer 2020, by cleaning up and organizing my life and business. Of course, this involves a lot of reflecting, goal setting, and, of course, rest -- because who wants to be burnt out or exhausted within the new year? I’ll probably go into full hibernation mode for at least 2 days between the 27th and 31st.

But until then, here’s how we can start 2020 strong, together!

If you’re someone who is always online (like me), whether it’s for work or leisure, then you know that safety is a priority. From streaming videos to purchasing those holiday gifts this season, Google wants to ensure that you’re safe online with tips and products that 100% free.

Let’s talk about productivity and motivation, and how they are actually two different concepts. The way I see it, motivation is the fuel to put your ideas and dreams into drive. Meanwhile, productivity is what keeps the car going. It’s you stepping on the gas to keep the car in motion by completing the tasks, projects, etc. required to keep your business alive.

Through all the trials and errors, I’m grateful that, four years later, I have made it work (well, at least I think I have, hah). Of course, I learned some things along the way and have narrowed down some tips that may help you if you’re currently struggling.

I'm currently balancing grad school and blogging full-time, and have been asked a few times how I handle it all. Truthfully, I'm still trying to find the right balance of both but for now, this is what's currently working for me.

Take and adjust these tips as needed and above all, do what works for you.

One of the most asked questions I get is, “how can I work with hotels too?”

To help answer this, I’ve rounded up a handful of my favorite hotels to provide advice and tips on how a blogger can land a complimentary stay.

I stalled, I broke down, I required a lot of maintenance and even today, I still have times where I need to pull over and readjust myself — but guess what? That’s OK. We’re human, so we’re meant to explore especially in our 20’s and even in our 30’s, it’s OK to change lanes. You should never stay in a place that feels forced and makes you unhappy. There’s no limit to how many times you can restart.

How many times have you told someone that something else was basically more important than them? Guilty of this, as I have rescheduled things plenty of time in hopes that this last minute opportunity was going to be worth it. Unfortunately, most of the time, it turns out to be a waste of time.

Despite what many may think, turning 30 is not scary. In fact, I was overjoyed at turning 30 and I know it may sound weird, but I felt a new energy settle into my life this past year. I didn’t care about what people thought as much, I wasn’t tolerating any bullshit anymore, and through a handful of life lessons, I had a better realization of who I am and what I want my future to look like. As they say, “30 is the new 20”, and I truly believe that my life has just started.

If there's one thing I believe I am good at, it is balancing productivity with activities when I'm on vacation. Yeah, it's the one time I'm supposed to relax but let's be real here, when you're the CEO of your own business, you really don't have much of a choice. That is, until you grow into an empire with several employees and a trusted manager to watch over the company when you're gone.

Self promotion, when done correctly can increase the visibility of your brand and drive more traffic to your blog/website/store, while gaining more followers through the process.

When done badly, you can easily sound like a broken record, become really annoying to your peers, and/or sound like you're just showing off. 

In my opinion, and I believe most brands and PR companies will agree, that is better to have one. It cuts down on the back and forth emailing, as you can just send your kit over and it'll answer all their questions regarding statics and following. It also gives the brand an idea of the quality of work you do, the partnerships you've had, and what they can basically expect from you. Essentially, it is your resume.

Success is not based on luck; it is not based on how much money you had to start with or what family you were born into. Success is something that is earned, that is given to those who want it badly enough. If you ask me right now if I consider myself successful, the answer is no. I have a long way to go and a lot more to do. I'm still young, we all are, and as Gary Vaynerchuk consistently echoes, "you have to be patient."

With the start of a new job, I've been extremely busy and am still recovering from our Vegas trade show. It's no secret that as you get older, your body starts to slow down. Therefore, breaks are mandatory and taking some time for yourself is essential in surviving.