The life question: where to next?

Now that I’ve graduated college and promised myself that I won’t take a job that I’m not passionate about, I have to admit that the future has become a lot more daunting a thought than previously. I’ve quickly moved from unable to interview anywhere (since I was off in London), applying and interviewing for a bunch of jobs, and slowly coming to realize that the hobby I’ve pursued for years is something I want to actively attempt to make a career of. I actually interviewed with a company and, when asked why I wasn’t continuing my freelance career further, told them it wasn’t something I considered to be valuable – then proceeded to not follow up with that company because I realized this may be exactly what I want to do after all.

With my thriving WordPress design business and the new accompanying web design blog, I’ve decided to tack on another goal: turn this site into a regularly updated page and monetize it. Don’t give me such a hard time yet – I’ve only just returned home again and I know that any successful business needs to be well planned. So while I continue to build up Lauren Gray Designs and Once Coupled, I will also plan this site. Re-branding it from a college student’s personal blog to a graduate’s journey in life of following her passions, giving up her preconceived ideas of success, and perhaps some light-hearted struggles with following some man around, will be the first step (not to mention a face lift – I love new blog designs)! Oh, and some holiday content! Valentine’s day nail designs and such, because I needed an excuse to buy 10 slightly different shades of red! ;)

Though I read articles every day, I’m really interested in attending a conference to network with others, learn tricks of the trade, and just generally become more confident in my abilities. I’m looking at costs between $1000-$1500 to attend, however, so definitely nothing booked yet. Though I’ve had some friends who have enjoyed blogging with me, it’s nothing that is really pursued by them. Going to a conference will be an opportunity to make friends with similar interests as mine and connect with a community. It will give me the information to start doing things right, and a base knowledge that I can build off of from in the future. Having never been to a blog conference, I want to make sure my first conference is the right opportunity and extremely beneficial (read: engaging, effective topics, & fun) – just to reinforce that I should attend them all in the future!

Honestly, I’m confident that the friendships I take away and lessons I learn will help me return home to create a stronger brand and more effective site. More than that, I think they’ll give me some confidence and peace of mind in what I’m pursuing. I’m an entrepreneur – I know that once my business and this blog are successful, I’ll be off expanding them, beginning new projects, and finding a new challenge to tackle. I also recognize that you have to invest in yourself, your ideas, your business in order to grow and that’s why I’m keen to attend a conference. I’ve been looking through them all for the year and been pretty picky, but I like #SoFabCon14 with #collectivebias – because I know I’ll #LuvSoFab14! :p