Because the last several months have been some of the most difficult for me. I truly would describe it as surviving instead of thriving.
My main goal for 2021 isn’t to train for some brand new Ironman race or achieve some lofty professional or financial goal. While I have set some fitness and financial goals for myself, they are the top of the priority list.
To get it out there in the open my main goal and top priority next to being a husband and father: my mental health.
Right before the holidays I was officially diagnosed with depression with a side of anxiety and mounting, overwhelming life stressors.
Just how bad was it?
As we take time to reflect on this past year, with all its ups and downs, we want to thank you for continuing to support us and for showing up for your community. Because of you, we were able to fund our first ever scholarship program, and we awarded four Black Creative Students scholarships to students from all over the country. This year, we were also able to publish 26 new blog posts, had 10,400 page views, added and featured 4 new contributing editors, hired and on-boarded a super creative new social media, Greer Blount, and offered our first writing internship to Maggie Barbour who created and published 10 posts in less than 12 weeks.
It's been an eventful year for out team, and to close it all off, TNM founder Kevin O'Connell is sharing his thoughts on 2020, dealing with change and transitions as a new dad and entrepreneur, and finding new approaches for 2021. Keep reading for Kevin’s end-of-the-year message!
Working freelance may sound glamorous at first, but those who've been doing it for a while know it takes hard work. Getting your business off the ground isn't easy and sometimes it means juggling various projects all at once, but it also has it's benefits - I mean you are your own boss after all!
This week, writing intern Maggie Barbour asks The Niche Movement's Editor-in-Chief Jaylene Perez and founder Kevin O'Connell, both of whom have experience in freelancing, what it really takes to make it work.
Read on for Jaylene and Kevin's best practices when it comes to finding clients, marketing your services, settings rates, and more!
For all those in pursuit of professional development, this week we're taking a look at which skills you'll want to brush up on depending on your specific industry. Whether you're a freelancer, marketer, entrepreneur, or work in another creative role, you'll want to read up on what will make you and your work really shine.
Tap below for the full post!
Job searching is a tough task on its own, and job searching during a pandemic... well we know it's not easy. You'll have to be flexible, know how to network and market yourself, and really hone in on what it is your looking for as you search for the right fit.
To find out what can help you land your dream job, keep reading!
The Niche Movement’s Leap of Faith series features stories from entrepreneurs about their personal journeys with their businesses, ranging from newly formed side hustles to entrepreneurs who have been in the game for many years. This week’s blog features Megan Gillman’s journey as an entrepreneur. Read on to see how she sustains her growing business.
How do you reset after getting rejected? Rejection sucks. The feeling especially sucks when you are just starting out in your new business or job hunting. Think of each “no” as part of a game. When going after new business or jobs, you might not get a “yes” right away. Landing deals is complicated and nonlinear. Hear how The Niche Movement Founder Kevin O’Connell takes rejection and uses it to build up his “no” tolerance.
Matthew Griffin, Griff for short, is an Army Ranger and business owner who always seeks to make the world a better place. From the time Griff was 5 years old, he knew he wanted to be an Airborne Ranger. He notes that this was “stressful, but achievable. After going through challenges like that at a young age and seeing the benefits of success, it makes you want to take on bigger challenges.” Take on bigger challenges is exactly what he did and has continued to do through his leadership, business, and hobbies ever since. He eventually wanted to transition to a career that enabled him to help others in a different way and felt passionate about promoting peace. Currently, Griff is CEO of Combat Flip Flops, a company he founded with a fellow Army Ranger. The company’s mission is “To create peaceful, forward-thinking opportunities for self-determined entrepreneurs affected by conflict. Our willingness to take bold risks, community connection, and distinct designs communicate, ‘Business, Not Bullets’—flipping the view on how wars are won. Though Persistence, respect, and creativity, we empower the mindful consumer to manufacture peace through trade.”
