Recently, I checked off one of the biggest milestones I have so far in my career. I got an intern to manage! This is something that in interviewing with my current job I’d stressed to the team hiring me as something very important on my development wish list. Four months into this job, it came to fruition.

Being a blogger in the career development space, I live and breathe in inspirational and motivational techniques. For years I’ve been actively soaking up knowledge and experience. I’ve been blessed to have many great mentors in my life and have reaped the benefits of great mentorship. I simply couldn’t wait to start imparting wisdom and paying it forward with a work underling.

Being a manager is a transformative experience

So far, it’s been an amazingly rewarding experience. I attribute it to how enthusiastic, committed, dedicated and smart our newly hired intern is. What I wasn’t necessarily prepared for was how much being in the position of a manager started shifting my perspectives. As I prepared for onboarding and guiding the intern, I started to reflect on the interactions and relationships I’ve had with my former managers in different phases of my career. I started to see through many things that were puzzling to me before. A weird sense of sympathy and understanding started to develop. I started to see alternative explanations to when my emails weren’t returned, or when I was given a change in direction without explanation, or when I received sudden, unexpected, and less than pleasant feedback…

My newly developed perspective from being a manager

And I realized behind their actions on the surface, there were things that were either too difficult to explain, too obvious to explain, too unpredictable, or simply didn’t cross their minds. Managers are humans, too. They have their own anxieties and fears, and the worst of all is that they cannot necessarily share them with their employee. It dawned on me that there were probably things that my former managers wished I knew, but couldn’t tell me for one reason or another…

Being responsible for someone else’s success is a scary thing

Imagine your own goals, deadlines, stakeholders, and critics. Now, double that –yes, that’s what a manager essentially faces. Not only is a manager responsible for onboarding the new employee into the company, the culture, the systems and processes, and the people, a good manager is also responsible for help setting and meeting goals for the new employee. A wise mentor once said to me, at the start of any employer/employee relationship, an average manager appreciates a 30/60/90-Day plan, but a great manager asks for one. All of this involves getting to know the employee, understanding their personal drivers and motivators, finding out about their strengths and weaknesses, and eventually helping them establish tangible and realistic goals so they can be successful not only in this job but in their career. To do this, and more importantly, to do it well, takes intentionality, patience, and a lot of empathy. This is why empathy is often deemed as one of the most important qualities of a strong leader.

The manager doesn’t always have the answer

And it isn’t always so easy to admit it. Office politics aside, sometimes it’s hard to admit you just don’t know the answer, especially in front of someone you are supposed to teach and guide. Without an existing mutual trust and respect, “not knowing the answer” sometimes is a tough pill to swallow.

If you sense that your manager is shutting you off when you raise questions, or there is a general lack of response, sometimes what they need is simply a little more time. Be patient. Otherwise, go on step beyond and do your own research, and reach out and ask for validation of your findings. Your manager will appreciate it.

Sometimes we prefer the right attitude over the right qualifications/experiences

Working in large, matrixed organizations can sometimes be described as a constant state of problem-solving. The problems come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are large problems like having a resource constraint. Other times, they could be as small as missing a password. Regardless, a can-do attitude paired with a resourceful mindset can go a long way. Determining whether someone has the right problem-solving attitude is one of the hardest things to tell from an interview and yet it’s one of the more important traits a manager looks for in a new hire. For a manager, finding someone with this mentality can save them precious hours of their own time to be spent on their own projects.

Providing constructive criticism is actually REALLY hard

A criticism that is insensitive and delivered poorly only damages relationships, whereas a suggestion that doesn’t deliver impact is useless. Much has been written about how to deliver criticism, some say to treat them as feedback and not as an actual criticism, others say to be genuine and actually care, while some say to learn to tailor your feedback to the individual’s preference.  The volume of these articles points to the fact that many people are in need of this kind of advice and the fact that constructive criticism is a hard skill to master!

When a manager sees an area for improvement, it’s up to the manager to carefully find the right timing, the right way to deliver the right message. Yes, there are probably insensitive people in authority that will walk all over your feelings when they tell you that you messed up. But if you notice even a trace of reservation or thoughtfulness in your manager’s tone when they offer advice or feedback, trust that they probably thought a lot about it before bringing it up to you. Delivering criticism well takes a skilled manager. If you have one of those, take note that you are lucky!

Concluding thoughts…

I have always heard that being a manager is a transformative experience. In fact, many compare it to the experience of being a parent. There’s something about being responsible for someone else’s growth and wellbeing that inspires growth in and of itself. But what I’ve also realized is that being a good manager takes preparation, being intentional, a humble attitude, and most importantly, a lot of empathy.

All Photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

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The post 4 Secrets Your Manager Wouldn’t Tell You But Wish You Knew appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Blazer: Dailylook; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote on sale for $75 now; Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy

I recently re-read an article I wrote earlier this Spring when I almost died in a car accident. It pulled me back into the reflective mood I was in when I wrote the piece, thinking about how short life can be. It also got me thinking about how grateful I am for the life I have now.

I have had some bumps in the road in my 32-year-old life, but I have by no means lived a tough life. Yet, when I was in my 20’s, I was rarely content. I wished I was someone else. I wished I looked different. I wanted things I didn’t deserve. I sometimes loathed myself, who I was. I struggled mentally and I had major body image issues. There were ups and downs, but the downs defined who I was.

Blazer: Dailylook; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote on sale for $75 now; Heels: Topshop Fringe Sandals

Something changed within me in my late 20’s. Through friends and family, books I read, new interests I developed, places I traveled to, I became a better version of myself. I starting having more confidence. I started caring less about others’ opinion. I became more self-aware but less self-conscious. I developed a better sense of my SELF, a better sense of my identity. I started to be at peace with myself.  I began accepting and embracing my imperfections. 

Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy; Blazer: Dailylook; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote on sale for $75 now

Sometimes, I wish I could go back in time and share what I know now with my younger self. I would tell my 20-something self to…

Stay in the present. Because that’s all you can control.

It was through yoga and meditation that I learned the importance of being present. I’m no expert at either, but I’ve had moments of clarity and relief that comes from focusing my mind on the present. I learned that if you’re depressed, you’re stuck in the past. If you’re anxious, you’re too worried about the future. You can’t change what happened yesterday, but you can try to have a better day today.

Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote

Love yourself first. Because you deserve it.

Also because asking or waiting for others to love you is just too much work. Don’t bend yourself backward to make someone love you. You are already lovable! You just have to love yourself first.

Take the time to get to know yourself. Because that’s who’s responsible for your well-being & happiness

In your 30’s is when a lot of life commitments happen if they haven’t already. Long-term relationships, the prime years of your career, or kids. Not everyone will know what their passion is or what they’re called to do in life. But knowing what fuels you vs. what drains your energy, what excites you vs. what you dread will help you steer your life in your 30’s. Designing Your Life is a great resource to figure this out if you’re wanting some direction in life. It’s one of my favorite books in 2017.

Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom

Try new things and develop new interests. Because you may not have the time and energy to later.

I saw some of my friends moved from hobbies to hobbies. Today, it’s bowling; tomorrow, it may be archery. I always thought they were looking for something to fill a void that they had. And maybe there’s some truth to that. But looking back, I wish I did more of exploring when it comes to what I do in my leisure time. Because it’s a luxury to have something you can just lose yourself in doing (video game, drugs, and eating cupcakes don’t count). And the more hobbies you try and develop a long-term interest in, the more things you have at your disposal to relax, recharge, and find your balance. Which are oh-so-important when you’re juggling career, mortgage, and a family in your 30’s.

Blazer: Dailylook; Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote

Accept the mistakes you make. Because mistakes help you learn.

There were things I did in my 20’s that I wish I could do-over. Sometimes I do wish I could go back in time and change my approach, my attitude, and the way I treated people. But I can’t. Instead, what I CAN do is to remind myself what I learned. I can remind myself what it was like when I hurt or disappointed people. I can carry those feelings and never do it again.

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse 

The post Things I Learned In My 30’s That I Wish I Knew In My 20’s appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

How has the new gig been, you ask? I’m not going to sugarcoat it… It’s been hard coming back to the 9-5 routine after a 4-month hiatus. Don’t get me wrong, the new social media role is engaging, challenging, and making me learn new things almost daily. It’s everything I could’ve hoped for in this new job. But during my time off earlier this year, I’ve gotten a taste of the flexibility freelancing offers and the cubicle life just isn’t the same anymore. The commute, the traffic, the meetings, and the lack of personal time sometimes make me feel stuck in the corporate life. I catch myself wishing there were more hours in the day so I can dedicate more time to blogging, exercising, gardening, and just living…

However, this is the life I’ve intentionally chosen to embrace again and without it, I couldn’t possibly write a blog called Cubicle Chic, could I?

So, to continually find energy, motivation, and intentions in my day-to-day and not feel stuck in the corporate life, I’ve developed a series of healthy habits, or, should I say, rituals. Here are 6 things you could do everyday to prevent feeling stuck in the corporate life:

1. Reframe the problem of “feeling stuck”

First, start shifting your frame of mind when it comes to feeling stuck in the corporate life. This is a new concept I’ve learned from a book I am reading now called Designing Your Life, How to Build a Well Lived, Joyful Life. In the book, the authors Bill Burnett & Dave Evans talk about the issue of fixating on “gravity problems”. The example they gave is people feeling stuck on things that they have no power to change – the building they work out of, their manager’s temperament, their salary (to an extent), etc. Instead, if we accept things like we accept gravity, we can shift our focus onto other things that we CAN improve.

Another thing the authors recommend people do is to keep a Good Time Journal (download their free worksheet and try it yourself). By doing so, you are consciously monitoring what activities engage you and put you in the zone, and what activities drain your energy. If you can intentionally manage your day knowing how to fuel your energy tank with the right kind of activities, and organize your day around things that engage you, you can avoid that numb, frazzled, and exhausted feeling that we all feel too often past 5PM.

2. Meditate with the Headspace app

It’s 2017 and even corporations are embracing meditation as a productivity hack. Some even consider it a team sport. But truthfully, I’ve tried to get into meditation and failed countless times. But it doesn’t stop me from trying to acquire the habit of doing it, only because I’ve gotten a glimpse of the kind of ZEN your mind could enjoy if you learn to put your mind at ease voluntarily. With meditation, you can calm the thoughts that haunt your mind, and focus on the things that you want it to focus on.

The ever-so-popular app Headspace makes the practice of meditation so much more manageable and accessible. In one of the first sessions, Andy Puddicombe talks about being “present” in an unpleasant activity. Take sitting in traffic for example. What this means is, instead of wishing I was somewhere else and NOT in traffic, I choose to be present when I AM stuck in traffic. Whether I choose to spend the time in quietness, listen to my favorite podcasts/tunes, or talk to a friend on the phone, I don’t resist the fact that I am in traffic. And I just accept it and stay present in it.

A lot of times, it’s the act of resisting your condition that amplifies the unpleasantness of it.

If we learn the art of accepting a less-than-perfect condition, stay in control, and choose how we want to feel, then we can dictate how uncomfortable or comfortable we are.

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

3. Start your day by doing something you love

This is a proven method a lot of entrepreneurs and business leaders do to increase their productivity.

Imagine if you had one extra hour every day to do what you love to do and something you always wished you had more time to do. Be it exercising, reading, walking your dog, watching your favorite TV show, tending to your garden, drawing, or painting, or cleaning. Now set your alarm clock one hour earlier, and voila, you have your magical, extra hour in the day!

Of course, if you want to maintain the same level of sleep, you would need to go to bed one hour early. The practice here is to make sure you get to do what you love doing every day within the first hour of the day.

Since you already dedicated an hour to what you love doing, you won’t go on with your day thinking about what you wish you were doing… because you already did it!

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

4. Develop a ritual that lifts you up

For me, this is watering my plants in the office and checking on them every day. Seeing how they are doing every day makes me look forward to the start of the day more. For others, it could be brewing a pot of the exotic coffee you got last month, or brewing your favorite tea at the moment, or bringing in donuts one day of the week to share with your coworkers, or tearing off one page of the funny cat daily calendar … you get the point.

Find these little moments that give you a small dosage of joyfulness that makes you look forward to being in the office.

After all, a ton of research points toward the fact that it’s the small things that make us happy.

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

5. Remind yourself why you work

It’s okay if your primary motivation to work is to make money. It’s a lot of people’s number 1 reason. Just know that #4 on this list doesn’t work that well for you if money is why you work.

I’ve had the luxury of taking a substantial (4 months) break from working. What I discovered during the 4 months was that I have options. I can choose not to work. I can choose who I want to work for. I can choose what I want to do. So, when I came back to work, I had a strong conviction that marketing is what I want to do as a profession. I knew that my motivation is fueled by always learning new things, teaching people how to improve, and seeing positive results from marketing activities.

Whenever I question why I decided to spend 8 hours at work and 2 hours in traffic every day, which trust me, I do… I remind myself that it was my decision to come back to work and this is exactly where I want to be.

Maggie London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

6. Remember your friends (contact old friends or make new friends)

Friends make work more fun, period. So many articles have been written and research was done to show the importance of developing strong friendships at work. Here’s a quick list by Business Insider of things you can do with coworkers to make the office environment more enjoyable with friends.

Also, finding time to craft a well-thought-out email to tell an old friend you miss them, and that you miss the good ole times is also a good way to bring in a sense of camaraderie or community into your immediate surrounding.

And also because this:

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post 6 Ways To Stop Feeling Stuck in the Corporate Life Right Now appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

When anxiety strikes, especially the flavor that comes from work, the dark places that it takes us to is never pleasant and to make it worse, it feels inescapable. You feel paralyzed and that the only thing capable moving is your terrorizing thought about how incompetent, slow, and forgotten you are.

These thoughts make you feel more alone than ever, and maybe behaviorally even manifests itself in disengagement from people, lack of enthusiasm, or even decreased performance. By the time you’re aware of the consequences, it feels like it’s too late and as a result, you feel even more hopeless and powerless. And then, a new set of anxieties set in about this situation… and the vicious cycle continues.

It’s something I’ve  personally gone through time and time again. The danger is that when I’m trapped in this kind of thinking, I think I’m the only person to ever feel that way. The truth is 72 percent of people who have daily stress and anxiety say it interferes with their lives at least moderately (Anxiety and Depression Association of America).  And, unless you have been hiding in your corner on the internet, you’ve read about Imposter Syndrom (Forbes, 2014) and it’s all too real. Truth be told, I can’t tell you how to make it go away. I don’t really even have any words of wisdom or advice on how to be free of anxieties. What I do have to share is what I do when I catch myself on the downward spiral of anxiety – negative self-talk – more anxiety – more negative self-talk. This is how I walk with myself in times of anxiety and learn to live with them.

1) Disengage from people and things that bring you down.

But before then, you have to know who these people are and what these things are. Do you have a friend that always questions your moves, or doubts your decisions? Watch your physiological changes when you talk to your friends; who raises your blood pressure and brings out the worst of you, and who relaxes you and makes you laugh? Do you have co-workers that have nothing but negative things to say about the world, and is always ranting about something? Along the same lines, does the Instagram comparison game bring you down, and you feel like you drown in the things you covet which you can’t afford and shouldn’t have anyway?

Be aware of the downers in your life, whether be it friends or social media. When you are feeling anxious and feeling overwhelmed, stay away from these people, even if sometimes your instinct is to turn to them either out of habit or for short term comfort. If something has a record of bringing you down, it will bring you down. And when you’re already stressed, don’t worry too much about why they’re in your life or the need to completely remove them. Just be conscious and try to stay away from them while you’re extra stressed.

2) Stop resisting it.

I know this sounds really vague and unclear, but hear me out. I recently started using a meditation app called Headspace (will probably write about it later, too), and as part of the meditation designed for commuters, I learned of this mentality, which is to embrace and accept whatever is in your environment, and just learn to experience them as they are. If you’re stuck in traffic, hearing a lot of noise, feeling tired, or worried about unfinished projects… accept them. Focus on being in the present.  A lot of times, the act of resisting something adds onto the stress of it all. So instead of thinking that your destination is where you need to be, enjoy the journey, and be in the present.

3) Be aware of the negative self-talks, and just let them be.

I used to try to force myself to “stop” the negative self-talks. It’s very hard, and a lot of times I find myself fighting my inner voice and it just adds to my overall stress. It goes like this “I hate myself”. “Why do you hate yourself, that’s bad too!” You see, it goes nowhere. Recently, I’ve learned to just let these negative self-talks run their course. Because I realized it’s not always the negative self-talk that beat us down, but the shift in attitude that it causes. As long as we pick ourselves back up and go back at what we need to do, let the negative self-talk sometimes. That’s part of you, too. So it’s okay. You’re okay.

 Printed Inspirational Quotes c/o Yellow Heart Art

4) Know what fuels you and keeps you going.

When you’re down, feeling tired and just want to shut the world off, do you ever wonder if you’re JUST tired? I think not. I think when we feel this way, it’s usually a combination of feeling unproductive, uninspired, unengaged. When you don’t feel like you’re the best version of yourself, and that you’re not part of something that’s bigger than yourself, over time this taints your attitude.

Whatever the reason may be, find it out. I’ve recently come across an interesting app called Good&Co that, through a series of questionnaires, assesses you for what type of work personality you have. Try it out, you might find some insight in there! Whether you’re a people person or a productivity fiend, know what it is that fuels you.

It’s also entirely possible that you just need to be off-line and be away from work in order to be completely relaxed. In that case, take your vacation seriously, and prioritize off-line time over anything else when you’re away from work. The point is, know what fuels you and do that when you feel down!

5) Feeling uncomfortable is part of growing and developing.

You ever wonder how people are given the chance to do something they’ve never done before? We all know that in order to develop more skills and climb the corporate ladder, new opportunities to do something you haven’t done before are critical. Well, these people have to have done well enough to convince others to give them the chance. On the other hand, what does it feel to be doing something completely beyond your league, because someone trusted that you could? That has to feel terrifying! But they stick to their projects despite their internal doubt, and get the job done anyway. And that’s the key, is to never stop trying. You’re feeling uncomfortable because you’re evolving, adapting, and learning new things. Remember how you learned to ride a bike, to swim, or to play the piano? It wasn’t all peaches and roses, was it? Learning to do new things at work is the same. Just be patient with yourself.

6)  Create an uplifting environment at work.

Uplifting may mean different things for people, but the point is to be mindful of what you visually surround yourself with at a place where you easily spend 50% of your waking hours at. Maybe it’s having fresh flowers, maybe it’s having a humidifier. For me, this means decorating my desk with things that remind me of how loved I am by my family and friends. The latest addition to my desk decor though, is two sets of motivational printed art pieces from Yellow Heart Art. I picked one that says TAKE ON TODAY LIKE YOU JUST ACED YOUR EYELINER. I know not everyone is acing their eyeliners every morning but for me, it’s something that I can count on happening everyday so it made me chuckle when I saw it. The other one says YOU GO & CHANGE THE WORLD, GIRL! Which I believe is an attitude all of us should have.

 What my actual desk looks like at work. What do you think?

That was a lot that I just said and I truly hope it would help some of you. And honestly, replace work anxieties with life anxieties, a lot of the situation and thinking style is the same. What do you do to ease work-related anxieties?

Disclaimer: I received the two prints of motivational art from Yellow Heart Art for free to try them out. I loved the quality paper and print job that they put into each product and I strongly recommend them for anyone who’s looking for desk decor ideas or even Valentine’s Day gifts!

The post It’s Okay. You’re Okay. || Dealing With Workplace Anxieties appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

I am inviting you to come backstage to Cubicle Chic, and see what it’s like to be a blogger with a fledgling blog and all the struggles and inner demons I deal with on a daily basis.

I’ve been blogging for a little over a year now and I am JUST starting to feel like I have a good handle on it. Things like photo shoots, editorial calendar, the collaboration with brands, and the writing can get really overwhelming sometimes, but having had a whole year’s of  experience now really gives me more confidence now.

 Necklace: Purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here Dress: Banana Republic Tux Dress Lip: Mac Ruby Woo Backpack: Coach Billie bag purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here

But the internet being how vast and unending as it is, I’m constantly reminded by how much more I could do, how much better I should be, and how much more amazing things would be if I just did that.

Honestly, a lot of these ‘what if” and “only if” thoughts wind up having these crippling and paralyzing effects on me. I stop having new ideas, I stop being able to just write freely, and I stop feeling comfortable hitting that “publish” button. Today on Cubicle Chic, I’m sharing with you my very real, mostly negative self talks that send me in downward spirals. But also, the positive self-talks that I’ve learned through experiences that can have a countering effect to my inner demons.

The format below is structured as follows: My inner dialogue, explanation of my concern, and my countering positive self-talk. Sorry if I sound a little schizophrenic -this is the backstage, after all!

 Necklace: Purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here Dress: Banana Republic Tux Dress Lip: Mac Ruby Woo Backpack: Coach Billie bag purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here

1) Is where I am ever going to be enough?

When I look at what I’ve been able to accomplish (close to 3K followers on Instagram, 350 fans on Facebook, and close to 400 followers in Twitter – it’s taken a lot of hard work and hustling to get to where I am. But if I look ahead, the road to 10K, 50K, or 100K (if that’s ever obtainable in my life time) is a complete black hole with no end in sight. Is there even a path forward?

Remember why you started this all: You love to write, and you like to share with people your passion in styling office appropriate outfits as well as tips and tricks when it comes to career development. You started doing this for fun. And as long as you are having fun doing this and that you are helping people along the way,  it’s all worth it! 

2) What is my end goal? 

How would  I ever know I’ve “made it”? Is it going to be a certain dollar amount or is it a certain number of followers? And even if I reach those numbers, what comes after that? And if i can’t even get this one blog post to get the traffic I need, how is the blog ever going to reach the audience I want to reach?

Think back on all the rewarding moments you’ve had from the inception of this blog; what do they all have in common? Yes, making a positive difference in people’s life. When you know what you do has made an impact on someone, you feel like all your hard work is worth it. When someone takes up a product recommendation you’ve made, or try a trick you’ve taught them and end up with an interview, or practice reducing the amount of “up-talk” in their speech and become more confident in the process… that’s all that matters. That is the end goal. 

3) How am I going to get to the next level?

I know how I got from zero subscribers to where I am today – continuous production of content, reaching out to people who need my help, and networking with the right talent and meeting the right people. But is this what I need to do to get to the “next level”, whatever that means, anyway?

You are where you need to be. Live in the present, and focus on the now. Acknowledge the future, and understand your path, but don’t dwell on either. Everything I have done put me where I am right now, and that’s all that matters. Enjoy meeting the people you are meeting, appreciate every single comment, and pat yourself on the back for having put in all the work you’ve put in. You know you have a voice, and that voice is going to be the one that carries you to wherever you’re going to end up. Sometimes a little faith comes a long way.

4) Why are my stats not improving? 

They say that analytics is where the crux of your improvement will come from. They say to monitor and dissect your traffic like a hawk. I do it with an almost obsessive attention and I’m still just left wondering – if I know a type of content just isn’t resonating, what is it that I should be doing instead? Or if I keep trying to create different content, and nothing seems to stick… how do I change my approach? Does nobody care what I have to say?

You have a niche, so know that your rate of growth when it comes to follower base is just going to be slower. Also, at your current level, content distribution is limited by your own personal network. This mean you have to think about new ways of branching out. Think about re-structuring collaborations, and ask for guest blog posts, or volunteer to guest blog. Get out there and grow your network. And remember the people that have left you comments, paragraphs of comment, because they were touched by what you wrote. Never forget them, because they care about what you have to say. 

5) Between collaboration and un-sponsored content, how do I balance? 

I don’t want to be a sell-out. But the truth is that feeling when you receive a free product in exchange for review, it’s really hard not to take that as a form of acceptance and compliment. So on the one hand, I want everything I write to be completely un-biased and authentic, but I can’t help wanting to accept free products and sponsorship just so I can get that validation. So then, what is the right mix, 50/50, 20/80?

As long as you are still writing about what you love, and that you feel a true sense of conviction about what you have to say. The moment when you are struggling for words and doubting yourself on the points you have, you know you are losing authenticity. You’ve always considered yourself a maven of information, so spreading words about a great product isn’t selling out. But writing a post on false feelings or results from a product, very much is. So as long as you stay clear of the latter and always provide your most genuine and honest review, you are not a sell-out. 

All photography by Natalie Alvarade

 Necklace: Purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here Dress: Banana Republic Tux Dress Lip: Mac Ruby Woo Backpack: Coach Billie bag purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here Shoes: Valentino; similar here

The post The Crippling Thoughts That Consume Me As A Blogger appeared first on Cubicle Chic.