FAQ• The Blog

What I’ve Learned From Blogging

Summed up in 3 images…

Be Like a Duck
Haters Gonna HatePicasso Quotesources: 1, 2, 3
644x10 spacer

…and 5 sentences.

  1. You have to hustle.

  2. Push yourself.

  3. You can’t please everyone.

  4. Ask for what you want.

  5. Do it for love, but know your worth.

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  • Carla
    January 30, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    I love this! I really need to embrace the haters gonna hate mentality. And truly work on all 5 of your very well put sentences. Off to hustle ….

  • Natalie
    January 30, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    Haters really ARE gonna hate, sadly! Love this short and sweet advice and will be putting it all in my back pocket as food for thought :)

  • Debbie
    January 30, 2013 at 4:09 pm

    Yes…yes…yes to number 5!

  • Rachel May
    January 30, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    Beautiful! I hope that bloggers learn that they also have an opportunity to inspire people daily, which is really remarkable when you think about it:) I find your blog very inspirational. I’m excited about all of the goal and reflection posts (particularly 30 by 30, Mighty Summit and Alt!)

    • Making it Lovely
      January 30, 2013 at 9:15 pm

      Thank you — that’s an excellent addition to the sentiments above.

  • Andrea
    January 30, 2013 at 4:19 pm

    Such wise words and such great advice! Totally loving the idea of being a duck, you’ve got to fake it until you make it.

  • Andrea Howe
    January 30, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    This is awesome. I love it. Succinct and to the point!

  • The Glamorous Housewife
    January 30, 2013 at 4:36 pm

    How funny, my post today is also about what I have learned from blogging. I guess it is something one thinks about after being at Alt. So exciting to have met you.

    Thanks doll,
    The Glamorous Housewife

    • Making it Lovely
      January 30, 2013 at 9:16 pm

      I loved your post today. And so glad to have met you, too!

  • Amber @ Wills Casa
    January 30, 2013 at 4:56 pm

    I love this! Thanks for the wisdom!

  • Catherine
    January 30, 2013 at 5:13 pm

    Such a fun and inspiring post! Regarding the haters, I always remember what my mom told me in junior high, “At least they are talking about you.”

  • Christine
    January 30, 2013 at 5:19 pm

    Such simple and great advice, Nicole! And for more than just blogging!

  • Lane
    January 30, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    Thank you for making my day with this!

  • Monika / MB Captured
    January 30, 2013 at 5:38 pm

    Love this.

  • jbhat
    January 30, 2013 at 6:32 pm

    Interesting. Those images and sentences can apply to most lines of work. But for bloggers, who are putting so much of themselves out there, they must certainly ring true.

    It’s so funny about the haters. The blogs I look at on a regular basis are frequented by supportive, enthusiastic, happy commenters. It’s always shocking to me when a commenter responds in a manner opposite to those qualities.

    jbhat

    • Making it Lovely
      January 30, 2013 at 9:18 pm

      I have very nice readers, and the comments are almost always positive. I really can’t complain much on that front, but of course, there is always negativity out there as well.

  • Grace @ sense and simplicity
    January 30, 2013 at 6:36 pm

    I have a relatively small blog and for me it isn’t that haters send me any hate, but rather the problem is being ignored. For example, when a bigger blog that you thought you were friendly with decides to not list you in their sidebar anymore. I’m fairly non-competitive in life, but sometimes I find myself feeling the pull towards comparing my blog to others. It’s something I struggle with. I have to remind myself what I love about blogging.

    • Making it Lovely
      January 30, 2013 at 9:22 pm

      That can hurt, feeling snubbed or ignored, and I have to remind myself not to make comparisons too. There’s fantastic post by Helen Jane that you may want to read — I really liked it.

      • Tara
        January 31, 2013 at 9:33 am

        This is a fantastic post for all! Thanks for sharing!! And I totally agree with your images and sentences regarding lessons learned from blogging! Blog on!

  • Vidya Sudarsan
    January 30, 2013 at 6:50 pm

    Love this post! Love #5 – I’m doing it for love.. learning something from the Duck today :) thank you!

  • Geesha
    January 30, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    So true! A small but powerful post…awesome job!

  • Lisa
    January 30, 2013 at 7:16 pm

    This is PERFECT and makes me laugh. Love. <3

  • Karina
    January 30, 2013 at 7:39 pm

    Love it, love it, love it!!

  • eileen ragan | leanerbythelake
    January 30, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    back when i first started working, my father gave me the “be the duck” talk. such great advice!

    http://leanerbythelake.com/be-the-duck/

    • Making it Lovely
      January 30, 2013 at 9:23 pm

      Such a good post! Be the duck.

      • eileen ragan | leaner by the lake
        January 31, 2013 at 8:45 am

        Nicole, I’m so touched that you stopped over to read the post! Thanks for reading my writing :) Be the duck is such a great little reminder. I’m also loving the others that you shared in this post. I’ll be keeping them in my back pocket. :)

    • stef
      January 30, 2013 at 11:49 pm

      Love it. Also, Go Blue!

  • Robyn
    January 30, 2013 at 9:43 pm

    Just so you know I think you’re awesome!

  • Nycia Emerson
    January 30, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    This is awesome!! Thanks for sharing, I needed this!!

  • Natalie
    January 30, 2013 at 11:33 pm

    love love love. I can’t even pick which image I like more but today I needed the haters gonna hate, like badly.

    xo
    Natalie
    dishesrunwaysandbriefcases.com

  • Jennifer Laura
    January 30, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    I <3 number five. I struggle with this one A LOT.

  • abby @ thingsforboys
    January 31, 2013 at 2:05 am

    The duck is such a perfect description!

  • Jess | brownpaperbelle.com
    January 31, 2013 at 5:30 am

    Great advice from a lovely blogger. I’ve only just started blogging but am banking this advice for when it is required! Thanks for sharing! x

  • Stephanie
    January 31, 2013 at 6:04 am

    Love this!! Thank you – some of these will make their way onto my bathroom mirror.

  • Lindsay @ Makely
    January 31, 2013 at 7:39 am

    Nicole, this is so timely! I seriously need a print of the duck for my office.

  • Gigi
    January 31, 2013 at 9:20 am

    Aptly put! I’ll make sure to remember these points for my blog too. Thank you :)

  • Alison
    January 31, 2013 at 9:38 am

    These tips are just wonderful, thank you! Just what I needed on a Thursday and I love the duck reference :)
    xo
    Alison

    heartofgoldandluxury.blogspot.com

  • Terri
    January 31, 2013 at 10:15 am

    The “haters gonna hate” mantra seems to be popular among bloggers lately. Frankly, I don’t really see it. When I look at the comments that people leave for the most unexciting or boring posts (not your blog in particular, just a general observation), it looks to me that everyone is giving each other virtual reach-arounds. But maybe the host of the site deletes the haters’ posts before they can reach the masses? I don’t know.

  • Cyn | decyng
    January 31, 2013 at 10:16 am

    You are right! Sometimes is so hard, you work too much, make research, investigate, look for something new and then you feel there´s nobody out there to see it or appreciate it.

    I love Picasso quote. It´s what i´m trying to do, work and work in order to be better.

    I love your blog! I´ve been following you for a while.

    Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina!

    Cyn!

  • Dottie
    January 31, 2013 at 10:34 am

    Two words: RIGHT ON!!!

    I know this whole blogging this is so, well… tough. It is one of the few jobs where your opinions, your work, your LIFE is just out there for all to comment on and (you hope) enjoy.

    But I think you’ve handled it with tremendous aplomb and grace, which I think is kinda hard to do! Thank you for this post and the one you did pre-Alt about how you made the blog your career and used it to support your family. These posts are hugely inspiring and so great to read!

    PREACH IT, SISTER!

    xo

    – Dottie

  • cleartrampoline
    January 31, 2013 at 12:30 pm

    This is great, I think this stuff could apply to lots of things in life! :)

  • Tessa @twoinspiredesign
    January 31, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    Great to get this perspective! Having started our blog last May, we’ve come to realize how much you learn from the process of sharing with others…

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    February 1, 2013 at 9:02 am

    I love your teaching posts and sharing your story to success with others :) My favorite is #2. It’s so important to not only to push yourself but also push the send button too!

  • becka @ life as an artistpreneur
    February 1, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    Perfect timing, thank you. :) xo

  • Cebu Wedding Photographer
    February 1, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    This is so not me. LOL but it’s something I need to put in MY HEAD AND HEART! :) LOVE IT.

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  • Alana Waters-Piper
    February 4, 2013 at 11:48 pm

    Boy ain’t that the truth!

    I think it applies to owning a shop, too. This post was very well-timed for me. Some good stuff to remember. One of those things you see when you really need it. :)

    You rock, lady.

  • Aly
    February 7, 2013 at 7:32 pm

    I work at Stanford where we have what is known as the “Stanford Duck Syndrome.” Everyone pretends to be fancy free & laid back but underneath they kill themselves to keep up with their peers who are (shockingly) also just pretending to have their life together. It is a vicious cycle which I definitely see happening in the blogosphere. While being poised is a great quality, we also have to remember to let our humanity shine through :)

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  • Cebu Photographer & Blogger
    March 2, 2020 at 8:31 pm

    We can relate to these learnings. We just started blogging and starting up is indeed really hard and you gotta do what you’re doing to soar higher! Thanks for this!