Aspen Real Life is turning three this month!
I’ve come along way, this is for certain. As I reflect upon these past few years by reading my stories and looking at the pictures of all of our travel I feel rewarded. Not by money, although don’t get me wrong, that would be a good thing, but by what I have accomplished.
Three years ago I opened the local paper and sat down to Manhattan Eggs at one my favorite breakfast spots in Aspen, Poppycocks. There it was on the front page of the paper in bold type, Madoff was going down. I saw our investments and dreams spiral down the toilet hole.
That was when I read about the pioneer of Mommy Blogging, Heather Armstrong. She was making a million + dollars for being a great writer and for being honest. She was doing so well that even her husband was able to quit his job to join her on her career path. “I can do this,” I thought to myself. I can write, take pictures, conduct interviews and tell stories as good as the next guy. Thus began my journey as a blogger.
Lately, the journey is becoming stale and I’ve been thinking a lot about quitting. But then what would I do? I feel like Cinderella waiting for the right moment where my foot will slip comfortably into that crystal slipper and opportunity will arrive taking me closer to success.
I’m telling you because it’s really you, my readers, who keep me going. Running in to me in the middle of nowhere and encouraging me to hang in there, or sending me a message online to give me just the right amount of positivity to keep me going. “I love your blog,” you tell me and I look at you like a deer in headlights because I wonder if anybody actually reads my blog or follows my timeline on Facebook that strives to connect people to businesses. It often feels as though I am swimming through cement without a soul out there to help me. I’m on my own.
Blogging is a lonely world and like the tale of Miss Piggy who visits her mailbox every day hoping for a letter to arrive to show that somebody cares, I too check my analytics obsessively. “Is it kind of like weighing yourself every day?” my Search Engine Optimizer asked me staring into my eyes with a subtle innocence. He set me straight though. I will believe in my progress, stay off the scale and stay away from analyzing my stats.
It’s not like I’m huddled in a chair, sucking my thumb and waiting for success. Oh no, I am a one man band with Aspen Real Life trying to do it all. But, I must prioritize and be the wife and mother I always dreamed I would be first and the Writer, Editor, Videographer, Photographer, Marketing Manager, Advertising Director, Administrative Assistant, Social Media Coordinator and Psychiatrist second, and it ain’t easy.
In the end though, my questions of inadequacy always result in the same answer, if I am passionate about what I do, if I wake up every morning excited to begin my day, than isn’t it all about that and nothing more? I have put in the right amount of hours and diligence so if I listened to Malcolm Gladwell the rewards should be arriving shortly.
There is no doubt in my mind that it has all been so worth it; The travel, the people we have met, the ability to connect people and businesses together…all of it. And so, I will continue to forge ahead. How, you might ask? Where am I heading? I have ideas beginning with having you help me to write my book. How about it? A chapter a week. You’ll help me edit. Wouldn’t that be cool? Also, more travel and product reviews and more interviews.
For now, let’s reflect and celebrate. Please click on the arrow to play slideshow:
Quotes from Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success
“Those three things – autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward – are, most people will agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying.”
“If you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires”
“It’s not how much money we make that ultimately makes us happy between nine and five. It’s whether or not our work fulfills us. Being a teacher is meaningful.”
THE VICEROY SNOWMASS
LITTLE NELL HOTEL
HOTEL JEROME
LIMELIGHT LODGE
VAIL RESORTS
WOLF CREEK SKI AREA
THE RESIDENCE HOTEL
THE FRESH & WYLD FARMHOUSE INN
THE WESTIN RIVERFRONT RESORT & SPA
THE BROADMOOR
THE BROWN PALACE
C LAZY U RANCH
THE OMNI INTERLOCKEN RESORT
THE HOTEL MADELINE
HOTEL ASPEN
THE SORREL RIVER RANCH
ASPEN POST
BUZZ ON 82
JERRY BOVINO
INTERVIEWS:
ASPEN FILM
POWDER MAGAZINE
KENYON MARTIN
RAMONA BRULAND
PLUM TV ASPEN
PAM SWEENEY
NICK DEVORE
JAKE SAKSON
KEN QUERICONE
COLE TAMBLYN
MICHELLE MANNING KOGLER
DR. JEFFERSON ROTH
STAN CHEO
CAMERON SCOTT
TERRY BUTLER
COSBAR
ANTON UHL
LAURIE CARNEY & WILLIAM GRUBB
SHERI GAYNOR
SUMMERS MOORE
KATALIN DOMOSZLAY
CHRIS DAVENPORT
NATURE CONSERVANCY
THEITRAVELER
BLACK SHACK ARCHITECTS
WALFORD WILLIAMS
PRODUCT:
VIZZIBL CLOTHING
COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR
TWO LEAVES AND A BUD
TRANSPACK
Happy Birthday, Aspen Real Life! You ROCK! Jillian, you are truly my inspiration. Congratulations on this anniversary. I expect to be reading your blogs for many, many years to come!
Michelle´s last [type] ..Are You Unconsciously Harboring World Fears?
Thank you Michelle, for all of your undying encouragement!!
Those of us at Aspen Film respect your decision to blog and do it with honesty and respect… keep up the good work..
Thank you Robin. Please take more advantage of what I have to offer you!
Keep up the good work! Although new to your blog, I think it is a really interesting and cool thing that you are doing!
Thank you Kathy!