Beyond Crafting: Creating Your Most Inspired Life.

Dear Younger Self…

“Believe in yourself. No one else will as much as you can.”

“If you get a credit card, get only one. Only use it for what you can pay for that month and pay it off at the end of each month.”

“It's normal to feel anxious sometimes, but when it's too much to handle, don't be afraid to ask for help.”

“Follow your dreams and passions, not everyone or anyone else's.”

“Everything truly does happen when it's meant to happen. The journey may not be easy, but it's worth it in the end.”

 “The worst you let someone treat you is the best they're ever going to treat you.” 

“You're going to wish that you were this fat in 10 to 15 years.”

“Figure out the things that make you the happiest in life. Give yourself a few of those things daily. This promotes self-love.”

“Set healthy boundaries and don't be afraid to keep them. If I would have done this earlier, I would be a lot healthier mentally.”

“Don't be afraid to be the weird friend or the outspoken friend. You'll have more fun if you just embrace it. And don't worry about what other people think so much.”

“Always wear the sunscreen. Tans will fade. Wrinkles are forever.”

“Stop comparing yourself. You are enough.”

“Your struggles do not define you. You will hurt. You will struggle, but you will heal. The days will seem endless, but the sun will always set and rise again, just as you do.”

“Laugh, encourage others, build a community so that if you cannot stand, they will be there to catch you.”

 “For the love of God, do not cut your bangs yourself.”

Love, 

Me

In this week’s episode, I sat down with my AMAZING Virtual Assistant, Katie. If you’ve heard about ‘virtual assistants’ but not exactly sure what they do, what it’s like working from home or curious if YOU could potentially be a good fit in this role...then THIS episode is for YOU! 

Growing tired of the corporate job world, Katie knew she wasn’t meant for the 9 to 5 situation. Eager to be on the more creative side of things with a more flexible schedule, she joined some virtual assistant Facebook groups and landed her first few clients! Katie has now been working as a Virtual Assistant for 5 years helping bloggers, content creators, coaches + biz owners with the tasks that don’t light them up, so they can focus on the ones that do. 

Here are TEN key takeaways from my chat with Katie:

1. Join virtual assistant Facebook groups - and don’t be afraid to reach out to potential clients! 
2. As a virtual assistant you can do SO MANY THINGS (which is the coolest thing!) - BUT find your niche, your ideal client, + hone into that. 
3. You make your OWN schedule as a VA - flexibility is one of the best parts about the job. 
4. It’s okay to do a trial run with a client before committing to any specific hours or pay - use the trial run to avoid any guesswork, especially when you're first starting out.
5. If you’re a small business owner looking for a VA - join Facebook groups! (Trust me, Facebook is the best place for VAs to find clients + clients to find VAs). 
6. Building a base of clients was the hardest part of becoming a virtual assistant BUT reach out to people + trust that you can deliver on your promises. 
7. On the topic of promising - Don’t make unrealistic promises to clients.
8. When it comes to getting paid: do your research first. See what other VAs in Facebook groups are charging for similar services, Google VA salaries in your area and then work backwards toward an hourly or package rate, and most importantly know your own worth and then add tax. 
9. A virtual assistant’s role is to amplify, not replicate, the client’s voice or brand.
10. THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY: Do NOT undervalue yourself. Don't feel bad for walking away from the person who doesn’t see your value. You'll be so happy that you now have the capacity to take on that perfect client. 

You’ve heard me say it many times before, I don’t know what I would do without Katie! I am SO grateful for everything she does for me. Thank you, Katie, for such good advice. If you want to get more information about being a virtual assistant, you can look into those virtual assistant Facebook groups.

And NEVER underestimate your worth. 

One way I love for my community to get to know me a little better is with a good ol’ Q & A. I have my amazing virtual assistant, Katie, on this episode with me asking me questions my patrons are asking + that I get asked often! We will cover topics ranging from mental health to spending fake money! Here’s a sneak peek into what Katie and I cover in this week’s episode of Beyond Crafting:

Q: Who inspires you the most?

There's a ton of people in our online community that inspire me. But overall, more than anything, my parents. They show me kindness, patience, and love.

Oh, and Glennon Doyle (If you don’t know who she is, look her up here. She’s amazing.).

Q: What is the hardest part of being a work-at-home mom?

I think there are a lot of misconceptions about work-at-home moms, but the truth is, being a mom is hard no matter what you do - work-at-home moms, work-outside-the-home moms - we all have our trials. 

Truthfully. Without a doubt. The hardest part of being a work-at-home mom is trying to explain to people that I actually work at home. Can I get an amen?! 

Q: What have you found to be the best type of marketing for your business?

Wait, you don’t just buy ads??? 

NOPE. I have in the past.

BUT the best type of marketing is organic marketing. Find your people that really, truly believe in you. Investing in building my community in an authentic way helped me expand more than any paid marketing.

Q: What goal or goals do you hope to accomplish by the end of the year? 

THIS PODCAST! I’m so passionate about staying consistent with this podcast. It’s not fair to me or you to keep letting it fall to the bottom of the list. 

Q:  When you have bad mental health days, what keeps you going?

You have to find the thing that keeps you going. Whatever it is. For me it’s my parents, my girls, and my amazing community + the work I get to do. 

And knowing that there will be a break is what keeps me going. 

Q: If you could buy anything, no money restrictions. What would it be? 

No spoilers here! Go have yourself a listen to see. 😄

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Another inspiring person in my life is @thebirdspapaya. Do yourself a favor and check out her Instagram account -- she helped me realize it's okay to love myself.

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Interested in what being a Virtual Assistant entails? We're going to do an episode with my VA, Katie, and she would love to answer any questions you have! Email those questions to [email protected].  

Let’s face it, 2020 did not end the way that it started. For any of us. For me, it ended in a separation, a new home and, in hindsight, a fresh start. 

So, Where Did I Go? In the mess of 2020, I realized how desperately I needed to take a b.r.e.a.k. I needed time to focus on my girls + myself. And that’s OKAY.

It’s about time we ditched the hustle. You do not have to grind until you die. It is sometimes necessary (and dare I say mandatory) to take some time off to re-prioritize, set boundaries, and put yourself first so you don’t experience burnout.

I give you permission to pause + breathe. You deserve it whether you think you do or not. 

My passion is this podcast, and I am so excited to be back with all of you where I have a voice to share my heart beyond crafting. 

If you or a loved one has experienced domestic violence, you can visit thehotline.org, contact the National Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to ncadv.org/rescources for a full list for help. Or visit the Show Notes Section at http://hollimostella.com

Keep finding strength in each day. Keep pushing and finding yourself again. Keep moving forward, with the ashes of hell beneath your feet. 

and how to get over it.
Let's face it. No one and nothing is perfect. Once we can accept perfection is not obtainable, we can allow life to get a little easier.


Get Show Notes at http://www.hollimostella.com

Being a woman holds so many stories. Just like a diamond, so many facets. We are story tellers, passing down the knowledge that our mothers taught us and their mothers taught them. We are lovers. We are friends. We are sometimes mothers, and sometimes not. We hold secrets, and we hold truths. 

During an interaction with my patron group, I asked.. “what does it mean to be a woman?” Here are some of their answers.

Get the Show Notes here: https://hollimostella.com/episode-11/

Music: Hiraeth by Scott Buckley https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-hiraeth
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/iZdPxAXsd5k

Meet Shantae Wright, and hear how her entire family of 4 survived Coronavirus. Listen to her share her story, her symptoms, and her family's recovery.

See the Show Notes at: https://hollimostella.com/episode-10-meet-shantae-wright/

Visit Shantae Here: http://www.instagram.com/simplytexasvinyl

Instagram. Like most social media, You either love it or you hate it. What if I told you I have tricks and tips that can help you beat the algorithm, gain followers, and improve your engagement? Let’s take a dive into what makes Instagram tick.

Visit the Show Notes for more info, photos, and links: 

Jennifer Maker works day and night to inspire those around her. Take a listen and hear about her journey, how she got started, and some of the amazing business tips she gives.

Visit the Show Notes for more info, photos, and links: https://hollimostella.com/meet-jennifer-maker/