I’m sure from the title you can tell that this was quite an ordeal for me – setting up this blog from scratch that is!
It felt like my head was going to explode at various stages of this process.
Starting a blog is something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time. I tried a few times while I still worked a full time job- and easily gave up many times. I then told myself, I just don’t have the time.
This time I was determined to see it through.
So I knew this:
- I wanted to get this blog off the ground – for real this time
- I knew absolutely nothing
- I would have to learn every single thing, every step of the way
So, I had this huge task- and I had to apply the how do you eat an elephant principle
One bite at a time
I made a list, watched many how-to videos, drafted the vision (roughly)
And I started with step one
I had to get a domain and hosting and I had to decide on the best company to use. Before I could do that I of course had to settle on a name for my blog. It is creating something from nothing but a vision.
I did all of that, and then the real work started. Now I had to learn to actually set this blog up using WordPress. I knew absolutely nothing about this!
Luckily nowadays one can find anything on YouTube- and oh my goodness! If it wasn’t for YouTube I don’t even know.
You can of course just pay someone to do it for you- but I really didn’t want to do that. I would then not know anything! And I would have to hire someone again and again -every time I needed something done.
So, I decided to learn by watching how to Tutorials.
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop – Confucius
And it was so very helpful!
I am a hands -on learner – so as I was watching I was also doing on my own website. I would get to a certain point and then I’d realize I made a mistake somewhere and I would have to start over again.
The number of times my hosting company had to reset my website would be embarrassing – if I would allow that!
I absolutely would not!
I told myself – this is all new to you! And you are doing this by yourself- and if you mess up it’s okay to start over as many times as you need to.
The hosting company was also very nice about it. They honestly never made me feel bad on the call, to ask them to reset my website- again and again.
Some days, after yet another defeat I would walk away- and stay away for days. I just allowed myself the room I needed.
I always knew that I would get back to it when I was ready.
And I did!
Get back to it!
The detail that goes into it -is insane!
I had to learn that it is not just about writing a blog post. It’s the images that go with it, what category the piece is for and so on
And while YouTube tutorials are nice, it’s not a classroom where you can ask questions, because believe me sometimes they would say something and it would be so different on my end – that I would just be left wondering, how the hell am I going to figure this out and move on to the next step.
Some people on YouTube are really nice (and helpful) because I would ask a question in the comment section on a video that was posted a few years ago – and this one guy actually helped me – twice!
That was so awesome!
When I got to the point where I could really see it come together, I thought, okay, now it’s time for me to get some photos – and I booked a photo shoot. I decided on the clothes and even on some locations and different studio pics as well.
I thought I had it all figured out and that having these images would mean that I am almost there, almost ready to publish.
Only to realize that they were completely wrong for the aesthetic of the already existing blog theme – oh my goodness!!!
At first, I could not even figure it out. I uploaded the images, sat back and looked at it.
It looked crazy!
Fall seven times and stand up eight – Japanese Proverb
Everything was just all wrong! And I wasn’t even really sure what was wrong!
These images were beautiful, the photographer did a really good job! So, what’s the problem!
I walked away again – for a few days…
I even thought I would have to start all over again. Because looking at it now, it does not look like the blog I would like to put out there.
Did I need an entirely new theme?
That would mean resetting my website again – and starting from scratch- again!
When I finally opened my laptop again, it hit me. My images did not blend into the already existing website. It already had colours and so on and I never took that into account while planning the photo shoot.
Boy! Was that a pricey mistake to make!
So again, I had to sit down and plan a photo shoot. This time the photographer and I talked about it and looked at the website to see what would work- and this time we aced it!
Oh wow! And I thought writing my blog posts would be my biggest challenge lol
Now, I can tell you; that is actually the easy part!
Then there’s your own mind messing with you every step of the way as well.
All the thoughts, the doubts, the fears.
This is crazy! What are you doing! Can you even pull this off? It is so hard! It would be easier to just forget about it and give up – you can at least say you tried.
So, with all the technical difficulties you have to deal with, you still have to contend with the above. And I guess this is where you have to decide just how much this means to you.
I decided that: I started toying with this idea a very long time ago and this time I will complete it – regardless of how hard it is and how many times I must start over or how many times I have to re do something I thought was done.
I am committed to this, I told myself!
I will learn every single thing I can, words like domains, hosting, wordpress, plugings, logos, flavicons, Newsletter, images, tags etcetera will just be my new normal (to name a few)
I will learn to set up email accounts, write newsletters and all of that, but I will not give up this time!
I now also know that, should I hit a snag, that I cannot immediately figure out, it is okay to walk away and think about it
That way my head won’t explode!
So, this time- I did it!
And yes, I am so very proud of myself. It doesn’t matter what happens next, for now this one thing is true, I finally finished this blog and published it.
And because I was willing to work so hard on it, I know it is important to me and will continue to pour my best into it.
I hope you stick around to see it grow
Xo
