I thought it appropriate to end the year with a 2017 Hustle Recap even though I never really explained what my hustle was about or how I was going to go about it. I declared it my One Little Word for 2017 at the beginning-ish of last year.

In all the years I’ve been choosing a word for the year to focus on, this is the first year I lived, breathed, and thought about “hustle” every single day.

2017 Hustle Recap

Winter & Spring Hustle

The year started off with an amazing opportunity: an international company looking to expand into the U.S. I was able to run their Facebook and Instagram accounts. It gave the opportunity to dabble in marketing. I loved trying to think outside the box (or in this case, outside the pan).

My year really began to take shape in February/March. I stepped down to three-days-a-week at my day job to focus on social media work. My goal for this year was to start my business, Seek Creative. It would be a social media/creative agency to help female small business owners manage their social media accounts so they could focus on their own businesses.

Through my work with The Women Bloggers (a friend, mentor, client from 2016) I was contracted by Soapbox Insights to manage social media accounts for an AriZona Energy Shots campaign for a month’s time. This was my first opportunity working with a national brand and was definitely a learning adventure. I was responsible for social accounts for the brand on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. It was fun. Intimidating. Exhilarating. And, informative. I was also able to continue on as an ambassador/influencer during this time, too.

At the end of May/beginning of June, I picked up my very first social client that I hadn’t worked with before. Through word-of-mouth and a personal referral, I met with a local small business woman and was contracted for social media work. Again, another major learning experience. Through this client, I was introduced to another client and off I went, learning to build web sites and practice graphic making. I tried my hand at designing eBooks (three of them!) editing copy, and other social media work.

Summer Hustle

In July, I officially registered my business, Seek Creative, with the county. I hired an artist, my friend Jeanetta, to design my logo and social media graphics. Another blogging friend, Lacie, hired me to pick up her Facebook page. I’d actually been dabbling with her page for fun for a short time. I love food blogging and Facebook foodies. It’s one of my fave things to do!

August found me as a contractor for a marketing firm answering questions on Facebook for two weeks leading up to an event. I REALLY love answering questions. It seems so silly but it was enjoyable.

#2017 Hustle Recap | It was a good, good year! #onelittlewordClick To Tweet

Fall & Winter Hustle

September brought more new adventures! A styled photo shoot. Seriously, I was hired to do a styled photo shoot, you guys. It was the best thing ever. I can’t wait to do more. I picked up another international client for Facebook and Instagram. I love researching other cultures and customs.

Another first happened at the end of September! My very first television appearance doing a craft segment on a local Little Rock news channel. How fun is that? SO FUN. I was asked back in November and December. You can find the videos here.

My parents came to town in October. With dad’s retirement, they moved into their travel trailer and will spend the fall and winter traveling. Heber was the first stop. I enjoyed doing touristy-like things with them in between trying to manage working for clients, working at the Maxx, and doing influencer campaigns. To say I hustled just a little bit during this time is an understatement.

November and December were heavy with influencer work on top of client work (not to mention, hiring season at my day job dragged on into these months and made for some crazy times).  I picked up another Instagram client for the month of December, as well. I get tired just thinking about it all again!

It was a good, good year. I failed at some things, stumbled with others, and needed reassuring a lot. I feel confident, though, that this is the right track for me and that I am heading in the right direction.

I haven’t chosen a word for 2018. I’m in the final paragraphs of a chapter that has been written over the last twenty years. I feel like, when that chapter is closed, I can move on. For now, I will continue to hustle, and grow, and glow.

I did good.

I feel good.

I feel confident.

 

 

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