Dream, Believe, Achieve- Working for what you want.

Back in July, if someone had said to me "Flo, in six months time, you'll have your own radio show", I never would have believed them. Nor would I have believed that I would be a blogger, a columnist or have started my own mini gift line- I definitely wouldn't have believed I would be more well known as 'Florence' than 'Flo'! Everything I have achieved in just six months is really quite unbelievable, and I wouldn't have believed it coming from anyone.

So often I have people asking me how I managed to do this, how I managed to make time for that, how did I get all of the lucky opportunities that I have had? I'm always telling people the same few facts about how to get to where you want to be, so I thought I would share them on a wider platform to help out and maybe even inspire more people who feel as though they're not quite sure about what they're doing with their life. Don't worry, you aren't the only one- six months ago I was in exactly the same position! But since my first step in the right direction, I am now 100000% more confident than I have ever been, and my independence has soared. Going to events on my own in places I have never been? Starting my own gift line? Meeting up with strangers to pitch ideas? That would never have been me six months ago, but it is the person that I am now, and I have never been happier. Do you think that you could do with a confidence boost, some extra experience in your field of interest, more independence? If so, let me help you out...

How did you get into blogging? How have you been able to blog for other people?

I got into blogging when a few more successful and experienced people within the media advised me to do so, in order to help me create my persona and my "voice" so to speak- this would help me to become recognizable within the media. As well as this, a blog link could be sent to future employers as an example of my capabilities and what I had previously done. As I had always loved writing, and definitely wanted to get myself out there, I started blogging...and so was born "Love from Florence Grace"!

The face of "Love from Florence Grace"!

When it comes to blogging for other people, that is a mixture of luck and pure, hard work. Once I started blogging, I began to follow Twitter accounts for small blogging related businesses, other bloggers and accounts that help out bloggers by retweeting them, posting about events for bloggers etc. etc.. Following these accounts, I became aware of what opportunities were being posted and applied for them all- luckily, as blogging isn't my full time, paid job (yet!) "applying" is a term that can be used very loosely- it's usually just a tweet or short email expressing your interest! As for becoming a permanent blogger for Girls Talk London, this was due to persistence. I had had the opportunity to meet with someone from Grazia magazine, and her advise for me was to email everyone and anyone within the media and send them my blog to show them what I could do and then see what they could offer me. I sent out around 50-100 emails, and Girls Talk London got back to me about a week later expressing their interest! I have been blogging for them ever since!

How did you get your own radio show?

A dream I had been pursuing for years, I was thrilled to have the opportunity presented to me by my friend to go and host a one off show with a local youth charity. They loved us and how many listeners we brought in, so offered us a permanent slot. Whilst working together didn't work out as well as I had hoped I then went on to host my own solo show, Friday's with Florence Grace. Again, this was all due to luck as well as hard work, demonstrating my skills and ability and not giving up on my dreams. Over and over I was told that I would never work in radio and that it wasn't a realistic career to dream about- and look where I am now. 

I know that when local youth charities come to talk to you whilst you're at school or college, generally everyone switches off- don't deny it, I've been there when it's happened AND done it myself! The word 'charity' seems to bore people and lead them to believe it's all about unrewarded, hard work. I wish I had got involved with my local youth charities sooner, as all of this may have come to me earlier than now! So my advice to you is to have a more in depth look at what your local youth charity offers- I promise it won't be as dull as you may think.  

 

How do you get so many opportunities?

99% of my opportunities have come from GoThinkBig- the best thing I have ever discovered via the internet!!! GoThinkBig have not only provided me with opportunities to meet and work with established businesses within the media but also help me on a one to one level, offering personal advice, reviewing my CV and how I apply for different positions and even referred me to a week long internship at Closer magazine- which was a total surprise! You can follow GoThinkBig on Twitter here or check out their website with the full list of opportunities here. I am so grateful to each and every member of the team there and can't wait to see how I can be involved more with them in 2015- hopefully with a few of you guys there too! 

All of your work is done within the media- I don't want a job in the media. How can your advice help me? 

Although it is true that my advice does mainly apply to people who want to work within the media industry, there are a few general pieces you can take away from this and apply to anything! 

1. Don't ever give up on your dreams, no matter who tells you what. I never would have believed I would be doing all the amazing things I am right now because people never supported my dream of working in the media as a presenter because it was unrealistic- even I believed so. I'm glad I didn't give up entirely, because look where I am now! Also, from doing more in depth research into the career of my dreams, I have found that even if I don't end up in my exact dream career there are loads and loads of jobs I have never even heard of that are very similar to my ideal one. Investigate, get work experience, try things out and don't give up. 
2. Say YES to every opportunity you are offered. I am not interested in fashion but I jumped at the opportunity to be a fashion intern at Closer magazine- because it's still experience in a professional industry and it still provided me with contacts, who I now keep in touch with. 
3. Following on from that point, contacts are important. Get yourself on LinkedIn as soon as you've finished reading this post! Everybody told me to, and I didn't listen. Now, every time I meet a contact from a magazine, an established business such as Channel 4 or an independent journalist etc. etc. I make note of their name and keep in touch with them on a professional level via LinkedIn. 
4. Although hard work and perseverance are key to achieving your goals, it is true that it is all about who you know. So many of my opportunities have come because so-and-so passed on my details or they read my writing on so-and-so-website and were impressed etc. etc. Remember, once you've met someone, if you act the right way about it, they can be a useful contact for life- you never know when you may need them! 
5. Don't be afraid to ask. I asked to write for other people. I asked to be a columnist in every magazine and paper I could think of . I asked to host my own radio show. The saying is true that if you don't ask, you don't get. Don't be afraid. The worst that can happen is that the person you are asking says "no"- and then you move on to the next person, and ask again. 

As a young person in today's world, it seems that reaching dreams and achieving goals is unrealistic and unlikely to happen. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS. Dream, believe and you will achieve. I had no idea where my talents lied and no idea what I was capable of. Now I have had a small taste of success, I want more and won't be giving up- now, or ever. I encourage each and every one of you to do the same. 

Dream big things about what you want from life.

Believe that you can get to where you want to be. 

Achieve great things by doing the two steps above. 

It will happen- and my inbox/dm's are always open for any questions you may have or advice you may need. Never give up on your dreams. 

Love from, 

Florence Grace 

Photos 1, 2 and 3 are mine and were taken/created/edited by me. All others found via google images. 

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