Vote For Me To Win a Scholarship for the Girl's Guide to Web Design Course

You all know that I have been thinking and talking about getting my own website for a while.  Clearly I haven’t made the leap yet.  This post is my entry to the Girl’s Guide to Web Design Scholarship course which, if I win, will enable me to create my dream site so I need you all to go and votefor me (the rest of the post is telling you why).

As you know, I am a writer.  But I want to be more than just a writer.  I want to be known as a blogger and as a creative entrepreneur.  This is why I want my own website – I want to have a home for myself online, where all aspects of who I am and what I do can be found under one roof so to speak.  I’m imagining a website that lets you know this is Tamara Epps’ space.  I want something clear and easy to navigate, yet sparkly and unique; with space for my blog, my shop, my subscription service and ebooks, as well as any future ideas I roll out.

As I’m just getting started I don’t have any money to spend on getting professional help, and I’m not sure I am ready to let my ideas come to life through someone else.  I have always been stubborn and independent which is why I love that this course teaches the students how to do it by themselves.  I also know that my vision will probably change over time as I add new aspects and ideas to the site and I don’t want to have to rely on someone else to make that a possibility every time – I want my viewers to be the first to know about it.

I am applying for the Jetsetter Edition as this will allow me to move at my own pace, meaning I will be able to work around the limited energy I have due to my M.E.  I love that they offer the course like this (as well as an 8-week course) as, for people like me, having to follow someone else’s structure can be a real strain on health – and often ends with having to drop-out or give up half way through.  You all know that I am not a quitter, which means I tend to power through and end up putting myself back (I’m doing my best to work on this).

The competition requires that I tell you one secret fact about me.  This is harder than it sounds as I always strive to share my secrets with you.  So I’ll just tell you that, while I may actually be quite an organised person, I am not a tidy person.  Ever wonder why I never showed you pics of our new place?  It’s because I haven’t finished unpacking (I have a lot of stuff) and what is unpacked is strewn across the place.

So please vote for me.

An Experiment with Structuring

I have decided that if I am going to get anywhere with all my wonderful plans and ideas (especially as I seem to have opened the floodgates and now they are all pouring in), that I need to add a little structure to my days.  So far I have been getting on with a very (very) loose structure that larger revolves around the fact that I have to wait for my laptop to charge between the times I use it.  While I’d like to think that I have the self-discipline for this to work, it clearly hasn’t been; and, quite frankly, I don’t like feeling like a failure at the end of every day because I haven’t achieved as much as I’d set out to do (which is often only one or two things) due to the fact that I get distracted with other stuff I can do.

So I’m putting my foot down (metaphorically) and taking control of my days (literally).  Remember those timetables you used to use at high school, with all the lessons marked clearly in their timetabled boxes?  Well, I’m going to replicate that idea and make my very own timetable for each day.  I am hoping to still keep a little spontaneity and quite a bit of flexibility in it, but I think that the general meandering between activities that I have been doing just isn’t going to cut it if I actually want to make some money this year.

Do you have a structure to your day or do you just do whatever you feel like?  Let me know in the comments what works for you and if you would like to see my timetable later this week.

Review: Water for Elephants

Click to buy

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival. (Blurb from Goodreads)

I have to admit that when I received this book for Christmas from a Secret Santa, I was a little disappointed.  The cover was a huge turn-off for me as it’s packaged as a romance (I tend to stick to chick-lit when indulging in romance) so I was complete caught off guard by the amazing story that unfolded as I turned the pages.

While there is a romantic plot of sorts, that is not what I will take away from reading this story.  I will remember the details (at times repugnant) and the outlandishness of it all.  And most of all, I will remember the way I was sucked into the often brutal world of train circuses, something that wasn’t even on my radar until this book landed in my lap.  This book reminded me of the power of words, of stories.  And at the heart of it, I was reminded of humanity in so many forms.

I honestly can’t think of anyone who shouldn’t read this book.  I know my world-view will be forever changed from this experience, so I hope you consider adding it to your to-read list (or, even better, buying it or renting it and reading it next).

I realise that I haven’t given you much to go on with this review, but it has truly left me speechless (something that very rarely happens).  To say more would negate from the experience waiting within the pages – an adventure that at times will make you avert your eyes (to no use as the image is printed into your imagination), and at others will keep you up to find out what could possibly happen next (yes, that did happen to me last night, so I am considerably more tired today than perhaps I should have been).  So go, read.  And feel free to share any world-changing books that you think I should read, in the comments.

Focus Really Does Help Productivity

I’m sure you’ve heard (or read) the advice that focusing on one thing at a time leads to productivity, time management, quality work, etc.  The reason this advice is everywhere is because it’s true (shocker, I know).

I’ve read this advice countless times.  If anyone asked me, I would probably have regurgitated it – but I didn’t follow it.  It wasn’t that I didn’t want to follow it, I just had so much to do that I tried to do everything at once (often not realising that that’s what I was doing). 

It wasn’t until my laptop stopped functioning all the time, that I realised just how true this ‘focus on one thing at a time’ advice is.  I used to spend most of the day on my laptop with many, many tabs and windows open that I would flick between.  Reading a blog post here, an email there, writing a paragraph in between.  When my time on my laptop became limited it didn’t take me long to realise that continuing to do this would mean that I wouldn’t even finish reading my emails (and I don’t really get that many) before my time was up.  And so I adjusted to putting all my focus on one place at a time.  While I do still have many tabs open, I try and finish reading/doing whatever is on that page before moving on to the next.  I put all my focus on what I am doing and I end up doing a lot more than if I am trying to take in information from many different things at once. 

Putting your focus on one thing at a time really does make a difference to your productivity, which I feel is particularly helpful for me as I have limited energy in a day so need to use that energy and time wisely, rather than not doing anything and yet feeling exhausted because I’ve tried to do everything.

Now that I know that focusing on one thing at a time really does work, I am beginning to put it into action in my life.  I finish what I’m doing (or do something for a set time) before moving on to the next thing.  And I focus on what I’m doing rather than thinking about a hundred other things at the same time; or at least I’m trying to.

Do you try and do a million things at once or are you a master of productivity – let me know in the comments (and if you’re a master, feel free to share your tips).

How Making Pizza Proves YOU Are Creative

You all know that I am a creative person.  You may or may not think you, yourself are creative.  I know that you are all creative.

Creativity isn't limited to artists and writers and dreamers.  Creativity is in everything you do.  Every decision you make requires you to use your creativity - whether that be time management, choosing what to read or deciding what you are having for dinner.

I think I've always known this but yesterday I realised that it's the truth - everyone is creative (yes, you too).  We are currently having to live with less money than we're used to (apparently, being a student is a luxury life these days) and the first place we're changing our habits is with our food.  Granted, we have never really been that adventurous when it comes to what's for dinner - we've almost always turned towards pasta.  And, unfortunately, the occasional take-out pizza.  Yesterday we had pretty much had it with pasta and really wanted the unhealthy pizza option.  Yet, we knew it wasn't really an option if we want to be able to pay our rent and bills.

This is where the creativity kicked in.  I decided to look for a recipe we could make with what we had in our cupboards (which were particularly bare).  Within 10 minutes I had found this recipe.  I had used another recipe from Tammy's Recipes and strongly recommend you take a look if you need something quick, cheap and easy for dinner.

Uncooked Biscuit Crust Pizza with Spinach

For those of you too lazy to click on the links (I don't hold it against you, honestly), the recipe was Biscuit Crust Pizza.  It took us 45 minutes from when we decided to make it til when we were eating it.  It was entirely edible as well as very cheap and much healthier than take out (though I would advise using less salt than recommended).  And it proves that creativity is possible for everyone.  The decision not to stay safe with the same pasta meal we always have was a creative act.  Searching for a few minutes online to find something we had the ingredients for was a creative act (by the way, it used: plain flour, baking powder, butter, milk, pizza sauce and cheese).  Using pasta sauce rather than pizza sauce was a creative act.  Adding spinach (because we love it and because that's what we had in the freezer) was a creative act.

Another pic of our pizza that I'm super proud of.  Sorry, I forgot to take one of it actually cooked as we were too hungry to remember!

I think you get my point.  Everytime you allow yourself to step outside your comfort zone, you strengthen your creativity.  And I promise, THE CREATIVITY IS ALREADY THERE. 

How I'm Learning Online

I realise I have been MIA for the past week, but I have been kick-starting my business plans by attending a virtual event, Profit SOS (the talks are still available but only if you wish to purchase the VIP 'tickets').  The course involved 2 webinars each day and I have to say it was quite a learning experience for me.  Not only did I get plenty of very useful information, it opened my mind to all the possibilities the internet has for learning.

I've always known that the internet is a great place for information.  It is the first place I turn to in most cases when I wish to know something.  But until now I've been 'playing it safe' by just looking at written pages of information.  Now, I'm not saying that that isn't a great way to learn (personally, I love reading anything and everything I can get my hands on); but it isn't the only way to learn (and for some people it isn't a particularly easy way to keep information in the mind).  I am now open to trying more virtual events as well as using video and podcasts/webinars to boost my learning.  I'm thinking that later this year I will be looking into Psychology and Sociology courses available (apparently many univerisities make most of their courses available for anyone to access).

But for right now I am going to focus on using everything I've learnt and starting to put it into practice.  If there's any part of learning I fall down on, this is it.  I'm a very academic person so like learning by taking in information; and writing essays is usually as practical as I like to get.  Obviously, simply knowing tactics isn't going to get me far in actually creating and running a business.  I realise that I'm in for an even steeper learning curve but I am excited to be on this journey and hope you all enjoy following along.
 

3 Words for 2012

Yesterday I read a post by Chris Brogan about choosing 3 words for the year and trying to live by them. It sounded like a really interesting idea and one I definitely wanted to try. It took me a little while to come up with my 3 words, and I doubt that I will be living with them for a whole year (if I remember, I will re-evaluate them in 6 months) as, for me, that’s quite a long time, and a lot can change during it.

Passion:
The first word that immediately came to mind was ‘passion’. As a creative and drama-princess I am obviously passionate in a lot of what I want to do. This year, as I embark on becoming an entrepreneur, I want to remember to keep passion at the heart of everything I do. I want to ensure that I am passionate about every decision I make as I believe that that will help me to follow my instincts and my ‘truth’.

Believe:
The second word I came up with was ‘believe’. This is actually a very important word for me right now as it has to do with an idea I had that made my business idea bloom. Right now, I believe I can do more than I’ve been doing. I believe that I can become who I’m meant to be. I believe that starting a business is the right path for me right now. I chose to use this word as one to live by because I need to remember to keep these beliefs and to embrace the positive beliefs I stumble upon on my journey.

Pace:
Honestly, I didn’t want to include this word. It doesn’t uplift or inspire me. But I know that it is something I need to live by right now. I need to pace myself. I need to keep resting regularly and to not get ahead of myself as I want to improve my health. So while I don’t like having this word as one of my 3, I know it is the right word to keep there. It isn’t something that comes naturally to me which is why I feel it is even more important to keep it in my focus.

So these are the three words that I’m going to keep at the forefront of my mind in any and every decision I make for the next period in my life (however long it feels right to keep them there). I’m thinking of writing them nice and big and putting them on the wall next to my desk. Let me know if you decide to join in and I recommend reading Chris Brogan’s post on it and, if you have a chance, visit some people who have commented.