“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything” [Warren Buffeti]

I’d like to start the week with a little bit of a pep talk (I know what you’re saying “oh pleeease, it’s Monday!” but trust me, this is a good one). I recently read this amazing book called Manage Your Day-To-Day by 99U, which is a brilliant little compendium of tips from top entrepreneurs that will help you sharpen your creative mind.

Now, this is not gonna be a book review but a reflection on how some of these tips DO WORK. There’s one that’s on top of my list right no: How to say “no”. It’s kind of embarrassing to see how many of us struggle to say no – whether it be to your boss, your partner, friends, etc. For crying out loud, it’s a two-letter word, how hard can it be?!

Social media, our jobs, the economy – so many factors have bound our power to say no. We feel we are the mercy of our inboxes, demanding to get a response asap. Our cellphones have become an extra limb and no matter where we go we are always “ON”. We are like honey boo boo hooked on go-go juice – except we are not consuming copious amounts of mountain dew mixed with redbull, instead we are consuming insane amounts of information.

So how do we disconnect? How do we stop this invisible force that’s slowly draining our creative batteries (and sometimes even our relationships)? We stop it by saying NO. NO to answering calls after 10PM. NO to responding emails after 5PM. NO to giving up a weekend getaway so you can schedule some posts. NO to incessantly refreshing your FB, Pinterest, Instagram feed instead of being outside taking some sun or reading a book. NO to responding to that not-at-all-urgent tweet so you make some time to practice your twerking in front of the mirror.

Try it (the twerking included). Give it a go. Say YES. YES to giving up a post on your blog so you can hike a mountain with your lovely buddies. YES to ditching not-so-important emails to grab a beer with your best pal. YES to watching a scary movie by yourself and going to bed late. YES to finally finishing that book that’s been collecting dust by your night stand. YES to stuffing your face with a strawberry shortcake McFlurry all while rocking a dafuck-you-lookin-at attitude.

I know it’s not easy and I am no authority on this (fuck, I should be in bed already), but I want to encourage all of you to try it. Just say YES to one thing and you’ll see – and feel – the rewards of spending quality time with friends and with yourself. When you turn off your phone/computer/tablet and you let your brain run wild, amazing things happen.

This past weekend I said NO to scheduling “extra posts just in case” and I went out with friends. We went hiking, watched some fireworks, shared a sinful dessert (actually I ate it all), had some coffee (which I accidentally poured over my crotch). Little things that put a HUGE smile on my face (except the burnt crotch). Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my interwebz and its rewards, but they’ll never come close to the feeling of having stomach cramps ‘from laughing with friends. Remember that “very successful” is not always related to business – baking a cake and relaxing at home definitely count as being a very successful person.

Become successful at taking care of yourself! And may the odds be forever in your favour.

What are your thoughts on this? Is it easy for you to say NO? Are you trying to say YES more often? Do you unplug?

All Images: Artful Desperado

Hey fellas! It’s been a while since my last Blog Labs post. Now that Instagram has video everyone seems to be all over it, so I think it’s a good time to create a little guide to make the most out of this new feature.

Aside from any cyberspace wars that may be brewing between colossal social networking companies (cue Twitter and Facebook), it’s clear that video is the way to go. This not only applies to blogs but also to apps. First came Vine, now it’s Instagram’s turn. I’ve seen mixed comments about it, and to be honest I’m still on the fence – not sure if I’m digging it 100%.

For the last couple days I’ve been taking notes about things that bug people and things that seem to work really well. So without further ado, here are the Do’s and Dont’s of Instagram Video:

DO practice before creating your first post: take a few minutes to play around with the filters, buttons, timing, etc. Get to know the ins and outs in advance.

DON’T post the very first thing that pops in front of you: chances are it’ll be a less than attractive video of you flushing the toilet or chewing an apple. Honestly, do we need to see that?

DO continue to curate your feed: this comes back to don’t post the very first thing that pops in front of you. When taking a video, keep in mind your overall aesthetic. Don’t spoil your feed just so you can jump on the hype train.

DON’T drunk post: it seems pretty fun at the time, but the next day you might feel Instagram remorse. Admittedly, I’ve posted a few “mildly tipsy” videos on Vine and felt that way, so take it from me. Don’t do it!

DO mix your content: try to post videos with images in between, breaking up your content will keep your feed interesting. Even better: post one cool photo and follow-up with a “behind the scenes” video.

DON’T spam the world: yes, that concert was unreal but it sounds like a bunch of cats scratching a chalkboard ’cause the recording quality of our phones – as smart as they can be – isn’t Beats-by-Dr-Dre-approved. Keep it simple. If you’re freaking excited about something, take a bunch of videos, then go home and choose the best one.

DO get creative: one thing I’m loving is how people are creating so many stop-motion videos. There’s lots of planning involved, but the results are usually amazing and super fun. Wanna go above and beyond? Do a 15 second short film! Now that’s a challenge. Maybe give your Instagram followers an inside look at your studio, or tease them with snap shots of your next project!

So there you have it. Pretty basic stuff, no? So basic, we sometimes forget about it. These tips are not meant to prevent you from posting whatever the hell you want. They are meant to help you create quality content, especially if you use Instagram for your blog or brand. Remember, continue to curate your content, including any videos. Take this as my two cents; advice from a spectator that has been stalking several feeds.

If you want more tips check out these posts (some are for Vine, but same thing, it’s all video):

- The ultimate guide to Vine by Photojojo.
- 10 iPhone apps to make your videos shine via Vimeo.
- How to embed your Instagram video via Mashable.
- Instagram’s weekend hashtag project ft. several videos by different users.
- 11 brands already using video for Instagram via Social Fresh.
- Video kill the Instagram star, a fun read by TechCrunch.

So, let’s take it to the comments. Are you totally sold on this new feature? Or do you think it’s all becoming a big mash of messy things?

This is part two of the Plan Your Next Blogging Aventure series.

Hello! Welcome back to yet another fun-tastic Blog Labs (I am loving this mini series about blogging). Today we’re going to talk about How To Fund Your Next Blogging Adventure. In part one, we talked about choosing a conference that suits your needs. In this second part, we’re going to tackle the scary part of planning – the money!

HOW TO FUND YOUR NEXT BLOGGING ADVENTURE

I’m gonna go straight to the point – the best way to fund your trip are sponsorships. There. I said it. But wait, I’m not just talking about sponsorships from big and mighty companies – I am also talking about funding from your work, and even your friends! Yep. Everything is possible with the power of collaboration. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Ask Your Boss: I know, scary right?! But come on, it’s for their own good! They just don’t know it yet. If the conference you’re attending relates to your daily duties, then create a pitch to illustrate the benefits of your trip. Include things like:

- Meeting with potential new clients.
- Create brand awareness.
- Learn about new trends in the field.
- Find other creatives that could collaborate with your company (cross merch).
- Spy on competitors (my fave! hehe).

If you have a tough boss that won’t loosen the purse strings, then ask the all mighty Google for more guidance. Don’t be pushy, but be firm and look serious when you’re asking for partial or full coverage of your trip. After all, it’s business (avoid saying shit like “it’s gonna be fab” or “sooo many hot people go to that one” yeah. No.). Don’t be afraid. It doesn’t hurt to ask, right?

2. Ask Your Friends: How many times have you seen a friend going to a killer conference, the one you’ve always wanted to attend – and all you do is daydream about it, sitting at your desk, having a sob party for one with a side of kleenex. Wouldn’t you like to see all the notes from his trip? To learn about the latest and the greatest? Of course you would! Well, now let’s reverse the roles – who in your circle of friends (or even acquaintances) would like to go but totally can’t? (for different reasons: kids, huz, school, etc). Pitch them a mini sponsorship:

- “Friend, wanna pitch-in and I’ll share all the knowledge with ya?”
- “Friend, wanna help out and in exchange I’ll pass around your swag and products to la crème de la crème?”
- “FriendS (plural), wanna give me a list of the companies you’d like to connect with and I’ll hunt them down for ya?”

They don’t have to pay the whole trip – but if they can help to cover part of your hotel bill or flight (friends have airmiles!) then it’s a win-win!

3. Ask a Company: Go local, national and international! Create a mini pitch (similar to the one you’re sending to your boss) and show them how they could miss out on a big opportunity for product/brand placement. Remember, they don’t know they need you…yet – you have to go all like “how could you live without me!” – in a professional way of course. Potential businesses you can approach:

- Blogs and magazines (report/tweet/blog LIVE from the event!)
- Suppliers (connect them with new buyers)
- Market places (discover new design gems for their site/store)
- Local boutiques (wear their outfits, photograph them and bam! Instant fame).

REMEMBER: ANY sponsorship is better than NO sponsorship at all – be careful when you pitch your idea – ask for something specific and include as many details as possible (amount in $$, merchandise, etc). Set the bar high, and negotiate from there.

I can assure you, these tips will definitely help you score a sponsorship (they got me one for Alt!). Be creative, be kind, and you’ll be fine! (oh, don’t you love ending a post with a rhyme?)

So, have you decided where to go for your next blogging adventure?

IMAGES: Super Famous

Last week I wrote this post about Advice You May Not Hear Too Often . That post left me super energized and going all gaga for written content. You see, I am a Community Specialist by day – full-time! – so I thought: Why not sharing some of my knowledge with you?

Starting today I’d like to introduce Blog Labs: a new monthly blog series that will tackle social media topics, advice, and – of course – blogging.

Today’s topic – Plan Your Next Blogging Adventure – will be divided in 3 posts (yeah, get ready!). By the end of this journey you’ll be a total conference pro! Let’s get started.

PART ONE: Create a Plan.

With so many networking events happening in so many destinations – selecting and planning for the perfect one can be quite tricky! Worry not my amigo, here are 5 easy tips to help you plan wisely:

1. Create a Budget: list all possible travel expenses, including: airplane ticket, hotel, meals, the cost of the conference, etc. A rough number will do. To help you with this (sometimes daunting) task, you can use these handy apps:

- Budgeting / Money tracking: Piggie (free) and Left To Spend ($0.99).
- Hotel / Flights: Hipmunk (free, my fave!), Kayak Pro ($0.99), and airbnb (free).
- City Guides (to check prices in restaurants, transportation, etc): Wallpaper City Guide ($2.99), Trip Advisor (free), and Guide Pal (free).

2. Do Your Research: Find as many relevant events as you can. National and international. Don’t go for the “cool” factor – remember this is a business trip and you must make the most out of it. Think of it as oranges – which one is going to yield the most juice? You don’t wanna end up spending lots of money on a shriveled piece of fruit that will leave you thirsty!

Now, here’s a little list of 2013 events for bloggers:

- SXSW 2013
- Social Media Marketing World
- Alt Summit NY and SF
- Craftcation Conference
- Meet The Blogger Amsterdam
- The Hive Berlin
- Social Media Week
- Food Bloggers of Canada Conference
- TBEX for New Media and Travel Bloggers
- BlogHer ’13
- Circles Conference

Wowza. Take your time to sift through those. If you decide to rob a bank to attend them all, gimme a shout – I can help you carry some bags!

Tip: Check the schedule! Read about the speakers, visit their blogs, even tweet at them in advance. Also, most conferences have image galleries from previous years – browse through them and check the crowd, are you feeling it?

3. Check your timing: Is it too soon? Do you have enough time to budget? Give yourself at least 2-3 months to plan ahead. Things to consider:

- Airplane ticket prices depending on the season
- Are there any events happening at the same time? Kill two birds with one stone! Or as I like to say: eat two tacos with one mouth.
- Can you ask for the time off at work? Or, could you swap shifts with someone?

4. Buy Your Ticket!: Now that you have your plan ready, go get that hot conference ticket! Some of these events will sell out in minutes, so again, don’t take too long to organize your trip or you’ll end up with a stellar budget but no place to go (and your polka dot sweater will be very, very sad).

If you can’t put it on your credit card, ask a friend! Reserve your spot as soon as possible – the rest can be figured out later. Worst-case scenario: if you can’t make it, sell your ticket.

5. Add the Extras: Do you need new business cards? Do you have a proper suitcase? Ay mami! So many details to take care of. Ok, don’t fret. Here’s a list of conference essentials that will set you for success:

- Small suitcase to carry yo shiz (most airlines charge around $25 per bag so pack lightly, not like me: diva style).
- Extra purse or backpack to carry yo shiz at the conference
- Camera to take photos of everyone’s shiz (you can use your phone if it’s good enough)
- Notebooks and pens to document that shiz
- Business cards (quintessential for success!) to network and shiz
- Swag (if you own a shop) to impress them with yo shiz
- Babysitter, dog whisperer, etc. All those peeps that need to get paid to take care of yo shiz
- Your elevator pitch to sell yo shiz (free of charge, but time consuming if you don’t have it)
- Temp Gym membership for traveling…uh. Fuck that.

I recommend using Any.Do to schedule little reminders and to-do lists, that way you won’t forget any details or ideas.

There you have it. Hope this little guide helps you plan your next blogging adventure! If you have any other events that you’d like to share (or any tips not mentioned on this post) please, leave a comment below to share it with the community.

Next in the series: PART TWO – How To Find Potential Sponsors For Your Adventure

IMAGES: Banner, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (all under this license).