25 Never Felt So Good

It's been awhile since I've just sat down here and let the fingers do all the talking.  What I mean is, I always have a plan for what I'm going to say on here.  Today, I just have A LOT on my mind and some things I've been wanting to share.  So I'm just going to let it all spill out however it wants to spill out... Capeesh?  Capeesh.

So if you follow me on Twitter (@xoAliBee) then you'll probably know that I'm in the process of making some major changes in my business.  A lot has happened over the past few months, and I mean A LOT.  I've been offered new opportunities and that has given me the time to reevaluate who I am and well, what I want to be when I grow up.  Yes, I'm 25 and just now getting around to realizing what my true calling is.  Honestly though, I feel like your mid-twenties is a completely normal age to really REALLY know what your dream career is.  Schools that expect you to pick a major and know what you want to do for the rest of your life at the age 18 are asking way too much of you.  Am I right, or am I right?

25 feels like my magic number...

Anyways, yes, I'm 25, I have studied at 3 different colleges, changed my major once, been in college for over 7 years and still don't have a degree.  I went through spurts of thinking I knew exactly what I wanted to do to having no clue what I was doing with my life.  That's all keggers and all-nighters the first couple of years in college, but once you hit 20, 21 (okay, maybe we skip 21 and go back to keggers and all-nighters for a bit), 22, 23, 24, and so on, you start to freak out.  I especially struggled at 23 and 24.  By this time I had a pretty good idea of what it took to be a successful artist.  I'll just be honest, it turned me off a bit.  I didn't want to be that starving artist.  I considered being a commercial photographer, but I hated the idea of someone else being in control of my creativity.  All of this really drained the passion out of me.  Don't get me wrong, my passion for photography is deep within me, but there comes a point where we have to think outside of the box to discover how to turn your passion into your life's work.  Sometimes that leads to identifying which passion should be our hobby and which passion should be our career.  Sometimes turning something we love so dearly into our life's work can turn that passion into something we no longer enjoy.  That's a tragedy!  I was in the beginning stages of reaching that point at 23.  Luckily though, I realized it sooner rather than later, and I am finally finding ways to do something about it.

Basically what I'm trying to say here is during these next few months, I'm re-branding.  I know I've said I've re-branded in the past, and I have, but this time it's much more than a new logo and updated portrait packages.  This isn't an overnight re-brand, it's something that is going to take time.  Lots and lots of time.  Sure, I could maybe do this in a month.  And I totally would because I'm impatient and get overly excited about change, but I don't want to half-ass it.  I want to do this re-brand flawlessly.

Things you may be wondering...

Q: Ali, are you not going to offer photography services anymore!?

A: I can't say 100% for sure.  But from the looks of the business plan I've been working on, yes, I will still be offering some type of portrait package.  It just won't be my main and only source of income.

Q: Are you still going to blog?

A: Yes!  Blogging may be a little less frequent for the next few months while I re-brand, but blogging is still going to be a major part of my business.

Q: Are you still in school?

A: I'm taking this semester off.  I was beginning to feel like I was just "going through the motions," just eager to graduate and be done.  Taking this term off will lift a huge weight off my shoulders and allow me to have that time I need to reevaluate my career choice and get started on my new ideas.

Q: Are you still going to make YouTube videos?

A: Yes.  I'd be crazy to not incorporate video into my business!

Q: Will your YouTube and blog content be the same?

A: As of now my channel is very lifestyle oriented - beauty, home, fashion, etc.  I love running a lifestyle YouTube channel and having this blog to go hand in hand with it, but the content will be shifting into something more specific and more appropriate to what my new business is all about.  BUT I have high hopes to dedicate scheduled time to creating lifestyle content regularly.

Q: Will your blog posts and YouTube videos still be useful to me?

A: That will be for you to decide.  But if you're someone who is a lot like me - a dream chaser, wanna-be strong woman, who loves to be inspired, creative, and connect with other women, then YES, you'll still want to tune in on the reg!

Q: Will you still be posting on your social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc) during this re-brand?

A: Absolutely!

Q: You "re-brand" a lot.  Why is this one different?

A: I know, I know.  I think re-branding is a glorious thing.  It keeps things interesting.  This re-brand is on the fine-line of creating a whole new business, but not 100% there.  So I like to just look at it as a super heavy re-brand.

Q: How will we know when your re-brand is over?

A: Oh trust me, you'll know.  But if you want to be certain you know ASAP, then follow me on Twitter.

Q: What new services will you be offering?

A: That's for me to know and for you to find out.  ;)  Kidding!  I can't say yet, but they will be awesomesauce.  I promise you that!

Q: I don't live in Ohio like most of your photography clients, will your new services be available to me?

A: Oh yes!  This is one of my most favorite parts about my re-brand.  I'll get the opportunity to work with women all over, not just locally!

Q: Will you be doing any service trials for kudos?

A: Great question!  Yes, I will.  I don't want to give too much away and I'm still working out some details, but if you're a woman in your 20's and interested in working with me and my "future" business then comment below with your name and email address... oh, and if you have a business, your website, too!  :)

Q: Come on Ali, can't you just tell us what this new business of yours is all about?

A: No, I really can't.  I'm still in the beginning stages of working on my ideas, researching what works and what doesn't, learning how to do a few things that I've never done before, and lots and lots of writing.  I can however tell you who's really been inspiring me lately and opened my mind to a whole new world that I love.  Here they are...

• www.kelleywithlove.com
• www.signedbysez.com
• www.chelseakrost.com
• www.themiddlefingerproject.org
• www.hellofearless.com
• www.thepassionpunch.com
• www.xosarah.com
• www.alexbeadon.com

Okay, okay.. I'll stop talking for now!  I will most definitely keep you updated on what's new and I WILL be blogging still.  So don't go disappearing on me.  ;)  Feel free to ask all the questions you want in the comment section!  Also don't forget to leave your info if you're interested in working with me and my "new" business in exchange for kudos!  xo Ali Bee

P.S. Thank you for always sticking by my side to those who have and thank you to those who are new as of recently, maybe even today.  I love each and every single one of you and all I want out of life is to help women like you live your life to the absolute fullest!  Now don't forget to bee bold, bee beautiful, bee happy, and to bee you.  :)