HOW I FEEL ABOUT 'LIKES' BEING HIDDEN ON IG

I want to start of with a message from Church that I feel really spoke to me to SHARE. 

Tom Brady the greatest quarterback to win 5 to win Super Bowl games, everyone knew who he was, and he loved doing what he does for a living. The world at his feet. Please explain to me when he had an interview and I quote...

 "BRADY: …There’s times where I’m not the person that I want to be. Why do I have three Super Bowl rings, and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, “Hey man, this is what is.” I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think: God, it’s gotta be more than this. I mean this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be. I mean I’ve done it. I’m 27. And what else is there for me?

KROFT: What’s the answer?

BRADY: I wish I knew. I wish I knew…" 

Exactly how I have always felt my entire life. It wasn't the Super Bowl, but creating goals for myself and reaching them come hell or high waters. Each time I got there, I wanted more and more. You will see below where that got me.

You or someone you know needs to read this. 
Until these words ring true in the heart of every person, they will find themselves saying, “There’s gotta be more than this.” What people experience after they come down from amazing highs in life was described by Solomon thousands of years ago when he wrote, “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

* I promise there is a point to all this at the very bottom but its a must read*

First, I remember starting on Instagram as a Blogger, Influencer, Talent, and whatever else we get called. I was working in home decor and photoshoots for a companies' catalog at the time. I loved Fashion and needed an outlet.

 Then, I started getting sent free items I'd never be able to afford to buy (Chris was very happy about that). Within my first year I started making money. At first, it was all about my content and sure, the amount of followers were important. Then it became about the content, how many likes, and comments we got from our loyal following. THEN, it was all about how many followers for a while (when my email was blasting by the hour). 

I had the stomach flu and it was 3am, I posted this photo being honest about hugging the toilet. This photo changed everything! I had no idea this one photo would start throwing paid work my way. This is when beauty brands started reaching out. So I just went with it. When this beauty brand mentioned the red dress photo showing up in the explore page of Instagram and they gave me my highest paid collaboration to date.


Then, this thing called the algorithm and it's never ending changes rolled over. That part never bothered me. If my images weren't showing up in a followers feed, then clearly they weren't interested in searching for me daily to see what was new with me. Luckily, Instagram polls came into the mix for certain accounts. I was able to ask my following what they liked seeing and didn't care for. 

Let's hop into so-so current changes, 'Business Profile'. We were able to see how many people view your stories, how many people saw your photo on your feed, if you showed up in the explore page...etc. I have garnered 130K+ followers and I get about 2-3K+ likes and 8-11K+ people who saw my post. Where the hell are the other 127,000 people? Well, I haven't been as consistent the past year due to undiagnosed severe depression. Why take interest in someone who isn't consistent?

Let's not blame Instagram. I know a few bloggers I specifically visit on the daily and some I forgot existed but am still following them. So if YOU are frustrated with Instagram take a moment and re-read the paragraph highlighted above. Every damn person is a blogger now, the competition is rising. You need to keep up and consistent with posting, writing blog posts, doing stories, replying to dm's, engaging with your own followers and take interest in them. You almost have to let them in your life so they realize how important their presence is, create a E-friendship. Naturally, there HAS to be a set of boundaries between professionalism and friendship.

I need you to keep this next part as a reminder every single day:

At the end of it all, Instagram will keep rolling out changes for us curators (new word for us).

So you keep doing you boo, and connecting with your audience. Don't worry about comparing yourself  to anyones' success because I have spoken to so many of the OG bloggers before Instagram was even born and they too have days of keeping up with changes. You will never make it if you are focused on your chapter 4 to someone else's chapter 11. This isn't high school, not a popularity test. It's about you being yourself and what others needs as inspiration. I've had the same opportunities as girls with 600k+ all the way to someone at 17k+ with a higher engagement rate. We aren't really in competition, we are a community. Give yourself a day off social media, cleanse, and continue to post what gives you joy. If you don't get the engagement you want, f*** it. You feel proud of what your posting and makes you happy. No one will care about your happiness like YOU.

I may not have the most extravagant life, millions of followers, likes, comments, but I have at least one signed contracts with 4 digits for each month of the year. The feeling of doing what I love and paying rent for my beautiful healthy family....what else could anyone want? Besides fame, which....usually ends up with pressure from the entire world, depression, drugs, alcohol abuse, and death (not all, like the love of my life, Jennifer Lawrence lol ).