After 6 years of running Dose of Life, I’ve been wondering about my journey and growth as a blogger. It’s been a wild one. I remember even quitting for a while.
Chalk it up to despair or lack of confidence but I did quit blogging. Even now I sometimes lose hope and a sense of creativity.
But then I remind myself, I have grown and have gotten better. Only if you stop comparing yourself to others.
When I look at my work from before, I realize I have learned and improved a lot of skills. So, here’s a little highlight on my journey and growth as a blogger.
Exploring more
When I started out as a travel blogger, I actually did not travel that much. It started off with a honeymoon to South Africa and Seychelles (which was actually organized by a tour operator).
I explored the nooks and crannies of Bangkok in between short trips here and there.
As time passed, I planned more complex travel plans such as a 2-week trip to Europe. We visited 4 countries!
Sri Lanka was another amazing journey that made me grow as a traveler.
Even during this COVID pandemic, while we could not travel internationally, domestic trips were fair game. I decided to get closer to my goal of visiting all the provinces of Thailand. Having visited over 10 provinces in just a few months, I am now at 39 out of 77.
My growth was not limited to destinations. It even spread to experiences I’ve had as I was able to do things out of my comfort zone. Hiking, speaking to locals, connecting with culture and nature were just some things I started doing more of.
Focus on being me
I must admit, there was a time, I was blogging for the fame or trying to be an influencer. Just like many people, I thought it was cool.
But, as I grew as a professional blogger and writer, I realized otherwise.
My content and experiences had to be real and unique. It had to be from the heart and because I enjoyed it.
I’m not saying influencers aren’t real. Most are. But it is tempting and easy to lose sight of what you set out to do in the first place.
For me it was 2 things:
- to share my stories, experiences, and tips that may help others like me
- writing and traveling so that life doesn’t escape me
Now, don’t get me wrong, I still want to be appreciated and recognized for my work. Wanting to be in the spotlight isn’t a bad thing. At least as a professional.
My dad always said to me, “aim to be well-known in your field of expertise. Be the go-to guy”.
Over the years I learned, the only way to do is that to constantly learn, be humble and most of all, be yourself. If you do that, everything (hopefully) will come into place.
Learned and improved so many skills
Perhaps the biggest growth from blogging is my skillset.
New things I learned (and improved) are:
- Video editing and production
- Photography (new iPhone 12 pro max really helps)
- Photo editing – even learned Lightroom, something that daunted me for a long time
- A little bit of coding (thanks to COVID-19 lockdown
- Content development
- Marketing and social media
- Networking and pitching to brands
These skills are not only helpful in being a better blogger but also quite necessary.
Collaborations came rolling in
Speaking of pitching, in the beginning, I would be terrified of reaching out to brands. I would constantly think if I’m good enough or have enough followers.
Once I got my first collaboration, my confidence grew. I also learned that it is not always about followership. It comes back to being true to who you are as a professional. If you can see it, brands will too.
Also, if you are a good person and easy to work with, you have a high chance of more projects with the same organizations. That is something I really focus on. Attitude is key!
Now I have recurring collaborations with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and numerous other brands. In 2020 alone, I have been on 5 FAM trips in Thailand. It has been amazing!
Of course, the journey is not over yet. I have a lot (so much) more to learn. I have to continuously improve existing skills and keep learning new ones. However, no matter what, I’ve got to be true to myself.
Peace, guys.
Leave A Comment