A year ago this month, December 1st 2016, I hit the publish button on the re-launching of this blog. I never had an intention of being a blogger. I love being a freelance creative + assistant director, producer and interior designer. I am not a writer, I don’t have the best grammar and you can often catch a spelling error in a post of mine. Throughout the last year, people have reminded me that they aren’t expecting a perfect post. Just do it. Make it Happen.
The Idea + Process
The idea of the blog came when I was in a transition with my career. I needed to update my (work/port) website and I needed some content to show my work. I was in the process of doing a pilot for a series I wanted to produce on Youtube called "BXposed". I interviewed different people but it was mainly video at the time. Slowly, I noticed this "blogging" thing was just starting to happen and decided I could also do a write up on the people I was interviewing. Well, that only lasted for 6 months back in 2010/2011. Then personal things was starting to happen in my life and I still needed a creative outlet. The desire to inspire and showcase dope people (especially women) was still a burning desire but I mainly wanted it to be a visual series you could watch.
Anyway, I spent 2011 thru 2014 clarifying things, making mistakes and growing. At the end of 2014, I decided there was a way I could produce content that I was passionate about and have the creative control I desired. I had worked on a lot of films, TV projects by this time and it was time to be alil selfish. Focus on me and what I wanted to be known for. So, I started the pre-production process of rebranding myself "so to speak". The goal was for 2016. But that year, I wasn't consistent at all like I planned. And by the end of the year I realized I wasn't fulfilled even though I was working. I realized I hadn't done anything I really wanted to do. But I was determined that at the end of that year no matter what I would officially hit the publish button. I will commit to myself first and see where it takes me. I needed to see if this would give me some type of satisfaction.
I came up with the name of the blog after deciding on my instagram name "Unveiling Naava" because I was revealing things through pictures and soon on my new site. Personal things and I also knew I wanted a way to connect with people around the world. I wanted to be a little candid, raw, positive, helpful, hopeful, perfectly imperfect, creative, share my obsessions and just be. I hit that publish button in December of 2016. I didn't care if it was perfect at the time. I just needed to take the first step and let the theme I proclaimed to be my motivation. "Unleashed. Fearless. Freedom" and my tagline "Self Love . Self Worth."
I finished my wine and I then fell asleep thinking of all the possibilities.
With the site/blog, I put A LOT of planning into the creation. I secretly told a small group of people. I did photo shoots and collected things I thought would be great. There were late night meetings and earlier morning conversations. There were scaring moments wondering if this was going to be apart of the solution in making me feel fulfilled or expose me to heartache. Wondering if I can capture and produce what I imagined, thought about and if the health issue I was beginning to struggle with would be something I let hinder me. Because my body was swelling and I gained weight (I couldn't fit in most of my clothes), I was in pain, sometimes couldn't walk, throwing up and I was becoming very self conscious. On top of that, I experienced something that has forever changed me. That one situation made it's mark and I was only 2 months into my commitment to myself with this blog. I was not myself for a while but I had this blog to keep me focus. Even though for almost 2 months I didn't post much...I think it kept me afloat.
But I owe the most to my good friend Tiffany. I don't know how she puts up with me but she has been here despite her life and I couldn't be more grateful for her love, truth and support. She had just changed her job, so, I asked her if she was interested in working on the blog together. She always had a passion for photography and after my minor setback, she encouraged me to do my first official "Naava Stylebook" photo shoot. Even thou I was 2 months behind my original planned shoot and not feeling like myself. Since then we have strategized blog post ideas, colors, stylebook ideas and etc. We even collaborated on the "Goddess Revelation" series/q&a - but I will talk about that later. It was really helpful to be able to bounce ideas off of each other. Her strengths have been a huge asset to this blog.
How It's Changed in a Year
In August of this year, I went to LA to be apart of the Mirror, Mirror Event by Hustle, Honey. It was the best thing ever for me. I wanted to celebrate my 35th birthday surrounded with everything I felt my blog was about and this was it.
By the end of May my blog seemed to take on a life of it's own. Before I knew it, there was this world called "GODDESS REVELATION" coming to fruition. Thanks to these amazing women that took time out of their lives - sharing a piece of wisdom, love, insight, humor, struggles, triumphs and beauty with my "Unveiling Brand" I created. Tiffany and I talked about this and she suggested questions. I was receiving so much love from my blog after only 5 months and I was honored by it. I couldn't understand why because in my mind I hadn't really done anything yet- at least to my standards and what I knew I had planned. This series/q&a was only suppose to be a TV/YouTube series content. I did a pilot for it a few years ago called "Unveiling". It's on my production company Youtube channel. As you just read the name on my blog is different and it focuses on women only. That is not and will not be the case for the official video series. Men and women will be featured on the "Unveiling Series". But some kind of way this series found it's way onto my blog as a "spin-off" ..lol. Due to this, I was invited to the Hustle, Honey event and I realized how much you as an audience were interested and loved "GODDESS REVELATION".
Men and women have shared with me their interest in my site/blog. An encounter at Starbucks was surreal when a gentlemen noticed me. He attempted to pronounce my name. He then mentioned he shares my Goddess Revelation articles with his daughter and that she now follows me on instagram. I couldn't believe it...little ole me.
Suddenly I realized, that the fulfillment I was searching for - I was feeling it deep inside. That little moment brought about a new "revelation". Clearly, I have been enjoying what I have been doing these past 12 months and people can tell. They are also enjoying it - from the colors, photos and etc. And yeah ...so am I. I'm a fan of it myself. I smile thinking about it. There are so many things I need to work on and improve on within this blog world. But I wanted this to be real, raw, candid and a diary of sorts.
Since then I created a master list of where to eat, explore, ideas of "Naava Stylebooks" and this continues to grow as I discover more of myself and this brand. There are a few reasons why I am truly happy that I have been faithful in this commitment:
I couldn’t think of a better place to spend my birthday, I can work from anywhere. I still have a lot of posts coming up on different experiences from my last trips. So, traveling is a must and happening more because of it. I don't worry about what others think because this was about me anyway. It has been going well because I have stayed true to who I am and this blog is actually holding me accountable. It's helping me become a better business woman and creative director. I am being fine tuned. The added bonus, I'm meeting some freaking amazing, beautiful, talented, liked-minded spirits and I can't get enough of that! The experiences and the process is everything!!!
Personal Posts: Liger Goddess
The personal posts are the hardest to write but are so important. I want to share that I am not just a one sided person that I have struggles just like anyone else and we are more alike than different. I took the challenge of sharing intimate things. Who knows it might help someone. I don't want to focus on so-called negative things but I want to share the process of renewing my mind and lifestyle to my authentic self. Unveil the process to create a whole new path for myself. Something I dreamt of and did think it was possible but always struggled with the execution. Something I think the majority struggle with because it is different for all of us. There is so much out there for all of us to win and to be happy. If I can encourage one person to pursue their dreams, book a trip to somewhere they never been, change their thinking, try love again, believe it's never to late or experience a new culture then I feel I have done something I was created to do. Being myself ;)
One Year
Stats:
Blog Views: 2,372(1 year)
# Post: 1,902
Google Hits: 86
FB Followers: 395
FB Shared Post: 1009
Instagram: 887
Direct Visits: 1,722
Demographic: USA 2,247 / Canada - 57 / Jamaica - 31 / Phillippines - 20 / India - 17
Most viewed post: Melody Vaughn's "Goddess Revelation" Interview - 215 shares, 342 views
For someone who started this blog purely for herself and with no expectations this is an accomplishment
What's Next For The Blog
I have a lot of ideas on where to take the blog in the second year. I will be making it a stand alone brand of it's own. Soon there will be "UnveilingNaava.com" a separate site fully dedicated to my blog and Youtube Channel. My blog/channel is really taking a life of it's own and it's such a huge fulfilling blessing. However, "TifarahNaava.net" will not disappear but instead become it's separate site focusing on my life in entertainment as an Assistant Director, Producer, Print Model and Actress.
What's also so amazing is that I'll be in New York to not only celebrate my blog anniversary but to also do an interview for someone. I received wonderful reviews from a few wonderful people in New York ... all because of this little passion project called "Unveiling Naava". I know for a fact that there will be more to come in the 2nd year.
But I am going to ask you as an audience most importantly, what would you like to see more of?
Do I make money from the blog?
If you are curious if the blog is to make money or how much money I made in the first year. I have made some. However, that wasn't what this blog was about for me. Would I love to make money from the blog? Yes, of course. But I want to do it in an authentic way. I won’t stand behind a product or support something that I don’t like or use. All opinions are my own. I do use affiliate links in my post. If I start making money through blogging I will be happy to share how that happens and if it is important I will share my numbers.
A special Thank You to those who I couldn’t have created the blog without: TY MYRICK, J.Mspire, Tiphani Photographi, Corey Reese, Gorman Hackett, DeAndre Lemans, Sonsearai Dominique and all the gracious Goddesses!
Unleash. Fearless. Freedom. 2017
Tifarah