Who’s going to do this for you?

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Yukari

One of the awesome people I met, Jacquline Carly

Already, I’ve been back from LA for well over a week. I attended BlogWorld and New Media Expo LA (BWELA) 2011 from Nov 3-5.

I had attended Blog World last year in Las Vegas, and although I made many new friends, I personally felt like I’ve “been there, done that.” It was fun, but not necessary to attend again, especially when I am not exactly in “the industry”.

However, my perception slowly changed over the last few months. I believe it’s thanks to Google Plus that I started to feel like I’m part of the industry, part of a community. (Interestingly enough, that is the topic Russel and I talked about in our last Getting Engaged episode, but seriously, I didn’t link them together until I started writing this post.)

I made many new virtual friends on G+. And many people I like and look up to were supposed to be at BWELA, I started to really wanting to attend the conference. Coincidentally, I had an event to attend in LA few days after BWELA, so I had to be in LA anyway. But being a single mom, it’s not easy coming up with the means. After looking into several options, I had quietly given up.

Couple of weeks have passed, and I was surprised to catch myself still being upset about not going. I had even entered contests to win a pass for BWELA. I didn’t win. I was like a little kid pouting.

One afternoon, I was reading in the bath. It was a nice sunny day, and for me, having a relaxing bath in the middle of the day is one of my favourite things to do. (I love it, it’s my thing, let it go.) I was reading Jonathan Field’s Uncertainty(Affiliate link).
And suddenly something hit me. “Why CAN’T I go? What is stopping me?”

Nobody had told me I couldn’t go. The person who said no to me was myself. I was blaming everything but myself for not being able to go.

I got out of the bath, and after a few emails and phone calls later, I was pretty much set up to go by the evening.

Yes, I had no guarantee I’d come back with something tangible like a new prospect or contract. Yes, it was financially risky for me to make a 8-day trip. All I knew was that I really wanted to go. Others might laugh at my desire to attend a mere conference, but it was obiously a big deal for me.

So I went. And what happened?

I got to see many of my favourite people. People who inspire me. To be inspired – is probably the most important thing for me. I’m always looking for an inspiration. (Especially, meeting this guy was the highlight of my trip.) I’ve learned a lot from all the sessions I’ve attended. And I made a whole a lot of new friends. It was absolutely amazing.

On a personal note, I also found somebody very special. But you need to buy me a drink to hear that story.

Lesson I learned from this entire experience is, that you need to make things happen for yourself. That nobody is going to do it for you.

I’ve decided to lean into uncertainty and let the world take me wherever it leads…and I am so glad I did.

Three things I learned at Blissdom Canada 2011

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Yukari

I just returned from my 4-day stay in Toronto to attend Blissdom Canada. I have attended last year as well, and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Last year, after making 20+ friends online, I got to meet many of them at the event and it was purely magical. This year’s Blissdom Canada sold out in 24 hours(or less, I heard others say), even before any session was announced. It definitely says something about how successful the event was.

This year’s Blissdom was amazing, too. I again got to see the “old” friends(Although I knew them mostly online and been friends with them less than 2 years – but still, I feel I know them and they know me, because we spend so much time online), and meet some fabulous new people.

A lot of the sessions were focusing on branding and monetization, which are always popular topics. I cannot write everything I saw/heard/felt at Blissdom Canada, but here are three things I learned:

1. Coincidence is an amazing thing.

I saw some crazy coincidence moments this year – for example, two people who live in different cities found out their sisters worked together. I think they knew each other online but this was first time they met in real life. What are the chances? I also sat next to a wonderful person at one of the sessions, and she mentioned that her husband was Japanese. Then we got to talking, and found out we both felt passionate about mental health. We started (well, *I* started babbling) talking, and gosh, I cried. It was one of those magical moments when you feel so passionate about something, you can’t stop sharing your thoughts.

I also sat next to two lovely ladies at breakfast, who turned out to be coaches. I met my coach at last year’s Blissdom Canada! Unfortunately, she couldn’t make it this year, but I found it so uncanny. Talking about my coach remided me what I learned with/from her – to embrace your vulnerability, and when you feel that “sore spot” feeling – when you don’t want to talk about something – that is most certainly the sign to DIG DEEP.

Coincidence? I think not.

2. Women need to be more vocal

We watched this incredible documentary “MISSRepresentation” – about how media is creating certain images about women. It is a great film and for those who in Victoria, I will look into having a screening here somehow (Not sure how/when/who will show it, but I will followup for sure).

The next day, I attended a session moderated by my friend Tara Hunt, with panelists Laura Berg, Jamey Ordolis, and Robin Ahn. The session was about tech and transmedia, but at one point Jamey said “We are always looking for you and your ideas”, and that was bit of a lightbulb moment for me. Because, you know, as a woman, we tend to put other people first, right? When you think you have a great idea, you want others to hear it, but we tend to say “Well, she’s busy..” “They probably get picthed all the time.” – those negative voices in your head stop you from pushing harder.

Great example : At ont point Tara put up her $20 bill and asked the room full of women “Who wants this $20?”. Bunch of women raised their hands, including myself. Only ONE woman got up, walked up to Tara and took it from her.

We need to just get up and go grab it, ladies.

Interestingly enough, on the last panel at Blissdom Canada, Amber Mac said similar things. This inevitably reminded me of Sheryl Sandberg’s TEDtalk as well -”Sit at the table”.

3. Things happen by doing

This is related to #2 above, but nothing happens if you just attend these events and take it al in. If you want to make things happen, you have to get up and do stuff. Be audacious. You might not believe me when I say this, but I don’t usually go up to people to talk. I’m a bit shy, and I’d hate to be pushy. But this time, I went up and talked to couple of women I really look up to, introduced myself and asked if I could send them my stuff. My hands might have been shaking, but they were all very welcoming, and after all I felt SO good.

These are the three things I learned at Blissdom Canada 2011, and I am excited to put myself out there and continue creating.

How about you? What did you learn?

On Getting Engaged

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Yukari

We have uploaded the video few weeks ago, but the YouTube show my friend Russel and I are doing has turned 1!
Thank you so much for your support.

I think Russel and I met at Spring 2010 Twestival. I called on his Twitter profile pic being too scary and then we totally hit it off.
I still remember the time I had dinner with him at Bard and Banker about starting a video show. Originally my idea was to have a show called “Today on my Timeline” – how cheesy is that?!

Since then, Russel came up with the name Getting Engaged, and we shot our first episode in my old house’s backyard deck. Unlike Russel, who has background in radio, I had never done a video show before. I was nervous, and the first episode was filmed with a pitcher of Margarita I made….and the rest is history.

We had been engaged on Facebook for few months…until I decided to take it down as so many people believed we were a couple and many friends advised me that it’s not helping on me finding a date.(True story)

I know I’m not just speaking for myself when I say we are so blessed with everybody’s support. The opening of the show was created by our Twitter friend Jon Strocel, whom I just happen to meet in Vancouver once for Chris Guillebeau‘s AONC book signing. Since then we got “engaged” and he created the opening for us. Thank you Jon.

We have had many awesome guests and I look forward to having many more. In fact we have a few guests lined up for next few months.
We also have something new in the works as well….can’t wait to show you all!

Here is our latest episode, official opening of Season 2, and we got back to the basics here.