Yes, that is Rachel Zoe.  Yes, I did die of bliss.

My time in NYC is about to come to an end (but not before a quick meet-up with the fabulous Alyssa and a day of exploring!), but every second I’ve spent here has been beyond(!!!) worth the classes missed and the ten hours of bus travel here and back.  Really, the last few days have been a class in and of themselves.  Going to Lucky Magazine‘s FABB (Fashion and Beauty Blogger) Conference was unbelievably beneficial not only for this blog, but for me, too.  I’ve had a hard time defining my goals and my passions for the last few years — am I a designer?  A writer/photographer?  A curator?  I’ve never been able to pin down my identity as a soon-to-be professional.  Though FABB didn’t magically clarify things for me, I have been motivated to do a little more soul-searching.  I’m dying to pass on that motivation to you, so without further ado . . . the five most important lessons I learned at Lucky FABB:

1. The way to stand out in any business/blogging endeavor is to know your audience, differentiate your delivery, and be consistent.

2. Find the core passion that motivates you and that you really believe in, immerse yourself in it, and never let go.  Though every speaker at the conference was a testament to this, I was most moved by Lauren Bush Lauren of Feed Projects.  Torn between her passions for alleviating world hunger and design, she created a company that tackled both with a stylish reusable bag.  Now five years old, Feed has donated over 60 million meals to hungry children and has diversified into apparel, accessories, and custom designs.  Lauren didn’t choose – she chased both of her dreams with gusto.  I love that!

3. Go with your weirdest weirdness.  People who aren’t afraid of theirs are the ones we remember.

4. The most reiterated thought at the conference?  Be nice.  People in your industry, particularly other bloggers, are not competition so much as they are future collaborators whose success can only help you.  Never be mean, and never let anyone tell you you’re too nice for your line of work (someone told Rachel Zoe that, and clearly they were cray to the max.)

5. Context matters.  Whether it be for your analytics, your posts, or your career itself, it’s important not to judge anything until you’ve seen the whole picture.  Sometimes the whole picture is you.  If what you’re doing isn’t working in the context of who you are, let it go.

I’ve been experiencing some growing pains with my little corner of the Internet.  These first two and a half months at The State Street Edit have taught me a lot about the process of blogging and what type of content I’d like to present.  But I’m anticipating some changes for this space that align more with my passions and the blog I want to have.  I’m not sure exactly what this will mean or when things will change, but I hope you’ll stick around for the journey ahead!

Happy weekend, beautifuls!