Hi guys.

Sooooooo I have a little confession to make. We’re all off the Judgy McJudgerson bandwagon, right? Cause I have a doozy to spill.

Here goes.

When we started HVFH, I thought I knew it all. When we won our business plan competition, we went out, launched a website and prepared for the views to come in. Two business partners, two marketing reps and nearly three years later, I now realize I know very little and one could even say I’m failing.

Failing, Leslie? Don’t be so hard on yourself. You aren’t failing!

Yes. I am. I was. But I’m not anymore.

When we launched back in April of 2012, I 100% had the reader in mind. And I still do. But it needs to be more than that. I’m an “old” TV gal. We were trained to beat the competition. Think Anchorman in real life. (It’s real, folks.)  Why would I want to work with the competition? That seems just silly! We got this. We can do this website thang on our own. We don’t need others! We can form our own community and create a massive following and be the best!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCWjo1ymhGs

Nope.

Apparently it doesn’t work like that in the online world. And this ex TV journalist just got schooled.

Here’s what I now know. There’s lots of us in this world trying out this blogging thing. Just because they haven’t read from a teleprompter, doesn’t mean they aren’t awesome at forming an online community.

Actually, they are probably much better than me.

Ouch. That hurt.

Here’s the turning point. I’m now working with them and learning from them and we’re helping each other! What a concept. I’ve made more connections in this online world in the past month than I did in over two years of running a business. Yeah. Bad.

Don’t get me wrong. Our site is rockin’ it. And you guys, our advertisers and our writers are fantastical. (It’s my  new word and totally legit.)  But we could have been even bigger by now. And that makes me kick myself. Often and a lot.

I was just in the process of kicking myself last Monday night, when I heard a “ding” on my phone. The hubs was playing basketball, my girls were sleeping and I had just poured myself a glass of wine and cued up The Bachelor on DVR when the ding caught my ear. Naturally, I went to the pantry where my phone was charging and read the message. What happened next had me bawling.

My virtual friend, Ashli (whom I’ve never really met – but she writes for us and we’ve decided we’re like soul-mates in a non-weird sort of way) wrote me this little note. She said: 

I really have to honestly tell you I admire you. You inspire people by just being you. And I hope that in the days where you are mired in the muck, you can remember those words. Your daughters are so lucky to see a strong woman as their example. Seriously. No… Really;). 

And I crumbled to the floor with my wine and sobbed like any hot mess, 33 year old Bachelor watching Mama would.

I love you guys. Really. In a non-weird sort of way. I can’t explain it.

I’m on a big intentional kick this year. I want to help our writers find success on their own sites. I want to learn from other bloggers who can teach me a thing or two about this online stuff. I want to grow and help others discover their passion for writing.

I’m all in. I’ve always kinda been all in, but I’m really all in now. I’m willing to learn the hard stuff. The html code and design and all sorts of things that scare this 2004 journalism college graduate. Cause guess what folks? Journalism isn’t the same as it used to be. And that’s OK. I’m not the same as I once was either. And that’s even better than OK.

That’s a step towards success.

And with that, I’m off to the farm to get a bit of fresh air and see the rents’ – Have a great weekend everyone!