It’s been one year since I was sitting in a Greenville apartment trying to figure out how I was going to afford my next meal, splitting subway sandwiches with Mr. D and invading the local bookstore for a bit of inspiration. We took this same photo as above, last year at the same time to remind us of those times… now it’s a year later and so much has changed. I never thought I would be back in Tampa, actually making money off of my blog and having a budding career in social media.  I admit the whole Bruce’s Yams adopting me to be their twitter gal is something I would have never imagined last year at this time.

It would take me a short novel to explain all the various twists and turns that have coincidentally brought me to writing this post today, one thing about life is when it throws things at you, bad or good… go with it. I thought a few times that I was absolutely crazy for thinking that I could become anything of a blogger and less of having a career in social media, I didn’t even know what the term actually meant. *I can hear Chris Brogan gasping*

I had started many blogs before and they never went anywhere, the difference about this time is that I started using the power of twitter and facebook to promote my blog and build a fan base around a personal brand of Miss Destructo. However, this didn’t go without many “What the hell am I doing?” moments, while living in Greenville I thought that having blue hair was not going to get me anywhere and I almost dyed it back to my natural color. Lots of stares, lots of disapproving looks in Greenville really made me think that to be accepted, I needed to change.

I started really focusing and looking at everyone who has ever inspired me, what do they have in common? Being unique, being business savy and being personable. Another thing they have in common, not a single one of them had a plan or anyone to tell them how their life would turn out. They took risks, went through bad times but ultimately with patience good things came to them. Over the past year, I have learned from my mistakes, turned down endless offers, made huge leaps & purchased many one way tickets.

Things take time, if you start a blog… my number one tip is patiently work hard toward your goals. Don’t set out thinking you are going to be “the most awesome blogger in the universe”… Just be “the most awesome blogger in ONE person’s universe” first!

To start, you have to go beyond the screen and get out there! Here’s some of the events I plan on attending this year:

• March: TedXGreenville in Greenville, South Carolina
• April: SOBcon in Chicago
• May: Spending a week in Canada for Kinetik Festival in Montreal and speaking at Geek Girls Montreal.
• Sept: Dragoncon in Atlanta (Yes, I am a nerd)
• October: Blogworld in Vegas and Izeafest in Orlando
• December: #140 Character Conference in LA

It’s going to take a lot of yams and money to get to all these events, so this year I look forward to speaking at events. I want to go beyond the screen and reach out and to get my inspiration out to others I have to make this investment and step forward.  Since it seems every event I have attended lately people ask “Why aren’t you speaking…we want to see YOU speak Miss Destructo!” *aw, shucks* so if you want me to speak at the above listed events or want to sponsor me to attend your event. Send me an email at missdestructo@gmail.com. I am currently looking for sponsors to send me to these events, or you can anonymously donate to me using Paypal and the same email address. *wink wink*

It’s been one heck of a journey and I look forward to traveling to meet some of you! I could have not done it without all of you… the Destructo Deviations fans. You’ve kept me going through the worst times and have guided me to create new paths, all of your suggestions, ideas and comments have fueled me each day in the past year. Keep it going and i’ll pay it forward in new giveaways, advice and inspiration for you to start writing your life the way you want it to be written.

Cheers to another year of Deviations!

Making ridiculous videos with Mr. D about yams.

I’ve been more than under the weather the past few days, trying to keep things on track is probably the hardest thing to do right now as I woke up this morning and thought it was Monday. The best thing to do when you are ill is to keep yourself busy, but not let all your energy get drained. But for the most part the delirious, fevered mind is actually stemming quite a bit of creativity. I’ve been jotting down tons of new ideas for Missdestructo.com and some fun things for all you readers out there.

First of all, I just got in a HUGE shipment… okay, not that huge but more than enough “I Tweet Naked” ‘1 Inch Buttons. I want to do a crazy giveaway for all of you, so send me in your ideas on what we can do to give these little guys a good home. No nudity! But we can have fun with it, if you’ve got an idea for an “I Tweet Naked” giveaway. Comment, email or tweet!

Secondly, I will be having a giveaway of a few pairs of fishnet tights from We Love Colors.… Ladies (or gentlemen), show your support for Miss Destructo. The top two craziest or creative photos showing your love will get a pair of fishnet tights in Turquoise or Medium Blue! (and probably some random junk I have laying around DestructoHQ) …. Post your photos at the Miss Destructo Fan Page on Facebook!

If you are unemployed, you may be making the same face right now. I get asked all the time, “Miss Destructo, you’ve technically been unemployed for almost a year now… how do you do it?”.. okay, maybe that wasn’t so much the people I know rather than the voice in my head going… “What the heck are you doing?”. Bascially, I can honestly say I have embraced my unemployment as a time to grow and explore those things i’ve always wanted to do such as blogging. Honestly, it hasn’t been all glitter and fun times, living off of sardines and yams for three months while living in Greenville, SC.  I never was on unemployment or food stamps, I couldn’t qualify since technically I never moved to the state and there was other factors that rendered me unelligible. This should have sent me into a panic, but instead it just drove me further to learn how to beat the unemployment monster. Working odd jobs such as band promoting for Livenation and I started focusing previous band promotion (I worked for record companies since I was 13)  talents into social media and started promoting myself.. getting me a few paying social media freelance jobs.. leading me to where I am today. Don’t depend on others, if you work hard to survive you will.

Thus began my life into being self-employment, I made a huge leap and moved back to Tampa, FL… in with my eccentric father and one eyed camera guy Mr. D. This way, we could all save tons of money and have a place to finally set up a DestructoHQ for all our future deviations. So if you are struggling with rent and debating “I don’t want to be that guy that lives with his parents” You need to kick that stigma in the ass right now… if it’s what you have to do…do it. Plus my father makes a mean spaghetti, which is much better than yam-ghetti anyday.

The point of liberation. In my first month back home, sitting in my empty room with just a suitcase. All of material items I had sold or given to charity… That moment was probably one of the most liberating things ever, I was starting over… I knew this was the beginning of something big, something great and I was not going to look back at all the jobs I could of had or those items that were weighing me down. If you want to move forward, get rid of everything that is weighing you down (this includes negative people as well).

A few weeks later, while I was tearing through pieces of my former life and trying to grow my social media presence here in Tampa, I gained a freelance writing position at a local magazine Creative Loafing. Something so simple to most was a huge honor to me, I can remember in 1997 when I picked up a Weekly Planet (what CL was before) magazine and knew that I wanted to write for them. I tried for many years when I was a promoter to get into the magazine without much progress. My advice is remember your goals from when you were young, if you still want to do them today. Go for it and never give up.

I’ve been here for four months now, it’s had it’s share of financially terrifying moments still. But, I just am thankful for everything I have in my life… my family, my friends and those who inspire me everyday. There are so many people out there struggling and suffering. The knowledge of that puts things in perspective for me and pushes me to live life to the fullest with the resources I have. Being unemployed is not the end of the road, it’s been the beginning of a new path for me…. self-employment.

In the meantime, put all the worries into a box and put that box into the closet. When you wake up in the morning, don’t say “Oh crap, i’ve got this bill and this bill to pay”… bug the hell out of everyone you know, find your Italian and Greek friends to invite you over for dinner, network through social media and get out there… destroy your boredom with life and enjoy the ride.

Tonight is New Years Eve, and a blue moon. Welcome to 2010.. the year of Destructo. To start off, here’s a special video for all of you Destructo Deviations readers. Thanks for almost one year of this blog!!

A little preview into what Christmas with The Destructo’s is like. This was in 2007, this year hold on to your butts. We are gonna have a Christmas like no other… it’s pretty much like the nightmare before christmas meets Rob Zombie. Stay tuned….

The legend we know now David Bowie didn’t just fall to earth, one time long ago he was lil ole David Jones from a small town in England.  I saw this on Miss Gala Darling’s blog the other day, I immediately had to print it out and pin it to my board as a constant reminder that we’ve all got to start somewhere.

Above all the glitz and glamour and rock and roll days. He made himself an empire, a businessman and a legendary icon. I always adored the fact that despite all the changes he went through, he never lost his human side yet became an immortal.

Speaking of his timelessness, I actually got the chance to quickly chat with David Bowie years ago when I was little ole Destructo Girl and I got to ask him one that one pressing question….

Destructo Grl: What is your secret to looking so good at your age?

David Bowie: Since 1973 or so, I had a lifemask made of myself and I use it on all public occasions. (laughs)

David Bowie: I’m reverting to one I had made in 1985 to keep reality about the situation.

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