Kevin O'Connell
My 2021 Goal: Mental Health - My Story of ...

Because the last several months have been some of the most difficult for me. I truly would describe it as surviving instead of thriving.

My main goal for 2021 isn’t to train for some brand new Ironman race or achieve some lofty professional or financial goal. While I have set some fitness and financial goals for myself, they are the top of the priority list.

To get it out there in the open my main goal and top priority next to being a husband and father: my mental health.

Right before the holidays I was officially diagnosed with depression with a side of anxiety and mounting, overwhelming life stressors.

Just how bad was it?

My 2021 Goal: Mental Health - My Story of Depression and Anxiety 
Kevin O'Connell, small business, Entrepreneurship, life advice
Kevin O'Connell
Goodbye 2020: My Year of Changes, Transitions, ...

As we take time to reflect on this past year, with all its ups and downs, we want to thank you for continuing to support us and for showing up for your community. Because of you, we were able to fund our first ever scholarship program, and we awarded four Black Creative Students scholarships to students from all over the country. This year, we were also able to publish 26 new blog posts, had 10,400 page views, added and featured 4 new contributing editors, hired and on-boarded a super creative new social media, Greer Blount, and offered our first writing internship to Maggie Barbour who created and published 10 posts in less than 12 weeks.

It's been an eventful year for out team, and to close it all off, TNM founder Kevin O'Connell is sharing his thoughts on 2020, dealing with change and transitions as a new dad and entrepreneur, and finding new approaches for 2021. Keep reading for Kevin’s end-of-the-year message!

Goodbye 2020: My Year of Changes, Transitions, and Identity
Entrepreneurship, Jaylene Perez, Kevin O'Connell, Maggie Barbour, small business, career advice
Maggie Barbour
Best Tools and Resources for New Freelancers

Working freelance may sound glamorous at first, but those who've been doing it for a while know it takes hard work. Getting your business off the ground isn't easy and sometimes it means juggling various projects all at once, but it also has it's benefits - I mean you are your own boss after all!


This week, writing intern Maggie Barbour asks The Niche Movement's Editor-in-Chief Jaylene Perez and founder Kevin O'Connell, both of whom have experience in freelancing, what it really takes to make it work.

Read on for Jaylene and Kevin's best practices when it comes to finding clients, marketing your services, settings rates, and more!

Best Tools and Resources for New Freelancers
career advice, Maggie Barbour, Kevin O'Connell
Maggie Barbour
Top Skills Every Creative Needs

For all those in pursuit of professional development, this week we're taking a look at which skills you'll want to brush up on depending on your specific industry. Whether you're a freelancer, marketer, entrepreneur, or work in another creative role, you'll want to read up on what will make you and your work really shine.

Tap below for the full post!

Top Skills Every Creative Needs
Maggie Barbour, Greer Blount
Maggie Barbour
How to Job Search During a Pandemic

Job searching is a tough task on its own, and job searching during a pandemic... well we know it's not easy. You'll have to be flexible, know how to network and market yourself, and really hone in on what it is your looking for as you search for the right fit.

To find out what can help you land your dream job, keep reading!

How to Job Search During a Pandemic

blog

In-Demand Careers for 2018

In-Demand Careers for 2018

In the last three months, I have given a lot of thought about what trends and in-demand skill sets will be needed to succeed in 2018. Working for myself, I constantly think about new ways to innovate, stay ahead of the competition and understand the critical skills that I need to learn to stay relevant.So, here are five in-demand skills that you may want to consider to help you make a career pivot, become an asset in your current job, or add a new skill to our portfolio. Each skill is presented in why it’s important, what brands or organizations are investing in this skill, where you can learn it, and what type of jobs/salaries you can expect.

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13 Books for the Recent College Grad & Young Professionals this Holiday Season

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13 Books for the Recent College Grad & Young Professionals this Holiday Season

As the colder weather approaches and we all start to feel more inclined to curl up with Netflix, fight the urge to re-watch Stranger Things - I know...it’s hard - and let's instead consider one of these seriously inspirational and motivational books by members of The Niche Movement community and our members’ favorites. 

Not surprisingly, common themes include unconventional career exploration, entrepreneurship, and all-around just doing cool sh*t.

by Camille Sennett

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An open letter about NicheCon from Niche Movement founder Kevin O’Connell

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An open letter about NicheCon from Niche Movement founder Kevin O’Connell

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. This really resonated with me two days ago while The Niche Movement team faced a tough decision. 

Again, in a very timely blog post from someone I admire, respect and look up to, Seth Godin recently said “The single best way to maintain your reputation is to do things you're proud of.” 

That is why I am writing and posting this today, not only on behalf of myself but from everyone involved with NicheCon including our core team Mandi Stewart, Amy Corron, and Camille Sennett. 

What we are calling a “logistical snafu” we decided to push back NicheCon to March 10th-11th, 2017. 

Same location. Same themes. Better season (#cherryblossoms). Leveled-up experience. 

This has been the toughest decision I think I’ve made since I launched my journey as a full-time entrepreneur two years ago this month. 

In the last five days, I was losing sleep, over thinking, and stressing about so many things as it relates to our first conference. 

So let me explain what our logistical snafu’s are and why pushing back NicheCon five months is going to amplify what was already going to be an amazing experience for and something that everyone involved with The Niche Movement community could be proud of. 

by Kevin O'Connell

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Stay Foolish

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Stay Foolish

For the last 17 months, everyday has been different from the last. I’ve written,talked, tweeted, and snapped about unpredictability, up’s & down’s, hustle, motivation/confidence (and lack there-of) and just about everything else that comes with entrepreneurship and building a business.

But today, on April 1st, there is another milestone. On 4/1/15, I wrote a blog post about what I learned in my first 7 months and shared the news that I was officially joining the WeWork system and getting a desk that I would be paying with my own money. 

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Graphic Design 101 (featuring Canva)

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Graphic Design 101 (featuring Canva)

Why is good design so important? And why is it such a big deal to spend precious time making sure what you put out into the world looks good? The fact of the matter is that people are naturally drawn to things that are visually attractive and impactful. - Robyn Park