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
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How to Land a Job at HBO | Fireside Chat with Mary Johnson

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On September 27, 2017 our founder Kevin O'Connell sat down and interviewed Mary Johnson, Associate Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at HBO (#HBOinspires) to find out how she landed a job she loves, how one actually lands a job at HBO, and what exactly corporate social responsibility is.

Mary has been with HBO since 2012 after graduating from Rutgers University. We interviewed Mary to hear about the inspiring work she has done with HBO including working with Chris Gethard around mental health awareness, supporting the American Black Film festival, and other philanthropic initiatives tied to HBO programming.

Mary hails from the Jersey Shore and loves going to the beach any chance she can get. She has worked at HBO for five years in the Corporate Social Responsibility / Corporate Affairs Department. In her spare time, Mary enjoys performing improv and sketch comedy at The People’s Improv Theater in NYC. She also claimed to closely identify with Cookie Monster.

Podcast

Video

The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Personal Brand

The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Personal Brand

This certainly took time, patience and dedication. But by staying true to who I am and encouraging a path that makes me want to write every day, I stumbled upon my own personal brand. While some readers may judge my writing or my stories, I do not. I write for myself, but I publish that writing on my blog to connect with people, to support progress and to give something back. This is true to who I am and how I thrive in the world. I am not happy unless I am somehow connecting with others, and I am not fulfilled unless I am doing something creative for myself.

How to Make Time For What You Love

How to Make Time For What You Love

“You make time for what you want to make time for.”

This is something I say to people often. It can apply to anything and speaks to what we value and what we make space for in our lives. Whether it is volunteering, starting your own venture, or networking, there is always more that we can do with our time to achieve our goals. But often, I find that people suffer from inertia. They get stuck in the routine of what they've always done or whatever is easiest. Time is a finite resource. When we "save" it, it isn't going into some bank to use later. We have to make the most of the time that is given to us.

How to Create Your Own Career Happiness

How to Create Your Own Career Happiness

If you read last week’s blog post, you know Kelly is one of the lucky ones who loves her job. At 25 years old, still in her first job out of college as the Sports Marketing Assistant at Monmouth University, she ranks happiness in her current job an 8 out of 10.

The reason her score isn't a full 10? She knows she hasn't reached her full potential. After all she is only 25. Not only does Kelly spend long days working Monmouth University, but she is currently a masters student.

How My Sports Marketing Job Paid For Grad School

How My Sports Marketing Job Paid For Grad School

Here at TNM, we have a large community of people who are inspired by our words, tips, and real world advice. We are continuing to feature some members of our greater community who are equally as inspiring through the Tell Us Your Story: Young Professional Series here on our blog. These people have found their Niche, and want to share their story with you. Our next feature is young professional Kelly Valentine who followed her passion for sports in college, and was able to continue defy the low odds and take that passion from college into her career in athletics marketing.