How To Get the Most Out of a Conference

Having just come back from TLC's annual trichotillomania conference, I have conferences on my mind! Having been to quite a few, I have some advice for getting the most from this unique learning and networking experience.

Bring a notebook and pen. You never know when you'll want to jot down an important piece of information or contact details. Plus, furiously scribbling notes (or 'notes') is sure to make the speaker feel good!

Don't forget your business cards. I swapped cards with a few fellow attendees and some presenters at the conference, and am looking so forward to keeping in touch! Network, network, network.

Speaking of which, practice your elevator pitch. Find articles that might help here and here.

Make friends. Even if you're shy and/or an introvert, it's worth it to psych yourself up and introduce yourself to someone. You never know; you could make a lifelong friend, connect with a new business contact or, at the very least, prove to yourself that you're capable of getting out of your shell in this kind of environment.

Dress appropriately. Whatever the conference, it's wise to consider the dress code. Keep comfort in mind, too. Is it a casual event? Wear dark wash jeans or leggings with a nice top. Professional? Try a blazer with slacks or a pencil skirt paired with power flats or low heels.

How do you make the most of events?

Macarons, Florida & Funding Your Biz: Link Love 9.2.2013

WiseBread shares 25 ways to save $5 this week. I wouldn't have thought of some of these, and many seem very doable. And from Work Save Live, 5 easy ways to save money.

Life lessons from Silver Linings Playbook.

Golda Poretsky shares body- positive ways to amp up your attractiveness. I love these.

33 Reasons to be Thankful for Florida. Buzzfeed, you've done it again! I love their Florida roundups.

Carol Tice says it's necessary to invest money in your freelance business start-up; you can't start sans funding. What do you think? My opinion: starting a freelance writing biz requires much less cash than other types of businesses, but it does require some. "If your bank account is empty, do you have to give up your freelance writing dream? Not necessarily." She goes on to list ways to cope with lack of funding, including lowering your expenses and relying on credit cards-- both of which I've done, unfortunately. Difficult, but doable. Your thoughts?

10 amazing movies for Black History Month.

I want to make these DIY crayon hearts, don't you? Pretty for Valentine's Day, or anytime of year, really.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Bradley Cooper are friends, and they're having a bromantic holiday in Miami. How cute is that?!

A Canadian's Requium for the Penny. (I'm still upset the Canadian penny is being phased out).

25 things you don't have to justify to anyone. Thought Catalog is spot on!

Oh my goodness! Soooo many macarons! Yummy, non?

Here's the first ever lingerie line made by and for transgender women.

I'm excited to try the new Flower beauty line, because it looks pretty and afforable. Check out some of the products here at All You.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

How To Get Great Job References

Whether you're looking for a freelance gig or a full-time office job, the (unfortunate) truth is that you'll usually need references. Fortunately, these tips will make finding references a breeze.

1 Ask. Really. Sometimes it's that simple. Send a pleasant email or pick up the phone and say you need a reference for a job you're applying for, and you would really appreciate it if they could help you out.

2 Tell them what you need. Specifics. What does your interviewer want to talk about? Your organizational skills? Your ability to work in a team? Don't leave your reference out of the loop. It's disrespectful, annoying, and simply won't help them help you make a good impression.

3 Return the favour. Simple paying-it-forward and good karma work wonders.

4 Have friends in high places. You know how they say "it's about who you know, not what you know"? Sometimes that's true. Networking is vital to your career.

5 Be great at what you do. Then, asking for a reference is simply getting a friend to rave about how awesome you are.

6 Remember that a little politeness goes a long way. Say please, and be sure to shoot your references a thank you email afterwards.

Image

Hello, "Polish & Sparkle"!

This blog is a work in progress. Proof: its name has changed for the 3rd (and last!!!) time since its inception 2 and half years ago.

And as much as I'd like to say I'm a polished, perfect person, I have to admit... I'm a work in progress, too.

I've learned a lot, running this blog. Most notably:

1 Creativity doesn't come just because you want it to. Quite the contrary. If you wait for your muse to appear, she probably won't.

2 Churn out a whole bunch of ideas, and you'll say something brilliant (eventually). Keep working at it, and a gem will be borne.

3 Honesty is vital. I'm kind of embarassed by all the times I've changed things up here. But it's important to me to be transparent with you. Besides, some of those new things have really stuck, not mention they've been really great.

So back to the name change. Polish and Sparkle -- because those are the two things, I've learned, that every girl needs. Polish: refinement, class, sophistication. Sparkle: fun, glitter, glamour, whimsy. It's like yin and yang or chocolate and pretzels: put together two different but complementary things, and they'll shine.

- Polish is business, elegant, time-consuming (but totally worth it).
- Sparkle is fun, flirty and exciting. A perfect match.

More importantly, Polish and Sparkle are two traits every woman can have, even if she's battling a chronic or mental illness. I'd like to dedicate myself and this blog to erasing the stigma attached to invisible disabilities, to sharing my struggles and helping you with yours. You can live the life you've dreamed, no matter what obstacles you encounter.

Other than the name,the niche and my new, improved, deliciously beefed-up editorial calendar, this site hasn't changed at all! My attitude- optimistic, witty and helpful- hasn't changed, either. Your (near-) daily dose of inspiration, encouragement, news and fun is here to stay!

I love you. Thank you for standing my me-- and this site. It's all for you!

-Rebecca Esther

7 Indispensable iPhone Apps for Bloggers & Creative Business Owners

1 PlainText. Type to do lists, notes or documents and they'll automatically be backed up to your Dropbox account, which can be accessed online, on your computer or in the Dropbox app.

2 Hootsuite. Schedule tweets and Facebook updates on the go. I found the app confusing at first, but it's easy to get used to and very useful for business trips or other times when you'll be away from the computer but still want to keep clients/readers abreast of what's happening.

3 Feedler. Keep up with your favourite sites via rss. This is a great way to find articles to link to on twitter, Facebook or in a link love post on your blog.
4 Skype. Communicate with friends, family and clients, no matter where you are.

5 Zinio. Flip through magazines (virtually!) to gather ideas and get inspired. The app is free and many subscriptions are free or affordable.

6 Scan Pages. Turns your iPhone into a scanner for free.

7 PayPal. Accept and send payments and invoices, no computer required.

What's your favourite app?