We had the good fortune of connecting with Huong Vo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Huong, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I used to think that I had to “get it all done” and if I didn’t, I would stress out because I felt like I wasn’t doing enough. However, during a professional training I took years ago, I learned from my mentor that to-do lists will never end anyway and to accept that it’s okay to always have a to-do list. Once I accepted that, I also learned that balance doesn’t exist, it’s all about rearranging your priorities. Choose 3-5 most important things (MITs) that need to get done for the day and do those. It’s all about what’s most important for YOU and drawing a line where you need to be “done” for the day. You can still be productive while prioritizing things that are important to you such as family time and exercise.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a digital content creator, it’s not just about partnering with brands to sell a product/service. Being able to tell stories is the goal. What sets me apart from others that I’m most proud of is being able to tell stories from a creative standpoint. The focus is to get people to think about the impact they’re making on our planet with their lifestyle. Imagery captures attention while words deepen the message. You need both to have an affective and memorable story. I’m so excited because I can’t wait to work on fun yet important campaigns with bigger brands who understand storytelling in the future! I wouldn’t say I’m a professional yet as I’m always learning something new every single day. To be honest, I got to where I am one day at a time. If you take shortcuts (i.e. purchasing your following), it does you a disservice. Can you truly say you’re a professional? No. Success comes from having learning experiences. One big lesson I’ve learned along the way is that you become a professional through experience and having confidence in yourself. When you gain experience, you become confident. The more confident you become, the more experiences you’ll gain. It’s a win-win! I want the world to know that the She Sweats Diamonds brand is about intentional living. Nothing good in life ever comes easy. However, an easy life comes when you work hard (and smart), stay the course, be consistent, fail forward, and inspire others to do the same. And you can do it all of this while striving to live your best life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you’re visiting the area for a week and don’t plan on staying over with me, stay at the newly opened Virgins Hotel Dallas! Eat at Bird Bakery for breakfast (their avo toast is amazing!), HG Supply Co. for lunch (try their salmon bowl!), and Pecan Lodge for a hearty, Texan BBQ dinner. Take a stroll through the Dallas Arboretum and take in Mother Nature on a quiet morning. Visiting the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is a must if you’re obsessed with the Kennedy family like I am. And if you want a day of self-care, get pampered at The Joule Spa in downtown and shop at Highland Park Village. While you’re at it, don’t forget to pick up some sweet treats at Village Baking Co. before you leave! And if you still have energy left in you, there’s a long list of other activities you can do on my website called, “City Guide: Fun Things to Do in Dallas”!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Who we are depends on what/who we let into our lives. I’d like to give a shoutout to my past mentor, Carmen Marshall, who taught me all about how to get things done on my to-do list affectively and more. I’d also like to dedicate my shoutout to Joseph O. Arthur, my life coach, who challenges me to grow every day along with Rachel Kennedy, founder of TheKennedyCurate.com, who I consider a mentor to me as well. She’s always encouraging and answers any questions I have. Joe and Rachel are the kind of people you want in your corner and I’m so thankful for them!

Website: http://www.shesweatsdiamonds.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shesweatsdiamonds/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/huongctvo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheSweatsDiamonds/
Other: Email: hello@shesweatdiamonds.com