Meet Neda Khalilian: Lifestyle Blogger/Digital Content Creator

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

Hi Neda, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I started my first business, I jumped in with both feet. I put it on the tippy top of my priority list and although it accelerated the momentum and success of my business, I soon found myself burning out. Sometimes when a business takes off quickly, there isn’t much time to get processes in place and that can soon consume so much time. I was lucky to recognize the first signs of burn out and quickly took action. Buckling down and “resetting” was necessary yet completely worth it. It was actually so rewarding to get processes (such as content calendars, checklists, spreadsheets and more) in place which allowed me more time to focus on things that are more meaningful to me like my family, engaging with my audience (probably one of my favorite things) and working on new business ventures. Like life, work has its ups and downs. Staying organized helps keep the sanity at a manageable level and allows me to be my best. Are there days that are more challenging than others? For sure. However, those are the days that teach me the most and allow me to tweak and pivot to accommodate. At the end of the day, I still have much to learn, but that’s part of owning my own business!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My degree is in elementary education, however, I have worked in the corporate environment and have also been a stay at home mom. I feel like I am a Jack of all trades to be completely honest. I didn’t have a business background but it was something that came extremely natural to me and from childhood, I always wanted to have my own business. My work ethic and drive has played a large role in the success of my businesses. I have and will always be 100% authentically me. I really don’t sugar coat things and I have the what you see is what you get mentality as I never want anyone personally or professionally to think I am not authentically me. My most recent business is a social media management company that myself and a fellow blogger created. Glass Ceiling Marketing. It actually hasn’t felt like work because it’s something I enjoy doing. My favorite part is coaching and teaching others about social media and watching aspiring bloggers and business owners become empowered to effectively present their brand on the various social media platforms. We all start from somewhere and our company’s goal is to empower others to succeed in their social media endeavors and to grow their respective businesses. Owning your own business is definitely not easy. I remember my first business had no sales in its first 8 months and I was on the verge of shutting it down because I had run myself ragged networking, getting the word out and trying to make it work. Then all of a sudden, all those little seeds I had planted began to sprout up. All the hard work started to pay off and I ended that first year actually making money and not losing. The rest was history. I learned that year a very important lesson. Set a reasonable goal for yourself. Work hard and give it your all – you may be surprised by the payoff.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
So much to do in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex! Some of my favorites: morning coffee at La La Land Kind Cafe, a light and healthy lunch at Crisp & Green, a snack stop at Haute Sweets Patisserie and dinner at Mexican Sugar. Can’t forget about Bishop Arts District and Deep Ellum. Perot Museum and my favorite, the Dallas Arboretum! Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Here’s a shoutout to the two most important groups of people who have played an incredible role in my successes. First and foremost, my family. The patience of my husband and three kiddos has and continues to be why I am able to follow my dreams. Without their support, none of what I do makes sense or is worth doing. The second group is my followers/audience. The support, uplifting comments, sharing of their own lives and loyalty is one of the most humbling feelings. They are the ones who have stood by me during the times that I have gone radio silent when I needed a break. They are the ones who don’t judge and take who I am at face value. Their support means so much to me.

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