Top 30 Best Cities for Young Entrepreneurs: Surprise surprise my second home is ranked #1, Austin. There is something really special about that place. http://under30ceo.com/top-30-best-cities-for-young-entrepreneurs-2013/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-30-best-cities-for-young-entrepreneurs-2013

As we enter another year I can’t help but smile and reflect on what an amazing year it has been. For me 2012 has had a few unexpected twists and turns but I can honestly say that every year life gets better. I made a few life changing decisions, met amazing people that will be in my life forever, for the first time in a long time I put my family first, I ventured into the entrepreneurial world again and most importantly I just lived life to the fullest. 

As I enter the new year I declare my resolutions and what I am grateful for……

I am grateful for the ability to always do what my heart desires. I plan to continue to follow my heart and make decisions that make me happy. 

I am grateful for my big heart and always helping those in need. I hope to continue to contribute to providing homes for those in need (blog coming soon with explanation).

I am grateful for amazing friendships and supportive friends. I hope to continue to support my friends and be happy for their success. I also plan to eliminate passive friendships that don’t bring positivity to my life. 

I am grateful that I never fear change and I always embrace it. Change to me means that there is something even greater in store. I can’t wait to see what changes life has for me this year.

I am grateful for the desire and ability to travel the world. Although this is the first year in a long time that I have not left the country… I was able to see a lot of my friends here in the US that I have not seen in quite awhile. I want to continue to see new places this year and visit my friends around the world.

I am grateful for always doing the RIGHT thing even when people don’t understand it. I don’t want to ever jeopardize my views on life and I want to continue to be a good person. Good things happen to good people. 

Lastly….. thank you 2012 for changing my life. I look forward to another year of changes, new friendships and opportunity. 

I read an interesting article the other day on Forbes and it gave GE praise for their social media strategy.

No offense GE but this isn’t exactly the most innovative thing I have seen or done. BUT unlike most brands you are actually investing your time, energy and resources on harnessing and nurturing your online community.

Below are a few reasons why Forbes has given you praises on your social media presence and a few things that other brands should note:

1. Your branding is cohesive- From the creative to the story telling, GE keeps it consistent throughout all of their social portals.
2. You are connecting with your consumers- Talk about the biggest hurdle for brands… care and get to know your consumers. Use social media as a way to get more information about the consumers buying habits.
3. Don’t just talk about yourself- Talk about things that your consumers can relate to that are unrelated to your brand and we call this indirect marketing.
4. Come up with a plan- Don’t just start spitting out content all over the web. Actually have a plan in place and pay attention to the day and time when you post something. Believe it or not, depending on your demographic, that will make a huge impact on your awareness.

If you miseed the article you can read it here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/12/03/planning-your-social-media-strategy-take-a-cue-from-ge/

I talk to a lot of artists and celebrities and I always get asked the same questions over and over again. Although I don’t mind responding to their questions, I think it’s easier if I share the with all of you. Feel free to pass this along to anyone who is in need of some branding advice and I’ll continue to share my advice on my blog.

Know your audience Most people fail to actually care and understand their audience. Your image and the messages you send out are a representation of who you are. It’s also indirectly a representation if who up your audience is. If you want to target a certain demographic then you must be represented in a way that they can relate to you.

Maker sure it’s cohesive There is nothing worse than confusing your audience from the beginning. Make sure that you commit to a specific direction. Whether it’s your hair or the way you talk. Try not to constantly change and confuse your audience. When you do decide to make changes, make sure you make them all at once and have a party! I don’t mean a “real” party but make a big splash about it by refreshing your website, social profiles and most importantly make your fans excited about this change.

Be confident You always want to be confident. Play the part and walk switch confidence. Not everyone is going to love what you do or who you are. W are judgmental human beings. But know that if you love it that’s all that matters.

I spent the past week in Austin, TX which is one of my favorite cities in the world. I also just so happen to have lived there when I was younger. I went to my 2nd, 3rd and 4th school in Austin. Yes… you read right… I’ve been to 12 schools. That’s a whole other post. 

My week is Austin was amazing. You can expect anything less than amazing. It’s a beautiful city, with kind souls and great food. If you haven’t been to Austin before you must visit and experience it for yourself. Below are a few of my favorite places and things to do:

Zilker Park- Yes I put this at the top of my list because I have never seen a park this lively and laid back all of the time. It’s a sweet escape from the city. Dogs run free, people love to run and work out and it’s incredibly calming even to just sit and enjoy the scenary. It’s also home to Austin City Limits Festival and now Fun Fun Fun Fest.

Stubbs BBQ- One of the best barbecues in town and also a live venue. I have seen acts like Queens of the Stone Age and Muse. They have a backyard setting nestled in the heart of downtown Austin and just a few blocks from 6th Street.

Gourdough’s Public House- New donut inspired cuisine/bar. We had the salty balls… not going to explain this one. You will just have to check it out for yourself!

Too many places to suggest but that should be a good start. Don’t forget… SXSW is just around the corner. Make sure you come out even if it’s for a day or two. Completely worth it. Yes it’s insane. Yes you drink every night. Yes you meet amazing people and most importantly you get to visit an amazing city. 

Now off to Los Angeles… yes another one of my homes. 

and you think I am crazy. I’ve been “jobless” for about 2 weeks now and I couldn’t be happier with life. There is a huge weight that has been lifted off of my shoulders. I have a new sense of freedom, a new sense of accomplishment and most importantly a new sense of excitement for the future. There are times in your life when you need to get rid of everything around you and just start fresh. I have now entered a new reality in my life where I am changing everything. From my job, to relationships, even to where I live. Although the rumors are not true, I am not leaving Nashville but I will be spending more time in a lot of different cities visting my friends and finding what really makes me happy. For those who are curious as to what I am doing and how I am achieving this, continue to read my blog. I promise that I am going to keep it updated. If you are thinking about embarking in the same journey that I am then follow the virtues below:

Be Inspired to achieve the impossible. Do not settle for anything that is mediocre. Aspire to reach new limits. 

Be Courageous and take a chance. When you close one door another one opens. You must always believe that you are valuable and deserve the best. 

Be a Good Person to everyone. Be good to people and expect nothing in return. Good things always happen to good people.

and finally you just have to…

Be Happy and don’t settle for anything less. Life is too short to be unhappy. Whether its your job, friends or family …. continue to surround yourself with people that just make you happy. 

Now I am off to my 6th location in the past 2 weeks.. next stop is one of my hometown’s Austin, TX. 

xoxo

Diana 

I miss this little monster.. Elvis ill see you in a week!

Trip #4 San Francisco

These just got delivered. Just made my day! A kind gesture goes a long way. (Taken with Instagram)