StyledbyMcKenz Turns Three

Three years ago, January 1, 2016, I took a leap of faith that would forever change my life. I hit ‘publish‘ on my very first blog post.

To be honest, I am at a complete loss for words right now. The most important blog post of the year – what a terrible time to be left speechless. But it’s true. I have no words to explain the feeling that encompasses a life-changing event. Now, I realize it sounds dramatic to call something as small as starting a blog a “life-changing” event but that’s truly what these last three years have been. A series of life-changing events.

Let me tell you why. 

Today we celebrate three years of StyledbyMcKenz. Three years of constant devotion. Constant drive. Constant dedication.

Truth be told, I never thought StyledbyMcKenz would turn into much. Boy was I wrong, and I’m so glad I was. For what was once a hobby curated to share my daily happenings and outfit of the days quickly turned into so much more than that.

I found my calling.

I started StyledbyMcKenz because I so desperately wanted to discover a passion. I wanted to find my calling. Ironically enough, when I began StyledbyMcKenz I had a clean slate. A pretty website template that my mom helped me set up, a brain bursting at the brim with creative thoughts, and a heart in the right place. It turns out that combination can take you places if you work hard enough.

My desperation to find something that sparked a passion within me was fulfilled. Suddenly I was doing so much more than sharing my current makeup favorite with whoever gave me the time of day. I was connecting with real people – thousands and thousands of real people. What I had to say not only had meaning but it had purpose. There’s something so special about finding your voice on the internet – I hope there never comes a day that I lose that.

I became my own boss.

What started as a hobby quickly evolved into more. A few short months after I launched StyledbyMcKenz I landed my first ever brand deal with Warby Parker.  I soon found myself freelancing, working for companies I had loved and admired many years prior. Shoes, clothes, makeup, and beauty products. Oh, how the piles have grown over the years. However, no amount of free stuff compares to the feeling of a company seeing value in your work and choosing to believe in you. At fourteen-years-old, I became my own boss and I hadn’t even realized it yet.

I have made connections with social media managers, company owners, specialists, and entrepreneurs in the industry. I have met deadlines, expectations, and communicated with professionals. I have made companies’ visions come to life and contributed to not only their sales but their successes. I have become my own boss – something few people get to say throughout their lifetime.

I learned that numbers won’t take you places, passion will. 

Year three taught me more than ever, that numbers are just what they say they are – numbers. Numbers are great but they aren’t engagement, relationships, or passion. Those are the things that will take you places, not only in the blogging world but in the real world. Or so I’ve been told.

But honestly, I mean that. I have had the pleasure to connect with hundreds of thousands of people over my three years. A huge number when you put it into context but a number so small compared to many others. My numbers or lack thereof, are not what helped me score twenty brand deals in 2018. Some being the most highly respected companies in their industry – Lancome, Neutrogena, and Clean and Clear, just to name a few. If you have a vision and learn to take a chance on yourself, it is likely that you will be pleasantly surprised. I’ve been told ‘no’ plenty of times because of it, but I’ve been told ‘yes’ far more.

I learned to never settle.

I’ve never been a settler. I’m a go big or go home kind of girl so that’s what I’ve done with my business, or so I feel like, considering my current stage of life. I’ve realized that StyledbyMcKenz is everything I ever wanted and it’s potential lies in my own hands. What an empowering notion.

There is a fine line between never settling and never being satisfied. Be careful when crossing.

I connected with people far and wide.

As the first few months of my blog career passed, I found myself rolling in the sweet comments, kind messages, hundreds of followers, thousands of views. People were reading. And all at once it wasn’t just my family trying to be supportive.

They were people states away, oceans, away, countries away! Places I had never even heard of. As of today, people from over one hundred and twenty different countries have been able to connect with me. How crazy cool is it to think that my influence has spread that far and wide over the years?!

I had the power. 

The power to begin something beautiful was mine. So I took it and ran with it. I ran and I ran and I’ve never looked back.

I built StyledbyMcKenz from the ground up. This platform means the world and more to me. Because it’s mine and simply mine. I had a desire to blog so I stopped sitting around wishing for it and started working for it instead. You start living once you’ve truly left your comfort zone. I left mine three years ago today.

sequin dress // block heels // statement earrings // faux fur coat // rose gold necklace

I followed my dream. 

If we’re keeping things real around here, I’m sitting in bed with tears streaming down my face as I write this. At seventeen-years-old I am following my dream – there are people in this world who go their entire life without doing so. I am doing everything I ever hoped and so much more. It is a feeling I cannot explain but it is has brought me more pride and fulfillment than anything I’ve ever done.

I feel sorry for those who never have the courage to believe in themselves the way I did three years ago. In those moments you must learn to let go of your fears and start reaching for your faith.

I understood that in every story struggle must come before success.

I feel that so often this world of influencing and blogging is seen as sunshine and rainbows and it’s not. There are times where I smile to myself knowing how many lives I have touched over the years with my writing (over 180,000!) but there are so many times where I doubt, belittle, and rip apart my own capabilities.

You must understand that my ‘success,’ if that’s what you want to call three whole years of blogging, has not come without struggle. Without failure, tears, and discouragement. However, you will never reach success if you do not struggle first.

I realized I’m only half the recipe.

I have worked endlessly to build what I have today but it is because of this photographer, web designer, editor, and sweet momma of mine that I have been able to do so. She is my hardest critic and yet she is my biggest supporter. She challenges me daily to work harder, dig deeper, push further— I owe much of my success to her.

It’s my mom, father, sister, friends, family members, and strangers that I share this birthday celebration with. For without them I would be nothing. It is the constant support, loyal readership, and huge shoppers out there that have helped me keep this blog up and running over the years. It is each and every one of you who fuel my fire.

I found my fire.

My passion evolved and this year more than ever, I realized that this is what I was made to do. I begged to shoot just “one more look”. I challenged myself to post just one more time than I had intended to that week. I pushed for better, more creative, more meaningful content.

For it is through blogging that I have discovered a fire within me. And now that I’ve discovered that fire, I’ve burned with passion for everyone who desires to see.

I encourage you to find your fire. Burn without fear of who may try to put you out. 

How grateful I am for the courage I felt three years ago today. For that day, that ounce of trust in myself spiraled into a series of life-changing events.

From the absolute bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for the abundant love, endless support, the constant encouragement. Thank you for allowing me to follow my dreams each and every day. You’ve helped me turn them into reality.

Here’s to the most rewarding three years of my life and all the ones to come.

With a whole lot of love,
McKenz

StyledbyMcKenz Turns One // StyledbyMcKenz Turns Two