Mimi is a 24 year old writer that loves to share her thoughts, style, faith and hilarious love stories on the web. Today Mimi is sharing her story with us.
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your career journey?
My name is Mimi Alas, I’m a writer, blogger, full-time dreamer, and aspiring comedian. I am from El Salvador, and I think my story started when I was 14 and I watched the Sex and The City movie on HBO. I fell in love with Carrie Bradshaw. Since then, I knew I wanted to be a writer, so I started writing on a Word document about the guy I liked when I was 15. When I was 16 I started my first Tumblr and when I was 18, I started my first blog with my best friend. It was a teen fashion and indie music project that lead us to connect with amazing people and even being featured in local magazines while we were in high school. In 2014 I started my bachelor’s degree in Communications and I graduated with honors in February this year. All this time I knew I wanted to do something different from what I was studying, so I used the Internet to look for opportunities. In 2016 I started my own blog (don’t worry, my best friend and I are still sisters!) and since then, it had been my hustle and the biggest desire of my heart. It had lead me to amazing opportunities and collaborations with brands like NYX Cosmetics, Pandora, OPI, and Michael Todd Beauty. All this time, besides having a blog, I balanced having a 9-5 job and my dream of becoming a writer. I pitched almost every online magazine I loved so I could write for them and I never asked for payment, I just wanted to do it for the experience and having my pieces published, but I guess life and God’s ways happened and here I am, living full-time as a writer and blogger.
What is truly like to be a blogger?
I wish I knew the answer to this! I think more than a blogger, I’m a writer with a blog, so I’ll tell you from my experience. For my blog, I don’t care about followers, I care about the community I have and the message I share, which is 100% focused on female empowerment, self-love, and following your dreams. Now I feel confident enough to pitch brands I love and because of that, I’ve been able to work on amazing collaborations and long term partnerships. As a writer, there are days where I don’t have any inspiration, but there are other days I can write 3 pieces in one night. It’s something I’m trying to change since now it’s a full-time job and I have to meet deadlines and do my best on every single piece. I’m really passionate about it and it’s something I could do for the rest of my life.
What do you like most about your job?
Working with women! God, I’m so passionate about it! I love interviewing inspiring women, learning from them, and sharing their stories. Also, all of my clients are female business owners, so I love learning how they manage their business and how they balance work and life.
What’s one of the most interesting projects that you’ve done?
I think every project is different and I’ve learned from each one of them, but if I had to pick, I think would be writing for a magazine for women of color I’m currently writing for. Less than a month ago, I interviewed two women I REALLLYYYY admire, Ann McFerran, CEO of Glamnetic Lashes and Sharon Pak, CEO of Insert Name Here and former Colourpop employee. I think I cried while I was writing their pieces just by listening to their journeys because even though they are super big on the industry, something about it made me feel related to them! After each interview, I ended up feeling inspired, empowered and I cried a little. I felt something burning inside of me telling me THIS IS YOUR PATH! I was impressed! I felt like God was telling me “See Mimi, you’ll be able to make it too! Just work hard and have faith”.
To what do you attribute your success?
I don’t think I’m successful YET, but everything I’ve achieved is thanks to God, His blessings, and believing in myself. I think my attitude when it comes to business and my passions have helped me a lot! I’m not afraid or ashamed of knocking doors and reaching out to people I admire. The Internet is such a powerful tool! Also, I stand for what I believe and I try to keep the same message and consistency on every project I work on. You would never see me working on a project that it’s not related to my personal brand as a writer and blogger. Don’t get me wrong! Starting my career I worked with cheese brands, car brands, videogames brands, etc. because you have to learn from every opportunity you get and I’m a strong believer you have to be open to start small on every industry you want to pursue a career, but as I grow older, I try, as much as I can, to invest my focus and time on projects I know I’m going to give my 100% and I’m passionate about.
If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to start small! You don’t have to have the best phone, camera, computer or even budget to start your own project! Some people are like GO BIG OR GO HOME, but I’m the opposite. I feel like you learn while you do it and as your project grows, you can start investing more, charging more, and doing bigger stuff. Also, be open to doing internships or stuff for free WHILE YOU’RE STARTING! I’ve been a writer/blogger for 7 years and I think 2018 was the first time I got paid for doing it, but all the stuff I did before added to my portfolio and lead me to really cool opportunities.
What motivates you to keep working on your business to achieve further success?
I think the woman I want to be is what keeps me motivated. I picture myself as a businesswoman wearing her red bottoms but also keeping her feet on the ground and giving back to society. I want to represent Latinas from small countries like mine and not represent them with the stereotype of noisy and hot Latina we see on media. I want to represent them by being an example of hard work, determination, and dreaming big.
Name something you love, and why.
My family and friends. They mean EVERYTHING to me! I feel so blessed with such loving parents, a supportive family, and best friends that are with me through thick and thin.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers, any advice?
I think my biggest advice right now would be to always have a plan B, C, D, E when it comes to work and your career. When I had my 9-5 job, my dad was always telling me “Never stop working for your dreams and your blog”. At first, I didn’t want to, because I wanted to be “mature” and “adult” enough to have a real office job, so I wasn’t consistent about my blog and writing, but last year I took it more seriously with brands and clients, so when I got fired, I wasn’t as afraid as you are when you lose a job, because thank God I had my plan B, C, D, E. There’s nothing wrong with having another option and stepping out from your comfort zone.
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Mimi’s blog: https://lifewithmims.com
Instagram: @lifewithmims
Te felicito por tu pasión en lo que te dedicas, siempre he apoyado en mi trabajo a jóvenes como tú que llegan a mi oficina. No estoy en tu línea de negocios pero siempre les he dicho que cuando les he brindado la oportunidad, me convierto en un instrumento de apoyo para ellos, como lo son en tu caso tus padres y amigos. Hasta donde quieres llegar ! Los límites están en tu mente. Y he visto jóvenes dejar sus buenos trabajos por seguir sus sueños, con muchos tropiezos y pérdidas de dinero pero es perseverar y meterle ganas. Si me lo permites cuando tengamos oportunidad con gusto te ofrezco mi ayuda. Por hoy, tienes mi admiración y respeto. “Sigue adelante”