Giving up a secure job to go out on your own is always a scary thing, especially when that job is a dream TV and radio role. After five years as a traffic reporter for Sunrise, First World Beauty Problems blogger Nicola Wood decided to give up her "amazing role" to become a full-time blogger - and hasn't looked back. BD jumped at the chance to have a one-on-one with Wood to find out all about the transition from traffic reporter to professional blogger.
Can you talk me through your career path?
After finishing my degree, I spent some time working for Tiffany & Co in New York and then came back to Melbourne to start a TV presenting course. After I finished that (and still working in jewellery), I was lucky enough to land a role with the Australian Traffic Network and started reporting for Sunrise in the mornings and on various radio stations in the afternoons. After two years, I was moved up to Sydney for what was meant to be a short stay reporting for Channel 10. I ended up getting offered the Sunrise spot in Sydney and couldn't say no to such a great opportunity!
What was it like being a traffic reporter?
It was such an amazing role - I honestly had the best office in Melbourne and Sydney! Seeing the sunrise over the harbour took my breath away each and every morning and I would squeal with excitement if we happened to spot whales. It was always really exciting as not only did you never know what the morning was going to throw at you, but as well as reporting on TV, we were also reporting on various radio stations, and updating the reporters on the ground and emergency services about what was going on from the sky. This was all while filming it with controls on my lap... and trying not to spill my coffee and snacks I sneaked up either!
Why did you decide to give it up?
As much as I adored the role, the hours and travel time were holding me back from building anything else: the alarm went off at 4:30am, I was in the chopper for just under three hours, commuted the hour home to work on my blog, then drove the hour back again for the afternoon shift and arrived home around 8:00pm. Over four hours in the car and just under six hours sleep got the better of me after five years.
Was it scary to give up a secure job to become a full-time blogger?
It was petrifying! Yet, so is never trying. It's really easy to stay in a comfort zone, but you never learn anything more if you don't jump and take the chance. I think staying would have been scarier for me.
What tips can you give to someone thinking about making a similar career move?
Firstly, prepare. If you're passionate and sure about what you want to do, start making small changes while still in your 'secure' job that won't make the jump so difficult, like scheduling, planning or outlining your goals. Another tip is to 'live your brand' - if you do decide to take the plunge, you need to be that person that practices what you preach, willing to put in the work and drop everything to make it happen.
How do you ensure you still receive a regular income?
I had prepared before leaving my traffic role, yet I also still juggle many other roles at the same time. I work with a media agency and run their social media and website, along with various ads or presenting/hosting roles that I've done for a while. It's a constant juggle.
Have you found that working on your blog full-time has both drawcards and drawbacks?
One of the drawcards is that you can choose your own schedule, which at times can be a drawback as well, because coffee shops and cafes can be extremely distracting! I love the freedom of delegating my time in a way that will best suit whatever project is going on and ensuring that I'm not running myself into the ground. However, you can find yourself typing in bed at God-knows-what time...
What are the best things about blogging full-time?
The best thing is actually writing and working on something that you're interested in - it never feels like work when you get to test products that you would have purchased anyway! You can also create whatever you want - you can write about whatever interests you, at whatever time suits you. What a blessing!
What are the worst things?
Procrastinating while waiting for inspiration to hit is one of the worst habits I've developed. The juggle of all the other things you've got going on can be difficult at times, yet it's best to view the juggle as exciting.
How much time do you spend on your blog every day?
It honestly depends - some days I'll wake up and do nothing but First World Beauty Problems and other days, I'll find that I haven't even posted a picture on Instagram yet because I may have been caught up with other things.
Have you found your blog's traffic has increased since working on it full-time?
Absolutely. I used to write FWBP between my traffic split shift, so was never able to attend any launches or have enough time to even write a full post. Now that I have the time to focus more on the social aspect (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) and spend time with the actual beauty brands, I've got more to write about and more content to provide.
Where do you think bloggers will be in five years?
Bloggers are already such influencers, yet I think that will be taken to another level in the next five years. The wonderful girls on Fashion Bloggers on Foxtel's Style are really paving a way for the opinion and influence of bloggers to not only be listened to, but to be spread across TV and print. Bloggers have proven that they have the amazing ability of self-marketing and that it's not enough now to just be talented - you also have to know how to market that talent into an asset.
If you could have any career path in the world, what would you be doing?
As silly as it may sound, I couldn't be happier doing what I'm doing right now! I'd absolutely love to see FWBP grow into publishing a fun coffee-table book, a make-up line or a TV series covering beauty problems all around the world. I'd also love to be not only running that, but working across TV and radio and doing what I love doing best - being a complete and utter show-off.
