I use Canva for personal and professional use, mostly for simple things like brainstorming designs, social media posts, and simple videos like the one below. I also use Canva for website photos or blending different images and downloads.
Canva is easy to use and I love the fact that I can use it on my phone and/or on the computer. It syncs so easily between the two.
Cathy Gray is a natural adventurer in her personal and professional life. She adapts to overcome while maintaining an infectious laugh that will make you smile.
Professionally, Cathy currently works for an industrial hose and hydraulics company. While she was a green-horn in the hose business, she spearheaded the company’s eCommerce site from the ground up from a blank canvas to live and selling within 6 months. She continues to grow the company’s online and digital presence while increasing sales year over year.
This a personal entry. I’ve been thinking more intently on life in general. Since I’ve been working on some guides on goals and productivity, I’ve been thinking on what I want. Life is getting shorter and there’s so much that I want to do.
And that’s not just professionally or personally, but in all areas of my life. In general, this is a high-level brain dump for me. I’ll list out the where I was, where I am, and where I want to be on both professionally and personally.
Professionally
Where I was
Previous work experience in:
ERP systems
E-commerce
Accomplishments at my current position
Within 6 months I designed, created and maintained an e-commerce store from scratch while also being new in the industry.
Since then have doubled sales year over year. Year 3 is also forecasted to double sales.
Where I am
I currently work at an industrial hose company where I do the marketing digital and print, maintain online orders, and 2 e-commerce websites.
I don’t want to continue to do the same thing that I am doing. As of right now, I am positioning myself to be in a strategic position within the scope of marketing.
I have also been working on a additional sources of revenue. I use to do a lot of contract work, but haven’t in the last few years.
Where I want to be
I want to be somewhere where I can go. At the time when I firs started to write this at the beginning of June 2022, he company that I worked for was bought. Before that, I was somewhat stagnant in position and such. After the buyout, it opened the possibilities of opening more doors.
I definitely don’t want to be stuck doing the same things that I have been. I want more growth.
Plan your next 5 years, make it happen in the next 6 months.
Anonymous
I’m not sure where I saw this, and not exactly sure how capable the quote is.
I do know that 6 months is a good amount of time make things happen in any area of life. Thinking about 5 years ahead and breaking it down to six months increments is a good way to process the years.
Personally
Where I was
On a personal level, there were several years that everyday was the definition of insanity. There had to be a stop to it and entrusting people. I had to come to terms that someone who was suppose to be a life partner no longer was (and this was during). I had to realize that said person didn’t care anymore and did not want to be held accountable.
Well, that all ended and just had to keep moving forward. During and after a divorce, you have your emotions, loneliness, rollercoaster type of ride life for a while.
It wasn’t so much that I had to “find me” again, but more of how to I get back to the “real me”. If that doesn’t make sense.
I once had a friend tell me during the start of my divorce that I needed to “find out who I am”. My response was “I know who I am”. If I remember correctly, she said that’s not what I mean. I get what she means, but we weren’t exactly on the same page.
Where I am
I’m better off financially that I was.
I’m more outgoing than I was,
I don’t feel as lonely anymore.
I am active doing the things that I love to do.
I’m more adventurous than before. I never would have thought I would have gone skydiving, not once now, but several times!
Where I want to be
I want to be able to go to more places.
I want to experience more things – locally and abroad.
I want my home and environment to be better.
Cathy Gray
Cathy Gray is a natural adventurer in her personal and professional life. She adapts to overcome while maintaining an infectious laugh that will make you smile.
Professionally, Cathy currently works for an industrial hose and hydraulics company. While she was a green-horn in the hose business, she spearheaded the company’s eCommerce site from the ground up from a blank canvas to live and selling within 6 months. She continues to grow the company’s online and digital presence while increasing sales year over year.
I had an existing ecommerce site that was built with Big Commerce.
It was shortly scraped and started on a new website.
The new and current website was live mid-June 2019.
*** As of the screenshots, they were taken May 2022.
The next screenshot is a view of 5 years.
The small charts across the top are month comparing the previous month.
This is screenshot of the current SEO competition landscape as of May 2022.
interpretation
The Suppliers website’s SEO rankings are consistently higher than everyone else’s. Which should be case since their distributers go through a selection process and refer their customers o the suppliers website.
SEO Strategy
I concentrated first on on-page SEO, which in a nutshell is everything on your website, from image tags, text on the page, and other meta tags that are behind the scene. I compared our website’s product descriptions compared to the competition and put in place what needed to be standard on our website.
Over the weekend, we camped out in north Helen, GA.
We launched our kayaks at Appalachian Outfitters in Dahlonega, GA for a six mile section of the river. I have a sit-on kayak and Chuck has a sit-in kayak. (He had gone a few weekends before me with some other friends. Even earlier we made a weekend trip to the Blue Springs in Marianna, Florida.) There were a few on paddle boards and other kayakers that were there to fish.
Our trip on the water was about a 2 1/2 hour trip. The waters weren’t bad and it’s a good one for beginner kayakers. Just like anywhere else, you can tip over but the water is not deep as you can stand in most places.
Big Bend Beach is roughly at the halfway point and is a good spot to grab a bite. We didn’t stop, but there were some fellow river rats sunning and having lunch. Towards the end are the three rapids, YeeHaw, Bass in the Boat, and Last But Not Least.
The takeout is after the last rapids on the left. There’s a concrete area with steps to take yourself and gear back to your vehicle or shuttle if you used an outfitter.
Canoe, Kayak and Tubing Trips Down the Chestatee River near Dahlonega
The Chestatee River is about a 2 hour drive from Atlanta, GA and having an enjoyable time can be a good day trip or a weekend getaway in the mountains of North Georgia.
There are several outfitters that you can use to go down the Chestatee River. But you don’t have to use these outfitters if you have your own.
Chestatee River Adventures
The Chestatee River Adventures offers single and tandem kayak rentals and tube trips for rent. You can make your reservation online on their website, www.chestateeriveradventures.com
Appalachian Outfitters
Appalachian Outfitters is located nearby and they have tube, kayak, and canoe rentals for your river adventure. Book online with them at www.canoegeorgia.com.
Cathy Gray is a natural adventurer in her personal and professional life. She adapts to overcome while maintaining an infectious laugh that will make you smile.
Professionally, Cathy currently works for an industrial hose and hydraulics company. While she was a green-horn in the hose business, she spearheaded the company’s eCommerce site from the ground up from a blank canvas to live and selling within 6 months. She continues to grow the company’s online and digital presence while increasing sales year over year.
