This applies to the creative industry. There are many people in the creative industry who are not passionate about it. 

But let's look at those with the passion and the results they get. When you hear an actor say they couldn't stop auditioning for acting roles despite their hard life. It makes you wonder why they didn't choose another career and or focus on the 9-5 job they had at the time when they were struggling. They probably would have had a promotion or earned more money and live a comfortable life. But no. They insisted until they made it in acting.

From this, it is important to note that it is ok to live a life with the desire to succeed in anything legally and morally possible but it is extraordinary to live a life filled with passion and love for something you do. That is why we are inspired by the stories of those who followed their passion and never gave up on it. That is why their success is different and more meaningful. 

You must not love what you do as a creative but in order for you to excel better and more meaningfully, you need passion to keep driving you until you succeed. You also need passion to tell a better story. 

It is important to know how to manage these types of inspiration as both of them are important to your creativity. 

An inspiration that comes fast or instantly may also disappear as fast as it came. so you may want to write it down when it comes in order to not forget. Some of the most brilliant ideas could be lost if you don't write them down. 

With slow inspiration, the idea may occur to you in an incomplete manner and you may get the other parts of the idea as you work on or implement it. It may also require that you brainstorm even more to grow the idea or make it more applicable. 

Whatever way inspiration comes, write it down to remember it and work on it to make it better or to get more inspired.

The creation process is what makes the story of your art so keep that in mind. Creativity is more profound when it is backed by a story. That story will be created alongside the process so you should love the journey of your imagination coming to life. 

Another thing that can make you fall in love with the process is thinking about telling your story - which is the process of creating your art. This story gives value to your art as well.

You also need some patience to love the process. I must tell you that not every part of the process is enjoyable or exciting. Maybe the thought of what you want to create will excite you but the process will be painful and boring sometimes so you have to practice patience. Invest your time in repeating the process and you will see that you'll begin to enjoy it. 

The road always seems long when we travel it for the first time. But when we do it over and over again it seems shorter. 

This brings me to the point that it's when you create over and over again that you love the process even more.  

So create some more, be patient as you create and use the process to tell the story of your art to stay motivated.

You could be inspired by how they do what they do. Observe their methods and find the lessons they share in their experiences.

Looking at this will inspire confidence in your work and the desire to do better.

Don't copy and paste; simply find a way to adapt what you learn or observe from other creatives. Remember you have your own goals and objectives which are not the same with that of others.

While watching those who have similar work as yours, find out how you can be different from them and create that difference to stand out.

Blogging this year, in general, has not been as consistent as I wished but I tried my best to have at least one post a month so I'm grateful for that level of consistency. 

In terms of direction or niche, if I should call it so, my blog is still a lifestyle blog which has content that is expressed from the mind of an ambitious African woman who is a mom, an entrepreneur, a social activist and a woman empowerment enthusiast. 

I had planned this year to try something new on the blog by separating some of the content to create new blogs with a specific niche. I did this and managed it for a few months but it really didn't work for me so I reunited all my content again. I feel happy about it and I'm thinking about the way forward.

I wish to share more content that I feel is useful for ambitious African women when it comes to lifestyle - fashion, beauty, food and most importantly personal development. 

I also look forward to increasing my blog views which are regularly between 3000 - 5000 per month and getting more African countries to join the list of my top viewers. Most times I get my highest views from The US, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana and lately countries like Sweden, Israel and Germany have been coming through. It's also a pleasure to see countries like Egypt,  South Africa and Kenya join the list from time to time. Hopefully my content next year is even more interesting for you guys to keep returning.

I want to give a specific shout-out to one of my blog readers who also follows me on Instagram and doesn't keep it to herself that she loves my blog. Thanks, @ginas95 (her Instagram handle) for reading my blog and for your support. It means a lot to me and makes my work worth it when you tell me you love my blog. I'm glad you found my blog useful and that you love it.

Also to everyone who reads, comments, shares my blog posts or even my videos on youtube or liked my posts on other social media platforms, I'm so grateful for your support. Thank you. 

Here are my social media handles if you want to follow me there and engage more with my posts. 

I'm preparing more helpful and entertaining posts for you guys this new year and I'm looking forward to having a better year in your company.

Happy new year in advance and take care of yourself.

It's easy to get inspired by the work of others especially when you find work that is similar to what you want to do. I look at and follow up on other people's work and creativity to stay inspired.