Haven't blogged in a while because things have been hectic in the Goss.ie office, mainly because we are working hard on our first ever awards show The Gossies (#TheGossies2016).
As well as that we were nominated for Media Brand of The Year at the Digital Media Awards.
So for once the last week or two has been a roller coaster of happy emotions and there's more to come too.
It's literally only the last few weeks that family and friends have really started to realise what I'm doing with Goss.ie, why I've been so determined and now people can see my vision.
The Gossies are something I have been planning since the very beginning of Goss and I always wanted it to happen.
I started Goss because I felt there was a gaping whole online for showbiz and entertainment and I thought the same about events and award shows.
I think everyone really misses The TV Now Awards and The Meteors - it's time to go back to celebrating the world of Irish entertainment and that's what The Gossies are all about.
I can't tell you the amount of people who, when I told them in December I would be doing The Gossies in February, said "it's too rushed", "it won't work", "wait a year", "don't you have enough on your plate?".
And to be honest those kind of attitudes are why people never accomplish their dreams, why business fails and why people are unhappy.
It's fair to say that since Goss went live in June 2014, I have gone against pretty much every advice I was given. Suggestions of walking away from the business mainly, not bothering with the stress of an awards show, selling up the company and starting something else... Every time I heard anything like that I worked harder and harder.
I remember in 2012 when I was nominated for Showbiz Journalist of The Year at the NNI Awards. I was up against some great journalists and Paddy Power put on odds for everyone - mine were so bad and I was he least likely to win in my category.
I was 22, I had only been a Showbiz Journalist in national newspapers for about 16 months and even some of my colleagues bet against me... But me being me I told myself it was possible.
Fast forward to sitting at a table in The Four Seasons Hotel and hearing my name called out - it's still a blur now but it happened, I wanted it and I got it and I worked seriously hard for it.
So here's my point... The more people tell you something is possible, the more you hear "don't", "won't", "can't", "shouldn't" and of course "impossible" then you know you're on to a winner.
There were a few moments last year when I could have taken the easy route and just went back to a normal life, a normal income, job security... A personal laugh....but I didn't, I struggled and I stressed and I soldiered on and most importantly I was determined to make my company a success.
Anyone that knows me well at this stage knows once I've decided on something I am 100% determined... No matter what obstacle I will make it my mission to achieve my goals and prove myself.
Sometimes it's a personality flaw but in business it's a necessity.
I always, always ask myself "what's the worst that could happen?". And the outcome was never so awful that it wasn't worth trying harder.
In the last week or so a lot of people have been asking how the hell I managed to pull an event together on my own. How I'm going to cover Oscars week in LA...
And as corny as it sounds my answer is always anything is possible!
It's the negative nellys, the doubters, the haters, the non-believers, they are the one who will always remember that dream they once had wondering what if. And I'm so so glad that will never be me.
You can do anything you want in life, anything... Just keep working your ass off.
I can't believe 2015 is already over, but honestly I'm really relieved.
While some amazing things have happened in 2015 - new starts and exciting chances - some shitty things have happened too - things came to an end, I got sick and I've had some big challenges.
But as I start into the next 20... 2016, I thought I'd list the 20 things I've learnt this year:
1. Everyone Comes Into Your Life For A Reason
This is probably one of the most important things I learned this year, and in my life in general.
It relates to everything from work, relationships, friends and family and it's such an important thing to understand - and I only really believe it this year.
2015 has been a rollercoaster of year for me, and while there were some amazing highs there were substancial lows too, but no one ever wants to talk about that.
Being let down by people closest to you can hurt the most, and I had that a lot this year.
And while that was pretty shit, what I've taken away from 2015 is that bad people in your life will have a positive impact in some way.
I spent a lot of this year angry and upset, and it's probably my biggest regret about 2015, but now I know why it all happened.
So while a friend may have let me down and hurt me, life without them has changed who I am and made me a better person.
While a relationship may have fallen apart and left me upset, that person has inspired me to become a better me in other ways, and now I know what I want.
It's hard to see it at the time, but if you're going through a break-up, having a hard time at work or just falling out with a friend, remember that one day you'll realise why bad things happened and maybe one day you'll thank them for it.
2. Travel Makes Me Ridiculously Happy
I've always had the travel bug really, but it was this year where I realised I need to be travelling at least once a month.
Touching down in a foreign land, understanding new cultures and having a coffee while looking out at a new world, created some of my happiest moments this year.
In 2015 I got to visit London, Malta, Las Vegas and Greece, and 2016 already has me in four different countries in the first three weeks.
My heart aches when I have to get on a plane and return to Ireland - I love being home but there's nothing like flying all over the world.
3. Money Isn't Everything
Another extremely important lesson I learned this year, was how insignificant money really is.
If you knew how much money I was on before I started Goss, and how much money I pay myself now you would think that I'm crazy - but what I've learnt this year is that as long as you're happy you don't need money.
I used to think I was driven by cash and promotions and bonuses, but really I'm driven by passion.
Sure there's been days where I've questioned my decisions and felt low, but I've never regretted leaving my job to start Goss.
Starting this company and keeping it alive this long will always be one of my proudest achievements in life.
When I'm lying on my death bed I won't be thinking about all the cash I made... I'll be thinking about how happy I felt.
I just started reading Oprah Whinfrey's book 'What I Know For Sure' and it's confirmed a lot of thoughts I had myself this year.
I think it's really easy (especially for girls) to rely on other halves to make themselves 'feel complete' to wait for their 'knight in shining armour' - but this year I realised you should be able to make yourself whole all by yourself.
I love this famous quote from Carrie Bradshaw in Sex And The City, and I wish more women in particular would think like this.
I think we're getting there now but I see it a lot in my friends too, relationships/men have destroyed some lovely people I know and it's pure madness.
It's easy to feel battered and bruised because of other people's actions, but remember to love yourself - you can focus on loving other people once you've got that sorted.
5. Good Friends Are Priceless
Although I've said that this year I lost some friends, I also realised who my real friends were and that is priceless to me.
While some people have huge groups of friends from school or college - I only have one or two but they are more special to me than 100 people combined.
It's the people who aren't afraid to tell you the truth, the people who won't judge you if you've fucked up, if you've sent that drunken text or gone back one more time or put on way too much fake tan.
Those people are priceless...and I'm lucky to have a few to drink coffee with, sip Prosecco with, cry with, laugh with and call whenever I need them.
6. Trust Your Gut Instincts
This is something I learned this year, and it hasn't been the prettiest lesson I'll tell you that.
I have such strong instincts and while I can look at other people's situations and point out everything that's going to happen, I never trust my own gut.
2015 was really the year that I realised for sure my instinct is always right.
Whether that be about a business deal, a person or a situation, I've yet to prove myself wrong.
One of my main flaws (I have a lot) is that I trust people too easily and I tend to only focus on the good things.
I've already started to feel differently this year and 2016 will be a whole new me.
7. Life Plans Never Work Out
Someone close to me recently asked me "do you ever want to settle down?" - and they seem genuinely really surprised when I said "yes, of course."
I just turned 26 last month, and honestly I am nowhere where I planned to be.
I did always have the dream of running my own business and making X amount of cash so I could retire early - but that was so I could support and raise a family.
When I was a teenager I planned out that I would be engaged by 27, married at 28, pregnant at 29 and Happy Ever After...
I'm nowhere near any of that and that's okay.. My older sister is married, my younger sister has her own house and a serious relationship, but I'm on a different path and this year I realised that's a good thing.
When you're younger you dream of the way you want your life to be, but it doesn't work out for everyone like that.
So if you haven't reached your career goals or relationship goals that's okay, I bet you've achieved something amazing that you're not even thinking of.
8. Your Twenties Are For Being Reckless
Now this honestly is a hard one for me, because I can hardly be 'reckless' when I run a business, have staff and work in the media.
But I have learnt this year to let go a little and just enjoy myself.
With the stresses of being a CEO and an Editor I deserve to let loose, party with my friends and if that results in a hangover so be it - this is the only age I can probably handle it.
So many people love to gossip and talk about people who love to party, but nothing or no one will stop me from having a good time. :)
Sticking with my love for the USA, this is the year I finally made myself realise I will forever be a LA girl.
It's always been a dream to live there, but I pushed the idea aside...not anymore.
I'm happiest when I'm there, when the sun is pouring down Sunset Boulevard and I'm chilling with like-minded people.
LA baby...
11. People Will Use And Abuse You
Similar to some of the lessons I've already mentioned, this year has been a tough one on the ole mind and heart.
As I said I'm way too trusting and way too nice to people (despite what some would believe) and that can lead to dangerous situations.
Not only in my personal life but in business life very much so too, some people have motives, some people have an agenda, some people don't have your best interests at heart.
This has pretty much happened to me every single year I can remember, and I'm hoping I've learnt my lesson this time.
In 2016 I'm going to be more cautious about who I let in, who I'm nice to and who I spend time with.
You become the people you spend most of your time with, so choose the right people...
12. I Need To Stand Up To People More
Leading nicely on from number 11, this year like a kick in the stomach I realised I need to be more of a bitch.
Sometimes I let people away with murder to avoid confrontation or to hurt someone's feelings, but 2016 will be very different.
Not only in personal situations, but business too - treat every situation as you would a board room meeting.
Take No Shit.
13. Life Is Fragile
An important lesson for everyone to learn, but 2015 especially taught me how short life is and how grateful we should be to be alive.
From the horrible Berkley tragedy to the Paris Terrorist Attack, the world has been hurting a lot this year.
It made me realise how stupid and small my problems were and helped me re-focus and remember what's really important.
14. I Need A Dog
I've never been more tempted to get a dog than I was in 2015.
The hard thing is I do travel a lot and work crazy hours, so it's probably not the right time, but when I'm around dogs I'm ridiculously happy and calm.
I had some dog hugs just recently with a lovely big dog and I fell asleep on the couch with him for hours.
Maybe I could rent a dog for cuddles once a week?
15. Happily Ever Afters Do Exist
I can't look through 2015 without remembering my sister's wedding.
It's been the biggest event to bring all of our families together, and as a result I spent more time with my sisters and parents this year than I have in a long time.
Not only did I love being around my family more, but my heart literally swelled and I lost my breath when I saw how in love my sister and her now husband are, how much he cares about her and how happy they are.
I loved being bridesmaid, and hopefully I can do the same again soon for my other sister.
If you thought 2015 was the year of my selfies you're wrong because I'm still going to be Tweeting, Instagramming and now Snapchatting (alir23) selfies.
I honestly can't tell you why I do it or what drives my need to do it but fuck it it's fun and to be honest I know it annoys people so sometimes I do it more because of that.
I've spent the last few years living in apartments, but this year I moved into a house and I loved it.
It sounds so silly but I've loved having a stairs and a garden, and I want to stay in houses for the next while.
Dublin is my home but I guess it doesn't feel so 'homely' when you're in an apartment. Just need that dog now to make my home complete...
18. I'm A Performer
For some reason I never used to really tell people that I acted or sang or danced or whatever, when I moved back to Dublin to start my journalism career, I just kind of left it out.
But every morning when I walk to work I blast music in my ears and I choreograph full on dances in my head, I write stories, I direct movies...then I walk into my office sit down and start my day.
2015 was the first year I didn't get to do more acting work and focus on music, and it broke my heart.
I'm already booked into the studio for early 2016 and hopefully I'll find time for some more acting too.
19. I Need To Take More Time For Me
I do say this every year, but in 2016 I hope to take more time out for myself.
I've always had something on the go, whether an acting class, music or even the gym, but this year I had nothing and no time.
Next time I want to get into meditation and yoga, and I've just joined a gym.
I haven't had a full night's sleep in a few months now and I want that to change next year.
20. Your Health Is Your Wealth
Last but by God no means least.... one of the most difficult lessons I learnt in 2015 was to look after myself.
Last Christmas I ended up in hospital in a very, very serious situation, and to this day I don't know what would have happened if I didn't get to A&E when I did.
Not everyone knows, but I am a Type 1 Diabetic and it can be very difficult to deal with.
2015 was the year I really lost control with my illness, and by February I was back in hospital again, this time for a week, and struggling to get stories up and edited from my hospital bed.
My family were upset, I was devastated to be back again and terrified about the future.
But as well as 2015 being the year I lost control it's also the same year I took control back.
I did an intense new course that helps manage my illness, and it has changed things for the better.
I'm not going to lie I still struggle with it, I still feel sick a lot of the time, but I'm taking it day by day.
It's easy to get lost in work or your personal life, but this year I realised you have to look out for number one...not only physically but mentally too.
If any of you have had a difficult year and feel a bit lost, just remember you're not alone, rules are made to broken, plans don't work out and most importantly...everything happens for a reason.
Honestly I have dealt with haters all of my life...
Pretty much since Junior Infants I have had issues with people, fallen out with groups, been the victim of bullying - and when I was younger I thought that would all end as soon as I became an adult.
Unfortunately it seems to get worse, especially when you go out into the working world and especially in an extremely competitive industry like the one I am in.
Embracing haters and not giving a shit
I first noticed it when other people in my field didn't seem too keen on me when I started out as a journalist (aged 21), and that increased significantly when I won Showbiz Journalist of The Year at the NNI's back in 2012.
I've always been the type of person that if I admire someone (man or woman) I want to learn from them, I aspire to be them, but I've found most people in that situation just want to take the bitch down.
It's really sad that people feel that way, and I feel sorry for anyone who does, but what's even sadder is that I used to let it get to me, and finally I've turned all the bad into good.
I started Goss.ie 18 months ago and I've probably experienced the same negativity in that space of time that I felt in a school yard as a child, isolated, ganged up on and self-conscious.
So many people have an opinion on the business, competitors have tried to intimidate me and my social media channels seem to be the topic of conversation quite often - Twitter and Snapchat mainly.
Don't get me wrong I have some amazing people in my life, and friends I couldn't live without, people who constantly keep me going, but for every genuine person there are about five haters out there.
They tell me it's jealousy, that people don't like success - and especially when there's a young girl behind a company.
But I've seen this happen in Ireland a lot - and not just with women, people just love being negative, hoping people will fail, Tweeting negative crap without even thinking.
In the past I've struggled with haters, caring about what other people think, how my decisions will be perceived, but recently I've started to use hate to spur me on.
I know a lot of people read this blog, and probably for the wrong reasons - to share it with colleagues, to bitch, to moan, but I want to say thanks for building up the stats for me :).
You see it's so easy to wallow when people are being negative about you or gunning for you to fail, but I've decided to embrace the hate and turn it into pure motivation.
Every negative word spoken about me fuels me to win better and harder that day at work.
Every bitchy comment about my lifestyle spurs me to have even more fun, and share even more photos and videos doing it.
Every time you share my articles to slag them off, you are literally putting money into my pocket.
Every question over my business and doubts about it's success makes me sell more ads and make more money.
So thank you haters, I love you (you were always going to hate this one anyway).
Hey everyone, I was recently talking to someone about networking and how important it is not only as an Entrepreneur but also as a journalist/writer/director/actress. A lot of people outside of this industry can't understand why I go out so often - I go to at least four events a week, sometimes four in one day, and while a lot of the time I'm wrecked and I'd rather be in my pyjamas, there is a reason I go to nearly every event I'm invited to. I know most people would say it's for the free booze (and that is obviously) a plus. But genuinely I go to network. Whether that's talking to business owners, journalists, the manager of the venue or meeting new people.
I always think in this business especially that relationships are give and take - give advice, give help, give contacts, share knowledge and you get the same in return. When I started out in this industry (working for the Evening Herald) my job was to go to events pretty much every night, and I couldn't leave a party without getting a story. So I learned the power of networking pretty quickly. The nicer I was to people, the more I effort I made to attend events and talk to the right people - the more stories I got. Now I don't seek out stories, although thanks to the network of contacts I have now I still get a tip off nearly everytime I'm out. But going to events now for me is all about talking to the right people re business and advertising. The best advice I can give is to say yes to invites. Even if an event or a launch looks boring or has nothing to do with your own interests you never know who you are going to meet. I have five great examples of this.
1. Networking saved me at the Cannes Film Festival
I went to Cannes last year completely on my own and I booked myself in for about a week. Someone I had only met once or twice told me I should fly over and go to as many things as possible...so I said YES. Once I got there I realised most people only go for two or three days, mainly the weekend the Irish Film Board party was on. And also 24 hours in my accommodation completely fell through, so I had nowhere to stay... After about two days there I was finding it hard trawling around the place on my own the whole time, it was frantic over there so I was really tired and I hadn't really talked to too many people. I ended up sleeping on a floor one night and I was ready to go home. I called a friend back in Dublin and said I was going to change my flights and come home early. I had come to make contacts in the film industry, meet producers/directors and pitch a new project to Irish film producers.
Thankfully he persuaded me to stay. And the next day I went out and tried to talk to as many people as possible. Within the next 24 hours the Mail newspaper in the UK asked me to do some work for them (see number 4 for how networking helped me with that). I found myself at a very lavish party thrown by Pamela Anderson on the beach - also attended by Vivienne Westwood. Not only was it a great party, but I got a world exclusive interview with Pamela herself, that was cool.
Then I went to two Harvey Weinstein parties back to back and got to have a little dance with James McAvoy. By the end of the week I had pitched my new project, started talks with production companies and I met an entrepreneur who has not only given me great advice regarding my business but has been a huge support to me and we still keep in touch now.
2. Daytime launches are always worth it
Another important business contact I have I met randomly at a daytime launch about three years ago. It was back in my Herald days and I had no real interest in the event I was at. But since I was out to get a story I started talking to everyone. I helped him out with a story at the time and I kept in contact every few weeks, helping him with coverage for his business and in return he helped me out with lots of stories and introduced me to lots of important people. Now three years later we're still great friends and not only that he's become a fantastic business mentor to me, I'm so glad I went up that day and simply said "Hi, I'm Ali."
The same thing happened with a global company I have just done a deal with on Goss.ie. It was another day time event, and I was up to my eyes in articles and emails but I went across town and made the effort to go. Same thing again I just said hello to the right person and that turned into one of the biggest sales deals we've ever done on the site. Morning launches can be such an effort as well, but I always go. And sometimes you get nothing from them - no contacts, no stories.
But every other time you will. One morning launch I went to there was no other journalists there but me, and a well known Irish TV presenter was there. She pointed out that I was the only journalist that made the effort to come in person, instead of writing about it and never attending. We had a long chat about the industry and what was going on in her station at the time - she's been a great contact ever since and has always given me the heads up on big stories that I broke exclusively in the papers I was in.
3. I opened so many new doors in LA
Another time I jetted off completely on my own was when I covered the Oscars for the Mail on Sunday the year before last. I was hell bent on going over and attending the infamous Oscar parties but again I knew absolutely no one. The only thing I could do over there was network or else I never would have got a story and I wouldn't have met the people I did. I had an actress friend of mine with me and she introduced me to her circle of acting and producing friends - and that started my plan to move to LA full time.
On Oscars night itself we went to an Oscars Viewing Party in an Irish bar on Sunset and I met so many Irish actors there, including a director who is a huge name now, we just chatted about a movie he had wrapped, and it turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters recently... But when it came to the Oscar parties, the huge events...I was all on my own. Landing there a few hours I was already on my way to the Oscar Wilde party (thanks to my contacts) and while I didn't stay at that one I went across town to an even BETTER event called the Unite4:Hood. I had got on the press lists for so many events over there but this was an important one.
I had been in contact with the fabulous Marissa Carter before I went over because Cocoa Brown Tan were tanning the A-listers ahead of the Oscars at the amazing Oscar Pamper Suite. Marissa had told me she was going to the event too, but I never thought we'd find each other. Once I got inside we were sat right by the stage. It was a really small event so we were right beside stars like Alicia Keys, Selena Gomez, Adrian Grenier, Demi Lovato, Katherine Heigl, Robert De Niro and even Bill Clinton. The second night I was in LA I was so jet-lagged and just wanted to sleep a few extra hours but I pushed myself to go to an event ran by InStyle.
Again I was so thankful I made the effort and I met Carmen Electra, Kate Meara and most importantly I got chatting to some US acting agents over there, and got a real insight into the industry. It was also thanks to Marissa Carter that I got to enjoy the Pre-Oscar pamper suite in the Beverly Hilton. A few great things happened thanks to that trip - my plan to move to LA, awesome interviews which meant great coverage in the Mail, long term relationships with PRs in California which meant AMAZING invites to Oscar parties this year, relationships with journalists over there and also a great relationship with Marissa. Cocoa Brown sponsored our 1st year Goss Birthday Party and she's also joining us at our first event event Goss Meets LIVE! - all because I made the effort to meet all these people and networked my ass off.
4. Networking was VITAL for me in London
While I was working for the Mail I was asked to edit the Showbiz Diary over in the London Mail offices - of course I said yes. The first few days there though the editors wanted me to find my footing and show them what I had to offer - so about one hour after landing I was asked to list the exclusive stories I had for them. One hour after landing - and I'd only been to London once, and I had absolutely no contacts there whatsoever. So the networking hat was back on...we all had a list of all the events happening in London and I went to nearly every single one of them. I went out of my way to meet the PRs at every event, every company and I stayed for hours and hours at events instead of going home so I could make relationships that would last.
By day two I had done an exclusive interview with Billy Zane, I had been to four events and I was the only journalist to get quotes from Jonathan Rhys Meyers at a launch where everyone was told they couldn't interview him. Johnny was standing outside the venue we were at having a cigarette. While journalists were told an interview was not going to happen I walked right up to him and turned on the Irish charm, told him I had to run but could I get a quick word. Once he heard the accent I was in. Not only did I get great interviews that time I made relationships again with PRs and journalists that are still going strong.
I have written pieces for various UK publications since I worked over there and I still get invites to huge events there. On top of that I caught up with a friend I had met in college, Meghann Scully, who is now one of my best friends and a full time reporter at Goss.ie.
5. Networking got me my entire production crew on my TV pilot
I have so many more examples of how networking was key to making situations a success - but one in particular was how I got my production team together for the TV pilot I shot last year. I met a producer through a friend one time and had discussed the project with him. I randomly bumped into him at film events and luckily at a party an actor friend of mine was throwing we met again. It's so easy to just pretend you don't see people, especially when you don't know them that well, but that night I went up and said hi and I told him we were pushing forward with the show. He loved the concept and said he would get me in touch with the right people. That same very night I actually met two of the actors I ended up casting in the pilot (both well known) and through word of mouth they had heard the script was good (another power of networking).
Two weeks later I was sitting down with a producer who was recommended by the other producer, and within a month we had the TV pilot ready to go. He got the entire crew together and found people who believed in the project and believed in me. They were the best crew I have ever worked with, and I know we will work together again. Obviously working hard and talent is a huge part of getting places, and all of that can get you to the right doors, but sometimes networking is the key to unlocking the doors and getting inside. My pilot has already been seen by top Irish TV producers, channel controllers as well as heads of stations...and that's thanks to knowing the right people.
Obviously they wouldn't have looked at it if the script was crap, but if I didn't know the right people there probably wouldn't be a script for them to look at because I wouldn't have known who to give it to. Also the places I filmed, the people I filmed with were all at no cost because I had good relationships with people. Venues, brands and people themselves were happy to help. And like I said it's give and take in this industry. I have helped people land roles in movies, get a modelling campaign, get their story in a paper, feature on a TV show...you name it, and it's all thanks to networking. So... My point with this post is just to say always say yes, go to the event that sounds crap, go alone to that party that has no really important guests at it, jump on a flight even if it means being on your own for days and always, always go up to people and say hello. You never know who you are going to meet, and how they are going to impact your life.
