Today we’d like to introduce you to Niki Jones.
Niki, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have had the opportunity to travel and live in cities spanning from Honolulu, Hawaii to Atlanta, Georgia. The knowledge and experiences I have gained from being a lifelong traveler has truly given me a unique outlook on the world, as well as set an amazing foundation for my current role as owner of the San Diego Moms Blog (SDMB). I learned early on how important it is to have a tribe–that is a network of friends, colleagues, other Mom’s and associates who support you and your vision. As the owner of SDMB, I consider myself to be the tribe organizer; it is second nature for me to reach out and connect with people from all walks of life.
My professional background spans from event planning to marketing and sales for a variety of Fortune 500 companies. I am the CEO and Founder of an event planning and marketing company, Events By Niki. My company works exclusively with Cloak & Petal, one of San Diego’s premier new restaurants in Little Italy. While these titles and businesses are lucrative and thrilling, my life’s biggest accomplishment is my daughter Kaialani Hope (2). The journey of motherhood has truly put the expert in “expertise” in multitasking. The title of “Mother” is one of the toughest jobs a person could have, but the reward is far greater than any salary one could dream of.
I was first introduced to the San Diego Moms Blog in January of 2018 when I was hired as their Small Events Coordinator. Right away it was a great fit and aligned with my personal and professional desires. When the opportunity to take over as owner arose, all the pieces aligned for it to become possible as of June 1, 2018. It is my intention to have the San Diego Moms Blog to be a thriving business and a top resource to the San Diego community. Being a mother can be a very lonely journey. As a single mother, I understand how important it is to have a strong tribe of women around you. My goal for San Diego Moms Blog is to be an asset and tool to connect with other mothers and families.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest struggle is time-management. Being a mother is my number one priority, but I also have to pay the bills. It is easy to hand my daughter the iPad and get work done, but I began to see changes in her behavior in just a few short weeks. Her growth and development come first, and due to this, I have had to really hone down work focus times within my schedule.
I live and die by my calendar now. I make a conscious effort to not overlap work time with “mom” time. It is important to me that my daughter see me work hard both in business and at home. While there are daily struggles balancing the two, I would not have it any other way. I feel so blessed to be able to bring my child to my meetings and work around our desired lifestyle.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about San Diego Moms Blog – what should we know?
Founded in June 2016, the San Diego Moms Blog is now the county’s premier online resource and lifestyle blog for families. What sets our blog apart from other online resources is the in-person connections and community we create for moms across the county. We publish new content 5+ days a week and host regular events and meetups, open to moms and their families. Both our blog and our social gatherings foster a positive parenting community – along with opportunities for local businesses to market.
I am most proud of the team of volunteers who truly “run” the blog. I honestly can’t take much credit for who we are today. Our volunteers have a passion for their children, community outreach and have committed their time and efforts to San Diego in a way that I have never seen before. Our success and growth are directly attributed to their constant efforts.
I am most proud of the impact we have and continue to make on the San Diego community. We are all philanthropic-minded individuals who truly expend our time, resources and energy to be of service to others.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Compassion and a strong work ethic. Compassion will always open doors, and a strong work ethic will get the job done and exceed expectations.
I truly enjoy meeting people and I think that there is a way to connect with everyone, even if you might be polar opposites or disagree. So for some, they stay away from people they don’t connect with immediately, for me I am almost drawn to them. I want to understand people on a very fundamental level, which really helps me when I am on a sales call trying to identify messaging, strategies and goals.
My advice to others is to always own your mistakes without embarrassment. In fact, share your mistakes so others can avoid them. Never allow others to make you feel guilty for who you “were”–you are allowed to change and continuously grow. Focus on who you are today and who you want to be down the line: 5, 10, 15 years from now.
Pricing:
- Sponsored Blog posts for your business or product – Starting at $225
- Social Media Shares (events, articles) – Starting at $150
- Vendor tables at any of our events to connect in person with families – From $100-300
- Flash Facebook Giveaways to promote a product, event or business – Starting at $50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sandiego.citymomsblog.com
- Phone: 5034039704
- Email: Niki@sandiegomomsblog.com
- Instagram: @sandiegomomsblog
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoMomsBlog
- Twitter: @sandiegosmomsblog
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/sandiegomoms/pins/
Image Credit:
Katherine Beth Photography
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
