Kevin O'Connell
My 2021 Goal: Mental Health - My Story of ...

Because the last several months have been some of the most difficult for me. I truly would describe it as surviving instead of thriving.

My main goal for 2021 isn’t to train for some brand new Ironman race or achieve some lofty professional or financial goal. While I have set some fitness and financial goals for myself, they are the top of the priority list.

To get it out there in the open my main goal and top priority next to being a husband and father: my mental health.

Right before the holidays I was officially diagnosed with depression with a side of anxiety and mounting, overwhelming life stressors.

Just how bad was it?

My 2021 Goal: Mental Health - My Story of Depression and Anxiety 
Kevin O'Connell, small business, Entrepreneurship, life advice
Kevin O'Connell
Goodbye 2020: My Year of Changes, Transitions, ...

As we take time to reflect on this past year, with all its ups and downs, we want to thank you for continuing to support us and for showing up for your community. Because of you, we were able to fund our first ever scholarship program, and we awarded four Black Creative Students scholarships to students from all over the country. This year, we were also able to publish 26 new blog posts, had 10,400 page views, added and featured 4 new contributing editors, hired and on-boarded a super creative new social media, Greer Blount, and offered our first writing internship to Maggie Barbour who created and published 10 posts in less than 12 weeks.

It's been an eventful year for out team, and to close it all off, TNM founder Kevin O'Connell is sharing his thoughts on 2020, dealing with change and transitions as a new dad and entrepreneur, and finding new approaches for 2021. Keep reading for Kevin’s end-of-the-year message!

Goodbye 2020: My Year of Changes, Transitions, and Identity
Entrepreneurship, Jaylene Perez, Kevin O'Connell, Maggie Barbour, small business, career advice
Maggie Barbour
Best Tools and Resources for New Freelancers

Working freelance may sound glamorous at first, but those who've been doing it for a while know it takes hard work. Getting your business off the ground isn't easy and sometimes it means juggling various projects all at once, but it also has it's benefits - I mean you are your own boss after all!


This week, writing intern Maggie Barbour asks The Niche Movement's Editor-in-Chief Jaylene Perez and founder Kevin O'Connell, both of whom have experience in freelancing, what it really takes to make it work.

Read on for Jaylene and Kevin's best practices when it comes to finding clients, marketing your services, settings rates, and more!

Best Tools and Resources for New Freelancers
career advice, Maggie Barbour, Kevin O'Connell
Maggie Barbour
Top Skills Every Creative Needs

For all those in pursuit of professional development, this week we're taking a look at which skills you'll want to brush up on depending on your specific industry. Whether you're a freelancer, marketer, entrepreneur, or work in another creative role, you'll want to read up on what will make you and your work really shine.

Tap below for the full post!

Top Skills Every Creative Needs
Maggie Barbour, Greer Blount
Maggie Barbour
How to Job Search During a Pandemic

Job searching is a tough task on its own, and job searching during a pandemic... well we know it's not easy. You'll have to be flexible, know how to network and market yourself, and really hone in on what it is your looking for as you search for the right fit.

To find out what can help you land your dream job, keep reading!

How to Job Search During a Pandemic

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Episode 4 - Effort & Consistency is All It Takes to Grow Your Audience

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Episode 4 - Effort & Consistency is All It Takes to Grow Your Audience

What does it take to build a tribe or break through the noise? It's easy: effort and consistency. By showing up everyday and actually putting in the work to engage with your audience will win time and time again.

Kevin shares the best example of this through Casey Neistat's recent 100+ days of vloging all while building a tech startup.

Show notes:

  • Intro
  • How Kevin's Kickstarter campaign was successful through effort and consistency
  • Casey Neistat's success and commitment to his tribe
  • When the you open the door, your audience will listen. Stop pushing and start engaging.
  • Execution is key.

Contact Kevin: @koco83 kevin@thenichemovement.com

Ask your questions: @nichemovement

Coming to iTunes & Sticher soon.

Episode 3 - Plan A vs Plan B

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Episode 3 - Plan A vs Plan B

Is having a back up plan keeping us from finding a job we love?

Kevin explores the difference between having a plan A and plan B and encourages you to use the most out of the 24 hours we have each day to help you find your niche.

Show notes:

Contact Kevin: @koco83 kevin@thenichemovement.com

Coming to iTunes & Sticher soon.


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5 Lessons Learned from Self-Publishing a Book - Podcast Ep.2

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Writing my first book was one of the hardest projects I have ever worked on, but having it shipped and out in the world has been just as rewarding. In episode 2, I talk about the lessons learned from writing and self-publishing my first book. From setting the right goals, marketing, and all the way to using Amazon Create Space I lay it all out on the table for anyone looking to create a book.

Get your questions answered.

To keep the show moving along and to help you, comment below with your questions on disruptive leadership, career search/job advice, social media strategy, branding, and digital storytelling.

(13 min, 24 seconds)

Know someone who is trying to find their niche? Please share with them.

#FindYourNiche

The Niche Movement is a community of young professionals set out to end employment unhappiness. We also talk about disruptive leadership, branding, social media strategy, and innovative exploration. Check out our first book The Niche Movement: The New Rules to Finding the Career Path You Love on amazon.

@nichemovement@koco83

Start Something - Intro of Podcast Ep.1

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Here it is - I'm joining the podcast world. Not because it's the new fad but because it's all about working hard and working faster. Plus I just spent almost a year writing a 150 page book :) For me, Mondays are the new Fridays. Being an entrepreneur has proved that prioritizing your week and hitting your "productivity" stride is key. This intro podcast, I challenge you to start something.

Get your questions answered.

To keep the show moving along and to help you, comment below with your questions on disruptive leadership, career search/job advice, social media strategy, branding, and digital storytelling.

(Sub 5 min podcast) Know someone who is trying to find their niche? Please share with them.

#FindYourNiche

The Niche Movement is a community of young professionals set out to end employment unhappiness. We also talk about disruptive leadership, branding, social media strategy, and innovative exploration. Check out our first book The Niche Movement: The New Rules to Finding the Career Path You Love on amazon.

@nichemovement@koco83