Those of you that have been reading my site for a while now, or following me on twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or know me in person, probably know that I am an entrepreneur at heart. I just can’t help myself. I’m an idea girl. I can’t even stop them from coming on. Something similar to how Elizabeth Gilbert explains in her TED video (I highly encourage you to watch it in its entirety). I have learned techniques for relaxing because over my entire life the flood of thoughts through my brain has given me trouble falling asleep.
Back to entrepreneurism. For me, I believe it stems from the fact that my family is full of entrepreneurs. I’ve always been surrounded with encouraging people who’ve supported even my out-there ideas — even if they thought I was a little crazy (actually I’m sure they did) — but I happened the think that the people who are a little crazy are usually also brilliant, or at least crazy enough to take risks. Usually setting out on your own isn’t typically a walk in the park. I know it wasn’t easy for me. It was hard. Hard hard. But now it’s good, ya know, after the hard. After leaving my job at Hallmark Cards in 2011 after almost five years there, I moved to Washington D.C. with my husband, and went into blog/biz mode full force. Except I didn’t really know what the part biz was going to be exactly. I thought I did. I didn’t. It took me a while to figure it out, and over the months I did. In addition to my blog (which was MIMI+MEG at the time), I started doing social media consulting and implementation as well as freelance graphic design work.
Last October I relaunched my blog, rebranded from MIMI+MEG into a website MegBiram.com and a blog The Edit. I also had several other businesses and projects that I was working on launching. The first project to & from gift guide magazine that I co-founded with Katie launched in November 2012, the second launched this January, MANIFESTO — a limited edition line of fashion tops (I wanted one for each month of the year, hence the January launch), and the third is The B Bar — launching soon. All three of these fairly major projects will have ended up launching within a 6-month period. So honestly I feel like I am just now able to breathe — sort of. My workload is completely self-inflicted. I work well under pressure, the projects were timely, and heck — I want to do it all! But don’t take me for someone with work/life balance as currently that does not exist in my life, although in the summer I am liberal with my pool time and will make up for it.
Enough about my entrepreneurial journey, what the heck is The B Bar? Let’s start with how I met my co-founder of The B Bar — Victoria. We go way back (not really) and met at where else but ALT Summit in 2012. Our mutual friend Tobe told us we had to meet, and of course she was right. We were insta-friends. We started chatting via Skype and phone about business since we were both basically doing the same thing, out there in the Wild West of blogging and online consulting. We knew we wanted to work together in some capacity. During one phone conversation last fall (after we had chatted over pizza and beer while I was in SF) we were talking about the evolution of our businesses, and of course we were both thinking the same thing. There it was. Our business together. It was one of those moments where my entire body started to tingle and I was like Victoria. Vic-tor-i-a… That. Is. It.
We started fleshing out the concept. I was getting lots of requests to put my BLOG BIZ BUZZ seminars on video so people could purchase them, and we both wanted to take the consults that we do over and over again and turn them into easy-to-use guides for bloggers, businesses, shop owners, and marketing/PR professionals. We both wanted to help evolve the industry of blogging and online media. I must credit Victoria for the name — it came to her on a plane, and we both know it was the one.
The B Bar — Cocktails and Cure-alls for Blogs and Businesses — will be stocked with cocktails, also known as e-books. We will constantly be adding fresh cocktails for your consumption. We’ve enlisted other professionals to give you all the info you’ll need about legal information, accounting, and all that mumbo jumbo because last time I checked I did not go to law school or get A’s in math.
The B Bar isn’t just for bloggers — if you have a shop, a brand, or work for a business that reaches out to bloggers, we’ve also got special drinks for you.
I have to say that this, of each of the businesses I’ve started, this one gives me a different type of joy. Helping other people find the information they are seeking (that I probably spent weeks and months figuring out the hard way) puts a huge smile on my face. I started blogging in 2007 when blogging wasn’t really considered a business yet and social media didn’t exist. Facebook was just a way to stalk chat with friends on the web. In the 5+ years I’ve been blogging the industry has evolved so much, and I posted my way through it. So this business really means a lot to me, as I know it also does for Victoria (read her biz evolution on her blog today). We also worked cocktails into the business, so that’s always a plus. Not to mention the amazing illustrations we commissioned Kristina Hultkrantz to do for The B Bar. We couldn’t be happier with how it has all come together and we are so excited to share it with you soon!
While we all wait for happy hour to start, you can follow The B Bar on Twitter and Facebook (we’ll be sharing great links and resources in these two places that won’t be on the website), and you can also sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when the Bar is open.
Bottoms up!
I read about it on Victoria’s blog, congrats to you girls.
xo
http://pinksole.com
Thanks Rachelle!
Meg this is going to be amazing! Can’t wait to share it far and wide.
Cheers!
@breaellis
WHAT I WORE: tip to toe!
Aw thanks Brea!!! You are awesome!
Great idea!!! Congrats and can’t wait!
congrats on this new venture! as a new blogger myself, am very much looking forward to utilizing all of b bar’s amazing info come april. looking forward to it!
I am so excited for you both and can’t wait for the launch. I just know it’s gonna be huge!
Congrats!! This sounds amazing and I cannot wait to learn more!
I’m so excited for this! I can’t thank you enough for being willing to share all information you’ve learned through bloggging!
So exciting, Meg! I have loved reading about all of your entrepreneurial adventures. I would love to start my own business, but I’m not sure what it is yet, but I have the itch and you inspire me. Can’t wait for the lunch of B Bar! Good luck to you and Victoria.
You’ll figure it out. Let it come to you, don’t force it!
FABULOUS idea! Can’t wait
~ ashleigh
My jewelry blog: http://www.joliejouel.com
What a great way to start a Monday! I can’t wait to soak up everything that the B Bar has to offer. So excting – congrats, Meg (and Victoria!)
What a great idea! Congrats to both of you on this new venture.
It is always so interesting to read about how full-time bloggers became full-time bloggers! Your entrepreneurial spirit is very inspirational. Can’t wait for the official launch of The B Bar. How exciting!
Thanks Peyton! What I didn’t mention was that I spent 3 years blogging while working a full-time job. Both the years of blogging AND a real job are super important. I think most people need to go out into the real world and have a real job before they decide on full-time blogging.
good idea and cute concept with the drinks!
Obviously SO excited about this. No other two people could do it like you girls will! Proud to call you a friend, proud of your many successes and truly counting the days until B Bar’s launch! ox
Thanks for being our pimp
OH my goodness, I nearly passed out when I saw these posted! So exciting to see how you’ll present the illustrations we created together. It was great working with you two! xo
Thanks for working with us!!!
What a naturally wonderful progression!! I’ve been reading your GSD series and love it.
This is amazing! I’m changing things up this coming summer and will definitely turn to you both for tips, advice, etc.
congratulations & good luck on the new endeavor. I too, am of entrepreneurial mindset growing up in a family of business owners & there are definitely nights when it is hard for me to sleep! I look forward to checking out the B Bar when it opens!
Monika
champagne-picnic.com
What a fantastic idea! I am uber impressed with your entrepreneurial spirit, and as a gal who juggles the 9-to-5 plus my own biz, know how much time and love it takes to get one company off the ground – let alone 4 or 5!
All the best to you & Victoria.
This is a great idea. Brands and businesses need this today to keep up with the changing landscape.
Congrats Meg! This is a genius idea and I can’t wait for the launch! I know a lot of peeps will benefit from you and Victoria and all of your blogging/biz knowledge!! I love all of the illustrations and the name, it’s perfect!!
Congrats! I love seeing people harness the entrepreneurial spirit and do great things. I feel like that spirit is inside, but my rational side can tend to quiet it down. Can’t wait to see it happen for you, yet again!
So amazing – I’m thrilled for you both!
I am SO EXCITED for you two!! This is such a wonderful idea.
This is super exciting and I am so looking forward to learning more about this “hobby” of mine and how to make it better. I teach full-time and dream of one day blogging full-time since many of my ah ha inspirational moments happen when I’m in the middle of teaching time lines to my 3rd grade students. Congratulations! I’m already a fan of The B Bar and it hasn’t even started yet.
Really enjoyed reading this, you’re so inspiring! Also, it sounds like the most amazing idea. Congrats! xo
Hi Meg, I don’t think I’ve ever posted on your blog though I’m a big fan. Before starting my business, I worked with Victoria– she consulted with me about photoshop and blogging and she was so so helpful and made things super easy to understand. I’m sure you’ll be fabulous together! Best of luck to you both. xx
Thanks Neda!
congrats on the launch- as a blogger of 5+ years, I can never learn enough about this evolving biz!
xo,
lauren
So excited for you guys and to see what you have in store for us (especially a newbie to all of this)!
That sounds amazing!! Congratulations!!
Meg I am so thrilled about this collaboration! I’ve been a follower of both you and Victoria for a couple of years and I can’t wait to see what you two dream up. Its going to be a huge success and I can’t wait!
xoxo
eileen
SO awesome, Meg! Randomly, I came across VMac & Cheese last month and had bookmarked her b/c she created a media sheet for one of my peers in the “party” world. How funny! I’ve subscribed and looking forward to the official launch!
What a fabulous idea, and can’t wait for the official launch!
Jumping up and down with excitement for you ladies!!! Can’t wait for the launch! XOXO