Most people panic when they see mass layoffs coming—Ashley Barnett and her husband started a temp agency. Ashley, blog editor for ChooseFI, turned the 2008 financial crisis into an opportunity by launching a business in the middle of the chaos. That pivot ignited her passion for personal finance blogging and taught her the online skills that would define her career. Ashley's Journey [00:01:40] Ashley shares her background starting in personal finance and blogging, including how she became a self-taught content marketer beginning in 2005. The Temp Agency Story [00:04:17] Ashley and her husband started a temp agency as a proactive measure during the Great Recession Recognizing opportunities amidst adversity "We should start our own company." Importance of Blogging [00:12:31] Ashley's blog was a pivotal point in discovering side hustles and personal finance strategies How blogging can lead to new career paths "You can make money outside of a W-2 job." [00:14:12] Skills for Blogging [00:20:14] Essential blogging skills: content creation, SEO, and audience engagement "Creating content is the absolute number one, most important skill you can have as a blogger." "It's just those little things that say I'm an amateur." [00:22:52] Networking in Blogging [00:24:09] Building genuine relationships within the blogging community Attending conferences and using social media to foster connections Engage with other bloggers on social media and offer support [00:26:51] Webinar Announcement [00:34:32] Upcoming webinar focusing on content creation and blogging strategies "Now is the time to cultivate online skills." [00:36:10] Resources: ChooseFI Blog Visit choosefi.com/hitpublish for more resources [00:36:46]