INTERVIEW with Martha Lay || Fashun Mission
SD: What led you to first start blogging?
ML: At the first time, I thought blogging was another form of a diary.
For me it was like a collection of thoughts about anything that my heart desired to share for the world to see. I had no expectations on my blog when I first started but all I aimed for was this space that could be a place where I could inspire people through the content that I shared to the online community. It is simply how I deliver my value as a woman in this modern era. Women should be able to cook, look after their family, keep working hard on achieving their dreams and even be able to pamper themselves, while always being the best version of themselves. I also hope I could share some information to my readers about things that are related to my passion in beauty and fashion.
SD: What are you aiming to accomplish with your blog?
ML: Now that I’ve been in this blogging industry for a couple years, I realise that blogging is more than just a form of a diary entry. It is actually a space that gives you an idea of self-growth. It allows you to find out what you are capable of, what kind of person you want to be, where you see yourself in the future and what kind of dreams and goals you may have.
Broadcasting yourself online allows you to take a journey where it leads you to reflect on your life, and your outlook on life.
Blogging has opened my eyes through the potential that I have and the skills that I have yet to learn. Since blogging creates endless opportunities to work with brands, I would say one of my accomplishments through this online space is trying to improve myself and being able to use this platform to create a business from it. While my main objective for my blog is still the same, I want to be able to be an inspiration to my readers as a woman who doesn’t fear to achieve her dreams. I want to share things that I love, while staying faithful, responsible, and keeping to her lane as a woman of God.
SD: How would your friends describe you?
ML: Strong, loud, hard-working, resilient, sensitive, trustworthy, person who loves to give advice, funny and motivated.
SD: What things do you value most in life?
ML: Honoring God as the centre of my life. I think He deserves the primary seat in our hearts. What I can see when we put Him first, He will teach us what He wants us to value in life. Love, integrity, kindness, joyfulness, and generosity.
SD: Who takes the majority of your photos?
ML: Husband. He is the best!
SD: What would you say is the biggest challenge about fashion blogging?
ML: We have millions of people these days who have signed up to this blogging industry. We could get lost if we don’t know our mission and identity. For me that’s the biggest challenge.
SD: Do you have any specific goals for the rest of this year?
ML: Well as I am pregnant now, my goal is to be a good mother for my child and look after my family.
But on the other side, I hope I can get the chance to use the rest of the time that we have this year to study/learn something new. I have some courses that I have been thinking to take to give me a better career opportunity in the future.
SD: What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that? What was your proudest achievement?
ML: I have faced different challenges my whole life. But if I could share the top 3 things, it would be the lack of self-esteem, fear of failing and taking things for granted.
What I have learnt from my younger self who didn’t feel confident enough because of my own negative self-beliefs, is my value doesn’t depend on what’s seen but what comes from within. It’s what you have inside your heart that matters. And that moment when I surrender my life wholeheartedly to God as He is the one who has transformed me to be who I am today. Since then I can accept my own talents and gifts. That’s the reason why I want to inspire women to be strong, faithful and to be the best version of themselves.
I am always a person who hates taking a risk and is afraid to try something new. I am afraid to fail and always think “what if” something bad happens.
But then life makes me learn to see the possibilities will come to those who never give up and success comes to those who are willing to get out from their comfort zone. Even though I am still working to be better at this, I can see that I’ve been doing so many things that I thought I couldn’t do before but I proved to myself that I can nail it. It’s all about our mindset and perspective.
And lastly, taking things for granted, I believe most of us make the same mistake on this part. When I look back to my career, working in the office for a big company for 3 and a half years, I felt like I did not bring out the best of me to everything that I did at the time. I took that opportunity for granted which I actually could have used to expand my knowledge and excel my career.
My proudest achievement that I can think of now besides the awards that I received back when I was younger is, I think the ability to handle the challenges and changes that I faced when I moved to Australia. Living here is totally a new chapter for me, as I am living far away from my community, family, friends and culture. It is the hardest part of my life that I think I have been able to conquer. Adjusting with all the differences and maintaining my mental health to stay happy, healthy and positive, while also pursuing a career.
SD: 3 things you are grateful for today?
ML: Health
Family
Friends
SD: In the future where do you hope your blog will take you?
ML: One of my biggest dreams that I would like to pursue through blogging is creating a successful business from it and creating a powerful community that motivates young and old woman to live their purpose as a woman of God. As women feel empowered and strive for their passions, I want to be able to utilise my voice and create a podcast to help strengthen one another.
I would love to have a podcast series one day!
Follow Martha on her:
Website: http://fashunmission.com/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/marthayunalay/
LIKEtoKNOWit: http://www.liketoknow.it/MarthaLay
