We were lucky to catch up with Holly Bills recently and have shared our conversation below.
Holly, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
We have all been in that exact situation to some degree. And admittedly, it can be intimidating, unnerving, or just plain uncomfortable. Add being an introvert into the mix like I am, and you would think the deck was stacked against being effective or successful. But here’s the thing—above all else, you have to remember that you were the one who was actually able to make it into the room.
History, and recent history at that, is full of people who were denied entry. Not just into the room, but into the building, and the neighborhood. Your voice is not just your voice. It is the voice that will enable others to come behind you. Society has only advanced what it has because people used their opportunity to empower others, throw the door wide open, and build a bigger table.
Now, if you want transformational change, you have to listen. Know your audience. Articulate your words and views taking into account the environment. That does not mean you water down your purpose or impact, but that you use the best tools for the job. If you need to hammer a nail into the wall, no one grabs the sledgehammer. On the other hand, if you need to tear down a wall, no one grabs a scalpel.
You are only human, and at times your confidence will falter. When it inevitably does, take comfort in the fact that your words…yes, YOUR words…have a bigger purpose and a higher calling. Gather strength in that you are not on a selfish, personal mission, but instead are giving rise to something bigger. When we view the situation through the lens of doing good for others, we tend to speak more clearly, more effectively, and more confidently.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am the Writer & Founder of Southern Holly, an inspirational blog. This is not your ordinary, run of the mill, inspirational blog; this is a blog that I am proud to say connects deeply with those of all ages, races, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The content may be reflections, short stories, or poetry. But it will all be able to be read in the span of less than five minutes, and it will grab you emotionally. What I mean by emotionally is that it may make you laugh, it may make you reflect deeply, or it may even spring tears. The lens is real-life, and we go to the peaks and to the valleys. It avoids being preachy or overly aspirational and is a place where everyone from any walk of life can enjoy a story, connect with it, and walk away better for it.
I just have to say, aren’t we all a bit tired of stock photography? I mean, we can see it coming a mile away. Which is why there are no stock photos, period. All photography is original and of places within the Southeast. Every post has a picture that is thoughtfully considered before being included, adding a visual component, and transporting you into the story itself or its theme.
Southern Holly continues to gain more and more subscribers and readers on our website and on various social media platforms, but what is most exciting is the collective bringing together of people. Seeing so many different people come together around a story and seeing firsthand the power a story has to bring us together, to see humanity in our fellow man, to know that life will bring us to our knees but it will also restore our faith in tomorrow. And that, my friends, is the only thing that matters.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would have to say as it relates to my writing journey, the three most impactful qualities are empathy, curiosity, and dedication. To be a writer of any sort, you have to understand people. Not just some types of people, but a lot of types of people, and on all levels of the humanity chart. You cannot understand people unless you have empathy. Empathy thrives in the gray, which rolls into the next quality of curiosity. An innate sense of curiosity will allow you to ask the right questions and then seek where the answers may lie. Empathy may give rise to curiosity, but curiosity also births empathy. Now, dedication comes last because once you have a truth, whether it is convenient or a hard pill to swallow, you must have dedication to take it all the way to its natural conclusion. Even when it’s hard, or you’re tired, or there are a million other things distracting you. The story will never be brought to light without dedication.
The best advice I can give is to continually seek knowledge. Find books or documentaries or other similar sources to go outside your comfort zone. Volunteer or join interest groups. When you expand your own horizon, you end up learning about others and are richer for it. You understand a different point of view, you connect with solutions you never thought possible. And maybe, just maybe, you are forever changed.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
One hundred percent, invest the effort into improving the areas you are not as strong in. The easy explanation is that if you have an amazing offense, all it takes is a stellar defense to knock you completely off your game.
Let’s talk about weaknesses. Whatever they are, at some point you will need to rely on them. Maybe you are not good at communicating, or you have problems focusing, or you are as stubborn as a mule. Whatever your industry, you will have to communicate, focus, and be patient. You don’t have to be great at it, but you must have a deep enough well to pull from.
Here’s a little secret, I hate speaking in front of people. Thankfully, I don’t have to do it often, but when I do there is a ridiculous amount of preparation that goes into it. Are my remarks what they should be? How much time do I have? Don’t speak too fast. Breathe. Where will I be standing/speaking? How many people will be there? All of these things are how I prepare myself for doing something I do not see as a strength of mine. As much as I avoid public speaking, the truth is that it is a part of the job. Almost any job. So while I may wish we could skip over public speaking and go straight to email—life does not work that way.
It’s human nature to say, “Look over here; look at what I excel in!” But that will only get you so far. Do the important work, the work on yourself. You are worth the investment!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.southernholly.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernhollyblog/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernhollyblog
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-holly/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvwQOY6NP4dOLh4MWbKmMBA
Image Credits
Holly Bills
