Viralogy

Contact: gracekboyle [at] gmail.com
Twitter: @gracekboyle
Websites: http://www.smallhandsbigideas.blogspot.com/
Career: Business Development at Lijit
Passions: “I would say that I infuse passion into everything that I do, meaning that the mundance doesn’t exist for me. Specifically, I am passionate people and the connections we can make, travel, photography and art, cuisuine/food (I’m Italian, it runs in my blood), digital media, education in all its forms.”

So one day I was online searching for a cool addon for my blog, and I find out about this site called Lijit.com.  First of all, the name itself is pretty sweet, so they already got me interested.  I then go out and Tweet: “Hey, does anyone have any experience with using Lijit?”  Not 5 minutes goes by when Grace Boyle shoots me a Tweet, then an email, and then customizes a Lijit search bar just for me.  Now that’s building customer relationship!

Grace is such a sweet and fun person.  She has really tiny hands, hence the blog name, but I think she has one of the biggest hearts.  She wants to someday have here own traveling food critique show, which I sincerely hope she starts someday soon because I will be watching every single episode.

Grace was like a perfect student, had 5 internships as an undergrad, and could have gotten any corporate job she wanted.  Instead, she chose to chase her dreams, move west, and join a startup.  All I can say is that you should always follow your heart, and never let what you’re “supposed to do” influence want you “want to do.”  Enjoy!

Conversation Breakdown

1:19 - What inspired you to start your blog?

Grace started blogging in 2005 with a company blog.  Once she graduated college, she felt that she had a lot to say and decided to put her own creative ideas online and share it with the world.

2:19 - You graduated Summa Cum Laude, had 5 internships, and seemed to be on the path for the corporate world. What made you want to join a startup?

Grace has had very diverse internships: she’s worked at large corporate agenecies, for a non-profit, and for startups.  Grace loves the personal touch at startups and the fact that everyone at a startup is so passionate about the direction and vision of the company.

4:12 - Does working at a startup inspire you to some day start your own company?

Both of Grace’s parents were entrepreneurs, so she definitely grew up with the spirit.  She is happy in her position right now because she’s learning a whole lot, and hopes to one day apply everything that she has learned and use it for her own startup one day.

5:30 - How did you get your job over at Lijit.com?

It took Grace 1 month to get it.  She wasn’t even looking for a job at Lijit, but the opportunity opened up and she took it.

8:47 - Why did you start “What inspires you” on your blog?

Grace had been talking to a lot of amazing bloggers and they were inspiring her.  But she couldn’t find THE place to find out what inspires and motivates people.  She therefore decided to make her blog the place where you can find out what truly inspires people.

10:06 - What inspires you?

Grace loves to travel, experiencing other cultures, is inspired by family, food, and people.  She loves to connect with people and collaborate with them.

12:01 - If you never had to work another day in your life, what would you be doing?

Grace would become a traveling food critique.  It combines all of her passions: travel, food, writing, and people.

13:20 - What’s your 30-second pitch for why bloggers should use Lijit search?

Check them out here at http://www.lijit.com/