Jordan Reid, expert, is not only an expert at life, cooking, shopping, and attending events. She’s also proving herself quite the publicity expert. In an interview full of more spin than a tilt-a-whirl, Jordan informs us that she considers herself a journalist, and repeatedly calls her 300-hits-a-month blog a “business”. Here, in all it’s hilarious glory, is the interview:

Meet Jordan, founder of the blog Ramshackle Glam. Check out her blog for everything from tips on cooking, to how to spruce up a guest bedroom – perfect for any fabulous woman.

What was the best compliment you have ever received about your business or your business efforts?

My best compliments have been from readers who have written in to tell me that something I wrote changed their lives in a tangible way. One reader, for example, wrote me that she was frustrated with her career path: things were going fine, and she didn’t hate her life, exactly…but it also didn’t excite her. She said that her true passions were in the lifestyle sphere (cooking, entertaining, etc). I advised her to write guest posts for some blogs that she enjoyed, and offered to let her write the very first post for the Ramshackle Glam Community. She came up with two fantastic posts, and a few weeks ago she wrote me again to tell me that she’s decided to start her own dessert catering business. No better compliment than that.

I was also psyched that the Daily Beast recently called Ramshackle Glam “a single girl’s survival guide for those who don’t have a clue how to be domestic”. When I first moved back to New York to get a job in journalism I couldn’t have gotten myself hired by the Daily Beast if my life had depended on it, so to get such a positive review from them was pretty exciting.

What is the best lesson you could give a young woman who wants to start her own business?

If you’re looking to start your own business, you need two things: 1) passion, and 2) the ability, or at least the potential, to excel. I think that it’s vital that you pursue something that you love with all your heart – for me, that’s writing and hosting – but there also has to be an element of realism involved. Lots of people want to act: if you’re going to become an actress, you better love it…but you also better be pretty dang good at it. A great way to see whether you’ll truly be able to succeed in your chosen career field is to test the waters a bit: if you want to start your own catering business, try catering a few friends’ parties first and get some feedback. If you want to be a blogger, try writing guest posts for some sites that you admire. Imagine doing that every day for years: does the idea make you happy? Think about the businesses that already exist in your chosen field: what would you do differently, and what would you do better than anyone else?

What do you wish you had known when you started your own business?

I think that one mistake I made when I started was relying a lot on my faith that things would work out. I’ve been extremely lucky in that regard, and have been presented with amazing opportunities, but I think that I could have benefited from seeking out some more concrete advice from established colleagues. I also wish that I had been more savvy about my business practices: I have a habit of trusting people without getting to know them first, and while I think that openness and congeniality is important, you also have to take care to protect yourself. If you’re starting your own business, go over your plans with a lawyer and an accountant, and get everything – everything – in writing. Keep careful records (especially when it comes to your finances; receipts for everything!), including hard copies of important documents.

Describe a moment when you might have said, “I can’t believe I am getting paid for this?”

I recently flew to Charleston, South Carolina, to cover the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament for BetterTV. I woke up early on the morning of our first shoot and went to a nearby café, where I wrote out the day’s scripts while eating some fantastic grits, and then strolled around town for an hour or so while I went over my lines in my head. Later that day, I got to interview locals on their thoughts about the weekend’s activities while checking out some of the world’s best tennis players. So that was pretty amazing.

But really, every single day I feel lucky beyond words to be doing something that I love so much. Every day brings something completely different – and, more often than not, completely wonderful.

How do you think the current economy affected your entrepreneurial choices?

In some ways, I think the economy made me feel freer to pursue what I really wanted to do. A few years ago, when my friends and I graduated from college, most of them catapulted into (extremely high-paying) careers in finance, and I’ve definitely had my moments where I’ve felt “behind the curve,” or have questioned my decision to take a less conventional path. Today, though, high-paid jobs are no longer as secure or as available, and I think that’s made a lot of people reconsider their values, perhaps realizing that an enormous paycheck doesn’t necessarily equal stability – or happiness.

I would write a snark summation but I’m laughing too hard. It’s really getting ridiculous out there, folks.

Sarah Lacy, Director of Whining and Complaining, is still employed during this non-recession. And how does she go about showing her gratitude for having a job? By complaining about it, natch!

so tired. still have to write two posts. this full time job thing….my idea?about 10 hours ago via web

It must be so hard to be Sarah Lacy. Just the knowledge that you are Sarah Lacy, and will have to spend time around yourself for the rest of your life is probably enough to exhaust her. But to have to wake up and shift your caboose to a chair, where you will sit, and have to produce not one, but two displays of your insufferable prose? In one day? How she manages to carry on in the face of such tyrannical work conditions boggles the mind. Soldier on, sister!

We have now had three emails informing us that our beloved Poundcake was terminated from her position at tumblr at some point in the last two weeks. Updates as we discover more. (Seriously, I would ask David Karp, founder of tumblr, but the ask link on his blog doesn’t seem to work.)

Meaghan’s bio now says she “worked” at tumblr. “I work at tumblr” is also removed from her tumblr header. Still waiting for some other kind of confirmation. As expected getting a “no comment” from tumblr.

Jessica Schoeder Quirk, only say nice things about her please, is gettin’ her creative on with a little help from a book everyone else has already read. Ever on the pulse of now, Messica recently picked up Hugh MacLeod’s book “Ignore Everybody” – because she just has to start tuning out all your negativity do you hear?

Last week I got an e-mail from a friend of mine urging me to pick upIgnore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod, so I did.

For anyone who’s considering getting into the whole blog-as-career game, it’s a must read.  My favorite chapters include:

• The best way to get approval is not to need it.
• Beware of turning hobbies into jobs.
• Remain frugal.
• Power is never given. Power is taken.

You can read more about Mr. MacLeod on his blog – gapingvoid.com

The GOMIBLOG hero Kendi, Messica’s uplifting pep talk bff, must be so proud at all Jessica is learning from this book! And I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that number one on the list is how to get approval. Even her commenters notice how gracious she is in the face of unkind remarks:

That seems like a great read! I had noticed that some people had left rude comments on your blog in the past, and I always wondered how you dealt with it. Judging by the title of this book, I’m sure it provides the answer! I am inspired by anyone who has tough skin and is able to not let things get them down…You go, girl!

Nadine

Indeed! You GO girl! Keep on not caring what anyone says about you. You just block out all that negative feedback you keep seeing on your blog! You know what might help? Moderating your comments and just not approving the nega….oh. Well, at least 90% of your life is free Crap, so you’ve got “frugal” covered!

Meaghan O’Connell, poundcake, is entreating her twitter followers to make her write today:

I need one of you to murder me if I do not write today.11 minutes ago via web

Or how about you spend time today doing your job at tumblr?

Why is she attempting to produce yet another useless pile of words? Didn’t they basically have to resort to giving the last one away, just to get them off the living room floor? I really don’t understand why every dillweed with a tumblr or a gawker credit fancies themselves the new Joan Didion or Robert Benchley.  Just knock this crap off already, you’re wasting our trees and our time.

David Karp, the hipster godfather, has managed to bilk yet another group of idiotic millionaires out of money to keep his empire afloat:

Tumblr has raised a “very big and competitive” round of financing from top Silicon Valley VC firm Sequoia Capital, we’ve learned.We’re trying to track down more details, such as the size of the round, and other participants.

I’m sorry but didn’t they just get like 10M dollars 15 minutes ago? How did they blow through that money so quickly? We know they didn’t hire competent staff or procure more servers to handle the increasing traffic load.

Oh yeah, I forgot someone needed new furniture, world vacations, and a new Vespa. Carry on!