Life and Work with Tika Bharadwaj

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tika Bharadwaj.

Tika, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Hi There! I’m a lifestyle blogger who lives in Southern California. Just to share a little about myself: I’m happily married, my day job is in accounting, I love wine and Netflix, and my friends/family mean the world to me. I joined this community over a year ago and have discovered I love to post about trendy, colorful spots in Southern California while wearing bright and fashion-forward outfits. I do this in the hopes that I will inspire my followers to explore their cities while doing it stylishly and confidently. My goal is to create blog posts on these different experiences: whether it’s a fun brunch spot with friends, a romantic date night with the hubs or a quick 1 to 2-day getaway. I want to share all these hidden gems with my audience!

I actually started my blog in late 2016 with the help of my husband. He knew I always loved the idea of blogging, but when he would ask me to research it, I would always wave it off. Truth be told, I just never felt “good enough” or “important enough” to share my perspective on life. After digging around and asking for friends’ advice, he surprised me with a domain, and website host. I ended up naming our blog “Two Dots in the Universe” because I wanted to encourage others with similar feelings that even when we feel small in this world, we still all have something unique to share. After my husband proposed to me in 2016, I got distracted with wedding planning for most of 2017. It was actually during this time that I realized I loved design and could spend hours doing it with no problems. When the wedding was over, I realized I needed a creative outlet- something to keep that passion going. Since then, I have spent hours on my platforms figuring out editing techniques, blog ideas, etc. And while for some, it may sound tedious, I honestly have enjoyed every minute of it.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I definitely had quite a few struggles starting out. The three big ones that stand out are:

1. I was constantly comparing myself to others. Questions like: “Why does my feed not look consistent?” “Why can’t I edit my colors to be as bright and bold?” “Why does this person grow but I’m still stuck at the same place?”

2. I was so scared of what my friends and family would think. As I mentioned, I had confidence issues where I didn’t think I was good enough, or that people could look up to me. I also felt awkward telling people what I do on the side because I couldn’t handle their first reaction. It always had something to do with the whole influencer game being a saturated market and everyone’s content looking the same.

3. I relied and still rely on my friends and family to help me create content. I feared that they would think that the only reason I wanted to hang out with them is so I could get a picture.

There were definitely a lot more struggles I had to deal with, but it has all been worth it. I have created a support system that is stronger than ever, I have a passion I love talking about and sharing, and I have come across some really cool opportunities I would have never experienced, otherwise. My biggest advice is to focus on yourself and the content you create, I wish I didn’t succumb to the comparisons or negative chatter. It doesn’t matter in the end. Staying positive is key.

Growing an Instagram/blog does not usually happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and a lot of commitment. Over the weekend, I spend hours shooting multiple outfits. This includes changing in my car, scouting locations, and sometimes even renting equipment. It’s been a learning curve for sure, but also one of my greatest and proudest achievements!

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Currently, I focus a lot of my blog on travel and lifestyle. I have written several travel guides in various cities around the world. However, I am starting to shift my focus towards discovering local spots since I realize there are so many hidden gems right in my backyard. As I mentioned in the previous question, I want to inspire my followers to explore, and I hope that my Instagram and blog can be used as a medium to foster some ideas. Additionally, I love creating highlights on my Instagram feed in cities I have visited so that my followers can bookmark these spots for future use.

I think being an Indian accountant has a certain stigma–i.e. being conservative. Growing up, my idea of success was being a doctor, lawyer, or businessman. When I joined this platform, I knew a lot of my family would not understand the concept of being a blogger, or that for some, this is their career. I hope that as an Indian, I can encourage other women coming from similar backgrounds that it is perfectly fine to pursue something that is not the norm and still be successful. I am proud of what I am doing, and I have learned so much. I want to continue to create bright, colorful, and airy content in the hopes that I inspire another woman to follow her dreams.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
In the blogging sphere, women have the stigma of being uneducated and materialistic. We are seen as unauthentic individuals sharing anything we can because it’s “free.”

I have so much respect for the women who have been able to successfully make their blog/Instagram into a full-time career. There is a lot of work that goes into a photograph that no one else sees. Marketing a product and coming up with an idea that is thought-provoking, beautiful, and inspiring is truly an art. Most of the women who are successful in this industry are educated and do have a college degree. However, they use their knowledge and skills to do something different. And some of them figure out a way to use their power in a good way, where they can help uplift other women who may have self-esteem or confidence issues.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.twodotsintheuniverse.com
• Email: tika.bharadwaj89@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/tikabobika

Image Credit:
These were shot in Hawaii and OC

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