Dear friends, family, and members of the Pretty Southern squad:
Y’all, it has been a tiiime. Since we first launched this baby blog more than 12 years ago, so much has changed in the world. AI may very well one day take over Pretty Southern. But that day is not today.
Today, we are still here, writing, living, and maybe even making dreams come true.
Because once upon a time, in May of 2011 to be exact, your girl found herself unemployed with severance and dreams of becoming a blogger. Thanks to my “helluva engineer” husband, we brought this blog to life. He bought the domain, set up our WordPress instance, and we were live.
Then thanks to our community (and some very savvy PR ladies, y’all know who you are!) we were off to the races with media opportunities as soon as we launched. In the early years of Pretty Southern, we got to go behind the scenes with VIP passes, serve as a judge at food festivals, attend some swanky parties, and were treated to some pretty epic tasting menus.
It was also thanks to learning WordPress, PR, and social media that I was ready to ride the content marketing wave. In the last decade, I’ve had full-time employment at several venture-backed tech startups, served as an advisor to countless other growth-stage companies, and mentored fellow entrepreneurs and proteges who I’m now thankful to call friends,
Welp, fast forward to October of 2023, and here I am again, back at the beginning. I was recently impacted in a company-wide layoff; but this time, I have a little bit of money in the bank and still have this dream of making it on my own as a writer.
So now let’s do this thing!
Over the last decade, I’ve made too many excuses for putting Pretty Southern on the back burner: working full-time in marketing, my family, our geriatric dog going downhill, you name it. But the other night, I decided that I didn’t want to just be someone that bad things happen to — I want to make good things happen.
And reviving this blog, telling stories that might bring about a bit of hope, well, I just want it to be a place for good things. So if you have a story you want to tell, whether you’re launching a business here in Atlanta, you’re a Southerner who wrote a song, or a Southern writer who published a book, we’re here to help.
Please send me an email: editor(at)prettysouthern(dot)com or message me on LinkedIn to talk about how we can help make your own dreams come true.
We’re on a mission here to build a better world. Let’s do it together, y’all.
For the love of this world, and #LoveTheSouth, your pal, LP
For the last 10+ years, we’ve been big fans of the ladies at the Southern Women channel. Since their first video dropped in 2012, we’ve loved every time Julia Fowler and her team produced something new. We’re big fans of Words Only Southerners Say and all those lovely colloquialisms since we love the south.
A couple of our favorite Southern Sayings from this new episode include:
“My ears are burnin’. Somebody’s talkin’ ‘bout me.”
“Come and get it while the gettin’s good.”
“You act just like your mama.”
“You didn’t even put a dent in your dinner.”
“The madder I got, the thicker my accent got.”
“You can’t change a man unless he wears diapers.”
“Those two are tighter than butt cheeks.”
“It’s too bad her attitude isn’t as pretty as her outfits.”
“Much obliged!”
Big shoutout to these Southern super producer Julia Fowler (South Carolina), and stars Katherine Bailess (Mississippi), Sheila Hawkins (South Carolina) and Delaine Yates (Louisiana). Y’all be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel for the latest videos.
Polina Marinova Pompliano is the founder of The Profile, a weekly newsletter that studies some of the world’s most successful and influential people and companies. She began her journalistic career as Editor-in-Chief of The Red & Black at the University of Georgia and has since worked as a producer and writer at CNN and an editor at Fortune magazine.
During her five years at Fortune, Pompliano wrote over 1,300 articles, mostly covering entrepreneurship and venture capital. She also wrote and edited the magazine’s newsletter, Term Sheet, for which she interviewed some of the industry’s leading dealmakers, including Melinda Gates, Steve Case, and more. In 2020, Pompliano left Fortune to focus full-time on The Profile. With over 100,000 followers on Twitter, Pompliano has since made a name for herself in the entrepreneurial world and has garnered a loyal following among both industry professionals and the general public.
Read on to learn more about Pompliano’s personal definition of success, how she balances writing and motherhood and whether she’s discovered her own ‘Hidden Genius.’
Q: When were you first inspired to write a book?
A: I always thought I would write a book but it was never my goal. The only reason I wrote this book is because an editor at a publishing house in London saw something I wrote for my newsletter and reached out to me. He suggested I start by sending a summary of the type of book I would write or just the table of contents. Little by little he sucked me in.
The lesson there is everything you put out into the world is a vehicle for serendipity. Whether it’s a newsletter or a project you’re working on, or a company you’re building, take the extra 10 minutes and send it to someone who you think could be helpful because you never know.
Q: Talking about serendipitous moments, you not only wrote a book in a year but also became a new mother. You said you wrote this book “on the edges of time.” How did you balance a newborn and a new book… and did you sleep?
A: I’ve learned that you’re never gonna have time. It’ll never be the perfect time, but you can work on the edges of time. Sofia was three months old, so she wasn’t sleeping and neither was I. One of my friends told me to take 15 minutes and do something that I only do for myself. She meant scrolling through Instagram and TikTok, but I really enjoy writing. So at night, Sofia would sleep from 7 to 9 p.m. before her first wake-up. During that time, I would write. When she woke up, it forced me to leave the desk and let those thoughts marinate.
Q: There are countless quotes throughout the book. One of which was from a UGA journalism professor who told you, “No one is inherently boring. They’re boring because you haven’t asked them the right questions.” Talk us through your interview process.
A: The way I learn is through people and their stories. Every person that I meet, I’m interested in. I don’t just listen to what they say, I look for the subtext. If I asked you about your story, what are you choosing to emphasize and what are you downplaying? Every person is the hero of their journey. We’ve all done stuff that we’re not proud of so if you can look at it from the perspective of other people, maybe you can be a little bit more self-aware.
Q: You said “This book is about learning, not idolizing” — This almost seems like a roadmap for how an individual can live their most creative life. Is this how you also charted your own path to self-discovery?
A: In the book, I talk about how even though I interviewed people who are successful in the traditional sense, I never idolized them. When you idolize someone, you’re worshipping perfect versions of imperfect people. Yes, these are successful people but it’s success in one area. It’s a technique I want to replicate. It’s not their life, it’s not their worldview, or how they conduct themselves.
Q: Several of the people you profiled have the kind of wealth or accomplishment that would leave many others content. What motivates “successful” people to continue to push themselves?
A: Most of the people in the book, the ones that I’ve included, have reinvented. There’s an example in the creativity chapter where I talk about Grant Achatz, one of the most innovative chefs in the country. He makes it to the top and then, of all things, gets stage four tongue cancer. So he started playing with sight and smell to create flavors in a way that he wasn’t able to before.
Constraint breeds activity, but how do you replicate that when you have everything? You have to force yourself into situations that make you uncomfortable because otherwise, you’re gonna stay complacent.
For me, I was kind of in a rut with The Profile because I had been doing it at this point for five years…on a weekly basis. I have never missed a Sunday to Sunday. I felt a little complacent because I was good at it. With this book, it was terrifying. I knew it would be hard starting to write a book with a baby, but I didn’t care. I wanted to do something scary again.
Q: Hidden Genius is comprised of 10 steps to self-discovery. How did you end up deciding on these 10 categories?
A: My biggest problem with most books is that there’s a good message, but it’s mostly theoretical. I really wanted this book to be practical. These categories are just things that I’ve learned that have helped me discover what I’m good at. I hope that I can help people figure that out earlier in life.
Q: You’ve been signing your books: “Bet on yourself.” What does that mean to you?
A: I was never someone who really believed in myself. I always wanted external validation from someone that told me, “You’re gonna make it, it’s going to be okay.” That hit me hard when I graduated from college. I realized that you can do all the right things and make all the right decisions and still not end up where you want to be. When I was working at Fortune, I realized that I started wrapping my identity around external things like a job title again. Being a reporter and editor of Fortune magazine was great but I could also lose that. So I started to realize that I want to bet on myself in some area of my life, where nobody can take that away from me.
Q: One of the most shocking revelations you shared in the book was in the chapter “Clarifying Your Thinking” when you discussed the struggles you had coming over from Bulgaria to the U.S.:
A: I was over-the-top nice, I never had an opinion, and I ate pizza with my bare hands like a savage. I was boring, and it was exhausting… By the time I graduated college, I had friends, I was generally well-liked, and I was never alone. But now, not only did I still feel like an outsider, I also felt like a fraud.
What advice do you think you’ll give Sofia one day when she’s dealing with something similar?
A: I have a theory that if you were born in another country, or even another status bracket, and you make it into a different status bracket/country, you try your best to fit in. In the beginning, I was the “weird kid.” I ate my pizza with a fork and knife. While it was just funny to other kids, I didn’t want to stand out or be the center of attention, so I tried to blend in.
I think if you’re born here, you try to be more independent and embrace those differences, more so than trying to hide them. What I’ve learned is don’t worry, because nobody’s looking at you. Everybody’s just looking at themselves. You can be whoever you want to be.
Q: Describe how it feels, as a writer and mother, to see your book published and in stores.
A: In the tiniest moments, it’s the best feeling in the world. I dedicated this book to my daughter, which if we have other kids that’s really unfortunate for them. But it’s cool because, although she won’t remember this, she was part of the process.
When asked if I wanted to record the audiobook or get a voice actor, I originally thought, “Definitely voice actor, I don’t have the voice for a book.” Then I thought about it. If I could hear the voice of my grandparents who also wrote, that would be awesome. I did it with that in mind. Longevity. 20 people could read the book, but for her, it will live on for generations.
Q: After everything, do you think you have officially discovered your hidden genius?
A: I think it’s an ever-evolving journey. There’s always more work. When people hear that I wrote a book about successful people, the biggest criticism I hear is that it’s just hero worship or survivorship bias. It’s true if you define success in a very traditional way: wealth, money, status, cars. But to me, success doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We all know very successful people who have a shitty personal life. Every chapter in this book is different. There are relationships, leadership and creativity. The reason people are in specific chapters is because they’re not good at other chapters. Everyone can learn from a different chapter because they’re probably not good at everything.
To me, success is a life well lived. There are going to be struggles. But ultimately, it’s about reinvention, getting up again, and realizing that you can do it again and again. My hidden genius is that I can pretty quickly get to the essence of who someone is just because I really, really pay attention to what they’re saying.
If you’re visiting Hilton Head Island, these are the restaurants you must try
My mother is a true Carolina girl. And what the song says is true: Carolina girls are the best in the world — they also have the best taste.
We like to say Momma Lynne is the original Pretty Southern. Since she moved to Hilton Head in 2022, we’ve enjoyed checking out her favorite local restaurants on the island. While there are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from, we’ve narrowed down this list based on our favorite food options plus “vibing” with awesome ambiance.
Here’s a roundup of our top 5 best restaurants in Hilton Head.
1. Hudson’s
Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks is your classic Hilton Head waterfront hot spot. On a personal note, these are some of the best friend shrimp I’ve ever sampled, washed down with a pretty perfect Bloody Mary.
Hudson’s also has that vibe you’re looking for when you go to Hilton Head with a beautiful setting nestled on the marshland. The menu offers a wide selection with fantastic fresh catch, plus Hudson’s even has their own soft shell crabbing operation. Here’s the soft shell crab salad that I noshed on during my last visit.
Note — the hush puppies that accompanied this freshness of avocado and strawberries made it a perfect Southern supper.
The trick to Hudson’s is to go during non-peak hours when they open at 11, or take a break from the beach after the lunch rush, since they don’t offer reservations. But it’s worth the wait when you have a cocktail in-hand gazing out at the water from the docks.
Now as much as I love Hudson’s, Fishcamp is also at the top of this list for some of the best seafood on Hilton Head Island. The vibe at Fishcamp is also top-notch with its expansive covered patio with plenty of places to relax by the waterside.
Since my momma lives close by, she’ll even walk our dog up to Fishcamp for happy hour. We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon and enjoyed some to the tastiest mussels I’ve ever put in my mouth. Look at these delicious morsels swimming in a cream sauce.
Yes, I definitely asked for more bread to sop up this goodness. And Momma Lynne swears these are the best mussels on Hilton Head. I’m not gonna argue with her. Another one of her favorites at Fishcamp is the shrimp burger.
Momma has raved about this shrimp burger since she first discovered Fishcamp back in 2021, and I could see why. This is better than a crab cake, perfectly seasoned and fried to perfection.
3. Alexander’s
Located in Palmetto Dunes, Alexander’s is a renowned establishment on Hilton Head (really all these places are). Alexander’s has been a personal favorite of my family’s over the years. When Momma Lynne saw Rombauer was hosting a wine dinner, she said I had to come for the event — and so I did.
Our meal started with an oyster appetizer. Now y’all, I’ve had a lot of oysters in my life, but I had never tasted raw oysters in a curried coconut milk and now I’m officially obsessed. Hat tip to Alexander’s chef, Kevin Yeung, who came up with this delicious concoction paired with Rombauer’s Sauvignon Blanc. Chef also did a fantastic job with the next course: scallops and caviar paired with Rombauer’s Chardonnay.
Now when I tell y’all that I love scallops, I love me some scallops. Just ask my husband, if scallops are on the menu, Imma gonna have ’em. These were some of the best scallops I’ve ever had in all our years traveling to Hilton Head.
4. Ombra
We love Italian food, especially fresh seafood with our pasta, and Ombra has just what we’re craving. Ombra is my mom’s favorite Italian restaurant on Hilton Head Island. My sister, Mandy, visited Ombra before I did and she said I had to get Ombra’s take on a zuppa di pesce.
This seafood pasta came with nearly a dozen mussels (y’all notice a theme here?) and it paired perfectly with a Chianti Classico. I’m also a big fan of the lobster pasta at Ombra which came with giant lobster claws.
Note – I’ve heard from our pal Mike Martin that the orecchiette at Pomodori is also a must-try and while I haven’t been there yet, I do trust Mike’s good opinion.
Now last but certainly not least is one of the best-kept secret restaurants on Hilton Head…
5. Coco’s on the Beach
My husband and I discovered Coco’s about a decade ago when we were looking for a chill spot for happy hour. Coco’s is a hidden oasis right on the beach. The park & walk situation is a bit tricky, but once you’re there, you’ll never want to leave. It’s like being in a Jimmy Buffet song but without all the Parrot Heads.
And if you can’t be on vacation in Hilton Head to enjoy the fun, Coco’s has a live deck cam, so grab a drink and pretend you can feel the ocean breezes.
Our Pretty Southern adventures will keep continuing on Hilton Head Island
Be sure to follow our journey on Instagram as we venture across the South. Thank you, Momma Lynne, for sharing your favorite Hilton Head restaurants with us.
Trinity House will continue operating in the historic Hanley Building, an extension of its current lease with Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, to help end homelessness and recidivism.
Trinity Community Ministries, Atlanta’s dedicated mission to help homeless men and veterans reclaim their lives and return to their families and communities as mentors and leaders, today announced the renewal of its 20-year lease with Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. This agreement will allow Trinity House to continue its operations at the historic Hanley Building located at 21 Bell Street in the Sweet Auburn District.
Trinity Community Ministries at Trinity House-Big Bethel in Downtown Atlanta
“We are so thankful for Big Bethel as an essential supporter of Trinity House,” said Anita DeMyers, Executive Director of Trinity Community Ministries. “Trinity is on a mission to change lives in Atlanta and beyond. In partnership with Big Bethel AME, as well as our loyal supporters, we’re making miracles happen together.”
Trinity Community Ministries was founded in 1981 as a 501(c)(3) organization to support the underserved in Atlanta. The heart of Trinity’s operations happens at Trinity House, a 36-bed facility where men enter into a long-term recovery program. Trinity House has a 24-hour staff aiding with wellness support, helping clients find and retain employment, as well as financial planning with the goal of a client saving $2,500 to “graduate” within a year.
“Trinity House is an incredible place. The idea is not that the men would just get clean, but that they will go back into the community and transform the lives of others,” said Trinity graduate William Strong. “The altruistic emphasis empowers the men of Trinity to see themselves as essential community members. Every week, they host an alumni week, we have alumni return to Trinity House to share about life challenges they face after they have graduated so current clients will be ready to navigate them.” Trinity-House is located one block from Big Bethel AME, home of Atlanta’s iconic ‘JESUS SAVES’ tower. Since it first entered into this agreement with Big Bethel in 2004, Trinity House has operated in the historic Hanley Building — a landmark and former funeral home where the body of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was prepared.
“Dr. King spoke of our beloved community, and this is his dream made into a reality. There is a commitment from Big Bethel to support our community. Trinity Community Ministries is a part of our community, and the fabric that makes up Big Bethel,” said Rev. John Foster, Ph.D., Senior Pastor of Big Bethel. “We have proved our commitment to Atlanta as a long-standing pillar in our community, and we’re honored to support Trinity’s mission to help even more men and their families get on the path to healing.”
For more information, visit Trinity’s website to support the event and fundraising for Trinity.
About Trinity Community Ministries
Trinity Community Ministries, Inc. (TCM) has operated and provided direct services to the Atlanta metropolitan community since 1981 and is officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization. In 2004, TCM entered into a partnership with Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the owners of the former Hanley Building in the Sweet Auburn District of Atlanta, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s body was prepared for his funeral, and where TCM’s administrative offices and Trinity House-Big Bethel program are still housed today. Today, TCM’s mission is to help homeless men reclaim their lives and return to their families and communities as mentors and leaders. Learn more at tcmatlanta.org.
Dearest family, friends, readers, and members of the Pretty Southern squad:
Y’all, it’s been a time.
The last three years since the pandemic hit have put us all in a tailspin. Only a few rare humans among us can say these have been the best years of their lives, and if you’re one of them, please share why because we all could use more good juju.
If Grey’s Anatomy taught us anything, it’s that you don’t mess with the juju.
Yet, here you are, still standing, and reading, after these tumultuous years. I wish I could hug you through the screen to tell you how thankful I am to have been on this journey with you.
Nothing about this life has been easy, but your friendship and support have made it a lot more fun.
And I sincerely hope things only get better from here.
Will things get tougher? Absolutely. That’s the only guarantee in this life is that there are ebbs and flows, good and bad. The difference is what you make of these circumstances. Us Southerners call that gumption.
While it would be easy to be pulled asunder thinking about all the hardships this life has wrought, we have to pivot to positivity. This is a conscious choice we have to make every day: to seek joy, make the right choices, and share the love that’s so needed in this world.
It’s especially hard to show that love to yourself.
We’re all our own worst critics. I need to do better at eating healthier, writing more, reading books instead of scrolling on social media… those thoughts plague my conscience every day, and I can only begin to imagine how that’s worse for all the parents out there.
So I started with five (just 5) minutes. And then it grew to 10, then 15, then 25… some of y’all reading this may even be familiar with the Pomodoro Technique.
Inherently, it’s about creating space to accomplish what’s needed — and loving yourself is the very best accomplishment. Like everything else in this life, it’s an endeavor that takes work. Self-love in its purest form is an absence of ego, for it allows you to selflessly share your love with those around you.
And while it certainly doesn’t come easy, once you hit that place of knowing “ah, yes, this is exactly where I need to be, and I’m so happy I’m here.” it will allow you to freely embrace what’s next to come.
Over the nearly 12 years since this little blog came to life, I’ve been so fortunate to feel those moments. It’s been the little things, like writing this post at almost midnight while the rain pelts down on my roof.
Thanks to you, I’ve found a sense of purpose in this world, to help make it a little bit better and brighter.
I hope this post sparked a bit of joy for you, because it was such a pleasure to share these words with y’all.