5 Steps To Successfully Launch an Online Course, From a Multi-Million Dollar Course Creator
The first time I ever made money from one of my online courses, I was standing in line at the grocery store.
*Ding*
My phone buzzed. It was a notification that I had just made $3,400… while grocery shopping!
In the following week, I made over $18,000 from selling my first online course. As a service-based business owner, I realized I could generate more revenue in one week selling an online course than I could in a few months of trading my time for money with one-to-one services.
To date, my company, Bucketlist Bombshells, has generated over $5 million dollars of revenue from our online courses that have taught 10,000 women worldwide how to successfully start and grow an online business from scratch. One of the things that I always tell our members inside our monthly business-growth membership that teaches women how to grow their business to 6-figures is that the key to scaling your business is to stop trading your individual time for money.
Maybe you currently have a service-based business, and you’re maxing out on the number of hours you have to serve your clients. Instead of offering your services one-on-one, you’re curious about packaging your expertise into an online course to sell one-to-many. Plus, by offering an online course, you can maximize your business’ reach, mission, and impact.
But what does it really take to successfully launch your own online course? Here are five steps you can take to successfully launch your own online course and add a significant revenue stream to your business.
1. Choose your online course niche
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the first step is to decide on your online course topic or “niche.” Some ideas to get you started on choosing your online course topic are to brainstorm:
What expertise do your customers currently come to you for?
What are the top questions you’re constantly asked?
What topics are you an expert in?
What results are you excellent at getting people?
Your online course niche doesn’t necessarily need to reinvent the wheel. There may be plenty of online courses on your exact topic. However, your students may choose your course because of your past experience, teaching style, or your unique way of doing something.
For example: If you’re a book illustrator, you may want to create an online course that teaches others how to become a book illustrator using your years of experience and your unique creative methods.
2. Build a community of potential students
Now that you’ve decided on your online course niche, it’s time to begin building a community of potential students.
There are many different platforms to host a free community. One of the easiest and arguably most accessible is by simply starting a free Facebook group around your topic.
Not only will your Facebook community be an amazing source of future customers as it grows, it will also provide invaluable insights to your target audience. Pay attention to the struggles that your community members have around your topic. What questions are they constantly asking? Maybe even run a poll to gather their feedback as you start building your course.
Quick tip: Gather email addresses when members request to join your group to start building your email list, too. When it’s time to launch your online course, you’ll have an entire group of potential customers to sell to!
3. Create a waitlist page
Don’t wait until your online course is created to begin marketing it!
By creating a simple waitlist page, you can begin to gather leads for your new online course. If you already have a business website, I recommend adding a link to “Get on the waitlist!” for your new online course coming soon.
As you execute other marketing strategies in your business (like blogging, guest podcasting, creating YouTube videos, etc.), you should always link to your waitlist page to continue building your list of future students.
4. Create your course content
Now for the extra fun part: actually creating your course content!
In a nutshell, all you need is a microphone and a computer to create your course content.
One of my favorite brainstorming techniques for creating a new course is what we like to call “The Sticky Note Method.” Using sticky notes, write down all of the concepts you’d like to teach in your course. Next, group similar concepts together to define your course “modules.” Think of your modules like chapters in a book!
While there’s no “perfect” amount of content you should have, keep in mind two important things I’ve learned the hard way:
Stick with bite-sized videos, as people tend to have a short attention span.
Avoid overwhelming your students with too much content.
For a very user-friendly and all-in-one platform to create and host your online course, I recommend using Teachable.
5. Launch your online course
It’s time to launch your online course!
Using the leads from your waitlist page and the members of your Facebook community, it’s time to execute what online course creators like to call “a launch.”
Your online course launch should have:
A sales page
A deadline to enroll
An exciting and special sales offer (i.e., a discount, bonuses, etc.)
This is officially your time to strongly market and sell your online course to your community. Remember to focus on the results your online course will help someone achieve rather than focusing solely on the digital product itself. How will your online course add value to their lives? What pain points will it help someone avoid or breakthrough? What goals will it help them to achieve?
By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to successfully launching your own online course, too.
About Shay Brown
Shay Brown is the COO and co-founder of the Bucketlist Bombshells, an online community that equips women with the confidence, skills, and business foundation to start and grow a thriving service-based online business. She’s been featured on Forbes and CNBC for teaching over 10,000 students around the world to successfully launch their own businesses. If you’re ready to grow your business to 6-figures, learn more about their monthly business growth membership here or tune into their top-rated Freedom Filled Life Podcast™.
Diem Co-Founder Emma Bates on Human-Centered Technology and The Power of Female Communication
ABOUT THE EPISODE
In today's episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn is joined by Emma Bates, founder & CEO of Diem. If you attended Create & Cultivate's Austin Pop-Up event earlier this year, you might've already heard from Emma on one of our panels where she spoke about women paving the way with blockchain technology.
If you're not familiar with Diem, it's a community-powered search engine designed for women. Diem is a Techstars NYC portfolio brand backed by leading investors like Flybridge, Acrew, & Sellation. By trade, Emma is a marketer and a community builder. Her entry into marketing was somewhat untraditional–in that she started out by growing her personal blog to 100K+ readers at age 19, and later transitioned into corporate marketing roles at some of the fastest-growing consumer brands in NYC and the UK. Prior to founding Diem, she worked as the Head of Global Marketing at the direct-to-consumer luggage brand, Away, where she found her passion for connecting with consumers through brand partnerships.
When she's not sidestepping her way into another entrepreneurial endeavor, she works to create social change as a lifelong advocate for gender equality. Emma has also been featured in Forbes, HuffPost, Entrepreneur, and The Cut for her unique approach to marketing, community building, and partnerships.
In this episode, she shares the importance of adding a human element to technology and product design, the power of female communication, and how she's working to bring inclusive, reliable information to people all over the world.
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RESOURCES
To connect with Emma Bates click here
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To sign up for the Diem newsletter click here
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How One Woman Used TikTok To Land a Job Promotion
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Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt
Outdoor Voices & Try Your Best Founder Ty Haney Shares How to Leverage Web3 to Build Powerful Communities
ABOUT THE EPISODE
Live from our 2022 Small Business Summit event, Ty Haney joins Jaclyn Johnson for a keynote conversation about building community in Web3. If you're listening to this episode it's because you believe in doing things. Big things. And Ty Haney is on the same page. Haney founded Outdoor Voices–a vibrant, fun-first athleticwear brand back in 2014.
During Haney's time with Outdoor Voices, the brand became synonymous with IRL events that brought shoppers together to celebrate movement. And today, she's here to talk about how to bring that same IRL magic online with the next wave of community-driven technology.
Haney's new brand TYB, which stands for Try Your Best, makes Web3 community-powered growth tools that allow brands and fans to directly link, come together, build, and win together. And if you don't know what that means, it's okay! By the end of this episode, you'll be a pro.
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RESOURCES
To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click here
To follow along with Outdoor Voices click here
To follow along with Try Your Best click here
To follow along with Create & Cultivate click here
To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789)
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How to Build a Portfolio Career With CEO and Selling Sunset Star, Emma Hernan
ABOUT THE EPISODE
Live from our 2022 Small Business Summit event, CEO and Selling Sunset star Emma Hernan joins Bunita Sawhney Executive Vice President of US Financial Institutions at Mastercard for a fireside chat about what it takes to build a portfolio career. While you may know her from the hit Netflix show, you may not realize that Emma Hernan is someone whose business savvy goes far beyond what's depicted on the silver screen. As a self-made multimillionaire, Emma is not only a realtor at one of Los Angeles' top agencies, The Oppenheim Group, but she's also an entrepreneur and CEO of Emma Leigh & Co, as well as an angel investor. In other words, her plate is very full.
It's clear that she loves the work she does, and her drive and passion to help other female entrepreneurs grow and succeed is evident from the moment you meet her. We're lucky that she's here today to share tips on how to vary the types of work that you're doing, what investors are looking for, and how to persist with founding a business even when you come up against obstacles. (Plus, she might even spill a little Selling Sunset tea!)
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RESOURCES
To connect with Emma Hernan click here
To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click here
To start bingeing Selling Sunset click here
To follow along with The Oppenheim Group click here
To follow along with Emma Leigh & Co. click here
To follow along with Create & Cultivate click here
To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789)
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Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt
How One Woman Used TikTok To Land a Job Promotion
It was the beginning of the pandemic, and while the world was trying to figure out how to navigate the new norm, a woman named Natalie was learning TikTok. In those early days of 2020, she posted everything from humorous musings on dating to corporate America jabs. To her surprise, the corporate videos resonated with her audience, so she dubbed herself Corporate Natalie, and the rest is history. To date, she's got over 148K followers and 18M likes on her TikTok channel.
So, it should come as no surprise that her following and knack for connecting with people also helped her nab a promotion. Yep, her media empire is a side-hustle, and she's still putting in hours at a 9-to-5 job, but her fame led to a position change at her corporate job. She not only got an opportunity to switch to a completely different department, but that meant she'd be getting a promotion and more freedom to be creative and lead. If you're also looking to land a job promotion or use social media to build your brand, click play below to hear Natalie speak on how she got to where she is, and what the future looks like for her full-time job and Corporate Natalie.
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RESOURCES
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To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE
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Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt
Female Creative or Entrepreneur Looking to Flourish? Apply Here.
Turn your passion project into a successful business.
Photo by Pret A Provost x Grace Atwood, The Stripe
There's nothing better than women supporting women. It’s what drives our mission here at Create & Cultivate, as a women-owned business ourselves. In a year that’s been challenging on so many fronts, women in particular have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s an important time to support and champion women's passions, ideas and small businesses to help them to flourish–and that is exactly what Fleurs de Prairie Rosé has set out to do through its Seeds of Beauty grant program.
Now in its third year, the Seeds of Beauty initiative will continue to fuel creative spirits and uplift women by awarding "Seed Grants" to entrepreneurial female creatives who are making a difference by way of their passions, whether that be through art, design, food, writing and beyond. As part of this year’s program, three seed grants of $10,000 each will be awarded to women who share in the brand’s ethos to create a more beautiful world. Interested applicants can apply online by filling out a submission form and answering a few questions demonstrating how they will use the funds to grow their biz. Submissions are open now through July 23.
Fleurs de Prairie is more than just a delicious wine, it is a true expression of the splendor of Southern France where it is sourced. More importantly, it is a brand that stands for something. With the annual Seeds of Beauty campaign, Fleurs de Prairie aims to elevate the visibility of female entrepreneurs and creatives who are dedicated to creating beauty in their communities – a mission that is important now more than ever. The economic and implications of last year, from loss of income to balancing work and family responsibilities, threaten the progress of entrepreneurial women and business owners alike, especially considering that over the past decade women-led companies have grown five times faster than the national average.
In addition to the support funds, Seeds of Beauty grant recipients will also receive one-on-one mentorship from this year's brand ambassadors who champion beauty in their own digital communities, lifestyle influencer and content creator, Caila Quinn and blogger Grace Atwood. Because research has shown that early mentorship can have a major impact on a small business’s revenue and growth, we tapped Grace Atwood, who pens the blog The Stripe, to share some advice for aspiring entrepreneurs along with some stories of her own personal and professional mentors who helped her flourish. Keep scrolling to read her sage advice.
What three tips would you give to other women who aspire to be entrepreneurs and turn their passion project into a successful business?
Be prepared to work really hard and be patient! It took me five years of running my website, The Stripe and social channels before going full-time. It took up my nights, my weekends... I didn't have a life but I didn't mind as I was passionate about what I was building and I believed in myself. It was worth it in the end but I definitely sacrificed a lot during those "building" years.
As you build, outsource! Think about the things that make you/your brand YOU, and figure out what else you can outsource. This has been a struggle for me. Every word on my site and Instagram will always be written by me, but I outsource graphic design and photography as those particular things are not my strengths.
As you network, think about how you can help the person you're making the ask of. I personally hate the phrase "can I pick your brain," for example. But when someone sends a thoughtful email and I can tell they really care about my business and aren't just making a blind request, that's when I'm more likely to listen.
Mentorship is a critical component of entrepreneurship– but they’re not always easy to find. Who has been the strongest mentor and advocate for you in furthering your personal and professional goals?
I wouldn't say it's one specific mentor, but different friends and contacts have helped me throughout the years. My parents were entrepreneurs (they owned their own restaurant for 40+ years!), so I picked up a lot from them. My friend (and business partner for my podcast) Becca always has great practical business advice. And in the beginning, other influencers would share and amplify my content which is why I make sure to do that too!
Photo by Pret A Provost x Grace Atwood, The Stripe
Seeds of Beauty is designed to fuel creative spirits and uplift women who are making their own communities more beautiful by way of their passions. How would you describe your own connection to Fleurs de Prairie Rosé and the Seeds of Beauty Campaign, and how do you strive to celebrate the beauty within your own life and community?
First of all, Fleurs de Prairie is my favorite rosé. It's the perfect outdoor drinking wine - it's refreshing and crisp and not too sweet. But I love the brand's mission - helping women! And with regard to celebrating beauty within my own life and community, I am a Libra. I need my home to feel beautiful and inspiring. And I love art. One thing I really miss about living in New York (I moved to Charleston in April) is all of the art galleries and museums. I'm still figuring out how to get more involved in the art community here in Charleston - there's a really incredible creative community here!
Are you dedicated to creating beauty in your community? Do you have a passion project that you’d love to see come to life? Click HERE to apply for a “Seed Grant” to help grow your brand! Applications are being accepted now through July 23, 2021. The entry form is easy to complete and takes five minutes.
How to Balance Your Full-Time Job With Launching Your Dream Business
Yes, it is possible.
Photo: Smith House Photo
Balance is a word that’s come up more this past year than ever before. Whether it’s finding new ways to juggle the sudden merge of home and work life, trying to find time to squeeze in some self-care moments, or picking real pants over sweatpants, we’re all finding ways to make it all work.
So how does that same balance come into play when you are trying to jump feet first into creating your dream business?
While taking the plunge and diving right in is a thrilling option, it’s not always feasible. Maybe you need to start building your entrepreneurial dream while maintaining your 9-to-5. The ability to continue generating income to help support your new business is the most tangible benefit to working while building your empire, especially as some of the biggest costs come from operational expenses. Admittedly, it’s not the easiest path, but I am willing to bet that’s you didn’t sign up for easy when you decided to become an entrepreneur.
So you ask yourself, how do I do both? Can I do both?
After spending more than a decade in corporate retail, I went through a personal experience that moved me to create something for myself beyond a hobby. With some strategic planning, community engagement, and a bathtub of coffee, I am on the cusp of pursuing my passion full-time. Here are four tips I found worked best for turning an after-hours side hustle into a permanent, bill-paying gig.
Block and Tackle
Time management and time blocking is critical for new entrepreneurs, especially those who still have full-time jobs. Setting aside one specific day per week or actively blocking a few hours each day as designated “dream biz office hours” is essential to keep making progress on building your side hustle.
Whether it’s a color-coded calendar or itemized Google Sheet, make sure to figure out a system that effectively lays out the tasks that need to get completed on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis. It’s easy to spin out when you’re starting out because there are a million things to do, so block out time to create a plan and focus on tackling the tasks that make up each project or initiative. It won’t be long before you start to see and feel the progress.
Make Time for Self-Care
Working two jobs is mentally and physically draining so creative burnout is a common reality of entrepreneurship. Because of the sheer amount of work on your plate, it’s easy to fall into the habit of working non-stop without taking breaks. Which isn’t effective when you actually need to function. In order to be the best version of you for yourself, your full-time job and your side hustle (not to mention your friends, family, and the slew of other responsibilities you have), you need to schedule time to rest (see the previous point about time blocking.)
We implemented “slow down Sundays” in our house to find a better work-life balance. It’s a day where we make no plans and allow for pausing and reflecting in the current moment, which helps me go into my week rested, re-energized, and re-focused.
Hire Help
Starting a new business is overwhelming, especially as it’s often a team of one building out every area from operations to marketing. This means you will inevitably find yourself working on tasks that are not your strength, and those weak spots in the foundation can become problematic later on as you try to grow.
Since you are still working full time and able to potentially generate some income to feed your side hustle, think about hiring outside help in areas where you need an expert. Not great with social media creation? Copywriting? Sales management systems? Hire an hourly contract employee to take that task off your hands so you can focus on the part of your business that is most exciting and that plays to your strengths.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Even on your worst days, always remember why you started. Ask yourself, why did I want to launch this dream business? Stick Post-Its around your home with your mission on them. Start your day journaling on the dream, and keep focus on the progress you’re making toward that dream.
And take time to celebrate the small wins! Did you launch your website? Take a walk to reflect on that moment and let it all sink in. Upload your first social media post? You deserve a happy dance, or two, even if you didn’t block out time for it.
“Even on your worst days, always remember why you started.”
—Kelly Kussman, Founder of Cayla Gray
About the Author: Kelly Kussman is the founder of Cayla Gray, a luxury line of clean fragrances. Kelly launched her dream business while working full-time as a senior director of a large corporation.
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Do You Have the Top 7 Traits for Entrepreneurial Success?
Trait #1: You’re curious.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
Are you cut out for the crazy, hectic, and yet super fulfilling life of being an entrepreneur? We’ve worked with countless business owners over the years, and thanks to our conferences and digital summits, we spend a lot of time with startup owners, owners of growing companies, even people juggling four or five companies at once. Unfortunately, not every business owner will make it for the long haul, but I’ve definitely noticed seven traits that are common threads among those who do well.
Do these traits sound like you? Read on to find out if you have all of the elements required to be a successful entrepreneur.
1. You’re Curious.
You don’t ever think you know it all, and you’re always learning, experimenting, and hungry for more, no matter how long you’ve been in the business. Your vision and passion inspire others to action and your curiosity keeps your business innovative.
2. You’re Highly Engaged.
You always know what’s going on with every aspect of your business. When there’s something you should know but don’t understand, you talk to the experts on your team until you get it (whether that’s your manufacturing team, your CFO, your company’s attorney, etc.).
You’re also actively engaged with your employees. You understand that the success or failure of your business ultimately relies on you.
3. You Have a Big-Picture Vision.
You understand why you’re in business and you’re able to take a step back and see your company for what it is. You understand that entrepreneurs tend to be serial business launchers and you aren’t overly attached to your current projects.
You also have an end desire in mind, whether that’s where you’d like your business to be in 20 years or when and how you’d like to sell it.
4. You Have an Even Temperament.
You maintain a calm, even-tempered demeanor at work no matter what’s going on. You don’t take out your stress on others or let the urge for control of the call of anxiety get the best of you. You can be relied on to always keep your cool. This trait helps you make clearer and more balanced business decisions. It also sets the tone for a healthy-functioning work environment.
5. You Have Excellent Negotiation Skills.
You walk into every negotiation situation knowing what it is you want and what you’re willing to give up to the other side. You work on improving your negotiation skills every time. Negotiating is a huge part of business— from negotiating with vendors to everyday smaller negotiations with the members of your team.
6. You Surround Yourself With Top Talent.
You aren’t threatened by the prospect of not being the smartest person in the room. You know that you don’t know everything and that there’s always more to learn. As such, you make it a point to surround yourself with people who excel in different disciplines and areas of business. This extends to your social groups but also the members of your team and your consultants.
7. You’re Willing to Work on Any Area of Your Business.
You don’t reserve your efforts for CEO or co-founder activities. You take care of whatever needs taking care of and don’t make a big deal of it.
About the Author: Syama Meagher is the CEO and founder of Scaling Retail, which has launched brands around the world using a combination of expert advice and creative marketing strategy. We believe in the power of hard work to grow and build your businesses. Discover Scaling Retail at www.ScalingRetail.com.
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This story was originally published on August 25, 2019, and has since been updated.
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"If You Aren’t Growing in a Role—Whether That's Your Title, Salary, or Responsibilities—Leave ASAP!"
Cassandra Dittmer makes the case for quitting.
Photo: Courtesy of Cassandra Dittmer
Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month, we caught up with fashion stylist Cassandra Dittmer who has not once but twice left a full-time job to start her own venture. Here are her tips for when it's time to put in your two-week notice.
What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated?
Apparel merchandising and design with an emphasis on international relations. I wanted to be a fashion designer or work in trend forecasting.
What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?
I graduated and 48 hours later drove out to Los Angeles. I was looking to break into the fashion industry and definitely wasn’t looking to be in entertainment. I had interned the previous summer for a celebrity stylist and she offered me an unpaid gig while I was looking for paid work. I took the opportunity so that I could be boots on the ground in L.A. looking for work and taking freelance styling jobs. I fell in love with the styling industry and, at the time, was only interested in styling gigs.
How did you get into fashion?
I was always interested in fashion from a very young age. I grew up in rural Iowa and always loved how dreamy and artistic the fashion industry appeared. It seemed so glamorous and foreign to me. My mom got me really interested in personal style and runway shows very early on. She was always dressed to the nines and instilled in me the mindset to dress for yourself and cultivate a deep sense of personal style. Where I grew up had absolutely nothing related to the fashion industry. Every internship started with a lot of cold emails. Instagram didn’t exist at the time and I would exhaust myself emailing every stylist in the industry for an interview. Eventually, I flew out to L.A. one weekend my junior year of college and literally knocked on doors until I could convince someone to hire me as an intern.
What was it like balancing your full-time job with your passion? Do you recommend starting a side-hustle while you have a full-time job?
I barely know any other way at this point because I am constantly piling on my projects and keeping myself really busy. I think starting a side hustle when you have a full-time job is the most responsible way to start. Side hustles are important to staying agile and open-minded. I find that I access different parts of my brain when there is less pressure attached to the outcome and that brings out a whole other side of my creativity.
How did you know when it was time to make the transition from side-hustle to full-time? What was your strategy for making the transition?
When you can make the economics make sense it is definitely the right time to leave a full-time job. Starting any new company or venture always takes more time and capital than anticipated. The strategy is to create a schedule and stick to it. It sounds simple, but it takes a lot of discipline to put in that after-hour work and source that reserve brain energy. I started with a lot of exploratory calls and coffee dates. I would reach out to everyone I knew who had experience related to my side hustle and start to build the research out. Don’t sleep on the research and product development portion of starting a new company. This foundation should be solid before you take a leap.
How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?
Twice I have left a full-time job to start my own ventures. The first time, I left a full-time styling gig to start my own styling company. Styling is a unique industry because it’s very difficult to grow your clientele while maintaining full-time employment. At times, I wish I had waited longer and had more clients so that I didn’t have to bootstrap so hard. Other times I wish I hadn't stayed so long (almost five years) in an assistant role. If you aren’t growing in a role—whether that’s your title, salary, or responsibilities—leave ASAP! I had very little business experience and spent most of my time working directly with artists. I wish I had prioritized my business acumen as acutely and with as much emphasis as I focused on the creative.
Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career?
Money was my #1 concern when leaving my job. I was luckily in zero debt but had very little savings when I changed careers. There is a lot of legwork and preparation that can be done while maintaining a full-time job. I used to make 3-month, 6-month, and year-long projections and work backward from that. I have started many collaborations and designed projects by working only 3-5 additional hours per week. Set that schedule and commit to it. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, paralyzed, and not know where to begin. The hardest part for me is starting and staying organized. I always like to approach any new venture in bite-sized chunks. Start small and accomplish things weekly so that you are giving yourself positive reinforcement.
“You will find more fulfillment and joy out of becoming the best version of yourself.”
—Cassandra Dittmer
Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst?
I wish I had saved more, but I just jumped in headfirst! I think it’s hard to find the balance between boldly betting on yourself and being naive. I only saved about 15% of my annual income at the time I quit and would not recommend starting a new venture with that little savings.
What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?
I have found cultivating and maintaining a set of ethics and standards is crucial. If you can create a business that truly reflects who you are as a person and maintains high standards you will be successful. It is crucial to add real value to your customer or client. When you have cultivated a community of people and you are truly listening to their needs, you will add far more value, and therefore be indispensable.
It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?
I try to meet failure with a humbled mindset. I work hard to remove my ego from the situation as failure often feels so personal. At the end of the day, in business, you have to have resilience and persistence. It’s important to keep evolving and realizing that everything isn’t personal. Failure is an opportunity to grow stronger as well as be more strategic in your decision-making. It’s also nice to take a bit of time and recharge yourself when you are forced to restart. I can’t create anything meaningful when my brain isn’t clear.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way?
Working without contracts and making business decisions based on a handshake. I have been burned many times before, typically financially, by later realizing there is not an alignment in terms. It sounds simple, but get everything in writing and take the time to do it right the first time!
When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?
At times, I have reflected on leaving a cushy job to leap into the highs and lows of self-employment, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I find immense joy in poking holes and finding gaps in the industry and market. Being my own boss and having my own company allows me to be more agile, take bigger risks, and therefore have greater rewards and fulfillment.
Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?
I am naturally confident, but also very self-deprecating and critical. I oftentimes wish I wasn’t so hard on myself, but I have big goals and know that requires being uncomfortable and taking calculated risks. It isn’t productive to compare yourself to others, especially other women. Everyone is dealt a different hand and has different lived experiences. All you can do is focus on your capabilities and work within those constraints. You will find more fulfillment and joy out of becoming the best version of yourself.
What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why?
It’s been years since I have read Seth Godin’s “Linchpin,” but the title sticks out to me because I remember reading it right around the time I left my first job to start my own styling company. I remember thinking that becoming indispensable and learning how to add real value as a critical mindset to embody.
What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?
Make sure that you are providing a service that adds value and making decisions that are solutions-based. I have made many decisions in my ego and based on what I thought was cool and that doesn’t always translate. It’s important to take a step back and build a community around the product or service you are looking to sell. Entrepreneurship and the fashion industry are both highly glorified, and it really isn’t that glamorous 99% of the time!
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The Power of You–How to Discover Your Purpose and Pursue Your Passion
You are worth every investment you make in yourself.
On Thursday, March 25, 2021, we heard from an incredible lineup of diverse panelists and speakers at The Power of You event presented by Rodan + Fields, in collaboration with Create & Cultivate, on how we can empower one another to be our very best, happiest and most confident selves.
It was an engaging day of empowering and inspiring conversations–moderated by actress, model, author and philanthropist, Molly Sims–and centered around YOU, delving deep into discussions about:
Purpose and what it looks like to be personally and professionally fulfilled
Self-care and how to prioritize a wellness routine that takes care of the WHOLE you: mind, body and spirit
And finally–it wouldn’t be a Rodan + Fields event if we didn’t talk SKINCARE–tips to create a healthy skin routine and most importantly, how to see confidence and beauty when you look in the mirror every single day, no matter what.
To everyone who came, thank you for joining us—and to those who couldn’t make it, keep reading to feel empowered, inspired and very much in touch with The Power of YOU. Below, we’ve compiled the highlights from the three panel conversations aimed at helping you pursue your purpose and passion, while reminding you of the importance of taking care of yourself and your skin. After all, you are worth every investment you make in yourself.
Panel #1: Creating Purpose Where You Are
On dharma…
“Your dharma is your soul’s purpose––it’s the reason why you are here. It’s so much more than what you do–-it’s why you do it and how you do it.” – Sahara Rose
“You already know your purpose. You were born with your purpose. It’s not so much about finding it as it is about remembering it.” – Sahara Rose
On being your authentic self…
“Success comes from being your authentic self.” – Stephanie Pullings Hart
On taking calculated risks...
“To really think bigger, and to think outside the traditional dreams is sometimes really scary for people, but if it’s hysterical, it’s historical–and probably worth doing.” – Julie Solomon
On finding purpose in different places..
“There is a difference between what you’re good at and what you’re passionate about. Experiment, be flexible, and be open to new experiences to find your passion-driven purpose.” – Sofia Montijo
On cultivating confidence to become an entrepreneur…
“Confidence can grow from complacency – you are in control of the change.” – Julie Solomon
“Sometimes those ‘ah ha’ moments are actually a process of long-term commitment. Meaningful change is not often an instant occurrence.” – Sofia Montijo
“Have the courage to try new things, even if you can’t control the outcome.”– Julie Solomon
The role of mindset when it comes to a thriving personal and professional life…
“I like to go beyond mindset to what I call ‘soulset’ because we can’t always listen to the mind when it’s clouded by our conditioning, limiting beliefs, etc. Tune into the voice of your intuition vs the voice of your fears––what feels right to you? What feels resonant? What feels expansive to you?”– Sahara Ray
On finding purpose and meaning when you’re feeling stuck...
“Sometimes you may not know your purpose but the way that you interact with or impact others really ends up being part of your purpose. Don’t be misguided on the potential impact you may have on someone else’s life.” – Stephanie Pullings Hart
"You have to get comfortable with hearing 'no.' As a matter of fact, the more 'no's' you get, the more that you’ll be able to pivot and redirect.“ – Julie Solomon
On the traits that make a successful leader...
“Authenticity is the most important trait of a successful leader – it’s about staying true to who you are, and about being YOU.” – Stephanie Pullings Hart
Tips on growth–within ourselves, within our business, within our purpose...
“We are always growing, but we get to choose the direction. Be the leader of your own life.” – Sahara Rose
Panel #2: Prioritizing Self-Care (and Your Sanity!)
On the importance of self-care…
As the World Health Organization states, ‘there is no physical health without mental health.’” – Dr. Janet Taylor
“Self care is about paying attention to what you need and putting yourself first.” – Dr. Janet Taylor
“Put yourself first–without guilt and without shame –but recognizing that when you can attend to your own needs in a way that is healthy and positive then you are raising the bar on not only for your physical health but your mental health.” – Dr. Janet Taylor
“The better you are to yourself, the better we are to each other.” – Candice Kumai
“If we can learn how to reset our minds, and shift the way we think about wellness as better self-care, we can make it a priority so we can ultimately grow.” – Candice Kumai
On the role of mindset and positive self-talk...
“Growing up, I never saw my body type reflected in the media. And when you don’t match up to society’s expectations, it really takes a toll on you. It’s about showing up everyday as authentic as possible, showing my insecurities, and choosing not only to accept my body but to respect my body.” – Kristina Zias
“It’s time to let go of negative self talk, self-doubt, guilt, shame, fear, or anything you’re holding onto. We all have those feelings and we all experience them, and that’s ok – but we also have to experience the joy, the love and the blessings around us in the present.” – Joey Tracy
“Positive self talk is so important–we all have that individual power to change the way that we feel, and we have to tap into that.” – Dr. Janet Taylor
“By repeating a mantra to ourselves, we are embracing ourselves with our flaws, embracing ourselves with our trauma, embracing ourselves with our suffering, in order to lift ourselves to where we need to be.” – Dr. Janet Taylor
“You have to be your biggest fan. Once you believe in yourself and you are radiating that confidence, everyone around you will see that too and you will begin to attract people to it like a magnet and it becomes very empowering.” – Kristina Zias
Addressing work-life balance, challenges, and pressure
“Comparison is absolutely the thief of joy.” – Kristina Zias
“Breathing is so important...when you’re feeling stressed or unbalanced, try to be present with your breath and let go of the tension and stress.” – Joey Tracy
“We don’t have to go to extremes to feel better. Sometimes it’s as simple as removing ourselves from a space and getting a change of scenery.” – Joey Tracy
On the role of community...
“We are social beings and we have an innate need for community and connection. When you are taking care of yourself, it makes it more likely that you can notice other people. We need a community of compassion.” – Dr. Janet Taylor
“Empowering other women is so important, and my R+F community is my hype squad–when one of us succeeds, we all do.” – Joey Tracy
On knowing your worth…
“Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s compassionate. We all have the choice, and the need and have earned the right to put ourselves first.” – Dr. Janet Taylor
“Self care is absolutely necessary–every single day.” – Joey Tracy
Panel #3: Skin Deep: Reflecting Confidence in the Mirror
On what’s trending…
“2020 enabled a lot of women to take skincare into their own hands. We had to learn how to get a glow at home. One of the ingredients with staying power is hyaluronic acid.” – Courtney Kerr
“A lot of people are coming to me for the ‘no-make-up, make-up-look’, which is about bringing out your very best self – hydrated skin and a natural glow that stems from a less is more approach, and more of an emphasis on skincare rather than make-up.” – Vincent Bracamonte
“With everyone working from home and staring at themselves on screens all day, and now they are noticing things that maybe never bothered them before. I like to prescribe a combination approach of injectable procedures, laser treatments and of course skincare to tie it all together.” – Dr. Arisa Ortiz
“People are taking more time on their skincare routine to distance themselves from the stress and uncertainty of life itself right now. A lot of women are less focused on colored cosmetics and more focused on products that help them feel clear, bright and confident.” – Janine Weber
“It’s not about vanity––it’s about confidence that comes from a confident, glowing complexion. Less filters and more reality, please.” – Janine Weber
On the importance of routine skincare routines…
“Nothing replaces quality skincare. We believe that how you take care of your skin daily, has a greater difference on your appearance–and your future appearance–than any procedure you could get done.” – Janine Weber
“The regime approach is so important. There’s no way to know if mixing products from different brands will be synergistic. The Multi-Med regime has been tested and is proven to drive results.” – Dr. Arisa Ortiz
On confidence...
“Your confidence increases when you really take time to take care of yourself–people can tell when you feel good in your own skin.” – Vincent Bracamonte
“Everyone sees beauty through a different lens.” – Vincent Bracamonte
“Beauty is not about matching someone else’s standards, looking like a celebrity or following to social media trends–it’s about authenticity and your character and your values and how you treat people and how you show up everyday.” – Janine Weber
On beauty…
“Beauty is being confident in your own skin. Confident shines from the inside out.” – Janine Weber
“Beauty is your true authentic self.” – Vincent Bracamonte
“Beauty is loving yourself as you are right now.” – Dr. Arisa Ortiz
“Beauty is fun–confidence is fun.” – Courtney Kerr
This Founder Left a Steady Paycheck at Microsoft to Pursue Her Side Hustle Full-Time
And she has no regrets.
Photo: Courtesy of Diana Nguyen
Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month we caught up with Diana Nguyen, a senior finance manager turned fashion designer who quit her job at Microsoft to launch her own workwear label, Madison / Savile. Read on to learn how she broke into an entirely new industry, saved up to make the transition, and successfully turned her side hustle into a successful startup.
What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated?
My major was in accounting with a minor in marketing. When I graduated, I wanted to go into marketing or advertising.
What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?
My stepfather was very strict and adamant that I should pursue a career in accounting, not marketing. I ended up applying to public accounting firms and graduated with five offers to work at the top five accounting firms at the time. I spent 15 years as a consultant, auditor, finance manager, and data analyst serving public and privately held companies in industries spanning from manufacturing and technology to retail.
How did you get into fashion?
During my corporate career, I noticed a lot of women around me at work and in my network (including myself!) that would talk about how much they love blazers, but how hard it was for them to find the right one with the right fit and design. Fit is everything, not only can it make a garment look amazing, but it allows for comfort and mobility. I saw a gap in the market. I love how a suit with the right fit looks on a man, so sharp and powerful and I wanted the same for women!
All my life I knew I wanted to do more and that I had a higher purpose or calling. It kept getting louder, but I didn’t have clarity on what that was earlier in my life. I got a career coach that helped me narrow it down to being an entrepreneur, which eventually led to the idea of reinventing and redesigning the blazer based on the gap in the market I observed. However, that still wasn’t enough for me to take the leap until it aligned with my passion and purpose to help and empower others and to inspire a more beautiful world inside and out. Thus, the name Madison / Savile came to be. It is the definition of two worlds I’m combining; Madison means gift of God and warrior (inspiring others to bring out their inner warrior, reminding them of the gift that only they can bring to the world) and Savile is for Savile Row in London known for its bespoke suiting.
What was it like balancing your full-time job with your passion? Do you recommend starting a side-hustle while you have a full-time job?
I definitely recommend starting a side hustle while you have a full-time job. You are at a stage of exploring, experimenting, and building. I talk about this in one of my podcast episodes “Taking That First Step in Pursuing Your Dreams.” As my podcast guest Jessica Johnson, the CEO of Buzzworthy Content, put it: “It’s chasing your curiosities” and testing out if you even like your side-hustle. Having a full-time job helps to provide the security and funding to spend on exploring and building out your side hustle.
However, it took prioritizing and discipline to balance my full-time job and my side hustle. How much do you want this in order to re-arrange your schedule and make sacrifices to spend the time needed on exploring and growing your passion/side-hustle? It takes planning and a commitment to yourself of how many hours a day or week you want to allocate to it. Only you can make it happen and only you can move the needle on your passion.
How did you know when it was time to make the transition from side-hustle to full-time? What was your strategy for making the transition?
Working at Microsoft, I was blessed to have a great manager and team where I was able to be fully transparent with them about my endeavors and my plan to quit. I kept my manager informed of my progress and timeline so I could transition my role with plenty of time and make sure the team was set when I leave. They were supportive of me every step of the way and still are.
I was working on Madison / Savile on the side until it got to a point where it became a full-time job and I needed more hours during the day for meetings and research. I honestly thought if I can get 40 hours a week back and spend that additional 40 hours on Madison / Savile I could launch in six months. I was wrong and it was one of the first lessons I learned.
How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?
I wish I had stuck with my full-time job or explored working part-time until I actually officially launched. With product development and looking for the right fabric, factory, and suppliers it took much longer than six months and more like 2-3 years. It is all part of the entrepreneurial journey of learning and growing… you don’t really know until you are actually in it.
Before quitting, I did a lot of financial planning personally and for the business. I had two plans for my personal finances; one if things go according to plan and one if they don’t. Let’s just say with COVID, I am very glad I planned for two different scenarios.
Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career?
Money was definitely a worry, especially as I was in a comfortable position for so long and had become accustomed to a certain lifestyle. Jumping into the unknown and not knowing where money was coming from was definitely scary.
My advice is to plan for a long runway and then plan for a longer one for yourself, your family, and the business. Apply for a line of credit, loan, or whatever you need while you have a steady paycheck as it would be challenging to apply for financing, loans (home/auto) without that. Save the money you need to live and finance your business and then take that leap because if you don’t you will always be wondering—and I always say, don’t live a life of “what ifs.”
Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst?
Being in a role for 15 years that was all about managing risk, I definitely saved up money before jumping. It was the hardest leap to make going from a very risk adverse role to being an entrepreneur which is all kinds of risk. I calculated all my expenses each month, evaluated where I can cut the unnecessary expenses (but still live comfortably), and calculated that out for the year and the next three years. I also set aside the money needed to get Madison / Savile going as it takes a lot of capital upfront to launch a fashion/retail brand.
What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?
When you are working on something that aligns with your purpose and passion, the days and hours go by fast and you learn you have to have a very strong will to keep going and to bring it to life. It was definitely hard to go from a comfortable position at Microsoft to being a budget-conscious entrepreneur. To be honest, I felt that I lost my identity that was tied to my career and my position, but that’s where the learning and the growing happens. You discover who you really are, what you really stand for, and you redefine yourself as who you truly are as you become more aligned with your purpose.
It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?
Great question! Because it happens often especially as entrepreneurs and in life. You definitely have to learn to accept, to let go and pivot. It’s important to reflect back to learn and understand why things happened the way they did. I believe in things happening for a reason. Obstacles stand in your way to redirect your path or because it wasn’t the right time yet. Trust in the process, trust in the timing, and trust in yourself.
I always say your will will get you back up and your why will pull you forward. You have to have your WHY, meaning why are you doing this, and if it’s for money only it’s not going to take you far when you do run into bumps in the road. What if you were only days or weeks away from your business turning the corner, you were so close, but you stopped?
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way?
Not listening to my gut right away would have saved me some money along the way, but again, it’s all part of the journey of learning and growing. Whether it is an idea or a solution suggested for your business or someone that is not the right fit for your team, sometimes it doesn’t sit right with you and you have to listen to that, and eventually, you’ll understand why.
When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?
I wouldn’t change a thing. My experience in finance has helped me tremendously. Knowing the numbers and being able to put together your own financial model helps to see where your costs are, your profitability, and set expectations for growth and long-term projections. Understanding business processes and procedures helps you to see where things can be improved and the pure discipline behind deadlines helps you to stay on track and be a self-starter. The people I’ve met along the way who are now my mentors, friends, and future customers are priceless.
Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?
Yes and no. I’m confident in the things I know from experience, confident in my values and principles, and a fish out of water when it comes to things I’m learning. Going from finance to fashion, I had to build my confidence on the fashion side. It’s about surrounding yourself with people you trust, with mentors that you can learn from, surrounding yourself with like-minded people to help you. I’ve learned that there are so many skeptics out there, and also people that project their own failures or fears onto you and what you are doing. That knowing and confidence in what you are doing and what you are bringing to the world is so important. You don’t have to have everything perfect to start, just start.
What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why?
I have a tendency to start books and not complete them, so I have seven books on my nightstand to finish! The one book that I finished pretty quickly was “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero. It’s an easy and fun read. I read it in the summer of 2020 after we were supposed to launch in March 2020 and had to put everything on pause due to COVID. I was so devastated having to postpone everything and was in an unmotivated, depressed state. I read “You Are a Badass,” a book one of my mentors gifted me, and it helped change my mindset around. It was a reminder to get up and keep going.
What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?
I have so many pieces of advice, but if I have to narrow it down it is to know what your why is and what your north star is for what you are building. There will be many times when you are so in the weeds or have been pulled in so many different directions that you will lose your vision and knowing your why will bring you back. Your will ensures you get back up, your why will pull you forward. Be patient with yourself, you are learning. Stay true to your values, your core, who you are, and your vision.
Anything else to add?
No one is like you. If not you, then who? Everyone is different, everyone works differently, everyone’s situation is different. Don’t beat yourself up if you hear this person worked 100-hour weeks or got funded in x months because everyone is on a different journey. At the end of the day, if you know you put your best in for where you are, that’s winning because it’s progress. My favorite quote is: “Don’t fear failure, fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.” One step at a time.
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Projector is the Collaborative Graphic Design Tool We’ve Been Searching For
With a robust selection of templates, tools and features, Projector is the collaborative graphic design tool we’ve been searching for.
The power of visuals in modern communication is undeniable. In the world of social media, 63% of content is made up of images, and according to Quicksprout, content with quality visuals receive 94% more views and engagement than those without. Strong visuals play an important role in all facets of business, helping you connect with an audience faster, and with more emotion, than words alone.
If you own or operate a business, you’re in the business of visual communication. From Instagram and TikTok to pitch decks, presentations and print materials, visual language filters into all channels and mediums of your business. The right designs can help bring your brand to life–and thankfully, tools like Projector make it easy for teams to create professional-looking visual content, regardless of whether you have a design background or not.
With a robust selection of templates, tools and features, Projector is the collaborative graphic design tool we’ve been searching for. It’s an entirely browser-based platform that helps teams work efficiently and in real-time. (Think: Google Docs for graphic design). From launching a social channel from scratch, to crafting a deck for your next campaign, in Projector, it's fast (and fun!) for anyone to create multimedia stories for any channel or medium. Keep reading to learn more about Projector, our favorite new design tool, and discover all the ways it can help you build and scale your business.
What is Projector?
Projector is an entirely-browser based, collaborative tool for designing visual content. It’s powerful enough to support advanced multimedia layout and editing, but accessible and approachable for someone who’s never used professional design software before.
Who is it for?
Anyone who creates content for work. In Projector, people from all different kinds of skill sets–– writers, brand strategists, community managers, executives, marketers, creatives and designers –– can work together in one space that feels approachable and powerful for each of them.
What can you make with it?
Presentations, social posts and stories, email banners, zines, zoom backgrounds, digital flyers, pdfs, videos, and GIFs to name a few... Start from scratch, or get inspiration from a curated library of modern templates that can easily be customized in any way you want. Whether you’re running an Instagram channel for a brand, trying to launch a creative-side hustle, crafting a proposal deck or looking to spruce up your own portfolio and feed, Projector gives you one space to create everything.
How does it work?
Browse a curated library of professionally-designed templates (i.e. Instagram templates for highlighting your product or community, presentations for planning your editorial calendar, etc)
Stylize text and add movement with special media effects. Fill letters with videos, images, or GIFs, and add gradients, shadows, or outlines to create your own unique text styles.
Discover imagery, icons and more with the best content integrations via Unsplash, Shutterstock, Giphy, and Noun Project (for free!)
Share your story with a link to comment, collaborate, and present in real-time.
Why should you try it?
If you're looking for a more efficient and collaborative way to create visual content, Projector can help. They're making it easier for more people to connect with their audience through modern, multimedia design — and we all know good design is good business, after all.
This Copywriter Quit Her 9-to-5 Job at Nike to Start Her Own Storytelling Studio
Journaling helped her overcome the fear.
Photo: Courtesy of Rachel Leslie
Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month we chatted with copywriter Rachel Leslie who quit her job as a digital copywriter at Nike to start her own storytelling studio. Read on as she shares how she broke into the field, when she knew it was time to leave her corporate job, and why she recommends saving up a six-month safety net before quitting.
What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated?
I majored in journalism and minored in business administration. When I graduated, I wanted to become an arts and culture journalist. Think, William Miller in “Almost Famous” going on tour with bands, covering the latest shows and album drops.
What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?
I moved to Santa Barabara, California, for an unpaid internship at an indie newspaper called, The Santa Barbara Independent, where I was their arts and culture intern. In addition to my internship, I worked at a local restaurant as a host to pay the bills.
Before getting that internship, I applied to any and all jobs and internships in writing for news publications, media organizations, and the list goes on. I was determined to write for a newspaper or magazine where they had a substantial section in music, events, art, and feature stories. It was a tough time to be applying for jobs in print journalism in 2013 as there were whispers that journalism was dying, print specifically.
How did you get into copywriting?
When my internship came to a close in Santa Barbara, I started looking for other opportunities to continue writing. I contributed to the newspaper and got paid for my articles, but it was nowhere near enough money to get by, so I began exploring marketing and PR agencies.
I was hired as a paid intern at a PR and marketing agency working with nonprofits and social impact businesses in the Santa Barbara area. I found this type of work interesting because I could still exercise my journalistic skills in a way, but on behalf of our clients. Plus, I could get behind what they were marketing as they were often community events, organic products, and so on.
My experience at that agency was my first foray into copywriting, and the rest is history; from booking a one-way ticket to Vietnam and working as a freelance writer for magazines and copywriting for five-star luxury hotels and businesses to moving back to the U.S. to join the agency world here in Portland, Oregon, and most recently, working at Nike as a digital copywriter.
What was it like balancing your full-time job with your side-hustle? Do you recommend starting a side-hustle while you have a full-time job?
For as long as I can remember, I was always doing something on the side of my full-time job. Whether it was freelance writing for the indie newspaper on the side of my full-time internship or taking on copywriting projects here and there alongside agency work. It can be time-consuming if you let it. Like giving up your weekends and evenings to stay on top of your side hustle, but if the passion is there and you want to see if it’ll work, you’ll do it.
I recommend starting a side hustle while you have a full-time job because it gives you a chance to experiment with what works and what doesn’t as you work out the kinks and see if it’s really something you want to pursue full-time without the added stress of making rent.
How did you know when it was time to make the transition from side-hustle to full-time? What was your strategy for making the transition?
Starting my own business was something I always knew I would do. It was just a matter of when. I found this desire grew stronger and stronger to a point where I knew if I didn’t try now, I’d always regret it.
I was in two group coaching programs while in my 9-5 that gave me the tools, education, and resources to hone in on my copywriting service to expand that into a full-blown business. In addition to those programs, I began building up my client roster while marketing my copywriting and storytelling services to others online and through word of mouth. I wanted to prove that there was a demand for my expertise and services before saying goodbye to my 9-5. After juggling both for over a year, my business grew to a point where the time I was working in my 9-5 actually took away precious time from growing my business.
Another big part of this strategy was focusing on repositioning my mindset for entrepreneurship. Accepting and being open to the challenges, learnings, and failures that may come along the way while embracing them and keeping pressing forward is crucial to running a successful business. I’d have to say that this was (and still is!) one of the most challenging tasks in starting your own business. There’s a great deal of fear that comes with saying goodbye to what we’re taught to consider safe and secure (i.e., a stable salary, benefits, etc.). But once I realized that I’m in control of what happens and that I can do anything I set my mind to, that made the decision easy.
How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?
I spoke to my husband, who’s been my biggest supporter throughout all of this. We set a date and made it official! That felt so amazing to have a fantastic support system to back me up and to put a date in place.
Since starting my business, I kept track of my business’ income and expenses to see how much I needed each month to survive, and I did the same for my personal finances. I also hired an accountant for my business right before I left my full-time job to help me manage everything and have someone on hand I could turn to for questions as I navigated this new chapter. This helped put things in perspective for me as to what I needed not just to survive but to thrive in my day-to-day, as I had done before with a secure paycheck.
I also utilized my network of mentors and coaches during this pivotal time. As you can imagine, lots of what-ifs, thoughts, and fears came up in making this transition, and they were crucial in helping me get through this rollercoaster of emotions.
Lastly, I continued to market myself, show up and serve my online community every day. I had a few ongoing client projects in the works and a few lined up for the following month, so I knew I had some guaranteed income coming in for at least a few months after quitting my full-time job.
Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career?
Of course. As I was making the transition, I had many fears and worries about money, like, What if I don’t get any more clients after leaving my job? What if I don’t make any money next month? What if I fail?
That is where that mindset work came into play again! I had to focus on rewiring my scarcity mindset to one of abundance and assurance. Instead of focusing on the what-ifs, I began writing affirmations and mantras like, “Clients come to me with ease,” and “What I focus on grows” and so on.
Journaling also helped me work through these fears and feelings about money. By asking myself, what do I need to feel safe and secure and what do those words mean to me, I was able to address these thoughts.
On the more technical side, proving that my service was in demand before leaving my 9-5 and signing clients for future projects helped alleviate those worries about no money coming in.
Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst?
I had a six-month safety net in place before I quit my job. This reassured me that if I didn’t make any money in my business, I had six months of savings in place to keep me going. So what I did was calculate my existing expenses to understand how much money I needed to make each month to pay my mortgage, bills and get by each month.
What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?
I’ve learned that I’m in control of what I want to do in my life and in what makes me happy. And that there’s no point in waiting for something to tell you what to do next. It’s up to you. When I was making the transition from my corporate job to building my own business, I kept waiting for a sign. For something or someone to tell me, “Rachel, it’s go-time!” But I kept waiting, waiting and waiting and that sign never came. I realized that I just needed to take the leap and do it because there would never be a “perfect” time.
It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?
I treat it as an opportunity to learn and grow. As an entrepreneur, I’ve realized that things don’t always work out as planned, and that’s okay. When something doesn’t work out, I try to understand why and where I could have done better so that when I’m faced with a similar situation, I know how to approach it and hopefully, there’s a different outcome.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way?
When I first started, I created too many copywriting services. I quickly realized I was trying to do too many things at once. I overcommitted and under-delivered and I wasn’t able to produce top-quality services. I realized I could better serve my ideal client by focusing on what they specifically need and how my one or two niche services could best serve them.
When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?
Every step of my career has prepared me to do what I’m doing today. I’m immensely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and the people I’ve met along the way because it’s all shaped my values, beliefs, and my vision for the future of my studio.
Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?
Funnily enough, I have a fraternal twin sister, and she’s definitely the more confident and outgoing one! So no, confidence did not come naturally to me. It took me a while to learn it and to embrace it.
One aspect that helped me gain confidence was surrounding myself with other leaders, mentors, and coaches who embodied the confidence I wanted for myself. Being around these people lit something inside of me that I could tap into and infuse in my own business. I also journaled (a lot!). A helpful exercise that helped in embracing my CEO mindset and imposter syndrome was writing out all of my accomplishments onto a piece of paper. It helped me realize that I was a skilled entrepreneur and that there was no reason why I couldn’t do this. I still go back and look at that list when I’m having an off day.
What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why?
I love” You Are a Badass At Making Money” by Jen Sincero—especially the audible version! This book is raw, real, and eye-opening as to what is genuinely possible not just in your career but in your life. It gave me a whole new perspective into the power of your mindset and money and how the two can be truly life-changing.
What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?
As my former employer’s tagline says… Just do it. Give it a try! And do your due diligence beforehand. First, determine if there’s a demand for your product or service; then, rally a community of mentors and friends you can lean on for support and get your finances in order so you can understand not just what you need to live, but to thrive, too (because if brunch with the girls makes you happy that should be factored in, too).
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This Entrepreneur’s Journey to France is an Invitation to Discover Your Own Joie de Vivre
“Embrace Life. Dream Big. Accept all Invitations”
Fueled by a passion and a belief, Tawnya Falkner gave up her real estate development and design career, took a leap and moved to France to create her French sparkling wine brand, Le Grand Courtâge and Provence style still wine, Très Chic Rosé.
Translated to mean “the Great Courtship”, Le Grand Courtâge signifies the courtship between French and American wine culture, grapes from different regions and the old and new world wine styles. For Tawnya, food & wine are the great common denominator of all cultures and the foundation for meaningful connection. The wines were created to embody the French spirit of ‘Joie de Vivre’ (“joy of life”) and remind people to elevate and celebrate the everyday and “Live Joyously”.
Today, Le Grand Courtâge is an award-winning national brand, but for Tawnya, success is much more than accolades and prestige. She is equally concerned with the brand’s purpose and social impact, and aims to spread positivity through her wines, through community, and through giving back.
This year they launched a new dedicated grant and mentorship program called ELEVATE, in collaboration with Ladies Who Launch, to bring the unique challenges facing women in business to the forefront, while helping to grow, mentor, and support women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.
By teaming up with like-minded partners and pooling financial resources, intellectual capital and networking communities, the aim is to provide meaningful immediate and long-term support. As an entrepreneur herself, Tawnya Falkner is career-driven, passionate, ambitious, and determined—and small businesses are often born from a small idea backed by someone with these traits.
For Tawnya, it was important to offer a platform to elevate and support female entrepreneurs, especially given the current state of work for women and the implications of this past year. Women receive less than 3% of Capital $ in the US despite owning 40% of businesses and controlling 85% of all consumer purchases. Furthermore, over 25% of female owned businesses have closed since March 2020 due to the fallout of COVID-19.
“Embrace Life. Dream Big. Accept all Invitations” is written on the back of each Le Grand Courtâge bottle and it embodies who they are at the core. Sometimes, destiny’s interventions take form in unexpected invitations. Such is the case for Tawnya, whose small leap of faith led her to discover something far greater. Le Grand Courtage is offering une invitation to discover your own joie de vivre.
We invited Tawnya to share the catalyst for her move to France, and what’s next for the brand. She also shared some sage advice for young entrepreneurs, who are looking to cultivate the confidence to go after their dreams. In the words of Tawnya herself, “Cheers to dreaming big and elevating the visionaries!”
What inspired you to leave your real estate development and design career, and move to France to start Le Grand Courtâge?
I grew up in a 3-street farming town across from the general store and some of my fondest memories are Sunday dinners and backyard barbecues. Those small town beginnings evoked a wanderlust and a passion for travel; and after seeing different parts of the world, and living in Asia and Europe, I realized that food & drink are the common thread that bring friends and family together.
Le Grand Courtâge was built on the premise of meaningful connection and reminding people to find the joy in life’s simple pleasures, like a meal shared or a relaxing bubble bath with a book.
I ultimately took the leap and moved to France to create wines which embody the French spirit of ‘Joie de Vivre’ after seeing a gap in the category on price, palate and packaging. As most French wine is traditionally branded, packaged and styled, I saw an opportunity to re-envision the category and offer something with a French cachet and elegance combined with an American appeal and price point. Since champagne is expensive, I wanted to create balanced, fruit forward wines that delight the palate and offer an affordable luxury to celebrate the every day.
What can you tell us about the history/origins of sparkling wines?
Champagne can only come from the region bearing its name about one hour northeast from Paris. All other bubbles produced anywhere else in the world (inc France) must be called “sparkling wine”.
Rumor has it that champagne was invented accidentally due to an error of excess pressure built up during fermentation causing bottles and corks to explode. Though Dom Perignon apparently said, “I’m seeing stars”, others called it the "the devil's wine" (le vin du diable).
I love this story because it shows that a mistake led to a product that has captured the imagination around the world. It shows that sometimes mistakes or failures can be happy accidents. As a society we need to be a little more open to the fact that failings can create the path for the greatest growth or lead to fantastic outcomes.
Le Grand Courage was built on the premise that food & wine are the great common denominator of all cultures to foster meaningful connections. What are some of your favorite creative food pairings to enjoy different Le Grand Courtâge wines?
Fried Chicken and bubbles are my favorite! Also fun are spicy Asian, sushi, BBQ, popcorn, and potato chips. They call sparkling the ‘scrubbing bubbles’ for the palate as it truly cleanses the tongue between bites and the acidity in the wine is a great balance point for various cuisines and cocktails. As such, anything rich, salty, fried and spicy is an excellent pairing.
Have the audacity to believe and never let reality get in the way of your imagination.
– Tawnya Falkner, Founder, Le Grand Courtâge
What do you love most about your job and why? Does the reality of your career match up to your expectations/why/why not?
I am grateful to be able to work to build this dream. As someone who is equally right and left brained, I love that I am able to focus on strategy while getting to create and be creative. I am constantly meeting people and I appreciate that I get to infuse positivity into someone’s day with our brand. For me Le Grand Courtâge, and our French Provence style Très Chic Rosé are less about drinking than what having a glass of wine signifies. It’s taking a few minutes to enjoy a delectable bite, laugh with a friend or raise a glass to celebrate your small wins.
Owning a wine company is not nearly as glamorous or romantic as it seems. There is a lot of production, supply chain, compliance and logistics that aren’t fun or sexy! The reality is that because my business requires so much of me that I do not get to spend the time connecting with family and friends that I would like. Building a business and a brand is hard, but the issues of raising capital and trying to break into a massive industry dominated by men, has been challenging to say the least.
Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?
My advice is to not discount your ideas or abilities and act confident even if you are shaking in your shoes.
From a young age I have always dreamed big and been willing to take risks. In truth while I am extremely confident that I can handle virtually anything, I believe it is equally a component of a) believing in myself and b) pushing past the fear.
Sometimes I simply have to bulldoze through the fear and think to myself, “I can do this!” I’ve also learned to live with a great(er) amount of uncertainty and constantly remind myself that I’m not going to die if something fails. When struggling, I dissect the fear, analyze it, re-frame it and then it’s sometimes just taking the leap and trusting your gut.
The bottom-line is to live your fear and face it knowing that what you are doing is for something bigger, better, greater.
With success comes opportunity, but that also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going even on your most challenging days?
I am inspired by the current wave of women's empowerment and females who are paving their own way and achieving success in pursuit of their passions. Women are (re)defining or breaking the rules. I believe we can impact some of the systemic issues as more of us challenge the dynamics and help balance out the dismal stats. Those before us challenged the status quo and paved the way, but there is still much to do.
Owning Le Grand Courtâge has been surreal, exciting, scary…. Every time I see a bottle on a shelf or in a restaurant, I still smile. It’s hard to believe that this dream has turned into a reality. With any success comes a lot of work and perseverance. There will be days even when you collapse in exhaustion or cry or want to pack it up and call it quits. The hustle, sweat and tears make the successes even sweeter in the end.
Also, it’s important to remember that if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Paris wasn’t built in a day, and while we must focus on the present, it’s important to have the long game in mind.
I am appreciative for every experience because it is part of the journey and without the good and bad, I wouldn’t have this exact life and the perspective I’ve gained.
If you could go back to the beginning of your career journey—with the knowledge you have now—what advice would you give yourself?
Have the audacity to believe and never let reality get in the way of your imagination.
Know that how you handle yourself in adversity is what really defines you.
To be successful you need confidence, a thick skin and an inner circle to exchange ideas, help with the pain points and be a shoulder to cry on occasionally.
Be kind to yourself. Believe in yourself. Learn to diffuse ‘no.’ And never, ever let anyone dull your sparkle.
We believe this shift in women-centered innovation will have wide-sweeping implications for the role women will play in the future of business, leadership and the economy - therefore, it is in all our best interests to be part of the change.
– Tawnya Falkner, Founder, Le Grand Courtâge
Le Grand Courtâge founded a dedicated grant and mentorship program created to support female entrepreneurs. What were your goals going into this initiative, and what are you hoping consumers take away?
Having started three companies, raised capital, and dealt with a partnership dissolution, economic downturns, and now the effects of Covid, I have a lot of insights and perspectives on building companies.
The path isn’t easy and we want to help to mentor and empower the next generation of business owners while being a more active participant. Through my experiences in real estate development, finance, consulting and now building a wine brand and company, I have tried to approach building a business differently and believe in collaboration over competition and the power of the community.
With this in mind, I created “ELEVATE” with the intent of pooling resources, using the power of the crowd, and providing mentorship to help the next class of aspiring entrepreneurs. I believe that each of us has special gifts and we can make an impact by investing a little time &/or money to pay it forward and help support others.
We encourage everyone to think about where/how they deploy dollars, and to realize that supporting female or minority owned businesses is helping affect the course of the future and supporting someone’s dreams.
With the massive IPO successes of companies like Bumble, Glossier, Rent the Runway - the list goes on, we’re seeing a rise of women-centered innovation: products and services designed by women for women. The investment ecosystem (still) seems unprepared to understand this opportunity, much less identify, invest in, and nurture this next generation of entrepreneurs. We believe this shift in women-centered innovation will have wide-sweeping implications for the role women will play in the future of business, leadership and the economy - therefore, it is in all our best interests to be part of the change.
Share your best advice, in two words or less.
“Live Joyously”
About the Grant & Mentorship Program:
Le Grand Courtâge’s ELEVATE is a 3-part program that will provide financial grants, curated mentorship & company amplification for up to 25 selected applicants. Up to $25,000 is available for grant awards in partnership with Ladies Who Launch and White House Black Market. Individual mentorship programs will run for 6 months. Ladies Who Launch is a mission driven, membership based 501(c)3 that empowers women entrepreneurs to thrive by providing access to educational resources and capital programs. For more information https://legrandcourtage.com/giving-back/ Applications open March 29th.
How This Company Is Turning Downloads to Dollars and Making Podcasters Bank
It’s all about growing your listenership and building an engaged audience.
It’s safe to say podcasts are here to stay. As of November 2020, there are over 1 million active podcasts and more than 30 million podcast episodes available in more than 100 different languages across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. But despite the stiff competition, when done right, podcasting can become a very lucrative side hustle that allows you to pursue your passion while making a profit.
So what’s the secret to turning podcast downloads into dollars and cents? According to Lizzy Pollott, the Global VP of Brand at Acast and the host of the TV and film podcast, “After School Culture Club,” it’s all about growing your listenership and building an engaged audience. “The creators who flourish the fastest are those who enter podcasting with the right attitude and a real love of their subject area,” she tells Create & Cultivate. “If you’re looking to create a passion project, or find and share your voice around something you really care about, or simply want a creative outlet, then you’re in the right place. If you build it, they will come!”
Ahead, Pollott fills us in on what it takes to stand out from the competition, why 25 minutes is the ideal episode length for newcomers to the medium, and how to turn a podcast into a revenue stream by leveraging Acast and the platform’s new partnership with Patreon.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: Why did you choose to launch a podcast side-hustle in addition to your career as Global VP of Brand at ACAST?
LIZZY POLLOTT: As a complete podcast addict (and fan of talking), I had always had ideas for podcasts I’d like to make but until I joined Acast nearly three years ago, I didn’t really know where to start. As soon as my eyes were opened to all the behind-the-scenes magic that Acast puts into podcasting, I decided I’d jump in feet first. The origin story sounds like something from a Kate Hudson rom-com from the 2000s. I had been struggling to map out an idea for my podcast and it came to me like a vision during the “find yourself” track in a candle-lit spin class… who do I think I am?
What are the first steps people should take when mapping out a podcast strategy and what are the most common things people often overlook?
It might sound obvious, but the very first thing to nail is your idea. “Shooting the breeze with my friends” simply won’t cut it unless you actually are, say, Chrissy Teigen. Reports show that there are more than 1.5 million podcasts out there in the world today. You need a hook, a reason why people should listen to yours above all others, and therefore an easy one-line way to sell it and draw people in.
For example, the hit show “Forever 35” talks about being “a podcast about the things we do to take care of ourselves. We’re not experts but we are two friends who like to talk about serums.” Or the brilliant “90 Day Gays:” “Jake Anthony and Matt Marr are two Southern Queens who absolutely love TLC's 90 Day Fiancé. If you've been looking for your gay BFFs to dish this show… well, you're welcome.”
The second is, then, thinking hard about—and testing—a format. Each episode needs a regular and familiar shape. Podcast listeners are creatures of habit and look forward to a regular format each week. So again, rather than thinking, “OK we’ll just talk for half an hour each week and see how it goes,” think about how you might put features, or a structure into it; the same three questions you address each week, or listener feedback, and so on.
Can you share some mistakes you made in those early stages that our audience can learn from today?
Building an engaged audience for your podcast takes time and dedication. There is no silver bullet to grow your listenership, and more often than not, it’s a mix of many different strategies that will help build up those numbers. I certainly had the opposite attitude when I started, “Well, I’ve done all the hard work and this thing is live so come listen everyone!” But it takes regular grinding, thinking about promotion on social, doing your own PR, networking with other like-minded podcasts for guest swaps, and so on.
What advice can you share for newcomers to the podcast medium who want to stand out from the competition? Are there any holes in the marketplace? What content is the podcast space missing? Where can you fit in?
The good news is that podcast listening is booming. More and more people are turning to podcasts (especially during the pandemic) as a source of education, entertainment, or distraction. And with that comes even more opportunity for new podcasts to find their voice, and create shows which speak to an even broader section of society.
What’s even more exciting is we’re seeing new formats being born and becoming really popular. Scripted audio is one, essentially an audio drama, comedy, or similar in podcast form. And there’s no doubt that as the pressures of 2020 have hit home, people are turning more and more to wellness shows with things like guided meditation becoming a rich vein of content. But the best advice we can give is: find a genre that you really care about, and it will be far easier to create a show you’re proud of.
What’s your advice on podcast length? Is there a magic number that works best?
For a new podcast, we would always recommend that shorter is better. If people are going to invest time in trying out a new show, you want to give them something manageable they can easily get into. Generally, around 25 minutes would be a great starting point. It’s long enough to make something fully fleshed out for people to get into but not so long that you risk losing them too early in your podcast journey. This will also of course depend on the format of your podcast which might actually dictate that you need to start at a bit of a shorter (or longer) length. Editing is your friend. Podcasts should be as long as they need to be, and no longer, so be self-critical when editing and be mindful of making the best use of your listeners' valuable time.
What are some tools that both newcomers and podcasting pros alike can use to generate income?
There are two core ways that people make money from podcasts. One is becoming part of an ad monetization marketplace, just like the one we have at Acast which is now open to creators of all sizes. Here, you’ll have audio ads placed in and around your show, which in turn translate into revenue for you. It sounds obvious, but the bigger your listenership, the more money your show will be likely to generate. Then, once your podcast becomes really established, you might start working with sponsors too, who will pay for live read-style endorsements from you as hosts.
Another way is through membership-led platforms. Podcasts are, of course, free to listen to, but loyal listeners will want to pay for exclusive and additional content, not least because they recognize the time and care that goes into creating it. Patreon is the leading light in this area, giving you the ability to offer exclusive content (and much more) to paying subscribers (“patrons”). We have just launched a brilliant partnership with Patreon which makes it easier than ever to create and share both private and public podcasts with your fans—across every podcast player and app.
What tips and tricks can you share on how to monetize a podcast?
The most valuable advice we can give is to focus first on building up your audience. Once you have loyal listeners, ready to become paid-up members of your show, you can look at starting, say, a Patreon. And then once you reach a significant size of listenership, that can eventually lead to ad revenue.
How did you find brand partners to come on board and advertise on the podcast?
If you join Acast, you will be given the option to join our Marketplace, and this pretty much does all the work for you. We have teams dedicated to bringing advertisers into the Marketplace, and connecting them with suitable shows to run campaigns across. Bear in mind, though, that it might take time to start to see ad revenue come through for your show, again, the more listeners you build up, the more likely that will be.
Be honest, how much work is it to plan, produce, and launch a podcast every week? Tell us about the hustle behind the scenes.
I won’t lie: it takes real dedication and commitment! Putting the effort into firstly getting your show ready for launch, then producing it each week, recording it, editing it, publishing it, and then marketing it can turn into a real full-time side-hustle. Everyone will be slightly different, and the actual time spent making it will also depend on the format of your show.
For example, my TV and film podcast, “After School Culture Club,” relies on watching a film or show first, to talk about. Then the research might be another hour, actual recording another hour, editing nearer 90 minutes, and then marketing can be as much effort as you’re willing to put in. Like any passion project or side hustle, you have to put the hours in to see a return. But if you’ve chosen something you truly love then that won’t matter.
What tools and resources do you rely on to streamline the process? Are there any automated solutions that make your life easier?
I use the free editing software Audacity to edit; it’s simple to use and does the job. My favorite find to make life easy is Levelator, a free program that instantly evens out the volume of your audio which is massively helpful if, say, one person on your show tends to be louder than the other. (Don’t tell my current co-host, my sister, but it’s her.)
On the promotion front, tools like Headliner and our own Snipper tool allow you to quickly and easily make “audiograms,” short videos for social which clip up and make pretty videos from your episodes to encourage people to listen.
Can a podcast’s success helped your brand in other ways? Can you share what and why?
We work with thousands of podcasters at Acast who are creators in other areas at the same time, and often their podcasts really help strengthen their other endeavors, and vice versa. We find, for example, that podcasts make great marketing tools for authors when launching new books. Other examples include people like Nike running coach (and my running coach!) Cory Wharton-Malcolm who launched his podcast “The Tub Hub” on Acast during lockdown, which offers him the chance to connect with his audience on a different level to just exercise each week, as he goes deep into topics including mental health and race with a whole range of inspiring guests.
Anything else to add?
At Acast, we tend to find the creators who flourish the fastest are those who enter podcasting with the right attitude and a real love of their subject area. Birthing a podcast takes time and effort; growing an engaged audience even more so. If you’re thinking of starting simply as a way of generating cash, then you might wind up being disappointed. But if you’re looking to create a passion project, or find and share your voice around something you really care about, or simply want a creative outlet, then you’re in the right place. If you build it, they will come!
Learn more about Acast at Acast.com, and use the code "C&C" for six months free.
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How Courtney Shields Pitched an Innovative Clean Beauty Product Over Dinner and Turned It Into a Reality
“I didn’t want to just white label something, I wanted to be a part of the process.”
“
I didn’t want to just white label something, I wanted to be a part of the process.”
—Courtney Shields, Founder, CourtneyShields.com
Courtney Shields is the definition of a glow-getter.
Six years ago, she was a singer-songwriter looking to break into the music industry when she decided to take the leap and launch a blog to share her beauty and fitness tips. What originally started out as a passion project quickly proved to be a profitable business.
Fast-forward to today and that humble blog is now a multifaceted platform reaching thousands of daily readers and over 680K Instagram followers. It should come as no surprise that Shields has collaborated with all the major beauty brands, and this month, she launched her very first product, Glow Hour, with the innovative clean beauty brand TULA.
Like many of the best beauty products, the idea for Glow Hour was born from a personal need. Unable to find a brightening under-eye treatment she loved, Shields decided to create it herself—and she found the perfect in a brand she’d worked with for years: TULA. One evening while at a work dinner with reps for the brand, she took a sip of her wine, made the pitch, and the rest is history.
At Create & Cultivate’s recent Digital Beauty and Self-Care Summit, Maya Allen, a beauty editor at Marie Claire, virtually sat down with Shields to learn more about her multi-hyphenate career and her latest venture in the competitive clean beauty industry, including the night she summoned the courage to pitch the idea to TULA over tapas and wine.
Scroll on for all of the most memorable moments from the conversation, and be sure to grab a notebook and a pen because you’re going to want to write these quotes down.
On launching a beauty blog…
“I love helping women feel more confident.” - Courtney Shields
On cultivating inner beauty…
“Inside out, outside in.” - Courtney Shields
On partnering with TULA on Glow Hour…
“Choosing TULA was super easy for me.” - Courtney Shields
“I’ve been using their products for 5 years.” - Courtney Shields
“I wanted to work so closely with the team to create something from the ground up.” - Courtney Shields
“I didn’t want to just white label something, I wanted to be a part of the process.” - Courtney Shields
On the importance of getting started...
“You can always pivot as you go, but just start.” - Courtney Shields
On forging ahead during COVID…
“You can look at 2020 two ways. One way is you can choose to complain and feel stuck and frustrated, or you can use 2020 as an opportunity for growth.” - Courtney Shields
“There’s power in our perspective.” - Maya Allen
On not paying attention to the number of followers, likes, or comments…
“If you are seeking outside validation, you’re never going to be happy.” - Courtney Shields
On seeking work-life balance…
“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once.” - Courtney Shields
On prioritizing self-care…
“Go for the walk, take the bath, do whatever fills you up, otherwise you’re pouring from an empty cup.” - Courtney Shields
On standing out in a saturated space…
“You have to do what you’re passionate about.” - Courtney Shields
“Standing out in a saturated space is all about being yourself and being authentic.” - Courtney Shields
“If you start trying to emulate what everyone else is doing, you’re on an uphill battle.” - Courtney Shields
“Looking inward, figuring out what feels good to you, and then doing that full-force is so important.” - Maya Allen
On navigating negativity and naysayers…
“I’m not a jar of Nutella, I can't please everyone, no matter what I do.” - Courtney Shields
On the best advice she’s ever received…
“Don’t procrastinate. You’ve got to get it done eventually, so might as well do it now.” - Courtney Shields
On her purpose…
“Walking through hard shit and showing people that you can still do hard things with a positive attitude and come out on the other side.” - Courtney Shields
On not paying attention to the number of followers, likes, or comments…
“If you are seeking outside validation, you’re never going to be happy.” - Courtney Shields
On seeking work-life balance…
“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once.” - Courtney Shields
On prioritizing self-care…
“Go for the walk, take the bath, do whatever fills you up, otherwise you’re pouring from an empty cup.” - Courtney Shields
On standing out in a saturated space…
“You have to do what you’re passionate about.” - Courtney Shields
“Standing out in a saturated space is all about being yourself and being authentic.” - Courtney Shields
“If you start trying to emulate what everyone else is doing, you’re on an uphill battle.” - Courtney Shields
“Looking inward, figuring out what feels good to you, and then doing that full-force is so important.” - Maya Allen
On navigating negativity and naysayers…
“I’m not a jar of Nutella, I can't please everyone, no matter what I do.” - Courtney Shields
On the best advice she’s ever received…
“Don’t procrastinate. You’ve got to get it done eventually, so might as well do it now.” - Courtney Shields
On her purpose…
“Walking through hard shit and showing people that you can still do hard things with a positive attitude and come out on the other side.” - Courtney Shields
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Bills, Bills, Bills: How to Stop Procrastinating and Organize Your Money
Get your finances in check.
Photo: Anna Shvets from Pexels
Gradually making the transition from side hustler to full-time self-employed freelancer is a great plan to be sure that you’re able to support yourself with your new business. That said, it can often lead to a bit of a messy overlap between personal and business funds.
You may keep pushing off getting organized until “tomorrow” and let the task of figuring it out, fall to the bottom of your to-do list. That was my story until I realized that I was losing money because of missing receipts and not planning for tax deadlines.
Follow my four steps below to make getting organized easier, painless, and dare I say it, maybe even a little fun. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Open a separate bank account for your business ASAP.
Is this something that you legally need to do for your business? Maybe. Is this something that you financially need to do for your business? Absolutely.
Even if you’re starting out as a sole proprietor, which is the default structure for anyone who earns income from self-employment, you should set up a separate bank account. Why? Because even if that’s the only thing that you do to get your money organized, you’ll be miles ahead of everyone else in the organization game. You won’t need to sift through a bunch of personal transactions to find business deductions and you won’t lose precious time looking through all of those same personal transactions to see if your client has paid you.
Don’t overcomplicate your business or waste any more time looking at a hodgepodge of transactions, hoping that you’re not missing something. Take 15 minutes to set up a separate account and you’ll be one big step closer to organized money management (congratulations!).
Step 2: Create a list of deductions you can take.
My mom is also a CPA, but unlike me, she actually does taxes for a living. She’s constantly sending me little reminders about deductions I can take because I often don’t catch everything. It’s awesome, but since she’s not with me every day to keep me on track, I’ve created a list of things I can deduct to make sure I’m not missing anything. I keep this list taped to the outside of a folder and store my receipts in there until I can get them entered into my bookkeeping system.
Everyone will have different expenses, but a good list to get started with is:
• Web hosting
• Vehicle mileage
• Work travel
• Courses, seminars, licensing, business-related books
• Shipping, packaging
• Office supplies and equipment
• Health insurance premiums
Step 3: Know what tax forms you need to file, and when.
During my first year in business, I wasn’t too concerned about filing my taxes because I had made no money. Well, it felt like no money. But technically in the eyes of the IRS, it was enough that I needed to file and pay quarterly estimated tax payments.
I think most people have the same cavalier attitude that I did because they don’t know the IRS rules and it’s just something they feel like they can take care of later. I can tell you from personal experience that those first few months of starting a business will fly by and you’ll be left scrambling the night before filing deadlines if you don’t pay attention to some key forms and dates.
To get this started here is some basic information for sole proprietors:
• Who has to file? Generally, anyone who has net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more needs to report this income at the end of the year. And anyone who is expected to owe more than $1,000 in taxes at the end of the year needs to make quarterly estimated income tax payments.
• What form to file? Most people start their business as a sole proprietor, and the forms that you need to file at the end of the year are Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (profit and loss from business) and Schedule SE (self-employment tax).
• When to file quarterly estimated tax payments? If you’re rational, you would probably think these payments would be made quarterly. Well the IRS throws in just a little change-up, so your payments are actually due on an odd schedule. The non-quarterly, quarterly schedule that they’ve come up with is:
Jan 1 - March 31: estimated payment due by April 15th
April 1 - May 31: estimated payment due by June 15th
June 1 - August 31: estimated payment due by September 15th
September 1 - December 31: estimated payment due by January 15
Step 4: Set a weekly money date.
This won’t be your most fun date, but it’ll probably your most profitable. Set a time to check in every week and make sure that your money is on track. If you do this weekly, it’ll become so easy and quick. I save my money date for Friday afternoons when I’m at my least productive. Once I have this done, I know I’ve earned a glass of wine and a good weekend.
Some things that I do weekly are:
• Send any invoices that are due
• Look at who hasn’t paid me and send reminders (+ cash any checks!)
• Pay any outstanding bills
• Pay myself my weekly salary/stipend
Bonus step: Set up a bookkeeping system.
Oh, look at you, overachiever! You’ve got this organization thing down and you want a bonus step? You can feel even more legit and in control of your money by setting up an easy bookkeeping system. This doesn’t have to take a long time and it doesn’t need to cost a lot. There is a range of easy to use programs out there (some are even free!) that are better than that excel sheet you’re using. If you don’t need many bells and whistles but are looking for something free, try Wave. It’s pretty simple to use, and it’s free.
Now, set aside 30 minutes a week to work through this list and start feeling in control of the business you are creating.
About the Author: Erica Gellerman is a small business strategy and finance expert who has a passion for helping creative entrepreneurs start, launch, and grow their business. After getting her CPA and MBA and spending a decade working at some of the best finance and marketing companies in the world, she started her own small business. Realizing that there weren’t enough resources dedicated to helping solopreneurs build profitable, small businesses, she set out to share everything she’s learned through her site. Follow her on Twitter @ericagellerman.
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This post was originally published on March 2, 2019, and has since been updated.
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Pro Tip: How to Convince Your Boss to Let You Go Freelance
Loving WFH?
Photo: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
If you’ve been putting together a plan for leaving your 9-to-5 job and venturing into the brave new world of freelance, there’s a potential client I bet you haven’t stopped to consider yet: your current employer.
When I started my freelance career, my first client was the same PR agency I’d been working for over the last two years. There were things outside of work I needed to be able to dedicate my time to but I was committed to my job and team. I loved what I was doing, but I also craved the freedom of flexibility and autonomy.
If this sounds like you, keep reading because in today’s Pro Tip I’m going to share my step-by-step process for how to convince your boss to let you go freelance.
Pinpoint Your Value
The most important factor in convincing your current employer to let you switch from full-time to freelance is to pinpoint the unique value you bring to their business.
For me, it was my knowledge of and connections within the video game and esports industries. Beyond my expertise, my proven loyalty and track record for being a high performer also helped contribute to my cause. I had just been promoted about six months prior and worked well with my team and clients.
Once you have your unique value identified, gather important milestones you’ve hit throughout your time with the company. I like to focus on quantifiable milestones because numbers are the best way to communicate results to your boss. For my situation, this was the amount of new business I helped secure for the company, additional retainers I negotiated with existing clients, high-profile news hits I secured for product launches, etc.
Do Your Research
Freelancing is far from a new concept, but nowadays, more and more businesses are embracing this change in the workforce. Before you approach your boss with your freelance plan, do your research to make sure that freelancing is actually something you can afford to take on.
When you’re a freelancer, you’re forfeiting your company-provided benefits like healthcare, 401K matching, and paid vacation days. So take time to do some research and make sure that you’re ready for the change.
You also want to make sure that the jump from full-time to freelance is sustainable within the company you’re working for. Meaning to say, that you can continue to not only show your value but identify areas where you can continue to pick up additional work when projects end.
If you’re looking for more guidance on things to take into consideration before starting your freelance career, get your hands on my freelancer starter kit.
Create a Plan
The last thing you want to do is pitch the idea of freelancing to your boss without a plan in place. You’re asking for a significant change and in order to get the best outcome, you’ll need to prove that going freelance is the best route for not only you but your employer’s business goals.
Start by looking at the next six to twelve months and identify key moments where you regularly play a significant part in the business. For me, this was around client conferences and product launches. Once you have those key moments in place, think of the value you add to those occasions and the amount of time it typically takes to complete the necessary work-related tasks.
Freelancing is about hourly rates. Even if you negotiate a monthly retainer, you want to make sure you’re being compensated for the amount of work you agreed to for the amount of time estimated so you don’t fall back into what could feel like a 9-to-5 grind.
After you identify your value and key business moments, list the types of tasks you want to do as a freelancer to help support them. Then look at what you’ve written out to determine if it’s too little or too much work to support your freelance goals. From there, adjust where you need to and start to imagine how you’d like to bring this up to your boss.
The Pitch
Let’s recap before you schedule a time to sit down and pitch the idea of freelancing to your boss you want to have the following:
A clear understanding of the unique value you bring to their business.
Confidence through the research you’ve done that you’re ready for freelance life.
A plan of action for how you will transition to and execute freelancing so effortlessly, they’ll hardly notice the difference.
Once you have these three factors in place, ask your boss to schedule a time for a one-on-one conversation. It’s important this meeting be scheduled for a time with minimum distractions. For example, if you know your boss is particularly busy in the mornings, aim for the afternoon.
Start the conversation with confidence. This is a proposal you’re pitching, not a favor. Switching to freelance is a business-related request so don’t go into the meeting thinking that you’re going to appear weak or less-than for asking for something that you want.
Start with something like this:
“I would like to discuss the opportunity of transitioning to a freelance employee with you today. I’ve created a plan of action that I’d like to share for how I can continue to add value to your business in this new capacity. I enjoy working with you and hope this is something you will take into consideration.”
This messaging is clear, to-the-point, and friendly. From here, share your plan and ask for feedback along the way.
Be prepared to answer questions like:
Why do you want to switch to freelance?
What hourly rate are you expecting?
How many hours a week can you commit to?
Are you willing to come into the office?
How long do you want to freelance for?
Every individual’s answers will be different so it’s important to think of what you want from the setup. Be prepared for where you’re willing to compromise and where you are firm. Having clear answers will make the decision-making process much easier for you and your boss.
About the Author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join the email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
This post was published on March 19, 2019, and has since been updated.
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4 Ways to Make Your Side Hustle Happen When You’re Working Full-Time
Join the side hustle gang.
Photo: Ivan Samkov from Pexels
I really like my job, but I’m not sure it’s fulfilling me or fueling my passions.
It would be great to have a second income for all the little extras life throws my way.
If the economy plummets, will they even hesitate to lay me off?
I wish I didn’t have to report to anyone and could create my own schedule.
Sound familiar?
All of these were thoughts that used to cross my mind at least three times a day. And of course with ambition, dreams, and motivation, came their cousins: fear, worry, and doubt.
Where do I even begin? Will I be successful? Will people like me? I studied PR...do I really know anything about anything else? Where will I find the time?
More questions, more worry, more doubt.
It wasn’t until I became overwhelmed with my own questions that I decided to put them all behind me. On mute. To be addressed later... or possibly never. I began to question less and do more. Where do I start? Here. What do I do? This. Will I succeed? Yes. Where will I find the time? Goodbye, Netflix binging.
The only thing I didn’t question was whether I’d leave my full-time job because after all, I truly do love what I do. And let’s be real, benefits like a fixed salary, insurance, and a 401K were simply non-negotiable, considering I didn’t have a single dollar in savings (insert mortified emoji) and relied on my salary alone to survive. (In my defense, I recently bought a home which, ironically, is the inspiration behind my side hustle: White This Way Home).
Wanna join the side hustle club? Here are my top tips for starting your own gig without leaving your full-time job:
Stick to a schedule.
Time is your best friend—but also your biggest enemy, if you don’t set a working schedule and stick to it. Even if your full-time job is flexible, make a commitment to limit distractions while you’re in full-time work mode. This means you try not to look at side hustle-related emails, social media, or comments during full-time work hours. Instead, leave it for nights and weekends. The good news (if your side hustle relies heavily on Instagram) is that there are a number of apps that let you schedule posts ahead of time (I use Plaan).
2. Capture thoughts to revisit.
OK, we’re all human—it's so easy to daydream about a new project or dwell on your side hustle to do list during your full-time work hours. After all, to-do lists are endless and inspiration can strike out of nowhere. You never know if and when these thoughts and daydreams will come back to you, so it’s important to take a moment to capture the ideas before they float away. Keep these inspirational thoughts in an imaginary bottle (or your phone, in a notebook, or on a sticky note), and rest assured they’ll be there when you have time to revisit them.
3. Find balance.
Feeling drained and overworked can be counterproductive. Don’t forget to build in time for fun, which can actually work in your favor and help refill your energy tank (ever tried driving on a completely empty gas tank? The epitome of counterproductive). Feeling energized and balanced is not only essential to getting things done, but it also gives your mind space for ideas to evolve and grow, even when you’re not actively in brainstorm mode.
4. Give yourself a pep talk.
Sure, you might look like a crazy person talking to yourself, but this really works! You can’t convince others to believe in what you do if you don’t believe in what you do. If those feelings of worry, fear, and self-doubt start to creep in, give them one answer in return: “I can and will do this.” Self talks, motivational quotes, little hand-written reminders, and a 24/7 “I’m a badass” attitude goes a long way. And the beauty of it is that you can pep talk anywhere, even during regular business hours.
About the Author: Adriana Infante is a PR + Marketing professional based in Miami, FL. She is also the founder of @WhiteThisWay an in-house product styling company that helps clients design spaces to reflect their personal styles and needs by harmoniously combining simplicity and tidiness to create a stylish, yet functional home.
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This post was published on February 19, 2019, and has since been updated.
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C&C Pro Tip: How to Get Paid as a Freelancer (and Know Your Worth)
And communicate your value with confidence.
Photo: Smith House Photography
Why does talking about money make people uncomfortable? It’s something we all need. We spend it on a daily basis. We always want more of it. So why is it that talking about it is seen as taboo?
When it comes to your professional career, the first thing you’ll want to get over is any fear or discomfort you have when it comes to talking about money because guess what? Your boss or client is only going to pay you what they think you think you’re worth. They didn’t teach you that at university, did they?
When you’re a freelancer, how much you get paid is up to you and the only way you’re going to continue to put money in the bank is if you’re comfortable talking about it. For today’s Pro Tip, I’m going to share tips for how to communicate your value.
Why It’s Important
Understanding your value is important because it helps you enter into conversations knowing what you and your potential client should work towards together.
Remember, freelancers and clients create a circle: You should be getting as much value out of the relationship from working with them as they are getting from hiring you.
Beyond the quantitative factors in establishing value, qualitative factors like expertise, convenience, and reliability also play a vital role.
Consider adding to your value if any of the following apply to you:
You specialize in a high-demand field or in a particular area not many people are experts in
You can provide something to the client no one else can (i.e. You have a direct line of contact to a company they’ve been trying to pitch, you can translate copy into different languages saving them money on additional services, etc.)
You create convenience by knowing exactly what to do and getting the job done quickly
When it comes to the quantitative aspect of value, research what full-time employees who do what you do get paid annually. Then take the added value you provide and use this hourly rate calculator to determine a rate that embodies the value you know you can bring and that makes you excited to do good work.
The Scenario
(For this post, I’ll create a common scenario and break down the best way to communicate a clear and effective message.)
You’re on a call with a potential client and have decided this is a project you’d like to work on. It’s perfect for your expertise and it would help progress you and your business forward. The scope of work is challenging but you’re up for the work ahead. The client expresses she would love to work with you and asks you how much it would cost to complete the tasks she’s outlined.
Say this:
“This is a project I’m excited to work with you on. I would need to take time to evaluate everything we discussed to determine how many hours I’d need to complete these tasks. With that in mind, is there a particular budget you have for this project?”
Don’t say:
“I can do this for $X-amount and have it to you by next Tuesday.”
The Breakdown
While it’s always nice to show enthusiasm, the last thing you want to do is be quick to commit yourself to a number or deadline without knowing all of the details. It’s important to determine your client’s budget so you can realistically state whether this is an opportunity you’re able to take on.
When I’m on a call like this, I’m adding hours up in my mind as the scope is discussed so at the very least I’ll have a ballpark of how much time it the project will take. If I know that a project will take at least $2,500 of my time to complete but they only have a $1,000 budget, I can confidently communicate on the call that the budget they have isn’t enough to support the value I can bring.
If you find yourself in this situation but still want to work with the client, try communicating the following:
“That budget may not be able to support the amount of time I’d need to dedicate to this project but I’d still love to work together. Would you be willing to add more for the right person or consider reducing the scope of work? I can put together what I’d be able to accomplish for that amount if it would be helpful.”
If you find yourself in this situation but the budget they have isn’t something you’re willing to work with, say this:
“I’ve really enjoyed learning more about this project but that budget isn’t enough to support my value and the amount of time I’d need to complete this project. I’d be happy to look into my network and recommend someone else who may be a good fit and hope there’s an opportunity for us to work together soon.”
Turning down an opportunity might seem like a hard concept but the jobs you turn down are just as important as the ones you take on. This messaging establishes your value in a professional way and if the client really wants to work with you, they’ll either find more budget or reach back out for something bigger and better in the future. This also keeps you available for an opportunity that will be able to afford what you can bring to the table.
What financial situations have you found yourself in that you wish you had communicated better?
About the Author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope—a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
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This post was originally published on April 9, 2019, and has since been updated.
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