Fight Stage Fright: Five Killer Steps to Speaking on Panel

Photo: Alyssa Dawson

Written by: Michelle Newbery, President of The Mine

I’ve had the opportunity to attend and participate in many panels over my career. The first one I ever attended was the Lowe's Women’s Leadership Summit, an annual event created by Lowe’s to empower women in retail and foster diverse thinking. It was an amazing experience that helped shape my career path at Lowe’s (which owns The Mine), inspired me to pursue my goals, and motivated me to help other women find success. 

As President of The Mine, it was an honor to be asked again to be a panelist for the Create & Cultivate Conference at Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond, Washington. I’m deeply invested in the entrepreneurial pursuits of my fellow women in business, and I take my role in this event very seriously. 

Here’s how I approached preparing for this year’s event:

1. Research the other presenters, and be prepared to get (a little) personal. 

Organic dialogue between panelists always resonates with audiences, and it’s much easier to do if you can quickly and easily establish a genuine rapport with them.  I was once on a panel at the Forrester’s Digital Transformation Event with other Lowe’s execs and we discussed the challenges of balancing speed with quality, and how to find middle ground that helped create The Mine as a very nimble part of the Lowe’s organization.  The audience enjoyed the discussion, but became even more engaged when we framed “finding the middle ground” in a context of the Lowes.com VP’s love of barbecue and my tastes as a vegetarian. We talked about how compromise can lead to creative solutions, much like those we rely on at The Mine. In short, personalizing the story – revealing something about yourself to both the audience and your fellow panelists – can increase engagement across the board. 

2. Know your audience, and know how to connect with them. 

Who attends the event and what are they most interested in? How can you personally relate to them and share your own experiences in a way that will both inspire and help them get further, faster? I remember being at the Time, Inc., Home Summit and how designers there appreciated hearing about how e-commerce can positively impact their business. They also enjoyed learning about how we work with designers like Alexa Hampton; how meaningful those relationships can become.   It’s easy for me to speak from the heart to designers about design, because it’s a passion of mine. But, what if you face an audience with interests that don’t dovetail so well with your own?   It’s important to spend time learning about what you do have in common, so you can be prepared to best resonate with your audience.

3. Create a target list. 

Who’s going to be at this event that you want to meet? You should always start networking before you get there.   It only takes a moment to browse or start following an Instagram or Twitter feed to get familiar with what kinds of things interest the people you want to meet.   If they have written a book or an article, read it.  Mentioning it can make for a pretty irresistible conversation starter.   

4. Make a cheat sheet and fill it with WOW.  

Okay, so it’s not really a cheat sheet, but hopefully it got your attention – because these days fast facts and one-liners have the kind of social “stickiness” that big speeches lost long ago.  Coming prepared with key statistics and talking points you can easily reference will help you show up authentically and build creditability. That’s what I learned at Create & Cultivate New York, an amazing conference to help women literally create and cultivate the careers of their dreams. Those women really knew the power of social media and were ready to use it.  Audiences now have more socialsavvy than ever – they’ll Tweet you before you’re even ready, so keep your cheat sheet and WOW metrics close at hand.  

5. Leave the script at home. 

This is a tough tip to follow, but it’s important. It’s better to be natural, and maybe a little flawed, than to recite canned material like a robot.  Be able to talk spontaneously about your facts, not just recite them.    Preparing you message is important, but whem I’m facing an audience I try to relax and share by ideas more naturally by infusing personal stores and humor were possible.   As a mom of a teenage daughter and tween son, I have a lot of material.   Keep it professional, but keep them guessing. That’s how we can win over our audiences as panelists with presence.

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Why Genevieve Padalecki Says the World Is a Crazy Place Right Now

Rocking a black "We Should All Be Feminists" tee on Saturday at Create & Cultivate Seattle, digital darling Genevieve Padalecki took to the Microsoft stage to chat all things tag, snap, story, and social. 

Though the Cali-native, who now calls Texas home, admits she's relatively new to the social game,   she's clearly caught onto the rules. Genevieve boasts a highly engaged audience-- woman's got a 25% engagement rate. If you're wondering what that means, know it's relatively unheard of in the blogging world. 

So what does the actress (she's classically trained), blogger (of Now and Gen), mom (of three), and wife (she met husband Jared on the set of Supernatural) think about this crazy, social world we live in? We found out. From how often she posts to her thoughts on political content, you've got to read through! 

You launched your blog this year and saw immediate success.  As part of the launch strategy you worked with skincare brand Elemis and crashed their site with a giveaway you hosted, thats MAJOR!.... How has the transition been going from social only content to long form blogs?  

It’s been really surreal! I loved working with Elemis as I actually love their products, so it felt like an organic partnership that was really natural and aligned. Also, I’m breastfeeding currently as I have a 6 month old and so I’m really cautious of beauty brands that are low chemical and more natural. We decided to host a giveaway on the blog as part of our launch strategy - my followers really love a giveaway, and it was fun to create a space for them to participate! Yes, they actually BROKE the link in bio on Instagram...we were all trying to figure out why the link wasn’t working and TONS of comments were coming in, and after a LOT of confusion we figured out that they crashed the site where the giveaway was hosted! Pretty crazy!

I enjoy creating long format content because I get to tell more of a story. Long form blogs provide a space for narrative to build and for people to go deeper...I always think of social as a “tease” and a great place to foster community, but long form blogs are a DESTINATION where you can drive people and encourage them to go deeper...which is really fun in the beauty space, because we’re always looking to discover new products...but I especially love it for some more of the emotional pieces, like blogs about parenting, or an open letter that my husband wrote to our 3 children on the blog which was really rad too. The letter really moved people and was WAY too long for a social post!

"Authenticity always wins. Be unapologetic about who you are, and have no fear."

Tweet this. 

What’s changed the way you create content the most in the past year? Do you love it or hate it?

I am really new to the social media game. I officially launched my Instagram prior to my blog earlier this year in March, and became really strategic about what I wanted to post about and promote. I had been private on Instagram for a while, but figured it was time!

We all know video is happening with IG LIVE and Facebook Live and algorithms propping up video the most. How are you all using it to build your businesses?

I only post once per day, and try to get more active in stories. I use my static “feed” as a place to post more curated things, and photos that I want to have a level of “permanance.” I use IG Stories to post what’s happening in real time, mainly of the kids eating...there is always a TON of food! I’m a big foodie and I love to cook, so that content tends to go there. Kids and food. LOL.

From a business perspective, your audience wants to really connect authentically. Videos, especially in stories since they delete after 24 hours, gives people a really inside look. I’ve seen a lot of engagement in stories, as well as fans screenshotting the stories because it’s much more intimate, fleeting, almost uncensored….there used to be a lot of focus on curating a gorgeous feed, which is still important, but there is so much connectivity in IG Stories, Boomerangs, videos...it’s also a place where I share my thoughts on the political climate or what’s happening in Texas (with the hurricane, for example).

There’s literally a million places we could be sharing content if we wanted. How do you decide what platforms to use? And what type of content goes where?

Social media is kind of like hosting a party. If you are creating an experience for your people, they will hang out there with you. It can be anywhere you are really, heavily engaged. Which is why there are “experts” in each space - youtube, pinterest, etc. Instagram is where I hang out because it’s the platform I’m most interested and engaged with personally.

"People are really looking for permission to be real."

Tweet this. 

As a mother who shares these amazing moments with your family, how do you decide what to share and how to share it when it comes to your family? Do you stick to any self made rules?

Personally, I try to be as open as I can about motherhood being messy. My most vulnerable posts, when I felt like I SURVIVED through a day, have gotten some of the most beautiful and best responses. I think people are really looking for permission to be real. I want to create a safe space and open up some of that dialogue.

I decided to launch my new blogging business while I was 9 months pregnant, I basically gave birth to my new baby and my blog at the same time. It hasn’t been easy, and I don’t want to hide that. There is a level of perfection that people try to project on social media, since everything is so highly curated. I love a pretty picture too, but I also try to balance brand partnerships and the curated stuff that I shoot with a photographer with a selfie I shot at midnight breastfeeding my baby and zoning out to Bravo. We all can be a little more vulnerable.

You’ve collaborated with brands, you’ve put political issues into the work, which as a new content creator that can be scary-- how are you deciding on content and what you want to put out into the world?

One of my first collaborations straight out of the gate was with Pop & Suki. One of my friends is a co-founder, and when Odette was born, we decided to announce our baby name on a heart keychain with the brand and created a space for others to personalize hearts with their names on it. 50% of proceeds went to the Human Rights Foundation, and the other 50% went to Planned Parenthood. We raised over $200,000 for these causes.

Not everyone is going to like what you stand for. And that’s fine, because there are enough people out there who will show up and stand beside you to do what’s right. The world is in a really crazy place right now, and anything I can do to spread awareness I will show up and do. Maybe it will reach one person, or two, or three...that is the beauty of having a platform. Use your platform for good.

I’m constantly amazed about how many brands are aligning with more causes every day. People are really conscious right now, and awake. They want to know they are spending money with a brand who is doing something to better the world.

I also worked with SECRET who launched a new campaign about transgender people, and what it must feel like for them to walk into a restroom and feel judged. That is a reality for many people, and something that should be shared and neutralized.

Any final advice for all the content creators out there in handling whatever gets thrown their way next?

Authenticity always wins. Be unapologetic about who you are, and have no fear. Perfection is bullshit, just find your voice and have a vision for what you want to create. Make sure to stand for something. That’s how you will find your tribe, keep giving, consistently.

Photo Credit: Smith House Photography/Alyssa Dawson Photography

Arianna Schioldager is Editor-in-Chief at Create & Cultivate. You can find her here. 

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What to Expect at Create & Cultivate Seattle

We are so excited to get the Seattle party started! There are so many great things coming your way, but before we get any closer we wanted to give you a sneak peek of what to expect on the big day so you can start building out your plan right now!

ALL DAY FUN

First things first, you should be receiving your badge and box of goodies in the mail over the next week or so! Your box will have your mentor power hour selections & your badge with lanyard. If you don't receive your items, you'll be able to pick them up at registration the morning of the conference! 

POP-UP MARKET

At every C&C Conference, we have a roster of incredible brands that set up shop to give our attendees amazing and unique experiences. From professional headshots to clothing shops to PUPPIES (yes, puppies… OK one puppy), there's a little something for everyone. Here are the incredible things you can expect to see at the market in Seattle.

WeddingWire

If you’re looking for an IG moment, look no further. What's one of the biggest trends in weddings right now? Custom confetti! Visit WeddingWire's confetti bar to create and customize your own personal bag of confetti to bring home with you and learn more about how WeddingWire has spent the last ten years paving the way for couples to more easily plan their weddings online.

The Mine

Want to pet a puppy? Stop by The Mine booth to meet their mascot, Finn the Pekingese, snap the perfect polaroid next to their floral wall and enter to win a $500 basket of home décor goodies! Did we mention the puppy??

SOREL

The SOREL woman is bold and confident stop by our booth to see Fall and Springs that are just like you, ready for anything and willing to defy whatever comes your way.

Richer Poorer

Ever been curious about how to style your basics? Look no further than basic brand Richer Poorer booth who will have a styling station on hand. Tees, tanks, and totally awesome. Plus, they will be live chain-stitching from their booth, which means you can get anything you want on a tee. 

Blue Sky

Planning ahead should be part of your business model. So take your #CreateCultivateSEA notebook, provided by Blue Sky, over to their booth and see what else they have in store to help you on your way.

Stella and Dot

If you’re ever in doubt, put an accessory on it. And stop by the Stella and Dot booth where they’ll be gifting $100 in product credit to attendees that sign-up for their affiliate network. PLUS, they’ll be waiving the $199 sign-up fee and gifting $350 in product credit if you sign up as a Stylist! Oh wait, there’s more. They will also have a first look opportunity at their product (cutest tops ever) and the opportunity to see their new style sharing app. Too much good stuff. Don’t miss out.

Noosa

Bloody good yoghurt is their tagline and they aren’t kidding. With product offerings for every taste bud you’ll be sure to satisfy any craving at their booth.

Brahmin

For stop in your tracks handbags head to Brahmin’s booth to peep their latest fall styles. They release hundreds of styles every season, so there’s something for everyone to love. 

La Croix

Always one to make their booth sparkle, be sure to pop by La Croix for a highly ‘grammable moment. They also go above and beyond so you don’t want to miss out!

Inked

Head to the Inked booth to Craft the Story with Ali Edwards + Inked Brands. Edwards says that over a decade ago, she began a tradition of choosing one word for myself each January – a word to focus on, meditate on, and reflect upon as she goes about her daily life.  During the break Ali invites you to come choose yours.

Shopstyle

Need a little R&R? It’s a long day and Shopstyle has your back. They are hosting a Recharge & Relax area where all C&C attendees can swing by to revive themselves throughout the day. With a luxe instagrammable lounge to hang out in and charge your phone, the option to get pampered while getting a foot or hand massage, drink a juice shot or wellness beverage, or connect with their team, there are plenty of fun activities planned at the ShopStyle lounge!

Simon G

Want a piercing? Simon G. Jewelry is offering lucky attendees the chance to receive a free ear piercing with one of their beautiful 14k Yellow Gold Pyramid Earrings, designed exclusively for Create & Cultivate and valued at $220. To get your ear pierced and receive a free Simon G. stud, all you have to do is stop by their booth, post a picture of the booth or trying on jewelry prior to your appointment and tag @simongjewelry #simongsparkles. To reserve your spot, please email (Elizabeth@simongjewelry.com ) to schedule your appointment at Create & Cultivate Seattle.

Burrow

Look, we know you love a good sofa. Grab a friend. Have a sit. And gram their Burrow’s booth to win one of their adorable and comfy sofas.

GoDaddy

If you don’t have a professional headshot, do you even exist? JK. It’s not something most of us think about, but there are many times a professional headshot will come in handy. For instance, if you ever plan on speaking on a panel… you’ll need a headshot that does you justice. Stop by the GoDaddy booth and snap a perfect pic. (C&C #protip: stop by the Beauty lounge first for a little pre-pic touchup.)

Express

Have a full closet and nothing to wear… to work? Stop by the onsite Express airstream and check out the latest from their “wear to work” collection.

BEAUTY BUZZ at the BEAUTY LOUNGE

We also always have a beauty lounge on site where our attendees are able to get glammed up, from makeup to hair to skincare we got your covered.  

Nordstrom Beauty

When you look your best, you feel your best! Nordstrom Beauty will have stylists onsite all day to do touchups and discuss products. Want to know what products work best for you? Don’t be shy! Ask a professional!

Secret

Secret was the first antiperspirant brand designed specifically for women, and for the past 60 years, Secret has been on the forefront of women’s lives, leading with innovation designed to provide superior odor and wetness protection. Secret’s activation will introduce guests to the new Invisible Spray. The product’s lively scent experience and the on-the-go application experience allows hustling entrepreneurs to freshen up with ease, no matter the circumstance.   

The Glam App

Get glam!! No booking necessary. The Cara Santana founded app will be offering all day HAIR & MAKEUP touchups.

#NOM

START THE DAY OFF RIGHT WITH BREAKFAST & YOGA

Get Fed

Chow down and prep for the full day with goodies from Noosa Yogurt and Purely Elizabeth Granola. We’ll have granola and yogurt bowls, muffins, and YES of course: coffee. Grab a cup from the Satellite cold brew coffee bar.     

Get Set

LIVESTRONG wants to start your day off on the right foot and the right mindset. So they are bringing yoga influencer @EliseJoanFitness to C&C Seattle to help guide you with intention setting, meditation and gentle stretches for your day. This will take place on the lawn between the main stage and pop-up market between 8:45-9:15am

Go get 'em. 

BREAKING DOWN THE **VIP PERKS**

You will be going all day long so the break is a great time to catch up and dive into all the amazing programming our partners have going on. Some are RSVP only so be sure to grab your spot!

WorkWorkWorkWorkTwerk with Sonja Rasula *RSVP REQUIRED*

Calling all VIPS to join Sonja Rasula for a unique 30-minute break-out session that will have you cheering and dancing as you learn new tools for success, get to know your neighbors, and rediscover your superpowers. Sonja's popular, and definitely unconventional, talks are enlightening, fun and super satisfying. Taking place at the Main Stage YOU MUST RSVP below! 

You will receive a confirmation email if you have secured a spot!

Molly Moon’s Scoops

If you’re inclined to indulge a bit, Seattle’s famous Molly Moon Ice Cream will be scooped from the Molly Moon Trike during break from 4:20 - 5:20p. Location: VIP lounge only.

Trophy Cupcakes Nibbles

Grab a sweet treat in the VIP lounge. Create, cultivate, and cupcake. We wouldn’t want it any other way.

The Glam App

Want to get a mini mani? The Glam App is offering all our VIP attendees the option to get a mani at their nail station in the VIP lounge only. Happening all day!

LIVESTRONG, Live Better *RSVP REQUIRED*

LIVESTRONG is offering is a free 30-minute consultation with nutritionists ($100-$200 value each) for 30 VIP participants who sign up in advance. The company is bringing 2 nutritionists with them and will give personalized consultations to VIP attendees who sign up in advance and track 3 days of their eating. Location: the LIVESTRONG booth!

Attendees can choose their primary goal from the following list:

• Overall health
• Healthy skin, hair and nails
• Weight Loss
• Weight maintenance
• Increase energy
• Build muscle
• Athletic training & endurance

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS RSVP ONLY FOR THE FIRST 30 SIGNUPS -- RSVP BELOW! 

You will receive a confirmation email if you have secured a spot!

**We will need to send an email in advance to the first 30 VIP sign ups. You will need to download and log up to 3 days of food in the MyPlate app. 

***Sign ups for waitlist will be available as well, but hopeful waitlisters will also need to log their food for at least a day in the MyPlate app.

HAPPY HOUR

After a long day of awesomeness, take a break and celebrate the day with Express . And because you've earned it, it's time to raise a cocktail! Kick-off Happy Hour with a delicious Crown Royal cocktail, or if wine or champagne is more your speed, they’ll have that too!

#PROTIPS

Don't leave this at home! Things you should bring to C&C:

Bring a schedule of all the things you want to hit up day-of, it’s a day filled to the brim with activities so coming with a game plan is a clutch move.

 In the spirit of good networking, pack extra business cards. You want to be able to hand them out throughout the day. Don't shortchange yourself.

The bulk of the Seattle conference will take place outside so we recommend keeping an eye on the weather forecast while prepping your look. Attendee attire varies but we'd describe it as fashionable business wear with an emphasis on fun! No matter what you plan to wear, it will be a long day so prioritize comfort (especially when it comes to shoes!). We'll be packing a light jacket just in case! 

Keep an eye out for your attendee welcome box that should be coming in the mail any day now! We are so excited for you to receive, make sure to share it on social with us using #CreateCultivateSEA!

Gift Bags

We know you want them! Gift bags are only available at the end of the night and will be handed out in exchange for your badge. If you have to jet early you will be forfeiting your right to come back in but we doubt you'll want to do that ;)

Where To Park

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Exclusive Giveaway: Your Last Minute Chance to Head to Create & Cultivate Seattle

If you’ve ever wondered how it’s possible to walk into a room of strangers and nail networking, we’ve got you covered. We do it all the time at conferences! Walking up to strangers can be intimating but we’ve got some tips on how to make it work. And look, sometimes it is painfully awkward. But channel your inner Issa Rae and let it get a little bit awkward, it might make the interaction all the more memorable. 

Nail down your pitch.

When you’re in a room with 500 other women, be it at the conference or even at our Express happy hour before our keynote speakers, you’re going to have to nail that pitch! Know what you’re all about. So make it concise and straight to the point. No beating around the bush and no overtly selling yourself. BS tends to reek in a crowded environment.

Don’t give out your cards, swap ‘em

Why give when you can trade? You should always make sure to swap when you can. Sometimes the old “I don’t have any cards on me” is true, sometimes it’s false. It’s easy to read if someone wants to continue the relationship, but being a little bit forward in this situation can’t hurt. If the other people doesn’t have a card, offer to send a text or email right there. Even though some people cringe a bit when you say, “I’ll send you an email right now,” it’s the best way to get into someone’s inbox. At that point, you’ve done your work. 

Practice, practice, practice. 

It makes perfect. 

If you’re feeling antsy thinking about what you should say to start a conversation with someone, practice with your friends and see how you can nail down the starting a conversation with a stranger. From the approach, to how you introduce yourself, to what you talk about, make sure you can simulate the an entire conversation with a stranger via your friend. Come in ready with a game plan and see that networking anxiety go away.

Don’t be an attention seeker.

Engage with a crowd, but you don't need to be the center of attention. It’s easy to fall into the hole of talking about yourself and letting people know about all the things you do in a networking setting. But take a look back and think about the last person who wouldn’t stop rambling about themselves.

Exactly. Don’t be that person.

Wear it and work it. 

Wear your confidence and work your outfit. If you’re not feeling up to hot stuff because you’re heading to an event after a long day at the office, throw on a statement earring and a little lipgloss (both goodies Express is giving away to C&C Seattle attendees in the gift bag!) and walk through the front door with a smile. 

And most importantly.... Show UP!

Maybe the hardest part of networking is finding the right opportunities & showing up! Easier said than done when you’re slammed with work… That’s why Express is sending one lucky winner + a boss friend to Create & Cultivate Seattle! As the official Happy Hour sponsor, they’re not only hooking you up with tickets, travel + stay, but also the wardrobe to keep you looking fly while you work your new connections. 

WIN #CREATECULTIVATESEA TIX on the @Express Insgram Post HERE 

Here's how to enter: 

1. Follow @Express and @CreateCultivate on Insta. 
2. Tag a woman who inspires you in the comments of this instagram post.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. SWEEPSTAKES BEGINS AT 10:00 AM ET ON AUGUST 18, 2017 AND ENDS AT 11:59 PM ET ON AUGUST 20, 2017. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF U.S., PUERTO RICO, 18+, VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. SEE OFFICIAL RULES: http://bit.ly/2fNUQZs

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Ask the CEO: Would You Pay an Executive Coach?

Daina Trout, CEO and co-founder of Health-Ade Kombucha, AKA the fastest growing kombucha company in the United States, spends her free (ahem, what?) time mentoring younger entrepreneurs. She says it’s an important part of the process that she didn’t have when starting her company in 2012.

Trout explains that often, after speaking with younger entrepreneurs, she'll “discover that they’re trying to have their cake and eat it too. The whole thing about being a successful entrepreneur is that there is some major risk you have to take. That’s the price of the game. Whether it’s a financial or personal risk, whatever it is, you’re taking a risk. I don’t think you’ll meet any successful entrepreneur who didn’t have the moment where they thought, ‘Oh shit, everybody is telling me this is stupid, I’m the only one who thinks this way. I have to quit my job. I have no money.’ Everybody has those stories. So when I talk to the entrepreneurs who are trying to mitigate that risk by keeping their job and their apartments, I tell them, ‘We had to live out of our car, what do you think this is?’” 

Not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure. “When they talk to me like that, I say, ‘OK, you’re not ready to start a business. Give up your apartment for four years. You can’t live the life you have from a corporate, steady and sturdy job, and also start a business. That’s the whole point.” 

"You can’t live the life you have from a corporate, steady and sturdy job, and also start a business." 

Tweet this. 

You can however, make an investment in people who can help you. Early on Trout made the decision to pay an executive coach to guide her. She says the first two years felt like, “physical labor against all odds." She also felt incredibly alone. "I never knew what the next step was. I didn’t reach out to anyone because I didn't know who to reach out to.” 

But in 2014, when the company got its first investment, Trout shares that they took $15,000 to invest in leadership. There was an understanding she explains, that “If we expected to build this into a billion dollar brand and have hundreds of employees we were going to have to get way better at managing people. We were complete cowboys. So I said, ‘We can each have 5,000 dollars, do what you want with it, but it has to somehow build your leadership.’ I put together a coaching program and I’m with that coach still to this day and talk to her every two weeks. I don’t think I would be where I am today without her.”

Health-Ade now has 100 employees. “Meeting those 100 employees is a personal milestone. It’s one thing to lead five people, 25 and then 50, but 100 feels different and I’m being forced to tap into a stronger version of myself every year. This year especially.” 

Of her coach, Trout says, “She hasn’t ‘taught’ me anything. That’s the thing. She's kind of like a really good therapist. She’s an independent sounding board. By the time you have investment you usually have a Board of Directors, but you can’t share every little thing with them. Also, I don't know if this is a gender thing, but most women I know have to get to their answer. That requires talking it out. And it’s usually right, but you have to get there. So having a coach is awesome. She knows everything that’s happening. She knows about my board members and who my employees are. We’ve talked every two weeks for three years. In that hour that I spend with her I’ll come out with a strong action plan to avoid problems I see coming.” 

You don't have to pay to play. There are free mentors out there she shares (like at Create & Cultivate Seattle-- tix on sale NOW!). “My experience has been that when you ask somebody for help, they almost always say they have time.” Noting that there has only been one instance when someone said no. “You get on the phone, talk to people, they’ll answer all of your questions. They’ll share models, structure, the mistakes they’ve made, they’re happy to talk about it.”

She’s self-reflective on this point. “I probably didn’t have to go through those first two years alone. I would recommend finding people who you think did it right and would define as successful, email them. It’s not that hard to find anybody. Just write info@company and say, ‘I’m trying to get some time on the books with blank,’  it will almost always find the CEO, unless it’s Oprah. That might be hard.” However she laughs, “I haven’t tried.” 

She explains that she made a pact with herself, that if she ever got past that stage, “the worst one to be in,” she admits, that she would go back and help fledgling entrepreneurs. “I really try to offer myself as a mentor to women in the first two years who need a little push. The people who really have it in them, they really only need a little push.” 

Would you pay a coach? Chime in below. 

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