How the C&C Team Finds Inspiration in the Everyday
From long walks to team bonding, here’s how we get inspired each day.
Here at C&C, our team is constantly on the go. Down time is rare, so when we’re able to relax, we really make the most of it. Many of us like to do a little digital detox time and step away from our phones, while others chill out with a good Netflix binge. Regardless, we know recharging is integral to getting inspired for when we step back into the office. That’s why we partnered with Glade® at our ATX popup to bring you an immersive self-care experience complete with a manicure bar—and now, we’re bringing you some of our favorite ways to find inspiration in the everyday. Glade Essentials Room Mist is the perfect way to wind down after a long day (psst…the Mandarin & Mimosa scent smells like the inside of an Anthro store!).
Below, our team shares their favorite ways to get inspired each day.
“Reading the news always helps put things in perspective for me. I feel inspired by people overcoming great (or awful) things and it helps to level-set my worries about problems I'm facing so they feel more manageable.”
- Heather Records, VP of Marketing
“I get my inspiration from my team and their hard work!”
- Alyssa Torma, Junior Producer
“I find inspiration by taking a few minutes to myself in the morning to stretch, spray my favorite fragrance (it’s currently Glade’s Mandarin & Mimosa Essentials Room Mist!), and try to clear my mind to prepare for the day ahead.”
- Chelsea Evers, Editorial Director
“I find inspiration by having an innovative approach to my work. I ask myself, ‘How can I cut budgets and do something new and different for half the cost? How do I solve this logistical issue and find a way for 1000 attendees and 200 sponsors to move through one space seamlessly?’ It’s like a puzzle and I get inspired by solving it!”
- Lainey DePompa, Senior Producer
“Turning off my phone and going for a walk with no distractions, just some me time, lets me actually look around at what’s going on in beautiful LA.”
- Elyse Wasserstrom, Account Manager
“Pinterest inspires me in so many ways, from my personal style to design inspiration to meal prepping ideas. I love a good Pinterest scroll when I need some inspiration during my day.”
- Tyeal Howell, Marketing Manager
“Taking my dog for a walk around the neighborhood gives me a chance to disconnect and think clearly.”
- Caitlin Shier, Director of Accounts & Brand Marketing
Your turn: How do you find inspiration in the everyday?
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This Month in Money Moves: Blavity, ClassPass & Framebridge
Are we rich now or nah?
It must be summer because women are on FIRE.
This month we've seen some major money moves from some of our favorite C&C Alumni. Read below for the inspo you need to finish out this week like these BOSSES. Then, go show these ladies some love on their pages.
#SupportFemaleOwnedBusiness
Morgan DeBaun | Blavity
In our new favorite company memo, Morgan DeBaun announced her Series A round of funding for her media company Blavity INC.
"So are we rich now or nah?"
Morgan and Blavity INC raised $6,500,000 in her first very significant round of funding. This means the company will be able to grow faster by investing in engineering to fuel their many brands, investing in employees, and expanding benefits. There was also a mention of increasing the fruit delivery to twice a week. Which is V. IMPORTANT.
"I’m incredibly proud of how our small team has worked together to consistently deliver on our mission to create a platform, company, and a vibrant ecosystem, with our community at the center." Morgan states to her employees in her company memo. We couldn't be more excited to see Morgan become the media mogul she was meant to be.
Payal Kadakia | ClassPass
Founder and Chairman Payal Kadakia announced this week that ClassPass raised $85M in series D funding. This latest round brings ClassPass’s total funding to $255 million. #GOALSAF
So, what's next for everyone's favorite health + fitness app?
#1 Taking ClassPass everywhere. Time to go international, baby!
#2 ClassPass Live! Hi, taking amazing ClassPass classes from the comfort of your home.
Susan Tynan | Framebridge
Susan Tyran was an early Create & Cultivate supporter and we might be some of the most passionate Framebridge supporters out there. Her custom framing company (seen at many C&C conferences), announced the close of a $30M Series C financing. Launched in 2014, the custom framing company has changed the way consumers custom frame the creative and meaningful pieces in their lives. And every single order is produced in house.
Susan explains to Create & Cultivate, “Now that we have a real business, what we've built speaks for itself. We raised $30M because we built a business consumers love. Every nuanced detail we sweat creating this business translates to successful fundraising. Some people might be able to raise based on swagger, but we did because we built something fundamentally good.”
This new round of financing will go towards innovation, expanding manufacturing and refining the delivery process.
Know more ladies making money moves? Share them below!
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Read Up: The Crossroads of Should & Must, Part 2
Two weeks ago, we started reading Elle Luna's The Crossroads of Should and Must. This book appealed to us because a) it's beautiful, and b) the author's story really resonated.
Two weeks ago, we started reading Elle Luna's The Crossroads of Should and Must. This book appealed to us because a) it's beautiful, and b) the author's story really resonated.
A little over a year ago, I left my full-time job to become a freelance writer. I'd worked full-time for 12 years at five different jobs, and while I loved what I did, I couldn't ever shake the feeling that I was copping out. What I really wanted to do was write, but every time I'd start to talk about this, everyone wanted to talk me out of it. "But you have such a good job... It is so hard to get paid as a freelancer...there's no money in writing." I'd walk away from these conversations shaken and feeling like I should just be happier with what I had.
However, this resolve would inevitably fade, and I'd again start to feel like I was faking it. I did have an amazing job and I was grateful for that, but I also knew that as long as I was too scared to give full-time writing a go, I wasn't given my job the attention and enthusiasm it deserved either. I had one foot in and one foot out, and it's hard to be passionate about a half-assed life.
Finally, one abandoned cart of groceries at Whole Foods later (I panicked in the check out line—what if quitting my job meant I could no longer afford food?), and a teary conversation with my boss, where I explained it's not you, it's me (and she totally got it), at 34 I became what I'd wanted to be since I was 15: a freelance writer.
I wish I'd had this book then to walk me through it (I probably would have bought the groceries), because Elle's advice is practical yet encouraging. There are lots of inspiring stories and quotes in the book, but she pairs them with straight-talk exercises that make you examine your own truths that might actually be anything but.
Since I knew what my must was, the parts of the book that were most helpful for me were the ones that dealt with should. Exercises in the book helped me identify beliefs that I had that weren't based on experience, just things that I'd been told as a child and never examined—that I should not rock the boat, that I should never expect that things will work out, and that I should always take what I could get.
But for those who don't yet know what their must is, Elle has tons of exercises to help you figure out what it is. This part comes with a warning though: once you identify your must, it is hard to go back and be satisfied, and that your brain will rebel, because choosing must raises real and scary questions.
Now that you know what your must is, and the ideas that are holding you back, the second half of the book deals with all the practicalities of making it happen: money, time, space and vulnerability.
If you're reading along, let us know your thoughts in the comment section below or @ us with #ccreadup. What kinds of 'shoulds' do you have to stop listening to? What's your must?
Kate Williams is a freelance writer and editor in Los Angeles. Previously, she was editorial director at Nasty Gal and at Urban Outfitters, and a senior editor at NYLON magazine. Her work is a mix of editorial, ghostwriting, branded content and fiction.
Professional Opinion: Maxie McCoy on When—and How—to Take a Sabbatical
Have you ever had a moment of such intense frustration that your mind wandered to ditching it all, putting your things in storage, moving to a foreign country to just be, and create. You probably shrugged it off as totally illogical. Completely impossible. Crazy. And irresponsible. But what you should really do the next time your mind goes there is do it. Literally do it. Take the leap.
Have you ever had a moment of such intense frustration that your mind wandered to ditching it all, putting your things in storage, moving to a foreign country to just be, and create. You probably shrugged it off as totally illogical. Completely impossible. Crazy. And irresponsible. But what you should really do the next time your mind goes there is go for it. Literally do it. Take the leap.
Around this time last year, a version of this happened to me. I had a dream business I wanted to launch. Everything else seemed like a block to it. A loud whisper told me to go. Instead of pushing it down, I gave it a microphone. And I went—to the other side of the world to Bali—where I created the foundation for my now very real dream. The next time you get the urge, call or screaming whisper to take some significant time away, re-read the answers to these questions, because they're probably the very same questions that are holding you back.
What if I don't have enough in the bank?
I didn’t either. Truly. When I thought about needing to go away and jumpstart my dream, it was the last thing I had thought about or financially planned for. But then I learned the power of “and” by getting over my own fear. I learned it didn’t have to be one or the other—I could work a bit and still go away to work on my dream. I talked through it with a team that I loved, and had work I was grateful for. It was a win-win for everyone.
If that’s not realistic, then create a plan for what you would need. Having lived in a dream-place like Bali, it’s amazing how much less you need for your day to day. Get out an excel sheet. See what you’re working with. You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised.
Having space will provide clarity beyond anything you can imagine.
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What would I do solo for so long?
Everything. Nothing. Anything. You might surf. Or write. Or better yet create the foundation for your future business. Hire an intern to help you move things along. Finally sit down to create the business plan. Meditate. Stare at the ceiling. Having space will provide clarity beyond anything you can imagine. You’ll get into the groove of uninhibited creativity. And it’ll be momentum that will carry you and your dream work forward.
No matter what you do, you’ll learn what it means to find happiness and comfort from within. You’ll learn to rely on yourself for the comforts you need, instead of your usual external go-tos. And you’ll likely meet a lot of friends along the way, whether you stay close to home or travel to a faraway continent.
Will people think I’m crazy?
Totally possible. I’m sure many people thought I was. But the right people got it. And that’s what matters. Largely, people who are openly judgemental are simply experiencing something within themselves as they watch you go after something awesome.
And regardless of who judges, and who raises an eyebrow, I can promise you this: When you return, everyone will want to talk to you. You’ll be the business launch that has a very fun story. And you’ll have an experience so important to the development of your soul and your work in this world that what 'they' think is rockingly irrelevant.
Everyone needs some space. Space to breathe. To dance. And most importantly to dream. There’s no better place to jumpstart your future than on a sabbatical.
Maxie McCoy is the energy designer of Maxie, where she shares soul wisdom on the digital video series #maxie and her weekly writings. Maxie offers soul sessions, workshops, one-on-one coaching, and words of wisdom you really shouldn't miss. If you want your spiritual and emotional IQ shooting to the stars, follow along at maxiemccoy.com.
Get Psyched: 5 Female Entrepreneurs Share Their Mantras
Last week when we were watching the VMAs, one moment stood out to us more than any others—and no, it wasn't one of Miley's outfits. Instead, it was when Demo Lovato told herself "I am enough" right before going on stage. We've all had those moments where we need a little extra encouragement, which was why it was so refreshing to see that huge pop stars have them, too. In solidarity with Demi, we tapped five of our favorite female entrepreneurs to tell us what they tell themselves when the going gets rough.
Last week when we were watching the VMAs, one moment stood out to us more than any others—and no, it wasn't one of Miley's outfits. Instead, it was when Demo Lovato told herself "I am enough" right before going on stage for her rockstar performance. We've all had those moments—where we need a little extra encouragement—which was why it was so refreshing to see that huge pop stars have them, too. In solidarity with Demi, we tapped five of our favorite female entrepreneurs to tell us what they tell themselves when the going gets rough.
"Find the beauty."
I work on so many different projects and in so many different fields that I had to learn early in life to make every single thing around me beautiful.
Veronica Valencia, The Design Hunters
"Be appreciative."
Everyday I always remind myself to show appreciation to everyone I interact with, whether it's someone who works for me or someone I take a meeting with. Showing a kindness and especially gratitude always goes such a long way. Making someone feel good about an accomplishment definitely adds positivity to an ordinary day!
Julianne Goldmark, Co-Founcer Emi-Jay, Inc.
"You don't get ahead by playing it safe."
Take risks, but be ready to live with the repercussions as plans do backfire. Innovation means it's never been done before. Of course you have no idea what you're doing, just don't let anyone else know.
Rachel Tipograph, Founder & CEO MikMak
"I love you."
It’s one of the only things that puts it all in perspective for me. At the end of the day (or beginning or middle), if I can say “I love you” to myself and mean in it, nothing else really matters.
Emily Greener, Co-Founder/CEO I Am That Girl
"Life is all about taking risks, and how boring would it be to live a life where you weren't doing things that terrified you and took you way out of your element?"
This is what I tell myself when I'm psyching myself up for a big project, TV appearance or speaking engagement. Then it's pretty easy to remember why I do what I do, no matter how many freakin' butterflies I have in my stomach.
Jordan, The Balanced Blonde
Do you have a mantra you love? Share it in the comment section below!
Read Up: Create & Cultivate Book Club
We could wax on forever about the virtues of books: they're portable, they feel good in your hands, they look good in your apartment, they give you a chance to get off the internet—and most importantly—you learn something. That's why we're kicking off Create & Cultivate Book Club! Each month, we'll pick a book (we're also open to suggestions!) and invite you to read along, and in a couple of weeks, we'll check back in to see what you think. At the end of the month, we'll wrap it up and discuss how/if the book was applicable to us and what we were able to apply.
We could wax on forever about the virtues of books: they're portable, they feel good in your hands, they look good in your apartment, they give you a chance to get off the internet—and most importantly—you learn something. That's why we're kicking off Create & Cultivate Book Club! Each month, we'll pick a book (we're also open to suggestions!) and invite you to read along, and in a couple of weeks, we'll check back in to see what you think. At the end of the month, we'll wrap it up and discuss how/if the book was applicable to us and what we were able to apply.
Our first book is The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna. A designer who worked at startups such as Medium, Uber and Mailbox, Elle left her full-time job to become an artist, and first wrote about should and must on Medium. In the hugely popular essay, she defined 'should' as "how others want us to show up in the world" and 'must' as "what happens when we stop conforming to other people's ideals and start connecting to our own." These two concepts are recognizable to anyone who's ever felt like their career didn't match up to who they were, and especially to any entrepreneur who's ever decided to pursue their passion only to hear "Here's what you should do..." a million times.
Through writing, quotes, and illustrations, Elle takes the reader through her journey and offers tips and tools for recognizing the shoulds and musts in their own lives.
We're excited to dive in! If you're reading along, let us know your thoughts in the comment section below or @ us with #ccreadup.
Quotation Marks: Create & Cultivate CHI
Our team is still buzzing from all the energy, creativity, and general great advice we collected at #createcultivateCHI. The photos are in, so are some fun videos, and we've rounded up a few of our (and your!) favorite takeaways from the conference below. Feel free to repost, share, create, and cultivate!
Our team is still buzzing from all the energy, creativity, and general great advice we collected at #createcultivateCHI. The photos are in, so are some fun videos, and we've rounded up a few of our (and your!) favorite takeaways from the conference below. Feel free to repost, share, create, and cultivate!
Make sure you're signed up for our newsletter to be the first to know about our next date + location (we're announcing it verrry soon)! Can't wait to do it again.
How was your day at #createcultivateCHI? We love hearing from you and rounded up some of your posts below. Keep 'em coming!
C+C Link Love Vol. 2
Since we've got approximately one zillion tabs open at any given moment, we thought we'd share a few of the links that are keeping the Create + Cultivate staff in-the-know.
From Rihanna to 10,000 plastic balls, these are the most worthwhile distractions we've been into this week.
Since we've got approximately one zillion tabs open at any given moment, we thought we'd share a few of the links that are keeping the Create + Cultivate staff in-the-know.
From Rihanna to 10,000 plastic balls, these are the most worthwhile distractions we've been into this week.
Jazzi, Editorial Director
READ Did you know Rihanna cast Sanam aka @trustmedaddy, her badass henchwoman from the BBHMM video, on Instagram!? Read what happens when @badgalriri slides into your DMs.
WAIT Author Zadie Smith is teaming up with director Claire Denis for a “space adventure” Sci-Fi film and I can. not. wait.
SIGN UP Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner are launching a newsletter about feminism, politics, friendship, and everything in between. And hell yeah, we signed up.
Hope, Marketing + Events Coordinator
LAUGH Watch Daniel Radcliffe fill in as the receptionist at Nylon magazine for an hour... I'm still laughing.
DRINK Any of the recipes over on Smoke & Honey. Rachel Mae Furman is our go-to cocktail guru (and a C+C columnist)! It is 5 o'clock right?
RELAX Install the Calm app and get yourself some zen in 2 minutes or 20! It's a lifesaver!
Linnea, Awesome Intern #1
FOLLOW @lucylaucht on Instagram. I cannot get enough of her feed! It's full of the most beautiful colors and places! Nothing less than you'd expect from the Senior Manager of Social Media at J. Crew.
WATCH Catastrophe, my new favorite TV show. The first season is free and already available for Amazon Prime members. Rob Delaney makes a seamless shift from his absurd Twitter antics to a show that will, no doubt, leave you wanting more.
ADORE Apatow and Dunham. Enough said.
Taryn, Awesome Intern #2
FOLLOW @corinanika. This graphic design wonder has the cutest blog where you can find charming desktop wallpapers that will surely liven up your laptop.
CHECK OUT Co-founders of Snarkitecture, Daniel Arsham and Alex Mustonan, transformed Washington D.C's National Building Museum into a beach with 10,000 plastic balls. So stinkin' cool. Super salty I'm 2,600 miles away.
LISTEN The Bird and the Bee's new album, Recreational Love. Super hipster. Super chill. Not to mention the album cover is totally adorbs.
Honorable Mention
Madewell is having a major sale—40% off sale prices. We indulged.
Professional Opinion: Maxie McCoy on Cultivating Inspiration
Creator and Director of Local Levo Maxie McCoy knows a thing or two about getting out of your own way to make a path toward your dreams. We can all learn a thing or two from Maxie's soul searching (and to that point, she'll be mentoring at #createcultivateCHI!), which is why we asked her to share her advice and adventures in just going for it. First read about her life (and career) changing trip to Bali, then read below for how she continued making room for inspiration once she returned home.
Creator and Director of Local Levo Maxie McCoy knows a thing or two about getting out of your own way to make a path toward your dreams. We can all learn a thing or two from Maxie's soul searching (and to that point, she'll be mentoring at #createcultivateCHI!), which is why we asked her to share her advice and adventures in just going for it. First read about her life (and career) changing trip to Bali, then read below for how she continued making room for inspiration once she returned home. —JM
Maxie McCoy on Cultivating Inspiration
(when you're feeling anything but inspired)
Who doesn’t love being struck by inspiration? You feel more creative. More excited. And filled with more energy when you’re find a little #inspo. Your business needs it. Your projects benefit from it. Your teams and your audience reap the outcomes of your inspiration.
But how can you benefit from inspiration when you’re feeling anything but inspired? For starters, by actively participating and by doing whatever it is you need to create space for the inspiration you so badly want.
Earlier this year, surrounded by the most beautiful energy in Bali, inspiration hit me everywhere. Living there was the greatest leap I had ever taken. My days were open to possibilities, my writing was flowing. I had so many ideas they couldn’t be contained. It was like living in a constant state of creativity. But within months of being back, my days filled with meetings. My nights filled with should and could-haves, and my weekends with wedding season functions. Suddenly my inspiration well felt dry. The ideas I had seemed lame. The motivation to create lagged. I was oh so uninspired.
Was it because I wasn’t in Bali?
Then at a moment of acute frustration, while I was questioning to a friend why I felt so different, so uninspired to work on the things I had been building for so long, she said the one word that clicked it all together: space.
Space is required to summon your inspiration. Space is necessary—physically and emotionally—to keep your ideas fresh and your energy clean. And it doesn’t have to come in the form of extreme measures. More often than not, the space for inspiration happens in the tiny moments and quick decisions throughout our everyday lives. Think about the following:
- How many afternoon or evenings do you keep for yourself? Not for partners. Or family. Or friends. Or work. But for you?
- How often do you let yourself do nothing?
- Do you choose nature and wide open skies to feel the possibility of space?
- Do you turn off your phone to read?
- How many times do you let your mind wander toward what you want, instead of what you should?
These are a few minor changes that can you make to start seeing a major creativity-boost. If you want to feel inspired, find a way to create space for inspiration. It can only happen when you take responsibility to creating the opportunity for it. Let yourself be inspired—it just might change your life.
Maxie McCoy is the energy designer of Maxie, where she shares soul wisdom on the digital video series #maxie and her weekly writings. If you want your spiritual and emotional IQ shooting to the stars, Maxie is the place to be.
Let Maxie be your guide to unlocking your brilliance by following along at maxiemccoy.com. Maxie offers soul sessions, workshops, one-on-one coaching, and words of wisdom you really shouldn't miss. And get tickets to #createcultivateCHI to land a seat a our Mentor Power Hour with Maxie.
Office Inspiration: Kristi Kohut @ Lulu + Georgia
We've got some seriously incredible sponsors lined up for Create + Cultivate in Chicago. If you're lucky enough to be in attendance, you'll find them in your gift bags (the VIP gift bag is worth the cost of admission alone), on the conference floor, and in the coming weeks, we'll highlight a few of our favorites right here on the C+C blog. Because sharing is caring and they're too awesome not share.
First up: Lulu & Georgia, the lifestyle boutique of our dreams.
Artwork by Kristi Kohut, prints available via Lulu + Georgia
We've got some seriously incredible sponsors lined up for Create + Cultivate in Chicago. If you're lucky enough to be in attendance, you'll find them filling up your gift bags (the VIP gift bag is worth the cost of admission alone!), on the conference floor, and in the coming weeks, we'll highlight a few of our favorites right here on the C+C blog. Because sharing is caring and they're too awesome not to.
First up: Lulu & Georgia, the lifestyle boutique of our dreams. They stock everything from furniture to trinkets, all of which you'll see around the conference (plus, you can shop the on-site pop-up!), in addition to some amazing artwork prints from talented female artist including our very own #createcultivateCHI keynote speaker, Garance Doré. We recently discovered (and promptly fell in love with) the work of the Chicago-based mixed-media artist and designer Kristi Kohut (above). Her work is a perfect representation of our brains right now: a little bit of organized chaos and a whole lot of color. Each piece is like a high energy Rorschach test that would be perfect to hang in your office. Color therapy at its best.
Get one of Kristi's prints for under $100 at Lulu + Georgia (alongside Garance's prints and a whole host of other amazing artists) and see them in-person at our Lulu + Georgia pop-up at the Chicago conference!