How to Network and Cultivate Relationships That Level Up Your Career
Time to find your biz bestie.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
The strength of your relationships is oftentimes the biggest indicator of your success because, the truth is, no one is successful alone. With a little reflection and strategy, you will find you have more resources available to you through your extended network than you ever imagined. The key to leveling up in your career is defining, building, and nurturing your community.
So how do you find your people and have these relationships constantly working for you? Here are some foundational elements to turn acquaintances into colleagues, and colleagues into your most trusted friends. The ultimate goal is to have people around you committed to ensuring you are consistently leveling up, and for you to have the opportunity to do the same for others.
Take Inventory of Your Relationships
The first step is to assess where your relationships currently are. Reflect on the strength of your network as related to your professional goals. What relationships do you need to build? Are there any you need to let go of that are holding you back? Don’t be afraid of asking for introductions to other people in your extended network.
By the way, if you are the smartest and most successful person in the room, you’re in the wrong room! Push yourself out of your comfort zone to get out to more events where you can level up into elevated circles of influence. It’s not sleazy or cheesy; it’s just a fact that greater access will guarantee greater success.
Get Clarity on Your Value Proposition
When you are trying to create, build and nurture relationships, your #1 focus should be on the value you provide to others. Once you have provided enough value to build a foundation of trust, only then should you begin asking for what you need. So, first things first, what do you provide that other people need? Is it something general, like positivity or kindness, or a special skill or knowledge? Can you make a helpful introduction for someone? Provide solutions for a problem they have? Make a personal recommendation on an inspiring book or life-changing vacation?
“Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Know your worth. ”
Make Meaningful Connections
There are a few keys to creating deeper connections. You will want to be genuinely interested in others and encourage people to talk about themselves. Any two people will have areas of similarity, whether it be a mutual favorite TV show or a favorite food; build on those and remain curious. Asking good, open-ended questions is a foundational element. You have something to learn from every person, so smile and give honest and authentic appreciation.
A sincere compliment goes a long way. The goal in this stage of connection is to deepen the conversation, create a bond, and leave with the other person thinking: I like that person. I enjoyed that brief interaction, and I’d be open to giving that person more of my time.
Ultimately, the best advice to create connections is the simplest: Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Know your worth. We are all drawn to authenticity. Your uniqueness is your greatest gift. So be true to yourself.
“If you are the smartest and most successful person in the room, you’re in the wrong room!”
Master Your CTA
This is where so many people get awkward and miss the mark, but there is no need for it to be that way. Without a call to action (CTA), your connection stalls. You will want to end every conversation with a CTA that is specific and measurable. Examples include: I’m going to message you tomorrow and get the name of the restaurant you recommended. Or, I’d love to know more about how you handle certain challenges in your job. Can I call your office next week and pick your brain?
You don’t want to be caught in that cycle of saying, “Let’s connect again soon.” This essentially means it’s not a priority for you. If this is a person who you want to build a relationship with, take the responsibility to be the one who provides the specific time frame and desired result of the next interaction.
Follow Up or Fail
Good follow-up alone will elevate you 90% above the average person. To solidify the connection, follow up when you said you would. Send a quick greeting within 24 hours. This is where the Power of 3 comes in: You need at least three different touchpoints to deepen a relationship. That means, for example, a follow-up email, a text message, and a coffee meeting.
Add them on LinkedIn and follow them on social media. It is now super easy to stay connected and remain engaged with other people’s lives. Use your DM’s to drop into people’s inboxes on a regular basis.
Ask for What You Need
You’ve now laid the foundation for a reciprocal relationship by identifying specific people who you want in your network. You’ve provided them immense value. You’ve followed up and stayed in contact. Now is the fun part—asking for something you need. It shouldn’t be that difficult once you have established trust. People generally love to help others. But they can’t offer assistance if they don’t know what you need.
Be specific, be grateful, and offer a “no pressure ask.” This means it’s okay if they say no. Not everyone will be helpful to you. Continue offering value, building your extended network, and being of service to others, and you will eventually get exactly what you need and more.
BONUS! Engaging Conversation Deepeners
How did you get started?
What do you enjoy the most?
What are the challenges of your work?
What do you love to do when you’re not working?
That’s amazing; tell me more.
About the author: After more than a decade producing events for high-profile and celebrity clients at powerhouse companies such as Creative Artists Agency and UCLA Anderson School of Management, Megan Accardo left her corporate career to help women navigate theirs. Prior to that, she earned her master’s degree in marital and family therapy (MFT) and ran her own counseling practice, implementing various programs and groups for women. Now, she is providing high-achieving women with the tools they need to reach a greater purpose and live a more impactful life. You can find her weekly on the Power Your Purpose podcast, at her dynamic workshops around Los Angeles, and inside her signature, one-on-one coaching program, From Stuck to Unstoppable. You can find her at @meganaccardo or meganaccardo.com.
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This story was originally published on October 15, 2019, and has since been updated.
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Pro Tip: How to Approach a Client About a Late Payment
If you‘ve continually met your deliverables, then it’s time to take a stand.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock by Christina Jones Photography
We’ve all more than likely been through this particular situation but I’m curious: how many of you reading this are happy with the way it was handled? In my experience, people are typically afraid to approach a client about late payments because they’re afraid of annoying or upsetting the client.
Your clients do not hold all of the power.
They should be just as concerned with annoying or upsetting you by being late with their payments. And more likely than not, these situations can be easily solved with some good ole fashioned communication. So let’s break down how to approach and communicate with your clients about a late payment.
Why it’s important
You need to get paid, that’s why.
Scenario #1
You’ve been working with a new client and after the first month of service, submitted your invoice. Another month of work has gone by and you’re about to submit your second invoice but haven’t been paid for the first invoice you submitted. You originally agreed to payment schedule terms with your client at the start of your working relationship and put a “net 30” payment deadline in your scope of work and invoice.
If the terms have been agreed upon and this is the first time you and your client are working together, it may take time to get the first payment process into rotation with Human Resources (HR) and Accounts Payable (AP).
While this isn’t ideal for any situation, it’s one of the many hurdles of freelance life and it’s better to prepare for it than not; but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t say anything when a payment is late either.
Say this
“I’m getting ready to submit my second invoice and wanted to let you know I still haven’t received payment for last month’s services. Do you have everything you need from me to get this processed? If so, can you please let me know when payment is expected to come through?”
Don’t say
“….”
The breakdown
When it comes to talking to your client about getting paid, more people opt for saying nothing over something. It’s imperative you keep an open dialogue about payment processing so you can better manage your personal finances.
Freelancers don’t have the luxury of bi-monthly paychecks and your clients will understand this. Remember, your services are an investment and they should respect your time and business by actively communicating when payment may be late.
If you approach your client about a late payment and they’re able to share why it’s running late and when it will be processed, that’s a great first step. Take note and document it in a follow-up email with the information that was shared if the conversation is held in person or over the phone.
From there, hold your clients accountable. If the date comes that they said you’d receive payment and it doesn’t process, follow up with another email. Chances are, there’s another department that handles payments and your client will do their due diligence to make sure you get paid.
Scenario #2
You’ve submitted not one, but two invoices that have not been processed. You’ve approached your client about the first late payment and they gave you a timeline for when it would be processed. Now you have two late invoices and it’s time to submit invoice number three.
Say this
“I’m getting ready to submit my third invoice and have still yet to receive payment for my first or second invoices. The terms we agreed upon have not been met and I’ve followed up several times to try and resolve this matter together. With respect, I will have to cease my services if these late invoices aren’t processed by one week from today. I hope you can understand the difficult circumstance this puts me in and that we can work together to reach a solution.”
I have a feeling this is going to cause some mouths to drop.
What? Cease services?
YES. You need to get paid!
Freelancers, hear me! This is business 101.
Clients and freelancers create a circle. You should be getting just as much value from the relationship as your client is getting from you. This isn’t just measured in dollars. This is measured in reliability and respect. If you have continually met your deliverables and communicated your expectations for payments and they’re not being met, then it’s time to take a stand.
It will be difficult but it is necessary. And it will light the fire under your client’s butt because if you’re doing your job right, having you around makes their work-life easier and they should want to keep you happy and ultimately, paid.
What financial situations have you found yourself in that you wish you had communicated better? Share them in the comments or send me an email at hello@thescopeblog.com.
“Clients and freelancers create a circle. You should be getting just as much value from the relationship as your client is getting from you.”
—Audrey Adair, Founder of The Scope
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.
This post was originally published on April 30, 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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Set Aside 30 Minutes This Week to Do *This* and Keep Your Small Biz On Track
Money talks.
Photo: Christina Morillo for Pexels
Most people we know move gradually make the move from side-hustle to full-time gig. It’s a great plan to be sure that you’re able to support yourself financially while you’re laying the groundwork for your new business, but it can often lead to a bit of a messy overlap between your personal and business funds. (Trust us, we’ve been there.)
You may keep pushing off getting organized until the proverbial “tomorrow” and let the task of figuring it out fall to the bottom of your to-do list. You end up losing money because of missing receipts and not planning for tax deadlines. Follow the four steps below to make getting organized easier, painless, and maybe even a little fun, all in just 30 minutes.
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
There are so many deductions you can take, but it's hard to catch everything. Create a list of things you can deduct to ensure you're not missing anything. Tape the list to a folder and store your receipts in there until you can get them entered into whatever bookkeeping system you use.
Everyone will have different expenses, but a good list to get started with is:
• Web hosting
• Vehicle mileage
• Work travel
• Courses, seminars, licensing, and business-related books
• Shipping and packaging
• Office supplies and equipment
• Health insurance premiums
Step 3: Know what tax forms you need to file, and when
The 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 do I 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 do I file quarterly estimated tax payments? Keep track of estimated payment deadlines or you’ll face a penalty come tax time. Deadlines for taxes on income received each quarter are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 (of the following year).
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. Once you have this done, you've earned a glass of wine and a great stress-free weekend. Some things to do weekly are:
• Send any invoices that are due
• Look at who hasn’t paid and send reminders (+ cash any checks!)
• Pay any outstanding bills
• Pay yourself weekly salary/stipend
Bonus step: Set up a bookkeeping system
Look at you, 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.
Remember—better to get organized now than to create problems for yourself and your business in the future.
This post was originally published on February 7, 2018, and has since been updated.
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8 Signs You Definitely Need to Dump Your Job
Know your self-worth.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
Spotting the warning signs of a bad relationship can be hard when you’re in the thick of it. Especially when you’re trying to stick it out for the sake of (insert life goal here). But a bad job, like a bad partner or friend, can be just as toxic.
We’ve all had horrible Mondays. Where we feel like crawling beneath our desk and hiding out or napping for a few hours. That’s normal— even if you’re in love with your career, off-days are part of the deal.
However, if driving to work is driving you low-key mental, or if it feels like every time you send an email, you’re sending off a tiny bit of your soul, it might be quitting time. You can suffer for your art, but don’t suffer for a job that’s going nowhere. If you’re looking for signs you should quit your job this may be just that sign.
Here are eight red flags that the milk in your work fridge has gone sour, and it’s time to turn a page. (Hello, mixed metaphors to represent your oh so confusing mixed feelings about your j-o-b.)
“if it feels like every time you send an email, you’re sending off a tiny bit of your soul, it might be quitting time.”
1. You feel creatively lost.
There are days when the ideas aren’t coming no matter how many cups of java you down, but IF you are coming up one espresso shot short every day, you might not be in the right job.
Before you take a dive into unemployment, try to do things that will reignite that spark with your job—like go to a lecture or take a class. If that still isn't working and you're drawing blank after blank, day after day, really consider why you think this job is the right job.
Sometimes things just fizzle out, and the best thing we can do for ourselves is realize that it doesn't have to be horribly wrong, for it not to be right.
2. You have an abusive boss.
Bosses, like partners, can be abusive. People who take advantage of their position of power. But being in charge doesn't give anyone the right to treat employees like animals.
If heading into your boss’ office is something you dread because you know no matter what you do it won’t be good enough, it's time to reevaluate the situation. I once had a boss throw trash at my head (yes, for real). I was out the door shortly thereafter.
Know your self-worth and trust in that.
3. You’ve consulted everyone you know about hating your job.
Happy hour? What’s that? When you meet your friends after work, all you do is complain. About work.
The problem with negative energy is that little by little it starts to infiltrate every other part of your life. Others relationships suffer, and you become um, insufferable to be around.
Don’t let this happen. If your friends are avoiding your phone calls, there’s a good shot your endless complaints about work are dragging them down as well.
“If your job makes you feel legit sad and question everything you’re doing with your life, it’s high time to move on. ”
4. You’re compromising your morals.
If you’ve found that you’re moving toward the Dark Side, without having any desire to do so, it’s either time to stand your ground, or change the ground your standing on.
Sometimes at work we are asked to do things we aren’t entirely comfortable with—but these should be things that advance our careers. For example, you don’t like public speaking, but your boss asks you to give a presentation—this is a step outside your comfort zone that’s beneficial to progress.
However if you’re being put in ethically, morally, or even illegal situations, no job is worth that risk.
5. You can’t come up with five good reasons to stay.
Pro and con this beast. Make a list, check it twice, and if you don’t have five really solid reasons to keep your job—financial security aside—it might be time to start getting your ducks in a row.
6 . Your job gives you every kind of the sads.
You know that feeling when you’re up at night, wondering why your dude is ignoring your calls, and you feel sad, lost, drained, pathetic? If your job makes you feel legit sad and question everything you’re doing with your life, it’s high time to move on.
7. Your mom thinks you should quit.
Let’s consult Justin Bieber on this one. If you can sing, “My mama don’t like you and she likes everyone,” about your job… remember: Mom is always right. She was right about that 10th grade boyfriend, and she’s right about this job.
8. You're letting other opportunities pass you by.
Some people in relationships are never satisfied because they are always on the lookout for the next best thing. That's not what I'm suggesting.
But if the work universe is offering up an out—or a better job, or maybe even a less financially lucrative, but potentially amazing job, and you're not taking it out of fear—close your eyes and take a leap.
More often than we care to admit, it necessary to take a step back in order to alter our course, and start down the more meaningful path.
This story was published on February 18, 2019, and has since been updated.
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If You’re Looking for Stylish Yet Practical Workplace Solutions, We’ve Got Them
WFH just got a makeover.
For many of us, our home office is a sanctuary for creativity so it needs to be stimulating to get those juices flowing. But there is definitely a fine line between designing a space that’s visually interesting but also has a purpose too. And with more renters in large cities than homeowners, we need to find practical (and pretty) solutions that suit any space.
This also means versatile, multi-functional furniture and décor that can turn any nook or tiny area at home into a productive workspace, because let’s face it, not all of us have room for a designated home office. When Create & Cultivate editorial director, Sacha Strebe works from home her dining room converts into a home office (Bonus: it’s right next to the kitchen for snacks on-the-go).
In this story, we tapped our C&C team to share how they work from home using the stylish, multi-purpose pieces from our friends at Pottery Barn. You too can design a convertible home office that's both inspiring and productive.
Photo: Courtesy of Pottery Barn
Sacha Strebe, Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate
The Home-Office Tip: Don’t overfill it.
Why It Works: “To limit any distractions when you’re working from home, be sure to create an environment that’s both stimulating yet minimal. You want an inspiring space to get those creative juices flowing but you also need to focus and get your work done. So, create a streamlined, clutter-free space in the house (for me it’s my dining room table) and only keep the bare minimum. I love to have fresh clippings from the garden in a vase next to me while I’m burning a candle to enhance the mood. The only other things I keep nearby are my laptop, a bottle of water, pens, and a notepad. Sometimes I will even put my phone away so I can really hunker down.”
How to Get the Look: “This vase is decorative yet minimal and I just know the palo santo scent of this candle will ramp up my productivity.”
Pottery Barn Quinn Ceramic Vase
$39
Carly Johnson, Senior Director, Brand Marketing
The Home-Office Tip: Think outside the box.
How It Works: “You don’t need to settle for the traditional office furniture for your workspace. A credenza can double as a chic storage solution to keep all of your files and papers, while also being a space to decorate with objets d’art and inspiring pieces. Then you can keep your desk very minimal and work-related.”
How to Get the Look: “This credenza from is a practical size with a classic look that will stand the test of time. And while it’s sitting pretty, you can store all of your office essentials without anyone noticing.”
Pottery Barn Dolores Cane Media Console
$999
Caitlin Shier, Vice President, Brand Partnerships
The Home-Office Tip: Use a console table as a desk.
How It Works: “We don’t always have the luxury of space but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style or function—turn your console table into your part-time desk.”
How to Get the Look: “Place decorative items on this modern rustic console so it adds to the overall design of the room, but keep a space clear front and center or to the side so you can shimmy a stool underneath when you need to work.”
Pottery Barn Malcolm Console Table
$854
Adry Perez, Social Media Manager
The Home-Office Tip: Use stylish storage to hide your office supplies.
How It Works: “If you have a roaming home office as I do then various furniture throughout your apartment can be turned into a temporary workspace. But that means I need somewhere to store my office supplies. My solution is stylish storage.”
How to Get the Look: “I keep notepads, pens, paperwork, and files in my chic rattan baskets either underneath my console or near my couch in the living room, where ever I typically work from home the most—no one will know the wiser. And when you don’t have a designated space, then I recommend this organization system that can be set up on a wall nearby to keep you on task. Working from home can be filled with distractions so any help is appreciated to stay on track. ”
Pottery Barn Jacquelyne Lidded Barrel Basket
$129
Nairi Najarian, Senior Director, Digital Marketing
The Home-Office Tip: Invest in double-duty furniture.
How It Works: “Customize any space to suit your needs with a modular pop-up desk that doubles as stylish storage.”
How to Get the Look: “Since I only work from home a few days a month I need multifunctional pieces that look like stylish furniture when they’re not being used. This modular system is fully customizable and looks like a compact storage area with a hidden compartment—a popup desk hides all of my cords and even has a place to stash my cell phone and smaller desk accessories when not in use.”
Pottery Barn Mission Modular System Collection Pop-Up Desk
$209
Kylie Tansey, Vice President, Sales
The Home-Office Tip: Light it up.
How It Works: “Lighting at home isn’t always optimized for working—think warm, soft, and moody which isn’t really what you need when it’s time to focus on a project or tackle your inbox. That’s why I love to have a task lamp nearby so I can shed some light on the space I’m working from.”
How to Get the Look: “Opt for a table lamp like this stylish bronze lamp which can be moved around the house from the dining table to the sofa, or wherever you feel inspired that day.”
Pottery Barn Stella Task Table Lamp
$137
To shop more of the stylish, multi-purpose pieces from our friends at Pottery Barn, visit potterybarn.com.
There Was No Plan—This Founder Started a Side Hustle to "Make a Few Extra Bucks" and Now It's a Thriving Business
From scratch to success.
This post is in paid partnership with Bootaybag.
We know how daunting it can be to start a new business, especially if you’re disrupting an industry or creating an entirely new one. When there is no path to follow, the biggest question is, where do I start? There is so much to do but before you get ahead of yourself, let’s start at the beginning. To kickstart the process (and ease some of those first-time founder nerves) we’re asking successful entrepreneurs to share their story in our new series, From Scratch. But this isn’t your typical day in the life. We’re getting down to the nitty gritty from writing a business plan (or not) to sourcing manufacturers and how much they pay themselves, we’re not holding back. If you want to know how to start a business, you’ve come to the right place.
“Failure is part of the journey and the reward doesn’t come without a lot of dark, scary moments. We’ve all been there, and we’re in this together.”
—Ellyette Gheno, CEO and Founder, BootayBag
When you’re looking to start your own business, most of us have a five to 10 year timeline in mind before we start making money. Of course, the end goal could be to build an empire but no-one expects for that to happen quickly. But it seems like Ellyette Gheno’s company, BootayBag was an overnight success.
Having grown up with entrepreneurial parents, Gheno was practically born with founder genes in her DNA. So it comes as no surprise that within a day of thinking up BootayBag—a monthly underwear subscription that delivers right to your door—Gheno created a website and launched a side hustle. What started as a way to “earn a few extra bucks” has successfully disrupted the $52 million underwear market (which is expected to grow annually by 3.5%) in just five years and her little aha! moment is changing the game.
So, we tapped the CEO and founder to learn more about her incredible journey from lightbulb moment to starting an undie revolution.
Be sure to keep reading until the end for our exclusive discount code that gives Create & Cultivators 20% off their first month when signing to any monthly subscription.
Did you write a business plan? If yes, was it helpful? If no, what else did you use instead?
“I definitely could have used a business plan. I started BootayBag as a total side hustle to make a few extra bucks, there was no plan. However, if I could go back in time I would have started with a clear vision of what I wanted to create, and what the end goal was. At the very least I would have liked to set intentions, even if it wasn’t a business plan. This would have helped me to later understand my ‘why’.”
How did you come up with the name? What was the process like? How did you know it was the right name?
“So this is my story and I’m sticking to it—guaranteed a laugh. I grew up in the Bay Area obviously listening to rap music. I had seen and heard ‘booty’ spelled as ‘bootay’ and that is the creative genius behind the spelling of BootayBag. After the name was born I had a domain within 24 hours. Looking back I maybe should have run it by someone beforehand."
What were the immediate things you had to take care of to set up the business?
“First came the website and then social channels shortly after. All of the legal stuff came later due to the limited funding I had for the business at the time.”
“A big moment for me was learning to never let myself get too comfortable. I now enjoy being uncomfortable because I know this is how I grow and where positive change comes.”
What research did you do for the brand beforehand?
“My research came at the extent of my self desires. I was solving my own issue of hating digging through sale bins and not wanting to shop for underwear (because what young woman does)? I had undies in my drawer that I am embarrassed to say were beyond their intended life span. I knew that if this was the case for me it had to also be the case for most of my girlfriends. Lucky for me, it ended up being the case for most young girls outside of my inner circle, and that helped me discover my ‘why’ behind the brand.”
How did you find the manufacturer/production facility that you use? Did you have any bad experiences? What did you learn?
“This is a hard one. I have learned what I know now about manufacturing because, unfortunately, of many bad experiences. I would advise to always ask questions, seek insight and advice from others, and basically trust no one. Ha, ha! Be sure to check references, run small tests and batches, and never give them all your money upfront.”
Did you self-fund the company? Did you raise seed money or initial investment money?
“BootayBag has been totally self-funded. Looking back, I am actually so thankful for this as I was able to make mistakes with my own money versus someone else. I had the advantage that I didn’t need funding to bring my vision to life in the beginning stages. However, it is definitely more of a step-by-step, slow-moving process when you’re bootstrapped.”
Photo: Courtesy of BootayBag
How much did you pay yourself? How did you know what to pay yourself?
"In the beginning when it was just a side hustle the whole point was to pay myself. But when I decided that this wasn’t going to just be a revenue stream for myself but that I wanted to make hires and build a brand, I came last on the payroll scale. It still always goes back to what I am trying to do—if I need to make a hire and I can’t afford to do it, I take a pay cut.”
How big is your team now? What has the hiring process been like for you?
“Hiring is hard because your team is seriously so important. I love the saying, ‘You can’t have an A team with B players.’ I’ve failed a lot in this department, especially in the beginning. I just felt lucky to have anyone work for me at the time which I later learned was the totally wrong approach. The best way to learn how to hire is to be prepared as if you’re the one being interviewed. Know who you are interviewing, ask all the hard questions, call the references, and give a training period for you to work alongside them.”
“It always goes back to what I am trying to do—if I need to make a hire and I can’t afford to do it, I take a pay cut.”
Did you hire an accountant? Who helped you with the financial decisions and set up? What do you recommend?
“No, I didn’t at first however, I quickly learned it is so critical to do so—that was a big ‘omg’ moment. Please, for the love of God, get an accountant. At the very least get someone who you pay as a consultant to help you set it all up. Cash is key, and how you set up terms, cash flow modeling, payroll, budgets, and tax compliance is so important. You have to have a professional in the field to guide you through it. We can’t be good at all the things—get help.”
What has been the biggest learning curve during the process of establishing a business?
“A big moment for me was learning to never let myself get too comfortable. I now enjoy being uncomfortable because I know this is how I grow and where positive change comes. Every moment that I think I have everything figured out, I don’t! Lol. Reality settles in and all of a sudden everything I thought I knew is wrong and it’s a whole new perspective. I almost fear the comfort level because I know something is around the corner. I can now thrive being uncomfortable because I know this how I grow and how good change comes.”
“No one should know your numbers better than you.”
How did you get retailers to start stocking your product? Were you told no? How did you handle that rejection? What advice can you share?
“We are our own online retailer as of now, however, rejection comes more likely than not in other directions. Every time we drop a new style that not everyone likes and it feels like rejection. I know we can’t cater to everyone, but you still try to and think you just might one of these times. The only advice I have is that they aren’t rejecting you, it’s not personal and it happens to everyone.”
Do you have a business coach or mentor? How has this person helped? Would you recommend one?
“Mentors are key. My favorite (and most shocking) discovery with entrepreneurs is they will most likely help you if you ask for it. The key here is to be very direct with what you want from them and be respectful of their time. Utilize your network and continue to grow it with every opportunity you get.”
Photo: Courtesy of BootayBag
How did you promote your company? How did you get people to know who you are and create buzz?
“I knew what felt like absolutely nothing, about anything. In the beginning, I started with a concept that I knew I needed and felt like other girls might need too. I tested locally first with pop-ups and events, and put it out there on social media to see if the concept stuck before I put any money behind it. Being very open to everyone’s opinions, ideas, and feedback is what helped me grow the idea into a brand.”
What is one thing you didn’t do in the setup process, that ended up being crucial to the business and would advise others to do asap?
“I wrote myself off in the finance section right away—I don’t do excel, I am not good with numbers. Well, tough luck to me. No one should know your numbers better than you. So with that I learned how to manage and own that even though I didn’t want too."
“We can’t be good at all the things—get help.”
For those who haven’t started a business (or are about to) what advice do you have?
Do it! But do it the safe and smart way... where you can test the waters without putting your whole life savings into it from the get-go. If this all went away tomorrow, I’ve grown so much and learned more about myself, managing people, and business than any other course of life could have taught me.
Anything else to add?
I would love to touch on how important it is to support one another in our individual journey’s, both professional and personal! This is why I love love love and am continuously inspired by Create + Cultivate so much. It can feel so lonely and scary, but you are not alone in it - someone has already paved the way for you. Ask for help, learn from other peoples failures who did it before you. Failure is part of the journey and the reward doesn’t come without a lot of dark, scary moments. We’ve all been there, and we’re in this together.
Photo: Courtesy of BootayBag
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT CODE FOR CREATE & CULTIVATOR’S
If you’re interested in getting 20% off your first month, then use our exclusive discount code CC20 when you sign up to any monthly subscription at their website, bootaybag.com
In Her Shoes: This Fashion Blogger Shares Why You Should Treat Your Side Hustle Like a Full-Time Job
“The only way a creative idea becomes a full-fledged reality is when you dedicate enough time to it to help it grow.”
Coco Bassey’s life has been anything but typical. The Nigerian-born New York- and Atlanta-based content creator spends her days in the corporate marketing world and her nights and weekends hustling away on her fashion blog, Millennielle. As a cancer survivor who grew up in Canada, Czech Republic, Nigeria, Germany, and the USA, she’s got a world view most millennials don’t, and it shows. We partnered with Jessica Simpson to chat with Coco on her personal style and professional pursuits—check out the Q&A below!
What do you wear when you want to feel most confident (shoes included)?
Even though I love a dressed-up moment every now and then, my everyday personal style is all about comfort and elevated basics! To me, nothing beats a pair of flattering jeans and a crisp white button-up shirt, especially when worn well. I gravitate towards comfort when it comes to footwear too, my shoe collection is full of statement sneakers, flatforms and block heels!
“The only way a creative idea becomes a full-fledged reality is when you dedicate enough time to it to help it grow.”
If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be?
It would easily, hands-down, be Rihanna’s.
Describe your style in 3 words.
Elevated, feminine and effortless.
You balance a job in corporate marketing with your work on Millennielle. What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a creative idea while working full-time?
Treat your creative endeavor as professionally as you do your full-time job — that means monthly planning, reporting, pitching new business… and delegating tasks that you simply cannot take on yourself. It can be really easy to get home from a full day of work and want to turn off your brain for the day, but the only way a creative idea becomes a full-fledged reality is when you dedicate enough time to it to help it grow!
Love Coco’s style? Shop her look from Jessica Simpson below, and get $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with code create10! One use per customer.
Moya Lace Trim Knit Top (similar)
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School of Side Hustle Lesson 4: From Market to Marketing!
All the tools you’ll need to market your business.
For those of you just joining our Create & Cultivate x Weebly School of Side Hustle Series, where have you been? Missing out, that’s where.
Luckily, we love a recap.
In “Lesson One: Building a Brand Online,” we talked to Emily McDowell, founder of The Emily McDowell Studio about the basics of brand building.
In “Lesson Two: From Concept to Commerce,” we talked to illustrator and artist, Carly Kuhn (@theCartorialist) about her advice for selling online and what kind of websites she prefers.
In “Lesson Three: Don’t Just Build a Website, Build a Business,” Kelsey Kelley of KKelley Designs walks us through her hustle and flow.
Caught up? Good. Because it’s full steam ahead for “Lesson 4: From Market, To Marketing.”
Watch: Lesson Four From Market to Marketing
At stage right, we’ve got @DazeyLA.
Dazey LA is a brand that stands out.
And yet it’s founder, Danielle Nagel, says she started off the same way so many businesses begin: with a side hustle. (Are you sensing a pattern here?!)
“I started off with odd jobs for friends, print shops, doctors offices, and slowly worked my way up,” Danielle shares. “Fast forward 6 years later and I was full-time designing apparel graphics for large companies like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Forever 21, Macy's and Nordstrom to name a few! I had a great career as a young designer but all I really wanted was to start my own brand and design shirts that stood for something.”
The idea of standing for something and taking a stand against fast fashion was vital to Danielle’s success. From the start her brand has been about transparency-- this wasn’t only a marketing ploy.
But like so many others, even Danielle had the concept, she had to take “the leap” we talked about in Lesson 2. “I still always say my biggest challenge was actually gathering the courage to start Dazey. It took me years to finally do it. Self-doubt and other peoples negative opinions can so easily slip in. Of course, it wasn’t easy sailing after that, every season of my company presents new challenges. You just have to learn to take them one at a time. Believe in yourself.”
Photos by @Dazey_LA
Danielle adds that she had to work to be taken seriously. “It can be hard to be taken seriously, especially when I come skipping into a factory wearing pink shoes and spice girl buns. I may not look it but I can be a tough bitch when push comes to shove and I will stand my ground and protect my company. Ask for a better price and better product every single time! Find production people you trust and who respect you. It will save you some serious headaches. Never forget you are already endlessly brave for starting a company in the first place, use that power!”
This is something we talk about at C&C all the time: Your power tools. Standing your ground. Protecting your company. Walking into a warehouse and asking for exactly what you want.
But you also want tools on the backend to do the same. You want tools that work for you-- not against you. Tools that make your site searchable. Tools that make sure you are getting all of eyeballs on your product.
Katie Swett, Director of Product at Weebly knows all about this. When it comes to marketing 101, Katie says,
“Learn to use your tools! The big brands have huge marketing teams and budgets to power intelligent marketing. BUT a lot of that power is now available to small businesses."
Platforms like Weebly Promote can help you automate campaigns, personalize content, and market uniquely to different segments.
Katie also encourages those new to marketing to be sure to collect email addresses. “Don’t wait to get started with marketing! Even if you are not ready to sell your product, it’s always a great idea to create a Coming Soon Page that collects the email addresses of people interested in learning more about your business. This list of subscribers can start small with friends and family, but will be meaningful over time,” she says.
As Danielle has, Katie encourages new brands to get to know their customers. “Respond to them when they reach out on social media, ask them questions, listen to their complaints and use that information to build a community that reflects your brand.” More so, she says you need to, “Be your authentic self! You have a huge advantage when you’re starting, you can be real and authentic with your customers. That’s harder for bigger brands to do. Tell you story, be transparent, make them feel like they’re talking to a human. That’s the little guys secret weapon.”
It was certainly part of Danielle’s secret weapon.
So let’s fill up your arsenal a bit more.
We’ve touched a bit on marketing, but we want to dig a little deeper. In Lesson 4: From Market to Marketing, Jaclyn Johnson talks with Katie who is going to walk you through marketing tools and techniques, which include Weebly's latest product, Weebly Promote, an integrated marketing platform.
As discussed in Lesson 4's video, an essential part of marketing, is the kind of grassroots engagement you do with your followers. Because, once you’ve built your brand, your site, and your following, you need to keep said followers engaged. It’s an important part of the game. So we asked Katie Swett for some other pro-tips on how tools like "Weebly Marketing" and help you build and maintain your customer base." These automated tools allow you to work smarter, not harder.
With Weebly you can:
Build brand awareness and drive traffic to your site by creating Facebook ads right from the Weebly platform.
Use the benefits of Automation. Abandon Cart Emails allow you to automatically detect when a customer leaves a cart with products in it and sends them an email follow-up with their abandoned products. This lets you potentially win back customers you may have lost without doing any work.
Try different prices, sales, offers and messaging and see what works best for your audience. Weebly has an Insights dashboard that gives you analytics on your computer or phone so you know what's working (and what's not) right away.
Break your audience up into targeted groups. Then you can send different emails to people that visit you every week, than you do to people who have only visited one. Or, different emails to people who normally buy mens clothes, than you do to people how normally buy womens. This personalization helps you send more resonant emails to smaller groups, without overwhelming people with too many.
Build up a list of subscribers. Email marketing is still the most effective marketing tool to maximize your ROI (return on investment). It’s is how you start a relationship with your audience, and how you will ultimately turn visitors into customers.”
For Danielle, part of her marketing plan means connecting with her customers on a “deeply personal level” as well as “sharing what the day-to-day life of an entrepreneur really looks like.”
It’s all about connection.
Katie likewise encourages small businesses to connect with their customers on an intimate level. She says, “Social media has made it easier than ever to start communicating with potential customers. We always recommend heading out to farmers markets or craft fairs to have those face to face conversations with your customers. You will be amazed how grateful they are to speak with you and learn more about your story. In turn, you will get real feedback from customers that can dramatically shape how your grow and iterate.”
That doesn’t mean it’s the right direction for everyone, but for Danielle and Dazey LA, it gives her work meaning. “I noticed so many of the boss babes I looked up to didn’t share the nitty gritty or their biggest tips and tricks,” Danielle says. “Those were the things I was dying to see when I was still in my corporate design job daydreaming of starting a company. Being open has hands down been my biggest asset. So many small businesses feel the need to look more professional or bigger than they actually are. I choose to do to the opposite and embrace being a small one-gal company. People are so much more excited to support something small, real, and relatable. My suggestion to people is to be as true to yourself and your mission as possible. Align your beliefs with your company and then promote the hell out of it!”
Ahh. Promote the hell out of it. That’s part of your job as a small business. And you need to get comfortable with self-promotion, even if there are other parts of launching that scare you.
Danielle assures all her side-hustle people who are unsure of the next step that you don’t have to know “business” to create a successful business. “You don’t have to know anything!! You just need to find the people who do." I knew how to design shirts and that was basically it. You learn so much as you go and there is no rules to follow. Put yourself out there and you will figure it out. It’s the wild west baby! - Also Google is your best friend.” Shop Danielle's latest collection here.
And so is Weebly, we would add.
Have more questions, drop us a line below and we’ll get them answered!
Be sure to look back at Lesson One: Building a Brand Online, Lesson 2: From Concept to Commerce, and Lesson 3: Don’t Just Build a Website, Build a Business.
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TCB: Side Hustle Queens, Part II
All hail the side-hustle—the art of pursuing a passion project even when it's not the only thing on your plate. Here, the second part of our series on talented woman who are getting it done, even when there's a lot to do.
All hail the side-hustle—the art of pursuing a passion project even when it's not the only thing on your plate. Here, the second part of our series on talented woman who are getting it done, even when there's a lot to do.
Name: Courtney Halverson
Full Time Gig: Film and TV Actress
Current Side Hustle: Fashion Blogging over at Pretty Little Fawn.
Elevator Pitch: I'm a bit of a hodge-podge, but I think in the best way possible. Because I started as an actress when I was young—I started in film when I was 13—it made the side hustle of blogging a lot easier. I was already comfortable(ish) with a camera, so the only thing that was hard was learning how to express myself rather than a character. I still find myself posing a little too much, and keeping my reader's at arms length because I'm so used to hiding myself behind someone else's words. I've had to work hard to break down the barriers and share as much as I can. I think I'm getting better at it the older I get—probably because pretending is exhausting!
How you balance the two: I started blogging a few years ago when I was in between filming, and to be honest, when I was bored. It helped me through a slower patch in my career and gave me something to remain focused on. Now that I'm busy on both sides of my career, the balancing has become more important. As much as I love blogging, I have to remind myself that acting has always been and will always be my first love, and that blogging is something I do for fun. So sometimes that means skipping out on a blogger-party in favor of working on lines, and remembering to not wear things that are too 'fashion-y' to an audition where I'm supposed to be an average college student.
Name: Natalie Alcala
Full Time Gig: Senior Editor, Racked LA
Current Side Hustle: Founder, Fashion Mamas
Elevator Pitch: Fashion Mamas is a members-only network for local moms who work in the fashion industry—designers, editors, stylists, models, publicists, bloggers, etc. This influential group meets often for playdates and other outings to discuss work, share baby stories, swap style notes and seek non-judgmental support, all while watching our little ones grow together. Fashion Mamas LA launched December 2014 with 10 members, and we're now nearly 100 members strong. Next up: Fashion Mamas NY!
How you balance the two: Organization is key. I toggle between my two inboxes all day long, side by side, and place items in their designated folders as they come. Also, being an early bird helps, because I'm often up and ready for the world by 5am, plowing through my work before my son wakes up at 6:30. Having a child really tests both your productivity and efficiency. You know that old saying, "You have as many hours in a day as Beyonce"? I get it now. You'd be surprised how much shit you can get done in 24 hours!
Name: Kaitlynn Carter
Full Time Gig: The Western Wild
Current Side Hustle: Foray Collective
Elevator Pitch: Western Wild is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about everything from what I'm wearing, to dating advice, to the chia breakfast parfaits I made this morning. Foray Collective is the new fashion e-commerce site I've developed with a friend, which serves as a venue for emerging designers and style influencers to come together so consumers will have a uniquely curated shopping experience.
How you balance the two: Western Wild is my day-to-day focus and something that I am constantly coming up with new material for and being creative with. Foray Collective is what I see as a long term project. I'm passionate about both so it's easy to balance the two! As long as you love what you're doing, there's always time.
Name: Marah Lidey (left), Director of Mobile; Naomi Hirabayashi (center), Chief Marketing Officer; Chloe Lee (right), Jr. Software Engineer, all at DoSomething.org
Photo by Keri Goff
Current side hustle: Co-creators of Shine
Elevator pitch: Shine is a daily text to help you slay the day. 1 in 2 working women say that they struggle with issues of self-doubt or feel a lack of confidence at work. We want to use technology to change that!
How you balance the two:
Marah:
One of my very best friends passed away last year, and I always used to ask her the same thing. She’d crush her full-time job and have 2-3 things going on the side at the same time. She inspired me in so many ways and made me realize, that I myself feel more balanced and creative when I have a full plate of diversified projects. While I don’t believe being ‘busy’ should ever be a point of pride, I love the feeling of being mentally stimulated throughout the whole day—and kicking my boots (hi Fall) off at the end of the day, knowing I crushed multiple projects across totally different verticals.
Like with other passion projects, when working on Shine I am able to start my day by thinking creatively about something personal that I care about, and at the same time be hyper-organized, passionate and on-my-feet in my day-to-day role as Director of Mobile at DoSomething.org, where I work on a lot of exciting cross-functional mobile projects. I’m loving getting to pursue two passions at once.
The other major factor that helps with balance is that all three of us work full-time at a place that not only encourages entrepreneurship and side hustle, but exemplifies it. Both our current CEO (who is leaving to rock another social change org) and our incoming CEO have created social ventures on the side that have a massive impact today. It’s been so inspiring to see two badass women lead a growing organization, and build new initiatives on the side at the same time.
Lastly and maybe most importantly, having a partner that I can rely on, bounce ideas off of and relax with has made all of the difference at this exciting time. My boyfriend is an incredible resource for me and he, along with some awesome friends, has made realize how important it is to have a strong support system when you’re pursuing multiple passions at once!
Naomi:
1. To balance both, you need to find your place and your people.
My place: I work at an organization that breeds creativity, entrepreneurship and hustle. The vibe of the DoSomething.org office feels way more Silicon Alley start up then not-for-profit org. When we hire, we look for three things in the new employee: will they hit a home run in 90 days, would you want to be in a bunker with them (DoSomething.org is a straight up family) and finally will they be doing something cool in five years? Doing cool shit is part of the DoSomething.org world and part of the culture that DoSomething.org leadership, Nancy Lublin and Aria Finger, have built: we move fast, we’re passionate, and we create.
My people: Remember that friend in high school (Hi, Jenni Bobbio!) that you would talk to for two hours on the phone with (high likelihood: it was the famed clear, plastic landline of the 90s)? You had just spent all day together but those conversations, covering everything from boys, to school stress, to your parents (they just don’t understand), etc., was pure elation. In Marah and Chloe, and in a different stage of life, the topics may have changed but the feeling is the same. I can’t get enough. Our conversations are full of honesty, vulnerability, and productivity and I love it. They’re my people and that matters a lot when you’re doing something on the side, getting less sleep, and working on something purely out of passion. Lastly, having a partner that gives me daily confidence, drive and inspiration makes all of this whole (Hi, Ruar!).
2. Side hustle is an advantage, not a distraction.
Ever heard of Le Pain Quotidien? In addition to having a killer happy hour deal (half off wine until 9pm, amazing), the friendliest staff around (shout out to the team at the Flatiron location!), and free wifi, LPQ (yeah, we’re on that acronym level) also serves as the unofficial Shine office.
At least twice a week, before work, we’re meeting to hustle away at Shine at LPQ. Usher confessions, yes, I have a lot more coffee and croissants in my system but getting a head start on the day with a passion project is addicting.
As a result, by working on Shine, my time management has approved, my creativity has improved, and my focus has improved. If the project is right, aka: you’re in love with it, side hustle isn’t a distraction from your full time job, it’s an advantage. Your knowledge and experience gets validated, you own something which makes you feel more confident, and that competency transcends to your personal and professional sense of self.
3. It’s easy to balance things you f’ing believe* in.
I believe in Shine. I’m obsessed with it. I believe in DoSomething.org. I’m obsessed with it. In the words of the great philosopher, Eminem, you only have one shot, one opportunity. I believe in the work I do. The growth and success of DoSomething.org and the growth and success of Shine result in, respectively, more young people taking action around social issues they care about and more women gaining confidence to own their day and their career. Seeing the big picture and being obsessed with the societal impact of your project / org’s success makes it very easy to balance.
Chloe:
By being involved in a project you’re genuinely passionate about and allowing for personal time. Shine is a project that I love working on and as an extra bonus, I’m fortunate to adore my friends who I’m working on it with. I feel lucky to be involved in a project with my best friends while having a blast and learning a ton. This passion and respect for your partners is key to balancing the two because then, it sort of comes naturally.
When the side hustle is something you find yourself prioritizing in your week, you know you’re involved in the right thing. Shine is a project that I love working on in my free time and it’s so important to me that I want to do my best work on it. I also know that I produce my best work when I have some me time, so in order to balance things in life, I prioritize Shine and other personal aspects of life, try to practice good communication, and am open to rearranging my schedule.
Communication is key for this, both with close ones you spend your time with and partners you’re working with. Luckily, I have the best people surrounding me both in life and Shine that it’s easy to be honest when anything has to give or take. Even more so, the support and enthusiasm about Shine both from Marah and Naomi and friends and family not directly involved (especially from my parents and my boyfriend) makes me work even harder around Shine.
Lately, I’ve been waking up early to settle into my day and work on Shine - it’s been a great way to start the morning with a project you’re passionate about and sets a great energy for the day. In fact, many of our Shine meetings are in the morning - there’s no better way to start off with best friends and positivity!
TCB: Side Hustle Queens
All hail the side-hustle—the art of pursuing a passion project even when it's not the only thing on your plate. Here, four talented woman who are getting it done, even when there's a lot to do.
All hail the side-hustle—the art of pursuing a passion project even when it's not the only thing on your plate. Here, four talented woman who are getting it done, even when there's a lot to do.
Name: Brandy Pham
Full Time Gig: Wife, Mommy, Brandy Pham Jewelry
Current Side Hustle: Planogr.am has been a side hustle for a year now, but turned into full time along side @brandypham
Elevator Pitch:
I dreamt up Planogr.am because Instagram was such a vital part of our Brandy Pham jewelry business. If I didn't post, I didn't get a sell, and my husband quickly called that out. Being a new parent was a full time job in itself and I would have to plan out my Instagram content and draft my captions ahead of time (nap times and late at night). I would take photos and edit on my iPhone, e-mail to myself, visually plan my feed on photoshop, draft my captions in Evernote, set alarms for when to post, then copy and paste to Instagram. My husband thought I was insane, so he set out to make Planogr.am come to life for me. Now you can plan your Instagram content, draft captions, schedule each post all on one platform via mobile or web dashboard seamlessly. It's beautifully designed, simple to use, and will make your life easier whether you're a brand, business, agency, or power Instagrammer. This was truly a labor love!
How you balance the two:
Some days are better than others, but having a schedule and routine has been the key to our sanity and happiness. I love knowing exactly what's going to happen each day and it keeps my boys happy as well. Even though I have two businesses, I always make sure I take care of my family first.
My husband and I both take care of our toddler at home, and since we are business owners as well as partners in work and life, we never really stop working. We had to set boundaries, so everyday, after dinner, we take Theo out for a nice long walk and we always leave our phones at home. That's our time to really talk and have personal engagement.
We don't sleep as much as we want to, but you have to do what you have to do for the life you want. At night, we usually work until midnight or if we're on a tight deadline, we try our best to be in bed by 2-3am since our son wakes up at 6:30am on the dot. We usually put in some work on the weekends as well... it never really stops, but that's the life of entrepreneurs, right? We make sure we take some days off and some nights we just put on a movie and decompress. We try to stop and remind ourselves to enjoy the journey and have fun in the process!
We don't sleep as much as we want to, but you do what you have to do for the life you want.
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Name: Eva Goicochea
Full Time Gig: Founder/Web Designer/Brand strategist at eg° studio
Current Side Hustle: I co-founded Tinker Watches and Hush Supply Co.
Elevator Pitch:
Tinker: Build-your-own, minimalist watches
Hush Supply: Well-designed, get-lucky essentials
How you balance the two: I used a LOT of tools to stay organized and make sure to organize my in-box every.single.day. I recommend: assistant.to, Sunrise, Wave Apps, and Proposify. Also, if you work in a team, get on Trello.
Name: Monica Wang
Full Time Gig: Director of Finance at Saucey
Current Side Hustle: Photographer
Elevator Pitch:
I am a big believer in life is what you make out of it. I actively seek out opportunities and work incredibly hard to make things happen. I am constantly learning, exploring, and practicing my craft, whatever it may be, because it really does take that extra amount of effort to be great at it. My philosophy is if you want something you have to go after it with everything you got and put your words into action.
How you balance the two:
For me, I am always juggling between time and my innate desire to do everything (I get major FOMO), but I have accepted that I cannot physically nor mentally handle it all. That was a hard lesson for me to learn. I realized that I had to choose my opportunities strategically and map out a business plan for photography just the way I created business plans for Saucey. That helped me to weed out gigs that don't contribute to my overall life goals. I try to use every opportunity as a stepping stone to learn and connect with others and that has helped me to get my name out there quickly within the industry.
Weed out gigs that don't contribute to your overall life goals.
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Name: Meghan Donovan
Full Time Gig: Vice President, MSLGROUP
Current Side Hustle: Blogger behind wit & whimsy
Elevator Pitch:
I currently oversee a team working on one of the world's most recognized Silicon Valley brands as a VP in PR & marketing. When I'm not developing integrated plans or strategy, playing manager or providing client counsel, I pen my fashion and lifestyle blog, wit & whimsy which I created in 2006! See also: Brunch fiend. Soulcycle addict. Ice coffee enthusiast. Fan of wit.
How you balance the two:
After over eight years of balancing both I can say that what I've learned is that you'll never actually achieve perfection when it comes to the art of balance. But you can employ tactics for running your side hustle like you do your career to make the two manageable. These include scheduling in-person meetings to foster key relationships, finding mentors that will help inspire and motivate you and limiting your "office hours" to help diminish burnout. I've certainly had those days and weeks where I feel like I'm spinning but when I do feel that way, I know it's time to hit the pause button. I unplug, do something for myself that's unrelated to either my job or my blog and I spend time with friends that help rejuvenate me! Remember that you are not alone and can't do it all but you are powerful, capable and determined and those are all to be respected and celebrated!