The Most Inspirational Thing You'll Read All Day

Mel Robbins used to work all day long. She never set a stop time and so, she never stopped. But the renowned motivational speaker, creator of The 5 Second Rule, and a best-selling author and Audible Original host, is on a new track-- one that took her many years and 5 seconds to figure out. 

At 41 her life was a mess. (Self-admittedly.) She couldn't get out of bed. She was unemployed. And then she changed her life with the 5 Second Rule. Laying in bed Mel counted backward from 5 to zero. 

In that blip of time she activated her prefrontal cortex, which, according to Mel (and science) "is the part of the brain in charge of decision making, strategic thinking, acting with courage, learning new behavior, and working towards goals."

She's now the host of the Audible Original, "Kick Ass with Mel Robbins," where she talks to real people with real problems. Sound like you?  

Read on. 

You've said that dreams deserve 5 minutes in the morning before you let the world in. Can this kind of thinking be applied to any point during the day and have the same effect?

Most of us live our day-to-day in a reactionary mindset. We’re rolling through our to-dos, firing out emails, doing the daily chores and tasks, and getting what needs to be done finished.

And, as long as you’re putting out fires, you aren’t moving the ball down the field on what matters most to you. We knock things off of our to-do lists because that feels productive, but because we never actually make any real progress on the things that matter, we often still feel a void in our lives.

Your dreams will never come to life if you’re checking boxes off your to-do list. Instead, you need to take deliberate time each day to make meaningful progress on your goals.

I do this by carving out 30 minutes each morning of protected time to work on my goals.

There’s a reason the morning is the best time to work on your goals–and it lies in neuroscience.

According to Duke University professor and researcher Dan Ariely, we all have a two or three hour window of peak productivity every single day–and it starts an hour after you wake up.

So, if you pop out of bed at 6 a.m., your peak thinking and productivity window is 7 a.m. – 9 a.m.

I do whatever it takes to find 30 minutes before 7:30 a.m. to plan out my day and spend some time on a project that matters to me.

Why else is it important to plan and do the most important stuff first thing? Because it’s the best time for the brain to focus on the tasks or goals that advance your own personal or professional goals.

Answering emails, taking phone calls, sitting in meetings have a way of taking over your schedule and rarely lead to making major improvements in your life.

The concept of “30 before 7:30” cannot be done once you walk into the office. You must do this at home, at your favorite coffee shop, on the train, or sitting in your car in the parking lot.

Do not try to do this at work. The moment you walk into your office, answer that first email, or take that first call–your day is gone. Your attention is no longer being focused on your own goals and dreams.

For your own happiness and to protect the time necessary to focus on the deep work, the first two hours of your day must be grabbed by you. Now, if every once and a while you’ve a morning in which it’s impossible to take 30, you can leave it until the evening. But I’ve found that most of the time “later” becomes “not today.” At night, you’re tired–and you’re about 12 hours past your peak thinking window.

If you are making progress on projects that matter, even if for just a few minutes a day, you are winning the long game.

For our readers who have a hard time setting professional boundaries-- they're burnt out, they're replying to emails constantly, they never say no, they work weekends-- what's your advice?

When I find myself working around the clock, I remember Parkinson's Law.

Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the amount of time given to it, which means that if you never set your own boundaries, you'll literally ALWAYS be working.

And that not only wears you down–it wears other people in your life down, too. A recent study found 33% of people answer messages in the middle of the night. And you don’t need me to tell you that checking your emails at 3 AM puts you at risk for burnout and emotional exhaustion.

Instead of endlessly working and being addicted to your phone from sunrise to sunset, try this: Set a time today that you will absolutely stop working.

As someone who used to work all day long, I was amazed what happened when I started setting a quitting time, something I now do every single day.

Instead of becoming less productive, I actually got more done. With my quitting time in mind, I was more focused, concentrated, and made even more progress.

A quitting time is the difference between an unfocused 12 hours of work or a productive, distraction-free 8 hours–in which you get the same amount of work done.

If you can get serious about managing distractions and removing them, you will find your productivity is off the charts. Every interruption takes 25 minutes to fully recover from and get back into focus mode.

If signing off at 5 PM makes you nervous, try this method for just one day. Before you get to work, take your 30 before 7:30 and plan out your day. Once you get into the office, write your quitting time down and start on your #1 project of the day before you check your email. Keep your phone on silent and your computer’s notifications off. If you find yourself getting tired, get up and walk for 5 minutes.

By 5PM, you will have most likely accomplished as much as you would working even longer.

Try this one day at a time and you’ll find that the extra time to recharge at night actually makes you even more productive the next day!

On a related note, the art of managing distractions is one of the superpowers of the 21st century. If you can tune out the notifications, the noise, and the chatter, you will get twice as much work done in half the time–allowing you to have quality time with your family and loved ones at night.

For young working women there are fear-based thoughts that if they don't do all of the above (are the last one the leave the office, say no to answering emails on the weekend, etc.) there will be someone behind them happy to take their place. What do you say to that?

The key word here is “value.” There’s a major difference between showing up at work (no matter how many hours you are online) and providing real value.

If you make your boss’ life easier and you further your boss’ strategic objectives, you are providing an incredible amount of value–and your boss will not think about firing you, even if you set clear boundaries around your time.

The secret to providing value is to ask yourself one question every day.

It’s to put yourself in your boss’ shoes and ask: What is the most valuable thing that I can do for him/her?

When you choose which projects to work on, you should actively seek to align your workload and your priorities with your boss’ objectives. While it may be more fun for you to work on projects that are not as important, when you become a proactive strategic contributor, you become an invaluable asset to your team.

If you’re currently not a huge value-add to your company, you can change that starting now. Tomorrow, ask your boss to talk and find out his or her strategic objectives–and start to align your work in this direction.

This question also gives you a formula for how you will answer other people who ask for your time and energy at work.

Many of us, especially women, want to please everyone in our lives, and it’s no easier to say no to a colleague or your boss as it is to say no to a friend or family member.

At work, you need to get clear on your priorities. And then, when someone asks you to do something that you don’t have time for or that would hurt your work on your most important projects, here is how to say no without feeling guilty:

First: understand that you are not saying NO to the person. You are saying it to the task. You are also saying YES to prioritizing your own time. If a colleague asks you, acknowledge the request and thank the person for thinking of you, explain why you don’t have the time due to your other projects, and then offer a lifeline by helping them brainstorm another person or offer guidance if they need help.

Second: if your boss is the one to ask for a request, use it as a strategic, high visibility moment. Listen to the request and then say that you are aiming to help them with strategic priorities and ask what is most important for you to focus on: this new project or your current work.

Remember: if you don’t prioritize your time and learn to say no, someone else will be the one to dictate your priorities, which is not the key to making progress at work.

It’s not just important to “say no” to projects that don’t align with your strategic goals. It’s also important to “say no” to being available all the time. If you don’t take care of yourself, it’s impossible show up as your best self. Research shows that today’s pressure to always be accessible has left more than half of workers feeling burned out and in desperate need of a reset button. In the United States alone, 200 million days are lost from work each year due to mental health issues, which is costing employers over $100 billion.

Researchers believe that one reason women are not promoted at the same levels men are is because of burnout. Women face high expectations in the home and at work (especially be having to be “always on” even after work hours).

Being “always on” is impossible. Make sure to prioritize things like sleep, getting time outdoors, exercising, not sitting all day, and spending time with friends.

And, if you’re actively aligning your workload with your company’s top priorities and getting more done in less time by managing distractions, you will become an invaluable employees who can set boundaries–and not have to worry about being replaced by someone else.

Sign up for Audible today! And listen to Kick Ass with Mel Robbins. Change your life already. 

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Finding Honest Inspiration with Working Wonder: Kate Sands

Beauty and fashion blogger Katie Sands is #alwaysbeinghonest. It’s why she created the hashtag-- and why her Instagram handle is @honestlykate. She’s not only living authentically, she’s creating her own future, using her platform to reflect her journey as a young woman in NYC. 

Wondering how? By asking for what she wants. #WorkingWonder. 

“If you want it, ask,” she’s told her 100k+ followers. “This is something I always try to live by. You’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t ask for it. What’s the worst that’s going to happen, someone will say no?” 

It’s a simple concept that many of us find so hard to execute. 

To find out more about Katie, her journey as a blogger, some of her fav beauty tips, and more, read on. 

Let's start with the basics. What does the idea of Working Wonder mean to you?

I believe a Working Wonder is someone who can accomplish as much as they can while looking and feeling their best, especially when it comes to guiding others along the way. There are so many people out there who don’t want to share contacts or put in a good word for others, and I can never understand why. Reaching out on behalf of a friend, or even a mere acquaintance, and connecting people is so important in the world we live in and could mean so much to someone. I always admire people who have the ability to make others feel comfortable and welcomed around them.

Life is too short to have a negative attitude and make people feel less than how they should feel - a simple smile and warm personality can go a long way. That’s something I always strive for, whether I’m working or just hanging with friends. Anytime someone is overwhelmed with work, but still takes the time to reach out and make others feel good about themselves, that is a Working Wonder to me.

How has the content and inspiration you share through your HonestlyKate platforms made you feel wonderful?

There is no better feeling than seeing people react in a positive way toward HonestlyKate. I created HonestlyKate at the end of last year as a platform I could use to reflect my journey as a young woman in New York City, trying to grow and inspire as many people I could reach. I know so many people trying to pursue their dreams in the Big Apple — and let’s face it, we all want to look good whether we’re on the subway, at a job interview, or just out for the night with our closest friends, because you never know who you’ll run into. From the beginning, it’s been my goal to inspire girls to curate their own futures and let them in on my fashion and beauty secrets along the way. What better place than New York to do it all?! When I see that my goal of helping inspire women to curate their own futures is working, I get so excited and it all feels so worth it.

You mention the ‘Honestly’ in your name represents authenticity. How do you encourage women to stay authentic while creating content for their audiences?

Don’t try to be everything for everyone, just try to be something for yourself - someone that you are proud of. I try to always stay true to who I am and what I value, no matter what kind of obstacles come along the way. Being honest is what my brand is all about, but I’ll admit it can definitely be hard to not get swept up by the glamor of it all — especially as things grow and evolve. I think it’s key to surround yourself with people that really ground you and remind you of what’s truly important. Cherish those people, and don’t lose them! I always remind myself of the core reasons of why I started to blog: my love for fashion and my passion for helping people be their truest selves. As long as you’re true to yourself and your ambitions, you will always be authentic, regardless of how saturated the industry you are in is.

Don’t try to be everything for everyone, just try to be something for yourself - someone that you are proud of.

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Another important aspect of staying authentic while creating content for a particular audience is to have a clear vision. Of course, this vision can evolve, but it’s good to start with a direct message for your audience and to have a good sense of what you want your brand to showcase. Don’t be afraid to take risks in your style. Don’t be threatened by numbers of followers. Look at your engagement and find the link between what you love and what your audience wants to see or hear from you - figure out how you can relate to them, and in turn inspire them. It’s good to adapt, as long as you always come back to your true intentions and are sure it’s the right direction for you.

What is your advice for younger female entrepreneurs struggling to feel their own sense of wonder? Or, those wondering if they're on the right track?

A great piece of advice that I once received from a mentor is that it’s okay to feel stuck, or to feel like you aren’t doing enough — everyone feels that way at one point or another. And when that feeling comes, take a few steps back and ask yourself why you started doing what it is you are doing. Don’t be afraid to fall, because most of the time you will be falling in the right direction.

I also think that young entrepreneurs get stuck on this idea that everything has to be new and extremely original, and I believe that in the world we live in, authenticity is key — but it’s okay to take inspiration from the people around you and channel it to fit your own aesthetic. Once you feel more comfortable with the idea that everything doesn’t have to be extremely original and new, you can start to take the pressure off of yourself and focus that energy into putting a new spin on the things you’re passionate about.

Don’t be afraid to fall, because most of the time you will be falling in the right direction.

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Do you think there is a difference between 'beauty' and feeling 'beautiful?'

I believe the word “beauty” refers to everything on the outer layer of the self. It’s the more superficial level. Your skin, your hair, your body shape — these are all visual elements that contribute to your outer beauty. But being beautiful is something that radiates from within. When someone emanates positive energy and inspires those around them, that is beautiful. That’s what we should all strive to be and feel.

What do you hope other women feel about themselves and the concept of "beauty?"

I hope women view themselves as beautiful from within. The outer layers come later. One of my aspirations for creating HonestlyKate was to promote a positive image of what it means to be and feel beautiful, and for me, that meant using fashion and beauty to help others develop confidence within themselves. Beauty is all around us but feeling beautiful is something all women need help with at times, and that’s what I wanted to help others with.

So, speaking of beauty... we all have our own tips and tricks. We recently found out that only 20% of visible skin aging comes from the natural aging process. Mary Kay®'s TimeWise Miracle Set 3D™ helps protect your skin against the rest – what else do you incorporate into your beauty and wellness routine to combat the environmental and lifestyle stressors that contribute to premature skin aging?

Oh, there are so many things! The number one habit I’m trying to get rid of is always drinking out of a straw! I know it sounds silly, but I’ve read multiple times that it’s horrible for aging in your face. It’s just so much more fun for me to drink out of a straw than not to! Another huge tip to help combat stressors that contribute to premature aging is to take a step back or a day off. A lot of times I realize that I’m stressing over things that are so minute in the grand scheme of things. It’s easy to get carried away with the little stuff, but taking a step back really helps to ground you and recognize what’s truly important.

Working out is one way for me to de-stress. I try to break a sweat at least three times each week. It’s tough when you’re so busy, but at the end of every workout class I’m reminded of why it’s so important to get the body moving, it really does combat stress and release good endorphins. I’m also trying to cook more for myself, which can be really difficult as an influencer. There are always dinners and events with people and brands that offer such delicious food, but at times it can be overwhelming. I now know it’s okay to say “Hey, can we meet for coffee instead?” Finding the right balance is important.

When do you feel the most wonderful?

I definitely feel the most wonderful when I’m working on my non-profit, Kate’s Closet! I can’t say too much about it yet... but stay tuned. Giving and helping others, especially those who really need it, is so important to me — it’s what makes me feel like I’m having a real positive impact on the world.

Who is a woman you would consider a Working Wonder? Someone, you want to give a shout out to?

My biggest fashion Working Wonder is Patricia Fields! She single-handedly created what a New York woman should emulate in beauty, fashion, and attitude. Both in Sex and the City, and now with Younger. One of the reasons I began my blog was because of my passion for costume design, it’s something I studied in college and always had my heart set on. My whole life I acted in plays and musicals, but then I realized that fashion and beauty were two things I also wanted to focus on for my career. Patricia Fields paved the way for me (and so many others) and showed us how to marry the two. She showed us that it’s possible to be passionate about more than one thing. She never takes credit and is always behind the scenes, but I think she deserves a major applause!

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We'll be featuring wonderful women paving the way in their careers as part of our new Working Wonders series with Mary Kay. Check back for more inspiration and wonderful words of wisdom.

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How to Live Life On Your Own Terms

What do you want?

Four simple words. One big question.

The kind of question that’s on our minds a lot—especially as we get older. What do we want from our careers? What do we want from our friends? What do we want from ourselves?

How do we take the steps to live life on our own terms? Because between work and work it can often feel as though we have no time for ourselves. In fact, Gallup reported that the well-being of Americans was on the decline in 2017.

So we’re chatting through some ways to live the life you want.

LET GO OF PERFECT AND JUST GO FOR IT

There’s no such thing as perfect, so why do you keep striving for the unattainable (and unrealistic and unhealthy) goal? You have strengths. You have dreams. Don’t let perfect stand in your way.

STOP CRUSHING ON CRUSHING IT

We gotta talk. We know you want to be the best and crush it at your job, your relationship, your friendships, but it’s too much. You can’t be all things to all people all the time and maintain time for your sanity.

The allure and romanticized version of having-it-all is nothing like the real thing. So, do us a favor, stop trying to crush it and just do it.

LET YOUR HAIR DOWN (OR UP)

Your hair has a lot to say. It goes wild at times. Other times it’s a bit tamer. It makes sense, your hair is an extension of you. And you can’t deny that a great hair day can flip that frown right-side up. Move freely. Show shine. As a side note: Sounds like a pretty amazing life motto.

FORGET GOAL LISTS

Go with your gut. Not your goals. Even if this feels counter-intuitive, you need to give yourself breaks from those #goals lists and realize that you already are #goals. In the words of the queen T:  “I am constantly amazed by Tina Fey. And I am Tina Fey.”

So what do you say? Are you ready to live life on your own terms and let that hair down?

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Boo Freakin' Hoo: What to Do If You're Being Professionally Ghosted

Ghosting is the worst. Like, hello, it's me. But where did you go? I've emailed 47 times, called, left you 12 voicemails, DM'd, Snapchatted, written a thank you note, and sent a MF'ing carrier pigeon with macaroons. 

You call me a stalker, I call it being thorough. The collective "they" told me, in the working world it's important to follow up. It shows tenacity. It shows that you're willing to go the extra mile!

But it's also important to recognize when it's simply not working. The above may be an exaggeration, but professional ghosting happens and it's more difficult to navigate than relationship ghosting. Especially if you have to see the person who is ignoring you in the workplace. Water. Cooler. Awkward.

Here are four common and rather uncomfortable PG (professional ghosting) scenarios and how to handle them. Because while everyone loves a macaroon, it might make you look like a macaloon. 

YOU HAD A BOMB.COM INTERVIEW, FOLLOWED UP, & NEVER HEARD BACK

This one is pretty simple and the closest to relationship ghosting as it gets. What do you do? Move on. Accept that it wasn't the right fit and focus your efforts elsewhere. What you may have thought was the perfect job for you, there are countless reasons that it wasn't. (At least according to your not-future employer.) 

While it's frustrating and can make you a little blue in the ankle boots, the right opportunity is somewhere else. 

Keep the email and the contact in case you have reason to reach out in the future, and go sew your wild working oats elsewhere. 

YOU PITCHED YOUR BOSS A FAB IDEA, FOLLOWED UP, & SHE'S STILL IGNORING IT

Knowing when to push an idea harder with your boss is a very tricky, gray area. It depends on your relationship, how she likes to be approached, 

There's a possibility she simply forgot and your follow-up got buried under a pile of pressing to-dos. There's also the chance that she hated it, dismissed it, and has already moved on. 

First, ask yourself if it really, is the great idea it is in your head. We can get a little blinded by our egos and attached to ideas that aren't working. If you still think it's top-notch, run it by a colleague you trust. If they think it's great, pop by your bosses office and ask if they have 30 seconds. For the third attempt, an in-person F/U is the best. 

That way you can really gauge their reaction. An email is easy to ignore. Plus it shows a boldness and drive that will be appreciated, even if the idea is not. 

If your colleague is less enthusiastic than you expected, move on, and wow your boss with the next 10 ideas. 

SOMEONE REGRAMS A PHOTO, DOESN'T CREDIT YOU, & DOESN'T RESPOND TO YOUR REQUEST FOR CREDIT

Creative professional deserve credit for their work, and if someone isn't polite enough to tag you or respond to two requests (make the first one polite, the second can be a little more stern), report the photo. Sometimes it's a simple mistake or a busy Social Director who overlooks the tag. 

Make it Instagram's problem. Because while it feels a bit like tattling, it's even more childish of a company or person to refuse credit. You work hard and deserve the tag. 

YOU'VE REACHED OUT TO A FRIEND/COLLEAGUE/

FORMER BOSS FOR AN INTRO OR RECOMMENDATION AND... CRICKETS

Using key contacts to crack open closed doors is part of the circle of working. And even though it can be really uncomfortable asking for professional favors, we all do it. However, it is quite possibly one of the worst feelings when you ask for a favor and you get straight ignored-- especially when you're asking a friend. 

Here's how to handle by contact and situation: 

• Asking a close friend for a contact or recommendation: follow up with texts, calls, Facetime. Snapchats, show up on their doorstep with dinner. Close friends are fine with your crazy. Plus, if you land a job you can buy them all the wine. 
• Asking a friendly acquaintance for a contact or recommendation: follow up once, say how much you'd appreciate it, and if they don't respond, try to find another way in. Some contacts are awkward to give out, and it's easier for people to ignore you than say no. But you need to accept that just because you ask, that doesn't give you a right to their Roladex.  
• Asking a former colleague or boss for a contact or recommendation: email first and ask if you can steal three minutes of their time on a call. In most instances you should avoid texting-- unless you were close and consider them a friend, in which case, see above. But if your relationship was strictly professional, keep it that way, and make the request formal. Say that the request is time sensitive, and if you don't get a rather quick response that reasonably meets your deadline, there's your answer. Don't stress over one contact. Redirect that energy into finding someone different to ask. You might get a courtesy email down the line, saying something like, "I just saw this, sorry I couldn't be more helpful." IF, they can still be helpful, here's your chance to hook them. If it really is too late, send a polite reply. You never want to burn a professional bridge because of a personal resentment. 

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editor-at-large. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her at www.ariannawrotethis.com

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You're Going to Regret How Much Time You Spend on Social Media

How do we put this lightly? All that time you spend in the black hole of scrolling and liking, you’re going to regret it. Hear us out.

We’re not here to chastise you for engaging with your online community. Hardly. Successful social media growth comes from authentic engagement. But we all know the difference between good business practices and a two hour black out. And it's time you take stock of your social media habits. 

MAKE SPACE FOR CREATIVITY TO HAPPEN

It’s one thing to be inspired by someone else’s content. It’s quite another to copy it all together. And WE KNOW. The content creation burden is real and sometimes it feels like you can’t come up with anything new. Sometimes when we’re stuck, we scroll. We turn to social media to get inspired. This is often counter-productive.

If you spend too long “getting inspired” it can hurt more than it helps on multiple fronts. First, you spend a whole lot of time looking at what other people are doing, instead of working on your own grind. You need to give yourself time and space in IRL to experience the world. Take in air. Those tiny boxes on IG have a lot of power, but they shouldn’t have power over you.

Second, no matter how strong your resolve, you start to play the comparison game. The more you compare, the less you create. The harder you are on yourself, the less productive you are. We’re not blaming the medium for the message. Rather it’s on you to power down your phone and power up your brain.

“The more you compare, the less you create.”

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SORRY, BUT WHEN DID BINGEING BECOME A GOOD THING?

We joke about binge-watching. We happily share with our co-workers that we watched all of Handmaid’s Tale in one sitting. But is it really a laughing matter? (In the case of Gilead, no def not.) 

But sorry guys, bingeing is bad news. On anything. WE KNOW THIS. So why do we keep romanticizing it? We’ve been a little hoodwinked by the marketing of it all. 

"Bingeing is bad news. Why do we keep romanticizing it?"

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While, admittedly, there has been limited research on the effects of binge-watching or binge-scrolling, reported feelings include: loneliness, worthlessness, and depression. These are not the conditions in which creativity thrives or business grows.  Acknowledging that the behavior is addicting is an important step.

Still, a 2013 survey by Netflix showed that 73% of the respondents viewed binge-watching as a socially acceptable behavior. Socially acceptable or not, as this Business Insider piece points out, building positive alternative activities is vital. We say not only for your mental health, but for your career as well.

Spend one week tracking how much time you actually spend on social media. The results will surprise you and likely challenge you to change your behavior. Once you adjust your social media habits, see if your world sparks up a bit-- if you're a tad more creative. If your ideas get outside of the box. We'll bet you a like they do. 

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Are You Afraid of Commitment?

The stats are in. Though Millennials have long been accused of job-hopping and not taking anything seriously, they actually know how to hold down a job. 

According to recent research from the Pew Research Center a fifth of millennials have been with their company for five years or longer, which falls in line with the stats around Generation X.

Compare that to the typical US worker who, as of January 2016, had been in their current job for 4.2 years, up from 3.5 years in 1983, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

When it comes to relationships, the data shifts a smidge. Specifically, more than half of all millennials (59%) have never married, and 9% are in domestic partnerships, per data collected via Gallup poll. So what gives? Are we able to hold down jobs, but not relationships? Are we afraid of commitment? 

We say no. And we have some ideas as to how you can put a ring on your career and embrace commitment. 

Embrace the One-Year Career Mentality

We have to first acknowledge that there has been a shift. There is no longer a straight and narrow career trajectory. It’s highly unlikely to see anyone in a 40 year career. In fact, some people say the only constant is change. 

This shouldn’t scare you off, however. It should fire up your furnace. Enter: the 1-Year Career. 

It’s not what you think. 

According to Baily Hancock, “The 1-Year Career is a whole new way of thinking about work and your place in it. It encourages you to evaluate your professional happiness far more frequently than the generations before us had to, setting short-term goals and achieving them with small, actionable steps year after year throughout your entire career.”

So yeah, contrary to what it sounds like, it does not mean you should go leapfrogging across jobs and careers every 12 months. 

Rather, says Baily, you should think about your career in one-year increments. By doing this, “it enables you to focus on only the next couple of steps ahead of you.” She explains, “We’re far less likely to feel overwhelmed when we consider not what we’re going to do with our entire life, but instead, what we’re going to do in the next 365 days. One year seems doable; long enough to accomplish a good amount, but short enough that we can plan for most of the variables that life may throw at us.”

What Else Might Life Throw At You?

A bouquet at your BFF’s wedding, perhaps. Don’t be afraid to catch it.

Or feelings. 

Committed doesn’t only mean to one person. 

Committed can be to your job. To your family. To your best friends. And it’s the new trailblazing, forward-thinking concept from Simon G., the leader in the world of fine jewelry. 

Through Committed, Simon G. is expressing their commitment to quality, love, unity, kindness and so much more. Commitment can mean many things to different people whether to family, career, friends, or values. From the beginning, Simon G. Jewelry has celebrated the best of life by offering jewelry that exceeds expectations through inspired individuality and a ceaseless passion for detail. With decades of knowledge and experience, Simon G. knows the value of commitment over the long term, and their work honors this legacy.

Committed is bold, modern, and memorable. Which, is exactly the kind of woman you are. 

What are some fresh, new ways you show your commitment? Comment below. 

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Frames For When You Finally Admit You Need Glasses

Eye care is self-care. And as you get older you tend to lose the ability to focus (it’s totally normal!) and some of us (hello, me) have needed glasses since high school-- or earlier. 

But 4-eyes is no longer an insult, and TBH it never was. And picking frames….so much fun. Thankfully our friends at LensCrafters have a ton of amazing options for when you finally admit, it’s time for glasses.* 

GO FOR THE GOLD

Simple with a touch of flair, this Prada frame is uncompromisingly crafted. As well as understated and elegant. With a slight cat eye that’s right on trend and corner white enamel detail, this is a go-to for summer. 

BIT OF AN EDGE

We’re gonna Coach you for a sec on fashion frames. The detailing on this Coach frame is spec-tacular. We’re loving the gold and tortoise combo, but it’s the silver floral work that truly deserves your attention. (And will likely garner the attention of others.) These babies are made for out of office days. 

UPGRADE ON A CLASSIC

Ray-Ban has dominated the sunny shades category for years now. It’s likely you have a pair of Aviators somewhere in a top drawer. But have you checked out their optical line? Classic good looks... that’s what these gold Aviators are. 

PINK IS FOREVER

If pink is your favorite color, this pair of blush eyeglasses from Michael Kors can be your new go-to. Pink isn’t going anywhere-- nor should it. And with these frames, all trends will be crystal clear. 

TORTOISE IS YOUR PURPOSE

With a gold tone logo at temples, this classic pair of Tory Burch tortoise eyeglasses will forever be in style. And you’ll be able to see your emails! That’s what we call a win-win.

*Shop similar styles on LensCrafters.com

But it’s not just about fashion. It’s also about eye health. The bonus happens to be: Eyewear is one of the most flattering and fashionable accessories you can own. A great frame can complete your entire outfit and they are super fun to shop for. But don’t forget to get your eyes checked. You can’t get a cute pair of glasses without first getting an eye exam. It’s not only crucial to maintaining vision heath, but your overall wellbeing. LensCrafters latest eye exam Clarifye, digitally scans your entire eye to pinpoint your prescription and give your doctor a new level of precise detail. In just 60 seconds, your eye doctor will know more about your eyes than a traditional eye exam ever could.

And with Clarifye it’s easier and faster to spot the warning signs for common health risks like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and allergies. Find a LensCrafters near you to book an exam: https://www.lenscrafters.com/lc-us/findclarifye   

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Finding Purpose With Working Wonder: Jamie Taylor

Known for her positive outlook and entrepreneurial spirit, Mary Kay Independent Elite Executive Sales Director Jamie Taylor knows how to hustle! After starting her Mary Kay business as a 20-year-old college student during summer break, Jamie quickly devoted herself  to her Mary Kay business.
 
She knew that it was up her to make her business successful, and Jamie certainly enjoys the commissions and profits she earns in her Mary Kay business as well as the flexibility it provides and recognition she receives for achieving various milestones in her business.  Jamie has also earned the use of two Mary Kay Career Cars, referenced Pink Caddy!  She has turned a love and passion for beauty into operating her Mary Kay business full-time with great results. She is a proven “working wonder!”
 
Find out more about Jamie’s work ethic, her commitment to her business, and why she’s a Working Wonder below. 

Let's start with the basics. What does the idea of Working Wonder mean to you?

To me, working wonder means a woman who works at her full capacity when it comes to passion and love for what she does. She thoroughly enjoys what she does and works with vigor and a zest for life and her work. She finds purpose in what she does, and she walks forward in that unapologetically.

How has your Mary Kay business helped you feel wonderful?

My work as a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant helps me to feel wonderful in so many ways. The way I feel when I work is directly correlated to the impact I’m making in other women’s lives. I love my business because I feel that my number one job description is to help other women feel beautiful, powerful and capable. In turn, it makes me feel those things as well.

You've said that you're known for your upbeat attitude about entrepreneurship. Can you tell us more what that's about? We want some of that!

I have an upbeat attitude towards most things as I’m naturally gifted with a positive outlook. However, I do feel a strong love for entrepreneurship. I believe in it so much! I grew up in an entrepreneur’s home and I got to be a direct beneficiary of someone who worked hard for what they wanted and made their dreams a reality. Today, being an entrepreneur myself is one of the best parts of my life because it allows me to design a life I love on my own terms. I have found that some people are uncomfortable “being their own boss” and all the ups and downs that usually ensue. But I believe it works for me so well, even when I fail, because I believe in the process and how it is molding me as a person. 

What is your advice for younger female entrepreneurs struggling to feel their own sense of wonder? Or, those wondering if they're on the right track?

Being young and ambitious can be an unsure journey and one of the biggest things that many young women struggle with is the fear of what others may think or the fear of rejection. I still struggle with this on a regular basis! As a young entrepreneur, you may feel intimidated, criticized, or simply not taken seriously. My advice is to keep working on what you feel you have been called to do while also finding someone who believes in you and helps you to shine. I’m learning that time REALLY does fly, and we do really grow up. The older I get, I find my struggles feel different than they did when I was 20. I’m glad I embraced the refining process that made me who I am today. I’m so thankful for the older women who breathed belief into me so that I didn’t quit. So - keep going, hitch yourself on to someone who is where you want to be, find a great mentor who believes in you, only listen to those who “get it”, and actively study what makes YOU great! The more comfortable you are with your own gifts, the more you can use them!

How do you aim to empower other women through your work?

My line of work is all about empowering other women. Sometimes it comes in the form of helping a woman feel beautiful in her own skin by sharing Mary Kay® products with her and teaching her tried-and-true beauty tips. I love seeing a woman feel confident in how she looks on the outside because it often can transform them to be confident on the inside as well. Sometimes empowering women looks like coming alongside them and teaching them how to build a business like someone did for me. It’s so cool to see someone make a difference in their income, skillset, network, and goals. I love being a part of seeing women change their lives in the areas they want to see changes in the most!

On your blog you've talked about what happens when you try your best, but, alas !! you don't succeed. Who do you lean on during those moments?

I’ve tried and failed many times in my five years of building my business and I’m sure I still have a few missed goals ahead of me. Feeling like you didn’t succeed, or you missed the mark, is difficult and emotional no matter how much you tell yourself that it happens to everyone. There are a few things that help me pick myself back up when I’m down. The first is the assurance that I’m not quitting. I wholeheartedly believe that the best is yet to come. With each failure I ask myself “is THIS going to be the thing that STOPS me?” and the answer is always, “heck no! I’ve come this far!” Another thing that I lean on is the truth that everyone really does go through this. Sometimes we compare our “behind the scenes” to someone else’s “highlight reel” and it can make us feel very alone when we’ve failed. One of my efforts in life and work is to be transparent on social media with my ups and my downs!  This helps us to all feel more connected and it encourages those who look up to me. A community is one of the best ways to hang in there when you aren’t feeling so hot!

With each failure I ask myself “is THIS going to be the thing that STOPS me?” and the answer is always, “heck no!"

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Do you think there is a difference between 'beauty' and feeling 'beautiful?'

Sure! I think that ‘beauty’ is something that we can find anywhere and in anything or anyone. Beauty transcends outer appearances and can be found right in the middle of pain and hardship. Feeling beautiful is a way we carry ourselves. Again, it doesn’t have to always be about the outer appearance. We can feel beautiful when we are kind, doing what we love, and being who we were made to be.

What do you hope other women feel about themselves and the concept of "beauty?"

Of course, I hope that everyone woman is deeply aware of her unique beauty, both inside and out! This is a huge struggle as a woman of any age. We tend to be so incredibly hard on ourselves. I think that when you see something beautiful in another woman, it’s important to speak up and tell her. The more we magnify another woman’s beauty, the closer she can become to seeing it herself and the closer we can get to seeing it in ourselves.

So, speaking of beauty... we all have our own tips and tricks. We recently found out that only 20% of visible skin aging comes from the natural aging process. Mary Kay®'s TimeWise Miracle Set 3D™ helps protect your skin against the rest – what else do you incorporate into your beauty and wellness routine to combat the environmental and lifestyle stressors that contribute to premature skin aging? 

Skincare is everything! I am totally in love with the new TimeWise Miracle Set 3D™! Every morning when I put on the day cream that is supplemented with a wonderful, non-greasy broad-spectrum SPF, I feel proud of myself for protecting my skin. I know I’m doing myself a huge favor. I also find that a healthy amount of sleep, water, and a clean diet make a huge difference in how my skin looks! 

When do you feel the most wonderful?

I feel my most wonderful when I’m walking in my purpose. I can get so sidetracked by comparison, stress from wanting to perform at a high level, or every day stressors. However, when I’m truly spending time helping other women build a life they love, I feel alive and I can sense how much my life’s work matters.

Who is a woman you would consider a Working Wonder - someone you want to give a shout out to?

My best friend Jordan is truly a “working wonder” to me. I am always blown away by her consistency and strong work ethic. She works passionately without apology and she is a woman of her word. When I am around her, I am inspired to also be MY personal best every day. She is her best in the big ways and the small ways and she has gone on to build a beautiful, thriving business and a full life. She empowers me to do the same! 

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We'll be featuring wonderful women paving the way in their careers as part of our new Working Wonders series with Mary Kay. Check back for more inspiration and wonderful words of wisdom.

How to Make Sunday Your #SlayDay

The 40-hour workweek is the new part time (we're crying too, however efficiently). Which means working on a Sunday? That's what we're doing right now. 

But how can you focus your energy to make Sunday your #slayday instead of that #lazyday? 

Here are three ways to set fire to the first day of the week. 

HANDLE ALL BILL BIZ

As much as we know it pains you, all bills and adult life things you should handle on Sunday. Why? 1. How does it feel to have waited till the last minute to figure out what you owe Uncle Sam? Probably worse than watching those hard earn dollars head off to those monsters (joking) at the IRS. 2. The small tasks we allow to take up space in our head make the free time we have way less enjoyable. And it's SO IMPORTANT TO ENJOY STUFF. If you're at a boozy Sunday brunch worried about that health insurance bill you didn't pay, or the car payment that's a few days late, it's affecting your good time. When something affect your good time, it affects your mood and your productivity. 

WRITE YOUR GOALS FOR THE WEEK 

If you want to be #goals, you better damn well set some. The great thing about writing a weekly goal list, is that it's ever-changing. If this week your goals are to: read 50 pages a night, do squats every day, and not use Postmates once--NOT ONCE-- (ahem, welcome to my goals), you have a much better chance at accomplishing them. Next week you can set new goals. Guess what? Checking these small, achievable, though hardly arbitrary goals off your list, imbues you with a sense of accomplishment and confidence needed to tackle larger tasks.  

"If you want to be #goals, you better damn well set some."

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SPEND TWO HOURS ON YOUR SIDE HUSTLE

Remember that book about giving a mouse a cookie? Sure you do. Well, our careers are kind of like that. We all have our "cookie" job, the one that sustains us, but we also all need a little milk to go with it. The issue most of us have is where to find the time to get that milk. Easy: on Sunday. If you spend just two hours on a Sunday (which, face it, you easily spend combing Instagram) working on your side hustle, imagine what you can accomplish within the year. The truth is, the hustle does sleep, but it works smarter than you're working right now. Your side hustle does have to be your FT passion-- but you do have to commit time to it, instead of sitting around during the week WISHING you had more time. 

"The truth is, the hustle does sleep, but it works smarter than you're working right now."

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5 Ways to Pitch Your Boss to Pay for C&C Chicago

Newsflash: tickets for Chicago are going fast. And if you've been adding to cart, walking away, coming back, and obsessively wondering how do I make this work?

We have some tips on how to pitch your boss to foot the bill. It's more than a conference, and your attendance is a win for her, just as much as it is a win for your Instagram feed. This is a smart move, and we are here to tell you how to sell your boss on it. 

Some companies have established budgets for job-specific and career advancement training. Some don't. Either way, here are our 5 top reasons to get your capital B Boss to send you to the Windy City.

RELATIONSHIPS THAT COUNT

The connections and relationships you have access to at C&C are unparalleled. Where else can you interact with #squadgoals and #bossgoals on such an intimate level? Sure, it's easy to ignore an email. A follow-up email. Even a voicemail. But if you take advantage of the golden opportunities in Chicago it could open a myriad of doors-- not only for you but for your company as well.

Not to mention, the mentor sessions are heralded by our attendees as some of the useful stepping stones they've ever had. 

GETTING A FOOT IN THE DOOR EARLY

Big relationships and partnerships matter, but so does having your finger on the pulse. This is something that Create & Cultivate and our team members excel at. Sure, our past keynotes like Issa Rae, Gloria Steinem, Kim Kardashian, Catt Sadler, Jennifer Hu Brooklyn Decker, Jessica Alba, Rachel Zoe, and Chelsea Handler have seen huge success, but there are smaller, lesser known (though on the path to blowing up) women who your boss might not be aware of… yet.

The conference is your foot in the door, to introduce you to a wide array of valuable partnerships. Round up a list of all potential female entrepreneurs changing the game and brands that will be onsite, research their stats and why you think it would be good to get on their radar now and sell your boss. Check out the conference line up now to get started on your research.

DIGITAL EDUCATION BOOTCAMP

At Create & Cultivate NYC we had an Instagram panel, where the women of IG broke down some truths. Influencers who spoke on panel (some with over a million+ followers) were in the audience taking notes. (We recapped it for you here.) 

Sure there is fun to be had-- goodie bags and a power cocktail hour, but C&C gets down to brass tacks. The panel discussions, from putting brand before business to why content will always be Queen, gives attendees direct takeaways. You're learning from the best in the biz, like Chriselle Lim, Emma Chapman from A Color Story, Patrice Yursik from Afrobella.com, and CEOs who are sharing how they built their businesses. They're there to pass on how they did it, while also encouraging you to forge ahead.

IMPORTANCE OF GETTING OFFSITE

The work environment has changed, and working from a mobile office is one tenant of the new working world. However, beyond working on-the-go it's important to get out of the office and put your skills to good use. As they say, if you don't use it, you lose it. If you spent most of 2018 behind a computer or in an office, explain the benefits of hands-on experience. Whether you want to use C&C to work on interpersonal skills-- like sticking out a hand and introducing yourself to a stranger-- or as the first place to make your mark in the business world, there is nothing like practical application.

"To make your mark in the business world there is nothing like practical application."

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CONFIDENCE BOOSTING

In the same way that a wellness retreat works to revitalize your body, a conference like Create & Cultivate works to boost your brain power, which in turn gives you a confidence jolt like no other. When you leave Chicago you'll feel energized and ready to dive back into your job with more fervor than ever. Which isn't to say you don't give it your all now, but there is something about the energy generated at C&C that gives attendees the focus and confidence to really assess and hone their strengths.

BONUS: TELL YOUR BOSS YOU'LL BRING HER HOME YOUR VIP SWAG BAG...

And remember when you're presenting this to your boss, it's crucial to nail down specifics that are relevant to your job. Find the speaker, panelist, or mentor that is most beneficial to you, your current position, and your company as a whole. Elaborate on how building a relationship with this person will be of merit to all three. Give your boss deliverables. If you tell her you're going to have a conversation with Jennifer Hudson, make sure you're breaking down why this is relevant. Bosses are interested in ROI.

So get to pitching and follow these words to tickets here.

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The 6 Key Pieces of Advice from Meghan Markle's Create & Cultivate Keynote

It's been said that a woman who knows exactly what she wants is one of the most powerful creatures in the world. When Suits actress and The Tig founder Meghan Markle took to the Create & Cultivate stage on at our #createcultivateATL conference she gave attendees a glimpse at what that looks like. 

Charming, intelligent, and unafraid to let her guard down, Meghan is the definition of the modern woman. In celebration of her big day, we're reliving our favorite moments and best pieces of advice the actress, editor, and activist shared with #CreateCultivateATL attendees. 

1. "DON'T GIVE IT FIVE MINUTES IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA GIVE IT FIVE YEARS."

Passion was a hot topic at the conference all day. Meghan echoed this sentiment by telling the crowd that if they couldn't see themselves dedicating five years of their life to their endeavors, what was the point in even giving it five minutes? 

"Five years sounds like a long time," she said, "but it's really not." 

Time is precious. Focus your efforts on your passions and success is sure to come. "That's when you see your long-term goals payoff," she added.  

2. "BLIND OUTREACH IS JUST LIKE AUDITIONING, IT'S A NUMBERS GAME."

Meghan started developing The Tig after receiving advice from The Coveteur co-founder Jake Rosenberg, to do a site herself. A company had approached her to essentially create MeganMarkle.com, but after giving herself a gut check she knew it didn't feel right. She wanted her site to be less about fashion and include more "think pieces and op-eds about empowerment." 

But just because she's on a show, the actress said she still had to blind email people. "No one knew what The Tig was at the beginning," she said, "but I kept putting out outreach. At the time some people loved Suits and some people hadn't a clue what it was. It seems like I had more of an in, but it wasn't the case." 

She told the audience about cold emailing Heidi Klum's assistant for an interview request. "I don't know Heidi Klum," Megan said, "but she said yes."  

"We all do cold outreach."

3. "STOCK EMAILS WITH TYPOS? FORGET IT." 

Meghan is all about a personal touch, explaining that she still sends out handwritten thank you notes.  "I can't tell you how few of them I get," she said, "but one hundred percent of the time, I end up remembering that person." 

And even though she acknowledges typos happen, she says it's vital to make sure you're proofreading. It shows the recipient that you're paying attention and that you value their time. 

4. "YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAY DRESS UP TO BE A FEMINIST. YOU ARE A FEMINIST EXACTLY THE WAY YOU ARE."

After an audience member asked Meghan how she balances being a feminist with being feminine, Meghan answered that there is no difference. "They are not mutually exclusive," she shared. "You can be a woman who wants to look good and still stand up for the equality of women."

"You can be a woman who wants to look good and still stand up for the equality of women."

Tweet this. 

You're allowed to be a feminist in whatever way that looks like to you. 

5. "DON'T TRY TO WIN THE PART, JUST WIN THE ROOM." 

Meghan shared that as a biracial actress she has heard 'no,' an endless number of times. "Because," she said, "I was going in for the ambiguous girl, the black girl, the white girl, even the sassy Latina girl-- even though I'm not Latina and I'm not even that sassy."

"It's very hard to not question something about yourself in those moments," she said of the endless parade of nos. "But at the end of the day it does not matter if you get that part or you get that dream job. It may see like it at the time, but if you make fans of the people who saw you in that room, that carries on so much longer than what that job might have become."

6.  "IT'S ALL STILL EXCITING. BE GRATEFUL FOR THE LITTLE THINGS. THAT'S HOW YOU ENJOY IT."

Meghan told the audience that for five months she climbed into the back of her trunk after auditions because she couldn't afford to get the broken locks on her car fixed. "This epic day happened where the locks stopped opening with the key," she shared. "And the clicker wouldn't open the front doors. I couldn't afford to fix the doors and this was my girl, this is how I got from one audition to the other." So she would drive to auditions, park in the back of the lot, and once they were over, she'd wait until no one was paying attention and climb back into her car through the trunk. 

Never in her dreams did Meghan think she'd be on a show that has run for six seasons, but in sharing real and humbling moments she's able to enjoy and stay grateful for the journey. 

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3 Beauty Miracles Busy Women Swear By

Let's get real, sometimes we wish we had a fairy godmother who can work miracles when we need to keep focused on the business tasks at hand. 

Long hours on the clock and never-ending to-do lists can do major damage to our ideal sleep schedule and self-care routines. We're all looking for those key tips to keep us feeling confident while we focus on crushing that next work goal. 

Beauty tips that work miracles were the talk of the table at our dinner with Mary Kay® in New York City. We gathered a few of our friends dominating the beauty game to celebrate the launch of Mary Kay's® TimeWise® Miracle Set 3DTM. 

We're sharing some of our favorite timeless beauty tips from the evening below.

Samantha Black shared that no matter how she's feeling, "A pop of color is my beauty miracle. Wether you have on no makeup or very light makeup, a pop of color on your lip always makes your look complete."

Melissa Alatorre came through with the timeless reminder that, "Drinking a lot of water and eating healthy really translates to your skin. Those are my beauty miracles."

Sasha Colina left us in awe with her beauty miracle and we can't wait to try it out!

"If you're putting on mascara and it accidentally gets on your eye lid, wait until it's completely dry and then use a clean mascara brush and it will flake right off."

With The Musket Room's stunning ambiance, flawless table settings and beautiful guests the night was definitely one to remember. Check out more photos from the evening below. 

Have any beauty miracles of your own? Share them with us in the comments!

Browse the complete Mary Kay's® TimeWise® Miracle Set 3DTM collection today. 

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Why There’s No Expiration Date on Success

You don’t have to be an overnight success to be successful. It’s a mantra I repeat to myself often. It’s likely one you’ve heard before too. (The good ones tend to stick around.) And yet, we all feel the churn and burn, the need to sprint toward success to meet society’s artificial deadlines, and the constant need to outdo ourselves. 

It’s something the women in the SK-II film, The Expiry Date understand. From birth, they feel the pressure to achieve certain things by a certain age. Degrees. Prizes. Marriage. Children. Promotions. That constant struggle for women to “have it all” on society’s timeline.  

SK-II launched #INeverExpire, a global campaign that continues to raise awareness of the age-related pressures women face every day. The campaign encourages women to define their own destinies through challenging societal norms. 

As the founder and CEO of Create & Cultivate, I’ve felt these pressures so many times. Become a badass boss lady with a meaningful company, meet someone, get married, buy a home with a white picket fence, have 2.5 kids plus a puppy...and all by the age of 30. Not only does that timeline put an insane amount of pressure on you, it’s also completely unrealistic! Needless to say, that was not the timeline for me. I love creating experiences that are unique and thoughtful, brainstorming purposeful content, and bringing together creative, entrepreneurial women for real conversations, so creating a company that would enable me to do just that was my focus in my twenties. 

Saying “yes” to my career often meant saying “no” to my personal life – or at least meeting those marriage, children, home, pet, insert whatever-pressure-you’re-feeling-here milestones before turning an arbitrary age. Instead, I got married when it came around naturally and felt right to me, and if my husband and I expand our family, that will come when it feels right for us, too – not because it’s what we’re “supposed” to do at this age. And I’m nowhere near done with Create & Cultivate – this is just the beginning for us. 

"You should never let others put an expiration date on you. #INeverExpire"

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I’m creating my own timeline that allows me to have the life I dream of, for myself and on my own terms. But that’s what the idea of #INeverExpire is all about. You should never let others put an expiration date on you. More importantly, I would add, you should never put an expiration date on yourself. 

When you look around it’s easy to play the compare and despair game – especially on social. But you’re more than the lists you’ve landed – or not landed – on, and you’re more than the house you have – or don’t have. The list goes on and on. You can have success at any age, and what success means to everyone is different. You alone are able to define your own timeline. 

So tell me, what pressures have you felt to subscribe to society’s predetermined timelines and how do you rise above?

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Working Wonder: Christina Topacio

Ever wonder what it’s like to take your blog and turn it into a business? Wonder no more. That’s exactly what Christina Topacio has done. The Working Wonder has been on a mission to create stories with purpose. “My mission,” she says, “is simple; connect communities and their stories to foundations that amplify them.”

Having been in the storytelling business for over ten years, she helps brands like Nike and Mattel with branding, customer acquisition, and strategy. She’s also the founder of Jig + Saw, which spent two years connecting thousands of women. What can we say? Christina is a bridge. A wonderful working bridge. 

Read on to learn more about Christina, her biz, outlook on life, and why she says you need to “maintain the wonder.”

Let's start with the basics. What does the idea of Working Wonder mean to you?

Working wonder feels so grand, feels so other than. But, I’m going to own this moment and say Working Wonder means stepping into my power, she/they are stepping into their power to create action with impact within themselves, their communities, their lives. Not by some magic or spot of luck but rather through the work, the drive. 

How has the work you do with businesses and business owners connecting them with their purpose made you feel wonderful?

It creates this really vulnerable experience between the idea and its creator. You become witness to them learning about trust in themselves, understanding their desires to build something of their own. I simply feel honored they allow me into that space, to support and encourage the exploration. 

You’ve said that stories are meant to invite, encourage and hit home. How do you go about crafting that perfect story for each brand you work with?

Each brand has a connection point to a particular kind of human. My goal is to find him/her, identify with that person and craft a story that will hit home for them. Like most modern marketers, I focus on a niche rather than targeting the world. You find that there is more of a unison head nod when she/he can relate. I encourage all brands to do some digging, create a story about him/her, give them a name, tell their story, provide their journey. You’ll have an easier time marketing when, for us, Simone (she’s JIG+SAW’s previous marketed human) was in our minds for all our collateral and content.

What is your advice for younger female entrepreneurs struggling to feel their own sense of wonder? Or, those wondering if they're on the right track?

Maintain the wonder. Allow yourself to be on a journey. Try as many things to spark that kind of awe that wonder creates. For me, it came down to people. I needed to be IRL, see their faces, interact, to understand whether or not I was on the right track. DIG IN WOMAN!

"Allow yourself to be on a journey."

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How do you aim to empower other women through JIG+SAW?

Women are already in power. We just give you the tools + resources to support that power, help you see it through. 

Do you think there is a difference between 'beauty' and feeling 'beautiful?'

There is absolutely a difference and its simply stated in feeling. Beauty is beyond a feeling, it’s a state of mind. It’s this idea that your beauty is exuded through other vessels, not just the physical feeling of beautiful. 

What do you hope other women feel about themselves and the concept of "beauty?"

To trust its the truth. If you remove all the influence and say, do what I did and shut down all influences in my internet life to just see myself, you start to see that the beauty reflected is the truth. It’s powerful, it’s hungry, it’s loving and compassionate. I hope women see there’s more to beauty than what you’re looking at. See how beauty shows up in how you love someone, how you care for your pets, how you speak leadership into your jobs, your companies. Find beauty in those moments. 

So, speaking of beauty... we all have our own tips and tricks. We recently found out that only 20% of visible skin aging comes from the natural aging process. Mary Kay® TimeWise® Miracle Set 3D™ helps protect your skin against the rest – what else do you incorporate into your beauty and wellness routine to combat the environmental and lifestyle stressors that contribute to premature skin aging?

Getting as much sleep as I can has been a goal since my breakup. I really kind of lost it all and everything fell off. But now, incorporating more care into my daily routine like sleep, like brain dumping, like meditating, I believe all affect premature aging. I’m also a very religious skincare “routinist”. I LOVE my self-care practice of putting on and taking off everything body + face related.

When do you feel the most wonderful?

When I’m loving someone. When I look around and see being loved back. When I’m able to see my purpose showing up. It’s a really great feeling.

Who is a woman you would consider a Working Wonder. Someone you want to give a shoutout to?

So many…

Jess Puccinelli
Kanya Iwana
Chelsea Leifken
Candice Brathwaite
Roshanda Cummings
Elena Hansen
Chrystina Woody Train
Gabriele Almon
Krystal Elaine Scott
Puno Puno

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We'll be featuring wonderful women paving the way in their careers as part of our new Working Wonders series with Mary Kay. Check back for more inspiration and wonderful words of wisdom.

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Major Small Business Keys From the Top CEOs

Small business doesn’t mean small work. 
 
In fact, owning a small business is a large responsibility. It requires BIG hours. From building a solid team to optimizing a digital audience, there’s so much that must be done to keep your doors open. So, for small business week, we popped up in Brooklyn to celebrate with DELL and local business owners. Our CEO, Jaclyn Johnson joined some amazing founders and CEOs to get their take on launching a small business and best practices for building a team.
 
One major takeaway? Tech is key. “There’s no way around it,” explained Johnson. “You need tech that works for you-- not against you. When you’re a small business owner, every single moment counts. Having tools, like those offered by DELL, that provide manageability and reliability is key. Let’s be real, you can’t do business if your computer won’t stop crashing.” 
 
So we crashed the convos.  Where small business owners broke down some of their best tips, tricks, and takeaways from the best in small biz. 
 

Name: Rachel Tipograph
Title: Founder and CEO MikMak. 

On operating profitably

“I think that innovation often comes from moments of struggle. When you strip yourself of every possible resource, that’s when you’re actually the most creative. If you think about today, it’s actually the cheapest day to get a business off the ground. My example is if you want to launch a skincare brand right now, this is the easiest way you could do it right now. Go onto Alibaba, buy some face wipes, make yourself a logo in your apartment in Williamsburg, print your logos, put them on your Alibaba packages, set up a Shopify and buy yourself some Facebook ads. You’re now the founder of a skincare brand. Everything that I just said, maybe all in it’s upwards of a thousand dollars total plus your time. There’s no excuse today to say that you need a lot of money to get your business off the ground.”

On knowing when to pivot

“I think the press has turn the word pivot into a bad word. Pivot was the best decision I made for my business. Pivot means, that initial idea you had for your business is actually not what’s going to get you to the win. So, now you take all the data points and move them towards the idea that is going to get you towards that win. For example, when I launched MikMak in 2015 we were an IOS app and I operated a store with comedians releasing mini-infomercials. A year into that business model I realized, this made no sense. The only way I could become profit was if I had the scale of eBay. There was no way I could gain the scale of eBay. It wasn’t an option for me. But I had so many paying customers and I was working with the biggest brands in the world. They wanted to license my software. I went on an R&D quest and identified the pain points that were holding people back from starting this business model. Once I did that, I knew what type of software I had to build. I spent the next 9 months building software. I restructured our business model and relaunched the company as an enterprise software platform and the company took off. That’s called a pivot. It was the best business decision I ever made because now the company is in a phenomenal place. If I had felt so strongly about my original business idea, Mikmak would probably not be in the place that it's in today.”

See Rachel's full talk here.

Name: Nina Faulhaber
Title: Co-founder of ADAY

Building a mission-driven brand in the digital age

“Our mission kind of developed a lot later after we actually started the business. It’s important to remember that businesses can evolve and change. We’ve changed so much since we started. We originally launched the business to solve a personal problem and then over time since we’ve launched people continued coming to us saying thank you for solving their problems. So doing that and changing the perception of clothing has really become our mission. The exciting thing for any entrepreneur is knowing that we’re creating something for the future.”

See Nina's full talk here.

Name: Marie Forleo
Title: Founder of Marie Forleo TV and B-School

The #1 mistake small business owners make

Mistake 1: Building your business on rented land (social!) 
 
“So when I was first starting my business social didn’t exist. I was mainly focused on email. I hear many business owners who completely forget about email and focus only on social. That’s a huge mistake. If you look at the stats that’s not a smart thing to do. Campaign Montier did some research and if you look at the stats for every $1 invested in email there’s a potential to make $45. There are more stats that show that email has a potential to generate 120% ROI over social, direct mail and Google paid ads. It’s a huge platform to pay attention to.”

See Marie's full talk here.

Name: Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton
Title: Founder & CEO of Chillhouse

Building a one of a kind brand in a crowded marketplace

“I was so involved in building the brand, it’s mostly me creating it. Inspiration starts with a Pinterest board for me. As soon as I have an idea that’s the first place I go. I started building out my dream space through Pinterest with these different mood boards and then worked with a designer to bring it to life. The branding process was really fun. It was a real hands-on experience and my favorite part of the process.” 

On content creation and media publishing

“We’re all publishers, even on our personal platforms unless you’re private. Content creation is a very crowded space and it’s really hard to get eyeballs on a website for content. So, if you’re not doing it right, don’t do it. For us, we wouldn’t have launched an editorial site if weren’t thinking of launching an online shop. Creating content for the products that we’ll be selling is our strategy.”

See Cyndi's full talk here.

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In addition to these powerhouse Small Biz tips, Dell had Small Biz Tech Advisors on hand to advise entrepreneurs about their company’s tech needs. These sessions are also available for free to any small business through Dell’s tech advisor program. You can find out more or get your own tech advisor at www.dell.com/smallbusinesspartner.

Do you own a small business and have any tips to share? Let us know in the comments!

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7 Ways to Build an Unstoppable Personal Brand in 2018

What’s the impression that others have after an interaction with you? 

That’s personal branding. Think of it as your own personal calling card, your trademark. In an ever-evolving workplace where competition is fierce, it’s why people will want to work with you, hire you, hear your ideas, support you. Try these seven expert-approved tips for branding yourself in 2018.

1. Put pen to paper.

Sit down and figure out what exactly it is you want to achieve over the next 6+ months. Get clear about your goals, and about what you want for your business, your brand, and your own personal success. Write these intentions down. You don’t need to know exactly how you’re going to get there, just that you want to. Whether it’s an intention to score a promotion, get a batch of new clients, or launch a side business, clarity is key. When big decisions come up, or you get overwhelmed, the intentions you have for your brand are what will keep you on track.

2. Craft your narrative.

Building a brand, especially one that truly resonates with people, is all about the story you tell. Who you are in the world, and who you want to be. That message needs to be clear and consistent. But most of all, authentic. It needs to be your own unique brand of whatever it is you are about. Maybe you are ridiculously stylish, or fantastically funny, or maybe your invention is going to change the world. Whatever it is, own that story. Talk about it with reverence, passion, and love. That enthusiasm, that uniqueness—that is what differentiates you and it’s what people are going to notice.

3. Tap your circle of colleagues and friends.

The old adage about it’s not what you know, but who you know…it’s a total cliché, yes, but it’s also true. Relationships matter and brand building, personal or otherwise, is all about the connections you forge. Strong, meaningful, heartfelt connections. Great business relationships are built on mutual respect and authenticity. But also by being gracious and generous with your time, resources, knowledge, and connections. Helping others get where they want to go is the most sure-fire way to have people help you in return. No one has ever done it alone.

4. Be great to work with.

To be the person who makes someone else’s job easier because you are buttoned up, responsive, and “on it”—there is no better way to garner respect and drive home your worth. Adding value to the work others do means adding value to your own brand. Every email you respond to, every call you take, do it with pride and do it well.

5. Post with a purpose.

So much of brand building today is done via social media. It’s such a powerful tool, but you need to know how to use it, and use it wisely. Everything you post should reflect who you are, and the ethos of your own personal brand. Play to your strengths and take time to curate your online presence. You can’t be all things to everyone, but when it comes to an Instagram post or Twitter (anything on social media!) ask yourself first: Is this what I want to be saying? Is this post telling my story in the right way? Think of it as an opportunity to show the best version of yourself.

6. Show off your expertise.

Go to networking events, get involved in organizations related to your industry, talk on panels. Mentor young, upcoming talent, and write articles for your favorite sites. You want to become a go-to person in your field—be it for a quote about holiday décor, or why an ad campaign is successful, or how to market yourself online. Whatever it is, empower others and establish your brand by sharing what you know.

7. Run in successful circles.

You really do become who you spend time with, whether personally or professionally. So, surround yourself at all times with people who inspire you, with people who are out there doing their thing in the best possible way. If you’re around powerful people who are pursuing their dreams, chances are you’ll want to do the same. As you grow up together and build successful careers, these are also the people you’ll likely end up working with, and forming partnerships with.

Have any personal branding tips of your own? Share with us in the comments below!

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5 Experts Share Their Best & Newest Skincare Tips

It’s seemed like the who’s who of beauty editors and experts gathered in New York this past weekend at the Create & Cultivate Beauty Summit featuring Mary Kay®. So, who better to ask for skincare tips than this range of experts?

We tapped some of the best in the biz for the goods, so you can look good.

Kelly Bales, the digital editor at Allure kept it simple. “Consistency,” the beauty expert shared. “And,” she added, “make sure to exfoliate at least once a week-- twice in warmer weather.”

Luis Casco, Mary Kay’s Global Beauty Ambassador, who was on hand to help showcase Mary Kay's® new TimeWise® Miracle Set 3D™ skincare line (launching 5/12), shared the following: “I think number one is to be regular with skincare,” he explained. “It’s really important to be consistent and to be patient. With makeup we can do wonders instantly, but with skincare you have to be patient. With TimeWise® Miracle Set 3D™ you can see a visible difference after four weeks.”

“It’s really important to be consistent and to be patient. With makeup we can do wonders instantly, but with skincare you have to be patient.”

Michelle Lee, EIC at Allure, knows a thing or two about skincare. She shared, “My number one best tip is using peel pads twice a week to exfoliate. It cleanses everything off and allows all your other skincare to be absorbed super easily.”

Sam Gen, of Sam Jen Makeup had this tip: “Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, even if you’re oily. There is a great moisturizer for everyone.”

And finally, Dr. Lucy Gildea, Chief Scientific Officer at Mary Kay® was kind enough to share her 2-cents. “Always cleanse and moisturize with an SPF,” the doctor shared. “A lot of people have the perception that they don’t need to cleanse their face. TimeWise® Miracle Set 3D™ is a simple 3-step regime. It’s three simple steps, twice a day: you cleanse, apply your day or night cream, and then the eye cream. Eye cream is important to use, because it’s where one of the first signs of eye cream ever show up on the face. And it’s important for people to know they should use an eye cream before signs ever show up. The whole point of 3D™ is to have a proactive approach-- it’s a 3-dimensional approach to skincare: to delay the onset, to defend against free radicals on the skin, and to deliver visible results. And you get more results in less time.”

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How 10 People Stay Successful at Success

If you find yourself getting easily overwhelmed by emails, struggling to keep your eyes open at your desk, or constantly getting distracted by coworkers, chances are, your productivity level isn’t what it could be.

The secret to working more efficiently isn’t about working more or less, but smarter. Here, 12 successful people share how to do just that, compliments of their productivity hacks. Get ready to get focused:

1. Visualize

“I always envision myself crushing it at my job, working with pristine integrity and keeping a gold standard. I have always envisioned myself being the go-to girl, the leader in my space, the golden girl in the Wellness space. Make an effort to pinpoint your success, and focus on YOU leading the pack. Clear the noise, don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. Focus on yourself, your work and keep the focus on doing your very best, nothing less.” —Candice Kumai, bestselling author of Clean Green Eats & Clean Green Drinks

2. Unplug

“I can’t begin to stress how important it was to limit digital distractions during my workday. The best thing I’ve ever done to improve my productivity was to check my inbox only three times a day. This allows me to really concentrate on whatever task I have at hand. Before I started doing this, I would constantly get interrupted and it would take me a while to get back to really focusing on what I was working on, which was a killer for my productivity. Sometimes I’ll catch myself cheating by checking my iPhone inbox, but putting it on silent helps stop the temptation!” —Jude Al-Khalil, founder and CEO of BIKYNI

3. Catch those ZZZs

“My #1 productivity hack is getting 7 hours of sleep each night. I turn off the TV and put away all my devices so I can clear my brain and sleep well! To have an energy-full day, I prioritize getting a good night’s sleep so I wake up rested and ready to go face the day’s challenges. I also really appreciate the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute’s principles that lead to being your personal best at work and at home: be physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused, and spiritually aware to achieve your mission.”—Janis Smith-Gomez, vice president, marketing for Ethicon, Inc.

4. Distance yourself

“Close the office door. I have an open door policy all the time. My office is open to every one of the 110 people who work for me. In fact, it’s unusual not to find at least one of my employees paying me a visit. However, when the rubber meets the road and I have to concentrate and get something done quickly, my office door gets closed. It has become a sign to everyone that when it’s closed, I am full steam on a project so I generally don’t get interrupted. It’s amazing what you can accomplish in an uninterrupted hour—or even a half hour.” —Linda Lightman, CEO and founder of Linda’s Stuff

5. Plan, organize, do

“I have a three-step mantra when it comes to being productive:

Plan it. I plan each day the night before and add them as actual tasks in my calendar. This gives you the creative space to do the work you need to do in the time required and ensures that you are realistic about what can be achieved. I prioritize the most important tasks and always allow time for inspiration and play—being creative means you need time to be inspired, read an article, blog or just be on the pulse of what’s happening.

Organize it. I try to keep to Inbox Zero. I rule the mail, it does not rule me. I check it only three times—morning, afternoon and at the end of the day. Being ruthless with emails means spending more time on the next step and less on organizing and sifting through endless emails. Honestly, if it’s really important, experience has taught me they either come and get you or pick up the phone.

Do it. I get focused. I’m not distracted, I don’t check my email and I get in the zone to complete the tasks for the day. I often have post-it notes with each task on my desk and physically tick them off once a task is done. There is great satisfaction in actually completing something. Visually seeing these is also a great way to remain focused.” —Resh Sidhu, creative director of Framestore’s VR Studio

6. Check-In times

“Email is both a blessing and a curse—a curse in that it often becomes a seemingly endless task. Each day, I set a time to check my email and address as much as I can. But I always set an end time, and stick to it. Of course, email is a blessing in that it keeps me on track. And I sort my inbox by subject, to be as efficient as possible (though I try to keep this trick a secret!).” —Julie Lee, managing director, Maxus Chicago

7. Google Hangouts

“While this may seem counter-intuitive as a productivity hack, I’m in a creative business so talking through ideas needs the nuance of conversation and ideally seeing each other’s face. Hangouts helps our teams get together and have meaningful discussions rather than spinning in the nuance of how we phrased something in an email. ‘ —Jane Delworth, managing director at mono

8. and 9. Meditation

“Headspace—20 minutes meditation a day every day makes all the difference to my productivity.” —Charlotte Smith, partner at Liberty Blue

“Even if it’s just 10 to 15 minutes a day. It centers me, keeps me focused on what matters right now, and helps me to stay calm under stress—which ultimately makes me more productive.  Walking meditation is my favorite type of meditation.” —Justine Bloome, EVP, strategy and innovation at Carat USA

10. Podcasts

“My favorite podcast is Ted Radio Hour. I love the diversity of interviews and content matter, which always expands my thinking in new and surprising ways.” —Olivia Fay, CEO and creative director of Rallier

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The 8 Tiny Business Issues You’re Not Addressing

I’ve worked on all sorts of businesses with different people, personality types, and motivations. A through line with all of them: you have to pay attention to the small stuff, because the small stuff can turn into the big stuff. Molehills to mountains, as they say. And it's not great to be stuck on top of Everest with no gear. 

Here are eight small issues you could be overlooking that have much bigger implications if not addressed sooner than later.

ONE

You haven’t faced your fears or at the very least surfaced what those fears are. Any person who starts a business has fears, insecurities, triggers. Having a really straight talk conversation with yourself and writing down what your fears are will get them out of your head and onto paper (physical or digital). A lot of times these fears, insecurities, triggers are intuitive sensations that we don’t have language for. They can creep up without us realizing and unconsciously sabotage us. Digging deep, bringing those fears to the surface and recording what they are, forces you to to create language for them so that as they pop up along the way, and they will, you will recognize them more easily and take them head on.

TWO

You haven’t decided WHY you actually want to build this business. Having an idea, knowing you’ve got the ability to execute it: all great stuff. But have you asked yourself what you want your business to do for YOU in the future? Thinking through and jotting down how your business fits into your overall life mission (determining what your life mission is in the process) is hugely important. This is a big question to answer but even taking a stab at answering it will be a helpful tool to in you connecting your business effort with a clearer purpose, so that you can do what’s right for YOU and get quicker into solving the problem at hand as you face different business challenges in the future.

THREE

You haven’t incorporated resting and recharging into your strategy. You haven’t made “whitespace time” a priority. I’ve seen a lot of owners fill their time with busy-ness--they equate constant movement with progress.  All that go, go go energy is good for nothing if you’re not also balancing it with some chill, chill, chill energy to regroup, let things settle in, and give your business building muscles a chance to recharge. At the beginning of your business determine how you’re going to build “whitespace time” into your strategy. Otherwise, say hello to burnout.

"You need to make whitespace time a priority." 

Tweet this. 

FOUR  

You haven’t thought about how you’re going to make money -- MONEY. You have a business idea. You even know how to market it. You’ve got the network to start spreading the word and you’ve got the messaging and your target audience down pat. But have you thought about how you’re going to make money? Building that audience is one thing. Making money is another. Build your business with money and profits on the brain right out the gate. Taking the time to put together a financial plan--even if it’s rough and dirty--that can evolve as your business evolves will help you keep the lights on and set your business up for more sustainable growth.

FIVE 

You’ve made someone a cofounder when they shouldn’t be. There are a lot of reasons why I’ve seen this happen. Some business owners have been scared or didn’t realize they were scared to go at building their business alone (see #1-- if the person maybe knew this was a fear they would’ve probably been able to manage this) so they bring on a cofounder. Sometimes people make someone a cofounder because they don’t have money to compensate them as an employee so they make up for it in giving them cofounder status. Whatever the reason is, make sure you’re bringing on a cofounder to augment your business, not satisfy an insecurity or out of not being able to pay (there are other creative ways to compensate--apprenticeship, barter, etc.!).-- you won’t be setting up that person nor yourself nor your business for success if they’re brought on for any other reason besides being a strategic leadership partner.

"Business mistake: You’ve made someone a cofounder when they shouldn’t be."

Tweet this.

SIX

You haven’t decided what you’re okay saying no to. Your time is a precious commodity. And you’re one person. If you haven’t figured out what you’re okay saying no to, next thing you know your calendar is chock-full and you’re taking coffees with people without really knowing how to maximize your java date. Being able to turn a conversation into something that will help you grow your business is a skill. But so is saying no to meetings that don't make sense. You need to focus on the more important aspects of your business that deserve your attention. Get laser focused on what you’re going to say “no” to (nicely of course). 

SEVEN

You haven’t determined who to go to for what. Think through the strengths of the people in your network and uncover how they can help you. This will help you be clearer and more strategic in your asks of them. People like to help but don’t waste the wrong ask on the right person.

EIGHT

You haven’t written any of your plans down. If you’re starting a business chances are you’ve been thinking about it for some time and you’ve finally gotten to a place where you’re ready to pull the trigger. You’re ready to take that leap. Pause and jot down, even quickly, what your current plan is. You don’t have to do a full-fledged strategy; it doesn’t have to be fancy. Writing down what success looks like for your first week, month, year will help you avoid blockages going forward--this is not only a great way to clarify your thinking it’s a great way of firming up the commitment to yourself. 

Alison Gilbert is a business coach and consultant. She’s helped over a dozen owners and entrepreneurs grow profitable businesses quickly and efficiently, including such companies as Well+Good, Levo League, Maiyet and Plum Alley. Prior to building her consultancy she was hire number four and COO of food media company Tasting Table where she grew it into a forty person team reaching a readership of millions.  Visit her site and schedule a free consultation. 

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Why Your Self-Worth Can't Be Attached to Your Blog

How do you put your best face forward? It's a question that has been on our minds a lot as we've traveled from Miami to Dallas talking with influencers and beauty bloggers moving the needle forward in the beauty industry. 

It's why we hit the road for the Create & Cultivate x Clinique “Best Face Forward” panel. Not only so attendees could receive makeovers and test out the Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer, but so that they could also get inspired by our panelists. Dallas didn't disappoint. 

C&C Marketing Director Heather Records was joined onstage by 5 amazing women, who know all about the pressures of a public persona. 

Courtney Kerr, is the blogger and influencer and editor of KERRently, a website that showcases her personal style, beauty tips & tricks, favorite recipes, interior design inspiration, travel diaries, & shopping inspiration.

Stephanie Taylor Jackson is a fashion and lifestyle blogger, stylist and content creator for brands.

Ashley Robertson is the founder of The Teacher Diva, a Dallas-based blog about fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. 

Amanda Miller is the founder and Dallas-based blogger behind The Miller Affect.

Kate Padgitt is the founder of the fashion blog Lonestar Southern.

They all had their own nuggets of gold to drop. Read through to get inspired by some of our favorites. 

ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PRESSURE ONLINE

“My self worth can’t be attached to my blog. It can’t be attached to how many followers I have or how many likes I get.”-Kate

“You have to accept that some people are going to like you and some people are going to think you taste like soap.” -Courtney Kerr

“There might be people throwing stones, but guess what? Their arms are going to get tired.”-Courtney Kerr

ON KEEPING IT REAL 

"It’s a photo and you don’t know what went into it. Don’t let it make you feel little.”-Kate

“I want my followers to follow me because they like who I am.”-Amanda Miller

"When I'm feeling like Stephanie, when I feel like me, that's when I feel the most beautiful." - Stephanie Taylor Jackson. 

ON PUTTING YOUR BEST FACE FOWARD 

“It’s all about getting rest and making sure to have to have a balanced meal in order to truly put your best face forward.”-Steph Taylor Jackson

"I love experimenting with the latest brands latest products."-Courtney Kerr 

"Beauty is something that I just started diving into late last year, but I'm really enjoying it."-Stepahine Taylor Jackson

'For me, beauty means confidence. There are days where I'm not feeling it, want to put on sweatpants and eat an entire pint of ice cream. I felt like I woke up feeling like Wayne's World. But it's all about confidence. If you fake it, it can allow your confidence to shine through. But also what you feel inside, is what comes out on the outside." -Courtney Kerr 

"Anything that inspires me, I find the beauty in."- Kate

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