How This Founder Raised A Total of $67 Million For Her Company

Susan Tynan, founder and CEO, Framebridge 

Jaclyn Johnson, founder and CEO of Create & Cultivate and Susan Tynan, founder and CEO of Framebridge first met at Create & Cultivate DTLA right before they hopped on stage together. But they vibed immediately. 

There are commonalities that bond entrepreneurs and startup founders. A deep understanding of the hard work, sleepless nights, and putting it all on the line. So the two decided to have real-talk and share it—because that's what we at C&C are all about. 

Since their initial conversation, Framebridge has managed to raise an additional $30 million of funding. This brings Framebridge's total raised to $67 million after the company recently closed a Series C round of funding. 

Create & Cultivate: As a female CEO, what was the process like for raising a round of $30M for the company?

Susan Tynan: Now that we have a real business, what we've built speaks for itself. We raised $30M because we built a business that consumers love. Every nuanced detail we sweat creating this business translates to successful fundraising. Some people might be able to raise based on swagger, but we did because we built something fundamentally good.

Do you have any advice for women who plan on meeting with investors for their business?

Susan: Yes! Paint the big picture. Women have a tendency to be really credible about what we can achieve in the near term. Make sure you're presenting how big of an idea your business and your conviction in leading it.

Learn more business tips from Susan & Jaclyn below.

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JACKIE: I like to jump right into things. I think most entrepreneurs do. So can we talk founder-to-founder for a moment about the hard moments? The ones where you know you need to pivot, but you have no idea what direction to turn? What do you do in those instances?

SUSAN: You can turn to a lot of people for advice - and I do - but, at the end of the day, the hardest decisions are yours alone. It's important for me to anchor myself in the basics of the business and review, "Why did I found Framebridge? What are we providing customers? How can we keep getting better? What type of organization did we want to build?" I work through most issues by reviewing the fundamentals. Then the answer usually emerges. And I SoulCycle! A 45 minute loud-music workout sorts out a lot for me, too.

JACKIE: Totally. Everyone always talks about needing to answer the ‘WHY,’ in a simple but compelling way. Sort of like an elevator pitch to yourself. It’s definitely not easy in the moments when you can’t answer that.

SUSAN: What are some other big challenges of running your own company that took you by surprise? Was there one big piece of advice you wish you had earlier?

JACKIE: There were SO many. Everyone warns you, this will take over your life and you will work harder than you’ve ever worked before, and there’s a part of you that doesn’t believe it entirely. And maybe if you did believe it, you would never do it. I imagine that’s how people feel about their first kid. Lack of sleep and nonstop travel are both tremendously challenging. So is feeling like no one will ever care as much as you do— and the truth is, they won’t.

I wish someone had told me to get everything in writing. And I mean everything. You live and learn and sometimes that means losing money because you thought spit and a handshake were binding. Newsflash: They’re definitely not.

JACKIE: What was the most surprising part of starting a business for you?

SUSAN: I was surprised by how many people thought I was nuts to try. I left a great salary and a career that looked pretty linear. But what if it doesn't work? So, what? The truth is, I cannot imagine a way I could have grown more personally than by starting this business.

"I left a great salary and a career that looked pretty linear. But what if it doesn't work? So, what?"

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JACKIE: What was the hardest?

SUSAN: The hardest time - by far - was the period just before we launched. We had raised some money and we had made some big bets - on a warehouse, on our custom packaging, on our site design. And, yet, we didn't have customers! That felt terrifying. Now, everything is based on what we know our customers want. It's much easier, at least psychologically. What has been harder than you expected? What has been easier?

JACKIE: We've never raised money and that’s been both a blessing and a stressor. We’re not beholden to investors, but that also means I’m responsible for making this thing work. Me? I have a company and employees and this amazing community of women who turn to us for career advice… that’s the best feeling, it’s also the scariest.

Jackie (center) and Susan (far right) on panel at CreateCultivateDTLA. 

JACKIE: Let’s shift for a minute from scary to fun. Because this world is fun. You have an idea. The idea starts to take shape, becomes a business, and before you know it, that one idea has snowballed into something HUGE. What was the moment like for you when Framebridge went from idea to reality?

SUSAN: So, the truth is we have no time for reflection. I try to force reflection on other team members so I have a chance to reflect too. Just this week I made Tessa, our Creative Director, take a moment and say - "We're shooting a TV ad - in real life!!"  And, on Cyber Monday last year, we blew away our sales projections and we all went out together. I'll always remember that night, being with that group, and celebrating together. What was your turning point or moment that made you decide to take your idea and turn it into a real business?

JACKIE: I looked around and I didn’t see want I needed. That’s where almost all entrepreneurship is birthed from. I was running (No Subject) and felt a little lost, a little confused by all the moving parts of business, especially those where I was a novice. I started Create & Cultivate as a side project. The response was so overwhelming that I knew it was going to be something big, IF, and this is the big IF, I was willing to commit. Things don’t blow up because they stay a side hustle. If you expect people to get something out of your business, service, whatever it is, you need to be willing to put your heart into it. You can half-heart a side hustle, sure, but if you give it your whole heart, you give yourself the opportunity to create something bigger.  

I think that’s also so important to point out. Committing to your idea gives you the opportunity, it doesn’t mean you will succeed. No matter how hard you work. That’s advice I wish I had early on too and I think is important for our community to understand.

"Committing to your idea gives you the opportunity, it doesn’t mean you will succeed. No matter how hard you work."

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SUSAN: In a short amount of time you have managed to create an unbelievable community of likeminded women from all over the world. For some young entrepreneurs it can be intimidating to network - any advice on making connections that last?

JACKIE: I think it’s intimidating to network because of the feeling of impostor syndrome. The feeling that you don’t belong or you haven’t earned your seat at the table. That comes and goes in waves. Make connections last by believing that you have something important to say and that people want to listen. But also, make sure you’re adding to conversations. That will keep you top of mind. Everyone has impostor syndrome. At least all of the female founders I’ve spoken with and the ones who move through fear are the ones that move the needle and make connections last. 

SUSAN: Well, for sure, I relate on impostor syndrome and the isolation of being a founder. It's weird because you signed yourself up for it, but then you have so much responsibility and no one to turn to. Framebridge employs 120+ people (including 100 more seasonal employees) and they are able to take trips and buy houses and grow their families because of Framebridge. That's incredible.

JACKIE: Speaking of seats at the table, how do you feel when you walk into a boardroom or a huge meeting? Do you feel influential? Powerful? Like you’ve earned your chair?

SUSAN: Good question! I've gotten so much better at these meetings. I'm talking about my business and I know the most about this business and I truly, deeply believe in it. So, it's easier to be confident. And I always play pump up music before I go in (Lose Yourself, Eminem and the mellower Adventure of a Lifetime, Coldplay). And, cheesy, but true, I always do a power pose or two in the elevator.

JACKIE: Cheesy is necessary sometimes. We love a good AM jam around here. And power pose is strong. That’s something that produces actual results. I love a good pep talk too. 

Framebridge at CreateCultivateDTLA

JACKIE: So we do a lot of “real” talk at C&C because it’s important for women to know they aren’t alone, but it’s also important for them to know about the exciting and "everything is possible" side of owning a business. What are the good moments for you? What makes it all worth it?

SUSAN: Customer stories get me choked up. Because I dreamed that if we built this, people would frame special items and they do - things that make them proud or happy or make their friend laugh. I truly get a kick out of each customer who thinks of a creative thing to frame.

JACKIE: I know, I get inspired by conference attendees and women we meet through our platform. That was the whole point—to create a strong social network of women helping each other. There's no feeling quite like it. Speaking of social what do you think is the future of social? Where is it heading?

SUSAN: Well, I think the coolest thing about social is that it self-polices. You have to produce good content. I think that will continue to be the case and maybe even get more competitive. It's very cool that it's not like you can blast out your message without providing something in return —you have to actually earn your following!

"The coolest thing about social is that it self polices. You have to produce good content."

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JACKIE: I also feel like you have to earn your team. It's not easy to create a solid, well-oiled unit. How did you go about assembling your team? Do you have any hiring advice?

SUSAN: I knew the first members of my team from other companies. So, we liked and respected each other and we're loyal to one another and we have fun. And, now, I try to recruit people who want to work really hard and have a lot of fun. I've realized we only have room for people genuinely excited by what we're doing and people willing to roll up their sleeves. It's tough to interview for those qualities, but we're getting better at teasing it out.

SUSAN: What are your thoughts on hiring friends and family? Do you recommend keeping business separate from your personal life?

JACKIE: Yes, separate. It’s hard to be a boss and a friend. It’s hard to be a friend and employee. There are exceptions of course and every team is different, but instead of making employees out of friends and family, you should hire employees and make a family out of your team.

"Instead of making employees out of friends and family, you should hire employees and make a family out of your team."

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A Skincare Brand Founder & CEO Breaks Down The Importance of Clean Beauty

The clean beauty movement is happening in full force right before our very eyes. We see words like non-toxic, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and so on and it gets overwhelming. What if a brand was here to make it simple and straight to the point with its product and message? That's where Primally Pure comes in. The clean beauty brand has made its mark in the industry, particularly with its natural deodorants.

Primally Pure is made up of certified organic ingredients that are truly safe for everyone's skin. More brands have become transparent about what actually goes into products, but Primally Pure was ahead of the curve. The founder, Bethany McDaniel, was kind enough to chat with C&C about how she came up with the brand's concept, competition in clean skincare, and why natural products are important for our health and wellness. 

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Create & Cultivate: You’ve gone from an organic livestock farm to owning your own beauty business. How did farm life inspire your brand?  

Bethany McDaniel: When you put it that way, my transition from farming to skincare seems like such a bizarre shift! But in reality, it was a very natural next step. When my family spontaneously started a farm, it got me started on a path of cleaning up my lifestyle – and skincare was a huge part of that. I had dealt with acne, rosacea and other random skin problems for years, and began making natural alternatives to the toxic products I had been using since my teenage years with little to no success. Within only a few short weeks, I observed a noticeable difference in the health and appearance of my skin. The further I strayed from conventional products over the next several months, the better my skin looked and felt. I was sold on natural skincare and wanted the rest of the world to experience the same benefits that I did!

What has creating your own beauty products taught you about the industry as a whole?

The more we’ve grown, the harder it is to stay true to your mission and core values as a natural skincare company. Natural ingredients are not easy to work with. Not every batch of essential oil, arrowroot powder or shea butter is the same, and natural variations often make it difficult (but not impossible) to produce high-quality natural skincare products at a large scale.  

 For this reason, it’s commonplace for natural beauty brands to switch over to synthetic alternatives as ingredients and have their products made by a manufacturing facility located offsite or even overseas. But despite this being so much simpler and more uniform, we are 100% committed to continuing to source the purest, most natural ingredients possible. We make our products in-house and train our staff on what each ingredient should smell, feel and look like in order to detect any possible inconsistencies. This has become more and more difficult as we’ve grown and scaled, but it’s the foundation of our brand and everything we stand for – and those values aren’t changing!

Primally Pure consists of clean beauty products. Can you explain what exactly makes it clean and how it’s different from other clean beauty brands? 

We believe that products made with fewer, better ingredients truly do yield superior results. Our products are formulated with fewer ingredients so that the pure oils, clays, herbs and other elements we use can have the space to do what they’re meant to do – transform your skin. The market for natural skincare products is on the rise, and it’s become commonplace for brands to take advantage of the consumer’s desire to find products made with pure ingredients. For example, you can find phrases like “made with organic essential oils” on just about anything these days. And while that may be true, organic essential oils (or whichever ingredients are being talked about) are often times at the very bottom of a long list of not-so-natural ingredients. 

Our niche is crafting products made with pure ingredients that aren’t diluted with chemicals. We use nature’s most precious + healing elements to formulate our products–and you won’t find them buried under a long list of cheap fillers and stabilizers.

It seems as if there’s a sudden boom in the clean beauty movement. With many retailers being more transparent about product labeling, are you hopeful that this will convince more brands to consider transitioning to more clean ingredients? 

Absolutely. And while the beauty industry has a long way to go as a whole, we’re already seeing so many steps in the right direction. There’s been a huge shift in consumer awareness in regards to what we’re putting on our bodies over the last several years, and brands are scrambling to keep up. I don’t view it as a bad thing to have more competition in this area. No single product or line of products will work for everyone, and more choices mean more demand and education/awareness —which is a win for everyone!

Primally Pure is most well-known for your natural deodorant. Can you tell us a bit more about this product and why it's so important for women to swap out their antiperspirant for a more natural option? 

Deodorant alone may not seem like that big of a deal. However, when you think about all of the assaults our bodies go through daily in terms of toxins we’re exposed to in the foods we eat, air we breathe, the water we drink, etc., it’s important to do what we can to lessen our toxic load by making changes in the areas we do have control over. 

Switching to a natural deodorant is one of the most powerful changes one can make, as our armpits are extremely absorbent and easily take in what we apply. The biggest benefit of using natural deodorant is a less toxic burden on the body. After making the switch, many people find that they’re sweating more than normal as your body rids itself of toxins. This typically normalizes after a few weeks. And once it does, most people find that they sweat even LESS than before.

The market for natural deodorants seems to be growing. What makes Primally Pure's unique? 

Every day, customers tell us that after trying loads of natural deodorants, ours is the first that has worked for them. Not every natural deodorant is created equal and there are a number of different pitfalls that can occur when using natural deodorant including odor, irritation (usually caused by high levels of baking soda found in most natural deodorants), and more. 

Through years of trial + error, we’ve formulated our deodorant with the perfect amount of baking soda – enough to combat odor but not enough to cause irritation for the vast majority of people. The results are fresh-smelling, perfectly nourished pits. 

Our deodorant is made with a short list of ingredients including organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, organic arrowroot powder, baking soda, organic tallow from grass-fed cows, and organic essential oils. Ingredients like these allow the skin to breathe and function as it should. Nourishing vitamins and essential fatty acids with anti-inflammatory + anti-microbial properties help to improve the health of skin, leaving pits smooth and protected.

You’ve managed to own a successful brand in what many presume to be a saturated space. What advice do you have to women who are looking to start their own beauty business, but are hesitant about actually going for it? 

Even though the space may seem saturated, I strongly believe that the natural beauty movement is only just beginning to pick up steam. There are SO many people on this planet. And in the grand scheme of things, very few of them are on the natural skincare bandwagon. But more and more are getting on it each and every day! It’s easy to assume that something has already been done and that there’s no use in doing it – but the truth is, there is no one who can do that thing (whatever it is) in the same way that you would do it.  

You’ve made it clear that Primally Pure believes that beauty goes much deeper than skincare and involves a lot of self-care. How do you practice your own self-care?  

As an introvert, having “me-time” is super important. But as a wife, mother to a toddler and business owner, this doesn’t happen as often as I would like. 

I know that at some point I’ll be able to exercise regularly, sleep longer, read often and get together with friends again more than once every couple of months. But for now, I try to care for myself in ways that are easier for me to stick with. I go on walks with my daughter around the lake by our house, take baths with Epsom salts and organic essential oils a few times a week, and sneak away for massages whenever I can. I do what I can and I don’t stress about all of the things I’m doing wrong, because I know life won’t be this way forever. 

What can we expect from Primally Pure for the rest of 2018 and beyond? 

We just moved our headquarters into a new 11k square foot space, and it’s been so exciting to work through the design process. The best part of this move is that we’re putting an actual spa into our new headquarters! We’re beyond excited to provide our local community with holistic + organic facials and massages. Additionally, we always have new products in the works and can’t wait to share more on those in the coming months!

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6 Ways to Get Back on Business Track

June gloom brings more than cloudy, grayish weather. It’s also the year’s mid-way point, the pit stop on our journey to NYE that reminds us of those lofty goals we set on Jan 1. And that can make some of us as gloomy as the weather. In part because we’re looking at everything we’ve yet to accomplish, leaving us feeling like tail chasers. 

But let’s make this a coffee cup half full situation and get back on the grind. Here’s how to set yourself and your business goals right once more. 

REVIEW

Where’s that list you wrote? Whether scribbled on paper, the notes section in your phone, or stored in your memory bank, it’s time to review. Look at what you have accomplished and what you haven’t. Do a brutally honest assessment of where you are. Reflection is a fundamental skill set of successful people. This time put it to paper-- if it’s not already.

 "Reflection is a fundamental skill set of successful people."

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WHY WORDS ON PAPER? 

Two words: Accountability and commitment. Though many sites report the findings of the “1953 Harvard study” or the “1979 Yale study” both said to have found evidence correlating the act of writing down goals and the long-term performance of people, neither such study ever took place. However, putting your goals to paper does make you more accountable. For your mid-year review put your goals in two columns: A and B. In column A write down what you’ve already accomplished. In column B write down what you want to or have yet to accomplish. Notice if one column greatly outweighs the other. If the scales are tipped in favor of column B, consider creating a third column: C. Column C should be the space where you really hone in on what is realistic and important. Ask yourself if your goals have changed. Moving forward focus your efforts on C, instead of feeling overwhelmed by B.

WRITE DOWN THE HABITS YOU NEED TO NIX

Is there a side hustle you’ve been putting off because you’ve grown complacent/sucked into a Netflix hole? Have you stopped learning and listening and thereby found yourself in a creative rut/sucked into a Netflix hole? Chances are you’ve picked up a new bad habit or two in the last six months. They’re kind of like gophers that way-- always popping up in unexpected places. You don’t have to wait until New Year’s to reset. Use the start of summer (this coming Thursday, June 21st) to get the habits off your plate that are crowding out the other important and sustainable items.

CONSIDER USING A VACATION DAY OR TWO

This may feel counter-intuitive, but If you’ve been hitting it hard since the beginning of the year, that's counter productive. It could be time for a break. If you think of your brain like your computer, you know that you have to shut it down every now and again, otherwise it will start crashing. Endless spinning wheel of death where creativity ceases to flow and information exchange comes to a halt. You don’t have to hit professional rock bottom before you crawl back out. In 2014 42% of working Americans didn't take a single vacation day. Not one. In 2013 Americans collectively squandered 169 million vacation days. Yet this pattern is taking its toll on workers, proving to have a negative ripple effect on employee mental health, productivity, even the economy.

REACH OUT TO THAT *ONE PERSON*

This is an easy step to take, and yet we all know that the easiest step is often the hardest. There’s always that *one professional person* you keep meaning to reach out to, but never do. Maybe it’s a cold call or maybe you even have an introduction, but for some reason you can’t bring yourself to follow through. It may not be career changing-- for now-- but it could be the one domino that sets the others on a roll. As soon as you finish reading this, go write that email and send it off.

LET GO AND LET GO (FOR REAL, LET IT GO)

Have you heard that spring cleaning closet rule? That if you haven’t worn it (leopard print body con dress) in a year, it’s time to donate? Well, the same goes for your to-do goal list. If there is a goal that’s been lingering, weaving its way from one year to the next, without much progress, it's time to let it go. Holding onto something we can’t commit to takes up valuable space in our brains. Much like that one person, you know what the one goal is. We’re not telling you to give up on your dreams, but if you’re not working toward it, maybe it’s not your dream?

And remember: Sometimes yes, you have to look back in order to look forward, but once you have your sights set firmly ahead, hold eye contact with the future. It’s your best bet.

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Be a Business Wildflower: How to STAND OUT in Your Next Meeting

You’ve heard of FOMO— Fear of Missing Out, but what if you’re missing out in a meeting or at a company event because you’re a bit of a business wallflower? 

We’ve all seen and heard of wallflowers- standing alone on the back wall at the dance, getting picked last for sports teams or formal dates. And you may be thinking, ‘That’s totally not me…I’m queen of the social scene!’ But are you queen of the boardroom? Or do you get too shy to speak up when you’re face-to-face with a big client or the company CEO?

Don’t fret. It’s normal and it’s a part of growing yourself as a business woman. You’re a wildflower at heart; you just need a little water and the chance to bloom.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with our friends at Wildflowers Skincare to show you not only how to put your best face forward with some of their amazing products, but also how to make sure you’re seen, heard, and presenting yourself with the most girl boss confidence. 

MAKE AN IMPRESSION 

You’ve heard the saying a million times- ‘you only get one chance at a first impression.’ And while your first instinct may be to knock ‘em dead with the killer outfit you just bought (can we get an amen for suede being the ‘it’ fabric this season?), but it may leave your client or potential business partner turned off. Remember, you’re dressing to impress the client you want! The best thing you can do to make that leap from wallflower to wildflower is to follow classic business dress rules for your first meeting or two to gauge the situation. Start with a fresh face (Wildflowers Gentle Cleansing Powder is our go-to travel friendly formula) and apply natural looking makeup. Craving a little bit of bold? A classic red lip is a great way to add a little sass! Next, use basic wardrobe pieces to create a strong foundation for your outfit. A pencil skirt paired with a buttoned up white top and a cool statement necklace makes a feminine, but classic statement. Just can’t kick the urge to accessorize? Throw on a fun statement heel. It’ll up your confidence knowing you’re rocking your favorite shoes.

GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD

There are some overlapping techniques between public speaking and speaking up at a conference table. The first is that the person who cares the most— is you. 

You’ve seen the graphic. There are two bubbles— one stating “Where the magic happens,” and the other “Your comfort zone.” It shouldn’t come as a surprise that they don’t overlap. The first step to getting out of your comfort zone is the hardest one. Next time you’re in a meeting and you have an idea, write it down. 

Writing it down serves as a constant reminder any time you look down to take notes that you have a great idea for the topic at hand! Send a follow up email after the meeting, thanking everyone for their time and quietly sneak in your suggestion. This takes a little bit of the pressure off, so you can feel more comfortable to bring it up again, out loud, in your next meeting.

The first time you do it is the scariest, but 2016 is all about growth!

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, MAKES PERFECT

OK. There is no such thing as perfect, but there are vast improvements— the likes of which you will never see if you don’t work on it at home. You’re not going to wake up one day and be a clutch public speaker. And, contrary to what you may think, not even the very best public speakers were simply born with the knack. 

There are plenty of famous known introverts that have had very public careers— Steve Jobs and Sheryl Sandberg to name two. You might be thinking, what? How?! They’ve been able to get up in front of millions of viewers to give speeches on television and at conferences. It’s true, but it also goes to show that if you want something bad enough, nothing will hold you back. Practice every day until you feel like you’ve got the hang of it, then stand up in the boardroom and knock it out of the park!

FAILURE ALSO MAKES PERFECT 

You probably just read that title and thought “Um, what?!” But, hear us out. Every business woman you know has had a flop idea, been shut down in a business meeting by an unprofessional colleague, or has totally botched their presentation to a client. Failure is an important part of the process because it teaches you how to navigate those awkward and uncomfortable moments so you can come out on top next time! When these things happen, take a bit of a breather. Splash some water on your face or relax with a nice face mask (hint: the Wildflowers Detoxifying Clay Masque does the trick for us every time) and go over what happened.

"Failure also makes perfect." 

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How can you be better prepared? What steps can you take to diffuse a situation? How can you transform your idea to better fit your client’s needs? Then the next time you’re faced with potential setback, use what you’ve learned to kick butt and take names!

The transition from business wallflower to #beawildflower is a process, but it’s totally worth it when you’re becoming your best boss girl self. There’s enough success to go around, so practice your pitches, dress to impress, and don’t be afraid of failure. Every experience gets you one step closer taking over the world!

Exclusive Report: We Polled 400 Working Women & This Is What We Found Out

We spend our days around hard-working, motivated women. But we wanted to know how they really felt about their careers, their futures, the state of the world-- all of it. 

So with the help of Buzz MG, we surveyed over 400 working women. We talked social, savings, and the every day hustle. One of the biggest takeaways was the 83% of the women surveyed said that they want to own their own business. Entrepreneurship is ON THE RISE (and hey ladies, the highest wave floats all boats). 

If this sounds like you, check out our new video series for branding and building your own side hustle.

Here our some of our favorite takeaways. You can download the full report below! 

graphic credit: Chloe White

Knowing your audience is key. Deep dive into the full report featuring 5 full pages of stats and info including: work habits, career status, media preferences, wants and goals, saving abilities, and political leanings.  

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The Trick to Avoiding Burnout Isn't Delegating or Meditating

photo credit: Memorandum 

This whole business of building your dream career is not for the faint of heart; we know this. 

Delegate! The productivity hackers command. Automate! The digital marketing experts implore. Meditate before meetings! Suggest the self-care gurus. And yes, a healthy mix of all of the above will go far in helping to grow and expand one’s professional empire. The problem is that in the quest to outperform, overdeliver and yes maybe even overachieve, we often miss out on a powerful, potentially easier way.

What if I told you there was a nearly foolproof, feel-good tactic available to you? Right now. Something basically guaranteed to activate a serious mood-boost, along with a burst of motivation, creativity and enthusiasm for yourself and your team? A strategy that will help to drive demand for your products and services, build extreme team loyalty and attract your right people and opportunities your way, like a magnet.

So what is this powerful career cocktail?

Professional recognition.

Employees who do not feel adequately recognized are twice as likely to say they’ll quit in the next year, which seems likely as a Gallup poll conducted in 2016 found that employees often feel their best efforts are routinely ignored. In fact, the number one reason Americans leave their jobs is that they don’t feel appreciated. And yet, the Aberdeen Group found that only 14% of organizations provide managers with the necessary tools for rewards and recognition.”

Seriously.

So how do we turn this around? Here are 3 ideas: 

Seek out PR opportunities for your experts

The standard protocol is often to have the CEO act as the mouthpiece for a company, whether or not she is intimately involved in the subject matter at hand. Instead, make company PR a group effort. Encourage your team to seek out opportunities to write articles, contribute expert quotes, submit for career interviews, apply to speak on panels, heck, give a keynote speech. Share the spotlight with the experts who are helping you succeed and everyone wins. If you’re an employee, being opportunities like this to the table and argue your case.

Earmark budget (and-time) for awards and celebrations

Every cent matters, particularly in a startup environment. But take note of a World at Work study that found 46% of senior managers view recognition programs as an investment rather than an expense. From that perspective, consider putting money aside for external and internal recognition opportunities. Whether you apply for industry awards, incentivize an employee of the month program with a half day of paid-time-off, or host a quarterly peer-recognition love fest complete with seasonal snacks, ensure everyone knows these programs (and the core value of appreciation) are a company priority. 

Write love letters

One of my career maxims is to ‘lead with generosity.’ This idea aligns well with one of my favorite quotes by the French philosopher Simone Weil, particularly apt in our multi-platform, multi-distraction world: “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” (It's also free.) 

One of my favorite strategies to bust through my own burnout is to send out emails of appreciation. I send them to people I know and complete strangers, anyone whose work I am inspired by, anyone who has gone above and beyond for me in a meaningful way.

No matter where you are at in your career, you have every opportunity to build yourself up - and those around you - through a heartfelt note of appreciation. 

By adopting formal-or even informal-recognition practices for yourself and your team, you’ll enjoy perks like an improvement in outside perception, an easier time attracting top talent, higher customer satisfaction, lower turnover, less frustration, a more highly engaged workforce and better business results overall. 

Now that sounds like something worth celebrating.

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Crosby Noricks is the founder and director of PR Couture, the sourcebook for fashion and lifestyle communicators. As part of the site’s own 10-year anniversary celebration, Crosby launched The Bespoke Communication Awards, a global online award program established to recognize excellence among agencies, in-house teams, individuals and brands. The BCAs include a free “Favorites Category” nomination form for 6 awards, including ‘Breakout Lifestyle Brand’ and ‘Favorite Industry News Source/Publication’ - submit your faves today!

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Professional Opinion: How to Take a Leap of Faith in Your Career

Sometimes the toughest part of starting a new venture—or just starting anew—is the beginning. We often convince ourselves that we're not ready, not capable, not financially stable enough (and so on) to just go after what we really want. So we keep grinding away to live a life other than the one we should have. You hear it all the time. Nike most memorably captured the motto: Just Do It. Well, Creator + Author of You're Not Lost,  Maxie McCoy did just that. As in, exactly what she wanted to do, and like many before (and after her), it was all okay. We can all learn a thing or two from Maxie (to that point, she'll be mentoring at #createcultivateCHI!), which is why we asked her to share her advice and adventures in just doing it. Trust us, you need this. Read on. —JM

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Six months ago, I stood facing the Pacific on the other side of the world. My stomach was in my toes. My toes were in the sand. And there were “What have I just done?” tears in my eyes.

I had chosen to leap. To the other side of the world. To a business that was mine. To distance myself from what I knew and could count on in order to be closer to a dream...my dream. 

Launching a business of my own had been in the making for a while, whether I consciously realized it or not. I had been making tiny, daily, decisions for years: writing publicly, developing content partnerships, hosting my first giveaway, talking about my dream, taping my first video, meeting with other entrepreneurs to talk about my work. Each of those steps felt big while they were happening, but they were really just preparing me for the big leap—the one that would lead to formalized services and digital products, hiring a team of help, and moving to Bali to make my business a reality.

Leaps of faith happen as much in the small moments as they do in the large ones. And your career requires that you take them. You won’t always know how they’ll turn out, but you’ll be stronger, wiser, and more successful because of your willingness to make them. You may have to stick affirmations all over your desk and mirror to get you over that threshold of fear and onto your path…but once you do you’ll never look back. The hardest part is the decision to leap, the rest is an exhilarating ride.

If you’re on the cusp of making a big change or taking a risk for the sake of your dreams, remember this:

LOOK FOR THE PIT IN YOUR TUMMY

Wait for feeling of nausea that just won’t budge when you think about the idea. Wait for the the thing that scares you. The one you immediately want to say “ah hell no to”—and then do that thing. It’s part of the (sh)ero journey to initially want to deny that call to do something bigger. That’s typically when you’re actually onto something. Summon every support system, affirmation, and pep talk you can to get your toes of the ground.

"wait for the thing that scares you—then do that thing."

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YOU'LL NEVER BE FULLY READY

If you’re waiting until “you’re ready” to quit your job, start your side hustle, or make that phone call—you’ll be waiting a lifetime. There’s never going to be a good time to leap. When it’s bold, it won’t always be logical. But it’ll be right. The less you wait for being ready, the more ready you’ll be. 

WRITE OUT YOUR DISASTER SCENARIO

What’s the worst that could happen? Literally—the worst. Detail the absolute worst scenario you can imagine if this leap of faith were to go terribly wrong. Get it out there. Read it. Think about it. Roll around in it. If you can take inventory of your worst case scenario and still be pretty OK with the choice, you’ll be even more propelled to jump. Getting groovy with my worst case scenario was one of the best tactics I had in getting the courage to do it. I knew that if I could mentally handle that, I could handle anything. And now that I’m on the other side of that leap? I didn’t even come close to my worst case scenario. It truly did all work out.

Big magic requires even bigger courage. Making a leap of faith for your career is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your chances of success.

Maxie McCoy is the energy designer of Maxie, where she shares soul wisdom on the digital video series #maxie and her weekly writings. If you want your spiritual and emotional IQ shooting to the stars, Maxie is the place to be.

Let Maxie be your guide to unlocking your brilliance by following along at maxiemccoy.com. Maxie offers soul sessions, workshops, one-on-one coaching, and words of wisdom you really shouldn't miss. And get tickets to #createcultivateCHI to land a seat a our Mentor Power Hour with Maxie. 

Women Aren't Just Running for Office, They're Winning

Women across the country are rising up to run for office in record numbers. 

Since the 2016 election, 36,000 women have contacted Emily's List about running for office, and 417 women have filed to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. 

This May, 2018, Maggie's List, a federal political action committee (PAC) dedicated to electing fiscally conservative women to federal office and statewide executive office, announced that they are endorsing 49 candidates for United States Senate, United States House of Representatives races and state-wide offices.

According to CNN, "In 1970, there was just one female Senate candidate. Today, there are 49 to 54 women running, depending on whether and which third-party candidates you include. There are 394 women running for the House and 56 in governor's races (including third-party candidates), as of May 23."

CNN also reports that Arizona has never had a woman in the Senate, making it a hotly contested seat. There are multiple women running for both the Republican and Democratic nominations in a primary on Aug. 28.

According to the Center for American Women in Politics, the number of Democratic women running for House seats this year increased 146 percent over 2016 (to 351), while the number of Republican women running for the House increased just 35 percent (to 99); on the other side of the Capitol there are only 14 Republican women running for Senate compared to 27 Democratic women.

This wave of female candidates is groundbreaking, making clear that women will be the foundation of change in 2018. 

After this season’s first batch of primary races, we know women aren’t just running; they’re winning. Specifically Democratic women are winning. 

Approximately one-third of the way through primary season, here’s a look at where Democratic women candidates are by the numbers:

• 289 Democratic women remain in the running for the U.S. House of Representatives. Meanwhile, 29 Democratic women remain in the running for the U.S. Senate, and 43 remain in gubernatorial contests.

• In the 65 contested Democratic races between men and women without an incumbent candidate, women won 45.

• In the May 8 primaries in Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, and West Virginia, 22 of 31 Democratic omen wo their races.

• In the Texas primaries, 24 Democratic omen either won or made it into the top two spots for runoff elections out of 32 congressional districts.

• In first big primary night, of the 27 female House candidates who were successful, nearly 30 percent were women of color.

• Tomorrow’s California primaries, a record 57 women will be on the ballot for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Women are paying attention, and they’re rising up to make their voices heard. Who is excited for this sea change?

Photo by Mirah Curzer on Unsplash

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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.  

photo credit: David Rosario.

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."

photo credit: David Rosario

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."

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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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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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Our Favorite Mic Drop Moments from #CCBeautySummit!

What does in mean to be a beauty boss? Lucky for you, we're laying the foundation. 

Because we spoke all things beauty boss at our #CCBeautySummit with Mary Kay in New York City! Our panelists chatted everything from building a beauty business, starting their career, social media, and so much more. 

Here are our favorite mic drop moments from the Beauty Summit!

Never think you’re too good for anything and be humble. We’re in the service industry our job is to make our client feel good. - @justinemarjan 

Be cautious of who you follow on social media. Follow people who are going to make you feel good. You have control!

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I want my legacy to be being a mom and being a good role model. I want my kids to be proud of me - @MollyBSims 

I think when you’re consistent with your work and you’re a good person, then you’ll be able to top yourself. @MakeupByMario 

A detox is so important because we’re always comparing ourselves and I think that limits your full potential. @katieaustin 

Going bare face is something I do a lot. Having transparency is a way to connect more with your readers. @ColorMeCourtney 

“When people say negative things to me, sometimes I comment back and say something positive. You never know what people are going through.” @ItsMyRayeRaye

“We didn’t want to wait for other people’s permission.” - @lindseydayy on starting @CRWNmag 

"I love the quote, ‘You can be the juiciest peach out there, but there’s still going to be someone who doesn’t like peaches.'" @AltorreTweets

"It’s always been about, how do I deliver happiness to everyone?" - @gibsontuttle 

"I’m a conduit for creativity and I have to be conscious of what I put out. I have to be real because I would never want someone to feel less than because they only get the best me." - @AllyMissLove

"Pick people that’ll teach you and push you to be successful. It makes you better." -- @SHershbergerNYC

Did you join us for our first ever Beauty Summit with Mary Kay? Let us know what your favorite gem of the day was in the comments below!

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Welcome to Your New No Compromise Beauty™ Routine

Over the course of our lives, we make a ton of compromises. Salad for pizza. Ten more minutes of snoozing for… well, totally rushed mornings and dry shampoo.

But where we’ve stopped compromising is on our careers. So why would we compromise on our beauty routine? What we put on our face, is just as important as what we put in our bodies. And ladies, do we have something for your face that will not only help you face the day, but will keep those long midnight-burning hours off your face.

Seriously.

Enter No Compromise Beauty™ from Biossance. For busy working women, Biossance is changing the way women think about their skincare.

And because we know you aren’t always getting the most sleep (or skipping that 4pm jolt of java), sometimes you need more than a caffeine boost to fight the effects of tired looking skin.

NO RETINOL, NO PROBLEM

We’ve heard a lot about retinol in the last couple of years-- or ever since we started noticing those finer lines on our face. However, for many, retinol can cause serious skin irritation-- which, is exactly what you want to avoid when you’re trying to get your glow on.

For anyone who wants the benefits of retinol, but without the irritation or sun sensitivity, the Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum is one of the best examples of No Compromise Beauty™. It offers incredible results without the side effects associated with traditional retinol products and can effectively treat lines, wrinkles, discoloration or sun damage.

CAN BE USED ANY TIME OF DAY

Retinol isn’t what you’d consider an “any time of day” product. It’s normally only used at night after you’ve washed your face.

However, we know how hard it is to remember that night time routine. (We also fall asleep with all the lights on.) The amazing benefit of Biossance’s Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum is that is can be used at any point during the day. And it doesn’t cause sun sensitivity. That means if you flub your nighttime your routine, you get a second chance in the AM.

SURE, YOU’RE BRIGHT

But are you being bright about your skincare routine?  The smartest, brightest babes, know that skimping on skincare is a no-go. Seriously, that’s a hard pass from us.

Whether you realize it or not, if you’re running around you are exposing yourself to sun damage-- even if you’re simply bolting from meeting to meeting. Sun damage causes discoloration and skin spots. Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum diminishes visible discoloration and evens skin tone. And it’s antioxidant properties help diminish the look of discoloration, evening overall skin tone and brightening complexion.

If you want extra protection Biossance also has a new Squalane and Mineral SPF 45. It’s a daily sunscreen formulated for daily use. It’s meant to be worn every day.  Win. win.

What are your skin tips and tricks and what are you no longer willing to compromise on? Share in the comments below!

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How to Go Hunting for Your CEO

photo credit: Corrine Kutz 

This post originally appeared on Hey Mama. 

Written by: Syama Meagher

Scaling your business requires a capable CEO who can steer the ship, make short and long-term decisions, and keep everyone on track. The CEO will also report in to a board of directors, and can marry the bottom line of investor/financial needs with the day-to-day operations of the business. A great CEO will ultimately give you the opportunity to be the Chief Innovator or Chief Visionary of your business. Not all founders should be, or need to be, CEO of their companies. Being the CEO can kill your dream if you are not into financials, managing teams and be willing to separate what’s right for the business vs. what you feel is right. If you think you are ready to hire a CEO then read on to make sure you land yourself a good one.

Evaluating Skill Set and Experience

Bringing a CEO onboard requires that they have a strong skill set and set of experiences that you don’t have. To avoid redundancies, make sure you have a solid list of your core competencies. In addition, you should evaluate your goals with your business. Are you interested in selling it eventually? How big do you want your business to be? Identifying your long-term goals will assist you in finding the right CEO who can make it happen.

“Bringing a CEO onboard requires that they have a set of experiences that you don’t have.”

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Personality Profile

I wish there was a Match.com for finding a good CEO. It’s certainly challenging to meet someone who can share a vision for your business, yet also has the right personality to execute on it. A CEO’s primary responsibility is managing the all-star team, and therefore all the major department heads on your big or small team should meet with the CEO to test for fit. A CEO that has been brought on by investors or the founder in a small company without any briefing will be greeted with some resistance- primarily because people are afraid of change. To ensure a smooth transition and high levels of performance, really think about the personality fits of your current employees.

“A CEO that has been brought on by investors or the founder in a small company without any briefing will be greeted with some resistance- primarily because people are afraid of change.”

Hide and Seek

Finding your dream CEO will take time. Angel List is a great place to post your job opening. Angel List attracts innovative businesses and employees in a primarily tech dominated space. I also suggest to my clients that they talk to their current CPA’s and lawyer’s as they tend to travel in C-level circles working with investors, founders and CEO’s. LinkedIn is also a valuable resource to seek out CEOs and vet for experience.

A note on Interim CEO’s

I’ve served as an interim CEO for fashion companies in the past and it’s been useful for companies in two ways. First, it’s great for startups that know they need some guidance and direction as they build the structure and are hiring more key players. Secondly, it’s helpful for brands that are in transition and are having difficulty finding the right long-term fit. An interim CEO will be on board for 6 months to 1 year. A long-term CEO should be someone with your business 5 years +.

How much will this cost?

Expect to pay a full-time CEO between $75,000 – $400,000 a year depending on experience and the size of the business. You can hire a part-time CEO, but that is only really effective in smaller startups. Alternatively, you can hire a strategic consultant who can help groom you with CEO skills and the cost will range between $150-500 hourly. This is not a bad idea if you just need some direction and an experienced advisor.

What exactly should your CEO be doing?

I love Steve Robbins’ job description for a CEO:

A CEO should be doing “everything” Everything includes:

1. Setting strategy and direction.
2. Modeling and setting the company’s culture.
3. Building and leading the senior executive team.
4. Allocating capital to the company’s priorities.

In essence, the failure or success of the company will rest in the hands of your future CEO. This is why hiring a CEO can be such a difficult process and time consuming. Most startup founders will want to stay on as long as possible as the CEO of their ventures, and most investors will want you to stay on as well. Your impact on your business and getting it this far is impressive and all parties involved, employees and investors, will need your passion and vision to stay strong. Good luck making this big decision for your business!

Syama Meagher is a retail strategist and CEO of Scaling Retail. She works with fashion brands and retailers on product and brand launches internationally through ecommerce, wholesale and brick & mortar. Syama has previously worked for Barneys New York, Gucci, AHAlife and Macy’s.  To build your brand and create a profitable business visit www.ScalingRetail.com and email hello@scalingretail.com

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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." 

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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."

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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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Hey Karl, You're Not Untouchable

“Recent months have seen a seismic shift in public discussion of sexual misconduct in the workplace — and the fashion industry is no exception — yet it is clear that we as a society are only just beginning to understand the size and scope of the problem.”

So read the opening to Model Alliance founder Sara Ziff's statement released Wednesday in response to Karl Lagerfeld's “disgraceful comments” in a Numero Magazine interview last week, noting how they “underscore just how much work we still have to do.”

It should be noted that Lagerfeld once insisted to Elle UK, “I’m very much into [feminism], and my mother was also a great admirer of a certain feminist of the 19th century,”

Clearly. 

photo credit: Margaret Zhang via Instagram

Ziff said, “While not surprising (Lagerfeld is well-known for offensive comments and body-shaming women for their weight and appearance), Lagerfeld’s assertion that models should ‘join a nunnery’ if they don’t want their pants pulled down is, nonetheless, outrageous.” 

She furthered, “Demeaning treatment and pervasive conditions of sexual harassment and abuse have plagued the fashion industry for far too long — and as they are finally coming to light, the people who enable these conditions must be held accountable. Mr. Lagerfeld’s flippant dismissal of reports of abuse, and his characterization of models who have come forward as ‘stupid,’ ‘toxic’ and ‘sordid creatures’ who should quit their profession if they do not like how they are treated surely demands action.”

She continued by asserting the need for her work with The Model Alliance.

“The Model Alliance and its allies refuse to tolerate bullying or abuse — be it physical or verbal — in our industry. The fashion industry should be a place where creativity and self-expression flourishes, and where everyone is treated with dignity and respect on the job. Times have changed — and, with it, fashion’s moral standing and accountability must as well.”

To find out more about Sara and The Model Alliance, Click Here. 

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Kate Bosworth on #MeToo, Her New Movie & Her Solid Sense of Self

On Saturday, actress and producer Kate Bosworth joined us as keynote for our Desert PopUp with MINI at the The Commune at the Ace.  

Taking the mic in front of 1000 attendees, Bosworth shared about the ups and downs of Hollywood, what it takes to make it, and keeping a solid sense of self through the years. “My whole life has been swinging from the rafters, whether as an artist or student,” she shared.

Swings that included risky moves. 

“I moved to LA on my own when I was 18,” Bosworth said about deferring from Princeton. Even though she was the first in her family to be accepted to Ivy League, she knew she wanted to be an actress. Her family was “thrilled,” but she had her sights set on making it in Hollywood. “I had a little studio apartment and started going on audition after audition after audition.” Furthering, “A lot of those roles didn’t have a lot of meat there.” All of the sudden Blue Crush landed in her lap. She felt plenty of affinity with the character, knowing, she said, “of what it was like to have a dream and want to achieve that dream.” But to also, “feel self doubt and fear.” Although she had never surfed, she went in to read for the breakout role that ultimately became hers.

But she didn’t land it immediately. The powers that be loved her for the part, but she needed to be able to surf. Bosworth had no idea how to ride a wave or paddle out. So the producer Brian Grazer and director John Stockwell told the novice they were going to try and cast real surfers for the role. That process would take about three weeks. During those three weeks Bosworth didn't twiddle her thumbs. Instead, she went out and found herself a surf instructor in Malibu. “For about 3-4 weeks and for 6-7 hours per day, I somewhat learned to paddle and not be a total amateur.” At the end of that time she called up both Grazer and Stockwell and asked, “Would you please watch me surf?”  

She landed the role not because she was the best surfer, but because she was determined. She was athletically focused. “That’s something I like to impart on anyone starting out their career,” she said, “have focus, be determined, and know what you love and you will find a way.”

"Have focus. Be determined. Know what you love. And you will find a way."  

“I look at my twenties with fondness and a lot of cringe moments,” Bosworth shared. “It’s only through experience that you learn things. You have to be willing and open to fail, which is hard for ambitious people. But you are going to fail. That will lead to something bigger and better.”

Most recently the actress has flipped her actress cap to producer for Nona, a film that chronicles sex trafficking work in Central America. Nona is an acronym for “No Name.” It tells the story of a girl from Honduras searching for a better life. “It was important for us to show the how,” Bosworth shared. “These are victims of very serious crimes and they are preyed upon.” The referenced "us" is Bosworth's husband a co-producer, Michael Polish, who also wrote and directed the film. It is the first feature from the pair through their newly formed production company, Make Pictures Productions.

As for the future, she’ll continue to make work that matters to her-- and that matters to her husband. “He loves women’s stories,” the actress explained. “I feel truly grateful to be married to a partner who talks the talk and walks the walk. And even in our most intense moments we’ll find something to laugh about pretty quickly.” What makes it work? She laughed, “A lot of kissing.”

What Bosworth doesn’t find a laughing matter are the #MeToo stories coming out of Hollywood. However she feels hopeful. “We all feel really similar and I think that’s really powerful. A female collective is happening right now, and as women in male-dominated work spaces, regardless of profession, we all felt a need to buckle down.”

“I love women,” she continued. “I love working with women. The one thing as an actress that’s very unsatisfying is that it’s very rare that you work with another actress. You’re often the ‘girl’ cast among six men. What’s great about this is that we’ve found ourselves working together. I do have a lot of hope. I think dialogue is important first and foremost. This isn’t a singular experience. This is a collective experience and we are better united.”

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's Editor in Chief. Find her here. 

Photo credit: Becki Smith House Photography. Find her here.  

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Professional Opinion: LLC vs. CORP

Having practiced law within the creative industries for a number of years, I’m rarely shocked when an individual tells me that they work free-lance and have been operating without a company. That being said, there’s never a better time than now to take action! If you are individual considering starting your own company or already have a business that you operate in your personal name, the single most important first step in building a foundation for your business is choosing the proper entity. Having a good attorney and and new, easy-to-use accounting software for small businesses, makes the entire process a cinch.

As you probably know, perhaps the most popular form of business entity today is the limited liability company. However, various alternatives exist that are all worth considering.  Incorporating a business, whether in one form or another, is an effective way for entities to insulate owners from personal liability, facilitate management of the business, benefit from numerous tax advantages and even take on investors. 

This article sets forth the basic considerations for limited liability companies and corporations, and provides some preliminary guidance to help you as you begin planning for the growth of your business.

The Corporation

The corporation is one of the oldest and most recognized form of legal entity. Most states have an abundance of well-established laws governing the formation of and operation of a corporation. Corporations are generally favored by investors and companies with a large number of shareholders. Corporations are allowed an unlimited number of shares, shareholders and can even create different classes of ownership or “stock”. Furthermore, growing companies looking to go public or take on significant angel or venture capital investors, owners should be aware that only corporations are eligible for initial public offerings. 

Growing companies looking to go public or take on significant angel or venture capital investors, owners should be aware that only corporations are eligible for initial public offerings. 

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Corporations, like limited liability companies, are entities which separate from their owners. Owners or “stockholders” of a corporation are generally not liable for the debts and obligations of the corporation. The incorporation process begins with the filing of the entity’s Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State and requires registration in any state where it is conducting business. Following filing and registration, the Board of Directors must hold an Organizational Meeting where the Board will select officers, adopt bylaws, and conduct other appropriate business.

Most states do not have rules that require a minimum number of owners that a corporations must have, but rather a single person is capable of being the director, officer, and shareholder of the company. Corporations have a three-tiered management structure. Officers, who run the day to day operations of the company report to the Directors, who are responsible for overseeing the fundamental decisions. Directors act in the interest in of the stockholders in overseeing fundamental business decisions. Different classes of stock (i.e. common and preferred) and voting rights for each class, are generally set forth in the corporations Shareholder’s Agreement, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, to which all the shareholders are bound. It is important to note that all decision making between the directors, officers, and shareholders may be modified by a Shareholder’s Agreement. Shareholders’ Agreements can also provide for a number of other complex rights and restrictions on ownership of the Company, but we’ll save some of the more complex matters for another article. 

Generally, we refer to plain, vanilla corporations as “C-Corp”. What many entrepreneurs don’t know is that corporations can elect taxation under Subchapter-S of the Internal Revenue Code (creating what’s called an “S-Corp”). A corporation that does not elect S-Corp status is taxed separately from its owners, typically between 20 and 40 percent on its net income, which takes into account state franchise taxes assessed to the corporation. When a corporation decides to issue dividends to its owners, each dividend is subject to taxation as well, which is why these entities are often referred to as “double-taxed.” 

 What many entrepreneurs don’t know is that corporations can elect taxation under Subchapter-S of the Internal Revenue Code (creating what’s called an “S-Corp”).

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However, a corporation may avoid the “double-tax” by filing as an S corporation.  Similar to partnerships, S corporations are pass-through entities that do not pay income taxes at the corporate level, but only at the individual owner’s level when income is allocated among owners. In order to qualify as an S corporation, there can be no more than 100 shareholders, all shareholders must be individuals and generally must be U.S. Citizens or Green Card holders. 

The Limited Liability Company

In recent years, the development of the limited liability company (“LLC”) has changed how many business are structured. The LLC is a hybrid legal entity that adopts many of the features of the corporation as well as traditional rules regarding partnerships. The LLC is becoming increasingly popular because it offers limited liability to its members for all of the LLC’s obligations as well as tremendous flexibility in its ownership structure. 

LLCs are formed by filing the Articles of Organization with the state in which the LLC does business, which include similar information to a corporation’s Articles of Incorporation. Due to the fact that the laws surrounding LLCs are not as developed as corporation rules, most states require that LLC’s have Operating Agreement. An Operating Agreement is signed by an LLC’s owners or “members”, is drafted to structure an LLC’s financial and functional decisions and provide rules and regulations governing the transfer of ownership, addition of new owners, tax rules and decision making authority. Additionally, the Operating Agreement outlines how profits and losses will be distributed and how and when meetings will take place, and govern succession planning, such as procedures agreed upon for buying out or transferring ownership interests when members leave the LLC. Unlike corporations, LLCs do not have a formal management structure and can tailor their Operating Agreements to fit the business’s organizational needs. An LLC can have different classes of members making the business form flexible in management, financing, and operational aspects. A properly tailored Operating Agreement can save a lot of headaches in the future. 

What many people do not know, is that the LLC, unlike the corporation, is the most flexible entity for tax purposes and may elect to be taxed as a corporation, an S-Corp or as a partnership.  By default, LLCs are taxed as a partnership (unless another election is made). Accordingly, all profits and losses of the partners in a partnership. 

What many people do not know, is that the LLC, unlike the corporation, is the most flexible entity for tax purposes and may elect to be taxed as a corporation, an S-Corp or as a partnership.

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In many states, owners of an LLC with more than one member are granted certain additional protections from creditors. Some states like Delaware, afford the same protection to single Member limited liability companies. 

All in all, entity selection and tax election are issues that are unique to every business.  These choices will not only help starting your business on the right foot, but will pave the way for future success. We always recommend speaking with an attorney to help guide you through the process.  DiSchino & Company offers flat fee packages to help get your business off the ground. We specialize in corporate and intellectual property law and cater to companies of all shapes and sizes in the fashion, arts, design, hospitality, food and beverage and tech industries.

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Christopher Dischino leads Dischino & Company, a Miami-based law firm that provides legal advice and strategic consulting for the modern business, the entrepreneur, the free-thinker and those looking for something outside the box. With a knack for the creative and an entrepreneurial attitude, Christopher specializes in business law, intellectual property and corporate transactions, assisting private clients and corporate entities to establish and expand their businesses domestically and abroad. His experience allows him to create value for his clients by using resourceful structuring techniques to help minimize unnecessary costs and risks. Get more info on Christopher and his law firm here.

Money Talks, So Should You

First put into law in 1963, The Equal Pay Act was aimed at abolishing wage disparity based on gender. It’s a law that has not changed, despite the fact that women still make less than men. 

"It's hard enough to get your dream job, you shouldn't have to dream about equal pay too." 

Today is #EqualPayDay. A symbolic day that marks how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned the previous year. We believe that women should earn equal wages for equal work, and that this is a battle all people should fight. Hundreds of women have shared their salaries with FairyGodBoss and their database is a great place to research what other women in your position are making across the country. Share what you find here with your friends because our hope is that the more we openly talk about making money, the faster the wage gap shrinks.  

Last year, in the spirit of transparency we asked you to share with us how much you make in your respective industries and positions across the world. We want to keep pushing this conversation forward and encourage you to talk about it with your girls, your co-workers and speak up for what you deserve. The more you share, the more you can ask for. And remember, the only ones who benefit from hush-hush salary talk are the employers.

Talent Manager, New York, 26, 75k
Wedding Photographer, 35, Florida, 35k
Creative Director, Los Angeles, 33, 98k
PR Assistant, Los Angeles, 31, 47k
Senior Partner Law Firm, Los Angeles, 55, $950/hour
Marketing Director, Los Angeles, 32, 90k
Head of Sales at Boutique Fashion Brand, Los Angeles, 31, 80k
RTW Designer, Los Angeles, 34, 80k
Director Digital Content, New York, 35, 160k
Project Manager, Los Angeles, 27, 50k
Designer, Philadelphia, 30, 97k-112k, depending on bonuses
Special Events Manager, Los Angeles, 33, 75k
Junior Designer at Architecture Firm, Los Angeles, 35, 70k. (This salary was noted as high, and the employee said she actually makes 5k more than her husband who held the same position at a different architecture firm.)
SF Ballet Starting Corps, San Francisco, 22, 40k. (This salary was also noted as high in comparison to other professional ballerinas. “They [SF Ballet] have a budget of 45 million dollars. The same goes for NYC Ballet, which has an annual budget of about 64 million dollars. The average salary for a corps dancer is closer to 30k.” 
Assistant Project Manager, Los Angeles, 25, 42k
Regional Account Manager, 24, TN: 70K (commission only salary)
Project Manager, 26, Pittsburgh, PA: 55k
Mid-level Advertising Exec, 27, NYC, 65K
Executive assistant, 31, LA, 50k
Sr. Operations Analyst (Supply Chain), 25, Santa Monica (LA), 70k (before bonus)
Communications Manager, 29, Miami, FL: 51.5K (before bonus)
Mid-level Visual Designer, 24, Portland, Oregon: 65k
Social Media Editor, 21, Boston, $45K
Financial Analyst - Tech startup 57k
Digital Marketing Associate, 31, NYC, 60k
Freelance Designer, 26, Texas, 60 to 80k (varies)
Admin, 24, Chicago Suburbs, 40k
Publicist, 29, Maine, 52K
Associate UX Designer, 29, Chicago, 64k

Let’s keep this movement going. Feel like sharing? Leave us a comment. 
 

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Why This Sought-After LA Designer Just Launched a New Line

Women in LA know all about Anine Bing. In fact, women all over the world know about Anine Bing. The singer turned designer launched her self-titled line in 2012 and the response was explosive. Consumers were immediately attracted to the cool-meets-laid-back vibe of her designs. They are simple, and yet, at once, recognizable as a Bing piece. 

Six years later and the designer is aiming lower. Well, height wise at least. Inspired by her daughter Bianca's desire to "dress like Mommy," the founder launched BING KIDS. A no-fuss collection at a lower price point for boys and girls. 

What compelled you to launch a kids line? 

It's been a goal of mine to launch BING KIDS for the last couple years now, ever since my daughter Bianca was asking to "dress like mommy." I wanted to create clothes for my kids personally that were both comfortable and cool, so when we set out to do the collection we had those two points in mind specifically.. It's a very no fuss collection with rock n roll tees, skinny jeans, joggers and sleeper sets, a really cool leather jacket, all very ANINE BING.. And we wanted it to be super versatile for both boys and girls to wear. 

Is the design process different from designing for adults? 

It is and it isn't.. Again, comfort and cool factor along with versatility were our priorities in designing. And I had my very own fit models right at home! 

What’s your favorite part of designing for kids? 

First of all, it's all SO cute.. It melts everyone's hearts to see a moto leather jacket in miniature size for a 2 year old! But I really loved and welcomed the challenge of making the line unisex. I had moms in mind when doing this because I know personally that it can be tough to get the kids dressed and out the door some mornings. So we set out to make a collection that cut that process down a little bit, and also kept the kids happy and feeling unique and cool.

Are the models cuter, be honest. That's easy - YES!

How will you balance your time between designing the adult line vs. the kids line? I have an amazing design team and we've tripled in size since the Fall so we all work together to prioritize each line but in different ways. ANINE BING is still the main focus because we just launched BING KIDS and we're only doing monthly drops instead of weekly drops for now, and only selling on eCom. But both of the lines are very close to my heart, and I can't wait to see what we do with both.

Any other secrets up your sleeve you can share with us? None that I can get TOO into, but I'll say this -- we're excited to grow our retail presence in 2018!

The full collection is available online now! 

And be sure to RSVP to see Anine in person when she joins us on panel for the MINI x Create & Cultivate "More of What Matters," speaker series. RSVP HERE! 

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The Critical Step You Need to Take Before Asking a Question at the Office

By: Michele Lando

Let me Google That For You which has the tagline “For all those people who find it more convenient to bother you with their question rather than search it for themselves.” has become an online sensation, resulting in Gifs, memes, and more. 

There’s nothing wrong with asking a question as long as you’ve taken the proper precautions before doing so. The critical step you need to take before you ask a question at the office is simple.

Google it.

It sounds so easy and like it should be common knowledge, but there’s a reason googling prior to asking a question has become a widely appreciated internet joke. All jokes aside, taking action before asking a question about how to complete a task or what a term means will make a big difference in your career.

Why taking action will make a difference

The internet gives us the power to look up and learn just about anything, yet it seems that more and more people are lacking the drive to seek out answers themselves. According to a study done last year, 72% of CEOs are concerned about the availability of key skills such as research. There’s no problem in asking a clarifying or an explorative question, but asking to define a term or how to complete a simple task on a widely used software may come off as lazy.

By the time you type out your question in an email, you could have typed that question into your email browser and very possibly obtained the answer. Taking action and seeking out information before posing the question to someone else will help you get recognition for your initiative, will help you complete your job more efficiently, and will save everyone time.

Even if you don’t find the answer, doing research will benefit you

Even if you aren’t able to find an answer, researching your question before asking it will enable you to ask an informed and educated question. When you pose a question at work, superiors will often ask if you have done research on it, or they will point you in that direction. If you’ve already taken it upon yourself to do this step, it will make the process easier for everyone. 

If you aren’t able to find what you were looking for, you can articulate this, or ask a clarifying question if your research provided conflicting answers. This shows motivation and highlights that you are willing to work for the answer instead of simply asking someone else to do it for you.

If you don’t research your question before asking, it could cause tension

From a managerial or customer service side of things, it can be very frustrating when someone asks a question about a definition or how to complete a task that could easily be accomplished by searching the question online.

Asking someone else instead of taking initiative and searching for this information yourself comes off as lazy and can also come off as disrespectful. This might surprise you, but asking someone else how to do something instead of looking up how to do it yourself can suggest that you don’t value their time. At the end of the day, time is money, and wasting someone else’s time will never serve you well.

Questions can be great tools to help you grow and thrive at the office, however it’s important that you make sure to take action and research your question before you reach out to someone else. If you take initiative, do some research, and seek out answers before asking, you’ll become more productive, more efficient, and more adept at key skills which have been waning.

What makes up a good question in your opinion? Let us know in the comments?

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A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your resume, style, and boost your confidence.

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