Desk-Side: This Fashion Blogger Shares The Best Part of Being Her Own Boss

Jessi Afshin is no stranger to success. With 300k Instagram followers, Jessi spends her days working on her fashion blog, The Darling Detail, and her new clothing line, Shop Darling, which supports victims of trafficking. We partnered with Glade Essentials Room Mist to find out what inspires Jessi and makes her feel most at home. Read on to get to know Jessi!

Q: How long have you been in Austin?

A: So I’ve lived in Austin since 1999, that’s almost 20 years. I actually went to the University of Texas, that’s where I studied fashion and business. Hook ‘em!

Q: What do you love most about fashion?

A: My favorite part of fashion is just all the positive emotions it evokes, like self-confidence and encouragement. So many good feelings just through comfort.

Q: We heard you just launched a clothing line, congrats! Can you tell us about it?

A: I just launched a clothing line, and I’m so excited about it because this has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. They’re soft, cozy sweatshirts and they have joyful messages on them. Every single one of our products is actually shipped and fulfilled by survivors of trafficking in Austin. So we’re actually employing women who are recovering from trafficking.

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

A: I get almost all my inspiration from dreams. I have like 10 dreams a night. I wake up and I write them down, and I instantly have so many new ideas. I also LOVE to Pinterest, and mood board, and collage.

Q: What do you love most about your office space?

A: I like to keep this space feeling so fresh and inspiring. We’ve been using Glade Essentials Room Mist Mandarin & Mimosa and it seriously smells like an Anthropologie store in here!

Q: What’s the best part about being your own boss?

A: I love my job. The opportunity to create, to write, to dream—it just never stops. One of my favorite parts about working for myself is the flexibility and the hours. It’s amazing. So much of what I do happens right at my desk. But most of all, my very favorite part about what I do is writing my faith-based account, it’s called My Darling Diary and it’s where my heart is.

See Jessi’s full interview here:

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"An Overnight Success is 10 Years in the Making" & Other Mic-Drop Moments You Missed From Our Desert Pop-Up

There’s nothing like coming together with hundreds of women in the middle of the desert to mingle, share knowledge, and hear from some of the best in the fashion, beauty, and entertainment industries. Saturday’s Desert Pop-Up was all that and more, with jaw-dropping keynotes from Jameela Jamil, Rocky Barnes, and Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott. They shared the priceless advice they’ve gained over the years, and we couldn’t take notes fast enough! Don’t worry if you weren’t there—we’re bringing you all the key takeaways below…and if you’re a C&C Insider, you can watch videos of every speaker & panel here!

The New Standard: Influencers Reshaping the Beauty & Fashion Industry

“I want to be on the field playing, not on the bench.” - Annie Lawless, Lawless Beauty

“Everything you post is an online resume.” - Jill Wallace, Little Black Boots

“I’m not going to do a job I’m not 100% about. I will never compromise my style.” - Brittany Xavier, global style influencer

Don’t do it for the likes or the comments. Post what you’re passionate about. - Carolina Lindo, I’m Not Sorry Darling

On starting a new venture: “There really is no true five year plan. Everything you do should be short-term planning.” — Jessica Franklin, HeyGorJess

““The only person I’m in competition with is myself. Where was I three months or six months ago, and where I am now?” ”

— Jill Wallace, Little Black Boots

On being an influencer in a rapidly-changing digital landscape: “It’s a bit like the wild wild west. We’re making the rules up as we go.” - Jill Wallace

“There’s never a right time to start a company, so you might as well start now. Just have faith.” - Annie Lawless

“You don’t need to know exactly where you’re going. Just be really focused and passionate about what you do and everything will fall into place.” - Jessica Franklin

“The only person I’m in competition with is myself. Where was I three months or six months ago, and where I am now?” - Jill Wallace

Fireside Chat: Rocky Barnes

“An overnight success is 10 years in the making.”

“I think it’s so important to find the right person or brand to collaborate with. Don’t be afraid to say no and find the right match. It’s like finding a boyfriend.”

“I don’t want anyone to think there’s a quick easy shortcut to success — It may look like there is, but it’s all about hard work.”

“Make time for face-to-face interactions, taking the time to have coffee, say hello—make a personal connection. You have no idea how far that will go in this industry.”

“The best advice I’ve ever received is to never take anything personally.”

“No one is bigger or better than anyone else. Everyone started in the same place.”

“Instead of focusing just on that dream job, focus on the way you want to feel. That’s where you should put your focus.”

Keynote: Katrina Scott & Karena Dawn, Founders of Tone It Up, in conversation with Jaclyn Johnson

“The secret to being business partners is to allow each other to be who you are and find your strengths.”

“There’s never enough time in the day—don’t try to do everything. If you can choose to do one big thing once a day, think of how much you can achieve in a month, or a year, or 10 years.”

“Be in tune with the community you have, even when you think you know what’s best for your business.”

“For us, because we’re so focused on relationships, hiring is really about culture. Hire smarter than you are. Hire people who know what you don’t know.”

“Life isn’t all about work. You have to set boundaries—we’ll go on vacation together and spend the whole week not talking about work. Life is meant to be enjoyed.”

“You have to OK with change. Evolution is great. You’re not the same person you were 10 years ago, and your brand should evolve as well.”

“We’re really guilty of doing every job ourselves. You shouldn’t do that—you should be creating and connecting with your community.”

“Hiring is an investment of time, but think about how it will pay off in the long run.”

“From the very beginning, you’ll never find any Tone It Up workouts about ‘problem areas.’ We’ve always been very body positive. We have before and afters, but we’ve highlighted women who’s gained weight, who’ve gotten stronger, who’ve gone from being not confident to confident.

“Live in the moment and learn. When we’re younger, we’re so concerned about what other people are thinking about you. Just live.”

We Mean Biz: The Content Creators Building Buzz & Businesses

“There’s a reason people sit around the table and talk about their invention ideas and don’t follow through on them—because doing them is no joke. If you have that idea and there is something in you pulling you to do it, figure it out because I have to say, going forward with TOPTOTE, I would have regretted not making it happen.” - Lindsay Albanese, TOPTOTE

“Whoever is paying you is always going to say there’s no money available. There is always money available. Be difficult. Ask for the big money.” - Keltie Knight, TV Host & Founder, Ladygang

Focus on your niche. Focus on what your friends ask your advice on. What are you getting questions about? What are you really good at? Focus on that. - Jaci Marie Smith, Influencer & Founder, What We Said

“If it’s not something I would wear myself, I won’t put it into production.” - Nicole Williams English, Nia Lynn Collection

““Some of the biggest opportunities I’ve gotten are because I’ve asked for it. If I’m not asking, someone else is.””

— Lindsay Albanese, Founder of TOPTOTE

“Hard workers only. If you’ve got it, you’ll make it happen.” - Lindsay Albanese

“Tap into your resources. You know more people than you realize that can help you take that next step in making something happen.” - Lindsay Albanese

“Ask for what you want, because you are worth it. It is so hard to find a passionate, smart woman to work for you—and you are that. Get that money.” - Keltie Knight

“I’m at the point now where I’d rather level up on everything I’m doing than doing something new.” - Jaci Marie Smith

“A lot of people are so nervous to ask for what they want, but some of the biggest opportunities I’ve gotten are because I’ve asked for it. If I’m not asking, someone else is.” - Lindsay Albanese

“Take ‘just’ out of your vocabulary. Not ‘just following up.’ Say, ‘Hey. I’m following up. I’m fucking awesome. Reply to me.’” - Keltie Knight

Keynote: Jameela Jamil in conversation with Jaclyn Johnson

“If you’re going to be an activist or feminist, you have to be willing to take an L and know that we don’t know everything. We have to be willing to shut up, listen, and learn, and not be too proud about it.” 

“The next generation is f*cking done being excluded and looking up to a white straight thin version of what we are supposed to be. We’re done with the dinosaurs…and I’m here to kill the last of them.”

“I weigh the sum of all my motherf*cking parts.”

“Stop being so worried about being fucking likable—it’s not your responsibility to make people happy.”

“This is now a time of sisterhood. Seeing how high my activism has risen, seeing how I’ve been embraced for being so outspoken, so rude—-by even the media and men—-is a sign that change is here.” 

Shoutout to Kelley Anderson for creating these gorgeous fern walls for our video backdrop! We loved seeing all of your creative OMBooth vids!

Next up: Our New York conference! Didn’t get tickets in time? Hop on the waitlist. We can’t wait to see you there!

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17 Steps to Leading a Mind-Blowing Meeting

Once upon a time, I worked for a woman who was known as a star meeting facilitator. CEOs would call left and right, asking her to organize strategy sessions and management off-sites, and she would prepare for these sessions meticulously and down to the last detail. Frequently, as I helped her prep for a meeting, she would remind me in an ominous voice: “Romy, if the room is too hot or too cold, people are going to blame you for it.”

While room temperature is sometimes tough to control, her broader point stands: if you’re going to lead a successful meeting, you have to think constantly about the participants. What’s going to make them feel good about the experience? How can you make sure everyone is engaged and heard? How do you make your participants a part of the meeting process, instead of just an audience? Fortunately, there's a process for that.

Here are some ways you can steer your meetings in a positive (dare we say, exciting?) direction. 

1. Have a clear objective

Make sure everyone knows what you’re there to accomplish. If you can come in with a single item you want to achieve and then achieve it, everyone will leave feeling good about the meeting.

2. Have an agenda — and make it obvious

Make sure everyone knows what you're going to cover and in what order. It helps you keep the meeting on track, and gives your attendees a sense of inclusion in the process.

3. Keep it short

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Everyone has lots to do and a short attention span. The more you can keep the meeting brief, the more people will thank you. That means you need to keep the scope of the meeting highly focused.

4. Book a comfortable room

...with chairs at the table for everyone. Seriously. If people feel uncomfortable or are marginalized to “back row seats,” they're not going to be receptive — and what they’ll remember later won't be the great discussion, but how uncomfortable they felt.

5. Choose the right seat

If it’s a meeting that’s around a long table, as the leader, you should sit in the middle, not at the head. That way, you are closer to everyone, sending a message that says, “this is a discussion.”

6. Bring bribes — EHM, snacks 

Everyone likes food. Especially not completely unhealthy food.

7. Phones down, heads up

At the start of the meeting, ask everyone if they wouldn’t mind setting aside their phones for the duration of the meeting so everyone can have a better experience.

“Send a message that says, ‘this is a discussion.’”

8. Make sure all key stakeholders can and will attend

Nothing's worse than assembling a group without a key decision-maker so then nothing gets decided. Confirm RSVPs for everyone, and send a meeting reminder the day before.

9. Keep the tone purposeful but light

Inject humor wherever possible. If you can find any way to make the meeting fun, people will thank you. But please: no dad jokes.

10. Keep on track

If someone tries to take the meeting in another direction (and they always do), say, “that’s a great thought. Let’s schedule a separate meeting to discuss it."

11. Make everyone heard

Pay attention to people's reactions to the discussion. Often you'll spot someone trying to speak up but missing their shot. If someone is being drowned out, call attention to them and give them the floor.

12. Elicit participation from everyone

If someone seems quiet or thoughtful, ask them directly for their input. And if someone is not paying attention, call them out on it!

13. Take group notes on a whiteboard

If you jot down people’s thoughts, it gives them weigh t— and it also helps bring participants along to a conclusion or solution with you.

14. Blatantly wrap up

Recap key findings and next steps. Reiterate how the group has successfully accomplished the task at hand. The mental “checking of the check-box” will make everyone feel good.

15. Thank everyone for their time

These days, time is the most precious commodity anyone has. Thank them for making time to join you.

16. End five minutes early

If you can wrap up the meeting five minutes before the scheduled time, people will LOVE you. These days, so many people’s schedules are so booked, they will be forever grateful if you give them five extra minutes to catch up on email or — God forbid — take a bathroom break.

17. Send a meeting recap, notes, and follow-up

THAT DAY or the next day at the very latest. Make sure it is clear who is responsible for what follow up and by when. And if you need a follow up meeting, send the invite for it immediately too. It gives people a sense that the project is progressing.

Ultimately, it’s all about anticipation. If you can think through the purpose and the flow of the meeting in advance, and map out the participants’ experience, you are sure to have meeting that is no less than mind-blowing. And if all else fails, for God’s sake, check the thermostat!

An original version of this article appeared on Career Contessa. 

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How Refusing To Compare & Despair Helped Me Build a Unique App

I initially didn’t love the idea: an app that livestreams meditation. My boss suggested it amidst a lunchtime brainstorm, about the intersections of the wellness and technology spaces. I questioned whether live meditation really offered something different than other meditation apps. We brushed over the idea.

It wasn’t until I coincidentally began offering an optional Friday meditation to my coworkers via conference call (most of them were remote in different parts of the US) that I began to connect the dots. The real catalyst was a feeling my coworker experienced during this weekly meditation call. As she listened in and followed my voice, she noticed that her mind was not spiraling with anxious thoughts in the same way she had experienced when listening to guided meditation alone. She explained that it felt like everyone was meditating there with her in Seattle, even though the rest of the team was actually in Brooklyn, Toronto, and Walla Walla.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it: live meditation. Hundreds of people meditating at the same time across the world. Meditating in collective energy. I was reminded of studies that showed that group meditation has had a resonant effect on surrounding areas, reducing conflict and violence. This led me to a question that many of our great thinkers have explored: is there a single unifying force that joins us all together? And if so, can we tap into it?

I went back to my boss. Luckily, exploring and investing in this idea aligned with our company mission to start creating our own digital products again.

So, we went for it.

I kicked off the process, ushering myself through the same steps I often usher clients through: research, strategy, design, build, refinement. I was confronted with a sea of well-designed meditation apps from credible meditation experts, funded by lots of capital. There was a small opening in the market: no one was offering live meditation. We also had a unique scenario rare to the “app” world, where we were our own clients. We focused less on how to stand out, and focused our effort on what would allow an authentic manifestation of this idea.

As I began digging into design, I realized that if I continued to face the challenge of designing a meditation app, it would likely look and feel similar to other apps. In order to stand out, I needed to nurture what was unique to us. How do I help people feel the presence of others? How do I create a space in which people feel a sense of community, perhaps the presence of something “bigger” than themselves, without drawing away from the meditation practice itself? We focused less on standing out, and more on what we had to offer.

I used these questions as guard-rails. Functionality, structure, and aesthetic all had to contribute to accentuating this “feeling” of calm and the collective.

We started by stripping away anything that might distract people, or feed into our familiar behaviors of consuming content. I thought about how well-established apps (Twitter, Instagram) started, and noticed that these now refined, polished products launched with a single function. A small focused product could create big impact. We removed functionality— sign-ups, likes, comments, noted meditations— and interactions — scrolling and double taps—that weren’t 100% necessary to our experience. We landed on one single UI element: a button that allows you to Tap In and listen to a live meditation.

Our meditations wouldn’t be stored. We committed whole-heartedly to the desire to bring people together at the same time. Storing meditations would mean there would be less people sitting together daily.

We used a working prototype internally for 8 weeks prior to our beta week. During that time, we learned what being live really meant. For example, while in our internal prototype phase, I led one of our first meditations using the app from my home in Brooklyn. A man, outside my window very loudly yelled “F*** you!” It was a quintessential New York moment, but not one that was conducive to meditation. Being live meant things could go wrong: teachers could cough, a fire truck could go by, a man outside the window could yell profanities. It introduced a rawness that felt uncomfortable in a digital world that obsesses over curated experiences. We’d be removing the mask of curation, revealing our imperfections. Meditation teaches us to notice all of the facets of being human, including the environments we’re in. The more we can turn into ourselves and our breath, the more we can turn down the chaos around us. With some loose guidelines in place to ensure a relaxing experience, we chose to embrace it.

The remainder was primarily aesthetic, and relied on details and metaphors. We landed on the idea of each user being represented by a light orb, rather than photos or videos. As users “Tap In,” we could create a celestial ecosystem. With a halo identifying your own orb, you flock together and shift shapes with the other meditators. We aim to accentuate the feeling of togetherness— or at least ignite the imagination. Our backgrounds are blobs of colors, with ribbon-like shapes intersecting, visualizing what energy looks like to me. They continuously undulate and shift back and forth, up and down. We created a space that users can walk into, in hopes of immediately promoting calm.

As I reflect back on the creation experience, I noticed it’s often easier to look at other products and see value in their solution, rather than mold your own unique but raw ideas. Looking out rather than in often moves us into a space of comparison instead of creation. What is it that you are really trying to solve? And how can you share your unique take on that idea. In the creation of Tap In, solving the design for the app meant borrowing deeply from meditation traditions: silencing the noise in order to stay clear and true to the pure “essence,” the seed, the soul of the idea.

Originally from Montréal, Margaux Le Pierrès works as the design director at Fictive Kin, a digital product studio, where she had lead branding & digital product design for fabulous companies like National Geographic & Kickstarter. Margaux is also a certified Reiki Master, and Akashic record practitioner, with experience working with clients one-on-one to help facilitate opportunities for people to connect to themselves more deeply, and live a more authentic life. Along with Fictive Kin, Margaux recently launched Tap In, the first live, collective meditation app.

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How the C&C Team Finds Inspiration in the Everyday

Here at C&C, our team is constantly on the go. Down time is rare, so when we’re able to relax, we really make the most of it. Many of us like to do a little digital detox time and step away from our phones, while others chill out with a good Netflix binge. Regardless, we know recharging is integral to getting inspired for when we step back into the office. That’s why we partnered with Glade® at our ATX popup to bring you an immersive self-care experience complete with a manicure bar—and now, we’re bringing you some of our favorite ways to find inspiration in the everyday. Glade Essentials Room Mist is the perfect way to wind down after a long day (psst…the Mandarin & Mimosa scent smells like the inside of an Anthro store!).

Below, our team shares their favorite ways to get inspired each day.

“Reading the news always helps put things in perspective for me. I feel inspired by people overcoming great (or awful) things and it helps to level-set my worries about problems I'm facing so they feel more manageable.”

- Heather Records, VP of Marketing

“I get my inspiration from my team and their hard work!”

- Alyssa Torma, Junior Producer

“I find inspiration by taking a few minutes to myself in the morning to stretch, spray my favorite fragrance (it’s currently Glade’s Mandarin & Mimosa Essentials Room Mist!), and try to clear my mind to prepare for the day ahead.”

- Chelsea Evers, Editorial Director

“I find inspiration by having an innovative approach to my work. I ask myself, ‘How can I cut budgets and do something new and different for half the cost? How do I solve this logistical issue and find a way for 1000 attendees and 200 sponsors to move through one space seamlessly?’ It’s like a puzzle and I get inspired by solving it!”

- Lainey DePompa, Senior Producer

“Turning off my phone and going for a walk with no distractions, just some me time, lets me actually look around at what’s going on in beautiful LA.”

- Elyse Wasserstrom, Account Manager

“Pinterest inspires me in so many ways, from my personal style to design inspiration to meal prepping ideas. I love a good Pinterest scroll when I need some inspiration during my day.”

- Tyeal Howell, Marketing Manager

“Taking my dog for a walk around the neighborhood gives me a chance to disconnect and think clearly.”

- Caitlin Shier, Director of Accounts & Brand Marketing

Your turn: How do you find inspiration in the everyday?

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Blog Better Have My Money: From Blogger to Entrepreneur

The best part about being a successful entrepreneur and influencer is not the freebies or VIP access; it’s being able to use your creativity to share your passion with the world. Arguably, one of the biggest measures of success is to take your creative output and turn it into a business. Our successful colleagues in this industry who are savvy about monetization wear so many hats! Photography, styling, editing, PR, and sales, to name a few skills. So . . . how are you going to get from blogger to entrepreneur?

BE AUTHENTIC

It sounds easy, but it’s going to get much harder when the prospect of a much-needed paycheck is dangled in front of you. We all have been fans of a favorite blogger, only to watch her scale in following and then see her content become one irrelevant ad after another. It feels inauthentic. It alienates your hard-earned user base.

Don't be afraid to say no when a proposed partnership feels off-brand. Be polite, and if you choose, perhaps keep the door open for the future. Focus your brand partnership outreach where partnerships feel organic and where you know you can really create fun and compelling content. Here’s an example from my own social media platform (actually it's my dog's platform, but she's truly fabulous): I passed on a partnership with a brand because it didn't feel like it made sense with Ella Bean’s luxury persona, and I  later saw the brand partner with some of the biggest names in social media. The campaign TOTALLY worked on those social channels, but it wouldn't have worked on mine. I was excited for my colleagues, and the agency actually told me they respected that I was so honest (polite, of course!). The flip side is we partnered with a luxury vacuum cleaner to make a fun video, and it was one of my top-performing posts in terms of likes and comments. The content was fun, on brand, and relatable. Engagement that is aligned with your organic content should be a benchmark of success for your business as you negotiate deals.

ORGANIC INCOME

 Monetizing your platform(s) isn’t all about giant deals and big paychecks.

Are you using affiliate links? No? Then stop what you are doing and go sign up for ShopStyle Collective. No, really. It's hands down the easiest way to monetize your content from day one. The open platform makes it easy to sign up no matter where you are in your blogging career, and the tools make it simple to create tracking links on all your favorite products, enabling you to monetize all the content you are creating anyway. Vloggers and Instagrammers: you can optimize with these tools, too. We've got you covered. Don't wait until you've got a certain amount of followers or think because you might be newer to blogging that affiliate monetization isn't for you. Starting to consistently create affiliate links from day one ensures you'll grow your revenue as you scale your following. Bonus: you’ll also have insights into products and brands your users click and purchase. You can use this information to help guide some of your content and glean insights into consumer trends. You’re now empowered to be a consumer expert AND you are making money.

OPTIONS, OPTIONS, OPTIONS 

 While you are creating content with all those affiliate links, don't forget to give your readers options. We all obviously want the gorgeous Chloé crossbody bag you are rocking in your post, but your readers may have budgets that fall on the lower end of the spectrum. Use widgets to create options at the bottom of each post to give options at multiple price points. This is also a great tool when you are showcasing something from a past season or if you focus on vintage. Experts tell me that the rule of thumb is to have three to five options on the primary focal piece in your post. That amount of product is digestible for readers and manageable for you. Plus, you can just plug in your search term into ShopStyle and voilà! Options galore. You are welcome.

THINK MOBILE

We all know that converting users to make purchases on mobile is challenging, and that really is a bummer considering more and more users are spending time consuming your content on mobile. It’s time to get creative. One idea could be to create a newsletter signup so you can email users links to what you've worn. Make sure you stay up to date as new innovations roll out to get your users shopping on their smartphones. Challenge your affiliate partner to give you mobile monetizing options. Don't forget your mobile ad placements. If you've got banners and widgets on your site, optimize some of those placements for mobile, and don't miss out on that audience. Prepare yourself — mobile money is going to be all of our BFF.

THINK BEYOND THE BLOG (AND INSTAGRAM)

Your properties are incredibly important, and you should be creating content that drives users across your various channels. That said, maybe your photos are incredible. Have you thought about marketing your photography to your clients and time as a photographer for brands to use on their content? Are you a killer stylist and could crush the styling on your favorite brand's next lookbook? Can you edit a closet or stage an insane vignette? Brands crave unique content ideas. Get experience doing something that sets you apart from the pack as you grow your business. Offer those services to small brands or powerful influencers that you align with, build your portfolio, and barter for social and blog post mentions while you grow. You'll make deep relationships that will last a lifetime. You’ll benefit from editorial features and social mentions that will help you scale and gain experience that makes you totally unique.

Bonus tip: not all payments happen to be made via money. Social currency is incredibly valuable when scaling your presence online. If a brand doesn't have a budget to work with you but you know that brand is an ideal partner, think about how to make it worth your while. Trade content for features on their various channels. Make the content and social exchange a recurring feature.

Through all of this, don’t forget to have fun. You got into this world to create your own business, so enjoy the process and remember to savor the wins and view challenges as opportunities to push your skill set and learn. Cheesy but true: in my experience, the hardest challenges I’ve come up against have made me smarter, made me faster, and allowed me to score higher revenue opportunities than before.

Hilary Sloan leads ShopStyle’s East Coast business development team and works with top brands like Net-a-Porter.com, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Barneys New York to monetize via affiliate and creative partnerships. In building relationships with brands and working with ShopStyle and ShopStyle Collective’s blogger community, she realized that many young bloggers don’t quite have the tools to get started on building their business. She’s spoken in the past at Create + Cultivate, IFB, and other blogger conferences on the topic of monetization, revenue, and brand partnerships. When not at ShopStyle, Hilary can be found applying all her skills to her own mini influencer, her dog, Ella Bean.

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Work Habits to Say Buh-Bye to in April

Like bad relationships, bad habits (looking at you late night fridge runs), and bad hair days, there are some work habits you should leave behind at the beginning of a new month. The sometimes small, sometimes large, decisions you make day-to-day aren't beneficial to making big moves. 

Let April be your most amazing month yet.

1. Complaining about Monday. 

Sometimes the weekend is so good that going back to ole office Monday AM feels like you're being sent to school. But Monday's are equally hard on everyone. Think positive and the day will follow. Make this the year of amazing Mondays. 

2. Checking Instagram on the clock. 

We all do. WE ALL DO IT. Instagram has almost become like a nervous tick. But it's also a deep, dark hole of non-productiveness. If part of your jobs requires you to be on social media, that's fine, but for the rest of us it's time to stop the continuous scroll. 

3. Leaving the coffee pot empty. 

If you drain the pot, make a new one. That's bad coffee karma, and no one wants that. 

4. Comparing yourself to your co-workers.

Don't compare yourself to others because here's the hard truth: you aren't as good as everyone. However, that doesn't mean that you can't be amazing. Comparison is the thief of joy, but it's also going to keep you from finding where you excel. 

5. Settling with your job. 

Your career should be something you love. If you feel like you're stuck in a rut, this is the time to reevaluate the professional choices you've made. 

6. Showing up hungover. 

This is big leagues now. Stop behaving like you just got out of college. A glass of wine or two the night before work is fine, but showing up painfully hungover isn't a good look. Not now. Not ever. Don't do the walk of work shame. 

7. If you freelance, get out of the house. 

Working from home is blessing and a curse. Inevitably, working in your PJs every day is going to bum you out. To get the creative juices and flowing, you need to be a part of the world, see other adults, and have a conversation. 

8. Overtasking yourself. 

What does this mean? Multitasking is fine, but when you're jumping around from email, to project, to cell phone, to social media, to conference call, you're overtasking yourself out of productivity. You end up not getting nearly as much done. Focus on one task at a time, cross it off, and move on. By the end of the day you'll find you have more time focus on. 

9. Showing up late. 

Maybe you Netflix-binged until the wee hours of the morning, but it doesn't matter. You need to show up ready to work when you're supposed to be there. Showing up late makes you look unprepared and like you don't respect others' time. If your co-workers are showing up on time, so should you. 

10. Stop procrastinating. 

The bad habit of all bad habits. Putting something off, saying you'll handle it tomorrow, moving it down a to-do list. These are all excuses that keep the task at hand from getting done. It also takes up valuable space in your brain. Even if you aren't doing it, you're still wasting energy thinking about it. The sooner you can cross it off, the more time you're giving yourself for a project you really care about. 

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Five Ways to Find Career Compatibility with Your Life Partner

In 2019, more men and women are entering the workforce than before, pushing many of society’s antiquated norms. Just a few decades ago, men were often the only ones to venture into the workforce, leaving women to tend growing families and other household responsibilities. Now that many couples are pursuing simultaneous careers, the dynamics of their relationship have begun to shift in a major way.

There are many ways that two individual career paths can affect and ultimately harm a relationship if issues are not identified head-on. If you find yourself recently exhausted with both your career and your relationship, here’s how you can balance the scales.

Discuss the expected “division of labor” in the home.

It’s easy to slip into society’s pre-set roles where somehow the woman feels responsible for cleaning the house and making dinner, even after working her own shift in the field. In order to avoid the frustration that the infamous “second shift” can bring, sit down with your partner and have an honest conversation about what needs to be expected of both of you. By setting expectations, it will be easier to know what you need to accomplish at the end of the day and will ward off those exhausting fights that pop up when you’re both hungry!

Invest in one another’s goals and dreams in the workplace

While you’re each on a different path in your careers, it’s important to take time to support the other’s career and interests as often as possible. This could include going to a networking event with them that may be outside of your comfort zone, or giving them an online class that touches on something they’ve said they want to get better at. By just showing your partner that you support their career—and vice versa—your relationship will naturally grow stronger.

Use one another as a sounding board for career advice

Not too long ago, my significant other and I sat down with a glass of wine and discussed my upcoming performance review. I was going to ask for a title and pay increase, and I was so nervous. After going through scenarios and explaining lessons we’ve each learned in the past, I felt much more confident about my meeting. While it doesn’t always need to be a sit-down discussion, asking one another's opinions about issues that are coming up at work really helps to draw a team mentality that is very healthy for your relationship.

Find ways to include your partner at work when they physically can’t be present

There’s nothing I find shadier than not knowing when a coworker I am close with has a significant other that they never discuss. It’s important to introduce your partner to your coworkers, even before they can physically meet. By sharing tidbits of your life outside of work, you are not only solidifying your relationship with your coworkers, but also making sure that your partner feels welcome when they come to your work functions.

Schedule time to invest in your relationship without work distractions

Whether or not you have conflicting schedules, make a point to set aside time where the two of you are able to reconnect without the distractions of a work phone or even “shop talk.” Spend these moments completely present with one another. Use this opportunity to bring up things that may need to be fixed in the relationship, or discuss ways you appreciate one another’s efforts during especially hectic times. These designated dates will be the crucial part to being 100% on board with your partner’s career while still feeling as though they are also putting the effort into your relationship.

Implementing even just one of these ideas on a regular basis can begin to reshape not only your individual relationship and career, but also push against what was once the “status-quo.” As the years roll by, generational change is inevitable—and so are the tactics we need to employ against having to choose between our love lives and a fulfilling career.

Samantha Rosenfeld spends 40-some hours a week working to promote the study of surface science as the head of North American Marketing for a German-based manufacturing company. Outside of that (and any time in between) she creates content and marketing campaigns for her freelance clientele and professional development website, Samantha Rosenfeld Marketing. Follow her at @FormativeStory on Twitter or @FormativeStoryteller on Instagram.

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6 Ways To Use Copywriting To Build Your Personal Brand

Doesn’t it feel like advice about building a personal brand is everywhere lately? It’s true that a big part of building your personal brand is showing up on social media and maintaining an aesthetically pleasing, strategic website. But the thing that really makes or breaks your personal brand is your messaging. From blog posts to newsletters (and even Instagram captions), you’re the one shaping how others view you through words.

When you’re struggling to bring it all together, the best place to start is on your website. Social media platforms will come and go, but website copywriting is one of the seven pillars of your personal brand as an entrepreneur since brand clarity— how you want to be perceived by others— is where it all starts after you define the purpose of your business.

Writing your website might totally freak you out, but it doesn’t have to be such an undertaking. Keep reading for six ways you can use copywriting to build your personal brand and have confidence that what you want to say matches up with how you say it.

Start by writing your website.

Going through the steps of writing your website copy and then moving outwards towards other communications like blogs, newsletters, social posts, and even podcasts is a solid strategy for finding the brand voice that fits you.

Before you start writing, make sure you’ve given plenty of thought to what you’d like to be known for. Which topics are you an expert in? Which services or products are you selling, and who are you selling them to? These are the questions you should answer before digging into your homepage. If you’re lost, look back on your social media posts. How did you use these posts to communicate with your ideal client or reader?

To make the process of bringing it all together a little less scary, try writing the homepage headline first. A typical format is “I help [ideal client] with [specific goal] by [list or one-liner of what you do.” Yours might look a little like this: I help creative service-based businesses shore up their marketing strategies through SEO and social reach.

But this isn’t the only way to write a homepage headline. Feel free to get creative here!

Find the intersection between your voice and audience.

As you’re writing the pages of your website, you’ll want to bank words, lingo, and stories you find yourself using a lot. While you’ll want to avoid repetition, it’s definitely a good idea to know which words work with your personal brand. But you’re not the only one reading your site.

When writing, you should always remember to speak to your ideal client. If you’re unclear about who that is, pause the writing process and poll them. If you don’t have readers yet, pop into a Facebook group in your niche and ask for feedback. Genuinely, of course.

You’ll want to know what their pain points are so that your offerings will be much more specific to them. Plus, you may get some ideas for what to write straight from your audience.

Make a brand guide with core values.

If you make a brand guide before you write anything, it’s all too easy to fall into analysis paralysis. Instead of banking all your words and ideas beforehand, a better way to solidify what you want to write is by quantifying what’s unique about your service in the form of core values.

What do you believe and how is that absolutely necessary to run your business? What is unique about what you offer? These are questions you should ask yourself and write down, especially in a saturated niche.

Look at unique words for inspiration.

An important element of writing your website is characterizing the tone and style of your brand. Is it exuberant? Bookish? Classy? If you’re stuck describing what you want to write as fun or nice, get inspiration from out-there or untranslatable words on Pinterest or the thesaurus. You may not be packing your copy with these words, but you’ll definitely benefit from the fresh ideas.

Learn from voices outside your industry to really stand out.

Staying in your lane and not interested in the competition? While it may seem like a good idea to avoid looking at the competition at all costs, it’s a good idea to see where your competitors stand so your pricing and offers match up with the industry. It’s also a great way to see how your website copy can present you as a unique and separate solution from your competition. Still, you don’t want this to drive your entire strategy.

Look to those slightly outside your industry.

As a copywriter, I would not want to pay too close attention to a fellow writer, but I love looking to designers’ websites to see how other creatives present themselves.

When you’re writing, don’t look at their webpages. Try to focus on what you want to do. Take notes on what works, and use those to guide you instead.

Don’t rely on design to tell you if your copy is good.

When you have a pretty website, it’s all too easy to get swept away by design. That’s why you should avoid writing your website words directly into your template. Open up Google Docs and type away. Check for errors, read aloud, and don’t let your design tell you that the copy is working when it isn’t. Wording should come first, and then you can beta test it in the live preview.

Kayla Dean is a website copywriter and content writer for visual creatives helping entrepreneurs say what they mean with confidence and strategy. Her byline has appeared in publications like Bustle, The Believer, and Darling. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her planning her next big trip or marking a book as “Currently Reading” on Goodreads.

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The Ultimate Guide to Being a Better Manager

Photo: Smith House Photo for Create & Cultivate

Have you ever dreamed of being in charge and then realized, “Holy crap... I’m in charge?” Maybe you finally got that promotion and now people report to you. Maybe you’ve started your side-hustle and have a gaggle of interns helping you move the dream forward. Or maybe you’ve been rocking your own business, and it’s time to hire your first few employees. Being the boss comes in all different formats, especially in our modern-day workforce.

While the structure of your team might look different than someone else’s, what makes a great manager can be understood, systematized, and executed. If you want to have a killer work culture, you’ve got to operationalize it. Every great boss understands the importance of how to manage people effectively, build teamship, and move everyone closer to a common goal. Taking the time to understand how to be a better manager will not only ensure the success of your business but will help elevate the careers and experiences of the humans working for you. You’re impacting the lives of your direct reports... this is bigger than just “work.”

If this is your first time in charge (or you want a refresher in how to be a better manager), read on—we’ve teamed up with Microsoft Teams to make sure you’re covered. Because, you’re not just a teammate now, you’re a leader and a manager. So, we’ve put together everything you need to know to make the most of management, whether it’s a team of one or a team of many! Let’s make some big things happen! Together.

Set Communication Best Practices

This might be a no-brainer, but you’d be amazed at how important it is to create best practices for how you communicate with your team, how they communicate with you, and with each other. And how you communicate is just as important. In a 2010 study by the Corporate Executive Board, they found that a culture that encourages open communication performed 270% better on long-term total shareholder return. Pretty significant. Here’s something to think about when it comes to your communication:

What mediums will you use to communicate?

Do you use email for most things or a chat platform to keep all your communication in one place? Do you manage most of your work back-and-forth on collaboration software? Do you group chat or conference call or use something specific for online meetings? Decide what types of software you will use for what types of communication, so that you can train your team in this and so that there’s some method to the madness. These collaboration tools are important for the effectiveness and efficiency of communication. And you should decide it upfront.

Pro Tip: There are so many collaboration tools out there, but what’s great about Microsoft Teams is its ability to integrate chat, project management, video conferencing, and calendaring. It’s one hub for teamwork.

What are communication on/off times?

As in, do you expect your employees to always respond, or are there general working hours that you expect timely responses within? Deciding and communicating this ahead of time will help keep everyone on the same page, and it will help determine what type of culture you have.

How should someone get in touch when things go wrong?

Make sure the people you’re managing know when and how to get in touch if they get sick or there’s a fire with a client or there’s something that needs to be communicated immediately. That way, there’ll be fewer issues where there’s an issue already.

Is your communication style effective?

Make sure you’re always giving specific due dates, clear with your expectations, and direct with your feedback. This will ensure your employees (and you!) don’t have to read between any lines. Also, rather than always telling your reports what to do, try asking specific questions to see if they can get to their own wisdom and strategy themselves (without you having to tell them).

Be a Master of Great Meetings

While meetings are the bane of many people’s existence, they don’t have to be. You simply need to be intentional and cognizant of what your meeting strategy is before you go into leading a team. Think about what the word meeting even means—the coming together of two or more people by arrangement—so you can make the most of them. In order to determine how you’ll best manage, ask yourself these questions and plan your meetings accordingly:

When will you meet (together as a team and 1:1 with your reports)?

It’s best to determine a meeting cadence for individual meetings and for team meetings. It’s likely that these are each weekly, but sometimes even twice-weekly, or every other week, depending on the nature of your work, your team structure, and the projects at hand. Great managers decide this cadence upfront, have a meeting planner, book the time on calendars so there’s a hold, and stick to the schedule (barring extenuating circumstances).

How do you meet?

Decide and communicate if meetings are held by default in person (post-COVID, of course), over the phone, or via online meetings. Making sure everyone knows what type of remote or IRL culture you have is necessary. If you’re doing a phone or online meeting, ensure your team knows the technology you expect to use when and if people are remote.

What is your meeting format?

Having a format for both your 1:1s and your team meetings will create consistency and an understanding of what everyone should expect to come with, to be prepared for, and what to share. If you want some cool ideas for group and 1:1 formats, do a little research and you’ll find great ideas like these!

Pro Tip: Videoconferencing and online meetings are easy with Microsoft Teams. Up to 250 people can join per meeting from your computer, phone, or tablet.

Figure Out What Makes Each Teammate Tick

If you want to experience the flow and productivity of true teamwork, you’ve got to understand the different personalities on your team. You can’t manage each person the exact same way (well, you can but it may not work out so great). In a survey of 80,000 managers conducted by the Gallup Organization, the single quality that made managers better than others was their ability to know what made the people on their team unique and how to capitalize on that. You can ask yourself these questions to help figure that out and have better team collaboration:

What motivates them?

Do they like external recognition, words of affirmation, meaningful work, quiet appreciation, continuous feedback, or maybe nothing at all? Pay attention and you’ll find clues, otherwise have a discussion about it. Ask!

What type of personality are they?

There are so many tests out there to help you better understand the individuals on your team. Whether that’s Clifton StrengthsFinder, or the MyersBriggs, or DISC assessment, it may be worth having everyone on your team take the same test so you know what makes each of you unique (and you can determine how to better manage them with that information).

Photo: mentatdgt from Pexels

Operationalize Your Goals

The point of a team isn’t for each person to play the exact same position. The point is to differentiate what the strengths, weaknesses, priorities, and goals are of your team. Each individual needs to understand not only what the biggest goal of your team is as a whole, but what their individual goal is and how that ladders into your big vision. You as a boss have to determine what your team’s north star is, and what each individual person is expected to prioritize on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis in order to get there. (And in some cases, your team’s north star maybe be one decided by higherup powers that be.) Figure out if you’ve done the following…

Have you decided and communicated the goals and priorities of your team?

These priorities should ladder into the overall goals of your business. Your team needs to know where they are at, both at an operational level and a vision level. And don’t forget, if you’re not delegating the work to your team, you’re probably not able to get the really big things done. You’re just one person!

Does each person know what their overall priorities are for their role, and thus how to prioritize?

The Create & Cultivate team uses an amazing system for understanding and communicating their priorities to each other called “Hot Lists” where each manager requires their reports to send what their top priorities are each day with what they’re working on and general updates. As a manager, this gives you direct transparency into what your team is working on without having to micromanage and constantly ask or wonder. You could even communicate these hot lists in chat groups if you wanted.

Are you measuring?

As they say...they don’t respect what you don’t inspect... so make sure you have a system for measuring the progress you’re making with these priorities and goals, both at an individual and team level. A great book for the process and execution of this is “Traction” by Gino Wickman.

And...Lighten Up!

When you become the boss, you not only have the chance to be an incredible leader who impacts the people around you and influences the direction of a vision, but you get to make people feel valuable. If you can create a positive environment for your team, you’re literally contributing to their health (according to a huge study that showed the link between leadership behavior and heart disease. AKA, if you cause people stress, you’re causing them health problems). So have fun with your newly found bossdom. There are a few ways you can contribute to the good vibes of your team, that not only improve morale but make those working for you feel seen. Here are a few things to reflect on to lighten up the mood:

What small things will improve employee morale?

Maybe it’s having everyone’s birthday on the calendar so you can embarrass them with your terrible (or amazing) vocal abilities, or a team chat where you get to instant message funny things throughout the week that don’t have to be work-related.

Do you have an employee recognition system?

Find something that might work for you and your culture and your budgets. Recognition doesn’t have to be grand, it just has to be sincere. Here are some cool ideas if you’re looking!

Can you provide professional development?

Even if you don’t have budgets for killer conferences like C&C or expensive trainings with executive coaches, providing a great book or audible credits could go a long way.

Can you create fun offsites?

Sometimes we all just need a change of scenery. Maybe you tell everyone to meet you at the local Farmer’s Market, or you do a working team lunch by the water, whatever you choose... find meaningful ways to change it up. Sometimes, it’s just what’s needed to solve a hard problem together.

This is NOT everything you need to know about managing a team (not even close!), but hopefully, it’ll be a great place for you to start. Because everything gets better when we don’t try and go at it alone. That’s how you can make some seriously big magic come to life in your career...with a team!

About the Author: Maxie McCoy is a writer and speaker obsessed with giving women the tools they need to believe in themselves. Her book, “You're Not Lost: An Inspired Action Plan for Finding Your Own Way,” is one of the top motivational guides for professional women and is carried at Urban Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, and everywhere books are sold. Maxie specializes in creating meaningful offline experiences that provide practical action in workshop and group formats. She's worked with top brands, conferences, and companies to create original events that engage their target audiences both online and off. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, TheSkimm, Forbes, Fortune, INC, Bustle, Business Insider, MyDomaine, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Billboard, CNN, and many more as an expert in women’s leadership.

We’d love to know: What are your best tips for being a great manager? Let us know in the comments below.

This story was originally published on March 28, 2019, and has since been updated.

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6 Ways to Reinvest Your Tax Refund and Make Your Business Profitable

Photo: Polina Zimmerman for Pexels

If you're investing in yourself this year, you should take a minute to think about what that means for your taxes. Don't fret, this is the good kind of tax post. Early bird catches the IRS worm, after all.  

And with tax season just around the corner, it's never too soon to give pause on how you're going to spend a refund.  While everyone will tell you that year one of being a small business owner is the hardest, during tax season, there are multiple credits you can take.

If you’re in the position to get refund from the IRS, the best decision you can make as a business owner is to put that money to work.

Here is how to reinvest your tax refund. Use these six ways to make sure that year two is golden (or at least in the green). 

You’re only as good as your team.

You hear this again and again because the numbers do not lie. It costs you time and money to employ workers who do not work at optimum capacity. According to a study conducted by ADP, engaged employees are 57% more effective and 80% less likely to leave your company. Employee turnover or a disengaged employee can cost you $2,246 per year. To power your bottom line you need to make sure your team is happy and appropriately paid. It might be hard to see the payout to pay your employees more, but it is a long term investment. 

The goal shouldn’t be expansion (unless you really do need to add to your team), but reinforcing the team from within. 

Know When You Need to Delegate and Let Those Reigns Go 

If your tax refund gives you the flexibility to outsource tasks that are eating away at your time, it might be the right time to consider doing so. For instance, if as a business owner you’re attempting to cut corners for the sake of funds, but you’re wasting time in the office sorting, organizing, answering customer support emails, or you’re losing hours in QuickBooks, figure out what you’re costing yourself. 

An easy way to do this is decide what (if you were profitable) would you be paying yourself. If paying someone else is cheaper hourly than what you are worth, you’re losing money. Delegate and open up your schedule to focus on other parts of the business that only you can handle. 

You’re a valuable asset to yourself, don’t diminish that by refusing to hire or delegate.  

If You're Doing It Good, Tech Will Help You Do It Better

Are you a small business without a website? Do you need to update your photography equipment? Investing in foundational elements of your business is key and will take you to the next level. 

Beyond the basics, there is life-changing tech for every business. The primary reason most new small businesses fail in the first two years is generally attributed to a lack of marketing savvy. 

Companies that make it past the two year mark have found a way to streamline marketing and social media experience- it’s nearly impossible to engage customers without them. And for a time-strapped new business owner

Investing in the right automated marketing tools is one of the best decisions you can make. Research the different options that best fit your business. 

Simply Measured, Keyhole, and Sprout Social are three great options worth looking into. There are multiple plans that offer everything from brand monitoring to reporting tools. This tech will also help you analyze where you’re performing best, so you can direct attention into areas that make the most sense to make that money.

Pay Off Business Debt

If you’re racking up points on that AMEX, you might be tempted to take a vacation, but what you should do is pay off your bill. When you pay off your credit cards you are basically making at 13 to 20% ROI, depending on your APR. 

Become a Lean, Green, Tax Rebate Machine 

If you have the ability to install solar panel, you can lower your future tax bill. The government offers tax incentives for businesses that invest in green technologies.

Businesses can deduct 30% of their solar install cost on their federal taxes. Not a bad break for giving Mother Nature one. 

Don’t Be a Drip, Invest in One

One of the secrets of wealthy people is that they don't expect to make all their money in one place. They have multiple investments that bring them cash. If all of your 2018 ducks are in a row, you might consider an investment as a way to double down on your financial security. 

A dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) allows individuals to buy shares directly from a company and to reinvest dividends from those shares automatically. It’s a plan that takes advantage of the power of compounding. Simply put, compounding is the process of earning dividends on reinvested dividends.

With a DRIP, instead of receiving cash from a declared dividend, participating investors receive shares and fractional shares of company stock of equivalent value. 

It’s sort of the magic wand in finance, because it is one of the easiest ways to build wealth with a small amount of effort. Check out what DRIPs might deserve your investment dollars here. 

This post was originally published on April 5, 2018, and has since been updated.

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5 Reasons Why Moving Abroad Is The Professional Shift You Need

Sienna Brown

Digital nomad. Expat. Location independent. Remote worker.

These aren’t just buzzwords. They’re a way of life that lead to both personal and professional growth. Over the past few years, we’ve been hearing more and more stories of women choosing to move to different countries to build lives they love. Now, it’s less about just being able to “work from home,” and instead about being able to live and work anywhere in the world.

Most people choose to move abroad because they’re looking for a lifestyle change, but when you do it the right way, moving to a different country can benefit you professionally in more ways than one.

Since I took the leap to move to Spain five years ago, I’ve reached professional heights I would have never imagined if I had stayed in the U.S. From TEDx talks, to becoming an international speaker, and even scoring my dream job (without applying!), I’m here to share 5 reasons why moving abroad is the professional shift you need.

New Experiences = New Breakthroughs

Hands up if you’re tired of the same routine day in and day out! When you’re living in a new country, you’re often surrounded by new and stimulating experiences, and that changes your mentality regarding the way you view the world and the work you do.

When you’re constantly experiencing new things, it pushes you to think outside of the box and have insights you wouldn’t normally have. Living abroad doesn’t just benefit your IG feed, it also allows you to be inspired and engaged on a daily basis to help bring a global point of view to your work.

Your (International) Network Is Your Net Worth

We all know the power of having a strong network, especially when you’re looking to grow professionally. In the digital age, we are exposed to so many amazing people through social media. But when you’re living and working in a different country, your network almost triples in size. You’re able to tap into communities of like-minded people from all over the world.

Living in New York my entire life, I thought it was the best place to network...until I moved to Spain and realized that I had an advantage. Being an expat or living in a different country doesn’t just give you a “wow factor,” it also allows for you to bring something meaningful to the table for all parties. Whether it’s through local meetups, being involved with the coliving and coworking movements, or traveling to different conferences, you’re able to quickly connect with international professionals that you may not have been able to run into back home.

Como se dice?... Better Communication Skills

Let’s be real. When you’re in a new country, odds are, you’re going to need to learn how to communicate differently. Whether we’re talking about language barriers, different word usage (British vs. American English anyone?), or just having to slow down your speech, living abroad forces you to become a better communicator.

It’s an essential skill to have whether you’re thinking about working with people from different countries or just getting better skills for the boardroom. Living abroad forces you to be clear about what you want, intentional with your words, and know how to empathize with others as they explain their needs. Anyone else ready to start using these same skills for work negotiations?

Less Stress, More Success

Burnout is real, and we all know it. One of the biggest benefits of living in a different country is truly finding work/life balance. It’s about learning to work smarter, not harder, and to make time for what really matters.

When you’re less stressed, you don’t just feel happier, you’re also able to perform better at work, and it will show. Living abroad will teach you that professional success also means having your work life support your personal aspirations.

Which brings me to our last point…

Design Your Life

I truly believe that once you’re clear on the type of lifestyle you want, you’ll be able to find a career that supports that. Having worked with hundreds of women helping them build a life they love abroad, I’ve found that once they know what they’re looking for—with options like entrepreneurship, remote work and even working for international companies—the opportunities are endless. When they’ve designed a life that fits their personal aspirations, they’re able to thrive professionally because their motivation goes hand in hand.

Whether you’re looking to move abroad for three months or three years, you don’t need to fear that it will hinder you professionally. Instead, it’s time to start viewing life abroad as the catalyst to the career of your dreams.

Sienna Brown is an entrepreneur and expat thriving on the coast of Spain. Her mission is to teach others how build a life that they love. She’s the founder of Las Morenas de Espana, a platform teaching women of color how to move abroad and thrive. She also leads business development at Sun and Co., one of the leading coliving spaces in Europe. Follow her on Instagram @siempregirando and reach out sienna@siempregirando.com

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Do You Really Need to Be a Full Stack Employee?

If you really want to land that dream job, you need to be sure that you’re making yourself as marketable as possible to a potential employer. Obviously, if you are more experienced and have a wide variety of skills you already have a leg up on the competition and are one step closer to getting hired. However, is catering to a broader spectrum of tasks in order to impress an employer more efficient, or is it a recipe for spreading yourself too thin? 

Being a full stack employee doesn’t mean that you need to be able to do every job there is to do under the sun. By allotting yourself a list of tasks that are catered to the position that you’re looking to get, you’re able to give yourself and your employer/client a better understanding of what you’re able to do rather than promise to do tasks that you might not be able to do to their full capacity.

IS BEING MULTIFACETED MARKETABLE? 

There is no doubt you should find the ways to get a leg up on the competition and stand out to your potential employer. If you’re a marketer, and your potential employer hears that you know how to produce content, edit, write RFP’s, know how to manage social, know how to edit a website, and even walk their dog; there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll get the job. However, there’s a difference in being able to cater to your employer/client’s needs and over-promising on things that you won’t be able to fully execute.

We won’t argue that there is a large demand for full-stack employees today, especially in the startup world, but the more your over-promise the more you run the risk of running into  situations where your attention is pulled into so many directions your work is suffering and you are not getting tasks completed to their full potential.

THE MORE TASKS YOU HANDLE, THE LESS FOCUSED YOU CAN BE.

Think about it you’re writing and being your own editor, running meetings, taking notes, creating content, shooting photos, creating graphics, handling events, running production and now you're at the point where you’re not even sure what your title is anymore. Are you even a marketing director anymore, or are you more along the lines of a creative director? Or are you something completely different then what you began as? You don’t even know what to label yourself as.

Sure tackling on all these tasks can look impressive on paper, but you might be doing yourself a disservice by having your attention divided on so many different tasks that you less focused on the more important ones. Not only that, but if your employer may start to see that you are not able to fully dedicate yourself to the tasks you promised; they might start to think that you lied on your resume to get the job. If you want to truly make yourself a full-stack employee, you have to start off with prioritizing and focusing on the most important task and then see how you can branch off into the specifics. 

NARROW IT DOWN.

Even if you’re a full stack employee, you still need  to set your limitations, while understanding that you can still be niche and specific. For example: if you’re an editorial director you can also say that you write content, handle an editorial team, edit content, shoot content, pitch sponsorships, and even edit content for your social media manger. Know yourself, your limits, your capabilities and be confident in them. 

At the end of the day, you want to be able to do your job to its full potential and still be able to wear a lot of hats. That’s what will make you truly marketable and will ultimately land you that dream job.

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FYI: How to Kill it at Kickstarter

Thompson Street Studio by Robin Stein

In 2014, I funded the launch of my magazine, Knit Wit, via Kickstarter (it actually went almost $10k over my goal). I’m happy to share with you a few ideas and revelations I have had about how to do it—and successfully.

There are plenty of ways to fund a project or business, right? You can dig into your wallet or credit rating, look for an investor (or several), build the business slowly and organically over time, or you can, like I did, turn to crowdfunding. I happen to like the last two ways best, especially if your product, service or whathaveyou doesn’t require a ton of up-front capital in its essence (like a startup, restaurant, real estate, etc.). Both strategies allow for the market to immediately prop up and drive your success. Plus, you won’t be beholden to anyone (which rules!).

But, what can be stressful about turning to the masses is that your 1.0, your Beta, needs to be pretty spotless. You need to be ready for Prime Time at 8 in the morning. You have, in the eternal words of Eminem, one shot (one opportunity). A lot of Kickstarting a project successfully relies on your ability to leverage your network—and believe me, these people don’t want to hear from you twice. Make sure this is The One and then hustle to make it happen. Below are some of the ways I made sure my project was successfully Kickstarted. There are a number of different crowdsourcing options out there. I chose Kickstarter because its a household name, which means I could safely assume everyone I know (and everyone they know) already understands what it is. Also: I’m just really into how high stakes it is. But that’s a personality thing. 

Shearling round-up by Tony Accosta

1.    Start early.

I started Kickstarting Knit Wit a year before the campaign launched. Not literally, but going out and finding our audience on social was crucial. I invited followers behind the scenes and created excitement around the magazine well before I had even figured out how much money we would need. I started our social accounts October 2013, our campaign ended September 2014, and when we finally did hit “go” on our campaign, our early adopters were already waiting for us. (And excited to spread the word, as well.)

2.     Broadcast your process.

If you’re doing high quality work and it’s gaining momentum, people will want to be a part of that. Talented people start appearing, looking to join in. Friends make crazy-helpful introductions. For example, a friend knew two people who work at Kickstarter and got me in touch. They answered lots of my questions and gave some valuable advice (see #3, below). Plus, when we finally launched, they were well aware of our campaign, saw it doing well, and ended up featuring it on the site.

3.     Do exhaustive comps… And then take it a step further.

Make sure you really understand what has worked well for similar projects—and then figure out how you can improve. Originally, we weren’t going to do a video. Cherry Bombe didn’t do one and besides, I figured, aren’t Kickstarter videos pretty boring and not super shareable anyway? Our friendly Kickstarter contacts had some convincing stats about videos and funded projects, and urged me to do whatever I could to give my project the best chance of success (remember: one opportunity, right?). I ended up pushing our launch date and putting together a video that felt more true to the projects, like an advertising spot (with heavy influence from late ‘90s Nickelodeon, doi).

4.     Check out Kickstarter’s resources.

Kickstarter’s Handbook is extremely helpful and is a great primer to figuring out how the whole thing works. It even tells you some successful strategies to try. And those two helpful Kickstarter employees I spoke to? Little known fact, but every section has a “community manager” and they are available to answer your questions. No insider friend-intro actually needed.

Ambika Conroy by Daeja Fallas

5.    Really know your money.

This is the most important one. Making sure that you’ll have enough money to fund your project and fulfill your supporter gifts is one thing (don’t forget shipping!). But if you really, truly only want to do this once, you’ve also got to figure out how much you’ll need to sustain your project moving forward. If you’re having trouble crunching the numbers, I deeply recommended finding a friend, colleague, advisor, someone to help you sort it out. (But remember, don’t ask for too much! People can be turned off by if they perceive the amount as extravagant.)

6.    Leverage your network.

 If you followed my advice in #1, by the time you launch your campaign, you’ll already have a devoted pack of followers ready to campion you. That’s a great first step. Next is your personal contacts. Divide them into groups (the smaller the subset, the more you’ll keep their attention) and make your pitch via email. Here’s the golden rule of leveraging your personal network: Don’t ask for their money. Not only does it make everybody feel weird, but it’s not what you want. What you want is for them to help you find and broaden your audience, so ask your friends, family and colleagues to share your project on their social accounts (or via email or via carrier pigeon, whatever). It’s free for them, they’ll be happy to do it (see #2) and it won’t be weird. Don’t be weird.

7.     Get great press.

To reach lots of people really quickly, you’ll need some targeted and strong press. Make a list of every site that’s relevant to your project and find out if you share any mutual friends with editors, writers, etc. You probably do. Don’t include those people in the mega-ask above. Instead, see if they’re comfortable with an introduction and make sure you thank your friend with a free whatever-your-making later (cost depending, of course).

8.    Don’t forget where you came from.

Once your project is funded, you’ll be overflowing with gratitude and warm-fuzzies. Don’t lose that feeling. Completed Kickstarter campaign pages have been recently redesigned to look like blogs because your supporters want—they deserve—some special treatment. Write them updates on your project, exclusive behind the scenes, even some discounts. Your supporters are your people—they turned out when you needed them and they helped you get your project (remember, The One) off the ground.

All images from Knit Wit issue 3, available this month. 

Zinzi Edmundson is a Los Angeles-based insufferable multihypenate. In 2014 she co-founded Knit Wit magazine. She is a freelance writer and creative consultant; she is also in a band called Kisses. 

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Pro Tip: How to Get the Most out of a Slow Season

It’s no secret that being a freelancer is a lot like riding a rollercoaster. Some days are fast and fun while others feel like a punch to the gut while you cascade down into a dark, unknown tunnel as you inch along wondering which turn will happen next. For freelancers, this is what we typically refer to as a slow season. While this part of the rollercoaster can vary from field to field, for most of us it does happen.

For me, it's usually around the holidays. For others, it's the summer. No matter when it happens for you, the best thing you can do is be prepared for it and don't let it get you down. It's inevitable when you’re freelancing and when you find yourself in a slump, so in today’s Pro Tip, we’re sharing a few ways to get the most out of your slow season.

Learn A New Skill

Professional development is something we freelancers have to hold ourselves accountable for. Use the slow season to learn a new skill via an online class or even summer courses at a local university. For videographers it may be learning a new editing platform or getting your drone pilot's license. For copywriters, taking a class to learn better SEO/SEM writing habits. Whatever your trade, there's always something to learn and who knows? What you learn during your slow season may be what helps secure your next client.

Research New Business

It's my personal belief that twenty-five percent of your time as a freelancer should always be spent on networking and new business so that you hopefully never run into a slow season. If you do experience a slump in business, use this time to research and outreach to clients you see a potential working with. Identify a need for your services, find the right person to contact and secure an introductory call.

If you want additional guidance for creating an effective pitch letter, download my Freelancer Starter Kit.

Work For Fun

When was the last time you used your skills for fun? You more than likely started freelancing in your field because it's something you're not only good at, but you enjoy doing. Be your own client for a change and use your slow season to work on something that makes you happy.

Develop Your Brand

Chances are you've spent so much time working with your clients lately that you haven't updated your LinkedIn in a year or created those case studies you wanted to show off on your website or any other you-related task that's been pushed to the bottom of your to-do list. Spend your down time to grow your personal brand. Maybe this is a social media refresh or researching potential speaking opportunities or going to a local networking event. Whatever it is, do it!   

Start Your Side Hustle

We should always be side hustling and if you're short for cash during your slow season, this is the time to do it. Mine is going through my closet and selling things on Poshmark. For others, it might be hitting up yard sales and flipping things on eBay (thanks, Gary Vee), signing up as an Uber and Lyft driver or selling personal designs on Society6 and Etsy. There are so many ways to make extra cash these days and what's great about most of these is that they can be done on your own schedule so once your slow season comes to an end, you can keep the side hustle going.

 Indulge in Some Self-Care

I can't speak for everyone but when it comes to me and the freelancers I know, we are not the best at putting ourselves first. Use your slow season to work on YOU. Get a massage, read a book, spend your mornings meditating, go for a hike, do whatever makes you happy and helps clear your mind. This can also be a good time to look at the year ahead and start setting goals so when a slow season happens to you again, you’ll be prepared.

About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of ‘The Scope’ - a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.

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Good PR: Strong Public Relations is More Than Just Press Releases & Party Girls

It seems that not everyone is sure of what PR is and how it works, especially in an age where social media rules and that lines between PR and marketing are blurred. Often confused with advertising and frequently associated with celebrities and party girls, PR is a bit misunderstood. Here is some basic info on what PR is and how it works.

PR IS...

PR IS A GREAT WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR TARGET MARKET.  Done right, PR creates brand awareness and helps to establish a point of difference from the competition. It also can lend credibility to a new company or service. PR coverage is “earned” rather than paid for (like advertising) so that means an unbiased third party, who is deemed “in-the-know” by their audience, is giving their seal of approval on a product or service. Often earned media seems to have more of an impact then advertising, and resonates more deeply with readers.

PR IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. In 2015 those relationships stretch far beyond just the traditional media and include print and digital editors, bloggers, influencers, stylists, writers, producers, on-air talent and a slew of other interesting titles. Years ago PR was a bit more defined but with the introduction of social media, lines have been blurred and the boundaries between PR and marketing have softened. There is far more interplay and overlap. PR covers a lot more ground so it’s important to constantly be reinforcing existing relationships and establishing new ones.

PR IS A CHANGING INDUSTRY that requires creativity and adaptability. The digital landscape is constantly evolving and the end consumer is now used to quick nuggets of info and short burst of news that can be easily digested. In addition to the ever-important feature story, media coverage in things like “listicles”, digital/shoppable product roundups, influencer partnerships and ongoing social media have become an important part of any PR and marketing initiative that can have as much impact as the most established traditional print/broadcast coverage.

PR IS ABOUT GETTING NOTICED. It’s competitive out there. Even if you have relationships you are still up against a lot of other people/product/companies/ services and many are just as fabulous and ingenious as whatever you are bringing to the table. It’s about having what you do and how you do it catch the attention of the chosen intermediary. In overcrowded inboxes, sometimes the subject of the email is as important as the actual content! It’s all about standing out.

PR IS NOT…

PR IS NOT ADVERTISING.  It’s earned media a.k.a editorial coverage. True editorial coverage can’t be purchased. It’s earned. It’s won! Via lots and lots of time spent strategizing, emailing and talking. While PR isn’t paid for it also isn’t necessarily free either. Publicity requires the expenditure of mass amounts of time and effort by an in-house point person or a partnering agency. While you may not be spending dollars doing a media buy it will require some measure of capital investment to cover the time commitment it requires to create the interest. 

True editorial coverage can’t be purchased. It’s earned. It’s won!

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PR IS NOT EASY. For every bit of media coverage that is actually featured there were at least a zillion pitches that went out that were passed on. In PR you get way more “no’s” than “yes’s”. It’s takes an almost obsessive level of outreach, creativity and strategy to secure any press coverage. Especially if the brand/product is new or unknown.  Diligence, persistence and a thick skin are required to be successful along with stellar relationships and the ability to stay on top of opportunities without being annoying. Don’t assume you will have a cover story or a national placement right away. It’s an ongoing process but the results are worth it.

PR IS NOT ABOUT ONE-HIT-WONDERS. While there are those media opportunities that can change a business overnight, PR is largely about ongoing outreach and consistent coverage. It requires imagination and the ability to make something that isn’t always new or even newsworthy interesting. PR is meant to be a long-term investment and shouldn’t be viewed as a quick fix. Seeding a brand and building momentum with the media takes time, creativity and even a bit of luck. 

PR IS NOT JUST ABOUT PRESS RELEASES and distribution services.  Back in the day, a traditional press release would be written, pitched and then shared via a distribution service. With the rise of social media and the internet, a press release has become less important. It’s still a worthwhile informational tool to have in your arsenal but image heavy, copy-light outreach is preferred. Media contacts are inundated with information and want “snackable” bursts of info that they can review and decide on quickly.  

Jessy Fofana founded La Rue PR over ten years ago after successfully directing public relations and marketing initiatives for an impressive list of well-known fashion, home décor, lifestyle and cosmetics brands and retailers.  Having worked in both digital and print magazine publishing as well as co-founding a fashion and lifestyle brand that she later sold, Jessy and her team at LaRue PR understand exactly what it takes to create the kind of take-notice, multi-faceted campaign that delivers brand-changing buzz.  With an experienced team of professionals, LaRue PR covers all the bases including print and digital media coverage, influencer relations, synergistic brand partnerships and more.  LaRue PR provides the skill and experience of a large agency with the creativity, dedication and affordability that can only be offered by a boutique firm.

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Professional Opinion: The Business of Breaking Up a Partnership

*Written anonymously to protect the NOT so innocent.

I remember sitting there, just highlighting, highlighting and highlighting, so many numbers, so many charges, so much money—just gone. When we started the company together, it was thrilling. We were young, ambitious, hungry and starting something with a potential magnitude we didn't know or could even fathom. That’s how a lot of companies start, as an idea, a collaboration. Then all the sudden, you're in it.

The co-founder, business-boss-gal-pals model is popular—see Gilt, Rent the Runway, Birchbox and Proactiv—and it makes sense why. Everyone loves a partner in crime, you can do double the work and have double the fun, and that feeling of not being alone is, well, a good one. Partnering up with a friend can work out amazingly. Or it can not.

Cut to a few years into your business, employees, money and tensions run high, and while you may think your roles are clear as can be, your word means nothing unless it's in writing. Breaking up with a business partner might just be the most painful breakup you can go through—because this one comes with a price tag.

My story is not unique, but when it happened to me it felt like the world was crashing in. It was hard to breathe, difficult to believe that someone I trusted, and even cared about, could be taking money from a company that we had built together from the ground up. My gut had been telling me for months that something wasn't right, but I assumed it was more a personal issue and that no matter what was going on between us, we were both equally invested in the business.

Wrong. 

It eventually came to light that not only was my partner not managing our finances, but actually manipulating them. This included racking up unrelated business expenses, disregarding all things tax related, and straight up embezzling money. I was devastated, and what was worse, I had no idea what to do next. I felt ashamed and scared to talk about it—I thought it had to be a reflection on me and how I operated a business. It took me a few years and several conversations to get over it, and through it all, I realized that I wasn't alone. One business partner taking advantage of another happens, and it happens a lot. Partnerships split up and morph all the time and for all kinds of reasons. Being able to step back back and realize something isn't working  is a part of being a mature business pro. 

Trusting someone is not a flaw but a positive characteristic.

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The hardest—and yet ultimately most helpful—thing for me to accept was that it was NOT my fault.  Trusting someone is not a flaw but a positive characteristic. It takes trust to build a business, and had I been skeptical and suspicious from day one, we would have never gotten off the ground. Moving on and away from a partner does not have to mean the end of your business, and often, it will actually turn out to be the beginning of something great.

I hope this never happens to you, but if it does, here are my tips for pulling through, and maybe even coming out on top. 

Don’t over react.

When I found out, I wanted to freak out, confront and deal with it head on, but cooler heads prevailed. Take a deep breath, and assess all the details of the situation to 100% ensure you are in the right before initiating a confrontation. 

Get your team in place.  

I was lucky enough to have an incredible lawyer and forensic finance team that helped shape my case and bring to light things I would have overlooked. Beyond that, they were able to deal with the personal communication that I wasn't emotionally prepared to handle.

Handle clients and employees with care.

The business of breaking it to your employees and clients is extremely crucial. I personally called each client to explain that my partner and I were parting ways. I followed up with an email of how the transition would work and assured them we were ready to take on the challenge. When you do all of this, resist the urge to talk bad about your former partner and keep the details of why you're splitting to a minimum. 

Tune out the 'I told you so.'

One of the hardest things was hearing from many friends, family, business contacts and clients who swore that “they saw this coming.” I acknowledged that they meant well, but just tuned it out. Beating myself up wasn't going to help me move forward, and I had to focus on what was right in front of me. 

Revise and Renew.

As roles and responsibilities change in your partnership, update your operating agreement. Even when everything is smooth sailing, it is crucial to know who is in charge of what.

Move on and UP.

I was nervous about keeping the same business name and dealing with the "How is so and so?" questions, but it gets easier and YOU get better. When someone asks a question about the past, politely change the subject to something in the future that you're really excited about.

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10 Things Every Influencer Needs to Be Successful

These days it seems like everybody is claiming to be an influencer...and it’s no wonder! I mean, who doesn’t want to travel the world, eat at the nicest restaurants, and get paid to wear designer clothes? But it’s not easy to gain an engaged following and make full-time influencing sustainable. Influencers function as their own brands, which means they need to work day in and day out to make their personal brands relevant, grow, and perform to the level that brands want to work with them.

With the current saturation in the influencer space, changing algorithms, and the plethora of platforms on which to post your content, it’s become increasingly difficult for influencers to grow their brand. So, if you’re thinking about taking the leap and becoming an influencer, it’s important to be able to set yourself apart from the crowd by having a holistic and detailed understanding of how to market yourself.

Here are 10 skills you should brush up if you’re looking to become a successful influencer and build a scalable, profitable personal brand.

1. Data and Analytics

There’s a lot of back-end data that goes into creating effective and engaging content. That’s why it’s important for you to know what sort of data is important and how to accurately interpret that data to potential sponsors and clients. Start with a solid understanding of how to track users through UTM tags and bit.ly links.

These metrics allow you to show the value of your content, whether it be insight into engagement, overall impact, or link opens. Get comfortable keeping tabs on your metrics through Google, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube analytics. These numbers will be vital in pitching to brands, understanding your audience’s preferences, and justifying higher rates.

“Analytics are vital for pitching to brands, understanding your audience’s preferences, and justifying higher rates.”

2. SEO

In the simplest terms, SEO (or search engine optimization) is a way to optimize your content so it pops up  on search results. SEO allows new users to find your blog, builds credibility, and ultimately grows your brand. It’s is an important aspect of every social platform, not just blogs. Did you know YouTube and podcasts also use keywords to grow their viewership and listener base?

3. Email Marketing

One of the easiest ways to communicate with your online community is through email marketing. Use it to increase traffic to your blog, grow your following, boost your engagement, and make money off your content. To effectively market via email, learn how to create, segment a mailing list and then focus on growth.

4. Content Production

As a content producer, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you should have some content production chops to be successful in your work. The first step to being organized and efficient is being able to create an overarching editorial calendar so content makes sense on every channel.

Additionally, you should understand what goes into producing a successful blog post or article. Establish an ideation process for photo shoots, video shoots, and brand collaborations, and have at least a general knowledge of photo and video editing software.

5. News & Trends

Social media algorithms are constantly changing and it can be a struggle for bloggers and influencers to stay up-to-date. But to be successful on each platform, it’s mandatory to stay on top of the latest trends, changes, and newsworthy events within the industry.

The same thing goes for keeping your audience up to date with any news. Users expect for influencers to know it all, from the latest sale at Nordstrom to what Create & Cultivate said in their last article on small business tips.

“Being an influencer essentially means creating a personal brand. Thus, you need to learn how to sell yourself rather than a service or product.”

6. Sales

Being an influencer essentially means creating a personal brand. Thus, you need to learn how to sell yourself rather than a service or product. Understand how to craft a sales pitch for brand collaborations, how to put together a media kit, and how to pitch yourself to your audience in order to gain new followers. Understanding the sales side of the influencer industry will help you scale your business and become profitable.

7. Networking

It’s important for influencers to not only maintain their online community, but also get offline and network IRL. You should be making a concerted effort to network with other influencers in your industry, speak publicly whenever you can, and be comfortable going to events alone. Yes, being an influencer is an online business, but face-to-face interaction is still incredibly important when it comes to relationship-building and growth.  

8. Finances

Get familiar with industry standards for influencer rates and figure out how much you should charge for each of your services. These figures should be roughly based on your time to complete a project and your engagement metrics. Additionally, learn how to budget for photo shoots, submit invoices, and yes...you’ll also need to understand how working as an influencer affects your taxes.

“The legal side of your business may not be the most fun part of being an influencer, but understanding what you can and can’t do is imperative for the longevity and success of your personal brand.”

9. Legal

Especially with the heightened regulations around users’ privacy and personal data, it’s incredibly important that you have a good understanding of the laws around your industry. Read up on all FCC guidelines, know what you do or don’t need to include in sponsored post copy, and understand limitations when it comes to using brand names. You should also read every word of brand contracts and understand giveaway guidelines. The legal side of your business may not be the most fun part of being an influencer, but understanding what you can and can’t do is imperative for the longevity and success of your personal brand.

10. Business Strategy

The most important area influencers often forget they need to learn about is how to grow. Business strategy is a hard skill to learn, but is often what sets apart the top influencers in the industry from everyone else. From expanding verticals to launching your personal brand, you need have a strategy in place for how you’re going to grow and make “influencing” a sustainable source of income. Whether it be signing with an agency, getting a mentor or taking business classes, be sure you don’t forsake this important aspect of your career.

Flocke hq is a one-stop shop for influencers looking to build their digital empires through transformative technology and innovative strategy. If you’re an influencer looking to up your game but feeling a bit lost, reach out to Tyler at tyler@flockehq.com to see if Flocke hq can help you scale your influencer business.

Tyler Grove, co-founder of Flocke hq, has worked for some of the industry’s top brands, handling influencer marketing for Red Bull, The Ryan Sheckler Foundation, Lorna Jane, Coola Suncare, SiO Beauty and n:Philanthropy. With a Masters Degree in business and media, Grove has also built her own brand We Traveled Where, which started as a personal blog and has since grown into an international resource for travel, a podcast and YouTube channel. Over the course of her career, Tyler has worked in public relations, content marketing and business strategy.

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Pro Tip: Five Things To Include In Every Scope Of Work

Today’s Pro Tip is for all of the freelancers out there! You’ve just secured your first client and have been asked to provide a scope of work…but what is that, exactly?

A scope of work (also referred to as an SOW) is a document outlining details for the deliverables you’ll oversee, the time you’ll spend and the steps you’ll take working on these deliverables, and how you will be compensated. Beyond these basic areas, there are a few additional things you'll want to cover off in your scope of work to help proactively manage client expectations and create accountability for yourself.

Here are five things to include in your scope of work (and if you're not entirely sure what an SOW looks like, I’ve got you covered! Download my free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit, here).

Office Hours

Yes, office hours exist for freelancers! If your client is in the same time zone as you, this may not be too big of an issue but it's still important to share if you have a timeframe you work within each day. This is especially the case if you have daily obligations like doctor's appointments, a side hustle or kids to pick up from school.

While we all will have to work outside of our desired times here and there, it's beneficial to express when you will be available for emails and phone calls with your client up front. If you work with clients in a different time zone, let them know when you will be available during their daily working hours and beyond in your scope of work.

Days Off

To echo the office hours section - yes, freelancers take days off! If you have a family vacation, previous commitments or just need some personal time, include those dates in your SOW. So long it doesn't conflict with any of your deadlines or obligations promised to your client, this shouldn't be a problem, but it's always better to communicate upfront.

Billing Expectations

It is so important to put any billing expectations you have into the scope of work and even more important, to have an actual conversation with your client on these expectations either in person or over the phone. Talking about money is an uncomfortable topic for some people but believe me, you want to be crystal clear when it comes to your finances as a freelancer.

If you expect to be paid every 30 days because it's what you and your client agreed to, put it in the scope of work and ask your client what you need to do proactively to make sure that happens. Once the SOW is signed, I usually follow up asking if there's anyone in accounts payable I should connect with to get setup as a new vendor. That way when I submit my invoice at the end of the month, everything is already in place and my money hits the bank a lot faster.

Number of Revisions

This doesn't necessarily apply for every type of freelancer but if you work in any form of creative field (graphic design, copywriting, video production, etc.), you will want to include instructions for the number of revisions you're willing to provide. This will help prevent you from spending extra hours going back and forth on minor requests and instead encourage your client to be very clear and detailed with their expectations and needed edits the first time around.

Extra Work

This is by far the most important line to include in every scope of work... *clears throat*

“Any work requested by the client outside of this agreed upon scope of work before, during or after the project dates will be billed at an additional hourly rate of $(your hourly rate).”

Why is this so important to include? Because you will undoubtedly be asked to do something outside of the original scope of work. Your time is valuable and if you are on retainer or working on a project fee, you need to be compensated for the extra effort.

Freelance isn't free. Remember that.

About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of ‘The Scope’ — a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.

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We Need to Talk: I Earn More Than My Partner

The wage gap is a battle that’s yet to be won, but there are many women who are bringing home more bacon than their significant others. 

Married women are more likely than ever before to out-earn their husbands. According to a Pew study in 1960 just about 4% of married women were the primary provider in their family, whereas in 2013 that percentage increased by 20%. Rising education and employment levels contribute to this stat.

Despite the upswing in changes, the same study found that 74% of adults say that the increase in working women, particularly working mothers, has made it harder to raise children and harder for marriages to succeed. 

So, we need to talk. We chatted anonymously with three women who are primary household breadwinners in various life stages about how they and their partners really feel about earning less. 

A single mom in a relationship. 

A married woman with two kids. 

And a VP living with her fiancé. 

Does earning more than your significant other affect your relationship?

Single mom: It comes in waves, honestly. There are some days when I can tell he’s uncomfortable with my success or that I don’t “need” him in the traditional sense. 

Married woman: At this point, no. But I wasn’t always earning more so that power switch was difficult to get used to. That’s not to say money equals power, but for a long time the person in charge of the bank account was the one making all the decisions. In most cases, that was a man. Banks wouldn’t even loan women money or let them sign for their own credit cards in the ‘70s. I don’t know why we expect this not to be difficult for men. They’ve been told and conditioned to behave one way— and there is a shift among Millennials, sure, but change is uncomfortable. If you watched your parents behave one way or the other it’s hard to break from that mindset.  

VP: This is tough because he’s also successful. When I was dating there were men who wanted a woman in a more traditional role. Logical or not, there are men who want to wear those proverbial pants. I get it, I like wearing the pants too. But I’d like to think that part of the reason we’re getting married is because he values my work ethic and my success. I’d like to think it affects my relationship in a positive way. He supports me and values me. 

Do you think men in general are uncomfortable with a female breadwinner?

Married woman: Yes. Like I said before this is slow shift. A long rolling after-shock. Things are moving and shaking, but in the process books are going to fall off the shelves and jars in the pantry will break. Nothing changes without a little— or a lot — of discomfort. 

Single mom: In general I don't think people want to be in relationships where there is a power play happening. I can only speak to my relationship but my boyfriend doesn’t believe that income reflects power in a relationship. I agree with him and at the same time I can’t help but wonder— if I’m being REALLY honest— he would feel the same way if he made more money. Money is weird. It makes men and women act weird. I don’t know any other way to explain it. 

VP: We’re slowly moving out of the mindset that men are the providers and women are caregivers. There is no longer a “traditional” role. I don’t even know what that would look like— and that's confusing to people. Men and women. Confusion and uncomfortable generally go hand-in-hand. We’re all testing out new models and there’s no one person to point to and say, "they did it right!" And when we do point to a couple that “did it right,” it’s usually someone’s grandparents who have been married for 50 years and held very “traditional” roles. Which, again, is confusing, because most people don’t want what their grandparents had. 

"There is no longer a 'traditional' role and that's confusing to people." 

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Who pays when you go out to dinner? Or when you want to go on a vacation your partner can’t afford?

Single mom: We pay for what we can afford. And if one of us is uncomfortable, we say something. Communication is more important than who earns what. That’s a really annoying PC answer, but it’s also the truth. If we go out to dinner 10 nights and I’ve paid for 9 because I can afford it, I’ll say something. I expect an effort to be made on his part in ways that he can contribute. There are ways to support someone that are not financial. When one person isn’t making an effort, that’s a bigger problem than what’s in your bank account. 

Married woman: I think it’s different when you’re married. Most successful couples have clearly defined financial roles and decide how they are going to split finances. My parents never fought about money because they had independent accounts and one account they contributed to that was a percentage of their earnings, not a lump sum. There’s no tit for tat in marriage and when there is, you’re probably getting divorced. You need to throw this notion of fair out the window. Be fair with your heart if you want your love to last. 

VP: At the end of the day, if dinner is my suggestion or I’m taking him on a date, I pay. And vice versa. Does it work out to be an even split? No and I’m OK with that. MOST of the time. My love for him isn’t based in dollars. That doesn’t mean that emotions and money never get crossed. Somewhere at the intersection of the two there are arguments, feelings that get hurt, resentments. To pretend they are independent of each other would be over-simplifying. 

Do you think women think of their income as “theirs,” where men have to think of their income as “ours?” 

Married woman: Yes. There is a double standard 100%. Since women still earn less on the man’s dollar and are just now in the last decade or so occupying positions always held by men, I think there is this need to hoard or hold onto their income. We didn’t always have the opportunity to make money, so there’s an innate desire to keep it. Is that right? I don’t know. Women still feel the need to protect themselves. 

VP: These are hard questions because I have to be honest about my relationship to gender roles. I want to be breadwinner. I like it. At the same time, I still like a man to open my door and take me on a date, and I don’t know, plunge the toilet. Men are expected to share more than women and I think women like it that way, without always reciprocating. 

"I want to be the breadwinner, and at the same time, have the man to take me on a date." 

Single mom: Ah. What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is mine. Yeah, there’s definitely some of that going on. I’ve talked to many of my friends about this, who are also higher or relatively equal earners. There are mixed feelings. Nothing is ever going to be an equal down-the-middle split. If anything, I think we should take this as a lesson that shifting roles are hard for both genders and perhaps be a little less angry when it doesn’t come easy. That’s not a particularly feminist thing to say. 

Do you feel more in control in the relationship because you earn more money?

Single mom: I feel more in control of my own life. I feel able and competent which, in turn, creates a real confidence in me that I think is attractive to certain men. I don’t need to be in control of someone else, but I do like being in control of my own life. Knowing that if we broke up, I’d still be OK, able to pay my rent, feed my kid, go on small vacations. I don’t have a ton of expendable income, but I do fine on my own. I think that is empowering, more so than having “control” over another person. I don’t feel better than him because I earn more, I simply feel good about myself. 

"I don’t feel better than him because I earn more, I simply feel good about myself." 

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VP: I don’t think I’ve ever admitted this out loud but, yes. I’m sure that has to do with the relationship dynamics I witnessed between my parents. I had a stay-at-home mom and as much of a job as that is, you don’t earn anything. You’re essentially paid by your husband to take care of the kids and the home. For lack of a better term, you’re a kept woman. I was never going to be for keeping, and for better or worse, money is a part of that. 

Married woman: If I was younger I might feel that way, but marriage is give and take, push and pull, and I know at any point the tables could turn. I would never want him to make me feel lesser than because I lost my job, or got fired, or who knows, life is messy. Money is complicated. Gender roles are complicated. Relationships and marriage, even more complicated. Put it all in a pot and there are good days and fucking god-awful ones. Sometimes that has to do with the all mighty dollar, but if you think you’re in control because you have more money, you should be single. 

Do you make more than your partners? Sound-off in the comments below and join the convo. 

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