4 Pro Tips for Navigating the Job Hunt During COVID-19

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With one-in-four young adults facing unemployment, there’s no better time to stay focused on your career goals. Though this might not be the easiest time to find a job, it doesn’t mean that opportunities aren’t out there—you just have to know how to find them and how to stand out in a sea of résumés. Here are a couple of ways to stay focused and remain successful in your job search during COVID-19.

Reach Out to Your Network

LinkedIn was made for times like these. Use it to your advantage and start networking! Take the time to reach out to friends past and present to see if they know of any job opportunities that might be of interest to you. Try to keep the conversation light and informative; explain what you’re looking for and how appreciative you are of their time and insights. 

Are you a college graduate? Don’t forget to connect with previous professors, old classmates, and alumni who are in your field, they might know of a company or a person who you can connect with. Utilize LinkedIn messaging and InMail to reach out and start a conversation. Twitter is another great place to get ahold of people in a more direct/personal way.

Stay Active

It’s easy to let unemployment bring you down and break your spirit, but don’t forget your passion and future goals. Stay active in your job search and keep a daily schedule in order to stay fervent in your mission. Structure your days and block off time to job hunt. Not only will this keep you highly productive but will keep you from feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Here are a couple of ways to stay active during your job search:

• Post a couple of times a week on LinkedIn related to your career path. This could be industry news, or even just motivational/inspirational content for others to see that you are active and using the platform for job purposes.

• Build out your profile on other job sites so employers can easily find you. 

• Send follow-up emails for job applications and interviews and always keep checking your email for any updates. 

Set Up Alerts

Job search sites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Indeed allow you to set up job alerts. These can be customized for whatever type of job you’re looking for, including distance, industry, type of company, salary, etc. You can also choose whether you want the alerts to arrive in your inbox weekly or daily. These reminders can be a quick way for you to stay on top of job openings and make it easier than ever to apply and get on with the rest of your day. 

Update Your Résumé

There’s nothing more important than an updated résumé, cover letter, and portfolio. Your résumé should reflect your career, for example, if you’re a graphic designer, show off some of your skills with a colorful and stylish résumé. Make sure your job descriptions are detailed and concise for the average employer to read through and understand.

While applying for jobs, don’t forget to tailor your cover letter to the position you’re applying for, and be sure to include keywords that will grab the employer’s attention and prove you have all of the right experience.

Depending on your career and job history, a portfolio is another great asset to carry with you to job interviews. For writers and people in the creative field, it’s an easy way to show off your skills and clips in a more formal way than just an attached PDF. 

Create the future you deserve by building your new job-hunt routine and staying on top of your goals and skills. Use these tips to your advantage and land that dream job!

About the Author: Abbey currently works at a full-service ad agency as a digital marketing coordinator. She also owns a music blog (blondieandthebeat.com) where she writes about music and artists she loves. Throughout her time as a writer and media maven, she’s remained passionate in her love of sharing stories, curating content, and inspiring women. You can usually find her cuddled up on the couch binging “Sex and the City” (for the 20th time) or caught up in a good book. 

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4 Ways to Make Your Side Hustle Happen When You’re Working Full-Time

Photo: Ivan Samkov from Pexels

I really like my job, but I’m not sure it’s fulfilling me or fueling my passions.

It would be great to have a second income for all the little extras life throws my way.

If the economy plummets, will they even hesitate to lay me off?

I wish I didn’t have to report to anyone and could create my own schedule.

Sound familiar?

All of these were thoughts that used to cross my mind at least three times a day. And of course with ambition, dreams, and motivation, came their cousins: fear, worry, and doubt.

Where do I even begin? Will I be successful? Will people like me? I studied PR...do I really know anything about anything else? Where will I find the time?

More questions, more worry, more doubt.

It wasn’t until I became overwhelmed with my own questions that I decided to put them all behind me. On mute. To be addressed later... or possibly never. I began to question less and do more. Where do I start? Here. What do I do? This. Will I succeed? Yes. Where will I find the time? Goodbye, Netflix binging.

The only thing I didn’t question was whether I’d leave my full-time job because after all, I truly do love what I do. And let’s be real, benefits like a fixed salary, insurance, and a 401K were simply non-negotiable, considering I didn’t have a single dollar in savings (insert mortified emoji) and relied on my salary alone to survive. (In my defense, I recently bought a home which, ironically, is the inspiration behind my side hustle: White This Way Home).  

Wanna join the side hustle club? Here are my top tips for starting your own gig without leaving your full-time job:

1. Stick to a schedule.

Time is your best friend—but also your biggest enemy, if you don’t set a working schedule and stick to it. Even if your full-time job is flexible, make a commitment to limit distractions while you’re in full-time work mode. This means you try not to look at side hustle-related emails, social media, or comments during full-time work hours. Instead, leave it for nights and weekends. The good news (if your side hustle relies heavily on Instagram) is that there are a number of apps that let you schedule posts ahead of time (I use Plaan).

2. Capture thoughts to revisit.

OK, we’re all human—it's so easy to daydream about a new project or dwell on your side hustle to do list during your full-time work hours. After all, to-do lists are endless and inspiration can strike out of nowhere. You never know if and when these thoughts and daydreams will come back to you, so it’s important to take a moment to capture the ideas before they float away. Keep these inspirational thoughts in an imaginary bottle (or your phone, in a notebook, or on a sticky note), and rest assured they’ll be there when you have time to revisit them.

3. Find balance.

Feeling drained and overworked can be counterproductive. Don’t forget to build in time for fun, which can actually work in your favor and help refill your energy tank (ever tried driving on a completely empty gas tank? The epitome of counterproductive). Feeling energized and balanced is not only essential to getting things done, but it also gives your mind space for ideas to evolve and grow, even when you’re not actively in brainstorm mode.

4. Give yourself a pep talk.

Sure, you might look like a crazy person talking to yourself, but this really works! You can’t convince others to believe in what you do if you don’t believe in what you do. If those feelings of worry, fear, and self-doubt start to creep in, give them one answer in return: “I can and will do this.” Self talks, motivational quotes, little hand-written reminders, and a 24/7 “I’m a badass” attitude goes a long way. And the beauty of it is that you can pep talk anywhere, even during regular business hours.

About the Author: Adriana Infante is a PR + Marketing professional based in Miami, FL. She is also the founder of @WhiteThisWay an in-house product styling company that helps clients design spaces to reflect their personal styles and needs by harmoniously combining simplicity and tidiness to create a stylish, yet functional home.

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This post was published on February 19, 2019, and has since been updated.

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How to Build a Brand Through Storytelling on Social Media

Photo: Smith House Photography

Storytelling is an art. It’s all about authenticity, relevancy, and transparency. In building Stylebymalvika, my personal platform dedicated to providing style inspiration to the driven dreamers of the world, I’ve noticed that I owe much of my success thus far to being vulnerable, speaking without too many qualms, and delivering on what it is exactly that my audience responds best to that I can provide consistently. Surprisingly, being a bit of a spontaneous creative at heart has worked towards my benefit. In hopes of helping you build your brand on social media, I’m going to share a bit about how I’ve navigated telling my story online.

When I started my platform almost two years ago, I had absolutely no direction, and in many ways, I’m thankful I didn’t. It allowed me to experiment, speak about everything, and understand what worked best for both me and my audience. Everyone told me to “niche myself,” but I couldn’t understand what that meant. I’m a human, after all, and all humans are multifaceted and complex. Naturally, and as a result of merely creating, I slowly began to understand that perhaps a photo of Louboutins with a heart caption wasn’t doing anything for me or my audience.

Get real

Let’s face it: Today, everyone can post a photo of their favorite items, foods, etc. But not everyone is you. Understanding that there’s a very distinct, unique person behind all you put out is what’s most important when trying to find your voice on social media. Whether you’re an individual or a brand trying to craft an image, free yourself of any bounds so that you can slowly discover your value to others based on feedback.

Personally, I have found that my distinct value is in my perspective on fashion. I’m an Indian born and bred in America who is still deeply immersed in the Indian culture and values of quality and craftsmanship, which feed my love for high-end designers. My upbringing has taught me to strive to achieve great things, and thus the “driven” aspect of my value proposition was born. Being real about who you are and where you’re coming from will slowly but surely ensure your value becomes evident as well.

Be transparent

Combining my love for luxury fashion and my drive naturally helped me understand that I was a driven dreamer, and that what I put out there appealed to others who were the same. Still, I’m writing my narrative, and finding what more I can share about myself that will continue to provide value to my audience. I’m sure that in a year’s time, I’ll have a bit of a different value. I firmly believe that being transparent about new dynamics or changes that arise, either in action or perspective, can only strengthen a narrative—that is, if you share the whole process.

Learn from your audience

The thing about social media and building any type of brand image online is being true to who you are, and not overthinking it, especially in the beginning. There will be several learning curves, and you must remember that the journey quite literally is the destination. A huge part of your storytelling journey will be not having too narrow of a scope of communication with your audience—not “over-niching” yourself.

Allow yourself the grace of time and experience, and let your audience play a role in building your brand’s unique image. People enjoy being included in a conversation rather than being spoken at. Don’t just start by telling a story to your viewers and listeners: allow them to have a stake in your story by being the very people who shape it.

About the Author: Malvika Sheth is the founder of popular fashion platform Stylebymalvika, which has appeared on BuzzFeed and in Bella New York Magazine. She has previously collaborated with brands such as Clarins, Reebok, Jimmy Choo, and Lancôme in her journey as a content creator. Check her out on her Instagram and read more about her on her blog.

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This post was originally published on April 27, 2019, and has since been updated.

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The 5 Steps to Surviving a "No"

Photo: Create & Cultivate

“No” can be one of the most discouraging words a person will ever hear. These two little letters can mark us with rejection, failure, disappointment, and confusion. Whether it’s in response to a job offer, a business proposal, or a networking coffee date with a leader in the industry that you look up to, here are a few helpful tips for dealing with the big N-O, no matter the circumstances. 

Make a classy exit.

Say, “Thank you,” and be appreciative of someone else giving their time to hear you. It’s okay to ask a few questions about why they came to their decision or what you can do to improve for the future but yelling, lashing out, or outlining all the reasons why they are making a terrible mistake is not going to help anyone—especially you.

Choose to be gracious and kind, and you will be remembered for it.

Give yourself a moment.

The last time I was turned down for a job I cried like a baby. I was sitting in my car in the middle of Los Angeles traffic doing the ugly cry. As childish as I felt, I knew I needed to let out the tension. I had poured my heart into the application process, meshed well with the team members I had met, carried very high hopes, and felt like things were going in my favor. My nerves were frazzled by the end of the two-week interview process, and a good cry was what I needed in order to let go. It’s okay to be disappointed and it’s okay to acknowledge your feelings.

Realize it happens to everyone.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper company because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Oprah was once fired from a television job because she was considered “unfit for TV.”

Every single person—even the highly successful ones—has been turned down at some point in their journey. You’re in great company.

Put in some time.

Take a few hours or set aside a day to make some improvements. Go over any and all feedback you received. Update your resume. Amp up your cover letter. Ask some trusted colleagues for their input.

My husband’s Jiu-Jitsu instructor often says, “You don’t get better by winning, you get better by losing.” There are always areas for improvement, and we often find them in the midst of rejection. Take the feedback and the critiques and use them to your advantage!

Dream about the future.

There are times when you have done it all—you prepared, you rehearsed, you did the research, you have the skills, you know the market—and still you’re turned away. Sometimes there is no explanation. When these moments come and there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason, I tell myself that I am being protected from something. This thing I was running after must not be the best path for my life, and something better and more fitting must be coming up ahead.

Knowing this, we can find rest and peace in rejection because it protects us from less than the best. And we can dream about things still to come. Move on. Dream on. Go get ‘em.

What strategies have you found helpful when dealing with rejection? Let us know in the comment section below! 

This piece originally appeared on Darling Magazine, by Janelle Whitaker.

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This story was originally published on July 31, 2016, and has since been updated.

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36 Successful Entrepreneurs Share Their #1 Piece of Advice for 2020 Graduates

The class of 2020 may not get to walk across a stage in their cap and gowns and accept their diplomas due to the current coronavirus pandemic, but their accomplishments are still cause for celebration. Even without the pomp and circumstance of a typical graduation ceremony on school grounds, all the late library study sessions, all the hours spent in the lab, all the unpaid internships deserve to be celebrated virtually.

Needless to say, this year’s graduating class faces a more uncertain future than most, so we asked some of the most successful entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs we know to divulge their number one piece of advice for 2020 graduates. Ahead, Ariel Kaye, the founder and CEO of Parachute, Priscilla Tsai, the founder and CEO of Cocokind, Nicole Gibbons, the founder of Clare, Katerina Schneider, founder and CEO of Ritual, and more, share their wise words of wisdom for this year’s graduating class.

Ariel Kaye

Founder & CEO, Parachute

“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Especially now, give yourself permission to explore a new hobby or dive deep into a passion project. Maybe your artistic pursuits or great idea for a business can be the focus of this summer. If I could go back, I would tell myself that it’s ok to not have it all figured out. And really there isn’t a huge rush to get to the finish line. Enjoy the process.”

Sarah Paiji Yoo

Founder, Blueland

“Success doesn't have to be so rigidly defined. When I was graduating, success seemed to mean achieving a certain title or salary or having a huge recognizable impact on the world. Over time, I've realized that for me, I gauge success and professional happiness with questions like 1) Do I love what I’m working on? 2) Am I still learning and growing? 3) Do the people I’m spending time with continue to energize and push me to be better every day? I've loved getting older, as it's become doing less of what I or others think I should do, and having a much deeper understanding of what excites me and is important to me.”

Nicole Gibbons

Founder, Clare

“Don’t feel pressure to have your entire career road mapped out when you graduate. What you think you’ll be doing 10 or 20 years from now is highly likely not what you’ll end up doing. Your career will most likely be a long, winding journey with many detours. Stay curious, explore all of your interests, learn as much as you can and never lose your curiosity because following your curiosity will end up leading you to you venture down incredible paths you could never even imagined!”

Michelle Cordeiro Grant

Founder & CEO, LIVELY

“My advice is to be open-minded and not get in your own way. Immediately after graduating, I went into a three-month training program with Macy's (then named Federated) to learn every aspect of the process from the creation of the product to delivery, at the end of which I was placed in their lingerie category. I was completely heartbroken because I always dreamt of working in ready-to-wear, but after a couple of weeks, I fell in love with lingerie. I quickly learned that it was this amazing place just for women—it's the first thing you put on in the morning and you look at yourself in the mirror and it's this really powerful and confidence-inducing moment. Long story short is don't close the door on something that wasn't ‘your plan;’ be open-minded and true to yourself about what the actual experience is. I'd also warn against being fearful or playing it safe, which we tend to do a lot as women. Instead of fearing the unknown, which there is plenty of at the moment, fear not trying.”

Eunice Byun

Founder, Material Kitchen

“Don't settle for what you already know, but actively seek out experiences where you have to learn something new in order to succeed. It's easy to want to fall back on what you are good at, especially when you want to impress new bosses or colleagues. Putting yourself in those uncomfortable situations where you have to listen and learn will help you see things differently, build a source of confidence deep within, and ultimately help build empathy as you'll have more perspective than before.”

Jean Brownhill

Founder, Sweeten

“My advice to the graduates of 2020 is one of my favorite quotes from Howard Thurman, ‘Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.’”

Meha Agrawal

Founder & CEO, Silk + Sonder

“My best advice is to let go of self-inflicted pressure to have all the answers sorted out. Your first few years after college are merely an extension to learn, create, fail, and rise again. Remember, your first job will surely not be your last job and you always have the freedom to start something new. Be hungry, be curious, and most importantly, be yourself. Surround yourself by people, problems, and opportunities that energize you, and you will have the chance to carve your own path. Know that you can always tweak your resume to tell the story you want to tell—so always allocate time to gut-check how you're feeling in your career checks and course-correct as needed.”

Cassandra Dittmer

Sustainable Stylist, Expert, & Consultant

“I think the biggest question to ask yourself, given the current landscape, is how to add real value to a company. Have a clear vision for who you are, the type of community you are looking to build, and who you want to surround yourself with. Find a job that not only keeps you busy but also keeps you feeling fulfilled and stimulated. You may not start out in your dream job, but be an active participant in your career path. No one is going to pave the way for you so you need to want it for yourself!”

Blair Armstrong

Founder, GILDED

“Completing your program and obtaining your degree is a wonderful accomplishment and important milestone. Try not to let the lack of an official commencement ceremony get you down. Celebrate your accomplishment in an unconventional way and look forward. Some things to work on while the world sorts itself out are learning new skills, finding a mentor, and considering volunteer work if you have the time. Be persistent and don’t give up on your plan.”

Chriselle Lim

Co-Founder, BümoBrain

“Your degree got you this far. Focus on building up your network and get as much experience as possible. You might not land your dream job right out of college but remember that your first job doesn't mean that it's your last. We all gotta start somewhere!”

Joan Nguyen

Co-Founder, BümoBrain

“Having worked in education for over 10 years, people actually never ask me where I went to school or what I studied. I think that more than your degree or major, the most underrated skills are people skills. Your ability to use the way you talk to people to get them to believe in you and trust in you and then backing it up by true action is one of the most important skills.”

Ara Katz

Founder, Seed

“Do not be attached to an outcome or any fixed idea of how your life should be. Instead, incessantly question, stay open to the evolution of your ideas, opinions and beliefs and un-think every assumption possible. Seek out those who will challenge you, not just align with you. Live expansively and with an endless curiosity about yourself, our world, and your agency within it. Practice health, honor your body, do not underestimate the importance of words and the power of good writing, and most importantly, be kind.”

Catharine Dockery

Founding Partner, Vice Ventures

“My best advice would be to optimize for future flexibility. Unless you're the sort of person who knows immediately what their five-year plan will look like in five years (I'm not, and wasn't then either!), it makes a ton of sense to focus on building a broad skill set and letting your interests and curiosity drive the way. Coming out of college, I had no idea I'd end up as a venture investor. I'd been an investment banking intern in my junior year and hated it, then joined a sales and trading desk after graduating. At the time, I thought I'd either end up in trading or going back to school to become a psychologist. That sales and trading program truly helped me build skills that I use today, and the last dollars from my bonus ended up going into my first personal venture investment.”

Priscilla Tsai

Founder & CEO, Cocokind

“I graduated during the recession, and the job that I had lined up at Lehman Brothers was no longer there by the time I graduated. I remember my mom telling me that regardless of where I ended up in my first job, even if it wasn't my dream career, the most important thing was to be at a place where I could learn. With that, I reached out to as many companies I could and ended up landing a job that allowed me to do just that. My biggest takeaway from this for recent graduates is to not take learning for granted. You have to know what you don't know and take initiative to build your knowledge base. Don't expect someone to hand this to you. Be hungry and appreciate every learning opportunity you have.”

Ann McFerran

Founder, Glamnetic

“Once you graduate, there is no schedule set by an institution anymore and you’re free to do anything you want. This amount of choice is overwhelming and I went through it as well. I think you should be asking yourself the very hard question of what is your ultimate goal in life, then work backwards from there to see what you need to do to get there. If you don’t have a clear picture of the ultimate goal, try to have a rough idea of the field you want to get into, then narrow it down even more to your desired lifestyle. Ultimately, life is all about learning from experiences. You have to be deeply honest with yourself to find true happiness and success, even if it’s a complete 180 from where you currently are. Don’t be scared! Start with this and commit to work really really hard and you’ll find yourself in your dream career.”

Dianna Cohen

Co-Founder, Crown Affair

"If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, now is a time to test into ideas, and as Phil Knight said: just do it. Send the email to the person you admire. Start the thing you’ve been thinking about in the back of your mind. Great things take time, so start in small ways telling the story or building the universe you want to create. If you’re looking at roles at companies or if the ‘dream’ first job is on hold for a moment, this is the time to say yes to opportunities that might be out of the box. Remember that every experience and relationship can lead to something great down the line, something that you can’t imagine now. Take on the odd project, reach out with a thoughtful email, and offer to collaborate. You never where something will lead. If not now, then when?”

Allison Evans

Co-Founder, Branch Basics

“Use this slow-down to your advantage and take this time to really self-assess. What are my passions? What gets me excited? What am I naturally drawn toward? Don't rush into the next chapter without really making sure it's the right one versus what you/others always expected you to do.”

Lindsey Taylor Wood

Founder & CEO, The Helm

“We are living in uncertain times. In the era of COVID, I’m guessing you’ve heard this a hundred times by now. But not only is it true, it’s also another reason to take a bet on yourself and the ultimate preparation for becoming an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is synonymous with uncertainty and every day is a new Rubik’s Cube. At this exact moment, life is giving you the ultimate masterclass in learning how to turn every obstacle into an opportunity. If ever there was a time to swing as big as you can, it’s now. You truly have nothing to lose.”

Kelly Love

Co-Founder, Branch Basics

“I know for sure, setbacks make you stronger. We've faced major challenges as a company (even came close to bankruptcy!) but we never lost our hope, our vision, or our determination. Remember that difficult times are really just opportunities to learn, be creative, and turn hard work into success. Focus on the bigger picture, and know that it will take time and the occasional failure to get there.”

Kristi Knoblich Palmer

Co-Founder, Kiva Confections

“Be prepared to pivot! You can’t force yourself into a career that just isn’t panning out. Think of school as a great place to grow up and gain life experience. Even if you don’t end up pursuing the career you thought you would, you gained incredible value just by being in a learning environment. Follow the opportunity, even if it isn’t in the field you had planned.”

Bethany McDaniel

Founder, Primally Pure

"With fewer job opportunities on the horizon, succeeding in making a living has become more of a necessity for this year's college grads than in years past. Brendon Burchard defines necessity as "the emotional drive that makes great performance a must instead of a preference". Necessity demands action, which can be a blessing and not a curse for those who choose to see it that way. So many great businesses have been born out of past economic downturns (Netflix, Airbnb, and Warby Parker just to name a few!), and my hope for 2020 grads is that they will be motivated by a necessity to succeed within the parameters of the current situation and find creative solutions to voids in today's marketplace."

Ariane Goldman

Founder, HATCH

“So much about business (and life, really) hinges on your ability to deal with the unexpected. Running several has taught me that if you're going to survive you have to figure out a way to adapt to things you can't control without freaking out or being reactionary. It's not easy. Deep breaths help. So does having a strong support system: your team, your family, your friends.“

Emily Bibb

Co-Founder, Curated

"It's a crazy time, but use it to your advantage. Create the 'unforgettable' addition to your resume be it a website or Instagram portfolio. DM the CEO you admire for a virtual coffee as their schedules may be more flexible. Learn the basics for the job you want, such as analytics or SEO. While it might not seem like it now, this time could turn out to be your greatest asset.”

Adiya Dixon Wiggins

Founder, Yubi

“You are graduating in scary, uncertain times. At the risk of sounding cold, lucky you! While canceled internships, delayed start dates and limited job options are frustrating setbacks, they also give you space to focus on creating something new and bigger for yourself and others. There are limitless, interesting problems waiting for you to solve in wonderful ways. Set out passionately in pursuit of solutions and get ready for more success than you ever dreamed possible.”

Genevieve Rudin

Co-Founder, Brass Clothing

"Your first job (and likely your second) will not be your last. Young people take so seriously, to the point of paralyzing themselves and adding stress to their lives, the search for the "perfect" job out of college. The truth is that finding the perfect job is a life-long mission. Learning what you don't like, how to work with others, and what workplace environments jive with your working style is a process. One that will take you through your 20's at the very least. Instead of aiming for the best name in your target industry or the highest salary, go with your gut -- a great boss and rewarding working experience that increases your value and the skills you have to offer is priceless. The big-name firms and lucrative opportunities will follow if you find people and a place that will invest in you early on.”

Lily Galef

Co-Founder, Hilma

"My best advice is, to be honest with yourself about what you enjoy and are good at. I spent a lot of time in my early career pursuing what I thought would be most ‘glamorous’ or ‘cool.' In my mid-twenties I realized that the things I enjoyed doing were not, in fact, glamorous or cool, which was a revolutionary insight that unlocked real growth for me personally and professionally. Look for companies that align with your values, and reach out to them--even if they are not hiring. Ask questions and learn about what it might be like to be a part of that business. If you’re interviewing for a job, ask questions about how an organization thinks about mentorship, and try to find yourself a position where your team will invest in your growth. And if the job you find is not perfect—remember that no job is, and use it to learn as much as you can."

Kendall Bird

CEO & Co-Founder, Frame

“We’re taught in college that the world is filled with endless career opportunities. Then after graduation, you start to realize that your first job is hardly your dream job. This happens to everyone, and my advice to you is to not get discouraged. Try to focus on specific skill sets you are developing and mastering. Whether it’s taking meeting notes, developing processes through excel spreadsheets, or growing the conversational skills needed to deal with customers and clients. These are the skills in your tool kit and on a resume that will get you to your next job or promotion.”

Jess Mulligan

Founder, Winged

“My best advice is to be as relentlessly curious and engaged as possible. There are so many opportunities to learn and network, lean into all of them! You never know if the CEO sitting next to you on that flight might be someone you tap three years down the road for an opportunity. Remember that your education is not even close to being over—it’s only just beginning! Spend everyday asking yourself what makes you want to pop out of bed in the morning. I asked myself that question early on and that self-discovery led me to a career where I can share my passion with the world through natural health supplements and clean beauty products. I wake up every day excited to learn more and help others. Success followed, not because I struggled to push through a work day, but because I had the energy and drive to excel in an industry that reflected the essence of who I am.”

Tai Adaya

Founder, Habit

"Especially in downturn times, it's tempting to go for the 'sure thing' or 'safe career path' but I believe we ultimately always gravitate towards our passions. I initially went into a 'safe' corporate job after graduating from college, but I hated it. I eventually went to work for startup companies in health and consumer products. My side hustles were always in e-commerce and content. I spent a lot of time being afraid of pursuing my passions but kept coming back to them. You have to eventually let go of the fear. Try to take the view that our time on Earth is limited time, is a limited resource. There are no guarantees. What are you going to do with your limited resource?”

Marisa Zupan

CEO, United Sodas

“Never stop asking questions or learning as graduation is just the beginning of your real-world education. You are entering the workforce at a time where we need your generation’s insights, creativity, ideas, and enthusiasm in order to challenge us in the best ways possible. Embrace it. Enter this next phase of your life with courage and hope, taking risks when you can and leaning into the unknown.”

Alix Peabody

Founder & CEO, Bev

“Starting a career is a massive undertaking—but it's one that is built by a series of baby steps one after another. The trick is to simply start walking, and don't stop until you are where you wanted to go, knowing that where you want to go might change. If I could give myself one piece of advice, it would be exactly that, just start. And by continuing to work hard when things seem impossible or get tough, you will learn things not only about your business but about yourself. With every passing day, and every passing year, you will build something more important than the career or the money or the excitement, you will build a foundation in who you are and what you're capable of. That is something no one can ever take away from you. So my advice? Just start.”

Katerina Schneider

Founder & CEO, Ritual

“Don’t get stuck on any one path. Give yourself permission to try things out and find out if they are not for you. And if you do feel like it’s not for you, let go of it quickly. I studied applied mathematics in college, quickly learned I was bad at finance, and now I run a health and wellness company.”

Sarah McDevitt

Founder, Core

“Don’t make decisions based on fear and short-term needs. Be intentional and practical about the work you need to do to achieve your long-term goals. Build your personal life Board of Directors/team of go-to friends or family that know you well and can be a sounding board for big decisions. Go after what you want and try not to compare yourself to others. Celebrate their success and find your own. Resist the pressure from society, family, etc. to choose a certain path if it doesn’t feel right to you. It’s ok to not fully know or understand your dreams and career goals. It’s ok to change your mind and is natural as we learn and grow. It may not always feel like it, but you always have options—choose wisely, or at least recognize things that feel like obligations as choices and you will look upon them more favorably.”

Melanie Travis

Founder & CEO, Andie

“I graduated three months before Lehman Brothers collapsed. With the world in turmoil, I decided to move to Europe and travel. By not rushing into a career path, I left room to explore opportunities, which has paid off in spades. Everything in the world is in flux right now, which creates room for new opportunities to seize. I would encourage recent graduates to look around, don't feel pressured to jump into anything too quickly and make the most of this crazy period. They might end up being the best-prepared class of graduates ever for the world to come!”

Zara Terez Tisch

Founder, Terez

"Growing up, I thought I had my whole life figured out. But life doesn’t always happen exactly the way you expect it will. A few months after I delivered my graduation speech, my boyfriend tragically died while trying to save his friends from drowning at summer camp. The life path that I had known so far, and the life path I thought I would follow, disintegrated. I was broken. My entire perspective on life changed that summer. Instead of convincing myself I was on a surefire path, I started worrying less about what I would accomplish, and more about what I was passionate about.

After finding myself in a West Village leather shop that made custom handbags, my sense of creativity was piqued and that night, I told my parents that I was going to start my own brand and that it would be about self-expression and making people feel good. At the time, I didn’t even know why I wanted to do it. Or why those were my pillars. I just felt a need to. Enduring unexpected loss and grief helped me learn how to pick myself up, move forward, and look for the good in the world. It also helped me embrace the unknown and remember that time is precious, which is why we shouldn’t put off our dreams. We should chase them down, as soon as they come to us.

So in 2008, I quit my job and started my own company out of the basement of the house I grew up in. I quickly realized that I didn’t know everything or basically anything, and that I had to accept learning as I went. But I also found that if you’re determined, you can figure out anything. And that’s exactly what I set out to do."

Shelley Sanders

Founder, The Last Line

“My biggest advice is to be open to newness. Maybe it's not your dream first job, but take the opportunity to watch, listen and learn—then act. I worked for other companies for almost 18 years before I started my own line, and in the end, it was the best decision for me. When you surround yourself with smart people, especially those with different skills from your own, you will be challenged and probably surprised by what you learn and maybe like! I’ve experienced too many risks to even name, but regrets of not trying are far worse, so go for it. And finally, never be afraid of a pivot: if it's not working, move on and always take the opportunity to look back and learn from what happened.”

MORE ON THE BLOG

How to Deal With Imposter Syndrome, According to Psychologist and Executive Coach, Lisa Orbé-Austin

This is an exclusive excerpt from the book, Own Your Greatness: How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life written by Psychologist and Career & Executive Coach, Lisa Orbé-Austin, PhD, and Richard Orbé Austin, PhD.

Watch Lisa's workshop on Create & Cultivate IGTV to learn more and discover the steps to overcoming imposter syndrome.

AN OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

In the 1970s, two psychologists, Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes, were working in the college counseling center at Georgia State University when they first observed this phenomenon in the women that they were treating. Drs. Clance and Imes noticed that they were working with very outwardly accomplished women, both students, and faculty, who felt that they had acquired these credentials and opportunities in a fraudulent manner and that at any moment they could be found out. They wrote a paper in 1978,[1] coining the term “impostor phenomenon.” The paper outlined the characteristics of this syndrome, presented their first observations on the interventions that worked best to eradicate it and listed the factors contributing to its development. 

Impostor syndrome is the experience of constantly feeling like a fraud, downplaying one’s accomplishments, and always being concerned about being exposed as incompetent or incapable. As a result, people with impostor syndrome engage in either overworking or self-sabotage. Impostor syndrome affects high-achieving professionals who are seemingly successful. However, when experiencing impostor syndrome, you are unable to enjoy your success and believe that this success is precarious. Research indicates that 70 percent of all people have experienced the Impostor Phenomenon at some point in their lives.[2] Impostor syndrome is not a diagnostic classification but rather a group of thoughts, behaviors, and feelings that cluster together to create this syndrome and have a significant impact on your emotional functioning. This syndrome can feed feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and frustration due to the thoughts and behaviors that result.[3]

Signs of Impostor Syndrome

Here are the signs that you may be struggling with impostor syndrome.

You are high achieving.

You engage in The Impostor Cycle (see page 2).

You desire to be “special” or “the best.”

You deny ability and attribute success to luck, mistake, overwork, or a result of a relationship.

You discount praise, feeling fear, and guilt about success.

You fear failure and being discovered as a fraud.

You do not feel intelligent.

You have anxiety, self-esteem issues, depression, and frustration from internal standards.

You struggle with perfectionism.

You overestimate others and underestimate oneself.

You do not experience an internal feeling of success.

You overwork or self-sabotage to cover the feelings of inadequacy.

Initially, Clance and Imes thought that the impostor phenomenon would be found predominantly in women because of societal stereotyping that leads women to feel that they are less competent in certain domains (e.g., math, science, leadership). However, the research has been inconsistent and often finds that it is represented equally in men and women, although the findings suggest that women and men with impostor syndrome may behave differently in response to it.[4] It seems that men may be more prone to avoid situations where they might be exposed as a fraud and tend to compare themselves to peers with fewer qualifications. This allows them a protective mechanism that buoys their self-esteem, although it also leaves them underachieving.[5] Women with impostor syndrome, on the other hand, choose to remain in situations where they are constantly plagued by the fraudulent feelings.[6] We will explore these differences further in Gender Differences on page 6.

Impact on Education and Career

Clance and Imes noted that there were four particular hallmarks of impostor syndrome in the women they studied: 1) diligence and hard work; 2) intellectual inauthenticity; 3) charm and perceptiveness; 4) seeking mentorship for the purpose of external validation. 

1. Diligence and Hard Work

In their seminal paper, Clance and Imes found that the women that they had observed used hard work and diligence as a cover-up for their perceived inadequacy. The women would engage in a cycle that looked like:

The Impostor Cycle

Receiving the praise would result in temporarily feeling good and at that point, once the good feelings subsided, they returned again to worrying about intelligence or ability to perform. Within this cycle, there is no internalization of the successful experience. The accomplishment isn’t accepted as part of their identity or attributed much value, so the next time they perform, it’s as if the previous accomplishments never existed. Thus, the cycle begins again. In more recent research, it has been revealed that people do not only engage in hard work in that second stage but can go in the opposite direction with self-sabotage. This is most commonly seen when someone with impostor syndrome procrastinates, usually due to anxiety about performance and perfectionism, as they attempt to unveil themselves as an impostor.[7] The belief is that the procrastination serves as a method to expose their status as an impostor, perhaps in hopes of releasing the stress and strain of it. However, they usually still perform well. But any mistake is interpreted as proof of their inadequacy due to their perfectionism, rather than as an artifact of being human, or of not giving themselves enough time to review the work.

The experience of self-sabotage can sometimes be hard to detect as it’s often connected to the performance anxiety, and this anxiety makes it difficult to tease out what has occurred. It can be seen in spontaneous and impulsive decisions to go against a plan, trouble organizing for high-stress events, or other subtle behaviors that affect preparedness, confidence, and performance.

In this example of Brenda, a school teacher, you will see how tiny choices influenced by anxiety serve to reinforce the performance issues and the impostor experiences:

Brenda is a fourth-grade math teacher who sought counseling due to her unhappiness with her current job of five years. She wants to explore other job options. In fact, she dreads going to work every day.

During our first session, Brenda was very tearful about her dissatisfaction but believed that she did not have many options. Although she has received countless positive performance reviews, Brenda did not regard herself as a good teacher. Rather, she thought that because she was so good-natured, people really liked her and gave her positive scores on her performance reviews.

As our work progressed, we were able to identify Brenda’s impostor syndrome and her self-sabotage tendencies that result from it. For instance, on the day of her teacher observation, Brenda covered a different lesson, one that should have been taught in three weeks, rather than the one she had prepared for the observation. As might be expected, the students were a bit lost and were not able to keep up. Brenda was certain that her observation went poorly and she would finally be revealed as an unskilled and incompetent teacher. However, the teacher who conducted her observation was highly impressed with Brenda’s poise and her ability to engage her students despite the material being a bit advanced. She gave Brenda a positive review.

In another instance, Brenda had to call in sick on the day of her interview for another role. The school where she was to interview, however, wanted to meet her so badly that they immediately rescheduled her interview based on her availability. Brenda went on the interview and was offered the role. Unfortunately, she turned it down, because she did not yet feel ready to leave.

2. Intellectual Inauthenticity

The second characteristic of impostor syndrome that Clance and Imes illustrated is intellectual inauthenticity, or the downplaying of knowledge, skills, or abilities, or not revealing true opinions of a situation in order to protect someone else’s feelings or preserve the relationship. When someone with impostor syndrome behaves like this, it only furthers their belief that they have engaged in some form of deception, exacerbating the feelings of being fraudulent. The kind of relationships that this intellectual inauthenticity might preserve are those with people who demonstrate narcissistic characteristics (e.g., needing excessive praise and not being able to tolerate critique or dissent) and/or have a fragile sense of themselves and their accomplishments. These can be dangerous people for those with impostor syndrome to connect with. You can see this as illustrated in Elise’s ongoing experience at the company where she has been a longtime employee:

Elise has been an office administrator at the same institution for 25 years. She has watched leaders come and go and has a significant level of understanding of the company’s history as well as an unusual expertise in the subject matter, for her position, because she has been so intimately involved in the company’s evolution. Every time another CEO is hired—and there have been many—she struggles to share her content and cultural knowledge because she senses their fragility and notices their desire to be the most knowledgeable person in the room, even though they are brand-new. In each experience with a new CEO, she becomes terrified that she will be fired because she will be seen as incompetent and outdated in her knowledge and skills.

3. Charm and Perceptiveness

Intellectual inauthenticity is often combined with a third behavior, which is utilizing charm and perceptiveness. In their ability to get people to like them and potentially advocate for them, those with impostor syndrome can feel like their ability to fool people extends beyond their intellectual capacity.

People with impostor syndrome can also exhibit high emotional intelligence. They are particularly keen at understanding what others need to make them feel valued and connected to them. They may utilize these skills, especially with mentors and senior leaders to generate positive evaluations of their behavior. However, a mentor who is not benevolent, and perhaps narcissistic as mentioned earlier, may exploit their yearning for connection and praise to maximize their performance. The potential for a truly dysfunctional relationship is highly likely in these cases. The person with impostor syndrome can find themselves in a situation where the mentor or supervisor makes them feel like they ARE truly an impostor and must constantly and unendingly prove themselves. These types of relationships become very hard to break because the person with impostor syndrome may feel as if their ineptitude has been found out, so they continually seek some sort of validation from someone who will never or very rarely provide it, because it keeps the person with impostor syndrome working hard for them.

4. Seeking Mentorship for the Purpose of External Validation

The final behavior that maintains the impostor syndrome is seeking a mentoring relationship from someone, who is well respected in their field, industry, school, or office, in order to gain external validation. But this relationship may be fraught for the person with impostor syndrome for the reason discussed above, or because it can feel inauthentic if the person with impostor syndrome believes they charmed the mentor into positive feedback because they think it has been acquired through duplicitous means (e.g., through charm).

In this example, Sam believes that his positive relationship with mentors and senior leaders has caused them to promote him unjustly, which creates fear and discomfort with his new role:

Sam just got his 3rd promotion at a technology start-up where he has been working since almost right out of college. He’s terrified about the new role and feels he is out of his depth. Everyone at his new level is at least 10 years older than him and have been at big impressive tech giants. Sam is convinced that he is sitting in this seat because he is just very good at getting along with his bosses. He feels like he may have accidentally convinced them simply with his social acumen that he can take on these new roles. In spite of consistent glowing performance reviews from different supervisors, which he believes are inflated, he is terrified of falling on his face in this new job.

In addition, it has been shown that people struggling with impostor syndrome have lower levels of job and career satisfaction, yet higher levels of organizational commitment. So, while people with impostor syndrome tend to be more unhappy in their jobs and careers, they are also likely to commit to these places that are making them unhappy, perhaps in an effort to create some sense of stability and predictability in terms of evaluation. Further, the research also indicates that people with impostor syndrome struggle with marketing themselves, which is critical for job searching or networking. Therefore, their salaries and promotions are usually negatively impacted, which can be seen in lower salaries and fewer promotions. It also shows up in being less optimistic about their career and being less adaptable when things go wrong. Moreover, those with impostor syndrome are likely to have a reduced knowledge of the job market, which makes taking a leap to a new role when they are unhappy even more difficult.

Throughout our experience working with impostor syndrome, we have seen it show up in the following ways that affect professional development:

Not understanding their worth (i.e., salary comps) in the marketplace

Fear of negotiating

Lack of motivation to leave stagnating roles

Reluctance to vie for promotion

Avoidance of high-visibility stretch assignments

Difficulty networking and communicating their accomplishments to others

Trouble envisioning their long-term career future

All of these behaviors of impostor syndrome have a significant impact on advancement, salary, and long-term earnings, but they can be reversed.

THE PROFESSIONAL IMPACT OF YOUR IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

What behaviors related to your impostor syndrome do you find yourself exhibiting? Give a concrete example of each to ground your response in an actual instance. List the behaviors and examples here:

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

Trait vs. State

People with impostor syndrome consistently ask, “Is this inherently who I am? Part of my character? Or can I really change this?” Impostor syndrome does not appear to be characterological (i.e., part of your personality) or a trait. It seems that there are certain experiences in family dynamics, beliefs about yourself, and roles that you tend to play that make it more likely for you to have the propensity to struggle with impostor syndrome. In other words, you were not born like this no matter what other people tell you or want you to believe.

You may struggle to let go of certain behaviors, thoughts, and feelings connected to impostor syndrome because of the belief that your current success or accomplishments are a result of these behaviors, and if you let them go, all will be lost. Behaviors such as overworking and perfectionism are the hardest to change—largely, we believe because they are reinforced in our environments. Today, it is very easy to “log back on” to your company’s systems when you go home and work inordinately long hours. If you do more work, get more done, push ahead of deadlines, certainly no one at work is going to reprimand you or tell you to work less, and you are likely going to get the praise you are seeking for being a good, worthy employee. However, it is exactly this behavior that reinforces the impostor syndrome and the ideas that you are not naturally talented and therefore, must give more to be on par with everyone else. Hearing that “mistakes are costly” and seeing colleagues and others around you criticized when they make an error also supports perfectionism. These behaviors can also feed on each other. When people are perfectionistic, they often struggle to delegate tasks and manage down well (i.e., manage direct reports or junior colleagues) because they are concerned about how their colleagues’ work product will reflect on them. Thus, they often overwork, doing their job as well as a ton of other people’s jobs, which often leads to burnout and resentment.

As we work on your impostor syndrome, you will have to constantly keep in mind that aspects of impostor syndrome, like overworking and perfectionism, are not badges of honor. Instead, they are blocks to fully appreciating all your skills and abilities. They are a mask covering your talents, skills, and experiences rather than the reason you have succeeded. Do not allow yourself, your self-esteem, or your personal life to be at their mercy.

Ways to Release Perfectionism

Focus on “good enough” not perfect.

Recognize that perfectionism hurts you and those around you.

Be proud and accepting of your humanity.

Only compare yourself to you.

Find comfort in choosing your own path.

Learn to accept the beauty of compromise.

Choose standards that feel reasonable.

Appreciate mistakes provide opportunity for growth.

Realize that perfection is unattainable and reaching for it makes you feel like a failure.

Gender Differences

While the research does not show that impostor syndrome is significantly more prominent in men or women, it does suggest that there may be gender differences in the way that it manifests. As discussed earlier, men demonstrate a tendency toward underperforming, avoiding goals and feedback, and using peers who are less skilled as a comparison group when they are struggling with impostor syndrome. This then affects them by decreasing the likelihood for promotions and advancement over their lifetime, and reducing salary.[8] Men may feel a pull to save face and to conform to gender norms by doing work that they know how to do and will be successful at, rather than take the chance of failing and suffering the resulting self-esteem blow. Coping with the impostor syndrome by underperforming also reduces the feelings of anxiety, fear, and discomfort that impostor syndrome induces because there are fewer chances of feeling like an impostor.

For women, it’s quite the opposite. Women seem to take the leap into the challenge, which often heightens the impostor syndrome. Women who struggle with impostor syndrome spend more time on academic tasks than those without impostor syndrome,[9] work harder when they receive negative feedback,[10] and have higher GPAs than men with impostor syndrome.[11] A 2018 study by Lauren A. Blondeau and Germine H. Awad,[12] found that having low self-efficacy and impostor syndrome did not impede a woman from pursuing a STEM career. Her GPA and interests were more influential to her choice. When men had high impostor syndrome scores in the study, they were less likely to pursue a STEM career. This shows a definite tendency for women to be counterphobic (i.e., facing fears directly) when it comes to impostor syndrome fears, which leaves them steeped in the constant experiences of feeling like an impostor.

In both ways of coping, the significant impact of impostor syndrome on your future and current functioning is pretty clear. Either you get the relief immediately by underperforming and avoiding or you are counterphobic and experience all the intense impostor feelings as you continue to accomplish, but don’t get the relief because you discount these successes, which leaves you constantly under the weight of the impostor syndrome. Hopefully, this makes it really clear why building your skills around dismantling the impostor syndrome is incredibly important to you and your future so that you can own your greatness, live up to your potential, and enjoy it.

WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL IMPOSTOR RESPONSE?

In this space indicate whether you tend to avoid or engage the tasks that you fear due to your experience of impostor syndrome. Then consider if/when you notice the alternative response. For example, I tend to engage the tasks that prompt impostor syndrome, but if there is potential for conflict in the task, then I will tend to avoid it.

The Impact of Culture

Impostor syndrome becomes harder to cope with when the stereotypes about your cultural group reinforce the notion that you are not “good enough.” In marginalized communities, when your mere presence evokes concern that you have been given special treatment to be present in certain environments, the environment is telling you that you are an impostor. This makes overcoming your impostor syndrome particularly difficult because your accomplishments are actively disqualified (e.g., “you only attended that school because of affirmative action” or “they needed to diversify the team”). These are things you not only hear, but also experience when an organization further supports the idea that you are an impostor by over- or underutilizing you (e.g., not staffing you on important and internally visible teams or projects despite demanding your presence for public-facing pictures or for diversity initiatives). These types of microaggressions and microinsults at work can lead to entrenching the impostor syndrome because the external proof that you need to show yourself that you are not an impostor is harder to find.

Similarly, the concept of “stereotype threat” is useful to understand here as well. Stereotype threat is conforming to a well-known stereotype of a group you belong to when someone invokes the stereotype. In a very famous seminal study of stereotype threat conducted in 1995 by Claude Steele[13] from Stanford University and Joshua Aronson of University of Texas at Austin, these researchers found that Black college students scored significantly worse on standardized testing when they were told by an examiner that Black students would complete fewer questions and that it was an assessment of personal qualities. When the Black students were simply given instructions for the standardized tests, they scored similarly to the White students in the study. What Steele and Aronson, as well as hundreds of other researchers, were able to establish is that evoking a stereotype, sometimes even without words, can create diminished performance. Stereotype threat has been thought to contribute to gender and racial academic achievement gaps.

Now, imagine someone with impostor syndrome and from a marginalized group experiencing this stereotyping. This further impacts her performance as well as her anticipation of performing, perhaps further cementing the thoughts and insecurities that underlie impostor syndrome. Research has suggested that overcoming impostor syndrome for marginalized groups requires, besides the steps that we will cover in this book, a connection to and the ability to embrace the marginalized identity and the people who are similarly identified. It means not only connecting with those similar to you in this identity group, but also believing the counter narrative to the stereotype.

For example, if you are Black, the stereotypes that you are not academically capable have a long history of being ingrained in a cultural understanding of who deserves to be in the room and of meritocracy. Those beliefs are so perpetuated that often they are internalized by Black people, leading to beliefs that question other Black people’s worthiness, academic ability, and intellectual rigor. To overcome impostor syndrome, you have to work to connect with other Black people and the belief that their worthiness is not in question. When you question the competence of other people with similar salient identities, you challenge your own (even if only on an unconscious level). When you can believe in their competence and give them the benefit of the doubt, you can believe in your own.

Besides race and gender, various other identities (e.g., religion, immigration status, sexual orientation, economic, and veteran status), as well as the intersectionality and salience of particular identities, should be considered as you examine how identity has impacted your development of impostor syndrome. For example, if you are a recent immigrant, you may want to understand the relevance of your immigration journey on the experience of feeling fraudulent in certain circumstances, especially if you have felt that this identity impacts your ability to internalize your accomplishments.

In this chapter, we have outlined the characteristics that underlie impostor syndrome and examined how it may manifest differently based on gender. We have also laid out the additional cultural aspects of overcoming impostor syndrome and how it can apply to a marginalized group, where competence is questioned as a result of stereotypes. Now, it’s time to examine the important aspects of impostor syndrome that are most relevant for you.

THE KEY FEATURES OF YOUR IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

Review signs of impostor syndrome on page 1 as well as any other salient components of impostor syndrome that you have. This can include any potential gender, racial, ethnic, or other identity considerations. List them on the next page.

YOUR IMPOSTOR SYNDROME INTENSITY

After you have completed your own assessment of the features of impostor syndrome that are specific to your experience, take Clance’s test for impostor phenomenon, which you can find here.

Once you have scored your assessment, circle your current level of impostor feelings:

FEW  MODERATE  FREQUENT  INTENSE

Reviewing your current level of impostor feelings is helpful in understanding the present impact of impostor syndrome on your life and career. If you score in the few to moderate range, this may be a great time to tackle the book because you are not feeling impostor syndrome in its most pressing state. This will allow you to look back at experiences when your impostor feelings were more powerful, and analyze and review them from a distance. If you are experiencing impostor syndrome at the frequent to intense range, this likely suggests that impostor syndrome is quite salient for you right now. You may have plenty of experiences that are coming up for you that you will be able to pull from and directly impact as you work through this book.

The 3 C’s Strategy to Overcoming Impostor Syndrome

Overcoming impostor syndrome can be a challenging proposition, especially when faced with a stressful work or personal environment. It may feel impossible to eliminate these thoughts and feelings of being a fraud, and you may always be on edge about being exposed.

Jocelyn was someone who constantly had such feelings. She was a management consultant who had worked in her field for several years and was on the partner track. Jocelyn worked long hours and traveled extensively. She had no social life and rarely saw her family, with whom she was very close. She came to seek coaching because she was thinking about making a career change. Despite receiving glowing performance reviews every year, Jocelyn felt like an impostor and was always concerned that she would be fired or be asked to leave her firm. Her manager would often tell her how well she was doing, but it did not convince her. She dreaded Mondays because she anticipated the miserable commute, the constant anxiety during her work hours, and the grind of the day. During the course of coaching, we identified that a good deal of her work stress was due to her impostor syndrome. Until we named it as such, Jocelyn thought these feelings of self-doubt were just part of her personality and could not be changed. She was relieved to find out that it was something that could be addressed and changed.

Fortunately, we developed the 3 C’s (Clarify, Choose, and Create) Strategy, which helped Jocelyn and can also help you alleviate fears and self-doubt, and vanquish your impostor syndrome. This chapter will provide a brief overview of the 3 C’s Strategy, and subsequent chapters will explore each phase of the strategy in more depth, with corresponding activities to help you master its application to live your best life possible.

We have used the 3 C’s Strategy as a framework during our more than 15 years in practice to help our clients overcome impostor syndrome. While impostor syndrome is not a diagnosable disorder, we have found that by using the 3 C’s strategy, our clients are able to diminish their impostor syndrome thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to improve the quality of their work and personal lives.

The 3 C’s Strategy involves reflecting on all aspects of your life, some of which you may not have considered (e.g., your self-constructed narrative), as well as clearly identifying factors that may have influenced the development of your impostor syndrome (e.g., family dynamics). It also prompts you to actively engage with others about your impostor syndrome rather than suffering with it in silent shame. While you may periodically have those impostor syndrome thoughts and feelings, applying the 3 C’s Strategy will cause them to occur less frequently and have less of an influence on your behavior.

Each of the three phases of the 3 C’s Strategy contains three steps, for a total of nine steps. When working with our clients, we tend to move through the phases in a sequential manner, with tangible activities to complete in each area. There is no set time period to move through the phases, but it is important to remain consistently focused on the tasks required for each phase. Such consistency will facilitate your ability to apply the strategy for its maximum effectiveness.

The 3 C’s Model

The 3 C’s strategy will be a key tool to help you overcome impostor syndrome. By progressing through each step within each phase, you will build confidence, change your thinking, create a more positive narrative, and finally own your greatness. When your impostor syndrome rears its ugly head, you will be well-equipped to spot it, neutralize it, and continue on your road to living in the glory of your accomplishments and excitement about your future.

Chapters 2 through 4 will review Phase 1 (Clarify) and the first three steps of the 3C’s strategy, which are knowing your origin story, identifying your triggers, and changing your narrative. Chapters 5 through 7 will examine Phase 2 (Choose) and the next three steps, which are speak your truth, silence automatic negative thoughts, and value your self-care. Chapters 8 through 10 will cover Phase 3 (Create), and the final three steps of the 3C’s strategy, which include experimenting with new roles, establishing your dream team, and understanding the optimal conditions for your success.

In these next chapters, we are going to outline our program for overcoming your impostor syndrome. We will lay out the 3 C’s Strategy to put an end to the way that impostor syndrome impacts your life, your view of your accomplishments, and your performance and advancement. We are going to help you to feel a sense of control and a reduction in fear of being revealed as a fraud. Once you can really own your greatness, you are going to be unstoppable!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

You understand the key components of impostor syndrome.

You comprehend its impact on career and work.

You have learned how gender may impact impostor syndrome.

You see how stereotyping around culture and identity can impact the perpetual impostor syndrome.

You have evaluated your own level of impostor syndrome.

You understand the brief overview of the 3C’s Strategy.

Sources:

[1] Clance and Imes, “The Impostor Phenomenon in High-Achieving Women,” 241–47.

[2] Gravois, “You’re Not Fooling Anyone,” in If I’m So Successful, Why Do I Feel Like a Fake? eds. Joan C. Harvey and Cynthia Katz (New York: Random House, 1985). 

[3] Cozzarelli and Major, “Exploring the Validity of the Impostor Phenomenon,” 401–17; McGregor, Gee, and Posey, “I Feel Like a Fraud,” 43–48. 

[4] Cromwell et al., “The Impostor Phenomenon and Personality Characteristics,” 563–67; Bernard et al., “Applying the Big Five Personality Factors,” 321–33.

[5] Chayer and Bouffard, “Relations between Impostor Feelings and Upward and Downward Identification,” 125–40.

[6] Tao and Gloria, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” 1–14.

[7] Chayer and Bouffard, “Relations between Impostor Feelings and Upward and Downward Identification,” 125–40; Yuen and Depper, “Fear of Failure in Women,” 21–39.

[8] Kumar and Jagacinski, “Impostors Have Goals Too,” 147–57; Neureiter and Traut-Mattausch, “An Inner Barrier to Career Development,” 37–48.

[9] King and Cooley, “Achievement Orientation and the Impostor Phenomenon,” 304–12. 

[10] Badawy et al., “Are All Impostors Created Equal?” 155–63.

[11] Cokley et al., “The Roles of Gender Stigma,” 414–26.

[12] Blondeau and Awad, “The Relation of the Impostor Phenomenon to Future Intentions,” 253–67.

[13] Steele and Aronson, “Stereotype Threat.”

Watch Lisa's workshop on Create & Cultivate IGTV to learn more and discover the steps to overcoming imposter syndrome.

Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life

by Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin and, Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin

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Pro Tip: 3 Ways to Land Your Dream Clients Online When You Decide to Go Freelance

Photo: Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

“I’m fully booked out with clients — I can’t believe I’m now making more than my 9-5 job!”

This was the email I received from one of my students who had recently completed our online courses and made the leap into freelancing full-time. It’s an incredibly exciting moment in your freelancing career when you’ve figured out how to land your dream clients while doing work that you’re truly passionate about.

Five years ago, I made that same leap myself, starting my own online graphic design studio. It’s also allowed me to travel the world full-time while running my business remotely (15 countries and counting!), and I’ve now taught thousands of women how to do the same.

One of the things I always tell my students is that the key to a financially thriving freelancing business is maintaining a strong client base so that you can generate consistent income. But are you wondering how to get clients as a freelancer?

Aside from the financial freedom of being your own boss, freelancing also allows you the flexibility to work remotely from anywhere: whether that’s from your adorable home office, your favorite local coffee shop, or a co-working space in an exotic location like Bali. Sounds dreamy, right?

If you’re considering freelancing full-time, here are three ways you can find your dream clients online and finally have that financial freedom that has you craving to work from anywhere!

1. Build a Client-Magnetizing Website

Let’s imagine that your dream is to be a successful cupcake baker. Your cupcakes are incredibly delicious, so you decide you want to start a business selling them. It would be a little unprofessional to sell your cupcakes straight out of your home kitchen, right? To have a thriving cupcake business, you need a bakery to showcase your brand and a place for customers to make their orders.

The same goes for your freelancing business. Instead of needing a physical storefront though, you need what I like to call a “virtual storefront.”

This is your client-magnetizing business website, and it’s one of the most crucial elements to attracting your dream clients.

Your website should showcase the following:

• The services you offer

• Who you’re offering them to (who are your dream clients?)

• The benefits and value of working with you

• Your portfolio (any examples of your work)

It’s extremely important to have a website before you begin trying to find clients, and I can’t stress this enough. This is a business you’re building, which means it’s important for you to look like one!

“Aside from the financial freedom of being your own boss, freelancing also allows you the flexibility to work remotely from anywhere: whether that’s from your adorable home office, your favorite local coffee shop, or a co-working space in an exotic location like Bali. Sounds dreamy, right?”

2. Use Social Networks to Get Clients... For Free!

I want to bust a common myth here: Once you launch your website, you’ll instantly have an influx of clients begging to work with you. FALSE.

If nobody knows about your website (and your amazing business!), how are they supposed to find you? The key to finding your dream clients as a freelancer is to tap into your own network, then utilize social networking platforms to drive free traffic to your website.

Some of my favorite social networking platforms for finding clients are:

• Facebook (specifically Facebook groups)

• Instagram

• Networking apps like Bumble Biz

You want to make sure that you have your website linked in your profile and that your profile and content clearly showcases your business. Engage authentically with your dream clients like commenting with insightful answers, offer up bits of your expertise, and finally, inquire about working with them.

3. Create a Sales Funnel to Turn Potential Customers into Raving Clients

Now that you’ve got eyes on your business website, it’s time to turn those visitors into paying clients! This is your client sales funnel—and it’s important that this process is professional and efficient so that clients actually want to work with you. That is the goal after all.

Start with a complimentary consultation call, which will allow you to understand what results your potential clients are looking for. This gives you the opportunity to pitch your services as the solution!

It’s also much easier to get a feel for a potential client’s personality and communication style to make sure this person is, in fact, your dream client.

Next, is following up your call with a formal proposal, which will include things like the project timeframe, cost, and a detailed breakdown of the services that are included. Finally, have your client sign a contract to lay out the legal terms and conditions of the project. Boom—dream client officially landed!

Guess what? By utilizing these steps, you’ll be taking the proactive and professional approach to landing your dream clients that most newbie freelancers shy away from doing. I guarantee you’ll soon find yourself saying, “I’m fully booked out with clients!” in your freelancing business too. We all have to start somewhere in our client-finding search, and that somewhere for you? It starts today.

About the Author: Cassie Torrecillas is the CEO and co-founder of the Bucketlist Bombshells, an online educational community that equips millennial women with the confidence, skills, and business foundation to start a service-based online business, giving them the freedom to work remotely from anywhere in the world. She’s been featured on Forbes and CNBC as she and her business partner lead their community of over 70,000 location-independent female entrepreneurs. If you’re curious about starting your own online business, sign up for their free course here.

This post was published on May 21, 2019, and has since been updated.

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Drowning in Emails? Here's How 5 Bosses Handle Their Inboxes

Photo: Andrew Neel for Pexels

The inbox is an equal opportunity offender. Emails have no respect for office hours or lunchtime. They wild out at all hours and it's on us to manage them. But how? We asked five women—those who run their own companies and those who freelance—all about their unique inbox management tips. 

Here’s the bad and the good of it: The inbox inbounds will never stop as long as you're making moves. To help you lower your cortisol levels and avoid overwhelm, here's a breakdown of how five bosses HANDLE their inboxes and whittle that number down to zero. (Yes, it’s possible to get to inbox zero!)

TINA WELLS, FOUNDER & CEO BUZZ MARKETING GROUP

Staying on top of and managing emails is a top priority for me. I average about 500 each day. I answer whatever I can immediately. I also have an amazing team at BuzzMG, and I'm fortunate to have an internal shorthand with them, so even just forwarding a note with a meeting request and not having to specify "please set up a coffee meeting with xx" saves so much time.

My team doesn't really use email to communicate. We use Slack and store important files in Dropbox, so it's really easy to do our work and send messages without email.

I swear by Scott Belsky's book "Making Ideas Happen" and make sure I clear out all back burner emails by the last day of the month. I file important notes from clients in specific folders. I also have years worth of sent emails. You never know when you need to find important info!

IVKA ADAM, FOUNDER & CEO ICONERY 

Some of the best advice I ever got had to do with email strategy: When you need someone to get back to you on multiple topics, make each one a separate email with clearly defined and themed email subject lines.  Why?  Because some of the topics may be shorter and easier to respond to than others and you’re not waiting on the person at the other end to gather responses to all topics at once. 

This has helped tremendously to both facilitate efficiency and keep my inbox to a minimum.

JASMINE STAR, BRAND & MARKETING GURU

My business is built on personal connections.  My entire focus is on making sure people feel seen, heard, and known.  As a result, I have set strict hours of operation and engagement.  Yes, that means, I allocate 70 minutes every morning to respond to all email. Other than that time, I don't respond to email until the next day.  Similarly, I set certain times to blog and engage on social media.  I do my best to interact with people who are interacting with me.

KARIN ELDOR, FREELANCE WRITER & CONTENT CREATOR

"Touch it once." This one changed my life. It's exactly that: when you open an email and read it, don't let it sit idly in your inbox. If it will take you less than 5 minutes to reply, then do it on the spot and file it away. Don't start reading the same email more than once, it's a huge time suck. Of course, there are emails that deserve more thought or even a more in-depth reply. In this case, reply right away to confirm receipt, and let the sender know they can expect a response "by EOD," or whatever timeline makes sense.

Then sit down and draft your reply, during your dedicated email time. The point is, because we get in the habit of checking our email on-the-go, while waiting for our favorite Netflix show to cue up, and basically all the time, we end up reading the same email more than once and not doing anything about it. By the way, "touch it once" is a great productivity tip to apply to all tasks, especially for the perfectionists out there! If it will take you 2 minutes, just get it done and move on.

No cherry-picking: When you scan your inbox, don't be selective with what you read and reply to. First, do a quick scan for urgencies. Then open and reply to your emails in sequence, rather than "cherry-picking" the ones you deal with ASAP. This one's a bit tougher to stick to, but you'll see that managing your inbox during scheduled blocks of time throughout the day and blasting through your inbox, is much more productive than dealing with rando emails, all day.

BELMA McCAFFREY, WRITER & CREATOR OF WORK BIGGER 

Unroll.me is an app that lets me quickly unsubscribe from emails that are no longer relevant, and it allows me to roll up some of my emails so I can review them all at once versus reading them throughout the day.

I also just started using Boomerang for Gmail. I can schedule reminders to read certain messages later versus leaving them as unread in my inbox. This eases my stress level because I don't have "unread" messages staring at me reminding me of tasks I need to complete.

Although difficult, I also like to schedule when I check my email throughout the day. I aim for once in the morning, once around lunchtime, and once in the evening. This is less about controlling my inbox and more about controlling how I respond to the inbox. It makes me feel more in control and organized, with 100+ emails a day and all.

This post was originally published on May 14, 2018, and has since been updated.

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"Getting the Job I Wanted (and Felt I Deserved) Took Patience and Persistence" With Megan Dunn of Califia Farms

We often look to the iconic leaders of our time for motivation and wisdom, but for many of us, this is purely inspirational and not as applicable to our everyday lives. We truly believe there is more benefit in looking to your left and seeking out a peer-to-peer mentorship with a colleague or friend you admire. Why? Firstly, they will likely have the time to be your mentor, and secondly, their advice will be relatable and allow you to see your path clearly while keeping your mind open to new ideas, identifying new opportunities, and helping you self-advocate. We call them everyday superheroes. In this new series, we talk to the people who are paying it forward, lifting others up and paving a smoother path for the next generation to come.

Have you ever had a professional mentor help advance your career or business? If you answered “no” to this question, then you’re not alone. You’re one of the 31% of women (compared to just 18% of men) who haven’t but it’s time to change those stats. And Megan Dunn, Senior Manager Commercialization at Califia Farms—an independently-owned plant-based food and beverage company—is on a mission to make it happen. After being recently promoted by her female mentor at Califia Farms, Dunn is paying it forward by uplifting her fellow female employee within the company to join her team. But elevating female voices started early for Dunn.

As one of six, her home was centered around the kitchen where Dunn’s mom worked around the clock to feed and nourish the family. It was at the kitchen breakfast bar where Megan finished her homework, called out Jeopardy answers, and, unknowingly, started her journey in community and in food.

So, when she set off to Georgetown University, Dunn was originally set on becoming a doctor but after two summer abroad programs in Argentina and Spain, she pivoted to study Spanish and Environmental Policy. While her work in food doesn’t align directly with her major, her Jesuit education gave her a valuable understanding of the development of the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and a passion for learning from experience and applying new concepts and perspectives.

After a few years working in Government Affairs and Technology PR, Megan took time out to reflect on her true passions—cooking in the kitchen, traveling, and sharing meals with friends. Soon thereafter, Megan found her home at Califia Farms where she was able to quickly understand the business, grow personally and professionally, and bring her passions into her work.

And now, she is helping others realize their passion too. Read on to learn more about Dunn’s career path, the hurdles along the way, and her advice for other career go-getters to achieve success, too.

On the career steps she took to land her dream job… 

In moving to Los Angeles, I took the time to search out companies that aligned with my personal values and made products that I enjoyed using. While searching for my dream job, I worked part-time doing things that I loved—working at a bakery, selling sourdough and baked goods at the Laguna Beach Farmer’s Market, getting my 200-hour yoga certification and teaching yoga at cross-fit and yoga studios.

Over nine months, I applied to several companies and to Califia Farms three times before I got an interview. I remember the hiring manager telling me that the starting role may not fulfill me, but I knew there was growth in the role, and I was confident I could be a value-add to Califia. In the first two years, I raised my hand at every opportunity and was vocal about my abilities so that when a position opened in the Product Launch Department, I was first in line.

I know it can be difficult to take a time out when forging your career path, to reflect on your goals, and make the decisions that set you up for personal success, but it was this time that got me to where I am today.

On what she studied at school…

I went to Georgetown University to study Biology of Global Health and Medicine, but in my third year, I pivoted to study Spanish and Government with a focus on Environmental Policy. My father is a doctor and growing up I would spend a lot of time in his office, hanging out in the doctor’s lounge at the hospital and traveling on medical missions to provide health care in under-served communities. I wanted to be a doctor, too.

While at Georgetown, I studied abroad in Argentina on a research program studying health care and vaccine development. I loved experiencing a new city, meeting new people, and, frankly, being out of my comfort zone. The next year, I went to Barcelona to study Spanish linguistics and history. It was these experiences that helped me understand that what I liked about medicine was the connection with people and the fulfillment of helping people. 

Switching my major was my first step in giving myself the time-out I needed to think about what I wanted and how I wanted my future to look.

“ In the first two years, I raised my hand at every opportunity and was vocal about my abilities so that when a position opened in the Product Launch Department, I was first in line.”

On the earlier jobs that helped to shape her path… 

Out of college, I worked at a yoga studio in Georgetown, Washington, DC (you may start to see a theme here!) The owner was a boss. She was tough, her classes were rigorous, and she held her employees and teachers to a higher standard. This type of behavior may seem out of place for a yoga studio but what she showed me was how to challenge myself on and off the mat. I met incredible people at this studio, and it was a woman who practiced that got me my first job at a government relations firm.

My first job was as a Legislative Manager at Monument Policy Group. The group specialized in advising on complex policy issues, offering strategic, bipartisan advice with an understanding of national and global trends and culture. Our clients were from all industries, including finance, technology, and aerospace. Ultimately, working in government affairs wasn’t for me but in working across these industries, I stretched my critical thinking skills and left with a better understanding of the complex relationship between business, government, and people. 

On the challenges she faced along the way…

In starting your career, there is real pressure around whether you’ve made the right choices, the expectations of where you should be by a certain age, and stress around how much money you should be making. Whether this is internal or external pressure, the challenges are real.

In the same vein that I like to travel and get outside my comfort zone, I learned that a challenge in your career can be greatly beneficial. You aren’t expected to be perfect. Talk to your manager when you’ve hit a roadblock and explore your options. Many companies are willing to invest in training programs to grow the skill sets of their employees, too. 

There have been moments when I’ve felt like my challenges are unique—I’m the only one who’s felt this way—but you can put money on someone you know experiencing something similar. So, I learned to ask for help. I talked to my friends, I sought advice from mental health professionals and, eventually, I found a strong mentor in the workplace.

On her role at Califia Farms…

As Senior Manager of Commercialization, I work cross-functionally to launch new innovations from Califia. I interact daily with the other leaders at Califia in manufacturing, quality, R&D and product development, sales, marketing, and finance. My job is heavy on project management, critical problem solving, and creative strategy. 

I started at Califia Farms in Customer Operations and Services which included order processing, customer service, data syndication, and various sales support responsibilities. The team was still small and there was lots of work to be done. I raised my hand when help was needed and demonstrated my ability to learn quickly and execute effectively. These two skills are what helped me work my way up the ladder.

I did this with the support of an incredible mentor, one of the founding employees of Califia, she was the hiring manager that believed in me from the first interview. When the position opened in Product Launch, I was promoted to Product Launch Specialist and have since been promoted numerous times, now to Senior Manager.

“There have been moments when I’ve felt like my challenges are unique—I’m the only one who’s felt this way—but you can put money on someone you know experiencing something similar. ”

On what she loves most about her job …

I love working with our innovation team because we are a diverse group of people with varying disciplines, experiences, and knowledge. The things I like to do in my time outside of work like traveling, cooking, and eating support me in my role in launching new products. Traveling and social media help me know what people are cooking in their homes and going outside their homes to experience.

It’s exciting to have your finger on the pulse of what’s trending but I also like to say I work in the future. While products are launching in 2020, we are already working on the products for the next three to five years. The reality of my work challenges me to be flexible and let go of expectations. I find this very fulfilling but if you like a more rigid work structure, the constant variables could pose great challenges.

On the culture at Califia Farms… 

We still have very much a start-up culture at Califia. Our job titles relate to our core responsibilities, but you’ll find that many of us are contributing in other ways. Califia has hired some of the brightest, hard-working people I've ever met. We work hard and we’re proud of the work that we do. Second, we launch best-in-class products that not only taste great and nourish our bodies but contribute to protecting our planet for future generations to come.

In addition to feeling motivated by our core values, I stay because I’ve been able to grow with Califia. I’ve had many friends bounce from company to company to further their career and while that has brought them success, it wasn’t the right path for me. We benefit greatly in our company culture and morale when we lift each other up and celebrate the success of our colleagues. I look forward to passing this forward as I continue my role as a leader at Califia.

“Getting the job I wanted and felt I deserved, took patience and persistence. My mentor helped me navigate through the rewarding, and the tough, times.”

—Megan Dunn

On what her day-to-day looks like… 

Every day is different, but it generally starts with a cup of coffee and emails. I spend a lot of time on the phone discussing project timelines, managing deliverables, and keeping our teams updated with the latest in what’s in the pipeline at Califia.

My most notable task is my weekly product launch call which includes 30 to 40 people tuned in for one hour. If that sounds wild, it’s because it is! Like I’ve said, each person has a lot of responsibilities and it’s important we manage our time wisely, so while launches aren’t always moving smoothly, we get the job done with respect and teamwork. It’s this attitude that helps us get the job done!  

Another part of the day that I really enjoy includes working with our Director of Design and CEO on the packaging because it presents a creative and collaborative outlet that ultimately becomes one of the most tangible deliverables of the product launch cycle—the final package!

On her morning routine…

Giving myself the time and the space to do the things that make me happy is so important in maintaining work/life balance. No matter how busy I am I make sure to set time aside to do the things that are important to me like working out, cooking food, and spending time with my family. Sometimes that means waking up at 5:30 am to get it in before work but it’s always worth it—it’s how I rest and reset.

On her greatest productivity hack…

In this job, deadlines and dates eventually become second nature but that took roughly 6 months to a year of practice before it became innate, so list-making and notes helped me get up to speed! I’m still looking for the perfect system, but I organize tasks by the week using an old-fashioned pen and paper. I am guilty of having too many windows open on my computer screen so tracking tasks on my screen can be tough.

For long term tasks and reminders, I use OneNote to keep track of topics I need to bring up in my weekly meetings which I check off as I go. I also use Wrike, workflow automation, and project management tool, to keep track of important milestones and manage deliverables.  

Time blocking on my calendar has been one of my better productivity hacks.

If I really need to focus on a task or remind myself to check in with a vendor or partner, I’ll schedule time on my calendar to ensure it happens.

“No matter how busy I am I make sure to set time aside to do the things that are important to me like working out, cooking food, and spending time with my family. ”

On reaching inbox zero… 

My inbox philosophy is to scan all incoming emails for the level of importance. I break up inbox time to roughly five sessions during the day that way I'm not always distracted by my email since there’s other work to be done. I find that if I haven’t responded on an important matter, I generally receive a phone call or chat asking for my attention.

About once a month, I do set aside time to go through unread emails, responding to those of importance or archive those that no longer require action. 

On the biggest misconceptions about her job…

I’m an open book and make myself available for calls when it comes to questions about my role.  It’s my responsibility to take the time to make everyone a “product expert” and help them understand the new product pipeline. For this reason, I don’t think there are many misconceptions about my job but I’m open to anyone who thinks otherwise!

On her advice for landing your dream job…

My job can be named many things and may sit in varying departments dependent on the company. If you want to launch products at your company or somewhere else, take the time to research the department structure and hierarchy. This can help you understand the path forward. 

Second, talk to someone that has the role you want. If they are in product launch, they likely have lots of extra work and may need help so don’t be afraid to vocalize what you want and raise your hand. If you are in a different department, ask that person to be your mentor. When the opportunity arises, you’ll be ready and positioned to throw your hat in the ring.  

“I break up inbox time to roughly five sessions during the day that way I’m not always distracted by my email since there’s other work to be done. I find that if I haven’t responded on an important matter, I generally receive a phone call or chat asking for my attention.”

On the traits you need to be successful… 

I find that to be successful in this industry, it’s important to be collaborative, lead with empathy, and be comfortable with change.  

On the best (and worst) advice she’s been given… 

The best advice I’ve received is to react less and create space to think before responding. The workplace is full of different personalities and opinions so it can be hard to check your emotions when faced with a challenging situation. If you feel misrepresented or unheard, take a moment to collect the facts and present what you know to be true. 

The worst piece of advice is harder to remember because I probably let it go in one ear and out the other. I can say that some of the worst behaviors I’ve seen are ones where the individual is put before the group. No one wins when this happens. 

“React less and create space to think before responding.”

On the one person she’d like to power brunch with…

My “power lunch” is one where I can sit and learn from a person who’s work I admire. In talking with someone who truly loves what they do, there is an undeniable passion that comes through which is inspiring and contagious. 

On my birthday turned engagement trip to Italy, my fiancé and I spent a day driving through the hills of Umbria, harvesting grapes, and learning about natural winemaking with one of my favorite producers, Danilo Marcucci. 

It was “power day” of getting our hands dirty, drinking wine, eating incredible food, and conversing with a visionary about his decades of experience in viticulture and cellar work. The work he does with his vineyards and those of his partners come from a true love for the earth and what grapes can do, along with knowledge garnered through years of practice and experience. It was a magical day and I was lucky enough to leave with a rare bottle of wine, one that I am saving for my wedding night!

On the perfect power interview outfit…

I think it’s important to be yourself and represent your personal brand, but you also must respect the type of workplace and industry to which you’re applying. For food and beverage, in Los Angeles, my perfect interview outfit is a pair of well-tailored dress pants or jeans from Reformation or Everlane with a white button-down shirt and an oversized blazer. I’d pair with vegan leather boots and tasteful jewelry. 

On the everyday Superhero who has helped to guide her career journey… 

Marne Evans was my mentor at Califia and while she recently moved on from the company, she continues to be my Superhero. As one of the founding employees of Califia, she is a great example of doing what it takes to get the work done and leaving your ego at the door. She imparted an incredible amount of knowledge onto me and showed me it’s possible to have a fulfilling career while fostering a rich personal life.

On her proudest moment at Califia…

One of my favorite launches was our drinkable Probiotic Yogurts line, made from our cultured Almondmilk and coconut cream with billions of probiotic CFUS. We use a powerhouse probiotic strain called BB-12(R) which is the world’s most documented Bifidobacterium, shown to have beneficial effects on our digestive and immune systems. The R&D team developed this product rapidly and we installed a new production line at our facility in little over a year. This was a huge cross-functional effort and we pulled it off, launching an incredible product. I’ve actually used the Probiotic Unsweetened Yogurt every day since we launched it over two years ago—the only time I don’t have it is when I travel abroad...

In terms of what’s in store, we are always looking to launch products that make it easy for people to go plant-based and bring food back to its original nourishing process. In the end, we care about our futures and that of the planet. In the coming years, you’ll find more personalized and nutritious offerings from Califia that will nourish the whole body and make it easy to take your favorite Califia products with you anywhere.

On the power of mentorship…

My experience showed me how important it is to really listen to the goals and experiences of the person you’re mentoring. It’s one thing to manage and help someone succeed in the day-to-day of their job but it’s another to lead and nurture someone's professional goals. Getting the job I wanted and felt I deserved, took patience and persistence.

My mentor helped me navigate through the rewarding, and the tough, times. In my current position, I am a resource for others that want to grow in the company and can be a champion for their projects and initiatives. You are your best advocate so if you feel like you’re going unnoticed or aren’t feeling fulfilled, seek out a mentor, and make a plan.

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“It’s So Important to Pay Attention to What Scares You"—Lennon Stella's Debut Album Will Give You Goosebumps (the Good Kind)

Courtesy of Columbia Records

When Lennon Stella answers my call, her voice is soft and sweet, but from the moment she starts answering my questions, it becomes immediately clear that this talented musician isn’t afraid to push past her comfort zone and enter unchartered territory either.

In fact, what scares her is what drives her. The talented singer-songwriter releases her debut album today—Three. Two. One.—and despite her tour being canceled (thanks to COVID-19), Stella is feeling very optimistic, and despite initial concerns, her fans have rallied around her in support.

If the success of her new song (and accompanying video), Fear of Being Alone is any indication, this album is going to be huge. Read on for our interview with Stella as she opens up to Create & Cultivate about the new album, canceling the tour, a behind-the-scenes look into the filming of Fear of Being Alone, and what she’ll be singing for her exclusive live performance at our Money Moves Digital Summit on May 2, 2020.

CREATE & CULTIVATE: So first off, major congrats on the new album—Three. Two. One. How do you feel?

LENNON STELLA: Putting an album out is like getting to know somebody entirely—you get to know them through the album, as an artist, and as a person. I just wanted it to be telling different stories (in this album) than I had before.

Your U.S. tour was supposed to kick off in May and has been postponed due to the pandemic. What was your initial reaction to the news and what do you have planned for the launch instead?

It was really unfortunate and upsetting, but at the same time, I’m trying to trust in the universe. And honestly, I’m just glad that the music and the album itself can come out.

I was so happy with how the response has been. I think everybody was so scared there would be a big backlash but somehow everyone has been so understanding and completely reassuring that they will be there no matter what month the tour is. It’s really sweet and makes me feel grateful to have such a supportive tribe. It’s really rare to feel no hate and no negativity.

The silver lining in all of this is how much it has forced us to be creative. Your Fear of Being Alone video is a perfect example. Shot in your living room during quarantine with your mom and boyfriend, and friend CeCe who dropped off all the lights. Can you talk us through this video? How did you come up with the concept, what it was like to shoot, and what were some of the biggest challenges? 

“My friend, CeCe really understands me and the way I like things. So she came over, and then me, my mom, and my boyfriend were kind of just winging it and getting experimental and creative. We loved the idea of it being at night with the lights on the outside, so there was a shadow from the lights. It all came together as we were doing it—just having fun. We moved everything out of my living room and filmed it all in there.

Honestly, it’s my favorite video that I’ve done so far. It was so fulfilling. When I was thrown in the space to make a video all in one night at home and that we were able to do that was so exciting. I felt so much more love than I’ve ever received from a video. I think it’s because of how it was done. It’s obvious that there weren’t any other people pushing me—it’s very much just me. I think that’s why people were able to connect with it.

“Find the things that intimidate you, and know that’s where you should shoot towards because it scares you for a reason.”

Does this style of self-made video inspire you for the future? Do you think we will see more of creativity in the music space as a result of quarantine?  

I want to see now, and moving forward, what happens when I try to brainstorm on my own before I go to other people for their ideas and push myself a lot more creatively. I want to trust myself a lot more and trust my vision.

One thing that has been nice is seeing you film more acoustic videos on YouTube from home. This feels very authentic to where you began. What more can we expect to see from you during quarantine? Has it inspired you to write new songs?

I forgot how great it feels to play guitar and play the piano, and be alone with it for a bit. I don’t give myself that time or carve that out anymore. Being at home has been so nice, I’m doing acoustic versions for all my songs. What people respond to the most is when it’s really just me and the piano or me and the guitar and me not overthinking it. It’s been really nice to have time to do that and just be creative.

In an interview with you for our CC100, you mentioned that your writing process typically involves a session with you and a producer and another writer where you just write about how you’re feeling at that time. Are you still doing that via zoom now? How has quarantine changed your process or enhanced it?

I haven’t been writing because I’ve been busy putting the album out and doing all of the promo that goes along with that. I’m sure that as soon as the album is out in the world though I will immediately go back to writing.

This album proves you have really grown as an artist—you are so expressive in your vocals and the lyrics. How have you cultivated that confidence to be yourself and not be tied down by limitations? 

I think it’s so important to pay attention to what scares you and what you’re afraid of and to go for that. Find the things that intimidate you, and know that’s where you should shoot towards because it scares you for a reason. I think it’s about finding something that really rings true to you, that’s deep inside you—you have to trust that and follow that.

This is a particularly hard time for musicians who can’t connect 1:1 with their fans and their music. What advice do you have for your fellow musicians who are going through it right now and how can we, as fans, support them? 

It’s been really cool to see the way that we’re all connecting through social media. Because that’s what it’s originally all about. I think we’ve lost our way as far as Instagram goes and getting sucked into the toxic side of it. But ultimately it’s a way to connect and this time has really shown that.

To learn more or to purchase the new album (and exclusive merch!), visit LennonStella.com.

Don’t forget to buy your tickets to the Money Moves Digital Summit to see Lennon Stella perform three acoustic versions of her songs from the new album Three. Two. One.

Visit, createcultivate.com/money-moves-2020

Three. Two. One. Album By Lennon Stella

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8 Ways to Grow Your Personal Brand, According to an Influencer With 1M Instagram Followers

Have you always wanted to know what it’s like to be an influencer and grow a business out of your influence? We know you’re all craving insight on how to grow a brand and ramp up your social media presence right now so when we came across influencer and co-founder of Summer Fridays, Marianna Hewitt dishing her career advice and social media tips on Instagram stories, we had to screenshot it all and share it with you here.

Hewitt asked her Instagram audience—she has 1 M(!!!), followers—to send in their questions on all things business, social, and #influencerlife. Whether you’re an aspiring influencer, a brand trying to grow, or need some major inspiration, Hewitt’s insight is golden. She pulls back the curtain to share all the realness.

You asked, she answered. Scroll on for major tips, then don’t forget to grab your tickets to the Money Moves Digital Summit to see Hewitt speak on all things, money, career, business, and more!

How do you come up with fresh content so that your followers don’t get bored?

I just ask! Whenever I need new ideas I ask what the followers want to see. I have a document saved with all the answers and then I note what gets the most requests and do those.

Being a beginner, how do you grab a brands’ attention?

I think picking a niche at the beginning helps soooo much. You become the go-to expert on that subject! Creating beautiful content helps to get reposted or for brands to notice you. I

f you want to work with a brand, buy their products and use them and share them organically to show the brands what kind of content you would create for them and how your audience responded to you sharing it.

Also, not every brand has a budget to work with influencers and if they do it could only be at certain times for particular campaigns or launches that they would have budgets. So keep it in mind that brands don’t just freely have money all the time. But by posting and sharing them organically, hopefully, they will help keep you top of mind when opportunities do come up.

How did you grow your following?

“I just did a podcast interview and talked about this, you can find that here.”

Do you think it’s too late to become an influencer because it’s so saturated?

“Not at all! But that’s why having a niche is important when first starting so that you can build a micro-community who comes to you as an expert on one thing. I don’t think you need to be niche forever, but when you start, I think it helps so much.”

How do you build relationships with other influencers?

“Follow them. Like and comment on their posts.”

Can you grow your Instagram without using a lot of hashtags? How did you grow yours?

“I don’t really know if hashtags are that relevant. I don’t think you need them to grow your page. I think you’re better off tagging brands and getting reshared. And following people in your niche and engaging with their content and hope they follow back and do the same.”

What are some things you wish you knew before starting your influencer journey?

“It’s a lot of work. Most of the work you do is for free and you don’t get paid. Because you’re creating organic content every single day that isn’t sponsored. Let’s say 10% of your content is sponsored. Then 90% of your work you do for free. So you have to be okay with doing a lot of work to hopefully get paid opportunities. You can also make money through affiliate links.

When you are an influencer you are:

• The model

• Photographer

• Videographer (if you do IGTV or YouTube)

• Editor (for video)

• Social media manager

• Community manager

• Writer (captions or if you have a blog)

• Stylist (if you post fashion content)

• Makeup artist (if you post makeup content)

And so many more things! Being an influencer is so many jobs rolled into one.

How do you keep your feed cohesive without a filter?

Take photos with similar colors. So you’ll notice there’s no black in my photos right now. So if I took a picture on a black wall or with a dark outfit, it wouldn’t match. So just take pics of things that go together.

Does the grid matter?

I do think your feed matters to new followers. When a new person comes to your page they see the first nine to 12 photos so it should get their attention and make them want to follow and have an idea of what kind of content they’ll be getting from you. I don’t think feed matters as much to existing followers because they likely just see the new posts but not as frequently go to your profile.

How do you find your niche?

Your niche should be your “thing” so it should be easy to narrow down based on what you are passionate about or an expert in. I like to think of content pillars and posting mostly those topics; so a few things that you like. You can post a few things and see what’s resonating most with your followers and getting the most engagement. Then post more of that.

How do you establish your first partnership if you’re just starting out and don’t have high follower numbers?

I would ask yourself:

• Why would this brand work with me?

• What am I bringing to the table?

And pitch them your strengths:

• Did you post them before and convert a lot of sales?

• Do you have data to show that?

• Do you create beautiful content, and can you work with them to create assets for their socials?

How do you decide which platform to post your content? Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or blog?

Instagram:

• Photos

• Stories/daily posts in the moment and more quick content

 YouTube:

• Longer videos

• Content I want to live longer or videos that are searched for

Blog:

• More writing than what would fit in an IG caption

• Lots of shopping links and roundups of items

How do you keep motivated to post stories every day?

I genuinely love to create content and share. So I never feel like I “have” to do it. I *want* to do it. On the days I don’t want to, I just don’t. Like for my feed right now I don’t have a pic to post next and haven’t felt like getting ready so I just didn’t post on my feed yesterday or today.

 How long did it take for you to get a substantial follower base?

I started Instagram very early on in 2013 when it was much easier to gain followers than it is now. I gained a large audience by 2014 but then continued to grow it. I was at 500k in 2016 (it took me from 2013 to 2016) and hit 1M in 2020. So it took me four years to reach my second 500k.”

What is the biggest struggle with being an influencer?

“There is zero job security and you have no benefits. At any time (like now) brands could all cut their budget for sponsored content and what would your job be? How will you make an income? There are no sick days. There are no days off. There is no maternity leave. All the pressure is on you.

Since you are the influencer and face of the “brand” you cannot delegate things to other people. You are the one in the photos, in the stories, etc. There are a lot of benefits though and it’s an amazing opportunity to do this full time but there are so many risks so you just have to be okay with that!”

For fashion content: Do you think a blog is necessary or can someone be successful only using Instagram?

“If you want to be a blogger then yes you need to have a blog. But if you want to be a social media influencer or content creator, no you do not need a blog. Think of some of your fave influencers, they probably don’t have a site!

Do you use a professional photographer for full body shots?

No, I’ve been shooting all my content at home on my iPhone. I generally only shoot with a photographer for sponsored content because I want the highest quality photos for the brands.

How do you pay your agency for managing you? Do they take a percentage on your earnings?

Yes, they make a percentage of the deals they bring in for me. Then the percent I get for myself, I pay taxes on (because we don’t get paychecks so our taxes are taken from the money we bring in) and then pay out employees, creatives, etc.

Like what you see? Catch Marianna Hewitt at the Money Moves Summit, May 2nd, live from your couch!

How 2 Best Friends Turned $1400 Into a Wildly Successful (and Profitable) Business

We know how daunting it can be to start a new business, especially if you’re disrupting an industry or creating an entirely new one. When there is no path to follow, the biggest question is, where do I start? There is so much to do, but before you get ahead of yourself, let’s start at the beginning. To kick-start the process, and ease some of those first-time founder nerves, we’re asking successful entrepreneurs to share their story in our new series, From Scratch. But this isn’t your typical day in the life. We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty from writing a business plan (or not) to sourcing manufacturers and how much they pay themselves, we’re not holding back.

Photo: Courtesy of Witty Rentals

What would you do with $700? For most of us, especially right now, it would go into savings or paying bills, but it could also the beginning of a new business. Wait, what? Yes, you heard right. Chelsea Bradford and Tiffany Garcia only had $700 each when they had the lightbulb moment to launch their event rental company. Now, Witty Rentals is a super successful (and profitable) business—you’ve probably seen a lot of their stylish furniture at our Create & Cultivate events. Of course, it didn’t happen overnight but first, let’s give you a quick recap on how it all began.

After meeting as teenagers through a growth group, the pair became fast friends. Even with Garcia leaving to study abroad in her homeland of Sweden, and Bradford moving away for college, the pair kept in touch as long-distance pen pals. They were eventually reunited when they got married and served as each other’s bridesmaids. Now, fifteen years later, they have three little ones between them and a successful business between them.

Want to hear how they did it? Read on to hear more about how these best friends started their business from scratch with just $1400, the lessons they learned along the way, and advice for new founders on how to start a small business from scratch—because good news stories are exactly what we all need right now!

Photo: Courtesy of Witty Rentals

On their lightbulb moment…

Chelsea Bradford: When we dreamed up Witty six years ago; Tiffany had a bit of experience in the event industry working for a coordinator and saw a gap in the market she wanted to fill: modern furniture rentals in the San Diego area. I, on the other hand, had zero experience in the industry. I had a Fine Arts degree in ceramics and had my own small business of ceramics, but was interested in design so with our powers combined and a whopping $700 investment each, we started collecting furniture in the garage of Tiffany's parents' house and by some miracle, people actually rented our stuff.

On writing a business plan…

Haha! This would have been a great idea, but we were very ignorant about what starting a business actually meant when we started. We can say with 100% certainty, that we were winging it! I don't think either of us expected it to grow to what it is today, but we have been so happy with the slow and organic growth that we've had. Never taking out loans or taking on investors... the growth came as we were ready for it. Since we didn't have a business plan or any help in the first few years, the "take it as it comes" approach was what kept us sane.

On coming up with the name…

Tiffany found the name in a book and something about it stuck with her. I loved the name immediately, it was playful and unique at the time. Now there are a lot more “Witty” companies in the industry, but my advice for choosing a name now would be to try and be unique, do your research, and make sure there isn't something similar in your area—and try to stand out!

“We can say with 100% certainty, that we were winging it!”

On setting up the business…

The first thing we did was create an email address and it was definitely a Gmail account because we didn’t know any different. Instagram came next. I think we started with @w_i_t_t_y… haha not super professional. Next was probably a domain, website and business license. There's so much you learn during this process that no one tells you such as having to list your fictitious business name in the paper and random things like that.

Other than those few things though, we didn't do much else in those early years besides collecting furniture. If I could give a word of advice to a business just starting out, it would be to present yourself as a real business early on even if you don't even remotely have your shit together. The way you present yourself in the early days will help create the client base that will get you off the ground.

On doing the research…

We researched other rental companies in our area, there was really only two other boutique event rental companies at the time, so we reached out to both of them and visited their warehouses. We talked to them about how and when they started and got some great advice. We wanted to offer something different from what was available in our area, so being able to see what these companies offered helped us shape the direction we wanted to go, as well as build some valuable relationships for the future. One thing we’ve loved about this industry is that there’s plenty of events to cater to which makes it less competitive and we love how friendly our “competitors” have been.”

On finding the right space…

We started collecting in a two-car garage with $0 overhead which is really the only way we were able to start. After about a year and a half, we moved into our first warehouse, 2,200 sq ft, which felt massive. Scared of the cost, we asked some florist friends of ours (hey Bloom Babes!) if they wanted to split the space with us and they were happy to do so—it ended up benefiting both of us greatly. We eventually outgrew our portion and had to take over the whole thing and luckily the Bloom Babes were ready for their own space as well, so we split ways on great terms. Two years in that space and it was time to find something bigger. Now we're in about 6,800 sq ft and looking for another space! The growth has been fun yet sustainable which is the pace we needed.

“The two of us didn’t have huge aspirations or goals in the beginning and so starting small and slow is what we were capable of keeping up with. ”

On self-funding and boostrapping the business…

We were able to start Witty with a total initial investment of $1400 between the two of us and then two years of reinvesting everything that we made, not taking a cent for ourselves. We knew this would give the business the best opportunity for growth and we’re positive we wouldn't be where we are today if we would have tried to pay ourselves early on.

As for what we would recommend to a startup... this is such a personal decision based on what your goal is for the business. The two of us didn't have huge aspirations or goals in the beginning and so starting small and slow is what we were capable of keeping up with. On the other hand, we have friends in the industry who dumped $100K into buying inventory and they have far exceeded our growth in a short period of time.

From the beginning they have had different goals for their companies and that path has worked to help them meet those goals. Really digging deep and asking yourself what you're hoping to achieve, how fast are you wanting to recoup that investment, and what your overall long term goals are for the business will help shape this decision.

On paying themselves a wage…

After two years of not paying ourselves anything, then a year of only paying ourselves for the deliveries we did, we finally started paying ourselves... get ready... $1,000 a month. I know, we were loaded (please pick up on that sarcasm). After about six months of realizing that the business was still okay, we bumped it to $1500, then $2000, then $2500. At this point, we felt like we had really made it! We could justify paying ourselves a collective $5K a month, plus paying rent and paying our handful of employees… just out here living the American dream!

We've since increased our salary slightly but in full transparency, we still believe that making sure the company has the liquid funds to function is far more important than having more dollars in our pockets and the company becoming business broke. We've never put a percentage on it, we decide the number based on what we feel the business can offer as well as what our families can live on without struggling.

Photo: Courtesy of Witty Rentals

On hiring the right team…

We are a team of five, including Tiffany and myself. Neither of us has ever been a “boss” before, so this has been quite the adventure trying to learn how to hire, fire, and manage. To be honest, we don't like it, but it comes with the territory I suppose. We have been fortunate to have incredibly patient employees who give us grace through our struggles communicating, organizing thoughts, managing... and we are so incredibly fortunate to have them. A bit of advice we recently learned from an industry friend is to hire slow and fire fast. Meaning take your time with multiple interviews, then have a working interview... make sure the employee is a good fit with your existing team before bringing them on. Then if you feel that someone isn't a good fit, don't wait around, find someone else.

On hiring an accountant…

We have been incredibly fortunate in that Tiffany's mother-in-law is a CPA (certified public accountant) and has done our bookkeeping and taxes up to this point. She is an actual angel on earth. As of 2020, we have switched our bookkeeping over to Bench.com to take a bit off of her plate and it has been a great resource for us, super user friendly and great customer service.

On the biggest learning curve…

The biggest learning curve has been knowing where to spend money. Something that we've struggled with for a long time (and still do if we're being honest) is knowing that just because something is pretty or we like it, doesn't mean it will rent. We have to think about every item in our collection as if it is paying rent to be in our warehouse, so if it doesn't pull its weight, it's got to go! When sourcing, we try to keep this in mind: Will clients have a use for this? Will they like it? Does it fit with our existing aesthetic? If the answers are yes, then we can pull the trigger and purchase the item. And if not, well then we can admire it from afar.

“Save, save, save. Then you can really invest in what’s going to make a positive financial impact on your business.”

On having a business coach…

We've never had a business coach, but this is something that we have given some serious thought. I think it would help us in so many ways; from employee management to big picture goals, finances and budgeting. We do think it could help us organize all of the important things that race around our heads on a daily basis and implement ways to get each thing accomplished.

On PR and marketing…

Instagram. I mean, seriously... what business doesn't rely on that platform these days. Instagram is definitely how we got started, but then the dreaded algorithm had to go and eff everyone up. Among other avenues, we now rely a lot on word-of-mouth and testimonials. Reviews can do wonders for a small business so we've put a lot of effort into having overwhelmingly positive experiences with clients and requesting feedback from them after their event. We look at it like this—when was the last time you bought something important and didn't read the reviews on it? And if you did read the reviews, which ones helped sway you to purchase that item? Those are the reviews we hope to get from our clients and we feel like they have absolutely helped sway interested clients into booking with us.

On the one thing, they didn’t do (but wish they had)…

We did everything the hard way. You'd think that the first thing two lanky young girls would do when having to move insanely heavy furniture all the time would be to invest in some dolly's or some kind of straps to make our lives easier... but no. There's that cute saying "work smarter, not harder", let’s just say it took us a long time to work smarter. Another perfect example of this is it took us four years to implement canned responses in our emails. That’s four years of writing the same email over and over and over again, wasting countless hours when the answer was so simple. Our advice? Find ways to simplify and automate processes within your business. You'll thank yourself later.

Photo: Courtesy of Witty Rentals

On their best business advice…

Chelsea: We've learned over the years that it's not in our nature to be business owners. I am an introvert, I love my downtime, I can confidently say that I'm lazy by nature, it's hard for me to self-motivate, I procrastinate—give me four seasons of a show and a bag of chips and I'm your girl (as two loads of laundry currently sit unfolded in the basket (I'll get to them later, okay?). But I didn't let that stop me. I just found the perfect counterpart. Someone who encourages me and motivates me to be a better version of myself. And I hope she'd say that I balance her out in all of the right ways as well.

My advice would be, don't try to do it alone. Whatever it is you want to start, have a partner, find someone who has strengths that you don't have—the yin to your yang. I know for a fact that we wouldn't be here today if just one or the other of us started this alone. We've relied on each other heavily every step of the way and we still do today.

Tiffany: Yes, I agree. Finding a business partner who has different strengths and qualities than you is crucial. I would say that I am more of a dreamer/visionary type. I love to think about big picture ideas or steps we can take in the business to encourage growth. Put a spreadsheet in front of me and I literally shut down inside. This is why Chelsea balances me so well because she could create spreadsheets all day long and they bring her so much joy.

I also think part of why our business relationship works are because neither of us is super stubborn. If we disagree on things we are both willing to communicate and comprise easily. If you are considering starting a business I think it's important to take your time and be very selective with who you go into business with. Also, creating a partnership agreement and specific roles for each other is crucial so that you are both in charge of separate roles within the business. 

On their one piece of financial advice…

Use your savings account. You never know when you'll have an unexpected expense or need to make a big purchase. One example for us was buying a large number of chairs unexpectedly. If we had to put $20k on a credit card that would have been our absolute last choice, but luckily, we had saved for just that. Save, save, save. Then you can really invest in what's going to make a positive financial impact on your business.

Oh, and another thing would be to charge for your services. Don't offer a discount just because you think you should. Make sure you're charging enough, not lowballing the market or being taken advantage of. Do your homework and see what others in your industry are doing around you, and hey even if you want to charge a bit more because that’s the quality of your work, go for it. You're worth it.

Photo: Courtesy of Witty Rentals

On the advice, they’d give themselves…

Save more! Our long term goal has always been to buy a property and be able to store our collection there instead of dumping thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars down the drain for rent. If we were really motivated, we could have done it already, but we haven't given it our all, so we're still renting.

On working with a co-founder…

Tiffany: People say never go into business with friends or family. I can understand why people say that—you don't want your relationship to crumble if the business does, or maybe you'll start to hate each other down the road—and trust me, I've seen that happen in this industry specifically. But for us, it's been all about communication. Our partnership is just like a marriage, you have to work at it and make sure that things are talked about and your feelings are being seen and heard. Again, this is where our differences have helped us monumentally. Chelsea despises confrontation.

Chelsea: Yeah, I'll do anything to avoid it, and it's in my nature to sweep it under the rug. Tiffany has been our saving grace in this area, forcing me to share how I'm feeling, telling me point blank if I've hurt hers. And because of that, we have been able to maintain a friendship above and beyond the business.

Tiffany: That’s true, but at the same time Chelsea's ability to compromise prevents us from getting into needless conflict, so she really does help us balance each other out. She’s definitely more than a business partner, like my second life partner, haha.

Visit Witty Rentals and learn more about their unique furniture rental company at wittyrentals.com.

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Email Etiquette 101: Just How Many Exclamation Points Is Too Many?!!!

Photo: Ekaterina Bolovtsova for Pexels

If you've ever caught yourself wondering what people did in offices before the advent of the internet, you're not alone. 

They hung out by water coolers. They answered phone calls. And, if we are to take away anything from TV, they drank. And though boozy martini lunches may be a thing of the past, etiquette isn't.

Email etiquette has taken the place of phone Ps and Qs, but there are still some rules to follow. You don't need to censor yourself, but unlike a phone call, emails (and diamonds), are forever. 

Ahead, we investigate whether or not you should use exclamation points in business emails.

THE EXCLAMATION POINT & THE XX

We're not talking about the band. We're talking about the need to make sure everyone knows you're nice—sooo nice—via email. 

Tone is hard to judge, and email is a brilliant way to miscommunicate how you feel and misinterpret what others mean as well. So we seem to have gone the way of over-intoning. How many of you have started off an email with the following: "Hi [insert name here]! It's so nice to e-meet you!!" It's kind of the equivalent of hugging someone in a meeting. Which, isn't standard biz practice.

Your first email should feel like a strong, on-point handshake, not a slumber party hug. 

We are all guilty of it, but it might be time to take it down a notch. It's not just women who are guilty of the over-exclamation. Men have fallen into the exclamation trap as well. 

If you want to go all X and O crazy after that... you have that email love fest. 

RESPONDING TO A NOT-SO-NICELY WORDED WTF EMAIL

We've all had horrible bosses. We've also all been on the receiving end of some email vitriol from an angry client or colleague. The kind of email that either makes your heart race or your eyes roll. (The kind of email that can lead to tears on the job.) Before you respond, take a minute. Literally, count to 60. Some people say an hour, but that's too long and gives that email too much room to fester. Here are a few good phrases, that show you're willing to compromise without shouldering all of the blame. (Note: if you actually are in the wrong, fess up, move on, and do better.) 

"Let's figure out how we can come to an understanding." 

"Let's work together to solve this." 

"I have some ideas as to how we can make this better."

Phrases like "I'm sorry you feel that way," or any kind of personal attack, come off condescending, rude, and unprofessional. What you're trying to do is put out a fire, not set the office ablaze. The fastest way to take the oxygen out of a fight is to not point fingers and keep it BIFF (Brief, Informative, Friendly, and Firm).  

And remember, being diplomatic in the face of drama is a skill. Hone it and own it just like any other professional trait.   

THE NUDGE-NUDGE, FOLLOW-UP

You're sitting there. Refreshing your inbox. Your boss down your throat, wondering where what you've promised is, but you don't have it—because you're waiting on someone else. This is the simplest, easiest way to email elbow. 

"Hi X—Checking in on the below. Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help expedite this process. We are really looking forward to working with you." 

Simple. Brief. Not annoying. You want it to convey a sense of friendly urgency—because most of the time, that's the feeling you have.

If you get ignored again, and it happens, the third follow-up should put more of the responsibility on the recipient. 

"Hi X—Please let us know if you are still interested in (insert opportunity here). This could be a great opportunity for both of us." 

If they don't respond, there's a fairly decent chance they aren't interested, and at that point, you need to head back into the kitchen and whip up something else and make it work. 

1-800-EMAIL-BLING

There is a disconnect between generations. Baby boomers and Gen Xers who think a phone call is better than an email. They aren't wrong. Sometimes it's a whole lot easier to jump on a conference call, suss out details, get rid of tonal confusion, and charge full steam ahead. 

But we live in an email-centric world and learning how to craft a good one is a key to business strategy. So here are five quick tips to making your email the blingiest it can be.  

1. Don't mass email. Make it professional but personal. 

2. Proofread. Especially how to spell the recipient's name. If you mess up before they even get to the body of the email, their entire reading will be colored by the initial whoops. 

3. Elevator pitch your email. Condense it. People like email because it's fast. If you need to delve into deeper convo after the initial email, that's fine. Don't start out that way. 

4. If you are sending business emails from your phone remove the auto signature. "Sent from my iPhone" is sloppy. 

5. Don't be afraid to be yourself. To a degree, email removes personality. You don't have to be a robot to be professional, and chances are, you'll never stick out, get ahead, make moves if you're acting like one. 

This story was originally published on December 8, 2015, and has since been updated.

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How to Be a Boss on LinkedIn

Photo: Vlada Karpovich for Pexels

Whether you’re fresh out of college or between careers, chances are you’re going to turn to LinkedIn for that next dream job posting. Companies spend a lot of money to promote their open positions, so it's imperative they find the right candidate for the job.

But with about 500 million users on the site, it can be difficult to stand out and make sure you’re noticed. Here are six tips to make sure your LinkedIn profile is on-lock, cuts through the noise on the platform, and grabs the attention of that potential employer.

Choose a photo, and make it industry appropriate

This one’s a no-brainer. According to LinkedIn’s site, a profile photo can lead to nine times more connection requests. Don’t stress about scheduling a photographer or studio for that profile pic. These days, more users are replacing professional portraits with more natural-looking outdoor shots.

Not sure what to wear? Think of the industry you’re applying to and wear clothes that fit. If you’re in a creative field, wear something that shows off your personality (in an appropriate way, of course). In business or politics? Stick to a classic suit that shows how much of a boss you are. More than anything, look like yourself!

Location is key

Just as important to your photo is disclosing where you are. Your profile is 23 times more likely to be viewed when your location is listed. If you live in a larger metropolitan area, select the option to for “Greater [City] Area” to cast an even broader net. There’s also an option to let potential employers know that you’re willing to relocate if you’re worried your location will deter recruiters in other cities from viewing your application.

Skills, skills, and more skills

While listed at the bottom of your profile, the skills section is just as important as your experience and education. LinkedIn states that listing five or more skills tailored to your intended industry will get you “17x more profile views and up to 31x more messages from recruiters and others who can help you get ahead.”

Utilize your coworkers, friends, and colleagues to get the most out of those listed skills, too. Kindly ask someone to endorse a skill for you, and make sure to return the favor.

Highlight relevant experience, then craft the perfect headline

While it may be easy to get carried away and list every single job you’ve ever had, remember that less is oftentimes more. Don’t oversaturate your profile with too much experience. Instead, focus on highlighting the most relevant experience you have to the types of jobs you’re applying to. Keep descriptions short, sweet, and to the point. It’s a profile, not a novel.

Now it’s time to write that headline. If you’re working on a degree, this is the perfect place to let recruiters know when you’ll be graduating. If you’re out of school, put your current job title or simple list the industry you’re hoping to work in.

Let recruiters know you’re open, with a simple button

On your profile, there’s a button to let recruiters know you’re open to finding a new job. By utilizing this feature, you’re essentially turning on your profile so recruiters can see it.

If you haven’t told your current employer that you’re looking for a new job, have no fear. LinkedIn protects your privacy and won’t show that you’re currently looking for a job to your current company.

Share your profile (you worked hard on it)

Now that your profile is as perfect as can be, it’s time to promote yourself! Don’t be afraid to link it to other social media accounts or even in your email signature. As the saying goes, it’s not what you know, but rather who you know. And with today’s digitally-focused society, you never know who’s looking at your social media accounts or where that next job offer could come from. Make it that much easier for that next job opportunity to find you.

About the Author: Aly Ferguson is a former editorial intern for Create & Cultivate and a graduate student at the University of Southern California studying Literary Editing and Publishing. When she’s not in the C&C office or at school, she can be found with a cup of coffee and a Stephen King novel.

This story was originally published on April 16, 2019, and has since been updated.

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Why "Just" Is the Most Unfair Word (Hear Us Out)

Photo: Vlada Karpovich for Pexels

Let me just say: if I had asked you what the most offensive four-letter word is—with “u” as a second letter—you might think of others that top the list. (Hint: it’s not “busy” and doesn’t start with “f.”)

Status update: the word “just” should be banished from your vocab. Too many of us use this seemingly harmless word in emails, in conversations, and even in our minds.

To be clear, there are still two instances where “just” is justified:

1. Just do it.

2. Just desserts (as in, “I am only eating desserts”).

You might feel that using “just” all the time is NBD, but once you realize how it undermines you when speaking and when rationalizing with yourself, you will cut it out—stat.

Here are the three scenarios where we tend to use “just”—and we’re not doing ourselves any justice at all.

IN EMAIL

“Hi! I’m just following up on my email from last week….”

“Hi! I’m just emailing to confirm our meeting next week.”

Now consider how much more assertive you would sound if you deleted “just” altogether and it went more like this:

“Hi! I’m following up on my email from last week….”

“Hi! I’m emailing you to confirm our meeting next week.”

Stronger, right?

The truth is, when we add the word “just” it’s usually innocent and serves as filler to make an email flow better.

But when we take a closer look, it sounds apologetic. It reads like this: “I don’t mean to bother you, I’m really just contacting you again to [follow-up/confirm/check-in].

Tara Mohr, a career and personal growth coach who teaches women worldwide how to step into their power, covers this in her book, “Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead.” According to Mohr, women are “playing small,” so she shares the tools she’s used to help women take big steps forward in their lives and careers.

Mohr dedicates a chapter to “Communicating With Power,” and the words women tend to use that undermine them. These words are “the little things we do in our speech and writing that diminish our impact.” After all, Mohr reminds us that “our words are our opportunity—and using ‘just’ is a 'shrinker’ because it lessens the power of what we have to say.”

Because we want to be apologetic for asserting ourselves, we lean on words like “just” to ensure we don’t sound aggressive or harsh. This is no way to lean in, ladies.

So next time you’re drafting an email, strike out the word “just.” It will make you sound confident, strong and assertive. Just. Like. That.   

“Using ‘just’ is a ‘shrinker’ because it lessens the power of what we have to say.”

IN MEETINGS & CONVERSATIONS WITH COWORKERS/CLIENTS

"I just want to explain…”

“I just think…”

“I just want to make sure I understand your point of view here..."

Why are we asking for permission to validate our understanding of others’ P.O.V.? Or worse, asking for permission to explain our own stance?

The “I just want” and “I just think” needs to stop right here, right now. To be fair, these are likely harder to control, because speaking with confidence and assertion can be more challenging in person. Email and social media allow for the kind of anonymity that make it easier to speak your mind since you’re not face-to-face—whereas you might feel more insecure or feel the need to please in a meeting or client call.

So here is your mental reminder to kick “just” to the curb. If you’re worried about coming off as too harsh, Mohr recommends remaining kind and diplomatic with your tone of voice, choice of words and body language.

You can slay those meetings without using “just”!

TO OURSELVES

(*Says to self)

"I will let the client get away with it, just this once."

"I will say yes, just this time..."

"I will just get over this crazy period, and will then get myself more organized."

Whatever kind of boss you are, the excuses need to stop. In this scenario, “just” is the word that’s hindering your progress.

By allowing yourself to take on a project for less than your usual rate, accepting to be treated disrespectfully, or not pushing back on requests, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Show your clients that you have limits and that it’s not okay for them to [insert shady verb here] you over.

When you’re “just-ing” all over yourself, it becomes an excuse to put things off -- like taking control of your life and saying no.

The “just” is a Band-Aid solution. It makes you feel good in the moment and makes you feel like you’ve got this. Because it’s just one all-nighter. It’s just one week of putting off the gym to make it through this crazy period. It’s just one week of being tied to your laptop and not talking to family or friends. And it’s just a month of asking yourself, “How did I accept to take on this project—for this deadline—for zero pay?”

But in reality, it’s all a distraction—and it’s preventing you from moving forward.

JUST THE FACTS

For a small word, “just” can cause some real damage—to your reputation and your reality. Banish this word from your repertoire altogether and be fair to yourself.

About the Author: Karin Eldor is a coffee-addicted copywriter, with a long-time love for all things pop culture, fashion and tech. Ever since she got her first issues of YM (remember that one?) and Seventeen in the mail, she was hooked on the world of editorial content. After earning her Communications degree, she spent 6 years honing her craft as a senior editor for AskMen.com. More recently, Karin enjoyed ‘gramming and strategizing as social media manager at ALDO. Today, she is chief content writer at 818 Agency and a social media consultant. 

This post was originally published on August 16, 2016, and has since been updated.

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13 Things You Didn't Know You Can Write Off

Photo: Smith House Photo

The world may be turned upside-down right now (thanks, COVID-19) and Tax Day has been moved to July 15, but we suggest you make the most of your quaran-time and get those taxes done!

We’re here to help ease some of the stress before you start scrambling to collect receipts and scour all your bank statements from the past year. Sure, taxes can be a drag (or something to look forward to if you know you’re bound to get a tax refund), but if you’re like most independent contractors or freelancers, you might owe a hefty amount of money to your state and the IRS.

However, there are so many things taxpayers fail to claim on their yearly taxes that could definitely help ease the fees that you owe back. To help you get a tax break, we’ve made a list of tax write-offs that many of us fail to claim and you may be overlooking, too.

Out-of-Pocket Charitable Deductions

If you contribute to your community and help with charitable work, or give charitable donations that include out-of-pocket costs, your good deeds may be rewarded with a tax write-off. If you’ve donated food to a soup kitchen, bought clothes for a women’s shelter, or even driven your car for charity, make sure to keep those receipts as they can work as a great tax deduction.

Home Office Costs

Now that we all WFH this deduction may be more useful than ever. So, your bed may not count, but if you use part of your home regularly and exclusively for business-related activity, the IRS lets you write off associated rent, utilities, real estate taxes, repairs, maintenance, and other related expenses. So if you are one of the lucky few working in your pajamas in the luxury of a home office, this year is to make the most of this write off.

Moving Expenses for Your First Job

Once you’ve moved past the job hunting phase and have landed your dream job on the other side of the town, or even the other side of the country, you’ll need to move closer to your job. If you’re moving farther than 50 miles away, you can write-off your moving expenses this season, including transportation.

Child Care Credit

If you have to leave your child, who is filed as your dependent under 13 years of age, with a sitter or at daycare while you’re at work, your child care expenses can serve as a tax credit, up to $3,000. 

"Smart" Tax

If you are going back to school to sharpen your skills, are taking special courses for work, or have bought literature (books or magazines) that are relevant to your field of work, make sure to mark these as your “smart taxes.” Which, goes to show that any money that you spend on your education is always an investment. 

Baggage Fees

Did you know you can get those annoying baggage fees right back into your pocket? Save the airline receipts from any checked baggage that you had to pay for, and mark them as a deduction when you file. 

Energy-Saving Home

If you’re eco-savvy and have turned your house into an eco-friendly home in the past year, you can be rewarded with a great tax credit for your improvements. We know you went for paperless last year, but in this case, you might want to keep those paper receipts. 

Financial Advisor/Accounting

If you have a financial advisor, tax preparer, or even paid to use a program like Quickbooks or Intuit to manage your finances and taxes, you can deduct those fees for the year in which you paid for them. If you still have your receipts from paying your preparer or the programs that you bought, make sure to include those in on your deductions!

Healthcare for Self-Employed

If you’re a boss lady of your own and are paying your own bills, like your own healthcare, then make sure to include your medical and dental bills in your deductions, as well as those bills for your family and dependents. 

Phone Bill

If you’re always using your phone for work and have not yet put your phone bill as a part of your deductions, you have been missing out on getting some money back! Make sure that you keep track of what calls are work and which calls are personal as those will be very important to differentiate when it’s time to file.

Fostering a Pet

Some people can’t commit to adopting a pet, but if you were able to foster a pet in the last year, you can include expenses from the pound, vet, and even food when you’re filing for taxes. A good tax deduction can come from your charitable work. 

Jury Duty

Jury duty may be a drag, but the pay you get from the court is tax-deductible if it was turned over to your employer. It all comes full circle! 

Bad Luck, Accidents, and Damages

There are things that are simply out of our control, like your car breaking down, your roof caving in after a storm, or even you actually breaking a leg after your colleagues told you to break a leg at your client meeting. If you don’t have insurance and you have to pay out of pocket for repairs and medical bills, you can include them when you’re filing for taxes as a tax deduction. It’s not all bad luck after all!

This post was originally published on February 11, 2019, and has since been updated.

Why You Should Follow Up Your To-Do List With a “Ta-Da!” List

Photo: Christina Morillo for Pexels

Setting career goals is like climbing a mountain. It sounds exhilarating and achieving it will be an amazing accomplishment. Yet there's that point in the middle where it feels like... well, work.

There’s a crucial point of difference between the daily grind and mountaineering, though. Taking a hike offers the benefit of your line of sight and a GPS. Even if you can’t see the destination, you can likely track exactly how far away it is. Whether you’re a tenth of a mile or 10 miles from your landing spot, you can expect to arrive at a certain time. It gives you the opportunity to see—and celebrate—your progress.

Reaching the peak of your career is a little more ambiguous. While you may be able to guess at an amount of time necessary to complete your goals, there are a lot of factors at play, and you may meet resistance along the way. The daily grind can feel repetitive and even discouraging at times. One way to stay on track and be ready to face whatever setbacks you encounter is to keep the right attitude. Mindfulness is a critical component to creating and keeping your goals. This is why you should follow up your to-do list with a “ta-da!” list.

Making a “ta-da!” list isn’t an exact formula, it’s more of a reminder to cultivate joy around the process of achieving your goals. It’s about acknowledging the small steps you’re taking and praising yourself with a pat on the back (or a whipped coffee). Practicing gratitude is commonly associated with better physical health, mental well-being, and increased happiness, according to a recent white paper from Berkeley. Quality of life is a huge component to the emerging field of gratitude research, and work is a big part of how we spend our lives!

Follow these three steps to create effective to-do and “ta-da!” lists, while keeping a positive attitude in the process.

Clearly define your goals, but be willing to go off-course

Putting words to what you want to achieve will help you make an effective to-do list. Whether you’re working a 9-to-5 or trying to build a side hustle, writing out a list of goals and tasks is essential to getting stuff done. However, be willing to pencil in a little room for the unknown. Just as the best view of the mountain might be slightly off the beaten path, the most successful individuals plot out a course and know when to pivot. Maybe it’s an unexpected job offer that will allow you to gain valuable experience, or an opportunity to collaborate with someone you could learn from. Reevaluate your to-do lists regularly to make sure they’re still working for you.

“Making a “ta-da!” list isn’t an exact formula, it’s more of a reminder to cultivate joy around the process of achieving your goals.”

Write it down

There’s a famous study from Harvard Business School that followed their MBA graduates for 10 years, and the grads who had physically written down their goals had earned ten times more than the others. Your goals and daily “to-do” list will keep you on track to achieving those mountainous goals.

But don’t underestimate the power of your “ta-da!” list. According to the Berkeley white paper, a study found that workplace-specific gratitude was negatively associated with burnout. Just like goals and to-do lists are more effective when you write them down, gratitude works the same way. Write down encouragements for yourself and even positive mantras rather than just drawing a line through the things you’ve achieved. You worked hard, celebrate it!

Celebrate it all

While it’s easy to pop champagne for those huge milestones, the whole point of this exercise is to infuse more joy into the day-to-day. When you look back, most days aren’t memorable on their own, but each one makes up the seasons we’ll someday look back on as stepping stones that led us to the next. Focusing on the wins—however small—will make you less likely to get burned out on the journey. And we’re all here to reach the peak, aren’t we?!

About the Author: Ana Elliott is a writer, photographer, and small business owner residing in Springfield, Missouri. In her free time, she can be found seeking out a good honey latte and/or just trying to keep another houseplant alive. You can find more from her on her personal blog: She Learns Things.

This story was originally published on May 23, 2019, and has since been updated.

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What It Actually Means to “Find Your Passion”—and How to Start Acting On It Right Now

Photo: Smith House Photography

Oftentimes, we enter our first—or second, or third—jobs and are shocked to find that it doesn’t align with our values, skills, or passions. It’s almost as if we were sold “The Dream,” but ended up drowning in emails instead.

Of course, there are aspects of work that will never be enjoyable—like taxes or back-and-forth scheduling—but given that we spend over 90,000 hours at work across our lifetime, the majority of it should be fun. Interesting. Passion-driven.

Sadly, this isn’t the case for most of us. Over 80% of Americans today say that they are not passionate about their job. So, if you feel like you’re the only one who is confused or frustrated by the lack of passion for your career, you’re not alone.

But, it is possible to do something you love without sacrificing your values, skills, or sanity. Trust me, as a career confidence and conscious decision-making coach, I’ve helped dozens of humans align their passion and purpose into a long-lasting career.

Here are five things you can do right now to get started on that journey.

Look back to your childhood days

Our passion isn’t something that we need to “discover.” Oftentimes, the things we loved doing as a kid are directly aligned with activities that still bring us joy. We’ve just been forced into a certain career or lifestyle because of society’s rules about what we’re “supposed” to do as adults.

So, spend time looking back on your childhood hobbies. Ask yourself: What did I do just for fun? What activities was I really good at—even if I can’t picture it as a career right now?

Reflect on what you can’t stop doing *right now*

Take a step back from your current day-to-day and think about the moments that bring you joy. That you do without anyone forcing you to complete them. That de-stress you or simply make you feel really good.

They can range from giving advice to a friend, or doing watercolor painting. Again, don’t worry about how you can create a business from them just yet.

Give yourself one minute to write down as many ideas as you can be based on your gut feeling. Then, fill in any gaps that you may have missed.

Spend time connecting the dots

Now, it’s time to bring that strategic thinking into play. Spend some time alone, reviewing your two pieces of “homework” from earlier. Become a trend spotter: What similarities are there between your childhood self, and the version of you who is free and uninhibited?

Oftentimes, our truest self comes out when we’re in a childlike state, or have no other purpose than simply having fun. Although “finding” your passion may have seemed overwhelming before, it’s clear that your passion resides somewhere deep inside of you, you just need to listen a little more.

Spend time asking yourself: How can I inject more of this into my career and daily life? If you love connecting deeply with others, assess if your current role allows you to do that often. If you love painting but can never imagine yourself becoming an “artist,” are there ways that you can support others in that space?

Get an accountability partner

Changing your life is downright difficult! It’s okay—and important—to admit that making these changes is hard to do on your own.

Take some time to figure out your best course of action. Is it finding a friend in a similar position and having weekly calls to hold each other accountable? Is it joining a mastermind group? Is it investing in yourself and hiring a coach?

Be honest with yourself and assess what is most realistic for you right now. Most importantly, don’t feel ashamed that this is something you need extra help with.

Take your first step, no matter how small

One of the most difficult parts about discovering our passion isn’t the journey of finding it, it’s doing something about it. This is often where our fear and limiting beliefs come into play. We believe that we don’t have the right skills or enough experience. Imposter syndrome hits us real hard.

Take this as your sign that no matter where you are right now—you are enough to get started. Create a plan to take that first step, no matter how small, towards living in your purpose. Whether it’s writing your first blog post or creating a shop on Etsy, trust yourself.

You’ve got this!

This post was originally published on June 8, 2019, and has since been updated.

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5 Steps to Handling Professional Failures Like a Pro

Photo: Smith House Photography

It's our LEAST favorite “f” word: failure.

And yet, it happens to the best, most seasoned, and buttoned-up of us. When a deal goes wrong, we don't get the money we expected, when someone says “no,” or worse, when we get laid off or fired—it's all part of climbing the professional ladder. 

Such failures are rough. We doubt ourselves, our abilities, and what we are doing with our lives. So how do we take these bumps in the road in stride? Here are five ways to make sure that we can move forward in the face of career failure.

And remember, you have to fail to be great. 

1. Take a minute, or two. (A week if need be. As long as you get back up.) 

When something goes wrong in our personal lives we tend to give ourselves more wiggle room, fewer guilt trips. We aren't as hard on ourselves when we fight with a friend or end a relationship, but with work, when the only person we have to blame is ourselves, we tend to take it a little harder. So give it a minute (or a day, or a week). A time frame where you're allowed to feel "bad" about the loss, whatever it might be, and then move on to step number two. 

2. Look at the failure with a fresh set of eyes. 

Sometimes this means asking for someone else to assess what went wrong. Sometimes the time we take away from the issue at hand allows us to address the situation in a manner that's productive. Even though we're talking about failure, rejection doesn't actually mean that you've failed. It means that you need to find a new in-road. Or a new job.

There are very few successful business people where "failure" is not a part of their story. J.K. Rowling was penniless when writing Harry Potter. At thirty years old Steve Jobs was removed from the company he started—Apple. Oprah was fired after she was deemed not "suitable for television." They flopped and then they got back up. 

There's opportunity in defeat, but you need to be able to look at it with clarity. 

3. Talk to those who have failed before. 

OK, maybe you can't call up Oprah, but you most certainly know people who have lost money, who have been unceremoniously fired, and who have suffered professional embarrassments that probably trump what you're going through.

Here's what they'll tell you: you have survived every single one of your worst days so far and every time you've emerged stronger, more capable, and better prepared for the next ring around the non-rosy situation.

Lean on those who've gone through it, and then lean in (à la Sheryl Sandberg) to your next career move. 

4. Watch this TED Talk about being wrong. 

Kathryn Schulz is a writer and public speaker who claims to be "the world's leading wrongologist." She is also the author of Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error. Wrongness, according to Schulz, is the stuff of life.

In the talk, in regards to our mistakes, she reminds us: "The good news: Owning up to them and coping with them forces us to come up with new ideas and strategies that just might work… or not."

Which leads us to the final point...

5. Accept responsibility for where you went wrong, and then let it go. 

If you are unable to see what happened or take responsibility, return to step number one. Blaming your boss or your co-workers is not a step in the right direction. Let your failure refocus your directives. You will never move on without acceptance. 

Onward and upward we say!

This post was originally published on January 2, 2016, and has since been updated.

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Don't Burn Out, Babe: 8 Signs You're Seriously Overdoing It

Photo: Smith House Photography

Today, the modern woman juggles a busy household, a demanding job, an endless to-do list, and, if time permits, a social life (gasp!). We as women… let me rephrase…we as superwomen, often get so busy that we miss signs that our body sends us to tell us it might be time to slow down. 

Below are eight signs that you may be overdoing it. If you continue going at the pace you’re going, there may be serious complications down the road. It’s best to detect these signs as early as possible so you can prioritize and evaluate what needs to be done now, and what can wait until later. Without your health, the endless to-do lists and deadlines may not only be completed inadequately, they may never get done.

It’s vital for us superwomen to take care of ourselves so that we can be the superheroes that we are. Don’t miss the signs of burnout so you can keep your flame alive!

1. “I’m feeling on edge and keyed up.”

We all get stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious as a result of daily demands.

Although these feelings are often a normal reaction, it is important to keep a very close eye on these emotions as they can shift from normal to disordered. Anxiety is often hard to put into words, but those who experience anxiety describe it as feeling “on edge” or “keyed up.”

In addition to endless worries, those with an anxiety disorder may experience muscle tension, disrupted sleep, recurrent headaches and symptoms of panic (short of breath, chest tightness, sweaty and tingling in fingers and toes). It’s important to identify if there is a change in the way you are reacting to stress and to seek help before it impairs your ability to function. 

2. “I’d prefer to be alone tonight”

When we get busy at work, our social lives can sometimes take a hit. That’s ok temporarily, but it’s important to distinguish if it’s because you just can’t fit in a cocktail with the girls this week, or that you’d genuinely rather be alone. Isolation and withdrawing from previous pleasurable activities and relationships can be a symptom of depression.

3. “Sorry, what did you say, again?”

Have you ever been so overwhelmed that when you’re sitting in a meeting you can’t seem to focus on what is being discussed? Is that because your mind is taking you back to the amazing concert you attended over the past weekend, or is it because regardless of how hard you try, you just can’t seem to concentrate? If it’s the later (and a change from your baseline) then it’s time to reflect on your current level of stress and your current mood; a change in concentration can be affected with both anxiety and depression. 

4. “I can’t come into work today….”

An increase in absenteeism from work can be a sign that you’re feeling overwhelmed. People call in sick for both the physical, cognitive, and emotional manifestation of anxiety or depression. Work avoidance can also be a sign of depression. 

As important as it is to make the time to care for your mental health, and increase in frequency of work absenteeism is a sign that you may not coping as well.  It may be time to ask for help and reprioritize.   

5. “….I can’t remember”

When our responsibilities become overwhelming it is normal to have difficulty remembering what your boss wanted done, or what you were asked to bring to your friend’s dinner party. If you start noticing that you’re having more difficulty remembering previously formed memories, you may be experiencing a symptom of depression.

6. “If only I had more sleep”

Whether or not you’re up late perfecting every last detail from the previous day of work, or you’re tossing and turning in bed worrying about everything you need to get done during the following day, it’s vital to get on average 6-8 hours of sleep per night (each individual is different when it comes to the amount of sleep you need, but you will know best).

Consider tracking your sleep on your smart phone or go old school by recording it with pen and paper. When we are overworked, overwhelmed or stressed, our sleep is often one of the first clues that it’s time to slow down. It’s also important to track if you start waking up early (really early, like 4-5 am….and without an alarm clock) as early morning wakening can be a symptom of depression.

7. “No, thank you, I’m not hungry”

When we are stressed, overwhelmed, or just plain busy, we may not just forget to eat, but we can start to lose our appetite. In order for us to be healthy and efficient we need to eat nourishing food throughout the day.

Pack snacks and meals the night before (or the week before) to ensure you get the vitamins and fuel your body needs. If you start noticing a change in your appetite (your desire to eat), it may be a clue that you’re overworked and that your mood could be affected. 

8. “I can’t stop crying”

When we get overwhelmed, our body can react to such stress by taking it out on our mood. Some people may not describe their mood as sad per se, but instead they may find themselves tearful without a strong stimulus. It can be normal to be tearful following a stressful day at work, after a disagreement with a co-worker, or upon discovering you didn’t get the promotion you sought all year. If you find yourself more tearful than normal and you’re experiencing some of the signs above, it’s important you let someone know and seek professional help.  

This post was published on February 25, 2019, and has since been updated.

About the Author: Blare June is a lifestyle blogger from Halifax, Nova Scotia. What makes Blare June's blog unique is that in addition to fashion she writes about mental illness, empowerment, and overall wellness. When Blare June isn't blogging, she is working as a physician specializing in psychiatry in Halifax. You can find Blare June online at www.blarejune.com or on Instagram: @blarejune. 

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