Ask an Expert: How to Grow Your TikTok Following From 0 to 30K in 3 Days

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Courtney Quinn

If there’s anything we’ve learned for our Ask an Expert series, it’s that now is the perfect time to learn a new skill. Given that we’re all staying home to flatten the coronavirus curve, now is the time to start that blog, launch that newsletter, record that podcast, and jump on that new social media platform everyone’s talking about.

To find out how to thrive on TikTok (aka the hottest social media platform of the moment), we tapped Courtney Quinn of Color Me Courtney for a special segment of our Ask an Expert Instagram Live series. Quinn is a veritable influencer with over 600K followers on Instagram and now 30K followers and counting on TikTok (after just 3 days!).

Read on for her top three tips for growing a following on TikTok, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram Live.

1. Analyze trends.

“Look at what’s trending and create content specifically for TikTok—don’t repurpose content from Instagram, YouTube, or other platforms. You have to create unique value on each platform so that the followers who are with you on TikTok and Instagram aren’t being fed the same content on every platform.”

2. Immerse yourself in the platform. 

“I’ve reached 30K followers in three days and my goal is 50K by the end of the week. When I started, I spent about two hours a day immersing myself in the platform. I also spent about two hours a day making TikTok videos, which doesn’t take as long now since there’s a learning curve. I also spent about two hours a day engaging, commenting, liking, and following.”

3. Check out your analytics.

“Everyone has analytics in TikTok, you don’t need to have a business account or anything like that. When you’re checking your analytics, watch time is really important. When people watch videos all the way through, that’s how they go viral. So, finding a hook that gets your followers to stick around for those 15 seconds is really important because that’s going to boost your video.”

About the Expert: Courtney Quinn is the colorful lifestyle blogger behind Color Me Courtney. Color Me Courtney has amassed over 600K Instagram followers as well as a substantial following on her website, YouTube, Pinterest and more. Courtney has been featured in a variety of campaigns including a National TV commercial for Microsoft, designing the ABC Good Morning America holiday window for Instagram, a clothing line for Hudson’s Bay, as well as partnering with brands like Disney, IKEA, and HGTV to name a few. She's also frequently featured in industry-leading publications like Refinery29, Essence, Teen Vogue, Forbes and many more.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

12 Busy Women Reveal the WFH Hacks That Help Them Tackle Everything on Their To-Do List

Photo: Anna Shvets for Pexels

As we enter yet another week of coronavirus-induced telecommuting, it’s certainly no secret that working from home takes a surprising amount of self-discipline. After all, crossing things off your to-do list is made all the more difficult when breaking news alerts, piles of laundry, and reruns of “The Office” are competing for your attention.

In search of proven ways to boost productivity while working from home, we turned to some of the busiest women we know to find out what tips, tricks, and tools help them eliminate distractions and tackle everything on their to-do list. Scroll on for tried-and-true WFH hacks from the founder of Parachute, the digital content director of Domino, the CEO of Ritual, and more. Trust us, you’re going to want to write these down.

Sarah Paiji Yoo

Co-Founder & CEO, Blueland

The WFH Hack: “I have scheduled, regular breaks that I put on my calendar. For me, it's so I can spend time with my three-year-old son, who I am also currently watching full time as I also work from home full time.”

Why It Works: “For the first week of WFH, I didn't schedule these, and found myself either over-scheduling and feeling guilty that he'd have to go through long stretches without attention. Or I would spend too much time switching back and forth from work and spending time with my son. But I think scheduling breaks (for tidying, Instagram, reading about the latest on COVID-19) would be helpful for people who are not watching a child because it sets aside designated time to allow for distractions and allows for more productive stretches of work time.”

Catharine Dockery

Founding Partner, Vice Ventures

The WFH Hack: "I do a fair bit of work from home even in non-crisis times, so I'm well prepared! My intention is always to set an especially clear schedule when I work from home—if I get distracted at home, I've probably lost a few hours. As much as possible, I really like to vary my workspace and try to keep different areas of the apartment for different tasks. I'm usually at a desk or table to look at financial models/projections, walking around if I'm on the phone, or on the couch if I'm writing.”

Why It Works: "It works for me because I need extra reminders to break the conditioning in my mind that being home means work is over. Moving around helps keep my mind fresh and avoid distractions that might otherwise creep in. This tip really works well for me because my work has an incredible amount of variety without many breaks in between."

Katerina Schneider

Founder & CEO, Ritual

The WFH Hack: "While working from home can be more productive for some, it can also result in more work and less balance as personal and professional time blend together. I've added eating breaks into my calendar to make sure I am scheduling and adding consistency to meals."

Why It Works: "Trying to reduce ordering in, I prep my meals the night before and make sure they are well-balanced with micro and macronutrients. In addition, I'm using Apple's Health tracker to make sure I'm getting at least 10,000 steps a day. Calls that are not on video, tend to include me walking around the block. I also keep a set of three-pound weights on my desk to balance cardio with arm exercises during the occasional video conferencing.”

Jo Davenport

Owner & Designer, La Porte

The WFH Hack: "Listen to yourself, get to know what you need to feel good.

When I'm not in our New York office, I'm working from home in Chicago. As someone who works from home a lot, I learned over time that I thrive with structure of set daily meetings, physical activity, and dedicated quiet time.

If you're used to being in a larger office, use this as a time to take inventory of what you need in order to feel successful in your day. Everyone has different needs, and that's okay. Mornings that used to start with a workout class and coffee dates might mean more leisurely walks outside or virtually meeting up with friends, you can get creative.

Take advantage of the opportunity to listen to yourself and know you can create a framework that works best for you.” 

Why It Works: “During times like this, when we are forced to make changes big or small, it can push us outside our comfort zone. Knowledge is power, and by using these moments to notice and take stock, you set yourself up to create a new normal that you can feel great about.”

Brittany Kozerski Freeney

Owner & Designer, JADE Swim

The WFH Hack: “I'm obsessed with Trello (the website and the app). Imagine a virtual to-do list/bulletin board for you and your team with moveable and editable "post-it" like task boxes.”

Why It Works: “I'm a very visual person, so I love using Trello to make and update to-do lists. I create a business task list (but also a personal task list and a home task list as well). What's great is that you can give others access so they can add tasks, make updates (showing what status tasks are in) and then also leave comments for you to review. It saves a lot of time because I don't have to check in with every team member to see what they're working on or if it’s been completed. All I do is open the app and I can see the status of everything in detail that’s well organized and even color-coordinated.”

Ariel Kaye

Founder & CEO, Parachute

The WFH Hack: “I’ve been trying out time blocking to keep my days more organized and manageable. Much of my day is full of calls and virtual meetings, so when I have a break I take a look at my to-do list, and quickly get down to business. I set a timer, remove distractions and focus on the task at hand to make progress as efficiently as possible. 

I also am scheduling breaks. Whether that is a quick walk around the neighborhood or some light stretching. Fresh air and movement are two things that always make me feel energized.”  

Why It Works: “Time blocking is a great way to get focused and eliminate distractions. It’s easy to lose tracking of time responding to messages on Slack, checking in on social media or taking a break to watch the news. As a mom, now all of a sudden sharing my workspace with a 14 month old, it is especially important to be as efficient and productive with my time so I can concentrate, get things done and be able to give my little cutie some deserved attention.

Scheduling breaks helps me work better. On the days I don’t prioritize breaks, I get lethargic and it’s harder for me to work smart. Physical activity helps to boost endorphins and takes your mind off your stresses. I highly recommend getting some vitamin D and stepping outside to walk and/or do a sun salutation in between tasks.”  

Sophie Miura

Digital Content Director, Domino

The WFH Hack: “Time disappears when I'm working from home (it can feel like all the days blur into one), so I rely on a tight nighttime to-do list more than ever. Every evening before bed, I write down three projects I want to finish the next day. They're tasks that really move the needle—responding to emails or doing usual weekly jobs don't make the edit. In the morning, I book out time on my calendar to action each point so I don't get side tracked by meetings or calls. It really helps me manage my own time and make sure that the important stuff actually gets done!” 

Why It Works: “Slack and email are great for staying in touch with a remote team but they can also be really distracting. Blocking out my own calendar and limiting my to-do list to just three important tasks helps minimize out any 'manufactured emergencies' so I can see what really matters.”

Mallory Solomon

Founder, Salam Hello

The WFH Hack: “I try to stick to what my ‘normal’ morning routine would be. Wake up, drink coffee while reading The New York Times, set aside 45 minutes for an online workout (thank you IG live virtual workouts), shower, and get to work. All that said, with such uncertainty in the world, being patient with yourself is the number one key. If some days you wake up and all you can do is brush your teeth, make a coffee and work that is OKAY. You just have to know some days will be better than others.”

Why It Works: “Knowing you're going to be home all day, it's easy to feel the urge to sleep in, stay in bed, and get a slow start. I find when you do your best to keep a routine in the morning similar to one when we didn't live under such restrictions it puts you in a better, more centered mindset to try and conquer the day ahead.”

Tanya Zuckerbrot

Founder, F-Factor

The WFH Hack: “Set yourself up for success! Create a designated workspace for yourself at home. Set up a seat at your dining room or kitchen table and create a desk environment as you would if you just got a new desk at work. Plug in your chargers and put out a cup with pens and highlighters, a notepad, and anything else you need to do your job. You will be much more productive with everything set up rather than working from the couch or your bed with the TV on in the background.

I'd also say to set a work schedule for yourself. The same way you have office hours at the office, create them for your workday at home. You can be a bit more generous with your lunch break or ending the day earlier. Decide to work from 9 to 12 and then 2 to 5. Use the break to catch up on the news, eat a nourishing lunch, stretch, go for a walk, or call a friend or family member. The break will allow you to recharge and return to your afternoon work with more energy.”

Why It Works: “Creating a workspace increases productivity. When you sit down at your ‘desk’ it signals, this is my time to work: it’s business time. Away from all other distractions and with everything you need set up around you, you will be able to focus and get your work done.

Designating hours that are for work will help keep you on task. It gives you two blocks of time to be productive and ample time in between for you to clear your head and recharge for the afternoon. This will help prevent you from getting burnt out. Creating a schedule for your day will also help keep you organized and provide structure to your day. This will also help prevent you from getting bored.”

Michelle Cordeiro Grant

Founder & CEO, LIVELY

The WFH Hack: “Maintaining my schedule of waking up at 6:30 in the morning has been key. One hack that also really helps with productivity and creativity is taking a walk while taking calls. And lastly, given we are all social distancing, over-communicating via Zoom and Skype has been a game changer for my team.”

Why It Works: '“Trying my best to maintain the schedule I normally operate on has helped me create a structure in my day-to-day. I still get up and workout at the same time, the only difference is I now dedicate my commute time to playing with my kids, which has been an amazing way to start my day.

I truly believe that walking while I'm taking calls is the best way for me to be extremely present and the movement helps create energy in my mind and boost my overall creativity.

When it comes to communicating with my team, I encourage video over audio because it gives us some sort of human connection and it's really nice to see the team smile and see emotion. One thing I'm really encouraging on these video calls is checking in on what our priorities are to ensure we are all on the same page.”

Shea Marie

CEO & Creative Director, Same Los Angeles

The WFH Hack: “I work from home half of the time, so at this point, I have gotten really used to it. It’s not for everyone because it requires serious self-discipline. It’s much easier to be distracted, lazy, and procrastinate when working from home.  Call me old-school, but something I always do is handwrite to-do lists and cross them off as I go through them.”

Why It Works: “There’s something with hand-eye coordination and memory that’s definitely connected. Writing something down rather than typing it not only helps me remember it better, but also seeing everything on a physical list in front of me every day and crossing it off gives me a satisfying feeling of accomplishment. At the end of the week when I look at the list and see everything crossed off, it’s like, ‘Yes! Look what I’ve accomplished!’”

Seema Bansal

Co-Founder, Venus ET Fleur

The Tip: “Working from home can often be hard to adjust to. In order to create a more calming and creative environment, I suggest finding a designated space to “work” in outside your normal seating areas. Rather than sitting on your bed or on the couch, which can lessen productivity, create a space that keeps you inspired. I keep my to-do list nearby, books that I can look back through for inspiration, candles, flowers, as well as daily affirmations and reminders to stay positive.”

Why It Works: “It creates the perfect environment for you to stay focused. Creating rules is important when working from home as you can easily get off task and distracted doing other things. Creating a designated work space has helped me tremendously stay on track and feel good about what I’ve accomplished throughout the day.”

Up next: I Have Been Working From Home for Years—This Is How to Do It Successfully

MORE ON THE BLOG

Ask an Expert: How to Create a Morning Routine to Maintain Your Sanity While Self-Quarantined

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Lauren Gores Ireland

Now, more than ever, a consistent morning routine can help establish a sense of stability and control. But while we’re all social distancing and, in many cases, self-quarantining, establishing am A.M. ritual can be easier said than done (especially for all those working parents out there—we see you!)

For the latest installment of our Ask an Expert series, we tapped Lauren Gores Ireland, an established lifestyle content creator and the co-founder of the clean skincare line Summer Fridays, to chat through the benefits of having a solid morning routine amid the coronavirus crisis. Read on for her go-to supplements to ease anxiety, skincare, and fitness tips, then keep scrolling to find out how to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram.

1. Kick Off the Day With Feel-Good Supplements

Of course, you should review any supplements that you take with your doctor, but here are some of the supplements that are currently helping Ireland stay calm in these uncertain times:

• Moon Juice Magnesi- Om Powder. ”If you’re feeling some anxious feelings, which are very normal, I love this magnesium powder,” she divulges. 

• Moon Juice SuperYou. “I usually take two tablets in the morning,” Ireland notes.

• 8 Green Effervescent Tablet. “These are amazing, you get all your greens in one tablet,” she says. “I started taking these when I was pregnant with my son because eating greens would make me feel ill and I’ve been taking them ever since.”

• Sovereign Silver Drops. “These are really good for immune support, but they’re not the tastiest things ever,” she cautions.

2. Indulge in a Multi-Step Skincare Routine

“It’s a good time to take advantage of those face mask or hair masks you’ve always been wanting to do,” advises Ireland. Below, is the morning skincare routine she’s currently following:

• First things first, she cleanses her face with Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser.

• Then, she applies Summer Fridays CC Me Serum to clean skin. “This is amazing for hyper-pigmentation and gives you an instant glow,” says Ireland.

• “Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask is amazing for hydration,” she notes. “One of my tricks is to keep one of my Jet Lag Masks in the fridge so it’s cooling and I’ll put a little bit on under my eyes in the morning which is great for puffiness.”

• Next up is Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. “This is our new lip balm,” she shares. “It’s buttery, not greasy; I’ve been lathering this on several times a day.”

• To top it off, she adds a touch of Glossier Cloud Paint to her cheekbones. “It adds a little color and feels like a happy boost,” notes Ireland.

3. Get Your Body Moving With a Mini-Workout

“I’ve been trying to do a mini-workout every day,” says Ireland. “Each morning, I’ve been sharing three exercises that are really easy to do at home and don’t require any equipment on my Instagram.”

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive workout, Ireland highly recommends the following fitness apps and programs:

• Tone It Up

• Sweat

• Melissa Wood Health 

• The Sculpt Society

Even if you don’t have time for a workout, just stretch to move your body a little bit, advises Ireland. “For me, workouts offer a sense of escape, and it’s important to do some kind of workout every day,” she notes. “Whatever it is that makes you move your body and feel like you’ve got a little bit of energy.”

About the Expert: Lauren Gores Ireland is a female business owner, entrepreneur, wife, and mother—sharing her passion behind what it means to imperfectly juggle her roles both at work and at home. She is an established lifestyle content creator and the co-founder of the successful, clean skincare line Summer Fridays.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Ask an Expert: 5 Tips for Dealing With COVID-19 Anxiety From a Financial Therapist

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Amanda Clayman

COVID-19 has upended our lives in every possible way. Socially, emotionally, physically, and certainly financially. With many of us losing our livelihoods, facing medical bills, or simply enduring a disruption to our regular life, anxiety can seem more omnipresent than ever before. But even in these trying times, money anxiety does not have to take over our mental health.

To find out how to better manage our financial fears for the sake of our mental health, we tapped Amanda Clayman, a financial therapist and Prudential Financial’s wellness advocate, for the latest installment of our Ask an Expert Instagram Live series. She (rightfully) reminded us that, by being mindful, we can use this crisis as an opportunity to become more self-aware, examine our situation and tendencies, and practice prioritizing our financial and emotional wellbeing.

Scroll on for five tips for coping with COVID-19 anxiety, and head to the Create & Cultivate Instagram to tune into our next live Ask an Expert segment. 

1. Feel All the Feels  

Begin by taking a moment to acknowledge your emotions. This may seem unnecessary, but too often we try to think our way out of feeling problems, brushing over the core of the issue. If you are anxious about your recent lifestyle shift or financial security, let those feelings come forward, and identify them without judgment.

Are you scared? Sad? Experiencing loss? Bottling up these sensations can lead to burnout and exhaustion, but examining them will help you move forward. You may find this exercise will reveal how your feelings don’t always tell you the truth—by naming your emotions, you can calmly compare them to the facts at hand and gain a more balanced perspective on the situation.

2. Get Comfortable With Uncertainty 

Overcoming any type of anxiety means learning to tolerate uncertainty. Much of the financial effects of COVID-19 are out of your hands, and when we focus on those externals, we increase our sense of helplessness.

Instead of ruminating on what the market will do tomorrow or when certain businesses will reopen, try to honestly determine what you can and can’t control at this moment. Derive safety and purpose from the things that are within your power, like your attitude, your purchasing behavior, and your daily activities.

It also helps to not project too far into the future. If you are going to anticipate anything, anticipate the need to be flexible, and save your energy so that you can be effective as the situation evolves. 

3. Bring It Back to the Basics

Your “new” lifestyle may bring changes to your spending and earnings compared to “normal life.” Take a look at your credit card and bank statements to determine how much you need to keep yourself fed, connected and safe. This is the time to protect the essentials: medical, housing, and food. This isn’t a time to make drastic changes, but instead, hone in on which of these basic needs will provide financial peace of mind and build good habits for the future. If you begin to feel anxious about this pared-down way of life, remember this budget addresses your needs right now, and when circumstances change you will change your money choices with them. 

4. Respond, Don’t React

Anxiety can prompt you to create busywork that will keep you distracted from your feelings but do not confuse activity with productivity. It’s natural to want to pounce on every anxious feeling, but these impulsive decisions rarely line up with strategic needs, and can actually lead to big regrets where finances are involved. Staying grounded, present and aware under pressure is key for your overall well being.

Be purposeful, not impulsive; cautious, yet hopeful. To practice, try making a list of your anxious thoughts as they arise, then step away and allow your mind room to breathe. Return to the list at a later time and review it with fresh eyes. Also, when faced with financial decisions, take the time to gather information and analyze your options before you act. Thinking about money is important, but it can be toxic if it takes over every hour of the day. 

5. Remember, You are Not Alone

Anxiety can arise from not being able to rely on your normal problem-solving methods (hello, planners!), so this is the time to get creative. COVID-19 is a collective problem, not an individual issue, and while it is physically isolating, it still allows for open communication with those around you.

Personal finance can be private, but it’s also universal. Everyone deals with it, and in these times of crisis, we can be civic-minded and united in our support for one another. Step outside of your typical routine and reach out to friends to talk about your financial anxiety. Host a virtual happy hour to share knowledge, fears, and money ideas. Nothing seems as scary when you face it together. 

After all, combating financial anxiety is not just about feeling zen and balanced, it takes consistent self-care and discipline of mind, especially during a crisis. We are all concerned about our ability to provide for our loved ones, but remember to also take care of yourself.

Fostering mental health, examining your emotions, connecting with those around you, and slowing things down will help you make financial decisions you can feel good about. We have the ability to engage with our money beyond the surface level and remain calm and collected no matter what the world throws at us. We will get through it together. 

About the Expert: Amanda Clayman, financial wellness advocate for Prudential Financial, is a widely recognized leader in the field of financial therapy. She helps her clients decode how thoughts, feelings, and associations shape their financial choices, and identifies how those patterns serve and limit them in their lives. For over a decade Amanda has been helping people move beyond shame and frustration to find opportunities for personal growth embedded in the financial challenges they face.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Ask an Expert: How Influencers Can Keep Their Business Thriving While Social Distancing

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Idalia Salsamendi

If the coronavirus crisis has taught us anything, it’s that no business is immune from COVID-19’s far-reaching economic impact—even one that’s predicated on social media. To find out how influencers can keep their businesses thriving while social distancing, we tapped business strategist and social media consultant Idalia Salsamendi whose client list includes Chriselle Lim, Brittany Xavier, and Jacey Duprie, to name a few.

If you joined us for her Ask an Expert Instagram Live conversation this week, you know that the influencer world is spinning with one critical question in these difficult times: What happens now? Scroll on for the business strategist and social media consultant’s top three tips for how to manage not only your career and business but also your stress, and find out how to tune into our next Ask an Expert segment on Instagram Live.

1. Time to Influence 

In today’s society, the word “influencer” is tossed around so frequently that perhaps we’ve lost focus on what the word actually entails. Our minds are instantly transported to those men and women posing in their latest outfit by a hot pink wall, and/or promoting their favorite skincare brand saying how “obsessed” they are with it. That’s all fine and dandy. I mean hello, I’m the one booking those deals. 

However, since the dawn of the arrival of social media (yup, I’ve been managing influencers, talent, and models for over a decade now), I’ve always instilled in my clients one main thing: serve a bigger purpose. Now more than ever we are truly seeing the rise of the innate meaning of “influencer.” We are seeing men and women around the world donating their resources, voice, and money to the pandemic at hand and guess what, it’s making a difference. I’m noticing a beautiful shift in the paradigm to use this “influence” to do more than to sell an object, but rather to serve a cause. Here’s a beautiful thing though, you could actually do both. Hence point #2...

2. Pitch Smart 

A common question I get asked is, “Idalia, should I even be pitching to brands right now?” My answer as of today, March 26, 2020, is: YES. Please pitch. Please support your small business (remember you are one!). Here’s the clincher though: You have to pitch smart and not be tone-deaf to the global pandemic. Like I mentioned in the first point, you have to use your influence for good, and so do brands. Now is the time to think about how you could make a difference and ask your favorite brands to join you on that journey. 

If you’re self-quarantined, think about brands that speak to that situation... is it your favorite snacks, wine, sweatshirt, book, etc.? Then reach out and tell them you’d like to unite forces and raise awareness around a charity, organization, hospital, etc. Donate a part of your rate to a charity. You can even ask them to chip in, too! You both could raise funds to support your local food drive or raise awareness to a cause... possibilities are also endless here. Encourage the brand, and show them your passion and education about the subject. 

One extremely crucial point to take into consideration when doing this: it has to be genuine. Please do not link yourself to a brand or charitable cause if you feel nothing for it and are doing it to look good. It will bleed into your work, and people can sniff a fraud from a mile away. So really sit yourself down and consider what you care about.

Pssst... If you need a helpful nudge, here are a couple which I’m personally donating and raising awareness for:

• World Health Organization Coronavirus Response Fund

• No Kid Hungry

And if you’re scratching your head wondering how you can properly even pitch, definitely check out the Powerful Pitch Kit for Influencers, and enjoy 50% off with promo code: CULTIVATELOVE.

3. Say Buh-Bye to Your Comfort Zone 

The chances of you reading this while self-isolating are pretty high, so I’m going to be your cheerleader right now and encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. I get it, we are all locked up and it’s human that at moments we feel disillusioned, hopeless, stuck, confused, angry, sad... the list really could go on and on. Here’s the thing though, you have to push through. Keywords: HAVE TO.

Influencers that have been able to take the quarantine and show different sides of themselves are the ones that are not only the happiest (mental health check) but are also the ones that are getting reached out to by brands (pay-check). Simply taking a pretty photo is no longer the status quo, but rather something that may turn off your followers if you do it too frequently. So I’ll ask you what I ask everyone I work with: what sets you apart as a human being (forget business)? Do you play the piano? Do you paint? Do you do funny impersonations? Do you dance? Do you love to work out? The answers are endless, and what’s imperative to understand here is that there is no right or wrong answer. The end-game is the same: show it to your followers. 

Since the rise of TikTok, I’ve seen influencers that are much more polished and serious on Instagram, let loose and have some fun on the ‘Tok. I’ve seen them without makeup in their sweatpants trying to a crazy dance move. And people are going nuts over it, even when syndicated on Instagram! Moral of the story: people want to see all your wonderful, quirky, funny, inspiring dimensions and now is the time to show them.

I genuinely hope these three tips inspired and empowered you in one way, shape, and form. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for stopping by and reading this. If you’re curious about more of what I’m up to, feel free to check out my website and my podcast.

About the Expert: Idalia Salsamendi is an industry-leading business strategist and social media consultant. With over 16 years of experience in PR and top-tier talent management, Idalia opened her company in 2016 with strategy for both brands and influencers at its core. Known for being selective towards the types of projects and clients she engages, the mantra for her company is to inspire, inform, and empower. Her roster includes Chriselle Lim, Brittany Xavier, and Jacey Duprie, to name a few.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Ask an Expert: How to Jump on Digital Even If Your Business Isn't Online

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Vanessa Lee

Needless to say, the COVID-19 crisis is having a major impact on brick-and-mortar businesses. With everyone responsibly staying home and practicing social distancing in order to do their part and help flatten the coronavirus curve, businesses that typically rely on in-person sales (think: fitness studios, salons, restaurants, etc.) are needing to pivot in order to stay profitable during these uncertain times.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from our Ask an Expert series, it’s that jumping on digital is essential for brick-and-mortar businesses to come out of the coronavirus pandemic stronger than ever. Which is why we tapped Vanessa Lee, the owner of the beauty concept bar, The Things We Do, for the latest installment of the series. (Spoiler alert: Lee’s creative use of social media to grow her business in these unpredictable times is a masterclass on how to successfully pivot to digital.)

Read on for her top three tips for pivoting to digital even if you’re business isn’t online. If you missed the conversation, you can watch it in full here, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram Live.

Tip #1: Ask your customers what they what.

“Make sure you’re giving your audience and customers only what they want. Reach out to your followers on social media and ask them what they need from you. They will tell you what they'll appreciate and what they need from you as a company. We’re living in a special time where we have social media and have the ability to have that dialogue.”

Tip #2: Focus on educational content.

“People are on social media more than ever. Right now, what people are sharing is a lot of educational videos. They’re so powerful because not only are you informing your audience about what you do but there’s an attachment to an experience afterward.“

Tip #3: Think beyond social media.

“It’s important to capture email lists through social media. Making your own email list is super important because right now we’re seeing that so much can change so quickly—you need something solid outside the social media realm.”

About the Expert: Vanessa Lee is a world-renowned medical aesthetic provider sought after for her dedication to the look of natural beauty and known for her contribution to training and educating in the cosmetic/medical field. She is a best-kept celebrity secret, skincare expert, and the owner of a beauty concept bar, The Things We Do.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Ask an Expert: 5 Tips for How to Use Social Media to Grow and Scale Your Business During COVID-19

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Kayla Ybanez

Despite the high volume of people online, it can be easy to think that nobody will be interested in you or your online business, but business strategist Kayla Ybanez says that couldn't be farther from the truth. Yes, the way people are using social media right now is different, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t consuming your content at all. It just means they are consuming it differently and at different rates.

So, how can you grab their attention and continue to grow your business? To find out, we tapped Ybanez for an informative segment of our Ask an Expert Instagram Live series. Read on for five practical tips from Ybanez on how to use social media to grow and scale your business during COVID-19. If you missed the conversation, you can watch it in full here, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram Live.

1. Remember, Your Current Clients Are Number One

In times of uncertainty, it can be easy to get distracted by wanting to only focus on how to generate new income streams or launches. I want to challenge you that one of the most important things with growing your online business right now is over-delivering to your current clients.

But first things first, your current clients are going to need you more than ever. Checking in with them more often will ensure client satisfaction and will continue to help them get the best results from your product or service.

The second piece is that testimonials and social proof are SO important for your online business. When you give your clients more than what they expected, they will over-deliver on their social proof for you.

How can you over-deliver?

• Offer extra calls to your clients.

• Go LIVE more often in your paid communities for face-to-camera time.

• Offer discounts on evergreen courses/programs.

• Be a listening ear when they need it.

2. Grab Your Audience’s Attention

Now more than ever, people will be consuming different types of social media as a form of distraction from what is going on in the world. Yes, it will be a lot like the early 2000s when the internet will become an escape from reality. Remember those days?

Your audience is growing sick of the news and they are ready to consume content that is going to be valuable to them. First, you need to be able to grab their attention.

Using powerful hooks on social media posts is going to be key to stopping people from scrolling past your content. What is a hook? It is the very first line of a post; the one that tells the reader exactly why they need to stop and consume the whole thing!

Hook suggestions:

• My 3 tips to do _____. (Tell them what they’re about to learn.)

• If you’re anything like me, then you know _____. (If they can relate, they’ll read on.)

• You won’t BELIEVE what just happened. (Click-bait to spark curiosity.)

If you just jump into the story without telling us why we should care and why it’s important that we know, we will keep on scrolling.

3. Stay Top-of-Mind

Even when social media tends slightly change, your audience isn’t dropping their love of scrolling Instagram and Facebook completely! I recommend staying in a CREATION mode as much as possible for a second priority behind OVERDELIVERING on serving your current clients. The more your audience notices you showing up on social media even if they aren’t consuming your content, they are more likely to think of YOU when a need for your product or service arises. The best part? Your content doesn’t (and honestly shouldn’t) have to only relate to your business.

Examples:

• Sharing a tutorial for your signature braid hairstyle.

• Your hacks for organizing your closet.

• Your secret to the perfect hard-boiled egg.

How frequently should you be showing up on social media? To some degree, you want to be showing up face to camera daily.

4. Demonstrate Your Essential Value

The next thing you want to pay attention to is making sure that you are positioning your brand and products to align with your ideal client’s perception of essential value.

At times when you worry that your audience is changing their buying behaviors, the best way to adapt to this is to show them that you are meeting their essential needs. For a lot of us, those needs include Solving known problems, community/support, providing certainty.

Whether you’ve had to think about these in your business before or not, how can you shift your content to reflect that you are making it your mission to meet these needs?

Examples:

• Tell us about your community and how it will enrich our lives.

• How are you solving problems that we have RIGHT NOW?

• How are you/your products making us feel sure of our decisions and protected?

5. Get Scrappy With Your Resources

With social media, the ability to grow your business and generate revenue are ENDLESS! I know you may have certain routines and launch plans that you’re set in, but sometimes we need to be adaptable and ready to meet people where they’re at.

Bonuses and “extra stuff” isn’t getting people to get off the fence and make buying decisions as much at this current time. What is? Discounts!

Recommendations for increasing cash flow into your business right now:

• Running a flash sale on an existing evergreen offer.

• If you provide an in-person service such as photography, offer a discount if they buy “sessions” upfront.

• Creating a low ticket baby-offer that provides INSANE value (to build your email list as well).

• Beefing up your affiliate program for offers so you can partner with loyal members of your community for a mutually-beneficial launch.

What with everything that is going on, I wanted to outline the main areas of your business you should focus on to continue to grow your impact on social media. At the end of the day, SHOWING UP is always going to be the most important thing. Leaders will rise and you’re here because you are a leader who’s making a change!

About the Expert: Kayla Ybanez is a business strategist for network marketers and online coaches and service providers who want to build a sustainable and scalable personal brand online. Ybanez built her business from her daughter's hospital room, where her daughter fought for her life, and where she and her family lived with her for 436 days straight, waiting for answers for her medical mystery diagnosis and watching her daughter undergo a bone marrow transplant in January 2019.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Sallie Krawcheck's Top 3 Smart Money Moves to Make During the COVID-19 Crisis

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

The coronavirus crisis has taken a serious toll on the economy, causing the U.S. stock market to have it's worst day since the 1987 stock crash and the OECD to cut global economic growth projections in half. Needless to say, money anxiety is at an all-time high as a result. In fact, according to a recent study, 67 million Americans anticipate they’ll have trouble paying their credit card bills due to coronavirus.

In an effort to help ease our financial fears during these uncertain times, we hosted a special Fireside Chat edition of our Instagram Live series, Ask an Expert, with Sallie Krawcheck, co-founder and CEO of Ellevest, a digital investment platform built by women, for women. Our founder and CEO Jaclyn Johnson virtually sat down with Krawcheck to answer all your most pressing money questions in the wake of the coronavirus, including how to cut unnecessary spending from your budget and how to fund your small business during quarantine closures.

Read on for three key takeaways from the conversation and head to the Create & Cultivate Instagram to tune into our next Live Ask an Expert segment. 

Tip #1: Don’t stop investing.

“The question we get the most at Ellevest, is, Should I be buying? The second is, Should I be selling?,” explains Krawcheck. “The answer is you should be investing steadily for your longterm goals. You should be investing a bit of your paycheck, after you pay off debt, because if you try to time the market you will fail.”

Tip #2: Watch your expenses.

“Watch your expenses,” Krawcheck advises small business owners who are doing everything they can to keep the lights on. “Use your values to determine what expenses are important, protect your company culture, and trim where you can without hurting your core business.”

Tip #3: Contribute to an emergency fund.

Krawcheck's rule of thumb for a healthy financial future includes breaking down each paycheck (a.k.a your take-home pay) following these general guidelines: 

• 50% of every paycheck should go toward paying for things you need (think: rent, utilities, car insurance, etc.)

• 30% should go toward fun (think: those extras that bring you joy, like that outfit your dying to buy or you’re favorite workout class)

• 20% should go toward future you (i.e., your emergency fund, 401k, IRA, etc.)

However, before you start contributing to an emergency fund, “get your credit card debt paid off because it’s leeching out wealth from you,” cautions Krawcheck.

Ellevest is answering any and all money questions that come in from the community on their blog. It's an amazing resource in these uncertain times.

Sign up for Sallie Krawcheck’s weekly newsletter, Money Monday, to stay up to date on all things women and money. 

About the Expert: Sallie Krawcheck is the CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, a digital-first, mission-driven investment platform for women. Ellevest is one of the fastest-growing digital investment platforms and has been named a #24 on CNBC’s top 50 "Disruptor" list and #14 on LinkedIn’s 50 “Most Sought-After Startups” (#2 in New York). Krawcheck is also Chair of the Ellevate Network, a 135K-strong global professional women’s network, and Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Leadership Fund, a fund that invests in the top-rated companies for advancing women. Before launching Ellevest, Krawcheck built a successful career on Wall Street: She was the CEO of Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, US Trust, the Citi Private Bank, and Sanford C. Bernstein. She was also Chief Financial Officer for Citigroup.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Ask an Expert: How to Build Your Matriarchy and Support System During COVID-19

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, female founders are giving us hope. They’re forging new support systems and offering up their expertise, knowledge, and, in some cases, even their funds to their communities and to each other. They’re proving to us that we truly are all in this together and that we’re stronger when we lean on one another.

For insight on how to build a matriarchy and support system during these uneasy times, it only seemed fitting for us to tap the Jennifer Justice, a music attorney who found her passion for advocating for women while working with major artists like Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Rihanna, for the latest installment of our Ask an Expert Instagram Live series.

Read on for a few highlights. If you missed the conversation, you can watch it in full here, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram Live.

You’ve worked with some of the hardest working women in the business including Beyoncé. What did you learn from representing such a powerful female?

“Women, especially business owners and creatives, do better when they’re represented by women. We assess risk differently, we understand our challenges and our strengths, it’s important that we support each other. As hard-working women, we have to put in 110% to get what when men have to put in 75% to get.”

Have you ever been blatantly discriminated against at the negotiation table because you (not your client) is a woman?

I still am. I’m a woman. I get mansplained to all the time when I’m negotiating against men. It’s all day long. Unfortunately, misogyny and sexism have not changed. But I don’t’ care. I don’t let it affect me or how I negotiate for my clients. Advocating for yourself is the hardest thing to do, and advocating for women is for the greater good.

How can we be supporting each other in business right now and helping each other rise?

“We can help each other right now by buying each other’s stuff, in a responsible way. We can also be promoting each other on social media, connecting via live video chats or podcasts to help fellow female founders spread the work about who they are and what they do. But most importantly, you can check-in and listen to other people and what they’re needs are. You can be a rock for somebody else.”

About the Expert: Jennifer Justice is an entertainment and live-experience executive known for her expertise in building artists’ careers and business portfolios by marrying art with commerce. In 2019, JJ founded The Justice Dept. – a management, strategy, and legal firm that works with female (and woke male) entrepreneurs, executives, talent, brands and creatives to build and maximize their value focusing in the areas of tech, consumer product, finance, media, entertainment and fashion. JJ has been named a “Game Changer” by Goop, one of the 50 Badass Women Changing the World in 2020 by InStyle, and on Billboard's Women in Power list three times. She has been featured on the TODAY Show and is a regular contributor on NBC News.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Ask an Expert: 5 Practical Marketing Tips for Staying Profitable During the COVID-19 Pandemic

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Laurel Mintz

It’s safe to say the COVID-19 pandemic has radically shifted how businesses both large and small need to approach their marketing strategies. With the sudden rise of the stay-at-home economy, it’s imperative that brands pivot swiftly to digital in order to stay profitable because, now more than ever, consumers are turning to social media as a source for content, comfort, and even creativity.

In fact, social media views and engagement have increased by over 30% in the last two weeks, according to Laurel Mintz, CEO and founder of the digital marketing and live events agency Elevate My Brand. We tapped the marketing pro to find out how brands can support their communities and remain profitable in these uncertain times for the latest installment of our Ask an Expert Instagram Live series.

Read on for five practical marketing tips for staying profitable and coming out of the coronavirus crisis stronger than before. If you missed the conversation, you can watch it in full here, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram Live.

1. Double Down on Your Digital Spend 

“A lot of businesses are scared, and they should be. Because they’re scared, they’re questioning their marketing and advertising spend. Don’t be one of those companies.

Now is the best time EVER to double down your dollars so that you can capture more market share. It may sound a bit callous, but we saw the same thing happen in 2008/2009, and the smarter companies that survived and thrived turned a challenging time into an opportunity to grow.

It will be good for you long-term and is the right thing to do to keep the economy going.”

2. Get More Social (Online) 

“I don’t know about you, but I’ve canceled most of my social and business plans. This has left me feeling totally disconnected and frankly a bit lonely. That’s why now is a great time to start or increase your social media content. Act as if things are as normal as possible and talk to your community through your social channels.

More than just talking at them, start a dialogue and use these challenging times to truly engage your community in honest conversations about what you’re doing to support them and how you’re working towards business as usual. Make them feel the love even if it’s only online. (P.S. Social media views and engagement have increased by over 30% in the last two weeks, so give the people what they want where they want it.)”

3. Put Your People First

“I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but there are still a lot of companies out there that don’t have emergency protocol around this virus. Worse yet, there are a lot of employees who, if they don’t show up physically to work, don’t get paid. There’s no other way to say this than don’t be a d*&k!

Like us, I’m sure many of your employees have kids and, with the recent school shutdowns, are feeling the pressure more than ever before. We live in amazing times where a ton of work can be done remotely. When you treat your employees with respect and let them put their health and families first, they will be more loyal and committed to the work and will likely maintain productivity and service levels, and that’s good for business and morale alike.”

4. Convert, Don’t Cancel

“Brands that rely on fundraising efforts like non-profits are, rightfully, freaking out right now. Many events and galas have been canceled and the teams behind them don’t know how they’re going to raise the working capital they need to maintain their staff and support the work they’re doing in the community.

We have seen smart companies both in the for- and non-profit worlds quickly convert events and fundraising to digital. Whether it’s micro-donations through social media or crowdfunding platforms, there are tons of great digital tools, if done right and quickly, that can slow the decline of fundraising efforts.

There are also tools out there such as Zoom that can supplement the intimate connections between donors, keep meetings on track, and keep communities and communication flowing. So don’t cancel that meeting, just convert it to a Zoom and keep things moving forward as normally as possible.”

5. Content Is (Still) Critical

“Let’s be honest, with everything canceling and everyone wondering what to do next, most businesses have a lot of unexpected time on their hands right now. Look at it as an opportunity to develop quality content for your digital channels and to set yourself up for a successful future.

Use Google Docs to collectively ideate ad concepts. Use Zoom to interview employees for human-interest story vlogs. Use a project management platform to make a more robust marketing plan. We know how hard it can be for brands to devote time to building out their content calendar, so take this time to write blogs and prepare email campaigns and audit your content.

Because when you come out on the other side of this thing, we’ll all have to hit the ground running.”

About the Expert: Laurel Mintz, J.D., M.B.A. is the CEO and founder of award-winning, Los Angeles-based digital marketing agency Elevate My Brand. Laurel’s gift is connecting with people and their stories. After all, companies are made up of people, and stories are just narratives that are the foundation of great marketing. Laurel’s energy has been the driving force behind the agency’s growth since it launched in 2009. Her awards include the 2017 Patrick Soon-Shiong Innovation Award, the 2016 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Company award, the Los Angeles Business Journal 2016 Women In Business Award, and more. 

Right now, Elevate My Brand is offering complimentary strategy sessions to any brands in need. Shoot them an email at info@elevatemybrand.com or ping them on Instagram or Facebook. 

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

We Found 7 Resources to Provide COVID-19 Financial Relief for Small Businesses

Photo: Smith House Photography

We know every small business is being affected by the COVID-19 crisis right now, and our team at Create & Cultivate is here to help. Our mission—and our passion—is to help people create and cultivate the careers of their dreams, so quite frankly, there’s no better opportunity for us to be of service than right now.

In order to help small business owners navigate this uncertain time, we’ve compiled a list of relief resources and basic information for how to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re seeking a low-interest loan, needing to pause your student loan debt, or looking to apply for a small business grant, we’ve tracked down resources to help you do just that.

If You’re Seeking a Low-Interest Loan…

The Resource: U.S. Small Business Administration SBA Disaster Assistance

The Details: “The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in all U.S. states and territories.

These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.

SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.”

How to Apply: Apply for assistance here.

The Resource: Kiva

The Details: "Kiva lenders have shown their commitment to providing financial assistance to all by making 0% interest loans to entrepreneurs in the U.S. on Kiva.org for the last 10 years.

In today's difficult circumstances, we'd like to make it as easy and impactful as possible for small businesses in the U.S. to have access to affordable capital on the Kiva platform—capital that may be the difference between shutting down and keeping their doors open.

Effective immediately, U.S. applicants for a Kiva loan will have access to the following: Expanded eligibility: More businesses in the US will be eligible for a Kiva loan; Larger loans: The maximum loan on the Kiva platform will increase from $10,000 to $15,000; Grace period: New borrowers may access a grace period of up to 6 months for greater financial flexibility.”

How to Apply: Apply for a loan here.

If You Want to Pause Your Student Loan Debt…

The Resource: Department of Education Federal Student Loan Relief

The Details: “If you’re having trouble making payments, contact your loan servicer as soon as possible. If you have a Federal Perkins Loan, contact your school. You can easily avoid the consequences of delinquency or default by staying in touch with your servicer or school.

Your servicer or school can provide information about deferment or forbearance options that allow you to temporarily stop making payments on your loans. You may also be able to change to a different repayment plan that would give you a lower monthly payment.”

How to Apply: Contact your loan servicer, or your school if you have a federal Perkins Loan.

If You Want to Apply for a Small Business Grant…

The Resource: Facebook Small Business Grants Program

The Details: “Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where we operate. We’ll begin taking applications in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can sign up to receive more information when it becomes available.“

How to Apply: Sign up to get updates about Facebook’s Small Business Grants Program here.

The Resource: Zapier Small Business Assistance Program

The Details: “Zapier is creating a $1 million small business assistance program for businesses to heavily impacted people who meet some combination of these criteria: You work in a business with 10 employees or fewer, or you're a solo entrepreneur, your business is privately owned, your business is impacted by "social distancing" in an outsized way (the tourism, food service, hospitality, salon and spa, fitness, and education industries are some examples), and you're a paying Zapier customer as of 3/20/2020. Small businesses in need can qualify for a free 3-month credit for a starter plan.”

How to Apply: Fill out this form.

The Resource: Bumble Loves Small Businesses

The Details: "Bumble is granting a number of small businesses up to $5K to help during this trying time. At this time, we are only accepting requests from small businesses and will verify all company registration numbers. If you’re not a small business owner, you can fill out this form to nominate a small business (or forward this link to them!).”

How to Apply: Fill out this application form.

The Resource: The GoFundMe.org Small Business Relief Fund

The Details: “The Small Business Relief Fund will provide one-time matching grants to qualifying small businesses to help alleviate the financial burdens during these pressing times. To qualify for a matching grant from the Small Business Relief Fund, the GoFundMe fundraiser must raise at least $500 and verify that your small business has been negatively impacted by a government mandate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your small business must be independently owned and operated, and must not be nationally dominant in your field of operation. Each recipient of the matching grant must intend on using the funds to help care for your employees or pay ongoing business expenses."

How to Apply: There are a few ways for small business owners to apply:

• “Claim your fundraiser. Many small businesses will have a fundraiser automatically created for them through the Yelp platform. To claim this fundraiser and donations made to it, you can submit a request through the form above.”

• “Start a new fundraiser. If you do not have a fundraiser already created for your business, you can start one now. In your fundraiser description, please make sure you add the hashtag #SmallBusinessRelief. Then fill out this form to confirm your small business.”

For more information and resources on how to navigate the coronavirus crisis as a small business:

• Calculate how much you’ll get from the $1,200 (or more) coronavirus checks being provided by the U.S. government with this calculator tool from The Washington Post. Plus, learn when your check will arrive, and more.

• Consider scrolling through this list of national and state-specific funds, grant, and resources for business owners grappling with coronavirus compiled by Forbes.

• For rent assistance, scroll through this comprehensive list of how to get COVID-19 rent relief compiled by Investopedia.

  • It’s important to note, however, that even if your state has taken action to pause or suspend evictions, anywhere from 30 to 90 days, it does not relieve you of your obligation to pay your rent. It just forbids your landlord from evicting you during that period for late payment.

• Subscribe to a special edition of Deloitte’s Resilient podcast series all about how businesses can confront the COVID-19 crisis.

• Subscribe to Forbes free daily newsletter, Outbreak, for stories on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on global business.

• And head to our COVID-19 Content hub and follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram to tune in as we go live daily with experts in business, finance, and more in our Ask an Expert series daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST.

MORE ON THE BLOG

Ask an Expert: How to Unite a Remote Team During the COVID-19 Crisis as a Small Business Owner

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Sonja Rasula

Small businesses everywhere are stepping up and doing their part to help flatten the curve, canceling events, shuttering offices, and implementing work-from-home policies in order to help contain the alarmingly rapid spread of the coronavirus. Of course, by now (read: week two of #WFHlife) we all know that the transition between working from the office to working from the home office (a.k.a. the dining table, the couch, or even the bed) is easier said than done.

For helpful tips on how to unite a remote team while working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak, we tapped none other than small business owner and serial entrepreneur Sonja Rasula, the founder of Unique Markets and The Unique Space, for the latest installment of our Instagram Live series, Ask an Expert. Read on for Rasula’s tried-and-true tips for boosting morale as well as productivity while managing a WFH team. If you missed the conversation, you can watch it in full here, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram Live.

How can I unite my remote team digitally and keep them inspired?

“The first thing that you have to do is implement structure. If you have daily meetings or check-ins, those still need to happen. Now more than ever, it’s important to check-in and have face-to-face meetings through Zoom, Face Time, and Google Hangouts to stay connected.

The socializing aspect of work is so important. If you use Slack as a communication tool, create a channel called ‘The Break Room’ or ‘The Water Cooler’ for your team to share stupid memes to share photos of their desk as a way to create a social human connection beyond work. Because it’s not all about work.”

How should I adapt my leadership style to help my team feel positive and optimistic?

“Being positive and optimistic yourself is really important. You set the bar. Even if you are freaking the eff out on the inside, you need to be as cool, calm, and collected as you can for your team.

That said, full transparency is important. Once in a while, letting your team see how you’re feeling is really important because they need to know you are not a robot, you are a human being.”

My business is really hurting financially right now and I’m struggling to see the silver lining. How can I thrive as a founder and keep the lights on?

“Figure out your digital presence. There are no excuses now, it’s all about your digital footprint, so start that podcast, send that newsletter, start that blog. Utilize the free technology that’s available (social media, blogs, etc.) to expand your digital footprint.

We’re all at home, we’re trying to make shit work with what we have, and we are not superhuman. We can only do what we can do, and then you have to let go. Try your hardest, but recognize that now, potentially, might not be the time. Just relax, pause, reevaluate, and think about business differently.”

About the Expert: In 2008 Sonja Rasula self-funded her first business, Unique Markets, by risking her entire 401k retirement savings. Thankfully it worked! Her innovative, modern pop-up marketplaces have taken place around the country including Los Angeles, San Francisco, N.Y.C., and Austin! Nike, Airbnb, Madewell, and Adobe are some of the many brands to tap into Sonja’s entrepreneurial mindset and creative consulting. She was named “1 of 30 Women Entrepreneurs Changing the World” by fashion mogul Eileen Fisher, and Los Angeles Magazine awarded her 1 of 10 of L.A.'s Most Inspiring Women in their annual issue about women in Los Angeles.   

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Ask an Expert: How to Get Buzz-Worthy Press Right Now, According to a Publicist

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting live discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Heather DeSantis

There is a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners to show up, share their message, and be a source of positivity right now. With the COVID-19 crisis impacting communities, businesses, and people across the country and the world, there’s a great need for positive news. So, how do you make your message really matter in a time that feels so dark to fill that void?

In this installment of our wildly popular Instagram Live series, Ask an Expert, we tapped Heather DeSantis, a media expert and the CEO of Publicity for Good, to answer all your burning publicity questions in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Read on for DeSantis’ tried-and-true R.I.C.H. formula for getting buzz-worthy press and creating content that resonates right now, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram Live.

R: Reflect on who you are as an entrepreneur and a person.

“Ask yourself, Who are you as an entrepreneur? What key things have you gone through to become the entrepreneur you are today? What things have you gone through that you can share? What can you teach to others? How can you be of service? Use these answers to make a list of the core topics that you want to talk about in the media.”

I: Investigate.

“Figure out how to bridge the gap between what you want to talk about and what’s going on in the world right now to make your pitch relevant to the media.

Step 1: Go to Google and type in a topic that’s relevant to your business; a topic that you’re an expert in.

Step 2: Go through the results in the “News” section. Sift through the first three pages of results for inspiration on how to pitch yourself to media outlets.

Step 3: Search for your competitors via Google to see where they’ve been featured and start reaching out to those media outlets to get featured by those publications, networks, etc.

As a business owner, it’s really important to make your message relevant to what’s going on in the world. Search what’s trending in the media so that your content solves a problem and serves what people are interested in today.”

C: Connect with the media.

“First and foremost, post on your own social media channels. Go to your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and create a call to action post to let people know you want to get your message out there.

Then, authentically connect with members of the media before you pitch them. Engage with their content and create relationships and friendships with them. When you do reach out to them with a pitch, be sure to follow up three days later. Ask them how you can help and always come from a place of service.

If you want to pitch local/regional press, start watching the morning news to see what the flow of the show is, and then call the morning producer. You can go to Google and type in “news tips” to search for the direct email address of the producer and reach out.”

H: Help & hunt.

“Help. It’s all about service. You’re filling the need of the media, so come from a place of service. The media needs content to inspire people to keep them motivated and learn how to adjust during these times. Ask, What are you working on and how can I help?

Hunt. Show up every day and pitch yourself to the media.”

About the Expert: Heather DeSantis is the SHE-O of Publicity For Good and a Forbes 30 Under 30 nominee. Heather is the leading female millennial publicist of her generation with a fresh take on life which translates to a disruptive approach to PR, as evident with her choosing to run her agency nomadically from an Airstream. Together with her fiancé, she goes around the U.S. spreading the word about the unique way and mechanism PFG does PR. 

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

I Have Been Working From Home for Years—This Is How to Do It Successfully

Photo: Lisa Fotios for Pexels

Given that many companies are implementing work-from-home policies to help flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Create & Cultivate included!), we decided to reach out to some real work from home-office pros to find out how it’s done. Because, as enticing as working from home sounds in theory, it takes a surprising amount of discipline to stay productive and on-task with all the distractions that come with being at home (we’re looking at you, Netflix, pile of laundry, and sink full of dishes).

Ahead, six full-time WFH experts—spanning a senior fashion and beauty editor who’s been working from home for 7 (!) years to an editorial director who’s been working from home for 2 1/2 years to an acclaimed author who’s been working from home for just 8 months—share their tips and tricks for staying motivated and productive while working from home. Keep scrolling to find out how to establish a morning routine that will set you up for success and how to wind down and disconnect at the end of the day.

Sara Tan, Senior West Coast Fashion & Beauty Editor, Bustle

WFH Experience Level: 7 years

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking? 

I usually wake up between 6:15 and 6:30 am, depending on how many times I hit the snooze button. It's a habit I'm trying to break, but the first thing I do when I wake up is check my phone. My office's HQ is in New York, so by the time I get up, I've gotten a handful of emails and messages already. 

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

I'll have my morning coffee, turn on NPR to listen to the news, and continue checking my emails and, yes, Instagram. I aim to get to the gym by 7:30 am unless I sign up for an earlier Barry’s or SoulCycle class. Checking my emails and my schedule and fitting in a workout in the morning put me in the best mindset for a successful and productive day. If I don't get a workout in, I'll spend the whole day thinking about how I'm going to squeeze it in later. I feel like it's my way of meditating and having "me" time before what's usually always a busy day.  

“When you work from home, it’s easy to just plop onto the couch with your laptop, but I make it a point that the couch and the TV are off-limits during the workday.”

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your home? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH? 

I do and I think that's really important! When you work from home, it's easy to just plop onto the couch with your laptop, but I make it a point that the couch and the TV are off-limits during the workday. Making a to-do list and a rough schedule keeps me on task, as well as scheduling in breaks because realistically, I'm going to throw some laundry in or pick up some lunch. But as long as I allot myself a small window of time to do those things, then I don't feel guilty about it — it's just part of my schedule. 

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day? 

After working from home for 7 years, I still struggle with this. It's really hard to disconnect at the end of the day from work because I work where I live! I really try to make an effort to turn my laptop off and not check my work emails after 6 pm, but I have to say, it's really impossible in the line of work that I'm in. But something I have gotten a lot better at is not working or responding to work emails during the weekend. That has really helped me avoid work burnout. 

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time? 

I make sure my laptop is out of sight! I take my dog for a walk, I cook, I have a nice, phone-free dinner with my husband, I call a friend. Separating work time from your free time is really about making a schedule for yourself and sticking to it, including when to stop working. 

Nicole Lesmeister, Writer & Editor

WFH Experience Level: 3 years

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking? 

I wake up around 6:30 am. During this uncertain global situation, I’ve been trying to let myself wake up naturally and get all the sleep I need, but I go to bed around 10:30/11 pm, so my internal clock still gets me up at that time. The first thing I do is (avoid my phone for 30 minutes to an hour) scrape my tongue and do 5-10 minutes of oil pulling to deep cleanse, Ayurveda-style. Wellness truly begins in the mouth!

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

I then have a tall glass of warm water with lemon, because when you dehydrate overnight, your brain actually shrinks by 20%! Gotta lube up the ol’ noggin. I brew a pot of hibiscus tea or make a matcha if I’m feeling groggy and have a little quiet time with a book or just with my thoughts while I sip it, before I do some movement. 

Depending on the day, I might do a HIIT or some yoga. I have a go-to flow, but when I feel like mixing it up, I’ll look up a Yoga With Adriene video on YouTube. She has a ton of really great free videos, and there are always video workouts on ClassPass you can do at home, too! 

Moving in the morning is really crucial to me for feeling energized throughout the day and avoiding a wandering mind as soon as I open my computer. It gets the blood pumping and something about a good sweat first thing just makes me feel strong and powerful. 

I do some vigorous dry brushing afterwards, hop in the shower, and make a simple breakfast– my favorite is soft scrambled eggs with some sautéed greens like dandelion and kimchi. 

“I schedule little breaks, so I try to do a significant amount of work on something before I make an afternoon snack, or go to pilates, take a walk, or run to the grocery store. It’s all scheduled in, so I’m not wandering away from work on a whim.”

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your apartment? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH?

I have a desk where I always start work, but after I take a pause for lunch I always find myself rotating to sitting at the higher bar area of my counter. I love the afternoon sun that seat gets; it’s a comfy perch and I feel productive there.

I rely on my daily planner from Oh Deer so much. It’s organized perfectly for me with an objective section, urgent section, list section, notes, and even a little space for doodles (!). I reference my Google calendar to see if I have any calls or meetings scheduled, and make a detailed list here right away, listing them in order from top priority to lowest priority of the day. I do this because I like to make an ambitious list that is still realistic, so if my day doesn’t go as perfectly streamlined as planned (they rarely do, right?) then at least the major objectives are taken care of.  

One thing I make sure to do so that I avoid being distracted by errands and house tasks is to add them to my list if I need to do them. I decide what day I can squeeze them into or what day it makes the most sense, and stick to a day and time that I do them. 

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day?

I set tiny goals for myself, or little deadlines throughout the day. Like, “Let’s do a chunk of this client until noon, and get it done” (or a ¼ of the way done, depending on the project size and deadline, etc). I also schedule little breaks, so I try to be done with something or do a significant amount of work with something before I make an afternoon snack, or go to pilates, take a walk, or run to the grocery store. It’s all scheduled in, so I’m not wandering away from work on a whim.

I also cut myself off from working too late if I have a day in which I start work early, which is ideally most days.  When you WFH, it’s easy to feel like you work a 15 hour day when you don’t account for or schedule in the typical distractions… but even in an office no one works eight full hours. About five true, solid, productive hours a day is typical for the average human. 

If I have a deadline that day, I might work a little later, but essentially I give myself a cut-off time to make dinner and that lights a fire under my own a$$ to get what I need done at a decent time (5 or 6 pm) so I’m not burning out my retinas with blue light into the evening. No one is producing pure gold after dilly-dallying on their computer all day and into the evening anyway. My clients deserve my best self.

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

Carving out that cut-off time to prepare a nutritious but thoughtfully tasty meal is my ultimate act of self-care (and love language to my S.O.). It’s meditative, resetting, and gives me unwind time after to rest and digest so I can sleep well and be productive again the next day! Sometimes I’ll start my to-do list for the next day in my planner if I’m feeling juiced about it, but most often I just prep the kitchen for the next morning, set out my tea, fill the kettle. Stuff like that.

Depending on the intensity of the movement I did in the morning, I’ll usually try to take a little walk after dinner or some light stretching or foam rolling. Being a writer requires a lot of sitting, so making sure I move my body in intervals throughout the day keeps me from feeling tight and weighed down by my own poor posture (lol working on it) and gravity.

Because my S.O. and I have our shows we like to watch together for some cuddle time on the couch, I always make sure to read a little before bed in some warm light. Gotta allow the eyeballs some non-screen time so that my circadian clock can recalibrate! About 30-40 minutes is lovely, but sometimes it only takes me 15 to drift off.

Kelly Dawson, Freelance Writer and Editor & Editorial Director, Semihandmade

WFH Experience Level: 2 1/2 years

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking?  

I wake up around 7:00 am. My alarm is on my phone, which has been a habit I've been meaning to break for a while. But I do keep my phone on the opposite wall, away from my bed, so I have to get up to turn the alarm off. The first thing I do when I wake up is open my blinds, open the window, breathe in the fresh air, and make my bed. Yes, I make my bed every morning, and I do think it helps me start the day on a good note.

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

Ideally, my morning routine goes like this: I have breakfast, which is shorthand for I drink a strong cup of coffee with food. I watch a few minutes of CBS This Morning while I eat, change, and then do about a half-hour or so of stretches, weights, or cardio—I alternate the days to make it more fun. After that I get dressed, which is always an interesting topic for people who work from home. I know that it's usually perfectly fine if I wear sweatpants, but for the most part, I pick out an outfit, do my hair, and maybe put on makeup. It's nothing that doesn't take 10 minutes or so. I find that if I don't get dressed, I'm not as focused.

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your home? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH? 

I have a desk that I work at every day, and I work between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, give or take. I think the thing that really helps me stay on task is a day planner. Every night before shutting work down I write a to-do list of all the things I need to accomplish for the next day, and I split it into columns. The left side is for the big stuff I have to do—write a story, do an interview, whatever—and the right side is for all the smaller things to get out of the way, like emails to send. I do the hardest ones on the list first, while the caffeine is still flowing, and then move on to the easier ones. I try to keep the list reasonable so that I don't feel panicked about completing everything. And to be fair to myself, whatever doesn't get done carries on to the next day. The goal is to keep from scrambling on Friday, which thankfully hasn't happened yet. I should say that most of my work-from-home schedule is on a weekly basis, which is why I can play with things a little. 

As for email, I only check it at the start of the day, before lunch, and then right before I close up shop. I usually pretend I don't have a TV after breakfast, and I keep my phone either off or out of sight unless I'm using it for work. If I didn't do this it would be a slippery slope into Bravo and Instagram binges.

I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing to do laundry at home during "work hours" if you can swing it. I sometimes use it as a great gauge of time. For instance, like most people, my inbox is a never-ending black hole of notifications. But, I know that my washer takes about an hour to do a standard load. So that's how much time I give to answering emails before throwing things in the dryer and moving on to actual work. The same thing goes for cleaning and errands. If I'm stuck on something, I clean for a bit, run a fast errand, or go for a quick walk. That helps me think things through without staring blankly at my computer or scrolling some site. I still do that, I'm not a robot, but I try to be very aware of how I spend my time. 

When you're in charge of your own work schedule, you can—and should—be flexible. But that flexibility has to have boundaries so that you don't get distracted. If you're more of a morning person, then get up earlier: It'll mean every afternoon can feel like a weekend. If you're more of a night owl, sleep in: It'll mean you can have slower mornings. But tell yourself that you're working, you're not just hanging out at home, and you need to plan accordingly. Of course, I'm saying all of this without children to worry about, which will obviously add a layer of complication to everything. As far as my universal advice goes, just try to be kind to yourself as you figure it out, and do your best to be intentional. I started my work-from-home life as a morning person, spent some time as a night owl, and now I'm in the middle. There are some days that completely get off track, and that's fine too. You'll get back on track tomorrow. 

“The thing that has really helped me successfully work from home, minus a day planner, is my community of office and freelance friends. I check in with them daily, and we either tackle a work problem together or just send funny things to each other. ”

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day? 

The thing that has really helped me successfully work from home, minus a day planner, is my community of office and freelance friends. I check in with them daily, and we either tackle a work problem together or just send funny things to each other. That helps me feel like I'm not in a little bubble, even if the messages come in little bubbles. On the good days, I'm motivated and productive because I'm really into the work I'm doing and it's all coming together. On the bad days, I motivate myself with things like, "Ok, if I finish this task then I can have some candy or read the new magazine that came in the mail." There's also something to be said about not checking something off my to-do list. Only I would know, but that's enough of a motivator for my type-A personality. If you need someone to hold you accountable, my community also has "motivation buddies." We pair off, and our buddy knows what we need to accomplish and our ideal timeline. Then we check in with each other on how the project's coming along and what kind of support we need to make it happen. 

Work burnout is a real possibility when instead of an in-the-flesh boss, there's just this omnipresent feeling of a boss. That feeling can give you the idea that you have to answer all the emails and do all the things right this second, because this omnipresent "boss" can feed off the guilt and anxiety you have about being at home. First off, working from home is still working, and it doesn't need to be qualified. Working from home is worthy of respect, and it's how a third of the American workforce made its living before the pandemic. At this moment in time, joining our ranks is keeping everyone safer. If you look at working from home as "less than," then you run the risk of wearing yourself out because you're trying to prove that you're just as productive as someone in an office. And we all know a certain someone in an office who makes that thought untrue. 

When feelings of burnout happen to me, I've learned to just let it happen. I try to do the things I have to do for the day, but the rest, I put on pause. No one is going to get mad at you if you don't respond to their email right away, and when you do, it will still find them well. Shut your computer down, keep your phone off, and lay down for a while. Then, call a friend and tell them how you're feeling. Then, make some nachos. Then, listen to a happy song. Maybe two happy songs, depending on what you need. If it's small-scale burnout, it'll pass. If it's big-time burnout, don't be afraid to seek professional help, if you can.

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

This is a tough one for me, because if I'm writing and in a groove then I don't want to stop. But the honest answer is: I get hungry. I usually stop working when I need to eat dinner. I make a note of where I wanted to go with whatever thought I was working on, and then sign off. Sometimes I'll write after dinner, usually if I'm on a deadline. But usually once I leave my desk at night the work day is over. Lately I've been trying to separate work and dinner with a cool-down walk in between, so we'll see how that plays out in the coming weeks. 

Another honest truth is that it's tough for me to balance work with free time! I've tried to be better about it since the start of this year, but I fail at it a lot. If there's a quote that's in my head whenever I do fail, it's what Toni Morrison's dad told her when she was struggling at her first job. He said, "Go to work, get your money, come home." Home is where the work is, so it's complicated. But home is where life is, too. And right now, when everything feels uncertain, I'm trying to remember to "come home" to my life mentally and physically. I need the balance probably more than ever.

Kamari Chelsea, Strategic Media Consultant

WFH Experience Level: 1 1/2 years

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking? 

Typically, I tend to wake up around 7:30 am. If you're working from home with your partner (as I am), it's essential that you try to get on the same page with wake up times to avoid feeling envious or lazy when you see your partner sleeping in.

The first thing I do when I open my eyes (or sometimes even before) is repeat an affirmation of gratitude to myself. When you're self-employed and always hustling to make things happen, mental health is more important than ever. It's critical to start your day being thankful for what you already have so that you aren't overcome with a "lack" mentality (especially during these times).

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

8 am: My morning routine firmly begins at 8 am because any later makes me feel like I've missed opportunities. I start the day with a hot shower, skincare routine, and picking out a cozy work-from-home look that is presentable enough for any video conferences I may have scheduled. Then, I make a two-minute commute to my office.

9 am: I created a mediation and yoga corner in my office for when I need breaks, but I also use this corner to do a morning meditation and stretch. I set a timer for 10 minutes or play Jhene Aiko's Trigger Protection Mantra for its sound healing qualities; after this, I typically feel safe and ready for what the day may bring.

9:10 am: I make a quick protein-packed breakfast for myself and my husband (usually eggs and a Vanilla Super Coffee). On Fridays, I used to cheat and drive straight to the Starbucks drive-through. Lately, I've been making my own "Starbucks" moment at home using my favorite plant-based coffee mixes.

9:30 am: I log on and feel ready to take on the day!

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your home? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, and running errands while you're WFH?

One of the best investments I have made since I began working from home is converting one of the rooms in my house into a dedicated office space! It allows me to feel like I have a place to go every day to work and a place to leave when I need to separate work from my home life. I close the door to my office when I'm done for the day or on weekends, and I get to have my own life, away from the energy of work.

This way, during my business hours, I am unable to see laundry, the kitchen, television, or any other distractions. And, when I'm watching Netflix or unwinding with a glass of wine, I don't have my laptop and work notes beckoning me to come back to work.

Separation is a huge aspect of maintaining your mental health when working from home. Even if you find a corner that's set apart from your personal space (not in your bedroom), it will make all the difference by creating structure.

“When you’re self-employed and always hustling to make things happen, mental health is more important than ever. It’s critical to start your day being thankful for what you already have so that you aren’t overcome with a “lack” mentality (especially during these times).”

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day?

Admittedly, when I first started my business, I burned out pretty hard. I was continually working because I felt the pressure to be "on" since my life was now intertwined with my work. Then, I had a conversation with my Dad and he gave me great insight. He said, "If you earn $100,000 in business, but work 100 hours a week, you're essentially making less than $20 an hour with no benefits." I realized then that I have to value every hour of my life because time is our most precious commodity. It was then that I realized to start capping my hours on specific projects based on the rates I was charging. If you're a full-time salaried employer, this should be even easier—set a rule to shut the computer by 6 pm at least three days a week. You'll be giving yourself an instant hourly raise!

To stay motivated and productive, I use standard systems, including a whiteboard with my daily to-dos. I break them up and task myself with achieving half before lunch and half after lunch. I'm strict about being on “Do Not Disturb” during peak working periods, and I'm BIG into not checking email constantly. Inbox zero be damned!

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

I love a glass of wine and a trashy reality show as much as the next girl! But first, as soon as I log off, I try to do something physical like spinning, walking, or lifting. This helps burn all the energy of my workday off my body.

Then (and this is admittedly a bit counterintuitive), I guzzle water, take another shower, and wind down (or shall I say, wine down) with my husband by cooking dinner. We rarely eat out, and cooking is a creative task that allows me to feel like I have moments in my day to look forward to doing whatever I want and being super inventive!

Amanda Montell, Writer & Author of Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language

WFH Experience Level: 8 months

What time do you wake up? What's the first thing you do upon waking? 

Really late. I've become a night owl in this WFH phase of my career (it's like I'm on Hawaii's time zone now) so I find myself working best between the hours of 3 pm and 10 or 11 pm. I don't get to bed till maybe 2 am. I wake up around 10:30 am, peel myself out of bed, brush my teeth, wash my face and hands (!!!), and guzzle a coffee.

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

My morning is pretty leisurely. Because my job (writing books) is very solitary with little collaboration and few hard deadlines, I get to set my own pace. As it turns out, that pace requires a lot of warming up. Unless I have to interview a source early in the morning, I start my day with coffee, a small breakfast, hanging out with my dog and two cats, and checking my email/socials. Then, I put on a fresh set of clothes (still loungewear, it's more of a symbol that the day has begun), plug my laptop into my monitor, and review the day's tasks. 

I'm not big into fancy to-do list apps or color-coded schedules—I keep track of everything I need to do for the day in my Google calendar, and I keep my to-do list really streamlined, so I have maybe two or three big work tasks for the day (e.g., write pages 10-13 of the book, pull quotes from the latest interview transcription, call my agent). I never crowd my to-do list, because that feels like I'm setting myself up to fail. My morning routine is all about creating this sense of "I can handle today, today is going to be chill," and approaching it from that relaxed place rather than an anxious one, and usually I wind up being way more productive than I meant to. 

“I never crowd my to-do list, because that feels like I’m setting myself up to fail.”

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your apartment? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH?

My porch, my couch, or my dining table, where I have a big monitor that I can easily set up and takedown. I never work from bed. I'm embarrassed to say I'm kind of messy and hopeless around the house, so the urge to procrastinate by doing laundry or dishes is pretty easy to resist, haha. I'm lucky to have my dream job—I'm genuinely obsessed with writing books—so to my great fortune, self-motivating isn't all that hard. Long before I was getting paid to do this work, I was doing it anyway. 

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day?

I'm very gentle with myself! If I need a break, I take it. Just like I know eating junk food in moderation won't ruin my body because I generally eat pretty healthy, I know that in the end, having "lazy" workdays will get balanced out by having spurts of hyper-productive days. If I have really terrible writer's block, I get up and take a walk or read a few pages of a great book (in the same genre as the one I'm writing, so I don't cross-contaminate) as a palate cleanser. 

When you transition to working from home, there's an awkward period where you're always questioning if you should be getting more done, but after a week or so (sometimes more, sometimes less), you start to find your groove. And of course, it's different for everyone. My old roommate who worked from home was most productive between the hours of 7 am and noon. My partner has all these time management apps he swears by. At a point, you just have to ignore the prevailing wisdom and figure out what works for you.

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

I normally see friends at the end of the day for happy hour or dinner. Wine typically marks the end of the day for me, haha. But again, I'm fortunate that my work is something I love and would be doing either way, and I actually think that in our current age, strict work-life boundaries aren't necessarily the most realistic or productive for everyone. I'm 28 and have no kids... why should I stop working at 6 pm if I'm on a roll? If I'm motivated to write for an hour at midnight, I let myself. I know my work situation won't be so flexible forever, so for now, I just let myself be sort of loosey-goosey. So far, it's working out well.

Kelsey Clark, Freelance Writer & Content Strategist

WFH Experience Level: 5 months

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking? 

Despite my best efforts, I am still not a morning person. I usually wake up around 8 or 8:30 am (unless I'm going to a morning workout class) and check my email first thing. Coffee and water are immediate seconds!  

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

I've only been freelance for five months now, so I'm still perfecting my morning routine. There's definitely an art to it—it can be incredibly difficult to maintain self-discipline when you're WFH. 

Right now, I wake up, check my email, and drink coffee in bed or on the couch, then either shower or complete some sort of small grooming routine (i.e. wash my face, brush my teeth, brush my hair, etc.) depending on when I'm planning to workout that day. I think it's important to stick to a grooming ritual, even if it's as simple as brushing your teeth and splashing cold water in your face. In my experience, this signals to my body and brain that it's time to wake up.  

From there, I apply my skincare/makeup and get dressed. If I'm staying at my apartment, I usually skip makeup and apply some fancy skincare—I've really enjoyed treating my skin to serums, masks, etc. during the day since I don't have to worry about layering makeup on top. 

As far as my outfit goes, it's honestly leggings and a sweater, which is something I want to work on—I very much believe that what you wear influences your mood! If I'm going to a coffee shop (not right now, obviously), I usually wear very light makeup (i.e. tinted moisturizer, boy brow, mascara) and my standard jeans, ankle boots, and a sweater/T-shirt/turtleneck. I'm based in Detroit now, but most of my work is still based in New York, so in-person meetings are few and far between (i.e. I rarely have to worry about dressing up). 

Routine aside, I aim to be actively working and starting the day's tasks by 9 am with the rest of the world! As much as my night owl self would love to work a 10-7 or 8, I think it's important to be online with everyone else; I feel anxious otherwise. 

“I totally use my phone as a procrastination crutch—it’s incredibly helpful to just have it out of sight, out of mind.”

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your apartment? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH? 

Unfortunately, my apartment is too small for a dedicated workspace (I'm moving in a month and can't wait to have a desk!). I do find that I'm more productive if I'm able to head out to a coffee shop, even for just a few hours, but obviously that isn't an option right now. Keeping myself on-task is an ongoing battle, but I have found a few tricks that keep procrastination at bay: 

• I generally leave Netflix/music off, unless I'm doing something more visual like sourcing imagery where I'm not bothered by distracting sound.

• Reward myself with small treats, i.e. when you finish this piece or send all these emails, you can make tea or check Instagram. Small victories! 

• Allot a certain amount of time for each task, i.e. I'll do email outreach until 11 am, then work on this piece from 11 am to 3 pm and the source market from 3 pm to 6 pm, etc. Even if you don't finish each task, it's important to move onto the next or else you can quickly feel overwhelmed/behind. If you stay on task #1 all day, it's easy to feel like your day was a failure. 

• Reserve certain time slots for any errands or small chores you want to do, i.e. at noon I'll take a lunch break and do the dishes. Or when I commute home from this meeting or outing, I'll stop and grab groceries, etc. 

• Honestly, hide your phone. I will literally put it in another room or throw it on the other side of the couch, as crazy as that sounds. I totally use my phone as a procrastination crutch—it's incredibly helpful to just have it out of sight, out of mind.  

• Change your scenery after a while, even if it's just moving from your couch to a chair, or your bed to the couch, or your couch to your friend or significant other's couch. 

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day?

It's definitely hard to separate work from your personal life when you work for yourself. While I do work the occasional Sunday, I try my best to enjoy my weekends to the fullest and allow myself to take time off and relax just like everyone else. I also have direct control over how much work I take on and which projects to prioritize from a financial perspective, which is really nice. I've had a few months where I was drowning, and the next month, I was able to tweak my schedule a bit to avoid total overwhelm. 

For me, just knowing that everyone else is still working and grinding it out is strangely motivating. I made the choice to go off on my own, and I want to hold myself to the same standards as everyone else in the traditional workforce. It's important to me and my self-esteem to work hard and still feel like an equally productive member of society, even if I'm working from my couch. I want to succeed at my own venture, and I have direct control over that outcome. There's no part of me that decided to go freelance so I could be lazy or sleep in, you know? If anything, the pressure and motivation to succeed are amplified. 

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

This can be difficult depending on workload, but I think having an after-work activity definitely forces you to log off and signals the end of the workday. For example, my significant other usually comes over after work, so I'm forced to log off and begin my evening wind-down. This can even be as simple as going to a workout class, going to the grocery store, hanging with your roommates, grabbing a drink with a friend, making dinner for yourself, etc. Just some sort of hard stop. These post-work activities also serve as motivation to get your work done throughout the day—i.e. I want to be able to grab drinks with this person, so I'm going to make sure I get all my work done.

Up next: 10 Women Who Have Your Dream Job on How They Fight Burnout, Stay Motivated, and Get Re-Energized for Work

Ask an Expert: How to Adjust Your Business Strategy During the Coronavirus Crisis, According to a Business Coach

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Gretchen Jones

In times of crisis, businesses are put to the test—supply chains are disrupted and profit margins are compromised. And the COVID-19 crisis is certainly no exception. As our founder and CEO Jaclyn Johnson says, a company’s success comes down to how it pivots and responds during times of great uncertainty. However, as one of today’s Ask an Expert pros reminded us, “Now is the time to be swift, not reactive."

For some #realtalk on how to pivot a business, manage expectations, and lead with purpose during a crisis, we tapped Gretchen Jones, a strategic business advisor (she advises our CEO), for a special installment of our wildly popular Instagram Live series, Ask an Expert. Read on for three things you should know about adjusting your business strategy right now. If you missed the conversation, you can watch it in full here, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram Live.

1. I want to be proactive during this time of quarantine—what can I do to reach my business growth goals and hit the ground running when things go back to normal?

“Achieving business goals right now is theoretical. More than thinking about growth, work on managing a healthy relationship with your business, not the potential capabilities ahead of you. Look at this slowdown as an opportunity to rise to the occasion, and look at initiatives that you’ve wanted to dive into but haven’t had the time to until now.“

2. I’m a small business owner and I don’t know how much longer I can afford to pay our staff while we’re closed during this time of quarantine. What advice can you share?

“Being a good boss sometimes means that moving through the pain [and going through with layoffs] is doing what is right for your community because you acted with integrity. You holding onto your staff because you’re afraid of laying them off in the future is going to complicate they’re ability to gain access to unemployment benefits. Take care of them now so that they will want to come back and work for you.”

3. How can I be a better, more supportive leader for my team, especially now that we’re all working remotely?

“The first thing is communication. Lead with humanity first in all communication. And, set goals. Real goal setting is about making sure your team knows that they have purpose and value and make sure that the expectations are really clear. Set benchmarks or KPIs (key performance indicators) so that you have really thoughtful ways of checking in with your team. Most importantly, hold yourself accountable by being better and more communicative with your staff.”

About the Expert: Gretchen Jones is a strategic business advisor and public speaker, as well as an award-winning design director, ambassador for sustainability, and NLP practitioner. She works with entrepreneurs and companies to develop future-minded, visionary approaches to ourselves and our work. Her methodology brings a directional, mindful lens of reflection to processes and belief systems, inside and outside of our businesses.

Gretchen has generously offered Create & Cultivators a special discount. Use the code gJLOVESC&C for 33% off Critical Conversations for the next three months. The code expires June 1st and can be up to three times.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

6 Things You Can Do to Support Small Businesses Right Now During the Coronavirus Crisis

Photo: Smith House Photography

Small businesses need our help more than ever right now. The coronavirus crisis is seriously impacting restaurants, fitness studios, salons, and brick-and-mortar shops across the country. To find out what we can do right now to support them, we tapped money expert and financial advisor Kristin O'Keeffe Merrick, a financial advisor at O'Keeffe Financial Partners, for our Ask an Expert Instagram Live series.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our country, and we need to support them the best we can,” the money expert and financial advisor reminded us during her Ask an Expert segment on our Instagram Live feed. Of course, we here at Create & Cultivate couldn’t agree more, so we’re sharing Merrick’s top tips for how to support small businesses during this challenging and unpredictable time.

Here are six things you can do right now—without leaving your couch—to support local small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic if you’re able to.

1. Order delivery, takeout, or even a gift card from your favorite local restaurants.

“Make sure you’re tipping when you go in for takeout. Servers aren’t serving people in restaurants right now so be sure to tip if you can to help support them.”

2. Shop your local brick-and-mortar small businesses online.

“Think ahead to some events you need to shop for (weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, Mother’s Day) and shop your local small businesses online.”

3. Stream fitness classes from your fave local studios online.

“If the instructors you love are giving free classes, consider sending them a tip ($20 via Venmo or Cash App), since they’re probably not getting paid for that service.”

4. Call up your local salons and buy gift cards for your next treatments.

“Think ahead to your next hair appointment, your next manicure or pedicure, etc., and consider buying a gift card now.”

5. Use your voice to help spread the word about local businesses that could use the extra love.

“Help your local community for free by posting about your favorite local businesses on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.”

6. Pay your people.

“If you’re still getting a reg paycheck, pay your housekeeper, pay your dog walker, pay anyone who helps you with childcare.”

For more expert advice on how to navigate the COVID-19 crisis, tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of our Instagram Live series, Ask an Expert.

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Up next: 7 Things a Financial Expert Wants You to Do to Prepare for COVID-19

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Slow Stories: Creating and Consuming Content During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Photo: Courtesy of Slow Stories

The spread of COVID-19 has upended the business community on a global level. However, living in an age of profound interconnectivity has brought people together in ways that we never expected—especially on social media.

Like so many others, I've tirelessly refreshed my news and social feeds and watched as they've unearthed a variety of responses to the uncertainty that we're all facing. Recently, I've also ruminated on the ways content can play a role in facilitating productivity in a time that will inevitably call for slowing down in nearly every aspect of our lives.

In one of my earlier columns, I outlined a few key pillars that our initial podcast interviewees attribute to the slow content movement. But as I look at the below touchpoints again (and in the context of present-day challenges), I find myself thinking about how we can take these one step further:

Slow content provides value and purpose.

Slow, thoughtful content has a clear intention. Whether it is to inspire or educate, creating content in this climate forces us to think about how we can provide value beyond our immediate business goals. Ask yourself: Can I provide value to my community by sharing a founder anecdote or reposting a fun image that evokes laughter? Even in a professional context, times of uncertainty offer the opportunity to create value for our customers in new (and necessary) ways.

Slow content considers data and fact-checking.

Content can be an incredible tool to drive conversations forward. Still, the spread of misinformation can also make it difficult to discern the difference between what is fabricated and what is real. During times where there is an uptick in sharing information, creators and businesses can engage with their community by using content to call attention to credible institutions and outlets. 

Slowing down our relationship to content makes us nicer, more well-rounded people.

In a rapidly-changing news cycle and digital sharing landscape, slowing down our relationship with content can create more mental runway to think about the things that add value to our lives (beyond our devices). In the case of a global pandemic, finding a balance between staying aware and engaged while establishing healthy digital consumption habits will be essential in how we relate to one another through this trying time. 

With so much hanging in the balance, our professional endeavors are certainly no exception. Many people in my own network have begun to think about how content and storytelling will play a role in their brands over the next few months. Below, I'm sharing a few things to consider as we recalibrate our routines and work through the challenges that are becoming increasingly present in our digital age.

Re-evaluate your communications strategy.

When there's an increase in online communication, content creators and business owners have the opportunity to streamline—and in some cases, reevaluate—their content, PR, and brand messaging so that the message they wish to convey is consistent across all communications channels. Use this time to think about what your brand wants to say, how you want it to come across, and how it can stay in-line with your usual voice and tone to avoid sounding inauthentic to your followers or customers.

Create content that inspires social/philanthropic participation.

We've never had more tools at our disposal to create content that inspires action.

However, it's essential to consider how to do this in a way that encourages inclusivity. From sharing charity donation stickers on Instagram Stories to creating bespoke content that ties in more personal brand narratives, creating content that can diversify how your community can get involved can elicit a powerful response. Thinking holistically about content in this way will also create more avenues for charitable goals to be reached, too.

Pause the post.

One of my interviewees said it best: "There is power in the pause." As we become more inundated with content from all directions, we have another option at our fingertips: to pause and step away. As consumers of content, we often forget to be discerning in what we choose to engage in a landscape that demands so much of our time and attention. Communicating what you want (and don't want!) from your favorite brands can be valuable feedback for business leaders to make informed decisions about their future storytelling and brand strategies. At the other end of the spectrum, if you're a content creator and unsure about how to proceed with your current storytelling efforts, use this period to take a step back and reflect. Your followers will thank you for it in the long run.

The points I've laid out in this article only scratch the surface of what we can be doing online. In any case, I hope this piece provides a jumping-off point for you to make thoughtful decisions about the kinds of stories you or your brand wants to tell in the near future. For more insights and musings on creating slow content and stories with longevity, I invite you to check out the ”Slow Stories” podcast (stay tuned for new episodes launching this spring) along with articles from my column here. And, most importantly, I wish you all health and happiness in this tumultuous time.

About the Author: Rachel Schwartzmann is the founder and CEO of The Style Line LLC. She created The Style Line in late January 2011 via Tumblr and has fostered The Style Line’s brand in its growth since then. Rachel has been featured in esteemed sources including Forbes, Refinery29, and MyDomaine and has also spoken at Create & Cultivate and Columbia University on establishing a unique brand point of view and entrepreneurship. On October 1, 2015, Rachel took The Style Line in a new direction as a boutique content company with the introduction of its slow content agency CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL.

You can follow Rachel at:

The Style Line: @thestyleline (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter)
CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL: @connecteditorial (Instagram)
Rachel Schwartzmann: @rachelschwartzmann (Instagram) @RMSchwartzmann (Twitter)

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Ask an Expert: 5 Things a Lawyer Wants You to Know About Force Majeure Clauses and COVID-19

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Jamie Lieberman

Not to state the obvious, but talking to a lawyer can be intimidating. Between tracking down the right lawyer, budgeting for a consultation, and knowing which questions you need to ask, seeking out legal counsel can be daunting for a lot of small business owners. With that in mind—and given these unprecedented times—we asked an attorney to answer all your burning questions about force majeure contract clauses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this installment of our Instagram Live series, Ask an Expert, we tapped Jamie Lieberman, a seasoned attorney and the founder of Hashtag Legal, to discuss everything you need to know about force majeure clauses right now. Read on for five things you should know about getting out of a contract due to unforeseeable circumstances. If you missed the conversation, you can watch it in full here, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation on Instagram Live.

1. First things first, what is a force majeure clause anyway?

“It is a clause that’s written into many contracts that allows a contract to be canceled or postponed due to impossibility performance, which can be caused by things like natural disasters, strikes/riots, or ‘acts of God.’ Things that make it impossible for people to perform their obligations.”

2. What exactly is considered an act of God by a force majeure clause?

“Usually, an act of God includes natural disasters; hurricanes, floods, tornadoes. Illness is not always in the definition of force majeure. If you have a contract that you’re not sure about, you check whether or not there’s a force majeure clause in it and how it’s defined. Some contracts allow for cancellation and some just allow for postponement.”

3. What if I don’t have a force majeure clause in my contract?

“There are a number of ways you can be protected whether or not you have force majeure in your contract. If the purpose of the contracts is frustrated, meaning there’s no way for you to do it, you can be protected by the doctrine of impossibility or impracticability. If you can’t perform your contract, have that conversation with your client and see what you can do to postpone. Have a negotiation, have a conversation.”

4. What can I do if someone is trying to get out of a contract and I don't have a lawyer?

“Have the difficult conversations—don’t avoid them. Start negotiating and try to make new agreements so that you can move forward and both parties are protected. The worst thing you can do is avoid having these conversations.”

5. Do I need a contract?

“If there is anything of value being exchanged, whether it’s money, goods, or services, having a contract is a best practice. Contracts are meant to protect both parties—they’re not designed to favor one party or the other. And if you have everything in writing, you know what will happen in the event of something like the COVID-19 outbreak.”

About the Expert: Jamie Lieberman, owner and founder of Hashtag Legal has been a practicing lawyer for nearly 15 years. As an experienced entrepreneur, Jamie understands the unique needs of business owners at different stages in their organization’s growth. She has a deep commitment to making legal accessible and regularly speaks about legal matters, the art of negotiation and entrepreneurial topics at events such as Alt Summit, Podcast Movement, and FinCon and as an expert source for media like Digiday and Forbes. You can also catch her as a co-host on The FearLess Business Podcast.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert.

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

6 Tips for Creating a Productive Work-From-Home Environment

Photo: Polina Zimmerman for Pexels

Working from home. It sounds great in theory, but it actually takes a lot of discipline to establish a routine that makes working from home productive and fulfilling. Given that many companies are currently implementing work from home policies to help flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19, I feel compelled to share my tried-and-true tips for creating a productive work-from-home environment.

As someone who’s been freelancing and working from home for the past five years, I’ve gone through all of the ups and downs WFH life can present—from feeling lonely and needing to talk to someone to needing to get out of the house and take a break (while practicing social distancing, of course). Scroll on for my tips on how to create a dedicated work space, set office hours, eliminate distracts, and more.

Create a Dedicated Work Space

Find a place in your home that you can dedicate to work. This will be different for everyone, and while I highly encourage having a desk, a dining room table or breakfast bar are great substitutes.

I don’t recommend your workspace be on your couch or on anything where you can recline. While I love being on my laptop and having my feet up on my couch, I am never as productive as I am when sitting upright.

When choosing a space for work in your home, try to find an area that has the following:

• Natural light

• Quiet

• Minimal household distractions (dirty dishes in the sink, children’s toys on the floor, etc.)

Find a space that you can check-in for work and check-out for everything you’d typically do while at home.

Set Office Hours

As a freelancer, it’s incredibly important to have office hours. Not only to manage client expectations but to give yourself structure.

Setting office hours should empower you to develop a routine for yourself like you typically would if you had a 9-to-5 office job. You’d wake up in the morning, enjoy your morning cup of coffee, maybe squeeze in a yoga class before you get dressed, and head to work. The same should be taken into consideration when you work from home.

Freelance life is supposed to allow you to do all of the things you want to do with your time. Don’t let it create an opposite effect where you convince yourself to always be on and working just because you’re able to do it from the freedom of your own home.

Eliminate Distractions

It’s so important to eliminate any distractions from your home that would take you away from getting work done. For me, I need my home to be clean - period. If the home isn’t tidy, I’m not focused.

Other distractions I try to eliminate are:

• Mindless social media scrolling. There’s a difference between taking time to engage on social media to benefit your business and spending 20 minutes scrolling through videos of pigs taking a bath. Cut the scroll!

• Noise. If noise distracts you (or a lack thereof), plug in your noise-canceling headphones or put on some white noise to help you regain focus.

• Pets. I have two dogs who can be very needy for attention. They sleep for most of the day, but every now and then they have a tendency for loudly playing with each other while I’m on client calls. When that happens, or if I think it could happen, I put them in their beds in our master bedroom and shut the door. It’s never for long and it helps calm them down - and helps prevent me from having to apologize to a client for the squeaky toy noises in the background.

If you find yourself being distracted by a common theme throughout your days, find a way to eliminate that distraction so you can stay focused and do your best work.

Get Out of Your PJs

We all have days where we want to stay in our PJs, but it’s important to get out of the jammies and into something that says, “my day has started.”

Most of the time I will change out of PJs and into activewear or comfortable denim. I’ll wash my face, brush my teeth and hair, put on some CC cream and deodorant, and then get to work. It’s a small effort that makes a big difference.

Talk To Someone

One of the biggest things I didn’t realize about working from home is just how lonely it can be.

You are by yourself all day and unless you have clients who love phone calls, most of your correspondence will primarily be done through email. It’s important to talk to someone; anyone. Make time to pick up the phone and call a relative or an old friend. Schedule calls with people in your network so you don’t lose your conversation skills.

I realized a change in myself probably around my second or third year of freelancing, where I would struggle with conversation because I just wasn’t having any. I’d either talk too long or too fast, have difficulty forming sentences, and just felt awkward. This is not me.

Now I talk to everyone.

I am not shy when it comes to conversation and make an effort to have a casual chat with just about anybody I come into contact with throughout the day. That’s people I pass by when I’m walking the dogs, the barista at Alfred’s, Anthony who does my nails at Olive & June, Mary who delivers our mail… AN-Y-BOD-Y.

Get Out of the House

How many of you working from home and reading this typically don’t leave your house during the workweek? 🙋 I get it.

Your home is your office and your office is your home, but it’s still important to get out of the house every once in a while. Keep yourself active and engaged with things happening in your community so you can get out of your PJs, talk to somebody, and enjoy those office hours! (You like what I did there?)

It’s important to get outside and break away from work so you can actually stay engaged in work.

When I spend hours on my computer without any breaks my mind becomes fatigued, and I become less productive. So I’ll take the dogs for a longer walk, do a workout class on my balcony, or take my laptop to the coffee shop down the road and just take in a bit of new scenery to help adjust my internal boss mode.

So if you’re feeling uninspired or having trouble getting anything done, give yourself a break and get out.

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

This story was originally published on March 5, 2019, and has since been updated.

Ask an Expert: Here Are 7 Things a Financial Expert Says to Do to Prepare for COVID-19

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. Starting today, we will be hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am,12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Kristin O'Keeffe Merrick

Needless to say, the coronavirus outbreak has financially impacted businesses both large and small and employees and employers alike. With the OECD cutting global economic growth projections in half, the JPMorgan Global Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) falling to its lowest level since 2009, and U.S. stocks having their worst day since the 1987 stock market crash, it’s safe to say money anxiety is at an all-time high.

To help assuage our financial fears, we tapped money expert and financial advisor Kristin O'Keeffe Merrick, a financial advisor at O'Keeffe Financial Partners,  for the first-ever installment of our Instagram Live series, Ask an Expert. She answered all our burning money questions in the wake of the coronavirus, including, how to cut unnecessary spending from your budget and how to fund your small business after you've maxed out all your credit cards.

Read on for seven things you can do right now to feel financially stable, and be sure to tune into our next Ask an Expert conversation with Jamie Lieberman, attorney and founder of Hashtag Legal, on force majeure and if you can get out of a contract due to unforeseeable circumstances, tomorrow at 9 am PST on Instagram Live. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it!

1. Take stock of your subscription services.

“If you haven’t used your Hulu subscription by day four of self-isolating, you probably don’t need it. If you’re in a cash crunch, consider canceling or putting subscriptions you’re not using right now on hold."

2. File your taxes.

“If you’re worried about a cash crunch and you might be in line to get a refund, file your taxes early. If you’re a freelancer or an entrepreneur, you might need some liquidity right now, so think about filing now to get that refund.”

3. Make an IRA contribution.

“If you have a high risk tolerance for investing, put your IRA money to work.” (Note: If you’re a first-time investor, you should seek out professional advice before taking action here.)

4. Pay off debt.

“If you’re still getting a regular paycheck, use this as an opportunity to pay off some debt and put some money into an emergency fund.”

5. Start a savings account.

“One of the silver linings is that we’re not going out and spending money on drinks/dinner/coffee. Consider moving the money that you’d normally be spending to live and enjoy your life to a savings account or an emergency fund.”

6. Create a budget.

“Think about your fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs are things that won’t go away no matter what: your rent, car insurance, utilities, mortgage, etc. To look at your variable costs, pull up you bank and/or credit card statements for the last three months, and look at how you’re spending your money. Think about where your money goes and why you can’t save money; think about all the things you can lower and ways to allocate ways to save money.”

7. Read books that can help you get more financially savvy.

“If you’re looking to get more financially savvy, there’s no better time. One of the few money books I love is You Are a Badass at Making Money. Don’t overwhelm yourself with info, but use this time to get familiar with financial terms or investment terms.”

About the Expert: Kristin O’Keeffe Merrick is a money expert and financial advisor at her family-run firm, O'Keeffe Financial Partners, based in Fairfield, NJ. Kristin has over 19 years of investment experience, having spent the first part of her career as currency trader, and serving most recently as Vice President at Morgan Stanley. She has contributed to Forbes, CNBC,NY Magazine, Girlboss, Hey Mama, My Domaine, and Coveteur. She is a frequent guest on the Today Show, the NBC Nightly News and Yahoo Finance. Kristin was also recently named as 2020 Badass 50 by InStyle Magazine.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert.

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!