From Boring to Beneficial: How to Handle a Slow Day at Work
When everyday feels like Monday.
Written by: De'Osha Randolph
We’ve all been there.
Some days in the office that are so hectic and fast-paced, it feels like you blink and it’s time to leave. There are others that go by so slowly you feel as if you’ll barely make it out alive. All of your deadlines are met, your inbox is organized and you’ve even gotten ahead on a few projects but there are still six hours left in on the clock. It’s going to be a long day.
The truth is, no matter how fun and engaging your job may be, no one is exempt from the occasional boring work day.
Instead of falling into the black hole of endless Instagram scrolling, catching up on Netflix shows, online shopping or checking the clock every five minutes -- a slow day in the office is the prime time to get ahead on some major career goals.
A boring work day doesn't mean you can't get anything productive done, so I’ve laid out a few tips and tricks to help you successfully cross the finish line of a slow day.
Work on your side hustle
We all have one! And since your workload is light, what better time than while you’re already up and active. A boring work day is the ideal time to finish your business plan, brainstorm new ideas or create content for your your passion project. Use the down time to research industry-specific news and trends, and hone in your your goals! You’ll thank yourself for using your time wisely.
Listen to Podcasts or an Audiobook
Podcasts are my new favorite thing, and there are so many to choose from that cater to your interests. Whether you like news and politics, murder mysteries, or even if you just want to learn something new; there’s a podcast to meet your desires.
The WorkParty podcast will arrive in August 2018! Hosted by Create & Cultivate CEO and author of WorkParty™, Jaclyn Johnson, this weekly podcast will break down the business of being a modern working woman. Be sure to tune in!
Audiobooks are growing in popularity and are another fantastic way to stay mentally engaged during a slow day. Audiobooks are awesome because they allow you to multitask while listening to a story, and is a lot faster than reading a regular book. A great narrator will enthrall you into the story and bring the characters to life. Listening to good audiobook will definitely help a boring day fly by.
Budget
Admittedly, this is probably not the first thing you want to do when it comes to making a boring day more entertaining, but it’s a good idea if you want to take control of your cash! Creating a monthly or weekly budget will help you understand your cash flow and see what’s coming in and leaving your accounts, and will help you save more and spend less. A great way to feel like you're really adulting.
Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
Updating your resume isn't just for when you're looking for a new job. In fact, according to CareerCast, keeping your resume current is part of a smart long-term career management strategy. It’s recommended that working professionals update their resumes several times throughout the year.
Did you just complete a major project? Earn a certificate? Learn a new skill? Add it to your resume and LinkedIn Profile.
You may not be looking for a new job, but someone could be looking for you. LinkedIn is one of the most popular networking platforms, and whether you're in the market for a new job or not, it’s always advantageous to keep your career profiles updated. It’s a great way to show potential employers and business partners what you're made of.
Network
Remember the person you said you wanted to schedule a coffee meeting with, but never got around to doing it? Do it now! Networking is essential and there is never a bad time to reach out. Use a slow work day to look through your contacts and schedule meetings or phone calls to expand your network. You never know what new doors can open after a friendly interaction.
It’s hard to predict the ebbs and flows of work life. But when things in the office slow down, that doesn't mean you don't have to. Let’s keep pushing, we’ve got this!
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Links From Our Group Chat: The Moments that Made a Movement & more
So inspired by the youth today.
What are you digging into tonight? Check out what we passed back and forth this week!
We always knew we should have been a Miranda. Cynthia Nixon running for Governor of NY is giving us life.
Speaking of giving us life. The teens who organized March for Our Lives are trying to save the world. NBD. Check out the moments that made a movement.
We are all about these female tennis champs. We talking teams.
A week in New York in a 68k salary.
Don't live in the dark. Here's how to find all the apps tracking you on Facebook-- and how to stop them.
What are you reading? Share in the comments below!
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Tips and Tricks to Avoid ALLERGY FACE®
Because spring is just beginning.
This post is sponsored by ZYRTEC®
Watery eyes, red nose and puffiness… the dreaded beauty challenges that often come with seasonal allergies. Or, as ZYRTEC® coined it: ALLERGY FACE®!
It’s not a good look.
But what happens when you’re prone to the dreaded ALLERGY FACE® and you have to show up at *gasp* an outdoor event?
It’s an allergy-prone woman’s nightmare. Especially for those of us at Create & Cultivate – Half of our events are outdoors. And if you’re anything like our founder, and CEO, whose allergies can run amuck during the Spring, you know how stressful it can be to keep allergies at bay. Not anymore!
Here are some tips and tricks for making sure you can face the world (and outdoor events) this spring.
Spring into action
Did you know there are only 92 days of the spring season? Which means, when you need relief, you need it fast. If you know you’re heading to an outdoor event where your allergies are likely to act up (i.e. cue the puffiness and watery eyes) you should absolutely prepare in advance.
“The last thing I need when I’m on stage is to be sneezing or have puffiness. I make sure to take ZYRTEC® the week leading up to any event. It’s a product that starts working hard at hour one and works twice as hard when you take it again the next day, which is an absolute must to prep for any last minute snafooz or sneezes,” shares C&C founder Jaclyn Johnson. “In addition, following some of my favorite beauty tips for combatting ALLERGY FACE® helps me look amazing so I can put my best face forward at any outdoor events this spring!”
ALLERGY FACE® See Ya Later
Go ahead and stop and smell the roses because celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg offered a few beauty tricks and tips for dealing with allergy-related beauty challenges. (Uh-huh that puffiness and red nose we mentioned. You’re not Rudolph after all. Cute as he may be.)
To combat a red nose, Jamie says, “Use a green-tinted concealer to help cancel out redness. Apply a full-coverage foundation all over the face followed by a translucent powder to help set the foundation and keep it lasting.”
If watery eyes are your issue, the makeup artist, who works with celebs like Jordana Brewster, advises that, “A bold, glossy lip is a great way to distract from watery eyes, especially when you don’t feel like wearing a lot of makeup.”
Also, a cooling moisturizer can help rid your face of puffiness. When you’re back at home, don’t use something that can make it worse. “Make sure makeup removing wipes are marked gentle and for sensitive skin or you’ll run the risk of worsening redness from ALLERGY FACE®,” shares Jamie.
However you swing it, spring is coming. So it’s best to prepare!
Do you have allergies? Sound off in the comments below on what beauty tips you follow to combat ALLERGY FACE®
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3 Tennis Champions Talk On and Off Court Competition
Oh, we talking teams.
Getty Images, Matthew Stockman
They’re not waiters but boy, can they serve.
And thanks to the WTA, The Women’s Tennis Association, they’re getting paid for it. Right now, these women are doing it at the Miami Open. Just last month they were at the BNP Open in Palm Springs.
The WTA was founded by Billie Jean King, and her group of eight other renegades were revolutionary by 1970s standards. A full two years ahead of the passage of Title IX in the United States, they envisioned a better future for women's tennis.
In September 1970, the birth of women's professional tennis was launched when nine players signed $1 contracts with World Tennis publisher Gladys Heldman to compete in a new women's tour, the Virginia Slims Series. This story was recently saluted in Battle of the Sexes, the Emma Stone movie that followed the rise of the WTA and life of Billie Jean King. The Original 9, as they were called, included Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals, Nancy Richey, Kerry Melville, Peaches Bartkowicz, Kristy Pigeon, Judy Dalton, Valerie Ziegenfuss and Julie Heldman.
Now, the WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sport with more than 2,500 players representing nearly 100 nations competing for a record $146 million in prize money. It’s been a groundbreaking organization from the beginning.
Australian tennis champ Samantha Stosur is one of the players on tour with WTA. After receiving a racquet for Christmas at age 8, she became a former world No. 1 in doubles, a ranking which she held for 61 weeks. Stosur is also a former world No. 4 in singles.
"Look outside of your bubble and see where things are right now. Learn about the past. See where we were."
“Since I was 9 I’ve been competing against other girls, and now women,” Stosur says of the idea that women don’t compete, they empower. “We’re trying to grow everything as a whole, but at the end of the day we have to compete against each other in this sport that’s just the way it is.” Stosur says that it is still entirely possible to compete and root for the progression of all women. “Oh, absolutely. Definitely,” she says. “The WTA is all about that. All the girls on tour feel that. We want to be the best in the world, as a collective, as a whole.” And at the end of the match? “You shake hands and the better person wins on the day. As long as you give your best, what else can you ask for?” she asks. And people are tuning in to watch their best. In 2017, the WTA was watched around the world by a total TV audience of 500 million.
But it's not simply for show.
Stosur is also on the Player’s Council for the WTA. The Australian, who has been a member of the council since 2013, is one of four players elected as part of the “top 20” category of players. She mentions Venus Williams, another "top 20" player. “Venus was big on equal prize money and equality.” It's what they're always working toward. Stosur says it’s always a matter of “striving for bigger and better things for the tour as a whole.” The 2018 WTA competitive season includes 54 events and four Grand Slams in 30 countries. Stosur says, “Whether it’s about empowering women in our sport, or being the biggest sport in the world for women, or making tournaments better,” no stone is unturned. “Even the smaller details like how many nights you get at a hotel during a tournament,” are discussed.
Her advice to the younger players is smart, simple. “Look outside of your bubble and see where things are right now. Learn about the past. See where we were. See where you are now. Think about where we want to get to. Everyone is here together. I think it’s really easy when you’re young to think you’re out here on your own.”
One of those younger players is Swedish player Belinda Bencic. In 2012, Bencic made her debut for the Switzerland Fed Cup team. The following year, she won the French Open and Wimbledon girls' singles titles. And then, at the Premier 5 event in Toronto in 2015, Bencic won the biggest title of her career, besting the World No. 1 at the time, Serena Williams, who had won the last four Grand Slams in a row. Bencic was surely on her way to greatness. Then the unthinkable happened-- the teen was sidelined with a back injury that kept her off the court for two months in 2016. She then suffered a wrist injury that required surgery and kept her out for five months in 2017.
But Bencic is back. “It’s been difficult,” she says. “When I was younger, I was winning. Happy to be here. Everything went up, everyone started paying attention, but I was only 18. People expected me to act like I was 25.”
Getty Images, Clive Brunskill
“I felt the pressure. I felt the expectations, but I was doing it to myself as well. It was not easy.” Today she says she’s grateful for her injuries. It allowed her to take a step off the court, literally and figuratively, and get her mind right. “Now, my perspective has changed. I’m enjoying being back. I’m playing because I love it, not because I’m playing for someone else. I’m happy to be healthy on the court.”
“I felt the pressure. I felt the expectations, but I was doing it to myself."
As for those someone else’s, Bencic is not here for the body shaming or the haters. She says for instance, “My body was changing from a girl’s to a woman’s. You hear comments about yourself. People telling you how you should look. What your weight should be.” Her downtime allowed her to build up the confidence to block out the haters,l. “I realized when you’re up, everyone is cheering you on. But when you’re down, they love to say, ‘Oh, your career is over.’”
Bencic says she’s happy to make a “comeback” but she’s not doing it for anyone but herself. “I don’t care so much what others think of me anymore. When you’re young you care, and you can get caught up.” In all the ups and downs of the sport-- including the competitive side. These are World Champs we're talking about.
But Bencic is all about that mentorship life. “Some players are not friends, it’s true. But some players really try to help each other and be supportive of each other. I appreciate the players who were trying to help me. I want to do the same for younger players when I’m older. When you come on tour at 16 you don’t know anyone. For someone to be nice to you and want to practice with you, it makes you feel good. I hope to be the same person.”
“We are pretty good at knowing the difference between on and off the court,” she says. “I can face my best friend on the court and I’m going to try and beat her. You can’t be mad. On the court, I’m trying to beat her as a tennis player. Not as my friend.”
“I can face my best friend on the court and I’m going to try and beat her. You can’t be mad. On the court, I’m trying to beat her as a tennis player. Not as my friend.”
Maria Sharapova shares this “on court” and “off court” mentality as well, explaining,“I firmly believe that there are never too many opportunities for women to be supporting other women - both on- and off- the court. Just recently I announced a women's entrepreneur program that I've partnered on with NAWBO, the National Association of Women Business Owners. At the core, it’s about helping female business owners who are starting from the very beginning of their journey get to the very top, through mentorship, education and professional guidance. And it’s a chance for me to share my passion for helping other women business owners thrive.”
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7 Reasons to Start a Podcast for Professional Gain
Pod save us all.
Written by: Ahyiana Angel
This year, the share of Americans who report being familiar with the term “podcasting” is now 60 percent (or 168 million) and the share of American women listening has increased year-over-year: coming in at 24 percent this year, which is up from 21 percent the year before (2017).
Go women, go!
U.S. podcast listeners earn on average $10,000 more than the average American and podcast consumers tend to be more tech savvy as well as more likely to use social media than the average American, but if you’re still on the fence about creating a podcast, I'll give you a few more practical reasons to podcast.
Establish a Brand or Industry Presence
There are plenty of digital marketing options available now when looking to make your mark online. However, entering a space where the cost of entry is low and the competition for attention is not at its peak can serve you well when you’re just getting started. Podcasting allows you to begin establishing your brand without even launching a website because initially you can drive all of your traffic to the page created for you by your podcast host.
Further An Existing Business or Brand
A podcast can help provide direction and offer a way to streamline content for an existing business or brand. If you already have a brand established, a podcast is a strategic way to make an extension for your brand, blog, product or website. When I started podcasting the bulk of my audience engaged with my brand via Instagram. When I launched the Switch, Pivot or Quit podcast it offered a way for me to provide more content and create ways for the audience to stay engaged off of social media. You can crate audio content via your podcast that compliments the messaging you are publishing through other mediums. Think about the way that your current audience consumes your content. Can you capture their attention in a more effortless way with a podcast by meeting them where they already are, perhaps on their phone? A podcast is another way for you to speak to your audience and potentially provide more depth and a stronger connection.
Connections are key to professional expansion and your podcast can be the through-line.
Become An Expert
If you are looking for ways to expand your presence within your industry, it is quite reasonable for someone to develop into an expert in their space by being the host of a podcast. By consistently talking about a specific topic, reporting on it and interviewing people regarding said topic, you can become engrained in the conversation by default. Your name will become more searchable with relation to the subject matter as well. You may then find yourself being invited to be a guest on other podcasts, participating in other media interviews as well as speaking engagements. Maybe you'll even get a book deal from it like the ladies of Being Boss podcast.
Develop a Community
Since podcasting is known to be a medium of media that creates an intimate environment for you and your listener, you can create a strong connection between you and your audience. You have the opportunity to speak directly to your audience using a voice that is just as authentic as when you engage with your friends. For this reason, among others, your listener begins to really feel like they know you as a person. They like you as a host, which then turns into a feeling like you're a friend in their head. This creates an affinity and when enough listeners feel this way you naturally begin to see a community of like-minded people forming. To take it a step further you can establish routine ways to engage online via social media as well as offline via live podcast meet-ups. By exploring relatable personal journals the You Had Me at Black podcast has done a fantastic job of creating a loyal community of listeners which has resulted in sold out live shows and even a podcast tour to meet the listening communities demands.
Become An Early Adapter
Although podcasting has been around for years, it is still a rapidly growing space. In the current climate of advanced technology at your fingertips, creating a podcast just feels more accessible to the masses at this point. There is a very low barrier to entry. Most of us can create a successful podcast if we just put our mind to it and add a little effort and work.
I like to think that podcasting will operate similar to the growth and popularity of YouTube. There was a time when the world looked at people creating video to upload to YouTube as a silly hobby, but now some of the early creators have audiences in the millions and they are generating just as much in revenue. The early adapters and early creators will see a large amount of success as more and more people start to become podcast listeners. Currently, only a fraction of the possible listening population is tuned in so there is tremendous room for growth.
Let Your Ideas and Voice Be Heard
Many people just want to be heard, they have something to say and they are just waiting for an audience to listen, that is why we create. Developing a podcast where you can speak about topics of interest to you can be a great way to flex your knowledge, understanding and voice with regard to a specific industry or social topic. Your podcast will allow you the opportunity to become a part of the conversation. You can establish your content as a go-to source for those interested in your industry or topic.
Your podcast is now a form of media, media that can serve as a platform for guests to gain publicity.
Build Professional Relationships
Creating a podcast with a show format that incorporates guests will allow you the opportunity to reach out to peers and industry professionals that you admire in an effort to invite them to be a guest on your podcast. In thinking strategically, you can reach out to people that you would like to build a relationship with. Your podcast is now a form of media, media that can serve as a platform for guests to gain publicity. Most people love publicity for their work or cause. Now you are in a position to offer something of value, which can result in the making of a valuable connection with industry colleagues. Connections are key to professional expansion and your podcast can be the through-line.
Just like starting anything new, podcasting can seem intimidating at first. In an effort to make your entry into podcasting as smooth as possible, you can check out an in-depth course via Mediabistro called “Tools, Tips and Tactics for Creating a Killer Podcast” and I created the “Beginner's Guide to Creating, Launching + Marketing a Podcast” in which you can learn everything you need to know to enter the world of podcasting in 60 minutes or less!
Ahyiana Angel is traditionally published author and host of the Switch, Pivot or Quit podcast, who is affectionately known as the Chief Encourager. She is a seasoned executor who eventually blocked out the world’s ideas of success, quit her highly coveted position at the NBA, moved to London and traveled the world for a stint, then followed her passion in writing to find her purpose in encouragement. Mastering the art of note-worthy ideation, Ahyiana taps into her more than 12 years of professional business marketing experience to lend her thoughts on professional development, digital marketing, contemporary brand styling and more. However, Ahyiana enters her zone of genius when speaking to audiences about her 4 Ps: publicity, publishing, personal development and podcasting.
SPQ PODCAST | SPQ WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
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Seven Questions to Ask Yourself When You Need Courage to Say Yes to Life
What if we fail vs. what if we fly?
Written By: Enuma Okoro
We’ve all been there. Faced with an exciting decision that could alter our daily and professional lives in a big way but daunted by what saying YES could mean. We wanted it sure but not right NOW! Are we really up for the task? Is it biting off more than we can chew? What if we fail? But then again, as the saying goes, “What if we fly?”
Courage isn’t just required in dangerous situations. Saying yes to big potentially amazing life experiences also require courage. And it’s perfectly normal to be afraid in the face of even big decisions that could help you move towards your goals. Change can be scary, even beautiful change. But once we acknowledge that it’s alright to be scared we have to keep moving from there and make the best decisions towards living our best lives. We have to find the courage to say yes in the face of our fears.
WHAT IF WE FAIL? WHAT IF WE FLY?
When an opportunity comes along that could take us to the next level in our career or in our personal lives it will usually require facing down those fears and having to release something in our lives to make room for what’s being offered. When I find myself with a major life opportunity in front of me it can be tempting to spin into over analyzing and worry about whether or not to step out of my comfort zone and into this new space full of so much potential but also so much of the unknown. So I’m learning to ask myself some key questions to help me make the best decision and to move forward towards what I imagine could be my best life. I start by getting to the heart of anything that could keep me from saying yes to my life.
What am I afraid of?
When I really ask myself this question and have to answer aloud I usually find that my fears, if I can even articulate them, are sort of irrational. They don’t make sense when spoken aloud. And as a result, they are forced to diminish in size. If I am able to articulate fears that make sense then I try turning the fear around to see what’s on the other side. I often think that our fears offer us clues to what we really want.
I often think that our fears offer us clues to what we really want.
How is saying “yes” to this invitation in line with the kind of life I want to live?
It’s basically another way of asking if this option on front of you is in sync with your sense of purpose and the intention for your life. Asking this question forces me to reassert my values, the non-negotiables, what I believe my overall purpose is (which can play out in different ways over the course of my life,) and the life I want. It’s always powerful to speak aloud the particular things I desire and need for the particular season of my life. If, for instance, I know I’m ready to channel my love for storytelling through travel writing then I also know I need and desire the freedom to travel and curate travel stories. I’d have to keep that in mind when trying to make a big life shifting decision.
Three years from now what would I regret if I turned this invitation down?
I use 3 years because I’ve found in my own life experiences that it takes about that long for a major life decision to show its seasoned fruits. Taking a new job, moving to a new city or country or starting a business or venture.
Is there anyone in relation to this decision that I’m trying to please or that I’m afraid of disappointing?
This can be a tough question to ask because often the answer is yes. Very few of us, especially women, are raised to do things solely for our own benefit or desire. We’ve been falsely taught that is selfish and bad. We subconsciously carry other people along with us and make decisions based on their potential responses to us. Whether it’s a parent or partner or even strangers we think we have to compete with or impress. We owe it to ourselves (and to all those waiting for the amazing things we’ll do when we live from our grounded honest selves) to make the best decisions for ourselves regardless of what anyone else thinks.
We owe it to ourselves to make the best decisions for ourselves regardless of what anyone else thinks.
What added advantages or opportunities could come from saying yes?
Sometimes we forget that life is not static. Every decision we make sets in motion a slew of other things in our lives. One of my favorite quotes about decision-making is from the book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. “Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision." One yes can lead to a million other beautiful yeses.
What could I learn from this new opportunity?
If we’re not learning in life we’re not growing. I think every big invitation in life that I say yes to should not just be an opportunity for me to shine and flourish but also for me to learn and grow.
And finally I ask myself, “Will I be happy?”
Could I wake up every morning and be content and happy about saying yes and going forward with this choice and this change? Life is too short and full of too many other possibilities for anything else.
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We're Popping Up! Join Us in Miami with Clinique
Makeover what.
Wanna put your best face forward? We want to help. It's why we're teaming up with Clinique to bring you a mini popup in Miami on April 5th, 2018.
We'll be chatting strong foundations, the newest beauty buzz, and what makes you feel the most beautiful.
Panel: Best Face Forward
Speakers
The Breakdown
6:00 PM | Doors open! Enjoy Clinique beauty treatments, networking + a professional headshot station to upgrade your biz profile.
6:30 PM | Panel: Best Face Forward
7:30 PM | Happy Hour drinks + networking with your fellow Create & Cultivators!
Where
Aventura Mall | 19501 Biscayne Blvd, Aventura, FL
RSVP for this event has been closed. Thank you!
C&C Classifieds: Forbes, Pomp & Whimsy, Modcloth + more!
Spring cleaning those career moves.
Another day another dollar.
Another Wednesday, another Create & Cultivate Classifieds listing.
It's officially spring and that means it's time to get cleaning. If your career is on your clean up list this season, you're in the right place. Dive into this week's new classifieds list below and start sending out those resumes ladies.
Happy Spring!
Pomp & Whimsy - Multi-City LA, SF, SD
Modcloth - SF, CA
United Entertainment Group - LA, CA
Forbes - NY, NY
Patients & Purpose - NY, NY
Whole Foods - ATX, TX
WANT MORE? CHECK OUT OUR FULL CLASSIFIEDS LIST HERE!
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Zoey Deutch Is No Flower In Her New Movie
But she is blooming brilliant.
"Flower," the new dark teen comedy from director Max Winkler, starring Zoey Deutch was made in 16 days with a half a million dollar budget. Not bad for a flick that's earned a yellow check as a NYT Critic's Pick.
Not bad for a film that begins with an underage girl giving a police officer a blow job.
That's right. When we first meet Deutch's character, Erica Vandross, she’s performing oral sex on a cop in his squad car. Nearby, her own squad secretly records the encounter in order to blackmail him. They score a paltry 400 bucks from officer Dale (the entirety of his bank account), as part of an ongoing extortion hustled up by Erica to earn enough cash to bail her dear old dad out of jail. What, you weren't a vigilante at 17? As Deutch says in the movie’s trailer, “Shaking down a child molester is our moral obligation.” Sure, at her high school she gets called a “slut,” but Erica, rather believably to the credit of Deutch's portrayal, does not care what anyone thinks of her. “It's called feminism," she tells Luke (Joey Morgan), the son of her mother Laurie's (Kathryn Hahn) new boyfriend.
There are male critics who don't love the flick. But women (and the New York Times) are in agreement: it fucking rocks. For Deutch, who played the *almost* only female in Richard Linklater's "Everybody Wants Some," and last year's "Before I Fall" it was an opportunity to play a role traditionally written for a dude.
Erica is confident, but manic. Oogles the hot old dude at the bowling alley. Wears socks with slides, rocks a mean mom-jean short, a "Daddy" t-shirt, enjoys giving blowjobs and drawing said penises in her diary of dick. In short: Erica's not "likable," or so say the powers-that-be-reviewers. There are a laundry list of unbecoming traits that friends and fam heeded the actress against. "I must have poor reading comprehension skills. I thought she was fucking awesome," joked Deutch. "The unanimous response was, 'Aren't you afraid of playing someone potentially so unlikeable?'"
The answer simply, was no. In fact the only part of the movie that flummoxed the then-twenty-year-old was a dancing scene. "Blowjob scenes, totally fine," Deutch jokes. "But dancing was the worst. I'm the worst dancer."
"Blowjob scenes, totally fine," Deutch jokes. "But dancing was the worst. I'm the worst dancer."
But the way she carries the film is a dance. That between "likable" and "unlikable," teetering between the two so deftly that you're not, NOT rooting for her. Despite her shortcomings and occasional cruelty, you want Erica to win at life, to love herself, to reclaim her innocence, at least in some capacity. She's not without soul. She's certainly not without heart. "Flower" shows teens as they are-- not as they ought to be.
It's also fun and so refreshing to see this part played by a woman, you understand.
"This kind of character when played by a man is morally ambiguous," says Deutch. "When it's a woman," she continues, again returning to that word women all too often hear in the workplace, "she's unlikable." Contrary to the warnings of peers, Deutch says playing the role of Erica "is the most profound and fun and fulfilling thing I've done in my career so far."
"This kind of character when played by a man is morally ambiguous. When it's a woman she's unlikable."
Her director, Max Winkler, agrees. "I'm really proud of her performance," he says. "For a twenty year old to be able to carry a movie like that...I'm still not jaded by how good she is." It's an enthusiasm he likewise shared for his crew. On set, he says, "Almost all of our department heads, except for the gaffer and the grip, were women." Adding, "The set ran so much better. Everyone follows the DP on set, and there was no ego, there was no fighting."
"It was so weird for me to realized that I had never worked with a female DP," says Deutch of Carolina Costa, the film's Director of Photography. From there Deutch started looking into other film set stats. "Did you know that less than one percent of women score movies?" she asks. She didn't. Now she does.
Though the film was made two years pre-#metoo movement, there are parallels that alone make the movie worth seeing. Without giving away any spoilers, while the solutions the teens come to in moments of revenge, and subsequent panic, aren't necessarily the best solutions, they are still taking action. Which is something that Deutch is all about. "We're not capitalizing on the movement," says the actress, "but the hope is that all of the discussions breed more action."
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The Weinstein Company Went Bankrupt
Here's what we learned.
As expected, the Weinstein Company, went belly-up bankrupt. Smell ya later perpetrators.
Reported first by Variety, the outlet states, "The Weinstein Co. announced Monday that it had filed for bankruptcy, finding itself unable to survive the allegations of sexual abuse leveled against co-founder Harvey Weinstein last fall.
The company may yet be able to reorganize and continue to produce TV shows and films under new ownership. Lantern Capital put in a 'stalking horse' bid, which provides a floor for a bankruptcy auction."
But what does filing for bankruptcy really mean? And what on earth is a stalking horse bid? Does the headless horseman ride him into your town? Sadly, no. (Childhood dream, smashed.)
So we're breaking down some familiar and unfamiliar terms.
BANKRUPTCY: WHAT EVEN IS IT?
As a young woman I first started to dig into the concept of bankruptcy in 2010. That's right. The first year R&B superstar Toni Braxton claimed $50,000,000 in debt and chapter 7'd her life. Un-break her heart. But then she filed for bankruptcy a second time. 6 months after that second filing in 2014, Braxton purchased a $3 million dollar home in "The Oaks" neighborhood of LA. How does that work? It's confusing that most people who file bankruptcy emerge in one piece.
Contrary to popular belief, many folks think that filing bankruptcy wipes out all debt obligations. That's not exactly true. You still have to pay off at least some of your debt, and what kind of bankruptcy you file will determine how that works.
So, let's break down the two most common types of bankruptcy.
You've likely heard of a Chapter 7 filing and a Chapter 13 filing (there are also chapter 11 and 12 filings-- the latter of which is only for farmers and fisherman, which is sexy), but for most of us who aren't 50 million in debt, we don't know the difference.
According to FindLaw.com, "Chapter 13 bankruptcies generally fall under the reorganization category, meaning that you will probably be able to keep your property, but you must submit and stick to a plan that will allow you to repay some or all of your debts within three to five years."
Chapter 7 bankruptcies normally fall in the liquidation category, meaning your property could be sold in order to pay back your debts. Property in this case could mean a car of second home. To file Chapter 7 you have to meet certain financial eligibility requirements-- your income being the most important factor.
So does the Weinstein Company filing bankruptcy mean it's going down for good? No. Will it ruin their credit? Didn't Harvey already do that?
For more light reading on the subject of bankruptcy click here.
WTF IS A STALKING HORSE
Since I don't spend my days perusing bankruptcy webbies, I had never heard this term. (Horse terms I do know include: "Get off your high horse," "Eat like a horse," and my fave "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.")
[side bar: comment your favorite horse idioms in the comments below and let's be internet neiiighbors.] Back to biz.
According to The Cut, "The sale of TWC to an investor group lead by former Obama administration cabinet member Maria Contreras-Sweet and billionaire Ron Burkle fell through earlier this month. On Monday, the Weinstein Company released a statement expressing hopefulness about a new investor, Lantern Capital Partners, who submitted a 'stalking horse' bid to purchase the company in advance of a potential bankruptcy auction. 'The Board selected Lantern in part due to Lantern’s commitment to maintain the assets and employees as a going concern,' TWC said in the statement. 'The Company hopes that this orderly sale process under the supervision of the Bankruptcy Court will allow it to maximize the value of the Company’s assets for the benefit of its creditors and other stakeholders.'"
A Stalking Horse offer or bid is as follows: A stalking horse offer, agreement, or bid is an attempt by a bankrupt debtor to test the market for the debtor's assets in advance of an auction of them. The intent is to maximize the value of its assets or avoid low bids, as part of (or before) a court auction.
Does the stalking horse ride off in the sunset with the company assets? Again, this shit is complicated and there are pros and cons to this approach. National Real Estate Investor does a good job breaking down the pros and cons in language that makes sense.
Did this help or are you more lost than ever?
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These Women Keep Us Smiling on a Daily Basis
A catalyst for happiness.
A catalyst for happiness.
Naomi Hirabayshi and Marah Lidey co-founders and co-CEOs of Shine met while working at DoSomething.Org. Spurned perhaps by the company name as well as a mutual desire to “provide an accessible solution to wellbeing," the duo developed a daily text messaging service to address our shadowy negative thoughts. Instead of letting them lurk in the dark corners, Naomi and Marah wanted to normalize the struggle, the day-to-day hustle of life.
With a background in advertising, where she “built an understanding of the value of an impression” and “how much people will pay for exposure,” Naomi was able to convert that information while at DoSomething. Calling it “the most formative step” in her career, prior to starting Shine, Naomi built “an expertise in the power of messaging to reach people around issues they care about.” As the Director of Mobile Products & Messaging at the company, Marah likewise lead a team to create engaging digital experiences to encourage young people to make an impact on their community. She also oversaw and lead the creation of the organization’s mobile apps.
Naomi says, “In our friendship we were able to process work and life goals together because of the shared trust, admiration, and accessibility. What’s amazing is that our dynamic was both the catalyst for the product, and our dynamic was also the perfect breeding ground to become co-founders.”
Shine became the way for the the co-founders to scale the support they offered each other through a product. It also became a way to provide an accessible solution for wellbeing services.
At the beginning of this year Marah and Naomi launched a new campaign, called #ResolutionRealTalk. In celebration of the New Year, #ResolutionRealTalk works to remind people to practice self-compassion around 2017 goals. The co-CEOs explain that 80% of New Year resolutions fail by the second week of February. Self-compassion is one of the primary ways to stay on track. “Our goals often aren’t sustainable,” explains Marah. “Change is hard overnight, and when we set unrealistic, binary milestones for ourselves and subsequently struggle to reach them in a short timeframe, we crash and burn.” With a record number of millennial women leaving their jobs, Naomi and Marah want to prevent the work-and-burn crisis that is affecting their generation.
“The things that are the hardest are hard, because they’re worth it.”
Tweet this.
Along this journey Naomi says her kindness was often perceived as weakness, but knows that often “the things that are the hardest are hard, because they’re worth it.” Acknowledging that Mindy Kaling's message of ‘Why not me?', really resonated with her, "as a woman, a woman of color, and an entrepreneur.”
In their personal lives most everything is currently taking a backseat to Shine. With the goal of making their messaging service “the largest platform for millennials and well-being,” they admit to being “all in on Shine.”
With 93% of users reporting that they are more confident and have seen an uptick in daily happiness and mental health, the future looks brights (and female) with Shine.
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Deepica Mutyala's Best Skincare Tips for Busy Women
Deepica’s skin is not a trend
Beauty influencer and Founder of TINTED, Deepica Mutyala, says her skin is not a trend.
In her first tutorial upload to YouTube, Indian-American on-air beauty expert Deepica Mutyala takes a friendly and simple approach to contouring. It's not over-the-top. She uses her day-to-day products. The lighting... could be better. It's her barebones, barefaced entry to the world of YouTube. Never in a million years did she think millions of people would tune in. But they did.
And it's the inspiring emails she receives that keep her going. "Surround yourself with those who want to see you win," the beauty guru has said.
We tapped the beauty expert and Neutrogena ambassador to get some skin care tips for busy on-the-go women and get our fresh face game plan together for the changing of seasons.
How does your skin react to weather changes and what do you use to be proactive about skincare throughout the seasons?
Deepica: I have dry skin and also skin that tends to hyper-pigment easily. I'm always using hydrating products but, one shift for me seasonally is that in the winter I will switch to products that quench my skin even more. There's also more masking than ever in the winter for me. Maybe because I'm at home more but also because my skin needs the extra love then the most.
What are 2 mandatory skincare activities you’d recommend for busy women?
Deepica: Products with SPF built into them are a must - saves you time, energy, effort, and money! I'm not sure if this is weird, but at least growing up the face wash that was in my shower wasn't the same as the one in my medicine cabinet. It was one that I like but don't love but had there just to have.
What are your favorite travel friendly products?
Deepica: Tatcha Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm keeps my lips super nourished every day, and I pack it on, even more, when I'm traveling. I always bring the OLLY Restful Sleep Vitamins too! Planes are a great time for me to finally disconnect my mind and get sleep. It's not easy for me to do that with starting a new business so I never travel without them. Also, I never go without my travel pillow. I don't get how people sleep on planes without them!
Skincare tips for boss ladies who have late nights and early mornings?
Deepica: Hydration! In order to keep my skin glowing, it needs all the moisture it can get! My schedule is always so busy, now more than ever with the launch of TINTED (🙌🏾), so my favorite way to unwind after a long day is to mask. Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask is one of my faves because the serum quenches my dry skin and when I’m done, I just rub all of the good stuff into my skin for the night and wake up to super soft skin!
Vitamins are also my best friend these days! Not to be repetitive, but OLLY’s Vibrant Skin gummies always help me keep my skin healthy when I don't really have much time to take care of it. Also, I always keep my Neutrogena makeup remover wipes next to my bed incase it's THAT long of a day, and it's a reminder to take your face off, and go get your skincare on.
What are the essentials to nightly skincare?
Deepica: I love a good nighttime serum - I like to feel like I'm sleeping in an overnight mask so I wake up with my skin feeling soft and hydrated.
Best advice for women dealing with skin insecurities?
Deepica: You're not alone - every girl has them including me. That said, as I've gotten older, I've truly learned to embrace my flaws. No one is perfect I think with the social media world it's hard to remember that. Not enough people are talking about the reality of their lives and putting on a persona for the world that they think people want to see. I think if more people were just real and shared the reality of how they felt we all would win.
How do you keep up the flawless fresh face during filming?
Deepica: I care about skincare more now than ever in my life. I didn't think I had to because my mom's skin is basically perfect, but she didn't play with makeup for a living so there's that. With the amount I have to take my face on and off on a daily basis for filming, I use any and every opportunity I can to be makeup free and let my skin breathe. Water has been my best friend and vitamins are a core part of my life now. I used to slack with SPF, but it's not an option anymore. That and using a skin essence are both recent life developments that won't be going anywhere anytime soon!
If you were stranded on an island and could only have one beauty product what would it be?
Deepica: Officially a broken record but OBVIOUSLY SPF! I can't emphasize the importance of that enough. I also feel like women of color aren't as good about it because we don't see the red burning as much as other women. The burn is real though - layer it on! Side note: Kate Somerville and Supergoop both have a great spray SPF so you aren’t left with a white overcast on your face for someone with my skin tone and I love everything that’s in spray form. Makes life so much more efficient!
Have any of your own skincare tips for on-the-go boss babes? Let us know in the comment section!
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Links From Our Group Chat: Rihanna Cancels Snapchat & More
Cozy up for a good read (ing.)
Reading is good for you and knowledge is power. So get on clicking the below.
What do you know about this ground-breaking Barbie?
Why are brands so confused by LGTBQ communities?
Where has all ambition go-on-one?
This Ellen Pompeo piece is work a re-read.
Code switching while black at work.
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Why the Worlds of Fashion and Tech Are Merging
One of these things is *just* like the other.
What do fashion, design and tech have to do with each other?
Well, A LOT, based on the GameChangers panel hosted by Dell x Create & Cultivate in Austin this week.
When it comes to innovation and change, technology is enabling better engagement with consumers and brands, as well as creativity and efficiency. Technology is evolving the fashion industry and fashion is influencing technology. Read through for the hot topics of the day and how technology is the future of fashion - in store and online.
THE TECH IMPACT ON THE FASHION INDUSTRY
Speed is of the essence in the modern world and tech helps us get there. “Obviously a lot has changed with the internet,” shared Charcy Evers, a fashion and retail trend analyst. “‘The consumer wants, what she wants, when she wants it, on her own terms. And if she doesn’t get it, you lose her.”
That’s a scary but exciting proposition. Charcy asked the crowd in attendance, “Where does the creativity of the designer end and tech take over?” She also told the crowd, ‘it has to be seamless, or else I’m out the door,” of her experiences with tech. And it’s true.
“Things are working much closer of the speed to market,” but the key is finding the sweet spot. You can jump on something too quick and your customer is not ready for it, or you can miss the boat,” explained Evers.
“Our audience appreciates that done is better than perfect,” Morgan DeBaun, founder of Blavity, shared. “They want it now. We have to keep up with that expectations and let go of our perfection. We learn a lot about our audience just by listening.” There was also the recognition that content creation is a 24/7 job and in order to keep up you need tech that works for you.
“I’m really careful at looking at my analytics and seeing what people are paying attention to,” explained Genevieve Padalecki, the massive blogger behind the platform Now and Gen, who boasts an unheard of 25% engagement rate. “My biggest platform is Instagram because I feel like it’s the most honest and real.”
HOW TECH INFLUENCES FASHION AND VICE VERSA
The two concepts go hand-in-hand. The lines are blurred, if not already merged.
Nicola Honeycutt, Dell’s Principal Designer, told that crowd, “We look to industries like fashion and textiles for trends and inspiration for our color and materials in our products -like the Rose Gold aluminum and Alpine White woven glass fiber in our New Dell XPS 13 laptop. And new colors can actually be invented with advances in technology. It’s pretty amazing.”
The industry is changing fast across the board. Today, two out of three Millennials prefer to shop online rather than go to a physical store, with 80% of Americans having made an online purchase in the last month! We know that millennials are influenced by tech and that their affinity for tech is reshaping the retail space.
As retail and fashion trend analyst Charcy Evers explained, “What’s driving trends today is the innovation that’s happening in technology. With every new innovation the customer’s mind and behavior is altered, so the expectation has changed.” Consumers expect products like the New Dell XPS 13, which combines both fashion innovation and tech in one device.
How do you see fashion and tech coming together in your world? Share in the comments below.
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Breakfast Recipes to Keep You Healthy and Glowing
Giving you a reason to eat before rushing out the door!
We all know breakfast matters and that it’s important to kickstart your week on the right foot. Which means, no, you can’t simply drink caffeine for breakfast. That’s a surefire way to crash and burn.
Look, we know it’s easy to grab a latte to go. And it might feel like you don’t have time for breakfast in the AM. Or it’s hard when we feel like we’re eating the same thing over and over again. So we’re giving you options: three amazing ways to make sure you eat breakfast and fuel your week.
Give Your Oats the Barney Butter Treatment
At Barney Butter, it's all about the almonds. And since almonds provide brain fuel and energy-- here is an awesome recipe to try.
Enter “Oats in a Jar” to the rescue! This recipe is resourceful, super easy (no cooking at all!), and it’s great for a morning on the go (very portable!) Best of all it tastes great – and it’s great for your body, too!
INGREDIENTS
The general rule is 1 part oats to 2 parts liquid, plus extras. In this batch I added 1/3 cup oats + 1/3 cup coconut milk + 1/3 cup coconut yogurt to the Barney Butter jar, then added 2 tbsp flaxseed meal, and half a banana. For liquid you can use any variety of milk, any variety of yogurt, any probiotic drink (kombucha or kefir), or even water. Great add-ins are any dried fruit, nuts, mashed or sliced bananas, fresh berries, shredded dried coconut, chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp oil.
Toppings are up to you!
DIRECTIONS
Add your ingredients to the barney butter jar.
Shake it up!
No need to get it uniformly mixed, just give it a good sloshing and then screw the cap back on. Stick it in the refrigerator to soak overnight.
The next morning, all you’ll need to do is grab the jar, grab a spoon, give it a stir and dig in! It can also be given a quick heat up in the microwave if preferred.
Kite Hill + Purely Elizabeth Bomb Combo
Photo by Alyssa Dawson Photography
Truth, they can be enjoyed on their own as well, but we think a yoghurt and granola AM combo is the exact boost you need. Especially when they are each made of ingredients that help you eat better, feel better, and are packed with nutrient-rich ingredients.
You can toss Purely Elizabeth's classic blend of ancient grains + superfood seeds on top of yoghurt or even blended into a smoothie.
Speaking of delicious yoghurts, Kite Hill is dairy and soy free, giving you that almond boost once more. Their plain almond milk yogurt is produced exclusively with local, top quality almonds that provide a smooth and delicate mouthfeel and flavor. The natural flavor of their almond milk is balanced with acidity produced by Probiotic cultures that are aged with the milk during production.
Or you if you want to get a little fancy in the AM-- we’re betting you can fig-ure this one out.
INGREDIENTS
1 tub Kite Hill Plain Unsweetened Yogurt (16 oz)
1 bag of Purely Elizabeth granola
1 package Kite Hill Artisan Almond Milk Ricotta
16 Fresh ripe black figs (approx. 4 figs per person)
Bee-free honey
Extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt
DIRECTIONS
Wash and slice the figs in half.
Heat a sauté pan on medium and add half the figs to the hot pan, flesh side on the direct heat.
Allow the figs to caramelize without flipping for 2 minutes.
Drizzle some olive oil onto the figs.
Remove the figs from the pan and allow them to cool.
Sweeten the ricotta with bee-free honey to taste.
Spoon the plain yogurt onto the plate in the form of a layer.
Add the sweetened ricotta.
Alternate caramelized and raw figs on the yogurt base.
Sprinkle Purely Elizabeth on top for some extra crunch.
Drizzle a little olive oil, sea salt and bee-free honey.
How do you plan your morning meals? Let us know in the comments below!
Year-One Tips to Start a Business
And why you should love your taxes. Yes love.
So you wanna start a business?
Well, buckle up ‘cause it’s going to be one bumpy, albeit exciting ride. There are so many things to consider when you’re in GO mode. There are even more items you don’t even know you should be considering.
Luckily, that’s why we tapped Kimmie Greene, Head of Communications at QuickBooks Self-Employed. As someone who is actively advocating for the self-employed with the goal of inspiring and mentoring people who work for themselves, Kimmie knows exactly what you should be paying attention to. Find out all of her tips and why you should love your taxes. Yes, we said love.
Know Your Strength
Understand your skills and what gives you energy, and find ways to focus on these things while uncovering opportunities to outsource areas that do not fuel your passions or may take longer. This may include finding a co-founder to partner with as you start a new business who has complementary skills, such as one person with product or services expertise, while the other is a finance or operations expert.
Build a Foundation
Energy attracts energy. As such, life only gets busier as you’re starting a business. Often entrepreneurs try to “grin and bear it” through an early rough patch, expecting it will get easier in a few weeks, but then something else crops up. The reality is, something is always around the corner, so take the time upfront as you’re starting out to tackle the nitty gritty details that will set a strong foundation for future success. These often include naming the company and creating the brand, addressing legal details around starting a business, and establishing financial systems, such as opening separate bank accounts for expenses and income.
“Life only gets busier as you’re starting a business.”
Get Ready to Self-Promote & Shout Out Loud
Starting a business means it’s time to sharing the news about your big idea. Tell everyone you know, encouraging them to spread the word and do it often. The more your network knows what you’re up to, they more you’re creating a community that’s ready to cheer you on and create connections to fuel future business success. So, don’t be shy – this may be harder for some than others, but grab a megaphone and go for it!
Find a Mentor
This is one of the biggest facets at Create & Cultivate.
One thing that often gets lost as you start working for yourself is YOU. So, as you know your strengths, take the time to also think about areas where you might need an extra boost and find someone to help you. This may include a career or personal focus, such as talking to other business owners who have “been there, done that” or seeking out someone who may also face the challenge of balancing entrepreneurship with the demands of family. Mentors are not one-size fits all, so find the one that’s right for the areas where you could use some additional input and inspiration.
Ask What You're Worth
All too often as people start a business they undersell their services in the name of building early momentum. Then, months or years later, they wonder why it’s hard to get paid what they're worth. Ask around what other people in your field may be charging for hourly work or how they think about pricing products. Set your goals for what’s realistic upfront. And then, as you’ve established and shared that rate with your clients or customers, you have the right to reduce that rate on a selective basis for say friends and family or a project that gives you real energy. That way, you stay in the driver seat and there are no surprises when a promotion expires.
“All too often as people undersell their services in the name of building early momentum.”
Love Your Taxes
Yes, as the old adage goes, the only guarantees are death and taxes, but the truth of the matter is that taxes are a good thing, they mean you made money – woot, woot – and isn’t that the point beyond making your passions your career of starting a business in the first place. So, find the tools that make it easy to track deductions, report income and ultimately, pay taxes. Well done, you! QuickBooks Self-Employed offers up some amazing tools to make it easy to love your taxes by keeping track of mileage and expenses, as well as identifying potential deductions throughout the year to save you money. And then, come tax time, QuickBooks Self-Employed estimates your anticipated taxes and seamlessly integrates with TurboTax Self-Employed to file taxes quarterly, and finally at the end of the year.
Make a Plan
As if you didn’t have enough to do today, now you need to look ahead. Whether a business of one or leader of a team, it’s critical to take time to know where the business is headed in six months or a year. Is there an industry where you’d like to secure a client or a new revenue stream you’d like to stand up in 2018? Perhaps the goal is expanding into a retail space, renting an office, or hiring that first employee. More often than not, you can’t do it all, so head to a favorite lunch spot or bring your journal on a hike to think through and capture notes about your future plans. It may not be rocket science, but it’s also not magic, so it takes some time to make the future a reality.
“More often than not, you can’t do it all.”
Celebrate Your Wins
All too often, we’re on to the next thing before we even have a chance to take a pause, breath and raise a glass to the great deeds accomplished on any given day. This is so true in life as in business.
Do you have any special tips to share? Comment below!
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Embracing the 1-Year Career
By Baily Hancock
Picture the collegiate graduating class of 2018. The bright-eyed optimistic graduates go off to their first adult job where they’ll work from 9–5, 40 hours a week for 40+ years, steadily climbing the corporate ladder until they retire around their 64th birthday with a fat pension.
If you chuckled while picturing such a far-fetched scenario, you’re not alone.
Many of us entered the workforce at the start of, during, or immediately following the Great Recession. Prior to the early 2000s, those who succeeded followed the playbook passed on from generation to generation, putting their heads down, logging the hours, and pledging their loyalty to one company for their entire career.
That plan of attack no longer works.
Now the successful ones are those who consistently sharpen their skills, build and nurture their communities, take ownership of their professional development, and are ready to adapt and react to whatever comes their way.
It’s tempting to feel like we got ripped off and robbed of the adulthood we were promised, but take heart, this new evolved workplace fits us better anyway. Millennials were born for this; we grew up trying and doing everything, playing a sport and taking music lessons, learning to speak a second language and mastering Mario Kart. We are multi-talented, multi-passionate people who were basically trained to be level-uppers who know how to game the system. Because of our easy access to knowledge and the never-ending content barraging us through multiple screens, we learn quickly and get bored just as fast. If anyone was going to survive this ever-changing workplace landscape, it’s us.
However, even when change is ultimately for the better, it still tends to turn people into trembling piles of anxiety. Most people I know feel overcome with paralysis by analysis when faced with the question, “what am I doing with my life?” (Which, for the record is a ridiculous question.) Deeply ingrained societal habits die hard, so even though we know the old way of moving through our career isn’t right for us (nor is it even available) we can’t help but feel uncomfortable facing the new work reality and finding our place in it.
So how do we learn to navigate the treacherous waters of this ever-changing working world, while remaining true to ourselves and our never-ending quest for professional fulfillment and purpose? We embrace “The 1-Year Career” mentality.
The 1-Year Career is a whole new way of thinking about work and your place in it. It encourages you to evaluate your professional happiness far more frequently than the generations before us had to, setting short-term goals and achieving them with small, actionable steps year after year throughout your entire career.
It does not involve reinventing yourself every year, nor does it imply that you should quit your job every 12 months and bounce around companies like a job-hopping psychopath.
When you think about your career in one-year increments, it enables you to focus on only the next couple of steps ahead of you. We’re far less likely to feel overwhelmed when we consider not what we’re going to do with our entire life, but instead, what we’re going to do in the next 365 days. One year seems doable; long enough to accomplish a good amount, but short enough that we can plan for most of the variables that life may throw at us.
Many of us pursue a career path that a younger, more naive version of us chose at college orientation, but that person couldn’t possibly have anticipated who we’d become in the decades ahead. By embracing “The 1-Year Career” mentality, we’re able to make real-time decisions about what we want today, not what 18-year-old us thought we’d want.
Time really does move fast (most days I’m still mentally in 2015), so if you aren’t stopping to pause and reflect on the regular, years will fly by before you even know it. Knowing that we should regularly take the temperature of our professional happiness is one thing, identifying and making the changes necessary is another.
Overwhelm can happen when you set big goals but don’t take the time to break them up into actionable steps. When you regularly evaluate your professional satisfaction and make the moves necessary to maintain it, you’re far more likely to stay excited, energized, and happy throughout your entire career.
Like relationships, long term career happiness takes work. Sometimes you’ll be the one who decides to take a leap and quit your job, other times your job will quit you (being let go sucks, but take it from someone who’s been there, you’ll survive.) Knowing how to rebound and be adaptable is what will keep you from breaking when you’re faced with any scenario.
Practice makes perfect, so by continuing to strengthen your resilience muscle and taking time to reflect and assess your situation, you’ll not only be able to handle the chaos of adulthood, you’ll welcome it.
Millennials, we get the job done.
Baily Hancock is a Career Happiness Strategist and the creator of, “The 1-Year Career”, an online course launching in spring 2018. Her weekly podcast, "The Baily Hancock Show" helps people figure out how to make big career moves with small steps.
Poppin' By: Why A Rebrand Was the Best Choice for This Popular LA Florist
Her vase is definitely half-full.
Introducing "Poppin' By" a Create & Cultivate profile series in Partnership with Chandon. Every month this year we're profiling a female entrepreneur, popping by their work space and enjoying a bit of bubbly. Here's a cheers to amazing, working women!
Kelsey Harper, the creative brain, founder and florist behind one of LA's most sought-after floral and event design companies, had to do the impossible.
After years of going by FLOWER GIRL LOS ANGELES, Kelsey was given an option: battle it out legally for the name or change it.
For many entrepreneurs the thought of a rebrand is a nightmare. For Kelsey, it represented opportunity. *Note, this is the frame of mind common amongst successful entrepreneurs. There are no doors, only windows.* Of the opp, Kelsey says, "I decided that I would rather invest the money I would have spent on a lawyer, into a beautiful cohesive rebrand. I had outgrown the name, it felt young and tired and I also felt confined by the words "Flower Girl" and “Los Angeles."
In other words: Kelsey's flower vase is half full.
So, inspired by her fortitude-- April showers bring May flowers after all-- we popped by Kelsey's new space Matriarch Floral in the newly launched Fred Segal LA to chat new beginnings, old names, and the flower that she's just not that into.
You trained as a special effects makeup artist. Then moved to Maui. And your love of florals grew. What was the point you knew you wanted to shift careers?
I started doing flowers as a hobby for the families I nannied for and assisted. After almost 8 years of being on someone else schedule, I knew my next step would be to work for myself. I did not have any formal flower training, but my love for taking a raw material, combining it with others texturally and color wise really made me so happy. In the back of my mind my dad always told me, "Do something that makes you happy, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” and flowers were that for me. While it is a lot of physical labor, I still wake up excited about my career.
"Do something that makes you happy, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Flowers were that for me."
Were you prepared to launch your own biz?
I was not at all prepared. I was inspired by my two best girlfriends who had both started their own businesses in the fashion industry and I learned from making many mistakes and being careful not to repeat them. I still feel like I would benefit from taking a business class or two.
At what point did you decide to rebrand to Matriarch?
After a potential legal battle for the name “Flower Girl” I decided that I would rather invest the money I would have spent on a lawyer, into a beautiful cohesive rebrand. I had outgrown the name, it felt young and tired and I also felt confined by the words "Flower Girl" and “Los Angeles". I wanted to redefine my brand in a way that didn’t restrict me from working in different creative areas or places and also use a name that really resonated with me, something that was strong and feminine, and something that wouldn’t cause brand confusion with many of the other “Flower Girl” brands that were popping up in different cities, further diluting it.
What influenced the decision to take out a retail space?
After having an online shop for so many years, I wanted to take the opportunity to really get out in the field and meet some of my loyal clients who I had never met in person. Also, I wanted to offer same day delivery and pick up for those who needed something sooner than the next business day. After 6 months in the space, I’ve realized that people still prefer to shop online, so we have transitioned the space into a beautiful plant and gift shop during the week and are there creating fresh bouquets and arrangements on the weekend when it's a bit busier, to avoid waste.
Is it beneficial to be in a space with other retailers?
It’s really amazing feeling like a one stop shop for people who are looking for a gift and want to incorporate fresh flowers. The family like environment is inspiring, and a lot of the shops in Fred Segal are female run.
What would you call the most fun/exciting aspect of your business?
It’s really fun executing my clients' visions in my own interpretation. Each arrangement is custom made to order so that we can really capture what we think our recipient might enjoy. The large scale installations are my favorite part of what I do. It forces me to think outside-the-box, as sometimes we are creating/executing things that haven’t ever been made before.
"Each arrangement is custom made to order so that we can really capture what we think our recipient might enjoy."
What’s the hardest part?
Balancing work life and family life is always a challenge. I want to be a present mother but also a good business owner and sometimes I’m needed in both areas at the same time. Also, managing accounting and emails has always been a challenge. This last year I brought on an accountant and studio manager to help in both areas and it has definitely positively affected business.
For those who want to work with big companies, how do you get in with names like Chateau Marmot and Sunset Towers?
Being an LA native, I am lucky enough to call some of the large businesses I work with friends. I think working with people who you know and people who trust your vision, whether the business is large or small, is my best advice. Sending free/ promo arrangements or work is also a nice gesture to say hello and give a client an idea of what you’re capable of.
What’s been the craziest request you’ve ever received?
The installation we did for Depeche Mode earlier this year was pretty insane. We installed in the window of Fred Segal, over 3,000 red roses that floated across the 18ft window and were suspended from the ceiling. We had creative freedom but the installation was definitely difficult to assemble. Each rose had a water tube attached to keep them alive for a full week.
Favorite floral of the moment:
Spring is definitely here early this year and I am loving a greenery called Spirea. It is such a beautiful color and the little white blossoms are so dainty and have beautiful motion.
Flower that you’d like to see put on pause:
Gerber daisies are definitely at the bottom of my list.
Your turn! Be sure to Pop BY and visit Kelsey at Matriarch Floral in store at Fred Segal Sunset:
8500 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Check her out here: www.matriarchla.com
And follow along on her floral adventures here @flowergirllosangeles
Be sure to check back next month for the next installment of Poppin' By.
Photo credit: Tyler William Parker
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Why Beauty Is About Inclusivity on Every Level
And other inspired moments from our TINTED x CoverFX beauty panel.
Photos by Klarisse Gepilano
Makeup can make you feel empowered.
That was the topic of conversation at the CoverFX “Power Play” panel held tonight in Los Angeles at the Bumble Hive. Hosted by TINTED founder, Deepica Mutyala, the women *and man* with mics talked everything from diversity in beauty to their favorite feature. It's all about loving yourself! With her platform and YouTube channel, Deepica has always been a champion of bringing change to how we see beauty.
As such, a core part of the TINTED mission is to push the conversation forward around diversity and inclusion in the beauty space. For their part, CoverFX has always showcased range in their shades and has consistently shown that they appreciate the #TintFam in their message, espeically with their newest Power Play foundation launch. And that's exactly what they chatted about.
To find out what all the buzz was about, keep reading for some of our favorite quotes from the evening and be sure to watch the above Live video!
First up: "Beauty is about inclusivity on every level. Supporting and empowering all the shades in between,” explained the TINTED founder. “It’s not about a race or ethnicity. It’s about making sure everyone know there’s a space for them.”
ON BEAUTY STANDARDS
"I really want them to admire other people’s beauty without questioning their own. There is space for everyone. -- Ami Desai on how she wants her kids to see beauty
“The beauty industry's responsibility is to eliminate the standard of beauty. There is no standard. We need to stop putting a standard to beauty. Being a male in beauty is definitely a different experience. When it comes to beauty it’s always ‘girls, girls, girls.’ I want to eliminate standards and stereotypes. Any guy can wear makeup if they want it. Do what you want if it makes you happy." -- Influencer Victor Ramos
Photos by Klarisse Gepilano
"There is no standard. We need to stop putting a standard to beauty.”
ON 'THE WORK'
“Stop the mindset of the ‘token’. It’s not just black or white or something in middle. There is a whole spectrum in between. Don’t just put someone in and check a box because it’s very obvious.” -- Deepica Mutyala on encouraging brands to end tokenism.
"We have an opportunity to speak out. That’s what encourages change. When I’m on set, I’ve found that my skin tone is very hard to match. There’s always been a struggle. It’s a big problem. It’s so important to have brands like CoverFX because people will just slap whatever they want on your face and get you out there." -- Actress Ajiona Alexus on being on set in Hollywood
“Sometimes all people see is the beauty. But deep down, it’s important to know, beauty is only one thing-- the work you do behind the scenes, needs to be a beast. Show the world your true worth and talent.” -- Ajiona Alexus on her Tweet, "Sometimes you gotta be a Beauty and a Beast."
Sometimes you gotta be a Beauty and a Beast.
“I remember telling myself OK if no one is gonna be at Sephora, I’m gonna be at Sephora.” -- Victor Ramos on not waiting for someone else to be "the first."
“We’re not going have brands tell us what we need. I think we’re the first generation that’s saying 'We’re calling the shots and we’re gonna celebrate everybody.'” -- Victor Ramos on the importance of his work.
"I’ve always been passionate about animal rights. I’ve spent so much time creating resource for people. CoverFX is cruelty-free and completely vegan. In every area consumer voices are huge. It’s so exciting to see how many people are putting their truth out there." -- Tashina Combs
ON SELF- ACCEPTANCE & SELF-LOVE
“You should feel great how you are, exactly how you are.” -- Deepica Mutyala
“As a kid, beauty was my way of fitting in. Now it’s my way of standing out.” -- Deepica Mutyala
“As a kid, beauty was my way of fitting in. Now it’s my way of standing out.”
“Here I am. You’re going to have to accept me as I am.” -- Victor Ramos
“I love my skin tone. When I was younger I went through ‘that phase.’ You’d always see the blonde guy, but I’ve learned to appreciate myself so much it’s almost weird.” -- Victor Ramos
“I love my nose, even though I don’t. It’s my paternal grandfather’s. Everything on your face is a roadmap to where you’ve been and where you’re going.” -- Ami Desai
Photos by Klarisse Gepilano
Did you tune in? What were your favorite quotes of the night?
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C&C Classifieds: Leaf Group, Christy Dawn, Tone It Up & More!
Another day another dolla.
Another day another dollar.
Another Wednesday another C&C Classified listing.
If your current job is on your spring cleaning list, today is your lucky day. Check out the fresh batch of new jobs below.
Interview Mag - NY, NY
Tone It Up - LA, CA
Christy Dawn - LA, CA
The Real Coconut - Santa Monica, CA
Creatures of Comfort - LA, CA
WANT MORE? SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL LIST OF CLASSIFIEDS HERE!
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