Elizabeth Chambers Breaks Down What It Takes To Build A Successful Team
The Bird Bakery owner tells all.
If you weren't present at our 2018 Style Summit, then what were you even doing on Saturday? JK, that's why we're giving you a full breakdown of the day's events.
Our keynote speaker, Elizabeth Chambers, is a woman who wears many hats and also a role model for so many women out there. From being the CEO and owner of Bird Bakery, and also a wife and mother, she manages to keep everything as streamlined as possible and still take really good care of herself.
During our last conversation of the day, Elizabeth dished on how she went from a career in journalism and hosting to entrepreneurship.
So how exactly did she go from juggling positions to starting her own business? "Me starting a business was full circle. It felt like a homage to the people who have taught me the most important life lessons," she explained. But what really gives you that drive to make the jump? "When you have something that you believe is the best in its lane, you want to share it with everyone," she said.
As a business owner, wife, and mom she's still managing a jam-packed schedule. But she insists that no one is ever going to get 100% of you if you're not fully focused. That's where motivation and productivity come into the picture. "Uni-tasking has made me so much more productive," she said. "Focus on your tasks as you’re doing them. It makes you so much more productive," she explained.
Elizabeth doesn't ignore the fact that self-care should and always should come first, no matter how busy she gets. "You have to take care of yourself and you have to have the energy for the people around you," she said. She also swears by the oxygen mask theory, in which you must help yourself first before helping others. #Facts.
The businesswoman is also known for being heavily involved in the hiring process for Bird Bakery. Building a business is knowing that you’ll have to wear a lot of hats. Keep your standards high," she said. You have to find team members who you can trust and then delegate. "I realized building a team and letting go has let us expand and do so much more," she added.
As for what she wants to leave behind? "I hope my legacy is that I’ve treated people kindly and fed them well," she shared. Trust us Elizabeth, you have fed us well with all of those delicious treats and confections.
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Everything You Missed from Our Create & Cultivate Style Summit at The Galleria
Our favorite quotes, moments + more!
Ladies coming together to inspire one another is what we preach here at C&C. But what if a ton of women, influencers, and CEOs came together to spend a Saturday talking all things business and female empowerment? Doesn't that sound even better? Well, that's exactly what happened at our third Create & Cultivate Style Summit at the Houston Galleria this past weekend.
From Courtney Kerr keeping it real about dealing with the haters to Sona Gasparian and Jaserah Asad dishing on diversity in beauty, it was one for the books. Founder and CEO of Bird Bakery, Elizabeth Chambers, shared everything that it takes to build a successful team and so much more.
Before the big event, guests enjoyed a happy hour at the Coach store on Friday evening and received a complimentary Houston skyline stamp with any purchase from the store.
When it was time for the official Style Summit to begin, the first 150 guests received a gift bag from all of our favorite brands. TONI&GUY provided hair touch-ups and braiding for our attendees, and Bobbi Brown's best-selling products were present for everyone to try. The day closed out with another happy hour courtesy of Chandon and Crown Royal for even more mingling and networking with badass women.
Keep on reading for more takeaway moments and inspiration from our rock-star roster of entrepreneurial panelists.
During our Buttoned Up panel with influencers Stephanie Taylor Jackson, Ashley Seippel, Meggan Morehead of Somewhere Lately, Carrie Colbert, and Krystal Faircloth we learned the ins and outs of being a fashion blogger.
With Instagram being such a powerful marketing tool, Carrie has managed to garner a significant following thanks to her vibrant color scheme and consistency. Once you hit that 10k follower count (when the swipe-up feature becomes available), "You have to give people a reason to swipe up," she said. As for working for free, it's not something she's down with now that she knows how blogging works. "Please don't work for free, this is a business," she said.
Stephanie Taylor Jackson is one of the bloggers in the business who also has a full-time job. The skills she's learned in the luxury retail space have transferred over to her blogging. "My day job helps me be sure that I'm investing my time in the right things for my job," she explained. After all ladies, time management is everything.
As you can imagine, an essential part of being a successful blogger is staying organized. But with so many planning tools available online and on our phones, have traditional organization methods lost their touch? Apparently not! Ashley Seippel still swears by them. "I color coordinate and use a physical calendar to stay organized," she explained.
Anyone who follows Somewhere Lately knows that the two masterminds behind the blog are actually bi-coastal. Meggan who lives in Dallas joined us at the summit and shared how she makes her everything work with her business partner living in New York. No surprise here, but communication is key!
You've undoubtedly heard bloggers speak on how authenticity and standing out are part of becoming successful. But rather than focusing on being "different," you need to better understand exactly how you're different. Krystal Faircloth of A Pinch of Lovely explained: "Being different is great, but you have to know how you’re different. Knowing your skill set will make you stand out.”
During our Wake Up & Makeup panel Madison Payne, Sona Gasparian, Courtney Kerr, and Jaserah Asad spoke on all things beauty and what they’ve learned as beauty tastemakers and business owners.
It's important to face rejection and career disappointments head-on, and who better to explain that then Courtney Kerr. As one of Texas' biggest influencers, she's known for her straightforward advice and transparent content. Her response to dealing with rejection was a flawless one. "Don’t you think it makes you stronger when you get rejected?" Touché Courtney.
With IGTV blowing up, what's one of YouTube's biggest stars supposed to do? Sona Gasparian has over 750k subscribers on her channel, and she doesn't plan on moving all of her content to the newer Instagram platform. "I wouldn’t say abandon YouTube yet because the community there is so special and so engaged. It’s not the same as IGTV," she explained.
Up and coming influencer Jaserah Asad is breaking boundaries by being one of the few hijabi bloggers in the space. Did we mention she's also a petroleum engineer? Yeah, she's a boss. She lets brands know that her faith is very important to her from the jump. "If I have to sacrifice my faith or change my looks, that’s a deal breaker for me when it comes to working with brands," she said.
Madison Payne is known for keeping it real with her followers. Seriously, she takes them behind the scenes of any product or treatment she tries, no matter what it is. So when you're an open book, how do you decide which brands to work with? "I work with brands who will let me try out the product before posting about it. Authenticity is important for me," she explained.
Our last conversation of the day was with our keynote speaker, Elizabeth Chambers. As the founder and CEO of the hugely successful Bird Bakery and a TV host and journalist, she's made her mark in different industries. To find out more about how Elizabeth manages her career, a team and , click here.
Did you attend our Style Summit? Let us know what your favorite part was in the comments section!
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Houston's Top Beauty Influencers Share Their #1 Beauty Tip For An Important Meeting
We love a girls night out, especially after a long week of work. But you know what's even better than that? Girl night out with Bobbi Brown. Before our third Style Summit at The Galleria in Houston, we gathered a bunch of beauty influencers for an intimate dinner at State of Grace with Bobbi Brown. There was bubbly, delicious food, an array of beauty products to play with, and of course a ton of Instagram moments. Courtney Kerr always makes sure to freshen up her skin before taking an important meeting. "Carry beauty water or rose water instead of reapplying all of your makeup. Most will wash all their makeup off and then reapply a full face, but that will dehydrate your skin. Using beauty water will instead refresh all of your makeup. Just spray and blend and then touch up where needed," she shared.
All guests enjoyed testing plenty of the beauty products that Bobbi Brown has to offer. The gift bags highlighted Bobbi Brown's best-selling products, including its great concealers, highlighters and more. Our invitees especially loved the different lipsticks present at the event, because seriously, who doesn't enjoy a good lip moment?
Since we were in the presence of some the top beauty bloggers in Houston, you know we had to pick their brain and get some tips and tricks of our own. We went around the table and asked a few of the ladies what their last-minute beauty trick is before heading into a work meeting. We've all been pulled into a last-minute meeting before and have freaked out about not looking our best. Take a cue from the influencers and keep these essentials at your desk, so you never have to worry again.
Nicole Kestenbaum of Lipstick and Brunch truly lived up to her blog name with her tip. "My go-to beauty trick for going into a meeting is to put on lipstick! It really brightens up your face and makes you feel super confident," she said.
Krystal Faircloth of Pinch of Lovely swears it's all about the eyes. "My last-minute beauty trick is applying mascara because my eyelashes are so blonde. This is especially great for all the blondes out there! Mascara will have you set and ready," she explained.
Jaserah Asad also loves a good lip moment. "My last-minute go-to beauty product is a bold lipstick. I feel like it puts together an entire look and makes you look like you put in more effort than you actually did," she said.
The gathering was the perfect event to mix and mingle with fellow influencers before the Style Summit the following morning. What are your favorite Bobbi Brown beauty products? Let us know your own go-to picks in the comments below!
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How To Be Productive When Working Remotely
For starters, get out of bed.
Welcome to Work's a Beach. Throughout this content series, we're helping our readers get the most out of their summer and spend more of their time lounging rather than catching up on emails.
Today, we're tackling remote work. A lot of people say that working from home is the millennial dream, but you can get stuck in a rut if you don't do it the right way. And yes, there is, in fact, a right way to work virtually from anywhere. It's not all fun and games once you have an internet connection, you need to set yourself up right in order to make the most of it.
We're breaking down the steps you need to take to happily do remote work, and not spend your time wishing you were back in an office setting.
Do any remote workers out there have any tips of their own they'd like to share? Let us know in the comments section!
Take A Morning Shower
After you've had your morning coffee, hop in the shower and relax for a minute. Taking a morning shower isn't only refreshing, it's energizing and gets you ready tackle that overflowing inbox. Having a few moments to yourself in the morning is ideal, and let's face it, sometimes are best thoughts happen in the shower.
Put on 'Normal' Clothes
I know, I know. It's so tempting to lay around and work in your pajamas all day, but trust me, you're just doing yourself a disservice. You work just as hard as anyone in an office does, so why not dress for the part? As comfortable as they are, hanging out in pajamas or your favorite sweatpants can promote laziness or an environment that's too chill to work in. I'm not saying you have to throw on a blazer while working from your dining table, but you get the hint.
Stick to a Schedule
Having your own freedome is great, right? Sure, until you lose track of time and are rushing to meet a deadline because you don't have a schedule planned out. Do as you would anywhere else and give yourself designated hours to get sh*t done. If you don't like the 9-5 schedule, that's fine, but figure out a time slot that works for you daily. It'll make your life so much less hectic.
Create a Designated Workspace
If we're being realistic, very few of us have an office in our homes. This is the time to get creative and build a workspace that will keep you productive and in the zone. Get rid of clutter surrounding where you usually work, and maybe invest in a nice desk and chair if you have the room for it. Your couch will get boring AF real quick.
Plan Your Meals
One of the most challenging things about working from home is that you have your entire fridge and pantry available to you at all times. UGH. The endless amounts of snacks can really make you crash in the middle of the day if you're not cautious. Meal prepping will keep your mind and appetite in check, and make you stop reaching for every snack in sight. This is a tough one, but I have faith in you.
If All Else Fails, Consider a Co-Working Space
Okay,so maybe working from home isn't for everyone. By that I mean working from wherever you actually call home. If the motivation really isn't there, but you still don't want to work in a traditional office setting, then consider a co-working space. You can usually rent a spot at a table or your own desk for a monthly or annual fee. You'll be surrounded by other independent workers and creatives, which can help keep you motivated and productive.
By: Andrea Navarro
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Business Plans Exercises You Can Do Right From The Sand
Turn your concept into a reality.
Welcome to Work's a Beach. Throughout this content series, we're helping our entrepreneurial readers get the most out of their summer while continuing to keep that side-hustle or newly founded business seamlessly moving forward. Because you can work on your tan while putting in work. And, you deserve to be able to do both!
Today we're discussing one of the most complex parts about starting a business; the business plan. Curating and executing a business plan are two of the most crucial parts of taking a business to where you want it to be. Of course, a business plan can be tailored along the way but you'll need some starting grounds in order to kick things into gear.
If you have some downtime and just can't stop thinking about your future business, it's the perfect time to get your business plan ready to go. We've compiled a list of business plan exercises you can do right from your beach chair while you get your tan on. Take a look, and let us know any other tips you may have in the comments section!
Create an overview
Your overview is the meat and bones of your entire business plan. With that being said, you have to determine plenty of factors before going ahead and writing it. The key here is to finally nail down what your business will provide to others, and then continue from there. You'll also need to determine what you'll need in order for your business to operate successfully (staff, financial support, tools, etc.) and why. Since you've had this idea, it's likely that you know who you can visualize as your customer. You'll want that to be part of your overview as well.
Write your mission statement
Mission statements are often overlooked, but they're still as relevant and important as ever. The world wants to know why you're doing what you're doing, and a powerful mission statement is the best way to display that. What message do you want to send? How would you like to impact others through your business? What made you start this? This should all be crafted into your mission statement, with a hint of personality.
Analyze your market
A market analysis is a crucial point of your business plan. Once you've determined who your market is, you'll need to determine any other potential markets as well. You'll also need to measure your market, in order to understand the resources you'll need to serve that market. During your market analysis, it's important that you familiarize yourself with market trends in your industry, and if they're constant or everchanging.
Analyze competitors
Competitors are a key factor in your business plan because you'll always need to be ahead of the curve in order to maintain success and promote growth. Determine who your business's current competitors would be and analyze all of their behaviors, campaigns, marketing tools, social media accounts and more. What can you do differently? What can you do better? That all comes into play here.
Determine your budget
Obviously, funding is an important part of writing your business plan, but knowing your budget is even more important. A lot of businesses fail because they either aren't making money or they don't have control over where it's going. Both situations are unideal, and this is exactly why you need a budget. How much money will you need to launch your business? Will you be hiring staff? Will you need an office space? What tools will you need? Do you need website design and hosting? Think slowly and clearly about this one, and get the assistance of a financial advisor once your business plan is complete.
Determine your goals
It's easy to think of the big picture once you have an idea and are starting to get things into motion, but you need clear, written-down goals. These goals will be a lot more detailed than just dreaming of opening several retail locations for your business, for example. How much money would you like to raise in the next five years? By what percentage do you want your social media following to grow by the end of the year? What size would your ideal staff be? These are just a few examples, but you'll need to detail everything you're going to do in order to achieve those goals.
So, what now? Enter your info below to download your FREE business plan exercises & guide.
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How This Service Allows Women To Take Their Health Into Their Own Hands
EverlyWell is changing the game.
From emails to conference calls to balancing a social life, we're operating at what feels like 150% on most days and don't give our bodies enough credit. To keep up this momentum, we're breaking down how to be more in tune with our bodies and take our health into our hands.
If someone told you that you could learn more about your health concerns right in the comfort of your own home would you believe them? Or is this a topic that has never crossed your mind in the first place? If not, then you likely haven’t come across the little-known women’s health issues that are affecting thousands, if not millions, of us today. As we get older, more health concerns can arise in areas from hormonal complications to vitamin deficiencies and so much more. Rather than navigating your life around doctor’s visits later on, it’s essential to get a clear idea and take preventative measures now. And let's face it, every woman knows what it's like to walk into a doctor's office and not be taken seriously. We've had enough of that.
“As the boss, you’re always checking in on other people, but you have to be the one to check in on yourself.”
If you hadn't heard of EverlyWell's home health testing service before reading this, the chances are that you would've soon. The testing kits have garnered some well-earned buzz due to their convenience, affordability, and trustworthiness. Listen, statistics about women and the healthcare industry can be concerning, so it's no surprise that more of us are taking matters into our own hands when it comes to our health. Here's how it works:
Step 1: Purchase online (and use your C&C reader discount!)
You don't have to worry about co-pays, deductibles, or multiple doctor's visits. C&C readers can receive 15% off any EverlyWell test by using the promo code 'CREATE' at checkout.
Step 2: Complete your at-home test
You get to do this in the comfort of your own home on your own time.
Step 3: Send it to the lab
Return labels are included in your kit and EverlyWell works with the nation's leading laboratories for examinations.
Step 4: Get your results
After getting reviewed by a board-certified physician your results are available online in about five business days.
This super simple process is changing the game. The service has 30 different kits available and they range from general wellness to sexual health, energy and weight, and more. When it comes to women's health, the testing options include postmenopause, women's fertility, perimenopause, breast milk DHA, instrumental hormones, and ovarian reserve tests.
To get an inside scoop on how it all works, we tapped three of our favorite influencers to share their different test results and what they've learned with us.
The blogger, writer, and actress was curious to learn more about her sensitivity to certain foods. With EverlyWell's food sensitivity test you measure your body’s IgG response among 96 different foods that are commonly found in western diets. Food can trigger reactions and physical symptoms including stomach pain, bloating, fatigue, migraines, joint pain, skin problems and more. The results are presented in different levels that are categorized by Low Reactivity and High Reactivity. Low Reactivity foods should be considered largely non-reactive while High Reactivity foods are considered very reactive.
Although physical symptoms aren't always present, it is recommended that you structure an elimination diet plan around your results starting with your most reactive foods first. It's also important to note that if you're attempting to reintroduce your body to a 'problematic' food it is recommended that you begin adding it to your diet four weeks prior to testing.
Read on to see what Grasie learned about her own food sensitivities.
You selected the Food Sensitivity. What were your results and what were you hoping to learn from the test?
I had no high reactivity foods which were great, one moderate reactivity to egg whites and 14 mild reactivity foods which is kind of shocking. I kinda knew dairy wasn’t my friend and all dairy foods tested are on my mild list. The egg reveal bums me out because I really like eggs. But now I know I can be more conscious about my breakfast choices.
Did anything about your test results surprise you or intrigue you?
I was surprised to see almonds, coconut, and banana on my mild list. These are foods I eat often! I put coconut oil and almond milk in my coffee every morning! And I eat bananas all the time. It seems like a mild reactivity is not one to be too concerned with but great to know that the mild sensitivity is there to keep an eye on.
How would you compare EverlyWell at home tests to an in-person visit with a women’s health doctor?
It was a lot quicker to take the at-home test than to have to make a doctor’s appointment, drive to an office, wait, have a check-up, give blood then wait for results.
How has your wellness routine developed throughout the past few years? Any new habits or activities you’ve tried?
I use to hate to work out. But my January 2017 resolution was to join a gym and go three times a week. I’m happy to say it’s the first resolution I’ve actually stuck to!
How did it feel to take matters into your own hands with EverlyWell?
I just loved how easy and private it is...and now I’m informed and can make informed decisions about my diet!
Caroline Ingraham Lee, founder of Woodnote Photography, Light Lab LA, Echo and Earl, and narrator of the Out of Line podcast is on the same boat as many women and wanted to learn more about her reproductive health. She opted to take EverlyWell's fertility test to learn if her hormones are balanced to support normal ovarian function.
The truth is that infertility is actually very common among women, so it makes sense that more and more are getting their health checked at an earlier age. Infertility is caused by problems with ovulation, and ovulation issues are often caused by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. About 10% of women ages 15-44 have difficulty staying pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Factors that determine a woman’s inability to get pregnant include age, smoking, excess, alcohol use, poor diet, stress, athletic training, being overweight or underweight, and STIs.
For some women, insurance protocols will not authorize testing for fertility until their physician has documented they have actively been trying for a year to conceive with no success. The EverlyWell test gives women the opportunity to test their fertility on their own timelines.
You selected the Women’s Fertility Test. What were your results and what were you hoping to learn from the test?
Well, I’m 32. I know that isn’t ‘old’, but I also know that evolutionarily speaking, it is a lot easier to get pregnant before 35. I love the idea of having my own children, but I also love my life right now and am so enjoying my career and my time alone with my husband, so I don’t feel rushed to start having kids. I wanted to gain insight into my body so that I can better prepare myself for what is possible. The ‘optimal’ FSH result for getting pregnant easily and naturally is any number lower than 9, and my result was 7.3. I won’t lie, I breathed a little sigh of relief.
Did anything about your test results surprise you or intrigue you?
I didn’t even know what FSH was (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) before I got my results, so I learning about my results caused me to dive into reading up on FSH and educating myself on my body, and what it’s up to without me even knowing it. Knowledge is power!
EverlyWell was designed to make the lab testing process more convenient for everyone. How was your experience taking the test from home?
I LOVED not having to leave the comfort of my own home to take the test. I’m busy (you are, too!) and so taking it myself at any hour that I wanted to was a perfect fit for my lifestyle.
How would you compare EverlyWell at home tests to an in-person visit with a women ’s health doctor?
More efficient, faster, more flexible to whatever your scheduling needs are, more affordable.
How has your wellness routine developed throughout the past few years? Any new habits or activities you’ve tried?
Besides exercising twice a week, I also started working with a nutritionist to understand things that may be creating inflammation in my body. We’re all aging, and I think it’s super important to be proactive and preventative with our health, rather than waiting and having to do maintenance after something ‘bad’ happens.
How did it feel to take matters into your own hands with EverlyWell?
It feels so empowering to have a product so readily available to me that equips me with knowledge about my own body. I would like to be a mother someday, but I also love my career and my marriage and would love to have more time with them before I move into a very new season of life. This test is something we women should all take, whether we want to have children, or not. Knowledge is power! So get some!
Anne Sage
Anne is an interior design expert, content creator, and founder of Light Lab. She's been blogging since 2008 and has always had a stylish, trend-forward approach to design. She also has her own book, Sage Living: How to Decorate for the Life You Want, an interiors volume. Anne opted to take EverlyWell's Thyroid Test to see how her thyroid is working and if there's a need to evaluate her thyroid function further.
Anybody can experience thyroid issues, but women are ten times more likely than men to have a thyroid disorder. Women who have been pregnant for six months, have Type 1 diabetes, are over the age of 50, and smokers are just some of the few who are susceptible to thyroid issues. Because your thyroid controls much of your metabolism, it’s important to monitor thyroid function for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism (too much thyroid activity and too little thyroid activity).
You selected the Thyroid Test. What were your results and what were you hoping to learn from the test?
I learned that one of my thyroid hormones, T4, is low, which is consistent with recent physical symptoms I’ve been having like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and frequent muscle soreness.
Did anything about your test results surprise you or intrigue you?
I’d say my main reaction was a relief. It’s so nice to be able to put a scientific explanation on how I’m feeling! I think as women, especially, we have a hard time trusting our own experience of our bodies—especially with less measurable symptoms like fatigue and low-grade, yet chronic pain. So it’s almost like my test hugged me and said, “No, Anne, you’re not making this stuff up!” And now, armed with a little knowledge, I can make some lifestyle adjustments to course correct. It’s empowering!
EverlyWell was designed to make the lab testing process more convenient for everyone. How was your experience taking the test from home?
In all honesty, I was nervous about taking the test. I’m not squeamish about other people’s blood, but when it’s my own, I get a bit sick to my stomach. Pricking my finger and squeezing enough blood onto the test card wasn’t my favorite thing I’ve ever done, but it wasn’t painful, and it was over quickly—in way less time than if I’d had to drive to a doctor’s office and wait around to be seen!
How would you compare EverlyWell at home tests to an in-person visit with a women’s health doctor?
Full disclosure: I haven’t been to a women’s health doctor in a few years! Just finding one to go to is so overwhelming. Half the ones I’ve looked at don’t take insurance, and those that do are often booked for months in advance. Let’s just say that healthcare definitely isn’t designed with convenience in mind; and for someone like me who puts self-care last on my to-do list, the convoluted system makes it way too easy to avoid the doctor altogether.
How has your wellness routine developed throughout the past few years? Any new habits or activities you’ve tried?
I recently discovered facial massage when I posted an Instagram story about how puffy my face had gotten during a recent heat wave. A follower sent me some links to YouTube videos with various lymphatic massage techniques, and I’m hooked! Just five minutes of facial massage wakes up my complexion and firms my skin, and using massage to encourage lymph drainage is great for the immune system too!
How did it feel to take matters into your own hands with EverlyWell?
The ability to take matters into my own hands gives me so much respect for the miracle that is the human body. It has so many innate healing powers built right in, and we’re able to tap into those powers with just a little extra knowledge. It’s also given me more confidence to trust how I’m feeling. If I sense that something’s off, there’s a good chance that it is!
We love a brand that supports women through information and resources so that we can make more educated decisions for ourselves and the life that we want!
C&C readers can receive 15% off any EverlyWell test by using the promo code 'CREATE' at checkout.
By: Andrea Navarro
Check out EverlyWell for complete, easy-to-read test result reports online in just a few days for all tests collected in the comfort of your home. EverlyWell empowers individuals by providing easy access to health data.
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C&C Classifieds: Anastasia Beverly Hills, Gray Malin, Marriott Hotels & More!
Can you believe we're nearly a month into summer? If your job search has you down, it's time keep on moving. Trust us, we know how stressful the job hunting processs is, so we're here to help.
Ahead, we bring you a brand new list of C&C Classifieds. Get your CV or resume ready and get back on the applicaiton track.
Richer-Poorer - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Gary Malin - LA, CA
Anastasia Beverly Hills - LA, CA
Marriott Hotels - ATL, GA
Create & Cultivate - LA, CA
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The One Thing That Held Kristen Bell Back
And what she did about it.
photo credit: Brian Bowen Smith
Despite the unfolding drama over a Lazy Boy in the Bell/Shepard household, Kristen Bell's life in Hollywood is refreshingly not dramatic.
Sure, she can play a woman who accidentally winds up in a heaven-like afterlife, a cut-throat emotionally stunted employee, voice a Gossip Girl and a princess Frozen into our hearts, and find time to work alongside her hubby in the soon-to-be-released CHIPS, but she's also the woman who surprises her older sister, Sara (+ fam), with a basement renovation, has everlasting and true love for sloths, fiercely protects her daughters' privacy, and dedicates her time to organizations like This Bar Saves Lives. She's the kind of woman you want to grab fro-yo with and then let in on your plans to take over the world. She's the kind of woman you'd want around in a crisis. And you know what? She'd probably show up with a pickaxe, extra batteries, and some space blankets.
We caught up with the actress and activist to chat aging in Hollywood, dealing with the girth and grit of social media, and what she's so damn excited about.
Social media wasn’t around when you were a kid, but you definitely seem to have a healthy relationship to it now. What advice to you have for young girls dealing with the pressures of social?
My hope for young girls in regards to social media is that they are able to discern the difference between actual reality and presentational reality. Once you acknowledge that everything you see is precisely curated and tailored to perfection, you are freed of the futile need to “keep up”. Social media can be super fun, but when taken too seriously, it breeds feelings of false inadequacy. It makes people, young and old, feel as if their life isn’t show worthy enough. And conversely, while you shouldn’t feel less than because of social media, you also shouldn’t feel more than. Don’t let your feelings of self-worth come from detached clicks. My fear is that young people conflate Facebook likes with human affection. They confuse the heart on Instagram for a beating one. My advice is to let social media be fun. Don’t let it be important.
"Let social media be fun. Don’t let it be important."
Tweet this.
Who are some women you admire either in your professional or personal life? And why?
There are many women in my life I look to as examples of good, but one that stands apart is Shannon Sedgwick Davis. She is an attorney, a philanthropist, and is currently the CEO of the Bridgeway Foundation, an organization devoted to ending atrocities around the world. I am in constant admiration of her ability to balance humanitarian and for-profit work, and her unwavering commitment to kindness. She is a model of compassion and my personal yardstick for righteous human conduct. She rules.
How, as a woman have you thought about growing older and is that any different than how you’ve thought about it as an actress?
As I’ve gotten older, my life experiences have only gotten better. Age has brought me a newfound confidence, appreciation and peace that were previously missing. In regards to work experiences, I think the common sentiment is true: work becomes more challenging as an actress as you grow older. I have been very lucky in my career opportunities, but objectively age limits the roles you play. I can no longer play a 20 year old. It’s not ageism; it just wouldn’t reflect reality, and the entire profession is predicated on creating convincing realities. So, yes, I think there are professional challenges that come with age, but I also believe thoughts control your language and your language controls your life. Negative thoughts attract and self-fulfill a negative outcome, so I do my best to re-frame the picture and not allow future limitations to become my present ones.
You’ve said that you “shatter” a little bit when people don’t like you. How have you balanced this feeling with a career where, at least initially, you’re hearing “no" a lot?
I, often find that many of the people pleasers I know are artists in some capacity. Yet, there is no other industry more fraught with no’s; death to someone who is always searching for a yes. When I was younger, I found this juxtaposition very hard to reconcile. But, I reached a point where I learned, out of necessity, to divorce my need to please from my career. It was the only way to survive the rejection and ultimately it was the key to success. There is a lot of excess noise that comes with allowing everyone to have a say in your self-worth. Once you shed that, you instantly become (ironically) a more likeable version of yourself.
Plates are spinning around you all the time: actress, activist, mom, wife, friend. What’s your strategy for when you drop one?
Gentleness. It’s impossible to complete life’s balancing act with a perfect record. You are bound to wobble or misstep or even fall. It’s just part of the game. But dwelling in temporary defeat is what causes more permanent ones. So, it’s very important to be kind to yourself, shake it off and move forward.
"It’s impossible to complete life’s balancing act with a perfect record."
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What are you most excited about?
I’m excited about the near future when today’s girls are running the show. I attended the Women’s March in Los Angeles and was in awe of how many young faces were amongst the crowd. It was inspiring to see youth in action; 5th grade faces demanding equality and showing a mental strength beyond their years. When I was young, society asked its children to be polite, to follow the rules, and to stay in line. This new group has thrown all of those commandments away. Young girls are now being raised to ask questions, they are being taught to know the difference between “what is” and “what should be,” and they are learning how to demand fairness at a very young age. It brings me peace to know our future lies in these hands.
Join us and Kristen Bell at SXSW where she'll be joining us on stage as our featured speakers. RSVP here. First come, first serve.
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It's World Emoji Day! Our Chicago Speakers Share Their Favorites
Insert prayer hands emoji.
It's World Emoji Day! TBH, we can't even believe that's a thing, but we're here for it. Think about it, we used emojis every single day in most of our conversations. If we're not texting each other emojis, then we're likely adding them to our Instagram captions or Tweeting them away. We can't even lie, they're the most entertaining thing that's ever happened to texting.
But emojis are everywhere, not just on our phones and in our conversations. There's now emoji merch, such as pillows, phone cases, socks, and as seen above, balloons. I mean...Kim Kardashian basically stole the show with her Kimoji app and now even has a range of emoji-inspired fragrance!
Have you ever thought of which emojis you use the most? Take a look through your frequently used tab the next time you're about to hit 'send' and you'll likely be surprised by what you see. In honor of our new favorite holiday (no shame in our game), we chatted with some of our Chicago speakers about their favorite emojis and which ones they tend to use the most. Take a look at their responses below, and see if you share any of the same faves. But we also want to know which emojis you use the most! Let us know in the comments below.
Whitney Port
"My favorite is the chicken (🐥) because I always say Sonny is a little chicken haha!"
Marianna Hewitt
“My favorite emoji is ✨ because it makes me feel like I'm glowing or my highlight is shining through on Instagram!”
Blake Von D
"My most frequently used emoji is 🤣. Lol !"
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How To Write For Your Business
Everyone should know the basics.
Have you ever had this experience: You’re finally meeting an industry leader you’ve looked up and followed online for years, you know her biography, her latest business success, and her dog’s name? You’re over the moon to finally meet her and then she asks you what you do, and all of a sudden you’re completely and utterly speechless. You mumble something general, she politely replies, and you’re left ruminating on the exchange all night.
Sharing our expertise isn’t always easy, and for a lot of us, putting our life’s work into writing is even harder.
As millennial women, we are truly in an incredible era of opportunity when it comes to starting our own businesses. Stemming from a perfect storm of economic challenge, stagnating corporate wages, we’re realizing we can do better. Whether it’s with a weekend side-hustle or a leap into full-time entrepreneurship.
And luckily, there are more online business-building resources available than ever before, from software to blogs, to podcasts.
Discovering the passion for your new endeavor is the first step, and we all know you need a lot of grit and determination to realize your dream job. But once you’ve created something beautiful, sharing it with the world is the next step.
And it’s a tricky one for a lot of us. We love our business – it’s the baby that’s taken hours and hours of sweat and tears, and we’ve sunk our money and our love into it.
But from a young age, many of us have been taught the belief that bragging is wrong, and boasting is boorish.
How then to share our message with the world?
Heartfelt, honest copywriting to the rescue.
When you’re writing any & all marketing content, it’s called copywriting, and when it’s done well, it attracts the very people you want to serve and helps them hop on board with your vision.
Ultimately, all businesses need paying customers to, well, stay in business. And we’re all about creating profit around here.
So here are three overarching principles of great copywriting to keep in mind whenever you’re typing up brilliant messaging for your brand. And if you want to dig even deeper into a content brainstorm, download Marie Forleo’s Ultimate Guide to Generating Fresh Content Ideas! It includes 100+ writing prompts and will kick-start your content game.
1. Know Your Audience
Before you can write compelling copy for your business, you’ve got to get clear on WHO you’re writing for.
Now you might be tempted to picture an auditorium filled with all the people you hope will one day be your customers. Or you might be scrolling through your Instagram followers thinking of quips that will make all of them laugh. You might even be thinking of different segments of your current customer base – maybe you sell products to moms of young kids, as well as college students.
But the audience you’re writing to isn’t a group.
It’s not all your email subscribers, or all your Etsy shop visitors, or even your whole family.
When you write your website copy, you should be writing it for One. Single. Person.
Copywriters call this the Rule of One. Each piece of content you write should have one main reader, one main idea, and one call to action.
Good writing is focused writing.
Copy that packs a punch is written for your ideal client alone. Sometimes this is referred to as your ICP – ideal client profile, or client avatar. You could base yours on a real-life client you loved working with, or you could envision the exact kind of customer you hope to serve one day.
When you’re developing your client avatar, it’s not enough to use general demographics like vegan college graduate living on the West Coast. Go deeper and consider your ideal prospects’ needs, common pain points, and desires. What are their life goals? What irritates them the most?
Getting into the heart and mind of your clients is key to writing persuasive copy.
2. Empathize with Your Audience
All businesses exist to solve the customer’s pain.
Think about it – plumbers fix the pain of not being able to use your kitchen sink without flooding your cabinets. Lawn care businesses solve the problem of embarrassment at having the worst yard in the neighborhood. Bakeries solve the problem of not having time to create a perfect set of cupcakes for the class party. Life coaches solve the problem of feeling stuck while others flourish….
So if it’s not already obvious, take some time to think through the problems you’re solving for your clients. Not just the obvious ones, but the more in-depth, emotional pain.
For example, if you design websites, you’re not only solving the problem of business owners needing a functional website. You’re relieving the pain of feeling insecure about a less-than-stellar design and resolving the doubt about whether their DIY site was good enough. They’ve hired a professional so that they can rest with confidence that their website is indeed, beautiful.
Okay, now that you’re clear on the pain points you’re salving with your product or service offering, enter into those lousy feelings and address that pain in your writing.
Copywriters do this with a formula called PAS – pain, agitation, solution. You first mention the pain and remind them that things aren’t as great as they could be.
Then you agitate the pain a little bit.
Now, this part sounds super negative. But here’s the truth: it’s actually incredibly empowering for your readers. Well-written PAS copy is written with authentic empathy. And when you agitate your readers’ pain, you’re actually validating their experience.
Think about how good it feels when you vent to a friend, and they validate your feelings. It’s powerful, right?
You can be that friend to your readers.
3. Write for Your Audience
Every page on your website, every caption on your Instagram account, and every template email in your customer workflow should be written for your single ideal client.
Take your about page as an example: At first thought, you’d think it’s about you right? Your story, qualifications, passions—except it’s not.
First, shift the focus of the about page from you to your ideal clients. Yep, that’s right—even your about page is really about your readers. Highlight the ways you can serve your clients – the ways you help them solve the issues that have been keeping them up at night.
Then move into sharing your credibility—the credentials and experience that have made you the expert you are today. This section is more about you, but still about your readers, so make sure that you’re framing your credentials as the very things that make you able to serve clients best.
Finally, get a little personal and share some of your background and a few fun facts. Not only is it fun to share a bit of your personality, but it helps build a personal connection with – you guessed it—your ideal clients.
Guided by these three principles, you’re marketing content will be in a great position to attract your ideal audience and grow your business, without a poor sales speak.
Cheers to your new enterprise!
Anna Bradshaw is a copywriter specializing in helping creative entrepreneurs promote their businesses with confidence. In her free time, you'll find her curled up with a book, or strolling the beach, ice cream cone in hand. Anna lives in Orange County, CA with her husband of almost a year.
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How to Make Money on Your Social Channels
One pro shares her money-making trick.
Whether you are an entrepreneur launching the next great news content site or a blogger with a huge social following, making recommendations for things on your social platforms encourages your audience to click and buy. We covered the basics of affiliate marketing in an older post, but for a short refresher, affiliate marketing means you can earn revenue by placing trackable links to get paid when your users shop. But once you’ve got the basics down, what’s next?
Know Your Platform!
Social media is arguably the most challenging way to convert users to make a purchase. Why? While perusing Instagram and Snapchat, users want to be inspired and see their friends and family alongside inspiring images. When users are in the mindset to consume content on these platforms, they don’t always want to be immediately directed to a new page to make a purchase. With that in mind, using social media to direct people back to your site is a great way to drive traffic and allow the user to know where to shop a little later.
Instagram Posts: Include “Shop link in bio” in your caption and direct your followers back to a page featuring Instagram posts tagged with the products you are featuring. ShopStyle Collective has a tool called Looks & Collections which makes it simple! The best part? You can link to multiple items, making it even easier for fans to shop your entire look.
Instagram Stories: Swipe up to Shop! For those that have the ability to link in stories, it’s simple to create a shortlink via ShopStyle Collective and direct users to swipe to shop. ShopStyle’s tools auto detect that the user is coming from Stories and offers them the option to enter an email to get a link to shop, or to shop immediately. We’ve seen a huge increase in conversion on “Swipe up” by giving users the option to enter their email and stay within Instagram, or to shop immediately.
Facebook: Yes, that’s right: Facebook. It’s may not be as cool as Instagram, but Facebook is the silver bullet of driving shopping through social. It’s easy to link out and engage with your community — and it’s easy to do targeted advertising to get links in front of the right people. Focus on building your Facebook community by engaging users and seeing what works organically in order to diversify ways to monetize through social.
Hilary Sloan is a director of business development at ShopStyle, the leading fashion search destination, in charge of ShopStyle Collective, the fastest growing network of top fashion and lifestyle influencers worldwide, currently 14,000 strong. Sloan’s team works closely with influencers to successfully monetize their digital shopping content. In addition, Sloan works closely with ShopStyle’s product team, identifying and innovating against future trends and new platforms to create proprietary tools that influencers can use for revenue generation and brand building. When not at ShopStyle, Hilary can be found applying all her skills to her own mini influencer, her dog, Ella Bean.
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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Jeni Britton Bauer
THE UNICORN.
THE UNICORN.
Jeni Britton Bauer makes life taste good.
And the founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams says that if her business was a flavor it would be Dark Chocolate: "Complex and game-changing, hard to replicate."
That's not to say others haven't tried.
But with over two decades dedicated to the scoop game, Jeni knows a thing or two about packing a pint, finding new flavors, and running a team. She started in her car, so hitting the sweet spot didn't come easy. There were learning curves, major lessons and hard, trailblazing work.
But life right now is sweet-- and well deserved.
More from the Ice Cream biz's master maker below.
First things first. Pink hair, don't care?
My outward expression of myself has played a big role in my career and success. I quit art school to start my first ice cream business back in 1996. I had very pale pink hair back then (I mixed Manic Panic Flamingo Pink into my conditioner to dye my platinum blonde). I always loved it— should have been born with it. I also used to wear thrifted clothes back then and punky outfits. It was all part of my thing. What I didn’t realize until I closed that business and wanted to start again is that your look can unintentionally alienate a lot of people. I was not portraying a person in charge. I simply wasn’t. We can debate about it all day, and I wish I could say that it didn’t matter, but it did. When the food critic came over, he had no reason to believe I was the one in charge, and, believe it or not, how you look helps set the tone of the conversation. That first impression is everything, and it will make the ice cream taste better or worse. Believe me. Also, your own perspective is altered by what you believe about yourself. I believed I was a counterculture artist, or wanted to be—and that isn’t very warm and welcoming to the rest of the world. Even more, I had not even done the work to earn that reputation! It was all a bullshit exterior. I was identifying with others’ work, not my own. And that is so transparent. When I started my second business, after my first failure, I wanted to convey personal strength, professionalism, humility, and self-control (literally the opposite of my former self). The ice cream was the same, but I had changed. This time the same food critic loved the same ice creams he’d written off before. I took all emphasis off of me and put it on my ice creams, and more importantly, the wide array of wonderful human beings who were potential customers. By cutting my hair short, dying it back to dark blonde, and choosing to wear a starched white shirt and apron as a uniform every day, I got into character. I was an ice cream maker and shopkeeper in a busy market. This helped me fit into the vibe there and be accepted into the community—and begin to build a brand and a company that means something to people. I put a lot of credit on this transformation for my success. It got me the important first impressions I needed to build a trusted small business in my city and beyond. It was how I put myself aside and truly got into the spirit of service. It has made all the difference in my life.
But now is different. I’ve put in the time (22 years, half my life), laid the groundwork and foundation for what I do.
"I can take risks and not risk my own credibility. I’ve earned it."
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So the pink hair is back—so are my outfits. The lesson to me, and advice I give as I look back on two decades of hustle is to get into the character you are trying to convey— nerdy as it may be. And let it start with humility. Make the character about the work, and then focus on the work. Build equity and trust and credibility in your name, not your clothing or hairstyle. It’s the only thing you actually own.
Now. The way you talk about flavor profiles is like the way people talk about great loves. Do you think loving what you do is an important part of being an entrepreneur?
Being an entrepreneur, and more importantly, a maker is an emotional endeavor. It’s like listening to a singer delivering a beautiful song. You either feel the melody in your soul or it falls at. That comes down to whether the singer is emotionally into it enough to care about the tiniest details, and whether they are brave enough to put themselves out there—put everything on the line for it. That comes from experience, of both love and, to some extent, suffering. Making things, communicating with people, and building a culture of service is emotional just like a beautifully delivered song. It’s about making people’s lives better, even for a moment. And it’s about every perceivable detail.
For me, it isn’t that I love what I do. I am obsessed with it. I care so deeply that it feels good and also it hurts. I love being in it every day, and when I’m not, I crave it. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that is the thing. It’s emotional. You cannot build a community unless you care so deeply that you will risk everything for it. That’s not dramatic. That’s what it takes (at least for me). And no money in the world can buy that passion. You get it by building slowly on a shoestring and truly getting to know what you do and who you do it for and why. By making decisions every day based on what you believe is right. It’s about staying true to your ideas and building upon them as you learn. And never taking things at face value. You can’t teach it or explain it. You get it or you don’t. And it’s everything
What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?
They don’t trust themselves. But the great thing is that, as a collective, we do trust ourselves. And together we are such an incredible force. We encourage each other and inspire each other. So we can overcome our insecurities together.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
Honoring the work that I and countless others laid in those early years and that continues all over our company. When I was young and trying to figure out who I was going to be I didn’t have a strong family to fall back on. I was either going to make it or I was going to end up like so many others I knew— without power and hope. So I decided I wasn’t going to live in a basement my whole life. And I wasn’t going to blame others. And I wasn’t going to ever say, “Why me?” I was going to fight like hell and make it out or go down trying.
It literally was life or death to me. And I am grateful for it. Many kids I grew up with had safety nets and what ended up happening is that they took no risks! I had nothing. So I had nothing to lose. The jump off the cliff without a parachute was safer than the wolves on the other side. But I owe my passion and success to all of that. And I am grateful for it.
When you run into a career obstacle or a speed bump, how do you find new roads?
I nd a way over them. I like to say: “Those are not bumps in the road. They are the road.” But it’s not exactly a perfect metaphor. Roads are too predictable to be a good metaphor for a life of entrepreneurship. They are at and, once laid, they are relatively easy to travel even with the bumps.
The truth is that every entrepreneur I have ever met is really good at going up against the odds. It’s the only thing that gives you your edge over anyone else. When most people see bumps or brick walls, they turn and run. But not entrepreneurs. They are too curious about the “what if” to turn around. And, often it’s actually not that treacherous. Sometimes it is, but you just go. The hard thing is when everyone else in your life wants to jump in and save you from YOURSELF! Don’t do it Jeni! It’s too dangerous! Get back on the easy path. Nah. There is no easy path. But there are some that are greater adventures.
Speaking of roads, I've probably told a hundred women your "these aren't bumps in the road, this IS the road," quote about running a company. Have any more gems you'd care to share?
Lately, I prefer a sea analogy. To get to point B you’ve got to be brave. You’ll swerve up and down, in and out, go all topsy-turvy and still when it’s all added up, you’re moving toward your North Star. Everyone will think you’re fucking nuts. And by their definition, you are.
But remember you are the captain of your ship. You did your homework, built the ship, got to know its power. Now convince people to get on your boat and help you. And trust yourself that no matter what storm hits, you are good enough to correct course, figure it out, fight through it. Learn. Pretend you are the only one who has ever done it. Do not compare your work to others.
Don’t expect certainty. The people I know who are the most certain are the least likely to get anywhere interesting because they can’t learn and adjust and freestyle. So much of this is training yourself to be good enough to not have to think but to act correctly without thinking. That’s Jedi shit, and it only comes from testing yourself.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
I have no fears in business anymore. I have battled the Balrog of the Misty Mountains and won. I am a white fucking wizard. My only fears are as a parent. That said, I work every day to be better, and if that’s not enough then it’s not enough.
What's the Jeni's legacy you hope to leave behind?
You know this is something we, as a company, are thinking about more and more. We want Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams to be the next great American ice cream company. In other words, an ice cream company that sets the standard for service, integrity, transparency, and deliciousness for generations to come. As Jeni the person, I just want to have a good time and make people’s lives better while I’m here.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I work constantly. I’m never not working. And I’d rather be doing that than just about anything else. For me it all starts from a place of love.
I grew up making things with my artist grandmother. While she always moved on to the next thing, I wanted to get so good at the rst thing that I could make dozens. Build inventory. Then sell them. Baskets made out of dried and dyed weeds, doll sweaters. And I was always the neighborhood organizer. We’d have a fundraiser or something. It was all play.
I’m still doing that every day now. Exactly the same feeling. Still just as fun.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTREPRENEUR LIST CLICK HERE.
The Powerful Women Behind OtterBox Design
Were you one of the fierce ladies at this year's Beauty Summit? If you scored the golden ticket, then you remember that our friends at OtterBox amped up our cell phones with some swanky, new cases. The device makeover station was a fan-favorite and we all got a closeup of the Disney Princess-inspired collection that made the princesses appear as bosses, rather than damsels and cued our '90s nostalgia.
We interviewed two of the female designers from OtterBox, Erika Johnson and Annelise Ingram.
Erika Johnson is a 27-year-old trend forecaster by day, apparel designer and crafter by night. She’s a Colorado native and a city girl at heart who previously lived in NYC. Apart from designing cases at OtterBox, she loves snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains, sipping on craft beer, and of course pumpkin-flavored everything. (PSL’s anyone?)
Annelise Victoria Ingram is a 24-year-old trend specialist at OtterBox with a background in apparel design. She’s Texas-grown with a calling to the Colorado mountains. Annelise is obsessed with color trends, puppies, Michael Buble, and chocolate covered strawberries. #Same.
OtterBox, the maker of the number one most-trusted protective phone cases, recently gave a nod to female empowerment by partnering with Disney to launch the Power of the Princess case line. These stylish cases showcase the fierce women of Disney–these are not damsels in distress.
At OtterBox, combining style with protection is part art form and part science. The internal design team works closely with partners including Disney, WGSN, and Pantone to stay ahead of trends and make integral, informed decisions for the international industry leader. Another major plus is that at OtterBox the team is dominated by powerful female leaders who are far from damsels in a male-dominated technology industry.
Create & Cultivate: When did you realize that you wanted to pursue a career in design?
Erika Johnson: I am that person that just always knew what I wanted to do. I learned to sew as a kid, and from there I use to draw my fashion magazines. In high school, I was known as the “crafty girl who always had cool necklaces.” I looked forward to my third-period fashion classes and found myself sketching through chemistry. In college, my passion truly soared. I got to spend my days sewing, drawing and designing. A total dream!
Annelise Ingram: When I designed a pair of pajamas and named the colorway “Fruit Punch” instead of taking science notes in 5th grade.
How did you land in the world of phone accessories?
EJ: Fate, I suppose. Fresh out of college, I had just moved back from an internship in NYC. Jobless and living in my childhood room at my parents, I applied for an internship at a company I had walked by the doors of many of times in college. Walking into the design department at Otter Products felt like home. While I wasn’t surrounded by dress forms and sewing machines, the creative energy was the same.
AI: Divine providence. I applied to somewhere around 100 fashion internships. After interviewing at Otter Products, I felt like I’d found a supportive and inspiring culture in which to grow professionally.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? Why?
EJ: Belle, mostly because I watched the movie so much I wore out my VHS as a kid. She is my favorite because she always stays true to herself. She is stubborn and a little nerdy, pretty much how my friends describe me.
AI: Mulan. For all the reasons. She’s a little awkward, has a great sense of humor, oh, and she’s totally courageous and stands up for what she believes in. Also, Mushu is her best friend. #goals
This collection paints the princesses as influential figures rather than damsels in distress. Why do you think this message is important for girls?
EJ: Playing the damsel in distress in life is easy, being strong and influential takes courage. OtterBox is known for being strong and influential in the world of phone cases, so this mentality is embraced here. We have pretty phone cases, but we are more than just a glittery case. Behind the case is a community that builds each other up in good times and bad. We never lose sight of what really matters, which is why our mission is to Grow to Give.
AI: To be honest, I think the beauty of their stories lies in distress, and how they deal with it. We can’t always control our circumstances, but we can control how we react and become proactive in the future. That’s also why I think the Create & Cultivate conferences and summits are such great events. We all have things weighing us down or seemingly working against us in life. We need to hear the message that, like these princesses, we can create our own adventures and cultivate attitudes that help us reach our goals-- and help others to do the same.
@keikolynn
What is your favorite part about working in design?
EJ: Seeing a print I designed, or a color I fought for in the wild. I still get butterflies when I see it.
AI: COLOR! As I said, I’m obsessed. I think it’s so interesting to discover what colors are speaking to people in the current zeitgeist. And then, of course, taking that information to apply to our wonderful products!
How does it feel to be a female designer in a male-dominated space?
EJ: Empowering. It took me a while to find my voice and speak up, but our team is so supportive and encouraging everyone’s opinions matter regardless of your gender.
AI: I’m truly blessed. I feel fully supported by my team at Otter—both men and women. My mentors at the company set a great example. It’s about your smarts and creativity, your attitude, and the dedication you bring to work. Not your gender.
Do you have any advice for young women who are looking to begin a career in design?
EJ: Do it. In a world where education programs are pushing STEM careers, don’t forget about us creatives. The world needs a balance of those who can make things work and those who make it look a certain way. I have learned that design is in everything. I had people ask me what I was going to do with my apparel design degree, but there are so many different avenues.
AI: Don’t be afraid to do it. I tried out a different field of study because I thought it gave me a broader angle when it came to getting a job. That was dumb. I’m grateful for the experience, though, because I made a mistake that now always inspires me to pursue my passions, even when there’s a lot of uncertainty involved. Also, know that there are a lot of roles within the design industry. You might be a star at every part of it, but if you’re like me, it’s worth it to stick out the portions you don’t love in order to find that niche part of the design world that you do love—that you can’t help but tell people about. Like how cool is it to see complimentary colors paired up naturally in real life? The world is just beautiful.
What case design do you have on your phone now and why?
EJ: At this moment, I am rocking one of our new exclusive cases with Target. The collection is focused on Gen Z and is perfect for summer. I swap my case out almost every day!
AI: BB-8, or “buh-bate” as I lovingly refer to it. I’m a Star Wars nerd, too. It’s cool.
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What To Expect At Our 2018 Style Summit
Meet us in Houston!
Houston - We're ready for ya! Our 2018 Style Summit is right around the corner and the C&C team is almost all packed for our trip back to Texas. If you RSVP’d for July 21st, we hope you’re ready for an inspiring day filled with a ton of different activities at The Galleria. From a pre-summit happy hour to beauty touch-ups, it’s surely a day to treat yo self.
Here's What To Expect!
Friday Happy Hour | Coach
Friday, July 20th | 6:00PM-7:30PM
Join us for a cocktail hour hosted at Coach on the eve of the summit! Kick off the weekend with an evening of mixing and mingling with your fellow attendees before the big day. Meet us at the Coach store at The Galleria and receive a complimentary Houston Skyline Stamp with any purchase at Coach during Happy Hour!
Style Summit at The Galleria
Saturday, July 21st | 12:00PM-6:00PM
DOORS OPEN
12PM-12:30PM
It's time! Head over to the Saks Fifth Avenue Wing at The Galleria to snag your seat. The first 150 attendees will received a gift bag full of goodies from some of our favorite brands. Reminder: The Style Summit is an RSVP event but we do plan to hit capacity so we suggest arriving early to guarantee entrance & a great seat. Make some new friends with your neighbors while you’re at it!
Buttoned-Up
12:30PM-1:15PM
Get the inside scoop on what it really takes to be a successful fashion blogger and work with brands. Stephanie Taylor Jackson, Ashley Seippel, Meggan Morehead of Somewhere Lately, Carrie Colbert, and Krystal Faircloth will all be on site to dish on the blogging world.
Wake Up & Make Up
1:15PM-2:00PM
Meet the women conquering the glam game in our second panel of the day. Madison Payne, Sona Gasparian, Courtney Kerr, and Jaserah Asad will talk all things beauty and what they’ve learned as bloggers and business owners.
Break Time
2:00PM-2:45PM
Enjoy your break time by getting a beauty touch-up with Bobbi Brown cosmetics and your hair braided by TONI&GUY. Grab a delicious snack to refuel for the second half of the day.
Shop around! We'll have the latest styles from Quay Australia on site so you can grab a new pair of sunnies for the summer!
Trend Talk
2:45PM-3:30PM
Carrie Colbert, Courtney Kerr, and Meggan Morehead of Somewhere Lately take part in a special trend presentation with some of their favorite Simon retailers. Get excited because we'll be pulling up audience members for a chance to walk away with major prizes from Club Monaco, All Saints, and Trina Turk.
HELLO NEW WARDROBE UPGRADE!
Keynote Conversation
3:30PM-4:00PM
Keynote Elizabeth Chambers Hammer in Conversation with Jaclyn Johnson
Happy Hour
4:00PM-5:00PM
Close out the day with a glass of bubbly courtesy of Chandon and Crown Royal cocktails, and say cheers to a day full of fashion and fun. Don’t forget to bring a photo ID!
Who's ready? Comment below to say hello to fellow attendees!
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How To Teach Your Team To Take PTO
Everyone deserves a lil’ vacation.
Welcome to Work's a Beach. Throughout this content series, we're helping our readers get the most out of their summer and spend more of their time lounging rather than catching up on emails.
Today, we're looking at you managers. You guys are in charge of making your team gets a breather and not burn out. But are you actually convincing them to use those vacation days? Managing a team can be tough, confusing, and you may not always feel like you're getting it right. But that's okay, that's what we're here for.
We've come up with our own manager's manual for getting your team to take some much-needed time off. The key to all of this is to have a system in place where everyone is happy— YOU included!
Hey, even the boss needs some time away from their desk, so maybe you can get convinced to set that OOO email too.
Set An Example
Your team is probably hesitant about requesting time off because you don't take time off. Set an example by openly speaking out vacation days, and finally getting your own PTO. This will relieve the tension, and encourage them to follow your example.
List Out Tasks to be Completed Before PTO
Here at C&C, we call this a 'hot list'. A hot list is made up of all tasks that must be done before an employee heads out on vacation. This will help them better complete everything by a deadline if they know that they'll be able to enjoy their time off at the end of it. It's a win-win situation.
Have a Streamlined System
Is your system for requesting days off currently out of touch? If you don't have a streamlined process and requesting time off is too much of a hassle, your team probably just doesn't want to deal with the inconvenience. It may be time to invest in vacation tracking software or having a designated team member deal with tracking time off. Scrambling through emails or old documents isn't fun for anyone, and if you make it easier for your team it'll also be easier for yourself.
Be Clear with Expectations
You must, and absolutely must, lay down the law and tell your team what you expect of them before taking time off or during their time off. If you need them to direct all emails to a fellow colleague, let them know. If there is an important call during their absence, let them know if they'll need to dial-in or who they need to get call notes from. Also, make it clear which tasks they'll have to handle immediately upon their return. Knowing all of this will help them plan their vacation better and have everything else go smoothly for everyone.
Assign Owners to Tasks While on PTO
To follow up on the above, you need to let your team know that someone will have to pick up where anyone who's on PTO left off. If the employee who will be absent prefers a certain co-worker to handle their workload, have them let you know of that too. On the other hand, be sure to pass assignments onto someone who can actually handle it, and won't drop the ball.
Plan Around Schedules
One thing you need to be cautious of is having too many employees out at once. You can't have two team members from the same department gone for vacation on the same days. This will only make the remaining team members suffer an excessive workload and it's honestly just unfair. If you plan carefully around everyone else's schedules, everyone will be happy. Trust us.
By: Andrea Navarro
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C&C Classifieds: Microsoft, The Shelf, Dropbox & More!
Get those applications in!
Is your future tugging on your mind again? Don't worry, we've all been there. If you feel like it's time for a career change, the C&C team always has your back.
Our Classifieds this week include positions at Microsoft, Create & Cultivate, Dropbox, and more!
Tailor your resume and nail that cover letter, because it's time to get that job ladies. Take a look at all of the listings below.
Microsoft - Silicon Valley, CA
Tandem Entertainment - Venice, CA
Electronic Arts - ATX, TX
Dropbox - ATX, TX
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How Sofia Vergara Didn't Let Rejection Get The Best Of Her
The boss lady turns 46 today.
For the past six years, Sofía Vergara has been named the highest-paid television actress. While the results for 2018 won't roll in until later in the year, we're rooting for her to snag the coveted title again—seventh time's a charm, right? Such honor is already a big enough deal as a woman, but the fact that Sofía emigrated from Colombia to the United States to launch her acting career is even more remarkable.
Today, the Modern Family star turns 46 and is still dominating the acting scene. We've gathered some of Sofía's most memorable and inspiring quotes that she's shared throughout the years. Keep on reading and get inspired.
Which Sofía quote is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section!
"I’m fearless, I don’t complain. Even when horrible things happen to me, I go on."
"When you find the right shade of lipstick, you feel more confident."
"Never take no personally. Sometimes people tell you no for a reason that has nothing to do with you. You must keep going."
"I’ve always been pretty confident, I grew up in a family of strong women, so I was always taught to be proud of who I am, the way I am."
"I like business, and the truth is I save way more than I spend. I invest. I plan for the future. I have a special eye for opportunities and for harder than anyone might expect."
"The only way to gain something is to take a risk something. I’ve been rejected for many jobs, many movies, but I don’t take that as a failure. I just move on."
"Listen, I’m not afraid of anything. I’m Colombian."
By: Andrea Navarro
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8 Ways to Motivate Your Monday, Sunday Night
When we see potential, we just gotta see it through.
So many of us experience Monday blues comes Sunday night. But taking small steps Sunday night to prep for the week can make all the difference.
We're not saying you'll love going back into the office first thing Monday, but you might have a different feeling about your week by hump day.
Plan your meals.
This is a simple step to saving time during the week. Food preparation allows for easy grab-and-go lunches that are healthy. They save you money (which, saves on stress) and, according to the World Health Organization, with the right ingredients you can boost your brain power by 20%. And who doesn’t need an extra brain boost? Dark leafy greens, salmon, and nuts all boost cognitive function. Plus you won’t waste 30 minutes trying to decide what to Postmates to your desk.
Fill in your calendar.
Filling in your calendar frees up a lot of space in your head. If you start Monday AM knowing exactly what you have to tackle, you can jump right in, instead of spending the morning trying to get organized. Moreover when we handle tedious tasks during down time, instead of during a stressful morning, we’re less likely to make errors.
Draft emails.
OK. While this may feel like “working” on Sunday, spending 30 minutes to an hour to draft important emails you want to go out Monday morning can help you sleep soundly on Sunday night. If you find that you toss and turn all night because you’re stressed thinking about Monday morning, this small step that feels like work, ends up working for your sleep habits.
And a good night sleep should be top priority on Sunday.
Write a Monday to-do list, broken down by hour.
This is a trick that very busy people use. You don’t have to plan the whole week— in fact working just one day in advance has shown to make workers more productive. Chart your Monday by the hour, and as each 60 minutes passes, check it off. The momentum of productivity (i.e. crossing something off a list) has a very positive effect on your work and how you feel about the work.
For example:
- 9am. Answer emails
- 10am. Meeting with team
- 11 am. Come up with creative ideas for Thursday pitch
- 12n. Draft interview questions for X
Declutter your space.
Change your sheets, make the bed, organize your mail. Studies show that clutter undermines your productivity, so don’t let this happen to you.
This includes YOUR CAR. Most of the time we talk about decluttering space, people think about their home, especially a home office or their bedroom. But if you commute to work, and your car looks like the inside of frat house, that’s the FIRST space that’s on your mind when you get to the office. And it can effect your work.
Collect those old Kind bar wrappers, the coffee cup in the center console, and the shoes and jacket you tossed into the backseat. The cleaner the space, the clearer your mind.
Pay any outstanding bills, fill prescriptions, and go to the market.
These are the kind of tasks that stress anyone out, especially when their work week is jam-packed. And small tasks that float around in the back of your head take up BIG amounts of space. Check them off and get ready to check-in to Monday.
Work out.
It’s one of the best ways to get your week off on the right, healthy foot. Working out has been proven to improve concentration and mood, both of which are in hot demand come Monday.
Have a glass of red wine, read a book, have a meal with friends…
Whatever works best for you to relax, with Monday on the horizon, it’s too easy to slip into a negative state of mind. But that not only effects your sleep it also effects which side of the bed you wake up on Monday AM.
Your mood matters, so do something to put your mind at ease. Oh and did we mention that red wine significantly improve memory and motor skills. Cheers to you Sunday night!
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How to Show Jet Lag Who's Boss
And other first class travel tips from this CEO.
photo credit: El Camino Travel
I own an international travel company so naturally, I travel a lot for work. There are months where I spend more nights in hotel beds than my own. However, I am not one to complain. Traveling for work has afforded me great opportunities; I have met some incredible people in other countries and I have spent way too many boisterous nights dancing and sipping on national liquors all in the name of work. I have been able to keep up with a transcontinental schedule by creating a routine out of the chaos. I also called on some of my other globe trotting lady friends to get their input on how to stay balanced when traversing so many time zones.
ON JET LAG
This might be the worst aspect about travel. Jet lag can lead to fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and digestive upset. Basically, it sucks. My friend Kalsoom, who travels to Pakistan on a regular basis highly recommends taking natural melatonin supplements that help control your sleep. I always use the long plane rides and overnight flights as an opportunity to start to get my body adjusted to the time zone I will be landing in. Neck pillows, eye masks, large scarves that double as a blanket, and noise canceling head phones (per Kalsoom’s suggestion) make the process of avoiding jet lag much easier.
ON STAYING HEALTHY
Exercise and being active is of high importance to me and it is what helps manage my stress levels. Before I take off, I usually check to see if there is a gym near where I am staying and particularly, the classes they are offering. Classes are a great way to immerse yourself in the local community and culture. For example, I have taken champeta and zumba classes in Colombia, yoga in Mexico City, and signed up for beach boot camp on the shoreline of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janiero. Beyond that, I use running as a way to see the city or roam new neighborhoods. There is no better way to explore a city than by foot.
"Keep up with a transcontinental schedule by creating a routine out of the chaos."
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If time is tight and I have to do a quick HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout in my hotel room, I use apps like Nike Fit Club and ProDay. All will make you sweat and often no equipment is needed.
ON LIVING OUT OF A LUGGAGE
As soon as I arrive to my hotel, I unpack my luggage and organize everything. It takes a quick fifteen minutes, but allows me feel more settled in rather than on-the-go. Beyond that, I treat myself by bringing along some sort of luxury item so it feels special. For example, when I am home, my body wash is basic, but when I travel, I splurge on Malin Goetz Rum Body Wash. It might seem simple, but for whatever reason it works for me and gets me excited about my trips. It is all about the mental games you play with yourself when you are traveling so much.
On a practical level, I always take my time when preparing for my trip. Being rushed or anxious that I forgot to pack something important is not worth the stress for me. Rather, I block out a few hours in my calendar, use it as an excuse to catch up on podcasts and do it with calmness. I always try to pack a fun wardrobe where pieces can be mixed and matched and be used for all types of occasions. Jewelry (which, barely takes up any space) is an easy way to take an outfit from day to night as well as a bold lip color. Because I love exploring a location by foot, comfortable, but stylish shoes are the first items I pack. A similar pair to these or these, have worked really well for me.
ON MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS
I get asked about this a lot. My husband and I both travel a ton for work and this year has been particularly intense. We have had several occasions where I will be flying in and he will be flying out the next day. We are both at a point where we are hitting major strides with our careers, in our early thirties, and have both worked hard to get where we are. In short, travel is not slowing down for either of us. We are fully supportive of each other going big or going home for the next few years. That being said, our relationship is of high priority and we have seen (and felt) what happens when we are not proactive about maintaining it. One of the biggest challenges is communication and starting to feel disconnected. When he is sometimes sixteen hours ahead or I am not getting back to my hotel room until one in the morning, hopping on a call is difficult and sometimes the last thing either of us want to do. However, we make texting each other the best thing that happened to us every day a priority. That makes us feel like we know what is going on in each other’s lives and it keeps our work travel positive.
"We make texting each other the best thing that happened to us every day a priority."
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Maintaining relationships with friends and family can also be difficult when you are on the road. My friend Corey -- who has lived in Nairobi, Kenya for the past few years and is often traveling to very remote and rural areas of the country-- uses technology and social media to her advantage. Although she has tried to keep a blog, send long email updates to friends, or schedule the habitual Sunday night Skype call with her parents, she has found that social media makes it easier (and faster) to maintain relationships while abroad. Whether posting an Instagram picture of your travels, sending a Snap Chat of your commute to work, or even playing a quick round of Words with Friends, you can use the breadth and ease of technology to stay connected to those you care about. While no substitute for in-person catch-ups, these short, virtual "touches" help maintain the foundation for long-term, quality relationships. And that's #nofilter.
Sticking to the above allows for work travel to continue to feel fun and exciting instead of starting to have it feel burdensome.
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Katalina Mayorga is the CEO and founder of El Camino Travel. El Camino was featured in AFAR in their 2015 Vanguard Issue under, "Surprise Is the New Luxury" category, as well as Mashable, the Guardian, Marie Claire and Forbes for their innovative approach to travel. El Camino works closely with local tastemakers to curate off-beat experiences for small groups of people to unique locations. The trips all come with a creative photographer in tow, so that their travelers can thoroughly enjoy their experiences while ensuring that their memories are captured and that they will have great social media content. In addition, a percentage of profits are donated to a local social entrepreneur working to better his or her country.
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Happy National Bikini Day! Here Are 8 Small Businesses To Buy Swimwear From
Get your swimwear on.
It's National Bikini Day! To highlight the inaugural holiday we're sharing some of our favorite small businesses that happen to make amazing swimwear. Just because your Fourth of July celebrations are over, doesn't mean you have to slow down your bikini game. Take a look at some of our favorite brands and designers, and why we think they're so badass.
Myra Swim
Aussie designer Bianca Elouise created Myra Swim with every single body type in mind. From one-sleeved tops to sleek, Brazilian cut bottoms, you can find it all. Then minimalistic designs are part high fashion and part comfort.
Lolli Swim
If you love bright and colorful swimwear, then Lolli should be on your radar. Female owned and operated, Lolli is full of rainbow and sunshine courtesy of its designer Vy Nguyen. You can buy Little Mermaid-inspired seashell tops, cheeky bow bottoms and so much more.
Frankies Bikinis
It's highly likely that Frankies Bikinis have made an appearance on your Instagram feed. Francesca Aiello's mother encouraged her to create custom-made swimwear, and the rest is history. Frankies bikinis first Miami Swim Week debut took place in 2014 and ever since we've seen her pieces on everyone from Gigi Hadid to Kylie Jenner.
Girls On Swim
Sophisticated and minimalistic, Girls On Swim is designed right here at C&C's sunny home of Los Angeles. Brittny Ward and B Kaya Boucetta have an eye for what's unique and what complements a woman's body. Kourtney Kardashian nearly broke the internet this week in the brand's signature Bare Strappy bikini.
Aexae Swim
Another Australian brand that's killing it is Aexae Swim. You'll feel like your best self when slipping one of the brand's form-flattering pieces. Aexae is loved by celebrities and by its ever-growing Instagram family.
Naked Swim
Designed in LA and made in Bali, Naked Swim is one brand to definitely keep your eye on. Designer Akasha Marie has taken the brand from being direct-to-consumer only, to now being shoppable at different Topshop locations and is coming soon to ASOS. It's made with every body type in mind and features a range of figures in all of its campaigns.
Monday Swimwear
Super influencers Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman created Monday Swimwear after their blog, A Bikini A Day, took off. Both women have kept their huge female audience in mind when designing everything from high-cut one pieces to tops that fit any bust size. The brand just debuted a beautiful campaign and extended sizing so that everyone can enjoy Monday.
Swimsuits for All
Swimsuits for All lives up to its name. With collaborations with Ashley Graham and Gabi Fresh, the brand thrives in catering to all women and making them feel their best while wearing swimwear. Swimsuits for All removes the intimidation that comes from shopping for bikinis, and makes you excited to finally make that purchase.
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