How One Busy Blogger Unplugs and Finds Some 'Me' Time
It’s all about investing in your inner health.
@visualbychristina
We all know how important it is to have a consistent beauty routine, while also practicing self-care. While the two can mean very different things for all of us, it’s important to take care of ourselves from the inside out. We all love massages (yes, please), baths, and some overall “me” time, but what we’re putting into our body matters too. We’ve partnered with HUM Nutrition and some of our favorite influencers in the wellness space, to chat a little bit about self-care and the importance of getting those proper nutrients. Gotta live long and strong, ladies!
Finding the right balance for anything is tough and especially so with supplements - it can take trial and error or hours of tunneling through research and reviews to figure out exactly which ones will best support you.
Luckily, HUM Nutrition, the all-natural line of mind, body and beauty supplements, takes all the time and guess work out of finding the perfect vitamin match. Just take their 3-minute online evaluation and their team of RD Nutritionists will provide you a foolproof plan of personalized recommendations with exactly what you need to deliver results now and help protect against future concerns. Their targeted and innovative formulas support everything from clear glowing skin to reduced under-eye circles, boosted energy, improved digestion, and an overall healthy body.
Below, we caught up with Niké of Specs & Blazers to discuss how she unplugs, stays healthy, and everything in between.
Create & Cultivate: The digital world never sleeps. How do you unplug?
Niké: Unplug? What is that? Kidding. I unplug by practicing mindfulness and practicing meditation. Meditating has been key to my success. It is like working out your mind. It brings peace and mental clarity like I've never experienced before in my life. I turn off my phone between 4-5pm 4 times a week.
C&C: While we love a good face mask, it’s important that we focus on prevention + long-term self-care vs. damage control + quick fixes. What are some ways you invest in your inner-health?
N: I invest in my inner health by eating well, detoxing regularly. I do a cleanse with my favorite smoothie once a week and take my HUM Glow Sweet Glow vegan gummies on the daily.
@visualbychristina
C&C: How do you find the time to make me-time?
N: Well, realizing you can't help others until you help yourself is so important. I know that I can't be my best self with my friends or family unless I feel centered within myself and I can only do that when I practice taking “me” time. I always joke that I am a professional napper. No matter what I am doing or how busy my day is, I can easily find a corner, pull out a chair and fall into a deep sleep for about 10 minutes. I am also a voracious reader. I read two books a month. I found reading to be cathartic and an escape. I can get lost in a book for the night. During the time I am reading my book, I tend to turn my phone off and play music.
C&C: Walk us through your ideal self-care Sunday.
N: On Sundays, I make an effort to look after myself. My biggest self-care routine is making breakfast and watching the news in the morning. It’s something that I have found calming and sets the tone for my fay. I then proceed to go to Yoga. Yoga has just been incorporated into my life recently, and I am loving it. Sometimes I grab lunch with friends or dinner. More importantly, before going to bed, I grab my gratitude journal and write down one or two good things that happened to me that day. I finish my day making a bath with Epsom salt with a glass of wine and a good book. When I feel good, I look good and vice versa.
C&C: If you could only pick one self-care hack, what would it be and why?
N: Gratitude. Practicing gratitude is my favorite self-care hack.
C&C: When you don’t have time for your normal self-care routine, what do you do to keep stress and anxiety at bay?
N: I know this might sound silly but drinking lots of water. They always say anxiety is staying in the future. So, learning to shut my mind off an staying present is so imperative.
C&C: Is there anyone you look to for self-care inspiration?
N: Yes. My Mother. She has an ability to balance work and life in a very admirable way.
Curious to try HUM Nutrition? Well you’re in luck! ! Once you’ve taken the quiz and received your recommendations C&C readers get 20% off their purchase with promo code ‘CULTIVATE’. Get your health on with HUM, today!
This is a paid partnership with HUM Nutrition.
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Classifieds: Digital Brand Architects, J Public Relations, The Shelf, & More!
Happy Wednesday!
Happy Wednesday!
Or should we say Happy C&C Classifieds Day at this point? Anyway, we’re presenting you with yet another round of amazing gigs to consider if you’re in search of a new job. This week’s batch of roles hit different areas including talent, PR, social media, and more. As we always say, get those resumes ready!
Good luck.
DBA - NY, NY
The Shelf - Remote (need ig story)
Worn - NY, NY
J Public Relations (CA + NY)
Content + Community Manager - SD, CA
Create & Cultivate - LA, CA
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5 Lessons We Learned from This Beauty Exec at C&C Chicago
Starting with analytics.
As women, we tend to think that we must follow the path that someone set before us, especially when it comes to our careers. This wasn’t the case for Mary Kay Ash, the founder of global beauty empire Mary Kay. When she came face to face with glass ceilings, she went and created her own company so she could structure the ceiling however high she wanted it to be. This is a woman who built her brand in 1963, in her 40s, and turned it into a global empire. Her story is all about being disruptive before the term was so commonly used, and being an innovator who thought ahead of their time. Mary Kay’s Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Julia Simon, joined us at C&C Chicago and dished on how the brand maintains its boss status today, after 55 years in the biz. Ahead, we’ve compiled five impactful takeaways from the conversation that all entrepreneurs and women in business can learn from and kick into gear today.
Use Data to Your Advantage
“The heart of our business for its entirety has been the salesforce. Our independent beauty consultants gain customers, service them, and have been doing so for 55 years. That one-on-one contact brings us analytics. When you get to add the digital tools and technology to that sort of a personal relationship, it just enhances it even more. We get real face to face data and can back that up with the digital analytics.”
Authenticity Is Everything
“Two things that are very important are building trust and building authenticity. Who are you? And do you match what you say with what you do? Do your actions and your words all match? In the world of social media, it’s easy for one thing to take you off on a tangent. If you can stay true to who you are and show that authenticity through everything you do - whether it’s how your beauty consultants treat people or the fabulous products you can present. All of those things come back to the real truth that helps us connect with our customer and form long-standing relationships.”
Disruption is Reconstruction
“I like to call the concept of disruption, reconstruction. There isn't any established brand that wants to stick around that doesn’t constantly evaluate and reevaluate who they are. Figure out what your core values are and stay true to them, but then constantly reconstruct and reevaluate. Ask yourselves, are we on the right path? Have we added the right tools? Are we talking to the right people? Are we engaging people in the way we need to engage them? I love to be around millennials because it makes me constantly educate myself about what’s new and what’s different. I don’t want to be stuck where I was - that won’t get me any further to where I want to be.”
Constantly Evaluate & Reevaluate
“Giving women around the world the opportunity to make money selling these products is really our goal. You can’t do that unless you have products that people really want. How you engage with people differs from market to market, but the one thing that is constant is mobile, digital, social media—all growing globally. We stay relevant because we’re constantly evaluating and reevaluating to ensure that what we’re giving to the marketplace results in a great opportunity for people to make money and great products for people to use.”
Mentors Are Everywhere
“There are mentors all around you. Whenever I go to meet someone, I ask questions. I’ve never really had anyone reject me. Some people are quick about their answers, but for the most part, they are happy to talk to you. There are real mentors all around you, so just have no fear and go out and talk to people.”
Brow Tips and Tricks from Mary Kay
Mary Kay was present on site at C&C Chicago and taught us the must-know tips and tricks for show-stopping brows all day. With brow expert and Mary Kay Global Beauty Ambassador Luis Casco on site, our attendees got tips from the best of the best on how to get a flawless set of arches. Check out some of the key pointers they learned:
For brow products, you always want to start with a color that's one shade lighter than your hair color.
If you have red, silver or gray hair, your brows will look best with an ashy tone. Try a blonde or dark blonde shade to start.
Before applying any product, use the Mary Kay Eyebrow/Eyeliner Brush to brush brows upward, then out toward the tails.
Always make sure that you're applying your brow products onto clean brows for the best results.
When using the Mary Kay Precision Brow Liner, using light, feathery strokes will make your brows look more natural.
When using the Mary Kay Volumizing Brow Tint, apply to the inner sections of the brows last - this is where you want the lightest application.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received? Let us know in the comments below!
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Serena Williams, Standing Your Ground & The State of Emotions at Work
“This is outrageous.”
You've all heard about, read about it, and definitely need to continue talking about it. This past Saturday, Serena Williams was issued point deductions and had an entire game cut during the women's singles final of this year's U.S. Open. She voiced her opinion about it, as she should, and it didn't end there.
Serena was then hit with a $17,000 fine for code violations. Tournament referee, Brian Earley, ruled that she would be fined $10,000 for verbal abuse, $4,000 for a coaching violation, and $3,000 for racket abuse. The "verbal abuse" that we speak of here is when Serena addressed the referee, stood her ground, and defended both her longstanding tennis career and work ethic. She's Serena Williams, she doesn't have to cheat.
The rest of us may not be killing it on the tennis court, but we face the same struggle of showing our emotions at work. Why is it that when a woman voices her frustrations, it's quick to be labeled as a meltdown or tantrum? Why are we labeled as hysterical for voicing our opinion when something is wrong? As a result of Saturday's events, the tennis sport has been targeted for sexism and handling violations between male and female players differently. A good example comes from early last month when French tennis player Benoit Paire smashed three rackets on the court, and was charged a fine of $16,500 as a result.
The issue here isn't hidden by any means; it's loud and clear as a matter of fact. Serena Williams was punished for voicing her opinion while doing her job, and it's something that every woman faces every day. Sure, we're not getting hit with fines for thousands of dollars, but we can face penalties, ridicule, and even termination for simply stating what's on our minds.
This is something that all women are all too familiar with, but for black women especially, it's nothing new. The way Serena Williams was treated during another huge moment of her career, just proves how hard it is to be a black woman at work. Black women often internally police themselves in the workplace in every way from their appearance, to the way they approach the situations brought in front of them. And you know what? It's not okay. Neither are the descriptions of Williams' behavior on the court. She's been labeled as angry, having an outburst, a furious rant, and everything in between because she defended herself. As she put it, having to go through this experience just sets a terrible example for the next person who wants to express their emotions. We highly recommend watching her post-event press conference here.
The bottom line is that none of us should be punished for stating the facts, saying them loudly, and with whatever emotion is instilled in our voices. The conversation hasn't stopped yet, and it shouldn't stop until we all stop punishing women for saying what they need to say.
We also can't fail to note that her opponent, Naomi Osaka, did not get to properly enjoy her big moment among the chaos. She's the first Japanese citizen (editor’s note: her father is Haitian) to win a Grand Slam singles tournament, and that's a milestone that should be celebrated, and not overshadowed by what others are describing as a tirade or a meltdown. Just as the New York Times put it, it was memorable but for all of the wrong reasons.
By: Andrea Navarro
Here are some of our favorite pieces that hit the matter right on its head.
Mashable provided a breakdown of how the entire situation went down on the court.
Refinery29 called it what it is: sexism.
The HuffingtonPost, highlighted Serena's poise once her opponent, Naomi Osaka became visibly upset at the crowd's reaction to her big win.
Male tennis players came to Williams' defense, including James Blake, who admitted to saying a lot worse on the court and never being penalized for it.
Forbes explained the power of speaking up, in honor of Saturday's events.
The HuffingtonPost also highlighted what some of tennis's meltdowns actually looked like.
Brit+Co. called out the fact that Williams' treatment was both racist and sexist.
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How One Blogger Discovered the Value in Her Work, and How You Can Too
Know your worth because you are worthy.
You don't need to write a novel to tell a story.
Paola Mathé is the embodiment of this. A storyteller at heart, the blogger and Creative Director was born a dreamer from a small town in Haiti. Paola moved to the United States during her teenage years, where she lived in a one bedroom apartment with her family in Newark, NJ. Of her mother, the creative shares, “She’s had a very tough life and over the years I’ve seen her get stronger and smarter." It's certainly helped shaped the woman Paola has become.
A driven individual, Paola was the first in her family to graduate from college, receiving her dual bachelor's degree in Economics and French Literature at Drew University. Post-grad she went on to launch a career in hospitality. As is the narrative with many bloggers, she started Finding Paola as a creative outlet during a time when her career was soaring. She recalls getting “four promotions over the course of about six months--I was dominating and living that life," she says. "But I got really into it [the blog] and made time. I was working 50-60 hours a week, managing all of these different people but really wanting to be creative. So that’s what I started doing. And I remember thinking, I don’t have much, but how can I create this? How can I show people that they can live without having much?”
This was during 2009 when the blog in its infancy was called Finding Paola: Lost in New York. What was she searching for? Was she truly lost? Not exactly. “I was writing about things I was not familiar with but were intriguing and exciting. I was really trying to find who I was. I started seeing this girl," she says self-referentially, "who, whether she had someone to go to an event with or not, she would still show up, she would meet people, network, and then I started seeing me changing in front of me-- doing all these things I was never comfortable with, really trying to get stronger.”
She was busy documenting different events, but the content evolved over time to include her personal style. "I tried to keep up with that, while also being as honest as possible." She says that having a blog, especially before the dawn/explosion of social media was really hard. “I felt like everyone was studying a manual I didn’t have and everything looked the same. I didn’t want my blog to be that because my life is full of color and I felt like my story was so different from the blogs I was reading. I remember subscribing to a lot of them, trying to follow and keep up and then unsubscribing because I didn’t relate. But then I’d wonder why they were getting so popular. I didn’t realize that at the time my blog was also getting popular. I thought it would just be friends and family.”
“I felt like everyone was studying a manual I didn’t have."
Tweet this.
Occasionally she'll read her old posts to see how much she’s grown, although many have been lost as she’s transitioned platforms over the years. “A lot of posts don’t migrate," she laughs recalling the days when twenty views would get her really excited. “I thought the only person reading it was my mom because she was terrified of me being in New York and wanted to keep tabs on me.”
Describing herself as a shy child surrounded by strong women in Haiti, including her mother, Paola says, “I remember always trying to be in charge of her money. I would always try to calculate everything. How much does sugar cost and how much does rice cost? I was shy, but I was very observant. I had very strong opinions and I knew when I was older I wanted to be treated a certain way. I remember being in this house full of women. My mom didn’t like to be alone so when we lived in our family house in Haiti she surrounded herself with friends-- people who weren’t relatives but I would call them cousin. I saw how all these women lived. As a little girl I saw their love lives, how they cried, how they handled things, and I remember sitting there-- because in Haiti it’s very strict you can’t just get into grown folks business-- and thinking about what I liked and didn’t like. That’s why Fanm Djanm is important. They were all strong in their own way, but I didn’t want to be treated how they were treated. As I got older and older I found myself solving problems. And I realized that I could solve problems and be creative.”
She is referring to her company, Fanm Djanm, a head wrap collection and popular lifestyle brand launched in 2014 that celebrates the strength of women while empowering them to live boldly. It means “strong woman" in Haitian Creole.
She keeps the two brands separate.
Fresh looks from Fanm Djanm
At first she was running both, going back and forth between Instagrams, but now employs “a team of talented young women who work with me. A very small team." Paying members of that small team is incredibly important to her, noting that she knows really talented women who work for much bigger brands for free. “I really believe in them and I know they will go far,” she says of her team, wisely knowing young women need champions. "I lived in Newark and you kind of feel like there’s no world outside of Newark and the whole world wants you to fail. It’s not true. You have to leap. You have to seize life and see it from different perspectives.”
She further explains why it was necessary to separate the two brands. "Fanm Djanm," she says, is “about celebrating strong women, so I shouldn’t be the only strong woman." It's rather sensible. "I am surrounded by strong women all the time and they’re what inspires me. There are days when I don’t want to get out of bed and I have think about someone who inspires me. Then I have that extra something to get up and try.”
Try and do. Both are happening in her world, which includes a recent move with her husband from NYC to Austin, TX, a transition she openly shared as hard in a recent blog post. In short: She hasn’t made complete peace with the move yet. Her office remains there, as does her small team.
In New York Paola says she walked everywhere. In Harlem she would see strangers and approach them, asking about their life, their stories and if she might photograph them. She hasn't found this yet in Austin.
“I would go up to a stranger in the street if I thought they had a story or they’d be an amazing person to have a conversation with. I love talking to older women a lot. I started photographing older women in Harlem and I would approach them and tell them how beautiful and amazing they are. They would look at me like I was crazy-- that’s how you know you live in an ageist society," she adds. "When you tell an older woman she’s beautiful often they think you’re making fun of them or it surprises them.”
She also digs in on another known vestige of an ageist society: the list. “People think you’re failing at life because you’re not doing something before you’re 30. I know so many amazing people who didn’t start to find themselves until later. When I meet a woman who says, ‘I’ve been doing this for a while, but it wasn’t until I was 45 that I really found my voice,’ to me that’s really inspiring. These aren’t just women breaking the rules but those who are doing something positive and impactful for their communities. I want to showcase stories like that."
It's her spirit, willingness to move forward and try her hand at something new is what makes her voice unique. She also happens to have a badass vision, knowing her way around color and a camera. “I go to bed dreaming about it because I know it’s potential," she says excitedly about the company. And I still can’t believe that I’ve accomplished what I have from nothing.”
"I think I used to say ‘I’m living my dream’ before I actually was. I think now I am living my dream because I can wake up and turn something down or say, I’m not into that I’m sorry-- or say, I do think I can do this, but for more money.”
“I can do this, but for more money.”
Tweet this.
The combined result of saying no and knowing your worth, two things that Paola has developed over the years, is Fanm Djanm. The blogger does feel like she’s struggling to ensure that sponsored content remains true to her voice. “Everything that I do I have to be passionate about," pausing to note, "I’m privileged enough to do this, right?” She says that when sponsorship opportunities do arise, most brands want to tie her story to it.
While she's priming herself for greatness and Paola is still getting used to people telling her story. “There was a video recently of me and I started crying because I was like WHO is this woman, WHY are they using these words to describe her-- oh it’s me and...” She's in awe. As she should be, sharing one last story.
“I painted the floors in my office in Harlem myself. I was tired and I wanted to get it done, because customers don’t care if you’re painting the floors, they want what they’ve ordered. But I was tired and I sat down and was looking around. And I remember thinking, “Oh my God, this is me. This is mine."
She laughs. "The woman who wrote the piece about me in the New York Times described it as a matchbox and I was like 'damn, not even a shoebox?' But still, its my colorful matchbox."
photos courtesy of: Finding Paola
Arianna Schioldager is Editor-in-Chief at Create & Cultivate. You can follow her @ariannawrotethis.
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Everything You Missed at Our Roxy Pop-Up
It was a night for the books.
Last night we took over LA's Fig House for a night to remember with our friends at Roxy. The brand stopped in SoCal for their Make Waves, Move Mountains tour and brought some of their athletes along for the night, plus an IRL shop. If you were in our audience, you witnessed us make waves and move mountains with our amazing roster of panelists, and Roxy pop-up shop. As always, the space was filled with a ton of Instagrammable moments to snap away. Our guests also mixed and mingled with cocktails, light bites, and left with long-standing connections to build their network. If you weren't able to make it, don't worry we've got a full recap for you.
The Panelists
Lisa Andersen: Four-time world surfing champion, all around badass. Lisa was named one of the top female athletes of the century by Sports Illustrated and was inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame. Today, she is the worldwide ambassador for Roxy and has her own collection with the brand.
Bruna Schmitz: This professional surfer left her native Brazil at a very young age once she realized she could make a career out of the sport. Bruna became the youngest to win a Brazilian pro event, and at the age of 14, she signed with Roxy.
Deddeh Howard: Founder of the Black Mirror project and all-around influencer. Deddeh wanted to challenge the modeling industry after facing rejection, and understanding the lack of diversity. The Black Mirror Project started by recreating big campaigns with models of color, and it went entirely viral. Deddeh wants all women to be represented in all industries.
Katie Austin: You likely know her as a wellness expert, but Katie now has her own activewear line, Austin Active, and an app that's inspiring women to live their healthiest lives. As the daughter of fitness guru, Denise Austin, Katie naturally stepped into the wellness space and has garnered an audience of her own.
Jordan Younger: AKA the Balanced Blonde, runs a successful blog, podcast, and is also a published author. She's been open about her struggles with an eating disorder and pushing through it to create the best life for her. She now serves as an inspiration for other women who are looking to understand wellness and practice self-care on the regular.
Mic-Drop Moments
“Once you get the fear out of the way, you’ll be able to achieve your dreams.”- Deddeh Howard
“If you can walk away from certain facets of your business, it’s not a failure.”- Jordan Younger
“I always tried to keep an open mind and understand why my life was going in the direction it was going.”- Bruna Schmitz
“I took all of my savings and put it into a clothing line & app in college and they failed. But looking back now, I know that HAD to happen.”- Katie Austin
The Space
We transformed the Fig House into a Roxy-lover's dream. There was an airstream on site, where guests can handpick Roxy clothing items as well as accessories. For the surfing fans, there was a trio of boards set up to take all the Instagram photos you can imagine. During the panel we had the audience sit in the main section of the venue, while they enjoyed cocktails, wine, beer, and light bites. Everyone also received their own Roxy gift bag to store all of their new items from the pop-up shop, and custom illustrations by Chloe White were made upon request.
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How Designer and Entrepreneur Erin Condren Stays Motivated
A step-by-step guide for you to try.
By: Erin Condren
Motivation is always the first step towards reaching any goal. To me, motivation is about deciding and believing that I can accomplish what I set my mind to. It’s something that’s always been important to me; you’ll see the phrase “create.motivate.inspire” across my entire collection. I design products to be agents of motivation and inspiration. Whether it’s an uplifting quote posted on my Instagram on Monday morning as part of our #motivationalmonday series, a pop of an unexpected, happy color or a structured product design that helps add function to daily life, I seek to motivate others.
But how do I motivate myself, and furthermore stay motivated, which is often half the battle? I’ve identified several tips and tricks thatI’ve noticed work for me and keep me energized and excited!
Make a List of Action Steps
Does it surprise anyone that make a list is my number one tip!? It’s no secret I’m a lover of lists, and it’s so important to make one that will continue to motivate you. Set actionable & reachable “action steps” that you can work towards to reach your goal!
Celebrate the Small Milestones
Part of why it’s important to make these action steps is so you can celebrate it! It’s important to take the time to recognize how hard you’re working and acknowledge those little victories.
Visualize your goal
I’m a visual person, so I’ve found that it’s important to actually create or find visual representations of the goal I’m envisioning. This can be anything, from the house you’re saving up to buy or the children you’re working hard to support. It always helps to see a reminder of why you’re hustling.
Don’t Be Afraid to Make an Adjustment
One of my dad’s favorite sayings growing up was “make an adjustment!” This phrase has turned into a personal mantra for me as I navigate the many different curveballs life has thrown at me. While sticking to your goal and staying motivated and on track is important, don’t be afraid to make an adjustment and rearrange your priorities if you have to!
Schedule “Pick-Me-Ups” as Needed
It’s important to recognize that you will have down days and moments where you feel discouraged or like staying motivated is just not feasible. Plan ahead for these moments so you can cut them off at the pass. I like to pre-schedule things like a mother-daughter movie date or catching up with a friend to help ground me and remind me of what’s important. Hiding little notes of encouragement is also a fun tip!
Stay Organized
This one seems obvious, but make sure that you’re properly organized and set up to make your goals a reality. I like adding weekly check-in times in my LifePlanner™ so that each Monday I already have some time set aside to focus in on my goals and motivate myself by looking back at how far I’ve come.
Consistency is Key!
Don’t vacillate week to week! Keep on the same pace and stay consistent with the steps you’re taking. Soon, you’ll develop habits and staying motivated will be second nature!
I’m so dedicated to staying motivated that I’ve recently been working on an upcoming product launch that’s all about setting goals (more on that soon!) I can’t wait to release it and hopefully help others like me stay on track to becoming their best selves!
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C&C Classifieds: Ace Hotel, Sister City, Rare Global & More!
This week’s lineup includes social media, marketing, and administrative roles.
Happy Wednesday aka official C&C Classifieds day! We hope you all enjoyed the long weekend and are refreshed and ready to get back to business.
Got a new gig on the mind? Might as well let the new season ahead, the time to get your applications rolling. This week's lineup includes gigs all the way from NYC to London, and of course our home base of LA. Check them out, get your resumes ready & good luck!
Sister City - NYC
Ace Hotel - London
Atelier Ace - LA
Create & Cultivate - West Hollywood
Rare Global
Join us in Dallas to Celebrate Kate Spade New York's 25th Anniversary at Nordstrom NorthPark Center!
This list will fill up fast!
We're throwing an intimate party with Kate Spade New York and Nordstrom NorthPark Center to celebrate their 25th anniversary and the launch of their amazing Fall Yesssssss Gift Guide, meant for ladies like you. You who acknowledges your own awesomeness, treats yourself and celebrates your own accomplishments!
The Breakdown
Saturday, September 22nd, 2018 | 1:45-4PM
1:45 PM | Doors open! Network with your fellow Create & Cultivators over flutes of bubbly
2:00 PM | Panel: From Success to Self-care, A Conversation On Why We've Earned It
3:00 PM | Shop the new Kate Spade New York collection and enjoy light bites, sips and a floral takeaway
The Panel:
From Success to Self-care
A Conversation On Why We've Earned It
The Panelists:
The RSVP for this event is now closed!
Top LA Recruiters Dish 8 Interview Mistakes to Avoid
A coffee is too casual and other pro tips.
"Grandma Dawn is turning 89 this year and still comes to the office every day," says Natalie Levine over coffee (mine) and mint lemonade (hers). She can't drink caffeine after 2pm, "or she'll be up all night," explains her sister Emily.
The referenced "office" is Century City-based Career Group Companies, a staffing firm specializing in full-time and temporary placement of administrative staff for today's leading companies. Founded in 1981 by the sisters' then 25-year-old mother, Susan Levine, it remains a family run business.
Emily serves as Vice President, Natalie as Senior Account Manager, and dad, Michael Levine is CEO. Grandma Dawn, "in her Chanel and Etro," is an office staple.
"Our mom was a pioneer of the boutique staffing firm," says Natalie, "when staffing was all about making the deal, instead of the people side of the business."
It's this hands-on people-centric approach that propels Career Groups clients' businesses forward and makes a difference in applicant's lives. The company now employs approximately 150 people with offices in LA, New York, Redwood Shores, San Francisco, and Connecticut.
Candidates come to Career Group Companies by appointment only and leading companies rely on the CGC to deliver top notch direct hire and freelance/temp candidates for their open jobs. "We are essentially job match makers," they explain. "We grant candidates access to exclusive companies, and we serve as their counselors along the way. We are there for every step of the process, from assisting with their resumes, interview tips, delivering the offer, and more."
Jobs are their job. And we make jobs are our business.
So for the graduating class of 2018, who better to ask the the do's and don'ts of the interviewing process? According to Emily and Natalie here are 8 common mistakes you should avoid:
1. NOT WRITING A THANK YOU NOTE
Or not proofreading a thank you note. This is a chance to show off your writing skills, so a typo in a follow-up letter is most definitely a red flag. It’s important to thank the interviewer for their time. Hiring managers want to move forward with candidates who leave a positive impression and have good manners!
2. NOT ASKING QUESTIONS AT THE END OF AN INTERVIEW
Even if an interviewer is extremely thorough during the meeting, it’s always important to convey interest and come prepared with questions. A lot of applicants don’t realize that they should ask questions.
3. NOT BLOCKING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
Most companies are checking Instagram, Facebook, Google searches, IMDB, and more. You shouldn't have anything (public) on the internet that you wouldn’t want HR at a company to see before even meeting you. First impressions cannot be taken back and it’s important to remember that companies are concerned with their own reputation, and want to bring people into their companies that are aware of their presence.
4. DON'T LIE ON YOUR RESUME
If you didn’t receive a college degree, do not put that you graduated! Fact check your GPA. Triple check your dates of employment. Candidates will lose offers at the end of an interview process if a background check exposes falsifications on the resume or application. Honesty is the best policy here, always.
5. DON'T INFLATE YOUR PREVIOUS SALARY
Be accurate about your previous salary. Don’t inflate your previous salary to get a higher offer. Companies will pull w2s to verify earnings more often than not. If you didn't make the dollars, it doesn't make sense to pretend you did.
Job Application Tip: "Don’t inflate your previous salary to get a higher offer."
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6. NEVER BE LATE. EVER.
Being on time means being 10 minutes early. You need to allot time for parking problems, traffic, and any to other unforeseen circumstances. There is no excuse to be late to an interview because it shows a lack of foresight and consideration that you will likewise bring to the position.
7. LEAVE THE COFFEE IN THE CAR
Don’t bring a beverage to the meeting (it's too casual), don’t chew gum, don’t have your cell phone out or on, and make sure you aren’t wearing a lot of cologne or perfume.
8. DON'T FORGET TO DO YOUR RESEARCH
Do your homework on the company you are interviewing for! That goes for the person you are interviewing with as well.
To be considered by Career Group send your resume to their website directly! You can apply to jobs on: www.careergroupinc.com, www.fourthfloorfashion.com, or www.syndicatebleu.com, and your resume will be routed directly to a recruiter.
And be sure to check back for more from Natalie, Emily, and to hear about their soon-to-be launched startup, Work Grades, that's set to deliver "unparalleled transparency to the employment sector by taking the guesswork out of references."
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5 Ways to Prepare for Self-Employment
But first, do the homework.
Photo credit: Sarah Natasha Photography
Nowadays the term “entrepreneur” is part of our normal vocabulary, but no one striking out on their own becomes an overnight success. If you’re thinking about pursuing self-employment and running your own company, here are five ways to properly prepare yourself for setting out on your own.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Self-employment is not for the faint of heart. If you are committed to pursuing the pros of working for yourself, you also have to be hyper-aware of the cons. As you contemplate leaving the financial stability of your corporate job, begin to evaluate the added stresses that come with being a company that is a party of one. For example, I thought critically about having to pay a very expensive health insurance bill every month where previously health insurance had somewhat silently been deducted from every paycheck.
"Self-employment is not for the faint of heart."
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I determined that the stress of that monthly payment would be more worthwhile than the stress I was feeling from my corporate gig where I was feeling unchallenged and unfulfilled. I also looked at what I would be doing from a day-to-day basis that couldn’t be covered by a team. I’d be offering clients my services from the ground up and they’d all be handled by me - no delegating up or down on a team. By thoroughly researching what your new normal will look like, you’ll be in for less of a shock when you become accountable only to yourself.
NETWORK
By far the most valuable thing I did in preparing for self-employment was tapping into my network. I began seeding to my friends, family and acquaintances that I was planning to leave my job to consult and one by one my network grew.
Everyone wanted to put me in touch with someone who’d had the courage to do what I was planning to do. I began speaking to loads of other freelancers and consultants and I came prepared to every meeting with a list of questions. Every encounter held a powerful and helpful takeaway and the more people I spoke with, the more my network expanded and the more business leads I started to pull in. Those I spoke with also were incredibly valuable when it came to setting the costs for my services, determining what tools I’d need to invest in and helping to provide guidance on how to successfully manage my business.
GET ORGANIZED OPERATIONALLY
There’s a lot that goes into operating your own business and some of the things may even surprise you. Before you leave your job for the land of self-employment, I recommend starting to get the pieces of the operational puzzle in place. One of the first steps I took was finding a lawyer who could incorporate my business. Then I set up a business banking account so I had a checking and a savings account for the company and also a credit card for all expenses. I got set up on Quickbooks to run the financial side of my business and also built a forecast so I was setting goals for myself to meet from a revenue standpoint.
"Before you leave your job for the land of self-employment get the pieces of the operational puzzle in place."
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Next came working with my lawyer to draft contracts and other necessary paperwork I would need to run my business from a client services perspective. I also developed a capabilities deck I could send to prospective clients, built a website, ordered business cards and developed a list of companies I was interested in speaking with. Once everything was done prior to leaving my job, it was easy to hit the ground running pursuing business because I had prepared all of my operational to-dos.
PLAN FINANCIALLY
Before you commence self-employment, you have to first accept that you won’t know from where your next paycheck is coming. Which translates to having to prepare financially for those inevitable times that you won’t have steady pay coming in. Knowing I lived in the most expensive city in the world, I put pen to paper to determine what living in New York was really costing me every month in regards to expenses. I signed up for a Mint.com account to build out a budget and for two months tracked my expenses. Once I had an idea of averages in particular categories, I built out an expense worksheet for myself that included rent, health insurance, groceries, travel, utilities, etc. I knew I wanted to have whatever that number was per month times six saved before I pulled the plug on my corporate job so that when the time came to dip into savings, I felt OK doing so.
"Do the math and start saving accordingly before you up and leave your job."
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Do the math and start saving accordingly before you up and leave your job. You’ll be far better off down the line for having done so.
THINK LONG TERM
When you begin working for yourself you’ll feel like you need to say yes to whatever initial projects come your way because you fear the unknown. But when you accept projects or clients that you don’t feel passionate about, you’re defeating one of the best perks of being your own boss: the ability to say no. While you certainly need to pay your bills, you shouldn’t take on work that you don’t feel capable of delivering on or for people or brands that don’t make you feel invested in the work. If you begin to take on projects you’re not jazzed about, you are limiting the hours you have a month to pursue and accept jobs that will not only give you income but also fulfillment.
Meghan Donovan is the founder of mmd communications, a public relations and influencer marketing agency in New York City helping to elevate lifestyle brands with dynamic, meaningful ideas. In addition to her decade of experience in the marketing industry for major brands like Procter & Gamble and Virgin America, she also pens the popular life + style site, wit & whimsy. You can read more about her journey to self-employment here.
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The Self-Care Sunday Essentials To Try Today
Treat yourself.
This post is in partnership with BIC® Soleil® Balance® razors.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a wave of self-care enthusiasts on social media contributing to the #SelfcareSunday movement. Whether it’s in the form of avocado toast, a special facial, a drive down PCH with the windows down, self-care can take place in so many different forms.
BIC® Soleil® Balance® razor knows the importance of taking those me-time moments – even if it’s just a fresh, smooth shave and a soak in the tub. In a recent survey, BIC® Soleil® razors found that 88% of women shave for themselves, not anyone else. Talk about self-care!
“I’m always striving to be my best self, so I knew I wanted to work on a campaign that encouraged other women to embrace their best selves too, even if it’s doing something as simple as shaving. I'm always wearing dresses in the summer months and even in the winter, I really like to be clean shaven for those winter workouts as I’m prepping for summer clothes. Just throwing on cozy sweatpants feels better with smooth legs, you know? ‘Why I Shave’ is all about embracing the tools to help us all feel more comfortable and confident in our own skin,” said Jessica Sturdy of Bows and Sequins.
So what does it really mean? We should each take some time to define self-care for ourselves, because who else really knows better than you what your body and mind need in order to be 100%?
Here at C&C, our brains are working overtime every day and when we finally get some time to ourselves, we love to join in on the self-care Sunday fun - because what is better than taking some me-time? Read below to hear how our team defines self-care and what we do to recharge.
How the C&C Team Defines Self-Care
A perfect self-care Sunday for me involves some Pinot Noir, a bubble bath, smooth, shaved legs and re-runs of my favorite show. After a long week of work and tons of Insta-notifications, nothing feels better than chilling in bed after a good soak with smooth legs and a great glass of wine.- Tyeal, Marketing Coordinator
Getting yourself a hotel robe is everything! Along with some eucalyptus scents for your room to unwind.- Andrea, Digital Editor
Lavender bubble bath with lots of candles, putting on comfy PJs - cause what's better than soft sweatpants on freshly shaved legs. Add in my pup and it’s a perfect night.- Natty, Graphic Designer
I live for my Sundays at home. Cleaning house, cuddling cats + prepping my mind for the week is mandatory + everyone in my life knows that. I try to plan out outfits for the week + note any out-of-office events, dinners or work events that are coming up.- Heather, Marketing Director
We wanted to hear what our Create & Cultivate community defines self-care too, so we asked the creative and ambitious ladies in our Facebook group for their perfect self-care day and here’s what they had to say:
Alberthe K. B.: My self-care takes usually 1 of 3 forms—I love to get long walks in around my neighborhood at the start of the day, away from my daughter & husband so I can collect my thoughts & go into the day with more ease... I like to end my day with some music or an audiobook while having tea or wine (some days call for a lil alcohol lol) to decompress... and the third isn’t daily, but more of a weekly & it’s taking time to do a face mask & caffeine body scrub after a long bath, all followed by sinking into the sofa with my shows that I’m either catching up on or rewatching
Aleia W.: Self-care for me has turned into making my own self-care products - massage oil candles, body oils, and bath salts and settling in for a long bath using all the products until I get wrinkly. And then it's time for a little journaling (and if Sunday) filling out my planner with the upcoming events for the week!
Taylor M.: For me, self-care is all about listening to yourself and responding in the most loving way possible. It looks different depending on the day. Most Sunday nights, I stop looking at my phone and computer and take a warm bath with a good book before bed. It helps me transition from weekend to work week with ease.
Rosie C.: For me, a true self-care Sunday includes a lot of things, but most importantly, cooking. It has become essential to cook during my self-care days because it reminds me that when I approach food as a means to nourish and fuel my body, and when I remind myself that my body always has a need to nourished and fueled, I have a healthier relationship not only with food but with my outlook on the capabilities of my mind, body and spirit.
BIC® Soleil® Balance® razor invites you to take some me-time this Sunday. What do you do for a perfect self-care Sunday? Let us know in the comments!
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Bring On the Weekend: 3 Cocktails Recipes We Love!
Feet up, glasses up!
Jessica Bornder Photography
Create & Cultivate conferences are such an adrenaline rush that we almost forget that we end up putting in between 70-80 hours of work! That feeling tends to fade a week later which is why we're sharing three tasty Crown Royal cocktail recipes for all the ladies out there that need to kickback and unwind this weekend. Drink up the deliciousness, below!
TGIF, ladies!
WHISKY GAL
Crown Royal Deluxe
Simple Syrup
Lime
Muddled blueberries
Served on ice
Meagan Shuptar
This post is brought to you by our Create & Cultivate Chicago partner, Crown Royal.
Do you have a favorite unwind cocktail? Share the name & recipe below!
This is What a Typical Day Really Looks Like for an Editor-in-Chief
Bustle’s Kate Ward shares all.
Kate Ward is the current Editor-in-Chief of BDG Media (Bustle, Romper, Elite Daily, The Zoe Report), the former Executive Editor of Hollywood.com, a former editor and writer for 'Entertainment Weekly' and EW.com, and a member of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Media. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Ward — whose work has also appeared in 'Glamour' magazine — loves talking about nutgrafs and hates exclamation points, despite using them on a regular basis. Specializing in reality TV, ’90s nostalgia, and bad movies, Ward is likely the oldest person to attend "American Idols LIVE!" every year with her mom.
5 a.m.: I wake up in a panicked state after dreaming that I forgot to study for my physics final. After about five seconds, I remind myself that a) I am no longer in college, and b) I would never put myself through physics again. I attempt to fall asleep again, but my brain rejects it, deciding to one-up an anxiety dream with actual anxiety. How will I get everything done today? How will I be the leader my team needs? I calm myself down when I remember that I’m surrounded by an incredibly smart team of women who continue to work hard every day to bring women’s voices to the forefront and to help and inspire those around them — including me. This thought allows my anxiety to shift from the years ahead to the hours ahead to the present challenge: my 5-mile daily run.
7:30 a.m.: Literally dripping in sweat, I head to the shower, then blow dry my hair and attempt a hair hack my Zoe Report co-worker taught me. Confident in my execution skills, I assume I’ll walk out of my apartment looking like Gisele. Instead, the look is more '80s metal, but I decide nostalgia is in anyway. On the way out the door, I scroll through some Instagram Stories from co-workers, one of which happens to be about perception, beauty, and our collective struggle as women to accept our bodies in a world constantly trying to make us smaller. I realize I needed that reminder to be kind to myself.
8:00 a.m.: I actually get a seat on the subway (the benefit of living off the local line in Brooklyn) and spend my commute reading a book about 19th-century shipwrecks because it somehow feels better to read about a disaster that’s in the past. My office is on 24th Street, but I get out at 14th Street, partly to breathe some extra fresh air and look at pies at the farmer’s market, but mostly to get in some extra steps.
9:00 a.m.: The fresh air was nice, but to be honest (and cheesy) stepping into Bustle’s offices is really what gets me going. For the last five years, the best part of my day has been being able to walk into a workplace with this team, and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to say that. I open up a recent email from a co-worker detailing plans for Bustle’s Rule Breakers digital issue. Impressed by the team's creativity, I dive in to make sure the Issue is moving along and hitting all the notes we’re aiming for. I continue to furiously go through my inbox until it reaches zero, save for the one unopened email about my upcoming vacation, which I haven’t touched since mid-June and probably won’t touch until September.
11:00 a.m.: Meetings. Meetings, meetings, meetings. So many meetings my Google Calendar is needing a vacation. But I actually enjoy them. They keep me close to the teams from all our sites and various departments, and there’s nothing more satisfying than working with our editors and creatives to come up with innovative ways to grow our four brands. During one meeting, we dream up a particularly great idea for IGTV. Maybe we’ll order Taco Bell to celebrate. During another with executives, I showcase a new, strategic organizational chart featuring a brand-new Editorial department that will help us manage mergers and acquisitions better. The presentation goes over well. Maybe we'll order more Taco Bell to celebrate.
2:00 p.m.: Just another mid-afternoon: We find out we just locked in the cover star for our next digital issue, and — holy celebrities! — one of the Bachelor men is in the office for an interview and photo shoot. Our Bookings Manager asks if I want to meet him, and I say yes, but then find myself in a meeting during the time he’s in. Typical.
5:00 p.m.: I do some last-minute Google Analytics data collecting for our new Bustle UK team (spoiler alert: everyone loves Meghan Markle), and catch up with Bustle, Elite Daily, and Romper’s Instagram Stories series. Even though the series launched a few weeks ago, I continue to laugh at the name of Elite Daily’s IG stories series, Blend & Snap. I laugh even more scrolling through Bustle’s meme-heavy feed. Looking at our Instagram follower count, I take a minute to remember that we started five years ago with just a few editors (and zero followers) in a Brooklyn townhouse, and now, over 80 million people are following what we're producing every day. Sometimes I have to remember to enjoy it all. What I never forget is that none of this would be possible without our team of editors, which now 90+ strong.
6:00 p.m.: I begin to head home, texting my husband about what to get for dinner. Of the two of us, he’s the chef. I once made penne à la vodka and failed to burn off the vodka. (I kind of liked it, though?)
7:00 p.m.: Home! First order of business: Remove pants. Second order of business: Inbox zero. Third order of business: Stare at a wall for five minutes.
8:00 p.m.: My husband is also from the start-up world, so, when he arrives, we spend 30 minutes problem solving for one another and strategizing for the day ahead. It’s a lot of thinking, so we adequately dull our brains for an hour with a new episode of Big Brother and then spend 30 minutes strategizing on behalf of the house guests. We talk about how far we’d make it on the show, which inevitably turns into a conversation of how long we’d last on Naked and Afraid. I estimate I’d last all 21 days, then declare our 73-degree apartment freezing and unlivable.
10:00 p.m.: Time for bed. I plan to really get eight hours of sleep tonight. It’s time to plug in my phone.
11:00 p.m.: [Scrolling through Instagram, scrolling through Instagram, check email one more time, scrolling through Instagram, check out Tumblr quickly to see if anything is happening in the Big Brother house, scrolling through Instagram…]
11:30 p.m.: I somehow end up on the “list of unusual deaths” Wikipedia page. I take that as a sign to officially shut down. I close my eyes and start to dream away.
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Free Download: Discover Your Purpose In 4 Steps
Not all who wander are lost.
“Not all those who wander are lost”... the ones that aren’t lost trust themselves to find their way!
Every now and then, we can feel like we aren't achieving our potential our have gotten off the path from our initial life goals, but once we take notice that's we're off track, that's where we can take action and make a change for the better.
Take it from our good friend Maxie McCoy who's established her purpose in her career, and is all about helping others discover it as well. This week, she's helping you find yourself with a free workbook download that will help you plan out dreams and aspirations and help you act on them in 4 steps.
Enter your name and email below to get access to download it now!
3 Lessons we Learned from Our Create & Cultivate Chicago Mentors
Jot these down.
Start your next meeting with “Is this your best work?”Do you ever just wish someone gave you the playbook for the next five years of your life? Like, imagine if someone really took the time to write out the list of things you need to do step-by-step in order to accomplish your dreams?
Welcome to mentorship.
Disclaimer: It doesn’t actually come with a step-by-step playbook.
What it does come with, are real life lessons, candid advice, and a mutually beneficial relationship.
Everyone tells us mentorship is one of the major keys to success. Cool, but when, where and how do we even start finding a mentor? We all have those same questions. So we tapped some of our mentors from the #CreateCultivateCHI Comcast Mentor Power Hour to break down all the keys to mentorship.
Jeni Britton Bauer is the founder of Jeni’s Ice Cream. After leaving school to start her business, Jeni overcame a ton of challenges, and her business has now expanded to 33 stores across the U.S.
Ebony Lee is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Development at Comcast NBCUniversal. Innovation is central to her role, and she works in emerging areas of growth for the company, including supporting startups in media and technology.
Riyhana Bey is the Director of Brand Execution and Marketing at Volvo. She oversees digital and social strategy and helps execute integrated marketing campaigns.
Maxie McCoy is a career coach, motivational speaker and the author of You’re Not Lost, a tough-loving guide to figuring out your next steps and believing in yourself enough to take them.
We love knowing that Comcast NBCUniversal believes that mentoring matters! Keep reading to get their advice on mentorship below.
On modeling behaviors
One reason mentorship is essential for young professionals is because success leaves clues. Meaning, as people rise to the top of their respective career chains, they leave behind habits and example behaviors that we can model. What are some behaviors or habits that you shaped from mentors along the way?
Jeni Britton Bauer: Never cry “why me!?” Accept unexpected challenges and begin to be a part of the solution immediately.
Every single moment or event is a chance to grow, learn, explore, discover, have fun. Always be aware of and curious about what’s going on around you and of the people in the room and your life will be a great adventure.
Champions are champions because they get good at being beat up, knocked down, and never losing focus. That’s why LeBron is so good at basketball. That’s why I’m good at ice cream. Make your number one trait about resilience. Show the world that you are a champion at never losing sight of your vision of who you want to be and that nothing will stop you. Let that pride fuel you.
Never underestimate the smallest, meekest among us. They are often the most powerful.
These I learned from a Wayne Dyer self-help book in 1993, my grandmother (Enid Scripture), LeBron James, and Frodo Baggins.
Ebony Lee: The smartest people in a room are usually not the ones with all of the answers, but the ones asking the most thought-provoking questions. I’ve seen the greatest leaders use this trick and I completely believe that it has helped shape my success. I keep this in mind all the time, and definitely cut my teeth on this approach early in my career when I was a consultant, and still do to this day. When you’re able to get people thinking and talking, it’s a powerful tool in guiding people to the right answer or approach. Plus, you’ve now given them an ownership stake in a project’s success.
Maxie McCoy: I’ve been on the receiving end of incredible mentorship. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from these mentors is to know where you shine and then optimize for that. There’s never a single path to success. Rather, it’s important to take the best practices you see your mentors or inspirations doing, and then layer your own unique way on top of it.
Riyhana Bey: One of my favorite bosses would start meetings by asking one simple question: “Is this your best work?” If anyone hesitated or said no, he would immediately stop the meeting and ask what it would take to get to your best. He believed in hiring a team that was smarter than he was, and he saw his only role as being a facilitator of allowing others to do their best work. I fully believe in surrounding yourself with people smarter than yourself, listening to them, inspiring them, and getting out of the way of their greatness.
On finding their first mentors
Jenni: When I was 13 I decided that I had no one in my life who could help me become who I wanted to become—my family had broken apart, and it was not a good situation. I was worried about my future. So I wrote in my journal that I was going to find people outside of my immediate family I could model myself on. And that’s what I’ve done since.
I never had real mentors. I studied others I admired from afar and picked up their traits. From Katherine Hepburn to Luke Skywalker, and Aragorn to LeBron James.
Ebony: I found many of my mentors by volunteering for projects that were outside of my scope of work. In taking this calculated risk I expanded my skill set, and I was also able to gain exposure to leaders that I wouldn’t have met or had access to in my day-to-day. It’s happened more than once that these leaders saw my potential and became my mentors, and these are people who’ve guided me through many of my career choices, including my decision to join Comcast.
Maxie: My first mentor came from a cold email that I sent to the then highest ranked woman at ESPN, Rosa Gatti, to see if she’d talk with me about my goals to be a sports broadcaster. I was obsessed with the idea of interning at ESPN while in college, so I joined the Association of Women in Sports Media and highlighted every woman that worked at ESPN. Rosa answered that email. She got on the phone with me. She said I impressed her. And then she proceeded to open a door that put my life on a rocket ship forward, but I still had to run through the doors that she was opening. Normally, I wouldn’t tell people to go cold calling for mentorship, but in this case, it worked for me in a big way. So, don’t expect it, but it is a good reminder that the worst someone could say is “No”...and the best I could possibly be better than you can even believe!
Riyhana: All of my mentors were found the same way. I sat in a room, listened to them speak and was in awe. After that, I sought them all out and volunteered ideas on how could be helpful to them and asked for a value exchange whereby they let me ask as many questions as I wanted. I’m lucky they obliged, and I’ve learned more from lunches with them than entire years of my career.
On mentors and mentees benefiting each other
It’s crucial for us to think of a mentor relationship just the same as any other relationship in our lives. Adding value to your mentor's projects and business goals is just as important as receiving value from them. We asked our Comcast mentors their best advice for creating a mutually beneficial relationship with a mentor.
Jeni: Show up with your homework done. I had one guy I stalked in the food science department at Ohio State University who only said “yes” or “no” to my theories. I would read a science textbook on milk, work at the dairy, make a few discoveries and say to him, “So, if I heat milk like this, the proteins will act like that?” And, “Can I use that to build body instead of stabilizing or emulsifiers?” He would just say, “You are on the right track,” or “Nope.” Nothing is free. You gotta do your work. I learned more from him than almost anyone.
Also, if you aren’t working on or thinking about your thing all hours of your free time, then you aren’t passionate enough. I still do that. Self-care for me is working. It’s what I enjoy most. Don’t ever look for shortcuts from mentors. You are strong and capable, and you need to show that. Unless you’re a rare genius and your idea is so great that it builds itself. And while we’re here, I’ll add that all the money in the world isn’t worth what it will take from you. You’ve got to have a better, more inspiring motivation — like “I want to live a life of adventure and excitement.” Use a mentor to help you focus on the important stuff and then let everything else go.
Never waste time, especially mine.
Ebony: Like any relationship, you need to be truly committed to getting the most out of it. There are a lot of inspiring people you will meet, and while it is tempting to try and cast a wide mentorship net, this doesn’t always work out in your best interest. Really take the time to invest in your relationship with a mentor – and make sure that you’re getting what you need as a mentee. This might mean taking it slow and studying someone before approaching them, and I think you also should ask yourself the tough question about whether there is actually a connection between you and the potential mentor.
Remember you get what you give, and that’s true for a mentor and a mentee.
Maxie: Know exactly where they can provide value. Most great mentor relationships don’t come from “picking their brain” on everything under the sun. Nobody has time for that. Rather, know where their specific expertise can provide insight into your own career and focus your time on that.
Circle back. If a mentor gives you advice and you take it, let them know! If they open a door for you or a connection, let them know how it turned out! These are the highlights of mentor relationships so make sure they know. Show your gratitude. Whether that’s supporting their work, giving them your feedback, or sending a handwritten card, make sure you’re giving as much as your taking. Often, a heartfelt thank you can go a really long way.
Riyhana: I have only one key – you must genuinely admire and respect each other. Mentoring can be as wonderful as being mentored, and both parties have to be engaged and see something special in one another that allows you to make the time and commit to the process over time.
Mentors can be found in various ways and sometimes, they don’t even need to know they are a mentor of yours. Just watch and take notes. Remember ladies; success leaves clues. Study those who inspire you and ask the right questions. Take the advice from our Comcast #CreateCultivateCHI mentors and apply it to your mentor relationships.
What’s your experience with mentorship been? Leave us a comment below to join the convo!
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C&C Classifieds: Dear Media, Starbucks, WeWork & More!
Apply, apply, apply.
Happy Wednesday C&C fam! Now that we're back from Chi-town, it's time to get back to business. We're bringing you a fresh, new lineup of jobs for this week's C&C Classifieds.
Have you ever dreamed of working for Starbucks, WeWork, or even here at Create & Cultivate? Well, you're in luck. We're covering all bases this week with gigs in design, social media, marketing and more.
Get your applications ready and good luck!
iDGroup - LA, CA
Dear Media - LA, CA
Richer Poorer -LA, CA
Create & Cultivate - LA, CA
WeWork - NY,NY
The Healthy Drink You Should Be Sipping At Your Desk
For a healthy gut and clear mind.
Just like all of you, we know how important office snacks are. In the midst of emails, calls, meetings, and being busy overall, we need something to refuel us and help us power through the day. That 3 pm slump? Yup. That’s not fun for anyone.
And because we love to always throw some logic your way. Here are some facts about taking a break in the middle of your workday to enjoy a little something extra after being at your desk all day.
Snacks bring teams together! A quick snack break can encourage bonding among colleagues.
You and your team will be more focused and productive for the rest of the day.
Breaks are essential for mental clarity, and sipping on a healthy beverage is never a bad idea.
Having healthy snacks available makes employees feel valued and appreciated.
Healthier options can decrease the amount of sick days team members take.
We’ve been highlighting some of our favorite snack options here at C&C, and the team is already a big fan of Health-Ade kombucha and sip on them almost daily.
“Because not all kombucha is created equal.”
What if we told you that your midday pick-me-up can also help your gut and overall health as you sit at your desk? Well, you better believe us. A lot of us gravitate towards snacks that sound great but aren’t always necessarily great for us. That’s where our favorite bubbly beverage comes in to add some fizz, a little bit of sweetness, and a dose of healthy probiotics all around.
Detoxification, energy enhancement, and an immune system boost are just a few benefits of the bubbly probiotic tea. Our healthy snack of the moment is Health-Ade kombucha, which creates some of the best-tasting kombuchas around, with fun, refreshing flavors and Instagrammable packaging to match.
So, why is it so good? Well, Health-Ade brews their kombucha 100% the old-fashioned way, in small 2.5-gallon glass jars to prevent plastic and metal leaching. And those quirky, delicious flavors such as Jalapeño-Kiwi-Cucumber? They’re always flavored with fresh ingredients, including cold-pressed juice from organic produce. Our guts are already happier just thinking about it.
As a team, we’re all about convenience and Health-Ade has made an effort to make employees everywhere happier and healthier with the in-office “kegs”. That’s right, you can easily have kombucha on tap and grab some whenever you’re in the mood for a glass.
For those regular kombucha sippers out there, this is great news because it removes having to purchase your own bottles from the equation! Plus, it’s a great way to experiment with some new flavors that weren’t already on your radar.
Not sure how to get it? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered in that department as well. If you’re interested in getting Health-Ade on tap for you and your coworkers, get in contact with their team to coordinate further.
Happy sipping!
What’s your favorite healthy snack to have at work? Let us know in the comments below!
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Jennifer Hudson's Best Quotes from C&C Chicago 2018
The Chicago native dropped some knowledge.
You've seen her on your TVs, the big screen, heard her albums, her judge's seat on The Voice, and if you were at C&C Chicago this past Saturday, you heard her keynote conversation there. Jennifer Hudson is a multi-faceted powerhouse and we had no doubt that she'd have some killer knowledge to share with our audience. In one big room full of entrepreneurial, creative, badass women, J.Hud ignited the fire in our bellies with her real-talk advice on business, personal growth, and more. Ahead, her best quotes from the night.
“If it’s not worth working hard for, it’s not worth it at all.”
“I don’t do a single thing for money. Everything I do is because I love it.”
“There’s no set formula for success. Success to me is what you love and what YOU value.”
“You can have all the talent in the world, but you need to have a business sense too.”
“If you don’t like something, just change it! You have the power to do that.”
“I always say: I can show you, better than I can tell you.”
“I want my legacy to be for people to see me as a human being and see my heart.”
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How This Tool Changed The Way We Do Business at Create & Cultivate
Collaboration at its best.
Photo Credit: Jessica Bordner Photography & Smithhouse Photography
Here at C&C, we believe that teamwork makes the dream work. Behind every successful brand and company is a hardworking, collaborative team helping make all of the magic happen. As a small team for an exponentially-growing business, we’re tiny but mighty and are always looking for new tools to help us work more efficiently. Email is great and all, but once conversations are going in 500 different directions it’s so easy to lose track of what’s to be done. Communication is key, but we all know what it’s like to have our minds going in circles at work and like we need to take a breather.
ENTER: Microsoft Teams. Our gamechanger. Our northern star. Our hub for everything.
Pulling off a conference the scale of Create & Cultivate Chicago is no easy feat for a team of 10. It’s 70 speakers, 1,5000 attendees, and 50+ brands, vendors and partners. Plus, our content game needs to be on point. As you can imagine, we’re pulled in a lot of different directions and all have different tasks and duties when planning such a large event. Whether it’s production to-dos, editorial assignments, or social media content planning, using Microsoft Teams has helped us move forward in a simpler, more efficient direction.
So, how exactly did we get the job done to create the magic that was C&C Chicago? We’re laying that all out for you along with how it can help your own business, and how the tool has helped change the way we work going forward.
Photo Credit: Smithhouse Photography
Onboarding
We obviously had our own way of doing things, so we tapped Microsoft Teams experts to get us started using the new platform. A Microsoft Teams trainer came in to help the team with everything from getting an account to demonstrating the different ways we can use it across departments and throughout the workday.
One of the things our team was happiest to learn is how simple Teams makes office communication. Through its chat system, we can ask as many questions as we’d like, give direction or get feedback from our colleagues. Seriously, who has time for getting up and walking over to anyone’s desk all day long? We were sold.
The overall reaction was an ecstatic group of women, who were more than excited to get stuff done in an easier, faster way. Some comments at the kickoff meeting and demo include, but are not limited to:
Create & Cultivate: A New Hope (For you Star Wars nerds)
Guys, work is lit
I feel like life will never be the same
It’s like the freshman year, senior year meme but for to-do lists
Besides the immediate onslaught of .gifs that were shared, it was obvious that project management & processes would become instantly easier using Teams because of the ability to assign tasks, track their progress, and confirm completion. For a team that loves to be efficient, we geeked out about it pretty hard. We even tapped our teams for the tips and implementation tips that we should include in this blog post!
Oh, and we can’t forget to mention that Teams can be used on desktop and mobile, so if you’re ever on-the-go, you can still leverage their amazing mobile app to do your work along the way. It also shifts our on-the-go group texts into organized work-related conversations.
You can sign up to try teams for yourself and also try an interactive demo for the platform to get a firsthand experience on how Teams really works. Check it out here.
Pro-tip: Respond to your manager with Michael B. Jordan gifs for an always enhanced work experience.
Process Change
As mentioned above, we were the most excited about having more streamlined communication. Rather than sending individual emails or messages to team members, we’re now able to create different Teams within the hub that included chat conversations, organized to-do lists and central hub for all moving documents.
Identify Your Teams
For example, we created conversations for each team when planning for Chicago. The first thing we did was agree which teams needed to be made and under those umbrella Teams, what conversations needed to be had. For us, we separated the Chicago Team into our different projects in order to discuss and follow-up on different areas of the event and the status of things: Production, Talent, Digital marketing, Graphics, Social and Editorial. Each Team has a General tab where all members can provide blanket updates or team brainstorms! As you can see, we also have Teams for future events and general team conversations to use moving forward. A lot of them follow the same outline so once you have a skeleton of what you need, you can always duplicate for new projects.
Optimize & Organize Your Teams
Once you identify the Team theme and projects/conversations within that team, we set a Teams transfer date. This was important for us because it allowed each team to think through what existing documents, files, and conversations needed to be transferred into Teams in order for this to improve our workflow. We agreed that we should start fresh on the first of the month. During the transition time, each group met and walked through the different apps and tools available through the Microsoft Teams hub (hint: it’s a lot!) and what would be the most beneficial for each group. We also incorporated documents that we were already using and pulled all important pieces into one central place.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the best tools found in Teams that small business owners can leverage.
Planner: This tool allows you to create different ‘boards’ for your employees. These boards act as project management tools in order to keep track of what’s been done and what hasn’t. They can be split into different categories such as not complete, in progress, completed, etc.
One Note: It’s exactly what it sounds like--a note-taking tool. What makes it so efficient is that you can use it right in the Teams app, rather than having to open any separate tabs and making it difficult to focus on more than one thing at a time. We like to use OneNote during our meetings to jot down anything important.
Smartsheet: Let’s face it, we all use more sheets than expected. This comes in handy for tracking and updating any important lists, budgets, sponsor obligations, and more.
Who: This one is mostly for the managers of your biz. You can search for any of your employees based on what they’re working on, who they’re working with, and more.
If you’re a content creator, we *HIGHLY* recommend creating a digital Team where you can leverage the Planner App to implement your content calendars, graphic design assignments, and review meetings into Teams to have everything in one place for our team members to always refer to. This streamlining has changed the game for our digital team and helped both managers, coordinators, and designers across the board.
The assignments feature is also very helpful for managers to look over their respective teams, rather than having to constantly follow-up on the status of their tasks. We can add updates, due dates, assign teammates, and create digital checklists for feedback and edits so that there are no missed steps during the feedback and approval process.
We previously found ourselves having too many separate conversations and taking meetings that filled up our workdays and real-talk feedback that would sometimes be lost in conversation. Now we can do all of that using the tool and spend more time working and getting our tasks done on time and even quicker than before.
Photo Credit: Jessica Bordner Photography & Becki Smith of Smithhouse Photography
Tips From Our Team
Because we’ve been using Teams for a ton of different things, we wanted to give you all more insight on how we’re doing so for different aspects throughout our company. Here are some feedback and tips from the different C&C verticals in which we like to use Microsoft Teams.
Production: Our production team is the backbone of all our C&C events, so they need to be in constant communication with both each other and vendors. Teams can be used to gather information on budgets, invite lists, talent updates, and of course the layouts for our events. When heading on-site, the checklist functionality is clutch so nothing gets left behind! Our production team can also brainstorm any ideas for future events and separate them using Teams.
Editorial: Our digital editor relies heavily on a content calendar for strategizing and planning, in connection with our marketing team. Teams allows her to update the status of any co-branded content pieces, deadlines, and future blog posts to go live on our website. If there isn’t time for an editorial meeting, it’s also a great tool for brainstorming and putting together future ideas for the site through the notes tool and of course, chatting with her direct manager. The Planner tool is also a huge part of editorial workflow because it helps us delegate a concept, assigned writer, review, scheduling and completion for each of our posts.
Design: Our graphic designer uses Teams to put together her to-do list for the day, as she designs assets for all of our different outlets. Whether it’s decals for Chicago, Instagram Stories, gifs, newsletter content, and more, she has a lot of things to keep track of. She also uses Teams to chat with her direct manager in regards to any new assignments and daily updates.
Lunch: Sometimes we forget to eat and we all have to have each other's backs to make sure we get fed and are fueled for the day ahead. The lunch team is everyone's favorite team and this way no woman gets left behind.
Fun (duh!): We like to work hard, and that doesn’t mean we don’t play just as hard. Teams helps us plan and get suggestions for any future team outings, dinners, happy hours and more. Whether it’s sharing the hottest gossip or much-needed puppy photo, Teams has us covered in the fun department. You can even make your own memes.
While we wish we could invite you into our little WorkParty, the best thing we can do is tell you that Microsoft Teams helps you work smarter, not harder. For a startup and a small team, this is key because you need to put your time and resources towards the things that really matter!
We encourage you to join us in streamlining the way your team plans and executes different tasks. If you’re interested, Microsoft Teams is free for all to use and a great tool for small businesses all across the board.
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