Looking Back on 2018—Our Best Year Yet!
BEST. YEAR. EVER.
Thanks to all of you, 2018 was our BEST. YEAR. EVER. Your passion inspired our small-but-mighty team to bring you the biggest and best events we’ve ever hosted, and Create & Cultivate is forever changed because of all of you. Below, we’re sharing 10 of our favorite moments from 2018. Can’t wait to see where you all take us in 2019!
1. Create & Cultivate 100
Back in January, we kicked off the year by introducing you to 100 badass women in everything from music and entertainment to STEM and entrepreneurship. We were so inspired to start off our year by sharing their amazing stories!
2. Create & Cultivate LA
We were so excited to reveal our panelists for Create & Cultivate LA: Chrissy Teigen, Kim Kardashian, Lauren Conrad and more amazing women showed up to make this our best conference yet! LA was a day that changed the way our team dreams and executes events—we’re going into the new year with plans to do 2019 even bigger and better, and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve got in store for you next.
3. Gina Rodriguez at Create & Cultivate ATX
“When I’m alone and I read something nasty or hurtful, and want to be like, ‘Why do I do this?’….and then I come to this event, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s fucking worth it.’” - Gina Rodriguez shared so much wisdom with us in Austin, and we were THRILLED to see how many of you showed up to see her speak (the line formed at 4am!).
4. The #CCDesertPopUp with Kate Bosworth
We hosted an event in the middle of the desert during one of the craziest party weekends in Palm Springs…and you guys showed up in crowds to support us! We loved hearing from Kate Bosworth and seeing all of you connect, converse, and inspire each other. We truly are so lucky!
5. Our Mini Road Trip!
Back in April, we hit the road to spread a little inspiration on the west coast. From Palm Springs to LA and up to San Francisco, we gathered inspiring entrepreneurs like Catt Sadler, Payal Kadakia, and Taylor Sterling to chat about corporate responsibility, philanthropy, and how to focus on more of what matters in your community.
6. Our First Beauty Summit
In May, we jetted to New York to host the first-ever Beauty Summit and hear from some of the best in the biz on how they’re shaking up this billion-dollar industry. The beauty category has historically been a boys’ club, but you’re all changing that: The beauty space has more female executives and board members than any other industry!
7. Brunch with Nicole Kidman
Back in June, we (super casually) hosted Sunday brunch with Nicole Kidman. It was a highlight of our summer!
8. The WorkParty Book, Tour + Podcast
This summer, our CEO Jaclyn Johnson released her book, Work Party, and an accompanying podcast where she digs deep with talented women like Kristen Bell, Bobbi Brown, Sara Blakely, and Sophia Bush. Oh, and we roadtripped on a 10-city book tour with Emily Shuman, Lisa Price, Rebecca Minkoff, and so many more amazing women. We were so excited to read your thoughts on the book/podcast, and thanks to your support, we’re hard at work on season two—stay tuned!
9. Create & Cultivate Chicago with Jennifer Hudson
Who better to take our keynote stage in Chicago than the Chi-town legend herself, Jennifer Hudson? J-Hud shared tons of advice on staying true to yourself, trusting your gut, and defining your own version of success. We ended the night with a surprise donation to her charity and our big balloon drop announcing our Miami Vision Summit!
10. Our Out Of Office Retreat
CEOs are plugged in 24/7, 100% of the time. In September, we pulled a few of these inspiring women of the office for a day of relaxation, meaningful connections, and conversations about “the big picture” for their biz—oh, and wine and hot air balloon rides, too! We can’t wait to see what they (and all of you!) accomplish in 2019! Happy New Year!
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5 Apps That Will Help You Get Sh*t Done In 2019
Check, check, done.
Here at C&C, we love a good checklist. Seriously, the entire team breathes and lives by checklists, and they keep us organized no matter what. With so many events to plan and maintaining a strong online presence, it’s essential for us to have all things streamlined, up-to-date, and trackable.
Here are five of our favorite apps for creating lists and getting shit done.
TickTick
iTunes
TickTick is seriously a game changer. We discovered the app a while ago and have been hooked ever since. You can find your tasks in both a calendar view and timeline view on the app, and set up a checklist that can be marked off on your mobile phone or desktop. You can also set up specific reminders for each of your tasks so that there’s no excuse for not getting them done.
Google Keep
We all love Google, right? Well it was only a matter of time before the online giant created a tool to make our lives even easier. Apart from Gmail, Chrome, Google Docs, and Google Calendar, we now have Google Keep. Also accessible on mobile or desktop, Keep allows you to put together a list and share it with others. However, it’s not just any old list. You can add sticky notes, images, voice notes, and more to your checklist.
Wunderlist
Wunderlist
Wunderlist is another app that allows you to share your checklist with others. Create a personal to-do list or one that you can share with your team to track a specific assignment. Your team members can collaborate on the list via the comment tool and can add notes as well. You can use Wunderlist on your mobile phone, desktop, your Apple Watch and more.
Evernote
Evernote
Evernote is one of the OG note-taking apps. It’s very popular among college students and professionals, and is definitely designed for your work-related tasks. You can add images, videos, attachments and more to any of your lists and access them anywhere on the go. Evernote is unique for its cloud-based storage, which makes it easier for us to save everything we need.
Clear Todos
Clear Todos
If simplicity is key to your life, then so is Clear Todos. The easy-to-use app makes the basic checklist experience more enjoyable and pleasing to the eye. This one will set you back by $4.99 on the App Store, but if you need to get your life together then it’s worth the price.
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5 Preventable Startup Culture Mistakes
Hustle hard, but don’t make these common mistakes.
Every founder knows that culture is crucial to a startup’s success — as Fred Wilson says, “If you want to be in business forever, you need to build a culture that sustains the business” — but there are a few common mistakes that startups make when creating their culture:
1. YOU THINK CULTURE JUST "HAPPENS."
Running a startup means your burn rate is always in the forefront of your mind, and as a result, everything takes a backseat to getting to MVP. Culture can be fixed later, right? The truth is that “culture” is just another way of saying “how we work here,” and by the time you get to your MVP, it will be deeply entrenched.
FiveStars’s founder Victor Ho never took the time to officially define the culture— he felt it was too “cheesy.” But as they grew from 40 to 80 employees, their culture got diluted and as people clashed over ways of getting work done. As quoted in Fast Company, Ho described it as “one of the hardest periods of the company.” Rather than waiting to define your culture, consciously shape your culture while you build your MVP. You don’t have to go on an expensive company retreat, or write an elaborate culture deck. It can be as simple as writing down five words that describe your culture and once a month, as a team, discussing whether they’re still appropriate.
2. YOU THINK HIRING MORE PEOPLE MEANS SUCCESS.
Celebrating is so important because success at a startup can be so rare in the first months. It’s comforting to be able to point something that’s a clear sign it’s all working. And as Buffer’s founder noted, “Team size is easy to understand. Sometimes it impressed people when I told them how big the company was, and I was proud to share it.” But the company brought on too many people, too fast, and was forced to lay off 11% of the company. Protect team morale by tracking more accurate measures of success, and find ways to celebrate small wins regularly.
3. YOU SPEND TOO MUCH ON PERKS.
Bribing employees is a common Silicon Valley practice — what else are meals by gourmet chefs, meditation classes, and laundry service but attempts to get more work out of employees? And those bribes don’t come cheap: shrinking VC funds forced Dropbox to cancel its free shuttle and and limit free meals a few years ago.
If you really want your team to do their best work, regardless of your compensation budget, give them meaningful work. Show them how their work is directly impacting the organization, and how the organization is making a difference in the world. In other words, give them purpose. Oh, and don’t worry — “purpose” doesn’t necessarily have to be a product or service that saves the world (though that’s a plus); it just means that you have a compelling vision and mission.
4. YOU OVERWORK PEOPLE IN PURSUIT OF THE PRODUCT.
Signing up for a startup is a commitment; long hours and outrageous goals are part of the bargain. But push too hard, and you’ll flare out. At Zynga, for instance, long hours, “aggressive” deadlines, and an obsession with performance metrics led to a talent drain, and even hampered its ability to acquire companies. To prevent burnout, hold regular check-ins with your team to help them manage workload and stress levels. And don’t forget to check-in with the founder: 30% of founders report being depressed, as opposed to only 7% of the general population.
Again, we’re not saying you won’t spend some long nights and weekends at this office, but don’t make it a cultural norm.
5. YOU DON'T FIRE JERKS BECAUSE THEY'RE SMART.
Hiring the best talent is highly competitive, but ignore the “no asshole” rule at your own peril. Despite their superior skill set, their personality will destroy your team culture, not to mention their productivity. In one of our engagements, we worked with an executive whose attitude turned the rest of the team against him. This led him to protect his own job by guarding his data more and more closely, leaving the startup completely in the dark when making crucial decisions.
The best way to avoid this problem is to carefully screen for jerks during the interview process, listening for self-centered answers and trash talking past employers. (As Raylan Givens of Justified noted, “If you run into an asshole in the morning, you ran into an asshole. If you run into assholes all day, you’re the asshole.”) But if one has slipped past your radar, talk to them and make it clear how you expect their behavior to change. If they don’t shape up, then it’s time to go your separate ways — the rest of the team will thank you.
Written by Paula Cizek, Director of Knowledge & Editorial at NOBL. NOBL is an organizational and team design consultancy that unleashes the creativity and capability of teams through new ways of working.
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How to Make New Year's Resolutions That Last
Don’t be so hard on yourself.
In the day or two after New Year’s Eve, you likely process a mix of feelings: euphoria and hope for a new year, resolve to change those ‘bad habits’ that held you back last year -- and often, a fresh perspective on who you are and where you see yourself going.
You probably set some goals. But not your friendly neighborhood diner type of goals. No, you set Michelin-star, creme-brulee-boasting, so-fancy-they-serve-the-salad-with-the-baby-fork restaurant type of goals.
You want to work on that six pack every day of the week, write a bestselling novel, give up being the ‘always late’ coworker, save 80% of the money you're making and call that long-distance friend every day to check in.
We all set lofty goals for ourselves with each new year. Our ambition is one of the many things that makes us so amazing as humans. There’s just one part of the whole New Year’s resolutions formula that tends to go awry: Our goals often aren’t sustainable.
Change is hard overnight, and when we set unrealistic, binary milestones for ourselves and subsequently struggle to reach them in a short timeframe, we crash and burn. In fact, USA Today reported that by mid-February, eighty percent of resolutions fail. The good news? There’s an antidote that is 100% within our control: setting goals with self-compassion.
In it’s simplest terms, self-compassion means being kind to ourselves when we feel inadequate or slip up. It's been proven to lead to greater emotional wellbeing and is linked to less depression, anxiety and stress. Psychologist and researcher Dr. Kristen Neff defines self-compassion in three abilities: self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness. Here’s how you can use self-compassion when making your resolutions:
Self-kindness
...is about flipping the script and reserving judgement on ourselves (studies have shown that we are three times more likely to feel compassion for a total stranger).
If we are struggling to meet a goal, there are probably valid reasons. Recognize that you’re going to do the best you can, and when you have off days—empathize with where you’re coming from.
Common humanity
...is about realizing that we all are imperfect beings.
Recognizing that you’re not alone and that you will doubtlessly hit roadblocks along the way, can empower you to rely on community and support for others in moments of self-criticism. There is a 100% chance that someone else has felt exactly the way you do, whether you’re crushing it or struggling.
“Self-compassion helps bridge the gap between who we feel we are and who we really are.”
Mindfulness
...is about cultivating an awareness. We can’t be kind to ourselves or rely on the power in shared humanity if we don’t recognize when we’re being particularly hard ourselves.
As Dr. Anna Rowley, psychologist and millennial wellbeing expert, says, “We can separate ourselves from our negative thinking or feelings of inadequacy. Your boss chews you out for a report she doesn’t like. You have a choice—dwell on what a failure you are or practice mindfulness and acknowledge the feedback and do better next time. By separating ourselves from the emotion—anger, frustration, or self pity—we are available to problem solve.”
Did you know? We are 3 times more likely to feel compassion for a total stranger than for ourselves.
Unfortunately there is a common misconception, that being compassionate with ourselves means that we’re going to take it easy, give ourselves a pass to never improve or become set in our ways. But the reality is that when we focus on empathizing with ourselves and meeting ourselves where we are, we can set goals that build on our strengths and realistically help us improve.
“Self-compassion helps bridge the gap between who we feel we are and who we really are,” says Dr. Rowley. “Resolutions are hard to change because we are trying to alter aspects of ourself we aren’t happy with or behaviors we may have ‘lived’ for a long, long time. Many of us set unrealistic or unreasonable goals.
For example, ‘I will go to the gym 4 times this week’ might be a tough resolution to keep if you have never been to a gym before or you are embarrassed walking into a room full of strangers grunting and heaving. Self-compassion is about reducing the risk of feeling like a failure if you don’t nail your immediate goal.
It also helps us set more realistic compassionate goals. Rather than join a gym, I’ll go for a walk or next time I shop, I’ll look for a healthier choice of foods. Self-compassion can help us make smarter choices and offer a helping hand when we mess up…and we will mess up.”
So this year, as you continue to grow, evolve and work on yourself, remember to set goals that allow you to be kind to yourself, too.
Written by: Marah Lidey, co-founder Shine
Sign up for Shine to set an intention and track your goals for the year.
The original version of this article appeared on Shine.
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C&C Classifieds: Create & Cultivate, BAGGU, Tarte Cosmetics, & More!
2019 is the year you crush it.
Create & Cultivate - LA
BAGGU - SF
Tarte Cosmetics - NY
Design Within Reach - Stanmford, CT
Essence - NY
Our Go-To App to go From Boss to Best Dressed Guest This Season
Boss to best-dressed? There’s an app for that.
As working women, we all know that convenience comes first when it comes to most things. In the beauty department, that rule of thumb applies as well. Think about it, who has the time to dedicate an hour to styling and perfecting an everyday makeup or hair look? We bet the answer is slim to none. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean that we should sacrifice feeling our best for dedicating more time to our work schedules. Not now, not ever.
What if we told you that amping up your beauty look could be made a whole lot easier and you won’t have to do a thing? If you don’t believe that it’s true, then you’re wrong. Yes, you can get an A-list look in the comfort of your own home, without breaking the bank, and without worrying about strict time constraints. And if you’re wondering why allow us to explain how you can get your hair and makeup did while catching up on emails, conference calls, etc.
Meet the Glam App
The Glam App is beauty on demand--literally. If you need the help of experts when it comes to your own glam, then this trusty app has got you covered and right from the palms of your hands. Glam App offers services from full red carpet-style makeup to everyday blowouts and simple nail polish changes. Seriously, whatever is on your beauty radar can be done via Glam App, especially when you don’t have the time to handle it for yourself. However, that’s not all.
We’ve partnered with Glam App because it’s embodied in the convenience that we’ve been looking for. The prices are budget-friendly because looking and feeling your best shouldn’t burn a hole in your wallet. On the other hand, it’s beneficial for anyone who’s looking to work as a stylist or makeup artist on the app. If you’re a beauty aficionado and have the skills to share with the world, the Glam App gives you that work-life balance that is so important. Glam App allows stylists to act as freelance artists, which means setting their own hours, building clientele and managing schedules and appointments.
Oh, and did we mention that you can book a service immediately? Yes, you read that right. For those days where you have little to no time on your plate to worry about beauty, you can still pencil in a quick service. Stop waiting on everyone else’s schedules when you don’t have the time!
If you’re looking to upgrade your glam this season in and out of the office, consider trying Glam App for all of your needs. It’s fast, affordable, and filled with a roster of professionals in the beauty industry, so what are you waiting for?
We could all use a little beauty TLC, and Glam App has got us covered.
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Our First-Ever Create & Cultivate Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to our three amazing winners!
We’re so excited to announce the winners of our first-ever Create & Cultivate Scholarship in partnership with Chandon! We selected three winners to attend each of our Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami conferences, with round-trip travel, a one-night stay, and a ticket for a friend. These women exemplify what it means to be an entrepreneur, and we were thrilled to host them at C&C! Here’s what we were looking for in a candidate:
1. The business is majority female-owned/female-led (majority defined as minimum 51%)
2. The business is U.S.A. founded + operated in at the time of application
3. The applicant is 21 years or older at time of application
4. The business revenues do not exceed $150K in year prior to application
5. The business has a defined purpose and mission and a specific use for the fundsH
And below are the lucky winners! Stay tuned to find out who will win $10,000 in funding for their business on behalf of Create & Cultivate and Chandon!
Samantha Santana
Samantha Santana Creative | Instagram
Tell us a little about your business and what makes it unique.
My business, Samantha Santana Wallpaper & Creative Studio, is a design studio in which I create photographic realistic and illustrated removable wallpapers and other goods. Many are created with real florals that I style in real space. I also provide custom design services to other small businesses and larger brands, helping them create wallpaper, packaging & branding artwork, photography, textile design, etc. Every aspect of my business right now is done through me. Design work, packaging, accounting, branding, social media, and, hopefully soon, printing. I am trying to save money and buy a printer. I would like to manufacture my own product out of my garage, to better control quality and lower my prices.
What makes my business unique is that I design everything in house with real flowers, as I use to be a florist. I sought to find a way to work with fresh florals without working in the event industry, and the idea for my style of surface patterns and artwork was born. I am so glad people really seem to like what I do!
How has attending Create & Cultivate helped you take your business to the next level?
Attending Create & Cultivate this past year has helped my take my business to the next level in multiple ways. Firstly, the application process for the Los Angeles scholarship program aided me in laying out my goals for the year and strategize how to achieve those goals. I expanded my product line and designed lots of new work. Secondly, the networking I was able to do at the Los Angeles Summit help me land multiple features in print and online publications, such as Origins Magazine and Thoughtfully Magazine. These publications help legitimize my work as a retailer and an artist, leading me to more sales and, more importantly, my biggest client yet. I can't share what business it is, but it is HUGE. Like, I was blown away this business wanted to work with me, and I can't wait to share that work and the wallpaper install in a few months. I really can not wait to see what the next year holds for me, and Create & Cultivate truly played a huge part in encouraging my hustle and expanding my business.
What are your goals for 2019?
My goals include launching 10-15 new removable peel & stick woven wallpaper patterns, launching a notebook, fabric and cell phone case line, and expanding my wholesale business. Ideally, I'd love if I could provide wholesale and drop shipment product for retailers to carry in their brick & mortar and online stores. Similarly, another goal of mine is to collaborate with other artist, innovators, and small business owners. I am currently working on a line of florist wallpaper collaborations, and dream of expanding to other artist as well. Likewise, I'd like to grow the licensing side of my business by finding a artist representative to share my work with other brands for use in their product lines. Lastly, I would like to generate enough income to hire one employee to help me with office management and my shipping department, so I can focus on creating new artwork and developing new wallpaper innovations and product lines.
When you look back at 2018, what is the most successful or exciting memory you recall?
Looking back on 2018, I have to say my most successful and exciting memory was the birth of my daughter, Juniper, with my husband, James. She is sitting in my lap right now grabbing the keyboard as I type! Juni has changed everything for me, and part of the reason now I work so hard to stay self-employed. I want to be available for her and someday show her all the cool work her mama produced while pregnant and through her first years. It has been so hard to be the primary caregiver while working, but it’s so worth the sacrifice. Second to birthing a human, I would say my most exciting memory was my hot air balloon ride with Create & Cultivate and Chandon. I was so terrified, but it turned out to be a magical experience (like riding a cloud). I truly have checked off a few bucket list items this year I had no idea I had!
How would a $10,000 grant help you take your business to the next level?
If I won $10,000 in funding, I would invest the money in 4 specific ways. First, I would expanding my wholesale inventory, which would gain me the ability to provide wallpaper and custom wallpaper lines to retailers. Secondly, I would hire an employee to help with business operations so I can focus on creating new artwork and product. Thirdly, I would invest in product development for notebooks, fabric, woven blankets, art prints, and phone cases. Lastly, I might also use the funds to purchase a new camera for my floral photography.
Afenya Montgomery
The iCan Collective | Instagram
Tell us a little about your business.
The iCAN Collective (innovation, collaboration, accountability, network) connects diverse entrepreneurs to resources that allow them to create, launch, and scale a business. We're a Chicago-based company curating premium events featuring successful business owners to share advice and their entrepreneurial journeys with attendees. We are all about creating meaningful content and experiences for diverse entrepreneurs, creatives and leaders. We're the only organization doing this work quite like this, with a focus on multicultural entrepreneurs! I want people to see representations of themselves in business, media, and corporate leadership in a way that they may have never seen before.
How has attending Create & Cultivate helped you take your business to the next level?
Attending Create & Cultivate was a game changer for me! I learned to really put myself out there. It's so easy to think that your idea is only a good one to you, but sharing with others like you makes all of the difference. Being surrounded by like-minded women that all wanted the same things out of life as me was so motivating. I listened to the fireside chat with Ben Silberman (Pinterest) and have been working on a strategy to use Pinterest to grow my reach and brand. I learned from Alli Webb (DryBar) how filling a gap in the market can be the key to a profitable business. During the Mentor Power Hour, I connected with Ebony Lee, Senior VP of Strategic Development at Comcast and was able to build a relationship that led to a potential partnership with her company. I met far too many amazing people to name, but I took away so many actionable tools, tips, and resources to lay foundation for an amazing 2019 and beyond. Create & Cultivate is for the woman who knows where they want to go and just needs some help getting there. The conference was EVERYTHING because you are able to hear the stories of people who started out just like you and have made so much impact in their businesses and careers. Being able to witness success on this level in such a relatable way lets you know it's possible, and that you can do it, too. I'm taking my business to the next level because C&C gave me more confidence, motivation, and inspiration to really go for it—to seriously go out there and get everything I am working towards. Attending this conference was a blessing, and I will keep going back!
“Create & Cultivate is for the woman who knows where they want to go and just needs some help getting there.”
What are your goals for 2019?
Creating a more solid business foundation, increasing digital content, growing my community and increasing brand awareness, increasing revenue through sponsorships and creating additional income streams (products and services).
When you look back at 2018, what is the most successful or exciting memory you recall?
One of the most exciting moments in my life, period, was winning this scholarship. That's a given!
Looking back on 2018, I am proud of myself for launching my new #GoalGetHer initiative and hosting my second-annual conference. #GoalGetHer is not only an inspirational hashtag, but also an event series supporting women (and men) in building viable businesses. These events empower, inspire, and motivate attendees to embrace their gifts, conquer goals, and create a foundation for building successful businesses. The November conference created a safe space for people to learn from each other, share ideas, and build strong networks through collaboration. Following [C&C CEO] Jaclyn's journey has really helped me strengthen my own business skills, get an even thicker skin, and push through obstacles to make IT happen. 2018 has been about finding my strengths and being strategic about creating a brand that's built to last. All of the year's wins and losses have been about learning more than anything else. I'm grateful for every single experience.
How would a $10,000 grant help you take your business to the next level?
I would use the funding to support the efforts of my new #GoalGetHer series. We recently launched this series of events that focuses on conquering goals, creating your own opportunities and building lasting businesses and brands. I HAVE to keep providing this content for men and women that need it and this funding will help me do just that.
Sasha Flynn
Tell us a little about your business.
Adore Adorn is a direct-to-consumer e-commerce jewelry brand. I personally design every piece. The brand was built on a set of 10 mantras that exist to keep us in check and add something to the world—rather than take away. Fashion can be ephemeral these days, but we like to think that the natural materials used in jewelry has an opposite effect. I know that I hold an incredible amount of power within my creativity. For my customer, every fashionable expression is documentation that they have a choice to purchase with purpose. Adore Adorn works directly with our suppliers to source goods that are sustainable and crafted with love. We do our best to not overwhelm the planet with too much stuff as we are small batch, and sometimes custom-only. We design to last. We provide keepsakes that can be held within your lifetime and carried on, if chosen.
How has attending Create & Cultivate helped you take your business to the next level?
The Vision Summit was all about believing and creating. For me, I found the most value in being amongst peers who spoke on the panel, as well as meeting some great women during the networking sessions. I reached a point earlier this year where I was really stuck with my social media persona... I felt like I was having a hard time getting my message across and I realized it was because I didn't feel I could authentically share the place I was in. My year consisted of putting my head down and working, with no fun stuff like traveling and socializing. I took my personal Instagram page down for about 4 months, and I allowed my marketing assistant to work on Adore Adorn's social media pages, solely. I couldn't figure it out—but I was just "over it." The summit felt like the opposite of what I'd been feeling. I connected with creatives that were “doing the work" on social media and truly creating results. The messages from the panels let me know that everyone struggled with it from time to time, but that consistency and staying true to who you really are‚even if that only reaches a niche audience—is what will make your presence stick. Of course, I shot a lot of content on that day, and I have since been a lot more actively engaged. I think the summit gave me fresh eyes to realize that I wanted who I am online to match who I already feel I am, offline. So, thank you!
What are your goals for 2019?
In 2019, we hope to offer our mid-luxury goods to a wider range of consumers that enjoy personalization and customization. We think jewelry is the perfect way to offer goods that are unique to the consumer. Jewelry, by nature, has the ability to last for generations. The story of a piece can be passed down amongst loved ones without ever reaching the "grave." With the direct-to-consumer model, we will have the opportunity to maintain closer customer relations and build something that is truly meaningful.
When you look back at 2018, what is the most successful or exciting memory you recall?
2018 was CRAZY demanding! I opened a showroom in Atlanta, GA this year. It took me almost 6 months to design the space and make it fit within the brand aesthetic. I worked with Savannah College of Art and Design to hire recent graduates across 4 different majors to assist in the process and help elevate my brand. The showroom is an intimate space where customers can come in and design made-to-order custom jewelry and enjoy the experience of learning about natural stones, crystals, energy, and so much more. We partnered with WeWork to open a showroom in their Buckhead location. They have been so gracious to allow us to completely customize the space to fit the Adore Adorn brand. The entire experience has been one for the books, but above all, reaching new people to spread our message has been the best part. We just have so much that we'd like to share, which is why I was extremely excited to close out the year with Create & Cultivate, along with the potential of a business scholarship.
How would a $10,000 grant help you take your business to the next level?
We hope to use the $10,000 in funding for marketing the unique stories of creative women across the United States. We are story-tellers at heart and hope to build a documentary/content segment that highlights women that are using their life experiences and know-how to build companies that are unique and marketed towards the smart consumer (such as the Adore Adorn target consumer). We hope to fund a marketing campaign that allows the world to see these non-celebrity and non-influencer women for the strength and humanity that they have built in their respective industry.
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This Easy Analog Resolution Will Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet
Technology doesn’t always win.
Lately, it seems that more and more invites for all things festive and fun come via email rather than the postal service, especially over the holidays. While tracking RSVPs online simplifies the party-planning process, it doesn’t mean we should give up on traditional correspondence. A card is a classic way to let somebody know you appreciate them while making a lasting impression. Don’t believe us? Take it from our C&C Atlanta keynote speaker, actor and activist, Meghan Markle, who told us that she often sends out and loves to receive handwritten thank you notes. "I can't tell you how few of them I get," she said, "but one hundred percent of the time, I end up remembering that person."
It’s an approach to business and life that can easily be worked into your 2019 resolutions. Here’s how!
SEND A WARM NEW YEAR GREETING
So, you didn’t get around to taking the picture-perfect holiday card. Not a problem. The New Year is the perfect time to send someone special a card that wishes them the best in 2019. Thinking of others is a great way to start your January off on the right foot.
HANDWRITE YOUR THANK-YOUS
Make a “thank you list” and check it twice because they pile up as fast as the presents you receive. From grandparents to bosses, to hosts of holiday parties and gatherings, you will have a lot of thanking to do. Hit pause on sending out digital appreciation; just like it’s fun to open a present, there is nothing like opening a piece of mail.
"Hit pause on sending out digital appreciation; there is nothing like opening a piece of mail."
Tweet this.
Not only that - writing out a thank you note goes a long way to show your appreciation and will last longer than an email. People are more likely to hold onto thank you notes and beautiful cards to display around their office or living space. Think of a card as a sweet memory in return for their generosity.
MAKE IT WORTH REMEMBERING
Remember the old rule “show, don’t tell?” A well-written and memorable thank you note follows this line of thought.
You don’t have to write a novel to create meaningful thank you notes or New Year’s wishes; you can express how much you appreciate their generosity in one or two sentences. Single out a memorable moment. What it felt like opening the gift. An instance in which you’ve since used it. Use these prompts to express your thanks and wishes for a happy and healthy 2019.
BONUS: IT HELPS YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
We’re used to firing off emails. (Anyone else ever met their email quota for the day? Yep, it’s a thing.) Digital communication may be quick, but it isn’t necessarily the most meaningful or effective. It’s important to honor the practice of sending letters, writing notes, and thank you letters to keep relationships strong and grounded in real-life.
Think of the last time you opened a letter and thought, “Wow, what a great feeling.” Be sure to pass that feeling on as we enter 2019. It will not go unnoticed.
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Ask The CEO: Should You Go Into Business With Your Partner?
Communication is the foundation of a great relationship, work or otherwise.
In 2009, Courtney Nichols Gould left her job as a tech startup executive, moved to Los Angeles, and took a beat to think about what she wanted to do next. While in LA, she reconnected with an old colleague, Gordon Gould, who was researching how nutrition affects children’s brain health. The two joined forces and launched SmartyPants, a vitamin company with a sharp focus on high-quality ingredients, affordability, and great taste. Coincidentally, she and Gordon also fell in love and got married, so her business partner is now her real-life partner, too.
We checked in with Courtney on her biggest hurdles, best advice, and what it’s like to run a multimillion-dollar business with her spouse.
How did you step into the wellness space?
SmartyPants started out as a conversation among friends and shared struggles in finding an elegant, high-quality, palatable, and affordable solution to gaps in our diets and our family’s diets. Initially, we just wanted to launch a comprehensive solution for parents, but as soon as we launched our “baby” online back in 2011, we heard from so many parents that they wished we would make a comprehensive supplement for them to use as well. We realized the problem we were trying to tackle was great. Any problem takes time, attention, and likely money to solve, so being able to put all that energy toward solving a problem for a much larger group of people moved our interest to an all-out obsession that has been the engine for our growth—both in the number of customers and retailers we serve (from Amazon to Whole Foods to Costco) to the number of grant recipients we reach through our work with Vitamin Angels (8 million grants and counting!).
If you could go back to year one, what piece of advice would you give to yourself?
Every unpredictable nightmare increases your company’s capacity to handle its much bigger future—which turns a negative into a very big positive.
What do you think are some of the biggest hurdles in the wellness space today?
I think the scariest one is the “everyone is an expert” issue. Wellness has become one of the biggest growth areas for investment, which means a ton of money is flooding in, so ill-founded ideas can get resources. That might have negative consequences for investors in a field like fashion or mattresses, but in a field that intervenes with someone’s health, consequences are felt by the end user themselves. Combining that growth with primarily online sales without the kind of checks that retailers require (proof that you are testing and producing your products in accordance with FDA guidance) can create the very real risk that someone could become hurt, which is bad for all of us.
“Having someone in the trenches with you, husband or not, is critical to make sure you are leading with your best ideas.”
What is the best part of having a Co-CEO? And what’s it like working with your husband?
Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely and stressful business. Having someone in the trenches with you, husband or not, is critical to make sure you are leading with your best ideas. Bouncing things off each other ensures more rigor around your thinking and also means you can have a bad day and someone else can help step in and vice versa. Most of the great businesses I admire have a team at the helm. Working with your significant other can be hard, and it can be amazing! It’s all about communication. We feel really lucky to have been able to build this business together and for our kids to witness the amount of work required to build something from scratch.
Do you have any advice for women who are considering getting into business with their partners?
Make sure you have different skill sets. It works for us because we have very different areas of expertise. I run the business with a focus on product design from beginning to end, and he is our chief data scientist with a strong expertise in e-commerce—the foundation of our business.
What about your job makes you feel the most complete?
Being able to see that we are having a real impact: Through providing a better product to our customers; by showing other companies they can make better choices and still be profitable, which helps to change the industry as a whole; and by putting a matching grant in place with Vitamin Angels before we launched. That allows us to have a much bigger impact than we ever thought possible.
Where do you see the wellness and vitamins industries in the next 5 years?
I think you will see an increasing focus on quality and efficacy and a lot of new and interesting formats to drive compliance. With a lot of investment dollars out there, there will be plenty of competition, and that’s always a good thing for the end user.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?
Never do or say anything you wouldn’t want to see printed on the front of the New York Times.
It’s how you make the hard decisions—that no one will ever know about—that shows you where your integrity lies.
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We Asked Women How They’re Shifting Their Mindsets (And Saying OUI) in 2019
What will you say “yes” to in 2019?
Sponsored by Oui by Yoplait
The night before my very first “move-in day” of college, my parents sat me down for what felt like their final pieces of advice. I predicted what my mom was going to say — work hard, be safe, buddy system, enjoy yourself (within reason). But my dad surprised me. He told me to say “yes” to everything, something I’d never heard from anyone before. Yes to taking a class you never thought you would take, yes to studying abroad a year early, yes to falling in love. Yes. Yes. Yes.
That’s not to say that embodying a “yes” mantra is easy. In all honesty, I’ve forgotten how important it is to say “yes” with my other responsibilities that have taken precedence. But our words have a direct impact on our mindset. By saying “yes” — even if it’s “yes, I can take on this project, but I’ll need an extra day” — you will bring confidence and positivity into your life. This is exactly why I’m making it a priority to say “yes” this year. And I’m not alone — Oui by Yoplait recently asked attendees at this year’s Vision Summit, “What are you saying “OUI” to in 2019?” And the responses will inspire you.
Oui by Yoplait believes in making the best satisfyingly thick, subtly sweet, fresh tasting French style yogurt. Their approach to French style yogurt starts with simple, non-GMO ingredients, poured and set in individual glass pots for eight hours. And to top it off — “Yes” is literally in their name, which makes them the perfect companion as you say “oui” or “yes” in 2019. Take it from the women who attended the Vision Summit. They’re saying yes to “opening my business,” “embracing my imperfections,” “new perspectives,” and “no more negative self labels.” How great are those? And the Create & Cultivate team has their own ideas...
“I’m saying “OUI” to me. Knowing my value and validating my own wants and needs all 2019.” Tyeal Howell - Marketing Manager
“I’m saying “OUI” to more sleep and more money and less parking tickets” Natalie Tran - Graphic Designer
“Balance. My “OUI” is for more life balance in 2019.” Natalie Pirzad - Project Coordinator
“More creative output. My “OUI” is for more creativity in 2019.” Jenay Ross - Talent Coordinator + Event Producer
“My 2019 “OUI” is for more time with my cats and the people I love.” Heather Records - Senior Director of Digital Marketing
What will you be saying “yes” to this year? I know I’ll be saying “yes” to every exciting opportunity that comes my way, in order to let happiness infiltrate everything I do. And I’ll be starting every morning with a glass pot of Oui to get the day started the right way.
Lily Comba works in business development for an online marketplace. By night, Lily lives an entrepreneurial life. After working as a Career Consultant for two years at her alma mater, Scripps College, Lily developed a passion for helping women in their careers. She embodies the mantra, “If not me, who? If not now, when?” in her work as a career advisor to college students, and creative and business strategist for fellow entrepreneurs. Catch her running around Los Angeles or at lilycomba.com.
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We Asked 8 Women What Makes Them Feel the Most Confident
What makes you feel confident?
Confidence. A word that’s thrown around in discussions with your friends, colleagues, fitness instructors -- seemingly everywhere. While the dictionary defines confidence as, “a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities, ”I argue that we each have unique definitions of the word. For me, confidence means being authentically myself in all facets of my life. For my best friend, it’s feeling comfortable in her own skin. Confidence is different for everyone — but the common thread? We can all benefit from a little bit more of it.
Confidence is crucial in so many areas of our lives. Feeling confident in the workplace is complicated. We can get so entrenched in the day-to-day that we forget to acknowledge our efforts and value. Acknowledging your achievements can help you boost your attitude, get you that raise and so much more! If that sounds impossible, you can make a small step today with the help of IT Cosmetics.
We recently hosted an intimate brunch to celebrate women that Show IT Off. Jamie Kern Lima, Founder & CEO of IT Cosmetics, has poured her “heart and soul into creating truly innovative and effective problem-solving products that make you look and feel your most beautiful.” Developed with plastic surgeons, IT Cosmetics creates clinically-tested, makeup and skincare products that provide life-changing results. The product that gives all women an instant confidence boost? Their award-winning Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50. It’s your all-in-one extra dose of confidence that is not only full coverage and color-correcting, but also features broad-spectrum physical sunscreen, anti-aging ingredients and all the hydration you need! Hyperpigmentation? Dark circles? Other skin concerns? Don’t worry, it really does it all, and comes in a range of shades and three finishes, including original, illumination and oil-free matte to complement every skin tone!
Want to hear other ways to feel confident? These women Show IT Off and share their wisdom below.
“I feel the most confident when I’m at home with my baby, and I just take all my makeup off and put my favorite moisturizer on.”
“My cat eye eyeliner is what makes me feel most confident every single day.”
“The thing that makes me most confident is probably a bold lip, I don’t have one on right now, but when I have a red bold lip, I’m the most confident.”
“What makes me feel more confident is having good skin. I’m obsessed with skincare, so I never sleep with makeup and I always wear sunblock.
“A bold lip makes me feel the most confident because, even if I don’t have any other makeup on, it just draws attention to my smile and it makes me feel really glamorous.”
“My sense of humor.”
So tell us — what makes you feel the most confident?
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Festive Kombucha Mocktails to Bring Cheer to Your Office This Season
Pour it up, pour it up.
Ah, the holidays. When the days get shorter, the weather gets chillier, and the festivities get merrier. Just because you’re still in the office doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be basking in the holiday cheer. Our suggestion? Mix things up with some office-friendly Health-Ade mocktails.
Not only will you raise spirits, you’ll quickly become the office favorite without spending hours baking. So you can get happy while getting your shit squared away before that well deserved PTO.
We also highly recommend Christmas sweaters for enhanced joy.
Here are some recipes you can make with Health-ade’s seasonal Holiday Cheers Kombucha to get lit:
HOLIDAY CHEERS ICED COCOA MOCKTAIL
Original recipe from Ashley Cuoco of Cuoco Contento
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
12 oz Holiday Cheers Health-Ade Kombucha, chilled
8 oz cold brew coffee, chilled
20 oz hazelnut milk, chilled
6 oz crushed ice
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp cocoa powder
6 drops chocolate bitters
2 tsp honey plus more for coating rim
2 oz finely shaved chocolate, for coating rim
4 dark chocolate squares, cut into triangles, for garnish
Directions
In a high-powered blender, combine kombucha, coffee, hazelnut milk, crushed ice, cinnamon, cocoa powder, bitters and honey. Blend on high speed for 1 minute, until well combined and frosty.
Take a dab of honey and gently coat rims of chilled glasses. Dip into shaved chocolate and swirl to evenly coat.
Divide drink evenly between glasses and garnish with chocolate triangle and a dash of cinnamon. Cheers!
Note: kombucha and coffee/hazelnut milk will naturally separate. Keep a spoon handy to stir while enjoyed.
HOLIDAY CHEERS SPICED POMEGRANATE KOMBUCHA FLOAT
Original Recipe from Marguerita La Fiura of Warm & Rosy
Serves 2
Ingredients
Spiced pomegranate syrup, chilled — recipe below
Vanilla ice cream of choice (we used Luna & Larry’s Organic Coconut Bliss, Naked Coconut)
1 bottle Holiday Cheers Health-Ade kombucha, chilled Ground cinnamon
Instructions
Pour 1/4 cup pomegranate syrup into each glass.
Top with 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Slowly fill glasses with kombucha.
Dust with cinnamon and enjoy immediately. Cheers!
Spiced Pomegranate SyrupIngredients
2 cups 100% pomegranate juice
1 tbsp coconut sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
6 cardamom pods
1 inch strip of orange peel
1/2 inch knob of fresh ginger, peeled
Instructions
Place all ingredients in medium-size saucepan set over medium heat.
Cook, stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved - about 3 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. The syrup should be reduced by about half and very lightly coat the back of a spoon.
Strain pomegranate syrup and set aside to cool a bit. Once cooled, transfer to refrigerator to chill.
HOLIDAY CHEERS SANGRIA MOCKTAIL
Original recipe from Ashley Cuoco of Cuoco Contento
Servings: 10-12 | Active time: 15 minutes; Total time: 1 Hour 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1 granny smith apple, thinly sliced
1 Braeburn apple, thinly sliced
1 pear, sliced
½ cup pomegranate seeds
6 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 bottles (1 pint each) Health-Ade Holiday Cheers
4 cups pomegranate juice
4 cups ginger ale
¼ cup simple syrup
10 oz frozen cranberries plus more for skewering
1/2 cup sugar for coating cranberries and rosemary
Recipe:
Combine apples, pear, pomegranate seeds and 2 sprigs rosemary in a large punch bowl. Pour in Health-Ade Holiday Cheers, ginger ale and pomegranate juice. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
To serve, add frozen cranberries. Ladle sangria into glasses (get some of that good fruit in there!)
Cut the remaining rosemary sprigs into 3” pieces. Dip each sprig into simple syrup and roll in sugar to coat. Dip extra cranberries into simple syrup and roll in sugar to coat. Skewer 3-4 cranberries per drink and rest on top of each glass.
Garnish drinks with sugared cranberries and rosemary; serve cold.
Like what you see? Our friends at Health-Ade are sharing a recipe book full of recipes from kombucha-infused body scrubs to kombucha doughnuts! CLICK HERE to enter to win!
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C&C Classifieds: Create & Cultivate, Malka, Pandora, L'Oreal & More!
New year, new you.
Create & Cultivate - LA, CA
Malka - Santa Monica, CA
Pandora - Atlanta, GA
L’Oreal - NY, NY
Twitter - SEA, WA
Westin Hotels & Resorts - Charlotte, NC
Events Manager
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How This Brooklyn Beauty Brand Is Shaking Up A Traditionally-Stuffy Industry
Just because “that’s the way it’s always been done” doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way.
We were thrilled to partner with Amika, a haircare company known for their Instagrammable packaging, at our Miami Vision Summit! We sat down with Chelsea Riggs, Amika’s brand president, to talk about how the company is doing business differently, with an eye toward philanthropy, self-expression, and approachability.
As an independent beauty brand, what are some of the benefits and challenges of operating in Brooklyn, NY?
A benefit of being a Brooklyn based company is the access to talent. Brooklyn, and especially the specific neighborhood where we are located, is full of creative and young talent. Early on being in Brooklyn was a little bit of a hassle for new hires, but it is now a major benefit for more than 50% of our staff who also live nearby. Williamsburg & Bushwick are home to one of the biggest artist communities in all of NYC, which influences the type of residents due to proximity to the best restaurants, boutiques, events and nightlife. The community which we live and work also inspires the overall essence of the brand and company culture.
One of the challenges of being in Brooklyn is the ease of access to clients, vendors and industry events. Many are in Manhattan, and purely due to NY traffic and transit system it can be a challenge for clients to visit our office or for our team to hop over to a vendor for a meeting. Oh, and the NYC rent!
The brand has experienced tremendous growth over the years. How did you manage to get its name out there and onto the shelves of big retailers?
Sometimes things look like an overnight success on the outside, but we’ve been at it for almost 10 years! As an early hire for the company, I played a large role in developing and executing our distribution strategy in the early days. We were in Birchbox, Sephora, Bloomingdales and a handful of local retail partners within 18 months of launch. Having a unique product(s) and strong branding is the first step in getting your product noticed by retail merchants and editors. It’s important to choose retail partners who believe in the potential and have the ability and incentive to increase the brand equity. It turns out many of these retailers happen to be premium or indie retailers themselves and understand the point of difference it brings to their company to have independent and/or exclusive brands.
The methods we used the grow the brand were based on our limited budgets, as we were (and still are) 100% independently owned. We first started with Facebook & YouTube as our main marketing channel (before Instagram days), then we introduced PR when we got a small budget, and soon after we began mass sampling when Birchbox came into the market. We are a professional salon brand and our stylists all over the world are our biggest brand advocates. They are trusted resources for hair products & trends, like a facialist or dermatologist would be for your skin. We tapped into social media to communicate our brand philosophy and use it as a vehicle for education and inspiration. These are still core methods we use today, but as we’ve grown, and our budgets have as well—we have a lot of additional support to choose from.
However, in today’s market you have a plethora of brands entering the beauty industry every year due to lower barriers-to-entry. There is no shortage of options for retailers, so you really need to have a product and brand that is addressing a market need. What’s amazing about starting a brand today, even in a crowded market, is the ability to communicate directly to your customers. Social media is game-changing in that respect. You can learn exactly what your clients’ needs are, in real time, and include them in the product development process. You can see how they interact with the product, how they recommend it to their closest friends, and have a direct relationship. It’s an amazing switch from the traditional beauty industry approach, or really any industry. It’s also very important to merchants that you have a strong digital presence and connection to your core customer.
Just because “that’s the way it’s always been done” doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way.
Amika is also rooted in philanthropy. We’re big believers that responsible businesses are the future and have the power to change the world. Why is it important for brands to pay it forward?
Amika has always given back, since we were able to. However, only this October we announced that we have partnered with one organization that we are whole-heartedly passionate about: HairToStay. It inspires me to work with such an amazing organization that is only just beginning and to play a part in their journey. HairToStay is a nonprofit organization committed to raising awareness and financial aid for scalp cooling technology, a treatment which can prevent hair loss during chemotherapy.
It’s our mission to do a part in spreading the word about scalp cooling as an alternative to chemotherapy related hair loss. Cancer treatment affects all of us, whether directly or through a friend, family or colleague. As a business, we can use our voice, and amplify the message through our large network of professional hairstylists and salons to educate clients about this new, amazing technology—so that cancer doesn’t have to define you.
How has social media impacted the success and growth of the brand?
Since we’ve used social media as a core marketing focus since the early days, we’ve seen a lot of changes. It started out as an outlet to communicate directly to our customer, give a sneak peek into the behind the scenes world of the brand, and break down brand-customer barriers that previous existed. Today, social media serves as a platform to not only interact but also learn from our customer, provide education and inspiration, and facilitate a community of not just Amika fans but hair junkies. Influencers have played a massive role in increasing the brand visibility and trust in the products. While we still stay connected to a large number of influencers, we have a select amount of ongoing partnerships with those who align with our brand ethos and that beauty enthusiasts trust.
What is the biggest hurdle you’re currently facing as the president of an indie beauty brand?
One of our biggest hurdles right now is scaling the brand. We have a strong core of loyal Amika fans, but how do we take what has worked so far and spread that to a larger base of beauty consumers? With all the success and triple digit growth year after year, we still have tons of room to grow. Only a small base of people who have heard of the brand have tried it, which on the positive side, means there is a tremendous amount left to grow!
If you could go back to year one, what’s one piece of advice you would give yourself?
Don’t be afraid to do things differently. It’s something that we inherently always did because I (and the founders) did not come from the beauty industry world. A lot of the advice we received back then was from industry veterans who gave us the lay of the land and how “things are done around here.” We entered the market as outsiders, bringing a fun & colorful hair product to the professional salon products world–which historically was very stuffy. We had a direct relationship with end consumers and retailers, which was technically a no-no at that time if you wanted to be a pro brand. These two things set us apart and gave us the momentum to create something the market needed, which is now an entire category itself–prestige hair care. While it’s not to say that advice from people who came before you aren’t relevant, you must find your own way of doing things too. Just because “that’s the way it’s always been done” doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way.
We’re also big believers in speaking things into existence (hey, Oprah!). What is your dream partnership for Amika?
We are big believers of collaboration, it’s even listed in our core values collaboration over ego. It’s a tough choice, because there are so many amazing brands we would love to partner with. But, the one we would most definitely choose is off-white. I mean, who wouldn’t want an off-white blow dryer! They also say to Dream Big, right?
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How Letting Go of the Hustle Helped Me Grow My Business
I've worn the “hustler” mentality like a badge of honor, but when I let it go, that’s when my business soared.
By Alysha Light, FLIGHT PR
Ask any entrepreneur if they consider themselves a hustler, and most of them will proudly say, “Heck yes!” The concept of the hustle is glorified in business and entrepreneurial communities, because we’re struck by the image of the self-sufficient go-getters who are putting themselves out there, making things happen and having no one but themselves to thank for the the leaps and bounds they've made along the way.
For a long time, I was damn proud of my ability to get sh*t done, to do more with less, to fire on all cylinders and go out into the wild in pursuit of big game because hey, fortune favors the bold and those bills aren’t gonna pay themselves, amiright? In a 2016 C&C piece, Dr. Lauren Hazzouri broke down why so many of us are addicted to the hustle: "We're human-beings, and humans tend to repeat anything that feels good," she wrote. "For women, especially, nailing the presentation and bringing home the bacon feels SO damn good."
And she's right. It does feel good to secure a big win. But how "good" is it really, when you're spending every waking moment on your phone or laptop and missing out on life in the name of the hustle and grind?
That's how I operated for the first few years after launching my business in 2013: no vacation, no team, #nodaysoff. Just me, grinding away 24/7 to prove that I can get things done for my clients, fast. That I was basically superwoman.
Unsurprisingly, I was burning out from the constant grind. I was bending over backwards and stretching myself so thin for small wins and inch-by-inch growth. I knew I needed to reprogram my mindset if I wanted to stay physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy.
Check yourself before you wreck yourself
Here’s the thing about the "hustle" mentality that no one tells you: Even though it champions hard work and self-reliance, it's ultimately rooted in fear. Your core belief is basically, If I'm not constantly chasing new opportunities and busting my ass, then I don't eat. I’ll let people down. My business will stall. You become terrified of the things you think you might lose if you dare to take the world off your shoulders for a moment.
Even though ‘the hustle’ champions hard work and self-reliance, it's ultimately rooted in fear.
Plot twist: When I stopped hustling, that's when my business grew the most. In no way have I lost my "go get 'em" attitude – but hear me when I say that my business tripled when I let go of the idea that things would stop if I stopped...chasing, pursuing, stressing, hustling, stretching, bending over backwards, etc. In fact, it was just the opposite.
There’s a spiritual principle behind this that basically shifts your mindset to one of stress and anxiety (or fear) to one of ease (abundance). What you’re basically doing, is signaling to the universe that you trust it to operate on behalf of your highest good, and that you believe things are always working out for you. Because they are. And when you really get this, you find yourself in “the flow”—that amazing space where things start flowing with minimal “effort” on your part.
Setting intentions > goals
One of my favorite people on Twitter, Maryam Hasnaa, believes in setting intentions rather than goals. Having adopted this for myself, rather than focusing on a list of things I want to accomplish, I’ve started asking a simple question: how do I want to feel?
One of my intentions this year was to feel ‘in demand’. If I'm in demand, that implies money is flowing and my inbox is flooding with new business opportunities. And guess what? That's exactly what’s happened.
As Rumi once said, “When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety; if I sit in my own place of patience, what I need flows to me, and without any pain. From this I understand that what I want also wants me, is looking for me and attracting me. [There] is a great secret here for anyone who can grasp it.”
Grasp it, and prosper girl!
Alysha Light, a reformed hustler, is founder of FLIGHT PR, a boutique PR agency for companies at the intersection of tech, design, marketing and entertainment. Follow her @lightalysha.
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Five Affirmations From Aerie Role Models We Should All Repeat Daily
Repeat it. Walk it. Live it.
In January of 2014 Aerie shared the beginning of their “untouched photo” campaign featuring women in their most natural state. The images went viral and the comment section became an open door for anything and anyone. Cut to almost five years later and the power of positivity has been real for the brand. What once was simply an inspiring ad campaign has now transformed into a powerful movement to empower all women to love their real selves.
Women everywhere have come together to support each other and celebrate these images of authenticity and beauty. We passed the mic to five Aerie Role Models at the Vision Summit to get the biggest lessons they’ve learned about self love, the inside scoop on what it’s like to partner with Aerie, and their favorite affirmations to start their day.
Meet the Panelists
Brenna Huckaby
Brenna’s athletic career began with gymnastics, but after getting amputation surgery, Brenna got her first prosthetic leg and thanks to her mom, uprooted her life in Louisiana and moved to Salt Lake City to pursue snowboarding. She’s a 2018 Paralympian, Two-time Paralympic medalist, 3-time World Championship gold medalist and honestly the list goes on, but Brenna Huckaby says she’s “A person first. I’m not an athlete with a disability or a brand ambassador with a disability. I’m a person. I decided to stop letting my past dictate my future. I stopped holding on to the fear of “what happens if I get injured?” and I just went for it. Stop allowing people to label you in a sub category. That shouldn’t exist. I hope my work shows other people that they have the power to dictate how the world sees them.”
Iskra Lawrence
Iskra has been working with Aerie for 5 years with a front and center view while the brand grew from campaign to movement. She says, “Being a role model is wonderful but terrifying. Every single day I’m super aware. One thing I was told is that when you’re a role model, you have to diversify your feed and diversify your life. Diversifying your life will make you more round minded and open to other experiences. For me, being a role model is a constant discovery of trying to be the best you can be.” When her first untouched photo was published with the brand she was terrified. She hadn’t ever read negative comments about her body. After the campaign photo was published, the haters started rolling in. “I got so excited because I couldn’t believe the world had not seen images like that. I broke some societal norms about what a women should look like. If something scares you or you don’t see yourself represented, you have to step up and do that. Please stand up and do it. We need you.”
Monique Coleman
Monique is an American actress, dancer, singer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and recently launched her own talk show ‘GimmeMO’, a movement to empower and motivate the next generation, distributed on Discovery Life network. Before the show started, she spent years pitching it and being told that her story wasn’t important, that the timing wasn’t right, that people didn’t want content to help them feel better about themselves. So, she set out to produce it herself and she did it. We spoke about authenticity and working on projects you’re truly aligned with as a creative. “We need to be authentic and aligned with things that make us feel good. It’s all about alignment. Things we believe in and things that make us feel good may not be the most popular today but they WILL be the most long lasting.”
Jess Weiner
Jess Weiner is a CEO and Cultural Changemaker whose work has played a role in two culture shifting moments: Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty and Barbie’s new look introducing 4 new body types, 7 new skin tones, 22 hair styles and 24 eye colors. Safe to say Jess knows a thing or two about female empowerment. She reminded us that, “It’s so important to remember that we’re more powerful when we come together. We can’t underestimate the power of representation. I believe systemic change is possible, it’s a marathon not a sprint.” She spoke to us about the power of owning your social platforms and content creation strategy. When we talked about social media and the comparison game Jess chimed in and said, ”It’s easy to go to the lowest common denominator and compare yourself, but the REAL power is knowing that you don’t have to go through a gatekeeper. Everyone sitting here is the CEO of their own media platform. YOU have the power to publish your story.”
Stephanie Campbell
Stephanie Campbell knew that after college she wanted to work in marketing for a brand with a mission. As the social media manager for Aerie she’s doing just that. Stephanie talked about her experience working for the brand and how much she loves doing work that inspires and encourages women to celebrate themselves and honor their natural beauty. “I’ve always been an Aerie girl,” she says while speaking on why she loves the work she does. “We’re not telling our brand’s story, we’re telling the story of our customer to our customer. We’re inspiring and uplifting the women who shop with us. We ask “who are the women who make up Aerie?” And then we find inspiration from other women’s stories of life. We know that as women, we are stronger together.”
What affirmations do you repeat to yourself on a daily basis?
Click to tweet!
“I have the power to create change.”
- Stephanie Campbell
In front of the mirror making eye contact with yourself say: I am enough.
- Iskra
I am in control of everything that I do. I have the control.
- Brenna
Don’t outsource your power. Allow yourself to feel the fear and say “I am here and I matter.”
- Monique Coleman
I deserve the best and I accept it now, gracefully and graciously.
- Jess Weiner
Do you have daily affirmations? Share some in the comments!
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C&C Classifieds: The Shelf, Renee Rouleau, Stay Boutique & More!
2019 is gonna be your best year yet.
Looking to change careers—or maybe just need a breath of fresh air in your current industry? Our weekly classifieds make it easy to find your next gig so you can kick off 2019 on the right foot.
Find your dream job below!
The Shelf - Remote/NYC
Renee Rouleau, Inc. - Austin, TX
Hello Design - LA
Links from our Group Chat: From Michelle Obama's Latest Venture to Getting to the Polls & More!
Cue the nonstop ringing, there’s huge news.
Mi casa es su casa, and in IRL safe spaces have become increasingly important as of late. A group of Latina women have created shelters and safe spaces in their homes for abused immigrant women. Many of these women are waitresses, saleswomen, fruit and vegetable pickers, and housekeepers that are ashamed to stand up for themselves due to unstable partners or immigration issues.
Michelle Obama is back and announcing an education initiative for young girls around the world. "We're seeking to empower adolescent girls around the world through education, so that they can support their families, communities and countries," the former first lady wrote in an op-ed for CNN. The Obama Foundation’s Global Girls Alliance mission is to support grassroots leaders that understand the challenges teenage girls face in their communities. The program encourages people to come up with the strategies to help teenage girls achieve their maximum potential through education by supporting local leadership.
We’ve heard of GoFundMes for Honeymoons and new inventions but this GoFundMe really hits home. Moria Donegan was recently slammed with a libel lawsuit because she created the Shitty Media Men spreadsheet and writer Lauren Hough has helped set up a campaign to help cover the legal fees and expensive. Stephen Elliot claimed that these documents were fake AF and wants $1.5 mil for the damages and plans to sue other women as well. The spreadsheet was created because Donegan “wanted to create a place for women to share their stories of harassment and assault without being needlessly discredited or judged.” Their goal is to raise $500,000 and if donations exceed the goal, Hough will donate the leftover funds to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
Seven keys for success from Forbes’ 30 under 30- yes, that’s a lot of numbers but we’ll make the words easy (or ‘Insecure’ star Yvonne Orji will). Her top tip was “do it for free”, which may not sound like music to our ears because we live in the age of #sponsored everything, but she explained that after you’ve done it for you your value and don’t forget it.
Still We Rise and Pom Pom Social have joined forces to create 6 packages full of 100+ goodies from brands we love as a part of a raffle campaign that will donate proceeds to @aclu_nationwide and @innovationlawlab and we could not be prouder! They also have corporate sponsors who will be matching total raised funds 2 to 1 that means for every $100 raised they will match with $200 = $300 donated to a worthy cause. May the odds ever be in your favor. To enter into the raffle, click here.
We’ve registered for their tour ticket presales, but now Taylor Swift and Rihanna are encouraging millennials to rock the vote. A record 800,000 people from all age groups signed up on National Voter Registration Day, Sept 25. Voter registration deadlines are staggered across all states but check out this post by another female musical powerhouse Bea Miller to see when you can register until. You can register at vote.org under “register to vote”.
By: Ashley Banayan
Ashley Banayan is a senior at the University of Southern California pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a minor in Web Technologies and Applications from the Viterbi School of Engineering. Currently, she works as an editorial intern for Create and Cultivate. She has experience in traditional public relations, social media marketing, influencer relations, content creation, and web development. Furthermore, she is the founder of Geocasion, a company designing Snapchat Geofilters for both businesses and personal clients, garnering 4.5 million views. In turn, these experiences led her to focus on the convergence and disruption in media, communication and web technologies.
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Everything You Missed at Our Resistance Rises Pop-Up in Portland
Join the resistance.
Resistance. Defined as the refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to prevent something by action or argument. It's easy to sit by and let things happen; it's harder to stand up and fight for what’s right. And that’s something we’ve all been faced with all of our lives and particularly within the last few years. It’s also why we’ve teamed up with Amazon Prime Video and its hit-show The Man in the High Castle, which has resistance embedded in its core storyline and characters. Together, our goal is to bring you compelling, noteworthy, and inspiring conversations that we hope will encourage everyone here to go out and shake shit up.
The second stop during our Resistance Rising pop-up took place in Portland, OR. We flocked to the Jacobsen Salt Co. and the energy in the room was electric - to say the least. Our first-ever Portland. pop-up was made particularly special thanks to our lovely speakers Lindsay Meyer-Harley, Candace Reels, Ev’Yan Whitney, and Amy Nelson.
The ladies discussed the true meaning of resistance, how it started, and what it means to each of them. They also touched on how productive discomfort can encourage women to go out and make a change, but still touched on the importance of putting yourself first. The audience also learned on how to use questions as a tool to effectively speak to people who may have difference beliefs or stances on different issues. Overall, the room was electrifying and made our first time in Portland one for the books. Ahead, some key takeaways from the conversation and more information on how you can get registered to vote and make a difference.
Mic-Drop Moments
“Even if you’re just voting for your local officials, it actually matters.”
“Two things are important: businesses and company owners being responsible and helping their communities, and conscious consumerism (putting money behind women-owned businesses).”
“I’m sick of hearing that politics is this hobby people don’t have time for.”
“With social media, you don’t have to shop anywhere without knowing more about the business.”
“There’s people out there that are dealing with the same stuff you’re dealing with.”
‘’Women are less likely to get promoted than men.”
“In changing the future of work for women the conversation must involve everyone.”
“It is way easier for me to give love and hold space for other people than it is to hold space for myself.”
“As someone who’s a chronic nurturer and caregiver, it’s very difficult for me to take a step back before I start posting on Instagram and trying to help people. I need to take a step back and think about what I need in the moment.“
“I can’t help people if I can’t fill my own cup first.”
Join the Resistance
We’re encouraging our readers to get out and vote in the November elections, as registration in many cities will be closing soon. To find out the deadline for your state, click here. And yes, you can register to vote online and the process takes an average of two minutes or less to complete. Head to the polls, and most importantly, resist.
While we wait for November, be sure to catch Season 3 of The Man in the High Castle only on Amazon Prime Video and use the hashtag #ResistanceRises to join in on the conversation online!
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Today is International Day of the Girl—Here's What it Means
Plus, how to get involved.
We’re all about a holiday that represents girls and women across the globe to honor them in one way or another. Today is International Day of the Girl, and we’re breaking down why it’s time to work more efficiently towards gender equality, female education, the fight against poverty, and more. And, if you don’t know what the meaning behind International Day of the Girl is, that’s likely because it’s a much newer holiday on our calendar.
The Origin
On October 11, 2012 the United Nations acknowledged marked the day as the first International Day of the Girl. “The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.” It’s celebrated in the US by working to dismantle the patriarchy through girl-led activism across the country. This year’s theme for the special day is With Her: A Skilled GirlForce.
Stats
Out of the 600 million teen girls across the world, more than 90% of those living in developed countries will receive little to no pay once they enter the workforce.
Abuse and exploitation are common. Approximately 603 million women still live in countries where domestic violence is not considered a crime.
As much as $28 trillion dollars could be added to the global GDP if we reach gender equality by 2025.
Out of the 757 million adults in the world who cannot read or write, two out of three are women.
41 million girls living in developing countries are denied a primary education
71 percent of human trafficking victims are women and girls
40 percent of women don’t identify with the women they see in the media and advertising
Women only account for 4.8% of Fortune 500 CEOs and 22% of global parliamentarians
How to Get Involved
You can write girls inspiring letters through To Love Ourselves. Seven in 10 girls believe they are not good enough. To Love Ourselves is on a mission to change their minds. They write letters to girls around the world who are going through a hard time, and each recipient receives 15 letters from writers, all filled with love and support. The message is simple: We believe in you and are rooting for you. You are never alone. You can also host a write night or make a donation.
Help spread awareness online. At the moment, the #InternationalDayoftheGirl hashtag has over 76,000 shares on Instagram, and you can join in with #DayoftheGirl on Twitter. Incorporate the conversation into your real-life interactions too, by advocating for girls with co-workers, friends, and family.
Donate! There are several organizations that continuously accept donations to support girls and women across the globe. These organizations also focus on different topics ranging from helping girls get an education to fighting poverty and more. Consider the Malala Fund, Girls Not Brides, and CARE International.
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