Martha Stewart on Growth, Imposter Syndrome, and How She Wants to Be Remembered
“Be a strong, willful, self-possessed person. You have to be if you’re going to be in business for yourself.”
What. A. Legend. When we found our we’d be graced with the presence of the one and only Martha Stewart as one of our keynote conversations at our New York conference, we may or may not have collectively lost it at the C&C office. And, of course, Martha did not disappoint. Though she admitted she doesn’t suffer from imposter syndrome (LOL, can you share your secrets, Martha?!), she did offer some sage advice that only a woman who’s been killing it in business for decades could know. Read on for her tips on growth, hiring, and what she wants her legacy to be.
On whether print is dead…
“Even though magazines are now, again, failing and closing, due to the digital world—we still produce a beautiful magazine every single month.”
On having more than 8,000 products in her line…
“We found that even though we were giving people the how-to ideas, many people wanted the product, so it was a perfect way expand into product development. We continue to do products in many different categories.”
“I want to see which method of selling works the best. Can we improve those ways of selling?”
On the longevity of her product line…
“We’ve been making beautiful, useful, well-made products for a long time, and I want to continue to do that in a big way. We want to be where the customer wants and needs us.”
Advice for women looking to grow a team and find their forever employees…
“Find someone who is competent, exciting, curious. And you have to be able to train people and spend time with a new employee.”
On imposter syndrome…
“Take the reins. Be a strong, willful, self-possessed person. You have to be if you’re going to be in business for yourself. You have to be able to let stuff run off you—you can’t dwell on the problem.”
“I have a silly little motto: When you’re through changing, you’re through. You have to be able to change and swerve to adapt.”
Advice for younger self…
“Stay true to your beliefs.”
“Be a strong, willful, self-possessed person. You have to be if you’re going to be in business for yourself.”
Last text to Snoop…
“I wished his mom a happy birthday!”
Life hack for busy working women…
“2-3 housekeepers.” 🤣
Where she gets her energy…
“Green juice!”
On her legacy…
“I want to be remembered as a good woman who is a good teacher; one who is fun and has accomplished a lot.”
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Desk-Side: This Fitness Influencer Shares Her Best Tip To Grow Your Following
“Always remember that comparison is the thief of joy. You are you, and that is your power.”
Katie Austin’s energy is infectious. The fitness personality and TV host genuinely wants to make people feel good—including herself—and that work all starts in her home office (where she keeps a set of weights, of course). Today, we’re partnering with Glade® Essentials Room Mist to share the story behind Katie’s successful brand. Read on to hear what motivates her and what she loves most about her job.
Q: Where’s home to you?
A: I was born and raised in Alexandria, VA, so I’m an East Coast girl at heart. But I went to USC, so I now live in Los Angeles. I’ve been working here for approximately three years post-grad and am absolutely loving LA.
Q: What is self-care to you?
A: So it might seem a little bit cliche, but the thing that I love to do for self-care, and my definition of self-care is obviously taking care of my body inside and out.
Q: What’s your go-to treat for a productive day?
A: I like to make myself a smoothie to keep me energized throughout the whole entire day.
Q: What productivity tips do you have?
A: My number one tip for productivity is to wake up early in the morning. I always feel more ambitious. There’s just something about a morning vibe where you just get stuff done. I also love to keep my home office fresh to keep my mind up to par. I like natural light, I can’t have clutter, and I love the Glade® Essentials Room Mist to keep my space always feeling fresh.
Q: What have you been working on lately?
A: So I am currently working on some new app updates for my membership program, which is a new workout every single day. So if you haven’t checked it out, make sure you check it out! Plus, I am always working on revamping some of my activewear line, which is always entertaining and fun.
Q: What’s the hardest part about being an influencer?
A: The hardest part is definitely scrolling through Instagram and comparing myself to other girls and other influencers out there. So always remember that comparison is the thief of joy. You are you, and that is your power.
“Always remember that comparison is the thief of joy.
You are you, and that is your power.”
Q: What advice do you have for someone looking to grow their following?
A: The advice that I would give to someone trying to grow their following is just to stay authentic and true to yourself. Plus, that consistent content will always take you far.
Q: You keep weights at your desk—why?
A: Yes! I like to just pump it up every now and then when I feel like I’m getting in a little bit of a work rut. It helps boost your brainpower actually.
Q: What would you do if you had more free time?
A: If I had more free time, I would definitely be traveling more (as if I don’t travel enough already). But that’s definitely on my list. Plus I love sports a lot so I want to be involved in more sports any way I possibly can. Anything recreational or club, even ping pong.
Q: What do you think you would do if you weren’t a fitness influencer?
A: I would have to say what sets me apart, why I’m different is my bubbly personality. So in my next life I would have to say that I would be a pop star because I’m an amazing shower singer, I love to dance, and I love to be the center of attention. Just kidding!
Q: What’s the best part of being an influencer?
A: I would have to say the best part about my job is being my own boss, which is so fun. But at the same time that means I have to keep myself accountable 24/7, which can be kind of hard to stay motivated that much. Then I’d have to say the most rewarding part about what I do is helping other girls live their best life. It’s so gratifying to hear when other girls have gained that confidence and gained that self-love.
See Katie’s full interview below:
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How to Protect Yourself on Social Media
What don't you want a complete stranger to know?
photo credit: Vibe Tribe Creative
Social media is arguably the most powerful tool currently circulating in our society. Whether you use it for marketing, networking, business or personal pleasure it’s a part of our daily life. For me, I use it for all of the above – every single day of the year. I spend hours a week ensuring that what I post is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and that my followers gain something by reading the caption / link attached.
Recently, an incident occurred that I wanted to bring to light in hopes that you will never find yourself in a similar position -- or, if you do, you will know the proper steps to take.
I was sitting in the middle of a work lunch when I got a Facebook notification from an acquaintance that I hadn’t spoken to in well over a year. Intrigued by what she could possibly have to say, I threw my table manners aside and opened up the message. To my surprise I saw the words “Cosmetic Dentistry” plastered next to my smiling face. I thought to myself “what in the bleep is this?!”
Click link
New web browser opens: Yoursmilebecomesyou.com appears
I see the below.
At first I thought HEY! THAT’S ME! and then I thought wait, that’s me…
As I sat there staring at the website like a deer in headlights I didn’t know what question to ask first. How did they get my picture? Where did they get my picture from? Is that legal? Shouldn’t they have asked my permission? Do I call them? Do I call my mom? Do I call anyone? Am I being a baby for feeling completely freaked out that my face is being splattered across a major association’s website without my consent?
Pause.
For the record: I have never, ever, had any version of cosmetic dental. This smile of mine is au naturel and I would like to take this moment to thank my parents for blessing me with it.
Once I cooled down I put my business hat back on and broke down the appearance of this matter. Here I am, an author of a blog and face behind a growing brand with a smile to reflect my positive outlook on life. How in the world is it going to look to have a young woman who consistently preaches positive life reminders yet hides the “fact” that she went under the dentist’s drill.
To be honest, before that moment I had never given serious thought to safety issues when it comes to social media. All of my social media accounts are public: Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, Pinterest – you name it, you can see it. I let my followers into my life on a daily basis. From traveling across country to visiting my boyfriend to candid moments with my best friends. From huge career steps and everything in between-- it’s all there when you type in @MillennialMiss. The thing is, I want it to be there. There as in my social media platforms or the sites I've given permission to use my image and link back. But not to a company that has ripped my picture off my photographer's Pinterest page without acknowledging me as a person, let alone asking for my consent.
So I did something that I had never done before in my entire life – I called a lawyer. After I brought him up to speed, he hardly batted an eye lash before telling me that using my photo to promote cosmetic dentistry without my permission was against the law. The following day we dove head first into procedural steps to file a lawsuit.
To be crystal clear – this post is not about me standing up for my rights as a person let alone a person with a brand attached to her name but instead I want to take this unfortunate situation and use it as an opportunity to provide some simple tips on how to stay safe on the internet. The truth of the matter is, you never know where your picture may end up. Scary thought, huh?
I know that to the naked ear this all may sound a bit silly, but social media holds a lot of power. It is crucial that we, as women, know how to protect ourselves.
Combining research with personal experience, I have compiled a list of tips of safety measures to take when using social media:
1. When creating social media accounts make sure to use a password that is stronger than your pets name. Use a password that no one would be able to crack and keep it private!
2. Provide minimal information about yourself as possible and stay away from publicly listing your address. Always double think when filling out these forms, what wouldn’t you want a complete stranger to know?
3. Even though “check ins” are of the norm, be cautious of when you do so. Tagging your exact location (i.e: where you’re brunching) in real life gives a further glimpse into your whereabouts which, can lead to someone easily following you. Enjoy your time with the ones you’re with and save your posting for afterwards.
4. If you tend to use a public, work, or friend's computer log out of your social accounts after each use.
In hopes this post served as an eye opener to consistently be mindful of what you post online and that every single one us is entitled to exercise our rights.
Tag me,
Chels
Chelsea Briche runs the popular blog The Millennial Miss. A platform for young women surviving their twenties with grace and a lot of humility. The platform is Chelsea's "pledge to you, the ones who haven’t quite figured it all out yet. That we, together, will immerse ourselves in every single thing possible; explore, love a lot, love a little, and never touch the ground."
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"Your Message Is Yours, and That Is Your Power” & Other Mic-Drop Moments From Our NYC Conference
You came, you saw, you networked the hell out of our conference this weekend!
OMG. NEW. YORK. CITY. You came, you saw, you networked the hell out of our conference this weekend, and we were so grateful to share the day with you! From panels on raising funds and building brands to mentor power hours and making new friends at happy hour, you made our NYC conference an incredible experience. If you weren’t able to make it this year, we’re so excited to share some of the best takeaways from each of our panels below—be sure to check back later this week for recaps of our keynotes, too!
RAISE UP:
Venture capital, negotiation and bootstrapping your business
Panelists:
Yasmin Moaven, Senior Director of Investor Relations at Fair
Angela Du, Investor at SoftBank Vision Fund
Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard International
Jordana Kier, Co-founder of LOLA
Marah Lidey, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Shine
Moderator:
Sherry Jhawar, Co-Founder, Blended Strategy
Yasmin: The moment I had a seat at the table, I began to think bigger and ask for more. This is the time for us to rewrite the narrative. Take the opportunity to be at the table as a way to stand up and find your route. Men are not afraid to ask, so why should we be?
Ginger: Investors aren’t investing so much in your business as they are investing in you.
Marah: All risk is relative.
Ginger: People get paralyzed because they think an idea has to be perfect. Your first step is not going to be perfect, but you ideate from there.
Angela: You do not have to sell your business to make money. There is capital everywhere. There are investors all over who are looking for your dynamic.
Marah: Find the people who believe in you from the start. They don't necessarily have to be the same race, gender, etc. You want people who are in it to win it with you. Ask yourself: Do they align with my values?
Jordana: Don't be afraid to share your plan with mentors and informal investors even if it's not 100% final—their feedback and tough questions only makes your case stronger.
Sherry: It is just as important for the founder interview investors. You can call other portfolio companies to ask, “What was it like during hard times? How did they react?
MODERN ACTIVISM:
Exploring the role of diversity, inclusion and politics in the workplace
Panelists:
Nabela Noor, Content Creator, Activist and Public Speaker
Hunter McGrady, Model & Activist
Denise Bidot, Model & Activist
Lindsay Peoples Wagner, Editor-In-Chief, Teen Vogue
Nikki Ogunnaike, Style Director, ELLE
Moderator:
Heather Records, VP of Marketing, Create & Cultivate
Lindsay: We have to talk about culture and what women really need. If we’re not doing that, we’re not doing our jobs.
Nikki: The onus to effect change often falls on women of color, but women who’ve helped me most are the whole women in the room who’ve said, ‘No, this is not OK.’ It’s not just on the people of color to bang down that door, it’s really on the people who don’t look like us to bring us along with them.
Lindsay: Pretty much every meeting I go into, most people know I’m the only black editor-in-chief in the US. That’s really hard because there really isn’t leadership above me that has done what I’m trying to do. There isn’t a blueprint. You just gotta push.
Denise: Before, models were just models, and now we’re activists. We should be held accountable for our actions.
Hunter: It takes a monumental shift in how we think about things to make change. We have to say, I’m not changing for you. I don’t care if you call me a whale 500 times on Instagram—I’m the proudest whale out there, then.
Nabela: There’s this saying, “Ignore the bullies.” I don’t believe in that or think it’s helpful for the world to change. I’m going to face them head on and tell them I love myself.
Lindsay: When I grew up reading Teen Vogue, I didn’t see myself in its pages. My mom always says, Be what you needed when you were younger. If I do it, other companies and brands will be encouraged to follow as well.
Lindsay: Everything you do is with intention, whether you think so or not.
Nabela: There’s no way you can be happy and mean. Happy people don’t say hurtful things.
Lindsay: There were a lot of people that told me, 'You talk about diversity too much, you complain too much, you make things a big deal and should just be grateful.' But if I don’t say something or speak up, no one else will.
Nabela: Who you choose to align yourself with is a really big indication of what you believe.
Nikki: People need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. and I think corporate America isn’t there yet. There aren’t a lot of people at the top who aren’t white males. My biggest marching order for myself is to help diversify that space.
IN GOOD COMPANY:
The women creating, collaborating and cultivating community
Panelists:
Katie Sturino, Founder, 12ish Style & Megababe
Marie Forleo, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Host of MarieTV
Gabby Bernstein, International speaker & #1 NYT bestselling author
Suzy Batiz, Founder, Poo-Pourri
Pauline Lhote, Director of Winemaking, Chandon
Betsy Patel, Chemist at Living Proof
Moderator:
LaTonya Yvette, Author, Stylist, & Writer
Suzy: You don’t have to know shit, you just have to be passionate. You can Google anything.
Marie: The world needs that special gift that only you have. You have every right to put out the product or service with so much pride, and to make that money.
Gabby: Our rock bottom is the catalyst for our greatest purpose and change. If you’re in a moment in your life where you feel like this is the bottom—congratulations, because it’s only up from there.
Pauline: Always champion your ideas. Having that confidence is really important to succeed.
Suzy: People are here to support you and help you. This whole belief about competition is not true. People want you to make it.
Marie: You can’t say yes to everything, but you can say no with compassion and kindness.
Gabby: If you feel a calling to write, start and the pressure will be off. Just write. Get it onto the page.
Suzy: Energy is your greatest currency.
Gabby: Don’t be afraid of the tough stuff, because it will reveal the great stuff.
Marie: Don’t let people put you into a f*cking box. Don’t let people tell you what you can and can’t do. Do let anyone define you. You define yourself.
Gabby: If you say you don’t have time to meditate, you have time to feel like shit. If you’re not taking the time to align, even for five minutes, then you set yourself up to fail.
Pauline: Stay true to what you believe in—for me, that’s quality. Make sure what you’re putting in the market is what you envisioned it would be.
Gabby: Small miracles, added up, form the way you see your life.
Suzy: My goal never changes: It’s to reach my highest evolution in this lifetime.
Marie: Simplify to amplify. Growth for growth’s sake is a sickness. Learn to say no the the pressure to keep climbing if it’s not your direction.
POD SQUAD:
Meet the ladies killing the podcast game
Panelists:
Noor Tagouri
Becca Tobin
Julie Kramer and Emma Diamond
Mamrie Hart and Grace Helbig
Ahyiana Angel
Moderator:
Tyeal Howell, Marketing Manager, Create & Cultivate
Ahyiana: Start somewhere! Don’t feel like you have to have it all together. I didn't start with switch pivot and quit, so I made a switch with a name. Do what you gotta do. Just make sure you’re being consistent. Don’t get caught up thinking you have to be perfect.
Noor: The foundation of our podcast was rooted in vulnerability. That is the only way that our community will be served justice.
Becca: When you’re partnering up with friends for your podcast, it’s important to figure out the dynamic and learn how to separate personal stuff from busy.
Ahyiana: You need to be real to break through to people.
Noor: I recognize the power of going into spaces and asking, “How will someone be impacted by this experience?”
Mamrie: Don’t be intimidated by starting a podcast because it’s something new, because you don’t have the numbers, or because you don’t have a production company.
Ahyiana: Do something that you can manage consistently to connect with your audience. For me, it’s Instagram Live.
Becca: Don’t please everyone! You have to have a strong point of view. That’s how you attract your tribe. By trying to please everyone, you alienate yourself from everyone.
Ahyiana: People come to your podcast to get something so make sure you give them what they want.
Noor: Go into an interview with a mutual exchange. Before a camera goes on, I spend time getting to know the person. Remember the story is bigger than you.
Emma: Being able to divulge something very personal goes a long way! People appreciate that.
Noor: Stay true to your voice and don’t be afraid.
LAUNCHPAD:
How to build your brand and bring it to market
Panelists:
Robert Schaeffler, CEO Devacurl
Carmen Tal, Co-Founder, Moroccanoil
Fiona Parkin, Advertising Creative Director, GoDaddy
Sharifa Murdock, Co-Owner of Liberty Fairs and Founder of Envision Festival
Asa Siegel, CEO and Founder, STAMBA Superfoods
Babba Rivera, Founder & CEO of next-gen brand marketing agency bybabba
Moderator:
Maxie McCoy, Author & Speaker
Sharifa: It’s important to bring those that follow behind you, up with you.
Babba: Things are better done than perfect. Be comfortable with the good enough!
Robert: If you’re in a space where there’s a lot of competition, that means you’re doing something right.
Sharifa: Never let someone else dictate who you are supposed to be.
Babba: Nothing is static! You can alway ideate—I launched my brand without a logo.
Sharifa: We live in the best time of our lives to do whatever the hell we want.
Robert: Let’s grow the pie together—it’s about partnering.
Sharifa: Nothing is ever easy. At the end of every process is gratitude.
Robert: Think about what your bring to the table that’s unique. Ask yourself, what do you stand for?
Carmen: If you know who you are as a brand at your core, no one can come for you, and competition will affect you less.
Carmen: We focused on the fact that we thought our idea was amazing, and we stuck to that—we were stubborn and did not listen to other people.
Maxie: It can be done, you just have to stick with it.
THE PERSONAL IS PROFESSIONAL:
How to build a personal brand you love that brands want to work with
Panelists:
Justine Marjan, Celebrity Hair Stylist and Brand Ambassador, GHD
Mari Mazzucco, PR and Influencer Marketing Manager, Olly
Laura Minch, Digital Brand Manager, Biossance
Wendy Nguyen, Founder & Blogger at Wendy’s Lookbook
Dr. Dendy Engelman, Dermatologist
Moderator:
Tiffany Reid
Wendy: Think of three rules that ground your brand. Our rules allowed us to build out the brand voice we really wanted.
Laura: What is your superpower? Why should people listen to what you have to say? The beauty of building a really powerful brand is that you can switch careers and industries while still building a really successful brand.
Dendy: The easiest way to start is to decide who you are not, or who you don’t want to be. Who you want to be will come out of that.
Justine: On social media, consistency is key. Come up with a color scheme and stick to that palette.
On building an authentic social media presence:
Wendy: What is your added value? Why would people want to follow you?
Laura: What’s the element of difference you can bring so people have a reason to come back to you?
On making a difference…
Laura: Having a personal brand is necessary, whether you believe it or not. Even if you don’t want to be in the spotlight, you still need to think about the image you’re projecting into the world, and think about what you’re passionate about that’s making the world a better place.
On what she looks for in influencer partnerships:
Mari: Is engagement there? Are people commenting and asking good questions? That’s one of the most important brands look for. It’s not all about followers.
Dendy: When you get brand partnerships, know that that’s a relationship that can easily be broken. It’s a small industry. When you’re great to work with, brands will come back.
Amber Heard
in conversation with Mandana Dayani
Only the people who benefit from the status quo don’t want to change it.
We’re a generation of daughter of equality. We’ve inherited too much to accept anything less than that—it’s our burden to push it forward.
We’re saying we’re loud, we’re here, and we want to change the world to respect and believe survivors and push the conversations even further.
We are a part of a vast army of voices that are not accepting silence.
When someone puts you in a box, change what the walls of the box are made out of.
I refuse to accept the status quo. I refuse to stand in line.
I know that it can sometimes be overwhelming with the increased connection we have and the awareness of injustices, but we are an army of voices that have been silenced for so long. You just have to choose: Which side of history do you want to be on?
BRAND LOVE:
How to build companies with kindness at their core
Panelists:
Camilla Ruth Marcus, Founder of Westbourne
Teressa Foglia, Hat Designer and CEO at Teressa Foglia
Kristy Lewis, National Marketing Director at Hallmark
Katie D’Amato, Director, Brand & Social Activation at Alaska Airlines
Moderator:
Amina Smith, Reporter & Host
Kristy: You have to make consistency a habit.
Camilla: How you say no is more important than how you say yes. Yes is easy, no is hard.
Katie: The amount of touch points a brand has to control that delivers the right results for customers is endless.
Teressa: Starting with a brand strategy is the most important thing when starting a business.
Camilla: You can’t learn unless you take one step. Take a step every day both personally and professionally and you will feel better about where you’re headed.
Teressa: Don’t make compromises for things that aren’t worth it.
Kristy: Live the same culture that you expect.
Camilla: Don’t be afraid to grow while saying no. As a leader in business, your no is more important than your yes.
Katie: Be okay in the middle space—the discomfort that comes dealing with tough stuff will take you far.
Camilla: Just do something—take that one set, do that one thing that you’re afraid of. You have to take a risk in small and big ways every single day.
MARKETING MASTERCLASS:
Showing up in the social, offline and online world
Panelists:
Tezza Barton, Creative Director & Influencer
Cynthia Andrew, Attorney & Content Creator at Simply Cyn
Hilary Sloan, Director of Business Development at ShopStyle
Rachel Curry, Director of Marketing Owned Channels at Volvo
Jacey Duprie, Content Creator at Damsel in Dior
Naomi Jacobs, Director of Social Strategy at QVC
Moderator:
Reesa Lake, EVP of Brand Partnerships at Digital Brand Architects
On staying on the forefront of social:
Hilary: We’re the only influencer platform where you can see the revenue share that your earning. We believe that information empowers influencers to make decisions about their businesses and tell their brand story in a different way.
Cynthia: The platform may change and the media may change, but what I create, I own. Content is king. I do try to be aware of the different ways I can get what I’m creating out there, but I have stories I want to tell and there are people who want to hear them, and that’s what I care about most.
Tezza: Your message is yours, and that’s your power.
Rachel: Think outside the box in who you follow every day.
On getting a partnership:
Jacey: Start in your closet and vanity with what you already use and own. You have to stay true to your voice. If it’s fake, it’s fake, and people are going to sniff you out on it.
Tezza: It’s such a saturated market now and can be daunting to ask how you’ll be different. The best way to do that is to ask the people around you what they think you’re good or come to you for advice on. If you can speak to something, it’ll carry your brand as you go.
Cynthia: I really try to make sure that as I go through my feed, I feel good about the decisions I’ve made.
What they look for in influencers:
Rachel: The power for our partnerships comes from the partnership itself. We met Jacey at a C&C event and found out she was looking for a new car. There’s so much power in the relationship and makes it more authentic.
Reesa: Be a good nice person. It take no money, no effort, no investment. Just be a good person.
PRICELESS CONVERSATIONS PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD:
Meet the women making an impact
Panelists:
Kelsea Gaynor, Founder, East Olivia
Bliss Lau, Founder, Bliss Lau
Brianna "Breezy" Dotson, Co-Founder, Coco and Breezy
Piera Gelardi, Co-Founder, Refinery 29
Jaclyn Johnson, Founder & CEO, Create & Cultivate
Moderator:
Cheryl Guerin, Mastercard
Jaclyn: You have to start saying, “This is a business, and I’m going to take it seriously.” It completely changed the trajectory of all things Create & Cultivate for me.
Piera: You do need a strategy, but it doesn’t always need to be a five-year plan. Agility and following our intuition has allowed us to deliver what our audience is looking for, going on new platforms that didn’t previously exist, and working with brands as well.
Breezy: Coco and I had anxiety about raising capital. As black women, we were afraid to ask for money. When we started this company we didn’t know sh*t, and we made it work.
Breezy: Our goal is to take away the anxiety from asking from funding and share our knowledge with everybody else. Know that you are worth it, and it’s OK to ask for money.
Bliss: If there’s one thing I’ve always done, I always knew exactly down to the penny how much money I wanted to make.
Kelsea: I funded my business off relationships and intuition. It was really about staying true to what the brand meant to me. My PTO days were my funding.
Piera: It’s critical to maintain majority control of your business. When you give away 80% of your business, you lose the ability to move your business in the direction you know it should go.
Jaclyn: You have to know exactly how you’re going to spend that money. What are you doing with that $2M? If you’re going to go the self-funded route, there’s a big level of sacrifice. I didn’t pay myself for a very long time. You are the driving force, you are the one keeping an eye on cash flow, but you’re also the one who takes all the flack when things go wrong.
Breezy: If you don’t know something, ask. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to be your mentor.
Kelsea: We’re pretty expensive, but when you hire us, you know you’re supporting a company who does things like offer their employees health insurance.
Breezy: Don’t be afraid to fail. Have that self-awareness so that when you do fail, you know how to do better next time.
Kelsea: Confidence comes from knowing your worth. When you get turned down, you know it’s not because of you, but because it’s a good fit.
MEET THE MOGULS:
The people dominating the fashion and beauty game
Panelists:
Lilit Caradanian, Content Creator and CEO at Elcie Cosmetics
Lisa Price, Founder of Carol’s Daughter
Kate Walsh, Actor & Founder of Boyfriend Perfume
Holly Thaggard, Founder & CEO of Supergoop!
Anastasia Soare, Founder & CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills
Moderator:
Cyndi Ramirez, Founder & CEO of Chillhouse
Lisa: Dream bigger and let go of the little stuff. After meeting Oprah, I no longer had the luxury of worrying about the label being straight on bottles. I had to think big picture.
Holly: It’s the storytelling and the passion that sell when you’re a leader. People buy authenticity.
Kate: When in doubt, go slow.
Lisa: You have to believe in what your product. That’s how you get through the tough times. If you’re doing it for money don’t do it— you just won’t make it.
CHANGEMAKERS:
The women breaking boundaries and building businesses
Panelists:
Tamara Mellon, Co-Founder of Jimmy Choo and Tamara Mellon
Rebecca Minkoff, Founder of Rebecca Minkoff
Jaime Schmidt, Founder of Schmidt's Deodorant
Deepica Mutyala, Founder & CEO at Live Tinted
Gwen Whiting, Co-Founder, Laundress
Moderator:
Anne Fulenwider, Editor in Chief, Marie Claire
Deepica: I want our vegan, cruelty-free standards become the industry standard. Brands shouldn’t be standing for these things—it should just be the norm.
Rebecca: There are challenges every single day—I can’t think of a single person who is able to coast.
On staying authentic on social media:
Deepica: We always show the successes, but what about the hardships?
On selling to Unilever...
Gwen: Our goal was always to sell the company. We had a reality check of what we could manage, but we believed in our brand and knew we were making product that people needed. We expected to sell to a giant company from the beginning. Unilever saw our purpose and our vision and it was a great match for us.
Jaime: When I started the business, I had zero intentions of selling. I was just the girl at the farmer’s market. But when I was getting a really strong response, it became clear we were a real player in not only the natural industry but we were really taking on bigger brands, too. When we were at the point we were getting POs from Costco for 300k units of deodorant, we decided it might be time to chat with investors. Unilever was the perfect match. We had very similar visions for the company, so it made sense.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
in conversation with Michelle Lee
I think anyone that’s in startup life would agree that you’re wearing many hats, rolling your sleeves up and getting down and dirty. You can see where the needle moves, and celebrate success together as a small team.
Rose Inc. is so much of a passion project for me; I wake up and I’m excited to get into the office and work with these women. If it turns out to be bigger than a passion project, that’s great.
I very much have always managed to differentiate between my life as a career woman and my personal life—when I come home from work, I just want to be the partner, mom, friend, and at the office I’m in my blazer ready to go.
I don’t have any advice for new moms! I need to be asking for advice from you all. What is the balance? How are you doing it? It’s such an individual and personal thing, but what I’m trying to really focus on is that when I’m with my family, I give them 100 percent, and when I’m at work, I give it 100 percent.
I’m not sure there’s such thing as perfect balance, but I’m certainly keen to strive for it.
What’s in store for Rose Inc:
We’ll be doing our second masterclass here in NYC. We’re continuing to partner with great brands and product beautiful content. Our YouTube channel was something I was hesitant about doing—it’s taken me some time to warm up and feel comfortable doing it—it’s very intimate. But now I shoot videos in my own bathroom. It’s a great way to connect with our community.
Building Rose Inc has been the most fulfilling job. I’ve been lucky to work for so many years, with so many highs and lows — I think a lot of times people look at a career and see just all success but there were times when the phone wasn’t really ringing, and in those times I would find myself inspired to think about what I really wanted to do. I’ve never been really comfortable waiting for the phone to ring. I’ve always had a feeling I wanted to build something with my own two hands and my own brain.
3 beauty products every working woman should own:
A great concealer or foundation - I love Bare Minerals loose foundation powder
A red lipstick - so multipurpose and makes you feel powerful
A great mascara - I love the new Marc Jacobs one!
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
It’s OK to say no. Since turning 30 and becoming a mom, I’ve found my voice and know what I’m not willing to compromise on.”
Martha Stewart
in conversation with Jaclyn Johnson
On the longevity on her product line:
We’ve been making beautiful useful well made products for a long time, and I want to continue to do that in a big way. We want to be where the customer wants and needs us.
On imposter syndrome:
Take the reins. Be a strong, willful, self-possessed person. You have to be if you’re going to be in business for yourself. You have to be able to let stuff run off you—you can’t dwell on the problem.
When you’re through changing, you’re through. You have to be able to change and swerve to adapt.
I want to be remembered as good woman who is a good teacher who is fun and has accomplished a lot.
Ashley Graham
in conversation with Jaclyn Johnson
On body positivity & representation:
Here I am, a white woman who has been given a platform for a body that’s now quote trendy. But here are so many women of color who have always had this body type and have been celebrating their own bodies for so long—it’s wild that we haven’t given women of color the same platform that I as a white woman have, and i really want to see more representation for women of color in this space.
On equal pay:
Talk to your colleagues about how much you’re making. You need to know your worth in the workplace—there’s nothing wrong with building each other up, having these conversations, and taking it on together.
On brand partnerships:
For me, everything I do is authentic—I know, I know, you keep hearing it everywhere—but this is really what authenticity is. If I’m posting what sports bra I love on Instagram, it’s because I really love it.
On building confidence:
I’ll have moments when I leave the bathroom and look in the mirror and say to myself, “You are fine, you are beautiful, you are brilliant, and you are bold.
Missed out on this conference? Stay tuned…we’re sharing some super exciting news about our next conference this week!
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Mom Knows Best: How This Content Creator Shares Her Wisdom With Her Children
“Don’t change your world because you have kids, instead bring your kids into your world.”
Who run the world? Moms, TBH. This Mother’s Day, we’re partnering with Hallmark to share the stories of four women who have been inspired by their moms or are inspiring their own children to cultivate the lives of their dreams. Today, we’re sitting down with Sai De Silva of Scout the City to hear how she’s teaching, loving, and sharing her world with her children each day. Read on for some major motherhood inspo.
Q: How do you make your children feel loved?
A: I put my phone away and spend time with them individually on weekends. One full Saturday is devoted to my daughter and Sundays are for my son. During the week I spend 2 hours to chat about their day and plan special activities that they would like to do with me during the weekends. I find that the individual attention that each of them receives allows them to not feel left out and they have my undivided attention.
Q: How has motherhood changed you?
A: I learned how to be patient. I also learned to be confident and content with who I am. Being a mother gave me a sense of calmness and opened my eyes to the world in a different way. I no longer care about the small things that I once cared about in my 20’s.
Q: What’s your go-to mom word of wisdom?
A: Don’t change your world because you have kids, instead bring your kids into your world. By that, I mean that you don’t have to lose your identity just because you’re a mother. Instead make this next chapter in life the best yet.
Q: What are the most important things you hope to teach your child(ren)?
A: I always thought I would teach my children new things but quickly learned that it is them who teaches me daily. For example, I’ve always lacked patience and consistently need to be busy. After children, I learned that my sporadic behavior was unnecessary and that there is nothing wrong with having downtime and enjoying life.
Q: What is your most memorable card you’ve ever given or received?
A: I’m not very sentimental and I love to laugh! My husband knows my love language which is why he will always finds the right card for me to make me laugh. Some are filled with gift cards which is always a plus.
In my opinion, when it comes to showing how much you care about someone, a text or email just doesn’t quite cut it. I’ve taught my kids how meaningful it is to send cards in the mail and how gestures like this can completely brighten someone’s day. And they love to see the look on my face when they present me with one of their own creations.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of being a mother?
A: Seeing my children happy is priceless. To wake up to their smiles is a consistent reminder that I’m doing a good job as a parent.
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What You Need To Know To Fight Blog Envy
Jealousy and envy are never pretty and never get you anywhere.
Blog envy feels really shitty, and it happened to me too!
I was merrily browsing the blogosphere… getting inspired and happily devouring all sorts of fantastic-ness that people in the world are creating. I happened to stumble onto a lifestyle website… and was instantly drawn into all the shiny pretty-ness she had on offer. I started dreaming of all the fun I could have if I created a blog just like that! I imagined having an incredible studio where I created all sorts of cool creative things that I shared with the world, and then I saw myself in a floaty kaftan in some exotic location, sharing snippets of me with a cocktail in hand on some sandy beach...
Sigh… it was a fun moment.
But I was snapped back to reality pretty quick when I realized that I don’t have a lifestyle blog. I was just wanting what someone else had… and that it isn’t ME!
Ugh… Blog envy was a little sneaky right there!
It's super easy to get caught in a whirlwind of comparison and jealousy… whether you see someone doing something way more incredible than you, their business is so much bigger than what you have created, or whether they create prettier stuff, they have cleverly managed to infuse who they are into what they do, or maybe they are just soooo much cooler than you see yourself!
Whatever the motive for comparison, whilst it’s more natural than we’d care to admit, the only thing it’s offering you… is distraction. You're being called away from what you are created to do.
Let's imagine what happens if you chase that shiny object.
You start blogging about cocktails, then you share your kaftan holiday at home, you remember that your blog was actually about ____[insert chosen topic here] - so you quickly write a ____ [insert chosen topic here] type tutorial, then you spotted someone's blog about their shoe love… oh yes, must share that new pair of shoes I bought! Then you found a cool quote - so you share that, plus your supper recipe, that webinar you wanted to do, then there was that piece of art you created, oh- and your favorite color this month, then that pen you bought, oh shit… another _____[insert chosen topic here] post needs to be written.
Very soon, you’ve found yourself floating in all sorts of directions… and quickly feel a sense of restlessness… knowing that something just doesn’t FEEL right…. experiencing confusion and overwhelmed and just feeling all over the place.
Shiny objects can be dangerous! So how do we get around it? It’s important to remember that we are all on our own blogging journey.
1. It all starts with knowing why you blog in the first place!
By being powerfully intentional, knowing what your dream is, and why you do what you do… everything else starts falling into place. It makes it so much easier when you have clarity and know what your purpose is!
2. Once you have your core pegged… you need to work out your Awesome Sauce [that special something you offer the world].
Know what makes YOU special… that you were born to do in this world!
3. Then it comes down to continually sharing that AwesomeSauce, people will naturally become attracted to you…
4. Rinse and repeat… Keep at it, keep persisting and sharing your awesomeness with the world… so that you create a business and live you love!
Et Voila!
So the next time a little bout of jealousy hits… remember that you have something incredible to offer this world… that ONLY you can give… and there is no need to focus on what others are doing, but if that twinge of blog envy hits again...
Here are some ideas to help you when blog envy hits:
When someone’s business appears incredible, bigger, and uber successful:
First remember… it has come with a lot of effort, and as you implement your plan, your business will also grow…
Then spread some love and good vibes their way
So if someone has built a really great business:
Let’s celebrate that they have found their AwesomeSauce, and have been able to make a go at it!
Then go back to your big dream… and do what you’re called to do!
When someone is doing something that is shiny and exciting:
There are many incredible ways to position yourself, but if their method is not right for your business, don’t feel pressure to “have to” follow their path!
Repeat after me: "That has been wonderful for them, but it isn’t where I’m taking my special offering right now…"
Then get back to working on that special something you are creating.
When someone has become really successful in a similar blogging space to the one you’re in:
Let’s remember that there is enough space in this world for all of us!
Spread a little love instead!
When they are just so much cooler than you think you are:
We are all cool in our own special way… to our tribe… and anyway - you don’t want to be a copycat.
Find your AwesomeSauce… that “thing” that makes you “cool”
...and rock your AwesomeSauce baby!
This piece originally appeared on Blog Society. Emma Weise wants to live in a world where entrepreneurs feel confident in the brand they are putting out in the world. She gets to help coffee drinking, lipgloss rocking, sneaker wearing entrepreneurs create a brand experience their clients will adore, helping them serve their AwesomeSauce to the world - and she has some delicious treats for you here.
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Weighing the Pros and Cons of Job Hopping
Will it ruin your career?
Weigh the pros and cons of job-hopping to ensure you're always making a smart transition.
The concept of job-hopping—staying at a company for just one to two years before switching to the next—is a much-discussed topic. And people have a lot of opinions about it.
Many people believe that being labeled a job-hopper is a red flag to future employers. I’ve even heard that a pattern of job-hopping can ruin your career. Conversely, I’ve also heard many benefits of switching jobs.
And honestly? There’s truth in both arguments. To help you decide whether or not job-hopping is right for you, let’s analyze the pros and cons:
THE PROS OF JOB HOPPING IN YOUR CAREER
1. JOB SATISFACTION
One of the main benefits of switching jobs is finding one where you can learn, grow, and be happy. If you’re miserable at a job, should you stay for more than two years? Think about what you liked and disliked about the job and use it to guide your choices moving forward. Don’t choose a new job without proactively analyzing whether the job is right for you. This will increase your chances of job satisfaction and the likelihood that you’ll stay for at least two years.
Don’t choose a new job without proactively analyzing whether the job is right for you.
2. INCREASE YOUR SALARY
Another benefit of switching jobs is that you may make more money. According to a recent study, the median pay raise for 2014 was 3%. According to research from Wharton management professor, Matthew Bidwell, hiring managers will pay 10% to 20% more to hire people with a proven track record. If you negotiate your offer effectively, you could make significantly more at another company.
3. MOVE UP FASTER
There are a lot of companies that only offer reviews and promotions once or twice a year. This doesn’t allow for fast upward mobility. One way to increase your title (and your pay) is to get hired at a new company. In fact, Ryan Kahn, a career coach, founder of The Hired Group, and author of Hired! The Guide for the Recent Grad, told Forbes that, “Job hopping is replacing the concept of climbing the corporate ladder.”
If there isn’t room for growth at your current company, switching jobs may be the best way to learn new skills, take on more responsibility, become a manager, and ultimately, advance your career.
THE CONS OF JOB HOPPING IN YOUR CAREER
1. DAMAGE YOUR REPUTATION
If you have a history of job-hopping, it is possible that future employers will think that you’ll be likely to leave quickly, if hired. They may not want to invest time and resources into training if they think you won’t stay for long.
Use your interview as a time to show that you’ll be committed to the company. Ask well-researched questions and offer statements like, “I’m really passionate about [the company’s] mission and the role, and would want to stay for a long time. What would advancement and growth look like for this position?” You’ll probably be asked why you left previous positions and why you are looking to leave your current one. Be prepared to tell your story and explain your reasoning.
2. LOSS OF SKILLS
If you like your job, you’re learning, and there is room for growth, why leave? According to a paper by Matthew Bidwell, it takes external hires two years to build relationships and learn how to be effective at the organization. Bidwell also notes that, “If you like where you are, stay there. Or at least understand how hard it can be to take your skills with you. You think you can go to another job and perform well, but it takes a long time to build up to the same effectiveness that you had in your previous organization. You need to be aware that often your skills are much less portable than you think they are.”
Bidwell also found that external hires have lower performance evaluations. “There is a much greater risk of being let go during those first few years, mainly because they may not develop the necessary skills and thus will not perform as well as expected. Then, too, they might decide to leave voluntarily.”
Before leaving a job at the two-year mark, consider the pros and cons. If you’re happy and learning, it may be worthwhile to stay. Advocate for yourself and try to get a promotion and raise internally. If you’re miserable or there is no room for growth, it’s okay to leave—just make sure to evaluate the new role and company to increase the chances that you’ll stay.
An original version of this article appeared on Career Contessa. Written by: Elana Lyn Gross
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Mom Knows Best: How This Lifestyle Blogger's Mother Set an Amazing Example of Being a Working Mom
“The days are long but the years are short.”
Has your mom changed your outlook on life in a big way? Likely, yes. This Mother’s Day, we’re partnering with Hallmark to share the stories of four inspiring women whose mothers have shaped their lives in special ways. Today, we’re sitting down with Eva Amurri Martino of Happily Eva After to hear how her mom impacted her career choices, parenting style, and life values. (By the way—Mother’s Day is May 12, so there’s still time to find the perfect card for Mom!)
Q: How do you make your mom feel loved?
A: My Mom has always loved a handwritten note, and is amazing at writing them! I feel like by prioritizing handwritten sentiments I honor her in a small way.
Q: How has motherhood changed you?
A: It has changed me in every way! I think it’s given me a lot of confidence, and allowed me to accept my faults more. It taught me that, at the end of the day, it’s most important to lead with your heart not your head.
Q: How are you and your mom similar? What parts of her do you see in you?
A: We both love crafting and making things! I think I picked that up from her for sure.
“It was amazing to live with an example of a woman who was a Mom but also had a career. Unapologetically. ”
Q: How has your mom inspired your career?
A: It was amazing to live with an example of a woman who was a Mom but also had a career. Unapologetically. It’s something I saw both the ups and downs of—and I think that education has helped me a lot as a Mom while I navigate the same waters.
Q: What's your go-to mom word of wisdom?
A: “The days are long but the years are short.” Also: “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” LOL.
Q: What are the most important things you hope to teach your child(ren)?
A: Kindness, generosity, bravery, and a good sense of humor.
Q: What is your most memorable card to or from your mother?
A: My Mom writes amazing cards! She really pours her heart out, even in cards for holidays, like easter. My favorite card from my mom was probably one that came with her gift when I was pregnant with Marlowe. She wrote about how much she looked forward to seeing me as a mom. It was really touching!
Q: What are you most grateful to have inherited from your mother?
A: Her skin! She is in her seventies now and has the skin of somebody at least 20 years younger. I’m so lucky to be a part of that gene pool!
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5 Adulting Lifehacks You Should Know by Age 30
Whether you’re a new grad (congratulations!) or have been working in the real world for a few years, knowing the ins and outs of how to “adult” can feel intimidating.
Being a grown-up is tricky sometimes. Whether you’re a new grad (congratulations!) or have been working in the real world for a few years, knowing the ins and outs of how to “adult” can feel intimidating. But don’t worry – we’re here to help! Below, we’ve partnered with Fair to put together a guide for a few lifehacks to navigate some of the trickiest matters of adulting.
Remind yourself (and others) that you’re worth it. 🌟
Negotiating your salary and can be tricky – and almost always is. Know your worth and don’t be afraid to ask for what you believe you deserve – employers actually expect it. Practice pitching with someone you trust, and be sure to include tangible reasons why you deserve a higher salary. Remember that benefits like PTO, flexible hours, resources needed for your job and other perks are always negotiable too. Lastly, expect your boss or prospective boss to say no at first. It is a negotiation, after all. This is where your practice comes in handy – you might not leave with the exact salary you want, but you won’t leave anything on the table.
Get a car without owning one. 🚘
Having a car is the ultimate hallmark of adulthood, right? But buying or leasing a car can be confusing and exhausting. With Fair, you can avoid going into a multi-year debt and getting a car without actually owning it. They let you pick a car, drive it for as long as you want and cancel at any time. Limited warranty, roadside assistance and routine maintenance is included in the monthly fee. And – you can do it all on your phone, just like you do everything else. So simple!
Save for your next big adventure. ✈️
We all have dreams for the next big trip (hello, Bali!), but regardless if you’re dreaming about a vacation or that next designer handbag – none of that stuff is cheap. How are you supposed to save when you don’t have any savings? In this case, every little helps – so start small. Banking apps like Chime and Acorns grow your savings automatically, so that you don’t have to stay on top of it yourself. Before you know it, you’ll be on that flight. Bingo.
Stay out of debt. 💸
Okay, so one tricky thing about adulting is that not all debt is bad – you just gotta know which one is which. Buying a home is great – because it goes up in value. Buying a car is not – because it decreases as soon as you drive off the lot (again, check out Fair). Another one you want to stay away from is credit card debt. Free financial services like Credit Karma can help you manage and stay on top of your debt, loans, and payments. Don’t get trapped!
Stay a free agent. 🕊️
Scrambling to change your whole life around in order to fit your job is a thing of the past. Times are a-changing and even though a 9-5 is still a very common and stable option, over 50% of the workforce will be 1099ers by 2021 – finding jobs that match their flexible schedule and passions. You don’t have to tie yourself down with only one employer. It’s 2019! You can form the way work fits into your life, and not necessarily the other way around.
Have your own adulting lifehacks to share? Let us know in the comments!
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Giveaway: Win One of Our NYC Conference Gift Bags!
Enter to win all the New York swag of your dreams!
Not gonna make it to our New York conference this year? No worries—you can still enter here for a chance to win one of the highly-coveted gift bags from our NYC event! Trust us, you’re gonna want to throw your name in for one of these. They’re stuffed with amazing beauty and wellness swag, killer snacks, stationery, tech products, and more!
Enter your information below and you could win all the New York swag of your dreams!
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This Trend Director Shares How Social Media Has Revolutionized Style
“Don’t be restricted; push yourself to learn from other people and areas. You never know what door it might open in the future.”
Have you ever wondered who makes all those big decisions about what’s “in” in fashion? Us too. We sat down with Erin Fletcher, trend director at Cotton On, one of our Desert Pop Up partners, to find out how her team tackles trend forecasting, buying, and merchandising for the brand.
Below, Erin shares the most rewarding parts of her job, how the industry has changed since she started, and the best advice she’d give to anyone just starting a career in fashion.
Working in trend forecasting/direction sounds like a dream job for a lot of women. Can you tell us a bit about your career path?
I studied design at University and was lucky enough to move straight into the industry once I graduated. I started my career at an iconic Australian retailer which I’d grown up wearing! After working my way up for a few years I took the leap and moved from Australia to the USA where I landed a dream job working for a retailer in Philadelphia – stepping outside my comfort zone, moving across the world was one of the best things I’ve ever done. After a few years in the USA, an opportunity presented itself at home in Australia working for Cotton On which I have always admired. I started my role as the Cotton On Women’s Trend Director in January. My day-to-day role includes creating and setting a vision for trend stories, ensuring the brand’s DNA is protected.
What’s the most rewarding—and most challenging—part of your work?
Rewarding: I work with a creative and dynamic team to deliver amazing and affordable fashion to people on over 18 countries. Working for an Australian based global brand like Cotton On and creating a product that I’m proud of is something I could have only dreamed of when I started out in the industry.
Most challenging? With the introduction of social media new trends are constantly emerging. We’re always working to tight deadlines to deliver the new trends that meet our customer’s needs across the globe.
What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out in the fashion industry and would like to be where you are someday?
Do more than what’s on your job description! Take every opportunity to learn as much as you can. Don’t be restricted, push yourself to learn from other people and areas. You never know what door it might open in the future.
“Don’t be restricted; push yourself to learn from other people and areas. You never know what door it might open in the future. ”
What are your go-to sources of inspiration for trend forecasting?
Instagram has been a game changer in trend forecasting allowing me to see different trends from around the globe as they’re emerging. I also love to look back on nostalgic references like TV shows and movies from the 80’s and 90’s.
I’m always on the lookout. I find that my weekends are a great time to see what people are wearing on the streets and in my role I’m lucky to travel a lot, which I love! I’m always inspired seeing how people dress differently not only in different countries but different neighbourhoods within a city. New York is a huge inspiration, each borough has a unique look.
Let’s talk about this season in the US. What were some of your trend references for what’s out now?
We’ve been so inspired by 90’s street and surf revival - hello TIE DYE!!!! Being an Australian brand, born on the shores one of Australia’s most iconic surf breaks, Bell’s Beach, I think we really can talk to this first hand! We’re also loving that natural hand crafted vibes like crochet and straw bags. All paired back with your classic denim is going to be huge this summer.
What pieces should we be investing in for summer 2019?
Anything tie dye! The new longer length Bermuda denim shorts, a flippy printed wrap dress and a strappy sport sandal!
How has trend forecasting changed since you started working in fashion?
Global accessibility – geography doesn’t play a part anymore, we’re so connected. I can open my phone and see what people are wearing on the streets of Korea or on the beaches in LA. When I first started you had to physically get on a plane to see global trends. Nothing beats travelling but the introduction of social media and the internet has certainly changed the way we forecast trends and the pace it moves at.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Fortune favours the bold - I accepted a job in a city I had never even set foot in! I moved to the USA and it turned out to be one of the most rewarding & creatively fulfilling times in my life.
If you could go back and tell your 18-year-old self anything, what would it be?
You’ll learn more from the things that you perceive as a negative than those that we’re easy. There will be some bumps along the way, if you can learn from those experiences it makes the success all the more worthwhile.
This post is sponsored by Cotton On. Sign up for Cotton On & Co Perks and get a $10 reward!
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Have a 9-5? Vacuuming Everywhere You Go Will Keep You Fit
No, it's not what you think.
As an avid traveler, I’m often caught doing tricep dips in airports and lunges down the hallways of hotels. It may not always be the most convenient to exercise while traveling, but it is always possible! I love sharing easy workouts you can do no matter where you are traveling or how small your hotel room is. These are also great to keep you active at the office!
Exercising doesn’t have to mean a full-out, hour-long workout. It can be as simple as making a few adjustments to your day.
TAKE THE STAIRS
It sounds obvious, but all too often we skip the stairs only to stand and wait for that all too temping elevator. If you can commit to take the stairs instead, you will actually save time and burn calories fast. You can expect to burn about 10 calories for each minute of stairs you climb! So enjoy the fresh air and take those stairs! The only thing you’ll miss about the elevator is the awkward silence between you and five other strangers crammed in there.
VACUUM EVERYWHERE YOU GO!
It’s not quite what you’re thinking…. I’m not talking about cleaning your floors. This is all about tightening up your tummy. No one can deny the inevitable travel belly bloat that ensues after days of eating new foods and sipping delicious cocktails. One of the best ways to keep your stomach in check is by “vacuuming.” This is where you pull your belly button into your spine, keeping your core tight and engaged. Try to hold this position while breathing regularly for about 60 seconds, relax and repeat. If you can do this regularly, your will notice your lower belly begin to appear much flatter. This is a perfect exercise to do while driving, sitting on an airplane or even just touring your favorite destination.
DON'T SIT DOWN!
Well, not on a chair at least. Next time you are stuck in an airport for hours, don’t spend the entire time slumped in a chair waiting for your flight. Instead, try holding a wall sit. Stand with your back against a wall and feet about hip distance apart. Slowly slide down the wall and step feet out 2 feet form the wall. Make sure your knees are stacked right over your ankles to create a 90-degree angle. Try to hold this position for 30seconds, come to standing to rest and then repeat. This is an excellent way to build lower body strength and keep you busy while you wait!
Katie Dunlop, CPT is a health and fitness expert. After her own 45lb weight-loss transformation, Katie created Love Sweat & Fitness to inspire women to live fit, healthy, and most importantly, balanced lives. She believes you have to love what you’re doing or you won’t keep doing it. Her goal is to provide fun and effective workouts women will love at any fitness level and with little to no equipment needed.
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In Her Shoes: Take A Page From This Blogger's Handbook on Motherhood
“I love using my platform as a community, and sharing a common motherhood struggle that I am going through at the moment.”
Lee Anne Benjamin is the cool working mom many of us dream of being. The Austin-based blogger shares her takes on affordable fashion, home design, and #momlife on her site Life By Lee, and while her feed is totally picture perfect, we’re obsessed with how relatable she is on the internet. We partnered with Jessica Simpson to share a behind-the-scenes look at Lee Anne’s life—check out her interview below!
What do you wear when you want to feel most confident (shoes included)?
I’m a big fan of the relaxed-chic look. If I’m going out to an event or a date night I like to wear a pair of distressed girlfriend jeans, a cami or tee, a blazer or moto jacket, and a pair of comfortable, yet chic wedges, booties, or heeled sandals. I’m also a big hat girl so I’ll add a fedra or straw hat if it’s during the summer months. If I’m heading out for a “mommin-around” kind of day I will wear a great pair of leggings, a comfy tunic tee, and a denim jacket. Depending on my hair day I’ll add a baseball cap. I would probably wear sandals or a comfy & chic pair of sneakers.
If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be?
Michelle Obama. She’s so inspirational, yet so down to earth. I recently read her book, and I was so inspired at how “real” she was & how she shared such normal experiences about her life that we all go through. She is such an amazing role model for so many women. Plus her and Barack are ultimate couple goals in my opinion :)
Describe your style in 3 words.
Comfortable. Chic. Effortless.
On your blog, you openly share the ins and outs of being a working mom. What’s been the most rewarding part of sharing both the celebrations and challenges of parenthood?
The connection to other women, and the power to connect other women. I love using my platform as a community, and sharing a common motherhood struggle that I am going through at the moment. In sharing my struggles, there are so many people who can benefit from it. Not only do I get to connect with other women, but my followers get to connect with other women. A lot of women who follow me have things in common that they don’t even know about, and being able to connect them has been really rewarding.
Want Lee Anne’s look? Shop her style from Jessica Simpson below, and get $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with code create10! One use per customer.
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In Her Shoes: How This Style Influencer Rebranded Her Blog
Interests change—so why can’t your career?
Ashley Torres isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. While working as an accountant several years ago, Ashley launched a fashion blog, Pursuit of Shoes (now Everyday Pursuits)—and scored a ticket out of finance and into the fashion industry because of it! Today, she works on her Everyday Pursuits full-time and is proof that if you dream it, you really can do it. We partnered with Jessica Simpson to ask Ashley about her style, blog rebrand, and secret to success—check out her interview below!
What do you wear when you want to feel most confident (shoes included)?
Although I’m in flats and jeans most of the time, I do love to get glam. There’s nothing like dressing up for a black tie wedding and looking in the mirror thinking “I clean up nice!” A well fitted dress and a great pair of heels always makes me feel 100!
If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be?
Michelle Obama - girlfriend is GOALS. She is so driven and confident, not to mention funny. After reading her book BECOMING I developed a total girl crush on her. I’d love to see a day in her life post presidency.
Describe your style in 3 words.
Boho, Beachy, Glam
You rebranded your old site, Pursuit of Shoes, to Everyday Pursuits. What was the impetus for the rebrand, and what is the mission of your new site?
What started as a ridiculous obsession with shoes continued to evolve into fashion, beauty, travel, entrepreneurship, and relationships… i.e.: pursuing ALL.THE. THINGS. The older I got the more I wanted to have REAL daily discussions with EDP followers. Enter: Everyday Pursuits.
Love Ashley’s look? Shop her style from Jessica Simpson below, and get $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with code create10! One use per customer.
Viva Smocked Short Sleeve Top (similar)
Flutter Sleeve Knit Top (similar)
Plunging Strappy One-Piece Swimsuit
Aprille Espadrille Flatform Sandals
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Create & Collaborate: How Does Your Team Do Its Best Work? (Win a C&C Insiders Membership!)
Take our survey and you might win a free C&C Insiders membership!
At Create & Cultivate, we’re big proponents of collaboration over competition. On any given day, we’re working on dozens of projects with hundreds of moving parts—and communication is so important to making sure the job gets done right.
We know these needs aren’t unique to C&C, so that’s why we’re partnering with Microsoft Teams to conduct a survey about teamwork. We want to hear about how your team communicates and collaborates to crush your company goals. Answer the questions below and you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win a C&C Insiders membership:
TAKE THE SURVEY!
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6 Ways To Brush Up Your Networking Skills
Networking tips to get you ready for #CreateCultivateNY.
Our New York Conference is inching its way closer to us, and as we get ready for the big day, we want to make sure you’re prepped and primed for the big day.
And that definitely includes networking on site at the conference.
While networking can always seem intimidating, it’s something all of our attendees have mastered on site and have been able to take advantage of for their own professional development, and you should too. If you’re looking for ways to brush up your networking skills, we’ve got you covered with the tips below to make sure you don’t lose out on any opportunities.
Nail down your elevator pitch.
When you’re in a room with 500 other women, you’re going to have to nail down your elevator pitch. Make it concise and straight to the point. No beating around the bush, and no overtly selling yourself. BS tends to reek in a crowded environment.
Put your best foot forward.
When you feel your best, other people take notice. No matter how big or small you are in your career, as long as you continue to engage and ensure that your strategy is always to make a lasting impression, you will see that people will be more inclined to establish a deeper connection with you. Confidence is contagious… and while it may seem simple, a smile goes a long way — it's hard to hate a smile!
Practice makes perfect.
If you’re feeling antsy thinking about what you should say to start a conversation with someone, practice with your friends and see how you can nail down the starting a conversation with a stranger. From the approach, to how you introduce yourself, to what you talk about, make sure you can simulate the an entire conversation with a stranger via your friend. Come in ready with a game plan and see that networking anxiety go away.
Engage with the crowd, but don’t be an attention seeker.
It’s easy to fall into the hole of talking about yourself and letting people know about all the things you do in a networking setting. But take a look back and think about the last person who wouldn’t stop rambling about themselves.
Exactly. Don’t be that person.
This is why it’s important to nail down your elevator pitch and keep it short, clear, and concise. Give people the Cliffs notes to your story, and leave them wanting more so they are more inclined to email, call, or text you and get to know you more. Rule of thumb: always keep them wanting to know more.
However, make sure you’re treating the crowd with the same level of interest as you would want them to give you. Be genuinely engaged in knowing who they are, their career, and their story, and see how you can start building a strong connection.
Don’t give out your cards, trade them.
Of course, we should always come handy with a stellar set of business cards that we're ready to hand out. It’s an obvious tip, but one we have to remind you of. Make sure that your business card isn't generic and can show off your creativity and brand effortlessly.
Also, a rule of thumb to have when you’re networking is to make sure that you’re sure you get as many business cards as you hand out. You don’t want to leave empty handed.
Follow-up.
After you’ve finished meeting a new person and have hopefully gotten their contact information, make sure that you’ve written some notes and remember one key point in your conversation (doesn’t have to be business related, it can be something about your mutual love for Honey Nut Cheerios).
Wait a day or two to follow up, and use that key point as a conversation starter for the next time you reach out to them. Not only is this a good way to remind them that you met, but it will let them know that you were genuinely engaged in what they had to say and who they were.
And if you happen to meet someone at our happy hour on Friday, feel free to email or text them that same night so you can meet on site at Create & Cultivate New York the next day! #BuildYourCCSquad
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C&C Classifieds: Plated, 1stdibs, Future, Activision & More!
Need a new gig? We got your back, girl.
Need a new gig? We got your back, girl.
Plated - New York
1stdibs - New York
Future - New York
Activision - Santa Monica, CA
Salted - Santa Monica, CA
Punchey - Miami
Serena & Lily - Sausalito, CA
Influencer Marketing Collaborations Coordinator
Modis - Louisville, Kentucky
Kotis Design - Remote
Thrive Marketing Agency - Remote
Stryker - Redmond, Washington
ID Agent - Bowie, MD
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Mom Knows Best: How This Style Blogger’s Mom Inspired Her Career
“We are both super loving and super sensitive. But don’t be fooled, I get my street smarts, discipline and work ethic from her as well.”
Mother’s Day is just around the corner! This month, we’re partnering with Hallmark to bring you the stories of four inspirational women and the mothers who helped shape them into the incredible people they are now. Today, we’re chatting with Cynthia Andrew, attorney and the style and travel blogger behind Simply Cyn, to hear how her mom’s wisdom inspired her career—and how she celebrates her mom not just on Mother’s Day, but every day.
Q: How do you make your mom feel loved?
A: If there’s one thing I’ve learned—gifts are great, treats are nice, but what really makes us feel close and what I know makes my mom happier than anything is real time with me. And especially now that we’re apart and live in different cities, in different countries, it’s a video call, a handwritten letter, or getting her a plane ticket to come visit me.
Q: How are you and your mom similar? What parts of her do you see in you?
A: We are both super loving and super sensitive. But don’t be fooled, I get my street smarts, discipline and work ethic from her as well.
Q: How has your mom inspired your career?
A: She’s always been non-stop, super ambitious and that has fueled me and made me want to work harder, be better, do better. She also is such a caring and generous person, she has taught me the importance of being generous with whatever you may have- access, experience, wisdom. You may sometimes feel like you have nothing to give (we tend to think of giving as financial), but some of the greatest things I’ve received and given have been non-monetary. And all of that is from her.
Q: What's your go-to mom word of wisdom?
A: You can do this! and Pray about it. They go hand in hand.
Q: What's the latest "I have to call my mom" moment you've had?
A: Stress about a major financial decision—she always gives the best, completely non-judgmental advice.
Q: What is your most memorable card to or from your mother?
A: The handmade ones I made growing up—I was so much more original and crafty back then. Thank Goodness for Hallmark to help me these days—I’ve been able to find the right words to express just how I feel about my mom.
Q: What are you most grateful to have inherited from your mother?
A: Her spirit. I didn’t realize I had it, but my husband who has gotten to know my mom a lot more over the course of our marriage, pointed it out the other day. He was like—you are your mother’s child—and that’s the best compliment ever.
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How to Spring Clean That Overflowing Inbox
Prevent yesterday's emails from becoming tomorrow's to-dos.
According to internet memes there are two kinds of people in this world: those who keep their inbox at zero, and those who don't.
If you happen to fall in the latter camp of "I'll get to this later" but never do, your email inbox probably feels like an exponential problem — the number rising every day a massive source of anxiety. But thank goodness it's spring, a season for showers, flowers, and cleaning. A season that, without which we might not ever get anything clean.
If your inbox needs a major overhaul here are four steps to slaying this spring cleaning and preventing yesterday's emails from becoming tomorrow's to-do list.
COMPARTMENTALIZE
You need to set aside some time to do this. No one said spring cleaning was easy, but write down the most important categories. For example:
ACCOUNTS>IMPT TO DO*>BOSS**>COMPLETED PROJECTS>FREELANCERS>SYNDICATION PARTNERS>HOLDING***
People tend to overcomplicate their filing system, and they never end up using it. Try to keep the number of folders you create to under 10. That search bar in your email? It's actually incredibly efficient and more advanced than ever before. It does the work of all those sub-categories you're unnecessarily creating.
* By creating a folder like "Impt. To-Do" you can stop using your inbox as a to-do list. You know what we mean — those emails you send yourself with tasks that need to be completed. Use a different program for this, and create a folder to help you manage projects.
** By creating a folder like "Boss," you can easily search your boss’s name and drop all emails in this folder.
*** By creating a folder like "Holding" you can drop cold pitches and emails that you're interested in responding to, but don't have the time to do so in the moment. But then when you do have the time, it's easy to find. You waste so much time searching for that one email, where you can't quite remember the idea, the name, the company... create this folder and start dropping those stray emails in.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE ACTION
We tend to think of online space as unlimited, and as such, we never delete anything. But there is no reason why you have to keep every email you receive.
If it's just taking up space, donate it to the delete button.
DEVELOP A SYSTEM
Once you get it cleaned out, the most important task at hand is developing a system you can stick to — that way you don't find yourself in the same mess all over again. Jaclyn Johnson, Founder of Create & Cultivate likes her inbox at zero when her head hits the pillow — so she developed this attack plan:
"I get anywhere between 900-1200 emails per day, 1/4 of which I can delete. The rest I put through a tried-and-true system, where I sort my inbox based on a few different categories. Namely: urgent, where I respond right away; non-urgent, which I typically forward to someone else to answer; important and in need of a thoughtful response, which I mark as unread; and inquiry, which could be new business, press, or general questions which I drop and drag into a marked folder. Twice a day (noon and 4pm) I will answer the thoughtful emails, taking time to craft a response. At the end of the day, I will go to the marked folder and answer the less urgent emails. While I strive for a zero unread inbox, it’s unrealistic. The important part is prioritizing and organizing as to not let anything slip through the cracks."
You know what system will work for you. (Email hack: Use the color-coded flags, they are so unbelievably useful.) The best thing you can do is create it and follow through.
FOR FUTURE ISSUES: CREATE A SPAM EMAIL
We give out our email to a lot of sites. From Netflix to Staples, to sites we can't even remember signing up for. Create a second gmail account where you send all product offers, spam — anything that you know you won’t need to check on a daily basis. If you ever feel like you need 40% off at the GAP, head to your spam email and you'll be sure to find a code. Otherwise, that bulk of AM emails from companies you have no desire to hear from is clogging up your inbox, space in your brain, and might even be causing a few too many unnecessary purchases. This is one tip that will save you time, space, and money.
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Slow Stories: Slow and Steady — Building An Enduring Personal Brand
“If you're generally feeling stressed about changing your regular posting schedule, simply start by using social media as a vehicle for it was inherently created for: be social.”
For many of us, the digital landscape has played a pivotal role in the development (and success) of our careers. Even in its earliest form, the web has provided a place for creativity and connection to intersect, for side hustles to flourish into lucrative businesses, and for online communities to transcend the web into long-lasting relationships. However, the advent of the internet has also created a new set of standards both professionally and socially that has given rise to the conversation around the troubling effects these expectations can have on our mental health and overall productivity.
This idea, in many ways, was my personal catalyst for pivoting my own business away from the constant demands of pumping out 24/7 content into working with brands to tell stories that have true longevity. And while we've spoken a lot about slow content as it relates to brand content in our past articles, today I want to address this further by honing in on how this can be applied to our content efforts as individual founders and content creators.
In our golden age of influencer marketing and digital entrepreneurship, many women I know (including myself) are presented with the challenge of building personal brands online that are reflective of our professional ambitions while catering to the creative demands of an ever-changing algorithm (if you haven't already, I recommend checking out Tavi Gevinson's hilariously candid take on the Instagram algorithm). This inevitably has created a "performative" environment that has given way to highlight reels and filtered realities. Furthermore, this topic is something that's come up a lot in our recent Slow Stories podcast conversations, and touching on this, here are a few primary trends that have arisen in these interviews with fellow founders:
1. Slow content goes beyond the surface level.
If you remember in our February column, we deduced that slow content is all about creating value and purpose. So while there's absolutely nothing wrong with striving for a swoon-worthy travel photo or striving to achieve and share a 30 under 30 list award, it's equally important to consider what value this content will ultimately bring to your audience and your personal brand beyond just beautiful aesthetics. Furthermore, it's also essential to think what you care about offline and if what you're sharing is reflective of the things that personally matter to you IRL. Establishing this narrative both online and offline is key when holistically creating a consistent personal brand across all channels.
2. As founders, slowing down our content can give us more time to do the work.
With the above in mind, and while it may seem obvious that the less content we create, the more time we have to actually work, the pressure to share the victories (and losses) in real-time has almost become expected of high-profile founders. From CEOs posing in power suits in beautiful offices to sharing "sneak peeks" of upcoming launches, planning and posting these moments can often detract from doing the work that's actually needed to bring your product or services to life. So being mindful about when and what we choose to share in this capacity can ultimately provide us with more headspace for innovation at work versus just filling space online.
3. Slow content will take a long time to become financially viable... unless we change our habits.
Just the other day I came across a friend's tweet who posed the question of how one can take a break from social media when they utilize it to make a living. The reality is that slow content has a very long way to go when it comes to normalizing our content creation and consumption habits. And for those select individuals who rely heavily on monetizing social and content platforms for their income, we'll all have to collectively work together to recalibrate our relationships to content both personally and professionally.
With all of the above in mind, the question then becomes: How do we build a personal brand without personally burning out? Whether you're a fashion influencer posting style photos or a food blogger sharing video recipes, these factors will depend heavily on your industry and your own relationship to content, but the universal starting place is simple: Think about your overarching narrative and how this can be carried through your content long-term. Below are a few tips to start planning a strategy that considers your personal needs as well as your audience’s needs:
1. Refine and redefine your content strategy.
In my first article, I spoke about the importance of creating a content calendar, and while doing this is helpful for long-term planning, it's important to recognize if and when you're overextending yourself or your resources. With that said, many influencers and content creators often face the dilemma of "oversharing" in order to cater to an established content cadence that their followers eventually grow to expect. And if you find yourself wanting to slow down your output, take time to refine and redefine your content strategy, the conversations you want to have with your audience, and what kind of content makes the most sense to do this. For example, it may be a case of putting your energy into one longer-form piece of content versus a series of daily updates that still gets the point across and allows you to really focus on the quality of the content and your message.
2. Decide how personal is too personal.
Many leading influencers and entrepreneurs often take positions on complex conversations relating to politics, religion, and so on. And while slow content is built upon the idea of authentic and honest content, it's still important to establish boundaries so that you can participate in conversations online that make sense for you and your platform long-term.
3. Engage and invite your audience to slow down too.
If you're generally feeling stressed about changing your regular posting schedule, simply start by using social media as a vehicle for it was inherently created for: be social. Connect with your followers and communicate with them. Effective change happens when we hold one another accountable, and inviting your followers into your process as a content creator or founder will ultimately prepare them for any drastic changes, and perhaps even inspire reflection on how they too can apply slower, thoughtful practices into their own content and brand-building endeavors.
Building a brand of any kind in 2019 can be challenging, and if you don't know where to start, I invite you to check out more from this column, and of course, listen to Slow Stories for more candid conversations from some of the world's most innovative founders and creators.
Rachel Schwartzmann is the Founder and CEO of The Style Line LLC. She created The Style Line in late January 2011 via Tumblr and has fostered The Style Line’s brand in its growth since then. Rachel has been featured in esteemed sources including Forbes, Refinery29, and MyDomaine and has also spoken at Create & Cultivate and Columbia University on establishing a unique brand point of view and entrepreneurship. On October 1, 2015, Rachel took The Style Line in a new direction as a boutique content company with the introduction of its slow content agency CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL.
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