5 Ways Brands Can Show Up for Their Stakeholders Right Now

Photo: Retha Ferguson for Pexels

Brands across the globe are in the midst of deep values recalibrations due to the COVID-19 crisis. Voluntarily or involuntarily, they’re being challenged to look at why they exist and who they exist for in order to find ways they alone are positioned to serve.

It’s crucial that brands recognize that what matters has little to do with simply incorporating giveback missions and promoting sales and is more about providing what your core stakeholders (customers, teams, suppliers, etc.) need while being mindful of context, tone, and transparency. The brands that double down on their values in order to add value are most likely to find their way through the painful decisions they’ll have to make during this and any future crisis.

While the opportunities to contribute are endless, below are a few ways brands can think about showing up, strengthening loyalty, and building toward the future.

Through Information

Every individual with access to the internet is inundated with information at the moment, even without beginning to consider paid marketing. At a time when anxiety is running high, misinformation or poorly timed information can be damaging to your brand. Sometimes showing up means saying less.

Here are questions to ask: 

• How does your brand currently contribute to the spread of information? Is this information timely or necessary to share?

• Can your brand contribute positively by distributing sound information that’s useful (ex. resources, guidance, activities, recipes)?

• Do your paid ads feel disingenuous? Can you adapt the tone for relevancy? 

Through Compassion

With empathy taking over the marketing lexicon in the past couple of years, now is the opportunity for brands to truly put it into action. Ditching a need for polished perfection in preference for vulnerability can bring your brand closer to all of its stakeholders.

Here are three questions to ask: 

• Which of your stakeholders is most affected at this time? How can you support them?

• Is it possible to be honest with your customers about where your brand stands and how that’s evolving as time goes by?

• How can you reimagine your services, adjust your pricing model, or launch campaigns to serve your audience where they are?

Through Action

We’ve seen brands around the world pivot almost overnight to digital offerings, transform their factories, and more. Taking what’s core to your brand mission into account and then expanding that reality to continue to adapt is paramount. There’s more opportunity for experimentation and iteration than ever, but brands need to be willing to take their audience along for the journey.

Here are three questions to ask: 

• What’s a single action would your brand regret not taking right now?

• Can you reformat your offering to help on a macro level? Who can you collaborate with to touch new people and spread awareness?

• What content and experiences can you create that your audience is craving at this time?

Through Ideas 

It’s no surprise that innovation comes in times of deep pressure. The uniquely human capacity for imagination that’s born out of constraints is what’s allowed us to evolve and survive for thousands of years. More than ever this is an opportunity for our biggest ideas to emerge to help us navigate the seismic shifts appearing in our world today.

Here are three questions to ask: 

• What can you do now that has never felt possible before?

• Can you serve an additional audience that you may never have thought of reaching?

• What can you begin creating now that the world will continue to need when we emerge from this? Who can you collaborate with to bring these new ideas to life, in order to maximize impact?

Through Optimism 

Our strength as a global community relies on our ability to stay determined and hopeful that we can guide ourselves out of this. That doesn’t mean we should approach reality with a sense of naiveté or pretend we aren’t going through a global crisis, but it does mean we need the determination and faith that something brighter awaits in order to forge forward.

Here are three questions to ask: 

• What silver linings have appeared for you and your brand? How can you galvanize around them?

• What problems have appeared that your teams can dream up ideal solutions for?

• How can your brand cultivate and share messages of hope without undermining the gravity of the situation?

There’s no certainty in how long this pandemic will last, or what the true impact on our global community and economy will be, but the more determined brands are to keep asking tough questions the more new ideas will start to appear. Commitment and courage from every leader in sharing ideas out loud—first with themselves, then to colleagues, to audiences and the world will allow us to shape and enhance the evolved reality we want to live in. It’s the only thing that ever has.

About the Author: Lori is the founder of a big idea, a home for thoughtful brand building based in LA, where she works with emerging and growing mission-driven brands. She has a decade of experience working with legacy brands, media companies, startups, and social enterprises to develop and optimize marketing strategies. An idealist and a builder at heart, she began a big idea with a desire to give identity to the undeniable ideas we all have inside of us and create new brands that are built to last generations. She's currently offering free 1:1 strategy sessions to brands affected by COVID-19 - you can schedule by reaching out at lori@abigidea.com.

MORE ON THE BLOG

Ask an Expert: How to Negotiate Lower Bills and Save Money Right Now

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: picjumbo.com for Pexels

If you’re feeling anxious about the state of your finances right now, you’re not alone. The coronavirus pandemic is causing nearly 9 in 10 Americans to feel anxious about money, according to a new survey from the National Endowment for Financial Education. Almost half (48%) of individuals say that they’re worried about paying their bills (28% for both housing payments and utilities).

For tips on how to negotiate lower bills and save money right now, we tapped none other than Nicole Lapin , the New York Times best-selling author of “Rich Bitch,” “Boss Bitch,” and “Becoming Super Woman,” for the latest installment of our Ask an Expert series. Read on for some of the highlights and be sure to follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram to tune into the next conversation.

Step #1: Reevaluate Your Spending Plan

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for creating a budget, but as a general guide, Lapin recommends breaking down your income like this during COVID-19:

• 65% of your income should go toward essentials. (This is your rent, your mortgage, your car payment, your groceries.)

• 30% of your income should go toward your endgame. (This is your retirement plan, your emergency fund, and anything else that’s for “future you.”)

• 5% of your income should go toward extras. (This is your Netflix subscription, your morning latte, etc.)

Step #2: Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate

“You can negotiate anything,” Lapin explains. “Your medical debt, your cable bill, your utility bill, your car insurance, the annual percentage rate (APR) on your credit card—ALL of it is negotiable. The worst thing they can say is ‘no,’ and the answer will always be ‘no,’ unless you ask.”

When you’re making calls to negotiate your bills and payments to places like your cable provider or your credit card company, Lapin recommends using the following key phrases to use to get the best deal possible: “What’s the best you can do? Can i talk to a manager? Can I talk to a supervisor?”

When it comes to your rent or your mortgage, there are a lot of relief programs available right now, including moratoriums on evictions and a pause on payments. That said, “the first thing you do when you talk to your landlord is ask for a deferment (3 months is pretty standard),” offers Lapin.

“Then, ask about what you’re signing up for: Will your payments be prorated? Or will monthly payments simply start up again?,” she notes. “And don’t be afraid to ask for a break in payment or ask to put your security deposit toward your payments.”

Psst… For more insights on how to negotiate from Nicole Lapin, sign up for her free scripts and templates at nicolesfreebies.com.

Step #3: Get All the Benefits You Possibly Can

“There is no shame in the unemployment game,” Lapin reminds us. "Careeronestop.org is the best place she’s found to apply for unemployment. “Click on the COVID button and go to your state, go through all the prompts, and apply for unemployment.”

If you’re a small business owner who hasn’t been approved for a loan through SBA (the U.S. Small Business Association), don’t forget about credit unions and fin-tech companies. “Apply through Paypal, Square, or Cabbage,” Lapin recommends.

Then, go after all the grants. “Grants.gov is the best place to find a treasure trove of all the grants out there,” says Lapin. “The more niche and random you can get, the better (the PEN organization for authors and writers, for example).” 

Last, but not least, find out when you’re getting your stimulus check. “Go to irs.gov/getmypayment to look up the status of your payment,” says Lapin. You can also find out if you can expect a direct deposit or a paper check in the mail.

About the Expert: Nicole Lapin is the New York Times best-selling author of “Rich Bitch” and “Boss Bitch.” She has been an anchor on CNN, CNBC, and Bloomberg and hosted the nationally syndicated business reality competition show, “Hatched.” Her third book, “Becoming Super Woman,” is out now. She’s also the founder of personal finance masterclass The Money School and co-hosts the “Hush Money” podcast on iHeartRadio.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Ask an Expert: How to Get Legal Protection for Your Small Business

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

“

Although we’re in the middle of a pandemic, there is going to be a large wave of new businesses. If you don’t take the time to protect your business now, you will end up spending 10-20x more money in the long run defending yourself.”

—Andrea Sager, a small business attorney

As a small business owner, or someone wanting to start a small business, there’s one part of your business you can’t ignore: LEGAL. In reality, it doesn’t matter what size business you are. No matter what stage you’re in, there are legal protections you must take into consideration if you want to keep the money you make. 

Enter: Andrea Sager, a small business attorney shaking up the legal industry with her Legalpreneur plan which provides all-access to her firm for small businesses. Every day, she works with business owners who are on the verge of losing everything because they don’t have the right legal protections in place. Don’t let that be you.

Below are three ways you can protect your business during this pandemic and beyond, according to Sager. 

Entity Protection

Sole Proprietor

It’s important for your business to operate as some type of legal entity. If you have not created a legal entity for your business, then by default, you are a sole proprietor. Sole proprietors get no legal protection for their business.

A sole proprietor is personally liable for the debts and obligations of their business. Personally liable means if your business owes a debt or is sued, then creditors can come after your personal bank account and personal assets. Operating as a sole proprietor is risky. It’s scary to be in a position where your personal assets are on the line. The good news is that setting up a legal entity will provide you with the protection you need. And it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated.

Unlike a sole proprietor, legal entities provide personal liability protection for business owners. When you operate under a legal entity, if your business owes a debt or is sued, the creditors can only come after the business’s bank accounts and assets, not your personal bank accounts and assets. It’s nice to know that you’re not at risk of losing your house because your business fell behind on some payments. 

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

The most common legal entity small businesses operate under is a Limited Liability Company, a.k.a. an LLC. Operating under an LLC is usually the best legal business entity your business can operate under, because it is easy to setup and it provides great liability protection to its owners.

To set up an LLC, you must file paperwork with your state and pay a filing fee. Before you file the paperwork, you need to have a few things figured out so you’ll be able to complete the paperwork. Some of the things you need before filing your LLC are the name, a registered agent, and how it is going to be managed. Once you’re approved through your state, the LLC does not give you any federal trademark rights. Trademarks are discussed further below.

Corporations 

A corporation is typically not the best fit for a small business. Corporations have more fees and maintenance involved. However, if you plan on having investors, a corporation may be the best choice. 

Contracts

I’m sure you have heard the term “get it in writing.” That is always a good rule of thumb in business. Contracts essentially define a relationship between parties. Contracts are important whether your business sells goods or services. With goods, contracts define price, delivery, the refund policy, shipping, when and how payment is due, and quantity. Issues can arise in any of those areas so it’s important to have them defined in writing.

Services contracts may need additional terms to help protect you. Service contracts can define what exact services will be provided. Some services are dependent on client response. Service contracts can allow you to terminate the contract if the client isn’t being responsive. Sometimes the result of a service can be subjective. Service contracts can protect you from a client saying, “I’m not satisfied with the service and I’m not paying.” 

Why It’s Important to Have Terms and Conditions

If you run a website for your business, you’ll want to make sure you include terms and conditions. Terms and conditions are not required by law, but they’re are something you will want to include because it’s the contract between you and the visitors of your site. Terms and conditions can protect you if someone uses your website to make defamatory comments or infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights. Those are things you are not going to want your business to be liable for. There are lots of sample terms and conditions on the internet, however, it is best to have a licensed attorney draft terms and conditions for your website to fit the specific needs of your business. 

Why It’s Important to Have a Privacy Policy

If you collect any kind of personal information from your customers/clients then you will need to have a privacy policy in place. Personal information includes names, addresses, mobile telephone numbers, email addresses, and so forth. A lot of states have privacy laws that require you to disclose what personal information you store and how you use it. There can be big penalties for not complying with privacy laws. Like terms and conditions, there are lots of sample privacy policies on the internet, however, it is best to have a licensed attorney draft a policy that fits your business. 

Intellectual Property

There are three types of intellectual property: trademarks, copyrights, and patents. It’s important to understand the difference between these because they protect different aspects of your business. And whether you know it or not, many times intellectual property is the most value part of your business. 

Trademarks

A trademark is a word, symbol, or combination thereof that is intended to identify and distinguish one merchant from another. Essentially, trademarks allow consumers to distinguish who is offering what goods or services. You can apply for a federal trademark registration for goods or services that let consumers know your goods and services come from you, such as your business name, logo, slogan, podcast name, service name, product name, and many more. 

In order to obtain federal protection, meaning you are the only one that can use that term or logo throughout the United States, you must apply with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The trademark application process takes at least six months, and the average amount of time is nine months. Filing a trademark application can be difficult, so it’s best to work with a licensed trademark attorney when filing. 

Copyrights

Put simply, copyrights protect original works of authorship (content): podcast episodes, photos, videos, this blog post, books, songs, movies, and many more. The purpose of copyrights is to award creators for their creations by protecting the expressions of their ideas. 

The neat thing about copyrights is that you don’t have to obtain a registration to have rights. Once you create a work, and it meets the qualifications, it’s automatically protected by copyright law. However, you can register your copyright with the United States Copyright Office, which does have its benefits. First, having a copyright registration allows you to sue someone for copyright infringement in federal court. Additionally, a registration allows you to recover attorney’s fees in a copyright infringement lawsuit. Meaning, if you win an infringement lawsuit, the other side will probably have to pay for the cost of legal fees.

Although we’re in the middle of a pandemic, there is going to be a large wave of new businesses. If you don’t take the time to protect your business now, you will end up spending 10-20x more money in the long run defending yourself. Do what you can now to protect yourself.

About the Expert: Andrea Sager is a small business attorney shaking up the legal industry with her Legalpreneur plan that provides all-access to her firm for small businesses. After working for a large law firm working with large businesses, Andrea realized her true passion was helping small businesses embrace and protect their business and intellectual property. In just under 2 years, Andrea has become the go-to attorney for entrepreneurs, protecting everything from their brand names to their courses and blog posts.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Is the Price Right? We Help You Figure It Out

Photo: Smith House Photography

Innovation often comes out of the darkest times. Uber is just one example of the super successful businesses that launched just after the financial crisis of 2008, and we have no doubt that the next big thing will come out of the COVID-19 crisis.

Has your brain been swirling with ideas during quarantine? Have you found whitespace that you know you can fill? Has being laid off given you the courage you need to finally launch that business you’ve been dreaming of? Create & Cultivate is here to help get your business idea off the ground.

Quarantine is the perfect time to lay out the plans for your dream. While your friends are learning to bake bread, knit, or do yoga, you are laying the foundations for your future (you go, girl!).

Once you’ve got that product idea all figured out, you’ve started your business plan, and you came up with a killer brand name; you’re going to face a super difficult question: Is the price right? Ask people to pay too much for your product or service and they will stop buying. Ask too little and your profit margin slides or customers assume your product is poor quality.

An “optimum price” factors in all your costs and maximizes your margins while remaining attractive to customers. Here’s how to set your prices, and be sure to scroll to the end to shop our Create & Cultivate Marketplace The Launch Your Business Bundle with a step-by-step guide to trademarking your business, a legal checklist for startups, panel videos from past C&C events, and so much more! 

KNOW THE MARKET

You need to find out how much customers will pay, as well as how much competitors charge. Simply matching a price is dangerous, though - you need to be sure all your costs - both direct and indirect - are covered.

CHOOSE THE BEST PRICING TECHNIQUE

Cost-plus pricing involves adding a mark-up percentage to costs; this will vary between products, businesses, and sectors. Value-based pricing is determined by how much value your customers attach to your product. Decide what your pricing strategy is before making a calculation.

WORK OUT YOUR COSTS

Include all direct costs, including money spent developing a product or service. Then, calculate your variable costs (for materials, packaging, etc). Work out what percentage of your fixed costs (overheads such as rent, rates, and wages) the product needs to cover. Add all of these costs together and divide by volume to produce a unit break-even figure.

CONSIDER COST-PLUS PRICING

You will need to add a margin or mark-up to your break-even point. If the price looks too high, trim your costs and reduce the price accordingly. Be aware of the limitations of cost-plus pricing, because it works on the assumption you will sell all units. If you don’t, your profit is lower.

SET A VALUE-BASED PRICE

You’ll need to know your market well to set a value-based price. For example, the cost to bring a hairdryer to market might be $10. But you might be able to charge customers $25 if this is the market value.

THINK ABOUT OTHER FACTORS

Can you keep margins modest on some products in order to achieve higher margin sales on others? You might need to calculate different prices for different territories, markets, or sales you make online.

STAY ON YOUR TOES

Prices can seldom be fixed for long. Your costs, customers, and competitors can change, so you will have to shift your prices to keep up with the market. Keep an eye on what’s going on and talk to your customers regularly to make sure your prices remain optimal.

Starting a business and need more guidance?

Add the Create & Cultivate Marketplace The Launch Your Business Bundle to your cart, or get unlimited access to our entire library of downloads and videos when you join Insiders.

Ask an Expert: What to Do When Your Revenue Is Significantly Slashed, According to a CEO

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

“

I haven’t taken a paycheck since February, its more important to me to think about the company long term.”

—Dr. Heather D. Rogers, founder and CEO, Doctor Rogers RESTORE

In this edition of our Ask an Expert series, Dr. Heather D. Rogers, the founder and CEO of Doctor Rogers RESTORE, joined us on Instagram Live to chat about everything from how to keep your business alive to how to get your best at-home skin.

For the uninitiated, Dr. Rogers is a dermatologist and CEO who is managing both her practice and her business in the midst of this crisis. She is seeing patients, hand packing orders, and wearing more hats than ever before—all while giving up her salary.

Scroll on for some highlights from the conversation—including why you should focus on your mission—and follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram to tune into the next one.

Your Brand Pillars Matter

“Being a brand right now, you really have to have very clear ideas of what your pillars are. Don’t start a company unless you can say why you are different and what you bring to the marketplace in three sentences. If you’re trying to bring something better to market and help people, that is something there is always space for.”

Less Is More When It Comes to At-Home Skincare

“When you’re at home, don’t overdo your skincare. Don’t do 15 masks a week, don’t over-exfoliate. Make sure you wash your face, moisturize your face, and wear sunscreen.”

“You should wear sunscreen even if you don’t go outside. When you’re inside, if you’re by a window, you will get UVA, which will break down collagen and give you brown spots—I always recommend a zinc-based sunscreen.”

“When your skin is agitated, less is more.”

Give and Get Support (We All Need It)

“I haven’t taken a paycheck since February, its more important to me to think about the company long term.”

“The really big banks are not going to help you here, you need to find the small banks that you can build a relationship with who will really go to bat for you.”

“We started a campaign called Help the Healers to give our products to healthcare workers. It feels good for us to do it, it helps the healthcare workers, and its also creating content.”

“I’ve been working really hard to be responsive to needs without being reactive because everyone needs a little more help right now. You need to thank your staff every day and recognize what they are doing every day.”

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Pro Tip: 3 Ways to Land Your Dream Clients Online When You Decide to Go Freelance

Photo: Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

“I’m fully booked out with clients — I can’t believe I’m now making more than my 9-5 job!”

This was the email I received from one of my students who had recently completed our online courses and made the leap into freelancing full-time. It’s an incredibly exciting moment in your freelancing career when you’ve figured out how to land your dream clients while doing work that you’re truly passionate about.

Five years ago, I made that same leap myself, starting my own online graphic design studio. It’s also allowed me to travel the world full-time while running my business remotely (15 countries and counting!), and I’ve now taught thousands of women how to do the same.

One of the things I always tell my students is that the key to a financially thriving freelancing business is maintaining a strong client base so that you can generate consistent income. But are you wondering how to get clients as a freelancer?

Aside from the financial freedom of being your own boss, freelancing also allows you the flexibility to work remotely from anywhere: whether that’s from your adorable home office, your favorite local coffee shop, or a co-working space in an exotic location like Bali. Sounds dreamy, right?

If you’re considering freelancing full-time, here are three ways you can find your dream clients online and finally have that financial freedom that has you craving to work from anywhere!

1. Build a Client-Magnetizing Website

Let’s imagine that your dream is to be a successful cupcake baker. Your cupcakes are incredibly delicious, so you decide you want to start a business selling them. It would be a little unprofessional to sell your cupcakes straight out of your home kitchen, right? To have a thriving cupcake business, you need a bakery to showcase your brand and a place for customers to make their orders.

The same goes for your freelancing business. Instead of needing a physical storefront though, you need what I like to call a “virtual storefront.”

This is your client-magnetizing business website, and it’s one of the most crucial elements to attracting your dream clients.

Your website should showcase the following:

• The services you offer

• Who you’re offering them to (who are your dream clients?)

• The benefits and value of working with you

• Your portfolio (any examples of your work)

It’s extremely important to have a website before you begin trying to find clients, and I can’t stress this enough. This is a business you’re building, which means it’s important for you to look like one!

“Aside from the financial freedom of being your own boss, freelancing also allows you the flexibility to work remotely from anywhere: whether that’s from your adorable home office, your favorite local coffee shop, or a co-working space in an exotic location like Bali. Sounds dreamy, right?”

2. Use Social Networks to Get Clients... For Free!

I want to bust a common myth here: Once you launch your website, you’ll instantly have an influx of clients begging to work with you. FALSE.

If nobody knows about your website (and your amazing business!), how are they supposed to find you? The key to finding your dream clients as a freelancer is to tap into your own network, then utilize social networking platforms to drive free traffic to your website.

Some of my favorite social networking platforms for finding clients are:

• Facebook (specifically Facebook groups)

• Instagram

• Networking apps like Bumble Biz

You want to make sure that you have your website linked in your profile and that your profile and content clearly showcases your business. Engage authentically with your dream clients like commenting with insightful answers, offer up bits of your expertise, and finally, inquire about working with them.

3. Create a Sales Funnel to Turn Potential Customers into Raving Clients

Now that you’ve got eyes on your business website, it’s time to turn those visitors into paying clients! This is your client sales funnel—and it’s important that this process is professional and efficient so that clients actually want to work with you. That is the goal after all.

Start with a complimentary consultation call, which will allow you to understand what results your potential clients are looking for. This gives you the opportunity to pitch your services as the solution!

It’s also much easier to get a feel for a potential client’s personality and communication style to make sure this person is, in fact, your dream client.

Next, is following up your call with a formal proposal, which will include things like the project timeframe, cost, and a detailed breakdown of the services that are included. Finally, have your client sign a contract to lay out the legal terms and conditions of the project. Boom—dream client officially landed!

Guess what? By utilizing these steps, you’ll be taking the proactive and professional approach to landing your dream clients that most newbie freelancers shy away from doing. I guarantee you’ll soon find yourself saying, “I’m fully booked out with clients!” in your freelancing business too. We all have to start somewhere in our client-finding search, and that somewhere for you? It starts today.

About the Author: Cassie Torrecillas is the CEO and co-founder of the Bucketlist Bombshells, an online educational community that equips millennial women with the confidence, skills, and business foundation to start a service-based online business, giving them the freedom to work remotely from anywhere in the world. She’s been featured on Forbes and CNBC as she and her business partner lead their community of over 70,000 location-independent female entrepreneurs. If you’re curious about starting your own online business, sign up for their free course here.

This post was published on May 21, 2019, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

9 Secrets to Working Remotely From Your Apartment—and Loving It

Photo: Vlada Karpovich for Pexels

If working from home has become your new normal, then you’ve probably come to the same realization that we have: Working from your bed in your pajamas just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Maybe you’ve started missing the office and wearing blazers (and, dare we say, heels?!), but there are plenty of perks to WFH if you do it right. It’s all about creating the right environment, ditching distractions, learning what works for you, and finding your productive streak.

Working from home presents both advantages and disadvantages for any telecommuter, but for those of us who live in an apartment, telecommuting has its own set of challenges. Consider the following tips and tricks to turn your place into a work environment where you can get the job done.

1. Carve out a cozy workspace.

Apartments in cities tend to be tight on space, which can cut down on the available areas where you can work uninterrupted.

The most important thing to do before you start working out of your apartment is to think about where you plan to situate your home office to conduct business effectively. Identify potential workspaces that lie outside regular traffic patterns. Working at the kitchen table might be fine if you live alone, but if you live with a spouse or roommate or have children, you need a place away from the action.

For example, rethink your underused rooms. Consider using a small guest bedroom, place a cubicle panel or screen in a corner of your own bedroom, or modify a walk-in closet to accommodate a desk and bookcase. Wherever you set up your office, you’ll need to make sure you have excellent Wi-Fi and cell phone service in order to conduct business—so a room in the center of a brick building might not be conducive to your productivity.

2. Decorate your space.

Just because your space is small doesn’t mean you have to skimp on decorating. Turning your own quiet nook into a place with personality can increase your desire to be there for long hours. Hang your favorite photos or works of art, bring in plants, or add knick-knacks and keepsakes.

Studies have shown that certain colors have a direct effect on our mood and productivity. When painting, papering or choosing furnishings for your space, keep these ideas in mind:

• Blue is seen as calming and helps with concentration.

• Yellow and orange can stimulate creativity and make you feel good.

• Light green can be soothing, denoting a connection with nature.

• Red can provide a boost of energy.

• Purple is often associated with wealth and wisdom.

3. Learn how to deal with distractions.

Nothing zaps your productivity faster when working from home than having to respond to distractions. Whether you have kids running in and out, a spouse looking for their favorite shirt, or the neighbors in the apartment above practicing their tap dancing skills, dealing effectively with distractions is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

To drown out barking dogs, traffic on the street, or even your roommate streaming a marathon of their favorite Netflix show, choose noise-canceling headphones that help you focus on the task at hand. Before you sit down to work, turn off noisy appliances or hang a fiberglass blanket over the door to block out noise. Plan ahead for conference calls or phone conversations with potential clients, or make sure to schedule them for times when you know you will be alone.

4. Store inventory off-site.

If you have a business that requires inventory and you don’t have space at home to store the merchandise, consider renting a storage unit. The extra space you’ll find after moving unnecessary items to storage can make it easier to stay organized and keep your personal belongings separate from items required for work.

5. Dress for the office.

While it may be tempting to sit around in your pajamas all day when you work from home, it can help to treat your remote work like traditional employment by wearing designated work clothes. Getting up in the morning and getting dressed for work helps you separate your private life from your professional one, further preparing you mentally for your job.

6. Identify a specific scent with work.

Another way to distinguish time to work from personal time is by designating a specific scent for work. Burn a candle, turn on a diffuser, or even wear perfume during your office hours.

7. Invest in productivity tools.

Make your home office feel more like a traditional office space by investing in appropriate supplies. Choose a notepad and pens—and perhaps even a computer—designated solely for work. Keep in mind that office supplies qualify as expenses related to your home office and are usually deductible at tax time.

The same is true for software. Countless apps and online services are available to help home workers with correspondence and communication, scheduling, collaborating on tasks across multiple projects, or measuring productivity to make sure you’re keeping up. Marketing software can help you enhance your client interactions, and accounting software can help with tracking time and expenses.

8. Give your day some structure.

Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you can’t implement some structure in your workday. Use your peak hours effectively. Consider the time of day when you are most alert and use that time to accomplish your biggest goals. Schedule work time and try to avoid personal activities (or at least relegate them to designated breaks).

At the end of the day, power off your electronics, turn off your work phone and move away from your desk or work surface. Also, avoid taking your laptop to bed to work or working from the couch. This can make it harder to separate work time from personal time and unwind later.

9. Communicate with colleagues.

If you are working for a company, be sure to communicate regularly with your colleagues. This can help you remain connected with company goals and stay up to date on any progress made for team projects. Regular dialogue with co-workers also reminds you that you’re a part of a team and keeps you from feeling isolated.

Working remotely can provide numerous benefits for employees, companies, and even clients. It also can be mightily challenging when space is limited. Take advantage of the work-at-home opportunity by setting up an optimal space, figuring out what keeps you motivated and connected, and sticking with it until each day’s work is done.

Written by Laura Gayle of BusinessWomanGuide.org.

This post was published on January 5, 2019, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

3 Free Online Classes Every Business Owner Could Benefit From

Photo: Christina Morillo for Pexels

As a small business owner, what are your resources? Do you feel like you have everything you need by way of information or inspiration? What if you simply want to be better at business? More nuanced. Or learn a new skill?

We all could stand to take a course or two, to keep ourselves on track and create the optimal business paths for ourselves, especially now that most of us are staying home to flatten the coronavirus curve. After all it was Albert Einstein who said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Luckily, there are a number of free online courses to enroll in to continue learning, growing, and honing your skills. 

With many top universities—including Duke and Northwestern—offering free courses online right now, you can gather insights from the experts who are at the forefront of innovation with courses that can take you, your team, and your organization to the next level. They are making it super simple to connect to the future of business—and open yourself up to a transformative experience. 

Here are three online courses any business owner would benefit from taking right now. 

University of California, Berkley: The Foundations Of Happiness At Work

We all know that happier employees are more productive and innovative. But, what does happiness mean? How can we create it at work? And how can we analyze the effects of happiness on our businesses? This course is here to answer those questions. Whether you’re hiring your first employee or want to make sure you have the best possible company culture, this course is a must for any business owner. Learn from the very best on how to bring happiness into the workplace.

Enroll for free. Course starts April 29, 2020.

Northwestern University: Social Media Marketing Specialization

Social media is essential to marketing these days, but it turns out many businesses don’t use this tool effectively. Whether you are struggling to gain followers, not sure what content to post, or don’t understand how to read the analytics, this social media course will help you grow your business. From content to engagement, this 6 part series covers it all. Step your marketing game up and make your time spent on Instagram worth your while.

Enroll for free. Course starts April 29, 2020.

Duke University: Entrepreneurial Finance: Strategy and Innovation

Creating a financial strategy for your business can feel really overwhelming if you lack the right tools. If you are looking to raise capital, need help build a cap table, or analyze market risk, this course pack is for you. This will give you real tools you can use in every phase of your business. A good founder should have their finger on the pulse of the financials of their business, regardless of the help you hire. Make sure you have all the tools you need from the best minds at Duke University.

Enroll for free. Course starts April 29, 2020.

This post was published on March 3, 2018, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

How Women Can Get Their Books Published, According to an Accomplished Author

“

Just write! It sounds simple, but it’s the step we so often get stuck on. Let the first draft be terrible.

”

—Andrea Bartz, Author of “The Herd” and “The Lost Night”

Here’s a bit of good news: Female authors dominated 2019’s major literary awards. Both winners of the 2019 Booker Prize were women, as were the winners of the National Book Awards for fiction and nonfiction, and a woman took home the 2019 Pulitzer for general nonfiction. But female authors aren’t just gaining attention from the industry’s leading critics—readers are taking note, too. In fact, of the 10 best-selling books of the past decade, eight were written by women.

To find out what aspiring women authors need to do to get their books published, we sat down with none other than Andrea Bartz, the author of the wildly popular, edge-of-your-seat thrillers “The Lost Night” and “The Herd,” which hit shelves on March 24. Ahead, Bartz tells us what it really takes to go from writing a manuscript to getting your book optioned for a TV series, including how to land a literary agent, overcome writer's block, and stay on top of deadlines along the way.

CREATE & CULTIVATE: You're an accomplished author with two novels to your name (congratulations!)—but can you take us back to the beginning? What does it take to land a book deal? 

ANDREA BARTZ: Thank you! I started working on the manuscript for my first novel, “The Lost Night” (a whodunit that’s a bit like “The Girl on the Train” meets HBO’s “Girls”) in late 2014—at the time I had a full-time job as a magazine editor, but I started working on it in my free time. It took about two years to get it ready to show to agents, and I signed with a literary agent in late 2016. We worked on more revisions and finally landed a book deal for it in July 2017—and then there were more rounds of revisions before it finally came out in February 2019.

For my second book, “The Herd” (a thriller set in an exclusive all-female co-working space), I already had an editor who wanted to work with me again, so I got a book deal based on the idea and a few sample chapters in late 2018 and turned in a first draft a few months later. Now I’m hard at work on my third novel, which should come out in 2021!  

Do you need to have a large audience (a.k.a. a built-in market) to get noticed by agents and publishers? 

Nope! Having a built-in audience certainly won’t hurt, but agents and editors are looking for a great book that they think will fly off the shelves—so even if you’re not social-media famous, if your manuscript is fabulous, they’ll consider publishing it. That said, I think it’s smart to be on Twitter and Instagram, at minimum, where you can connect with authors and bookstagrammers and demonstrate that you’re savvy at self-promotion. But if you don’t already have a ton of followers, don’t let that stop you from trying to sell a novel. 

What comes first: the book or the book proposal? How do you go about writing a book proposal? Are there any mistakes you've learned from along the way that you can share? 

Nonfiction writers start with a proposal—it includes stuff like an outline, sample chapters, and a market analysis. Then, they get a book deal and head off into the world to do their research and write the book. I confess I don’t know too much about nonfiction book proposals, because I write fiction! For your debut novel, you’ll need to write the entire manuscript before you can try to sell it. You’ll query agents with a completed draft, and then your agent will try to find an editor (at a publishing house) to buy it and publish it. That’s how I sold “The Lost Night.”

For my second book, “The Herd,” I was able to sell it on essentially a proposal: I wrote 50 sample pages, plus a one-page “treatment” that gave an overview of the characters, plot, and “hook.” I know other authors go into more detail and sell their editor with sample pages plus a detailed, multi-page outline, but since I write without an outline, the best I could do was share the general idea! By the time you’re at that stage, though, your agent can help guide you on selling book number two. For that first novel, you’ll need to write the whole dang thing.

“Keep in mind that most authors never feel like writing. You can’t wait until you get the urge to write. You just have to sit down and write!”

Both of your novels were published by a major publishing house, how did you decide to go with a traditional publisher? Did you consider self-publishing? Can you talk us through that decision?

I always knew I wanted to go the traditional route: I wanted to see my book in bookstores, which is hard to do when you self-publish, and I wanted to focus on the writing and let other people think about stuff like cover design and ad strategy and publicity plans. When you sell your book to a publisher, they kinda take it from there—but the tradeoff is that you make far less money per copy sold. I don’t know a ton about self-publishing, but I know that those who are successful at it write in genres that sell well online (such as romance), spend a lot of their own money in upfront costs like hiring a copyeditor and getting the cover designed so everything looks professional, and invest tons of time in learning digital marketing so that they can actually find readers and make money. It’s a totally different way to approach publishing.

How did you find a literary agent? What did you look for in an agent and what would you advise others look for? Can you share links to resources for aspiring authors who are just beginning this process?

When I felt “The Lost Night” was in good shape, I started by researching literary agents who were accepting queries. I used Publishers Marketplace’s Dealmakers database to find the agents of authors whose work was similar to mine. I searched for specific terms like “female psychological thrillers” on AgentQuery, and I browsed through the Twitter hashtag #MSWL (Manuscript Wish List) to see what agents were looking for. Here’s an article I wrote on the process, which goes into detail on resources used and even includes my query letter.

How do you manage your time while you’re writing? Does your publisher give you deadlines, or do you create your own? What tools do you use to stay on top of your deadlines? 

My publisher sets my deadlines based on when each book is supposed to come out. But it can be intimidating to think of it in huge terms: In five months, you need to complete a 100,000-word manuscript. So instead, I start by using pacemaker.press to calculate how much I need to accomplish every day; it lets you block off days when you'll do less or no work (e.g., a holiday or trip), and you can keep track of your progress on the site. When it comes to actually drafting, I use the Pomodoro method: I use tomato-timer.com to do 20 minutes of uninterrupted work followed by a 5-minute break. Then I repeat as needed until I hit my word count goal.

Your sophomore thriller, “The Herd,” was recently published on March 24, 2020. Was it more or less difficult to come up with an idea for your second novel after already having published your first?  

Coming up with a second book idea was tough. It took a while to settle on an idea that my editor was into—she said no to my first two ideas, because she didn’t think they spoke to my strengths as a thriller writer or that they’d appeal to readers of “The Lost Night.” I was frustrated at the time, but she was totally right! “The Lost Night” is a mystery set in the warehouse parties of hipster Brooklyn in 2009, and part of the fun comes from taking the reader inside the close-knit, closed-door world of that social milieu. My editor challenged me to find another juicy, exclusive setting that would allow me to go deep on complex female friendships—which is how I wound up setting a mystery inside an elite, all-female co-working space. 

“Don’t psych yourself out or worry about whether your book will fit into the shifting marketplace years down the line”

How do you deal with writer’s block?

I mentioned the Pomodoro method, which definitely helps when I’m stuck—when the twenty-minute writing sprint begins, sometimes the first minute is just me typing I HATE THIS THIS IS TERRIBLE I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE. But once you get going, real words start to flow. Another tip, if you’re stuck on a plot problem, is to write it in a notebook right before bed. Your subconscious will work on it as you sleep, and the next morning you’ll find you’re much closer to having the answer. Finally: Keep in mind that most authors never feel like writing. You can’t wait until you get the urge to write. You just have to sit down and write! 

Your debut novel, “The Lost Night,” was optioned for development as a limited series by Mila Kunis. Can you tell us about that process? What does it really mean to have a book be optioned and what advice can you share for other authors looking to land entertainment deals?

The two production companies involved, Cartel Entertainment and Orchard Farm, actually reached out to me directly to ask if TV rights were still available. My literary agent had hooked me up with a film/TV agent within the same agency (ICM Partners), so I connected them with her. The production companies made an offer and I requested a phone call to discuss their vision for the book, what they’d want to change, and what role, if any, they’d want me to have in developing the limited series. It was pretty surreal to be on a call with Mila Kunis and to hear her talking about my book!

Getting a book optioned just means a production company has the exclusive rights to try to get it made—there are no guarantees. So right now they’re working to bring other people onto the project, and to find a home for it (such as premium cable or streaming). I’m not super involved—it’s their art form, not mine! As far as I know, the best way to get your book into the hands of a Hollywood production company is to work with a film agent. I inherited my film agent because she’s part of the same company as my literary agent, but if you work with a literary agent at, say, a boutique firm, they can still hook you up with an external film agent.  

What advice do you have for aspiring female writers?

Just write! It sounds simple, but it’s the step we so often get stuck on. Let the first draft be terrible. Don’t psych yourself out or worry about whether your book will fit into the shifting marketplace years down the line. As the old adage says: You can’t edit a blank page. Go ahead and write, and then you can start the long process of revising, perfecting, and finding your path to publication.

The Herd

A novel by Andrea Bartz

$27

SHOP

About Andrea Bartz: Andrea Bartz is a Brooklyn-based journalist and author of “The Herd,” which Publishers Weekly called “a smart, twisty thriller.” Her debut, “The Lost Night,” is being developed for TV by Mila Kunis. It was named a best book of the year by Real Simple, Glamour, Marie Claire, Library Journal, Crime Reads, Popsugar, She Reads, and other publications. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Women's Health, Martha Stewart Living, Elle, and many other outlets, and she's held editorial positions at Glamour, Psychology Today, and Self, among other titles.

About “The Herd,” out March 24: When an exclusive New York women’s workspace is rocked by the mysterious disappearance of its enigmatic founder, two sisters must uncover the haunting truth before they lose their friendships, their careers—maybe even their lives. 

Lede image photo credit: Kate Lord courtesy of Andrea Bartz

MORE ON THE BLOG

5 Strategies to Get & Stay Out of Debt

Photo: Huy Phan for Pexels

The coronavirus pandemic is causing nearly 9 in 10 Americans to feel anxious about money, according to a new survey from the National Endowment for Financial Education. 54% of people polled cite not having enough money saved as being the number one stressor—but if you’re in a position where you’re able to put some money toward paying off your debts, you 1000% should.

Debt is a four-letter word—and, unfortunately, for many millennials, it’s a fact of life. But it doesn’t have to be that way! With careful, actionable planning, consumer debt can be a thing of the past. In a recent conversation with Sallie Krawcheck, the co-founder and CEO of Ellevest stressed the importance of paying off debt. “Get your credit card debt paid off because it’s leeching out wealth from you,” she cautioned us.

So, with that in mind, we’re sharing five ways to get (and stay!) out of debt, ahead.

Create a budget.

Chances are, not having a budget is what got you in debt in the first place. So this is a great place to start! Use a budget software like Mint or You Need a Budget, or put together a good old-fashioned spreadsheet! List all of your income, then break down each of your expenses into monthly, quarterly, and irregular categories. Aim to allocate 50% to necessities like rent and utilities, 30% to savings and debt repayment, and 20% to discretionary spending like groceries and restaurants. (Hint: the last category is where you should be cutting if you’re in debt!).

Reconsider that auto loan.

Multi-year car loans are a thing of the past. Instead of buying or leasing a car, consider Fair. They let you drive a car for as long as you want for an all-in monthly payment and cancel at any time, with no long-term commitment. Limited warranty, roadside assistance, and routine maintenance are included in the monthly fee, and you can do the whole process from your phone. Buh-bye, auto loan!

Start that side hustle you’ve been dreaming of.

Need some extra cash? Now’s the time to burn that midnight oil on your side gig. Or, if the startup costs are too high, there’s no shame in a part-time gig game. Your goal here is to get out of debt as fast as possible, so put in the work after-hours however makes sense for you!

Make your credit debt work for you.

Let’s talk dirty: Credit card debt is not ideal. But for many of us, it’s a reality. First things first: Call your card company and ask for lower rates on your cards while you pay them off. It doesn’t hurt to ask! If you’re not able to get a low enough interest rate, look into a balance transfer to a zero-interest card and make a “get out of debt” plan that allows you to pay off your card by the time the no-interest promotion ends.

Apply the debt ladder strategy.

If you’re in debt on more than one account, start by paying off the balance on the highest-interest rate account while paying the minimums on your other accounts. When that account is paid off, move on to the next-highest interest rate, and so forth. This method, while at odds with the debt snowball method of debt repayment, allows you to get out of debt while paying the least interest possible. Repeat it until all of your debts are paid off, and then…

Stick to your budget! The only way to stay out of debt is to plan to stay out of debt. So ditch that auto loan, call those credit card companies, and keep yourself in check. Happy planning!

This post was published on May 27, 2019, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

How Brick-and-Mortar Businesses Can Pivot to Sell on Social Media During COVID-19

Photo: Lisa Fotios for Pexels

Just because your physical doors are closed doesn’t mean your virtual ones aren’t open.

Instead of sitting back, kicking your feet up while binge-watching Netflix, consider making some changes in your business right now. The best part? If you go online now, you’ll be ahead of the game for the future and set your business up for success as we further enter the digital world.

Ready to get online? Here are the five things every brick-and-mortar business could be doing right now—and no, you don’t need to discount every product just to make ends meet!

1. Make It Personal

First, make sure your marketing materials include creative, thoughtful, and personalized touches. Uncertain times call for personal connection, right? So be sure to include something that will stand out to your customer.

Here’s an example: My fiance and I ordered takeout from a local Greek restaurant. When they came to the car with our food, they gave us a squirt of hand sanitizer so we could eat some fries on the way home. Who doesn’t want to dig in while they’re still warm and not have to worry about getting sick?! 

2. Go Virtual

Second, the one that should be a bit more obvious, go online! Everyone’s showing up virtually, so you should be, too. This is the time to get hooked on Zoom, Instagram, and Facebook Live. If you’re offering a service, now’s the time to get creative and provide virtual support. If you’re offering a product, start showing, selling, and shipping using live video.

If your events keep getting pushed back, instead of canceling, switch them to online events. Own a clothing boutique? Perfect. Host a “live” fashion show. Or maybe you sell stationery, crafts, or flowers—why not sell your items live, but make it even more interesting with a three-day challenge where everyone crafts at home with you? Get your community involved not only to try to drive sales but also to give something back to your community! 

3. Discounts, Anyone?

Third, discounts. I know I said don’t discount every product in your inventory, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do any discounts at all. This is a time when many people aren’t making money, so they’re typically not wanting to spend money. What better way to convince them than special (and strategic) offers?

You can do this in a way where you’re selling more but not seeing a dip in profit—meaning, don’t discount just for the sake of offering discounts. Instead, you can bundle items, make a major flash sale with “almost out-of-season” pieces, or offer to match a credit. If someone pays you $30, match them 50% of their payment in credit towards future purchases. Just don’t forget to set a maximum.

If you want to make it even more appealing, you can switch things up and offer a give-back program. Donate a portion of all proceeds, match purchase prices, or accept donations. And remember, if you’re passionate about something, the better it will do. I donated $100 from every course sale in March 2020 to a woman in need, totaling over $6,000 in donations.

4. Time to Advertise

Fourth, surprise, surprise! Many don’t know this, but online advertising costs are cut in half right now. Two words: take advantage. If you don’t have an online offer that you can get creative with right off the bat, consider just running ads for your quality content and focus on building your email list for when this is over.

5. Cut Through the Noise

Last but not least, cut through the noise. Offer an element of fun to help get people through these difficult times.

Try doing a social media scavenger hunt and ask your followers to find a post where you talked about XYZ, or encourage them to watch today’s story and answer a riddle. Facilitate a little “playtime,” your audience will appreciate it. 

The best thing you can do during this time is to be human. One thing we truly need to survive is connection, and that’s what’s missing for many right now. So get online, offer weekly video segments around trends and pop culture, make quizzes, introduce your staff in fun ways, and be a beam of positivity. Remember, there’s always an opportunity to help those in need. 

About the Author: Shannon Lutz is the owner of The Social Bungalow, and the go-to marketing strategist for female entrepreneurs devoted to making a purpose-driven impact while earning a wildest-dreams-status income. The Social Bungalow is a clever, creative, and collaborative online education space dedicated to helping women market their expertise and structure their businesses for big-picture profit. She said “peace out” to a 10-year corporate marketing career where she assisted in building multi-million-dollar businesses and marketing A-list celebrities (*cough* ARod & JLo *cough*). Now, she uses this marketing-prowess to turn solopreneurs into 6- and 7-figure CEOs.

Ask an Expert: How to Handle Your Money in This Crisis, According to a Wealth Advisor

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

“The best way to ease our fears and anxiety about money is to get involved. Ask questions. Know what you’re dealing with.”

—Roxana Maddahi, Wealth Advisor at Steel Peak Wealth Management

With money anxiety at an all-time high in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, one thing is certain (despite the volatile state of the markets): We need to close the financial literacy gap for women. According to the 2019 Women, Money, and Power Study, commissioned by Allianz Life Insurance Company, 57% of women wish they were more confident in their financial decision making.

Enter Roxana Maddahi, a wealth advisor at Steel Peak Wealth Management who’s passionate about helping women take the lead in financial planning and helping us realize that it’s not as intimidating as it may seem. In this installment of our Instagram Live Ask an Expert series, we tapped Maddahi to weigh in on how we should be handling our money during COVID-19.

Scroll on for some highlights from the conversation and be sure to follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram to tune into the next one.

Q: I’m currently experiencing a lot of anxiety around money during COVID 19. What can I do to ease my concerns?

A: It’s normal to have anxiety around money right now—26 million people have lost their jobs, most businesses have slowed down, and we have no idea when this will all end.

My advice is: Get involved with your money. Get online access to your bank accounts, your retirement funds, your student loan providers—and talk to the people that help handle your money.

Call your CPA and tell them that you want to be involved and a part of the conversation. Call your financial advisor and let them know what you need, what your goals are, and what your desires are. Don’t be scared, don’t be nervous. There’s no harm in being aggressive and making sure that you’re part of the conversation.

The best way to ease our fears and anxiety about money is to get involved. Ask questions. Know what you’re dealing with.

Q: I’m not invested, where do I start? Is now a good time to be making investments anyway?

A: I do think it is the right time to invest if you’re not invested already. If you want to invest in the stock market, you want to have a timeline of at least five years because markets tend to go up and down and you want to allow for time if there is a pullback (like we’ve seen recently, for example.)

The great thing about investing that’s happened in recent years is that there are very few barriers to getting invested in quality investments. Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) allow you to invest in a theme of stocks, making it easy to diversify your overall portfolio. I personally invest my own assets in ETFs because they tend to be less volatile.

Q: What about other future planning like retirement and education savings?

A: It’s a great time to explore what your options are if you’re looking ahead to retirement or starting to save for your kid’s education.

For saving for retirement, make sure you’re looking at a qualified retirement plan—a 401k, IRA, a SepIRA. The benefit is that they allow you to put money away before tax, so it’s subtracted from your taxable income. The money that you can put in it now, the more that it will grow and that can be very powerful.

For saving for a kid’s education, I like the 529 plans. They’re easy and accessible and allow you to grow your money without paying taxes on it. You’re able to invest your money, let it grow, and then not pay capital gains tax on it.

The caveat with the 529 plans are that they can only be used for education—for college tuition, books, room and board, and now even private school. If you use them for anything else (say, your kid decides not to go to college), then you have to pay a 10% penalty plus tax if you don’t use this money for education.

Q: Where is the most important area for small business owners to focus their financial energy right now and why?

A: Continue to invest in your employees. If you haven’t already, I would take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to continue to pay your employees.

Everyone who owns a small business knows how difficult it is to hire people, to train people, and to have a group of people that works well together. If you can’t afford to pay your employees full salaries, think about what you can do to keep them onboard until we see that rebound.

You want to be able to crush it after this is all over, so I highly recommend investing as much as you can in your employees and doing all you can to keep them motivated and going during this process.

About the Expert: Roxana Maddahi is a wealth advisor at Steel Peak Wealth Management. She helps millennials plan their financial lives and invest for their futures. She’s on a mission to help women take the lead in financial planning and realize that it’s not as intimidating as it seems.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

Hey, Tech Savvy Self-Starters! Here's What to Expect at Our Money Moves Digital Summit

Photo: Angelica Marie Photography

One word we've heard a lot over the last few weeks is PIVOT! The world has changed, the way we do business has changed, and now, more than ever, we need to come together as a community. We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate brainstorming ways we can show up and support you during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. 

And while the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to host Money Moves Summit, our first-ever digital conference to help small business owners build, grow, and pivot in the new normal. We always bring our A-game but our lineup is stacked—Chelsea Handler is taking the virtual stage to buoy our spirits and get real about her career highs and lows, staying positive in a pandemic, and why humor is the best coping mechanism. You don’t want to miss this one! 

Read on to discover everything we have in store for this jam-packed day and get your ticket ASAP!

THE DATE

Saturday, May 2nd, 2020

TUNE IN FROM HOME

First things first! On the morning of the summit, Saturday, May 2nd, an email with your link and password to access the exclusive Money Moves Summit site will be waiting in your inbox. 

Money Moves Summit is made up of pre-recorded video sessions and live video sessions that will be hosted via Zoom. We recommend that you have a strong WiFi connection and find a comfortable place to tune in from home. Money Moves is optimized for desktop, so it is best viewed via a computer or laptop, rather than a tablet or phone.

While the live content is specifically designed to be watched in real-time, you’ll be able to access and view it for 72 hours after the event (Insiders, you have all-access even after the 72-hour cutoff!).

C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS

Our Insiders get a ton of perks at all our events—and our Money Moves Summit is no exception. As an Insider, you get free admission to our Money Moves Summit and you’ll have access to all of the panels and keynotes after the 72-hour cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard. 

Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here. 

THINGS TO PREP AHEAD OF TIME

Here are a few things to prep before the big day so it goes off without a hitch:

• Install Zoom on your desktop computer or laptop and test it out

  • Zoom tips:

    • Find a quiet place to tune in. Try to situate yourself in a small room that does not have an echo. 

      • Try and stay away from noisy electronics and silence your cell phone and computer notifications

    • When possible, limit your internet connection to solely the device you’re using for the Zoom conference.

      • Set your phone to airplane mode, pause your television connection, ask others in your home to pause anything that may require a strong internet connection, etc. 

• Make sure you have a strong WiFi connection.

• Download the workshop downloads so you can follow along with the expert. Your exclusive workshop downloads will be available on Saturday, May 2. Be sure to download them ahead of the workshops so you can follow along in real-time.

• Grab a notebook and a pen—and keep your headphones handy just in case your roommate has other plans for the day!

• Jot down any questions you have for the live workshops and mentor sessions.

• Set aside your athletic gear and your mat (or towel) and fill up your water bottle for our morning moves session with Melissa Wood Health. (No equipment needed!)

• Gather the ingredients for the happy hour cocktail workshop. (Recipe in the section below!)

THE SCHEDULE

Money Moves Summit is built just like our in-person conferences, which, of course, you all know and love. We have a stacked schedule with an A-list line-up of speakers, so we suggest taking notes along the way. 

Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. It’s going to be HUGE so we recommend getting a head start on planning out your day now. 

Morning Welcome with Jaclyn Johnson, CEO and founder of Create & Cultivate 

8:50 AM - 9:00 AM PDT

Get Up & Go: A light workout to get your morning moving

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM PDT 

*Watch whenever*

Expert:

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg | Founder, Melissa Wood Health

Morning Moves: Intention setting for the day ahead

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM PDT 

**Watch LIVE**

Expert: 

Koya Webb | Celebrity Holistic Health Coach and Author of “Let Your Dreams Make You Fierce”

Morning Keynote Conversation

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM PDT 

*Watch whenever*

Panelist:

Payal Kadakia | Founder & Executive Chairman, ClassPass

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder of Create & Cultivate

Financial Workshop Powered by SoFi

Get Your Money Right™: Financial Strategies That Aim to Help Your Business Thrive

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT 

*Watch whenever*

Expert:

Lauren Anastasio | Financial Planner, SoFi 

Your exclusive workshop download will be available on Saturday, May 2. Be sure to download it ahead of the workshop so you can follow along in real-time.

Mid Morning Keynote Conversation

10:30 AM - 10:50 AM PDT 

*Watch whenever*

Panelist:

Shay Mitchell | Founder and Chief Brand Officer, Béis 

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder, Create & Cultivate

Roundtable Conversation

The state of content creation in COVID-19: How brands and creators are pivoting in this new era of marketing

10:50 AM - 11:35 AM  PDT 

*Watch whenever*

Panelists:

Marianna Hewitt | Co-Founder, Summer Fridays

Lauren Bosworth | Founder & CEO, Love Wellness

Courtney Quinn | Content Creator, Color Me Courtney

Marie Forleo | CEO & #1 NYTimes Bestselling Author, Everything is Figureoutable

Moderator: 

Reesa Lake | Partner and Executive Vice President, DBA

Roundtable Conversation Powered by Mastercard

Small Business Brainstorm: A meeting of the minds to chat through the state of being a biz owner

10:50 AM - 11:35 AM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Panelists:

Sonja Rasula | Founder, Unique Markets

Sarah Larson Levey | Founder and CEO, Y7 Studio 

Tonya Rapley | Entrepreneur & Bestselling Author   

Paige Midland | Owner and Buyer, Midland

Ginger Siegel | North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard

Moderator:

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate

Fireside Chat Sponsored by Dell Technologies

Post COVID-19: How do we lay down the foundation for success moving forward

11:35 AM - 12:05 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Panelist:

Cyndi Ramirez | Founder & CEO, Chillhouse

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder of Create & Cultivate 

 Workshop

Organization tips for WFH while in quarantine to stay productive and focused

11:45 AM -12:15 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Experts:

Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin | Founders, The Home Edit

Your exclusive workshop download will be available on Saturday, May 2. Be sure to download it ahead of the workshop so you can follow along in real-time.

Fireside Chat Powered by Bümo

Mama to Mama: Surviving and thriving during the stay-at-home order

12:05 PM - 12:30 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Panelist:

Chriselle Lim | Influencer & Entrepreneur, Bümo

Moderator:

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate

Mentor Session

Live mentor sessions with experts who will be answering your questions in real-time via Zoom webinars

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM PDT

**Watch LIVE**

Mentors:

Arian Simone | Founder & CEO, Fearless

Maxie McCoy | Author, "You're Not Lost"

Jaime Schmidt | Founder of Schmidt’s Naturals and author of “Supermaker: Crafting Business on Your Own Terms”

Carolyn Rodz | CEO and Founder, Alice

Ginger Siegel | North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard

Katia Beauchamp | Co-Founder, Birchbox

Kristin O’Keeffe Merrick | Financial Advisor at O'Keeffe Financial Partners LLC

Wellness Session

Vision boarding and goal-setting for post-quarantine

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Expert: Camille Styles | Founder and Editor-in-Chief, CamilleStyles.com

Your exclusive workshop download will be available on Saturday, May 2. Be sure to download it ahead of the workshop so you can follow along in real-time.

Pitch Competition

Three finalists pitch to win $10,000 for their small business. Each finalist gets 6 minutes to pitch and 4 minutes to answer questions from the judges—ready, set, go!

1:35 PM - 2:05 PM

**Watch LIVE**

The Finalists:

To be announced!

The Judges:

Maxie McCoy | Author, "You're Not Lost"

Jaime Schmidt | Founder of Schmidt’s Naturals and author of “Supermaker: Crafting Business on Your Own Terms”

Alli Webb | Founder, Drybar

Arian Simone | Founder & CEO, Fearless

Ginger Siegel | North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard

Financial Workshop Powered by Ally

Plan It Forward. Prepare For Your Best Financial Future.

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM PDT

**Watch LIVE**

Experts:

Lindsey Bell | Chief Investment Strategist, Ally Invest

Emily Shallal | Sr. Director for Consumer Strategy and Innovation, Ally Bank

Your exclusive workshop download will be available on Saturday, May 2. Be sure to download it ahead of the workshop so you can follow along in real-time.

Roundtable Conversation

A conversation on how brands should be spending their marketing dollars during this time

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Panelists:

Tera Peterson | Esthetician & Co-Founder of NuFACE

Mari Mazzucco | Influencer Marketing & PR, OLLY

Steph So | VP of Digital Experience, Shake Shack

Nancy Twine | Founder & CEO, Briogeo

Cheryl Guerin | EVP, North America Marketing and Communications, MasterCard

Moderator:

Sherry Jhawar | Co-Founder and President, Blended Strategy Group

Workshop

From 0 to 100k: How to grow your following on a platform quickly and with authenticity

3:25 PM - 3:55 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Expert: 

Natalie Ellis | CEO & Co-Founder of BossBabe

Your exclusive workshop download will be available on Saturday, May 2. Be sure to download it ahead of the workshop so you can follow along in real-time.

Afternoon Keynote

On pivoting and remaining positive as a business owner

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Panelist:

Bobby Berk | Interior designer and star of Netflix’s “Queer Eye”

Moderator:

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate

Digital Deep Dive

A conversation on the 5 things you need to know when transitioning your business to digital with Jenna Kutcher

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Panelist:

Jenna Kutcher | Podcaster and Virtual Business Coach

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder of Create & Cultivate 

Wellness Session

Staying sane in small spaces and the hacks you need to thrive

4:05 PM - 4:35 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Expert:

Whitney Leigh Morris | Creator, Tiny Canal Cottage

Your exclusive workshop download will be available on Saturday, May 2. Be sure to download it ahead of the workshop so you can follow along in real-time.

Roundtable Conversation

The Three Rs: How to respond, recover, and reset to emerge stronger through the COVID-19 crisis

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Panelists:

Rachel Tipograph | Founder and CEO of  MikMak

Sarah Kunst | Managing Director, Cleo CapitalJeni Britton Bauer | Founder and Creative Director of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream

Denyelle Bruno | President and CEO of Tender Greens

Babba Rivera | Founder of ByBabba 

Moderator:

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate

Roundtable Conversation

How the C-suite is coping with COVID-19 and what their strategy is for moving forward

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Panelists:

Ariel Kaye | Founder & CEO, Parachute

Alli Webb | Founder, Drybar

Morgan DeBaun | Founder & CEO, Blavity

Rebecca Minkoff | Founder, Rebecca Minkoff & The Female Founder Collective

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder of Create & Cultivate 

Evening Keynote

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM PDT

**Watch LIVE**

Panelist:

Chelsea Handler | Comedian, Bestselling Author, & Activist

Moderator: 

Allison Statter | Co-Founder & CEO, Blended Strategy Group

Cocktail Workshop

Time to celebrate your successes! Join us for a cocktail workshop with one of your favorite influencers.

5:30 PM - 5:40 PM PDT

*Watch whenever*

Experts:

Adrianna Adarme | Founder, A Cozy Kitchen

Cassie Winslow | Founder, Deco Tartelette

Recipe: Pink Grapefruit and Chamomile Palomas from Floral Libations by Cassie Winslow

Makes 1 Cocktail

Ingredients:

½ tsp Rose Salt (recipe below) or coarse salt

1 lime or grapefruit wedge

Ice Cubes

¼ cup [60 ml] fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice

2 Tbsp Chamomile Simple Syrup (recipe below)

¼ cup [60 ml] tequila

Splash of soda water

½ tsp freshly grated orange zest

Fresh organic chamomile flowers for garnish (optional)

1 grapefruit slice for garnish (optional)

Rose Salt

Makes approximately ¾ cup [5 g]

Ingredients:

¼ cup [5 g] dried rose petals

½ cup [100 g] fine sea salt

Directions:

In a food processor or spice grinder, grind the rose petals for about 10 seconds until the rose petals resemble small flakes. Be sure not to grind them into a powder.

In a small bowl, stir together the salt and rose petals. For optimal flavor, wait about 1 week before use. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for about 1 year.

Chamomile Simple Syrup

Makes approximately 1 cup [240 ml]

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp dried chamomile flowers (or 1 bag chamomile tea)

1 cup [200 g] cane sugar

½ cup [120 ml] filtered water

Directions:

In a saucepan, stir together chamomile flowers or 1 tea bag, sugar, and water, and cook over medium heat. Simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved and the mixture has thickened into a syrup, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl, then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Recipe: Frozen Strawberry Margaritas from A Cozy Kitchen by Adrianna Adarme

Serves 2  

Ingredients:

1/4 cup water 

1/4 cup granulated sugar  

Kosher salt, for rim 

6-8 ounces tequila blanco 

2 ounces triple sec  

2 ounces lime juice  

2 cups frozen strawberries 

1 cup ice  

Directions:

In a small saucepan, set over medium heat, add the water and sugar. Mix and warm until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool, about 5 minutes. 

Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons kosher salt to a shallow plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of both of your glasses. And then dip them in the salt and set aside. 

In a blender, add the simple syrup, tequila blanco, triple sec, lime juice, frozen strawberries and ice. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Divide amongst the two glasses and serve. 

Recipe Notes: 

Tequila: Use 6 ounces of tequila if you’re a lightweight and don’t love the flavor of tequila. If you’re a tequila lover, use 8 ounces in this recipe. 

Strawberries: You can use fresh strawberries if you like. Freeze them on a baking sheet for at least 2 hours. And then you can transfer them to a freezer-safe bag/container until you’re ready to use them. 

Music Session

10-minute Q&A followed by an exclusive three-song live performance!

5:40 PM - 6:10 PM

**Watch LIVE**

Artist:

Lennon Stella | Singer & Actress

Thank You & Pitch Contest Winner Announcement

6:20 PM - 6:30 PM PDT

GET SOCIAL

Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate. Tag @createcultivate and use the hashtag #CCMoneyMovesSummit for the chance to be featured in our Instagram Stories throughout the day!

Networking is a huge part of our event and our Create & Cultivate Money Moves Summit Attendees Slack Workspace is a great place to mix and mingle with your fellow Create & Cultivators before, during, and after the big day. We’ve created channels for every workshop and panel, as well as channels for international attendees, networking, and more!

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?

Live chat with a C&C specialist on CreateCultivate.com. You’ll see a “Chat With Us” pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen.

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ONLINE! Who are you most excited to hear speak? Share in the comments below!

MORE ON THE BLOG

Set Aside 30 Minutes This Week to Do *This* and Keep Your Small Biz On Track

Photo: Christina Morillo for Pexels

Most people we know move gradually make the move from side-hustle to full-time gig. It’s a great plan to be sure that you’re able to support yourself financially while you’re laying the groundwork for your new business, but it can often lead to a bit of a messy overlap between your personal and business funds. (Trust us, we’ve been there.)

You may keep pushing off getting organized until the proverbial “tomorrow” and let the task of figuring it out fall to the bottom of your to-do list. You end up losing money because of missing receipts and not planning for tax deadlines. Follow the four steps below to make getting organized easier, painless, and maybe even a little fun, all in just 30 minutes.

Step 1: Open a separate bank account for your business ASAP

Is this something that you legally need to do for your business? Maybe. Is this something that you financially need to do for your business? Absolutely.

Even if you’re starting out as a sole proprietor, which is the default structure for anyone who earns income from self-employment, you should set up a separate bank account. Why? Because even if that’s the only thing that you do to get your money organized, you’ll be miles ahead of everyone else in the organization game. You won’t need to sift through a bunch of personal transactions to find business deductions and you won’t lose precious time looking through all of those same personal transactions to see if your client has paid you.

Don’t overcomplicate your business or waste any more time looking at a hodgepodge of transactions, hoping that you’re not missing something. Take 15 minutes to set up a separate account and you’ll be one big step closer to organized money management (congratulations!).

Step 2: Create a list of deductions you can take

There are so many deductions you can take, but it's hard to catch everything. Create a list of things you can deduct to ensure you're not missing anything. Tape the list to a folder and store your receipts in there until you can get them entered into whatever bookkeeping system you use.

Everyone will have different expenses, but a good list to get started with is:

• Web hosting

• Vehicle mileage

• Work travel

• Courses, seminars, licensing, and business-related books

• Shipping and packaging

• Office supplies and equipment

• Health insurance premiums

Step 3: Know what tax forms you need to file, and when

The first few months of starting a business will fly by and you’ll be left scrambling the night before filing deadlines if you don’t pay attention to some key forms and dates.

To get this started here is some basic information for sole proprietors:

Who has to file? Generally, anyone who has net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more needs to report this income at the end of the year. And anyone who is expected to owe more than $1,000 in taxes at the end of the year needs to make quarterly estimated income tax payments.

What form do I file? Most people start their business as a sole proprietor, and the forms that you need to file at the end of the year are Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (profit and loss from business) and Schedule SE (self-employment tax).

When do I file quarterly estimated tax payments? Keep track of estimated payment deadlines or you’ll face a penalty come tax time. Deadlines for taxes on income received each quarter are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 (of the following year).

Step 4: Set a weekly money date

This won’t be your most fun date, but it’ll probably your most profitable. Set a time to check in every week and make sure that your money is on track. If you do this weekly, it’ll become so easy and quick. Once you have this done, you've earned a glass of wine and a great stress-free weekend.  Some things to do weekly are:

• Send any invoices that are due

• Look at who hasn’t paid and send reminders (+ cash any checks!)

• Pay any outstanding bills

• Pay yourself weekly salary/stipend

Bonus step: Set up a bookkeeping system

Look at you, you overachiever. You’ve got this organization thing down and you want a bonus step? You can feel even more legit and in control of your money by setting up an easy bookkeeping system. This doesn’t have to take a long time and it doesn’t need to cost a lot. There is a range of easy to use programs out there (some are even free!) that are better than that excel sheet you’re using. 

Remember—better to get organized now than to create problems for yourself and your business in the future.

This post was originally published on February 7, 2018, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

5 Strategies for Working From Home With Children From a Successful Entrepreneur

Photo: Courtesy of Karrie Brady

With working-from-home becoming a new norm around the world, many parents have had to transition to a whole new work-life balance.

Between daycares, nannies, and sitters now being unavailable, to schools transitioning to online classes, while others are canceling classes altogether—parents are left to navigate a whole new work-from-home balance with their children. With a lot more on everyone’s plate at home, this can cause a great deal of stress for your work and your little ones.

With the risk of increased burnout and stress navigating this new normal, I’m here to share a few of my favorite tips from my own experience as an entrepreneur and mom so you can come out on the other end, stronger than ever before. 

Here are five tips for creating the space and strategy you need to build a successful work-life balance right now.

1. Make a Plan

Schedule and batch your work around your child’s napping and sleeping schedule. This will be a savior for when unexpected deadlines come up or for when you need dedicated time set aside to get some of your core projects done.

Batching your work also creates a healthy balance for the time dedicated to work and the time devoted to your family. For example, I try to avoid conference calls in the morning when my daughter is having breakfast. That way, I can stay present and be with her before I start my workday.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of getting up before your kids to start the day with some peaceful, uninterrupted work! Sometimes you just need some quiet time to get stuff done.

“

It’s okay to have help, you don’t have to do it alone, I promise.

”

—Karrie Brady

2. Create a Dedicated Work Space

It can be tough working from home while your children are also home all day. That’s why it’s so essential to have a dedicated room, office, or even a simple space for your work. This helps to remove distractions when you do have team or client calls, webinars, etc., and this can help create healthy boundaries with your little ones in terms of where they can “play,” and where you work.

3. Hire Help in Your Business

Hire help. Yesterday. Whether that’s a virtual assistant, copywriter, or operations lead, hire someone who can help you streamline your processes and give you back the time you need to spend on your business. Outsourcing is a very under-utilized tool by most people, but moms especially. It’s okay to have help, you don’t have to do it alone, I promise.

4. Create Non-Negotiable Boundaries

For a lot of companies that are navigating this work-from-home dynamic for the first time with their employees, lines can become blurry in terms of how “available” you’re expected to be and when you can and should “leave” work. This is when it’s crucial to create non-negotiable boundaries for yourself and your work. Try to create “working hours” around the time you want to have to yourself and quality time with your family. Not only will you and your family benefit from this consistent, quality time that you’re getting together, but your work will benefit, too.

“T

he best way to navigate this new norm is to welcome each day with grace. Not every day is going to be the same.

”

—Karrie Brady

5. Batch Your Work Schedule

Try to focus on relevant and specific tasks for a blocked period of time. I recommend batching creative projects on different days to stay in a creative energy and mindset. By batching your tasks, you’re able to stay in the same energy and mindset while accomplishing more because you’re not multitasking.

To balance the time I spend on my business and with my family, I have to make both schedules work together. So I organize conference calls around my daughter’s nap schedule, and once she goes to bed for the night, I continue my work until a set time to wrap up any loose ties before the end of the night. It’s not a typical 9-5 routine, but I get to devote time to successfully completing tasks in my business and spending quality time with my family.

To be honest, the best way to navigate this new norm is to welcome each day with grace. Not every day is going to be the same, but if you have a rough plan and routine in place, you’ll be in good shape to create a healthy balance between thriving in your business and your home life.

About the Author: Karrie Brady is a speaker, educator, and sales expert specializing in sales and marketing. She’s worked with over 500 entrepreneurs, helping them leave their 9-5s, build their savings to six-figures, and cumulatively make over $2,000,000 online. Karrie’s passion is helping entrepreneurs combine soul-level connection and radical profit. Raising babies and building businesses, this mama has sold millions in the online space and is ready to help you do the same.

MORE ON THE BLOG

Drowning in Emails? Here's How 5 Bosses Handle Their Inboxes

Photo: Andrew Neel for Pexels

The inbox is an equal opportunity offender. Emails have no respect for office hours or lunchtime. They wild out at all hours and it's on us to manage them. But how? We asked five women—those who run their own companies and those who freelance—all about their unique inbox management tips. 

Here’s the bad and the good of it: The inbox inbounds will never stop as long as you're making moves. To help you lower your cortisol levels and avoid overwhelm, here's a breakdown of how five bosses HANDLE their inboxes and whittle that number down to zero. (Yes, it’s possible to get to inbox zero!)

TINA WELLS, FOUNDER & CEO BUZZ MARKETING GROUP

Staying on top of and managing emails is a top priority for me. I average about 500 each day. I answer whatever I can immediately. I also have an amazing team at BuzzMG, and I'm fortunate to have an internal shorthand with them, so even just forwarding a note with a meeting request and not having to specify "please set up a coffee meeting with xx" saves so much time.

My team doesn't really use email to communicate. We use Slack and store important files in Dropbox, so it's really easy to do our work and send messages without email.

I swear by Scott Belsky's book "Making Ideas Happen" and make sure I clear out all back burner emails by the last day of the month. I file important notes from clients in specific folders. I also have years worth of sent emails. You never know when you need to find important info!

IVKA ADAM, FOUNDER & CEO ICONERY 

Some of the best advice I ever got had to do with email strategy: When you need someone to get back to you on multiple topics, make each one a separate email with clearly defined and themed email subject lines.  Why?  Because some of the topics may be shorter and easier to respond to than others and you’re not waiting on the person at the other end to gather responses to all topics at once. 

This has helped tremendously to both facilitate efficiency and keep my inbox to a minimum.

JASMINE STAR, BRAND & MARKETING GURU

My business is built on personal connections.  My entire focus is on making sure people feel seen, heard, and known.  As a result, I have set strict hours of operation and engagement.  Yes, that means, I allocate 70 minutes every morning to respond to all email. Other than that time, I don't respond to email until the next day.  Similarly, I set certain times to blog and engage on social media.  I do my best to interact with people who are interacting with me.

KARIN ELDOR, FREELANCE WRITER & CONTENT CREATOR

"Touch it once." This one changed my life. It's exactly that: when you open an email and read it, don't let it sit idly in your inbox. If it will take you less than 5 minutes to reply, then do it on the spot and file it away. Don't start reading the same email more than once, it's a huge time suck. Of course, there are emails that deserve more thought or even a more in-depth reply. In this case, reply right away to confirm receipt, and let the sender know they can expect a response "by EOD," or whatever timeline makes sense.

Then sit down and draft your reply, during your dedicated email time. The point is, because we get in the habit of checking our email on-the-go, while waiting for our favorite Netflix show to cue up, and basically all the time, we end up reading the same email more than once and not doing anything about it. By the way, "touch it once" is a great productivity tip to apply to all tasks, especially for the perfectionists out there! If it will take you 2 minutes, just get it done and move on.

No cherry-picking: When you scan your inbox, don't be selective with what you read and reply to. First, do a quick scan for urgencies. Then open and reply to your emails in sequence, rather than "cherry-picking" the ones you deal with ASAP. This one's a bit tougher to stick to, but you'll see that managing your inbox during scheduled blocks of time throughout the day and blasting through your inbox, is much more productive than dealing with rando emails, all day.

BELMA McCAFFREY, WRITER & CREATOR OF WORK BIGGER 

Unroll.me is an app that lets me quickly unsubscribe from emails that are no longer relevant, and it allows me to roll up some of my emails so I can review them all at once versus reading them throughout the day.

I also just started using Boomerang for Gmail. I can schedule reminders to read certain messages later versus leaving them as unread in my inbox. This eases my stress level because I don't have "unread" messages staring at me reminding me of tasks I need to complete.

Although difficult, I also like to schedule when I check my email throughout the day. I aim for once in the morning, once around lunchtime, and once in the evening. This is less about controlling my inbox and more about controlling how I respond to the inbox. It makes me feel more in control and organized, with 100+ emails a day and all.

This post was originally published on May 14, 2018, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

Pro Tip: The Free Tools I Use Every Day as a Freelancer

Photo: Create & Cultivate

Freelance isn’t free, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate a free resource as much as the next person—especially when you consider that, when you’re a freelancer, you become financially responsible for all of your business expenses. We’re talking about your tech (your hardware and your software), your office space, your health insurance, your advertising and marketing—everything.

Ahead, Audrey Adair, a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, breaks down the free resources that she continues to use on a daily basis. From a free email service that’s so much more than just email to a stock image database that offers high-quality photography without a premium price tag, scroll on for free resources that’ll help you get the job done.

Gmail

Where would I be without Gmail?

More than just email, Gmail also provides access to 15 GB of cloud data storage, a calendar, a suite of office resources like Google Docs and Sheets, and the ability to converse with friends and colleagues through Hangouts.

My favorite tools are Google Docs and Sheets because they save updates in real-time and I don’t have to worry about whether or not I packed my drive with me when I travel because it’s all saved on the cloud. It’s also great for collaborating with others and allows you the capability to work on a single document in real-time through the internet.

Upgrade Options: $6 / $12 / $25 per month payment options give you access to even more storage space and the option to have a personalized email address.

Canva

I don’t know about you, but I could just never figure out Adobe Photoshop. I tried and tried, but never used it enough to remember all that goes into it. I’m also much better at creating with words than I’ve ever been at art.

Enter: Canva.

Canva is a free online graphic creating platform that provides you with access to thousands of templates and design ideas for anything you could possibly think of.

I’ve used it for YouTube thumbnails, Instagram posts and IGTV cover photos.

There are some features that are pay per use, meaning you can more than likely find a free option but if you want to use a specific art file you may need to pay for it. But most files I’ve seen are $1 to use so it’s still an incredibly affordable option and SO easy to use.

Upgrade Options: $12.95 per month per team member makes Canva a collaborative space for coworkers and unlocks access to artwork and customization features.

Planoly

I use Planoly to help plan and schedule my Instagram posts and absolutely love it.

It helps save so much time and hassle being able to save all of my IG content in a single place, write out the captions and schedule when content will go live.

I’ll spend an hour or so planning content in the app and then voila, it’s done and I can go about my business for the rest of the week. 

Upgrade Options: Planoly has several payment options starting as low as $7 per month that covers management of multiple accounts and the capability to upload unlimited photos to your planning grid.

Mailchimp

I didn’t understand the importance and value of a solid email list until I started The Scope and Mailchimp is an awesome tool for anyone looking to grow and manage their list.

Free up to your first 2,000 email subscribers, Mailchimp grants access to different email templates and analytics like open/click rates and demographics.

Upgrade Options: Mailchimp offers two different payment plans: Grow and Pro. The Grow plan starts at $9.99 per month and increases as your list and needs for the platform grow.

Social Media

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and YouTube.

These are the five primary social media platforms I use on a daily basis to help promote my businesses and stay connected with fellow freelancers, entrepreneurs and potential readers and the best part - using them is absolutely free.

While we have all felt the woes of algorithm and home feed changes on these platforms over the years, we have to remember that they’re all free and it’s up to us to either adapt with the changes or find our audiences elsewhere.

Burst

There are so many stock image databases out there but Burst is the one I return to time and time again.

I don’t always have visuals to back the content I like to cover on The Scope, and Burst is easy to navigate and usually has exactly what I’m looking for. It’s also great to pull from for new client proposals or social media posts.

I also like that they provide photographer information on photos so you can opt to see more of their personal work.

About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.

This post was originally published on May 7, 2019, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

Ask an Expert: Jaclyn Johnson on Pivoting to Digital, Managing Cashflow, and Being Transparent During COVID-19

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting live discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Create & Cultivate

Our very own Jaclyn Johnson, the founder and CEO of Create & Cultivate, went live on SoFi’s Instagram this morning to talk all things pivoting in the time of COVID-19. In conjunction with Create & Cultivate’s daily Ask an Expert series, she joined SoFi spokesperson and career expert Ashley Stahl to chat through everything quarantine has meant for her small businesses (aka Create & Cultivate) and her employees.

Jaclyn talks community, the upcoming digital Money Moves Summit, and ways you can set yourself up for success post-COVID. Whether you are a business owner, just got laid off, or have a business you want to launch, Jaclyn has guidance for you. Read on for all the highlights and some killer advice on how you can come out on the other side of quarantine as your best self (without learning how to bake bread).

On pivoting…

“I think we’ve officially adjusted to the new normal.”

“As an event focused company, we had to pivot quickly to the digital realm.”

On advice for business owners feeling unsure…

“Before doing anything drastic, give it a beat. We’re in the middle of a transitional period where we’ll know more in two or three months where the market is going, where the trends are going, and what will be happening.”

“Number one, take a look at your business: Are their ways to transition into a digital world? If there is, double down on that. Think about what’s working and put all your energy into that.”

“Think about how you can move quickly and nimbly in this environment to keep money coming in.”

On how to nurture community…

“When it comes to community, it’s challenging. You don’t want to come off as ‘buy, buy, buy,’ but the reality is we’re in an economic situation where we need to be supporting small business owners and we need to be a part of that conversation.” 

“It’s important to be authentic and to be vulnerable. Now is not the time to be like, ‘We’ve got it all figured out, we know exactly what’s going on.’ It’s about finding a way to be there for your community in a way that’s impactful and informative, but also realistic because everyone is going through it.”

On employee relations…

“It’s really important to be transparent about what’s going on and be over communicative and let them know that you’re figuring this out as well but keeping that line of communication open.”

“We have to shift the way we think, we have to shift the way we’re doing business. So really allow your team to bring ideas to the table.”

On navigating furloughs and layoffs…

“You don’t want a lot of voices in the room when it comes to decisions like this. It can be even harder to navigate these conversations.”

“This is, hopefully for a lot of people, a temporary situation. So, if you are on the other side of this, don’t take this personally as a ‘career fail’ this is a pandemic that we’re dealing with.”

“It’s about having your employees understand how the government can support them as well.”

“We’ll be coming back from this and businesses will want to hire because they will be incentivized to hire.”

On transitioning to online…

“What we’ve found is that people are spending so much time online and they want to better themselves.”

“People are trying to improve themselves through online content.”

“Everyone should be asking for help during this time.”

On keeping money in your business...

“One, look at your accounts receivables and see where you’re at with that—and look at what your late fees are if people are overdue to maximize that money that’s coming in. Two, think about, ‘Where am I spending each month and where can I reduce this cost?’ For us, there were things we used for events like Spotify and Rent The Runway that got nixed. We put everything on hold in that space. Three, cash flow is really important right now. Think about how you can make incremental dollars without spending on talent or consultants or whatever it may be.”

“One thing we’ve really doubled down on is Instagram ads because usually when you spend money on those you can make money. Think about how you can maximize your ad spend.”

“It’s about being really conservative with your cash flow right now.”

On the Money Moves Summit…

“The Summit is all about pivoting in the new normal. So, it’s about entrepreneurs, business owners, freelancers, creatives, or someone who got furloughed or laid off. It’s really for anyone who is looking to thrive, not just survive, post COVID-19.”

“Our event is $29.99 and all the proceeds are going to a grant for a small business owner. That is something we wanted to do not only because of what’s happening in the world but we wanted to give back to our community in some way.”

On providing value while working from home…

“I think what is important is being proactive and bringing things to the table. If you feel like you’re not getting your message across, create a list of the things you’ve got done or that you think we should be doing. Be proactive about it.”

On reconnecting with your purpose…

“What has historically happened in times like this is innovation, which is an exciting good thing that we can look forward to.” 

“Use this time to think about what are people going to need coming out of this? Where is there space in the market? Where is there white space to take advantage of and that you can build something for? Also, what excites you and makes you happy?”

On making big changes…

“Think about what you want and then make a 6-month road map.”

“I don’t think now is the time to make rash moves. I think being strategic makes a lot of sense. But it’s important to look at things that aren’t working.”

On setting the foundation for a brand…

“I always say, ‘Think of your full-time job as your investor in your company.’ Look at your paycheck and see what you can put toward your next venture, and then understand what you need for a three-to-six-month runway for your business.”

“Start planting seeds, see what’s out there, see if there is interest.”

“Don’t launch a replica of what someone else is doing. Think through how you can put a spin on it or make it uniquely yours. Or look at what someone is offering and look at what is missing.” 

“You cannot go into anything thinking, ‘What if,’ you have to go in thinking, ‘What’s next.’”

On the best thing to do for your business right now…

“Take a deep dive into your customer. See what they like, what they’re reacting to. I think this is a great time to poll your audience. Learn about your audience and what they want.”

On partnership and sponsors…

“Sponsorship is tricky right now. The people I am reaching out to right now are people I have really good relationships with, people I have worked with a couple of times or known for years.”  

On generating creativity…

“Set up fun activities for yourself like a wine and paint night or gardening. It’s about taking time to enjoy little moments.”

“I think it’s important to manifest the future.”

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!

"Getting the Job I Wanted (and Felt I Deserved) Took Patience and Persistence" With Megan Dunn of Califia Farms

We often look to the iconic leaders of our time for motivation and wisdom, but for many of us, this is purely inspirational and not as applicable to our everyday lives. We truly believe there is more benefit in looking to your left and seeking out a peer-to-peer mentorship with a colleague or friend you admire. Why? Firstly, they will likely have the time to be your mentor, and secondly, their advice will be relatable and allow you to see your path clearly while keeping your mind open to new ideas, identifying new opportunities, and helping you self-advocate. We call them everyday superheroes. In this new series, we talk to the people who are paying it forward, lifting others up and paving a smoother path for the next generation to come.

Have you ever had a professional mentor help advance your career or business? If you answered “no” to this question, then you’re not alone. You’re one of the 31% of women (compared to just 18% of men) who haven’t but it’s time to change those stats. And Megan Dunn, Senior Manager Commercialization at Califia Farms—an independently-owned plant-based food and beverage company—is on a mission to make it happen. After being recently promoted by her female mentor at Califia Farms, Dunn is paying it forward by uplifting her fellow female employee within the company to join her team. But elevating female voices started early for Dunn.

As one of six, her home was centered around the kitchen where Dunn’s mom worked around the clock to feed and nourish the family. It was at the kitchen breakfast bar where Megan finished her homework, called out Jeopardy answers, and, unknowingly, started her journey in community and in food.

So, when she set off to Georgetown University, Dunn was originally set on becoming a doctor but after two summer abroad programs in Argentina and Spain, she pivoted to study Spanish and Environmental Policy. While her work in food doesn’t align directly with her major, her Jesuit education gave her a valuable understanding of the development of the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and a passion for learning from experience and applying new concepts and perspectives.

After a few years working in Government Affairs and Technology PR, Megan took time out to reflect on her true passions—cooking in the kitchen, traveling, and sharing meals with friends. Soon thereafter, Megan found her home at Califia Farms where she was able to quickly understand the business, grow personally and professionally, and bring her passions into her work.

And now, she is helping others realize their passion too. Read on to learn more about Dunn’s career path, the hurdles along the way, and her advice for other career go-getters to achieve success, too.

On the career steps she took to land her dream job… 

In moving to Los Angeles, I took the time to search out companies that aligned with my personal values and made products that I enjoyed using. While searching for my dream job, I worked part-time doing things that I loved—working at a bakery, selling sourdough and baked goods at the Laguna Beach Farmer’s Market, getting my 200-hour yoga certification and teaching yoga at cross-fit and yoga studios.

Over nine months, I applied to several companies and to Califia Farms three times before I got an interview. I remember the hiring manager telling me that the starting role may not fulfill me, but I knew there was growth in the role, and I was confident I could be a value-add to Califia. In the first two years, I raised my hand at every opportunity and was vocal about my abilities so that when a position opened in the Product Launch Department, I was first in line.

I know it can be difficult to take a time out when forging your career path, to reflect on your goals, and make the decisions that set you up for personal success, but it was this time that got me to where I am today.

On what she studied at school…

I went to Georgetown University to study Biology of Global Health and Medicine, but in my third year, I pivoted to study Spanish and Government with a focus on Environmental Policy. My father is a doctor and growing up I would spend a lot of time in his office, hanging out in the doctor’s lounge at the hospital and traveling on medical missions to provide health care in under-served communities. I wanted to be a doctor, too.

While at Georgetown, I studied abroad in Argentina on a research program studying health care and vaccine development. I loved experiencing a new city, meeting new people, and, frankly, being out of my comfort zone. The next year, I went to Barcelona to study Spanish linguistics and history. It was these experiences that helped me understand that what I liked about medicine was the connection with people and the fulfillment of helping people. 

Switching my major was my first step in giving myself the time-out I needed to think about what I wanted and how I wanted my future to look.

“ In the first two years, I raised my hand at every opportunity and was vocal about my abilities so that when a position opened in the Product Launch Department, I was first in line.”

On the earlier jobs that helped to shape her path… 

Out of college, I worked at a yoga studio in Georgetown, Washington, DC (you may start to see a theme here!) The owner was a boss. She was tough, her classes were rigorous, and she held her employees and teachers to a higher standard. This type of behavior may seem out of place for a yoga studio but what she showed me was how to challenge myself on and off the mat. I met incredible people at this studio, and it was a woman who practiced that got me my first job at a government relations firm.

My first job was as a Legislative Manager at Monument Policy Group. The group specialized in advising on complex policy issues, offering strategic, bipartisan advice with an understanding of national and global trends and culture. Our clients were from all industries, including finance, technology, and aerospace. Ultimately, working in government affairs wasn’t for me but in working across these industries, I stretched my critical thinking skills and left with a better understanding of the complex relationship between business, government, and people. 

On the challenges she faced along the way…

In starting your career, there is real pressure around whether you’ve made the right choices, the expectations of where you should be by a certain age, and stress around how much money you should be making. Whether this is internal or external pressure, the challenges are real.

In the same vein that I like to travel and get outside my comfort zone, I learned that a challenge in your career can be greatly beneficial. You aren’t expected to be perfect. Talk to your manager when you’ve hit a roadblock and explore your options. Many companies are willing to invest in training programs to grow the skill sets of their employees, too. 

There have been moments when I’ve felt like my challenges are unique—I’m the only one who’s felt this way—but you can put money on someone you know experiencing something similar. So, I learned to ask for help. I talked to my friends, I sought advice from mental health professionals and, eventually, I found a strong mentor in the workplace.

On her role at Califia Farms…

As Senior Manager of Commercialization, I work cross-functionally to launch new innovations from Califia. I interact daily with the other leaders at Califia in manufacturing, quality, R&D and product development, sales, marketing, and finance. My job is heavy on project management, critical problem solving, and creative strategy. 

I started at Califia Farms in Customer Operations and Services which included order processing, customer service, data syndication, and various sales support responsibilities. The team was still small and there was lots of work to be done. I raised my hand when help was needed and demonstrated my ability to learn quickly and execute effectively. These two skills are what helped me work my way up the ladder.

I did this with the support of an incredible mentor, one of the founding employees of Califia, she was the hiring manager that believed in me from the first interview. When the position opened in Product Launch, I was promoted to Product Launch Specialist and have since been promoted numerous times, now to Senior Manager.

“There have been moments when I’ve felt like my challenges are unique—I’m the only one who’s felt this way—but you can put money on someone you know experiencing something similar. ”

On what she loves most about her job …

I love working with our innovation team because we are a diverse group of people with varying disciplines, experiences, and knowledge. The things I like to do in my time outside of work like traveling, cooking, and eating support me in my role in launching new products. Traveling and social media help me know what people are cooking in their homes and going outside their homes to experience.

It’s exciting to have your finger on the pulse of what’s trending but I also like to say I work in the future. While products are launching in 2020, we are already working on the products for the next three to five years. The reality of my work challenges me to be flexible and let go of expectations. I find this very fulfilling but if you like a more rigid work structure, the constant variables could pose great challenges.

On the culture at Califia Farms… 

We still have very much a start-up culture at Califia. Our job titles relate to our core responsibilities, but you’ll find that many of us are contributing in other ways. Califia has hired some of the brightest, hard-working people I've ever met. We work hard and we’re proud of the work that we do. Second, we launch best-in-class products that not only taste great and nourish our bodies but contribute to protecting our planet for future generations to come.

In addition to feeling motivated by our core values, I stay because I’ve been able to grow with Califia. I’ve had many friends bounce from company to company to further their career and while that has brought them success, it wasn’t the right path for me. We benefit greatly in our company culture and morale when we lift each other up and celebrate the success of our colleagues. I look forward to passing this forward as I continue my role as a leader at Califia.

“Getting the job I wanted and felt I deserved, took patience and persistence. My mentor helped me navigate through the rewarding, and the tough, times.”

—Megan Dunn

On what her day-to-day looks like… 

Every day is different, but it generally starts with a cup of coffee and emails. I spend a lot of time on the phone discussing project timelines, managing deliverables, and keeping our teams updated with the latest in what’s in the pipeline at Califia.

My most notable task is my weekly product launch call which includes 30 to 40 people tuned in for one hour. If that sounds wild, it’s because it is! Like I’ve said, each person has a lot of responsibilities and it’s important we manage our time wisely, so while launches aren’t always moving smoothly, we get the job done with respect and teamwork. It’s this attitude that helps us get the job done!  

Another part of the day that I really enjoy includes working with our Director of Design and CEO on the packaging because it presents a creative and collaborative outlet that ultimately becomes one of the most tangible deliverables of the product launch cycle—the final package!

On her morning routine…

Giving myself the time and the space to do the things that make me happy is so important in maintaining work/life balance. No matter how busy I am I make sure to set time aside to do the things that are important to me like working out, cooking food, and spending time with my family. Sometimes that means waking up at 5:30 am to get it in before work but it’s always worth it—it’s how I rest and reset.

On her greatest productivity hack…

In this job, deadlines and dates eventually become second nature but that took roughly 6 months to a year of practice before it became innate, so list-making and notes helped me get up to speed! I’m still looking for the perfect system, but I organize tasks by the week using an old-fashioned pen and paper. I am guilty of having too many windows open on my computer screen so tracking tasks on my screen can be tough.

For long term tasks and reminders, I use OneNote to keep track of topics I need to bring up in my weekly meetings which I check off as I go. I also use Wrike, workflow automation, and project management tool, to keep track of important milestones and manage deliverables.  

Time blocking on my calendar has been one of my better productivity hacks.

If I really need to focus on a task or remind myself to check in with a vendor or partner, I’ll schedule time on my calendar to ensure it happens.

“No matter how busy I am I make sure to set time aside to do the things that are important to me like working out, cooking food, and spending time with my family. ”

On reaching inbox zero… 

My inbox philosophy is to scan all incoming emails for the level of importance. I break up inbox time to roughly five sessions during the day that way I'm not always distracted by my email since there’s other work to be done. I find that if I haven’t responded on an important matter, I generally receive a phone call or chat asking for my attention.

About once a month, I do set aside time to go through unread emails, responding to those of importance or archive those that no longer require action. 

On the biggest misconceptions about her job…

I’m an open book and make myself available for calls when it comes to questions about my role.  It’s my responsibility to take the time to make everyone a “product expert” and help them understand the new product pipeline. For this reason, I don’t think there are many misconceptions about my job but I’m open to anyone who thinks otherwise!

On her advice for landing your dream job…

My job can be named many things and may sit in varying departments dependent on the company. If you want to launch products at your company or somewhere else, take the time to research the department structure and hierarchy. This can help you understand the path forward. 

Second, talk to someone that has the role you want. If they are in product launch, they likely have lots of extra work and may need help so don’t be afraid to vocalize what you want and raise your hand. If you are in a different department, ask that person to be your mentor. When the opportunity arises, you’ll be ready and positioned to throw your hat in the ring.  

“I break up inbox time to roughly five sessions during the day that way I’m not always distracted by my email since there’s other work to be done. I find that if I haven’t responded on an important matter, I generally receive a phone call or chat asking for my attention.”

On the traits you need to be successful… 

I find that to be successful in this industry, it’s important to be collaborative, lead with empathy, and be comfortable with change.  

On the best (and worst) advice she’s been given… 

The best advice I’ve received is to react less and create space to think before responding. The workplace is full of different personalities and opinions so it can be hard to check your emotions when faced with a challenging situation. If you feel misrepresented or unheard, take a moment to collect the facts and present what you know to be true. 

The worst piece of advice is harder to remember because I probably let it go in one ear and out the other. I can say that some of the worst behaviors I’ve seen are ones where the individual is put before the group. No one wins when this happens. 

“React less and create space to think before responding.”

On the one person she’d like to power brunch with…

My “power lunch” is one where I can sit and learn from a person who’s work I admire. In talking with someone who truly loves what they do, there is an undeniable passion that comes through which is inspiring and contagious. 

On my birthday turned engagement trip to Italy, my fiancé and I spent a day driving through the hills of Umbria, harvesting grapes, and learning about natural winemaking with one of my favorite producers, Danilo Marcucci. 

It was “power day” of getting our hands dirty, drinking wine, eating incredible food, and conversing with a visionary about his decades of experience in viticulture and cellar work. The work he does with his vineyards and those of his partners come from a true love for the earth and what grapes can do, along with knowledge garnered through years of practice and experience. It was a magical day and I was lucky enough to leave with a rare bottle of wine, one that I am saving for my wedding night!

On the perfect power interview outfit…

I think it’s important to be yourself and represent your personal brand, but you also must respect the type of workplace and industry to which you’re applying. For food and beverage, in Los Angeles, my perfect interview outfit is a pair of well-tailored dress pants or jeans from Reformation or Everlane with a white button-down shirt and an oversized blazer. I’d pair with vegan leather boots and tasteful jewelry. 

On the everyday Superhero who has helped to guide her career journey… 

Marne Evans was my mentor at Califia and while she recently moved on from the company, she continues to be my Superhero. As one of the founding employees of Califia, she is a great example of doing what it takes to get the work done and leaving your ego at the door. She imparted an incredible amount of knowledge onto me and showed me it’s possible to have a fulfilling career while fostering a rich personal life.

On her proudest moment at Califia…

One of my favorite launches was our drinkable Probiotic Yogurts line, made from our cultured Almondmilk and coconut cream with billions of probiotic CFUS. We use a powerhouse probiotic strain called BB-12(R) which is the world’s most documented Bifidobacterium, shown to have beneficial effects on our digestive and immune systems. The R&D team developed this product rapidly and we installed a new production line at our facility in little over a year. This was a huge cross-functional effort and we pulled it off, launching an incredible product. I’ve actually used the Probiotic Unsweetened Yogurt every day since we launched it over two years ago—the only time I don’t have it is when I travel abroad...

In terms of what’s in store, we are always looking to launch products that make it easy for people to go plant-based and bring food back to its original nourishing process. In the end, we care about our futures and that of the planet. In the coming years, you’ll find more personalized and nutritious offerings from Califia that will nourish the whole body and make it easy to take your favorite Califia products with you anywhere.

On the power of mentorship…

My experience showed me how important it is to really listen to the goals and experiences of the person you’re mentoring. It’s one thing to manage and help someone succeed in the day-to-day of their job but it’s another to lead and nurture someone's professional goals. Getting the job I wanted and felt I deserved, took patience and persistence.

My mentor helped me navigate through the rewarding, and the tough, times. In my current position, I am a resource for others that want to grow in the company and can be a champion for their projects and initiatives. You are your best advocate so if you feel like you’re going unnoticed or aren’t feeling fulfilled, seek out a mentor, and make a plan.

MORE ON THE BLOG

MORE ON THE BLOG

Ask an Expert: How to Boost Your Immunity and Stay Healthy at Home

We’ve been spending a lot of time at Create & Cultivate HQ discussing how we can best show up for and support our community during this uncertain time. Community is at our core, and connecting with others through one-of-a-kind experiences is what we love to do. While the world has changed, our mission has not. We’re committed to helping women create and cultivate the career of their dreams, which is why we’re proud to announce our new Ask an Expert series. We’re hosting live discussions with experts, mentors, and influencers daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST on Instagram Live to cure your craving for community and bring you the expert advice you’ve come to know and love from C&C. Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the latest schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out!

Photo: Courtesy of Mia Syn

Health is on all of our minds a lot these days. You’ve been wearing a mask, washing your hands, and staying inside, but have you done anything to boost your immune system? Now more than ever our bodies need support to stay healthy. As we adjust to our new normal we need to remember that taking care of ourselves is more than a mud mask or an Epsom salt bath.

If your healthy choices have been lacking (same, we don’t blame you) it’s probably time to reevaluate. There are lots of ways that you can improve your health and keep your immune system in tip-top shape even while you’re stuck at home. To find out how to step up our self-care, we tapped Mia Syn, a registered dietitian nutritionist, to share all her tips on our Instagram Live Ask an Expert series.

Scroll on for her expert tips on boosting your immune system and staying healthy while navigating the new normal during COVID-19.

1. Can you really boost your immunity through diet, or does it come down to genetics too?

Good nutrition is essential for a strong immune system, however, there is a genetic component in the case of seasonal allergies or autoimmune conditions like celiac disease, for example. Additionally, as we age, our immune system starts to decline, that's why we classify the elderly as immunocompromised. No one food or supplement can prevent illness but there are certain nutrients that play a specific role in the body’s immune system

2. What are some diet changes I can make to boost my immune system right now? And how long does it take to come into effect?

These vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients specifically play a role in immunity but following a balanced eating pattern—not cutting out any food groups is important so that you don’t fall short on any of those. Getting these nutrients from food is preferred but not always possible that’s where supplements may be of benefit. I recommend talking to a dietitian who can evaluate your current diet and make recommendations accordingly. 

• Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and it’s only found bioavailable in a handful of foods like eggs, fatty fish, and organ meats. Vitamin A is also found in some fortified foods like milk and cereals—read the nutrition facts label. However, foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, and lettuce contain beta carotene which our body is able to somewhat convert into vitamin A.

• Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, so our body does not store it, we need to replenish it regularly. Besides citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit, it’s also found in bell peppers, kiwi, and strawberries. There’s also research to suggest that vitamin c may help shorten the duration of a cold.

• Vitamin D is found in a handful of foods like salmon, mackerel, tuna, some fortified milk, and cereals. It can be synthesized by our skin when outdoors. 

• Prebiotics and probiotics: Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria found in foods like asparagus, onions, and leeks. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that add to the population of healthy microbes in your gut found in foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kombucha.

• Protein is a key building block for immune cells and antibodies that helps our immune system do its job. Protein comes from meat dish dairy, nuts, seeds, seeds, and legumes.

3. What supplements should I be taking to support my immunity?

This goes back to the previous question about nutrients specifically playing a role in immunity and where you might be lacking in your diet. 

• Vitamin D – Many people may benefit from a supplement if they don’t consume foods like sardines, oysters, and other fatty fish or fortified foods regularly. Talk to your dietitian or physician who can evaluate your diet better to determine if a good fit

• Probiotics – Healthy individuals could benefit from taking a probiotic supplement, especially if you aren’t eating fermented foods regularly. People with a weakened immune system should speak to their doctor first. 

• AllerLife is a supplement that I am working with right now. It’s drug-free, completely nutrition-based, and is designed for allergy sufferers to take in conjunction with their current medication to address those allergy blah feelings that remain even after relieving your allergy symptoms with your allergy medication. I like it because it contains those immunity-supporting nutrients that I had described including zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D, so it kind covers all those bases. If you are an allergy sufferer and suspect you might be falling short on some of those key nutrients, Allerlife could be a good solution. 

4. How does my lifestyle impact my immune health? What can I do to strengthen my immune system?

I suggest incorporating all food groups, and not being restrictive. Eat:

• Plenty of fruits and vegetables

• Healthy fats to help you absorb and utilize those important fat-soluble vitamins that play a role in immunity like vitamins A, D, and E.

• Protein into each meal and snack, which is a key building block for immune cells and antibodies, helps our immune system do its job.

• Filling in the gaps with supplements wherever needed

• Limiting alcohol – in moderation if you do drink

• Not smoking

It’s also essential to exercise regularly:

• The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week (30 minutes, 5 times a week) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (like a brisk walk) or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity (running, cycling,). Strength train at least 2x per week. 

• Exercise also makes you feel good, lowers stress, helps with weight management, increase energy levels, support muscle and bone health, brain health, memory, helps you sleep better

You also need to manage your stress levels:

• Scientists are looking at the link between chronic stress and its relationship to immunity.

• They are making progress and studies suggest that it may dysregulate the human immune system.

Getting enough sleep is also incredibly important:

• There is a link between lack of sleep and getting sick.

• The CDC recommends that adults get 7 or more hours per night.

• Lack of sleep can affect mood, memory, blood sugar, impair judgment.

• Researchers say getting good sleep can strengthen your immune system by enhancing your ability to adhere to and destroy cells infected by viruses and other pathogens.

5. How does sleep or lack of it lower my immune? How many hours of sleep should I be getting a night? 

Getting enough sleep is important for people of all ages to stay in good health. The CDC says 1 in 3 Americans don’t get enough sleep. Studies show that people who don't get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as a common cold virus. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.

But if not getting enough sleep is a regular part of your routine, you may be at an increased risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke, depression, and even early death. How much sleep you need changes as you age. Adults aim for 7-8 hours per night. AllerLife Sleep contains those immunity-supporting vitamins and minerals plus melatonin which is a hormone that we produce in response to darkness and helps promote a restful night’s sleep.

6. How does gut-health impact my immunity? What foods, supplements, lifestyle modifications should I be making to support a happy gut? 

About 60-70% of our immune system is in our gut. Having a balanced and diverse gut flora can support a strong immune system. 

• Not only can the food we eat POSITIVELY impact our gut health but some things that can negatively affect it include:

o   Hydrogenated oil

o   Refined carbohydrates

o   Trans fats

o   Added sugars

o   Low fiber intake

o   Stress

o   Antibiotics and other medications

o   Not enough sleep 

• Two things that we can incorporate into our diet that support a healthy gut are prebiotics and probiotics:

  • Prebiotics – asparagus, onions, leeks, garlic, oats 

    •  Non-digestible fiber that selectively stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria. 

  • Probiotics – yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha

    • Beneficial that add to the population of healthy microbes in your gut. 

7. What are healthy fats and which ones should I be eating? How do they help?

Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E play roles in keeping our immune system strong. Because they are fat-soluble it important that we consume healthy fats to aid their absorption. Fatty fish contain omega 3 fats, which are considered essential because our bodies cannot them on its own. Mono- and polyunsaturated fats found in plant foods like avocado, nuts, and seeds are also beneficial. The fat you want to limit is saturated found in fatty meat and high-fat dairy. Trans fats should be eliminated which are found in a lot of processed foods like cakes and cookies—always read the label.

8. Do probiotics actually work or should I be eating fermented foods instead? Which ones should I be taking?

By definition, probiotics are live, friendly bacteria that offer a health benefit by assisting the body’s naturally occurring gut flora. Additionally, they challenge the immune system in a healthy way and help make it stronger. They also help our body absorb certain vitamins and minerals including calcium, iron, and vitamins A, D, K, and E to name a few. Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, and kimchi are sources. 

Probiotics supplements are individualized. Some ways to know if it is working is maybe your digestion is more regular, using the bathroom regularly. Pay attention to how you feel. In some cases, you may feel worse. People with a weakened immune system should speak to their doctor first. Find one that works for you.  

9. Can you share how much water I should be drinking a day? How can I consume more water and can I get it through food too?

Water is the “forgotten nutrient.” Many underestimate its critical importance and the need to stay hydrated. We need it for the functioning of cells and organs, it aids elimination and helps carry nutrients to our cells. The CDC has recommendations for total daily fluid intake adult men is 3.7 L or about 13 cups and 2.7 L or about 9 cups for women. This comes from drinking water, but also foods you eat and other fluids like coffee. Hydrating produce include watermelon, bell pepper, tomato, leafy greens, and cucumber

10. I’ve read that stress can really impact immune health, but it’s hard not to have stress and anxiety right now. Any advice?

Studies suggest that chronic stress may dysregulate the immune system. Exercise and meditation have been shown to help with management in some individuals. Finding what works for you is key.

About the Expert: Mia Syn is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) based in Charleston, South Carolina. She’s a nationally recognized nutrition expert and host of Good Food Friday on ABC 4. She holds a master of science in human nutrition from Columbia University and has been featured by dozens of major media outlets including Women's Health Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and BuzzFeed. As one of the most recognized and trusted young dietitians in the country, she has helped hundreds of her clients, and millions of her readers lose weight, improve their health, and adopt healthier eating habits.

Tune in daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm PST, for new installments of Ask an Expert. 

Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram, check out our Ask an Expert highlight reel for the schedule, and hit the countdown to get a reminder so you don’t miss out. See you there!