How to Meet Anyone With This 15 Step Strategy

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If you've ever wondered how to get out of someone's inbox and into their (virtual) office, then heed the advice from Gillian Zoe Segal’s book, Getting There: A Book of Mentors. Trust us.

From Rachel Zoe to Sara Blakely and even Warren Buffet are just some of the entrepreneurs Gillian features in her book who all dish their top advice, tips, and strategies for building a successful career.

Ahead, Gillian shares her 15 tips for meeting anyone you want using creative networking techniques and the best part is, you can totally do it too. Read on… 

1. Understand the lay of the land.

Most luminaries are extremely busy. They receive multiple requests every day for interviews, speaking engagements, new business opportunities, charity functions, you name it, not to mention the obligations they have with their careers, families, and personal lives. Understandably, there are simply not enough hours in the day for them to say yes to everything. And they definitely don’t.

If you are not a big name or don’t have something major to offer, accept that you will not be at the top of anyone’s priority list—no matter how important your request might seem to you.

2. Toss your ego out the window.

You will be ignored and rejected a lot, and you can’t take it personally or allow it to depress or discourage you.

3. Know that you can lead a horse to water, but the biggest hurdle is making sure the horse knows that the water is in front of its face.

You must get your request noticed by the decision-maker.

4. If you have any connection at all, use it.

Your connection doesn’t need to be a big one.

Here’s how I contacted Leslie Moonves, President, and CEO of CBS: My best friend’s husband had a friend who used to work at CBS and was willing to put me in touch with Moonves’s assistant. The assistant, who works closely with him every day, made sure he saw my request.

If you don’t have a connection (and most often I didn’t), here are some ways to get your request noticed:

5. Make yourself as human as possible.

The less human you appear, the easier it is for someone to reject you. Asking in person is the best method; that way it’s obvious you’re human. (It’s a lot easier to say no to a faceless email or tweet.) If you can figure out a way to run into your target in a not stalkerish way, try to do so—for example at a party or event.

But don’t be annoying or take up too much of your target’s time. I usually introduce myself, give a one or two-sentence pitch, and then ask whom I should contact with more details. The luminary usually gives me the name of a point person; then I contact that person ASAP.

6. If you can’t ask in person—and most times you can’t, especially now—try to connect to the person you can reach (your target’s publicist, assistant, etc.).

Always use the name of the person you are corresponding with since it makes for a more personal connection. If you don’t have that person’s name, ask for it. An email to a specific person instead of one addressed “to whom it may concern” is a bit harder for the recipient to ignore.

7. Never accept “no” from someone who can’t give you a “yes.”

My friend (Steve Cohen!) told me this early on, and it really stuck with me. The point is, don’t let a “no” from one employee deter you. If the front door is locked, try the back door; if the back door is locked, try the side door; if the side door is locked, try crawling in a window. If you can’t do that, wait a while then try the front door again. Someone might answer this time!

What does this front door/side door/window bit really mean? I am talking about ways in—avenues—like a publicist, an agent, an employee, someone who once did business with the person, a friend of a friend of a friend….

I rarely dealt with just one employee and one door. When someone ignored me repeatedly or rejected me, I switched to someone else and acted as nothing had ever happened—I never mentioned I was previously ignored or rejected. (A lot of times your target never even saw your request—an employee rejected it instead.)

8. Take responses literally.

If you don’t get a definitive “no” from someone, try again. For example, if you get an, “Unfortunately, he can’t participate in that now,” take “now” literally and follow up later.

9. Never be anything but friendly and pleasant to deal with.

No one reacts well to “attitude” from strangers. That kind of behavior will only get you ignored even more — or axed for good. (It may also earn you a bad reputation.)

If you do get what you consider to be a final rejection, lose graciously and thank the person for considering your request.

10. Never rub anyone’s nose in the fact that they’re ignoring you.

For example, don’t complain that you called five times already. If you send a follow-up email to someone that has been ignoring you, don’t forward the old email. Send a new email (or send your prior email) as it has never been sent before.

This allows your contact to save face if they do choose to respond—and lets that person respond without having to make any excuses for why they previously ignored you.

11. Keep your correspondence simple and clear.

Get to your point quickly. Remember how busy everyone is; no one has time to sift through paragraphs to figure out what your email is about.

12. Once you get a response from someone, grab hold of that person, and don’t let go.

I learned this lesson in the summer of 1993 when I worked as a real estate broker. When clients decided they wanted to rent an apartment I had just shown them, I was instructed not to let them out of my sight until they put down a deposit. Why? Simple: if I let them walk away and “get back to me tomorrow,” they might reconsider their decision. So I literally accompanied my clients to the bank while they took out cash for their deposit.

The same is true with networking. If someone responds to your request, act fast, and respond immediately. You need to get the ball rolling before they forget about you and move on to something else.

13. Take whatever you can get as soon as you can get it.

That means accepting the very first day the person is available—regardless of your schedule.

14. Get your foot in the door any way you can.

One of the most challenging Getting There subjects for me to land was the architect Frank Gehry. I sent a couple of blind requests to the email address listed on his company’s website. The good news is that I was not totally ignored; the bad news is that I was rejected both times.

A few months later I found out my friend’s father’s new girlfriend (read that relationship twice and realize any connection can be a good connection) knew Frank and was willing to pass along my request. She sent him my request twice and was totally ignored both times!

A few months later I figured I would try again (after all, emails are free, and ya never know!), so I sent yet another email to his company’s email address and a miracle happened—I got a response! I can only assume a new assistant was on duty that day.

I immediately emailed her back, got her name, and asked if I could send her some samples of my work to show Gehry. Again, strike while the iron is hot: I was away at the time so I had my cat sitter overnight the material to her.

I called the office to follow up and make sure that she got it; remember, speaking on the phone makes the connection more personal. She showed my material to Gehry, he said yes, and we set up an appointment!

But that’s not the end of the story. Gehry then proceeded to cancel on me for a full year (I was that low on his priority list). During that time I bounced between 4 of his assistants (it seemed like every time I called to follow up a new person needed to be filled in on who I was and what Gehry had agreed to), but I eventually got some time with him and he is now in Getting There!

By the way: when I finally met with Gehry he had absolutely no idea I had ever been hounding him or his office. (In fact, none of my subjects did.)

15. Persistence pays off.

If I learned one lesson from the people who I interviewed for Getting There it is that determination and resilience eventually pay off. Of all my subjects, I think that Ian Schrager sums up this sentiment best in his Getting Thereessay. He says, “In the end, there’s so little that separates people. Those who want success the most and are relentless about pursuing it are the ones who get it.”

Pursuing any goal is much easier if you are truly passionate about what you want; that’s what gives you the fuel to persevere. In my case, I really believed in the concept of my book and felt that readers would truly benefit from what my subjects could share. I also felt sure my subjects would be happy with the finished product; if I hadn’t felt that way it would have been extremely difficult to overcome all the rejection and keep approaching people over and over again.

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The original version of this article appeared on Hey Mama. This post was originally published on June 25, 2017, and has since been updated.

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4 LinkedIn Dos & Don'ts to Boost Your Profile and Grab Every Recruiters’ Attention

Photo: Christina Jones Photography

Unlike the rest of your social media accounts, which can be used to share selfies and carefully crafted photos of lattes with intricate designs against chic marble backdrops, LinkedIn might just be the most sacred social network that you have—and you shouldn’t abuse it.

There are many LinkedIn dos and don’ts, and you have to make sure that you’re not crossing the line when you’re networking or leaving out crucial information that can help recruiters find you. If you want to be taken seriously and make sure that your connection requests will be approved, make sure that you’re following some of the dos and don’t below.

DON’T #1

Don’t send LinkedIn requests out of the blue to someone you have never connected with in person or have any mutual connections with. Whoever you are requesting will immediately deny you and move on to the next request, especially if they have no context of who you are, what you do, or when you met. And you can rest assured that they will ignore your request if you don’t personalize it. 

DO #1

If you are trying to connect with someone who you haven’t met or are looking to have a meeting with, introduce yourself via a message and let them know why you want to connect. This will give you more chances of the person actually opening your message, add you as a connection, and hopefully lead to a meeting down the road.

DON’T #2 

LinkedIn is not the place to post your best selfie. An overhead selfie with your best angle won’t do you any favors on here, so make sure that you’re choosing your profile photo wisely.

DO #2

Get yourself a great photographer and invest in a headshot that will boost your credibility on LinkedIn. If you’re on the job hunt, and a recruiter sees your selfie versus someone who has invested in a good headshot, chances are you might not get that call for an interview. 

DON’T #3

Don’t send spammy messages. Yes, those include those out-of-the-blue birthday messages as well. Did you really remember that connection’s birthday, or are you just taking advantage of LinkedIn’s reminder? Be above that.

DO #3

Nurture your relationships. Don’t add people just to add to your connection count. Make sure to follow up with them, congratulate them on their recent achievements and work-related milestones, and offer ideas on how they could improve their business, if approptiate. 

Also, it’s always best to show your connections what you can offer them versus asking them what can they offer you first. Connections are solidified that way.

DON’T #4

Avoid self-serving content. This is not Facebook or Twitter, so nobody really cares what you are doing in your daily life, or what you’re eating for lunch. If you find yourself posting that on LinkedIn, you can immediately start seeing your connection count drop drastically.

DO #4

When posting updates on LinkedIn, make sure to share information that’s viable to your connections. Feel free to share content from Forbes, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, and other trustworthy news sources. Also, if you are writing your own content, that’s okay to share as well. (Psst… This is a great way to get more traffic to your site and more eyes on your content.) Pay attention to what your connections are talking about, write your own content on those topics, and set yourself as a trustworthy news source.

What are some of your LinkedIn dos and don’ts? What are your ultimate pet peeves as professionals? Sound off below!

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This story was originally published on June 1, 2016, and has since been updated.

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The Best Self-Help Books That Changed the Lives (and Businesses) of 23 Founders

In this age of information, we have everything we need to start a new business, create a website, or set up a budget right at our fingertips—Google is a powerful tool. But sometimes you need a deep dive into the topic to truly understand the scope of what’s required from every angle—that’s when we turn to books. In our new series, Turning a Page, we ask successful people to share their go-to tomes that helped transform their business. Whether you listen to them or need to physically flip the pages (and write notes or underline the text like us!), there is so much power in self-educating. Ready to turn a page in your career? These books will help take you there.

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If there’s one piece of advice we hear over and over again from entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs, it’s to never stop learning. It’s important to stretch ourselves a little every day both in life and at work so we can grow, gain confidence, reach our goals, and become the most positive influence in our own lives.

That’s where self-help books come in. Many of us reach for these popular tomes to expand our minds, enhance our knowledge, and maximize our potential. So, we asked 23 founders to share the best self-help books they read that not only changed their lives but their businesses too.

And remember, personal development is a lifelong process so take your time, put in the work, and be gentle with yourself.

Arissa Agnant, Founder, CEO, Melanin in the Kitchen

Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself

by Dr. Joe Dispenza

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Why You Read It

As I was starting my journey into entrepreneurship, I felt so weighed down by past negative experiences, self-sabotage, low self-confidence, imposter syndrome, and more beliefs that shaped my reality. I wanted a book on how to transform my mental state to have more control and a deeper spiritual experience. Dr. Joe Dispenza’s book provided me a new light to spirituality, by bringing a neurological and scientific perspective to how I created my reality through my beliefs.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

Present-day Arissa knows that about 80% of entrepreneurship is a mental game. I learned that self-confidence, self-esteem, and other beliefs about ourselves are created in childhood and carried over into adulthood. Learning my old belief systems and patterns was the first step in discarding the parts of myself I didn’t want to be anymore, so I could create new versions of myself from a more powerful mental state.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

I am constantly breaking the habit of being myself! Just as the world is currently ripping up the deepest, darkest parts of its antiquated systems for a deep cleanse, I’m always doing the same with my past. I’m looking at and discarding all the habits and personality characteristics of past versions of self I don’t resonate with anymore because they were built on old cycles of belief systems.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

Building a business exposes the deep, hidden parts of your personality and your past. What if we made a routine habit of creating new personalities and versions of ourselves so we didn’t feel stuck in a bleak past? So we could create new stories about ourselves and build businesses from that new growth mindset?  

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 Why You Read It

This was the first book I read out of college when I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. James Altucher details how owning your own business is the way towards ultimate freedom because jobs are never truly safe at any corporation with the rise of inflation, automation, outsourcing, and other prominent trends.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

I have been working my way through corporate with the underlying belief that I not only wanted to run my own business, but I also HAD to for the sake of having true freedom and stability. With this mindset, I chose my roles based on knowledge, learning, and growth potential, rather than just the ability to work my way up the ladder for money.

 Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

My favorite piece from this book is James’ philosophy that ideas have sex just like people do, and they have children. He encourages readers to become an idea machine and build their idea muscle by writing down all of their random ideas all day long, no matter how dumb they may seem. To be a successful idea machine is to marry totally separate ideas together that have never been mated before to create unique magic.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

James stresses the importance of learning to anticipate and identify trends to stay at the forefront of industries, which is a huge part of my role as both a digital marketer and business owner. I loved that he himself had worked his way in and out of large corporate businesses and realized he wasn’t fulfilled. He shares plenty of practical advice on how to hack your life for business success, like how to set life ‘themes’ instead of goals and incorporating your personal interests into your business.

Shevon Jones, Speaker, Social Worker, and Founder, Mental Wellness Collective

More Than Enough

by Elaine Welteroth

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Why You Read It

I absolutely love Elaine and was fascinated by her life, success, and work ethic. The way she transformed Teen Vogue was a sight to see so I just knew I needed to hear about that journey. And also the more I saw her on Instagram the more I wanted to know what her journey looked like and how she got to where she is today.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

I recommend More than Enough to everyone but especially women in their 20s. Her work ethic and determination made me truly see where I was lacking. I have always been determined but seeing a Black woman my age navigate in an industry that didn’t fully accept her, and she pushed through it all. I couldn’t put the book down because I really was that invested. However, it also showed me that work is not everything and that if you aren’t careful life will pass you by. Too often I get caught up in wanting to be successful that it’s okay to pause and enjoy life—the book taught me that through her journey.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “when the world tells you to shrink expand”. No longer am I dimming my light to make others feel comfortable. This quote sticks with me as a reminder that it’s okay to take up space in this world and to show people everything you have to offer. It is okay to have ideas, opinions, and to shine so brightly. I have taken those words to heart making sure that I am doing my part but also visibly doing it so others know they can do it too.  Another key nugget from the book is to always ask for what you’re worth no matter what. Have confidence in your skills and ability and know that you are valuable no matter what limitations are placed on you.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

I would recommend this More than Enough because it’s filled with quotes that can easily be a mantra when you are feeling inadequate. The book highlights the journey with its ups and downs and the ability to overcome. It shows that with a plan you can do anything, but also the importance of relationships. This book really transformed how I viewed the grind and energized me. Sometimes when you’re working 9-5 and building your business success seems so out of reach. However, Elaine showed the importance of every skill, every moment, and every relationship preparing you so you’ll know when it’s your time to exit.

Jasmine Imani, Founder, Jas Imani Beauty

When Things Fall Apart

by Pema Chödrön

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Why You Read It

We are in is a global shift. It feels as if everything is falling apart in some way. Might be your business, your plans, your relationships, the structure in which you built your business on or things you have always depended on. Regardless, things are always falling apart so we must be comfortable with the dying of things as much as we are comfortable with the birth of things. If you have a business you are a creator so we must respect the full cycle of creation.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

This book is making me face the fear and even more so sit with the discomfort and have a conversation with it. To stop running from what it is but to invite it in so I can properly show it out when it does not serve me. It gives me more ease for day-to-day business. I feel less panicked about the unknown for our future.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

I look at its teachings as a practice. It is not like my other books that kind of hit the surface of our patterns. This book lets you rework your foundations. I got very uncomfortable processing a few chapters.

In chapter seven, it states "hope and fear come from a feeling of lack." I have been mentally meditating on this for months! It breaks down that we can't have hope without fear. By holding on to hope we are robbing ourselves from the present moment. So I have started practicing being more present. I, of course, thought that I was, but I honestly feel like I’m just getting to the surface of being present in my business.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

When in business, you face constant disappointment. If you can hone in on the disappointments and accept the discomfort I believe you can get to a place that even when it feels horrible you can enjoy and respect the things you create out of that suffering. I think there's a little bit of madness always working towards the goals of happiness, constantly chasing what you hope for.

That target is forever moving. I want to work more towards completion and load up for the ride knowing I have some tools for everything that will come. At this point, we should all be creating towards change in our business models. Becoming highly aware of how our businesses serve not just us but our communities, with that there must be a discovery of self first. This is going to be really uncomfortable but I hope we move in a way that we are not confused.

Alison Cayne, Founder, Haven’s Kitchen

Why You Read It

I first read the book when I got divorced. I've reread it 100 times since and applied it to my professional life as much as my personal life.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

Simply knowing that there will be downs as well as ups, that there will be problems and missteps and forces beyond our control that will terrify us has helped. I don't react as much out of fear or surprise. I am more proactive and thoughtful in my responses. I'm more disciplined in my planning. All-knowing that there will still be awful days and that is just the nature of things.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

I've used the book to create some pretty basic tenets:

1. Failure is inevitable every once in a while so don't let it derail you, let it teach you how to be more prepared the next time. When things don't go our way that's the opportunity to think smart and get creative.

2. Figure out what you don't know and acknowledge it. Then find people who can help you build. Engage them. Reverse engineer. 

3. Being "mindful" means clear thinking. Not reactive, not jumpy. 

4. Create a culture that anticipates mistakes. Ask your team for feedback and create a culture of attention to pain spots rather than pretending they don't exist or hiding where they've gone wrong.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

The personal and the professional have become completely intertwined and as a leader, your ability to lead your team, build strategies, address unknowns are ALL connected to your personal development. You cannot be disciplined, clear-thinking, communicative, and empathic in business if you aren't those things in life.

Victoria Fazio, Founder, Propa Beauty

The Power of Now

by Eckhart Tolle

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Why You Read It

I read The Power of Now at a moment of my life when I felt absolute suffocation from over-thinking and struggling to let go of some personal failures that I was going through about a few years ago. I didn't buy this book, but the book has been in my house all along and I never reached for it. I must have received it as a gift or something. Nonetheless, I am so glad I stumbled upon it.

One day as I was scrolling endlessly on my phone searching for something to occupy my over-thinking mind, I switched it off and place my phone down and reached for a book. I picked up The Power of Now among other books on my bookshelf and I read it back to back within a week. And it has been my most favorite book since, for self-love and meditation in my personal and business mind space.

 How It Changed Your Life/Business 

This book has given me the tools of thinking, or as I call it 'mind management skills'. It has helped me tremendously in my interactions and communications with the people I work with every day in building Propa Beauty. It's so vital to take a breath and take note of one's thoughts, emotions, words, and judgments and this book does a great in-depth dig into the knowledge of how to dissect core emotions and the state of mind during stressful events in the everyday running of a business. 

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

This book has taught me to pause, lean in, and take time to listen to the storms or the joy within. I’m a chronic over-thinker, and so, The Power of Now has helped me in working on identifying personal fears and self-doubt. Preserving mental energy, I am coming to harness the power in paying attention to the vital stuff.

 Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

Your mental health is the core of your business. Managing and understanding your mind affects your attitude towards everything you create and everyone you interact with. I would recommend this book, read it or opt for an audio version, once a month during those self-love self-care days. Absolutely worth the peace of mind!

Randi B., Diversity & Inclusion Strategist, Author, Speaker, and Trainer

Becoming

by Michelle Obama

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Why You Read It

I read Becoming simply because Michelle Obama wrote it. I read it because I was intrigued; I read it the second time because I was inspired; I read it the third time because I was invigorated.

 How It Changed Your Life/Business 

When Becoming was released, I was in the process of redefining and rebranding my business. I wanted to disrupt the standard way diversity and inclusivity were handled in organizations, but I was terrified. I questioned if I was too old; if the old practices were too entrenched; and if people’s natural resistance to change would cause me to lose clients and lose me to lose my business. Becoming helped me to understand that we are and should be continually evolving. I didn’t need to avoid change; to the contrary, I needed to grasp it and run with it.  I needed to make the changes to my business.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice.” — Michelle Obama.

I managed diversity and inclusivity programs the way I had been educated to manage them. I mirrored every program that I had studied in school and witnessed in business. When I would deliver services to companies I would try to blend with the majority culture. While I was training about diversity; I avoided giving attention to my own difference. I omitted sharing any information that would highlight my Blackness, my womanness –my otherness. The vital piece

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

The book, Becoming, encourages you to embrace your whole, authentic self; and to unapologetically bring your whole self into every area of your life including your business. Regardless of the business you’re in, you are the center of it; you are the differentiator; you are what makes your business unique and will make it ultimately successful.

Rachel Rodgers, CEO, Hello Seven

On Her Own Ground, The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker

by A’Telia Bundles

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Why You Read It

Madam CJ Walker is the mother of women in business, the patron saint of female entrepreneurship, and America’s first female millionaire. Yes, not the first Black woman millionaire, the first woman of any background in America. Over 100 years ago, she knew that when members of marginalized and systemically oppressed communities became wealthy, they can change the world. Born in a time when Black women were seen as mere objects for white people’s gain (let’s be honest, there are many who still see us this way), she demanded that the world sees her, know her and pay her. I couldn’t not read this book after I discovered her story. 

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

Learning what Madam CJ Walker had to overcome in her life in order to become a millionaire eliminates all of my BS excuses. Madam approached success and wealth building with an “I’mma do whatever it takes” energy. Whether it was making friends or making enemies she was willing to risk her ego, relationships, and financial well-being. She trusted her instincts and believed in her vision. I carry her story with me in my business and my life.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

Madame Walker left us an inspiring legacy.  She taught us that being a millionaire is not just about stunting in your new whip with your girls. It’s also about empowering others, charitable giving, and being a politically active citizen.  I believe Madam's commitment to practicing self-care, strong boundaries, and belief in her own vision, ideas, creativity, and intelligence were the keys to her freedom, power, and wealth. There are many parallels between Madam’s story and mine, and I bet yours, too. I have gotten brilliant (and timeless) marketing ideas from reading this book, too. 

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

If you think building a business is hard now, honey—you have no idea. Madam CJ Walker built her business at a time when slavery had just been eradicated—she was born to slaves. Women of color have a legacy in Madam CJ Walker of making money and being successful entrepreneurs. We need to start with that when thinking about women making money, her life has so much to teach us.

Myrna P. Daramy, Founder of Myrna & Co.

Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People

by Vanessa Van Edwards

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Why You Read It

When I first realized that I would be incorporating educating and public speaking in my business, I started looking for books that help with connection. I’ve always been a very outgoing, and social person, but I wanted to hone in on how to build trust and engage faster and more effectively. I also have always had a fascination with human behavior so when I found this book that was science-backed and had to read it.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

This book changed the way I initiated any conversation, entered into a room, and even helped me with pitches and sales. It changed the way that I communicated and interacted with everyone.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

I make sure that before any speaking engagement, I add conversational sparks to create dopamine moments in order to warm up the audience. I make sure that I’m authentic first regardless of how nervous I might be. It allows me to be silly and maybe a little awkward which alleviates the nerves. I also always refer to actual people if I can during any public speaking engagement. The author also goes over how to hack the art of listening and establishing a true two-way interaction which is such a needed skill when it comes to leading.  

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

Although this book is geared more towards business owners who want to up-level their pubic speaking game, I feel that this book assists with communication as well which impacts people’s entire lives. 

Bianca Rush, Digital Strategist, More Than Social

See You at the Top: 25th Anniversary Edition

by Zig Ziglar

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Why You Read It

This book is a classic! It not only focuses on how to achieve and sustain success in business, but also how to improve your self-image, relationships, goals, attitude, work ethic, and desires.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

It's changed my perspective on how I approach building community and how to achieve personal success. When you have a healthy self-image and place importance on operating with honesty, integrity, faith, compassion, and loyalty, personal success in life and business will happen.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

I've implemented the mindset piece when it comes to vision and visualizing what has not yet happened. Zig Zigler emphasizes forward-thinking and the way that you personally view life (or your business) will determine what you get out of it. He provides a lot of prompts that challenge you and make you want to take action in your business, life, and relationships!

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

I absolutely would recommend this book to business owners and anyone who is seeking a book on mindset, vision, and success. This book is a wealth of information that is specific, yet also general in nature, to the point that you will close this book and feel something. That feeling will have you operating in success to achieve exactly what you want. There are so many key takeaways from this book that apply in many phases of life and business, it's definitely worth the read!

Rima Minasyan, Co-founder, Patrick Ta Beauty

Why You Read It

I love reading self-improvement books, especially business-related ones. This book was a great read about building your path to success while creating a self-image of how you view yourself and how you help others perceive themselves. Helping others, and improving relationships, whether personal or business, is crucial to a successful journey. 

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

This book talked a lot about avoiding “stinkin thinkin” and taking on a positive attitude. Most times, even when you’re on the right path to reaching your goals, life will bring unexpected obstacles your way. 

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

This year was a significant obstacle for most business owners. While we can’t stop these things from happening, we can control our response to them. We had a launch planned right amid all the COVID madness this year, and keeping a positive mentality was a great step to a successful launch. Just by checking in with the language, I chose to use it with my team, which brought much excitement and great, positive energy, which helped us drive a fantastic launch with our Major Brows collection.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

We all get lost in our day-to-day responsibilities and don’t realize that self-image is a great part of who we are and how others perceive us. Building yourself image isn’t only about taking better care of yourself but also about taking care of others. Taking the time to help your loved ones, or your work family creates an immediate sense of satisfaction and gratitude. This book is a great read not only for business owners but for anyone who needs a reminder that being a good person is always the right way up. 

Ilana Kugel, Founder and Creative Director, Koral

Atomic Habits, An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

by James Clear

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Why You Read It

I read this book because I was listening to Rich Roll’s podcast and he was interviewing the author. I naturally became intrigued by the book title and hearing the author speak. I always set new goals for myself and this book came about at the perfect time for me.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

It helped remind me that making certain things in my life a habit is so important. I believe creating the habits we are missing in our lives, gives us more discipline. I am always challenging myself to improve parts of my life and this book was a great motivator.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

I had a list of habits that I wanted to add to my daily life and this book motivated me to actually make them happen. So often we have lists of things we want to accomplish and we let that list keep growing, but reading this book encouraged me to start the process and make these things on my list habits for myself. One of the biggest takeaways was to simplify the process in our own heads and then these actions become like second nature to us.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

I would recommend this book to other people and business owners because it truly did inspire me to start making good habits and break myself out of bad ones. He helps you with practical strategies and to show you that tiny changes can lead to big results.

Sharona Harris, Founder and Creative Director, F+H Jewellery

Why You Read It

I purchased this book because I’ve always found it really easy to implement new habits, such as exercise or work routines. But find it much harder to quit bad ones, so I was looking for an understanding of how we form our habits

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

Atomic Habits has changed my life because it simplifies how our brains lock into the habit reward system. Now that I understand the process and how our daily environment and planning impacts our habit-making, it is so much easier to change my behaviors.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

The best advice I have implemented has been ‘the 2-minute rule’ to stop procrastination. It simply encourages you to not spend over 2 minutes when trying to form a new habit, so that it is as easy as possible. Commit to 2 minutes each day and grow your habit-making from there. It’s great because once you start, such as studying or meditating, you generally do much more but you only need to commit to 2 mins a day, to begin with.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

The book is great for anyone, our days are made up of heaps of tiny habits, so there is always room for improvement.

Jacquelyn De Jesu, Founder, Shhhowercap

Radical Candor

by Kim Scott

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Why You Read It

It had always been referenced to me in conversation. I guess I naturally do lead that way. So, I wanted to understand where the comparison or references came from. And, if it was in fact true to my style then how to better manage the pros and cons of it to better my leadership skills. 

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

The perspective of how others may see me. I tend to be very direct. It helped me in managing my team which is comprised of people of all types.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

Its good to be direct, clear, honest, and say what you mean. But, to be a good manager in this way you must be sure that you are caring deeply. Care about their goals, motivations, interpersonal dynamics, and about the individuals on your team as people. And, make sure they know you do. 

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

If it’s not your natural style, its encouraging to be more confident and honest in your communication. If it is your natural style, you need to learn the nuances of how to do it effectively. The book helps you see the other side.

Angie Lee, Co-Founder, Soul CBD

The Worry Trick: How Your Brain Tricks You into Expecting the Worst and What You Can Do About It

David A. Carbonell, PhD

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Why You Read It

A few years ago I was experiencing chronic anxiety and panic attacks as a busy entrepreneur. My anxiety was debilitating and I knew something needed to change. Passionate to heal naturally, I turned to CBD, meditation & reprogramming my thoughts. This book opened my eyes to healing my brain & taking ownership of my thoughts.

How It Changed Your Life/Business

This book helped me to not run away from or fear my anxiety. The author explains how anxiety hijacks the brain and teaches you how to break the cycle of worry. Being in the present moment has always been a challenge for me & this book taught me practical exercises to immediately calm my brain. It was eye-opening to learn that the more we resist or try to fix our anxiety, the worse it gets.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

The present moment is all we have. Stressing about the future or what “may” happen is a complete waste of time. One of the most powerful things we can do to decrease anxiety is feel the present moment. Anxiety happens when we stress about the future, so the best thing we can do is be present in our body. 

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

I would definitely recommend The Worry Trick to any business owner who is dealing with immense stress or anxiety at work. Having a healthy relationship with fear & anxiety is crucial for entrepreneurship. I recommend this book to all my friends who are struggling with anxiety!

Sarah Larson Levey, Founder and CEO, Y7 Studios

Emotional Intelligence 2.0

by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves

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Why You Read It

I read this book on the suggestion of a friend back in 2016 when we are at a pivotal point at Y7. We had just made the decision to hire individual studio managers for each location and made our first three corporate hires. 

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

It completely changed the way that I interact with people and how I am managing relationships with those that I work with and in my personal life. 

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

The behavioral test that they include with the book is a game-changer in becoming more self-aware and shifting perspective on what success looks like internally. I take the test and read the book every year to make sure that I am always growing as a leader.  

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

It changes the way that you navigate relationships and gives you actual tools to use to enhance your emotional awareness.

Nikki Huganir and Erica Blumenthal, Co-Founders, Yes Way Rosé

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

by Priya Parker

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Why You Read It

We were discussing different types of events to support or new wine and book release and I wanted to gain the confidence to create meaningful and dynamic experiences.  I got so much more out of the book than I expected what I first opened it.  

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

I have prioritized having a clear purpose for everything from weekly meetings to a big launch party to how I spend my weekend. This keeps me and my time focused and intentional. When I read the book I was at a point where I felt like I was doing things just because I had to and guilty if I wasn't always productive. I realized I want to get more out of my time and experiences, even my downtime, and give as much as possible when hosting.  Reading this helped me to do that plus how to give it all structure.  

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

Don't be a chill host!  Be prepared. Consider all of the guests and their needs. Feel empowered to take charge and be the leader or boss of the gathering.    

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

For business owners, I think this will help think of ways to get the most out of meetings and keep your team highly engaged. For people in general, it will help you consider how to plan a memorable dinner party, wedding, weekend, life.  

Piret Aava, Founder, Body Roll Studio

Miracles Now: 108 Life-Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow, and Finding Your True Purpose

by Gabrielle Bernstein

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Why You Read It

I read Bernstein's Miracles Now when I was about to make a major career change. As not only a female but an immigrant from Estonia, it was hard not to doubt myself. Miracles Now provided me with the self-help, positive techniques that I needed to propel myself forward and step out of my comfort zone. Bernstein says 'Much of our anxiety and stress comes when we’re focused on fear and disconnected from the voice of our inner guide.” She taught me to trust myself, and that trying and failing is better than not trying at all; trust that you can succeed in anything that you put your mind to.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

Gabrielle Bernstein takes an extremely realistic approach to combating stress and finding peace in each day. As an entrepreneur, it is not always easy to carve time out of my day for myself to just be in the moment. In Miracles Now, Bernstein presents 108 techniques to help face everyday struggles.. from anxiety to feeling burned out and frustrated - her coping mechanisms are meant to be done 'at the moment' and have brought a great amount of ease to my life. As a female business owner, who is in the process of opening business number two, it is easy to feel a sense of overwhelming doubt, and question whether the decisions I am making will be impactful, well-perceived, etc. Miracles Now have helped me step back and enjoy the process; I am learning to be in the moment, and face challenging situations head-on. 

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

One of my favorite quotes from Miracles Now is as follows “You see, the way we experience the world around us is a direct reflection of the world within us. If our thoughts and energy are not supportive, then our life won’t be supported. Therefore, we must take responsibility by consciously supporting ourselves in every given moment.” This is a quote that I have applied to all aspects of my life.. from career risks to relationships... we must be our number one supporter. If we feed into the doubt in our minds, we are holding ourselves back from an endless world of opportunities. The unknown does not have to be scary, it can be really exciting and beautiful. 

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

This book is a positive reminder of how good life can be. Although we are constantly facing stressful situations, it is important to step back and remember that we are in control.

Anisa Telwar-Kaicker, Founder and CEO, Anisa International and Anisa Beauty

Mindful Work: How Meditation Is Changing Business from the Inside Out

by David Gelles

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Why You Read It

I was introduced to this book by someone we had brought into our offices, to coach our team on organizational leadership. They suggested this would be a good read for beginners looking to start learning about meditation— I haven’t put it down since.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

It gave me the facts behind the scientific impact meditation has on the brain. At the time, I was constantly very stressed, overwhelmed, and burnt out; I had no mental break or balance from work! But when I started reading this book, it gave me the logic as to why I needed to start meditation as a daily practice. It has been so impactful on my mental mood, health, and of course the energy I bring to my employees and attitude towards work. 

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

Daily meditation! It’s something I’ve been doing daily for the past four years.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

As I’ve mentioned, because of the positive, scientific impact meditation has on the brain; spending even just five minutes meditating daily can set the energy and mood for the entire day. I have been recommending this book to everyone and anyone and continue to do so— not just for fellow business owners!

Greta Fitz, Founder and CEO, Ascention Beauty Co

Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires

by Esther Hicks

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Why You Read It

I hit a crossroads in my life and wanted to conquer fear.

How It Changed Your Life/Business

I learned how to follow my bliss from this book and to manifest my wildest dreams. Everything I'm living today, coaching and my brand ASCENTION manifested from the teachings in this book

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

All of it, how to conquer fear, how to manifest, the power of intention, and writing things down and the power of belief in yourself, also to trust the process.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

If you're looking for your "why" or if you're too afraid to do what you love, read this book with an open mind. This book isn't for everyone and if you're open to miracles then grab it asap with a journal. My journey is living proof of it.

Belinda Frazer Smith, Founder and Creative Director, St. Rose

Light Is the New Black: A Guide to Answering Your Soul's Callings and Working Your Light

by Rebecca Campbell

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Why You Read It

Like so many amazing books I've read, it was recommended to me by a friend. I opted for the audio version to be able to squeeze in chapters in the car and at the gym but it's definitely the type of book you'd highlight almost every line and want to dog-ear each page. 

 How It Changed Your Life/Business 

Rebecca's book came into my life at the beginning of my journey. Her philosophy is "Follow what lights you up, and you'll light up the world." Starting a business from idea to launch is exhilarating but it can also be a brutal test of will. From all-nighters to cry into your bowl of cheerios mornings, there can be so many self-doubt riddled hurdles. The amount of time and energy can even almost feel selfish. Not only are you likely capable of solely talking about this one all-consuming thing with everyone but you also don't have the same time you used to spend with friends and family. What I loved about this book is that it flipped the idea of ego around for me. It shut down that voice I thought was the humble Belinda saying things like "who am I to do this?" and defined for me that is actually the ego talking. Rebecca asks instead, who are you not to do this thing you are being called to do? That nagging idea that keeps you up at night. The daydream that keeps popping into your head. Who are you to keep telling that voice, your light, your purpose, your calling ... no?

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

The idea of ego has been something that has really stuck with me. This isn't necessarily advice in the book but it's just a mantra that I have started after reading it ... as part of my morning ritual which includes meditation and smudging I always end with a little prayer to be guided with my light. Certainly in a business sense but in all realms of life. To squash fear and tune into intuition.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

Forget about how hard the daily grind can be with starting or growing a business but then add on top the anxiety-provoking state of the world by turning on the news and it can feel utterly paralyzing at times. Remembering the simple lesson to follow what lights you up so you can light up the world brings back into actionable focus all the things we have the power to do, move and change ... and it's all pretty amazing.

Allison McNamara, Founder, Mara

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

by Ben Horrowitz

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Why You Read It

 I’ve been following Ben Horowitz and his impressive Silicon Valley career for quite some time, so when he released a book about his entrepreneurial learnings–including running (and failing) a startup that ultimately was valued at over $1 billion–I knew it was bound to be an epic read.

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

Although Ben’s experience is written through a heavy tech / digital lens, his approach to how he built businesses from the ground up is informative and insightful no matter what field you’re in. A great, honest read that doesn’t glorify entrepreneurship but also doesn’t tell you how you should be running your business either –he simply lets you in on his experiences and punctuates each chapter with rap quotes from his favorite songs that are oddly all very applicable to each chapter.

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

This book really dives into how he handled extraordinary losses and how he kept cool and made crucial decisions in the darkest of hours. I haven’t necessarily implemented anything (so far) from the book, but he has some fascinating chapters on hiring and firing which I found to be particularly helpful.

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

I recommend this book to everyone. It’s a great read even if you aren’t in the pits of building your own business.

Kerrigan Behrens, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Sagely Naturals

Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time

by Howard Schultz

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Why You Read It

I read the book because I've always had a great amount of respect for Howard Schultz and recently had the opportunity to speak with him. He's incredibly supportive of young entrepreneurs! 

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

It's hard for most of us to imagine, but when Howard started Starbucks, the vast majority of Americans hadn't heard of a latte. Their version of coffee was essentially Folgers! One of the things the book validated for me is that you want to offer customers something they're not necessarily used to - rather, something that creates a sense of discovery and excitement. This couldn't be more relevant to Sagely Naturals - when we launched it in 2015, only 2% of Americans had heard of CBD! At that point, we considered ourselves educators as much as product innovators since we felt our mandate was to introduce more people to the health and wellness benefits of CBD. 

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

One of the chapters in the book is about how "people are not a line item" and Starbucks is famous for treating its employees well. There have been times when Kaley and I couldn't afford to offer employees additional benefits but did it anyway - for example, offering health insurance may not sound like a big deal but when we began offering it to our employees, we weren't really in a financial position to be able to do so. We also have found smaller ways to show our employees how much we appreciate them while also cultivating wellness like offering massages, meditation, sound baths, and yoga in the office every month. 

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

I would recommend the book to anyone who has a business - it doesn't matter if you're selling a beverage or CBD or software, understanding the value of your customer and employees is critical to growing a business that makes an impact.

Priscilla Tsai, CEO, and Founder, cocokind

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Why You Read It

I'm always looking for inspirational founder stories that dive into both the highs and lows of the entrepreneurial journey 

How It Changed Your Life/Business 

This book is extremely motivating and almost comforting as a founder. Phil started his business very much like the underdog, and the journey of his personal growth was very relatable. It was a good reminder that growth is necessary, but growing is hard, too. 

Advice From the Book You’ve Implemented in Life/Business

Having faith in yourself as an entrepreneur is still the most important tool you will constantly use. There were multiple points of his journey that were extremely difficult, where he could have given up. However, maintaining your determination and believing in yourself is actually a competitive advantage that will be the gift that keeps on giving. 

Why You’d Recommend This Book to Others

I love that this book talks about the very real struggles both professionally and personally of Phil's journey to building Nike. We don't always hear about the challenges, but I thought that Phil did this in a way that was real, relatable, and still extremely inspirational.

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4 Steps to Do Away With That Pesky Five-Year Plan

Photo: Neemias Seara from Pexels

As the bartender made his way over with four birthday shots in hand my friend looked at me and said, “Chels, I don’t want to turn 26.”

At first, I thought it was a bad attempt at making a joke but the look in her eyes told me she was actually being serious. I gave her the biggest hug as I tried to wash away the confused feeling in my chest. Despite having a passionate budding career under her belt, a loving man by her side, and the greatest friends behind her, she still felt that she wasn’t exactly where she “needed” to be.

As we raised our glasses in honor of the birthday girl, I found myself distracted by the elephant in the room that apparently now comes with turning a year older. Instead of celebrating it with arms wide open, society has cast a spell over us saying if we don’t have x, y, and z by the time we blow out a certain amount of candles, then we must be doing something wrong. We then proceed to beat ourselves up and never take a moment to stop and realize that possibly, we are doing everything right.

Let me ask you this, have you ever been the person who thought you could actually plan out your entire life?

Half of you are currently laughing at me while the other half know exactly what I’m talking about. If you fall into the latter category, you aren’t alone. I am completely guilty of being the college senior who sat at her desk and wrote out a five-year plan. I put my heart and soul into that color-coded timeline, so it may come as a surprise when I say that I am forever thankful that the plan on that piece of paper never became my reality. The person I loved, the city I wanted to call home, and the job I strived to land were all meant for the girl who I was then, not the woman I am now.

Here are a few steps you can take to say goodbye to the dreaded five-year plan.

1. DON'T DRAFT A TIMELINE BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE

As cliché, as it may sound, playing the comparison game, will only lead you to a dead end. Comparisons can either make you feel superior or inferior and neither of those feelings serves a useful purpose. Write your own story, learn from your own experiences, and live your life through your eyes.

2. EVALUATE YOUR GOALS

Saying goodbye to the five-year plan does not mean you should wash away your goals! Instead, use this as a chance to check in with your personal and professional goals and know that it is absolutely OK to tweak them if you see fit to do so.

3. BE NICE TO YOURSELF 

When you are your own best friend, you don’t seek out validation from others, because you realize that the only approval you need is your own.  This is your life and your journey and once you recognize the value to that then no one, not even a “plan,” can get in the way of your happiness.

4. WELCOME NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Since life doesn’t always go according to plan, being able to welcome new opportunities with open arms is key. How silly would it be to close the door on an opportunity just because it wasn’t color-coded on a piece of paper you drafted up three years ago? Don’t sell yourself short out of fear of not sticking to your five-year plan—learn to ride the wave of life with a smile on your face and motivation in your heart.

Life is going to take a different path for every single one of us, so constantly comparing your journey to someone else’s will only hinder you from making the moves that are meant for your life. Just because your best friend is engaged, your roommate landed her dream job, or your younger sister purchased a house with the white picket fence all before you did does not mean that you are screwing up. With each new day and each year that you are lucky enough to blow out another candle, know that this is your life to live and your journey is uniquely beautiful.

Keep dreaming, keep loving, and as always, just keep swimming.

Chelsea Briche runs the popular blog The Millennial Miss. A platform for young women surviving their twenties with grace and a lot of humility. The platform is Chelsea's "pledge to you, the ones who haven’t quite figured it all out yet. That we, together, will immerse ourselves in every single thing possible; explore, love a lot, love a little, and never touch the ground."

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This post was originally published on January 11, 2019, and has since been updated.

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How to Price Yourself in the Freelance Market

Photo: Christina Jones Photography

Unless you’re positive you’re going to win the Powerball (which, may the grace of good fortune be on your side), you are going to have to hustle this year. That means knowing how to price yourself in the freelance market, which is, unfortunately, as tricky as you think it is.

It’s a balancing act. Aim too high, and the client might offer the job to someone else. Price yourself too low, and you’ll end up resenting the high workload and low payout. Read on for a few tips on how to know your worth and how to navigate tricky money situations with clients. 

1. Don't suggest an hourly rate. 

Think of your work as value-based. If you are helping a brand grow its online presence, you shouldn't price yourself based on the amount of time you are going to spend on the job. You should price yourself based on the value you are going to add and your level of expertise. The better you get at something, the faster you work (usually), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be paid for your skill level. 

2. Dealing with the "we don't have a big budget," pickle. 

It might be true, it might not be, but when a client says this to you it's often a red flag that they aren't going to want to pay. It's also a way to undermine your confidence from the gate. Telling you there is no budget will make you question what you're worth—don't let it. If you have a set rate, stick to it, and if they can't pay that, then it's up to you to decide if the ends justify the means. If you think it's a relationship that will pay in the long run, that's a decision only you can make. 

3. Compare and contrast, but don't undersell yourself based on the market. 

Look into what other people are being offered for the same service, but if you think it's too low for you, don't fall to market pressure. A simple way to find your number is to divide the high-average yearly salary of someone in your position who works full time by the number of months you'll be collaborating with a client. You want to start on the high end because most of the time you will get a counter-offer.

4. Quote yourself confidently. 

Don't be afraid of that big number. Looking at it as a whole can seem intimidating, but sending a confident proposal that shows a client that you believe in your worth and your work, may instill the same confidence in them.

5. Offer your services in tiers.

Be explicit about what services you can provide for different prices. The more specific you can be about deliverables for price points, the more likely a client is to sign on. Tiers also give you wiggle room for negotiation. For example, if the client is into "tier 2" with one additional service you're offering in "tier 1," you can come back and say, "I'm willing to add in X service for X extra."  

6. Asking point-blank if there is a budget.

If you don't know where to start, you can put the initial price point on the potential client. There's really only one way to do this: directly. "How much are you willing to spend?" will send the wrong message. Asking if there is a budget, will not. 

7. There is no ax+b=c formula.

There’s no right answer to price yourself. At the end of the day, everyone has had different kinds of experience put on their résumé, has different skills, and all have worked for different rates in the industry. If you’re confident in your price, have compared your rate based on average market pricing, and have considered all of your skills, experience, and value, you’ll be able to come up with a rate that will make sense to you. If it doesn’t make sense to a potential client, oh well. Like Tinder and Bumble, you’ll eventually find a perfect match that will understand your self-worth and value.

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This story was originally published on February 28, 2019, and has since been updated.

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"Self-Care Isn't Selfish" and More Boss Quotes From Our Digital Beauty & Self-Care Summit

Photo: Create & Cultivate

On Saturday, July 25, we hosted our Digital Beauty & Self-Care Summit presented by Mastercard. Thousands of attendees from all around the world (India! Puerto Rico! South Africa!) joined us for a day of networking (our Slack channel was hot), learning new skills (search engine optimization, anyone?), and listening to thought-provoking conversations with a diverse lineup of leading industry disruptors.

We touched on everything from bootstrapping a business to developing a marketing strategy to growing a podcast. Miranda Kerr, Tyra Banks, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Michelle Pfeiffer, and more bosses taught us a thing or two about scaling a business, raising capital, and being an entrepreneur. If you missed out or if you just want to relive the highlights, scroll on because we captured the most memorable moments for you!

(Psst… If reading this is giving you serious FOMO, join Create & Cultivate Insiders to get unlimited access to all of our Digital Beauty & Self-Care Summit content, including video recordings of every panel and workshop download in C&C history.)

Morning Keynote: A Conversation With Miranda Kerr & Sacha Strebe

“

If you’re not able to give 150% then you shouldn’t even think about having your own company.”

—Miranda Kerr

Panelist:

Miranda Kerr | CEO & Founder, Kora Organics

Moderator: 

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate  

On launching a clean skincare line...

“Certified organic skincare is so much more than just clean skincare—it’s more potent, powerful, and results-driven.” 

“I don’t want to put something on my face just because it’s clean. I want to put something on my face because it’s really going to fill my skin with nutrients to be healthy and glowy and full of vitality. That’s why it’s important for me to be Certified Organic.” 

On focusing on your strengths…  

“You can’t be everything so it’s important to focus on your strengths.”

“One thing that is not my strength is finance—putting a P&L together, understanding cash flow, making projections, and re-adjusting our revenue is something I’ve had to learn.”

“Still, to this day, I haven’t taken a cent out of the company.”

On self-funding over investors…

“I want to keep it as my baby for as long as I can because I’m very specific about the way I want it to be. I didn’t want anyone else coming in to water down my ideas or make the products less potent.” 

On raising money…

“I’ve always been open to those conversations and I might need it at some point but I’ve been lucky that I haven’t yet. Hopefully, I won’t.”

“Our team understands that for us, this is more than just selling skincare. This is about helping people build their confidence—it’s a holistic perspective.”

 “I lead with my heart. When I’m in that heart space, all the answers come.” 

On being an entrepreneur...  

“It’s a full time job plus plus. It’s like raising a child. You love and care about your business just like you do your child. It requires consistent love and nurturing from you, the founder.”  

 “If you’re not able to put that in and give 150%, then you shouldn’t even think about having your own company. It takes a specific type of person who is willing to give that without expecting much in return—just giving it for the love of it.”

“It’s not easy and there are things you have to do that you don’t like doing like hiring and firing or going through each line of the P&L—it’s a lot! You can’t turn a blind eye to anything when it’s your own company.”

Small Biz, Big Dreams: Meet the Women Building the Next-Gen of Beauty & Wellness Brands, Powered by Mastercard

“There’s a big difference between starting a business and running a business.”

—Africa Miranda

Panelists: 

Shontay Lundy | Founder, Black Girl Sunscreen

Tai Beauchamp | Co-Founder & CBO, Brown Girl Jane

Rochelle Graham-Campbell | CEO & Co-Founder, Alikay Naturals

Africa Miranda | Author, Host, & Founder, Beauty by Africa Miranda

Moderator: 

Ginger Siegel | North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard

On disrupting an outdated industry…

“A cosmetic product is supposed to make you feel good and look good.” - Shontay Lundy 

“There is a myth that Black people don’t need sunscreen and we’re here to bust that myth.” - Shontay Lundy 

On finding whitespace in a market…

“Pivoting is never easy, but oftentimes it’s about recognizing a void in the market and an opportunity to have an impact.” - Tai Beauchamp

On finding your purpose…

“Passion is not enough. Passion is necessary. Passion helps fuel the energy that you need to go at times when you don’t have the resources, capacity, or bandwidth. However, what should inspire you is finding your purpose and being clear about your intention.” - Tai Beauchamp

“The same way that a business has a manifesto and a mission statement,you should have your own personal mission statement, you should have your own personal manifesto, and then align that as you’re looking for opportunities in the market to build.” - Tai Beauchamp

On building a community…

“If you remain authentic with your audience and take them along on the journey with you, I believe that it builds a loyalty that cannot be broken.”  - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

“I’ve shared my wins, I’ve shared my pitfalls. We’ve cried together, we’ve celebrated together. It’s a “we.” It really is a community.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

“If you are a business owner or a brand owner, you have to figure out if you want the responsibility of a community because you owe them more. You have more of a social responsibility to them and you have more of a responsibility to make sure that the actions that your brand is taking are not just a reflection of your own beliefs but also the beliefs of the community as well.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

On finding a whitespace in the market… 

“Create something with your story and your approach. That does not exist. There will always be a space for that if you stay true to that.” - Africa Miranda 

On learning along the way…

“Respecting the process is a big part of the entrepreneurial journey. If you don’t respect the process, then being an entrepreneur may not be for you.” - Shontay Lundy 

On breaking into a controversial category…

“Being a Black-owned business focused on centering Black and Brown women, there are so many stigmas that exist within our community around CBD and a lack of knowledge and education.” - Tai Beauchamp 

“A part of our business model is that a portion of all our proceeds go to support nonprofit and for-purpose organizations that center women of color around their mental health and wellness and the over criminalization of Black and Brown people who have been incarcerated because of cannabis and marijuana.” - Tai Beauchamp  

On running a business… 

“There’s a big difference between starting a business and running a business.” - Africa Miranda 

On raising money for your business from your network...

“Utilize your network. There may be someone in your circle of family and friends who has been watching your journey and may be very willing to give you a small loan or a small gift to help you get started.” - Africa Miranda 

“We think that we need $10,000 or $100,000 to get started, but sometimes $1,000 or $500 can be the difference between an idea and actually starting a business. Be open to nontraditional sources of support.” - Africa Miranda 

On just going for it…

“I didn’t overthink the process and I didn't focus on my launch needing to go the perfect or traditional route, I just went for it.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

On running a self-funded business…

“We decided that, instead of focusing on what we couldn’t have, let’s focus on what we were making and just make sure that we manage our business finances just as strictly as we do our personal finances.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

“For every dollar that we spend, we have an ROI.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

“Every dollar I spend, I need it back.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

“If anyone is considering starting a business and self-funding, understanding your cash flow management is something that is extremely important. As early as you possibly can, hire an accountant or a CFO.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

On prioritizing e-commerce and DTC channels…

“A mistake that a lot of product-owned businesses make is they focus more on the retail channels and then they neglect their e-commerce. Your e-commerce is your direct connection to your people—to your customers and to your tribe—and you have to make sure that you’re nurturing that because retail can disappear at any time.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

On their Priceless money tip for small business owners…

“The first hire is a bookkeeper, accountant, or CFO.” - Tai Beauchamp  

“Know what you’re spending and be very intentional about it even as you’re building a business.” - Tai Beauchamp 

“You should be very dangerous in every department, so know a little bit about a lot of things.” - Shontay Lundy 

“Fire yourself from every position other than CEO. Once you get your company to the point that you’re able to, it’s really important to take a step back and delegate to other people on your team.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

“As CEO you need to focus on money-making or brand-building and driving activities and not answering an email or filling out a form.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell

“Prioritize. If you know you don’t have a large pot to pull from, then really look at where your dollars can go the furthest.” - Africa Miranda 

A Conversation With Glow-Getter Courtney Shields, Powered by TULA

“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once.”

—Courtney Shields

Panelist: 

Courtney Shields | Founder, CourtneyShields.com

Moderator: 

Maya Allen | Digital Beauty Editor, MarieClaire.com

On launching a beauty blog… 

“I love helping women feel more confident.” - Courtney Shields 

On cultivating inner beauty…

“Inside out, outside in.” - Courtney Shields

On the importance of getting started... 

“You can always pivot as you go, but just start.” - Courtney Shields

On forging ahead during COVID…

“You can look at 2020 two ways. One way is you can choose to complain and feel stuck and frustrated, or you can use 2020 as an opportunity for growth.” - Courtney Shields

“There’s power in our perspective.” - Maya Allen

On not paying attention to the number of followers, likes, or comments…

“If you are seeking outside validation, you’re never going to be happy.” - Courtney Shields

On seeking work-life balance… 

“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once.” - Courtney Shields

On prioritizing self-care…

“Go for the walk, take the bath, do whatever fills you up, otherwise you’re pouring from an empty cup.” - Courtney Shields

On standing out in a saturated space…

“You have to do what you’re passionate about.” - Courtney Shields

“Standing out in a saturated space is all about being yourself and being authentic.” - Courtney Shields

“If you start trying to emulate what everyone else is doing, you’re on an uphill battle.” - Courtney Shields

“Looking inward, figuring out what feels good to you, and then doing that full-force is so important.” - Maya Allen

On navigating negativity and naysayers…

“I’m not a jar of Nutella, I can't please everyone, no matter what I do.” - Courtney Shields

On the best advice she’s ever received…

“Don’t procrastinate. You’ve got to get it done eventually, so might as well do it now.” - Courtney Shields

On her purpose…

“Walking through hard shit and showing people that you can still do hard things with a positive attitude and come out on the other side.” - Courtney Shields

The New Disruptors: Meet the Women Shaking Up the Beauty, Fashion, & Wellness Business

“To follow your passion, sometimes you have to make really difficult decisions.”

—Babba C. Rivera

Panelists: 

Monique Rodriguez | Founder & CEO, Mielle Organics

Lauren Chan | Founder & CEO, Henning

Babba C. Rivera | Founder, ByBabba

Beatrice Dixon | CEO & Founder, The Honey Pot Company

Barbara Paldus | Founder & CEO, Codex

Moderator: 

Ashley Dunn | Host & Entertainment Journalist

On switching lanes after establishing a career…

“I worked as a registered nurse for 8 ½ years before stepping out on faith and starting something that I love and that I was truly passionate about.” - Monique Rodriguez 

“Even though I always had the burning desire to be an entrepreneur, I never thought that it was something that was attainable.” - Monique Rodriguez 

“You can’t be what you can’t see.” - Monique Rodriguez 

“My vision was not to create a hair care brand. I was looking to just talk about something that I love and am passionate about with other women who look like me.” - Monique Rodriguez 

On launching a size-inclusive fashion brand…

“I was surrounded by fashion all the time and I wanted to participate but I couldn’t because I had a bigger body than everyone else.” - Lauren Chan

“I grew sick of the disadvantage for being plus-size. I grew sick of being unequal.” - Lauren Chan

On leaving a steady paycheck…

“To follow your passion, sometimes you have to make really difficult decisions.” - Babba C. Rivera

“Not making a decision is also a decision.” - Babba C. Rivera

“I couldn’t stand to continue as an employee because of this inner voice.” - Babba C. Rivera

“I had to just do it and trust that I would figure it out.” - Babba C. Rivera

On launching a brand with confidence...

“The reason I started the company is because I had issues with my own vagina. The mother of invention is often necessity.” - Beatrice Dixon

“I always knew that Honey Pot would be a household name, as synonymous as Tampax and Kotex and Summer’s Eve and Vagisil.” - Beatrice Dixon

On scaling quickly and sustainably…

“You want to be efficient in everything that you do because, at the end of the day, you want to make sure you’re having profits in your business.” - Monique Rodriguez 

“Make sure your books are in order and make sure you understand your margins and profits.” - Monique Rodriguez 

“You have to know your numbers. You have to know what you’re bringing in and what you have to spend.” - Monique Rodriguez 

“Every challenge is an opportunity to rise higher.” - Monique Rodriguez 

“You’re going to have obstacles, you’re going to have challenges, you’re going to not know, and you’re not going to have anybody to ask those questions to, and you've just got to figure it out and do it afraid.” - Monique Rodriguez 

“No successful person has made it to the success or level that they have without making stupid mistakes—but they didn’t give it up.” - Monique Rodriguez 

On bootstrapping over seeking venture capital…

“I thought I could do it better and faster if I had no one to answer to but myself.” - Lauren Chan

“I set the prices. I set what we pay for cost of goods to insure that it is high quality.” - Lauren Chan

“I went out and proved that there is a plus-size luxury market. My average customer spends $2400 dollars with us in a few seasons. Our average order value is $750. Now I have that to back me up.” - Lauren Chan

“I was being told that you can’t make things that expensive for this market, that the customer does not exist.” - Lauren Chan

On hiring and managing a team as your grow… 

“Management skills have expiration dates. As we face new generations, we have to adapt our management skills.” - Babba C. Rivera

“Everyone is different and the only way to figure out what drives them is to have those conversations on an ongoing basis.” - Babba C. Rivera

“For each piece of negative feedback you give someone, you have to give them more positive ones.” - Babba C. Rivera

“My time as a boss is better invested in focusing on what they are doing really well and how can I create a greater space for them to do more of that.” - Babba C. Rivera 

“When people get the space to focus more on the things that they’re really good at, they tend to have more fun at work, they tend to become more loyal, they tend to stay longer, they tend to recommend their friends to come and work for you, it has so many trickle affects and it becomes more than just a job.” - Babba C. Rivera

On giving back during COVID and beyond…

“My philosophy is: To whom much is given, much is required.” - Monique Rodriguez 

“One of the key things that defines success is: How many opportunities do you create? How many people do you build up? How many people do you motivate, do you inspire?” - Monique Rodriguez 

“People first, then product.” - Monique Rodriguez 

On launching new product despite the pandemic...

“We wanted to keep fighting. We didn’t want to lay down.” - Lauren Chan

“If the independent’s don't survive, then consumers will lose many a plus-size option and they will lose mostly the options that are well-made, high-quality, ethically made, fairly sourced, sustainably minded, and what we’d be left with is the giant corporation that could stand to survive this time and i just couldn’t stomach that regression in size-inclusive fashion that we’ve been building on for a decade plus now.” - Lauren Chan

On being in the midst of planning a product launch during COVID…

“My team and myself have been hard at work during the lockdown prepping for a big launch we have coming up this fall. We are in the process of launching a clean hair care brand rooted in Latin heritage.” - Babba C. Rivera

“For me, it’s much more than a business, it’s part of a mission that I’ve been on throughout my career to create space for women, and in this particular case, really bringing up the Latin woman.” - Babba C. Rivera

“We live in a world where the Latinx community accounts for 20% of the country yet most brands are speaking to a predominantly white demographic.” - Babba C. Rivera

“Latinas spend the most on hair care products. They spend 46% more than their white counterparts, and I’m like, ‘Where are the brands that are talking to me and my friends and my family?’” - Babba C. Rivera 

“Only 0.4% —less than half a percentage—of venture funding goes to Latina founders.” - Babba C. Rivera

“Only 58 Latina women have ever raised $1 million in capital.” - Babba C. Rivera

On expanding to markets beyond the U.S.… 

“By going outside of the U.S., we can set the new standard for what natural, effective, sustainable, and ethical beauty should be.” - Barbara Paldus

On seeking the right investors for your company…

“As an investor, you can be a partner to that entrepreneur for five to seven years. It’s like a marriage and you really need to have a relationship that is like a two-way street.” - Barbara Paldus

“Make sure you really want to go the VC route and then really figure out which VCs you want to work with.” - Barbara Paldus

“See if the VC really understands the business and you because they’re going to make or break your company.” - Barbara Paldus 

Work It Out: A Conversation on Why Brands and Consumers Are Jumping on the Health, Wellness, & Fitness Boom

“If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not growing.”

—Maryam Ajayi

Panelists:

Katie Dunlop | Founder & CEO, Love Sweat Fitness

Zehra Allibhai | Founder, The FitNest

Lora Haddock DiCarlo | Founder & CEO, Lora DiCarlo

Maryam Ajayi | Energy Healer, Entrepreneur, Writer, Activist, & Speaker

Devi Brown | Wellness Educator, Energy Healer, Author, & Founder, Karma Bliss

Remi Ishizuka | Founder, Rrayyme

Moderator: 

Faith Xue | Editorial Director, Byrdie

On cultivating a thriving community… 

“Everyone’s journey is unique. I want to help inspire and empower other women to figure out and create what healthy looks like for them because it’s very personal.” - Katie Dunlop

On overcoming feelings of self-doubt… 

“Who cares what other people think as long as I'm helping the people that I set out and have intention to help, that really gave me a sense of belonging.” - Zehra Allibhai 

On driving innovation in the sexual wellness industry… 

“I wanted to change the conversation around mastrubation.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo

“Disruption was a part of the business plan very early on.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo

“There are almost 250 parts in our product, whereas most products in the sex-tech space have about 20 to 30 parts.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo

On producing products to help people feel more confident… 

“Our mission is to strive for a world where folks can feel more comfortable in their identity and their sexuality.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo

“Confidence is what empowers the greatest of us to go out and change the world each in our own way.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo

On changing the narrative of the wellness industry… 

“We’re in real time changing the trajectory of the wellness industry and making it one that’s inclusive for everybody, for BIPOC, for LGBTQIIA+, for people that are differently abled.” - Maryam Ajayi 

“If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not growing.” - Maryam Ajayi 

“Growth is messy and hard, but on the other side of that is fulfillment.” - Maryam Ajayi 

On navigating self-acceptance… 

“Your level of self-acceptance is what informs every other relationship you have in your entire life and what informs everything that you do in the world.” - Devi Brown

“We are the stars of our own life. The point of being here is finding yourself, remembering yourself, coming into a space of wholeness. There is nothing more important you can be doing with your life. No work is more important than the work of you.” - Devi Brown

On starting the journey to self-acceptance…

“If you find yourself not able to do a lot of self-care, investigate why. Is it because it’s uncomfortable to be in the mirror with yourself? Is it because it’s uncomfortable to touch your own self? Or to just spend time in your own body without outside stimulation or conversation?” - Devi Brown

On being consistent…

“You need to be consistent to see improvement in your fitness, your nutrition, your wellness, and it’s the same in business. You have to show up consistently and know what it is that drives you and motivates you.” - Remi Ishizuka

On championing diversity in the wellness industry…

“People of color created wellness. All of the things that we do in the wellness industry—every technique, every time you’re doing breathwork, every time you’re doing a yoga posture—it was all created by people of color in different cultures, globally.” - Devi Brown

“It’s really dangerous when we’re learning to democratize and decolonize our wellness practices from other white individuals—that only upholds white supremacy.” - Maryam Ajayi 

“For any wellness leader, influencer, company, step one is hiring black indigenous women of color to help them unpack the systems of oppression that they’ve learned to uphold.” - Maryam Ajayi 

“Start to decolonize your individual wellness practices and how you spend your dollars.” - Maryam Ajayi 

“White people can act in solidarity by supporting BIPOC businesses in wellness.” - Maryam Ajayi 

“If we’re going to champion diversity and inclusivity, we also need to understand that intersectionality involves diverse passions, preferences, anatomies,  regardless of gender, identity, expression, sexuality, ethnicity, age, relationship status, disability or even socioeconomic status.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo

On working with brands…

“I probably end up working with10% of the brands that reach out.” - Katie Dunlop

“It’s really important that the product is something that I personally already use and love.” - Katie Dunlop

“Following your intuition is so important. If something feels off, it’s probably off for a reason.” - Maryam Ajayi 

“Make sure you know what you stand for and why you stand for it. Integrity goes a really long way. You may have to say no to a lot of money and a lot of deals, but in the long run, you’re going to be ahead of the game if you’re a person of integrity who’s putting yourself and your community first.” - Maryam Ajayi 

“Once I accept a brand deal, I put as much value into it as possible so that my audience is getting the same amount of value from a branded post as an organic post.” - Remi Ishizuka

Mid-Morning Keynote: A Conversation With Tyra Banks & Jaclyn Johnson

“Different is better than better.”

—Tyra Banks

Panelist:

Tyra Banks | Entrepreneur & Supermodel

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO & Founder, Create & Cultivate 

 On being an entrepreneur… 

“I’m such an entrepreneur at heart.” 

“For me, if it doesn’t hurt, it’s just not worth it.”

“I’m a business person. I want to own something. I get so much pleasure being in a meeting with my team. I love the process.”

On finding whitespace in a crowded market…

“Different is better than better.”

On doing the research and putting in the work…

“When you are trying to get that job, do as much research as you can about that company.” 

On being the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue… 

“I went from being a well-known model in the fashion industry to a household name walking down the street.”

“I did know that it was bigger than me. I did understand that being a Black woman on that magazine cover was impactful.”

“I think that it did some things for the industry but a lot more for public perception of Black women's sexuality and beauty. That we can be the girl next door who just happens to be Black. That we are American.” 

On knowing the difference between hate and healthy critique… 

“Hurt people hurt people.”

“Is this hate, or is this healthy critique? You have to learn the difference.”

On managing finances…

“Cash flow is everything.”

“It is so important that, if you are starting a business, to be as modest as you can.”

On navigating COVID-19…

“Don’t stop thinking about different things that you can do.”

“If the dream is there, you can get there.”

“If your business went away, that doesn’t mean you can’t start another one.”

“Investors always say they don’t invest the product, they don’t invest in the idea, they invest in the person.”

On making an impact…

“How many People of Color can I give an opportunity to that not just changes their life but changes the trajectory of their legacy for generations?” 

On being an entrepreneur and a mother during COVID…

“I have so much respect for stay-at-home moms and I have so much respect for teachers because this is no joke. The only thing that helps me is I know we’re all in this together and trying to figure this out because it’s not easy.”

Holding Space: The Women Leading the Way for WOC in the Health & Wellness Industry, Powered by Califia

“The answer to wellness is not always a purchase.”

—Gianne Doherty

Panelists:

Latham Thomas | Celebrity Doula, Maternity Wellness Expert, Author, “Own Your Glow”

Koya Webb | Founder, Get Loved Up Holistic Health and Yoga School

Gianne Doherty | Co-Founder, Organic Bath Co. and Founder, WELL Summit

Jenné Claiborne | Vegan Chef, Author, YouTuber, and Founder, Sweet Potato Soul

Moderator: 

Sonja Rasula | CEO and Founder, Unique Markets

On making space for WOC and BIPOC in wellness and beyond… 

“Amplifying our voices and coming together to make a change is the way we’re going to see massive change in the future.” - Koya Webb

On rest as a form of resistance…

“Rest is how we reclaim our peace, it’s how we reclaim our mental health and no matter what you’re passionate about and what you stand for, if you are not well rested you are going to drive yourself into the ground.” - Gianne Doherty

On diversifying wellness…

“There is a misperception that wellness, and wellness as most of us think of it now, is for people who have more money, for white people, for women and that leaves a lot of people out of the conversation, and out of wellness.” - Jenné Claiborne

On improving health outcomes…

“It doesn't just affect Black people, but it affects Black people disproportionately, so if we focus our energy on solving the problem for Black folks first, everybody’s going to improve.” - Latham Thomas 

“We’re serving everybody, but we’re especially equipped to serve those who we know may fall through the cracks.” - Latham Thomas

On visibility and representation in wellness…

“We’re creating our own spaces and those spaces are allowing us to heal from the trauma that we’ve experienced from living in a world that’s cloaked with white supremacy and oppression.” - Koya Webb

“When we take care of ourselves, we can start change, we can start getting out there to vote, changing the systems, and coming together to make change that we want to see in the world.” - Koya Webb

On cancel culture…

“I’m not a fan of cancel culture. I don’t really think that helps people evolve and I don’t think it solves a lot of problems. I think we need to invite people to the conversation and we can’t shy away from these conversations.” - Gianne Doherty

On voting with your wallet…

“As consumers, we vote with our dollars, we have so much power.” - Gianne Doherty

“I think it is important to actively divest in brands who are not part of this conversation. Not just spend your money over here, but stop spending your money over here.” - Latham Thomas

On creating wellness brands and spaces that reflect the community…

“Hire the people who are in positions of leadership in their communities, in organizations doing this incredible work already. Bring them in to help so that you don’t make mistakes and you don’t misstep and then when you’re designing spaces you’ll be designing for who’s most marginal, who’s going to benefit the most.” - Latham Thomas

“If we’re designing from our space of privilege, then we’re never going to consider the needs of people who are underserved or underestimated.” - Latham Thomas

On making space at the table...

“I hate this metaphor about bringing people to the table. I don’t need that. I don’t need people to bring me to a table. I can build my own stuff. We need to expand that table so it can fit everybody or we need to completely dismantle it and build something new that is actually inclusive of the needs of everybody who’s involved, especially the most marginalized.” - Latham Thomas

On finding your place…

“Just me being me, my presence, is a protest.” - Koya Webb

“Me dealing with all of the pain and trauma is worth it because it’s inspiring other women to do the same,  that they can do it too.” - Koya Webb

“Just show up the best that you can, being the best version of yourself, and knowing that that is enough.” - Koya Webb

On coming together to make change…

“Together we can make a difference but it can’t be all put on Black people—we all have to bond together and really change the systematic racism and systematic oppression that we see in the world today.“ - Koya Webb

On wellness for all…

 “Wellness is what you need, where you are, with what you have.” - Gianne Doherty

“The answer to wellness is not always a purchase.” - Gianne Doherty

On self-care doesn’t cost money…

“It’s part of our culture to think that we need to buy something to satisfy. You don’t really need anything. Really take an honest look at what you’ve got around you and what you can utilize.” - Jenné Claiborne

On ending systemic racism in wellness and beyond…

“I’m not in resistance, I’m in a dance with joy towards liberation.”  - Latham Thomas

“What we are calling for is people who are non-Black to show up in a bigger way with dollars, with access, pick up the phone and make the calls, get out to vote, but stop putting the burden on us.” - Latham Thomas

Self-Care Nation: Why Taking Care of Yourself Has Cultivated a Major Following

“Confidence isn’t an end point. Confidence is something you have to chip away at daily.”

—Hunter McGrady

Panelists:

Coco Bassey | Content Creator

Hunter McGrady | Model & Designer

Christina Grasso | Content Creator & Co-Founder, The Chain

Candice Nikeia | Content Creator & Motivational Influencer

Candice Kumai | CEO, Writer, NYTimes Bestselling Author, and Chef

Moderator: 

Kristina Rodulfo | Women's Health Beauty Director

On slowing down and making time for rest...

 “It’s important to make sure that you’re okay, that you are taking care of you before you take care of other people.” - Candice Nikeia

On confidence... 

“Confidence isn’t an end point. Confidence is something you have to chip away at daily.” - Hunter McGrady 

On self-love…

“Self-love to me looks like peace. I think being at peace with yourself no matter where you are in that journey, no matter what your size is, no matter what you do, being at peace with you in that moment.”  - Hunter McGrady 

On the power of vulnerability…  

“If we don’t share our story in the most authentic way with others then we’ll never actually be able to connect.” - Candice Kumai

On her approach to wellness...

“Just understanding that we are enough as we are, no matter what it is that we’re wearing, no matter what we have on our skin, or whatever people are selling to us.” - Coco Bassey

On supporting women...

 “I would love for more women to support more women and love women.” - Candice Kumai

“We have to stand up for each other and learn to love a little bit deeper and practice empathy, compassion, kindness. Those are the three most important things in wellness.” - Candice Kumai

On her #AllWorthy movement…

“We’re all worthy of success, of feeling beautiful, of feeling valued, of feeling important, we’re worthy purely because we exist.’  - Hunter McGrady 

“It’s about holding brands accountable and saying this is what I want to see, this is what I’m going to support, and I’m not going to support this, my dollar doesn’t go there anymore and then the domino effect can happen.” - Hunter McGrady

On the self-care movement…

“When you look at the voices now in social media, they’re really breaking ground, making changes, and really being raised up.” - Coco Bassey

“It’s okay to show your less perfect days, it’s okay to show that even if you’re trying out a skincare brand that your skin isn’t perfect but that you're a work in progress just like every other person.” - Coco Bassey

On the comparison trap…

“Comparison is the thief of all joy”  - Candice Nikeia 

On ending the shame…

“It’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to love yourself as you are and if you gained 10 pounds you gained 10 pounds, it’s not the end of the world.” - Hunter McGrady

On getting out of the negativity spiral...

“When someone is in that realm of tearing someone else down, they’re really projecting that they haven’t healed yet.” - Candice Nikeia

 “What you see in other people is really what you see in yourself.” - Candice Nikeia 

“The best thing for me to do is figure out who I am, the things that I love about myself, and use them to heal and to develop myself instead of looking at the lacks in my life.” - Candice Nikeia

On striving for change…

“We’re seeing that when you’re loud, things can change—so, stay loud!” - Hunter McGrady

On being yourself and telling your story…

“Regardless of who you are or what you look like, your own story matters.” - Coco Bassey

“Be yourself. You are enough, you are interesting as you are.” - Coco Bassey   

Beyond the Filter: How to Launch, Scale, and Grow a Brand from the Ground Up

“

We don’t sell diversity and inclusivity, we sell authenticity and self-love.”

—Sharon Chuter

Panelists:

Lauren Bosworth | Founder & CEO, Love Wellness

Katie Sturino | Founder, Megababe

Sharon Chuter | Founder & CEO, UOMA Beauty

Courtney Adeleye | CEO & Founder, Mane Choice

Bobbi Brown | Founder and CEO, Beauty Evolution

Moderator: 

Kayla Greaves | Senior Beauty Editor, InStyle

On turning a home-based hobby into a thriving beauty empire…

“The biggest form of marketing you can receive is customer service and word of mouth. So, for me it was always about exceeding the customer expectations. If that’s the foundation of your company, it’s much easier to grow.” - Courtney Adeleye 

On ditching the fear to start all over again… 

“Anything you do as an entrepreneur you could either look as scary or as an opportunity.” - Bobbi Brown

“I am incredibly naive, I’m not afraid, and I don’t think what I’m going to do is necessarily going to be a success but I don’t worry that it’s not going to work out.” - Bobbi Brown

On ditching unrealistic beauty ideals to redefine beauty…

“We don’t sell diversity and inclusivity, we sell authenticity and self-love and the ability to be unapologetically yourself and that’s what makes us different.” - Sharon Chuter

On the challenges that come with scaling a business…

“If you want to scale your business, the entire thing is a challenge so what are you going to do about it? Not everyone is built for it. But you have to roll right through it, and learn from your mistakes, and keep rolling.” - Courtney Adeleye 

On the challenge of being an “overnight success”... 

“It takes 14 years to blow up overnight.” - Sharon Chuter

On hiring the right team… 

“Hire slowly and fire quickly as you build your team because team is everything.”  - Sharon Chuter

“Everything is a challenge but I would urge every entrepreneur to not underestimate the value of the right people around you, especially when you are in the fast growth phase.” - Sharon Chuter

“The strength of our business is that the people who are in it are the brand.” - Sharon Chuter

On following your own path...

“I will never do what’s popular, I will always do what’s right to me.” - Sharon Chuter

“Be strong enough to defend the values of the business because, at the end of the day, throughout whatever growth and as you scale, if the foundation is not right the house is going to collapse.” - Sharon Chuter

On tapping into her community for R&D...

“We take the feedback from our community and we put that back into the research and development and we evolve. We give the people what they want.” - Katie Sturino

On raising capital…

“Talking about capital and raising money has really been romanticized over the past few years. There’s this element of glamour. But it’s really important to realize that you don’t have to go out and raise money like that.” - Lauren Bosworth

“If you are starting a business, I would really think about exploring traditional, old-school routes of raising money, which is a bank loan, or raising from friends and family instead of being convinced that you have to go down this investment path.” - Lauren Bosworth

““If you choose to bring on investors and bring people into your business it’s like a marriage and a lot of people raising for the first time don’t quite realize the depth of those relationships with these people.” - Lauren Bosworth  

On starting The Generational Advantage Fund...

“When I started my company with $500 we went from zero to 60,000 doors within two or three years. No credit card, no line of credit, no loan, no investor, it was, literally grow as you go.” - Courtney Adeleye  

“Here I am, having sold over $100 million worth of products and I still have to prove myself in the finance world. There’s still a lot of discrimination that’s going on. We can’t get the funding, we can’t get a loan, we can’t get a line of credit. There’s no one speaking up for us as an African American—as a business owner we are automatically exiled out of things, there are grants that don’t apply for us, so for me this really hit home.” - Courtney Adeleye 

On creating a diverse brand…

“It was really important to me that there was a color for every woman that came to the counter.” - Bobbi Brown

“We should always have room for diverse people because it makes the conversation richer, it makes your products stronger, it makes your management approach better and overall it creates a healthier business.” - Sharon Chuter

“Diversity is reality, at the end of the day. It’s what makes the world turn.” - Courtney Adeleye 

On switching career lanes…

“First and foremost, you have to make peace with how you feel about yourself and how you feel about how other people perceive you. And then it’s figuring out how you tell your story. You have to figure out how to market yourself.” - Lauren Bosworth

Redefining Beauty: A Conversation With Self-Love Advocate Nabela Noor, Powered by OGX

“You are beyond any size, measurement, tag, label, or anything that’s trying to put you into a box.”

—Nabela Noor

Panelist:

Nabela Noor | Content Creator, Founder of Zeba, & OGXpert

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO & Founder, Create & Cultivate 

On launching her YouTube channel...

“When I started to make videos, it was really because I saw other people doing it and felt so inspired by them and they represented so many beautiful diverse communities.” 

“I realized that I can do this for my community. I can do this for Brown girls everywhere. I can make videos about my complexion and share tips for people like me and anybody who wants to celebrate beauty.”

“It all started from seeing that there wasn’t something there yet for people like me and then making it happen.”

On embarking on a self-love journey…

“I grew up, and still live, in a very conservative, predominately white town, and I did not see myself represented in the world around me. Not just in the media, not just in entertainment, not just in beauty and fashion, but also physically in the world around me.”

“I grew up with a lot of insecurities and not feeling beautiful in my own skin and not knowing that I am beautiful and that those differences that I’m reminded of daily actually are beautiful and should be celebrated.”

On being a champion for diversity and inclusion…

“This isn’t something that’s a fad right now, this is our truth. We have, for our entire lives, wanted to be seen and represented.”

On navigating negativity in the comments…

“If you are happy and successful, the likelihood of you going online and saying horrible things to someone else is very small.”

“Happy people don’t say hurtful things. With joy comes kindness. It’s offered me peace in times when I’ve wanted to cry and believed the things that people say about me.”

“It’s helped me, it’s freed me, because there was a time where I was constantly shaping my understanding of myself based on what other people were saying about me.”

On collaborating with Elf Cosmetics…

“I’ve had opportunities to do other collaborations but I chose Elf for my first-ever collaboration because I come from very humble beginnings, I'm a daughter of immigrant parents who came to this country with nothing, and I know what it’s like to want to look and feel your best but not have a big budget.”

On choosing which brands to partner with...

“A brand that loves and values me and has an incredible product is a brand that I’m going to want to work with.”

On being an OGXpert…

“I started my self-love journey by picking up a bottle of OGX shampoo and deciding I’m not going to listen to what other people say about me and my body, I’m going to try to find the things I love about myself and start there—and it was my hair.”

On holding brands accountable... 

“I’m really looking for people and brands who are championing diversity from the ground up, from their business internally outward.”

“Are you actually doing the things internally within your company and with your actions to really reflect what you’re saying to the world?”

“We want to feel seen and heard in a way that’s authentic and in a way that includes us.”

“If we’re not having diverse people in these conference rooms, if it’s just a bunch of white people talking about how they can be more diverse, how is that actually authentically seeking diversity?”

On becoming the first-ever Bangladeshi-American cover star for a major magazine...

“Me having the Glamour UK cover, hopefully inspires another brown girl—another Bangladeshi girl—to reach for her dreams to try something because she saw that somebody can do it too.”

On cultivating confidence…

“When you make a conscious effort to be in love with yourself, it really helps you be more confident and feel like you can take on things that are tough or difficult or uncomfortable, because you know, at the end of the day, you can sit with yourself and be proud.”

On launching Zeba, a self-love movement and a size-inclusive brand…

“We are challenging the idea that beauty is something that can be defined by one institution or by society and we’re constantly encouraging others to redefine beauty standards to include them rather than changing themselves to fit within someone else’s standards of beauty.”

“You are beyond any size, measurement, tag, label, or anything that’s trying to put you into a box.”

On creating an inclusive community online…

“When you’re building your own community, really figure out ways to champion conversation rather than you on a stage—that’ll make the difference.”

“Are you talking at people or are you talking with them?”

“I create posts that I think invite people to share their stories—and people want to share their stories.”

WorkParty Podcast: Tia Mowry-Hardrict on the (Many) Benefits of Having More Than One Career

“Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid to get the answers that you’re looking for.”

—Tia Mowry-Hardrict

Panelist:

Tia Mowry-Hardrict | Actress, Author, Producer, Co-Founder, Anser Supplements

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO & Founder, Create & Cultivate 

On believing in yourself…

“You have to ignore the naysayers.”

“It starts with you believing in yourself, believing who you are.”

“When you know who you are and you believe in who you are, then you become this strong pillar, and the outside noise or wind or turbulence doesn’t affect you because you’re strong in who you are.”

On listening to your body and navigating a broken healthcare system… 

“Don’t give up. Don’t listen to one doctor. You know your body, you know what’s going on, and don’t give up the fight.”

“Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid to get the answers that you’re looking for.” 

On taking care of yourself… 

“Self-care is not selfish.”

“How can you be the best mom, how can you be the best sister, how can you be the best entrepreneur, how can you be the best friend, if you do not take care of yourself?”

“It’s okay to take care of yourself.”

On launching her wellness brand Anser…

“I wanted to encourage women to take charge of their health and wellness.”

“When I was on my personal wellness journey, I did not see representation. I did not see Women of Color, I did not see women of diversity, and that bothered me. I wanted to change this narrative. That’s why it was so important for me to come out with a brand that spoke to consumers that did not feel involved, that did not feel included.”

“DNA doesn’t vary when it comes to ethnicity, but where it does vary is with lifestyle, culture, awareness, and education.” 

“My goal with this brand is to continue to educate, to continue to bring awareness, to continue to inspire, and to encourage people to reach their potential when it comes to their wellness. You deserve it!”

“You are in control of your health and your wellness. You have that responsibility, don’t put that responsibility just on a doctor.”

On selling products at affordable price points… 

“It hurt me to the core when I was out there on my personal journey and I saw that wellness was only designed or made for one type of customer. That’s not fair; I wanted to change that narrative.”

“My goal is definitely to make sure that Anser is accessible without sacrificing the quality and the integrity of the product.”

On where entrepreneurs should focus their financial resources… 

“Product, product, product is the most important thing.”

“You want to make sure that you put a lot of your coins on the product.” 

On carrying a business through COVID-19…

“The key to being a great entrepreneur is learning how to pivot, learning how to adjust.”

“The key in times like this is to communicate with your audience—what are they thinking, what do they want from you, what’s going in their minds—and deliver.”

On leading a team…

“You can’t do everything on your own.” 

“I look at it like a song. You cannot have a beautiful song with just one person, or one instrument, one note.”

“Trusting your team and building a team that knows how to take care of your weaknesses—because we all have weaknesses—you start to build this beautiful symphony and the music is harmonized and it’s beautiful.”

“You have to be very vocal in vocalizing what your goals are and what your vision is, unapologetically.” 

On the advice she’d give to her younger self…

“You are enough. You can do anything that you put your mind to.” 

“Make sure that you continue to stay steadfast, believe in yourself. Trust the journey.”

“Look at yourself in the mirror every single day and tell yourself, ‘I love you! You are worth it.’”

Evening Keynote: A Conversation With Michelle Pfeiffer & Jaclyn Johnson

“When you start a business, you want to serve a need that nobody else has served.”

—Michelle Pfeiffer

Panelist:

Michelle Pfeiffer | Actress & Founder, Henry Rose

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO & Founder, Create & Cultivate 

On moving past the negativity and forging ahead… 

“Initially, it was a lot of ‘no,’ ‘this will never work,’ ‘you’re going to fail,’ ‘nobody’s going to buy genderless fragrances,’ ‘nobody wants to hear about celebrity fragrances.’”

On launching a business in a brand-new category… 

“I am equal parts naive and courageous. Often, I’ve thrown myself into a situation without really thinking it through because of my courage and then I find myself in the deep end and I can’t swim.” 

“When you start a business, you want to serve a need that nobody else has served.” 

 “The problem is, because no one has treaded that path yet, there are no guidelines for you and you have to make it up as you go along.”

On developing a clean fragrance line… 

“Between IFF’s restrictions Cradle to Cradle’s restrictions EWG’s restrictions, our perfumers went from a typical palette of 3,000 ingredients to 250.”

“Everybody put their egos aside and set about making this happen.”

“Throughout the process I learned that there are some safe synthetics that are safer for the general population than these concentrated plant-based materials.”

On pursuing 100% transparency… 

“When I went to the cosmetics industry to develop this with them, it was much too soon. Nobody was willing to look at the safety at a deeper level in the products that they used and nobody wanted to be 100% transparent.”

“Everybody’s afraid of trade secrets and getting their formulations ripped off, which I understand, but with reverse engineering you can pretty much find out what’s in anything.”

On navigating COVID-19…  

“We’ve had to pivot along the way and the good thing about being a direct-to-consumer product is you aren’t really affected by retail closing down and you can pivot quickly.”

“We had our supply chain disrupted a couple of times and we had our labs closed down in the middle of working on things for holiday, so there are some things that won’t happen this year that we wanted to happen, but at the same time, we still have so much work to do on awareness of our fragrance line.”

On finding the right partners… 

“The hardest thing is finding the right partners, whether it’s your partners in developing your product, doing your packaging, your PR, and building the business.”

On advocating for environmental health… 

“The consumers really believe that whatever is on those store shelves is safe because they believe that their government has looked at the ingredients and know them to be safe, and they have a right for that to be true.” 

“The FDA right now doesn’t have the authority to demand to know what’s in the product, to demand to recall the product, they have no jurisdiction.”

Don’t miss Sophie Monet, Steffi Lynn Tsai, Blair Armstrong, and more at our digital Making It With Madewell summit on Saturday, August 15. RSVP for free here.

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5 Ways to Brand Yourself Before You Get Branded

Photo: Smith House Photography for Create & Cultivate

As an entrepreneur, it's easy to think about branding your business. What are your fonts going to look like? How do you talk about your business? What is your logo going to be? But oftentimes, the last thing on your mind is, how are you branding yourself? Branding yourself is an integral part of telling your story—and it’s crucial to tell your story before someone else tells it for you. It allows you to define what you want to be known for and how you want to shape your story.

I work with fashion brands and entrepreneurs and one of the most common questions I get from business owners is: “How do I brand myself?” Your ability to self-brand will not only help your business launch but also scale. When potential investors and business development partners look to support you, they want to know about YOU and what integrity, passion, and expertise you bring to the table. That is what is valuable. Ideas are cheap—it's what you do with them that matters.

The motto here is “you are what you say you are.” So what are you going to say?

Here are my favorite tips on how to brand yourself before you get branded.

Step 1: Think of your personal Instagram account as a branded platform.

Are you posting pictures of going out all the time? Is it all photos of your family? Think about the message you want to put out there. The nuances of your bio and your visual content will shape the type of person people perceive you to be. If you want the freedom to post whatever, whenever, then consider a private account or being intentional and OK about that perception of you.

Step 2: Share your opinions online.

Are you positioning yourself as a thought leader? Do you want to be considered a resource or expert? Share your opinions by writing guest blog posts, commenting on other blogs, and offering to share your insights with reporters. A great resource is HARO: Help a Reporter Out. Just the other day I saw requests for style experts, financial planners, and entrepreneurs to share thoughts on a particular topic. 

Step 3: Start speaking.

Public speaking is a great way to get your ideas in front of others. You don’t need to have a huge company or have had amazing accomplishments. Think like a TED speaker. All you need is one idea, something you feel passionate about and more importantly an idea you think could help others to start public speaking. Once you start to share your ideas on a larger platform you will begin to solidify “Brand You.”

Step 4: Mind your company.

What types of events do you attend? Where are you spending your time? It’s important to stay relevant both for networking purposes and to get inspired. You are branded by the nature of the content you consume; both externally and internally it changes your discourse. I suggest creating a calendar of events each season and figuring out where you need to be. You might need to shell out some money to be a part of an event, or if you can’t find one that fits you, then create one!

Step 5: Master LinkedIn.

Everyone is on LinkedIn, from Jenna Lyons to Richard Branson. Why? Because it's where you go to find people in your space, read industry-relevant articles, and see who is doing what. Have you curated your LinkedIn page? What does your bio say? Optimize your content by including recent projects, all of your social media channels, have a professional-looking photo, and make it clear what exactly you do and what kind of expert you are. I’ve been on LinkedIn for years but only recently started leveraging the article posting tools. If you are publishing blog posts, you should definitely be syndicating them on LinkedIn. 

You don’t need a special website dedicated to your brand, or even a book published to start to carve out your niche and brand identity.  You do need to determine what you stand for, how you want people to perceive you, and what tone of conversation you want to have. Every time you send an email, it’s branding. Your voicemail message? Yep, branding. You can’t escape it, so embrace it. 

About the Author: Syama Meagher is a retail strategist for brands and retailers. She helps entrepreneurs launch and grow fashion business through e-commerce, wholesale, and brick-and-mortar locations. She has previously worked at Barneys New York, Gucci, AHAlife, and Macy’s. To build your brand and create a profitable business check out www.ScalingRetail.com and email hello@scalingretail.com. 

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This story was originally published on February 14, 2019, and has since been updated.

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Bills, Bills, Bills: How to Stop Procrastinating and Organize Your Money

Photo: Anna Shvets from Pexels

Gradually making the transition from side hustler to full-time self-employed freelancer is a great plan to be sure that you’re able to support yourself with your new business. That said, it can often lead to a bit of a messy overlap between personal and business funds. 

You may keep pushing off getting organized until “tomorrow” and let the task of figuring it out, fall to the bottom of your to-do list. That was my story until I realized that I was losing money because of missing receipts and not planning for tax deadlines. 

Follow my four steps below to make getting organized easier, painless, and dare I say it, maybe even a little fun. Let’s get started!

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.

My mom is also a CPA, but unlike me, she actually does taxes for a living. She’s constantly sending me little reminders about deductions I can take because I often don’t catch everything. It’s awesome, but since she’s not with me every day to keep me on track, I’ve created a list of things I can deduct to make sure I’m not missing anything. I keep this list taped to the outside of a folder and store my receipts in there until I can get them entered into my bookkeeping system.

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

• Web hosting

• Vehicle mileage

• Work travel

• Courses, seminars, licensing, business-related books

• Shipping, packaging

• Office supplies and equipment

• Health insurance premiums

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

During my first year in business, I wasn’t too concerned about filing my taxes because I had made no money. Well, it felt like no money. But technically in the eyes of the IRS, it was enough that I needed to file and pay quarterly estimated tax payments.

I think most people have the same cavalier attitude that I did because they don’t know the IRS rules and it’s just something they feel like they can take care of later. I can tell you from personal experience that those 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 to 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 to file quarterly estimated tax payments? If you’re rational, you would probably think these payments would be made quarterly. Well the IRS throws in just a little change-up, so your payments are actually due on an odd schedule. The non-quarterly, quarterly schedule that they’ve come up with is:

Jan 1 - March 31: estimated payment due by April 15th

April 1 - May 31: estimated payment due by June 15th

June 1 - August 31: estimated payment due by September 15th

September 1 - December 31: estimated payment due by January 15

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. I save my money date for Friday afternoons when I’m at my least productive. Once I have this done, I know I’ve earned a glass of wine and a good weekend.

Some things that I do weekly are:

• Send any invoices that are due

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

• Pay any outstanding bills

• Pay myself my weekly salary/stipend

Bonus step: Set up a bookkeeping system.

Oh, look at 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. If you don’t need many bells and whistles but are looking for something free, try Wave. It’s pretty simple to use, and it’s free. 

Now, set aside 30 minutes a week to work through this list and start feeling in control of the business you are creating. 

About the Author: Erica Gellerman is a small business strategy and finance expert who has a passion for helping creative entrepreneurs start, launch, and grow their business. After getting her CPA and MBA and spending a decade working at some of the best finance and marketing companies in the world, she started her own small business. Realizing that there weren’t enough resources dedicated to helping solopreneurs build profitable, small businesses, she set out to share everything she’s learned through her site. Follow her on Twitter @ericagellerman.

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This post was originally published on March 2, 2019, and has since been updated.

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Why This Successful Founder Wants You to "Persist" Even When Business Looks Bleak

We know how daunting it can be to start a new business, especially if you’re disrupting an industry or creating an entirely new one. When there is no path to follow, the biggest question is, where do I start? There is so much to do, but before you get ahead of yourself, let’s start at the beginning. To kick-start the process, and ease some of those first-time founder nerves, we’re asking successful entrepreneurs to share their story in our new series, From Scratch. But this isn’t your typical day in the life. We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty from writing a business plan (or not) to sourcing manufacturers and how much they pay themselves, we’re not holding back.

It’s not easy to see the silver lining sometimes, especially in times like these, but small business owner, Blair Armstrong has an important message for anyone who’s feeling challenged right now: Persist.

It’s a simple but powerful call to action that has helped her through tough times and she wants to make sure that small business owners hear it too. “Plan for the unexpected—persist,” she tells us. “Things can change at any moment. You may be one moment or one day away from realizing your goals.”

Armstrong knows all about the highs and lows of running a business. The founder of Gilded Body has made plenty of mistakes—her first manufacturer was a catastrophic failure—but she sees them as valuable lessons on the rocky entrepreneurial path. Because as Armstrong explains ahead, “there are no shortcuts or easy routes.”

If you haven’t heard of her luxurious body care line, then you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Her marble body brush, body balm, bath soaks, and candles are beautifully crafted and urge us all to take better care of the skin on our bodies.

So, of course, we’re thrilled to have her brand in the Create & Cultivate’s inaugural Small Biz Pop-Up line-up in Los Angeles. Locals can now safely shop via Postmates or contactless shopping thanks to Square when visiting the IRL pop-up at Platform.

Ahead, Armstrong takes us behind the scenes of her business and tells us how she built it from the ground up, what it really takes to succeed, and why she still hasn’t paid herself.

On the lightbulb moment…

There was not a lightbulb moment per se but a series of events and recurring thoughts and ideas. I’ve always loved skincare and beauty, which led me to become a Dermatology PA. I had an idea for a product that I believed to be unique and that would be well received. During my training and practice, requests for dry skin and body product recommendations were very common. I wanted to create products that I would confidently recommend. It was important to me that they be beautiful and effective.

We spend an inordinate amount of time caring for the skin on the face, often neglecting the skin below the neck. The skin on the face is 3% of the total surface area of the body but receives 99% of our time and focus. I want to encourage a more balanced approach to skincare, one that includes caring for the body with the same, if not more effort than we have for facial skincare. 

As I worked on the initial product, I began to develop ideas for more products and after a few months, I had a plan for a complete range. I decided very early in my medical training that I wanted to find a way to improve access to dermatologic care and to reduce disparities in care and creating this business allowed me to get to work on it.  

On writing a business plan…

I started without a business plan and created a loose plan after a few months. Creating a business plan proved to be extremely helpful for decision making. It allowed me to work through and articulate my vision, set objectives, and benchmarks. In the process of putting it together, I did a lot of research on the landscape and industry. 

On coming up with the name…

This was one of the most important and most difficult aspects of starting the business. I researched the science of naming, made endless lists, surveyed family, friends, and strangers. I inquired with local marketing agencies that offered naming services. Ultimately, I decided on a name that is inspired by my love for art, architecture, sculpture, and history. I considered the history of the words, how they’re used, what the name would imply and how I could build a story around the name that would work well for the brand and product line I wanted to create.  

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A post shared by GILDED BODY (@theartofbodycare) on Jul 20, 2020 at 4:08pm PDT

On setting up the business…

I did all the basics of checking the domain, trademark, and social handle availability. Part of the process that I really enjoyed was working with a graphic designer on the brand logo, font, and creating the brand creative guide. The creative and research aspects of building a business are my favorite. I spend a lot of time thinking about how I can improve and refine. It’s through research and my experiences that I find inspiration.

On brand research…

I researched everything I could think of and anything I thought would even be remotely helpful. I read books and articles about entrepreneurship, starting, and growing a business. I love How I Built This podcast by Guy Raz. I highly recommend taking the time to research as much as you can and as quickly as you can to try to avoid some of the more common and costly mistakes.  Mistakes are inevitable but there is a lot of guidance and information available. 

On finding a manufacturer…

The first manufacturer I found online did not work out at all. As in catastrophic failure. It was a complete waste of time and money but a valuable lesson. I learned the importance of working with a company that will stand behind what they produce. I would advise other founders to ask for recommendations, ask the company for references, and read and understand all aspects of the contract. I was too trusting. 

On self-funding…

My company is completely funded by my earnings, savings, and supported by my spouse.  I haven't done any rounds. 

On money mistakes…

One of the biggest money mistakes I made was paying for services that I didn’t need at that stage of my business. There will always be offers of services that promise to help your business. There are no shortcuts or easy routes. 

On working full-time while building Gilded…

Yes. I worked full-time and worked through my graduate program while building the company.  It was challenging but I cared enough to persist. 

On paying herself…

I did not and have not paid myself. I hope to be able to start to pay myself within the next 12 months. 

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A post shared by GILDED BODY (@theartofbodycare) on Jun 5, 2020 at 8:58pm PDT

On building a team…

Gilded is a team of one. I collaborate with experts and freelancers as needed. I’ve attempted to hire a few times. Hiring during the pandemic is proving to be difficult. 

On hiring an accountant…

I didn’t have an accountant in the beginning. Choose one of the top online accounting programs and seek advice from an accountant when the time comes.

On the biggest learning curve…

 The biggest learning curve is learning to juggle so many things and figure out which ones will actually move the needle for my business. I wear so many hats. 

On having a mentor…

I follow some incredibly successful, women that are transparent and share a great deal of information about their journeys.  Recently, I had the pleasure of connecting with two experienced and supportive fellow entrepreneurs. I have monthly check-in calls with one and I chat with the other by phone or email.  I’m a member of Makelane, a community for women in e-commerce. The opportunity to work with like-minded women and the sense of community has been incredibly helpful. 

On allocating budget to marketing…

I’ve tried digital marketing, content marketing, local events, and trade shows to promote the company. I’ve also tried influencer marketing. A significant percentage of my budget goes to marketing because my company is relatively new and I’m still working to build brand awareness. Marketing is obviously critical to business success. A solid marketing strategy cannot be overvalued.

On the importance of email…

I didn’t set up email marketing early and learned how crucial it is for business. I would advise others to not make this mistake. 

On her #1 piece of advice for aspiring small business owners…

I would advise people who want to start a business to reach out to and talk with entrepreneurs. Try to learn as much as possible about the challenges, opportunities, and inevitable obstacles.   

On her #1 piece of money advice for founders…

My number one piece of financial advice would be to keep proper accounting of all expenses, especially in the beginning—proper record-keeping is important.  

On advice for her younger self…

If I could go back to the beginning, I would encourage myself to go faster, commit to the business sooner. To listen to my instinct. That opportunity is often disguised as hard work.  

Entrepreneurship is unlike anything you will ever do in your life. Don’t feel pressured to start a business because it’s the thing to do. Take the time to explore your interests and you will uncover your passion.

To discover, support, and shop all of the brands featured at the Create & Cultivate Small Biz Pop-Up, head to our C&C Small Biz Pop-Up hub.



Classifieds: Hopper, Birchbox, and The Everygirl Are Hiring!

Photo by Christina Jones

New roundup of jobs in marketing, graphic design, sales, social media, and more!

FEATURED JOBS

Community Manager, Ampjar- Remote

Public Relations Associate, Creative Label- Remote

Graphic & Web Designer, Creative Label- Remote

Social Media Coordinator (Part-Time), The Everygirl- Remote

Social Media Manager, Amy Porterfield Inc.- San Diego County

Social Media & Brand Manager, The Southern Influence- Austin, TX

LOS ANGELES   

Media Planner, Albert

Marketing Manager, Verishop

Influencer Partnerships Manager, MagicLinks

Sr. Account Executive, Brand Sales, MagicLinks

Operations Manager, Yellow Leaf 

Sr. Social Media Manager, Create & Cultivate

NEW YORK CITY

Marketing Associate, Suzy 

Growth Marketing Manager, Birchbox

Email Marketing Manager, Babbel 

Creative Project Manager, Flashtalking 

Community Manager (Part-Time), Banza 

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Manager, Hootsuite

REMOTE

Content Marketing Manager, Shogun 

Customer Service Manager, Hopper

Sr. Director, Growth Marketing, Medium

Growth Marketer,  Raven + Lily 

Growth Marketing Manager, Hasura

Copywriter & Editor, The Humane League

How This Artist Turned Her Love of Product Design Into a Cool Accessories Line That Makes People Smile

We know how daunting it can be to start a new business, especially if you’re disrupting an industry or creating an entirely new one. When there is no path to follow, the biggest question is, where do I start? There is so much to do, but before you get ahead of yourself, let’s start at the beginning. To kick-start the process, and ease some of those first-time founder nerves, we’re asking successful entrepreneurs to share their stories in our series, From Scratch. But this isn’t your typical day-in-the-life feature. We’re getting into the nitty-gritty details of launching a business, from writing a business plan (or not) to sourcing manufacturers and how much founders pay themselves—we’re not holding back.

Photo: Courtesy of Steffi Lynn Tsai

Naming a business is no easy task. The right one is not only memorable but also embodies your values and conveys your distinguishing characteristics to potential customers. For artist Steffi Lynn Tsai, inspiration came from an unlikely source: a plastic take-out bag. “I literally decided on the name the day I decided I wanted to open up my shop and was eating take out from a bag with a have a nice day design on it,” Tsai tells Create & Cultivate. “I thought of Have a Nice Day because I wanted something cheerful, easy to remember, and just overall a happy saying.”

Known for her quirky, colorful work, the name was a perfect fit. Have a Nice Day boasts the artist’s signature smile-inducing designs on everything from stickers and stationery to socks and T-shirts. Although her glass mugs and water bottles are sold out on online, you can snag the sought-after Have a Nice Day Glass Water Bottle at Create & Cultivate’s inaugural Small Biz Pop-Up in Los Angeles where locals can safely shop via Postmates or via contactless shopping, thanks to Square, when visiting the IRL pop-up at Platform. During times like these, who couldn’t use a reminder to “have a nice day?”

Ahead, Tsai takes us behind the scenes of her career as a freelance artist and tells us how she turned her love of product design into a cool accessories line that makes people smile.

On launching her online shop…

“Honestly, it started because I loved seeing my work on items and was experimenting with hand making a lot of my products. It came to a point where I was just hoarding all these handmade goods at home! I posted a bunch of my work online about all the little things I was making and people seemed to like them! So one day, I just decided to start selling them!”

On writing a business plan (eventually)…

“I definitely fell into ‘starting the business’ because my original thought was just to create work and share it with the world! I loved experimenting and just seeing what my illustrations or lettering could look like on a product and selling them helped fund that hobby and it turned into something profitable. I didn’t create a business plan until much later on, when I realized I had to make a plan in order to expand. It definitely helped a lot for me to think and reflect on where I wanted to see the business in five years.”

On coming up with the name “Have a Nice Day”…

“I literally decided on the name the day I decided I wanted to open up my shop and was eating take out from a bag with a have a nice day design on it (the classic plastic bag). I thought of Have a Nice Day because I wanted something cheerful, easy to remember, and just overall a happy saying. It was perfect and simple, and people say it almost every day to at least one person. I loved that. I don’t believe in forcing something to happen. I may be a very persistent person, but I think things should come naturally. Be observant, look at everything around you, listen to everything around you. You might hear or see something that just ‘clicks,’ y'know?” 

On setting up the business logistically…

“I had a really hard time with this because I thought everything would be super easy. I started off on Etsy and it was just ‘an Etsy Shop.’ To me, I thought that was good enough. It is really difficult for me to not have control over every aspect of my life, so asking for help was not an option I wanted to explore. That being said, my biggest advice is asking for help and not to be stubborn about it! Your resources are all right in front of you and your biggest resources are your peers. Ask fellow business owners questions!”

On finding the look and feel (and audience!) for the brand…

“I kind of fell into starting a business so I didn’t do this right off the bat. But what I did, later on, was: make a mood board, make lists of your market, and research your demographic.

1. Mood board: I am a very visual person, so I like to take photos and collect items that I catch my eye. Making a mood board is so important because you can see everything you like in front of you and find the connections between everything. This will help you with your brand colors, aesthetics, etc.

2. Lists: Make a list of all the shops that you admire, that you shop at, that will be your peers. See what they are doing and what is successful for them 

3. Research your demographic: What kind of age group are you looking to sell to? What are they into? What is trending for them?

On locating the right manufacturers to work with…

“Lots, and lots, and lots of Googling and asking for estimates and quotes. It is super scary and hard to invest money into a product, A) you’ve never made before, and B) from a company that you’ve never worked with before so make sure you look at all your options!” 

On self-funding the company…

“I did a lot of freelancing jobs and saved a lot. I have always been super good at saving because I am in constant panic that one day there might be a crazy emergency and I will need a large amount of money for some reason? That paranoia definitely helped with saving. Obviously, this depends on the type of business and the product one is trying to make—because different products cost more or less. I personally think self-funding will always be my go-to because I feel like I am in total control.”

On making the mistaking of stocking too much inventory…

“Most production prices go down when you order in bulk, so it is appealing to order (for example) 1000 stickers at $0.25 compared to 100 stickers at $.75. But the worst thing is to have too much inventory that is not moving. It is basically just sitting money. There was one time where I thought I could move a lot of a specific product, and I didn’t. The product was not selling and just had thousands of dollars worth of products, sitting around in my apartment. And I don’t think I really ended up profiting from it.” 

On freelancing from the get-go…

“I actually started freelancing in college and then started the shop right after I graduated. I have always been super eager to work. So I took advantage of all my downtime to freelance and save money because I knew I didn’t want a full-time job ever. And after I graduated, I immediately started my shop.”

On growing a team…

“I have an assistant that helps with some orders, but I personally like fulfilling orders myself. I like that I get to touch every order and add a personal touch. However, as Have a Nice Day grows, I will definitely have to sacrifice that detail since it will end up being not practical.”

On being transparent…

“I think it is important to be transparent and open about what goes on behind the scenes. People want to know the BTS! Show them!”

On her #1 piece of advice for aspiring small business owners…

To be kind of yourself, be open to learning, don’t be discouraged, and make sure you put love into what you are doing—it’ll show.

To discover, support, and shop all of the brands featured at the Create & Cultivate Small Biz Pop-Up, head to our C&C Small Biz Pop-Up hub.

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An Intro to Using Credit Cards for Your Business

Photo: Anna Shvets from Pexels

We all know that credit cards can wreak havoc on budgeting, but when managed correctly, they can actually benefit your finances and help you organize your business. Building good credit can help you when it comes to a variety of things such as buying or leasing a car, starting a business, and renting or buying office space. You can even score some really beneficial perks, depending on what card you choose! With that in mind, read on for four tips on using credit cards for your business.

Step 1: Determine which card is best for you.

Many cards have benefits like cashback, travel points, or money to spend at retail locations. Do your research and see what option is best for your lifestyle.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Do you fly on a particular airline often?

• Do you shop at a particular store often or have to make bulk purchases for your business?

• Do you prefer straight cashback?

If you are someone who frequently flies on one airline, perhaps getting one of their credit cards would be most beneficial. If you don’t fly with one airline in particular but want to get travel points you can use everywhere, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Venture Card from Capital One.

If you shop at one store a lot, get one of their cards. Amazon, Target, and Nordstrom in particular have fantastic credit options that give you a percentage off and/or points towards money to spend in the store with every purchase. If you have to make bulk purchases for business, Costco is a great option because you get a credit card, Costco membership, and store credit points bundled into one, creating even more bang for your buck.

If you don’t travel often or frequent any store in particular, cashback is a safe bet. This can be deposited in either your checking or savings account and is an easy way to increase your savings. Maybe challenge yourself to put all of the cashback you get directly into your savings account!

The best way to go about choosing a card is to educate yourself. There are websites completely devoted to comparing credit cards to help you make your decision. Don’t be afraid to ask around to get information on the different options out there, and choose what works best for you. See what your friends, family, or peers use or like.

Step 2: Maintain consistency with your expenses.

A great way to maintain consistency with your expenses is to put a few of your recurring charges on autopay. I suggest picking bills like your phone, cable and/or internet, utilities, and monthly care insurance payments on autopay with your credit card.

These types of expenses often don’t fluctuate much (if at all), which makes them a great option to put on your credit card. If you consistently get the same monthly charge, you’ll know what to expect. A lot of cards now will actually notify you if a consistent monthly charge changes, which is really helpful to keep tabs on your expenses.

If you do choose to do this, just be sure to pay your card on time! Set a monthly reminder on your phone or email calendar a few days ahead of time to ensure that you always get your payments in and allow for processing times.

Step 3: Make tax season easier.

Believe it or not, using a credit card can make your tax preparation so much easier! As an entrepreneur (especially if you’re a solopreneur), it can be difficult to navigate expenses and determine what you can write off and how to pay for different things. The easiest way to separate things out is to get a credit card that you use just for business. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a business credit card, but it should be a credit card that you only use for business purchases. This way you can easily differentiate business purchases from personal purchases.

This next piece of info is what will really save you during tax season: Your annual summary. If you do a good job of only using your business credit card for business purchases, your annual card summary will make calculating your expenses way easier. Your annual summary breaks all of your expenses down by category, and depending on your credit card, will even include a list of purchases within each category. This way, at the end of the year, you can just look at your annual summary and note what you spent on medical, gas/auto, advertising, food/dining, etc.

A business-only credit card can be a huge benefit to your finances as an entrepreneur. Have a particular card you love? Share it in the comments below!

About the Author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish an individual’s application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your resume, style, and boost your confidence.

This story was originally published on April 13, 2019, and has since been updated.

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Read This Before You Sign That Contract, Advises an Attorney

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Photo: Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

 The Professional: Mary C. G. Kaufman, Attorney in Los Angeles, CA

The ladies over at Create & Cultivate asked if I could write a column providing some basic and general advice regarding contracts. I thought this was an excellent idea given that many otherwise accomplished creative entrepreneurs lack experience with negotiating and understanding contracts.  

So first, some not necessarily legal advice: There’s always room for negotiation. Take a cue from Cher Horowitz in “Clueless”—even bad grades are negotiable. Until it’s signed, the terms of a deal are not set in stone just because someone sent you over a proposed agreement. For example, maybe there’s no wiggle room in raising your fee, but can the other side give you units of product, a discount for their goods, a special credit, or something else besides cold hard cash? There’s no harm in asking. Think about creative ways to benefit from the deal, even if you can’t get more money. As always, this is a do-your-research and know-your-audience situation.

Second, familiarize yourself with a few oft-overlooked standard legal provisions that can make a big difference. Let’s get into a few of them.

Indemnity Clauses

In short, these allow parties to seek reimbursements or damages for certain conduct or occurrences. For example, if you are creating content (i.e. an Instagram takeover)  for someone else, that party may want reimbursement from you in the event that the content you created causes them to be involved in a copyright infringement lawsuit. These clauses can be mutual (going both ways) or unilateral (just going to one party).  

Arbitration Provisions 

These authorize a private judge to determine a dispute between the parties. Meaning, instead of going to court, the case could be mediated by a private judge instead. Arbitration has pros and cons. For example, it can be more expensive to go with a private judge, as you will be paying for the judge’s time (outside of arbitration, you are merely paying filing fees), however, it can be quicker and the dispute will not necessarily be made public (normally, all filings in a lawsuit are a matter of public record).  

Forum Selection & Choice of Law Clauses 

These determine where and which laws will apply to any disputes. Say, you’re in California but the company you’re working with is based in Texas, this clause would determine which state law would apply and where any disputes will be handled. Generally, you would want to have your state’s law apply and be able to handle any disputes in a place that is easily accessible to you to keep costs down. However, there may be reasons that you would want another state’s law to apply. For example, California law prohibits employers from using non-compete clauses for employees.

Integration Clauses 

These make any pre-contract discussions irrelevant if the contract outlines different terms. For example, say that during negotiations, there was some discussion that you would be paid extra for any work you did on weekends. However, the contract simply states one standard rate. The integration clause would prevent those prior discussions from being considered by a judge if there was a dispute that went to court.

If you find yourself lost in legal jargon, make sure to do your research on the web, or even grab a book that introduces you to basic contract provisions. And better yet, if you can, consult a lawyer.  Fees to have a professional look over a contract range, but it may be worth looking into, especially for big jobs. These are just a few types of clauses that are often overlooked by non-lawyers, but as I see every day in my work, they can have big consequences when you get into a dispute. Bottom line: Know what you’re signing, even if you think it’s not important!

Finally, if you’re not completely comfortable with the agreement, then don’t sign it. Always know what you’re getting yourself into, and never be too intimidated to ask questions (or if you are, send your question to us)! A good contract should spell out exactly what is expected of both parties (deliverables, deadlines, usage rights, etc.) and will protect both sides in the event of a dispute. 

About the Author: Mary C.G. Kaufman is an attorney based in Los Angeles, CA, counseling clients in the entertainment, fashion, and financial industries, and occasionally translating Legalese for Create & Cultivate. She handles a wide range of strategic and commercial legal matters for clients including emerging companies and notable social media personalities. On her off-days, she likes to garden, find the best workout classes on Classpass, and cook Sunday suppers for friends. Get more info on Mary here.

This story was originally published on March 3, 2019, and has since been updated.

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7 Tips for Working With Influencers, According to a Top Talent Agency

Photo courtesy of Aimee Song

Working with influencers is an essential part of growing your brand. They can help spread awareness, garner press, and introduce you to a whole new audience. Here, our partner Digital Brand Architects (a.ka., DBA), a digital talent agency that reps some of the top talent in the influencer sphere, put together some tips for building great partnerships and successful relationships that will keep everyone happy.

1. Identify goals for your campaign.

Setting goals is one of the easiest ways to ensure your brand’s relationship with any influencer is a smooth one, and most importantly, a productive one. Be it brand awareness, product sales, or heightened engagement, make sure you have a clear outline of what it is you are trying to accomplish before the start of any campaign.

2. Investigate before you take the leap.

Do your homework. Ask for media kits, and consider influencers and content creators who have a track record of helping brands reach their goals.

3. Mind the details.

When you do your initial outreach, have as many details ready to share as possible. This helps avoid surprises and keeps all parties on the same page.

4. Set a timeline.

Timing is everything and that is especially true when working with influencers. Always be sure that your contract outlines set times for content previewing and posting. And don’t forget to be specific about which time zone the deadline lives in.

5. Provide a briefing document.

A brief creates sets the guidelines so creativity can flourish and it’s a very necessary tool when working in the influencer space.

Make sure your brief includes:

• All image requirements (do assets need to be in portrait or landscape?)

• Styling directions

• Copy guidelines (key messaging, hashtags/tags, FTC disclosures)

• Do’s and Don'ts (do they need to avoid competitive products? Does the outfit need to be head-to-toe? Can talent use affiliate links?)

6. Understand your influencer’s creative lens.

When you work with influencers, you do so to capture their unique spin on your product or service, so keep in mind their voice and the types of content they are known to produce. Most importantly be sure to identify the style of post you are envisioning (a collage board, a personal-style post, etc.)

7. Set up a kick-off call.

This should be done before any work is done by the influencer.

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This story was originally published on March 4, 2019, and has since been updated.

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Pro Tip: How to Convince Your Boss to Let You Go Freelance

Photo: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

If you’ve been putting together a plan for leaving your 9-to-5 job and venturing into the brave new world of freelance, there’s a potential client I bet you haven’t stopped to consider yet: your current employer.

When I started my freelance career, my first client was the same PR agency I’d been working for over the last two years. There were things outside of work I needed to be able to dedicate my time to but I was committed to my job and team. I loved what I was doing, but I also craved the freedom of flexibility and autonomy.

If this sounds like you, keep reading because in today’s Pro Tip I’m going to share my step-by-step process for how to convince your boss to let you go freelance.

Pinpoint Your Value

The most important factor in convincing your current employer to let you switch from full-time to freelance is to pinpoint the unique value you bring to their business.

For me, it was my knowledge of and connections within the video game and esports industries. Beyond my expertise, my proven loyalty and track record for being a high performer also helped contribute to my cause. I had just been promoted about six months prior and worked well with my team and clients.

Once you have your unique value identified, gather important milestones you’ve hit throughout your time with the company. I like to focus on quantifiable milestones because numbers are the best way to communicate results to your boss. For my situation, this was the amount of new business I helped secure for the company, additional retainers I negotiated with existing clients, high-profile news hits I secured for product launches, etc.

Do Your Research

Freelancing is far from a new concept, but nowadays, more and more businesses are embracing this change in the workforce. Before you approach your boss with your freelance plan, do your research to make sure that freelancing is actually something you can afford to take on.

When you’re a freelancer, you’re forfeiting your company-provided benefits like healthcare, 401K matching, and paid vacation days. So take time to do some research and make sure that you’re ready for the change.

You also want to make sure that the jump from full-time to freelance is sustainable within the company you’re working for. Meaning to say, that you can continue to not only show your value but identify areas where you can continue to pick up additional work when projects end.

If you’re looking for more guidance on things to take into consideration before starting your freelance career, get your hands on my freelancer starter kit.

Create a Plan

The last thing you want to do is pitch the idea of freelancing to your boss without a plan in place. You’re asking for a significant change and in order to get the best outcome, you’ll need to prove that going freelance is the best route for not only you but your employer’s business goals.

Start by looking at the next six to twelve months and identify key moments where you regularly play a significant part in the business. For me, this was around client conferences and product launches. Once you have those key moments in place, think of the value you add to those occasions and the amount of time it typically takes to complete the necessary work-related tasks.

Freelancing is about hourly rates. Even if you negotiate a monthly retainer, you want to make sure you’re being compensated for the amount of work you agreed to for the amount of time estimated so you don’t fall back into what could feel like a 9-to-5 grind.

After you identify your value and key business moments, list the types of tasks you want to do as a freelancer to help support them. Then look at what you’ve written out to determine if it’s too little or too much work to support your freelance goals. From there, adjust where you need to and start to imagine how you’d like to bring this up to your boss.

The Pitch

Let’s recap before you schedule a time to sit down and pitch the idea of freelancing to your boss you want to have the following:

• A clear understanding of the unique value you bring to their business.

• Confidence through the research you’ve done that you’re ready for freelance life.

• A plan of action for how you will transition to and execute freelancing so effortlessly, they’ll hardly notice the difference.

Once you have these three factors in place, ask your boss to schedule a time for a one-on-one conversation. It’s important this meeting be scheduled for a time with minimum distractions. For example, if you know your boss is particularly busy in the mornings, aim for the afternoon. 

Start the conversation with confidence. This is a proposal you’re pitching, not a favor. Switching to freelance is a business-related request so don’t go into the meeting thinking that you’re going to appear weak or less-than for asking for something that you want.

Start with something like this:

“I would like to discuss the opportunity of transitioning to a freelance employee with you today. I’ve created a plan of action that I’d like to share for how I can continue to add value to your business in this new capacity. I enjoy working with you and hope this is something you will take into consideration.” 

This messaging is clear, to-the-point, and friendly. From here, share your plan and ask for feedback along the way.

Be prepared to answer questions like:

• Why do you want to switch to freelance?

• What hourly rate are you expecting?

• How many hours a week can you commit to?

• Are you willing to come into the office?

• How long do you want to freelance for?

Every individual’s answers will be different so it’s important to think of what you want from the setup. Be prepared for where you’re willing to compromise and where you are firm. Having clear answers will make the decision-making process much easier for you and your boss.

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 the email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.

This post was published on March 19, 2019, and has since been updated.

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Starting My Business Was One of the Biggest Risks I’ve Ever Taken—But I Don’t Regret It

This article was originally published by Mogul Millennial on March 24, 2020, and has been shared with consent.

“

No matter what, you have to stay the course, even when you’re not making a lot of money in the beginning.

”

—Denequa Williams-Clarke, Founder Lit Brooklyn

At Mogul Millennial, we believe that when we avoid the important conversation around money, it becomes a silent tool for oppression for the Black entrepreneurial community. It’s hard to learn about something when you’re discouraged or scared to talk about it, and as a result, cannot really learn in order to grow.

In our series, All About the Benjamins, we’re challenging Black entrepreneurs to give us the tea on their financial reality—how much money they’re making (or not making) if they are profitable, how they were really able to launch their business, and so much more.

In this edition, we were able to catch up with Denequa Williams-Clarke, the founder of LIT Brooklyn, a luxury, eco-friendly candle company. After deciding she wanted to launch a candle company, Denequa taught herself how to make candles, and since then, has been able to partner with top brands and has grown her passion into a profitable business. In our chat, we learn more about how Denequa launched LIT, and her financial experiences in the early days as a new entrepreneur.

An entrepreneur at heart.

One of my first jobs was actually my start in entrepreneurship. When I was 12 or 13, I had a printing company with one of my cousins and I was selling greeting cards. There was this CD ROM, when they were a thing, called “Create a Card,” and I used that to create greeting cards around the holidays and business cards for people. The biggest thing that I learned from this experience was customer service. Even at that young age, I treated my business very seriously from how I packaged it, and even the time frame of how I delivered my products. But I think other than that, I have to credit my parents for teaching me about business. They were immigrants and a lot of things that I’ve learned in business came from them. As an immigrant, you have to be super-resilient, and that’s definitely a trait that you need in business. Also, you need to be reliable, trustworthy, and a person of your word. No business could have taught me what I’ve learned from watching my parents.

Photo: Courtesy of LIT Brooklyn and Mogul Millennial

For Denequa, it was all or nothing.

I’ve always loved candles and I think my love for candles and my love for making people feel good about themselves, inspired LIT. The lighting of candles and the ambiance that it provides, I love being a part of that experience. Back in 2015, I was literally in the living room watching TV, and I told my husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, “Yo, I think I want to start making candles.” The idea came easy to me because I love candles so much and I wanted to do what I loved.

When I decided to launch my business, I was doing it full-time. The money that I had saved from my last job helped me start my business. I literally just went all in. I know I had a lot of balls to do it. Looking back, I had a lot of balls and a lot of bills. Starting this business was probably one of the biggest risks that I’ve ever taken in life, but I don’t regret it.

I will say a disclaimer and note that there is definitely a certain kind of love that you have to have for starting any type of business but especially a business when you’re investing your own money into it because you have to have a mind frame of all or nothing and that’s not easy. You have to automatically go into it without even thinking that there’s going to be any loss at all; you have to fully believe in it 100%. I definitely experienced that a lot of that when I first started my business. I know people around me didn’t understand the importance of candles, but I didn’t let it stop me. 

It took spending money to make money.

My business was very expensive to start. Honestly, I never really calculated how much money I used when I first started. I do remember that there was a lot of trial and error and testing involved. There was a lot of spending on things like tumblers, wicks, glassware, waxes, and several other things. I never really took the time to think about the money aspect. Early on, I was so obsessed and invested in the final product that I never really thought about everything else that was going on.

In my first year of business, I did do a lot of sponsoring products and that was an expense. I also did a lot traveling to make sure I was at different pop-ups and events in the city, which was a huge expense too. In the early days, it was definitely a lot of money that was spent, but I wasn’t tracking it like that.

Plant your seed, and then watch it multiply.

When I first launched my business, my price points were a lot higher, and that was, of course, all with trial and error. About six months into my business, I did a whole rebranding, where I offered a travel-sized candle and I offered a different color jar. I found that the person that I was getting my supplies from was able to offer me a cheaper cost, so then in return, I was able to offer my customer’s a cheaper price. Once I did the whole rebranding, that’s when I started to see an increase in sales. My customers were getting the same quality product but just in different packaging.

I  didn’t really see any real, consistent sales coming in until like a year or a year and a half later in my business. Keep in mind though, that’s a part of the game. No matter what, you have to stay the course, even when you’re not making a lot of money in the beginning. 

“

You don’t become a self-made millionaire overnight and people have to know this coming in. Entrepreneurship is hard.”

—Denequa Williams-Clarke, Founder Lit Brooklyn

In every success story, there’s a gap of trials and errors that is untold.

To be honest, in the beginning, there was definitely no paying of a salary. I sustained myself because I was lucky to be able to still live at home with my mom.

After my first year of business, my mom started seeing people and brands writing about my business. For example, I was featured in Essence and got to be in a Budweiser commercial. I think for an immigrant parent, my mom was like “I don’t know exactly what the hell you’re doing, but it has to be something because people are talking about you.” From there once the traction started to pick up, belief started to come in. She knew that I wasn’t just sitting around and that my business was a real thing. Being able to stay at home was a huge help because I was also able to save money.

Often times, people don’t really talk about things like this, and I think that’s why success stories are so jaded. It’s so many loopholes in everyone’s story. The reality is that when you have a business, what you make goes back into the business. Even if you have a $5,000 day, you don’t really have $5,000, sis. That money goes back into supplies, back into your product, your tech, etc.

There is a lot of factors that go into the money that’s made as an entrepreneur, and I don’t think people are honest when having that conversation. You don’t become a self-made millionaire overnight and people have to know this coming in. Entrepreneurship is hard.

Started from the bottom now we’re here.

After all of the trials and long nights, I’m profitable now, but it didn’t happen until after the year and a half mark. Most of my revenue, and my profitably, has come from the help of my consumers, and their word of mouth marketing. The awareness that I’ve been getting since I launched from people that love my brand has been huge and impactful.

To keep up with Denequa or LIT, follow them on Instagram here, or visit the site to pick up your candle!

Photo credit: Courtesy of Denequa Williams-Clarke and Mogul Millennial

Mogul Millennial, Inc. a media-tech platform curating actionable resources for Black entrepreneurs and corporate leaders #forusbyus. Follow @mogulmillennial on Instagram and Twitter, and check out our website at www.mogulmillennial.com.

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4 Times You’re Allowed to Say No at Work

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FOMO (fear of missing out) is real, and it happens in both our work and personal lives. Because of the fear of missing an opportunity in your career, it’s easy to find yourself on the “yes” train, only to feel overexerted and spread too thin. While taking advantage of opportunities that can help your career is great, it’s important to realize when saying no is in your best interest. Here are four times you’re allowed to say “no” at work.

1. When your calendar is already crammed.

When your schedule is jam-packed, saying no is probably the way to go. While you may be able to fit in a quick meeting or take on one extra project, it’s important to assess the obligations you’ve already committed to before saying yes to something else. Would taking on this extra task take a lot of time? How much would it cut into your current projects?

If saying yes to a new opportunity would hinder your ability to complete tasks you’ve already committed to, just say no. This can be hard, especially if you’re a people pleaser, but at the end of the day, taking on more is not always better. Instead, focus on putting your best foot forward on your current commitments.

2. When you’d be covering for someone else who’s always slacking.

Are you constantly covering for a coworker who can’t seem to be bothered to lift a finger? When your boss recognizes you for your ability to pick up the pieces, it can be hard to put an end to things—but there’s a point when it’s not worth it.

If you continually cover for someone or finish the work that they were supposed to, you’re showing that person that, A) you don’t mind that they’re slacking, and B) they can continue to slack off because you will finish what they don’t. In this case, you’re doing yourself and the other person a disservice. Try talking to them directly, and if that doesn’t work, discuss the situation with your boss. Point out that you’re taking on someone else’s role and it’s impeding on your ability to get your own work completed to your standards.

Try approaching the subject like this:

“I’ve been doing x, y, and z to help [Name], but it’s getting difficult to get everything done to my standards. I’m happy to help, but it seems to be more of an ongoing issue than a one-off situation, and I don’t want it to affect responsibilities I’ve already committed to. Is there a better way we can delegate responsibilities or create more accountability as a team?”

3. When it’s a last-minute request and you already have other obligations.

We’ve all had that last-minute work request that makes our stomach sink, whether it’s an after-hours event or a last-minute meeting. Sometimes, you just suck it up and deal with it (yes, it’s part of being an adult), but it’s okay to say no if it will impede on other obligations.

If you’ve already made other commitments, explain the situation. Show that you would like to make it work but it’s not an option since it’s last-minute. You can say something like this:

“Unfortunately, I’m not able to make that work because of the timing. I’ve already made another commitment I can’t cancel; however, I’m happy to work with you to figure out another time that works better.”

If your manager can’t appreciate that you’ve made commitments and you want to stick with them, you may not be in a work environment where you can thrive.

4. If it makes you uncomfortable (morally or physically).

This is simple: If something makes you uncomfortable, morally or physically, just say no.

If you feel like something isn’t right, trust your gut. You can always say “I’m not comfortable doing that,” or simply decline and say that you’re working on another project. Assessing the situation, your needs (both mental and physical), and how the request will affect you is essential to figuring out if the project is in your best interest.

If something makes you physically uncomfortable, get yourself out of that situation immediately, and contact someone of authority. Whether it’s HR or legal authorities, if there is misconduct in the workplace, use your voice, and be confident that no one should make you uncomfortable.

About the Author: Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of Write Styles. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish an individual’s application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your resume, professional style, and boost your confidence.

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This story was originally published on March 7, 2019, and has since been published.

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Here’s How to Make a “To-Do” List to Actually Achieve Your Professional Goals

Photo: Ivan Samkov from Pexels

Time for a little to-do list audit. Grab yours and scan the first five tasks listed. If you don’t have one, then we have a bigger problem—skip the next two paragraphs and dive right into the most effective tool at your fingertips right this very minute!

What’s prioritized at the top of your list? Doing laundry, returning calls or emails, running errands? Chances are your list is a blend of your personal and professional life—what it takes just to stay on top of everything—and not a plan to achieve the longer-term goals you’ve set. 

With the daily responsibilities of adulting—staying on top of work deadlines, being a parent and a spouse, and trying to have a social life—you’re left with a whole lot of chaos and not a lot of time. It’s easy to be sidetracked from your dreams and the “someday” plans that fight for your attention. That’s why I live and die by my daily to-do list—and make sure it’s working for me beyond simply keeping me afloat. 

When I take the time to plan out my day and week, I’m more productive, focused, and proactive. I find more time for personal activities and accomplish goals that actually move my business forward. In my post, “7 Sanity-Saving Tips for Busy Mompreneurs” the tip that seemed to resonate most with readers was to make your To-Do List actually work for you.  Here are my tips on how to do just that.

C'MON GET "APP-Y"

Using an app on your smartphone to manage your to-do list makes things extremely easy and convenient since, let’s be honest, your phone is with you all the time. I love the Wunderlist app, and Evernote, for managing my to-do list because I can keep several running lists of things that need to get done and update them whenever a thought pops into my head.

Plus, I can:

• Set up a daily to-do, weekly list, and long-term goals, and simply move these tasks around as they become a priority

• Set up reminders to alert me when tasks or lists must get done. (As I was finishing up this article, I got an alert from Wunderlist telling me that it was time to finish this article. So “meta!”)

• Quickly add an item to my list as I think of it, clip an article to read later, add a grocery item to my running list and share it with my spouse or assistant (collab! delegate!) and sync to my desktop seamlessly.

• Use my smartphone’s dictation feature —just press the little microphone and talk. What could be easier?

PLAN (AHEAD) TO SUCCEED

Now that you know where you’ll make and keep your list, you can set aside 10-15 minutes in the evening to create your action list. In the morning, we tend to grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and tackle never-ending email, right? But at night, when things are quiet and distractions are at a minimum, you can take some time to focus on how to be most productive the following day. Planning your list at night allows you to get everything out of your head and onto your action list. You’ll sleep better after you’ve cleared your mind and can hit the ground running in the morning.

KEEP IT (CHRONO)LOGICAL

This seems obvious, but as you’re planning your day, be realistic about how long things will actually take, what your absolute “must-do” items for the day are (top of the list and starred!), and how organizing your tasks and errands chronologically and geographically makes the most sense. For example, if you have a lunch meeting that is near a grocery store, plan an extra 15 minutes to run in and save a second time-consuming trip. Make a sub-list of the things you need to get so you can run in and out without forgetting anything. By arranging your day properly, you’ll be amazed at how much more efficient you can be!

EMPLOY THE 3 "Ps": PROJECTS, PEOPLE, PRIORITIES 

High-performance expert Brendon Burchard stresses the importance of organizing your day by considering the projects, people, and priorities that matter most. Thinking this way is key to really moving your business forward and finally accomplishing your bigger goals.

Here’s how it’s done by category:

Projects

List the top 3-5 projects you have going right now. Include three simple things you need to do to advance these projects, beyond your daily to-dos. Chip away at the bigger goals through smaller, actionable tasks you can tackle each day.

People

Ask yourself, “Who am I waiting on?” or “Who is waiting on me?”  If you need a decision, information, or data to complete your part of the task,  reach out to the people who can give you what you’re waiting on to move forward on your bigger goals. 

Priorities

List the 5-10 urgent things that you absolutely must get accomplished today. List it, do it, cross it off. If it takes less than 5-10 minutes, just do it now. Be specific. A task like “answer email,” or “organize desk,” is too broad and will remain on your list forever. Instead, “return client email re: press plan” or “file papers on desk for 5 minutes” is more specific and attainable. You may not achieve “inbox zero” or organize your whole office, but even answering a few pressing emails or sorting for 5 minutes a day will add up.

GET FIRED UP

Start your day in the right mindset, then dive in! Wake up earlier, even 10-15 minutes can make all the difference. The goal is to eventually wake up a whole hour early, by starting with 10 minutes each day until you’re adjusted. Before you jump into work head first, get in the right mindset: Meditate for 10 minutes. Try apps Calm or Headspace for easy, guided meditations), stretch or exercise, take a shower and drink lots of water. Ask yourself, “What am I most fired-up about today?!” and start from a place of passion and purpose.

Now you know how to use your time to your advantage to really rock your goals! Challenge yourself to see how many spare minutes can you find in your day, and make them count! And tell me, do you have any surefire tips to share about how you organize your to-do list?

About the Author: Jennifer Berson is the president and founder of Jeneration PR, a public relations and social media marketing firm specializing in promoting beauty, baby, and lifestyle brands. Prior to founding Jeneration PR in 2005, Jennifer was a civil litigation attorney in Los Angeles. Jennifer has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, Yahoo!, Entrepreneur Magazine, PR Week, Huffington Post, Fox 11 News, TV Guide Network's "Hollywood 411," PR Web and was profiled on Apple.com.  Jennifer was also selected by Babble.com as one of the 10 “Mompreneur’s Who Made it Big!” 

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This story was originally published on April 7, 2016, and has since been updated.

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Classifieds: Casetify, Hootsuite, & Banza Are Hiring!

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New roundup of jobs in marketing, operations, social media, and more!

FEATURED JOBS

Growth Marketer, Raven + Lily- Remote or Austin, TX

Operations Manager, Yellow Leaf- Los Angeles, CA

Sr. Account Executive, Brand Sales, MagicLinks- Venice, CA

Influencer Partnerships Manager, MagicLinks- Venice, CA

Social Media Manager, Amy Porterfield Inc.- San Diego County

Social Media & Brand Manager, The Southern Influence- Austin, TX

LOS ANGELES   

Sr. Social Media Manager, Create & Cultivate

Marketing Manager, Casetify 

Copywriter, HAUS

Manager, Content Operations, The Athletic 

Sr. Associate, Email Marketing, MeUndies

Account Manager, Fanjoy

NEW YORK CITY

Creative Project Manager, Flashtalking 

Community Manager (Part-Time), Banza 

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Manager, Hootsuite 

Community Manager, GEENIE 

Media Sales Planner, Blue Bite 

Product & Brand Marketing Manager, Helix

REMOTE

Growth Marketing Manager, Hasura 

Copywriter & Editor, The Humane League 

Creative Director, CatalystCreativ

Director, Business Development, CatalystCreativ

Sr. Copywriter, Aesthetic 

Internal Audit Manager, Twilio

Considering a Career Change at 30? Here's Why It Could Be Your Best Move Ever

Photo: Create & Cultivate

The urge to make a career change at 30 (and during your 30s) is extremely normal. In fact, a whopping 73% of 30-somethings say they want to change careers (up by 10% compared to 2013), according to a 2015 study. What’s holding you back? 43% of those interested in making a career change cited the lack of financial security as a major barrier, and 36% said they worried about a lack of experience or education.

Being passionate (and happy) at work is critical, so those barriers shouldn’t stop you—or anyone else—from pursuing a career change at 30. Yes, as a 30-something, leaving an established career behind is an uncomfortable thought, but your dream career is worth a few months or so of unease, i.e. battling “the unknown.” (And think about it this way: You’ll always have that field to fall back on if things don’t work out.) 

Career advice expert and spokesperson for TopResume, Amanda Augustine, has stellar advice for making a thoughtful career pivot. Is it time for you to take the leap? Here’s how to do it.

1. Understand the industry speak. 

When you’re looking to make a pivot, something that will give you an advantage—and boost your confidence—is being able to talk about the industry as though you already work in it. Look through job ads on career boards specific to your new industry, and study how hiring managers describe those positions. What keywords are you seeing over and over? Take note, and make sure you know what they mean.

Augustine recommends doing some productive social media stalking, too. “You can follow industry leaders and influencers on social media to get a better handle on the industry buzzwords and catch up on the latest news that’s affecting target employers,” she says.

Then, apply those keywords to your resume and professional profiles. “You’d be surprised how many of your skills can be translated into a new industry—you just may need to change the terminology you use to describe them,” Augustine says. So, let’s say you used to analyze data in the finance industry—now you’re an expert in using that data to forecast trends in the marketing world. Done and done. 

2. Make your connections count.

Just because you don’t know a ton of people in this new field doesn’t mean you can’t leverage the strong network you’ve already spent years building. It’s all about tapping those second- and third-degree connections. 

If you’re hesitant to make an ask, consider how you can help the other person first. “As with any networking relationship, the goal should be to provide value before you start asking for favors,” says Augustine. “If you’re considering a change and want to leverage a contact’s expertise or resources, begin by re-establishing the relationship. Never call someone out-of-the-blue and start asking for help. Look for opportunities to pay it forward—this can be as simple as offering to make an introduction to someone else in your network or sharing a resource you found.”

Consider this approach: make a list of the people you want to reach out to, with a second column about how you provide something valuable to each person simultaneously.

3. Decide what compromises you’re willing to make.

In Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford commencement address, he said, “I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter into one of the most creative periods of my life.”

Steve Jobs is always good for an inspirational quote, but it’s okay if you’re apprehensive about being a beginner again. Especially if it means looking for positions that have less seniority than the one you currently have, taking a pay cut, or taking a community college class in a room full of 18-year-olds. Acknowledge how you feel, but remind yourself that you’ve had the courage to course-correct (as those 18-year-olds will do one day, too) and follow the path toward your dream job. “Remember that sometimes it’s necessary to make a lateral move, or even a step-down, in order to move up on the right path,” says Augustine. “Accept this fact, and you’re already in better shape.”

In terms of cold, hard numbers, “re-evaluate your finances and identify areas where you can cut back your expenses to make the transition less jarring,” says Augustine. This might also mean thinking ahead of time about your negotiation needs once an offer is on the table. Say you have to take a small pay cut; you could ask to work from home one day a week to reduce commuting costs. 

“It won’t always be easy, but keep your eye on the prize,” says Augustine. “If you’re passionate about this new direction, all this hard work will be worth it.” 

An original version of this article appeared on Levo. 

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This post was originally published on January 24, 2016, and has since been updated.

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