A Step-by-Step Guide to Release You From Fear’s Grip
Don’t let fear stop your growth and kill your dreams.
I think we can all agree, 2020 has brought a dizzying number of changes into our lives. We’re finding new ways to adapt to this post-lockdown world. Some aren’t so bad (increased family time and better hand-washing), however, its dark side has ushered in uncertainty and cemented a paralyzing fear of the unknown for some.
I know from experience that illogical fear can be debilitating. I’ve worked through my own phobias over the years (fear of elevators, public speaking, and most poignantly, raising a son with Down Syndrome). I know how fear can stop our growth and kill our dreams. To completely eradicate fear, we first need to understand and identify which fears can be helpful and which are not.
First, let’s identify “healthy” and “real” fears.
Healthy fear typically manifests as a visceral, instinctual response to a physical threat. We need this type of fear for our survival and protection. For example, if you are standing on a high ledge, healthy fear kicks in and cautions you to step back. It keeps you safe. Listen to that inner voice; it will not lead you astray.
Real fears are unavoidable. We all worry about not achieving our dreams. We fear losing the people we love most. Can these fears consume us? It depends on how you frame them. If you fear losing people you love, put your energy toward being completely engaged when spending time with them. Fully appreciate that they are here now. Real fear cannot be eliminated, but we can transform it into something empowering.
Let’s talk about illogical fears. These are the worries that keep you awake at night and hijack your daytime thoughts. Are you terrified of spiders? Heights? Cockroaches? Do you avoid driving on freeways? Imagine what your life would be like if this fear was eliminated. Here’s an exercise to work through those dark thoughts. They worked for me. They can work for you, too.
Name Your Fear
Think about the fears in your life. Identify your most prominent, illogical fear, and build an action plan to eliminate it. Consider how your life, relationships, or specific experiences would change if this fear were removed. Got it? You’re ready for your next step.
Diminish Your Fear
Now that you’ve identified your fear, recognize it when it pops into your head. Instead of panicking, stop and ask, “Why am I thinking about this in a fearful way?” Look at that fear with skepticism and curiosity. Is it really real?
Disarm It
Taking small steps to disarm our phobia may seem like shoveling snow with a spoon. But, little by little, they add up to regaining control of your thoughts.
For instance, if you have an upcoming flight but hate to fly, download a few meditations and practice them before you go to the airport. By doing this, you’re creating a space in your mind you can easily access when fear arises, and from that place of calm, you can reassure yourself.
Create a Mantra
Turn your fear into an affirmative mantra. Let’s say the local Rotary Club asked you to address the members at their next meeting. Avoid negative self-talk and, instead, create an affirmative mantra: “I am fully prepared. Everything I have to say is helpful, well-founded, and something I believe in. I will appear cool, calm, and confident.” Don’t let negative self-talk limit your potential for greatness.
Now that you have awareness and some tools, it’s time to put them into action.
Step One: Put Aside Time in the Morning
Take some time to think about your fears and facing them in the morning when you are fresh and motivated. It has been scientifically proven that our willpower and psychological stamina are at their strongest in the morning and wane throughout the day. This is why for anyone who has ever dieted (which is basically everyone), it is so easy to choose a smoothie for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and then make an unhealthy choice around dinnertime.
Step Two: Challenge Fear-Based Thoughts
Let’s say you have a debilitating fear of flying. Think about hopping a plane to visit loved ones. Visualize the terminal, security lines, and boarding. You may begin to feel your chest tighten or your breath quicken because you’re certain the flight will end in a disaster. Ask yourself:
What contradicts this thought? At any time in the United States, more than 60,000 people are in the air. They leave and arrive safely every day. You will too.
Identify if this thought is fear-based. Is there evidence that what you fear will happen? Statistically, you are much safer traveling by plane.
What would your life look like if you didn’t feed the fear? What new experiences would you be able to have?
Challenging your thoughts in this way gets to the root of the fear and destroys it. If your fears have nowhere to grow, eventually, they will die.
Step Three: Exposure
In order to overcome your fears, you must confront them. But do this in small doses. Taking on too much, too quickly, can backfire.
Let’s say you have a fear of stepping outside your home. Gradual exposure can look like this:
Look outside your open window.
Open the front door and stand outside on your porch.
Walk to the sidewalk.
Walk over to your neighbor’s house.
Walk to the corner of your block.
Walk around your block.
Identifying and working with fear is like exercising a muscle for the first time: it might feel unnatural, but soon you’ll look forward to it. These steps worked for me. Using these thoughts and tools, I can now step into an elevator without a second thought. I thoroughly enjoy publicly speaking and feel alive when I do it. Most importantly, I learned to tackle my fear of raising a son with a disability. I began to recognize and celebrate the unique gifts he brings to our family and how he has helped me become a more evolved human being.
I’m free. Now it’s your turn.
“
Turn your fear into an affirmative mantra.
”
—Monica Berg, International Speaker, Spiritual Thought Leader, and Chief Communications Officer of the Kabbalah Centre
About the Author: Monica Berg is an international speaker, spiritual thought leader, and chief communications officer of the Kabbalah Centre. She is the author of “Fear is Not an Option” and “Rethink Love.” She is also the host of the podcast “Spiritually Hungry.” A self-proclaimed “change junkie,” Monica is a fresh voice that channels her many years of Kabbalah study along with personal life experiences. Monica shows individuals how to create a life that not only feels like it’s working but most importantly, a life in which they are living and loving as the powerful, fulfilled person they’ve always wanted to be.
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4 Small Business Owners on How to Pivot to Digital and Navigate the Future of Retail
“Remain agile and have multiple avenues through which you can bring in revenue.”
Photo: Smith House Photography
It’s no secret that COVID is challenging small businesses everywhere to rethink the brick-and-mortar business model. With physical retail locations temporarily closed and e-commerce on the rise, it’s crucial for small businesses to pivot to digital to weather the pandemic.
In a Mastercard study of small businesses across North America, 76% say the pandemic prompted them to become more digital, with 82% changing how their business sends and receives payments. 70% say they are willing to invest in the technology required to advance their payment systems and 73% say digital payments are the new normal for their business going forward.
To learn more about how small businesses can successfully pivot to digital during COVID and beyond, Create & Cultivate partnered with Mastercard as the presenting sponsor to bring together four powerhouse entrepreneurs who are expertly navigating the increasingly virtual future of retail at our recent Future of Work Summit on Saturday, September 12th, 2020.
Ginger Siegel, the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard, led a conversation with Michelle Cadore, small business owner and designer, Amber Tolliver, founder and CEO of Liberté, Sherly Tavarez, founder of Hause of Curls, and Whitney Rife Becker, fashion influencer and entrepreneur, to delve into the topic. Read on for some of the most noteworthy sound bites from the discussion.
On knowing when to strike out on your own…
“I always said that by the end of the year, I’d be a full-time entrepreneur.” - Michelle Cadore
“Really think about laying out your exit plan. Lay out the steps, lay out the financial foundation, to move forward.” - Michelle Cadore
“I moved without any savings, I just took the leap. I just knew it was going to work out. Just have faith in your business and try.” - Michelle Cadore
On the self-funding and bootstrapping processes…
“It’s really important to show a desire in the market for your product or service.” - Amber Tolliver
“The more you’re able to show proof of concept within your space, the better of you’ll be when you go to bring on outside investment.” - Amber Tolliver
On knowing what to look for in a partnership…
“Bringing on VC and angel investors, it's really like a marriage. You need to have a firm understanding of what they're bringing to the table, and it really should be about more than money.” - Amber Tolliver
“You really have to take a diligent look at the parts of your business that need assistance, and look for a partner that can fill in those gaps.” - Amber Tolliver
“You want to partner with people who will expand your name and help you reach people who you wouldn’t usually be able to reach.” - Amber Tolliver
“The only way to get through this and to come out of it better than we were when we first went in, is together.” - Amber Tolliver
“Bringing new products, bringing something different that their customers haven’t seen yet, as well as expanding our reach.” - Amber Tolliver
On launching your own company…
“I invested just $300 and a dream” - Sherly Tavarez
“Once I realized that so many people related to my story attached to the T-shirt, I knew I had to make it a business.” - Sherly Tavarez
On reaching a wider audience digitally…
“Thinking more digitally, how have we been able to keep our community connected.” - Michelle Cadore
“Hashtag everything, share everything, work with influencers.” - Whitney Rife Becker
“Teaching yourself and doing your due diligence so that everything you’re putting out onto the internet has a direct link back to you.” - Amber Tolliver
On crisis-proofing your business…
“Remain agile and have multiple avenues through which you can bring in revenue.” - Amber Tolliver
“At any moment in time, you can say that doors closed, but we’ve got the window and we’ve got the back door. We’ve always got people to connect with the brand in a way that's still driving revenue and keeping that community connected and engaged with you.” - Amber Tolliver
On money tips for small business owners…
“Only buy products you love, it’s easier to sell those products.” - Whitney Rife Becker
On what COVID-19 has taught them…
“That we are unstoppable. Even when you have to sit down for six months and be on pause as a business, it gave me the space to really plan and grow my business. Taught me to keep going, keep pushing.” - Michelle Cadore
“It taught me to pivot.” - Sherley Tavarez
On the future of work…
“It’s ours. Brands are trusting us, influencers, and businesses are trusting the world. We have everything we want at our fingertips.” - Whitney Rife Becker
“Digitally, you can do anything, there are no limits to what we can do and what we can achieve, I think it's a really incredible time to be an entrepreneur.” - Amber Tolliver
“The future of work is adaptable, you have to be flexible and move with whatever changes are coming and stay innovative.” - Michelle Cadore
Psst… If you’re having serious FOMO, join Create & Cultivate Insiders to get unlimited access to all of our Future of Work Presented by Mastercard content including video recordings of every panel and workshop download in C&C history.
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Classifieds: Sugarfina, Revlon, and Jouer Cosmetics Are Hiring!
Job hunting? Apply now to remote gigs in marketing, recruiting, sales, and more
Job hunting? Apply now to remote gigs in marketing, recruiting, sales, and more!
FEATURED JOBS
Social Media Manager, AETHER Apparel- Los Angeles, CA
Apparel Designer, Melody Ehsani- Compton, CA
Social Media Coordinator, The Brand Guild- Washington D.C.
Jr. Graphic Designer, The Brand Guild- Washington D.C.
Social Content Manager, LIVEKINDLY- Remote
Digital Marketing Manager, Petrucci Marketing- Oceanside, CA or Remote
LOS ANGELES
Brand Manager, Sugarfina
Growth Marketing Manager, Modcloth
Ecommerce Manager, Jouer Cosmetics
Influencer Marketing Manager, Byte
Content Manager, Dadventures
Executive Assistant & Project Manager, AETHER Apparel
NEW YORK CITY
Marketing & Communications Manager, COS
Communications Manager, Beyond Meat
Managing Editor, CAMP
Social Media & Content Manager, Marley Spoon
Media Manager, Global Media, Revlon
Brand Strategy Manager, The Skimm
REMOTE
Lifecycle Marketing Manager, Zero
Recruiting Coordinator, TaxJar
Sr. Manager, Paid Media, NuFace
Director of Sales, LIVEKINDLY
Director of Digital Marketing & Programming, LIVEKINDLY
Communications & PR Manager, LIVEKINDLY
Calling All Shapes and Sizes! Here's What to Expect at Our Inclusively You Summit With QVC
Workshops, discussions, and so much more!
Photo: Create & Cultivate
On September 29th, we’re teaming up with QVC for our Inclusively You Virtual Summit. Join us for an amazing evening of fashion and fun, conversation and inspiration, and to celebrate the unique beauty in each of us, no matter our shape or size. For the past three decades, QVC has been setting the standard for how retailers should address size inclusivity and making shopping fun and enjoyable for all women. Because size doesn’t matter, what matters is you!
We’ll be joined by the likes of Hunter McGrady, model, activist, and founder of All Worthy Hunter McGrady at QVC, Tanesha Awasthi, founder of Girl With Curves, Sarah Nicole Landry, founder of The Birds Papaya, and more inspiring women in fashion to chat about the future of inclusivity in the ever-evolving fashion industry, the importance of cultivating communities that rally around the rejection of conventional beauty standards, and so much more!
Scroll on to discover everything we have in store for this inspiring day, and if you haven’t already, be sure to RSVP for free (yes, you read that correctly, FREE!) ASAP!
THE DATE & TIME
Tuesday, September 29th, 2020
5:05 pm - 8:20 pm EDT | 2:05 pm - 5:20 pm PDT
To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone,
use this handy time zone converter.
TUNE IN FROM HOME
First things first! On Tuesday, September 29th, you’ll receive an email with the link to access the exclusive Inclusively You site. Inclusively You is made up of live video sessions streaming via Zoom and pre-recorded video sessions hosted via Vimeo.
We recommend that you have a strong WiFi connection and update to the latest version of Zoom for the best experience. Inclusively You is optimized for desktop, so it is best viewed via a computer or laptop, rather than a tablet or phone.
THE SCHEDULE
Inclusively You is built just like our in-person conferences, which, of course, you all know and love. We have a stacked schedule with an A-list line-up of speakers so we suggest taking notes along the way.
Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. Please note, all times are listed in EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) and PDT (Pacific Daylight Time). To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this time zone converter.
It’s going to be HUGE so we recommend getting a head start on planning out your day now.
THINGS TO PREP AHEAD OF TIME
Here are a few things to prep before the big day so it goes off without a hitch:
Make sure you have a strong WiFi connection.
Install Zoom on your desktop computer or laptop and test it out.
Zoom tips:
Find a quiet place to tune in. Try to situate yourself in a small room that does not have an echo.
Try and stay away from noisy electronics and silence your cell phone and computer notifications for an optimal experience.
When possible, limit your internet connection to solely the device you’re using for the Zoom conference.
Set your phone to airplane mode, pause your television connection, ask others in your home to pause anything that may require a strong internet connection, etc.
GET SOCIAL
Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate. Get social and share that you’re joining us by tagging @createcultivate and @QVC with the hashtag #InclusivelyYou on Twitter, Instagram, and Instagram Stories!
NETWORK
Networking is a huge part of our event and our C&C Inclusively You Attendees Slack Workspace is a great place to mix and mingle with your fellow Create & Cultivators before, during, and after the big day. We’ve created channels for every workshop and panel, as well as channels for international attendees, networking, and more!
Attendees will receive a link to access our Create & Cultivate Inclusively You Attendees Slack Workspace in our What to Expect newsletter. This Slack channel will remain accessible until Tuesday, October 6th at 3 pm EDT (12 pm PDT). Not familiar with Slack? Here are a few tips to get you started:
Download the Slack app to your phone, computer, or both
Complete your account profile with a profile photo, your name, and what you do
Public conversations will happen in the channels (ex: #networking) and are located on the left-hand side of the app. You can also start direct messages with others in the Slack workspace
Hit send too early on a message? Slack has an edit feature! Click the three-dot icon located on the right side of the message to open the drop-down of message options
We’re all about GIFs at C&C! Here are instructions on how to integrate GIPHY into your Slack account.
Our Slack workspace is a busy, happening place on the day of the event. Streamline the notifications you receive by using the “mute” feature on channels that don’t pertain to you. To mute a channel, simply open up that channel, click the three-dot icon labeled “more,” and select the mute option
Most importantly, be kind and respectful of others. If you don’t follow this rule, you will be removed from the Slack group
If you have any questions on the day of the event about navigating the schedule, accessing the workshop downloads, or anything else, you can drop them into the customer service channel in Slack.
VIRTUAL GIFT BAGS
We know you want ‘em! Complete our post-event survey to receive an email packed with promo codes from some of your favorite QVC brands. You’ll receive the survey in your inbox on September 30th.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
Live chat with a C&C specialist on CreateCultivate.com. You’ll see a “Chat With Us” pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen.
While the live content is specifically designed to be watched in real-time, you’ll be able to access and view it until Tuesday, October 6th at 8 pm EDT (5 pm PDT). You’ll be able to RSVP up until October 2nd at 8 pm EDT (5 pm PDT).
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ONLINE! Who are you most excited to hear speak? Which workshop are you looking forward to most? Tell us in the comments below!
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Want to Grow Your Brand on Social Media? This Is Critical
Beat the algorithm.
Written by Sarah Boland, Founder and CEO, Life Lapse
When you consider that 84% of people say that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video you know it’s time to jump on the new media trend. But for many of us, video content can seem intimidating without professional help. As TikTok continues to gain popularity and Instagram launched Reels, we’re seeing a shift in perceptions of video content.
Gone are the days of polished looking, scripted videos. Instead, we’re seeing platforms provide all the tools for you to create authentic, short videos natively in-app without paying an expert. Instagram is also known to favor video when it comes to their algorithm—a video post on Instagram will see 39% higher engagement compared to a photo post—so that’s all the more reason to start creating video content.
If you’re stumped on how to get started, I did the leg work for you. Read on for some video content ideas that will help to build your brand on social media.
Behind-the-scenes
Take your customers behind-the-scenes of building your business to turn them into your very own cheerleaders. While you might think that no one will care about the not-so-glamorous parts of growing your business, this actually gives you the opportunity to showcase more of your values and personality which resonates with today’s consumers. There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has shifted consumer behavior. In fact, a report found that customers are prioritizing trusted relationships over price when it comes to shopping with brands and “paying closer attention to the social activism, outreach and investments of companies during the pandemic.”
Show them the progress in building your brand, get to know the team that makes up your business or how you create the products or services you are selling. The more you show, the more invested they will be in your journey as a brand. Our behind-the-scenes content on Instagram at Life Lapse are some of our most engaged posts and it is incredibly rewarding that our users are also our cheerleaders. When we make announcements about new product updates or reach new milestones as a business they cheer us on.
Your videos don’t have to be staged or highly produced videos. Shooting on the fly in-app on Instagram for stories or reels or capturing a video with your phone will resonate with your audience—it’s more authentic. A great example is Marissa from @StilClassics. TikTok is also a platform where a number of businesses are blowing up because they are sharing the behind-the-scenes of their business like @ErinnDubs and @xxl.scrunchie.
Types of behind the scenes video you can post:
Show the process of how your products are made
Give an office tour
Introduce team members
Provide sneak peeks of what you’re working on or new products in the pipeline
Show your team packing orders
2. User generated videos (UGC)
Customers are 2.4 times more likely to view user-generated content as authentic compared to content created by brands. Having customers do an unboxing video, give a review, or show it in action is an incredible way to build trust for future customers. So how do you integrate user-generated video into your social strategy? Ask for it. Ask for it on social media, in your email marketing, and if you're a CPG brand, ask for the review in a nicely designed postcard that goes in your mailer.
UGC strategies:
When customers tag your brand in Instastories… restory, restory, restory! The more your followers are seeing you share user content, the more it encourages others to do the same
Get influencers to do a product review on YouTube which will help your search engine optimization because Google owns YouTube and will favor this content
Repurpose videos to different platforms and always be sure to give credit to the original creator. For example, a customer tags you in a video of them trying on your product. You can share this video to your Pinterest and link it to that product on your website while giving credit to your customer
Embed user generated videos to the product pages or throughout your website with customers permission
3. Product videos
Product videos are a great way to show the details behind your product and tell your product story but there are a couple of things to keep in mind when creating your product videos for social media:
1. Does the platform have a sound-on (ex. TikTok) or sound-off (ex. Instagram) environment?
2. You only have 1.7 seconds to capture your audience on social media as they’re scrolling
Our favorite type of video to showcase product is stop motion because the narrative is visual so you can tell your story without relying on sound and the content is short, loopable, and looks like magic to capture your audience within those 1.7 seconds. Plus, they’re easy to learn and create from your phone using this app.
Stop motion is also perfect for creating Facebook or Instagram ads and posting even posting on Pinterest. Yes, I said Pinterest! It is not just for finding recipes and planning your next home décor project. It has become a visual search engine and is a very underrated platform for driving traffic. In the past 30 days at Life Lapse, we had over 3 million impressions and 1.7 million views without any paid spend and our secret is posting stop motion video pins. Video views on the platform have increased more than 3 times in 2020 over the same period in 2019 while Pinners are also 2.6 times more likely to make a purchase after viewing brand video content on the platform too.
4. Educational content
Increase the lifetime value of your customer by keeping them engaged with educational and informative videos. I know you’re thinking, *BORING*, but hear me out. Educational content does not have to be boring. Glossier does this well by showing educational pieces on how to apply different types of beauty products in a fresh, approachable and informative way.
Our business has seen the impact of educational content first hand and the content has helped us grow our business year over year. Showing your customers how to use your product in different ways will leave them feeling confident and happy with their purchase decision. It will keep them coming back for more. Video tutorials are the most engaged pieces of content we have when we post to Instagram and it goes beyond the number of likes on our posts. We’re seeing people share these videos with their followers and bookmarking them to come back to later.
Educational videos perform well on social media but you can also repurpose the content for other uses including:
Email campaigns after your customer has purchased your product or service
On your website (product pages, FAQ’s, landing pages, etc)
5. Video direct messages
I’ve made so many valuable connections with customers, collaborators and even formed friendships through this method. It’s not the most conventional way to do business which is why it stands out among the crowd of DMs. I predict we’ll see more and more of this because of the impact of COVID-19. It’s another way to almost achieve that face-to-face interaction and as the world accelerates to a more digital life with remote everything, surprising and delighting customers and collaborators through video is another way you can inject a human aspect into your brand. An example of using video as a customer service tool is Mejuri and their digital styling appointments through video.
6. Thought Leadership Videos
I don’t know about you, but I personally love learning from people who have succeeded. Everybody has a wealth of knowledge and sharing your learnings from growing your brand can help build your brand story. Now you don’t need to start a YouTube channel, become a business coach, or share all your insider secrets, but keeping your business community up to date with short videos where you share learnings and achievements will keep you on the radar of potential investors, potential hires, mentors, and mentees. Think collaboration over competition! A great place to post this content is on LinkedIn and when you upload videos natively to their platform, it will get you 3 times the engagement compared to a text or link post.
Personally, I share the good, the bad, and the ugly with my entrepreneur journey at Life Lapse. We are living in a world where people are, for the most part, posting only their highlight reels. Even though I know it’s just the highlight reel, it can feel pretty disheartening when you only see other #bosses getting awards, expanding their teams, and living the high life. So I share my failures and I share them often in hopes of helping another entrepreneur prevent the same mistake I made. My vulnerability in sharing my failure on Dragons’ Den when I was humiliated on national television while pitching my business. This has gotten me many opportunities and has become a part of my success story.
7. Video Meetings
Your people make your brand and while this category might not necessarily be for posting on social media, how engaged your employees are will help build your brand on social media especially when it comes to what they’re sharing on their own platforms. I have been managing a remote team of workers for the past three years, so you can say that I was prepared for the shift to working from home. It’ll be hard to replace the in-office atmosphere with hallway and kitchen banter but video meetings will be your next best option for keeping your employees engaged and happy. You’ll know when they aren’t when you start seeing the trickle effect into your product, service, or brand growth as a whole.
About the Author
Sarah Boland is the Founder and CEO of Life Lapse, the easiest stop motion app empowering small business owners, creators and influencers to create eye catching videos for social marketing using their phone. As a former professional videographer and marketer, Sarah helped brands create and integrate video into their social media strategies. She knows firsthand how expensive video marketing can be and set out to help small brands create eye-catching videos using their phone by creating Life Lapse in 2017. Now, Life Lapse has over 1 million users from around the world.
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Are You Exhausted, Tired, and Unfocused WFH? Same!—Here's What Helped Us
Relief is here.
Speaking up and being open about your health, especially as women, isn’t always easy, or encouraged. Not unlike many other female health concerns, there is a stigma attached to them—PMS, urinary health, libido, water retention, and bloating, to name a few—which in turn has prevented many of us (myself included) from talking about it or seeking help. But the negative side effect of that is any real progress on creating products to help prevent and minimize them has also been stalled.
As a women-led, women-run company, Create & Cultivate stand by our motto of collaboration over competition and encourage a culture of sharing, being honest about our feelings, and offering an outstretched hand or sympathetic ear when it’s needed most. That’s why we’re partnering with our friends at OLLY to end the stigma around female wellness. It’s time to open up the conversation around these traditionally taboo topics so we can collectively combat discomfort, stress, fatigue, and irritability to restore balance.
Their new Future Is Female line of vitamins and supplements was designed specifically to support common female health concerns from mood and libido to digestion, hormones, and urinary health. Because let’s be real, when you’re busy taking care of everyone else and building a successful career or business at the same time, your health often gets bumped to the bottom of the to-do list. But OLLY has made self-care simple by putting everything we need to feel our best into one pill—genius!
So, the C&C team put them to the test for two weeks and logged their results. A few of us were suffering from bloating and water retention while others wanted to improve their mood and libido which has been impacted by the tumultuous year we’ve all had. Read on to hear what they tried, how it helped, and their verdict.
THE PRODUCT: OLLY Beat the Bloat
THE GOAL(S): Bloat relief.
FIRST IMPRESSION: I was very excited to get my hands on this product. I haven't had issues with bloat in the past, but now that I'm working from home and just steps from my kitchen I've been drinking tons of water, which is great for my skin and overall health, but bad for bloat. (Hello, water retention!)
VERDICT: For me, this product ticked all the boxes. It's free of artificial flavors and colors; something I look for in any supplement I take. It's a simple dosage; just one capsule per day. And it really works. After two weeks of taking it consistently, I experienced less water retention and a flatter-feeling stomach, which was a boost to my self-confidence after putting in six weeks of work on Kirsty Godso's Burn Program on the Nike Training Club app. Although I'm happy with simply feeling stronger in my own body, I'll admit that I was eager to see the results of all those early morning sweat sessions, and now I feel like I can.
OLLY Beat the Bloat
$17.99
THE PRODUCT: OLLY Miss Mellow
THE GOAL(S): Even mood and stress response during your natural hormone cycles
FIRST IMPRESSION: I have been taking OLLY Sleep gummies before bed most nights for about a year now and I love them, so I was really excited to try out this new product! Plus, I’m always inclined to try anything that promotes an even mood and balanced stress response throughout the entire month, (especially as we are living in very stressful times right now.)
I love that the supplement’s active ingredients are natural botanicals like chaste-berry fruit extract, rather than a bunch of chemicals! This makes me feel good about adding them to my daily regimen as knowing what you put into your body is so important. The capsule itself is a little large for my personal vitamin taking preferences, (I should note it is a standard size, I am just bad at taking capsules like these sometimes), but I feel like most people trying it out would find it easy to swallow. Overall, heading into the first day of taking the supplements I was excited.
VERDICT: I think we can all agree that in the best of times, being a woman can be stressful, and that goes 10 fold right now with everything going on in the world. So the Miss Mellow OLLY dietary supplement seemed like the perfect thing to add to my daily regimen, (especially as I was coming up on the week of my period as we began this trial.)
As I rolled into week one testing the product I was hard at work designing and launching multiple Create & Cultivate Digital Conferences. The heat was on, I was on my period, I was stressed but I already noticed my usual stress spiral was more manageable. I felt like I could more calmly deal with each new hurdle throughout the week. Don’t get me wrong, I was still feeling the pressure but it was definitely minimized.
During the times where I would usually feel so overwhelmed or stressed that I would freeze—and lose valuable work time trying to get back on track—during the product trial, I felt like I could move beyond my stress brain faster and stay on task. This is key in my role as the associate creative director here at C&C. Throughout the rest of the trial, I continued to feel the effects.
Overall, I am pleased with this product and think I will continue to use it. I would recommend it to anyone looking to even out their mood and response to stress throughout the month.
OLLY Miss Mellow
$17.99
THE PRODUCT: OLLY Lovin’ Libido
THE GOAL(S): Boost desire and intimacy.
FIRST IMPRESSION: I’ve used several OLLY products before this one and have always loved the results so I trusted the science behind their new Future Is Female line. My husband and I have been married for 13 years and while we have never had an issue with intimacy, I just turned 40 this year and definitely felt like I could use some support to enhance my libido and help support a healthy drive and sensation. I am also aware that I could be entering perimenopause right now and the fluctuating hormones can decrease libido so I was excited to try this product and see if it helped bolster things in the bedroom (*wink emoji).
VERDICT: I loved that the ingredients are traditional botanicals used for centuries in particular the clinically-studied root extract, Ashwagandha which has been shown to support arousal, stimulation, and satisfaction in addition to natural lubrication. I have taken Ashwagandha in the past as a warm drink at night before bed and have found it to be very beneficial for stress reduction and hormonal fluctuations.
Managing stress is key for a healthy libido. I know when I’m stressed that my desire levels are significantly reduced, so taking this supplement to tackle it specifically allows me to relax and get in the mood. I can honestly say that I did see a boost in desire and arousal into the second week of taking them. I look forward to seeing how Lovin’ Libido can help me over time (and I know my husband is too!).
OLLY Lovin’ Libido
$19.99
THE PRODUCT: OLLY Beat the Bloat
THE GOAL(S): Reduce bloating
FIRST IMPRESSION: I'm not big on taking pills, but I found these so easy to swallow and wasn't scared off by the ingredient list.
VERDICT: I struggle with bloating and upset stomachs pretty frequently, so was very eager to give the Beat the Bloat pills a try. I'm looking forward to giving the product a full month's trial run, but so far they're getting the job done. I'll take one after a big meal (or one that I know will upset my stomach), and I'm effectively bloat-free. Love OLLY and am excited to try more of their products!
OLLY Beat the Bloat
$17.99
THE PRODUCT: OLLY Miss Mellow
THE GOAL(S): Mood / Hormone stabilizing
FIRST IMPRESSION: I do miss the OLLY gummies however, I found these easy to add to my regular vitamin routine in the morning! No bad taste and easy to swallow.
VERDICT: After having a baby 14 months ago, my cycle and moods can still be an unpredictable wave of highs and lows. The pandemic definitely hasn’t helped, so I was excited to see if these worked for me! I did find that after taking these every day for two weeks I was less irritable when small inconveniences occurred and felt less overwhelmed in general. I feel less anxious throughout my daily activities, whether that’s playing with my daughter or leading Zoom meetings!
OLLY Miss Mellow
$17.99
THE PRODUCT: OLLY Lovin' Libido
THE GOAL(S): Increased sexual drive and sensation
FIRST IMPRESSION: I like the ingredients used for the vitamins, they are not overly complicated and easy to find additional information to support. The vitamins also have a cool look and feel with a metallic coloring and have no added taste. I am a big fan of all of OLLY's products and these are no different—very easy to take on a regular basis with a glass of water, I just set a reminder in my phone to remember!
VERDICT: As I have only been taking the product for two weeks, I am only starting to see mild effects. My goal is to continue to take the product for another two weeks to see an impactful difference. To be completely honest, I wasn't necessarily in need of an increased libido but I was 100% open to trying the product for enhanced results! From my first experience, I would definitely encourage anyone interested in increasing their sexual experience or activity to give them a try! Don't knock it (pun-intended) 'til you try it I always say.
OLLY Lovin’ Libido
$19.99
THE PRODUCT: OLLY Beat the Bloat
THE GOAL(S): Reduce belly bloat caused by digestion woes, gas, and water retention.
FIRST IMPRESSION: Easy to take it, no aftertaste or burps. Never had something with dandelion before so that was cool.
VERDICT: It makes me feel great and it has helped me get rid of the bloating feeling I normally get after eating anything that is not lettuce.
OLLY Beat the Bloat
$17.99
To learn more about OLLY’s powerful new collection of women’s self-care solutions, visit OLLY.com.
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Classifieds: Tamara Mellon, BBC, The Cut, & More Are Hiring!
Looking for remote work? Check out these new listings
Photo by Christina Jones
Looking for remote work? Check out these new listings from The Cut, Vital Proteins, Alfred Music, and more!
FEATURED JOBS
Executive Assistant & Project Manager, AETHER Apparel- Los Angeles, CA
Digital Marketing Manager, Petrucci Marketing- Oceanside, CA or Remote
Social Media Manager, Vital Proteins- Remote
Personal/Admin Assistant, Creative Label- Phoenix, AZ
Sr. Product Designer, Teikametrics- Remote
Sr. Software Engineer (Front End), Teikametrics- Remote
LOS ANGELES
Content Producer, IPSY
Digital Marketing Manager, Warner Music Group
Director of Social Media, Tamara Mellon
Customer Experience Associate, Your Super
Director of Operations, Space Camp Organizing- Los Angeles, CA
Digital Designer, SmartyPants-Los Angeles, CA
NEW YORK CITY
Content Producer, BBC
Partner Manager, Ramp
Assistant Manager, Advertising, Cotton Inc.
Associate Manager, Global Creative Operations, Fresh
Social Media Associate, Squarespace
Brand Manager, Harry’s
REMOTE
Instagram Editor, The Cut
Social Media Manager, Alfred Music
Paid Media Strategist, SmartBug
Assistant Audience Editor, Medium
SEO Specialist, Tuft & Needle- Remote
Graphic Design Intern, Creative Label- Remote
5 Steps Brands Can Take to Survive a Content Shortage During the Pandemic
Bear in mind that the quality over quantity content rule still applies.
Photo: Christina Jones Photography
In a bid to sell their products and services, forward-thinking brands typically identify and leverage passion points that they share in common with their desired audience. For some brands, these passion points could be music, sports, food, design, beauty, or fashion. Brands would often spend thousands or even millions of dollars sponsoring large scale music, fashion, or sporting events in the hope of reaching and connecting with both existing and potential consumers. Many go as far as planning their communication for an entire quarter around such events in order to amplify their brand voice and attract more people.
With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, several businesses witnessed a monumental shift in their operations. Disruptions in supply chain processes, work culture, communication strategies, and brand activities were observed. Furthermore, brands that had made significant investments towards certain sponsorships have had to come to terms with the sudden cancellation of those activities. Not only has this greatly impacted their bottom line, but it has also eliminated a massive opportunity to recruit new consumers and build loyalty with existing ones in real-time.
Picture this: Your entire marketing plan for a whole quarter has been strategically built around an annual sporting event. Each year, your brand activities and content would typically revolve around getting fans to look forward to the event, giving away tickets, live updates during the event, and also a post-event wrap up. Your hope is to utilize the sponsorship to create content that would remain relevant for more than a couple of months, but then suddenly the pandemic hits and that sporting event gets canceled!
Brands who have sponsored major events and conferences often find ways to generate content that keeps the conversation going weeks after the event has ended. The absence of such activities and the halt in operations for businesses within certain industries has definitely resulted in a communication gap.
Even as cities gradually begin to re-open after months of quarantine, some brands are still grappling with the effects of interrupted activities as a result of COVID-19. This has resulted in what I like to call a “content shortage,” which is essentially a lack of content or simply not having much to communicate as a result of unexpected changes in business operations or brand activities.
What do you talk about when the major point of connection with your audience has been broken?
The situation feels a lot like having an acquaintance who you only chat about football with; it might be difficult to have a conversation with such a person when football season is over. In the same vein, it can be challenging to find new ways to start a conversation with potential consumers who could have easily been recruited in the course of that major event.
Content shortage is a real problem that a lot of brands (especially within the travel and entertainment industries) are currently dealing with. You might have seen some brands go completely silent during this period or observed a reduction in the frequency of their content. This is because they frankly do not know what to communicate and the platforms that they once had have been taken away.
Photo: Christina Jones Photography
So how can brands survive this communication crisis?
Stick to your platform: If you’ve chosen to leverage music as a way to reach your consumers, there’s no need to shift gears just yet. Yes, the annual festival has been canceled but you could find new ways to engage your audience. Say for instance part of your sponsorship agreements gave you access to the headlining artist of that music festival, you could still work with those artists to create content that gives your audience a similar level of access. You could host live Q&A sessions or get the artists to share exclusive videos about they prepare for concerts. If your brand was meant to be part of an annual beauty summit, perhaps you could get one of the previously selected panelists to share beauty tips and tricks virtually.
Consider taking your event digital: Who says you can’t go ahead with your event? Currently, several sporting events around the globe are finding new ways to adjust to the effects of the pandemic. Fans are joining major events such as basketball games via Microsoft Teams. Say you were planning to host a huge fitness event as part of your brand activities for 2020; you could consider making it a digital event. Although it might not drive as much revenue for your brand, it will definitely keep the momentum going and stop you from experiencing a content shortage.
Get to know your consumers all over again: Your consumers might have come to you because they shared your love for travel or fashion, but there’s more to them than you know. Now might be a great time to discover what other interests your audience may have that could possibly align with your brand and what it stands for. If you are a beverage brand that only focused on fitness activities, you could explore broadening your content themes to cover how to live a healthy lifestyle in general. It is important to note that you have to be careful as you do this, you shouldn’t steer too far away from what it is your consumers know and trust you for.
Bear in mind that the quality over quantity content rule still applies: It’s tempting to want to post content in the midst of a “shortage.” It’s great to keep the conversation with your consumers going but it’s better to stay silent if you have nothing relevant to say. Focus on offering your consumers valuable resources instead of trying hard to start a conversation that they aren’t interested in having with you.
Be transparent with your consumers: It seems counter-intuitive for brands to come clean about not having any activities, but being transparent is a lot better than turning into an online ghost. If your event has been canceled due to the pandemic or you can only host a virtual event, you should let your consumers know. Be open with your consumers about how the pandemic has caused a shift in your industry or business. This could help open up a new line of conversation. How are your employees adjusting to working from home or how has your business changed? Sharing all this not only gives you things to talk about but it also makes your brand more relatable and creates room for empathy from consumers.
There’s no doubt that the pandemic has revolutionized the way industries operate and the way brands communicate, but your business can rise above the prevalent content shortage problems by adopting the steps above and more importantly by listening to the needs of your target audience.
“
Be open with your consumers about how the pandemic has caused a shift in your industry or business.”
—Elizabeth Ole, Author, Content Strategist, and Creative Director at Storyboard
About the author: Elizabeth Ole is a multi-dimensional storyteller, author, content strategist, and creative director at Storyboard. She has worked with several global brands to develop their content strategy as well as create original content to further drive marketing. She is a lover of travel, photography, and exploring food at cafes and restaurants. You can find out more about her and follow her @elizabethole on Instagram.
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Investing in Yourself to Create a New Normal With Dr. Evan Rieder, Jenny Mollen, and Tayshia Adams
How to re-emerge from this moment and re-imagine our routines.
COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it, but despite the abrupt shift, we’re all making moves to re-emerge from this moment even stronger than before.
This collective pause has forced us to hit the reset button and reimagine our lives as we begin to contemplate how we are going to move forward in creating a “new normal.”
In a world of unknowns, one thing we do know for sure is that having conversations is key to navigating and creating our new version of normalcy, and how we move through the world from here.
So, we invited Board-Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Evan Rieder; Writer, Comedienne, and New York Times Best-Selling Author, Jenny Mollen; and Contestant from “The Bachelor,” Tayshia Adams to speak on the topic of “Investing in Yourself to Create a New Normal,” powered by Allergan Aesthetics™, an AbbVie Company at our recent Beauty Summit.
Read on to hear their advice on how we can all re-emerge from this moment and reimagine our routines in this “new normal.”
On life in quarantine…
“Now, more than ever we are connecting with ourselves and each other to ask the difficult questions. What is surprising is sometimes those difficult questions really are as simple as, ‘How are you, and what have you been up to?’ and truly meaning it.” — Dr. Evan Rieder
“I personally find that setting time aside to do something for myself is important, but so many women I know feel guilty taking time for themselves.” — Jenny Mollen
On being forced to sit still…
“As a busy professional, who happens to also be a wife and mother, there are a lot of demands on my time. Pressing pause is totally worth it, even if that means being okay with Jason picking out the kids’ clothes!” — Jenny Mollen
On re-emerging from quarantine in a post-COVID world…
“I think it is all about balance. This experience has taught us all that we need to be careful but at the same time, we need to get back to our normal routines. I started off pretty easy with going to the places I felt most comfortable, so visiting friends and family. As I felt more secure and got into the groove of masking up, I ran to get my hair and nails done, and to see my dermatologist for BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)! My doctor also happens to be a friend, so it was fantastic to be able to see her again. I am ready to talk about re-emerging, but these pesky moderate to severe forehead lines can stay in quarantine!¹” — Jenny Mollen
On getting back to your normal routine…
“I’ve been receiving treatment for years and it has been a part of my ongoing routine. I still look like me, just with fewer lines¹. Which is important to me both personally and professionally.” — Jenny Mollen
“I agree with you regarding BOTOX® Cosmetic. Since treatments were on hold for the last four months, I have had countless patients booking appointments within the last few weeks.¹ BOTOX® Cosmetic has been a staple in my toolbox for years and has shaped the way I consult my patients on temporarily improving the appearance of moderate to severe crow's feet, forehead lines and frown lines.¹” — Dr. Evan Rieder
On seeking aesthetic treatment right now…
“Some of you may feel personally ready for treatment but are wondering—is this the right time for aesthetic treatments? Am I vain for wanting an aesthetic treatment right now? I don’t think so! And during this time, when we are all masked on our lower faces, it’s all eyes on the forehead. So with increased scrutiny on the muscles of the forehead people tend to focus more on our lines – often misinterpreting social interactions and sometimes perceiving others as angry or worried because of overactivity of the muscles of the upper face and uncertainty whether a smile or frown lurks below the mask.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that BOTOX® Cosmetic is the only product of its kind FDA-approved to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet lines, and glabellar lines in adults. Physicians have relied on it for more than 18 years to deliver precise, predictable results. ¹ ²” — Dr. Evan Rieder
On making time for “me time”…
“I agree with what Jenny said! You must take your ME time! Life is too precious, and we can’t burnout. For me, I love playing with makeup and creating different looks. It is fun to try something new, and I recently went to my doctor to learn about JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC, an injectable filler, to add subtle volume to my lips!³ It is something I considered for a while and after learning more and talking to my provider, I decided to go for it. With optimal treatment, it lasts up to a year, so I am still happy with my results today! It has been one less thing I have to worry about during this time.³” — Tayshia Adams
On the most requested aesthetic treatments…
“Lips are a really popular request in my office—even at this time. We have to remember that while we are wearing masks in public, we take them off in private. Lips are an intimate area that we often get treated for ourselves. I use JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC or JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC to help create a subtle pout while still offering natural-looking results.³ ⁴ I prefer to tailor the treatment based on the individual’s desired outcomes and The Collection has a variety of dermal fillers that are specially designed to add volume to specific areas of the face.” — Dr. Evan Rider
On getting back to you…
“It can feel like the days all blurred together in quarantine, so I really leaned on my routines for structure and clarity. Quarantine has forced all of us to re-evaluate what’s important in life. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that with my excitement of re-emerging from quarantine comes an element of trepidation, too. And I’m certainly not alone in that feeling.” — Jenny Mollen
“It’s also about taking those simple steps of safety precautions. Yes, it might be tedious and an extra 10-15 minutes but it is so necessary right now as things are shutting down. Those little steps are so imperative at this time. This will be our new normal for quite some time. “ — Dr. Evan Rieder
“It’s really an altruistic thing to wear your mask and doing your hand hygiene precautions. We were hit really hard in NY, and you need to do everything you can to take control of your life in these uncertain times.” — Jenny Mollen
On the importance of safety…
“In my personal opinion, it is safe. Do your research and ask your provider important questions. For example, we have multiple layers of screening from phone questions on appointment confirmation, to two temperature stations in our clinical building, to limiting typically full waiting areas, to room sanitization, to maximum use of PPE. These precautions have allowed us to restart our aesthetics program with confidence. With that, we can allow you to safely and confidently continue making investments in yourselves as you walk through an aesthetic journey.” — Dr. Evan Rieder
“It’s really nice to hear you talk about what to expect. I am new to aesthetic treatments and it is helpful and comforting to hear all the information.” – Tayshia Adams
On my daily mantra for success…
“Here is not an option, you just have to move forward. Let go. Don’t hold things in. Keep your friends close and your dermatologists closer. Quarantine or no quarantine, that’s how you have to live!” — Jenny Mollen
“My daily mantra is about gratitude every morning and staying positive. There is always a bright side to everything and always something to be grateful for. As long as you’ve got that, you can really change your mood.” — Tayshia Adams
“Being thankful for what I have—my health, having a job right now—and recognizing the silver linings.” — Dr. Evan Rieder
On hitting the reset button ...
“When I’m not sleeping well I know that indicates something is off. I need to stop and take a day to rest because I'm probably going, going, going. It's okay to sit on the couch sometimes and reevaluate everything.” — Tayshia Adams
“I hit the reset button when I get wrapped up in the chaos of the moment, it’s important to turn inward, focus on what you can control, don't deal with what you can’t control, be kind to others, be altruistic, wearing a mask, and caring about others.” — Dr. Evan Rieder
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION & APPROVED USES
BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can be life-threatening. Get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic:
· Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months.
· Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision, and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing.
BOTOX® Cosmetic dosing units are not the same as, or comparable to, any other botulinum toxin product.
There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect when BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines, crow’s feet lines, and/or forehead lines.
BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX® Cosmetic. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.
Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. They include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.
Do not receive BOTOX® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport® (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.
Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; have trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breastfeeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic passes into breast milk).
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX® Cosmetic with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX® Cosmetic in the past.
Tell your doctor if you have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc®, Dysport®, or Xeomin® in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.
Other side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic include: dry mouth; discomfort or pain at the injection site; tiredness; headache; neck pain; and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, and eyebrows, swelling of your eyelids and dry eyes.
APPROVED USES
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet lines, and frown lines between the eyebrows in adults.
For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.
To report a side effect, please call Allergan at 1-800-678-1605.
Please see BOTOX® Cosmetic full Product Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide
Product Information
Medication Guide
JUVÉDERM® Injectable Gel Fillers Important Information
APPROVED USES
JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA™ XC injectable gel is for deep injection in the cheek area to correct age-related volume loss in adults over 21.
JUVÉDERM® XC and JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC injectable gels are for injection into the facial tissue for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. JUVÉDERM® VOLLURE™ XC injectable gel is for adults over 21.
JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC is for injection into the lips and perioral area for lip augmentation in adults over 21.
JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC injectable gel is for injection into the lips for lip augmentation and for correction of perioral lines in adults over 21.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Are there any reasons why I should not receive any JUVÉDERM® injectable gel formulation?
Do not use these products if you have a history of multiple severe allergies or severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), or if you are allergic to lidocaine or the Gram-positive bacterial proteins used in these products.
What precautions should my doctor advise me about?
· Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The safety of these products for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding has not been studied
· The safety of JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA™ XC in patients under 35 years or over 65 years, the safety of JUVÉDERM® XC and JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC injectable gels in patients under 18 years, and the safety of JUVÉDERM® VOLLURE™ XC and JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC in patients under 22 years has not been studied
· The safety and effectiveness of JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA™ XC in areas other than the cheek area, JUVÉDERM® XC and JUVÉDERM® VOLLURE™ XC for areas other than facial wrinkles and folds, and JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC and JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC in areas other than the lips and perioral area have not been established in clinical studies
· Tell your doctor if you have a history of excessive scarring (eg, hypertrophic scarring and keloid formations) or pigmentation disorders, as use of these products may result in additional scars or changes in pigmentation
· Tell your doctor if you are planning other laser treatments or a chemical peel, as there is a possible risk of inflammation at the treatment site if these procedures are performed after treatment
· Patients who experience skin injury near the site of injection with these products may be at a higher risk for side effects
· Tell your doctor if you are on immunosuppressive therapy used to decrease the body’s immune response, as use of these products may result in an increased risk of infection
· Tell your doctor if you are using medications that can prolong bleeding, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or other blood thinners, as this may result in increased bruising or bleeding at the injection site
· Minimize strenuous exercise, exposure to extensive sun or heat, and alcoholic beverages within the first 24 hours following treatment
What are possible side effects?
The most commonly reported side effects with JUVÉDERM® injectable gels included injection-site redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, firmness, lumps/bumps, bruising, discoloration, and itching. For JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC, dryness was also reported. For JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA® XC, most side effects were moderate and lasted 2 to 4 weeks. For JUVÉDERM® XC, JUVÉDERM® VOLLURE™ XC, and JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC injectable gels, most side effects were mild or moderate and lasted 14 days or less. For JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC, most side effects were mild or moderate and lasted 30 days or less.
One of the risks with using these products is unintentional injection into a blood vessel, and, while rare, the complications can be serious and may be permanent. These complications, which have been reported for facial injections, can include vision abnormalities, blindness, stroke, temporary scabs, or permanent scarring.
As with all skin injection procedures, there is a risk of infection.
To report a side effect with any JUVÉDERM® product, please call Allergan at 1-800-433-8871. Please visit Juvederm.com or talk to your doctor for more information.
Available by prescription only.
References:
1. BOTOX® Cosmetic Prescribing Information, 2019.
2. Data on File, Allergan; BOTOX® Cosmetic Annual Neurotoxin Market Share, 2018.
3. JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC Patient Labeling, 2019.
4. JUVÉDERM® ULTRA XC Patient Labeling, 2019.
BOTOX® is a trademark of Allergan, Inc., an AbbVie company.
JUVÉDERM®, VOLUMA™, VOLBELLA™, and VOLLURE™ are trademarks of Allergan Holdings France SAS, an AbbVie company, or its affiliates.
© 2020 AbbVie. All rights reserved.
MBD139530 08/20
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The New Way to Shop: Footwear Designer, Sarah Flint on the Power of Peers and Customer-Based Selling During Challenging Times
And build a community based on trust.
Written by Sarah Flint, executive chairman, founder, and creative director of Sarah Flint
I started my namesake brand in 2013, having dreamed my whole life of designing footwear. I studied for seven years at Parsons, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and Ars Sutoria in Milan. After graduating, I pursued investors, drove across the country to host trunk shows, and built relationships with customers until I finally achieved my big break: in 2015, Sarah Flint officially launched at Barney’s.
This was the dream—this, I thought, was it. But when you run a small business, the idea of “it” is constantly changing.
In 2017, I made the leap of faith to pull my shoes out of the major department stores. I took my business direct-to-consumer because it was how I could stay most true to my vision, creating a warm and welcoming customer experience while avoiding the traditional retail mark-up.
I had built my name on creating luxurious shoes that actually felt comfortable to wear. I added features like arch support and extra padding to pumps so that they looked like killer heels without actually killing your feet. This was easy to see and feel when you tried on the shoes in stores. But without having that physical presence, comfort became harder to genuinely convey, and ad copy alone wasn’t quite cutting it.
The Sarah Flint Brand Ambassador program was born out of my belief that people had to feel how comfortable my shoes were to truly believe it. In October 2019, I began inviting Sarah Flint's brand fans to join a new peer-to-peer network we were building, where they could speak about Sarah Flint shoes online or off, and share a discount for first-time purchasers. They would earn complimentary shoes based on customer conversions and have access to various program perks.
I knew that product recommendations were extremely powerful, especially when they came from someone you knew and trusted. My hope was that the brand ambassadors would feel personal, reliable, and relatable—like you were getting great advice from your most stylish friends.
I originally launched the program to get more of my shoes out into the world, but what I didn’t expect was the incredible community—and invaluable lessons—that would spring up around it.
A Community Based on Trust
Customer reviews, loyalty, and word-of-mouth have to be earned. It was important to me to get my shoes in front of real people and have them attest to their quality—the business couldn’t rely on just me saying it. Our brand ambassadors can share their honest opinions and styling tips to the people in their worlds, which makes our shoes feel like an exciting discovery. This is how we love for customers to come to Sarah Flint—from someone trusted, kind, and passionate about our footwear.
A Personal Alignment With the Brand
The program also makes it easier for ambassadors to connect with our values. Through our shoes, and through conversations with our team, they can see how we live out our ideals like 360-degree kindness, uncompromising quality, and empowering women. We invite our ambassadors to exclusive events (now hosted online due to COVID-19), give them early access to our launches, and provide classes on topics ranging from social media tools to meditation. Some have even formed friendships outside of the program, and nothing makes me happier than seeing how they support each other.
More than ever, I believe women want to shop with brands that align with them personally, and so it’s important to keep the lines of communication open with your customers.
A Network for Feedback
In keeping with open communication, the brand ambassador program has also become an incredible resource for feedback. I routinely reach out to ambassadors for design questions, opinions, and fit testing, and their insights are always well-considered. I recently hosted a Zoom call with the ambassadors on materializing my Spring/Summer 2021 collection, and they gave me fresh ideas that I may not have considered otherwise. In aiming to design shoes for real women and their busy lives, it’s vital for me to understand the needs of women from around the country and at different life stages. Especially during these changing times, it’s a privilege to have a smart, caring, and stylish network.
About the Author
Sarah Flint is the executive chairman, founder, and creative director of Sarah Flint. She launched her eponymous footwear collection in 2013 at the age of 25. The company was born out of Sarah's frustration that women had to choose between feeling good in their shoes and looking great in them. Sarah marries artisanal quality and original design with functional elements, improving fit and comfort. Manufacturing in the world’s best factories outside of Milan, Italy, Sarah Flint sells its shoes direct-to-consumer, offering customers the best possible price-to-value ratio in the market.
Prior to launching her collection, Sarah dedicated over seven years to the research and study of shoe design and manufacturing. Studying at Parsons, and the Fashion Institute of Technology, Sarah graduated with a degree in Accessories Design. After FIT, Sarah moved to Milan to obtain a graduate degree at Ars Sutoria, where she learned pattern making and mastered the technical aspects of shoe production.
Sarah has gained significant recognition in the industry. In 2016, she was appointed to the CFDA, the association of America’s most prominent designers, after having been sponsored by Michael Kors and Zac Posen. Her press coverage includes Forbes “30 Under 30” and a 2016 feature in WWD, “Ten of Tomorrow,” which showcased the best new talent in the fashion industry, as well as regular coverage in Vogue, People, InStyle, Town & Country and NY Times. The brand has gained a loyal following of powerful women and influential celebrities, including Cindy Crawford, Amal Clooney, Megan Markle, Lady Gaga, Gayle King, Karlie Kloss, and many more.
Visit sarahflint.com to learn more and follow Sarah on Instagram at @sarahflint_nyc.
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Hey, Hustlers! Here's What to Expect at Our Future of Work Summit Presented by Mastercard
Spoiler alert: Cameron Diaz will be there.
Photo: Smith House Photography
As society re-emerges, we’re all navigating what it means to “get back to business” in this new normal. That’s why our biggest virtual event of the year will be all about the future of work. From hard-hitting conversations about pivoting to digital and navigating remote leadership to reimagining retail and making the most of social media marketing, our Future of Work Summit presented by Mastercard has it all, and so much more. It’s time to re-examine our big-picture strategy, so let’s put our creative caps on and plan for what’s next, together!
Our line-up for Saturday, September 12th is stacked with capital B bosses. Jenna Lyons is kicking off the day with an inspiring conversation on how to turn what you love doing into a successful business, then Hillary Kerr is taking the virtual stage with Camila Alves McConaughey to talk about how she switched lanes from model to media mogul and community leader, and Katherine Power and THE Cameron Diaz are taking the mic to share how they bonded over wellness and wine and built a clean wine brand from scratch. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out!
Read on to learn more about everything we have planned and what you need to know to make the most of it. If you haven’t already, be sure to buy your digital pass ASAP!
Psst… Insiders get access for free. (Yep, free!) Not an Insider yet? Read up on all the perks and sign up here.
THE DATE
Saturday, September 12th, 2020
TUNE IN FROM HOME
First things first! On Saturday, September 12th, you’ll receive an email with the link to access the exclusive Future of Work site. Please note: All content will go live on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), including the launch of the exclusive Future of Work site. To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this handy time zone converter.
Future of Work is made up of pre-recorded video sessions hosted via Vimeo and live video sessions streaming via Zoom. We recommend that you have a strong WiFi connection and update to the latest version of Zoom for the best experience. Future of Work is optimized for desktop, so it is best viewed via a computer or laptop, rather than a tablet or phone.
While the live content is specifically designed to be watched in real-time, you’ll be able to access and view it until Friday, September 18th at 5 pm PDT (Insiders, you have all-access even after the cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard!). You’ll be able to RSVP up until Tuesday, September 15th at 12 pm PDT.
THE SCHEDULE
Future of Work is built just like our in-person conferences, which, of course, you all know and love. We have a stacked schedule with an A-list line-up of speakers so we suggest taking notes along the way.
Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. Please note, all times are listed in PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) and EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this time zone converter.
It’s going to be HUGE so we recommend getting a head start on planning out your day now.
THINGS TO PREP AHEAD OF TIME
Here are a few things to prep before the big day so it goes off without a hitch:
Make sure you have a strong WiFi connection.
Install Zoom on your desktop computer or laptop and test it out.
Zoom tips:
Find a quiet place to tune in. Try to situate yourself in a small room that does not have an echo.
Try and stay away from noisy electronics and silence your cell phone and computer notifications for an optimal experience.
When possible, limit your internet connection to solely the device you’re using for the Zoom conference.
Set your phone to airplane mode, pause your television connection, ask others in your home to pause anything that may require a strong internet connection, etc.
Be sure to download the workshop assets so you can follow along with the expert in real-time. Note: Your exclusive workshop downloads will be available starting Saturday, September 12th via the exclusive Future of Work site.
Join the Mentor Power Hour Slack channel and peruse the list of mentors who will be answering questions in real-time in hour-long Zoom webinars and choose your mentor(s).
We have experts in everything from personal branding to building start-ups from scratch to raising funds.
If there’s more than one mentor you want advice from, don’t worry! You can hop from session to session over the course of the hour if you’d like.
Don’t forget to jot down any questions you have for the mentor sessions ahead of time! You’ll be able to ask your Qs in real-time by typing them into Zoom’s Q&A feature.
GET SOCIAL
Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate. Don’t forget to tag @createcultivate and use the hashtag ##CCFutureOfWork for the chance to be featured in our Instagram Stories throughout the day! (Psst… Search “Create Cultivate” on Instagram to use our custom GIFs.)
NETWORK
Networking is a huge part of our event and our C&C Future of Work Attendees Slack Workspace is a great place to mix and mingle with your fellow Create & Cultivators before, during, and after the big day. We’ve created channels for every workshop and panel, as well as channels for international attendees, networking, and more!
Attendees will receive a link to access our Create & Cultivate Future of Work Attendees Slack Workspace in our What to Expect newsletter on Wednesday, September 9th. This Slack channel will remain accessible until Friday, September 18th at 12 pm PDT. Not familiar with Slack? Here are a few tips to get you started:
Download the Slack app to your phone, computer, or both
Complete your account profile with a profile photo, your name, and what you do
Public conversations will happen in the channels (ex: #networking) and are located on the left-hand side of the app. You can also start direct messages with others in the Slack workspace
Hit send too early on a message? Slack has an edit feature! Click the three-dot icon located on the right side of the message to open the drop-down of message options
We’re all about GIFs at C&C! Here are instructions on how to integrate GIPHY into your Slack account.
Our Slack workspace is a busy, happening place on the day of the event. Streamline the notifications you receive by using the “mute” feature on channels that don’t pertain to you. To mute a channel, simply open up that channel, click the three-dot icon labeled “more,” and select the mute option
Most importantly, be kind and respectful of others. If you don’t follow this rule, you will be removed from the Slack group
If you have any questions on the day of the event about navigating the schedule, accessing the workshop downloads, or anything else, you can drop them into the customer service channel in Slack.
C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS
Our Insiders get a ton of perks at all our events—and Future of Work is no exception. As an Insider, you’ll have access to all of the workshops, mentor sessions, panels, and keynotes via your C&C Insiders dashboard. This content will be uploaded by September 25th, 2020. Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here.
VIRTUAL GIFT BAGS
We know you want ‘em! Complete our post-event survey to receive an email packed with promo codes from some of your favorite brands, including Parade, UOMA Beauty, Hause of Curls, Tonic Site Shop, Amanda Kolbye, and more. You’ll receive the survey in your inbox on Friday, September 18th, 2020.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
Live chat with a C&C specialist on CreateCultivate.com. You’ll see a “Chat With Us” pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ONLINE! Who are you most excited to hear speak? Which workshop are you looking forward to most? Tell us in the comments below!
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What Does It Mean to Be a Minority, Women-Owned Business in the Online Space?
“Your voice and experience matter.”
“A
ll women and girls should have the opportunities to achieve success, whatever it may mean to them, on their own terms.”
—Annie Chang, Brand Strategist and Co-Founder of Olea & Fig
Over the past few years, there has been tremendous growth for women-owned businesses and organizations that empower women. Given that Olea & Fig is a women-owned business that supports other women entrepreneurs, we have experienced notable growth and a surge in demand.
As we move forward in our entrepreneurial journey as minority women, we’ve also experienced the impact and power of coming together with the different communities we are part of—women, women entrepreneurs, Asian women, and Asian American women.
Your voice and experience matters.
With the growth of women-centered communities and conversations that support minority-owned businesses, we have had the opportunity to be part of many of them. As a minority who has experienced both eastern and western culture, education systems, and work environments, I understand the different expectations and perspectives of those who share similar backgrounds as us face. My co-founder and sister, Terrie, and I quickly learned that our voices matter in ways we didn’t expect.
Everyone’s voice does.
It is our responsibility to share our voice, knowledge, and story with other people who are going through similar experiences and who are members of our communities.
Through workshops, events, and conferences, we have shared our perspectives and insights on wrestling with societal expectations as immigrants, women, Asian American women specifically, and how we can challenge and break free of barriers and navigate those waters through the possibilities we create. These meaningful conversations, exchange of ideas, and connections allow us to support and grow with others in our circles.
Join others who also believe empowerment drives growth.
We believe that all women and girls should have the opportunities to achieve success, whatever it may mean to them, on their own terms and this is our Brand Vision since the beginning of Olea & Fig. To help promote equity for minority women, besides all the business resources we provide to women businesses, we have been proactively partnering with nonprofit organizations and businesses that advocate for women and girls, and some specifically for Asian women.
It does not matter which market you are in, define your values and beliefs, and build them into your brand. Then find others who also believe that empowerment drives growth and whose values align with yours, and collaborate creatively to make positive changes together. Multiply your impact through synergy.
Photo: Courtesy of Olea & Fig
Your identity is your superpower.
In our experience and the experience of many women we work with, being a minority often leads to self-doubt and issues with self-esteem. These are battles we’ve struggled with in both the corporate and the entrepreneurial worlds. It is common that we, the minority, choose not to speak our minds and not to draw much attention, but to fit into “the norm” or majority instead. I experienced all of it from my personal experience in school, the corporate world, and during the early stage of my entrepreneurial path. I was working hard to become the majority - the white kids at school, the male colleges who are also working to get that promotion, the high-energy, and glamorous brands that are popular online…
But that’s not who I am.
The community we grew through Olea & Fig gave me an entirely different perspective. I learned that my identity as a minority is actually my strength. I saw that there is a huge community of women around the world who appreciate and share our backgrounds, ideas, and beliefs. I met women who also strive to create mindful businesses, to live intentionally, and to build a life filled with passion, impact, and meaningful conversations.
To unleash your true potential and possibilities, draw from all of your identities, experiences, and story. Turn all of it into your superpower. Turn them into your strengths and the uniqueness of your business, and build your identity and story across your messaging, mission, values, design, content, and beyond!
About the Author: Annie Chang and her sister Terrie “had it all.” Fancy degrees, big corporate titles from the outside they were living the dream, but they were unfulfilled, burnt out, and tired of hustling for someone else’s bottom line. They left their corporate careers to start a business of their own, Olea & Fig. They leveraged their backgrounds in design and marketing and created a company that enables women entrepreneurs to build successful, growth-focused, and mission-driven brands.
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Classifieds: Fresh, Medium, and Your Super Are Hiring!
Hey, job seekers! Peep these new gigs.
Photo by Christina Jones
Hey, job seekers! Peep new gigs at Your Super, Twitch, AG Jeans, and more
FEATURED JOBS
Sr. Product Designer, Teikametrics- Remote
Sr. Software Engineer (Front End), Teikametrics- Remote
Personal/Admin Assistant, Creative Label- Phoenix, AZ
Graphic Design Intern, Creative Label- Remote
Director of Operations, Space Camp Organizing- Los Angeles, CA
Digital Designer, SmartyPants-Los Angeles, CA
LOS ANGELES
Customer Experience Associate, Your Super
Sr. Content Manager, Meredith Corporation
Influencer Relations Manager, Twitch
Social Media Manager, AG Jeans- Los Angeles, CA
Sales & Brand Partnerships Coordinator, Dear Media- Los Angeles, CA
Sales & Brand Partnerships Associate, Dear Media- Los Angeles, CA
NEW YORK CITY
Associate Manager, Global Creative Operations, Fresh
Social Media Associate, Squarespace
Digital Experience Manager, Shake Shack
Commerce Writer, The Dodo
Brand Manager, Harry’s
Community Associate, Splice
REMOTE
Marketing Specialist, Articulate
Assistant Audience Editor, Medium
Marketing & Communications Manager, The Fuller Project
SEO Specialist, Tuft & Needle- Remote
Email Marketer, Biteable
Marketing Manager, Pacific Highway Wines
4 Reasons Why You Should Hire an Editor and Invest in Quality Content
Plus, how to find the right person for the job.
Photo: Christina Jones Photography
Most bloggers, influencers, and entrepreneurs know the value of regularly updating their website, writing blog posts, and actively sharing content on social media. These communication tools can increase brand visibility and build expertise. However, if your content includes spelling and grammatical errors, incorrect information, or terms and abbreviations that are unrecognizable to your target audience, you may be jeopardizing your credibility. The key to avoiding these damaging mistakes is to work with an editor who can strategically assess and improve your content.
In my experience working at a public relations firm, we often help our clients develop and strengthen their content by writing and editing byline articles, website copy, company news announcements, and social media posts. Editing is so much more than just proofreading. Editors catch overlooked errors and strengthen your writing to help you grow your brand and enhance your presence as an industry leader or influencer. Here are four ways an editor can improve the quality of content to increase brand awareness and gain visibility for your content and website.
1. Ensure your content resonates with your target audience.
Editors help you talk to your audience in a way that resonates with them. They will be able to look through the lens of your audience and potential clients and make sure copy is tailored to their needs. Editors can identify the geographic and demographic characteristics of your target audience and make changes to your content based on who, and where, your readers are.
Readers’ experience levels are important factors that editors will consider. As an industry professional, it may be hard to know what specialized language is not familiar to your readers. Removing jargon and industry abbreviations will improve clarity. Or, if a specialized language is necessary, an editor will include explanations so that the copy is as clear as possible.
2. Position yourself as a thought leader.
Writing an article for an industry publication, blog, or website can help position you as an industry leader or influencer. However, even small grammatical errors or misused terms can chip away at your credibility. Good writers still make the mistake of using “further” when they should have used “farther” or writing “shoe-in” instead of “shoo-in.” Don’t simply rely on built-in spell checkers. Hiring an editor will save you from making avoidable mistakes.
If you are already known as an industry leader or influencer, using an editor can help protect your credibility. Showing attention to detail in written materials says a lot about professionalism, accuracy, and the attention to detail you’ll show your audience or clients.
3. Strengthen your messaging.
Strong messages will help you communicate who you are and what you can do for your clients, partners, or audience. Editors help you maintain a consistent voice to ensure your brand is memorable. An editor, as opposed to just a proofreader, will help you strengthen your writing with new or additional ideas.
Editors identify redundancies, inconsistencies, and areas that need more explanation. They will improve readability and flow, so your writing is clear and compelling. For example, editors will replace unnecessary nouns and adjectives that make a sentence sound vague with succinct verbs. They’ll favor using an active voice to cut down on words and improve strength and clarity. Strong messages are memorable, concise, and include information that is relevant to your audience.
Editors help you respect your readers’ time. As an entrepreneur or blogger, your business or blog is likely one of your favorite topics—one you could talk on for a while. But if you’re communicating with a prospect, you need to keep it short and sweet. Editors can help you get to the point effectively and quickly to get your message across.
4. Drive traffic to your website.
Well-written content can improve SEO, which increases the likelihood a consumer will find your company on the internet. An editor may be familiar with keywords to include in titles, headlines, and body that will be easily picked up by search engines to increase traffic and improve growth. An eloquent blog post is also more likely to be shared and liked on social media.
Improved SEO can make you stand out to brands looking for sponsorships or affiliate marketing partnerships.
Interested in working with an editor? You have options.
Ask fellow bloggers or entrepreneurs who they work with, and see if you can get a referral from someone in your network. You may also want to check out local PR or marketing firms and freelancers and ask if they offer editing services. The key is to choose someone you can build an ongoing relationship with, who understands your goals and helps you take your writing to the next level.
It may be hard to let someone else review your writing out of fear that they may change the meaning or tone. However, editors work for you, not against you. Writing a compelling piece requires objectivity and distance that is hard to acquire on your own.
Working with a skilled editor will help you become a better writer and can help your business, blog, or website grow. Bloggers are expected to keep new content flowing, and an editor will help you speed up the process so you can work on your next project or post. Keep in mind that what you publish is a direct reflection of your brand, your values, and your capabilities—so make your content count.
About the Author: Kara Weller is an account coordinator at Pierce Public Relations.
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This story was originally published on March 23, 2019, and has since been updated.
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Classifieds: Buzzfeed, Whole Foods, and Sweaty Betty Are Hiring!
New roundup of remote, L.A., and NYC jobs in marketing, sales, social media, and more
Photo by Christina Jones
New roundup of jobs in marketing, sales, social media, and more!
FEATURED JOBS
Sales & Brand Partnerships Coordinator, Dear Media- Los Angeles, CA
Sales & Brand Partnerships Associate, Dear Media- Los Angeles, CA
Brand Marketing Manager, Sweaty Betty- Remote
Talent Partnerships Manager, Designlab- Remote
Account Executive, GitBook- Remote
Copywriter, Whole Foods- Austin, TX
LOS ANGELES
Freelance Writer, Valnet
Associate Podcast Producer, The Ringer
Talent Assistant, Digital Brand Architects
Producer, Dear Media
Head of Originals, Dear Media
NEW YORK CITY
Community Associate, Splice
Campaign Manager, Buzzfeed
Content Manager, Quip
Marketing Manager, Overtime
Digital & Ecommerce Manager, Glow Recipe
Marketing Associate, Suzy
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Content Manager, Slite
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Graphic & Web Designer, Creative Label
“The Most Success Is in the Ability to Pivot” and More Small Business Advice From Our Mentor Session With Mastercard’s Ginger Siegel
How to rewrite the rule book and map out a new path through this “new normal.”
If there’s anything 2020 has taught us it’s our propensity for resilience and agility as we switch lanes, change plans, and pivot to accommodate this ever-changing landscape. And small business owners are at the forefront of this movement. With over 30 million small businesses in the U.S they create 1.5 million jobs annually (that’s 64% of new jobs created), so it’s critical that we provide the support and resources they need to get through this unprecedented time.
So, how do we rewrite the rule book and map out a new path through this “new normal”? Mentorship is key to helping the small business community to pivot and move forward to not only survive but thrive right now and in the future. To help, we tapped Ginger Siegel, the North America small business lead at Mastercard to answer your questions in real-time during a digital mentor session at our recent Self-Care & Beauty Digital Summit.
In case you missed it, we’re sharing some of her impactful answers from the mentor session below.
When launching a new brand how do you decide how to allocate your limited financial resources?
I think what's most important here is to have a business plan upfront and really prioritize what you want to do with your brand. That becomes your roadmap for how to spend the financial resources that you have.
One of the most important things these days is to make sure that you can sell your brand, sell your product, or service through the right channels. We know that digital is the way everything's going especially during COVID so having that business plan and prioritizing it will really guide your path.
While some states are allowing restaurants, gyms, and shops to reopen, many small businesses are still struggling financially. What tips can you share on how to stay afloat during this time?
Where we've seen the most success is in the ability to pivot. We know that there's about 30% of small businesses that are not online today. The pandemic has seen more people choosing to do things digitally—to buy things online and sell things online. So number one, make sure you pivot to digital.
Number two, there are a lot of resources out there. There are organizations called Small Business Development councils, and they are available in just about every town and city that most of you are probably in. Contact them! There are more grants available than you would imagine.
There are also community development financial institutions. Google that in your area. Many of those institutions have grant money available. Take a look at your expenses and decide what you absolutely have to keep spending on and the things that are maybe’s. You should curtail those as well.
How do you create a selling strategy for a truly luxury brand and what's the difference between a mass-market strategy and a luxury strategy?
People's definition of what a luxury item is different. So, really understand your market. It's really important to understand how your product and service fit into a number of different groups. Could you make the brand more every day, especially in this environment?
What are the key changes that small businesses will need to make in order to succeed?
The number one thing is to have different channels. We have found that a lot of businesses were just catching the storefront and did not have a way for people to buy online. So, how can you reach your customer base in a number of different ways whether it's online or virtually?
Another thing we are very focused on at Mastercard is how people want to pay. Giving someone the option for checks and cash is not optimal. A lot of people want to stay away from that now. So, focus on contactless payments, and make sure you’re able to take payments over the phone or digitally through something we call “card on file.”
Make sure your customers can keep their card on file so they can make repeat purchases easily. The other thing is contactless payments. If they do come into your store or restaurant, whatever type of business you have, this method allows the customer to keep hold of their card and just tap to pay.
Mastercard just built and rolled out a program called Digital Doors because we want to help businesses get online and digitally transform their business. Through this platform, we’re helping small businesses build and protect their online presence with end-to-end digital resources like cybersecurity vulnerability assessments and digital skills curriculum.. We bundle all that together because we think getting online and being digitally enabled is really going to be the most pivotal change that small businesses need to make.
I want to support my local small businesses. Do you have any tips on how or where can I find out which businesses are open right now near me?
This question is near and dear to my heart. We actually just launched something called “Shop Openings” which is a customer-facing website where you can search geographically for small businesses in your area. It will tell you if it's open and if they accept contactless payments. So we're really proud of it. We think it's a wonderful way to drive people back into small businesses and we absolutely encourage all of you to use it for your local small businesses as well.
Besides loans, what can be helpful or beneficial to small businesses?
Grants. There are a lot of organizations out there. I mentioned the community development financial institutions earlier and the Small Business Development councils, but there are organizations like Hello Alice that we partner with as well.
If you just go online and look in your local area, you will see a lot of organizations that do have grant money available. I happen to live in Westchester, New York. There's a fantastic organization that I'm on the board for called The Women's Economic Development Council and they definitely have grants available and a lot of free resources to help, so I encourage all of you to do that.
What advice do you have for someone who's thinking of taking their side hustle full-time and or starting their business during this time?
One of my favorite books for people that want to start a business is called The E-Myth Revisited and I'll tell you why I love it. It talks about the fact that if you're someone who has a side hustle—whether it's baking or building apps on the side—there's a tremendous opportunity to take that and make it into a business. But so many entrepreneurs don't get into business to do all the tough stuff. That's not as much fun right? Dealing with the financials, actually managing overall finances and getting customers—those are all things that aren’t as much fun and the E-Myth walks you through that.
Because even though you went into it to do something you love, you have to be willing to like something you don't love and that's the other side of the business. I think it’s really important to make sure that when you go into this, you go into it with your eyes open. When it's a side hustle a lot of times you don't think about that.
What are the top three actions I can take to build a network of other small business owners and advisors to learn from during these times?
This might sound like a broken record, but one of the things that I'm most passionate about is LinkedIn. LinkedIn provides the opportunity to join groups with people who probably have very similar businesses like you and very similar problems. Joining these groups will really provide a very broad support system.
The other thing is associations. Whether you're in the restaurant business or the beauty business, there are a lot of associations out there and not-for-profits that are built to help businesses like yours today. These are both great resources to build a network.
Female entrepreneurs are looking to network with other female entrepreneurs and that's why we're so passionate about the space. We really build communities around this to help further knowledge, advice, and guidance so that people don't feel alone these days.
How can I ensure my evolving brand story resonates with customers as I pivot and reinvest my business?
Create a following of people that love your brand. You're not pivoting away from your brand, you're pivoting the message to your customers. Always stay true to your brand. That’s critically important. Stay true to the things that really made you what you are today. And when you talk about pivoting it's really around the channels, or it might be some of the products you're selling but your brand needs to stay the same because that's what you built yourself on.
If I'm going to reopen, what do I have to do?
There are some very excellent guidelines out there from the CDC around reopening. I had the opportunity to speak with some amazing women in the industry and one of the things that they really hit home is that when they were looking to reopen, they really focused on the safety and health guidelines. That's really important because you want your customers to feel safe. So I think step one is to really make sure you're looking at the recommendations and guidelines that are out there from the scientific community like the CDC.
Secondly, really take a look at your product set. Is everything that you offered before going to be important going forward and do you have to pivot some of the things you were offering? So, again pivoting not necessarily around your story, but around the things that you've offered in the past. I think that's really important.
Do you have any easy, go-to tips on how to improve and manage cash flow as a small business owner?
If cash flow wasn't a problem for you before, then COVID has really created some difficulty. Interestingly enough the average small business owner only has 27 days of cash on hand. The other thing that I would say is that a lot of businesses are still using Excel. So there are a couple of things I want to recommend to you. Number one is to make sure that you have the right financial systems in place.
Now is the time to step back and do some improvements in your business. I encourage you to look at things like QuickBooks and some of the accounting software programs out there. We know that about 70% of small businesses actually send out manual invoices. So there's a great opportunity now with some of the accounting software packages out there to actually digitize your invoices. Because if you can get an invoice out in a day versus a week, imagine how that can really increase your cash flow.
So, understanding your cash flow, understanding what money you have coming in, and getting that money to come in quicker (and also the money you have going out) to make sure you really understand the billing timing. When you match the money coming into the money going out, that's really what cash flow is and there's a great opportunity for many businesses to manage it even better.
What are the biggest financial mistakes you've seen small businesses make since the COVID-19 crisis hit?
There’s a couple; one of them in regards to cash flow. I find that a lot of businesses haven't really gotten their financials in order so when they did need to get loans or some type of credit, they really weren't prepared to tell their financial story. That's why I believe so strongly in making sure that you have the financial tools in order to do that.
A lot of people were hoping that this crisis would just go away. That's why we're really encouraging businesses to look at things like online and creating a digital storefront to get your services and your products online. You have agility as a small business and you can zig and zag much better than some bigger companies so keep that agility moving constantly, make the changes and get the help that you need quickly to make them. When you are willing and able to move quickly lots of things can happen in a really good way.
What advice do you have to plan and pay for a reopening?
Unfortunately, in some areas businesses were allowed to reopen, and then due to a resurgence, they closed again. I believe that for some businesses when things go backward they tend to get paralyzed. Now is the time if you haven't reopened to think about and plan for when you do. What are your safety and security plans? What do you have to do differently in terms of re-setting up your business? It is going to be like opening for the first time but remember, this time your customers already know you so you're not starting from scratch, you’re not starting from square one, you're starting with a brand that people in your community love. I encourage you to use social media. We think that there's a lot of focus on social media.
What resources and publications should I work into my daily routine?
To stay up to speed on trends and pivoting during the pandemic, check out the various online resource centers. We set up one called the Mastercard Main Street Resource Center that really gives you access to a lot of tools and resources. And our partners like Create & Cultivate who has a tremendous resource, Hello Alice, or the SBA. So I would encourage you to Google some of these Resource Centers. They have a wealth of information for free to really help push you through this.
I think one of the best-kept secrets is organizations like the Small Business Development Centers, they all have websites, and if you take a look at those websites and you can actually call them. I think a lot of them are either back in the office or working virtually. So there are a lot of resources available. Sometimes people get paralyzed and think “I'm out here alone” but you are not out here alone.
As a self-funded founder, should I stop paying myself during this time to keep my employees?
That’s a tough question. You have to know what your financial situation is and look at the length of time that you can survive with the cash flow that you have. I think it's a really difficult time and it's hard for me to say without looking at your financials. But I encourage you to work with your bank and work with your CPA to really understand where you are. And if you've been self-funding up till now, and you want to keep operating that way, then you might have to give thought to some additional sources of funding.
Do you think rent forgiveness is going to happen again?
It's easy to focus on the things that you can't control and that's one of them so, I encourage everyone to think about it. If in fact, rent is not forgiving, what will you do then? You have to really look at both sides of the story and be prepared for either one. It goes back to the agility story that I mentioned earlier.
I operate a social impact business that supports living wages for women in Ghana. What is the best way to create corporate partnerships and are there specific departments or job titles I should seek to identify the right person in a company?
I tell you one of the reasons I'm so proud to work for Mastercard is that we are very focused on doing well by doing good and I think that most companies that feel that way will put that out there. We have done a tremendous amount of work for our center for inclusive growth. I think that financial inclusion is two words that you can Google in terms of different corporations.
If you are looking to partner with a company, you want to make sure that they have the same values as you do. That is why we at Mastercard are able to attract such amazing partners, like Create & Cultivate because we all believe in the same thing, which is helping others do well by doing good. So I would encourage you to look through financial inclusion.
Look at some of the major corporations in your area, and really dig in and look through their annual reports. Look at the kinds of things they talk about. These days there are a lot of great companies out there that are doing really great things.
I love your partnership with Create & Cultivate. It feels really authentic. How do you choose your partners?
Mastercard has a very strong focus on doing well by doing good so we look at partners that believe in that, too. It's really important to us. When we partner with organizations like Create & Cultivate we need to know that there's an authenticity, that they do care about small business, that they do care about minority entrepreneurship. It's also important to us to not just have people who say it but also show it and so we look at the work that's being done. We look at how that company represents itself.
We tend to attract really great companies that do that, too. So the partnerships that I mentioned before like Salesforce and Microsoft, are all great organizations that have a very strong approach to financial inclusion and caring. That's why we're really proud to be able to partner with them.
What are the three most important things to remember when first opening a business?
This is one of my favorite questions. Number one is to read The E-Myth book. That's really important because a lot of people when they're looking to open their business are thinking about the thing that they love. So for example, if they love making ice cream or they love making specialty cakes or creating candles at home, think about the other parts that you have to do when you run a business, make sure that you can manage your financials, and create the right business plan.
Making sure that you have a plan B should something happen like the pandemic. Really make sure you have a business plan that has the fullness to it—all the information that you need—and then really think about how you're going to fund it. Is it going to be self-funded? Is it going to be funded through friends and family? Are you going to get an angel investor?
When do you think is the right moment to open a business credit card?
Well, first of all, one of the things that I really encourage is to talk to your bank. And if you don't have a bank, it’s really important to get someone who can give you financial advice. Someone who can look over your financials to really help you decide when it's the right time. You know, we have many small businesses that might have started out with a consumer card, but now they need to separate out their business expenses. So, as soon as you can do that, really think about talking to the right people, whether it's a bank or some other great organizations that can provide credit cards for you.
We encourage people to work through those partners to decide when is the right time. It’s important to know that you’re not in this alone. There are some great credit unions, community financial institutions, and banks. There are many fintechs out there too that are able to provide credit cards. So, I would look at one of them.
Really focus and bring the right questions to the table so that you can decide. It’s probably not a decision that you're going to make alone. You're going to want someone to help you with that assessment of where you're sitting financially.
What are some of the smartest financial moves you've seen small businesses make in the midst of the pandemic?
Number one is this concept of pivoting. You know, how do we pivot during this time? And I think some of the successful businesses that I've seen did not wait. The other thing is having different channels. So, if you know that you deliver your products and services one way today, what are some of the channels that you could build in the future? Online is a very, very important channel. So I think it's really important to pivot and look at differentiated channels.
Any tips on how to embrace positive energy during this time?
I think it comes back to passion. I have been working with small businesses my entire career. I go to sleep at night feeling very sad sometimes because of the trouble and trauma that a lot of small businesses are going through but I wake up every day knowing that I have at least 10 hours to be able to think of something that could make a difference. I think that's where my positive energy comes from—the belief that I can make a difference, that I can spend an hour with all of you and hopefully you can walk away with one or two tips where you'll either feel better or do something different.
Energy is critically important. This has been just a terrible, terrible time, but we will come out of this. We will come out of this on the other side strong because small businesses, all of you, whether you're in a small business or whether you're thinking of a small business, you are here today because you believe there's something more to learn. I would encourage all of you to continue to think positively, to continue to believe in what you're doing because what you're doing will help.
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How to Negotiate Benefits at Work
You landed the job, now sweeten the deal.
Photo: Christina Jones Photography
We all know that job hunting can feel like a full-time job. So when you finally get that offer letter? You start celebrating.
But as exciting and enticing as it can be to just sign on the dotted line and go buy yourself something nice, this is actually exactly the moment you need to take a step back. Before you reply to that offer letter, you have to make sure it’s the job you really want. And to do that, you need to take a hard look at the fine print.
Considering a company's offer is like dating—it’s all too easy to focus on whether they like you and want you while losing sight of whether you like them and want them, and just as importantly, whether this could be a partnership that's reflective of your goals and philosophies. That's where communication (in the form of negotiation) is fundamental.
When you open an offer letter, the salary jumps off the page, but what about the benefits? The thing many of us don’t realize is that a company’s standard benefits package is usually negotiable. Perks play a surprisingly powerful role in how you'll feel about the job—in the end, they can make a seemingly average salary offer quite tantalizing.
It’s crucial to take the time to understand the scope of benefits and then to tackle negotiating them wisely and strategically. Here are some tips to help you better negotiate benefits to your advantage.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask
Here’s a simple tenet but one you should never forget: It never hurts to ask. When you’ve received an offer, you have the upper hand. While you may not get the requests you make, this is the one time that your prospective employer is ripe for negotiating. Plus, you may find that while there’s no leeway for negotiating a higher salary, benefits adjustments are easier to accommodate.
Think Outside the Box
Benefits are more than just health insurance and 401K plans. These days, they include perks like extra vacation days and the opportunity to work remotely. Now’s the time to get creative.
When I negotiated my benefits package, I landed a complimentary gym membership and a cell phone. Apparently, I was the first employee prospect to negotiate a free gym membership, but because wellness is important to me, I thought it was a reasonable benefit to request. Interestingly, within a year, my company started offering complimentary gym memberships to all employees. A little part of me hopes I paved the way for others.
“Benefits are more than just health insurance and 401K plans. These days, they include perks like extra vacation days and the opportunity to work remotely. Now’s the time to get creative.”
Also, look closely at your paid time off. Whether it’s vacation, personal, or sick time, you might be in for a surprise if the offer includes fewer days than what you’d expect. Make sure to ask for more if you know that downtime is essential to your mental and professional well-being. No one likes taking a vacation day to cover strep throat.
Make It Titillating With a Better Title
If you really want the job but there's a salary cap, how about asking for a better title? It may be a perk you can’t really quantify, but it can help you in many ways. Having a more marketable and impressive title means you’ll have something to lean on when the time comes to ask for a promotion or when you’re moving onto your next company.
Seek Out Learning Opportunities
Asking about educational opportunities not only makes you look intellectually aware and motivated to your future employer, but it also opens the door for potential opportunities for personal career growth, like conferences, seminars, certifications, and even degree programs that you may not otherwise have access to. If there's a specific conference you want to attend the first year you start, call it out specifically as a negotiation tactic. You'll be surprised at how much asking for professional development will garner you respect and also incredible career and travel opportunities—an education on both fronts.
Get It in Writing
When all is said and done, make sure to take the time to read and understand the offer and agreed-upon negotiations. To that end, save all communications, including emails. This will avoid any after-the-fact misunderstandings and ensure that you're able to enjoy the benefits you worked so hard to negotiate.
By putting aside fears of rejection, negotiating benefits can be an enlightening and fruitful process. Armed with these tactics, you should be able to negotiate the kind of job package that you feel comfortable knowing that you sought out the kind of benefits that will serve you and your future.
An original version of this article appeared on Career Contessa.
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This story was originally published on April 29, 2019, and has since been updated.
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How Bertha González Nieves Grabbed a Seat at the Table (and a Glass) to Became the First Female Master of Tequila
“I’ve always focused on my ability and my passion instead of my gender.”
How many times have you peered voyeuristically into the lives of people you admire via social media and wondered what it must be like to do their job? We’ve all been down that research rabbit hole on our quest to create and cultivate the career of our dreams, but often we’re still left pondering the realities of their day-to-day—so, what is it really like? In this series, I Want Your Job we uncover the truth by getting into the nitty-gritty details about what it’s actually like to work in your quote-unquote “dream job” and if the reality stacks up to the expectation.
Photo: Ball & Albanese
Bertha González Nieves fell in love with tequila almost immediately. Two days into a three-day trip to Tequila, Jalisco, the heart of Mexico’s tequila industry, she already knew she wanted to pursue a career that involved working with the history-rich, blue agave-derived spirit. In fact, she even went so far as to call up her parents to tell them that she’d discovered what she’d wanted to do for a living.
She landed a dream job at Grupo Cuervo, the oldest tequila producer in the world, but after 10 years, she decided to take a risk and launch her own small-batch premium tequila brand, Casa Dragones in 2009. Fast-forward 11 years, and her passion hasn’t wavered. “I have such passion for tequila and Mexico that it’s an honor for me to be part of an industry that contributes to the cultural relevance of Mexico internationally,“ she tells Create & Cultivate. But being at the helm of an independent, small-batch, tequila producer hasn’t been easy.
Ahead, González Nieves explains how she grabbed a seat at the table to become the first female master of tequila, how she’s paying it forward to other women coming up in the industry, and how she’s pivoting the company in the wake of COVID-19.
On getting her foot in the door in the tequila industry…
I fell in love with the tequila category when I was 22 years old and was selected by the Japanese government to represent Mexico in a global program in Japan.
As part of my training, I traveled extensively throughout Mexico, learning about the country’s economy and various industries in order to represent Mexico as a young ambassador to Japan. My travels included a three-day visit to Tequila, Jalisco, and after the second day, I called my parents and told them that I had found what I wanted to do. I wanted to work in the tequila industry.
After university, I worked for Booz Allen & Hamilton in the marketing intensive group doing consulting for top global packaged goods companies and then received a master’s degree from Northwestern University. Once I graduated, tequila was on mind and in my heart, so I went knocking on the doors of the tequila industry.
I worked for the Beckman family from Grupo Cuervo for 10 years, the oldest tequila producer and an eleventh generation-run company. I fell in love with everything about the tequila production process and its connection to the culture and history of Mexico. While there, I had key roles both in Mexico and globally, but at some point, I realized the brand would never truly be my own.
I’m an entrepreneur at heart (and actually, I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so it’s in my blood!), so I knew I’d never be fully satisfied until I had my own company, which eventually inspired me to start Casa Dragones.
Photo: Courtesy of Bertha González Nieves
On laying the groundwork for starting her own company…
I earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universidad Anáhuac in Mexico City and a master of science degree in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern. I’ve also had the opportunity to take executive courses at Harvard Business School, Wharton Business School, Columbia Business School, and other top schools. I would say that while much of my studies helped me prepare for the business world, nothing has been as valuable as actually working in the industry itself. Taking the time to become an expert in the tequila industry is what has set me and the company apart.
On pursuing entrepreneurial ventures from a young age…
Since my teenage years, I’ve been creating and participating in small entrepreneurial ventures like creating a holiday card business in Mexico City, co-producing a film, and working for Mexico City’s top magazine. I also worked throughout my university years in Mexico City, all jobs that weren’t related to tequila. These combined experiences were an important part of my preparation to become an entrepreneur and enabled me to be able to recognize my passion for the tequila industry. For the generations that are coming up, it’s important that you are curious because finding your passion and purpose will enable you to have the focus to discover your potential.
On becoming the first-ever Maestra Tequilera…
A Maestra Tequilera or Maestro Tequilero are the lead people in charge of the production of tequilas in a tequila company. He or she is the person within a production house that is in charge of defining the brand’s unique formula. I’ve been aware of how male-dominated the tequila industry is from the beginning, but I’ve always focused on my ability and my passion instead of my gender.
I am part of the founding professors that started with the Program of Tecnico Tequilero in the Universidad de Guadalajara that now is a master’s program. It’s important to give back to the tequila’s appellation of origin and make sure that the next generations can have more academic programs so they can take the category further.
I want to help break down barriers and provide a path for other women who are interested in the spirits industry. Women in Hospitality and Women of The Vine & Spirits are important organizations that I’m a part of that empower women in the industry through networking and events. More than half of the Casa Dragones team is made up of women, so this is very important to me.
On being at the helm of her own company…
No day is the same in my role as CEO, which is part of why I love the job. Building a company from scratch you realize very quickly that the only constant is change. I divide my time between Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico City, and New York plus all of the work travel with my team across both the U.S. and Mexican markets and travel for events with wholesalers and customers. Between January and March, for example, I traveled every week at least once, maybe even multiple times a week. Last week, I was in tequila bottling the first batch of a new style we are bringing to market this year, and today I’m in New York, soon to be flying out to Las Vegas. I know now why they say, “running a company.” Running is a verb for a reason—you’re on the run on a permanent basis.
Photo: Courtesy of Bertha González Nieves
On taking the highs and lows of entrepreneurship in stride…
Being an entrepreneur and building a venture is a journey where the highs are high and the lows are very low. It can be glamorous at times, but mostly you need to roll up your sleeves and accept that you are making difficult decisions every day. You have to have thick skin and be quick on your feet to think critically about each decision you make.
On advice for professionals trying to break into the industry…
My best advice is to make sure you have a full understanding of the category, a clear route on how to bring products into the marketplace, and have a unique selling proposition. Surround yourself with the best and most professional mentors you can find and also secure smart capital. Make sure there’s a long-term view because building a venture is not a 5k, it’s a marathon. Perseverance, dedication, passion, and knowledge are the key ingredients to finding success in any industry.
On pivoting in the wake of COVID-19…
As a small-batch producer, we felt the impact of COVID-19 immediately. With bars, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs all closed, we lost a large share of business overnight and had to pivot quickly. It was important for us to stay connected and support our restaurant and bar community, so we started donating a portion of our online sales to the United States Bartenders’ Guild and the James Beard Foundation Open for Good campaign.
We also developed a “Cocktails at Home” program with out-of-work bartenders in the U.S., Mexico, and London, directly supporting them with small grants in exchange for original cocktail content online. One of my favorite initiatives to date has been providing sustainable 375ml Blanco glass bottles for our restaurant partners, such as ATLA, Lola Taverna, and Moby’s to use for their to-go cocktail programs.
In June, we introduced our latest sipping tequila, Casa Dragones Barrel Blend, in Mexico and the U.S., so we’re constantly pivoting and finding new opportunities to engage our loyal customers with extraordinary experiences. As entrepreneurs, change is the only constant. We need to look at every challenge as an opportunity to grow, change, and innovate.
Photo: Courtesy of Bertha González Nieves
On the Casa Dragones project she’s most proud of…
Since we started our company, we’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented artists, chefs, and mixologists in the world. Reflecting back, these collaborations—from special art edition bottles to special pairing dinners to mixology jamming sessions—have been some of the most rewarding for me in my career. In November 2019, we celebrated our ten-year anniversary over Day of the Dead weekend in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, which is Casa Dragones’ spiritual home. We invited everyone who supported us over the years to celebrate this incredible milestone with us.
Our chef friends Enrique Olvera (Cosme, ATLA, Pujol), Daniela Soto-Innes (Cosme, ATLA), Elena Reygadas (Rosetta, La Panadería, Café NiN), Blaine Wetzel (The Willows Inn), and Donnie Masterton (The Restaurant) created a 100% plant-based dinner for over 360 of our closest friends and partners in the oldest operating bullfighting ring in Latin America. It was a magical celebration, showcasing our journey of craftsmanship, and our commitment to creating exceptional tequila and exceptional experiences. If we hadn’t remained committed to this ideal, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
On getting the most out of every workday…
Productivity is like being on a diet. Sometimes you’re productive and some days you don’t meet your expectations. It takes discipline to deliver at your highest level of productivity on a constant basis and keeping the balance between work and personal is essential to achieving this. Some distance between the two helps give clarity on what your priorities should be. With all of my travel, I have become very efficient at working on planes and figuring out how to be productive even when I’m not in the office.
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You Made a Mistake at Work, Now What?
Everyone makes mistakes. Here’s how to handle yours with professionalism and poise.
Photo: Christina Jones Photography
We've all been there. That moment when you realize you've made a huge mistake and get that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.
Everyone makes mistakes. It's human nature. what matters isn’t that you made a mistake, but how you handle it. If you are perpetually making errors because of a lack of attention to detail or carelessness, that is a separate issue that should be addressed. However, making a rare mistake is totally normal as long as you handle it properly. What does that mean?
Handling a mistake properly means taking the high road, taking responsibility, and making the situation right. Below is a list of steps to take to ensure that you handle your mistake professionally and with poise.
You made a mistake, now what?
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY
The moment you realize that you've made a mistake is the moment you need to take action. Sitting around and dwelling on your error won't make it better, and depending on what the mistake is, moving slowly could make it worse.
In some instances, taking immediate action could actually help you reverse the mistake. For instance, if you realize that you just sent something to print with a typo in it, call the printing press or whoever is in charge and explain the situation immediately. If you get to the right people in time, you may be able to stop the problem before it starts and get them the correct information before anything gets printed incorrectly.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ERRORS AND FESS UP TO THEM
There's nothing worse than a person who won't take responsibility for their error and instead tries to place blame on someone else. When you don’t take responsibility and try to blame the problem on others, it becomes a bigger deal, involves others, and can turn into an office-wide issue.
If you handle your mistake appropriately, you will often be recognized for your quick thinking and your ability to jump on a situation. In this case, the mistake could end up working in your favor in the long run. Most people understand that mistakes happen, so they pay more attention to the aftermath than the mistake itself. Make your mitigation process memorable, and people will remember how you remedied the situation instead of created it.
WORK QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY
It’s important to get things sorted out as soon as possible, but if you're not working strategically and efficiently, it's not worth it. No one will care that you're working fast to remedy the situation if your fast work is riddled with errors and carelessness. Quality trumps everything in business, so make sure that your work is efficient and free of errors, especially when you’re trying to fix a mistake that you made.
This is the moment to make sure your next steps are near perfect. That means triple-checking the information you’re putting out and taking note of everything you do. Document your process so you have it on file should it ever come out in the future. That way, if someone does question the mistake you made, you can easily outline the process you took to fix it.
MAKE NOTE OF WHAT WENT WRONG AND TAKE PRECAUTIONS SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN
Part of making mistakes is learning from them, so it’s important that you assess the situation to figure out exactly what went wrong. After you’ve taken care of all of the cleanup and have gotten everything smoothed out, take a few minutes to reflect on what happened. Go through the steps in your head to see what went wrong, where it went wrong, and note how to combat this in the future.
MOVE ON
Take a deep breath and move on. Once you’ve cleaned up the aftermath there is nothing else you can do. Try not to dwell on it, and do your best to move forward. This may be easier said than done, but it’s the truth. Take the high road, take responsibility, work efficiently, document your work, and make sure you don’t make the same mistake twice. After you’ve done this, you’ve done your part. Once it’s over and done, let it go. You’ll live longer.
About the Author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé 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 résumé, style, and boost your confidence.
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This story was originally published on August 17, 2016, and has since been updated.
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This Founder Started Her Multi-Million-Dollar Business With Just $100 From Her Savings Account
How Rochelle Graham-Campbell built a hair care empire.
You asked for more content around business finances, so we’re delivering. Welcome to Money Matters where we give you an inside look at the pocketbooks of CEOs and entrepreneurs. In this series, you’ll learn what successful women in business spend on office spaces and employee salaries, how they knew it was time to hire someone to manage their finances, and their best advice for talking about money. In honor of Black Equal Pay Day, we're shining a spotlight on Black female founders by taking a closer look inside their successful businesses and how they funded them from the ground up.
Photo: Courtesy of Rochelle Graham-Campbell
In 2008, Rochelle Graham-Campbell paved the way as one of the first natural hair vloggers and quickly amassed a huge following on YouTube. Cut to 2020, and she’s turned those followers into dollars with her line of sought-after natural hair care products, Alikay Naturals. Today, the products Graham-Campbell used to make out of her kitchen are sold on the shelves of major retailers by the likes of Target, Walmart, and CVS.
Believe it or not, this successful business started out with just $100, a tried and true hair care remedy, and an unassuming package of paper labels. “My labels were Avery labels that would wash away after a customer used it the first time,” Graham-Campbell, Alikay Naturals co-founder and CEO, tells Create & Cultivate. “While I wanted the prettiest things, I focused more energy on making sure that the quality of the product that I was providing was good enough to keep my customers coming back, and it worked for me.” We’ll say it worked. Alikay Naturals is now sold in 20 countries, including France, Canada, and Bermuda.
Ahead, Graham-Campbell breaks down how she built a multi-million-dollar hair care empire starting with just $100, including hiring her grandparents as her first official employees, and not paying herself a salary for several years.
On bootstrapping the business…
We decided to self-fund because my husband and business partner, Demond, and I wanted to prove our business concepts before we invested more capital into them. With just an initial hundred dollars, would we be able to grow the business organically if we took every dollar earned thereafter and put it into the business?
We were also raised in very financially conservative households (a.k.a. raised in families that didn’t have a lot of money) so we knew how to stretch a dollar and use it wisely. We used this and applied it to our business as well. We have also heard horror stories of businesses taking on investors too early. The investors then came in and caused the brand to be ruined because the initial idea and concept of the founders had been stripped away. Instead of focusing on investors or shareholders, we decided to focus on serving our customers first.
On self-funding tips for entrepreneurs…
My basic bootstrap tips are to keep your overhead and expenses as low as possible for as long as possible. Some people at the moment, once their business starts to be successful, think they have something to prove by opening a physical location. There are so many companies that have been able to grow into multi-million dollar or even six-figure generating brands that still operate in an apartment or a house.
Also, look into guerrilla marketing; get creative with your marketing dollars in the beginning. We weren’t focused on billboards or magazines, we were focused on how we can get our customers excited by spending as little money as possible. Also, how can we put our time, energy, and effort into creating marketing material that connected to our customers? Which included me doing hair tutorials to spread education and knowledge about our products.
I also taught myself to be in every department in the business, from social media and marketing to customer service and shipping to product development. I did it all, whatever it took because we did not have the capital to hire employees. We waited until the point when hiring was absolutely necessary before we brought employees on and took on a payroll expense. We also kept our beta product as low cost as possible to be able to keep our profit margins healthy so that we can be able to fund cash flow into the business. Eleven years later, we are still a self-funded, bootstrapped, cash-flow operated business.
On getting back to basics…
I recommend that other entrepreneurs start with what they have and start with where they are. Think about the basic things you need in your business to get to your first sale. Don’t over complicate the process. Think about the basic essentials and use your capital on hand to focus on those things. Once you start to generate revenue in your business, you can scale and you can add the additional resources in areas in departments as needed.
While I think branding is extremely important, I believe that at times people get so heavily focused on the aesthetics portion of their business, which at times, requires a lot of initial capital investment. They forget that the basic foundation of building a company, while all that also does require capital, is usually less expensive. Some examples of the basics that are needed are a website, not a full-functioning website. Maybe starting with a two-page website, enough to, again, convert customers into sales.
Your logo and your brand mood board is another basic investment that I think is worth it creating the beta version of your product or service and getting it launched. Then, I recommend taking customer feedback to pivot and improve. Another area worth investing in upon launching is registering your business and having the proper license is also an initial investment that I think is worth it.
On DIY-ing as much as possible…
When I started my brand Alikay Naturals, I started with simple deli containers that literally were being wholesaled at a restaurant supply store down the street from my apartment. I started with labels that I DIY myself, which is also another recommendation for start-up businesses that are bootstrapping and are starting with limited or lack of funding.
Teach yourself as much as you can, DIY as much as you can in the beginning until you have the capital to be able to hire professionals to make it better. My labels were Avery labels that would wash away after a customer used it the first time. While I wanted the prettiest things, I focused more energy on making sure that the quality of the product that I was providing was good enough to keep my customers coming back and it worked for me.
On seeking venture capital to scale and grow…
My husband and I have successfully been able to grow our brand for eleven years. We are the sole owners and started with only $100 that we grew into a multi-million dollar global beauty brand. We are looking at the future and scaling our brand rapidly. I believe we are now at the point where we are considering venture capital and the right-fit investor for our business. We’ve previously been approached by investors but declined because it was not the right fit. I think when the right VC comes around we will know it. We want someone that understands our vision for the brand so we do not lose who we are. If you’re reading this and you think that you’re the right investor for us, definitely make sure you reach out.
On (eventually) putting herself on the payroll…
I actually could not afford to pay myself or my husband for many years. It took probably the first four years before we were officially able to pay ourselves formally on the payroll. Now, I want to be clear, my business has always been profitable, so it wasn’t necessarily that we couldn’t “afford” to pay ourselves, but being a cash-flow operated business, we had to make sure that every dollar that the business made was recycled back into the company. It was hard because it meant that our personal finances took a hit because we could not pull from the business.
However, the way that we looked at it was that our business was a baby, and we could not expect that a baby, although it was working, would be able to sustain us. In the early stages, it was more important for us to make the business stable and financially successful. When we finally put ourselves on payroll, we were the lowest-paid employees in our business for many many years. We paid ourselves just the minimal amount that it took to be able to cover our household expenses. This changed when we had our second child, and we finally gave ourselves the salary that we deserved. To be honest, it was uncomfortable giving ourselves a raise after so many years of barely paying ourselves anything, but it was time.
I would say to the other female founders, please make sure if you can structure some sort of payment for yourself and your business in the early stages, even if it might not be a lot. The sooner that you can pay yourself as the founder, the sooner you will be able to see what you’re working for in real life. It also will give you the motivation to push through the harder days. But remember that your business revenue is not your personal bank account; this is a mistake I see a lot of people make. I talk more about payroll and hiring our first employees in more detail in my book, “90 Days to C.E.O.”
On prioritizing your marketing budget…
I think the most important area for a business owner to focus their financial energy is into marketing. In order for your business to make money, people have to know about you, they have to want what you’re selling or providing as a service. They have to believe in your brand or your story, and you have to get their attention by being creative.
I think that branding is also important because branding is a part of marketing. You can still brand while your dollars may be limited. It is imperative that you understand how to track your ROI ( return on your investment) by having proper KPIs (key performance indicators) and measures of success in place for every single marketing activity that you do. I discuss this more in my book as well.
On hiring her first “official” employees…
My first big expense in our business was hiring our first employees after my grandparents. My grandparents, Yaya and Mr. Ralstan, were our first employees because they are family and they wanted to see us be successful, and we didn’t have to pay them very much. So our first major expense was hiring official employees that we had on the payroll, that we were now financially responsible for every two weeks, talk about pressure as a start-up business!
On investing in what’s really important…
The top three largest expenses in the beginning (and now!) are payroll, overhead expenses, and marketing. In the beginning, we were able to keep our marketing costs very low because we gorilla marketed and focused more on social media and free opportunities, but still, we had to have a budget allocated to get the word out about the products.
Photo: Courtesy of Rochelle Graham-Campbell
On saving specifically for tax season…
Save a minimum of 20% to put towards business taxes. I think that’s a mistake that a lot of early entrepreneurs make. They get excited when they start to make money and generate revenue and forget that at the end of the year you’re going to have to call Uncle Sam. Some advice that I can definitely offer is to pay your business taxes quarterly. It makes the blow at the end of the year a lot softer.
On hiring an accountant (after much trial and error)…
We did not have an accountant when we first started our business. In fact, to be honest, we neglected doing proper accounting for the first couple of years. We were just focused on making products, getting them to our customers on time, keeping them happy, and keeping our business going and growing.
As we began to formalize the business, I taught myself how to do QuickBooks and I was doing our bookkeeping by myself, but I wasn’t very good at it because I really did not have the time as CEO. I was already wearing 50 million hats, which included being the product developer, marketer, shipper, customer service representative, HR, and then bookkeeping?
It was too much so we did hire a small independent accountant who was not the best fit for us. It took us going through three independent accountants before we found our perfect fit, which is a woman-founded and operated firm that we use now.
On wishing that she’d invested in herself sooner…
I wish that I had paid myself earlier on because my personal finances and credit took a huge hit during this time. I wasn’t paying my student loans for the first couple of years as an entrepreneur because I wasn’t paying myself anything. I was only doing what it took to pay our basic expenses such as rent, food, etc. That was it just the basics. My personal finances took a hit that, honestly, was extremely embarrassing and took some years to rebuild.
On talking about money…
I think that it’s extremely important to talk about money. I must be honest, before I became a successful businesswoman, I thought talking money was kind of weird, awkward, and strange. I also thought that the people who talked about money were actually bragging. I realized that as you become more successful and more financially stable yourself, money talk is extremely important. It honestly gives you more insight and transparency into what others are doing. You are able to share advice and tips to be able to help each other as female founders. Business becomes better.
On finding a business mentor…
If you’re seeking a mentor, make sure that you are prepared. Don’t seek mentorship when you are not serious about what you are doing because the person you’re seeking out to become your mentor is probably extremely successful with an extremely busy schedule, so you have to already have something established or have a plan. You have to be dedicated and not waste their time.
Also, when doing outreach, find out what you can offer them as well. Don’t be fooled, just because someone is a successful business owner doesn’t mean that they can’t use support in some form. Figure out how you can offer some sort of support to them as well. Even if they decline, at least it looks like you’re not just going with your hands out with nothing to contribute.
If you are able to get an opportunity to work with a mentor make sure you are really listening when they are talking. I think the worst thing is when someone asks you for advice and they just end up talking over you. I just stop talking at that point. I wish I had business mentors when I was starting my journey but I did not. I think that it possibly could’ve helped me to get further in a faster time. But I have no regrets, it made me extremely self-reliant.
On hiring the wrong employees and paying them too much…
The biggest money mistake I made was paying an employee that I hired based on what they thought they deserved and not necessarily based on the credentials and experience that they had. I allowed them to do a smoke and mirrors on me. The résumé and after being hired their work ethic and performance and results did not match the salary that they had demanded. They no longer work for my company. They only lasted a few weeks but it was a necessary lesson that I needed to learn
On giving financial advice to entrepreneurs…
Always know your numbers and your margins. You are in business to be profitable, not just to be popular, so understand your profit margins. Also, keep your expenses and overhead as low as possible for as long as you possibly can. Even if you have an accountant or CFO, it’s your responsibility to check and monitor your bank account often.
On her #1 piece of financial advice for founders…
Build a relationship with a business banker. As a small business owner, we open a business bank account, and then we think that is it! We don’t realize that there are so many additional resources that are free and available to us but we will never know if we don’t ask. Now, don’t allow people to talk down to you and bully you into getting additional things that you may not need, but it’s really nice to know you can pick up the phone and call a business banker direct instead of having to always call a one 800 line.
On setting high financial goals…
Don’t be afraid to set your financial goals for your business. I remember having a meeting with my sales team last year and they were celebrating that we had met a sales goal, but I wasn’t smiling. I had to explain that my goal was a lot higher and that we needed to raise the bar, which we did and this year we have already exceeded that goal after Q2, which is amazing. Had I kept the goal lower, I don’t know if we would’ve pushed as hard as a team to exceed or to meet that goal.
As a founder, don’t be afraid to set your revenue and sales goals high. You are either going to work and meet it, or if do you fall short, at least you weren’t aiming low. One major goal that I have for my business is a high percentage of growth in revenue year after year. This is what makes me feel like my business is being successful I wrote a book that’s 422 pages that discusses my past 11 years as a CEO in “90 Days To C.E.O.” I hope that everyone is able to pick up a copy because the things that I discuss are extremely transparent.
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