Cyber Attacks Cost Small Businesses an Average of $200,000—Here's How to Avoid Them

Photo: Christina Jones Photography

Even before COVID hit, small businesses were prime targets of costly cyber attacks. On average, cyber attacks cost small businesses as much as $200,000 in 2019. By the numbers, 28% of small businesses experienced a data breach within the last 12 months, of which 37% suffered a financial loss, 25% filed for bankruptcy, and 10% went out of business. Now, as small businesses rapidly shift their brick-and-mortar shops online to accommodate consumers’ accelerated adoption of e-commerce, they’re even more vulnerable to cyber threats.

To learn more about how small businesses can safely and successfully pivot to digital during COVID and beyond, Create & Cultivate partnered with Mastercard as the presenting sponsor to host an eye-opening cybersecurity workshop led by none other than Ginger Siegel, the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard, at our recent Future of Work Summit. Below, we’re sharing some of the most valuable takeaways from the information-packed session. If you missed the workshop (or just want a quick refresher course!), scroll on—and be sure to grab a pen because you’re going to want to commit this info to memory!

The Trends Pushing Small Businesses to Go Digital

Trend #1: Contactless Payment

With social distancing evolving into a long-term norm, continued reliance on delivery, pick-up, and alternative points of sale will push small businesses to adopt more versatile payment methods, making the market for contactless payment methods such as tap on phone adoption, says Siegel.

“We already expected to see an increase in contactless spend, but COVID-19 has really accelerated this behavior and made consumer demand shift quicker than anticipated,” she explains. “46% of global consumers have swapped out their top-of-wallet card for one the provides contactless functionality, and about 74% of consumers said they will continue using contactless post-pandemic.”

Trend #2: E-Commerce

As consumers increasingly rely on e-commerce solutions, getting the basics of business operations online will be essential for small businesses’ survival, explains Siegel. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, e-commerce in April and May made up 22% of all retail sales in the U.S., which is up from 11% in 2019.

Put another way? More money was spent online in the U.S. in the span of two months than the last 12 Cyber Mondays combined. If small businesses don’t keep pace, they may lose the opportunity to meet market demands in the future. “82% of small businesses have actually changed the way they send and receive payments and 51% have been transitioning their clients to digital methods,” notes Siegel.

Trend #3: Digital Services

While online card payments have seen an increase of 60% during the pandemic, the use of cash and checks has decreased by 34% and 24%, respectively, according to a recent survey conducted by Mastercard. “67% of small businesses said that one upside to the pandemic is that it prompted them to upgrade their digital payment solutions,” notes Siegel of the trend.

“Small businesses plan to stick with digital business payments, even as the pandemics subsides,” says Siegel, pointing to increased customer satisfaction as the driving factor behind the shift. About 70% of small businesses say that they're 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, she notes.

The Top Cyber Threats to Small Businesses

As small businesses rely on digital payments to serve their customers and digital means to communicate with employees, cyber threats are becoming more and more prevalent in the small biz community. 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, but only 14% are prepared to defend themselves, according to Accenture.

Here are two common types of cyber threats to small businesses:

Threat #1: Ransomware

In this scenario, bad actors gain access to data from a small business and demand a ransom payment in order to return the stolen and now-encrypted data.

Threat #2: Compromised email

In this case, a bad actor gains access to a small business employee’s email account and sends an internal email impersonating the employee making an urgent request for funds to be transferred to them.

The Steps for Getting Started With Cybersecurity

If you don’t know where to start with cybersecurity, you’re not alone. According to Keeper Security, 60% of small business owners do not have a cyberattack prevention plan. “81% of small businesses tell us that they really wish that someone would proactively alert them to changes in the cybersecurity landscape and provide best practices for small business,” explains Siegel.

Which is why Mastercard is developing dedicated cybersecurity solutions and educational resources for small business owners through their Digital Doors center, a curated set of resources to help guide, grow, and protect small businesses during these difficult times as well as through recovery. For more information on navigating COVID-19 as a small business, head to Mastercard.com.

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67% of small businesses said that one upside to the pandemic is that it prompted them to upgrade their digital payment solutions.”

—Ginger Siegel is the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard

About the Expert: Ginger Siegel is the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard. Most recently, she was a senior manager in the financial services group in Deloitte where she was a member of the highly ranked payments practice and also focused on fintech and bank partnerships, small business, and commercial banking opportunities in the areas of strategy development, process design, and operation model transformation. She brings 30 years of industry leadership experience as an executive at large multinational and regional banks in the areas of small business, business banking, and retail with a focus on strategy, leading execution, payments, treasury management, SalesForce optimization, branch optimization, and revenue growth. 

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I Had a Double Mastectomy at the Age of 26—Here's Why You Need to Know

“B

reast cancer screening, at any age, is vital to the health and well-being of women. However, it’s one of the latest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.

”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

The novel coronavirus has impacted our world in ways many of us could never have imagined. But women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, including those trying to prevent it, have faced a unique set of challenges. 

Having a mastectomy can be life-altering. As someone who underwent a preventive double mastectomy at the age of 26, I know firsthand the physical and emotional repercussions of this type of procedure. I chose to preventatively remove my breasts because, by the time I turned 16, I had already lost my mother, grandmother, and great aunt to breast cancer, with my mother discovering her own breast cancer at 27. Her diagnosis was the result of an early mammogram, which she only received after months of persuading her doctor and being repeatedly told that she was “too young to have breast cancer.” Her first mammogram identified an invasive tumor measured at the size of a golf ball. By the time it was removed, only a few months later, the tumor had grown to the size of a grapefruit.

The sad reality is that my mother’s story is not unique. Young women are often denied screening. And by the time cancer is discovered, it’s too late. This is why breast cancer screening, at any age, is vital to the health and well-being of women. However, it’s one of the latest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Access to life-saving screenings like mammograms, MRIs, and breast ultrasounds has been deemed “non-essential” in a COVID-19 world. These screenings afford women the opportunity to catch breast cancer early (when it’s most curable) or give them the information they need to save their own lives through preventative surgery. By postponing annual screenings, the healthcare industry is primed to receive an onslaught of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses, increasing the ever-expanding burden women face during this pandemic.

“B

y the time I turned 16, I had already lost my mother, grandmother, and great aunt to breast cancer, with my mother discovering her own breast cancer at 27.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

Now let’s imagine for a moment receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in 2020. 

If you’re thinking: “Surely cancer patients must have access to care during the pandemic”—well, you’d only be half right. Women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have undergone a mastectomy are also being denied access to breast reconstruction surgeries—now classified as “elective procedures.” However, affording women the ability to reconstruct their breasts is not elective, it is simply the completion of their medical treatment. And while breast reconstruction may look different for every woman, it is often vital to the health and well-being of those faced with a mastectomy. By denying access to this important part of medical care, we are likely welcoming a myriad of other health issues as a result. While we all take the necessary precautions to eliminate the spread of coronavirus, the healthcare industry should take particular caution in avoiding myopic restrictions impacting the health and well-being of women. 

As such, I would encourage all women to take time to learn what they can do to be proactive in their breast health. Small things, such as learning how to correctly perform a self-breast exam can be vital in early detection. Implementing this five-minute ritual once a month could save your life! Interested in learning how? A step by step tutorial (and other helpful tips) can be found on Instagram, YouTube, in blog form or you can tune into Create and Cultivate’s “Self-Care Sunday” on IG Live on October 11th at 10 AM PDT for a live demonstration. See you then!

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I would encourage all women to take time to learn what they can do to be proactive in their breast health.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

About the Author: As a 24-year-old Miss America contestant, Allyn Rose made headlines across the globe with the controversial decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy after losing her mother, grandmother, and great aunt to breast cancer. Allyn's story inspired celebrities like Angelina Jolie and a new generation of women to take charge of their healthcare choices. Determined to encourage other women to know that their scars are beautiful, Allyn boldly became the first woman with a mastectomy to model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. She is the founder of The Previvor, a 501(c)(3) non-profit women's health platform, which serves as a resource for women undergoing mastectomy and the creator of the #SelfExamGram, a social media movement encouraging women to perform a monthly self-breast exam.

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24 Hard-Working Womxn Share The One Productivity Tip That Truly Changed Their Life

Regardless of your industry, job title, or goals, you probably have a to-do list that seems never-ending. Yet, with so many tasks vying for your attention, it can be easy to get to the end of the day and feel as though you really haven’t accomplished anything.

To help, we tapped into the brilliant minds of 24 female leaders to learn the one productivity tip that has changed their life and freed them up to work on what matters most. Try one or try them all! The real impact comes from finding what works best for you.

Sarina Virk Torrendell

Founder & Career Coach of withSarina

1.Get an Early Start

I am most productive two to three hours before my day actually starts. Even if I woke up at 8 a.m., I always found myself feeling rushed and scattered throughout the day. The moment I started waking up two to three hours earlier, it gave me the quiet time and space I needed to build out lists and goals for my day and get work done without any distractions. Even if the rest of my day turned out to be unproductive due to things outside of my control, having those hours in the a.m. within my control has been a game-changer for my productivity. 

TeLisa Daughtry

Founder & Chief Technology Officer of FlyTechnista

2. Utilize Automations

People might think that I’m a superwoman, but my real super power is utilizing automations. I started building them when I was working in Corporate America to help me and my team complete repetitive and mundane tasks more efficiently and accurately.

As a solopreneur and consultant, I've integrated bots and automations whenever and wherever possible for the things I don't like doing and don't want to spend my time doing. I love using automation software like IFTTT for my emails, social media posts, contact forms, automating responses, and beyond. Specifically, it has been a game-changer for managing my calendar and my emails. 

Melinda Wang

Founder of MWProjects

3. Focus on the Big Picture

With dozens of active projects, at any given moment, across different industries, I found that the most important thing for my productivity and effectiveness has been to set aside time to take the big picture view of those projects as well as how I would like my businesses to grow.  

At least once a month, I schedule a three-hour appointment with myself! My appointments have allowed me to review the wins, challenges and forward paths on active projects. They also give me space to be intentional about my goals for my companies, and not only business growth, but also how we can contribute to our communities and foster equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Lori Mihalich-Levin

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Mindful Return

4. Do Your Most Important Task First

Learning about Daniel Pink's "Most Important Task" has been a game changer for me. The idea is that you pick one most important task for the day, and do that first thing in the morning. Particularly during this COVID work-from-home era, distraction is so prevalent that it's tempting to dig into the easiest task when I sit down to work. This isn't, however, always the most important task. 

Now, I pause before I go to bed at night and write tomorrow's most important task on an index card. I put that card on my computer, and that's the first thing I do when I sit down to work.

Trisha Okubo

Founder & Creative Director of Maison Miru

5. Prioritize Tasks With High ROI

Focus first on the tasks with high return of investment (ROI). This simple philosophy governs how you would invest your money, and you can do the same thing with your time. Focusing on tasks that give you high returns, like automating processes, will allow you to reinvest your time and energy to give you even more "bang for your buck" so to speak.

When I first started my company, it was just me at my kitchen table doing everything from product design, finding manufacturing partners, branding, photographing, setting up my e-commerce site, emailing and social marketing, etc. I learned to focus on tasks with high ROI first as a matter of survival. I'm a former product manager, so I learned early on the importance of prioritizing tasks. Between having my priority list and focusing on tasks with high ROI, I was able to get the company off the ground and find the product/market fit I needed in order to be able to start hiring.

Victoria Repa

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of BetterMe

6. Practice Breathing Exercises

While I like meditation and think it does a lot of good, personally, I’ve been an adherent of practicing pranayama (breathing exercises for relaxation and focus) daily for years. I find that pranayama is more effective at clearing your mind and preventing your emotions from interfering with your decision-making.

Managing my team remotely, while staying inside during quarantine, I’ve noticed that people have started paying much more attention to their inner state. In fact, I feel like our awareness and attitude towards mental health is experiencing an important global shift overall. 

Anna Gabriella Casalme

Chief Executive Officer of Novelly

7. Meditate in the Morning

The first thing I used to do in the morning, even before getting out of bed, was to check my emails and other notifications. I found myself getting stressed and overwhelmed from the moment I woke up, and this set the tone for the rest of my day. 

Now, I disable my alarm and immediately hop into a 10-minute morning meditation using the Insight Timer app. A daily 10-minute morning meditation in bed has never asked too much of me in terms of my time and effort. This habit kicks off my day with grounded and peaceful energy which has actually helped me be more productive at work.

Mary Clavieres

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of The Transitions Collective

8. Plan Your Day the Night Before

After having kids, my mornings felt hectic and disorganized. So, I plan my week on Sunday evenings, and then each weeknight, I review and prepare for the next day. I’ve found it game changing to review the next day’s activities, identify priorities and pack up any items the night before.

When I wake up the next morning, I feel organized and ready to start the day. It helps to save time and also allows us a little extra time for the unexpected things that can happen in the morning. 

Brooke Taylor

Founder of Brooke Taylor Coaching & Consulting

9. Practice Essentialism

I practice Essentialism: it is the rigorous prioritization of only the most essential projects in my business. Any business opportunity that does not forward my three priorities for the quarter gets deprioritized or delegated. 

When I was experiencing entrepreneurial scatterbrain, I quickly pivoted to Essentialism which increased my focus and my bottom line. When I coach female executives and leaders, the first practice is to the three most essential business priorities to communicate to their team and three other essential life priorities to communicate to their family and manager. The process of choosing which three initiatives to prioritize in and of itself is clarifying and strategic. 

Rahama Wright

Founder and CEO of Shea Yeleen

10. Take Short Breaks Often

I started taking breaks every two hours even if it was just for 10 minutes. I used to work non-stop with little breaks thinking I could get more done. The problem was most days I was working 12 or more hours resulting in major burn out. Taking short breaks every two hours has been a game-changer because it allows me to rest my eyes, take a few deep breaths, or get a snack, giving me a needed boost.

Jes Osrow

Co-Founder & DEIBA Specialist at The Rise Journey

11. Utilize Gmail Tools

It is a combo of two simple Gmail tools: the scheduled send and the snooze. I'm a very action-oriented person. and if I don't take action quickly, things can fall by the wayside. The scheduled send allows me to write that followup email ASAP after the call, but plan it to go out at a time that is appropriate. The snooze feature is a fantastic way to not let emails get lost in your inbox and even let you file them away and pop up when you need a reminder.  

It has been a staple of my work to stay organized, on top of my work, and feel confident that I'm working on the right pieces at the right time. There is very little that makes me feel worse than accomplishing something, feeling great, and then realizing that I had missed much more impactful and bigger priorities on my plate.

Nikki Goldman

Chief Executive Officer of I/O Coaching

12. Force Yourself to Brain Dump 

Before diving into anything that requires creativity or thoughtfulness, I put a four-minute timer on the clock to free write about it. I force myself to use the entire four minutes and just write whatever comes to mind. Lots of it is gibberish, but quickly, once I get through that, I end up surfacing thoughts and ideas I otherwise wouldn't have if I had just dove right in.

I am a speed demon and a task master. I grew up in start-up land, so "done today is better than perfect next month" has been the name of my game. I think it's a strength of mine, but it also lends itself to multi-tasking which just isn't productive. By spending four minutes to slow down and just think about this one task, I'm able to speed up in the end because my ideas are much more developed and baked.

Jessi Greenlee

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Good Impact Network

13. Start With Delegation

Start your week with delegation instead of action item overwhelm. As you write out your to-do list for the week, think critically about every item on the list and if it is critical that you be the one doing it. If you don't have a team to help absorb tasks, look into virtual assistants and interns that can take over your more time consuming, recurring tasks. This will leave you with more time and energy to focus on important tasks that relate directly to your big picture strategy.

This has been revolutionary for my business by giving me back time and mental space to focus on strategy and prioritize tasks that directly result in forward movement. Delegation has directly led to increased revenue by allowing me more capacity to take on additional clients.

Willow Hill

Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Scout Lab

14. Invest in a Meditation Practice

Daily meditation has transformed my life and allowed me to be more focused, more calm and able to get much more done. I started meditation because I have ADD which, as an entrepreneur and creative director, is both my superpower and my achilles heel. I draw a lot of creativity from my natural energy but it can leave me scattered as well. 

Implementing a meditation practice has allowed me to slow down and approach my work with calm intention. It is a practice that must be cultivated constantly but it has been worth the investment in time because it ultimately saves time when I am not rushed or forgetful.

Tamara Laine

Chief Marketing Officer of A.Lynn Designs

15. Walk and Jot

I call it the Walk and Jot. I am sure it is not the formal name, but for me, it stands for walking and dictating the majority of my writing work into my phone. 

It started by happenstance; as a field reporter, I was always running from story to story and needed to write in-depth articles on the go. I found dictating my first draft into my phone, not only saved time, but it allowed for a better free flow of thoughts to shine through. Now, most mornings I walk and dictate into my phone pieces and creative inspiration that I am working on. First drafts are always hard to get on paper, but this way, I don't waste time thinking of the perfect word. This process has enhanced creativity, time management, and productivity all at the same time.

Callie Schweitzer

Senior News Editor, Marketing at LinkedIn

16. Prepare Well For Meeting Someone New

When meeting someone new, prepare well; the conversation will feel more like a second than a first.

Time and attention are precious, and meeting fatigue is a very real thing. When you're meeting new people, it can be exhausting to spend 15 minutes on each person's backstory, and you'll find your 30-minute meeting is over before it feels like it really began. When I meet with someone, I want to be able to jump right into why we're connecting instead of spending the majority of the conversation telling each other things that would surface in a quick internet search. I do a lot of research before I meet with people: I look at their LinkedIn, what they’re posting and engaging with on social media, things they’ve written, and recent news about them or their company to get up to speed on what’s out there. You might find a mutual friend or something you have in common and be able to connect on a deeper level.

Nina Kong-Surtees

Founder and Chief Art Advisor of smART Advisory

17. Devote Time to Critical Tasks

Blocking at least one 90 minutes session in my schedule per day to devote time on the most critical task has been a game-changer for me. I've implemented this new productivity habit as I used to feel overwhelmed by never-ending to-do-lists, and I was always juggling multiple things. On the contrary, multitasking actually slowed me down and hindered me from achieving something that really mattered. During this 90-minute session, I am laser-focused and able to finish a project ahead of schedule.

Miraya Berke

Founder of Dessert Goals

18. Utilize Asana

I use Asana to project manage all my tasks, both for personal and work. At any time I can be planning 3 or more events, so each event has its own project with sub tasks. I can easily share the tasks, communicate with people I work with, and everything is tracked. I have all the tasks archived for years of events!

Kari Clark

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Breakout

19. Create a “One Day” List

I created a “One Day” list : a place for me to put all of the great ideas that I wanted to do “one day.” Every few weeks, items from this list graduate to my actual priority list. I am an idea person which can be a huge distraction because working on a ton of ideas means you don't make meaningful progress on any. Having a place to store the potential distractions allows me to stay focused on my priorities while still capturing the new directions.

Lauren Tanaka

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Global Garbs

20. Focus on 1-3 Big Tasks a Day

I only focus on 1-3 big tasks a day. I used to have a never ending to-do list, but instead of writing out a million things for each day I only focus on 1-3 big things. It's been a game-changer for me because I am pretty much a full-time mom running two businesses and have very few hours a day to get things done.

I had to figure out a better system to feel less overwhelmed and also help me feel like I've actually accomplished something. Sometimes I also write a "done" list at the end of the day rather than "to-do" list which feels like I accomplished even more - even if it's simple tasks like ordering more business cards.

Kristy Runzer

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of OnRoute Financial

21. Remove the Pressure to be Productive

The more I remove the pressure to be productive, focus on my biggest priorities, and trust that I'm moving at the right pace, the more productive I become.

Putting pressure on myself left me feeling rushed and behind like there was never enough time to get things done. By shifting my energy to trust that everything will get done and to focus on what's actually important, I can go through my day with more ease while still moving forward in a meaningful way.

Dominique Mas

Director of Coaching at Medley

22. Be Aware of Your Level of Energy

The most valuable thing I've learned is to build awareness around my level of energy in different domains and consistently take tiny steps to replenish it throughout the day.

I started doing this after doing research for a client. As a coach, I'm always trying to understand what's best for those I serve. When I tried it for myself, it was life-changing! It allows me to feel much more present and intentional with everything I do which means cutting out distractions and therefore working much more efficiently. In addition, it's a perfect way to feel aligned with my values of positivity, simplicity, growth, and challenge. 

Kori Estrada

Co-Founder of RiseWell

23. Utilize Time Blocking

I am a firm believer in time blocking my calendar for both work and personal tasks. Scheduling chunks of time helps me to keep focused during tasks and block out distractions. This ensures I don’t spend too much time on one thing and can get to everything I need in a day to feel productive. 

You can also easily get into a routine with daily time blocks and better manage your time as you learn how much time it takes to get certain tasks done. Calls are at my desk in the morning, all meetings are made mid-day, and afternoons are spent with branding opportunities and catching up with the team.

Kimberly Brizzolara

Founder of Brands That Get You

24. Try the 33-Minute Trick

The most legendary, crazy, prolific, productive copywriter of the twentieth century, Eugene Schwartz, would set a timer on his desk for 33 minutes and 33 seconds. During that time, the only thing he could do was the task at hand.

This 33 minute trick really forces you to focus on what you're doing by—removing any and all distractions—and breaks up your day into digestible chunks. Plus, it turns out to be a perfect nugget of time pressure: long enough to get something very meaningful done but not so long that it feels like a chore. 

About the Author: All womxn featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a private collective for extraordinary entrepreneurial womxn supporting one another in achieving audacious dreams. Dreamers & Doers mission is to catalyze the success of womxn leaders and their ventures through community and mutual support.

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I Paid Off $30K in Credit Card Debt in 6 Months — Here’s How You Can Too

Written by Kiok Kang, Founder, Glowing PR

What is your relationship with money? Do you love to save and budget for the future, or are you all about enjoying that hard-earned money and prepared to go into debt for it? Either way, we need to get better at talking about it if we ever want to be better at managing it, and eventually having more of it. Especially when you consider that globally, women control upwards of $20 trillion in annual consumer spending. But sadly, when it comes to managing money and planning for their financial future, women aren’t as independent as you’d expect. A recent study found that more millennial women cede control to their husbands than women of older generations. Well, our new series, The Money Files is set to change all that by helping women become masters of their own finances so they can manage their money and their future.

Photo: Sarah Shen

Before launching my own company, Glowing PR, I was a corporate employee at a well-known beauty conglomerate. I often felt frustrated by the bureaucracy of a corporate environment, as well as the self-serving motives of other employees (instead of goals that would benefit the company as a whole). Eventually, I decided to take all of my experiences and launch Glowing PR Agency at the end of 2017, and I can honestly say, I haven’t looked back since. I identified a crucial need from brands—a concierge PR agency that genuinely understood their goals and created organic opportunities, secured tangible and relevant coverage, and aligned themselves with the best influencers for their target audiences.  

Our first client, KNC Beauty was just at the beginning of an amazing start. Since then, we’ve focused heavily on indie beauty brands, which heralds back to my own roots in the beauty industry 10 years ago. While the business was thriving, there were costs that were rapidly accruing. For example, I secured an office space in Koreatown that was beautifully designed by Maison Trouvaille but I didn’t forecast a budget properly—launching a business, paying for attorney’s fees, renovating and designing a new office space, and all of the miscellaneous daily business expenses that were keeping the lights on.   

I started my business without enough knowledge of credit card interest rates, cash-flow management, and being able to look at the company’s finances from a bird’s eye view. Before I knew it, I had over $30,000 in debt. This amount was only for the business and didn’t include my personal debt, like my student loans. I immediately felt the weight of this mental and financial burden, like I was drowning with no relief in sight. But I wasn’t alone. The average American now has about $51,900 in personal debt, including mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, credit card debt, student loan debt, and other debt, like personal loans. The US comes in at #6 of the top 10 countries with the most debt (Debt-to-GDP ratio: 127%). 

“Before I knew it, I had over $30,000 in debt... I immediately felt the weight of this mental and financial burden, like I was drowning with no relief in sight. But I wasn’t alone.”

Photo: Sarah Shen

Serendipitously, I spoke on a panel at a women's networking event and met Anna Choung, our wonderful financial advisor and now our accountant. She touched on the launch of her FSMamas (aka Financially Savvy Mamas), a community that empowers women to become more financially independent by educating them on financial management. Afterwards, I decided to dive into my finances and tackle them head-on. It was an extremely humbling experience, to say the least., However, Anna was able to provide comprehensive advice on both business and personal financial decisions that were also tax-efficient.  

The first step of my financial journey was to educate myself on basic concepts—reviewing my financial history to assess the situation, understanding the holistic picture of my debt, as well as strategizing on a clear payment plan to move forward.  Quite frankly (I kick myself because it seems so obvious), the simplest takeaway from all of this was to not accumulate debt, especially high-interest credit card debt, in the first place. I learned that there’s a wise way of allocating money in your bank account without earning extra interest.

With that in mind, I started to pay off my debt with the highest interest rate first. It’s as simple as coming to grips with the financial issues at hand and resolving it as quickly as possible. And don’t be afraid to ask for help—it was eye-opening to sit down with my financial advisor to discuss a debt payment strategy.  

I wish I knew then what I know now—hindsight really is 20/20. Hopefully my story can help someone else, too. So, here are my tips to pay debt off as quickly as possible and grow a healthy business:

1. Understand Financial Concepts 

Get to know some basic financial terms, such as the rate of return and Rule of 72 which uses a simple formula to calculate the number of years it will take for your money or debt to double, given a certain rate of return—it can actually work for or against you. In my case, it worked against me. For example, if my credit card debt was $10,000 with an interest rate of 30% and I made no payments towards the debt, it would then double to $20,0000 in 2.4 years (72/30 =2.4 years).

Not paying off the debt with the highest interest on the credit card was hurting me because it was generating additional interest (rapidly) on top of my original debt. Tallying up the total interest costs and doing the math frightened me into taking action. Ultimately, wouldn’t you rather save those additional charges to grow your business rather than to grow another financial institution’s wealth? 

2. Use Financial Apps and Tools

We’re living in the age of technology and there’s an abundance of incredible apps out there that can assist with debt repayments, budgeting, saving, and investing. Most of these tools are either free or only charge a minimal fee. Loan calculators, such as UnBury.Me or Debt Tracker Pro, can assist you in building and implementing the most suitable debt reduction strategy.  Budgeting tools, such as Mint, show all of your bank account activity in a concise way.

They’ll break everything down in easy-to-read pie charts and graphs to show you where your revenue is coming from and how you’re spending your money. You can then set budgets and financial goals to help you pay off your debt and never, never, never let yourself pay late fees on debt. I recommend setting up automatic minimum payments for your credit cards to avoid any pesky, unnecessary late fees. Don’t be afraid to do some research and find the most suitable fintech tools to use for your business and your personal finances.

“Take a hard look at your business financials and make sure that they’re accurate. Numbers are the basic language of business, and it’s telling you a story.”

Photo: Sarah Shen

3. Manage Your Cash Flow and Get a Great Accountant  

Take a hard look at your business financials and make sure that they’re accurate. Numbers are the basic language of business, and it’s telling you a story. What is your business’s story? Is your business carrying too much debt? Are your clients not paying you in a timely manner? Do you have too many expenses? Is your revenue falling flat? After analyzing your numbers, re-strategize your business plan and reallocate your resources. Tracking your numbers closely and accurately, as well as performing budgeting and forecasting for your business, will lead you to efficient business growth.

Not only will you be able to identify problems and eliminate them from the start, but you’ll be able to manage your business’s liquidity and maintain your bank balances more smoothly. After all, liquidity is what will keep your business afloat.  And if you’re not proficient with bookkeeping and generating accurate business financials, outsource it to a trusted accountant/CPA. I was fortunate enough to have a financial advisor that also has a background in accounting and taxes. Not only is she helping me with debt management, but she’s also my go-to person for my business finances, tax planning, and compliance needs.

4. Tax Planning and Compliance

Understanding your business’s tax needs and being compliant with various tax deadlines (including payroll taxes) will help you avoid unnecessary penalties and will get more money back into your own pocket. This can then enable you to pay off your debt quicker and invest more into your own business. Why pay more than your fair share of taxes?

“No matter what, pay yourself a salary—your time is worthwhile.”

Photo: Sarah Shen

5. Invest in Yourself

As a business owner, not only should you build the proper foundation for your business, but also for your own finances. No matter what, pay yourself a salary—your time is worthwhile. There are statistics that say that many people expect a business to fail, with 50% of businesses actually failing within 3-5 years. You won’t get that investment back if you don’t pay yourself from the start. Get into the habit of investing in your own future and retirement plans as your business grows.

It’s wise to consider and plan for this before having a family, as well. Increase your own wealth with some concrete business projections (i.e., how many clients are necessary? How much revenue is needed?) to reach your goals. Later on, your salary can also be set aside towards a retirement fund to concretely save and invest in your own future. There’s a common misconception that small businesses won’t offer solid retirement options in comparison to big corporations’ 401(k) plans, but there are actually several retirement fund options for small businesses and yourself. If you do more research, you’ll find that there are a lot of plans that are suitable for your business and any unique situations.

6. Education and Quarterly Maintenance

Get familiar with financial terms and set a clear budget for a road map of your business. Identify and invest in the areas that will allow your business to expand. 

Although the journey to becoming debt-free can be different from person-to-person, the most important thing is to take an honest assessment of your situation and face it head-on. Debt is a dirty word that has such an emotional pull. I’ve learned firsthand that debt seems to snowball and you feel completely out of control. The best way to avoid being in as much debt as possible is to understand basic financial concepts, manage cash flow, and avoid costs like buying lunch and shopping for the latest handbag.

Up Next: 10 Money Questions to Ask Yourself (So You Can Afford the Life You Want).

This post was originally published on August 26, 2019, and has since been updated.

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My First 2 Businesses Failed—Here's How I Turned It Around

Photo: Courtesy of Jonne Amaya

Growing up, I was told that everything is possible. I remember having a conversation with my dad when I was about seven years old. He would ask me to name what I’d like to be when I grew up, and then he would respond with, “How is that a career option?” I told him that I loved plants, and he said, “You’ll own a winery.” When I was young, I was not attached to the idea of a college experience or a common career path. And since my parents encouraged me to follow my passion, I felt free to experiment and explore.

I became intrigued by jewelry when I was just eight years old. My mom would allow me to order pieces from the Jewelry Channel on TV and then return them after I saw the pieces in person. When I was ten, my parents got me a 0.05-carat diamond ring for Christmas. I was always obsessed with jewelry, but it became a career prospect when I started creating pieces myself at bench jewelry classes in Barcelona. Deep down, I always knew that I would have my own company at one point in my life. 

I launched my first brand when I was twenty-one years old. It was a Renaissance-inspired, edgy jewelry line. I was working for a young L.A.-based jewelry designer at the time, and her marketing strategy was to take photos of local, It girls wearing her pieces. She was very successful, and I naively assumed that I could emulate this business model and achieve the same kind of success. But in eight months, I sold three pieces and received zero interest from stores or showrooms. I was so confused. I had cool designs, great imagery, and all the right assets.

I started my second company when I was twenty-five while working for Vrai & Oro (now known as Vrai). I was really impressed with their timeless design aesthetic, direct-to-consumer business model, and transparent pricing. I was convinced that the reason Walk the Chapel failed was due to my wholesale approach and the fact that the jewelry was not for “every day.” So this time, I went the D2C route and created modern, unisex pieces. 

A year into this venture, I was still not finding success. I was really frustrated. Around this time, I started taking custom orders from clients. When I would pick up the finished pieces from my jewelers in Downtown L.A., I saw all of their other work: it was an endless stream of generic jewelry, largely “replicas” of other designers’ pieces, produced in mass.

When I saw the amount of production the other brands had in comparison to the single, custom-designed pieces I was making, I realized that I didn’t want to contribute to this waste. When I was just starting out in the industry, I equated huge wholesale orders with success. Now, I have started to see mass production as the problem. 

Not only did the artistic process of jewelry design get lost through mass production, but it was also extremely unsustainable. I pivoted my brand strategy to demonstrate the value of repurposing and really dove deep into why it was important for consumers to change their buying behavior when it comes to jewelry. 

When I found my purpose, that's when I started seeing my luck turn around. Sharing my message and brand became my main priority. I understand now that when starting a business, it’s important to create a foundation around a core vision and purpose. Once you establish that and remain consistent, it all lines up from there.  

When I was younger, I undervalued the message behind my brand and overvalued the product itself. I see a lot of start-ups making the same mistakes, and they’re missing the most important part of the puzzle. It’s very clear to me now that there isn’t a single path to finding your way to success. Now, I mainly focus on getting my message heard by the right consumers who share my values.

“When I found my purpose, that's when I started seeing my luck turn around.”

—Jonne Amaya, Fine Jeweler and Founder of Jonne

About the Author: Jonne Amaya is an emerging fine jeweler who hyper-focused on sustainability. Born in Mexico and based in L.A., Jonne creates custom fine jewelry with intention and never designing in bulk. Through a personal, intimate process, she works with her clients, one-on-one, to create new designs or transform existing pieces into the jewelry of their dreams. Jonne began her jewelry design career by learning benchwork and then studying gemology in her native Mexico. She created her first piece by repurposing a family heirloom with sentimental value that had gone unworn. By giving the piece new life, she discovered her love of sustainable, intentional jewelry design.

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Classifieds: Anine Bing, SoundCloud, and Sakara Life Are Hiring!

Hey,. job seekers! We've got new job listings for you in marketing, sales, social media, and more

FEATURED JOBS

Sales & Client Relationship Executive, Eloquence- Los Angeles, CA

Digital Marketing Assistant, Eloquence- Los Angeles, CA

Social Media Manager, AETHER Apparel- Los Angeles, CA

Apparel Designer, Melody Ehsani- Compton, CA 

Digital Marketing Manager, MURAL- Remote

 Jr. Product Designer, Square- Remote

LOS ANGELES  

Retention Marketing Manager, Ollie

Associate Manager, Ecommerce, Anine Bing

Director of Performance Marketing, Tamara Mellon

Social Content Manager, LIVEKINDLY

Growth Marketing Manager, Modcloth

Ecommerce Manager, Jouer Cosmetics 

NEW YORK CITY

Product Marketing Manager, SoundCloud

Digital Marketing Manager, Lively

Director, Retention Marketing, Sakara Life

Marketing & Communications Manager, COS

Communications Manager, Beyond Meat

Social Media & Content Manager, Marley Spoon

REMOTE

Sr. Paid Marketing Manager, Webflow

Brand & Communication Specialist, WP Media

Lifecycle Marketing Manager, Zero

Director of Sales, LIVEKINDLY

Director of Digital Marketing & Programming, LIVEKINDLY

Recruiting Coordinator, TaxJar

A Step-by-Step Guide to Release You From Fear’s Grip

Photo: Smith House Photography

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.

Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.

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4 Small Business Owners on How to Pivot to Digital and Navigate the Future of Retail

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!

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

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:

1. Download the Slack app to your phone, computer, or both

2. Complete your account profile with a profile photo, your name, and what you do

3. 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

4. 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

5. We’re all about GIFs at C&C! Here are instructions on how to integrate GIPHY into your Slack account.

6. 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

7. 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

Written by Sarah Boland, Founder and CEO, Life Lapse

Photo by Ekaterina Bolovtsova from Pexels

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. 

1. 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

Photo: Jenna Peffley

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

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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

Find Out More

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

Find Out More

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

Find Out More

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

Find Out More

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

Find Out More

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

Find Out More

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!

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

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

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

https://media.allergan.com/actavis/actavis/media/allergan-pdf-documents/product-prescribing/20190626-BOTOX-Cosmetic-Insert-72715US10-Med-Guide-v2-0MG1145.pdf

Medication Guide

https://media.allergan.com/actavis/actavis/media/allergan-pdf-documents/product-prescribing/20190620_BTX-and-BTX-C-Med-Guide-v2-0MG1145.pdf

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

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

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:

1. Download the Slack app to your phone, computer, or both

2. Complete your account profile with a profile photo, your name, and what you do

3. 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

4. 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

5. We’re all about GIFs at C&C! Here are instructions on how to integrate GIPHY into your Slack account.

6. 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

7. 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?

“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!

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

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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