10 Two-Minute Habits That Will Change Your Life

Photo: Create & Cultivate

For most of us, mornings are rough. We snooze, wake, repeat. Jump out of bed. Java. And then start firing off emails and Slacks. It's no way to greet the day and its disruptive energy that carries into our work. To help you kick-start your day the right way, here are 10 tiny, two-minute switches that are easy to implement and can have a major impact on your day. So, what are you waiting for? It's only your life. 

1. CONSCIOUS BREATHING

When you feel anxious, you disrupt the ease and flow of your breath. You might not even notice these slight disruptions in your breathing pattern and how they affect you. But reestablishing normal breathing restores your energy and focus.

How to do it: Breath in through the nose for a count of five. Feel as though there’s a balloon that is filling your entire pelvis and causing it to stretch out in all directions. Hold that inhale for a moment, and when you exhale, contract all the muscles in and up the spine as you exhale for a count of five. Hold the exhale for a moment and repeat 10 times. Do this whenever you feel stressed.

2. CHEW SLOWLY

It’s not just what you eat that matters, it’s also how you eat it. You can eat all the highly nutritious food you desire, but if you don’t chew your food well, it can lead to indigestion, bloating, and lack of nutrient absorption. The more you chew, the more saliva you produce. Saliva coats the particles of food with enzymes that break it down for better nutrient absorption.

How to do it: Chewing 25 times per bite helps cultivate more mindful eating. You eat in a more relaxed state of mind, which aids digestion. Plus, the more slowly you eat, the less you’re likely to consume because you’re giving your body time to let you know you’re full.

“Reestablishing normal breathing restores your energy and focus.”

3. SIP ON WARM LEMON WATER

Skip the ice in your cup and add warm lemon water to your daily routine instead. First thing in the morning your body needs to be rehydrated. Warm lemon water quenches thirst, preps and primes your digestive system, aids in detoxification, and supplies a free-radical-crushing dose of vitamin C. Lemons may taste acidic, but they are actually alkaline forming, helping the body maintain an ideal pH balance and neutralizing free radicals to keep you feeling vivacious and looking vibrant. “Lemon water benefits the enzyme functions in your body, stimulating the liver and flushing out toxins,” says Josh Axe, DNM.

4. TAKE MOVEMENT BREAKS

When it comes to improving your movement, it’s not just about doing your workout for an hour in the morning and checking it off the list. Your body thrives on movement. More movement all throughout the day is highly beneficial for your body and brain. Mobility exercises help lubricate the joints to ward off stiffness, aid in circulation and help boost energy levels and increase focus and productivity. For every hour of sitting, aim for at least a few minutes of mobility drills, such as alternating between arm backstrokes and pelvic circles.

“More movement all throughout the day is highly beneficial for your body and brain.”

5. FIX YOUR POSTURE

Proper posture—with the spine aligned and the joints stacked—puts your body at ease, reduces tension and strain and ensures that muscles and tissues are well oxygenated and receive nutrients for proper function.

How to do it: Katy Bowman, biomechanist and natural-movement expert, recommends first aligning the outside edges of your feet with a straightedge. Then make sure your feet are hip-distance apart. Press all four corners of your feet into the ground. Make sure your pelvis is over your heels. Engage your thighs to lift your kneecaps, squeeze your glutes, keep you chest lifted with the bottom ribs tucked in, and keep your head in a neutral position with chin slightly tucked.

6. TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES

One of the greatest health tools is right under your feet, literally. Earthing, or walking or standing barefoot on the ground, sounds simple enough, but how often are you actually barefoot outside? It may sound a bit hippie, but a 2012 review published in the Journal of Environmental Public Health found that research supports the touted benefits of going barefoot, which include improved mood and sleep and reduced inflammation and chronic pain. Just don’t step on any rusty nails!

“Proper posture—with the spine aligned and the joints stacked—puts your body at ease, reduces tension and strain.”

7. DRY BRUSH YOUR SKIN

Take care of your body’s largest organ: Your skin. Dry brushing is a natural technique that can reveal the beauty of your skin by sloughing off dead skin cells as it stimulates the lymphatic system. Dry brushing has also been credited with giving the skin a natural, luminous glow.

How to do it: Purchase a dry brush with natural bristles. Start at your feet and brush in long, sweeping motions toward your heart (avoiding the face) without applying too much pressure. Don’t dry brush for too long or too often. Try just a few minutes once a week.

8. SET AN INTENTION

When you want to break out of your comfort zone or start a new healthy habit, you must first have a strong intention to do so. As Wayne Dyer, author of “The Power of Intention,” said, “The power of intention is the power to manifest, to create, to live a life of unlimited abundance, and to attract into your life the right people at the right moments.” You can set an intention for every action in your life. Before eating, set an intention to eat mindfully. Before working out, connect to your intention. Ask yourself, “What are you aiming to achieve?”

“Keep your vibe high and light by filtering out the noise and filling yourself up with gratitude throughout each day. ”

9. APPLY SUNSCREEN

Sunscreen isn’t just for summertime. Dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen daily because, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. Yikes! Even if you’re not hanging outdoors for a long period of time, UVA rays that cause wrinkles and premature aging can pass through window glass. Check the ingredients on your sunscreen and look for one with the mineral zinc oxide for UVA protection. If you’re going to be outside for an extended length of time (at least two hours) look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 that’s sweat and water-resistant.

10. EXPRESS GRATITUDE

Western society is constantly telling us we need to be more, do more, have more, and achieve more. It can be depleting and depressing. Keep your vibe high and light by filtering out the noise and filling yourself up with gratitude throughout each day. There have been numerous studies regarding the positive effects a daily gratitude practice has on the mind, body, and spirit.

How to do it: Keep a journal in which you jot down what you’re grateful for each evening before bed or when you wake up in the morning. Try writing affirmations, positive things about yourself and your life. Or write a thank-you note to someone to say how grateful you are to have him or her in your life.

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This story was originally published on May 21, 2018, and has since been updated.

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How Samara Walker Launched Auda.B While Working Full-Time as a Senior Financial Analyst at Amazon

You asked for more content around business finances, so we’re delivering. Welcome to Money Matters where we give you an inside look at the pocketbooks of CEOs and entrepreneurs. In this series, you’ll learn what successful women in business spend on office spaces and employee salaries, how they knew it was time to hire someone to manage their finances, and their best advice for talking about money.

Photo: Courtesy of Samara Walker

"Balancing a full-time job and a start-up is extremely demanding and requires a different level of patience, organization, and ability to challenge yourself," Samara Walker, the founder and CEO of the luxury vegan nail lacquer brand Àuda.B, tells Create & Cultivate. “Time is of the essence because every minute counts when you have to delegate between your 9-5 and your startup,” she explains. But Walker was more than up to the task of managing her minutes and balancing her full-time role as a senior financial analyst at Amazon with building her beauty start-up. And for good reason.

Walker launched Àuda.B because women of color aren’t often represented within luxury beauty. “Oftentimes, luxury beauty brands omit the celebration for women of color,” she explains. “I was truly inspired to launch Àuda.B to create a brand that reflected women of color from A-Z. Through product curation, branding, and marketing, I knew that I wanted to build an inclusive brand that kept women of color top of mind,” she adds. And major retailers have taken notice. Earlier this year, Àuda.B launched on Nordstrom, becoming the first Black-owned polish brand to be sold by the retailer.

Ahead, Walker shares when she knew it was time to quit her job at Amazon and go all-in on Àuda.B, what the biggest challenges in scaling her business have been so far, and how she’s pushing the beauty industry forward and making a difference.

You started Àuda.B while you were working full-time as a senior financial analyst at Amazon. Would you recommend starting a business while working a full-time job? 

As I reflect back, I would recommend starting a business while working full time because this allows you to put your passion and work ethic into perspective. Having a stable income allowed me to invest in my business by relying on my paycheck and helped me bootstrap my company to the next phase. Working a full-time job while starting a business put my life into perspective and really encouraged me to go after my dreams!

How did you know when it was time to quit your job at Amazon and go all-in on Àuda.B? What was your strategy for making the transition and what, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently? 

The day I signed my partnership agreement with Nordstrom, I knew I had to prepare myself to leave Amazon. As a small start-up, I had to manage and develop the supply chain strategy for the business and onboard new systems to become compliant with the retailer, which is no small undertaking. The demand for Àuda.B became overwhelming (in the best way!) between the influx in orders and the partnership with Nordstrom. I was tasked with the decision of pouring my energy into Àuda.B or Amazon, and the decision was not difficult at all. I had worked tirelessly for this day to come, and I was prepared to put all of my efforts into it! 

As a founder, I positioned myself from the very beginning to save aggressively because I knew that bootstrapping would allow me to have total control while building my company until we eventually secured an investor. I made strategic moves such as setting up direct deposit from my Amazon paycheck to the Àuda.B business account each pay period to build our business account for expenses and to budget for part-time contractor payments.

It's important to build out a real plan between personal and business expenses in order to set realistic expectations of what your savings should reflect to allow you to step away from your full-time job. Founders need financial security in order to operate from a healthy mindset—shelter and food shouldn't be optional. I wish I had the ability to establish this plan earlier on in my career, but I am thankful that I finally had the courage to fully step out and embrace the abundance of Àuda.B.

Photo: Courtesy of Àuda.B

Earlier this year, Àuda.B launched on Nordstrom, becoming the first Black-owned polish brand to be sold by the retailer. What has been the biggest challenge in scaling your business and what lessons have you learned along the way? What advice can you share on how to scale a business sustainably? 

The biggest challenge in scaling has been producing enough inventory to keep on-hand, as well as implementing systems to scale with limited cash. I've since learned how to prepare your business for the next phase and have strategies and plans in place to anticipate the arrival of growth. My advice would be to plan your business for the next phase before the growth actually impacts your company. Research potential partnerships to help scale, whether that's a 3PL or EDI system to manage your growth and scale effectively. 

How did you fund your business? What were the challenges and what would you change? Would you recommend your route to other entrepreneurs? 

I bootstrapped my business by funding through my full-time salary and personal savings. Some of the challenges I faced were not having enough cash on hand or the ability to order new inventory to keep up with customer demand. Managing expectations is important. Having a well-balanced inventory is essential to keep up with customers’ needs and demands. 

At first, we didn't have the ability to expand our color selection or significantly increase inventory without the guarantee of customer’s purchasing. I would change the way I handled inventory by ordering more to create a surplus for an unexpected increase in sales. I would highly recommend bootstrapping your business until funding is secured via an investor if that's the route you decide to take. Bootstrapping gives you the grace of building at your own pace and learning all aspects of your business from the ground up.

What was your first big expense as a business owner and how should small business owners prepare for that now? 

Our first big expense was hiring a lawyer in order to apply for our trademark. Small business owners should create a list and prepare for start-up costs that can be accomplished over time but are necessary for the business’s growth. Putting aside a few dollars that are dedicated solely to start-up costs will help prepare business owners for anticipated expenses. 

What are your top three largest expenses every month?

1. Part-time contractors

2. Monthly business systems: EDI and catalog systems for retailers

3. Influencer agency

Do you pay yourself, and if so, how did you know what to pay yourself?

I don't pay myself as of yet. 

Would you recommend other small business owners pay themselves? 

Depending on revenue and personal finances business owners should pay themselves. It's important that founders sustain themselves while building a business.

How did you know you were ready to hire and what advice can you share on preparing for this stage of your business? 

I knew that we were ready to hire when I couldn't meet due dates for deliverables and there was an increase in revenue which allowed us to dedicate additional income to part-time contractors. I didn't have the bandwidth to complete deliverables on time, which is a clear sign that additional help is necessary in order to scale.

What apps or software are you using for finances? Are there any tools or programs you recommend for bookkeeping? 

I personally use QuickBooks to manage our finances, which I would highly recommend. It also has a feature that allows you to manage and pay contract workers, so that way all of the information is synced and saved in one place.

Photo: Courtesy of Àuda.B

What are some of the tools you use to stay on top of your business financials? What do you recommend for small business owners on a budget? 

I set time aside both weekly and monthly to review our expenses and revenue. The weekly meetings are used to review expenses and log receipts. Monthly meetings are focused on reviewing P&L statements and detailing expenses for the month. I recommend that small business owners review their expenses and create a quarterly budget in order to efficiently manage cash flow. 

Where do you think is the most important area for a business owner to focus their financial energy on and why? 

Decreasing expenses upfront and being “lean”. It’s important to focus on increasing revenue without having to increase expenses.

Do you think women should talk about money and business more? 

Absolutely, I believe women should talk about money and business more. Only 2.4% of venture capital funding goes to women, according to CrunchBase. There is clearly a gap within the industry due to the lack of support and knowledge for women business owners. It’s vital that we share information with one another to encourage women despite the many hurdles we may face.

What money mistakes have you made and learned from along the way? 

Paying for expensive tradeshows without building a strategy and being under the impression that sales would cover expenses. Tradeshows are very expensive, and it’s not just the booth rent. There are a lot of hidden costs on the logistics side for both the business and the tradeshow. I've learned that market research and case studies can come in handy when evaluating new business opportunities. 

What is your best piece of financial advice for new entrepreneurs? 

Build personal savings before starting your business, if possible. Create a budget from the beginning and start using personal funds to save for the desired budgets if your revenue doesn’t cover expenses. Keep all logistics in-house until your business has scaled!

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Losing Sleep Over Tomorrow's To-Do List? You Need to Declutter Your Mindset (Here’s How)

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

When we think of "clutter," most of us picture an episode of “Hoarders” or hear the soothing voice of Marie Kondo (two very different ends of the spectrum). But even the tidiest among us struggle with messes we can't see: mental clutter.

Clearing your mental clutter is the best way to invite peace and calm back into your day-to-day life. Here's how to recognize, clear, and recover from a cluttered mindset.

Physical vs. Mental Clutter

Physical clutter is easy to recognize: the clothes piled on the floor, that "junk drawer" in the kitchen, the trash on the floor of your car. Mental clutter, on the other hand, is a little harder to spot. And unfortunately, it can be even more detrimental to your mental health than a physical mess.

Mental clutter takes many forms, but it most often shows itself as overwhelm:

• Losing sleep over tomorrow's to-do list

• Forgetting important tasks or dates because you're juggling too many responsibilities

• Constantly feeling tired, drained, or overworked

• Having little motivation to do anything after work (even things you usually enjoy)

• Neglecting self-care in favor of work or family responsibilities

What Causes Mental Clutter?

If you're feeling like this, you're not alone! So many of us let our little stresses pile up over time, creating a “Hoarders”-style mound of mental clutter.

Just like small slips create clutter over time, small improvements can clear it out, create space for calm, and help you step into a clutter-free mindset.

Some of the biggest contributors to mental clutter are:

• Your phone and computer. Between the endless notifications and opportunities to distract ourselves, it's no wonder our digital lives are full of clutter. I'd never tell you to break up with your devices entirely, but in order to eliminate the stress they cause, you have to reevaluate your relationship with them.

• Your to-do list and calendar. How much time do you spend stressing about that ever-growing to-do list? All those tasks and appointments add clutter to your life. The trick is prioritizing the important stuff and eliminating the rest.

• Your daily routine. If you're regularly switching between tasks, procrastinating on projects, or just not finishing your work, it's time to streamline and declutter your daily routine.

These all create and perpetuate mental clutter, but they're also some of the best places to invite calm back into your life. That's what decluttering is all about: clearing out the junk to make space for the good stuff.

How to Declutter Your Mindset

Decluttering your mindset doesn't happen overnight, but there are real steps you can take towards a more peaceful life. Follow these steps to decluttering your physical and digital space, and watch the mindset decluttering follow suit.

Step 1: Take stock of your environment.

Before you can start decluttering your mindset, you have to get real about everything that's contributing to your overwhelm. Grab a journal and let's take a good, long look at your environment.

How many notifications do you get in a day? How much time do you spend staring at screens? What does your desk look like?

Now, be honest with yourself about your stress level. How often do you think about those notifications, worry about emails, or lose sleep over your to-do list? Do you have a healthy work-life balance? Do you feel well-rested?

This part isn't going to feel good. That's okay. Having a clear starting point is the key to mapping your way out of the clutter.

Step 2: Envision your decluttered life.

Next, imagine what your life would look like entirely decluttered. No need to picture your home Kardashian-level clear or your to-do list entirely empty. Just figure out what your ideal day-to-day life looks like:

• How would you start your day?

• What would your workspace look like?

• How much work would you get done in a day, and how would you feel about that work?

• How would you wind down in the evenings?

Don't hold anything back! Dream up your ideal life, and make that visualization part of your daily routine. Meditate on it, journal about it, put it on your vision board, whatever you like. When you keep your goals front-and-center, you'll be more likely to make subconscious decisions that get you closer to it. (That's manifestation at work!)

Step 3: Set boundaries.

This is where the actual decluttering happens. Compare your present to the decluttered life you want to get to and start making adjustments towards that goal.

Here are some easy first steps:

• Turn off notifications on your phone.

• Tidy your workspace, and surround yourself with positive images and affirmations. (I love a good vision board!)

• Check off small to-do items you've been procrastinating on, like doctors' appointments and home maintenance.

• Delete old, unused files and emails from your computer.

• Set aside part of your day to spend time away from screens.

• Schedule self-care into your daily and weekly calendars.

• Commit to starting your day without your phone in hand and putting your devices away an hour before bedtime.

• Donate clothes you no longer wear, books you won't re-read, or anything in your home that's taking up space.

These tiny changes will set your decluttering in motion. Plus, the fewer external distractions you have, the less internal clutter you'll have to deal with.

Step 4: Practice self-care.

Newsflash: Not all self-care is fun. Sure, it sometimes looks like bubble baths and face masks. Other times, it's way less glamourous. But that doesn't mean it's any less necessary!

The not-so-pretty parts of self-care are where the true mental decluttering takes place. By working through the stressors in your life, you create space for more peace and calm. It's not easy, but it's definitely worth it.

You can practice self-care and declutter your life by...

• Taking control of your finances. Money is the greatest stressor in our adult lives, and it's also a huge source of clutter. Organize your accounts, start tracking your money, and make a plan to pay off debts.

• Dance-clean your space. Even if you hate household chores, there's something therapeutic about blasting your favorite music and dancing while you clean.

• Get outside. Fresh air and sunshine can do wonders for your mental health. Take a walk outside (without headphones!) to refresh your body and declutter your thoughts.

• Plan your week. Grab your planner and outline your projects, meetings, and self-care time throughout the week. A solid schedule leaves less time for distraction and clutter.

• Talk it out. When in doubt, reach out to a close friend, a family member, or a therapist to talk through your mental clutter. They might be able to recognize stressors you can't see in your own life.

Of course, make time for fun self-care, too! Any form of undistracted, intentional self-care re-centers your focus on what really matters. And the more energy you devote to taking care of yourself, the less likely you'll be to fall back into old patterns of distraction and self-sabotage.

Decluttering Your Mindset Takes Time

Decluttering your space and your devices won't magically declutter your mind, but it does get the ball rolling. Over time, you'll notice your inner thoughts start to settle as your environment becomes more controlled. And as you prioritize self-care, your body will finally get to recover from the stress that builds up day-to-day. Trust me, your future self will thank you!

If you’re working on your self-care routine, get my free phone boundaries guide, check out my holistic decluttering course on everything we just covered or follow me over on Instagram for more self-care tips.

“Decluttering your mindset doesn't happen overnight, but there are real steps you can take towards a more peaceful life.”

—Livia Boerger, Self-Care Coach

About the Author: Livia Boerger offers a fresh approach to self-care and teaches that it’s never too expensive, time-consuming, or long bubble baths surrounded by candles. She is on a mission to help high-achieving female entrepreneurs redefine self-care on their terms, prioritize rest and live intentionally so that they can live a calm life free of overwhelm.

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5 Women in Beer Who Are Inspiring Us to Crack Open a Cold One on Instagram

Photo: Kampus Production for Pexels

Welcome to 5 for 5, where we spotlight 5 women in 5 minutes or less.

It’s no secret that craft beer has a diversity problem. According to a recent survey conducted by the Brewers Association, only about 7.5% of brewers are women and a staggering 88% of brewery owners are white. Ahead, we’re spotlighting five women in beer who are inspiring us to crack open a cold one on Instagram.

1. Beny Ashburn

As the co-founder of Crowns & Hops Brewing Company, a Black-owned craft beer brand and brewery based in Inglewood, California, Beny Ashburn is out here proving that Black people love beer (which just so happens to be the name of one of the brewery’s signature beers).

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2. Jessica Martínez

Shortly after winning the first-ever amateur brewers competition she entered, Jessica Martínez launched her own microbrewery, Malteza Cervecería, in Mexico City. Follow the brewer on Instagram to find out which refreshing craft brews she’s currently sipping on.

3. Hannah Gohde

The head brewer at Naked Brewing, a craft brewery located in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, Hannah Gohde is a self-proclaimed #lipstickbrewer. On Instagram, she shares a behind-the-scenes view of what it’s like to brew beer from start to (sometimes) messy finish.

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4. Brienne Allan

In addition to being a production manager at Notch Brewing in Salem, Massachusetts, Brienne Allan is using her platform to call attention to what it’s like to be a woman in craft beer, bringing the #MeToo movement to the craft beer industry. Something that’s, quite frankly, long overdue.

5. Alisa Bowens-Mercado

Noticing a lack of craft lagers on the market, Alisa Bowens-Mercado founded Rhythm Brewing Co., a New Haven, Connecticut-based beer company specializing in unfiltered lagers, which is something of an homage to her grandmothers, who were both beer drinkers.

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How This Fitness Co-Founder Turned Her Passion into a Successful Business

Listen to the full episode here.

Over the past year, at-home workouts have soared–but there is one platform that stands apart from all the rest. Meet P.volve, the accessible, at-home fitness method that everyone is talking about.

In short, the method combines resistance-based, high-intensity, low-impact movements to strengthen, sculpt and energize the whole body (much like pilates).

Beyond the studio, the brand offers a global on-demand platform featuring hundreds of workouts, a growing line of patented equipment, and physical studios in NYC, Chicago, and LA. The wellness-forward startup has garnered attention for flipping traditional fitness on its head and captured an impressive and loyal community (that includes some major names) in the process.

On this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn sits down with P.volve Co-founder, Rachel Katzman, for an inside look behind the revolutionary fitness brand––including driving the creative vision of the company forward, growing the digital platform, and looking to establish P.volve’s footing in the fitness space–and doing it all successfully in sweatpants. (...a true legend!). Join the party on social @workparty and stay in the know at workparty.com.

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On the meaning of the name P.volve…

"P.volve stands for personal evolution"

On what makes P.volve different from other fitness methods…

"We focus on dynamic joint movement, combined with one of a kind resistance training that's really going to strengthen and activate each muscle in your body––which is then going to improve your performance and reduce pain."

"With P.volve you can have your cake and eat it too."

On cutting through the noise in a saturated industry…

"If a product works and the experience is really good, word gets around."

On the entrepreneurial learning curve...

"You have to teach yourself as you go, and that's really the best way to learn."

On raising capital and scaling...

"If you wait until something's perfect to get it out the door, someone else is going to do it before you."

On being a CEO...

"I needed to fall a few times to realize that it's okay to ask for help."

"I don't want to be the smartest person in the room. I want to ask a million questions."

On the advice she would give her younger self...

"I'm a big believer that everything leads you to where you are meant to be."

On holding space for fitness as a passion, and not just a career...

"I believe movement is medicine."

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3 Instagram Trend Predictions for the Rest of 2021

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

With each passing year, it feels like we’re tasked with navigating which techniques are working and which are no longer effective on Instagram for our online growth. And, of course, 2021 is no different. From the head-spinning platform and algorithm changes to the flood of video content to the plummeting reach metrics, it can feel challenging to get ahead in such a crowded space. 

But what if I said you could finally cut through the clutter and gain visibility quickly on Instagram by embracing a few trends that are designed to help you grow and monetize your account? In celebration of Social Media Day, Dre Fox, the CEO and founder of TimeOfDre Media, lays out three trends to embrace in 2021 to increase your visibility on Instagram. Here’s how to stand out on social right now.

Trend #1: Live Stream Series and IGTV Micro Shows

Are you comfortable on video? Now is the time to start practicing in the mirror as live and interactive content is on the rise! In an effort to monetize Instagram for content creators, Badge Milestones were implemented this summer to incentivize creators up to $500 for going live. So, you guessed it, we are going to see accounts going live more than ever.

But that's not all! Instagram announced that IGTV will now have ads running for your viewers, earning you 55% of the revenue, which will not only allow for scooping up the Milestones for Lives, but also revenue for turning the recordings into IGTVs.

While you might not have the features yet, getting your audience engaged in these formats will pay off dividends once you are able to monetize and hit the ground running.

How to hop on this trend: Think about a weekly live series that is either educational or entertaining that may pique the interest of your audience. Begin creating this content regularly, so you can a) earn your milestones money and b) earn the IGTV revenue from ads.

The key here is that you want eyes on your content, so the more value you bring and the more interactive and engaging it is, the more money you’ll make over time!

Trend #2: Carousel Posts

Do you have an eye for graphic design and creating interesting visuals? Then this trend is for you! One of the best metrics to track for your Instagram account is how many shares you’re receiving on your content because shares equal new eyes on your page. But when you’re posting images of yourself, while you look incredible, that isn’t considered “shareable” content because it’s non-contextual to strangers.

This is where carousel or swipe-through posts step in! These engaging slideshows, ranging from 3-7 slides (example here), are highly shareable because they usually represent powerful quotes, opinions, or educational information that your audience is looking for.

How to hop on this trend: Identify what would strike a chord or set off a lightbulb for your audience and how you can break those points, steps, or ideas down into bite-size morsels. Lastly, create a simple but engaging graphic on Canva to catch the eye of your ideal follower.

Implement these into your strategy 4-6 times a month and watch your shares increase!

Trend #3: Raw and Relatable Content

This might not seem like a “trend” at all, but the truth is that attitudes on social media are shifting from polished perfection to content that’s more honest and real. The initial perception from my clients is that in order to appear professional or to be taken seriously online, you have to avoid admitting fault, showing weakness, or sharing a negative experience. But this is not always the case! People want to feel a connection with you that transcends likes, comments, and pretty pictures—a REAL connection.

How to hop on this trend: Start by getting clear on the highs and lows that your audience and people in your niche are experiencing. For example, staying healthy while traveling. Next, map out intentional, relatable content about your own struggles with staying on track, a story of how you fell off your goals on a vacation, or sharing any mindset challenges you’ve experienced on your health journey. This content, along with a less curated and filtered feed, will have you winning REAL fans in no time that see you as a relatable person, not the illusion of perfection.

Whether you dive headfirst into live videos and monetization or focus on building deeper connections with relatable content, these three trends are here to stay for the foreseeable future. And those who adopt them early will experience the best growth and visibility.

Which trend will you be hopping on first? Let us know in the comments!

“People want to feel a connection with you that transcends likes, comments, and pretty pictures—a REAL connection.”

—Dre Fox, CEO and Founder of TimeOfDre Media

About the Expert: Dre Fox is the founder and CEO of TimeOfDre Media, a Forbes and Washington Post featured social media agency located in Austin, Texas. After many years of helping Fortune 500 companies improve their social experience and brand awareness online, Dre was inspired to focus on building the brands of small businesses and public figures. Her core passion is helping people just like you, realize their dreams online.

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This Is What Really Happens When You Submit an Online Job Application

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

There are now officially more jobs available than before the pandemic. The number of job openings reached nearly 15 million by mid-March, which is up from 10 million before the pandemic began. And making sure your job application stands out from all the other applicants is a bit trickier than it seems.

Many hiring managers and recruiters default to either using an applicant tracking system or doing keyword searches to determine if candidates are qualified. Keyword searches are an easy way to determine if it’s worth taking the time to look at a résumé or not, which is why applicant tracking systems have become so widely utilized.

There is a lot of information out there, but there are four main things you should know about applicant tracking systems.

What Is an Applicant Tracking System?

An applicant tracking system is a system used by many hiring managers and recruiters to sift through résumés and find qualified candidates. It basically lets the user type in keywords to find candidates who have those words or qualifications listed in their résumé. This is an easy way to separate seemingly qualified candidates from unqualified candidates.

There Isn't Just One Applicant Tracking System

People often ask me if I am “familiar with ATS” as if “ATS” is a program like Microsoft Office. An applicant tracking system is a type of program, and there are hundreds of different applicant tracking systems out there. There is no way to know exactly how each applicant tracking system will work and what it will and will not catch in your résumé. 

What You Can Do to Increase Your Chances

The best way to ensure your application comes up in keyword searches and makes it past an applicant tracking system is to go through the job description that you’re interested in applying to and integrating those keywords and phrases throughout your document. Yes, you need to put in the work and customize your résumé for each job you apply to.

Do your desired job descriptions utilize keywords or phrases that you can use in your résumé? Does a job description have a more eloquent way of wording one of your job duties? If you’re not using current job postings to help you write your résumé, you’re doing yourself a disservice. See how industry professionals talk about jobs and utilize that in your document. Using industry jargon will also help you appear more professional and knowledgeable about what you do.

Additionally, the ultimate way to get your résumé into the right hands is to use your industry connections. If you have a contact who can direct your résumé to the right person, use it. “Job search is about going beyond the résumé to get noticed. Real relationships with colleagues and friends matter in getting a foot in the door,” says career coach Alyson Garrido.

The Reality

There is no way to create one résumé that will work for every job you apply to and “beat” every applicant tracking system. There is no way to know what system a company will use and what it will pick up within a résumé. All you can do is cater your résumé to the job you’re applying to, integrate keywords and phrases, and provide concrete examples of your accomplishments and achievements.

Alyson Garrido went on to say, “Relationships and follow-ups are key components of the job search. If someone recommends you for a role, you're far more likely to get an interview and bypass the applicant tracking system. Also, if you're among 20 candidates who get past the ATS, but you follow up, it's highly likely your résumé will be reviewed.”

There are plenty of online sources that will tell you they have the secret algorithm for beating applicant tracking systems, but the reality is that there is no way to create one perfect résumé to meet all of your needs for every job you apply to. If someone tells you that they can create this for you, they are lying. It’s impossible.

The best way to make progress on your job search is to leverage your industry connections, put in the legwork, craft a résumé that articulates all that you’ve achieved, and customize it for each job you apply to with keywords from the job description.

About the author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal styles. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.

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This story was originally published on August 24, 2018, and has since been updated.

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How to Perfect Your Pitch and Attract Investors with Venture Capitalist Visionary Arlan Hamilton

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In 2020, venture capital funding boomed—but women’s share shrank. Startups, overall, raised 13% more from venture capitalists in 2020 than in 2019, but female-founded companies raised a staggering $190M less in 2020 than in 2019.

As the founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, Arlan Hamilton aims to turn these discouraging stats around. Her mission is to minimize venture capital funding disparities by investing in minority founders.

Since she founded the firm in 2015, Backstage Capital has raised more than $15 million (!) and invested in more than 180 startup companies. 

At our recent Money Moves Digital Summit, Salah Goss, SVP of Center for Inclusive Growth at Mastercard, sat down with Arlan to chat with her about her incredible career and gain her insights into how entrepreneurs can perfect their pitch, attract investors, and raise money for their businesses.

ICYMI, we’re sharing a few of the highlights from the conversation below.

Let’s start at the beginning – you have a very untraditional background compared to the traditional VC world–how did you break into the industry and set yourself up for success?

I think what actually helped me break into the industry was the fact that I was different. I'm a woman, a person of color, LGBTQ, I lived in Texas at the time, outside of the major markets, I did not go to college, I didn't have any sort of formal financial education, I did not have any contacts in Silicon Valley––and the list goes on and on. Often, I think the qualities that make us special or different that help us find success, but it takes curiosity and strength to actually lean into them.

I was interested in starting my own company at the time and excited about the prospect of fundraising until I came across some staggering statistics, including the fact that 90% of venture funding goes to white men. Demographically speaking, that means 90% of venture funding goes to a third of the country. It didn’t make sense to me. I began to ask, what if there were funds that did the opposite? 

Over the next three and a half years, I had the patience to talk to people–founders, investors, etc. I received as many ‘no’s’ as one human can get in a lifetime but I kept digging into that question, ‘what if’? I began investing in women, people of color and LGBTQ because that's what I knew. Over time, we've expanded our reach, but there are millions and millions of potential people in this demographic alone.

How do you choose which businesses to fund? What do you look for in a business and/or an entrepreneur?

It's a bit of a moving target because I feel that I continue to evolve as a persona and as an investor, but the one thing that has remained the same–from the time I was homeless and on food stamps and had no money to invest, to investing in almost 200 companies later–is this spark when I look across the table and see someone who reminds me of myself. I look for an entrepreneur who is what I call hungry not thirsty: there’s a passion without desperation. 

As far as the companies and ideas themselves go, if it's something that would take me a decade or more to even hope to accomplish then you have my attention.

It’s safe to say you have been privy to a lot of pitches and pitch decks—What are three crucial elements everyone should include in a pitch deck when raising money and why? 

1. This may be different for different people, and it will be different for different investors. For me personally, it really comes down to authenticity. You do not have to be an extrovert or try to entertain me. It's not necessarily about having a talent for being an entertainer, but rather a combination of pragmatic and passionate, and being able to articulate their story in a way that allows me to dream with them. As Katy Perry says, the best storyteller wins.

2. I speak with thousands of companies and receive thousands of pitch decks a year. I better not know more about your company than you do–or about your competition. Before you go out and ask other people to invest in you, you better invest in yourself and look for the answers in all the different ways that you can. Learn and talk to your peers and talk to people who have been there before you. Talk to the CEOs of fortune 500 companies and find mentorship through other people who are maybe slightly ahead of you in the game or through people who are doing this all with you. There's something that they figured out, or that they learned, or that they heard about that can help you––and you’ll probably help them too!

3. I understand that for some, it’s not only pitching a business, it’s their livelihood. But when I continue to ask someone more questions, it means I’m interested, even if the questions are tough. Sometimes people will shut down, get defensive, or quick to end the conversation when they feel it’s too much work to find the answers. Remember that you're also asking people for tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of dollars, so that's going to be part of the process and you have to be prepared to put in the work. 

Black women are among the fastest-growing entrepreneurs in the U.S.—yet they only receive a fraction of venture capital funding. How can we turn this statistic around and ensure the small business community is actually representative of society as a whole?

That’s a lot of what we're doing at Backstage and hopefully we’re one of many. It has to start with a global conversation and understanding that when companies are backing black women, they're also backing a progressive infrastructure, they're backing healthcare, they're backing all sorts of innovation. It’s not just what the country can do for black women to repair damages, it's also what black women are going to do for the country–and what they have been doing.

5 Ways to Ruin Your Reputation Online (and How to Avoid Them)

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

Society has an obsession with social media. That’s no secret. The mindless scroll is fast-paced and all-consuming. And now that social media has emerged as the leading digital marketing strategy, we expect more from brands and influencers these days, which is why a single social media post has the power to make or destroy your reputation. 

Social media has changed the game as a way to instantaneously communicate globally and has given brands a direct line of communication with consumers to build trust and connect in real-time. However, it’s an illusion that what you sell is more important than what you say. It’s simply not true. What you say is more important than what you sell. 

With the expectation that brands stand for something more these days, it can be tricky navigating the murky waters of reputation. As a brand, you know your consumers want honesty and transparency, but taking that approach isn’t as easy as it sounds. As well-intentioned as some content might be, there is a fine line between being truly genuine or coming across as doing something for a quick buck. Which is why some brands and influencers find themselves in hot water. 

It used to be that a brand could be brought into disrepair by unsatisfied customers or angry clients, but these days it’s more likely that you’ll make a blunder that’ll cost you big time in the consumer trust department. 

With that being said, read on to discover the five ways you can ruin your reputation online, and what steps you can take to ensure your reputation stays intact.

Don’t Drink and Tweet 

Repeat after me: Do not use social media after a few vinos! Not only are you prone to spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, but your moral compass may be slightly off-kilter. Every single thing you say, post or tweet, is public relations. It doesn't matter how incredible your product is, or how great your social ads are performing, all of your hard work can become undone with an alcohol-fueled post. 

Beware the Tokenistic Trap 

There is an invisible line when it comes to being genuine versus coming across as tokenistic. There is a lot more pressure on brands to use their voice and power for causes that have large social impact, and with that comes the risk that you’ll align your brand to a cause that doesn’t truly reflect your brand's values. Embrace authenticity and truly commit to the causes that set your heart on fire. You’ll have much more impact that way. 

Dodge the Delete Button 

Ignoring customer complaints is a massive no-no. Deleting comments and blocking genuine customer irks or complaints is not a smart PR move. You cannot control the narrative when it comes to customer feedback, but what you CAN control is how you manage this. Respond quickly, own up to your errors, and remain professional at all times. Remember, no response IS a response, and no one likes to be ignored, especially when they have a legitimate question or genuine complaint. 

Two-Faces Isn’t Cute 

One of the quickest ways to destroy your reputation is by manipulating your online community into thinking you’re an advocate for a certain lifestyle, but then contradicting that lifestyle in real life. Be authentically yourself, and you can’t go wrong. 

Avoid Trash-Talking 

The entire point of having a social media presence is to connect and build trust with your audience. So if you bad-mouth a past client or customer online, not only does that send the signal that you’re unprofessional, but it also screams disrespect. Avoid the trash-talk and save your reputation from taking a hit.

“Embrace authenticity and truly commit to the causes that set your heart on fire. You’ll have much more impact that way.”

—Kat Orchard, Founder of KK&O and Just Another Girl

About the Author: With 15 years of experience in PR, Kat Orchard is an Aussie publicist by trade, and owns a creative communications agency, KK&O, and online business, Just Another Girl. After working with medium to large-sized businesses across a myriad of communications projects within her agency, Kat noticed a gap for those who have side hustles or are a small business that cannot yet afford the cost of an agency. And so Just Another Girl was born. Kat is also a loving mother to her three-year-old daughter, Poppy. 

About Just Another Girl: Lovingly referred to as JAG, Kat funnels her experience and knowledge, coupled with practical tips into her raw, and at times sarcastic, blog. She specializes in helping female business owners supercharge their words and electrify their PR by offering practical tips and tricks.

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7 Low-Cost Strategies for Small Businesses to Acquire (and Retain!) Customers

Photo: Smith House Photography

Ready to grow your business from a seedling into a forest? Introducing The Growth Hacking Bundle. Designed to walk you through the ins and outs of SEO, content creation, and making waves in the digital space, this downloadable bundle is packed with essentials for acquiring and retaining customers and seeing your small business thrive.

Ready to become a growth hacker? Ahead, we're outlining some creative, low-cost strategies—from SEO to digital media optimization—to help small businesses acquire and retain customers, expand your audience and see it thrive. Keep scrolling for seven important growth-hacking channels to go after when building your user base, and add The Growth Hacking Bundle to your cart for more tips.

#1 SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Hire a good engineer to build your site in a way that makes your company show up at the top of search results. If that isn’t in your budget, then sign up for a website that has all of that included in the backend like Squarespace or WordPress. Include popular search terms in the copy, tag, and meta-tag all assets on your page, and include hyperlinks out to other sites whenever possible. Download our SEO 101 guide in Insider’s inventory and teach yourself or someone on your team.

#2 SEM (Search Engine Marketing)

Find out what are the most common search terms related to your company, and buy them on Google Ad Words. This is the best-paid strategy to help your business and its URL show up higher in search results.

#3 Product Management

The intersection of user experience, technology, and business. Product management involves closely monitoring user experience/behavior, and editing the technology in response to this behavior in order to best achieve the desired business goals. Google Analytics is the most accessible product management tool.

#4 A/B Testing

Offering your customers two versions of a product and monitoring which one they prefer. Once you find which version they prefer, you can accelerate your marketing efforts to get more bang for your buck.

#5 Facebook/Instagram ADS

Facebook has the capability to track activity across multiple devices (phone, computer, tablet) and best target the users for your product, Facebook ads may seem annoying, but they are the most effective for converting fans into paying customers. Facebook can almost guarantee you customer acquisition, it is up to you to determine whether the price of acquisition makes sense for your business.

#6 Email Capture

Capturing an email from a customer is a sign that they are willing to engage with you beyond just passively observing. Capturing emails allows you to deepen the relationship with your prospective clients through survey questions, distributed content, and calls to action that drive them back to your site, or convert them into paying customers.

#7 List Building

Break your fans and customers into differentiated lists so that you can target them differently from one another, and more accurately play to their preferences.

Ready to take things to the next level and grow your business?

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

This story was published on May 6, 2020, and has since been updated.

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This Former CFO Turned Entrepreneur Doesn’t Believe in Failure (and Neither Should You)

Photo: Courtesy of Kathleen Pagan

Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month, we chatted with Kathleen Pagan, CEO and founder of the homewares company Endlessly Elated. Ahead, she shares how she transitioned out of finance and into home goods, what it really took to quit her full-time job as a CFO and pursue her dreams as an entrepreneur, and why she doesn’t believe in failure.

What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated? 

I obtained a B.B.A. with a concentration in finance upon graduating college. I had an interest in business and thought a financial role at a corporation would be the right fit for me.  

What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?

Funny enough, very early on, I subconsciously knew that what I thought I should do, wasn’t necessarily what I wanted to do. I snuck in applications at the Food Network and Martha Stewart Living. Anything that would get me closer to what I secretly loved: the home space. Given my degree and work experience, I had an internship at Morgan Stanley throughout college, I didn’t quite land any of the ones I secretly yearned for. Although the Food Network CEO did respond to an email I had directly sent her, and it was certainly a highlight moment. Ultimately though, I landed a job at Citigroup in personal banking.

How did you get into the homeware space and interior design more broadly?

My journey has been anything but linear. As far as I can remember, my interests in the home space began at an incredibly early age. I remember being about eight and extremely interested in designing my own bedroom, cooking meals with my mom, and entertaining every chance I got.

While carrying out the duties of my demanding career, I nurtured my passions as a home cook and self-taught interior designer (I recently enrolled in classes at Parsons). I created a virtual destination via a blog by the same name, inspired by the beauty of home. From interiors to recipes, I consistently connected with a community of about 20k home aficionados like myself and in doing this, I realized there was a gap in the homewares space.

A gap that did not emphasize celebrating everyday moments, did not provide those thoughtfully designed conduits we all dreamed of, and certainly did not invite the consumer to have a seat at the table. After 37 years on earth, I finally listened to that eight-year-old little girl within me. Twelve months in development, a five-figure investment derived from my own savings, and amidst a global pandemic, I launched Endlessly Elated. My very own homewares company.

And as they say, the rest is history.  

How did you know when it was time to quit your full-time job and strike out on your own? What was your strategy for making the transition?

I spent seven long years strategizing my exit. Exhaustively planning every detail. Saving every dollar. All in preparation to strike out on my own. I even went as far as writing my resignation letter and keeping it in my purse for years in case, as I would tell myself, “Today is the day.”

However, the fact was that no matter how much I prepared, I simply didn’t take the plunge. As they say, I spent years allowing fear to drive the car. Crippled by the idea of failure. It wasn’t until I decided I was worthy of my dreams, worthy of living a life by design that I actually resigned. So, whenever I’m asked this very question, I say, “Yes, you should prepare. Make sure you dot your I’s and cross your T’s, but never and I mean never, stop pursuing your dreams. Find a way to live out your purpose. To share your gifts with the world.” 

How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?

I think the transition looks different for everyone. For me, it was mostly ensuring I was financially stable while I pursued my dreams of entrepreneurship. I wanted to be able to creatively work on my company without any financial stress.

However, for anyone reading this I say to make a list of what your needs are and prioritize them. That might be paying for daycare or contributing to your mortgage or simply being head of household and needing to pay for it all. Whatever that is, map out a plan that realistically gets you in the vicinity. 

Nothing turns out perfectly planned, so take that pressure off yourself. Trust that you are responsible and know that you will plan to the best of your ability. And once you do, GO FOR IT. Resign, put your head down, and gloriously work through all the things that you have been wishing for. It won’t be easy, but it will surely be worth it.

Knowing what I know now, the only thing I would have done differently was having the courage to believe in myself and my innate abilities sooner, but then again, it’s easier said now that I have made the transition. I believe in the right timing and in the end, the transition occurred at a time when “preparation met opportunity.”

Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career? 

This was my number one fear. The steady paycheck narrative. But here’s the thing, is the paycheck really steady? Yes, it might be regularly paid but is it firmly fixed? We all know someone who has been put in a room only to be shocked by the news that restructuring was occurring, and they would be laid off. 2020, was a culmination year of this very situation. Unfortunately, so many individuals were furloughed or completely laid off. So, I ask you, is anything really steady?  

I will never tell you entrepreneurship (or starting a new career) is easy. It is the HARDEST thing I have ever done. At times, it can be scary and lonely, but it is also the most rewarding. Doing your life’s work. Living on purpose. Living a life by design is all worth the journey of taking the leap.

Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst?

I am definitely a planner, so I did not jump in headfirst. In 2012, the year of my dad’s death and ultimately the reason I had my “am I living a fulfilled life?” epiphany, I started saving every dollar. Maxing out my 401k, investing in the stock market, and skipping out on as many shopping trips and vacations that I needed to. 

By the time I resigned in 2019, I had saved the equivalent of two years worth of my CFO salary between my liquid savings and investments. This also included a five-figure investment for startup company costs. It took me seven years to do this, lots of sacrifices, but I did it. I was intentional and ultimately walked away feeling empowered that I had set myself up to be financially secure.

What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?

That I am worthy. Yes, that is a full sentence because anything more would give the sentence a justification and it simply doesn’t need it. You are worthy because you are.

When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?

I absolutely have no regrets and know for sure that it was the best decision, the most rewarding one I’ve ever made.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunities and lessons that my career taught me. Looking back, the dots always connect. If it weren’t for my finance career, I wouldn’t have had the knowledge on how to manage my business finances, make solid financial decisions, create budgets and inevitably scale my company. It is important to remember that we all learn from our paths no matter how disconnected they may seem from what we ultimately desire. 

Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams? 

Confidence is something that I can truly say has come with age and wisdom. There are aspects of my life that I’m extremely confident about and there are others that I sometimes have to remind myself of my “badassery” (my favorite Shonda Rhimes’ word). I’ve learned that when fear, the killer of confidence, creeps in, to give myself examples of things I’ve achieved. Examples of times I have succeeded. This inevitably boosts my confidence and serves as a reminder that I can do anything I put my mind and efforts on.

So, cultivate your confidence by constantly reminding yourself that you are a force to be reckoned with. That before this very moment there have been plenty of instances where you have overcome obstacles. That believing in yourself, having that confidence is what got you here and it will certainly get you to your next chapter.   

It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?

My idea of failure has had a complete makeover over the years. My theory is simple, I don’t believe in it. See, failure can only occur if you stop trying. The only way you can literally say you failed at something is if you gave up. If you don’t, if you get up every single time you are knocked down, then you can’t fail. Ask any successful person how they’ve achieved success and they’ll tell you they never stopped moving. They did whatever it took to get them to their goal. So, failure doesn’t really exist. It’s simply an obstacle in disguise. 

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way?

Ahh, I’ve made plenty. It’s part of everyone’s journey, right?

But, I would say that my biggest mistake thus far was not listening to my own intuition as it related to my career. Not trusting my own instincts and ignoring my gut, which always proved to be correct. It’s hard to look back and know that at times I chose a different path simply because I didn’t believe my inner compass. That if I had just listened, my life may have looked very different. Although I don’t regret much, I can certainly say it was a huge disservice to myself. A mistake I am very cognizant to not repeat. 

What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why?

“Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes is definitely a must-read. This is neither a career book nor a money book, but I do think it is one that inspires you to go after your dreams. To believe that if you simply say yes to everything that scares you (usually you are only fearful of the things that secretly make you tick) your life would completely change, and you too could live a life full of passion and purpose.

What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?

As Nike’s slogan says, “Just do it.” I used to be extremely afraid to tell people to pursue their passions, for the fear that if something didn’t work out I would be to blame, but the truth is that most of us are responsible for our choices, and not telling you to go after what makes you tick is not only a disservice to you but also to those gifts that have been embedded within you. Simply imagine if Oprah had asked us and we told her to stay the “safe and steady” course. To continue her career as a local news broadcaster. Today, we wouldn’t be witnesses to all of her greatness. Don’t let anyone do that to you, but most importantly don’t do that to yourself. The moral of the story is you only have one life, so make sure to make it count.  

Anything else to add?

Yes. We must remember that saying yes to things that are out of alignment with what we know to be true for ourselves is inevitably swaying us away from the very things that make us who we are and who we were meant to be.

Photo: Courtesy of Endlessly Elated

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After Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, This Entrepreneur Found the Confidence to Take on the Fashion Industry

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

Photo: BKM Photography, Courtesy of Shobha Philips

Shobha Philips can remember feeling frustrated by the lack of nude bras available in her skin tone for as long as she’s been wearing one. But it wasn’t until she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro that she discovered the confidence to start her own lingerie line and address this glaring lack of inclusivity in the fashion industry. “It was a nine-day journey, and it was the most physically and mentally challenging thing I had ever done,” the founder tells Create & Cultivate of the climb. “Coming down from the summit, I realized what I was capable of, and suddenly starting a business seemed less intimidating.”

After summiting the tallest free-standing mountain in the world and experiencing this perspective-altering epiphany, she started Proclaim, an inclusive lingerie line. And true to her vision, there is an intention behind every element of the brand, from the name and mission to the ethical production of each garment. The brand’s pieces are made from earth-conscious fabrics (think wood pulp and recycled plastic bottles) and cut and sewn by skilled workers in Los Angeles who are paid fair hourly wages rather than per piece (a practice that often promotes wage exploitation and unsafe work conditions).

Ahead, Philips tells C&C how she brought Proclaim to life, from how she found the right manufacturing partners to why she used her own savings to fund the business.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what you were doing professionally before launching Proclaim? 

I studied marketing in school and had a few corporate roles in supply chain before starting Proclaim. I always knew in the back of my mind I wanted to start my own business—it just took a while to figure what that business would be.

Did you write a business plan? If so, was it helpful, and if not, what did you use to guide your business instead and why did you take that approach? 

I started several versions of a business plan, but what I ended up with before launching Proclaim was more of an outline than a full-on business plan. I ended up pivoting and adapting throughout the development process and the first year so much that it felt like my business plan would have been invalid almost instantly. I do think it is important to think through each of the components of a business plan, but perfecting a business plan document was not something I focused on.  

How did you come up with the name Proclaim, and what are some of the things you considered during the naming process?

I had a long-running list of possible names on a spreadsheet that I shared with friends and family to get their feedback. I wanted a name that spoke to the bold and disruptive vision and I had for this business, and in the end, Proclaim was the one that just felt right and resonated with people the most.

What were the immediate things you had to take care of to set up the business? 

Setting up separate business accounts for checking and credit cards was important to keep track of business expenses and to keep them separate from personal expenses. I also made sure the domain name and social media handles were all available with the business name. 

What research did you do for the brand beforehand?

I did not have a design background so I spent almost a year and a half researching the fashion industry in general and really trying to learn everything I could about bra construction and manufacturing. I purchased a ton of bras and took them apart to see how they were made. I also just had a lot of conversations with friends about their bras; what they loved, what they didn’t. I spent that year consuming all the information I could about this industry I was jumping into. 

How did you find and identify the manufacturers that you work with? What was important to you during this process and are there any mistakes you made and learned from along the way?

Making connections for sourcing material and manufacturing took a while. It was a lot of Google research, cold calls, and dead ends trying to find the right partners who aligned with the brand values of being a sustainable and ethically made brand. I would recommend taking your time with this step. It takes a while to find the right manufacturing partners. I remember feeling like I was not moving fast enough and was anxious to get my collection made, but I think it’s such a crucial component to your success that it’s worth taking your time.

Photo: Marissa Alves, Courtesy of Shobha Philips

How did you fund Proclaim? What were the challenges and what would you change? Would you recommend your route to other entrepreneurs? 

I used my own savings to fund Proclaim. As a values-driven brand, I wanted to be able to bring my vision to life without compromising for investors and outside stakeholders. As far as what I’d recommend to other entrepreneurs, I think it depends on the industry and what success looks like for you. For me, success was bringing a product to life that I felt needed to exist. If your goal is to be like the next Amazon, you’ll probably need outside capital. 

Did you hire an accountant? Who helped you with the financial decisions and setup? 

I have an accountant for taxes and I do all of the bookkeeping with Quickbooks. I recommend keeping up with it weekly because it does become daunting if you keep putting it off.

How did you promote your company? How did you get people to know who you are and create buzz?

Proclaim has grown mostly through Instagram. I’ve been lucky that I’ve had a lot of success on the app reaching like-minded people organically who believe in our mission. I started the account six months before launching so by the time we launched, there were already a few thousand followers who supported the vision.

Do you have a business coach or mentor? If so, how has this person helped you, and would you recommend one to other entrepreneurs?

I’ve met so many amazing women on this journey of running a business. There are a handful of women who are fellow designers and fashion entrepreneurs with whom I am in constant contact during the week. We help each other with everything from sourcing issues to marketing strategies and everything in between. My business would not be where it is today without the support and guidance of these fellow small business owners.

What is one thing you didn’t do during the setup process that ended up being crucial to the business and would advise others to do asap?

I’d say, make sure you’re building your email list from day one. Make it easy for customers who discover you to sign up on your website and social media pages. It is such a powerful and relatively inexpensive tool; I wish I had focused on it earlier.

What is your number one piece of financial advice for any new business owner and why?

Find a good CPA! Even if it seems pricey when you are first starting out, in the long run, it will save you money.

Photo: Marissa Alves, Courtesy of Shobha Philips

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5 of Your Most Pressing Money Questions–Answered

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

COVID has shown us how quickly unexpected events can throw our plans off course. Now, more than ever, it’s important to plan ahead–especially when it comes to your finances. Whether you're bootstrapping your business, setting up your retirement fund, or simply learning the financial basics, it pays to pay yourself forward. Investing in your future will pay back dividends. 

To help you master your own financial future, we teamed up with Ally for our recent Money Moves digital summit to host a mentor power-hour with five financial experts to answer your most pressing money questions.

In case you missed it, we’re sharing a few of the Q&As from our Money Moves mentor session. Read on for some sage financial advice from our five mentors who know quite a bit about the importance of investing in yourself, your business, and your financial future.

Jack Howard serves as the Senior Director of Wealth Advisors Operations for Ally Invest.  In this role she manages the day-to-day operational processes of the Wealth Advisor business.  She is also responsible for the Ally Invest Inclusive Wealth strategy that is part of the Ally enterprise Financial Social Inclusion (FSI) efforts and serves as secretary for the Ally Charitable Foundation. Prior to joining Ally Invest, Jack served as Senior Director of Ally Corporate Citizenship.  She was responsible for the creation and execution of strategic programs for the organization’s financial literacy program, corporate giving initiatives and employee giving/volunteerism programs. 

Jack graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and is currently a student in Syracuse University’s Master of Science in Communications Management program. An active professional, Jacqueline is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. She also serves on the national board of directors for the American Bankers Association Foundation and Society for Financial Education and Professional Development (SFEPD), as well as the Boys and Girls Club of SE Michigan.

Jacqueline has a deep passion for helping Brown and Black communities build wealth through economic mobility. Her work has earned her a spot as one of the 15 women on the inaugural Next list - an extension of the American Banker Most Powerful Women in Banking program.

Q: Investing can be intimidating–what advice do you have for someone who’s new to investing and doesn’t know where to start. How do I overcome the intimidation factor?

JACQUELINE: As a first-generation stock investor, I know what it feels like to be paralyzed with fear because you don’t know what to do first. I am the daughter of a police officer and teacher who had pensions to fund retirement, so the stock market was not a topic of discussion at my dinner table during childhood. After graduating from college, I realized the importance of owning stocks as a piece of my wealth building strategy. I started small and made a $25 contribution to the 401K provided by my employer. As my salary increased, I contributed more, hired a financial advisor, and opened a Roth IRA account.  I also worked hard to eliminate credit card and student loan debt.  Over time, I became obsessed with understanding money and wealth building.  Now, I am constantly listening to audio books and podcasts, watching CNBC or reading the Wall Street Journal and Barron’s.  All of those efforts helped me to better understand money and investing.  So, my top tips for new investors: start small, automate the process and make a commitment to learning.

Allyson Byrd is also known as the “Profit Accelerator™ and she is celebrated as one of the world's most trusted leadership advisors and sales experts for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Today, her and her team executive produce exclusive virtual membership communities for influencers with online audiences over 1 million in reach. Allyson’s clients generate a collective $33 million-plus in sales revenue annually. She and her team have coached 7500 entrepreneurial leaders to create $260 MILLION in NEW revenue over the past 9-years. You’ll be able to hear more of Allyson’s journey to success from an underprivileged life on food stamps, a dad in prison and single mom raising two kids to the ultra-passionate successful leader she is today and the undeniable stand she has for women rising into their greatness in her latest collaboration with Amazon Prime TV. Allyson’s press features include CNN, USA Today, NPR, Time Money, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, CNBC, MSN, Black Enterprise, Essence and Entrepreneur.com.

Q: If this last year taught us anything, it was the importance of planning for the unexpected. As a small business owner, how can I be better prepared financially for emergencies?

ALLYSON: The last year taught us many lessons and brought significant stress to women business leaders all over the world. We found ourselves questioning how to properly position our services, pivot our product lines and staff our teams amidst a global pandemic and a world-wide racial reckoning. This was not easy, but we survived. 

There are (3) things that I shared with our clients averaging $250,000+ annually to keep them on track and committed to success. 

1. When money stress hits, do NOT discuss the stress. Focus on the pivot. Ask yourself, “What is my lowest hanging fruit to sell and position to the market?” Your job is to sell with intention, sell fast and secure your cash flow.

2. Get LOUDER in your marketplace. Our tendency when stress hits is to go quiet and enter protective mode. Choose from a place of power and connect with your audience like never before. Do the things others aren’t doing so you can curate success for your business in ways others are not. 

3. Finally, as the business leader–center yourself. Know your numbers, meet with your accounting team (bookkeeper, accountant, heck… this may be you having a meeting with you) but whatever you do, don’t hide behind your numbers, stand on them. Have a clear picture of where you are so you know where you’re taking the business. 

Financial stress can cause us to take our mind off our business goals, slide away from leading with discipline and throw us quickly into a state of overwhelm and fear. 

Use affirmations like the one below to kick off your breathwork or meditation because if you’re riddled with anxieties and high-stress emotions, your business and your bottom line will soon follow.

REPEAT AFTER ME: I am a vibrational match for financial prosperity because I choose to only allow massive well-being. I stay in the place of already receiving monetary abundance from all sources that are for my highest good and greatest joy.

Stay the course. It’s the ebb and flow of business and keeping your mind centered, your energies focused and your intentions clear will get you through the storm and back into the sunlight of your success. 

Britney “Jeanine” Canidate is the owner and founder of Britney Jeanine & Co., a business coaching firm based in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. Serving as the head Business Coach and Pivot Strategist, Britney believes that every entrepreneur should build a business they are most passionate about—even if it means slapping fear in the face and pivoting accordingly. Wife, mom of 2 and a business owner for over thirteen years, Britney has established herself as an industry leading business and brand strategist, and has supported clients across a multitude of industries. From corporate executives, high-ranking government officials and thousands of creative entrepreneurs, Britney has intently positioned her expertise in order to build a business focused on greater results, revenue and retention. Known for her spunky-tough-love approach, creativity, strategic mind and attention to detail, Britney is a proud graduate of Georgetown University where she received her Masters in Public Relations & Corporate Communications, and a Florida State Seminole with a background in Finance & Marketing. Using her signature system, you can find Britney working with experienced [yet transitioning entrepreneurs] who are ready to confidently plan their pivot without compromising their coins and credibility.

Q: I am currently working full-time for an employer but I plan to launch my own business soon–where is the most important area for me to focus my financial energy right now in order to take the leap?

BRITNEY: What a great question... and it's awesome that you're starting to think of this now. A mistake I often find those starting new businesses make is: investing based on what others are doing, and not based upon their OWN goals/needs.

So here is my advice:

• First define your brand by outlining your what, why, how, who and who not.

• Then focus on the who and determine how you can solve their problem(s).

• Now that you have the solution to their problem(s), package it up... is it a product, service and/or program...

• Now it's time to launch it into the world... who are the key people that can help you make this happen?

So to answer your initial question... your financial energy will go into "the key people that can help you make [your launch] happen".

 Maybe it's inventory samples? Maybe it's a business coach? Perhaps it's a brand designer or operations strategist... but the question still remains—who are the key people that can help you make the launch of your new business happen? Start there.

Alaina is an accountant, certified financial coach, author, and content creator. She helps busy people who struggle with budgeting and time management use a paper planner to get organized. She shares her easy approach to productivity & finances through her YouTube channel and has amassed over 75,000 subscribers and 3.5 million views on the platform. Her work has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Martha Stewart Living, Wired, The New York Weekly, The Huffington Post, and she was recently selected as one of LA Wire's 40 under 40. Alaina lives in New Orleans, Louisiana with her husband Torrey and their two daughters Tori Michelle and Alyssa Jade.

Q: I’m reevaluating how I split up my finances in the wake of 2020. How much cash should I keep in my savings and checking account?

ALAINA: Here is how I break down cash in my accounts:

Checking Account: I keep a small cushion in this account (no more than $200 - $500) just to cover any unexpected expenses from my daily spending. I don't like to keep more than that just in case my debit card is compromised.

Short Term Savings Account: With my short-term savings account, I am keeping money for any repairs or things that don't happen every month (like birthdays). In this account I keep one month of expenses. 

Long Term Savings Account: This is my emergency fund. I would keep 3 - 6 months of expenses in this account in case you may lose your job. If you have a very secure job or you can get a new job very easily, I would keep 3 months, however if you are self-employed or your job is unstable, I would keep 6 months of expenses.

Savvy Girl Money is a financial platform created to inspire women to reach their financial goals.

Q: I’m saving up to buy a home, but I’m worried that my credit score is too low. How can I increase my credit score and maintain it?

ASHIRA: The best way to increase and maintain your credit score is to start paying all your bills on time. A late payment can have a substantial effect on your score.

You want to keep your credit card utilization ratio under 30%. Your credit card utilization ratio is calculated by dividing your credit card balance by the total credit card limit. Make sure each individual credit card utilization is under 30%. Credit utilization makes up roughly 30% of your credit score, this makes it one of the most important factors in increasing or maintain your credit score.

You could also dispute negative or inaccurate items reported on your credit report. The best option is to write a letter to the three credit bureaus explaining why the information is inaccurate and provide evidence. Make sure to mail the letter certified mail with return-receipt requested as proof you sent the letter.

Why the Best Path to Success Is Your Own, According to Nutrafol’s Founders

Listen to the full episode here.

The experience of thinning hair is not only a physical journey, but an emotional one. Many people, especially women, suffer from hair loss and thinning without support or understanding of why it is happening. But the truth is, this is an incredibly common experience for both men and women, and something that affects hundreds of millions of people in the U.S. alone.

For this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn sits down with the founders of Nutrafol, Giorgos Tsetis and Dr. Sophia Kogan, MD, to dive into their personalized and education-driven approach that has helped thousands and thousands of people suffering from hair loss around the world. Join the party on social @workparty and stay in-the-know at workparty.com.

Subscribe to WorkParty

and never miss an episode.

Topics in this episode include:

• The emotional journey of hair loss for both men and women

• Taking a holistic approach to create and market a product with a personalized solution

• Cultivating a community and providing customers with support throughout the emotional journey

• Education and resources to help cope with hair loss

• Developing a product that helps treat and target concerns throughout different phases of the life cycle (youth to adult development, stress, menopause)

• Challenges (and wins) in entrepreneurship

• Finding the path to success through personal experience

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"After I Lost My Business and Went Bankrupt, I Thought My Professional Life Was Over"

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

Several years ago, my fitness brand encountered some serious challenges, which all could seem rather unremarkable for those not deeply in the trenches and drama—Breaking News: Small Business Closes!—but over the past year, many people have asked for my advice on how I pivoted quickly, kept my chin up, and returned with confidence, celebrating what I can uniquely offer this world.

For the most part, I’d say I’m pretty resilient and I’ve bounced forward quickly. Maybe it’s because I’m not risk-averse and I don’t like to do anything small. I can assure you that it looks a lot more elegant than it was, and is. There are days I feel like a rockstar and some days that I question my worth. But one constant is I’ve learned that failing is not only inevitable in some capacity, but it also creates progress. I believe failure creates knowledge. Knowledge creates vision. Vision creates change. And change is what we need.

As you read my perspective it’s important to know where I’m coming from: As a life-long athlete and a huge believer in fate, I’m a shameless optimist. Forward, for me, is the only direction I go. The rotator cuff injury that forced me into retirement as a D-1 SEC cheerleader led me to rehab my shoulder through pilates, which led to creating my own fitness method, Cardio-Cheer-Sculpting. When a bad real estate transaction and a seven-year-long lawsuit (that ultimately ended my company) led me to believe that there was a better way to expand my fitness business online in 2015. 

Due to the pandemic, many businesses were turned on their heads overnight, forcing many to learn the art of adaptation immediately, or else. It saddens me to watch so many small businesses scramble to go online so fast. My digital transformation didn’t come from a pandemic and wasn’t forced to happen in the blink of an eye. For years I wanted to find a way to bring my method to the masses without opening an army of brick-and-mortar studios, dealing with complex operations and the risk of even greater fixed costs. I wanted to use my energy, sweat, and unique talents in a different way. 

There was a time in 2017 to 2018, after I lost my business and went bankrupt, that I thought my professional life was over. Every day I would wake up and recite my mantra: Laur, just keep going. Be in the moment, even if it’s an awful dumpster fire moment. Be flexible. Keep moving forward. I could have easily broken down but I chose not to. Okay, so I did once on the kitchen floor, but who’s counting? 

Here are my top tips on how to pivot your career. 

1. Identify Your Vision 

What is your passion? What are you fighting for? Purpose crushes obstacles. You want a career that you can wake up to every day and be passionate about. A career that involves doing things that you would choose to do even if you weren’t being paid to do it. Be clear on what you want you’re trying to manifest. Don’t put mixed messages out into the universe, as it will only attract confusion into your life. 

2. Be Optimistic 

You have to literally be your own cheerleader. You cannot have a positive life with a negative mind, nor can you achieve your goals if you don’t believe in yourself. Believing in yourself and what you can achieve is imperative to move forward in life. Believe to achieve. When you combine the power of positivity with the power of visualization, you’ll set yourself up to win. 

3. Connect With and Lean on Your Network 

Surround yourself with the people in your life who help you realize your true potential, even when you may not see it yourself. 

4. Keep Evolving 

You have to be forward-focused. We live in a really fast-moving world. 2021 is like the flash, right? You can never assume that just because you did it one way that you can just rinse and repeat. You have to keep moving, changing, learning, and never ever be predictable. 

5. Focus on Staying Healthy and Strong 

Your mind and spirit are just as important as your body. Keep your spirit alive. People will try and break you down. Do not make yourself small for anyone and do not allow others to break your spirit. 

6. Embrace Uncertainty 

Lean into it and grow with it. You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Everything is temporary. My lowest days set me up for the most growth. They broke me down and ultimately really fired me up.  

7. Get Excited 

Shake the Etch A Sketch! Big things are happening, the sky is the limit, nothing is impossible, and there’s nothing like a clean slate.

“You want a career that you can wake up to every day and be passionate about. A career that involves doing things that you would choose to do even if you weren’t being paid to do it.”

—Lauren Boggi, Founder of Studio LB

About the author: Lauren Boggi is a fitness expert, celebrity trainer, innovator, founder of Studio LB, and the creator of Cardio-Cheer Sculpting, which combines cheer choreography and cheer conditioning. A 15-year industry vet, certified pilates instructor, and mom-of-one, Lauren has gained notoriety nationwide, appearing on shows like the Kris Jenner show, The Doctors, and in publications such as The New York Times, People, Vogue, Shape, Fitness Magazine, and Forbes. Seen as a thought-leader within the industry, Lauren’s energy, authenticity, and ability to drive user experience and foster human connections have helped her create a passionate and dedicated community worldwide.

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How to Answer the Question "Is My Job Right for Me?"

Photo: Smith House Photo

So much effort goes into applying, interviewing, and securing a job that once you’ve solidified yourself in a position, it’s hard to think about ever leaving. However, changing jobs and pivoting professional paths is an essential part of one’s career. By age forty, the average Baby Boomer has changed jobs around 11 times. And with the growth of the gig economy and desire to be your own boss, it’s becoming less and less likely that the first full-time job you get is the one you stick with for good. 

To figure out if your current job is right for you, many things should be considered. Asking yourself if there’s growth potential, if you like the company culture, and if you enjoy the work you’re doing, these are all factors you should consider before diving back into that job hunt. And while no job is ever perfect, asking these things of yourself is sure to jumpstart your thinking and guide you in the direction that’s right for you. 

1. Do you enjoy what you’re doing?

One of the first questions you should be asking yourself is this: “Do I like what I do every day?” Obviously, no one job is completely perfect, and you’re never going to enjoy all of your responsibilities all of the time. It’s a well-documented fact that “finding your passion” is too simplistic of advice to take when evaluating your current job. But the general idea is that you should look forward to coming in and do the work you do every day, and truly believe it’s meaningful. And if you do, you’ll be 20% more productive. But if you find yourself falling out of bed every morning and dragging yourself to do work you don’t even believe in, then maybe it’s time for a change.

2. Do you have a healthy relationship with your boss?

Now, let’s be realistic here. I’m not saying you’re out every weekend at the karaoke bar crushing cocktails together, having a healthy relationship with your boss doesn’t mean you’re best friends. It means that you feel like you can be communicative with them, you are working towards the same goal, and you feel like they advocate for you.

This also means that every superior-associate relationship will look different, and that’s okay. Not every individual prefers the same leadership styles. Some might prefer a manager who is hands-on and gives lots of direction, and another person in the same position might hate someone like that. But the fact of the matter is this, 58% of the workforce say they trust a stranger more than their boss, and if you’re a part of that percentage, you should try looking for a change.

3. Is your compensation fair and does it align with your experience level? 

Even at a dream job, it’s easy for resentment to build if you haven’t gotten a raise in 18 months. Especially if you look on a website like Glassdoor and find out you’re making 60% less than most of your counterparts.

At the end of the day, compensation needs come down to what benefits, perks, and salary you require to both succeed in your role and live your life. If these are not being met, it might be time to either ask for a raise or look elsewhere.

4. Is your commute doable?

This is a special shout-out to our professionals living in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., who are amongst the individuals in the US with the longest commute times. Commutes can be stressful, and sometimes not worth it. A study done in 2017 discovered that an extra 20 minutes added to a commute equates to a 19% pay cut. 

Of course, commute time isn’t the only thing you should consider when evaluating your trips to and from work. Are you still able to live nearby your friends and family? Are you close to a range of restaurants, bars, parks, and schools? The answers to some of these questions should help decide if your current situation is right.

5. Are you expanding your skillset, and do you see a growth trajectory?

A great job challenges you and encourages you to hone your skillset while fostering your existing talents. For most professionals, an ideal job also encourages continuing education and employee growth. If you don’t see these things in your current position, you might want to look for something more, but before you do, have a conversation with your manager that addresses where they see your role going in the long term. Perhaps even request approval to attend an event or take a class that will sharpen your skills. And if your current company doesn’t encourage these growth paths, then it might be time to say goodbye.

While general, these five guiding points are sure to help you evaluate if your current position is right for you. And while it’s important to remember that not every job will check off every box, you have a right to leave your desk at the end of every day feeling satisfied with the work you put in for your company. Leaving a company and going into the dreaded job hunt can be risky and tiresome, but trust that finding the right position will pay off in the end.

About the Author: Susan Levine is the president and founder of Career Group Companies, a leading recruiting firm based in Los Angeles, with offices in New York, San Francisco, Orange County, and Greenwich. Their divisions, comprised of Career Group, Syndicatebleu, Fourth Floor, Avenue Pacific, and Events, span a variety of industries. They specialize in executive and administrative support, marketing and design, fashion, events, and c-suite-level placements. As a widely recognized industry name, they pride themselves on placing top-tier direct hire and freelance talent in their dream jobs. They use their expertise to impact the lives of their candidates and improve the company culture of their clients, one exceptional match at a time.

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

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How to Shift Your Mindset to Help You Update Your Résumé More Effectively

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

Very few people enjoy writing or updating their résumé, but it is necessary. The best way to dive into this task is to shift your mindset so you view it as a positive experience. 

Have you ever stumbled upon an opportunity too great to pass up, only to find out that you need to apply for it as quickly as possible? People find themselves in this situation more often than you might expect, and if you don’t have your résumé updated and on hand, it could create a big problem.

Instead of thinking of updating your résumé as a necessary evil, think of updating your résumé as your opportunity to look back at your accomplishments and pat yourself on the back. Here’s how to get started.

Think of It Like This...

In her new book, “Your Twenties” career coach Jessica Smith tells her readers to “think of updating your résumé as a special time to admire all you’ve accomplished.” Shifting your mindset and taking this perspective when updating or writing your résumé helps to create a more positive experience, and also helps you accept credit and acknowledge all that you’ve accomplished. The biggest challenge people face when writing their résumés, and throughout the job search in general, is selling themselves short and underestimating their value. Think about this when you update your résumé. Be proud of your accomplishments, take credit where you deserve it, and highlight all that you can bring to the table. 

Here are some guidelines on how to highlight your accomplishments and write an effective résumé.

Decide How You Want to Portray Yourself

Most people don’t think much about it, but you are a walking billboard, and you have the power to give off whatever perception you want through your résumé. The first step to writing a great résumé is to figure out what kind of jobs you’re interested in applying to, and then figure out how you want to portray yourself for those positions. 

Perhaps you want to focus on one area of expertise to highlight on your résumé, or maybe you want to present yourself as an expert in the field as a whole. Figure out what you want your résumé to say about you, and stick to it. If you want to focus on one area of expertise, ensure that it is visible throughout your document. On the other hand, if you're going to present yourself as knowledgeable in different areas, make sure that you touch on each of those specialties in every job description.

Make a List of Your Strengths

A key factor of any résumé is a skills matrix at the top. This ensures that someone can look at your document and quickly tell which skills you possess. If you know that you aren’t proficient in a specific software or could use some work in a specific area, don’t include it. You want this list to highlight only your strongest areas so that an employer or hiring manager focuses on your strengths and not your weaknesses. By omitting areas that you need to work on, you will only draw attention to what you’re good at.

Make a List of Your Accomplishments

Anyone can claim they are a great employee, but very few people can actually show it. Your résumé is your opportunity to present the best version of yourself, so show potential employers all of your accomplishments and achievements, and provide evidence to your claims so that they can see what you bring to the table and how you will be beneficial if hired. Think about what you’ve accomplished that’s measurable: Have you increased sales? Have you been recognized for your success? Have you implemented process improvements or cost-cutting techniques? 

Whatever you have done to improve your company and/or department, you want to show it on your résumé. Don’t be afraid to calculate numbers from your own data. As long as you can prove your calculations, you can use them on your résumé. Want more data to use? Ask your manager. Phrase it in a way that shows that you’re trying to improve, not potentially leave the company. A good way to ask is something like this: 

“I’m trying to compile some data to measure my progress in this role and see how I can continue to improve. Is there anything you feel I’ve been particularly successful with or an area you feel I excel at?”

This will give your manager an opportunity to give you praise and potentially give you some constructive criticism as well, both of which will be useful when writing a résumé. That being said, phrasing your question like this will provide you with some information without giving away that you’re looking at other job opportunities.

When it comes to updating your résumé, it’s important to shift your mindset to position the experience in a positive light. It’s your opportunity to pat yourself on the back and acknowledge all the amazing work you’ve done! This is your time to be proud of yourself and articulate all that you have to offer. Highlight all of your skills and achievements, do the research, and put forth the best document possible. Your résumé is your opportunity to present the best version of yourself, so take advantage of that and show people what you want them to see!

About the author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal styles. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.

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This story was originally published on August 22, 2018, and has since been updated.

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10 New Beach Reads We Can't Wait to Take on Vacation

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Now that it’s officially summer, chances are you’re looking for your next beach read. Ahead, we’ve compiled a list for all of you Create & Cultivators who crave career-driven fiction with strong female characters and non-fiction reads that will give you a boost to become an even better version of yourself. Whether you’re in the mood for some self-help, a sexy thriller, sweet romance, or a bit of office drama, there’s something for everyone.

"Your Fully Charged Life" by Meaghan B. Murphy

$24

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This book is the perfect guide for becoming more energetic, happy, and fully charged every day. Written by magazine editor Meaghan B. Murphy, this guide is filled with personal experiences, learnings from positive psychology and neuroscience, and inspiring stories. It presents new ways, big and small, that you can make a difference in all aspects of your life and impact others in a positive way.

"While We Were Dating" by Jasmine Guillory

$15

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Ben Stephens has more to worry about than getting in a committed relationship, including family drama and a huge ad campaign he just landed with Anna Gardiner, a major movie star. Anna is using this ad campaign as a distraction as she waits to hear if she landed the role in a big movie that will make her a household name. Ben and Anna are instantly attracted to each other and their flirtations turn serious after Ben helps Anna during a family emergency. They soon plan to turn their infatuation into something more suited for the spotlight, but will they both be content with this fake setup?

"Just One Look" by Lindsay Cameron

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After falling from the corporate ladder, Cassie Woodson takes a temp job reviewing correspondence for a fraud suit in order to pay her bills. After finding emails sent between Forest Watts and his wife, Cassie becomes invested and starts to find meaning in her life again. She starts spending her days reading over their email exchanges, slowly becoming more and more obsessed with their lives. After staging a chance meeting with Forest, Cassie starts devising a plan to take his wife’s place.

"Dream First, Details Later" by Ellen Marie Bennett

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Written by entrepreneur and founder of the multi-million-dollar company, Hedley & Bennett, Ellen Marie Bennett provides a simple guide to following your dreams, no matter what. Inspired by her experience as a 24-year-old line cook who offered to make new aprons for the kitchen staff even though she had no company or plan, she offers a new perspective on following your dreams by crushing doubt and second guesses. Pick up this book to learn how to step out of your comfort zone and get started on a dream project.

"Del Rio" by Jane Rosenthal

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District Attorney Callie McCall has slowly watched her hometown, Del Rio, California, go from a thriving farm town to a run-down, dying town. She decides that now the perfect time to launch her political career and attempt to make a difference in the town she was born and raised in. However, when the dismembered body of a migrant teen is found in one of Del Rio's surrounding citrus groves, Callie faces a career make-or-break case that takes her to the west coast of Mexico and a secretive tropical paradise before coming back home to face the most politically connected and wealthiest family: her own.

"The Other Black Girl" by Zakiya Dalila Harris

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Nella Rogers faces isolation and microaggression as the only Black employee at Wagner Books. When Hazel, a new Black editorial assistant, arrives and works next to Nella’s cubicle, she is overjoyed to have someone to talk to. However, Hazel is soon elevated as the office darling and leaves Nella far behind. Soon after, threatening notes start appearing on Nella’s desk telling her to leave Wagner immediately. Confused by the notes, she assumes Hazel has left the notes behind but soon realizes that there is more at stake than her job.

"The Heart Principle" by Helen Hoang

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Anna Sun accidentally achieves success when her YouTube video of her playing the violin becomes viral. Soon after the video’s success, Anna finds it difficult to replicate the video and becomes burnt out as a result. On top of that, her longtime boyfriend asks for an open relationship before committing to more, hurting Anna deeply. She decides to participate in an open relationship as well, planning on multiple one-night stands with the most unacceptable men. Anna soon meets Quan Diep, who accepts her unconditionally and offers more than sex. When tragedy strikes her family and Anna takes on an unexpected role, she and Quan end up fighting for their chance at a relationship.

"Mona at Sea" by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

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After graduating college at the top of her class and the job of her dreams in her grasp, everything seems to be working perfectly for perfectionist Mona Mireles. That is, until the 2008 recession strikes, and she ends up unemployed and living with her parents. Mona finds herself completely adrift in life and love and is on the path of a downward spiral of bitterness and self-pity. She uses humor and a cynic outlook in order to face her new life which is filled with job searching, navigating her parent’s failing marriage, and figuring out the complexity of adulthood.

"The Photographer" by Mary Dixie Carter

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Delta Dawn makes a living from taking photos of New York’s elite and editing them to look like perfect, happy families to their viewers. She spends her days hopping from one photo shoot to the next, but when she takes pictures for the Straub family, she doesn’t want to leave and finds herself wanting to be part of the family’s glamourous life. From babysitting their daughter to becoming a close family friend, Delta seems to have everything in place until questions are raised and she soon finds out that manipulation doesn’t come as easy.

"Write My Name Across the Sky" by Barbara O’Neal

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Gloria Rose is an influencer in her ‘70s living her best life in the Upper West Side with thousands of Instagram followers who adore her. However, everything starts to fall apart when her old lover is arrested for art theft and forgery. Gloria decides to run, but her plan gets complicated when she must help the nieces she raised. Willow has returned home after a failed album and relationship while Sam faces the imminent loss of her video game company and her boyfriend due to her uncontrollable anger. The three women must work together to overcome their loss and face their future.

About the Author: Abby Cunningham is a junior at Auburn University studying public relations and minoring in marketing and industrial and graphic design processes. Abby is currently the online and social media editor for her school’s newspaper, The Auburn Plainsman. She is also a part of Auburn’s student-run public relations firm, literary magazine, and yearbook. Abby is usually found spending her day on TikTok, color coding her plans for the month, or settling down with a good book.

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3 Ways to Boost Your Confidence During a Sales Call

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

When I first started my coaching business, the thing I dreaded the most was hopping on Zoom for an intro call with a potential client. The term “sales call” made me nervous and at times it even felt like the walls were caving in when I thought of making an offer.

Ever felt that way? If so, you’re not alone.

Pitching your services in real-time with a person staring right at you can feel daunting, and in the beginning, it was definitely a challenge for me. I would do all these breathing exercises and meditations right before but still felt uneasy and ungrounded going into them.

Now? I've grown to enjoy sales calls, or what I like to call sales conversations because they're such a great way to build trust with a potential client. 

They also usually convert between 35-50%, which is much higher than email offers, which convert at 1%, or webinar offers which convert between 3-5%. 

So if you’re anxious when you do these calls, or even dread doing them in the first place, that’s ok! And it’s also important to embody the truth that they’re a chance for you to serve someone, get to know them in a deeper way, and potentially work with them long-term. 

Many of my clients, most of whom are also in the coaching, healing, and consulting industry, tend to struggle with this if they’re just getting started. But once they integrate a few key (and very simple) things, they’re off to the races. 

Here’s a list of the most important tips and tricks that help boost confidence (and sales) on intro calls. 

#1. Focus on the potential client getting clarity and confidence around their goals. 

One of the first questions I ask on these calls is, “If you could wave a realistic magic wand, what would you achieve in the next six months to a year?” This helps the person on the call get in a space of possibility and clarity about what they really want. What a gift!

With the focus on them and their needs, you can really tune into their desires and establish a solid rapport with them. And the more presence you bring to the clarity process, the more people will trust you and feel that you care about them.

People buy from people they trust so a side-effect of this is that it increases the likelihood of them investing in you and your services. Win-win!

#2. Keep asking open-ended questions. 

The #1 thing I advocate for when it comes to having profitable and feel-good sessions is to not coach during the session. If this is difficult for you, remind yourself of this intention: be of service and bring them to a place of clarity.

By asking great questions, you can reveal what they most need and want, but it’s not usually helpful to try and solve all their problems in one go. Once you get to the offer portion, the same applies. Tell them the basics of your service, let them lead with questions, and if they’re not sure about something, ask an open-ended question.

For example, if they say they don’t feel ready to invest, you can ask something like, “What would make this a yes for you?” or “Tell me more about that.” This often works better than attempting to convince or persuade someone into buying something, since people tend to naturally get defensive.

If you have great questions at every stage of the sales process, your prospect will be more receptive to hearing more about your offer, asking deeper questions about it, and potentially sign-on. 

#3. Help them make a decision that feels good to them.  

If your goal is to ensure your prospect is happy with their decision, they're more likely to sign on with you on the call or in the future. If they end up signing on at the end, yay! Signing on with you should feel like a celebration for both parties involved.

And if they don’t, make sure they “walk away” from the call feeling good. You never know when they might reach out to hire you! So release any attachment to that outcome and stay open to what may be because ultimately, it’s all of the highest good. 

In short, the best rule of thumb to follow for these types of calls is to follow what feels good. This will guide you towards the most intuitive and effective sales process and subsequently lead to more sales. Your gut never lies! So here’s to bringing more ease and flow to this.

“If your goal is to ensure your prospect is happy with their decision, they're more likely to sign on with you on the call or in the future.”

—Kimberly Lucht, Business Coach

About the author: Kimberly Lucht is a business coach who helps women make their first six figures doing what they love. She’s been featured in Money, Business Insider, Well + Good, Greatist, Create & Cultivate, and more.

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How Lesbians Who Tech & Allies Founder Leanne Pittsford Is Increasing LGBTQ Representation in Tech

Photo: Courtesy of Leanne Pittsford

Welcome to our monthly editorial series A Day in the Life where we ask successful women we admire to share the daily minutiae of their professional lives, from the rituals that set them up for success to their evening wind-down routines. This month, we caught up with Leanne Pittsford, founder of Lesbians Who Tech & Allies and Include.io, to talk about making the tech industry more inclusive, bringing LGBTQ women and non-binary tech folks together, and being included in Fast Company’s Queer 50.

Tell us a bit about Lesbians Who Tech & Allies and what inspired you to launch your business. What whitespace did you see in the market? What need did you want to fill?

Ha, such a big question. Basically, when I started my tech company back in the day, I struggled to find LGBTQ women as role models and peers. Every event I went to, I noticed LGBTQ women were missing from the conversation. I wanted to make sure our voices were represented and I knew if I struggled finding a community then maybe there were others who were looking for the same thing. Turns out, there were so many more than I originally anticipated. Since the start of Lesbians Who Tech & Allies, I’ve seen more communities coming together creating organizations to make tech more representative and it’s really impactful.

You’re also the founder of Include.io, a platform that connects diverse tech job seekers with great companies. What compelled you to launch this platform? 

I’ve always been involved in LGBTQ organizations and have made an active effort to continue creating conversations around representation and inclusion in workplaces, tech specifically. I was the senior director of equality in California, which led the fight against Prop 8 (which aimed to make same-sex marriage illegal). I kind of fell in love with tech after being so in the trenches with this campaign. The data, the community, and the passion is really what led to my career moves. Through shared experiences and talking with others, I realized that a lot of other queer tech folks experienced the same issues within the tech space.

Now, let’s talk about your workday routine! First, are you a night owl or a morning person? When do you do your most important work and why?

In my old life, I was a night owl. Now, post two babies, I am a whenever-the-coffee-hits-my-bloodstream person.  

What time does your alarm go off, and what’s the first thing you do upon waking?

What alarm? I am just breastfeeding all night right now. I typically just set a mental alarm. I take too much advantage of the snooze button when I use them. 

What does your morning, pre-work routine look like?

Feeding all the children and pups, and making my Moka pot coffee with beans from one of my favorite coffee shops.

Mark Twain said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” What’s the first thing you do when you get to your desk?

I usually send a few voice notes to a few teammates to check-in for the day’s to-do list! 

What are you working on this week?

Pride Summit! We just launched the agenda today! 

What’s been the most rewarding part of running your business? 

My favorite part is being in the Castro Theatre with all of my people, and feeling the energy that only comes from thousands of LGBTQ women and non-binary folks getting together in one room. I never would’ve thought that something I started would end up being the largest LGBTQ professional event and the largest event for women in tech globally (last year, anyway). Not to mention this year’s Fast Company’s Queer 50. Knowing we are responsible for making the invisible, visible is everything. 

Do you ever reach inbox zero? How do you handle the constant influx of inquiries and communication founders are so familiar with?

Twice a year, usually two to three weeks after Summit. 

What is your go-to work lunch?

Cheez-Its.

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