This Game-Changing Tool Is Helping Small Businesses Level Up Their Content

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With gorgeous visuals and impeccable design dominating our social media feeds, it’s impossible not to think about content as a small business.

Content is the lifeblood of any marketing effort and successful digital strategy. It can come in many forms—articles, videos, and photos—really any digital media that attracts, engages, and retains an audience. Whether you’re a service based business sharing your value prop through educational videos or ramping up your social media presence as a new CPG brand, content is the key to drawing in an audience and building brand loyalty.

Creating new, frequent and powerful content is a healthy and necessary practice of business in any industry. But, many choose to forgo dedicating time and resources to actual content creation. This is especially common when business owners don’t believe they have the inherent “skills'' of a viral content creator. But if we’ve learned anything about going viral, all it takes is a mixture of drive, persistence, authenticity, and access to a smartphone to strike a cord. 

Holding off on content strategies means holding off on untapped potential. Here are 4 reasons why your company needs to kick its content game into high gear:


1. Establish and maintain a strong brand identity in the market.

With an expedited shift towards consuming all things digital, your customers are more aware than ever of their purchasing power. It’s your job to provide both new and existing customers with the information (and inspiration) they need to make smart buying decisions. 

When done right, content marketing is a powerful tool to communicate brand identity, build trust, and form meaningful relationships.  From there, brand awareness and loyalty are sure to follow. Just as the front desk associate is the face of your local gym, your content is the face of your brand identity. Inconsistency and inauthenticity aren’t ideal in either scenario. Consider asking yourself questions like: "What is my target audience?", "What is my unique value proposition?", "What is my brand's personality?" and "How do I want others to see my brand?"

2. There has never been an easier time to produce content than right now.

With the proliferation of social media and platforms to create and distribute new ideas, businesses are publishing content at an unprecedented rate. If you're not separating yourself from the competition (i.e. publishing the same stock photos that everyone else has access to), then standing out will be tough. The good news is, developing solid content doesn’t have to be as complicated as some folks make it out to be. You just need access to the tools that make content creation easy.  

Enter Replica Surfaces: a photo solution helping even the most novice photographers and creators make advanced, revenue driving content. 

Replica Surfaces meticulously designed hyper realistic photography surfaces that are stain resistant, lightweight, and ergonomic, allowing for seamless content batching within the same studio space.  

The Replica Studio is the real game changer here though—it’s an innovative all-in-one mobile photo studio changing in-home photoshoots forever. Meticulously designed, the Studio allows creators to make instant Surface changes, hold light modifiers like a dream, and switch from eye level to flat lay angles in seconds. The days of floor photoshoots and cluttered dining room tables are gone. 

Graphics and video should be the soul of your content. But, you don’t need to be a professional photographer to make stunning contentReplica Surfaces is an essential tool for anyone with a story to tell. Create & Cultivate approved! (Check out their Photo Formula Course while you’re browsing, and peep an exclusive offer below!)

3. Leverage content to convert leads into customers. 

Great content doesn’t just help with awareness, it’s also a proven lead generation method. According to a B2B marketing research, 72% of business to business marketers say content marketing increases engagement and the number of leads generated. 

Content marketing works across channels. A blog post making a case for your service will generate traffic and leads through search. Beautiful social media content will inspire and attract new audiences. The inclusion of compelling content in email marketing will drive direct conversions. 

Regardless of how you choose to distribute your content, the same valuable assets can be used to fuel all of your efforts. And because all of those channels have different characteristics and capabilities—think SEO versus social media—you can customize content according to each channel to ensure it reaches its potential.

With the right content marketing strategy and the right content, you can generate leads for your business online, no matter which channels you choose to use.

4. Content marketing is a long game.

Your first few pieces of content may be strong, but it’s not likely they’ll blow performance out of the water. This by no means your content is bad. It means you should focus on letting your expertise and unique value prop shine through consistent, quality content. 

The sooner you create and publish content, the sooner you have data to analyze and inform your marketing strategies. There are a myriad of variables that could influence a successful piece of content. Reach, engagement, and conversion are all metrics to be considered, but it takes time to build benchmarks.  

Patience is a tough sell in an “always on” digital world, but all it takes is one step forward to start seeing results.  

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Living in Beta With Michelle Grant, Founder and CEO of Lively

ABOUT THE EPISODE

After several successful years leading teams at popular retail brands like Nautica and Victoria’s Secret, Michelle Grant found herself looking for a new challenge. Not only that, the underlying messages of the exclusive lingerie industry were wearing on her mind. 

Instead of attempting to work through burnout, Michelle listened to her gut. She quit her 9-to-5 job, learned the ins and outs of building a business, and ended up launching Lively—a lingerie brand built on a mission to empower and innovate, all while providing ultimate comfort. 7 years later Michelle isn’t just leading a brand—she’s leading and inspiring a community of women to live passionately and confidently.

But Michelle’s approach to business has been a little unconventional—she didn’t just launch with a product, she launched with an idea. On this episode of WorkParty, Michelle is giving us the low down on her pivot away from traditional business plans, how she continues to innovate in the Lingerie industry, and what it means to live, work, and play in Beta. 


LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

RESOURCES

• To join the WorkParty click HERE
• To connect with Michelle Grant click HERE
• To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE
• To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE
• To learn more about Lively click HERE
• To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789)

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .

• The value of networking and strategies for forming new relationships.

• How Michelle's previous roles set her up to start Lively.

• How Lively's community-first strategy led to a widely successful ambassador program.

• The implementation of levers, and how entrepreneurs can activate them for business.

• What it means to live in the beta, and how to apply it to your life.

OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Revolutionizing an Untapped Market with Liz Lange, Iconic Designer & CEO of Figue

Introducing Create & Cultivate's New CEO, Kate Spies!

Pietra COO, Tala Akhavan on Balancing Work, Motherhood, and Access to Female Entrepenurship

Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt

Live from Austin Pop-Up: How to Define Goals and Rise to Your Potential with Payal Kadakia, Founder of ClassPass and Author of LifePass

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

Shopify | Go to shopify.com/party for a free 14 day trial and get access to Shopify's entire suite of features.

Bliss | Head to blissworld.com and receive 25% off your purchase of Block Star Daily Mineral Sunscreen with code PARTY.

Printfresh | Visit printfresh.com/workparty or use code PARTY for 15% off your first order.


The 8 Tiny Business Issues You’re Not Addressing

I’ve worked on all sorts of businesses with different people, personality types, and motivations. A through line with all of them: you have to pay attention to the small stuff, because the small stuff can turn into the big stuff. Molehills to mountains, as they say. And it's not great to be stuck on top of Everest with no gear. 

Here are eight small issues you could be overlooking that have much bigger implications if not addressed sooner than later.

ONE

You haven’t faced your fears or at the very least surfaced what those fears are. Any person who starts a business has fears, insecurities, triggers. Having a really straight talk conversation with yourself and writing down what your fears are will get them out of your head and onto paper (physical or digital). A lot of times these fears, insecurities, triggers are intuitive sensations that we don’t have language for. They can creep up without us realizing and unconsciously sabotage us. Digging deep, bringing those fears to the surface and recording what they are, forces you to to create language for them so that as they pop up along the way, and they will, you will recognize them more easily and take them head on.

TWO

You haven’t decided WHY you actually want to build this business. Having an idea, knowing you’ve got the ability to execute it: all great stuff. But have you asked yourself what you want your business to do for YOU in the future? Thinking through and jotting down how your business fits into your overall life mission (determining what your life mission is in the process) is hugely important. This is a big question to answer but even taking a stab at answering it will be a helpful tool to in you connecting your business effort with a clearer purpose, so that you can do what’s right for YOU and get quicker into solving the problem at hand as you face different business challenges in the future.

THREE

You haven’t incorporated resting and recharging into your strategy. You haven’t made “whitespace time” a priority. I’ve seen a lot of owners fill their time with busy-ness--they equate constant movement with progress.  All that go, go go energy is good for nothing if you’re not also balancing it with some chill, chill, chill energy to regroup, let things settle in, and give your business building muscles a chance to recharge. At the beginning of your business determine how you’re going to build “whitespace time” into your strategy. Otherwise, say hello to burnout.

"You need to make whitespace time a priority." 

Tweet this. 

FOUR  

You haven’t thought about how you’re going to make money -- MONEY. You have a business idea. You even know how to market it. You’ve got the network to start spreading the word and you’ve got the messaging and your target audience down pat. But have you thought about how you’re going to make money? Building that audience is one thing. Making money is another. Build your business with money and profits on the brain right out the gate. Taking the time to put together a financial plan--even if it’s rough and dirty--that can evolve as your business evolves will help you keep the lights on and set your business up for more sustainable growth.

FIVE 

You’ve made someone a cofounder when they shouldn’t be. There are a lot of reasons why I’ve seen this happen. Some business owners have been scared or didn’t realize they were scared to go at building their business alone (see #1-- if the person maybe knew this was a fear they would’ve probably been able to manage this) so they bring on a cofounder. Sometimes people make someone a cofounder because they don’t have money to compensate them as an employee so they make up for it in giving them cofounder status. Whatever the reason is, make sure you’re bringing on a cofounder to augment your business, not satisfy an insecurity or out of not being able to pay (there are other creative ways to compensate--apprenticeship, barter, etc.!).-- you won’t be setting up that person nor yourself nor your business for success if they’re brought on for any other reason besides being a strategic leadership partner.

"Business mistake: You’ve made someone a cofounder when they shouldn’t be."

Tweet this.

SIX

You haven’t decided what you’re okay saying no to. Your time is a precious commodity. And you’re one person. If you haven’t figured out what you’re okay saying no to, next thing you know your calendar is chock-full and you’re taking coffees with people without really knowing how to maximize your java date. Being able to turn a conversation into something that will help you grow your business is a skill. But so is saying no to meetings that don't make sense. You need to focus on the more important aspects of your business that deserve your attention. Get laser focused on what you’re going to say “no” to (nicely of course). 

SEVEN

You haven’t determined who to go to for what. Think through the strengths of the people in your network and uncover how they can help you. This will help you be clearer and more strategic in your asks of them. People like to help but don’t waste the wrong ask on the right person.

EIGHT

You haven’t written any of your plans down. If you’re starting a business chances are you’ve been thinking about it for some time and you’ve finally gotten to a place where you’re ready to pull the trigger. You’re ready to take that leap. Pause and jot down, even quickly, what your current plan is. You don’t have to do a full-fledged strategy; it doesn’t have to be fancy. Writing down what success looks like for your first week, month, year will help you avoid blockages going forward--this is not only a great way to clarify your thinking it’s a great way of firming up the commitment to yourself. 

Alison Gilbert is a business coach and consultant. She’s helped over a dozen owners and entrepreneurs grow profitable businesses quickly and efficiently, including such companies as Well+Good, Levo League, Maiyet and Plum Alley. Prior to building her consultancy she was hire number four and COO of food media company Tasting Table where she grew it into a forty person team reaching a readership of millions.  Visit her site and schedule a free consultation. 

MORE FROM THE BLOG

Revolutionizing an Untapped Market with Designer & CEO of Figue, Liz Lange 

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Designer and entrepreneur Liz Lange pioneered "maternity chic" by creating stylish, body conscious clothes for pregnant women—something that surprisingly didn’t exist in the 1990s.  Working alone out of a one-room office, she created Liz Lange Maternity, a brand that changed the face of maternity fashions and disrupted the industry before anyone else had the chance to.  

She’s forged huge partnerships with Nike and Target and has dressed most major pregnant celebrities, from Cindy Crawford to Reese Witherspoon. After selling her namesake brand, the industry innovator made a major return with the purchase of Figue, a popular ready-to-wear dress brand. While she’s been hard at work as Creative Director, she’s also jumped right into the role of CEO, strategizing the brand’s fresh perspective on direct to consumer growth. 

On this episode of WorkParty, the industry icon covers everything from how she built her maternity empire from the ground up to the importance of having a strong POV in the fashion industry. 

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE


RESOURCES

• To join the WorkParty click HERE
• To connect with Liz Lange click HERE
• To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE
• To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE
• To follow along with Figue click HERE
• To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789)

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .

• The begining of her career as as a staff writer for Vogue
• The moment she realized she was actually revolutionizing the category of maternity clothing
• Dressing pregnant celebrities like Gwenyth Paltrow, Kate Winslet and Julia Roberts.
• Forging partnerships with brands like Target and Nike.
• What it was like selling the business she built to a private equity firm.
• Her experience and work investing in women-led companies like Harper Wilde and Carbon 38.
• The skills that are essential to working in the fashion industry.
• Taking over an already established brand.

OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Introducing Create & Cultivate's New CEO, Kate Spies!

Pietra COO, Tala Akhavan on Balancing Work, Motherhood, and Access to Female Entrepenurship

Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt

Live from Austin Pop-Up: How to Define Goals and Rise to Your Potential with Payal Kadakia, Founder of ClassPass and Author of LifePass

Live from Austin Pop-Up: Lauryn Bosstick on Uncensored Advice, Female Empowerment, and Building Brand From Scratch

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

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Athletic Greens |  Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/party.

Introducing Create & Cultivate's New CEO, Kate Spies

ABOUT THE EPISODE

When I founded Create & Cultivate back in 2010, Jaclyn Johnson's goal was to create an intentional space for the next generation of creatives, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and leaders to spark conversation, collaborate on their passions, and enhance their businesses. What started as a networking event to connect like-minded women, soon grew into a multi-platform media and events company providing modern working women with content, community, and tools to create & cultivate the career of their dreams.

And as the Create & Cultivate community grows, our team grows with them. Which is why we're so excited to introduce our new CEO—Kate Spies! She’s a powerhouse media executive with a track-record for growing brands, connecting audiences, and found her niche in stepping into leadership roles when female founders are ready to take their businesses to the next level. She’s bringing her incredible expertise to further Create & Cultivate’s impact on the workplace, and what it means to be the brand. Tune into this episode of WorkParty as Jaclyn chats with Kate about her experience building strong teams, her thoughts on the next wave of entrepreneurs, and what's in store next for Create & Cultivate.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

RESOURCES

• To join the WorkParty click HERE
• To connect with Kate Spies click HERE
• To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE
• To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE
• To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789)

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .

• Her path from fashion, to digital media, to women's lifestyle, and more!
• The best way to keep growing and learning on your way to the top
• Her leadership must-haves: transparency, collaboration, and innovation
• How businesses can and should evolve and shift over time
• Why moving from Sydney to NY was the most rewarding risk she ever took
• How to find an impactful mentor you trust and look up to
• Table stakes of being a CEO in 2022
• What attracted her to Create & Cultivate
• Why she will only work at a mission-driven company
• Her plans for the future of Create & Cultivate


OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Pietra COO, Tala Akhavan on Balancing Work, Motherhood, and Access to Female Entrepenurship

Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt

Live from Austin Pop-Up: How to Define Goals and Rise to Your Potential with Payal Kadakia, Founder of ClassPass and Author of LifePass

Live from Austin Pop-Up: Lauryn Bosstick on Uncensored Advice, Female Empowerment, and Building Brand From Scratch

Golde Founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford on Approachable Wellness, Mentorship, and Superfood Success


THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

Zencastr |  Interested in sponsoring this show or podcast ads for your business? Go to zen.ai/party and fill out the contact information so Zencastr can help you, bring your business story to life.

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What to Expect at Desert Pop-Up 2022

We’re headed to the desert with some of our favorite content creators in Palm Springs! On April 16th, we’ll be hosting another pop-up event with amazing panels, delicious food and drinks, pop-ups, and incredible photo moments—all poolside at the Ace Hotel. Here’s what you can expect this year…

THE DATE
Saturday, April 16th

THE TIME
12:00 PM - 4 PM

THE LOCATION
Commune at The Ace Hotel
701 E Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA

THE DETAILS

ARRIVALS

Doors open at 12:00 p.m. Space is not guaranteed, so arrive early. The first 200 guests will receive a gift bag full of goodies worth $500, including an Ear Seed Kit from WTHN!

WHAT TO BRING

You must have a COVID-19 vaccination card or negative COVID-19 PCR test (taken within 72 hours of the event ) accompanied by a government-issued photo ID for entry, a government-issued photo ID, and business cards (if desired!). More details here.

Tala Akhavan on Opening Up Access to Female Entrepreneurship as a Working Mom

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Before becoming the Chief Operating Officer at Pietra, Tala Akhavan was an Uber executive for 5 years, coinciding with some of the app’s most transformative years. But as a first time mother, Tala struggled to pair her professional goals with motherhood, so she made the decision to not return to work after maternity leave—instead she focused on being the mom she always dreamt of. She also used this time to search for a career that would allow her to find fulfillment in both motherhood and entrepreneurship.   

Tala landed at Pietra, the platform powering the creator economy. As COO she’s spearheading the initiatives that are making it possible for anyone to launch the brand of their dreams. She’s found a true passion for democratizing access for female entrepreneurship, where her mission is to lower the barrier of entry for all creators. On this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn talks to Tala about navigating career growth as a new mother, what the next wave of the creator economy could look like, and lowering the barriers of entry for female entrepreneurs.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

RESOURCES

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .

  • How she landed the job at Uber

  • What attracted her to the creator space

  • Advice for balancing work and motherhood

  • How Pietra can help you launch in under 90 days

  • Lowering the barrier to entry for female founders

  • Integrating innovation into your brand roadmap

OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt

Live from Austin Pop-Up: How to Define Goals and Rise to Your Potential with Payal Kadakia, Founder of ClassPass and Author of LifePass

Live from Austin Pop-Up: Lauryn Bosstick on Uncensored Advice, Female Empowerment, and Building Brand From Scratch

Golde Founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford on Approachable Wellness, Mentorship, and Superfood Success

Your Mind is the Strongest Muscle with Tunde Oyeneyin

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

Vinovest | Go to zen.ai/workparty and be sure to mention WorkParty to start investing in wine today.

Bliss | Get 25% off your purchase of Block Star Daily Mineral Sunscreen on Blissworld.com with code PARTY at checkout.

Printfresh | Head to printfresh.com/workparty or use code PARTY for 15% off your first order!

AllVoices Founder Claire Schmidt on Using Technology to Drive Social Impact

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Have you ever felt uncomfortable speaking up at work? If the answer is yes, then you’re not alone. In 2021, over 68.9 million people joined The Great Resignation—with many attributing it to the feeling of being unable to voice their concerns or make meaningful change in their workplace. 

Claire Schmidt identified the root of this problem—ineffective feedback and reporting systems that lacked a modern and welcoming approach—and developed a way to fix it. 

Using her unique background of problem solving through technology Claire founded All Voices, an employee feedback platform that’s driving change. All Voices provides employees with a way to speak up, provide feedback, ask questions, share positive input, report harassment, identify bias, or speak to broader culture issues directly to their company’s leadership.

On this episode of WorkParty, Claire talks about her incredible career in Tech and how she’s paired it with a mission to make the world a better place. From her work with Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore to stop child sex trafficking, to her impact at Thrive market to increase the availability of healthy foods, she is clearly a thought leader in trying to champion new and innovative solutions. 

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

RESOURCES


IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .

  • How she learned the importance of helping others from an early age

  • Her experience in consulting and how it provided exposure to a plethora of industries

  • How she used technology to combat sex-trafficking and online exploitation

  • Why your career path doesn't need to be linear because it all makes sense in hindsight

  • Living in the era of #MeToo and the spark that ignited the AllVoices flame

  • The importance of maintaining curiosity to learn, grow, and develop your skills

  • How to foster an inspired, engaged, and productive team of employees

  • Why building a healthy company culture is all about listening and responding

  • How to build and sustain healthy remote teams in the age of work-from-home

  • Why venture funding was the best route when strategizing finance for AllVoices

  • Why purpose matters, and how to choose the social impact job that's right for you


OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Live from Austin Pop-Up: How to Define Goals and Rise to Your Potential with Payal Kadakia, Founder of ClassPass and Author of LifePass

Live from Austin Pop-Up: Lauryn Bosstick on Uncensored Advice, Female Empowerment, and Building Brand From Scratch

Golde Founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford on Approachable Wellness, Mentorship, and Superfood Success

Your Mind is the Strongest Muscle with Tunde Oyeneyin

Transforming the Future of Wellness with Siffat Haider, Founder of Arrae


THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

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Masterclass | Get unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass, plus 15% off an annual membership as a WorkParty listener. Head to Masterclass.com/WORKPARTY.

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How to Define Goals and Rise To Your True Potential with Payal Kadakia, Author and Founder of ClassPass


ABOUT THE EPISODE

When Payal Kadakia let go of the pressure to achieve a traditional kind of success, she leaned into her passions. The result? ClassPass, a billion-dollar business.

She’s been featured on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list and listed as Fast Company’s 100 most creative people, profiled in Fortune, Marie Claire, and Vogue, and just added author to her resume. 

Payal uprooted the limits that prevent us from fulfilling our true potential and uncovered groundbreaking ways to make progress by breaking through these limiting beliefs. 

On this special LIVE episode of WorkParty, Payal joins Jaclyn Johnson on stage at Austin Pop-up to talk about her ground breaking approach to goal setting, her new book, LifePass, and what it takes to accomplish more of what's meaningful to you!

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

RESOURCES


IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .

  • The boundaries Payal set to become an entrepreneur.

  • Commitment to constant innovation.

  • How to adapt in an ever changing environment.

  • The inspiration behind her new book, LifePass:  Drop Your Limits, Rise to Your Potential

  • Embracing identity, making money work for you, managing time, and other lessons included in her book.

  • Advice for the next wave of entrepreneurs.


OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Live from Austin Pop-Up: Lauryn Bosstick on Uncensored Advice, Female Empowerment, and Building Brand From Scratch

Golde Founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford on Approachable Wellness, Mentorship, and Superfood Success

Your Mind is the Strongest Muscle with Tunde Oyeneyin

Transforming the Future of Wellness with Siffat Haider, Founder of Arrae

Going Against the Grain with Oui the People Founder Karen Young

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

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Zencastr | Go to Zencastr.com/Pricing and enter code WORKPARTY0 for 30% off your first three months!

Right now, when you purchase a 3-month Babbel subscription, you’ll get an additional 3 months for FREE. Go to babbel.com and use code: PARTY to 6 months, for the price of 3!

Live from Austin: Lauryn Bosstick on Uncensored Advice and Building Your Brand From Scratch


ABOUT THE EPISODE

On this special LIVE episode of WorkParty, we’re in Austin chatting with Lauryn on all things Skinny Confidential and how to build your brand from scratch—straight from the method she mastered on her journey to success.

If you don't know already, Lauryn Bosstick is a serial entrepreneur who’s turned a passion for beauty, wellness, and no-censor advice into one of the most distinctive blogs online today—The Skinny Confidential. With over 1 million followers on Instagram and 90 Million podcast downloads, Lauryn has—and continues to—build and expand a lifestyle brand rooted in empowerment and total wellness—mind, body, and soul.


LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

RESOURCES


IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .

  • How to overcome difficulties you may face when trying to find your voice.

  • Content diversification strategies.

  • The relationship between the service industry and successful content.

  • Forming intimate connections with your community.

  • Balancing work, life, and being a mom.

  • The importance of absence and taking a step back to figure out what's next.

  • The truth a bout entrepreneurship through Lauryn's lens.

  • The secret to working with your partner.


OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Golde Founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford on Approachable Wellness, Mentorship, and Superfood Success

Your Mind is the Strongest Muscle with Tunde Oyeneyin

Transforming the Future of Wellness with Siffat Haider, Founder of Arrae

Going Against the Grain with Oui the People Founder Karen Young

How EveryStylishGirl Founder Nana Agyemang is Bringing BIPOC Women into Media

How to Raise Money for a Startup

Asking for money is rarely fun. But it’s especially tough—and often futile—for women. Why? We’re less likely to get a raise at work, even though we ask at the same rate as men. And we’re especially unlikely to get money for our startups since only 2.2% of all venture capital goes to female founders. (The percentages are even worse for women of color.)

Even for those women who successfully ask this question, it’s as I write in my book Startup Money Made Easy: The Inc. Guide to Every Financial Question About Starting, Running, and Growing Your Business, “seeking outside money is a daunting, grinding, tedious process.” It can go horribly wrong. But raising money can also go tremendously well if you do your homework, network like crazy, and get lucky.

Over the course of nearly five years of reporting and editing money coverage at Inc., I’ve interviewed many successful women founders. Some of them avoided raising outside money entirely; others have raised tens of millions of dollars. So if you’re ready to take the VC plunge—or to start off by asking friends and family to back your business.

Here are five things to know about raising money for your startup.

You don’t necessarily need to do it.

VC-backed startups like Uber, WeWork, and Airbnb get a lot of the headlines, but most startups never ask outside investors for money and many thrive regardless. Take S’well: Founder and CEO Sarah Kauss turned her high-design water bottles into a $100 million business without ever taking outside investment.

There’s an increasing number of women funding women.

While traditional VC has a long way to go to close the gender gap, there is a growing number of investment firms focused on women-led startups. Some examples are Arlan Hamilton’s Backstage Capital, Susan Lyne’s BBG Ventures, and Anu Duggal’s Female Founders Fund. Women founders, meanwhile, told Inc. that female investors often better understand their target markets.

Still, it’s often a slog.

When you see company after company raising money, you get the outside-in perception: ‘It's not that difficult if they can do it.‘ But this is not the case,” Policygenius co-founder and CEO Jennifer Fitzgerald told me about her initial fundraising expectations. “It was a very fruitless and frustrating few months,” she adds. Fitzgerald and her co-founder eventually raised their seed round through small checks from about 50 friends and family members, “which is a painful way to do it, but we had to get it done,” she recalled.

It can also be exhilarating.

“Raising money was a year and a half of my life, and I loved every minute of it. Boy, was it grinding and difficult,” Christina Tosi, the pastry chef who’s now the founder and CEO of Milk Bar, told me last year. “You're going to war … and not necessarily in a negative way. It doesn't have to be argumentative.”

It matters who your partners are.

Don’t accept just any investment. As your business grows, you’ll want to make sure you and your investors can agree on what’s best for the business (unless you want to try to buy them out). As Tosi put it, “You can't do a good deal with bad people, and you can't do a bad deal with good people.”

About the author: Maria Aspan is an award-winning business journalist and an editor-at-large at Inc. Magazine, where she oversees money coverage and writes about startups, technology, finance, and gender. She has also covered business and finance for The New York Times, Thomson Reuters, and American Banker. At the latter, she served as national editor and covered the 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath.

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

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What to Expect IRL at Austin Pop-Up 2022

We’re bringing together ambitious women and dynamic change-makers for an IRL event in Austin, Texas on Sunday, March 13th! Whether you want to learn new skills, launch your ideas, or connect with your future biz partners, we've got you covered with insightful panel conversations, mentorship sessions, and two inspiring keynote conversations.

Read on to see what the full day has in store!

THE DATE

Saturday, March 13th

THE TIME

10:00 AM - 7:00 PM CST

THE  LOCATION

Fair Market

1100 E 5th Street 

Austin, Texas 78702

The Details

REGISTRATION

You must have a COVID-19 vaccination card or negative COVID-19 PCR test (taken within 72 hours of the event ) accompanied by a government-issued photo ID for entry.

Upon check-in, you will receive your wristbands and an event schedule outlining the day. The first 200 attendees to enter the venue will receive gift bags and notebooks—so arrive early!

SCHEDULE

Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your day!

DIGITAL EXTENSION

A digital extension pass is included with all RSVPs! With the digital extension pass, you will be able to watch (and re-watch) all Austin Pop-up programming from Wednesday, March 16th to Sunday, March 28th.

Pop-Up Market

MASTERCARD 

Learn all about Mastercard’s Digital Doors initiative that helps small business owners optimize their digital presence—and shop and support four small businesses while you’re at it! Featured businesses include Awkward Auntie, Vinti Trunk, The Braided Life, The Coy Collection.  

BEYOND YOGA

Stop by the Beyond Yoga pop-up to shop to check out their latest collection of prismatic patterned lounge sets, leggings, active tops and more. Plus snap some pics in front of their floral photo wall for a full-spectrum experience.

PLANOLY

Grab your phones and stop by Planoly's groovy Instagram moment! Then download the app to design your dream IG profile. (Don’t forget to tag @​​createcultivate and @planoly in your posts!)

LUMANU

Fuel up at Lumanu's coffee bar to sustain your energy throughout the day. Plus, peep their cup sleeves for an exclusive offer you can only get as an attendee of Austin Pop-Up.

SHOP CREATE & CULTIVATE

Our Spring/Summer collection is on its way! Get a sneak peek IRL and pre-order with an exclusive 30% off.

ASHLEY

Meet a future biz partner? Connect and collaborate in Ashley's contemporary lounge!

LA CROIX

Take a moment to refresh and hydrate in La Croix's lounge inspired by their new Cherry Blossom sparkling water.

Food & Beverage

BREAK

Assorted snacks and beverages will be provided throughout the day. Keep your energy levels up with bites from Beyond Meat, Brave Robot, Wow! Protein Donuts, and Milk Bar.

BEVERAGES 

Stay hydrated and caffeinated! We’ll be serving Icelandic, La Croix, Coffee, Kin Euphorics, Goldthread Tonics, Starla Wines, and Vina.

HAPPY HOUR 

Raise a glass to a day well spent with alcoholic beverages from Bev Wine, and non-alcoholic beverages from Kin Euphorics, Goldthread Tonics, Starla Wines, and Vina.

ANY ALLERGIES OR DIETARY RESTRICTIONS? 

We recommend that you BYO lunch and snacks to the summit. We try our best to accommodate attendees with allergies and/or dietary restrictions, but it’s best to provide your own.

GIFT BAGS

We know you want ‘em! Gift bags will be available for the first 200 attendees, so be sure to get there early! Get your shoulder ready for gift bags filled with goodies. 

C&C MEMBERSHIP PERKS

Our members get a ton of perks and our Austin Pop-Up is no exception. C&C Insiders will have access to all of our incredible Women & Wealth content—every workshop, panel discussion, and keynote conversation!—beyond the 3/16–3/28 Digital Extension window for Pop-up ticket holders.  

What else do you get as a member? C&C Insiders receive complimentary digital access to all our events, unlimited content from the Create & Cultivate video vault, downloads, resources, exclusive networking opportunities, and more! Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out! You can sign up here.

Other Need to Knows

There are no charging stations on-site so please come prepared with a fully charged phone or a mophie with extra juice to be set up for success all day.  

Parents’ Room 

We have a dedicated parents’ room for breastfeeding, pumping, and feeding located by the restroom. 

Need Help? 

If you need assistance, we’re happy to help. Please email hello@createcultivate.com ahead of the event with any needs that you have on-site so we can assist with any additional needs before the event. Just lookout for the friendly faces wearing pink C&C shirts!

More Questions?

Please visit our FAQs page for more information about the event.

Get prepped ahead of the summit and stay tuned for updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate and use the hashtag #AustinPopUp to keep in touch!

Golde Founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford on Approachable Wellness, Mentorship, and Superfood Success


ABOUT THE EPISODE

If you're into wellness, open Instagram from time to time, or like to browse the shelves of Target for fun, then you’ve probably already been introduced to Golde—the modern superfood wellness brand that’s slowly taking over the shelves of your favorite stores. With vibrant packaging, affordable price points, and good, clean ingredients, it’s no wonder Golde has amassed a huge following. 

But when founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford embarked on an entrepreneurial journey into wellness, her biggest goal wasn’t to JUST create a product that was good for you. She rooted Golde’s mission in the idea that the wellness industry could be approachable,  way more inclusive, and fun. This fresh approach to the industry was a stroke of genius, because within a few years of launch, Trinity and her partner had grown their bootstrapped small biz into a profitable brand that attracted partnerships with Urban Outfitters, Goop, and Target.

On this episode of  WorkParty, Trinity shares how she built a trusted brand at such a young age, her commitment to changing the wellness industry, and the incredible journey her very first product has taken her on.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4oK4YQYdWGfBRNJOCqNKWp?si=DDfLsr67Q5mV7_Gvo5kXXw

RESOURCES


IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .

  • Trinity's background in medicine, and how her mother inspired the idea for Golde.

  • The importance of accessibility in the wellness industry.

  • Why Golde launched with a turmeric latte as their hero product.

  • The success of word of mouth marketing.

  • Why building the brand through bootstrapping was the best decision for Golde.

  • The benefit of making mistakes on your own terms, without the external pressure of investors.

  • Why Golde expanded their superfood cabinet with face masks.

  • What it takes to get your products on the shelves of major retailers—and why it shouldn't be taken for granted.

  • Building a muscle of tenacity.

  • The importance of mentorship for personal growth.


OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Your Mind is the Strongest Muscle with Tunde Oyeneyin

Transforming the Future of Wellness with Siffat Haider, Founder of Arrae

Going Against the Grain with Oui the People Founder Karen Young

How EveryStylishGirl Founder Nana Agyemang is Bringing BIPOC Women into Media

Rooting Your Brand in Community-Engaging Rituals with Crown Affair’s Dianna Cohen


THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY . . .

Do You Really Need to Be a Full Stack Employee?

If you really want to land that dream job, you need to be sure that you’re making yourself as marketable as possible to a potential employer. Obviously, if you are more experienced and have a wide variety of skills you already have a leg up on the competition and are one step closer to getting hired. However, is catering to a broader spectrum of tasks in order to impress an employer more efficient, or is it a recipe for spreading yourself too thin? 

Being a full stack employee doesn’t mean that you need to be able to do every job there is to do under the sun. By allotting yourself a list of tasks that are catered to the position that you’re looking to get, you’re able to give yourself and your employer/client a better understanding of what you’re able to do rather than promise to do tasks that you might not be able to do to their full capacity.

IS BEING MULTIFACETED MARKETABLE? 

There is no doubt you should find the ways to get a leg up on the competition and stand out to your potential employer. If you’re a marketer, and your potential employer hears that you know how to produce content, edit, write RFP’s, know how to manage social, know how to edit a website, and even walk their dog; there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll get the job. However, there’s a difference in being able to cater to your employer/client’s needs and over-promising on things that you won’t be able to fully execute.

We won’t argue that there is a large demand for full-stack employees today, especially in the startup world, but the more your over-promise the more you run the risk of running into  situations where your attention is pulled into so many directions your work is suffering and you are not getting tasks completed to their full potential.

THE MORE TASKS YOU HANDLE, THE LESS FOCUSED YOU CAN BE.

Think about it you’re writing and being your own editor, running meetings, taking notes, creating content, shooting photos, creating graphics, handling events, running production and now you're at the point where you’re not even sure what your title is anymore. Are you even a marketing director anymore, or are you more along the lines of a creative director? Or are you something completely different then what you began as? You don’t even know what to label yourself as.

Sure tackling on all these tasks can look impressive on paper, but you might be doing yourself a disservice by having your attention divided on so many different tasks that you less focused on the more important ones. Not only that, but if your employer may start to see that you are not able to fully dedicate yourself to the tasks you promised; they might start to think that you lied on your resume to get the job. If you want to truly make yourself a full-stack employee, you have to start off with prioritizing and focusing on the most important task and then see how you can branch off into the specifics. 

NARROW IT DOWN.

Even if you’re a full stack employee, you still need  to set your limitations, while understanding that you can still be niche and specific. For example: if you’re an editorial director you can also say that you write content, handle an editorial team, edit content, shoot content, pitch sponsorships, and even edit content for your social media manger. Know yourself, your limits, your capabilities and be confident in them. 

At the end of the day, you want to be able to do your job to its full potential and still be able to wear a lot of hats. That’s what will make you truly marketable and will ultimately land you that dream job.

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Influence to Innovation: How Two Business Owners Empower Through Their Brands

Many content creators focus on sales, but the ones who put the most emphasis on fostering relationships beyond their platforms are the creators driving innovation. Storytelling is an art, but it takes vulnerability and absolute authenticity to turn it into a service. It’s also about purpose—the purpose to connect, inspire, and uplift. The most successful entrepreneurs are the ones attracting customers through their stories, provoking new ways of communicating and connecting.

In celebration of International Women’s Month, we’re sharing the entrepreneurial journeys of two content creators turned business owners—Barbie Brignoni and Mikayla Shocks—who built successful businesses through their work as storytellers and community builders. As the Creative Director at Noni Collective, Barbie Brignoni lends her expertise to purpose-driven Latinx brands journeying to reach their highest potential, while outwardly embracing her natural beauty—to help others do the same—as the co-founder of Regen Curl. Content Creator and entrepreneur Mikayla Shocks founded SOL SISTER, a jewelry brand inspired by her soul sisters—inclusive of her 3 daughters and tight knit community of strong young women. Showing up as her authentic self (as a mother and business owner) on social media has allowed her to build a community where others can show up exactly as they are, too. 

Ahead, both tell a broader narrative of how they uncovered an entrepreneurial spirit that drives innovation through the lens of their stories.

Barbie Brignoni

Prior to becoming a fulltime content creator and entrepreneur, you worked a 9-5 in the fashion industry. What inspired you to open up and share your creative pursuits with others, and why do you think it has resonated with so many young women?

I think even before I worked in a 9-5 job in the Fashion Industry, I had a very clear vision of wanting to be of service to others through fashion. I have always been a very spiritual person and I believe God pushed me in a direction to help inspire other girls and connect with them on a deeper level. I didn’t know how I could achieve that exactly but with time it started happening organically through conversations about personal style, embracing one’s natural beauty (in my case my curls), and learning about sustainable/conscious practices.

You launched Noni Collective, a space where you provide conscious consulting to Latinx Creators building purpose driven brands. What was the lightbulb moment for Noni Collective, and how did you lean into your entrepreneurial spirit to launch it to success?

When I was doing my Masters Degree in Creative Direction for Fashion Brands, I realized that there was so much more to a brand than just a nice typography and color palette, there is a mission and a compelling story behind it that aims to inspire a behavior or a shift in mindset. During my studies I learned how to dig deeper and find a  brand’s true purpose and how to fill a white space in the market with this purpose, and how to articulate it in a way that feels authentic to the brand’s experience. I realized how valuable this knowledge was for building my own brand and how little information there was out there for indie designers and emerging brands. I realized that I had to do something about it and so I decided to share all my knowledge by offering consultations and creative direction to emerging brands and upcoming fashion/beauty entrepreneurs in order to help them build purpose-driven brands and achieve their highest potential.

"When the question you’re asking yourself is “How can I look more like that?” you create a world that limits your abilities, you immediately prevent your creativity from exploring the unknown because your focus lies in the already known and done. Instead, when you ask yourself “How can I continue to embrace my own uniqueness?”

You strive to inspire girls to “live unapologetically, dream endlessly, and own their style confidently.” How are you using your platform as a vehicle for women’s empowerment?  

Those words have always been like a mantra for me throughout my personal journey. These words have served as a compass and have allowed me to: be vulnerable and completely open about my curly hair journey and my healing journey; continue being unapologetically myself even when I’ve faced cyber bullying; chase my dreams of living in NYC.

All these tests have become my testimony. These pivotal moments have allowed me to connect with more and more women who aspire to achieve similar things in life.

Your impact as a mentor is undeniable—How do you create an environment that fosters meaningful connections?

Wow! That’s a great question! I believe in loving unconditionally and being of service. I see my community of women as sisters and as a big sister IRL, I try to fulfill my role in each of their lives the best way that I can. I believe that by pouring knowledge, blessings, a word, whatever it is that they need in their cups, life rewards me with a bigger cup with bigger blessings. By fostering this dynamic within my community I show them to do the same for others.

Who has made the biggest impact on your journey?

During my many ups and downs battling anxiety and depression, a dear friend of mine, Danila, who is a mental health advocate, reminded me once about the importance of being grateful. During one of our conversations, she shared with me her simple gratitude practice. When I began implementing gratitude in my daily routine, I really began to see things change around me.

I also believe that authors Erwin McManus and Marianne Williamson have definitely shaped who I am and how I choose to see the world.

What have you learned from your community? 

I think they have taught me that humility is the biggest act of bravery. And I say the “biggest” because it takes so much courage to dismantle one’s ego and be humble with people you don’t know. They have taught me to not be afraid to send a positive DM to someone you admire and to let them know that they’re doing great things.

As a creative entrepreneur, how do you hope to drive innovation through the stories you tell?

Another great question. The answer is by believing in one’s own power, embracing one’s uniqueness and avoiding comparison at all costs. I always say “When the question you’re asking yourself is “How can I look more like that?” you create a world that limits your abilities, you immediately prevent your creativity from exploring the unknown because your focus lies in the already known and done. Instead, when you ask yourself “How can I continue to embrace my own uniqueness?” You immediately spark excitement, imagination and innovation and your creativity takes you to a world where possibilities feel endless. As a creative entrepreneur, I believe in finding and building upon your WHY, your values, and most importantly trusting your soul.

What advice can you share for women who want to connect with their entrepreneurship spirit?

The real work starts within. Creating a ritual that prioritizes your emotional, spiritual, and physical health is key to long-term success. Also, you can not inspire others without doing the true soul work first. Think about it this way. When your flight is about to take off, the flight attendant always says “put your mask on first before helping others”. Well, your flight is about to take off, you are about to embark on an entrepreneurial journey, so you need to make sure you know exactly how to take care of yourself first if you ever plan on helping others. Do the soul work first and then take care of the rest, so prioritize your 10 minute meditation before your emails, prioritize your books before your screen time… find healthy habits that not only set you up for a productive day, but for a day filled with joy and gratitude.

Mikayla Shocks

After garnering a substantial following on Instagram, you decided to take a leap into the life of a full time content creator in 2016. What inspired you to open up and share your personal life with others, and why do you think it has resonated with so many young women?

I was a young college student who got pregnant unexpectedly, and it was a very isolating feeling. I couldn’t relate to any “typical” moms, and I didn’t fit in with any of my peers. My ultimate goal when I initially started sharing my life was to serve as a source of both inspiration and representation for other women who were in my position. I think this resonated with many young women because I was living proof that we, as women, have the ability to overcome, conquer, and achieve any goal we set out for ourselves, despite the odds being stacked against us.  

You have this undeniable ability to connect with your community through moments of real and raw relatability. How do you create an environment that fosters meaningful connections?

My platform and community are built on trust, honesty, and the vulnerability in sharing the struggles of my real life (and laughing at myself through it all). I have never been ashamed of being open about the hardships I’ve faced on my journey, and how it was those very hardships that led me to the life I live today. From having a newborn in college and living off of $60 monthly grocery budget, to the unfiltered realities of motherhood, to navigating life with an anxiety disorder, nothing is off-limits when it comes to my content.  My community has allowed me to show up as my authentic self, and in turn, has helped shape this incredible environment where others can show up exactly as they are too, without fear of shame or judgment.

In 2020 you launched Sol Sister, a lifestyle brand selling affordable clothing and water-resistant jewelry, custom designed by you! What was the inspiration behind the brand, and how did you lean into your entrepreneurial spirit to launch it to success? How have you combined your platform with Sol Sister to be a vehicle for women’s empowerment?  

As my presence on social media grew, my community began asking for a physical representation of my family.  I really wanted to create something that was not only unique, but that also carried deep meaning, while simultaneously helping others to feel more beautiful and confident in themselves. The entrepreneur in me wanted an item that could live independently from who “Mama Shocks” is and thus, SOL SISTER was born.  We started off by creating three custom pendants, two of which represented our daughters, and the third represented our family as whole. We started out by packaging orders in our garage but it has now grown into a full-scale business with over 130 SKUs!

Our main focus when it comes to our products is that they are high-quality and affordable.  My community is made up of young women, many of which who are in college or just starting off in “the real world” and likely do not have a lot of discretionary funds.  We want all women, despite your socioeconomic status, to be able to enjoy our products and feel beautiful.

SOL SISTER’s mission is to serve as a representation of strong, confident women, who stay unified and uplift one another.  We also want to lead the way as a socially conscious business. We regularly find ways to give back to women-run non-profit organizations and take a strong stance on important social justice matters that we believe in, many of which involve women’s rights.

"It’s [my community] who has made me feel most comfortable being my truest self. They have accepted me, my family, and all of our chaos with open arms and have truly shown me the power of women supporting other women, especially inside of the hypercritical-beast that is social media."

You often speak of the adoration and admiration you have for your own community of soul sisters—Who has made the biggest impact on your journey?

It may sound cliché, but my mom has been my inspiration and biggest champion. She and I have similar backgrounds in that she, too, had me at a very young age. I was raised as an only child and grew up watching her climb the ladder of success at her job. She never complained about our situation and always did everything she could to ensure I never wanted for anything.  At the same time, she always encouraged me and trusted me to make decisions for myself. When I made mistakes, she held my hand as I walked through them. She remains my biggest cheerleader and best friend, and truly embodies everything I want to be as a woman and a mother to my three daughters.

Every week you join your community on Instagram Live for “Unwined Wednesday” offering a place for unfiltered banter and connection. What have you learned from your community? 

My community thrives on genuine, organic  conversation, which is exactly what happens during my weekly lives. Unwined Wednesday has played a pivotal role in not only my growth on this platform, but also in building such a strong bond with my community. They never cease to amaze me.  They are enthusiastic, dedicated, funny and most of all, supportive. They cheer for not only me, but for each other and honestly, don’t judge.  Despite their personal challenges or differences, they are proof that it is possible to band together and support one another. 

It’s them who have made me feel most comfortable being my truest self. They have accepted me, my family, and all of our chaos with open arms and have truly shown me the power of women supporting other women, especially inside of the hypercritical-beast that is social media.

As a creative entrepreneur, how do you hope to drive innovation through the stories you tell?

When it comes to my content, I aim to take a much more in-the-moment, non-curated approach.  I think it helps serve as an example for others to help them foster their own community based on their real life. I hope it gives them the courage to take the leap and find their own purpose on this platform and inspires them to never try to be something they are not or be ashamed of where they came from.

What advice can you share for women who want to connect with their entrepreneurship spirit?

Find your passion – what inspires you – what makes you happy. Remember that success doesn’t happen overnight, and that sometimes your passion won’t pay the bills for a long time.  You must believe in yourself, stick with it, believe you can succeed, and have a clear vision of what you want to create. Don’t be afraid of failure, it happens to the best of us. Instead, use it as fuel to propel you to success.

Advancing Women in the Workforce: How Small Businesses Can Drive Gender Equality

It’s no secret we have a discrepancy when it comes to gender equality in the workplace as women still earn 30 percent less and are underrepresented in senior leadership compared to their male counterparts. Fortunately, bridging the gender gap is a win-win for all as it can improve employee engagement, retention, financial returns and creative innovation. So how can small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) make an impact when it comes to building a more fair and gender-balanced workforce? Let’s take a closer look at how businesses and business leaders can advance a more equitable workforce.  

Although there are no quick fixes to the challenge of gender inequality in the workplace, there are steps companies can and should take. Here are several top tips businesses small and large can use to make a difference.

Understand Key Values and Promote Equality

The first step in creating a positive work environment is making employees feel valued. This begins during the hiring process when negotiating salaries, benefits and discussing workplace policies and continues with ongoing transparency and communication.  

Treating your employees right and making sure they feel valued can be accomplished with health benefits but it can also come in other forms such as educational opportunities or childcare support. SMB employers should not be afraid to get creative with their company benefits which can be personalized to include mentoring programs, career-specific trainings, diversity and unconscious bias education, offering to supplement the cost of childcare or giving additional flexibility in scheduling to employees with children. Investing in your team by offering strong benefits and fair pay, will not only create positive morale among team members, but will build respect and long-term retention, which is critical to the health and longevity of an SMB. 

The SMBs that show they value women with fair pay and a transparent culture will reap the benefits of improved business performance and continuity. These companies are also more likely to become even more attractive to female employees, investors, and consumers, creating a virtuous circle.

Create an Intentional Process by Leveraging Technology 

Another strategy to build gender equity in the workplace is to leverage technology to automate company structure and processes. SMBs should evaluate their recruitment, promotion, and talent-development systems to guarantee that women with skills, experiences, and qualifications comparable to those of their male colleagues are promoted for achieving the same goals and earn dollar-for-dollar pay for doing the same jobs.

When bringing in new team members, SMBs can build equity into recruitment and hiring practices in several ways. Using neutral language in job postings online via hiring or job posting sites as well as having clear objectives and criteria can increase the number of women hired. Automated recruitment and administrative platforms backed by AI can help recruiters access new hires without bias. These platforms streamline and anonymize the hiring process, by removing information such as names, pronouns, etc. that make the resume-screening process objective and inclusive to qualified candidates. SMBs who want to go the extra mile to reach qualified female candidates can also share job openings with women’s groups and women in leadership within their industry to encourage women to apply. 

Furthermore, SMBs must be willing to look closely at where they are and take the right steps toward meaningful change. They can conduct an internal equity audit to compare wages across all employees or positions to better understand any imbalances in pay or staffing. If a gender pay gap is confirmed, SMBs should immediately set funds aside to correct it and put new processes in place to prevent it from recurring. 

By leveraging technology to build efficient hiring and pay scale systems that counter gender bias and continuing to analyze the company pay scale regularly, we can stop valuable candidates from being overlooked and prevent the workplace gender gap from expanding.

Close the Gender Wage Gap

According to the most recent Global Gender Gap Report, it will now take 135.6 years to reach gender parity, displaying an increase from 100 years in 2020. With efforts like the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2011 which mandated equal pay regardless of gender, we have seen women advance in education, congress, professional sports and make strides in the workforce. However, women are still making less than their male counterparts with the same title and job responsibilities due to the gender pay gap. 

One solution is to raise the minimum wage to a “living wage.” On January 1, 2022, the US Department of Labor (DOL) did just that and raised the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $11.25 per hour. While this is an improvement for SMB employees, we continue to face the bleak reality that the stubborn resilience of the gender wage gap, means that many women are still underpaid.

SMBs should feel empowered to build a more equitable workforce with pay transparency information and data. When employers small and large are made aware of their data, they are equipped with the knowledge required to make positive changes. In turn, providing wage transparency for employees in the form of salary ranges for particular jobs gives women—and all employees—the information they need to be paid fairly and equally. Pay transparency can empower women to know what’s at stake, creating an equal playing field.

Building Small Businesses That Work for Women

If businesses small and large want to attract and retain women, business leaders must acknowledge the impact the structure and customs of their organization can have on the overall equality or inequality of their business. If they find inequality, it’s imperative they pursue organizational change. 

Identifying and implementing realistic, specific and measurable performance evaluation criteria, transparent compensation practices, and the right recruiting strategies will encourage equality in the workplace, but it does not happen overnight. It will require multifaceted, practical solutions that help ensure women’s work performance is valued objectively, women are not penalized for their caregiving responsibilities, and there is greater transparency in workplace payment and promotional practices. 

While one size does not fit all when it comes to planning and structure of SMBs, consistently working towards balance by harnessing progressive technology and solutions that move the needle forward on equal pay for employees regardless of gender, we can help level the playing field for women in the workforce.

About the author: Lindsey Greathouse is the Director of Global SMB Marketing at Lenovo

How to Get Better Results From Your Marketing Efforts (Without Spending a Ton of Money)

As an online business owner, one of the most important parts of your marketing strategy is your messaging. What you say to your ideal clients and customers (and how you say it) is just as key to your overall success as where you say it, which makes sense when you think about the fact that how we connect and communicate with other humans is through storytelling. 

Unfortunately, the “messaging” part of marketing is often overlooked, in part because it requires time and effort. It’s easy to set up an account on the social media platform of your choice or throw some money at paid-for ads, but it’s harder to actually dig into and strategize what you’ll spend your time saying to your audience once they’re sitting in the room. 

This is one of the most common mistakes online business owners and entrepreneurs make when it comes to their marketing: they spend A LOT of effort (and time and money) bringing in new leads to their business but they forget to take a minute to think about how they will convert those leads into actual clients or customers.

Which is where your messaging comes in. 

So, what do you need to be hitting on in your messaging to see more results, more revenue, and more impact from your marketing efforts

Here are three key things to lockdown so you see better results from your messaging.

1. Cultivate a strong brand identity.

In order to stand out from the crowd with your messaging (and let’s be honest: in the online business world, it’s BUSY), you need to first cultivate a strong brand identity. This means digging into and defining your core messaging aspects like your why, your mission, your values, and your beliefs. It also means shaping your story and putting into words what makes you different from all the other [insert what you do here] out there. 

These are the things that make you and your brand truly unique. By clarifying them, you’ll ensure that your brand identity and personality are completely aligned with who you are (which means your messaging will draw in your dream ideal clients who are actively searching for someone like you).

2. Optimize your offerings.

Your offer is more than just the thing you’re selling. It’s how you change your client or customer’s life. But in order to convert the browsers into buyers, you need to make sure that the messaging and copy around your offer is telling them everything they need to hear to be ready to buy.

This means diving into things like understanding where your ideal clients are right now so you can make sure that your offer is exactly what they want and need, seeing what others in your niche are offering so you can position your offer as different (and better), and then clarifying the core aspects of your offer from a messaging perspective. If you can understand exactly who it is for and what big transformation it will bring them, you’ll be able to create the kind of messaging and copy you need to see great conversion rates and results from your funnels.

3. Create a scale-worthy strategy.

In order to achieve anything in life or business, you first need to have a plan. When it comes to your messaging and marketing, I call this creating a scale-worthy strategy. This is where getting clarity on things like how to share your vision with your team, what kind of content you need to be sharing to prime your audience, and what your big goal map for your business actually looks like comes into play. 

When you have a strategy like this, it means sustainably scaling your business will be so much easier, and it means you can finally stop spinning your wheels thinking you need to be doing all the things and being everywhere in order to achieve your goals. A simplified strategy that is focused on building your authority, creating real connections with your audience, and crafting impactful messaging is way more effective than throwing spaghetti at the wall or copying what your competitors are doing (top tip: do not do this. You want to stand out in your industry so that means zigging when everyone else in your niche is zagging).

So there you have it, three things you can start working on today that will allow you to create the kind of messaging strategy that will bring better results from your marketing and get you closer to your business goals.

About the author: Ciara Gigleux is CEO and chief copywriter at The Copy Atelier, a boutique copywriting agency for online business owners and CEOs that specializes in pairing conversion copywriting with a high-impact strategy for maximum results. She’s also the host of The Copy Coach podcast. She is (slightly) obsessed with all things messaging, marketing, and copywriting, and the main mission of her business and podcast is to help entrepreneurs use their copy and messaging to cut through the noise, stand out online and maximize their results, revenue and impact. Find her on Instagram and Clubhouse @ciaragigleux.

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Your Mind Is The Strongest Muscle With Tunde Oyeneyin

ABOUT THE EPISODE

If you’re an avid Peloton user, you probably already know and hang out with this week's WorkParty guest all the time. Known for her high energy, contagious smile, and bright lipstick—Tunde Oyeneyin coaches thousands of riders everyday through confidence-boosting classes—proving that anyone can be an athlete.

Not only has she emerged as one of the most sought after motivational speakers, she’s a Revlon ambassador (take a listen for her go-to shade of lipstick!), was recently the first fitness instructor to be named a Nike Athlete, and will be releasing her debut memoir this May.

From addressing human rights and racial injustice, to advocating the importance of  “Soul Care,” Tunde has created a global community of changemakers that were moved by her selfless mission to inspire and empower. On this episode of WorkParty Tunde talks about resilience and rising up after hardship, the beauty of uncertainty, and why it’s important to lean in and trust your intuition.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

RESOURCES

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .

  • Self Love: How to Gain Power & Understanding

  • The Kismet Spin Class That Forged a New Path

  • How She Landed Her Dream Job At Peloton

  • Why You Should Trust Life's Divine Timing

  • Everything Happens For You, Not To You!

  • How She's Using SPEAK to Enact Positive Change

  • Why She Believes Life Should Be Led in Service

  • Her Take On Why Failure Is Completely Made Up

  • Success To Her Is Creating Space For Others

OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Going Against the Grain with Oui the People Founder Karen Young

How EveryStylishGirl Founder Nana Agyemang is Bringing BIPOC Women into Media

Rooting Your Brand in Community-Engaging Rituals with Crown Affair’s Dianna Cohen

When Inspiration Comes to Fruition with Lisa Bühler of Lisa Says Gah!

From Memes to a Community of Millions: How Sami Sage Turned Betches into a Social-First Brand

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY . . .

Four Sigmatic • Visit FourSigmatic.com/WORKPARTY to get up to 40% off on Mushroom Coffee bundles.

MasterClass • Get unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass and get 15% off your annual membership when you go to MasterClass.com/PARTY.

9 Secrets to Working Remotely From Your Apartment & Loving It

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

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

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

1. Carve out a cozy workspace.

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

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

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

2. Decorate your space.

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

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

3. Learn how to deal with distractions.

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

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

4. Store inventory off-site.

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

5. Dress for the office.

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

6. Identify a specific scent with work.

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

7. Invest in productivity tools.

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

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

8. Give your day some structure.

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

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

9. Communicate with colleagues.

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

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

Written by Laura Gayle of BusinessWomanGuide.org.

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

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Transforming the Future of Wellness with Arrae Founder Siffat Haider

ABOUT THE EPISODE

After years of battling health issues, Siffat Haider took matters into her own hands. By leaning into holistic care, solace was found through a unique combination of herbs, vitamins, and minerals she developed on her own under the guidance and support of wellness experts. 

While on this journey, Siffat noticed a huge whitespace in wellness—information was not easily accessible or digestible for the average person with no professional background in holistic health. 

So together with her husband, she set out to create all natural, targeted supplements that work in under an hour to help women battle everyday issues like bloat and anxiety. In 2019 they launched Arrae, a chic and effective all natural supplement brand. Today,  fans like Molly Sims, Melissa Wood, and Hailey Bieber, Arrae are slowly becoming every woman’s go-to wellness staple. 

On this episode of WorkParty, Siffat Haider talks about how holistic remedies have the power to address women’s toughest day-to-day health issues, what it was like building a company with her partner-turned-husband, and what the future of the wellness landscape looks like. 

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

RESOURCES

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS . . .


  • Siffat's own health & wellness journey

  • The process of researching and finding wellness solutions

  • The connection between rest & digestion

  • Building a business with your partner

  • Developing the vision and branding for a supplement brand

  • The biggest hurdle to cross when scaling the business

  • Integrative medicine as the way forward in optimizing health

  • Advice for aspiring wellness entrepreneurs

  • Siffat's favorite part about hosting her own podcast, The Dream Bigger Podcast

OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Going Against the Grain with Oui the People Founder Karen Young

How EveryStylishGirl Founder Nana Agyemang is Bringing BIPOC Women into Media

Rooting Your Brand in Community-Engaging Rituals with Crown Affair’s Dianna Cohen

When Inspiration Comes to Fruition with Lisa Bühler of Lisa Says Gah!

From Memes to a Community of Millions: How Sami Sage Turned Betches into a Social-First Brand


THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY . . .

TK •