She Owns It

Celebrating, Connecting, and Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

Let She Owns It Promote YOU! Bloggers Wanted. Open Call For Featured Contributors.

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by Melissa Stewart

We are looking for a few amazing women (and men) to share their inspiration and expertise with the She Owns It community. Featured contributors will be selected based on their level of expertise in their particular fields. Featured contributors must be able to commit to partnering with She Owns It starting in September and writing a minimum of 6 posts over the next 6 months.

-> APPLY HERE! <-

 

Here are some subjects we are interested in:

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Small Business
  • Marketing & Advertising
  • Public Relations
  • Social Media
  • Podcasting
  • Product Development
  • Success
  • Inspiration
  • Branding
  • Online Strategy
  • Legal
  • Accounting
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Business Strategy
  • Startups
  • Entrepreneur Success Stories – Your Story
  • Creative Entrepreneurs
  • Blogging
  • Crowdfunding
  • Venture Capital
  • Web & Graphic Design
  • Dressing for Success

…or tell us your expertise & we

can create a category just for you!

 

Featured Contributors Bloggers Wanted

 

Here’s how it works:

Featured Contributors will commit to six months with She Owns It.  Each Featured Contributor will provide six unique posts during their six month commitment.  They can be written articles, infographics, or video posts.

Our Featured Contributors will receive:

  •     Listing under Featured Contributors on the She Owns It site
  •     Bios and pictures on every post submitted.
  •     Exposure through our social media networks on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

  •     A woman who is an expert in her industry or field.
  •     A woman who has excelled in a specific area of business.
  •     A woman who is committed to helping others.
  •     OPEN to men with the same qualifications!

If  this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply.

Have questions? Reach out to Melissa Stewart, at melissa (at) sheownsit (dot) com

 

-> APPLY HERE! <-

 

Application DEADLINE is Friday, September 11th.

 

3 Energy Flows That Directly Affect Our Impact & Influence by @coachlorimcneil

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by Lori McNeil

Let’s be honest… as women we have the upper hand…

… yet most women do not recognize or realize exactly how that influence shows itself.

What I am referring to is not about control, equality, or superiority. One word.

Influence.

As women, we are stereotyped into being things like:

A multi-tasker

A nurturer

A talker

A mover

All while being told we are less likely to be:

Focused

Rational

A voice of reason

A leader

We are all those things, and more. Certainly, we can make some general assumptions about differences between men and women, however I would argue that most women embody all those above characteristics and yet have the capacity for more.

Capacity is what allows for multi-tasking to be effective and focused.

Being a nurturer allows for us to see all sides of a situation while being rational.

Talking keeps communication open which brings more clarity, which is the voice of reason.

As a mover, you can be certain we won’t sit around and waste our day, which is often seen as the epitome of leadership.

I speak quite a bit in my Media Secrets book about how to show up when striving to be featured in media, especially main-stream media outlets. How we show up makes all the difference (man or woman) and never goes unseen or unnoticed. While it is true that we never have a second chance to make a first impression, we do have the opportunity to show up consistently and conscientiously.

Here are 3 ways that we can direct the energy flow in any room, venue, circumstance, or situation that we find ourselves in.

○ giving vs getting

○ respond vs react

○ legacy vs leaving

Depending on which energy we enter the room with will decide the flow. When the energy is opposite; showing up with confidence and mental control of our own mind will cause the current energy to attract itself to us. Whether we come in with a positive approach or a negative, we exacerbate the energy.

If the room is positive and we are positive, then we level up the positive. Same goes if we walk into a room of negativity and we are negative.

OR

If we walk into a negative room with confident positivity, we can turn the energy of the room around and vice versa if we walk into a positive room with confident negativity, we can shut down the room.

Giving vs Getting

We know it is always better to give than to receive. Also, that when we give, we also receive however when we get, we rarely give. Showing up with a giving energy whether in heart, soul, mind, or body, others will immediately become attracted to it. This is one reason why fundraising events have so much success, because people are in the giving spirit. By supporting a cause, typically by giving money, we feel better. Knowing that we are supporting something that exists to better someone or some group makes most people elated.

Responding vs Reacting

When faced with a circumstance, an altercation, a piece of information, a conversation we can traverse them by either responding to it (which is typically positive) or we can react to it (typically negative). Regardless if we agree with what is going on, responding to an event is better than reacting to it. Think of (perhaps morbid, but a great example) a car accident. The paramedics on the scene are called ‘first responders’ not first reactors because they are doing something positive… in this case aiding someone who is hurt. On the contrary, if we are accused of something and find ourselves in conflict and react by deflecting or denying or deconstructing the other persons stance the conflict often grows.

Legacy vs Leaving

This one is a bit different. This energy flow is more about how the event you are in concludes. Walking away from the circumstance, the altercation, whatever the event (it) is, has a great affect on how the energy continues. Showing up with positive energy creates a legacy of awareness and presence. When others feel your awareness and your presence to the situation you become focused, that voice of reason. You are the expert, the leader, the rational thinker. Showing up with negative energy people will do everything they can to avoid you, to leave the situation and in the future will create walls, build barriers, and set up boundaries to keep you at a safe distance.

There you have it. Three energies that will design, direct, and determine flow. Share your experiences with either the positive or the negative flow and what results you have had. I’d love to hear your stories.

 

 

International Educator, Speaker, Author, and Business Coach, Lori helps entrepreneurs and organizations focus on foundational tools needed for sustained success. As a Curriculum Designer and Business Professor, Lori has helped grow hundreds of organizations organically to build a true, long-lasting purpose. Lori has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, & various regional markets. She has authored / co-authored several books and works globally to support literacy, cancer research, young entrepreneurship, and military programs. Helping raise over three million dollars for literacy, Lori was awarded the Lifetime Presidential Service Award for her work. For more info visit www.lorimcneil.com.

 

 

 

 

5 Tax Write Offs Every Solopreneur Needs to Know

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by Anita Forrest

Tax write-offs are one of the best parts of being self-employed but it’s also one of the most confusing areas with many missing out on valuable deductions.

So, if you’re freaking out every time you get a tax bill or just not claiming expenses because you can’t decide whether you are entitled to claim them, then read on. I’ll show you 5 tax write-offs that you may be entitled to:

 

Mobile Phone

If you are using your mobile phone for work reasons like checking emails, getting social for your business and marketing apps then you can claim back a percentage of your line rental against your taxes.

There’s no hard and fast rule here, the percentage you can claim will depend on the amount of time you use your phone for work.

Top tip – don’t write off 100% unless you use it exclusively for business.

 

Work trips

Some of the money you spend on business travel can be claimed against your taxes. But this largely depends on where you travel to and why.

Travel outside of your normal routine will generally be deductible in full. But regular travel, like between your home and office cannot be claimed, that’s because HMRC defines travel between your home and your regular, permanent place of work as a non-work journey.

 

Meals

If you are out and about you can claim for meals that you pay for when you meet other people like clients or colleagues.

You can claim for meals when you are travelling for work reasons (known as subsistence), but not your everyday lunches. Just keep the cost of anything you claim ‘reasonable’, like a sandwich, drink and the odd glass of wine.

 

Training and courses

Staying on top of your game is essential when you work for yourself, but it can be pricey. You’ll be able to write off the cost of training and courses that keep your existing skills and expertise. HMRC recognises that you need to undertake training as part of carrying out your trade to keep your knowledge up to date. But if you attend training to learn new skills these costs would not be tax-deductible.

These rules also apply to books, eBooks, workshops and magazines.

 

Home Office

If you’re working from home, then it’s costing you money in the form of extra utilities, cleaning and more. Now, don’t get too excited! HMRC has a lot of rules around what you can claim and how.

There are two ways you can choose to make your home office claim: the flat rate method (most popular) or the actual method.

The flat rate method – If you are working from home for at least 25 hours per month, then you can claim a flat rate allowance on your taxes. The 2020/21 tax year allowances are:

  • £10 per month if you work between 25 and 50 hours per month;
  • £18 per month if you work between 51 and 100 hours per month;
  • £26 per month if you work 101 or more hours per month.

You don’t need to keep any receipts, which makes this easy to claim when you fill out your tax return. But the downside is that it isn’t the most generous tax deduction.

The actual method – depending on your situation it may work out more tax efficient to claim a percentage of your actual household bills (like heating, electricity, rent and cleaning) as a business expense. You’ll need to add up the number of rooms in your home and the time you spend working in each, then claim a portion of your bills. And don’t forget to keep receipts to back up your claim!

 

Claiming business expenses is by far the easiest way for you to reduce your tax bill, just make sure you keep hold of all your receipts as evidence of what you are claiming. If you are ever unclear about what expenses you can and can’t claim, keep track of it, save the receipt and speak to a professional.

 

 

Anita Forrest is a Chartered Accountant, spreadsheet geek, money nerd and creator of www.goselfemployed.co – a UK small business finance blog where she shares help and advice with the self-employed community to make topics like registering a business, bookkeeping and taxes easy to understand.

 

 

 

 

5 Tips for Creating Videos When You Are Starting Out by @XLConsultingGro

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by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

During these crazy times, when face to face connections at events are not possible, have you thought about different ways to create video content?  You don’t need to hire a videographer.  All you need is a cellphone and the right equipment and setup and you can get started. At the beginning you may not be comfortable having to create video content through ‘lives’ whether Facebook live, Instagram or Linkedin live, but let’s explore the different ways to create video content.  Our 5 tips for creating videos when you are starting out will set you on the right path and give you confidence to launch your first video.

1) How to Create Video Content Recordings (not live video)

The advantage of making video content recordings is you can edit out the sections you don’t like, and chop the video up into smaller bite sizes (sound bites, if you like) that you can then re-purpose on different social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and your own blog.  So let’s get started

create video content

  • Record a video with your cell phone.  All you need to create video content with your cell phone is a tripod with a cell phone mount, a halo light, a remote button and editing software. A setup like the one in the picture can be purchased from Amazon for under $60.00  One free editing app for cell phones is InShOT. There is both a free and paid version of this software, available for both Android and i-phone.   The editing software allows you to trim your video, add text and insert your social media icons.
  • Use Zoom to record and create video content. One advantage of Zoom is you can use a virtual background to your video and in the new version you don’t need a green screen to use a virtual background.  All you have to do is upload a photo of your choice to your computer or select from your cell phone if you are using the mobile version of zoom.
  • Use your computer camera to record videos and then edit after the recording.  If you don’t want to edit your video yourself, using software such as Camtasia (for MAC and PC), or hop on over to Fiverr, type in “video editor” and you will find lots of video editors.  Look for a level 2 seller with a 5* rating when selecting a video editor in Fiverr.

When you’ve mastered creating video content through recordings you are now ready to do “live’ events

2)  Facebook Live

  • Did you know you can go ‘live’ privately?  Yes, you can!   Facebook Live has “Live Rehearsal” or  “Test Broadcast” feature which let’s you practice.  You click ‘live’ under schedule and then click ‘publish as a test broadcast’.  Only the page admins will see your test video.  This is only available on ‘pages’ and not in groups.
  • Once you feel brave enough, you can switch to Facebook live videos on your personal page, your business page or in your group.  If you are going live from your business page, here is where you find the ‘live’ button.
  • create videos

3)  LinkedIn Live

  • Since the pandemic has hit, I’ve notice quite a few business people are taking the plunge and streaming live on LinkedIn.  As of mid-2020 there isn’t a button on LinkedIn that you can just press to do a Linkedin Live, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see this added as a feature in the future.  To go live on LinkedIn you need to use a third party streaming platform.  One of the ones that I like is Streamyard . If you don’t mind the watermark and you are not doing lots of ‘ives’, the free version could be just fine for you.
  • With software such as Streamyard it asks you what you want to connect ‘live’ to and there is a button for LinkedIn.

4)  Zoom Live

  • You can create a live event on Zoom and invite people to the event through Meetup or through your own email marketing.  With the latest Zoom software upgrade you need a password code and there is a “waiting room” so that you only let it people who you know.  This is to prevent Zoom bombing where hackers jumped into zoom rooms and created havoc to an unsuspecting audience.
  • To set up your scheduled Zoom Live, go into Zoom and “Schedule a Meeting” for the time and date before you go over to Meetup to set it up or prior to sending out an announcement to your email list.
  • Before you go live on zoom, make sure you press the record button to record your live session

5)  Live in Instagram Stories/Posts

  • Perfect for shooting with your cellphone.  You can add special effects on to your video and then post to Instagram.  Great for short snippets, ie 15 seconds or less.   Great for product shots, quick personal videos related to your brand.
  • If your video is longer, then you can post to IGTV
  • Make sure you add those #hashtags to help get exposure to video and gain more following.

How to Share your Videos

You can edit any of your videos to add your branding and to add thumbnails that you design on Canva to show at the beginning or end of your videos.  When you are happy with your videos, then here are the different ways to share them.   Don’t forget to use “tags” to find the searching of your videos easy for those who are looking for your content.

  1. On your YouTube Channel
  2. On a ‘video’ tab on your website
  3. In a blog post on your website
  4. In a facebook group or on your business page
  5. On your LinkedIn profile or Linkedin business page

 

Tools to Help Solopreneurs Be More Productive

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productivity

by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor

The path to success for new business owners getting started without the benefit of a staff and a large startup budget is paved with tools designed to make solopreneurs productive. Given that time and money are always highly-prized commodities in short supply for most entrepreneurs, accessing effective business tools can mean the difference between success and failure.

 

Marketing Resources

  1. WiseIntro

WiseIntro offers entrepreneurs a free solution for establishing a professionally- designed, online presence to capture leads and promote business. Considering that solopreneurs can’t always afford the steep fees of graphic artists, WiseIntro offers viable and flexible design solutions that also allow business owners to add paid features in the future as needed.

  1. Sleeknote

Advertised as the polite way to ask for your customer’s email address, Sleeknote promises to convert website visitors into subscribers in a user-friendly way that promises not to “turn-off” future paying customers. As the lifeblood of any business, solopreneurs need an effective and easy way to capture lead information without interfering with the browsing experience. Notably, Sleeknote has also earned positive reviews for how well it integrates with other software.

  1. HubSpot Marketing Hub

GetApp highly recommends HubSpot Marketing Hub as an inbound marketing platform. Earning 4.5 stars out of 5, reviewers sing the praises of this tool for managing emails, web chat, forms, landing pages and social media. Considering that HubSpot provides a comprehensive resource targeted at managing content marketing, automation. analytics, social media and testing efforts, it is easy to understand why 97% of users recommended it.

  1. Mailchimp

As a leader in the email business since 2001, Mailchimp provides solopreneurs with the ability to build mailing lists. Additionally, this marketing resource uses custom templates to create eye-catching designs. For analytical purposes, timely performance reports give business owners the data necessary to manage email and newsletter campaigns effectively.

  1. Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark offers the first-rate graphics necessary to engage hungry social media audiences that frequent popular platforms. Using templates designed to impress increases response. As an extra bonus, this service is free. Additionally, amateurs interested in making videos can use Adobe Spark to jump on this high-traffic producing bandwagon to make quality visuals to compete with big-budget, industry leaders.

 

Financial Resources

  1. QuickBooks Online

For a small monthly fee from about $12.50 to $75 a month, depending on the services required, solopreneurs can utilize this extensive bookkeeping tool that is like having an accounting staff onsite and oncall. Logging expenses and keeping up with receipts has never been so easy. As if that’s not enough, QuickBooks Online also invoices clients and transfers money between your bank accounts as needed at no additonal cost.

  1. Square

Square has earned a lot of buzz recently from both solopreneurs and managers. Restaurants and retailers rave about how easy this payment processor makes their life. By charging no montly fee without any minimum requirements, Square has arrived as a contender in the payment processing industry.

  1. FreshBooks

Excellent cash flow management is crucial for the health of any small business. Using FreshBooks to automate billing and collect payments can make a significant difference in operational efficiencies. By using this type of financial management tool, solopreneurs can track expenses from their PC or mobile device to stay current. As a practical and versatile financial tool, FreshBooks is compatible with PCs, Android and iOS devices.

  1. PayPal

As a giant in the online credit card processing industry, PayPal is an easy-to-use solution that is accessible almost immediately. Noteworthy benefits that solopreneurs value include no requirement for a contract and no termination fees charged.

Since merchant funds are made available immediately upon receipt, business owners don’t have to wait for their hard-earned money which is crucial for cash flow. PayPal is highly recommended for companies that need to process a large volume of low-ticket transactions at an affordable cost.

 

Administrative and Operational Resources

  1. Calendly

There are few tasks more important to a solopreneur than scheduling and managing their most precious asset, their time. Forbes publishes the high praise voiced by Lauren Rosenthal’s recommendation to use Calendly as a practical scheduling tool.

This time-management asset manages the back and forth waste of time that is common when trying to tie down meetings in a busy world. The way Calendly works is that professionals interested in setting up a meeting can view availability, then schedule an open time based on a schedule that is updated in real-time, automatically.

  1. Dropbox

NerdWallet recommends Dropbox as an excellent file management option. This popular file sharing and storage solution with 500 million users, allows solopreneurs the ability to easily share and store files in the cloud. Dropbox is especially practical for business owners who work with telecommuters.

  1. Shake

An integral part of typical business operations often includes the necessity for legal agreements. Shake provides on-the-spot contracts for loans, non-disclosure agreements, contractor or freelance forms, and other necessary and common legal paperwork. Shake saves time and money, allowing business owners to skip unnecessary meetings with attorneys over typical, legal agreements that don’t require special legal oversight.

  1. Zoom

One of the most popular alternatives to in-person meetings is Zoom. In most cases, it is difficult to justify the time it takes to commute, park and meet in-person. Whether you are setting up a training session with employeees, a sales meeting, a marketing event or a webinar, Zoom delivers an affordable solution.

The technology is state-of-the-art and uses video, collaboration-enabled conference rooms and voice marketplace to ensure clients have what they need for internal and external communication success. Remarkably, the system can accommodate as many as 10,000 viewers and 1,000 video participants which is adequate for most solopreneurs.

 

Conclusion

Business decisions have the power to either make solopreneurs productive or render them compromised and ineffectual. Deciding on the best tools necessary to perform crucial business functions is a top priority for any prudent business owner.

 

 

10 Lessons Raconteur @TheMagicOfV Taught Me by @ClinkAndChat

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by Mella Noir | Featured Contributor

Have you ever met a raconteur? Definition: a storyteller, especially a person noted for telling stories with skill and wit. I wasn’t sure I had either…but, when you meet one it makes perfect sense.

I have and his name is V.

V is someone who can create almost anything creatively out of thin air. We met because at the time, he was known as “The Magic of V” and was doing a nightly magic show and would go right up to folks and mesmerize them with close up illusions: cards, coins, lemons – no matter what the object, V could read your mind and make it disappear or better but either way, he blew your mind. Manipulate cards via sleight of hand? Easy. Bend a quarter with his thoughts? Yep. Make you doubt your own eyes? Every time. He also has a certain way  he handles people, he is deftly funny with them but never at their expense. His wit has always been part of the routine…

He had also for many years ran a theater where he had his own “intimate illusions” show and packed the room as the headliner. He was doing Murder Mystery shows before anyone jumped on that bandwagon.

Along with everyone else, I have always been astounded. But, magic was just in his spare time. Music and theatre are where he really shines. The Music of V is far more skilled than simply turning tricks…music is where he really loves to shine and he makes magic through that as well. He plays multiple instruments with ease and can adapt any song you request at a moment’s notice. Not only does he have a vast repertoire catalog in his head: he knows the history of each artist, the notes, the words…you can’t stump him. Try, I dare you. He can pick up any guitar and play it, same goes for the piano. Have a song in mind ? Challenge him and he will revise it old school, modern style or anything in between. Lady Gaga as a folky jazz tune? Done. That’s where the “raconteur” label comes from. He’s currently exploring this idea with his show at Capo’s Speakeasy, where it’s an intimate yet socially distanced musical interlude:

Call here to book a  table: 702.364.2276 (CAPO).

V is the only person I’ve ever known or even heard of that can literally stand on a corner and create interest out of nothing. No matter if it’s a Rubik’s Cube he spins into submission with one hand or playing any Prince song you request…provoke him and he will do it. And give you an interesting history lesson or twist along the way.

He is a one man show, and he likes it that way. His style of both magic and music is intimate and up close – so that you are literally right inside the action. I’ve always been amazed by V and his ability to get your attention, lure you in and then captivate you with his skills.

Besides his passion for music and his abilities of illusion, V is a man who is most comfortable around animals. He has fostered countless dogs and cats in his lifetime and believes it is something every human being must do in order to have empathy for life itself.

He is also all about mentoring. For nearly 20 years, he’s been a magic mentor at a camp, where he helps shape minds, instills confidence and teaches people skills both fun and valuable. Quite a well rounded dude, I’d say…

Besides all this, V is always searching creatively for the next thing. He realized that nowadays in this new world, magic didn’t fit into it anymore…gone are the days when it is acceptable to pass various items to folks to touch and give back. Also gone this year is camp – for the first time in two decades, camp was cancelled. Heartbreaking for V and all the kids who so looked forward to their summertime routine, but it’s a new time and adaptation is a must.  

That didn’t stop his constantly running creative flow, though. Unable to stop his inner magic, he currently has several projects on the go, including a rock opera based in the time of a virus and how it affects everyone within the world.  He, along with his traveling dog, Sam are always roving around, meeting people and curating new stories to add to his theatrical mind (of course mostly online now, unfortunately not in contact…).

I asked him to share his top ten pieces of advice in music, magic, acting, life, love and business (any or all of the above, because whatever he has learned I want to adapt to my own life). Here is what he shared:

  1. Don’t Stay Where You Were Born. – We all think where we were born and grew up is the best place to be. But it’s probably not. Travel around and see what’s out there. But don’t just visit, live there. Too many of us think we have seen the world if we’ve only seen it through the window of a hotel room. But if you think you want to live somewhere, get a job there. Make some friends there. Go out in the community and do things. That’s the only way to really know if where you are is where you want to be.
  2. Adopt a Dog or Cat at Least Once in Your Life. – It’s kind of a moral obligation because they would not exist if we did not breed them into existence. It’s not fair to just throw them away if they’re not a purebred or perfect.
  3. Keep Upgrading Your Technology. – Don’t be one of those people that is using an old clunky laptop from 10 years ago just because you don’t want to upgrade. Don’t be the person that has their phone constantly filled with pictures so they can’t use it. This is a problem for most people who are over 40. They get stuck in a routine and never get out of it. Upgrade your devices. Learn new ways of communicating. You like social media? Cool. Try tik tok or Snapchat every once in awhile instead of just being on Facebook and Twitter. Spread your wings and fly out of your bubble. This logic also goes for the media in general. Who’s your favorite band? Is it a band that doesn’t even exist anymore and was popular 20 years ago? You may want to upgrade your tastes as well. There are great bands that exist right now that would blow your mind if you didn’t keep listening to the same 20 songs from the ’90s.
  4. Learn From Other People’s Mistakes. – When people tell me a story about the worst mistake they’ve ever made, I listen intently. I ask questions and really absorb any lesson that comes out of it. 
  5. Stand Up for Yourself. – Always. Never let anyone speak down to you. Always remind people that you are a human being that has pride and respect for yourself. I don’t allow people to raise their voice to me, be aggressive, or to be disrespectful to me in ANY way. Life is too short to endure disrespect.
  6. Be a Mentor For at Least One Kid in Your Life. – By the time we are 30, we have life advice that could help someone growing up. Don’t hoard it to yourself. I have been a mentor to thousands of kids. I teach a magic course every summer and spend months teaching how easily we are fooled and manipulated. When a kid realizes how easily they can be fooled, they begin to look at the world differently. They begin to ask questions and not just take everything at face value. Kids who realize how easily they can be manipulated grow up to be adults who are more discerning and skeptical of claims without evidence.
  7. Don’t Believe Claims Without Evidence. – Just because somebody says something you want to believe to be true, doesn’t mean it is true. One of the most valuable classes I ever took in my life was “critical thinking”… It sounds negative, but it’s not. It is simply taking claims and using logic instead of emotion when it comes to their validity. Question everything. It is a lot harder, but when you start doing that you stop spreading misinformation that you “heard somewhere once”. Especially right now, spreading misinformation could hurt someone. Always check your sources.
  8. Live Your Authentic Life. – I know, a bumper sticker saying. It’s so easy to say something like that without any meaning to it. I mean live everyday honestly. Don’t pretend to be somebody you’re not just to fit in. Don’t agree with someone just because you want them to like you. If your job is not something that fills you with happiness, find another one. Again, it’s so easy to say something like that. “Just quit your job and find something you love.” I understand that it’s not easy. But is the alternative any easier? Does working a job you hate everyday for 40 years sound better? 
  9. Remember That Life is Short. – We don’t really know what happens to us when we die. There may be an afterlife that is amazing.  But the only thing I know is that this is the only life we have for right now. So every day we wake up and feel relatively good is a gift. Who knows where that gift is coming from, that’s not what this is about. But graciously accept that gift and live that day fully. Now I don’t mean go out and run a marathon, help an old lady across the street, build a homeless shelter, and adopt an orphan all in one day. Some days are just days. Don’t feel guilty if that day is filled with drinking coffee, watching TV, and doing laundry. But don’t take it for granted.
  10. Cut Negative People Out of Your Life. – Again, another easier said than done piece of advice, but it’s the most important. We all have that friend that loves to criticize and “neg”, but rarely tries to inspire. We get used to their constant jabs. Perhaps, so much so that it becomes a part of the relationship. I’m not just talking about friends, but family members, spouses, even co-workers. Those “can’t you just take a joke?” people can be toxic. Reset the relationship with a serious talk. If they continue with the same old pattern, walk away. Emotionally and physically. I will reiterate, your life is short. If people don’t respect you or see how special you are, they don’t deserve to be in it.

What I learned from V is: you never know what is coming in the future, so you have to be creative and adapt to the world and the people as it is and they are. We cannot control them – only ourselves. What can you do that flexes your magical mind and magical muscles? Ever wanted to learn to play an instrument or get onstage in a play? DO IT. Don’t worry so much about what other people think or say. They don’t know what is going on half the time and ignorance is bliss for most of them. Listen to children and animals. Usually ignored, they are really what can teach you about yourself and your emotional strength. It’s often about shaping others that shapes you. Don’t just talk – listen. It’s often in the non verbal that we really hear. Pay attention to those you care about, you never know when they may be gone from your sphere, whether temporarily or permanently…the time is now. 

Thanks for the lessons, V!

V Online

V on Instagram

V on Twitter

BAME Business: Finding Business Success as an Asian Female in the UK

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by Dr Priyanka Chadha

The route to business success is not an easy one; requiring dedication, hard work, and a fierce entrepreneurial spirit. Forging this path as women, especially women of Black Asian or Minority Ethnicity (BAME) origin is an even trickier endeavor, but not for lack of the aforementioned qualities. BAME women are grossly underrepresented in higher level positions across many industries and often face socio-economic barriers as well as battle stereotypes – alongside any cultural and/or social discrimination served to them for existing as women. Whilst research into the UK business enterprise is woefully limited in relation to gender and race, it is widely recognized that BAME people are disadvantaged and BAME women even more so. A 2018 study by the Office for National Statistics into ethnicity pay gaps in Britain found that workers of ethnic minority in London earnt 21.7% less than their white peers. The data was not disaggregated to interrogate BAME women stats specifically (yet another example of the ever-prevalent gender data gap) but given what we know about pay inequalities relative to gender – the figures are disheartening.

 

What are the barriers?

Many women look to build their own businesses as a result of hitting the well documented ‘glass ceiling’. This presents as a lack of opportunity to progress within their career, a gender pay gap, and a sparsity of support and mentorship from their seniors, among other general issues such as the penalization of mothers, less than full time workers, or those with caring responsibilities. These issues are found to be particularly prevalent for BAME women, where disadvantages connected to gender and race intersect to stifle the advancement of their careers and prospects.

However, in practice, conceiving, building, launching and managing a business presents its own set of challenges unique to BAME women. For starters, they are more likely to have difficulty accessing formal financial support and investment. A study by Diversity VC found that 65% of London Venture Capital funds have all-male decision-making teams, with Asian and Black venture capitalists significantly underrepresented. This was proven to directly impact the success of a female founder seeking capital. Additionally, there is a lack of BAME female role models to look up to during childhood and education, and limited provision of mentorship and entrepreneurial guidance focused on the particular social and economic obstacles of BAME women.

 

Fighting Conformity

Whilst reflecting on the situation makes for bleak reading, all is not lost. Many BAME women are enjoying great success across various industries, including within their own start-up businesses or self-employed enterprises. Rupa Ganatra, co-founder of global event management company Millennial 20/20 speaking at an Asian Business Association Women in Business networking event, advised aspiring entrepreneurs not to be afraid to move out of their comfort zones, and to build their networks before they need them.

Rupal Patel, director and founder of the Orcha Group media agency has spoken of her longstanding passion for entrepreneurship – saying she knew she always wanted to have her own business. Although recognizing the pool of Asian women in business is still small, Patel believes there are opportunities – if you look for them. “There’s a lot of help out there but I have found people just don’t know what support is available to them. A critical factor to increase the number of Asian women entrepreneurs is ensuring this support reaches individuals who would like to have their own business but haven’t yet taken the steps to realize the dream.” She speaks unequivocally on the invaluable role of mentorship for Asian female entrepreneurs, encouraging this be sought early. “There are more people who want to help you than want to hold you back”, she says.

Other general advice for BAME women seeking business success includes ensuring you attend relevant industry events and participate in member organizations, continually invest in your professional development, and ensure the work you are doing adds value to your industry and its growth.

 

Looking forward

As a top-ranking Plastic Surgery Registrar for the NHS and director and co-founder of a successful aesthetics training academy, I am no stranger to hard work, long hours, and the many sacrifices that come with success. The barriers for BAME women and women in general are very real, but it is imperative we hold a steadfast self-belief and ensure we are ready to take a seat at the table; partaking in the conversation and showing the way for the up-and-coming BAME women entrepreneurs who are waiting in the wings.

Though there is still so much room for improvement, equality between the sexes is moving slowly in the right direction and recent events have shaken the world; sparking a reignition of the Black Lives Matter movement and increasing awareness around systemic and institutional discrimination of BAME people. Acquisition Aesthetics is proud to host an outstanding surgical-led faculty of medical professionals, over 60% of whom are BAME women who also operate their own successful business ventures. We will continue to collaborate with high-calibre professionals who uplift our academy and bring diversity and excellence to our team and the aesthetics realm as a whole and hope to launch an all-inclusive mentoring program in the near future.

 

 

By Dr Priyanka Chadha MBBS (Lond), BSc (Hons)’ DPMSA (Lond). MRCS (Eng), MSc (Lond); co-founder and Director of Acquisition Aesthetics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why You Should Not Ignore Lead Generation Metrics by @ninafpineda

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by Nina Pineda

In recent years, there have been many changes in the consumer buying process wherein online research plays a huge role. In one study, researchers found that 94 percent of B2B buyers research online first before they decide on a purchase. Coincidentally, almost 70 of these buyers prefer learning about a brand through online articles than traditional advertisements.

There are also more communication channels wherein the business and customers can forge relationships. Unfortunately, there’s also an increased noise and competition. Lead generation allows businesses to be heard and connect with their target market despite the noise.

Instead of simply casting a wide net and pray for a catch, lead generation enables marketers to build and nurture relationships with their target customers and move them closer toward acquisition. Lead generation and lead nurturing are both important to the business, as these ensure that the time, money, and resources are used efficiently.

Just like any online campaign, there are metrics involved in lead generation that you shouldn’t ignore. Here are some of them and why they should be given extra attention.

Performance

Conversion rate (CR) is the most important metric in lead generation because it measures how long it takes for you to convert an online visitor into a customer. The other metrics such as time to conversion, support the conversion rate. Simply put, it measures if your entire campaign is successful or not.

A lead generation initiative is not effective without a call-to-action (CTA), which basically tells the viewer what to do after they’ve read your content. It could be as simple as asking them to visit your website or try a free demo or even provide their email address in exchange for free content.

Click through rates (CTRs) measure the effectiveness of your CTA. If you ignore CTRs, how will you know if your CTA copy is effective at all? You need to measure CTRs so you can improve your CTAs.

Marketing

Not all leads are made equal. Measuring the quantity of your marketing quality leads (MQLs) is important because it looks into the number of leads you generate that make it to the sales teams, who in turn, will go after the hottest leads with the highest possibility of conversion.

Measuring your MQLs is also a way of computing your return on investment (ROI), another metric that shows if the money, time, and resources spent on the campaign yielded positive results.

Cost

Lead generation is a long-term, huge expense, so you need to measure if the costs are worth it. The most important cost metrics you need to focus on are the cost per lead (CPL), which tells you how much you spend in converting an online visitor into a lead, and cost per acquisition (CPA), which shows how much you spend to make a lead do something for you. Focusing on these two will show you if you are spending more than what you are getting in return.

Sales

The most important metric you need to check is the sales qualified leads (SQLs), which are leads who have been studied by both marketing and sales teams and are deemed ready to be converted into actual paying customers. Just like the MQLs, the quantity will show you if your efforts are working.

Channel and Content

Paying close attention to the channel origination rate helps marketers focus on the most prolific ones. Apart from zooming in on the best performing channels, marketers must also study closely how they keywords are performing. An effective and seamless integration of keywords and channels will help boost any lead generation initiative.

Make These Metrics Work for You

Measuring these metrics are important because not all visitors who find your website are ready to buy, and it is up to find ways to lure them in and coax them closer to the purchasing stage.

Lead generation is not just about publishing content or putting up a website and waiting for the customers to come pouring in. These days, consumers know they are spoiled for choice and marketers are leveraging on data to win the mind games.

 

Nina is part of Online PR Team of Spiralytics. She launched her career as a web copywriter but eventually jumped into SEO and Online PR out of curiosity. This curious cat may be easily amused by memes, & Korean Drama series but she is keen and driven in achieving results when it comes to work. Don’t let the petite physique fool you; She has a big heart wherein her other half, family, and friends fit in.

 

 

 

 

Shame in the Workplace by @HeidiDalzell

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by Heidi J. Dalzell, PsyD.

Too many women are terrified of taking risks and making a mistake, socially or otherwise, because they fear other people shaming them.

Christiane Northrup, M.D., Goddesses Never Age

I remember my first experience of being shamed in the workplace. It was before I’d made the leap to a psychology practice and a corporate trainer in a large financial services firm. My supervisor, miffed at something, said to me sternly “I thought you were perfect, but …” It wasn’t in the words, or dismissive tone. It was more in the message I did not measure up.

I felt a deep sense of shame.

There were other similar comments from this supervisor, about the way I dressed and interacted, even that my gloves made my hands look too big.  A coworker who was being laid off from a defunct department did not get a job within ours because my supervisor noticed a thread on her skirt. And so on. While these experiences were a good number of years ago now, I still obsessively check for those hanging threads that could hold me back.

The most damaging thing about these comments: my supervisor was another woman.

And her expectations were unattainable.

Women are routinely shamed within the workplace: for their bodies, their personalities, their dress, and feelings. They may be shamed for being different from the corporate culture. Many such messages tap in to childhood wounds, proving our “badness” again and again.

Because shame is so global, we internalize it, literally taking it into our bodies.

Why Is Internalized Shame So Negative?

 Comments like the one I received don’t provide a growing experience or one that encourages risk taking and creativity. If I could not wear the gloves I wanted, how could I present an innovative new idea in our staff meetings? Or take a risk in trying something new?

Christiane Northrup, in her renowned book on women’s health, identifies shame as hands-down the most destructive emotion that women can experience. It drains women, of their life-forces and creativity. Instead they put their energy into self-hared and self-preservation.

Shame results in feeling unlovable and unworthy. People who are shamed develop a harsh inner critic.

Shame holds you back. Gay Hendricks, author of The Big Leap calls this an “upper limit problem.” Women who hold on to shame may not feel that they deserve love, freedom or success.

Resolving Internalized Shame

 The good news: we can resolve shame.

If you are shamed within the workplace, there are several questions that you can ask yourself. Is any part of this feedback true? If so, what can I do to change this? What have I learned from this situation?

When the feedback does not fit, it’s also ok to reject it without needing to understand where it came from.

It’s also important to be aware of your inner dialogue. If you are talking to yourself in a way that you would not talk to a cherished person in your life, adopt a more compassionate tone and message.

Opening ourselves to compassion leads to forgiveness of past shame as well as greater self-acceptance. It can be a hard lesson but one that is vital for success in the workplace.

 

 

Know When You Arrive! Recognizing the Signs of Success… by @StarrHall

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by Starr Hall 

How many times have you actually stopped to appreciate your hard work and small successes? Like most people in the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey, I didn’t even know what success looked like. I was unreasonably hard on myself and felt unaccomplished simply because I wasn’t making millions after two years in business.

It wasn’t until I mapped out my business plan as a journey that I realized it is the basic elements that form the foundation for larger successes, or what I like to call…wins.  I began to piece it together when my phone would ring after I landed a feature, launched a new website, grew my email list week-over-week, etc… Clients would hire me based on something they read or an email that was shared with them.

Entrepreneurs tend to forget that it is the small victories added up that equate to big ones.

I have tracked some milestones and “win signals” to watch for as you grow your business. Here’s how to know when you are succeeding:

 

1. Hooked Stage:

In the beginning stages of setting out after your dream or starting a new business, it is taking the first few steps that is truly the largest of small victories. This is the stage when you’ve designed your brand, launched it, and consumers learn what it is you are offering. More than that, they are hungry to hear more. The win:  they purchase, refer to you, love the product and show it by leaving a review. In short, they are hooked. Celebrate this!  It’s a success.

2. Smalls’ Stage:

“You’re killin it, Smalls!” (Yes, that Smalls from The Sandlot)  This is my motto whenever I achieve or reach a small weekly goal. Yes, weekly! The Smalls stage isn’t just about hitting it; more importantly, it’s about focusing on what you did to land the hit. For ex. when you step out of your comfort zone to call someone you never thought you could reach and they answer the phone to hear more. Or when you socially engage and reach out to 100 people a day online instead of sitting back waiting for them to find you. I commit daily to “killin it” by stepping out of my comfort zone and doing at least 5 things that make me want to upchuck. That feeling…it’s a success. Break open some champagne! You deserve it.

3. Defining BIG Stage:

Once you define what BIG looks like, you have achieved success. I’m talking about vision boards, coloring it on a wall, visually putting your BIG vision out there publicly.  This is a HUGE win. Once you have a clear vision of where you see your product or service fitting into people’s lives, then define further how many people you see using the product or buying the service.  You are then ready to GPS your entire BIG journey. Success…it’s so small and yet so big at the same time.

4. Shameless Stage:

When you build up the self-confidence to talk about your product or service in a way that is compelling and unapologetic, you have arrived. When your passion turns into excitement and unstoppable action-taking which translates into media features and social media influencers wanting to discuss it with you, this is gold. When customers or clients are waiting in line to give you money, this is full-blown, all-out success. Bask in it and breathe it in. Congratulations are in order!

 

There are hundreds of signs every day that represent success, but you must be open to seeing them . . . And even more committed to celebrating them. Revenue growth is great and should be the end goal primarily, but you can’t generate revenue without hooking your market, “killin it” outside of your comfort zone, defining what big means to you, and shamelessly self-promoting every step of the way. At each of these stages when I celebrate, I say out loud—REPEAT. Keep on keeping on . . . but enjoy the small stuff at every stage. It’s a great way to live and build a brand simultaneously.

 

 

Starr Hall is an entrepreneur who has been in PR/branding/marketing since she was 9 years old. She has owned several small businesses and has worked with dozens of Fortune brands, such as Sprint, RIM, UPS, NHL, Activision, Samsung, Lucky Brand, Downtown Las Vegas, Bragg Live Foods, Experian, Downey Savings & Loan/USBank, True Religion, Express Clothing, and Century 21. She is the author of The Social Wave and Get Connected.

She is also a former columnist and/or contributing writer for Entrepreneur, MSNBC, AOL, AmEx Small Business OPEN, Business Insider, PR Newswire and Biz Trends. Starr was also a contributor to “Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars” by Mitch Meyerson.