Leadership’s Many Flavors by @SBSLEducSoltns

July 24, 2019 by SJ Barakony Leave a Comment

Leading from the Front with Four

Ground Floor : Leadership & Management

It’s nearing mid summer in the northern hemisphere; recently, we celebrated national Ice Cream Day! Many have favorite flavors of this delish dessert; this holds true for leadership, too.

Paraphrasing a Supreme Court justice: ‘We know leadership when we see it.” , yet we all don’t ‘see’ the same thing, since we view business through our own experiences, lenses, & mindset.

Further, let’s push a related theme up for thoughtful discussion:

Leadership & management are NOT differing flavors; instead, they are two landmasses, separated by a gigantic ocean. We realize this while standing on the ground floor; now, let’s climb up a metaphorical ziggurat for a panoramic view.

Position, power, experience, credentials …?

On level 1 & 2 of our ziggurat, we start separating the wheat from the chaff; this act drives big answers , bringing us closer to leading from the front.

Q> Are any of the below characteristics necessary for organic leadership?

Seniority / experience
Credentials
Power \ Authority
Position
Perks /privileges

A> None are truly required. For a positional leader, they might bring benefit in a company’s hierarchy; however, in a free enterprise entrepreneurial business, they’d likely delay professional development.

Q>> Does leadership necessitate a certain type of business structure?

A>> No. Most structures ‘tell‘ us that an established business has an uneven field; you’ve built a ladder for your staff to climb up a pyramidal hierarchy, &/or you’ve not empowered them to address deep issues, like customer service, in your workplace, putting a collar on their ability to organically lead.

Bottom Up > Top down ; front > back

Leading is most impactful from the bottom up if there is a structure; Why? Easy. Those people are most aware of the day to day matters impacting your business’s success.

Take note, founders: if you’re one, put yourself out front, clearing roadblocks so your staff can be most effective in building a better workplace for the betterment of all.

“People ask the difference between a leader & a boss. The leader leads & the boss drives.“

— Theodore Roosevelt

Q >>> What to do in situations where staff engagement, customer service, &/or client retention are below par?

A >>> Leverage this call to action using a ‘Test of 3’

Holacracy – look into it
Lifelong learning culture – adopt one
Reassess motivation & how you measure it.

First of 4 Flavors : Thought

Your climb up our ziggurat continues! Any of 4 could be next, as we aren’t building a rigid hierarchy; instead, you’re encouraged to visually sketch out this post’s content to better grasp these principles.

A thought leader leads from the front by sharing learned wisdom, stories, & a vision for the future with her staff, fellow entrepreneurs, & her tribe.

She might call herself a futurist, a disrupter, or an innovator. No matter the lingo, she oft comes up with fresh ways to address persistent business problems.

Second of Four : Replicative

Often, an entrepreneur, especially a family business owner,, recognizes replicative leadership as = succession planning; it could be, yes.

I thoughtfully ask you to expand your mind, furthering the case that this ‘flavor’ is imperative for all types of businesses, regardless of size, industry, or age.

A replicative leader seeks to replace herself; no longer is she indispensable; she’s begun, or accelerated her ability, to work ON her business & no longer IN it, becoming dispensable.

Systems thinking, soft skills [ e.g., humility & adaptability, ] & a focus on a self directed education all enable the above.

Third of 4 : Servant

When we serve, we win = Truth.

Yet, sole proprietors & entrepreneurs with staff, especially those who’ve come from corporate backgrounds, each have big adjustments in unlearning positional leadership & replacing w/ servant leadership’s unwavering principles.

Allow yourself to challenge assumptions, dismissing nostalgia & past credentials earned, as you realize that serving first gives you rich tools to lead from the front, flipping hierarchy upside down.

Fourth of Four : Conscious

Leadership done well is often a lonely path. Engaging mind, soul, & spirit is far stronger than merely one. Thus, being conscious about leading yourself & others enables infinitely more progress in your business culture, while concurrently helping you buck societal winds regarding capitalism.

Rarely are we taught that free enterprise & capitalism are very different concepts. Those who become conscious leaders better grasp this truism & cultivate a business that embraces the former.

Organizations dedicated to this flavor of bottom-up leadership often hold gatherings in your local area; seek them out & turn their events into networking opportunities.

Suggested Social Follows :

SR Thought Leader

Angela Montgomery

Waters Center

SLI Lead

Greenleaf

Conscious Leadership

Dig for more gold — it’s 1849 all over again!

This blog is a drop of water into a deep sea. Be a modern day gold prospector & start a new rush!

How to Become …

6 Steps …

Don’t Let the …

Rela Leadership

The Serving Leader

5 Ways to …

Practicing the 15 …

In short :

Ground floor
Characteristics of leadership
Test of 3 – CTA
Thought & Replicative
Servant & Conscious
Social follows
There’s a vast universe to explore

Thank YOU for reading!

____________________________________________

3 Simple Instagram Mistakes that Will Kill Your Engagement and Growth by @LeahLatini

July 22, 2019 by Leah Latini 2 Comments

Photo by Lisa Fotios from Pexels

by Leah Latini

Most business owners and solo entrepreneurs would agree that having a strong Instagram presence can be a game-changer in terms of growing their audience. However, many businesses we consult with, struggle to find their groove when it comes to creating content that engages their audience in an authentic and sustainable way.

Engagement directly influences the reach your content receives on Instagram and builds upon itself over time. So, it’s incredibly important to ensure you’re encouraging maximum engagement with every post. Especially now with the latest Instagram update, engagement rates can make or break your content strategy and determine whether you continue to grow on the platform or stagnate and decline.

The following list includes the most common mistakes that can cripple your growth on Instagram, even if you have a healthy following.

1) Yeah, but what IS that? – No Context
How many times have you been browsing your Insta feed only to come across an intriguing photo that stops you from scrolling, but then ultimately confuses you? For instance, you see a food pic that looks delicious, but when you stop to learn more about this mouth-watering post, you find that there’s zero information about what it actually is or what restaurant it came from.

Many content creators would argue that a post like this can stand on its own, and people will like it regardless of the caption. The biggest problem with this argument is that it promotes a superficial engagement. It’s easy to get a quick “like” on a post based on aesthetic beauty or visceral reaction. But now, Instagram wants to reward content creators that go the extra mile to create conversations and deeper connections with their audience.

This means that if you leave out the basics of who, what, where, and when you are cutting out a massive portion of your audience that might have otherwise engaged. Give them details about what they’re looking at, and a reason to comment, question, and save your content!

2) Wordplay Overwhelm
While the story behind a photo or video is essential to building a deeper relationship with your audience, many entrepreneurs take editorial content to an extreme and overwhelm their audience with novel-length posts.

I know what you’re thinking, “But you just said that people wouldn’t engage with my content if I don’t include enough detail!”

Oddly enough, both of these concepts are true!

You have to find your audience’s sweet spot or your “Goldilocks Content-Length”. It’s the post length that’s just right and allows you to include a sufficient amount of factual detail but is brief enough that you don’t lose the majority of readers halfway through your post.

Identifying this ideal post length can be a process of trial and error to find what your audience responds to the most. However, a general rule of thumb is to limit the editorial content to under 150 words and save larger pieces for other platforms. If you’d like to create longer narratives on Instagram, consider doing so in video format and experiment with features like Instagram TV. These features are relatively new to the platform and allow you to get a boost in reach just by using them regularly.

3) Too Glossy
The third most common mistake I see with Instagram content strategies is an overuse of stock photos and graphics that are over-worked. By over-worked I mean too corporate-looking or slick.

There is a trend toward the more organic and authentic in the social media space in general. Meaning, we don’t want to be sold to and treated like just another number on a sales list.

So, while it is still important to build an Instagram feed that is aesthetically coherent and cohesive, don’t overdo it on the stock imagery and graphics. Focus on building your look and voice on the platform in an authentic, and sometimes imperfect way. Your audience will connect with your imperfections and trust you more because of them.

Many larger corporations spend a lot of time and resources, figuring out how to “look authentic” to their audiences. In a sense, how to fake small business authenticity while still operating as a mega-global corporation. This alone illustrates the power of personal connection with your audience.

For entrepreneurs, the ability to “be real” is inherent in who we are. Embrace your imperfections and don’t be afraid to add a little grit to your content strategy!

How to get your Glow on with Summer Time Beauty by Sue Perez of @Beautyphonics

July 19, 2019 by Sue Perez Leave a Comment

Photo by Riccardo Bresciani from Pexels

by Sue Perez | Featured Contributor

It’s vacation season and everyone is getting their glow on, either at the beach, by the pool, the roof, or with the use of (my personal fave) self-tanning body moisturizer. I work mostly with celebrities and on-air talent and when they land in the makeup chair at 3:20am, one glance tells me how long they baked over the weekend.

When it comes to base makeup, in the makeup room I can custom blend a perfect match using my airbrush gun and cover anything. Most recently a tattoo over the meteorologists right shoulder. But even they ask for my opinion. They want help with specifically which makeup items and brands stay on the best to how they should wear makeup when they have a tan.

The reality is with the heat index and humidity our makeup can get a little dare I say…greasy. So I definitely always use a makeup primer especially around eyes, nose and forehead. Think of it as a barrier for your skin so your makeup lasts longer. Always use an eye shadow base first before you apply eye shadow. I like water resistant crème shadow on eyelids, especially if I plan on swimming and waterproof mascara is going to be your best friend. Just be sure to remove it all with effective cleansing products.

Here is my step-by-step sun kissed makeup application.

(Quick! Grab your makeup bag and see if you already have these items.)

Hydrate your skin with your moisturizer/ eye cream. Extra points if it contains S.P.F.
Apply your eye shadow base and eye shadow makeup or use cream eye shadows since they last all day.
Next use eyeliner in either a gel eyeliner or pencil, only on upper lashes. Use a lighter color on the lower.
Curl your lashes; apply mascara in the formula of your choice. I use a lash primer to plump up my lashes.
Eyes are done; clean up under eyes with a Q-tip, apply face makeup primer in a sheer application.
Using a foundation brush apply your base, BB cream or tinted moisturizer. Again think sheer when applying.
Apply under eye concealer; finish off using a powder brush and a little loose translucent powder.
Bronzer! So easy and natural, use it on the eyelids too, it’s even great if you prefer to skip eye shadow instead.
Highlighter on top of cheekbones, eyelids, shoulders, so pretty on your tanned legs too!
Lip color. Glosses are easy and lip balms too which protect with man containing S.P.F.

“Notice how I apply eye makeup first.

This is how I work in Television and it creates a clean makeup look.”

Usually when applying makeup there is eye shadow fallout. Messy powder under the eyes and can make you look tired. So wipe that stuff up first before moving on to your skin. You will look smoother and refreshed. You may not use all of these steps, but all of them make a great sun kissed makeup that stays on all day.

If you are planning on going on vacation soon to a place with palm trees

and want a makeup look that looks great when you land on the tarmac , use the link to see my video tutorial.

https://beautyphonics.com/makeup-for-travel/

I don’t wear a lot of eye makeup in general but my liner and eyelashes have to be on point. I just don’t feel awake otherwise. But I never wear pressed powders. I prefer skin to have a natural glow or sheen for daytime and overall it looks younger. No one should have that heavy cakey look that settles in smile lines. Another why I use concealers only closest to the inner part of your eye where you need it most.

The great thing about makeup is how far they have come in improving formulas and textures. So many products already have S.P.F so only wear extra if you have sensitive skin or burn easily. Also search for products that have plant extracts which can be soothing. The worst thing is to get sunburn. If you do burn hydrate your skin with Aloe Vera based products and keep applying them until you start to tan.

Hamoa Beach off the coast of Hana in Maui.

Using body creams and lotions is the only way to prevent moisture loss so find one you like. I’ve even found spray lotions, oils and S.P.F products which make applying them so much easier and convenient if you’re already by the pool. Just re-apply when you come back from your swim. Hats and sunglasses are a must have and if you do get shiny this is how to fix it.

Use a damp facial sponge. I basically wet makeup sponges and squeeze out all the water. These little guys are handy when cleaning up around the eyes or just dabbing off perspiration when I’m working on location outdoors. It absorbs sweat and won’t wipe off your makeup like tissues will. Now if your skin is oily and everything slides off, use anti-shine primer instead of powder. A little goes a long way wherever you have shine.

But it’s summer right? So it’s O.K, carry flip flops in your bag and a mimi perfume because the point is having fun and staying cool. My go-to summer beverage is Dirty Chai like I got this one in Maui. It’s basically Iced Chai Tea with a shot of espresso. Coconut or almond milk optional. Staying cool isn’t.

Dollar Cost Averaging your Clothing Expenses by @AZAnswers

July 18, 2019 by Ann Zuraw Leave a Comment

by Ann Zuraw | Featured Contributor

It all started with a gift from my children last year gifting me a subscription to:

Rent The Runway® | Wear Something New Every Day‎. (RTR)

For those of you unfamiliar with this service, it is a subscription fashion service that allows women to rent designer styles for everyday and special occasions. There are different subscriptions to choose from, and I’ve been using mine for months.

I view my $160 Monthly investment in Rent The Runway Unlimited (RTR) as an approach to investing. The monthly subscription allows me to Spread out the risks. Instead of buying one dress for $160 a month; I get four different dresses (outfits) at a time for a cost $40 each. I usually have two coming and going (since I live in Greensboro, NC…I am jealous of New Yorkers changing dresses daily).

The subscription approach is similar to investing where you add to your investment every month (known as dollar-cost averaging). For example, through your retirement plan at work, every month, you add to your mutual fund investments. I am not making one big purchase of a dress or suit at once or buying an entire position at one time. (This is coming from someone who has wasted a lot of money on poor choices of clothes. Or if you decided to invest your money just before the market went into a downward correction.)

My major rent decision seems to be based on the retail price of the dress. I always select the most expensive ones. My RTR filter is for above $400—and I feel happy when I find a $1000 plus one. This is in sharp contrast to investing where you want a low price to earnings ratio. With my RTR dresses—I want it to be $1000/40=25 multiple, not $200/40 = 5 multiple.

Why do I focus so much on the higher price for RTR? I am letting RTR decide what is valuable just like the market does. Are the designer brands, higher-priced viewed by consumers as being better? Am I letting the higher price dictate my own, and is this the best definition of value? When investing, the goal is to invest in a company stock, which is undervalued—or the price is low relative to its earnings—but the earnings are estimated to do better than expected. The market may be currently undervaluing the company because it has not shown its true earnings potential. Then when the earnings do better than expected, the market value improves—or your investment gains.

Just like buying an up and coming IPO—am I just falling for the latest trend? Am I really looking any better in my expensive RTR dress? Probably not, but it also is not just about the dollar value. Just like in your financial life—sometimes a decision may be a definite no based on the numbers but for your mental health—it is worth the investment. I convince myself that I look better in the $1000 dress that I am wearing—even if RTR sells it in 6 months for $69. I prefer investing in the market—where over time, the investment has the opportunity to grow in value and not decline assuming there was an accurate assessment of the earnings.

I encourage you to look at your retirement account as a monthly subscription service to build assets for your future.

Top 10 Apps Solopreneurs Need by @DONNAAMOS

July 17, 2019 by Donna Amos Leave a Comment

by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor

Solopreneurs enjoy countless benefits, but one of their struggles is handling every aspect of their business themselves. managing appointments, paying bills, creating proposals, sorting out taxes, following up with leads, and managing stress. Thankfully, there are numerous business apps available, many of them with free versions, to help busy solopreneurs. Here’s a list of 10 that we recommend.

Assistant.to

Just because you are a solopreneur doesn’t mean you want to do every single task for yourself. You may have to, but you sometimes don’t want it that way. Assistant.to is like a personal secretary that sets up your appointments by working with your email recipient, automatically adjusting time zones and even rescheduling meetings if something comes up.

Calm

Calm is the #1 app for meditation and mindfulness. Enjoy 100+ guided meditations to help you manage anxiety, lower stress and sleep better. Have trouble sleeping the try their Sleep Stories. What Solopreneur does not need to learn how to relieve their stress?

G-Suite (Google)

Half of G-Suite revolves around communication—we are talking Gmail, Google Hangouts and Google Calendar. The other half is a set of apps that will help you create and collaborate. This includes Docs (documents. Think: Word), Sheets (Spreadsheets. Think: Excel), Slide (Presentation. Think: PowerPoint), and Forms (surveying tool). All of the tools are stored together on a cloud called Google Drive.

Evernote

Evernote is the ultimate note-taking and archiving tool for collecting information, keeping it organized, and collaborating with others. Evernote is a cloud-based software service designed for creating, organizing and storing various text and media files. Whether a text document, a photo, a video, an audio file or even a web page, Evernote stores everything so you can access it on any device when needed.

Grammarly

Solopreneurs often do everything themselves, including writing their own copy for practically everything. Make sure that your text is free from typos and that you are using commas correctly usually with this handy desktop app. As you type, Grammarly checks your text for hundreds of common and advanced writing issues.

Mailchimp

Bring your audience data, marketing channels, and insights together so you can reach your goals faster. With Mailchimp, you can promote your business across email, social, landing pages, postcards, and more — all from a single platform. Populate different audiences for various uses and message them all from one platform for any reason. A free version is great for solopreneurs just getting started, with paid versions scaling up offerings.

Shake

Shake is a web and mobile app that creates legally binding agreements in seconds, which is an ideal way to create quick contracts for freelance jobs. You can also create loans, leases, sales and non-disclosure agreements, saving you time as you take on new projects.

Sighted

Sighted is an online invoicing app perfect for freelancers and solopreneurs. The free plan is perfect for a small business, offering 20 invoices per month in multiple currencies, for up to 10 clients. As the business scales, paid plans allow for unlimited invoices, expenses and 100 or more clients. All plans feature the ability to accept online payments and include a profit and loss report to make tax chores much less of a hassle.

Square

Square gives you the ability to take secure payments anywhere you are and has zero fees to get set up. The company will send interested individuals the hardware that attaches to a smart device for free and then keeps 2.75 percent of any transaction that is completed. This gives solopreneurs the ability to accept debit and credit cards from wherever they have the opportunity to make a sale.

Trello

Trello is one of the best project management tools. It works with boards and lists, and helps individuals and teams stay on top of a project from start to finish. No matter where you are, Trello stays in sync across all of your devices. Collaborate with your team anywhere, from sitting on the bus to sitting on the beach.

What are your favorite apps to simplify solopreneur tasks? Share your recommendations with our readers in the comments below.

The Future of the Travel Professional by @wendykrichards

July 16, 2019 by Wendy Edwardson Leave a Comment

by Wendy Richards-Edwardson | Featured Contributor

Costco is just one among many disruptors that the travel profession continues to monitor. There is no disputing the fact that bulk stores are changing the way travelers buy their vacations. Together with the Internet, it appears the brick and mortar travel agencies may soon be going the way of the rotary dial telephone.

Rebranding and Specialization

If your passion is helping people experience journeys of a lifetime, get ready for some great news. Travel agents of old have been reinvented and emerging as 21^st century Travel Advisors. These independent entrepreneurs really know their stuff, genuinely love travel, and are thriving!

The rebranding of advisors has made it possible for us to draw a line in the sand. Here’s what you need to know:

Bulk Stores

Do you know what bulk stores are really, really good at? There’s a clue there. Bulk! Volume! It only makes sense that in order to keep those prices dirt cheap they have to sell a lot of the same stuff to make a profit.

Bulk stores don’t know what travelers want and in many cases, neither do consumers. Prospective buyers may not even be sure what questions to ask and no one is offering them assistance because they don’t know either. Most of these sellers of vacations are marketers, not travel consultants.

The big box stores offer cruises and vacation packages with juicy discounts, store and vacation credits. “Buy from us and we’ll give you $500 worth of free groceries.” Really? If trusting holiday time to Costco, buyers may indeed need those free groceries upon their return. If consumers want an “off the rack” vacation, let them have it. They are not your customer.

Enter the Dream Merchant

In today’s world, successful people are busy – really busy – and don’t have the time or inclination to research and plan a well put together itinerary that maximizes their all-important family time. Do you really think JK Rowling books her holidays through Sam’s Club (pardon the pun)? To these individuals, time is as valuable as currency and they are willing to pay to get what they want.

Enter the designer of travel. A Travel Advisor works on the same basis as an interior designer or architect. They are employed by the client, not the supplier. An interior designer gets to know their customer: what appeals to them, the family’s needs, what they don’t want, timelines and budget. They can’t create a dream home if they don’t have a clear picture of the people who will live in it. Step by step they put together a plan of action that the consumer sees the value in and is excited about!

As a successful Travel Advisor, not only do I charge fees but my clients expect it! The best is never free. From inexpensive getaways to lavish holidays, there is no such thing as one size fits all. Advisors are now tapping into exciting markets: expeditions, sports, yachting, genealogy, hiking, wine tasting, music cruises, luxury trains, history and architectural travel. You name it; someone out there wants you to make it happen!

The best Travel Designers are affiliated or employed by Destination Management Companies such as Canada’s Vision Travel Solutions and luxury consortiums such as USA Virtuoso who have standards that must be met by both agents and suppliers. Everything from virtual sales training, product and destination knowledge, and educational trips are offered and expected. Today’s sophisticated travelers rely on their advisor’s expertise in choosing sustainable and environmentally responsible partners.

Expanding into Concierge Service

Advisors have inside access to everything to do with the travel industry. Doesn’t it then make sense to have them make their clients’ reservations? Choice of cabins, suite views, tours, air, dining, cars, transfers, you name it. The big box stores are not going to suggest booking a cruise cabin on the side of the ship that will get their customer the best view of Monaco at night. Nor do they have the connections to get an enviable dinner reservation at The French Laundry in Napa.

Advocacy

The average traveler does not have the clout to wield influence should things go sideways on vacation. And in today’s world, it happens more often than you think. It’s hard to act as your own advocate when stuck in an airport terminal with thousands of others going nowhere. With boots on the ground everywhere, I have solved problems half way around the world! Call Costco when you arrive at Kilimanjaro airport and your luggage is sitting in Istanbul and see what happens!

Little Black Book – What Sets a Travel Advisor Apart

Here is something you can’t put a price tag on. You won’t find consortiums of small Scottish country inns, German castle stays and Italian boutique hotels offering their properties at big box stores. You won’t find adventure outfitters, tiny yachts and gulets for lease, and I can guarantee you, you won’t find my little black book of hidden gems of accommodation and destinations.

Ageism

Whether you are 25 or 65, clients choose their advisor based on relatability, knowledge and trust. I am over 50; my clients are over 40. I like to travel well and so do they. Ageism is not a factor and that is fabulous news in our youth oriented world!

THE BOTTOMLINE:

The profession of Travel Advisor is thriving! It has become more specialized, challenging, interesting, exciting and ultimately, very profitable. There is nothing more rewarding than having clients return from an outstanding vacation and telling you that it was you who made all the difference. When can we book the next one?

Remember these very important words: Travel sells itself. You are selling YOU.

5 Things I’ve Learned From 8 Months of Networking by @JThiefels

July 15, 2019 by Jessica Thiefels Leave a Comment

by Jessica Thiefels | Featured Contributor

In July 2018, I was able to turn my side gig of 2.5 years into a full-time business: an organic content marketing agency. The day that happened I knew I needed to start networking. I needed to meet people, learn from them, and soak up all the entrepreneur vibes I could.

I signed up for four events, one for each week of July and I’ve been networking ever since. I’ll admit, I’m not a “networking” person and the thought of attending all of these events at first scared me—a lot. Don’t we all despise the awkward situation when you walk-up to a group, and then stand quietly until someone asks you something?

While there’s been plenty of that in the last year, there’s also been so much that I didn’t anticipate. Not only have I met some incredible women and started my own monthly gathering, but I’ve earned clients, gotten speaking gigs and and been lucky enough to learn from other successful entrepreneurs.

I’ve gotten so much out my experience of networking that I’m here to implore you to do the same. Spend time doing the awkward standing, the nervous talking and life-changing learning and you will undoubtedly reap the benefits.

#1: New Service Offerings Can Come From Other People

If you want to expand your business, networking is a great way to find new ideas—and new clients. My newest service offering didn’t come from me. It came from someone I met at a networking event. After the event, she told me that she was looking for 1-on-1 social media coaching. Though I had never offered coaching like this before, my response was: “I can definitely do that!”

I had never even considered that as a service offering, but I left with a new client, for a brand offering. We worked together for 7 months and she was the perfect first client for this new service. Along the way, I created a new page for my site and have had a variety of clients since.

#2: Networking is a Chance to Learn

I look at networking as less of an opportunity to pitch myself—though it is, and I do—but more as a chance to learn from others. There’s so much collective wisdom in a room full of business owners. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or running your very first business.

The key is listening to other people’s stories and tuning in for nuggets of wisdom as they learn about your story too. Instead of jumping right to the pitch, let the conversation happen naturally. Not only is this a chance to learn from them, but you may be able to provide value before asking for something from them too.

#3: It’s All About Making Connections

People often put a lot of pressure on networking. “I must meet a new client or sign a new deal or it’s not worth it!” When you take the “network” out of networking, though, you miss the value of it.

For example, I’ve had lunch with people who I met at business networking events, but we don’t talk business. We talk about life and the things that light us up. Those connections—the ones that have expanded past business—are the ones I now rely on regularly for advice and support. If you’re authentic and open to truly connecting, you’ll find you get much more out networking.

#4: A Lot of People “Need That!”

I can’t tell you how many people have learned about my business and said, “Oh! I need that so bad!” Exciting, right? Kind of. It’s exciting to hear that your service is in need, but it doesn’t mean the person who said it is a great lead. I’ve had calls with a number of people after events and very few have panned out to a client relationship.

That’s not to say networking isn’t valuable for driving leads. The key is keeping your expectations neutral. This allows you to be more relaxed, open and conversational, which drives great business down the line.

#5: It’s Refreshing!

If you’re a solopreneur like me, you may quickly realize that sitting in your office, behind a screen all day, can make you go crazy. Not to mention, it’s easy to doubt yourself and your success when the predominant voice you’re hearing is your own—we’re our own worst critics.

One of the first things I learned when I started attending events was how refreshing it is. Talking to other business owners and entrepreneurs always brings such important perspective. I quickly realized that everyone has the same doubts, worries, and fears as me.

Networking: Just Do It

I didn’t do networking for a long time because I was too nervous. I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone because the experiences have been life-changing. You can find networking events on MeetUp, Facebook and through your own personal network. Sign up for one, go in with a courageous heart and an open mind, and let it work its magic. I have a feeling you’ll be glad you did.

17 Signs That You are Ready to Leave a Corporate World Behind and Start a Business by @Tetyana_Art

July 12, 2019 by Guest Post 1 Comment

by Tatyana Artemova

A job isn’t just a job, it is who you are.

Imagine this: You have a highly paid job, nice and friendly colleagues, and everything seems just fine. For others. But not for you.

You are feeling irritated and unsatisfied with your job more and more often. You really hate the company bureaucracy and limitations at work.

But why?

Most people feel comfortable with all that stability and safety, but not you…

Don’t worry, you are OK. Probably it is time.

It is time to think about quitting your 9-5 and start building your own empire.

If you have doubts, check the list of 17 KEY signs that you are ready to leave a corporate world behind and dive into the exciting world of entrepreneurship:

You wake up with negative thoughts about what you do

Each morning you have to put all the efforts to get prepared for a new working day and force yourself to go to the office. Not a very positive start, agree?

Any thought about a corporate world is a nightmare

You feel depressed every time you get an email or a message in chat related to your daily job. Definitely, it shouldn’t be that way. Such feelings can lead to soon stress.

You have no inspiration at work

New tasks and projects do not inspire you anymore. The only thought you have in mind when getting a new task is “Again to handle this…” If it happens, you should quit.

You don’t have a desire to generate new ideas and solutions

You are ambitious and creative enough but no new ideas are coming to your mind when it goes about your daily job.

You are waiting when the working day is over

Every morning you start thinking about the evening. You wait for an opportunity to leave this boring office atmosphere and spend time generating new ideas, writing your blog, reading books, mastering skills, listening to online courses, and just dedicating time to self-growth.

You don’t understand your top management

You are told that you have all the freedom to implement your ideas, but in fact, it is not really so. The vision of your bosses differ from what you have, so there is no reason to stay there longer. It is time to become the boss of your own life.

You never feel appreciation on what you do

If you do not feel valued and your work is not appreciated, you will never have the desire to do more for this company. So, think about the change.

No rest even during the day-offs

If you often feel stressed at work and cannot recharge your batteries even after the weekends, this can result in psychological disorders. There is no job in the world that should harm your health and bring negativity to the daily life.

You are not getting new skills

If you spent a year or more at the company and there is no development and self-growth for you, it is time to leave and start developing new skills, mastering new languages and growing.

You are not productive

Productivity at work is closely connected with positive thinking, motivation and personal goals. If you don’t have all these, your productivity will be low and you will hardly enjoy the process. In this case, you are ready for a change!

You work hard but see no results

Have you noticed how much efforts you put to your work, but see no results? Definitely, it depends on the goals you have, but without regular results, you can burn out quickly and see no light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe, you feel tired or just doing something that is not your calling.

You don’t have a private life

You forgot about the time you spent with family and friends because of your job. You feel stressed about no private life at all. This is the sign that you should change your life completely.

Your goal is to bring more value rather than get the status “Employee of the month”

If values and principles mean more for you than money and status you should definitely move forward and create something great outside of your current corporate structure. Probably you’ve already started to share useful content on your social media or even run your own blog, so it is time to think about scaling up.

You don’t feel happy doing what you are doing

If you don’t enjoy the process and do not invest energy in what you are doing daily, you will never feel happy at work. So, why to continue this?

The atmosphere at the company is negative

If the atmosphere at the company is depressing, people are constantly complaining and the only talks with colleagues are about negative aspects of work, there are two possible ways out – either to improve the situation and start an inspiring team or quit the game and leave the company.

You dream about financial and personal freedom

The more you work the more you feel imprisonment and think about new opportunities, dream about traveling and planning your life the way you want. You can control your life, just take the first step and you’ll see the results.

You are always inspired thinking about your own business

If you get energy talking to people who create, if you dream about your own project where you can control everything, take the first step to start your own business.

And finally…

If you feel inspired by entrepreneurship, business ideas, and bringing value to society – unlock new horizons and start building your company in order to make this world better. Always believe in yourself because you were created for something BIG!

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About the author:

Tania Artemova is a Founder at IStartHub, an online platform for entrepreneurs where everyone can find coaches, business ideas and inspiration.

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/istarthub/

Gravatar email – art.tetyana@gmail.com

6 expenses solopreneurs should track for taxes

July 11, 2019 by Guest Post 1 Comment

by Paul Koullick

As a solo-entrepeneur, you’re juggling a lot of balls at once — sometimes flaming torches — and so expense tracking often falls between the cracks. It isn’t until April 14th at 11 pm that you really start kicking yourself because “I’m sure I’m forgetting something!”. At Keeper, we’ve helped thousands of freelancers through tax time, and we’ve seen some patterns. Last tax season, Keeper ran a study to discover the most often missed tax write offs.

The resulting list, below, represents the tax write offs that are most often forgotten. The smart thing to do is to keep track of during the year, so that when tax time comes around, you’re not giving Uncle Sam more than he deserves.

Rideshare trips

Uber / Lyft rides on the way to a work event are considered tax deductible transportation expenses. Unfortunately, since these services offer no physical receipts, it can be difficult to keep track of them during the year. At tax time, remembering whether a particular ride 8 months ago was work-related is near-impossible. That’s why marking trips down when they happen is critical and will save you a huge headache at the end of the year.

Software expenses

Like rideshare trips, digital purchases often don’t leave a paper trail. That means it can be hard to keep track of them. Whether it’s buying a stock photo, paying for a domain hosting software, or other work-related software purchase, it’s important to keep track of it so that you can get a discount at tax time!

New phone or computer

With the pace of technology updates, most people buy new electronics every year. Whether it’s a phone upgrade or a new laptop, these are large expenses that are also easy to forget about at tax time. Think about it this way: by remembering to claim it on your taxes, you’re effectively getting a 30% discount. That’s a lot!

Home office expenses

Many solo-preneurs work from home but forget to claim the home office deduction. You don’t need a separate room in your home to claim this massive tax deduction. Also, it’s important to record actual home expenses rather than just relying on the “standard” square footage method. The vast majority of solo-entrepreneurs will save more on taxes by claiming actual home expenses.

Business meals

You don’t need to be eating filet mignon at a white tablecloth restaurant in order for a meal to be considered a “business” meal. As long as you discuss work and learn something valuable for your work, you can write it off on taxes. Over the course of a year, it really adds up!

Miscellaneous car expenses

When it comes to getting money back on your car expenses, there are two options: you can track miles, or you can add up your actual car expenses. If you don’t already have a mileage tracking habit, the easiest thing to do is to just track miscellaneous car expenses and then go back and add in gas expenses at the end of the year. Maintenance, registration, parking, tolls, and so on are all tax deductible expenses!

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Paul is the co-founder and CEO of Keeper, a service which automates expense tracking for solopreneurs. In his free time, he loves running marathons, and spending time with his family in San Francisco.

How I gave up my corporate marketing career for world travel an entrepreneurship by @symphonyvas

July 10, 2019 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

For seven years, Stephanie Conway worked in public relations and marketing for powerhouse brands like Samsung, Audi & T-Mobile at agency level in both the US & UK. Corporate life gave her everything: financial stability, an enviable Instagram feed, Glamorous party invites, Sleepless nights.. Until eventually, the lifestyle caught up with her and at just 28, she felt burnt out. So in 2019, she quit her stable agency career to give into her wanderlust and explore the world.

Now, the Northern English girl with both UK & US passports has rebranded herself as a marketing virtual assistant and digital nomad, currently residing in beautiful Bali. Her IG handle @symphony.va, has over 5 thousand dedicated followers and a feed that shouts #travelgoals. Here, Stephanie tells us how she learned to quit her 9 to 5 and live her best life on her own terms.

I grew up in the UK, then at 18 got accepted into a university in Los Angeles. After graduation, I loved the weather and lifestyle so much that I forged a career for myself in brand marketing and events, working on global marketing campaigns for brands and celebrities.

I spent several years living and working in LA living my best life, eventually became a US-citizen. But a death in the family brought me back to the UK to support my family whilst everyone emotionally tried to get back on their feet. I had such a strong resume that I managed to secure a marketing job within the first week of coming home. But after living in constant sunshine for so long, the English winter weather really slowed me down. I woke up in darkness to go to work, then came home as the sun was setting. I felt like a vampire and my body went into shock from the lack of vitamin D.

“Why not me?”
Through my job, I worked on campaigns with top influencers, securing brand partnership deals, helping them make a ton of money to travel and be fabulous. I was constantly watching social feeds filled with beautiful digital nomads living their best lives on beaches whilst I was stuck in an office with unflattering fluorescent lighting, wasting away. “Why can’t I be where THEY are?” I constantly thought to myself.

Whenever I’d have a bad day at work, I’d fantasise about taking off to Bali, sitting on a beach and enjoying a refreshing coconut. Eventually, the living in constant darkness pushed me over the edge. I asked myself, ‘Why don’t I just bite the bullet?’ I had no dependents, my family were all doing well and I didn’t need to be in the UK. So I began to learn about how to translate my marketing skill set to working freelance for small business and entrepreneurs. This would enable me to live a laptop lifestyle and travel to whichever country I desired. I had already moved to the US by myself. I just knew I could do it again.

I knew that people would try to talk me out of it. I didn’t tell anyone I’d quit until I booked my one way ticket to Bali—only a couple of friends at the time knew. I was the most nervous to tell my mum. I worried that from the outside looking in, what I was doing seemed crazy and irrational. Tears welled-up when I told her, but she was so supportive. She always has been, and I don’t know where I’d be without my mum’s love and support. She’d witnessed the burnout happening and knew I wasn’t happy. With a mumsy, “Well, you’re still young and it’s your life” she approved.

Since setting up @symphony.va, I have made my way around different countries within South-East Asia. My personal favourite is the Indonesian archipelago for the pristine beaches and ease of access to fresh coconuts! Plus there’s such a low cost of living, which has allowed me the time and space to grow my company authentically and organically.

Travelling around South-East Asia has taught me a lot about other cultures and I’m constantly overwhelmed by the hospitality and kindness of the local people that I meet here. There’s such a beautiful sense of community that I’ve never experienced before here, and I can only hope that it has made me kinder.

As I navigate this new life, however, I’ve made some adjustments. When you leave something that’s as stable as a regular pay-check, you take a risk. It’s scary, but you have to have faith in yourself and your ability to build your brand. I’ve also had to find ways to make new friendships while maintaining the ones back in the UK & USA. I’ve even started weekly #girlboss meet-ups to help fellow digital nomads meet up and set goals to hold one another accountable and make new friends. I’ve also learned to be patient as I’ve realized that creating a brand, while trying to live off my passions of traveling and marketing, takes hard work. Plus being in Asia, you never know what’s around the corner, which is always so exciting.

Most importantly, I’ve learned that I don’t have to follow in anyone else’s footsteps to consider myself successful. It’s better to try and fail than to spend your life wondering “what if?” Our successes and failures are all part of the rich tapestry of life!

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Stephanie Conway is a digital nomad who gave up her 7 year corporate career working on global marketing campaigns for powerhouse brands like Samsung, Audi & T-Mobile for world travel. She founded Symphony Virtual Assistant Studio, which provides marketing virtual assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Stephanie currently resides in South East Asia, runs a goal-getter meet-up for digital nomads in Bali and was recently featured in Forbes for her journey to becoming a digital nomad. When not living the laptop lifestyle, Stephanie loves yoga, diving and surfing her current tropical home of Indonesia.