She Owns It

Celebrating, Connecting, and Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

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.

 

 

 

 

How to Be Productive at Home while Working and Studying Remotely

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by Adam Jacobs

Has your job recently moved to remote? It’s not easy to make the transition when you’re used to your regular 9 to 5. It doesn’t help that with working from home come distractions.

You need to work but the TV makes for good background noise and you do have a little laundry to do. Resist these temptations. If you don’t, you’ll never get anything done.

You don’t want to burn yourself out either. We can teach you how to be productive at home and keep yourself perfectly sane. Check out this guide to find out how to optimize your workspace and keep distractions away.

 

Take Regular Breaks

When working from home, it can be tempting to try and burn straight through it without taking a break. You control your schedule and the faster you get done, the faster you can do something more fun. This isn’t a good idea.

If you don’t take regular breaks you’ll burn yourself out after a day or two. Set a timer on your phone and get up every twenty minutes or so to stretch and walk around at least.

 

Don’t Work Where You’ll Be Distracted

You need to have a room set aside that is for working and working alone. You wouldn’t do laundry and watch Netflix at a normal job, would you?

We hope the answer is no. Once you’ve found an ideal space, shut your door and set one important ground rule for the rest of the people you live with. A shut door means do not disturb.

 

Avoid Working in Your Jammies 

Since you’re not working in a room full of co-workers and supervisors, there’s nobody there to tell you not to wear jammies. While your favourite pair of bed shorts are comfortable to work in, wearing them will keep you in an “at home” headspace.

Get up, brush your teeth, take a shower, and eat breakfast like you would when getting ready to head to a normal 9-5. Doing so will put you in the “work” headspace and the routine will keep you on a productive schedule.

 

Optimize Your Work Space

Keep your space organized and tidy so you can find everything and be as productive as possible. Consider springing for a comfortable office chair that you can work in for hours in. Invest in a standing desk as well to give your back a little break throughout the day.

Put a few plants in your home office. Plants will make you feel calm, they clean the air, and being close to nature will make you happier.

 

How to Be Productive at Home and Avoid Getting Distracted 

Making the transition to working at home can be a difficult process. If you don’t know how to be productive at home, you could end up getting distracted and not get any work done. Follow these tips and we promise that you won’t run into quite as many problems.

 

 

Adam Jacobs is the incredibly busy Managing Director of Bubblegum Casting, Hunter Talent and children’s clothing brand Byron Babies . He works with some of Australia’s biggest brands, media properties and agencies to secure talent for work in Television, Film and Modelling roles. He hopes you’ve benefited from reading this.

 

 

 

 

 

How to get through the work day with high energy

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by Sharin Shaik

Have you ever felt like you’re giving your heart and soul into your work but feel depleted by midday? Or you get to the end of the day and you have nothing left for yourself, your family or your friends?

Here’s how to keep our energy bright and clear during and after your work day and how to move forward into your fullest potential:

 

MORNING:

Before starting your day and working, it’s really important to have a time frame or a space where you can focus on yourself. You might want to get up earlier to do this.

Do something for yourself that fills you up with joy and happiness because doing this will set up your whole day. For me, I’m always at the beach or going for a walk in the morning before starting my day. When I worked in a corporate environment, I used to find a break room and do some morning yoga or go for a walk around the block. Adding these little moments of enjoyment & self-love at the beginning of your day can make yourself feel satisfied and ready to take on the day with more readiness and energy.

 

DAY:

There are also few things that you can do in your workday but one of them that I found really helpful is the waterfall technique. During or after a meeting, visualize that there is a waterfall around you that is washing away anything that is coming into your field, imagine the waterfall coming over you and cleansing you.

Along the lines of taking your power back, take a moment to visualize golden thread going out of you going to wherever your attention is going and then visualize bring the golden threads back to your body, breathe the golden threads back into your body. It can sometimes be attached to a thought or a person.

It’s important to do this for social media as well, because we are giving our energy and attention to the people we see on our screen. Through this technique, you can bring your precious energy back to yourself.

 

EVENING:

When you get home, it is really important to have a transition time and not just jump into rushing into making dinner or prepping your next day. Take some time to transition into home so you are not bringing all your work and work stress back home.

Whether you work from home or in an office, you can shut your eyes and focus on your breathing for a few minutes. Allow yourself to stop and be still even just for a minute or two. If you need to, tell your partner or others at home that this is what you’re doing so that they respect your space.

 

 

Sharin Shaik: Empowerment and intuitive coach.  I help highly sensitive women go from overwhelmed and disconnected from their power to creating a life in alignment with their truth so they can experience abundance and freedom. Learn more here.

 

 

 

Why Farmers Markets Matter to Entrepreneurs More Than Ever by @DeborahSweeney

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Happy National Farmers Market Week! This year, the week-long event falls between August 2nd through August 8th.

Farmers markets, particularly amid the pandemic, are playing an extra-special role in the lives of people everywhere. During the early months of COVID-19, grocery store chains struggled to keep fresh produce and essential items in stock. Consumers quickly turned to their neighborhood farmers market for essentials. State governments recognized farmers markets for their essential services. They allowed stalls to remain open, provided that all visitors practice social distancing guidelines and wore masks, and farmers markets remained in abundance as essential businesses.

Loyal customers are grateful for the chance to buy local, fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, eggs, milk, and other goods provided by vendors. In return, vendors are thankful for their growing customer base. For food producers, the farmers market presents the opportunity to embrace entrepreneurship by starting a business that can help feed and champion local communities.

In celebration of this week, let’s highlight a few interesting facts about farmers markets you might not know about.

1. $9 billion of the U.S. economy comes from farmers markets.

In a recent blog post from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), it was revealed that farmers market contributions are no small potatoes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports farmers markets contribute $9 billion to the United States economy every year.

2. Farmers markets are quickly expanding — and creating more jobs in their respective communities.

In 1994, the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) reported a little under 2,000 farmers markets were in existence in the United States. As of 2020, there are over 8,600 U.S. farmers markets.

The more farmers markets are established, the more opportunities grow for job creation. According to the Farmers Market Coalition, a 2011 Economic Research Service report noted that fruit and vegetable farms that sell to local markets employ 13 full-time workers for every $1 million earned in revenue. In comparison are fruit and vegetable farms that do not sell locally. For every $1 million earned in revenue by these farms, only three full-time workers are employed.

Not only do farmers markets help create jobs for local communities and neighboring areas, but spending money at the farmers market ensures the preservation of said jobs. Spending money at grocery store chains, however convenient they may be with longer hours and larger inventory, ultimately takes sales out of the community. Putting money towards sales at the local farmers market helps create income for the region. It keeps local economic activity strong and allows farmers, ranchers, and agricultural entrepreneurs to continue to do business.

3. Farmers markets may be recession-proof businesses.

It’s difficult to make the declaration that any one business is truly recession-proof. This is why I added in a tentative “may be” in the paragraph header.

Despite the present economic downturn, sales at farmers markets are thriving. A great deal of credit goes to the business model for farmers markets. Successful business models are defined by four factors, including pricing and differentiation, marketing and sales, production and delivery methods, and customer satisfaction. Farmers markets have flexibility in their business structure that allows for both price and production adjustment to meet the needs of customers.

Beyond meeting essential food needs and adjusting price points, farmers markets continue to grow in popularity thanks to our world’s changing relationship with food. According to the Food Marketing Institute, local and sustainable foods have been a top buying trend with consumers for the past eight years. We care about what the nature of the food we are eating and where it is sourced.

The farmers market is also quickly becoming a valuable space to network. Only this type of networking is a little more focused on breaking bread together. Connections and friendships may be established between vendors, sellers, and customers. This type of invaluable support can lead to incredible opportunities, lifelong friendships, and even plant the seed for more individuals to embrace the potential found in becoming an entrepreneur at a farmers market.

Online exercise classes help businesses and clients survive quarantine by Lisa Yakel of @CorePilatesAlb

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by Lisa Yakel

Quarantine can be incredibly challenging. But out of our moments in isolation, we can also cultivate great strength. Solitude bares for us who we are when no one else is around, allowing a level of mindfulness that can push us forward in ways we didn’t know were possible. Today, it is easier than ever to turn solitude into self-improvement through digital communications platforms that can bring physical fitness training and mindfulness classes to anyone, anywhere.

Before Joseph Pilates, inventor and namesake of the Pilates fitness regimen, came to the United States, he worked as a boxer and self-defense trainer in England. During World War I, Pilates, along with other German citizens living in England, was moved to an internment camp where he spent years separated from the outside world. There, he began leading his fellow internees in minimal-equipment exercises that would eventually become the modern field of Pilates. Soon, what he once used as a way to rehabilitate wounded veterans became a universal practice for building both mental and physical strength.

Today, not everyone is a natural Pilates expert, nor do most folks have a personal trainer in their home. But even though you can’t yet go back to your favorite fitness studio, the wealth of digital streaming and video platforms can bring classes into your own home. Only a few years ago, the COVID-19 shutdown would have been a fatal blow to most of New York’s gyms and fitness studios, but today we have the tools to be inventive, thanks to the rapid pace of innovation within the tech industry.

Getting out of your daily routine and breaking free from the physical strictures of quarantine are a huge way to take control of your health during this time. And the expertise of a good trainer is often the push our clients need to overcome that creeping feeling of quarantine lethargy. That’s why our studio, even while we’re temporarily closed, is offering online mat classes and keeping in touch with clients.

Day to day, we are using Facebook and Instagram to keep our clients in the loop about our online offerings. We’ve used Zoom video calls to connect clients and trainers, taking our classes face-to-face, even if we aren’t in the same room. And the backbone of our operation has been the digital infrastructure we’ve used to stay in touch with one another. Leaning on Gmail and Google Calendar to schedule meetings, we’ve kept up with both staff and clients, and our search engine listings remain updated with our current contact information, new schedule, and all the details clients need to hop into a Zoom class with us.

It’s hard to imagine where our business or any other local fitness studio would be today if it weren’t for our digital infrastructure. More than ever, we rely on digital tools to compete in the online market and prepare for crises like this pandemic, and that will only increase as our economy progresses.

A third of all small businesses say they would have been forced to close part or all of their business if it weren’t for digital platforms, according to a survey released by the Connected Commerce Council and Google. That’s why it’s so vital that our state’s small business owners are able to access digital business technologies at a reasonable price like we can today. They’re a lifeline small business can’t afford to lose. As local businesses across the country are under threat, worried we may never have the opportunity to reopen, New York’s elected leaders would be smart to invest in protecting and expanding access to these platforms and help build digitally-resilient communities statewide.

 

 

Lisa M. Yakel has over thirty years in the dance and fitness industry. She earned a B.A. in Dance Performance from Russell Sage College, performed with local dance companies, including Maude Baum & Co. and Dance Eclectic, taught at local dance studios, and Russell Sage College and choreographed for numerous school productions. Lisa also founded In Motion School of Dance, as well as taught fitness classes for many years at The Sweat Shop of Albany.

Discovering the Pilates Method was an “a-ha” moment for Lisa…sensible movement. It gave her an empowering awareness of her body and mind and truly connected the two.

 

 

 

 

5 Core Pillars of Social Media Marketing by @ImAnkitPtl

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by Ankit Patel

Social media marketing is a key element of fruitful marketing and numerous marketers realize the potential for business growth utilizing this platform. It is rapidly becoming the most vital part of effective digital marketing strategies. This platform is ideal for businesses because it requires minimal financial investment and, when executed correctly, it can assist to grow your business.

As a study by HubSpot, more than 90% of all marketers confirmed that their social media endeavors have generated more exposure for their online store. Then, almost 80% of them said that social media efforts increased traffic for their business websites.

Following are some questions to ask when characterizing your social media marketing objectives:

  • What are you expecting to accomplish through social media marketing?
  • Who can be your target audience?
  • Where and how will you discover your target audience?
  • How would your audience utilize social media?
  • What message would you like to send to your audience through social media marketing?

Social media marketing can assist with diverse goals, such as:

  • Augmenting website traffic
  • Building conversions
  • Raising brand awareness
  • Creating a brand identity
  • Improving communication and interaction with key audiences

 

5 core pillars of social media marketing

 

1. Strategy

Consider your business goals before you begin making social media marketing strategies.

What are your prime objectives?

How can you accomplish your business goals with the assistance of social media?

A myriad number of businesses utilize social media to boost their brand awareness, while others use it for driving website traffic and sales. Social media can likewise generate engagement around your brand, build a community, and serve as a customer support channel for your audience.

Which social media platforms would be best for marketing?

These days, most utilized social media platforms are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest. There are also some smaller platforms, such as Tumblr, Anchor, etc and social messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and WeChat. It is better to choose a few platforms that you believe your target audience is on than being on all platforms.

What sort of content would be beneficial for you?

Various kinds of content include business, educational, entertaining content, etc. And it can be in the form of images, videos, or links.

First, you have to comprehend what kind of content will attract your target audience. A decent place to begin is to create a brand identity that will allow you to answer these questions. And you can always change your strategy according to how your social media posts perform.

 

2. Planning and publishing

Social media marketing for small businesses starts with having a consistent presence on social media.

About three billion individuals utilize social media. Subsequently, by being active on social media platforms, you are allowing your brand to be found by your future customers.

Posting a blog post, an image, or a video on a social media platform is very easy and popular these days. It is much the same as posting on your own Facebook profile. But instead of posting content arbitrarily, you should schedule the content ahead of time.

 

3. Listening and engagement

When your business and social media keep on growing, a conversation about your brand will grow as well. Individuals are going to comment on your social media posts, tag you in their social media posts, or send you messages directly.

Also, people on social media could speak about your brand without letting you. So you will have to monitor the discussions about your company on social media. If it is a positive comment, you get a chance to delight them. Otherwise, you can offer support and fix an issue before it gets worse.

To expand your reach on social media, you also need to publish great content that your audience likes, at the right timing and frequency.

 

4. Analytics

Regardless of whether you are posting content or engaging on social media, you will need to learn how your social media marketing is performing. Are you reaching more people on social media than you did the last month? What number of good mentions will you get every month? How many users have utilized the hashtag of your brand name on their social media posts?

A fundamental degree of such data is given by the social media platforms themselves. You can utilize the wide range of social media analytics tools available to get more in-depth analytics information or to easily compare it across social media platforms.

 

5. Advertising

At the point you have more funds to expand your social media marketing, social media advertising is one area that you can consider. Ads on social media help you to reach a wider audience than those who follow you.

Nowadays, social media advertising platforms are so powerful that you can determine precisely who you want to show your ads to. Depending on their backgrounds, interests, attitudes, and more you can create target audiences.

 

Wrapping up

It’s pretty much clear that social media marketing has its advantages, so if your business does not already have suitable profiles, create them! Fill out your business’ information and publish a few attractive content material to start gaining followers. With consistent updating, the right social media marketing strategy will lead to increased traffic, higher conversion rates, improved brand loyalty, and significantly more. It is stated that social media marketing has many advantages so if you are not the part of social media HURRY UP and JOIN it.

 

 

Ankit Patel is a Marketing/Project Manager at XongoLab Technologies LLP which offers top-notch mobile apps development services globally. As a hobby, he loves to write about new & upcoming technology, business, and marketing. His write-ups have been published on popular platforms like TechTarget, SmallBizDaily, JaxEnter, Social-Hire, TorqueMag, and more.

 

 

 

 

 

Freelancing For The Longrun

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by Lucy Long

There is nothing better than going on a run outside with the wind in your hair. We give ourselves time to think and release endorphins. These runs outside are very comparable to the steps one should take to succeed as a freelancer. Freelancing is a lot like going on a run: from our changing speeds to our music taste, each component relates. Although running and freelancing appear to be entirely unrelated, they oddly fit together like a glove.

 

1.   Speed

All avid runners know not to go full speed at the beginning of their run. Sometimes, it may be hard at the start. You may be too tired or not excited, but after some time, you will forget about the hardships. It’s all about working up to a steady and comfortable pace.

This is exactly what it’s like to start freelancing. It may be hard to find clients at the start, but after a while, we will begin networking with our connections and find freelance opportunities. The important part is not to give up. A freelancers inbox may be empty at first, and they are frustrated that they’ve devoted hours to crafting those ideal outreach emails. But, after finding the perfect client to work for and gaining some experience, the freelancer will start a slog jog.

 

2.   Running Community

When going on a run outside, I can almost guarantee you will see another exerciser getting in their daily swear. I always wave to these individuals or give them a head nod of acknowledgment out of common courtesy. Sometimes I see them repeatedly for a few days, and it’s customary to say “hi”- they are a regular on my route. You may be thinking: How does saying hello to random people you see on your run relate to freelancing?

Well, freelancing is all about making connections; we have to network ourselves so our name can be passed along to other bloggers, businesses, media etc. The only way to grow our service is to market ourselves to others and make genuine connections that may end up being profitable. Once we have these connections, we have to provide for them and manage freelance expectations of our different clients.

 

3.   Music

Each run requires a different playlist. I like to switch it up each day, so I don’t get bored; maybe even play a podcast if I’m feeling it. My music ranges from country to 80s hits, ensuring that I never get bored. The different music we choose is similar to the various services we need to offer as a freelancer. From what I have learned, the best way to market yourself is to provide more than one service.

For example, if a business is looking for a freelancer, they would instead hire an individual who can create content and SEO work, rather than hire someone who can only do blog writing. Then If you are not a jack of all trades, your client will have to hire another person to do the other service, lowering your pay and potential.

The best way to attract clients is to market yourself and show off what you can provide. By enhancing your key attributes and broadening your portfolio, businesses will be drawn to your services.

 

4.   Shoes

Have you ever run in a shoe that doesn’t fit quite right? If not, let me tell you, it hurts a lot, and you can risk injuring yourself. Think of Cinderella’s sisters, they tried to force the shoe on them, which was not pretty!

If we offer a service we are not quite good at, we risk tanking our business. We do not want to get a lousy reputation by trying to force something to fit. May that be a shoe or specific skill- it’s best to stick to what you know will produce positive results. It’s imperative to find the right fit!

 

5.   Fuel yourself

The most crucial part of running is to make sure you fuel yourself properly. By eating before a run, we give ourselves the energy to fuel our miles, and food after a run helps our muscles recover from the strenuous activity. By disregarding our nutrition, we risk fractures, and our runs will be slow.

Fuel for runs is like practice. By practicing, we can make sure that we are able to get work done with the intended results adequately. We can practice our work by helping a friend do a task in your toolbox of services or go pro bono for some clients.

 

Conclusion

By understanding what it takes to become a freelancer in the long run, we are helping pave the way for success. The key points any freelancer needs to realize is that it will first be slow to pick up clients. But, after finding work, we must remember the importance of networking, broadening our services, being honest about your capabilities, and practicing. By understanding these concepts, freelancing will soon become natural.

 

Just like going on runs, it will take some time until we reach that steady pace. Just tie on the right shoes and get the playlist going because you are headed in the right direction.

 

Lucy Long is a Strategic Communications major with a Data Analytics minor at Texas Christian University. She also spends her time writing for Carson Leslie Center blog.

 

 

 

 

Five tips for working from home from a pro by @DeannaCabinian

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by Deanna Cabinian

As someone who’s been working from home since 2017 and who’s worked from home off and on since 2009, I’ve figured out what works best for me in terms of creating a professional environment and maximizing productivity. If you set yourself up for success working from home can be just as fulfilling and more importantly as productive (if not more so) as working in an office.

My top five tips for working from home:

  1. Create a dedicated workspace. If you’re lucky you have a guest room (or a “catchall room” as I call the room in our house where I work) to set up your desk and computer in. Being able to shut the door during a meeting and at the end of the day really makes it feel as if you have gone to work and the day has ended. Don’t be afraid to get creative, though. I’ve had coworkers work from walk-in closets and hallways with a window.
  2. Establish a routine that starts with getting up at the same time every day. You might deviate from this on some days, especially on Friday, but for the most part having a set time of getting up helps contribute to the “I’m going to work” mindset. It also ensures you have enough time to eat breakfast and get ready. This leads to my next point which is…
  3. Dress like you are going to the office. Yes, you can sneak in yoga pants once in a while but in order to maintain your professional persona (and watch your waistline) it’s a good idea to put on real pants. I sometimes wear dresses or blazers when working from home and do my hair and makeup every day. It makes me feel more prepared to work. I have one colleague who wears heels during meetings. Some offices are more casual than others, but I always feel better when I dress with purpose.
  4. Block off time for lunch and breaks. If I didn’t block time for lunch on my calendar I would have a very difficult time squeezing a meal in. The same goes for walking breaks. I do some of my best work during a loop around the neighborhood. I usually come up with a creative solution to solve a problem I’ve been encountering or remember a project that should come onto my work to do list.
  5. Buy yourself the right equipment (and expense it if you can). Order yourself a hands-free headset to take calls like this one, and make sure you have a printer and scanner for when you need to email documents with your signature to other departments or vendors. Other items I’ve found useful are a light therapy lamp for the harsh Chicago winters and essential oil diffusers like this to help create a calming environment.

If you follow the above tips you’ll be a work from home expert in no time.

What tips do you have for working from home?

Share in the comments.

 

Deanna Cabinian is the author of One Night, One Love, and One Try (aka The Thompson Series). When she isn’t writing she works as a consumer marketing director for a global media company. Find her online at www.deannacabinian.com.

 

 

 

 

3 Ways To Engage Millennials In The Workplace by @Colleen_Batch

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by Dr. Colleen Batchelder

For years, companies have tried to figure out the one answer that would win Millennials to their company. They’ve hosted Quidditch tournaments, installed game rooms, and held ping pong Olympics for their employees every Friday night. However, these fun and games might have worked for a while, but in 2020, they’re falling flat and not engaging or even entertaining Millennials anymore.

According to Gallup, “Contrary to popular belief, Millennials, when applying for jobs, place little importance on whether a company encourages creativity, is a fun place to work or offers an informal work environment. In fact, Baby Boomers are more likely than Millennials and Gen Xers to say that creativity and fun are ‘extremely important’ to them when applying for a job.”

In many ways, creativity is the frosting; not the cake. This is why, if companies want to engage Millennials, they have to invest more into the ingredients for the cake than the frosting.

Millennials want more than cereal buffets, game rooms, and rock walls. They want more than entertainment and enticement. Millennials want to work for companies that want to work with them.

Engaging Millennials is not rocket science. But it does take work. It requires leaders to reconstruct their perception of this generation. Millennials are not judging a company’s creativity. They are looking for companies that provide equal opportunities for mentorship, meaning, and education.

If you’re looking for ways to engage Millennials, then check out these three tips:

 

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN

This is huge! Millennials are lifelong learners. They don’t see education as a means to an end. If anything, they see it as a journey that is continuous.

Millennials are the most educated generation. However, this abundance of education is not always based upon their love for learning.

Since 9/11, Millennials have faced multiple recessions, setbacks, and uncertainties. In many ways, this generation grew up believing that education was the only means for survival, financial security, and protection against economic downfall.

This is pivotal for companies to understand. For Millennials, their access to education equates to job security. This generation values diversity and the opportunity to gain insight. However, their interest in two-fold. Education is continued out of curiosity and out of fear.

 

OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MENTORING

For Millennials, mentorship is a give-and-take conversation. It’s also a holistic relationship. If you’re planning on starting a mentorship program, then make sure you get feedback. Sit down with a few people and ask them what they need, how they want to grow, and what they want from a mentor. Once you know the basics of their expectations, you’ll be able to construct a solution that meets their needs.
Millennials see mentorship from a drastically different perspective than most.
Younger generations grew up with a lateral leadership model. This includes calling adults by their first name and conversing with elders like peers.

When Millennials came out of the womb, they were given all the privileges of adulthood, starting with the ability of choice. Children added their voice and their vote to family decisions. And their dreams were fully supported from a young age. In many ways, they grew up fully supported, valued, and heard.

Millennials were raised with the expectation of equality.

When being mentored, they expect to be on equal footing with their boss and their team. They also want mentorship to be a two-way conversation instead of a one-way conversion. One of the worst things that companies can do is try to make Millennials in their image. They’re not interested in being a carbon copy.

From birth, Millennials have been making their own decisions and expecting to be on equal footing with their parents, their bosses, and their peers. This is why, they’re inclination and preference towards lateral leadership is imperative to note.

If you want to mentor a Millennials, then expect every day to be casual Friday. They won’t be honoring hierarchy.

 

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANING

Millennials are not impressed with companies who do good for the sake of raising their numbers or increasing their followers. If a company really wants to engage Millennials and provide opportunities for them to find meaning, then they have to start at the source.

This generation wants to work for companies that offer opportunities for growth, meaning, and mentorship. They don’t want to serve the company’s agenda and pose for a photo op.

For Millennials, meaning is intrinsic to creating spaces of equality, diversity, and equality. In order to create opportunities for meaning, companies need to work with Millennials and invite these generations to the table. This means that executive leaders need to lean in and listen to their team before offering volunteer signup sheets.

Creativity, Quidditch tournaments, and ice cream socials might have been a top priority for younger generations when they graduated college. But Millennials are changing, and their needs are evolving.

If you’re looking for ways to engage Millennials at your company, offer them mentoring, meaning, and education. Give them cake; not the frosting.

 

 

As a Diversity and Inclusion Strategist and Consultant, Dr. Colleen Batchelder helps leaders create companies where Millennials want to work. Her doctoral background in leadership and global perspectives gives her an added edge because she approaches generational dissonance from all directions, including from an anthropological, theological, sociological, and ethnographic lens. Connect with Dr. Batchelder on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.