She Owns It

Celebrating, Connecting, and Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

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

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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.

How To Run Your Business Like a Pro… in One Step by @lindsaybgomez

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Photo by Humphrey Muleba from Pexels

by Lindsay Gomez

Your business is real, right?

So start acting like it.

Act as if you’re building a global enterprise or an 8-figure organization… something that feels slightly scary and out of reach but also gets your heart fluttering with excitement.

Yes, you know the feeling.

Follow it and get clear on what your business vision is. What does that clear, specific roadmap look like?

Once you know where you’re ship is pointing, there’s only one step for you to conquer to reach that next level.

Your One and Only Step – Get Control of Your TIme

Time is the one finite resource for everyone. The one thing we all have in common. There are 24 hours in the day for every single person on the planet.

 

1. Know what is taking up your time.

 

Tasks, projects, appointments and priorities – get them all down in a list. Paper, Google doc, it doesn’t matter. Just get it all into one place where you can see it all.

Next, move each item into one of three buckets:

  • Keep it: these are the items that need to be done by yourself and no one else on your team, such as 1:1 client sessions, sales calls, podcast interviews
  • Delegate it: these are the items that can be delegated to those on your team, such as scheduling your weekly newsletter, updating your website, creating graphics for Pinterest and Instagram
  • Eliminate it: these are items that don’t align with your business vision, so why are you doing them? Permission to ditch ‘em granted!

 

2. Set your priorities for each day, week, month, quarter and year. And, review them regularly.

 

In order to aim where you want to go, you need to assess what you’re doing along the way, to know what to keep doing more of and what to adjust for better results.

This part of often overlooked because it isn’t sexy to review your numbers.

But it is the game-changer and what separates those with an expensive hobby from those business owners who are all in.

You want to look and assess for what you should be paying more attention to, what isn’t working, what could be done better, what’s missing, what important goal might have slipped through the cracks and where your time is really going.

 

3. Get good at saying “No.”

 

That would be a solid, confident “no” to opportunities that don’t support your business vision, to complicated success, to extra steps.

If you need to practice your “no” response to get good at it, go right ahead.

 

4. Get comfortable knowing that good enough is good enough.

 

The very concept of perfect draws visions of something being complete. But in business, when we’re continually growing and pivoting, nothing is ever truly complete.

Embrace good enough and give yourself permission to let go a bit.

5. Get great at making quick decisions and move on.

 

So much time and energy is wasted on decisions that don’t move our business needles.

Should I use this image of a woman at her MacBook for my next blog post or this image of the woman at her desk?

It really doesn’t matter, so give your assistant the direction and move on.

Better yet, delegate the image selection and decision to her.

 

6. Check your email no more than three times per day.

 

This idea sounds ludicrous, right?

The inbox is a time and energy drain. When there’s 24 hours in the day and only 5 to 6 are optimal for focus and action, spending an extra hour each day will start to impact your business (and not in the way you’re dreaming).

The sky will not fall if you get back to your client in 5 hours instead of 5 minutes. Promise.

Taking action to implement any of the above tips, even if it is only one to start, will have you on your way to taking back control of your time and running your business like a pro.

 

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Lindsay Gomez is an organization and systems expert, who helps coaches create personalized, actionable business plans so they can build a streamlined, successful business that they love.

Before launching her own business, Lindsay spent over a decade in the office products industry in various marketing and management roles, including the development of consumer office supplies and oversight of national and private label product lines.

Her passion to help others reach their next level, through better use of their time, team, and technology was what drove Lindsay to make the decision to leave the corporate world and work with small businesses.

How To Fill Your Sales Funnel Over The Summer – 5 Tips To Get Started by @XLConsultingGro

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fill your sales funnel over the summer

by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

It’s a great idea to fill your sales funnel over the summer when everyone is more relaxed. Sales are all about making connections with people in your target customer group.  Sales don’t happen the first time you meet someone.  There is a process for sales that takes time.  During the summer people are on vacation, spending time with their families and generally having a good time.  But that doesn’t mean they take the whole summer off!  Well, a few people have that luxury, but for most of us, we are still working.  It’s important to keep that in mind so you can still work on filling your sales funnel over the summer because what you are doing is building relationships for later on down the road, perhaps this fall or winter?

How can you fill your sales funnel over the summer?

  1. Invite your prospects to coffee on a patio or if you don’t have time for a physical meeting, why not schedule a coffee date over Zoom?  Convenient for you and convenient for your contact.Attend networking events where your prospects are hanging out.  If your target audience is golfers, then go to fundraising golf tournaments.  There are plenty of opportunities to spend quality time building relationships when you are spending the whole day with like-minded people
  2. Seek out connectors – connectors are people who meet you and then offer to introduce you to other people who might need your services.  They are usually introverts, really good listeners who want to understand you and your services, so be very clear what you and your services are all about.  They don’t necessarily need your services themselves but are only too happy to introduce you to people who could.
  3. Tee up speaking engagements.  Some conveners are looking for speakers up to a year in advance, so make contacts over the summer when it is less busy to seek out opportunities for later in the year.
  4. Strategically plan your fall and winter by mapping out how you are going to deliver value to the people already on your mailing list.  You can prep for your courses, ebooks and maybe even map out your first book of authority and get started over the summer.  Did you know that writing a book is the best way to give value to prospects?  It is the best business card you can have, it will help you fill your sales funnel over the summer and all year long.
  5. Seek out collaborators – These are people who you know and maybe work in a similar field but your services are complementary to each other.  You can even collaborate with trusted competitors if you decide that you can work together and carve out different sections where you agree not to compete.

Education … School(ing) … & Degree Signaling by @SBSLEducSoltns

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Dissecting the Differences

 

 

Remember ‘synonyms’ & ‘antonyms’?

 

Let’s revisit 2 words from our common past in a primary (‘K’-’5’) classroom.

Our teachers very likely taught us that a synonym’s definition = this ; whereas, an antonym’s = this.

Many graduates would admit, being authentic & unguarded, that much of what they learned while seated in a neat row of desks rarely, or maybe occasionally, applies to their professional lives post graduation.

This post’ll put these 2 terms in an entrepreneurial context; be advised that your assumptions, mindset, or experiences could be challenged head on, or perhaps, be confirmed.

 

Whichever it is for you, I appreciate your open mind all the same.

 

What might ‘education’ , ‘school(ing)’ & ‘degree signaling’ have in common?

Before dissecting the differences, we’ll talk a bit about what binds these three unlike concepts together.

 

  • They’re all often lumped together by companies who hire using conventional ‘HR’ practices
  • Over time, each one split off from the other two, in theory & in practice
  • Each have a purpose in the eyes of [a] stakeholder group/s

 

Let’s take each at face value individually. As you read, ask yourself: How might I envision, strategize, & apply each to my business?

 

Education = ‘educare’

 

Becoming deeply educated can absolutely result w/o hard evidence in the form of ‘POC’ (proof/s of credential/s).

 

Great education defies structure because it is always (always!) individualized, personalized, interactive, nimble, responsive and inspired.

– O. DeMille

 

Does this quote sum up your own experience inside of a school’s classroom?  If not, why? Ask big, open ended questions to net the very best long term value.

A self directed, customized path exists for most any citizen who looks for it.  Have you?  Do you encourage your staff to be lifelong learners?

 

Some education options to thoughtfully consider as a new startup, an existing business seeking to scale up, or if you’re looking to further diverse your income streams with a 2nd ( or 4th 🙂 ) venture:

 

  • 1:1 mentorship
  • Digital badging ( a form of ‘hot unbundling’ )
  • Apprenticeships
  • Extern/intern -ships
  • Digital nomadic / Gig economy

 

School(ing) = ‘skhole’

Going to school does not automatically imply that one is educated, nor should anyone jump to conclusions & suggest that all schools fail to educate. It’s not that clear cut, nor is it a ‘public v. private’ dichotomy, either:  There are above average, even great public, the same as exemplary private ones, from border to border, & sea to sea.

 

In this powerful essay, the late John Taylor Gatto opined:

 

Schools were designed by Horace Mann and Barnas Sears & W.R. Harper of the University of Chicago and Edward Thorndike of Columbia Teachers College and others to be instruments for the scientific management of a mass population.

 

Think this over:  As a business professional in the late 2010’s, does this sound anything like being educated?

Keeping squarely in mind that ‘skhole’ ‘s etymology clearly shows a word that no longer equates to educare, the root of education.

 

Huh? What’s ‘degree signaling” ?  

As America transitioned from a wartime footing ( mid 1940’s ), the economy morphed from one focused heavily on blue collar industry to one where white collars were the in demand choices.

 

As …

Factories = Products = blue collar industrial age

 

So … ( oft times )

Offices = Services = white collar industrial age

 

The ‘Organization Man’  was in the driver’s seat; it was a supremely influential read.

And the GI Bill offered taxpayer monies to returning vets to encourage careers in a service industry, often in a large office managed by a large corporation.

 

Year by year, decade by decade, by the late 80’s- early 90’s, a ‘college for all’ mentality sunk into many facets of our society, discouraging entrepreneurship (‘E’ pathway), the trades ( CTE/Career & Technical Education, primarily available thru community colleges ) , & other viable options

 

Thus, degree signaling was birthed …

If you had ‘POP’ ( proof of paper ) in hand, plus a resume / cover letter, you were more likely to be hired by a company, given a title, salary, & cubicle, & asked to play your often invisible role in the delivery of a service to the marketplace.

Yet, creative disruptors such as Praxis put forth for rational discussion that there IS a different way.

 

It’s up to you, with your open entrepreneurial mind, to decide if you’re willing to hire/promote, &/or make choices that are, ahem, ‘educated’, or driven solely by nostalgia.

 

Suggested Podcasts

 

How to Start a Startup

School Sucks Project

Modern Learners

 

Keep on learning, dear readers

 

As always, it’s a pleasure to provide additional resources to move you further along the journey.

 

School vs. Education. Where are we now?

Why the College Degree Is a Signal …

 

Mindvalley U

Stop Stealing Dreams

This is the sequel to ‘Stop Stealing Dreams’

 

30 Best Education Podcasts

Series: School is Optional

 

In short

 

  • Revisiting definitions: synonym & antonym
  • What these 3 terms share in common
  • Defining education more sharply
  • Schooling is its own concept.
  • Degree signaling?!
  • Podcast suggestions
  • Add’t resources

 

Thank YOU for reading!

______________________________

The Secret to Successful Entrepreneurship: Learning by @DrRKayGreen

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by Dr. R. Kay Green | Featured Contributor

Many people ask successful entrepreneurs, “What is your secret?” And they will cite things like dedication, passion, or even strong networking skills. But here is something to consider: If you were to ask “On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you know,” I would be willing to bet that not a single entrepreneur would answer this with a 10.

That is because successful entrepreneurs recognize that they are lifelong students.

Learning is the secret weapon that many entrepreneurs do not mention, not because they are ashamed, but because it is so natural to them that they do not even think about it. Most industries are complex, and there is always more to learn about them.

Even if you could learn everything about a certain industry, that industry is bound to evolve or change. If you are still operating in the exact same way you did ten or even just five years ago, you are likely missing out on some of the new and exciting updates.

This is why learning is so important. Entrepreneurs have their “finger on the pulse” of their industry, so when there are any new and exciting updates, they are one of the first to learn about it.

But, of course, the learning does not stop there. Once they learn that people are doing something new, they learn why, and how, and who it benefits. They make it a point to become an expert, even though that is a long and time-consuming process, because they want to be able to give their clients the best service possible. And the best service possible comes from knowledge.

Successful entrepreneurs love it when they realize that they do not know something, because they treat it as a chance to learn. They do not dig their heels in and insist that their way is better — they take the time to learn why things are being done, and if they make the choice to go against the status quo, they know why they are doing it.

These entrepreneurs have a deep understanding of their industry that comes from constantly being open to new information. And they recognize that there is always more that can be learned.

Successful entrepreneurs do not just accept new knowledge when it is presented to them, either. They actively seek it out, enrolling in classes and researching new learning platforms. They take advantage of exciting new opportunities, like elearning platforms.

If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, accept this mindset. Wearing the label of a “lifelong learner” proudly moves you from a fixed mindset to a growth one. And as you grow your knowledge, you will see your business follow suit, as you become more familiar with what the industry wants.

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Dr. R. Kay Green – Marketing Expert from RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. from Atlanta, GA.

Dr. KayDr. R. Kay Green is the CEO/President of RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. With over 190,000+ Twitter followers, 35,000+ Facebook Likes, and the Top 1% LinkedIn profile designation, Dr. Kay, a self-motivated trailblazer, is the Quintessential “New-Age” Professional Woman, and PhD Marketing Pro. She earned a Doctorate of Business Administration in Marketing, and has completed PhD coursework in Leadership and Organization Change. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and an Associate of Arts in Marketing Management.

She is affiliated with several prestigious universities and has instructed over 350 courses online. A popular speaker on Marketing and Business topics, Dr. Green is currently featured on Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Black News, The Network Journal, Business Review USA, Digital Journal, College View, Business New Hampshire Magazine, Bay State Banner, Reader’s Circle, North Dallas Gazette, Harlem News, Top News Today, One News Page, NE Informer, Women in Business PR News, Consumer News Today, Women PR News, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Daily Herald, The Miami Herald, and Book News Articles.

Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

Potential Power Lies in Your Personality by @SBSLEducSoltns

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( A walk in the personality ‘park’ under temperament ‘trees’ & social style ‘leaves’  )

Personalities.

 

We all have one.

And we know others do, too.

Far from an earth shattering observation, mind you.  Yet, why do so many entrepreneurially minded pros, whether in a sales role, running a micro or small business, or self-employed ( CPA, consultant ), not lean into their personality type, or gloss over them entirely?

One root reason?  Conventional classroom based schooling, whether primary/secondary (‘K-12’), collegiate/undergrad, even graduate program studies, oft times don’t include it in curricula, required or elective.

I’ve discussed becoming a self educated, lifelong learner, with no expectation of credentials before; now this becomes ever more valuable, since there are so many ‘trees’, with multi colored ‘leaves’ in this ‘park’. Said another way, there’s much to share about how much potential power there is in knowing about your own personality & temperament, let alone those of your client/customer, your staff, & your prospects.

 

 

Going Beyond Generic Labels

 

“You’re too much of an introvert, Emma. Join us at happy hour to network! ”

 

“I think I’m an extrovert, Lianne; do you agree?”

 

Introvert. Extrovert.

Two commonly mouthed words in many professional workplaces in all industries, in your home office, & at the coffee shop.

 

We should be more specific; we mustn’t over complicate matters, however, the more we can unpack ( depth ) & expand our horizons ( width ), it’ll benefit our businesses in a number of different ways.

 

 

Everything DISC

 

The DISC model has a long & storied history

( to trace it: Timeline )

 

DISC ** is unencumbered by complexity; most anyone can clearly interpret the results from the assessment.

I stress that it’s an assessment & spotlights preferences & tendencies, and is not a test, nor an exam.

 

If you’re having challenges with closing sales, or tend to be someone who wants to please everyone, you just might be an ‘S’.

Are you often inadvertently forgetting appointments, or talking your way out of a deal?  Say ‘hi, ‘I’ !’

Maybe you’ve had issues with turnover, or staff satisfaction in your workplace?  Look into swapping your ‘leader’ , who is a ‘D’ style , for someone else.

Or, perhaps you need someone to do your financials for you that won’t miss a single number?  Put a ‘C’ in this position.

 

 

Personality Plus

 

This model was the first that I learned about, not long after my professional development journey began nine years ago this month.

 

While the roots of it are birthed in faith, please don’t assume or close your mind off to how it can apply to any type of workplace, for a sales manager/team, or in your home based business.

 

The four types which Mrs. Littauer discusses have history stretching back millennia, to ancient times. One small drawback is a need to learn, or brush up ( if you’ve been classically, or liberal arts centric educated ) on what ‘choleric’, ‘sanguine’, ‘phlegmatic’, & ‘melancholy’ mean, before you read the books *** & take the assessment.

 

I’ve found much value in combining DISC & Personality + together when I talk with others; it’s a double dose of learning how to better walk in the ‘personality park’.

*** please see below for all 3 #mustreads

 

 

MBTI   

 

Myers-Briggs [Type Indicator/s] usually is the 1st to be recognized: some would say it exemplifies what marketers refer to as the ‘First-Mover Advantage’

 

This isn’t to downplay its value due to age, or perhaps apparent complexity. There’s much value in being aware of it, & perhaps deploying in your assessment ‘toolbox’ for talent, or people development; sales training; & as a high value input into hiring, firing, & promotability decision making.

MBTI Online is a great place to start to build understanding of this model’s philosophical underpinnings and practical applicability to your business/workplace, and you’ll also find certain consultants, trainers, & coaches who leverage it, such as Jeff ( someone I know fairly well. )

 

Tying it Together

 

Silo’ed results, in any business let alone an academic setting, isn’t ideal. So, let’s do our best to intermingle all 3 measures of personality, temperament, & social style together.

 

MBTI’s ‘E’ & ‘J’ =  ‘D’ (ISC) = ‘Choleric’  while ‘N’ & ‘P’ = ( D ‘I’ (SC)) = ‘Sanguine’ , as ‘I’ & ‘F’ = (DI ‘S’ ( C)) = ‘Phlegmatic’ , & … lastly, MBTI’s ‘S’ & ‘T’ = ((DIS) ‘C’ ) = ‘Melancholy’

 

Lots of letters …

Some lingo/language that might be unfamiliar, let alone the acronym.

 

Please embrace your walk, and study the leaves under the trees. 🙂

 

 

Suggested Social Profiles

 

Everything DISC

 

MBTI

 

Personality + ‘s  Marita (daughter of Florence)

 

Interested in More?

 

There are gold & silver veins below the surface of this ‘park’.

Please invest time to buy your entrepreneurial pickaxe, plan a trip, and begin your dig!

 

Best Personality Assessment

Top 10 Most Popular

*** All suggested books in the series ( PP 4 Parents ; PP – Original Bk ; & PP 4 Couples )

MBTI to DISC

 

 

In short …

 

  • The ‘gap’ : why personalities, temperaments, & social styles oft aren’t utilized.
  • Generic labels
  • Model 1 > DISC
  • Pers + >> Model 2
  • Model 3 >>> MBTI
  • Intermingling all three models
  • To continue your journey

 

Thank YOU for reading!

________________

Disclaimer: I’m an authorized partner & recommend DISC ahead of others, however, I’m very open minded & often will intermingle other models/assessments in my 1:1 mentoring, consulting projects, & family advising.

How to Protect Your Professional Image from Damage by @PhyllisReagin

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by Phyllis Reagin

In one fell swoop, Lori Loughlin (and many others) damaged a carefully crafted professional image. Only she knows what motivated her to take such extraordinary risk. Lori created a successful acting business built on the professional image of being wholesome and trustworthy. Like Lori, entrepreneurs build their professional images with a direct impact on their businesses.

For any entrepreneur, your professional image is tied directly to the livelihood of your business. Your professional image may be cemented by your social presence that is built on the backs of social media, websites, blogs, and vlogs. ‘You’ are interwoven into the products and services you are selling. There is much power in the hands of entrepreneurs to create who they are to the outer world. This also sets up entrepreneurs to be precariously close to tarnishing their image with one wrong statement, viewpoint, or action.

A damaged professional reputation can be very difficult to rebound from. An example of this is a business owner who has built a socially conscious business that states “We are here to make a difference” but who is captured in the media displaying behaviors that show indifference, such as partying on a yacht. Whether or not it is true or fair, the damage is done. The fallout can be others no longer believe in her and don’t want to follow her. Thought leader Tom Peters stated, “All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.”

Actions that are completely out of alignment with who the public believed her to be, is the reason Lori Loughlin has been dropped from all her acting contracts and is social piranha. What could have prevented such an unnecessary tarnishing of her reputation? The very same actions that any entrepreneur can take to ensure that their professional image is not marred.

Know What You Stand for and Don’t Sway

Many entrepreneurs think their work stands for what they stand for, but they fail to recognize that people follow people, not the work. Entrepreneurs need to spend time uncovering what their top five values are, whether these values are in alignment with how they project themselves, and how to manage their businesses from their values.
A good example is a business owner whose number one value is “commitment.” She needs to assess if she demonstrates this value to her team and customers. Her communication and actions need to align to this value. There can’t be any misalignment or confusion. When customers and followers visibly experience your values, they feel like they know you and can believe in you and what you are selling. Entrepreneurs who don’t know their values can’t stay focused on who they are and can cause others to be confused or angered by what they say and how they behave.

Walk the Talk

You probably have been around an entrepreneur that espouses that people behave a certain way and then doesn’t do this herself. This can look like an entrepreneur who tells others on social media that her marriage is the bedrock of her successes but then is caught having an affair. Chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment, Peter Guber, states, “Truth is a point of view, but authenticity can’t be faked.”

Entrepreneurs must take every opportunity to demonstrate that what they say to others also matters to them as well. People can easily recognize incongruencies and will not follow these entrepreneurs. Walking the talk is not just a saying. It is truly a reminder to be the evidence of what you say to others, in tangible and authentic ways.

Mind Your Words

Every word an entrepreneur says to his team and others matter. Your team and consumers are constantly trying to connect dots to the “Why” of your business and the surest route is by the words you use. Make sure all your messaging ties back to your overall stated vision and purpose. What you say should be like a continuous commercial for “who” you are and what you believe in.

To prevent tarnishing your professional reputation means knowing who you are as an entrepreneur and what you truly stand for. This is your vision and conviction and it must be modeled by what you do and say. Lori Loughlin missed the mark with this. Her action did not align to her professional persona. As an entrepreneur, it is imperative to your reputation that you strongly tie your values, actions, and words to who you say you are an entrepreneur. When managed well, others will follow you willingly and believe in you and your business.

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Phyllis Reagin is a Confidence Coach and Founder of At the Coach’s Table. A former leader for a Fortune 500 entertainment/media company, she teaches female leaders how to uproot their insecurities, to assertively deal with others and situations, and to find their empowered voice. Widowed while 8-months pregnant, Phyllis uses these important life lessons to help her clients face challenges with resilience and confidence.

 

The Energy of Entrepreneurship by @SBSLEducSoltns

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( A flyover of all the glorious forms of creating your own asset )

Just as a strong case can be made that entrepreneurship & education are intertwined, so the same can be said for energy & entrepreneurship. How many business owners do you know who live day to day with boundless determination?  Joy? A skip in their steps?

 

We have a B-i-G opportunity! We should encourage entrepreneurship’s many forms so the energy in our society is always flowing, & many new assets are created to better ourselves, families, communities, nations, & beyond!

 

Describing Our Economy

 

Thought leaders have been using various labels:

 

Conceptual Age

 

Gig economy

 

Youpreneur

 

Multisided platforms ( ‘Matchmaker Economics’ )

 

You might wonder; how do these inform, inspire, & instigate citizens to leave mediocrity behind to embrace these energetic forms of entrepreneurship?

Inform(ation)

 

With conventional classrooms in all 3 tracks very slow to adapt to the modern era, as entrepreneurs, we can share stories, teachable moments, & connections with those in our own, as well as younger, generations.

Welcome any opportunities to be someone’s mentor, advisor, or coach. Focus on paying forward crucial knowledge to others. Serve 1st always!

 

Inspire (-ation)

 

Often, entrepreneurship is not a soft fluffy bed; it’s part of the charm of the day to day journey to struggle at times! Anything that comes ‘easy’ often has more downside than engaging in smart x hard work building a business.

Don’t hide this from those whom you talk with, yet don’t muddy the clear lens of a passionate individual who wants to be a difference maker. Inspire her by adding value, w/ no stated expectation of reward or return.

 

Instigate ( lighting sparks )

 

Those who deeply understand principles such as the ‘Five Laws …’ & ‘Law of Attraction’  should be beacons of inspired instigation in her circles of influence.

The sparks lit in the fire pits of today will lead to the solutions of tomorrow.

So many of our most pressing societal challenges can be solved with entrepreneurial energy; if you flip back through the pages of history, you’ll see this jump off the pages.

 

7 Forms

 

Now, we transition from the most valuable question, why?, to what? +

 

( + we’ll leave out ‘how’; JFK’s 1962 Rice Univ Speech is the model for why not to focus on this Q )

 

Franchisor/franchisee

 

  • Franchise consultants set up shop to help someone who has the liquid capital to purchase a brand & its intellectual property, turnkey system/s, & in many cases, a ‘bricks & mortar’ location. Franchisees are far from cutting edge concept; although if you were talking with your grandparent(s), they would tell you that at 1 point, it was new & barely understood!

 

Solo-preneurial / proprietor

 

  • This is the simplest form. How do you monetize? Choices inc. hour for dollar billing ( ‘self employed’, creating your own job ); using a retainer; or working on a project basis. As with any form, there are pluses & the opposite; yet, if you’re very new to entrepreneurship, keeping things uncomplicated may be your wisest choice.

 

Gig / freelancer / contractor

 

  • Gig based businesses abound in our modern age; do depth based research to find options best for you.  Freelancing is very common in right brained, creative pursuits like social media, content/digital marketing, & writing.  Finally, being a contractor for a larger enterprise where you are offered more flexibility than an old school W-2 employee could very well be a win:win arrangement.

 

Broker / Agent

 

  • Insurance & real estate:  Both have high name recognizance, even by those who have never been entrepreneurial. Many of the agencies & companies operating in these very mature industries are always looking for someone who is servant minded & willing to tailor a solution to the consumer/prospective policyholder or buyer/seller ‘s unique needs.

 

Direct Sales

 

  • This form is newer on the block than its sister ( see below ).  How is it different than Ntwk Mkt/MLM?  It often generates income for the owner through the promotion of events versus growing a team.  For instance, you set up a cooking demo, offer products to those that attend at a % off, & build a relationship with them that goes beyond 1 transaction. Often, social media is used most often by these consultants, hosts, & associates.

 

Network Marketing ( MLM )

 

  • A mature form, when compared to its brother ( scroll up ), they’ve been options for upwards of a century! Yet, there is still much mis-understanding, inaccurate representation of its legality/lawfulness, etc.  This form is absolutely viable, esp. for those with people skills; those who are patient & don’t expect income overnight; or someone who is able to lead another by serving her first, a fundamental for building a team that replaces you.

 

Licensor / licensee

 

  • The licensee model is essentially ‘franchisee lite‘.  It has many elements of the latter, yet it doesn’t necessitate a bricks & mortar storefront;  often, you can be a mobile-preneur ( easily able to work at a coffee shop, coworking facility, or at home ). Licensors offer intellectual capital ( logos, brand awareness, a systems based approach to building revenue & cash flow ) in exchange for a 1 time, or recurring payment(s).

 

Lots of – ‘Preneurs!  Which are you?!

 

Profiles Worth Following

 

Sidepreneur

 

Mompreneurs

 

Teenpreneur Inc

 

Self directed Educational links

 

Employee vs Entrepreneur – Which is Riskier?

Actually, Starting Your Own Company …

Becoming an Entrepreneur …

 

In short …

 

  • Describing today’s economy
  • Inform, inspire, & instigate
  • 7 forms of energy: entrepreneurial options
  • Types of -preneurs
  • Three Twitter handles
  • For further learning …

 

Thank YOU for reading!

How To Get Press…Even If You Are An Introvert by @ChristyALaverty

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by Christy Laverty | Featured Contributor

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Do you consider yourself a bit of an introvert?

Getting press and PR for yourself and your business can be hard at the best of times but it can be even harder if you are someone who feels more comfortable behind their computer than out in the world. Good news is you can earn media mentions and coverage without even leaving the comfort of your couch!

I think more and more people these days would say they are introverts rather than extroverts, or even a combination of both, but that doesn’t have to be a negative when it comes to getting the media’s attention. You don’t need to be a total extrovert to get press and promote your business.  These days there are many people who are running online businesses and getting it done like a Boss from behind the computer screen.

There are lots of great ways to connect with the media, even if the idea of standing in front of a television camera freaks you out!

Here are just a few ways your introvert ways can be a benefit. You can still earn media even as an introvert.

NERVOUS IRL (IN REAL LIFE)? ONLINE ROCKS

No worries if getting out in person in real life makes your sweat, that’s the beauty of social media. You can do everything in the comfort of your own home from behind your computer.

Social media is a great way to connect with journalists.

Be sure to make your social media profiles (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn) as complete as possible. This is a great way for journalists to find you and the stories/content you are sharing. If you are running a business, especially an online business, you are using social media to connect with your customers and community already so be sure to add researching and engaging with journalists part of your to-do list. Don’t forget that is how journalists are finding you too!

Social media platforms are also a great way to find journalists to follow, see what stories/content they share and find out what they talk about. About 70 percent of journalist say they use social media, like Twitter, every single day to do their jobs (researching stories & finding sources). Create a list on Twitter of all your media peeps so you can easily find them.

Social media platforms are also a great way to find journalists to follow, see what stories/content they share and find out what they talk about. Anywhere from 50 to 70 percent (depending on the case studies and research) of journalist say they use Twitter, every single day to do their jobs (researching stories & finding sources). Create a list on Twitter of all your media peeps so you can easily find them.

Your website is also a way for journalists to find you. You want to make sure you have all your important contact information on your website. Make it easy for producers and reporters to reach you. Be sure to leave an email address and phone number in a spot that is easy to find. If the only thing you have is a contact form as a way for people to get in touch you will likely miss out. Journalists don’t have the time to look for your contact information or fill out a form and wait for you to get back to them. A great way to make sure you have all the right information is to create a Media Kit or Press page and post it as a page or a pdf on your website.

NETWORKING NOT YOUR THING?

That’s O.K. Journalists rarely have the time to attend events in person, especially producers, as a way to search for stories or contacts. Even if they do attend networking events and the like, they are there to have a good time just like you, so don’t expect them to come with notepad in hand to source stories. If you are pitching a story to a producer, email is still your best bet. You would rarely find producers taking pitches in person at an event, they likely want to leave work in the newsroom. Networking in person is a way to collect the contact so you can build a relationship later on.

PHONE PHOBIC?

Afraid to make cold calls to journalists? Well, that’s a good thing. Many journalists are not fans of the phone pitch. They are busy people and are always on deadline. Many journalists rarely have the time to chat on the phone and prefer to get pitched via email. Remember what I said about 70 percent of journalists use social media every day to source stories? Well, the same number of journalists still prefer to receive story pitches by email. They can read the pitch when they have time! That is not to say phone pitches aren’t possible but you need to do your research first so you know when it is best for a journalist to chat on the phone.

BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME

This one is great! If you are sharing great content and are active online, journalists will find you. Build a great website or blog and create content that resonates with your community and clients then journalists will find you. Start sharing that content via your social media channels and you increase the chance they will find you. Many journalists use social media, like Twitter, to research stories and search for ideas. Let them find you!

Be sure to include a media kit on your website or, at least, have all the necessary information, like phone number and email, so the journalist can contact you. Don’t make them work at finding you. So, in order for journalists to find you, you need to be sharing great content from your own blog/website but also from other sources via social media. Be sure to share stories related to your niche or industry and add some comment/commentary. You want people to get a sense of who you are when you are sharing. It is all about creating a solid online profile or footprint. You want to drop those crumbs – leave a solid trail – so journalists can follow them to find you.

HELP A REPORTER OUT

HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is a great way to connect with journalists. Sign up for free and you get emails every day (even multiple times a day) to your inbox listing journalists looking for experts/guests/contacts for their stories. Sourcebottle.com is also a great tool you can use to get press. Both of these allow you to sit behind your computer and find journalists who are looking for someone just like you!

EVERYTHING BUT TV

I know you are probably wondering how you can do PR & media if you are an introvert and prefer to work from behind your computer screen but hear me out. I know most people think doing media and getting press means getting on television. Sure, that’s a big part of the media landscape but it’s not the only game in town. Radio, podcasts, newspaper, magazine and website interviews make up a large portion of the media landscape. OK, those mediums make up practically the rest of the media landscape and the best part is you can get yourself in all of them while sitting behind your computer. These are the best forms of media for all you introverts. You can do interviews for all of these from the comfort of your home  – think Skype calls, phone interviews, and email interviews. You don’t have to do T.V. to get press.

There is no doubt more and more of us are making a living from behind our computer screens. It is a way for introverts to comfortably be out in the world without being “out in the world”. Don’t let the introvert in you stop you from reaching out and getting press.

Want more tips to help you earn more media mentions and coverage? Check out some of my previous posts on She Owns It

Or connect with me over on my social media platforms

 

Entrepreneurs: How to Not Get ‘Owned’ by Social Media by @thedriftingdesk

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by Lisa Jordie

We all know unplugging from social media every so often is important for our sanity, but what happens if using social media is part of your job? Social media marketing was all fun and games until the platforms started being villainized. And, in some ways, rightfully so.

Many sociologists, academics and scientists are quick to point out the need to ‘unplug’ from social media to reconnect with humans, free up your time and stop contributing to the seemingly insidious nature of these tools.

Sure, unplugging may mean you miss a cute Snap of your adorable nephew wearing virtual bunny ears, but what if your job requires using social media? There’s no way to simply delete your accounts for many entrepreneurs who utilize the platforms to:

  • Find and connect with clients
  • Promote and market their brand via ads
  • Answer questions from customers
  • Countless other opportunities

In his book, Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked, author Adam Atler says of social media platforms,

“They’re distracting because they remind us of the world beyond the immediate conversation…”

So, say you agree that you’d like to spend less time on your phone and on social media, but you are still an entrepreneur who needs to use these tools for your business. Here are some sure-fire ways to not get owned by social media:

Disable App Notifications

Do you really need to get a notification that your old boss loved a picture you posted last year? Or that that dude you met once at a baseball game just checked into an airport in Missouri?

These are all notifications you can look at once you open these apps on your own time.

Since we already know these social media platforms are psychologically and strategically designed to keep reminding us that they exist, disabling app notifications goes a long way!

Remove Apps From Your Phone

If the temptation to use social media apps is still too great even without constant and real-time notifications, consider removing the apps all together.

Although you can access the apps on your computer for business-related tasks, some platforms just don’t function the same on desktops. Trying installing the apps on a tablet and using this instead of your phone.

Using a tablet for social media apps is also a great way to be able to separate business and personal accounts as well. Say goodbye to constantly logging in and out of separate accounts!

Create Separate Accounts

This. Is. Pivotal.

Switching gears quickly is part of the game if you are an entrepreneur, but it can be mentally straining to go from responding to a message with pictures the bounty of sweet Aunt Sandra’s vegetable garden to responding to message from a confused client who needs clarification on one of your business processes.

This may mean making a quirky name for your personal account and your ‘real’ name for your business account. So be it. Separating your personal and business social media accounts will also make it easier to stay organized with your business.

Set a Schedule

Instead of being available on social media all of the time, set a schedule with specific times during the day when you check in to and publish on these apps. Using a Social Media Manager tool is incredibly helpful to auto-schedule posts as well (and is a huge productivity booster).

Live

Get out and live your life:

  • Take a painting class.
  • Hike with your dog.
  • Knit a boho-style macrame plant hanger.
  • Whatever. Just live.

Most importantly, give yourself time away not just from social media, but from your job.
This is why you’ve worked so hard. To live a fulfilling life. So go enjoy it..away from electronic devices..even if it’s in small doses.

How do you set boundaries with social media as an entrepreneur?

 

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Lisa Jordie has been a blogger and freelance writer for hire since 2014 when she ditched her cubicle for a more flexible lifestyle. She offers work from home, blogging and freelancing tips at TheDriftingDesk.com.