Women Entrepreneurs - The Secrets of Success blog

Keep Track of Healthy Habits with Fitness Tracker Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

No matter if you regularly run marathons or simply jog through the park once every couple of weeks, you know that working out and getting fit takes some serious discipline and drive. Setting fitness goals and designing a regimen for yourself isn’t easy, but it makes it that much more rewarding when you reach the goals you set for yourself.

Setting those goals for yourself can be challenging, no matter what it is. Whether it’s participating in a triathlon or just taking the stairs instead of the elevator for two weeks, setting and staying dedicated to your fitness goals takes just as much effort as running three miles on the treadmill. The team at Intuit Mint wants to make that easier, so they put together a list of fitness printables to take the stress out of planning your workouts. All you have to do is actually get moving—the hard work has been done for you!

Using a 30-day fitness calendar not only takes the stress out of planning, but it makes doing your workout fun. This way, everything you need to do is planned out for you—all you need to do is actually do it! At a glance, you can easily see what’s expected of you and how it will help you complete the workouts listed for you later in the month. Building up a tolerance for workouts is important, and this calendar helps you get fit and build up your endurance to complete harder workouts.

Another way to make workouts fun is to make it into a game. If pre-planned workouts aren’t for you, or if you want to choose your own workouts, these printable fitness dice are for you! Use the pre-assigned workouts, or fill in your own, to plan your workouts. All you have to do is roll the dice and see what you’ll be doing that day!

Being healthy doesn’t come just from working out, though that’s a big part of it. Developing and sticking to healthy habits will help you in your journey to living an active, healthy lifestyle, and there’s no better way to stick to your good habits than with a habit tracker. Simply write in the good habit you want to track, like drinking 32 oz. of water, eating green veggies, or taking 20 minutes in the morning to meditate and reflect on your breathing. Once you see how much progress you’ve made, you won’t want to break your habit—and soon it’ll be like second nature!

Using these printables will help you along your journey to be fit, be more active, and live a healthier lifestyle. Remember that being fit and healthy isn’t just about having abs or being able to run 10 miles—it’s about making the best choices for you and your body! Start now to set yourself up for a great 2020, and make the best of a new decade.

Photo by Ev on Unsplash

How She Does It: Elaine Rau of Lady Boss Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

After just 3 years of blogging, Elaine Rau founder of LadyBossBlogger.com amassed an audience of 250,000+ followers worldwide, has been featured in hundreds of publications and has spoken on stages all over the world about how to become a successful blogger and influencer.

It all started when she lost her job, home, and brother-in-law in one week. Stuck in a developing country with an 80% unemployment rate, she had to learn how to make money online ASAP and managed to monetize her brand new blog the very first week.

After a year of blogging, she was interviewed by the Huffington Post on her success and shortly afterward people started emailing her blogging related questions which she answered then turned into her signature course: Start A Money Making Blog.

Deb Bailey: Welcome to the Secrets of Success blog, Elaine. How did you get started as an entrepreneur?

Elaine Rau: Great to be here, Deb. I call myself an accidental entrepreneur because it was based on the unique circumstances of my life that forced me to adapt and change. I was in a verbally abusive and controlling work environment, but one phone call changed the trajectory of my life and career.

My boyfriend who lived overseas at the time called to tell me that his brother had just been murdered. I asked my boss if I could attend the funeral... and when he said NO (because it would affect sales) I quit, packed my life in a suitcase and moved to Honduras.

I didn't realize how hard the transition would be and I hit rock bottom myself as well. I was purposeless, passionless and jobless all at the same time. So in order to give myself a reason to wake up in the morning, I started a blog to help myself learn who I wanted to become: a LADY BOSS BLOGGER... and that is exactly who I became.

I now speak at conferences all around the world teaching what I know. I also teach online courses that you can access here: Courses.LadyBossBlogger.com.

Deb: What inspires you to do the work you do?

Elaine: I want to impact the next generation by educating them on the ins and outs of how to start and build an online business. I'm currently mentoring 25 college students through my internship program to help them learn the skills and tools they need to become equipped entrepreneurs.

Ultimately I want to bring what I have learned to a developing country like Honduras and educate the street boys on how they can build a future for themselves.

My blog was founded on the Micah Project property in Honduras, which is a charity for street boys that helps them get an education while providing a safe place to live (my husband was one of the boys they helped).

They gave me a place to stay for a couple of months when I moved down there until I found a good rental and was able to support myself through my blogging income. A portion of my business proceeds goes towards monthly contributions to the Micah Project.

I truly believe that with the right education and access to wifi, we can provide opportunities to those who never thought in their wildest dreams that they could support themselves and their families online.

Deb: What advice would you give to women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

Elaine: Your vision doesn't have to be fully planned out or formed for you to begin. As you learn how to navigate the entrepreneurial waters, your purpose and even your passions will begin to change and morph into something more solid than just an idea or a dream.

Deb: What is your favorite activity to relax and unwind?

Elaine: I actually love hosting parties! It may not round relaxing to you, but I'm an extrovert that works alone most of the week so when I have free time, I like to pull some friends together for a potluck party or game night.

Deb: What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

Elaine: You are stronger and more capable than you think!

Deb: What do you think are the top 3 traits an entrepreneur must have?

Elaine:
1. Optimism - you must be able to encourage yourself when no one else will

2. Discipline - you are in charge of your own schedule and need to be disciplined with how you spend your time

3. Adaptability - things won't always work out the way you plan, you must learn to be flexible

Deb: Thanks so much for sharing, Elaine. Please share your website and social media URLs.

Elaine: My pleasure. Here are the links.

INSTAGRAM
@ElaineRau
@LadyBossBlogger

FACEBOOK
@ElaineRauOfficial
@LadyBossBlogger

FACEBOOK GROUP
For Female Entrepreneurs + Bloggers + Influencers

TWITTER
@LadyBossBlogger

PINTEREST
@ElaineRau

LINKEDIN
@ElaineRau
@LadyBossBlogger

YOUTUBE
@ElaineRau
@LadyBossBlogger

WEBSITE
ElaineRau.com
LadyBossBlogger.com

Be Tech Savvy in 2020: A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

By Victoria Schmid

Have you ever felt a little out of the loop when it comes to the ever-changing world of technology? I mean, as a millennial, I “grew up on the Internet,” but dial-up and AIM are nothing compared to what’s available today. From 3D printers to TikTok dance memes, there’s a lot going on right now.

For entrepreneurs, you may not need to become a viral Internet sensation, but it’s definitely important to be tech savvy and at least speak the language. Let’s take a look at a few ways to stay ahead of the curve in 2020.

1. Understand your Internet options

One of the most basic ways to stay tech savvy is to make sure you understand which internet plan is right for you. With buzzwords like DSL, cable, fiber, 5G, and satellite internet, internet plans can be a little overwhelming. Thankfully, some of those options are narrowed down based on what’s available locally. From there, you can figure out which Internet Service Provider (ISP) is the most reliable.

Also, keep in mind that there’s a difference between personal internet plans and internet plans for businesses. Most ISPs offer business plans with higher speeds, phone plan bundles, security monitoring, cloud storage, and more. So make a point to compare local ISPs to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

With a secure, high-speed connection, the tech world is your oyster.

2. Take advantage of smart devices

Pretty much every new product these days comes in a smart version. Some seem a little extravagant—like the smart duvet cover—while others are super functional and can even improve your business. Here are just a few of the smart devices you could incorporate into your enterprise in 2020 if you haven’t already.

• Thermostats: Smart thermostats make it easier to change the temperature of your office and save you money on energy costs by learning usage patterns and adjusting accordingly.

• Printers: Some smart printers can be controlled by voice command and can increase efficiency by ordering ink automatically when it’s low.

• Security cameras: Smart cameras put your mind at ease by allowing you to check on the security points of your office from anywhere on your smart phone. Some smart cameras also come with sensors that alert you of suspicious movement in real time.

• Lighting: Smart lighting is another great way to save on energy costs. Smart lights can also improve productivity by creating optimal lighting for employees to signal focus times or by adjusting to spaces with natural light.

If any other smart devices catch your eye, just make sure they benefit your business specifically before purchasing. Buying too many IoT devices could end up crowding the office and making an unnecessary dent in your bank account.

3. Know what to expect from 5G

You’ve probably seen commercials advertising the rollout of 5G wireless capabilities, but what does that mean for you and your business? 5G speeds will be about ten times faster than the current standard (4G or LTE) and will operate with almost zero latency. So if you use any smart devices in your company, or if your product depends heavily on mobile traffic, 5G is about to make your life a whole lot easier.

If you’re feeling anxious about getting 5G into your home or office now, don’t worry—it will still take some time before this technology is available to the masses. Even though 5G is broadcasting in some areas currently, most applications and devices aren’t even 5G compatible yet.

4. Review your privacy policies

With so many security breaches lately, privacy and data collection will be hot topics for 2020. To put your mind and your customers’ minds at ease, brush up on your current privacy policies this year. Make sure you’re up to date on privacy laws, and that you’re being transparent about your data collection policies.

If taking stock of and protecting customer information feels overwhelming, the FTC has some resources to walk you through the process.

5. Invest in local SEO

When they hear about a new product or company, someone usually starts by searching it online. One of the best things you can make time for in 2020 is local SEO. Keep information like hours of operation, phone numbers, and peak hours up to date. Use Google and other search engines to make sure your business is verified and showing up on maps.

You should also update your website often, respond to reviews and comments, and use other SEO tools, like Google My Business, to optimize your results.

Take it one step at a time

Hopefully, these tips will help you build a stronger online presence and feel more confident in dealing with technical difficulties. With a great internet plan, some time-saving smart devices, an airtight privacy policy, and excellent local SEO, you’ll be able to leverage your tech-savvy knowledge for success in 2020.

About the Author: Victoria Schmid enjoys writing about technology for the everyday person. She specializes in consumer technology and internet culture and has a background in broadcast journalism. Victoria’s work has been published on Entrepreneur, Best Company, and TripWire.

Celine & Joline Nehoray, Founders of Beverly Hills Lingerie on Women Entrepreneurs Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Show #511

Two sisters. Two styles. One brand.

Sisters Celine & Joline Nehoray founded Beverly Hills Lingerie in fall 2018 with the dreams of growing & maintaining the ever-evolving streetwear lingerie industry.

Pioneered by the likes of acclaimed icons Cher & Madonna, lingerie as streetwear was a developing trend in the 1980s. Taking note of the trend which has been fading in & out for decades, Beverly Hills Lingerie is in pursuit of preserving its special charm. “Lingerie as streetwear is a fun & flirty way to toe the risqué & dance around the delicate line of controversial & elegant."

Beverly Hills Lingerie is a streetwear lingerie line launched by young sisters and entrepreneurs Joline and Celine. The two female entrepreneurs launched Beverly Hills Lingerie in 2018, had a collaboration with Fred Segal, and a collection with Cosmopolitan ("Cosmostyle by Cosmopolitan x BHL”).

Celine
Born and raised in Beverly Hills with a background in TV/Film, musical theater, public relations, and an expansive business sense gained throughout her years at renowned USC, Celine launched her first business, Beverly Hills Lingerie in Fall 2018 with her sister and business partner Joline. With the immense growth of the brand under its first year alone, it’s clear that Celine has what it takes to execute their roadmap for a successful global brand. Celine is a world traveller, social butterfly, dream chaser, and is on the path to accomplish her childhood goal, to become a highly respected and positively influential TV talk show host.

Joline
A true Beverly Hills baby, born and raised. Having traveled the globe countless times with her family and loved ones, Joline still finds Beverly Hills to be home - and her business founded with her sister, Beverly Hills Lingerie, for them, embodies home. Joline founded Beverly Hills Lingerie while still completing her undergraduate degree at USC in Communications and Entrepreneurship after finding difficulty finding edgy yet sexy lingerie to wear as streetwear. The balance between work and school hasn’t been simple, but the constant growth of Beverly Hills Lingerie has been so rewarding, and this is just the start.

https://www.beverlyhillslingerie.com

https://twitter.com/ShopBHL

https://www.instagram.com/beverlyhillslingerie/

https://www.facebook.com/Beverly-Hills-Lingerie-149784618959166/

Listen on Podomatic:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/dbcoach/episodes/2020-01-29T20_06_01-08_00

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/women-entrepreneurs-radio/id939410730?mt=2

Listen on Libsyn:
http://womenentrepreneursradio.libsyn.com/celine-joline-nehoray-founders-of-beverly-hills-lingerie

Shruti Joshi: Entrepreneur, CEO & Founder of Compell’d on Women Entrepreneurs Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 16:08:00 +0000

Show #513

Shruti Joshi is the Co-Founder and CEO of Compell’d, a consumer business that is transforming the way people keep track of, do and share the recommendations, experiences and content they discover from anywhere.

As an entrepreneur and former marketing executive with a track record of driving growth across multiple B2B and B2C businesses across large, startup, mid-sized firms and turnaround brands, Shruti advises and sits on several start-up and mid-sized company boards.

She has successfully lead go-to-market, P&L businesses and new product innovation and has expert knowledge in brand building, digital marketing, marketing analytics, and growing recurring revenue businesses, including SaaS. (Software as a Service)

In her former role, as an equity partner at Altman Vilandrie & Company (AV&Co.), Shruti created, built and led the Marketing ROI Practice dedicated to improving marketing returns for Fortune 500 brands, through a combination of proprietary analytics SaaS and consulting solutions.

Prior to joining AV&Co., Shruti was an executive at Verizon Communications, where she was responsible for driving new acquisition growth for Consumer FiOS and Core network products, by developing product marketing strategies and optimizing $750M+ digital, awareness and direct response media campaigns. Shruti also has a consulting background in product innovation and development, where she helped global brands develop new products.

Shruti holds an M.B.A from Columbia Business School and a B.S. in Business from the University of Southern California.

Shruti is passionate about experiencing all that you want in life, loves to travel and would rather see and try something first hand then hear about it second hand. Fascinated by the concept of micro regrets and being more unified between a life imagined and a life lived, she developed Compell’d to help others live their lives to the fullest.

She is also a new mom and loves the new challenge all while launching her start up. Having always worked in a man’s world in tech she is passionate about female empowerment thinking they should be given a fair chance to shine and be recognized as amazing business people.

In her time off she relaxes with mediation and is on the board of the David Lynch Foundation and several companies. In general she loves helping people—especially when it comes to driving growth for their businesses. She spent her childhood overseas and is constantly open to change and new challenges. She loves to discover different parts of the world and shares her recommendations with friends, colleagues and family.

https://www.compelld.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-joshi-282369a/
https://www.instagram.com/compelld/
https://www.facebook.com/compelld/
https://twitter.com/compelldnow

Download Compell'd from the app store:
https://apps.apple.com/US/app/id1253793947?mt=8

Listen on Podomatic:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/dbcoach/episodes/2020-01-21T22_00_00-08_00

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/women-entrepreneurs-radio/id939410730?mt=2

Listen on Libsyn:
http://womenentrepreneursradio.libsyn.com/shruti-joshi-entrepreneur-ceo-founder-of-compelld-0

Martin Luther King Day - A Day of Service

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a vital figure of the modern era and a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement. His lectures and dialogues stirred the concern and sparked the conscience of a generation. His charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, in this nation and around the world.

After a long struggle, legislation was signed in 1983 creating a federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a "day on, not a day off."

It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."
- from http://mlkday.gov/index.php

Letter from a Birmingham Jail
https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Recently Discovered 1964 MLK Speech on Civil Rights, Segregation & Apartheid South Africa
http://www.democracynow.org/2015/1/19/exclusive_newly_discovered_1964_mlk_speech

MLK biography on Nobel Prize.org
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

The King Center
http://www.thekingcenter.org/

MLK Research and Education Institute
http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/

The "I Have a Dream" speech audio and video
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

The Greatest MLK Speeches You Never Heard
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/19/us/king-speeches-never-heard/index.html?sr=sharebar_twitter

The "Beyond Vietnam -- A Time to Break Silence" Speech
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkatimetobreaksilence.htm

"The Drum Major Instinct" Speech
http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/documentsentry/doc_the_drum_major_instinct/

MLK Day on Twitter
https://twitter.com/mlkday

MLK Now on Twitter
https://twitter.com/UnitedBlackout

"How Your Money Mindset Impacts Your Business Success" with Tess Wicks, Founder of Wander Wealthy on Women Entrepreneurs Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Show #505

Topic: "How Your Money Mindset Impacts Your Business Success"

Tess Wicks is a Wealth and Mindset Coach and the founder of Wander Wealthy, an educational platform for online coaches and service-based entrepreneurs.

Her mission is to bring financial literacy to the self-employed, to help them see that with the combination of practical financial systems and magical mindset work, they have the ability to transform their money stories and ultimately experience ease when it comes to making money and managing their finances.

https://wanderwealthy.com
http://wanderwealthy.com/roadmap - Get the Easy Profit roadmap
https://instagram.com/tess_wicks

https://facebook.com/wanderwealthy

Listen on Podomatic:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/dbcoach/episodes/2020-01-14T22_00_00-08_00

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/women-entrepreneurs-radio/id939410730?mt=2

Listen on Libsyn:

http://womenentrepreneursradio.libsyn.com/how-your-money-mindset-impacts-your-business-success-with-tess-wicks-founder-of-wander-wealthy

Budget Saving Ideas for Small Business Owners

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Money is tight for most small businesses. They aren’t the industry giants with huge bank accounts; they are regular people working every day to make their business profit.

While increasing revenue is one way to address budget issues at a small business, it isn’t always that simple. Beyond trying to bring in more sales or find new clients, small business owners should look for ways to cut costs. The following are a few of the things you can do to save money at your small business.

Work With Online Contractors

Having a strong staff can be great for helping you get more done, but it can also be costly. For tasks that are non-essential or those that do not require a full-time employee, consider hiring an online contractor. As an example, a part-time virtual assistant could take on some of the administrative tasks for your business without costing as much as hiring employees to do some of the support work.

Find the Right Credit Card

Using the right credit card can make a big difference for a small business. Of course, you want to compare the fees that come with the card, but you should also look for a card that offers rewards that meet the needs of your business. As an example, if you travel a lot for business, you should look into business credit cards that offer airline miles.

Talk to Your Vendors

Most small business owners work with the same vendors for many years. If you are a reliable customer who always pays on time, you might be able to negotiate a discount. Beyond renegotiating with the vendors you know, you could also consider looking for new suppliers with better prices.

Use Open Source Software

You have a range of business software that could be used to automate tasks or make your business more efficient. The only problem is that many of these programs can be expensive. If you want to save money while still having access to the advantages of these systems, you should look for open source alternatives. As an example, you could use LibreOffice as your office suite for things like spreadsheets, word processing, and slide shows.

Virtual Office

Having office space is nice, but it can be a major expense. If you don’t need to rent an office, you should consider setting up a home office to work from. Depending on the type of work you do, you could even consider letting your employees telecommute instead of coming to an office every day. Beyond increasing productivity, there are several benefits to allowing employees to telecommute.

Hire Interns

Interns could help your business get more done without costing as much as an experienced employee. For the business, an intern provides work for free or at a lower cost; for the intern, it is an opportunity to learn a skill or gain experience in the industry. If the intern performs well, you may even be able to hire them as an employee later on.

For most small businesses, you are not going to find one large expense that can be cut to save a lot of money. However, if you can find several ways to save a little money, it will add up and make a big difference for your budget.

Photo by Kobu Agency on Unsplash

Michelle Danner: Filmmaker, Entrepreneur & Acting Coach ON WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS RADIO

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 16:34:00 +0000

Show #512

The craft of acting is as alluring as it is mysterious, and it takes a being of great passion, insight, and determination in order to succeed. But to teach acting – to inspire creative souls to successfully harvest those tools – requires an even greater commitment, to bring out the best in each and every actor one encounters. That passion is the hallmark of the career of filmmaker and acting coach Michelle Danner, for decades one of the industry’s most respected teachers, and now a successful director who continues to grow and expand her creative universe.

There aren’t many people who can point to a career full of success as a performer, teacher, storyteller, entrepreneur, and expert. But Michelle Danner can.

The legendary acting teacher and co-founder of the Edgemar Center for the Arts and the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory, Danner’s also now well-established as a successful feature film director. Her latest completed film, “Bad Impulse,” is a psychological thriller about family secrets and modern technology, starring Sonya Walger, Grant Bowler, and Paul Sorvino; and she’s set to begin shooting “The Runner,” an action thriller and true-life coming of age story about a troubled teenager forced to go undercover to expose a drug kingpin.

A dedicated mom (with one son who is an aspiring filmmaker), Danner still has her “day job” – overseeing the faculty of the Los Angeles Acting Conseratory, and conducting her weekly acting class. Danner’s list of students has included Christian Slater, Salma Hayak, Gerard Butler, Seth McFarlane, Penelope Cruz, Chris Rock, Gabrielle Union, and Zooey Deschanel. A longtime student of legendary acting teachers like Stella Adler and Uta Hagen, Danner’s eclectic approach (which she calls “The Golden Box”) allows actors the freedom to employ a wide variety of techniques.

Raised in a show business family and with a deep appreciation for all of the performing arts, Danner also continues to run the boutique “Cinema at the Edge” film festival (scheduled for February 2020), and is currently preparing to direct a new one-person play, Bonnie Culver’s “Norris,” starring Anne Archer, based on the memoirs of the widow of writer Norman Mailer.

Simply put, there’s almost no one in the business who knows as much about acting and success as Michelle Danner – and her continued success in multiple creative fields makes her one of the most successful women working in the industry today.

Twitter: @ActingAtEdgemar

URLS:

https://www.michelledanner.com

https://edgemarcenter.org

https://www.allinfilms.com

Listen on Podomatic:

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/dbcoach/episodes/2020-01-07T22_00_00-08_00

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/women-entrepreneurs-radio/id939410730?mt=2

Listen on Libsyn:

http://womenentrepreneursradio.libsyn.com/michelle-danner-filmmaker-entrepreneur-acting-coach

How to Nail this One Step of the Law of Attraction

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

by Chris Atley

I realized something pretty interesting the other day. Yes the energy we put out comes back to us, but there is something much deeper going on underneath the surface. If you can nail this one law of attraction step, you will truly step into a place of being able to create more of your dreams!

There is a lot of discussion on how what we put out comes back to us. From an energetic perspective. So if we are feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, we will get back more in our life to be overwhelmed and stressed out about, like unexpected bills, getting stuck in traffic, clients having issues, etc.

On the flip side, if we are relaxed and happy, we receive more back that makes us feel relaxed and happy, like new opportunities, finances increasing, a surprise from a loved one, etc.

BUT…here’s the kicker…

It’s not that these things are magically showing-up, we’re creating them! And I’m talking about this being deeper than just the law of attraction (LOA). Per the LOA, if you’re miserable, you will attract more into your life to be miserable about.

<< As an aside, a mentor once explained the whole attraction thing like this and it made perfect sense. It’s not so much that you’re attracting these things into your life and they’re magically appearing, they’re already there. It’s more about what you’re seeing. So if you’re saying that you want success, but deep down you don’t feel worthy enough, you’re putting out an unworthy energy.

You will not see the solution that is already there to create the success you’re wanting because your energy doesn’t match it. You literally will not see the next step or opportunity that is right there waiting for you. You will miss it. You need to feel worthy and positive in order to see the solution. Since the solution is positive, you need to feel positive to see it and receive it. >>

It’s all about the feeling.

So now back to my revelation.

I am going to take the above concept even further. It’s more than just operating on the same frequency as what you are asking for, i.e. more peace, love, abundance, etc.

It’s that you’re making decisions from this place.

Your decisions have energy.

So when you are overwhelmed, you are really attracting / seeing, whatever you want to call it, more decisions that are in alignment with that energy.

It’s the decision that is causing what you are creating.

If you’re overwhelmed, you will make decisions from this place. You’re thinking at a low vibration and therefore so are your decisions. You continue to take on more then you should, you have poor boundaries, you don’t give yourself enough time, you are making yourself crazy with plans! These poor decisions keep you in overwhelm. It goes round and round, until you become aware of it and make a different, more empowered choice.

By contrast, if you’re feeling relaxed and happy, you make decisions from this place. You decide to do more that brings you joy and peace. You make more time for yourself, and what you love (like exercising & meditating), and you are conscious about how you are spending your time. You are making empowered decisions that lead to empowered results.

And here’s the real gem. Wait for it…YOU LET GO EASIER!!!!

Of the drama, the stories that keep you in other people’s business, the gossip, the high expectations and the hurt feelings.

You let go of this stuff sooo much faster – the expression “letting it roll off your back” rings true. If you even realize it’s on your back to begin with.

Hmm.

So let’s look at A) how you’re feeling deep down, and B) how you’re making decisions.

Shift the decision, shift the energy, shift what you’re creating.

Written by Success Speaker & Coach Chris Atley, CEO of Chris Atley LLC ~ Decisions by Design. For complimentary success tips for business and life, please visit www.chrisatley.com.

Photo by Steve Halama on Unsplash

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Have a Happy New Year!

7 Steps to Keeping a Healthy Lifestyle with a Busy Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Even if you strive to consciously make healthy decisions, time may not always be on your side. With such a hectic schedule every day, it can sometimes be a lot easier to grab something that’s quick, fast and affordable to eat, like fast food, on your way out or during your short lunch break.

Meanwhile, the gym may be the last thing you have the energy for after a long day at the office or on the job.

However, it doesn’t have to be a tradeoff. Being healthy and being busy is possible, it just takes a little work to turn these choices into a habit. It can be difficult at first, but there are small changes that you can start implementing into your daily routine to live a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few tips that can make a big impact and won’t be too hard to stick to!

1. DESIGNATE TIME FOR MEAL PREPPING

Making a new meal each night for dinner or thinking of a lunch to pack for the following day can seem like a monotonous chore. If you designate an hour specifically to cooking and prepping meals for the week, or by ordering a meal kit online, you’ll save yourself loads of time. Then, when it’s time to eat, all you’ll have to do is take ten minutes to reheat or prepare. Eating healthy doesn’t have to require a lot of effort!

2. MAKE BEING ACTIVE A LIFESTYLE

Getting physical activity doesn’t just need to be an hour session at the gym. Exercising shouldn’t be a chore, it’s about making it into a conscious lifestyle. If you lack the time to do a full-on workout, try squeezing in little ways of staying active throughout the day. Go on a walk when you take a phone call, take the stairs instead of an elevator, or even do a small yoga routine right before bed. Be mindful of where you could be more active in your daily routine and take advantage.

3. ADDRESS DEFICIENCIES

With a fast-paced lifestyle, getting all of your required nutrients each day can be incredibly tough. Common vitamin deficiencies like iron, vitamin B, and magnesium can have a huge effect on your overall wellness. This is why it’s important to address any deficiencies with a doctor and to take supplements or a daily multivitamin to keep yourself balanced.

4. DEVELOP A RELAXATION TECHNIQUE

Eliminating stress as a whole is a near impossible task. Once you’ve come to terms with this realization, you’ll understand that you should be focused on how you cope with stress and what relaxation techniques work the best for you. What may help your friends or family deal with their anxieties may not benefit you the same way. It’s crucial to try out different coping mechanisms to find the right one for you and your unique situation. Techniques such as meditation and yoga are just a couple of ways you can learn to relax and deal with your stress, but there are many more methods you can try as well.

5. CREATE TO-DO LISTS TO STAY ORGANIZED

Have you ever found yourself running a bunch of errands but end up forgetting something along the way, just to run back out later? It happens to all of us but this is a huge time-waster and can be extremely frustrating. By organizing your to-do lists, you’ll be better able to stay on top of all of your to-do’s and feel more in control of your life. It’ll allow you to visualize all the things you need to get done while also prioritizing and planning when to do them.

6. SET REALISTIC GOALS

One of the biggest complaints of chronically busy people is that there’s never enough time in the day to get everything done. Striving for long-term goals is essential for growth, but it’s just as important that these goals be realistic and achievable. Instead of aiming for that six-pack by summer, start off with making a small workout plan and build your way up over time. Want that promotion? Work on one project at a time instead of trying to take on everything at once. By setting realistic goals, you’ll get to where you want to be over time and feel less overwhelmed while doing it.

7. FILL UP YOUR WATER BOTTLE FIVE TIMES A DAY

Most people don’t drink enough water each day to stay hydrated. If you wait until you’re thirsty to drink water, you’ve already let yourself get dehydrated. When you drink enough water, you’ll have a stronger immune system, feel more energetic, and you’ll cleanse your body from the inside-out. Start by getting a great reusable water bottle and fill it up at least five times throughout the day. With a goal, you’ll feel more motivated to drink water and therefore become healthier in the process.

This article originally appeared on DBaileyCoach.com.

Photo by STIL on Unsplash

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Have a Happy Holiday!

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

How She Does It: Actor & Writer: RG

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

About RG

RG is a New York-based actor and writer. Outspoken and grossly committed to exploring the brutal truths of her life. She’s a LAMBDA Literary Playwright Fellow, Sundance Episodic Lab Finalist and in 2020, a first-year student at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

RG’s running a GoFundMe Campaign to help with her first year at The Academy.

Deb Bailey: Welcome to the Secrets of Success blog, RG. Please share how you got started in your creative work.

RG: Happy to be here, Deb. I actually started off as a mime when I was 12 or 13 years old. My parents and I attended a church called Gideon Christian Fellowship. It was a special Sunday. Their drama team performed to a song called No Weapon. Three men in the valley of death are rescued by an angel of God. Suddenly, they’re empowered to overcome the valley. It was a silent lyrical drama. I got so caught up, I asked, how do I audition for the team. The director said come to a rehearsal and see what we’re about. I did and stayed on for five years.

Deb: Are there any “lessons learned” that you’d like to share?

RG: Yes! Acknowledge your accomplishments. I think as women, we tend to downplay our work. False humility gets you nothing. There’s something beautiful about the woman who works to create the life she wants. That starts by acknowledging yourself and the work it takes to build that life.

Acting is intense professional play. For me, it’s about acknowledging the steps it’s taken to get to the next level physically or mentally. A lot of what I’ve discovered don't let other people’s mindsets affect what you do. There’s a stigma about creative careers, especially when you’re an actor. People tend to repeat the same lingo over and over again. If you’re not careful you’ll begin to believe it’s true. All professional careers leave a blueprint of success. Once you breakdown that process, you’ll take steps you’ve never taken.

For example, when I wanted to work Off-Broadway. My process was like this: only audition for Off-Broadway until you get it. It sounds so simple but I decided that if it wasn’t Off-Broadway I wouldn’t audition. A month later, I booked. That came from taking ownership of my career and facing what could have been months without being on stage.

More importantly, acknowledging that I had the power to make strong and impactful decisions about my future. I take the same steps for anything that I want. I throw myself in the ring. I force myself to face it until I understand the parts that make it work. Or, how to grow to get it. At the end of it all, I look back and I say you did that. Lastly, own your vision. I think that speaks for itself.

Deb: That's so powerful. What are some of your successes and challenges?

RG: Picking my life up after a dark year of drugs, alcohol, and suicide. I spent a lot of time avoiding the work it would take to get what I want. As an actor, there are a lot of things that are in your control. People don’t teach you that. When they hear actor, they go down the list of the odds. How hard it is. How many people don't make it. Very rarely do they say, here’s what you can do. Like when I was new to New York, no agent, wanting to get seen. I’d put sides on tape and send them to casting directors. I got auditions because of that. But I had to overcome this fear.

Everyone says don’t be desperate. And I’m thinking there’s no way this person can know what’s in my mind. I’m an actor. I’m trying to make it. I can’t walk on eggshells…I gotta live. So I said risk it. If it works one time. It’s worth it. It worked, I started getting auditions. Only once did it backfire. I told myself to let it cool off. Reintroduce when you’ve got something more than a tape. That will hold more power and make it worth it for them. I think actors give away too much power.

My journey is about owning what I have. It’s not elusive, just, it’s the long haul, long-term plan. Once I realized that I began to see movement in my professional career. More than I ever had. One of the things I’m learning, a challenge you might say, is reminding myself that there is no instant gratification. That it’s perseverance and persistence. It’s an intense level of focus, every day. I can’t ride on yesterday’s focus. I try not to look back unless it’s to gain something in the now. I can only conjure today’s focus and use that to accomplish my goals.

Also, I like to remind myself back in the day, when it was two AM and you were high and drunk. No one in your life said hey, RG, slow down. Don't do this. And I had a tribe. I had community, you know? Even at my worst, all I talked about was acting and writing. Now that I’m doing it, I’m like why is no one is there for me? That part needed to happen. I tell myself, RG, you’re on your own. Bring it. Own it. Do it. The only thing I have to lose is myself if I give up or let others tell me how to live.

Deb: You've learned how to step into your power, and claim your dream. So, what inspires you to do the work you do?

RG: My artist is my true nature. When I tap into her, into RG, it’s like being swept away by something dynamic and powerful. That’s hard to explain. Something will catch in my mind. I want this. I need to create that and a shift will happen. My artist comes out to play. She, they, want what they want. Sometimes it feels like I’m just along for the ride. My inspiration comes from my ability to experience multiple reiterations of myself over and over again. To be me. To become. It’s an addiction.

Deb: What’s your vision for your work?

RG: I’m learning what it means to produce. To breakdown ideas, to manage projects, to get people on board. It’s very new and feels somewhat uphill but I’m committed to learning. My 2020 goal is to write and produce a short film. I’m building a list of film grants. I’m working on my script. I have a strict rule about not talking about projects unless they’re fully formed. In the past, I’ve pitched concepts to producers and taken meetings before I was ready. That’s never worked for me. I’ve come to appreciate the value of solid planning. So, for now, it’s an intense season of prep.

I am an actor, writer, and producer. I started this journey less than two years ago. I’m beginning to see how to connect the dots. I throw myself into the fire and learn through the doing. With that comes embracing the fact that this is a big bite to take off but I can do it. Ultimately with this project, I’m asking myself, are you an independent filmmaker?

Deb: Sounds like you have a lot of great projects planned. What advice would you give to women entrepreneurs and creatives who are just starting out?

RG: Embrace what you don’t know and jump in. If you start to feel uncomfortable, you’re in the right place. Learning how to learn will get you far. I like to say the successful woman isn’t afraid to make mistakes. Evolve, grow, be, repeat. Sometimes it’s messy and that’s okay. Sometimes it’s beautiful, and that’s even better. The point is you are doing whatever you’ve set out to do to, consciously, to your full capacity. Only you can decide what’s your full capacity.

Get around other ambitious women. Embrace ambition. I realized a year ago who we surround ourselves with is a choice. Make it a conscious one to feed yourself professionally. Stay around people who own their brand, their dreams, their life. Not in a way of admiration. Don’t be a groupie. Be a professional equal. One of the things I like to say is if I have to look up to you, that means you’re looking down. Even your mentors are human. Walk with confidence. You’ve earned your shoes, no matter your level. It’s scary but how you make those big leaps and strides.

Deb: Thanks so much for sharing your work and your advice. Please share website and social media URLs.

RG: I enjoyed it, Deb. Here are my links:

GoFundMe Campaign

Facebook: YupRG
https://www.facebook.com/YUPRG

Instagram: RGYup
https://www.instagram.com/rgyup

Hack Your Chronotype to Improve Sleep & Boost Productivity

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Optimizing a workday is mandatory for personal and personal success. In order to climb the ladder of an organization, one needs to be efficient and awake at all times. Once this is achieved, not only will your career grow, but you will enjoy the process as well.

However, one culprit above almost all others can hold us back: sleepiness.

Coming to work tired is a chronic condition for many in the workforce. Late nights are typical happenstance in today’s culture. People are getting home later and staying out later as well. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing — just as long as one knows how to adapt. Whether you have an international call or have to work late to get a project done, working smarter will save your sleep schedule and sanity.

Casper designed a flowchart meant to help you discover your chronotype and make the most of your day.

Everyone has a chronotype. Most people are a mix of different types but will lean a majority of the way towards a specific type. The four chronotypes are a Lion, Dolphin, Bear or Lion. Each animal describes what sleep pattern you have and how to make the most out of it.

For example, Wolves are those people who are late to rise but go can work best deep into the late night. In fact, if you’re a wolf, it’s most likely that your creativity gets a boost the later it gets. Typically, this chronotype is more introverted.

Lions are the opposite. Very charismatic but have a tendency to lose energy towards the end of the day, this type of person is almost always a Type A extrovert.

Wolves are suggested to schedule meetings after lunch, and lions are most on their game before.

Another helpful benefit to understand one’s chronotype is the ability to work smarter, and not necessarily harder. If possible, Dolphins should try to work out a schedule where they can come into the office a bit later, and leave a bit later. Bears need to understand when it’s quitting time and be ok with hitting the hay early.

Infographic by Casper.com

Porscha Sterling; Best-Selling Author, Publisher & Influencer on Women Entrepreneurs Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 15:16:00 +0000

Show #510

Porscha shares:

How she balances multiple tasks and projects as a publisher, author, influencer and filmmaker
What business owners should know about building a team you can trust
How she started her publishing company, why she mentors authors and how to build a successful writing career

Porscha Sterling is an Influencer, Publisher, and national best selling author who is widely considered the exemplar of self-publishing success in the digital age. She is best known for her book series “Bad Boys Do It Better”, which sold more than 5,000 copies in the first 24 hours of its release.

In May, 2019 she was awarded by national magazine publication, SHEEN Magazine, with the Literary Excellence Award.

Sterling holds a Masters Degree in Business Management which helped her in the development of her publishing company, Royalty Publishing House. Under her expert leadership, Royalty Publishing House has established itself as a stronghold in the African-American literary community, publishing many top-selling novels in the Urban, Contemporary Romance, Interracial Romance, and Women’s Fiction genres. In only five years, Royalty Publishing House has become the #1 female-owned urban literary publishing company in the nation.

Sterling intends to make Royalty Publishing House a full service publishing company that is able to meet the needs of every reader regardless of their genre preference. As an accomplished author, publisher and entrepreneur, Porscha strives to break barriers within her industry and, in July 2019, she announced a partnership with the major publishing company, Kensington Publishing, in an unprecedented deal for an independent urban romance author. Under the partnership, Porscha will pen two novels to be released to the mass market while retaining complete creative control and ownership of her work.

Sterling has also partnered with fellow best-selling author and publisher, Leo Sullivan, on the launch of a mobile app, known as the LiT Reading App. The App permits readers to access exclusive material from independent authors. Regarded as something new and fresh within the literary industry, LiT is said to give readers a premium experience, allowing them to read novels as they never have before. In addition to LiT, Porscha is developing other projects and events to better uplift and mentor new and seasoned authors.

Instagram URL: https://www.instagram.com/porscha_sterling/
Twitter URL: https://twitter.com/PorschaSterling
Business URL: http://www.royaltypublishinghouse.com/

Lit Reading Retreat Event: https://www.litreadingretreat.com/

Listen on Podomatic:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/dbcoach/episodes/2019-12-18T22_00_00-08_00

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/women-entrepreneurs-radio/id939410730?mt=2

Listen on Libsyn:
http://womenentrepreneursradio.libsyn.com/porscha-sterling-best-selling-author-publisher-influencer

5 Revenue-Boosting Blogging Tips for Small Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

A blog is one of the most important components of content writing. It is an effective way to communicate with readers. Nowadays, many businessmen are using these blogs to connect with other businessmen.

Writing a blog is all about penning down emotions, thoughts, information, experience, and knowledge and post it on various digital platforms. The best part about blogging is that with just one blog, you can reach numerous potential clients, that too, within a limited budget. Blogging, if done right, can be very effective.

1. How To Create An Effective Business Blog

Create a blog for your audience

While creating a blog, remember you are writing it for your customers. Hence, create a blog keeping your audiences' interests. For example, write a blog to provide a solution for any existing issue related to your industry.

Plan your content

When you start writing a blog, the first question you need to ask is, "What topic should I cover in my blog?". This question needs to be answered every time you think about writing a blog. Hence, it's important to have a plan. You can plan everything. Starting from the topics for your blogs well in advance along with the time when you want to post them. This way, you will be able to post new blogs for your audience regularly.

Create unique, informational and engaging blogs

The success of your blog highly depends on the content. Audience like blogs which are rich in information and are knowledgeable. Also, if your audience finds your content valuable, they would keep coming back. You never know, they may even end up at your website and finally buying your product or services.

Work on your writing style

Every second, a new blog is posted online. If you want your blogs to get recognized, develop your style. Remember, your blogs would be a reflection of your company. Hence create your blogs keeping your company's vision and mission in mind.

Use share icons

In digital marketing, having links is very important. The more your blogs get shared, the better it will be for your business. Hence, using the 'share' icon could be of great help. The viewers easily recognize these icons. By clicking on these icons, readers can share it with others. This would help in increasing traffic to your website, which results in increasing your sales.

Keep track of your blog performance

Just writing blogs is not sufficient; tracking your blog performance is equally important. You must have heard about "employer credit check." Before hiring an employee, many employers do a credit check of the potential employee. The aim is to ensure the credibility of their potential hire. Similarly, measuring the blog performance, you can check whether your blogs are giving the desired results or not. If the results are not satisfactory, you can always change your blogging style or the topics for your blogs.

2. Compelling Reasons Why Small Businesses Should Blog?

If you are not sure whether blogging can be of any help for your small business or not, think again!! Here are a few reasons why you should start blogging ASAP.

To improve traffic to your business website
For Brand building
For marketing purpose
To strengthen your relationship with your clients by building trust.
For generating potential leads

Now, as you know, why you should start blogging. Let us discuss some of the significant advantages that blogging can provide for your small business.

3. Powerful Benefits of Blogging For Your Small Business

Add a boost to SEO

Search Engine Optimization is all about improving organic traffic and increasing visibility on search engines. Blogs are one of the simplest and easiest ways of achieving it. Blogs allow businesses to use relevant keywords in their blogs. Hence, when a buyer enters that keyword in the search box of a search engine, the chances of the appearance of your business website increases.

Attract new clients and strengthen the bond with existing customers

Customer forms the centre of all kinds of marketing strategies. Blogging allows you to form a connection with your viewers. Also, by posting a unique and good quality blog, you can build a relationship with your audience that is based on trust. In addition to this, you can answer your viewer's queries and also check their feedback and reviews in the comment section. This would further enhance your relationship with your audience.

Brand Awareness

Blogs help you in spreading awareness of your brand among people. You can use a blog to reach your customers, as well as potential customers, and show what your company stands for. Blogs allow you to connect to people on a personal level. You can write about your company’s mission, values, and personality.

Increases prospect for sharing

One of the essential benefits of blogging is it gives the viewer a chance to share your content and create new links. The best part is that the traffic created as a result of your blog is organic in nature. Hence, the chances of conversions of the lead created by this traffic are quite higher.

4. The Bottom Line

Blogging is an inexpensive, simple, and easy way to reach your target viewers and have a connection with them. But be sure about what you write. The audience on the internet is very smart. They prefer informational and original blogs over routine and repetitive ones. Not only this, many of these audiences believe in reviews and feedback. A few negative feedbacks or bad reviews can put a question mark on your company's credibility. So, try to post relevant blogs only. You can use blogs to show people your expertise. This way, people will know that you are a professional and is good at what you do. This would further increase their trust in you. Higher the trust factor, the higher are the chances that they would do business with you.

If you have yet not started with blogs, start working on them. Blogs have numerous benefits. Create blogs that help you in promoting your business.

The Gender Pay Gap in 2019 & How to Overcome It

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Women have a history of jumping through hurdles on their journey up the corporate ladder. Fighting for equal pay is one of them. The phenomenon of the gender pay gap is a devastatingly embarrassing blight on the professional structure worldwide.

While the gap is shrinking, the numbers are still rather shocking. A study by Glassdoor of over 400,000 positions found that men make an average of 21% more than women overall. Women are still earning just .79 cents for every dollar that a man makes in the same position.

To understand what is happening, it is helpful to look at industries where the gender pay gap is most prominent and where it is lacking.

Jobs with the Largest Gender Pay Gap

When looking at jobs with the largest gender pay gap in 2019, most are traditionally male-dominated industries that have had difficulty responding to shifting demographics and efforts to have wage transparency.

Pilot: 26.6%
Chef: 24.6%
C-Suite executive: 24%
Computer programmer: 11.6%
Professor: 11%

Jobs with the Smallest Gender Pay Gap

Glassdoor’s report wasn’t all bad news. There are actually a few positions where women outearn men. However, it’s not surprising that many of these professions are female-dominated and not as high paying as the roles listed above.

Merchandiser: -7.8%
Research assistant: -5.9%
Social worker: -3%
Military officer: -1.5%
Environmental specialist: -0/8%

Gender Pay Gap by State

Similarly to the way the gender pay gap varies by industry, it varies by state as well. A lot of this has to do with the economy of each state as well as whether or not they have passed any laws that discourage wage discrimination. Below are all 50 states and their current pay gap.

How to Combat the Gender Wage Gap Today

While it is true that the wage gap is shrinking, there are still many industries where this is not the case. By connecting with mentors and learning the right strategies for negotiation, women in the workplace can work to try to avoid some of the common pitfalls associated with the gender wage gap. Below are two major ways women can overcome this obstacle.

Mentorship: Women that have been trailblazers in male-dominated professions are often available as mentors, even looking to help other female candidates to help raise up. The more women that can be mentors, the more it is possible to break into a particular profession. Searching for a mentor through associations and networking opportunities is a great plan. Network with like minded individuals and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

Negotiation tactics: Women are less likely to use aggressive negotiation tactics in an interview and therefore tend to settle for lower salaries. Investing in learning negotiation strategies has been shown to level the playing field significantly. Some other potential strategies simply require a change in thought process. For example, it’s been demonstrated that women negotiate more effectively on behalf of others rather than advocating for themselves. By thinking of negotiations as affecting, for example, other women in the field, colleagues, or family members, a woman can learn to negotiate for themselves more effectively.

While it is true that the wage gap is shrinking, there are still many industries where this is not the case. By connecting with mentors and learning the right strategies for negotiation, women in the workplace can work to try to avoid some of the common pitfalls associated with the gender wage gap and get a win that will allow them to soon be mentors for the next generation.

Best Motivational Podcasts for Your Commute

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

With the end of 2019 approaching, you may be starting to feel the common sluggishness that comes with winter and the holidays. You may even feel a bit burnt out or unmotivated –– not to worry, we’ve all been there. Whether you’ve been working hard at school or towards your career, it’s important to find ways to recharge and find the right motivation to end your year strong and start 2020 with a refreshed mindset. The best and perhaps the easiest way to go about this is to start building small but healthy habits now that you can use as a platform for next year’s goals.

To help, we thought this roundup of some of the best podcasts on personal and professional growth would make a great tool and resource. Podcasts are one of the most effective ways to make us feel motivated and inspired, especially if you don’t have the time to read through endless articles or books. They’re easily accessible and can be played while you’re on the go.

Search through this list to find a few that speak to your personal and career goals. The list includes both short and long-form shows featuring some of the most incredible thought leaders including Aubrey Marcus, Patrice Washington and Angela Lussier. Listen in for plenty of helpful and actionable tips to implement into your day-to-day and reignite your motivation.

Self-help:

Personal Growth:

Professional Growth:

Infographics from carrentals.com.

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, some of the Caribbean islands, and Liberia. It began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.

Similarly named festival holidays occur in Germany and Japan. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, and around the same part of the year in other places.

Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well. - from Wikipedia

Women and Coding: How and Where to Start Learning to Code

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

by Yazi

Coding is a sought-after skill in the tech industry, but its application extends to multiple industries. Many people jump on the bandwagon without learning the basics of programming.

They end up frustrated, and they conclude that coding is hard. While it is indeed a hard nut to crack, taking it one step at a time will make it less intimidating. Besides, there is a lot of fun learning a new way of communicating. So how and where do you begin your coding journey?

How to start learning to code

Whether you are studying for a job or improving your programming skills, you need to start with the basics.

• Familiarise yourself with computers

Before you embark on programming, it is vital to understand how the computer systems function. Understand the functionality of the computer and various programs. You should also understand how networks work. Grasping the basics will make it easier to understand the concepts that you will tackle later.

• Learn a programming language

Your reasons for learning how to code will help determine the programming language to learn. Most people start with C, C++, Python, or Java programming languages. Each requires commitment and time to understand the concepts. Whichever coding language you choose, take your time to get comfortable with it. You can learn several languages, but as a beginner, you should stick to one programming language until you are familiar with it.

Where to start learning to code

You have determined your goals and interest and picked the programming languages to help you achieve those goals. So, what next? Many people usually throw away the idea of learning a programming language due to the cost of tutoring or enrolling in a course. However, there are numerous free coding classes for women, which can get your foot into the programming world. Here are resources that will come in handy when learning to code.

• Free online coding courses

Women can take advantage of free online coding programs to learn to program. The online course guides novice coders on how to begin their journey. A few classes will help you wrap your head around the concepts of the programming language and their application. Most provide a fun and engaging way to learn, and soon, you will be building websites and creating mobile apps.

Some of the best free online classes include the following:

• freeCodeCamp: A non-profit organization that consists of an interactive learning web platform, an online community forum, chat rooms for novice coders.

• CodeCademy: An online interactive platform that offers free coding classes in 12 different programming languages including Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, C++, and Sass, etc.

• Coursera: Everyone knows Coursera. Most courses in Coursera are taught by university professors and professionals. You can take classes for free with an option to earn a certificate with a fee.

• Tutorials and textbooks

Coding is such a big topic. It is not the case where you can simply finish the course and become an independent coder. Aspiring coders with little experience will find online tutorials and coding reference books very useful when they have to do a specific project or task. For example, something like code translation, or how to edit PDF files with VB.Net. You can find a specific step-by-step guide to help you with such task while searching for online tutorial. If there isn't any guide available, you can throw a question in the forum. Be sure to check if anyone has asked the same question before. Also, try to display the fact that you’ve attempted to solve the issue by yourself before asking for help.

• Mobile applications

Programming requires constant practice to grasp the concepts and hone the skills. Women can perfect their coding prowess using mobile applications. Some apps provide basic knowledge on how to navigate programming. However, some apps like Encode are code editors, which help you develop error-free codes.

Some of the best apps include the following:

• Udacity: This platform offers massive open online courses. There are many choices of coding you can learn, ranging from HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python and more.

• Khan Academy: A non-profit application provides more than 6000 videos about the fundamentals of computer science, computer programming and computer animation.

READ ALSO: CSS3: TOO EARLY OR JUST IN TIME?

• YouTube videos

Complex concepts may be difficult to grasp without tutoring. Luckily, there are dozens of YouTube videos that explain complicated concepts. Women can benefit from video tutorials since they illustrate coding in simple terms.

• Coding workshops

Programming is not a skill you learn in a single day. Therefore, you should attend seminars and conferences to build your knowledge and network with other women in the field.

Learning programming is both fun and satisfying. You get valuable skills that are useful in your career and life.

About the Author: Yazi is an inspired writer who enjoys writing about personal growth, self-help tips, and women's lifestyle.

How She Does It: Katie Cunningham CEO, LYFETYMES

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

About Katie Cunningham

Katie Cunningham is the Founder Of LYFETYMES, A Startup that is disrupting the entire Party Industry and improve the way people plan and celebrate milestones. Prior Katie spent her career in Banking, Finance, And Consulting leading Consumer Acquisition, Revenue Strategies and Sales Organizations.

About LYFETYMES

LYFETYMES, A Startup that is disrupting the entire Party Industry and improve the way people plan and celebrate milestones.

Deb Bailey: Welcome to the Secrets of Success blog, Katie. Nice to have you stop by. Could you begin by telling us how you got started as an entrepreneur?

Katie Cunningham: Happy to be here, Deb. I spent the majority of my career leading and being part of programs around where I was able to create, implement and execute consumer programs both at Fortune 100 companies and startups so it comes naturally. However, it came down to four things:
1) I was fed up with my future being controlled by others
2) deeply unhappy and lost passion for what
I was doing
3) I knew I had a solution to a major problem for moms that had not been disrupted
4) knew that I would think everyday about the idea of LYFETYMES and would only regret not being brave enough to go for it.

Deb: Are there any “lessons learned” that you’d like to share?

Katie: I have TONS of lessons learned - it would take all day. Your time is precious and your most valuable asset, so guard it. If someone you don’t know wants to jump on a call to find out more about your company, don’t be afraid to ask first about the point of the call (kindly of course). I spent a ton of hours speaking to people that wasted an hour to sell me a $25,000 program at the end of the call, I could not afford bootstrapping. In retrospect, if I had simply asked ahead the goal or agenda for the call, I could of saved both of us the time.

Deb: Totally agree with that approach! Who are your ideal clients?

Katie: My ideal clients are busy moms that are juggling so much already that time is their new currency. There is not enough of it to go around. Our moms are wanting a party planner experience - but not at a party planner price - they want a digital event planner. They want to be able to DIY and have all the resources in one place and make it Pinterest worthy. They want one place to go for all Celebration planning from birthdays to baby showers and a repository of past celebrations to make it easy to duplicate.

Deb: What are some of your successes and challenges?

Katie: Success is seeing people sign up for LYFETYMES everyday. We are launching new
functionality to wow the customer. We love getting great notes from customers on how much they love the value that we bring. The challenges are wearing so many hats while bootstrapping.

Deb: What inspires you to do the work you do?

Katie: Knowing LYFETYMES is part of creating lifelong memories and bringing friends and families together to celebrate a milestone or a holiday and making it easy to do so. Busy moms are the designated family party planner for the most part and we give moms a secret weapon to pull it off while looking like a rockstar and allow them to enjoy the moment also. I am so inspired thinking that we could be part of billions of happy memories! This helps me sleep well at night and get up excited to work the next day.

Deb: What’s your vision for your business?

Katie: It’s huge. I look at technology and where we are heading and what we can do to enrich the most important moments in peoples lives, from birth to life celebrations. We want everyone to think of LYFETYMES to help bring your friends and family together to celebrate the most memorable moments in LYFE.

Deb: 7. What advice would you give to women entrepreneurs who are just starting
out?

Katie: It is tempting to hire people for parts of the business that you don’t feel are your strength, but really challenge yourself first on how long or hard is it to learn or do this skill set. There are certain skill sets you can learn, but would take too much time, you may need to hire in the interim. But really take the time access your capabilities. Even if you hire down the road, you will be able to guide that employee if you have done the job yourself and understand the basic mechanics.

Deb: Very helpful advice. So, what do you think are the top 3 traits an entrepreneur must have?

Katie: Guts - it’s a huge risk to look your family in the face and explain why your well-paid, M-F, health benefit job is being swapped out for a zero salary - 24/7, zero benefit idea.

Resilience- Can you keep going? Are you going to give up? No one wants to hear the struggles that you are going through, they care about the end game- even your family in some cases. Are you willing to drag yourself and your family through the hardest years of your lives?

Confidence - Can you bust through the fear and ask people for what you
need? Can you ask 3 times? Can you stomach all the no’s?

Deb: Katie, thanks so much for sharing that, and telling everyone about your business. Please share website and social media URLs.

Katie: I enjoyed it, Deb. Here are the URLs:

www.lyfetymes.com
https://www.facebook.com/celebratewithLYFETYMES/
https://www.instagram.com/lyfetymes/
https://www.pinterest.com/lyfetymes/

How to Plan a Corporate Team Building Retreat in 5 Steps

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 17:20:00 +0000

by Victoria Hill

Corporate working environments are stressful, and employees need to learn to work together.

A team building retreat provides an opportunity for creating strong bonds and dealing with animosity and mistrust among members.

Staff spend time outside the work environment and learn each other’s personalities. The tons of activities are meant to re-energise employees and motivate them.

Retreats benefit the workforce, the company has a lot to gain. They can use the retreats to engage employees in a laid back environment. They can also get insights into the challenges facing their workforce. Besides, employees tend to be more productive after a corporate retreat. Are you wondering how to plan a company retreat? Try following these steps.

1. Choose a planning committee for the retreat

Planning a retreat is exhausting, and there is too much ground to cover. Therefore, you need to pick a team to help you nail down all the details. Get volunteers and assign responsibilities to ensure all aspects of the retreat are handled. You should hold meetings regularly to make significant decisions and check the progress of each member. Encouraging employees to take part in the planning ensures their ideas are incorporated into the retreat.

2. Determine the purpose of your event

Even a company retreat has objectives and goals to achieve. Those goals will dictate the type of retreat and the best location. The expected outcome of the team-building exercise could be to build interpersonal relationships among employees or learn new skills that can develop their careers. Irrespective of the objectives of the event, the primary purpose of team building is to have fun. Therefore, your business goals should not hinder people from relaxing and having fun.

3. Prepare a budget

The budget will dictate how to plan a corporate retreat. Therefore, it can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it. If you are planning to host the retreat outside the country, the budget should cover accommodation and airfare for all employees. However, a local retreat would only require organising catering services and booking the location. Most of the time, the company determines the budget and gives the committee a figure. However, if the organisation allows free autonomy, you should sit down and make a detailed budget.

4. Pick a location carefully

With numerous areas to consider, narrowing down to the best places for corporate retreats can be a daunting task. The success of the team-building efforts depends on the location. Therefore, it is crucial to choose wisely. Here are some of the best corporate retreat locations to keep in mind:

a. Best for ski and food: Sapporo, Japan

Sapporo, Japan, has numerous places to enjoy your retreat. Sapporo offers adventurous opportunities for skiing and snowboarding. You can check in your team to a resort and spend the retreat outdoors. The food in the various restaurants is also tasty. You should definitely try softcream, crab, ramen and beer there.

b. Best for health and wellness: Bali, Indonesia

If you fancy a wellness retreat, then Bali, Indonesia should be on top of your list. There are multiple health and wellness retreat locations. Employees can reduce stress through yoga and spa treatments. If you want to get active, don’t worry, there are multiple fitness retreats in Bali that packed with fun activities by the beach, to help you and your employees unwind. Plus, those fitness activities will help strengthen your team. Don’t forget to make sure that everyone in your team is able to keep up with the activities.

c. Best for hiking and breath-taking scenery: Gstaad, Switzerland

Gstaad is a charming location with a picturesque backdrop and a mountainous landscape. Lush green fields and snowy mountain peaks making it the perfect untouched location for a hiking retreat as you soak up the serene surroundings. Skiing is common in the winter, but in the summer, one has to spa.

5. Think about the types of activities to do

To make the retreat memorable, you should choose fun activities that everyone will enjoy. You need to incorporate team activities and fun sports. When picking out the activities, ensure it is something you can do in the location. You can also include a few workshops or work sessions.

Corporate retreats can accomplish a lot with adequate planning. As the employees enjoy fun activities, your company will reap the many benefits of a corporate retreat. Therefore, ensure you incorporate all your objectives to various aspects of the plan. With sufficient communication with the employees, your retreat will be successful.

About the Author: Victoria Hill has been writing as a ghostwriter ever since she was in college. Her favorite topics are human development, business communication, modern and pop art, minimalism, and self-development.

Avani Miriyala: "Scaling Your Freelance Business to Multiple 6-Figures" on Women Entrepreneurs Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Show #504

Topic: Scaling to Multiple 6-Figures

Avani shares:

The importance of systems
How to create a strategy & how to manage your time
Why having the right mindset is everything

Avani Miriyala is a business coach for freelancers. She's on a mission to helping hustlers ditch their 9-5 job, get more clients, work less, and make more money. Avani runs her own UX Strategy Consultancy and is the host of the 6-Figure Freelancer Podcast which is based out of Austin, TX.

After many years working as a user experience (UX) designer at various tech companies, she made the leap to start her own consulting company. As her business scaled, things got out of control. She needed to change the story. She set out to find the techniques and systems that her business needed to run like a well-oiled machine. These techniques helped her hit a $10k month by Month 4 of her business. She realized that so many others could benefit from these tips while launching their own consulting businesses.

https://avanimiriyala.com/

http://AvaniMiriyala/free - Download the Client Magnet Roadmap

https://www.instagram.com/avanimiriyala/

https://www.pinterest.com/avanimiriyala/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/avanimiriyala

https://www.twitter.com/avanimiriyala

Listen on Podomatic:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/dbcoach/episodes/2019-11-19T23_00_00-08_00

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/women-entrepreneurs-radio/id939410730?mt=2

Listen on Libsyn:
http://womenentrepreneursradio.libsyn.com/avani-miriyala-scaling-your-freelance-business-to-multiple-6-figures

How She Does It: KRIS RAVENSCROFT, CO-FOUNDER & CEO, BEAUTY GOURMET

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah A Bailey) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

About Kris Ravenscroft

Kris Ravenscroft is a seasoned startup executive and entrepreneurial mentor who is passionate about helping women shine in business and in life. Today, as Co-Founder of Beauty Gourmet, Ravenscroft is bringing a functional food, beverage and supplement company to market that is dedicated to making self-care easier for women so they can stay healthy and always look and feel their best with the least amount of effort.

A portion of Beauty Gourmet’s revenue proceeds from their Glitter® Tea collection is allocated to grants for fellow female founders, so they too have the opportunity to have their entrepreneurial dreams come to life. Ravenscroft also serves as an Advisor and Lead Organizer for Startup Boston, a volunteer-driven organization rooted in educating, celebrating and connecting the Boston startup community.

Prior to Beauty Gourmet, Ravenscroft and her husband had a successful exit of Phase One Medical, a medical device company focused on the development and commercialization of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Access products. In her mid-20’s, Ravenscroft fell ill due to stress and burnout, which inspired her soon after to become a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and embrace the significance of making self-care a top priority, the beauty of allowing inner health to radiate out and ultimately, her mission to help other women do the same.

When Ravenscroft isn’t heads down in the office, she is a devoted dog mom to her goofy golden retriever Mya.

Mary Corwin

About Beauty Gourmet

Beauty Gourmet®, an emerging women-owned functional food and beverage company from Cohasset, MA, backed by a passion-driven mission to make self-care more convenient for the busy modern woman so she can stay healthy and a social impact program seeking to foster equality in fund raising for female entrepreneurs.

Their flagship product, Glitter® Tea is a low calorie, low sugar, low caffeine sparkling drink in fashion-forward packaging and offered in three flavors: Grapefruit Ginger Green Tea , Black Cherry Rooibos Tea and Peach Vanilla White Tea. Currently available online for purchase by the case.

For more information, visit www.beautygourmet.com.

Deb Bailey: Welcome to the Secrets of Success blog, Kris. Let's get started. Could you share how you got started as an entrepreneur?

Kris Ravenscroft: I'm glad to be here, Deb. My first experience with entrepreneurship was going into business with the florist from my wedding. He was just so talented and I knew that if I could give him the platform he deserved, the business would thrive and luckily I ended up being right. He was amazing.

Deb: Are there any “lessons learned” that you’ve had along the way?

Kris: One of the biggest lessons I learned is to believe in yourself. People often times cannot see that you are doing something great and special if it is new. I can’t tell you how often we were told to not concentrate on “just” women and now people consider it one of our greatest strengths, or we were told we had to make our products look healthy and not glam and now people think that is fabulous. The biggest lesson I could share is that if you are giving people what they know they want, you might be too late. Sometimes, you want to be in the uncomfortable spot of giving people what they don’t know they want yet. That is when you are doing something new and exciting.

Deb: I like the sound of that. So, who are your ideal clients?

Kris: Our ideal clients are women who love to take care of themselves, but most likely don’t have the time to do it as much as they want to. They could be stressed students, busy moms, super career women or a combination thereof. They like convenient, “better for you” options so they have all the benefits without any additional effort. Our secondary clients are women who are interested in the beauty and glam market.

Deb: What have been some of your successes and challenges?

Kris: I think our greatest success has also been our largest challenge. Most beverages that have functional ingredients mask those strong flavors by being overly sweet or flavored. We wanted a beverage that met women’s preferences, which we learned were low sugar, low calorie, low caffeine and low sweetness while still being light, refreshing and delicious. This was a challenge, but we took the time and I am excited to say that we have yet to exhibit at a tradeshow where people do not tell us we have one of the best beverages onsite.

Deb: That must be great to hear. What inspires you to do the work you do?

Kris: The demands being placed on women are nearly impossible to meet, and I think that is taking an unfortunate toll on our health. Something has to give. After I got super sick in my 20’s and was able to heal using natural remedies, I thought I would never let my health go to the wayside again. But, when I was steering my last startup, I was so busy that I stopped taking care of myself and became sick once more. After that, I knew something had to be done as the busy was never going away. We had to find a more convenient way to take care of ourselves, or women’s health was going to suffer over time. I believe that this is a serious issue we really need to be addressing.

Deb: I agree. Self-care is easy to neglect, unfortunately! That's another reason why your work is so important. What’s your vision for your business?

Kris: Our company philosophy is to infuse “beauty nutrients” into foods and beverages that women are already eating and drinking, allowing them to create an effortless foundation of wellness, and always look and feel their best. Thus, my vision is to create a portfolio of products that allows us to sneak effortless beauty and wellness into every sip and every bite of a women’s day, making her as healthy as she can be.

Deb: What advice would you give to women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

Kris: If a female entrepreneur was just starting out, I would tell her to seek out help from other women leaders. They should reach out to more successful entrepreneurs for mentorship, and find their village of female entrepreneurs at their same stage to use as a sounding board.

As a Lead Organizer for Startup Boston, supporting fellow founders is a personal passion of mine, which inspired Beauty Gourmet’s “Glam Leaders” program, offering grants that back fundraising materials for designated women entrepreneurs, so we can be part of the solution to create equality in female funding.

Deb: Speaking of self-care, what is your favorite activity to relax and unwind?

Kris: I love to spend time with my golden retriever, Mya. She is so human and makes me laugh and relax. Since we have moved into a condo, she has taken to stopping at the top of the stairs every time she goes out and won’t go continue on until I give her kisses, snuggles and ear rubs. She literally refuses to move. She just makes me stop during the day and remember to breath, be grateful and relax.

Deb: What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

Kris: I always had this fear of not being successful at a young enough age. So I would tell my younger self “23 is not old” and then I would tell my slightly older self that “29 is not the end of the world” and so on. Women are living their dreams and creating businesses into their 60s. Oh, and I would add at certain times that would be appropriate, “break up with that loser.”

Deb: One more question for you. What do you think are the top 3 traits an entrepreneur must have?

Kris:
1. The ability to make decisions: Well-informed bad decisions or good decisions will always lead you to your next step. It is indecision that paralyzes you as an entrepreneur.

2. The willingness to sacrifice. There are long hours in starting your own company and often your resources, energy and money can become drained. You have to be willing to make the sacrifices that lead to success.

3. Kindness and Likeability. I am not sure if that is a must have, but people tend to do business with people they like. So, if that is not you, it might be worth finding a co-founder with complementary skills who is more approachable and people-centric.

4. Passion, commitment and grit are of course old stand-by’s.

Deb: Thanks so much, Kris. Before you go, please let everyone know where to find you online.

Kris: I enjoyed it, Deb! Here you go:
www.beautygourmet.com
@beautygourmet