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March 2022

A Fun Way to be Female Forward

A Fun Way to be Female Forward

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Support Collaborative, Women in Leadership by BINGING By Abi Green, J.D.

Feeling overwhelmed by all suffering in the world right now? While we must stay vigilant, informed and support those suffering in Ukraine and around the world, we must also care for ourselves and there is nothing quite so healing as entertainment. To that end, here are some shows to provide you temporary respite from the state of the world.

  • Great News (Netflix)
    Longtime 30 Rock writer, Tracy Wigfield, created this two season triumph with unforgettable lines like. “I don’t know much about sex positions. I took a Cosmo quiz and it said I am pretty enough to just lie there.” The show has Executive Producer Tina Fey’s signature fast paced, insightful yet goofy humor but Wigfield infuses a unique perspective. Most surprising is Nicole Richie’s performance. She will surprise and delight you. The jokes are dense. You’ll need a couple of viewings.
  • I’m Sorry (Trutv)
    I feel so connected to this show’s creator and star, Andrea Savage. Proving women do not lose their sense of humor postpartum, her true to life portrayal of a sarcastic, raunchy mom and speaks to my comedic soul. Take a break from the shows illustrating a frazzled shell of a woman as the only definition of motherhood. Instead, watch a former standup comedian, tell stories from her actual life. She dives into the really important questions all moms face, like “what if you found out your kid’s teacher likes ice cubes in her butt?” ass cubes, tee hee or asking your husband, “Honey, if I were a prostitute, what do you think I could charge?” Oh Ms. Savage, you see me. She also has a great podcast. All guests are required to say the word “butthole” because its funny. Don’t other think it.
  • Newborn Moms (ABCd)
    Enjoy 3 minute mini-episodes ideal for a quick laugh break, which you need right now. Ideal bathroom break viewing. Two super funny Canadian women helping each other through one of the toughest stages of life. It is particularly poignant if you are caring for a newborn but will still hit home for those who experienced those challenging days long ago. Remember genuinely asking your partner,“What if [the baby] cried so hard he made himself barf and he’s just lying there on his back with his mouth filled with vomit? Like the drummer guy from Led Zeppelin?” For those who have given birth, I highly recommend the “War Stories” episode where a group of Moms recount horrifying birth stories. The word “bum-gina” is forever burned in my brain.
  • The Katering Show (YouTube)
    “A journey of the food intolerant & an intolerable foodie”. These two Australian women, both named Kate, are so funny they’ll make chocolate milk shoot out your nose, even if you’re not drinking anything. With lines like “We always thought food intolerance was just for people who wanted to jazz up their eating disorders.” The series has just 6 episodes but, thankfully this duo is still going strong. Check out their Covid PSA explaining that now since gyms are closed everyone must exercise outdoors in the company of a live dolphin.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OoPTWUczM0). 
  • Astronomy Club (Netflix)
    Innovative, funny with an all-Black cast, this sketch show delivers pants wetting laughter. The show addresses many timely topics like #blacklivesmatter and racial injustice in a thoughtful, empowering, hilarious way. Real change happens in ways big and small. Watching this show supports Black actors and by watching it you are proving to entertainment executives, there is an audience for more shows featuring the BIPOC community. I especially recommend the third episode about political organizing. From my decades of experience, this sketch is on point.
  • It’s Personal with Amy Hoggart (TruTV)
    I first spotted Amy on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (amazing, underrated show BTW). She’s funny, relatable and a genuine empath. She travels the US to help people struggling with problems in a unique, over the top and unforgettable way. This show will lighten your soul without ripping at your heartstrings.
  • At Home with Amy Sedaris (TruTV)
    Cook, crafter, comedian, what can’t Amy do? Fans of her off the wall comedy (think Strangers with Candy) will appreciate her characteristic MadTV meets deranged homemaker style. You may ask yourself “why would one utilize an upside down stool to strain spaghetti?” The answer is- she’s Amy Sedaris.In the words of Stephen Colbert, Strangers with Candy cast member, “You can’t un-fry things, Gerry. You can’t be something you’re not”.
  • Amy Schumer Learns to Cook (Food Network)
    Get an unprecedented peek into life at home with renowned potty mouth funny lady, Amy and her chill AF husband. He’s a chef (but not a douchy celebrity, just a guy who loves to cook) and she is not. He teaches her things while their baby naps. Then, they eat. Also, since they recorded the show, her Chef husband has been diagnosed as neurodivergent. I am impressed with the way this couple bravely communicates about such an important topic.

Have you watched any of these female driven shows? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Find Abi here:

Podcast | Instagram | Facebook

Pass Her the Mic Feature: Cicily Newsom

Pass Her the Mic Feature: Cicily Newsom

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We recently had the opportunity to include Cicily on a LBI panel all about money and funding for women in business! Now we get to pass her the mic and learn more about the work she does in this feature interview!

We recently had the opportunity to include Cicily on a LBI panel all about money and funding for women in business! Now we get to pass her the mic and learn more about her work [ image of smiling woman ]

Hi! Cicily Newsom! I am a sales trainer and leadership development coach specifically in the Financial Services Sector. I help people start their own businesses in the Trillion Dollar industry of Life Insurance and Retirement Protection.

What brought you to the place you are working from now, essentially, what in your history inspired you to do what you do NOW? 

Growing up, no one ever taught me the value of entrepreneurship OR  financial literacy. While I have an amazing and loving family, they were blue collar people who worked their entire lives building someone else’s dream and subsequently struggled financially their entire lives only to retire on 40% of what it took them 100% to live on before they retired. I knew early on that this was a broken model. The American Dream has ELEVATED but cultural messaging is still lagging 😉

Even in college, understanding how to manage household finances, understanding how money works, understanding tax laws and financial tools these were not offerings made available to the biology students or the creatives; And certainly no one taught us about Entrepreneurship and the value of owning a business. It wasn’t until I read a pivotal book: “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki that I truly understood the Cash Flow Quadrant and the four ways people earn a living in the world: The Employed, The Self Employed, The Business Owner and the Investor. 

I became passionate about ensuring people knew how to think differently about money and wealth and freedom and business. 

It was a natural fit that I would go into financial services. Not only could I learn for myself but I could then pass along that knowledge to two different client sets; the clients who needed the insurance protection AND the agents who wanted an opportunity to build a business legacy inside of the industry.

This month our theme is “Elevate”. What does that mean to you and your business?

A few things come to mind…

*As I mentioned above- It’s past time that we begin to Elevate our cultural messaging about wealth generation and the new American Dream (aka the Global Dream). We have to elevate our views on money and our views on how and why we go to work each day.

* Also as a business owner I am constantly reminded of “Delegate to Elevate” which is a simple way of saying- we must begin to learn about our strength zones in business and delegate the tasks or opportunities that will free us up to do our best work in the world. 

How has elevating helped you grow and succeed?

We go from employed to self-employed because we want control but we become true business owners when we have leverage. We leverage the time and strengths of those around us to ELEVATE ourselves and our businesses to the next level. The results I saw in my life from this elevation are personal growth, better relational harmony with my spouse and community, a greater ability to volunteer and serve, improved health and a deeper feeling of significance and purpose. It’s amazing how much we can grow when the basic finances are covered and we get to work for ourselves. 

We leverage our businesses to ELEVATE our wealth template and thus ELEVATE the life experiences we get to have because of the financial freedoms we have created in that business. We have to let go of control in order to grow. Delegate to Elevate!

What do you want people to remember most about the work that you’re creating?

My formula for True wealth: Wealth = Time + Money [not just money]

In my humble opinion the only way to achieve true wealth is through business ownership. I want people to remember the importance of having both and to keep fighting for that balance of having both. I choose sales because I think it’s the greatest and most noble profession of all time but sales without a business is just self employment. I want to help free people from having to trade time for money. To teach that is to teach freedom, self development, financial stewardship, leadership, ownership and legacy creation. 

What’s the next thing for you? What are you working on?

Our agency is going through a rebranding phase in order to be better recognized as a house-hold name. I don’t think the Newsom Agency even knew what was possible when we first started.  I am excited to extend our brand to further reach those who are ready for business ownership and wealth as we define it; Specifically women business owners in financial services because I think women are natural owners, listeners, intuitives, communicators, consultants, problem solvers and ladybosses. 

Thank you so much Cicily! We absolutely loved the little nuggets of gold you shared with us in this interview and we can’t wait to see the big things you accomplish in the future!

Find Cicily here:

Website

6 Ways to Elevate Your Mindset as a Women in Business

6 Ways to Elevate Your Mindset as a Women in Business

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If you’re like most people, you probably find yourself surrounded by negativity more often than you’d like. Whether it’s the news, social media, or even just the people you interact with on a daily basis; it can be easy to get bogged down by all the negative energy.

Woman standing in power pose with her arm raised above her head. Text reads "6 Ways to Elevate Your Mindset as a Women in Business"

But what if there was a way to elevate your mindset and stop the negative thoughts in their tracks?

It’s not always easy to get out of the negative thinking patterns that can consume us. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do start elevate your mindset and begin thinking more positively!

Here are some practical ways to elevate your mindset:

Find the positive

Make a conscious effort to focus on the positive. Whether you find yourself dwelling on negative thoughts or not, it’s important to take a step back and try refocusing your attention elsewhere. Maybe even just for five minutes! It could be something as simple as happy memory or a positive affirmation. Redirecting your mind to something positive is the first step!

Challenge your negative thoughts

Negative thoughts can really get in your head and take over, but you are stronger than they are. When a negative thought comes along to make itself at home there’s no time like the present! Challenge these unwanted visitors by asking yourself questions like: “What evidence do I have for believing this?” or even more simply – “why?”. If their answer isn’t good enough then send them packing with one simple word: ‘No’, and replace it with something positive.

Focus on your successes

When times are tough, it’s easy to dwell on our failures, but it’s important to focus on our wins! One of my favorite ways to move past moments of failing, and the negative mindset that can follow, is to review my “wins book”. I keep a scrap book of moments of success, testimonials from clients, kind words from friends and family, and things that make me smile and feel successful. This is an ongoing project, but one that fills me with gratitude, happiness, and motivation when I review it.

Talk to a friend

It’s always nice to have an earful of positive things said by loved ones, but sometimes you just need someone with different perspectives on life. When the clouds seem too heavy and all hope seems lost in your journey through it – call up that friend!

As women in business, it’s so important to have the right bizz besties in our circle! These are the women who elevate our mindset and push us to be better versions of ourselves. Surrounding yourself with these amazing, powerful women is so important, especially in moments of doubt or frustration.

Try something new

When was the last time you tried something new? Something that scared you a little bit? If it’s been a while, then it’s time to get out there and try something new! Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a great way to elevate your mindset and see the world in a different light.

Take care of yourself

This one is big. When we don’t take care of ourselves it’s easy to let the little things get to us and our mindset can really suffer. When we’re tired, overwhelmed, or frustrated, we’re farm more susceptible to negative thought patterns. Be sure to schedule in some ‘me time’ to do things that make you happy, whether that means taking a yoga class, reading your favorite book, or going for a walk outside. It’s important to give yourself a break and recharge so you can tackle each day with an elevated mindset.

It’s also important to remember that one of the highest forms of self care is strong boundaries! We can avoid burnout, mental fatigue and overwhelm when we hold firm to our boundaries and maintain space for the things that fill us back up and support our elevated mindset.

Elevating your mindset is all about taking small steps each day to focus on the positive and move past negative thoughts. It’s not always easy, but it is so worth it! When you prioritize and make time to elevate your mindset, you’ll find yourself more productive, creative, and just plain happy.

So what are you waiting for? Start elevating your mindset today!

Elevate Your Business by Elevating with your Client

Elevate Your Business by Elevating with your Client

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Article written by Martine Stefanovic

In order to elevate your business, you need to identify what makes your products and services unique. Ask yourself, “what transformation are you creating?” Find ways to monetize that value as you grow.

For many business owners, their client is a key asset that can be leveraged. When leveraging, start with adding value. Be creative with how you add value.. Think about innovative ways to engage with new clients. By fostering a supportive space, your business will continue to elevate.

Now, have you thought about strategically monetizing your business? You can create a valuable resource that sets your business apart from the competition. Here’s a great tip for you. Focus on building relationships with your client and creating an engaging experience. This will help you build trust, respect, and loyalty.

The ability to elevate your business is all about relationships

As you build relationships, attract the right clients by doing your research. Understand who your target audience is as an entrepreneur.

Let your clients see the power of your services in different ways. Ultimately, they can translate into more revenue so you can elevate your business. How will you go about elevating your business client today?

Business prospects can expand daily depending on how you network. When your business has a good culture, you can hire the best employees. As you continue to grow in business, think about building a solid foundation. Your foundation should have supporters, advocates, and clients that will grow with you. Create a safe space where others can take some time to connect.

Your client’s will help spread the word about your business. Take the opportunity to make money with different resources that are in high demand. Join an amazing community. Give your supporters access to little details about yourself. Think about an active membership that you can monetize when you build a firm foundation, hint, the LBI Backstage Pass!

It’s a process to elevate your business.

Trust the process as you plan accordingly.

As you continue to grow, think about how you can position yourself for success. This year is about transforming and elevating your business. It’s about who you know, not what you know. Join a community of expansion, collaboration, and love for like-minded professionals. Create a culture that is friendly yet supportive with tons of fun.

Be strategic when creating, and elevating.

It’s possible to create a sustainable business model that will benefit your client. Your client is like your business family. Treat them with love, respect, and care. Provide valuable service and products within your business. Collaborate with other organizations that allow you to elevate your purpose. It’s important to take the time to identify what type of client you have.

Consider what services or products would be the best fit for your ideal clients. Once you have a clear idea of what you want to offer, it’s time to start building out your client. When the right people trust in your vision and invest in you, it’s essential to elevate your purpose as you create!

Martine is our LBI Matchmaker for Bizz Besties on the Backstage Pass! Find and connect with her there.

Why It Is Important to Drink Water to Assist in Healthy Eating

Why It Is Important to Drink Water to Assist in Healthy Eating

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Article written by Yaa Astar

Water makes up over 70% of the human body. So it is no surprise that water is one of the most important things that the body can receive, especially when you are attempting to embark upon a healthy eating journey. Water can help you to stay on track and focus on eating healthy and nourishing foods rather than falling back on the same processed junk that got us into an unhealthy mess in the first place.


So what exactly is it important to drink water?

First of all, it helps to flush toxins out of the body. When we aren’t drinking enough water, it can be almost impossible for our bodies to get rid of the bad things that are accumulating inside us. It can cause infections and other complications. Fortunately, water helps to eradicate the things that contaminate our bodies so that we can begin to get healthy right away.


Another great reason to drink water is because if you want to be healthy, you have to be active as well. When you drink enough water, then you begin to realize that your body has far more energy than it used to have. Instead of being tired and fatigued all the time, you will have an abundant amount of focus and the ability to concentrate. This can be very important, especially if you are an entrepreneur or you have an mentally or physically demanding job to do.


Even if you do not, walking around during your life with little energy is very dangerous and should be avoided. Make sure that you have water in your body so that it can help to nourish your brain and your body all at the same time.


Water also helps to support the immune system. If you are prone to illness, then making sure that you drink enough water is one of the most surefire ways to guarantee that you are doing everything you can to support your immune system. Water is something that helps to boost this important aspect of our bodies so that we can help to brace ourselves against colds and flu’s, and heart disease. Water can even help you to eliminate the free radicals and toxins that can contribute to cancer. Getting rid of carcinogenic waste in our stomach is very important, and water helps us do just that.


If you are interested in the physical effects of drinking water, there are several benefits there as well. It can help to clear your skin, as your body is eliminating waste and other ways rather than through your pores. It can provide your body with a healthy glow and a soft texture. Water is one of the most antiaging properties there is.


Not only that, but it is highly beneficial for your health and well-being. If you want to embark upon a journey of healthy eating, make sure you take water with your meals so that you can fully reap the benefits for yourself!

Find Yaa here:

Instagram | Services

Want to talk more about how you can consume more water, reach out today to schedule your consultation at www.yaaastar.com!

Being a BOSS as a Woman in Business

Being a BOSS as a Woman in Business

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Article written by Sybriea Lundy

Being a “boss” isn’t a goal or a life choice, it’s your birthright.

Women are hardly the weaker sex as previously branded. You are the creators, the providers, the nurturers, the backbones, and the glue. You are the bosses. And you always have been. The divine feminine energy that you each possess is the seed of badassness. You are strong. You are adaptable. You are a survivor. You’re a boss wherever you are. No matter the circumstance.   

Unfortunately, strengths can become weakness. Loyalty has the power tie you to unhealthy business relationships, among other things. I came to this realization sitting on a prison bunk with a considerable span of years ahead of me. Questionable lifestyle choices and business decisions had turned a former High School Valedictorian into inmate #1008183. And I thought my entire life was over. 

Turned out, I was still a boss. I just couldn’t see it at the time. I learned some very important lessons in my time at “rock‐bottom” and I’d like to share those with you now: 

1) To pivot is priceless – you can change your direction whenever you choose.

2) It is never too late to elevate – you can step your game up and take it to the next level at any time.

3) You are ALWAYS networking – being a kind and professional individual is universal. It has the power to transcend all kinds of barriers, both physical and perceived. Your soft skills are one of your most valuable assets and nobody can take them from you. 

What I had thought was the end of my story just ended up being the start of the next chapter. I walked out of Swannanoa Women’s Prison with a job as a paralegal and a job writing web content. Both of these positions arose from networking I’d done in a most unlikely place. Because sometimes, being a boss is all about making the best in a bad situation.   

I came home ready to elevate; but life still wanted to teach me flexibility. My five‐year plan had me graduating college and securing a career. 

But what I’ve achieved in six years has been: 

  • 2 Children 
  • 2 Degrees 
  • 1 Certificate 
  • Homeowner 
  • Successful Career in Non‐Profit 
  • I actively advocate for incarcerated women   
  • And I even sit on a board for one of the yoga/wellness programs that helped me survive incarceration 

I’m not sure what life plans to throw at me next, but I’m here for it.

As women, we are even more powerful than we can comprehend. And it’s shocking how much we can survive and overcome. The biggest limits to our potential are the ones we place on ourselves. The self‐defeating narratives of by‐ gone eras no longer hold sway. Groups like LBI are here to level the playing field and change the game. Because when women come together, we become a force of nature. 

Find Sybriea here:

mountainbizworks.org

A Guide to Managing Encounters with Gender Bias

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Written by Susan Clark Muntean, Ph.D.

As successful, ambitious women who deserve the utmost respect and support, how do we best handle disrespectful encounters in the business and professional world? 

As a researcher who has interviewed hundreds of female entrepreneurs, I have found subtle and not so subtle forms of discrimination, bias, and disrespect to be all too common. Frequently this falls into the category of microaggressions, defined as everyday slights, insults, other subtle forms of disrespect or dismissal that the perpetrator may not even be conscious is offensive or hurtful.  Women express their experiences when seeking resources for their businesses with decision makers and gatekeepers, for example, as feeling condescended to, second-guessed, ignored, belittled, or unduly questioned.

Image of couple holding hands in the distance. Text reads "A Guide to Managing Encounters with Gender Bias"

Women are too often dismissed as less intelligent and less competent relative to their male counterparts, and this is more frequent the higher they climb up their career ladders. Further, women with intersecting socio-demographic characteristics related to age, race, nationality, ethnicity, or disability are more likely to experience invisibility. Being mistreated as if you do not exist or matter is one of the worst affronts a human being can experience.  Too often women respond by questioning their own sanity or denying that they are experiencing what they are indeed experiencing.

Other times, we experience death by a thousand cuts, and simply give up or blow up, losing our cool with “the last straw” experience.  But there are much better options available to navigate through this challenging and common phenomenon. 

When feeling the experience if invisibility or anticipating that you may not be fully seen, it is useful to provide yourself with affirmations of your existence, essence, sovereignty, and sacredness in the moment or in advance of the interaction.  When experiencing dismissiveness and condescension, it is essential to communicate calmly and clearly your worth and value.  When experiencing second guessing and inappropriate behavior, it is critical to hold the mirror up to the one questioning your ability, expertise, and worthiness of support.  In these situations, I recommend strategies based upon the concepts of advocacy and inquiry. 

Self-advocacy involves representing yourself confidently in the most positive light possible. The advocacy of others involves you seeking out and receiving the advocacy of respected insiders who work on your behalf to showcase your potential and ability.  Seek out mentors that will introduce you by singing your praises in advance to gatekeepers and decision makers such as investors, potential clients or customers, and resource providers.   Pay it forward and advocate for other women and people who often experience microaggressions and discrimination.

Make advocacy a daily habit, for yourself and others.

When someone asks you something offensive, does something inappropriate, or says something hurtful, start asking questions.  Inquiry is a powerful tool that transforms the power relationship from one in which the person making the comment, taking the action, or asking the question as the offender holding the upper hand transitions to you taking your power back.  The next time you encounter this behavior, ask the person why they asked you that, why they did that, or why they said that.  You might phrase your response “That’s interesting, why would you ask me that?”, for example, if being second-guessed or inappropriately questioned. 

What this approach does is to buy you time to collect your emotional and physical responses while allowing the offender time and space to reflect upon why they indeed asked the question or made the comment in the first place.  This is a judo communication strategy that temporarily holds negative energy–even if not intended to harm you— and thrusts it back on them to defend themselves, while holding you safely in a bubble of self-protection and self-respect. 

Most decent people when asked why they said, did or asked something will immediately retract and apologize for offending you.  However, if there is ill intent, the person might continue down a rabbit hole of justifications for their position, line of questioning, or what they did in a defensive move to win power over you. If this happens, the person will just reveal to those around them their problematic assumptions, attitudes, and beliefs, and then it becomes about them and not you, as it really is about them in the first place. 

Either way, what inquiry does is put a mirror up for the ignorance or negativity to be reflected at the one who dealt the card, and not the recipient. Protect your dignity, self-respect, and emotional and psychological health from these painful encounters in the future by incorporating the tools of advocacy and inquiry and we will all be stronger warriors, together. 

Find Dr. Susan here:

Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

Elevate? or ELEVATE?

Elevate? or ELEVATE?

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From the desk of our Founder, Rose Kaz

To elevate or not to elevate?? THAT is the question, ladies!!!

And what does it really mean to truly elevate oneself and the people around you ??

I’m going to approach these questions both from an internal, individual perspective and that which I see to be helpful for women in business at large. 

Having started my career in photo + video production almost 15 years ago now, I realized that in order for me to elevate my own vision and my own work in the world, I had to have a certain amount of chutzpah; in many circles known as BALLS. However, what I quickly noticed was whilst I do have a fair amount of gall, I do not have any balls. Good news though, I do have a courageous and large chest; in many circles known as BREASTS. 

The bummer of this realization is that when I began to work in my respective field, my big chest wasn’t lauded for its courage, boldness or even business chutzpah. It was instead ogled at and then also diminished as being ‘just how it is’ for women in business and if I really wanted to level up, I need to grow some….balls, cover up my cleavage and keep my nose to the grindstone.

“Be more professional !’ ’ they said. As they oggled and touched inappropriately. Hmmmm ok. 

#metoo

So I tried. I kept trying. And tried again still to elevate my own mission by growing some, by grinding and by playing masculine af so I could get to the ‘top’ of my career.  And guess what?? I just couldn’t…. grow any, grind any harder or pull myself up in the systems that consistently oppressed me for being ….me.  And guess what else??  I also noticed that the courage I had didn’t come from my physical anatomy even though, yes I still have that large and glorious chest.  

Again, this is not a boo hoo cry for sad little women. Instead it is a call to myself, of myself and from myself to: Stand tall, chest proud and elevate myself, even when the structures of sexism, racism, xenophobia and all the other ‘ isms’ I can make an entire blog entry about want to keep women in business playing small. But guess what Patriarchy?? I’m not scared of you any more!!

I’m just not. I’m here to elevate my own, friggn bad ass self so that I can elevate other women, globally. No small task right? OK so my next assignment for myself, once I’ve taken a walk outside to stop and smell the flowers, is to share this elevation of self with YOU, good reader and fella ladyboss!

Spoiler alert: we cannot lift each other up until we have truly raised our own chin, chest and yea…say it with me…TITS UP !! ( love you Mrs. Maisel! ) So with my own courageous tits up and my ugly cries set to occasional, I am HERE FOR YOU LADYBOSS. You know why?

Because I fully see how tricky this business betch of leaning into new systems of operating can be as we still navigate the old, oppressive and moldy ways of making commerce happen in sustainable ways; both for ourselves and the world around us. With that acknowledgement, let’s talk about how we can truly elevate one another and swipe left on that competition bullshit that those old ways have tricked us to believe are necessary for our survival. It’s simply not true.

When we build a community of support around women doing business differently, we can learn from each other and see that yes this shit if really f*cking hard AND we are not going at it alone. We can talk about ‘having her back’ and ‘community over competition’ though if we do not actually activate the actions to match the words, we are simply putting pink on the patriarchy. And f*ck that shiz. We need new ways to support ourselves, our communities and support this world.

So as we talk about our third core value of ELEVATE on the LBI Backstage Pass this month with our incredible community of women from all over the world, we are digging into raising our:

  • Our economic impact through our businesses
  • Our access to additional training & education 
  • Our access to business funding
  • Our ability to share tools & resources globally 
  • Our bank account balance
  • Our circle of influence 
  • Our health personally & for that of the planet 
  • Our wealth template
  • Our overall well being 

And we know this is both an INSIDE job AND a collective project to help us be a sustainable force that significantly shifts the old paradigm into this new age of digital renaissance where we buy back the internet and all its resources because when women are at the helm of more roles of leadership, business, driving commerce and turn our attention from only bottom line focused to heart lead organization, this world will be able to evolve to a more hospitable place for everyone !!

If you feel me on this ELEVATION sensation, join us on the BsP for 24/7 collaboration, inspiration and yea you got it, ELEVATION !!

OH! And you do not want to miss our upcoming MARCH events on all things Money Honey 

Click here to come Backstage, Boss!

Upcoming events you don’t want to miss!

March 24 Show ME the money, Honey!! – BsP Exclusive virtual event on how to not leave money on the table, Ladyboss.

March 31 GO FUND YOURSELF  – Live, IN person event on FUNDING your business, Boss!

Quality over Quantity on social media

Quality over Quantity on social media

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Many businesses and brands use social media to promote themselves, and even though these are great platforms to do so, they should always keep in mind that their tactics should always be aligned with their business’ goal and philosophy.

Is Quality really over Quantity?

The answer to this question is: yes. If by any reason you feel tempted to take the fastest lane in order to grow your brand’s platforms, keep in mind that these practices are not only unethical, but also unpractical. Getting accounts that already have a big number of people on them, doesn’t mean instant success for your business.

Your followers, users, friends, subscribers: they are all people interacting with your brand, with your content, with the products or services you have to offer. And at the end of the day, social media is for human relations, not everything is transactional.

Content is key

According to socialknowhow.com, it is vital to have share worthy content on social media, because that is how a community can grow organically and relate to people that will show interest in your brand. They also mention the importance of not over sharing or saturating your feeds, but focus your efforts on creating conversation that will attract like minded people to your profiles.

Keep in mind that it’s more important to strengthen your existing relationships and improving your engagement rates with users that like what you do, rather than have millions of bots following you but no conversions at all.

Remember the “social” part, people visit your site to find a solution for a problem they are facing, to get entertainment, to get informed. Make sure you provide something useful to your digital community: it may be an advice, a piece of random information, some news, or even a meme.

It’s not everything about the numbers

We understand that you actually want to grow your numbers on social media, and that is perfectly fine. But remember that quality is the most important thing when it comes to followers. Newpathdigital.com advises not to measure your success by the number of followers, that has nothing to do with the value you add to your customers and the relationships you build on and offline.

Find your buyer persona out there using relevant hashtags related to your industry and the geographical area where you are. Give the best use you can to the money you invest on ads by targeting the right people, those who are looking for what you have to offer and that will certainly engage with you.

You don’t have to be everywhere

If you have limited resources (and that includes time) choose carefully the channels where you will have presence. You don’t have to be on every social media platform to be relevant. Csekcreative.com says the decision will depend a lot on your industry, but also on your target audience. It is also important to customize the content for each platform.

For example, a flash giveaway is great for Instagram Stories, but not so much for LinkedIn. A flower shop could create beautiful content for Pinterest, but a legal office would be a better fit for LinkedIn. Ask yourself the question: where would I, as a customer, go look for this specific product/service? That answer will give you a very good idea on the platforms that will work best for your brand.

Pamper your community

Listen to your community, learn what they want and what they need. Prepare in advance and invest more time in less content, but make it worthy. Your followers are not bots, interact with them, make them feel heard and special. Stay up to date on new features and put them in practice, your community will thank you for it.

What is your social media strategy? How do you care for your community? Tell us in the comments!

Self Care and Love as Women in Business

Self Care and Love as Women in Business

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Article Written by Kerri Lewis

As we move out of  February, “the month of love” and into March,  I’m struck by the amount of leaders and coaches out in the world today preaching the importance of self care and love but fail to implement the practice themselves.

As a newer business owner and a single mother I can truly appreciate how easily one can lose sight of taking care of themselves however, if you truly want to have an impact, it is imperative that you practice what you preach. It is one thing to know the importance of self care and self love, it’s entirely different when you put this knowledge into practice.

I’m struck by the amount of leaders and coaches out in the world today preaching the importance of self care and love but fail to implement the practice themselves.

Now, before I get into my observations of coaches and leaders failing to practice what they preach,  let’s break self love and self care down a bit.

First, what exactly is self love?

According to The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, self love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Self love means having a high regard for your own well being and happiness. Yes, this is what I’m talking about! For me, self love means putting my own needs first so that I can be the best expression of myself in the world.  Now that we have a good grasp on what self love means, let’s get into self care.

We hear a lot of talk these days about self care yet many are confused by what this actually means. There are endless strategies and tools out in the world today that people can lean into to practice self care including meditation, play, fitness, and breath work. What’s important to  remember is that whatever you choose to incorporate for daily self care is something you want to do, not something  you have to.

Oftentimes, I find that while many have a self care routine, the tools they use don’t serve them or have become just another thing to get done off their already super long list of to do’s. When it becomes work, it is not self care!

The Lack of Self Care and Discipline:

Now that we have established what self love and self care is, let’s get into what I have been witnessing out in the world of coaches and leaders. As a coach, for both leaders and other coaches, I get an inside look into how many people operate their businesses. The number one issue I run into, lack of self care and discipline. How could this be? Especially when the very people I work with are the people preaching the importance of self love and self care. 

The fact is the leaders and coaches I work with are passionate and driven people. All are invested in creating  brands and products  that come from the heart and help people live better, more fulfilling lives. The problem occurs when they become so consumed by building their business and helping clients that they stop putting their needs first.

It usually starts small like  skipping lunch to take a client call, missing a scheduled gym session or failing to sit and get quiet throughout the day. What starts as one missed self care practice spirals pretty quickly into long hours focused on work and less and less time spent on themselves. Not the ideal situation for producing quality work and achieving quantum results. 

Look, I get it. We’ve been conditioned to believe the dogma that says to be successful in business, you must sell your soul. Give up time with friends and family and work until you are bone tired in order to achieve success. The reality is  that this is the very conditioning and pressure we leaders and coaches must refrain from falling victim to if we want to make a massive impact and help change our clients and employees’ lives. And while I have no doubt my clients know this, the execution is easier said than done. 

So what to do to ensure your own needs don’t fall by the wayside while expanding your reach and holding space for people? Create non-negotiable disciplines around self care and work and hold yourself accountable. Surround yourself with visual reminders that remind you  of your vision, how you want to show up in the world and what actions you can take to implement immediate self care.

If you’re not working with a client, set timers for work and rest. When asked to take part in a project or new endeavor, ask yourself, is this really going to  help me reach my true north? If the answer isn’t an emphatic yes, say no and keep it moving. 

The truth is it’s easy to fall back into the narrative that in order to be successful you have to hustle and grind all the time. Building an empire requires work, but it doesn’t have to require sacrificing your own needs.

In fact when we operate from a place of vitality and joy we get exponentially more done in less time. By implementing structure around work and self care, not only do we ensure  that we don’t fall victim to burnout, we also show our clients and employees just how much we love ourselves and how important caring for ourselves is. 

Now the question is, what are you going to do to love yourself today? 

Find Kerri Here:

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