Core Values

Our LBI core values are the foundation that everything we’re doing is built on. We whole heartedly believe that when we walk out our core values, we’re able to serve our community in a way that collaborates, elevates, and inspires through diversity and inclusion. Here we share content and articles related to our 5 core values from the LBI crew.

July 27 2022

Using Collaborations for More Business Visibility

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values, Marketing Marketing, Women in Business 0

Article written by Jer Peters

Working together to achieve a shared objective while leveraging individual zones of genius generates a certain type of magical energy. When your business collaborates with another business, you can both tap into what makes each business exceptional and unique. You’re also tapping into the skills and brilliance of your collaborator.

Working with other companies can be daunting for many business owners. Nevertheless, regardless of the industry you are in or the kind of business you have, collaboration can be a powerful tool for business owners. Your ability to expand your business to new heights will depend on the relationships you build with others and the various methods in which you work with those whom you have built relationships with.

Why should businesses collaborate with each other?

As people’s skill sets get increasingly specialized in the online space, collaboration as a practice becomes more important than ever. But how can collaboration be beneficial? Here are some notable benefits of collaboration for businesses.

Inspiration

In the course of running your business on a daily basis, it is easy to fall into a habit and forget that there might be a more effective method, a different approach to take, or new tools that might help you save time and money. It is necessary to get outside of your own brain in order to gain a fresh perspective, spark your creativity, and add new context to the material you are gathering so that you can use it successfully.

Growing your network

Building a network of connections and business partners is a common goal of prosperous businesses. Establishing relationships and forming partnerships constantly is necessary for commercial success. Even though not every contact you make will result in a partnership, by reaching out to people to explore the idea, you are growing your network.

Saving Money

In many collaborative relationships, the intellectual effort, physical labor, and occasionally marketing costs are split. If everyone engaged is equally invested in the collaboration’s success, you can be quite assured that you will be getting more value for your money.

Business collaboration doesn’t necessarily require a significant time or financial investment if you think creatively. For example, by holding tastings where guests could sample the food while getting to know local wedding planners, photographers, florists, and venue experts, one wedding caterer in California transformed into a valuable one-stop shop for couples.

4 Ways businesses can collaborate to improve their online authority and presence.

Cross-promotions

You can work with another company to cross-promote on social media to increase visibility and attract more clients. Your brand will become more well-known, your impact will be amplified, you will have more influence over a bigger audience, and your financial situation can improve if you collaborate with other companies to promote each other’s services or goods. More clients will be intrigued by what you have to offer.

Social Media Giveaways

You can host a social media giveaway competition in conjunction with other businesses. One of the most fun and straightforward collaborations you can have with other businesses is this one. This is a quick and cost-free way to work together and increase social media follower engagement and audience reach.

Creating Service or Product Packages

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may not be able to provide all the services your clients require. You can collaborate with another company to develop service or product bundles that meet the demands of your clients.

It is quite beneficial to collaborate with other business owners to develop truly distinctive and customer-focused product and service packages. It distinguishes your company and aids in spreading awareness of it.

Hosting Joint Events

It’s a terrific opportunity to partner up to co-host an event, whether it’s a podcast, an email marketing campaign, or a business promotion, and invite current clients from both businesses. Such occasions can be used to exhibit the goods or services of other companies while also promoting your own. These partnerships combine many solutions for the audience or participants’ benefit.

How to Choose the Best Type of Collaboration

Businesses are better together. You can create strategic partnerships by connecting with other business owners who share your values. You can all grow, create, and become more competitive on many levels by pooling your resources and skills.

Before you can decide which types of collaborative working will give you the best results, you’ll need to consider what you want to achieve by collaborating with others (either individuals or a company).

Ask yourself whether you’re interested in generating new sales leads or whether you want to improve the profile of your business in the industry.

Who Should You Collaborate With?

Strategic collaborations with other like-minded businesses can expand your reach, attract and convert the right customers. But which businesses should you be targeting? Here are a few criteria to help you decide.

Businesses You Like and Currently Work With

Your own personal and professional business network is one of the best places to go when working with nearby business owners. Which business owners do you collaborate with frequently? Which local businesses do you admire and like? Which other local entrepreneurs purchase from you?

Businesses With a Similar Target Market

Are there any businesses with a similar target market as yours? Such partnerships are appealing because they put the needs of the customers first for everyone involved, which will appeal to potential neighborhood businesses that you approach. To locate potential businesses to work with, you must be strategic, inventive, and creative.

Businesses That Offer Complementary Products or Services

Focusing on companies that sell goods or provide services that go well with what you do is an excellent alternative. Target nearby businesses that your customers are likely to buy from based on their past purchases, hobbies, and needs.

In conclusion

Collaboration on marketing campaigns with other businesses can be extremely effective. As a business owner, it can help you improve your influence, impact, and income. Without a doubt, small firms that collaborate generate more leads and achieve greater overall performance.

Find Jer here:

Website | Instagram

Bio:

Jer, is a visibility coach and website designer for online entrepreneurs. She helps online entrepreneurs attract clients organically by showing up with value and authority so they can increase their sales and get back to doing what they love the most. She works with overwhelmed and confused entrepreneurs to help them figure out what to and how to post to build online authority and showcase their expertise using their social media or website presence.

June 13 2022

Why Inclusive Content Marketing is Crucial for Business Growth

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values, Marketing Marketing, Women in Business 0

The world is filled with people from various backgrounds and with varied and specific needs, and these needs are being brought to light now more than ever. Using inclusive features is important regardless of your goals, whether they are to generate traffic to your website or to improve the user experience of your site.

Inclusivity is the process of taking active steps to ensure diverse members of a community feel safe and valued and focuses on serving and resonating with a wider and more diverse audience. And since content marketing is no longer limited to geographical constraints and old-school mindsets, online businesses and marketers must create content that is mindful of all the communities it serves.

What does it mean to be inclusive?

Being inclusive requires you to think differently, recognize what you don’t know, and use words more purposefully. It doesn’t require your brand to make a major statement on social issues or take a public stand on any hot topics.

Let us recall that the purpose of content marketing is to attract and keep an audience while ultimately driving its members to profitable action. Your audience grows when you publish relevant and valuable information that encourages them to interact with and, eventually, trust your business.

Making inclusive content is one way to strengthen those bonds. Not only should inclusive language be a priority in your marketing, but also in your job descriptions, website copy, social media and any other written documents within your firm.

Creating inclusive content that benefits both your audience and your business

If you are wondering how to make your content marketing more inclusive, here are some ways in which you can improve your bottom line by making your business’s online presence accessible and more inclusive to everyone.

Improving your SEO

Google prefers websites with positive user experiences, inclusive efforts, and accessible solutions. They look to see:

Whether you correctly answer frequently asked questions.
The emphasis on location in your site content.
How many keywords correspond to the typical demographics’ search requests.
Whether the text or answer on the page was already answered on another, older website.

Though it is often overlooked, having accessibility measures on a website is also important for getting Google to recognize and rank your website, as well as lowering your bounce rate through SEO techniques.

Building Brand Awareness

When a visitor comes to your website or social pages and feels included due to the ease of use, notices visual elements that mean something to them, or language that confirms their understanding, they will feel a connection that can give your brand an advantage over a competitor who is only trying to appeal to the mass market

Making your customer journey one that they will recognize, feel included in, and satisfied by is the best approach to ensure that your brand is remembered the next time they require your services or products.

Brand awareness is your identity as a business and your identity highlights what you stand for. Inclusive content can go a long way toward demonstrating to your diverse audience that you understand their struggles and treat them fairly while keeping your brand in mind.

Increasing the size of your audience

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits all marketing strategy, but taking diversity into consideration and keeping accessibility in mind can only help you broaden your audience.

This includes not only reaching people with disabilities, but also incorporating language, images, and other features to improve the inclusion of people of color, educational backgrounds, genders, sexual orientation, socioeconomic classes, and age groups.

Increasing your Revenue

Considering the aforementioned considerations, an inclusive online presence with a holistic approach can only serve to boost your sales and profitability.

As previously stated, inclusivity broadens your consumer base, enhances brand awareness, which in turn helps your website rank higher online for greater visibility, and offers your potential customers the confidence that will convert them from visitors to customers, to recurring clients.

Doing the right thing

It’s just the proper thing to do in order to make the world a better place for everyone and to provide a welcoming environment for all human diversity.

The world is constantly changing and expanding, and the recent inclusion of people of many creeds, body types, orientations, colors, cognitive diversity, and aptitude levels has had a significant social impact on where people shop.

What to avoid in order to deliver a more inclusive message

While you are trying to create inclusive content for a broader audience, there are some things that you need to avoid to ensure you are being effective in your efforts.

You should avoid using discriminatory language, as well as stereotypes and appropriation. These clichés are not only dull, but they can offend individuals and land your brand in hot water.

What is the most effective strategy to prevent these pitfalls? When developing marketing strategies, keep empathy, context, and nuance in mind.

Going forward

To summarize, marketing is the process of connecting people with products and services that can help them solve their problems. However, effective marketing also involves bringing people together through shared interests.

Prioritize inclusive marketing with deliberate language, graphics, social media, and techniques to ensure you’re reaching the broadest possible audience in a way that accurately reflects your company’s beliefs.

Find Jer here:

Website | Instagram

Bio:

June 3 2022

Activated Inclusivity: More Than An Illusion

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values Inclusive, Women in Business 0

Inclusion is not a one size fits all proposition and it cannot be something that is implemented once and then left behind. Active inclusivity is required to ensure everyone within our community feels they have a voice and are able to participate fully.

This isn’t always easy; it takes work and vigilance to make sure everyone feels comfortable and safe, but the benefits are clear. When inclusivity becomes the norm rather than an exception, our businesses and community benefit from the varied perspectives, skills, and insights of all members. With active inclusivity we can create an environment where everyone can reach their potential and contribute to making our community thrive.

Activated Inclusivity: Leading the way for women in business.

When we talked about inclusivity as one of our main core values, we included characteristics such as being fair, open, kind and relentless. We recognize that we, as women, sometimes fall short on some of these characteristics. We also recognize that we are fully capable of taking the more challenging path and leading the way when it comes to making inclusive spaces for all.

When we walk about inclusivity inside of LBI and the Backstage Pass, we endeavor to practice what we preach. This allows us to create opportunities for women to learn and thrive, because we know that women who succeed together can change the world.

When we join forces as women, accepting and encouraging through diversity and inclusivity, we empower us all to collaborate, elevate and inspire. That’s what Ladyboss International is all about: women helping women be their best.

In order to make this happen, we must lead the way through kindness, open communication, hard conversations, hope and (ACTUALLY!) fair practices. Whether it’s women of different age, race or culture, women who are LGBTQ+, women without children, women with children, women at various income levels or women with disabilities – we consider it our duty to ensure that all women can learn and grow through the LBI Backstage Pass and the opportunities it creates.

If you were to pull back the curtain and peek inside the LBI Backstage Pass you’d see women from every walk and stage of life collaborating, encouraging and celebrating each other. And THAT is what we are all about!

When we asked the LBI Crew to share what inclusivity inside of LBI is to them, they had this to add:

“Inclusivity in the LBI for me, is being able to find a space for all of our Ladybosses in the BSP. There’s no guessing it! I can see in member list and feel it as we share and grow together.” – Martine, Community Womanager.

“Inclusivity in the LBI is the ability of recognizing and discovering everyone’s unique diverse talents within LBI and the Backstage Pass.” – Techie, Webmaster

“Inside everything we do at LBI and in the Backstage Pass, I see diverse women from all walks of life welcomed, added to the conversations, and invited into every facet of what we’re building. It’s an incredible, inspiring and empowering thing to witness AND be a part of!” – Jennifer, Blog Boss Editor

As the leaders and influencers we have the opportunity to not only do things “differently”, but also with intention, care and compassion. This is the legacy that we are creating with the LBI Backstage Pass and our commitment to inclusivity.

As women we will continue to lead the way with inclusivity inside of LBI and the Backstage Pass. We are all about creating a space for women around the world to learn, grow, thrive and accomplish BIG things in this world. We hope you’ll join us in this mission!

What is your definition of inclusivity? How does it impact the women in business you are connected to? How does inclusivity show up in your business? We’d love to here your insights in the comments below!

May 25 2022

Why Diversity Is One Of Our Core Values

Rose Kaz Boss Blog, Core Values Diversity 0

From the desk of our Founder, Rose Kaz

When I set out to lead a team to build the LBI Backstage Pass last May of 2021, I wasn’t exactly sure how we were going to create a social media platform built by women in business for women in business but I was clear on why this type of social experience needed to be created.

I’ve worked in leadership roles of production for most of my professional career and whilst the great covid pivot has shed light on doing more business online, it has also exposed even brighter sore spots in our structures of power, the ways we organize ourselves, money and ultimately, who holds the keys to the purse.

In preparing to take our in person conversations series with women in business that we launched in 2017, Ladyboss International, to an online forum, I pulled inspiration from these raw moments of 2020: the killing of George Floyd and many, many other unarmed people of color, the situation at our borders, and of course, the pandemic itself.

I became more aware of the glaring need to share wealth in more inclusive and generous ways than the patriarchy has historically done. I set out to do that through building a new, woman lead brand that is based fully on this concept of leveling the playing field. Because if the powers that be won’t do it for us, well then, I’ll lead the way my own damn self.

I have been a student of political science for many years. I hold a degree with a Bachelor of Arts in the subject with a focus on global politics. And whilst I don’t ‘technically’ work in politics at the moment, I believe wholeheartedly that all of our work is political. That is to say, I see how we structure our businesses, our access to resources and how we spend our time to be very political. Even a choice to be a- political is a choice.

In writing this article about diversity, I don’t want to simply drop some #BLM insights from my seat of white privilege. I do, however, want to dig into how and why we can all do at least 5% more to actually lean into diversity. After all, we all have accents, we all have been born from a mother and we all have the same color blood. These are a few of the long list of things that make being a human both the same AND diverse. We can be many things at once. And that’s ok.

In drafting the business plan for the launch of the LBI Backstage Pass platform, I remembered a dream I’d had about 5 years ago where I was walking down a busy city street, somewhere like NYC, Chicago or LA. As I was attempting to cross the street, a woman of color in her mid to late 40’s told me in no uncertain terms: ‘STOP WALKING!!!’ And she said it again 2-3 times at even louder decibels to be sure that me and all people attempting to cross the street were acutely aware that we better stop or be met with extreme harm from passing cars. And then moments later, that same crossing guard was assisted by another guardian of the street, also a woman of color, similarly aged and escorting other pedestrians to quickly: “WALK!! GO ON!! HURRY UP AND CROSS THE STREET”; making sure that the safety of all crossing was her chief priority. And in my dream, I absolutely listened, stopped and then began to walk quickly to obey the boss of the cross walk.

When I woke up, I began to think about this notion: What if women of color hold the power innately to move us forward into a better and safer world?? This is likely why these women have been historically marginalized in ways far deeper than other groups because that power is a direct threat to the status quo of the white, patriarchally order.

And if women of color were more embraced for their innate power and for that matter the buzz word of diversity actually became an action item and not a forced inclusion theory to ‘get numbers up’ or make the optics of a business appear to support black, brown and indigenous women, then we would absolutely see a new world that is, in fact, both a better place FOR ALL and with opportunities for each and every human being to live to their fullest potential.

My point in sharing this dream here in a blog entry written by a woman in business about diversity is not just to have a paragraph to drop into my (sub)conscious thoughts about women of color or to show how I dream my life and the world around me to be. Sure, yea, a peek into my bizarro brain may provide a good laugh or two but my point in sharing this vision is to direct our attention to the bigger picture that when more women are at the helm of business, leadership and ultimately where our money goes, more people will have a better quality of life.

And if the majority of those women in business are darker skinned than I am, even better. I am not advocating for men to have less power. I am calling for women, specifically women of color to have the same amount of power in business, in roles of leadership as men do. Period.

May 4 2022

Diversity in Action: How our community members engage in diveristy

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values Core Values, Diversity, Women in Business 0

When we talk about our core values, we don’t want to just highlight them from the LBI team side of things. We also want to share and include the perspective of our community members and how each value shows up and impacts their business.

Recently we shared a definition of diversity that we really resonated with and asked for feedback from our community with a few specific questions.

The definition we shared was this:

A mix of differences in any particular setting to include but not necessarily limited to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, age, or generation, and job function.
from Inclusive Conversations by Mary Frances Winters

The first question we asked is if our community members had any additions to this definition and what they might change based on how they do business.

Pamela Jarrin, from Bien Box, had this to say: “I think diversity should include the varieties of neurodivergent women, if they are introverted or extroverted since that affects how people show up in their business.”

When we asked what diversity looks like in their businesses, the women who responded had this to say:

Martine Stefanovic shared “I have the amazing opportunity to serve businesses with a beautiful mix of backgrounds and experiences. This has allowed me to learn so much from each business and it has really helped shape the businesswoman I am becoming.”

And Lakeisha Muhummad said, “In my business diversity looks like attracting who I am seeking and it’s not a limited thought connected to their color, race, creed, sexuality, or religion. Being able to service those who seek what I have to offer them.”

Pamela added, “I am a Latina owned business that welcomes everybody as a client. My main focus is to bring diversity with my vendors since I find that many small business are misrepresented or lack representation in other companies. Hence, I have chosen to purchase my products from Latinx, BIPOC, women owned businesses.”

When we asked about a time that they advocated for diversity, our community members had this to share –

Lakeshia: “I speak about diversity through my own personal story and how me and my siblings were raised, but also through other experiences I’ve had in life with other people. Including speaking about systems and how they look different for people.”

Martine added: “2020 was the year where many faced the relating that diversity was not always a top priority for many businesses. In the summer of 2020, I was involved in creating a Black Caucus for the Black women in the company I worked for. It was wonderful to work with a company that was willing to listen, learn and implement plans to make a space for their Black publishers to be heard and seen.”

We continued on with the conversation to ask who our community members integrate diverse perspectives into their businesses.

Pam shared: “Making sure that people know my business is Latina owned and bringing a mix of entrepreneurs from different backgrounds.”

Lakeshia had this to say: “By being open minded and also being honest that no we don’t all have to look alike sound alike or do things alike to share space or even potentially work together. I focus on purpose and intentions which have aligned me with meeting all kinds of people.”

And Martine added, “As a community manager, I often have the opportunity to help plan content with my clients. As a content creator, I believe there is a responsibility to help bring forth diversity wherever I see it may be lacking. Everyone deserves to be seen and recognized.”

We absolutely loved hearing from the members of our LBI Backstage Pass community about their thoughts and perspectives on diversity and how it shows up in their businesses. We can’t wait to continue our community conversations and sharing insights as we continue to share more about our core values and how they impact the community we’re building and the mission we’re on!

Find Pamela here: website | instagram

Find Lakeshia here: published articles on our LBI Boss Blog | instagram

Find Martine here: website | instagram

May 2 2022

At Ladyboss International We Value Diversity

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values Core Values, Diversity, Women in Business 0

At the LBI Backstage Pass, we believe diversity is key component to success. It’s important for us not only in the community we’re creating, but also when it comes to who we partner with. We value differences of opinion and welcome new perspectives that will allow us to grow as a platform.

The team behind the LBI Backstage Pass is 100% dedicated to making sure that our community and platform is diverse and welcoming to all womxn from every walks of life!

Inside the LBI Backstage Pass Diversity Means…

True story telling – We desire that the BsP is a place where all are welcome to share their authentic stories. We want this to be an inclusive space that honors cultural backgrounds, prioritizes open communication, active listening and showing humanity to all.

Passing the Mic – Diversity means “passing the mic”, a favorite term of our founder Rose Kaz, and means that we are actively co-creating access to a platform that amplifies all voices. We’re creating curiosity about other’s stories and empowering each other to share, to listen and to practice compassion through empathy. We are collaborating and inspiring others to have the courage to speak up. All stories matter in our community and we want to mirror that to the world at large.

Access – A warm welcome is waiting for you inside the BSP. We want all to feel seen, heard and empowered. And then have the courage to mirror that energy back into their own world. We believe in practicing what we preach, and have seen the ripple effect that happens when we as leaders set the tone. There is a magnetic alignment and open accessibility in our community that is unlike any other!

Making the door bigger – We envision a platform and community that is constantly expanding. We’re creating more seats at the table, and paving the way for all. When we throw the door wide open, and then make the door(s) even bigger, we create infinite possibilities for all to grow, expand and achieve our dreams. This inclusive and diverse energy becomes magnetic and allows us to create even more opportunities for others.

Careful and mindful – Integrity and Intentionality are important factors in our view of diversity. We are specifically creating a space that is open, encouraging and conscious of the need for leadership in this arena.

Asking for accountability – Recognizing that we’re human and fallible, we openly ask to be held accountable. We are beholden to the community that we are serving and supporting. Honest feedback is vital to creating the collaborative community we dream of. We practice active listening when feedback is given and examine where we can grow and improve as a team.

Cultural awareness – The LBI Backstage Pass is to be a global movement and an experience that isn’t restricted by location or time zones. This is a space for all to tell the stories relevant to their culture and experience. Through education and edutainment, we welcome all and invite you to show up, share, and change the “gold standard” of female entrepreneurship.

Non-violent communication – Our space is meant to be a platform that allows us to facilitate hard conversations, in a safe environment. We fully recognize that HOW you say something is just as important what you are saying and we open the floor to all who can participate with kindness, actively listening and honor the safe space we’re creating. We want to show up and create change in the world from a place of softness and femininity.

The word diversity is thrown around a lot these days. But what does it mean to us? By now you should have a pretty good idea about what our team believes diversity looks like in our community and how we are committed to creating access for all. We believe that by asking for accountability from ourselves as well as others, you can create a safe space where anyone has the opportunity to share their story without fear of judgment or retribution.

What does diversity look like in your business?

April 15 2022

Leadership Quotes From Women Who Lead

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Business, Coaching, Core Values Inspiration, Inspire, Quotes from Women, Women in Business 0

As a woman in business, you likely face unique challenges and hurdles that your male counterparts don’t. It can be tough to maintain your confidence and stay motivated when the going gets tough. That’s why it’s important to find inspiration in others, whether it comes from other successful women entrepreneurs or motivational quotes.

Leadership quotes to inspire women in business from women who lead:

“Leadership is the ability to guide others without force into a direction or decision that leaves them still feeling empowered and accomplished.” – Lisa Cash Hanson

“The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have.” – Padmasree Warrior

“Leadership is not about necessarily being the loudest in the room, but instead being the bridge, or the thing that is missing in the discussion and trying to build a consensus from there.” – Jacinda Ardern

“Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something people want.” – Dianne Feinstein

“Leadership is turning problems into opportunities. It’s showing up for yourself and your people every day. Choosing to pursue your passion and using your talents to enhance other people’s overall experience.” – Jess Parker

“Part of leadership is knowing when to go ahead with a decision that’s within your authority because you’re really convinced it’s the right thing, even if other people don’t understand it at that point.” – Dr. Ingrid Mattson

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” – Rosalynn Carter

“Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good.” – Joanne Ciulla

“Leadership is hard to define, and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.” – Indra Nooyi

“To me Leadership is a position of honor and stands as a source of influence, whose ripple effect has the potential to go far and wide. Leadership is a game of dominoes and you must take sustained responsibility for your actions, behaviors, guidance, counsel and stewardship.” – Crystal Rae

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence, and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” – Sheryl Sandberg

“A good leader is able to paint a picture of a vision for the future and then enlist others to go on the journey with her. A truly conscious leader recognizes that it is not about her, but that the team is looking to her for inspiration and direction. Keeping her ego in check is essential.” – Tamra Ryan

“For me, leadership is making a difference. It’s using your agency to bring about change.” -Melanie Verveer

“Leadership is about the team – the culture they keep and embrace, it’s about empathy for your customers, clients, employees and the communities where you do business, it’s about doing the right thing for the right reasons, being confident enough to take risks and responsible enough to think of those who your decisions and risks may affect.” – Kat Cole

“It is imperative that women take centerstage in leadership so that we can build better ways of existing on this planet!” – Rose Kaz, LBI Backstage Pass Founder

“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it” – Marian Anderson

“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.” – Dolly Parton

“The fastest surging woman leadership position is heading non-profit organizations. Women are not rejecting leadership positions — they’re rejecting politics.” – Celinda Lake

“Women in leadership roles can help restore balance and wholeness to our communities.” – Wilma Mankiller

“Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.” – Indra Nooyi

“Women are leaders everywhere you go, from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to breakdown walls and defy stereotypes.” – Nanci Pelosi

“One of the most important things for any leader is to never let anyone else define who you are. And you define who you are. I never think of myself as being a woman CEO of this company. I think of myself as a steward of a great institution.” – Ginni Rometty

“Leadership is influence. It’s not about being in charge, it’s about having an impact.” – Jennie Mustafa-Julock

“You have to look at leadership through the eyes of the followers and you have to live the message. What I have learned is that people become motivated when you guide them to the source of their own power, and when you make heroes out of employees who personify what you see in the organization.” – Anita Roddick

We hope the words of these strong, dedicated, and impactful women will motivate you to step into your power among the ranks of women who lead in this world!

Which of these quotes are your favorite?

April 13 2022

Stepping Into Leadership As A Women In Business

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values Inspiration, Leadership, Women in Business 0

As a women in business, being a leader isn’t something that we can take off and on like a coat. Stepping into leadership requires skills and the ability to operate from a position of service to our community, and is something we do on and off duty. But what makes someone a great leader?

When it comes to leadership, the greats succeed because their skills are engrained in everything they do – from the way they act in public, to the way they act behind closed doors. Women leaders are especially adept at this, as they often have to straddle both worlds – the public and the private – in order to be successful. In leadership roles, it’s essential to be able to adjust your style and strategy depending on the situation. Whether you’re dealing with a difficult employee or trying to close a big deal, the best leaders know how to adapt on the fly and always put their best foot forward.

This isn’t always easy, but it’s what separates the good from the great. When it comes to leadership, great leaders are those who have mastered the following skills:

Conflict Resolution
Problem Solving
Schedule Management
Treating People with Respect
Serving Others
Vision Casting
Authenticity and Self-Awareness

These are just a few of the skills that make leaders great. But there’s one more important skill that all great leaders share, and that’s the ability to lead by example.

Leadership is about more than just having a title or official position. It’s about setting the standard for your community and serving as a role model for others. Women have always been natural leaders, but they haven’t always had the opportunity to showcase their leadership skills. That’s beginning to change, as more women are stepping into leadership roles in all sorts of industries. We are running for office, starting businesses, and making our voices heard. We are proving that leadership is not about gender, it is about character.

As women leaders, we have a responsibility to lead by example. We must be strong, confident and capable, but also compassionate and empathetic. We must be able to put ourselves in other people’s shoes and see the world from their perspective. Only then can we truly serve our community and make a positive impact. When we lead by example, we create and foster an environment where everyone can thrive.

Ready to step into your birthright as a woman who leads? Anyone can become a leader in their community, regardless of their background or experience. All it takes is a little effort and a willingness to step up and take on responsibility.

One way to build leadership skills is to get involved in community organizations (like the LBI Backstage Pass community!) and participate in group activities. This can help you learn how to work with other people and resolve conflicts. Another way to develop leadership skills is to attend workshops and seminars on the subject. There are many resources available online and in libraries. Finally, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and offer your services as a leader. Whether it’s organizing a neighborhood cleanup or starting a petition, every act of leadership makes a difference.

What are some of the leadership skills you have? What makes you a great leader? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

April 1 2022

The Mindset You Need for Success: Why Our Thoughts Matter

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values Elevate, Mindset, Women in Business 0

written by Jennifer Jayne

As women in business it’s vital that we understand how important our mindset is for us to elevate ourselves and achieve success. It’s the inner voice that tells us whether we can or cannot do something. If we don’t have the right mindset, then growth and success will be out of reach.

In this article, we will discuss what mindset is and why it matters so much for achieving our goals. We’ll also look at how to cultivate a growth mindset in order to achieve more in life!

What is Mindset?

In order to understand how our mindset effects us, it’s important to cover the basics of what mindset is.

Mindset is the sum total of our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves and our abilities. It’s the filter through which we see the world and it dictates how we respond to challenges and setbacks. Our mindset determines whether we give up easily or persist in the face of difficulties.

Research has shown that that mindset is a better predictor of future success than IQ or talent. So, if you want to achieve more in life, it’s important to focus on your mindset.

The Importance of Mindset

Now that we know a little bit about what mindset is, let’s look at why it matters so much for our success.

One of the key things we need to recognize is that it your mindset – your thoughts, self talk, inner beliefs and view of yourself, can override ever other factor that could determine success. It is what drives you, what motivated you and what makes you get back up and try again after experiencing a failure. In short, mindset is the secret sauce to success.

No one succeeds on the first try, no matter how talented or knowledgeable they are. Those that don’t have the right mindset will inevitably give up before they reach their goal or elevate themselves to a point of success.

In order to achieve more in life, we need to focus on cultivating a growth mindset.

What is a growth mindset?

A growth mindset is a way of thinking that embraces challenge and sees setbacks as opportunities for growth. A growth mindset believes that intelligence and talent can be developed over time with effort and practice.

In contrast, those with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities are static and unchanging. They see failure as proof that they are not smart or talented and give up easily when faced with challenges.

The growth mindset is key for achieving success because it allows us to learn from our mistakes and persist in the face of difficulties. It enables us to embrace change and take on new challenges without fear of failure.

Women in business that have developed a growth mindset will work harder and smarter, get coaching when it’s needed, be unafraid to ask for help, and they are willing to do whatever they can to reach their goals. They elevate themselves and begin to see failure as an obstacle or a challenge, not a final verdict on whether or not they can achieve their goals and dreams.

Cultivating a growth mindset

In order to cultivate a growth mindset, we need to be willing to change the way that we think. This means challenging our negative self talk and inner beliefs about ourselves. It also means being open to new ideas and learning from those around us.

If you want to achieve more in life, it’s important to focus on your mindset. Developing a growth mindset is the key to success as a women in business.

And isn’t that what we’re here for after all?

The chance to grow, become stronger, to elevate others and to leave a legacy that impacts generations to come?

So there you have it – the importance of mindset and how to develop a growth mindset in order for you businesswomen out there achieve greater success! Remember, it’s not about innate talent or IQ, but rather our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves that determines how successful we will be. Focus on changing your thinking and embrace challenge and welcome growth.

March 28 2022

6 Ways to Elevate Your Mindset as a Women in Business

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values Elevate, Mindset, Women in Business 0

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.

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!