WOMEN TO WATCH

Chanel Rose

Introducing Chanel Rose: Owner, Care Agency.

As a 4th generation entrepreneur, Chanel worked in consulting and fundraising for political candidates for 15 years and five years ago decided it was time to do it independently!

What are some challenges you have faced in building your business, and how did you overcome them?

My first business venture was a bust. I decided to go into the business with exactly zero business acumen and zero dollars. I fell prey to the fictitious notion that you can grow a business from the ground up with zero operating capital and zero business understanding. Why did I do that? I had a decade of professional successes. At the time, I had raised over 6 million dollars for various political and nonprofit campaigns. I had managed and won several statehouse political campaigns. I was on a life high.

I had all of the skills to be a great employee but none to be a business owner! I learned the main difference was, for one thing, when you are an employee, the money comes in pretty much as long as you show up. Coincidentally, in most cases, the same amount of money is available if you outperform expectations. If you get sick, there are systems in place to provide a least some income.

It was a rude awakening when I learned that everything costs money-especially people’s time. And most of the free stuff is designed to get you to pay for it later, not to give you everything you need. I really thought that going into business because people like me, they would be so happy to help me, and if they know my track record of success, they would support me. Sometimes that was true; more often, it wasn’t. Looking back, it was pretty selfish and somewhat offensive for me to expect people to give me their resources time and time again with no end in sight. That was a mindset I had to correct immediately to succeed.

For years I allowed myself to fail. I quietly quit and internally lost my confidence to try again. Once I realized how ridiculous I had been, I just couldn’t get over the embarrassment and went back to working for others again.

In the interim, I started getting clients by word of mouth referrals. The more people that would call me help me go back to my first realization that I loved helping people and investing in

them and their causes. So I sat down and went through all my old documents from my failed business and wrote a list of things I needed to support myself and my business. I now have a certification from Harvard University Business School in business analytics, two certifications from Northwestern University in leadership development and project management. Gaining these certificates and knowledge helped me gain the confidence I needed to create an infrastructure that served as a strong foundation for growth, easily adapting as problems arise.

“The lessons I learned through the failure and relaunch was that for me to succeed, I needed to invest in myself to improve my business habits but more importantly add value to my clients.”

What are some tips you would give other professional women looking to start a business?

I always answer this question as if I’m talking to my younger self. Here’s what I would say to Chanel 5 years ago. 1. You are Enough, and you have everything you need to do what you are born to do. There is no extra credit for senselessly struggling. You do not have to earn lessons by experiencing pain. Go out and ask for help. 2. Read books on business, listen to podcast about money and attend seminars as often as possible. The best investment in your business is the one you make in yourself. 3. Know your worth & then triple the tax! Outsource! Listen, you are brilliant and capable in your expertise, and so are others. Build a team of people who can do all the necessary things you do not enjoy. You get back a whole lot of time and mental equity to create more of what you love.

PREP-TO-SELL

A seller's guide for preparing to list your home. Make sure your home is featured in the best condition to get the best offers! Check off the list of to-dos as you get through them:

☐ Replace Light Bulbs Throughout Home ☐ Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors ☐ Hire A Professional Cleaning Company ☐ Box Up And Store Away Personal Clutter (Put In Storage Unit If Possible) ☐ Remove Personal Photos and Artwork ☐ Fix Any Holes In Walls ☐ Re-Touch Paint Where It's Needed ☐ Remove Furniture That May Take Up Too Much Space ☐ Make Sure Dishes Are Always Put Away ☐ Make Sure Trash is Always Taken Out, Trash Can Doesn't Stink ☐ Keep All Beds Throughout Home Made ☐ Keep Closets Organized, Items Stored Away (Buyer's Want To See The Size) ☐ Make Minor Repairs Throughout Home (Dents, Holes, Scratches, etc.) ☐ Replace Missing Hardware (I.e. Kitchen or Bathroom Cabinets/Drawers) ☐ Make Sure Yard Debris Is Cleaned Up ☐ Store Away Outside Content (I.e. Toys, Lawn Mowers, etc.) ☐ Add Some Plants Throughout Home To Freshen It Up ☐ Add Some Curb Appeal To The Front Of Your Home (First Thing Buyers See) ☐ Hide Any Pet Supplies During Shows (I.e. Litterbox, Food, etc.) ☐ Remove Any Pet Odors, Or Any Other Odors, In All Rooms

To ensure you get top dollar for your home, you want to make sure it's in the best condition for buyers who preview the property. By removing personal content and keeping the home as immaculate as possible, you give buyer's the ability to view your home as their own.