CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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March/April 2020 PRI C E YO U R H O M E TO S EL L MIN D F U LNESS: S HAR ED G RIE F C OLO R C O D E D K I D S C REATO R S H AY
MARCH/ APRIL 2020
IN THIS
Issue E M OT ION AL F ORE C AS T
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C RYS TAL ’S RE AL E S TAT E T IPS
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C RYS TAL ’S C HAM PION S
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M IN DF U L N E S S
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FAS HION
N AT ION AL F E AT U RE LOC AL S P OT L IGHT PR T IPS W IT H AN IK A
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F IN AN C IAL W E L L -BE IN G
Feature: Shay Gillepsie See the article on page 16 2
Contributors CO-FO UNDE R & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN
CREATIVE DIRECTORS: CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN ADRIANNA SWEARINGEN
BRIT TANY SWEARINGEN ANTHONY GONZALEZ ANIKA JACKSON ANGIE WILLIAMS WANDA BOOTH AMANDA GREGORY WRI TE R S:
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MARCH/APRIL 2020
Crystal Clear I truly hope you enjoy this issue, as I’m so proud of the hard work and dedication all of our contributors have put in to keep this magazine moving forward with insightful and inspirational stories. I would love to hear your feedback on your favorite section or story you have read so far! As always you can read all past issues online at www.issuu.com and search The Spot Mag, and you can read this issue and our previous seven publications. You can also follow us on social media at The Spot Mag on IG and Facebook, where we post additional, motivational stories and national women’s stories. This has been a dream realized - to share the stories of so many amazing women in their professional lives. I’m just thankful to continue to bring new ideas and tools for you to use along the way! Happy Spring,
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Crystal Swearingen Crystal Swearingen, Co-Founder | Editorial Director
The Spot Mag
@the.spot.mag
crystalsavesthedeal@gmail.com
EMOTIONAL FORECAST
Oh Spring, How I’ve Missed You So!
The time is near for strolls in the park and beautiful green grass with fluttering butterflies, and all the birds returning to the trees. I love spring, and after this bitter cold weather, just the thought of sunshine on my shoulders gets me giddy inside! 4
March looks so bright, I don’t even know where to begin. All that work manifesting and focusing on what we do want instead of what we don’t want has finally paid off! Is it too good to be true you ask? Nope. This was the moment we geared up for, and it’s only the beginning. March has it’s own emotions. There will be moments of panic (because you actually got what you wished for) and moments of peaceful reflection honoring the hard work you’ve now been rewarded for. If this doesn’t sound like you yet, I’m here to tell you that you can’t run from it. You’re getting all that you’re destined for, so just accept it with gratitude. I feel we also will be getting more and more opportunity to help those that we’ve been watching struggle get to our side of happiness, as well. April has this golden ticket feeling, as if we won something and we’re funding our dreams. That being said, take time to enjoy this moment. Living presently
will feel amazing and will prolong the abundance this very special spring is offering us. Life always has a few contrasts, but understand that now is the time, you are in the right place, you made the right decisions, and you deserve to feel on top of the world. I applaud you for hanging in there and continuing to press on. You knew their was a light at the end of the tunnel, and you were absolutely right!! Happy Spring everyone. May your days bring you sunshine and endless amounts of JOY! Love, The Southern Psychic Angie Campbell
CRYSTAL’S REAL ESTATE TIPS
How Pricing Your Home Right Makes a Big Difference
Even though there’s a big buyer demand for homes in today’s low inventory market, it doesn’t mean you should price your home as high as the sky when you’re ready to sell. Here’s why making sure you price it right is key to driving the best price for the sale. If you’ve ever watched the show “The Price Is Right,” you know the only way to win the game is to be the one to correctly guess the price of the item up for bid without going over. That means your guess must be just slightly under the retail price.
take of overpricing their homes will eventually have to lower the prices anyway after they sit on the market for an extended period of time. This leaves buyers wondering if the price drops were caused by something wrong with these homes when in reality, nothing was wrong, the initial prices were just too high. Bottom Line If you’re thinking about selling your home this year, let’s get together so you have a professional on your side to help you properly price your home and maximize demand from the start.
When it comes to pricing your home, setting it at or slightly below market value will increase the visibility of your listing and drive more buyers your way. This strategy actually increases the number of buyers who will see your home in their search process. Why? When potential buyers look at your listing and see a great price for a fantastic home, they’re probably going to want to take a closer look. This means more buyers are going to be excited about your house and more apt to make an offer. When this happens, you’re more likely to set up a scenario with multiple offers, potential bidding wars, and the ability to drive a higher final sale price. At the end of the day, even when inventory is tight, pricing it right – or pricing it to sell immediately – makes a big difference. Here’s the other thing: homeowners who make the mis-
Crystal Swearingen Broker/Owner Crystal Clear Realty 785-550-3424 www.CrystalSavesTheDeal.com REALTOR®
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CRYSTAL’S CHAMPIONS
Mindful Hustle In A World of Financial Insecurity Anika Jackson
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Student loan debt is a topic that goes in and out of politics and is often thought of solely under a financial lens. In 2019, it reached a record high of $1.41 trillion with 54% of students taking on some type of debt. What one may not realize is that student loan debt is not only a financial issue but one that is linked to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. As with many innovations, a first-hand solution was conceived in the form of three women physicians who met in medical school. Shared Harvest Fund aims to eradicate the student loan crisis through a radical notion – volunteer your services and reduce your student debt. The financial tech platform offers non-profits a lower-cost solution to professional services (think operations, marketing, graphic design, etc.) and offers the volunteer professional a stipend that directly pays off student debt. Explaining why the issue is important to them, co-founder Nana Afoh Manin states, “I was 22 when I lost my mom
to cervical cancer on my wedding day. I was inspired to pursue medicine to find a cure.” Afoh Manin continues, “I wound up being on the public health team that educated the community on the HPV vaccine as we know it today. Having no family support after my mom died, that journey cost me $250K in student debt. That debt burden affected my mental health and physical well-being. I delivered my son prematurely due to the stress in 2016.” Afoh Manin further explains, “My co-founder lost her husband to suicide after his mental health and financial battles following law school. When we realized just how many people were suffering in silence, as well as the growing student debt burden for so many women and families, we knew we had to act with intention. Our country was moving in the wrong direction, and we wanted to spread prosperity through purpose and compassion.”
While the Shared Harvest Fund focuses on helping non-profits, it also offers corporate human resource departments an HR benefit for their employees, and it hopes to create workforce development opportunities in the near future. Nana may be a pioneering tech founder as well as a physician today, but her story serves as one of inspiration for us all. She reflects, “My first coveted job was as a water fetcher at the age of four, carrying buckets of water to my great grandmother to cook with. I had to learn to be careful and efficient or the task would take all day. Out of necessity, I learned to carry water jugs on my head. Being the daughter of an immigrant mom and running a lean side-hustle became part of the territory. Whether it was braiding hair or selling donuts, my grit and creativity have always been my lucky charm.”
Manin concludes. “My humble upbringing nurtured cognitive empathy to understand the plight of others, while being solution-driven to help them actualize their self-worth.” Shared Harvest Foundation focuses on mental health and financial literacy, and includes Los Angeles-area seminars, workshops, educational happy hours, and the Sounds of Goodness Concert Series, which honors community and celebrity ambassadors who are creating global awareness around these two issues. Please go to www.sharedharvestfund.org for more information on how to be involved with this worthwhile endeavor.
Ms. Afoh Manin continues, “I am a first-generation college graduate, but I come from a legacy of entrepreneurs. I’ve gone from being the assistant to the savviest Ghanaian market women to an Emergency Doctor and Global Public Health practitioner. I’ve now founded my own technology platform for social justice that’s disrupting how we finance higher education.” “We exist to show that talents and lived experiences are valuable currencies in today’s global market,” Afoh
Crystal’s Champions is dedicated to strong and inspirational women and organizations that are making a difference in the community. To nominate a Champion, email Crystal at Crystalsavesthedeal@gmail.com
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MINDFULNESS
Kobe Bryant And The Power of Shared Grief Anthony Gonzalez, LCSW
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I was walking through our local grocery store when I heard my wife let out an audible gasp from behind me. I turned to see the tears welling in her eyes. My stomach sank, and I feared the absolute worst. She stood in shock and shared the heart-wrenching news that Kobe Bryant had passed away. And what’s more, his daughter was with him and was also gone. We collectively mourned, as we all discovered together that so many had tragically passed on that helicopter. We exchanged memories through the night, as memorials ran across social media with people sharing their sadness, shock, and prayers for the families left to survive this
incredible pain. It was confusing. Why do we feel such a deep loss for people we have never met? I did not know, never met, and unfortunately will never meet Kobe, and yet I was overcome by his loss far too soon. Many of us were. Why is it that we can be so moved when someone so distant departs this life? My answer is connection. We do not need to have a physical connection with someone to feel profoundly emotionally connected. We watch from afar, we cheer, we read, we are entertained, and people educate us
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and become pieces of our lives. They mark chapters of our lives and help create some of our most essential memories, and yet they never know. When they pass, we experience the loss. These central figures help us attach to even larger communities and remind us we belong to something, even when we feel most alone. Through them, we are bonded. Sharing these emotions helps us to heal. We need to let ourselves talk openly, cry intensely, and laugh loudly until we can’t tell why the tears are falling. Far too often, we suppress these emotions, trying to convince ourselves that we “shouldn’t” mourn someone we don’t intimately know. But, we do know them. Kobe Bryant, Maya Angelou, Prince, Anthony Bourdain, Robin Williams. They opened themselves up to the world, and we embrace all they are willing to give, for better or worse. We invited them into our homes, they were guests at our tables, they spoke the words we couldn’t muster, they were the role models we didn’t have, and they became the soundtracks to our joy and pain. They helped develop and strengthen some of our most cherished bonds and helped define some of our most precious moments. Practicing ball with your son or daughter, you were Kobe.
We explored the world with Chef Tony. We danced with Prince. We have a right to miss that. Mindfulness of emotion guides us neither to question nor reject our emotions. Sadness is a bond that communicates shared loss. Our logical mind tries to make sense of tragedy or place blame, and ultimately that is simply a defense against the hurt and ache in our souls that we are unsure if we can tolerate. The more we allow ourselves to mindfully accept the reality of our loss, we are empowered to share it with others - and in that connection, we are reminded that we are not alone. Death is the unflinching reminder that we are all mortal. Sobering tragedy can help push us out of our mindless routines and closer to the gratitude for those who are still with us. Lynn Manuel Miranda wrote in Hamilton that ‘legacy is planting seeds in a garden that you will never see.’ And, I believe our shared grief is watering that garden now.
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A Rising Star to be sure, Crystal Swearingen was born and raised in the Midwest, and she brings a strong Work Ethic and Perseverance to her Passion in Real Estate everyday. After being named President of the local Board Of Realtors in 2015, Kansas Salesperson Of The Year in 2016, Realtor Of The Year in 2017, and serving on numerous committees for the National Association Of Realtors, Crystal created her own Brokerage - Crystal Clear Realty - where she serves Buyers, Sellers, and Investors in the Kansas City and surrounding areas. In 2019, Crystal decided to expand her business to the West Coast, and Nest Seekers International in Beverly Hills seemed the right fit. “I felt the cohesive, international reach of Nest Seekers, combined with my extensive network of top producers around the country, would make for a great fit in helping Buyers and Sellers around the world find the right property that best suits their needs!� A mother to three dynamic daughters - Brittany, Adrianna, and Halle - and in a relationship with John Falbo, former US tennis champ with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, Crystal looks forward to establishing herself in the Beverly Hills area and beyond, while making friends, educating clients, and serving the Real Estate industry she knows and loves.
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FASHION
Future Of Fashion
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photos by Goldie Schmiedeler Goldie’s Artist statement: When researching human trafficking, I found the dispositions of the victims and their stories to be melancholic. Through this collection, I aim to express the sorrow of bondage, and bring transparency to the issue. I use the barcode as a symbol to represent human trafficking when it is placed on a body. When placed on skin, one can view the body as a product. Additionally, the harsh black lines of a barcode are reminiscent of the structure of a cage, which is used as a motif throughout the collection.
Goldie Schmiedeler Human Trafficking & Visual Art Written by Brittany Swearingen The future of fashion is political and that’s exactly
how it should be. When a dear friend of mine returned to our hometown for winter break, they asked that I model some of their newest collection. Obviously, I obliged. In between jam sessions to music and laughing at the mediocrity of our professionalism, we realized we had some bomb photos. I’d like to say I had the idea for this feature long before my mother suggested it to me, but I shall give credit where it is due. Thanks, Mom. When we initially sat down to discuss their process, and I can only speak for myself, there was a lot of unspoken tension to do each other justice. Representing someone else’s artistic vision is difficult, and representing one of your closest friend’s art in a nationally circulated magazine is pretty daunting. Once the apprehensions settled, and this friend shared with me the vision and theme, I realized this would only be the first of many times our careers overlapped - and I’d have it no other way. This piece, one of ten, was designed by the School of Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) fashion department sophomore, Goldie Schmiedeler. This collection, however, takes a different approach from most. In black and white cotton, Goldie represented a complex and under-represented topic, especially among college-aged women - human trafficking. Peering through the lens of a trafficker, Goldie began by approaching the body as a product - a commodity to be sold, transported, and reproduced. From there, the symbol of the barcode arose, which is the main print within this collection. In contrast with their undeniably youthful and transformative designs, Goldie strove to capture “melancholy and despair” by staying tight within a black and white color scheme.
Goldie explains, “When researching human trafficking, I found the dispositions of the victims and their stories to be melancholic. Through this collection, I aim to express the sorrow of bondage and bring transparency to the issue.” Goldie continues, “I use the barcode as a symbol to represent human trafficking when it is placed on a body. When placed on the skin, one can view the body as a product. Additionally, the harsh black lines of a barcode are reminiscent of the structure of a cage, which is used as a motif throughout the collection.” This hard-to-swallow theme isn’t a one-off either. Goldie defines “good art” as something that begins a discussion and holds a lasting impression among its audience. Exposed to human trafficking through the countless social media infographics about staying safe in Ubers, cities, and pretty much anywhere women are at risk (see: potentially everywhere), Goldie sought to pause the fast-paced attention spans inherent to social media and create something lasting. Goldie’s collection seeks to inform by presenting eye-catching, beautiful, and interesting garments with a dark and rich message. Ultimately, it takes a brave and strong artist to turn many women’s (and people’s) fears into something beautiful that makes the form feel and look desirable. First and foremost a visual artist, Goldie designs not with gender or consumer in mind. Viewing fashion as ‘an art form that happens to work with a living medium.’ The future and the market are rapidly creating spaces for artists like Goldie, who authentically don’t subscribe to the gender norms of seasons past, while still incorporating familiar silhouettes that many brands still dismiss as feminine. And, I for one believe this is good for both the artist and the market place as a whole.
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No one can see into the future. And even if you could, you’d want to be prepared for what’s coming. Let’s sit down and prepare for your future. You talk and I’ll listen – face-to-face, the way it should be. It’s your future. Let’s protect it.™
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NATIONAL FEATURE
Coding The Way With Shay Gillepsie Owner/Creator and tech professional Shay and I met a few years ago while I was traveling in St. Louis. For some reason her radiant personality stuck with me and we have been social media friends every since! Through the years I’ve been able to watch her grow her business Color Coded Kids and I’m so excited to share more about how this amazing program began! What inspired you to create Color Coded Kids?  We were looking for my then​​10 year old​son, a coding or robotics class in our area and after several attempts, we were unsuccessful. With my background in technology I decided instead of complaining about it, I would find a solution. My goal was to put together one of the best computer programming courses in St. Louis. After consulting with a mentor of mine I was off! Starting with a survey of friends in my area and posting​a questionnaire on Facebook, I began to gain interest​​ from other​parents in my neighborhood. In a matter of 5 days I obtained an LLC, built a website and brought on 2 computer developers to teach the course! How many children have enrolled in color coded kids? We’ve taught more than 600 students across the country how to code. We are currently in NYC, Atlanta, Charlotte, St. Louis, Florissant, MO, Dallas, Houston, and DC. What is your vision for this program in the next 5 years? My vision is to partner with school districts in under resourced areas in major cities to be their computer programming arm. I want to be in at least 20 locations by 2025. I’m big on quotes and motivation. Do you have a favorite that you like? “You don’t have to be great to serve, but you do have to serve to be greatâ€? Almost everything I do is about finding ways to make the world better for generations to come. It can be minor or it can be major‌just as long as you are making someone else smile, you’ve done your job! What would you say was the turning point in
your career? The minute I started taking risk! The first financial advisor gave me some advice that I’ve stuck with for the past 12 years. The advice was if you can sleep at night with your investment decisions, then you’ve made the right choices. She also said, invest in things you buy and use everyday. If you buy a lot of Nike clothing (which I do), why not buy stock in the company. I gained some quick successes in the stock market and became riskier and riskier in my investments. I say that to say, that conversation helped me get more and more comfortable with the idea of taking risks in my career. And that’s when my career climbed in a way I never thought possible. Who are some mentors who have helped you along the way? I’ve had so many mentors along the way. I am an asker! đ&#x;˜Š I love learning from those who I admire or who’ve had successes in their respective fields. One of my mentors Pam, is a successful entrepreneur out of California. She keeps me grounded and helps me figure out my next move or what things to think about on my career journey. She has been a God sent in scaling my business. What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs? 1. Make sure you are solving a problem. 2. Make sure you are passionate and love what you’re doing. You are going to hustle, hustle, hustle and sometimes with no pay. So make sure it’s something you enjoy doing! 3. Research! Be an expert in your industry, understand where your industry is going and how it will affect your business for years to come. 4. HAVE FUNI recently lost a dear friend and what I learned from her is that even with her diagnosis, she had fun! I had no idea our last conversation was our last conversation because she was always so positive always so energetic. Life is too short to live it bored! For More Information about this program Visit www.colorcodedkids.com or call Shay at 314.282.5344. Find Color Coded Kids online on(Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn)
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N E W Y O R K F A S H I O N W E E K k l e a r l y
k r i s t e n
SEPTEMBER 2019 SPOT MAG FEATURE KRISTEN FENRICK DEBUTS HER LINE IN THE NEGRIS LEBRUM SHOW AT NEW YORK AND PARIS FASHION WEEK!
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Morgan Fellers Lawrence Lady Boss
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Written and Photographed by Amanda Gregory, Founder of Lawrence Lady Boss Project
If you ask a lady boss what her motivation is for working tirelessly day in and day out... she will often say family. Her parents, her kids, her spouse, her friends. Every lady boss has someone that inspires them. For some, they enter the entrepreneur world with that someone by their side, sharing the joys of business ownership with their near and dear. As a mom of three little girls myself, I do almost everything with my kids in mind. Showing them there is nothing you can’t accomplish if you put your mind to it. Meet Morgan Fellers, the owner of Eccentricity, a Downtown Lawrence unique boutique. Morgan is a Kansas native and a KU alumni. Her love of Lawrence brought her back in 2007 to open up Eccentricity with her mother, Maureen Mattison. Morgan and Maureen also own a successful location in Salina, Kansas. Eccentricity is a women’s speciality boutique focusing on trendy, yet unique items you won’t find everywhere else. Including being the exclusive provider of bareMinerals cosmetics and skincare in Downtown Lawrence. Their ultimate goal is to create an environment where women can get one on one help finding the perfect item or outfit to fit their style. Morgan stays active in the community by serving on the Downtown Lawrence Inc board and helping organize Cooper’s Couture, an annual fundraiser. When Morgan isn’t downtown, she is a mom of three very rambunctious boys, four if you count her husband Zak. What is your favorite thing about being a lady boss in 2020? “Setting a standard that a women can be the boss. Today, I am so proud to stand along side so many other women who are out there becoming their own lady boss! In so many instances, companies and corporations made it so hard for women to climb the ladder and now it is up to us to make it happen!” Who or what inspires you? “Though my inspirations change all the time, I do love that my oldest son Carter tells me how he wants to own his own business when he grows up, just like his mom. So my biggest inspiration would be my children. I love showing them that you can do anything you want if you work hard and have determination. And not only that, but you can also do something you really love and make a living doing it. I really do love my job and I, of course, love fashion. Staying up to date with the latest trends is just a perk of this job!” How do you see yourself making our community better? “I love the Lawrence community, and being a business owner in Downtown Lawrence, I feel like I get to see and talk to peo-
ple everyday about whats going on in our community. I have served on the board of directors for Downtown Lawrence Inc, where we are constantly doing everything we can to help downtown businesses thrive. In addition there are so many families that are in need and I have been honored and humbled to work with Coopers Cause in creating Cooper’s Couture. This local fashion show benefitis local pediatric heart patients and their families. We just set the date for the 4th Annual Cooper’s Couture which will be October 2nd 2020.” Where do you see your business 5 years from now? “Hopefully thriving! With this day and age of Amazon, and online shopping I always worry that brick and mortar will some day disappear. But after 12 years of business, it just makes me smile when I open the door to my store on a busy day and see Mass Street full of different groups of people all actually talking to each other and enjoying the beauty that is around them. We do hope to expand our online business just to “keep of with the Jones” and will be launching an Eccentricity Shopping App in early 2020, but my heart will always be with brick and mortar. I hope to expand on the relationships I’ve built with existing customers and the many more I get to meet in future years.” What piece of advice would you encourage others with? “Follow your heart and do what you love. Don’t ever think the road will be easy, because most great things don’t come easy, but in the end, hopefully there will be no regrets.” Lawrence Lady Boss Project was built to connect and network lady bosses in both Lawrence and the surrounding communities. Once a quarter we bring you Networking Night Out events featuring local businesses both big and small. Find us on Facebook at Lawrence Lady Boss Project for more information.
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THE SPOT MAG CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS
HALF PAGE: 8.75” w x 5.625”h $200 per issue FULL PAGE AD: 8.75”w x 11.25”h $400 per issue Call Crystal Directly at 785-550-3424 or email Crystalsavesthedeal@gmail.com
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ONLINE AND PRINT DISTRIBUTION CLICK-THRU ADVERTISING PODCAST PLACEMENT AND INTERVIEWS TARGETED MARKETING TO PROFESSIONAL WOMEN WITH DISPOSABLE INCOME & PURCHASING POWER LOCAL DISTRIBUTION POINTS AT HIGH-TRAFFIC OFFICES, BOUTIQUES, STORES, AND SALONS
A collaborative boutique featuring 14 unique stores with home decor, gifts and apparel for the whole family. Located at 825 Mass. St. Lawrence, KS 66049 785.856.2075 @shopkbandco
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PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING TIPS
Meaningful Messaging with Anika Jackson
Anika Jackson co-hosting RBRW show
Hi! I’m Anika Jackson of Anika Jackson, PR. For my entire life, I’ve enjoyed creating meaningful ways for people to connect, collaborate, and celebrate. My passions include the written word and strategic planning. I’ve found my purpose in creating and executing strategic communication strategies for brands and individuals to let the world know who they are, why they matter, and why it’s important. In this new addition to The Spot Mag, I’ll be sharing quick tips that anyone can use to further their mission, vision, and goals. These are easily executable strategies, websites, tools,and tricks from my own experience, as well as those of experts in the field. And, I hope they help you craft Meaningful Messaging! For this edition, here are a few tips to become an Expert In Your Field. Before using any of these strategies, however, make sure that you have the following readily available: a photo, bio, media kit, web links, and info about yourself and your products. And, away we go!! Facebook Groups – Join any and all women entrepreneurs, women founders, women creatives, and other
women networking groups that you can. Although I primarily skim these, I have gotten access to amazing resources, such as a list of over 2,000 tech blogs and over 4,000 tech reporters. I then use these lists to hone in on targeted contacts to whom I can pitch stories for my tech clients. If you have a user survey, need assistance with business operations, or just need the support of other women in business, these groups have all of these resources in spades. HARO – Help A Report Out. This resource, part of Cision, is a three-times-a-day/weekday email digest of reporter queries. Broken down by subject matter, it allows the reader to skim past sections that may not be relevant. If you find that you can answer a query, pay special attention to the deadlines so that you don’t miss out on an opportunity. I have found this especially useful for helping clients get into consumer blog gift guides during holidays, back to school, and other special times throughout the year. Podcasts and Blogs – Check out the websites of your favorite podcasts in your brand category. There’s often information on how to apply to become an interviewed
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com
guest. Many blogs like to include guest bloggers, and it is another way to get the word out about your message. (Helpful hint: if you’re interested in guest blogging, pitch me your topic for the Real Beauty Real Women Blog rbrw.org/blog - at anika@anikapr.com.)
ents as experts in their fields comes from another member who was looking for new interviewees for her radio show and podcast. I pitched six clients that fit her outline, and all of them are now being scheduled to be on either one or both of her shows!
SourcedbyPeer.com – This is a newer website where one can register as a subject-matter expert, either for free or a charge for boosted services. Their mission is to increase the number of women and people of color who are quoted as subject-matter experts in the news. Voyage – Voyage Magazine is ubiquitous. Search online for your local Voyage magazine, and submit yourself for an article. These articles are self-written, so know that your exact message, down to the grammar and spelling, will likely be used. Although you’re writing the answers yourself, you should have all of this information as part of your origin story, your bio, and your business plan. One article in the press often leads to more, so this is a great place to start and hone your message. Women Empowerment Websites – Groups such as Girlboss and Alice cater to women’s networking via their websites. The key is to join specific groups (for instance, on Girlboss I’m a member of Los Angeles, Marketing, and a few others) so that you may find the right types of collaborations. A recent instance of success pitching cli-
Don’t want to sift through the noise? Need someone to help craft your materials? Find me at anika@anikapr.com or www.anikapr.com and Best Of Luck with all of your ambitions and dreams.
FINANCIAL WELL-BEING
Four Financial Considerations For New Parents
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As Spring arrives, welcoming a new baby fills your life with joy today and hopes for the future. Parents with children will tell new parents to enjoy the moments because kids grow up so fast. Before you know it, your little prince and princess will be off to begin his or her journey. With small steps in a few areas, you can help make that journey better for the entire family: College - Costs are rising. Any action to save and invest in higher education earlier could help reduce student loan debt. Time is your friend and one of your most significant assets, and delaying even a few years can have a considerable effect on your portfolio’s value. Also, consider asking friends and family to contribute to a college savings account rather than purchasing toys. Small contributions working together in an interest-earning savings account can yield growth with time. Insurance - Many people avoid the topic, because conversations of unexpected situations feel like preparing for something bad to happen. Yet, many children and families are left in a tragic case that may have been prevented by having tough conversations and preparing for life when the unexpected does happen. Take a moment and ask yourself: If something happened to my spouse or to me, would my family be able to stay in the same home, attend college, and maintain or enjoy a comfortable lifestyle? What if you and your spouse have a tragic car accident or become injured at work? Will the family miss that steady income? The need for insurance can protect in cases of unexpected death, sickness, and disability. Estate Planning - This is one of those things to better have ready and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Prepare to express your financial intentions for your family. Who will serve as a guardian? Generally, minors cannot inherit money or property. Who will oversee the funds so that your wishes are carried out? Also, having a power of attorney (POA) to direct financial and medical choices may be helpful. Who do you want to make your medical decisions? What do you want to happen to the family home? It may be a good idea to contact a legal professional to help answer these questions and discuss wills, different types of trusts, and estate planning documents. Retirement - It may seem far away, but time goes by fast. Before you know it, the kids are grown and moving out to attend college or embark on a dream adventure. Consider your needs after the children leave home. Pay yourself first by investing or saving a small amount of income monthly. With the power of compound interest, you can yield the right amount of funding to enjoy yourself and your life in the Golden Years. Retirement means different things to different people. We think of retirement as a time in life where you have options to work, travel, and spend time with family and friends, without the worry of paying household expenses. Yes, it is possible to enjoy life and have your bills paid. Contribute to your 401(k) and IRA, and consider reducing the risk of being a burden to your children and your family members in later years. Parents have so much to think about and consider in making daily decisions. Ask for help when needed, seek professional advice, and develop strategies to turn your vision into a fantastic reality for your family and your future. Written by Wanda Booth, Financial Coach with Insight Masterminds, LLC. Insight Masterminds, its employees, and its coaches are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your estate planning attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation. Email Wanda@insightmasterminds.com Business Phone: 913-785-5581
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