Empowering Women In Business
GLOBAL July 2018
AU S T R A L I A’ S Q U E E N O F P R
08 10 13 18 21 38 40
SYSTEMIZE YOUR EMPIRE in six easy steps
AN EASY GUIDE
to network with people more influential than you
FEATURED EDITORIAL
Roxy Jacenko: Australia’s Queen of PR
ON OUR COVER: Known as Australia’s PR Queen, Roxy Jacenko is the founder and director of Sweaty Betty PR, a world-renowned business representing leading brands from across the globe. In 2012 Roxy founded The Ministry of Talent, a dedicated digital influencer management agency in Australia. Earlier this year, Roxy established her fourth company, Social Union, offering social media and content creation and management. She is the mother to Pixie and Hunter, the author of three popular fiction novels, Strictly Confidential, The Rumour Mill and The Spotlight, and also the founder of Pixie’s Bows.
BE AN INFLUENCER you were born to be one!
SUCCESS STORIES
real woman in business show you how it’s done
TAKE SOME TIME OUT
and disconnect yourself from technology
GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES and how to overcome them
FIVE LIFE & BUSINESS LESSONS LEARNED BY
AUST R A L I A’S PR QUEEN
w h a t a re t h e
F I V E M OS T S I G N I F I CA N T LIFE AND BUSINESS LESSONS yo u h ave l e a r n e d t h ro u g h o u t yo u r c a re e r ?
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT There is no point in doing what’s already been done or trying to emulate someone else’s success. Tread your own path in both life and business. YOUR INSTINCTS ARE USUALLY RIGHT No matter how many courses you complete, books you read, ‘gurus’ you speak to or internal back and forth you go through, at the end of the day you already know if something is a good idea or not. Of course, you need to seek information and expertise, but when it comes to many of your biggest life and business decisions, don’t ignore your gut instinct. DON’T BE SATISFIED WITH ‘GOOD ENOUGH’ Always seek to over-deliver on every task you do. Good enough is never good enough. To truly stand apart from your competitors and know you’re really doing your best, you need to be aiming to deliver over and above expectation. Each and every day, on every single task that you do. 4 | JULY 2018
FORGET BALANCE You will always make time for what is important for you, but that doesn’t mean your life will have any resemblance of balance. Sometimes you will need to give your work or business 100% focus, other times your family commitments take the focus. It will forever be changing but aiming for ‘balance’ in your day to day life is a recipe for disaster. BE AUTHENTIC By being honest, open and the ‘real’ you, there’s nothing to remember and no tiresome acting or pretence. This applies to life in general but especially in business, it ensures that you attract and work with clients that respect your approach and work ethic. www. roxyjacenko.com.au www.sweatybettypr.com roxyjacenko sweatybettypr ministryoftalent social.union Woman Entrepreneur | Global
Always seek to over-deliver on every task you do. Good enough is never good enough.
Known as Australia’s PR Queen, Roxy Jacenko is the founder and director of Sweaty Betty PR, a world-renowned business representing leading brands from across the globe. In 2012 Roxy founded The Ministry of Talent, a dedicated digital influencer management agency in Australia. Earlier this year, Roxy established her fourth company, Social Union, offering social media and content creation and management. She is the mother to Pixie and Hunter, the author of three popular fiction novels, Strictly Confidential, The Rumour Mill and The Spotlight, and also the founder of Pixie’s Bows.
Where is this year going? We are in the last half of the year already. A lot of people use July to reflect on the first six months of the year; was it a successful first half of the year, did you hit those goals, did you make target? Personally, I don’t do that every six months; I do that on a weekly basis. I set my goals over the weekend for the following week, and I revisit them again on Friday afternoon just before I go and pick up my kids from school. 2018 has been the year of balance for me. I am spending so much more time with my family, and I love it. How has your year, quarter or month changed from the last one? Do you know what your purpose is in life? Are you living a well-balanced life? The most important thing about goal setting is to actually go and revisit them, don’t set goals and forget about them!
Erna Basson is an award-winning entrepreneur, world-class business coach and international keynote speaker. She is well known for starting, growing and selling companies fast and her passion is to help people become entrepreneurs so that they too can achieve and live their dream. She is the Founder and CEO of Erabella Beauty , the fastest growing hair extensions brand in the world. She is the CEO and Founder of Woman Entrepreneur, a global platform to Empower Women in Business
Our July issue is dedicated to Influencers, the world has been taken over by influencers, and this should be one of the most significant segments of your marketing budget (especially if you are a product based company.) I really do hope you enjoy this edition as much as we enjoyed putting it all together for you. To your success,
Erna Basson Founder and CEO | Woman Entrepreneur
editor@womanentrepreneur.co www.womanentrepreneur.co
WELCOME TO THE
Woman Entrepreneur Club Launch WITH GUEST SPEAKER ERNA BASSON
The Woman Entrepreneur Networking Club is not your usual networking group for women, we are a club with a difference, a club that is truly focused, passionate and dedicated to supporting women to succeed both personally and professionally in an empowering, inspiring and supportive environment. Our club is for women who are serious about wanting to connect with highly influential business women, build new relationships and referrals, increase business growth, build a new business, network and most importantly be part of a sisterhood.
Caterina Dornbrach Club Director
25 July at 18:00–21:00 UTC+10 | Pullman Melbourne On The Park 192 Wellington Parade | East Melbourne | Victoria 3002 About the Speaker: Erna Basson Builds Businesses Award-winning Entrepreneur | International Keynote Speaker | Business Coach Erna Basson is an award-winning entrepreneur, world-class business coach & international keynote speaker. She is well known for starting, growing and selling companies fast and her passion is to help people become entrepreneurs so that they too can achieve and live their dream. Erna Basson is a sought-after entrepreneur that has been featured in media across the globe. She has started and sold several companies before the age of thirty. Some of her accomplishments and awards include: Recipient of the Global Female Entrepreneur of the year award 2017 alongside Mel Gibson Top Entrepreneur Under 30 by Fast Company Magazine Top 100 Most Influential Young South Africans in the world Finalist for the Woman of the Year Awards 2018 Represented South Africa at Africa's Most Influential Business Woman 2017 Mentor for the Nelson Mandela 100 Year Entrepreneurial Program Featured on the Magazine cover of Fast Company Featured on the Magazine cover of Get It Featured on the Magazine cover of Global Woman In this exclusive event, Erna will reveal her strategies on how she has built several successful brands. Erna will reveal: How to start a business the right way How to attract attention from A-List celebrities How to build a strong personal brand and leverage it How to increase your sales and only work with the clients that you want and that can afford your services Systems that can multiply your income How to do marketing the smart way without spending money Join us for this one night only event with Erna Basson and she will show you exactly how to scale any business fast!
Tickets are free. Register at Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/2m7atLA
If you truly want to systemize your influencer empire, you need to have, at the bare minimum, these 6 in place to make it sustainable:
1. Your goal clearly defined Know what you want to achieve. Write it down with specific outcomes. Put KPI’s in place so you can measure if it is successful or not and when you need to shift strategy.
2. Your roles and responsibilities clearly defined Define what needs to take place. If a person or system was in that role, what would they need to be doing on a daily/monthly/yearly basis to achieve the goal?
3. Your process mapped out for what you want to achieve What are the exact steps that need to be taken care of from one process to the next so you have a smooth flow?
Here is an example: Goal: To create a better onboarding experience for our new clients that we sign up. R&R’s: A welcome email to go out to new clients introducing them to the company and giving logins to the membership area. The client needs to get the celebrity treatment, so they feel like they are walking down the red carpet. A welcome call. On-boarding survey to capture where they are right now. Weekly emails to go out for accountability and keeping them engaged in social groups and completing the course. After three months, a progress survey and call to upsell. Process (mapped out on flowchart software): Welcome email
Use flowchart software to map it out and then you can assign people or a system and give them the roles and responsibility to achieve the goal and have the measurements in place to track.
Access to a member area
4. The right people
12 emails, one for each week (write out topics and goals for the emails)
Once you know what you want to achieve, you can find the people to fulfil that role. I would recommend using a personality profile and understand what kind of personality would best fit the position you are looking to fill.
5. The right tools and technology Only once you have all of the above steps should you start looking at technology – this can be a black hole because every person out there is marketing the next ‘shiny object’. Technology is there to support your processes – you cannot automate something you don’t already have a working process for.
6. A training schedule to keep your staff doing the right things at the right time The most important and most undervalued piece of the puzzle: regular training. The chances are that your team does not learn at the same pace or even look at learning the same subjects, so you need to continually train them to keep their standard at your standard, but also to build trust in your process. Set regular training times and get them to train you as well when they learn something. They will appreciate you for it too.
On-boarding survey Client welcome call
Sales call - 3 months People: A client relationship specialist that loves dealing with people and is excellent with admin and project management Tools & Technology: Infusionsoft – CRM, automated campaigns and emails, surveys, tracking of tasks Memberium – membership site ScheduleOnce – online appointment booking software Training schedule: Every day for two weeks, 30 minutes of training Once a week updates from myself and client relationship manager and any new learnings or feedback Once you break it down, it becomes more manageable… Now you have a system – make it work for you. If you need help mapping out your processes and implementing systems, reach out to me, and I will gladly help you with that.
About the Author: Matt Clark is a sales funnel expert and the creator of The Automated Income System. He has built his own multimillion-dollar companies both online and offline (door to door sales). He works with businesses all over the world helping them to automate, grow revenues, profits and free up more time. His clients have been able to entirely automate their businesses and create more revenue in one month than in an entire year - growing their business x5 by just doing things differently. His mission is to elevate the level of business worldwide by making tools and strategies available to business owners. Get your free copy of his book, The Automated Income System: How To Charge More, Work Less And Feel Great About It, on his website. Or get in touch with Matt directly if you need some help implementing these tools and to find out more about what is possible for your business. Email: matt@thevirtualedge.com LinkedIn: mattclarksa Website: www.thevirtualedge.com 8 | JULY 2018
Woman Entrepreneur | Global
SYSTEMIZING YOUR EMPIRE Is it possible to set up a system so you can grow your business without everything relying on you? It is, and I’m about to prove it. But first, let me tell you why I’ve gone this far… Uncovering the secrets of automation and building systems have become a passion of mine that has consumed an embarrassingly large amount of time and energy over the past four years. I’ve been so dedicated to it that I have even done it from my hospital bed. I couldn’t do any physical exercise, so I exercised my brain instead. I crossed the borderline from inquisitive and ventured into obsession a long time ago. I don’t know of anything more fascinating, more empowering, more profitable and more time-consuming than putting systems in place, but it is also the most rewarding. It makes you look at all the parts of your business that you haven’t thought of or have been scared to look at because you know they are not up to scratch. Given the technology that is available in today’s world, it has never been easier to grow and scale your business without everything relying on you. It doesn’t require an MBA, infallible logic or above average IQ. It is a
simple matter of documenting your every step and refining it. Refining is the hardest part.
In fact, if you have not managed to systematize your business to the level that you want, it likely has nothing to do with you. Given the technology that is available and how everyone is trying to sell the next best thing to you, it’s a wonder we actually get anything done, much less have systems in place. So just what does systemizing your influencer empire mean? It means having processes in place so that you don’t have to do everything and your business can run without everything relying on you. These processes are written down and documented so that, when we are looking for someone to fill a specific role, they can jump in and get it done without having to figure out what is going on in the business. This is important to remember – build the role and then find the person to fill the role. Most businesses make the mistake of doing it the other way around, so they are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole – it’s just never going to work properly.
www.womanentrepreneur.co | 9
#1
Ask for an Interview.
A great way to connect with influential people is to ask them for an interview, especially if you have a blog, podcast or are writing an article or book. This can be extremely effective if you can leverage the interview through other media channels giving more significant exposure to the influencers’ brand and providing a more substantial value exchange for their time. Not only this, but you get to ask them all the questions you want, getting mentored along the way.
#2
Volunteer.
Many key influencers around the world have training programs, courses or community memberships that they sell. Obviously by paying you will receive the person’s valuable time and knowledge, not only that you will be exposed to their network, and who knows the connections they may have? But what if you can’t afford the program fees? Offer to work for them for free or volunteer your time to help facilitate an event they may have.
#3
Make the Connection.
Search through your existing network, your connections past and present and find two connections you have who you feel could add value to the “influencers” life (the more influential these connections are, the better), then make the mutual connection. You could do this via LinkedIn, Facebook messenger or email. Start the introduction by acknowledging the influencer and their most recent work or success and that it reminded you of a connection you have. Highlight the relationship to your connection and how you feel they could add value to the influencer, then take a back seat and watch the magic happen. Be sure to follow up with both parties in a couple of weeks. It boils down to what you can offer the person whom you want to connect with. Give more to them than you intend to receive and do more listening and less talking.
About the Author: Jeremy K Steeter Serial Entrepreneur | International Speaker | Property Developer & Investor Global Networking Authority He has spoken on stages around the world and does business in multiple countries including Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and the USA. Jeremy strongly believes in the mindset that Your Network is your Net Worth and with that philosophy at forefront of mind has partnered with the World’s Number 1 Wealth Coach JT Foxx, to bring you the Intelligent Millionaires Network Sydney. He is focused on helping you achieve your business goals by holding you accountable each month, bringing you local and international millionaires to learn from and network with and showing you how to exponentially increase and leverage your relational capital. Jeremy is Driven By Your Vision. Email: admin@imnsydney.com.au Website: www.imnsydney.com.au LinkedIn: jeremy-k-streeter-a66489b9/ 10 | JULY 2018
Woman Entrepreneur | Global
HOW TO NETWORK WITH PEOPLE
MORE INFLUENTIAL THAN YOU I’m sure you have heard the Jim Rohn quote, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” It has been said a million times over by thousands of business coaches, mentors, entrepreneurs and influencers and with good reason… It’s true! If you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, wouldn’t it make sense to ensure the quintet is of the highest calibre possible? For me this means I want to surround myself with people who have walked the path I wish to take, who are industry leaders, authorities in their field and have achieved, or are achieving the level of success I want to attain. Just one question: How do I cement myself within their network? The answer comes down to one word, VALUE. In fact, this one word is the answer to networking, full stop. How can I add value to people who I perceive as more successful, more powerful and have more influence in the areas I wish to operate in, you ask? Well here are a few things you can do to start with.
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GET FEATURED Are you a leading female entrepreneur and authority in your industry? Do you want to take your brand to the next level, but not sure how? We are looking for top female entrepreneurs, speakers, power couples, and up and coming entrepreneurs to share their successes and achievements with like-minded individuals. Grab this once in a lifetime opportunity to get featured in the Woman Entrepreneur magazine or online platform. The world needs to know about you and how amazing you are, and
Woman Entrepreneur is THE #1 SUCCESS PLATFORM for Women in Business! You deserve all the recognition. Get featured today and be seen by millions of potential clients.
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D E D I C AT E D T O E M P O W E R I N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S 12 | JULY 2018
Woman Entrepreneur | Global
FEATURED EDITORIAL
For our readers who don’t know, please tell us, who is Roxy Jacenko? I am a mother to Pixie and Hunter, wife, founder and director of Sweaty Betty PR, The Ministry of Talent, Social Union and Pixie’s Bows, brand ambassador and speaker.
A lot of our readers are also mommies. Please give us your three best time management tips on running multiple successful companies and making time to be a mother and a wife too? Do things as they happen – don’t make to-do lists. Just do! If you complete your work tasks as they come in, you don’t have to think about when and how. If you keep putting things off, the work just builds up. This applies to emails too. If I can respond to an email and action it immediately, I do. Don’t over think it, just do what needs to be done. Take each day and each task as it comes. Jump on opportunities if they feel right. If you devote too much time to thinking about it, planning and strategizing you lose valuable time to get things done! You need to decide what’s important to you as a family. For me, evenings with the children are important, so as much as possible I try and be home on weeknights to play, have dinner together, bath time, stories etc. Once they are in bed, I then get back into work for a few hours – but that time of an evening together is important for us. We are all busy, but you make time for the things that are important to you, and for me, that’s family and my work.
Be consistent. This shouldn’t be an issue if you’re always authentic, but it’s important to share the same personal ‘brand’ across every platform. Whether that’s on social media, in interviews or public speaking engagements. If you’re not consistent, people will question your authenticity and therefore credibility. If there are opportunities to monetize your personal brand, think carefully about how well the opportunity aligns with you and your values. Would you actually use the product or service? Do you genuinely like it? Does it seem like a natural fit? No matter how tempting, don’t monetize your personal brand just for the dollars.
Let’s talk social; Facebook or Instagram? Why? For me, at the moment it’s Instagram, 100%. This is the platform that I personally see the most cut through both for myself and for clients. These days we are all bombarded with messaging, and we are conditioned to want to see engaging imagery and to be able to consume information as quickly as possible. Instagram is driven by the visual element, so it’s perfect for instantaneous communication and connection with your audience.
What are your five best tips for entrepreneurs that are the face of their business; how should they handle their social media platforms?
Firstly, I think it is important to make the distinction between the two -
Consider if you want to separate your personal and business social media platforms. When I first started using Instagram, I was only using the Sweaty Betty PR Instagram account, and it was a mix of personal posts and business posts. Pretty quickly I realised it would be better to separate the two so that I kept that clear distinction between what was purely business and client related and what was part of my everyday life. That being said, some entrepreneurs are their brands (think nutritionist or personal trainer), so it makes sense to keep it as just one. Think about what will work best for you, your business and the industry you’re in.
A business brand represents what the business offers, it speaks to a defined audience/customer and upholds the expectations of what people come to know, love and expect in a brand and its products or services.
Be consistent with the messaging. What you’re saying as a brand and what you’re saying as the face of your business should align. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same, but if you lack a consistent tone and style, it will be obvious and show a lack of authenticity.
A business can be successful without a prominent or famous ‘face’ of the brand, no question. But that doesn’t mean that the founder or CEO doesn’t have a personal brand. You have a personal brand regardless of whether or not you’re famous or well-known in your industry, and I think it’s very important for business owners to remember this.
Think before you post! Posting on social media as a business owner is just like speaking in a public forum. Would you say what you’ve written or shared out aloud in front of an audience of customers? If not, perhaps think twice about sharing it.
What is the difference between a business brand and a personal brand, and why is it important to have a strong personal brand? People can connect with a business brand, but I think they connect with the people behind the brand even more. That’s why I believe it’s so key to have a strong personal brand.
Every person that you meet, every interaction you have, the way you act and present yourself (both in real life and on social media) these are all part of your personal brand, and they also reflect on your business. It’s no good to start building a personal brand with the sole purpose of trying to become well-known, you’ve got to build one because it’s what people will identify with and connect with. Importantly, having a strong personal brand will help people remember and recognise your business brand as it’s human nature to connect, engage and remember people’s stories.
What are your five best tips on how entrepreneurs can build a strong personal brand and monetize on it? Be willing to share your story and be vulnerable. People relate to a real person, and if you’re authentic, they will trust you. People do business with people they trust. Have a point of difference. This comes back to being authentic and not trying to imitate someone else’s style or tone of voice. There are hundreds if not thousands of competitors in your market, but no one has your exact experiences, opinions or style. Being 100% yourself is your point of difference, own it. Don’t try too hard. If you’re forcing it, trying too hard to manufacture a personal brand for the sake of monetizing it, it’s just not going to work. You should be thinking about your personal brand as a business owner 24/7 (remember the world is always watching when you own a business, and you will always be a reflection of your business) but that doesn’t mean creating a personal brand for the sake of monetizing it. 14 | JULY 2018
Connect with people. After all, social media is all about being social! If people have taken the time to comment or ask a question, I think it’s important to engage with them. Whether or not you choose to engage with any haters is entirely up to you! But it’s nice to interact with your followers on social as much as you can. Have fun with it. While it’s important to be professional, I think it’s equally important not to take yourself too seriously.
What are some of the most common mistakes you see entrepreneurs make on social media? One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs make, especially small business owners, is posting too infrequently. They start an account, all guns blazing before it fizzles out to one or two posts a week, and then they wonder why they’re not gaining more traction. You’ve got to commit to quality and quantity – content is king! I think once a day is the minimum for a platform like Instagram, perhaps twice a day if possible. Also, posting poor quality content is a huge mistake. Consumers are accustomed to extremely high quality, engaging and appealing content. If your content isn’t up to the standard they subconsciously expect, it’s a poor reflection on your brand regardless of how great your product or service is. Everyone has a smartphone capable of taking a decent image and yet I still see Instagram posts that aren’t crisp and clear, poorly cropped etc. Always aim to share relevant, high-quality imagery. Woman Entrepreneur | Global
What you’re saying as a brand and what you’re saying as the face of your business should align.
Being real and showing all aspects of my life on social media make me relatable and that’s something brands want from an ambassador.
If you could do it all over again, what will you do differently? There isn’t actually anything I would change about my journey to getting where I am today. Of course, I have made plenty of mistakes, but each one has been a chance to learn, grow and adjust my approach. I’m still learning every day, even now after more than 14 years in business. Despite all the mistakes and my fair share of bad days, I wouldn’t change a moment. Every experience has helped to shape me, change my direction when needed (even if I couldn’t see it at the time) and ultimately enabled me to be able to run four companies and be a mother to two children, none of which I could have imagined in my wildest dreams when I first started!
You have so many endorsement deals from world-renowned brands; please tell us more about that? Becoming a brand ambassador wasn’t something I actively sought out. The opportunities were a natural progression and came about organically rather than some well-orchestrated plan. Brands that I was working with through Sweaty Betty appreciated that I was good at my craft. They could also see alignment potential as I’m a working mother who has hardships and trials and tribulations as we all do. Yes, I may have fancy things, and at times my life may appear quite luxurious, but at the end of the day I’m just like everyone else – I’m doing the school run, trying to squeeze in a gym session around family and work, changing bed sheets in the middle of the night! Being real and showing all aspects of my life on social media make me relatable and that’s something brands want from an ambassador. It’s certainly not something you can chase, but the ambassadorial roles have given me fantastic opportunities and experiences that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
The more successful influencers are those who share their unique views, creativity and lifestyle authentically. They don’t try and force it. You can absolutely detect when someone is trying to force ‘influencer’ status, and I don’t think people buy it. So, always be true to you. Be consistent. This applies to the frequency, quality and style of your posts. If you want to grow a loyal following, this is key. Be social. Engage with your audience, comment back, create a conversation through your posts. Embrace change. Today it’s Instagram and YouTube, tomorrow it might be something else we’ve never even heard of yet. If you want longevity you’ve got to be willing to adapt, be an early adopter and change with the times.
What is your advice for influencers and entrepreneurs on how you should go about approaching high-end brands? I think it’s important to remember how inundated high-end brands are with requests. They are in demand and in most cases are not going to pay an influencer to work with them. My approach would be to keep being consistent, keep being authentically you and if a high-end aesthetic is naturally something you are drawn to, share that with beautiful, high-quality content. If one does happen to approach you or there is an opportunity to engage with them, don’t even worry about paid partnerships. The alignment with that high-end brand is going to be worth more for you and your brand that it is for theirs. It’s a long game when it comes to working with high-end brands. It’s not going to happen, and it shouldn’t be your only goal.
If one of our readers wanted to become an influencer, what are the best tips you can give her?
What is the difference between an influencer and an amazing influencer?
The influencer world is highly saturated. That isn’t to say that it’s not possible to become an influencer now, but I wouldn’t suggest that anybody set out with that as their sole intention. Most influencers will tell you that their following grew organically when they were sharing things that they love or love to do.
The term influencer is used fairly lightly at times, just because someone has a relatively large following on a social platform, it doesn’t automatically make them an amazing influencer. For me, an amazing influencer is someone who has a unique point of difference, engages with their audience and who has a loyal audience.
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Woman Entrepreneur | Global
Amazing influencers have traction in the marketplace. As an example, if they recommend their favourite face cream, it flies off the shelves. When they speak, people listen. An amazing influencer is also one that can effortlessly merge their unique content style with brand partnerships and alignments in a meaningful and authentic way. Paid and unpaid posts flow seamlessly, and as a result, their thoughts and recommendations are well received. Sweaty Betty PR is one of the most famous PR companies in Australia, what are the 5 top tips you can give to entrepreneurs when they want to launch a new product or brand? Don’t try and create a product or brand unless its something you genuinely want and would use. What’s your point of difference? You can create a unique brand with a product that already exists in the marketplace (look at Pixie’s Bows!) it all comes down to finding and highlighting your point of difference. Get all of the brand elements finalised before launch. If you’re going to do something, do it well. This means having all the brand collateral finalised, a great website, social channels up and running. Start as you intend to go on. Ensure your backend systems (bookkeeping, accounts, invoicing, order fulfilment etc.) are in place before you start. Again, start as you intend to go on as you can make many costly mistakes if you launch without having these kinds of systems in place. As someone who has been there and done that, take my word for it! Be creative. You’re likely not going to have a huge marketing budget when you first start out, but that doesn’t mean you can’t launch with a bang. Social media is a hugely powerful tool, so powerful in fact that million-dollar brands have been built entirely on Instagram with a cent being spent on traditional advertising. Think about ways you can leverage this when launching your new product or brand; it’s all about perception.
What is your opinion about the Woman Entrepreneur platform on how we are helping women build businesses and empowering women in business by giving them the right tools and knowledge to do it? I absolutely love it! There is such a wealth of information that individual business owners can share with others, whether they’re on their entrepreneurial path or dream of starting their own business one day. When you start a business, without realising it, you’re building up knowledge and acquiring skills that other people may find useful. Woman Entrepreneur is such a fabulous initiative as a platform for women to share their experiences, insights and wisdom from being in business. The more open we can be, the more information we can share with each other and the more honest we are about what it really takes to succeed, then the better I believe it will be for the next generation of female entrepreneurs. When I first started out in business, there wasn’t really anything like this! That’s why now, I’m so passionate about sharing my knowledge and take on life as a business owner and why I’m always willing to answer questions as honestly and candidly as I can. I know how many mistakes you make along the way, so even if I can just help one person or inspire them to follow their dreams then I know it’s all been worth it.
What is your purpose in life? To be the best mum and role model to my children. If they are happy and healthy and inspired to work hard for what they want in life, whatever career aspirations they may have, then I am happy.
If you could give entrepreneurs the very last tip of your life, what will that be? Don’t be afraid to just go with your instincts. You don’t have to be the smartest – you’ve just got to be willing to show up consistently, have an unwavering work ethic and promise yourself that failure is not an option! www.womanentrepreneur.co | 17
W
e spend so much time hiding in the shadows, trying to figure out how to be like everyone else. Terrified to show up in the world as the women we were born to be. Scared to speak up, afraid to stand out, reluctant to voice our ideas and opinions. Following trends. Keeping up with mainstream media. It gets exhausting! The truth is that this world needs more of us to stand up to our power and have the confidence to be great leaders. To influence is to have an impact on other peoples’ behaviour. To be an expert, to be a leader, to influence their decisions, their beliefs and their desires. The world already has too many followers. What it needs, is someone like you to share your perspective and own the unique brilliance that you bring to the table! It takes extreme courage to put on your big girl pants and make the decision that it’s time to be bold, and proud of who you are. To believe that you have everything it takes and more to change this whole damn world! To not get stuck in your tracks and overcome by a flood of overwhelm when you think about the thousand and one steps it will require to get there. To put on your sexiest stilettos and just take that first initial step with faith and belief that the rest will fall into place if you keep moving and stay ahead of your fear. To be an influencer is to be an innovator; to embrace your out-of-the-box ideas. To take a different path from those that came before you. To recognise that change can be good, and you’re the exact right person to bring about the change that is so badly needed in our society. To trust that you were given the opportunity to pursue this role for a reason, and it didn’t happen by chance. And to go get it! To play big. To be unapologetic. And to jump right in and fight with full force, until you wake up one day and realise that you have changed thousands of lives for the better! Because guess what? You can do that! Girl, you were born to be an influencer! It’s your time to shine! And it’s your time to be heard, to stand out and to get loud! We don’t do the world any favours by hiding who we are. By blending in. By trying so hard to follow along with what everyone else is doing. There are far too many people already doing those things, and unfortunately, it takes most of them way too long to wake up and realise the opportunity they’re missing out on and to really make a difference. But that’s not you. I know that you recognise how special you are, but I also understand that sometimes it’s scary to let it out. As soon as you realise what a gift it is that you were born with, this world will never be the same! It’s time! It’s time right now to realise that you have extreme potential. There’s never been a more perfect time than right now to stand up, to be courageous and do what you’ve been called to do.
LINDSAY ADAMSON International Speaker, Success Coach and Author email lindsayadamson@gmail.com lindsayadamsonofficial lindsayadamsonofficial web www.lindsayadamson.com
18 | JULY 2018
Gi be
Put on
irl, you were born to e an inuencer!
n your sexiest stilettos and just take the first step!
www.womanentrepreneur.co | 19
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Woman Entrepreneur | Global
SUCCESS STORY Kristen O’Connell is an award-winning global business owner and keynote speaker. She is the founder of Superlative Recruitment, a recruitment advertising, consulting and coaching company that has worked with over 250 start-ups in 95 cities in 12 countries on four continents. Superlative Recruitment make use of creative and innovative methods to assist their clients in finding the best prospective candidates in the shortest period possible; not only saving them time but also saving them money. In 2016, Superlative Recruitment was nominated for Best Client-Side Recruitment Team and Best Freelance Recruitment Team at the Marketing and Digital Recruitment Awards. Kristen is a people-focused entrepreneur helping like-minded individuals achieve their full potential and find their true calling. Her book, From Freelance to Freedom, will be released later this year and promises to be an inspiring read for individuals who want to think bigger and reaching their goals.
KRISTEN O’CONNELL
I was raised in New England, a region of the North East USA. Being the middle child, the only girl in the neighbourhood, and born on the first of the month, it’s only natural that I became pretty competitive early on. I’m also an Aquarius, and we’ve been known to march to the beat of our own drums and be very open-minded to different people and varied opinions. This combination drove me to say yes to many experiences and opportunities including sport, travel, academic programs, and social engagements. In addition to being competitive and independent, I’ve always had a natural leadership ability which I demonstrated in school, sports, work and social situations. My entrepreneurial journey officially began when was 23 years old and presented with the opportunity to become a self-employed field sales representative. There was rapid advancement potential, and I immediately accepted because I knew this was a means of being in control of my earnings and my future. I was nervous and excited, but I believed in myself, and I knew if I surrounded myself with the right people and did what they had done to succeed, I too would make it! are three business and life lessons you have learned? 1) What
1) Thinking Big and Goal Setting is a Cycle: My idea of “Thinking Big” when I was 23 is very different than my idea of thinking big now. And, it should be because that’s the nature of most things in life- the more you do them, the easier they get. The bigger I think, the more I achieve, the more I achieve, the more I believe is possible, and this causes me to think even bigger than before. I have a book coming out this autumn called From Freelance to Freedom where I talk about this cycle and how to utilise it in more detail. 2) Surround yourself with the right people: Your circle of influence may just be the most important factor of your success. I believe in having a wide enough circle of influence where I’m both a student and a teacher. They say that “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room”, and I believe that to be true - as long as you’re also not the most uneducated person in the room either. It’s important to learn from others, and it’s equally important to share information with others. Let knowledge flow through you. I get more pleasure from seeing someone else succeed from my advice than achieving that same victory personally. 3) Accept the unexpected: I don’t mean “expect the unexpected”; that’s a contradiction of terms. Yes, I know it means to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong, and I agree with that methodology, but more importantly is to accept this unexpected event that has happened. As a business leader, presenter or coach, you’re setting the example for others to follow. How you react and respond to situations is how those around you will react and respond. The show must go on. Time stops for no woman. Accept what’s happened quickly so you can move on with a positive outlook as you productively solve the problem.
your many achievements, what is your most significant achievement and why? 2) From
My biggest business achievement to date is my company’s recent win of the Federation of Small Business London Regional and UK National Micro-Business of the Year Award! This award recognises solo entrepreneurs, remote workforces and home-based businesses. I’m really proud to have been recognised for having the number one home-based business in the whole country. My biggest achievement overall, which ties into the award, is the fact that I’ve been able to provide opportunity and coaching for ten other people who work consistent, flexible hours as independent contractors. They’re all able to work remotely, able to set their own schedules, and able to pursue multiple income streams. Most of them are also mothers or mothers-to-be that are able to spend more time with their family. Being able to offer that level of financial freedom and work-life balance to others is what makes running my business so worthwhile.
inspires and motivates you? Why do you wake up every morning, get the work done and do it all over 3) What again the next day?
My biggest motivator is, and probably always has been, fear. I know that might sound negative, but I’ll explain how it’s actually a massive positive. When I launched my current business, I was a freelance agent to ten clients. I had moved to the UK a year and a half earlier as a sales manager, but no longer wanted to pursue that route. I was so afraid that if my new venture didn’t work out, I’d be forced to go back to the US and become an employee again! That’s what got out of bed every morning and pushed me to give 100%,100% of the time. I worked seven days a week for seven years, including public holidays, while on vacation, and even while in labour with my children. Of course, it was my choice; I was the boss, so don’t feel sorry for me. I surely don’t feel sorry for me. I feel sorry for people who never give 100% and never achieve their potential. That’s how fear can be a good motivator… I’m afraid of being average, I’m scared of settling for less, I’m afraid of denying my children opportunities, and I’m afraid of looking back when it’s too late, thinking “If only I’d given a little more…”
your experience as a successful and influential entrepreneur, what is the best way to market your 4) From business or yourself?
In my experience, the best way to market your business is by managing your Reputation and your Relationships. I built my recruitment business from scratch, and as we approach our ten-year anniversary, I’ve still not paid to acquire a single client. All 250 of the businesses we’ve worked with over the years have come to us through referrals and recommendations. This is vastly due to the reputation my team and I have built and protected over the years, and from the relationships we’ve built with everyone I work with in every capacity including our clients, suppliers, team members and others within the industry. We take these two things very seriously. I have created a Relationship Management Formula in which I share my secrets for establishing, developing and nurturing relationships. And, I’ve developed a Reputation Management Process where I educate people on knowing what’s said about you behind your back and how to make sure it’s the message you want to be heard. Managing these two elements have saved tremendous amounts of money that we’ve then been able to re-invest in our people and our personal/professional development.
Kristen and her team receiving their award from the Federation of Small Business for 2018 UK Micro Business of the Year!
22 | JULY 2018
Woman Entrepreneur | Global
5) What is the secret to your success?
My secret to success is a combination of all the things we’ve been talking about. Essentially, my business is so successful because we avoided three of the most common pitfalls of starting and running a business. I made strategic choices about the way I built my business so that we were chasing profits, not debts and investing in assets, not liabilities. I now run a global seven-figure business with low-to-no overhead, with no marketing or advertising costs, and without paying a single salary. In 2018, no one should be living someone else’s dream, so I’m hosting courses for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs on how they can do the same.
6) What quote do you live by and why?
“Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.” There are different variations of this quote, and the origin is disputed, but the principle remains. Lots of unpleasant things will happen to everyone during their lifetime. No matter how hard you work or how much money you have, you’ll still experience injustice and pain. It’s how you respond and react to the uncontrollable in life that determines the quality of your life. I first saw this quote in a friend’s office a few days before moving to the UK, and it’s stuck with me ever since. There have been many times since then where I was afraid of my next step, but I remembered this phrase and realised it’s never about what happens, but about how I respond and react to that which has happened. Looking back, it’s so evident that it’s my mentality and my attitude towards situations that have helped me the most along my journey.
What advice do you have for female entrepreneurs on the same journey as you who want to achieve the 7) same success? Women are incredible. Historically, we’re the hunter-gatherers of the tribe; we’re the ones growing and nurturing off-spring, we’re the multi-tasking queens who can listen to three different conversations while also doing the ironing and cooking and keeping the kids safe… It’s great that we’re capable of so much, but at what cost? Who are we trying to prove what to? You know what’s better than a strong, independent woman who gets it all done? A team of strong independent women who get much more done! How do I know this? Because I spent too many years as a stressed-out control-freak trying to do it all on my own to prove how amazing I was. The problem is, no one thought I was amazing until I built a team of self-sufficient, empowered women and we started taking over the world together! So, my best advice is to stop trying to do everything on your own. Please allow other people to help you. Let your team make educated decisions, take risks and provide you with feedback. I made far too many decisions on my own without consulting others because didn’t want to appear ignorant (but I was ignorant, I’ve never run a business like this before!) I now ask my team their opinions regularly and I work with several business coaches from different backgrounds. Everyone brings different perspectives and potential solutions to the situation, which allows me to get expert advice and still maintain the freedom and control of running my business my way.
is the hardest thing about entrepreneurship that no one told you? 8) What
No one tells you that everything is always your fault. Most entrepreneurs have had at least one job before starting their own company. As an employee, nothing is ever your fault… if the pizza restaurant I worked at ran out of an ingredient, it certainly wasn’t my fault. And I didn’t particularly care if the customer was annoyed- what was I supposed to do about it and how was it going to affect my life? I’d do nothing and feel no effects at all. It’s the complete opposite when running a business. You feel everything deeply! It’s fun and exciting to envision and accept the compliments and recognition, and
accolades, but it’s not so easy to envision and accept the complaints, failures, and blame that come along with it. This is why it’s so important to have a strong, clear vision and long-term goals. And why it’s essential to run your business in a smart, new economy fashion. Money can’t solve all problems, but lack of cash flow definitely leads to unnecessary stress!
has been your biggest challenge to date? How did you overcome that, and what did you learn from that? 9) What
Running a business is full of unexpected challenges, but my most significant challenge to date was one that affected me on both a personal and professional level. Two years ago, my husband and I split up, and it made me seriously doubt and question everything I’d worked towards for the past several years. My home life was now more challenging as I had to learn to manage my time differently as a single parent, and how to manage a household budget differently as a single-income earner. This affected me professionally because not only was he my life partner, but he was also a business partner of mine. He’s Regional Director and a major influencer in the sales organisation my company recruits for, and one of my longest-standing clients. Once I evaluated the situation logically, I realised I never started or maintained the business for him, so I shouldn’t stop running my business because of him.
We never realise how strong we are until we’re put in a position to have our strength tested.” I overcame this by refusing to back down and refusing to hide in the shadows. It would have been easy for me to hide behind the scenes, but I put myself in the spotlight to show my clients and my team that we’re here to stay and that I won’t allow a setback in my personal life derail my business. The number one thing I learned is that we never realise how strong we are until we’re put in a position to have our strength tested. I now take more risks, make decisions faster without fear, and embrace challenges for their lessons.
could do it all over again, what will you change 10) Ifandyouwhy?
If I could turn back time, I’d tell my rookie-entrepreneur self that mistakes and failure are an important part of the process because that’s how we grow! I wish the version of me starting out had more confidence and more self-belief. Since I lacked these two things, I developed a tendency to wait until things were perfect before launching new services, increasing our fees, and diversifying our client portfolio. I would also get a coach and a confidant much sooner. I made a lot of excuses for a lot of years without seeing it that way. I spent a lot of time justifying my mistakes by saying it was bound to happen since I was forging my own path. However, I should have looked for the guidance I was missing instead of using it as a reason for not achieving my goals. It seems so simple and silly in retrospect.
GET IN TOUCH WITH KRISTEN O’CONNELL E kristen@superrecruit.co.uk FACEBOOK kristenoconnell.2180 LINKEDIN kristen-oconnell-pierog SUPERLATIVE RECRUITMENT www.superlativerecruitment.com AT HOME MILLIONAIRE www.athomemillionaire.com
Kristen speaking to a group of start-up entrepreneurs and their in-house recruiters about current recruitment trends.
www.womanentrepreneur.co | 23
Do you want to start a new business? Do you have an existing business but want to 10x your profit? Do you feel stuck in your current business? Do your marketing and branding suck and you need assistance? Erna Basson is the coach for you. She has started, grown and sold several businesses and is now helping entrepreneurs around the world to do the same.
ERNA’S LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE: Named South Africa’s Top Entrepreneur Under 30 by Fast Company Magazine in 2017 Featured on the cover of Fast Company Magazine in June 2017 Received the 2017 Global Female Entrepreneur award in Los Angeles Top 100 Most Influential Young South Africans 2017 Finalist at Africa’s most Influential Women in Business 2017 Completed a 4-year Bachelors Degree in 3 years with 18 distinctions AS SEEN IN:
Log your strategy call today with Erna
www.ernabasson.com 24 | JULY 2018
Woman Entrepreneur | Global
SUCCESS STORY Carolyne Akinyi Opinde is the Founder and Senior Managing Partner of The NGO Whisperer. The NGO Whisperer is a consulting business helping non-profits raise funds and, by doing so, impacting people’s lives across the globe. Carolyne is a certified Project Management Professional and resource mobilization specialist and has been actively involved in the industry for 15 years. Her knowledge and experience in international development have reached communities in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Carolyne has managed US$20 million worth of projects and has raised over US$100 million. She holds a Master of Science in Project Management from the University of Salford, UK, and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Chemistry from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, among other accredited qualifications.
Carolyne OPINDE www.womanentrepreneur.co | 25
1) your entrepreneur journey started?
Tell us a bit about yourself and when/how
Entrepreneurship has been in my blood from a very young age. My motivation has always been to generate more money, so I could always help those in need. I suppose I was a social entrepreneur long before I knew what that word meant. My first entrepreneurial activity was cleaning dishes in my neighbourhood, so I could raise funds for the Girl Guides and Boy Scout Club at my primary school in Tambach, Kenya. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. I meant business and so I woke up early at 06:00 in the morning, dressed up in my colorful blouse, corduroy skirt, brown shoes and carried a small purse. I knew first impressions mattered, and as my mom always said, dress well and represent the Opinde family well. I had a clear strategy: my potential customers were neighbours who did not have housekeepers, and my price tag was KES 5 per sink load. My customers had to provide me with the necessary dishwashing liquid, sponge and tea towels and I arranged with them to work between 09:00 and 12:00.
“Learn how to bring out the best in everyone you meet.
In 2008, I moved to South Africa to work with one of the world’s largest volunteer organizations, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) UK. My primary focus was to contribute to creating an HIV-free generation through an effective social enterprise model that would help people living with HIV to be financially independent and improve their wellbeing. The Ford Foundation successfully funded one of the programs I developed over two years (2009 – 2011). Through the project I focused on most atrisk parts of the population; mainly HIV-positive women and girls from six African countries (Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe) and provided them with the necessary support to set up income-generating activities. In March 2018, I stepped out of employment in the nonprofit sector for 15 years, having raised over US$ 100 million. I cherished every opportunity I had working with my former employers, but the free-spirited entrepreneur and public speaker in me felt stuck. A job in South Africa was not able to give me the freedom to spend time with my family in Kenya and Europe. I was also driven by the passion for responding to socioeconomic problems in more creative ways. I decided to start up a consulting business, so I could have the freedom and financial independence to implement a business model that focuses on making profits while impacting lives of people from all walks of life across the globe.
2) achievements with our readers.
Please share some of your amazing
Through my consulting business, I help many non-profits raise funds to increase access to primary education, prevention of gender-based violence, access to clean water, food security, safety and security, and global health. My most significant achievement is contributing to helping two million HIV-positive mothers prevent transmission of HIV to their babies and creating an HIV-free generation. I feel honored and humbled to have been part of amazing organizations such as mother2mothers and VSO. I now continue to work with other non-profits organizations through my consulting business, The NGO Whisperer. Currently we are working on a number of life-changing projects in the prevention of gender-based violence among two million women in South Africa. This is a ground-breaking project that has adopted a social-enterprise model to revolutionize how society empowers women, especially those vulnerable to gender-based violence. We are very close to launching innovative products, and I am looking forward to seeing the impact it will have. I am also proud of the opportunity that the JT Foxx Organization accorded me to share the stage with Hollywood celebrities such as John Travolta and Charlie Sheen in Los Angeles, California.
Carolyne with Steven Bradbury
Carolyne with John Travolta
3) you have learned?
What are the three business and life lessons
There so many business and life lessons that I learned since I was a little child, however, the top three I would like to share with you today are as follows: People are the greatest resource one can ever have in life; learn how to bring out the best in everyone you meet. This is a lesson I learned from my parents at home and later through my business coaches. In my upcoming e-book, I share views on the different types of relationships I have with people that accelerated my transition process from being employed to establishing my consulting business, The NGO Whisperer.
26 | JULY 2018
Carolyne interviewing Charlie Sheen
Woman Entrepreneur | Global
Create your own opportunities and turn them into a legacy. Do not wait for opportunities to come your way. This second lesson is highly debatable, and I am willing to sit in the hot seat and argue my points. In my opinion, every successful person, regardless of their socioeconomic status, took action and did what was needed to achieve the level of success they have. I believe there is always a way to make it happen. When you are hungry and thirsty for change, you will find a way. There is a time for everything, and when you strategize and structure your life, you will make time for everything that matters to you. This is a lesson that I have learned from my productivity coaches from Earn More Work Less. If you want to run a business with a global reach, you need to plan well and be disciplined with your time and conserve your energy for the most important and strategic tasks. That is how I can run a consulting business with clients in different time zones. Sometimes I have meetings as early as 05:00 or late around 23:00 and manage to stay sane. This is one of the joys of having a business with a global reach.
4)
What are your core business principles and values you adhere to?
At The NGO Whisperer we are governed by the following core values: Integrity: We uphold ourselves accountable to the people we serve and deliver what we promise to do.
Mutual respect: We regard others with high esteem regardless of differences in opinion. Excellence: We do whatever it takes to give our customers and prospects the best experience. Teamwork: We value the role others play and the contribution they make to the success of any work we undertake. Dedication and Commitment: We go the extra mile to ensure our customers and prospects receive the best return on their investment.
5) wake up every morning, get the work done and do What inspires and motivates you? Why do you
it all over again the next day?
I am motivated and inspired by the belief that every day, I have the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of people in a unique way and through partnerships I have established with the non-profits I work with. So, every phone call with a funder, every project design meeting with a client, every budget review meeting, counts to impacting lives. This year is Madiba’s (Nelson Mandela) 100th birthday, and I am reminded of his wise words: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
6)
9) competitors? What makes you unique?
How do you differentiate yourself from your
Our uniqueness lies in the combination of the services we offer to our clients, and the individualized approach we take in meeting the needs of each client. Here are five ways we can help your non-profit impact people’s lives: Resource Mobilization: We help non-profits identify suitable donors, design projects, develop grant proposals and manage donor relationships.
Project Management Support: We support non-profits to implement high quality project management systems and processes for effective and efficient grant management. Governance and Organizational Management: We advise leadership teams to design and implement governance and management structures that are suitable for their sustainability. Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management: We assist non-profits to develop and implement an organization-wide enterprise risk management strategy focusing on their sustainability. Executive Coaching: We offer one-on-one coaching for the leadership team, to facilitate their development, help them get past impasses and build their strengths. We offer our services as distinct pillars or in combination. We are happy to discuss options with our clients to better address their unique needs.
10) months?
What can we expect from you in the next 12
The NGO Whisperer is growing by leaps and bounds. In the next 12 months, we will be working with our clients to ensure they adopt funding models that will result in sustainable, replicable and effective projects. So far, we have clients in Africa, Europe, United States, South America and the Caribbean. We are focusing our efforts on expanding our footprint across the globe.
11) change and why?
If you could do it all over again, what will you
When I look back three years ago, in 2015, I realize that I already had terrific coaches from the JT Foxx Organization, potential customers and the opportunity to start my consulting business. However, the only thing that was lacking was the confidence to take a leap of faith and start my business. I am glad that, even though back then my confidence was shaky, my coaches did not give up on me. If I could do it all over again, I would transition from employment into entrepreneurship as soon as I had the idea to set up my consulting business The NGO Whisperer.
What is the secret to your success? My secret to success is based on two powerful daily habits:
I start my day with prayers and meditation to feed my spiritual life and strengthen my faith in God. This spiritual habit helps me maintain a positive mindset, inner peace and the “I can do it” attitude that every one of us needs to succeed in life. I end my day by developing a daily action planner for the following day to structure and prioritize my personal and business life. This helps me to manage my energy and lead a fulfilled life.
7)
What quote do you live by and why?
The quote that I live by is “It’s all about #ImpactingLives globally.” I use it in my social media posts. Its short form is #RaisingFunds #ImpactingLives. This quote reminds me every day that everything I do should have a positive impact on someone’s life, because people matter.
8) on the same journey as you who want to achieve What advice can you give female entrepreneurs
the same success?
My advice applies to all entrepreneurs both female and male. Success is a journey that is paved with daily habits. I highly recommend practicing the following principles: Hire a coach who has a track record of success as an entrepreneur.
GET IN TOUCH WITH CAROLYNE OPINDE
Hire a team of A-players who share the same values and are committed to your business goals.
Email carolyne@ngowhisperer.com Website ngowhisperer.com LinkedIn carolyneopinde Facebook TheNGOWhisperer Twitter carolyneopinde Instagram carolyne.opinde Google+ +Carolyne A. Opinde
Together with your team, focus on generating profits that will help you build a two-year cash-on-hand reserve to ensure you can cover your sales, general and administrative costs.
www.womanentrepreneur.co | 27
STRATEGY NUMBER 1:
STRATEGY NUMBER 4:
Burst your Negative Self Talk Bubbles
Listen to your customers and the marketplace, be adaptable
This is a crucial step. You must get your mindset into a place of strength and perseverance. Even though you have done all the necessary planning and strategy work, there will be those days, heck weeks, sometimes months that will go by before you truly see the fruits of all your hard work pay off. Entrepreneurship is going to push you to your limits, exhaust and frustrate you, but you must keep going. Remember your why and stay positive and move forward. If you burst those negative bubbles, you will be shocked how quickly you start to see your vision and customers come into sight.
STRATEGY NUMBER 2: Do not chase the money and all that sparkles This is a massive pitfall that many new entrepreneurs fall into and I understand why. In fact, my mess is my message because I fell hard into the pit. As you start out your money and time, seem to be flowing out at the speed of light, which can be terrifying. But taking actions out of fear will cost you money and valuable time. Remember when you were doing your strategy work and crafting the one thing you will be known for and stick to it, stay the course. It has been said it is not the most intelligent person who is the most successful; it is the person with the most focus. Chasing “opportunities” or expanding your target market to be everything to everyone will water down your effectiveness and will cause confusion for your customers. We all know a confused mind does not buy. Stick to your one thing.
STRATEGY NUMBER 3: Invest in processes, infrastructure and teams Spending your money and time wisely will be one of the biggest contributors to your success. Many entrepreneurs will not invest in things that will truly make a difference. The I cannot afford it statement can be your downfall. Building a team with functional experts such as an accountant or a virtual assistant will open up your time and effectiveness. Imagine what it will cost you if you do your accounting incorrectly and as a result, your taxes are done incorrectly. Think of the time and cash penalties you will endure. You must be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Understand what you are good at and do it and hire out the rest, get creative. There are also plenty of services such as Fivver that can help you get the expert help you need at a very reasonable cost. Interns are another lowcost option with high returns, have them do tasks such as filing and social media. Technology can be your best friend here too, research apps and systems that can help you put procedures in place that takes you out of the equation. Sometimes a touch of a button can take away hours of tedious work. Then you can spend your time on the tasks that are strategically crucial to the business and make you money.
As business owners, our products or services become our babies. We protect them, nurture them and sometimes hold on to them a little too long without letting them grow up and change. Understandably you started this business because it was your passion but listening to your target market and watching the product lifecycle and trends will be crucial if your business is going to stand the test of time. Keep your eye on future trends not just in your industry but in all industries. Sometimes other industries can be significant indicators of what is coming. Your ability to adapt and integrate these changes into your current offerings and accommodate what the market will bear will lead to a business model set up for success. The key… speed of implementation.
STRATEGY NUMBER 5: Network, Network, Network You will never meet that one person or customer that could change the course of your business or your life sitting at home behind your computer. You need to get out and meet your customers, your strategic partners, your allies. Make sure you have a good system to follow up with the people you meet. I used to joke I was the place business cards went to die. I did all the networking, but my follow up was horrendous. I would get back from an event throw all the business cards on my desk and a week or more would go by and guess what, it is now too late. So, it was wasted time and effort. There are some very affordable CRM systems available that allow you to simply scan the cards and make notes, so you can remember crucial conversations and follow up points. In addition, have a plan when you go to events. Are you looking for specific types of people or are you looking to pick up some information or a new skill? A focused networking plan can prove to be a lucrative tactic in your marketing plan. Also, I know we tend to get comfortable, going to the same groups repeatedly. I would like to challenge you to reassess where you are spending your time. Is the group still serving you and adding to your business goals or has it become a glorified social hour with friends? Continue to search out new groups and opportunities that allow you to grow your relationship capital.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Michele Malo - Your Business Accelerator Michele is an Amazon best-selling author, speaker, master connector and business expert. She is the Master Marketing Consultant at Michele Malo, Your Business Accelerator, where she identifies, strategizes and advances businesses by breaking down barriers through communication. Michele pulls from 18 years of Fortune 500 corporate experience and five years of being a successful serial entrepreneur to help accelerate your profits within a year of taking on her program. As a powerful and polished speaker, Michele inspires audiences with her personal story and proven strategic principles to help guide audiences to a better, more fulfilling life and career. She provides listeners with actionable tools and takeaways based on extensive research and education, delivered with sincerity, compassion and humour. www.michelemalo.com | Email: michele@michelemalo.com Facebook: michelemaloyourbusinessaccelerator 28 | JULY 2018
Woman Entrepreneur | Global
FOR ANY ENTREPRENEUR STARTING OUT Starting is one of the hardest steps for entrepreneurs, so be proud of the fact you have taken the leap into business ownership. You are no longer making someone else rich, but instead, you are the master of your own destiny, building a business that is yours and yours alone. In past articles, I spoke of the importance of having a clear idea of who you are, what you do and who you serve. Then, researching the marketplace and devising a strategic plan so you can be sure your messaging and time is focused on the activities that are monetizable. When you start a business, it is up to you to make it successful, at times this can become overwhelming. Having the right mindset and getting past the negative self-talk will be crucial to your success.
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SUCCESS STORY
VICKY OMIFOLAJI Vicky Omifolaji is the Founder and Chief Trainer of ADVERSITY-TO-ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY which teaches people to overcome their challenges; conquer their fears and attain their goals and dreams. She is also the Founder and Director of the NIGERIAN HIGH ACHIEVERS FOUNDATION (non-profit) – Inspiring and leading a new generation of Nigerians with the tools, resources, methods, and means to attain their higher potential. Through her foundation, many women have been empowered with financial assistance to start businesses or financial injection into their businesses.
Vicky has 15 years’ experience in counseling individuals from different ages, diverse backgrounds, and cultures. She is an accredited Mental Health Social Worker, helping her clients through focused psychological strategies. She is the author of nine books, including Positive Self-Esteem: A Guide to a Better You, Claim the Land and When Parents Separate - Easing the Trauma for Children, with over a million copies sold on different platforms, including iTunes.
www.womanentrepreneur.co | 31
Regret is a waste of time and emotional energy.”
1.
Give us a bit of background about yourself and when/how your entrepreneur journey started?
I have dedicated my life to helping people by the hundreds, the thousands, and soon by the millions. I endured much adversity and hardship in Nigeria until I left for South Africa seeking a better life. Despite having a university degree, I was unable to find employment. After years of attempts and many job applications, I immigrated to Australia where I worked hard to achieve a double master’s degree in counseling and social work respectively and became a licensed/clinical accredited counselor and psychotherapist, more specifically, a Clinical Adversity Authority and a Private Achievement Coach. As a Clinical Adversity Authority, I help people overcome any issues causing stress, anxiety or holding them back. As a Private Achievement Coach, I help them accomplish far more in their career, business or life than they ever dreamed possible.
3.
Please share three business and life lessons you have learned.
The way you think about yourself becomes your reality. Don’t trouble yourself with what others think. Remember, what others think of you is none of your business. Regret is a waste of both time and emotional energy.
4.
What inspires and motivates you? Why do you wake up every morning, get the work done and do it all over again the next day? My three teenage children inspire me. Showing them; not just telling them; that they can achieve anything they set their minds to motivates me to keep doing what I do. Hearing my youngest say to me times without number “Mum, I am so proud of you; of all that you have achieved, makes me happy to call you my mother. I love telling my friends about you” reminds me of my “why.”
Inspiring influential leaders all over the world with my encouraging messages in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Adelaide, Australia and also in Nigeria, Manila in the Philippines, I am the absolute authority in attaining success.
The change I see in my clients is another reason why I keep doing what I do: inspiring and motivating people. My tagline for one of my businesses is Heal, Change and Grow, and this is the journey which my clients go through when working with me.
2.
5.
Tell us about some of your incredible achievements.
I struggled as a student with reading and comprehension. A book that usually takes others just one time to read and understand, takes me much longer. My parents never got me diagnosed, so I pushed through even though it was incredibly challenging. I wrote and published nine books, and I also support and encourage women around the world to write their stories and assist them to publish their stories through my publishing company, The Omega Publishers. Through my foundation, so many women have been empowered financially to set up businesses so they can support their families. 32 | JULY 2018
What has been your biggest fail to date?
About 13 years ago, I had a boutique business and was also completing my second master’s degree program, had young children and a hubby who is the director of a medical clinic. So, juggling all these became too much for me, and I nearly had a nervous breakdown. I made the call to close the business. Although I was so relieved after I closed the business, I struggled with the feeling of failure. This feeling affected me to the extent that I was almost paralyzed with fear of failing and I refused to entertain and explore new ideas. I wasted two years living with constant fear and not being able to move on. My biggest fail was the two years I spent looking at myself as a failure, fearful of what other people were thinking about me for closing my business. Woman Entrepreneur | Global
6.
You are a very influential entrepreneur. From your experience, what is the best way to market your business or yourself?
I make it a point to WOW my clients who, in turn, become my advertisers in the sense that they share their success stories with friends and family. The majority of my new clients are referrals from friends or family members of my existing clients.
7.
What is the secret to your success?
My supportive husband who cheers me on at all times. He is very supportive in everything I do and, without him, I would not have been where I am today.
8.
How do you handle haters or people that don’t support you? What advice do you have for fellow female entrepreneurs?
There will always be haters, and no matter what you do, you can’t make them like you. I make a point of it to ‘delete’ and move on as my way to self-preservation. My mantra is “Someone else‘s opinion is not and does not have to become my reality.”
9.
What quote do you live by and why?
“Don’t die with your music still inside of you” – Dr. Wayne Dyer. Since I overcame my fear of failure, my speed of implementation of new ideas has been legendary. I can stay focused, and I just go for it.
10.
What advice do you have for female entrepreneurs on the same journey as you, wanting to achieve the same success?
Don’t give up. Surround yourself with positive, likeminded people. Join network groups and keep going for it.
11.
How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors? What makes you unique? I deliver an extraordinary service to my clients at all times. I am solely dedicated to helping them conquer their fears, so they have the courage to reach their goals and dreams.
12.
What can we expect from you in the next 12 months?
I will participate in more public speaking engagements globally, and I am in the process of publishing my next two books that will be available within the next 12 months.
GET IN TOUCH VICKY OMIFOLAJI www.vickyomifolajiconsulting.com vicky@vickyomifolajiconsulting.com Facebook: vickyomifolajiconsulting
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Woman Entrepreneur | Global
SUCCESS STORY
Valerie ENRIQUEZ
1)
Give us a bit of background about yourself.
I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. I was the oldest child so I naturally had a bossy attitude. But ironically, in my early years I grew up a very shy and timid girl. I was very aware of the perimeter of my comfort zone and I made sure to never cross it. I spent hours dreaming of the “what if’s” of life. The goals I could accomplish. The dreams that could come true. But I didn’t have enough courage to start. As I got older I grew very frustrated. I found myself going through the motions of life. Not living my full potential and living a substandard life. I was tired of letting my fear control every decision and I was tired of letting my dreams die with each day that passed by. It was time to break the mold and break the cycle. I made the decision to be in charge of my life and took the first leap. That is when my entrepreneur journey began. I was 20 years old when Tucson International Academy came into my life. All it takes is one person and one opportunity to change your life forever. For me it was TIA and the superintendent/owners of the school Dr. Jennifer Herrera and Mr. Wences Herrera. That was the day my fire and passions were ignited. The mission and vision of our school is “We make college come true!” We are a kindergarten to 12th grade school with 100% of our students accepted into college for the past 11 years. We are the only school in our state that not only gets 100% of our students accepted into college, but also gets them accepted into college every year with multiple scholarships. The demographic in which we serve are first generation students. In some cases, first generation to graduate from high school and/or first generation to go to college. The majority of our students come to TIA with a mindset of wanting to break the generational cycle of poverty but don’t know how or don’t know where to begin. We have developed a set of 5 skill sets called “Skill Sets for Mega Success”. These skill sets strengthen the students in the areas of 1.) Communication 2.) Thinking Skills 3.) Learning Skills 4.) Entrepreneurship and 5.) Personal Development. These are the same skill sets you need to get into college as well as start and run a business. We are a gateway for those students that want to go to college and see it as an opportunity for a better future.
2)
Tell us about some of your amazing achievements.
At the age of 28 I was a member of the school’s leadership team and became a principal. At that time the campus I was in charge of was the smallest in our district. In one year, I doubled our enrollment numbers and had no choice but to expand our infrastructure. By the age of 29 I was leading/managing the largest campus in our district. I assisted with the school’s building expansion and hiring of additional staff needed to accommodate the growing numbers. I took so much pride in every detail of the building expansion. From picking out the tile, the carpet, the furniture, etc. Every detail was a personal stamp of success for me. I knew this was an environment where children were going to start their own journey of success. Five years later, it continues to be our largest campus. By the age of 30 I was leading/managing two campuses within our district. Around the same time the organization was up for renewal with the state school board. I was chosen to co-lead the school’s charter renewal. This 2-year project challenged me beyond anything I was ever used to. It was a project that took a team to get through and the end result would determine whether or not Tucson International Academy would continue to serve students. It went from being a personal success to leaving a legacy for generations of students now and in the future. That was the point in my life when I realized my career was more than just a “career”. It was a lifestyle. The day the team and I took our charter renewal before the board and they gave us a unanimous “Yes”, was the most rewarding day of my life. I knew TIA was going to continue to impact students’ lives and continue to be the light on top of the hill.
3)
Recieving her 10 year award recognition with Tucson International Academy
Valerie Enriquez with her husband Fred Enriquez at the JT Foxx Mega Sucess Event
Do you ever lose motivation? If so, how do you stay motivated?
As years go by there is more and more talk about how education is broken. Education and teachers aren’t as valued as they once were. It’s easy to get sucked into being “hurt” or sucked into a complaining session. I witnessed fellow educators get so consumed by the negativity that they lost their focus and eventually strayed from Education. In life nothing is “perfect”. There are grey areas in all facets of life. I am a firm believer there are seasons in every part of the road to success. The true test of your success is your attitude when things are falling apart all around you. For me, what keeps me positive and motivated is seeing those “light bulb” moments in the students when something they have been struggling with finally clicks. Or seeing the joy and excitement in their face when they get their first college acceptance letter. The ray of sunshine shining through the cloud of educational politics are the successes of the students.
4)
Mrs. Enriquez with JT Foxx at Mega Success
What are three business and life lessons you have learned?
1. Learning never stops! Personal growth is so important. Things are constantly changing in the world of business and, in order to continue to be the best in your field, you have to keep learning and growing. 2. Surround yourself with like-minded people. If you want to be successful you have to surround yourself with successful people. People who are going to challenge you and push you to go to the next level. The worst thing in any entrepreneur’s life, is staying stagnant. 3. It is lonely at the top and crowed at the bottom. I learned this from JT Foxx, The Worlds #1 Wealth Coach. So, do your best to build a solid team. A team of people that share the same mission and vision. I am blessed to have an amazing team of people that are running towards the same goal.
36 | JULY 2018
Tucson International Academy’s Marketing Table at the JT Foxx Mega Success Event Woman Entrepreneur | Global
Tucson International Academy Graduation Class of 2016 with Valerie Enriquez and owners Dr. Jennifer Herrera and Mr. Herrera
5)
How do you differentiate yourself from others? What makes you unique?
Our team for the first time attended the JT Foxx Mega Success in November 2017. The superintendent of the organization, Dr. Jennifer Herrera, was one of the speakers; speaking and getting noticed by a crowd of 2500 people! We also had a table in the networking lobby advertising the umbrella of our organization which is World Education Network and the 5 Skill Sets for Mega Success. In preparing for this event it forced us to evaluate our organization. In doing so we realized we were the only school in the state of Arizona that has 100% of our students accepted into college and what a big deal that truly was. While we were networking with other business people from around the world, they were in awe of what we do and how we do it. It wasn’t until then we realized the magnitude of what we were doing. What we considered second nature, it was an anomaly to others. This past year we had a student not only get accepted into college here in America, but he also got accepted into college in another country. Taking and utilizing The Skill Sets for Mega Success he learned with TIA and putting them to use in another country. He is finding success not only in academics, but in sports as well. He was able to receive a soccer scholarship that will help him financially.
6)
Since you have become successful, how do you handle haters?
On the road to success you have to be ok with people not liking you or with people even hating you. It took me a while to get used to this. I am a natural people-pleaser and caregiver. I had to completely change my way of thinking. The more you accomplish in life and the higher you go, the more haters you will have. You have to remember not everyone thinks or acts like you. They will think you are weird because of the way you act and talk. You will definitely lose friends. You will be made fun of and told “you don’t have a life” because all you do is work. I have gone through it all and still go through it today. What they call “work” I call “my passion”. I have had people I have invested years of time and energy in turn around and walk away. In return, I was left cleaning the mess they left behind due to leaving so abruptly and without warning. You do start to build a wall of resentment. But I knew I didn’t want to live my life resenting people. That is a toxic way of living. So, instead I became smart about who I brought along with me. I also learned how to cut and block negative people out of my life. After 12 years of working with the same leadership team, the number one quality we value is loyalty.
7)
What advice do you have for fellow female entrepreneurs?
Competence equals confidence. Know your field! Continue to learn and grow as things change in the business world.
8)
How do you deal with failure?
Honestly, in the beginning I struggled with the pain that followed with failing, but I soon realized failure is part of success. They go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. In order to succeed you have to fail. I have seen so many entrepreneurs focus too much on their failure that they don’t move forward any more. They lose their focus and give up. But failure is just another opportunity to learn and grow. You have to use it as a stepping stone to success.
9)
What do you think is most important, motivation or execution, and why?
Motivation. Without motivation you won’t see the value in execution. When I was working on the charter renewal project it was so overwhelming. I knew it was all going to come down to the way the team and I executed our work to the charter board. However, it was a 2-year project that consumed my entire life and if I didn’t stay motivated it was going to fall apart and we wouldn’t have the opportunity to execute our project before the board. Motivation will lead you to execution.
10)
What are your core business principles and values you adhere to?
Integrity, honesty and loyalty is the core of every successful business. The scaffolding to the business may be attractive to customers but without a solid core, the business is hollow and with one small nudge the business will crumble. Make sure you stick to your principles and let your values root your business into the ground.
11)
What is the secret to your success?
There is no secret to success. It is a lot of work, late nights, early mornings and weekends. It is understanding the road map to success changes, sometimes daily. As long as you know “Giving Up” is never an option you will see the fruit of your perseverance much sooner than you think. And it will all be worth it!
12)
What do you feel is a weakness you struggle with?
For me I don’t see my weaknesses as flaws. I see them as opportunities for personal growth. And personal growth contributes to success. They go hand in hand. I struggle with being assertive. That is definitely an area for improvement. I also hate to disappoint people or to let them down. Which, in some sense, is motivation to succeed. So, you see, sometimes your weaknesses are blessings in disguise. Learn to embrace them and go easy on yourself.
Begin with the end in mind. Be clear about your mission and vision. Don’t lose focus. Learn from your failures. Failure and success go hand in hand. Learn from your failures and don’t repeat them.
GET IN TOUCH
Maximize your strengths. Be aware of your strengths and lead with them.
Valerie Enriquez | Principal | Tucson International Academy 2700 W. Broadway Blvd.,Tucson, AZ 85745 Phone (520)792-3255 Email venriquez@tiak12.com Web www.tucsoninternationalacademy.com
Mental Toughness. You have to have the ability to tune out negativity. Be prepared for people to disappoint you.
www.womanentrepreneur.co | 37
LIVING A REALITY AND WHOLENESS in Last month, I spoke to the power of creating balance in lifebalance within our everyday activities- work, health, finances, home, career, spirituality, relationships and self/ body; as well as raising consciousness and awareness concerning where your choices and actions are stemming from. I spoke to balancing the nurturing of ourselves, while still trying to manage a family and success in a career; to Creating your balance within your self, your mind and your actions. This month, I consider the impact of technology on our lives and the balance therein. For me, everything I speak to lends itself to knowing and having awareness and consciousness of who you are, what you stand for and living a life that stems from this. A life filled with value, purpose and meaning. Remaining real, authentic, true and present to your world- to the way you show up. Unfortunately, technology has created a real challenge and obstacle in this regard. The “masks” we are programmed to wear from a young age, in terms of not showing our emotions and not expressing how we feel, are increasing in size and frequency. We now have this “online life” and personality that, at times, can be so far removed from the truth; further disconnecting us from our reality and authenticity. How often do you show up on social media without changing state? Without putting on the fake smile and telling everyone how incredible your life is? (Or become consumed by comparing yourself to the “perfect” life of another?) Yes, there is a balance in this, however, where do we draw the line? How can we remove the falsehood of this “online reality” we created and became caught up in?
There is power in living a life of value; of value-driven behaviours and decisions. Real life is value driven, and therefore, life is to be driven in the direction we deem most important; with purpose, relevance and fulfilment. This connection between real life and our values is perhaps the most powerful disincentive for the excessive use of technology. Values, meaning, and relevance give real life its power, and most of what technology offers is devoid of it. Of course, technology has significant benefits in terms of bringing us all closer- communicating and collaborating across the globe. However, as mentioned, it creates a mediated and low-resolution approximation of what life has to offer. We just have to create that balance. Research has discovered that we can spend an average of EIGHT hours per day consumed by technology- social media, internet, TV and the like. This has reportedly doubled over the past five years. So, this means we are “plugged in” over half of our days, potentially disconnected from our present reality - our true world around us - from conversation, nature and movement.
We are in a time now, where we are being asked to step up and SHOW up. We are being called and challenged in our own way, to be and own who and what we are, and to be authentic in this space of pure potential. To stop hiding behind our masks to present what we think others want of us. Why is this so challenging? FEAR. We fear criticism and judgement. We fear rejection and ridicule. We compare and compete. Yet, there is no authenticity and integrity in comparison. Comparison is the thief of joy, as is fear. How often are you driven by image and awareness of how others perceive you, and in this, how often do you lose out in the true and full experience of a moment? Fear limits us. When we remain driven and influenced by the energy of fear, we create more of what we are hiding from, and we create barriers that keep us from achieving our fullest potential. In addition to this, “online” life is not only not real in what we present to the world; but also in the experience. Technology intends to simulate these experiences; however, they remain of a “lower resolution”. Texting or emailing someone is a simple, easy and excellent way to communicate. However, all the other senses we are born with, do not get to experience the moment. We miss the facial expressions and body language, the tonality and emotional expression, the sounds and touch that may go along with the conversation. Sometimes we even misunderstand or lose something of significance in the translation of the written message. Real life and much of the meaning and satisfaction accrued from it comes from our relationships with others. The development of our social lives is essential for our psychological and emotional well-being. Yes, social media is obviously social in nature, yet it limits the richness of human interactions, keeping relationships at a comfortable distance. Our thinking, choices, imagination and actions, as well as our truth, reality and full potential, are being limited by this beautiful, shiny box of technology we find ourselves surrounded by. 38 | JULY 2018
Woman Entrepreneur | Global
A LIFE OF a LIFE OF TECHNOLOGY If you use social media, challenge yourself to remove the “mask” and show up with authenticity. BE you. Share your life if you must, but from a space of reality and real-life experiences. Don’t compare and don’t try to compete. You are perfect in your own imperfections. Start to create more opportunities and experiences to live your life in the reality of the present, day-by-day. In an attempt to start reducing the habit of being “plugged in” for most of your day, here are some steps to even remove some of the temptations: 1. Use a real alarm clock, as this will minimise the compulsivity of checking your emails and social media as soon as you wake, and before you even get to greet the new day. 2. Follow the “no bedroom allowed” rule. This is a rule I have for my children, so why not us as adults? Imagine going to bed and setting up an evening routine devoid of your phone, social media and other technology. Using that last 30-60 minutes of your day for you… reading, journaling, practising gratitude, and
even “unloading” your ideas or thoughts of your day. Doing this every night, you could give yourself 3.5 to 7 hours of “mental space” a week! (Who says they have “no time?”) 3. Commit to regular Face-to-Face contact. You may interact with people on a daily basis, but what about socially? Face-toface interaction with friends is significant, and social media is replacing this. Commit to regular (weekly to fortnightly) “dates” with close friends. 4. Call, don’t text! Adding on to the face-to-face interaction, call your family and friends; don’t just text them! If you want to connect to someone, don’t reach out through a post on social media or a message, reach for the phone and make a call. 5. Technology & web-surfing time. Some have found it useful and productive to dedicate an hour at a set time per day to allow themselves full-reign online; to watch YouTube videos, scroll through social media - whatever your heart desires. No guilt, no distraction… then after that hour, it is back to work and productivity - until the next day. 6. Block yourself. There are apps you can use that can block certain apps from your devices for designated periods of time. This way, even if you did get a little distracted by a thought or idea, you have to remain focused on what you are meant to be doing until your “block” ends. This way you don’t have to rely solely on your willpower. This is a great tip, particularly for the workplace or other moments you need to be efficient with your time. 7. Unplug! “Technology vacations” are incredibly healing and rejuvenating. You can have a set day per week, a set time each day - whatever resonates best with you - but that is a complete no-technology time. No phone or laptop (and for some, even TV!) This gives you the time to reconnect - to yourself, your family, your friends and your world (nature, the outdoors, movement and other hobby and passion you may have). QUALITY time! Technology is here to enhance our lives. Unfortunately, some of us are experiencing a decline because of the over-use; taking away from the power and beauty of many experiences in “real” life. It is not hard to change this though - if you prioritise it. You can find a healthy balance between your online life and the reality of your “real” life; as well as remove the “masks” and show up with authenticity and integrity in both “worlds”. Try it and find yourself living a life of reality and wholeness in this lift of technology
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Daniella Princi is the health and wellness expert behind “Your Intrinsic Life”. She is a professional psychologist, coach and international speaker, assisting you to reconnect and transform your life, mind, body and soul. WEB www.yourintrinsiclife.com EMAIL daniella@yourintrinsiclife.com YourIntrinsicLife YourIntrinsicLife www.womanentrepreneur.co | 39
GENERATIONAL DIFFEREN
Have you ever wondered why you get along so well with some people and others you don’t? We have successful company. People have been working together for decades, and recently generational differ (communication, adapting to change, technical, collaboration)
BABY BOOMER 1946-1964
SKILLS
G 196
Reserved
C O M M U N I C AT I O N
Won’t to offer an opinion until asked Preference is face-to-face or telephonically only
Take time to adapt
ADAPTING
May be cynical to change
May be
Need to understand the why
TECHNICAL
C O L L A B O R AT E
Still learning technology Think
Sceptical about using technology
Not necessarily opposed, however, may feel awkward, could even feel like they are being replaced with younger workers
When w
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Josée Larocque-Patton assists organizations to develop their people and train their leaders. She guides leaders when their employees are not following procedures and policies and act as a consultant when organizations experience legislative infractions. Josée Larocque-Patton | Founder and CEO of The HR ICU www.thehricu.com | email josee@thehricu.com
40 | JULY 2018
d
Woman Entrepreneur | Global
NCES IN THE WORKPLACE
e fundamental generational differences and understanding each other’s strengths is key to running a rences has become such a hot topic, especially related to young workers. Consider the following skills ) and let us examine the differences between each generation.
GEN X 65 – 1976
GEN Y 1977 - 1995
GEN Z 1996 - Now Do not call them, they will not answer
Will share thoughts face-to-face Trying to have work-life balance Not on their phone 24-7
Embrace change
e sceptical but will adapt once they understand the why
Text them and will respond within minutes Sceptical about face-to-face, but enjoys it when it happens since they are just not used to it
Only know change Want to help initiate change and will just adapt to it easily
They are great with technology Like on-line courses
they are up to par on technology; however it’s developing faster than they can keep up
Always want to be part of the latest technology released Learn and understand the ins and outs of technology quickly
It’s the only way to work for them Prefer teamwork
working as a team, they like to ensure everyone does their share
They don’t know anything else but teamwork It’s about enjoying the environment and focus on each other’s strengths
As we have determined, every person brings traits to the table, and the key is to recognise those strengths and build diverse teams. Entrepreneurs and business owners need to consider that many baby boomers are retiring if not already retired. Gen X & Ys are the new leaders, and Gen Z are the upcoming prospective leaders. A young worker - entrepreneur has a lot to offer and at times are given a bad reputation. Let young workers shine, provide them with a fun working environment, empower them, know that they want to be part of a bigger picture. Allow them to lead projects, host meetings off-site, provide them with constructive feedback, give them flexibility, foster open communication, and always remember to mentor them consistently. www.womanentrepreneur.co | 41
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