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Profiles Alyssa Peek PEEK PHOTOGRAPHY https://inspireflies.com/services daily 0.75 2020-07-14 https://inspireflies.com/about daily 0.75 2020-07-14 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f0c98ae384d0d201107b6a4/1594742128736/Lauren+Traum.jpg About https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f0c9898fcf89544cb784b3b/1594742115078/Michele%2BResized-27.jpg About https://inspireflies.com/contact daily 0.75 2020-07-13 https://inspireflies.com/home daily 1.0 2020-10-06 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f29b92338612318c9fcc5fc/1596569894820/julia-wuench.jpg Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f11d2bd201812484a378269/1595003586819/judie-saunder.jpg Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f7bbfff183dc561daa4d059/1601945617802/liz-eddy.jpg Home https://inspireflies.com/paula-tatum daily 0.75 2020-06-19 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5eed0c20c007cf4f21fa1e3f/1592593446244/PaulaTatum Paula Tatum - PAULA TATUM | FOUNDER, CONSCIOUS GIFTER "Start where you are now and don’t try to be perfect at everything you do off the bat." How do you start your day? I start my work day with my to-do list that I made the night before, usually with follow up emails and social media reviewing and posting. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Don’t worry so much and enjoy the moment you're in now. Stop wanting to grow up. What do you need to get through each day? Alone time, where I can really focus on what I need to do for my business. What are you reading? The last inspirational book I read was Don’t Keep Your Day Job by Cathy Heller; for fun, FireFly Lane by Kristin Hannah. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Conscious Gifter is an online gift store where I source ethical gifts that are making a positive impact in the world. I try to work with companies that are transparent about their manufacturing; who makes the products, how they are made, and what they are made of. We work with brands that we believe are improving the lives of artisans. Our goal is to support artisans and provide them with opportunities for work and sales. I was inspired to start Conscious Gifter because I truly believe that people appreciate gifts that give back. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I have passion and drive for making the world better, and I wanted to do it on my terms. I wanted to be in control of my work schedule so that I could have a more flexible schedule for my family. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? I love giving gifts and I always look for gifts that do something beyond just making the recipient feel good. I found it difficult to find gifts that positively supported artisans in a sustainable way. Conscious Gifter was born out of this idea. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I learned in last 16 months is to stay on track with your budget and making sure everyone in your life is on board and they support you that this will be a long journey. What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I love being my own boss but it's hard when you are a party of one. The decisions are all mine to make. It's hard to wear all hats in business. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business? LinkedIn is a great networking tool. It's so important to connect with and learn from other founders in your industry. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? People buy from people/brands they trust and like. I've found that you have to develop a relationship built on trust before people will buy from your company. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? It's important to be self-starter and adaptable to changes in the market, and knowing when to pivot your business. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Are you willing to hear 1000 NOs before you get one yes, are you emotionally stable and are you able to support yourself for two years before money comes in from your business? Think about how you'd answer these questions and proceed with your eyes wide open. https://inspireflies.com/lizzy-klein daily 0.75 2020-06-19 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5eed1338c007cf4f21fb657c/1592595263089/LizzyKlein.jpg Lizzy Klein - LIZZY KLEIN | FOUNDER, MAZI + ZO "Individual mistakes don’t undermine a career’s worth of successes." How do you start your day? The best habit I’ve developed during the COVID crisis is a quick gratitude practice at the beginning and end of each day. Morning thankfulness includes a colorful Instagram post and is followed immediately by checking the day’s schedule and mapping out the day’s game plan (daily goals, when to work out, will I be on video?) Who inspires you? Underdogs, which pretty much includes every woman entrepreneur ever. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Don’t get the perm. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? “You don’t have to be right every time.” Like many women, I’ve been conditioned from birth to shoot for perfection. Once I recognized that individual mistakes don’t undermine a career’s worth of successes, I felt more free to take risks in my professional and personal life. What do you need to get you through each day? Shared laughs. I’m lucky to have outrageously funny friends and family and we all count on each other to find the funny in even the darkest times. What are you reading? I’m listening to I.M., Isaac Mizrahi’s memoir and just finished reading Fleishman’s In Trouble. I’ve got a virtual stack on my Kindle. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. mazi + zo handcrafts high-quality, everyday jewelry for women who like to shake things up and make things happen. We design, craft, and sell our sustainable 14k gold and .925 sterling silver jewelry online and in-person at special events. All of our items are made in NYC. Initially we launched as a line for sorority women, highlighting the value of sorority in developing women’s leadership skills. Our designs were immediately popular with a wider audience so we’ve pivoted to a broader jewelry brand, which has a sorority offering. We’re relaunching soon with another specialized concept. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I’ve worked in many startups prior to founding my own and I could have done a better job of taking credit for my ideas and accomplishments. I realized after the fact that board members and external investors had no idea how much I’d contributed and it was up to me to make sure potential colleagues and investors had the full picture. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? It was important to me to manufacture our products in NYC and I quickly found that the NYC jewelry business is a traditional and insular one. While I love the commitment to traditional craftsmanship, I was initially surprised to learn that some vendors were unwilling to sign working agreements or accept digital payments. And that’s if they would work with me at all, as some are just not interested in working with parties they don’t know. I overcame this hurdle by hiring a veteran production manager who has pre-existing relationships with the best workshops and suppliers in the city. What is the biggest mistake/challenge you have encountered in your business to date and how have you moved past it? My biggest mistake (so far!) was launching as a sorority brand, which was a turnoff for women who didn’t have a sorority history. This limited my market. Given our diverse product line, our designs are truly for anyone. We decided to reposition mazi + zo as a brand for everyone, with a specific sorority jewelry line. This pivot immediately increased sales. What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I love being fully in control of who I work with, on my own team and as vendors. We are all committed to sustainably creating high quality jewelry at the best possible price. I dislike taking care of information technology stuff. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? My favorite podcast episode of all time was Freakonomics’s The Upside of Quitting (Episode 42). Reframing “quitting” as a rational economic choice vs. failure changed the game for me. After listening, I’ve been more open to trying things with ongoing commitments as I realize that it’s ok to quit (as long as you do it responsibly and don’t leave someone else in the lurch.) Easy example: I didn’t finish my Spanish classes because I wasn’t learning as much as I’d expected and my dropping out didn’t hurt anyone else. Harder example: shutting down a business that was ok, but not going to grow. Fortunately, quitting that didn’t hurt anyone either and I’m aware of how much harder that would have been with employees who would have depended on me for income. And then there’s Brene Brown’s infamous TED Talk. Being vulnerable in a business setting has led to a lot of strong, authentic relationships. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business (service, web site, etc.)? Canva! I’m not a graphic designer but have been able to fake it on Instagram, site graphics, and printed collateral with this easy-to-use site. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Openness. I am constantly surprised by where I uncover new ideas, so I listen to everyone’s suggestions, subscribe to “How I Built This”, and follow businesses that I admire that *aren’t* jewelry related. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I suggest working in some way for at least one early-stage startup before going out on your own so you can get a better feel for how nuts it can be. People think they know what to expect at a startup, but you don’t really know until you see under the hood. I say “some way” because you might not want to give up your day job. Perhaps take on a side project or externship with a startup. This will give you a better sense of what it’s like to work with a lot of autonomy, little structure, a constantly changing environment, and how much drudgery there can be. What’s hard to see from the outside is that founders often need to do *everything* which means calculating sale tax, managing IT, ordering boxes… not just the fun stuff. (If you think those things are fun, call me!) In the age of COVID, how have you pivoted or what are you doing differently? While we can't schedule our usual photo shoots, we've taken to blinging pups on IG:; check it out: @maziandzo. On a more serious note, we've pulled back from marketing while jewelry isn’t top of mind for most consumers and are instead focused on some long-term product development so we can come back with something new and exciting when the world shops for non-PPE accessories again. https://inspireflies.com/judy-schoenberg daily 0.75 2020-06-19 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5eed0eff97f3b042511f0743/1592594183370/SchoenbergPicture.png Judy Schoenberg - JUDY SCHOENBERG | CO-FOUNDER, EVOLVE "A successful entrepreneur fully and unabashedly embraces change." How do you start your day? These days we are hunkering down in upstate New York and I have a new ritual to start my day which I love. I take my dog Doe for a long walk (which helps get my steps in!) and often listen to a podcast either related to my business or something for personal inspiration. It helps me start the day with motivation and I feel ready to tackle my work and other tasks once I’ve had this time for myself. One ritual to carry over post-pandemic! Who inspires you? The women in my life inspire me - especially those who have taken a leap and made a big professional or personal move to actualize who they are now. These are women who have taken big risks and betted on themselves to figure it out as they go. They are my friends and colleagues who want more meaning and want to contribute their talents and won’t settle for less. I am especially inspired by my co-founder Linda Lautenberg who in addition to helping to pivot our business, Evolve, in these times, has also been leading an effort to support frontline workers and businesses. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? I would say get over yourself and stop taking life so seriously. I was a type A student and put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed. Now I believe “perfect is the enemy of good” and I’ve learned to trust myself more. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? The best advice I ever received was from a former male boss who was hired into a job that he wasn’t 100% qualified for and he was very up front about it to me. He literally said “fake it until you make it” to me when we were in a 1:1 meeting one day. That was freeing -- and maybe even more freeing coming from a man who was making himself vulnerable. What do you need to get you through each day? What I need to get through each day is work I am passionate about, family who cares about me and I for them, cuddles with my dog, sunshine, exercise, COFFEE (morning cup always is the best and the rest disappoints) and greens -- I can’t get enough of anything green, especially kale. What are you reading? I’ve wanted to read non business related books and articles for a long time! I'm a personal and business leadership development junkie and I just love all things about improvement, growth and living and working better than before. The pandemic is giving me the opportunity to do so. I’m craving books that give me a window in other peoples’ lives -- it’s not as good as meeting up with new people in person but does the trick during social distancing. Right now I’m loving Coming to My Senses by Alice Waters. It’s an autobiography of how she started her own restaurant at age 27 and started a local food movement in the United States. It inspired me to start my own garden. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Evolve is a life-long professional development company for women in career transition -- returning to the workforce, pivoting careers, starting a new venture or regaining a professional identity after a major life event like a health crisis or divorce. Navigating a career transition can seem overwhelming and unachievable. Linda, my co-founder, and I know that because we’ve been there. We found the process isolating -- me as a pivoter from a national non-profit and Linda as a returner after an 18-year break from the workforce. We knew there were many women in the same position and yearned for a group of like-minded peers with whom to undergo the professional reinvention process. After building out a program for women returning to work in the social impact sector, we came to realize the very real need for programming developed for the specific needs of women at mid-life. And we discovered our passion. We founded Evolve as a way to help mid-career women kick-start their career transformation through curated programming and support from each other. How has your passion fueled your business? As a mission-driven professional, my passion for catalyzing change has always been front and center to all of my work. Now I am passionate about women coming together in group experiences to explore their next chapters. Most of us never get the chance to explore “what we want to do when we grow up” with a structure and community to support this process. Women at midlife have so much experience and wisdom to share -- my passion to reach them and bring this community together keeps me going, especially because I have been in their shoes. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I decided to become an entrepreneur because I was at the stage of my career where this felt like the natural next step. After working in nonprofit organizations focused on research and programming in girls and women’s leadership development for the tenure of my career, I was ready to bring my expertise out into the world to work with women on their next chapters. I felt there was little that existed to help support women move into this next stage of their career with confidence and in the company of other women. That’s key! I wanted to create the program that I was looking for when I was pivoting into the entrepreneurial space. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? The tipping point was when after numerous networking events, we had women asking us if we had programs not just for women returning to the workforce, but for women who at midlife wanted to pivot their careers and they were working and felt stuck. We were also hearing from women who were going through divorce and recovering from health issues and wanted to rebuild their careers with other women who were going through that same stage. We had a test run of leading a program for women returning to the workforce that was successful and felt there was enough interest and enthusiasm for us to broaden our market to capture women interested in different types of reinvention, and also get more specific- focusing on women in midlife. And now we are pivoting to reach women across the country through virtual programming, which the current environment demands. It’s all part of the iterative process that reinvention is! What has been the key to your success? The key to my success is that I am driven and passionate about what I set out to do. I also like working with people and building off their ideas and that makes my own work even stronger. I also believe that I lead with my values and stay aligned to them in the best of times and in hard times. Values are your north star and need to guide you. They give you parameters to assess opportunities and also shape your decision-making. My values led me to take the leap and leave my comfort zone from my nonprofit executive career and become an entrepreneur. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? One of the lessons that I’ve learned that I wish I knew at the start of my career is how important it is to rely on the wisdom and experience of women who have come before me in this entrepreneurial journey. I’ve learned so much from women who I’ve had coffees with (now on zoom!), met at networking events and from introductions from colleagues and friends. Learning from women leading start-ups across sectors and industries is so important. We’re our own tribe! What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? In the early days of Evolve, the challenges were developing branding, marketing and a voice that would speak to our target audience. We spent a lot of time thinking about the lives of the women who we hoped to support and what they needed now from a professional development company. Now we hear that the content and the communications that we share really resonate with women in midlife who are searching for career clarity and their next chapters and that feels really good! What is the biggest mistake/challenge you have encountered in your business to date and how have you moved past it? One challenge that Evolve is currently facing is adapting what was formerly in-person programming to virtual courses. We managed to pivot very quickly at the onset of the pandemic and for the first six weeks have hosted virtual events with industry leaders and weekly content. Our goal is to try and recreate the group experience that we have with women in conference rooms through digital offerings. We know that women aspire to greater goals and move faster together when they can share their stories and mirror each others’ talents and skills. We’re excited to now be able to reach women across the country. What would you have done differently? We love working with individual women and are building a strong community. We also know that businesses that are struggling with workers being furloughed and laid-off need resources to share with their employees who are being further challenged by economic hardship. Now that the need is so great, we want to reach women whose careers have been derailed and help them get back on track. One thing we are doing differently is being more proactive about partnering with organizations and companies to reach even more women who are in need of career clarity, especially now. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? When self-doubt hits me I think of all the women Evolve has helped with their career reinvention and all the others that are counting on Evolve to help create the momentum for their next steps. I also think about what I know to be true from research and in my conversations with women in real life: women have the spectrum of talents and skills that are need in the workplace to adapt to our changing world. We have the emotional intelligence and the leadership skills to make sound decisions -- evident in the women leaders of countries who are at the forefront of fighting COVID-19. When I am doubting myself I think of examples of women who are role models for me. I also think about the other women I can help. Getting out of my own head makes me more focused and confident. Having a greater purpose can erase self-doubt quickly! What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? My biggest fear as an entrepreneur is that I don’t know what I don’t know. We are learning every day and try and practice what we help women learn. Having a growth mindset is key. You can learn new things at any age and stage. This mindset has helped us fuel Evolve’s growth. But what about all the things I might not know? For example, now that our reach can be national with online courses, I want to be sure we know the latest digital marketing strategies to reach women who are looking for Evolve’s help. We’re learning more and more everyday! What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? The parts about being an entrepreneur that I love are the flexibility--I can decide my own schedule. I also love working with a partner and building something from scratch with our own joint vision and values. I enjoy the creativity and the opportunity to unleash ideas quickly! The aspects that are more difficult are financial insecurity, blurred work and life boundaries, and that our success is entirely up to us. There is no one else to blame! Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? I am a big fan of Brene Brown. Her TED talk on vulnerability is a must. I love Marie Forleo’s podcasts! Her practical, down to earth advice for succeeding in work and life are spot on. The book Becoming by Michelle Obama was so authentic and honest. It helped fuel my interest in women sharing their career reinvention stories with each other in Evolve’s #40over40 and “How She Did It” series. Michelle Obama is a career reinventor herself and is so open about the challenges she had as a recovering lawyer before she started her career in the social sector. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business (service, web site, etc.)? Fly Female Founders is a great resource for Evolve and other women entrepreneurs. They hold events with experts covering a range of topics that are of interest for female-led startup leaders -- marketing, SEO, productivity etc. One of their founders is an alum of a cohort Linda and I led for women returning to the workforce. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? The best strategy for selling our services has been word of mouth and especially from the women who are alumni of our programs. They’ve been huge supporters and are paying it forward through referrals. We’ve also seen how we can leverage partnerships with mutually aligned organizations led by women entrepreneurs and leaders. We’ve learned that growing our community is about the give and take of building reciprocal relationships and that is where our focus is now. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? For many years I worked at a large nonprofit organization that operated like a corporation. The business functions were siloed but as a researcher in women’s and girls issues, my work cut across different functions. I worked with program development, fundraising, branding, marketing, operations and consulting teams. Having had exposure to all of these functions has been very helpful in creating my own business. I also had experience in restructuring and managing a team within a large organization and those strategic leadership skills have been valuable. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? I think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur can possess is being able to adapt to change. I would go a step further to say that she not only needs to be able to adapt to change, but in order to be successful, she needs to fully and unabashedly embrace change. You’ve got to be open to trying new things and consider what you might have typically thought as a “failure” as a learning opportunity to do something differently. If you’re rigid, it’s going to make the entrepreneurial road a lot bumpier! What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I like to run to keep my energy up and do yoga to stay grounded. I also like to spend time with my husband and two sons outdoors. I love to cook and have a passion for food education. I’m on the board of Teens For Food Justice, a youth-led hydroponic farming organization in New York City public schools. I also chair the board of trustees of an independent school in Brooklyn which helps me to hone my leadership skills and fuels my passion for working with a tea What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I would say go for it! You don’t have to go at it alone either. Find a business partner who complements your skill sets. If you don’t have a co-founder, create a personal board of directors across fields who can help fuel your thinking. Starting your own business is going to be more energizing than you ever thought -- because it’s all yours and the amount of autonomy you have and creativity you can inject into it is endless! It will be harder in ways that you could never imagine. Think about it as a long play -- it’s a marathon not a sprint. Build up your stamina! Get used to living in the moment and celebrating the small victories along the way! https://inspireflies.com/andrew-weinberg daily 0.75 2020-06-19 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5eed183c8ed6cd7cfe93e888/1592596605981/AndreaWeinberg.jpg Andrew Weinberg - ANDREA WEINBERG | FOUNDER, ANDI "I love the adventure of being an entrepreneur! And learning so many different things in different areas, and meeting new people. The difficulty with cash flow and collections can be streesful." How do you start your day? Water -> breakfast -> coffee -> 5 minutes to relax Who inspires you? Nikki MacCallum (my super talented best friend/soul mate), Tiziana Agnello (of LoveThyBeast), Alessandro Russino (our Creative Director), Sarah Centrella (Author of Hustle Believe Receive) What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Chill out, but keep having fun—it all works out as it should, so don’t worry too much about what will happen in the future which you can’t control. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? It can be difficult to figure out what to do next or how to prioritize, but just make sure your movement is forward, and not side-to-side. What do you need to get you through each day? Coffee, and remembering not to take myself too seriously. What are you reading? Hustle Believe Receive by Sarah Centrella and A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I make transformational accessory staples/handbags. I was inspired both by my lifestyle (fast-paced, international and fantastic), and my friend Ian Velardi’s story of creating his own line of hats—which is now a full clothing line. How has your passion fueled your business? Without any experience in fashion, retail or manufacturing, my passion fueled my drive to explore and figure out how to move forward to make it a reality. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? An idea, and a thirst both for adventure and something new. Also business school. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? A phone call from a customer whose order was late in shipping – she called to inquire about it because she had ordered this bag for her daughter. She had already purchased one for herself at one of our new retailers, and explained that everyday her daughter was asking when it would arrive. I told her it was shipping out that day. She thanked me and said I should keep going, because our products were fantastic. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Finding the right partners/colleagues is critical, because you can’t do it all. And that (finding the right partners) is quite difficult, just by itself. You don’t need to have everything resolved and ironed out, just try to figure out how to take the next step. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Getting attention, having confidence in my work, loneliness (in a solo venture, entrepreneurship can be very solitary) and prioritization—in other words, getting caught up in minute details that may not be so critical. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? Working with people who were not a good fit. Also, getting over issues by having a positive attitude and an eye toward the future. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Manufacturing. It was very difficult to find a manufacturer at the outset that would both produce in small quantities and work with me on development and refinement of the bags. I initially loved the factory that I finally settled on, but they were both disorganized and too small for me to grow production as needed to ultimately succeed. Finding new manufacturing was extremely challenging because their workflow, organization, timing, and minimums were so drastically different than what I was used to. Although I have not taken financial or administrative support from my parents, they were visiting me during this difficult time and my mom said to me, “What do you need to do in order to get this worked out?” Having her push me to move forward and take that next big leap with new production was key (we looked at a few factories in New Jersey that day, one of which I began work with a month later). When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Realize that I’m probably exhausted and try to remind myself of the company motto “Be good to yourself.” What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Taking risks with no reward. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? Love: The adventure! And learning so many different things in different areas, and meeting new people. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? Our newsletter for direct sales, and trunk shows at retailers. Trunk shows (where I create a display of our products) allow me to interact with customers directly and experience their reactions and preferences. It’s also extremely important to stay in close communication with selling channels – to the level of the person communicating with the customer, when possible. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I go to museums and explore new places, and meet as many new people as possible. Any chance to see art, I take it. And when all else fails, remember—as modern art has taught us— that most everything around us is art, if you look at it through the right lens. https://inspireflies.com/robyn-youkilis daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd2942c70d93588bcfa2c1/1593715625833/Robyn+Youkilis.png Robyn Youkilis - ROBYN YOUKILIS FOUNDER, THE HEALTHIEST YOU "You are enough. You are doing enough." How do you start your day? With a big glass of water! I keep a mason jar filled up on my nightstand so it’s there right when I wake up, no excuses. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? You are doing everything right. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I am a Certified Wellness Expert from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), TV personality, and author known for my straightforward yet supportive style. Through my coaching practice, Your Healthiest You, I help my clients get off restrictive diets and learn to trust their gut instincts when it comes to food and life. In addition to working with clients one-on-one and in small groups, I host my own cooking show, {Healthy} Cooking Camp, along with co-host Quinn Asteak. My first book, Go with Your Gut: The Insider’s Guide to Banishing the Bloat with Over 75 Digestion-Friendly Recipes, was released in February 2016. I’ve struggled with food and body image my entire life, and it sucks. I was constantly comparing myself to other (thinner) women. I wanted to be able to wear anything, not think twice about my body, and feel awesome every day. But it never quite worked that way. It was only when I enrolled in nutrition school that I re-learned the art of eating, and specifically, the exact foods that were right for my unique body. Now I get to guide other people struggling with their own weight challenges and mental patterns to become their healthiest selves. This work is transformative, and I’m humbled to share it with so many people. How has your passion fueled your business? I ended up where I am today because I followed my passion, even when it didn’t seem logical. I enrolled in nutrition school even though I had never eaten kale. I had been to Whole Foods once (maybe twice), but that didn’t stop me. What I knew was that I wanted to do something with food, but I didn’t want to be a chef. I was a total foodie, obsessed with food, and that passion for being in the kitchen led me to where I am. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? My passion for being in the kitchen led me to where I am, even though I wasn’t always the healthiest myself, and didn’t know if I had anything to teach to other. I also had no clue about what it took to be a business owner. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? I realized I had a good business going when, without marketing much or doing a lot of business-promotion type things, people were seeking me out, wanting to coach with me and signing up for my programs. What has been the key to your success? For me, every clear decision I’ve ever made has come from a place in my gut, from that intuitive place of knowing we all describe, for no reason we can explain, as coming from the depth of our tummies. When I first held the brochure to nutrition school in my hand, that place danced and sparkled; without knowing exactly why, I knew it was an inarguable YES. As an entrepreneur, I have to make a lot of decisions – which projects and clients to take on, who to partner with, who to hire, and who to let go. I always come back to checking in with my gut, and saying yes to those things that excite me, that light me up. It may not be what is taught in business school, but it’s allowed me to create a business, and a life, that I love. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Don’t freak out – Okay, you may freak out, but learn to recognize when it’s happening and check yourself. Take a breath, process your feelings (write in a journal, call a friend or colleague, go for a run), and ask yourself “What do I need to do?” Know that mistakes are going to happen no matter what. I have New York Times best-selling authors as friends who have spelling mistakes in their email subject lines. It’s okay! It’s going to happen, but you can control how you react and what you learn from these situations. Have fun! Life is a long time – If “it” (whatever that might be for you) doesn’t happen right now, it’s okay! Enjoy the process. Most people choose the entrepreneurial path because they are passionate about something, and want to do what they love and share it with the world. But often times we get caught up in the “stuff” – finances, scheduling, number of clients or sales – that we forget about why we got into the work in the first place. On a regular basis check in with yourself – are you having fun? If not, re-evaluate what your day-to-day looks like, where you can create space for more of what you love, and delegate or outsource what you don’t. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? The biggest challenge for me when I first started out was feeling like I could talk myself in or out of the business any day. Some days I felt like things were moving and grooving, opportunities coming in, client sessions going well; other days I felt stuck, like I could stop with the business and it would be no big deal. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? Doubting myself. What would you have done differently? Ask for help from colleagues. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Consistency. It still is a challenge for me to find the balance between work and creativity. Sometimes you still have to do the work even when creative inspiration is not coming through, and sometimes you need to take a break, let go of expectations or deadlines and let the inspiration come when it comes. But it’s definitely a delicate balance! When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Move. Whenever I hear doubt or negativity coming in, I know I need to get into my body – dance, get to the water (either the West Side in NYC, or the ocean in LA), go out for a night with my husband. Moving my body helps me connect to my heart and to my purpose; it reminds me why I’m doing the work that I’m doing, and allows me to clear out the other stuff that may be clouding my vision. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? My biggest fear is being a failure, and by that I mean not being well received in something I do and wasting time or energy on a product or a program. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? Love: I do work that I love down to my bones, I’m able to travel regularly around the world, and I get to work on my own schedule! I can take my time in the morning to do all the juicy self-care practices: journal, meditate, exercise and make myself a delicious, wholesome breakfast. Dislike: It is unpredictable and sometimes scary! Being an entrepreneur forces you to face your own insecurities and self-doubt on a regular basis. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Learning to listen to your intuition! As women we are deeply intuitive, emotional and compassionate. Sometimes we are told to “act like men” in order to get ahead in the business world, when in reality we should use our female nature to our advantage! What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Exercise! It’s a non-negotiable in my life – it’s something I commit to doing every day because I know it makes me feel my best. Movement is a way to connect to our breath, to connect with our bodies, and to spend time with ourselves. Also, I always say that movement in our bodies creates movement in our lives. When I run or walk outside, I think of it as moving myself forward, not just physically, but mentally. It’s less about my body and more about my thoughts; it sparks my natural creativity. I feel like I am getting things done. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Go with your gut! If you are being called to start something or do something, do it! Know that no decision is ever final or absolute – if a project, role, or business doesn’t work out, you can always change your course of action, or go back to what you were doing before. https://inspireflies.com/genevieve-piturro daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa12f73be8fe6afb973d8b/1593528234639/Genevieve%2BPiturro.jpg Genevieve Piturro - GENEVIEVE PITURRO | FOUNDER, GENEVIEVE PITURRO, LLC "Ask your heart a question and it will answer you." Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I was a TV executive in NYC for 20 years when a little girl’s question changed the course of my life - and I jumped off the corporate ladder. I began delivering pajamas and books to children in shelters and in 2001 founded Pajama Program, a national non-profit having delivered 7 million new pajamas and new books to children to date. I am now taking my 20 years of experience running Pajama Program to work as a motivational speaker and write books such as Purpose, Passion and Pajamas to help others discover their true passions and purpose like I did. How has your passion fueled your business? The memory of one powerful and poignant moment can fuel you forever. The evening I met a little girl in an emergency shelter was the beginning of a 20+ long obsession running and growing Pajama Program, and then taking that drive and inspiration to establish a career as an author, coach and motivational speaker. What has been the key to your success? Jumping in and figuring out how to swim after! Also, tenacity, feeling the fear and doing it anyway, knowing my heart voice will always be my North Star. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Listening to my heart voice saves time! We each need to find our purpose to be truly happy. The human Connection is everything. Changing careers is scary and that’s OK. I am not alone and I will only know that if I gather my courage and ask for help. The Universe is my partner. There is power in commitment. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? I did not have a financial cushion. I was leaving a stable and successful career for the unknown. I didn't know how to run a non-profit. I kept it a secret too long when I could have gained support if I confided in more people. What is the biggest mistake/challenge you have encountered in your business to date and how have you moved past it? Letting fear paralyze me…it happens less now, but fear was my most powerful foe at the start. I know it’s a natural part of growth and I allow myself to “feel the fear and do it anyway." When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Look myself in the mirror and remind myself about all the scary things I’ve already taken on and survived. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? That I won’t be able to sustain it. That is why it is important to hire an incredible team to bring creative and fresh ideas over time and that is why I have grown professionally from a non-profit founder to a professional speaker and author. What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? LOVE: 1) Make my own way 2) Start something new and exciting DISLIKE: 1) Takes funding 2) I was alone at the start Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? Simon Sinek, “Start with Why”, Thrive (self-care is so important) Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business? Simon Sinek articles and talks and I use Ampjar and Canva to create my email newsletters and social media content. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? Telling/sharing my story – storytelling is very powerful in gaining support. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? I was a marketing VP and didn’t realize how vital those skills were for starting a business/nonprofit – it all came in handy. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Just thinking of ourselves as business owners/entrepreneurs with an advantage – we have an instinct for compassion which helps us think of a solution for everyone involved. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Keep my mind clear with workouts, visit family to feel connected to people outside my work world to stay fresh, see lots of movies to be inspired and foster my creativity. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Ask yourself, “If this is the next 30 years of my life, is it enough?” If you answer NO, take the leap. Now. https://inspireflies.com/michelle-bacharach daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd27fcc5f73c40ae90e42e/1593715111593/Michelle+Bacharach.png Michelle Bacharach - MICHELLE BACHARACH FINDMINE "If you can stop thinking about your idea, then move on. I pondered the underlying concept of what became FINDMINE for six years. I tried to discard the idea, but it kept resurfacing in my mind. Running a startup is an all consuming venture, and you must be sure you want to undertake such a task. So if you have an idea, attempt to forget about it. If you can get it out of your head, then it’s not meant to be. But if you can’t, take it seriously and make it happen." How do you start your day? By hitting the snooze button for 15 minutes, and then dragging myself out of bed—I’m not a morning person. What are you reading? Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. FINDMINE is a retail technology that uses machine learning to scale the currently manual and tedious process of product curation (e.g., creating outfits, sets of decor, compatible electronics, ingredients for recipes, for example). FINDMINE achieves up to 40% higher average order values for retailers while saving merchandisers time. I was inspired to create this business because of my own frustration with shopping. I’d buy a pair of green waxed cotton leggings that looked amazing; but I’d get them home and have to google “how to wear green waxed cotton leggings” or stalk Pinterest in order to figure out how to put an outfit together around it. The same thing happened when I fell in love with a white leather couch (can I match gold throw pillows with that?), when I wanted to buy a drone (what propeller blade replacements will work for this model?) or when I wanted to prepare a meal with ingredients that were in my kitchen at the moment (what can I make with a tomato, chicken stock, and fusilli?). I figured that if the store from where I purchased these items could just tell me how to use them, I’d save a lot of time, and the retailer would be able to sell me more. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I didn’t really decide—it was always a part of my plan since I was a child. Both my parents are self-employed, so working for myself has always been in my definition of success. The kind of startup I have is more of a high risk, growth company, however, versus a service business (like my parents’) so deciding to go down that path was something with which I had to get comfortable—or slowly desensitize myself to. I started my career upon graduating UC Berkeley and working at a startup in San Francisco. That was a way for me to experience many different aspects of a company; it wasn’t necessary for me to decide from the start what my main role in the company would be since you wear so many hats at a startup. I figured it was the perfect place for me to see what I liked and what I didn’t like. The Founder, the CEO, the Head of Engineering and my immediate boss were women. I was surrounded by amazing female role models. It didn’t cross my mind that being a female entrepreneur or a woman working in the tech/startup scene was a challenge. That gave me a lot of confidence and I started thinking more seriously about what I wanted to create. It took me years, however, to find an idea that I was truly passionate enough about to want to take the leap. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? We have been able to get meetings with some of the biggest retailers in the world. They may not be customers yet, but to get in the door, you must have a product or idea that solves a problem they’re facing. Being invited to speak to 2,000 retail executives at the National Retail Federation conference was a BIG milestone. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Everyone is going to have an opinion, and you must have the capacity to accept opinions without letting them drown you. I wasted a lot of time going in the direction that the so-called experts thought was right for us before realizing another expert had the exact opposite opinion. If that happens, you know no one has the right answer and you have to go with your gut. If ten experts in a field all tell you the same thing, however, there is likely truth in that. You also have to watch out for “wisdom of the crowds”. If there’s an investor interested in you only because other people are, it could signal they’re not strong or knowledgeable enough to have their own opinions—and perhaps not the type of person you want on your board. The most valuable thing I learned was to quickly evaluate the relevant advice and then spend more time with those people. If self-doubt hits, what do you do? Being a startup founder, it is normal to have doubts. There is no right way to do this otherwise someone would have done it before. When the doubt becomes detrimental, however, I’ll talk it through with my husband, friends, or fellow founders either to get a reality check or to vent. I also spend time trying to sit quietly while listening to the voice that says, “Everything’s going to be fine,” come through a little louder. If I practice hearing that voice more often, it grows stronger and louder. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? My fear is that this one venture will define me. I’m a multi-dimensional person, and this will be just one of many successful ventures, or one of my many not successful ventures. But whatever happens with it, life isn’t over. I will still be smart and capable, with lots of hobbies and interests, with a great family and a group of friends. Sometimes it just doesn’t feel like that though—it can be scary putting all your self-worth into a startup. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I love setting my own schedule; I only do what I feel is most important to the business. I believe if everyone employed that strategy at work, corporations would be much more effective. In a startup, there’s zero time for nonsense—you feel as though every day is your best, because it simply has to be. At the same time, as an entrepreneur there are many things outside my control, and that’s one of my least favorite parts. I’m impatient and like to see the effect my actions have on the success of my business. I know from experience—in life, as well as other startups—that you have to do great work, put it out there in the universe, and wait. I also loved picking the members of the FINDMINE team. We employ amazing, talented individuals, who are good people at heart as well. That’s extremely important and often gets overlooked. My other dislike is the tedious things like scheduling meetings and reconciling expenses in Quickbooks, for example. I’d much rather be closing a deal, conceiving our next product or improvement, talking to customers, or building the team; but as CEO of a small startup, it has to get done. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? There are the current startup/business go-to books: Good to Great, Zero to One, The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Brad Feld’s book on venture investing (its more like a desk reference than a book to curl up with). But I also love reading books about psychology and organizational behavior: Stumbling on Happiness, Man’s Search for Meaning, Quiet, and Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It are some of my favorites. Are there any go-to resources you’ve found useful to run your business (service, web site, etc.)? Docsend for sending documents, especially the investor deck or a customer pitch deck —you can update the documents once you’ve sent them so your investors/customers always have the live version. Eshares to manage the cap table and to do a 409a valuation Skedool is a virtual assistant that’s half robot, half human and saves tons of time scheduling meetings What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I used to be a professional actress, so I stay involved on the creative side by doing Improv. I stay very active by doing yoga, dance and tennis when I have time. I believe in giving back as well, so I mentor a high school student that’s part of a performing arts program called Rosie’s Theater Kids. I also mentor aspiring entrepreneurs through Defy Ventures, an entrepreneurship, employment, and training program for people with criminal histories. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? If you can stop thinking about your idea, then move on. I pondered the underlying concept of what became FINDMINE for six years. I tried to discard the idea, but it kept resurfacing in my mind. Running a startup is an all consuming venture, and you must be sure you want to undertake such a task. So if you have an idea, attempt to forget about it. If you can get it out of your head, then it’s not meant to be. But if you can’t, take it seriously and make it happen. https://inspireflies.com/sharon-barotz daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd2b4b63040d328e76d427/1593716177626/Sharon+Barotz.png Sharon Barotz - SHARON BAROTZ | FOUNDER, TRANQUIL PAWS VETERINARY "I once heard a saying that people who should be in business for themselves are people who are happier working twice as hard (sometimes for less money) for themselves than they are working less for someone else. This holds true for me. Being an entrepreneur is a lot of work, but I am happier and more satisfied with my career and my life because of it." How do you start your day? I keep my morning routine brief by preparing for the day the night before. I am not really a morning person. Who inspires you? Inspiration is everywhere, but I am especially inspired by my family (including my dog). What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Don’t stress out so much (it’s not as big a deal as you think). It will get better. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? There is more to you than what you do. Make sure your life is full of things other than work that bring you joy. What do you need to get you through each day? I need to surround myself with friendly people. My job is stressful enough – I do not need tension between staff members. Oh, and chocolate always helps. What are you reading? I am a little ashamed to admit it, but I am reading romance novels on Kindle Unlimited. They are a great break from professional journals and they allow me to basically turn off my brain and relax. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Tranquil Paws Veterinary is a practice that offers Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Laser Therapy to canine and feline patients. We believe in an integrative approach to veterinary medicine and offer services that complement traditional veterinary practices. We treat patients in the comfort of their own homes as well as in clinical settings. My business was inspired by my interest in and desire to practice TCVM combined with a need in the market to provide complementary and alternative treatments in a way that integrates them with traditional veterinary medicine. I structured my business so that I can collaborate with traditional veterinarians and together, we can bring our patients the best of the east and the best of the west medical care. How has your passion fueled your business? I became intrigued by acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in veterinary school. Once I graduated, I worked in a private veterinary practice where I became increasingly aware of both the amazing benefits and limitations of traditional western veterinary medicine. I was seeing an increased number of older pets with chronic pain or chronic diseases that I was unable to fully treat. At that point, I worked toward certifications to become a CVA (certified veterinary acupuncturist) and offer alternative treatments. How did you choose your current career? From a very young age, I was interested in science, medicine, and animals. I was determined to pursue a medical career but I was unsure if I wanted to be a human doctor (MD) or a veterinarian (DVM). Eventually, my interest in animals and international travel led me to study abroad in Kenya and South Africa. After studying abroad and spending six months studying animals in Krueger (the national park in South Africa), I decided to apply to veterinary school. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I was destined to become an entrepreneur. My father was a self-employed tax and financial planner and my mom was a teacher who always wished she had gone into medicine. From a young age I was exposed to business. I was also raised to be very independent; I was an only child raised in Manhattan. My long-term goal was to be a boss/executive or the owner of my own business. During my first two jobs, I learned about what I liked and didn’t like in a tradional office setting, and how I wanted to define my work life. Eventually, I decided to build my own company. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? As a start-up, I did not have enough money to hire inside help or outside consultants. I needed to know about skills I was unfamiliar with, such as marketing, web design and advertising. I found this to be challenging, especially during the early stages of my business when I didn’t have extra time to learn new skills and generate revenue. I had to revise my revenue expectations, take a step back and properly establish my web site, promotional tools, logo, etc. I probably took a revenue hit during those early months, but it paid off in the long run. What would you have done differently? I wish I recognized earlier that I was unhappy in my previous work roles. I would have decided to establish my own business sooner. I was scared of change — but change is good if you are unhappy. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I love the theater, especially musicals, and I try to see as many shows as possible with my family. I am also an avid cook and foodie with a passion for cultural and international cuisine. There is nothing more satisfying than cooking a meal for friends and family and watching their faces as they enjoy it. I also enjoy photography and international travel and am always looking forward to my next trip! What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Make sure it is the lifestyle you want before you jump in, quit your job and invest in a new business. Be prepared to make sacrifices (especially in the beginning). Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself. https://inspireflies.com/allison-bernstein daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa09f734314d7760c2480e/1593534665166/Allison+Bernstein.png Allison Bernstein - ALLISON BERNSTEIN FOUNDER, SUBURBAN JUNGLE "Move fast. If you have a good idea, execute that minute. Don’t get bogged down. Most things are not difficult to get done, even at 2am when you have that good idea." How do you start your day? Black coffee, I have four kids to get ready for school. What do you need to get you through each day? Coffee and carbs. What are you reading? This email—I don’t like to read unless it is business article or book. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I created Suburban Jungle, a real estate advisory firm which focuses on leaving urban for suburban. The inspiration was both my personal experience going through the process—as well as noticing there was an industry void in the marketplace for this kind of service. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? This is the American dream—and the foundation upon which everything is built. I also wanted a large family and big dog, and personality wise I don’t fit into a structured corporate environment. I don’t like being told where to be when nor looking for others to reward me. This was the only way to get everything that I wanted. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? The rapid success and incredible client feedback. When I hired my first employee and secured my first office space, it felt very real—like it was no longer just an idea, it was truly real. What has been the key to your success? Move fast. If you have a good idea, execute that minute. Don’t get bogged down. Most things are not difficult to get done, even at 2am when you have that good idea. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Hiring and motivating employees is the most difficult part of the job. I underestimated how important having great people truly is and how difficult it would be to find them. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Time. There are only so many hours in a day and you need to be quick on your feet in order to prioritize and divide that time between operations, business development, clients and just plain old face time. What is the biggest mistake you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Not investing enough in the hiring process, which yields a ton of wasted money in training and time. You have to spend a lot of time upfront with the people you are looking to hire and ask them questions that go way beyond their work experience; asking them questions that need explanations going as far back as high school, and getting to know them in a more personal manner. Don’t take the standard answers, ask for specific examples. What would you have done differently? I would have created a more of a formal hiring process. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Growing too quickly, and bringing on people who were not up to standards. We fixed that though—I implemented new processes in place and hired a talent acquisition manager as well. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I LOVE IT ALL! I could do without being on 24/7, however, and never being able to technically “leave” the office. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? Inc., Forbes, and Business Week. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? People. They are the key to any successful business. If you provide a great product, and find the right client, everything else will go from there. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? Everything is a learning experience. Understanding how to motivate people was key, and it taught me to move fast as well. I mainly worked in Business Development, so I understood the art of sales and motivation. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? A strong work ethic. https://inspireflies.com/deena-boykin daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa1122e7abdc3dc0b09d10/1593528744668/Deena+Boykin.JPG Deena Boykin - DEENA BOYKIN FOUNDER, RETAIL THINK TANK "Dream big, play hard and enjoy your journey." Who inspires you? Other entrepreneurs who have hung in there and made their businesses work. I’m inspired and motivated by their tenacity, hard work and motivation to keep going despite the challenges. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Hurt, disappointment, sadness are all a part of life, but one day you won’t remember the name of the person who hurt you, nor the disappointments in school—so move forward and get going. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Dream big, play hard and enjoy your journey. What do you need to get you through each day? Yoga What are you reading? Customers Included by Mark Hurst and The Founder’s Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink A Startup by Noam Wasserman Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Retail Think Tank is a marketing agency dedicated to helping companies get their products into retail stores and online. My company was once described as “ the part of Shark Tank you don’t see: how they get to retail”. I spent over 15 years successfully launching products and executing promotions in retail for entertainment companies such as Disney, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. When I left corporate, I had already developed many great relationships with buyers at all the major retailers and various manufacturers. It was a natural transition to take my skills and connections and offer my services to other companies that need help getting into retail. How has your passion fueled your business? I’m a shopper (possibly a shopaholic) and I know retail. I understand the nuances and feel connected to the consumers. My passion is fueled by the mere fact that I’m a consumer looking for certain things, so I’m passionate about offering consumer items they may want. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I was a corporate girl through and through. When I got laid off from Cartoon Network, however, a friend and fellow entrepreneur had a lead that American Greeting was looking for a retail consultant. I jumped at the chance to consult; from there I was introduced to Lion Forge Comics and the rest is history. I used to tell people that I fell into entrepreneurship, but now I don’t think that’s true. I think this path was always meant for me, it just took a little more time to get me here. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? No doesn’t always mean “no”. Sometimes it means “just not right now”. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? I do everything! I was used to having a team, and now I’m a bookkeeper, copywriter, timekeeper, salesperson, personal assistant, designer…. and the list goes on! What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in your business to date, and how have you moved past it? I don’t think of them as mistakes. For me it’s all been a learning experience. Of course, there are things I could have done differently, but you have to keep going. It’s a learning experience that is well noted for the next time. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had in your business to date, and how did you pull through it? My biggest challenge is getting more clients on my roster. Like any sales job, it’s not a walk in the park to close the deal. Since this is my livelihood, I need to remain focused and persistent. Sometimes I step away from a client so that I’m not considered a pest, and hopefully give them time to think about what I’m offering. I always go back, and even if I don’t end up with a contract, at the very least I know I gave it my all. Then it’s on to the next one. You may hear a lot of “nos” but eventually there is a “yes.” When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I reaffirm why I started the business, I meditate, I pray and I do a strong power yoga class. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? I wish I could say that I had no fear, but to be realistic, it would be closing my business for reasons that are not in my control. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I love that I stepped out of the comforts of corporate America and started my own company. It’s a self-confidence boost that I’ve never experienced before, and now that I have it, I never want to let that go. I don’t like that there’s never enough time in the day, and that I can be at the computer at 10pm. It’s hard to stop sometimes. Are there any go-to resources that you’ve found useful in running your business (service, web site, etc.)? I love freshbooks.com and hellosign.com What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? I can think of several—1. Patience: it’s a long process and it takes time; 2. Confidence: self- doubt, tears and negativity are not welcome, nor do you have time for them. 3. Resilience: a lot is going to come your way, just hang in there. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I meet other female entrepreneurs for coffee or lunch and bounce ideas off of them. I’m also a big yogi and advocate for mindfulness. Being aware makes me very productive. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I would say that we’re living in the best time to make the leap, but if you’re hesitant, then wait and do your homework. The Internet and social media have made it very easy to test the waters with a startup business. You can begin by building a website to get out information on your product or service, and use social media to drive awareness and specific messaging. You don’t have to jump right in and take the big leap, you can build your client base, create awareness, acquire good customer reviews, and when you’re ready, you’re positioned to knock it out of the park. https://inspireflies.com/stefani-tsakos daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd2bc7e09bab669df3389a/1593650124456/Stefani%2BTSAKOS.jpg Stefani Tsakos - STEFANI TSAKOS | FOUNDER, ONE CLIQUE "I’ve learned to have a thick skin and take the criticism because EVERYONE has an opinion—you need to be willing to listen and not take it personally. You must also trust your instincts. And: timelines almost always change. Oftentimes, situations are simply out your hands and you need to be able to re-route and not lose focus." How do you start your day? Snuggling with my three-year-old daughter, while she watches cartoons and I drink coffee and scroll through Instagram. Who inspires you? Other women inspire me—women who are confident and who are individuals. I’m also constantly inspired by New York City and its people. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? That this is the easy part; try to enjoy it and not care so much about what others think. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Be grateful for what you have and live in the moment. Make memories. What do you need to get you through each day? Besides coffee? I think simply the motivation to do a good job, challenging myself, and proving to myself I can be better. What are you reading? I have a bad habit of getting halfway through a book and then putting it down—but I just starting reading Wild, by Cheryl Stray, so hopefully I’ll make it all the way though! Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. One Clique is a collection of Shoe Separates, Tops and Heels that click on and off, allowing ultimate style versatility. We currently sell exclusively online at www.oneclique.com. The inspiration came from the notion of “Why can’t we do that?” We are for the fashion forward and forward thinking. We believe in limitless possibilities. How has your passion fueled your business? I’ve always had a love for fashion.Textures, colors, balance, and detail are what I am always fixated on. I think that crosses over into every facet of my business. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I spent over a decade as a freelance fashion stylist—so I had a history of working for myself, as well as building something on my own. But the best part was always the collaboration with others. Starting a business with Sandy Saccullo, my partner, is what I was excited about. Doing this with her is what got me excited about being an entrepreneur. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? I think I am a pretty good barometer for what’s gimmicky and what is actually cool. After several years of putting together TV segments for the NBC Today Show,I’ve seen many interchangeable novelty items. From the moment we started this venture, I’ve always believed it was a great idea—and that what we are doing is not only special, but different from anything else that’s out there. Getting the validation from some heavy hitters in the shoe industry has been really exciting as well. What has been the key to your success? Drive and passion. I always put my all into everything I do. No task is too small or insignificant. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I’ve learned to have a thick skin and take the criticism because EVERYONE has an opinion—you need to be willing to listen and not take it personally. You must also trust your instincts. And: timelines almost always change. Oftentimes, situations are simply out your hands and you need to be able to re-route and not lose focus. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? There were a lot of areas of the business where I had absolutely zero experience. I had to learn on the job and try my best. I’m constantly worried that I’m doing something wrong, or that it’s not good enough. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date, and how have you moved past it? The biggest mistake we made was rushing everything. Looking back, I wish we had taken things a little slower. I’ve learned that slow and steady wins the race. I was too focused on unrealistic timelines. Now I’m working in reality, instead of fantasy. What would you have done differently? I would have taken the first year to really focus just on the product, instead of trying to build the structure of the business at the same time. It is sort of the chicken before the egg scenario, but in the end, the product is most important. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had in your business to date, and how did you pull through it? Timelines—simply receiving a product when we need it. And raising capital is always a challenge. Also, having to constantly re-route and making the best use of our time is what got us through the challenging situations. We never stopped moving even if there was a delay. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I remember all the times in my life where I trusted my instincts and it paid off. I remember the successes—that helps me stay focused. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? There’s always a fear you may not succeed, and that you could possibly let others down—those who believed in you and invested in you. That’s the hardest part. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you like and/or disklike? I love being able to “create.” To make something come to life that I imagined in my head is so exciting! The worst part is dealing with numbers. It isn’t my forte, but it’s essential for every entrepreneur to have thorough knowledge of all the financials; I find this to be the most challenging. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? In My Shoes, by Tamara Mellon; If You Have To Cry Go Outside, by Kelly Cutrone; #Girlboss, by Sophia Amoruso. These books have all inspired self-confidence in me. They have taught me to have faith in my own abilities and instinct. I also really love the following these bloggers for the same reason: The Blond Salad, Chiara Ferragni We Wore What, Danielle Bernstein Song of Style, Aimee Song Sazan Hendrix Are there any go-to resources that you’ve found useful in running your business (service, website, etc.)? I use basecamp for web projects, mailchimp for newsletters, and dropbox and Google drive to share documents. Google, Pinterest, and Instagram are my go-tos for research and inspiration. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service, and what have you learned along the way? We chose to sell our products directly on our website because we want to offer our customers the most competitive price and while providing the convenience of shopping online. As for raising awareness about the brand, I think that word of mouth is really important. Reaching out to friends and family and sharing what you are doing on all your social platforms is a good way to get a dialog going about your product. Getting support from blogs and other publications that both our customers and we read is always so amazing, because it’s organic. We want our customers to find out about us from sources they trust. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not prepare you? I didn’t really have experience working in the corporate world before this, but as a freelance stylist I did have the luxury of working with a wide variety of clients in the fashion industry. I think that experience has worked in my benefit because I’m used to a hectic, faced-paced schedule where each day is different—much like what I’m doing now! What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Compassion. I think women get a bad rap for being competitive with each other, but the truth is that we all have great compassion towards one another. Women have the ability to relate to each other in an extraordinary way. That attribute can be extremely powerful in business. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Watching movies, and reading books, blogs and magazines, shopping, traveling, and drawing are all ways I keep my creative juices flowing. Also, every moment I’m in New York City, walking the streets, observing the people, inspires me. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I would tell them they are capable of ANYTHING. No matter what it is, they can do it—so go for it. It’s supposed to be hard, and you are supposed to feel pushed and stretched and challenged 90 percent of the time. That’s when you know you’re doing it right! https://inspireflies.com/adrienne-terzuoli daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa0f563be8fe6afb967969/1593529850395/Adrienne%2BTerzuoli.jpg Adrienne Terzuoli - ADRIENNE TERZUOLI | FOUNDER, EDIBLE EVENTS NYC "Pay no attention to those who speak poorly of you. That says more about them than it does about you." How do you start your day? I drag myself out of bed around 8:30am (I am not a morning person), read one of the teachings on my app for The Secret, walk my dog, and read emails. Some time around there I’ll have breakfast and my first cup of coffee too. Who inspires you? Successful business women: Dana Perino (Fox News), Ashley Graham, Ivanka Trump and Elisabeth Cardiello to name a few. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Pay no attention to those who speak poorly of you. That says more about them than it does about you. What do you need to get you through each day? My planner. I have it open on my desk at all times. I have a slight OCD about time and making sure that everything I need to do for the week/month is written down and properly timed out. What are you reading? Tied Up in Knots: How Getting What We Wanted Made Women Miserable, by Andrea Tantaros Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I am the founder of Adrienne M. Terzuoli, Lifestyle Expert and Edible Events NY. I started with EE NY back in 2010, and made it official in 2012. It began as a catering company and has blossomed into a private chef and consulting firm. We offer private and group cooking classes, as well as meal prep and nutritional consultations. I started EE NY because I loved making people happy with my food, and I was frequently asked by clients to offer additional services. I eventually slowed down with catering larger events, because I wanted to focus on being a boutique firm. There was something special about building a relationship with a client, and I found that I was getting a lot of repeat business when I went smaller. How has your passion fueled your business? Passion is the MOST important thing in my business. Without passion for any business, you won’t succeed. Talent and skill will only go so far. Your clients will know if you’re faking it. My passion for wanting to feed people and create a delicious atmosphere through food is what keeps me going. Even when I give talks, simply discussing food and the fact that I grew up in an Italian-American household surrounded by amazing female cooks makes me so happy. People come up to me and say that they feel inspired to go home and create something special for their families because they can “feel” my joy for my business through my words—and that is humbling. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I have always been inspired by strong women. They may not be loved by everyone, but they are respected and have a presence that you can’t ignore. When a strong woman walks into a room, she is noticed; everyone wants to talk to her, everyone wants to do business with her. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? Everyone needs to eat! I started as a caterer, taking any job I could get, and suddenly found myself being sought out by new restaurants to help create full menus and train staff. My opinion was one of the ones that mattered most. I knew I had created something special. What has been the key to your success? NOT GIVING UP! There are days where I may not talk to one client and the fear of failure starts to creep up. I’ve thought about quitting and going back to my “regular” job more times than I care to admit, but every time I stop myself and say “Remember why you’re doing this. Remember why you left that other job in the first place.” Having a kick-ass tribe of female entrepreneurs who support you and your business doesn’t hurt either. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Unfortunately, people will be jealous of you and make you out to be the bad guy. I’ve lost a few friends who couldn’t understand my need to focus on me and my business and called me some of the most hurtful names. Not everyone is going to support your journey, but that’s ok. I’m an only child, so losing friends is like losing family members, but when you’re in business for yourself, you become selfish at the very beginning, even if it is not on purpose. Some people have a really hard time with that. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Not having/making money. I didn’t want to take a loan for anything, so I would do things as I could afford them. I bought equipment piece by piece, paid for my website in installments, looked for coupons for business cards, etc… I wanted this so bad, but I had to take it slow, because I simply did not have the capital to do it all at once. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? Trusting the wrong people. Sometimes we get so excited about a new deal or the idea of making a new connection, that we lose the piece of us that made us successful: our instincts. What would you have done differently? Take things slower when people promise you the world in business. I hate to say everyone has an agenda, but let’s be real, they do. And most of the time, you’re so blind to wanting your business to be successful that we don’t slow down and do our research first. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Remembering that I’m a woman first and a boss second. When I first started, I literally sat at my desk for days and just worked and made phone calls and read up on things, because I really jumped into this full time without a safety net. When I left my job it was an almost immediate change and I had to deal with knowing I wasn’t going back to the guaranteed paycheck, or the health insurance, or the pension and that was a very scary, yet liberating thing for me. After a while, I had to take a step back and realize that while I now run this company full time, it is not my whole life. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Meditate and write. I really love having alone time and meditating on something I’m struggling with. We forget that we have the ability within ourselves to create the most amazing life. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Staying relevant. The culinary industry is full of insanely talented people, especially women. I am always working on myself, my skill, and my business to make sure that I stay ahead of the curve. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I love new challenges—whether it’s building a website or making a menu—I like having something new to do with the business. I dislike that sometimes you spend more time explaining things to people who claim they support you, when they really don’t. Think about how much time we waste answering questions only for people to say, “That will never work.” I’m not a very negative person, so having the negativity around me sometimes can take its toll on the business, especially if you start to take things personally. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? I tend to use my group of female entrepreneur friends as my sounding boards. We are so unique in our businesses and our approach, I love getting together with them for a fun brain storming session. We all have ideas that we need to bounce around and what better way to do it than with your tribe. When I was a teacher I read this book, Good to Great by Jim Collins, and it has quickly become my go-to book for all things leadership. He talks about how all companies have the ability to make changes and go from good to great, but only some use the tools and take the chance, and that’s what truly sets them apart from everyone else. It’s a really incredible book. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business (service, web site, etc.)? I can’t live without GoDaddy, Wix, Vistaprint, Amazon, Webstaurant, and Pinterest. With the exception of GoDaddy, I’m on the others almost every day. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? In my opinion, there is no better (or worse) strategy than word of mouth. Websites are great, social media works, but to be able to speak to someone, that can make or break your business. I get a lot of my clients from referrals and luckily I have had some of the most incredible clients who have spoken such wonderful things, I couldn’t be happier How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? When I worked for Scripps Networks I was surrounded by female executives. I wanted to be them. I loved how powerful they were; smart and fierce, and yet at the same time very real and down to earth. They had busy lives and families and really emulated the idea of “having it all.” When I worked for the Department of Education, however, I saw women who abused their power and were ugly (in personality), threatened by female teachers they feared were after their jobs, vindictive, the total opposite of an inspirational woman. They were everything I didn’t want to be. All of our past work experiences shape the business woman we become. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Thick skin, persistence, humility, graciousness, humor. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I live for spin classes at SoulCycle. Plus, I always take a day to literally do nothing. I don’t cook or watch cooking shows; I read, watch Bravo and allow myself to just relax. Sometimes it’s the absence of doing anything that can create something amazing. We need to let our brains rest once in a while. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I was speaking with a chef one time and he gave me the following advice: think of your dreams as a butterfly. People are always trying to catch butterflies, but they are not easily caught. You keep trying and trying, changing your approach, coming up with new strategies, and always going after that butterfly. One day you will catch it. Those are your dreams—we keep going after them, we keep thinking about them, we keep figuring out and eventually, we grab them. We catch our dreams. It was so interesting to see it explained that way, but I completely agree. I even got a small butterfly tattoo on my wrist to remind myself to never stop trying to catch my dreams. https://inspireflies.com/rachel-ten-brink daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd28e673efee40bbf3c1a1/1593715412107/Rachel%2BTembrink.jpg Rachel ten Brink - RACHEL TEN BRINK | FOUNDER, SCENTBIRD "Don’t be afraid of speaking up- but also learn to listen. It’s a great skill to be able to listen and quickly understand what others need or want." How do you start your day? Running to drop off two kids to school—but it’s my favorite part of the day. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Dream bigger—take more chances. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? “If it doesn’t work, try something else.” My mom gave me this advice when I had kids–but I think it applies to a lot of things in life. What do you need to get you through each day? Lots and lots of coffee, my iphone and a ton of energy. What are you reading? Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend and Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Scentbird is a subscription service for designer and niche fragrances. Customers get to pick from 450 Designer and top niche brands (Gucci, Prada, Nest, etc.) and get a sleek purse spray filled with the perfume of their choice for $15/month. Our inspiration is we feel that perfume truly has the ability to make you happy, but spending over $100 on a perfume that you don’t love…. that doesn’t make you happy. In order to be sure if you love a scent, you have to live with it, let it develop. With Scentbird, you can try your perfume at home on your own time and find what you love. How has your passion fueled your business? I am a beauty girl through and through. I love the industry; love beauty products. I love how it can make women feel good about themselves. I also love technology, finding smart solutions to everyday problems and just making lives easier. I enjoy that Scentbird marries both of these passions What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I was at a crossroads personally where I had been successful in corporate jobs, but was at a point where I felt I was not learning, and was not as involved in technology as much as I wanted to be. I felt that to truly innovate, you had to be outside the corporate parameters. Plus, I always knew that I’d start something someday- it just didn’t happen for me until later in my career. Who inspires you? Arianna Huffington – I love how she continues to reinvent herself and stay incredibly connected and current. My mom also inspires me. We joke in our family that if you ask my two brothers or me who is her favorite, we each answer, “I am”. She is not one to sugar coat and is very honest, but also makes you feel that special. My mom is beautiful and charming and incredibly down to earth. You throw her into any situation, with any group of people and she is able to connect. She finds the humanity and commonalities in anyone. I admire her capacity to build those meaningful connections and make people feel good about themselves. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? We tried for almost a year with another business model (“warby parker for perfume”) and it just didn’t take off. It was hard to accept that after so much effort, we didn’t have that “product-market fit” but when we shifted models to Scentbird subscription- we quickly saw that the idea had legs. What has been the key to your success? Resourcefulness. You have to be creative, you have to think outside the box and you have to hustle. Also, I believe you have to talk to people- talk to your customers, talk to your investors, talk to other brands, talk to your competitors. Being a good listener is seeing opportunities. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Don’t be afraid of speaking up- but also learn to listen. It’s a great skill to be able to listen and quickly understand what others need or want. What would you have done differently? I learned to be brutally honest with myself and the team. Don’t fall in love with the project to the point where you don’t see the facts. We should have pivoted the business model for Scentbird sooner, but we had invested so much time and energy, it was hard to see the facts. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? As I mentioned before- we had some very dark times where we had worked so hard on a business and it was not taking off. For us- it was being honest to ourselves as a team, taking a hard look and brainstorming with really smart people to come up with options. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or hate? I love the creativity, the passion, the willingness to try new things and constantly innovate. Personally, it’s very intense and the hours are very long which is tough when you have two young kids and a two-career household. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Go for it! Just be realistic and be ready to work hard and adapt. Also, don’t go at it alone. Single founders have a hard time raising money- and there is a reason for it- fail rate is much higher. You need co-founders and employees with complimentary skills. One of the reasons I did not start a business earlier is that everyone I knew professionally had the same skill sets that I did. I looked for co-founders that brought areas of expertise that I did not have. https://inspireflies.com/jenna-tanenbaum daily 0.75 2020-07-01 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd23307cf5813ee998c9ee/1593713304897/jenna%2BTannenbaum.jpg Jenna Tanenbaum - JENNA TANENBAUM | FOUNDER, GREENBLENDER "Get comfortable being uncomfortable, that’s where you will do your best work." How do you start your day? I typically start my day with three things: sweating, mediating and drinking my daily smoothie. Sweat: I wake up in the morning and workout – I usually keep my weekday workouts short and sweet, so no more than 30-45 minutes (I am not the most energetic morning person). My favorite workout app is Skyfit! Mediate: On the train to work, I always do a 10 minute guided meditation via the headspace app. After years of trying and failing to sit on a cushion and for 30 minutes of meditation at some point during the day, I found that working it into an already set routine held the best results. Now I never miss a day. Smoothie: Everyday at 11am, live on Facebook, I make a smoothie from the GreenBlender box that week. I want to show people how easy it is to start your day with a healthy decision and empower them to take control of their health. Who inspires you? All of the amazing subscribers on GreenBlender. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Relax. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Get comfortable being uncomfortable, that’s where you will do your best work. What do you need to get you through each day? Water. There is always a huge glass of water on my desk. What are you reading right now? One of my goals this year was to spend less time in front of screens. After years of being loyal to my Kindle, I am now moving back to reading real, paper books! I’m taking a break from the business books right now and am reading the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. I have never read a series of books that looked so deeply at lifelong friendships. These books are really amazing and I often find myself thinking about the characters throughout my day. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. GreenBlender is a smoothie delivery service. Every week, we send all the pre-portioned ingredients and superfoods to make amazing smoothies at home. Amir, my co-founder, and I launched GreenBlender shortly after moving in together to a Prospect Heights apartment, in Brooklyn NY. I’m a big health and fitness enthusiast, and Amir… well not so much. I bought a Vitamix and started making smoothies for breakfast before work and giving Amir some of the left-overs. We got really into smoothie making and we started to feel pretty amazing. That’s when they realized that when great ingredients and delicious recipes were easily accessible at home, it was easy to start our day with a healthy decision. How has your passion fueled your business? GreenBlender’s mission is to help people create healthy habits that last a lifetime. I often find that when we decide to make a health change two things happen: 1. We get immediately overwhelmed with choices (i.e., should I go paleo, do I cut out all grain/dairy, what about quinoa, etc.) and 2. We start moving towards extremes (i.e., I have to go raw vegan tomorrow, I can’t never have ice cream again). With this in mind, the GreenBlender mission came to be. Diet paths can get overwhelming, lead to deprivation and you may not see long lasting results. Living a healthy lifestyle starts with building healthy habits and not extreme dieting. GreenBlender is all about setting our members up for long term success by helping them start their day with a healthy decision. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I don’t think you decide to be an entrepreneur. When you have an idea you believe in so much you have no choice but to do it. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? When I started getting emails from GreenBlender members about how much our product had changed their life. It’s truly something special to have that much of an impact. What has been the key to your success? Passion and perseverance. Running a business is a marathon. While there are a lot of high, highs, there is a lot of tedious work and dead ends. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Just start trying something. I spent too much time in the beginning thinking about my product and perfecting it instead of just getting a prototype into the hands of my customers. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? The biggest challenge for me was creating my own schedule. I had spent my whole career working for someone else so it was an adjustment to be accountable to only myself. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? Not asking for help. What would you have done differently? I would have spent less time behind my computer and more time meeting with people face-to-face. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Time management. There are a lot of moving parts running GreenBlender and sometimes it can be overwhelming. The first thing I do in the morning is to create a handwritten to-do list for the day. This helps me stay focused on what needs to be accomplished. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I go for a run. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or hate? Being in control of important decisions of a company that impacts everyone working on the business is something I love and is something that can be stressful. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? #girlboss by Sophia Amoruso Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh The Lean Startup by Eric Ries Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business (service, web site, etc.)? Rapportive Meet Edgar Slack What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Do it! Don’t wait for someone to tell you you can. Just go out and get it done. https://inspireflies.com/lori-cheek daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd271c1d802f1ed0080466/1593714235036/Lori%2BCheek.jpg Lori Cheek - LORI CHEEK FOUNDER, CHEEKD "Hustle until you no longer have to introduce yourself.” How do you start your day? With 30 pushups, 100 sit-ups and 3 rounds of one-minute planks while the coffee’s brewing—then it’s time to start the grind. Who inspires you? Richard Branson What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Surround yourself with the people you want to become. What do you need to get you through each day? Cardio workouts. What are you reading? Ask Gary Vee—that’s actually the name of the book. Recent/ favorite quote: “Hustle until you no longer have to introduce yourself.” Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. In February of 2008, I was out to dinner with an architectural colleague. He’d spotted an attractive woman at a nearby table and scribbled, “Want to have dinner?” on the back of his business card and slipped it to her as we were leaving the restaurant. He left with a date. I left with an idea. After over two years of brainstorming how to remove the “business” out of the business card, I launched Cheekd—a deck of ice-breaking dating cards with a unique code that leads the recipient to the privacy-protected online dating profile of the mysterious stranger who slipped them the card, where the two could start communicating online. It was like online dating but backwards. We’ve since pivoted Cheekd into a hyper-speed mobile dating app that gives users the ability to never miss a real-life potential “love connection” thanks to a cross-platform low energy Bluetooth technology, which sends users an immediate notification when someone (within their criteria) comes within a 30-foot radius of them. It’s real-time and works on a subway or a plane without any cellular connection. How has your passion fueled your business? I’ve always been extremely social and a huge networker—it’s been my most fruitful tool in building Cheekd. I’m constantly making connections for those around me, and in return, I feel like if I don’t know the person I’m looking for, someone I know will. And now I’m even giving people all over the world a tool to help them find the most incredible connection that exists: love. My idea has become more than just a business over the years—it’s become my mission. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I’ve always had “the itch,” but it was kind of an accident that it happened so drastically. After working in architecture and design for 15 years, I came up with an idea that lead me into the NYC world of technology. Now I’m no longer building structures—I’m building relationships. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? A few months after our launch, we popped up on the cover of the Styles Section of The New York Times: “Move over, Match.com, this is the next generation of online dating.” A couple of days later, I got a call from Oprah Winfrey’s Studio asking for an interview. I knew I had gold in my hands. Soon after, Cheekd went global with customers in 47 states in America and 28 countries internationally. What has been the key to your success? I’ve got a laser-focused vision to succeed and will do almost anything to keep this business flourishing. I’m actually not surprised by my determination because as long as I can remember, I’ve been extremely stubborn. When most people would have quit, I only hustled harder. I think my personal approach, passion and dedication mixed with my relentless conviction that failure is not an option has been the recipe that has lead to my current success. I could be the poster child for the statement “what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger.” No matter what, in the end I’ll have a magical and cheeky story to tell. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I wish I would have known that building a business doesn’t make for an overnight success. I believed so much in my idea that after our launch, I thought I was going to be a billionaire by the end of the year! Six years into the entrepreneurial hustle, I’ve learned that entrepreneurship is being on a mission where nothing can stop you. It will take twice as long as you’d hoped, cost exceedingly more than you’d ever budgeted and will be more challenging than anything you’ll ever try but if you give it your all and refuse to give up, you can trust it will be the ride of a lifetime. No matter what, this has been the most rewarding journey of my life. My advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs is to be brave and follow your instincts. You can’t cheat the grind, but if you give it your all, you can trust that the payoff will be worth it. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? As a trained architect, I really had no idea what it took to build a business, but I’ve taken a crash course by building one. I couldn’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve failed in building my business over the past few years. I’ve learned to welcome the mistakes and even joke that I’ve learned so much from them that I’m going to keep making more of them on purpose—failing has probably been the greatest lesson of all. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? When we got covered in the New York Times nearly five years ago, we got site traffic from all over the world until Cheekd.com crashed (mild nightmare). Once the site came back to life, we got orders all from over the country. The Cheekd business model is based on a recurring subscription model once users make the initial dating card purchase. It was the biggest day in the history of Cheekd. Soon after, we realized that our web developer based in London had the button ticked “OFF” that captured our users credit card information and were unable to enroll them into our recurring subscription. With hundreds of new signups, we lost nearly $30,000 from this simple mistake. I joke now that our London-based web developer is lucky that he didn’t live in America at the time. We immediately hired someone else and got that button fixed. What would you have done differently? Having brought the wrong team on board when I first started building my business nearly five years ago. I wish someone had told me the importance of having a technical co-founder on board when I started out. I had a team, but the two gentlemen I brought on had the same exact background. I didn’t need two of the same skill sets. The technical aspect of my business has been one of the bigger challenges I’ve faced and it’s the one thing I definitely would have approached differently from day one. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? The financial struggles have definitely been the most challenging aspect of my business. Coming from a career of making nearly $120K a year, living a pretty fabulous life traveling, dining out and shopping like it was my job in one of the most expensive cities in the world, I came up with an idea that I had to bring to life. In May of 2010, I launched Cheekd.com. After finishing off my savings from my 15-year career in architecture, I had to get extremely creative to continue funding my business, and that is where the financial sacrifices began. I made nearly $75,000 by selling my designer clothes at consignment shops and on eBay, doing focus groups, secret shopping and by selling my electronics and other odds and ends around my apartment on Craigslist that all went straight back into my business. The biggest chunk of cash came from renting out my West Village Studio in NYC on AirBnB, while couch surfing for 14 months, where I nearly got evicted and ultimately lost my lease of 5 years in my gorgeous apartment. I’m in much better shape now, but me initially bootstrapping my startup led to most of the hurdles I faced building Cheekd. And finally, after four tumultuous years of building my startup with the wrong partners, lots of bad decisions and some major rookie mistakes, I was determined to find a way to take my business to the next level—and what better way than to apply to ABC’s Shark Tank. In September of 2013, I found myself walking down that scary shark infested hallway into a stare-off with five of the harshest millionaire investors in the world. I’d never been more nervous in my entire life. When I proclaimed I was going to change the population with my reverse engineered online dating business, serial entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, rolled his eyes, called me delusional and immediately snapped, “I’m out.” Then billionaire investor, Kevin O’Leary, demanded that I quit my “hobby” and shoot my business—my passion– like a rabid dog. After getting shot down by all five Sharks, I looked them in the eye and said, “Trust that you’ll all see me again.” Although those final bold words of mine ended up on the cutting room floor (adding insult to injury), in the 48 hours after the broadcast, Cheekd.com received a record breaking 100K unique visitors and our inbox filled up with thousands of emails insisting that the “Sharks” were “out of their minds” for not investing. Around 50 of those emails were from interested investors. Since the Shark Tank aired in February of 2014, I found the missing links from years before. We’ve raised five times the amount I’d sought on the show and I’ve gotten a CTO on board who’s helped facilitate and finance the new face and technology behind the new Cheekd. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I’m learning to trust the journey even if I don’t quite always understand it. It’s been a magical ride. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you like or dislike? Cheekd has been the most powerful thing that’s ever happened to me. Building this business has been an incredible learning experience. I’ve taken a major risk (both financially and mentally) and surrendered my career in architecture and design, but my heart and mind are in this project every waking moment. I’ve never been more dedicated to anything. Despite the occasional overwhelming stress, it’s been loads of fun. I feel like I’m living the American Dream—I’ve given birth to an invention. I’ve gone from 15 years of helping others build their dreams to a life finally dedicated to building my own. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business? After running a small business for nearly 6 years, I’ve learned to never underestimate the power of networking. My advice is to take every advantage possible to meet new people—efficiently communicating and never dismissing a single soul, because you never know who you’re talking to, who they might know or how they’d be able to contribute. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? Creative Marketing. One of my favorite stories to date was from Dublin’s Web Summit when over 800 startups were exhibiting (90% of them were men) and I decided to stand out by wearing Angel Wings throughout the conference. When I was checking out of my hotel to head back to NYC, I looked down at Judy Dench on the cover of the Irish Times and there I was right next to her (me on my laptop with my Angel Wings—inside there was another 1/4 page picture mentioning my business). The entire country of Ireland was now aware of Cheekd. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? Architecture is the art, science and business of building and requires an extreme social awareness and understanding of social change as well as a strict attention to detail and design. These elements of my previous corporate career have been crucial in my attempts to reverse engineer an existing industry by simply adding an element of human interaction to a seemingly saturated online dating market. My design background has also been extremely beneficial in giving me an innovative approach to building my business, designing the brand and marketing the product. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Perseverance, tenacity, resilience and a huge dose of self-belief. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? My secret to happiness is starting each day with a thankful heart, surrounding myself with people that make me happy and making sure I spend all day loving what I do. I also hit the gym religiously every day. It’s where I relieve my stress and get my head around the day’s activities. It’s the one place I feel like I don’t have to be connected to the outside world, and I leave feeling healthier, stronger and motivated to conquer the day with a fresh mind and body. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? My advice for others considering taking the leap is if you truly believe in your idea, give up excuses and doubt, surround yourself by a trusted and talented team, bulldoze forward and DON’T. LOOK. BACK. https://inspireflies.com/clare-tattersall daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa10c4e199d632e6a6b7dc/1593528818242/Clare+Tattersal.jpg Clare Tattersall - CLARE TATTERSALL | FOUNDER, THUNDERLILY "I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur. When I started, I was just someone who desperately wanted to leave my job where I was unhappy and wanted to start doing what I wanted to do." How do you start your day? I get up at 5.30am and run, or go to Crossfit. Who inspires you? Sherry Orel, Cathleen Kelley, Loretta Brady, Kerri Klinger…to name a few. Never heard of them? I am really inspired by these bold, intelligent women that I know, who are running businesses, teaching, being brave, taking risks, being kind, making change happen within their world. They are so exciting to be around, and they are powerful and beautiful. Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your teen-aged self? If I really have to give any advice, it is to lean forward and paddle hard through the rough stuff. Apart from that, I would not tell my teenage self to do anything or make any choices—life is so full of surprises and challenges, I don’t think we move in a linear way from point A to point B in our lives—we constantly learn and change. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? “When you travel alone, you cannot say ‘no’. You have to go where adventure invites you.” What are you reading? The New Yorker (so I know what is really going on in the world), Lord of the Rings (bedtime reading for my daughter), East, West by Salman Rushdie (probably my favorite author), Gone Girl (because I like to keep up with what is popular). Briefly describe your business and your inspiration for it. Briefly? Therein lies the challenge…I developed a software for fashion designers that takes them from sketch to market all in the virtual space, saving time, money and resources. It wasn’t exactly inspiration, that sounds so instant or immediate. It was more of a brooding, involved effort to design a software and develop relationships. It came into being as a necessity — designers need tools that are just not available to them. The fashion industry is a dinosaur; there has been no revolutionary change on the production end since the invention of the sewing machine in 1790. How has your passion fueled your business? I think we are all driven to do what we do in life, either for work or leisure. If you love what you do, then you don’t really have a choice. It’s just a necessary part of your existence. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? Hmmmm…I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur. When I started, I was just someone who desperately wanted to leave my job, where I was unhappy, and start doing what I wanted to do. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? I wish I could answer this. Running your own business is so full of potholes, self-questioning and doubt—you have days when everyone loves your product, your pitch and your ideas and other days when you think you should just quit. So the tipping point? It’s a bit of a moving target. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Oh, so many—but that is the beauty of it all. You are constantly learning, and sometimes you’re not always ready to hear the things people tell you. Sometimes we are given advice and we just don’t hear it; then years later you hear the same advice and suddenly it makes sense and you can use it. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Not having anyone to bounce ideas around with. Working alone is very hard — having a good team is everything. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? I don’t really believe in mistakes—you go in one direction, see if it works. If it does work, you continue. If it doesn’t, you go back and choose a different direction. Failure is very important. It helps you choose the strongest route for your idea. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? On any given day I would probably tell you a different challenge. So I think the best answer would be self-doubt—because that can take many forms. It goes back to my belief in failure, but it is important to be very rational and methodical about documenting your success or failure in any direction, so you can learn from your mistakes and choose a better direction. Self-doubt happens on the days where you lack a rational approach. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? What a perfect segue into this question. I look at the numbers and make a decision from there. However on a different day I might have an ice-cream or share my troubles with friends or colleagues who can have some insights and set me back on track. Having people you trust and can rely on in your circle is really important. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? No fears. Challenges yes, but I am not afraid of those. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or hate? Freedom! Doing what I love everyday. Spending a lot of time in the garment district. Working hard, playing hard. Meeting interesting and inspiring people. Coming up with creative solutions to problem. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? Honestly I have tried reading so many books about business, marketing, start-ups, but I find them a bit long-winded. I am a bit impatient and would be happy to pay the same amount to have a good idea summarized into a single, actionable paragraph. I do, however, think sports have been very influential in shaping how I deal with problems. With a lot of adventure sports you learn how to stay flexible; be strategic, but roll with the changes. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Honesty and integrity. With yourself and others. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Running, snowboarding, sking, whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing. I need to challenge and exhaust myself physically in order to think with a clear head. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I would say ‘follow your heart’ but I would not advise anyone on whether or not to make that choice. If they asked me for specific advice on an issue I would give it, if I had some experience (and probably even I had didn’t), but I don’t think anyone is in a position to advise someone to start a business or not. https://inspireflies.com/laura-stone daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd251319e61943ca76700d/1593713901272/Laura+Stone.jpg Laura Stone - LAURA STONE | FOUNDER, BROWNIES BARKERY "Love and Dogs. That will get you through anything." How do you start your day? Taking my 4 dogs out then looking at my to-do list in order to plan my day. Who inspires you? Anyone with a positive can-do attitude. It’s hard to stay upbeat today so anyone who constantly remains happy and positive inspires me to do the same. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Don’t compare your bloopers to someone else’s highlight reel. What do you need to get you through each day? Love and Dogs. That will get you through anything. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Brownie’s Barkery is an all natural dog treat company made with human grade ingredients and no sugar or preservatives added. These treats are good enough for people to eat but meant for your dogs! My dog Brownie was my inspiration. I developed the business after making her birthday cake and treats for her first birthday party. She and all of her dog friends loved them, so I decided to try out the idea. How has your passion fueled your business? My love for dogs is who I am, so coming up with ideas or sales pitches, treat names, or display comes easily. It’s nice because my business is a reflection of who I am. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I’ve always wanted to be one. My parents owned a business growing up and I wanted to be like them. I didn’t know what kind of business until it dawned on me after Brownie’s first birthday party. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? It took a while, but sales slowly kept increasing. The continual growth was an obvious factor but I think I really felt we had a good business was when I began to have repeat customers. To me that meat they not only tried us, but they liked us enough to come back for more. What has been the key to your success? Persistence. Things get hard, and the competition comes and goes, but if you continue doing what you do best and enjoy yourself, you’ll still be standing once the dust settles. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Everyone is learning as they go. No one knows everything. But everyone knows something. Ask questions to your fellow vendors, and be willing to adapt to changes as they come. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? I went to college for Business Marketing, and although the things I learned definitely came in handy, I’m pretty sure that type of knowledge didn’t pertain to starting and running a business. Or perhaps I wasn’t paying enough attention in class! That being said, my biggest challenge was not actually knowing how to run a business. I did have parents, however, who supported me, and I possessed the ability to “figure things out” while still working a full time job. I also asked vendors, researched laws, and incorporated trial and error tactics so my idea became more solid and eventually an actual business. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Unlike most businesses mine actually made money its first year, and continues to do so, of course. Not to say our expenses didn’t increase as well, but ultimately most businesses fail the first 5 years before showing a profit—but mind did not. As awesome as that sounds I’m still not making as much profit as I should be or want to be. We reached a point where the business had plateaued. We lowered our cost to increase the profit margin, and increased our prices to be more competitive with what’s on the market. Both things helped but still we were at a standstill. Then it hit me after getting an idea from other vendors I worked with. So our most recent product launch, that just happened this month, will hopefully be the thing that helps propel us forward again, getting us off the plateau. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? That, after all this time and hard work we may not earn as much profit as needed in order to pay everyone involved what they deserve. We all started out working for free and eventually all started earning money. But it needs to be enough money that all of us can live comfortably in the end What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you like or dislike? I love making my own schedule but I don’t enjoy working around the clock because it’s hard to make the decision to “clock out.” When you own the business you can never really clock out. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? We make a quality product but want to compete with big box chain stores like Walmart and Petco and Petsmart. It’s hard to do, and usually it’s quantity or quality—not both. We’re trying to make a quality product that’s inexpensive enough that consumers want to buy them on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. We don’t want to be the “only on special occasion” cookie, we want to be the “everyday goodness” cookie. That being said I’ve learned it’s a slower climb to the top because our profit margin is lower due to higher quality ingredient costs, and lower price point to compete with those larger stores. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? Working in corporate America is what keeps me motivated to make my business work! Not only do I remember feeling stressed out, and anxious, and like I sold my soul at points to make sales, but hearing all my family and friends horror stories about their jobs, and their bosses, makes me realize I NEVER want to work for someone else again. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? The woman power mentality. Being a strong, capable, “I can do anything” woman helps carry you through the hard times. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Play with Dogs, love Dogs, get outside and experience nature, and always keep my eyes open for ideas. Don’t be afraid of speaking up- but also learn to listen. It’s a great skill to be able to listen and quickly understand what others need or want. https://inspireflies.com/anne-marie-bowler daily 0.75 2020-06-22 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5ef0cd1756a96a1efe330d55/1592834525117/RobynYoukilis.png Anne Marie Bowler - ANNE MARIE BOWLER FOUNDER, GABAY-RAFIY & BOWLER "The key to success is hard work, persistence, discipline and a positive attitude." How do you start your day? By reading the papers and checking social media. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Never do anything that comprises your reputation and integrity, no matter the fee. What are you reading? Elena Ferrente’s Book 4 in the series. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Gabay-Rafiy Bowler is a women-owned and run law firm in downtown New York City. We handle both transactional matters (contracts) and litigations (business disputes). My partner (Sari Gabay-Rafiy) and I were inspired to open our practice after six years at a large New York law firm. We wanted to create a more well-rounded way to practice law and live life, while providing excellent service at reasonable rates. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? Aside from the money, there was no good answer to the question Why not? in starting our own law firm. We believed not only in ourselves and our abilities, but also in that there was another way to practice law. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? When clients began referring clients. What has been the key to your success? Hard work, persistence, discipline and a positive attitude. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? There is no shame in keeping it lean—it’s not about the bells and whistles, it’s about the quality of the work and the responsiveness to the client. Of course, presentation to the outside world is important to your brand and business, but don’t invest too much time and money in finding the perfect location or the nicest office with the long marble conference room table. Clients don’t give that as much weight as you may think, at least not in our line of business. They want to know you’re always available and will help them find solutions. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? The change in office environment was an obvious early challenge. I missed the collegiality of having other people (both attorneys and administrators) around me. As a result, I make more of an effort to stay connected with colleagues and friends, not only through email, but in personal interactions as well, having lunches and drinks after work, for example. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Our biggest challenge to date has been getting work during the recession (in 2008, for example), and encouraging clients to pay invoices. As far as securing client assignments, I’m creative about finding work. I also have the attitude that no task or matter is too small to deserve my attention—and I keep at it. My business partner and I consistently reach out to people to remind them we exist. Early on, for example, we held a cocktail party to thank clients for their business. We didn’t get as many attendees as we hoped, but the invitation alone served its purpose as a reminder to colleagues and clients that we were around. In assuring that clients pay in a timely fashion (or pay at all) I invoice monthly, even if it’s a minimal amount. It’s important to stay on top of invoices, and to continually follow-up with clients—sometimes in a stern manner. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I talk to my law partner, Sari Gabay-Rafiy. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Prolonged slow months. Which aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or hate? Love: the freedom, and the ability to help people and see change happen; also the administrative aspect of running a business, aside from practicing law. Hate: the uncertainty of where our next client is coming from. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful in running your business (service, web site, etc.)? I think it’s important to be current on what’s happening in the world and the law; reading a few daily newspapers every day has helped me generate new ideas for business. It’s also given me an excuse to get in touch with clients, for example, when I send them an article I feel may interest them. In addition, it generally helps in social situations, as current events are an easy avenue of conversation. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Travel What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? You have to like risk, and you must have the desire to hustle in getting business every day. If you can ask yourself Why not?, I think you’re more than halfway there. https://inspireflies.com/anjali-southward daily 0.75 2020-07-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa0c9ce199d632e6a5e2cc/1593445536429/Anjali+Southward.png Anjali Southward - ANJALI SOUTHWARD | FOUNDER, GROUPIE "Partnering with other businesses (fitness studios) and cross-promoting to their community has been an invaluable strategy for us. We’re getting a lot of traction by tapping into existing networks." How do you start your day? I have a 6-month old so my day starts pretty early. I’m teaching myself not to look at my phone right away and to enjoy the quiet of the morning while feeding my daughter. The day gets crazy enough very quickly. Who inspires you? I’m motivated on a weekly basis by my fitness friends — and even those who are working out around me at the gym with a commitment to better health, strength, and flexibility. That’s truly inspirational and real to me. We’re in this together. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Appreciate the body you have and stop being so critical. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Keep it simple. What do you need to get you through each day? A shower! What are you reading? My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Groupie is an app we’ve created that makes it simple to share and discover fitness classes. Our users can post workouts, enabling their friends to join them, or they can discover new classes via their network’s recommendations. Studios benefit by filling seats and building loyalty. My co-founder Caroline and I were always trying to meet up to workout together or get recommendations for good workout classes in our area. We got tired of texting/emailing/calling all the time and really had an “I wish there was an app for this!” moment. We started planning Groupie the next day. How has your passion fueled your business? Fitness and healthy living has been a priority for me ever since I was a teenager when being active and athletic helped me with my body image. As an adult, I’m a more sane person when I have a physically active life — which can be challenging when trying to balance family and work. Because time is precious, Groupie makes it easier to find this balance while getting the benefits of motivating classes and workouts. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? As a former athlete, I know that the only true way to achieve positive results is to do something that pushes you out of your comfort zone. The same applies in life, and being an entrepreneur certainly does that. I believe in our mission to help simplify and socialize fitness — there are very few companies right now providing a streamlined solution like we do. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? User feedback when we were testing the concept pre-development. Our potential users told us that the app would remove barriers to getting to a gym and would solve some of their frustrations in ways that would actually get them to work out more and have more fun doing it. Knowing we had the potential to motivate people toward healthier lifestyles solidified things for us. From that point, we focused on creating the product that would meet our users’ needs. What has been the key to your success? Two things. The first is having a great partner. My business partner, Caroline Geiger, pulled both of our weight with the business in the months after I had my first child. The second is acting before I could defeat myself. Whether cold-calling a studio to set up a meeting or taking a business meeting with my 2 month-old, I realized that as an entrepreneur, it is up to me to decide what is, and isn’t, possible. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Everything always costs more than you think! What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Time and energy. It takes a lot to get a business off the ground, and we launched Groupie one week before I had my first child. Trying to figure out a newborn while keeping the business moving was stressful. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? The biggest mistake has been underestimating the amount of energy it takes to get a business off the ground. There’s so much you don’t anticipate when your building and growing a company, but the key is to schedule consistent time to keep processes moving. A (scheduled) bit of effort locked in everyday goes a long way over weeks and months. What would you have done differently? I would have pushed for the launch to happen months before having my baby as opposed to the week before! What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? We have a lot of projects running in parallel covering various areas of our business, some behind the scenes and others that are public-facing. It’s challenging to manage everything and hit our deadlines with such a lean startup team, but we expanded and brought on a dedicated marketing strategist who has helped us to make progress and keep hitting our deadlines. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Go to yoga. It helps to take a step back, breathe, and “exercise” the demons (pun intended!). What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? My biggest fear is that we’ll run out of resources before this idea has a chance to be nurtured enough to help more fitness fans and become an even bigger success. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I love the ability to affect direct, tangible change – there’s something supremely satisfying about making decisions and then seeing them come into practice almost instantaneously. I dislike the expenses! Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? In terms of books, The Lean Startup, Lean In, Executive Presence have all contained great nuggets of wisdom. In terms of blogs and sites, The Sweat Life, Fit Bottomed Girls, Refinery29. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business (service, web site, etc.)? We use Google Alerts for “NYC Fitness” and other key phrases to discover, learn and share about what’s happening in the community. Social media has also been our main marketing platform – Instagram @groupiefit, Facebook @groupiefit have been particularly useful. Mailchimp has been a great tool as well to help with our newsletter and mailing list. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? The business discipline I’ve learned from working in start-ups, as well as at big companies, has been crucial. My most recent corporate job has been in negotiating deals for a digital product. Knowing how to structure a contract, form partnerships, and understanding the importance of product design has been key to building Groupie, both as an app and as a business. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Positivity. As a woman, you’ll likely face double the obstacles your male counterparts do — at least right now. A great attitude is the best weapon against naysayers. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Nothing shocks the brain better than trying new workouts! You have to listen, you have to feel, you have to observe, and then ultimately, you have to push yourself. It’s the best training for the rest of your day. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I believe in educated risks. If you’ve done your research and truly believe in your product, go for it. Act before you have a chance to say “no” in your head. https://inspireflies.com/sara-dimmick daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd2a40d9f78d4459105b9d/1593715897861/Sara%2BDimmick.jpg Sara Dimmick - SARA DIMMICK FOUNDER, PHYSICAL EQUILIBRIUM "It was someone else who suggested I consider becoming a trainer. It was great advice! Sometimes others see things in us that we don’t see ourselves." How do you start your day? At 5:45am, when my husband and my one-year-old son are still asleep, I sneak into the kitchen and make a cup of coffee while I’m getting dressed. My clothes are all laid out the night before so I can dress quickly. I drink my coffee and grab a quick bite to eat —banana/yogurt, hard boiled egg, high fiber cereal—then I’m out the door. Sometimes I bike to work, other times I’m lazy and I’ll take a cab. Who inspires you? Other business owners who have started businesses from the ground up, with little resources. Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your teen-aged self? Trust your gut and create a path to reach your goal. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? It was someone else who suggested I consider becoming a trainer. It was great advice! Sometimes others see things in us that we don’t see ourselves. What do you need to get through each day? Some quiet time for myself – lunch, a workout, 20 minutes to surf the Internet. Briefly describe your business and your inspiration for it. My business is a boutique personal training and wellness company. We specialize in private training, nutrition, triathlon/running coaching, post-rehab fitness, and we offer other fitness and wellness modalities like yoga, massage, group classes. How has your passion fueled your business? I was a ballet dancer growing up, and continued that art throughout college. I moved to NYC to pursue that career, and fell into personal training because someone suggested it. I quickly found that it was rewarding and became successful at it. I really enjoy teaching people how to move their bodies and become healthier and stronger. I also love when people, who have chronic injuries or are in pain, feel better after working with me after a few sessions. Exercise is amazing medicine. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I was working for a large gym chain and it was hard to implement new program ideas that I had for clients. I wanted to tailor programs specifically to each person’s goals and I just couldn’t do that working at a large company. Now that I have my own business, I can really do what I want, and collaborate with other health and wellness providers and doctors to help clients reach their fitness goals. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? When new clients were coming in and I couldn’t fit them on my schedule. You only have so many 7am time slots each week. And also, staff retention; personal trainers are very transient—but retaining the same trainers and coaches on staff for many years also says a lot about a business. What has been the key to your success? Listening to clients. Helping them develop and stick to a program. Being reliable. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? You can’t please all people, all of the time. And sometimes it isn’t personal, it’s just business. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? I don’t have a business degree, so a lot of the logistics of starting a business I had to figure out on my own. Having reliable sources to ask questions was key – accountants, lawyers, etc. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date, and how have you moved past it? I don’t think there was any big mistakes that I made. Of course, there have been roadblocks and small emergencies, but again, if you have the right people helping you and advising you, I don’t think anything is that difficult to get around. If your business is strong, a bump in the road won’t derail it. What would you have done differently? Nothing. You learn from all sorts of experiences, and next time you handle things differently. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Talk things through with people who have been there before or have more experience. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Expanding too fast. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or hate? I love: making my own schedule; taking vacations or working extra when I can, not when someone else tells me to; implementing our unique programs for clients. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? I read the New York Times business section and blog articles on small business. Sometimes the articles are relevant to my business and other times not; but I’ve gotten some great ideas on how to structure and deal with staff and clients. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful in running your business? MindBody Online has been great. I can’t believe I ever ran a business before without it. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Don’t consider yourself different than your male counterparts. If anything, believe you’re better! What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I go to classes and workshops. I’ll go online, and watch TV to get ideas. I’ll talk to people about what they are doing. I travel to different cities and experience what is trending in those cities. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Go for it! https://inspireflies.com/gemma-sole daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa1297ede6517d68105e26/1593528473775/Gemm%2BSole.jpg Gemma Sole - GEMMA SOLE | FOUNDER, NINETEENTH AMENDMENT "Always ask. And always get your hair done. You never know when an important meeting or press opportunity will come up!" How do you start your day? I look at my email on my phone (sooo bad). Who inspires you? My parents, my twin sister Lucy, and olympic gymnasts. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? It will get better What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Always ask. And always get your hair done. You never know when an important meeting or press opportunity will come up! What do you need to get you through each day? Extra hot cappuccino. What are you reading? Modern Monopolies by Alex Maozed Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Nineteenth Amendment curates unique collections from independent designers all over the world, all available at pre-sale prices and made on-demand in the USA. Inspired by the law that guarantees universal suffrage, we help independent designers find their voice by providing a platform for high quality, small batch manufacturing and direct sales to an audience eager to obtain cutting edge fashion before it goes mainstream. How has your passion fueled your business? I love building beautiful things and solving problems. I get to help hundreds of designers sell and produce garments in the smartest, most cost-efficient way possible – that’s awesome! It doesn’t hurt that I get to wear them sometimes too:). What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I come from a family of hard-working entrepreneurs. And I graduated in 2009 which made everyone re-evaluate their paths to success and values. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? I was in Boston working and taking investor calls on my lunch break. They kept asking me why I was in Boston and not New York on this full-time :). What has been the key to your success? Grit. And assembling an amazing team. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Take the amount of time you think it will take and double it. Then double it again. Everything takes longer than you think it will and time moves fast What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? What would you have done differently? Hiring is tough and time consuming. I would not have hired as early as we did. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Talk to my cofounder. There’s no one better than your team to look to for support and celebrate the amazing achievements. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Disappointing customers. I dislike disappointing people generally, which I think is key to making a great software and product company! You are always working 110% so your customers fall in love. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I love being able to control my own schedule…which really means working all the time But I do love that no day is ever the same. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? Video is definitely having a moment right now, which makes it a perfect testing ground for growing a brand. Finding new and creative ways to integrate video for storytelling is one of our top priorities. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? Corporate life is key for learning communication and documentation. It may seem tedious at the time, but it is crucial – especially in small and fast growing teams. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Find a cofounder, stat. https://inspireflies.com/candice-cook-simmons daily 0.75 2020-07-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa0da8fc3d837320c5b333/1593445803949/Candice+Cook+Simmons.jpg Candice Cook Simmons - CANDICE COOK SIMMONS | FOUNDER, THE COOK LAW GROUP, PLLC & NAMASKAR MEDIA "My dad says “[a] long-shot is still a shot.” He’s right. In this life, sometimes you have to just do it!" How do you start your day? I begin each day now with a brief meditation and a (very brief) moment of reflection. It’s a mental note of what really matters in this day and a conscious effort to not focus on what mattered yesterday or what matters tomorrow. The goal is to stay in the day/moment and address what truly does matter this day. This is a new strategy for me and I am interested in seeing what comes of it. Who inspires you? I am extremely fortunate to be surrounded by incredibly inspirational people within my family. My parents inspire me. My mother has been very involved in education and women in STEAM careers before it was “trendy” and a priority on the national agenda. She was responsible for sending me to space camps, math camps, and science camps before there was a push to move young girls into those areas. She has always had a very keen pulse on what educational initiatives would benefit the global society specifically as it relates to women, girls, and children in underserved communities. As a PhD, she taught statistics for years, but was always very concerned with the idea that we never treat people as statistics. My father was heavily involved in politics and political strategy for much of my childhood and was instrumental in the integration that transpired in an area of Georgia called Forsyth County. Integration did not take place in that community until the 90’s. Today, Forsyth is integrated, thriving, and is a remarkable community reflecting a diverse constituency. His bravery worked to set that in motion and I am extremely proud of all that he has done in the spirit of civil and human rights. My grandmother was born in August of 1922, and she constantly inspires me—specifically as it relates to health and fitness. She is 94 and still believes in working out every day. She goes to the pool and does water aerobics. She is an example of no excuses! I promise not to name every family member, but my husband serves as a great inspiration as well. He is an incredible businessman and has a mind for analyzing deals like no other. We aren’t interested in working together, but I often think it would be pretty phenomenal if we ever did. He’s a natural (and remarkable) negotiator. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Whew. I had an incredible teenage/high school existence. I would honestly say “Enjoy it and take it all in…these are some special moments that you won’t truly appreciate until they are gone…twenty-four years later.” What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? My dad says “[a] long-shot is still a shot.” He’s right. In this life, sometimes you have to just do it! What do you need to get you through each day? I have to maintain an appreciation for God’s goodness to get through the day. I have been extraordinarily blessed and I refuse to take any of it for granted. I try and practice gratitude daily. Someone once said to me to imagine if whatever you weren’t grateful for is what you lost the next day. It reminded me how many things one can easily take for granted or assume will be there, but nothing in life is promised. I use that recognition to propel me forward. I also drink coffee–good coffee. I am a high-energy person naturally, but I am not one of those people who gets by with no caffeine. I fit a lot into 24 hours and I have to admit that I get it in there with a healthy dose of coffee. What are you reading? Ta Nehisi Coates’ Between The World And Me, revisions and red-lines of contracts for clients at my firm, and scripts for my media company. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. The Cook Law Group, PLLC and Ca-Co Global Inc. work together to offer traditional law and business services to the corporate, tech, start-up and entertainment world while providing new, innovative, and currently non-traditional business strategy, management, and law services. The firm was inspired by my desire to address the problem that clients were having with “traditional” firms from both a billing and service perspective. It also addressed the issues that younger, but still seasoned attorneys were having with the legal market place in terms of capitalizing off of a “new” economy and addressing client needs in a much more innovative way. I had practiced law for several years as a corporate litigator and had also practiced within the intellectual property and entertainment realms. I knew the current legal model could be improved upon and so I worked to make those improvements—and I did. It was through my success as an attorney and business woman that I met my friend and business partner, Iqram. He had successfully co-founded a payment application called Venmo and I had been behind cutting edge legal business strategy. We hit it off immediately. We both are creative with an eye for business and felt that there was a need in the media space for a platform that could accommodate the stories that we felt needed to be told and that were not being told or getting the proper support from a funding, development, or narrative space. Namaskar Media was created to change that. I also felt compelled to have stories that were led by women and in many cases directed by women. Our voices as women are strong and should be used to motivate and influence more dynamic women (and men) into action from business to social impact. I am creating the media that serves as the catalyst for that inspiration and I am proud to be the conduit by which these amazing stories are shared. What has been the key to your success? The key to my success has been to keep going and to be content with my own applause. Entrepreneurship is not for the meek and it is not easy, but it is definitely worth it. There are moments in the spotlight where you get the public kudos, but there are many more moments (the moments that often matter the most) where you are providing your own kudos. You are swimming, and moving, and pushing and simultaneously you are on the proverbial edge pushing and cheering yourself along. You are screaming for your success the loudest and with the most fervor and with the belief that whatever it is you can do it. You keep going and you make yourself proud and you never get too comfortable so that you can maintain the will and the fight to continue. All of the winners in this game of life are not always “the best”…they are the ones that keep going with no excuses. The key is to keep going. This is a marathon not a sprint…and being the “best” well, that’s just the cherry on top. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? The book The 4 Hour Work Week is a must read for any person truly passionate about stepping fully into their role as an entrepreneur. For me, that book illustrates the mindset of “no Guts, no glory.” I also still believe that Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson is a phenomenal book. My leadership style has been crafted over the years from thirteen years of being a leader in some way shape or form as an attorney. However, I have enjoyed everything from the websites “Above The Law” and “Her Agenda” to the podcast “Beyond The Business Suit” With Kailee Carr.” What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? My response is actually two answers, but the two most important attributes for a woman business owner are ability and confidence. They are two sides of the same coin. There is so much talk about self-doubt and imposter syndrome. If I am honest, I don’t traditionally go through those emotions. I don’t have the luxury. I know that I am up for any challenge and I’ll challenge anyone who tries to suggest otherwise. With that said, I know many brilliant, capable, dynamic women who do feel self-doubt and other debilitating emotions like imposter syndrome. Confidence and ability are the two tools that can shut down the voices that lead you to second -guess (whether they are internal voices or external voices from third-parties) and propel you forward. Confidence and ability are not about being perfect now. It’s about being confident in the truth that you will get ready and you will be ready when it matters. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I am now also a founder of a media company, so Namaskar Media is my creative outlet. I tend to read the trades and many of the deal newsletters to see what deals are happening and whether those deals are appropriate fits for my clients, my company, or my network of dynamic professional colleagues. I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats and so I keep an eye out not just for myself, but for a broad net of individuals as well. https://inspireflies.com/elena-sanchi daily 0.75 2020-07-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa11bdc70ae81e6c9e1bc5/1593528612274/Elena%2BSanchi.jpg Elena Sanchi - ELENA SANCHI | FOUNDER, ELENA SANCHI–PERSONAL STYLIST "It was when I realized there were times when I simply couldn’t fit a new client into my schedule during the week or weekend—this lead me to believe I was doing something right." How do you start your day? With a mug of hot water, and when time allows, a run in central park—which clears my head and sets the tone for my day. Who inspires you? I don’t have a specific person who inspires me. I search for inspiration in art, movies, travel, and literature; a beautifully designed coat or dress, of course, never ceases to amaze and invigorate me. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? When I was young I had a desire to become a lawyer, but the mother of a friend informed me that because my father was not a lawyer, I would end up being yet another unemployed lawyer (I am from Italy where it is a common belief that it’s difficult for someone to forge a path in a career that was different from their parents). I now recognize how narrow-minded this woman was. That incident, nevertheless, set me on a different career path. Luckily, however, when I was growing up, we travelled extensively as a family. This influenced me to appreciate other cultures, which lead me to choose a career in international political science and later land my first job in Paris, then London working in PR and advertising, and ultimately, to New York City where I began a career in fashion. In short: listen to others’ opinions—but find your own passion and dedicate your life to that. It’s also never too late to change careers. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Travel. Travel. Travel. Get to know other cultures. Also, my father has been an incredibly valuable resource in providing me with relevant and reliable advice regarding most aspects of my business. He’s an entrepreneur, and has never shied away from experimenting with new business ideas. I have him to thank for not only my adventurous spirit, but also my eye for style; he owned a clothing boutique in Italy, and from a young age, he taught me the art of discerning which textures, colors and fabrics work naturally together. What are you reading? The Girl You Left Behind, by Jojo Moyes. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I am an image consultant, so I work within the parameters of my client’s silhouette, coloring, budget, and lifestyle to create a wardrobe that fits their specific style goals—whether they’re in the midst of a career change, a lifestyle transition, or in need of personal shopping, seasonal wardrobe changes, freshening up a closet or a complete wardrobe re-do. I offer guidance on which types of clothes fit which figures, which colors will flatter, and tips on how to shop. Ultimately, my goal is a to create a wardrobe of clothing that the client loves to wear; oftentimes I can accomplish this by incorporating a large portion of the pieces the client already has in her/his closet. My client roster includes both women and men: executives, lawyers, bankers, working mothers, editors, stay-at-home moms, actors, and even kids. The inspiration behind my company was that I had just moved to New York City from London, and although my occupational background was in PR and advertising, I was looking to change careers. I was also recently inspired by a friend who had abruptly switched careers after deciding to follow his life’s passion. I knew I wanted to have the optimal work/life balance, and desired to work mostly during the hours in which my daughters were in school. The only way I’d be able to do that is if I worked for myself. In addition, I have always been told that I have a good eye for style—so I decided to slowly build a client base as an image consultant. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? It was when I realized there were times when I simply couldn’t fit a new client into my schedule during the week or weekend—this lead me to believe I was doing something right. Much of my business is from word of mouth, and I’ve seen an exponential growth in my bookings in the last two years. All this has been achieved organically. Additionally, once I take on a client, they usually become a repeat client. What has been the key to your success? I feel that one of the most import factors of being a successful image consultant is to simply listen. It is important for me to understand the clients’ reasoning behind why the feel they’d like my help in this area of their life. The relationship between the client and myself is based both on trust, and the fact that I have genuine interest in how they perceive themselves in a positive way. I support them in a manner that will encourage them to be both confident and assured. I also make their lives a bit easier by eliminating most of guesswork of what it takes to look polished. I firmly believe that getting dressed should be an invigorating, joyful experience; it should inspire you, and ultimately set the tone for your day ahead. In addition, clients often appreciate the fact that I am Italian, and that my tastes tend to follow those refined styles and colors migrating across Europe. My Italian culture and upbringing definitely gives me a bit of an edge on the market. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? I do miss working with a team—sharing ideas and simply having others around. I now make it a point to do weekly brainstorming sessions with other professionals who are in the similar situation of running their own business. It helps all involved to generate both creative energy and fresh ideas. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Self discipline. I’m a one-woman show and need to wear many hats: sales, accounting and administrative, for example. It takes a lot of motivation to do everything. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I talk to my husband. He believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you like and/or dislike? I love the excitement of building something for myself; I love learning along the way. I do miss having a team; sometimes I find that isolating. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Discipline, and lots of enthusiasm. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Taking classes always helps me maintain my creativity. I love going to art exhibits—there’s nothing more gratifying than looking at how others harness their own creativity. Running also clears my head. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I would say go for it, of course. It’s fun, exciting and also scary—but if it’s something they really want and they pass up the opportunity to act on it, they’ll end up regretting it. If it doesn’t work out, at least they can say they tried. Regardless, they will look back and find that they’ve learned a lot. https://inspireflies.com/sandy-saccullo daily 0.75 2020-07-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd29b75e6148559d6e7cb6/1593715770973/Sandy%2BSacullo.jpg Sandy Saccullo - SANDY SACCULLO | FOUNDER, ONECLIQUE "I would say my experiences in the mommy world better prepared me for entrepreneurship than my corporate world experiences. Tolerance, patience, paying constant attention to something, being pulled in difference directions, multi-tasking—if you can stay somewhat sane raising children, you can do anything (emphasis is on somewhat)." How do you start your day? Hitting snooze. Then hitting it again. And again. Who inspires you? My eight year-old daughter. She has such a strong sense of self. I love it. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Save your clothes. The 90s are coming back in 20 years. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Follow the crumbs. Take the tiniest of actions—even if they seem insignificant, they do eventually start adding up—and keep moving forward. What do you need to get you through each day? Perspective. And coffee. What are you reading? The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer. It’s a pretty incredible story and completely inspiring. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. A few years ago I went into my closet to choose a pair of shoes to wear to an event. I wanted the upper of one pair, but wanted a different style heel. I thought to myself, “Why can’t we change the style of our shoes without needing to buy an entirely new pair?” We don’t have the same versatility with our shoes as we do with our clothes. I can buy a pair of jeans and wear them with a sweater, tank, or blouse…why can’t we have that same type of style freedom with our shoes? I decided to pursue it. Fast-forward a few years and we are now launching our collection of Shoe Separates this spring exclusively at oneclique.com. How has your passion fueled your business? I am passionate about getting our product to the market. Every time a woman sees our shoes, and what they actually do, her mouth drops open—those are the moments that keep me going. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? It wasn’t a decision I even realized I was making. I had been home with my children for five years and was starting to think about work again. I knew I could get a 9-5 job in my previous industry, but I wanted to pursue my “shoe idea” and liked the idea of working for myself—which would allow some flexibility in regards to my children. I didn’t know anything about the fashion industry so I decided to get an internship. Stefani, my One Clique partner, who had been styling fashion segments for the Today Show for many years, hired me. I was working a few days a week, which was a great transition for the kids and me. Within 18 months I was working full-time to bring One Clique to life. It all happened really organically. In the beginning, many of the important pieces fell into place pretty seamlessly, which gave me the confidence to move forward as an entrepreneur. One of the biggest motivators was when Stefani saw what I was working on and decided to switch careers and become my full time partner! What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? Once my first-stage prototype was complete, I met with a shoe industry executive. That meeting catapulted me into the next stage of my business. He had told me he had seen people try to do this before, but had never seen it done in this way—where the fashion of the shoe was not compromised. He not only encouraged me to bring the product to market, but also introduced me to a shoe manufacturer who became my first investor. To say it was an exciting time would be an understatement; it was definitely the tipping point. What has been the key to your success? Persistence, enthusiasm and passion. Communication and building relationships has also been key. In addition, surrounding myself with people who know what I don’t know. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Don’t spend time or money on any other part of the business until your product is perfect. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? That there were not enough hours in the day. It was hard to stay balanced with work life and family life. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? When planning our budget and doing our financial model, we didn’t account for anything to go wrong. But then we moved past it by restructuring our budget and raising additional capital. What would you have done differently? If I could do it over, I would sit down with my team and decide what the worst case scenario could be within the next 12-18 months. Then figure out what it would cost us to recover from it, and work that number into our budget. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Working alongside a production timeline that wasn’t realistic. We had to slow everything down and put certain parts of our business on hold. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Call Stef. We are in the same boat so it helps to lean on each other and talk through things. I also have really supportive family and friends who are always cheering me on. In addition, I love reading about other entrepreneurs and their stories. It’s always comforting to know others have walked the same path and have forged ahead regardless of the self-doubt. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Letting down my team. I always want to do right by them and by what we have created together. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? Fundraising covers both the love and the hate! I love it because I really enjoy meeting new people and talking to them about One Clique. The part of it that I don’t like is how it takes me away from the day to day of the business. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business (service, web site, etc.)? We use Google Docs to share documents and collaborate internally. Hoot Suite has been helpful for organizing/planning our social media and Mail Chimp for newsletters. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? We are still a pre-revenue company, with a successful market test in 2014/2015. Newsletters and social media drove traffic to our site along with press. Spreading awareness through all channels (friends, family, press, social media, events) about your product or service is always a great strategy. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? I would say my experiences in the mommy world better prepared me for entrepreneurship than my corporate world experiences. Tolerance, patience, paying constant attention to something, being pulled in different directions, multi-tasking—if you can stay somewhat sane raising children, you can do anything (emphasis is on somewhat). What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Stay open to change. I think it’s important to be able to change directions and adapt quickly to the market, and to valuable feedback, for example. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I try to take some time for myself and clear my mind, even if it’s at night after the kids go to bed. Reading a magazine, listening to music, binge watching a few Netflix shows; it’s hard for me to turn everything off —especially work—but when I do, I’ve found it to be really helpful in terms of maintaining productivity long term. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Go for it! And be willing to fail. Once I realized I would survive failing, I was able to move forward and take the risk of bringing my idea to life. https://inspireflies.com/julie-sabatino daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd24b77b90b44612982593/1593713775707/Julie+Sabatino.jpeg Julie Sabatino - JULIE SABATINO | FOUNDER, THE STYLISH BRIDE "Be confident about your vision and persevere. Early on, a lot of people thought that my idea wasn’t a good one. Since I was creating something brand new, people didn’t understand my service or its value. I persevered and 10+ years later, I’m still doing it." Briefly describe your business and your inspiration for it. I assist brides with all of the fashion elements of their wedding–everything from helping to choose the bridal gown to dressing the bridal party. My inspiration: I struggled to find my own wedding dress, and in back in 2001, bridal styling services simply did not exist. I was young, had no preconceived concepts for how I wanted to look and it took me way too long to find a dress. How did you come up with the concept for your business? After spending several years working on Wall Street, I enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Technology to study accessories design. I then went to work for a wedding designer, and it was there that I began to meet many brides who were struggling, as I had, to find the perfect dress. Then the concept for The Stylish Bride was born. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? I started out doing trials for friends to hone my skills. Little by little I began to get referrals. Then, in 2004, Elegant Bride (a bridal industry authority at the time), featured me in a multi-page editorial. That was a huge turning point for me and gave me instant credibility. How important has networking been to your success? In the beginning, I did lots of networking, but often floundered. Little by little, I developed more confidence in my services and business. I made strong industry contacts early on and created a network of peers that I still go to today for advice and support. We’ve grown up in the industry together, shared growing pains, and have a strong bond because of that experience. What has been the key to your success? I listen to my clients and genuinely care about them. It’s not so much about the dress that my clients wear. What’s most valuable to them is the feeling of confidence they have knowing that they have seen all the best dress options and have made the most informed decisions possible. Anyone can learn industry knowledge. Its learning how to apply that knowledge while considering how people think, feel and behave. What financial planning went in to starting your own business? I was lucky not to have pressure early on to financially support myself. I think an important factor to consider before you decide to start a business is to think about your nest egg. You have to be OK with your business not making money for the first 3-5 years. When I first started my business, I didn’t have children or other significant responsibilities. I don’t think I fully thought through that I was giving up the “security’ of a corporate job and things that weren’t as significant to me as they would be today. I guess I was young and naïve, but ignorance is bliss! How important is mind-set when you have your own business? I had originally established my business with the idea that it was a ‘lifestyle business’- one that would give me the flexibility to be with my kids. Then, my mindset shifted after I had my second child. I came to the conclusion that I am a happier, better mother while I work. It was at this time that I decided to go all in and grow The Stylish Bride. In 2001, I hired a business consultant and secured office space (until then I was working from home). Once my mind-set shifted, my business started to boom. What is the biggest business challenge that you’ve faced? I’ve always struggled with how to take my business to the next level. I’ve set up a business that is completely dependent on me. What motivated you to scale your business and how have you gone about it? I am in the midst of figuring this out. The catalyst for wanting to scale came in 2014 when my father died. It was in the middle of one of my busiest seasons. Then, I broke my knee and had back-to-back business trips lined up. Professionally, I had one of my best years; personally it was a disaster. The idea of needing to have more hands and support came in to clear focus for me. Is there someone in particular who has inspired or supported your growth? Although he isn’t my official business partner, my husband has always been a great sounding board for me. I’ve also been inspired by Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth. His mantra: don’t set up a business that is only based on you because you’ll burn out. After years of running my business alone, that began to resonate with me. I reached out to see if I could work with one of Michael’s business coaches and was lucky enough to be connected with Michael himself. We’re now in the midst of putting structures in place that make The Stylish Bride less about me and more about the business and service. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? There was a time in my life that I didn’t focus on my career to have my children. I wouldn’t trade them for anything, but I would not have stepped away from my business for as long as I did. Do you have a business mentor? I was breaking in to a new industry when I started The Stylish Bride. There was no one else who had done what I was doing who could mentor me. Although I didn’t have a mentor, I am a big believer in consultants and working with others who have the expertise that you don’t. I’m hyper-focused about the part of my business that I know I am good at. I outsource the rest. My advice: know what you’re good at and invest in the right people with the expertise you need. You’ll reach your goals quicker and save money in the long run. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Be confident about your vision and persevere. Early on, lots of people thought my idea wasn’t a good one. Since I was creating something brand new, people didn’t understand my service or its value. I persevered and 10+ years later, I’m still here. I was once told by someone to never tell your kids that you don’t want to go to work. This stuck with me. I never complain about having to leave my kids for work – I want them to feel I’m stepping away from home to do something that is really important to me – something that I love. I want my kids to see that it’s wonderful to have something that you love to do. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I love to walk around the Metropolitan Museum without an itinerary – it’s so peaceful and inspiring. I’m a huge fan of historical fiction and enjoy studying the way things were. I also enjoy walks in Central Park meandering through the ramble. My guilty pleasures: shopping for myself, and Candy Crush! What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Figure out what you love to do, then figure out how to make money out of it. https://inspireflies.com/alyssa-peek daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa133ee8eea7112397d574/1593528152313/Ilyssa+Peek.jpg Alyssa Peek - ALYSSA PEEK | FOUNDER, PEEK PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC "I love the freedom of being an entrepreneur. I make my own appointments, set my own schedule and take on those clients with whom I want to work. How do you start your day? My husband serves me a hot cup off coffee in bed. After that, it’s either direct onto social media and checking emails or going to a networking meeting. How has your passion fueled your business? My business is based on my passion for finding the inner beauty in people. It comes from my own insecurities of feeling invisible—and through my lens I can help other people feel not only beautiful and handsome but confident. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I always knew that I would someday have my own business—just like my mother. But the truth is, I was laid off from my corporate job, and I knew deep inside that I could never go back to an office setting or work in an industry that I wasn’t passionate about. My mother started two successful businesses and I knew I wanted to do the same. I have always had a passion for photography; it was an easy decision for me. Scary, but I just followed my gut. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? When I knew people where talking about me. What has been the key to your success? When someone becomes my client, I believe they become a part of my life. I will always be thinking about them, of ways I can help promote them. I am not a “head shot” photographer—I am a photographer who takes a photo of a beautiful person in front of my camera. I make my clients feel comfortable, and become their friend. I also believe that connecting with people and then making introductions is very important. This is a regular practice for me that really pays off. What lessons have you learned along the way, ones that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Be careful who you decide to partner with, and make sure that they are aligned with your brand. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Finding the value in your work and your time is the toughest challenge. Establishing a pricing structure was also a challenge. Job coaches recommended that I charge much more than I was comfortable with. So, I started out low, not making much profit, but I slowly proved my worth. It was then I felt I could raise my prices. It’s important to believe in yourself in order to establish pricing and place a value on your services. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? Not thanking people properly when they sent me referrals. I have learned that it is very important to be grateful and appreciative to those who think highly of you and refer clients. I now have a system of sending a proper thank you and gift for any referral. What was the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date, and how did you pull through it? My biggest challenge has been the financial obligation to my husband. I lost my job after being married for only four months; losing my six-figure salary was a blow. Not that my husband cannot afford to support me, it just wasn’t in our plans. But I also knew I had to pursue my dreams of owning my own company. So, I persisted, and I networked morning, noon and night. I put myself out there and business came back to me. It was important to me, and to my husband, that I contribute to our finances. I was determined to make it work, and it did! How did you start your business? I am a self-taught photographer/artist and I just went out and told people what I wanted to do. I attended my first networking meeting and secured my first client. That client brought more clients and it continued from there. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I step away from work or what I’m struggling with. I take a break, see friends and regroup. Then I keep going! I also read testimonials from clients and remind myself that I am making a difference in people lives. It’s much bigger than the photographs I capture; it’s how I help my clients transform and realize their beauty, worth and power. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? The idea of growing the business to the point that I need to hire employees, and then it turns into a job. The thing I like the most is my freedom to set my own schedule. I don’t want my business to start running me. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you like/ dislike? I love the freedom. I make my own appointments, set my own schedule and take on only those clients with whom I want to work. What I dislike is the loneliness and feeling overwhelmed and knowing it’s only me who is going to get it all done! Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and / or leadership style? I love following Paula Lacombre on social media, because she speaks to the women I generally work with. I learn a lot from what she is doing and she inspires me. Also, Cynthia Greenwalt, of Sea Change Networking, has been extremely useful – she teaches how to work your network. Paula Rizzo’s “Listful Thinking” is also great! I also read lots of blogs on Facebook, but don’t necessarily follow them religiously. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business? Nancy Snell, of The Distracted Executive, has helped me immensely. She’s helped me to set-up systems and procedures that make my business not only feel more “real” but also protect my business. I use Creativelive.com for ideas on how to run a photography business, and Sue Bryce as an inspiration for focusing on women. What is the most important attribute a female entrepreneur / business owner can possess? Number one: confidence; number two: seeing the value in your work. What do you do outside the office to help you stay focused/productive? I like to spend time in nature, exercise and go to museums. I enjoy art and love to see new works, even if they don’t pertain to what I do—it is always interesting to see someone else’s creativity. What would you say to another woman who is considering taking the leap to start her own business? Not everyone is made to be an entrepreneur. You have to be confident, persistent and hungry. But if you are passionate about what you want do, then it’s not work…it’s living your dream. https://inspireflies.com/cassandra-droogan daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa0df4ede6517d680f7432/1593445890812/Cassandra+Droogan.jpg Cassandra Droogan - CASSANDRA DROOGAN FOUNDER, PYSIS OVERBOOTS "I always say: Dream big—and take baby steps! Don’t focus on the leap, just focus on the first step." How do you start your day? Without fail, I check my phone first thing. I’m naturally not much of a routine person and my days consist of everything from design and working on factory floors, to developing and executing ad campaigns and media outreach, to customer service and accounting. I’m always ready and willing to shift. From that perspective, taking on something completely new and unknown suits me. Who inspires you? I draw inspiration from so many different people and places: Brian Smith, the original founder of UGG Australia, for persistence and vision; Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, for salesmanship; Tamara Mellon, the founder of Jimmy Choo, for scrappiness and embodying her brand; and Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, for EVERYTHING. I always remember, though, that no other founder or brand’s story will be PYSIS’s story. I’ve found that it can be dangerous to become too focused on someone else’s path. What do you need to get you through each day? A positive attitude. Even when you take a hit, with a positive outlook, you can always find opportunity in every failure. What’s critical is to keep moving forward. What are you reading? I actually happen to be on an entrepreneurial kick. I just read The Birth of a Brand by Brian Smith, the original founder of UGG Australia. I’ve also just started Richard Branson’s Losing My Virginity. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. PYSIS (pronounced like the water sign, Pisces) is a fashion-forward line of overboots, designed to be worn OVER women’s dress shoes to protect them in rain, slush and snow. The inspiration is simple: I hate to ruin my shoes. I always remembered my Dad’s goofy, rubber galoshes from the 80s that he wore over his dress shoes in bad weather, and wanted to create something that would accommodate a woman’s heels and match her sense of style. While our Posh Galoshes are lighter and easier to carry than heavy, bulky rain or snow boots, they’re constructed just like a regular boot – lined and insulated, with a reinforced rubber sole and they actually make walking in skinny heels more sturdy and comfortable. Each pair rolls up and comes with a convenient carry bag for storage, and the elastic closure has been a big hit with our customers. How has your passion fueled your business? It’s EVERYTHING. If you’re thinking about starting a business from scratch, I would honestly reconsider if you could possibly be as happy doing something else. The early days can be anything but glamorous. I envisioned myself sitting on Oprah’s couch describing the full line of PYSIS available at stores nationwide and my ascent to the cover of Forbes. Of course, I still have those dreams. But, first comes grinding it out – working on factory production lines, learning the nitty gritty details of warehousing and fulfillment, developing and refining advertising and media strategy—and staying up until 5am to find the correct website code to properly display five tiny thumbnails on your website! That’s a small sampling of the things I never imagined I’d be doing. But, if you have passion, you love it because you realize that those are the baby steps that ultimately bring success. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I developed the itch while at my first job in banking where I worked with a lot of smaller, privately owned businesses. And I can still remember the day I first came across Sara Blakely’s story of creating Spanx – the fact that she went to panty hose factories and commissioned them to make “footless panty hose” (Spanx) was a huge eye opener for me. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? It was a long road of product development for PYSIS and then I essentially did a soft launch with an email to friends and family while I was learning and working out the kinks of e-commerce and fulfillment. It was only after I worked out some operational and product issues and launched more broadly that sales really started rolling in that my confidence was validated. That all sounds pretty obvious. But shortly after the initial soft launch, PYSIS was featured as “The Next Great Thing” by FOX 5 news in DC, which was really exciting. And it was also very validating to start selling on Amazon and Shoebuy.com. It wasn’t until year two, however, when sales really took off at all the distribution points and positive customer testimonials started to roll in. That’s where everything became much clearer. What has been the key to your success? I’d like to say it’s a good product, but that’s simply the price of entry. Learning how to successfully reach prospective customers has been the key for us. This is something that I totally underestimated before I launched. It took a lot of trial and error and connecting with customers and prospective customers to learn what the right imagery, messaging and outreach strategy would be. For us, Facebook advertising has really been the key. No one is searching for overboots on the internet (yet!) but Facebook allows you to push your message in front of your target consumer—hopefully when she’s in a receptive mode. It actually took me a while to come around to this, but digital advertising can be very efficient, effective and measurable. Of course, editorial media mentions are fantastic, but for a start-up brand, it’s often more difficult and can be more costly than you realize to develop a strong and consistent PR strategy that leads to sales. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I wish I had understood that advertising is so much more than $100,000 spreads in glossy magazines and million dollar Super Bowl commercials. But, more broadly: I’ve learned that everything is a process. Of course, you hope to find quick success, but you can’t expect it or rely on it – for your business in general, or for any individual aspect of running your business. You have to go through the process of launching an effort, monitoring it, refining it and possibly revising or pivoting. It’s critical to never make decisions in haste. And be very observant, open minded and thoughtful every step of the way. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Product development was a huge barrier to entry for me. While I was armed with an inquisitive mind, a can-do attitude and probably just the right amount of naiveté, my finance degree and 10-year career in banking didn’t get me very far on the development and manufacturing fronts. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? I think I committed to buying too much inventory upfront. Ideally, I would have liked to move on to revising the original “Posh Galosh” style and developing new styles sooner. But, when starting out, you often have few options and no leverage. It has worked out because we’ll now be in a much more informed position when it is time to develop new styles. There really is opportunity in every pitfall and mistake if you work to find it. What would you have done differently? All progress and every success comes out of what came before, whether it was a strategy that was an instant smash hit or a total flop. You learn from every flop and they really are a necessary part of growth. So, the only thing that I would actually change is to hesitate less and move through all obstacles much more quickly. I’ve heard talk of analysis paralysis and it’s definitely real – the really valuable analysis actually comes after you launch a strategy or effort. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? After working with various product developers, agents and many false starts with countless factories, when I finally did find a factory that would work and spent three weeks essentially camped out in their sample room, the final cost quote came back at more than double the initial quote they had provided. At the time this was really crushing. But, there were a whole host of reasons that it wasn’t practical to walk away from the arrangement and look for a new factory. So, I went for it. And, as a result, when I initially launched e-commerce, the price point was much higher than it is now. But, the quality of the product was good and over time I was able to make the right connections, improve my sourcing options, and bring the price down. I think we have the price point right now, but stay tuned for more product improvements and new styles to come! When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I focus on ONLY the successes to date! And reconnect with the larger vision and why I started the business in the first place. For a consumer-facing business, it always helps to revisit positive customer feedback and testimonials. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or hate? In the spirit of keeping it positive, I’ll focus on what I love. It’s so easy to get bogged down in minutia of the day to day, but when I step back and think about how many women are walking around in something that I dreamed up and created from scratch, the feeling of accomplishment can be pretty amazing. And I really do love communicating with customers and hearing their feedback. I also had absolutely no clue how much I would love the design and development process. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? I’ve actually never been one to focus on gender – neither during my 10-year career in banking, nor while launching PYSIS and negotiating with male factory owners or making connections with potential partners or investors. I would say just be true to your authentic self, focus on doing good work and stay positive and opportunistic. And definitely avoid the blame game – when you launch a new business, everything is your responsibility. And I think that if, for example, you walk into an investor pitch feeling like you’re disadvantaged because you’re a woman, you’ll be dead in the water. Assume that you 100% deserve everything that you can dream up, and then go get it. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I like to run, which can be a great way to step away when necessary and also to be alone with only your thoughts—especially in this age of crazy mass media. I actually don’t run with any music or headphones. Other than running, I just try to stay connected to friends and family and not get too inwardly focused. You really never know when inspiration or creativity can strike, so I say just be there for others and stay open all the time. Sometimes I have to remind myself of that, especially when things get busy or stressful or I’m trying to cut back on personal spending. Your personal relationships really are everything. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I always say: Dream big—and take baby steps! Don’t focus on the leap, just focus on the first step. Through the process of getting that first prototype made, you’ll actually work out what needs to happen next. And that prototype may be a suite of consulting services or your signature spa treatment. Figure out exactly what product you plan to sell and how you’ll get it to your first paying customer. I also think that it’s dangerous to create artificial deadlines. In my experience, if you set some sort of ultimatum for yourself, you’ll almost certainly be setting yourself up for failure. Instead, be diligent about honestly evaluating your endeavor and realistic about whether you’re continuing to make positive progress. Finally, when you decide to take that first step: Don’t hesitate. Go for it! Take one step at a time and run FAST in the direction of your dream. https://inspireflies.com/catie-cole daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa102d59f66249c4cb8dc9/1593529777511/Catie+Cole.jpg Catie Cole - CATIE COLE FOUNDER, FROTH "I think about how far we have come and how many obstacles we have made it through in the past. In the end, doubting yourself is the biggest obstacle to overcome in order to give your business a real chance at success." Who inspires you? My parents, by showing me every day how important it is to be dedicated to and passionate about the work you choose to do. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? I felt a lot of pressure as a teenager to understand what exactly I wanted to do with my life – what my real purpose was. I would now tell myself that there is no set path you have to take to be “successful,” or even to feel happy. Follow your personal aspirations and you can create your own path. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Don’t spend time worrying about Plan B when you can be succeeding at Plan A. What do you need to get you through each day? Patience and iced coffee. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Our original inspiration for FROTH stemmed from our desire to facilitate individuals’ ability to explore their cities and enjoy their nights out with friends. As we began to think through our business model and strategy, we recognized how beverage brands have significant difficulty reaching consumers through product experiences at the point-of-sale – and how we could ostensibly solve this problem, while keeping in line with our original inspiration. FROTH (or First Round on the House) is a data-driven experiential marketing platform for beverage brands. We are working to bring the targeting and data capabilities of digital marketing to the off-line consumer experience. Through our mobile app, brands are able to target, engage, and activate consumers with on-premise product tastings. Users, in turn, enjoy their first round drinks on the house at local venues, while providing brands with their feedback and insights. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I am happiest when the work I do has a direct impact on the larger objective and when I can prioritize tasks as I see best. Being an entrepreneur has empowered me to take control over my own future and create something from nothing. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I wish I realized then how valuable and ultimately beneficial each unsolicited suggestion and piece of criticism would be in the end. It is of course difficult at first to hear anything but support and praise about your project that you are spending all of your time on, but in the end, it is because of these people who offered constructive criticism that we have been able to refine our plan, take slight pivots in every which direction —and end up with a company that we are now so proud of. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? For the first several months running FROTH, we were very nearsighted, working to accomplish our short-term goals and confronting issues as they came up. This work structure seemingly led to many additional problems that could have been avoided had we been more proactive and thoughtful in our approach. We have moved past this by continuously refocusing our efforts to assure we are always making progress towards our larger, long-term objectives. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? No matter how well things may be going, there is always a fear that you may not succeed in the end – and that you may let down those who have helped you along the way. While difficult to disregard this fear, it is important to stay positive and confident. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I both love and dislike the infinite responsibilities that come along with being an entrepreneur; while they undoubtedly garner self-influence and intrinsic motivation, it is important to not let the endless work consume you. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Confidence. Since starting FROTH last year, I have learned how important it is to have a distinct voice in the crowd and to be confident in my own ideas and ability – something that is especially true for female founders in today’s world. In the end, it is you alone who has the power and influence to negate others’ assumptions. https://inspireflies.com/sarah-corrigan daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd2ad137e456497a6e1507/1593716047254/Sarah%252BCorrigan.jpg Sarah Corrigan - SARAH CORRIGAN FOUNDER, LEBLUM "My mentality used to be work harder, longer, faster.. It’s not a sustainable approach to running a business or having a balanced and fulfilling life outside of business. Having balance and compassion for yourself should be a non-negotiable." Who inspires you? My parents, by showing me every day how important it is to be dedicated to and passionate about the work you choose to do. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? I felt a lot of pressure as a teenager to understand what exactly I wanted to do with my life – what my real purpose was. I would now tell myself that there is no set path you have to take to be “successful,” or even to feel happy. Follow your personal aspirations and you can create your own path. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Don’t spend time worrying about Plan B when you can be succeeding at Plan A. What do you need to get you through each day? Patience and iced coffee. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Our original inspiration for FROTH stemmed from our desire to facilitate individuals’ ability to explore their cities and enjoy their nights out with friends. As we began to think through our business model and strategy, we recognized how beverage brands have significant difficulty reaching consumers through product experiences at the point-of-sale – and how we could ostensibly solve this problem, while keeping in line with our original inspiration. FROTH (or First Round on the House) is a data-driven experiential marketing platform for beverage brands. We are working to bring the targeting and data capabilities of digital marketing to the off-line consumer experience. Through our mobile app, brands are able to target, engage, and activate consumers with on-premise product tastings. Users, in turn, enjoy their first round drinks on the house at local venues, while providing brands with their feedback and insights. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I am happiest when the work I do has a direct impact on the larger objective and when I can prioritize tasks as I see best. Being an entrepreneur has empowered me to take control over my own future and create something from nothing. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I wish I realized then how valuable and ultimately beneficial each unsolicited suggestion and piece of criticism would be in the end. It is of course difficult at first to hear anything but support and praise about your project that you are spending all of your time on, but in the end, it is because of these people who offered constructive criticism that we have been able to refine our plan, take slight pivots in every which direction —and end up with a company that we are now so proud of. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? For the first several months running FROTH, we were very nearsighted, working to accomplish our short-term goals and confronting issues as they came up. This work structure seemingly led to many additional problems that could have been avoided had we been more proactive and thoughtful in our approach. We have moved past this by continuously refocusing our efforts to assure we are always making progress towards our larger, long-term objectives. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? No matter how well things may be going, there is always a fear that you may not succeed in the end – and that you may let down those who have helped you along the way. While difficult to disregard this fear, it is important to stay positive and confident. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I both love and dislike the infinite responsibilities that come along with being an entrepreneur; while they undoubtedly garner self-influence and intrinsic motivation, it is important to not let the endless work consume you. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Confidence. Since starting FROTH last year, I have learned how important it is to have a distinct voice in the crowd and to be confident in my own ideas and ability – something that is especially true for female founders in today’s world. In the end, it is you alone who has the power and influence to negate others’ assumptions. https://inspireflies.com/catherine-cuello daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa0e947efd041c2a0a1744/1593446047050/Catherine%2BCuello-Fuente.jpg Catherine Cuello - CATHERINE CUELLO-FUENTE FOUNDER, GREENHOPPING "Trust your instinct, travel as much as you want to, live near nature, know that you’re going in the right direction, and believe everything has a way of working out." Who inspires you? My parents, by showing me every day how important it is to be dedicated to and passionate about the work you choose to do. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? I felt a lot of pressure as a teenager to understand what exactly I wanted to do with my life – what my real purpose was. I would now tell myself that there is no set path you have to take to be “successful,” or even to feel happy. Follow your personal aspirations and you can create your own path. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Don’t spend time worrying about Plan B when you can be succeeding at Plan A. What do you need to get you through each day? Patience and iced coffee. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Our original inspiration for FROTH stemmed from our desire to facilitate individuals’ ability to explore their cities and enjoy their nights out with friends. As we began to think through our business model and strategy, we recognized how beverage brands have significant difficulty reaching consumers through product experiences at the point-of-sale – and how we could ostensibly solve this problem, while keeping in line with our original inspiration. FROTH (or First Round on the House) is a data-driven experiential marketing platform for beverage brands. We are working to bring the targeting and data capabilities of digital marketing to the off-line consumer experience. Through our mobile app, brands are able to target, engage, and activate consumers with on-premise product tastings. Users, in turn, enjoy their first round drinks on the house at local venues, while providing brands with their feedback and insights. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I am happiest when the work I do has a direct impact on the larger objective and when I can prioritize tasks as I see best. Being an entrepreneur has empowered me to take control over my own future and create something from nothing. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I wish I realized then how valuable and ultimately beneficial each unsolicited suggestion and piece of criticism would be in the end. It is of course difficult at first to hear anything but support and praise about your project that you are spending all of your time on, but in the end, it is because of these people who offered constructive criticism that we have been able to refine our plan, take slight pivots in every which direction —and end up with a company that we are now so proud of. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? For the first several months running FROTH, we were very nearsighted, working to accomplish our short-term goals and confronting issues as they came up. This work structure seemingly led to many additional problems that could have been avoided had we been more proactive and thoughtful in our approach. We have moved past this by continuously refocusing our efforts to assure we are always making progress towards our larger, long-term objectives. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? No matter how well things may be going, there is always a fear that you may not succeed in the end – and that you may let down those who have helped you along the way. While difficult to disregard this fear, it is important to stay positive and confident. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I both love and dislike the infinite responsibilities that come along with being an entrepreneur; while they undoubtedly garner self-influence and intrinsic motivation, it is important to not let the endless work consume you. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Confidence. Since starting FROTH last year, I have learned how important it is to have a distinct voice in the crowd and to be confident in my own ideas and ability – something that is especially true for female founders in today’s world. In the end, it is you alone who has the power and influence to negate others’ assumptions. https://inspireflies.com/julie-fajgenbaum daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd241473efee40bbf31a73/1593648155710/Julie%2BFajgenbaum.jpg Julie Fajgenbaum - JULIE FAJGENBAUM FOUNDER, TWEED WOLF "Even though people tell you it’s a marathon, not a sprint, it can seem like progress is slow sometimes. Remembering to savor the small wins and being patient are key." How do you start your day? Feed my three kids breakfast, make snacks for school, pack up backpacks, walk kids to school bus, shower, pick up an iced tea at my favorite coffee shop and walk to work. Who inspires you? Anyone who creates something and puts it out there for the world to see. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Take bigger risks sooner. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Take a risk. Then a bigger one. Then a bigger one. What do you need to get you through each day? Strong black tea (hot or iced). What are you reading? I read tons of fiction; it’s how I fall asleep at night. I tend to find an author I like and then binge read everything she’s written. Right now, I’m reading Jennifer Egan’s Manhattan Beach. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Tweed Wolf is a photo concierge service. We use a mix of proprietary machine learning software and talented designers to turn clients’ digital photo libraries into beautiful hardcover albums. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? There have actually been a few. Before launch, I made albums for free for a few friends just to understand the process. I delivered the books in person whenever possible to see the reactions. Invariably everyone in the house would be drawn toward the book like a magnet. If the reader was on the couch, everyone would crowd around to get a glimpse. At that point I new we had made a very special product. The second realization came when we hit our volume targets and our customer satisfaction scores were still through the roof. It is one thing to make a few people happy, but to make people happy at scale is what makes an idea a business. What has been the key to your success? I think there is no substitute for diving deeply into the details. I like to learn how each step of a process works. I become an expert on things as varied as running profitable Facebook Ads, smyth sewn book binding techniques, image recognition APIs, etc. Then I draw myself back out of the details and hand pieces off to others inside and outside of Tweed Wolf. That initial knowledge continues to provide leverage for me. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? My entrepreneur friends give great pep talks. It’s always useful to commiserate with someone who has been there. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I love the variety. Today I drafted a contract for a new partnership, ordered sample fabrics for book covers, and ran a product shoot to capture photos and video of our albums for advertising. I also love being the decision maker on all things. It’s liberating to have the final say on so many choices that need to be made. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? I followed The Lean Start Up methodology when I started Tweed Wolf. I led and managed teams for many years before I started my own business and my leadership style has been honed by those experiences. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? Word of mouth has been critical for us. We have a great product and people talk about it. I have found that narrowly targeted Facebook ads work as well. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? I learned a lot of leadership, marketing, and project management in the corporate world. This skill set has saved me countless hours and dollars in building Tweed Wolf. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I have three kids and most of my time outside the office is spent with them. Like many children, they are endlessly creative and productive – making forts and drawing pictures, playing tag and climbing on everything. It’s a constant reminder of how to be present and DO things rather than think about things. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I always ask people to consider their financial situation. I’m a huge proponent of starting a business and like to encourage people to take the leap. But it’s a simple fact that most jobs provide a more stable form of income and health insurance. I think it’s important to be realistic when giving advice. https://inspireflies.com/lauren-foundos daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd261ec5f73c40ae90a09b/1594149255161/Lauren+foundos.jpg Lauren Foundos - LAUREN FOUNDOS FOUNDER, FORTË "I focus on what I can do. Fear is a negative state of mind that you can control. You must be fearless, open to experiences, live, learn and grow from them." How do you start your day? By reading or listening to the news, and getting myself excited to conquer the day. Who inspires you? My family. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Listen to your parents, they will almost always be right. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Action is the key to foundational success. What do you need to get you through each day? A workout, even if it’s super short. Keeping that ritual is an integral part of keeping me grounded and focused. What are you reading? I have little time to read now because in my spare time I’m always working, but I love Peter Thiel’s book, Zero to One, and listening to Tim Ferris’ Podcasts. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. FORTË is a tech company (b2b) and a subscription based fitness streaming platform (b2c). We built hardware and software that can be installed in boutique fitness studios so that the studios can seamlessly stream live and on-demand classes directly to our elite platform. We are creating a Netflix-style hub of leading boutique fitness studio classes from around the world. We are empowering the best brands in boutique fitness and elite coaches from around the world to reach far beyond the confines of their studio walls. They are creating incredible content daily, and we are enabling them to share that with the world. The boutique fitness sector makes up nearly 25% of the fitness industry’s revenue; and with their increasing popularity, it was evident that I needed to find a way to empower studios and make the boutique fitness experience more accessible to all. How has your passion fueled your business? My company fuels the core of my existence. Being active has always been a huge part of my life and instrumental in helping me to stay focused and grounded. I aspire to make others feel the same. My earliest memories are all about playing sports and being active. I would have spent every minute outside if my parents would have allowed me to, but fortunately they strongly advised me to focus on school for which I am thankful today. I wanted to be a professional hockey player and practiced enough to become a two-time all-American field hockey player. I went on to play Division One at the University of Maryland for the nation’s top ranked program. Your body is a machine; and if you train it, you will become stronger and continue to improve. I aspire to make everyone love working out as much as I do. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I didn’t wake up one day and say “I want to start a company.” I saw a need and demand in the boutique fitness industry, and so I started to think about how I could fill that void. I began asking people if they would be interested in working with or using a service like the one I had in mind; and before I knew it, people were ready to get on board. They wanted to know when the platform was going to be created. At that point I realized the journey had already began. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? After launching my company and building the technology that we did, we very quickly and successfully scaled on the B2B side. Realizing that we had the ability to successfully scale on the B2C side that was most exciting. The flood of letters we began to receive from users about how much we were positively impacting their lives was thrilling. These letters continue to fuel me today. What has been the key to your success? Never, ever doubt yourself. Confidence, hard work, and a positive attitude will always yield great results. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I definitely learned that it is difficult for me to manage people. I’ve always been in charge of my results, and now I have a team that I need to rely on and have faith in. Whether I was succeeding or not at my corporate job in the banking industry was very cut and dry and evident by my profits and losses. I don’t have that control anymore, and its not only unto me to be successful. Success is determined by every member of my team. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Founding a technology company without being an engineer was certainly challenging. In order to bring my vision to fruition, I needed to build a talented team. Finding the best engineers who shared my work ethic and were the best at what they do was a difficult process, especially when you don’t know where to start. I continued to look for talent until I found my partners. Once I found them, I knew they were the right people to be part of my team. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? I make mistakes every day because I’m doing many things for the first time. If I make a decision that turns out to have an outcome that I did not expect, I just try something new. I don’t spend time lamenting about why I made the decision or feeling frustrated — there’s no time for any of that! What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? I focus on finding a solution and moving forward. Every day I am faced with challenges and tasks that I don’t know how to do. I don’t waste any time harping on the fact that it’s challenging; I devote all of my time to learning how to get it done, and doing it. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? If I am having a difficult day, I usually workout and escape for an hour, which always brings me back to an even stronger place. Feeding into self-doubt can be a vicious cycle; you have to trust yourself. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? The best part about building Forte is that we are making people’s lives better, making them stronger, healthier, and ultimately happier. The worst part is that there aren’t enough hours in the day to achieve the things I want to do. It’s hard to remove myself from working on my company. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? I read a ton of books when I first decided to build my company. I read books about all the great Founders of our time. I studied their very different personalities, management styles and formulated my own over time. I read about Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, Warren Buffet, Peter Thiel, Steve Jobs and others. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business (service, web site, etc.)? Surround yourself with great, like-minded individuals. I found these people in a women’s only group called Dreamers & Doers, which I highly recommend. Don’t do this alone; being an entrepreneur can be tough, and there are people that understand exactly the types of challenges you are facing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and utilize the community’s great resources. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? The best strategy for selling my service is to truly be authentic, genuine and passionate. I am learning that people appreciate that I practice what I preach; my company is also my way of life. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? Working on Wall Street taught me to be strong in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. It also taught me the importance of having thick skin. As an entrepreneur, you need to let rejection and difficult days roll off you and keep working towards your goal. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Confidence. You must be confident and believe in yourself or you can’t expect others to. It starts with you. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Make sure you are passionate about the company that you want to build because it will consume most of your time. Life is too short to do things that don’t make you happy. Then, just get started! Trust your instincts; stay true to yourself. Always believe in yourself because if you don’t, others won’t either. It all starts with you, and never forget that you are capable of anything you set your mind to. https://inspireflies.com/christine-kovich daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa1073a8553428c9384867/1593528965406/Christine+Kovich+Pic.jpg Christine Kovich - CHRISTINE KOVICH FOUNDER, HYPOTHEKIDS "I am not afraid to ask for advice. There are many non-profits in the STEM education space and I made a point to meet and talk to the Executive Directors and learn from them." How do you start your day? I try to get up an hour before anyone else in my household so I can meditate, drink some lemon in hot water followed by fresh ground coffee with the NY Times. Having time for a ritual first thing in the morning just puts me in the right frame of mind. Who inspires you? My husband, who is one of the hardest-working men in biomedical engineering. What do you need to get you through each day? Running, a bike ride or a yoga class. What are you reading? I love fiction, but if I manage to get through the New Yorker before the next issue arrives, it’s a bit of a miracle. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. HYPOTHEkids is a K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, Art+Design and Mathematics (STEAM) program, with a mission to provide underserved students with hands-on science and engineering educational and mentorship experiences so they can thrive in the high tech economy of tomorrow. At the elementary school level we provide in-school, afterschool and a full-day summer program. At the high school level, we have created a bioengineering design and entrepreneurship program where we select 24 high-achieving, low-income students to attend Columbia University’s School of Engineering for six weeks in the summer to learn bioengineering design and entrepreneurship. The students then go on to internships in the biotech industry or at university biomedical research labs. The business was inspired by the opening of Harlem Biospace by my husband and myself, a biotech incubator for early stage life science companies locating in an economically challenged part of West Harlem with chronic achievement gap in the local schools. We started thinking about how we could create a biotech talent pipeline for what will be a thriving biotech economy in NYC. How has your passion fueled your business? I am passionate about NYC. I feel like I am working on something that could be really important to shape the future of the city’s economy. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I spent 20 years in the corporate world and I always harbored a desire to do my own thing. I never quite fit in no matter where I went. I got as close as I could to entrepreneurs in my last role in my corporate job at MasterCard where I was responsible for nurturing relationship with FinTech (financial technology) start-ups. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? Honestly, the tipping point probably came in the last month. We finally got significant funding to keep our high school program going. We also got another round of funding to help close the math achievement gap in Harlem elementary schools. Things seem to becoming easier and I feel like 2016 will be our break-out year. What has been the key to your success? I am not afraid to ask for advice. There are many non-profits in the STEM education space and I made a point to meet and talk to the Executive Directors and learn from them. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I thought I liked working on my own, but I soon discovered that I really liked having colleagues that I could bounce ideas off of. There was such a steep learning curve that I wish I had an experience colleague who could have helped me in those early days. I either should have leaned on my board members or found a mentor who could have helped navigate the not-for-profit world. The second lesson, which is really part of the first, is if you are co-founding a business you need to determine compatibility with your co-founder on a very basic level. It is not enough to just both be interested in the same idea. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? I think we spun our wheels for the first year trying to figure out what made sense to do. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? I think I wasted a lot of time writing grants that we were never going to get. For the significant grants we needed, we would need introductions to grant making organizations. Grant writing takes a lot of time and energy and while there was value in nailing down what we planned to do, I think, in retrospect, I should have used my time focusing on our earned revenue model. We could be expanding more rapidly if, six months ago, I did what I am doing now in terms of structuring the business. What would you have done differently? I would have written one or two grant proposals instead of several like I did. Ultimately, we just needed one yes, and we eventually got it, so perhaps the effort was well spent. Hard to tell. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? One thing I learned from other, more established non-profits, is to not rely on grants. We decided early on that we needed an earned revenue model, which is our summer program for K-5 students. Things did not go so well that first summer and we barely broke even. We had issues with securing space and we lost a lot of time. It was a painful time and I seriously thought, “I need to be doing something else.” We decided to keep going and made it through the following half-year, where we barely paid ourselves. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? As the Executive Director, I am ultimately responsible for the health of the business. The fear is always there as we start to grow that I will make one bad decision or a series of fateful decisions, which impacts our ability to serve our mission. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or hate? I love the freedom to decide what I want to do and when I want to do. I love being my own boss. I love being able to go to my kids’ school and sit in during Parent as Learning Partner. I love that if I need to recharge, I can do what I need to do. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business? I am part of network called TheLi.st, which is filled with female start-up founders. They are a virtual resource to me. I also have friends who are doing for-profit start-ups—we are very honest with each other about our triumphs and our sorrows. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I go to the MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum, bike downtown, work in an inspiring space, and just be with other creative people. I go regularly to yoga. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Now that I know how hard it is, my reflexive answer would not just be “go for it.” You have to know what your revenue model is going to be, and expect that it will take you twice or thrice as long to get to your first real sales. https://inspireflies.com/jil-larsen daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd239be13531620720c0bd/1594148842975/JIL%2BLarsen%2BPic.jpg Jil Larsen - JIL LARSEN FOUNDER, MAGIC MIX JUICERY "The most important thing about starting a business is believing in your product. You need to have the desire to do anything in order to bring that business to life. I knew the product I had created wasn’t just about me feeling good; it made others feel good too. I was determined to get it into people’s hands and help make them healthier and happier." What do you need to get you through each day? I like to start my day by walking my dog, Fredrick. We go down by the water near my apartment in the Financial District for some zen-time. Who inspires you? Steve Jobs was a huge inspiration for me on how I designed my store. Similar to the Apple store, I want my shop to evoke a sense of transparency, purity and authenticity. We have an open floor plan—you can see the kitchen right from the register and watch as your order is being prepared. Favorite quote? Treat people the way you want to be treated. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I own Magic Mix Juicery, an organic raw food and cold press juice bar in the Financial District of New York City. The inspiration for Magic Mix Juicery came out of my own necessity to heal myself. I was diagnosed with a skin pigmentation disease and as a result, became tired and depressed. I needed to find ways to treat my symptoms, and more importantly, the root cause of my illness. When I was first diagnosed, I started to look into western medication as an alternative to the bleaching creams and strong medications I was being prescribed. A friend, who was suffering from severe psoriasis, was being advised by a biomedical nutritionist to make significant changes to his diet—to eliminate dairy, meat and eggs. I visited the same doctor and slowly began eliminating things from my own diet—which forced me to think about how to live a more healthy lifestyle and, in turn, heal myself from the inside out. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? I had friends who bought juices from me when they saw the change it was helping to make in my life. Then I realized there was both a market and an interest for the product, and that it would benefit others. I felt that I was filling a void—that there was nothing as pure as the product I was creating. That’s when I decided to take it from being something that I did for friends and myself in my kitchen, and transform it into a business. How did you figure out how to take your idea and evolve it in to a business? I had a full-time job as a legal secretary, and decided to quit and dedicate myself to getting healthy. It took me a while to figure out the business aspect of taking what I had created and turning it in to a business. I didn’t have a business background at all. I literally started researching, reading books – everything from how to write a business plan to how to start a business. I used the money I had saved as half the capital. I was lucky enough to find an angel investor who both truly believed in my product and experienced the benefits himself. He agreed to fund the other half of the business. In hindsight, there were so many things I didn’t think about when I was starting out that are so costly. I knew our biggest cost was going to be the rent for a retail location, but I didn’t take in to account the permits, engineers, inspections, legal costs, construction and everything else that goes along with opening a retail shop. How has your passion fueled your business? The most important thing about starting a business is believing in your product. You need to have the desire to do anything in order to bring that business to life. I knew the product I had created wasn’t just about me feeling good; it made others feel good too. I was determined to get it into people’s hands and help make them healthier and happier. Which challenges did you face as the Founder of your own business? I struggled for months to find a retail space—something that is very difficult to do in Manhattan. At one point when a lease fell through, I questioned if the business was going to work. I called my mom—my emotional support—who reminded me that I was providing a benefit to the world around me; that the business was bigger than just me now. Something clicked for me and there was no turning back. Another struggle was being a woman. I was young, walking in to corporate environments and talking about big numbers. I wasn’t taken seriously and people assumed I had a partner. I would get flustered, then angry. Now, I’ve learned how to approach these situations so they work for me. I’m more confident in my ability and my product, and people respond to that. Which aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you like and/or dislike? I love that I learn something new everyday. I have opportunities to experience and create. My business is my baby, so I’ll do whatever it takes to grow it and make it the best it can be. At the same time, the responsibility never ends. My business is always on my mind and it can be hard to detach from it. Do you have a mentor? I don’t have a mentor, but my stepdad has been a business owner since he was very young. I go to him with all my business questions. It’s really nice to have the backing of someone who really believes in you. He made me realize I didn’t necessarily need a partner just because I felt overwhelmed. He always reminds me that I have the ability to do it on my own. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? At first I hired based on intuition; I hired extensions of myself. I had to learn to let go and not feel like I needed to fix and solve everything. Today I seek strength and knowledge in my team. I’ve matured, and in letting go, I’ve allowed my team members to grow, develop their own strengths and recognize their weaknesses. I’ve also become stronger—I’ve learned and taken on things I never thought were possible. What has been a key to your success? I try to interact with my customers every day. It’s important for me to get their feedback and gather insights about what people like and dislike. This helps me figure out what needs to change or improve. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service, and what have you learned along the way? When I first opened Magic Mix Juicery, my mom was visiting and we were running around getting everything set-up. I had unrealistic visions of lines out the door on that first day – and it just didn’t happen. What I’ve learned is that you have to pound the pavement and work every day to promote your business. You have customers who come and go and you still have to be approachable, get out there, and talk and educate people about your product. That’s the only way they are going to know you exist. It’s so awesome that people love coming to my shop. They come for more than just the juice and food – it’s the energy, vibe and the lifestyle. There are so many gyms, studios, commercial and residential buildings in my shop’s vicinity. I talk to the managers and owners, set-up tastings and establish partnerships with retailers to build awareness and get people to try my product. I also rely on social media. That’s not my forte so I’m lucky to work with a talented intern to help push the message out. What are your plans for scaling the business? My priority in the beginning was creating a presence in the neighborhood. Things are now running smoothly and it’s giving me the opportunity to focus on growing the business. I love having this opportunity to create again—something I haven’t had the chance to do since the beginning. We’re now in the process of rebranding, expanding the product line and getting it into other retail locations. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? As an entrepreneur, you never know what’s going to happen next. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that there is a solution to every problem. I’ve become comfortable with not having immediate answers. I’ve learned not to freak out, and instead, take time to figure out the solution. It does exist—even if it might take me a little bit to get there. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Being with my dog helps me relax. For me, it’s become less about what I want to acquire in life and more about the feeling I want to have at the end of each day. Taking walks with my dog makes me feel whole. I believe everyone needs to find their balance by adding in the good and crowding out the bad. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date, and how have you moved past it? Everything happens for a reason. Even the mistakes become good things. I signed a lease, and it was a major set-back when it fell through; but now I have an amazing space with a great vibe. What is your advice to other women who have an idea for a business? Find a network of supporters. It’s so important to have stability and to know that to succeed or fail, those supporters will be there for you. Surround yourself with friends and family who share your vision and who want to see you succeed. For me, it’s my mom, who’s always believed in me. I’ve also hired a tribe of amazing employees who’ve been with me from the start, and are still with me today. They share my vision, and want the business to be the best in can be. https://inspireflies.com/jade-huang daily 0.75 2020-07-01 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd22ac7b90b4461297e1e0/1593647796770/Jade%2BHuang.jpg Jade Huang - JADE HUANG FOUNDER, STYLE SAGE "Persistence and consistence - the most important attributes in business" How do you start your day? I hate to admit it, but I start to read emails while I am still in bed. Aside from that, I try to start my day with a quick run or walk on the treadmill. Who inspires you? The entrepreneurs I have met throughout my journey since we started our company—whether they were just starting out like me, or established entrepreneurs who have built incredible companies. Each person inspires me in a different way. Seeing their energy and drive in action inspires me to continue building my company. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Be more aggressive and assertive. What do you need to get you through each day? My iphone—it is my life. I literally cannot function without it —I work, communicate, socialize, reflect, read, inform, all from my phone. My goal this year is to take a vacation where I completely disconnect. What are you reading? The Sixth Extinction, by Elizabeth Kolbert. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. StyleSage delivers data-driven insights to help fashion brands and retailers become faster and smarter in line planning, in-season steering, and international expansion. During my MBA program at INSEAD business school, we had studied Zara’s incredible internal discipline at collecting and analyzing data from across the world, and using that analysis to empower their creative teams to design the right clothing at the right price. A lot of companies want to replicate Zara’s success, but often don’t have the spare resources to collect and analyze data to help with their strategic business decisions. I was inspired to democratize this process so every brand and retailer can have access to competitive analysis to make better decisions. Two years later, here we are. How has your passion fueled your business? I had studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York, but fell in love with technology half-way through my studies. Years later, I married my two passions into one business: fashion + technology. The intellectual challenge and love for the two sectors have kept me engaged, inspired and committed to building StyleSage into a thriving company. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? Honestly, it was a bit serendipitous—I didn’t plan it. We happened to have a great idea and worked on it throughout business school. During the market validation process, we had terrific feedback from the industry and decided to take a leap of faith after we graduated. I think it was the lure and challenge of creating something tangible from scratch that persuaded us to take the leap. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? Our first real validation was when our company was handpicked by major retailers and accepted into the New York Fashion Tech Lab. That was an official nod from the industry that we were onto something. The second real validation was when we received our first check from a paying customer in January, 2015. What has been the key to your success? Our team. This is where I have to give a ton of credit to my co-founder Robert Figiel. One of his top success metrics is our team’s happiness meter. It’s important to us that the team feels challenged, valued, and happy. Our team is very close, and we just really enjoy spending time with each other. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? I didn’t realize how hard enterprise sales was going to be. I did not come from a sales background and didn’t understand the nuances of how to navigate a complex organization in order to close a deal. After many hard lessons, I am still not an expert—but at least I am closing deals! What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Working on so many things, with so little in terms of human bandwidth and budget. What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in your business to date, and how have you moved past it? Not being aggressive enough in my early days of fundraising. As a result, building the business took longer than expected; it also took a lot of my focus off the business itself. What would you have done differently? I would have set both a time limit and clearer business goals during fundraising, so as to have a better handle on balancing fundraising against business development. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I talk to my co-founder and my support network of friends and advisors. In addition to being cheerleaders, they help me both problem solve and build my confidence. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Failing my team and my investors who have put their faith in me. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you like/dislike? I love the process of building the product and seeing the actual results. Every time I demo our platform I feel so proud of what we have built. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? Two books I read very early on before we started the company have been helpful: Venture Deals, by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson, and Lean Startup, by Eric Ries. Now that my focus is on business development and sales, I frequently read the Sales Hacker newsletter—it has a wealth of knowledge in terms of building your sales operations. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? In July of 2015, after we completed Techstars, I was absolutely burnt out. I made a promise to myself to bring better balance to my life. Since then, I’ve started running in the morning, and that keeps me energized and happy throughout the day. On the weekends, I make sure to carve out time to spend with people I care about. I joined a book club to rekindle my love for reading. I also love to cook and force-feed those around me. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I’m a fan of informed-decision making (I better be, since my entire business champions this practice). I’d say, do your homework and be as prepared as possible before taking the leap. Specifically, research and validate that your business is serving a real need – if it doesn’t solve a real problem, no one will pay for it, and therefore there is no business. If indeed there is real business potential, then talk to as many entrepreneurs as possible to understand what the journey may entail. If you’ve done that and believe you are onto something tangible, then go for it! https://inspireflies.com/maria-malowe daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd27a05d38033de1f2ff98/1593714341607/Maria%2BMarlowe.jpg Maria Malowe - MARIA MARLOWE FOUNDER, MARIA MARLOWE SVELTE "Failure is a good thing. Aim to fail at something every day. You need to fail in order to grow. When you fail, you learn, and if you don’t fail, that means you aren’t putting yourself out there and trying new things." How do you start your day? As soon as I wake up, I recite everything I’m grateful for in my head, ideally meditate for 10 minutes, read a chapter in whatever personal development book I’m currently reading, and if it’s a really good day, I get my ass to the gym. Who inspires you? Women leaders inspire me, like Ivanka Trump, Jessica Alba, and the ultimate #GirlBoss Sophia Amoruso. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Put yourself out there, always smile, and fail often. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Failure is a good thing. Aim to fail at something every day. You need to fail in order to grow. When you fail, you learn, and if you don’t fail, that means you aren’t putting yourself out there and trying new things. What do you need to get you through each day? Lots of lemon water, my MacBook (I get antsy if I’m not working) and my iphone. What are you reading? I’m usually reading multiple things at once. I keep returning to A Course in Miracles, and I’m also currently reading The Dorito Effect, which is a fascinating look at how we’ve bred the flavor out of our REAL food (like vegetables, grains, animal products), and how we’ve synthesized flavor explosion in our processed junk food to make up for it. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I help women lose weight and clear up their acne by switching to a healthier, whole food, plant-based diet, individualized for their unique body, through my group program SVELTE. I struggled with terrible acne for years, and was overweight (I’m 20 pounds lighter now than I was in high school!) so my own health concerns were the inspiration for it. I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to educate myself on nutrition and how to be a Health Coach. At the same time, I began losing weight and clearing up my acne by changing my diet. After that, I vowed to teach everyone how to do the same by using my Institute for Integrative Nutrition education and certification and through my personal experience. How has your passion fueled your business? You can’t be an entrepreneur if you don’t have passion. I tell people that all the time. If you’re just in it for the money, it’s not going to work. My passion has got me through the late nights, blood, sweat, and tears I’ve poured into making this a viable business. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I don’t do very well with people telling me what to do. But besides that, I felt that real food nutritional education is greatly lacking in our society, and I saw a need for it—so if no one else was doing it, I decided I had to. I literally feel like it’s my calling, that educating people on what to eat is my purpose in life. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? When I actually started bringing in a full-time salary. When people came to me and thanked me for changing their life. What has been the key to your success? Persistence and consistency. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Ask a lot of questions. Don’t sign any contracts without a lawyer. Negotiate EVERYTHING. Be nice to EVERYONE. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Being a solopreneur can get lonely. Making time for myself and not spending every waking second working is something that continues to challenge me, but now I’m much better at that (I now take weekends off…for the most part!). What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? The biggest mistake I’ve made is not having a hardcore strategy. Blowing in the wind, implementing ideas without fully thinking them through. Now I’m strategic about everything. What would you have done differently? I would have done more big-picture planning. I would have also dedicated more time to social media. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? Working in corporate helped me realize I never wanted to work in corporate again—that thought keeps a fire lit underneath me so I continue hustling. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Kindness. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Get out of city and into nature, meditate, run. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? YES! Life is short. Do what you want. But be very strategic. https://inspireflies.com/priya-nembhard daily 0.75 2020-07-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efd28680b26be6f8162e9f2/1593649260721/Priya%2BNembhard.jpg Priya Nembhard - PRIYA NEMBHARD FOUNDER, MOMS PUMP HERE "We live on a tiny blue ball, rotating a massive sun, in a galaxy among millions of galaxies in a multi-verse…what are you worrying about?!”" How do you start your day? Getting my three children ready for school. Who inspires you? My husband. He is the reason I became an entrepreneur. He owned his first business at 22 and is an incredible daily inspiration. We’ve been friends for 20 years, married 12. Plus he’s good for pep talks! What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’ve always been a big girl (tall and thick) and was hard on myself growing up because I thought I was fat. I was in different sports and even power lifted. I was a strong girl, not fat. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? “We live on a tiny blue ball, rotating a massive sun, in a galaxy among millions of galaxies in a multi-verse…what are you worrying about?!” What do you need to get you through each day? Coffee and some fun! What are you reading? Alchemist (3rd time)…. “Fall 9 times, get up 10.” Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Moms Pump Here is the world’s biggest Nursing Room Locator App and online resource for moms to find, rate and share nursing room locations to breastfeed and breast pump. Created by moms for moms, we have thousands of locations in countries all over the world, where moms on the go can locate comfortable places to nurse or pump. My business partner, Kim Harrison and I were inspired with the idea to start Moms Pump Here when Kim had a horrible experience breast pumping in a dirty bathroom at the Jacob Javitz Center in NY, attending a conference. Kim contacted me, a serial entrepreneur, about her experience and a thought that something should be done about it. We quickly realized, as breastfeeding moms, there was never a resource available to find places to nurse or breast pump. Both of us are moms of 3 children, each breastfed and breast pumped. They knew how difficult it was for women to find clean, safe places to nurse or pump because they experienced it firsthand. We passionately believe that moms should have choices because every woman has the right to breastfeed in public or private places, anywhere she is allowed to be without discrimination or harassment. No one should be forced to pump or nurse in a dirty bathroom or parked car or shamed in public. If a mom wants to use a comfy private space to breastfeed or breast pump they can easily use the App to find a location. How has your passion fueled your business? I’m a mom of 3 and I know how hard it is to breastfeed and breast pump on the go. And, if a regular person will not eat or prepare a meal on a toilet why should a nursing mother? What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I became an entrepreneur when my husband and I started a digital media company, Blue Box Media, in 2003. We both were working 9 to 5s at the time. He has always been enterprising since he was a young boy. We still own Blue Box Media but once I got the taste of the entrepreneurial bug I didn’t look back. Since then I started 2 other companies in Miami (one is a charity), ERookie (www.entreprenuerrookie.com) a blog for start-up business advice and Moms Pump Here. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? We conceptualized Moms Pump Here in 2012 but did not launch the company until January 2015. Moms were very active on our website and once we launched the Nursing Room Locator App in May 2015 it was a whole new ball game. Instead of our small team adding and researching nursing room locations now moms where adding locations daily. When we launched we had 500 locations. Now we have thousands because moms are invested in sharing where they have pumped or nursed. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? A couple stick out: Not to over-think things. Make a decision and stick to it! Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If a major opportunity arises you jump on it but keep your eyes open for more. Don’t get stuck on that one and always keep your options open. Worrying does not help anyone. Stay diligent when things come up but worrying distracts you and will wear you down What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Balancing family and business. Especially when you have a 9 to 5 in the beginning. It’s taken some time but I think I have the routine down now! What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? I think of mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. In a previous business I had to let go of 2 business partners (there were 4 of us). The other remaining partner and I have very similar business ethics but the other 2 did not and it was to the detriment of the business. She and I took on their tasks and for way too long. We should have nipped it in the bud sooner. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Remind myself it will take time to get where I’m going…or I just take a walk with the kids or hiking to clear the mind. Always helps to have motivational content at your figure tips. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Not having a enough time. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? Books and lessons (read them all at least 3 or 4 x): Think and Grow Rich – “Desire backed by faith pushed all reason aside and inspired me to carry “on” The 4 Agreements – What a person thinks of you is not a reflection of you, it’s a reflection of them. The Alchemist – Fall 9 times, get up 10. What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? Make yourself part of the product marketing. Promote yourself and promote your product simultaneously. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? I learned that the CEO is just like the janitor. We are all human and going through this journey together. Your position does not intimidate me nor does not give me license to treat you poorly Respect everyone. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I love the outdoors and hugging trees (literally). I going hiking or spend time by the water. Especially living in NYC, I need to surround myself with nature to refocus on my intentions and gratitude. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Just do it. What are you waiting for? https://inspireflies.com/allyson-longshore daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa0f1748347d4cd742dcb9/1593534552460/Allyson+Longshore.jpg Allyson Longshore - ALLYSON LONGSHORE FOUNDER, STYLESTUDIOLIVE "Stay true and authentic to who I truly am, and what I believe in. Trust and follow my intuition—it has never steered me wrong." How do you start your day? I drink coffee, do yoga, and listen to music. Mornings are my favorite, and they set the tone for the day. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Stay focused and stay on track. Don’t let the small bumps that life throws at you keep you from chasing your dreams. Overcoming fear is one of the most difficult obstacles we face as humans. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Stay true and authentic to who I truly am, and what I believe in. Trust and follow my intuition—it has never steered me wrong. What do you need to get you through each day? Art, beauty, and nature. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Stylestudiolive is a luxury concept manifestation of premiere luxury fashion and styling services. It’s a concept and vision I’ve had for a long time; through working my way up the corporate latter in the luxury fashion world and developing solid relationships my vision has become a reality. How has your passion fueled your business? My passion for the fashion industry has always been extremely prevalent in my life. Not only the beauty and glamour of the industry, but also the business of fashion, the mechanics of collection production, the digital shift in the shopping experience and the way fashion is presented to the consumer. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I ultimately moved to NYC with a dream and a major goal. I submerged myself in the mecca of fashion and art that makes up Manhattan. The business, the clientele, the creative sources are endless in NYC and having that at my fingertips helped to open my eyes in that my dream is definitely achievable as long as I continue to push myself and stay focused. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? The client feedback says it all, and the fact that I have continuously grown over the past two years. I have reached a point where managing my time is of the upmost importance to ensure my clients are taken care of, and growing my styling team to ensure that every possible detail is executed quickly and efficiently. What has been the key to your success? Staying both extremely focused and true to my vision. There is a very specific method to my styling technique and the STYLESTUDIOLIVE process. I haven’t strayed from that and it continues to grow because my proven method works. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Every lesson that I’ve learned has been for a reason and I am grateful for the mistakes that I’ve made a long the way. That is how we grow and evolve. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? My main challenge was the overwhelming reality that I had full control over my calendar and time. Time is the most valuable asset that we have and managing how you spend it and prioritize it is essential for success. It was initially challenging for me considering that I was submerged in a corporate environment for over 11 years, with a very strict schedule. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? My biggest challenge is delegating tasks to others. I am a perfectionist, extremely creative and very “hands on” with my work. Training my team efficiently and trusting their talent and work ethic has proven to be the ingredient for growth and evolving my business. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? I take a deep breath and step away. I go to the beach, I surround myself with people that I love, and focus on balancing my mind through nature and living a healthy lifestyle both physically and mentally. How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? I would not be where I am today without those corporate experiences! They are the sole reason I’ve been able to build my company and develop such a strong internal network to provide my clients with an insider exclusive experience. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I travel a lot! Seeing the world is what inspires me and feeds my soul to continue being productive and creative. Living in NYC is amazing for building a business because of the endless resources, although it can be very overwhelming at times. The balance of nature and travel is what keeps me on track. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? YES YES YES!!! Being self-sufficient is the most liberating thing you can do for yourself, especially when it’s centered around something you are passionate about and love. https://inspireflies.com/andrea-wienberg daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5efa0c1fa8553428c9376f83/1594233096213/Andrea+Weinberg.jpg Andrea Wienberg - ANDREA WEINBERG | FOUNDER, THE ANDI BRAND "I love the adventure of being an entrepreneur! And learning so many different things in different areas, and meeting new people. The difficulty with cash flow and collections can be stressful." How do you start your day? Water -> breakfast -> coffee -> 5 minutes to relax Who inspires you? Nikki MacCallum (my super talented best friend/soul mate), Tiziana Agnello (of LoveThyBeast), Alessandro Russino (our Creative Director), Sarah Centrella (Author of Hustle Believe Receive) What would you tell yourself as a teenager? Chill out, but keep having fun—it all works out as it should, so don’t worry too much about what will happen in the future which you can’t control. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? It can be difficult to figure out what to do next or how to prioritize, but just make sure your movement is forward, and not side-to-side. What do you need to get you through each day? Coffee, and remembering not to take myself too seriously. What are you reading? Hustle Believe Receive by Sarah Centrella and A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I make transformational accessory staples/handbags. I was inspired both by my lifestyle (fast-paced, international and fantastic), and my friend Ian Velardi’s story of creating his own line of hats—which is now a full clothing line. How has your passion fueled your business? Without any experience in fashion, retail or manufacturing, my passion fueled my drive to explore and figure out how to move forward to make it a reality. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? An idea, and a thirst both for adventure and something new. Also business school. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? A phone call from a customer whose order was late in shipping – she called to inquire about it because she had ordered this bag for her daughter. She had already purchased one for herself at one of our new retailers, and explained that everyday her daughter was asking when it would arrive. I told her it was shipping out that day. She thanked me and said I should keep going, because our products were fantastic. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Finding the right partners/colleagues is critical, because you can’t do it all. And that (finding the right partners) is quite difficult, just by itself. You don’t need to have everything resolved and ironed out, just try to figure out how to take the next step. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? Getting attention, having confidence in my work, loneliness (in a solo venture, entrepreneurship can be very solitary) and prioritization—in other words, getting caught up in minute details that may not be so critical. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your business to date and how have you moved past it? Working with people who were not a good fit. Also, getting over issues by having a positive attitude and an eye toward the future. What is the biggest challenge you have had in your business to date and how did you pull through it? Manufacturing. It was very difficult to find a manufacturer at the outset that would both produce in small quantities and work with me on development and refinement of the bags. I initially loved the factory that I finally settled on, but they were both disorganized and too small for me to grow production as needed to ultimately succeed. Finding new manufacturing was extremely challenging because their workflow, organization, timing, and minimums were so drastically different than what I was used to. Although I have not taken financial or administrative support from my parents, they were visiting me during this difficult time and my mom said to me, “What do you need to do in order to get this worked out?” Having her push me to move forward and take that next big leap with new production was key (we looked at a few factories in New Jersey that day, one of which I began work with a month later).When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Realize that I’m probably exhausted and try to remind myself of the company motto “Be good to yourself.” What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Taking risks with no reward. What aspects of being a start-up entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? Love: The adventure! And learning so many different things in different areas, and meeting new people. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? The 8th Habit by Steven Covey, and the Blog , Making Time. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful in running your business (service, web site, etc.)? We use join.me, Excel, Squarespace (we’ve have recently changed our site design platform, but Squarespace is an amazing tool for getting started). What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? Our newsletter for direct sales, and trunk shows at retailers. Trunk shows (where I create a display of our products) allow me to interact with customers directly and experience their reactions and preferences. It’s also extremely important to stay in close communication with selling channels – to the level of the person communicating with the customer, when possible. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? I know it sounds cheesy, but A POSITIVE ATTITUDE and the ability to work well with others, and communicate effectively. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I go to museums and explore new places, and meet as many new people as possible. Any chance to see art, I take it. And when all else fails, remember—as modern art has taught us— that most everything around us is art, if you look at it through the right lens. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Do it! But don’t expect it to be easy. https://inspireflies.com/leslie-borrell daily 0.75 2020-07-13 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f06133d4699a73e3c91a724/1594233987799/LeslieBorrell.jpg Leslie Borrell - LESLIE BORRELL | FOUNDER, CAREFULLY "I love to see ideas come to life, and having it be my own makes it even more exciting." How do you start your day? I make breakfast for my son, drink coffee, and go for a walk in the park. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? I probably wouldn’t listen to any advice. I think I’d like to just hang out with myself as a teenager in the 90s and remember what it was like to live in our world back then when things seemed a lot simpler. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? What got you here won’t get you there. What do you need to get you through each day? A checklist makes me feel more productive, an updated calendar keeps me on track, a deadline keeps me motivated, and users inspire me. What are you reading? I just downloaded The Power, but haven’t started it yet. My interest in the book was triggered by a conversation about the recent controversy at The Wing and Crisis Text Line. We were discussing how power corrupts. I’m reluctantly looking forward to reading this after it was quoted by several people in the conversation. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Carefully is a mobile platform for busy parents to create private trusted networks with people they know to share care and organize playdates. We provide a way for busy parents to connect with their communities so they can support each other with childcare as an alternative to paid for care while giving their kids a playdate. Integrated with parents’ calendars, maps and customized availability settings, we make it easy for you to find playdates when and where you need them and stay updated with notifications and in-app messaging. We work on a system of karma care hours that can be earned and redeemed to keep everyone in balance while providing free virtual events, offers, and discounts from small businesses and individuals to support you and your family. As a single mom in NYC, I was originally inspired to build Carefully when my son was three and he had started preschool. I was ecstatic that he was old enough to start having real playdates with other kids where he would be happily occupied with his playmate and I might be able to relax for a minute. However, I quickly learned that inviting kids for playdates also meant entertaining their parents. While it’s great to connect with parents, as an introverted mom, I find entertaining at times. I wondered how I could make it more acceptable for parents to drop-off their kids for playdates. When recounting my personal experience to others, they often respond with emphatic nods of agreement and laughter from shared experiences. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I had been wanting to move out of my VP of Engineering role for a while, eager to build new skills and showcase my ability to work beyond a pure engineering role. I had held that role, and others like it, at several companies including Intersection, Amplify Education, Etsy, Travelocity, and Thoughtworks. I was burned out from the corporate job, the industry, and the politics, and that’s what prompted me to develop Carefully four years ago. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? Working in software development, I love to see ideas come to life, and having it be my own idea makes it even more exciting. With Covid, childcare has come into the spotlight and has given Carefully the opportunity to help in so many fundamental ways that provide solutions to widespread childcare problems. We need community, we need trusted networks, and we need affordable options for childcare more than ever. These are the fundamental elements of Carefully. What would you have done differently in your start-up journey? I started Carefully in 2016 and released it on the app store in 2017. I wish I had spent more time and effort building the brand/community. I would likely be in a different place today if I had started some of the social media and community-building efforts earlier. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Two things help me - First, talking to my co-founder, Jamie, is my safety net. Usually saying things out loud makes the idea seem less scary. He helps me break ideas down to the details. He also helps me identify and contend with my fears. Secondly, knowledge is power. When I’m feeling insecure, alone, or doubtful of myself or my abilities, I look to online communities and articles to learn and understand the thoughts from people I respect. I generally learn that other people are going through similar situations and can help stimulate thought and share their experiences and learnings. Also, just knowing that I’m not alone in my fear and self doubt is often enough to get out of that downward spiral. What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I don’t like being in the spotlight and having to “sell” myself. I’m used to working behind the scenes, so learning to pitch a product/service and even myself as a Founder is uncomfortable. On the other hand, I like being in control of my own destiny and being able to make decisions without having to go through a whole hierarchy. Learning how to manage that discomfort is worth it (and something I’m actively working through). You make mistakes but you can own them and move on. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business? Slack (for communication), Firebase (for app analytics), and Slite (for documentation). How did your experiences in the corporate world prepare you for entrepreneurship, or not? The biggest skills/talents that I think are critical to starting a business and leading software teams are building great teams, understanding people, dealing with ambiguity, agility, and building products. Of course there are a whole bunch of other skills I don’t have that I’m learning as I go! What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Let me know how I can help because getting started is sometimes the hardest part. Once you start, you will know if it feels right. https://inspireflies.com/home-1 daily 0.75 2020-07-14 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f0dcf35e892147e14ae0afd/1592583943882/PaulaTatum Home (Copy) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f0dcf35e892147e14ae0afa/1594237167698/LeslieBorrell.jpg Home (Copy) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f0dcf35e892147e14ae0b00/1592587744374/LizzyKlein Home (Copy) - Lizzy Klein MAZI + ZO https://inspireflies.com/judie-saunders daily 0.75 2020-07-17 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f10cf6fa21c0f56db86b938/1595003581607/judie-saunder.jpg Judie Saunders - JUDIE SAUNDERS FOUNDER, LAW OFFICES OF JUDIE SAUNDERS "The most important attribute a female entrepreneur/business owner can possess is an open easy mindset that embodies empathy and active listening." How do you start your day? At least 20 minutes of meditation, followed by water and a decaffeinated tea. Who inspires you? Honest conversation with my girlfriends. Mentoring others. Advocating for children and women. Podcasts that discuss business, finance and stories of personal growth. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? I would tell my teenage self that it is not about the grades, checking off items on a list or completing cultural milestones (i.e. find a husband, have kids, buy a house). Instead I would tell 14 year old Judie, that the entire point of life is going slow and watching the journey unfold. I would also tell teenage Judie, “you are good enough so stop trying to make others feel happy or good about themselves.” What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? “You can legislate laws, but you cannot legislate love.” What do you need to get you through each day? Slow intentional breathing because it takes my awareness out of my thoughts; “Fresh Direct” delivery grocery service; The kisses of my two sons; The smile of my husband, Joe Donahue; Podcasts; 90’s rap music. What are you reading? “More Myself” by Alicia Keys and re-reading “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I provide legal representation and counsel to individuals who have been sexually, physically or psychological abused by authority figures and institutions. Our firm also provides legal services to people accused of criminal charges. The inspiration for representing clients in these two categories, grows out of the pure joy I feel knowing that I am using my legal skills to provide options, hope and clarity to people going through an extremely difficult time. How has your passion fueled your business? It is not so much passion that fuels my business but more of an appreciation as to how can I be so lucky to have been chosen to stand with children and adults who have been abused by authority figures and institutions. What beautiful luck. I am honored to partner with my clients and own a business that amplifies the voices of abused children while raising awareness on the many forms of abuse. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I wish I had some profound “burning bush” founder’s story. However, my business was born out of convenience. At the time, I felt I had the skills to hang out a “shingle”, raise two young children and manage a home; but when reality set in, I learned that running a business required a high-level focus and time commitment. I am glad I did not give up the desire to create a business because being an entrepreneur offers greater flexibility to care for my family and work on cases that inspire me. What has been the key to your success? I am a hopeless optimist. I see opportunity in everything and everyone. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Work with a business coach; Seek out and obtain early funding sources; Have a global marketing strategy; and Settle into a niche early in the startup. What is the biggest mistake/challenge you have encountered in your business to date and how have you moved past it? The biggest challenge I have encountered in my business, to date, is getting my message and service offerings to prospective clients. I focused the majority of my attention on working in the business and developing cases for hearing and trial. I did not have a consistent global marketing strategy for reaching potential clients. I am moving past this challenge with the hiring of an operations manager who handles the majority of the administrative and operations tasks for the business. What would you have done differently? If I could have done anything differently, I would have viewed the opening of my law practice more in line with the opening of a product-based business. I would have secured funding from a variety of sources. I would have used that funding to: Hire a marketing agency to create and disseminate content; Invest in paid advertising; Hire an office administrator. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? When self-doubt hits, full on, with ruminating thoughts such as “you’re not good enough”; “you have never done that before” or “just give up” I draw from the words of my 62 year old client, Andre Wallace, who was unjustly incarcerated at the age of 15 years old in 1960’s Alabama and remains in prison today, who stated to me, “Ms. Saunders, if you don’t use your voice, who will speak for us.” What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Using incorrect or inadequate business processes that will fail to deliver my services to children who have been sexually, physically or psychologically abused, thus leaving those children and their families feeling hopeless and unseen. What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? Being entrepreneur is a brilliantly terrifying journey. I do not have a business or finance background which leaves me feeling like I am playing catch up in the game of growing a successful business. I love the thrill of learning and automating processes that saves the business time and money. I dislike the limited funding options for small businesses. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? My business has been shaped by many things including: Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth,” which to this day helps steady and align my personal and business purpose. “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz, which provides a framework for paying yourself each month; “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George Classon for its timeless story of business wisdom; “The B Corp” Handbook by Ryan Honeyman. I pursued and was awarded status as a certified B Corp, a symbol I proudly display and advocate because certified B Corps promote environmental health, community prosperity; inclusion and diversity among for-profit companies. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business? “Side Hustle Pro” podcast, with Nicalia Matthews for her amazing ability to provide the listener with tangible actions to improve and monetize business ventures; “What Works” podcast by Terri McMillian because of the conversations the host has with business owners currently in the struggle of running profitable businesses; Clio practice management software, which tracks my time, expenses, prepares and disseminates invoices to clients. Clio has amazing customer service. Network Solutions, for email and website hosting. This company has live customer service agents. Business owners are pressed for times and I need answers from real live people. I seek out and spend my dollars only with companies that provide excellent customer service. Co-working spaces are not only convenient, they are economical, and which allows me to pass those savings to my clients. Roughly 30% of my clients are women who are not paid a living wage. To service this population, my business must seek out and employ cost saving tools. I refuse to sacrifice professionalism, so I find service providers that save my business money. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? I would tell another women considering the leap to start their own business, words I borrow from author Elizabeth Gilbert, [not exact quote] “if the idea was born in you, it is your responsibility to bring it into the world.” This thought is also helpful to banish imposter syndrome. In the age of COVID, how have you pivoted or what are you doing differently? As soon as I had a full understanding of Covid-19’s impact, I reached into my skill toolbox from my time working on national political campaigns and with the NYC Mayor’s Office to read and interpret portions of the Congressional CARES Act, so that I could offer information on funding to individuals and small businesses. https://inspireflies.com/julia-wuench daily 0.75 2020-08-05 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f29ab023be2d872bf05aaa7/1598407318814/JuliaWuench.jpg Julia Wuench - JULIA WUENCH | FOUNDER, THE AUTHENTICITY GUIDE "Be relentless in your follow-ups; in reminding people of your existence." How do you start your day? A snuggle with my labradoodle, and a nice, big cup of coffee. Who inspires you? Women who speak up against inequity -- loudly and fiercely. Women who aren’t afraid to make waves to highlight an injustice. People who act on a commitment to continuously learn and be changed. What would you tell yourself as a teenager? I know you feel despair and shame much of the time. I promise you will find so, so much joy in being a grown up. Just get through school, and stop with the pressure for A+s. Nobody cares about grades in adulthood. You’ll start a company and you’ll be able to take naps whenever you want! What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? For business: Count your no’s, not your yes’s. For life: Listen to what your body is screaming at you. What do you need to get you through each day? A hug from my partner. Everything else I can be flexible with. What are you reading? Novel: A very trashy and poorly written murder mystery because Pulitzer prize winning literature is just not the distraction I need right now. Business: Harvard Business Review, Forbes, New Yorker, Business Insider Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. I'm a career development and leadership coach, and the Founder of The Authenticity Guide. I believe that every individual needs an objective person on their team. I’m that person for emerging leaders -- equipping them with the tools, skills and confidence necessary to thrive at work and in life. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I always loved coaching. Throughout my life, I’ve coached colleagues, friends and classmates. I had never considered it a business, though. Frankly, the word “coach” conjured images of a shaman (on one end of the spectrum) or a 70-year old white man barking orders about productivity (on the other end of the spectrum). Turns out, coaching is so much more than those two extremes! In 2018, I realized I hated working for other people far more than I was afraid to figuratively jump off a cliff. I thought, “even if I fail, I’ll be happier at least trying this thing than working for someone else.” And I knew my zone of genius was coaching. I took the leap. What was the tipping point for realizing you had a good business? Seeing my profits and losses at the end of year one, and the success I was having, was when I realized it. My deepest fear starting this business was that it would be a hobby. I wanted to make money. What has been the key to your success? I’m really organized and extremely stubborn. I never keep things inside -- I’m always “talking things out” with trusted people in my life: from an article topic, to a new revenue source. I always need to hear myself think. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? 1. Be relentless (in your follow-ups, in reminding people of your existence) 2. Be teflon (no’s and lack of responses should slide off you.) Remove your ego from the picture. You’re going to get hate email. Accept it now. 3. Provide continuous FREE value to others. The sales will come. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? When you start a business, you want everything to happen overnight. Yes, I built my website! But where are my clients…? Yes, I did a talk! ...But where is the line of conference planners out my door? Things take time. Patience was really hard for me at the beginning. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? Self-doubt hits all the time! The first thing I try to do is separate from the thing causing me to feel that way. I go for a walk, do meditation, or take a nap. Next, I keep a self-esteem file that I refer to if it’s still bad. I keep things in there like: positive things people have said and written to me, accomplishments I’m proud of, and quotes that have moved me. I refer to it when I feel self doubt. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Not providing real value to the people I serve. What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike? I LOVE creating content and working with my clients. I also really like business development. I hate visual marketing. I loathe it! I am not an artist and I have no idea how to make things look good. Thank goodness for Canva because otherwise, everything I put out there would just be a straight-up Word document in font Times New Roman. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? Resilience. Bounce back, girl. Do it quick. In the age of COVID, how have you pivoted or what are you doing differently? Since the price point for my 1:1 coaching services was untenable for many in light of COVID, I launched my first ever group coaching practice. I was shocked and delighted at how fast it took off. People are craving community, accountability and professional development right now. https://inspireflies.com/emily-crookston daily 0.75 2020-09-03 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f45c2d3ac873c4bc4899b79/1598407382801/emily-crookstone.jpg Emily Crookston - EMILY CROOKSTON | FOUNDER, THE POCKET PhD "I started seeing my business as an experiment and it freed me up to try new things and worry less about whether I would be able to make any one thing “work.” What would you tell yourself as a teenager? You are stronger than you know, smarter than you feel, and YOU get to decide what success looks like. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Very early on, a business buddy I met through networking told me to think of my business as an experiment. Up until that point, I had been thinking about running my business as a pass/fail situation. When I started seeing it as an experiment, it freed me up to try new things and worry less about whether I would be able to make any one thing “work.” What are you reading? I just finished Three Word Rebellion by Michelle Mazur. Currently, I’m reading How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb, and Cojourn: Harnessing the Power of Connection to Tune Into Your Wisdom, Achieve Your Goals, and Create the Life You Want by Molly Keehn and Karl Henricksen. Describe your business and inspiration for it. I’m a ghostwriter and Founder of The Pocket PhD. I love to help busy experts--who are long on ideas and short on time--write books, articles, and in-depth blog posts. I also do developmental editing and a bit of book coaching. I’m a former philosophy professor and recovering academic. My inspiration to start my business came when I decided to climb down from the ivory tower. I asked myself what I wanted to do before I wanted to teach philosophy and my answer was “when I was 13, I liked marketing.” A friend of a friend who owns a boutique web development and marketing agency was looking for marketing help and I started writing her blog and blogging for her clients. After several months, she put the idea in my head to start my business. I started out calling myself a content marketer, but I don’t like copywriting and I’m not the best person to ask about marketing strategy, so after a couple of years I started calling myself a ghostwriter, which aligns better with my strengths. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I was pretty resistant to the idea of becoming an entrepreneur at first. My dad was an entrepreneur and ran an audio installation business for more than 30 years before he sold it and retired. Clearly, he made it work, but I saw the challenges and the feast or famine cycle was the backdrop to my childhood. By contrast, I saw the life of an academic as very stable and secure (all you have to do is work really hard, land a tenure-track job, get tenure (in six years), and you’ll be making better than average money for the rest of your life). After applying to hundreds of jobs over eight years and never landing that tenure-track job, I had to let that dream go. Becoming an entrepreneur solved some problems for me. I didn’t know how I could go from academia, where 3+ months out of the year I had total control over my time and could work on whatever I wanted, to the 9-to-5 corporate life. I also didn’t know how I would handle the hierarchy of a typical office environment. I love being my own boss and the challenges of figuring out how to grow my business. What has been the key to your success? Networking and referrals have been the keys to my success. When I first entered the business world, I was amazed at the generosity of people I met. I can get an answer to any question or feedback on anything I’m working on within 24 hours simply by reaching out to people I know or putting the question to my audience on LinkedIn. I’ve learned so much and gotten so much work from people I’ve chatted with only a handful of times, not to mention my wonderful clients. What challenges did you face in the early days of being the Founder of your own business? In the early days, my biggest challenge was figuring out what to spend money on. I knew there were tradeoffs that would save me a lot of time and headaches later, but I had no idea how to figure out what those were. Because I felt like I didn’t know how to do anything, I wanted to pay people to do everything, but of course that didn’t make sense for many reasons. It felt like everyone I met was trying to sell me something (that I really needed) or telling me to look into this or that resource and it was super overwhelming. When self-doubt hits, what do you do? When self-doubt hits, I try to name it and talk about it with people I trust. But self-doubt shows up in a lot of different ways and sometimes I don’t recognize it for what it is right away. For example, when I’m writing my blog and it’s taking F O R E V E R, often it’s because I’m feeling doubtful about my expertise or what I have to say about a topic. I would do well to notice this when it’s happening and find someone to brainstorm with me really quickly. How often do I do that? Never. I’m more likely to talk about self-doubt around bigger stuff that’s in my face, but noticing the little things would make more of a difference day-to-day. Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style? Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead by Tara Mohr Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek (I never read the actual book. But this idea is so “in the water” in the business world, that I’ve picked it up through osmosis) You’re a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson What Works with Tara McMullin (podast) Being Boss: A Podcast for Creative Entrepreneurs with Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon What has been your best strategy for selling your product or service and what have you learned along the way? My best strategy for selling my ghostwriting and developmental editing services is to first listen really, really well. If I can get the prospect talking about what they are hoping to get out of working with me and their vision for their business book, then I can steer our discussion in that direction. I listen to figure out whether the prospect is a good fit for the service (ghostwriting or editing) they’re looking for. I listen to figure out what their unique needs are, so I can speak to how I can support them in their goals. I listen to be able to answer any questions or direct them to the resources that can help them (if we aren't a good match). When the strategy is working for me, the conversation feels less like a sales pitch and more like a collaborative brainstorming session. My attitude is always one of curiosity, not of trying to give them my best caricature of a sales pitch. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? I practice yoga, usually 5 or 6 days per week. I often have business and content breakthroughs immediately after I get back to my computer following yoga. My yoga family is a small, close knit group. We’ve been practicing together for years. I’ve been working with my teacher for 6 years. It’s nice to take a pause in the middle of my work day and focus on my body, instead of being inside my head for 8 or 9 or 10 hours straight. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? Do it! I haven’t regretted for a moment leaving the university where I was teaching. Truly, I was miserable and felt undervalued by everyone around me. There is no good reason to be miserable or bored or underappreciated at work when you spend 8+ hours every day working. I don’t even think I had the perspective to know how miserable I was when I was in the sh*t. But now that I’m out, I see it so much more clearly. It’s so easy to start a business these days. All you really need is a website (and depending on what you want to sell, you may not even need that) and then, you can start telling people how you can help. It really is that simple to get started. If it feels hard, you’re probably making it harder than it has to be. That being said, I also recognize the privilege in those statements. I was fully employed and in a position to be able to save for a year before I took the leap. I have a husband whose pension pays our bills. My privilege has enabled me to get where I am. I am considering how I can be an ally of those who have suffered as I have risen. In the age of COVID, how have you pivoted or what are you doing differently? I have pivoted in a few ways: Since I’m saving a lot of time not commuting to in-person networking opportunities, I’ve been very focused on business development goals. I’m getting more visible on LinkedIn (posting Monday-Friday), commenting on others’ posts, asking for recommendations, and connecting with at least 5 people each day. My application was also recently accepted to be able to do LinkedIn LIVE videos, so I'm thinking about how to leverage this new opportunity. Another way I'm growing brand awareness is by strategizing about how to grow my email list. I created a new email opt-in (a fun quiz) and have plans to build out some other valuable opt-ins. Finally, I'm tracking how much time I give myself to rest each day. I've heard so many people say they don't feel as if they're working from home, but rather that they're living at work. This is a recipe for burnout. Creating boundaries between work and rest is even more important in the age of COVID. https://inspireflies.com/liz-eddy daily 0.75 2020-10-06 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eeb83a267e6805e7cb68eee/t/5f7b1852310e236b80814b5a/1601904524856/LizEddy.jpg Liz Eddy - LIZ EDDY | CO- FOUNDER, LANTERN "Check your ego at the door. You don’t know everything and that’s ok. Spend more time listening than talking.” How do you start your day? On a good day: A bottle of water, a walk or work out and writing in my gratitude journal. On a rough day: sleep until last minute, lots of coffee and off to the races. Who inspires you? The strong community of women in my life (my grandmother and mother, my closest friends, my co-founder Alyssa (who is also one of my closest friends) and our team at Lantern) as well as the women I wish were in my community: Michelle Obama, Amy Poehler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Maybe one day :) What would you tell yourself as a teenager? “This thing is not going to matter in a few years” What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? “Someone doesn’t have to lose for you to win” and from my mom (via her mom via a French author (??)) “Every pot has its lid”. What do you need to get you through each day? Positive, stimulating conversation. What are you reading? Typically I stick to one book at a time but you caught me at a funny time where I discovered the magic of Audible and now I’m in over my head. I’m “re-reading” a few via Audible (Becoming by Michelle Obama and The New Jim Crow) while also reading hard copies of Where the Crawdads Sing and The Gift by Hafiz. My boyfriend and I also listen to thrillers while we’re on long car rides. We have The Guest List by Lucy Foley going right now. Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it. Lantern provides step by step guidance on how to navigate life before and after a death. We aim to change the conversation around death while making logistics easier so you can focus on grieving. After my grandmother died, I was frantically searching for resources to navigate the end of life and death process. I kept coming up short with outdated articles and sites that addressed only a piece of the process. It felt absurd to me to have to do everything in person, manually or via 35 different websites. I went to my (now) co-founder, Alyssa, with this conundrum and now we have Lantern! What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship has always been a part of me. I grew up with a mother and grandmother who ran their own businesses. It never felt out of reach. I started my first business at 15 then worked at a startup for 7 years post college. But, I always knew I was going to go out on my own at some point. I just wanted to make sure it was the right idea before taking the leap. What has been the key to your success? Two things (plus a lot of other things--- do people really have one “key” to success?). First and foremost: surrounding myself with smart, passionate people. Lantern would not be here without the team that has built and dreamt it up from the ground up (Alyssa, Shae, Wendy, Ahmed and KD!) Second: prioritizing rest. When Alyssa and I started Lantern we promised each other that we wouldn’t sacrifice our health and wellbeing in the process. Sticking to this belief has helped us avoid burnout and continue to love the highs and lows of what we do. Plus, hard problems are much easier solved when you have a good night's sleep. What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career? Understanding the price of things and when legal support is necessary. Over the years, I’ve spent more money than necessary on early paperwork and projects before the business concept was fully formed. In hindsight, I would’ve waited until I was certain I was diving in on the idea. In developing Lantern, we’ve learned to question if something is needed immediately or can wait. We always get multiple quotes before choosing a new vendor. What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur? Not having enough time to show how meaningful and far reaching Lantern can be. VC investment puts you on an extremely tight timeline that isn’t always friendly to businesses that require time to build trust and a strong foundation with its customers. Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business? My co-founder got me hooked on Todoist. I was a written checklist kind of gal for many years and thought I couldn’t get the same satisfaction of crossing things off from a digital version. Todoist has cracked it. I get the same awesome feeling when I tick something off and it’s way less time consuming to maintain— the irony of the written checklist is the time it takes to make it! We also use Slack and Trello as a team to stay connected and track progress. This has been especially helpful as we all work from home. What do you think the most important attribute a female entrepreneur/ business owner can possess? I think this is true for all entrepreneurs, not just women: check your ego at the door. I say this for two reasons: (1) You don’t know everything and that’s ok. No one does and it’s way too much pressure to try to operate as though you do. (2) If you let ego get in the way you miss the best ideas. Your team, advisors, investors, and people outside your inner circle all have experiences and knowledge that you don’t. Spend more time listening than talking. What do you do outside the office to help you stay creative/productive? Alyssa and I are currently doing a 75 day challenge: ½ hour outside, 1 hour exercise, 2L water, 5 fruits/veggies, 8 hours of sleep with no snoozing and either 10 pages of reading or a half hour of something creative every day. We hold each other accountable daily in Slack and discuss what’s working/not working and ideas to make these habits more routine. What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business? A few considerations when starting something: (1) don't start something unless you are so deeply passionate about it that it wakes you up at night. Starting a business is hard and you have to be completely obsessed with it even on the worst days in order to push through. (2) If it exists and it exists in a fantastic way, consider joining rather than duplicating. (3) If neither of the first two considerations trip you up then go for it! In the age of COVID, how have you pivoted or what are you doing differently? Personally, I am prioritizing health and loved ones more. Even while working in the end of life space, the finite nature of life sometimes slips from vision. COVID has reminded me daily to assess my priorities. Professionally, I am looking at our industry through different lenses. COVID has highlighted the inequities that exist in end of life and death care. Not everyone is afforded a good death. Our team spends a portion of most conversations discussing how Lantern can help solve this.