Why Improving Your Attitude Will Help You Win At Business!

We have come to our final female founder feature this season! It has been such a pleasure to learn from these women. Luckily, this isn't the end of the road- most of them are now going to be hanging out with me on the LOTP podcast (which is now live BTW- link under Podcast on the homepage) YAY!

I loved reading through this week's feature. Plus any girl who quotes Meredith Grey in her interview- you know it's going to be a good read. #longlivegreysanatomy

Beyond her excellent quoting skills, Mariana Mesquita, co-founder of Giftspawt is doing it all. From staying active and playing soccer, growing a business, spending time with her family and STILL working at a 9-5 job.

Learning how to prioritize things is super important when balancing life's to do's! And it seems like Mariana has her head on straight about how to pretty much everything.

I believe she can rock so many things due to the way she looks at her life. Mariana says, "I'm a big fan of satisfying my own curiosity," how expansive is that?! That kind of mindset allows her the freedom to choose & prioritize her interests without ANY judgment.

Mariana looks at every experience as an opportunity to learn and to challenge herself.

The biggest take away on this one: growing a business while balancing everything life has to offer is ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE. She even states in her interview, that she doesn't have the best schedule, but she makes it work.

Too often, people don't think there is time for growing their dream with everything else on their plate. The truth is we don't have more time, so we have to MAKE MORE TIME.

How do you organize your week to make time for your business?

P.S. Mariana & her business partner Allison are EP 2 on the podcast in iTunes! If you are interested in learning more about Giftspawt feel free to contact her via IG @marianacrw or @giftspawt and through email at mariana@giftspawt.com.

Take it away Mariana!

What is YOUR story!? Tell us a bit about your background both personally and professionally.

I was born in Porto, Portugal and went to school at the Portuguese Catholic University where I graduated with a BA in Sound and Image. In 2014 after graduating University I moved to Canada to be with the love of my life. When I was in Portugal I was working as a photographer for an Event Company but when I moved to Canada I had to start from scratch so I worked in retail for 3 years and currently I'm working in insurance. 

I got my first dog Riley in 2015 when I was home waiting to become a Permanent Resident of Canada. Getting Riley was the best decision I have ever made. She absolutely changed my life. I was never allowed to have a dog growing up so when this moment came I was over the moon. We are now best friends and I can't picture my life without Riley in it. 1 year later came Walter. They are so cute and do everything together. 

When I created an Instagram account for Riley in 2015 I had no idea all the friends I was going to make, all the adventures I was about to embark on and how it would change my life. 

It was on Instagram that I met Allison, my business partner. We both have a dog named Riley and we both watched Greys Anatomy religiously every Thursday so that started many topics of conversation. We became really close and one day Allison approached me with the idea of creating a IG page where we feature Dogs With Stuffed Animals. I was all for it and said let's do it. 2 years later we are at 70K followers and created our dream business, Gift Spawt. 

How did you get your idea or concept for your business?

Allison and I have been sending gifts to each others dogs for a while (Birthdays, Valentines Day, Christmas etc). The gifts included a toy and a card and just the whole experience was exciting. We were always curious about what gift our pups were going to receive next. We saw a lot of people doing this and how excited everyone was about it so we decided to create Gift Spawt.

Tell us more about your business and what you do!

At Gift Spawt we focus on celebrating friendships and moments and it's place where we make sending a gift to your dog or other dogs a fun and convenient experience. Each gift includes complimentary wrapping and a hand-written gift card with a personalized message. You no longer have to go to the store to pick up a toy, get a card, get wrapping paper or go to the Post Office. We do all of that for you. 

I’m in charge of the creative part of Gift Spawt. I built our website and update it weekly, run all social media, product photography etc. 

Looking back would you do anything different?

I don’t think I would do anything differently to be honest. I know that we always second guess this answer because maybe I could have done more research on a specific topic here and there but this is my first business. I’m living everything for the first time and just enjoying the journey. No regrets. 

What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?

I can't really just pick one. I love the fact that I get to make people & pups happy. I’m a big fan of satisfying my own curiosity. Everyday I learn something new, it’s a never ending learning experience and I get the opportunity to challenge myself and what i think i’m cable of. Lastly I love the fact that since I became an entrepreneur I get to meet amazing women who hustle everyday and make their dreams come true and that really inspires me. 

Share your favorite moment or moments while growing your business.

My favourite moment was when we released our first holiday box for Christmas in 2018. The moment we posted it on instagram and how much people where absolutely loving what we put together and then having our first sold out box was really the moment where I think Allison and I were like wow. We can really do this. 

What are some of the challenges of being an entrepreneur?

People sometimes tend to sugar coat things but I’m all about honesty. For me the biggest challenge was money. Starting from zero and having to make sure we had money to start our dream. No investors, no family help, just us. Unfortunately you can’t do anything without money but we both work full time so that was something that helped us a lot when we started.

What about some of the challenges you face as a female entrepreneur?

I feel very lucky that I actually haven't come across any major challenges as female entrepreneur. I work mostly with women and they have all been so supportive and encouraging. 

Advice for other other female entrepreneurs or those looking to get started?

Just go for it. I know it can be overwhelming because we tend to think about everything at the same time and I'm guilty of that, however you have to believe that you can do it. You have to reach deep within and trust that you are making the right decision. One thing that helped me a lot when I was thinking about starting Gift Spawt with Allison was listening to podcasts by female entrepreneurs and how they started their businesses. One thing they all had in common was that success did not happen overnight and that gave me more strength to start.

What is your favorite quote?

"We spend our whole lives worrying about the future, planning for the future, trying to predict the future, as if figuring it out will cushion the blow. But the future is always changing. The future is the home of our deepest fears and wildest hopes. But one thing is certain, when it finally reveals itself. The future is never the way we imagined it." - Meredith Grey

How do you avoid burnout?

I do my best to stay healthy. I play soccer once a week and I workout at the gym 3x a week. I’m trying to get into running long distance so let’s see if I can do it. I love a nice bubble bath at the end of a long day while listening to my favourite songs and of course lots of puppy cuddles. 

We know all entrepreneurs work differently. How do you schedule your day?

Well because I have a full-time job (9 to 5) I have to work around that. Allison and I use the app Click-Up where we write down our to do list and we try to do as much as possible everyday. I do a little bit of social media work for Gift Spawt before I go to work in the morning and then I work at night when everyone is already in bed. Not the best schedule but I try to make it work. 

What are your MUST have tools?! (things like organization, calendars, social media, payment platforms, business development sources...etc.)

For me are: Klaviyo for email marketing, Click-Up for to do list & Canva I use to design graphics for our blog etc. 

How do you advertise your brand?

We are still learning about marketing but we are mostly on Instagram. I try to interact with people as much as I can and create real connections. We are going to start using FB/IG ads more when the holiday season starts.  

Is there anything else you'd like for us to know?

There is no "no right time". There's just time and what you choose to do with it. 

That last sentence though!! There is NO RIGHT TIME to start- you just have to commit and GO! Thanks for joining us on the first season of the female founder series! It’s been such a wonderful opportunity to learn from these women. More to come soon.

Here's How To Stop "Shoulding" On Yourself.

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda.

How many times do you use at least one of those words a day? I know I’m often kicking myself in regards to the stuff I wish I could do different now. Because let’s be real hindsight is always 20/20.

The shoulda, coulda, woulda mindset is extremely limiting because we can’t go back and change what has already happened. We can only move forward.

It’s completely natural to reflect on the past and learn from the missteps. But we wouldn’t have known unless we had made that decision in the first place.

Sometimes regret can be a motivator. A client once shared with me that she had an opportunity to try out to a be a yoga teacher and she didn’t audition for a number of reasons but mostly because she was scared she wouldn’t get hired. When we started working together she told me that she was fully committed to growing her business because she never wanted to feel that shoulda, coulda, woulda feeling again.

How many times in your life have you limited yourself because of fear?

It’s easy to get locked into what we SHOULD/COULD/WOULD have done looking back. An article Susan Kelley from the Cornell Chronicle shared that in short term people regret their actions but it’s the inaction that lingers with us for years to come.

The first step to stop shoulding on yourself is to become conscious of the thoughts. “I should have gone to the gym” “If I knew what I knew now, I could have made a better decision” “I would have launched this business sooner if I hadn’t been so scared” Sound familiar?

Once you’re aware you can make the commitment to challenging those shoulda, woulda, coulda thoughts. One way to do this is to LIMIT the words should/could/.would out of your vocabulary - now let’s be real that’s tough to do and you aren’t going to be perfect so think about how you can hold yourself accountable while you work on re-routing your mindset.

Have fun trying different words and forgive yourself if you find yourself in a shoulding or coulding type of mood. Try more empowering phrases like “I am”, “I can”, “I will”. CHALLENGE the thoughts with something more accurate.

Other more tangible action to take is just that- taking action. Setting short term realistic goals can bring confidence and momentum. REMEMBER nothing is perfect & no one is perfect. Taking action will lead you to your next step.

Today’s founder, April Mosebrook, learned how to maneuver around that mindset and take action! She is the founder of Bucket List Broadway and the lead singer of her own band April and the Funk Junkies! I met April back when I was teaching yoga at CorePower Yoga. April is an avid yogi and now teacher. I still remember our conversations as she was parting from her corporate job while we were in the locker room together. Funny how the universe brings us together!

April launched herself into this new beginning. She worked diligently on getting out of her comfort zone, learned how to build her business, asked for help along the way, and poured every ounce of passion into this project. April learned to reframe her limiting beliefs and build a business that she loves. Passion is something that April instills in the decisions she makes in her life whether that is singing, spending time with her family, or with her love of exercise. April’s positive mentality and excitement to bring people together is exactly what is making her life ROCK!

Biggest take away: be like Nike, JUST DO IT.

If you’d like to learn more about participating in Bucket List Broadway and dipping your toe into this creative world take a look at this amazing YouTube video and her website to get inside look! Also you can contact April by email or text: her email is bucketlistbroadway@gmail.com and phone number is 619-726-2817. She is also available by her Facebook page or instagram.

April Mosebrook everyone!

What is YOUR story!? Tell us a bit about your background both personally and professionally.

I was born and raised in a very small town in Arkansas.  I fell in love with singing early on, starting out in church and then branching out to community events, talent shows, and eventually summer theme park performance jobs.  I wasn't really exposed to live musical theater because of lack of access, but I always had a flair for the dramatic!  I literally wanted to BE Sandy in Grease the movie!  During the summer after my sophomore year in college while working at a resort in New Jersey, I experienced my first Broadway show in NYC- a revival of Guys and Dolls.  A new obsession was born.  I came back to college at the University of Arkansas ready to change the direction of my life by changing my major to musical theater.  However, reality didn't quite support my dream, as I was two years into classes supporting a Microbiology degree and was on a 4 year academic scholarship, which would've run out before I was able to get the new degree.  So, I took every theater elective I could manage, auditioned for every campus musical I could, and promised myself that someday I would perform one way or another.  Over the next few years, I had several performing jobs, one of which allowed me to live and work in Austria and travel throughout Europe.  Upon returning to the US, I knew it was time to "get serious" about a career, and put my science degree to use.  I had been accepted to dental school but I knew in my heart that I would not be happy (or even good at) fixing people's teeth!  So I looked for something that would allow me to use my degree while also being in a competitive environment with plenty of interaction with people.  This was when the pharmaceutical world was exploding so I became a sales rep - a job that would take me to Florida and California, would introduce me to the man who became my husband and father of my daughter, AND (after my divorce), the man who is the love of my life and my partner for the last 8+ years.  This career path would provide me with a lucrative and stable income, amazing benefits, life long friendships, and a flexible schedule that was great for a mom.  There was only one problem:  I wasn't passionate about it.  I tried to convince myself that, in a way, sales was "performing":   I got to be in front of an "audience" of customers, and I even tied in my love for singing by writing songs that sold my products!  I also pursued, on a small scale, things that brought me joy, such as yoga and singing in a band.  But I still longed for more. In addition to my lack of passion, as the years marched on and times changed, I became more and more disillusioned with the pharma industry itself. This, along with other factors in my personal life, nudged me toward a self care journey in which I working with a resilience coach and a mediation guide.  Shortly after beginning this, my company announced that lay offs were coming.  I began to meditate upon the concept of having time and space in my life, and visualizing what I would do with it!  Dreams of performing and having my own theater business kept resurfacing.  I truly believe that this meditation and visualization practice helped me manifest being released from the corporate job that had held me down.  In the year that followed, I received a severance pay that allowed me to explore the things that truly brought me joy.  I became a certified yoga teacher, took on more responsibility in my role as lead singer of my band, and spent more time with my daughter.  I knew there was still more in store for me though. I longed to be create something of my own; to be my own boss; to fashion and mold my dreams into a real business that would bring joy to myself and others.  I still wasn't sure what that looked like or how it would manifest but I was open to inspiration.  It was around this time that I heard about Broadway Weekends.

How did you get your idea or concept for your business?

So I was driving one day, flipping around on SiriusXM radio, when I stopped on the Broadway channel.  There was a young woman talking about a new opportunity in NYC for those who dreamed of performing in musicals but didn't have the outlet.  She had created a program called Broadway weekends and likened it to a summer theater camp for adults.  OMG.  She was talking about AND right to me!  This was a bucket list item for me!  Right away, I called my college theater friend in Miami and convinced him we had to do it!   Throughout the weekend, I just kept thinking, "why wouldn't this work in San Diego?" This was the type of experience I had been CRAVING for years.  San Diego has a huge theater presence, both community and professional, but my experience had been that it is hard to break into.  And even more importantly for me, even if were to be cast in a show, the time it would take wasn't realistic for me as a mom and a spouse.   So I set upon my journey - calling upon two amazing women for advice and support. First was the aforementioned young womanwho started Broadway Weekends, Jeanna De Waal. I wanted to ask for her "blessing" and guidance as I set upon this path. (Fun fact, Jeanna recently starred as the title character in Diana the musical at La Jolla Playhouse and will reprise the role on Broadway. Talk about a bad ass Female Founder! The other was my friend and mentor, theater critic Pat Launer, who connected me with so many people in the theater community, provided invaluable guidance, and suggested the name of Bucket List Broadway! I couldn't have done it without their help! From there, I researched, networked, asked questions, went out of my comfort zone, and poured passion into creating this opportunity so that like minded people could come together and satisfy their craving to perform.  Hence, Bucket List Broadway was born.  

Tell us more about your business and what you do!

Bucket List Broadway is a workshop during which participants get to explore their passion for performing musical theater by working with local theater professionals in a safe space.  BLB'ers are guided thru different sessions, working toward a performance of solos and a group number at the end of the workshop.  Participants are encouraged to bring in a solo they would like to work on and the musical director will provide tips, training and guidance to help them grow.  We also work on vocals and choreography for the big dance number, as well as spend time on vocal technique, acting skills and movement.  The workshop culminates in a "showcase" performance for family and friends during which the participants showcase what they have learned.  We welcome any levels of experience (from seasoned performers to brand new explorers) and no auditions or training are required. It really is a beautiful thing to see my fellow Musical Theater lovers as they let go, experience, enjoy, perform, grow, blossom and fully soak up this opportunity. I provide guidance at many levels and play the role of both teacher and participant throughout the weekend.

Bucket List Broadway is a fairly new endeavor, and is the type of experience that will forever be changing to keep up with the needs and desires of each group I work with.  Therefore, I know I will be revising, revisiting and morphing the program with each occurrence.  I also plan on offering variations, such as special workshops for high school students, and parent/child workshops.  I am also planning to offer these as special events to groups who want to set up private workshops.

Looking back would you do anything different?

I used to be the type of person who said "I shoulda, coulda, woulda" about a lot of things in my life.  So I sometimes had the tendency to wish that I would have started something sooner!  But, luckily, I am quickly able to pull out of that mindset, since I know that this passion could've only come to fruition when I was fully ready for it.  The universe gently guided me to this when the time was right and the space was cleared in my life.  This dream could have only been fully realized when I was inspired, prepared, and able to fully commit to it.

What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?

I love being able to create something from the ground up.  It is so freeing, fun and satisfying to take my dream and manifest it as reality.  Another thing that is nice is that I am in control of my own schedule so that (at least sometimes) I can work around what works for the rest of my life and my family.

Share your favorite moment or moments while growing your business.

Two moments stick out in my mind.  The first was receiving a phone call from a woman who had seen my promotional appearance on KUSI.  I could hear the excitement in her voice and was surprised that she had actually reached ME!  (As if I was special or a celebrity or BLB was some huge business!) It was so cute!  Her story and her passion were exactly what I had envisioned as the perfect participant in my dream endeavor. The second was the performance at the end of my first workshop.  When I stood up to address the crowd, I was overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment and happiness.  This moment was only surpassed by the joy and pride I felt as the BLB'ers showcased what they had learned.  I was blown away by their bravery, their talent, their growth and their enthusiasm. 

What are some of the challenges of being an entrepreneur?

It's interesting....my biggest challenges are born from the things I love the most!   Although I love being in charge of my schedule and time, I sometimes have trouble when it comes to focusing and prioritizing.  As a mom, spouse, dog owner, yoga teacher, lead singer, volunteer, avid exerciser, lover of life AND entrepreneur, I am constantly being pulled in many directions, as most women are.  Also, although I have many years of sales and business experience, this is my first time starting something from scratch, which means there are a lot of things I had to learn from a business perspective. 

What about some of the challenges you face as a female entrepreneur?

Luckily, I haven't really faced any challenges from others on the outside yet.  I feel that women are finally starting to get the respect we deserve and that it's a great time to be a woman starting a business.  Most of my challenges are self imposed - self doubt, fear of failure, what if's -and other things that I place in my own way, and sometimes it seems that these characteristics affect women more often and more profoundly than they do men.  But I think women also tend to recognize and deal with these internal challenges more efficiently and honestly.

Advice for other other female entrepreneurs or those looking to get started?

Don't get in your own way.  The challenges I face are only made bigger when I place limiting thoughts on them or let my fear get in the way.  When you experience thoughts of failure, instead of letting them stop you, use them as fuel and reframe the situation.  I literally would say to myself - "what's the worst that can happen?" and "if the worst does happen, what does that mean?"  And then I decided that even if the worst DID happen, rather than seeing it as a failure, I would reframe it as a moment of growth and a lesson on how to improve for next time.  

What is your favorite quote?

"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is YOU.  Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can"  Neil Gaiman

How do you avoid burnout?

My #1 savior from fatigue and burnout is exercise! I am an avid HOT yogi and also enjoy many other physical activities, such as swimming, spinning, running stairs at the beach and hiking.  I schedule this time into my day with just as much importance as any other appointments.   

We know all entrepreneurs work differently. How do you schedule your day?

I schedule blocks of time to work on the business and try to stick to those, allowing breaks in order to recharge.  Each day and week looks different because of where I am in the process of building a workshop and because of my other responsibilities, so I sit down every Sunday night to plan out my week (workouts included!) and make a plan that will maximize my time in the week ahead.

What are your MUST have tools?! (things like organization, calendars, social media, payment platforms, business development sources...etc.)

I am still pretty old fashioned when it comes to planning, so my big ole notebook journal is where I make my to-do lists, jot down my ideas and brainstorm. I put all all my appointments (and sometimes even reminders from my to-do list) on my phone calendar so I always have it right at my fingertips. I feel we are lucky to have social media these days as it is an amazing way to promote without having to spend any or much money!  

How do you advertise your brand?

Facebook has certainly been my friend as I promote Bucket List Broadway. Not only do I post on my business and personal page,  I enlist the help of friends inside and outside of the theater community to spread the word.  I appeared on the KUSI morning show for an interview and a song just prior to the first workshop, which resulted in bringing in a few more participants.  I did interviews and articles with several neighborhood papers, and I plan on using these same tools again with each subsequent workshop.  One of my goals is to eventually  advertise in playbills and programs of local shows.  I imagine there are many people who, like me, wish they could be on stage instead of just in the audience so this should be a great way to find enthusiastic clients.

Is there anything else you'd like for us to know?

We will be announcing our next event soon, so please like us on Facebook to receive updates and announcements.  Also, our website should be updated and ready to roll soon,  so you will have one more way to stay in touch with us!

It was such a pleasure interviewing April. I love how her childhood passions helped guide her destiny. April, like myself, loves community and bringing people together. She truly loves encouraging people to try out areas of their life they’ve always dreamed about which could be performing on stage. April also reminded me to take care of myself- that we all need to take care of ourself. Time blocking our work day and scheduling physical activity is key to our success. Thank you for your time and energy dear friend! Can’t wait to have you on the LOTP podcast soon! xo

Question, feedback, comments? Write us below!

The Importance of Living In The Grey

You're either smart or you're stupid. You're either a writer or your not. You either had an fantastic IG post, or you didn't. I didn’t make it to the gym every day so basically I failed at getting to the gym.Either all of the women I've reached out to want to be apart of this series or no one is interested.

Does this all or nothing mindset sound familiar?

Marissa Rose Nash and I have a few things in common. Besides the fact that met while teaching yoga at CorePower Yoga, we also love to empower women, are personal development seekers, golden doodle mamas, and… we are all or nothing type of gals.

All or nothing thinking is problematic for so many reasons, one of them being it creates almost impossible expectations of one's self. It demands perfection.

Over the past year, I've adopted the mindset of living in the grey.

It seems as if Marissa has done the same. I am trying to find more balance, flexibility, and options in my thinking. Recognizing things don't just have to be one way & acknowledging that even just a little bit is OK.

I even wrote about it in this blog post a few months ago about how much power there is in doing what’s best for you and it’s OK to not be perfect, it’s ok to say no, it’s ok to decide a relationship doesn’t work anymore. I think many of us think if we change our mind we are “bad” people or a “flakey” person. But things aren’t just one way. We need to live in the grey. Sarah Varnan even did a contributor blog post about dog mom guilt and how awful of person she feels if she didn’t do things JUST right while raising her pup. We must practice more flexibility and kindness on ourselves.

So, I've been trying on things like the word AND rather than the word OR. I've been focusing on positive qualities rather than the negative ones. Ex: I made it to the gym x amount of times, YAY! 

Marissa is the founder of The Vine Collective, where she is a personal growth & mindset coach. She empowers women to identify and overcome limiting beliefs so they can live out and reach their potential.

I think one of the reasons Marissa is such a fantastic coach is because of her courage in sharing her vulnerability and daily struggles with her clients. One way that she does this is through her instagram stories as she let’s people in to her real life and shows her human qualities.

If you are looking to get in contact with Marissa for coaching or to collaborate you can reach her on instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or her website.

Without further ado, Marissa, take it away!

What is YOUR story!? Tell us a bit about your background both personally and professionally.

My career as a Personal Growth & Mindset coach for women started in the yoga industry. I completed my first 200 hour yoga certification while in college at Penn State University. I then moved on to teach yoga full time in Southern California for CorePower Yoga and several other boutique yoga studios. I loved it and noticed that women were coming to me to have deeper conversations "off the mat". They wanted more than just the physical practice of yoga. This led me to complete my life coaching certification and I launched my coaching firm the next week! I've been a coach for four years now and my coaching firm, The Vine Collective has shifted and transformed as I've grown personally and professionally. I'm currently coaching women in one-on-one programs as well as group coaching programs. My upcoming women's mastermind starts in September and is designed for women who are aiming to transform their mindset and their lifestyle.

How did you get your idea or concept for your business?

I work with a lot of women who are phenomenal at taking care of everyone but themselves. They're often Type-A, "people pleasers", with big hearts and huge dreams. Yet they have a difficult time prioritizing their own growth and personal development. They also struggle a ton with incorporating rest into their routine. This leaves them feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, stressed, and feeling like they could be doing "more" with their lives but just don't know how. I help women to identify their gifts, potential, strengths, desires, needs, and feelings. The inspiration for the work that I do comes from my own growth as an individual and leader. I'm currently in a master's program for Organizational Leadership and I incorporate a lot of the tools and practices that we learn in class into my work as a coach. I also struggle in all of the areas above so I'm able to walk the walk and talk the talk. I can relate, have empathy for, and confidently give women hope that their lives can transform. 

Tell us more about your business and what you do!

I'm a Personal Growth & Mindset coach. I help women to identify and overcome limiting beliefs so they can live out and reach their potential. I have a 6 month coaching program for one-on-one clients who are looking to transform their mindset, achieve their goals, and make an impact in the world. I also lead a women's group coaching program called "Master your Mindset". The group coaching programs launches every Fall and Spring. I lead a weekly training on topics such as growing in self-confidence, identifying priorities, overcoming obstacles, and navigating setbacks in life and leadership. 

Looking back would you do anything different?

I would! I wouldn't have stopped teaching yoga. I've always had an "all or nothing" personality. I wish I would have been better at identifying that I needed a break from yoga but I didn't need to quit all together. I'm starting to slowly get back into my yoga practice and plan to start teaching again this Fall. I'm also leading a yoga and personal growth retreat to Panama in March so it's been very cool to see this area of my life slowly being redeemed and restored. 

What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?

My favorite thing about being an entrepreneur is bringing women together to grow in community. Personal growth can feel lonely and discouraging at times. I' love the opportunity I have to be a leader and an advocate for women to transform their lives and to not have to do it alone.

Share your favorite moment or moments while growing your business.

My favorite recent moment has been in the women's group coaching program that I lead. I've always loved working one-on-one with clients but I feel that women grow ten-fold when they're able to do it in community. I am in awe of these women after every single Monday night session. Witnessing their growth and transformation together is something that gives me fuel to keep doing the work that I do.

What are some of the challenges of being an entrepreneur?

A few of the challenges that come to mind are feeling lonely in the work that I'm doing. I've recently challenged myself to surround myself with other female entrepreneurs so that we can be in this together. I'm an extrovert so it helps me to draw inspiration from conversation with people and it's important for my personality to feel that I'm in community.

What about some of the challenges you face as a female entrepreneur?

I think my own limiting beliefs are the biggest obstacle in my journey as a female entrepreneur. One limiting belief I've identified within myself recently is the belief that I can't be a "career woman" and a mom. While my conscious self knows this isn't true, it's a belief that prevents me from living out the life I feel called to live and a belief that I'm working to redefine for myself. 

Advice for other other female entrepreneurs or those looking to get started?

Start with 10%. When you're getting started, it can feel overwhelming and you might not know how to start. I always encourage my clients to start with 10% of their goal. Write the blog post. Start an instagram account. Send an email to a potential client. Just do something.

What is your favorite quote?

"Success is when you love where you are an who you are in it and when you're excited about where you're going." Gay Hendricks

How do you avoid burnout?

I prioritize taking care of myself outside of work. I schedule in my workouts, take lots of bubble baths, and make sure that I'm spending time unplugged from work. I've learned to prioritize rest after epically failing in this area in the past!

We know all entrepreneurs work differently. How do you schedule your day?

I feel most creative in the morning and love to start my day with an energizing workout before I sit down to create. I also love working in the evening with a cup of decaf coffee. Mid-day I try to rest my mind by taking a walk or just unplugging from my laptop and phone.I

What are your MUST have tools?! (things like organization, calendars, social media, payment platforms, business development sources...etc.)

HoneyBook and Trello are my go-to's. 

How do you advertise your brand?

I love instagram stories. I try to be as authentic and honest as I can be in my stories because I think it's important to let people into my real life (while maintaining healthy boundaries). I also love leading in-person events and find that I'm able to best connect with people in person versus online.

I love Marissa’s approach to getting started. Just begin with 10%. We often feel we need to have 98% or 100% of what we want to put out in the world completed and it feels like too much to handle. Only focusing on small chunk not only makes starting something more attainable but it also encourages momentum because you’ll be hitting small wins along the way!

Interested in being apart of the female founder series? We have 9 slots left for 2019! Drop us a line below.

The Power of Patience

I find it ironic that the theme of this week’s founder series is patience and when I was writing this I had almost zero. Rushing around, yelling at cars, eating too fast just to get shit done because I’m up against a big deadline. I had planned a bunch of stuff prior to knowing about this deadline so of course life likes to load ya up all at one time! The funny thing about this is that I think that yelling at the cars to move faster or half heartily throwing a post together then the more I’ll be able to pack into the day. But, because I haven’t taken the time to slow down and be mindful I end up doing more work. There are more mistakes in my grammar, more projects that are started and unfinished (like the dishes in the sink and laundry on the bed), and the less present I am in general.  Also- side note- when you slow down and have patience you’ll notice how NOT a big deal the things you’re stressing about truly are. 

Can you think back on a time that you said something without really listening to what the person was saying? Or what about launching a program or offer from your business only to realize you weren't ready to manage it or scale it? Or rushed through an Instagram post just to get content out there? Have you ever bought a piece of home decor just to have something rather than waiting for the thing you REALLY wanted?

I've been all of the above. I've spoken thoughtlessly, launched too quickly, bought way too many fake plants, posted, edited, reposted, and then deleted because I moved too quickly. Something I've been working on in my own life is slowing down before making decisions. Now, I'm a huge researcher of all things, so in many ways, I do educate myself before I decide to move forward, BUT I often tend to make moves without thinking it through.

It seems as if learning patience is a common theme for most entrepreneurs as Allison Katz of Gift Spawt explains that it took time to understand how to even get started as a business owner and then to officially launch their brand.

She does a great job sharing how patience in her business was a key element of success! Allison and her co-founder Mariana created, Gift Spawt, a one-stop-shop for sending gifts and puppy care packages to dog friends near and far. With snuggly stuffed toys, stylish accessories, dog gift sets, and greeting cards, they’ve got something special for every pup and occasion. They love supporting their dog parent community and spreading joy to people everyday.

Allison describes what steps they took as a brand to launch their online business efficiently and effectively. In our interview, she also provides insight to those who are looking to get started and some mindset tips to keep your eye on the ball!

I originally worked with Allison and Mariana many moons ago for my 10k milestone giveaway on @paxthedood. The two of them created @dogswithstuffedanimals which is an instagram account that highlights adorable dogs with stuffed animals. That specific account is very successful and it seems only natural for them to start selling products themselves!

If you are interested in collaborating as an influencer or sending a package to a friend please contact Allison at info@giftspawt.com. Make sure to check out their website and buy your pup some fun and adorable goodies. Giftspawt packages each gift which makes it personalized and unique for each recipient. You can also follow them on Instagram at @giftspawt or on their Facebook page which you can reach by clicking here.

Without further ado, Allison Katz, everyone!

Allison with some of their ambassadors in LA

Please tell us a bit about your background both personally and professionally. 

I am originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and went to school at UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Heels!). After graduating from college, I wanted to explore life outside of NC and moved to NYC with some friends. While I started off working in entertainment PR, I later transitioned to the healthcare field and headed to DC for graduate school. 

Although city living was fun and exciting, it was also stressful and lonely at times. One of my coworkers suggested that I should get a dog and even came with me to bring Riley home in 2012. Since day one, he's been a total mama's boy (and I mean that in the best way possible) and the center of my world. Little did I know that when I started an Instagram account for him in 2015, that it would be a turning point in my life personally and professionally.

It was through IG that I became friends with Mariana, my now business partner, who also happened to have a cockapoo named Riley. We decided to start @dogswithstuffedanimals together, which gave me a creative outlet that I didn't have in my day job. I also felt a sense of empowerment turning an idea into a reality and taking on a leadership role.

At the same time, I was missing my family and friends in North Carolina and decided that I wanted to move closer to home. For the past 1.5 years, I have been living in Chapel Hill, NC, working in digital marketing for medical practices, and growing Gift Spawt. Although it was a risk leaving my life in DC and a job I had for 9 years, I am so glad that I took a leap of faith and allowed myself to try something new!

Co-Founder Mariana & her dog Walter

How did you get your idea or concept for the brand?

Mariana and I had been exchanging gifts for our dogs for holidays and birthdays. While the presents were small (a toy, treat, or card), it was so fun receiving a package from a friend and surprising Riley with his pawmail. 

We noticed that other dogs on Instagram were sending their friends gifts as well and how happy it made everyone. From there, we decided to create a site for the dog community that promoted friendship and celebrating special occasions -even when you can't be there in person.

Looking back would you do any thing different?

Not at all. In the past year, I've learned so much, and challenges and missteps have always guided me in a better direction.

What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?

The ability to create opportunities for myself and taking personal responsibility for my decisions. I'm also able to maintain a fairly flexible schedule, which allows me to have a good work-life balance.

Allison & her dog Riley

Share your favorite moment or moments while growing your business.

Seeing the messages that friends write for the gift cards has been awesome! You can tell that so many humans and pups have formed genuine relationships with one another, and it really reinforces the power of the dog community. 

I also loved meeting-up with some of our IG friends, while traveling this past year.

What are some of the challenges of being an entrepreneur?

Because so much of what we do is tied to social media, email, and being online, I often find it difficult to unplug and be away from my phone or computer. But I have started to set aside device-free time each night, so that I can truly decompress and be more engaged in my relationships and experiences.

Advice for other entrepreneurs or those looking to get started?

Patience, planning, and research are essential to executing an idea. When we decided to start Gift Spawt, I bought a 2000 page book on Amazon about creating and running a small business. There were so many steps to take before we could even begin developing the website, and I just gave myself the time and space to get organized, ask friends and family for help, contact support teams (especially with tech questions), and search for answers online.

How do you advertise your brand?

Currently, we only promote Gift Spawt on social media (Instagram and Facebook). We owe so much to our amazing brand ambassadors, who have supported us since the very beginning!

What a fun idea! I can’t wait to learn more about GiftSpawt on our podcast interview this summer. If you have questions about getting involved in the Female Founder Series (FFS) please drop us a comment below or send us an email!

4 Powerful and Inexpensive Ways to Launch Your Business

Have you ever had one of those phone calls that you just didn't want to get off the phone? Because the conversation flowed so seamlessly, and even though it was the first time you've talked to this person, it felt like the 500th? That's how my conversation with Maneesha Mukhi went yesterday. It was as if the words coming out of her mouth were ones that I think daily.

It was a pleasure learning more about Maneesha, who is the founder of AskEllis, which helps individuals and businesses connect with experienced immigration attorneys (and other resources). They craft a lot of high-quality content to help folks along any stage of their immigration journey. So whether they are looking for ad hoc information or trying to fill out their paperwork themselves, Ask Ellis has something for everyone.

We discussed things such as her why and how important owning that intention is to scaling her business. We both identified how lonely it can feel growing a business as a soloprenure (especially in New York City in January! Brr). We talked about utilizing mentors which can be helpful to a certain extent, but can also misguide us away from our real intention. We also chatted about how much we downplay our successes and how important it is to celebrate all wins along the way. AskEllis has been featured in FastCompany and Oprah Magazine- Those are HUGE WINS for this growing startup!

I asked Maneesha about what advice she would share with entrepreneurs just starting out, and she had 4 critical insights on this question. Make sure to read through today's feature to get those steps!

There are a few ways folks can reach Maneesha & AskEllis. If you are looking to schedule a consult with an attorney and you know which one, you can hit the "Schedule a Consult" button on the attorney's profile. If you are unsure of next steps, you can schedule a quick call with the Ask Ellis Concierge (via their website) - they always have same day slots available. Lastly, you can just send them a message through the form on the "Contact Us" page. You can find additional information about AskEllis on their Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Instagram.

Please tell us a bit about your background both personally and professionally.

Culturally, I am a bit of a mutt! My father was a diplomat for India so I grew up in 6 countries across 3 continents (Asia, Africa, Europe). I always wanted to come to the U.S. for college and was thrilled when I got accepted. After college, my career choices were largely driven by visa constraints so I ended up working in corporate America for a decade. I finally got my green card in 2013 -  it gave me the kind of work freedom I did not have before. I quit corporate America shortly after and haven't looked back. I worked at a nonprofit for a year, advocating for domestic violence survivors of South Asian origin. After that, an opportunity at a tech start-up popped up and I thought it would be a great learning experience. Fast forward a couple of years - I finally took the plunge and launched Ask Ellis (with a different name).

How did you get your idea or concept for the brand?

Ask Ellis is a deeply personal venture. Having grown up in 6 countries, I am no stranger to visas. I came to the U.S. as an international student almost 20 years ago. It took nearly 10 years, 3 green card applications and a lot of anxiety to get my green card. Last month, I finally became a U.S. citizen. Along the way, I realized that there was a big hole: immigration information online was sparse and often inaccurate. Finding a reliable attorney was overwhelming. So I decided to create the solution.

Tell us more about your brand and what you do!

Ask Ellis helps individuals and businesses connect with experienced immigration attorneys (and other resources). We craft a lot of high quality content to help folks along any stage of their immigration journey. So whether they are looking for ad hoc information or trying to fill out their paperwork themselves, we have something for everyone.

What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?

Learning. You never stop learning as an entrepreneur. I never enjoyed the classroom setting growing up and I always thought it was because I didn't enjoy learning. I realize now that I love learning, but I learn by doing and am a very hands on person.

What are some of the challenges of being an entrepreneur?

When you work for yourself (especially in the beginning when there isn't a team), working alone and being self-motivated ALL the time can be hard. I addressed this by using a co-working space (which isn't feasible for everyone as it is an added cost - but if it will help you work better, it may be worth the investment). Another challenge is figuring out how to allocate your limited funds and time - what should you invest in, what should you outsource vs. doing yourself, etc. There are so many more challenges, but these were 2 big ones for me.

Advice for other entrepreneurs or those looking to get started? (4 powerful and inexpensive ways to launch your business)

1. Be patient!

2. Trust your gut! Everyone will have an opinion on how you should run your business. I wasted a lot of time by not trusting my gut and listening to people that I thought knew better than me. Don't get me wrong - some people will offer you valuable advice, but let too many cooks in the kitchen and you will constantly be pivoting and doubting yourself.

3. Celebrate the little wins.

4. Before you start, create a simple budget. Here are the essentials to get started (in my personal opinion). Most people need a website, so you will likely have to purchase a domain (this can be as cheap as $10 on GoDaddy depending on the name you want.) You want to make sure your business is legit, meaning you want to incorporate it legally. You can use a site like LegalZoom to help you with this. Have someone create a logo that represents your brand - you don't have to break the bank to do this. You can go on Fiverr or CrowdSpring and get this done at a low cost. Lastly, get business liability insurance - this is to protect you in case there are ever any claims against you/your business products/services. Early on, there are many resources you can use for free. Take advantage of them. For example, you can create a beautiful website on Wordpress - they have free and paid templates that will make your site look professional. Canva is another resource I absolutely love for creating graphics (e.g. for Facebook covers, social media posts, etc.). Mailchimp is a great tool for building your email list (free up to 2,000 emails). Hootsuite is great for automating your social media feeds - helps you plan ahead.

Share your favorite moment or moments while growing your business.

My favorite moments are notes of gratitude or encouragement that I receive from people that find what they need on Ask Ellis. I recently received an email that said, "Speaking to [attorney on our platform] was a breath of fresh air, thank you so much".

How do you advertise your brand?

The only paid advertising we do is Google AdWords. We have experimented with Facebook Ads, but it's not something we do regularly (yet). Word of mouth has been great for us. We have a strong focus on SEO to drive organic traffic to the site.

Looking back would you do any thing different?

Early on, I tried to do too many things at once. I was building a marketplace, trying to grow a community and create an amazing content platform - at the same time. These are all large undertakings. If I could go back in time, I would focus on one piece at a time. By splitting my focus, I actually slowed myself down.

Is there anything else you'd like for us to know?

I strongly believe in collaboration over competition. We try to help anyone that comes our way, even if that means sending them to a resource outside of Ask Ellis. I care more that people are being served than who is serving them.

I hope you enjoyed Maneesha’s interview as much as I did. Look for our upcoming Podcast this summer where we will dive deeper into some of these topics such a budgeting, getting out of your own way, and trusting your gut.

If you are interested in participating in the Female Founder Series drop a line below and someone will contact you shortly!

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