Asana Boards [Kanban Workflow]

Boards boards boards...boards...I do adore!

Asana now offers BOARDS.

What is Asana you ask?

Asana is one of the most popular project management tools around.  Asana helps you to plan, organize + manage your biz + your life. It’s $free.99 for up to 15 team members and has options to upgrade.

Typically in Asana, you create a project with lists and tasks and subtasks to dominate the world!  

And now Asana has introduced boards. I immediately thought...Daaaaaaamb Daniel.

Boards are essentially an extension of the Japanese Kanban productivity system. In Japanese Kan" means "visual" and "ban" means "card," so Kanban describes visual cards. Did that go over your head?

To make it simple: think virtual whiteboard and sticky notes.

“Kanban is a method for managing work with an emphasis on just-in-time delivery while not overloading the team members. This approach presents all participants with a full view of the process from task definition to delivery to a customer. Team members pull work from a queue.”

— Wikipedia

With Kanban the workflow goes from right [To Do] to left [Done]. The work flooows through an assembly line. Most people are visual and just seeing the stages of work complete and incomplete increases productivity.

Kanban's are perfect for when you are working with others, so you can gauge where you are with various projects without having to personally check in. [By all means check in, but quick visuals that inform you that things are going as planned are great.]

Still need convincing on the amazingness of boards? 

Watch this video below showing you how to use Asana boards to set your business goals: 

3 Reasons to get started with Boards in Asana today:

1. There's no need to switch between multiple programs to access the Kanban board productivity style. 

2. Your workflows are visual. 
3. Teams can work together seamlessly by logging into Asana to see the progress of a project instantly. 

Want to learn more tips on Mastering Asana? 

Click here to get more productivity tips

The Tale of Two Memes

I have two clients by the name of Mimi. For the purpose of this Post, I'll spell their names differently. Mimi and Meme (and not meme like the images that give us kicks and giggles but Me-Me)

Follow me?

Great...let's proceed.

Mimi owns a day spa and hired me to get her business online and streamlined.

Meme runs an online fashion boutique. She hired my team to eliminate the chaos and create structured processes.

A tale of two memes is a marketing story. Read up on how your business strategy should integrate client experience. 

Both Mimi and Meme have profited over $50k in this quarter alone.

SN: You can make money without systems, but the real profits roll in when your systems are flawless.

Meme was marketing through Facebook (paid and unpaid), Instagram (unpaid) and through email marketing. I actually was surprised that she was using content marketing beyond sales.

Meme sends out monthly newsletters that feel like an invitation to get a glimpse of the rich and fabulous. Meme is working with Instagram sensations and celebrities monthly and she's sharing these experiences with her fans. The stories and the pictures are beautiful...just one issue....it's all about Meme.

That's right it's ALL me me me me me!

Who the hell cares? Am I being harsh, no ma'am. Anyone reading an email that's just me me me is thinking that...IF they even continue to read.

Meme hired us for automation. She told me she had marketing under wraps. We automated her sales flow and initiated a flawless client experience.

Despite initial thoughts...marketing is a major part of client experience.

Meme changed her copy to highlight her products and her clients. No more long novel like emails detailing her experience but she began to highlight her customers desire for this fabulous lifestyle. Styling tips from Instagram sensations and success mantras from the celebrities. She invited fashion bloggers to share styling tips, how to pack for the weekend to month long trips, and makeup hacks. Instead of sharing her lifestyle and experience through email she moved those stories to snapchat. The strategy behind this was genius...if I say so myself.

Now the other Mimi wasn't online officially. She had a website, but it was just a placeholder for the day spa on the web. Nothing memorable, to make you want to go into her spa.

And what a disservice that was, because Mimi’s salon is gorgeous. The essence makes you feel amazing as soon as you walk thru the door. It smells like jasmine and lavender mixed with sweet scents of women with good taste in perfume. All of her staff is remarkably stunning.

It's as though she hired models just for a photoshoot. Nope, they work there every week.

Mimi's Facebook surprisingly was poppin! Mimi has been operating off of word of mouth and Facebook. And the Facebook love was by chance, whenever someone would leave they immediately went to the page and raved about it.

Mimi didn't have anyone managing this page to even ‘like the comments that were being left. There was no one checking in on the clients once they left. Mimi’s client experience was solely focused on those that entered the day spa.

Ignoring client experience is leaving money on the table.

Mimi previously had photo stock photography on her site. Which is fine, but considering how remarkable her salon and staff are, that was an instant do-over.

Mimi had a photo shoot and had her website redone. Mimi added a scheduling app for her clients to book online which would save them a few coins in addition to capturing their email and phone number.

This way her receptionist only needed to call those who have not verified that they want to receive text or email reminders. With this extra time saved she was able to tackle social media and comment on that abandoned Facebook page.

Mimi started utilizing those emails she was capturing online (from clients and potentials). Monthly Mimi sent an email telling her peeps about the most purchased service and included a discount code/coupon for those who were on the email to utilize within the next 7 days.

Mimi started using Facebook live and having a Facebook live party once a week. Mimosas and manicures with Mimi every Monday. This was genius considering her clients were naturally attracted to Facebook.

We got ads running on Facebook. Created an Instagram account because image is everything and ran ads over there too.   

You want to be like Mimi and not Meme when it comes to your business strategy, marketing and client experience. You want to create an exclusive experience that builds rapport and relationships with your customers based on their needs.

Major key: understand the necessary wants and needs of your clients is the first step to designing what an amazing experience would look like for them.  

Mimi understood client experience, yet she just did not extend this same experience online. It’s a digital world we live in and we’re all connected, like it or not.

85% of consumers use the Internet to find local businesses.

The experience of your brand should be amazing in person, online through ALL mobile devices and desktops or MacBooks [laptops], social media, email, sales process and support process. This is where Mimi was slacking.

Your target market may be a business (B2B) or a consumer (B2C), and behind every interaction is a person. And it’s up to you to make the experience worthwhile for this person.

Remember Meme was only showing her consumers what she was doing...this was not meeting any needs of her consumers. Meme thought their need was cute and trendy clothes and she was focusing on showing them a fabulous life. Although the cute and trendy clothing brought them to Meme’s site and social media, their need was greater than clothes and drooling over someone else’s online life. They wanted fashion and beauty tips, confidence boosters, and inspiration. When she transitioned to meeting those needs, there was a transition in her business.

Focus on your consumer from the beginning to the end. And the end isn’t at the end of the day or the end of the session. Building a successful business means you are thinking about longevity and not just this quarter or this year. Create a client experience that will yield lifelong relationships. [Even if that relationship is just them raving about how amazing your business is when they utilized your services and/or products.

Live. Love. Action

1.Evaluate your current client experience.

2.Determine your client’s needs

3.Brainstorm a client experience strategy with steps to delight your clients for the lifetime of your business.

Social Media Like a Boss

Are you ready to boss up & social media like a BOSS?!?  

Anytime you say "like a BOSS" it just sounds so much more official.

These tips my friend will up-level your social media marketing game.

First thing first. There are so many social media platforms out here. So be clear on your three. 

Anything over three will be counterproductive.

Social media can be a MAJOR time suck. Even for the most disciplined lady. Willpower is a strength. Pick three platforms that work best for you. Factor in your personality, attention span, and overall enjoyment. Look, don't be on a social media platform just because you see everyone else on there. Likes, follows,and hearts don't pay for Chipotle, hydrafacials, or even Facebook ads.

Simple social media best practice: 

Follow others and engage genuinely. If the celebs can follow back and comment, so can you. Lurkers are lame! 

Facebook

Facebook is for friends and people we don't really remember from high school and maybe elementary school if their profile pic is cute. Yes, the algorithms change, but the thing that remains: Facebook is for friends. Position your content as helpful [educational/informative], funny & encouraging [inspirational]. And it doesn't hurt if you package all that up beautifully.

Facebook is also for ads. Forget those that complain about paying to play, because ads can grow your business and Paypal substantially. I have a biz bestie who has a $12 per month Facebook ad budget and doing big things with a little spare change. Research has shown time after time, that majority of Facebook users are online consumers. So many people opt-in to majority of their online profiles using Facebook, which provides even more information about their buying habits and lifestyle...things that you would never know on your own. In addition to marketing companies selling your information to Facebook for marketing experts to enjoy. Pinterest and Twitter ads can't compare to Facebook ads. 

Twitter

Twitter is the place to share timeless content over and over. Remember show and tell? Twitter is the adult version of show and tell, only your teacher isn't making your class pay attention to you. When the quiet girl who never spoke up brought in the new baby alive, you paid attention. Unless she was your friend, you would pay attention to her anyway. Twitter is all about connections and sharing.

Find dope people and create lists so you can keep up with them and share their content. Just don't be spammy and stalkerish.

That will get you noticed, just not in the she’s super awesome let me tell all my biz besties about her kind of way.  

BEING spammy will get you....BLOCKED!

The best part of twitter is Kanye's rants. Everyone loves a good Kanye West twitter rant to take away the stress of the day. In between the randomness, he leaves a business gem, for us to reflect on.    

Instagram

Instagram. I love Instagram. Beautiful pictures, inspiring views and quotes. The trick to Instagram for business is to share your behind the scenes, personal shenanigans, breakfast lunch and dinner. I kid, but have you seen the lady that eats grapes every day and nothing else?

Pique your audience’s interest and make a true emotional connection. If you’re only posting that you sent a newsletter...no one cares. Don't post the same things you post one your other platforms here and vice versa. Switch it up!

I actually wrote this post, months ago and my new favorite is snapchat. I’m using it in the same fashion as I would Instagram. Behind the scenes, personal shenanigans and random biz tips on the go. More shenanigans than anything else. 

Periscope. Pinterest. Meerkat.Google +. YouTube. LinkedIn. Am I missing a platform?

Content sharing tips: 

TA McMann recommends the 5-3-2 rule

• Five posts should be content from others that’s relevant to your audience.
• Three posts should be your own content, again relevant to your peeps, but isn’t a direct pitch.
• Two should be non work related...things to humanize your brand. Hello funny viral videos on Facebook [increases reach too - I share them twice a week]

What’s the 411? Mary J tried to tell you…

The 4-1-1 on twitter is sharing 4 relevant pieces of content [not your own], and retweeting others for every 1 piece of self- promoting content.

Curating and finding content to share:

Content curation is when you share someone else’s content [note share & not steal]  that you receive value from. You are doing the hard work for your peeps. You are saving them time from having to find the information.

Curate like a boss:

Share your takeaway for an added gem.

Share a quote from the article.

Give credit where it’s due, tag the business the first time you share.

Save time curating:

Sign up for Pocket and get the Pocket Chrome Extension : on a website and see something you want to share with your peeps that you aren’t ready to schedule yet, save it to pocket. Get fancy and link your Evernote to Pocket, so the article will be sitting in Evernote waiting for you. Or you can you use the Evernote Web Clipper. 

Ready to share: 

Use Buffer or  Buffer Chrome Extension to either share the article immediately or schedule it out.

If you are signed up for Edgar [amazing tool to manage your social media with a FULL library of stored content] you can use the Edgar Extension.

Wordpress users can use Coschedule.

Stop searching multiple websites on the trending topics: Check out Buzzsumo they have a variety of topics covered from 24 hours up to 2 hours.

Or you could go old school and use Feedly [an RSS reader where you can have your favorite blogs go] and save it to pocket or evernote for later access.

Instagram Tools

Check your Instagram Stats with Iconosquare it will help you with the times that your followers are most engaged [to help guide you when to post], your most liked and engaged posts, and your most engaged followers. 

When you know the perfect times to post to your peeps, use latergramme to schedule the post. It will PUSH to your phone and then you will push the post through. Instagram wants to keep the platform mobile so most tools won’t post it through for you. Be clear of those that do, your account can be flagged to be deleted.

Instagram + Twitter Tools

Crowdfire manages your relationships on Twitter and Instagram - see who is following you and who unfollowed. Another Instagram and Twitter goodie is Hashtagify to determine which hashtags are popular and relevant.

IFTTT has a recipe to post your Instagram picture to twitter as a native picture [so no link & the actual picture populates].

Pinterest Tools

BoardBooster was created for bloggers to schedule their pins at optimal times.
Tailwind is another pin scheduler.

Strategy is how you SLAY in business [Beyonce case study]

Strategy is how you slay in your business

On December 13,2013 do you think Beyonce woke up thinking, “...tonight I'm going to release an entire album minutes before midnight.”

No way!

Her team and her came up with a plan as to how they would change the music industry forever.

The change in case you were stuck under a rock until a few moments ago, was without any advance PR, a single to promote the album or any leaked music on the internets. Beyonce released a self titled album on itunes with 14 songs and 17 videos. And unlike most digital records, you weren’t able to pick and choose which songs could be purchased for 99 cents...you had to purchase the entire album for $14.99.

Strategy is how you slay in your business.

To slay is to be nothing short of AMAZING. 

828,773 copies were sold in the first three days becoming THE fastest selling album on itunes.

Strategy is how you slay in your business.

In 2013 Beyonce performed during the Super Bowl halftime show. She performed for free, with only the production costs totaling $600,000 being covered by the sponsor [Pepsi]. Immediately following her incredible performance with her biz besties and former Destiny’s Child members...there was a commercial announcing her world tour: Mrs. Carter.

2013 is when Super Bowl commercials hit the record high of $4 million dollars for a 30 second spot.

Strategy is how you slay in your business.

In business you should always be thinking about what's next...and begin to prep for that next step. Connect the dots that you have already established. Your content and actions are related to services that you want to sell. Services and products make sense with where you currently are in your business.

This requires you to take the time to create the systems and strategy that will make your business profitable.

Strategy is how you slay in your business.

A few weeks ago it was confirmed that ColdPlay was headlining the halftime Super Bowl show. There were rumors circulating that Beyonce would perform. The beyhive (Beyonce ‘s following) had difficulties confirming this for weeks. Saturday before the Super Bowl Beyonce released a jaw dropping and controversial video...formation.

Beyonce gave her fans hours to learn the words and enjoy her creativity + greatness while celebrating womanhood. Amazing efforts right before a traditional male dominated event. Then as expected it was Super Bowl time, ColdPlay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars left America astonished with an amazing show. All of the entertainers performed for FREE. However, if paid we're talking $6 million dollars. Seconds after this performance flashed the shortest super bowl commercial...Beyonce's world tour formation. 2016 Super Bowl commercial rates started at $4 million dollars for a thirty second slot.

Strategy is how you slay in your business.

Conversations across social media and America shifted from an intense football game to how could they purchase Beyonce’ concert tickets.

Strategy is how you slay in your business.

You don't have to be Beyonce to create buzz and slay with your business, but you do need to be unapologetically you, understand your audience and have a defined strategy. Spend money on things and services that will advance your business.

Beyonce has used her strategy over and over and each time it breeds miraculous results.

You don’t need a big budget to make big bucks...you need strategy.

You don’t need 14.2 Million followers on twitter to have a substantial business, you need strategy to grow a following that adores and supports your work. [Side Note: Beyonce hasn’t tweeted since August 2013]

You, my friend, won't know what works until you do the work and implement strategy.

Has your business experienced the big O?

Some ladies will never experience the big O. Despite all the deep intense talks they have with their biz besties...none of those techniques will help them get that O that they crave, desire and know they've worked hard for.

Outsourcing doesn't just happen.

What big O were you thinking of?!?

via 

Don't answer that and let's focus on the big O!

Outsourcing is more than just hiring another business owner to complete work for you. << click here to tweet this >>

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Much of the information out here goes a little like this:

You're busy...you need help. Hire someone to help you. Boom! Everyone gets a unicorn!

via

Or like this...

You're a girl boss...you don't have to do the things you hate to do...hire someone else to do it.

And here's my favorite...

You can't afford to NOT hire an assistant to help move your business forward.

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Well guess what happens to 85% of chic + savvy solos who shoot their shot with the big O the first and second time?!?

They don't see sparkly unicorns or the light or anything that looks like relief.

They experience more work...frustration and chaos.

Hiring before you are ready is an amateur move. Yeah...I said it.

You HAVE to be ready! [and not just financially]

Here's three things you need to do today before going after the big O!

1. Get your business out of your head.

Stop storing your business ideas, plan and procedures in your mind. Create a standards of operations that outlines how your business runs.   The more detailed the better.

2. Make a list of the tasks that you do in your business. Then classify which tasks are:

• Money generating
• Administrative low
• Administrative high
• Zone of Genius (only you can do)
• Time suck but necessary

Things outside of your zone of genius that are money generating should be outsourced first.

You already got your business out of your head in step one, so you should be very clear on what parts of your business generate money.

3. Determine a budget for the tasks that you need/want outsourced.

A. If you can't afford to hire help, you can't afford it. Stop trying to be like the Joneses because the Joneses are broke!

Create a strategy of how you can hustle to make the money necessary to pay the contracted person got their work at minimum of 90 days.

B. You've looked over your expenses and you know you can afford to outsource tasks to on a regular basis starting with at least 90 days.  

Pop the champagne or water bottle (if you’re counting calories) and start preparing for the big O!

Batch Like a Productive + Profitable Girl Boss

Content creation usually isn't the favorite part of any content creators business. Like much of life...there's so many moving parts.

When you see a beautifully written blog article, you rarely think about how long it took for that article to be produced.

Rarely as in NEVER!

However when you are the creator, you might think what in the hell am I going to produce. An easy way to rid yourself of those thoughts: create an editorial calendar.

What's that?!?

A fancy or not so fancy plan for your upcoming content.

An easy way to develop an editorial calendar is to think of 3 categories that you address in your services and(or) products. You want these to be general categories because you'll get specific as you move on.

For example:  Productivity, business tips and systems.

Then brainstorm topics underneath each. Assign a date and how you'll distribute this content. Boom!

There's some marketers that will tell you blogging is dead.

Content is king and you're the queen.

You need each other.

Content creation goes so much deeper than blogging. Whatever your poison [blogging, video,podcast, etc], make sure you have a beautiful castle for this content king to reside [your website].

So we've established that you're the queen! But to become a true boss, you'll need to batch!

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Batching is what makes producing content manageable and easy.

Batching is when you do a lot of one thing for a set period of time.

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Let's say you set a schedule where you blog weekly.

That's 4 blog posts a month. I know my math skills are remarkable...stay with me.

Did you know it's easier to push out all four articles than each one individually?

Yep. Science and psychology back me up on this.

Switching tasks or multitasking reduces your productivity by 40%.

When multitasking, we typically switch tasks every 3 minutes and 5 seconds.

When work is interrupted it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back on task.

Batching decreases the time lost between switching tasks.

Ultimately batching allows you to increase concentration and decrease distraction.

Cookies are made in batches because it's easier and it saves time. Besides who eats just one cookie?

via

Batching your content is the same. Well, it might not be as sweet and gratifying instantly like a cookie, but it saves time with your processes. 

Here are some things in your business and life that you can start batching this week:

Email: set up a time and system so you can check your emails and respond to them within an hour or two [an hour would be awesome]. Tim Ferris says he checks his once a day and responds all at once. Such will power that guy has. I’m on a twice a day schedule, that works pretty well.

Phone calls: have a running list of who you need to call on a sheet/in notebook on your desk. Set aside a day or two throughout the week and a time for you to make/return all the calls.

Content creation: Pick one day a month and block off 4 [or more] hours of your most productive time to create content.  Add additional days if you have multiple streams of content to create.

Editing content: Pick one day a month/week and block off a set amount of time during your most alert time of day to edit your amazing content.

Curating content for social media shares: Once a week pick a light day to peruse your favorite websites for content to share with your peeps. Doing this on one day at one time, saves oh so much time. Versus taking a few minutes here and there, because the whole act of switching is time consuming. Once complete, schedule your social media for the week.

Client work or projects: complete client work or similar projects all at once until complete. So when you’re done...you’re done. No need to keep your mind boggled down with uncompleted work.

Expenses: weekly or monthly set aside time to review your personal and business expenses. Have a plan on what you’re documenting and reviewing. What actions need to be taken as well as what milestones/rewards you should set for meeting your expense goals each month.

Productivity to profits is the goal around here.

Cooking: schedule in time to plan what you’ll eat for the week, even the days and nights you plan to eat out. On Sundays, set aside time to meal prep and have a cooking party preparing for the week.

Cleaning: schedule in time to tidy up. Cluttered spaces really deter productivity and creativity.

Planning: each week you should have time scheduled in to plan for your next week. Include time to brain dump and sort out new ideas.

Often times people think that when you plan and essentially control your time, that it stifles creativity. Batching is quite the opposite. You are ensuring that you set aside time to go deep within your creative space without being interrupted and produce a greater value of work

Batching provides you with freedom to have fun or take a nap when all the work is complete. What more could a girlboss ask for? 

7 Brilliant Tips for Brain Dumping

Back in October I started working with this amazing chic biz owner, Raine. I wish my mom was dope enough to name me Raine, but as I was saying... Raine came to me because she was having a hard time getting work done in her business.

Raine described herself as an "idea person," meaning she was full of ideas and always had a new idea for a project, product or business.

These ideas weren't helping her at all. She would start working on one and then would get stuck. She wasn't getting stuck because the ideas were bad or not well thought out. 

The problem is the new ideas were flowing in and stopping the workflow of the previous idea(s). Raine and I developed a brain dumping system to help her move these ideas into action...one at a time.

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Brain dumping is bae! [the love of your productive life. Before Anything Else]

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Brain dumping is when you physically eject your mental trash.  No lobotomies needed. Only a pen + paper. Oh and a timer.

Here's the brain dumping system I created for Raine:

1. Set one day per week for brain dumping.

Think about how you plan your workflow:

What day and time do you usually plan your work for the next week?

Raine found that brain dumping closer to the end of the week at the end of the day was best.

You may be tired at the end of the week and your brain needs recharging. Consider brain dumping in the beginning of the week or day.

2. Set your timer for 10-15 minutes.

Raine used her phone timer and started with 15 minutes for a few weeks then moved to 10 minutes.

Don't be intimidated by the time or think you won't have anything to write.  Just embrace the process and let the thoughts flow.

3. Fold your paper in quarters or draw quadrants. 

Raine started off with a full piece of paper and was overwhelmed with the full page and found it easier to have the quadrants smaller to help the ideas to flow naturally.

You can label the quadrants if that will help your process. Example quads:

Personal

Business/Work

House

Family

4. Write freely (no editing...just write) about whatever comes to mind until your timer goes off.

Raine initially would tell me that she would just sit there and couldn't think of anything. There's never a time when our brain isn't working. That was just resistance that Raine was experiencing. I encouraged her to doodle pictures until thoughts surfaced or the timer was up.

[doodling reduces anxiety and is therapeutic]

5. When the timer is up do a little dance! Brain dumping relieves your body of stress and anxiety.

How often you brain dump is going to depend on how often you're feeling overwhelmed and unproductive.

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Organization beats overwhelm!

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6. Now it’s time to organize the clutter.

Raine wrote random words that came to mind, several uncompleted tasks, projects she wanted to complete and appointments to schedule. Immediately she started feeling relieved, but she was just getting started.

Brain dumping is the beginning of an organizational planning system. 7. Action Jackson Time! 

You want to:

• Group the similar tasks together.
• Prioritize task groups:
  • [complete today, tomorrow, this week, next week, near future, etc.]
• what needs to be done now
• what needs to be done this week
• what needs to be done this month
• what needs to be done sometime in the near future
• what doesn’t need to be done at all
• what can be outsourced

Break down big tasks into bite sized tasks with due dates.

Store your brain dumps in Evernote with a simple snap of your camera phone and upload it on the mobile app. Add the new TDL (to do list) to Asana, so you can complete the tasks and get one step closer to your productivity goals.

Once you get the hang of brain dumping you can create a master list.

xo,

Kimber 

Never Launch On Your Birthday

Launching is stressful and birthdays are wonderful. I celebrate born days like no one else in America. A party ain't a party until its ran all through. 

Case in point: I've been celebrating my birthday since October and my birthday is today. 

Evernote Mastery was supposed to launch this month. [No sob story or excuses to follow, but pay close attention, because I want you to get the gems out this post.] 

Tuesday November 23rd to be exact. Monday's aren't really good for much but Monday Night Football and even then I don't watch football. So launching on a Monday wouldn't work. People are just trying to get through their day and they don't care what you or I have to say.

Truth hurts but it is what it is.

Then Thanksgiving is just a few days away. Competing with national holidays can be tough for micro businesses. Especially with all the Black Friday Sales. Perfect time for a birthday and all the gift cards at your disposable. Pretty bad for a launch. 

So I re-evaluated my strategy and release date.

Your business is a pathway for you to live an amazing life...however you define. You should never spend your birthday launching...never! There's 364 other days where you can launch your brilliance into the world. Your birthday is your personal new year, a fresh start, and a time for you and everyone that loves you to celebrate you.

I knew early on not to launch on my birthday but what I didn't plan for is the actual launch being so close to my birthday and how it would impact celebrations. I know launches are stressful despite the glitz and glam most filter over theirs. A recent $24,000 launch made me want to take a nap for the rest of the quarter, but it was my Huni's birthday and time to celebrate. 

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Birthdays are great for presents, discount codes, and not so discreet passwords. But not for launching.

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Work life balance isn't a myth or a secret cult that you have to pledge into. Balance exists with systems and strategy, so you don't have to work 24-7 and be captive to your business. 

Let’s be real everyday won't be a vacation, nor will you only work four hours a week. The balance comes when you plan in days for those you love and the things that you love to do...beyond work. Give yourself permission to change important dates you have set for your business and [or] how you run your business. Rid yourself of any guilt surrounded around these changes. You're the boss! 

3 chic tips to mastery:

1. Never launch on your birthday!

2. Write out three reasons why what you're creating is needed in the world. [Why should she hit purchase? How will it truly benefit her?]

3. Set up a notebook in Evernote to track your launch- create a note for your goals, desires, and tools you will need to execute the launch effectively.

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10 Reasons You Need to Use Evernote In Your Business

Evernote used to have a tagline: remember EVERYTHING!

And because of that most people get overwhelmed with Evernote. They aren't really sure what to do or where to put everything.

 

Here are 10 reasons to use Evernote in your business:

1. You can store EVERYTHING related to your biz in one place. Think of Evernote as your business hub.

[This alone should be the reason you start using Evernote in your business today...but I will proceed.]

2. You can access your business' everything from the cloud via computer, iOS or android device. So whenever you have an amazing idea open up Evernote, wherever you are.

3. Don't feel like typing out thoughts, use the talk to text option...boo yah! Feeling like a girl boss yet?

4. Sign up for a challenge, but don't have time to do it live. Email it to your Evernote and get to it when it's more convenient. Saves space in your email + you can even set up a reminder of when to go and look at the email you forwarded.

5. The Evernote web clipper is exactly what you need when you're ready to steal like an artist or keep up with the Kardashians.

6. Keep track of all the post-it's, business cards, handwritten notes and brain dumping notes that you have lying around your desk, that you can never seem to find, when you need them.

7. You can encrypt text, that you don’t want a “random” person reading.

8. Connect IFTTT to save your favorite things across the web into specific folders automatically. [Even everything you screenshot on your iphone...say what? Yes girl, even screenshots!]

9. Unlike other cloud storage applications, your upload MB resets every month.

10. Communicate and share notes and notebooks with your team, clients and biz besties.

Are you ready to master Evernote for your business? Click here to be notified of when Evernote Mastery goes live. That's right an end to the backend chaos! 8 modules teaching you the ins + outs of Evernote. PLUS swipe files to get you started. Oh my! 

Steal Like An Artist Business Strategy Using Evernote

A year ago I read “Steal Like An Artist: and ,” by Austin Kleon. It was a quick read, I remember reading it in two trips to the pool with the babes.

via

Truly gem after gem of awesome actionable business advice.

He even quotes the Bible:

“That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. ”

— Ecclesiastes 1:9

All to say: NOTHING IS ORIGINAL.

Now this is not a book review, although I would highly recommend you do check the book out. However, the takeaway I want you to get in one sentence + a glimpse at the image above : curate and steal from artists [we’re all artists + it’s all art] in order to up-level your business and set you apart from the rest. 

The irony, eh? Steal to be different. Yup...that's the theory. 

Be inspired and take action in the inspiration. No one is telling you to copy + paste. You may need to go read the book, if that is what you’re thinking.

No secret, but I adore my sissy pooh Beyonce. I am obsessed with her marketing and her interaction [or lack thereof] + marketing. No I won’t be dropping a surprise launch at midnight and announcing it on twitter. But just in case I change my mind, go follow me on twitter, I would hate for you to miss out on the in real time scoop. Anywho, I am a pop culture junkie and I study pop culture's strategies, marketing and "launches." I take the parts that I like and remix it to fit my style and business.

Say what?

Meanwhile on the lovely internets where online biz peeps and bloggers hang out, I see two methodologies [maybe four tops] being played out. It looks a little like this: 

1. Work with said coach [or stalk ALLLL their free content]

2. Begin using language of said coach or blogger. 

3. Business model is modeled after said person. [Carbon Copy]

4. Crickets to their offer that looks like the 545,678,787 *insert more numbers + commas as you see fit* other people hitting copy +paste of said coach.

What they need to do is hit CTRL + ALT + DELETE or COMMAND + ALT+ ESC for my mac peeps.

It's time for a reboot and a strategy to steal like an artist.

Remember, nothing is original. So the idea has been cycled over and over, before you even were exposed to it. And my friend, you are too amazing to just be spitting out sloppy seconds [ or even worse...remember that huge # we couldn’t agree on earlier].

Would you eat a piece of gum that has been chewed by just four people before you get your turn?

I'm grossed out just thinking about it. Imitation and straight up stealing other's intellectual property and website design is the same thing.

You look lame.

Your work doesn't seem as credible.

Oh and very importantly...please note you can be sued.  

“Good artists copy, GREAT artists steal”

— Picasso

To be great and to steal like an artist, you take the element and embrace it with everything that embodies YOU. 

So all of your life experiences, the way you think, the things you like, the things you love...everything that embodies you. 

Apple was not the first company to come up with the concept of a computer tablet. Toshiba was. Apple took the concept and built upon it and created the game changing iPad. 

“Start copying what you love. Copy copy copy copy. At the end of the copy you will find your self.
”

— Designer Yohji Yamamoto

In order to keep up with all this stealing, I use Evernote. In Evernote, I created a stack SLAA [I pronounce it slay! as in yass girl yass slay that into something amazing!]

A stack in Evernote is basically a file folder to group together your notebooks to keep things organized.

SLAA Notebooks I have:

1. Copy Swipe
2. Email Copy Swipe
3. Facebook Ad Copy SLAA [SLAA is behind this as I have another folder specifically for my facebook ad’s copy]
4. Launch Swipe
5. Opt-In Swipe
6. Sales Page Swipe
7. Set Up
8. Welcome Emails

Copy Swipe - If I’m on a website and see copy that just stops me in my tracks. Like wow, did you just seduce me with words.  I clip it into this folder, so I can evaluate why was it compelling + what made it stand out.

Email Copy Swipe - I receive an email, that I actually read all the way through. High five for keeping my attention and passing the scan test + making me go back to the top to read in detail. These get forwarded to evernote by my email.  

Facebook Ad Copy SLAA [SLAA is behind this as I have another folder specifically for my Facebook ad’s copy] - I have ad blocker  on my computer, so I rarely see ads. However, if I’m on facebook on my phone and see an ad that made me stop and look...I’ll take a screenshot and add it to this folder by creating a note or adding it to an existing note.

Launch Swipe - You know how you see something really cool, but forget about it when you want to tell someone else about it? Yeah. This folder exists for that very reason. Whenever I see amazing launches going on and I receive emails or see website pages that absolutely rock my world; I clip, screenshot or email them to this folder.

Opt-In Swipe - same premise here as the other folders. If I receive a really amazing opt-in, I forward that baby right here.

Sales Page Swipe - My sales pages are pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. However, I love the dynamics + psychology behind sales pages. You know the nerdy not so cool reasons of why do people buy. So when I see a unique page that doesn’t look like the million others BUY NOW, I save it in this here folder.

Set Up - there’s absolutely nothing in this folder. nada. zilch. I’m sure one day I’ll remember why I created this folder and then I’ll probably use it. [Sorry about this]

Welcome Emails - you guessed it...if I receive an amazing welcome email, it goes in here for me to analyze at a later date.

The truth of the matter is, I don’t clip or email or even screenshot weekly, but when I do see something striking, I send it to SLAA. When I’m uninspired or knew I had a good idea, but couldn’t quite remember what that idea was, I take a look at my SLAA folders.

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An excerpt from Steal Like An Artist

Don’t just steal the style, steal the thinking behind the style. You don’t want to look like your heroes, you want to see like your heroes. The reason to copy your heroes and their style is so that you might somehow get a glimpse into their minds. That’s what you really want — to internalize their way of looking at the world. If you just mimic the surface of somebody’s work without understanding where they are coming from, your work will never be anything more than a knockoff.

---

Never do I copy + paste, but I find a way to remix the element or elements so it is my own. I evaluate what made me notice it, so I can create something that would make you stop and notice.

It’s so easy to scroll past the same meme and image because we have been exposed to it over and over and over again. Our mind doesn’t even register it anymore.

So the first time you saw it, that person did their job in grabbing your attention.

And since nothing is original, it’s your job to create strategies and systems to help you to keep your lady focused. How do you steal like an artist?