"Don’t let perfectionism, fear, or disappointment hold you back" with Christine Franklyn

Christine Franklyn is the founder of The Good Living Network and is a health coach who is certified by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Through her online health coaching practice, she helps overwhelmed coaches and consultants lose weight and get healthier by first shedding their biggest stresses. She transforms the lives of her clients by giving them practical guidance to consistently fit in self-care, more homecooked meals, exercise, and quality sleep. Christine holds an MBA and has combined her passion for entrepreneurship with a desire to build a network of solopreneurs who support each other, as they become healthier and happier.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I have lived in Canada, Boston, and London but I am born and bred in Barbados. I am a true globetrotter who has visited 18 countries, returning to some of them repeatedly. I have the extraordinary perspective of a former urbanite who is making a living from my blended passion for wellness and writing, and everything else that brings me joy. Before I became a health coach, I had been an in-house and freelance copywriter and a marketing manager. Now, I prefer to celebrate life's simple pleasures in every piece I write about putting your well-being first and I thoroughly enjoy my role as the Category Director of Podcast Magazine's Kids & Family section. Interviewing interesting people lights me up as much as partnering with coaching clients to transform their health.

What inspired you to start your business?

I thought I was healthy…until I realized I actually wasn’t. Healthy eating and physical activity were the norm when I was growing up because that’s how my mother raised me. Friends and co-workers often asked me for advice as they saw me bring home cooked meals to work every day and generally stay fit my entire life. The one thing I was prepared for was work-related stress. It crept into my life silently until it took over and negatively impacted my health and relationships. Before I knew it, I had lost a shoe-size of weight. Yes, my shoes were literally falling off my feet.

After I decided I had to leave that job, I looked around and noticed that I was surrounded by many others who were suffering from burn out and didn’t know it. They were gaining weight as a result of stress and this led to host of health problems. It became my life’s mission to show people that there is a better way to live, without being stuck in a cycle of chronic stress.

Where is your business based?

I run my online business from sunny Barbados. What better place is there to set the tone for the slowing down and taking care of your health?

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

With the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s year-long program and thousands of hours of additional trainings under my belt, I launched my business by telling everyone I knew about it and sharing the link to my freebie to get people on my email list. I revamped my social media profiles to highlight my business and researched what I needed to do to build a personal brand. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

I offered a free consultation to friends and family members and asked them to spread the word about my health coaching practice. That led to my first podcast interview and many more opportunities since then. Never underestimate the power of enthusiastic referrals.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

I was initially overwhelmed by the thought of trying to get found on the massive internet and producing content consistently was much harder than I anticipated. I decided to focus on two key platforms – my health and wellness blog, which I had started a couple of years before I launched my business, and LinkedIn, where I would find my target market of coaches and consultants and produce the insightful content that is more my style.

How do you stay focused?

I have very clear intentions – to make a living doing what I love, which is experiencing the beauty of human connection and using my experiences to help others keep health issues at bay so they can live long, happy lives. Getting sidetracked or giving up is not an option when you’re on a mission. This is what I was put here to do. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

I have made bold decisions throughout my life and I have positioned myself as the go-to coach who can help stressed-out solopreneurs break out of the just-getting-through-the-day mold so they become healthy, energetic and confident enough to live life to the fullest. 

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

LinkedIn has proven to be an excellent platform for me to build relationships that turn into quality leads. My aim is always to get these leads onto my email list sooner or later so they can truly get to know, trust and like me and convert to clients. 

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Don’t let perfectionism, fear or disappointment hold you back. Look for the lessons in everything that happens on your journey. When I learned to stop being hard on myself and just go for it, my business took off.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

I love, love, love Evernote. I can audio record my thoughts and ideas as they come to mind. I create my to-do list. I can make client notes and add attachments to share with clients in one space. It’s fantastic. It’s worth it to pay the annual fee to be able to use it on more than one device.

My favorite blog is https://www.wellandgood.com/ because it covers everything related to having a good life and they’ve taken the time to present the articles on an attractive, easy-to-navigate website.

The book ‘Everybody Writes’ by Ann Handley helped me be a better writer on my blog and everywhere else. 

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

The Wave App is an easy-to-use invoicing tool for business owners like me who don’t like numbers. Best of all, you can use it for free and still get great financial analytics.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Oprah Winfrey is my business role model because she built a communications empire from scratch, just what I plan to do as I continue to communicate with others using various media to help them improve their health.

How do you balance work and life?

I am strict about scheduling almost everything and I don’t take on last minute requests. My Google Calendar is one of my best friends. I put everything personal and business-related there, with notifications, even for shut-off-from-work time and bedtime.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Going for a walk or traveling. I find any change of scenery refreshing.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I plan to launch an online course for those who want to use a self-guided approach to improve specific aspects of their health.

How can our readers connect with you?
https://goodlivingatlast.com/

christinefranklyn.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinefranklyn/

https://instagram.com/thegoodlife.bb

"Businesses don't become successful overnight" with Martina Taylor

Photo Credits: Mariama Cham

Martina Taylor is the founder and Senior Managing Partner of Baltimore Property Partners, a real estate company that is focused on helping to buy real estate and building better communities in Maryland.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I moved to the United States from Sierra Leone at a young age in search of better opportunities.  My background is in Cybersecurity. For my studies,  I have a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and a Master’s in Engineering with a focus in Cybersecurity, both from Morgan State University. Currently, I am pursuing a doctorate degree in Business Administration.

What inspired you to start your business?

As a Marylander who has lived in different cities in Maryland for the last thirteen years, I have always been in the business of serving people. I worked as a caregiver for almost six years, taking care of the elderly. It was through the desire of making a difference that I first found my passion for real estate investments.

Where is your business based?

We are based in Rockville, Maryland 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

Before starting my business, I did a lot of research and attended many business and networking events,  real estate seminars, masterminds, and conferences to meet people who were already in the business and learn as much as I could from them. It also helped build my network and my business as some of those people have become mentors and business partners. 

Next, I registered the business in my state and got a business license.

Then I created a logo, bought a domain name, and built a website.

Next, I got a business email and phone number.

Then I started marketing the business.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Digital marketing: Social media marketing and SEO has been a game-changer for my real estate business.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge has been my expectations of other people. I had to learn the hard way that I shouldn’t always expect to get the best of other people. I have overcome that challenge by signing contracts for many things in my business. People can deny what they said but if you use the proper route, they cannot deny their signature.

How do you stay focused?

I meditate. I write down my goals and review them on a daily basis. I also create to-do lists.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

My business always offers something more. Also, people love stress-free services and convenience, so we work to ensure that we are giving the best service.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Digital marketing: Social media and Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Start. Believe You Can. Work Hard. Pray Harder and be patient. Businesses don't become successful overnight.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. It changed my mindset and inspired me to start my business.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Elite RESS. It is a real estate software tool that I use to search for properties and start marketing campaigns.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Jay Z. What I admire about him is that he continues to expand his portfolio to include investments inside and outside of music. As a business person, I think that he is an inspiration to my generation of entrepreneurs.  

How do you balance work and life?

I manage my time well and I have a great support system. I like to work early in the day and after a certain time, I become unavailable for work and business to have time for myself, my family, and friends.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I love to watch comedy movies and shows. I also take mini-vacations (weekend getaways) when I can.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I am always looking for new ways to grow my business. So the next six months, I will be trying out new marketing strategies, buying more properties, and building my portfolio.

How can our readers connect with you?

 Email: matay@bpphomebuyers.com

Website: www.bpphomebuyers.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaltimorePropertyHomeBuyers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baltimore-property-partners/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BppHomebuyers

Interview with Stefany Nieto, Co-Founder and COO, Gwella Mushrooms

Photo Credit: Christian D’Antonio, @dantoniocd

Stefany Nieto is a seasoned entrepreneur whose values are rooted in improving life, globally. She is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Gwella,

a wellness company designing mushrooms for modern life. Her values have taken her around the world, re-conceptualizing ideas and creating meaningful impact, including food sovereignty in the Arctic. Deeply committed to entrepreneurial ecosystems, Stefany has continued to consult for startups and mentor women and newcomer entrepreneurs.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I started my first company when I was 19. For a long time, I felt I was ‘too young’ to be a founder and so I took it upon myself to get the best of both worlds and worked anywhere between 2-4 jobs simultaneously. I dipped my toes in diverse sectors ranging from government, a Fortune 500 company, accelerators, consulting, teaching, and charitable endeavours. All to say, I learned that I love variety in my day-to-day life. These experiences gave me the opportunity to build a well-rounded professional background which landed me where I am today: Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer for Gwella. 

What inspired you to start your business?

I fell into entrepreneurship. Gwella is actually my third start-up! The first two were social ventures that got off the ground to help improve the standard of living and quality of life people were facing in developing communities (e.g. better drinking water and food security). Once I got the hang of building up teams and structuring operations to meet milestones, it became a personal joy. From there, I was hooked on the entrepreneurship lifestyle. I love the ability to have a say in strategy and the freedom to take action to move the action forward. For Gwella, I was inspired by my own personal love for psychedelics and their ability to improve lives. I guess that’s the commonality between all of the projects I’ve begun! 

Where is your business based?

Toronto, ON. 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

For Gwella, while we initially knew we wanted to work with mushrooms and wellness, our first step was really to build a strong team. We asked our networks for referrals to top talent and began assembling a group of people passionate about the space and experts in their fields.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Talking to people! I’m an extrovert by nature and so immersing myself in target spaces while pitching on the go is my tried and true method for creating buzz for any project I'm working on.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

When I built my first company, I hired and developed it with several close friends. While building a company with your best friends sounds like a good idea (read: fun), the day-to-day operations can become a nightmare. Managing a team with diverse personalities is a challenge on its own, but mixing in friendships leads to bringing the office home with you and that can be incredibly draining both for the company and for your own mental health. I still love being close to my teammates and co-founders but I now take precautions when building relationships to ensure mutual boundaries are in place that can preemptively save me from conflict and headaches. 

How do you stay focused?

I try to take reasonable breaks and prioritize my mental health. This works wonders when you’re struggling to balance responsibilities.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

While most companies in the psychedelics space focus on clinical applications, we create technically crafted mushroom-based products and tools that are focused on improving personal wellness. With Gwella, we’re focused on supporting health optimization. We are leveraging our expertise in building wellness solutions to elevate holistic health and wellbeing; mind, body, and spirit.

Our products guide and enable the safe and effective use of these substances in non-clinical settings.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Because we’ve created a product that works, tastes great, and looks beautiful, activating a budget for samples has been an incredibly useful marketing strategy. By giving people the opportunity to try our product, we’ve found they’ve come back to purchase on their own as well.  

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Start today. Most people will wait to start working on a business idea because they’re waiting for something. Whether it’s a team, validation, the “right” time, etc, none of these will ever come at the perfect time because the perfect time doesn’t exist. By starting today I mean just starting to build out your idea, sketch that logo, tell a friend, draft a Business Model Canvas, or build a survey for your ideal customer. Get started because tomorrow may be too late.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

App - Workflowy, it’s a great and simple to-do list app. It keeps me organized, especially when ideas are written on it mid-sleep.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

The lean canvas, it’s a great tool for drafting new projects, companies, or ideas in general.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Sheldon Levy, because of his open-mindedness. He has this open-door policy where he will take almost any meeting that comes his way and provide insight and feedback to any topic based on his vast experience and knowledge. It’s this open-mindedness and candid feedback that helped build the work ethic I have today.

How do you balance work and life?

Pre-COVID, I used to take 3-4 days to myself every two months to travel. Today, I set aside time every week for myself, whether that’s work I need to catch up on or personal chores. Time for life outside of work is incredibly important and I still occasionally struggle with remembering!

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Bike rides in big parks, away from city sirens.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

1. Growing Gwella / advocating for psychedelic regulation reform to provide mushroom accessibility to the masses.

2. Passing off Green Iglu to someone as passionate as I am about food security and who can grow the organization further than I ever imagined.

3. Making time for self-care.

4. Fostering the relationships that mean the most to me. Being there for them, you know?

How can our readers connect with you?

LinkedIn!

Next Chapters: It’s never too late to follow your dreams with Kimberly Schafer

Colin McDonald

Kimberly Schafer is a lifelong explorer, retiring from a decades-long career in academic research administration and embarking on a new chapter as an inventor and entrepreneur. She started working on her invention, the Ring Thing®, in 2014 and launched her patented product in 2020. She is active in service, travels often and far, has a close circle of family and friends, and has been a practicing Buddhist for more than 20 years. Kimberly is fully enjoying this next chapter in life.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I grew up in Northern California, largely on a ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills. My parents co-directed an alternative boarding school on the ranch for several years and when we moved to Chico, California as I entered high school, it felt like moving to the big city – the highway had two lanes! After graduating from Chico State University, I went on to get a Masters's Degree in Preventive Medicine from The Ohio State University and spent 33 years at UC San Diego in academic medical research. I was the Administrative Director of the Center for AIDS Research for 15 years, and the Director of Clinical Operations for the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study for more than 14 years. I had the gift of working with some of the world’s best scientists, and am forever grateful for that opportunity.

I have been a Buddhist for more than 20 years, and have had the privilege of traveling to Nepal 10 times to receive teachings. I love to travel and have been all over the world. Traveling has taught me that we really are a global village, and also that kindness is an international language, whether you speak the local language or not. And I’ve learned that a smile is never wasted.

What inspired you to start your business?

When I went to nail salons, there was nowhere safe to store my rings. I kept tucking them into my purse or leaving them on top of the technician’s table. I thought there had to be a better way, and I decided to see what I could design. Then as I talked to friends it became clear that there are so many places people need to take off their rings. Not just the nail salon, but at the gym, spa, while traveling, working at home, and more. It seemed like an unmet need that crossed all ages, genders, and walks of life. It was so different from my work at the University, and I was excited to try. I didn’t want to go through life wondering what might have been – I decided to go for it. I continued working at the University full-time, so my progress on my business was slow but steady. I’ve recently retired from the University and am focusing on my business as my next chapter.

Where is your business based?

I am based in San Diego, California, and the Ring Thing® is manufactured in National City, California, just 15 minutes from my home. It was important to me that it was made in the US.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

My first prototype was made from a paper towel–like origami. I showed it to friends, got input, tweaked the design a little, and in 2014 I hired an engineering intern to help with the drawings. We made 3-D models until I felt I had it right. I submitted a provisional patent application and the business developed from there. I am currently a one-woman business but received support and encouragement from friends and family at each step.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

I have found that putting myself out there has been the most effective way to raise awareness of my business. That has included personal presentations, talking to strangers, having active social media accounts, reaching out to other businesses, and selling on Etsy, Amazon, and through my own website. Everyone either has lost a ring or knows someone who has, so it is easy for people to see the need and to connect regarding their stories. I am naturally an introvert, so this has been a really good lesson in the power of vulnerability and connection.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenges have been my own lack of business experience and also figuring out how to manufacture the Ring Thing®.  My background is in science and administration, and moving into the world of business and marketing has been both challenging and exciting. This is my next chapter in life and while I am not young in years, I am a young entrepreneur and learning every day. I receive mentoring through the SCORE program, and that has been instrumental in helping me understand and grow my business. I also make it a point to talk often to business people I meet, usually through my Rotary Club or through friends – I ask a lot of questions, listen and learn as much as I can.  For the manufacturing component, I really didn’t know where to start and didn’t know anything about injection molding. I did a lot of research, talked with different companies, and identified a local injection molding company to work with. It took me a few years to figure it out and I feel like I’ve learned a whole new language.

How do you stay focused?

I meditate every day and am a big user of lists. I start each day with a list of what I will accomplish, the people I will reach out to, and any items not done from the previous day.  I also have accountability built into my life, including my SCORE mentors and friends. Being a sole proprietor can lead to a lack of focus, i.e., what will it matter if I take a few days off? Having planned accountability to myself and to others has helped me stay focused.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

There is almost no competition, so I focus on raising awareness about the Ring Thing® and the benefits of having a safe and easy way to keep rings safe and avoid loss. For me, the main competition is people not being aware of how often they put rings into their purses, pockets, gym bags, or shoes with no protection. Once people understand the idea, it is very well received. 

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Reaching out to potential customers and vendors every day. I do something related to Ring Thing marketing every single day. I find that by reaching out to people, I hear their feedback and get new marketing ideas. For example, someone I talked to about the Ring Thing® pointed out that mechanics really could benefit from it, as they need to take their rings off to work with their tools. I had never thought of that and perhaps would not have if I hadn’t been listening to this person’s thoughts. I try to find the right balance of sharing information about the Ring Thing® and listening to feedback and new ideas.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Don’t give up! When I was in graduate school, my advisor told me that the people who finish their degrees aren’t necessarily the smartest, but they were the most persistent. I have found this to be true in every aspect of life – take one step at a time, and keep moving forward. I’ve decided that my spirit animal is a woodpecker, and that has both made me smile a lot and also rings very true. Persistence is key.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app is Notes. I use it all of the time and it helps me keep track of to-do lists, bits of information, and brainstorming notes-to-self. My favorite blog right now is Mugwort-Born, which is Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s memoir-in-progress. I love reading his stories and he has a wonderful way of expressing himself.  My favorite book is The Little Prince. I have loved it since reading it as a child, and find that its simplicity and depth teach me something every time I read it. I even have a pop-up version!

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

My SCORE mentors are my favorite business resources. They have been invaluable – they have an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience and are very generous about sharing what they have learned in business. I reach out to them as needed between our scheduled sessions and they teach and inspire me every time we talk.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Diane Von Furstenberg is my business role model. She started with one dress style, and it’s now forever linked with her. She started simply, stayed true to her vision, and believed in herself. She also is very involved in philanthropy, which is important to me. I donate a portion of the sale of each Ring Thing® to anti-human trafficking non-profits, and I hope to be able to give more as my business grows.

How do you balance work and life?

I find time every day to meditate, play with my dogs, spend time with my loved ones, exercise, and take a moment to look around to see the beauty nearby. I don’t put specific time requirements on these things, but make sure to do them every day. Even if the time spent on each is short on a given day, I feel better for having done them, and it helps me feel the ground under my feet.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I love to go on long walks – it always clears my mind. Sometimes I listen to podcasts or talk on the phone while walking, and sometimes I just walk. I usually go for a 6-mile walk every Saturday morning, and look forward to it during the week. Feeling the air, sun and wind are very effective stress relievers for me.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I am focusing on growing my business and will be doing my first live events – golf tournaments, bridal shows, and more. I plan to connect with more companies, including jewelry and clothing, and increase awareness of the Ring Thing ®. I am upgrading my marketing materials, including photos and brochures, and will use them for marketing and on my website. I am also going on vacation with 4 of my girlfriends this summer. We are going to St. Lucia for a week to rest and enjoy being together.

How can our readers connect with you?

I would love to connect and can be reached through the following:

Website: https://ringthing.co/
Instagram: @Ring_Thing_
Facebook: Ring Thing
Etsy: etsy.com/shop/RingThingDesigns

"Small, incremental steps towards a bigger goal will ensure you are making daily progress without the overwhelm" with Lucy Clarke

Lucy Clarke

Lucy Clarke is the co-founder of Get Blogged, a blogger outreach and link-building agency based in the UK. She helps to connect the best bloggers with the best brands so companies can secure glittering coverage and improve their search engine rankings. Lucy co-leads a team of ten staff, as well as overseeing client operations and marketing, and orchestrating creative campaigns. She’s also a mum of three and writes a blog of her own where she covers topics including parenting, postnatal mental health, and family lifestyle. 

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I’ve always possessed a strong creative streak, and been influenced by my entrepreneurial father. After completing a fashion marketing degree where I specialised in graphic design at Solent University, I went to work for a small fashion design brand back in my hometown in Suffolk. There I worked closely with the founder, learning the challenges of running a small business.

I then moved my career to Berkshire where I worked in the web development team for a leading wine company. It’s there I learned front-end web development and honed my graphic design skills, working closely with the marketing team to improve sales revenue and customer engagement.

I then won my dream role as a graphic designer at a fashion trends company based in Mornington Crescent in London. My dream was unfortunately dashed by the expensive and tiring commute into London every day, so it was then I decided to take the leap from being employed to being a freelancer.

Having made lots of connections in previous roles I had a great base of freelance clients and I was doing what I loved. After a few years of freelancing and losing my passion for designing I decided to take a jump back into being employed, and took an opportunity at a leading whitelabel dating platform.

As a Marketing Manager for one of their dating sites, I was responsible for improving membership revenue and engagement rates, and this fast paced, results-led role gave me the buzz I was lacking. After a good few years of not feeling totally satisfied in design roles, it was clear that I was a lot more suited to marketing. It’s there I met my business partner, Ben, and the rest is history.

What inspired you to start your business?

As a blogger, I’d been working with brands on sponsored content and product reviews for almost ten years, so I’d learned exactly what worked, what businesses were looking for, and the essential elements of a successful campaign. My co-founder Ben was a colleague in a previous role and had extensive experience in the technical side of SEO. Together, we knew that we could deliver stellar service and fill a big gap in the market!

Where is your business based?

I’m based in Hampshire in the South East of England, and the entire Get Blogged team work remotely throughout the UK. Managing a remote team is not without its challenges, but it works amazingly for us. It’s allowed us to recruit the very best talent for our roles without geographical constraints, and everyone loves the flexibility of working from home.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

 It all started with deciding to automate some of the manual processes we were going through when doing blogger outreach. With a strong background in design, web development, and SEO, this process came very easy to Ben and me and we built a platform ourselves from the ground up. We already had relationships with thousands of bloggers, so we onboarded them to our new automated solution and that was the start of Get Blogged!

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Word of mouth has been an exceptional way for us to attract both bloggers and brands to the platform. Using the methods that we advocate for our clients, we also manage to successfully bring highly targeted traffic to our site via search engine optimisation.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Gaining the trust of our community of bloggers has been so important to our success. They’re essentially our suppliers, and it’s so important for us to have a positive relationship with them so we’re able to fulfill our clients’ goals.

Thanks to my own background as a blogger, I feel I’m able to understand what really makes them tick and speak to them in their language. We now have a community of over 17,000 creators, and we’ve built strong relationships via open and honest communication, fair and transparent payment terms, and ongoing initiatives to support the blogger community. We’ve sponsored tickets at industry events for bloggers who might not have otherwise been able to attend, for example, and we regularly create resources to help them to grow their sites.

How do you stay focused?

 Having worked from home for the majority of my working life, I have a strong, disciplined routine. I have a dedicated desk in my house, I set myself daily tasks and deadlines using Asana and make sure that I complete them on time. I tend to dedicate Monday to Friday to work (days, and evenings when I need to) so that I can stay on track, then switch off at the weekends where the downtime refreshes me for another week of work.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

One of our strong USPs is the relationships we have with our bloggers. We regularly work with some of the best content creators in their respective niches, giving brands access to highly engaged audiences.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Our search engine optimisation (SEO) strategy has ensured that when people are searching Google for the kind of help and support that we can provide, our site appears within the top results. This generates high-quality leads for us on a daily basis, and it’s something that we continue to hone and tweak for the very best results.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

One step at a time. As an entrepreneur, you can get overwhelmed by all the business ideas and initiatives buzzing around your head. Small, incremental steps towards a bigger goal will ensure you are making daily progress without the overwhelm.

Also, no matter how busy you are, make time every day to learn. Whether it’s an online course, an ebook, an audiobook or a webinar, “learning is earning” and it’s so incredibly important to keep absorbing new tactics and skills.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

Everyone who knows me knows my favourite apps are takeaway ones! When my blood sugar is low I become erratic and can’t focus, and sometimes when long client calls are directly followed by school runs and nursery pickups I need someone to take care of the cooking!

There’s no one favourite blog that I read regularly but I come across all sorts of amazing resources in this industry.

Currently, I am reading ‘Scaling Up’ by Verne Harnish which is a great book to read when you’re ready to or have aspirations to scale up your business. It talks about accountability within teams and company structures to allow for growth and success. The absolute favourite that I recommend to everyone is ‘They Ask You Answer’ by Marcus Sheridan. It’s an amazingly inspirational book to read if you’re planning a content marketing strategy. I always buy the hard copy and the audiobook as I have a very short attention span when reading books (always have) so I like to listen whilst cleaning or cooking or driving, then reference the hard copy when I need to look at diagrams or to highlight parts.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Business coaching has been very valuable to me personally and professionally. My coach has built my self-esteem, supported me through mental health issues, and guided me when the business has gone through challenging times. Coaching is a resource that Ben and I both tap into on a regular basis, and have gained a huge amount from.

Who is your business role model? Why?

My business partner, Ben. It might sound corny but I look up to him more than he probably knows! He is a steady, confident, kind human and he knows his sh&t! I admire the way he articulates things and I have learned a great deal from him over the past 10 years of knowing and working with him.

How do you balance work and life?

Being a mum of three young children, I’m not sure I can balance work and life. I do work hard to keep sane, but I do need to step back from work occasionally to get my personal life back on track. I rely on full-time childcare and a part-time housekeeper to keep things running personally.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Without a doubt, the beach. It’s my happy place. Come rain or shine you will find us at the quietest beaches as often as possible. As soon as I see the sea, I am happy.

When I am not at the beach or at my desk, I have weekly 121 virtual yoga training which returns my zen back to healthy levels!

What do you have planned for the next six months?

We’ve spent a lot of time recently honing our Marketplace solution, which is a self-service option for brands who want to connect with bloggers. Right now we’re really excited to grow this further, and to continue to provide an outstanding service to the businesses who join us!

How can our readers connect with you?

You can find out more about our work at GetBlogged.net.

We’re also on Twitter @Get_Blogged and Facebook Facebook.com/GetBlogged
You can also connect with me on Linkedin - I’d love to hear from you.

"From Tax Accountant to Toy Creator" with Sara Feldstein

Photos by Lisa Tkatch

Sara Feldstein is the founder and toy creator behind the e-commerce toy company Barumba Play. In her pre-pandemic life she was a tax professional working with small businesses and now spends her days playing with toys and calling it work. She used her experience with depression to stop living a life of chronic stress and exhaustion and find more play in her life.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I am actually a Chartered Accountant and worked in tax for over ten years. I was a Partner in my family’s accounting firm in Canada. When the first lockdown happened, I found myself transitioning our accounting firm to being a remote office, dealing with my client’s struggling businesses, managing employees, tax season, and full-time parenting a one and three-year-old.  It did not go well!

What inspired you to start your business?

Attempting to juggle it all during lockdown I ended up experiencing burnout. With too much on my plate, no childcare support, and no end in sight, my mental health started to deteriorate. I became unfocused, unmotivated, and had difficulty retaining information. I did not make any changes and tried to push through, but you can not outwork burnout. My burnout turned into depression and it got so bad I had to leave my career. This meant leaving a firm I had been building for ten years and walking away from my future plans to succeed my father in the company.

Where is your business based?

We are located just outside of Toronto, Canada.

How did you start your business?

When I was home working all the time I was trying to use toys (and not just screens) to entertain my kids when I had meetings. And so many of our toys just did not keep them engaged for long periods of time. Some broke easily or had no way of being cleaned and I started to really become preoccupied with the idea that toys could be better and do more.

 What were the first steps you took?

Played with toys of course! I made a list of the common activities kids like to do such as climbing, crawling, and sliding, and tried to figure out how to create a “new classic” toy that could incorporate it all. I used my kid’s foam blocks to play around with ideas and explore shapes to think about how these pieces would work BIG and how they can be used as an amazing imaginative toy for all ages. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

I started a toy testing program as part of my product development process. I would lend a sample product to real families to use for feedback. It didn’t hurt that they would provide me photos to use for social media too! This allowed me to start to have people know about the brand before I even launched. I used these photos to start posting on social media two months before launch so that I already accumulated a few hundred followers and emails by launch day. Now the toy testing program has morphed into a “try before you buy” program where individuals reach out to borrow a play couch for a few days to see if they like it before committing to one. This lets families experience how much their kids will love and use this product, feel the quality first hand, and have an opportunity to have any questions or concerns answered. 

How do you stay focused?

Determining my to-do tasks the night before has been a game-changer. Instead of sitting down at the computer thinking about what to work on, I determine in advance the most important items be tackled the next day so when I get to work I can just start. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

Attention to detail and really considering the parents at every stage of the business, not just the kids. We have done things like add waterproof liners, zipper pockets to prevent scratches and made our covers washable. We also try and inject fun at each touchpoint. Our liability waiver is in rhyme. We double box our product to ensure it arrives unharmed and has turned our packaging into a giant colouring box that can be cut out into a house. Kids love playing with boxes so, in line with our philosophy, “toys that do more™, we did not want to waste the opportunity to do something fun with the box. 

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

It’s not very original but just start. Realize that no one is smarter than you, no one really knows what they are doing and everyone is mostly figuring it out as they go. I heard the idea to think about what you imagine your obituary is going to sound like and go backwards from there to figure out how you want to live your life. When I did this exercise and thought, “Became an accountant at age 21 and died an accountant at her desk with calculator in hand,” I thought to myself, that doesn’t sound like a very exciting life. This helped convince me to treat life a little more like a game and take the leap.

I also think mothers in particular are very good at putting everyone else first and putting themselves last. We forget to make ourselves happy and meet our own needs. So I would encourage everyone to think about what makes them happy, or what gives them energy and do more of that! Happiness and energy will translate into creativity and productivity.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why? I love books and audiobooks and couldn’t possibly pick one favourite. At the moment I am into autobiographies and am currently reading Richard Branson’s “Finding My Virginity.”

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

This is a tough one as I rely on so many tools to run my business. I love Canva though. It makes social media so much easier.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Sara Blakely just seems so nice and down-to-earth. She grew a massive company without any external financing and did it all with a sense of humor. 

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I need time alone to exercise, read, or go for a walk alone to destress. I used to not take the time for myself to do these things and felt selfish when I did do them. Now I truly understand that taking care of yourself is not selfish and in fact, is necessary. If you don’t take care of yourself, it is difficult to take care of those around you.

What do you have planned for the next six months? Getting more awareness for Barumba Play and launching some variations of our core product.

How can our readers connect with you?

sara@barumba.ca

@barumbaplay on social media

Sara Feldstein on Linkedin

One on One with Nellie Akalp: Successful Serial Entrepreneur and Mother of Four

Inside North Ranch Magazine

Nellie Akalp is a passionate entrepreneur, business expert, and mother of four. She and her husband have been happily married and running businesses together since 1997. Their first business was started with $100 and eight years later it sold for $20 million. Today, Nellie is the Co-Founder and CEO of CorpNet.com, a trusted resource and service provider for business incorporation, LLC filings, and corporate compliance services in all 50 states.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I am a law school graduate who basically decided, upon graduation time, that I did not want to go the typical route of others after law school. Instead, I found myself drawn to the idea of entrepreneurship. When I was finishing up law school and my husband was studying for the bar exam, we decided to invest $100 to launch our first business and never looked back!

What inspired you to start your business?

I was inspired by many facets in life to become an entrepreneur. The main inspiration were my grandparents who owned an antique store. As a child I was able to go to their shop, see the backend work and understand the strength it took to run a successful business. Although my current business has nothing to do with antiquing, I know that the fundamental skills of business ownership is something I absorbed as a child and young adult in their store. 

Where is your business based?

My business is based in beautiful southern California. Westlake Village to be exact!

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

Well with our first business, we literally took $100 to purchase a one-page website back in 1997. This was in the early days of the internet, so it was an entirely different ballgame than it is now. It was, in may ways, easier to get established and business immediately started flowing in. With my current company, it was a much different experience. We spent a lot more to build a fleshed out website with the goal of streamlining the business incorporation and compliance process. So instead of just a singular form as in 1997, our site was now much more complex. But the industry in 2009 when we launched CorpNet was also much more saturated so we had to invest more upfront to stand the chance against competitors. After our site was up, we just started organically getting the word out to our network letting them know we were back in business and then established ourselves on social media to market our services online.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Over the years, I’ve found the best way to raise awareness for CorpNet was to establish myself as an expert in the industry by providing educational content about legally starting a business in as many places as I could. I spoke at events, I hosted webinars, I was a guest on podcasts, etc. I just tried to get myself out there as much as possible to share the knowledge I know about the industry in order to help answer other people’s questions and hopefully bring in business.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge over all of the years, no matter how much success I find from my business and how well my children are flourishing, is my personal struggle with anxiety and depression. I may appear to have it all, but on the inside many days I’m filled with self-doubt about my choices. I’m afraid I will let my husband my team down, I’m afraid that the panic-attacks that lurk around me will come up and grab hold and won’t let go. I constantly put on a smile so others don’t get affected by my struggles, but that only hinders my internal struggles. The best way I’ve found to overcome these dark times is to unplug, regroup, focus what I’m grateful for and pray for strength. Going deep, taking time for myself and meditating is really powerful and healing and helps me get back on my feet.

How do you stay focused?

As a mother of four who runs a business alongside my husband, I’m pulled in many different directions throughout the day. Mom, wife, CEO - all can happen within an hour! So to stay focused I just stay in the moment. I tend to whatever role is needed at that time and move onto the next. If I get ahead of myself, my to-dos can get pretty overwhelming! So again, just staying in the moment and tending to what’s needed at that moment allows me to be laser focused on that task or person. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

We launched CorpNet at the height of the recession and amongst an array of very big corporate competitors. At first I thought the only way we’d survive is to pour a ton of our budget into advertising so we stood out against those bigger corporations. But that only left us bleeding for cash month after month. As we were inching closer to having to close our doors, we decided to put in one last effort by pulling the plug on those ads and just seeing what happened. To our delight, our phones were still ringing, orders were still coming in and our website traffic was still strong. So as a result of that, I realized that our business stands out because we are a small and dedicated team that goes out of our way to make each of our clients and partners happy. We’re not a corporate company that automates or outsources tasks. We do it all in house and our customers appreciate that. Word of mouth is our strongest asset as is social media.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Our most effective marketing strategy has been focusing on content marketing. Establishing a blog for our company, creating our own content and also sharing content with third-party outlets has been monumental in establishing CorpNet as a leader in the space. We were able to remind the online community that we’re not just a service, but we’re a resource that can answer questions and help entrepreneurs who may be struggling.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

My best piece of advice for entrepreneurs just starting out is to ensure they have the passion for the product or service they are trying to launch. The reason for this is because there will be LOTS of hardships and times when funds are very limited. In those difficult days, if the passion for the business is not intact, many entrepreneurs will give up as they’re in it for the wrong reasons. I’ve known many entrepreneurs who start businesses with the goal of just making money, and sadly they don’t make it because that’s just not realistic most of the time!

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app by far is InsightTimer. It’s an app I was recommended to deal with my anxiety and depression as it offers meditation tips and prayers 24/7 which help get me through any issues I’m having in any particular moment. My favorite blog and book are by Berne Browns. The book is called The Gifts of Imperfection, Rising Strong and Daring Greatly and it just speaks to me.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

My favorite business tool is Microsoft office tools and teams app. Especially during this pandemic, it has helped my team an I stay connected and work flowing regardless of our locations.

Who is your business role model? Why?

My business role model is Oprah Winfrey. Her story, her strength and her true wisdom is so inspiring to me. If I find a great business quote that speaks to me, often times it ends up being from Oprah without me even knowing it! 

How do you balance work and life?

As I mentioned a few questions above, I balance by staying present in the moment and dealing with whatever task may be infant of me  - whether with my children, my husband or my business. I remind myself that it’s OK not to be perfect and that I am not perfect and I don’t have to be perfect. There doesn’t have to be a 50/50 balance of work and home life and that makes it easier.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

My favorite way to decompress is to wake up earlier than the rest of my family and meditate in a quiet house. If for any reason I cannot get centered to meditate, I always fall back on exercise which just clears my head and sets the stage for a productive day.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I actually have been really inspired to write a book so I hope to get that started in the next few months. I will also be focused on growing and scaling my business as we are slated to do our best year yet in 2021! Finally, now that my family and I are all vaccinated I cannot wait to travel again with my husband and children and celebrate life!

How can our readers connect with you?

I admit that I am not as active on social media personally as I used to be. But all of my content and insight can be found through CorpNet’s social channels: twitter.com/CorpNet and facebook.com/CorpNet. In addition, you can always reach out via my website: www.corpnet.com

"Don’t underestimate the knowledge that you’ve gained from your current experience and how you can leverage this to build your own business" with Kristine Thorndyke

Photo Credit: Brianne Hooker

Kristine is a teacher turned entrepreneur. She’s working to spread access to reliable and affordable test prep and academic advising for students pursuing higher education through her business, Test Prep Nerds.    

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I am from a very small town in Indiana and graduated from Indiana University in 2013 with a degree in marketing and international business. Immediately upon graduation, I took a sales job in Los Angeles, and found myself extremely unfulfilled by my work.

I’d always loved traveling and did a ton of it during college through various travel abroad programs and found myself bummed that I really didn’t have any more time to travel or explore, as most of my personal leave was spent going home to visit family or taking a personal day for general rest and mental wellbeing. So, after 12 months, I decided to go teach English for a year in China. The initial idea was to teach for 1 year, get it off my chest, and come back to work in the 9-to-5 again. Once I started teaching, however, I was extremely happy with my work-life balance as a teacher and the extended time for travel, reading, and general wellbeing.  

Since then, I have lived and worked in China, the US, and have also spent a year traveling in South America while building my online business.  

What inspired you to start your business?

The catalyst for starting my business was when I was gearing up to take the LSAT while abroad in China (yes, I wanted to be a lawyer way back when) and found it difficult to find a good LSAT prep company that was all online and on-demand. I didn’t want to see a live instructor, as time change would be super difficult to find a mutually agreeable time for class.  By word-of-mouth, a friend told me about a prep company he had used, and I took the LSAT that summer.

I didn’t end up going to law school, but did find myself interested in the business of education as well as how these prep companies could reach more people instead of relying on word-of-mouth, like I had experienced. Coming from a marketing background, I started freelancing for test prep companies, doing their digital marketing and blogging. I was able to see how much traffic I could bring to these companies and the power that this had on getting the right prep to an audience who otherwise may not have been able to afford expensive test prep products in-person.  

Since then, I launched my own company that not only directs students to the best products through my blog, but I also offer my own free practice and advising for students. I love working with students and helping them to demystify testing and the application process, because I have experienced the difficulty of trying to make these important and difficult choices while abroad with very few resources.

Where is your business based?

My business is based in Indiana and our audience is mostly American.  

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

In order to start my own business, I first and foremost had to get my blog up and running, as this is my main means of reaching my intended audience. I needed to set up the analytics for my Wordpress site, structure my website and what kind of categories of blog content I wanted to produce, as well as put together the design of my website. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

I’ve spent a significant portion of my time working in digital marketing for companies and have learned how to utilize Google search for audience reach. For me, I blog and am able to optimize my pages using SEO best practices. By utilizing organic search for my main source of traffic, I am able to guarantee that I spend less time worrying about marketing and more time worrying about whether I am putting together the most comprehensive test and admissions information that my students need.  

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge was when I first launched my business and my boyfriend and I decided to be “digital nomads” for a year in South America. I was having a good year of profit with my company, so I quit my freelancing work to just focus on my own business. Unfortunately, I had made that jump into my own company too soon, before I understood the cyclical nature of test prep (students prep for most tests in the spring/summer and aren’t seeking prep products or advice during part of the school year). I had a really low few months of revenue and had to budget really hard during that time.

The lesson I learned from this challenge is that being your own business or freelancer means that you are not always guaranteed the same paycheck each month, and setting aside money for emergencies or low months is extremely important for financial and mental wellbeing.  

How do you stay focused?

This is a big one for me. Personally, I work best in the mornings and am pretty worthless by the late afternoon in terms of working on tasks that require strategy or deep thinking. Now, I make sure to block off my mornings for work and make sure all other activities or engagements are planned for late afternoon or evening.  

Each day, I have a to-do list that I work through, and this to-do list is broken up into smaller, micro-tasks that help to keep more daunting tasks manageable, as I chip away at a bigger challenge piece-by-piece.  

It would also be remiss of me to leave out that I drink my fair share of coffee during weekday work sessions. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

Where I set myself apart from competition is by actually utilizing and testing out any test prep products that I recommend to my readers. I think it’s critical that I am 100% confident in a product before I would recommend it to other students.

I make sure to block off a section of time each day to answer student questions about their current prep routine as well as assist them on building their own study plan. This personalization and integrity is what makes my business stand out among the pack.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

I utilize blog, Pinterest, and email marketing to grow my business. Each time I publish a new blog post, I will share it on my Pinterest profile as well as send it in my weekly newsletter to my readers.  

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Don’t underestimate the knowledge that you’ve gained from your current experience and how you can leverage this to build your own business. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “If only I had XYZ, this task would be easier” or “Why isn’t there an XYZ for people like me” then you probably have a business idea that you can run with that serves a need. 

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app is Libby. I connect my local library card with this app and I can access the entire library of audio books.

My favorite blog Mr. Money Mustache. I found this blog when I was trying to budget during my time in South America and he inspired me to seek a life of financial independence.

The best book I’ve read recently was Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss. I took so many notes on ways that I could be a more effective negotiator and was actually able to utilize what I’d learned in negotiating higher rates with partners. 

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

The tool I use daily is ClickUp. My team and I dispersed around the world and are able to manage projects and tasks using this software. I’m not naturally a super organized person, so this helps me to delegate and manage tasks that I’d normally just do myself.

Who is your business role model? Why?

My business role model is Tracee Ellis Ross. Although I’m not in the entertainment industry, per se, I really enjoy her candid look at being authentic to yourself and pursuing projects that you personally find satisfying. Sometimes I feel that, as a female, we have fewer role models who have blazed a path that is uniquely their own and not predetermined by others.

How do you balance work and life?

For me, setting aside one day a week where I’m not allowed to use my computer (with the exception of Netflix) has been really important for me to create space to relax, shut-off this urgency and need to feel productive, and generally reconnect with life. I’ve found this to be vital for an entrepreneur to avoid burnout. 

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Depending on my mood, my decompression may be going on a long afternoon walk with my dog while listening to a podcast or audiobook, or it may be settling down into a hot bubble bath with a glass of wine.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

In the next six months, I hope to have launched a TEFL video course for people who want to teach abroad. I already have the content that will be shared, but need to learn the ins-and-outs of creating video content. This will be a huge learning curve!

How can our readers connect with you?

Readers can find me on my blog Test Prep Nerds: https://testprepnerds.com as well as our Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/testprepnerds/

"Some days move faster, some move slower, some have big wins and some have big losses" with Tanya Sheckley

Tanya Sheckley is the Founder and President of UP Academy – a progressive elementary lab school in San Mateo, California. UP Academy is reinventing education by customizing learning for each student, integrating project-based learning throughout its curriculum, and supporting students with disabilities to attend school alongside able-bodied students in mixed-age classrooms. She is the host of the Rebel Educator podcast and recently launched rebeleducator.com to support educators and schools on their project-based journey.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I spent almost ten years working in sales and marketing in consumer goods.  I reached a point in my career when I realized that everyone in the positions I wanted to pursue had master’s degrees.  I went back to school and received an MBA in entrepreneurship.  My business background allows me to approach founding a school differently than a traditional educator.

What inspired you to start your business?

Having children literally changed my life.  My oldest daughter was born with cerebral palsy and finding the right educational fit for her was challenging.  We looked all over the world for a school that would support independence and academics; when we didn’t find what we were looking for, we decided to start one. 

Where is your business based? 

San Mateo, CA.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took? 

I began by talking to families and parents of students with disabilities, like Eliza, and discovered we were all frustrated by the same issues.  It was time to start something new and different that could support different types of students and learners.  I reached out to some friends and acquaintances and formed a board of directors to file for non-profit status and build a team to launch the school.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Whenever we are featured in the newspaper or local news we raise awareness and have families reach out.  Speaking at events and conferences and being active in social media has also helped us create visibility.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Our biggest challenge was finding affordable real estate in the Bay Area.  We spent over a year looking for a location that was suitable for students and affordable.  We also struggled to get real estate agents to call us back and take us seriously as women who were starting a school.  For a time we had our male board member make all the real estate calls.  Eventually, we got lucky and found an amazing location with a wonderful owner who has made starting just a little easier.

How do you stay focused? 

When you are following your passion and doing what you love, making a difference every day, it is easy to become too focused.  It’s important to remember to take breaks and make sure there is balance in life.  On days when I’m not feeling motivated, I work to do one thing to move the business forward.  One thing a day leads to big momentum.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

Our school is different in philosophy, educational method, and size than most other schools around here.  We are more progressive and project-based than other schools around us. Our classes are smaller and our learning is personalized and designed for mastery.    In addition, because of our focus on students with disabilities, we have a much more diverse student body than many private schools.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Our current families word of mouth and sharing their stories of the fun their kids have in school and how they are thriving.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?  

Just keep going.  Some days move faster, some move slower, some have big wins and some have big losses, but if you just keep moving forward toward your goal, you will get there.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why? 

Calendly has changed my life.  It’s like having a scheduling assistant taking care of all of my meetings and connecting with new families and colleagues.  It has saved me hours of emails and scheduling conversations and made me more accessible.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Sir Richard Branson.  He values his employees and works to take care of them while spending time taking care of himself and continuing to dream big ideas.  He genuinely works to make the lives of those around him better.  He is always looking for opportunities to learn.

How do you balance work and life?

I take frequent family breaks and head to the woods to hike, camp and ski whenever possible.  It is necessary to take breaks for my brain to function well.  My children are growing quickly and these years are fleeting.  It’s the moments with my family that are most important.  I am lucky that by starting a school, my kids come to work with me!

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Escaping to the wilderness.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

We are continuing to grow our school and enrolling for the coming fall.  My YouTube interview series, Voices of Education, will launch as a podcast called Rebel Educator in August and my book, Rebel Educator,  is currently scheduled to publish in November.  In addition, we are growing our consulting and professional development arm of the business designed to help others support all types of learners with project based learning.

How can our readers connect with you?

My school's website is upacademysf.com, our professional development website is rebeleducator.com and my personal website is tanyasheckley.com.  You can connect with me on Linked In at linkedin.com/in/sheckley.  You can also follow our school on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @upacademysf.  Thank you, I look forward to connecting!

"Pay it forward — Always give back to others without expecting anything in return," with James Lambridis

Photo credit: Stephen Zozzaro

James Lambridis is the Founder and CEO of DebtMD, the platform that connects people with the professional help they need to become debt-free.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

Before launching DebtMD, I worked in the debt relief industry for five years, advising people on their best option for becoming debt-free from credit cards, medical bills, and student loans. I hold an undergraduate degree in Finance from Penn State University and an MBA from New York University.

What inspired you to start your business?

After speaking to people in debt every day for five years, I began to realize that there was a serious problem when it came to finding a solution. These people were stressed out, under time constraints, and misinformed as to what their best option was to pay off their debt. This made me wonder how I could improve their situation and make it easier for them to find a solution, and that is when the idea for DebtMD was born

Where is your business based?

We are based out of Wayne, NJ, which is about 30 minutes outside of New York City.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

First, I wrote an extensive business plan. Then, I went to friends and family to secure capital to build and launch the platform. Then, I got to work and never looked back.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Content marketing, paid online advertising, and word of mouth have been huge for us.  Partnering with other like-minded personal finance companies has helped us as well.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Dealing with rejection. People are always going to poke holes in your business, and that’s OK. The only thing that matters is that YOU believe in what you’re doing.

How do you stay focused?

Just try to win each day. Be better today than you were yesterday. Keep this mindset and you can achieve anything.

 How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

 We want to empower people to make the right choices when it comes to their long-term financial well-being. Not only do we connect individuals with reputable companies to help them resolve their debt, but we also educate them on the best practices for maintaining a debt-free life. In addition, we are currently developing a proprietary algorithm that can predict a person’s optimal debt relief option based off their unique financial situation. Our mission is to be able to help anyone, anywhere, in any financial situation and harness data science to help people become debt-free.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Always try to relate to people and be genuine. People can see right through you if you are disingenuous. Be sure your message is honest, and you will connect with your target audience.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Pay it forward — Always give back to others without expecting anything in return. This can be your time, resources, or simply your insights. When you have this mentality, I am a firm believer that the help you give someone will always find its way back to you.

 What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. This book permanently changed how I viewed business, and the world itself. If you want the masses to adopt a product or service, it must start with a targeted push for a small group of people. Word of mouth is much more powerful than many people think.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Google Analytics; Most businesses/startups rely on web traffic to drive sales. Google Analytics gives you any piece of information you could ever ask for. It’s a crucial tool for any entrepreneur.

 Who is your business role model? Why?

Vince McMahon. He turned a male soap opera consisting of fake fighting into a billion dollar company. The only person in the universe who will ever be able to say that.

 How do you balance work and life?

Always find time for friends and family. Spend time with your loved ones. If recent events have taught us anything, it’s that life can be taken for granted. The people closest to you should always come first.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I always take one day (usually Sundays) to relax and reflect. It keeps me mentally healthy and strong, and prepares me for the week ahead.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

Summer vacation in Greece, where my ancestors are from. If you haven’t been there yet, I highly recommend going. One of the most beautiful places on Earth.

How can our readers connect with you?

https://www.debtmd.com

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