I am so thrilled to get back to my roots and get back to featuring the amazing women who inspire me to not only be a better business owner, but to be a better person! I am super proud to start this #JNDBossBabes series off with my very own virtual assistant and right hand woman: Skye McLain! I can't say enough good about Skye, she is amazing, the cream to my coffee & I COULD NOT run my business without her! I am so grateful for an amazing Boss Babe like her on my team!
By day, I am a virtual ninja, helping other boss ladies like Jessica run their business. I work with handmade artists, bloggers, and creative entrepreneurs who need help finding that elusive sweet spot between running their business successfully and keeping a balanced, healthy personal life. I do it all from graphic design to customer service to client management. I love to keep as many plates spinning as I can!
By night, I am the Director of Creative Content for Thrive Creative Conference. I help the CEO, Bree, create content that supports men and women who own small businesses. Together, we are a passionate team that loves to tell people to go for it and then equip them with the tools and support they need to make it happen!
What do you never leave home without?
I always, always have my bright orange Nalgene water bottle with me along with a collection of essential oils (Stress Away is currently my favorite) and lip balm!
What is your favorite Starbucks drink?
I'm a slave to trends so lately I've been consuming an inappropriate amount of The Pink Drink, which is a Strawberry Acai Refresher made with a splash of coconut milk. It literally tastes like melted strawberry ice cream and on a hot, muggy day, is SO satisfying!
What is your favorite form of social media?
I am loving Snapchat! I'll probably jump on the InstaStory bandwagon soon, but I love playing with the filters and the actual chat feature that is built in to Snapchat.
What Instagram account are you currently obsessed with?
Do I have to decide on one? If you need a good laugh, head over to @thedailytay or @bevcooks - especially their InstaStory feeds because holy moly they are hilarious!! For fashion inspiration, I love @uptownwithellebrown and @hauteandhumid. Their ability took look put together effortlessly every day inspires me!
What are your top three tips for keeping your business organized?
My number ONE tip for sure is to find something that works for you that you will use every single day. I could tell you to buy a specific planner and that it will change your life but if you don't like it, you won't use it, and it will be useless and a waste of your money! Staying organized is so different for everyone so hone in on something that works for you!
I have a routine for every day - I get up at the same time each day, my morning routine is almost always exactly the same, and there are a few tasks that I do first thing every single day. I can do them all almost without even thinking about it. Find a groove and implement a repetitive routine every day so that it (whatever it is - being a mom, answering emails, crafting content, or making awesome stuff) comes naturally to you. You don't even have to think about it anymore!
If all else fails - hire someone to organize it and keep it organized for you. (wink, wink!)
What's currently on repeat for you?
I'm a gigantic nerd. I am either listening to podcasts or audio books and the two on the top of the playlist lately are Dave Ramsey's Radio Show (because we are currently getting out of debt and need to stay inspired) and the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon (read by Davina Porter). I do most of my work with my body physically sitting at my desk but my mind is far away in Scotland or pre-revolutionary war America.
What is your all time favorite food?
I love macaroni and cheese, tacos, refried beans, Coca-Cola, salt and vinegar potato chips. All, unfortunately, things I can only have every once in a while or I would need a wheelbarrow to get out the door!
I do also love sparkling water (Coconut La Croix is my jammmm), bananas with peanut butter, and strawberries. But if I'm dying and get a last meal option, I'll take all the junk food.
What does your "power look" consist of?
I've recently incorporated a uniform so I have less to think of in the mornings so this is a good question! Almost every day, I wear dark skinny jeans, a white t-shirt or a graphic tee, and booties or my Teva sandals. I don't necessarily think this is a "power look" but I feel put together enough to meet a colleague for coffee and I am comfy! Win-win!
What is your favorite way to relax and refocus?
If I could find someone to pay me to ride in a boat for the rest of my life, I would do it. I love to be on a lake, with a beer, and riding in the front of a boat with the music blaring. It is literally the most relaxing thing for me. Ever.
Who is your BossBabe inspiration and why?
Again - just one? It changes on a regular basis for sure - but lately I've been so inspired by my Thrive partner, Bree! She just inspires me to follow dreams bigger than I think I can and reminds me that we can do the things - it just take a lot of hard work and late nights sometimes to pull something off!
What is the biggest lesson you've learned as a business owner?
My biggest lesson I've learned is how to separate my business time from my personal and family time. It is hard to turn it off at the end of the day when your office is literally an extension of your kid's playroom. I've taught/trained myself to make that mental switch from work day to evening at home and it has almost made all the difference. I don't check emails, I don't talk with clients (at least not about work related stuff) and I do my very best to stay off of social media after 6PM every day. Is it hard? Hell yes. But my family and my personal time are more than worth it. If I cant maintain that balance then the point of being able to work from home is blown!
What is your proudest moment in your business?
This actually happened last weekend! I've been speaking at conferences for a few years now but I've honestly never had that moment where I felt people were really looking at me as a guide for what they came to hear. Last weekend we held our first Thrive Creative Workshop which was all about Strategic Planning for your business.
I've spoken on "fluffy stuff" in the past (even though I didn't realize until Saturday that it was fluff) but at this workshop, the attendees were in tears as they tackled and worked through some of the things that were really holding them back from growing their business. In the middle of the day, something fell into place and clicked and so many new things came in to focus for me. For the first time, I felt so confident in what I was sharing and that I owned the room. I've always admire women who seemed to feel that way when speaking or sharing and last weekend, I got a glimpse of that!
What is new? What is next?
My to do list is never ending and ever-changing. My husband has labeled me as a serial entrepreneur - and given that I did start seven different business ventures during our first seven years of marriage, I guess he is right. There is always something on the horizon for me - even if I can't see it!
I can tell you that I'll be working more with Bree on Thrive workshops and conferences, building out a coaching portion to my VA services, and as always, be on the lookout for new tees in my shirt store, Your Texas is Showing. (<-- that is my side hustle!)
Where can we hang out with you online?
Instagram | Snapchat | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest
Where my boss babes at?! If you are one, click here to tell us more about yourself and your amazing empire! If you know some boss babes you would love for us to interview, feel free to share this post with them! We can't wait to meet and feature you amazing #JNDBossBabes!
Many thanks to Stephanie of Atascocita Photography for the beautiful images at Chateau Polonez at the Bloggers Meet Photographers meetup organized by The Pink Envelope!