And in this cowardly judgement, I must confess, I have missed one of the most radiant personalities on television today: and her name is Rasheeda Frost. A woman who is kind, funny, brutally honest and openly vulnerable. Who knows she’s limitless, can persevere through anything and finds her greatest joy in lifting other women up. Hell, she’s even addicted to warm Toll House cookies — what’s there not to like?

Click the Cover to read her story in iTunes or Google Play

Unfortunately for her, that’s a positive lead buried under other more gripping headlines from VH1’s most controversial and beloved show Love & Hip Hop. Since 2011, the network’s three-series show filmed in Atlanta, New York and Hollywood, that has five different spin offs, over 230 episodes with 150 cast members — which includes Rasheeda in Atlanta. It’s a massive production, known for it’s very high level drama and a polarizing debate over representation within the black community.

But for this midwestern born rapper turned fashion designer, you’d be mistaken to let a little bad press keep you away from understanding this enterprising lady. She’s not just a person who’s looking for 15 minutes of fame. She’s the real deal — a boss chick through and through. And getting on her positivity train now might be something your on-demand fingers and future aspirations have been itching for.

Here are five fun facts that she exclusively shared with us at HER magazine.

She can do backflips around you, literally

Hold onto your seats — she used to train with Béla Karolyi in his Texas school of World Gymnastics. When she was younger, this Mary Lou Retton wanna-be considered herself an all around athlete who played basketball, danced, swam and cheerleader. But her first love, was gymnastics.

“I stayed down there for the whole summer camp. That was what I wanted more than anything. Of course it was expensive, and my mom was like, ‘Okay you really want this — let’s make sure your grades are on point. And I’ll send you to Houston this summer to train with him.’ She knew in my mind at that point in time, I wanted to be an olympic gymnast.

And yes, I can still do back flips and frontflips and all that, to this day. Don’t get it twisted! I still got a little athletic in my bones!”

Not only was it an opportunity of a lifetime, that had her geeking out in the same tights and shoes of her gymnastics idol, but it was an experience that stayed with her throughout her lifetime. When working with coach Karolyi personally, Frost remembers:

“The one thing I remember him saying to me was, ‘You. You can be very powerful gymnast. Very powerful.’ And that’s what I remember. That’s what stuck with me. I remember that and maybe that stuck with me as I continue to grow. It was a moment.”

Her Mother Is Her Girl Boss Idol And Bestie

“She was a boss chick back then — she owned a hair salon in the town that we lived in. I learned a lot from my mom,” she says when we talk about her upbringing, crediting her as one of the most influential people in her life.

“She was mom, she was dad, she was strong, supportive, she was making sure that she held everything down to the best of her capability at all times. And even when she was like, ‘Okay I don’t see you growing here, it’s time to move to Atlanta,’ even when she decided to make that transition, and sacrifice and leave her successful business making lots of money — she stepped out on faith. And THAT took strength. You know?”

It’s a strength that often comes back up in funnier ways, when raising sons of her own in Atlanta.

“Especially when I’m fussin’ at my kids. Especially when I’m like, going off on my teenage son. He’ll even say ‘You sound like granny, ma. You sound like granny.’ It’s a great feeling. She is my homegirl. It’s mom. That irreplaceable woman. Just a person who … I don’t even know how to explain it… it’s just an unconditional relationship.”

Raising Awareness about Postpartum

After the birth of her son Karter in 2013, Frost experienced suffered from postpartum depression. It was the last thing the starlet expected from her highly active, and fitness focused lifestyle.

“What’s crazy about pregnancy, is that you don’t know what you’re getting. Each pregnancy is different for me, and I know, for a lot of other women that I speak to. It’s unfortunate that your body and your mind can get to a place, where you honestly don’t know what the hell is going on. And that’s scary!

Like, when it came to postpartum, I didn’t really occur to me what was going on with me at first. I was just feeling like a down, lost soul for a while. I was just like, I’m sad as hell. I love my kids. I love my baby. But, I’m just… I don’t have the energy. For a minute I didn’t feel like waking up. I didn’t feel like doing stuff.”

The surprise postpartum, she admits, left the former athlete weighing in at two hundred pounds and feeling lonelier than ever before.

“There were days where I would tell (her husband), ‘Listen, you gotta take care of Karter. I would just lay around and be in some type of weird state.  And growing up at home, I didn’t see a breakdown of my mom at all. She just always seemed like she was just strong all the time.

I remember seeing her cry one time and that was when her dad passed. And so it just seems like, the surface was just like a strong surface. And I inherited that — that strong surface, and wanting to keep it , you know, keep it crispy. Never let them see you sweat. Stay on point!”

But staying strong and on point, she admits might not have been the best remedy for her healing.

“One day I woke up and was like, you know what, I’m digging myself into a hole! I And who’s gonna get me out of me — me.  But, I never talked to anyone about it. I didn’t talk to any of my friends or anything. I just played things off like, ‘okay, I’m cool, I’m fine. I’mma stay home. Even back then, (talking about it) might have been a good thing. To actually kinda help heal, and to help heal others, it is better to speak upon things.”

Her Business Thrives Because She Knows Her Why

Almost every CEO that shares their story with us has the same philosophy when it comes to their business: you have to know your why. It’s not enough to combine your passion with an income. Without a clear reason why this brings you joy, your business is highly likely to struggle.

Rasheeda’s is simple: yes she’s always had a flair for looking cute. But when she started interacting with other women in her PressedATL store, a clothing and accessories boutique in Atlanta, her passion for fashion took on a new meaning.

“Being self-confident is the best accessory. I love fashion. I always have. I’m an accessory junkie. If I’m able to create a business out of something that I love, that’s the best thing you can do. And the reason why I love having a store, is because I love for women to come in and be like ‘Can you take me out of my comfort zone?” I love to make them feel good. Put them in things that they wouldn’t pick up for themselves. Make them feel sexy make them feel amazing. And I get a sense of gratification from that.

Regardless of people being like ‘You’re Rasheeda, and you’re on this and that,” I’m like — I’m a business owner and I’m a person trying to make another woman feel good. And when you can do that through fashion – that’s like a common language, girl. We can talk fashion all day. And I love that.”

She’s Not Phased By The Rumors

Remember when I said that her lead is buried under more dramatic headlines? It wasn’t an exaggeration. The night before I interviewed her, Twitter was exploding with speculation over an affair her husband may have had (which resulted in the woman having a child.) Is it true? Is she talking about it? And is it even our business?

According to this loyal Gemini, it really isn’t our business or her business what the media says about her. Knowing who your are, and what you stand for is the only truth that will get you through the best of the times and the hardest.

“I’ve gotten really good with my fingers scrolled up past a lot of things. Cause now a days, what’s news now is old in like … later in the day. So I just try to keep it moving. Rumors — they don’t define me and who I am. But you know, I feel like I’ve been built up to learn how to facilitate the things that come to me in my life.

At the end of the day — I gotta be strong for my family. I’m not going to let some people who think they know me off of one or two or three minutes break me down. I’m not gonna do it. At the end of the day, it comes with the territory and I realize it is what it is. And if they talkin bout your ass, then evidently you poppin!”

Watch our exclusive video interview with her below.

The post Meet The Real Rasheeda Frost appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

A girl can dream, right?

Lots of us have taken advantage of this time in history where the internet makes starting a business easier than ever. And with President Trump’s new Tax plan benefits for pass through businesses, it could also be one of the most profitable times as well.

But let’s face it, there’s wearing a lot of hats — and there’s working smarter. Just as there are lots of tools that not only help you reach new customers and grow your businesses online, there are others that will help you talk to those customers in a seamless, beautiful and engaging way. And we’ve found five that we think you’re really going to love.

Do Your Own Graphic Design with Canva

Having a great design system throughout your products can either make or break your growth potential. And if you haven’t done your Malcolm Gladwell one-thousand hours in photoshop or a design program, then Canva is going to a lot of the leg work that often keeps you staring at a flyer design for six hours wondering if you have the font.

Canva is a graphic design software, created by real graphic designers, that is making a lot of lives easier. You can create stunning ads, infographics, e-books, reports, business cards, presentations, email invitations and more in no time. The program is subscription based that allows you to have a free account, with access to over 8,000 templates and a monthly subscription of $12.99 that will give you full customization of your product.

Generate your own PR with HARO (Help A Reporter Out)

Here’s a little trick that’s popular amongst journalist but so few brands are aware of. It’s called Help A Reporter Out, where reporters from prominent publications (Elle, Forbes, Paste, Fatherly, NBCNews.com, etc.) look for sources for future articles and content.

It’s easy to use — and free; just sign up for an account and select the email lists that you’d like to receive notifications on. And that’s it! HARO pushes out three email blasts a day, with all new stories for you to comb through and weigh which publication has a need that you can fill. Then you just reply back to the reporter as instructed, cross your fingers, and hopefully they pick up your quote!

Consulting while you sleep with Teachable

Consulting gigs are great, because you can most often charge really well for your expertise. But the downside of your income being tied to your time often  leave one with the aching stress of constantly feeling like they must be working!

One of the newest trends we’re seeing online is the grown of e-courses. They are a great way for experts to share their knowledge to thousands of people without ever having to be there. You can literally make money, while you sleep. Teachable makes the entire process easy, with step by step guidance on how to make your product stand out, and reach the right audience. You can build everything on their site, host multiple courses and have access to their support team every step along the way. It’s a great option for an expert who’s looking to make that 4 hour workweek a more comfortable (and stable)  reality!

Edit your own videos with Cameo

Having a great social media game is important — and nothing screens generic like an iMovie title treatment. Yuck. Instead, try giving you content a boost with Cameo, Vimeo’s video editing app for your phone.

They have custom filters, beautiful typographic overlays and a host of musical artists that have given users copyright permission to use their music in their videos. (And if you aren’t familiar with copyright laws in music — peep them here. Muy importanté!) From reggae, jazz, pop to cinematic, they have a host of incredible songs that brands can use freely without worry of infringement.

Be your own protection with 1Password

We know that you have heard this before. We know it’s a pain in the ass. But nothing will feel nearly as horrible as when your digital accounts have been hacked. Your products deserve better. Your customers and their credit cards deserve better. Your employees and your vision deserve much, much better!

Did we scare you yet? Good!

1Password is an auto-generating password application that is easy to use and will save you a lot of heartache in the future. When synced with the phone app, no matter where you go, you will always have your passwords at the tip of your finger tips. They even have web browser extensions that will remember your passwords, too.

So there is no need to worry that you’ll never remember how to log into an account. And even if you find it annoying — just remember the Sony cyber attack in 2014. If you have the funds to handle that kind of PR disaster, then maybe you don’t need an app like this.

But my guess is you don’t, so buckle up, ladybug! This will be the one investment in yourself that you won’t regret. 

Like what you’re reading? Access HER magazine’s monthly publication in iTunes or Google Play – it’s where we feature powerhouse women you can learn from and share exclusive content you won’t find here.

The post 5 Apps That Will Make Your Life Easier appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

California was the first state in 1996 to recognize the drug’s various health benefits , including chronic pain relief and easing nausea during chemotherapy. But new clinical trials also suggest that dosages of THC could help cure many ailments, including ease muscle spasms for multiple sclerosis patients and reduce seizures for children with epilepsy.

The state already passed a law back in 2014 that allowed parents whose children suffered from severe epilepsy to obtain an extract of marijuana to help their children (though the extract was not available in the state itself.)

“Utah is very conservative in our approach to all things and this is no exception,” says Senator Evan Vickers. “We would much prefer to take a careful, balanced approach and follow the theme that “if it is truly a medicine, then treat it like a medicine both from the regulatory side and the medical side””.

A Step In The Right Direction

According to grassroots community leader Juanita Ramos Corum from M2M Utah, reaching for understanding about the drug is a step in the right direction. She has advocated for the safe distribution of the drug for the past four years, while working with Senator Vickers, the United Patients Group and Folium Biosciences (the largest, fully and vertically integrated producer of phytocannabinoid-rich (PCR) hemp oil in the world.) Her goal is to help the state and community better understand the science behind this plant-based medicine.

“What is missing is the science and education around the plant medicine,” she says. “That is why it was so important to create a strong alignment with United Patients Group who came to Utah to teach and share about the plant medicine.”

Representative Brad Daw, who works closely with Juanita and the Utah Medical Association, agrees. “The vast majority of doctors and researchers in the state are very clear on two points: There are a lot of exciting developments with medical cannabis and the research is still spotty and needs to be filled out. For some conditions, with some formulations, there has been great success and very little needs to be done to get us across the finish line. In other cases, we are just learning that there is a potential for treatment and we need to explore further.”

Ways It Could Work

Juanita’s expertise brings the human story to the forefront of the argument, as she’s seen countless stories of success by being both advocate and as a medicine woman. “The most touching was an 8 year-old who had cardoma, a molecular cancer on the brain stem. The doctors literally cut her head off her body and reattached with metal. This baby girl had to suffer through so many surgeries. She finally had relief through plant medicine. She was able to eat, be free of insane pain, and returned to school and her activities within a week. She even began playing hockey.”

She also pushes conversations for helping veterans with PTSD. “If we can integrate plant medicine with alternative programs like Project Welcome Home Troops, we can reduce the suicide rate in the veterans population, assist people to feel so much better and began tackling the epidemic of opiate addiction.”

Looking To The Future

The next steps for Utah involve bringing more experts into the fold, as they have today with an official symposium with the Folium Biometrics group, to better understand next steps. “We need targeted research which is what HB 130 is intended to provide as well as the funding that Sen. Shiozawa was able to get appropriated for 4 to 5 individual studies at the University of Utah and possibly other USTAR companies,” says Senator Vickers. “These targeted studies can give us ideas of how to treat specific conditions and what dosing protocol to follow.”

With proper protocols in place, the state is optimistic that the next steps could benefit constituents and patients alike.

“There appears to be a large demand,” says Rep. Daws. “If all the demand can be met both in quantity of product and genuine effectiveness of treatment then all of that production will certainly provide a positive benefit to the state’s economy.”

An economy that has plenty of room for the entrepreneurial woman.“I’m a transplant of Washington State where women have taken the time to learn, be patient, do it the correct way, and have an amazing business,” says Juanita. “Women have carved out their own place in the cannabis industry and have become some of the most knowledgeable grows, extractors, product developers, commercial bakers, and consultants from this amazing plant! There are so many economic opportunities for all of Utah in where we are going.”

The post Utah Makes Strides to Legalize Medical Marijuana appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

She is a mother of three and running an online business without a business degree.

She’s an ex-welfare recipient.

A child abuse survivor.

Featured in Forbes and in over sixty podcast episodes.

People follow for both her moxie and know-how, and rave about her teachings. And we believe, without a doubt, that she is the entrepreneur that you need to know about in 2017.

But not because she went from being dismally broke to a seven-figure salary in just one year (although it is a compelling story). Or because this branding and social media strategist has a proven track record with helping entrepreneurs and startups shatter their marketing goals during year one (and who doesn’t want to do that?)

In the times where reiki, affirmations and visualizing your dreams have become a part of the mainstream entrepreneur lexicon, Kimra Luna is a story of success in the most organic form; where she simply believed in herself. And she imagined, every day, during every waking hour her imminent and abundant success. And with these two subtle practices, in a digital space where everyone claims to be an expert, she literally changed everything by being the real real deal.

How She Started

Before her business of teaching students around the globe, Kimra was a housewife and mother to her two boys in Virginia. And according to her, it was boring as hell. So to pass the time and exercise some brain power, she decided to start a vegan food blog.

“When I first started, I had to do everything on limited time, because I had my two little ones. I also was homeschooling [the children] and my husband was working a full time job, between eight to ten hours a day.

I built my business in the evenings and weekends. The kids would go to sleep, and then nine to midnight was kind of my time to educate myself to grow my business.”

As she tells it, it was a constant streaming of keeping  knowledge and inspiration buzzing in her ears. She spent countless hours listening to podcast and audio books, like Think Rich Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill or law of attraction tapes by Abraham Hicks.

“When I started learning about the law of attraction and started studying… wow. Like… I can create my life! And I started going down that path.

But I always knew that my life would be incredible. I never doubted that. I was raised in poverty. But I always knew that it wasn’t the way my life was going to be.”

Motivated by Tragedy

It was a childhood she would wish on no one, she insists. Sexual abuse. Verbal and mental abuse. A string of father figures moving in and out of her life, whose drunken, abusive demeanors painted a stark picture early on of how cruel the world can be.

But like a phoenix who knew she was destined to rise from the ashes, she always knew she would be different. And special.

“I feel like a rough childhood actually can make you a much more determined entrepreneur to reach your goals. My childhood was just, literally horrific. There’s really not another word to describe it. And I feel like my passion is stronger because of all the things that have happened to me. Because of all the life experience that I have had.

There were some people in the beginning that were criticizing me like, ‘Oh who is she to teach business? She didn’t go to business school. And I’m like I didn’t need to go to business school. I got the experience of hard knocks. That was my business school. And so I feel like there’s this difference with people who have had rough lives… and experiences compared to people who had their life all cushy their whole life.

There’s nothing wrong with that, and they both can succeed in the same ways. But I just feel the passion is different. I find that the people who have had similar experiences as me, their business… the exact same thing happened. Their businesses skyrocketed very very quickly.”

Read more about Kimra Luna inside HER Magazine. Access April’s issue for free, by downloading our magazine in iTunes or Google Play.

The post A Phoenix Rising: Meet Kimra Luna appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

It’s a story one could only imagine hearing after having three Long Island Ice Teas with a stranger at the bar whom you’ll never see again. But that’s not Stormy’s M.O. She wants you to know how she failed. And she really wants you not to make the same mistakes. If transparency were actual currency, she’d seriously be worth a billion dollars.

Which is why over 73K followers tune into her every word on Instagram to steal a glimpse of how she keeps her momentum. Born an orphan, raised in foster homes and a teenage mother at fifteen, this GED grad has never known a day where she didn’t have to claw for her spot at the table. Stormy, who created her success through network marketing took the pain from her past and built several homes in Africa for orphans.

She shares three tips on how to make a comeback when you’re at your lowest in life. 

Focus. Even When It Hurts

Sometimes things come up. Challenging, scary life altering things that you never expect to deal with. And the only way out, according to Stormy’s, is to focus with all your might.

“You know, what many people would have quit on… the things that would have made other people quit… they’re blown away at my ability to keep going against all odds. My mom died. I was holding her hand, I thought she was having an anxiety attack. Come to find out she was actually dying. I watched my mom take her last breath. Most people would have given up on life. My mom and I were very, very close. And literally the month after my mom died, I accomplished one of the biggest goals of my life.

Something else —  I went broke. You know, after making a million dollars before I turned 30, living this beautiful lifestyle, taking care of my kids, and taking care of my dad and mom — and then being this powerful woman, I go broke.

So, a lot of individuals that I know …would have gone into a depression and stayed there. But I just have a way of pulling myself out of certain situations and seeing the endless possibilities that are yet ahead of me.”

It’s Okay To Walk Away

While her focus may have allowed her to push towards taking her million dollar career to the next level (and then save it again years later), it was only natural that the grief she felt from losing her mother would catch up to her eventually. For Stormy, that meant depression.

“It’s kind of like I had a delayed reaction to it. Because I didn’t fall into a depression until 2013. And that’s when I got married — in a depression. And I married someone that never knew me, because he married the depressed Stormy. Not the real Stormy.

And so when I woke up from my darkness, we separated. He thought I changed — he didn’t know he met the changed version of Stormy.”

Use Being Uncomfortable To Your Advantage

To start over financially and romantically — while in mourning — is no easy task. The way Stormy tells it, it was a journey that took her longer than she liked (but not nearly as long as she feared).

“To feel comfortable again, to the point where I could pay my bills and put food on the table, was probably like 7K a month. Then I started to feel better about the work that I was putting in. It was difficult, because you have to overcome the opinion of others, like ‘What are they gonna say?’ And then not beating yourself up, because a lot of times when we make mistakes, we beat ourselves down.

I had to really have a conversation with myself. I went to the Bible —  I read a book of Proverbs every day. And I would speak to myself.  I believe in affirmations and writing things down. I literally rehabilitated myself through faith, through speaking to myself and seeing myself being better than I was at the time.

But, I’m also one of those people that believe that success is rented. And every day the rent is due. So I don’t ever feel comfortable. That’s why I have a mission of helping 1,000 families (earn six-figures), because that keeps me going. 

I see the end and the beginning, where most people can only see the beginning. I see what happens if I don’t quit. What happens if I keep going. What happens if I go to the gym. What happens if I do this conference call. You could easily say okay, I’m tired. Okay,  I’m bored. But you have to remember that success is rented. And every day, rent is due!”

On The Other Side of the Storm

When you hear Stormy talk about the rich lessons of her past, you get the sense that she feels wealthier than ever before. That by playing it smart, and not giving up too soon, she was able to not only survive life’s biggest storms, but thrive after them too.

“Life is different now, because I understand that life is a measuring stick of how many people you help solve their problems. I understand that you got to remain humble through it all — that it really can be taken away from you, if you don’t operate in love and humility and patience and you forget about why you’re doing what you’re doing.

It can’t just be about things. I like things, but I don’t do what I do for things. I do what I do for God and for peace … and I like to be the inspiration. I like to inspire. To be the person that you see me and say WOW I’m so inspired. And so, life has changed, because it’s more meaningful.

I help a lot of people make a lot of money and it feels good. I feel good knowing that I could put a post on Instagram, and someone is inspired to keep going, even though they were divorced and broke. I feel proud of myself. And this is not an arrogant statement, but I know people that was in my position and they gave up. I know people that could have been in my position and they didn’t take the chance. And so I find ways to celebrate myself, and to say Girl, you doin’ the darn thing.”

Like what you’re reading? Access HER magazine’s monthly publication in iTunes or Google Play – it’s where we feature powerhouse women you can learn from and share exclusive content you won’t find here.

The post Weathering Life’s Challenges with Stormy Wellington appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

She’s already shared the stage with serial entrepreneur millionaire and Snapchat investor Gary Vaynerchuk, who is most famously known for his hit Internet series Gary V.

Ashley is our cover powerhouse for our March issue. Click the image to access our current issue.

Companies from around the globe have sought out Zahabian’s kinetic message on developing emotional intelligence – where individuals learn the value in developing a handful of  fundamental tools that will connect them to better decision making processes.

And I know what you’re thinking — how can someone with practically zero corporate experience tell me how to make better decisions in my day job? A hell of a lot more than you might expect if you think that age and experience has anything to do with why you aren’t killing it in your field.

Here are the top five reasons why Zahabian just might be the guru your career has been looking for.

1. She’s Already Hit Rock Bottom

To feel the inspiration of Ashley is to know exactly where she is coming from; she grew up with that North Jersey / New York City nook of the world where affluence and access give you Broadway shows, late night delivery and plenty of warm summers along the Jersey Shore. It was a childhood that many could hashtag off as #livingthegoodlife, but for Zahabian, it was anything but.

When I was 14 years old, I developed anorexia. And I had no idea I was developing it, but I was losing so much weight. I lost about 45 lbs over time and I was down to skin and bones, but I still didn’t see it. So when I finally went to the doctors, and they told me ‘You’re about to take your last breath. You’re very, very malnourished. And you either do something about it now or you’re going to die.’

And that was like my wake up call. I remember looking at myself in the mirror like, ‘How did I get here? What put me on my death bed? How did I really get to this point? Because it’s not like I went through a terrible break up. I have a very wonderful family, they’re financially stable. I went to a great school. So I was like what is it? Your mom and your dad are crying every night, why are you so numb to that? You’re hurting people — why are you so numb to this?

2. She knows how to do the work

In order for Ashley to survive, she knew she had to get serious. And in order to gain sustainable, long term results for the healthy life she wanted, she had to make changes that were both physical and spiritual.

I had decided I was going to live and was definitely not was not planning on dying. I was hospitalized in and out for four years, and was homeschooled in a hospital and everything.

I realized it was all just emotional intelligence. Or a lack of it. It was not knowing how to deal with the stresses and problems of life. I wasn’t a good problem solver. I reacted instead of responded correctly. It was a lack of emotional understanding and awareness and it put me in a place where I suppressed things for so long, and reacted in a way that build up anxiety and anger. And all these different things just led me to a place that was all bottled up and I lost control of myself. And in turn, I started to use the control of the gym, and eating to feel in control again. It was a very false solution.

And so with the help of the doctors and a family that supported her, Ashley says she began to do the hard work. She spent her time in recovery focusing on the tools she shares with audiences today: talking about her feelings, becoming aware of them, monitoring them, managing them, recognizing other people’s feelings and, most importantly, delaying gratification

Why os Ashley Zahabian is Crushing Her Dreams Before You Do? Read more inside the March issue of HER Magazine. Access our new issue by downloading our magazine in iTunes or Google Play.

The post Five Reasons Why Ashley Zahabian is Crushing Her Dreams Before You Do appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

Then come the mini projects, the hot glue gun and the excessive bead collection that never stops multiplying. And if you’re lucky enough to be like Karen Konzuk, founder of Konzuk Jewelry, you somehow combine a lifetime of artistic interests into a sustainable business that eventually disrupts an entire industry. Her signature style that uses concrete and stainless steel materials translates into a sort of wearable architecture — where a minimal aesthetic meets and industrial elegance that adorns the body with the perfect balance of masculine and feminine energies combined.

But it’s not a unicorn story of overnight, Etsy success. In fact, Karen’s story is chock full with pure hustle, hard work, and an unwavering belief in her unique vision. And if you’ve ever dreamed of taking on the world with the beloved hobby yourself, her’s is a story that will helped you learn how to do it.

She studied up

As a student at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Karen hit a lucky break. With a concentration in sculpture, she had a conversation with an instructor who encouraged her to consider designing jewelry. And taking them up on the advice, she set her future in stone.

In my final year, I focused on creating a production line of jewelry that I could sell. I also wrote a business plan with lofty goals of selling to major department stores across the county. With an entrepreneurial spirit I knew I wanted to create more than fine art, and more than just an accessory. I wanted my company to be known for innovation in design and materials.

She pivoted her plans

When graduation came around, Konzuk wasn’t exactly meeting with buyers at Bergdorfs. But she had the foresight to know a dream doesn’t have to die when plan A doesn’t pan out.

When I graduated from NSCAD, I was accepted into a studio program called Harbourfront Centre for Crafts. Harbourfront facilitated a juried group of craftspeople who could rent space in the studios at very reasonable rates. I worked here while also at a part time job, mostly as a receptionist or office worker at various places.

She got stable

Often when entrepreneurs share their come up stories, it’s brimming with memories where the money was bleak, the struggle was real and no one would believe in their vision. Konzuk was no exception, especially in an oversaturated market that had yet to see work like her own.

To fund my “startup” I approached several banks with my business plan who barely glanced at the document and went straight to the financials. When seeing I had no personal assets – just student loans – most of the banks turned me away. One bank did give me a minor loan at a very high interest rate which helped to start off the line of jewelry. It was not enough to keep going and live off, so I had to sell my car which was gifted to me by my parents.

She took small steps

With the money she saved by moving home and selling off her assets, while simultaneously working the smaller, part time jobs, Konzuk was finally able to make some ground on launching her collection.

With this capital I was able to build up my business, one small step at a time. Cold calling stores, attending trade shows around the US and Canada and doing everything myself – except for graphic design and marketing which I am lucky enough to have a very talented husband in this field. Within three years, I was able to quit my part time job and work full time for myself.

Read all seven secrets by Karen Konzuk inside HER Magazine. Access February’s issue here. To shop her collection, visit http://konzukshop.com

The post Seven Secrets to Launching Your Own Jewelry Line appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

Goals like these are always awesome and sure to bring stability and success to any business if you work like a mad woman to make it happen. But if you ask Cynthia Johnson, Co-Founder of Ipseity Media, having vague, long-term goals like these are the fastest way to keep your growth in the slow lane.

And she would know — Mashable called her “One of the Top 50 Marketing Influencers on Snapchat (besides DJ Khaled).”  Inc. magazine calls her one of the “Top Digital Influencers to follow on Twitter in 2017.”

So what’s her expert take on how to crush your goals this year and accelerate the process in half the time? We sat down the Internet’s next digital guru to get five must-do tips to make it happen.

Step 1: Build Short Term Goals for a Long Term Game

It’s one thing to imagine growing your Instagram audience to 20K followers. But knowing to post about three time a day is not the same as knowing exactly how you’ll develop a loyal following. This is where Cynthia’s work with Ipseity Media comes in.

“I work with clients on creative, accelerated thought leadership to achieve their goals. The idea is that you focus more on achieving your goals through thought leadership and being very specific. For example, short term goals for a long term game. That way you see results immediately.  And then when you see results, it’s human nature to be more interested. And if you’re more interested then you work a little bit harder,” says Johnson.

For instance, instead of only posting an image three times a day, in hopes that it will eventually get you 20K followers, Johnson’s method insists that you get more intentional about the energy you’re spending. Have a real plan to move the needle over time; one that isn’t as passive as just posting, but finding collaboration opportunities, or creating engagement strategies. It’s a more detailed, with far more accountability, but better than taking the broad strokes approach, and here’s why.

Step 2: Understanding Your Why is Clutch

It’s easy to get lost in the technical aspects of your digital marketing goals by spending countless hours trying to understand the latest trends. But if your passion is for making your product, and not making creative instagram stories, then Cynthia insists you’re doing yourself no favors.

“Everyone says I’m no good at this or I’m no good at that. Even very smart people. But they could be good at anything, if they are interested in it. And if they knew why they were doing it, it would make sense.”

Read the complete 5 steps toward hitting your goals, inside our monthly magazine. Access February’s issue by downloading our magazine in iTunes or Google Play. Your subscription helps support our mission to Unmake Tradition and feature incredible women like Cynthia.

The post Sprint Towards Your Goals with Cynthia Johnson appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

But creating a product that moves shapewear from underneath a bodycon dress, and becomes the bodycon dress in the middle of the club on a Thursday night, is something kind of new. Not to mention that making that same dress for a size six woman also looks great on a transwoman, a plus sized siren and new mothers who are breastfeeding.

That’s definitely something kind of new.

Rarely does a single clothing item prove to be functional and flattering on so many different body types. And yet Rachel pulled it off — for no other reason than that she really believed, after years of listening to women and their body concerns, that she could be the one to break the mold.

And lucky for all of us she really did, and she’s not shy about sharing how she pulled it off.

Step one: She Kept It Real

Real as in she listening to women express what they really needed from their lingerie products. It wasn’t hard to do; with over a decade worth of experience designing for women in New York City, Rachael had plenty of time to talk to learn what really works and what doesn’t.

“I’ve just been talking to women for about twenty years about their underwear choices,” she says. “Likes and dislikes. The needs and what should evolve.”

Through the feedback, she says, she started to notice the patterns.

“I just heard their stories consistently about how they had to take their shape wear off on a date. Or how it made them feel about themselves. Or almost apologize for even wearing it. Or being proud of the fact that they didn’t need it, if they don’t wear it.”

It was this sort of intel that not only helped her develop a product for the masses unlike any made before it, but also to craft a message more authentic than the brand titans that came before her.

“When we were coming up with our branding message, there was a lot out there with a vibe of ‘Rah! Rah! Girl power!” that seemed a little bubble gum, generic and like a blanket statement. We wanted to be a little more specific and real and address concerns,” she says. “We have an authentic and transparent real approach. Instead of brands that talk from an elevated perspective to their consumer,  We’re like ‘Hey! We have this issue too,’ and bring awareness to it, instead of shaming them and talking down to them. It makes people feel better.”

Read my full interview with Rachael McCrary inside HER Magazine. Access January’s issue by downloading our magazine in iTunes or Google Play.

The post How to Shake Up an Industry: Meeting Rachael McCrary appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

We’ve all been there: where all your friends and family poke fun at spending more time in google docs than you do downing beers with them. It doesn’t always feel good. And even if they’re right, the guilt trip never sits well with you after you’ve left, cracked open the Macbook, and started working on your next task. Because the truth is, you’d love to be out whooping it up with your friends… but not more than you’d love for your business to be a blockbuster success.

So how do we find the balance? Where can we find the space to while pursuing our dreams and yet keep some fun time for yourself? It takes some work, and a lot of clear communication to the squad who support you the most. But if you can grab a hold of the four tips below, you might just find the balance to keep your friend’s jokes to a minimum and your productivity to its max! Check it out.

Schedule Some Mini Breaks
The truth is, if we can schedule the hell out of our businesses, then we can schedule the hell out of our fun. In fact, a study from the University of Illinois shows that our brains need the breaks if we want them to be constantly taking a fresh approach to the work we are doing. “The brain is built to detect and respond to change,” says  professor Alejandro Lleras, who conducted the study. “We propose that deactivating and reactivating your goals allows you to stay focused,” he said. “Brief mental breaks will actually help you stay focused on your task!”

But a break doesn’t have to be a long one — it just has to make you feel great. I like to use my commute home, for instance, to call my mother or friends to catch up on life. And when I first come home after work, those first thirty minutes are for me, the tv and whatever I want to eat. I even try to make sure I don’t work for ten days straight without taking one day off. While the entrepreneurs hours are longer and harder than most of our friends, it doesn’t mean they aren’t each valuable and exciting. But like the professor’s research shows, breaks will keep our minds fresher — so take them.

Be Very Intentional

While I loved seeing my girlfriends this weekend, I didn’t particularly like sitting at the bar and drinking. This probably has something to do with the fact that I knew if I drank more than one or two ciders, I’d risk a hangover that my time really couldn’t afford. But this was their commitment to the rest of their evening, so I had to either suck it up and drink, or just leave all together.

In this case, I ended up leaving. My deadlines were far more important to get off my mental plate than collecting a bad hangover and a hefty bar tab. But in retrospect, I wish I had spent time pre-planning my day out that was meaningful to all of us. When you’re an entrepreneur, your time is precious — including the time you spend having fun. So be conscious about it, for the sake of your relationships and your own spiritual health. Pick activities your brain can reflect on later as truly fun and well worth the distraction.

Put Your Phone Down

Sometimes the best way to insert fun back into your life is to simply put your damn phone down. Research has shown that using our phones constantly has a very negative impact on our stress levels and mental health, while sparking serious concerns about depression and sleep. None of which are going to add any value to your productivity, so instead, put the phone away when you’re at dinner, or in a meeting or before crawling into bed. Think of it as less of a chore the internet says you should do and more of a mental spa break for yourself —  where you’ll become more present in the moment and not stuck in a reality of a bad email or weird text message that doesn’t really need to be dealt with immediately.

Be In The Present

I know it feels like we can multi-task. Like we really can handle eight-million tasks at once. But experts have repeatedly expressed that our brains are not made for that kind of thinking. So if you do any of the tips above, the best way to maximize every second of your fun, and make it seem like it’s lasting twice as long is to be present. Don’t think about tomorrow or the problems you had yesterday. Leave the emails, the text messages and the snapchatting for another moment and put all your energy towards mindfully enjoying exactly where you are. Just like you remember a great vacation over all the bad emails you received last year, being present is how your brain catalogs all your life’s experiences and helps you feel less burned out over time.

Do you have any tricks that you use to maximize your time? Share them with us below and help your fellow chica max her time out!

The post Four Simple Ways To Maximize Your Down Time appeared first on HER Magazine ™.