But celebrating milestones — no matter how big or small — is important, especially in business. It’s what builds excitement and culture in a company; it’s a chance to transform the way you’re doing things. It’s a checkpoint — a place we stop and assess how far we’ve come, what we’re proud of, and what we’re not so proud of. And the things we need to work on? In business, we work on improving them. Imagine if we applied this same philosophy to all areas of our life!

September 2018 marks an important date for HER Magazine. We were founded in this very month in 2014 and have gone through a lot together. A rebirth (rebrand) and an expansion of the team. We (or I) began as one person — now we have an incredible team of women and men from contributors, writers, photographers, videographers, editors, our Editorial Manager and Brand Marketing Manager, and web experts helping us excel in our mission to Unmake Tradition. This kind of growth is hard. It involves MONEY. And have you noticed how one of the things we shy away from talking about in business — and quite frankly, throughout our lives — is money?

How to make and grow it. We don’t like talking about it because the cold hard truth is most of us are not making or growing it.

It takes feeling comfortable about having a relationship with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson…and Benjamin Franklin. (Whoa — that’s a lot of men!). We’re talking about paper bills, here — and our emotional attachment, or how we feel about money, can dictate every decision we make in business.

That’s why we are dedicating our anniversary issue to money — how to make it and how to grow it. Because talking about money is hard — but for YOU to be successful, it’s got to happen. We’re thrilled that we found just the right cover woman to help us understand what it takes to build an empire: Elena Cardone is a wife, business mogul, and self-described kick a$$ mom (we agree). One thing she knows really well is MONEY (the Cardones are reportedly worth half a billion dollars. Yep — billion. With a ‘b’.).

They are the epitome of what many of us daydream about as entrepreneurs: a high-rise penthouse home with an oceanfront view, a butler who greets you at the door with bottled water and Perrier, a dedicated housekeeper, a closet full of Chanel and Valentino, fancy cars and wait for it …a PRIVATE JET.

And they worked for every cent of that wealth. Now THAT is someone we can take advice from when it comes to money! Whether or not that’s your ideal, we can all learn from the strategies Elena’s used. She and Grant are unconventional and in today’s world.

That’s why this issue has some classic conventional tips — like how to start investing now — mixed in with a lot of unconventional advice — like how to monetize your Instagram! Because the truth is: you need both to grow your money in business today.

If there’s anything we don’t like, it’s stories about people who paint a pretty picture of their business journey with no depth, or offer unrealistic tips on how to get rich quick — or, better yet, are making money on teaching you how to make money, when they’ve never really made any money themselves! The Cardones tell it how it is, and paint a very direct picture about what it takes to GET RICH — realistically.

Grow your business. Grow your empire. Gain wealth. Ambition isn’t a dirty word, ladies, so let’s start talking about this!

We hope you enjoy our interview with Elena (don’t forget to check out our video series with her on our YouTube Channel — they can also be found on our website and Instagram). A special thanks to the Cardones for inviting us into their home in Miami and their place of business. I point this out because there’s the noition in mainstream society that rich people aren’t nice — and that couldn’t be further from the truth. At least, that’s been my experience — and in the case of the Cardones, exponentially so.

The post Growing a Business Takes Something No One Likes to Talk About: Money appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

As I finally sat down on my computer to put this together, the phrase ‘better late than never’ bombarded my thoughts. It is true that getting things done is better than not doing them at all —  the important stuff, anyway. So many of us put off our dreams, goals, desires —  whatever you call them.

What we do is create really GREAT excuses as to why this or that won’t work.

I had that moment a few months ago. I now have a 15-week-old daughter, and if you’ve been following my journey to motherhood and this publication, you’ll know it wasn’t an easy road. Two rounds of IVF, a fibroid surgery, and a frozen embryo transfer later, we gave birth to Jasmine. I thought, like everything else in my life, at the age of 37 —  this would be a breeze. I was in control. Baby J would acquiesce to my schedule and lifestyle.

But I was in for a big surprise. And that’s putting it lightly. In fact, the first few months, I felt a heaviness in my chest —  can I juggle work, a business and a baby?

Maybe it’s time I put some of my lofty goals for the magazine on the backburner. This was a serious thought I considered over and over again. I’m not a quitter, but in the midst of figuring out breastfeeding (that’s another topic) and newborn life —  the lack of sleep slapped me into submission.

This just isn’t realistic Nineveh.

It’s time to be a mother now.

In my head, I justified it over and over again. Maybe we’ll scale back, keep things where they’re at …just keep the engine running, ever so slowly.

But what fun is life if all we’re doing is just ‘keeping the lights on?’ No fun at all, if you ask me.

Then, something funny happened. Around week eight into motherhood, I turned a corner — and like a lightning rod, I was ready to get going. Not only did we NOT scale back, we expanded the team at HER Magazine and kicked our goals into high gear.

BIG changes are in store for the publication, and we here at HER Magazine couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come. When I felt like I couldn’t go on, I turned to the most inspirational women I could find — the women we feature here.

This issue features Mel Robbins, the most sought-out speaker in the world. Mel is someone I’ve had the pleasure of seeing LIVE three times, and it wasn’t until an intimate luncheon she was speaking at that I exercised her 5 Second Rule!

I got up the nerve to ask her, in front of the crowd, if she would agree to be on our cover. And by the way, this moment was three years in the making. I’ve wanted Mel to grace our cover for YEARS.

Thanks to my friend sitting at our table who recorded the entire spiel (thank you Shantel!) when we pitched her publicist — they said YES. I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring you Mel, who I’m sure will inspire you in our feature article — plus, she’s got some exciting news about what’s on the horizon.

Remember this quote: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Better Late than Never. Or better yet, exercise the 5 Second Rule. I know that, as women, we feel like we to have to juggle it all —  but that’s what makes us so incredibly unique. When you feel like giving up, because we all do — take a break. Take a deep breathe, put things on hold if you have to …but don’t ever stop, because your goals are worth living.

I hope you enjoy this issue, and realize that the only reason Mel is on the cover is because I implemented her 5 Second Rule. In fact, our lives are made up of a series of decisions, every 5 seconds.

XOX

– Nineveh

The post Letter From The Founder: Better Late Than Never! appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

I’m still pregnant, but as of press time I will officially be a Mom — and I contemplated writing this channeling my future self, but there are some things in life that are impossible even though I’m a big believer in quite the opposite. However, I would say that it is virtually impossible to be able to write about how it will feel when Baby Jasmine is born.

I’ve heard and read about it being the greatest love you will ever feel. I’m sure that will be more than true. I hear that becoming a mother is one of the greatest joys, and I believe that too. I’m going to confidently assume those feelings (and so many more) — and I can comfortably conclude that 2018 is the year of change for me.

What about you? So many of us make resolutions and don’t stick to them. And if you have found yourself among the majority of people who make ‘em just to break ‘em, it’s probably because:

Your resolutions or goals (I like to call them goals) are over the top. I hate to use the word unrealistic because again, anything is possible. For example, if your goal is to become a millionaire in 2018, that’s totally realistic. BUT is it realistic if you’re not even making 6 figures yet? Probably not. It’s highly unlikely in other words. So ask yourself, if you’re setting yourself up for failure. I say this because my goal for 2017 was to hit half a million and it didn’t happen. I felt really disappointed, but now I realize how ridiculous that expectation was. I took inventory of how far I’ve come, and asked myself: am I making progress towards this goal? The answer is yes. It was just like my personal goal of becoming a mother within 6 months of being married (2014). Unexpected turbulence happened along the way, so I’ve learned that you WILL get to your goals in time. Have patience. It doesn’t always happen the way we picture it. In fact, it rarely does and that’s the beauty of life’s surprises.

You haven’t outlined a clear action plan. I’ve been here, too. The #1 resolution every year revolves around weight loss. We’ve all said it, “I want to lose X amount of pounds.” And then we think we can tackle this goal on our own. We last maybe a week — maybe. Here’s why: most of us are living reactively. We are in a constant state of REACTION. And when you get stuck in this cycle, it is very difficult to accomplish much. A clear action plan means writing out a road map. How will I get to X? Let’s say it’s something as simple as losing some weight. I say simple because my husband owns a gym and he successfully runs weight loss challenges. His clients experience phenomenal results because they have the recipe/a clear action plan. Therein lies the secret. If you want to accomplish a goal, not only do you need a clear action plan — I’d suggest you need an EXPERT to help you map that out for you, especially if you lack the discipline to do it on your own. Most of us need checks and balances. This is why so many of us as business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, working women know how important it is to have mentors, coaches etc. Why would it be any different for your resolutions?

Your excuses are stronger than your desire to change. Admit it. You don’t want it that bad. If you’re the type of person who complains (doubtful if you’re a HER Magazine reader, but perhaps you know these people — they are EVERYWHERE!) and always blames life’s pitfalls on others, chances are you’re an excuse maker and you don’t really have a desire to change. Listen, it’s okay to be completely okay with where you’re at in life. Sometimes, there’s way too much pressure in society for us to be hyper goal-oriented. There is such a thing as ‘too much,’ and if you’re an overachiever like myself — this attitude can become unhealthy. Revisit your goals, and ask yourself ‘Is this too much? Am I demanding too much of myself?’ If the answer is yes, back off. BUT if you’re noticing a pattern — a pattern that revolves around a constant lack of progress — chances are you may be an excuse maker. *Or it could simply be that you fall into #1 or #2’s categories.

For me, my 2018 goal is to accept changes as they come. I’ve applied points 1, 2 and 3 and above to prepare for motherhood as much as I can. I’m sure I will not be ‘prepared’ (who ever really is?), but having set actionable goals and a plan will undoubtedly make everything feel less scary. I can’t wait to share my experience with you.

Catch me on Instagram @ninevehmadsen where I’m very active with pictures and Insta Stories. I may be off the grid after having my medically necessary c-section, but I have no doubt this busy body will be sharing my journey with you through social media.

In the meantime, please enjoy this issue featuring Christina Fulton on the cover. She’s an incredibly impressive woman who is making waves in the skincare industry, teaming up with some heavy hitters like Gary V.

Click here to access our Spring issue featuring Christina Fulton

The post Becoming a Working Mother and Managing your Expectations appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

How’d you get her to say yes to a lifetime with you? Solid marketing skills.

And how did you manage to convince your child to eat the peas? Sly marketing techniques.

Marketing simplified is: “I’ll give you X for Y.” Every company thrives on sales. Without them, you’re not in business. Sales simply mean that your product or service is adding so much value to someone’s life that they are willing to pay you for it. But everyone arrives at your doorstep skeptical, so it’s your responsibility to convince your potential customer that you can be trusted.

How do you get them to your door? And how do you convince them to ring your doorbell? By them, I mean leads.

Lead generation is the lifeblood of your business, and experts say diversifying your content arsenal is key for your brand.

While many people depend on paid traffic, organic traffic, networking and referrals for leads (and I recommend implementing all of the above), let’s first dive into the basics of attracting customers through simple techniques anyone can do, even if you don’t have a big budget.

E-Books

I know it’s hard to give away freebies, especially when you’re trying to rake in the bucks, but the most successful brands understand that to get something, you have to give something. An e-book is a great example of how to do just that.

For example, if you’re a cybersecurity company, offer up a free guide on how consumers can protect themselves — without your services. It may seem counterintuitive, but they’ll appreciate the gesture and be more likely to trust you when they are finally being groomed for a sale.

Reminder: Make sure you’re gathering their information so you can keep in touch with them (i.e. email capture).

Infographics

I know, this sounds boring. Who wants to look at an infographic? Turns out, a lot of people. It’s a great way to visually get your message across. Here’s a look at how to create a winning infographic.

Other reasons they rock? They’re data-driven, visual and easy to share. The only downside is that social platforms like Facebook are not big fans of text-heavy photos for ads. So make sure you’re using them where they can be seen, like your email newsletters.

Blogs

Remember when they said blogging was dead? Nothing could be further from the truth. While the term “blogging” is slowly fading away from search engines, content is still king. Besides, “blog” is just a fancy word for content in written form.

There are several examples of how ordinary people have used blogging to explode their businesses. Blogs or stories will always be an effective way for companies to control their messages.

If you’re too busy or just a terrible writer, I recommend turning to services like ProBlogger or Scripted to find freelancers.

Once you have good content, promote your company blogs for free, which leads me into the next tool you should have in your toolshed.

Social Media Posts

I talked about the basics of generating real business value from social media in a recent Forbes article. It has some tips on how to get started, but I’ll reiterate that you should use it for what it is: a marketing tool.

Everyone should be leveraging social media, but with the changing landscape, make sure you stay up to date by attending the latest workshops and seminars.

With Facebook on pace to hit 2 billion users in 2017, I’m still baffled at the businesses that aren’t leveraging this social giant. The platform has some incredible tools in its Ads Manager to help you generate leads. And while you may need to hire someone to help you navigate the backend, anyone who isn’t using Facebook to attract new customers is missing out on some very affordable advertising. Marketers say there’s still time to take advantage, but what about five years from now? It will be tough to compete if you’re a small business. Just look at Google — that should give you a glimpse into how pricey ads will become in the future.

Videos

Studies indicate that by 2020, 75% of mobile traffic will be video. Are you ready?

Consumption will be at an all-time high. Right now, many video ads are out-preforming written ads. While it’s tough to outdo big corporations when it comes to video production, there are so many apps and tools you can use to make your videos look professional. I recommend the app InShot that allows you to edit clips, and add text and music, all from your smartphone.

If mobile video marketing isn’t part of your growth strategy, sit back, relax and watch other companies soar past you.

While all of this sounds overwhelming, remember to tackle and master one strategy at a time. You don’t want to be a jack of all trades, and master of none.

The post Lead Generation Tactics That Will Boost Your Business appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

But when it comes to collaborating with a publicist to share your company’s story — whether with customers, prospective clients or other stakeholders — there’s never a guarantee those efforts will capture the media coverage you daydream about.

That can be frustrating. If you have the proper framework, though, it’s possible to earn media coverage by taking a do-it-yourself approach. It all starts with a good understanding of the value of public relations.

To attract attention, you must first generate some noise.

Most companies focus on developing products or services before they even think about press coverage. But if you’re not creating buzz, how will people know about you? And more importantly, how will they know to trust you?

Sure, you can and should connect with consumers using SEO and other marketing strategies. (I share some top lead generation tools in my most recent Forbes article.) Right now, though, we’re talking about the power of PR. It can be narrowed down to two quotes:

“If I was down to the last dollar of my marketing budget I’d spend it on PR!” – Bill Gates

“Publicity is absolutely critical. A good PR story is infinitely more effective than a front page ad.” – Richard Branson

If you need more convincing, check out 48 other quotes that reinforce the power of PR.

Measure the benefits of publicity gone right, and the very real risks of publicity gone wrong.

You’ve seen the light. You recognize PR is kind of a big deal.

But is it measurable? Absolutely. One survey found that marketing executives think public relations is a superior tool for launching new products and services, raising awareness, bolstering brand reputation and increasing word of mouth compared to direct marketing and advertising.

And while more research is needed, an effective metric for PR success is public dialogue about your company. As too many brands have recently discovered the hard way, if you’re not telling your story, someone else is. It’s critical to control your narrative.

For example, starting with the 2016 presidential election cycle and continuing into this year, people have taken opportunities to distance themselves from businesses associated with President Donald Trump and his family. California marketer Shannon Coulter, for instance, launched the #GrabYourWallet campaign to spotlight businesses with Trump connections — and encourage consumers to flee from them. Conversely, brands such as Nordstrom that opted to cut ties with daughter Ivanka Trump’s clothing line enjoyed a positive PR boost.

The post Creating your Success Story with these Six PR Pro tips appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

I choose to forgo the Mercedes, the bigger house and fancier crap right now. I watch so many people rush to buy things, stuff to impress others – many often times stretching themselves to chronic stress and for what? Nice kitchen countertops. Don’t get me wrong, I love nice shit. I plan on having nice shit, but that shit can wait. When you make enough to afford nice shit, the need to prove anything to anyone, including yourself – starts to subside.

Your knowledge, health and happiness are the most valuable assets you’ll ever have and need. They are the key to all the ‘things’ you desire. Invest in those three areas. Most business owners or high achievers understand that in order to excel in life, you need patience and a long term vision. Unfortunately, mixed messages via media (social, mainstream etc.) trick us into thinking everything delivers instant gratification.

The best things take time to feel. Sometimes the rewards won’t be felt for years to come, and that is TOUGH especially when we are hardwired for wanting it now and feel the endorphins of having it now. I see this a lot with fitness. People sometimes get quick results with a training program. Elated by their new bodies, they venture on their own thinking they can reap the benefits by coaching themselves. Eh. Wrong. The same mentality can be applied to business. Who you are today won’t get you to where you want to go tomorrow. You see? Kaizen: the commitment to continuous improvement. That’s what you have to apply to your life if you want more.

One of the most important tools I walked away from during my last conference was structuring my day. Ballantyne introduced us to the Perfect Life Formula – a way of life that encourages you to block time for whatever is important in your life whether it’s work, fitness, family or all three. At the end of the day, you’re asked to reflect, jot down what you’re grateful for and list the next day’s priorities. At the end of each week, you’re asked to honestly assess the progress made. It’s a 90 day roadmap to improving your life, and it sounds so simple but too many people are lacking this kind of goal setting and reflection in their lives. I was one of those people. I look back on my TV career and analyze why I didn’t achieve more than I did. It’s an easy answer now: I lacked the tools. I had no ‘plan’ – I was floating and daydreaming about my next step.

I had NO ROADMAP. I had no CONCRETE VISION of where I was going and what I wanted. I think about how far I’ve come in the last three years – I look back and am blown away at the growth. Growth in my mindset, knowledge and skillset.

So with that, here are THREE things you can do right now to propel your life to the next level.

GET DOWN WITH THE VISION BOARD. I mean really get down girl. Bust out your Pinterest board and start pinning everything you want in your life in 2018. This includes material things (I know I said all that stuff about holding off on nice shit; I just meant don’t spend ALL your money on it. ;-)) ‘Ain’t no shame in wanting the LV purse, the Mercedes (yes, that’s on my board) or the David Yurman ring (that’s on there too). After you get done pinning all that nice stuff, thinking about where you want to be monetarily. What about all the things you want to accomplish in your career? I have words like ‘women millionaire’ on my board and quotes like “Rich is not the goal. Five million in three years is.” I also have something that says ‘How I got a book deal’ because that’s one of my goals – writing and publishing a book. Then think about what you want personally. I have a separate board for that. I put a picture of my husband and I with kids. I’m now pregnant after struggling with fertility for three years. I GOT REALLY CLEAR on what I want.

STOP FLOATING. Organize your life. Organize your day. If you don’t run your day, it will run you. Running an online women’s magazine and heading up a Marketing & PR department for a tech company will teach you a few things. If you don’t plan your days/weeks – you’ll feel massively overwhelmed. Sheryl Sandberg even recommends a paper calendar for to-do’s. Digital calendars are not enough, trust me. I am loving the Perfect Day Formula 90 day success planner right now and apparently you can only get it at Craig’s retreats. It really has me intentional about my work weeks. Find an organizer that works for you.

CUT OUT THE CLUTTER. I want you to comb through your budget and monthly expenses. I want you to take a hard look at where you’re spending your money. Is it on B.S.? What kind of crap can you cut out so you can make room for more important things like your health, personal and professional growth? Can you commit to paying yourself first? Make a list of ALL the unnecessary things you’re purchasing. Ask yourself if you can cut 50% of of those habits and allocate the money to a fund you spend on YOU. Don’t give me that look girl. I see you at the hairdresser every six weeks; I see you with those $90 acrylic nails, $200 eyelash extensions, botox and fillers. People always gasp when I tell them I have maids who come once a week to clean and do our laundry. How can you afford that!? Easily. I’d rather forgo folding laundry than have a kaboodle of makeup. My makeup literally fits in one bag. I’d rather have maids than buy a house with an extra 2,000 square feet. See where I’m going with this? It’s all about priorities. I see people complaining about how they can’t afford this and that, but Americans collectively spent $5 billion on Black Friday and another $6.59 billion on Cyber Monday. That’s according to several news sources, but other credible sites like Forbes have the combined number even higher with people spending an average of $743 between those two shopping holidays. That’s more than what the Perfect Life Retreat ticket cost me. Just sayin’ – I’m equally amazed at the long lines I see outside the Apple store when the new iPhone model is released. The iPhone X is a GRAND! Bottom line: people spend money on what’s important to them. So make the list of what’s important to you (and make sure it’s a no judgement zone). There is nothing wrong with wanting and buying the iPhone X, but if you want more, if you want to be more, than you have to exercise some discipline.

I hope you find these tips helpful! And I hope you enjoy our winter issue of HER Magazine. Click here to access our publication for free. 

The post What does your perfect life look like? appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

Good is not good enough. So when you hear people whine about not making the kind of money they desire to, or not excelling in their career – chances are it’s because they’re only doing what’s required of them.

Good by definition means having the qualities required for a particular role – this means if you want to go beyond that …the ‘qualities’ required for where you are now will keep you there. See what I’m getting at here?

Great by definition is operating at an intensity considerably above the normal or average – and while normal or average is difficult to define …just take a look around you. Average is everywhere.

Some people don’t want to be great and that’s okay, but they want ALL the benefits that come along with greatness. If that isn’t an oxymoron, I don’t know what is. So when people complain about the lack of ‘greatness’ in their lives, I tell them it’s a simple case of cause and effect.

You want more? BE more. DO more.

Now here’s the good news about achieving greatness. You’re not very far off…

When people say things like, ‘the competition is fierce’ or ‘I’d do this but it’s too competitive.’ – I sort of scoff.

I had a meeting the other day – one that went horribly wrong for the opposing party and one that got my blood boiling after realizing I had wasted my time. They came unprepared and lacked knowledge in the subject matter they were supposedly experts in. I could compile a laundry list of errors – but bottom line, they were rookies.

Want to know why people ‘at the top’ say no so often? Because there are a million of the above running around acting like that. They’re good, but not good enough. Which is great news.

The silver lining is there really isn’t ANY competition. Why? Because most people are unprepared, most people don’t go above and beyond, most don’t bother to foster relationships or follow up. So you see? The path to greatness is not very far off.

This is the Letter from the Founder from our November 2017 issue. To access for FREE, click this link. 

HERE ARE SOME TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOU STAND OUT FROM THE REST

1. 1. Be prepared. If you want something from someone, make sure you know about who they are, what their company is about and find a way to add value to them …for free, at first.
   2. Don’t ask before you give. That simple. I get messages daily from people asking me for my time, advice etc. Why should I be motivated to help a complete stranger who is only looking to benefit her/himself? Apply that question to things you may be asking for. Are you being selfish? Always add value first.

• Keep in touch. Some relationships have to be fostered for years before they ‘pay off’ – the fortune is always in the follow up. It’s really easy to get discouraged. For every person giving up, it puts you one inch closer to where you want to be.

• Go above and beyond. It’s really easy to just do the bare minimum, but people notice when you’re not trying your hardest. Your boss, your clients – when people wonder why they didn’t get the promotion …look in the mirror; there’s your answer.
• Be self-aware. This may be the most crucial tip. People are running around unaware that everything happening to them is because of them. It’s a cold hard fact to accept. If you have self-awareness, you’ve already won. Without it, you’ll be floating through life wondering why opportunities keep passing you by, blaming others for your misfortunes.

That’s it. Apply these five simple strategies to your life and watch yourself soar to the next level. I know, it’s easier said than done but if you can create the above habits – they will become second nature to you, and become a part of who you are. And who you are is everything when it comes to where you want to go in life…

The post What Separates the Good from Great? appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

Yes, I’m calling mindset a learned skill. For some, it comes naturally. My husband John for example believes he was born a risk-taker, and always had an innate belief in himself. Not everyone is John. Some of us need a little help practicing believing in ourselves, day in and day out. John will tell you that he invests in his mindset every day  – so while he may have been born with talent …he’s worked very hard fostering it, and continues to.

So when we were both hit with one of our biggest marital challenges, we were put to the test. Struggling with fertility issues is no walk in the park. It will challenge your way of thinking, make you question everything and search for answers that you may never find. I have seen it devastate women; I remember attending a non-profit event I hosted in honor of raising funds for female infertility (and by the way I hate the word infertility because it seems so finite which is why I never used the term when describing my situation to others) and witnessing the impact it had on the women who were still waiting, hopelessly – to have a family. I heard stories of women who felt that without the title of mother – their life was meaningless.

What I do remember throughout my 3 + year journey to get to where I am today is believing that we would be parents someday. We didn’t know when or even how – sort of like when building a business …so much of it is a mystery, so much uncertainty. The only thing you have is your mindset, and your ability to cope with the shifting winds. The universe – or whatever you want to call it …tested my faith time and time again, but I remember December 2016. I yelled out loud, “You think you can break me? You can’t break me!”

And then not even a month later, I mustered myself up for another procedure – this time a surgery to slice me open to remove fibroids. I recovered quickly. I call this resiliency. I didn’t have time to dwell. Keep going, no need to feel sorry for me. I know how this story ends. I’ve written it down, it’s on my vision boards – so don’t worry about me. I got this. I’m not saying it was easy, and I’m not saying my armour protected me day in and day out. I had days …dreadful days, but that voice – a soft whisper told me “You’ll be a mother someday.”

Throughout it all, my husband told me “I’ll love you no matter what. I didn’t marry you so you could have my children.” This was incredibly freeing. I hope your soulmate believes the same for the two of you, because as women – we feel the pressures of society …what our role should be in this world. But today, we are rewriting the rules.

So whether you want to be a mother or not, that should solely be your decision. And you shouldn’t be ashamed by your choice or heart’s desire one way or another.

Because I shared my personal journey through IVF with you (two failed rounds) and a fibroid removal surgery, I felt it only fair to let you in not only on my struggles in life but my triumphs.

The second round of IVF left us with one embryo. Frozen in time, we waited until it was our turn to try again.

And try again we did – because in life, you should never give up on the things you want. Whether it’s parenthood, finding the love of your life, getting that degree, applying for your dream job, traveling the world, or building a business…

Do.Not.Give.Up.

The universe favors those who have persistent faith. And when you don’t have faith? Borrow it. Because that’s what I did…

Surprise, we’re 17 weeks pregnant and we’re having a girl! Thank you for all your support and prayers.

The post How my IVF journey taught me to never give up appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

This topic stems from a social media post that drew a lot of attention, especially from women.

Original Post Below

I’m not bossy, I’m the boss. If you’re a woman and you’re assertive, know what you want, work hard…

Maybe you’ve been called bossy?

A diva? This language is designed to make you feel like something is wrong with you.

During my career I was called a number of names…

TV news hottie, eye candy, bossy, diva…

One time, a higher up said “there she goes, always wanting more.”

Damn straight I do which is why I’m blazing my own trail. So if you’re called any of the above things, I think these people may be confused. I think what they meant to call you was ambitious, smart, valuable, and a trailblazer.

Ladies, you are all those things.

It is true someone once said, “you’re our eye candy” – I blogged about it back in 2009 when I was a TV news anchor/reporter. 2009! Yes, and we’re still having conversations about why the way we talk to women needs to change.

And how did I handle it? I wrote the blog and the next day at work, the newsroom was buzzing “Who called you eye candy?” I knew the message got to where it needed to go. I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble, but I definitely wanted to raise awareness.

No one called me eye candy again.

While I disagree with extreme measures like banning actual words – see the Ban Bossy Movement – I think there’s something to be said about declaring to the world, “I’m not bossy, I’m the boss.”

Because it’s the very characteristics and qualities people often times classify as bossy that make us so successful as women. But don’t be confused, these words being thrown at you are like daggers – insults designed to mute you. To make you feel like you’re doing something wrong, and who you are is unacceptable.

Responses to my post came pouring in as the day went on. Here are just a few:

“I’ve been called bossy my whole life, I’ve just learned to be proud of it. I know what I want and I go after it, and if you’re offended by my methods, I’m okay with that.”

“I’ve been called bossy many times and learned not to take it personally. I don’t care and it definitely won’t break me.”

Have men EVER had to explain why they are ambitious? Absolutely not. Not only is it encouraged, it’s expected.

Interestingly, this doesn’t just happen to working women – it happens when you are actually the BOSS of your business too. Being a female entrepreneur has its own set of challenges and yes, even in this space – people unknowingly say stupid things sometimes. A male CEO once said, “Don’t be offended, but you are really picky.”

You mean I want it done right? I wasn’t offended, but I did dare him to use the same line on his wife. #doghouse – we both laughed it off.

The women above have the right attitude too.

They don’t let it get to them. Because if you did, it could diminish the very things that make you unique and so successful at what you do.

Remember though that even in today’s business landscape, women are experiencing this bad language. What’s important is that we raise our voices, constructively – and let the world know …that it’s no longer acceptable.

What about you? Have any stories to share about similar experiences? How did you handle it?

This month’s issue is about Andrea Van Dam, the CEO of Women’s Marketing. She talks about how you can still be a lady and lead. It’s inspiring to see women embrace who they are, without sacrificing their femininity to fit into a masculine world – and still succeed.

The post You’ve been lied to – you’re not bossy appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

“It’s not about money, it’s about people.”

What makes his knowledge so sage anyway? And what does he mean it’s not about money, it’s about people?

Many of the lessons I’ve learned along the way have come from falling flat on my face, but my mentor has been my father – who has been an entrepreneur for decades. I fancy his storyline much better than my entrepreneurial journey. He was born in Iraq; his first brush with business came out of a primal instinct to survive — and he’s an example of what happens when you combine hard work and determination. No matter your background, or circumstance — it’s possible to achieve anything you want in life. He is proof of that.

“Your biggest mentor will be your biggest investor.”

He is a man of few words, but his words come with intensity — and a straight forwardness that would make most uncomfortable.

“You need to read this.”

“Take a look.”

“I don’t like that.”

I’ve learned to listen intently, and read between the lines. So if it isn’t about money, then what is it about? The conversation was about how tough it has been to scale HER Magazine (this is no secret – most companies under 5 years old face this conundrum ) — “If only I had a million dollars in funding”, I told him.

“That’s where you’re wrong”, he retorted.

Look, let’s be logical here. Of course you need money – those Benjamin Franklins in the bank mean you can invest in your business. But your business is mostly comprised of people. Without the right people, you’re on a road to nowhere.

And that’s what he meant. People who raise VC funding get it wrong all the time. They completely screw up business — and come out on the other end more defeated than going in. So my father is right in many ways. You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t have the right people — you’re screwed. And if you don’t have the knowledge and lessons learned through failing over and over again, money + a newbie to business? It doesn’t mean they are climbing to success any faster than you. You may believe they have an advantage, but in many ways too much funding up front could be a disadvantage.

In a recent interview with Marie Forleo, Shark Tank Investor and founder of FUBU Daymond John talks about why you need to keep a broke mindset in business. Sounds counterintuitive especially if you listen to all the wannabe mindset coaches out there, but there’s something to be said about John’s philosophy and my father’s for that matter.

John reveals what his early days as a businessman were like, working at Red Lobster even though it appeared everything was going right with FUBU. He focused 80% of his energy on his day job, while hustling 20% of his time for his fashion brand. Over time, those percentages flip flopped.

That has been no different for me and so many business women and men who are in their early days of entrepreneurship. And by early, I mean the first 5 years.

So, some quick tips if you think money is the problem (it’s finding the right people) – how can you do that if you’re low on cash?

1. 1. Lead with your mission, purpose — your WHY. This will not only inspire those around you, and attract people you want in your business — but it means that others are most likely willing to work with you at a lower rate than they typically do knowing that you’re a start up and most importantly, knowing that their work means something. Make it meaningful and you’ll have no problem attracting people to your company at first. (just remember that this won’t work long term – as your profits grow, what you pay people should absolutely increase)
   2. Recruit an Intern and offer Mentorship. I don’t know about you, but I would have loved for the opportunity to learn under the wings of someone I admired. Still would. There are hungry millennials waiting for the invitation to work with you. Offer mentorship along with their internship. I was an intern for two years when I first embarked on a career in TV. It was the best free work I’ve ever done, and yes in those days interns didn’t get paid. They still shouldn’t in my opinion.
   3. FFF – Friends, Family and Fools. You want to accomplish some cool things right? Turn to your friends – ask for the ‘hook up’ …or ask your family what resources they can provide to help you get off the ground. And if all else fails – there’s always some fool out there willing to invest in your crazy idea.

It is possible to build a business without a big bank supplying you with an endless stream of money. It is however impossible to create a thriving company without some support. This mean you hustle, you work – until you can afford to somehow get your passion off the ground.

This is my Letter from the Founder in the August issue of HER Magazine. If you’d like to learn more about our digital publication, we’d love to send you a free copy. Just click that image below.

The post If only I had a million dollars. Why money isn’t always the solution. appeared first on HER Magazine ™.