Building a Brand as a Mom | Motherhood

Building a brand is a full-time job. Being a mother is a full-time job. Doing both at the same time is not only possible but a rewarding experience for you and your children. There are situations and opinions that may say otherwise, but like anything else, you know what’s best for your life. You have to give yourself permission to be multilayered. Here are some helpful thoughts to arm yourself with as you center your experience as a mother and businesswoman.

1. Own the layered value & identity of your unique motherhood – Stop giving into the habit of defining the type of mother you are when asked about who you are or what you do. Blanket phrases like “just a stay home mom” or “working mother” or “full-time mother” are truly unnecessary and only demean how multifaceted and capable we are as women. It’s another way to inflict distracting mommy guilt, fuel the mommy war fires, and pre-judge each others mothering experiences. You are a mother. Period. And, it’s the ultimate form of leadership. Whatever you do, or don’t do for money & personal purpose is a layer of your identity but does not define or cancel your role as a mother. It’s in addition to. Being a mother does not diminish your ability as a businesswoman. Being a businesswoman does not diminish your ability as a mother. You are a mother and a businesswoman. Own them both, you have the exceptional ability to be more than one thing simultaneously. *Side Note* That goes for whoever you are… that’s not just for businesswomen by the way.

2. Keep your priority perspective centered – Your children only get one mother. You’re are everything to them. No matter how easily you can justify how important your work is, how impactful it is to the world, or how many people need you…your first priority must always be your family. There are no exceptions to this. What may seem like something trivial to you, means the world to your child. Your presence is the strongest love language to them. Being there is more important than anything you can provide for them. A broken family is a broken legacy no matter how successful your ventures are. Children need their parents.

3. Raise them up to be visionary minded – Being a mother and a visionary is a lifestyle. A living example of what it looks like to overcome obstacles, believe in something, and follow through. Include your children as much as you can, make it fun for them. When they are younger, give them a play office space in your work area so they can imitate you. As they get a little older, give them the opportunity to create their own business idea that they can work on while you build yours too. The possibilities are endless… and hey, you never know what they might inspire in your own work. Children are just mini powerhouses full of unfiltered imagination. Always ask them what they think, or what they would do. Instill in them that their ideas and thoughts have worth.

4. Be flexible & accept that things may not always go the way you plan – When you go into something with the understanding that you might have to adjust accordingly it helps that not become a crisis in itself. You may have to get used to doing smaller tasks when you can. (Find some of the time mastery tips I have learned to be most useful here.) You may also have to train yourself to work in conditions you’re not used to ( more noise, being interrupted, different workspace, etc.) You may not always get everything done in your timing either. But, it’s okay! Celebrate the small progressions and just continue to stack them up. Keep a list of everything you’ve accomplished just as you would a to-do list. As a mother, it helps to literally see it so that you can continue to encourage yourself.

Whatever motherhood looks like for you, it is exactly what it needs to be. Each family has different personalities, rhythms, needs and purposes. Be in tune to how to best cultivate what that is, and then rock it unapologetically. You CAN build a brand and be a mother. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. You got this power mama. We’re all rooting for you!

Originally published on Empire Life Magazine

What Does Creative Sisterhood Mean? | Womanhood

Sisterhood. What does it actually look like? When put into action it’s the lifestyle that can redefine relationships among all women. For far too long, women have put each other down, competed, and instinctively betrayed each other. This has left a lot of women guarded, isolated, and unsupported. It doesn’t have to be the norm, and we are the only ones that can change it. With these simple shifts in perspective, you’ll have actionable expressions of sisterhood that you can live out every day and pass on.

Always remember: She is still your sister with a vision

We get so caught up in what we are passionate about that we forget there are other women waking up every morning with a passion too. Instead of thinking of her as a threat, remember that she is a fellow dream doer. She too wants better for her life, family, and the world around her. She too has people doubting her while she pushes against obstacle after obstacle to be who she knows she was created to be. You can join in and make it harder for her, or you can rise together. Value her vision as you would your own.

Always remember: Someone else having skills does not diminish your own 

We have been brought up to compare ourselves to other women. The attributes and success of another caused us to feel doubt about our own, instead of empowered. There is plenty of money, interest & business to go around. We are all meant to impact different realms of influence and people. Some people and movements are activated by the signature mix that you have, and some are activated by the signature mix that she has. The diversity results in expanded impact. Think of that woman and her skills as an asset to the change you want to see in the world. You can both matter and add value. Nobody can cancel you out.

Always remember: There is more power in collaboration over competition. 

Even if you do the same exact thing as another woman, there is always possibility for collaboration if desired. You can expand ideas, networks, and resources by coming together. If you do complimentary things, both of your visions could go to higher levels by connecting. You end up offering your consumer tribes more to choose from. It adds to the value and signature edge of both of you. Again, be assets instead of threats to each other. Look for ways to support and intertwine what you do. Create a team of creative allies and watch how much you all increase. Multiple versions of genius coming together can do so much more than one genius alone.

No matter how you decide to show your sisterhood love, the foundational truth is that the energy you give is the energy you’ll experience. We can shift what sisterhood can look like. It’s not only for us, but for our daughters, and her daughters. We can give them the gift of never knowing what it’s like to be raised to distrust other women or see them as anything but beautiful sources of unstoppable possibility. We can give them that power back.

Want to spread the sisterhood vibe? Share this article with all the powerful woman you know, and let’s keep that perspective spreading! Love each other! Life just feels better wrapped in love and positivity, right?

Originally published on Empire Life Magazine

How to Build a Strong Creative Team | Business + Branding

When you’re building a team around any project it’s like combining ingredients for a recipe. Each person brings a unique flavor and element to the vision. Some projects can’t reach their full potential if they don’t have all the right members working on it. Here are 10 unique characteristics to look for when building your team.

1. Complementary Strengths – Linking up with people who shine in areas that you don’t is the most wise and strategic move that a visionary can make. When your team members are doing what they do best, it creates more impact.

2. Season Clarity – All parties involved need to be in a season of life where they are ready and available to be positive part of a team. When someone is out of season they don’t pour their best into the project because they are distracted, drained, or unprepared.

3. Strength Awareness – It’s always best to work alongside people who really know their lane. Someone that knows their strengths possess a focused clarity and maturity to their craft, which ultimately translates into quality input and results.

4. Vision Clarity – You want everyone involved to be running towards a common place with an understanding of what their role in that is. It’s always a good idea to start with clear communication so that miscommunication and false agendas don’t occur.

5. Committed Dedication – Working with anyone who isn’t fully committed is going to hurt the overall progression of the project. Working with people who don’t have the same standard of excellence, as others in the group, will always slow don’t the momentum.

6. Proof of Potential – A lot of people talk, few people prove. You have to make sure that everyone included has a history of following through on their abilities.

7. Unconventionally Resourceful – Having a group full of people who are not afraid to think outside the box is of most importance. Groundbreaking impact is birthed from going where others haven’t gone before. Working with people who all lack a fear of doing something new will expand the possibility of the project.

8. Internally Motivated – Seek out people who are self motivated, people who don’t need to be told to take the lead or initiative. It’s always refreshing to work with people that take the lead in their area and bring more to the table than what was asked.

9. Thoughtfully Considerate – When working within a group setting a lot of different beliefs, routines, and ways are intertwined. Working alongside people who are naturally thoughtful about how their actions affect others is the key to maintaining good synergy.

10. Linked Source – Combining networks is the quickest way to tap into a larger supply of resources. Cross tapping the assets of everyone in the group benefits the members, and ultimately the vision.

Building a team doesn’t always happen all at one time. Many times a team is developed over years until it’s reached its true potential. It also may not be made of people who are your best friends. Don’t get stuck trying to force chemistry between a group, when it’s right, you’ll feel it.

The Real Traits a Female Visionary Needs | Business + Branding

Nobody could ever argue that an entrepreneur must be brilliant, organized, and creative. But, the modern female entrepreneur is a force unlike anything we’ve seen before. She’s a multifaceted powerhouse that is undeniably strong. Her strength comes from traits that flow from deep within. In our current market the following entrepreneurial traits are essential to standing out, and sustaining your vision.

1. Resourcefully Unstoppable- 
You can encompass every traditional entrepreneurial trait, but without following through, you just have potential. Follow through separates the day dreamers from the day achievers. It requires an extreme level of resourcefulness. Resourcefulness pushes through resistance and obstacles. An entrepreneur must look at every situation from multiple vantage points and always be willing to test out an unconventional approach. 

2. Progressive Authenticity - 
Yes, it is true that most markets are saturated, and people get bored of things quickly. To stand out, you must be see beyond the current trends, and be inventive about how you do that. An entrepreneur must master the ability to predict what’s ahead, and evolve in a way that is still authentic to their brand. Bandwagon branding never last, timeless creative evolution does. 

3. Connected Nature- 
A strong female entrepreneur see’s herself as a source. An extension of this is her ability to connect people, resources, and projects within her reach. She values a powerful network of fellow power entrepreneurs as a priceless asset. The ability to reach into her network for inspiration, collaborations, and insight benefits her and everyone within her world. She looks for opportunities to host events and link the possibility around her. 

4. Captivating Energy - 
An entreprenur that has a sharp mind but maintains an inviting energy will capture the intrigue of everyone she encounters. In this social media era interest is currency. The magnetic pull that someone feels not only to what you do, but for the visionary brand energy fueling it, is gold. This allows the relationships that you establish to be genuine.

5. Securely Confident - 
The entrepreneurial marketplace can expose you to a lot of competition, comparison, fakeness, and influence. But, a secure entrepreneur doesn’t spend any time worrying about being offended, uncertain, or unworthy. Getting caught up in the social politics of it all can water down the growth and direction of your vision. Your brand will suffer without a securely centered energy force pouring in and protecting it. 

Pursuing your dreams isn’t always the easiest thing to do.  When you nurture these traits your soul will enjoy the experience as you dominate the marketplace too. Pursuing your dream isn’t just about the outcome, it’s about the life and relationships that following those dreams exposes you to. 

Visionary Mamalife | Motherhood

You can read the original feature here.

Empire Life did a feature for Mother's Day on Mompreneurs and I wanted to share it here as well!

On being a mom:

I am a mom to this cool little chick named Luna, and I love her to bits. For the past two years I have enjoyed seeing her personality unfold before my eyes. It’s important to me that she grows up in lifestyle of affirmation and possibility. It’s why we already travel the world with her and have her sit in on business and spiritual gatherings when appropriate. It’s never too early to absorb a positive rhythm. I am responsible for building her launching pad and it’s a true honor to be entrusted with that. Motherhood has been one of the greatest gifts i’ve ever received.

My view on motherhood:

"Motherhood is the ultimate role of leadership."

What's one bit of advice that you have for mother's who wish to build their empire?

Being a mother does not cancel the visionary purpose on your life. You can be a mother and still pursue the powerful things in your spirit. Too many women give up the call on their life for their children. Then their children might do the same thing for their children. This results in generations of unfulfilled purpose. Your dreams and ambitions don’t have to die when you give birth.

Is it easy to put in the work required to create an empire while raising children? Of course not. But, they need to see a mother who believed, committed and accomplished despite having every reason to set it aside or quit."

When You Feel Like Everybody is Already Doing What You Do | Business + Branding

I’m sure you’ve heard, or experienced, how crowded the marketplace is for an up & coming visionary. It can seem like everybody has some sort of business going on. And, while it is saturated, at the end of the day that doesn’t mean that what you bring to the marketplace matters any less. It also doesn’t count as an excuse not to get out there. 

Sometimes when you feel like everyone is doing something, especially something you do, you can begin to lose your confidence. If that happens, just keep the four Perspective Design truths below in your spirit, and build yourself back up.

1. It doesn’t give you an excuse not to support.
Just because someone does something similar to you, they are still your sister with a vision. There’s enough business, impact, love and money to be experienced by everyone. Building each other up instead of hating on each other makes the experience more enriched for everyone involved. Hating only comes when you feel threatened, jealous, or intimidated. Let that go. Who knows… maybe even a collaboration can become of it. Either way, honor & celebrate the talents, accomplishments, and ambition in each other. She has a dream that means the world to her too. Believe in her. This is what women supporting women really looks like.

2. Define your signature value. 
No matter what you do, you bring your one of a kind experiences, inspirations, perspective, and style to it. This allows you to uniquely decide what you offer, and how you offer it, to create a signature experience. Know exactly what it is that only you can bring within what you do, and own it. There could be a 100 other people doing what you do… but the people that are supposed to be drawn to you will be because they will relate to the value they recognize in you.

3. Crowded doesn’t mean there isn’t room for you. 
The market can be as busy as it’s want to be. If you truly excel at what you do, and provide an experience, there will be space for you. People will be attracted to what you do. Quality rises above hype, and it remains long after trends and slightly committed visionaries fall off. Maybe lots of people want to be a writer, entrepreneur, designer, coach, thought leader, speaker, musician, or some sort of artist. But, that doesn’t cancel out your words, ideas, wisdom, creativity or art. Can you imagine if every musician thought it was useless to make more music because music has already been made? There would be no more music. You can apply that same theory to whatever your craft is.

4. Everywhere is crowded 
Yes, the entrepreneur, artist, & small business marketplace might be overcrowded. But, you know what other marketplace is overcrowded too? The 9-5 cubicle marketplace. Both are oversaturated, but you can make your mark in whichever one will make you happy. If you’re going to work, sacrifice, and put hours of your life into working on something… pick the industry you really want to put all that effort into getting into. 

No matter what you do... do it will your signature twist and with love.

Tweet: #BeAVisionBoss. Even if someone is within the same industry as you, they are still your sister with a vision. Believe in & celebrate her.

When you Feel Like You're in the Middle of an Epic Fail | Well Being + Lifestyle

Ever been in a situation that literally looks like a complete contradiction to the vision you stepped out in faith for? It just seems like THAT is the exact area that is a challenge, and not going the way you would've imagined, right?

But, if you look hard enough, you'll see it. You'll see that what looks like the end, is simply a strategic change in direction. You'll see what feels like the bottom as a clean fresh slate. You'll see that being stripped of things creates space for possibility.

Is it easy to always see it that way? Absolutely not. But, constantly applying that perspective will keep your spirit focused on the truth, and you'll flip that season to your advantage. You'll learn. You'll see the endless obstacle course of one challenge after another as training. Preparation for the things ahead. For visionaries, these seasons refine, highlight, and enhance areas of your personality you may never have known were your strong points. So, sometimes everything looking like the opposite of what you believed it would be, is actually extreme confirmation that you're in the middle of walking in to it. 

I say all that from a place of being right in the thick of that exact season. For five months we were in Malaysia & Thailand. While in Thailand two great things happened. First, we found a city that instantly felt like home to us that we plan to move back to. Second, an unexpected business idea was inspired. 

But, here's where the path we expected to be on totally shifted. We were loving Thailand, fully ready to stay and settle in. Yet, in February, we kept getting the feeling like it was time to go back to the States briefly before making a home in Bangkok. We planned to stay for only a month or so. But, about 7 hours into our first flight God revealed and prepared my spirit for something else. 

For almost two hours I sat there and just cried, flooded with direction, reality, disappointment, clarity, hope & surrendering. I started to see that there were foundations that needed to be laid here in the States for things first before going back again. Things that would propel our visions. Did I personally like that in that moment? Of course not, I wanted to head back to Thailand as soon as possible. But, I knew we couldn't let what we wanted to do cloud the flow of the vision that was rapidly unfolding with so much possiblity. The vision trumps everything, it's why we moved in the first place. 

While some things appeared to fall apart, many other things are growing beautifully into place in a way I could've never planned. There is possibility tangled within it all, and I am loving the continued adventure. Our focus is the vision, so whatever the path to get there looks like, we're on it with no hesitation. Again, is it easy? Nope. But, it cultivates an unstoppable nature within... and that's probably the point. I know we are not the only ones in this season, and that's why I wrote this, so if you're in it too...  don't let the resistance win. You got this. You're not failing, you're progressing more than you can imagine. 

What you may see as an end is just a beautifully strategic & purposeful change in direction. Trust now that you'll look back later & understand

I Can't Believe I'm Writing About... Kim Kardashian | Womanhood

I love what being a woman encompasses. We embody a complexity that can't possibly be defined, and a power that is unmatched when harnessed in positivity. I also love and feel very protective of the women in my generation, the younger women coming up after us, as well as our daughters. 

The level of distracting influences around us is at epic levels. The exposure to extremely cheap imitations of what a real woman should be has created a false standard of normal. Distorted media concepts have paved the way for even more distorted definitions of sexuality, art, and femininity.

I saw the pictures of Kim Kardashian and the whole "break the internet" thing. Normally I don't even care about anything she does because I simply don't find anything about her that impressive, but this whole thing just didn't sit right with me. None of this is to throw shade towards her or how she lives, it's not really even about her, it's about her unfortunate effect. 

Now I know she may not have signed on to be a role model to anyone, so i'm sure she's laughing all the way to bank while reading all the media sensation around her as we speak. That's exactly what she wanted. But, what I don't understand is that she had the luxury and second chance of possibly being known as more then "the girl with Ray J in that sex tape". To some she could be known as a brilliant business woman, maybe a style icon since Kanye switched it up for her, or even a cultural pop icon that did something legendary. With so much influence she could easily choose her legacy. But she chooses to continually revert back to making sure we never forget how we even know her name in the first place.

Society is unknowingly absorbing the symptoms of an insecure woman doing anything to feed her addiction to being adored. She lowered the bar for decency, while also raising the bar for shameless shock value. My question is what does topping what she did look like? What we will see next from her, or more importantly the other millions of women who will attempt to gain similar attention through their own realms of influence using her as their inspiration? I wonder how she would feel if her daughter's way of expressing her sexuality when she get's older begins to mimic how mommy did it? 

She claims to have done the shoot because she had a desire to create art and work with that photographer, but she could've still done those things without nipples and using up the national baby oil supply. Some people will argue that porn is "art" too, but let's be real, even it's artsy erotic porn, it's still porn.

When you know who you are, you know how to own your sex appeal. You carry your beauty as an extra and prefer to keep your boobs and booty where they belong. I just want women to believe and know in their heart that this is nothing to aspire to or compare yourself with. I want the younger women coming up to really believe that this is not the way to attract attention. Your sex appeal can not be your only playing card. Your biggest source of confidence and self-worth can not be what you sit on. 

I genuinely pray that she realizes she is more than a sex object, and that she begins to take advantage of the influential power she has fallen into for something more than plumping (ha!) her own image. 

And to all my beautiful woman reading this: Don't forget how much power YOU have and how multifaceted YOU are. No matter how sexy you feel, or don't feel for that matter, YOU are more than just pretty body parts.

Are You A Misfit Of The Traditional Work Flow? | Well Being + Lifestyle

I am a misfit of the traditional work mold.

This does not mean i'm lazy, anti-work, or have problems with authority. It does mean the typical 9-5 style job, working for someone else, or doing something I have zero passion for literally just doesn't fit my spirit. I told myself over and over to be grateful for the employment and accept that it was just a reality of life, especially in this economy. Yet not a day would go by where the following collection of thoughts wouldn't pass through my mind at some point....

LABEL LIVING

I've noticed a trend. Lifestyle Labeling.
It's one of THE biggest deceptive distractions there is in our generation. It's so stealth, we might even miss it. For example, how often does anything along these lines happen in everyday conversation:

- "Oh, you like (insert observation)? you're so (insert label)" 

"Wow! Everything in your house is (insert observation), you must be so (insert label)" 

"You always dress like (insert observation), you're very (insert label)"

"You shop at (insert observation)?, that so (insert label) of you"

"You believe in  (insert observation)  when raising your children?
you must be one of those (insert label)  kind of parents" 

"You're doing (insert observation)?, you're totally one of those (insert label)"

...and the list could go on forever. Seems innocent and common right? We all do it.

mom.enough

I’ve been reading so much everywhere about this TIME article about attachment parenting that came with the tagline challenge of:

”are you mom enough?”

It stirred up thoughts inside of me… and I’m not even a mom yet.