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The Person in the Mirror, NOT the Person on Social Media
Recently, I was working with a mompreneur on her business plan. Her business has been around for a couple of years, and she wanted to lay out better, comprehensive career goals. She confessed to me that she wasn’t sure where to start. Soon after that, she reconnected with an old friend from high school on social media, and just by doing that, she had been thrown for a loop. A mom to two small babies, she was amazed to see her old high school friend running a very successful working mommy blog with three angelic children prominently featured. Her friend appeared to have everything she wanted, but she had not taken the same path to get there. This lovely mom-preneur felt unsure of herself and unsure of how to set goals for her own business. After all, her journey didn’t look the same as that nicely polished blog.
You know the kind of blog, I’m sure. Everything is picture-perfect. The kids are always dressed in their best, looking clean, happy, and like they jumped straight out of a catalog. Every room in the house is spotless, decorated and arranged as though people don’t actually live in it. No one fights or cries or screams. No one is sleep deprived. Work, kids, family, and personal time are all perfectly balanced.
The mom-preneur I was chatting with expressed her dismay. Her life looked nothing like those photos! She actually read through her friend’s blog from start to finish in just a few, frantic hours. In the blog, this particular mom never encountered any troubles or problems. Her kids were always well-behaved, everything at work went according to plan and her family split tasks with her equally to give her free time.
Again, all of that was nothing like this mom-preneur’s life. She told me how horrible seeing all that made her feel. She felt like a failure. Her two small kids are loved and cared for, but both of them are under the age of three so there are tantrums, yelling, and more often than not they are running around the house, shedding their clothes — there are no “picture-perfect moments” there. She works more than the average 9-5 daily, and things do not always go according to plan. She has a wonderful, loving spouse, but he too has a job leaving them both trying to juggle schedules. Basically, nothing is perfect. So, how did her friend seem to have it all together?
I reminded her that she should not compare herself to others — especially on social media! We had a long heart-to-heart about how it can seem so easy to see those quick snap shots and feel inadequate, but we don’t actually know what’s going on in the entire picture of someone’s life; it’s easy to tell the internet everything is going great when in reality nothing is. In this conversation, I realized that I needed to share this quick reminder along with some tips on how to measure your own progress based on what you do, and not what others are doing.
Self-Compassion Matters
Take a moment to think about the times you’ve been hard on yourself. Maybe you didn’t get that promotion at work, or you had a fight with your partner. Maybe you’re struggling to lose weight, or you feel like you’re not doing enough for your kids. Whatever it is, we’ve all been there. And when we’re in those moments, it’s easy to compare ourselves to others and think that we’re falling short. But the truth is, we are all on our own journey. And comparing ourselves to others only leads to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. So instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on being compassionate with yourself. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, and remember that everyone is doing the best they can.
Be Grateful
It’s easy to get caught up in what we don’t have, but if we take a moment to list out everything in our lives we are grateful for, we can begin to change our perspective. I am grateful for my health, my family, my friends, my job, and my home. I am also grateful for the air I breathe and the food I eat. When we focus on what we are grateful for, we begin to see how much we actually have.
Set Realistic Expectations
You’re not going to be able to do it all. You’re not going to be able to have a perfect house, a perfect body, a perfect job, and perfect kids. You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to have days (or weeks) where you feel like you’re failing. And that’s okay! Because you’re human. And so is everyone else. So cut yourself some slack and give yourself a break. We all need it. It’s important to set realistic expectations and then appreciate what we’ve done rather than focusing on what we haven’t done yet. There will always be someone doing better than us or someone who has more money or a nicer car or whatever it may be. It doesn’t matter because they are just telling their story; yours might look different but that doesn’t mean either one of them is wrong. No one can compare with your story so don’t compare yourself to anyone else — take care of you and your family as best as you can by setting realistic expectations for yourself which includes being happy for other people too!
Mindfulness Leads to Progress
Moms are under a lot of pressure these days. With social media, we are constantly bombarded with images and messages about how we should be living our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others and feeling like we’re falling short. But here’s the thing: we are each on our own journey. And comparing ourselves to others only leads to feelings of inadequacy and discouragement. So instead of comparing, let’s focus on being mindful of our own progress. When we take the time to notice how far we’ve come, it’s empowering and motivating. So the next time you find yourself comparing yourself to someone else on social media, remember: you are not them and they are not you.
Online Business Manager
An Online Business Manager takes over the daily operations of a business. In this case, the word online refers to the location of the business manager, not the nature of the company.
Many businesses use an Online Business Manager, including those that operate online and those with more traditional operations. Online Business Managers have a skill set that can be used to help run any type of business.
What Do Online Business Managers Do?
An Online Business Manager essentially serves as a Chief Operating Officer for your business, so you can focus on being the Chief Executive Officer. At the most basic level, Online Business Managers lead a team. They understand your objectives for the business and are focused on leading all elements of the team to understand that vision and bring it to life. They accomplish many management-related tasks, including:
- Project management ensures that all the trains run on time and the team stays focused on meeting deadlines for new and ongoing projects. Project management is critical as you introduce new products and new processes.
- Operations management includes keeping an eye on ongoing operations, troubleshooting issues, and establishing processes for better workflow.
- Metrics management including creating ways to give you a numbers-based look at your business and developing ways to use metrics to measure business outcomes and progress toward goals.
- People management including answering questions from team members and helping to ensure career growth and job satisfaction for employees.
- Client management Online Business Managers may work directly with select clients as account managers in some industries.
How are Online Business Managers Different from Virtual Assistants?
When contemplating the addition of an Online Business Manager, it can be challenging to differentiate between the OBM role and a Virtual Assistant or VA. Many VAs take on some of the tasks that an Online Business Manager might do, and some Online Business Managers start as VAs.
However, the roles are fundamentally different. VAs complete tasks based on directions. For example, you tell your VA that you need to take a trip to Oregon to see a potential customer for a meeting. Your VA organizes your travel and sends out meeting invitations, saving you an enormous amount of time and potential hassle.
By contrast, your Online Business Manager is a strategic partner. She sees the tasks that she must tackle to achieve your goals and dives in to lead a team to do it. For example, you tell your Online Business Manager that you’d like to grow your business in Oregon. Knowing that goal, she (or someone on her team) researches potential customers and presents opportunities to you.
Once you select the potential customers, she will help you prepare for the meeting. After the customer is landed, she will develop processes to help ensure the quality delivery of products and services. As she does that, you are free to move on and consider additional business strategies, find new customers, and explore new business lines.
Do You Need an Online Business Manager?
An Online Business Manager makes sense for many businesses, but not all. The role is usually a need that a company grows into instead of one that’s added right away.
While the timing for adding this role can vary, the following indicators tell you it may be time for you to leap.
- Time Constraints
Many entrepreneurs launch a business to have more personal time and find a better work-life balance. But, the business grows quickly and takes up any free time. This scenario can lead to frustration. An Online Business Manager can help restore the joy you once got from your business.
Also, serial entrepreneurs running several businesses often need Online Business Managers sooner rather than later. An Online Business Manager can take your existing business and run it while you nurture new ideas. The same goes if you have multiple revenue lines and need someone to manage one or more of them so you can focus on other work.
- Capacity Limits Impede Growth
If you find yourself turning away work because you are too busy servicing existing work to add more, an Online Business Manager can solve that problem for you. The increased revenue an Online Business Manager makes possible can easily dwarf the increased cost of bringing her aboard.
- Reduced Personal Growth
If your business has matured, but you are still doing many of the same tasks you did when your business started, it’s time to bring in an Online Business Manager. As the CEO of your own company, it can be challenging to look after your own growth. But, it’s a hugely important consideration. If you stop growing because you are always doing the same tasks, you may lose interest in the business. An Online Business Manager can help free you from running the business and let you return to the areas where you have the most passion.
- People Management
Many entrepreneurs are surprised to realize that managing a team brings frustration instead of joy. Even the best people will come to you with questions and concerns, and it can take time and energy to respond thoughtfully. Not responding thoroughly or thoughtfully can hurt team morale and reduce effectiveness, which can harm your business. An Online Business Manager can solve that problem for you by managing your team, answering questions, and helping promote career growth among your team members.
- Revenue Plateau
All business ventures will hit a revenue plateau at some point. These plateaus are incredibly frustrating when you don’t have the time to push past them or incubate an idea that could increase revenue. Bringing in an Online Business Manager to run the business can let you return to operating at a more strategic level by pushing barriers aside.
Signs That Your Business is Not Yet Ready for an Online Business Manager
Just as there are sure signs that you need an Online Business Manager, there are also indicators that you aren’t there yet. Most importantly, if your cash flow doesn’t support the role, it’s best to hold off until you can make the financial commitment. An Online Business Manager can help you move the needle from your current financial place to the next. But, you need a certain amount of financial stability before you can do that.
The second meaningful sign that you aren’t ready to add an Online Business Manager is that you aren’t prepared to surrender control of some element of your business. If you know (or suspect) that you will micromanage an Online Business Manager, potentially creating more work for yourself in the process, don’t hire one.
Instead, work on giving up some level of control by working with a seasoned VA and grow to the place where you can give some level of control over to your Online Business Manager. The art of delegating is genuinely an art, and it takes some practice to do it effectively.
How to Find Your Online Business Manager
If you’ve read this and decided that it’s time to bring an Online Business Manager on board, visit HireMyMom and consider HireMyMom’s Concierge service. We created the Concierge Service for busy entrepreneurs and small business owners, like you, who need to hire help but don’t have the time or desire to go through the time-consuming process. If you are ready for an Online Business Manager, this is the right route for you. With our full-service Concierge Service, our HR Specialists will do it all for you from start to finish and present you with the top candidate(s) sourced from a wide array of qualified applicants who will be dedicated to helping your business succeed and grow.
Compensation Ranges for Common Roles
Virtual Assistant
- Completes a wide range of administrative tasks, including document preparation, calendar and email management, and data entry work.
- $15-35 with an average starting point of $22
Technical Virtual Assistant
- Focuses on supporting the technical and network needs of a small business.
- $25 and up
Client Success Manager/Customer Service Roles
- Serves as the main point of contact for many small businesses by representing the company to clients and customers.
- $15 to $22
Social Media Manager
- Creates engaging content that offers value to the audience and ultimately results in growth in followers and increased sales for the company.
- $18 to $50
Account Manager
- Manages client accounts for a small business. Often has customer service, sales, and financial goals.
- $17 to $22
e-Commerce Specialist
- Provides expertise in online sales strategies across platforms to increase digital sales and increase sales conversion rates.
- $20 to $28
Bookkeeper
- Accesses the company’s records remotely to record transactions, balance bank accounts, prepare and send invoices, manage bank accounts and maintain financial records. Prepares payroll and tax reports.
- $18 to $30
Marketing/Public Relations
- Creates and maintains a favorable public image of the business. May also handle crisis communication and help promote business leaders within the industry.
- $20 to $35
Facebook Ad Manager
- Develops advertising strategies and creates advertisements for Facebook and other social media sites.
- $25 to $60
Project Management
- Coordinates and oversees all aspects of a project.
- $20 to $40
Email marketing
- Creates a digital marketing strategy to reach customers and prospects via email.
- $18 to $45
Copywriter/Content Creator/Blogger
- Writes and edits articles, blogs, or copy for various purposes, including website, marketing materials, email marketing, and ghostwriting for business owners.
- $20 to $40
Online Business Manager
- Takes over the daily operations of a business by providing project, people, and client management. Develops and tracks business metrics.
- $25 to $55
- Wages are heavily industry-dependent, with IT and medical expertise at the top of the range.
Business Development Specialist
- Identifies and pursues new leads and looks for ways to help the business continually grow.
- $25 to $40
Real Estate Assistant
- Prepares real estate forms and documents, works with clients by phone, sets up showings, helps prepare closing documents.
- $18 to $25
Legal Assistant/paralegal
- Supports attorneys, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.
- $18 to $30
How to Make Your Job Post Stand Out in a Crowded Market
Now that you’ve gained some understanding of things to know before you hire, next you’ll want to think carefully about what you need from your contractor or employee.
Start by considering the desired skill set. Consider what you want this person to do and the skills needed to do it. Focusing on skills vs. experience is an important distinction because you may not find an experienced applicant in a hot job market.
Then, think about how willing you are to spend time training. If you are willing to teach the job to a person with the right skillset and advertise that willingness, you will likely increase your applicant pool.
Finally, as you consider skills, ask yourself if all the desired skills are essential or if you could work with someone who possesses 80% of the needed skills and teach the rest. You may find a gem in the rough, and with a bit of investment, could have a solid, long-term employee.
Flexibility Factors
Next, consider the hours you need and the working conditions. Candidates are often looking for flexible hours. But, the idea of flexible hours can mean a lot of different things. For example, it could mean part-time hours or a shared job. For some applicants, it’s the ability to work different hours on different days. And, in some cases, flexible hours can mean having a deadline and working toward it without set hours. Think about what you need and be clear in your posting about your flexibility. The more flexibility you have, the greater the number of candidates you will likely attract.
If you don’t think there’s much flexibility in your role, run your thinking by some others and see if you can’t find some wiggle room that may make the job more attractive to candidates. This is especially true if you are replacing an employee who worked a particular schedule. For example, you may have had someone who worked from noon to five every weekday. You may naturally think you want the replacement employee to work from noon to five. However, many mothers with school-age children won’t apply for that as the after-school hours tend to be very busy. But, maybe you could shift the hours from 10 to 3 each weekday. That’s a much more attractive schedule to busy mothers who could be an excellent fit for the role. Also, by being open to different hour configurations, you are expanding the pool of likely candidates to different time zones, increasing the number of applicants for your post.
Determine What You Can Pay
Pay is tricky, but generally, higher pay attracts stronger candidates. Be realistic about the skills you are looking for and what the market is paying for those skills. You find a lesson here in the course to help you with the pay range.
Remember to focus on the value the employee brings to your company and how having that person on board might increase your revenue or productivity.
As an employer, your role is to create a competitive pay package that balances your need for profitability with the desire to attract and retain your staff. When you are looking for team members, it’s essential to convey the total package you offer to attract applicants.
Create a Compelling Job Posting
With questions about skills, flexibility, and pay settled, it’s time to write the actual job post. We’ve included a Job Post template in the course to make this even easier.
The key is to find the right level of detail–not too much, not too little. Aim to describe the job thoroughly, but not with so many details that job seekers are discouraged from applying. Focus on the big picture work; don’t include every task this job could include at some point in the future.
Likewise, don’t go so light on details that job seekers aren’t sure what the job entails or what your business does. A good check is to show the post to a trusted friend who doesn’t know much about your business and ask her to explain to you what the job entails. This will give you a good sense of how job seekers may read your post.
As you draft your post, put your best foot forward and make a compelling argument that your opportunity is worth pursuing. Think of the post as a resume for the role and your business. When you finish the post, review it as you would a resume. Make sure it:
- Highlights the results you want the new team member to produce and the critical skills needed to achieve desired results.
- Describes the best features of the job and the company.
- Explains why the role is essential to the company.
- Avoids a long list of every task that may be required at some point but aren’t central to the job.
Reviewing your job post like you would a resume can help you gauge if the tone is right. For example, if you read a resume that says, “I’m an all-star and only want to work with all-stars,” you’d likely put that resume in the trash bin. Yet, many job postings include that type of phrasing, and it turns off many job seekers. Instead, try something like: We strive to create a culture of success and support for our business and our team members. We think work should be fun and rewarding.
Make Your Application Process Easy
The proper application strategy can increase your chances of attracting applicants. There are few key components to the application strategy:
- Make sure your application directions are straightforward and easy to follow.
- Make it easy to apply. One way to do this is to simply request a resume and cover letter via email and skip the online application or additional forms at least for now. Quality job seekers have options and can be turned off by long job applications that require them to enter everything on their resume manually. Once you’ve received some quality resumes, consider then having them complete additional forms. Once they know they’ve made the shortlist, they will be much more willing to spend the additional time completing additional steps.
- Skip the addition of attention-to-detail tests that are often time-consuming and stressful. For example, don’t ask job seekers to find the 40th word on a particular page of your website and respond with certain fonts and colors. Save those types of tests for later in the process when you have quality applicants and are choosing between them. The same goes for video responses. Many times applicants won’t take the time to apply if there are many steps or a lengthy process. However, if you narrow down your applicants to 5 or 10 then you can ask for those videos or other special requests once they know they’ve made it to the shortlist.
Avoid Red Flags
As you review resumes, you likely look for certain red flags-things that serve as automatic “disqualifiers”. Job seekers see red flags in job posts, too. Here are some red flags to avoid:
- Listing too many skills in the requirements section. Including a laundry list of desired skills that includes everything the person may need to do to the job can be discouraging. Instead, focus on three to five essential skills that are critical for the job. During the interview process, you can probe for additional skills. Another strategy is to include a required and desired skill section in your job posting. Point out the areas where you are willing to train the right person.
- Requiring strict scheduling. This is a tough needle to thread, because in some cases, schedules matter greatly, and it’s best to be honest. But, if you can find flexibility, look for it and note in your posting that you are open to discussing a mutually agreeable schedule.
- Offering pay that’s low relative to the skills needed. Pay is tough. But, if you aren’t getting any nibbles on your post, you may need to up your pay range. Pay rate is especially important for jobs that require specific skills, if you are looking for experienced applicants or if you have particular hours requirements that may require people to pay for child care or incur other expenses that must be weighed against the pay rate.
- Describing the opportunity or your business in absolute terms can turn off a job seeker. For example, saying that “everyone at the company is a rockstar” or that “we never make mistakes” may cause a conscientious applicant to pause and consider how difficult it could be to achieve rock star status on a learning curve or to think about the stress she might feel striving for complete perfection as a new team member. It’s more attractive to say that the company offers a supportive environment that values excellence.
- Letting typos or other errors stay in your post. While typos happen to everyone, seeing one in a job post is a red flag that perhaps you aren’t that serious about the job or the work. This rule is especially important if you are advertising that attention to detail is a key skill needed for the job. Be sure to have a trusted co-worker or friend review your post. Then, review it again.
Things You Need to Know Before Hiring an Independent Contractor
Hiring an independent contractor is a big step. It often means that your business is growing and that you are ready to take the next step to bigger and better things.
Before hiring a contractor, you need to determine if you will need an EIN (Employer Identification Number).
To determine whether you need an EIN, first think about the type of entity you have (or want to form). Many small businesses consider incorporating to receive liability protection, but there are other options as well.
If you’re a corporation, LLC, partnership, or nonprofit, your next step after getting an EIN is to register your business with your state.
Next, Let’s Talk About Who Qualifies as an Independent Contractor
While the paperwork required to hire a contractor is much less than a regular employee, there are still important documents that must be completed and collected. Here’s an overview of the who, what, why, where, and how of forms needed when you hire an independent contractor.
Let’s start with the who. Any person or business you hire to do work on your behalf, but not as an employee is an independent contractor.
Usually, independent contractors are in a different business than your own. For example, freelancers like artists, editors and writers are often independent contractors. Independent contractors can also include outside companies doing work for you on an ongoing basis. Think cleaning service, an attorney, or a tax prep person. Basically, independent contractors include anyone you are paying for services and who is not an employee.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has set guidelines for determining if someone is an employee or an independent contractor. As a rule of thumb:
- You pay independent contractors for the result of their work.
- You pay employees for the ability to control how the work is done.
- Refer to the above link for full details.
Why Independent Contractor Status Matters
When you hire an independent contractor, you aren’t required to withhold federal or state taxes or Social Security and Medicare taxes (collectively known as payroll taxes) from their pay. That’s because rather than paying them a salary or a wage, your business is paying another business for services.
Independent contractors are self-employed/owners of their own business and are responsible for reporting their income and paying the associated taxes. (You can learn more from irs.gov.)
When you hire people as employees, you are responsible for withholding the appropriate payroll taxes. This applies for part-time, full-time, and seasonal employees.
When to Call the Pros
Issues around employment status and taxes can be thorny. The IRS offers some guidelines for making this determination. But, it’s wise to consult an attorney or accountant with specific questions or for advice when hiring people or businesses to do work on your behalf. While this article is a good overview of your obligations when hiring independent contractors, we aren’t attorneys and we don’t practice law here at HireMyMom.com.
Start a File for Each Contractor
Before we talk about which forms to collect from your contractor and when, let’s take a step back and consider why it’s important to collect them. While you aren’t required to share information about your independent contractors with the IRS, there are still good reasons for keeping a file on each contractor.
- Maintaining project overviews and any feedback you share with the contractor, helps you keep good records about your projects– including how and when they were completed, who did the work, and what you paid to have the work done.
- If you are ever audited, you can easily pull information about each contractor to share, as needed.
- Keeping a contractor file makes it easier for you to connect with contractors in the future.
Collecting the Right Forms
Collecting the correct forms from independent contractors is often an overlooked step that offers important benefits for your business and the contractor you are hiring. Securing the correct forms at the beginning of your relationship can set you up for greater success later. It’s easier to have the information on file before the project begins when you and your contractor are in more constant communication.
Collecting the forms early gives you peace of mind that you’ve checked all the boxes with your independent contractor. According to The Balance Small Business, there are several forms to collect and keep on file, including:
- A completed W-9 tax form. This form and directions to complete it are both available online at irs.gov and should be on file before you pay the contractor. Once you collect the W-9 form, hold on to it for your files in case you need to share it with an auditor. (You don’t need to send it to the IRS.)
- While you don’t need to withhold payroll taxes from an independent contractor, you are responsible for issuing them at 1099 Form for Non-Employee Compensation at the end of each calendar year.
- Independent contractors use the 1099 Form to report their business income to the IRS.
- A contract. When you start a new relationship with an independent contractor, establish the terms of your engagement with a written contract. The contact should:
- Outline that the person you are hiring is an independent contractor and not an employee. It’s important that the person you are hiring understands that you will not be withholding payroll taxes because he/she is not an employee.
- Stipulate who owns the finished work product. (This is especially important for creative services such as art work or design.)
- Outline the scope of work to be performed.
- Document billing rates, invoicing, payment processing and timing. Settling on this at the beginning of the project can make for a more productive relationship.
- A resume and reference information. You know why you hired this person to do work on your behalf, but keeping a resume and reference information on file makes it easier for others to review, if needed. You may even have your contractors complete an application so you can easily access pertinent information about them in the future.
Additional Forms to Consider
In addition to the items outlined above, your business may dictate the need for additional forms, according to The Balance Small Business. For example:
- A non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Sometimes called a confidentiality agreement, this gives you confidence that your independent contractor is not sharing your business plans or trade secrets with competitors or other businesses.
- A non-compete agreement puts restrictions on the contractor’s ability to take your customers or clients to a competitor. These documents tend to outline specific actions and timeframes where the restrictions apply.
- A non-solicitation agreement keeps an independent contractor from working for your competition while also doing work for you. This can be tricky because sometimes you want a contractor with expertise in your industry, which means he/she also works for other similar businesses.
Consult a lawyer if you are considering asking your contractor to sign any of these items. State laws vary considerably. Working with an attorney can help make sure that any steps you’re considering are legal and advisable based on your state, objectives, and situation.
Disclaimer. The information contained in this course and on these websites is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.
Tips to Kickstart Your Freelance Business
Before we dive in, you may wonder why momentum matters in running a freelance business. As a mompreneur, momentum increases your belief, solidifies your confidence and assures that you are taking the right action steps to fulfill the mission and vision of your business.
Maintaining momentum in spite of your obstacles and setbacks is essential to keeping you motivated while allowing you to recover from those situations and circumstances easier and more quickly.
Here are 8 ways a you can kickstart your freelance business:
RE-EVALUATE
To get started, spend some time thinking about what has worked in your business the last 90-120 days and what hasn’t. You can’t expect to keep doing the same things that aren’t creating results you want. Yes, this will require some self reflection and honesty. If your goal is to make $5,000 per month in your business but you are spending 10-15 hours a week on actual revenue generating activities (sorry, scrolling social media every week may feel like you are working but it’s not exactly a revenue generating activity) then it’s time to admit those goals and actions steps don’t align with one another.
With that said, now is not the time to beat yourself up over it. It’s a fresh start to make a new plan and get moving in the right direction.
KNOW AND LIVE YOUR PRIORITIES
Life gets crazy especially for us moms. Add a business into the mix and things can quickly spiral out of control. You probably won’t be able to achieve perfect balance in your life and you don’t need to but you can stay grounded through it by knowing and living your priorities.
Instead of having a mile long to-do list every day that overwhelms you from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed, set your intentions for the day by what qualifies as a priority. By knowing and living by your priorities each day, you’ll improve your focus, keep your sanity and be more present for what matters most. The results will not only increase your productivity but decrease frustration and mom guilt.
One way to do this is to make you to-do list in three categories: A, B and C. The tasks in A are must do, B are tasks that you want to conquer next and C are lower priority. That way you can be more strategic about how you spend your time and which tasks are done first. Otherwise, many of us will just do the easy things and leave the harder things perpetually on our to-do list.
GET FEEDBACK
As you work to kickstart your business, ask people you know and trust for feedback. A fresh set of eyes can help point out copy on your website or your resume, for example, that makes perfect sense to you because you wrote it but it’s not coming across well for someone who is not that familiar with what you do. Constructive feedback can be a great asset to you as you work to create new products, freshen up your social media and website before you start working on those areas so you know exactly where to focus your time and energy.
This can be a hard exercise to go through. It can feel scary to open yourself up to people’s opinions, I get that but it will also prove to be invaluable. The goal is to help you figure out what works in your business and areas that need improvement so you can reach your goals.
Some of the feedback will be good and some of it won’t be and why it’s important to have a plan on how to sort through and how to handle it. Here are some quick tips to make this process as positive as possible:
- Start by thanking the person for their insight and honesty. Those who give you negative feedback probably won’t be expecting you to thank them but by doing so you will earn even more respect and appreciate their honesty even though it was probably uncomfortable for them to do so.
- Don’t take it to heart. Just because someone criticizes an aspect of your business doesn’t mean they hate everything. You asked for their help so take it for what it is, something that you need to look into further and look at with a fresh perspective. Nothing more.
- Ask questions. Is there something you could do better? Do they have suggestions for improvements? You never know what helpful solutions someone would share if you take the time to ask some simple questions.
CREATE A PLAN
It may sound cliche but “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is a very true statement. As a mompreneur, you have to know what generates leads, results and revenue for your business (and what doesn’t). Don’t put it off, create a plan today around those activities and commit to them every day without fail. Keep your plan on your desk, in your daily planner (remember the worksheets in Week 2 to help with this), set a calendar alert each morning to help keep you from distractions, wake up an hour early if you need to before the house is filled with chaos so you can focus and feel accomplished going into your day. The point is to find what works for you and stay committed to it.
TURN UP THE SOCIAL MEDIA
Have you been using social media the last few months to its full potential? Your ideal client is out there and they need what you have to offer but they have to be able to find you. You don’t need to master every platform either. Leverage your strengths and put them to work for you.
Love doing live video? Use the live features on Instagram or Facebook or create a YouTube video to give tips, a how-to that can solve a problem for your client (when they realize they don’t want to do it, they can reach out and hire you!), create a blog post with a tutorial and share it on your social media pages. Whatever route you choose, the goal is to provide value and to be consistent. You can’t expect to show up on your social media pages once a month and have potential clients flooding your in-box.
Instagram is a great tool for networking, creating a community and collaborating. Be sure to check out these practical tips for leveraging Instagram.
COLLABORATIONS
To kick start a business there is nothing like forming great partnerships and collaborations to help you do that. Reach out to fellow mompreneurs in your field (or here in CULTIVATE) and ask them if there are ways you can support them and feature them in exchange for the same courtesy. I believe in being blessed to be a blessing and when we support others, it comes back ten fold.
Make this a regular thing on social media. For example, every Monday you could do #MompreneurMonday where you feature another mompreneur to highlight in your Instagram stories or #FeatureFriday where you feature a mompreneur and a cool project she is working on. If you do logo design work, reach out to a website designer at the beginning of the week and let her know that you are working on a #FeatureFriday post and would love to highlight one of her projects. Ask if she would be willing to do the same for you and feature one of your logo designs. Be intentional and set a time for the two of you to post on Friday so you know there is a mutual commitment (morning posts seem to do better than afternoon or evening posts).
You will find collaborations like this can be a great way to support others and get exposure for your business too. As a bonus tip, on Fridays you can also use the #FridayIntroductions hashtag. Whatever you decide, be creative and have fun with it!
FEATURE YOUR PREVIOUS PROJECTS
Don’t be shy about showcasing your work. Once a week create a post on social media to share a project you worked on for a client. Share some fun facts about the project and give your client a shout out in the process by tagging their Facebook page and Instagram accounts.
SPECIAL PRICING
To give your business a kickstart, put together some quick products and services you can offer for a special price. The key is to create urgency by giving the special pricing an end date. “Now through the end of August, I am helping eCommerce clients get started or rebrand with a custom logo for $_____ but this special pricing is only good through _________ {end date}.”
You are probably not the only business owner out there who needs to give their business a jump start and special pricing with a limited time offer could be exactly what your potential client needs to take action.
TR ******
TR Shadora Turner
trshadora@gmail.com; 678-471-3117
Spring, TX 77373
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
A highly motivated and dedicated Administrative & Customer Service professional with demonstrated experience providing exceptional support and assistance with projects on time and within budget. Detail-oriented with strong skills in scheduling, reception, organization, reporting, and providing excellent customer service. Proven team player with excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work with people at all levels of a corporation to achieve common goals within schedules.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
● Customer Service
● Business Operations
● Office Administration
● Project Support
● Process Improvement
● Schedule Management
● Team Leadership
● Program Management
● Microsoft Office Suite
● Interviewing
● Employee relations
● Coaching
WORK EXPERIENCE
Integrated Aesthetics | Spring, TX 12/2014 – 08/2018
Cosmetic Phone Consultant
l Responded to inquiries concerning surgical or non-surgical consults, as well as provided education on procedure types, Kept track of sales, meet sales goals, email follow ups, and lead generation
l Helped coordinate events and trainings within the company to increase skill set development across staff
l Started within insurance verification and moved up to Cosmetic Sales Consultant/Training Coordinator
l Responsible for training new hires on systems, procedures, and phones. Team Lead for First Impressions Department, Inteviewing applicants and coaching them on meeting sales goals
l Verified insurance for doctors and Physician’s Assistant while serving in an Insurance Verification position
l Backed up front desk when needed with checking in/out patients and handling insurance referrals
l Answered multi-line phone system, made travel arrangements, scheduled appointments, and collected payments
University of Georgia | Athens, GA 01/2010 – 01/2013
Administrative Assistant/Testing Proctor
l Managed phones and provided friendly customer service to all callers while routing them to the correct destination
l Created a warm, inviting, and clean office/reception area to greet guests upon arrival
l Scheduled meetings for numerous office staff and ensured accuracy and time management
l Monitored structured testing environment to ensure integrity of testing center
l Performed clerical duties to increase organizational efforts including photocopies, filing, mail, and document preparation
l Consistently praised for the quality and timelines of reports, exemplary customer service, and team-player attitude
Athens Regional Medical Center | Athens, GA 01/2009 – 01/2010
Access Counselor
l Proactively greeted visitors who came into the hospital to ensure they had a good first impression
l Analyzed patient needs and recommended appropriate coverage and provided additional resources
l Provided outstanding and professional customer support, achieving a record 100% customer satisfaction rating
l Contacted insurance companies to verify patients coverage and out of pocket cost related to patients appointment
Wachovia Bank/| Lawrenceville, GA 01/2007 – 01/2009
Teller
l Provided outstanding customer service while assisting customers with requests including processing checks, cash deposits, and loan payments
l Maintained and balanced a cash drawer daily with 100% accuracy and secured the financial institution nightly
l Responded to customer inquiries regarding account balances in a timely fashion and resolved any issues that occurred to ensure continued loyalty, referrals, and business
l Assisted management in mentoring newly hired tellers to support their career growth and skill set development
Macy’s | Buford, GA 01/2007 – 01/2008
Sales Associate
l Worked within a team to exceed customer service expectations, proven by an increase in over 30% of service ratings
l Met daily goals regarding the sale women’s shoes
l Reorganized cash handling procedures resulting in a shortening time from 10 to 5 minutes
l Increased revenues by having customers sign up for store rewards programs and apply for gift cards
l Recognized by management for having a continuous positive track record exceeding all customer service expectations
l Ensured prompt and courteous service while checking out customers efficiently and ensuring 100% fiscal accuracy
Primrose School | Lawrenceville, GA 02/2005 – 12/2007
Lead Teacher
l Created a favorable psychological climate that was conducive to learning and inclusive of all abilities
l Developed and implemented lesson plans utilizing innovative methods to increase learning performance
l Incorporated active learning strategies that developed critical thinking skills and linked new learning with prior learning
l Utilized proven measurement techniques and tools to evaluate educational performance
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Lone Star College-North Harris | Houston, TX
Human Resources
Georgia Perimeter College | Lawrenceville, GA
Nursing
Certifications:
l Coolsculpting University, 2017
l Cosmetic Aesthetics Consultant, 2016
Tracy ****
HF Financial 2017-2022
Client Relationship Manager
Prepare Client Insurance applications and brokerage applications. Work with underwriting
follow-up. Schedule client appointments with an advisor. Set up client files, prepare
flyers for upcoming workshops. Assist clients with insurance questions or the application
process.
Stay-at-home mom 2015-2017
National Construction Rentals 2013-2015
Sales Representative
Prepare quotes for customers needing fence rentals for construction rentals or special
events, preparing new customer files, answering phones and emails from customers
Global Door Controls 2011-2013
Sales Representative
Process orders by phone, fax, or email, and request for quotes. Initiate sales calls to established and prospect customers within designated territory in United States and Canada. Follow up on customer inquiries about products and account status. Gather and prepare all paperwork for new customer set ups.
Carolina Asthma and Allergy 2008-2011
Insurance Billing Rep
Filing CMS 1500 claims, working A/R reports for patient accounts, handling patient phone calls concerning questions they may have about their account balances, collaborating with insurance companies regarding bill payments, verifying insurance coverage for patients.
Scheduler
Duties: Scheduled appointments for 12 doctors at 8 different locations, returned voicemails left from patients, doctor’s offices and input new patient referrals from fax machine daily.
Front Desk
Duties: Greeted patients, input new patient data, updated existing patient history, pulled charts, filed patient documents, answered phone calls, and helped assure that patients were taken back to exam rooms in a timely manner.
On The Border Restaurant 2005-2012
Bartender/Server
Duties: Responsible for balancing daily cash, transactions, company promotions, customer feedback surveys, and trained new employees to ensure efficient and timely service to a customer.
Johnson Neurological Clinic 2005-2005
Office Assistant
Duties: greeting patients, input patient data, schedule appointments, filing, insurance verification, and other general office duties
Healthcare Reimbursement Solutions 2001-2002
Part-time billing clerk (High School Job)
Duties: preparing medical billing claims and other
general office jobs.
Rosie ******
CAREER OBJECTIVE
Bilingual, detail-oriented professional with 20+ years of proven experience as a business owner, operations manager and bookkeeper. Aiming to fill the Operations Manager / Bookkeeper role at your company leveraging my skills to successfully fulfill encompassing responsibilities.
WORK EXPERIENCE
BUSINESS OWNER:
- Perform duties as the highest-ranking executive within the corporations to guide company practices and procedures.
- Oversee company operations, communicate between board members, other company executives, accountants, and attorneys.
- Make important decisions that impact the company’s brand identity and financial health.
- Prepare and obtain all necessary federal and state licenses
(employer identification number, business tax certificate, contractor
state license, worker’s compensation, and general liability coverage,
and ongoing secretary of state filing requirements).
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients
and use these relationships to develop new business opportunities. - Prepare contracts and negotiate revisions, changes, and additions to
contractual agreements with home or building owners, and general
contractors. - Create cost estimates, formal bids, construction schedules,
procurement management plan, and review with staff members. - Monitor daily activity reports to establish lines of communication
between the job site and office staff. - Actively look for reliable contractors and material suppliers; collect
and review all subcontractors’ bids, submittals and shop drawings - Verify that all work on general contractor / subcontractor’s progress
payment request is accurate, up to standard, and acceptable. - Walk projects with owners and general contractors, or design
professionals to discuss and resolve matters, such as work
procedures, complaints, or conflicting scheduling dependencies. - Write, send, and stay up to date on any needed Request For
Information, change orders, emails, and phone calls. - Responsible for hiring and firing, training, and evaluating staff.
BOOKKEEPER / ACCOUNTING:
- Perform day-to-day bookkeeping, data entry, collect transactions, track debits and general office duties.
- Bill clients, calculate and prepare requests for payment applications along with progress reports, and collect payments.
- Pay invoices.
- Process payroll, complete and submit tax forms (corporate quarterly tax returns, W-4’s, W-2, and 1099’s) and verify computations have been performed correctly and that amounts match those on supporting documents.
- Reconciled accounts, and prepare and analyze company’s financial reports (income statement and balance sheet), to project future revenues and expenses, or to
assess accuracy and completeness