How to Build a Strong Team and Keep Climbing

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HOW TO BUILD A STRONG TEAM & KEEP CLIMBING

Written by Angel Quintana  Issue #41
Photo by Carley Page Summers & Flea Market Fab

Building a team is no small task; it takes a lot of dedication, patience, and management to create a top notch winning team.

But what most of us small business owners fail to understand is that your team is a reflection of your management skills. Your dedication. And your patience.

I remember my days as a bookkeeper well. I had a lot of hands in a lot of peoples’ cookie jars and that meant I experienced great, mediocre, and awful management. Your employee or subcontractor can only be as good as you lead them to be. Lucky for me, I learned from the bad ones and took note of the good role models-- but I still have a lot to learn!

So why do some small business owners point fingers at their team members when they should be pointing the fingers at themselves. It’s called “lack of ownership.”

Lack of Ownership is the product that results from lack of self-awareness when it comes to something that belongs to you or is a by product of what you created. In this case we are talking about your business. Unless your team member has a vested (and I mean partner share in your company), the only vested interest they’re likely to have is receiving a paycheck for their labor-- and you better pay then on time!

However, small businesses can’t thrive if the team isn’t invested in some kind of manner and you won't be able to continue to climb and build your business without giving your team a reason to go to the moon with you. This doesn’t have to be ownership in your company; it can be all sorts of things.

Here are some of the greatest ways I know how to maintain vested interested team players, so you may continue to build your dream business:

Let Them Share Their Ideas.
When you hold space for your team members to share their ideas, you open the doors to greater communication-- and with great communication comes deeper understanding and trust.

Trust me when I say, we do not have all the answers as business owners. You’ve already heard the saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” well the same holds true with businesses. It takes a ton of creativity to stay in the game, creativity that doesn’t always need to come from you. Let your team have an opinion and share their ideas, it keeps them invested and it just could be an idea you absolutely run with!

Be a Better Manager.
If you've never climbed the corporate ladder (I for one, did not), then you’re managerial skills probably suck-ass. Being a manager is a lot harder than it looks. Because I’ve had my share of working with horrible (and excellent) managers, I can tell you the ones who were insane, frazzled, and constantly complained were the gigs I cared a lot LESS about. 

You can’t force your team to love your business, but your management skills can. Being a great manager means you take responsibility when something goes awry. Yup, even if you think it’s their fault; it’s probably yours!

Here’s an example:
If you allow your team to show up late, one day it’s going to piss you off, but the reality is, if you had been a better manager you could have nipped that problem in the bud from the beginning. If you want to build a strong team you’re proud of, improve upon your management skills now.

Improve Time Management Skills.
Feeling accomplished is one of the greatest highs as a small business owner and when it comes to building a team that allows you to keep climbing, it’s truly the secret sauce. As small business owners we often think that hiring another person will resolve the chaos, but a lot of the time you can solve the problem by improving productivity, which ultimately comes down to time management. Time management doesn’t mean you have every hour on your calendar accounted for, being flexible is part of a true time management master

Time management mastery starts with a plan of attack, at which point a game plan is devised to tackle it head on. 

Here’s the secret: when you hand a team member a project with a game plan, they are more equipped to complete the project to YOUR STANDARD and with a completed project comes a sense of accomplishment. What team doesn’t want to feel accomplished, that’s what we’ve worked so hard for in the first place!?

 There is a great quote that sums it up nicely,

“Tackle the day with determination and you will go to bed with satisfaction.”

In closing, building a strong team starts with you becoming more self-aware and understanding that a weak team is actually a reflection of your management skills (or lack thereof). Employees and subcontractors need boundaries, guidelines, and a game plan in order to do their job correctly. This means you need to provide a safe place for them to share their ideas and be a part of the process!

Because you can’t build a team at all, if your workers doesn’t feel like they aren't part of the bigger picture.

If you’re looking to improve your business by becoming more self-aware, please join me in a free monthly call where I will help you tap into your intuition, awaken your gifts, and ward off bad juju! Register free at www.selfcarerituals.com.

Each call comes with a special potion created specifically for you to enhance your third eye and improve your experience with life and business! Pick-up your potion at www.selfcarerituals.com while supplies last.

ABOUT the FOUNDER

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Angel Quintana is the founder and apothecary behind Holistic Fashionista®, a 360 degrees holistic experience for the woman who wants it all. The Holistic Fashionista Agency offers cutting-edge business trainings and advertising for the ambitious entrepreneur and our Botanica (COMING SUMMER 2016) stocks self-care rituals, medicinal skincare, and herbal beauty products to fuel the mind, body, and spirit.

In her book, Funnel Foreplay, she teaches change makers how to successfully quickly warm up cold leads and turn them into buyers. While her tattooed exterior shows her creative tough side and her road to success has been difficult, it is her thoughtful approach to brand building and unique selling approach that has won her thousands of raving fans. Angel and her businesses have been featured on: Apparel News, Examiner.com, Law of Attraction Radio, and spoken on stage at Digital Marketing for Business, At The Helm, and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

How to Find JV Partners That Don’t Suck (The Life Out of You)

Angel Quintana and Kate Burkett atThe Holistic Fashionista Social

Angel Quintana and Kate Burkett at
The Holistic Fashionista Social

HOW TO FIND JV PARTNERS THAT DON'T SUCK
(The Life Out of You)

Editor's Note: Angel Quintana    Issue #40

As solopreneurs, it can get a little lonely from time to time. Writing blog posts, making YouTube videos, taking pictures for Instagram are all fabulous business past times, but what about those days when you just want to bounce ideas off a vested party to get those creative juices flowing and brainstorm new money-making activities… What do you do then? 

For starters, you hop on over to Facebook and join a few groups, which usually proceeds to jumping on the phone or Skype with like-minded individuals to shoot-the-shit. And then the excitement sets in! Finally someone who is also eager to make more money and share ideas!

Those long and cozy conversations birth a plethora of new ideas and that’s usually when we get the bright idea that it might be time to take on a business partner or engage in profit-sharing with a joint venture partner. 

However, with all that excitement bursting from your heart around the idea of bringing another soul to your creative endeavors, your judgement becomes blurred and you often jump in head first without really preparing yourself for the repercussions of opening your business up to a complete stranger.

Don’t get me wrong, joint venture partnerships can be a fantastic way to gain momentum in your business, spread the word faster about your mission, and generate income faster too. But it can also leave you in a legal feud or worse, emotionally wounded. The bottom-line is you cannot be naive when you choose your joint venture partners or bring on any type of business partner into your passion project!

So let’s take all the money you’re going to make out of the scenario for just a minute and take a look what qualities to find for when choosing your JV’s.

MAKE SURE YOU CAN LAUGH TOGETHER

I am putting this as the first thing to look at when doing a JV because I feel it is the most important part. It may sound ridiculous because we’re talking about business right now, but people who share a similar humor get each other on a deeper level— Chris Rock anyone? It’s sorta like music when it comes to dating. When you share a similar tune, it’s an energy that feels familiar, comfortable, one that you can trust. It’s an instant bond.

Imagine for a moment all the grueling details you’ll have to endure together— they can be down right funny. Being able to laugh at your first attempt at a sales page or that goofy smile you made in your JV photo shoot is essential. After all, business isn't easy!

My advice: beware of the JV candidates that don’t get your humor and the next time you get on the phone with a colleague to shoot-the-shit, crack a few jokes and be yourself. Then see if they “get it”. If you get the vibe that they think you’re nuts, remember they haven’t seen anything yet!

MAKE SURE THEY AREN’T A SNEAK FREAK

No it’s not a typo; I didn’t mean “neat freak”. What I’m talking about is the way this potential JV lives their life outside work and on the job. This takes some demystifying. A sneak freak can royally screw you over and don’t think just because she’s organized with all her Dropbox files that she isn’t a sneak freak. Beware of her master plan; I assure you there just might be one.

Almost every business owner wants to appear like they have their shit together, and bless the hearts for the ones who are transparent that they are still working on getting their business off the ground. Honesty goes a long, long way in a joint venture partnership. Keep your eyes and ears open when communicating with a potential JV; this is where reading between the lines and trusting your intuition are imperative! 

If you just met this person in a Facebook group and feel like you “instantly” hit it off… wait a month of 6! Don’t jump into bed with them so quickly! Take the time to find out who they really are on the inside. If they aren’t willing to share something that shows a little vulnerability do not pass go! Do not collect $200!

Let’s face it, if they aren’t willing to open up with you, just imagine what a nightmare they will be should any legal disputes come about. Take your time before signing on the dotted line because sneak freaks are sneaky. Consider yourself warned.

MAKE SURE THEIR VALUE IS EQUAL TO YOURS

Joint venture partners are terrific when both parties are just starting out in their businesses, but that doesn’t mean you should team up with them. What’s really important is that both parties bring equal value to the table. This means, if you are a master marketer or a sales guru who knows how to bring in the money or you have 5 times the mailing list of your potential joint venture partner, this could feel a bit unbalanced.

However, if the balance feels unequal on the surface, the best remedy is to write down what you both plan to get out of the partnership. If you are the sales guru, maybe you’re looking to enter into a new market— one that you currently aren’t familiar with and whom aren’t familiar with you. 

For example:

Let’s say you are a sales guru who is looking to break into the holistic industry. You love your green juice, but you don’t know the first thing about how to approach the holistic entrepreneur. You meet Sally and she is a holistic health practitioner who is well versed in the holistic community. She runs three Facebook groups on meditation, Reiki, and yoga, but her business is fairly new. 

Teaming up with Sally wouldn’t be a bad idea seeing that she has the community that you’d love to be introduced to. And Sally’s main intention is to make more money in her business. As long as you trust each other and can laugh together, this could be a match made in paradise.

It’s also important that you choose a JV partner that doesn’t share the same expertise you possess. Even if you’re both business coaches, make sure each of your bring something different to the table that would benefit each other mutually, and equally valuable.

It should go without saying that all JV partnerships should have a contract in place so the lines are clear as to what the project is, the profit-sharing split, and what each parties responsibilities are in the partnership; but even so, emails hold up in court should anything go haywire, but it’s best to get a contract signed before moving forward with building out a website or opening an account together.

In closing, finding the right JV partnerships take time. Rushing to the wedding chapel shouldn’t be the goal, but instead building a strong relationship that is filled with laughter, hard work, and above all, trust has been established and built over time. 

Trust is the foundation to any successful relationship, and the sooner you can build that, the more JV partners you will have and the more time you can spend together laughing all the way to the bank!

ABOUT the FOUNDER

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Angel Quintana is the founder and CEO of Holistic Fashionista®, a business academy and magazine helping philanthropists build boutique brands so they can help change the world. In The Holistic Fashionista Academy, she helps clients discover their Kismet Clients®, develop a product collection that represents their cause, and build well-thought out sales funnels to change more lives and make more money!

In her book, Funnel Foreplay, she teaches change makers how to successfully quickly warm up cold leads and turn them into buyers. While her tattooed exterior shows her creative tough side and her road to success has been difficult, it is her thoughtful approach to brand building and unique selling approach that has won her thousands of raving fans. Angel and her businesses have been featured on: Apparel News, Examiner.com, Law of Attraction Radio, and spoken on stage at Digital Marketing for Business, At The Helm, and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

How to Detox from a Slimy Salesman

HOW TO DETOX FROM A SLIMY SALESMAN

Written by: Angel Quintana   Photo: Halley Elefante

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Chances are, you’ve purchased a thing or two in your life and I’m sure one or more of those products or services worked like a charm, while others failed miserably.

But sometimes it’s not the product or the service that sucked, it was actually the person who sold it to you.

As business owners, selling is part of the gig, for without sales, you really don’t have a business at all. Yet, it’s rarely discussed what happens after the customer gets home. We often think about if the customer will love their new purchase or if will they come back and buy from us again. What we fail to think about all together is whether or not we were a good salesman.

The “sales gurus” might say that “if you closed the deal, you did your job”— but I’m opening that up for debate. What some salesman might not realize is we’re not all idiots. Customers aren’t just people walking around with dollar signs on their backs; they’re actually individuals with problems that needs solving. And lucky for us, they decided to give our product or service a chance. We should feel honored.

If you’ve been slimed by a slimy salesman, I can relate. If you are worried you’ve been a slimy salesman, listen up.

WHAT DETERMINES A “SLIMY SALESMAN”

A slimy salesman has an agenda; that agenda is to make a buck. Sure, you might have the most amazing product on the market that does bells and whistles around your competition, but if you push too hard to sell it, you come off as slimy. This could mean you offered too many up sells or kept promoting your products when the customer shared no interest in learning more. It could also mean you tried to show-off how much “knowledge” you had in your brain about the topic, (which is cool for all about 3 minutes), but anything longer than that, and you just sound like a show-off who is craving recognition or worse, you're a slimy salesman.

If you’ve practiced or encountered any of these situations, live and learn or better yet, detox and delete. What most slimy salesman offenders fail to see is what happens when the customer gets home. Sure, some customers will just accept the fact “that’s just a typical salesman”, but it shouldn’t be the norm. And I’m writing this article to scream that it’s gross and disgusting. Shame on you.

In today’s modern digital age, we have a plethora of options to choose from — and everyone has competition. If you run a business, you already know that repeat customers are where the money is at— so why try to sell your new customer the moon, the stars, and the sky all in the first visit? It makes the customer feel icky, like we’ve just been slimed and you just look like desperate.

Here is a quick way to detox from a slimy salesman that doesn’t involve awkward conversations and puts you back in the power position. (And if you're a slimy salesman, you'll learn a thing or two, too.)

NEVER BUY FROM THAT COMPANY AGAIN. 
I know this sounds drastic, but I assure you there are other options. The internet is filled with awesome products and services that solve the same exact problem, why buy from a slimy salesman who only sees you as a walking dollar sign? You’re a human being, not just a wallet filled with credit cards and anyone who makes you feel less than so, can piss off. Do yourself a favor and delete them from your iPhone right now. (Attn: Slimy salesman, live and learn.)

CANCEL ALL FUTURE APPOINTMENTS.
Since most salesman never really learn why they can’t retain every customer, (because their slime tactics were too aggressive) we can make a small gesture to let them know “we weren’t fully satisfied” by canceling all future appointments. They won’t totally understand why you cancelled, but it will put you back in the power position and help you dry your tears from feeling downright abused!

TUNE INTO YOUR INTUITION.
Most of the time when we’re being sold to, we often forget to check-in with our intuition. Your intuition is there to save you every time you encounter a slimy salesman, so be sure to ask yourself WHY the salesman is giving you something for FREE or giving you a discount on your first oil change. Is it because they plan to up sell you 5 more times during the transaction or do they really want your lifetime business? The only way to find out is to ask. You can usually decide from there if you’ll want to show up for the free service or if if it will cost you 5 times that without your noticing... at first. Use your intuition.

I’m not one for leaving nasty reviews on Yelp or Amazon, because it lowers your vibration and makes your sound like a victim, which is still giving the salesman power over you. When you take the high road and find other businesses who offer comparable products and services, that is the best revenge. The slimy salesman loses your repeat business and you feel more in control of your life and your bank account! Finally!

After all, every thing in life is energy, including sales tactics. If you come off as a desperate, know-it-all salesman who thinks he/she’s clever because you’ve memorized a few facts to make you sound smart during your sales pitch, you can expect a few cancelled appointments.

The best way to gain new business and win back repeat customers is to be upfront about everything. If you’re giving something away for free, tell your prospects why you’re doing so— and be transparent:

  • I want you to think I’m awesome
  • I want you to love my product so much, you tell your friends
  • I want to win your trust
  • I want to sell you other products that will make you a raving fan

Don’t try to sell everything under the sun, even if you think we need it. I assure you, we’ll try it at some point if you take your time and get to know their life and needs. Stop being so promiscuous; we get that enough in our dating life— we don’t need it anywhere else!

If you’ve been slimed my heart goes out to you. Maybe you’ve shed a couple tears or felt like leaving a nasty review, but just know there are better remedies (and revenges) you can proceed with that will leave you feeling empowered, not slimed and never victimized. Triple win.

ABOUT the FOUNDER

Angel Quintana is the founder and CEO of Holistic Fashionista®, a business academy and magazine helping philanthropists build boutique brands so they can help change the world. In The Holistic Fashionista Academy, she helps clients discover their Kismet Clients®, develop a product collection that represents their cause, and build well-thought out sales funnels to change more lives and make more money!

In her book, Funnel Foreplay, she teaches change makers how to successfully quickly warm up cold leads and turn them into buyers. While her tattooed exterior shows her creative tough side and her road to success has been difficult, it is her thoughtful approach to brand building and unique selling approach that has won her thousands of raving fans. Angel and her businesses have been featured on: Apparel News, Examiner.com, Law of Attraction Radio, and spoken on stage at Digital Marketing for Business, At The Helm, and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

7 Reasons Your Holistic Business Hasn't Taken Off Yet (It's long, take your time)

7 REASONS YOUR HOLISTIC BUSINESS
HASN'T TAKEN OFF YET

Written by Angel Quintana     Photo: Laura Jade Stone

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It's those days when you're doubting your business you wish you had that trusty crystal ball to tell you WHEN your business is finally going to explode! Am I right? We start Googling key phrases like, "business astrology" or "how to get more customers fast" and perhaps even invest a measly $47 for a psychic to give us some much needed hope. I get it. We've all been there. And it does provide temporary relief.

So what is the real reason your business hasn't taken off yet, and where the heck are all those customers!? So here it is: the 7 real reasons you're business isn't growing and why new customers aren't knocking on your door with their credit cards in hand.

You don’t write enough emails

I know, this sounds absolutely absurd because let's face it-- who doesn't get enough email? We're all drowning in unread emails in our inbox, but that's not exactly what I'm talking about here. Drumming up new business means you're meeting new people: online and offline. The best part about meeting new people (and the part that actually produces results) is the follow-up email where you set-up a time to chat. When is the last time you set up a time to go to coffee or speak via Skype about potential business opportunities? If it's been awhile, it's time to pony up.

Here's a helpful suggestion:

Write at least 20 emails per day to potential business opportunities or follow-up with prospects. Yup, you heard me right-- 20 emails per day. And no, setting-up a facial at Burke Williams doesn't count.

You don’t know who your Kismet Client is

This seems like a no-brainer, but a lot of business owners are spending money on advertising and tons of time social media, but are they marketing to the right customer. The majority of us are not being specific enough when it comes to marketing to our ideal customers (or what we refer to as a Kismet Client®). We are thinking about people like they are walking around with a dollar bill sign on their back instead of treating like a human being. Before you can get your business to take-off, you've got to nail down who your Kismet Client is -- not just some demographic who likes Mind Body Green Facebook page. There are layers you need to uncover in order to truly understand the pain point of your ideal customer and what they are already purchasing to try and get their problem solved. Make sure you've spent enough time really understanding who this person really is before you spend hours scrolling Twitter or creating beautiful advertisements in Canva.

You keep “rebranding”

As if I haven't heard this one a thousand times before... Everyone seems to think that "rebranding" is going to solve their slow rise to fame; I assure you it isn't. Just because you pretty-up your website or create a new color story or get new head shots, doesn't mean the customers are going to pour in or your business will magically take-off. Not a fat chance. The truth is, you have to be consistent in your branding and changing it up all the time is just like starting over. Yup, you heard me right; it's like starting from scratch. So the next time you're bored because your business isn't taking off and revamping your website (logo included) to hopefully attract more customers, stop yourself in your tracks and then go back to Tip #1 and start writing some emails instead.

You have commitment issues

One day you want to sell relationship coaching and the next day you want to have a nail polish line-- well, which one is it? It's not that you can't have a nail polish line and be a relationship coach, but every time you start a new project or want to create a new product, that just screams, "I have too much time on my hands". I call it busy work. Get your first product off to the races and THEN start that nail polish line. Trying to get one product to sell like hot cakes is hard enough, throwing in a brand new product just because it sounds like a good idea is really just deterring you from finishing what you started: project #1. When in doubt- go back to writing emails.

You don’t have a strategic plan

Come on, let's be honest. You've thrown a few pieces of shit at the wall just to see if it would stick, am I right? It's okay, it happens when we're just getting started in business. We don't really have a strategic plan in place, so we do the best we can with what "we think we know" about marketing: posting all over social media, writing blog posts, and offering free discovery sessions. But that's not really a plan-- that's a hope for the best strategy, which really isn't a strategy at all. As I teach in The Academy, there is a 4-layer strategy funnel to winning over customers and every business is different. The next time you go to write an article or make a YouTube video, ask yourself: "What is my strategy for turning this content into a paying customer?" If you can't answer that, don't bother creating it. If you need help creating the right strategy for your business, check out the orientation for The Academy-- you'll hear how many of our students are creating their master plans inside the certification program, where strategy is the name of the game!

You have too many products

When you first launched your business you feared you didn't have enough "products" on your site to feel like a legitimate business, so you created a whole bunch of products. The problem is, the way the internet is going to whole "ADD TO CART" idea is becoming a thing of the past and long sales pages? Well, they better be standing on their own without any distractions from menu tabs and they BETTER have great sales copy. Otherwise, you're going to need a nifty sales funnel to do your heavy lifting for you. It's best to showcase the #1 product you want your customers to start with and then gradually (over time) introduce your other products. Don't bother having a collection of products on your website and expect that people will click on them and buy them. I assure you they will not.

People don’t understand what you do

The last time you went out and some random person asked you what you do for a living, were you a deer in headlights? Did you say something out loud that kinda didn't make sense? Did the person go a little cross-eyed? At least you tried, but now it's time to try harder. If you find yourself giving long, drawn out descriptions to strangers that are interested in knowing what it is you do for a living and you notice their attention span starting to drift, it's time to start practicing and STOP winging it. It makes you sound like an amateur and no matter how little you charge, no one wants to hire or spend money on a product or service that is half-baked.

It hasn’t been 7 years

Okay, so here's the real reason you business hasn't taken off! Are you ready? Firstly, many years ago I was reading an interview with Gwen Stefani (it was probably over 2 decades ago), but it was an interview I will never forget. When No Doubt hit the music industry they weren't an overnight success, but there was one forecast front woman Gwen Stefani received from a music industry professional and it went something like this, "You're going to be wildly successful, but it's going to take 7 years." Why is this important? Clearly, you may not be a ska female singer with abs to kill, but the moral of the story is success takes time. All those internet marketers who are selling you KOOL-AID on how they earned $149,000 in a day (which may or may not be true) have been doing their business for at least 7 years! So why in the world are we expecting to be an overnight sensation when the majority of us have only been in business for under 5 years-- myself included?

In closing, if you've reached the end of this article and you're having a few epiphanies, I know you're an over-achiever and you have some serious goals you're looking to achieve. It's now time to refine (NOT REBRAND) your business and hold your head up high and let time work it's magic. Keep doing what you're doing, only make it better-- streamline and setup your sales funnels with a strategy that has been well-thought through.

And when you're feeling down or impatient as hell, join us in The Club to grab a dose of inner wisdom from one of our holistic lifestyle classes. And remember this: You're going to be successful; it's only a matter of time. Don't give up and stop being a commitment-phobe.

 
 

ABOUT the FOUNDER

Angel Quintana is the founder and CEO of Holistic Fashionista®, a business academy and magazine helping philanthropists build boutique brands so they can help change the world. In The Holistic Fashionista Academy, she helps clients discover their Kismet Clients®, develop a product collection that represents their cause, and build well-thought out sales funnels to change more lives and make more money!

In her book, Funnel Foreplay, she teaches change makers how to successfully quickly warm up cold leads and turn them into buyers. While her tattooed exterior shows her creative tough side and her road to success has been difficult, it is her thoughtful approach to brand building and unique selling approach that has won her thousands of raving fans. Angel and her businesses have been featured on: Apparel News, Examiner.com, Law of Attraction Radio, and spoken on stage at Digital Marketing for Business, At The Helm, and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

Why "Being Busy" is Hurting Your Business and Your Finances

WHY "BEING BUSY" IS HURTING YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR FINANCES

Article: Angel Quintana       Photo: Carley Page Summers      Issue#37 

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Let’s face it, we’re all busy. We all have a zillion things to accomplish on any given day and most days we aren’t even able to complete that long list of to-do's. It can feel brutal at times. After all, we are entrepreneurs. 

But that has me thinking about systems and processes… have we implemented a structured day planner that accumulates the to-do’s, but also creates organization to the order? Or are we just keeping "it all upstairs", hoping one day the list will be completed?

I’m not going to lie and say we have every i dotted and t crossed here at Holistic Fashionista. It’s a juggling act for sure, but programs like Trello and EmailMeForm, are simple platforms that we do appreciate and use for nearly all our product launches, collection of data, and of course those long days that are packed with a bunch of details.

But, even the most organized person has those days where they just can’t take it anymore. The list is too long and there is too much to do— we want to blame someone else for the madness.

That’s where we have to check ourselves (and our egos) before we piss off those close to us.

The last thing you want to do is piss off your team or snap at your mentor. The bottom line is the chaos is your fault. That’s because you are in charge. You’re the lady boss. You’re the CEO. You’re the one who started this business! Take responsibility.

Here are 3 tips to help you tame the madness and tackle the to-do list, all while increasing your revenue (yup, you heard me!) and get your finances back on track.

You’re busy, but your bank account isn’t showing that the “busy work” is paying off. What gives?

STOP BEING BUSY
Being busy when you’re high on caffeine can be fun from time to time, but being busy just to be busy, well that’s not productive. Most of us find distractions in the most mundane things— anything to keep us from tackling what really needs to be done— you know what I’m talking about:

  • Countless hours on Facebook
  • Staring at your phone like a real Instagram whore
  • Pinning and looking at others' gorgeous boards
  • Reading and writing emails
  • Writing blog posts/articles

So do yourself a favor right now and stop kidding yourself that your "busy-ness" is making you more money-- because if you look closely, it probably isn't! Even if you consider social media and creating content “marketing,” money-making activities, I assure you it’s a passive tactic towards making more money— and it doesn’t usually translate to dollar bills.

Instead, try being assertive in your distractions. If you’re going to hang out on Facebook, ask for the sale (don’t just hit at it). If you’re going to write an article, make sure you do a Facebook boosted post to draw more attention to your business (and don’t forget to include a call-to-action at the end of each post!). Be strategic with all the “busy work”. Deal?

STOP BLAMING YOUR TEAM
Your team is there to support you and if they aren’t holding up their job description, perhaps it’s time to sit them down and have a chat. Put on paper (if you haven’t already) what their duties are and what is required in their position. If you haven’t been clear about what their duties are, how can you expect them to read your mind? You can’t. And that means you can get pissed at them either, because it’s really your fault.

Every week put together a Monday team building meeting and map out what needs to be done to reach your weekly goals. Don’t have weekly goals set in place yet? Map those out weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually. The only way to assure everything gets completed by your team is to have goals and a list of what needs to be accomplished. Keep the communication flowing!

Apps like Trello and sharing Google docs is a great way to keep your team in the loop of what needs to be done, when it needs to be completed by, and who is doing what. Put systems in place so your team can win at their job! And then take them to happy hour to show your appreciation! Gratitude is a great strategy for keeping the family happy and accomplished.

STOP PISSING YOUR MENTOR OFF
Look, we’ve all hired a mentor at one point in our business, but how many times have you blamed your mentor for the lack of success in your business? Come on, be honest. What about those late payments you still haven’t paid and now you’re wasting your time being pissed that she finally cut you off. It’s not her fault, it’s yours.

When you are “busy, being busy” even the most holistic entrepreneur has a tendencies to play the blame game. It’s not cool and actually makes you look nuts. It’s time to start paying a closer attention to details and when I say details, I’m talking about your finances.

Your mentor is there to support you and lift you higher when times get crazy. Mentors deserve a pat on the back from time to time, and when you’re disorganized and not following protocol, you’re clouding your judgement and acting out inauthentically, when you should be implementing more systems into your life to make sure you can complete your assignments, and at the very least, pay your bills/investments on time.

In closing, you’re responsible for the success of your business. Not your team. Not your busy work. And not your mentor.

If you can’t get out of “busy work” and into creating systems to improve your business, you’ll never be successful. In fact, you’ll burn a lot of bridges-- bridges that could have been mended if you took responsiblity for your responsibilities.

Busywork is a trap and if you’re stuck in its spiral staircase, get off right now and take the elevator downstairs and regroup. Put an action plan together to get off the hamster wheel and start creating productivity system with money-making tasks that ask for the sale, instead of just hinting at it.

Time is money and busy work is not time well spent. Don’t waste another hour on tasks that don’t produce real results, the result I'm talk about is MONEY.

ABOUT the FOUNDER

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Angel Quintana is the founder and CEO of Holistic Fashionista®, a business academy and magazine helping philanthropists build boutique brands so they can help change the world. In The Holistic Fashionista Academy, she helps clients discover their Kismet Clients®, develop a product collection that represents their cause, and build well-thought out sales funnels to change more lives and make more money! 

In her book, Funnel Foreplay, she teaches change makers how to successfully quickly warm up cold leads and turn them into buyers. While her tattooed exterior shows her creative tough side and her road to success has been difficult, it is her thoughtful approach to brand building and unique selling approach that has won her thousands of raving fans. Angel and her businesses have been featured on: Apparel News, Examiner.com, Law of Attraction Radio, and spoken on stage at Digital Marketing for Business, At The Helm, and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

5 Ways to Improve Your Mental Environment to Invite New Opportunities

5 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL ENVIRONMENT TO INVITE NEW OPPORTUNITIES

CEO/Founder: Angel Quintana      Photo: Angel Quintana    Magazine: Issue#36

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It’s no new concept to the Holistic Fashionista that space and energy are vital components to a healthy mindset and a healthy business. Whether it’s rearranging furniture, filing old paper work, or getting a new haircut, sometimes it’s even something as small as mending a few items of clothing that will help sales flow like water. It’s imperative that we keep the chi flowing.

As we enter a new season, the second quarter, slowly peeling off the layers we endured over the winter, just as we practice daily gratitude or our much needed yoga routine, it’s also important that we look around and discover what no longer serves us: a beat up desk that’s more falling apart than vintage, an ancient cell phone that makes social networking nearly impossible, goopy nail polish that belongs in the trash, or expired make-up that could be the culprit of those less than glowing skin days.

Here are several ways you can improve mental environment to invite more opportunities as we move into one of the busiest seasons!

1:: Desktop/Back-Up Drive Dump

Look, I’m not preaching here, my desktop is usually a HOT MESS, but from time to time I have to clean it up because, well, it’s just necessary. I wish I was one of those OCD people when it came to making folders for everything on my computer, but I’m not. Do yourself a favor and say goodbye to outdated Facebook banners or old advertisements you made for Instagram (that didn’t perform). And when that waste basket is full, empty it. You’ll feel almost as great as that last organic facial you had last weekend!

2:: Jewelry Box Purge

Most of us fashionistas have a jewelry box and some of us still have jewelry we wore in high school— you know what I’m talking about— some plastic techno rings or cheap-o metals that contain harmful toxins like nickel. Do your body and your brain a favor and go through your jewelry box and donate or toss any jewelry that you won’t wear anymore. If it’s something sentimental, give it to your daughter or donate it to a women’s shelter. Another woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure, right?

3:: Color Coordinate Everything

Just yesterday I went on an organizing frenzy and even color coordinate not only my wardrobe, but my collection of shoes. If you’ve followed me in the past, I’m a fan of color coordinating things: books, dishes, etc… And while I do not follow the traditional rainbow when color coordinating items, I am a fan of mixing it up while keeping it coded. For instance, if you have a couple leopard printed tops and a whole bunch of camel-colored blouses, because beige is a color in a leopard print, I would pair those colors together. Heck, I may even throw black into the mix. Have fun with color coordinating. It’s super creative and the end result is usually stunning— just imagine waking up every morning with new outfits to pair!

4:: Trim Your Tresses

I realize it’s approaching festival season and long hair is all the rage, but as my hairdresser told me, long, unhealthy hair is not pretty and nor does it make you look younger. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had my Operations Manager trim my hair or taken a pair of shears to my pony tail… I know, I know— so wrong, but those dead ends were killing me! Book an appointment with your hairstylist to maintain healthy, strong hair. Then you can get new head shots taken! Double win.

5:: Unlock Your Kismet Client

As a business owner, we’ve all heard the term “target market”, but the majority of small business owners haven’t quite nailed who “their person” really is. We keep trying to put people into a box or write down a laundry list of characteristics or perhaps even where they shop. But there is something much more effective to discovering your target market, and that is to unlock your Kismet Client®. A Kismet Client® will make your business— not finding yours may break your business.

One of the biggest questions I hear time and time again from clients, academy students, and Club Members, is WHO is are their people? They’re all leaders and looking to grow their own tribe, so it’s paramount you know exactly who your Kismet Clients are so you can pick them out of a crowd, get the right traffic to your website, and clear your mind from all the questions around this topic! This is a topic that keeps most entrepreneurs up at night!

It may sound cumbersome, but rolling up your sleeves and getting to clearing our your clutter, refining your look, and working on your business are mandatory ingredients to success.

Believe it or not, I plan to use all five of these tips to help you unlock your Kismet Client! Join me a a complimentary live class powered by The Holistic Fashionista Academy: The 4 Cookies That Will Make or Break Your Business!

Come join me and let’s show Spring who’s the real lady boss!

ABOUT the FOUNDER

angel-quintana.jpg

Angel Quintana is the founder and CEO of Holistic Fashionista®, a business academy and magazine helping philanthropists build boutique brands so they can help change the world. In The Holistic Fashionista Academy, she helps clients discover their Kismet Clients®, develop a product collection that represents their cause, and build well-thought out sales funnels to change more lives and make more money! 

In her book, Funnel Foreplay, she teaches change makers how to successfully quickly warm up cold leads and turn them into buyers. While her tattooed exterior shows her creative tough side and her road to success has been difficult, it is her thoughtful approach to brand building and unique selling approach that has won her thousands of raving fans. Angel and her businesses have been featured on: Apparel News, Examiner.com, Law of Attraction Radio, and spoken on stage at Digital Marketing for Business, At The Helm, and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

3 Tips to Taming the Emotional Chaos that is The Entrepreneurial Ride

3 TIPS TO TAMING THE EMOTIONAL CHAOS THAT IS THE ENTREPRENEURIAL RIDE

CEO/Founder: Angel Quintana    Photo: Chanelle Sladics    Magazine: Issue#35

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Ever wonder when your big break will hit, when clients will pour from an insatiable well, and business becomes a walk in the park? I’ve been there. I think every entrepreneur on this planet has mosey’d down roller coaster lane, wondering when will it finally work out for me? And the worse part, is most people will have no idea why you’ve been pounding the pavement day and night trying to get your business off the ground— that’s because they’re not an entrepreneur.

“Nobody said it would be easy, but it will be worth it.” Right?

You see, being an entrepreneur isn’t just about starting a business or even hosting a webinar trying to sell your stuff; it’s so much deeper than that. It’s like deep sea diving in the middle of the ocean and when you finally come up for air, your ship has sailed. And then what? You’re left feeling like, Oh shit! I’m going to die without anyone knowing the treasure I just found buried deep inside the ocean.

What a crappy feeling. Welcome to the emotional chaos that comes with being an entrepreneur. So what now? 

You were born different, have a mission that yanks at your heart daily, and things are not moving along as quickly as you’d like— and the people around you have no idea why you’re so bloody ambitious. They think you’re nuts!

It’s a lonely place to be. So I’d love to share with you my top 3 tips for picking yourself up, even on the days you feel like throwing in the towel:

1) Make You a Priority.
I made a promise to myself today that self-care needs to play a bigger role in my entrepreneurial adventure. Yes, I’m talking about spa days, facials, foot rubs, green juice cleanses, and an extra heaping spoonful of magnesium in your daily practice. You have to stay sane. The easiest way to recharge your batteries is to put YOU first, even if you’ve got 3 small children and a long laundry list of to-do’s. Make a promise to yourself today that without vibrancy, your entrepreneurial adventure will lose it’s luster and then nothing will get accomplished… and then think about all those lives you couldn’t impact. That’s not going to fly!

2) Share Something Positive.
Every time you feel Negative Nelly creeping her devilish head, post something positive on your social media feed to show her the door. Remind yourself how crazy good your “big why” is and talk about it often. Talk about why you’re passionate about what you do and do so by speaking to just one person: your Kismet Client. You will be shocked at who shows up at your virtual door with flowers. Positivity always wins the race.

3) Revisit an Old Friend.
I know what you’re thinking— sometimes you’re just too busy to pick up a new book and sink your teeth into it. So instead, pick up a book you’ve already read and skim a page or two. Since you’re familiar with the content, it’s kinda like visiting with an old friend. You get together for coffee or tea and explore a topic on a deep level. You have an ah-ha moment, and then you make plans to do it again next week. After all, tomorrow is another day to visit with another friend. You don’t have to read a book in its entirety or stick to the same book every day. As long as you get your mind back to focusing on the prize, you’ll never feel like throwing in the towel. That’s how you win the race!

You can’t impact others’ lives when you’re feeling beat down. You can’t take care of the world when you aren’t taking care yourself. And when you’re feeling Negative Nelly peeking her little head again, that’s when you need to invite support and protection to the ball game. Ask for help.

Check out my list of book recommendations if you’re looking for a fresh perspective or need inspiration. And when you’re back in the swing of things and ready to share something positive, consider joining us in The Club. Afterall, an entrepreneur community will be your best kept secret to staying sane and inspired as you move through the ebbs and flow of the surly roller coaster ride.

Have a beautiful day!

 
 

ABOUT the FOUNDER

angel-quintana.jpg

Angel Quintana is the founder and CEO of Holistic Fashionista®, a business academy and magazine helping philanthropists build boutique brands so they can help change the world. In The Holistic Fashionista Academy, she helps clients discover their Kismet Clients®, develop a product collection that represents their cause, and build well-thought out sales funnels to change more lives and make more money! 

In her book, Funnel Foreplay, she teaches change makers how to successfully quickly warm up cold leads and turn them into buyers. While her tattooed exterior shows her creative tough side and her road to success has been difficult, it is her thoughtful approach to brand building and unique selling approach that has won her thousands of raving fans. Angel and her businesses have been featured on: Apparel News, Examiner.com, Law of Attraction Radio, and spoken on stage at Digital Marketing for Business, At The Helm, and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

3 Pointers on Being More of Yourself on Social Media

If you haven’t taken the Business Trendsetter™ quiz yet, then you won’t know what I’m talking about when I say, “embrace your inner Lola.” When it comes to being a social media marketer, who better to emulate than your alter ego: Lola. Read more

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ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.