The Happy Black Woman Podcast

Today’s guest is Jillian Smith. Jillian is the event manager for Happy Black Woman and the Founder/CEO of One Touch Events, LLC. Her mission is to work with clients to manage show-stopping events of all kinds. Jillian’s company plans everything from weddings to corporate engagement activities and beyond. She has a passion for systems and organization, as well as design, which allows her to see the full vision of the event and work towards wowing the client and the attendees. Jillian’s passion for event management is clear, and she shares her purpose with openness throughout this conversation with Rosetta.

Understanding the client’s purpose.

For Jillian, finding her purpose happened quite organically. She explains that she always knew she wanted to own a business, but wasn’t quite clear exactly what her business would be until she had her “a ha!” moment. Jillian had always been the go-to source for party planning inspiration for friends and family - from baby showers to weddings and much more. She clearly had a gift and she loved doing it. It all became clear during the process of planning her own 30th birthday party. It was then that Jillian realized this was her purpose. And so, she set out to start an event planning business - One Touch Events, LLC. was born.

Why it’s important to have your tribe in place before planning an event.

Jillian shares some event planning tips that can help a novice that might be ready to get started. These strategic action steps offer insight into the ins and outs of events, so you can decide if you’re ready to take the plunge. Jillian discusses the value of having a tribe in place before planning an event, because this ensures you are able to fill seats. Another important thing to consider is the overall mission of the event. Jillian suggests thinking about what you want people to walk away from the event with as a way of identifying your event mission.

Staying organized while juggling so many things.

There’s no doubt Jillian is a busy business owner. That’s why it’s so important to manage her time and make sure she is able to stay focused on the task at hand. Jillian discusses some of her “secret weapons” that help her stay organized, including Basecamp, which she uses to manage her events and stay organized, and time blocking as a way of managing her schedule. Jillian’s ability to maintain organization has been essential to her success and the growth of the business. She also offers insight into her main focus throughout each day: client experience over everything.

Live courageously and lead with love.

As Rosetta and Jillian finish up their chat, Jillian leaves us with some final advice and inspiration. Her #1 piece of advice for fellow entrepreneurs who are ready to follow their dreams? Don’t let money be your only motive for starting a business. Jillian also discusses some books that have inspired her and kept her focus on what she needed to do to make her dreams come true. Jillian’s conversation with Rosetta is filled with tactical tips and inspiration that can propel you forward in your journey.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:35] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Jillian Smith.
• [2:03] Jillian’s mission and the work that she does.
• [3:53] How Rosetta and Jillian connected.
• [6:41] What made Jillian decide to be an event planner?
• [10:56] Some concrete action steps that can help you get started in events.
• [18:58] Some other things to think about when you want to properly produce an event.
• [24:09] How do you stay focused and productive during the day with so much multi-tasking going on.
• [29:39] A book that has inspired Jillian on her journey.
• [31:30] Jillian’s personal mantra.
• [33:43] Jillian’s advice for women who are ready to follow their dreams.
• [35:32] How to connect with Jillian.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “The E-Myth Revisited”

BOOK: “Essentialism”

QUOTE: Live courageously and lead with love.

Basecamp

Jillian’s website: http://www.onetoucheventsllc.com/

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You know how to take care of you. You just don’t do it. Right? There are so many reasons why - responsibilities, kids, business, family - there’s no end to the things that demand a piece of your time, a piece of you. It can easily feel like there’s no time left over to take care of yourself, but if you don’t figure it out you know that you’re going to crash eventually. Today’s guest is Rosetta’s friend, Aisha Moore an expert in self-care who teaches busy women like you how to care for themselves first so they can ensure that they have the energy to serve others at home and in their business. What Aisha has to share today could save your life, both figuratively and literally, so be sure you listen.

What IS self-care and why is it important?

When you think of self-care, what comes to mind? Is it a nice manicure or pedicure? Is it time alone, reading a book or enjoying your favorite drink? Those things definitely qualify as self-care but the concept and practice entail so much more than just those acts. Aisha Moore has learned the importance of self-care the hard way, experiencing her own health issues that pushed her to make some clear changes to the way she was living. Her story serves as both an example and an inspiration to women all over the world and you are sure to learn something as you listen to her tell about the transformation that the practice of self-care has had in her life.

Your self-care needs to match what’s going on in your life.

It’s impossible to take care of you by doing the exact things that other people do to take care of themselves. Each person is different and requires different things for the nurturing of their own soul. But there’s also the issue of what’s going on in your life. As the seasons of life come and go you will find that you need different self-care habits than you did before. On this episode, Aisha Moore shares how this phenomenon happens and how you can learn to be flexible and wise in the way you take care of yourself, so be sure you take the time to listen.

You need to practice self-care every day to be your optimal self.

Self-care is not something you should allow to be a hit and miss thing. You are not invulnerable. You are not free of the normal human weaknesses that we all fall prey to from time to time. But you can prevent much of the physical, emotional, and spiritual difficulties that threaten you by practicing self-care every day. On this episode, Aisha Moore shares a handful of ideas of how you can build self-care disciplines into your life on a daily basis. You’ll learn some fresh ideas for taking care of yourself that Aisha has seen help many others.

You have to make some hard decisions to make self-care a priority.

If you know you need to take care of you in order to be healthy you probably also know that you are going to have to make some tough decisions to ensure that it happens. You won’t stumble into self-care, you have to be intentional about it. On this episode, Aisha Moore tells Rosetta (and you) some great ways to set aside the time for self-care in your busy schedule and gives some ideas about how you can make the hard choices that are required if you are going to be your best self. Are you ready for the challenge? Listen to find out more.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:31] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Aisha Moore.
• [1:34] The mission Aisha is on and how she’s accomplishing it.
• [3:20] How Aisha decided to focus on the area of self care.
• [8:28] The changes Aisha noticed in herself after undergoing a self care process.
• [11:02] What IS self care from Aisha’s perspective?
• [14:16] Specific action steps you can take to care for yourself better.
• [17:11] Aisha’s advice to women who feel they don’t have time for self care.
• [25:19] The decisions you have to make in order to make self care a priority.
• [29:45] A top book Aisha recommends.
• [32:33] How you can connect with Aisha.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

• http://www.selfcarebyaisha.com/FreeGift - Aisha’s website (and get your FREE gift)
• www.HappyBlackWomanRetreat.com
• BOOK: The Artist’s Way
• The Daily Word
• BOOK: The Tao of Pooh

About AISHA MOORE

Aisha helps people identify what's stressing them out and helps them figure a plan to do something about it. Since 2014, Aisha has provided coaching and speaking services for individuals, ...

There are many people out there who can help you build a website or develop your online persona (brand), but few of them have the expertise and exuberance that Kimberly Mays does. And what makes her an even better fit for you is that she’s a member of the Happy Black Woman community. Kimberly is a web developer turned entrepreneur and she helps women get their online persona dialed in, their website optimized and functioning well, and their business rolling. You can hear Kimberly’s story and how she got to the place she is, as well as her best tips for those just starting out, on this episode of Happy Black Woman.

If you’re ready to begin building your online persona, you need to hear this conversation.

Building an online persona is not about coming up with something new or innovative, it’s a process of discovering who you really are and what you bring to the world. That’s the approach that Rosetta’s guest on this episode, Kimberly Mays takes to help her clients understand how to position and voice their personal brand. And one of the things that make Kimberly unique is that she’s not only able to help you with your online persona, she can also put her web development skills to use to help you create the perfect website to portray your brand. You’ve got to get to know this incredible lady, and you can by listening to this conversation.

Tips for personal branding (it’s more than logos and color schemes).

Many people who speak about personal branding immediately go into choosing color schemes and creating logos. That’s fine. But it’s NOT what a brand is really made up of. Branding is the art and craft of discovering and describing your online persona, the idea people get about who you are and what you can do to help them. Kimberly Mays is an expert at helping women like you discover exactly who they are and what they offer the world, so if you’re curious about how to develop your online persona you will want to hear what she has to share on this episode of Happy Black Woman.

Why weekly planning is better than daily planning.

When you live day by day you have to deal with things as they come - which means you don’t get to prepare or think ahead. As a result, you can find yourself emotionally and mentally stressed simply because you haven’t had time to prepare yourself for the future. On this episode Rosetta’s guest, Kimberly Mays points out that organizing her schedule around weekly goals has enabled her to work intentionally toward specific projects and timelines without feeling the overwhelm and stress that can be so common among entrepreneurs. If that sounds appealing to you, it would be a good idea for you to hear what she shares on this episode.

Identify ways you can serve as you are now rather than focusing on what you don’t know yet.

When Rosetta asked Kimberly Mays for her best advice to women in the Happy Black Woman community who are ready to get their online persona and business rolling, Kimberly said the first step is to realize that you already have something valuable to offer, as the person you are right now. The online space can be a bit overwhelming, with many voices telling you what you need to learn and what you need to do in order to be successful. But Kimberly’s advice rings true: Just get started. You’ll have a much better chance of figuring out how to do business in a way that fits you if you clear your head and figure out how you can help people now.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:29] Rosetta’s welcome and introduction to her guest on this episode, Kimberly Mays.
• [5:08] First steps and tips for those who are ready to get started.
• [9:01] Tips for personal branding (it’s more than color schemes and logos)
• [12:27] What Kimberly does to stay on track personally.
• [17:39] Things that inspire Kimberly to keep going in her business.
• [21:41] Kimberly’s best advice for women who are at the beginning of their journey.
• [26:31] How you can connect with Kimberly.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

• http://foolishlycreative.com
• Kim on Facebook
• Kim on Twitter
• Kim on Instagram
• Trello
• BOOK: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

About Kimberly Mays

Kimberly is a web developer, brand builder, and self-proclaimed geek from New York City.

With over 10 years of web design and development experienc...

The amazing success Jamie Broadnax is experiencing with her online community, Black Girl Nerds is an example of how focusing on a niche, no matter how small, can build over time and provide great value to a community that is in need of leadership. Jamie started her community after searching Google and finding nothing that provided community and resources to black women who categorized themselves as “nerds.” You’re going to hear how Jamie did it, the kind of interaction and success she’s experienced within her community, and how you can do the same thing, no matter how small the niche.

A community around your interests can work, no matter how niche it seems.

If you are interested in a particular thing - no matter what it is - there are likely many, many other people who are interested in that same thing. But you wouldn’t know it if there’s no online hub or community that focuses on people with those interests. What Jamie Broadnax has been able to do with the Black Girl Nerds community is a great example of the kind of support and relationships that can be built in a very particular niche area. On this episode of Happy Black Woman, you can hear how Jamie got to the place she it today, how she’s monetizing her efforts on the site, and what you can do to head in the same direction with your ideas for an online community.

Being niche focused is a GOOD thing. Really.

Too often people think that the area of interest that they would want to blog about, podcast about, or create videos about is far too narrow to have much of an audience. But Rosetta’s guest on this episode of Happy Black Woman says that there’s no such thing! Jamie Broadnax not only has a successful online community that specifically targets black woman (a narrower niche than most), she also targets black women who consider themselves nerds! You can’t get much narrower than that. Find out how Jamie has done it and how you can follow in her footsteps, on this episode.

If you want to stand out in the online space you have to bring something unique to the table.

No matter what niche you are targeting you have to put out content that is truly engaging to the people you are trying to reach. It has to be helpful, from a unique vantage point, and something they are eager to learn from and share with others. That requires work. But it’s that kind of work that enables you to stand out in your field and gain the attention of the people who are looking for exactly what you have to offer.

How do you monetize an online community? Jamie Broadnax is figuring it out.

The main purpose of any online community is to add value to the lives of those who are engaging in it. You want to be careful that nobody involved feels they are being gouged financially or taken advantage of. But having said that, if you approach it the right way you CAN create revenue generating things in your community while still respecting the members who contribute so much valuable content and engagement. Jamie Broadnax talks about how she’s beginning to monetize her Black Girl Nerds community, on this episode of Happy Black Woman.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:30] Rosetta’s introduction to her guest this episode, Jamie Broadnax.
• [2:30] The online community Jamie leads and how she got started.
• [10:44] How can people who haven’t started, get started with their community idea?
• [16:00] The power of being unique as a blogger.
• [19:59] The ways Jamie is expanding her brand and distribution.
• [24:32] Jamie’s monetization approach and upcoming book deal.
• [27:34] How Jamie stays efficient working a full time job as well.
• [33:25] The reasons you should NOT give up.
• [35:35] How you can connect with Jamie.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

• Black Girl Nerds
• Graveyard Shift Sisters
• Misty Knight’s Uniformed Afro
• Slack
• Google Calendar
• Google Sheets

About Jamie Broadnax

Jamie is the managing editor of black girl nerds and online community for black women to share the eccentricities and feel empowered to express their nerdiness.

Seamless systems are the cogs and gears that make every successful business run. When they work properly, they are finely tuned and seem magically effortless - but they don’t happen by accident. Seamless systems are something you, the business owner (and your team) have to intentionally create. Rosetta’s guest on this episode is Sonaya Williams and you might call her a systems and team guru. She specializes in putting together systems and processes that support and run business so that clients are cared for well, nothing falls through the cracks, and those who work within the business are happy and fulfilled in what they do. We all need this kind of stuff, don’t we? You won’t want to miss this conversation.

Your business will live or die on the efficiency of the systems within it.

All you have to do in order to see the vital nature of systems is to look around you. The created universe operates according to systems (though we don’t always call them that). The solar system, the water cycle, every human invention - all of them are governed and run by systems. When it comes to your business, the better your systems, the more profitable and stress-free your business will be. In this conversation, Sonaya Williams shares why she’s built a business to teach other business owners and entrepreneurs how to build and implement systems - and how she can help you get your business finely tuned and humming along. She’s even got a free gift for you that will enable you to find and hire the right team members, so be sure you listen.

Need seamless systems? Start by creating a list of all the things you do.

You won’t have a chance of building good systems for your business until you clarify exactly what it is you do and how you are presently doing it. The easiest way to do that is to begin making lists. You can jot down bullet-point outlines of the tasks you actually do or manage, in order to get an overview snapshot of what is on your plate. From there, begin prioritizing what needs to be systematized, optimized, or delegated first. Sonaya Williams is on the show to give you an idea of what seamless systems can do for you and your business. Your clients will be happier - and you will, too - so be sure to listen.

In order to implement good systems in your business, you'll have to make a mindset shift.

It’s one thing to recognize what smoothly working systems can do for your business. But it’s another to successfully implement them. Believe it or not, one of the things that often keeps entrepreneurs or business owners from implementing their carefully-devised systems is their own inability to let go of the work. It could be a tendency toward controlling everything that holds them back - or it might be good old perfectionism - but no matter the reason, a mindset shift is needed in order to bring good systems online and make them work. Rosetta's guest, Sonaya has a good deal of insight for you about how you can get over that hurdle, on this episode of Happy Black Woman.

If you’re going to implement powerful systems you have to be willing to let go of the work.

Most business owners are go-getters, people who can see what needs to be done and have the initiative and drive to make it happen. But that strength often comes with a downside: they believe that nobody can do the work as well as they can. The problem with that belief is that it’s seldom true. No doubt, they are talented but there are many things that go into making their enterprise run that they are not the best at. Letting go of the actual work that happens in your business is hard because it requires that you trust others and empower them to work on your behalf. On this episode of Happy Black Woman, Rosetta chats with Sonaya Williams about how to make that transition - and the two of them highlight the incredible benefits that come from making it. This one is a “must listen” episode for every wanna-be or current entrepreneur or business owner.

Outline of this great episode

• [1:19] How Rosetta and Sonaya met (but not yet in person).
• [2:29] Sonaya Williams: Helping people find solutions and making them easy.
• [6:01] How Sonaya wound up in London.
• [8:23] What is a seamless system and how can you implement them in your business?
• [11:51] The mindset shift behind the implementation of systems and adding team members.
• [15:50] What are the best places to look for a great virtual assistant?
• [18:46] Intermediate steps to improve existing systems and workflows.
• [22:00] The value of using project management tools.
• [24:00] Sonaya’s personal strategies to stay on track.
• [30:03] The #1 piece of advice for those starting out (or wanting to).
• [34:55] How you can get Sonaya’s free gift.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

• www.sonayawilliams.com