MAD LOVE MONDAY | GEL Lashes Canada

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Photo | @jillcoursenphoto

1.       What is your business & why that field / service/ product?

We are the directors of GEL Lashes Canada, a revolutionary new lash lifting system that lifts, curls, and tints the natural lashes while nourishing and strengthening them. We love this product because its keratin and silk peptide infused formula enhance your natural lashes and encourages healthy lash growth. There is no damage/stress to your lashes.

2.       What inspired you to start your own business?

We both had corporate jobs that were draining and unfulfilling.. We have been friends for over 18 years, and both wanted to explore/travel more. We both love beauty and wanted to build something new and exciting together! (IG: @gellashescanada)

Tammy went in to lashing 6 years ago because she has always been obsessed with lashes. She used to write a beauty blog dedicated to reviewing mascaras, and found the market was lacking products that truly enhanced the lashes perfectly. (IG: @lash.bish@keravielashloft)

Natalia got in to permanent makeup because she always valued natural beauty and hoped to find a way to empower people to feel beautiful from the moment they wake up. (IG: @studio.n.beauty)

3.       Do you have a go to quote / motto

 Keep your head, heart and lashes lifted!

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4.       What’s a personal goal of yours to accomplish? (time frame?)

We are both opening up our own shops!

Tammy – opening up her own shop, Keravie Lash Loft at Kingway Garden Mall on Sep 3.

Natalia – securing a space to grow Studio N this year.

5.       Do you have a professional goal or set of goals for your business?

We want to help people feel confident and carefree, while empowering them to take charge of their life and chase their dreams. For our students, we want to provide them with the best tools possible to be successful and strong business owners.

6.       Why do you love being an entrepreneur?

Because we love travelling, the ability to set our own hours and go on adventures whenever we want is probably the first and foremost reason! Secondly, we are both extremely type A and love bossing each other around haha

7.       Did you ever have a time where you wanted to give up? How did you overcome that feeling?

We are both super motivated and have super high expectations of ourselves, so sometimes when things don't turn out as well as we had hoped, we both work together on staying positive and figuring out how to improve and tackle the obstacles in our way. Beating yourself up or worrying without formulating a plan is just a waste of energy, so we try to avoid that at all costs.

8.       Whats your best boss babe moment? (First moment of reassurance).

When we first saw the look of happiness and joy on a client who didn’t even know she had lashes! Also, the positive feedback from our students was incredible!

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Photo | @jillcoursenphoto

9.       What platform do you find most success / interaction from? (IE. Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook).

IG

10.   Work-life Balance: What you do you do to destress? What is your must-have moment of the day (me time)?

We both have an unhealthy obsession with sushi, Little Caesars, puppies and long baths. Ok, but seriously, exercise and learning to laugh at yourself go a long way.

11.   What are you looking to learn from other YEGBOSSBABES in the community?

EVERYTHING! We have had the fortune of meeting people who continually inspire and motivate us to be better, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Natalia & Tammy

GEL Lashes Canada

TIPSY TUESDAY - 5 Tips to Top Your MLM Journey with Liz Agudelo

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I did the pros and cons in my head, and I said a quick prayer. Then I jumped in with two feet into a multi-level marketing (MLM) opportunity. Why? Well, it happened something like this: I tried the product, I loved the product, I couldn’t help telling others about the product. Sharing about it felt natural, orders were coming in organically, and then it dawned on me:

This is working without me even trying … what would happen if I went all in?

Friends, this shift in perspective was the best thing I could have done for myself and for my business. Owning it—setting out with intention and purpose—makes all the difference in business (and in our personal lives too).

I’ll talk goal setting, Facebook workshops, vendor events, and classes another day. Today I want to focus on the core of a thriving MLM business and share with you my top 5 tips for keeping yourself motivated to stay the course.

Know Your “Why”

You can only commit to something you feel deeply passionate about. For me, it’s my kids. I wanted to stay at home with Penny (6) and Max (3.5 … and that .5 is very important to him, so it must be honoured!) I also knew I was leaning into the right opportunity because the company’s values, philosophy, mission, and vision aligned with my own.

Come back to your why when you feel discouraged. Put pictures on your walls, sticky notes on your mirror, or recurring alarms on your phone … whatever it takes to remind yourself that what you’re doing matters.

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Personal Branding

Let’s keep it real Boss Babes, there are plenty of other people doing what you’re doing. So what will draw people to you? Your personal brand. You’re unique, gifted, and your story matters. Infusing your brand with the essence of you is what sets you apart from the other reps promoting the same or a similar product or service as you. No one else can bring what you bring to the table. No one. I mean that.

Only when you share who you are (rather than what you do) can people like and trust you. Establish a personal relationship with your market and they will find their way to you to get the product or service you love so much and share so authentically. Don’t just inundate social media with product shots—that’s what everybody else is doing. Be authentic, do you instead.

Be Intentional: Take a Moment Before You Say Yes or No

Being intentional and authentic goes beyond branding. Being intentional about what we allow into our lives (and what we don’t) matters. Saying yes to one thing means saying no to something else. When we say yes to Netflix we say no to answering emails, planning our social media feeds, or spending quality time with family and friends. In the same way, saying yes to our businesses means saying no to personal time (or at least some of it).

We all get 24 hours a day, so let’s use them to say yes to the things that matter, to the things that lead us to our ultimate goals. Let’s say no to the things that distract us from our vision for ourselves and for our families.

The tricky part is identifying which opportunities will help you further your goals, and which ones won’t (it’s not always as clear as choosing between Netflix and business planning!) So I caution you to focus and make decisions that serve you best—this looks different for everyone. Your true friends will understand your journey and support you. Your family will thrive because your time together will be intentional, quality time. You can do this. It’s up to you to choose.

Personal Development: Work on You, Boo!

I’m sure you’ve seen the meme:

“Your vibe attracts your tribe.”

There’s a deep truth to it. Energy attracts like energy. So think about the kind of team you want to lead ... who is it made of? What are your people like? What traits do they have?

Then look in the mirror. Do you have the traits you’re looking for in others? Do you practice the habits you’d want them to practice? Walk the walk. Leading by example is imperative in network marketing, just as it is in any endeavour where you hold influence and a place of leadership.

Thriving MLM’s know that their greatest asset isn’t their products, it’s their people. So soak up all the opportunities for personal development on offer. Attend your company’s conventions to learn from and be inspired by the best. Allow yourself to be fed. You’ll become not just a better network marketing professional, but a better leader and a better human being. I would also encourage you not to wait for the annual convention to work on yourself. Personal development is an ongoing process, and as you personally grow and develop, so too will your business.

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Own It

MLMs are like any other business: Treat it as a hobby, and it’ll pay you back as a hobby. Treat it as a business, and it’ll pay you back as a business. Shifting my perspective from hobby to business took time and thought, and now, having a bird’s eye view on my team, I also see that process unfolding in others. It’s a choice everyone has to make.

By definition you are a business owner once you have signed up just one person to use your product or service.

What is holding you back from calling yourself a business owner? An entrepreneur? It’s easier (aka less scary) to see it as just a fun thing you do on the side, for kicks. I’d like to challenge you to unpack your thinking.

• Would you like this to be more than just a fun thing?

• Is it possible for your business to bear fruit for you and remain fun? Why or why not?

• Would you like to go beyond having your products paid for through this business? Why or why not?

• What fears can you identify when it comes to owning your own business, and what resources can you tap into to support yourself through this process?

Whether you recognize it or not, you’re a Boss Babe. Time to own it.

What do you think? What holds you back from going all in with your business? What keeps you motivated when things get hard? You are welcome to agree or disagree with me—whatever your view, you are welcome here.

To connect with me and learn more about my business with Young Living Essential Oils, please visit my website, www.myyl.com/lizagudelo  or find me on Instagram, I’m @fabuliz_agudelo.

*Photo credits: Michelle B., Beau Photography, Dusty Dawn Photography

Beau Photography: https://www.facebook.com/JCBeauPhotography/

Dusty Dawn Photography: 

https://www.facebook.com/dustydawnphotography/

MAD LOVE MONDAY - Nicole Constante | Brand Photographer

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8 months ago, I moved to Edmonton. That’s usually how my story starts when other people ask me. And I still love how they say, “no way!! SIX MONTHS!” Followed by the question “So how are you liking it?” I don't think I’ll ever get tired of blabbing about how much I love this city, the opportunities and new perspective it has been giving me.

Before getting here, my parents always told me that life would be so different. That it would bore the frick out of me. So imagine my horror when I landed from that tiny WestJet plane only to see empty roads, dark large fields covered by snow and nothing else? I panicked for a bit. TAKE ME BACK TO MY CITY.

But somehow I knew deep within me that that doesnt have to be my story. This is the greatest adventure I was ever going to take on. My first winter, my first plane ride.. NEW CITY, NEW ME.

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I didn't have any idea of what I wanted to do. My parents wanted me to finish my school, which didn't feel right for me.. I wanted to learn by doing. And luckily they trust me to make my own decisions. While I had 99 hobbies, there was 0 plan. I knew what I didn't want, but not certain of what exactly it was that I wanted.

Except of one thing.

I was sure of the kind of people I want to surround myself with.

I wanted a community.

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And it’s funny how when you think you want something, the universe just shows up and takes care of the ‘how’ because that same day, I stumbled upon a facebook ad for an eventbrite link. And then another. And then another. I ended up RSVP’ing for 3 events and I attended my first workshop/networking event only 2 weeks after moving here! THE GUTS. And there Ive met so many people I still keep in touch with and have collaborated in the past!

Jay Shetty, a monk turned motivational speaker and entrepreneur said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” And so I keep looking at them, especially when I get off track, it’s like a wake up call. I find that it’s when Im surrounded by these people that I’m so inspired to create, to reach my fullest potential, and be the woman I want to become because they prove to me that not only is she possible, but necessary.

The idea of starting a personal brand photography business came to me when I attended my second event. The speaker that day was this beautiful beautiful woman who screamed beauty! and confidence! and power and i-know-the-ish-im-talking about! While watching her talk with passion and certainty,  I could see her heart is fully in it and that she was doing it for more than the superficial. I said to myself “Wow. She’s the kind of person I want to become.” She was a powerhouse woman!

I was just inspired and starstruck, if you will. And if you’re like me, when someone peaks my interest, the first thing I do is stalk their social media.. And so I did. I was so excited I just couldn't get enough of her energy! And when opened up her instagram, it wasn't disappointment, but more so I was confused?? Her digital presence wasn't on par with what I saw in person. Where is the powerhouse woman that I encountered? Her instagram wasn't doing her justice and I felt frustrated! Haha!

While I knew how successful she already was in her business, I also knew that it could be better. I just wished everyone who stumbled upon her social media also experienced the person that left me in awe and wonder. And that’s how it came to me, “I could help her!” And then that night was a rabbit hole of brand photography.

Nowadays, our business card is our social media, our websites. It’s not everyday that people would stumble upon our shop, see us in action, or watch us on stage speaking, but the chances of them stumbling upon our social media is much higher. And through it, we could reach more people, and serve more people. And so we want to leave a good impression the first time they land on our pages and position ourselves as an expert and a professional in our industry. It breeds trust. And we’re in the era of digital marketing to convey our message, promote our products and tell our brand story.

What inspired me to start and continues to, and also the reason why I love being an entrepreneur is the community. Im so overwhelmed and happy and grateful to be surrounded by people who GET me, have the same mindset and vision and believes in the same things I do.. I love taking photos AND I get to nerd about business and life and be my nosey self with these kind of people all WHILE being of service to them and their business. What did I do to deserve such grace?! I’m just the happiest doing it! Aah.

I think one of my best boss babe moments was when I got my Sigma 24-70 lens and it’s for a number of reasons. First, it was my first big purchase (the biggest so far) with my own money! And second, it symbolized a lot of things for me. One of them is that I trusted myself enough because before getting it I asked so many questions including, “Am I sure about this? Can I be trusted?” It felt like a commitment. And second, it made me proud how brave I was to invest into my business!

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Entrepreneurship to me means being able to build something that supports me and allows me to support those I care about. It gives me financial, location and time freedom and allows me to live and embody my values. Most importantly, it keeps me going after growth. There’s so much room for it. I love how there’s always something to work towards and everytime, it forces me to level up.

There was this one time when I came home, locked myself up and cried so hard. The ugly cry. My mom cried with me for hours that night because I couldnt tell her what was the reason and it broke my heart. She couldnt take seeing me cry THAT way that she said “If it only hurts you like that, I’ll just make you go to school and stop what youre doing.” I felt so undervalued and I couldnt hold or look at my camera for the next 3 days. Ive never experienced such pain.

I remember saying “i’ll never do this again..” and then not even a millisecond after that I caught myself answering, “oh come on. Let’s be real here, you’re gonna do this again lol” “That’s true.” (Who else talks to themselves???? And says “lol” out loud? Haha!)

I journaled a lot. And prayed. And meditated. And realised that it was just my ego being bruised, not the end of the world. And if there’s something I shouldnt give up on, it’s my vision.

That’s what I always do, especially when it all feels blurry and messy. My mornings are crucial for me to stay afloat. I always spend the first hour of the day for myself-- journaling, listening to preachings/motivational videos, working out, etc. When I fill my own cup first, I have more to pour into others and I am able to show up better for my clients. So having my mornings to myself are non-negotiable. If I have to be on a morning meeting or a shoot, I’ll wake up super extra just so I could still have my me-time. My mornings are mine, always.

I guess I can say that I’m a very goal and results oriented person so I always have something I aim towards. I set goals for every area of my life including my relationships, health and fitness, career, finances, etc. And I come back to them every week and at the end of every month. I’m still figuring it out as I go, so even though I have this clear vision of who I wanna be in 10 years time, I still allow myself to play, experiment and course correct along the way.

Nicole Constante

For my business, my goal is to learn from as many people as possible and create genuine connections, hence why I’m doing my blog series Women To Watch Wednesdays. Id love to do more of that and be more consistent with it in the coming weeks. There are so many people I keep finding on Instagram that I want to meet and whose mindset I want to explore.

That’s why Instagram is my favorite social media! I feel like my people, my tribe, hang out there and it proves true every time. It also allows me to build my personal brand, tell stories, showcase my work and at the same time, show up as myself in the Instagram Stories! Haha! I love planning and curating content for it, writing my long chatty captions, and connecting with people!

Instagram connects me with other #yegbossbabes. It’s my first window to their business, how they run it and who they are as a person. It lets me learn from and ABOUT them.  I didnt come from a business-minded family so my hunger for community is just over the top. I love watching them hone their craft and seeing how their story unfolds. Learning about their mindset, work ethics, values and (for someone who loves being a tourist in her city) even their go-to coffeeshop, I’m all for it!! I just wanna meet more people. That would be the real adventure.

Thank you for reading. And to @yegbossbabes, thank you for the opportunity to share my story with others. If it helps inspire 1 person, I did my job. :) I guess I’ll end this with my favorite catch phrase, my go-to cheer, and my motto for life,

GET IT, GIRL!

https://www.nicoleconstante.co/