MAD LOVE MODAY | Camille Anwuli

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1. WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS & WHY THAT FIELD/SERVICE/PRODUCT?

My creative grind is my blog camilleanwuli.com where I document my personal style, events, travel destinations, creative projects and my sneaker campaign #ShesGotSoleXO aimed to empower women in sneaker culture (so expect a lot of sneaker content haha). I started this platform four years ago and had no idea what I was doing. I built this blog from the ground up and had to learn how to document my content right down to taking outfit photos on my tripod, landing collaborations on my own and networking with bloggers and brands. I represent the fly girls who love sneakers and refuse to conform to what society deems as “ladylike.” It has not been an easy journey but i am thankful with how far it has gotten me. I’m still learning even to this day. My next venture currently involves dabbling in video content and jumping on the Youtube wave.

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2. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS

My mother! She is an entrepreneur who I watched build her business from the ground up in project management. When you lived with someone for so long and have seen them work their ass off with your own eyes, it adds fuel to your fire. Also surrounding yourself with people who create art. Whether it is music, photography, fashion, podcasts.

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3. DO YOU HAVE A GO TO QUOTE/MOTTO?

Okay this is going to sound corny but as of now my motto has been the Nike slogan which is Just Do It! If you’re afraid to do something, it means you should let go of your ego and do it. Fear is always going to be there and we have to acknowledge that. Enjoy the process and if you fail, pick yourself up and learn from it and try it again.

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4. DID YOU EVER HAVE A TIME WHERE YOU WANTED TO GIVE UP? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THAT FEELING?

Of course! And in those moments, I have to remind myself why I started in the first place and have to take a few days to recharge. Sometimes it lasts weeks and even months. I don’t want to be known as the person that gave up.

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5. WHAT’S YOUR BEST BOSS BABE MOMENT?

I would say there was a moment where I was asked to photograph a local event and showcase it on the blog. I was to be there for the entire duration and I knew what I was capable of in terms of my creative writing and photography skills and I requested to be compensated and we negotiated a number that we both agreed upon. In that moment, I knew my skills were valued and I knew what I brought to the table.

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6. WORK-LIFE BALANCE: WHAT DO YOU DO TO DE-STRESS?

Oh gosh there’s alot! - I watch old 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s music videos and completely lose myself - I dance around my condo a lot whether im cleaning or just straight up stressed out - research things on the internet - read the mantra on my fridge (thanks grandma) - meditate - catch up on a book - flip through old vogue magazines

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7. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO LEARN FROM OTHER YEGBOSSBABES IN THE COMMUNITY?

Teamwork and combining forces to create magic! Whether its a boss babe who is a photographer, marketing guru, stylist, podcaster, and sneaker freak, just being vulnerable and putting myself in a position to learn as much as I can. I like hearing stories about how these powerful women got their start, how they overcame different obstacles leap of faith gives me the courage to step out of my comfort zone even more.

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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/