Named on Yahoo’s Most Influential Influencers list and featured in Forbes, The New York Weekly Times, and Hollywood Digest Alexandra Nicole Nolan is the CEO and Founder of the online publication, City Chic Living and online business academy, The Confident Boss. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Business from the University of Memphis and has studied International Business at Bournemouth University, Poole, England. Through her platforms, Alexandra dedicates her brand to teaching other women how to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams while maintaining a brand that is transparent, authentic, and relatable. Her fun-loving personality, business savvy, and incredible gift for branding strategy make her one of the most admired entrepreneurs in Memphis, TN.
Alexandra Nolan is no stranger to adversity. “In 2014, I seemed to be stuck in a season of obstacles. My little brother passed away in a car accident, I closed several businesses, got a divorce, struggled with financials, the list goes on. I just couldn’t catch a break. Just when I began to get my hopes up for 2020, Covid hit but instead of hanging up the hat,
I decided a huge change was in order. I wanted to reorganize my life, discover my interests, and reclaim myself as a confident entrepreneur. It was this walkthrough self-rediscovery that would catapult, not only myself but my business into a phase of reinvention and six-figure profits!”
What motivated you to start your businesses?
The entrepreneur characteristics have always been present in my work ethic, however, it wasn’t until working in corporate America that I learned just how entrepreneurial-minded I truly was. The challenge of climbing the corporate ladder developed a determination within that was unbreakable, yet I had this innate longing to create. While always appreciated at the round table, my ideas seemed to be too innovative for a conservative Fortune 100 company. The eagerness to put these ideas into action motivated me to start my own business. While I believe that my calling was to become a boss babe, my time with corporate was not at all a loss. All of the valuable business strategies know-how that I gathered while working in corporate gave me the tools to forecast sales, budget my financials, and strategize for success.
How did you create your brands and what were the sole ideas behind them?
City Chic Living (www.citychicliving.com) began as a way to escape the daily obstacles of corporate America over an evening glass of wine. I loved the idea of a digital publication as it is super easy to share passions and in return, learn more about my audience and their lives as well. As a mom blogger, I love to cover relatable topics such as personal editorials on fashion choices as a 30 something mom of two, beauty hacks for the boss mom, home and garden tips, lessons on staying healthy when there is no time, unconventional parenting, and my travel diaries (with and without the kiddos). Just as this blog has empowered me to expand in my expertise and experiences, City Chic Living is for the modern mom who seeks to be empowered through makeup tips, health and lifestyle choices, unconventional parenting ideas, and through exploring the environment and the world in which they live and travel.
The Confident Boss (www.theconfidentboss.com) is an online academy designed for the entrepreneur who seeks to be empowered through financial freedom and the creativity that is afforded through becoming their boss. With courses such as Build Your Voice and Grow Your Audience, The Business of Blogging, Quitting Your Job + Knowing Your Worth, I am able to help other men and women pursue discover their skillset and bring their entrepreneurial dream to fruition.
What are some tips for reinventing yourself and your business?
Know what you are interested in. As an adult, I often find myself reminiscing about my childhood and the activities that I used to revel in. As I child I loved theatre, painting, crafts, pottery, drawing, sewing… all things I have not truly engaged in over a decade. As a teen, I would buy textbooks on psychology and the human brain for self-teaching and also studied Spanish. It is so easy to let the everyday routine of life get in the way. Bills and trying to run a household seem to be the biggest “interest stompers” in many people’s lives. This is where you can tap into the activities that you enjoy and leverage them to make a profit. It’s not very hard to recognize what you do not want to do, but knowing what you enjoy proves to be more difficult. Most of us spend over 2/3 of our waking hours at work, yet a lot of us are not inspired or are not experiencing personal growth while doing so. I feel that our purpose on this earth is to grow personally, have meaningful relationships, give back to each other and our society, and live with meaning and the latter makes our career choices in life important ones.
What advice would you give future entrepreneurs who want to build a 6 figure business?
Trial and error is the best way to learn but don’t get frustrated or discouraged. Trial and error was the theme of my first two years of being in business. I had no mentor or guidance and was forced to try different tactics for management, marketing, finances, etc. to see what worked and what did not. By doing the work yourself and overcoming obstacles, you will build upon your expertise and become more confident in your business know-how. Also, don’t compare yourself. It is easy to look at all of the other successful entrepreneurs around you and feel anxiety about your own business, to want to rush to get to the top. Don’t get in a hurry. Again, do the work. You are uniquely you and that is what makes your burins and brand special. Getting wrapped up in what others are doing will ultimately stifle your creativity and put a damper on the fun that is entrepreneurism.
What is next for Alexandra Nicole?
As an entrepreneur, I am always one step ahead with a list of future creations. The biggest goal on my business bucket list is to publish a book. I want to write a book that reveals entrepreneurial secrets for those on a tiny budget. I started my first business on my high school savings and have grown 20 fold since then. There is so much business to go around and I want to share the love and wealth of knowledge that I have picked up through the years to help set others on the fast track to success.
Get in touch with City Chic Living and The Confident Boss on :
Websites: www.citychicliving.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alexandra.nicole