The British economy is still struggling to recover from the pandemic, according to the latest data. The economy is 0.5% smaller than it was before the pandemic, and experts say that the main reasons for this are the lingering effects of the pandemic and the tighter post-Brexit immigration rules.

The ongoing skills shortage is a major challenge for businesses, but it is also an opportunity for those who are proactive. Here are our top tips for businesses facing labor challenges in 2023.

UK industries with skills shortages

To begin, it is important to identify the industries in the UK that are most affected by the skills shortage. A recent study found that the country’s biggest shortfalls are in a variety of sectors, including:

• Transport and logistics: This sector is facing a shortage of skilled drivers, warehouse workers, and customs agents.
• Hospitality: This sector is facing a shortage of skilled chefs, waiters, and hotel staff.
• Manufacturing and construction: These sectors are facing a shortage of skilled engineers, carpenters, and electricians.

Invest in your workforce for long-term success

Recruiting top talent is a time-sensitive process, as there is only a limited pool of qualified candidates available. A recruitment agency can help you find the right people quickly and efficiently.

Recruitment agencies have wider referral networks as a third party, allowing them to identify candidates with the necessary work experience. They also focus on different industries, so you can locate an agency that meets your specific requirements.

Recruitment agencies can help you find new talent with the core skills to help your company reach its goals.

Invest in your workforce to boost your business
Often, the skills you need are already present in your workforce, but they may not be fully utilized. By upskilling your employees, you can give them the skills they need to take on new challenges and responsibilities.

Upskilling your workforce can be a great way to improve your business and the skills of your employees. By following these tips, you can make the upskilling process a success.

Organizations with more resources may even pay for their employees to enroll in external training programs offered by universities or colleges. This personalized investment in your workforce can build loyalty and even provide a valuable public relations opportunity.

Utilise Apprenticeship to train and upskill your workforce
Apprenticeships can be a long-term solution to skills shortages. They can help employers reach a wider talent pool and offer prospective employees a strong, high-quality alternative to the traditional university degree.

A multi-pronged approach to recruitment that includes building relationships with educational institutions can help businesses find top talent at the source.

Boost your marketing reach and visibility
A strong marketing strategy can make your company more attractive to prospective employees. This is because it can help to increase brand awareness and generate interest in your company. You can partner with local educational institutions, promote your job openings on social media and in the local press, and track your results to improve your marketing strategy and attract future employees.

Sources 

GDP – data tables – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)  

Immigration – Winckworth Sherwood LLP (wslaw.co.uk) 

UK employers struggle with worst labour shortage since 1997 | Business | The Guardian 

The post Overcoming Skills Gaps: A Guide for Businesses appeared first on CEO Medium.

Burger Barn wasn’t Hill’s first crack at entrepreneurship. After tiring of the daily grind working as an industrial painter, he set out to open a string of businesses, from retail and energy to construction. But it was Burger Barn that truly put his hometown of Ohsweken on the map.

Recently we talked with Jason Hill about his perspectives on leadership and entrepreneurship.

Q: Is there something especially rewarding about achieving business success in the place you grew up?

Jason Hill: There is, but I never really thought about that. I mean, it wasn’t my motivation to prove myself in the community or anything like that. I live here, I’ve always lived here and I love the people, so it was just natural that this would be the place I would want to achieve my dreams. My first shop was a simple confectionery store, and then later I branched into wholesale. The stores needed distribution, so that led to expansion and the addition of a fueling station. As the businesses grew further, I saw the need for a new construction resource for the community, and that became Ace1 Construction. The motto for that venture is “Together We Build,” and that really explains my approach to business, and what in fact makes a successful business. We succeed together. We draw upon each other’s strengths; we share the adventure and the rewards. And that attitude is a perfect fit for this region, Six Nations of the Grand River.

Q: Is Burger Barn your most satisfying creation?

Jason Hill: In many ways I suppose it is. It’s certainly satisfying when I’m dreaming of a Classic Stacker with a side of fries! That’s our most popular menu item, our special take on an all-the-fixings double cheeseburger. But it’s also been satisfying in so many other ways, as well. We’ve drawn attention from across Canada, and even across North America. A lot of that happened when we were featured on The Food Channel’s “You Gotta Eat Here” show. People liked what they saw, and listened to the advice in the title of the program — they decided they really did need to try it. Folks in Ohsweken are used to giving direction to wandering tourists looking for Burger Barn. But the other satisfying part is that it’s not just a place to eat, it’s a gathering spot for the community. People come here to have fun, share each other’s company and create family memories. If you live here, you can always find a familiar face at the restaurant. People feel at home, and they are at home.

Q: Is there something unique about your community?

Jason Hill: I can tell you’ve done your research! Yes, Six Nations is a special place. First of all, it’s Canada’s most populous First Nations territory, and is founded upon the cultural traditions of the Iroquois people. Sharing a history and sharing traditions creates a unique bond, and it also tends to remind us of the timeless principles that came from this tradition. We reflect those principles in the statement of values that we post in the restaurant, and they include a deep respect for our customers and the community. Community is a central part of the life of every person and every family who lives here. That’s the secret sauce of my success. And that is also a very important lesson for any entrepreneur: Never forget where you have come from, and never leave anyone behind as you dream big and reach for the stars.

The post Exclusive interview: Ohsweken’s Jason Hill and his recipe for hometown entrepreneurship appeared first on CEO Medium.

Rich is now helping others grow their brand through photography, business coaching, and helping people build a personal brand. He’s grown his social media accounts to over 130,000 followers on Instagram alone and knows how to leverage social media to get positive business results. Learn more about that at www.TheGentWay.com

Tell us something about yourself?

I truly enjoy creating and so every day I have the opportunity to feel excited about what I do. Whether it’s designing a new suit or curating accessories and ties for my monthly subscription — there are no dull moments. I’m also an avid reader and learner, so I spend each day consuming information that inspires me and helps me improve my business skills. Being a family man with two children keeps my schedule full. Thanks to a very supportive wife, which I am grateful to have, I can juggle it all.

What is your entrepreneur’s story? How did you come about building your business?

I started in my business like most people, trying to solve a problem. From 2009 to 2013 I was self-publishing books with some success, but I wanted more opportunities to grow my income. I was intrigued by e-commerce and started to research the possibilities of selling items I was passionate about. For me, that was men’s fashion. I have been in love with the art of dressing well and being a sartorialist since I was a teenager.

Everything began with my love of lapel pins or boutonnieres, but in 2013 they were priced far too high in my opinion. Being creative I set out to make my own by hand. After several revisions, I finally cracked the code and figured out how to make them. People noticed, wanted them, and asked to purchase them. I soon placed them for sale on Etsy and began to sell them at a rapid pace. I knew I was onto something and needed to brand my products. I started my website and began marketing the business, primarily through social media. I was one of the first brands to leverage what is now called influencer marketing.

What that means is I purposely gave away free products to stylish guys I sought out on Instagram. They would then wear and promote my products to their audience and the business began to take off.

What is your business model — how were you able to grow so fast?

The most popular option our business offers is the best value in menswear. Our monthly subscription club is $25 per month and ships to homes and offices around the country (1 necktie and 4 matching accessories). The reason why it’s so popular is the value and quality of products shipped, coupled with the fact that the items are color-coordinated, allowing the average non-stylish guy the opportunity to look extremely polished and dapper, just by opening the package and wearing the coordinated set that includes bracelets, socks, tie bars and more. This turns a bland suit into a very fashionable look!

We grew rather quickly based on word of mouth, which was fueled by our small army of social media influencers. For the first few years of the business, we didn’t do any paid advertising, just gifting products to people, including YouTube reviewers and mom bloggers. The product makes for a perfect gift!

Can you give me an overview of who you are, what is your educational or overall background? What are some of your achievements?

I received my Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and put that to use in the manufacturing sector in the Midwest. Before starting Harrison Blake Apparel I was working for a clothing manufacturer who created private labels and government-contracted clothing. I was serving as the Spreading and Cutting Table Supervisor for two shifts. I was responsible for the scheduling of the fabric being laid out on the 5, 120 foot long spreading tables and the cutting of the garments. I learned a great deal about fabrics, production and how garments were made, start to finish. I realized that with this knowledge, I could manufacture my products.

Since then I have a few accomplishments that bring me pride. I earned 5 Shades of Romance Awards for my writing in 2009 and in 2016 I was named one of the 100 Men of Color Award Recipients. Currently, I am n=most proud of being an inspiration to my children and mentoring them in the field of entrepreneurship.

What have you learned through your experiences as an entrepreneur that can be used by aspiring business individuals?

Over this journey, I have learned that the most important thing you can do to be successful is to gain a winning mindset. You have to find a way to be positive and resilient. Developing a business is more than just finding sales prospects, advertising and converting clients. Continue educating yourself and developing new skills is so essential.

Finding ways to meet like-minded people who understand the entrepreneurial life is also very helpful. It’s not for everyone and some people just won’t understand your drive. Of course, there are days when even you will feel down. So, know your “why” — meaning your purpose for being in business. Money can’t be the motivator. It has to be something deeper that resonates inside of you to keep pushing, even through the tough times.

What makes your business so unique and successful?

Harrison Blake Apparel is unique because we are the first monthly subscription to make the color of our curated items coordinating and we do not source products to include each month. All of our offerings are manufactured and created specifically for our brand.

In addition to that, we are more than just a monthly subscription. Customers can shop ala carte and select their items and as of 2019, you can even create your custom made-to-measure suit or dress shirt. Interested in a custom suit experience? Drop us a line at contact@harrisonblakeapparel.com

Lastly, we aim to educate and entertain the consumer through our Podcast, titled after my first non-fiction book, The Life of a Gentleman. Each episode I interview another successful business owner or content creator in the menswear space and we chat about actionable steps people can take to chase after their dreams. You can hear the podcast on iTunes.

What have you learned through your journey as an entrepreneur?

I have learned patience and humility. Face it, we will all make mistakes in business. That is part of the journey. Every product idea isn’t a grand slam. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. That’s when you g back to the drawing board and strategize your next winning move.

What skills and attributes make you as successful as you are?

I believe that I am successful because I am doing what I love to do. My greatest assets are a strong work ethic and the drive to leave a legacy. I am quite the introvert by nature, but the business has gotten me out of my shell and helped me become an amazing communicator. I love creating and solving problems, so when times get rough — I will figure a way to win. As I have transitioned into coaching others, I now get the chance to interact with so many different people and watch them have success. That inspires me! If you want to learn more drop me a line at rich@thegentway.com

Why is online business, marketing, etc important?

For me, it has been crucial to my business growth. Without social media and the online world, I wonder where the business would be. These days, everyone in business needs to realize that they are their brand. You must understand that social media is a skill and there are strategies that you can use to win big. Traditional advertising is dying and it’s time to realize that there are legitimate ways to get positive attention for yourself or your business. I am hoping some people reach out because I’d love to share some strategies that can help. My entire business is online. We are e-commerce only and have no plans for brick and mortar locations. Face it, Malls and shopping centers are closing all around us. The future is digital and online.

www.harrisonblakeapparel.com

The post Exclusive Interview with Rich Taylor on the Success of Harrison Blake Apparel and on Creating powerful luxury brands appeared first on CEO Medium.

Tell us about who you are and what you do.

I am an Entertainment Attorney and Entrepreneur based in Atlanta, Georgia. My career is dedicated to helping creatives and brands make sound legal decisions. My legal experience is rooted in commercial transactions; I’ve closed over $132 million in corporate acquisitions. I negotiated and drafted celebrity talent agreements, endorsements, television show sponsorships, and advised billion-dollar brands. In 2019, I wrote the “Quick Guide to Business Plans” to help clients develop a business plan to generate a lucrative business. Above all my biggest accomplishment is founding Bloom. 

Tell us how you created this brand and what was the sole idea behind it.

I created Bloom with my best friend Rashida. Bloom is the flower that blossomed from our friendship. Bloom is a space where professional women can safely be themselves and receive resources to navigate the world as a modern woman. Bloom has over 70 members nationwide and awarded a grant to support women-owned businesses affected by Covid-19. Our goal is to support women personally and economically, so they are able to make the best decisions for themselves. Just last week we hosted a Mental Health Summit with over 97 guests. That tells me what we are doing is needed. We are planting seeds of resilience and hope to overcome Covid-19.

Why does it matter to you?

I grew up around strong and incredibly resilient women. As a young girl, I was always taught that I was able and capable of doing anything I imagined. Though I was empowered at home, navigating the world felt staunchly different than the encouragement I received. Many of my friends were all expressing the same things about our experience as woman-professionals. Metaphorically speaking, our moms and grandmas haven’t sat at the tables we were at. The stories of imposter syndrome and performing twice as well to be considered equal, that made me realize we have to support each other through this. I love the space Bloom has created for women. 

Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis? Tell us your future vision about the brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

Bloom currently operates 100% off the contributions for donors. In the year since our inception, we have raised thousands of dollars. In one year, we have provided mentoring for teens in Atlanta, clothing to survivors of domestic violence, awarded a grant to a woman-owned small business, honored female entrepreneurs with a networking brunch, and developed a mental health summit. And there is still more work to do.  Our 2021 plan includes (1) Mock Interviews to help with job opportunities; (2) Eviction Legal Defense Fund; (3) “Business is Blooming” – Entrepreneurship Seminar; and (4) Bloom Scholarship. We have the drive. We have the will. But we need the financial resources to fund these programs to help women. All donations are Tax Deductible. You can donate to Bloom here. [Link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/WomenThatBloom] 

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

The story of Bloom is one of resilience – blossoming despite your surroundings. Man or woman, resilience is within you too. You can absolutely do anything you put your mind to. Be courageous and know you are supported by family, friends, and network.  

Women That Bloom, Inc. 

Email : contact@womenthatbloom.com

Where to find Jasmine online :

Instagram: @attorneyjas

Twitter: @attorneyjas

The post Meet Jasmine Johnson the Entertainment Lawyer and Womanist Pundit appeared first on CEO Medium.

Can you tell us more about your path to where you are now? 

Innovation and authenticity have been pillars of success for Rene and Jonathan Shapiro. First, as Jon Saint in the 1990s, I innovated in the world of hip hop as a writer, producer, and performer. Later, pivoting into retail apparel, we became the founders and operators of Beautiful Girl Stores. We built our reputation as cutting-edge apparel retailers who had a finger on the pulse of the next trend. 

When the recession of 2008 flattened one too many businesses, we knew we’d need to adapt. After a pivot into fast fashion, we conceptualized and launched a 15-store women’s retail clothing boutique chain Mixology Clothing Company, along with ShopMixology.com. 

Never complacent, in 2019, we recognized CBD and wellness as our next great endeavor. In Oct 2020, we launched a full-spectrum, all-natural CBD wellness brand, Mindset Wellness CBD.  Mindset Wellness CBD is a lifestyle company that sells direct to consumers via e-commerce and pop-up shops. With vegan and organic CBD gummies, drops, pain relief cream, skincare, bath bombs, bath salts, and honey sticks in different “mindsets” or moods, we’re able to address customer’s wants and needs. 

What inspired the brand? How did you go about creating it?

It started during the early days of Covid. Things got tense. We had a choice–we could either choose a lacking mindset or a growth mindset. We chose a growth mindset and wanted people to be able to do the same without fear and anxiety.

We started the brand out of a desire to help people. As someone who has suffered from lifelong anxiety, I was always looking for a way to feel better. In 2019, after 30 years of prescriptions and therapy, it was through CBD that I found peace. 

We knew it was time to leave our fashion boutiques to pursue a lifestyle and business that was about healing and CBD. Rene and I had a deep need to share our wellness with the world.

How does your brand work? 

We created six specific “mindsets” in our line. Within each of those mindsets: happy, calm, focus, health, beauty, and rest, various CBD products help encourage the mindset you chose. 

We do this by infusing our full-spectrum CBD with specific terpenes and vitamins. Also, all our gummies and drops are vegan and organic. We use apple pectin instead of gelatin and only pure can sugar to make the most amazing gummies. Our drops are MCT cold-pressed coconut oil. All our CBD products contain less than .03 THC. It is grown, harvested, formulated, and packaged in the United States. Lastly, all Mindset CBD products are third party tested.

What is your giveaway thought or idea? 

Take a chance on happiness. We left a business that we built, that supported and fed our family, but we were not aligned with it anymore. Our authentic purpose was to spread healing and education and ultimately make people feel better. Success will find you if you do the right things. We’ve done them in business together for 20 years, and in life together, married 29 years.

What challenges did you face while working on your brand? What are your daily challenges?

Creating a brand was a gift. It was a download. The challenge was how to get it out of my head and into the world. I created the mindsets, then as a self-taught graphic designer, I created the graphics. Next, as a self-taught web developer, I built the site.

In building the products Rene and I worked with craft cannabis formulators–a talented team with whom we developed each Mindset CBD formula. Our challenges are the same challenges any start-up faces. Rene and I are doing everything ourselves. One of the keys to the brand’s success is in getting people to try it. Once they do, they are so happy. So, Rene and I hit the road and did live product demonstrations and socially distanced pop-up shops. We know from our experience there is no substitute for connecting with a customer.

How do you manage your business finances? 

We bootstrapped Mindset Wellness CBD ourselves. We are all in. The investment will come if that is the road we want to travel, but right now it’s our baby and we want to nurture and love it. With that said, one thing we’ve learned is to always be open to conversation.

What’s your vision of the future? What’s your next level dream for your business?

The next phase for Mindset is in the introduction of exciting and new CBD products. Our Mask Mouth CBD mouth and mask refresher is a hit because there is nothing like it in the market and it addresses a real need. Innovation and authenticity are key, from the concept to the products. The next phase for Mindset will include wholesale distribution, beverages (water and hard seltzer), and apparel.

What message do you have for anybody with a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it? 

Do it. Love it. Prepare to wait. It may seem as if it’s not happening as fast as it should, but remember you are always right on time! Be scared, just don’t let it stop you. Trust in the universe. Be ethical in all you do. Surround yourself with people who align with your mission and your life.

 Mindset Wellness CBD

Website: mindsetwellnesscbd.com

Instagram: @mindsetwellnesscbd

The post Entrepreneurs Pivot Amid Pandemic and Focus on Mindset Wellness CBD appeared first on CEO Medium.

Her proven methodology helps outstanding health & wellness practitioners stand out with modernized marketing and messaging. She believes running the business side of your clinic should be just as rewarding as helping your patients. She does this by helping clients build simple systems and strategies to instantly give time freedom back, so they can enjoy life outside of the office.

It’s difficult to stand out in a crowd of competitors. Thankfully, early in her career, she realized what it takes to get ahead and get noticed. As a practicing ND, running two six-figure clinics, Dr. Andre Maxim recognizes the importance of taking the right steps–in the right order. 

She wrote a book titled, “MAXIMized Health: A New, Intelligent System for Optimal Digestion and Hormones”, and has been interviewed by people like Sean Croxton, Danny Lennon, and Mike Mutzel. She’s also been featured in multiple online summits, been on local television shows, and has been written about in multiple publications.  In 2014, Dr. Andrea won the coveted Top 40 Under 40 award as well as the Female Entrepreneur Award.

Tell us about who you are and what you do.

My name is Dr. Andrea Maxim, a naturopathic doctor and I am the founder of MAXIMized Business and the creator of the MAXIMized Practitioner Method, and the host of the Profitable Practice Podcast.

I help health and wellness practitioners learn to create simple strategies and systems which help free up time in their business, so they don’t get bogged down in only working. It’s important to enjoy life outside of the office as well. 

How did you create your brand? What was the inspiration behind it? 

When I first started in practice, I had zero business skills. And, after 10-years in school, I was not about to get an MBA, so instead, I immersed myself in business and marketing from the get-go.

It was an absolute grind with very little growth and even lower profits to show for it, which is a defeating feeling, especially when helping people get better is your #1 goal, but acquiring those consistent new patients is always a struggle.

After 5 years of doing it alone, I quickly became a wife and mother of 2 girls. The time I selfishly put towards my business was no longer available. Then that moment happened… that moment when you know that things need to change.

My eldest was 3yo at the time. She tapped me on the shoulder to ask me a question. I snapped back at her, “Mommy’s busy! Can’t you see that!” .. and that was the last time I did that.  

I was a one-woman show–thinking that I needed to do it all and that no one could do what I could do. So I’d go to the office all day, come home, open the laptop right away at the dining table, and continue working into the night. I was stressed and feeling a lot of pressure. I started to hate my business.

Aria went over to my husband and quietly asked him, “When do you think I can ask mom a question where she won’t yell at me??” When Scott told me what she had asked, at that moment, my priorities changed.

I sought out my first business coach. With the clarity I received, I created the MAXIMized Practitioner Method. It’s a 3-Step framework which shows health and wellness practitioners, mislead to believe that “it will be ok after graduation” and yet graduating without any business knowledge, how to build their Foundational Experience attract their ideal patients, create Business Essentials to establish time freedom, and how to stand out with Modernized Marketing, the type of marketing most practitioners are afraid to do.

How does your brand work?

Throughout my journey, I could see what the online gurus and business influencers were preaching to their tribe, but it doesn’t translate to the brick and mortar owner. So the MAXIMized Practitioner Method was born!

The MAXIMized Practitioner Method is a 3-Step framework showing health and wellness practitioners, misled to believe that “it will be ok after graduation” and yet graduating without any business knowledge, how to properly build a brick and mortar practice on an unwavering foundation. More importantly, one that isn’t built on antiquated principles is still taught in school. 

This methodology easily bridges the gap between offline and online, broadening the reach of a single practitioner as well as creating multiple streams of income, like an online course or curriculum, for example.

The principles were built to stop the overwhelm and sheer panic of a new practitioner literally being thrust into the “real world” after being sheltered for 4+ years.

Pillar 1: Foundational Experience (Build)

This pillar is probably the most important, but easily the one that most practitioners skip over because it requires patience. When you graduate, your skills amongst your peers and colleagues are NOT the skills that your potential patients/clients need from you. 

You learned everything you needed to NOT, harm someone, but the art and skill of messaging and reframing, and articulating your value IS NOT part of the school curriculum. Post-grad, most practitioners still talk to people in “doctor speak” and think that the letters after your name are all you need to convince someone to start to work with you. Nowadays, anyone with a big mouth and an iPhone can claim to be a health expert, and because they understand the game of marketing and messaging, us experts with a 6-figure education are the ones struggling.

Foundational experience is about getting in front of as many humans as possible, in as short a time frame as possible, to really gather the confidence to speak to them. To mirror their words back to them. To position yourself as a “real person” who just happens to have a degree, and as someone with the knowledge who can help them get the health results they dream of. 

This doesn’t happen from filling out an Ideal Client Avatar PDF!!

This doesn’t happen from building a beautiful website that speaks to no one!

Foundational experience is earned by DOING, not by reading or filling out forms. In doing so, you will attract your 100 ideal clients and THEN you build that into your Business Essentials.

Pillar 2: Business Essentials (Systemize)

This pillar is where we take everything we learned from Pillar 1 and NOW we create the practitioner brand (website, logo, etc). And this branding will actually work because it speaks directly to your target audience. Then we systemize and automate everything. Your Welcome sequence, onboarding sequence, online bookings, scripts for the reception, etc. Everything is linked together in a simplified business funnel from lead to conversion to delivery to upselling. No holes. No revenue is left on the table.

Here is where we leverage online tech tools to help create a consistently growing practice that is mostly hands-off. The more hands-off the practitioner, the more you get to do what you love — not the day-to-day admin… but the healing and transforming of patients/clients.

Pillar 3: Modernized Marketing (Grow)

Now that we have systems in place for growth and the audience who already knows, likes, and trusts us, we crank up the dial. 

Most practitioners hate social media. Hate video. Hate Facebook advertising… but as MAXIMized Practitioners, we lean into the spaces that others won’t go. It helps us stand out amongst the crowd. 

We develop your specific brand, your methodology, your keywords that only relate to you, and start scripting them and using them everywhere. Just like Paleo and Keto and Bulletproof were made up words, and now global phenomenons, we also turn our students from run-of-the-mill practitioners into stand-out personal brands. Then we use an inexpensive system of online marketing (I’m talking less than $0.05 per result) to start attracting more and more of the people you already love to work with.

What can the reader take away from this interview? Highlight something you think is worth them knowing.

Now more than ever, practitioners need to wake up and realize that medical school did NOT set you up for success. They mislead all of us to think that health and wellness education is in the same league as the conventional medical profession. We’re not. In fact, we’re being lumped in with all of the ‘health expert’ noise, and instead, it’s causing us to develop practitioner animosity, where we feel apathy towards our patients and clients.

I’m here to tell you that you CAN be successful, but you need to let go of the antiquated teachings from school and step into the real world. A world where you need to explain what you do at a grade 4 level, at all times. One where you recognize that you are an entrepreneur FIRST, who just happens to have a medical degree/certification.

The first shut down was your wake up call. To wake you up to the fact that the in-person time for dollars is NOT good enough.

However, I’m the first to put my stake in the ground and say that the brick and mortar business is here to stay. Regardless, it’s crucial to understand that you must merge your business online if you want to still be in business in the next 3-5 years. That’s why I created the MAXIMized Practitioner Method, to help you soar during a pandemic and be just fine on the other side.

Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on your brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?

As an entrepreneur, you can never turn it off. Business is always on your mind.

With two small girls at home, and a supportive husband, and even my 4-ft long German Shepherd fur baby (King), I have a lot of people in my life who need me.

I am in a constant struggle between my identity as a strong, independent businesswoman going selfishly after my goals and being present as a wife & mother. I have always rebelled against the traditional role of homemaker, but as a woman, it’s easy to want to nurture and do everything for my family… which inevitably means I can’t be fully present for my business.

How do you manage your business finances through the services you offer?

I am self-funded.

Tell us about your future vision of your brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

Our mission is to help 1000 practitioners become MAXIMized CEO’s of their business so they can impact 500,000 lives each year.

Their practices are operating well into the black, allowing them to take home a decent income, and grow it to six-figures and beyond, all while helping the patients they were meant to serve.

We want less of our industry’s practitioners suffering in practice poverty and having to close their doors, and more of us creating and enjoying the financial freedom we deserve. We believe that running our business should come with as much excitement and confidence as helping our patients does.

What is your giveaway idea through this interview? 

Free business tools and mini-trainings: https://www.maximizedbusiness.ca/resources/

Free Video Training on how to Merge Your Practice Online: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/6/lqxr2fq

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

Understand that you’re entering into a marathon, not a sprint. The first 5 years are about testing, trying, grinding, hustling. The next 5 years are refining, niching, systemizing, automating, and leveraging. After that, you should have a business that essentially runs on autopilot and provides you the comforts that you can continue to live off of.

There is nothing more personally challenging than entrepreneurship. The faster you drop the ego. The faster you ask for help. The faster you become coachable. The faster you implement. The faster you execute. The EASIER the journey will be, but there will never be a point where your business is “perfect”.

And while it is challenging, it is also the most rewarding career choice.

MAXIMized Business

Website:          www.maximizedbusiness.ca

Instagram:     @andreamaximnd

Podcast:        Profitable Practice Podcast (iTunes, Podbean, Stitcher)

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As a speaker, Nik has trained thousands of entrepreneurs across the nation on how to establish, grow, and maintain their personal brands.  As a consultant, she’s worked 1:1 with local politicians, non-profit leaders, corporate executives, and small business owners to position themselves as authorities in their niche.  Just as she’s done as a speaker and consultant, it is her mission to teach you how to leverage the power of your personal brand in order to establish your credibility, amplify your expertise and increase awareness for your business.

Hi Nik, can you tell us more about you, and what you do? 

My name is Nik Scott. Through online courses, training, and resources, I help women entrepreneurs grow their personal brand. I do this to help them establish their credibility, amplify their expertise, and increase awareness for their business.

Tell us how you created your brand and what the inspiration was behind it.

I’m passionate about helping women discover their unique qualities, so they can use them to differentiate themselves from everyone else in their industries. 

The fact of the matter is everyone has a personal brand, but when it comes to personal branding (the conscious and intentional effort to influence public perception of themselves) women often find it challenging.  Let’s face it, personal branding can have a bad rep.  When it’s done incorrectly and for the wrong reasons, personal branding comes off as selfish, pretentious, or even conceited.  That’s why I’m a firm believer in Selfless Self-promotion™.  This is a concept I developed to help my clients embrace personal branding as a service to others instead of self-serving.  I teach this philosophy extensively in my group coaching program FABB Public Speaking.

Go in detail and tell us about how your brand works.

FABB Public Speaking is a 6-week accelerator that teaches women how to kickstart their speaking business utilizing my FABB Framework™.  I take my clients through a journey where each week they complete very specific milestones. By the end of our time together, they have everything they need to get booked and paid to speak.

In addition to being one of the best ways to optimize your personal brand, public speaking has many amazing benefits.  Public speaking boosts your confidence, helps you stand out in the workforce, heightens your level of influence, positions you as an expert and thought leader, builds self-awareness and improves your knowledge.  Not to mention public speaking increases your chances of getting a promotion by 85% and can 10X sales for your business.

Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?

Without challenge, there can be no progress. Simple and plain.

The biggest challenge for me has been learning to balance all that I’m doing professionally with what I have to do personally. When you work in the digital space, there are no set work hours. Social media and the Internet are always open for business, so finding that right balance between when to work and when not to is an area of growth.

When I started my business back in 2008, social media was not what it is today. Not many people had a smartphone. If I wanted to connect back then, I had to make time to do it. I couldn’t just whip out my phone and work. So, when laptops got smaller and phones got smarter, I had to become more aware of my time. It was easy to call everything work, because, well, everything WAS work! But all work and no play is not good for anyone.

For me, what works is just that–being present and aware. When your business is based on the Internet, it’s easy to get distracted and miss out on moments because you’re trying to curate the perfect piece of content.

I’ve found it valuable to hold myself accountable. While it’s pretty much accepted that everyone at dinner is taking photos of their food, I’ve learned when to say when. Too much of anything can potentially harm you–even if it IS “work.” I refuse to sacrifice human-to-human connections by being buried in my phone 24/7.

My growth has happened at its own pace. I’ve trusted the process and timing. I savor every moment.

How do you manage your business finances?

At this point, my business is 100% online and 100% self-funded.  All of our payments for products and services are handled through an online payment gateway/processor.

Tell us your future vision about the brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

It is my mission to help 288 women grow their personal brands over the next year.  My group coaching program FABB Public Speaking is just one of the vehicles that will help me accomplish this goal.

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

The #1 message I have for anyone planning to create something of their own and make a living through it is to embrace the fact that it will be a marathon, not a sprint. 

When you’re just starting out everything is exciting and you’re eager to work endless hours, go live on Facebook three times a day and schedule a month’s worth of blog posts.  But that momentum can only last so long before you’re exhausted and burnt out—which oftentimes leads to less attraction and attention given to your business. 

Many people begin as solopreneurs, meaning they are a one-person show.  That means they are doing things that may or may not come naturally to them, things they may or may not like to do, or things they may or may not be good at.  And the truth of the matter is many of these things aren’t as income-generating as they might have thought before they got started!

The lack of consistent income combined with exhaustion (not to mention the FOMO environment social media creates) could leave someone starting out feeling like they’ve failed.  But I’d encourage them to flip the narrative. Embrace right away that it’s okay to start where you start so that you can grow into the Super CEO that you will ultimately be—if you keep pushing at a STEADY (not fast) pace.

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Daniel’s brand EiFit is about giving back to a community that needs healing, needs joy, and needs comfort in knowing that by the willingness to work hard and not give up, you can make great strides. Not only did he rise above the challenges of his childhood, but he also pushed himself by working multiple jobs, going to college to become an engineer, and ran the USATF track through his schooling.

His first thoughts were about escaping the raw community he grew up in, but something struck him one day, and he realized his purpose was to help other children in the area that needed strength to keep going in a broken community. He became more determined than ever to make a difference.

With his brand EiFit, he’s focused on helping others feel good, strive harder, and learning to understand why you do the things you do, along with why they matter. This athletic brand is more than about working out, it’s more than simple clothing, it’s about a lifestyle of belief, and knowing that you can make an impact by being the best you can and challenging yourself to grow and learn.

With an adverse background, Daniel knows that it was his ability to face difficulties head-on that made him into the person he is today. He wants to bring that strength of clarity to others. EiFit is a brand that says you matter, that you’re heard and that you’re not alone.

He knows what it’s like to be down, to lose everything, to not know how to take the next step, but choosing to step forward anyway. He wants to bring that joy to others, the joy of knowing that you gave your all and you feel better about yourself for doing it. And in doing so, he hopes to lift a community that needs healing, soothing, compassion, and visibility. There are children living through traumatic things that no child should have to be exposed to, and if he can make an impact in their lives, his purpose has meaning.

You can find Daniel Eiland on Instagram, here.

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On her new hair journey, Nickie quickly became a tutorial and product junkie but was continuously disappointed by the products that filled her cabinets. Taking matters into her own hands, she began mixing her own products in her kitchen and immediately experienced positive results.

Excited and passionate about her new discoveries, Nickie found herself constantly giving tips and providing encouragement to others on their own healthy hair journeys. She has since been sharing her collection of high-quality hair care products with naturals globally, changing the world one curl at a time!

Born and raised in beautiful Haiti until the age of 13, Nickie currently lives in South Florida. She has degrees in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Child Delinquency, and Protection. She has been very fortunate to serve as an advocate, investigator, and protector in her career while working with women and children survivors of abuse.

She is happy to be able to continue to love and support others through her business, Curls Dynasty. Her hope is to inspire, motivate, and elevate alongside all of those who are part of this family that the Dynasty is.

Tell us about who you are and what you do.

My name is Nickie Nougaisse, I go by Nickie Nou on social media. I am a proud Caribbean girl, born and raised in Haiti. I was raised by a warrior woman with ideals. She instilled faith and strength in me from a young age. Today, I’m the mother of two boys and reside in sunny South Florida. 

I am the Founder and CEO of the Curls Dynasty, a haircare/lifestyle brand that is currently bringing healthy solutions to women with textured hair. Our products are for women desiring freedom from the frustration of chemicals, dryness, breakage, and hair loss.

Tell us how you created this brand. What inspired you?

A few years ago I got seriously mad at my hair. The chemicals I applied to it and how much my routine revolved around it, was draining.  

I’d get my hair “relaxed” (chemical straightening of my natural curls) every 6-8 weeks, and had been doing it since I was a teen. Over the years, it took a toll on my hair’s health. I endured breakage, burns, scabs, and peeling for years just for the sake of having straight, manageable hair. 

Finally, I realized just how much this process affected my self-confidence and overall health. After one last horrible touch up, I had enough. I decided to grow out my natural hair, and let go of the chemicals. This in itself was an entire quest. I was a stranger to my own natural hair. I hadn’t seen it in ages! 

I quickly learned that dryness was my biggest enemy. It made everything from detangling to styling a nightmare! I learned my natural hair loved natural ingredients like botanicals and fruits, and that moisture retention was key to rocking the flawless curls I craved.

Through this journey of learning about my own crown, I found out that I was not alone. There were a lot of people like me, looking to embrace their curls and for solutions. They wanted to know how to grow healthy, beautiful hair. 

I’d been mixing ingredients in my kitchen and developed products that did so well on my hair that soon people started asking what I was using. They were willing to pay me to make them their own batches.

In winning my personal battle against chemicals and chronic dryness, I was also able to help other women with coarse kinky hair like me experience the same hair freedom I enjoy. From the kitchen to the garage, we’re not in places like big-box retailers like Target and beyond. Curls Dynasty became a staple brand that continues to grow and is reaching folks worldwide.

Go in detail and tell us about how your brand works. 

Curls Dynasty takes the guesswork out of hair care. We have so much on our plate already; we shouldn’t have to be playing tic tac toe with products, constantly spending a ton of money on stuff that doesn’t work. 

When I started out, I quickly discovered that though there are a lot of products for curly hair out there, most did not work for women with tight, kinky/coily textures like me. My texture dries out fast and often. I needed a little something extra that didn’t require me to have my hands in my hair every single day, manipulating it. 

Curls Dynasty products target specific hair frustrations. It aims to provide a foundation on which we can build and maintain a healthy hair regimen. Everything necessary is found within the line from a moisturizing cleansing shampoo that won’t strip the strands, to a deep conditioning treatment that repairs and prevents damage. We also have slippery conditioners that make for stress-free conditioning and detangling, decadent butter that lock in moisture so hair remains soft and manageable length, and styling creams that define and POP those curls. 

We do all of this while using certified organic and natural ingredients we know and love. The Curls Dynasty difference is the total experience. I am big on service, convenience, respect, and courtesy. At any given point of contact with the brand, I aim for people to walk away feeling good about themselves, the interactions, the prices, purchase, and results. 

What is your giveaway idea through this interview? 

Teachability, flexibility, consistency, and discipline. I have found through personal and entrepreneurial levels, that these are cornerstones to success.

Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?

For me, like most startups, funding was a huge obstacle. There’s nothing like having a vision and burning with passion for something that you’re ready to execute on, but not have the means to do it. 

It can be frustrating and this is where a lot of young businesses fail. It’s where a lot of dreams die. Funding can be an ongoing challenge for brands at any stage, whenever growth is occurring. It is important to remember to keep showing up every day even when it hurts when it’s uncomfortable. 

It is important to keep putting one foot forward, doing the most with what you have, where you are, pushing towards the next level because guess what…? Whether you’re crawling or walking, you’re still moving forward. You remain consistent and you will unlock new opportunities and solutions.

How do you manage your business finances?

As a triple minority, I have explored any and all avenues for funding available. I have applied for whatever grants and loans that make sense for my business and lean on the wisdom of my accounting team to manage funds properly.

Tell us about your future vision of your brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

Global, limitless impact. There are so many women in my niche who still have yet to regain confidence and discover the power in their crowns. I am speaking metaphorically, beyond hair. I am talking about the total, divine, royal, beautiful nature of being a woman.

Curls Dynasty will continue to move with the times, take on new challenges, and will undoubtedly evolve further than what I can confine into concise words at this very moment. As I continue to expand my own mind, so will my company. The possibilities are literally endless. 

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

Dare. Dare to believe. Dare to show up for yourself. Dare to be inspired by every “no” (and there will be many) and learn/work on turning them into a yes. Dare to be your own pep squad when no one is around. Dare to inspire. Dare to make an impact and leave a legacy. Dare! 

Curls Dynasty

  www.curlsdynasty.com

Follow on Instagram

@nickienou

@curlsdynasty

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In August of 2020, Amazon selected her title to be featured on an 83-foot billboard in front of Penn Station in New York City. Shannon distributes copies of the book independently as well. You can find them on her website where she offers bulk sets of books at a discounted rate.

Prior to becoming an author, Shannon earned her B.A. in English and M.A. in Teaching from the University of California Irvine. She’s taught in the classroom for 15 years. In the past 3 years, she’s become what has been coined as a “teacherpreneur.” She creates and sells downloadable resources for elementary teachers to use in their classrooms. She does this through her self-started business brand, Life Between Summers. Her resources are available through the website Teachers Pay Teachers, as well as her own site. With the help of blogging and social media marketing, she was able to expand her brand.

Tell us about who you are and what you do.

The most important roles in my life are being a wife, mom, and teacher. I’m also passionate about being an entrepreneur and author. 

Life Between Summers is a business where I create and sell resources for educators. When coming up with ideas, I’m often inspired by my students and what I need for my own classroom. I’ve been making things to use in my own classroom and shared them with co-workers since I first started teaching. It wasn’t until recently that I started selling them commercially. 

From a young age, I’ve dreamt of becoming an author. This is a little silly, but on the inside cover of my freshman high school yearbook, there was a big fill in the blank where it said: “Your dream is ______.” My dreams at fourteen years old included traveling the world, having kids one day, and being an author. 

The interest in writing books probably first stemmed from my love of reading as a kid. My dad once visited my class as a guest visitor to read a story. He told my students that I used to carry a book with me everywhere I went. That love of reading led to a love of writing too. As I child, I used to write my own stories just for fun. 

Inspired to write my first book, Our Class is a Family, it felt like the perfect opportunity to realize my dream. More importantly, it was a way to help serve fellow educators at the same time. 

It was the type of book I wanted to read aloud to my students. It’s important to build a positive sense of community within my classroom. Teachers and students spend more time together on average than they do with their actual families. I know many educators who work hard to make their classrooms a home away from home for their kids.

One of the things I convey to my class at the beginning of the school year is that we’re like a family. We talk about how they have their own families at home, of course, but that at school we’re another special type of family. Families care about each other, support one another, and have fun together. They also make mistakes together and help each other grow. I tell them that even though we’re not related, we do get to spend a lot of time together. This means we want to make our classroom a place where everyone is safe to be themselves.

As I was sharing back to school stories with my class during the first week of school, I wished there was a picture book that expressed the idea that our class is like a family. It didn’t exist, so I decided to go for it and create one.

The primary aim of my book is to help teachers strengthen the bond they have with their students, and that their students have with each other. My hope is that it helps kids feel a sense of belonging at school. Children’s mental health is arguably more important than it’s ever been. I believe that feeling accepted and loved in a school community can make a very positive difference. 

How did you create your brand? What was the idea behind it?  

When I was thinking of what to name my business, I realized my target demographic was teachers. So, I asked myself…what’s something that all teachers like? The first thing that popped in my head was summer vacation (coffee, finished report cards, and kids also came to mind…those are in no particular order, by the way). Summer vacation, though, made me think of teaching as “life between summers.”

My objective was to create resources that are useful for teachers and beneficial to kids, and that fills a need in the classroom, whether academic, social, or emotional. Many teacherpreneurs have a specific subject matter focus. Most of my resources are for teachers in the primary range (kindergarten-3rd grade), but I have a wide variety that extends to the upper grade as well. I make everything ranging from Common Core aligned lesson plans to seasonal crafts to teacher postcards. I especially enjoy creating hands-on games for math and literacy centers, as well as engaging activities and student projects that provide an opportunity for kids to practice writing skills. 

Other than my blog, where I provide insight and ideas about how to utilize these products in the classroom, my favorite platform for sharing my content has been Instagram. I prefer it over other platforms because there is a strong sense of community among educators there. There’s a lot of sharing, collaboration, and opportunities to make connections with other people who work in our field. I also like that the focus is on pictures. Most teachers are visual by nature, and I’m able to share pictures of my resources being used in action. 

I started my business account on Instagram almost three years ago, and through that time I’ve been able to build meaningful, positive connections with educators all across the country, and even internationally. On my Instagram page, I advertise resources for sale that I’ve created, but I also share things like teaching ideas and tips, quotes about teacher life, recommendations for books, along with classroom materials.

Travel is one of my biggest interests outside of teaching, so I started a hashtag called #teachertraveltuesday where teachers can share past and present travel photos on Tuesdays. It’s been a fun way for teachers who love to travel to connect with one another and share travel tips and recommendations. It’s also given the people who follow my page a little more personal insight into who I am outside of being a teacher.  

Do you have something you’d like to share with our readers?  

I have several free teaching resources available on my blog/website and in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. The ebook version of Our Class is a Family, is also free on Kindle Unlimited. 

Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?

Like many people who run a business, in addition to having a day job and/or being a parent, my main challenge is finding time to dedicate to it. I’m often asked by friends and co-workers, “How do you have the time?”

My number one priority is being a mom and a wife. It takes some creativity to juggle teaching second grade, running a business, and publishing/marketing a book. But something I hope to instill in my daughters as they start to get older is that if something is truly important to you, you find a way to make time instead of excuses.   

I find ways to squeeze in work wherever possible, like during my kids’ naptime or late at night after my family’s gone to sleep. On days where my mom generously offers to watch my kids, I don’t use it as an opportunity to take a nap or browse around Target (although don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy those things). Instead, nearly ten times out of ten, I use that time to work on my business. Making time has also sometimes meant choosing to write a blog post over watching a movie at night or doing research about book publishing instead of mindlessly scrolling on the phone. 

Self-care is a popular topic as of late, and I don’t discredit the importance of making time for leisurely things you enjoy or taking care of yourself. I love to unwind and be a couch potato as much as the next person. I do make it a point to recharge my batteries regularly. At the same time, the work that I do for my book and my business offers me a creative outlet that I genuinely enjoy. That’s a form of self-care for me.

The other big challenge I faced was the sheer learning curve in getting started. I’ve had many people ask where to begin as a seller on Teachers Pay Teachers or getting a book published. The truth is, there’s not a one-size-fits-all fast track for either. You have to be willing to do the initial research and then continue to put in the work, troubleshoot mistakes along the way, and have a desire to carve out space for it in your regular everyday life. 

Tell us about your future vision of your brand. What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

I would like to scale my business and continue to create resources for teachers as education changes and evolves. I hope to grow it by expanding my knowledge in various marketing platforms. I’ve created resources that can also be used as extension activities with my book which are often referred to by teachers as “book companions” and would like to create more for future books that I write. 

This means I plan to write and publish more books. I’m currently working on versions of Our Class is a Family in Spanish and French and have written a manuscript for a second book. As a teacher myself, I feel it gives me a unique insight into the types of books and resources that other educators want and need for their students. It’s my hope that my resources and books continue to have a place in classrooms all over the world, serving teachers and making a positive impact in the lives of kids. 

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

It can be hard to come up with a truly original idea when creating anything because we know that chances are, it’s been done before. But whatever that idea may be, it’s important to create something that fills a need for people. Not only because it’s something they can use, but it might fill an emotional need as well. People like to feel a personal connection to something. Many teachers have told me they love Our Class is a Family because they’ve always referred to their class as a family. It’s what they’ve thought and felt for years. The idea of a class being like a family was not my original concept, but it was a concept that had just never been encapsulated in the physical form of a book, complete with rhyming words and visual illustrations.

You also have to be prepared for it to be a slow burn. In a Facebook Group for people who sell on Teachers Pay Teachers, I remember someone saying that there are Microwave sellers, and Slow Cooker sellers. The Microwave ones are people who try to take shortcuts to reach what they define as success. They just want to get there fast, sometimes at the expense of having a less quality product. Slow Cookers are the ones who don’t rush through it and pay attention to the smaller details and fine-tuning their craft. It may take them a lot longer to get there, but the result is better in the end. That person in the group advised others to “Be a Slow Cooker.” The comment I wrote in response to that thread was, “It’d be nice if I could be an Instant Pot!” All joking aside, while I am all about efficiency and working smarter, not harder, I do have to say that it’s truly been a matter of slowly growing my business over my time. It’s the small tasks you do each day that eventually start to add up to the bigger results we hope for. Another teacherpreneur named Erin Waters shared a phrase in her School of Sellers podcast, and it has become one of my favorite sayings in business and in other aspects of my life: “Little by little, a little becomes a lot.”

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

On account of COVID-19, a lot changed from the time the book was written (October 2019) to the time it was published (May 2020). The 2019-2020 school year was a unique one in that teachers weren’t physically in the classroom with students during the final duration of it. I read the book with my own students over Zoom video conferencing at the end of our school year. It brought new meaning to the words home and family. There is a line from the book that says, “So if our classroom is the place where we spend our days, why wouldn’t we want to make it like a home in many ways?” I paused with my kids and had a discussion about how a home (and a classroom) is not just a place, but a feeling. Even when you are not actually in the same room as your family, you’re still a family and you stick together.

An unexpected outcome from publishing the book has also been the overwhelmingly positive response from not only teachers but also parents of young children. Many parents have ordered a copy of the book to read to their own kids prior to the beginning of the new school year. In their reviews, they have shared that it has helped ease fears their child might have had about starting school. Parents have also been purchasing copies of the book to give as gifts to their children’s teachers.

My book has earned the most revenue through Amazon, but I also distribute it through my own website at lifebetweensummers.com/shop. My husband is very supportive of the work I do as an author and helps me handle the packing and shipping of books. 

I chose to start distributing independently because many teachers had reached out to me expressing interest in purchasing class sets of books for their students. I’ve also had principals and other administrators interested in ordering copies for their whole staff. They inquired about discounts for ordering in bulk, and by selling through my own site, I am able to keep costs lower and make those discounts available to them. Even though processing orders and storing/shipping books from home is considerably more work than the distribution I do through Amazon, it has been worthwhile. It helped get the book into the hands of more teachers, and the way I see it, this means that the book’s positive message will reach more kids.

Life Between Summers

Website URL : lifebetweensummers.com

Instagram URL : www.instagram.com/lifebetweensummers

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