VMH Magazine - August/September 2018

MAGAZINE

VMH Business. Entertainment. Lifestyle

Top Chef

Smita Daya Spices Up Health!

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The Risk Associated with Silicon Injections

Michelle Lewis Talks Visibility, Business & Branding

‘An Odyssey of Flavors’ - A Journey to Good Health & Delectable Meals!

VMH Publishing Established Quality Book Publisher

www.vmhpublishing.com

vikki's lens www.vikkimjones.com

07 Help Your Family Budget 10 Dan Lagani & Leading Social Publisher, Diply 12 Message From The Editor 14 Silicon Injections - What's The Cost?

16 Cannes Lions Highlights 21 COVER STORY : Smita Daya - Health & Business 29 Set For Success - Back To School Shopping 30 Michelle Lewis on Visibility & Your Online Presence 34 Authentic Italian Cuisine

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

VMH Magazine . 811 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles , Calif. 90017

“If change means evolution then I’m evolving. I’m not fighting change/evolution. I’m not trying to hold onto the past.”

Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music, YouTube and Google Photo by Alice Trott

Publisher VMH Publishing Editor-in-Chief Vikki Jones Assistant Editor Brooke Allen Journalist/Contributors Vikki Jones Garry Jones Contributors (Visiting) Family Features Photography Vikki Jones Garry Jones Layout Vikki Jones

Cover Image: Courtesy Smita Daya Main Cover Photo Credit: Soham Photography Michelle Lewis Image Courtesy FemFounder

2018 Cannes Lions Highlights

P. 16

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6

How to Help Your Family Budget

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FAMILY FEATURES

anaging all of life’s demands on limited funds can feel like a never-ending chore. Every family’s budget is unique, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to saving money.

However, establishing priorities and looking for ways to make small cuts can add up.

Many people turn to creating a personalized budget or a spending schedule to help keep track of their expenses. Planning payments on a monthly basis can sometimes be helpful when it comes to setting an appropriate family budget, anticipating short-term expenses and planning ahead for long-term payments.

However, creating a personalized budget is not always enough. Some companies also offer discount and incentive programs for particular customers, so it’s best to do some research when planning your next month’s budget and take advantage of available programs.

For example, Amazon offers a discounted Prime membership for $5.99 per month for customers receiving government assistance.

This offer is already available to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cardholders and now Medicaid recipients also qualify. Members have access to a wide selection of more than 100 million items, video and music streaming services, low prices on select items and fast, convenient delivery options, which can ultimately help save both time and money.

In addition to fast, free shipping on millions of items, these benefits come at no additional cost to Prime members: n n n n n n n

Access to thousands of TV shows and movies.

Ad-free access to more than 2 million songs.

Unlimited photo storage within the Prime Photos app.

Rotating selection of more than 1,000 books.

Free in-game loot with Twitch Prime.

Exclusive early access to Lightning deals.

Up to 20 percent off diapers, baby food and more with Subscribe & Save.

To help make your budget more manageable, take a close look at your bills, ongoing purchases and opportunities to save where possible.

Find more information to help balance your budget at amazon.com/qualify.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Simple Side Gigs for Extra Cash When looking for ways to balance your budget, perhaps the easiest (and most obvious) answer is to cut back on spending to keep more money in your account month-to-month. However, the stressful task of figuring out what expenditures you can remove from your life doesn’t have to be the only option.

Rather than adding through subtraction, you can literally add a few extra dollars to your monthly budget by picking up a part-time side job. While some of these gigs do require forms of licensing or prior knowledge, they can be worth your time to invest in long-term: n

Babysit. One of the most common forms of part-time work, babysitting requires an affection for children and patience, above all, but little to no financial investment up-front.

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Provide Neighborhood Lawn Care. Starting a full-scale lawn service typically means spending a considerable amount of money at the beginning to pay for all the necessary equipment. However, if you agree to take care of neighbors’ yards who already own the equipment and simply don’t have the time, you can avoid high-dollar start-up costs.

Drive for a Ride-Sharing Service. While it does require thorough vehicle maintenance, becoming a driver for one of several prominent ride-sharing services allows you to work as much or as little as you like. Because you just turn on the app when you’re free to work and off when you aren’t, taking time off or working as many hours as you want isn’t a concern.

VMH PUBLISHING *available in hardback & paperback

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Officiate Youth Sports. From tee ball to soccer and all youth sports in-between at different levels of competition, officials are required to help the games go smoothly. Depending on the level you’re hoping to officiate, some training may be required to ensure proper understanding of all rules and procedures. If you’re not comfortable making game-deciding calls, seek out paying positions involving concessions or scoreboard operation.

Tutor Students. If time allows and you’re knowledgeable about a certain subject (or several of them) you might be a good candidate for tutoring students of different age groups.

Start by contacting guidance offices with school districts in your area to help line up jobs.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Be Your Own

BOSS

7 tips to help you launch a successful business FAMILY FEATURES

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ntrepreneurship is alive and well, even if the face of small business is evolving with the times. Autonomy in management and making dreams a reality are the reasons most cited by entrepreneurs looking to open a small business.

Nearly half of all respondents in the annual The UPS Store “Inside Small Business Survey” said they’d be optimistic about opening a small business this year. Of respondents who hope to open a small business, top motivators include being their own bosses (38 percent), followed by believing in the power of their own ideas (17 percent) and creating their next career paths (15 percent).

“The American Dream of owning your own business is still very much real, especially when compared to the rest of the developed world,” said Dr. Luke Pittaway, Ohio University College of Business Copeland Professor of Entrepreneurship.

However, how Americans are choosing to open small businesses is where there may be a shift.

“Consumer habits are changing,” Pittaway said. “That’s forcing Americans to consider how they open small businesses, whether it's focusing more on e-commerce than actual store fronts or focusing on selling to a local community or region instead of a broader national audience.”

Starting Your Own Start-Up The process of launching a start-up can throw various unexpected obstacles your way, but there are numerous resources available to support a budding business.

“We understand the challenges of small business owners and offer products and services designed specifically to help and support small businesses,” said Tim Davis, president of The UPS Store, Inc. “Small business owners are unparalleled in their passion for their businesses, and understanding that aspiration is critical to running a successful small business.”

PITCH YOUR SMALL BUSINESS LIKE A PRO

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hen you’re launching a small business, there could be any number of reasons you may need to pitch your idea. You may be courting an investor, recruiting talent or even starting to market your product or service.

Brevity is often essential, so learn how to concisely pitch your business like a pro with these tips:

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

This action plan from the experts at The UPS Store can help you get you on your way to launching a successful start-up:

1. Analyze your target audience.

Start by performing extensive market research to understand your customers' core necessities. Assessing your target demographic gives you a clear perspective on how to serve the people in it.

5. Develop a business plan.

Think of a business plan as a road map that indicates where your startup stands and where it is headed.

If you need funding, it’s also a great tool to articulate your ideas, philosophies and goals.

6. Set up a marketing plan.

Selecting the right legal structure ultimately determines how you handle income taxes and all government reporting requirements.

Many small businesses fall under a sole proprietorship or limited liability company (LLC) while bigger entities may identify as corporations.

Conduct an analysis of your business’s strengths and weaknesses to devise strategies and tactics that account for challenges and opportunities your business is likely to face. The scale of your marketing plan will likely depend on resources you have available and your target audience, but should feature a variety of tactics. Your plan should include printed materials like direct mailers, business cards, newsletters, flyers, banners and posters, as well as digital to cover things like search and social media.

3. Establish your premises.

7. Be competitive.

Choosing the right business setting could be the difference between a cost-effective start-up and a moderately expensive one. Your work space should fall within your monthly budget while still satisfying the needs of your customers.

Examine your competitors to determine the areas in which they thrive and see what makes them successful. Learn from the landscape to improve upon their strengths and gain an upper hand on their weaknesses. For example, implement various pricing models, such as special offers, coupons and rewards, rather than sticking with your initial, low price to remain competitive and profitable.

2. Determine a legal structure.

4. Determine your budget and expenses.

Assessing your available funds enables you to prioritize and assign an appropriate amount to your business assets. This should include necessities for daily operations, as well as secondary expenses, such as traveling and meetings.

With a carefully structured action plan, you can turn your start-up idea into a successful business. Find more tips for your small business at TheUPSStore.com.

Draw out the essentials. Reduce your pitch to a few digestible bites. Make sure you have an intro that is brief enough to get someone’s undivided attention then elaborate on your points, such as your top competitive advantages, and provide more detail about your business as a whole.

Come to entertain. Add an entertainment factor to make your pitch engaging and memorable. Of course, you need substance to go along with style, but keeping your audience focused and doing something to stand out is essential.

Anticipate questions. Prepare yourself to reassure concerned investors and flesh out subjects you may have kept brief for your presentation. Make sure to practice your answers so you sound confident. Grabbing attention is important, but you need to be able to back up your spiel.

Know your audience. This is the cardinal rule of communication. Make sure you do your homework and know who you are addressing.

This shows you value your listener’s time and feedback. Furthermore, insight about his or her philosophy in doing business can be extremely valuable during a pitch.

Practice until it hurts. Take the time to practice your entire pitch, including answers to likely questions, until you know it inside and out. The more comfortable you are, the more likely you are to win someone over in a meeting.

Have the materials to back it up. A written document is your chance to leave a lasting impression and elaborate on your major selling points. It’s also a chance to show your professionalism, so be sure to proofread carefully and package the information for a polished presentation.

When you’re ready to pitch like a pro, give your pitch a go and enter The UPS Store and Inc. Magazine’s Small Biz Salute Pitch Off, a contest that will reward one small business owner with $25,000 and an editorial feature in the magazine. Learn more at theupsstore.com/smallbizsalute.

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Dan Lagani

President /CRO

Diply

Every business needs to understand its core reason for being while ensuring that it’s not overly reliant on one single source of revenue. At Diply, we started with media advertising before adding branded social video, and most recently, social commerce which we’ve seen great success with.

Diply Photo Courtesy, Diply, Dan Lagani

A leading social publisher.

Dan Lagani is President & Chief Revenue Officer of Diply, a leading social publisher whose original videos are viewed over 1.5B times monthly on Facebook, Instagram, and SnapChat. In addition to leading U.S. operations, Dan is responsible for global revenues where his focus is the rapid expansion of Diply’s premium programmatic, social video, and social commerce businesses. Throughout his career, he has been the driving force behind the growth, digital transformation, and reinvention of some of the world’s largest best-known media brands, including Glam Media, Better Homes and Gardens, Women’s Wear Daily, the Condé Nast Bridal Group, and Reader’s Digest.

You have a very impressive career history; how did you get started in publishing?

DL: I started in the media business working as an announcer at a radio station in Upstate New York and moved to the New York City area when I got hired at a top-40 station on Long Island. I was a communications and art major in college and always leaned towards the creative side of things—but playing the same songs over and over quickly felt too limiting and repetitive. The day that I mistakenly got a salesperson’s paycheck and saw how much more they were making than the announcers—I thought that it was time to try another side of the media business!

After getting hired by a media sales company to sell magazine ads for several small brands, I progressed on to leading brands and businesses for large media companies like Meredith, Condé Nast and Reader’s Digest. Over the past 15 years, as the internet grew as the dominant media platform, my roles focused more on digital, mobile, Dupree of - Music Awards videoJermaine and social—all whichInnovation prepared me for my role leading global revenue operations for Diply, the leading social publisher.

There is a lot out there to cut through and ‘stand out’; what is your greatest piece of advice for successfully scaling business in a digitally competitive market?

DL: Keep it simple, be consistent, be focused and passionate about what you do every day and never lose sight of the customer. If you are vigilant and razor-sharp focused on these core values, you’re going to stand out and stay at the top of your game.

Social media, publishing, and content require originality and creative ideas that resonate with consumers, what is Diply’s or your personal practice(s) that help you connect with the customer?

DL: Diply is a very data-driven media company focused on creating engaging, fun and shareable content. Art inspires what we do and the science of how and why consumers engage with, share and comment on videos and stories is our secret sauce. For example, when we create social videos, we focus on five key things:

Firstly, timing is everything. We look at the best time of day for posting content as well as the right length for a video to create maximum consumer engagement —which is at around 60 seconds these days.

Secondly, this might sound obvious, but to really connect with your viewers, you need videos that have an interesting storyline and coupled with some visual surprises. Thirdly, since people now live on their cellphones, we always think mobile-first and produce our videos in either a 1:1 or fullscreen vertical format. Oftentimes, social videos are watched with the sound off so captioning is a best practice. Lastly, we test everything. That often involves shooting several versions of each video and using realtime user engagement metrics to determine which version should ultimately get promoted the most. These are just some of the ways that we are able to deliver captivating content to our audience at scale.

During SMWLA you spoke of three primary ways Diply monetizes: Work on behalf of brands, advertising and helping brands engage in directly selling to consumers on a social platform. Should a company focus on several streams of revenue?

Omar Gooding DL: Every business needs to understand its core reason for being while ensuring that it’s not overly reliant on one single source of revenue. At Diply, we started with media advertising before adding branded social video, and most recently, social commerce which we’ve seen great success with. What’s especially exciting about social commerce is that with many more consumers than there are advertisers, the potential is that much greater.

With such a long standing career, how were you able to transition and at the same time successfully lead companies into the digital business? A lot of companies - newspapers, magazine, etc. - fail in this area.

DL: For me, the most important thing is to remember the role you play for your customer. At Diply, it’s about giving someone a few minutes each day to laugh, smile or learn something new. Too many magazines, newspapers and, now, television networks focus on their traditional platforms over their mission. When you do that, you risk becoming less relevant as your consumer evolves. ~ 11 Oscar Bond, Global Stylist

A MESSAGE FROM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Vikki Jones

entrepreneurship…

Starting, growing and maintaining a business is not easy. The workforce holds a multitude of employees that are miserable on the job and dream of owning their own business. But does this mean you are cut out for the task? Or should you explore entrepreneurship while employed?

Below are a few things I’ve found that make for successful entrepreneurship: 1

2

Passion: Successful entrepreneurs are born out of passion. Whether there’s a problem to be solved, meeting a need or unexplained freedom associated with a certain work; entrepreneurs are fueled by passion.

Tenacity: There are highs and lows with business

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ownership. One must have the ability to ‘hang in there’ through the lows just as they celebrate the highs.

Until you reach ‘that place’ of success, you must have the ability to run your race. Throwing in the towel is not an option; that is if you find your choice of entrepreneurship actually works.

3 Strategic/Critical Thinking: No matter your resources, business owners have to develop the art of strategic/critical thinking and implement plans with precision. Living in the moment is wonderful for family, friends, and fun, but successful entrepreneurship calls for thinking beyond today. It is imperative that you have a strategy to carry out your plan.

At times entrepreneurship feels like chess; you have to know where to move and when to make your move. This requires strategic/critical thinking.

Competitive Marketing: Understanding your target market is critical to the success of a business.

Before you can implement a marketing plan the business owner has to know how to direct their products or services to a specific group of consumers. Figure out the

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answer to such questions as: Where is my target market? How do I reach my target market?

Knowing the answer to these sample questions will save you a few headaches and dollars.

Fearless: Entrepreneurs are risk takers. Fear has no place in entrepreneurship.

There are times that taking risks come at a loss, but you learn from this, swiftly recover and head in another direction. There are also times when you hit the ‘nail on the head’ (succeed) with a risk; when this happens, apply more pressure in that area.

Flexible: Be open to embracing change, new ideas, and unfamiliar techniques. If you cannot change with the times, you will get left behind.

Entrepreneurship is very rewarding, in particular when your business makes a difference in the economy, improves communities and addresses social-related issues.

The key is growing a successful business that is capable of influence and makes a difference in the lives of others.

Vikki Jones is a business leader who’s empowered markets, and assisted entrepreneurs in various aspects of digital marketing.

Further, she has successfully mentored college graduates in the field of journalism, marketing, publishing & production.

Contact the editor at: editor@vmhmagazine.com

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The Basics.

Advertising Studio

www.ascentconf.com

"It was the craziest pain ever. I felt like I was gonna pass out. I felt a little dizzy. And it leaks for, like, five days," she told writer Caity Weaver.

Cardi ….had plans to go back for touch-ups… the operation had been shut down because "someone died on her table.”

CARDI B. (GQ interview)

CAULK BUTT INJECTIONS BLACK MARKET BEAUTY

By Garry Jones

ou are fat, skinny, black, light; you have large lips, a illegally, causing awful side effects even death! Our children large head; your ears are big; your eyes are protruding are growing up hating themselves, simply because it is embedded in their minds that they are not slim enough, light and you have big feet. skinned enough, don’t have wavy hair, blue eyes, small lips, How many times have we called people names growing ears, petite, smart or residing in fine homes and cars ultimately up? Name calling is one of the biggest reasons why feeling as though they are not worthy. Words don’t necessarily people develop inferiority complexes. At any given time have to be used to make a person feel inferior sometimes it’s we can walk outside and hear ugly words being hurled at the other person demeanor and how one is looked at when each other. If we don’t practice positive re-enforcement with they come around. our kids and instilled in them they are beautiful, handsome, and smart, our kids will grow up believing they are ugly and dumb. When I was a Lieutenant (supervisor) I participated in the mentoring program, I was only allowed to have three mentees My biological mother used to tell me I had a large nose like my according to policy but I had a total of ten. Seven of my father; she use to tell me I had a Danny Thomas nose. Later on mentees were unofficial. Most of the Correctional Officers in life I learned Danny Thomas was a comic and actor who wanted Lieutenant Jones to be their mentor. I remember asking bore a large nose, but it wasn’t out of the ordinary. If I didn’t one of my mentees, why she looked and acted so mean? I have positive role models – my aunts, uncle and grandmother – advised her to put a smile on your face and stop being so telling me how handsome I looked I would have a developed a defensive when others say something you don’t like. She terrible complex about my nose. shared with me, when she was growing up her father called her My Godmother never saw a child that was ugly. She called all ugly for many years until her mother separated from him. of them pretty. When I use to come around she would say. There are many children and adults who ―Garry you look so handsome, ahh bless your are not comfortable with the way they heart.‖ R.I.P. Mrs. Letha May Sutton. The point I’m trying to look; at times society plays a big role in make is my mother’s words didn’t get a chance making people feel bad about their to PERMEATE in my head because of the positive re- physical appearance. Somewhere I read that we are made in the image of God; if enforcement I was getting. that is correct God looks like all of us so When a person dislike the way they look they will go as far as why are we changing the way God has having plastic surgery to change a feature on their body that made us. they don’t find appealing. I can recall Michael Jackson, The King of Pop, having plastic surgery; in my opinion he did this because his father teased him about having a big nose.

I remember the singer Stephanie Mills had the same surgical procedure performed to her nose. A number of women are having butt implants, breast implants and lips implants to either increase or decrease the size of their body part. Unfortunately, a lot of these alterations are done

WHY?

10 | FINESUCCESSMAG.COM

Cannes Lions Diversity, Inclusion & Creativity

by Vikki Jones Westworld HBO Actress, Thandie Newton along with Edward Enninful Editor of British Vogue, Tiffany R. Warren of the Omnicom group and Antonio Lucio, CMO of HP discuss diversity at Cannes Lyons festival.

Study after study confirms it. Diversity is good for business. It enhances creative output and insurance we speak to our customers with a relevant. Yet progress remains low.

Here’s what Thandie Newton of Westworld HBO had this to say on the subject: “I was always on the outside. I was always watching, I was always learning. Because I was a child I didn’t realize why I was being left out. There was an element of ‘I’m not good enough’. But then what happened is I made myself good enough.

I kept trying to be in the popular group. I kept trying to be good enough. That has actually increased my talent, my drive and it’s ultimately turned into a good thing. And rather than being resentful of how I had to climb I feel grateful for the struggle.

Thandie Newton (Westworld HBO) photo by Aliminana Christian (Cannes Lion)

Now I’m in a position where I can use my craft to break down those rules of ignorance.”

Thandie Newton (Actress), Edward Enninful (Editor-in-chief British Vogue) Photo by Aliminana Christian

Atonio Lucio (CMO of HP) photo by Aliminana Christian

Your personal passion interacts with a company mission and that company mission interact with society.

Let’s meet diversity an anchor part of our meaning in life.”

Tiffany R. Warren (Omnicom Group), photo by Aliminana Christian

“Often the marginalized or asked to make a business case for diversity. For Now I’m in a position where I can use my craft to break down those rules of ignorance.”

Antonio Alicia says, “We all like to talk about purposeful grants And purpose is found when the mission of a company interacts a societal value. My invitation is to go deeper than purpose it’s find meaning; meaning happens when

me it’s really about let’s talk about can you make a business case for sameness. I don’t think any company in this world will sit down in a board room and talk about how sameness has made them successful.”

Tiffany R. Warren

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“If you’re a creative person and you’re not impacting the work, And you are not touching the work and you’re not having that s i z a b l e impact you c a n ’ t bull*^#* Photo Credit: Alice Trott yourself that you are happy. No matter how big your offer, Or how big your title is, no matter how big your salary throwing your perks are....If you’re not have an impact on what you’re doing and see the difference you’re making, it’s not worth it.” - David Droga, Founder & Creative Chairman of Droga5 David Droga, Founder & Creative Chairman of #Droga5

“The smart outside guys they d o n ’t s a y retail is dying. They say digital is going to grow at 3x the rate of physical but in the next five years 75% of the Photo by Alice Trott people will shop online.

75% of the business will be done in physical stores.” - Angela Ahrendts SVP, @apple | Photo by Alice Trott.

Naomi Campbell & Journalist, Tania Bryer Photo by Alice Trott

way to “build a platform for the young emerging designers that don’t have a way to show their work, and invite online stores to come in and see, and help them grow.” Naomi Campbell & Journalist @TaniaBryer | Photo by Alice Tott

Angela Ahrendts SVP, Apple

“I’ve been doing this 25 years now, and I’m more excited by the work I’m doing now than I have ever been.”... Conan @teamcoco (This in part is due to his travel videos & social media and shortened show time).

Photo by Alice Trott There has to be a

Shaquille O’ Neal, Athlete Photo by Alice Trott

Shaq @shaq - who sold over $150 million dunkman sneakers - talks entrepreneurship and how ‘marketers can apply practices that keep people coming back for more.’| Photo by Alice Trott

Conan Photo by Marian Brannelly

Photo by Alice Trott

Grand Prix | Photo by Marian Brannelly

Cannes Lions

Closing Gala Photography by Marian Brannelly

COVER STORY Interview by Vikki Jones|

Smita Daya has worked in the legal field for the past twenty-five years and is now following her passion for healthy cooking. In February of 2016, she opened Olea Oliva!, an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tap room located at The Avenue at East Cobb. Having lived in Zambia, South Africa, and England, the Marietta, Georgia native creates unique dishes and loves to spice things up in a healthy way. Smita is a self-taught chef and learned to cook from her grandmother and mother at a very young age. She learned the importance of using super spices and how to incorporate them in everyday cooking. Smita also holds a PlantBased Nutrition Certificate from The T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at eCornell.

Based on our research, you’ve worked in Corporate America for 25 years. What caused you to tackle entrepreneurship by starting your own company?

What was your greatest fear/ challenge with making that decision?

After having worked in Corporate for over 25 years, I decided it was time to follow my true passion: healthy eating. It was not an easy decision, but I felt it was the right time. For the past 29 years, our journey has taken us to various countries, where we became enthralled in the world of olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and spices.

Living and travelling abroad has allowed us to explore the finest in savory spices, gourmet olive oils, and seasonings from home, charming ourselves and our daughters along the way. Now a family tradition, every homecooked meal incorporates different

Smita Daya Founder/CEO Olea Oliva!

Learning to cook with herbs and spices not only expands your culinary repertoire, but it is also a great way to boost flavor, without adding salt.

Photo by Soham Photography

olive oils and spices, enticing our taste buds with exciting new flavors. I love to bring that same experience in the store, and in the workshops I do.

We appeal to those who are adventurous in the kitchen, and who are looking to discover new tastes, unique flavors, and healthy cooking, while entertaining family and friends. We strive to share our passion with everyone in our store and online as we promote a food culture driven by nutrition, education, and excitement. I love to partner with the community and local business owners to help empower individuals to make sound healthy choices. We offer cooking workshops in the store and private venues. Since we opened our doors, we’ve received so much amazing support from Marietta, Atlanta, surrounding communities, and local community business partners. These are our champions, our friends, and the people who share our mission to spread the word about cooking real food with quality ingredients and amazing flavor combinations.

Your work embodies educating others on the health benefits of spices, herbs, and “flavor.” Why are you so passionate about educating? How does your cookbook, An Odyssey of Flavors, play in your mission to improve food choices?

I learned from my grandmother and mother on how important it is to use herbs and spices in our daily cooking. Herbs and spices make food flavorful and tastier, while at the same time, boosting your health. For example, turmeric and ginger are healing and very ayurvedic. As a general rule, add fresh spices near the end of cooking, or just before serving, because prolonged heat can

Smita Preparing Waffles For Customers During Customer Appreciation Day

cause loss of flavor and aroma.

Dried spices can generally be added earlier in the cooking process. It is better to cook with the spices, rather than take them in capsules. This way, the benefits are released naturally, and you are able to properly absorb them. So, cook away with these spices, enhance the flavor of your food, and bring many healing benefits!

An Odyssey of Flavors is all about eating clean and healthy. It is about incorporating fresh, whole foods, and plant-based foods with all of their nutrients intact. That means avoiding processed foods, including foods with added processed sugar and salt. We have created some recipes by incorporating high fiber, high protein, and low cholesterol ingredients, such as Sprouted Mung Bean Salad, Kale and Mung Bean Soup, Garbanzo Curry, Minestrone Soup, and Yellow Lentil Curry. All are made with some common ingredients and contain loads of flavor, color, and satisfaction, plus health benefits, because who doesn't like those?

Time to get your taste buds out of

the fast-food gutter and come to the healthy, clean side.

What are your top five ingredients for cooking? Why? Learning to cook with herbs and spices not only expands your culinary repertoire, but it is also a great way to boost flavor, without adding salt. The top five key essential ingredients I love for cooking are: turmeric, ginger, cumin seeds, fenugreek, and olive oil. However, of course, we need other spices and ingredients for various other recipes.

Turmeric is used in cooking and skin care products. It has a wide range of medicinal uses. Turmeric is antiviral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, and is an antibiotic.

It strengthens the digestive system, aids in the digestion of proteins, and normalizes metabolism.

Turmeric is also a blood purifier, because it regulates blood sugar.

It corrects anemia and restores poor circulation. Turmeric removes oxidized cholesterol and prevents heart attacks! Turmeric is also an anti-inflammatory. Turmeric helps

keep your tendons, ligaments, and joints moist, flexible, and strong.

Taken internally, it will help reduce pain and swelling from an injury or sprain. Used with other common spices, turmeric not only enhances the taste of the dish, but also doubles the benefits.

Ginger is used for giving a specific flavor to food and has many medicinal uses. It supports healthy digestion, blood platelet health, and cardiovascular function, and also reduces inflammation. Ginger also enhances natural resistance for the cold and flu. It is used for abdominal bloating, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and for the treatment of inflammatory joint diseases, such as arthritis and rheumatism.

Cumin seeds are used for cooking, and it also possesses medicinal properties. These seeds are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and carminative by nature. They improve digestion, increase sperm count, build strong bones, improve eyesight, and eliminate macular degeneration. They also manage heart rate and lower blood pressure. Loaded with essential minerals like potassium, thiamine, and phosphorus, cumin seeds are marked as a healthy spice. Also, try toasting cumin seeds in a dry skillet until fragrant. Toasting will help amplify the flavors of the spices and will add new dimensions to the final dish. You may be surprised by how much mouthwatering flavor you can create without the help of salt!

Fenugreek is mainly used as a green leafy vegetable, and the seeds are used for seasoning and preparing Masalas (any of a number of spice mixtures ground into a paste or powder). It also has medicinal uses.

Fenugreek seeds help lower blood sugar and reduce the need for insulin. It may also improve glucose

tolerance and excretion. Fenugreek may also have beneficial effects on triglycerides. The benefits of fenugreek may inhibit the absorption of cholesterol, as well as decrease the amount of cholesterol.

The first thing you want to do when buying an olive oil, is to make sure it is Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Olive oil is packed with polyphenols, which are a type of antioxidant that help support both the brain and the heart. So, if you are looking to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, or to support your brain and focus by preventing long-term diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, then we know that olive oil is a great superfood, because of the polyphenols, and those fat-soluble antioxidants. Olive oil is also full of what are known as mono/ poly unsaturated fatty acids, as well as oleic acids. These types of fatty acids are very good for your heart.

They also support balancing hormones and help lubricate your joints. Olive oil is one of those superfoods that is great for the internal systems within your body.

And, last but not least, olive oil is packed with Vitamin E. Vitamin E is crucial for your heart health, and for healthy glowing skin, so again, Vitamin E is another fat-soluble antioxidant that is found in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Olive oil is the key element to the Mediterranean diet and has been known to lower cholesterol. Olive oil promotes the flow of high-density lipoproteins, or HDL, which is good cholesterol, and lowers your LDL. Here are some diseases olive oil has been found to be effective against: ▪ Heart Disease: Olive oil lowers the levels of total blood cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. At the same time, it does not alter the levels of HDL cholesterol (and may even raise them), which plays a protective role, and prevents the formation

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of fatty patches, thus stimulating the elimination of the lowdensity lipoproteins.

Oxidative Stress: Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, especially Vitamin E, which is long thought to minimize cancer risks. Among plant oils, olive oil is the highest in monounsaturated fat, which doesn’t oxidize in the body, and it’s low in polyunsaturated fat, which does oxidize.

Blood Pressure: Recent studies indicate that regular consumption of olive oil can help decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Diabetes: It has been demonstrated that a diet that is rich in olive oil, low in saturated fats, moderately rich in carbohydrates and soluble fiber from fruit, vegetables, pulses, and grains is the most effective approach for diabetics. It helps lower “bad” low-density lipoproteins, while improving blood sugar control and enhancing insulin sensitivity.

Obesity: Although high in calories, olive oil has shown to help reduce levels of obesity.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Although the reasons are still not fully clear, recent studies have proved that people with diets containing high levels of olive oil are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoporosis: A high consumption of olive oil appears to improve bone mineralization and calcification. It helps calcium absorption and so plays an important role in aiding sufferers and in preventing the onset of Osteoporosis.

Cancer: The phytonutrient in olive oil, oleocanthal, mimics the effect of ibuprofen in reducing inflammation, which can decrease the risk of breast cancer and its recurrence.

(continued on pg. 27)

23

KNOW YOUR WORTH

by Vikki Jones

Photo Courtesy Pexels

It is important that you know your worth. Otherwise you could end up accepting business deals well below your value, in unhealthy relationships, develop low self-esteem or never reach your full potential.

As an entrepreneur, I’ve encountered a number of individuals that did not want to pay the fees associated with my services. Based on my experience and the experience of other skilled entrepreneurs, there are those that try to convince the business owner to lower or alter their rates to meet their budgets. I have two opinions on this: 1.

If a business has established itself as providing quality services, meet deadlines, sells a great product, and has ethical characteristics, why lower the rates. Clearly, if rates/prices are set by a principled business; the product/services are worth it’s due. Hence the rates.

2. My second thought on this is when a potential customer decides to go an inexpensive route, generally they receive a less quality return. The saying,‘you get what you pay for,’ has merit.

The above two opinions are applied not only in business, but as a basic principle in life. If that guy or that girl wants you to alter yourself in order to meet their wants, in my opinion this may not necessarily be the best match, in particular if they persist. Such scenarios places you in a position of ‘settling’ and boarders tampering with your worth, your value.

So how do you determine your worth? How do you know if your rates/prices are too high or too low?

Below are a few things that stand in the way of determining your true worth: 1.

Fear: For a long time I was afraid no one would not want to use my services due to cost and I would end up with no clients. I had to move passed this fear.

2. Lack of Self-Confidence: As I continued to develop my skills and produce quality that measures up to my competitors, yet stands apart my self-confidence grew.

3. Surroundings: I found that when I surrounded myself with a different group of people, my outlook grew beyond the status quo and what I’d been accustomed to.

4. Mindset: As I researched and listened to other successful people in my field, my mind opened up to how it should be versus how it is.

It takes courage to move beyond familiarity and into unfamiliar territory where others are doing the same

things you’re doing, but getting a whole lot more.

When I attended business conferences and summits in New York City, I was baffled to see the mindset and success of these people. I’m sure they had their down days but overall they were way beyond what I considered to be success. That first conference really opened my mind and pushed me to improve everything, including my target market.

Greater than this is understanding what should be receiving versus what is for my life.

When you surround yourself with people that are not limited in their thinking, who refuse to settle for mediocre or the status quo, you’ll be amazed at the impact this has on your life. Again this applies in all aspects of life. Sometimes we live by what we’re taught or by the things we are exposed to; there’s nothing like interacting with people that live their lives on a different level and/or by stronger principles.

When this happens, it helps in determining your worth.

Furthermore, it’s difficult to settle back into accepting what others want you do; you begin to replace fear with confidence and refuse to settle for anything less than your value.

How to get your worth: 1. Set your rate and stick with it.

2. Do not allow others to alter you or convince you to lower your rates/standards.

3. Surround yourself with people that help you build confidence.

4. Do the research to learn and develop ‘true’ cost.

5. Determine your target market and promote your product or service to that market.

6. Learn as much as you can learn.

7. Read books that promote improvement; reflect and evaluate the material.

Information, understanding and execution are three instrumental components to moving forward. When you come into that knowledge, it’s best you use it; it’s a sad and at times a painful thing to know what you should be receiving yet, not have the courage to demand it. Demanding your ‘due/worth’ should not be approached in an aggressive manner, but simply make it clear, this is who I am or this is what my service/product cost; earn your respect otherwise ‘you’ lower your self worth. Learn your worth, then know your worth and lastly embrace your worth! Now move forward! ~ 25

Gourmet Spices, Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegar Taproom

OLEA OLIVA! THE AVENUE EAST COBB 4475 ROSWELL ROAD STE 1000 MARIETTA, GA 30062 TEL: (770) 321-0099

www.oleaoliva.com

simple and quick cooking tools and techniques is more important than ever. Our passion is sharing our spices, olive oils and balsamic vinegars with you and getting people excited about cooking. With two daughters, my husband, my father and a business to run we know how hard it is to plan freshly cooked, flavorful healthy meals every day. For us, these spices, extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars have changed the way we eat! Our products make creating flavorful and healthy family meals easy and fun. We carry single and multi-varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oils from California, Chile, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia.

(Cont. from pg. 23)

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Repair Damaged Hair: Olive oil used as a deep conditioner can soften your hair and help repair damage. Also, eating olive oil helps hair from the inside-out because it is rich in vitamins A, B-1, B-2, C, D, E, K and iron.

Some people struggle with work/life balance children, spouse, friends and ‘me time’. You have a jammed-packed schedule with a business to run, workshops, meal preparation for a fitness company, how do you manage the work/life balance?

It is not always easy to balance work/life. You really have to be disciplined in so many ways. My boarding school days in England taught me a lot and having some structure in my life has helped me to balance both. I am an early riser and start my day with “me-time” and work out for an hour. This sets the tone for the rest of the day. My family is and will be the most important thing. I always plan ahead and prioritize what is important and take the time to understand what needs to get done first. Planning ahead is the key to managing the work/like balance. Work and career are there to help us grow and enable our family to do special things together but as the old saying goes, a good work-life balance is one in which you work to live, not live to work. I have been so blessed to have such wonderful support from my family, friends and our local community!

For those looking to start a brick and mortar business, what are two pieces of solid advice you can give them?

1. Always start by writing a business plan and a mission statement, the business plan gives you a roadmap on your goals and objectives and how to reach them. We have to keep in mind that business plans are not set in stone and should be considered a work-in-progress that you will continually shape as customers respond and the business evolves; and 2. There are ups and downs in all areas of any brick and mortar business. Have the faith, passion, dedication and believe in what you do. Create your own unique identity in your niche market and really enjoy what you are doing! Remember this is why you started your business.

Your store, Olea Oliva! is a hit with an array of Extra Virgin Olive Oils; what makes them so unique?

Olea Oliva! is a Gourmet Spices, Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars taproom with a focus on health and wellness. In a world where fast food and convenient foods devoid of nutrients have become the norm, we feel that offering people

The shop’s design, atmosphere and sampling options turn shopping into an adventurous experience. At Olea Oliva! we’ll inspire you with new ideas and tantalize your taste buds as you sample products at your leisure or receive advice on product use and recipe ideas from our friendly and knowledgeable staff. We offer a variety of healthy cooking workshops. We have been blessed to do these at the County Senior Centers, YMCA and local churches.

Community development and partnering with local businesses is very important for Olea Oliva! Dilip and I are both passionate and love to teach and empower individuals to make sound healthy choices.

My husband, Dilip is also a certified Olive Oil Sommelier from University of California-Davis at Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Sciences, together with 8 years of experience from Florence, Italy with the Calamai family.

In addition, he is also an Industrial Chemist. There is a lot of research that goes into this and having some kind of background in this industry is always a plus! We love the growing community of regular patrons - and the opportunity to serve them. We think of Olea Oliva! as a little store with BIG heart. Getting to know and understand our customers has been a rewarding experience.

What can you give home chefs that appreciate your style of cooking?

I love to empower home chefs by teaching them a few basic techniques and a few standards they can eventually adapt and improvise. I have cooking workshops where we learn a couple of recipes well and then build on them by giving them tips on variations. Cooking at home is quick, it's easy, it's healthy, and you can change the dishes endlessly depending on what you season it with. I like to have a couple of different dried grains and beans in my pantry, because you can cook up lentils so quickly and mix them with olive oil and herbs and have a simple and quick dish anyone can make in 20 minutes. We can control the amount of salt and fat that goes into our cooking. As proud as I am of the food I put out professionally, I know the best food of mine you can ever eat is what I serve you at my home table. Visit Olea Oliva! at: www.oleaoliva.com Health Benefits References: Med Health

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FAMILY FEATURES

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f the August heat has you and your family seeking the comfort of air conditioning, make the most of your cool-down with timeless movies and newly released shows.

Whether you’re looking for a movie for the whole family or a thrilling documentary to download for your next summer road trip, a streaming service like Netflix can provide the entertainment you need for the month of August, all for less than a trip to the movie theater.

This month, cool down with fan favorites like Ozark, starring Jason Bateman, back for its second season, or try The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, based off the New York Times best-selling novel that follows a writer as she bonds with the eccentric residents of Guernsey during the German occupation of World War II. For true crime fans, tune into the docu-series Inside the Criminal Mind and take a look at the psychology and immoral behavior that define some of the world’s most sinister criminals.

Summer vacations don’t mean you have to miss your favorite streaming entertainment – simply download titles to your smartphone or tablet so you can catch them on the road or in the sky, even without Wi-Fi. These are just a few of the new titles you can find on the service this August. To find more information on shows and movies available, and to sign up for a one-month free trial, visit Netflix.com.

Here are some more classic favorites as well as new content available in August:

If the August heat has you and your family seeking the comfort of air conditioning, make the most of your cool-down with timeless movies and newly released shows.

Steel Magnolias

Million Dollar Baby

This star-studded Southern classic features M’Lynn (Sally Field) as the mother of the bride-to-be, Shelby Eatenton (Julia Roberts), and their friend Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton), who welcomes a helping hand from aspiring beautician Annelle Dupuy Desoto (Daryl Hannah) ahead of the big event. (Available Aug. 1)

Frankie Dunn, played by Clint Eastwood, is a veteran Los Angeles boxing trainer who keeps almost everyone at arm’s length, except his old friend and associate Eddie “Scrap Iron” Dupris (Morgan Freeman). When Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) arrives in Dunn’s gym seeking his expertise, he is reluctant to train the young woman, a transplant from working-class Missouri. (Available Aug. 1)

Like Father

No Country For Old Men

The Good Place: Season 2

Kristen Bell stars in this hilarious rom-com, playing a jilted, workaholic woman who decides to take her honeymoon trip with her estranged father, played by Kelsey Grammer. (Available Aug. 3)

This modern Western stars Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss, who stumbles upon a lump of cash following a drug deal.

The tides turn when a merciless killer named Chigurh (Javier Bardem) picks up his trail, along with Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones). (Available Aug. 11)

When Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) finds herself in the afterlife, she’s both relieved and surprised she made it into the Good Place with the afterlife’s architect, Michael (Ted Danson). However, it doesn’t take long for Eleanor to realize she’s there by mistake. (Available Aug. 21)

Whether you're looking for a movie for the whole family or a thrilling documentary to download for your next summer road trip, a streaming service like Netflix can provide the entertainment you need for the month of August, all for less than a trip to the movie theater.

This month, cool down with fan favorites like Ozark, starring Jason Bateman, back for its second season, or try The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, based off the New York Times best-selling novel that follows a writer as she bonds with the eccentric residents of Guernsey during the German occupation of World War II. For true crime fans, tune into the docu-series Inside the Criminal Mind and take a look at the psychology and immoral behavior that define some of the world's most sinister criminals.

Summer vacations don't mean you have to miss your favorite streaming entertainment - simply download titles to your smartphone or tablet so you can catch them on the road or in the sky, even without Wi-Fi. These are just a few of the new titles you can find on the service this August. To find more information on shows and movies available, and to sign up for a one-month free trial, visit Netflix.com.

Here are some more classic favorites as well as new content available in August: Like Father Kristen Bell stars in this hilarious rom-com, playing a jilted, workaholic woman who decides to take her honeymoon trip with her estranged father, played by Kelsey Grammer.

(Available Aug. 3) Steel Magnolias This star-studded Southern classic features M'Lynn (Sally Field) as the mother of the bride-to-be, Shelby Eatenton (Julia Roberts), and their friend Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton), who welcomes a helping hand from aspiring beautician Annelle Dupuy Desoto (Daryl Hannah) ahead of the big event.

(Available Aug. 1) No Country For Old Men This modern Western stars Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss, who stumbles upon a lump of cash following a drug deal. The tides

turn when a merciless killer named Chigurh (Javier Bardem) picks up his trail, along with Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones). (Available Aug. 11) Million Dollar Baby Frankie Dunn, played by Clint Eastwood, is a veteran Los Angeles boxing trainer who keeps almost everyone at arm's length, except his old friend and associate Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman). When Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) arrives in Dunn's gym seeking his expertise, he is reluctant to train the young woman, a transplant from workingclass Missouri. (Available Aug. 1) The Good Place: Season 2 When Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) finds herself in the afterlife, she's both relieved and surprised she made it into the Good Place with the afterlife's architect, Michael (Ted Danson).

However, it doesn't take long for Eleanor to realize she's there by

mistake. (Available Aug. 21)

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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FAMILY FEATURES

hether your children are entering kindergarten, starting up their high school careers or heading off to college, backto-school season often means running from store to store in search of the necessities for a successful year. Help your student make the grade this year with some of these top picks for everything from classroom tools like calculators and planners to lunchtime solutions like lunchboxes, water filtration systems and on-thego snacks.

Find more tips and back-to-school essentials to ensure your kids have everything they need before class is back in session at eLivingToday.com.

Drink Smarter America’s drinking water infrastructure received a “D” grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers in its 2017 report card. However, you can still send your preschool- through college-aged students back to school with cleaner, great-tasting water. The PUR Advanced Faucet Filtration System is an on-demand filtered water solution certified to reduce more than 70 contaminants, including 99 percent of lead – more than any other brand, according to NSF. Learn more at PUR.com.

On-Trend Tech Send students back to school in style with a dedicated math and science machine in one of the year’s trendiest tones. “Rose Curve Gold” is now an available color option for Texas Instruments’ TI-84 Plus Color Edition (CE) line of graphing calculators. Now thinner and lighter with six times the memory, the calculator can take students from middle school through high school and into advanced college courses. For more information, visit education.ti.com.

Savory School-Day Snacks Whether it’s for lunch or snacking on-the-go, an option like these convenient packs of Sabra Singles can satisfy midday cravings. Bursting with great taste and wholesome nutrition, these 2-ounce servings of Sabra hummus are packed with plant-based ingredients you can feel good about. Pair with veggies or pita chips for a nutritious lunchtime snack, and find more at sabra.com.

Packing Perfection

Fashionably Warm

Back-to-school season requires plenty of packing and preparing. Be ready with an option like this Freezable Hampton Lunch Bag from PackIt, built to hold containers and bottles of various sizes for easy on-the-go access. The large, redesigned shoulder tote has built-in freezable gel to keep items cool, and the interior wipes clean with its food-safe lining. The kids can have everything they need all packed in one collapsible bag made from nontoxic poly canvas. For more information and packing gear, visit PackIt.com.

The school year typically brings with it cooler temperatures. Ensure your student is prepared for the elements whether he or she has to walk across campus or wait at the bus stop with the proper outerwear, including a light jacket for fall. With a variety of styles, lengths and materials available, the right jacket can be both functional and fashionable.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Personalized Organization Help your student keep those notes, study times and test dates organized with a quality planner that also showcases his or her personality. Available in a myriad of trendy colors and patterns – like polka dots, stripes or chevron – as well as various calendar layouts like daily, weekly or monthly, the right planner can help your child stay on track, achieve goals and preserve memories in one stylish and organized place.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Michelle Lewis Visibility & Your Online Presence

Michelle Lewis of Visibility Vixen® is a Visibility Expert and thought leader who specializes in helping launching entrepreneurs grow their following online through branding, video, and livestreaming techniques; helping them skyrocket their visibility; monetizing their success; and finally start changing the world with their unique gifts.

With a history in television, she grew up on movie sets and has worked on shows like “Paycheck”, “Pretty Little Liars” and “Chuck”. Through her online courses, “The Visible Entrepreneur” Facebook Group and “Visibility Vixen” podcast – she provides a safe space of creative inspiration to help you learn the ropes and make an even bigger impact on your audience. She currently lives in the old Hollywood town of Toluca Lake where you can find her at the local coffee shop daily, hiking in the nearby hills, or FaceTiming with her east coast business bestie, Kristin M. She's also the coauthor of the bestselling book, Publicity Jumpstart: 10 Ways to Get Your Brand in the Press.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I grew up in a small horse town right next to the big city of Los Angeles. Between following my Dad around the world on film sets, I would ride horses, play in tree forts, and raise chickens. Still having the film bug after high school, I got my degree in Film/TV and got into the industry myself.

I worked in front of and behind the camera for about ten years before deciding to hop into entrepreneurship.

What inspired you to start your business?

During my last two years on television shows, I was also getting my degrees in natural medicine and interior design, so I knew I wanted more than what I was doing. In my heart of hearts, I really wanted to help people on a global level. My Father encouraged me to write a book, which led to exploring e-courses and creating my first one. I loved the flexibility and creativity of it all, so I made the leap and started Visibility Vixen®!

Where is your business based?

I work out of my home office in Los Angeles, CA, but can work pretty much anywhere as long as there’s Wi-Fi! How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I started my business with my first e-course, “Life Reboot”. It was definitely an ambitious undertaking as it’s a 30-day course! I made a plan, stuck to it, and spent the next two months recording videos, editing, and putting slideshows together. I’m so grateful to have known how to shoot and edit videos – I can’t imagine how overwhelming that would be in addition to starting a business. Those people are true titans!

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Definitely the “Comfy On Camera” challenge. I started it back in 2015 when livestreaming first started, so it was good timing to help entrepreneurs learn how to get comfortable live in front of the camera. I’ve had hundreds of people go through it in my Facebook group, so that’s been an awesome awareness booster for my business! I do it every few months and it’s amazing to watch people’s transformation and see their business start to grow immediately from it!

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

There are so many challenges when you’re building your own business. Technical and personal. How do you set up your website, how are you going to take payments, where are you going to host your material, how do you market yourself, etc. Those are worries that really permeate your first two years. Then the personal doubts, failures, and expectations. I think those are the silent killers that are responsible for taking so many businesses down in the first year. We tend to compare ourselves to other “successes” out there and throw in the towel thinking we’ll never measure up.

I think the key to sticking it out for me has been reminding myself {and more often than not, my husband reminding me} that entrepreneurship is a muscle. It starts weak. It’s okay to have no idea what you’re doing and for it to take months to create your first product. But, as you practice and dedicate daily time to it, tasks take less amounts of time, learning a new skill becomes easier, and the daily panic steadily decreases.

Trust me, there are still days it feels totally overwhelming, but now I know to break down my tasks and handle it piece by piece!

How do you stay focused?

Tending to be a thoroughbred-type personality, I don’t struggle too much with focus. But I also take rigorous care of my health and body. Our bodies are machines that need fuel, so if I’m going into a more intense season of work I make sure to keep my vitamin b, c, and minerals up so I can handle the increased stress. I’ll also do a lot of herbal teas and lemon water to keep acid {the body’s response to stress} flushing out of my system. That keeps my brain in top shape and my body able to handle launches, deadlines, and tech disasters.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

Man, I totally succumbed to comparisonitis to the competition for a solid year when I got started. What a waste of time! I was downloading freebies, stalking what everyone was doing trying to measure up. I finally unplugged from everything, went to a coffee shop and dug deep into exactly how I could help people. That’s how Visibility Vixen® really got started.

Most people think visibility is just video and livestreaming, but it goes so much deeper than that! What I provide is based 100% on the struggles I personally went through, so I give my clients a roadmap experience.

When they find me, they know to start with the inner work {Life Reboot}, then master their systems so they can handle increased exposure {Chic Systems}, then branding intentionally with color {Branding Like A BadAss}, then the tools to make gorgeous videos for their website and YouTube Channel {Video Youniversity}, then to increase awareness with livestreaming {FB Live FastTrack}. It’s a very intentional, specific journey that makes my tribe feel supported and guided every step of the way.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

So, I build my business backward from how most people do.

I created my courses first. After the courses were done, I’d make a masterclass, then a free opt in. So, when I was ready to present my freebie online, people could automatically take my masterclasses, and purchase my courses.

It made everything much, much easier in terms of immediately making steady income when everything was completed. Everyone told me I was nuts, but it’s such a lesson of listening to your own gut about YOUR business!

What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Do it. Take that immediately daily action to get where you want to be. The people I knew when I first started, the ones who took that daily action are so much further in their business than the ones who have kept putting it off. You should be looking at new goals each quarter instead of playing catch up to complete the ones you had months and months ago.

I know it will take sacrifice and hard work, but if you want to be an entrepreneur, you’re embarking on something very

few have the perseverance to do. Stop ingesting information and start creating it!

What’s your favorite app, blog, and book? Why? App: 528 Frequency. This app plays the “love frequency” and is so relaxing. I play it while I sleep and if I’m under a lot of stress.

Blog: Eep! I’ve got to be honest, I’m not a huge blog reader.

I’m more of a podcast listener and my favorite right now is “Sounds Of The Trail” because I feel like I’m hiking with these people and it brings much-needed expansion into my day.

Book: “Breaking The Habit Of Being Yourself” by Joe Dispenza. Hands down. It’s a book that changes your life. I recommend it to every person I meet!

Who is your business role model? Why? It would have to be a tie between Marie Forleo and Kimberly Ann Jimenez. I love how Marie’s made her course such an industry standard with an open and close formula.

And Kim does a fantastic job with her membership group.

They both inspire me so much and I’m hoping to build my business as a combo, inspired by them both!

How can our readers connect with you?

I’d love to connect with you! You can join the Summit, head on over to Visibility Vixen, or hop into the complimentary group, “The Visible Entrepreneur”. ~ 31

Ideas for an On-Trend Bathroom FAMILY FEATURES

B

ringing an outdated bathroom into the now is a sure way to infuse value and personal enjoyment into your home.

Whether you’re tearing down and starting fresh or simply looking to infuse some new life with a few key elements, these ideas, paired with an option such as Wellborn cabinetry, can give you the inspiration you need to transform a tired toilet into a modern marvel.

Make a singular statement For a bolder look, the best approach may actually be quite simple. Use a single material throughout the room for big impact. For example, run the same tile you select for the floor up the walls, across the vanity,

around the shower and up to the ceiling. It’s a dramatic approach, but with the right color and pattern, it can work, especially with a pale or neutral tone. The same concept applies to other materials, such as plaster or concrete, which can create a uniform look that makes a statement.

Try a timeless tub Freestanding tubs were once associated with older, outdated homes, but like many things in design, these stand-alone vessels are once more back in vogue. Today’s freestanding tubs offer tons of style to fit nearly any design motif. If the claw-foot style of yesteryear is your thing, there are plenty of contemporary takes on the look for an

updated, traditional bathroom. There are also a wide range of sleek styles that look nothing like the classic version for a completely fresh, sophisticated bath. Give your tub extra star power by setting it against a backdrop of tile or reclaimed wood, and punch up the style with standout fixtures to make your tub a truly unique feature of the bathroom.

Float your vanity Take a look at today’s trending bathroom designs and you’ll see floating vanities cover the pages of most design magazines and articles. Floating vanities, also known as wall-mounted vanities, mount directly to the wall, providing more floor space and creating a streamlined look.

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Authentic

Italian Cuisine

Savory Zucchini and Fontina Muffins

Savory dishes featuring pesto

O

FAMILY FEATURES

ne of the best times of each day is gathering with family members to enjoy home-cooked meals.

Using fresh and versatile ingredients, adults can be at ease that everyone is eating right with a nutritious dinner and kids are eating something delicious and relaxing each evening.

Pesto can be used as an ingredient in many recipes and brings a punch of flavor to each dish on the table. For example, it can be served mixed in potatoes, as a spread on sandwiches, dolloped on soups or dips and as a sauce on pasta.

With authentic Italian taste capturing the recipes of the region, Filippo Berio Pestos are made to suit any taste. The versatile flavors include Classic Basil, Sun Dried Tomato, Tomato & Ricotta and Hot Chili and Olive. Each variety is

vegetarian, gluten-free and GMO-free, making it the perfect addition to any dinner.

Pesto can be served hot or cold, so it is easy to cook with or add to dishes featuring fresh vegetables, like this recipe for Chicken Caprese Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. Add Savory Zucchini and Fontina Muffins to the meal for a fun twist on muffins.

For a more traditional meal the whole family can enjoy, try this Tomato and Tortellini Soup made with Tomato & Ricotta Pesto. This pesto is based on an age-old Sicilian recipe, combining the sweetness of tomatoes with the smoothness of ricotta cheese and the rich taste of Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil. For more flavorful recipes and ways to cook with pesto, visit FilippoBerio.com.

P U B L I C I T Y