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How a Business Therapist Helped the Founders of Clearstem Scale Their Company

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Many have sought therapy outside of the office, but have you ever thought about bringing a therapist into the workplace? When you consider the nuances of starting a business, from managing finances to finalizing product formulas, creating marketing strategies, and supervising a team (no matter how big or small), the concept of bringing a third party onboard to help employees meet personal and team goals and offer guidance on how to enhance individual work styles may not seem far-fetched. 

Communication happens at every stage of running a business, and how you effectively communicate through the ups and downs of operating a business can impact the overall success of your company, as well as the mental health of employees. Forty-two percent of people have suffered from burnout, stress and fatigue as a result of communication issues in their business, according to a recent survey from Project Co., a project management software company. 

For Clearstem founders Kayleigh Christina and Danielle Gronich, bringing in a therapist was paramount, especially during the early stages of bootstrapping and scaling their non-toxic skin-care company—lauded for its revolutionary line of stem cell products combating acne, scarring, and aging.

“When [Kayleigh] moved to LA [from San Diego], we were at a point in the company where things were starting to get really real,” says Gronich, on the latest episode of WorkParty. “The checks we were writing were a lot bigger, the decisions we were making were a lot more consequential, and we didn’t have a lot of the foundational understanding of how each other communicates to bridge the gap with the distance and the added pressure.” 

To help facilitate effective communication through the stresses and tribulations of scaling a business, the pair brought on a therapist and executive coach to walk them through their core values exercises, three-year plan, and “all the other things you do when you are serious about the trajectory of your company,” says Gronich. 

Now on retainer for three years and counting, the therapist even helps their team if there’s anything they need to “clean up,” such as if a conversation didn’t go smoothly or if an employee didn’t quite understand something during a review. “We have him there to neutralize and elevate all conversations and discrepancies when they arise,” says Gronich.  

Christina also points out that a lot of founders aren’t trained in leadership and management before starting a business. “Both of us didn’t come from some senior level management position where we’re running another company and then come over,” she says. “We’re figuring this out for the first time.” Learning how to make employees feel supported and appreciated, but also challenged and accountable, has pushed the duo to learn a different style of communication.

“Our team is growing beautifully—they get along and the communication is great,” says Christina. “When there’s little bumps, our team knows how to handle it, and they know they have the resources and support to handle it at the same time. We really get to go through all the struggles together, and even better, celebrate all the wins.”

Tune into WorkParty to learn more about how Christina and Gronich bootstrapped their business, why they lead an education-first model with consumers, and how they grew a strong online community as a consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand.

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7 Business Strategies From This Year's Create Cultivate 100 Honorees That’ll Help Set You Apart

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The path to success is never linear, and this is especially true for women and femmes in business. Despite the challenges they’ve faced, those honored on this year's Create Cultivate 100 list have achieved remarkable success due to the unique strategies they applied to their business practices.

Ahead, we share some of these approaches that set them apart from the rest and how they apply to entrepreneurs at every stage.

1. Prepare to pivot

Beauty nominee, Amy Liu worked at Smashbox, Kate Somerville, and Josie Maran Cosmetics before striking out on her own to start the award-winning makeup brand Tower 28, which she launched at age 40. Even though it took her 18 years to finally say yes to becoming an entrepreneur—she’d thought about it since she was 28—Liu says she never counted herself (or a career change) out. "Part of manifestation," she says, "is just putting your dream out there."

2. Build intentional partnerships

Climate honoree and sustainability activist Jhánneu Roberts is an expert at this. Roberts partners with like-minded brands, like Bank of the West and Grove Collaborative, that further empower her community to live a sustainable life. When sharing advice for up and coming activists and sustainability creators she says, “It’s not just about reducing waste, it’s also about sustaining yourself.” Later this year, Jhánneu plans to launch a course focused on teaching other creators how to work with brands so that they can continue to build their own businesses, sustainably.

3. Follow your intuition

Content Creator honoree Achieng Agutu, also known as the Tantalizing Confidence Queen, has built an incredible community founded on fearlessness. When it comes to making important decisions, she encourages her followers to look within. "When something is for you, it should feel effortless and there should be no overthinking," she says. “If I don't feel a sense of freedom, a sense of happiness, if the energy is not reciprocated, if there is no sense of I see you and I want the best for you then I am out."

4. See every opportunity as a learning opportunity

Pinky Cole, Food and Beverage honoree and founder of Slutty Vegan, a plant-based burger chai based n in Atlanta valued at $100 million, has 20 new locations set to open after a successful Series A funding round. She acknowledges that expanding requires acknowledging what you don't know, being willing to learn, and not getting comfortable with what you do know. Second only to that, she says, is learning that you will lose people who are valuable to you and the business. But, the most important part is having the emotional maturity to move forward without letting it get in the way of your success. 

5. Use representation to tap potential

Finance honoree Simran Kaur, founder of Girls That Invest, aims to make investing more inclusive, starting from an early age. “You cannot become what you cannot see, she says. "More women talking about money or investing is going to encourage more women to come into the door. It feels less intimidating when you know people who look like you and can break down the jargon in ways you understand—without being patronizing. It's about using language and a female-lens that makes it just a wee bit more fun and engaging.”

6. Nurture your interests

Arts and Culture honoree and founder of Utendahl Creative, Madison Utendahl, has been on the founding teams of cultural phenomenons like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Refinery 29's 29Rooms and the Museum of Ice Cream. She believes in letting what you love lead you to your true north. “The journey to happiness is lifelong and well worth it,” she says. “I hope all women, especially those in creative spaces, know that they are worth their wildest dreams.”

7. Never stop testing new ideas

As the founder of Poppi, Food and Beverage honoree Allison Ellsworth wants to inspire others to bring out their inner disruptive entrepreneur—and not be afraid to try new things. Case in point: Ellsworth's first foray into TikTok a personal story about why she started her brand after not being able to find gut-friendly beverages, garnered 50 million views and $100K sales. This led to Poppi being the number-one searched beverage on Amazon, free endorsements from celebrity fans like Kendall Jenner and Drew Barrymore, and being named BevNet’s Marketing Campaign of the year. All of which taught Ellsworth a valuable lesson: Never let the fear of trying something new decide your future.

Tune in to this week'e episode of WorkParty where Jaclyn Johnson looks to these inspiring founders to answer some of your most-asked questions about owning and running a business.

It's Time To Leave Hustle Culture in the Dust

On her 2022 album Renaissance, Beyoncé sang, “You won’t break my soul… I just quit my job / I'm gonna find new drive / Damn, they work me so damn hard / Work by nine, then off past five.” 

Twitter erupted, immediately adopting “Break My Soul,” as the “anthem of the Great Resignation,” the trend of millions of people resigning during the pandemic to start their own businesses and find roles that suit their desired lifestyle. This move brought a larger question into the zeitgeist: Is hustle culture…over? Are we all ready to let go of toxic working practices, set boundaries, and, as Bey sings, “Release ya trade, release the stress / Release the love, forget the rest?”

It’s complicated, especially if you’re a side hustler, solopreneur, or a CEO running a team—and checking out for the day rarely (if ever) seems like an option. 

While the word “hustle” has been used to describe laborious work since at least the 1800s, the term “hustle culture” is newly-minted and generally applies to knowledge workers (those employed for their knowledge and skills rather than providing goods and services). This oft-used phrase refers to glorifying—or being asked to glorify—a career-centered life. It’s also referred to as “burnout culture” or “grind culture” and may look like fielding your boss's texts at all-night hours, answering work calls on weekends, or burning the midnight oil to finally launch your business. 

All of these behaviors arose out of perceived necessity in times of economic downturn: “The term ‘hustle culture’ became more popular in the Great Recession around 2008 when people started needing to take on side hustles just to make more money,” says Linda Piontek, founder, and CEO of Piontek Group, a consulting firm specializing in reducing employee turnover and bettering employee experience. “People got sucked into this workaholic mentality more and more. They thought they had to [hustle] to keep their jobs, make a good living, get a promotion, raise their families, and be successful.”

In 2023, this attitude has fallen out of fashion—at least publicly. Kim Kardashian received backlash online after she told women business owners to “work harder” in early 2022. Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, received a hefty serving of backlash for telling employees they would “need to be extremely hardcore" to weather the transitioning social media platform. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, a significant amount of the U.S. workforce would rather work from home than get a raise, indicating that work-life balance is the utmost priority to many.

Following the lowest unemployment rate in almost 50 years, employees have the power to demand a different work culture and desire. According to Piontek, the pandemic has prompted many people to rethink how their career fits into their lives. “Priorities were already shifting for people before the pandemic, but COVID-19 accelerated those shifts,” she says. “People saw their loved ones and colleagues dying from COVID-19, and they looked at their own lives and began to reevaluate what matters most to them. People asked themselves, Is it worth it?” 

“People saw their loved ones and colleagues dying from COVID-19, and they looked at their own lives and began to reevaluate what matters most to them. People asked themselves, Is it worth it?” 

- Linda Piontek, founder and CEO of Piontek Group

Data collected during the pandemic reflects this perspective shift: An estimated 47 million people quit their jobs in 2021 compared to 42 million in 2019. Nearly 4.5 million new businesses cropped up in the U.S. during 2020, a 51 percent higher increase than the 2010 to 2019 average. “Low unemployment, personal savings, and family safety nets helped make this possible,” says Piontek. Not to mention, many people stayed at their jobs while “quiet quitting” or doing the bare minimum to stay employed, placing a new emphasis on their non-work lives. 

In short: Corporate culture changed from “living to work” to an attitude somewhere closer to “working to live,” a paradigm shift that bodes well for both employees and employers. "Working to the point of burnout and exhaustion, and lacking time or energy for health, fitness, and family, has many negative effects on not only employee well-being but also business results,” says Piontek. “When people overwork, they make more errors, get sick and take sick days more often, and become less productive.” Case and point: In 2022, Gallup predicted that low employee engagement costs the global economy $7.8 trillion annually. 

As employees reject hustle culture, Piontek says that the C-Suite—be it a new entrepreneur with one employee or a CEO leading a team of a thousand—should keep two words in mind: flexibility and trust. “Employees want to be trusted to do their jobs at the time and place that works best for them when they can be most productive,” she says. “For some people, that means taking time off during the day to do things with their kids or take care of an elderly parent, balancing that with working early in the morning before the rest of the family gets up or working in the evening or over the weekend.” 

Feeling trusted to work on their own schedule is the opposite of hustle culture—and makes every employee feel like they’re contributing to the company's success without contributing their entire life. Work-from-home culture is an important part of this brave new world of work, as well. “The best companies have figured out that caring about employees' well-being and not just allowing, but encouraging, them to live a healthy, productive lifestyle, helps not only employees but also the bottom line,” says Piontek.

For knowledge workers, “hustle culture” is, indeed, being left in the dust. But it’s worth noting that employees across all sectors, including those in the service, education, medical, and travel industries, also desire greater flexibility and less “hustle” in their day-to-day work. For example, many doctors and nurses who faced burnout during the pandemic quit, or at least considered quitting or dialing back their roles, to care for their mental well-being. In coming years, we will likely see folks across all specialties reject the notion of working harder instead of smarter, says Piontek. 

Of course, there is the 2023 economy to consider. Many economists predict some economic slump in the coming year that could cost many people their jobs. As was the case in 2008, history shows that the fear of being laid off could insight people to put their heads down and get to work. This may be especially true for entrepreneurs who capitalize on the tricky economic climate and begin growing their businesses. Those who launch companies in times of economic distress have the advantages of less competition, discounted vendors, and access to business partners whom they may not be able to score a meeting with normally, reports Forbes. That said, even with these unique opportunities, self-employed folks may find their plates piling up, yet again needing to grapple with what the right amount of work looks like.

“‘Hustle culture’ in its most unhealthy manifestation—expectations for relentless hard work, overwork to the point of burnout, sacrificing personal well-being—is fading,” says Piontek, but that’s not to say that it’s gone. Like a light that flickers instead of just turning on or off, hustle culture isn’t consistent; it fluctuates based on industry, leadership, and, of course, whether you’re an employee or self-employed. 

For those trying to build a business from scratch, there are ways to head off this urge to hustle (and the corresponding burnout that arrives a few steps behind). Late last year, Create & Cultivate asked 15 entrepreneurs how they bounced back from work exhaustion. Their suggestions included hiring and delegating, keeping track of what tasks drain you the most, taking an (extended) break, hiring a therapist, and treating your time like currency. 

“My favorite mantra has always been to be the tortoise, not the hare. If you’re driving yourself full force and not stopping, you’re not only going to crash and burn. You’re going to miss out on life.” 

Gesche Haas, founder and CEO of Dreamers & Doers

“For so long, we’ve been told to ‘hustle,’ ‘no days off,’ and ‘sleep when you’re dead.’ Those are all the things that are burning us out,” reflected Gesche Haas, the founder and CEO of Dreamers & Doers, a private collective that amplifies the entrepreneurial pursuits of extraordinary women through thought leadership opportunities, authentic connection, and access. “My favorite mantra has always been to be the tortoise, not the hare. If you’re driving yourself full force and not stopping, you will not only crash and burn. You’re going to miss out on life.” 

What would happen, she wondered, if we offered ourselves grace and gave ourselves time to be human instead of time to hustle? It’s an important question. 

In 2023, determining your relationship to your work is now part of your job description—and an important one. Renaissances take a hot minute, and while we need change to happen on a corporate level, taking a lunchtime walk or ending things with a toxic client is a start. Like Bey says, it's more than work at stake.

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Cass Dimicco On Parallel Pathing Your Personal Brand With Your Business

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Today’s guest is multi-hyphenate Cass Dimicco–a successful entrepreneur, content creator, and creative director. Lauded by the media as “a true tastemaker, one of the fashion world’s ultimate ‘it girls and style icons,” Cass is not only a trend-setter for her highly engaged audience, but she’s also the founder, designer, and creative director for her own successful jewelry line, Aureum Collective.

Cass had leveraged her eye for style and ability to forecast fashion trends into full-time digital content creation in 2017, leaving her previous role as a corporate buyer and product designer in fashion. Aureum Collective was later founded in September 2019 when Cass and her husband recognized a gap in the market for a jewelry brand that fulfilled a luxury aesthetic without the luxury price point.

Listen below to learn about her journey from influencer to entrepreneur, and her best advice for launching and scaling a corporate brand in line with her personal brand.

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Bella Hadid & Jen Batchelor On Leading a Sober-Curious Movement and Changing The Age-Old Social Ritual of Drinking

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Bella Hadid isn't sure how cans of Kin Euphorics showed up in her fridge, but one sip and she's glad they were put there.

Working in the modeling industry may be glamorous, but, as Hadid learned, can take a toll on you physically and mentally. So when she discovered and frequently drank Kin Spritz, a non-alcoholic apéritif, she noticed her mood was instantly boosted and she felt good making it through the multiple shows or late nights. Hadid wasn't sure how this drink was capable of making her lifestyle better, but she had to find and connect with its creator Jen Batchelor.

Hadid and Batchelor's instant chemistry was undeniable because they both came from backgrounds where they felt the burnout of their life choices, and wanted to improve their mind, body, and soul. It was as if the stars had aligned. Hadid signed on as a co-founder of Kin Euphorics and together they are building a booze-free culture. Hear Hadid speak from our LA Conference about her new lifestyle and what led her to entrepreneurship below.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE

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OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

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Live from Austin Pop-Up: How to Define Goals and Rise to Your Potential with Payal Kadakia, Founder of ClassPass and Author of LifePass

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Doing Too Much Led To Work Exhaustion- Here's How I Bounced Back

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As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to feel like you need to be doing it all, and all the time. However, this mindset has the potential to put you on the fast track to work exhaustion- aka burnout!

If you’re currently in the midst of burnout or feel like you’re on your way there yourself, know that there's hope for recovery and avoidance altogether. We spoke with 15, high-achieving women who’ve experienced burnout as a result of doing too much all at once. Luckily for them (and for you), they’ve since bounced back by implementing more sustainable strategies to ensure they are thriving both personally and professionally.

You are capable of doing a lot, but you don’t always have to be doing everything. Take the advice from these successful entrepreneurs.

Katie Ward

Owner of Katie Ward Photography, a brand, editorial, and portrait photographer based in NYC and the Hamptons. 

My experience: I experienced severe burnout at the end of 2021. I am the primary parent and primary earner in my household and I had been exclusively pumping for a baby, spending three hours a day driving my older child to and from school, as well as working more than full-time. I ended up having to dip into savings to take two months off to get back to baseline, sleep, and figure out my priorities. The biggest strategy I employed was to significantly raise the prices of my offerings. Doing so enabled me to work 25 to 50 percent less, while still being able to support my family both financially and emotionally.

My advice: Sometimes there is no avoiding burnout, especially with the unrealistic expectations that society has placed on everyone, but more specifically on working moms. But there are tools we can use to get through it. Focusing on getting enough sleep, eating regularly, and finally getting a therapist who I felt comfortable opening up to helped me a lot.

Ashita Shah

CEO of Arunashi, a combined 11th-generation fine jewelry atelier that specializes in rare and one-a-kind gemstones.

My experience: Burnout is real. With kids and an active social life with work dinners and friends, it was like the hamster wheel with no end in sight. Outsourcing and hiring a good reliable team for me was worth the weight in gold, from managing life at work to managing the home and the kids. Time management and planning have also been extremely helpful. With a monthly brain dump and a short daily list of goals, it allows me to get to the finish line in smaller chunks versus being overwhelmed by it all. 

My advice: Hire. I can't tell you how much sanity and peace of mind this will bring to you. Hire to manage all the things you can't do—from filing papers, to creating and managing schedules for home and personal life, to answering general emails—so you can focus truly on what you can do. Hiring a few great individuals is all it takes to stay ahead of the curve and not feel like you are gasping for air. 

Dorothy Kolb

Founder and CEO of dk east associates, providing clients with customized business strategies, financial confidence, and a curated network of professionals, experts, and allies.

My experience: Because I'm in the service space as a fractional CFO, I'm always working for others. I pride myself on my bespoke offerings but it has also, on occasion, left me feeling unsupported, tapped out, and burnt. As a single mom of four, I also need to be fully myself for my sons. Burnout has manifested itself in me feeling empty, crushed, and useless. I have built up a network of colleagues, experts, and allies who I can rely on not only for referrals but for help. Referring along parts of work not only allows me to source the best for my clients but allows me to take a break knowing my clients are in amazing hands.

My advice: It's so important to have a bunch of resources. Now and then you just need to refer out some work to someone you fully trust so that you can regroup. Trust me, it pays itself back in multiples. 

Rossalvi Marte

Founder and CEO of Marte & Co., a consulting agency specializing in business marketing and branding for personal and lifestyle brands. 

My experience: ​​The first time I experienced burnout was in my corporate career. This was a mental burnout since I’m a mom of two toddlers and I did not have time for anything after work. I would bathe and feed my kids quickly so that they could be in bed as soon as possible. After starting my business, I experienced burnout again because I said yes too many times when I should have said no. What helped me the most was working with a naturopathic doctor and life coach at the same time. Making time for self-care is also now a non-negotiable for me.

My advice: Spend time thinking about what drains your energy and what boundaries you need to start implementing in your life today. Block time on the calendar for true self-care and commit to it. 

Mellinda Abbott

CPA at Abbott and Company LLC, a boutique accounting firm working alongside successful entrepreneurs to ensure their growth and success.

My experience: I would say I was a member of the “I can do it all” club until my late 40s when divorce and a health scare forced me to stop and evaluate. I learned to be sure that each day I focus on the things that are meaningful to me—the ones that put a smile on my face and feel good. 

My advice: Pause, sit with yourself, and identify what is important to you. If you are not healthy and happy, no one else in your life will be either.

Shay Paresh

Founder and CEO of SHAYDE BEAUTY, a skincare line made with melanin in mind.

My experience: I’ve had several burnout moments throughout my career because I overextended myself. It’s important to re-evaluate your priorities and learn to set boundaries. Learn to say “no” more often. Saying no allows you to say “yes” to the commitments you want to make!

My advice: Set aside time to disconnect and participate in an activity you truly enjoy, such as attending your favorite workout class or connecting with a community that is personally meaningful to you. It’s vital to surround yourself with the right people, personally and professionally. 

Ashley Rector

Founder of Laura Alexandria Marketing, a female-powered social media micro-agency working with venture-backed businesses to expand their reach on social media.

My experience: Burnout is very real and very scary. I was a practicing attorney for several years while simultaneously running a side hustle focused on building authentic communities. I thought I could do it all and that I had no boundaries. I hit a breaking point where I mentally collapsed and couldn't handle it anymore. I had to take a step back, identify the things that brought me joy, and evaluate how I was spending my time on a day-to-day basis.

My advice: We are a sum of all of our small actions. When you start to skip things that fill up your bucket here and there, you don't realize that those actions of putting yourself last add up tremendously. So don't skip the morning indulgent coffee, the 10 minutes in the park with sunshine on your face, or the manicure.

Carlye Morgan

Founder and CEO of Chalonne, creating luxury Apple Watch bands for women, hand-crafted in France with the finest leathers, gemstones, and solid gold.

My experience: Growing up, I was told that women could have it all—they could have a career and a family and life could be wonderful. But in reality, I found that balancing a career and a family was incredibly challenging. Around the time my daughter was four years old, the long hours, stress, and politics at my corporate job began to take a toll on me emotionally and physically. Since many factors in my work environment were completely out of my control, I decided to take control of my own destiny and walk away, which was one of the hardest decisions of my life. But once the weight of my stressful job was lifted, I was able to get back to myself and reinvent my career on my own terms as an entrepreneur. Granted, it was a very risky thing to do. But sometimes, you have to take a great risk to get a great reward. I have not regretted it for a moment and in hindsight, I just wish I had done it sooner!

My advice: It’s incredibly hard to do the same thing for many years, feeling like a hamster on a wheel. I would recommend attempting to make a lateral move to a different position within your company. I did that successfully for years and it helped keep things fresh and interesting. 

Belma McCaffrey

CEO of Work Bigger, a career coaching platform for high achievers who want to find their purpose. 

My experience: One of my most significant burnout experiences happened when I was working full-time at the largest news organization in the world. At the same time, I had my first son and was working to launch my first coaching business. I was trying to "have it all"—the success, the family, and the business. I didn't know it at the time, but my self-worth was based on my level of success and achievement. It was this harmful belief that led to my burnout. My No. 1 strategy was to take a pause and rest, and work on my self-worth and my confidence. 

My advice: Understand where your burnout is coming from. One place to start is by identifying your emotional triggers. Emotional triggers are events or experiences that trigger a negative emotional response. These can show you what you need to heal so that you can learn to work from a healthier place. You can learn to set boundaries and say no, which is critical for getting your power back.

Jenna Sereni

CEO and Founder of HandsDown, the shopping platform built for communities and friends.

My experience: Burnout is so very real, and especially as a parent and a founder, there is so much to juggle in the pressure cooker that is this career. That said, after 15 years I think I’ve finally unlocked my escape when it comes to burnout. If you’re going to be taking on a big job, an exceptional challenge at work, or a new project, first check in with yourself and think about the balance you’ve been able to create as it relates to your personal self-care. What brings you peace? What makes you feel at ease? For me, it’s a 30-minute daily morning workout, short meditation, and monthly mani-pedi. My No. 1 priority when setting up my day, my travel schedule, and my personal vacation schedule? It all revolves around my self-care needs. Because ultimately, if I don’t take care of myself, we’re at risk of it all unraveling.

My advice: Find what brings you peace and makes you feel at ease, and make that a priority. I promise, carving out that small amount of time will be worth the effort in setting up the habit. Two helpful resources are Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty and Atomic Habits by James Clear. Read these two books and you’ll be on your way to a lifestyle that prioritizes your personal health, setting you up to crush it in your professional one.

Michelle Glauser

Founder and CEO of Techtonica, a nonprofit that helps women and non-binary adults with low incomes overcome barriers to entering tech careers.

My experience: As someone who founded an intensive tech education nonprofit and managed it while working another full-time job, I have both personally been affected by burnout and advised many people dealing with it. Even during the toughest times, I make sure to get enough sleep and regular exercise, because no combination of other things can make up for the foundation sleep and exercise provide. I also found that identifying the feelings I have and sharing them—whether with a friend or in my journal—helps me process and move on. When you care so much about the work you do, you have to remember that your value isn’t defined by your level of productivity. Be intentional, consistent, and unapologetic about taking time to recharge.

My advice: When you feel the most overwhelmed and in danger of complete burnout, it usually feels like the worst time to take a break, but it’s the most essential time to take a break. I recommend everyone use a trauma-informed tool we recently implemented at Techtonica called a WRAP, or Wellness Recovery Action Plan—create, share, and stick to a personal doc that lists what you will do regularly to maintain wellness, what triggers a stress response for you, signs that you are overwhelmed, and what you will do to recover. 

Felicia Kashevaroff

CEO of Tend Task, a newly imagined tool for household organization.

My experience: My experience with burnout came during my years as a stay-at-home mom. Since I wasn't "working," I felt compelled to prove my worth by joining every committee and acting as room mom for all three of my children's classrooms. I planned fundraisers and sat on nonprofit boards—important work, but did I need to do it all? My partner couldn't understand that these responsibilities, combined with the mental load I was carrying at home, were simply too much. Ultimately, his refusal to value my time and contributions forced me to do it myself. I learned to say no more often and started exploring the meaning of equitable partnership.

My advice: My most meaningful advice is to value your time. It's your most precious resource. Say no without guilt and call on your friends, family, and your partner if you have one to support you when you feel burned out, or feel burnout approaching.

Emily McDonald

Co-Founder of My Founder Circle, a community for early-stage female founders to help them launch and scale their companies.

My experience: I faced major burnout with my first start-up, The Stylist LA. I was working more than 80 hours per week, raising investment, and ran a large team. I always put myself last. These factors resulted in massive burnout. I realized I needed to put my needs first. I needed to prioritize sleep, exercise, and healthy eating, which in turn made my work even better. Working 80-hour weeks wasn't helpful in the long run, even though it felt like it at the time. Putting myself and my mental health first is ultimately so much more productive for my business.

My advice: Remember to give yourself grace. Find a confidante, a therapist, or a business coach who you can be 100 percent honest with. Open up to them about how you are feeling and have them assist with strategies to get through it. Take a step back and give yourself space from the office, from your work, or whatever you may need. Try and move your body, get some sleep, and put your phone down. All of these things help when going through burnout––but they also help in avoiding burnout. Remember: there is so much more to life than work, even though it's hard to see when you are in it.

Marika Adamopoulos

Founder of Marika Creative, an agency specializing in stunning visual experiences, boldly and strategically supporting global businesses to increase their revenue.

My experience: As both a creative and an entrepreneur, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that burnout is a familiar place for me. Especially when I was first getting my business off the ground, I was working eight days a week, 57 hours a day. I didn’t take a true vacation for three years, and, at one point, I was taking on up to 20 photo projects a month. This pattern and the stress it induced led to some pretty significant health challenges, bringing me to a place where I was forced to make some changes. 

My advice: Schedule your rest time and plan all your work-related tasks around your non-negotiable “you time.” Burnout is fairly easy to avoid if you set up a structure in your days, weeks, months, and years where you create the time you need to work through internal battles, lay on the couch and do nothing, lift at the gym, or whatever you need. As someone who’s experienced burnout many times, a big piece of overcoming it is realizing that it is okay to step away from your work, and to realize that you’ll be more successful and productive if you do step away for a time. Talking this through with a coach, therapist, or strong friend to help you get to that understanding internally can be really useful, and can then get you to the place you need to develop the rituals that will work best for you. 

Katherine Sprung

Founder of Sprung On Food, a series highlighting food and beverage companies and featuring food conversations with musicians and public figures.

My experience: I've owned and operated Squish Marshmallows, a small-batch artisanal marshmallow and confections company, for eight years. When you're a sole owner of a bootstrapped business, you wear an incredible amount of hats, and you're working non-stop. After seven years of running the business, five of which I ran a brick-and-mortar retail shop with pop-ups and satellite locations, I was burning out quickly, especially going through the height of the pandemic. For me, the best way to give myself the freedom I needed and not completely run myself down, was to not renew my lease and close my brick and mortar, basically changing the model of my business.

My advice: Evaluate what you're doing, and where you're putting your time. For so long we've been told to "hustle," "no days off," and "sleep when you're dead." Those are all the things that are burning us out. My favorite mantra has always been to be the tortoise, not the hare. If you're driving yourself full force, not stopping, you're not only going to crash and burn, you're going to miss out on life. We often think that the business that we're in, or building, is the only thing that's happening and unless we're only sleeping three hours a night and working around the clock, nothing will get done. Sure, we could all use more hours in a day, but what we need to do is shift our mindset and give ourselves more grace. Slow down, work hard, but allow yourself room to breathe and live outside of your work. 

About the author: Gesche Haas is the Founder/CEO of Dreamers & Doers, a private collective that amplifies the entrepreneurial pursuits of extraordinary women through thought leadership opportunities, authentic connection, and access. Gesche's been featured on Bloomberg TV, CNNMoney, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Business Insider, Forbes, Fortune Magazine, Refinery29, Broadly/Vice, and other major media outlets, as well as at the United Nations, where she spoke during the sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

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Pivoting In Your Career In Your 30s: It's Okay And Here's How To Tackle It

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Your 30s are a divergent decade—between life milestones and relationships, you develop into the adult you want to become. With shifting priorities and life perspectives, you might come to realize the career path you're on is not the final destination. (You may also be experiencing burnout.) Maybe it's time to consider pivoting in your career.

The good news is that your career doesn’t have to follow a linear path. There is no one-size-fits-all solution and you are not being graded on your commitment to your first career path. You get to reinvent your work life as many times as you want. Just because it sounds daunting does not mean it's not doable. 

So, where do you start when you’re looking to change careers, or maybe you don’t know what kind of change you’re seeking. We know it can be overwhelming to contemplate a complete change, so whatever your mindset, the following tips will help you begin your journey. 

1. Assess your network 

The benefit of changing your career path in your 30s is that you’re not starting from square one. First, go through your contact list, starting with your email address book and LinkedIn connections. Is there anyone you already know in a role that interests you? Do you have a mentor at your current job that could advise you on the next chapter of your career? Make a spreadsheet of your closest contacts and note their job title, your relationship with them, and why they could be a promising resource for your new career journey.

The goal is to begin researching new career directions with the support and guidance of peers you’ve already established relationships with. This might be a good time to try out a LinkedIn Premium account to maximize your networking, and you'll also have more access to hiring managers. 

2. Assess your skills

Ask yourself what top skills your current job requires. Do you interface with high-profile clients or oversee your company’s internship program? Do you have project management software development experience? Maybe you write your company’s social media posts or sell marketing automation solutions. No matter what you are currently doing, your skills are transferable. As an exercise, write out the primary responsibilities of your current role and what skills are required for each. Brainstorm how those skills will translate into a new career field. 

3. Take classes

The internet has democratized access to continuing education opportunities. Research the kind of certificates or credentials that can introduce you to, and give you experience with, a new career field. 

Platforms like Udemy and General Assembly are great resources for education and career transformation. Both companies specialize in in-demand skills and offer thousands of courses online. Through ongoing education, you can hone new skills, while also understanding the full scope of interesting new career paths.

4. Be open-minded 

Maybe you know what career field you want to go into, but if you don’t The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook is a great resource for beginning your research. It outlines different industries and career sectors, as well as qualifications for becoming that type of professional. You might not know your dream career already exists! 

Another free resource to check out is "The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings." It's an ebook from The Wharton School that details data-driven strategies for advancing your career through job-hopping. No matter where your research takes you, be open-minded to careers you have never considered before.

5. Plan for salary changes 

Lastly, changing career paths will affect your salary in the short term. But don’t fret! This is a temporary reality of starting anew. Salaries, like career paths, are not always about incremental growth. Consider side hustles or part-time work that pays the bills, but still allows you the time to develop into your new career path. 

Written by Dana Kelly

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Former Harvard Meditation Advisor Shares Steps On How Entrepreneurs Can Overcome Doubt

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Doubt: It’s one of those one-syllable feelings that can feel catastrophic as an entrepreneur. About four in ten newbies and business owners experience this all-too-common emotion, but its ubiquity doesn’t make it any less challenging. According to former Harvard Meditation Advisor Kassi Underwood, the present moment has a lot to offer uncertain entrepreneurs—even if, in this very moment, it’s hard for you to believe that sitting with your doubt is the way to go. 

An author, podcaster, and entrepreneur, who holds a Masters of Divinity from Harvard, has come against her fair share of self-questioning. Below, she offers her perspective on what doubt actually is, why it may manifest more often for women and non-binary entrepreneurs, and what to do when you find yourself in the grips of this emotion. 

So, what is doubt? And why does it run more rampant among women entrepreneurs

Underwood has a simple definition: “Doubt is fear. It’s that simple,” she says. “A lot of things that we label with more complex terms are just fear. Guilt is fear. Doubt is fear. Doubt is, 'I don't know if I can do that,' which is another way of saying, 'I'm afraid I can't do this. I'm afraid.'” Mic drop, right? 

Understandably, this doubt (aka fear) doesn’t target all people equally. Women and non-binary entrepreneurs—and particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) —are up against discrimination that makes the fear more readily available. Since women-founded startups receive just 2.3 percent of venture funding and the funding gap is even bleaker for founders of color, it makes sense that you may constantly be asking yourself questions like, “Can I do this?” and “Are the steps I’m taking leading me toward success?”

What’s more, as women, we may be more likely to question our leadership skills in the C-suite. “Those of us who grew up as girls are programmed with the beliefs that we should be quiet, or we're going to come across as bossy or rude or demanding,” Underwood says. “We're taught that we're not supposed to care about money, or that if we do that, we're a gold digger or we're too masculine. There are so many insults that come with being a female entrepreneur.” If any of this sounds familiar, know that your experience is normal (which is not to say it’s acceptable or fair that you have to deal with it.) 

Over time, systematic change like more funding going to women entrepreneurs will hopefully take the burden of doubt off all of our shoulders (or, okay, at least lighten the load). In the meantime, however, Underwood has five steps to help you approach doubt with mindfulness. So go ahead: Plug into the present moment. 

1. Meditate (for one minute!) in the morning to reduce your overall quantity of fear triggers

No surprise here! Diffusing doubt doesn’t start the moment you begin to feel uncertain; it starts the second you open your eyes. If meditating for 20 minutes feels daunting to you, never fear. Underwood has designed a one-minute, daily meditation that you can do in the morning to head off doubt before the day has even begun, so you have less “Ahhh!” moments later in the day. 

2. Identify and put words to your fear

“If a fear comes up, first of all, identify what you’re afraid of in the moment. Like, ‘I'm afraid that I'm going to send this email, and they're going to say no,’” Underwood shares. Once you’ve taken a pulse on what it is that has your heart racing, you can start working through it, which leads us to…

3. Identify the “lie you’re telling yourself”

“In fear, there's always a lie that I'm telling myself,” Underwood says. “One of the most prominent lies that women tell ourselves is, 'I can't handle that. If this goes to shit, I won't know what to do next.' And, of course, that's not true. You're gonna figure it out like you're a badass woman and you're gonna know in the moment, what to do next, but you can't solve a problem that's not even happening.”

Find your lie. 

4. Write out the worst-case scenario and the best-case scenario

Now that you’re holding your fear in one hand and your lie in the other, you’re ready to plan. “The next thing to write down is, 'how would I handle the worst case scenario with courage? What's that look like?' And then what's the best case scenario? What news do I want to create for myself, my life, and life in general?”, says Underwood. 

For example, if the worst-case scenario is that you lose a client, the best-case scenario may be that you now have an open slot for a cool new client that aligns with your values. Bam. 

5. Keep the fruits of this exercise nearby

“You can put some of those lines up on your fridge or in your office,” Underwood advices. “They will start inspiring you and help you cut through those moments of doubt. So you'll be in doubt, but you have already done the exercise. You're like, ‘Oh, right. I don't believe that anymore. Like I actually can handle this. Even if the bad sh*t happens, I can handle it.” You absolutely can!

Written by Kells McPhillips

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How to Set Personal Goals for 2022

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As we close out the last few months of 2021, it’s time to prepare yourself to make the most out of the new year. Most people set resolutions for themselves at the start of a fresh year, but to really prioritize success, let’s focus on setting personal goals! Get specific about what you want to achieve and accomplish in 2022: we gathered these handy tips from entrepreneurs that are passionate about helping women succeed to make sure your goals are realistic and attainable and you’ll be crossing them off your “to-do” list in no time!

#1 Know the difference between goals and intentions.

“We’re all about goals, trust. But it’s not where we start. Instead, begin by taking some time to think about how you want to FEEL in 2022 and get clarity on your intentions for the new year. What’s the difference between a goal and an intention? A goal should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timebound. It should have a quantifiable number in it and a date by which it will happen. An intention is more of an overarching plan for what you want to bring about.” - Natalie Underdown, Ph.D., Executive Coach & Organizational Psychologist, The Nu Company

#2 Start out by figuring out your big picture needs.

“Intentions should provide answers to the following questions: What feelings would my 2022 best self feel on a regular basis? What overarching impact do I want to make in this new year? What am I ready to let go of? How does my WHY play into all of this? Both goals and intentions are important, but it’s way more effective to start with your big picture intentions and THEN create the specific goals/targets that will get you there!” - Natalie Underdown, Ph.D., Executive Coach & Organizational Psychologist, The Nu Company

#3 Get some accountability.

“Whether it’s simply writing your top 3 goals down on a whiteboard that you see everyday, or telling a couple of your close friends or colleagues your plans, do something that will keep you accountable to your goals. Using affirmative language may also help. For example, instead of saying “I’d like to launch my business by June 2022”, write “I will launch my business by June 2022.” Just seeing or hearing those positive affirmations will give you a boost of confidence and help you believe that you will actually achieve your aim.” - Jenna Miller, Creative Director of Here Comes the Guide

#4 Go from macro to micro.

“Instead of setting one huge goal like “start my own business,” break it up into smaller, actionable steps—with the overarching result in mind. Maybe your January goal will be to register your business with the state and trademark your business name. Then in February, you’ll have outlined a simple-yet-formal business plan along with 5 website pages. And by the end of March, you’ll have the goal to make that website live and launch your business. Getting super specific in the baby steps it takes to hit a bigger, overarching goal will make it feel much more attainable and less overwhelming.” - Jenna Miller, Creative Director of Here Comes the Guide

#5 Be resilient.

“Remember that not everything comes easily—especially when it comes to lofty goals. Before you commit to tackling them, get your mind right! Don’t let setbacks throw you off course. Instead, use your passion and positive mindset to persevere. Accept that reaching your goals is playing the long game, and that any obstacles you overcome will make your achievements that much sweeter in the end.” - Jenna Miller, Creative Director of Here Comes the Guide

About the author: Leila Lewis is the CEO and founder of Be Inspired PR and The Social Remodel, an expert on the business of weddings, social media, real estate marketing, experiential events, and a mother of 4.

About the author: Dr. Natalie Underdown is an executive coach and organizational psychologist. After spending 15+ years in Corporate Leadership and Human Capital Consulting, at companies including Accenture and Live Nation, she founded The NU Company in 2018, a boutique consultancy offering executive coaching, workshops, and people & culture consulting. She artfully weaves psychology, wellness, inclusion, and science-backed strategies together to offer mindful support for the whole person at work.

About the author: Jenna Miller is Creative Director of Here Comes The Guide, a women-owned and operated wedding website that plays venue matchmaker for engaged couples. Working for a bootstrapped small business has taught Jenna a lot about entrepreneurship, the importance of company culture, and embracing a gritty everything-is-figureoutable mentality. After a decade in the wedding marketing trenches, Jenna launched her side hustle Absolute JEM, where she focuses on building bold brands and websites for female-owned small businesses. 

Featured image: Color Joy Stock

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Candice Kumai Has a Genius Strategy for Managing Her Inbox (Seriously, We're Stealing This)

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Welcome to our series A Day in the Life where we ask women we admire to share the daily minutiae of their professional lives, from the morning rituals that set them up for success to their evening wind-down routines. In this edition, we’re chatting with multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, journalist, author, podcast host, producer, director, and model Candice Kumai. Scroll on to find out how she gets it all done, including her genius strategy for managing her inbox and her delicious go-to lunch on a busy day (a.k.a. every day).

You're a journalist and six-time bestselling author who has been called "the golden girl of wellness" by Elle. How were you first drawn to wellness and what inspired you to pursue this path?

While walking through Union Square at 26, a friend in New York once said to me, “I don't think you chose this job, I think it chose you.” I come from a lineage of Japanese impressionist and tapestry artists on my mother’s side. My grandparents escaped the second atomic bomb in Kyushu by random chance during World War II. On my father’s side, my grandfather was a POW. While serving in Poland he was captured by the Russians, and he escaped death off a moving train on the other side of the world, roughly at the same time. If I’m carrying their legacy of survival, as one of the last and youngest members on each side of the family, I ought to serve them well. Each of our family members and their lineage lasts within us, and our family’s past shapes our present-day choices, our outlook on life and the opportunities that appear.  

I had always felt that my calling was to be of great service to others and to help the only way I knew how. Wellness and communication were my strongest suits all the way through college, culinary school, and while writing at the top magazines in NY, penning multiple books with doctors, nutritionists and journalists, and through the insurmountable amount of struggle I have faced in my own career as a minority female. I suppose wellness, and the way I communicate it through different mediums (podcast, shows, books, news, magazines, journals, TikTok, Instagram, newsletters), is a cover-up to all of my own pain, and perhaps my lineage’s pain. Wellness is how I can communicate relief, grief, and support to others who also may need a little inspiration or comfort from a very real and relatable standpoint. Again, probably not a choice, rather a deep-rooted calling. 

You're also the host of the podcast "Wabi Sabi," where you talk about all things wellness. What inspired you to launch this podcast, and what do you hope people take away from it?

When I wrote “Kintsugi Wellness,” my sixth book on Japanese wellness, people didn’t understand it. It was 2018 and nobody in my space had introduced this lens of Japanese wellness to the masses yet. I didn’t get booked on all the shows I normally did with my other books because it was such a “foreign concept” compared to the basic clean green eats books I usually wrote. Soon, I thought, I better explain what this book is about through a different medium: a podcast. By sheer luck, the smart ones got it. It clicked for many and the hashtags #goldenrepair and #kintsugi are TikTok faves seven years after I wrote “Kintsugi Wellness.”

The podcast “Wabi Sabi” is a love letter to every girl (and some wild men!) out there. If you need a pick-me-up, don't grab the wine. Instead, listen to the podcast and go for a run. I speak from my mixed, minority female, with immigrant parents background on business, love, relationships, spirituality, mental health, sex, and wellness as told through my experience with managing emotions and boundaries in my F-ed up life from NY to Tokyo, LA and beyond. 

The “Wabi Sabi” podcast is free of ads, and I pay out-of-pocket to put it up myself simply to help others. It is public service journalism at its finest. It gets thousands of downloads each week and has 700+ five-star reviews. I could use much more help on it, so feel free to email me anytime at info@CandiceKumai.com.

Lastly, you ask “what do I want you to take away from it?” I have cheered on my many colleagues who have made it right beside me. I think what I want you to take away from the podcast is that I, too, belong here even if I never wanted to become “famous,” and if the public heard my story, they may discover a fresh, perfectly ripe, and unique bridge to culture, wellness, and spirituality they have been searching for. It's not the same, dated gross cup of coffee every basic person drinks, it's a Japanese-American bowl of fresh matcha. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to take actionable steps toward taking ownership of their wellness and leading a healthier lifestyle?

Baby steps, be gentle, but take action. Do these three things: Stop drinking sugar, stop eating out, and stop trashing the planet with at-home packaged meals or meal kits. 

"Wellness is how I can communicate relief, grief, and support to others who also may need a little inspiration or comfort."

Image: Courtesy of Candice Kumai

Now, let’s talk about your workday routine! First, are you a night owl or a morning person? When do you do your most important work and why?

I am a morning person. I am obsessed with the sunrise and meditating with matcha for 30-60 minutes each morning. My best work always takes place between 6:30/7 am to 10 am, typically because there are fewer distractions.

What time does your alarm go off, and what’s the first thing you do upon waking?

I get to bed by 8 pm and wind down or read, no alarm unless I have an early am call time to shoot. My phone sleeps away from me. I wake at sunrise and I put on a cozy or sexy robe (depending on the feeling) while I boil water for matcha.  

What does your morning, pre-work routine look like?

Boil water, make matcha, go outside on the patio, watch the sunrise. Then meditate for 30-60 minutes, undistracted on pillows. I feed Sisi, my chunky tuxedo cat, check emails (I open the best ones first), and don’t touch my phone for at least the first two hours of the morning. 

Mark Twain said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” What’s the first thing you do when you get to your desk?

I stay as organized on email as possible and send out emails that work for my business first. I’ve had to step back from helping everyone else and slowly learn to help myself first, for the first time in my career. 

What are you working on this week?

To put things into perspective, I run one production company, one content-creation company, and one Japanese-American start-up. I still model into my late thirties and I still write every single book, recipe, and shoot, write, develop, direct, and produce all of my own work. 

This week, I worked on three budget Excel sheets (we call them line sheets) for upcoming shoots. I’ve been planning out 2022, working on a new project for Shiseido, working on scheduled posts for Kora Organics, scheduling a shoot for Porsche and Goop, working on car selections, makes, models, red cams, drones, scouting shoot locations, interviewing crew, working on production schedules, crewing up/hiring and post-production deliverables. Organizing footage, contracts, editing tape, music selections, hitting deadlines, and making clients happy. 

In terms of production, we shot Thursday, Friday, and Sunday for 12 hours each day. I worked the front and back of the camera. Sunday I was booked to cover the Goop 2021 In Health Summit and booked to shoot separately with a Porsche Macan for five days. I covered and shot the event from 8 am to 2 pm at the Porsche track. Then, went home, changed, prepped, and drove downtown to shoot late into the night with the car in DTLA and then returned the car by 8 pm (hence the 12 hour days).

I’m also writing my seventh book with Audible, and I commit to writing in the early mornings from 630 am to 8 am and Saturday or Sunday mornings with few distractions. I love my books so much. Each book I’ve written takes years to finish and I'm hoping, one day, someone will notice. 

In terms of video content, I shoot and edit videos each day with my team and we curate highly stylized and integrity-based content that is useful and looks stunning. We keep all footage organized on hard drives and Dropbox.

Then there are the weekly essentials. Calls are organized on my Google calendar. We have a team call most mornings, followed by Zoom calls with new business development/clients, my legal council, and agents. I draft a new newsletter each Saturday, work on TheMatchaShoppe.com orders and record a new “Wabi Sabi” podcast each Sunday or Monday night. The podcast drops on Tuesday mornings all for free. Roughly 90% of my work is unpaid.

I also make time for IRL get-togethers each week. I have scheduled meet-ups organized on my calendar. For example, this week, I attended a Sculpt Society event to support my girlfriends Megan and Kelly, went to an Alo Yoga party with my friend Rosie, and went to the food bank to volunteer on Saturday for three hours at the local church. I talk to my besties from junior high and one from college (they make me happy!), I work out for 50 minutes daily (I think I said this 3x, I’m obsessed). 

Lastly, the boring essentials. I comb through pitches and proposals from clients, publicists, ad agencies, and my agents each day. I check accounting items like bank statements, payroll, tax forms, work closely on bookkeeping with my CPA, and I pay bills and taxes on time. I keep my office organized with wardrobe, props, lighting, camera equipment, files, art, and work-related materials. I try my best to upkeep my websites, images, social, writing, and résumé.

Image: Courtesy of Candice Kumai

What’s been the most rewarding part of running your business? The most challenging?

The most rewarding: Helping others, being of great use to others, giving back all that I am able, creating jobs for hundreds of crew and staff in the US. Mentoring young women on how to run multiple creative businesses in different sectors, production, creative content, media, and wellness. Reading letters, emails, and DMs of thanks and gratitude, the iTunes reviews on my podcast are known to make me cry. 

Most challenging: Outdated work models, working with a**holes, having a very dated, unstable playing field, discrimination, racism, restricting contracts, stale/old production, flaky people, non-communicators, unprofessional entitled individuals, those who culturally appropriate Japanese culture (educate yourselves). Mostly, I am working through my own challenges daily, as I am most certainly not perfect.  

Do you ever reach inbox zero? How do you handle the constant influx of inquiries writers are so familiar with?

I use four separate email accounts, and they are color-coded. I like to keep organized this way.

I get spammed with non-stop PR pitches on email. I block unsolicited emails and I set big boundaries with texts, DM, emails, etc. Being available to everyone all the time is not my thing anymore. I return emails to work colleagues within 15 minutes of receiving them during work hours (8 am to 6 pm), and I write back to those who bring value. 

My info email account is an open space where readers/listeners can write. The love letters are deep and passionate, and I often cry when reading them. I read them aloud on my podcast at times, with permission.

What is your go-to work lunch?

Matcha. Miso avocado toast. Lots of water with greens powder. 

What advice do you have for balancing the minutiae of day-to-day tasks with big-picture planning?

When you run your own business(es), others have to remember you are the only person who will keep that company afloat. Your work schedule begins from the moment you open your eyes until you close your eyes at the end of the day. Period. You work on weekends, you work on vacay, you work on long flights. 

I let go of friends who I felt deeply judged me; it is ok to do so. I let go of people who thought my social media was my real life and they never asked me how I was doing in person. If you need to do this yourself, allow yourself the gift. Suffering comes when we hold on to things that are no longer meant for us.  

If we are a reflection of the five closest people to us, I stick to the wonderful, beautiful, and real friends who are with me when times get very dark. The friends who are warm, loving, compassionate, hilarious, weird, and keep me smiling. I hope I can do the same for them. 

Volunteering at my local church food bank for a few hours each weekend has been my saving grace. The investment in giving to others has been wildly helpful to my health. I highly recommend volunteering at least once a week and learn how to serve others with nothing in return.

Image: Courtesy of Candice Kumai

What are some work habits that help you stay healthy, productive, and on track to reach your goals?

I work out for my mental health at least five days a week and meditate for at least 20 minutes a day; it makes a difference. I also set boundaries. I stay away from insubordinate or hard-to-work-with individuals. I choose to hire those who are a pleasure to work with and only the best at what they do. When anyone I hire begins to complain, I don't hire them again. I rehire those who work with integrity and a smile; teamwork makes the dream work.

Any favorite apps you use regularly?

I try to minimize all app usage. I am not a fan of electronic devices. I’ll recommend my podcast “Wabi Sabi.” It's free and it helps others to learn you are never alone. Otherwise, my advice is to read a physical book, go for a hike in the woods, a swim, or go for a surf. Apps and the phone are too much for your beautiful brain. 

What are you reading, watching, and/or listening to right now to help you wind down at the end of the day?

“Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah is one of the best books I’ve read in my life. I am reading it again because it's hard to find a good book like that these days. I use a salt lamp at night, I use a noise machine, and I sleep with crystals. My bedroom is my sanctuary and sleep is my favorite part of the day. Invest in a quality mattress, new pillows, and fabulous sheets!

What’s your “optimal” number of sleep hours?

Eight to nine hours  

What’s the most rewarding part of your day?

Great question! And yet it is so hard for me to answer.

Strong Work Relationships: Recently, I listened to a voice note from my DP (director of photography) in New York, Carlos. There are a few like him on my team Christina S., James H., Robert R. and they've worked with me for a decade, some longer. I feel so lucky to have them in my life to remind me the work we do is profoundly helpful, beautiful, and useful.

Pets: Being with my cat Sisi, who is now 19, is extremely rewarding. I only have a few more years with her. When you have a pet, there is a time when it will all end. It is profoundly sad, but true. It is the pathos of life. We call this “mono no aware” in Japanese. 

Valuable Time: All of our time here is limited and a gift. I chose to spend it much more wisely than I once did, especially with the jobs I take, the books I write, and the people I choose to give time to.

The Girls & Flowers: Working with girls who don’t ask for a paycheck or a handout. Jacqueline, Raiany, Cecelia, Julianne—these are a few who enjoy helping the creative side of my business and, for their helping hands and heart, I am grateful. Mentoring young girls on the job is also extremely rewarding, similar to when I volunteer with those who cannot give back to me at the food bank. We hand flowers to the individuals we provide for at the food bank, and, watching their reaction, their eyes, as I reach over to hand them some flowers unexpectedly, each reaction is different and uniquely special. This little moment with a sparkle in their eyes is truly the greatest gift and I look forward to it each week.

Featured image: Kevin Kim