Ask: Jaclyn Johnson, Create + Cultivate founder
Jaclyn Johnsons' tips for hiring potential staff.
We put out a call on Instagram to find out what you wanted to ask Create + Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson about starting and running a business. We got tons of amazing questions, and here Jaclyn is addressing one from South African jewelry designer A Ring To It: "Any tips when interviewing or hiring potential staff members and what has been your approach to managing a team that executes your creative vision?"
• Get referrals
When it comes to hiring, I start with friend referrals and fans of the brand before I look anywhere else. Send an email to everyone you know in your industry and ask if they know of anyone; and also put out a call on social media. If someone is already familiar with your brand, it will likely be easier for them to jump in and get up to speed. (If you're the one who wants the job, email and email—and follow up—to show that you want it.) Also, intern! Three of our current employees are former interns :).
• Do a trial run
Once you do find someone, start them out with a test period. I think three months is always good for new employees—that way, you can find out if they're the right fit. It's always good to have an open dialogue about how they're feeling and performing in the job. Not everyone is right for every job, so if something doesn't work out, it's not necessarily because they or you failed.
• Know what characteristics are important to you
I tend to look for and hire self-starters. Our business is always changing and I need people who can think on their feet. With new employees, I like to give them a few projects and situations that they can own and run with so that I can see how they think and how comfortable they are with autonomy. Also, be brutally honest—I never pretend to have the fluffiest work environment—it’s hard work! Also understanding your employees' goals are key! Where do they see their career going? What is their dream? That way you can map back to that at all times.
Our business is always changing and I need people who can think on their feet.
Tweet this.
• Expect that there will be a learning curve
As a business owner, you sometimes have to remind yourself that people aren't mind readers. In most cases, it's going to take at least six months for people to understand how you think and work, and how you expect them to perform. Also, assign mentors—as a business owner you might be too slammed to be on top of everything, but having senior employees mentor junior employees has been a super helpful program for us!
Entrepreneurs, do you have any hiring and management tips? If so, share them in the comments below.
An Office Fit for a Boss: Peep Inside C & C Founder's Creative Digs
An exclusive look inside Jaclyn Johnson's LA office.
When Jaclyn Johnson, CEO and Founder of Create & Cultivate and (No Subject) moved the office HQ to Atwater Village, she turned to Veronica Valencia of The Design Hunters to really make the space pop.
As the former Lead Designer / Art Director for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Veronica knows how to make spaces feel like "home." Something she says, that is extremely important, even in an office. "As a boss you want your office to feel professional, that's a given, but you also want it to feel like an inviting, creative space. One where ideas can grow, where employees and visitors want to stop by." To really make the space come alive, Veronica turned to CB2, Artfully Walls, and Framebridge --as well as some amazing palm leaf wallpaper from Anewall. "When designing her space, finding that WOW wallpaper was a must," she says. "I'm usually not a fan of accent walls but in this case it was perfect. I wanted something that was powerful, rich and inspiring. Your office environment is so important, especially when you are a creative. It could be that little push to an even better day!"
The result is an office fit for a creative like Jackie. "Good ideas inspire," says Veronica, "but good spaces, bring the ideas."
Moreover, when you spend as much time at work Jackie does (no such this as a 9-5 when you're in charge), the space has to be somewhere you're happy to call a second home. Click through the above gallery for some serious #officeinspo, and check out the below links to deck your office out in style.
Welcoming Front Entry Accents: CB2 Marble-Rose Gold Pedestal Table & CB2 Braided Fringe Wall Hanging
Storing Important Things: CB2 Suspend Media Console
The Boss Desk: CB2 Aqua Virgo Dining Table
The Boss Sits: CB2 Tayabas Can Side Chair with Black Cushion
The Guests Sit: CB2 Roadhouse Leather Chairs
Says Veronica: "When selecting CB2 furniture, I actually chose dining and living room furniture. Office furniture can sometimes be a little blah, and I wanted the space to feel more homey and welcoming. Jackie's desk is a dining room table, her guest chairs are dining room chairs and her office storage is a media console with a marble top."
Wall Storage: CB2 Revere Wall Mounted Magazine Storage
Art 'n Stuff: Framebridge Irvine Slim Custom Frame & Woman in Boat from Artfully Walls
Says Veronica: "The cherry on the cake was the lady boss oversized print above the console. When selecting all of the artwork for C & C, I wanted the art work to have meaning. It's amazing how much C & C has become such a trailblazer for women and I wanted the art to represent that. To capture those feelings, I chose portraits and paintings of different women."
Create, Cultivate, Do: Jaclyn Johnson
We're natural born creators and cultivators, which means we're always on the move. Doing what we love, doing what we need to get to that next step, and doing what we can to help others.
That's why when Sara Haile, creator of People Who Do reached out to collaborate on a series celebrating those "who do," we were totally game. And who better to kick off the Create, Cultivate, & Do series than our very own founder Jaclyn Johnson? Get some insight into her thought process and philosophies on life, work, and #createcultivate!
We're natural born creators and cultivators, which means we're always on the move. Doing what we love, doing what we need to get to that next step, and doing what we can to help others.
That's why when Sara Haile, creator of People Who Do reached out to collaborate on a series celebrating those "who do," we were totally game. And who better to kick off the Create, Cultivate, & Do series than our very own founder Jaclyn Johnson? Get some insight into her thought process and philosophies on life, work, and #createcultivate! —PC
People Who Do: Jaclyn Johnson
by Sara Haile
Name: Jaclyn Johnson
Occupations, affiliations, and projects:
Founder of (No Subject) and Creator of Create & Cultivate
People Who Do focuses on those who excel at moving forward throughout their passions in life, why is it important to you to “do”?:
I am big fan of starting by starting—I think way too many people get hung up on the details and psych themselves out of whatever it is they are looking to pursue. I say go, and do.
"...people get hung up on the details and psych themselves out of whatever they're looking to pursue. I say go, and do."
To date, what accomplishments (of any kind) are you most proud of?
Definitely being part of Forbes 30 under 30 Class of 2015. That has been amazing.
#1 motivating mantra to get through tough moments:
It’s all temporary. I can get really stressed over client work or a fire we need to put out but the reality is they're all temporary things that aren’t nearly as important as health, family, and friends.
What’s your favorite thing you’ve learned so far this year?
Hard work pays off.
What’s your favorite lesson you’ve ever learned, ever?
Definitely learned it the hard way, but: get it in writing.
What's your go-to song to put you in a better mood?
My music tastes are always changing but right now I have the new Jamie xx on repeat.
Favorite method for logging any kind of inspiration:
I absolutely love Pinterest! It’s a vault of visual inspiration.
You lead amazingly creative and forward-thinking projects that focus on the digital space. What’s the biggest thrill that you get from them?
Definitely seeing our clients succeed—we really put our heart and soul into campaigns so when they are successful it’s truly a thrill.
Top 5 people you would invite to a dinner party:
Joan Rivers
Hillary Clinton
Nicole Richie
Oprah
and Ryan Gosling because, why not?
3 words that you want to be remembered by:
Successful. Humble. Loved.
What’s the next goal?
We are really growing the Create & Cultivate brand this year so that is our focus and so far it’s been a real blast!
By "do-ing," you create your own unique legacy. How do you want your legacy to be remembered?
Of course with style and grace, but I hope people remember me as a connector and someone who brought people together, whether over a cool project or a beautiful dinner. I really enjoy bridging the gaps and bringing people closer.
"I hope people remember me as a connector, someone who brought people together."
What are some of the ways that you relieve stress?
Exercise—it’s truly my therapy! I always try to make room for a hike or a spin class.
What is one thing that is so satisfying in your career that you wouldn't be able to do if you had chosen another career path?
I get to make my vision come to life—it’s so satisfying to dream something up and then actually see in real life.
What advice would you give to someone who's trying to follow in your career path?
Ah! I would say foster your relationships. No one really teaches that to you in college, but your relationships are truly the key to success.
See more (and more of Jaclyn) at People Who Do. And stayed tuned for more from PWD on C+C in the coming weeks.
Creative since the 80s, Sara always saw the importance of pursuing creative ideas of any kind. People Who Do stems from an awareness of the importance to create and move forward and a deep appreciation for those show up, excel at their craft, all while creating infectious, creative energy to push others towards their goals as well. As a proponent of those who excel at their craft, someone who thrives off the passion of others, and a freelance photographer, People Who Do was just waiting to happen.
From the Founder: How to Make the Most of Your C+C Experience
OMG, #createcultivateCHI is just a few weeks away...
And while our team puts the final pieces together for conference, I want to take a minute to get you all in a C+C state of mind! Each time, I learn more about what to expect and what to bring to the table, which I want to share with you (whether you're coming for the first time or the fifth)!
Create + Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson by Grant Legan
OMG, #createcultivateCHI is just a few weeks away...
And while our team puts the final pieces together for conference, I want to take a minute to get you all in a C+C state of mind! Each time, I learn more about what to expect and what to bring to the table, which I want to share with you (whether you're coming for the first time or the fifth)! — Jaclyn
1. Be Open
Conferences can feel intimidating. You don't know who is going to be there, what to expect, or what you want out of it. My advice is: be open to everything! The Create + Cultivate community is one of kindness, support, and enthusiasm. You'll quickly find out that everyone is very open about where they are and what they're looking for (in life and work), and will be totally down to buddy up for the day! We have seen so many friendships blossom from the conference, so be open to whatever it may bring.
3. Take Advantage
There is a lot to do on-site! We have a beauty lounge with OPI nail treatments, NuFACE mini facials, a Glam App beauty bar, and pop-up shops from Topshop, Havenly, Whitney Eve, Mira Fitness, Simple Skincare, and Lulu & Georgia—so get ready! While you’ll be busy with panels and workshops, there’s still plenty of free time to mix, mingle, and shop! Maximize the experience and take advantage of it all.
2. Get Prepped
Bring your business cards, charge your Mophie, pack a pair of flats, and wear your game face! Most importantly, bring your questions! We have Q+As after each panel so you’ll have your chance to get your questions answered by the experts! The better questions, the better the panel. Don’t be afraid to get specific. We’ll supply the rest: from notebooks and pens so you can jot it all down, to Gevalia coffee and Daily Greens juice to give you an extra boost throughout the day.
4. Get Social
We have a happy hour for attendees the night before that we highly recommend attending! It's a great way to meet fellow attendees in a calmer setting before the festivities begin! Also, gear up your social media from Snapchat to Instagram—there will be tons of content to capture so get ready to hashtag #createcultivateCHI so we can all follow along.
5. Go For It
Be bold and get outside your comfort zone—approach that person you have been dying to meet and ask them your burning questions! We want you to get the most from your C+C experience but that starts with you! Myself and my team will be all over to answer any questions and if you see me, PLEASE introduce yourself! I love meeting our attendees and hearing all of your amazing stories! It's one of the things I look forward to most, so I'll be bummed if you don't say hi!
Follow @jaclynrjohnson for more dispatch from C+C and beyond!
Pro Tip: Jaclyn's Top Apps for the Modern #Girlboss
The millennial proverb “there’s an app for that” is both terrifying and amazing. We truly are living in an on-demand society—pretty much anything you want delivered to in an hour or less. While I don’t plan on exploring the larger implications of this phenomenon, I will say that as a busy entrepreneurial female, there are a few apps that have made my life easier. Way easier.
The millennial proverb “there’s an app for that” is both terrifying and amazing. We truly are living in an on-demand society—pretty much anything you want delivered to in an hour or less. While I don’t plan on exploring the larger implications of this phenomenon, I will say that as a busy entrepreneurial female, there are a few apps that have made my life easier. Way easier. So get ready to boot up your iPhone and download these life savers.
SHYP
Hate the post office? Who doesn’t. Finding a box, locating packing tape, drive, wait in line, get into a casual altercation in the parking lot... No, thank you. Shyp takes all of that away. You just snap a photo of an item (any item!), and they will send you back shipping options, take your pick and someone will show up at your door to take your item, pack it, ship it, and sending you tracking information. Plus you can Shyp your first item free so #whynot. We use it for everything in our office. (Editor’s Note: Next week, read about a blogger/author who self-published and used Shyp to mail out all his book orders!)
BLOOMTHAT
Flowers on-demand. No longer are you a slave to the antiquated 1-800-flowers nightmare of 6-day delivery for $100. In 45 minutes, your special someone (or clients!) can have a fresh, adorable bouquet in their hands.
STYLISTED
The magic that is a fresh blow-out and makeup on-demand is one that I cannot get enough of. Within in hours, you can have your own personal Glam Squad at your house, office, car (ok, not your car, but wouldn’t that be great?). Try it ASAP. It’s fun to play Kardashian for a day (or a special night out)! Stylisted will also be on-site all day at #createcultivateCHI doing braids & lips, so if you haven’t gotten your ticket: you’re doing it wrong.
VENMO
Splitting the bill at lunch has never been easier with venmo! All the girls in our office are constantly Venmo-ing each other for coffee-runs, after work drinks, etc. It’s easy and fun—plus if you have freelancers, it’s an easy way to pay them out vs having to write checks!
LUXE
Luxe promises to make you "fall in love with parking" which, I know, seems impossible. Have you ever arrived to a meeting 15 minutes early, only to find out there is absolutely no parking, only cash lots in sight, you’re fresh out of cash, and then suddenly—you’re 15 minutes late, sweating from the walk, and fumbling over your words to apologize. No? Just me? Well, consider Luxe your own personal valet.