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CRAVE CRUSH the urban girl's blog to all that you CRAVE
Inspire to Spread Kindness with Judy Tan of tanQ
Judy Tan is a Portland native graphic designer who began her career as a color/graphic designer for apparel and footwear at Nike as well as a branding designer in Columbia Sportswear. After many years working under a corporate lifestyle, she felt her life wasn’t quite fulfilled yet. Judy believed that her talented graphic designs skills could be used in a positive way to impact others. And she did just that, this past September she took a leap of faith and launched her first business, tanQ. Each month, Judy designs a t-shirt for a non-profit organization and donates 100% of profits from the sale of the shirts directly to the organization. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and chat with Judy Tan and learn about the positive impact tanQ is having on the Portland community. Read on and learn more about her business and how you can spread a simple act of kindness every month!
tanQ is obviously the start of something great for the Portland community, but what are some of the core values behind tanQ?
We want to make a positive impact on the world by fostering hope and encouragement through the use of creative graphic design. Through the use of stimulating graphics, we allow people to promote the causes that are important to them and support them financially. Our goal is to bring people closer together by creating common threads and encouraging individuals to become involved in their communities.
How do you choose which non-profits to support each month?
Each month, tanQ selects a deserving charity to support, combining our efforts with each group’s major fundraising effort whenever possible. For example, last September during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we supported the ‘Candlelighters for Children with Cancer’. During November, the month of Thanksgiving, we worked with the Oregon Food Bank. We partner with each non-profit to promote the sale of their shirt to their community database as well as at art shows and other public events throughout the Portland area. Our shirts are also available online at our website and hope to be in local stores and boutiques very soon. We continue to build our brand awareness through Twitter, Facebook and our blog.
So tell me a little bit about the creative process for you t-shirts designs. What goes into the design of each t-shirt?
We want people to wear the shirt. It’s not just a branded shirt; it’s an expression of the core message of that month’s non-profit organization. So we research to discover the core essence and mission of each non-profit. We then conceptualize a design and a direction to communicate their core message in an eye-catching and appealing way. Each limited edition tanQ t-shirt comes with a greeting card that displays that month’s design, a mini button, and a tag indicating its edition number.
Since the start of TanQ, have you noticed more non-profit organizations wanting to be the t-shirt of the month?
Yes! A lot of local non-profits are now starting to reach out to be a part of tanQ. A lot of the non-profits that I work with don’t have the budget to support creative services. TanQ is a great opportunity to garner more money for their organization in a creative way.
What are some of the setbacks and challenges you’ve had to face with owning your own business?
One of the hardest things I have had to learn since the launch of tanQ is learning how to be the conductor of every aspect of the business. I love to design and would love for that to take up most of my day, but over the past 5 months I have learned the art of time management to keep tanQ running and successful.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
There are so many! I think one rewarding aspect would have to be seeing the successful results of each month’s shirt. It feels good to know that I designed a t-shirt that just helped support a great organization and a good cause. Also, bringing people closer together and encouraging more individuals to be involved in the community and become aware of local organizations is very fulfilling!
Why do you think Portland is a great place for women to start their own business?
Portland is a great place to start your own business because everyone is so supportive of creative new ideas. That support system and energy helps inspire others to start something unique and flavorful on their own.
What advice would you give other women seeking to start their own business?
There are a lot of people that say women can’t do this or can’t do that, but just do it anyways. Ignore the naysayers, do what you believe in and don’t give up!
What does the future hold for tanQ?
We are founded on the belief that kindness is contagious, and that even small, humble acts such as buying and wearing a t-shirt can inspire others to take charitable actions of their own. It is my hope that the humble acts of generosity of tanQ will travel like a wave, washing over thousands of people, nudging them toward happiness and charity, like a ripple effect of kindness.
Contact info
Website: http://tanQ.us
Twitter: @_tanQ
Facebook: tanQ
Email: contact@tanq.us
This post was written for the CRAVE company by Katie Watson.
Marywynn: Local Entrepreness Makes Skin Glow
Marywynn Ryan became an esthetician after being frustrated by products that didn’t work. Like most of us, with multiple cleansers, moisturizers, lotions, not knowing how they work and why they’re not working for us is a mystery. The products get pushed to the back of the shelf and we buy something new in the hopes that this time it will solve a current problem we are facing. After 11 years in the field with continuing education at UCLA, Marywynn only retails what works, and you can tell by looking at her own skin. A few of the products are her own and she would like to have a complete line in the future. She also wants to offer advanced training for estheticians. She and her growing team look at what they do as a technical treatment of the skin. “We’re like hygienists. You can brush your teeth everyday, but you still have you go in for cleanings.” Before you envision an operating table, know the space couldn’t be more inviting. There is a lovely fabric on the wall that was the starting point for her design concept. The facial rooms are plush and luxurious feeling, with beautiful touches of warm color. The reviews for Skin by Marywynn are outstanding, and you can feel it in her voice when she says, “I work really hard for them.” She wants to help your face look fabulous and recommends getting a facial seasonally for weather and stress changes. You can find more helpful articles on her website for getting and maintaining your best skin. http://skinbymarywynn.com
Harmony Johnstone-Reeser
Five Focal Points To Simplify Your Biz
Being a business owner means that you perform a multitude of roles. And often it seems like there’s always more to do than there is time.
But there are ways you can keep things as simple as possible and reduce the amount of time and energy you spend running your business.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). Well, let’s leave off that last word and just focus on keeping it simple. Here are five areas of your business you can simplify starting today:
1. Your Business Model
Your business model is the foundation of your business, how it makes money. If you’re offering too many products and services or if your products and services are not logically connected to a central theme, then you’re going to struggle.
Take a close look at your most profitable revenue streams (more on how to do that here) and only focus on promoting the ones that are most profitable.
You may discover that there are products and services that aren’t making you money (or that don’t fit with your focus) that you can simply stop offering. To find out if your business model is healthy read this.
2. Your Time
You get to choose how you spend your time. You can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to all of the opportunities available to you.
For many of us it seems crazy to say ‘no’ to something that could be good for the business. But if you’re extremely clear about your focus, you can easily see which options are the best use of your time and will know which ones to say ‘no’ to.
For more information about how saying ‘no’ can grow your business check out this article.
3. Your Marketing
Mediocre marketing done consistently beats ‘stop and start’ marketing that’s done randomly every single time. Analyze your marketing efforts and find out which of your marketing strategies are the most effective.
Once you know that, focus only on the strategies that work and drop the rest. Having a few successful marketing strategies that are done consistently can work wonders for your business.
4. Tasks you don’t like or aren’t good at doing
Outsourcing and delegating are fabulous ways to simplify your business. Think about thinks like: administration, technical tasks, accounting, and taxes.
By hiring someone to do these tasks for you, you will have more time to focus on higher value activities and the things you love to do.
5. Your Life
I’m guessing you started your business because you are passionate about what you do and you wanted the freedom to create a business that supports your life. If your business is running your life, it’s time to turn that around.
It’s critical that you make time for yourself to do the things that give you energy and allow you to recharge your batteries. If you don’t do this you are actually putting your business in jeopardy.
So although it may seem counterintuitive, and you may feel like you don’t have time to spend on yourself, the truth is you can’t afford not to.
Make the decision to keep it simple in your business and change the way you’re currently doing things. By applying the KISS principle, you’ll have more time, less stress, and more money in your bank account.
This post was written for the CRAVE company by marketing coach Stephanie Ward of Firefly Coaching.
Pucker Up and Get Ready to KISS
Pucker up everybody, it’s time to KISS. In other words – keep it simple, stupid! This month, CRAVE is focusing on the best ways to un-complicate your business.
There are so many companies out there that have a single focus – cupcakes, edgy haircuts, handmade greeting cards, you get the idea – and they are successful because they have perfected their craft and don’t let extraneous or unnecessary “stuff” take away from what they’re truly best at.
Throughout February, we are going to hear from women business owners from many industries and locations on their strategies for KISS-ing. We hope you’ll stay tuned – there’s lots of juicy advice coming your way! You’ll learn what works, what doesn’t, and why you need to KISS from these impressive entreprenesses.
Get the low down on how to keep it simple as our experts indulge you with valuable tips about how they manage to keep their business models and their lives operating with sweet, sweet simplicity.
Risk Taking: Should You Dare?
We’re ringing in the new year at CRAVE with a question for all you women business owners out there… Do you dare? Is 2011 going to be a year of taking risks with your business, holding back, or a combination of both? To help you strategize, we are dedicating the month of January to the pros and cons of risk-taking across the board. Our business chat and blog entries will be brimming with juicy stories of risks gone right or wrong as well as advice from our CRAVE experts on when to know to take a leap of faith or to simply sit back and let life fall into place.
We knew this would be a hot topic when Melody wanted to know what her Facebook followers ask themselves before taking a risk and got SO many amazing responses. Check them out and prepare yourself for an exciting month of risks and rewards!
What do you ask yourself before you take a risk?
Just curious? before you take a risk? a leap to something new? start a new project? WHAT DO YOU ASK YOURSELF? do you write down the pros and cons? do you just do it and ask why later? how long do you ponder? do you end up jumping? or do nothing? tell me!!! what is your risk taking style?
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Suzette Sommer Oh… wow. What is a “risk?” That is one four-letter word that I have seemingly never known. |
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Sydney Chavez I ask myself what I would lose if I didn’t take the leap. |
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Nicole Francois before i take a risk i ask myself: why i am interested in taking the risk, what i hope to gain from it, what the result will be and who’s going to be with me? then, i outline my plan and jump! |
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Maria Ross Before I take a risk I ask myself if I will regret it more if I don’t take it than if I do. I weigh pros and cons, seek advice from those I trust….and then go with my gut! At a certain point, if it feels right, all the data in the world doesn’t matter. |
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Sonja Silver The first thing I ask is “what is the worst thing that can happen”? If I can live with the answer, I go for it. The biggest risk is to not take one! |
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Elise Kloter same here, Sonia…puts the scary stuff in perspective |
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Melody Biringer lovin all you risk takers….keep it coming! as i get older i seem to take risks slower and more cautious. i want to be naive again! |
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Lauren Bacon These days, more and more I check in with my gut. I highly recommend a little book called “Make Light Work” by Kate Sutherland that has helped me enormously with listening to my intuition. (It’s cool and non-flaky, I promise.) |
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Michelle Michael what’s the reward…? is it personal or financial? maybe a little of both. go for it, and surround yourself with those that support your dream! |
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Lyndi Thompson My first thought: Risks can often be re-labeled as adventures. I tend to dismiss risks that I don’t feel I have good access to supportive people around me. However, most of the time I can find at least two people. I try imagine best and worst case scenario, while always keeping in mind I know I make pretty good decisions and in the end things always end up OK. |
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Mary Boisselle I usually don’t ask any questions…I trust my intuition then I take a huge leap and bungie jump off the bridge or I don’t. There is a reason why opportunities come, so I can find the gem inside, whether it’s a pearl or a piece of glass. |
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Larisa Goldin I try to check in with my guidance. i believe that risks are just opportunities in disguise, the only question is whether they are part of the intended path or are a test (a distraction). So based on what I get back from my inner guidance (does it feel right?) I take the risk or not. |
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Rupa Wickrama Feelings of Anxiety = don’t take it. Feelings of Anticipation or Excitement = this warrants further exploration! |
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Sydney Chavez I CRAVE Risk Taking. : ) |
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Traci Barnum Jump and figure everything else out later. Unless of course, you have a really smart husband who demands that you make a plan before you jump and break into your retirement fund for that risk. It’s a great balance. : ) |
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Carrie McIlveen Middlemiss It’s typically a gut feeling. I usually think it through and if it still feels right I go for it. Especially if it is something I’ll enjoy and it makes money. |
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Jennifer Saphier Whitman I have to step away from the decision for a few days. It always pops back into my head while I am doing other things during the day. If every time the idea pops up I get a sick feeling, I know it isn’t the right choice. If I get excited every time I think about it, it is a definite go! |
We hope these comments get you thinking about your own risk-tasking strategies for the year and that you’ll stay tuned to our blog over the next month and share your own daring deeds in the comments! And of course, have a Happy New Year from CRAVE!
BONUS Post: 5 Risk Rules for a Balanced, Sane Life
For years, you have worked towards achieving that perfect work-life balance. Now, you have it down to an art and you are living and loving life. Then one day you wake up and BAM! A new, fabulous opportunity knocks at your door. Your logical inner voice says, “You just mastered this life. Don’t shake things up now.” But, that other, more adventurous you, says, “Go for it and live to your greatest potential.”
The inner battle continues. Your free-spirited self, reminds you of your college days, when you were spontaneous and lived in a not-so-calculated world. You still adore her, but are afraid to embrace her. Remember, living a balanced life calls for…balance! This includes the balance of professional and personal life, but also the balance of a calculated and care-free life. These 5 rules of risk-taking will help you maximize your potential, while still living a balanced and sane life.
Take the risk if you will regret the inaction more than the action. When you are confronted with a new and risky endeavor ask yourself, “How would I feel if I don’t do this?” Would you look back five years from now and regret your decision? If so, then go for it. There is nothing like living a life clouded by “what if’s.”
Take the risk if your biggest fear is rejection. Recently, a great opportunity came my way and I almost rejected it. My best friend asked, “What is the worst that could happen?” As it turned out, I feared failure. Once you identify the worst case scenario, ask yourself, “Is that good enough?” My answer was a big fat N-O. A hurt ego is not a good enough reason to pass up a potentially, career-changing opportunity. What is your answer?
Remember that risk is relative. My notion of a risk is not the same as yours and vice versa. For example, what you define as a risk might be based upon the amount of money it requires while my risk might be defined by how much it will limit my time to work on other projects. Only take on what is appropriate for your situation.
Visualize the best outcome. You are uniquely created and no one else can do what you do, how you do it. After all, that is why this opportunity found its way to you in the first place. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt and imagine your success. It feels good doesn’t it?
Stop worrying about perfection. You may be more likely to take on a risk once you eliminate the perfection factor. I was hesitant to launch my blog because I wanted to wait a few months to get it “just right.” Launching an imperfect blog was just not the risk I wanted. In reality, nothing is ever perfect. We constantly find imperfections and ways to fix them. If we continue to wait for perfect moments then our lives will be one, long waiting game.
Patrice N. Perkins is the founder and editor of My Lifestyle ZEN, a Chicago-based blog for working professionals and entrepreneurs who value quality of life. You can visit Patrice’s website here: http://www.mylifestylezen.com/
Don’t Be Shy, Make Some Noise
Am I good enough? Smart/attractive/savvy enough? Do they like me? These are all questions that women may have asked at some point in their personal (and maybe professional) lives. In our businesses and entrepreneurial spaces, the questions shift some but follow that same pattern: Am I doing this right? Will this generate income? Will the customers like my new product?
The fear or responses to these questions can hinder a person and cause hesitation in action. As an entrepreneur or business owner, you’ve taken the biggest risk…allowing yourself to get started and believing in your venture.
As a publicist, my job is to get the word out on behalf of my clients ~ writing articles, booking media interviews, etc. I know that sometimes people are fearful of drawing attention to themselves. There are, of course, some good reasons to hold off on media attention. Perhaps your marketing collateral isn’t ready, you need to wrap up final details on a product launch, etc. However, once those pieces are in place you’ll want to have all eyes on you, make some noise and get the word out about your product or service. Never been on TV? Why not now? Never seen your name or your business’ name in print? Now’s the time! OK, OK, there’s absolutely no way you’re going on TV…well, let’s get you a spokesperson. No excuses, let’s put your brand out there!
Having a marketing budget is often mistakenly left out of the “I’m launching a business” equation. Without a plan to market or publicize your business, this can be more than risky…it may actually put you at a disadvantage. Reaching out to the media and generating some buzz for your business doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking or expensive though. Thanks to social media and the internet, there are numerous cost-efficient ways to get the word out about your company and brand. From Facebook pages and twitter, to free online distribution websites including 1888PressRelease, i-Newswire and PRZoom.
Here are few quick tips to get you on the buzz-generating track:
1) Research your target audience. What are they reading, watching and what websites do they peruse? You want to be on there, too. Whether you’re writing a guest post or commenting on a blog, reach out to your target so they can get to know you and your company.
2) What problem are you solving with your product or service? Yes, YOU are filling a need with your business. What is that need and how are you fulfilling it? Now put this in a story pitch or press release.
3) Before you reach out to the media…read and watch them. There’s nothing worse than putting your brand out there to the incorrect media contact. It shows that you’re not paying attention to what they do professionally. (The food editor does not need a pitch on your new handbag line.) The same thing applies to bloggers. They want to know that you’re genuinely interested in what they have to say.
Take a risk, put yourself out there and make some noise for yourself and your business this year. You’re a risk taker and you deserve the attention!
Nancy Vaughn is the principal, PR & Marketing Director at White Book Agency, a public relations, marketing and special events firm providing cost-effective communication strategies for entrepreneurs and businesses across the country.
Conquer Your Fear of Risk in Four Steps
I recently attended a lecture by Rabbi Harold Kushner, who’s probably most well known for his best-seller “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” but whose subject this particular evening was his latest book release: “Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World.”
The introduction caught my attention when it was said that more people have died of fear caused by 9/11 and the idea of terrorism after the fact (anxiety produced complications and deaths) than the number of lives actually lost by the events that day. Wow.
Our Greatest Fear: Rejection
Interestingly, terrorism is not our greatest fear. Nor is the economic recession. Nor is it the reality of aging or the thought of someday dying. We hear a lot of about those things; the news is consumed with those subjects. But, truth be told, the most paralyzing fear we experience is rejection. Or said another way: the fear of what people will think about us. Sounds small, but lives out in huge ways.
Sitting in that auditorium, that observation resonated. How many of my life choices are impacted by that fear? How much of our lives are influenced by the desire to be accepted or the desire to avoid rejection? Even the fear of success and failure have roots in this overarching fear.
Whether it’s doing something to try to get someone to like me or not doing something to avoid someone not liking me. Whether it’s not trying for the promotion, the new job, the business idea development or the sale for risk of failure or pursuing them only to try to gain approval. Whether it’s acting uninterested when I really am. Or acting interested when I’m really not.
Stepping Through the Fear
While many fears stem from our fear of rejection, not all of them do. And while often our fears of what others think say more about us than it does about them, it doesn’t mean those fears are silly or unfounded. Regardless of your fears, we have to keep learning how to step through them.
1) Acknowledge the Fear. The first step to overcoming fear as we consider risks is to acknowledge it’s there. I think it was Mark Twain who said courage isn’t the absence of fear but the mastery of it. Feeling the fear only means you’re alive and that something matters to you. That’s good!
2) Identify what You’re Possibly Risking. Every choice (even the choice to do nothing) has possible losses. List them! What is the worst-case scenario? Answer this question honestly. What do you risk losing in this choice? And importantly, include the fears that stem from some variation of rejection—for there are many.
3) Identify what You’re Possibly Gaining. One must be informed of the risks, but no one risking losing for nothing. What are you hoping to gain? For what purpose are you considering this risk? For some, answering this question will help them determine that even risking their life is worth it for the purpose. For most of us, the risk will not be so costly but they will be put in the right context.
In my business of introducing women to new friends in their area, I see how easy it is for women to focus on the risks: they don’t want to admit they need new friends (fear of what that might say about them), don’t want to risk the time it takes to pursue them or risk feeling awkward or insecure in the process. However, for those who can identify what they might gain: increased happiness, a sense of connection, local support, improved health, more fun memories, deep conversations—they are more likely to take the risks because they so value the gains.
4) Affirm that You’re Not Alone. Confide in someone who will love you no matter the loss or gain from your risk. Surround yourselves with others taking the risks you want to take. Connect with a community that reminds you of why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Risks are in the blueprint of business owners and entrepreneurs. We live in this world. It is not a worthy goal to simply show up without fear—we cannot control our emotions. But it is a worthy goal to glean information from that emotion and learn to step through the risks that we feel will move us toward the things we value.
By Shasta Nelson, M.Div, CEO of www.GirlFriendCircles.com, the only online community of women that matches new friends up to meet in small groups in local areas. She is a life coach, blogger and writes and speaks prolifically on the subject of friendship.
*dice photo is courtesy of Flickr user parl.
What’s The Bravest Thing You’ve Ever Done?
Continuing our monthly theme of risk taking in life and business we would like to share with you this great post from Chris Guillebeau:
The Bravest Thing – I asked this question last week and was flooded with hundreds of great responses. Here are many of them, with links to the people who were brave enough to share.
ferolea: Quiting my job go around the world was easy. Coming back… that’s the bravest I’ve been.
avalonmel: Agreed to teach uni computer science course to 130+ students when I was 22… and afraid of public speaking.
TylerLClark: I moved halfway across the country for an unpaid internship. At the end, they offered me a job. Glad I took the risk!
opheliaswebb: Called off my wedding. And killed a spider in the shower. Equally terrifying.
“My belief about fear and courage is that all of us are scared of all kinds of things, so the wrong approach is to pretend to be fearless. Instead, acknowledge your fears, but proceed anyway” (Chris Guillebeau).
Read more here and get started with taking your own life changing risks!
Image by NickNguyen
Video: CRAVE Women Speak Out On Risk
Over the course of this month, we’ve tackled risk from many angles – from no-nonsense strategic advice to more personal affirmations that risk can be very rewarding. What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your business? Maybe you’re thinking of taking that risk soon? If you’re craving a little adventure, stay tuned because we’ve got four fabulous CRAVE entreprenesses sharing their experiences with risk on video for your viewing pleasure! We encourage you to watch this video and explore this month’s blog posts as you develop your own risk-taking style. Enjoy!
To learn more about the CRAVE businesses featured in this video, check out their websites below.
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