Happy Monday! I am obsessed with this illustration Happy Monday! I am obsessed with this illustration that the talented and gorgeous @callmeadventurous aka @sips.tea.designs made for me! If you have never seen yourself turned into art, it's a fun and flattering experience that I highly recommend to anyone! Be sure to follow @sips.tea.designs to be notified when she is taking commissions!
Emotions have been all over the place for the last Emotions have been all over the place for the last few days. It's overwhelming to think about all that we have been through this past year, these past four years, and before that. It's a relief to know that a fascist isn't in the white house anymore. However, it's tiring to think about the long road that lies ahead. There is still so much to be done to make this country a fair and equal place to call home. It's important to take moments to celebrate and moments to relax and reflect while we are on this long journey together. How did you relax this weekend?
Just a reminder that Black is Beautiful yesterday, Just a reminder that Black is Beautiful yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Black is Beautiful in every shade and in every country. Black Lives Matter and they always will. If you aren't an anti-racist who constantly lifts up Black people, then this is probably not the space for you.
I was in first grade when I realized that no one w I was in first grade when I realized that no one who looked like me had ever held the office of President or Vice President. My heart is filled with joy for the young people who will never know that feeling.
🙌🏽 🙌🏽
Please remember to stay safe this week! There are Please remember to stay safe this week! There are a lot of things happening in DC and all over the USA. Stay vigilant, stay away from people whenever possible, and stay home if and when you can! Also, remember that is it perfectly acceptable to celebrate tomorrow. These past four years have felt like a lifetime. We still have so many steps to take to make this nation a truly accepting, fair, and free place but let's hold on to the little happy moments along the way until we get there.
As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we s As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we should call ourselves?!) I haven't ever really experienced a winter season. I've enjoyed winter many times while in many different cities including, Edinburgh, London, NYC, and Boston. But I've never lived in winter day in and day out. After a week it was always time to fly home to my palm trees and theme parks. This winter is the first time that I am experiencing cold temperatures daily and often experiencing grey skies. It's only been about two weeks and I have to admit that it is a huge adjustment. But I am doing my best to embrace the season and stay as cozy as possible. I am used to being outside as often as possible in winter while hibernating with the A/C running all summer. So I guess now I will be reversing those habits and bundling up until spring gets here.
For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing o For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing only, @hipcityveg. Although I still miss all my favorite Orlando foodie places, I am so excited to finally be so close to a Hip City Veg location. It's my all-time favorite plant-based restaurant and I have been craving this vegan milkshake for months! If you haven't been yet and you are in DC or Philadelphia, go right now!
I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This last trip around the sun was during a very difficult time in our world but I can't personally complain much about the last 365 days. I thought I would be taking over as the lead on a contract at a Disney hotel as their main wedding photographer. I had been photographing weddings there for years but covid had other plans. Instead, I watched as the entire world shut down around me, only for the hotel to reopen as a part of the NBA bubble. So I decided to jump headfirst into running a product-based business. It's something I wanted to do for years and yet I could never quite seem to muster up the nerve to fully go after that dream. I launched my first collection of candles, sold out in days, and things have been steadily growing since then for @kismetandcharisma. After finally going after my dream of switching from service-based to product-based, I co-founded a nonprofit. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and the stars finally aligned to bring it to light. Along with my best friend, Anna, I co-founded @LoveDoesntHurtInc. It has already healed me in ways I never thought possible and I can't wait to see what our nonprofit does for other people. I also consistently recorded @heartandhustlepodcast all year alongside my ride or die, @studio404design. Outside of work, I adopted the sweetest little pup ever as a present for my husband's quarantine birthday (best present ever). I didn't finish writing my own book but I managed to read quite a few other books. I battled anxiety as usual but I managed to learn when to turn the news off and FaceTime a friend instead of continuing to doomscroll. I also convinced my husband to leave OCPS to work for a school district that would like to keep him alive during the pandemic, which resulted in us relocating to the DC area. Here's hoping that this trip around the sun is filled with the same amount of professional success but WAY more hugs.
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Small Business · May 14, 2014

10 Steps to Take Before Becoming a Entrepreneur

There is a lot to consider when you are starting out as an entrepreneur. I am often asked what I would tell myself if I could go back in time and give myself advice before starting my business. Here is what I would say based on the failures and successes that I have experienced so far.

10 Steps To Take Before Becoming A Entrepreneur

 


1. Do Your Research

There are undoubtedly other business owners in your area that are doing what you would like to do or something similar. Take the time to research their methods, the market, and what they have done to be successful (or what has contributed to them not yet finding success).

 

2. Find a Mentor

Reaching out to others who have had a career path similar to the one that you would like to pave for yourself could result in finding a mentor. Having a mentor who you can learn from, ask questions, and be inspired by is a really beneficial step to take if you are becoming an entrepreneur. Most people who build an empire don’t do it alone. Even Oprah looks to someone for advice!

 

3. Get Legal

It is vital to learn the laws about business and licensing in your area. There can be differences between states, counties, and business types so it is best to seek out the facts rather than going along with what you may hear from someone else.

 

4. Taxes

When it comes to businesses, taxes can get quite complicated. It is important to make sure early on that you have a great accountant to work with early on in the process of starting a business. I would highly suggest making a list of questions you have and sitting down with a CPA before you start your business so that you do everything correctly from day one.

 

5. Banks

There are a lot of options when it comes to banking and the benefits for business accounts vary greatly from bank to bank. Shop around to at least five different banks to see which one is the right fit for you. Be sure to let them know that you are considering opening a business account and you would like all the information they have on fees, benefits, and everything in between.

 

6. Schedule

Every entrepreneur is different when it comes to a schedule that works efficiently. I have a friend who sleeps for four hours a night, has a different schedule every day, and is doing very well in her field. However, I require eight hours of sleep to work effeciently. I also seem to work best if I have 30 minutes in the morning to relax or meditate before I start work. I also need to schedule my afternoon workout into my day because if I don’t it won’t get done. Maybe you work best if you work out first thing in the morning or maybe you are much better at pitching ideas if you only hold meetings from the hours of 1-4. Experiment and find the best schedule for you and your business.

 

7. Fiscal Security

Before I opened my business in 2009, I spent about a year preparing for it. I studied my target market, observed my competition, and saved a lot of money. I worked two jobs during that time so that I could put away money to help transition into owning a business full time. Most businesses loose money during the first year so it imperative that you prepare yourself for that possibility.

 

8. Networking and Advertising

In most entrepreneurial careers, networking is beneficial. Learning to put yourself out there can connect you with others who can help you or even out you right in front of the people who you need to market to. With the internet and social media dominating the advertising field, it has become more and more important to have a personal brand that people can connect and relate to.

 

9. Get a Support System

For most people, becoming an entrepreneur is rewarding but difficult. Make it easier on yourself by surrounding yourself with positive, helpful, and honest people. It is important to have a support system that believes in you but isn’t afraid to tell you when you have taken a step in the wrong direction. This support group can be make up of family, friends, co-workers, or other entrepreneurs.

 

10. Believe in Yourself

Believe in yourself and know that you are capable of greatness. You have made it this far and you can actually do this. Put your best foot forward and get busy, Work hard, hustle, and don’t give up. When you have a bad day, a difficult client, or some other kind of setback, remember that you made it this far and your goals are well within your reach if you work hard and surround yourself with the right people. The road isn’t always easy for an entrepreneur but when we look back at the trail we blazed, we know the rough patches have only made us stronger.

 

Photo by Robert Messenger

In: Small Business · Tagged: advice, business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, small business

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Hi! I'm Charisma, a creative entrepreneur who loves to help others reach their full potential. I'm a photographer, a writer, and the owner of Kismet + Charisma, an online boutique that pairs minimalist, cozy, boho style with activism. In my little corner of the internet you'll find my latest travels, what I'm currently reading, how I practing Black joy as resistence, and how I'm finding hygge in my daily life. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and stay awhile.

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Happy Monday! I am obsessed with this illustration Happy Monday! I am obsessed with this illustration that the talented and gorgeous @callmeadventurous aka @sips.tea.designs made for me! If you have never seen yourself turned into art, it's a fun and flattering experience that I highly recommend to anyone! Be sure to follow @sips.tea.designs to be notified when she is taking commissions!
Emotions have been all over the place for the last Emotions have been all over the place for the last few days. It's overwhelming to think about all that we have been through this past year, these past four years, and before that. It's a relief to know that a fascist isn't in the white house anymore. However, it's tiring to think about the long road that lies ahead. There is still so much to be done to make this country a fair and equal place to call home. It's important to take moments to celebrate and moments to relax and reflect while we are on this long journey together. How did you relax this weekend?
Just a reminder that Black is Beautiful yesterday, Just a reminder that Black is Beautiful yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Black is Beautiful in every shade and in every country. Black Lives Matter and they always will. If you aren't an anti-racist who constantly lifts up Black people, then this is probably not the space for you.
I was in first grade when I realized that no one w I was in first grade when I realized that no one who looked like me had ever held the office of President or Vice President. My heart is filled with joy for the young people who will never know that feeling.
🙌🏽 🙌🏽
Please remember to stay safe this week! There are Please remember to stay safe this week! There are a lot of things happening in DC and all over the USA. Stay vigilant, stay away from people whenever possible, and stay home if and when you can! Also, remember that is it perfectly acceptable to celebrate tomorrow. These past four years have felt like a lifetime. We still have so many steps to take to make this nation a truly accepting, fair, and free place but let's hold on to the little happy moments along the way until we get there.
As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we s As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we should call ourselves?!) I haven't ever really experienced a winter season. I've enjoyed winter many times while in many different cities including, Edinburgh, London, NYC, and Boston. But I've never lived in winter day in and day out. After a week it was always time to fly home to my palm trees and theme parks. This winter is the first time that I am experiencing cold temperatures daily and often experiencing grey skies. It's only been about two weeks and I have to admit that it is a huge adjustment. But I am doing my best to embrace the season and stay as cozy as possible. I am used to being outside as often as possible in winter while hibernating with the A/C running all summer. So I guess now I will be reversing those habits and bundling up until spring gets here.
For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing o For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing only, @hipcityveg. Although I still miss all my favorite Orlando foodie places, I am so excited to finally be so close to a Hip City Veg location. It's my all-time favorite plant-based restaurant and I have been craving this vegan milkshake for months! If you haven't been yet and you are in DC or Philadelphia, go right now!
I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This last trip around the sun was during a very difficult time in our world but I can't personally complain much about the last 365 days. I thought I would be taking over as the lead on a contract at a Disney hotel as their main wedding photographer. I had been photographing weddings there for years but covid had other plans. Instead, I watched as the entire world shut down around me, only for the hotel to reopen as a part of the NBA bubble. So I decided to jump headfirst into running a product-based business. It's something I wanted to do for years and yet I could never quite seem to muster up the nerve to fully go after that dream. I launched my first collection of candles, sold out in days, and things have been steadily growing since then for @kismetandcharisma. After finally going after my dream of switching from service-based to product-based, I co-founded a nonprofit. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and the stars finally aligned to bring it to light. Along with my best friend, Anna, I co-founded @LoveDoesntHurtInc. It has already healed me in ways I never thought possible and I can't wait to see what our nonprofit does for other people. I also consistently recorded @heartandhustlepodcast all year alongside my ride or die, @studio404design. Outside of work, I adopted the sweetest little pup ever as a present for my husband's quarantine birthday (best present ever). I didn't finish writing my own book but I managed to read quite a few other books. I battled anxiety as usual but I managed to learn when to turn the news off and FaceTime a friend instead of continuing to doomscroll. I also convinced my husband to leave OCPS to work for a school district that would like to keep him alive during the pandemic, which resulted in us relocating to the DC area. Here's hoping that this trip around the sun is filled with the same amount of professional success but WAY more hugs.
Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some o Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some of the local coffee shops in DC and NOVA. You would never know that I don't like coffee by how often I am spending money in coffee shops. I do, however, love just about every tea I come across. Earthy, fruity, sweet, bitter, it doesn't matter. I love them all. Any other tea lovers out there? Do you like coffee and tea or just one or the other?

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