Have I got a treat for you today. This week, Nicole Regan of Cedar & Rush is back on the Elevate blog for the second time! (Check out her first interview here to learn about her fitness and nutrition faves.)
Because she happens to rock her own business full-time (after several years of building it while working a day job), this time I asked her to spill her secrets on managing her business while staying as stress-free as possible. (Because isn’t the whole point of running your own business to be able to enjoy your life? And you know I’m all about self-care for entrepreneurs!)
I’ve been a client of Nicole’s and know that her organization and prioritization only make her customer experience BETTER. (Funny how that happens when we get our heads on straight and don’t let ourselves get run down on a hamster wheel.)
Tell us a little about your business and what it was like to start it up while working full-time.
I help companies strategize and create content on social media to increase their revenue and strengthen their brand. I also have a blog, Cedar & Rush – a stylish city guide with a fashion bent.
My blog is what really catapulted me into the world of social media – and it was purely by accident! With that being said, I was blogging every second outside of my full time job as an account executive for an Insurance Brokerage firm. I never stopped, and it was exhausting. I would blog before work, lunch breaks, mini breaks and network after work.
After 3 years of blogging – I finally received an opportunity to work with a hotel. They loved my blog and needed help navigating the wild, wild west of social media. Since I also had a local presence in the city and was very in tune with events and people, they asked me to help create a buzz about their Chicago location.
Even though it was short term {and a pay cut} – my husband and I agreed now was the time to try. So I made the leap and haven’t looked back. Okay, sometimes I dream of the days of having a boss again (call me crazy – but sometimes it’s exhausting to be the head honcho and the one and only person responsible). But it’s been the biggest life learning lesson I’ve ever had. It’s not easy and I don’t regret it for a second. I used to think working 2 jobs was hard – but owning your own business is even more time consuming than you can ever imagine.
Who are your business idols?
Right now I am completely entrenched in photographers and their work. Jana Williams and Jamie Beck are pretty much the end all, be all in my book. Given online content is so visual, photography has evolved into a very large and important part of social media and blogging. I purchased a DSLR last year and pretty much never put it down.
Please walk us through a typical day for you, as well as any habits you rely on to keep you sane.
I recently started the Miracle Morning – Although I don’t do it every day (I’ve been doing it 3 times a week) – I have found it incredibly beneficial to the productivity of my day. If you aren’t familiar with it, you can catch the overview here. I get up at 6 AM – chug a huge glass of water, meditate for 10 minutes, say my affirmations and visualize a productive day with ease. After that, I check my client’s morning scheduled social media posts. Next I promote my published blog post on social media. Then I spend the first 2 hours focusing on client work. After that, I check emails. Depending on the day, I may go to the city for blogger/media events; Skype meeting calls; photoshoots or go get my hair done. Yep, I’m the boss so I can do that 😉 If I don’t Miracle Morning it up, I get up at 7:30/8 AM and go straight to the 2 hour work.
You’ve got a stellar process for managing your daily schedule and tasks. What made you decide to become more structured, and how has it made a difference in your stress levels?
Honestly, it’s a work in progress and something I tweak regularly. The best thing I ever did was start my Work Smarter, Not Harder blog series – where I interview successful women entrepreneurs and how they accomplish their own productivity. I started this series because I was struggling myself. And what better way to learn than to ask the experts. My best tips are:
-Don’t re-invent the wheel. Take advice from the successful and experienced.
-Automate, automate, automate. Canned email responses are game changers.
-DON’T LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA. This is SO hard for me, but it’s the biggest time suck. It’s also my job, so talk about a conflict of interest. Haha!
How do you balance staying present while working towards your dreams?
You need to have goals and priorities.
Everything you do, needs to be contributing to those said objectives.
By having goals, this helps guide your decisions and what you say yes and no to. Trust me – I still struggle with this but I’m learning and trying! The Miracle Morning has helped me with this, by the way!
Also, the power of NO is incredibly exhilarating and important to your sanity. I used to say yes to everything. If you struggle with saying “no”, I found this article and this article very helpful.
You mentioned in your blog that you turn ordinary tasks, like washing your face before bed, into a soothing routine. Tell us more.
Oh yes! So I am an only child, which means I have a secret talent for turning boring into “fun”.
I have a secret talent for turning boring into “fun”.
For example, during tax season (I wasn’t prepared as I should have been with my receipts). I would light a candle, play jazz and pour myself a glass of red wine. Way more enjoyable than posting up at a desk in pure silence. It also motivated me to work on them more because I was associating pleasure with taxes. Another favorite? Listening to podcasts in the car. Jess Lively is my favorite and I look forward to her new episodes twice a week. I actually like traffic now, in hopes I can listen to the full episode. My last trick is bookmarking interesting articles I stumble upon on Facebook, emails, blogs, etc. that I don’t have time to read. Caught in a long line? No problem! I have an archive of fascinating reads to keep me occupied. The time goes by faster and I’m in a great mood – versus standing there and getting annoyed.
Try to turn things you hate into something you love – I promise it will change how you look at the world.
What are your favorite ways to recharge?
Going for a walk or bike ride, meeting up with friends, taking photos of people and things, reading, finding a new recipe and cooking it!
How do you celebrate victories in your business and personal life?
Happy dances in my chair! I also share the news with my husband and parents, but other than that keep it to myself. But now that you mention it, maybe I need start celebrating more!
What advice do you have on work-life balance for entrepreneurs who are starting their businesses while working full-time?
Make your priorities priorities. Health, self care and being there for others always seem to be the things we compromise on the most. But at the end of life’s road – these are the things that actually matter. These little things add up BIG TIME over time. Make time for them every. single. day. Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day.
Thanks, Nicole, for sharing your wisdom! You’ve been in the trenches building your business, and your hard work, savvy, and ability to enjoy yourself along the way are an inspiration to us all.
To get to know Nicole better, or if you are interested in hiring her as a social media strategist, be sure to check out her blog. You can also follow her on Instagram, where her photos are sure to make you jealous.
