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Jen A. Miller Consulting

Author: Jen A. Miller

  • The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Business This Year

    The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Business This Year

    “Eventually it all connects” – Charles Eames

     

    Why do you want to build and grow your business and what are you doing this year to make that happen? In this video I’m sharing the surprising way I answered those two questions.

    When I quit my job at the end of 2013,  I was feeling stuck. I was clocking in and out of work on a routine that was keeping me from truly experiencing life. I knew I needed to create a career path that set me free not only to explore new places but also to meet new people and discover new ways of living.

    While it might seem obvious from the outside looking in, until I sat down to write my goals for 2016 I hadn’t recognized that this career is what I’d begun to create when I launched this site. I’d seen Toast Meets Jam as a way to inspire other young women to build their lives around what makes them happiest but had failed to see that I was also on the receiving side of that message. The reason for putting the work into building and growing the site is not only to inspire others but also to walk alongside them as I trail blaze my own path.

    Since travel has always been the thing that makes me feel most inspired, I knew that it needed to be a part of my annual resolutions. I turned my eyes toward Iceland, a country that had topped my list since reading about it on a favorite travel blog of mine a year ago. With the help of the amazing team at Arctic Adventures, I was able to make that resolution come true this February. 

    Watch now to see how that trip became the best thing I’ve done for my business this year.

     

    –

    Music: Of Monsters and Men | Crystals

    Trip Sponsor: Arctic Adventures

  • Raise Your Glasses

    Raise Your Glasses

    A Brunch for Women with Vision

    It’s nearly been one year since Toast Meets Jam was launched. The past few months have been filled with learning and experimenting. What started as a simple interview series featuring female founders has grown to include so much more. Perhaps one of the additions that most excites me is the launch of Toast Meets Jam brunches.

    The idea for a brunch series had existed from the beginning. I wanted a way to bring together all of the badass women I was meeting through my interviews.  Thanks to a chance meeting with Megan Ranegar of The Dinner Party Association the idea took flight last June. Together we hosted TOAST: A Brunch for Gals we Raise our Glasses to a backyard soiree that invited female founders and influencers commune over a toast-themed menu.

    This past Sunday I had the chance to host a second brunch. Amanda Tice, the female founder behind Hatch Studios, was my fabulous co-host for this second seating. To give our event it’s own unique spin, we played off the theme Raise Your Glasses | A Brunch for Women with Vision.

    women's brunch

    We hosted the brunch at Hatch Studios the beautiful, boutique co-working space where Toast Meets Jam is filmed.

    women's-brunch

    Joining Amanda and I were nearly twenty incredibly talented women who spanned the likes of entrepreneurs, bloggers, creatives, and influencers.

    women's-brunch

    Instacart kindly sponsored a bagel bar with all of the fixins to serve as the center of our menu. To round out our spread, each girl brought her favorite brunch dish to share with the group.

    women's-brunch

    Of course, no brunch would be complete without a mimosa (or two!). Zico stepped in providing their amazing fresh juices to help us keep our glasses more than half-full at all times.

    women's-brunch

    We wanted to give everyone something they could take home to remember the day and the goals they’ve set out for 2016. So, keeping in line with our theme, we invited all the women to craft together vision boards after our meal.

    women's-brunch

    All in all, I have to say it was yet another successful day filled with great food, new friends, and incredible connections. Now that is something to raise your glasses to!

    To see more from our brunch follow @ToastMeetsJam on Instagram and search for #HatchYourVision.

    Want to join us for the next Toast Meets Jam brunch? Drop me a line at jen@toastmeetjam.com

    A toast to you and your visions too!

     

    Jen

     

  • Come Check Out the Toast Meets Jam Shop!

    Come Check Out the Toast Meets Jam Shop!

    Toast Meets Jam Shop Now Open for Business!

    Ahh I’m so excited to share two big announcements!

    First, I have opened up the Toast Meets Jam Shop. Click here to go check it out.

    Second, I’ve launched a new series on YouTube called #ImAnEntrepreneur. I’ve decided that 2016 is the year to take Toast Meets Jam from a fun side hustle to full on revenue generating business and I’m going to be sharing that whole process in real time on this new series.

    This is actually the third episode in the series. You can catch Episode 1 here and Episode 2 here. I really want to make this a collaborative process with all of you so I hope you’ll follow along and come back here to leave your suggestions and advice in the comments!

    Thanks for tuning in and if you haven’t yet, please subscribe to Toast Meets Jam TV on Youtube!

     

     

  • 3 Holiday Shoe Trends for Women Entrepreneurs

    3 Holiday Shoe Trends for Women Entrepreneurs

    shoe pic
    Photo cred @shotbygio

    Get in Stride with Our Holiday Shoe Guide

    This time of year, your schedule is probably packed with events requiring you to dress to impress. Between office parties, get togethers with family, and meeting up with old friends from school, you’re going to need quite a few show-stopping outfits, complete with a few equally stunning pairs of shoes. And while this season isn’t short on stylish shoe options, there are certainly a few trends that will help you stand out.

    Metallic Flats

    metallic-flats

    First, dress up any basic outfit with an extra eye-catching pair of flats. You could give your footwear an added dose of glam with a glittery exterior. They’re fun, festive, and perfect for the party season. Or, you can ditch the glitter and opt instead for a flashy pair of metallics. In this post from earlier this year, writer Jasmine Garnsworthy said that the trend “achieves the seemingly impossible by injecting ultra comfortable flat shoes with the ability to actually dress up an outfit.” To really nail the look, try a simple pair of loafers or ballet flats in gold or silver. They’re perfect for this time of year and versatile enough that you can wear them long after the season ends.

    Ankle Boots

    ankle-boots

    Next, find a pair of boots. Nothing’s worse than freezing your appendages off at an outdoor holiday party in December. If you look at the shoes available here, you can see that ankle boots are still a popular cut for the season. Suede in particular has been a heavily favored fabric. You can probably get the most use out of a solid-colored black or brown pair, but if you want something a little more fun for the season, try a pair with some added fur detail or a jeweled heel.

    Heels

    heels

    Finally, you’ll need an impressive pair of heels. Whether you want to look good for someone new, boost your confidence, or just complete a formal ensemble, heels are the go-to style. For something a little more exciting, try a heel embellished with a bit of fringe. Fringe was the most popular detail of fall fashion, and it’s expected to continue dominating styles well into the winter. Check out this site for different ideas on what pieces work best with the style, including fashionable accessories.

    There’s only a few more weeks left until the holiday season wraps. If you haven’t gotten a little something for yourself yet, now is the perfect time!

  • Overcome the #1 Obstacle of Launching a Business

    Overcome the #1 Obstacle of Launching a Business

    If you are an aspiring entrepreneur who hasn’t yet taken the first step toward launch, I’m going to take a guess that one of the things holding you back is a fear of failure. This is probably the #1 obstacle to overcome and it’s something that every founder faces.

    No matter how great your idea the truth is, you have no way of knowing how things are going to turn out once you launch your business. And that, can be extremely scary.

    The thing that sets successful people apart though is that they have found a way to get over their fear and embrace the uncertainty before them. If you think about it this way, that means there are many people who have gone before you who have figured out how to do this.

    While there is no right or wrong answer, here are four tips shared with me by female founders on getting over your fear of failure.

    1. Invest the time to become an expert

    Do your research and become the most knowledgeable person you know on your topic. With the availability of information at our fingertips there is nothing holding you back from soaking up as much knowledge as possible. If you’re confident in what you’re talking about, you’ll feel more confident in sharing your ideas, and running 110% after your idea.

    1. Financially Prepare

    If you have an idea you want to run after or maybe just know that one day you want to run your own business, plan for that. Don’t up and leave your day job until you’re financially secure.  Save. Create a budget and have a backup for making money if you need it. You’ll be able to focus better on your work if you’re not burdened by the “what-ifs” if things don’t work out.

    1. Take it One Step at a Time

    You don’t get from A to Z without a lot of letters in between. The thing goes for launching your business. You’re only going to make it from idea to ideal by taking things one step at a time. Set realistic expectations and goals for yourself that will keep you motivated and encouraged as you grow your business

    1. Be Specific About Your Vision

    Success may look very different for you than someone else. Your vision may be to build something that gives you the freedom to work when and wherever you want. Someone else’s vision may be to become the market leader in their industry. Hold yourself accountable to your personal vision and remember it’s not failure if it wasn’t your goal in the first place.

     

    And one last thing, remember there is no end to building your business. It is a journey. Things may not always turn out as you’d planned but that doesn’t make those steps any less valuable. Hold yourself accountable for learning as you go not for knowing all the answers up front and you’ll start to see uncertainty as opportunity instead of something to be feared.

    Now it’s your turn. What are your best tips for getting over the fear of failure?

    Leave your answers in the comments below and keep the conversation going over at @toastmeetsjam.

    If you like this video please subscribe and share it with all of your friends. Thanks so much for watching, why not stick around and for another helping of Toast Meets Jam?