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Jen A. Miller Consulting

Tag: career

  • Toast of the Town | Hilary Sloan

    Toast of the Town | Hilary Sloan

    Director of Business Development | Shop Style

    Why She's the Toast of the Town

    I met Hilary Sloan at this year’s Create & Cultivate – a conference designed for female entrepreneurs in the digital space. Her outfit was on point and she looked every bit the part of a fearless woman rising the ranks in the fashion world. Not to my surprise, her savvy extended far beyond her flawless leather jack.

    As we got on with our interview, Hilary shared how she made her way to the role of Director of Business Development for ShopStyle, the e-commerce arm of the hugely popular site PopSugar. Would you be surprised to learn that the journey started with a position in the U.S. government’s department of Homeland Security? You can bet I was. She also talked candidly about the challenges that came along the way including being told that she would never get a job in fashion.We also get the insider scoop on her Insta-famous dog Ella Bean and where the idea behind her account came from.

    If you’re looking for an example of a women who knew her passion and followed it with all of her heart, look no further than Hillary. And for anyone who’s wondering if that crazy career change is possible this is an interview not to be missed. Hilary is a true example of the power of perseverance and a creative talent to be admired.

    Watch our full interview now to hear her story and catch her advice for all with a dream they’re after.

    Watch our full interview now to hear her story and catch her advice for all with a dream they’re after.

    Why She's the Toast of the Town (4)

    hilary-sloan

    Want to catch more great advice from women like Hilary Sloan? Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to the The Jam weekly newsletter. Every week I’ll be delivering exclusive interviews, the best advice from around the web, tools and resources to help you build your business, listings of the must-attend the conferences and events, and much more!

    A toast to you and Hilary too,

    Jen

  • 5 Steps to Shake Self Doubt

    5 Steps to Shake Self Doubt

    With Toast Meets Jam I’m constantly meeting and getting to know young female founders. If you’ve watched my interviews you’ll know that they’re all about getting to know the women behind the businesses.  In getting to know these amazing young women I’ve picked up quite a bit of incredible advice on what it takes to launch your own business. With the help of Entrepreneur Magazine, I’ve created Toast Talk, a new series to bring you all of that advice rolled into one delicious dish that you can dig into every Tuesday.

    To kick-off we’re going to start by talking about overcoming the obstacles that can come with  launching a business. And this week we’re going to start by talking about self-doubt.

    One of the biggest fears I hear from young women entrepreneurs is that they feel like have no idea what they are doing and are worried that someone is going to call them out for it.  If this sounds like you, you’re in luck because I have 5 easy steps for you to shake that self doubt.

    #1 Find Your Support System

    Figure out who those people are in your life that are going to be there to support you as you grow your business. Remember, no matter how independent you are, this is not something you need to do alone and it will be much more fun if you invite people to be a part of the process with you. Find those friends, family members, and mentors who truly get it, will pick you up when you’re feeling down and push you forward when you need a little encouragement.  

    #2 Start Telling People About Your Business

    It can be scary to share your ideas with other people. You might be worried about what they’ll think or about the negative feedback they might give. But by starting to talk about your business, not only will you start to gain more confidence in it but you’ll also start building out your support system. You’ll find that the people who care about you will want to see you succeed and will help you figure out the bits you don’t know by connecting you to the right people and resources.

    #3 Don’t Worry About What Everyone Else is Doing

    There are always going to be people out there for you to compare yourself to. And the reality is there are going to be people out there doing things that are very similar to what you are doing and who in your eyes might be doing it better. Good for them! Let them inspire you but don’t let them discourage you. Don’t  get caught up in what other people are doing. Stay focused on what it is you need to be doing to grow your business.

    #4 Remind Yourself Everyone Starts Somewhere

    It can sometimes seem like everyone around you is an overnight success. Like they woke up one day, decided to launch a business, and boom they instantly had it all figured out and were a roaring success. When my mind starts trailing down this path I have to remind myself that everyone starts somewhere and even the people you look up to most likely have beginnings that look very similar to your own. One handy tool that I love to use when I need a little reminder of this is the Wayback Machine. This handy tool lets you go back in time to your favorite businesses and look at their historical versions websites. Trust me it does wonders for your confidence.

    #5 Celebrate Your Successes

    Last but not least, take time to celebrate the wins no matter how big or small. When you’re launching your businesses there are so many first you will encounter. Be proud of every step of the journey you take forward. Right these down somewhere so you can remember just how far you’ve come and how truly amazing you are!

     

    Now I want to hear from you. What do you do to shake self doubt? Leave a comment below and join the conversation @ToastMeetsJam.

  • The Adventurer | An Interview with Liza Tagliati of Boarding for Breast Cancer

    The Adventurer | An Interview with Liza Tagliati of Boarding for Breast Cancer

    Living Your Passion with Action Sports Aficionado Liza Tagliati

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    In this episode of Toast Meets Jam, I catch up with Liza Tagliati, marketing manager for Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) a non-profit foundation dedicated to providing breast cancer education, prevention and support programs for young people and the action sports community at large.

    Liza studied Biology at the University of San Diego though soon realized that pursuing a career in medicine wasn’t her life’s calling. After graduation, she took a year off before getting her Master’s Degree in Marketing  to work at a ski resort in Tahoe and soon came to realize that she wanted her love for boarding to become her career.

    She talks with me about how she was able to take her passion for sports and make it part of her life every day– both in and out of the office– and offers her advice to other young women who are looking to do the same.

    For more from Liza you can catch her sharing her best boarding tips on Dirtbag Darling where she serves as their snow ambassador or follow her on Instagram @LizaTags.

    A Toast to you and Liza too,

    Jen

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  • How Dog Sitting Taught Me to Live a Happier Life

    3 (Surprising) Lessons on Happiness I Learned From Dog Sitting

    dog sitting

    Photo via Stephanie Rausser Photography

     

    Since quitting my job last November I have been hitting the side hustle – hard. One of my most lucrative undertakings has been serving as a dog sitter for DogVacay.com. The site matches dogs and their owners with people in their neighborhood who are willing to offer their services as sitters and walkers. For someone like me who would love to own a dog but realistically knows she’s not ready for that kind of commitment, it’s great. It’s like being the aunt- you get all of the fun of watching a dog without the long term cost and responsibility of owning one.

    When I started dog sitting it was purely with the aim of making money. Six dogs later, dog sitting has delivered a surprising and unexpected reward. My days of dog sitting have actually taught me lessons on how to live a happier life. It might sound crazy but it’s true.

    As you head into your weekend, consider these three lessons and how you can apply them to your own soon to be happier life!

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  • Using Social Media to Strengthen Your Personal Brand

    Using Social Media to Strengthen Your Personal Brand

    5 Steps to bring your personal brand to life through social media

    social media

    At the dawn of the era of social media there seemed to be a mixed reaction of excitement and fear over this uncharted territory. Excitement over the doors these new online outlets were providing for us to connect with each other to an extent yet unknown. Fear that this meant our personal lives were forever meant to be on display. For years it seemed that the only message circulated about the proper use of social media was a warning cry about the detrimental affects our profiles could have on our careers and professional lives. We’ve been warned to watch what we post in fear that our employers- current or hopeful- could be scanning our pages to uncover our faults.

     

    I believe the tides are now turning in favor of social media. Time has brought a new understanding of how to leverage these powerful platform s and use them to our benefit. While it is important to monitor what parts of your lives you want publicly broadcast, your social profiles can also serve as the best way for you to show off the best parts of yourself. The message is no longer a warning about what not  to do but rather a chorus of advice around what to do to leverage social media to your greatest favor.

     

    In part 2 of our series on building your personal brand we’re taking a look at how you can use social media to most effectively- you guessed it- build your personal brand . With the right know-how you can turn your social presence into a machine that strengthens your personal brand and allows you to tell your story to the world. We’ve got 5 simple steps you can take today to get started.