This original essay by Jaclyn Johnson coincides with the release of her new book, WorkParty, published by CBS sister company Gallery Books.
Jaclyn Johnson is the founder and CEO of Create & Cultivate, the fastest growing online platform and conference for millennial women in business, and the author of WorkParty. A rallying cry for a new generation of women who are redefining the meaning of work on their own terms, WorkParty is the must-read book for millennial women who want to create and cultivate the career of their dreams. Here, Johnson shares her top 3 tips for growing your business.
- Build your tribe. The most important thing you can do to expand your business is to make sure you have a strong team around you. This means laying a strong foundation with both employees and business BFFs, but also key players like an accountant, a lawyer, an HR team, etc. A solid team will help fuel your growth. When hiring, there’s a few things I look for to build a successful team.
Talent who can “wear many hats”. If you have a startup, this one is vital. You need people willing to jump in and help out on tasks that are outside their job description.
An independent self-starter. Look for people who understand the end goal and begin projects to meet that, without being told to.
- Someone who leads with positivity. Growing a business is hard work. You need employees who are willing to go the extra mile and have a good attitude about it. The ones who are excited about your vision, and want to help bring that to life, will be pillars of your business.
- Identify your weaknesses. I’m a big proponent of a strong to-do list, for both short and long-term goals. Take a look at all the different aspects of your business and make note of the things you need to change. Are your numbers on social media lacking? Is your product or service meeting the needs of your consumer? Do you need to ramp up on production? Write down all the problem areas of your business and then give yourself a deadline to resolve them. This could be over a three-month, six-month, or year-long plan depending on what’s needed. Take your own deadline as seriously as you would that of a client.
- Celebrate your wins. All too often, we’re moving onto the next thing before we have a chance to take a step back and appreciate our wins, both big and small. Whether you’ve landed a big client or executed a killer event, take a moment to pause and thank yourself, and your team.
Jaclyn Johnson is the CEO of Create & Cultivate, the fastest growing online platform and offline conference for millennial women seeking to build the career of their dreams. Jaclyn has been named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 for Marketing and Advertising, a “Self-Made Woman” by the Los Angeles Times and “A Woman of Note” by The Wall Street Journal , among other accolades.