Gender neutral language is becoming an increasingly talked about concept as society’s perception of gender has slowly started to shift. While many people have embraced the evolution, many others view the idea with contempt. Some argue that gender neutral language doesn’t really matter and that those asking for it are being overly sensitive and wanting the world to change just for them. In actuality, gender neutral language has the power to positively affect everyone and even help solve many of the monumental issues of gender inequality that we’ve been fighting for over generations. Adopting more gender neutral language can benefit you and your business, society and those around you who are fighting to feel validated and accepted.

There is so much going on in the world right now. Every aspect of our lives is in flux. The COVID-19 pandemic is still going strong, the fight for racial equality rages on, we’re heading into a presidential election and many parents and students are feeling trapped as they try to figure out what “back to school” will mean for them this year. With all this weighing on our shoulders, minds and hearts each day, it’s easier than ever to accidentally find ourselves on a path of self destruction. Real, powerful self-care has never been more necessary.

The pandemic has laid bare innumerable inequities, chief among them financial disparity. In May, the billionaire class added $308 billion to its wealth while a record 26 million people lost their jobs. If you read that sentence and thought, “We need change and we need it now,” we’re right there with you. The political scientist, Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter, explained renewal as the happy medium between reform and revolution. Our economic landscape is primed for renewal, and it’s time to reimagine how our spending habits will sustain or disrupt what’s laid before us.

Here’s a phrase you’ve heard before, “These are unprecedented times.” Between news headlines, emails and, potentially, your own work, it’s unavoidable. Even in May, it had already become such a common descriptor, of something so uncommon, that it lost the gravitas it truly deserves. Things during a pandemic aren’t normal, and yet we’re adapting rapidly to accommodate. That’s a beautiful quality we have, isn’t it––we can struggle and succeed at the same time.

When done right, email marketing is one of the most effective ways to generate new leads and new revenue. Beyond simply sharing content, it’s about starting a conversation, building a relationship and letting clients know what it’s like to work with you. This is a guide to who, how and what you should create for a compelling email marketing strategy.

As you may have noticed, we are in the middle of a crisis right now, (COVID-19, I’m looking at you!) and this means that business and life are both proving to be a little extra challenging to navigate right now. Which is why there has never been a better time to reflect on your team. Yes, your employees need you to lead them through the chaos right now but you also need a strong team of employees to support you so you can do your best to still get shit done.

George Floyd’s death, the subsequent surge in activity within the Black Lives Matter movement, and the varied impacts of COVID-19––including racial inequalities––are giving us an unprecedented opportunity. We have the chance to take a hard look at our lives and businesses and think critically about what we want things to look like going forward. Have we really built companies with inclusive and empowering cultures, or do we just think we have?

We want to be better and the first step is transparency––so that’s what we’re doing. Our Fearless Team is ready to be held accountable, embrace positive change and follow up our words with action. We’ve provided detailed demographics on our leadership and employees, as well as next steps. Our goal is to be as up-front as possible with our clients, community and current team. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

As we look toward the future, it’s important to reflect and bring with us the lessons and routines that made us more efficient, engaged and compassionate humans, leaders and parents.

Self-care tips are most likely dominating your inbox right now. During the global pandemic, the health and wellness industry is booming. But can a listicle of must-haves and workout routines really improve your mood during a climate of extreme grief and uncertainty? Self-care is more than a lifestyle brand and eight hours of sleep––it requires consistently probing deeper issues, exploring insecurities and remedying ineffective habits. In short, it’s compassionate, constructive work on oneself. And it’s not a quick fix, it’s lifelong.

Attracting new clients through referrals is one of the most efficient ways to grow your business –– according to the Neilsen group, 84% of people trust recommendations from people they know. Chances are, you like the clients you already have. You’ve spent time and energy gaining their trust which is paramount for a rewarding, mutually beneficial relationship. Incentivizing, or even simply asking, current clients for referrals is a powerful form of word of mouth marketing. When you gain a referral, the first seeds of trust have already been planted, saving you valuable resources. Here are some of the most important ways to encourage referrals.

Work culture starts with the workforce. For a business to attract and retain a talented team and improve overall performance, there needs to be a strong culture of inclusion. That means, when employees show up for work, they feel safe, welcome and comfortable being their whole selves.

The first step is to examine current representation among employees. If there is inequity in represented identities, the problem is most likely the culture. The answer lies in making intentional shifts. Having a list of actionable items is great, but it won’t work without the intentionality behind it. Employees need to feel inclusively supported across all areas of the business: from the hiring process to salary, benefits and upward mobility.

When starting a business, the goal is to check things off your to-do list without breaking the bank. One necessary––but often costly––box to check is developing a persuasive marketing strategy. No budget? No designated marketing team? No idea where to begin? No problem –– this blog is for you. Keep reading for some easy, low-to-no cost steps to get your branding on track, and your services out to the people.

Onboarding a new employee is an important first impression. It sets the tone for how quickly a team member can start contributing, and how invested they feel in business. The same goes for assimilating a virtual team. Integrating virtual employees into an otherwise office-based group is critical for creating a cohesive work environment and effective team. There are two main areas to focus on when adding a remote staff: creating a sound digital framework and cultivating a virtual work culture.

I've dealt with anxiety for just about as long as I can remember.

But only in the last half of this decade have I really begun to know the words I need to describe it to other people. You see up until recently, people didn't even talk about anxiety much less describe what it felt like for them.

For me anxiety varies from day to day, sometimes it's something I feel in my chest. Other days, it’s a pounding of my heart or an aching of my head. Other times it's a shortness of breath and this unsettling feeling that I'm not going to get everything I need to get done, done.

An incredibly full email inbox (or six incredibly full email inboxes if you are anything like me) is stressful on a good day and now, with COVID-19, people are sending and receiving more emails than ever.

Between employees, co-workers, and clients emailing you about work, and every corporation you’ve ever done business with sending updates on their current COVID-19 strategies, emails begin to stack up fast and feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed increase too.

Here’s the other silver lining I’ve found etched along with the clouds that brought us this shit storm. While I might not be built to be home with an 8-year-old and 2 year old for endless days on end, my brain was built to solve tricky situations and see strategies that I can bring to life to make things better, even if only by a little bit. I’m also in the incredible position to be able to pass these strategies on to other people, in hopes that they might give them a little light, hope, and levity in these darker days.

COVID19 has officially thrown all of our worlds off-kilter. Whether you’ve got kids at home for the foreseeable future, whether your income has been affected, or whether you’re unable to get basic supplies you need (ahem, toilet paper), we’re all facing a new normal and feeling its impacts.

As we ride out the news cycle and shift towards accepting this new normal, how can we cope in the days, weeks and maybe even months ahead?