1. Be inspired by other women
Many times I have read and listened to stories of women competing with each other at work. Especially today, on the International Women’s Day, I think it is important to reflect on this theme and we all should join in solidarity to transform competition into collaboration. If a colleague is rewarded or our friend or someone who we just follow on Instagram achieve success, we do not have to look at her bitterly and take it as a personal defeat but rather, we should take these women as inspiration who must push us and motivate us to give always the best of us to get the results we want. Success is not reserved for only a few people and fortunately, each of us has its own definition of success, that’s why everyone can get it. Looking at women who have achieved great goals is inspiring and motivating, which is why I love listening and informing myself about their stories. You can find inspiration everywhere, in your mother, your sister, your friend or even stories of women like Emily Weiss who founded an empire from scratch. Observe these women and try to adopt their strategies for your own definition of success.
2. Listen to Podcast
Learning something every day improves our life from all points of view and in particular, listening to the right podcast can let us become an expert of one topic or learn more about something that is totally new to us. What I like about podcasts is that, unlike books, courses or websites, you can listen to it comfortably by doing other things at the same time. I listen to them while cooking, driving, when I’m on the subway or when I’m tidying the house. Podcasts are a great way to take advantage of these moments when we have busy hands and still be productive. Try listening to a podcast every day. Generally, an episode of a podcast lasts 20-50 minutes and we all spend the same amount of time preparing dinner, on transportation or getting ready in the morning. We also have a Podcast too and every episode is a conversation with someone who works in fashion, has started a business or is an expert in the field. Have you already subscribed to it?
3. Be more organized
I like but above all, I need to have a scheme and plan all the activities to be more productive and to not move from one activity to another to get to the end of the day without having completed anything or just 3/10 of the activities on my TO-DO List of the day. Especially if you are a freelancer, a businesswoman or a blogger, establishing a routine helps you be more productive. Try to make a list of the activities, estimate a duration for each and spread every activity in the day and throughout the week. Knowing that I have two hours to write a blog post and then the next 3 hours I will deal with marketing, helps me stay focused on every activity throughout its duration. If I do not settle these hours instead, I tend to do more activities at the same time and arriving at the end of the today unsatisfied. For our members, I have prepared a template that is what I use to organize all the activities daily and be much more productive.
Productivity = more work done = career improvement
4. Establish a monthly budget to invest in your career
As a business needs financial investments constantly in order to grow, the same applies to the career. If you want to grow professionally you have to invest in yourself. I would like to propose you a reflection: you definitely have at least a gym or Netflix membership and you will go to the beautician at least once a month. But have you ever considered instead of dedicating the same amount (but even less) to your career? We are not used to considering this option and, to tell you the truth, not even I thought about it until a few months ago. But then I thought that the books I’m buying, the courses I’m attending and my Business of Fashion membership, actually represent the monthly and constant investment in my career. And I can see the results. Establish a monthly budget to invest in books, courses, and even subscriptions to your favorite sites or magazines. Have you already looked at our membership? The Basic plan costs € 15 per month. How much is € 15 a month invested in your career? The investment in your career is the safest and most profitable. We have launched the GO Membership to guide, support and follow you to find your work in fashion, grow professionally and becoming a successful blogger. Join all the Girls With A Plan, become a Member
5. Networking
Connections are essential, especially in the fashion industry. Thanks to social media today, networking has become easier. We explained how to Network on Instagram and don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn. If you do not have it yet, create an account right away, set up a professional photo and start adding people from the industry to your network. You can even send them a message, even just saying you admire their work and would like to know more about what they do. At the beginning of your career, connections are more useful because you are new in the workplace and you want everyone to know about you, but it is also the most difficult time because you do not know anyone or just a few in the industry. I’ve been there too and that’s why I launched membership, to build a community where girls with the same interests can get to know and collaborate each other. You may know a girl who works at Prada and can suggest you a new job opportunity in her company. Do not underestimate the power of networking and communities.
