Honest Storytelling With Founder of The Confetti Project Jelena Aleksich

Meet Jelena, mental health and grief advocate and founder of The Confetti Project: a photography challenge that turned into an opportunity to encourage others to answer the question “what are you celebrating”. Tune in below to meet Jelena, and learn how you can use real-life experiences and honest storytelling to build a brand, community, and more!

SHOW NOTES:

Jelena’s work has served as a source for many brands, people, and start-ups. She was inspired to start The Confetti Project when she left a previous job (1:00.)

After an OK Go concert, she left the event with confetti in her pockets. She was so surprised by it and the confetti brought her so much joy! It made her question, “what does confetti mean” and she immediately started to gather photos of confetti (2:05.)

She then began asking others around her, “what do you celebrate in your life right now?” and “what are you grateful for?” These questions would stop people in their tracks. Jelena quickly realized that this project may be unlocking something bigger than herself and she owed it to herself to explore it (3:02).

“Any time you are carving your own path, it takes a lot of trust. Listen to your internal compass and be fearless. Go after those moments and things that make you feel the most alive. ”

— Jelena Aleksich

After traveling to Dubai Jelena asked people who were all so diverse the same question, “What do you celebrate?” and their answers were exactly the same! She realized we all have way more in common than we think we do.  Celebration and being human is universal (9:00). 

Jelena finds anytime we take time for ourselves to check-in and explore our passions not only impacts ourselves but creates a ripple effect to those around us (11:20). 

“Every human life is worthy of celebration.”

— Jelena Aleksich

Now more than ever people need to be inspired by the good in the world. (17:55)

 When storytelling, the key is to be authentic and genuine and bring to life why you are doing what you are doing. The ‘why’  should be the nucleus of what you do. Your brand becomes the platform to make it happen (19:00).

Jelena’s next projects are Confetti Grams, virtual community confetti circles, such as this healing community workshop on grief, and Casa Confetti where people can share what they celebrate (22:10).

When taking a leap, ask yourself what you are passionate about and believe in yourself. There’s no reason why you can’t do what you want to do. Surround yourself with people that believe in you. The whole nature of pursuing a dream job or starting your own business is constantly learning from it and making yourself excited by growing and evolving from it (24:30).

To learn more about Jelena be sure to follow The Confetti Project on Instagram!

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Thank you readers, to tuning into the Brava Podcast. If you like the show please leave a review on iTunes! 

What from our conversation inspired you today? What do you hope to hear next? Tweet or message us on Instagram @BravaPodcast to tell us what you want to hear, even if it’s your own story! 

5 Episodes to Inspire Your Monday Morning Routine

New week, new start, who 'dis?☕🌟 Raise your hand if you have ever let the "Sunday Scaries" get the best of you. 🙋

It's hard not to...with growing anxieties from the productivity of your past weekend (or the lack their of) and the potentially portentous week to come weighing heavily on you. Don't get down on yourself for not accomplishing what you wanted to do on the weekend.

Allow yourself to bring new light and energy to your Monday morning routine. A fresh page in your book to start again. You deserve it.

So let’s kick off this morning right! I pulled together my top 5 favorite Brava episodes that will help to inspire your evolving vision, revitalize your workflow, and jumpstart your week with positivity!

Leading Yourself Well With Marissa Nash | Episode 20

Marissa is a Certified Professional Life Coach and Team Coach that specializes in helping YOU to make an impact whether it be within your own organization, your community, with your family or the world. Tune in this AM to lean more about incorporating self-care into your routine and how to perform your own life audit. Use this next 20 minutes with Marissa as your own personal time with your new life coach. She’s got your back because she knows you have big plans for your future.

Celebrating Life’s Moments with Entrepreneur and CEO Kristen Ley of ThimblePress | Episode 19

Meet Kristen Ley, CEO, er, actually I should say, “Chief Confetti Maker and Founder” of Thimblepress. Tune in below to get real with Kristen and her start-up story, learn more about differentiating products in a competitive space and advice on how to make your dream a reality.

Differentiating Your Product with CEO and Beauty Guru Lauren Napier | Episode 16

In this episode Lauren highlights key takeaways of how you can differentiate your brand, gives details about how she launched her beauty line and products, and talks about how she pays it forward along the way. Tune in below to how this make-up artist turned CEO is changing and challenging the beauty space.

Rooting Your Career in Self-Love with Ta’lor Pinkston | Episode 15

Prioritizing self-love and self-care is essential for your career. Tune in to meet Ta’lor Pinkston. Ta’lor is the founder of LADYHOOD journey, LLC and has made it her mission to help women and girls know their worth by making self-love a priority through creating a community for women empowerment.

How to Craft A Life You Love with Amy Tangerine | Episode 14

Let’s discuss how to craft not just creativity, good habits and a good environment, but also a life that you love. To help walk us through this how-to, meet creativity and craft maven, Amy Tangerine! Amy is the author of the colorful and amazing book, “Craft a Life You Love”.

Which episode inspired you this morning? Comment below! #YouGoGirl

How to Craft a Life You Love with Amy Tangerine

We talk a lot about the importance of creativity on the Brava Podcast. It’s not just a talent for designers or artists, it’s a trait that each us have, but also can exercise for start-ups, side-hustles and our day-to-day jobs.

Today we’ll be discussing how to craft not just creativity, good habits and a good environment, but also a life that you love. To help walk us through this how-to, I am thrilled to introduce you to creativity and craft maven, Amy Tangerine! Amy is the author of the colorful and amazing book, “Craft a Life You Love” and I’m so excited to see what tips and tricks she shares with us today.

SHOW NOTES:

At a young age, Amy fell in love with school supplies and as she grew older her passions expanded to fashion and people. (1:54)

Amy studied Fashion Design and Marketing in addition to Industrial Design (2:50)

She shifted to scrapbooking from fashion after falling in love at a class she took one day at a bookstore and quickly fell in love with the creative community (3:30.)

Looking to learn how to focus your creative energy? Amy knows that as a creative there is probably no shortage of creative ideas in your head. She believes that you need clarity to find what brings you joy and what your talents are (4:45.)

“It doesn’t matter how many ideas you have, it matters how many ideas you make happen.”

— Amy Tangerine

Amy does not believe in the “B-Word” and no, it’s not what you think! She doesn’t believe in being “busy” because it can equate to feeling rushed and overwhelmed and glorifying the trend of the “hustle”. She has made a mindset shift and says, “I have enough time for all things I want to do” (5:30.)

“Give yourself permission to create.”

— Amy Tangerine

Amy admits to being too hard on herself and will say, “give yourself grace”. She finds that she gives that grace to other people but sometimes not to herself and is working on being kinder to herself (10:15.)

Have you ever tried bullet-journaling? Amy Tangerine explains what a bullet journal is, how you can learn how to bullet-journal and why bullet-journaling is so epic! The best part about creative journaling? You can make it your own and live your best life (13:30.)

“You don’t have to do more to be more. We are already enough.”

— Amy Tangerine

What’s next for Amy? She feels something big is coming in the near future! She wants to learn to let go and flow with intention and is ready for her next adventure. Specifically she hopes to cultivate more of a community, potentially a podcast, continue creating content, and continue posting videos to her YouTube! (15:45.)

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Thank you readers, to tuning into the Brava Podcast. If you like the show please leave a review on iTunes! 

What from our conversation inspired you today? What do you hope to hear next? Tweet or message us on Instagram @BravaPodcast to tell us what you want to hear, even if it’s your own story! 

Invest in Yourself with Purpose and Potential Coach Becca White

“Showing up for yourself has a return on investment that never stops.” Today’s guest on the Brava Podcast believes in this statement through and through. Here on Brava, we discuss a lot about “the leap” to get to that next step, to achieve that goal and to enact change for the better whether it’s in your life or at work.

 Meet today’s guest: Becca White. Becca is a purpose and potential coach specializing in helping women battling postpartum, balancing business and leaping in life. Tune in below or on iTunes to learn how you can invest in yourself and in your dream with purpose and without fear.

SHOW NOTES:

Becca’s business is to help others find their purpose.  She loves problem-solving and the power of a silver-lining to help others. When she became pregnant with her first child she began looking at things completely differently. Her business was born because she started asking for guidance after battling postpartum after having her children (2:30.)

Everybody goes through the fear/ love cycle of taking the leap into a new idea or phase of life. Becca wants to help her clients identify what their gifts are so that they are so aligned with their purpose that it creates momentum that won’t stop (4:23.)

Becca believes that mentors are vital for your growth:

“You need someone who will hold space for you as a sounding board and is 100% in your court. ”

— Becca White

Becca’s advice on balancing your 9-5, family, friends, side-hustle and more? “Quit making it hard for yourself.” She believes its essential to identify what your gift and goal is and clear out all of your other distractions (7:45.)

This year Becca is devoting her time and her research to postpartum and is writing a book about her findings. She finds a lot of people don’t report postpartum and that there is a shame surrounding it. She wants to shake-up the diagnosis theory. She believes it’s important to hold space for a new family similarly to how we treat the loss of a loved one and show up for the new mother in a similar way (17:30.)

Becca on the importance of reaching out to mother’s too in the postpartum period:

“We don’t do a good job on mothering the mother. ”

— Becca White

Becca’s favorite advice? Eventually you’re going to have to jump. You got this Brava listeners!

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Thank you readers, to tuning into the Brava Podcast. If you like the show please leave a review on iTunes! 

What from our conversation inspired you today? What do you hope to hear next? Tweet or message us on Instagram @BravaPodcast to tell us what you want to hear, even if it’s your own story! 

Minding Your Own Business with Ilana Griffo

Welcome back listeners! Today’s guest is Ilana Griffo. Today on Brava we’re discussing how you can take your creative passion and grow it into your full-time gig…and Ilana is an expert on this! She’s a freelance designer and illustrator. Plus, she’s a newly published author of the book, “Mind Your Business”! Want to start your own side-hustle? Tune in now below to mind your (own) business with Ilana Griffo.

SHOW NOTES:

Ilana always knew she wanted to be a graphic designer. She went to school for graphic design and started freelancing immediately while working full-time. She went off on her own four years ago and hasn’t looked back since (1:05).

Despite using school to hone in on her design craft, her favorite class in school was a career development class that focused on interview tips and tricks and how to conduct yourself in the professional world (2:25).

Ilana wrote her book to help other creatives (like you!) create the business foundation to launch their careers (3:30)!

Working from home can be tough with all the distractions around you. Illana created a dedicated office for herself. A day in the life for Ilana includes her one year old son, a to-do list and drawing (7:00).

She sources inspiration from every aspect of life and is very inspired by the seasons (8:22).

When reviewing your own business, Ilana recommends not diving directly into a branding voice until you find your voice as a brand (10:50).

It takes a lot of adventure and trial and error to develop and find your voice (12:00).

The hardest part of publishing her new book, “Mind Your Own Business”? The beginning and getting started! What helped? Her loyal and hard-working team (13:45).

“Ilana’s go-to mantras: “Do it with passion or not at all” and “ask for what you want.” ”

Hoping to start your own side-hustle, Ilana recommends just to…start! Never stop having fun with it (17:45).

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Thank you readers, to tuning into the Brava Podcast. If you like the show please leave us a review on iTunes! 

What from our conversation inspired you today? What do you hope to hear next? Tweet or message us on Instagram @BravaPodcast to tell us what you want to hear, even if it’s your own story!