by Alex Funkhouser
Instagram and YouTube still top the charts as the most lucrative platforms for content creators, followed by Snapchat, TikTok, and Pinterest.
Over 200 million creators make up the creator economy. This includes independent content creators, curators, community builders, social media influencers, bloggers, and videographers. They are often operating as solo entrepreneurs or micro businesses and might even be taking this up as a second stream of income in addition to their main career. The most successful entrepreneurs in this thriving space optimize their workflow and leverage a set of tools that enable them to punch above their weight. Utilizing the right combination of tools is critical to growth and sustainability.
Take the âfoodieâ scene, for instance. Since 2019, food influencer marketing has been growing at a rate of 42%. Today, there are roughly 20,000 sole individuals trying to make a name for themselves within this category in the U.S. alone. While research shows that Instagram influencer marketing in the food industry incentivizes an engagement rate of 7.38% (and most social media marketing experts agree that a good engagement rate is between 1 and 5%.), not all 20,000 want-to-be top influencers are hitting those kinds of numbers.
But how do creators get their business off the ground? In other words, what is the successful business model behind content creation? In 2023, creators should use the following guidelines to set themselves up for success.
BE AUTHENTIC AND FIND YOUR NICHE
âInfluencerâ has become a dirty word, even by those directly in the field. And what it boils down to is there are too many content creators out there who are looking to build their audiences and get rich quickâbut often at the price of their authenticity. Successful content creators draw from their own expertise, experience, and interests while being unapologetically themselves. Even so, that approach can still make it hard to stand out.
Read the complete Fast Company article BY JOE HYRKIN: https://www.fastcompany.com/90834751/finding-success-creator-economy
by Alex Funkhouser
Emotional intelligence and the offended partyâs body language can help determine when itâs time for a mea culpa, this HR exec says.
To apologize effectively at work, itâs important to know how to word an apology and how to choose the right time. In a positive work culture, workers are not afraid to take ownership of their mistakes. Refusing to say âsorryâ can undermine relationships and show disrespect, while taking accountability can reset a relationship on the right path.
Nonetheless, apologizing can feel intimidating without the tools to know how and when to do so. What is more, an apology at an inopportune moment or with thoughtless language could be worse than no apology at all. To strike the right tone, employees and employers need to find the correct circumstances to apologize at work.
IS AN APOLOGY NECESSARY? HOW TO DECIDE
Before rushing into a hasty apology, decide whether an apology is necessary, to begin with. Apologizing excessively can waste time, highlight irrelevant mistakes and detract from the impact of each apology on its own. Instead of a long or detailed apology, try a brief âsorry about thatâ for a minor error like a typo in an email. Drawn-out apologies become necessary when a mistake causes harm to business, results in a higher workload for coworkers, or represents a long-term pattern.
Still, even accidents may produce unexpected outcomes. With that in mind, emotional intelligence and body language can help determine, for instance, if a coworkerâs withdrawal from a friendship may reveal the need to address a mistake head-on. Remember that HR advisors and coworkers can offer helpful perspectives on whether an apology could help a situation. A sincere apology reflects thoughtfulness and accountability, setting a positive tone for a relationship.
Read the complete Fast Company article BY NIKI JORGENSEN: https://www.fastcompany.com/90829773/emotionally-intelligent-way-apologize-mistake-work
by Alex Funkhouser
Avoid these six likability killers if you want to build successful relationships and get that next job offer.
Want a job offer? Strive for likability. Study after study shows that the intangible quality of âlikabilityâ is equally important, if not more important, than the credentials you bring to a potential role.
Likability is not an inherent quality. It can be developed. You as a job seeker can actually learn to be likable. And itâs not just about being ânice,â âcharmingâ or âfriendly.â Likability involves knowing that there are certain qualities to abandon.
Avoid the following six rarely discussed likability killers that will undermine your chances of nailing your next interview:
No. 1 – BEING A BRAGGART
You want to successfully âsellâ yourself if youâre a job candidate, but that doesnât mean overdoing it and claiming to have every skill under the sun. âSome candidates send rĂ©sumĂ©s with a long list of capabilities on top, and I think, you have to be a superhero to have them all,â says Miranda Kalinowski, head of global recruiting at Meta.
Be honest about what credentials you genuinely bring. Think about the one or two qualities that define you, and drive them home with great stories and specific examples.
Read the complete Fast Company article BY JUDITH HUMPHREY: https://www.fastcompany.com/90828134/mistakes-sabotage-likability-job-interview
by Alex Funkhouser
By following these five tips, you will be able to get a better understanding of who you are as well as what you want to achieve both personally and professionally.
Even those who hate the term âresolutionâ likely have career goals for the year ahead. Whether it is starting a leadership position, growing as a thought leader in your industry, or completely redirecting your career path, almost everyone has something they are trying to achieve professionally. Here are some simple things you can do to ensure that you reach your career goals in 2023. And, they all start with self-reflection and self-discovery.
INVEST IN A NEW BOOK FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Investing in a new book for personal development can help individuals interpret themselves in a more positive manner.
JOURNAL AND REFLECT
Getting a journal to help you reflect on your past year at work will be incredibly beneficial in this process. It is important to ask yourself: When did you feel at your strongest in the last year at work? What were you doing? Where were you? What led to that experience? What would you do more of or differently to experience more strong moments in 2023? Writing your answers down can lead to some âaha!â moments.
Read the complete Fast Company article BY NICKY GARCEA: https://www.fastcompany.com/90826301/hit-the-ground-running-at-work-in-2023
by SherlockTalent
This is an important practice to help you set goals that are really important to you, and then actually achieve them.
When is the last time you paused and reflected on your year with intention? Not your year-end review at work, not looking at your numbers and where you are in your business. Your year.
The hustle is real, so we rarely do this. Instead, many of us focus keenly on new yearâs resolutions that often fall by the wayside come March. But gauging where you are is important to your growth. Equally as important is celebrating all the amazing things youâve accomplished and reflect on what could have gone better.
This is an important practice to help you set goals that are really important to you, and then actually achieve them. Whether Iâm working with executives or entrepreneurs, I suggest using my âTop Fiveâ framework when doing your year-end reflection to be thoughtful as you look back at how far youâve come, and be intentional in setting some powerful personal and professional goals for the year ahead.
Grab a pen and paper or your journal, and write down your answers to the following questions …
Read the complete Fast Company article by ZEE CLARKE: https://www.fastcompany.com/90825105/dont-make-a-single-new-years-resolution-until-you-do-this
by Alex Funkhouser
A veteran CHRO uses this mental methodology to help focus on one or two tasks at a time without feeling overwhelmed.
âCompartmentalization is the process of organizing your life into separate, distinct areas,â according to digital health platform MantraCare. âBy doing this, you can minimize the amount of stress that comes from having to deal with too many things at once. When you compartmentalize your life, you create specific spaces for different activities and tasks. This means that it helps you focus on one thing and not get distracted.â
I have found compartmentalization works wonders when balancing work and home. I have always worked in a demanding job as a CHRO for large public companies and use this mental methodology in my life for everything. It helps me focus on one or two tasks at a time without feeling overwhelmed by the number of things I need to do at home and at workâ which helps minimize stress.
It also helps maximize my productivity by dividing what I need to accomplish for work and what I need to accomplish at home. For example, while I have my work to do list, I also keep a separate list of my home tasks for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. From the most mundane things such as laundry and grocery shopping to planning a birthday party for my son when he was younger.
It also helps with time management, work/home organization, work/life balance, and overall daily organization. Here are a few ways that I keep things organized.
Read the complete Fast Company article BYÂ JACQUELYN WOLF: https://www.fastcompany.com/90823515/strategy-balancing-work-home
