We are thrilled to have landed this interview with Kelsey Raymond, co-founder and president of Influence & Co — an agency built on the belief that great content has the power to build an individual’s presence. Kelsey started this journey shortly after college in 2011 and navigated a wide range of challenges, peaks and valleys. (You’ll likely see yourself in her journey). She has most generously shared some of these moments with us and some solid advice — so we might learn from her experiences. (BTW, the topic of confidence does come up.)

As a team, Influence and Co. is committed to “keep it real”. They develop an individual’s presence authentically, through crafted content that retains a true voice —  transforming a client’s knowledge base and experience into credibility. Their work is rooted in a “sharing not promotion” vantage point, where their clients offer something meaningful to their potential audience. This action in turn, could serve as fertile ground for a future relationships. (They really intended to leave the whole “ghost-writer” concept buried in the dust.)

Like many successful leaders, Kelsey has a firm belief in mentors and mentoring — along with a strong strategy to invest in people. She relishes the opportunity to help others grow within Influence & Co’s culture.

I have always loved the fact that she employs so many great journalists many from the mid-west. (I’m a Detroiter.)

Who says that you have to be on the coast to rock a start-up?

I’ve watched this group grow over the years — and I couldn’t be more excited for them. Since 2011, Influence & Co has grown from 2 to 70 members, earning a coveted place on the Forbes Most Promising Companies in America list.

Outstanding.

As a note, I’ve barely edited Kelsey’s responses to our questions. (I didn’t want you to miss a thing and honestly, I couldn’t really improve upon a journalist’s unfolding story.) If require guidance in building influence through content, learn more about Influence & Co. by visiting their site here:

1. What key factors came together that helped you to find your current path?

There were a few factors that led/helped me to start & run my current company, Influence & Co.

• Family Influence: First, I was raised in an entrepreneurial family. My Dad ran a real estate business (as did my sister) and my brother ran a music venue. I grew up knowing that entrepreneurship was a valid career path — not some kind of crazy dream.
• School: At the University of Missouri I studied Marketing & English, but the majority of my knowledge base came from my experience with an Entrepreneurship club called “The Entrepreneurship Alliance” (EA). Through this group, I was able to meet with entrepreneurs, pitch ideas, win seed money and start a business with a friend.
• Testing Entrepreneurship as a Path: Because of EA, I was able to start a small marketing company. We learned much about sales, writing contracts, good customer service, and even hiring and firing employees. It empowered me to feel confident to start another company after college.
• Mentors: More on this below!

2. Did you have a mentor? A teacher, boss, relative, etc. — that impacted your career/life direction?

Absolutely! I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have two fantastic mentors in my life.

• My Dad, Jerry Meyer — He was my first mentor and taught me a lot of what I know about managing people (treating them right) and a good work ethic. Throughout my career, I’ve been able to ask him for advice — knowing that even though our companies are very different, he understands people and what truly matters.
• My Entrepreneurship Alliance Professor, Dr. Greg Bier: Greg introduced me to the world of entrepreneurship through EA and has been an incredible support system to me throughout my career. He challenged me, supported me and most impactfully – he opened doors. He introduced me to the people who would become my first clients, my first investors, and even my first employees. Oh and he introduced me to my husband. Greg was the officiant at our wedding in May.

3. None of us are perfectly suited for our own path. What aspect of your own personality or work style serves as an obstacle? How do you manage that challenge?

One aspect of my personality that did serve and currently serves as an obstacle is insecurity. I was 22 when I started Influence & Co. — and I would frequently feel like I didn’t have the right to be in the position I was in (imposter syndrome big time).

Mentors in my life have helped me build confidence. However, it is still something I struggle with. One thing I have started to manage this (which may sound incredibly cheesy) — is to remind myself that I have earned the recognition I’ve received. That I have worked very hard — and that I have earned the right to be in the room or conversation or at the table (wherever that might be).

Literally saying these things out loud — helps me overcome an insecure moment.

I’ve also realized that my expressed confidence helps other young women on our team gain their own confidence, so I can help them.

4. If you had an observation concerning what separates those who love their work, from those who do not — what would that be?

One thing I do notice, is that people who don’t love their work, frequently do not enjoy the people they work with. Even the most tedious jobs can be enjoyable if you’re working with people you genuinely enjoy being around. For this reason we invest a lot of time in the interviewing process to make sure we are hiring people who we will enjoy working with.

5. With success can come complacency. How do you draw energy from your successes and stay grounded. How do you stay sharp for what might come next?

It’s all about what motivates you. What motivates me is helping companies connect with their audience on a human level (which helps grow our client base) and creating jobs for the most people possible, so that they enjoy coming to work every day (which means growing our team).

With those two things being motivators, it’s not difficult to avoid becoming complacent. I don’t have a 5 year goal of numbers I’d like to hit — it’s more about continuous growth and improvement.

6. In your world, what activities or tasks most energize you? What advice would you give to young women in college concerning finding the right career path?

The activity that energizes me, is working with people to help them come to their own conclusions – so in a sense, coaching my team members. I’m thrilled that as we’ve grown, I’ve been able to spend time on this. However, it didn’t start out that way.

The advice I would give to young women in college concerning finding the right career path, is to think about something you’d love to be doing five or ten years from now – talk to someone who is in that role, and ask them what skills, experiences and responsibilities you need to have developed over that 5 years to get there.

Don’t discount the importance of understanding financials if you want to be in management, don’t discount the importance of meeting deadlines – realize how each of those things will help you get to where you want to go.

7. Whose life or career do you most admire? Why?

I admire Sheryl Sandberg – I’ve just finished reading her book Option B — and admire her resilience and attitudes toward life. I’ve also read Radical Candor by Kim Scott, and she tells a few stories about Sheryl as a boss at Google. I was simply floored by how Sheryl was described as a boss. From Kim’s stories, she seems to have the perfect combination of empathy and willingness to provide critical feedback. She earns the trust and respect of those she supports.

8. Lastly — what is your favorite book and why?

Such a hard question!! Since my list of favorite all time books is much too long, I’ll go with my favorite from the last two months, “Who Thought This Was A Good Idea?” by Alyssa Mastromonaco.

Thanks Kelsey. I know I learned a lot.

Please note: Don’t miss our interview with Influence & Co.’s employee #3 — Alyssa Patzius,Vice-President of Client Experience — as she explains what it’s like to be a part of a growing start-up.

The Tilbury Edit shares observations concerning a wide array of topics from running a company — to the fragrance. It is designed to share lessons learned from a variety of perspectives.

By: Allison McClintick

The other night over cocktails, my friend and I were discussing how clothing can change how you feel. Interestingly, she almost fell out of her chair — gushing over the glorious power trip of a perfectly tailored suit. She smiled slyly at me, sharing her glorious secret; that the suit made her feel like a bad ass.

I really couldn’t share her enthusiasm.

There are few things in life I detest more than wearing a suit. Well, that may be a slight exaggeration. But not by much. What you wear, should be an extension of your personality. If you feel powerful in a suit, it should follow that it fits your personality (and you are not trying to compensate for something else).

The suit “thing” just does not follow for me.

One thing I have learned, when it comes to clothing that helps you feel confident and empowered — it is not a one-size fits all solution.

I have spoken in front of thousands of people. Once or twice, I have been criticized for not wearing a traditional jacket (ironically, by other women). I intentionally stopped wearing them because when I did, I felt uncomfortable — a little like a fraud. I was actually physically uncomfortable, like a child trying to pass as an adult. It totally threw me off.  My brand and my message said something totally different than what I was wearing.

Formal career wear? It just doesn’t suit me. I’ve instead opted for dressy jeans and a much for forgiving form of the “jacket” (No complaints yet. See a couple of anti-suiting options below). I let potential clients know this is how I present myself, from the start.

It is no surprise that formal suiting doesn’t work for me. I’ve been an athlete all my life. I’ve played soccer for 30 years and when exercising, I’m already planning my next workout. I practically live in yoga pants — immediately putting them on when I get home. You can only imagine my euphoria over “athleisure” earning a permanent place in the trend world.

For those of us who are dedicated athleisure fans — we know that it isn’t just a trend — it’s a lifestyle. It represents active living, a casual sense of adventure. I like to think it represents a natural sense of confidence. However like anything, there needs to be balance. In my Atheleisure efforts of yesteryear, I may have looked a bit too casual. In the last few years, I’ve evolved to choose functional, flattering options.

Flattering and functional do cost more — just as it would with a well cut suit. If your mid-weight jogging/errand jacket gives you hypothermia in a rain shower in late June, you’ve missed the mark. Brand up. I have my favorite, classic brands. However, there are many new brands jumping into the mix — many with a social conscience — that will help you feel better about spending $100 to knock around town.

Bottom line: Choose what you wear for every situation with intention. Whether at work or play.

Explore quality options that fit you and serve you well. Be mindful of your contextual expectations; however, compromising your unique brand should not be an option. You won’t feel right, you won’t “seem” right and life is too short to feel uncomfortable.

If you’re feeling the Atheleisure vibe (as I do), I’d like to share a couple of favorite brands to try. Those mentioned, qualify as brands you should love & respect.

Be your own woman. Be yourself. Feel empowered to be you.

Athleta. With a refreshed commitment to sustainability, fair trade and empowering women, Athleta provides a wide array of items that could be worn at work or play. We’ve picked a couple of jacket alternatives. They also have a travel line — that can take you just about anywhere. Find it here.

Sweaty Betty. I love this brand’s versatility and classic sense of style (with an edge). A real plus — they support the Movemeant Foundation, a non-profit designed to address women developing a positive body image.  Find their site here:

Have a favorite athleisure brand that gives back? Share it in comments.

Allison McClintick is a seasoned coach & speaker — specializing in influence and consciousness development. She’s a Mom of 2 (20 years & 6 years), a ridiculously talented house painter, lover of quantum physics and is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology. To balance all that life, work and play — she’s attempting to “think” more effectively with practiced meditation. She’ll keep us updated.

Live.Work.Think.Play shares observations concerning a wide array of topics from running a company — to the perfect gift. It is designed to share lessons learned from a variety of perspectives.

Thinking about developing your personal brand? Well — we’ve been thinking about that as well. From collaboration opportunities to finding the right role, capturing the core of you, is tantamount. This Playlist is designed to glean the best advice and set you off on the right foot.

There is a rundown of this week’s featured playlist — Developing Your Brand & Influencer Voice — below. (Let us know you find our picks helpful by subscribing!) Find it listed under “Playlists” at our newly minted YouTube Channel. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPobAd0urxAGPaVu4PNWsIQ.

Cynthia Johnson, How to Build Your Brand and Influence. One of our great editors, Cynthia Johnson shares sage advice about how brand authenticity and purpose live at the core of your personal brand. (Stay tuned for her upcoming post on the topic.)

Kelsey Raymond, The Future of Content. Kelsey, a founder at Influence & Co. explains how content can be powerful communicator — transmitting brand information with a powerful punch. One piece of advice? Speak to personal experiences if you’d like to influence others (and shift mindsets).

Gary Vaynerchuk, How to Build Your Brand, Think Bigger and Develop Self-Awareness. Vaynerchuk delivers a quick paced synopsis, concerning how to build influence through a social media footprint. But, he delivers a great piece of surprise advice (jump to 7:15 ) — pick the medium that fits you. If you don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera, this is absolutely not a deal breaker. Move on to what suits you and your message (think blogging, Medium and podcasts).

Building Your Brand Through Social Media, Stanford Business School. The iconic biz school fills us in on how social media shapes our brand — whether you are a student or an established professional. Delivered by their own students, the perspective is refreshing.

Tom Peters, Tell Stories. This game changing author, wrote the now classic 1997 Fast Company piece The Brand Called You. His acknowledgement that individuals have their own brand — and there are specific building blocks to do so — was an eye opener. The best thing? He has published a whole series of short videos on this topic.

Read more:
Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point. You cannot talk about brand or influence, without touching on the notion of how ideas, brands (and people) become sensations. Gladwell shares his perspectives on how contagion begins. His story of the resurgence of Hush Puppies is fascinating.

Cynthia Johnson, Platform. Finding your voice is a personal journey. This information packed primer helps you set the tone.

Live.Work.Think.Play shares observations concerning a wide array of topics from running a company — to the perfect fragrance. It is designed to share lessons learned from a variety of perspectives.

In the Unites States, less than 15% hold corporate board seats within global companies. (In some sectors, the percentages are even slimmer). The numbers are sobering. Organizations that include women at the highest of management levels, can enjoy a number of potential advantages, including financial performance and problem solving capabilities. Why the discrepancy?

How do we begin to shift the mindset?

Hence — “Fearless Girl”. (Read more about it here.) A direct response to the lop-sided makeup of the highest ranks of many organizations.

That the statue stands in defiance of the icon “Charging Bull” —  in the midst of New York’s financial district holds tremendous significance. (She’ll be there for one year, although many are fighting to keep her. Some are unhappy with her presence). The statue was surprisingly commissioned by State Street Global Advisers. Its message is to inspire the many companies in which they invest (more than 3500) to advocate for more women at their highest ranks.

This week, the bronze statue received a number of awards at the prestigious Cannes Lion Creative Festival. (Artist Kritsan Visbal’s beautiful piece was cast at Baltimore’s Hampden Studio New Arts Foundry.) The campaign creators  — Lizzie Wilson and Tali Gumbiner — have expressed that they are more than thrilled.

We  are as well.

Congrats to Fearless Girl!

Courage is everything.

Live.Work.Think.Play shares observations concerning a wide array of topics — it is designed to share lessons learned from a variety of perspectives.

 

Confidence is one very tough customer.

If you’ve ever stood tentatively in front of an audience — or felt like an impostor in the face of a new Challenger — I would place a wager that those nagging feelings were rooted in your level of confidence. When considering workplace confidence, there are many platitudes but few really ring true. How do you truly believe in yourself when faced with the moments that matter most? Those situations simply cannot be tackled by adages or quotes to “Fake it until you make it.”

So…how do we build confidence?

Well, I’ve stumbled upon one perspective that hit a nerve of truth (reading it stopped me cold).

I don’t often read magazines. Yet, when visiting the hair salon I often thumb through the pages of Glamour, Vogue, Allure — and they all offer their own brand of career advice. One particular career column in Glamour was guest authored by Mindy Kaling. (She is not your traditional career writer. However, she has managed to accomplish career-wise what few have in her industry.)

Her thoughtful response to a question posed by a nervous young girl at a speaking engagement says it all.

“How did you build your confidence?”, the attendee posed.

She was resolute that she fumbled the answer in the moment— offering her stable, strong upbringing as the reason. But, her revised response was both direct and unapologetic. It went something like this (an apology for the word choice, they were hers and would prove diminished by an edit):

Work very hard. Know your $hit. Show your $hit. Then feel entitled.

I absolutely agree — that confidence is rooted in mastery. Not in fluff or empty quotes.

Confidence us rooted in experiences. In owning what you bring to the table. Confidence comes from feelings of self-efficacy in a wide range of situations. It requires challenge, guidance, sponsorship, balanced exploration and failure.

True confidence acknowledges that we are not entitled to rewards simply because we desire them. Rewards come with time and work. Confidence comes from putting forth smart, selective effort.

• It requires patience — and the belief that you can learn something from every person and situation.
• It requires both feedback and reflection.
• It requires an unfiltered look at our strengths and weaknesses.
• It requires the deep sense that you can handle the problems (and people) that stand before you.

When you embrace these elements  — confidence becomes your entitlement.
So:

• Seek broad experiences and “challenge assignments”.
• Develop a deep knowledge of your industry and its current experts.
• Push yourself. Get up when you fall. Alter your course.
• Find an individual who helps recognizes and invests in your talent.
• Be aware of the competencies required to stay ahead of the “disruption curve“.
• Continue to learn.
• Grow.

And then — yes — feel entitled to some measure of success.

Through all this, I suspect that confidence arrives unannounced — with little fanfare.

It takes hold and lives in your workplace soul and cannot be measured by the sum of your individual experiences.

It’s more akin to letting a gorgeous, glistening wave roll over you.

Thanks Mindy.

That clears things up.

What are your thoughts on building confidence? Share them.

Live.Work.Think.Play shares observations concerning a wide array of topics from running a company — to the perfect handbag. It is designed to share lessons learned from a variety of perspectives.

I’m sure we could debate the advantages and disadvantages of clutter. However, in real life terms (leaving Einstein aside) — would erring on the side of less clutter (and more organization) be the best path?

I believe so.

A cluttered state can affect feelings of well-being and productivity. Moreover, if you work in clutter, co-workers may make negative assumptions — and bosses may worry that you are chronically disorganized.

Research discussed in this article at HBR, examined how persistence was affected by exposure to a neat vs. a messy work environment. The researchers found that subjects exposed to a neat environment worked at a challenging task longer (1.5 times actually), than their counterparts who viewed the messier desk.

As the article explains, when our resources are drained by distraction — our performance can suffer. (This makes perfect sense). This can affect how we tackle a challenging task. Of course, there has been evidence in favor of a bit of mess to encourage creativity. However, definitive research is in order.

Here are a few clutter busting ideas for you. If you are chronically messy in the office, pick one that really speaks to you and give it a try. (Give things time — so you can settle into any change.) If you are simply fine-tuning your work-life organization skills — let us know what helped you amp-up your game.

(Click on the item photo to learn more.)*

Banishing the Clutter Mindset:
The life-changing magic of tidying up: The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing*
This book delves into when and why you should let some things go. Enough said.

Try a Bullet Journal (see this link for more on this method).

This desk top organizer has a place for current reading material.

File Folders. A necessity. Use them. They do help. Label one “ideas”.

*This denotes an affiliate link. We often receive emails about suggestions for topic-focused books and products. These links make things quite simple.

Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She is a charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program. Her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Forbes, Quartz and The Huffington Post.