Category: Uncategorized

Chess

Can I be real with you guys for a second? I’m having a hard time with 2020. It’s frustrating building a business like I’m playing checkers when I’m so much better at chess. It’s exhausting getting online and seeing the constant stream of news updates and conspiracy theories and outrage and division. It’s heartbreaking seeing the number of lives that have been lost this year. The pain behind BLM. The stress I see so many going through of job loss or financial hardship or just straight-up depression. 2020 is HARD so far. But I have a lot of hope that things will get better. I can’t tell you guys the number of morning meetings I’ve ran or books I’ve read that discuss that, in order for there to be real change, there must be pain. It’s the truth, right?

I grew up in a generation that knew the world wasn’t perfect. I also grew up in a generation where it was easy for us to all have our own independent lives and identities and MySpace songs. The “Me” generation LOVED how unique we got to be. However, maybe it’s taken 2020 to remind us that, while yes we are all different, we are also all the same. We all get scared and sad and angry. We all feel alone and insignificant and not enough sometimes. So that’s my hope for all of us- that we can use 2020 to learn how to love and support and protect and stand-up for each other more. That maybe we’ll realize if a pandemic can change this much in 6 months, imagine how much we can do if we fight our fight for equality and growth and love and respect for generations.

2019

New Years are typically all about starting off fresh, but I have some things I started in 2019 that I’m excited to take into 2020 with me. Here are 3 of them:

1. Offering to take a picture of the couple at the nearest table to me. With Nelson in Reno for the last half of this year, I started going out to eat by myself 1-5 times a week (lol). One of the things I started doing right before leaving was checking to see if there’s a couple nearby and casually asking if they want me to take their photo. My favorite couples to do this for were middle age and older ones- I always got such a surprised and grateful reaction for such a simple gesture. I guess couples in that demographic don’t get photos together as often.

2. Becoming a regular in my favorite places. I’ve spent so much of my late teens and early twenties moving around that I never had the opportunity to become a “regular” really anywhere. This year, I did- everywhere from my nail spa (Pamper) to my hair salon (Salon Bravissimo) to my favorite happy hour spot (Allora) and restaurant (Beast and Bounty). It’s a nice feeling to walk in someone and be warmly recognized (and if you want to become a favorite regular, make sure to tip well!).

3. Waking up early and enjoying my morning routine. I’ve been a morning person for the past few years now, but this year I took it to a whole new level. To say I “savor” my morning would be an understatement. From my morning runs with Chester before the sun rises to my homemade breakfast and black tea from Phil’z across the street to the HUNDREDS of podcasts, audiobooks, and videos I had the chance to listen to during the 2.5 hours I spend each morning warming up for the day, this is definitely a habit I’m taking with me into 2020.

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Personal, Uncategorized

Failure. It’s hard to talk about.

Posted on by mckenzieleighc

Failure. It’s hard to talk about.  Especially when we’re in our twenties and most of us haven’t achieved much yet that we are “proud” of, our failures can hang over our heads or hide in the corners of our minds, convincing us that everyone else can see them too. In business, failure is part of the game. I have failed over and over again, in both my personal and professional life, and that’s exactly what gives me the confidence and grit that I have today.

Here are some of my biggest “failures” to date:

1. I gave up on my first business (Sorry I Party).

2. I never graduated college. I had one semester left. ONE. A 3.8 GPA. And my boyfriend at the time was diagnosed with cancer. So I dropped all my classes with the intention of resuming in the spring… except that didn’t happen. My career was already advancing at that point and I felt that refocusing on school would be a step back. So I didn’t do it, and I don’t regret it. But it’s definitely something I get self-conscious about. It’s definitely something I believe that I will be judged for. And I’m learning not the care- because, at the end of the day, I learned what I needed to and I didn’t let society pressure me into doing what’s expected.

3. I chose work over family for three years because I believed someone when they told me that I had to. Que confession #2. Once my career started developing, I was told constantly that the next years of my life were about “sacrifice”. Which meant birthdays. Christmas. Phone calls home. All of it. I haven’t spent Christmas- or any real holiday- with my family since I was 21- over THREE years ago- how insane is that? Going into 2018, I committed to changing that. To rebuild those relationships and make family a priority again. And I have- just as much as I have committed to NEVER putting that kind of pressure on anyone that I work with.

4. I spent four days in the psych ward of a hospital. It was the worst four days of my life at the time but four of the best days for me in the long run. It is still hard for me to talk about, but for anyone out there who struggles with depression or anxiety or overworking yourself, I’ve been there and I’m here if you need to talk.

So there you have it! Some of the things that I’m so tempted to be ashamed of, but am slowly starting to accept as part of my story. And anyways, at the end of the day, it isn’t our failures that define us, but what we do in spite of them, right?

In Metals They Call it “Tensile” and it Means That the Strongest Ones Can Give a Lot

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In metals they call it “tensile” and it means that​ the strongest ones can give a lot. 
They can bend and be flexible without breaking while other metals become frigid or brittle.
How powerful is that?  
To know that strength is not about how much you have, but about how much you can give?

Earn Your Seat and Earn Your Stay 

“California to require public companies to have at least one woman on their board of directors by 2019”

I think that this is good, but I want to be clear that I definitely don’t believe that this is good enough.
In my mind, this can go one of two ways:

1. The boards all add a woman (or two) because they are forced to, not because they saw the value, and little change actually occurs because the mindset is the same, which causes the women to feel resentful/defensive because no, the playing grounds aren’t fair.

2. The women who are added embrace that they are going in with the lower hand and aim to add value in as many ways as possible. They understand that the fight is not over because they got a seat, the fight has JUST started and it is one that we need to win.

My dream is this: eventually these traditional boards that are only making changes because they are being forced to will see what’s happening when their competitors have a culture and environment where women are encouraged to EARN their place. Where they can see the tremendous value that is added when that happens.

That being said, it’s not up to the men to give us power. It’s up to these strong, brilliant women to earn it, and take it, and then earn it and take it over and over again.

The Catalyst Mantra

“I see how things are and dream, wide-eyed, of how things could be. I cherish innovation as a noble purpose. While politicians pander, bureaucrats bully, and academics theorize, I relentlessly produce. The status quo is my enemy. I suspect tradition, reject conformity, loathe mediocrity. I am proud to be a pioneer, renegade, idealist, visionary. I do not sell out to safety nets and benefits. Time clocks make me shudder. I refuse to play by rules imposed by others. I believe that that riskiest life is playing it safe. I will always bet my money on guts over brains, tenacity over talent. I do not take counsel from my fears. Life’s only guarantee is my freedom to choose my responses to circumstances. Shoulders squared and head held high, I boldly choose the risk of freedom over the certain bondage of security. I am an entrepreneur and it is my intention to create. I am the master of my fate. I am the architect of my empire. I am the author of my legacy. And everyday I vow to help others find themselves as I create my own masterpiece.”

Posted in Uncategorized

5 Reasons Why I’m- As a Millennial CEO- Scared to Hire Millennials.  And 5 Reasons Why It’s Likely Still Worth It.

Posted on by mckenzieleighc

1. Not to generalize, but a large number of Millennials don’t care all that much about making money.  Whether they are straight out of college or still trying to figure out what adult-life is all about, they are much more focused on finding a job that gives them a sense of purpose and belonging.  They want to feel like they’re a part of something bigger.  They’re use to eating ramen noodles and crashing on their friends couches- and a lot of them still have their parents they can call if funds run low.  As a CEO, I want people in my business who will be profitable- and millennials simply are not the safest bet.  However, the value they add in energy and in their student mentality may prove to be more profitable in the long run if a sense of loyalty is established.

2. They’re used to participation trophies.  A lot of millennials will actually get offended when they read that, but it’s the truth.  In business, there are no participation trophies.  You either show up and get the job done and get paid for it, or you don’t and you get fired.  Millennials often struggle at first when they feel like they are putting forth their best effort in one area (ex. They’re the first to the office in the morning) but slacking in another (ex. They underperform) and don’t receive credit or praise for the part they did right.

3. Millennials are needy.  They are used to constant recognition on social media and, thanks to the way the education is set up, performing at a mediocre level in school, and are a lot less used to constructive criticism.  They require a “build, break, build” format for feedback.  Positively reinforce.  Suggest desired change.  Offer secondary positive reinforcement to rebuild confidence.

4. They are use to a life of instant-gratification.  This term is TERMINAL for a business.  Millennials want instant results.  It’s why so many rely on drugs like Adderall and Vyvanse instead of getting more sleep and eating healthier.  However, patience and discipline are certainly virtues that can be taught.

5. They need constant stimulation.  Blame it on the fact that they’re used to having 4-5 different social media platforms to entertain them at all times, the majority of which contain a large amount of extremely condensed content- but there is no denying that the attention span of Millennials is significantly less than the generations before.  There’s a ton of studies that prove this.  It’s not their fault, but it is their reality.

Reasons Why It’s Still Worth It:

1. Millennials keep you in touch with what’s current.  What’s trending, what new technology is out, what social media platforms are in- they will give your company a progressive edge.

2. They are investments.  Show them growth- personal and professional- and show them that you care, and they’ll respond with loyalty and a “whatever it takes” attitude.

3. They know how to have fun.  They add energy and competition to a workplace and will force current employees to step up to their level.

4. They can influence a company to be more democratic (in a good way).  Whether it’s from lecture halls to sports teams, they are used to being able exercise their voice and opinions and will likely encourage others to do the same.  If a CEO can learn to view these voiced opinions as feedback, they can use them to make their company better, and overall employee satisfaction will rise- with the results naturally following the trend.

5. They force the CEO to step up their game.  Coaching millennials is far different than any generation before.  They won’t respond nearly as well to black and white instructions or umbrella incentives and consequences.  They want a career that will invest in developing them as an individual- based on their learning style, on their values, on their goals, and on their strengths.  While this may be an adjustment for the CEO, I don’t know of any company that has gotten worse from upper management being more in touch with the needs and desires on their company.

Posted in Uncategorized

The Progress Is In The Process

Posted on by mckenzieleighc

A few things I’ve learned the past year:
Talk about your goals. Have the ambition to set them high and the perseverance to always follow through. But most importantly, fall in love with the process that occurs along the way. Life is a journey, not a checklist. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and lessons to be learned. Let those things make you wiser, make you stronger, and make you more grounded in your visions and values. And while it is important to always keep your long-term goals in check, never forget that your life is still happening right in front of you. Make each day count. Never give less than 100%. Say thank-you more than necessary. Smile at strangers. You get out of life what you put in- so do what makes you happy, and do it to your fullest potential. Love when you’re learning, love when you’re growing, and love when you’re succeeding. Because if you don’t love the process, the results will never be enough to keep you happy.

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Uncategorized, Work Life

Be the Change

Posted on by mckenzieleighc

Be the change that you want to see. In the world. In the office. In the lives of the people you love. In the lives of strangers. Don’t wait on the perfect circumstances or timing or someone else to step up first. Start today. Act today and everyday exactly how you envision everyone would in your perfect world. Be relentless with your efforts but compassionate with your thoughts. The steps you take and actions you do may seem small and insignificant at first, but the only way to ever get to your destination is plant your feet and start walking.