DAY THREE: IMPACT: A powerful, positive and purpose-driven influence that makes a contribution towards a better future
Rested, and ready from Monday and Tuesday, our creative community tuned into day 3 anticipating more action items to enhance their personal and professional lives.
They were encouraged by emcee, Marilyn Patterson, to “Stop and Woosah”. In other words, take it all in, review notes and consider: “What steps am I going to immediately put into place?”
She emphasized identifying small changes that will make a greater impact over time.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM DAY THREE SPEAKERS::
Speaker, Michelle Gainey, Founder of Lemiga Events
Topic: “Having a Red Carpet Brand… Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous”
⇨Key Takeaway: “When Oprah calls you don’t want to have to get ready. Be ready.”
Michelle’s overarching theme was to always be intentional about the projects you accept. Whatever your journey is, it doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. What’s important is that you stay true to the life you want to build. Your business should be a reflection of that. It should fit your lifestyle.
- Identifying the best practices within your industry
- Do the Work. There are no shortcuts in building your reputation
- Have the right strategic partners
- Have a unique vision. Think beyond your industry
- Build your tribe
- Establish trust
The agenda switched gears midday from single speaker to a Peer Panel Discussion format to further engage.
This year’s peer panel was comprised of heavy-hitters: Shaune’ Hayes of Red Carpet Ready Makeup by Shaune’ Hayes + Jennifer Domenick of Love Life Images + Benjamin Davis Yamean Studios.
Panelists covered key areas of business, such as: systems, marketing, vendor partnerships, customer relationships, personal well-being and entrepreneurship.
⇨ Key Takeaways: There were many golden nuggets of wisdom shared, but here are a few standouts:
- Our identity is established by our habits
- Love what you do.
- Adapt to change.
- Be a strong business leader/owner, understand what clients want, manage your money, and build a great team
- Be brilliant. Be Brief and Be Gone
- A business cannot survive if the CEO can’t thrive
During the midday break, Perfekt Blend Band had us floating on a natural high. The end of the day was drawing near, and their performance of “Before I Let Go” by 
Maze was a bittersweet sign that we would have to soon part ways again until 2021.
Speaker, Ticora Davis, ESQ of The Creator’s Law Firm
Topic: “Protecting Your Smarts…Business Legality Misconceptions”
⇨Key Takeaway: “The law is a sword and a shield, and if it is used correctly it can protect your business, clients and team.”
Ticora empowered our creative community by setting them on a path toward understanding how to secure their rights; especially protecting our brand: names, logos, designs or phrases. Ticora delved into:
- The power and purpose of specific business entities
- The essentials to include in a contract
- Trustworthy places to receive trademark legal guidance
Speaker, Monica Barnett, Founder of Blueprint for Style
Topic: “Paid Marketing vs. Brand Evangelism”
⇨Key Takeaway: “Marketing is all about doing great business and building lasting connections and relationships.”
Monica clarified the differences between two of the oldest and most widely used forms of marketing: Paid Marketing and Word of Mouth; both with the end goal to increase brand awareness, visibility and awareness.
It’s not and either/or strategy. You need both. The key is to use them in the right proportions:
- 70% Brand Evangelism (Free walking advertisement; an ambassador that eagerly spreads the word about you without payment or being prompted)
- 30% Paid Marketing
Think through the pieces that define what your brand is about. What is going to differentiate your product or service?
Speaker, Natarsha Wright of Natarsha Wright Photography
Topic: “Brand Clarity for Creative Professionals”
⇨Key Takeaway: “Your mission and vision will drive everything you do in your business. Develop an authentic brand voice to master personal branding like a boss”
Natarsha warned us, “Don’t do another thing to your visual brand until you’ve built the foundational elements of your business.” First clarify:
- Brand Purpose
- Mission
- Vision
- Values
- Voice
Natarsha was very transparent in showing the growth and development of her own brand identity over the years, and how she overcame old ways of thinking that her brand was “all about her” – as opposed to her new mindset, “Your brand is not about you. It is about who you serve and how.”
Speaker, Teshorn Jackson of Teshorn Jackson Photography- “Crush the Competition…Get Found Online (SEO)”
⇨Key Takeaway: “SEO is like playing sports, you can’t score a basket if you’re not in the game.”
We’re all looking for ways to level up by elevating our online presence. Teshorn shared many technical insights on how we can use SEO to better position our brands online. These are a few things to take into consideration if you’re rebranding or building a website:
- Identify Your SEO Objectives
- Claim your business listing
- Identify Keywords you want to rank for
- Use long tail keywords
- Write Blogs
With his techniques, we will be able to go from not showing up on google to hopefully showing up on the first two pages.
At the conclusion of Day Three, attendees were brought on screen to share overall impressions of the mind-expanding, virtual event. An attendee remarked that having the lineup of topics top of mind, was value added – and appreciated being shown by peers how they activated various tools, techniques and strategies within their brand strategies.
Accolades were plentiful! No matter if an attendee was a seasoned business owner with 7+ years of experience or an emerging entrepreneur, more new to the game, we were all enriched by the robust wisdom imparted. We “walked away” inspired to use our lives as conduits to make an even greater IMPACT!
We bid one another a fond farewell – resonating with innovative ideas to refine our businesses for the remainder of 2020, and beyond.
DJ Derron of Washington Talent Agency sent final farewells, through a fantastic musical playlist.
Special Recognition and Acknowledgements for our Virtual Experience:
I would be remiss if I did not thank all of #TSCEO2020 sponsors. attendees and speakers. I am especially grateful that all of you rode this wave with me as we bravely traversed the unprecedented Coronavirus.
Every single year, I hand select each speaker, and intuitively, I know they will knock it out of the park. After witnessing this year’s presentations and absorbing the knowledge that was shared – the speakers did not disappoint! I thank each speaker from the bottom of my heart.
As a creative community, we are at the end of the 2020 virtual conference experience, but also at a new beginning to re-energize our entrepreneurial business journeys.
It is my hope that you felt that I saw each and every one of you. This platform was specifically created and curated especially for you – for every level that requires a different you. Take time to rest and digest. Then, continue to set audacious goals. Change mindsets. Build relationships.
Dare yourself to be bold each and every day.
It was a remarkable 3-days. We will continue to rise, and reconvene, fully renewed, in 2021!
