Why Graciela | Brand Goals

Happy Thursday!!!

Today I want to do something a little different and just chat about this blog and why I started it. I am getting a lot more traffic on here and some new readers (welcome!) and since I actually haven't really done this type of post yet, I thought it's about time I do. Not only will reading the "why" behind this blog help you as readers when you are on here but every time I write out my brand mission + goals it always re-inspires and motivates me. It's a win-win. ;)

So...

Why Graciela?

Well, first things first. The blog name. My name is Grace, not Graciela, but since I am part Latino I liked the idea of using a different variation of my name and Graciela is a Spanish variation of Grace. I love the elegant sound it has and it just sorta stuck.

I've always loved fashion and follow some fabulous fashion blogs, and have always wanted to start a clothing line and do some modeling (like for fashion campaigns). When coming up with the idea for this blog, I knew fashion would be apart of it somehow, and occasionally I will share some style tips or some of the latest trends, because come on, girls love fashion and just feeling confident in their style and most of the time we can instantly bond over shoes. :) For example, when I'm out and I see a girl with either some cute shoes or some to die for handbag, I always compliment her and ask where she found them. That sparks an instant connection between us that often leads to a full conversation, all because of fashion!!

When it comes to the blog I will at times talk fashion and what's on my fashion wishlist because more often than not fashion opens a door to more. Fashion is relatable and fun and I have found that it can be a bridge to lead to more conversations and real talk moments. Fashion can open the door.

Beyond fashion, my brand goal has always been to provide value. I always get asked either by real-life friends or followers what does it mean to be a girlboss or how can they because they are in college or work full time or that they are only 16. Many think that to be a girlboss you have to start a company or blog or be an entrepreneur or be 30 years old and that is totally not the case!

To me being a girlboss is learning to become the best version of yourself in all areas of life and going after your dream life. So if you are in college you can figure out what is important to you and give 110 %. If you are in a full-time job, you can figure out the areas of your life that are important to you and balance it out so that you are becoming your best self in all those areas. And if you are in high school, GIRL you have such a great opportunity being in that age group and pursuing a girlboss mindset. The world is waiting for your greatness.

If you are a superstar in school or work but don't give time for working out or personal development time or family/friends or faith (or whatever your non-negotiables are) then I personally think it's difficult to be my best in one area if I'm not giving the time of day to another. Make sense?

I'm not saying each of those areas has to be perfect and a finished project, but being a work in progress is better than nothing.

This is where I want to fill the gap of providing relatable content. If you have questions on fashion, being a girlboss, personal development, what I use for skin care, real-life talk, quick recipes for an on the go lifestyle, literally whatever you want to know that is where Graciela blog comes in. You have crazy busy lives as aspiring girlbosses so sometimes you don't have time to research the latest trends or see what the best podcasts are currently or maybe you don't know where to start when it comes to creating a morning routine. Girl, I got you. These are the things I want to chat about and just help you with on your girlboss journey.

The mission of Graciela is for the everyday girl. It's where women can come to be inspired to be the best version of themselves. My goal with every post is to inspire women to find the ladyboss within herself and win in all areas of her life. 

I am super excited to share all the March content I have planned especially related to Women's History month! Talk to you in the next post!

remember to always glam up, goal up and never give up!

How To Make A Vision Board | digital + print

 

Every successful person seems to agree on this one important factor: you need to visualize your future achievements not just in your mind, but on paper. Vision boards are one of the most powerful visualization tools to help you organize and embrace your goals.

3, 2, 1...Happy NY!!! | goals, dreams, & aspirations

shop the outfit
faux fur jacket (similar) (similar) | crossbody/clutch | velvet booties

Welcome to the first post of 2018!

I wish we could have had an NYE blogger party full of champagne boomerangs, glitzy glam dresses, and Insta worthy photo booths. How fun would that be!?

18 Ladyboss Books To Help Slay Your 2018

I'm sure like myself, many of you are beginning to or have already been compiling a to-read list for the new year. Here is a list of must-read motivational books for female entrepreneurs, many of whom are on my reading list this year.

Gift Guide for the Ladyboss

20 Habits To Adopt In Your Twenties

No matter where you are in life or your career it's never too late to start implementing habits of success. You also don't have to wait for January 1st to make a lifestyle change. Start with where you are and the tools you have right now. Today I wanted to share some lifestyle adjustments that will positively affect your personal and professional life. Now, just because I am sharing 20 habits that doesn't mean you need to start out with all 20. I actually hope you don't use them all at once but would rather take 2-4 habits and start implementing them for a month before adding more into your life.

Things Women Should Never Compromise On

20 Stickers Every Ladyboss Laptop Needs

 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20

7 Ways To Empower Other Women Today

Happy Wednesday ladies! A topic that is close to my heart is that of equipping and empowering other women. If you look at the lives of successful women, most of the time they've had a figure in their life that they say highly contributed to the success they have now. They had someone in their life who was their motivator and voice of empowerment in moments of doubt. Let's chat about some ways that everyone no matter if you're in college or the corporate world, can uplift others and be that positive force in their life.

"Empowered women empower women"

Inspiring Podcasts To Fuel Your Ladyboss Lifestyle

Hello, Friday!!! I thought I would get your weekend started off right with some Podcasts that I've been loving lately. Podcasts are SO trendy right now and with good reason. They are easily accessible, free, and most importantly they are super inspiring. When I find myself in a creative rut, need to get motivated to tackle the day's to-do list, or just a bossbabe to give me a pep talk, I can always count on these podcast ladies to be there.

My Fall Reading List | Personal Development Edition

Life is a never-ending pursuit of knowledge and growth. And one of my favorite ways to learn, is to read. Successful people all have one thing in common. They read, and they read a lot. They are successful because they are lifetime learners. They commit to learning new things every single day. Successful people never stop learning.

Planner Tour ft. Day Designer + Time Management Tips

It’s not easy being a modern woman of the 21^st century. It’s awesome that in the present, women are encouraged to seek out careers, pursue higher education, and start families at the same time, but that's a lot! The modern woman needs to be organized, goal set, make a hair appoitment after she launches her online biz, schedule time with her girl tribe, oh and fit in a bubble bath at some point. So, today we are going to be talking all about how to keep the go-getter gal organized and thriving. 

Staples For The Ladyboss Lifestyle

As a successful woman, having the right tools will allow you to conquer the day with confidence. Whether you’re in school or have a full-time job or crushing that side hustle, there are some essentials to help you on your ladyboss journey.

Building Your Tribe + How To Find and Connect

We all need a friend who pushes us towards our dreams. Who encourages us to take a leap of faith. Who they themselves are high achievers. Who can talk fashion and trends, but can just as well talk about leadership principles and money management. Having that cheerleader in our life is so important, but it's even more vital to have a whole squad of cheerleaders who want to see you succeed and that you know you can always rely on to tell it to you straight because they want nothing but the best for you.
We need our girlboss tribe not only to grab a coffee and shop with but to build businesses and change lives with. In a culture where women compete to overpower each other, we need empowered women to empower each other. You only truly succeed when you raise others up.

Being A Ladyboss While Still In School

“Girlboss” is a relatively new term coined by the founder of Nasty Gal, Sophia Amoruso, that describes women who work hard, are career driven, successful, and just win at life. Basically, everything I have always aspired to be. I have never been one to think that being a girlboss is something for only post grad ladies. So, if you are in high school, college, or working and looking to to incorporate habits of a girlboss into your daily life, then today's post is just for you! 

What's In My Ultimate Ladyboss Purse

I'm always interested to see what other gals are lugging in their purses, so today I thought it would be fun to share my own "what's in my bag" post. But of course I have to add that girlboss touch, so I'll be showing you my business purse, which I think is the ultimate ladyboss bag.

Importance Of A Morning Routine

The way you spend your morning sets the tone for your day. How you spend your mornings makes a big impact on your mood and stress levels. I have come to learn that the mornings I wake up and just sort of wing it, or the mornings when I get out of bed and hop right onto social media, are days when productivity is definitely lacking. I don't have a winning routine that giving it to you, you will accomplish everything, but I can say that having a routine does put the ball in your court, and plainly put, sets you up for success.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Summer Reading | Ladyboss + Entrepreneur Edition

Happy almost Summer! So I just looked up when the official first day of summer is and apparently it's June 20. Depending on where you live and also if you're currently in school or not, your Summer probably already started! One of the most common goals that many people set out to accomplish during the Summer, including myself is to read more. I do enjoy the occasional fiction tales, but as someone who is busy building a brand and platform I try and use the time I set for reading, to be a time for growing and expanding my thinking. If you have goals, then you need to be doing something everyday that will bring you closer to that goal. Never stop growing and never stop learning. If you are not learning, you're not growing, which basically means goals aren't getting accomplished. 

Summer month's can become your moments of success. Use this time when most take a break, to equip and challenge yourself. 

How To Create Your Own Success As A Ladyboss | #MomentumMoments

Today I am sharing an introductory post about the new series that you'll see frequently on the blog. #MomentumMoments is a new ladyboss series where I will share about all things female entrepreneurship, from goal setting, dressing for success, staying authentic and most important, how to implement these ladyboss strategies into all areas of your life.

I chose to title these posts with the tag #MomentumMoments because I believe that it's in those small moments of inspiration where you are challenged, that the drive and momentum for success is ignited. It's often in the mundane of daily habits that goals and aspirations are placed on the heart. Never underestimate a word of encouragement, an inspiring graphic on Pinterest, or a short blog post. A person full of dreams can catch fire with the slightest spark of inspiration.

One of the main themes that I try and share on the blog + socials is that of ladyboss 101. I believe that to be a ladyboss starts now! Wherever you are at in life, whether you are still in school (high school, college or grad) working a 9-5, building your own business, 16 or 26 you can adopt the traits and skills of a ladyboss. Having a ladyboss mindset doesn't start when you reach your goals, but rather YEARS before when you are day dreaming about what you would like to accomplish.

I also want to point out that being a ladyboss is NOT just for those starting their own business. It's about adopting an attitude of authenticity, activity, and positivity (A.P.P)
When the term "girlboss" is said, often the image of a cutthroat woman who doesn't take garbage from anyone and can pretty much get whatever she wants from men and the world. I don't agree. 
A ladyboss lifestyle is about a woman who desires to leave a positive impact on the world. It's about someone who strives to become the best version of herself, and drawing that out from those around her. It's not about having it all together and figured out, but rather about being willing to fail in order to win.
Vulnerability is often left out of the conversation when the above mentioned term of "girlboss" is discussed. I have learned that this is a very strong tool in aspiring for a ladyboss lifestyle. If you are going about it in a healthy positive way, then you are often forced to be real with yourself and others. This is not something to overlook and skirt around. You want to experience this because it's in these raw moments that your character, strength and courage is found.

I am super excited to share so many goodies with every one of you, whether you are looking for quick tips, real talks or just want to make some positive changes in your life. I whole heartily hope that these future posts will inspire just one of you to dream crazy big, run after whatever you want in life and leave a positive impact along the way. 

If you have any ideas for this series, go ahead and leave your suggestions in the comments and I'll try to incorporate them into my content calendar. Also, I absolutely LOVE connecting with other aspiring bossbabes, so don't hesitate to reach out so we can chat!

 Instagram is one of the best ways to connect with me: @gracehincapie

 

How To Prepare For Internship Season

 Often with the start of Spring semester brings lots of talk and Pinterest searches for "Summer Internship Tips". Now is the time to figure out what you need to have a successful internship search and experience.

Business cards
Internship season or not, having your own personal business cards is a super important tip for any up and coming professional. You'll never know when you will run into a potential employer, internship recruiter, or somebody who would like to connect further and you end up exchanging info. Super simple but is actually imperative if you want to be taken as a serious professional candidate.

LinkedIn
I don't know how much easier it can get these days to network and find internships/job opportunities. With platforms like LinkedIn, you have the capability to to display your accomplishments and personal brand to future employers, partners, and connections. LinkedIn is an emerging networking gold-mine!! Take advantage of it and start reaching out to either professionals you admire, hopeful future employers, and peers. This shows initiative, genuine interest and you learn to form relationships with everyone.

Dress for the job you want
This is yet another opportunity to show who you are. Know the job you want and dress accordingly. Just because you are a 20 year old college girl doesn't mean you should wear that dress you just wore to that Friday night party. Dress to impress. Even if it's a creative position that might have more leniency, you should still dress professionally but you have the capability to add your own flare to it.

Create opportunities
Internships don't just fall in your lap. If you want something go and work for it. Also, use this opportunity to think outside the box and make yourself stand out. If everyone is applying for similar internships, yes, still apply if it's something you want, but be creative and search out other unique positions.

Make connections + network with everyone
When I say everyone I mean EVERYONE. You don't know who they know or what advice they can give you, even if they themselves aren't some high flying CEO. Learning to make connections with everyone is the greatest thing you can do for your career as well as personal development.

Speak up and reach out for recommendations 
If you made a good impression & formed a relationship, most professors, RA's, past employers, internship advisers & mentors are happy to be a person of contact on your resume or even can write up a letter of rec. The biggest mistake most make (and yes, I have done this before) is that they don't ask!!!

Check social media
With the easy access to everything now a days, most people will look you up on the internet before meeting with you. What people see online actually plays a big role on how they perceive you. Keep this in mind before clicking every "share" button. Again, your are preparing for the career and future you want.

Update resume 
Since internship season is coming up, campuses will be full of recruiters and internship fairs. Having an updated resume on hand makes it professional and convenient for everyone. You might get contacted out of the blue, so you want to be prepared to email off your resume before that noon deadline.

Take initiative 
If you have your sight set on a particular job/internship, then reach out. I can say this from experience. Early December I reached out to an organization media department asking if they were open to adding an intern to their team. The director emailed right back thanking me for reaching out and confirmed a possibility of adding an intern. He told me to contact him again closer to the end of my Spring semester. I followed up in April and he offered me a summer internship in the media office. You see, I would never have gotten that opportunity or made those summer connections if I didn't first reach out. This particular organization doesn't advertise for intern positions so most never even thought to ask. But if you are looking to gain experience early on and stand out, then you have to be creative and courageous.

Be honest 
This goes for what you tell yourself and how you present yourself. Applying for internships require you to have a passion for that field and not something you are pursuing because of the status, the fact that everyone is doing it, and most importantly because it's expected of you. You have to do this for you and what you want for your future.

Have fun!
Last but not least, this season of your life should be a fond memory to look back on. It can be stressful but try and keep the big picture in mind of what getting this internship could do for you.