Ashley Graceless

Little but fierce. Digital strategist. Bird nerd. Music geek. Thirst for life.

Woodstock

/

The Owned, Earned and Paid Content of Your Personal Brand

As an (elder) millennial, I identify as someone who grew up during the “information age” of the Internet. As a result, I’m pretty comfortable with most digital technology. The internet, my smartphone, social media--these are all part of my everyday existence (and not just because of my job).  I’ve had a “web presence” for as long as I remember, and I would have to concentrate hard to remember a time before I had my very own presence on the web. Have I always been conscientious about what I post on social media? Eh, no. Is my old LiveJournal profile still out there somewhere in all of its teenage-angst glory? Yep, it is.  The sum of everything that exists on the web associated with me, and I mean everything that’s out there, this is my personal brand. It’s what is visible to anyone …

[Read more...] about The Owned, Earned and Paid Content of Your Personal Brand

/

Commit to the Community for Networking Success

For small business owners, it’s never been more important to interact face-to-face with neighbors and residents living in their immediate community. With the continued rise in online business transactions, small business owners can further improve their local presence by being an active participant where they live, work and play. How can business owners do this? Through a BE PSA mentality: Be a Resource, Edify Others, Participate, Show Up, and Add Value. (Yes, I made this up--but hey, these are important points and the mnemonic device might just stick!) Be a Resource - You know people who provide goods and services. And you’ll meet people through networking and you’ll learn about their needs. Be the conduit between these and make introductions. Edify Others - Great leaders are …

[Read more...] about Commit to the Community for Networking Success

/

Work-Life Balance: Change Focus to Harmony

In the past, work was a location. People drove to work, clocked in and out, and when they left the office, they didn’t return to their work until the following morning. Trying to maintain a healthy work/life balance in a tech overloaded world where everything is connected has much of the workforce looking for healthy ways to unplug and re-balance their personal and professional lives. Case in point: According to Gallup’s State of the American Workplace 2017 survey, 53% of employees say a role that allows them to have greater work-life balance and better personal well-being is “very important” to them. However, for tech giant and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, work-life balance shouldn’t be the goal: work-life harmony should be. Bezos has said he stresses this idea to both young employees …

[Read more...] about Work-Life Balance: Change Focus to Harmony