For almost a year, Iāve been practicing this method of manifestation (the method of all methods) To be Magnetic and it has yielded incredible results in my life. Through the TBM workshops and tools created by Lacy Phillips, manifestation has become an integral part of my business. Iāve manifested clients, projects, collaborations, and in my personal life, my apartment, mentors, and friends. Donāt worry itās not a cult. Itās basically like DIY therapy – a combination of neuroscience and psychology teachings, with some spirituality components. So what does manifestation have to do with leaders from outside of the design industry?
One of the terms coined by the To Be Magnetic manifestation process is Expander. An expander is someone who has something you want to manifest and serves as a tool for you to āsee to believeā that what you want, is actually possible. Finding expanders is an essential part of the manifestation process, and little did I know, even before I found TBM, I was finding expanders all of the time for my business.
ALMOST 30 – PODCAST INDUSTRY
When I first started working for Almost 30 Podcast in 2017, I was a senior in college during my very last semester and was completely lost about what I wanted to do. Secretly, I was scared to get a nine to five job because it never felt right to me during my internships. So when I was working remotely as the intern for Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik, they were showing me it was possible to have a job that wasnāt traditional, but still fulfilling. Their independence in creating their own schedules, working from home, and building a podcast and business with no prior experience exhibited to me that all of those things were possible for myself, even if I didnāt want to be in the podcasting industry. Over the next three years working as the intern, assistant, producer, then Creative Director of Almost 30, my mind was able to move quickly past the imposter syndrome feeling of having this nontraditional job, and instead, see that it was possible to live and thrive on it.
STREICHER SISTERS – BEAUTY INDUSTRY
My next expanders came to me when I moved to Los Angeles in February 2018. One day I was stalking Mandy Moore on Instagram because one of her particular red carpet looks caught my eye and I wanted to know who was behind it. Thatās when I discovered The Streicher Sisters. If youāve never heard of them, first of all, youāre welcome, and second, theyāre 3 beauty-talented sisters, Jenn (who does make-up), Kristie (who does eyebrows), and Ashley (who does hair), who own one of the most popular beauty studios in LA, Striiike. Theyāre the masterminds behind the celebrity hair and make-up looks of names like Emily Blunt, Greta Gerwig, Rachel Brosnahan, and Mandy Moore. Even though their focus is in beauty, the essence of their brand and personal lives showed me it was possible to live a life of freedom and luxury in an unconventional industry.
At the risk of sounding like a total stalker (LOL), after following their personal accounts on Instagram for three years now, theyāve inspired me to believe I can have a life thatās balanced with work, play, home, travel, and self-care. Through following their many hiking excursions, celebrity clients, and family functions, I now believe you can be an artist and make a really wonderful life for yourself. Better yet, as a woman.
KELLY LEVEQUE – WELLNESS INDUSTRY
Lastly, letās rewind to my time working at Almost 30 again. One of the first guests I had the privilege to discover while working on the show was Kelly Leveque, aka @BeWellByKelly. At the time, she was just, and I mean just, about to blow up. She was in pharmaceutical sales and recently quit to pursue her job as nutritionist full-time and gained the attention of her first celebrity client, Jessica Alba. Today, sheās one of the most sought-after nutritionists on the planet, with not one but two best-selling books. Plus, her famous āFab Four Smoothieā has been a staple of mine since I first heard about her through Almost 30, and thousands of other humans Iām sure.
Her story of working her nine to five job and helping her nutrition clients before and after work, just to gain traction and start helping people, showed me that we all have to start somewhere. She didnāt just create the Be Well By Kelly name overnight. It took long hours behind the scenes working with clients and doing research to build the foundation of her brand, especially as someone whoās job isnāt necessarily camera or social media facing. Ultimately, yielding amazing results. As an expander, Kelly showed me that itās possible to take the leap from a job with a steady paycheck and succeed and make a name for yourself on your own. But like most things in life, this only comes by actually doing the work.
With all of these expanders that have come into my life, theyāve given me inspiration, motivation, and clarity for my business tenfold. To this day, I still follow the works of these three women-run businesses in their prospective industries for more reasons to āsee to believeā that what I want is capable of coming to fruition. In any industry, whether itās podcasting, beauty, wellness, or design, there are plenty of expanders to be found. They could be someone youāve been following on Instagram for a while or that coworker who you look up to. Just think about it.
For more tips on branding and the design process, check out these links:
- We’re always posting nuggets of branding and design knowledge on our Instagram
- The best-selling Brand Identity Guide: 2020 Edition (pair it with the Simple Brand Style Guide and you’re golden!)
- Get inspiration for your brand on our Pinterest
Leave a note!