Spotlight Entrepreneur: Barbara Lynn Cantone of Body&Soul Restorations

Meet Barbara Lynn Cantone, our Spotlight Entrepreneur for January. Barbara Lynn is a great example of someone who's career path naturally progressed to self-employment after years of working for others.  Barbara Lynn found an industry that fulfilled her and when an opportunity presented itself to become her own boss, she seized it.   One of the things I love about Barbara's business is her mission to make #citylifelivable. Throughout her Long Island City, NY spa, her targeted treatments and her products she has infused the essence of this critical restorative and preventative principle.  Read on to learn more about Barbara's business Body & Soul Restorations, her tips for balancing work and home life, and small business resources she can't live without.

Barbara Lynn Cantone Body and Soul Restorations

Tell us about your business, Body&Soul Restorations:

Body & Soul Restorations is a holistic body therapy brand that creates products and provides services that cater to the unique stresses of an urban environment. We aim to make #citylifeliveable.

We currently offer a menu of services that includes skin therapy, massage therapy, prenatal body therapy, reflexology, aromatherapy, energy work, and meditation training in our Long Island City treatment room.

Our products for home care are designed to assist the body's inherent ability to fight stress and disease through the use of botanicals and minerals. They are made by hand and 100% natural (organic when possible).

When did you decide it was the right time to take the leap into self-employment?
The decision to build my own business was a gradual one for me. Holistic body therapy is my third career; in past lives I was in magazine advertising production and then not-for-profit arts development. When I made the transition into wellness therapy, I didn’t intend to have my own treatment room – I just wanted to find a trade where I could better myself and others without being tied to a laptop for 12 hours a day. But after two years working in the spa industry, I knew I would never be happy working to fulfill someone else’s vision. So when an opportunity to open my own space came up I jumped on it.

What's the most challenging aspect about being an entrepreneur?
Juggling. Time. Work. Energy. Family...

What is your #1 tip for balancing work and family?
My 2013 resolution is to stop work at a certain time each day. This is very tricky when you are both a practitioner and the sole administrator in a business. Even trickier when that business belongs to YOU. For several years, I would see clients all day and then come home, eat dinner and go straight to my laptop to handle all the other business involved in owning a business. It became overwhelming and I found myself needing the same therapies that I was offering to my clients because of burnout! This year, I’ve set days/times to work as a practitioner and as an administrator. Hopefully, that will allow me to set better boundaries with regard to my family time.

I’m also a big believer in yoga and exercise. Being able to take an hour, 2-3 times a week, makes all the difference in keeping me centered. And when I am centered, I’m better able to manage my work and life.

What small business resource(s) can you NOT live without?

• Evernote. I use it constantly. For notes on my blog. For formulas for products I’m developing. For to-do lists. For research notes. I can access it anywhere via my phone or iPad. 
• The Square.  When I started my business, I began with a traditional merchant account to accept credit card payments from clients. I couldn’t afford to take American Express or Discover, and even still I was losing money with transactions. God bless The Square! It’s both an application and a small plastic attachment that plugs right into your phone or tablet. Swipe the card. Square accepts all 4 major credit cards, charges an across the board % per transaction and then deposits the money into your bank account THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. It’s a miracle for small businesses.
• Come to think of it, I guess that also means I couldn’t live without my iPad! Obviously, I use it for all of the above and also for scheduling appointments, email, correspondence, conference calls, etc. And for occasionally watching Arrested Development in my downtime.

What advice would you give to a friend who was thinking about starting a business?
Be open minded. I’ve set up services and created products that I thought for sure would be successful only to find out no one is interested, or that the market is limited. A great example of this is my bath soak line. Most clients LOVE the salts and essential oils and wanted to reap the benefits of the aromatherapy but just didn’t have time to take a bath. (Many of my clients live in apartments and don’t even have a bathtub!) So I went back to the drawing board, did a little bit of research to find out how clients could benefit from aromatherapy in another form, and then launched my line of candles. Same essential oils, different medium. Very popular.

Favorite social media site?

I’m a very visual learner, so I’ve loved using Instagram to to take photos of all the things that I think make #citylifeliveable. It’s a great way of visually documenting ideas. I’m not sure what will happen with their application over the coming months as they work out their new policies with regard to copyright, ownership, etc. But for now, I use it all the time.

I also love Tumblr. I use it to tie in all my other social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.) The ease of using one site to manage all the others is a real blessing when you are a one-woman show.


What book has been an inspiration to you as an entrepreneur?
I’ve honestly used more blogs and online resources than books with regard to business. Currently, the two articles that have made the most impression on me are:

• http://www.freakonomics.com/2011/04/28/the-100-rules-for-being-an-entrepreneur/
• http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/

When you're not working, what's your favorite activity?

• Yoga
• Spending time playing Wii Just Dance with nieces (they are the light of my life)
• Drinking a really good vodka martini and doing the crossword with my husband

Body&Soul Restorations

Connect with Barbara and her team!

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Tumblr

Instagram: bodysoulrest

www.sleeveshirtconsulting.com

Presenting: The Greatest Show on Earth!!

She's fearless, she's empowered- heck, she can juggle wearing a suit while doing yoga poses!






Do you sometimes feel like you are performing in a 3 ring circus? Many working-women do. And if you're an entrepreneur, you may be juggling employees, balance sheets and marketing on top of your other daily commitments.

Here are three short tips to keep you poised with all those balls in the air:
1- Accountability and Planning.  Recently I wrote an entire article on this topic.  It's important to create milestones but it's even more important to be held accountable to reaching them.  If you are someone who has trouble attaining goals, maybe an A&P partnership is right for you.  The commitment is small, but the reward of following through is priceless.  I meet with my A&P partner every month and I'm so proud of how much we have each accomplished.

2- Time Management.  There's no way around it. You have to be disciplined when it comes to your time. As much as I love a thrilling game of Words with Friends, I know that when it's time to work that I have to close down my Facebook to limit my distraction.  Time is money.  Your time is your money.  Make every minute count.

3- Establish a Support System.  Most moms have a reliable babysitting on speed dial.  You might ring that  sitter when you're planning ahead for date night or in a pinch during an emergency.  Your business needs a life-line as well.  Do you have a reliable network of specialists who are there to help your business meet deadlines and grow efficiently?  Are you utilizing LinkedIn to keep up with former colleagues, mentors and associates?  Ensure they know what you are up to in your professional life so that they are only a phone call away should you need them.

Keeping those balls from hitting the ground takes planning, organization and focus.  A few extra hands can't hurt either... so don't hesitate to reach out to SleeveShirt Consulting.  We'd love to run away and join your circus.

www.sleeveshirtconsulting.com

ABC’s of Small Business Success

At SleeveShirt Consulting we’d like to take you on an inspirational journey to reach your career goals.  Are you just starting to think about launching a business?  Or maybe you are looking to build your brand and grow your customer base?  No matter what phase you fall into, together, we will build successful strategies to help you become the fearless entrepreneur you want to be. Here are some tips, from A to Z.

Anthem.  Choose a song that motivates you to focus on your goals.  Listen to it while you’re exercising, make it your ring tone or set your alarm to wake up to it and kick off your day with a smile on your face.

Barter.  There are ways to conduct business that do not include invoicing customers. Find a complimentary business that needs your services and find common ground on a trade agreement.

Communicate. Have you ever heard of anyone being looked down upon for OVER-communicating?  Ranked in order of importance; In person, over phone, via email, via text, and lastly, megaphone.

Drumroll, please!  Celebrate your successes- no matter how small. If you don’t pat yourself on the back, no one else will. 

Elevator Pitch.  A 30 second intro to your brand and your mission.  Don’t have one? SleeveShirt can help.

Freebies.  That’s right, I said the magical word: FREE!  Everyone wants a deal. Together we’ll brainstorm ways to market your product/service to customers and provide them with some valuable extras so they keep coming back for more.

Greed is good.  Be greedy about your time.  Time is money.

Humility.  Make a mistake? Own it.  Don’t hesitate to apologize and make good on the situation. 

Intention.  Setting an intention, different than setting a goal, allows you to focus on “being” in the present moment.  Let go of goal-oriented outcomes and instead look inward and ask yourself, “Where do I want to be (with my business/with my life)?”

Just Do It.  So you’ve been thinking about starting your own business for a few years, but just haven’t had the time…  What’s stopping you?  Fear? Don’t know where to begin?  Call me for a free consultation and we’ll get you on your way.

Kindness. Kill ‘em with it.  

Love thy neighbor.  I recently reached out to a number of local small business owners for advice and I couldn’t have gotten more genuine, helpful responses.  Your community wants you to succeed- reach out!

Mentor.  Don’t have one? Get one. Feel you would be a good one?  Sign up here: http://www.mentoring.org/

Network.  With your facebook fans, with your chamber of commerce, with a local women’s group. You never know where your next customer will come from.

Optimism. Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t… You’re right. 

Pay.  Not a copywriter? Don’t pen your website. There is good value setting aside money to pay for expertise.

Question. Ask it:  “Do I have your business?”  You can’t be shy about this.  You have to close the deal.  Here are some additional tips: http://www.startupnation.com/business-articles/1138/1/AT_5-Tips-For-Closing-Deal.asp

Read.  About your industry, about your competition, about people who inspire you. Then share those good resources with your network.

Stamina.  If you are thinking about launching your own business, or are already self-employed, you know that it takes stamina and endurance to keep going.  Think of yourself like an athlete who is in training for the race of your career.

Travel: Outside of your comfort zone.  Sometimes we have to do things that make us uncomfortable just to break down the door and move past it.  It's good for the soul.

Underminers.  You know those folks in your life who tend to be on the more negative side? If you let them, they’ll just bring you down.  Avoid them at all costs! 

Vision.  Ever created a vision board?  I can walk you through 3 simple steps to achieve your most important goals in business, and in life.

White Board.  Oh how I love my white board calendar.  Thank you Board Dudes!  Organizational tools like this one help me visualize my to-do list and gives me a snap shot of my schedule so that I am able to stay on my game.  Are you on your game?

X factor. What will Simon Cowell be looking for on his new show?  The indefinable “something” that brings unique star power?  What is your businesses Xfactor? Let's define it together.

Yard Sale!  Cleaning out the clutter in your space allows you to focus on the task at hand. If you work from home, ensure you have a quiet, comfortable work-space free of distractions, and full of inspiration. 

Zero-tolerance.  Adopt it for ignorance, hostility, arrogance, wastefulness, dishonesty, and the complacent.

Ready to get started?  Call me to set up a free consultation.

www.sleeveshirtconsulting.com

Good Intentions 2011

Sure resolutions are hard to keep, but it is your intention that is the important thing.  I've done a lot of reflecting over the past few months and would like to share some of my 2011 resolutions:

- More Yoga: I have every intention of getting back on the bandwagon this year.  I miss that solitary hour of breathing, stretching and discovering that my body can do all sorts of things I never imagined!

- More Vegg, Less Bread: It's hard to convince a 5 year old to eat her veggies when you aren't.  Going to attempt to try some new vegg: Bok Choy? Collared Greens? And more importantly try to eat in season from my local farmer.

- Less Complaints: Every gal needs a good vent session every once in a while, but negative thoughts and words can really weigh you down.  I'm going to try to make a solid effort to complain less. I have so much to be thankful for.

- More Music, Less TV: Admittedly, our TV is my third child.  I can recap every season of Real Housewives without blinking an eye and never miss the Today Show or Brian Williams. We eat meals with the TV on, and its only when we retire to bed when I'm TV free. Watching a recap show of 2010's best music videos I realized how much music I've missed this year. Sure I get a few ditties on the way to preschool, but we have to keep that G-rated (shout out Laurie Berkner!)  In 2011, the iPod needs a few uploads and Sirius Radio will be playing during meal time in our household- even if I have to miss the Nightly News.  

With all this positive intent, it should be no problem to run that 5k, balance our household budget and play the part of Super Mom in my spare time, right?  Well, it's early in the year- a walk to the park with the family should start things off in the right direction.  Happy New Year!

When the Planning Advocate advises against PLANNING

I am a planner. There isn’t any way around it. I like to know what, where, when and how - and preferably 2 weeks in advance. Planning leads to better organization, which simplifies your personal and/or your professional life.

So is there any time Ms. SleeveShirt advises against planning?

I recently read this inspirational article where Oprah interviews the Zen Buddhist master Nhat Hanh. The 83-year old native of Vietnam joined a monastery at age 16 and has been sharing his philosophies with the world ever since. He’s everything you would expect from a Buddhist monk. He lives simply, chooses his words carefully and has always been wise beyond his years.

What struck me most was his challenge against the environment most of us find ourselves in- just trying to get through the next thing. Hanh says, “But with a practice, we can always remain alive in the present moment... It is possible to live happily in the here and the now.”

We’re all guilty of it. Too often we rush through all that life has to offer because we’re already thinking of what’s next on our to-do list. Hanh provides a simple example of how to achieve contentment of the present moment.

“Suppose you are drinking a cup of tea. When you hold your cup, you may like to breathe in, to bring your mind back to your body, and you become fully present. And when you are truly there, something else is also there- life, represented by the cup of tea. In that moment you are real, and the cup of tea is real. You are not lost in the past, in the future, in your projects, in your worries. You are free from all these afflictions. And in that state of being free, you enjoy your tea. That is the moment of happiness, and of peace.”

I’m going to go turn the kettle on. I hope you will join me for a spot of tea.

What are you thankful for?

This year I launched SleeveShirt Consulting. Being an entrepreneur is exciting, challenging, and scary at times. As I sit down this Thanksgiving to reflect on my business, I’d like to take time to give some thanks.


• Thank you Norman, my fabulous graphic designer, with whom I would be without the SleeveShirt logo (set to debut soon!).

• Thank you to my colleagues on LinkedIn. Not only is it great for networking, but I’ve joined some fabulous subgroups which post thought provoking and pertinent information applicable to my business.

• Thank you Small Business Association. Who knew on that frustrating day back in 2008 when I printed out the entire contents of your site that I would be putting it to good use.

• Thank you Facebook for putting me back in touch with old friends and entertaining me endlessly.

• I am also thankful for Renee at YogaFlex. You manage to kick my butt every week and make me want to come back for more.

• I’m thankful for some really great reading this year: American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld , Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, City of Dreams by Beverly Swerling, The Chic Entrepreneur by Elizabeth Gordon and Leanna Adams, and Birthing the Elephant by Karin Abarbanel.

• Thanks to my daughter Natalie who enjoys preschool as much as mommy enjoys going to work!

• Thanks to my supportive mom who encouraged my small business venture.

• Most importantly, thank you to my husband Kevin who inspires me every day.


Happy Thanksgiving!