Lunch & Learn |
Do you dread networking? Even though we know that networking may not be at the top of your priority list, everyone knowns networking ultimately helps you grow your business. Jenna Curry recently taught a Forge webinar about the power of networking! Jenna is the owner of Remedy Digital Agency and we are recapping the highlights from her teaching. You can watch the full recording here.
Jenna Curry, Owner of Remedy Digital Agency
How can networking get you…
friendships
clients
referral
partners
board members
donors
employees
free advice
free stuff
In order to network effectively, you want to bring your best energy to each opportunity.
For networking to work, you must connect! Here’s how:
- Have a “give first” mindset- see how much of an impact you can make on others
- The only self-serving goal should be to find at least 1 thing you can learn from someone to apply to your business/life
- Know your value and determine what value you bring to each situation
- Know the problem your business solves for your customer and your customer’s customer
- Care about the people you network with
- Exercise that energy/value
- Focus on getting to the next step on the ladder instead of sealing the deal
Networking with Mixtroz at our IWD 2020 event
Getting Started with Intentional Networking:
1. Make a list of your next 10 dream clients
2. Write out what time, knowledge, gift or access can you provide to your ‘Future Dream 10’ Clients?
3. Write out who, what, where, and when for each person you want to impact
4. Start making contact and keeping track (using a CRM or Google sheet) of who, what, where, and when for each.
5. Iterate and repeat
6. Grow your contacts and grow your business!
Jenna told us to ask ourselves, how can you leverage your energy?
- Emotions: send encouraging messages, pay attention, give feedback
- Time: volunteer and show up!
- Knowledge: offer a free training, a guide, “how to”
- Monetary: gift or offer
- Access: to a connection, space, to information, to a following, a community, an event
Connect- Virtual Networking Meeting
What time, knowledge, gift or access can you provide to your ‘Future Dream 10’ Clients?
Who can you thank today? Take time to send a text or write a personalized thank you card!
Here are some things that Jenna has personally done to grow her own network:
- start a networking group
- share wins for myself and others on social media
- host a ladies night
- host a training
- volunteer for events (show up early, stay late)
- join a business book club
- treat friends to golf
- write an article
- host/attend a fundraising table lunch
- write a review
- send a thoughtful gift
- invite someone to a Zoom lunch where she had lunch delivered
- refer business
- and much more!
Don’t forget to thank people profusely!
Forge recently launched Connect– a weekly virtual networking meeting. We wanted to create a way that you can conveniently make new connections to ultimately grow your business! Connect is open to the public and meetings are Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00pm. You can still sign up as a Founding Member (at a discounted rate of $15/month) through March 31. April 1 price will go up to $25/month.
Thank you Jenna for sharing your wisdom and experience with networking! Be sure to check out Remedy Digital Agency– look at their blog for lots of helpful resources!
Forge News and Updates |
In case you missed it, Monday, March 8, 2021 was International Women’s Day. We here at Forge love to celebrate women every day of the year, but we were especially excited to applaud all of the amazing accomplishments of women during our virtual celebration.
We wanted to champion the numerous contributions women, past present, and future made to society, while highlighting some female owned businesses here in Birmingham. We had the unique privilege of hosting a panel of three incredible, hard-working women to share a bit about their lives, experiences, failures, and more.
Our panel, led by Forge’s Founder and CEO, Kim Lee, includes:
As a new Intern at Forge, I have never been to our International Women’s Day celebration, so I was excited for this event. I gained a lot of insight and advice from hearing about their experiences, both personal and professional. While Kim and the panelists covered more questions and topics than I included in this blog, I wanted to highlight and recap the ones that I felt are most relatable.
Kim Lee, Founder & CEO of Forge
Choose to Challenge
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day Event was Choose to Challenge, and Kim started of the panel asking these women to discuss a time in their career when they ‘Chose to Challenge.’
Mindy started off the panel strong reminding me and everyone that Choosing to Challenge can be as grand or as simple as we want. However, she explains that while “we can choose to challenge…we also have to choose to hold ourselves accountable.” I think this is such an incredible reminder of how women are challengers, in every sense of the word, who have a powerful force of supporters holding them accountable and cheering them on along the way. Javacia encourages us choose to challenge by taking that leap of faith or that jump and “build[ing] [our] wings on the way down.”
Mindy Rohr, Director of Marketing at Bayer Properties
The panelists offer some advice, from their personal experience, about how to step into the unknown or make a change. Stepping away from security and comfort is never easy, neither is change. However, these women encourage us to take that risk.
Delphine Carter, Founder of Boulo Solutions
Javacia’s advice to us is to try to find the median between those differing passions – as there often is. If, for some reason, these passions do not align, Javacia encourages us to not give up on those passions, even if they become “hobbies.” Delphine reminds us that no decision is permanent and if things don’t work out that’s okay – nothing is set in stone. Mindy wraps up this question encouraging women who want to change up their careers to have conversations, ask questions, and network.
Javacia Harris Bowser, Founder of See Jane Write
These women offer up some reassurance for those busy moms who may be struggling to balance all of the different hats women have the privilege of wearing. Delphine reminds us how important it is for us, as women, to give ourselves grace and put less pressure on ourselves.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay! You are not alone, and there are women all around the world feeling the same way as you.
Since I couldn’t include everything that they covered on Monday, I highly encourage you to watch the entire Virtual Celebration with these inspirational women. As a soon to be graduate entering into the work force, I’m honored to learn from these women, and so many like them, so I can step into the workforce more confident and prepared.
If you’re anything like me, you are wanting to hear and learn more from these three women. Well, it is your lucky day because now you can!
In an exclusive podcast, Kim asks the panelist to take a moment to share about their failures and the lessons they’ve learned from them. While I would love to recap all of that here, I would be writing far more than you’d want to read. To hear more about these women’s experiences with failure, head over to the Building Birmingham Together podcast on Spotify and Apple.
We encourage you to choose to challenge yourself by networking and making more connections. Join us for our weekly virtual networking meetings on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00pm. Find out more about Connect!
To all of the women in our lives. Thank you for everything you do. We, and the world, would not be the same without you.
Forge News and Updates |
This year it feels more important than ever before to shop local for the holidays. Small businesses need our support in 2020 and thankfully there are so many amazing shops around Birmingham. We’ve curated a gift guide for everyone your list.
Just remember these are gifts and not meant for you (but we won’t tell anyone if you decide to gift yourself).
For Someone With a Sweet Tooth:
Birmingham Candy
Our neighbors at Birmingham Candy Company have created a hometown candy store that everyone in Birmingham can be proud of. They’ve got every sweet you can dream of from caramel apples to fudge and truffles. Buy someone special a gift card or stop in The Pizitz Food Hall and fill up a box of goodies!
Chocolata
Chocolata uses single origin chocolate that is ethically sourced 100% from Latin America and they have so many unique flavors for you to try! If you’ve never stopped by their quaint shop on 2nd Ave. N, it’s a must see. They even have holiday gift sets that you could easily grab!
Big Spoon
Big Spoon Creamery is a small batch, artisan ice cream company and you can tell they are seriously passionate about their craft. The Big Spoon menu always focuses on seasonal flavors with local ingredients.
For Someone Who Loves To Workout
Three15
THREE15 is a workout experience combining 15 minutes of cycling, 15 minutes of barre, and 15 minutes of strength training, into one, high-energy studio fitness experience. They have locations in both Homewood and downtown. Purchase a gift card for your exercise lover friend or family member!
Ignite
Ignite is Birmingham’s only boutique cycling studio! Their main studio is in Pepper Place but they are currently offering open air rides down the street at Sloss Docks. Ignite’s Home for the Holi-Slay Series is available to students and faculty in school outside of Birmingham. Choose from 6 weeks Unlimited Rides for $125 or 3 weeks for $69.
True40
True40 is a boutique fitness studio that provides a 60 minute balanced body, low-impact workout suited for all ages and fitness levels. True40 is located in The Battery and Cahaba Heights. They even have At Home Workouts available on their website!
For the Health Food Lover
Nourish
Nourish Foods is founded by Mary Drennen and Tiffany Vickers Davis- two chefs who wanted and saw a need for healthy, fresh, creative, direct-to-customer food choices. Buy a gift card and your loved one can enjoy chef prepared, southern inspired food that’s delivered right to their door!
Blueroot
Blueroot sells delightful, delicious, and nutrient-dense food for those on the move — because they believe no one should have to sacrifice quality or nutrition for convenience. Give the gift of clean, plant-forward food that can be grabbed on the go!
Harvest Roots
Harvest Roots recently opened their Avondale location and it is definitely worth checking out! Harvest Roots Kombucha is about ingredients, freshness, and innovation. Never too sweet, never too tart. But they don’t have just kombucha- they also have house kimchi, pickles, popcorn and much more. Gift a snack or a kombucha growler to a friend this holiday season!
For Someone Who Needs to be Pampered
FancyFace Bham
Fancy Face is a clean beauty facial bar located in Southside. Facials are designed to give you refreshed skin with no downtime in 30- 45 minutes so it’s an easy way for you to treat a friend! Purchase a gift card on their website or easily schedule a facial for them.
Life Touch Massage
Who doesn’t need a massage in 2020? Give the gift of relaxation and support a downtown Birmingham business at the same time! Life Touch Massage has a wide range of services from deep tissue massage to pregnancy massage and full body scrub!
Shea Shea Beauty and Brow
Shea works right here at Forge as an esthetician and makeup artist. We have seen first hand that Shea has a devoted clientele and lots of rave reviews for her work! Shea Shea Beauty & Brow is a great way to pamper yourself or a friend.
For Someone Who Loves Local, Unique Gifts
Square One Goods Co.
Square One Goods is filled with so many fun, local goods. You can find jewelry, stationery, cards, books, candles and much more. No matter who you’re buying a gift for, you can find something unique at Square One Goods.
Trove Design Shop
Located in Woodlawn, Trove offers a carefully curated selection of “treasures” with an emphasis on craftsmanship and design. If you’re looking for antiques, home decor, aromatherapy goods, books or jewelry, Trove has it all! Right now Trove offers curbside pickup and free local delivery so you can still safely shop.
For the Plant Lover in Your Life
Botanica
Botanica has an amazing selection of tropical and desert houseplants along with unique pots! One of the best parts: Botanica’s plants can be shipped nationwide so you can send them to friends and family who aren’t local. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful if you have any questions about which plant would work best for you.
House Plant Collective
House Plant Collective is Birmingham’s pop-up plant store! They are based out of a renovated (very Instagrammable) school bus with events throughout the city. HPC staff is eager to teach you about plant care and share their plant wisdom!
Shoppe
Shoppe is nestled in Forest Park- it’s the most quaint garden shop you’ll ever see! And they don’t only have plants- inside their shop you’ll find housewares, plant accessories, books and much more. You should also stop in their other store General next door.
For the Book Lover
Thank You Books
Thank You Books is a general interest independent bookstore in the Crestwood neighborhood. Curbside pickup is available during store hours, and they will ship within the US. We love that Thank You Books is woman-owned, community-minded, gratitude-driven. Go check it out if you haven’t already!
Little Professor
Little Professor is Birmingham’s oldest independent bookstore that recently came under new ownership! Stop by their shop in Homewood and browse the aisles of Little Professor for the book lover in your life. You could even gift someone a Little Professor membership- giving them 20% off purchases, 40% off weekly bestsellers, free local delivery and pick up and much more!
Forge is in the business of growing businesses. We care about supporting fellow small business in Birmingham and we hope you do too! Please shop local during the holidays whenever you can.
Forge News and Updates |
Over several months Forge has been working with some awesome coworking spaces to build the Birmingham Coworking Collective! The BCC officially launched this week and even though the launch is much different than we expected (thanks COVID), we are still excited to strengthen the coworking community in our city.
Birmingham Coworking Collective is part of a beta program through the Global Workspace Association. GWA is the connection-based resource for shared space operators, workplace strategists, real estate investors and service providers to stay connected, current and competitive in the flexible office industry.
With the launch of the collective, we’re also launching a Coworking Passport as well! This gives you a chance to schedule one day of work at each of the participating spaces. You can learn more about the space, see what kind of perks there are and how it works for you.
What’s the mission of Birmingham Coworking Collective?
- Build and strengthen the coworking community in Birmingham by growing awareness of coworking in our city
- Empower those starting out coworking
- Enrich the experience of those currently coworking
- Connecting the creative engines behind each space into a diverse, vibrant network committed to good work
- Provide resources to new coworkers
- Promote collaboration and cross-programming among our spaces
- Learn from one another as unique community spaces, we will make Birmingham a better place to work.
So besides Forge, who is part of the Birmingham Coworking Collective?
Worx : a workspace with 2 locations in the Birmingham area- offering over 40 private office suites and best in class amenities!
MAKEbhm: a community space, celebrating the passion to create. Rent space, access equipment or enroll in a class at MAKE!
Practice Works: working solutions for your wellness practice, coworking for all with option to drop in or rent a dedicated office!
The Hub: a close-knit coworking community in the centrally located West Homewood
Innovation Depot: 140,000 square feet of amazing office, lab, and coworking space – all designed for your startup
Social Venture: co-working space, meeting space and change-making space in the heart of Woodlawn that supports REV Birmingham’s work creating vibrant places across the city
If you or someone else you know are looking for coworking space, contact Birmingham Coworking Collective to claim your passport! The passport gives you access to seven coworking spaces in the greater Birmingham area, allowing you to experience each community and find out which space is best for you before committing to a membership.
