image by my friend Kate Alison Photography 

Happy Women's History Month!  

As a female small business owner, I take supporting small businesses run by women VERY seriously. The reasons are many, but it's also a rather simple concept.  

Women have not always been celebrated for running businesses.  Until NOW!  And it's really just so exciting and wonderful!! 

It has taken MANY years for women to strike out and take on their passions as confidently as they are currently in 2018.  There has been an incredible amount of fighting, pushing, defying the odds, and proving people wrong behind every single women-run business that you know about and many others out there.  Women have been running the show, per se, for centuries, but have not been receiving the accolades or recognition for it until recently. 

As a way to celebrate, I would like to take some time this month on the blog to share a few of my favorite female-run businesses featuring artists and makers + some of my favorite books to read to celebrate Women's History Month! 

Also, I have a challenge for you.  This month, when you spend money, think about the business you are supporting.  Think about reframing your spending so that you can support a small business owner instead.  And try your hardest to make it a female-owned business.  It's important. 

Here's why...When you support Art by Megan, aka me, you are fueling a dream. 

• You might think I am referring solely to MY dream, but it is also that of a little girl who is watching alongside, being pulled to coffee dates with fellow entrepreneurs, being taken to galleries to meet owners, being asked to quietly sit through meetings with new contacts and shops, and watching my every move as this business grows.  Supporting Art by Megan means that you are fueling a future dream of a girl who now might be closer to thinking that she can be anything she wants to be.  You are supporting a little one who was told at the playground the other day that "Girls can't do that." and who, without any prompting, told the boy, with her hands on her hips, "You are wrong". 

• You are supporting every young lady and future entrepreneur that I try to involve in the behind-the-scenes of my business. 
• You are supporting my college interns who are seeing first hand that you can do both motherhood and business.  
• You are supporting the women that I choose to collaborate and work with, who are also following their dreams of supporting themselves and their families by running a small business. 
• You are supporting the women around the world who dare to strike out on their own and run something, against the odds.  

So, please, shop small and shop female-owned this month, and every month.  

image of my painting by Kate Alison Photo.  

A Women's History Month Reading List: 

1. First up, read "In the Company of Women" by Grace Bonney.  Then, research all of the people in the book and follow their amazing stories online and support their businesses. 
2. Then read, "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert and fall in love with being creative all over again.  And celebrate the magic in following a dream, even when there are roadblocks and challenges on the horizon.  

3. "Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead," by Sheryl Sandberg...because Sheryl Sandberg.

4. "Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom and Wonder," by Arianna Huffington.  Learning from one of the most impressive women entrepreneurs is the best way to go about this journey.  Also, learning that not merely surviving, but thriving is an important part of running a small-business.  

5. "You are a Bad Ass" by Jen Sincero.  Because you are.  And it's important to say it.  Repeat as necessary.  

Other resources to check out: 

1. "Female Founder Business Books": https://www.fundera.com/blog/female-founder-business-books
2. Small Businesses to support: (Forbes) https://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthieackerman/2017/11/23/seven-women-owned-businesses-to-support-on-small-business-saturday/#3a706024155d
3. Fastest Growing Women Owned Businesses (Forbes): https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2017/06/05/the-fastest-growing-women-owned-businesses-for-2017/#45a19599695e
4. How to support women-owned businesses: https://www.fundera.com/blog/support-women-led-businesses
5. "The 9 books every female entrepreneur should read": https://www.inc.com/melanie-deziel/the-9-books-every-female-entrepreneur-should-read.html

Apps by for entrepreneurs and small business owners: 

As a mom, small business owner, volunteer leader of a group of growing creatives (TuesdaysTogether NYC) and contractor for an amazing start-up in San Francisco, streamlining, efficiency, and organization are really vital aspects of running a relatively stress-free life.  I have discovered a few apps and programs along the way that have completely saved me and I wanted to share them with you today! 

Note: I am not being paid to share any of this information with you.  I just like to share what I have tested hopefully help out another busy or stressed out small-business owner.  

photo by Laura and Rachel Hernandez from the Rising Tide Society Leaders' Retreat in January 2017 at Honeybook's HQ in San Francisco, CA.  

For social media organization: Planoly

Planoly has completely changed the way I see and use my social media.  I have become more cohesive in my messaging to my followers, my feed is more organized, and I can think clearly about what my weekly work will look like in advance, which is so helpful as a mom.  They are a lovely company and their customer service is LEGIT.  Go check them out.  

For business workflow: Honeybook

As a contractor for Honeybook, I am continuously amazed at the high quality of service that this workflow tool for creatives offers to their incredible and growing community.  When I began using Honeybook, it seemed too good to be true to have invoicing, contracts, billing, taxes and financial tools all integrated into one software that was attractive, customizable and easy to use.  And when I say user-friendly, I mean it.  It's intuitive and so streamlined and simplified.  I love it! 

For my website: Squarespace

I can honestly tell you that what I love most about my website is removing the guess-work in building my site.  I have such a limited time as a one-woman-business-owner and I want to be able to capitalize on my work as an artist when I can.  So, using the clean, well-designed templates that Squarespace has to offer has saved me time, frustration, and has given me the freedom to focus on other parts of my business as it grows.  

For finances and taxes: Quickbooks

I have learned so much about finances and managing money from running my business and it's all thanks to Stephanie at Steadfast Bookkeeping and Quickbooks.  I was originally very hesitant to master the money management aspect of my business, but I am thankful for this intuitive and user-friendly tool that syncs with my Workflow Tool to simplify my finances and help me to budget for future years of Art by Megan.  

For time management and scheduling: Calendly 

I have recently implemented using calendar appointments into my business in order to streamline my Admin days and allow for complete days of creativity in my studio.  If I can schedule 5-10 calls on a Monday, I know that the rest of the week I can remove the distraction of admin tasks and to-do lists and create, paint and experiment.  Freeing up my mental space for creative moments has been a HUGE lifesaver, and I am thankful for the email integration that Calendly offers.  

Let me know in the comments below what tools you use to help streamline your life and business! I am always on the hunt for something to give me more free-time with my loved ones or to paint, paint, paint.  Really, I just want a clone of myself so that I can paint all-day and she can run the business.  Is there an app for that?  

xoxo 

M