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We throw craft parties. We're a startup. And we think those two things go together quite beautifully.

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Help! I have too many LDFs! A Guide on How to Make Long Distance Friendship Suck Less

Written by Rachel Bauer McCreary, Chief Creative Officer

I am confident that I have some of the best friends on earth. Together, we are able to show our true (i.e. weird) colors free of any judgment. We have inside jokes that have lasted for what feels like decades- you know, the type that pop into your head and make you randomly laugh out loud as you walk down the street? We have tons of those.

My best friends are not just weird and funny- they are also unbelievably smart and ambitious in their own unique ways. I am so proud of each of them. 

But here’s the thing about having smart, ambitious friends: they don’t often stay put. They go far and wide to find themselves and chase dreams. It’s part what makes me so proud, but also, so damn lonely.

You see, about 95% of the people I am closest to and care most about in this world live at least 300 miles away. Some of them live 3,000 miles away. My people are scattered throughout the United States from coast to coast. I even have one living in Greece at the moment.

And you know what? I miss them. Every single day. As much as I love my husband, my pets, my family, and my Cincinnati friends, I get lonely often and yearn to be reunited with my LDFs (Long Distance Friends). 

As I approach 30, I know this “problem” (which isn’t really a problem, but I’ll explain that in a bit) will only get bigger. I also know that I’m not the only one facing it. Which is why I created this: 

3-Step Guide on How to Make Long Distance Friendship Suck Less

Step 1: Be a source of encouragement. 

When you are with your friends every day, it’s easy to let them know you support them. In LDFs, you have to show your support in purposeful, more planned ways. If your friend has a big presentation at work, send them encouragement. My personal favorite way to do this is to send them a funny e-card- it will make them smile and momentarily forget their jitters, I promise! Our intern Megan introduced me to Just Wink, and I’m addicted.

Step 2: Use a calendar.

If you are going to actively encourage and support all of your LDFs, you need to be organized. Like, really organized. If you’re like me, you have tons of LDFs that are just killing it. Nothing makes you feel further away from your friends than forgetting a huge milestone, trust me. I have the internal calendar of an inanimate object, which is why I rely heavily on my Google calendar to remind me of the important things in my LDFs’ lives. Whenever someone mentions something, plug it in. Thank me later! 

Step 3: Plan your vacations accordingly.

No amount of long distance support can make up for time spent together IRL. The real joy of having an LDF (or many) is that you have options for low cost vacations just waiting for you. Your friends may not live in tourist destinations, but visiting their towns and experiencing life from their eyes is always a fun time. If you can’t quite fit enough trips into your work schedule and budget to visit each of your LDFs individually, plan a group vacation and meet somewhere fun. It’s guaranteed to be your favorite thing you do all year- trust me! 

The moral of this post is this: LDFs are hard, but they don’t have to be impossible. Take time, be mindful, and love your friends the best way that you can. You’ll be glad you did. 

**I hope that the use of Drake GIFs has improved the quality of this post for you, because it sincerely improved the time I had writing it.**

[gildcollective]

Hi, Mom! A Post About a Really Cool Woman I Know.

by Kelsey Pytlik, Chief Experience Officer

Here at Gild, we spend a lot of time talking about how amazing women are. This probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise! Rather than sitting around and being annoyed by stories like this and this, we instead decided to give credit where credit is due. So, we have decided to start a series on our blog for the women who inspire us the most.

As I sat down to write this post, it became very obvious where I needed to begin. I obviously love Ellen Degeneres, Taylor Swift, Amy Poehler, Anna Kendrick… and they will all have their day in the sun on this blog. But I’m starting with the only person I know who is never wrong.

My Mom. (Hi, Mom!)

One thing that those that know me best would probably tell you is that I have a tendency to fill my plate with work, activities, friends, more activities, weekend trips… the list goes on. Some may call it ‘over-committing,’ but I just consider it living a full life. (I also tend to fill my plate when hitting the buffet, but that is a different story.) My Mom, Connie, typically ends a phone conversation where I’ve just told her about a new job, group, trip - whatever it may be - with something like, “That’s our Kelsey, never a dull moment.” Now I wonder where I got that from?

Soon after my parents were married in ‘74, Connie started law school. Then came a full time job and four kids. The truly impressive thing? I can’t remember a single evening that she wasn’t there for dinner with us. (I’m currently the same age she was when my oldest sister was born, and I can barely sit down for dinner with my husband - how did she do it?!?)

Our beautiful family in the early 90s. Those dresses.

Fast forward to ‘96 - Connie’s kids are now between nine and 16, getting involved in their own extracurriculars. What else to do but add something else to her plate? Why not add an intensive PhD program to that list, wrapping up in a few years with a published dissertation. The thing I remember most from this period was seeing my Mom each night typing away on the computer in our den, and printing out that paper for what seemed like ages on the printer that previously had been used for making Welcome Home banners.

She added teaching to her plate shortly after, took up the harp when I went to college in ‘05, and challenged herself to take the Patent Exam in 2009, brushing up on her sciences in the process. I’ve watched my Mom accept my Grandfather’s call to be a “lifelong learner” every day of my life. How could that not rub off on me?

The most impressive thing about all of this is that she never sacrificed her family or her relationships in the process. She took a night of studying and an evening of playing games with us just as seriously. She guided me through the tough teenage years and doled out (much deserved) punishments that would truly teach me something. And, as I mentioned - she is never wrong. It is truly one of her most annoying characteristics. She knew which boyfriends weren’t right long before I did, but she let me figure it out for myself and was there to pick up the pieces when it was over.

As a result, my husband now knows that I will always call my Mom before making a major life decision, just to see what her take is on it. He also knows she is the reason why a night at the movies with a froyo stop on the way home is the best way to cheer me up.

My Mom is the reason why I am strong, motivated, and believe that I can do anything I set out to do. I can only hope that there’s never a dull moment in my future, but I know she’ll be cheering me on every step of the way.

She also happens to be a great running buddy.

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How to Stop Talking Sh*t and Start Being Nice to Other Women (and Yourself in the Process)

Written by Erin Crowley, Gild Collective Intern

Now that Halloween is nearly upon us, let the endless costume judgments begin. We all know the girls who throw on a pair of animal ears and call it a costume, and the other girls who trash talk them as if it has some significant impact on their lives.

This year, I challenge you to let it go.

Nothing positive comes from assuming judgments or talking shit about the nearly-naked girl at a friendly Halloween party. Judging will only take away from both people’s energy. That’s right, when we talk badly about others - we are unintentionally bringing ourselves down too. 

Next time, try something positive instead of destructive. Focus on something you like about the person that you were initially judging and compliment them instead. Inner peace will come from bringing happiness to others, and in turn, the one being judged is usually much more approachable than we anticipated.

By reversing our outlook and forming a mindset that is positive and uplifting, we will create a lighter and more joyful reality for ourselves and everyone around us. But first, we must realize that if we are going to make the change, we must recognize that judgement comes from within. Our own insecurities are what root our judgement of others. 

Don’t worry, we all have been there, but here are some ways we can come to appreciate others...and more importantly, ourselves.

Beat the anxiety. We must combat our fear of judgement to become happy, relaxed, and at ease with ourselves. Judgements arise from traits we see in others that remind us of things we dislike about ourselves. If we can be at peace with ourselves, we will have no reason to judge another. Meditation, herbal teas, aromatherapy, and deep breathing are all wonderful ways to relieve the stress we put on ourselves to impress others. 

Find your own path. It is human-nature to believe that our way is the best way and disregard other people’s thinking, or on the contrary, to be so concerned with the right way that we lose track of our own path. I invite you to take a step back. When you begin to judge yourself or someone else, repeat this mantra. Notice your judgement, question it, and be curious about yourself and others. Embrace curiosity instead of judgement and you’ll be amazed by what you learn about yourself and the perspectives of others.

Be confident and empower. Confident women raise confidence in others. A truly confident woman will strive for the success of all women. After all, we’re in this together - and you never know who may become your best friend. This ideology is symbolic of my favorite sanskrit term. The light in me sees and honors the light in you. Namaste.

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Compassion: A Strategy for Success in the Workplace

This is a guest post written by Caitlin Essig, Social Media Manager for The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - The James of Columbus, Ohio. We are so lucky to have her on our team!

All new employees of the hospital system I work for undergo at least a day and a half of orientation before setting foot into their department. Nurses, administrative professionals, security staff, researchers, clinicians — everyone hears the same initial presentations.

It may seem silly and unnecessary to gather everyone in a room, considering many of our job duties don’t overlap. As a social media manager who sat next to a pharmacy technician, the differences were obvious.

But while I’ll probably never set foot in an operating room or in the cafeteria’s kitchen, at the end of the day we really do all have the same goal: doing our part to keep the hospital running smoothly.

One part of our discussion during orientation that really struck a chord with me was a section on compassion: toward patients, their families, and toward each other. Pretty important in a hospital, but we could all be talking about compassion in the workplace.

Compassion in the workplace goes beyond asking a coworker about their weekend just because you both arrived five minutes early to the Monday morning meeting. It goes beyond holding the elevator door open instead of pressing the “door close” button.

Many of us are guilty of avoiding eye contact in the hallway, when it would be kinder to offer a simple “hello.” Those who work in customer service can be scrambling for the easiest way to get the customer off their backs, rather than taking the time to provide the service they’d want in return.

I don’t have a good answer for why we do this, but I do know it’s common. It’s an easy routine. We get so caught up in our own jobs and our own lives that we’d rather rush through the workday to get home with as few distractions as possible.

I do know we can do better.

Everyone deserves to be treated with compassion and respect, and everyone deserves to have that atmosphere surround them at work. So while we might not all interact with cancer patients on a day-to-day basis, we can still listen to the needs of the people we share an office or work-space with every day.

It’s pretty basic.

Smile when you pass someone and say hello.

Listen when your coworkers talk and offer productive, positive feedback. Get to know them on an individual basis.

Watch your tongue — don’t be the perpetuator of office gossip, even if the person in question is no longer with the company.

Treat customers with respect and view customer service as “customer experience.” Strive to provide an experience you’d want them to tell their friends about (for good reasons).

Respond when someone seems under the weather or off their game. Having someone to talk to can make all the difference.

When you slow down and work toward creating a compassionate environment at work, not only will you feel good, but you’ll be responsible for helping to create a place others will want to work.  Just think of how much more pleasant work can be when it feels too friendly to even be called “work.”

[gildcollective]

A Gild-approved List of Perfectly Iconic & Perfectly Weird Halloween Costumes (Spoiler Alert: No Sexy Kittens Made the List)

Written by Rachel Bauer McCreary, Chief Creative Officer

Original source: Nylon Mag

Ah, Halloween. It’s that time of year when we all get to let our freak flags fly, pay tribute to our most beloved cultural icons, and feed the creative monster in all of us. 

I grew up in a house with a few unspoken and basic Halloween rules:

No costume should consist of materials that add up to more than $20.00. 

Costumes that come together the day-of are always the best (read: weirdest.)

Sex appeal is not to be taken into consideration under any circumstances. 

Bonus points for anything you create that combines craft supplies, household staples, and items found in nature. I’m lookin’ at you, tree costume (garbage bag + glue + leaves + turtleneck underneath for warmth. Always a turtleneck underneath.)

I know it’s not the day-of, but Gild is hitting the road next week and so the weekend before is my next best thing. Sorry, mom! To celebrate my brainstorming, I decided to hunt down some of my favorite Halloween looks. You’re welcome!

List of 7 Halloween Costumes That Hit Just the Right Levels of Weird and Iconic 

1. Casey Becker and Ghostface of the Original Scream. This costume pays homage to one of the horror genre’s greats that we lost this year (RIP Wes Craven) AND 90′s fashion. HELLO! Plus, now that I have a pixie I am going to try to rock a wig for the first time in my life. PLUS costumes that require loose denim and oversized sweaters are sent from heaven. Plus fake blood. So many good things. 

Original source: Popsugar

2. The Pixar Lamp. This one is pretty high on the weird scale and mostly a joke, but I think it’s amazing. And if you have the leg strength required to jump around all night you are probably Dwayne The Rock Johnson (AKA my personal hero).  

This genius is (unsurprisingly) brought to you by the wonderful people at Buzzfeed.

3. Sia. Speaking of weird and iconic- Sia is the queen. This fulfills my wig-wearing desires and gives me an excuse (as if I needed one) to listen to Chandelier on repeat for the next week. 

Original found on Brit + Co

4. Lisa Frank Unicorn. Kelly at Studio DIY is the official DIY Costume Queen of the Internet. Sorry you missed the crowning ceremony, where were you?! Anyway, she has loads of classic ideas in her archives, I highly encourage you to check them out! This Lisa Frank unicorn makes my 90′s child heart go pitter patter. 

Thanks to Kelly from Studio DIY.

5. Greyscale Film Noir Couple. In case you haven’t noticed, we have moved on to advance costuming here, folks. Have you ever seen something so head-turning? 

Pure art from Mandi at Making Nice in the Midwest. Go the extra mile and go as silent film stars.

6. Roy Lichtenstein’s Pop Art Icon. I’m not sure this requires an explanation- purely amazing!

This amazing makeup tutorial by Keiko Lynn is on every Halloween costume roundup worth its salt.

7. Andy Warhol and Marilyn Monroe. One lucky member of this duo gets to wear my beloved family Halloween staple: The Black Turtleneck. There’s never been a more noteworthy mop than Andy’s, and while Marilyn can be a bit overdone, the pop art hues make this look particularly noteworthy. 

Brought to you by Vanity Fair.

Which one will I choose? I’m not going to decide that this far in advance. This list is as good as it will get for the next six days or so! 

If the Halloween season has bit you with the craft bug, let us help you find the cure- host a craft night with your friends!

[gildcollective]

3 Ways to Take Your Girls Night From Bland to Brilliant

Written by Erin Crowley, Gild Collective Intern

Original post: www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa

We all know the priceless value in a good-old fashioned girls night, but seldom do we take the time to plan a fabulous evening with our soul sisters. We tend to become distracted by hectic work schedules, family get-togethers, dinner dates, and everyday tasks that seem to dictate our lives. What we need on a deeper level is to pencil-in time to spend with our support group. This is not only about staying in touch, it's primarily about the well-being of ourselves and our girlfriends. Spending time with loved ones contributes to healing - physically, mentally, and emotionally. As human-beings, we crave social interaction and affection. Hurried coffee dates, last-minute phone calls, and random Facebook Messenger conversations are not going to satisfy our hunger for companionship. Relationships are built upon communication and there's no better way to get our fix than to debrief the ins-and-outs of our beautiful lives over cupcakes and wine. We are all guilty of flaking on our girlfriends and it's time for a change. 

I challenge you to plan your most successful girls night yet, and here's how:

1. STOP! DROP!  AND PLAN!

How many times have we planted the seed of "let's catch up soon" or something similar? A quadrillion? This is why setting a date is crucial and action words are key! Next time, try to be specific and efficient. For example, "Let's plan a girls’ night after work on Friday. How do you feel about tacos and drinks at 6 p.m.?" This method will get your ideas flowing and plans rolling, allowing everyone to be on the same page. Decide upon a date, put it on your schedule, and set your plan in motion. You go, girl!

2. Old habits die... beautifully!

Dare to change it up! Plan to have dinner at a new restaurant (use Yelp!) or experiment with a recipe (from Pinterest!), engage in a new activity (like rock climbing!), shift your taste in music and check out a local show, or create a masterpiece (get crafty!) - ask what types of things your friends have been up to and jump out of your comfort zone! You may even choose go out on a limb and invite your co-worker who shyly implies her lack of social life or reach out to your long-lost sorority sisters. Don't forget about friends of the past who still hold a special place in your heart. Becoming involved with a wide variety of people keeps parties fresh and interesting, and you never know who you may cross paths with! Community building is fundamental in personal development, and remember - networking makes the work go 'round.

3. Sit back, relax, and be present.

We all know how it feels to be engaged in a conversation with a person who is half-listening.  Whether they're attached to their cell phone, daydreaming about their agenda for next week, scoping out the cutie across the way, or simply have tuned out your heartfelt story. One of the most important skills in relationship building is listening. If your girlfriend wants to discuss the same boy she has been troubling over for months or the pros and cons of a new career opportunity - let her rant and be present! She needs someone to ration with so it doesn’t tear her apart from the inside out. In the same respect, you should assume your soul sister will listen to you when you over-excitedly rant about your new work project or theorize a new idea you developed during yoga this morning. This is what friends are for. Practice efficient planning, non-judgement and centering yourself in the present moment, and you’ll be amazed by how much your relationship (and life) skills improve.

Original post: nipstudent.tumblr.com

[gildcollective]

Pulling it Off: Dare to Dress How They Least Expect It

This is a guest post written by Liz Urso, who inspires us daily to wear the things we didn’t think we could pull off. She also made some beautiful earrings at a Gild party this summer!

Hi everyone! Liz here, from 26 & Counting -- and today I'm excited to be guest posting on the Gild Collective Blog. I'm a Cincinnati native, 9-5 cubicle resident, and local personal style blogger. In addition to being wonderfully nice -- Jessie, Kelsey, and Rachel are creative, business savvy women, taking the crafting/DIY world by storm. So when they asked if I would guest post and share a bit of my blogging backstory, I absolutely jumped at the chance!

It's crazy to think now, but I've been sharing my daily outfits in some version or another on the internet for almost 5 years. A lot has changed in the blogging sphere since 2010, but my personal passion and the reason I started blogging has stayed the same.

After moving back to the Cincinnati area and starting my career at a local company, I struggled to mesh my personal style with that of my new "business" world. For a long time I had been told business casual meant slacks, tailored buttoned-down shirts, and cardigans. Don't get me wrong, I love me some ankle pants and cardigans, but after my first few years in the corporate world I felt bored with my outfit options. I had all these fun clothes I'd wear on the weekends and out with friends, but Monday-Friday they were sidelined in my closet.

That's when I started reading blogs and looking for new style inspiration. This was before the days of Pinterest and full-time bloggers, and what I found was this fantastic community of creative and passionate people sharing their stories and outfits. The one thing I didn't find was a girl who looked like me sharing her creative work wear. As a curvy gal myself, I couldn't always pull off the looks I was seeing in stores or online (to say I have a love/hate relationship with buttoned down shirts is an understatement). So with the idea to showcase my own adventures (there have been some misadventures along the way) in dressing for a business casual world, I started my own blog.

My personal style and job have changed quite a bit in the last five years, but my blog is still very much my creative outlet. It's keeps me excited to try new styles and play around with the pieces in my closet.

Through blogging I've worn things I thought "I couldn't pull off" or that were too risky for someone with my shape. Today's outfit is one of those "risky" outfits I always thought were against the rules.

Between the layers, mixing brown and black, and the proportions -- this outfit is something I would have never thought to try years ago. Layers can be tricky when you're curvy, but with a little experimentation and creativity anyone can pull off a layered look.

This look is a little casual, so I would regulate it to a Friday, but the dress alone is something I could wear any day of the week. Another option would be to switch out the vest for a boyfriend blazer and I would be good to go!

Outfit Details:

Dress (as a skirt): Madewell

Sweater: Madewell 

Vest: Anthropologie

Boots: Easy Spirit

Thanks for reading and to the gals of Gild for having me!

[gildcollective]

Why I’ll Actually Decorate for the Holidays This Year

Written by Rachel Bauer McCreary, Chief Creative Officer

Gild Collective exists to bring women together in the spirit of creativity. We believe that exercising creativity with friends is the best way for us to build confidence in ourselves and in each other. Also, crafting is fun as hell.

You know when I need confidence and an extra dose of fun? Before I head into holiday season. You know what I mean, right? Seeing extended family that only come around once a year, getting off of my normal routine of healthy food and exercise, and hearing the same sappy songs on loop for three months straight tend to make me feel like I am going a little insane.

I can’t be the only one that gets a little queasy when I think about all of the mandatory cheer that comes along with the holidays. Can I? Sure, there are great things about the holidays, too. Those family parties, breaks from routine, and headache-inducing soundtracks are the stuff of long lasting memories for a reason.

You may already be able to tell, but I have a love-hate relationship with this time of year. While I may bounce back and forth on my feelings toward carb-a-thons and George Michael Christmas tunes, there are two things that never change about the holidays for me:

1. I will watch Love Actually as many times as I possibly can. That movie is a masterpiece and anyone who says it isn’t is lying to you.

2. Holiday decor is dreadful, unless you want to spend an arm and a leg on it. I don’t, so I am usually digging through items that are either covered in glitter (and not in the good way) or feature off-brand cartoons playing in snow mounds. Barf.

Thanks to Gild, I finally feel like I can make an impact on the world of tacky holiday decor. Want proof? 

Check out our new Holiday Collection! 

Grapevine Initial Wreath

This collection was designed with love with a woman in mind who has great taste, but also wants to spread holiday cheer. 

Polaroid Ornaments

She wants her holiday decor to be personal and from the heart, but she still wants it to be stylish. 

Chalkboard Cheese Tray

She gets excited to host her friends during this season, but she gets equally excited about nights spent at home with family. Both of these things often involve a cheese tray.

Holiday Cookie Box Set

The joy of giving isn’t lost on her- she loves to make others feel loved. She may even have a family tradition of baking with loved ones, and (like most of us) can’t wait to get the sweets out of her house and into the hands of family and friends. Who can exercise self control with a huge plate of cookies in front of them?

Poinsettia Monogram 

We are so excited to help you celebrate the holidays with this collection. After all, this is the time of year that we all take some extra time to give time and love to those that are most important to us. We go the extra mile to show people we care, and the items in this collection are perfect for that. 

Remember, when you host a Gild party, we take as much work out of coordinating as possible. We even have an awesome tool that lets your friends vote on their favorite project and date. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 

[gildcollective]

Three Signs Your Girls’ Night Needs a Refresh

by Kelsey Pytlik, Chief Experience Officer

My last post was all about how hard it can be to make friends. But the challenge that comes next is making time for them. Busy schedules often lead to rushed plans that are rescheduled over and over again. So, what happens? When you do get together, you go with the path of least resistance. You end up doing the same thing because it’s easy. If you worked that hard to make these friends, why not enjoy them? 

No shame in getting into a rut, just an opportunity make your gatherings a bit better! 

Without further ado… a few signs that your girls’ night might need a refresh.

The bartender / waiter / barista knows your name. 

There’s something to be said for heading to a place “where everybody knows your name,” but this isn’t Cheers. Or Friends. Or How I Met Your Mother. Or any other show where people constantly go to one - and only one - location for their eating and drinking enjoyment. You and your friends are allowed to mix it up! Head to your usual spots on a rainy Saturday, but when you’re putting something on the books with your favorite people… why not try something new?

All gatherings are now centered around wedding-related activities. 

Raise your hand if you showed up at a wedding and hadn’t seen your friends since the bridal shower. And before that, not since the bachelorette party? 🙋 As I am currently in the wedding-filled years of my life, I am 100% guilty of this one. It’s easy to say “see you in month” at the next coordinated activity rather than putting in just a tiny bit of effort to keep in touch in between. But my guess is that a month in your friend’s life has a lot of amazing moments that you should be a part of - or at least get to hear about over pedicures. :)

Girls night is now synonymous with ‘play date.’ 

Guess what? You deserve some time of your own. Some no-earmuffs-needed-staying-out-past-bedtime time of your own. No shame in that! Spend your next girls night getting out of the house and getting reacquainted with your bestie - no interruptions. Dinner? Wahoo! Movie? Unheard of! Craft night? Even better! You deserve it.

Alright, time for me to go plan something fun.

[gildcollective]

what I learned when I went back to high school

Written by Rachel Bauer McCreary, Chief Creative Officer

I didn’t know it at the time, but I was really, really lucky growing up. I went to amazing schools and received a top-notch education. Like all teenagers, I took it completely for granted at the time. 

I attended Ursuline Academy, one of the many all-girls high schools in Cincinnati (it’s a thing here, trust me). Ursuline is many things, but as a 14 year old freshman it was mainly just intimidating. The caliber of students at Ursuline was unlike anything I had experienced before, and I was convinced that every single one of them was smarter than me and more talented than me.

I spent four years at Ursuline realizing more and more each day that I was wrong. Each year I became more confident and grew closer to understanding who I was becoming. There were countless obstacles along the way, and each felt insurmountable (as most problems do in high school). At the time, I would not have been able to pinpoint how I was able to grow so exponentially as a person during such an inherently messy time of life. Up until a few days ago, I still would not have been able to explain it.

Then, I went back.

I was invited back to Ursuline this year as a speaker for the Symposium, which was described in the email invitation I received as, “a biannual and much loved event that serves to connect alumnae and current students to celebrate the Ursuline legacy. Alums are invited to speak to students in small group settings to share the different paths that they have taken in their lives and careers.”

Once I got over the “why in the hell do they want ME to speak about my ‘career’?” and “my ‘path’ makes no actual sense at all” thoughts and general surprise that I was invited to speak, I quickly accepted. I began to get very excited to speak to young women about the ups and down of founding a startup. I wasn’t alone: My co-presenter Maria Walley (CMO of kandid.ly) was equally pumped. 

The day did not disappoint. When I walked through the doors of Ursuline on Friday, I felt as though I had traveled through time. The female energy was palpable as alumnae gathered in small circles and caught up on their (very impressive) lives, and we were quickly ushered in to sit in the rear of the theatre for an all-school assembly. The sea of navy and green uniforms was incredibly comforting to me. I made a mental note to bottle the vivacity exuding from the students to carry me through past demo day. 

The assembly topic was etiquette, a fitting one for a career day. Etiquette is an antiquated concept that many gen-Xers think is a lost cause for the Millenial generation. I disagree. I think that etiquette is incredibly important, but as a woman, I think that many of the rules must change. We must advance from “having” to wear certain things, like high heels or makeup, simply because we are women.  I also believe that we are in the middle of a real shift in female etiquette “rules”, which can make the subject particularly challenging to discuss with a room of hundreds of young women. 

The young women in the audience challenged the speaker with incredible grace. They stood up and voiced their opinions on what women should and should not do with class, intelligence, and bravery. They did not feel the need to shout or make rude comments, simply speak their minds. I felt proud to of these women on the tail-end of my generation. 

My pride continued as a I spoke to the students throughout the day about the rewards and challenges of founding a company. As my speaking portion of the day came to a close, I felt fulfilled by the youthful energy that I so rarely get to interact with in the world of start-up culture. 

When we filed back into the theatre for the keynote speaker, I saw a sight so beautiful I could barely believe it: 

Before the incredibly impressive keynote speaker was introduced, the president of Ursuline, Sharon Redmond, took to the podium to share a few words that blew me away.

She looked down at the faces of all of the young women in the crowd and told them that she was grateful for their ability to bravely and gracefully share their opinions in front of so many others. “If you know that it is your minds that will make you stand out, and not the way that you look, then I know that we are doing something right,” she said. 

Wow. 

I know that not every young woman is fortunate enough to go to a school like Ursuline. There are many cities where a school like Ursuline simply doesn’t exist for hundreds of miles. I know that I am incredibly lucky to been challenged and encouraged by the faculty and my peers Ursuline.

I feel so strongly that regardless of our educational paths, we as women owe it to one another, and especially the generations of women that come after us, to encourage the bravery and sass that is needed in order to voice unpopular opinions. We can empower one another through simple everyday activities (like crafting! sorry, one shameless plug per post) and acts of kindness to be ourselves, and to stop apologizing for it. 

So, thank you, Ursuline, for the invitation to speak to students about their career paths. The students taught me more in one day than I could have ever taught them. But, I’m sure you knew that.

[gildcollective]

3 Actual Problems Female Founders Face

This is a guest post written by Emily Cooper, Marketing and Operations Manager at The Brandery. We are very lucky to call her our friend, advocate, and overall life coach/hero.

There are a lot of things I could write about women in technology and startups. I would love to tell stories, share candid thoughts and opinions, and allow you to disagree wholeheartedly with me. But that's a different blog post. Here are three real problems that women, including myself, experience when moving through a career in the startup world.

Let me preface everything by saying I used to be very much in the same mindset that most men and many women are still in. That of, "Women don't have that much of a disadvantage; they should just work a little harder. It's not worth worrying about." After diving into the workforce and coming to understand the startup landscape in a deep and comprehensive way, I couldn't be more wrong.

1) "Let's grab beers and discuss further."

If you're an entrepreneur, there have probably been times where you've tried this tactic. Maybe I can get closer to this investor/mentor/partner/customer/advisor by offering to take them to drinks. Makes sense. Unfortunately, it's not that simple for women.

If you've read Lean In, you know Sheryl talks about facing this herself. As a young (unmarried) person, it's assumed that if you're seen at a bar with a member of the opposite sex, you're likely on a date. Because of that stigma, women are less likely to offer to take a man to drinks, and men, in turn, are less likely to accept.

Personally, there have been countless times where this would have been a good business move and I didn't ask. There have been times where I haven't been invited to drinks even though it made sense. Both sides are at fault here. While it seems petty, a lot of business is done over beers. Being able to tap into that familiar "boys club" activity without being judged or suspected of wrongdoing will be a big step for women.

2) How To Look Hot At Work

You can't make this crap up. Women really Google things like this. And this. And this. *Cringe*

In an industry where guys in hoodies and startup shirts are revered, somehow women haven't managed to get cut any slack yet. Men are in jeans, shorts and t-shirts every day. Women are still wearing, although not as corporate, business-esque "startup clothing." The Tech.co article that highlighted 70 women and what they actually wear to their startup jobs revealed that MOST of the women still look like they could walk into any corporate office and people wouldn't flinch. I'm not suggesting a different dress code for men or women at any workplace (corporate or startup), simply pointing out a significant difference.

The double-edged sword of having to look nice but not looking too nice is a challenging one. Too nice means you look either slutty or stuffy. Too informal means you aren't taken seriously. Just to even have to put that much thought into what you're wearing each morning is too much energy exerted on the wrong thing.

3) The Chicken and the Egg

Investors often base their deals on investments that have proven successful in the past. That makes sense. Invested in 10 Android apps and all of them failed in 12 months? You probably won't be investing in many Android apps any time soon. Never invested in an adtech company? You probably aren't going to go out and throw down $2MM on an adtech company tomorrow.

Same goes for types of founders. Subconsciously, investors associate successful founders with a certain persona. As we know, that persona is young, white, and male. Again, subconsciously (I refuse to say most investors are sexist, because I don't believe they are at all), a woman coming in to pitch a business just doesn't fit into the archetype the investor has in his head-- based on history. This makes them less likely to invest.

So... Women are less likely to be invested in, but investors need to associate venture-backed women with success before they invest in them. Which comes first?

Similarly, people oftentimes build businesses based on a problem they have personally faced. In other words, businesses that solve problems for women are unlikely to be understood by the average investor, who is older, white, and male. For example, if I am building a really badass crafting company, investors who understand that space and the mission of empowering women are far more sparse.

If you're a woman in the startup space, I'm curious if you've come across these issues and how. Any other major ones pop to mind?

Emily Cooper is the Marketing & Operations Manager at The Brandery. You can read more of her thoughts on startups and the people that start them on her personal blog, tobeaccelerated.com. Follow Emily on Twitter.

Thank you, Emily!! 

[gildcollective]

Love Girls Nights? Love Pinterest? Cleveland Women have a new way to combine the two

Listen closely Cleveland ladies... if you’re like most girls, your Pinterest profile is filled with dozens of aspirational boards - “DIY ideas!”  “Craft Inspiration”  “Things I’m Going To Make (I swear)”

But let’s be real. First, we all know that 99% of the things we post on those boards are - realistically - never actually going to happen. Second, how are we supposed to balance a career, family, time with friends, AND actually following through on our creative ambitions? How do those amazing craft bloggers do it??

Well, we have some good news for you. Now, time with friends and Pinterest success come wrapped in the same package - an adorable package filled with craft supplies, that is.

Because Gild Collective has finally come to Cleveland.

What is Gild Collective? Allow us to stifle our giddiness and tell you...

It’s Pinterest meets Girl’s Night. Gild Parties are times to bring your friends together to create something beautiful. You invite your friends and decide what project(s) you want to create. Then Gild Collective sends you the supplies with detailed photo and video instructions.

Say goodbye to Pinterest fails and boring girls nights forever.

What’s even better is that when you host a Gild Party, your project kit is free. That’s right, you pay nothing. We recommend taking your savings and taking it to the wine & cheese aisle, but that’s up to you.

Want to get in on the trend and host a Gild Party of your own? Check out some of our projects below and

Visit GildCollective.com to learn more about how you can get your friends together for a craft night of your own!

[gildcollective]

What Nobody Told You About Making Friends After College

by Kelsey Pytlik, Chief Experience Officer

Facebook message, dated April 16, 2012:

Hi Natalie,

I'm glad Dori was able to connect us! Not sure how much she has told you, but I moved to Cincinnati about 2 months ago and I'm interested in meeting new people. My boyfriend is here, but outside of him and his group of friends I don't know many other people. Would you be interested in getting together sometime? I could do dinner or drinks, or if you work downtown we could try to do lunch!

Let me know if you'd be up for it and when you are free!

Talk to you soon, Kelsey

I moved to Cincinnati in 2012 after 3 years of long distance dating my boyfriend, Matt. I was leaving my family and friends in Cleveland that I had relied on my sister to make after college. I was moving to a place where I didn't have any social ties beyond the people Matt had introduced me to at parties over the years of my weekend visits to Cincy.

I was scared to be friendless in a new place and completely dependent on my boyfriend whom I had never spent more than 5 days with in a row. I knew (hoped?) that our relationship would adjust to it's new conditions but what I knew more confidently was that it would only work if I also built a life and a network beyond the two of us. 

To put it bluntly, I needed friends.

Before I made the equivalent of a "one-way ticket" trip down Interstate 71, my sister gave me a book. MWF Seeking BFF. If you haven't read it, you should. It's a great story about putting yourself out there and the amazing relationships that are right beyond you door. You have to be brave, and you have to work for them.

I read it. Message received. Be brave! Friendships were no longer going to plop themselves on my (now super cute loft apartment) doorstep. The days of alphabetical last name fate and lunch period friendships were gone. No more dorm room or sorority to bring a group of eligible (and also friend seeking) women around. I had to seek out people who likely already had friends and convince them that I was worth spending time with, too.

Bring on the girl dates.

I spent so much money those first 6 months on lunches, dinners, coffee, Saturday afternoon flea market outings... Matt could barely even get dinner on the books with me, so busy was my dating schedule. I reached out to old friends who were now in Cincinnati, friends of friends that I had never met, and basically anyone that Matt overheard at work talking about Taylor Swift. At one of Matt's work gatherings, I cornered a girl who seemed nice and said, "we are going to be friends."

Some dates were over in 45 minutes once the appropriate amount of entree had been consumed. (Internal thoughts: “OMG, she is eating so little and I am eating so much! I am going to get a box and say it is for lunch tomorrow but really go home and eat it immediately.”) We left recognizing different life stages and didn't bother to say "let's do it again."

Others were wonderful and by the end of the night we were planning the next weekend's activities. One blind date in particular started with me sending a text, "I'm outside, the blonde girl under the big tree," and ended with a shocked waiter not believing that the two giggly girls closing down the restaurant could have just met that night.

I started a Wine & Media night. Think book club, but with more trashy TV and less reading. Say what you want about the show, but the Bachelor is a great bonding mechanism! It was successful for a bit but then everyone got a bit busier (just try making weekend plans in your 20s… weddings every weekend!).

I started “Friend Frenzy,” which allowed our growing group of friends to plan bi-weekly outings in Cincinnati to try new things. It was successful for a year (my record is improving!) but then our growing group became our shrinking group as people began to move away and the whole process is now beginning for me again.

The point of all of this is… making friends is hard. You’ll make them, fall in love, and feel like you’re set for life. And then life will happen and you’ll move, they’ll move, and you’ll be right back where you started… emailing the girl who told the funny jokes at the networking meeting and asking to grab coffee. It’s tough to put yourself out there, but I am so happy about each new girl date and the amazing women I have had the opportunity to meet and laugh with along the way.

And lucky for me, the pressure is off to try to start any new random groups, because I now have Gild Collective parties to fall back on. My next girl date will end with a beautiful project to display in my house, and if the Bachelor just happens to be on in the background… well, that’s okay too. :)

[gildcollective]

The Busy Woman's Guide to Practicing Self-Love. every. single. day.

By Rachel Bauer McCreary, Chief Creative Officers

This morning, I woke up and immediately felt like complete crap. I don’t mean physically (although the lack of sleep doesn’t help), I mean emotionally. Within a few hours, the negative emotions I had been feeling had crept into everything I attempted to do. 

My workout was terrible, my hair looked awful, and I had definitely gained 20 pounds overnight (that’s possible, right?!). The day was doomed, and it was only 9:00 AM. The mental spiral continued...

My co-founders are better at running the business than me. That girl is prettier than me. The joke I just made was NOT funny. I suck at painting my nails. There’s no way I will ever get this done. I’ll never understand the complex math of fundraising. 

Sound familiar? These utterly ridiculous thoughts were very real in my head. As a woman, I am constantly fighting the urge to fall into the petty cycle of self-loathing that is (in my opinion) totally media-induced.  

When I lifted my head up from the dark pool of despair I was sinking into to think, I realized that I could not remember the last time I had taken a few seconds to practice loving myself. I was not appreciating anything I have been doing for myself or others lately. Instead, I was focused on what I was doing wrong, what was “ugly” about me, and what I should be doing differently. 

But what can I do? I don’t have time to sit around reciting mantras or journaling. I have a business to run. 

THAT. 👆That sentence right there. It snapped me out of my spiral. As soon as I heard that thought go through my head, I realized that I was breaking a big promise to myself. 

I promised myself before taking the leap with my company that I would never be too busy to take care of myself mentally, emotionally, or physically. By letting go of some simple daily self-love practices, I was failing. This post is my commitment to picking those daily practices back up and building them back into my routine. That’s why..

I’m sharing with you these incredibly simple ways to focus on self-love every day, even when you can’t possibly have time for it: 

1. Eat well, sleep well, exercise well. 

I know, I know. I said that BUSY women could do these things. In the spirit of not being perfect, I do not focus on doing all three of these every single day. In fact, sometimes I don’t focus on any of them. On the days that I ignore my eating, sleeping, and exercise habits, I feel it. BIG time. What works for me is making sure that I do two out of the three of these things almost every day. If I can’t sleep enough, I’m going to make up for it with an awesome workout and a big dose of greens at every meal. My self-esteem changes dramatically when I adequately fuel my body. 

2. Treat yo self. 

I can almost guarantee that my daily ways of “treating myself’ are incredibly different than Kelsey or Jessie’s. A “treat” for Tom Haverford is very different than a treat for Leslie Knope. While not every day can be a day of pampering, I am a firm believer in a little bit each day. Here is what daily pampering looks like for me: Taking a little extra time getting ready in the morning with good coffee and a great podcast. The days that I don’t start out with Ira Glass’s soothing voice are not my best days. Plain and simple! I wake up earlier so that I can have this time because it works for me. (No surprise- today I woke up late and jumbled.)

3. Connect with friends.

I think I’ve touched on the level of importance I place on spending time with friends, but the cold hard facts are that I don’t have time to snuggle and binge-watch Pretty Little Liars with them as much as I would like. However, an incredibly important method (for me) of practicing self-love is to connect in SOME small way on a daily basis with friends that inspire me. I feel infinitely better about myself when I am reminded of the amazing friends I have acquired. They are more valuable than gold!

P.S. You can connect with your friends over crafts, too (just in case you didn’t already know!)

4. Put the phone away. 

This adds NO extra time to your schedule. It should be incredibly easy, but it isn’t. It’s feels impossible sometimes (as pathetic as that sounds). But taking an hour every day that you don’t check your phone at all- no social media, no texts, no emails, and practice being in your moment is invaluable. Whether that is actually finishing a task at work that I haven’t been able to focus on,  having a great conversation with my husband, or simply taking in my surroundings, putting my phone gives me the space I need to let in as much self-love as I can.

5. Be grateful to yourself. You work hard. This sentiment requires no funny gif or long explanation. We all deserve thanks, every single day, and it’s completely acceptable (and sometimes preferable) to give it to ourselves. 

I show myself I am grateful by practicing these seemingly ordinary acts of self-love as often as I can. What about you?

[gildcollective]

Spreading creativity, spreading confidence: Laura Gerald’s Instructor Spotlight!

Written by Laura Gerald, Gild Collective Instructor. Thank you, Laura!

Hello. My name is Laura Gerald and I am a creative person...

I’ve gone through my entire life feeling like I either needed a support group for being “right-brained” with the hope that I would one day enjoy recovery or that I should belong to a guild of sorts to embrace and encourage my special sort of braininess. Maybe there’s a compound somewhere out in the Dakotas for folks like me? I just can’t seem to stifle it. It leaks out of me and sometimes that is an interruption to sleep, to work, to family time. I fed the beast within by obtaining a degree in visual communication. I worked in the field until I had my babies. (Boy did things get busy then.) Eventually, I turned to freelance as a creative outlet but much of that was very corporate and only a teeny tiny bit of the work was the fun stuff (Duh, that’s why it was farmed out). So, I decided to create my own means of creating work for myself by founding a 5 and 10k road race for a cause near and dear to me. A race where I was the creative director, designer, brander, marketing guru. That. Was. Awesome... but nothing lasts forever and after three years, and $50,000.00 raised for the cause, my team and I agreed to take a break. 

So here I am leaking creativity again when lo and behold along comes this status update on Facebook from Jessie! 

A new business where friends gather in the venue of their choosing, chat it up and create something beautiful. A business where the guest has already purchased the usable commodity before I show up - genius. The pressure is off the sale and all I need to do is ensure that they feel empowered and accomplished by creating something beautiful with a story behind it. 

They’ll fall deeply and madly in love with their finished craft and the experience, tell all of their friends and book more parties. If I can’t do that with my infectious personality, I should probably retreat to Siberia. And that was it. I signed up.

After a couple of phone calls and a meeting with Jessie and Kelsey, I was ready to host my launch party. I screamed Gild Collective from my social media roof tops and that intrigued my gal pals. (But let me be honest, there’s an art to that. If you oversaturate your contacts, you’ll soon be hearing crickets.) In sending out my first invite, I took a survey to clue me into which craft the girls were most interested in. By linking them to the website they gained further insight to this brand spanking new start up. See, conversation starters in the making.

Side note: In addition to Gild, I am in the midst of a total renovation of a gigantic 1853 victorian in the cutest little town straight out of a Charles Dickens’ novel. My intention is to open it as a community space. A place for people and businesses to host meetings, showers, parties and eventually a B&B. Wouldn’t it be great if a bunch of girls booked my B&B and had a Gild party marathon? 

Ah, the possibilities are endless and the need to connect with your tribe is vital to your spirit.

So, party night… Kelsey delivered my State String Art kits, I provided noshes and tidbits and the guests arrived (in their comfy clothes!!). 

What surprised me was the many girls I welcomed into my home who greeted me with apologies for not being artistic or crafty. I received warnings that I had my work cut out for me. What?! What surprised them was just how artistic and crafty they felt once they dove in. 

There were conversations about tweaking the string art to better personalize it. For example, a state that you visited on vacation along with postcards and pictures, or adding a heart/star to the city of your choice in a separate colored string within the state or how about this one: Do the entire United States and pin flags on all the places you’ve traveled. The juices were flowing along with the praises for a job well done. A kitchen table full of women lifting each other up, that’s good stuff. So that was my launch party. I hosted, I instructed, I knew all of these wonderful people.

That first event sparked some interest and a few weeks later my friend, Lee Ann, hosted a party at her house. She chose the morse code necklace. As an instructor, I believe it’s good practice to have completed the craft your hostess chooses for her party prior to arriving and telling everyone else what to do. I mean, come on, how are you an authority? However, if you aren’t able to do that, by all means, watch the YouTube videos Rachel provides. They are invaluable. The morse code necklace is not a Girl Scout craft, just so you know. The more difficult the craft, the less chit chat, but what it does provide is women helping women. When one guest made it through a tricky knot they were at the ready to help out their neighbor and you know what, that’s huge for building up confidence and connecting with each other. 

I took a picture of each guest holding a small chalkboard with their translated code on it while wearing their new jewelry. No one objected to having their picture taken. They were proud.

My experience with Gild has been nothing short of wonderful. The women who have founded this start up have worked hard and are in touch with their employees in a way I haven’t experienced with any other company. Heck, they all quit their jobs because they believe wholeheartedly in the idea that women need to carve out time to be creative and connected. The least I can do is attend some parties, eat some snacks, drink a glass of wine and show a group of women how capable and creative they really are. And you know what, the benefits I receive from instructing better me. So for now, I’m going to hold off on that ticket to Siberia.

We love you, Laura! Thank you for capturing the spirit of this company SO perfectly. 

 If you are interested in sharing in some of Laura’s creative spirit and kind energy, let us know! Book a party and request her as your instructor.  

[gildcollective]

A GIVEAWAY!! Plus an extensive list of important reasons to celebrate with your friends.

By Rachel Bauer McCreary, Chief Creative Officer

At Gild, we care a LOT about gathering with the amazing women in our lives. So much, in fact, that we decided to found a company that is entirely based on the value of building into our communities.

Even though we spend a ton of time thinking about how to bring women together, we still fall into funks from time to time. You know the funk we’re talking about, right?

It’s the “I haven’t hung out with my friends and had some good old-fashioned fun in WAY too long” funk. 

It’s ok, we’re here to help! 

We created an awesome series of hostess baskets that make getting together with friends easier than ever. Here’s how to WIN it for free:

Step one: Book a party. Step two: win the basket! For the next three weeks, every hostess who books a party is entered into a weekly drawing for one of these awesome baskets. Gourmet food and wine plus adorable cloth napkins, dish towels, and serving bowls will spruce up your home just enough for a gathering of your friends! If you aren’t quite ready to book, let us know you’re interested and we’ll help you from there!

Now that you have decided to host a party, you just need a good reason. Without further adieu...

Gild Collective Presents: The Official List of Reasons to Celebrate with Your Friends over Crafts, in no particular order:

🌈 READING RAINBOW IS ON NETFLIX. My fellow millennials, IT’S TIME TO PARTY.  

💸Your girl got a PROMOTION! She’s a boss and deserves it, but you deserve the chance to celebrate in her honor, too. It’s only fair.

👙Bikini season is over, and you are celebrating because you spent the whole summer feelin’ yourself and NOT worrying what people thought! Amen!

📚Mindy’s new book comes out September 15th. Read it and you will have nonstop conversation for your party a week later!

💡You and your friends have a great new idea for a company to start. Speaking from experience, the best ideas grow when nurtured with craft time... 

👰You survived being a bridesmaid to your new sister in law, who just so happens to watch every wedding reality show known to man religiously and sent in no less than three application videos for Bridezillas. 

👶Babe is sleeping through the night. You are a human being again!

🐱You ordered one of these and now Whiskers is using the loo like a pro. No more scooping? CONFETTI, please!

👓You realized that you don’t have to stick with one pair of glasses every day for the rest of your life. Style freedom!

📝Your professor is going to a conference in the middle of the semester and cancelled class.

🍕There’s a new pizza place in your neighborhood. Rejoice! 

💁You discovered an amazing thread of fashion blogs curated in your city, all on one site. Your work productivity levels just went way up!

💃DWTS premier!!!!!! Or, any episode of Dancing With The Stars. Or any show that you and your friends like. TV is amazing. 

💎You want five pairs of new earrings. You do NOT need a reason to want five new pairs of earrings.  

👯You watched Dancing With The Stars last night, and now you need to practice your moves.

💪You got talked into trying a new workout and did not die in the process. You deserve dessert!

💍Your favorite celebrity (or real life friend) got engaged. 

👟Tennis shoes and Birkenstocks are all the rage right now, and you never have to feel uncomfortable again.

👵  Grey Hair is now in style, so I guess no more touch ups needed? So much extra cash!!!

😃You got your Invisalign removed and you’re feelin’ FRESH.

💅You survived an entire week with the same manicure and did NOT pick it off.

📆It’s a Tuesday, and you just like those.

I have a feeling I forgot a few, but that’s the beauty of the internet- I can always edit! If this list left you feeling inspired (and you want that basket), host a party- your kit is free!

[gildcollective]

Startup guilt: The struggle is real.

By Rachel Bauer McCreary, Chief Creative Officer

👆👆 Pleasantville, AKA Rosemary Beach 👆 👆

Photo credit: www.panamacitybeachrealestatelistings.com

The idyllic scene you see above is where I have spent the last five days, surrounded by family. Last Saturday, my mom, sister, brother-in-law, nephews, and husband made the 11 hour trek across Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama to get to Rosemary Beach, Florida.  This is my first vacation with my mom and sister in 11 years, and my first with my adorable one and four year old nephews. We don’t get to do this much, and it’s pretty darn special to me. Making the plans and booking our beach house back in early spring was exciting: summer was coming, and I was going to get to take a relaxing beach vacation with the people I hold most dear. Life was good. 

I knew that I would be busy working on Gild, but at the time of booking this vacation, The Brandery was just a twinkle in our eye. We were on the “slow and steady” path of building our company, with no plans to accelerate at the level we are doing now that we have been accepted into one of the nation’s top accelerators. When we decided to apply and actually got accepted (one of the best moments of my life, to be sure), my first thought was: “WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING THIS!” My second thought? “What in the hell am I going to do about this family vacation?”

Little did I know, this was my first introduction to Startup Guilt. My first instance of bajillions where I would feel immensely guilty for even thinking of putting my business before the people I love. 

On the first day of the Brandery, I texted my older sister and told her that I wasn’t sure I could do the vacation. The events, the deadlines, the pressure of building building building and growing growing growing... I thought my heart would explode with anxiety with the thought of going away. Her response was  wise, as it always is: “That would make Michael and Ben [the nephews] really sad if you didn’t come. There is wifi in Rosemary Beach.”

That was that. As has been our dynamic of 28 years, my sister generally has the last say. I knew I wasn’t capable of disappointing my nephews to that degree, and I desperately wanted to manage the guilt I was feeling. I had no idea how I would do it, but I imagined something like this: 

Photo cred: www.paramountpr.com

I would be tied to my computer while my family enjoyed margaritas and waves. I knew it wouldn’t be great, but what choice did I have? The closer the trip got, the more anxious I became. I have been in the startup accelerator (and going full-force at growing Gild Collective) for nine weeks, and each week has been more stressful than the last. Every single day I felt guilt over the disappointment I felt I was causing my family and friends: I forget to return texts. I forgot to call my dad on his birthday. I forgot that I told my husband I would be home for dinner and grabbed something quick near the office, leaving him with food that he worked really hard to prepare for me. None of these forgetful behaviors are normal for me. I have a history of putting my friends and family over all other priorities in my life, and the guilt of my behavior pattern changes since founding a startup was starting to eat me alive (or at least keep me up at night). 

Then, as if overnight, it was time to go on vacation. The entire week before, I was a total mess of anxiety. I was going to let my team down, I was going to let my family down, and I was going to earn the reputation in the (relatively small) Cincinnati startup scene as the “founder who takes a week off”- the horror! 

But, you know what? 

I’m here, in this picturesque little beachside town, and I have been able to enjoy it. I have woken up earlier and stayed up later than my family members to do a bit of work here and there, but I have also decidedly not done as much work as I thought I would. I have gained SO much faith in my cofounders, when I didn’t think it was possible to have any more faith in them. But most importantly, I have gained faith in myself and in our company. 

As startup founders, we need to relax, and we need to recharge. I am not going to let anything go that needs to be taken care of immediately (and a few of those things have come up on this trip). I am not going to put our business in danger. 

Kelsey, Jessie, and I have built a strong business in an incredibly short amount of time. So strong, in fact, is our business and our communication that one of us can take a short, well-deserved break to recharge and alleviate some of our “startup guilt”. 

If this is what a company culture for Gild Collective looks like, I am even more proud of this venture than I thought possible. 

Interested in learning more about Gild Collective? Visit us at gildcollective.com. Don’t forget- we just released our new projects and are doing some major giveaways for the next few weeks!