Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. Something about the first day of the month falling on a Monday just hits different, right? It feels like an extra fresh start—a new week full of endless possibilities. It’s like hitting the reset button with a fresh perspective. So, are you ready to get sh*t done with me?

Today we’re covering 👇

• Lessons from failing the first time around

• Your guide to mastering short form video

• Tea from from last week

• $5,000 small biz grant for US founders

• Lots of remote female-founded job ops! 🏝️

Lessons in Failure: failing the first time around 🌟

I am beyond excited to kick off this special mini-series on the podcast, all about embracing failure and flipping it into your greatest superpower.

Take Caroll Lee, the powerhouse founder of Provenance Meals. Her first business venture, a market in Brooklyn, hit some major roadblocks. Picture this: heavy investment, a partnership fallout, and financial chaos. It was, as Caroll puts it, pretty traumatising. But here’s where it gets inspiring— Caroll didn’t let this stop her: she turned it into her secret weapon for success.

Fast forward to 2012, when Caroll started Provenance Meals. This time, she was armed with $4,500 and a game plan to grow wisely without breaking the bank. No fancy storefronts or splurging on marketing; she focused on learning, resilience, and the power of word-of-mouth. Here are her takeaways:

• Start Small and Smart 🐢  begin with a manageable investment, focus on essential needs and scale gradually

• Learn Relentlessly 🧽 use every experience, especially failures, as learning opportunities, soak up knowledge like a sponge

• Build Slowly 🚧 grow your brand through word-of-mouth and minimal but strategic marketing, let your customers be your best marketer

• Stay Resilient 💪 Don’t let setbacks define you, use them as stepping stones to refine your approach and build a stronger business

What I love to remember, there’s no such thing as endings; only beginnings.

Listen to our mini-series opener on the podcast →

Mastering Short-Form Video 🤳

Creating short-form video content can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re a TikTok newbie or a seasoned content gal, this week we talked all the steps steps you can take to increase your chances of going ✨viral✨ (following a clients’ 3M view hit!). Here’s how:

1. Research and Identify Trends: Start by making a list of accounts and creators that inspire you - your dream 100 💭. Look for videos that have gone viral and analyze why they worked. Pay attention to the comments, the hooks, and the overall content (this research phase is crucial as it helps you understand what’s working in your niche!!).

2. Test and Iterate: Once you have your list, start experimenting with different content styles. If a video doesn’t perform well, try a new approach the next day. Consistency is key, but so is flexibility. Don’t be afraid to switch things up.

3. Leverage Tools Like TikTok’s Creator Insights: TikTok’s Creator Insights tool is a goldmine. It shows what people are searching for but can’t find content on, acting like an SEO tool. Use this information to create content that is in demand, giving you a better chance of hitting those high view counts.

4. Develop a Posting Routine: Find a routine that works for you. Whether you batch create content on Sundays or prefer a daily posting schedule, routine is vital. Set aside dedicated time in your calendar to create and post videos. This habit will ensure you stay on track and continue building your presence.

5. Build a B-Roll Library: Start filming everything. Collect videos and photos of your daily activities, products, or anything related to your brand. This B-roll footage can be used to quickly create montage videos and jump on trends.

Listen to more insights on the podcast →

• In super exciting news, PepTalkHer has acquired Mettacool!

• What is the number one thing investors are tracking?

• What the people are saying about Glossier’s “re-branding”

• Sensi.Ai grabs $31M Series B to monitor seniors 24/7

• Snap to pay $15M in discrimination & harassment settlement

• Slate Brands introduces fragrance-focused Modern Magic

• Everything you need to know about Vogue World: Paris

• Very sneaky, I see what you’re doing there Shein

• Greece is moving some workers toward a 6-day workweek

• Sha'Carri Richardson tripped and still won first place 👏

• Age really is just a number for start-up success

This week's grant...

ELEVATE TOGETHER™ is giving small businesses in America the chance to win up to $5,000 to power their business | APPLY BY JULY 5th.

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

& ways I can help you this week…

REMOTE 🏝️

• (US) Sustainable period-care brand Saalt is looking for a full-time Social Media Manager & Content Creator | APPLY HERE.

• (AUS) Ample Folk, thoughtfully designed by plus-size products, is hiring a Marketing Manager to join the team | APPLY HERE.

• (US) Beauty brand Alpyn Beauty is looking for a Marketing and Social Media Intern to join for 15 hours per week | APPLY HERE.

LA 🌇

• Boom Beauty is hiring a full-time Social Media Coordinator (great opp for a recent college grab!) in the greater LA area | APPLY HERE.

SoCal 🌞

• ILIA Beauty, your best skin bottled, is on the look-out for a Data & Analytics Lead to join the team on a hybrid basis | APPLY HERE.

That’s a wrap, folks! Love it for you that you made it all the way down here 🫶