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January 12, 2021

Growing as a Small Business Owner

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Patience. Humility. Vulnerability. Confidence. Endurance. These are the continuous lessons I am learning as I grow my small business.

As many of you already know, I started my own business, Brave World Media, a branding, marketing, and communications agency in 2017 and have been chugging along ever since, growing my team, my client roster, and somewhat quietly kicking ass. My goal with starting the company was to impact change in media, both online and off, in a more positive and diverse way. We are outspoken, creative, and brave in our work, our voice, and our stance on everything from the arts to social justice. We’ve been doing this work and influencing change with those who partner with us for some time now, and well, it was time for the next step.

It’s been TWO YEARS since I set out on the path to having my business certified as a Woman-Minority-owned business in New York State and today, it finally happened! (Note: In order to qualify as a woman – and/ or minority-owned certified business, among many other qualifications and criteria, a woman and/or minority needs to hold the majority of the stake in the company. And you will need to prove that is the case in more ways than one.)

On one hand, the system is terribly backlogged. On the other, COVID.

I wanted to share the lessons I learned from this experience for any other entrepreneur out there working through or hoping to work through the certification process.

It helps to have a portfolio of work and reputation established – The application and review process is intentionally not easy. One reason is bureaucracy, another, I learned, is that because so many white/men often try to con the system established to help women and minorities in business by paying women and minorities to act as fronts for a business not owned by either, the level of inquiry and background checks are intense and meant to cast away any doubt that the business is not one’s own.

People looking to apply for certification need to have all their documentation in order and be established as a legitimate business, with all state and federal credentials and a proven growth track record – in other words, the certification is a wonderful opportunity for your business, but your business has to have already proven to merit it by having done the work as an established company.

Don’t try to do it alone – There are plenty of groups out there that will gladly charge you A LOT of money to “support” you and still leave you with plenty to figure out on your own. The process is confusing, tedious, stressful, and frustrating. But, lucky for me I wasn’t alone. Nancy Kirby and the rest of the IncubatorWorks team, a business incubator located in New York’s Southern Tier, have been supporting and helping me as I grow my business for some time now, and this experience was no different. They really held my hand through this process and kept me from giving up – because there were times when I wasn’t sure if it was all worth it. So many businesses rely on one source of support – whether they be books, or conferences, or intuition. I think that all those are great, but if you are fortunate to connect with an incubator and experienced mentors, that it can really help set you up for success. It is a lie that successful businesses and entrepreneurs got to where they got on their own. It’s a fallacy that paints business ownership as attainable to only a select few. Ask for help, and accept it often.

Checking my pride and my patience, again – It’s funny because I have learned that successful entrepreneurship means checking your pride over and over again. I don’t mean allowing yourself to be abused or disrespected, but knowing that there is a time and place for everything. In this experience, I had to control my temper when reviewers told me that it seemed more likely that Brave World Media was my husband’s company rather than my own. His skill set, they believed, just seemed to really be the thing that added value to our company. I suspect they saw his career as a graphic designer to be not only something they understood better but also more worthy of an investment than my soft skills in public and media relations. I didn’t say much at the time, other than to politely disagree – and provide detailed evidence of how my work and leadership in the company is actually what clients seek us out for. I didn’t say anything until now.

Time and place.

In the end, after all that work and all that time, much of which I couldn’t have survived without the incredible support of IncubatorWorks, I can’t express what it feels like to see this in my email (images cropped):

Our “little agency that could” has been working so incredibly hard, and we have a wonderful team of creatives. 2020, with all its challenges, really pushed us creatively and bonded us as a team. Small business ownership is both exciting and scary and the best thing I have ever done. There is so much more to it than making money – or rather, money is good and necessary, but it’s not my motivation and I think that makes me a better leader, more passionate about my work, and way more excited about my company.

It takes a village, and a lot of confidence in your work, your skills, and yourself. Most importantly, the learning never, ever ends. And what you don’t know, leave to those who do. Vulnerability is not weakness, and knowing your limitations is a lot wiser than ignoring them.

To learn more about IncubatorWorks, visit their website (designed by our agency!) or follow them on social @Incubatorworks. They are hosting a 10-week online business course to help entrepreneurs and small businesses launch and move forward, especially after 2020. You can learn more about it here.

To see what Brave World Media is all about, check out our website and follow us on social at @BraveWorldMedia. If you have any questions about small business ownership, or Brave World Media specifically, please contact us through the BWM website, or in the comment section below!

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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Every time I’m in NYC I feel both a longing for Every time I’m in NYC I feel both a longing for it and a relief to not be living here full time.

I love that there are still communities holding on to remaining close knit, authentic, and supportive of each other. Nowhere anywhere can compete with the diversity - food, people, languages - all of it. 😭

The access to creativity…and if you come in the spring (or in the fall) it’s magic. 

But…there is so much that remains inaccessible to so many. The inequality and economic disparities are glaring and any sense of balance is a dream, with so many living paycheck to paycheck trying to get their heads above water.

Don’t get me wrong. I love it here. I miss it, and feel so damn lucky that I can come and get my fix, see family, visit with friends any time I want without a hassle. It is my city and I’d be mad if someone talked sh*t about it 😂😂 But I get it. It’s tough. But that’s why I love fellow city folks too, because we’re tougher.

Grateful for everything life in the Finger Lakes has gifted us. We remain so happy to have made the move and have built such a dream life there. And also that my city is a short drive away. ♥️

#nyc #lifeinnyc
New York City moment: This poor hawk was just tr New York City moment: 

This poor hawk was just trying to have its breakfast when a large audience not only gathered to watch it, but also proceeded to mislabel it calling it an eagle. The insult. 😂 

One lady to her male partner:
 Her: “Omg. I didn’t know eagles ate other birds!”
Male partner: “Of course eagles do! They are predators!”
Me: 💀💀

#nyclife #nycmoment #nyc
Last night I explored the @tinbuilding located in Last night I explored the @tinbuilding located in the historic South St Seaport of Manhattan on Pier 17. 

This 53,000-square foot, two-story market really is a beautiful culinary destination. Shop for everything from delightful sweets, unique spices and aromatics, olive oils, coffee, and other artisan goods. Eat everything from vegan to seafood, pastas, and meats. Or, like I did, spend time with friends at any one of their eateries.

This marketplace opened in September 28, 2022, by French Chef and restaurant owner Jean-Georges Vongerichten and is helping to bring new life to a beloved NYC neighborhood that has continuously worked to recover after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.

I absolutely indulged in shopping at this market, loved my dining experience at Frenchman’s Dough, and can’t wait to go back.

#nyceats #upscalemarketplace #tinbuilding #iloveny
This photo is 12 years old. Hahaha...can you tell? This photo is 12 years old. Hahaha...can you tell? This memory. I had just started blogging not too long before (2008!!!)...and was already experiencing so many accolades, a surge of opportunities, success, and growth. I honestly could not believe my life then; I had entered this space so blindly. I just wanted to share my insights with my family, not realizing it would reach so many more. And I certainly had NO idea how far it would take my family AND me. My goodness.

I recently sent my CV...yup, my whole resume, to someone who requested it, and in doing so, I seriously thought, "Oh, they're not going to think I've accomplished enough in my professional life." Instead, in the following interview, they expressed being in awe of all I have done and continue to do. "You are BUSY!" Though these hardworking-but-never-hard-enough immigrant genes don't always allow me to appreciate all I have accomplished, photos like these take me back to this moment that truly says, "Damn, girl. YOU DID THAT." Thank you to all the readers and followers who uplifted me and my work over these 10+ years and continue to do so. It's been an incredible adventure!
If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext

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