Hopeworks’ Post

I started working on Roody full time in 2019. I was thinking today what I would do differently if I was to go back and start again. The list I came up with is below: 1. I'm not sure I'd start from nothing again - I'd try to buy a business in this industry that had some revenue coming in every month and grow from there. It felt like a long time to get that first bit of momentum. 2. I'd join a start-up / accelerator programme as early as possible. I struggled doing something on my own for the first couple of years as I didn't know anyone with their own business - peer to peer learning would definitely have helped hugely. 3. I think I'd probably seek out a co-founder. I really didn't want to be answerable to anyone when I left my job but if I had found the right partner, we'd definitely have grown more quickly. 4. I'd hire earlier - I didn't want to stretch the company too early so I waited a year before I hired anyone but that was a mistake. I should have hired earlier and continued to hire. It would have forced me to find the work. When I look at these 4 points, 3 relate to people. You need the right people to grow quickly - a more assertive approach to finding people would have moved us forward a lot. Lesson learned 😀 👉 Follow for more

I just saw a chart on Instagram which said that motherhood hurts careers 🔪 Motherhood actually boosted my career. The year that my daughter was born was the year that I decided to grow beyond being a PR freelancer.. because I realised that I couldn't do it all on my own with very little time as a new mum 👶 It was the year that I hired my first team member.. It was also the year that Grow Public Relations started to grow Shortly after, my husband Kelvin Teo, CDME joined me to take on finance and HR at Grow PR when his Internet marketing business wasn't doing too well. I always tell people its super risky to run a business because we don't really know exactly how much our revenue is gonna be next month etc However, Im very thankful for this business that is able to provide not just for our family ..but, also for our team. 🧑🤝🧑 I attended a recent Super Scaling session with Derrick Teo who reminded us that.. there will always be money to earn but ultimately, we as entrepreneurs are responsible for our people.. in providing for them, their families once they join us. In these unpredictable times with massive layoffs, this is also a reminder to myself to hire responsibility and continue building our runway.. Because we wanna be here for a long time and not just for a good time 😉 #entrepreneurship #sme #startup #publicrelations

When did you lose a job you loved (firing, laid-off, etc.) only to find a better one afterwards? I'm asking for a 30 year-old friend who loves what he does but is facing probably lay-offs this year. Give details please! #jobloss #joblove #fired #laidoff #reinvention #reinventyourself #reinvent #startingover #rethinking #unexpected #changeofdirection

One year ago I was laid off very suddenly along with a lot of other very talented, wonderful people. I didn't know what I wanted to do in the wake of the news. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back to working for someone else, I wasn't sure if I had what it took to start my own business, I wasn't certain of anything. I had been sitting on a business idea and a business name for many years, and while none of this happened on my timeline, it was also the kick in the ass I needed to figure out what I wanted to build for myself. About a month after being laid off, I got my ducks in a row and I started Hard Copy Media to help businesses create impactful, story-driven video content. In the last year there have been so many sleepless nights. There have been great months, bad months, stress, anxiety, uncertainty, self doubt, certainty, clarity, happiness, and every other emotion in-between. But I wouldn't do anything differently. Despite the constant uncertainties inherent in business, there is an immense amount of freedom and peace of mind in knowing that I am the only one accountable for the performance of my company, I am the only one accountable selecting who we do business with, I am the only one accountable for how we represent ourselves, and I am the only one accountable for how we treat our people. Embracing this ownership is the greatest gift I've experienced in the last year. #mindsetmatters #layoffs #entrepreneurship #mondaythoughts

How to Survive Your First Week As a Laid-Off Bum... Well, I did it! One week after "the meeting," and I'm still alive and kicking (and looking mighty dapper, if I may say). How'd I pull it off? 1. I got comfortable with discomfort. 😱 I'm talking fear, self-doubt, anger, blame - all the gross stuff a layoff dredges up. But then here on top of it is this shouty voice telling me I shouldn't be dealing with all that discomfort. Just shove it down and get a move on. I know from experience that doesn't work. So I had to come face-to-face with those grimy emotions and acknowledge that they came from little-old me. And that's okay. Besides... inner peace is nice, but it doesn't get 💩 done. 2. I ventured back out of my shell. 🐚 Normally, I'm not all that social of a person, but a layoff is no time to be self-isolating. Fortunately, wonderful people like Nishant Goel, Donna K., Cristina Iosef, Thomas Jackson and many others here at the Linqued Inn have been highly supportive. As much as I kvetch about the Inn, there are plenty of good folks who aren't just out to pitch their offers. And I've even been venturing out in real life, too! Here's a rare sighting of me in the sunlight (indirect, but whatevz). 3. I'm "hemming the tailor's pants." 👖 My resume looked like 💩 . So does my website. My LinkedIn summary is out of date. And for the love of Tommy Chong, please do NOT go look up my FB business page. In other words, what's out there right now isn't the best representation of what I do for business owners. So while I have a little "down time," I'm slowly and methodically fixing all of it. After all, a good online presence IS confidence. And confidence attracts the best clients. So yeah, that's what I've been up to. Any tips to add to the list? (Don't tell me to hydrate, though... I firmly maintain that coffee IS hydration.) #copywriting #entrepreneurship

Why do I believe side gigs / hustles have a bigger value than the one we often hear people talk about? I’ve come to the realization that many people advocate for side hustles and how they are transforming the landscape of modern entrepreneurship—and I completely agree. With the current layoffs, AI becoming a part of our daily routines, etc., a lot of people are taking this road. But on the flip side, the messages I`m seeing are usually something like this: - “You can easily make $100/day.” - “You’re missing out on $150 with spending 10 min per day.” ... you get the point. For me, side hustles have a deeper meaning than money. 1. Seeking extended solutions to problems I cannot solve at work. Side hustles allow me to tackle challenges and explore solutions that I might not have the opportunity to address in my main job. 2. Deep diving into a topic of interest and learning a long the way Knowing there is no instant financial benefit, I take it as a "leap of knowledge", which I can eventually harvest later. 3. Learning to reach out for help Especially if it’s something I’m not super expert at or need a further validation. This expands my networking opportunities. 4. The unknown road ahead. - Will it become a full-time job? - Will it turn into a startup or bootstrap business? - Will it fail? I just love that one. It teaches me one thing - to move on. #sidehustle #entrepreneurship

I recall a moment when a laid-off employee spoke to me with great anxiety and shame over being laid off. It’s a situation where people often experience self-doubt, feeling as though they are no longer productive. In response, All I could have just said to him, You are not part of it because you don’t belong there. When someone pushes you away, it means the universe doesn’t want you to be there. ✅ Your job being done signifies an upliftment to a higher level, not merely about money, but about your soul being elevated for the upcoming experiences✅ Share/ Repost if you feel people need to read this. #laidoff #culture #positivity #anxiety #stressmanagement #startups #layoffs #spirituality #spiritual #positiveenvironment #workplacestress #stress #positiveculture

Job security is gone. And that realization is liberating.  I've lost count of the competent, smart and hardworking people I know personally affected by layoffs. With AI disruption, this trend may only worsen. While this sounds grim, I see a great opportunity to reclaim more control over our lives by doing the following: 1. Start a Side Hustle Working on a side hustle will restore a sense of control that is often missing when your livelihood depends on a single job. If it’s inspired by an activity you genuinely enjoy, doing it consistently won’t be hard. And with consistency, monetization opportunities will reveal themselves. 2. Spend consciously Start a simple practice of asking: what is the intention for making this purchase? Before I quit my job, I often bought things just to feel something or to impress others. Asking this question helped me cut my personal expenses by half and I wish I'd started asking sooner. *** I write actionable steps to come up with your next side hustle in the link below. 

In the wake of recent layoffs, many professionals find themselves navigating the uncertain waters of job hunting. It's a time filled with challenges, yet it also opens the door to opportunities—such as starting a side hustle. A side hustle doesn't just offer a potential financial buffer; it can transform this period of transition into one of growth and learning. Here's why considering a side hustle could be a silver lining during your job search: Skill Development: Diving into a side hustle allows you to refine old skills and develop new ones. This can make you more marketable to future employers and might even open the doors to career paths you hadn't considered. Networking Opportunities: Launching a side hustle often requires reaching out to new people, whether for sales, partnership, or mentorship. Each connection is a potential lead to a job opportunity or a valuable addition to your professional network. Financial Stability: Although it may start small, a side hustle can provide a welcome financial cushion, reducing stress and allowing you to be more selective about your next full-time role. Boosting Your Resume: Tangible achievements from your side hustle demonstrate initiative, entrepreneurship, and the ability to self-motivate—qualities that are highly attractive to employers. Well-being and Confidence: Taking control of your circumstances by starting a side hustle can boost your psychological well-being and restore confidence during a period that might otherwise feel dominated by rejection and uncertainty. Remember, the best side hustle is one that aligns with your interests, skills, and the amount of time you can commit. Whether it’s freelance writing, virtual tutoring, e-commerce, or consulting, what’s most important is taking that first step. To those navigating job transitions right now, remember you're not alone. This could be an unexpected opportunity to explore passions and diversify your income. If you've embarked on a side hustle during your job search, I'd love to hear about your experience and any advice you might have for others considering the same path. #JobSearch #SideHustle #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking

Want to hear something kind of ironic? I was once laid off from startup whose mission was to help people who were laid off find new jobs 😂 6 months later and honestly it feels good to be in a place where I can find some humor in this! I've been actually reflecting a lot recently...mainly about how truly grateful I am that I was laid off. [crowd raises eyebrows in questioning shock] Here's why → It gave me the space I needed to actually dive 100% in to building my own businesses. Beforehand, I was only ever half in...not making progress...looking for shortcuts...quitting and restarting often. But thanks to God, I was given a gift in unemployment. Not a day has gone by where I haven't been building. Even on the days with no traction, no "likes", no sales, crickets....I show up for my audience and for my business. Only because of this conviction have I been able to finally see results, and a semblance of what the payoffs of hard work can really look like. And guess what? I'm no where near being out of the woods, nor do I want to be. I am going to keep clawing, and grinding because after 6 months of consistency, I can SEE it's all working. See, most people give up too soon to even see the first glimpse of "success". Most people don't have a blueprint to follow, mentor, support, or accountability. Most people don't know how to start building an online presence, or a personal brand. Most don't know how to start laying the foundation to be able to pivot to Solopreneur CEO. So how do you start? The very first thing you can do, today, right now, is start with the most simplest of actions right on Linkedin. Repost someone, share meaningful thoughts, leave genuine comments, tag friends in comments who might find something interesting, send a connection request to someone. Follow Halle Bordson for more 🤠 → I'm looking forward to helping even more people go from 9-5er to Solopreneur CEO in 2024 💃