Alexandra Nicole Nolan on How to Launch a Successful Business

Businesswoman, blogger, influencer, and first-time author Alexandra Nicole Nolan has had a noteworthy career as an entrepreneur. After quitting her corporate job, she found purpose in building and selling several successful small businesses. She describes herself as an unconventional entrepreneur which is also the title of her new book coming out in March. 

Ahead, Nolan who is a member of the SHE Media Collective, shares her tips on how aspiring entrepreneurs and creators can pursue their work-life passion and succeed while doing what they love. 

Tell us a little bit about your blog City Chic Living and your entrepreneurship ventures

After graduating from the University of Memphis, I worked in corporate America for six years. I loved my job but deep down, I knew that something was missing. That internal yearning ultimately helped me to decide to resign from my corporate career and begin building my small business portfolio! Since then I have had so much fun launching my blog City Chic Living, a boutique, cosmetic line, fashion line, bath, and body line. I also work with aspiring entrepreneurs as a consultant and help them achieve their work-life dream. And most recently, my book just launched!

What inspired you to write this book entrepreneurship?

As with anything that you build, there are highs and lows, but the main thing that I have come to realize over my 12 years as an entrepreneur is that high business volatility is almost always due to market changes. These types of changes have ultimately evolved small business strategies as we know them today. That is what lead me to write a book, The Unconventional Entrepreneur.

In recent years, the business landscape has changed drastically and this has left old strategies stale. There is little to no literature about the evolution of the entrepreneur and yet, entrepreneurs and small business owners are disrupting various industries with their innovative ideas, business processes, products, and services. Cultivating the mindset of the unconventional entrepreneur is essential for a successful business plan and achieving the work-life dream.

 

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Unconventional entrepreneurs pursue their work-life passion and place a high value on making a lasting impact on their family, friends, and communities. That’s why I wanted to develop a publication that is not only a book, but also a guide for current and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to navigate the new way of business and learn successful strategies for discovering their skillset, branding themselves, and monetizing their worth. I am so excited that we have officially launched the pre-sale of my book, The Unconventional Entrepreneur for anyone who wants to be first on the list to get theirs!

What’s one shocking insight you gained from running a business?

During my time managing people, I learned that there are so many different types of people! Managing people when owning stores was probably the hardest part of my job. Everyone is motivated differently and inspired by different things. As a manager, you have to be adaptable and take precious time to learn about each and every employee to ensure that their needs are met and that they have a happy and healthy work-life. It was a challenge but it helped me to grow to be more empathetic and to slow down and take my time in building relationships with others.

What are your go-to productivity tools?

I am old school when it comes to a planner and cannot live without my Day Designer. Every event, to-do, appointment, you name it, goes in my planner. Yes, I write it all down! My husband is more technologically advanced in his work processes and can’t believe that I write everything in a planner. I just feel like it is not real unless it is down on a piece of paper that I can hold. I guess that is also why I am writing a tangible book instead of just an e-book. 

 

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How do you stay focused and motivated throughout the day?

My morning process sets the tone for my day. I always take a little time to do something for myself, such as 30 minutes to sit in silence and have a cup of coffee, an invigorating clay mask, a read from a daily devotional. This time always motivates me and inspires me to hit the ground running when it comes to my daily work.

What do you do for fun when you’re not creating content?

I love movie nights with my boys. We will all snuggle up in my bed, eat popcorn and watch kid movies. I even share some of the classic kid movies like Free Willy, with my boys. It takes me back to the good old days and for a few hours, I too feel like a kid.

What’s your current favorite book, podcast, or website?

I love the book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

What are you looking forward to in the coming year?

I am so excited about the launch of my book, The Unconventional Entrepreneur. I have it available for presale in March and we will be shipping the finished books in September. 

Preorder a copy of The Unconventional Entrepreneur here. 

 

The SHE Media Collective helps publishers, content creators and entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses with dedicated support for managing ads, brand partnerships, and more. Apply now to join our mission-driven platform.