Intuitive Blogger and creator of the Ambitious Mix brand, Misha Mayhand, is known for her go-getter marketing style that encompasses an “Everyday I’m Hustling” type vibe. She’s passionate about helping others tell their stories and has built a business and brand around that. When she’s not blogging, she’s offering media services such as consulting and digital photography to help others further enhance their brand. Misha is the author of two books, her first book titled “Ambition For Sale” is a comprehensive guide that teaches others how to live the Ambitious Lifestyle by stepping out of their comfort zones and taking charge of their desires. Misha’s second book, “Life After 25: Intuitively Me” will be launching April 8, 2017 and she hopes by continuing to share some of her personal life experiences, it’ll help others gain the courage to tell their stories; especially the stories that are the hardest to tell. Read our interview with the lovely Misha below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I’ve always been passionate about journalism even before I knew that it was referred to as such. I love telling stories and naturally grew to love helping others tell their stories. Michigan is not known for having the most opportunities for someone looking to break into the media field as an entry-level worker, which motivated me to create my own opportunities. I was told I’d basically have to move into the middle of nowhere to even find an entry-level job in the journalism field and then to be considered for it. Many of my college peers had done so. Upon leaving college, I wanted to move and take my chances in the field but I could not afford to do so. Thinking fast on my feet, I saw that blogging was making a huge impact in the online world as the “new wave news hub”. I had already started blogging while in college, so I decided to revamp the Ambitious Mix Blog in 2013, redefine its purpose, in hopes that I’d get discovered and more opportunities would come my way. In 2015, I decided to turn the blog into a business after taking the advice of an accounting professional. I had not even thought of making the blog itself an actual business but thank God I took that woman’s advice.
Tell us about your business.
I am actually now a two-time business owner. Woot woot! Ambitious Mix (the brand everyone knows me for) is a platform dedicated to motivating and empowering others to make the necessary changes in their lives that will make them most successful. My primary target is women and so I also strive to feature one woman weekly on the blog to help them share their ambitious journeys with my readers and the world. On my weekly Facebook segment, Get Motivated with Misha, I talk about specific topics with my followers and provide them tips for success while also leaving the door open for Q&A. I also provide free resources as well as paid products and services to help assist my followers and clients in their self-development process. My services range from consultation to coaching while my products include self-help paperback and ebooks as well as my latest Stay Ambitious, Stay Motivated tee. I’m currently working on my second business, Mayhand Marketing, which is an agency dedicated to helping women with small businesses effectively market content for their brand by digging deeper into their stories. I am the lead literary coach over at Mayhand Marketing and I will soon be looking to collaborate with others and bring on additional staff to help run my programs.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
Yes. Currently, I am running a promo for anyone that plans to attend the Life After 25: Intuitively Me Book Launch party. For every book launch ticket purchased, the customer is eligible to receive 25% off a Stay Ambitious, Stay Motivated tee.
List awards/certifications/
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
- I have two books published and in print
Where is your business based?
Both of my business are based in Michigan, but I’ll be expanding the brands soon when I move to San Diego. So we’re expanding to the West Coast next!
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
The first few steps I took to get my business up and running was to file paper work to incorporate and register Ambitious Mix as a business entity. Next was to obtain an EID (Employer Identification Number) for financial and tax purposes. Lastly, was figuring out how I would serve my target audience. I came up with products and services to offer my target market and then created another website where my clients could purchase what they needed from me.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Honestly, one must balance the traditional way of marketing with the new age way of marketing. All in all, consistency is key. In today’s world of instant gratification and overstimulation you must be proactive and you must be visible often. Get your business/brand involved. Attend events, do sponsorships, vendor at events, post on social media often and every chance that you get you should be telling someone about your business and at the very least leaving them with a business card (this is also known as pitching) because how else will people know about it? Don’t be afraid to invest in advertising either. Being visible is super important when it comes to raising awareness. Most importantly, be relatable. Don’t be afraid to add your personal flair to your business. That’s the best part about being a business owner, you business should directly reflect your style. Being relatable builds trust amongst your target audience and clients.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
My biggest challenge over the last few years has been being consistent. I allowed some of life’s happenings to distract me and in turn there have been several times where my blog went idle as well as business. Yes, we have to make time to live but we also have a certain obligation to commit to our purpose and see it through to the end.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I’ve learned to make time no matter what comes up, I have to make time. During those time where I let things fall to the way side, I was not truly happy. I tried to convince myself that I had everything that I needed but after some serious self-reflecting and remembering my WHY, I knew it was time to “stop having fun” and to get serious about what I’ve been working towards this whole time. I was not feeling fulfilled despite all the “living” I was doing and I knew why. So, I pushed myself to get back in the game and I haven’t slowed down since.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
Honestly, it probably sounds cliche, but prayer and meditation. I cannot stress enough how motivating your mindset and programming your self to think in a certain way is the key to staying motivated. It all starts with your mind. If you’re constantly thinking negative, then negative things will happen and so it’s positive vibes only for me. I work really hard to block out negative influences and I’m very particular about who I allow into my mental and physical personal space. If your vibes are shady then I can’t allow you to occupy too much of my time.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I am able to disguise myself from my competitors because they do not exist to me. I truly believe we were all put on this earth for specific reason and no one can take that away from you. What’s for you is for YOU. Yes, there are many bloggers out there who do some of the same things I do but they’re not ME and I can guarantee that they’re not reaching all of the same people that I am. That’s where being relatable comes into play. There is always going to be someone that you just vibe with more than everyone else and there is nothing that those other people can do about it. It’s a part of human nature. This is why I’m not into competing. Naturally, I want us all to win. All I can do is make sure my brand is visible amongst the others so that I’m not getting lost upon those that really need me and are looking for me.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
The best advice I’ve received lately is to just enjoy the rest of my 20s and I plan on doing just that while living in purpose. It’s going well so far. 🙂
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
My advice to other entrepreneurs is to realize that entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. I think many glamorize the idea of it, but the only way you can sustain is with hard work and dedication. You have to be prepared to be committed 100%. There will be sleepless nights, surprise attacks from those close to you, etc. You have to be able to keep it moving if you really believe in your business. If you’re not ok with the fact that you may have to be your biggest support system, then it’s not for you. You may be tempted to get discouraged as you’re presented with setbacks but trust me, it’s all apart of the process. It won’t be easy, but if you can wade the choppy waters, it’s definitely worth it. Seriously consider these things before making the leap.
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
I love Canva! I’ve been using it for a couple of years now and have gotten so much better since I first started using it. It allows me to create beautiful engaging graphics for my social networks and I’ve even created branded marketing materials using this software system. There is a free and paid version. It is my absolute favorite and has helped me save money tremendously when it comes to graphic design.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Facebook Pages The Ambitious Mix Blog, Mayhand Marketing
Personal Facebook Misha Mayhand
Facebook Group The Motivated Moguls
Instagram @ambitiousmixblog, @shopambitiousmix, @Mayhandmarketing
Snapchat: Misha_Motivates
Website www.ambitiousmix.com, www.ambitiousmixllc.com
Email ambitiousmixllc@gmail.com, mayhandmarketing@gmail.com
Hashtags #StayAmbitious #StayMotivated #LifeAfter25 #IntuitivelyMe #IntuitiveMimiSays #AmbitionForSale #MotivateYourMindset #BreakFreeFromJoyGuilt
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
I have been sharing with everyone how much Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” has transformed my life and my thought process.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
Currently, I’m focused on gaining more publicity and furthering my reach so I’ve been reading a lot and sitting in on a lot of webinars as well as regularly attending networking events.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
My goals for the next few months are to register my businesses in the state of California, set up shop so I can still assist my Michigan clientele remotely, continue doing book signing events and land more speaking engagements.