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Aligning Your Business With Purpose & Passion
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I Just Made My First Million (My 10 Biggest Lessons)
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Free Instagram Captions to (Ethically) Swipe
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Do Not Quit. You Are Closer Than You Think
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Imagine this: you try to log in to your Instagram account, and you see this error message “INSTAGRAM: ACCOUNT NOT FOUND”. Instagram is NOT working. What do you do?
In 2021…that was the reality facing 70% of businesses that rely on social media to stay in touch with their customers. Millions of users logged into Instagram that morning only to see the message “page not found”. I’m sure you remember when Facebook crashed and took Instagram, Messenger, and Whatsapp down with it.
INSTAGRAM NOT WORKING
Between 11:40 AM and 6:30 PM, social media was simply…gone. No explanation, no way for us to access our own accounts.
In those 7 hours, Facebook lost tens of millions of dollars, but it was a huge wake-up call for us small business owners. Because it’s not a matter of “if” that will happen again. It’s when. And that’s why it’s crucial to the survival of your business in this “new internet age” that you move your customer list to a platform you 100% control, such as email.
WHY YOU NEED A BETTER PLAN
Social media is an amazing tool, but as small business owners, we need to protect ourselves so that we don’t go from having a thriving business to being closed overnight. Now, I know that may sound terrifying, and unfortunately, it is the reality when you build your business dependent on social media with no real way to get that audience on a list you own.
You probably already feel the hardship of using social media for your business when you find yourself struggling to reach your audience organically. The simple fact that you’re not 100% in control there should be reason enough for you to create a marketing strategy for your business that works with (or without) social media.
ALGORITHM-PROOF MARKETING STRATEGY
I’ve created a simple and completely FREE training so that you can easily get started today. The same strategy I’ve used to build a list of 70,000+ loyal subscribers.
Are you ready?
Give me 15 minutes, and I’ll give you a marketing strategy that works. I’m willing to bet that after you watch it, you’ll realize just how powerful it can be for your business too!
Most importantly you’ll learn how to create a marketing strategy that doesn’t only depend on using social media. You’ll never have to fear seeing that dreaded INSTAGRAM: ACCOUNT NOT FOUND message without a real plan in place to reach your audience.
Ready for more? Join my newsletter and be the first to know about new articles published on the blog, business tips, and of course, all the best strategies and free resources. There’s a reason this list is 70,000 strong!
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Ready for some FREE Instagram captions to (ethically) swipe? Tailor these to your audience and offer, and watch your engagement increase! You see, I believe in helping my fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners as much as I possibly can. That’s why I’m giving you 7 free IG captions from my Wordsmith membership for FREE!
So swipe away! Tailor these to your audience and offer, and save yourself from the dreaded blinking cursor on a blank page while you’re struggling to come up with yet another social media post.
There aren’t any strings attached – not even an opt-in to click on!
It’s just my way of saying “thank you” for being here.
So here are your FREE IG captions:
INSTAGRAM CAPTION #1
Well, hello, new friends! It’s been a minute since I introduced myself. I’m [name and title]. When I’m not chatting with everyone here, you can find me [insert favorite aspect of the job] or [favorite thing to do outside of work].
The community we have here is one of my favorite parts of this job because it allows me to really feel like I know so many of you—even if we’re hundreds of miles apart.
INSTAGRAM CAPTION # 2
Do you ever have those moments where you just wake up and think “is this real life” in a good kind of way? Today was one of those mornings and I really made a point to stop and reflect.
It’s amazing what a moment of gratitude can do—especially when my next step is to dive back into the work that makes it all possible!
**[Optional: Insert explainer as to how this business/career has impacted your life.]
INSTAGRAM CAPTION #3
Instagram vs. reality. In an effort to remind you that Instagram is not a full picture of *real life*, here’s what [what’s in the photo, e.g. “work” or “my desk”] actually looks like. No styling, no curation—just the real deal. [Option to talk about what a typical (work/desk/etc.) looks like.]
It’s so easy to start comparing our real life to what we see posted online and forget that it’s just the very little polished pieces that people typically share online.
We need to remember that those messy moments in life and business are exactly what makes life so beautiful. Take a moment to appreciate those little mundane moments you have throughout your day.
INSTAGRAM CAPTION #4
I still remember [landing my first client/making my first sale/etc.] like it was yesterday. Even though I had always known what I wanted to do and believed I could do it, that early moment of validation meant everything to me. I took it as a sign that I was on the right path and that I should keep going—so I did!
From there, I began planning bigger and better things for my business like [a few examples of how your business developed/evolved in the early days]. And here we are!
INSTAGRAM CAPTION #5
“[Review of product or service].”
Tell me this isn’t the best way to start the day!? Thank you so much for the kind words [client, customer name]! It seriously put a smile on my face when I read it this morning.
Now I’m even more excited to get to the office and work on [what you’re currently working on]!
INSTAGRAM CAPTION #6
Starting my own business has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I love what I do, and I know my clients appreciate it as well. That’s why this business is more than just work to me; it’s also an extension of my passion, and it feels like I’m doing exactly what I was born to do. And now, with your support, I can do even more! Thank you so much for being part of this journey with me.
INSTAGRAM CAPTION #7
[Insert product or service] is one of my very favorites. Why? Well because [insert details of why you love helping clients with this product or service]!
As one recent [client/customer] said in a review, [insert some kind words from a review specific to this product.]
If you’re interested in [Buying/hiring] then be sure to click the link in my bio to learn more!
BONUS CAPTION:
Oh my goodness, just when I thought that the [best-selling product or service] couldn’t do any better, you guys just proved me wrong by sending some referrals my way!
This is still my most popular offering and I am just so happy you all find it so valuable. If you’re looking to [insert what this product or service will help with], then please click the link in my bio to get started! I can’t wait for you to try it out.
HOW TO USE THESE FREE INSTAGRAM CAPTIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Have fun using these, and watch your engagement increase! But if you’re not sure how to customize these captions for your business, I’ve got you covered. I created a guide specifically to help you (quickly) learn how to tailor captions so they sound like they were written from you directly to your ideal customers. (You can read my guide by clicking here.) Need more than just 7 captions? Let me keep writing for you!
Sign up for an Annual Plan on Wordsmith, and you’ll get instant access to a whole year worth of social media captions to use. OR choose the monthly plan and get new captions delivered every single month.
TIP: There’s a free trial to try out before you ever have to pay a penny. (It’s my way of making sure you really love the membership!)
Ready for more? Join my newsletter and be the first to know about new articles published on the blog, business tips, and of course, all the best strategies and free resources. There’s a reason this list is 70,000 strong!
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You might be wondering how to use pre-written Instagram captions for your business and if it’s possible to really create captions that work for your business. One of the most common questions I get from customers is: “Exactly how easy is it for me to tailor your Instagram captions to my business?”. That’s what one of my clients, Elise wanted to know, too.
But look what she has to say about using Wordsmith now:
“So happy I saw this on Pinterest! This whole platform is phenomenal, and the Instagram captions that come with it are so well done. I thought it would end up being short captions, but these captions are so much more than that. Plus, they are super easy to customize. I just started using it and already have planned out a whole month of content. (something that would typically take me more than a week to complete!) If you’re thinking about signing up – do it! “
Reviews like this are why I love what I love offering this membership so much.
Let me show you how it works. You might get an Instagram caption like this one:
Pre-Written Instagram Caption Example:
“[Insert product or service/feature] is one of my very favorites. Why? Well, because [insert details of why you love helping clients with this product or service]!
As one recent [client/customer] said in a review, [insert some kind words from a review specific to this product.]
If you’re been interested in [Buying/hiring] then be sure to click the link in my bio to learn more!”
And here are three examples of how three very different companies could customize it to make it perfectly suit their business:
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Using Personal Tone/ Selling Service
Motherhood portrait sessions are one of my very favorites. Why? It allows me to document mothers with their little ones and create keepsake portraits they get to look back on for a lifetime.
As one recent client said in a review, “I will cherish these portraits forever. The way you captured us on film will forever be one of the greatest gifts. I’m not often in photos, and I love that I have so many beautiful photos together.”
If you’ve been interested in booking a session with me, then be sure to click the link in my bio to learn more!
SOLLY BABY WRAP
Using Business Tone/ Selling Product
Our original Baby Wrap is one of our very favorites. Why? Well, because it lets mothers enjoy hands-free babywearing in our buttery soft fabric while increasing connection and reducing infant crying.
As one recent customer said in a review, “I absolutely LOVE this wrap! So happy with the purchase. It’s so soft and holds my infant in place snug. I can get so much done around the house while comforting my little one.”
If you’ve been interested in buying one for you and your little one, then be sure to click the link in our bio to get 30% off your next order!
And one last caption for fun. As I’m sitting at my desk sipping on my Athletic Greens, why not use them as an example?
ATHLETIC GREENS
Business Tone + Selling Subscription
AG1 is our subscribers favorite. Why? Because with 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole-food sourced nutrients in one convenient daily serving. One scoop, 8 ounces of water. It’s all you really need!
As one recent customer said in a review, “I am thrilled with your product. I enjoy taking it every morning. Part of my new routine for my health and energy. So pleased that my physician recommended it.”
If you’ve been interested in buying AG1 then click the link in our bio to learn more and get your first scoop of Athletic Greens. Join the movement #LiveAG1
See just how simple this one Instagram caption was to customize?
Best of all, each customized caption turned out to be unique. One of the biggest misconceptions about pre-written captions is that everyone will be posting the same captions. This is why I created captions that are easy to customize to who you are and what you have to offer. Therefore, no two people will end up posting the same caption.
PRE-WRITTEN INSTAGRAM CAPTIONS
Each caption is here to help you talk about who you are and what you have to offer and is incredibly easy to customize.
It’s important that I make this process as easy as possible for you because I want to help save you hours and improve your social media game without all of the frustration and anxiety you have writing posts alone.
Ready to learn a little more on how to customize these captions?
I’ve written a short, 5-minute article outlining the step-by-step approach you can take to easily customize our captions to fit your business that goes into a little more detail on using the right tone.
But if you’re an action taker ready to jump right in and give the Wordsmith membership a try, sign up today to get your free trial started HERE. Or head on over to the Wordsmith page to learn more about what you can expect.
You’ll get instant access to hundreds of professionally written Instagram captions you can use for your business + a social media marketing strategy built directly into the monthly content planner.
Ready for more? Join my newsletter and be the first to know about new articles published on the blog, business tips, and of course, all the best strategies and free resources. There’s a reason this list is 70,000 strong!
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Writing a blog post can be very rewarding, but it can also be time-consuming and daunting if you’re not sure how to go about writing one that will keep readers engaged. These 7 tips for writing a great blog post will help you get started on your next blog piece, whether it’s informational, personal, or promotional in nature. The tips below are designed to help you develop new blogging skills, grow your current audience, and make more money from blogging overall.
KEYWORDS
When writing your post, think about what keywords and key phrases people might use to find your post in search engines. Then include those terms. Every time someone searches Google using one of these terms, they will see your page in their results. Make sure you’re using SEO-friendly language, too: make sure each sentence is between 15 and 25 words long (Google’s sweet spot), and focus on providing value to your readers.
TITLE
Keep your title clear and easy to understand. Use important keywords or key phrases to help your website show up in search results. Make sure that you are targeting keywords on a page-by-page basis; that way you get better visibility within search results. Stay concise: Use crisp, clear language in your posts so people can understand them without spending time decoding them.
CREATE AN OUTLINE
One of the most important things to consider when writing is outlining. It will help you organize your thoughts and keep you on track. It’s easier to write an entire piece if you know where you’re going beforehand. So create an outline using whatever method works best for you, whether it be bullet points or mind mapping. Just make sure it’s comprehensive enough that when you begin writing, you don’t feel lost or unsure about what direction to take in each section.
BEST BLOG POST LENGTH
Depending on your goals, you’ll likely have different word-count guidelines to follow. While most posts fit somewhere between 500 and 1,500 words. Set your own benchmarks by keeping in mind what makes sense for readers based on the topic. If you find yourself consistently writing longer pieces, consider breaking your articles into smaller articles.
WRITE A GOOD FIRST SENTENCE
A good first sentence can hook readers and get them excited about reading your article. To start off your post, set a scene or grab attention with an interesting quote. If your blog post will educate them on something, explain to them the importance of learning about what you’ll be writing about. Keep it simple; make sure that it’s relevant to your content and fits in with your topic.
BONUS TIP: It’s also a good idea to include your keyword, key phrase, or title in your first paragraph.
FIND IMAGES THAT ENHANCE YOUR TOPIC
Images can add visual interest to your post and help you share more information in less space. Before inserting an image into your post, ask yourself if it enhances your topic. Does it increase understanding? Is it too obvious or redundant? Images should complement your text, not overshadow it. Always use images responsibly: pay attention to copyrights and don’t just use any image you find online.
If you’re looking for great stock photos to use, there are over 3 million incredible stock photos available on Wordsmith. It’s been my go-to every time!
BONUS TIP: Edit the alt tag and description for each image used in the blog post.
PREVIEW YOUR WORK BEFORE PUBLISHING
After you’ve written your first draft, give it an hour or two, and then come back to read it. Read it like someone who knows nothing about your niche would; put yourself in their shoes. As you scan through what you’ve written, ask yourself how you feel about it: Is there anything that doesn’t make sense? Anything you wouldn’t click on if it was shared on social media? Anything you skimmed over quickly because of confusing language? Fix these problems and preview again. Rinse and repeat until satisfied with the end result.
PUBLISH AND SHARE
Once you’ve got your post, publish it! Social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram make it easy to send out posts that people will see. If you use a social media management site, you can even schedule your posts in advance to ensure they go out at optimal times.
SEND OUT A NEWSLETTER
If you have a newsletter, be sure to send it to your readers. Not only will you serve them great content, but you’ll also get them to come visit your site, which is great for traffic.
Blogging is one of my favorite ways to create evergreen content and serve great content that brings people to my site. The best thing about blogging is that if it’s done right, you’ll boost your overall site traffic long-term and connect with more ideal customers and clients who are looking for exactly what you have to offer.
Unlike social media, blogging and SEO is something you can continue to build upon and truly count on. People will always use search engines to find what they are looking for online. Although we can’t control the rules and algorithms on social media, we can blog consistently and start getting long-term traffic from our efforts.
BONUS TIP: Grab a notebook or open a file on your computer where you can add blog post ideas that you might want to write in the future. I have a list of about 60+ articles I’d love to create over time. When I’m ready to write for my blog, I simply open that file, pick a topic, and get to writing. Having a long list of ideas to pick from makes it easy for me to add new content consistently.
Ready for more? Join my newsletter and be the first to know about new articles published on the blog, business tips, and of course, all the best strategies and free resources. There’s a reason this list is 70,000 strong!
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Social media captions are like the cover of a book; it’s the first thing people see and what draws them in. With just one or two sentences, you can get your audience to lean in closer to hear what you have to say next. So why not put some time into crafting the best captions possible? This guide will show you how to write great social media captions, so your content stands out on social media feeds. Here are nine steps on how to write great social media captions that can help you reach more people on social media than ever before.
1) CREATE CAPTIONS WITH INTENTION
Before you even start writing, make sure you have an intention behind every caption. If you’re sharing content from other platforms, it’s important that your caption is focused on two things: prompting users to engage with your original piece of content and driving them back to your website or social media channel. Think about how people interact with captions—then share that level of engagement with your followers.
2) ALWAYS WRITE LIKE YOU’RE TALKING TO ONE PERSON
It may sound silly, but it’s true: When you write on social media, think of your audience as one person. Instead of writing for thousands of people, you’re writing for one individual—and everything you say will speak directly to them. Put yourself in their shoes when you write—will they find it engaging? Does it resonate with them? When in doubt, just pretend like you’re writing a letter to a good friend.
3) PUT THE MOST THOUGHT INTO THE FIRST SENTENCE
The first sentence of your post is arguably more important than any other, so take some time to really think about it. Brainstorming ideas for different types of captions can help you come up with something really good. You want readers to be drawn in by what they read and not just click away because they aren’t interested. That first sentence should grab their attention and compel them to read further. This will help boost engagement throughout social media as well as within search engines that often favor content that has higher engagement levels.
4) KEEP PARAGRAPHS SHORT AND SWEET
If you want them to keep reading what you have to say, try breaking up your posts into shorter paragraphs. The result will be a post that is easy to read and helps you get your point across clearly. As someone who likes to write, keeping it short has always been a struggle, but I’ve also found a lot of success in just writing from the heart. So if you’re like me, don’t worry if not every post you put up isn’t a quick read. Just be sure to break it up a bit to make it easier to read.
5) ESTABLISH A CONSISTENT BRAND VOICE
There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all when it comes to social media. The tone and language people and companies choose to use online will vary greatly; I’ve always found it’s important to stay true to what comes naturally to you. As much as I can appreciate people online who have a fun, witty way of writing, keeping things more professional and direct has worked best for me. Stay true to who you are and what comes easiest to you regarding tone and voice.
6) END IT IN A QUESTION, PROMPT OR CALL TO ACTION
Your Instagram caption should focus on storytelling. Remember, people come to your feed because they’re looking for something interesting and fun. The last thing you want is for them to hit next and go somewhere else because you couldn’t keep their attention long enough for them to read your entire caption. Try to include a question at the end of the post. Give them something to do once they get done reading your caption. It’s also a really great way to boost engagement and create a two-way conversation online.
7) TELL A STORY (AND MAKE IT A GOOD ONE!)
The best way to catch your audience’s attention is by telling them a story. Try using personal anecdotes or stories related to your business. The more you practice telling your story, the easier it will become. Your audience will relate better with you and trust what you have to say, and enjoy reading and relating to the stories you share.
8) CHECK SPELLING AND GRAMMAR
This might seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people overlook spelling and grammar. (*so guilty* ??♀️) The easiest way to avoid these mistakes is to ask someone else for feedback on your post before you publish it. Or take a quick minute to run your caption through Grammarly (it’s free) and my go-to tool when it comes to double-checking my written work.
9) CONSIDER HAVING A CALL TO ACTION
A call-to-action is an extremely powerful tool for connecting with readers on Instagram. A call-to-action is simply an instruction for your audience on what they should do next, like clicking on a link or subscribing to your newsletter. Call-to-actions are a great way to make a post actionable and give your content more valuable.
When it comes to social media captions you often just have a few seconds to grab someone’s attention, so use these 9 tips. Focusing on a few important elements of writing great captions can make all the difference in the engagement you see on your social media accounts. Know someone who might benefit from learning how to write great social media captions? Forward this article to them!
Download our free social media captions written for business owners HERE. We do all the writing for you each month so you can show up consistently and share your story and creation content your audience actually looks forward to reading!
Ready for more? Join my newsletter and be the first to know about new articles published on the blog, business tips, and of course, all the best strategies and free resources. There’s a reason this list is 70,000 strong!
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The key to being more productive on any given day is to focus on what you need to do and make sure you get it done before moving on to the next task or activity. If you keep this daily routine, you’ll be more productive by focusing on one task at a time instead of juggling different tasks from one moment to the next. Here’s how I stay focused throughout my workday.
Define Your Overall Mission and goals
Before you tackle anything else, be sure that you’ve set your end goal clearly in mind. It can take a little time to grasp what you want for yourself in terms of accomplishments and future opportunities. However, once you know what you’re aiming for—and why—the next steps will become more clear. Remember: Write down your mission statement and keep it somewhere easily accessible like your journal or on your phone so that it is always on your mind. Remember that working on the right thing is more important than working hard.
Do what’s most important every day
Build a daily routine that centers on your top priorities. I call it my critical-path method, and I use it to make sure I get the most important things done every day. It’s simple: Every morning, I sit down and write down my top 5 most important tasks for the day. Then tackle those things in order of importance. I try to complete all five tasks each day, but if I don’t, the uncompleted tasks get transferred to the next day.
Focusing on just five tasks helps me stay focused and on track. I have another sheet where I jot down random things that still need to happen but aren’t as important. This way I always have a master list of all the things I need to do while still staying focused on the important tasks.
Do What’s Important Before You Do What’s Urgent
The importance of making priorities
It’s not always easy to make your daily schedule fit your goals, but it’s important to try. Organizing your time and tasks using a prioritized list will make you more productive and help you avoid feeling overwhelmed. Getting organized is an essential first step to take when setting goals or tackling new projects; otherwise, it can feel like you’re busy working all day, without much to show for it. There’s a big difference between being busy and being productive.
Timeboxing my business tasks
One of my methods to getting things done is what I call timeboxing. Timeboxing is a time management technique that requires you to designate a specific time frame for a specific task. During this time, you only focus on the tasks and remove all other distractions. Again, instead of bouncing from task to task, you focus on something specific. The best part about timeboxing is that it’s very flexible. Just about any work activity can be timeboxed–whether you’re writing an email, preparing for a meeting, or building a spreadsheet.
As a small business owners, it’s easy to try and do all the things all the time and lose focus and momentum in actually getting anything completed. I would rather focus on one project and get it done in a few hours than work on many little things and get nothing done. A good example of this is how I write new content for the Social Media Membership. Instead of writing content for my clients randomly, I sit down and put all my focus on writing great captions. By having a set time to really focus on this one task, I create better content and get it all complete much more efficiently.
Working at the right time
Another really great way to be more productive is knowing what time during the day you do your best work. I used to wake up and the first thing I would do is jump in my inbox and try and answer all my emails. Some days it would take me a few hours in the morning. (Also the time of day I usually feel the most energy and most creative). I realized that after answering my emails and taking a lunch break, I felt more tired and less inspired to work on other projects.
I now use my morning hours where I feel most inspired to work on important projects. And leave the afternoon and evening hours to answer emails. Something that doesn’t take much inspiration, but certainly a lot of time. Take some time to figure out when you feel most productive vs when you don’t seem to get much done and get your important work done during the right time.
Do What’s Important Before You Do What’s Urgent
Although there’s a ton of advice that encourages people to focus on urgent tasks first, which might be a good idea for some, but it can be incredibly damaging as an entrepreneur. When things feel urgent but aren’t actually important, it’s easy to become distracted from what really matters. The best way I’ve found to avoid that trap is by creating a daily list in a separate area in my notebook for all the things I still need to do. Then hand-select which ones make it to my priority list each morning.
Balance Work And Life
It can be hard to find time for everything you want and need during a workday. The less time you have outside of work, though, the less effective you’ll be at work. To stay motivated and productive at your job—and happy in your personal life—it’s important to make sure that you’re making time for yourself and your priorities. Although I’m often guilty of putting time for myself last. I’ve realized that when I find a good balance between work and life, I end up getting more enjoyment out of the work I do.
With a never-ending list of things to do, business owners have to become good at time management. We must know how to maximize our results with the time we have. Identifying your top priorities, time-blocking, and knowing what time you do your best work is the perfect way to get more done in less time! Just don’t forget to find the right balance between life and balance so it’s something you can continue long-term.
Social Media Captions
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After living on the beautiful island of Maui, I’ve always gotten a lot of questions on what to do on the island from those planning their vacation, and so excited to finally share this complete Maui travel guide with you. I’m including all my favorite spots, places to eat, where to stay, and what activities I highly recommend for those visiting.
Maui is often ranked as one of the most beautiful spots in the world to visit, and that’s not just by tourists—Maui residents are also proud of their island! From what makes Maui unique and special to the best places to stay, eat, and drink on the island, this guide has everything you need to make sure your trip gets off on the right foot. Maui’s terrain ranges from rugged mountains to arid desert landscapes, but the most remarkable thing about Maui is that it’s home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and incredibly friendly locals. No matter where you stay on Maui, there are beaches close by that offer breathtaking views of crashing waves and rolling surf.
The best thing about living in Maui is able to experience all there is to do. The beautiful beaches, incredible hikes, delicious food, and amazing people. The traditional touristy things like whale watching, and the local off the beaten bath adventures that have become some of our absolute favorites.
Anytime friends or family came to visit us; we would know exactly what to go do during their time here to show them a good time. And what better way to share it with all of you than creating our first official Maui Travel Guide so everyone can make the most out of their trip here.
Now, this list could go on and on, but for the sake of keeping this travel guide jam-packed with just the best, here are our top 15 things to do on Maui. Bonus points, most all of them are 100% FREE.
But first, here are our favorite places to grab a bite to eat.
WHERE TO EAT
- Flatbread Company- Get the Pele Pesto, Mopsy’s Kalua Pork and the salad.
- Tobi’s Shave Ice North Shore- The BEST poke in town.
- Cafe Des Amis – Perfect place for a late breakfast. Savory & Sweet
- Paia Fish Market – They have awesome salads with fish.
- Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop – Pick your favorite pie.
- Mama’s Fish House – Perfect for a fancy date night. Everything is amazing!
- Andaz Bumbye Beach Bar – The Ahi and fish tacos are incredible!
- 808 Deli – Favorite salads on the island.
- + ANY FOOD TRUCK – You literally can’t go wrong with food trucks.
TOP 15 THINGS TO DO
ROAD TO HANA | $ FREE The road to Hana has always been one of our favorite getaways here on the island. It’s about 50 miles from Kahului but takes about two+ hours to complete. With 620 curves and 59 one way bridges, it takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of the island. There’s plenty to see on the way so make sure to stop along the way to enjoy the waterfalls and outlooks.
Tips: Make sure you have a full tank of gas, some cash, and move over if you have locals behind you trying to pass.
TWIN FALLS + FRUIT STAND | $ FREE
On the way to Hana, you’ll drive right past twin falls, which has a very easy to get waterfall. It’s a great place to stop for a quick freshwater swim. You’ll also see the Farm Stand there with coffee, acai bowls, banana bread, smoothies, and coconuts.
RED SAND BEACH | $ FREE
Red Sand Beach, a.k.a. Kaihalulu Beach is located on Kaihalulu Bay and always a place we stop by when we’re in Hana. The red sand and turquoise water are absolutely beautiful. Keep in mind that the short hike there is easy, but the last section of the hike, the only way down is a VERY narrow path. We have done it with kids, but always make sure to be extra safe. (Heads up, this beach is also a clothing-optional beach).
BLACK SAND BEACH | $ FREE
Waianapanapa State Park is one of the few places in the world; you’ll see black sand. They have built stairs that go all the way down, but I do recommend going early in the morning as this park gets busy quickly!
LAVA TUBES | $9.95 PER PERSON
These lava tubes go on for quite some time and are massive. It’s a self-guided tour and takes about 40 minutes to complete. Our kids really enjoyed this.
HOOKIPA+ BALDWIN BEACH | $ FREE
These two beaches are both on the north shore. If you want to watch some of the best surfing, grab a spot over at Hookipa. There’s also a ton of turtles, usually by the sand on the right side. It’s a great place to snorkel, just keep in mind that the waves here do get big.
Baldwin beach has always been one of our favorite beaches to swim at. If you walk all the way down to the right side, there’s a sweet, calm cove our kids have always loved to swim at. There are often turtles in the water and sunbathing in the sand. If you walk down to the left side, you’ll end up at baby beach Paia, with is the best beach for little kids. (If you have kids, it’s easier just to drive there)
IOA VALLEY | $ FREE
Iao Valley is a lush, stream-cut valley and the perfect place to stop and relax. There’s plenty of spots to cool down in the fresh cold water. There are also a few trails that take you through some beautiful historical sites.
MOLOKINI | $90-140
Molokini is a crescent-shaped, volcanic crater between the islands of Maui and Kahoʻolawe. It has some of the best snorkeling and diving due to it being a State Marine Life & Bird Conservation District. There are lots of tour boats that bring people out there for a day. You can read more about it here: https://molokinicrater.com/
CLIFF HOUSE | $ FREE
For those who are seeking a little more adventure, the Kapalua Cliff House has some of the most beautiful clear waters on the island. There’s a massive rock formation that you can jump off. There’s a few lower rocks, as well as some that are very high up and a ladder that you can climb upon to get out. We’ve been here a few times but only jump in the water when the water is calm enough.
KAANAPALI + BLACK ROCK | $ FREE
Snorkeling just off Kaanapali Beach at Black Rock, Maui is one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. There’s a huge black rock by the water that people love jumping off.
HALEAKALA | $30 PER VEHICLE
Haleakala is a beautiful sight to see. We’ve been there a handful of times since our home was right off the main road leading up to the crater. My advice on this is to skip the early sunrise (which now has to be reserved ahead of time) and head up there to enjoy the sunset. It’s just as beautiful, and you can go anytime without needing to make reservations or getting up incredibly early.
BIG BEACH MAKENA | $ FREE
This is another beach we love to go to. Crystal clear water and big waves. Be careful when getting in and out. It’s best to time it with the wave sets. You’ll notice after a few bigger sets, they get a little smaller and that’s the right time to get in.
MAKENA LANDING PARK | $ FREE
This is another beautiful spot that is excellent for snorkeling, kayaking, and diving. You can park right by the beach. This park is a little smaller than the rest, so I recommend getting there early! There’s also a great food truck (JAWS) that’s usually parked in the parking lot, making it easy to grab a bite to eat.
BABY BEACH | $ FREE
Baby Beach in Lahaina is another great place to spend the day. The water is perfectly clear and calm. It’s shallow pretty far out so you can explore the rocks and fish nearby. If you have kids or looking for some nice calm water, this is the perfect spot for you. Our favorite spot is by the little palm trees in the far corner.
LAHAINA FRONT STREET & BANYON TREE | $ FREE
Spanning 1.94 acres and rising more than 60 feet, Lahaina’s banyan tree is the largest banyan tree in the USA and a must-see when you’re in Lahaina. Some weekends you can find a range of artists set up under the tree and enjoy live music. There’s a ton of places to eat on front street, and lots of little shops to enjoy.
EXTRA TIPS FROM A LOCAL
Now, you’re in Hawaii to have a good time, but I figured I would do you a HUGE favor and list a few things you MIGHT not be aware of if you aren’t from Hawaii.
- MOVE OVER – If you’re driving around Hawaii you’ll quickly realize that there’s something beautiful to see around every bend, and I don’t blame you for wanting to take it slow. Take your time, small the guava and plumeria in the airy, let the salty wind blow your hair. BUT…keep in mind people live here. They have to get places and there’s nothing quite as annoying to locals than getting stuck behind someone driving incredibly slow. If you notice a car come up behind you, if possible try to move over so they can easily get past you. Everyone will appreciate it.
- BE ALERT – The last thing you want to do is get inquired or die on vacation. If you live in Hawaii you’re used to constantly hearing about someone who’s visiting drowning while snorkeling, or falling off a waterfall, or getting stick because of flash flooding. It’s just the reality of living near the ocean. When you’re out by the ocean or adventuring, BE ALERT. The ocean is incredibly strong and has to be respected. If you go out hiking, make sure you research ahead of time anything you should be aware of.
- STAY UP TO DATE – The nice thing about an island is that news travels fast. You can find pages such as Maui 24/7 on Facebook and easily stay up to date on everything going on. If there’s a fire, flash flood, emergency, you’ll probably hear about it first there.
- NEVER TURN YOUR BACK – Never, ever, EVER, turn your back to the waves. When you’re getting in the ocean, or getting out, always keep your eye on what the waves are doing. There are certain beaches like Makena beach that have ended in broken backs and necks because these waves crash right on the sand and if you’re not paying attention, you can get a surprise wave too. Try not to spend too much time in the wave break area.
- SUPPORT THE LOCALS – There are so many incredible artist and local shops in Hawaii. Instead of spending your money on typical touristy things made in China, scope out local shops with pieces that were truly made in Hawaii.
- REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN – you probably won’t find a place that cares as much about the ocean and reef as Hawaii. Make sure to only wear reef-safe sunscreen when spending time in the ocean. Most of the shops carry them. You can also find it at Target.
- DON’T IGNORE WARNING SIGNS – You’ll see plenty of these around Hawaii and they are there for a reason. Too many people have gotten hurt or killed by ignoring these dangers.
I hope these little pieces help make your vacation perfect. These warning signs aren’t here to scare you, I just want you to be safe when visiting this beautiful place. There’s so much to do and see and I have no doubt you’ll have an amazing time. It’s my favorite place in the world.
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Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt like walking away from something because you didn’t feel it was worthy enough or waited to launch your new idea because you just didn’t feel like it was quite ready yet. I know I’ve been there many times. I realized that for those of us who work in creative fields and have our own business, it’s so easy to let perfection hold us back. The good news is that if we change the way we see progress and embrace the imperfect moments, we can finally let go of the idea that everything we produce and create needs to be perfect before we put it into the world. Always remember; progress over perfection.
As an entrepreneur, you know that building and growing your business, and your brand isn’t easy. You’re also aware that success doesn’t happen overnight. It requires hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. While you want to do everything right, the fact of the matter is you don’t have time to get it all done perfectly—or even near-perfectly—right away, so why not focus on moving forward? After all, progress is more important than perfection when it comes to growing your business and reaching your goals.
PROGRESS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PERFECTION
Raise your hand if you would consider yourself a workaholic. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. Those of us who have our own business often LOVE the work they do and will spend far more hours working on what we are passionate about than the average person. My kids and husband will tell you that on the days I get to put in some solid work hours, I’m an overall happier person. Why? Because I love what I do. On the days I don’t get to work, I miss it. That sounds a little pitiful, but the truth is that when you love what you do, you might also turn into a workaholic. Or, as I like to call it, someone who’s just really passionate about their work.
But what we forget is that our dreams are not actually about success; they’re about pursuing something meaningful. Once you decide you’re committed to doing something with your life, don’t sacrifice today’s work because you’re worried it won’t be perfect someday. Instead, just do something worthwhile and focus on doing great work rather than perfect work. I promise, in the long run, you’ll realize that’s what really going to get you to your biggest goals.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT
The most important thing is that you realize that you don’t have to be perfect; not only is it impossible, but it’s unnecessary. Don’t wait for everything to line up perfectly before taking action; take smart action today until you reach your goal (or change course). Perfection will come later when you’re at cruising altitude.
Share your imperfect moments, and always know that focusing on progress over perfection is key in moving in the right direction, and often what others are most interested in seeing from us.
Out of curiosity, I did a fun little poll on my IG stories asking if people were more interested in seeing the finished product OR the process that goes into making said product. And a whopping 96% of people said they rather see the process. So next time you find yourself hiding the messy part of running a business, realize that people would actually prefer to see that over the polished finished piece we typically want to share.
START NOW. LIKE RIGHT NOW.
Now, if you’re a type-A business owner with a ton on your plate, there’s a good chance you may think that being productive is about getting as much done as possible. This may work for short-term gains, but it won’t allow you to reach long-term goals.
Building good habits (and the right habits) is critical for helping us move forward toward our goals. Once you’ve identified your goal, it’s time to identify habits that will help you achieve it. To do so, simply ask yourself: what habits am I already doing today that will help me achieve my long-term goals? What changes do I need to make to start moving towards my goal? It really comes down to breaking down your big goals, into tiny little habits you can focus on every day. Eventually, all that progress adds up and will get you where you want to be.
STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS
Stop comparing yourself and your progress to others in your industry. As a new business owner, you might be comparing yourself to someone who has been doing it professionally for 10+ years. You might also compare your messy behind-the-scenes action, to that perfect polished piece you see them share online. Regardless, it won’t serve you any good comparing yourself to others. So kick that habit to the curb and learn how to appreciate other people’s work and progress without feeling like it takes anything away from yours.
The desire to attain perfection often prevents us from starting projects at all. This is why entrepreneurs should push themselves to create something—anything—even if it isn’t perfect. Entrepreneurs who fail to complete tasks or produce products eventually lose momentum and motivation. They assume that if they can’t do it right, they shouldn’t do it at all. If you strive for perfection, you may procrastinate and even sabotage your own long-term success. Achieving great things takes persistence and resilience: To become a successful entrepreneur, you must learn how to be imperfect while staying focused on your goals and never giving up on yourself or your dreams.
Imperfect progress is still growth.
Sometimes we’re hard on ourselves. We know that being perfect is not a reality, but that doesn’t stop us from striving for it—to a fault. It may be tempting to scrap what you have and start over if you feel like you haven’t hit your mark just yet, but don’t throw good work away just because it isn’t perfect. While perfection can be idealistic, it won’t often reflect your business growth or your personal growth. Imperfectly growing is still growing—and though growth doesn’t always look exactly how we imagined it would at first, progress will happen organically as long as you keep working toward something better.
SLOW PROGRESS IS STILL PROGRESS
When you’re busy launching your new business or working on an important project, it can be tempting to forget that small wins are still wins. Even if they aren’t milestones, they’re still part of moving forward with your goal. Don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back for every little bit you do; if you don’t make time for yourself, no one else will. You deserve it! Work hard and remember why you started in the first place—in other words, remember what progress feels like. A lot has probably changed since then (you might even look back at some of those early days and shudder), but it is still good to remind yourself that feeling proud is not only normal but necessary for business success.
You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously.
― Sophia Bush
The act of getting started produces momentum. Momentum fuels motivation. Motivation increases your chances for success. All you need to do is press play and start moving forward—and try your best to focus on progress over perfection. Progress over perfection and you’ll reach your goals in no time!
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All too often, I see new business owners leaping into the world of entrepreneurship without first taking time to align their business with their purpose and passion. Most of the time, they are chasing their passion, but without much thought about what the business side needs to look like. Or they focus 100% on the business side without putting any thought into their purpose and overall long-term mission. In this article, I’ll go over the importance of aligning your business with your purpose and passion.
A common problem, and certainly something I had to learn myself in the early years of building my business, was devoting an equal amount of time to all three of these pieces that ultimately create a business that will last. Because if one thing is for certain, it’s the importance of aligning your business with your purpose and passion.
As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of running your business. But if you lose sight of why you started your business in the first place, you can easily become frustrated and find yourself on the path to burnout. Aligning your business with your purpose and passion will keep you motivated and moving forward towards your goals, rather than just working towards the next sale or crossing another task off your to-do list. Learn how to align your business with your purpose and passion. There are some basic steps you can take to help find the sweet spot between your purpose and your passion so that they complement each other instead of conflicting with one another. In fact, if you follow these steps, you’ll likely find yourself more fulfilled in the process of running your business than ever before!
Defining your purpose
Why are you in business? What motivates you to take risks? Do you have a purpose? What kind of change do you want to create in the world? If your business isn’t in line with your core values, it won’t be sustainable. When starting out, it might feel like success is defined by that big salary or being able to choose the hours you work—but when these things don’t happen right away, many entrepreneurs struggle when they lose sight of their motivation.
Defining your passion
The first step to aligning your business with your purpose is to define what you’re passionate about. If you feel stumped, ask yourself questions like: What activities give me energy? What kind of people do I enjoy spending time with? Are there any hobbies I love doing in my spare time? Do I dream about pursuing something I’ve wanted to do for a long time? You don’t have to know every answer right away—and perhaps you won’t be able to decide on just one passion—but asking yourself these questions will help get you started.
Defining your business
Once you’ve determined what your passion is, it’s time to turn that passion into a viable business. Begin by defining what your business will be—you can go broad or narrow, but once you’ve established some parameters, you can begin to explore your options. This part of starting a business can often take some time—it’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to define their businesses several times before finding one that fits their skillset and market needs.
Creating the perfect balance
Successful businesses are led by people who have a true passion for what they do. If you have no passion, you’ll fail at some point. At some point, your energy will dry up. If it’s not something you enjoy doing, you won’t be able to stay on that path very long before dropping out. When you create the perfect balance within your business, you’ll be able to do it for years to come. Even when things get hard, you’ll be able to hold on to why you started and get through tough times. You’ll have a deeper connection to your work because it’s all connected to more than just a business idea.
Connecting to your ideal customer and client
The goal of any business is to provide value to customers. And you need to understand who your ideal customer is before you can truly provide them value. It’s critical that you connect with your customers on a deeper level than just what you sell—you want to identify your shared values, lifestyle, passions, etc. Once you do, it’ll be much easier for you to take risks because they’ll resonate deeply within yourself as well as others.
Passion can be a powerful source of motivation for running a business. But more importantly, it can also lead to more thoughtful decisions as you start and grow your business—decisions that could change your business’s trajectory. Whatever your business is, wherever it is going, passion will help you get there. Now go out there and build a purpose-driven company that makes a difference in its community. And remember: Keep following your passion!
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As an introvert, I often felt like I didn’t have the right personality to succeed as an entrepreneur. I’m happy to report that my skill sets as an introvert have only helped me reach new levels of success in the 10+ years of working for myself. I’ve built a successful online business for fellow entrepreneurs, Modern Market. One of our top resources is Social Media Captions written for fellow entrepreneurs. I’ve even built a Saas The Essential Studio Manager with my husband to help business owners manage their photography business. I hope that this article helps other introvert entrepreneurs pursuing their passions realize just how powerful they are. Here are 10 reasons introverts make great entrpnuers.
While many people believe that entrepreneurship and extroversion go hand in hand. There are plenty of successful business owners who are not only introverts but thriving as entrepreneurs. In fact, studies show that certain personality traits, such as those that make up an introvert’s personality type, can actually be advantageous when running a small business.
They Solve Problems On Their Own
Although extroverts prefer to work with others and solve problems in groups, introverts can succeed when working solo. While it may be less enjoyable for them, an introverts’ ability to work alone (and often at their own pace) allows them to focus on tasks without distractions and tackle problems creatively. As a result, they find solutions that would have otherwise been missed by others.
They’re Independent Thinkers
As an introvert, you’re far more likely to go out on a limb and give your own opinion than someone who’s more socially comfortable. You’re not afraid to speak up when you don’t agree with something. And that trait can work in your favor when starting a business. Asking for advice is great, but it doesn’t give you any real-world experience in making your own decisions or asserting yourself.
They’re Passionate About What They Do
The idea of building a business around your passions is hugely appealing to introverts. It means they won’t have to spend their time doing something they don’t enjoy. After all, few people are motivated by money alone.
They’re More Likely To Listen
One of your main jobs as an entrepreneur is to listen. Be it your customers, clients, or other people within your industry—it’s important that you can effectively communicate and empathize with others. The ability to do so doesn’t always come naturally to extroverts. Particularly in certain situations. But introverts tend to be natural listeners and communicators. Which makes them great for listening closely and bringing their perspective into a conversation. While speaking is often viewed as a sign of leadership, listening can be just as important when it comes to making good decisions.
They Put Action Before Action Words
Okay, so some extroverts have a tendency to chase shiny objects. They’re constantly meeting new people and trying new things. Meanwhile, introverts love a good routine, and they don’t seek out constant stimulation. In fact, their need for stability can actually be a huge asset when starting a business. It allows them to focus without being derailed by every new fad or shiny object that passes their way.
They Don’t Chase Shiny Objects
Because introverts have a lower need for external stimulation, they tend to be less prone to unrealistic quick fixes. They’re also less likely to be distracted by shiny objects that will often distract an extrovert from their goals. In short, when it comes to losing weight, they stick with it.
They Don’t Care What Others Think Of Them
An introvert is not necessarily a loner, but they can get things done on their own if need be. They are likely to plan and work strategically. When it comes to working, they are more focused on the project at hand rather than being social with others.
They Can Get Things Done Alone
While extroverts crave interaction, introverts can thrive as independant workers. They’re able to focus more easily and avoid distractions from those around them. This gives them an edge in getting projects done quickly and with less stress. They keep a low profile. While some extroverted entrepreneurs enjoy being in front of a crowd, others don’t care for all of that attention and actually prefer to be behind the scenes working.
They Won’t Leave Something Unfinished Because It’s Easier To Start Over
It takes a lot of self-discipline to get an idea off paper and into reality. This is true for any entrepreneur, but introverts tend to be highly motivated once they get an idea in their head. It’s less likely they’ll get distracted and let their ideas fall by the wayside. Also, since they’re good at working independently and alone, they aren’t tempted to rely on colleagues or friends to help them complete a project.
No One Tells Them How To Do Things
As an introvert, you often have to go off the book when it comes to extroverted coworkers. No one told you how to talk to new people, answer phones, or pitch investors, build a business or launch a new course or product, so you just made it up as you went along—and that makes you valuable. You’re comfortable with ambiguity and are excellent at making on-the-fly adjustments. And since no one told you how things are done, no one knows how they can be done better.
Are you an introvert too?
So if you’re a fellow introvert, realize just how powerful you are with your set of skills and personality traits. Stop thinking that it’s in any way limiting you as an entrepreneur. If you ever need a reminder, just come back to this article as to why introverts make great entrepreneurs.
Yes, introverts are often misunderstood by extroverted peers, but that doesn’t make them weak or less capable. Your careful consideration of everything around you. Your tendency to think deeply about things. And your thoroughness in making sure you do it right. These are powerful assets—and they’re all important qualities of being an entrepreneur. Not only that, but being an introvert is great for business owners because it forces you to be independent—another trait that leads to success.
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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FREE LIGHTROOM MOBILE PRESETS
If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you know it all started in the photography industry for me. My passion for documenting motherhood. Developing tools to help me with my post-processing has always been something I love to do. Being able to share these tools with all of you just makes it that much more fun.
Over the years, I’ve released over 20 Lightroom Preset Collections that are used by thousands of photographers around the world. I’ve shared a few sample presets in the past, and am so excited to make a special post for these presets. I get so many emails asking about this freebie and hope that this makes it a lot easier to find!
If you’ve been looking for some beautiful presets to try, you’re going to want to download these presets. They come with both Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, and Mobile presets. These presets will give you a little taste of what you can expect from our professional Lightroom presets. You can view all those preset collections HERE.
Regardless of where you are in your photography journey, using presets can help bring your dream vision to life. For years I struggled with my work. Not because the original image was bad. I just didn’t know what kind of adjustments I needed to make to get my desired style. Once you start using presets that work, you’ll save yourself so much time. You’ll create beautiful consistent work that’s a reflection of your style.
All our larger collections come with 40 presets total, giving you a ton of options. My goal with presets has always been to create presets that are easy to use and work with a simple click of a button. Each collection has been created with a specific purpose. From real photography sessions. Making them incredibly easy to use for photographers.
Enjoy your new free Lightroom Mobile presets!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I'm Elena, your
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Multi-passionate, CEO of multiple companies, mama of four, obsessed with all things business and marketing, ready to help you attract your ideal client and customer. My goal is to give you the strategies and tools to grow your business so you can save time, get real results and focus on what matters most.
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