Gwyneth Paltrow teams with Tracy Anderson to launch organic food program

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This week's business tip: If you're looking for a loan for your business, check out Kiva. Through the efforts of generous donors, they provide 0% interest loans to entrepreneurs.

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There's nothing like working with your BFF. Gwyneth Paltrow and her personal trainer and BFF, Tracy Anderson, announced a couple of months ago that they have developed an organic food program called 3 Green Hearts along with Paltrow's business partner, Maria Baum.

Both ladies have built incredible empires in their own right. Gwyneth, actress and the founder of the lifestyle brand, Goop which recently hired Martha Stewart Living's former CEO, Lisa Gersh; Tracy is a world-renowned fitness trainer (boasting celebrity clients like Gwyneth and Jennifer Lopez) and recent speaker at the 2015 Forbes Powerful Women Summit, are the perfect pair for this new gluten-free, organic food program for fitness enthusiasts.

The products will be sold exclusively out of Anderson's two fitness studios based in the Hamptons. However, the duo announced in Shape last week they plan on expanding the products to Anderson's studios across the States. 

Currently available as take-out from Anderson's two Hamptons-based studios, offerings include gluten-free pastas, grilled salmon, fish tacos, kale ravioli, quinoa salad, and fresh-made juices and smoothies, as well as healthy "frosting shots" and allergen-free cookies. 

So fun! And I love that they are both eager to make the products as affordable as possible. 

Cheers to these two ladies expanding their empires and supporting each other's growth.

Now I want to hear from you! Have you recently teamed up with your BFF to launch a new product or service offering? How did it turn out?

Let me know in the comments below!

*Muah*

Danetha

Money & Mimosas is a lifestyle site for entrepreneurs who want to build businesses like celebrities. Click here to join our weekly newsletter for more practical business advice.

A PR lesson from Ariana Grande: How to handle controversy

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Ariana Grande is one of my favorite artists. With a cute bubbly personality and sassy flair, she is also extremely talented and seemingly has a good head on her shoulder.

However, she is human, only twenty-two years old and makes mistakes like the rest of us. And living in the spotlight, her mistakes are that much more amplified.

Last week, she visited a doughnut shop in Los Angeles. She picked up a doughnut, licked it and put it back down on the shelf without purchasing it. 

Then she proceeded to loudly proclaim to her brother, "I hate Americans. I hate America."

The statement was caught on camera and went viral this past Tuesday.

Ariana issued a Twitter apology the following day and then posted this YouTube apology video Thursday night.

Before releasing the video, Ariana went on to explain that she loves America, and is proud to be an American, but is disgusted by the obesity rates within the country and the lack of self-control when it comes to food.

I'm not sure if her further explanation led to more controversy due to the "fat-shaming", which can be detrimental when she has a huge female following.

However, it was a good move on her part to publicly own up to the controversial statement and offer a sincere apology. As a public figure, it is never a good idea to just hope that a situation disappears. You must address it head on.

So what can we learn as entrepreneurs? Here are three things that I suggest you do if you find yourself in a situation where you unintentionally offend a large group of people.

1. Offer a public apology. If you have a large presence on social media, utilize that platform or send a statement to your local paper.

2. Make it personal. Ariana's initial tweet was a good start. Her YouTube video took it up a notch. We can clearly see her sincerity. Especially since she made the video while in pain (she just had her wisdom teeth removed).

3. Give back. My only suggestion to Ariana would be to turn this opportunity into a way to improve our society. You don't have to make it a press event, but in Ariana's case she should volunteer at a food shelter or work with an organization that helps reduce the obesity rates among children. If you are in a similar controversial situation, think about how you can help the population that you just offended in some way.

And now I want to hear from you! What would you suggest to Ariana or another entrepreneur in this situation? Leave us a comment below.

Money & Mimosas is a lifestyle site for entrepreneurs who want to build businesses like celebrities. Click here to join our weekly newsletter for more practical business advice.

Choosing an accountant? Lessons from Rihanna's $35 million mistake

If you haven't already seen the rather explicit video released by Rihanna, you probably should.

Or not. It is terrifying. Especially for us as entrepreneurs.

In the rated M for mature, 7-minute music video, Rihanna seeks revenge on her accountant and his wife that squandered tens of millions of dollars of hers, leaving her bankrupt and hostage to damaged credit. 

A little backstory: In 2014, Rihanna settled a lawsuit against Berdon LLP for mismanaging her funds and giving poor financial advice. Allegedly the couple used her funds to throw lavish parties, hire prostitutes and go on extravagant vacations. It's reported that Rihanna won $10 million from the lawsuit.

Hopefully, you've never had a situation where your accountant stole from you. While there are certainly some financial professionals with ill-intent, the vast majority of the industry is passionate about helping others attain the financial life of their dreams.

Unfortunately, those with good intentions may not have the best communication skills or may not be utilzing the right technology.

As a former accountant, almost half of my clients came to me because they felt that their previous financial professional either wasn't helpful or downright terrible.

When you hire a financial professional, you're probably looking for someone to take the money tasks off of your plate. However, you want to make sure the lines of communication are transparent and can not be misconstrued.

“When it comes to your money, as a business owner you need to play a proactive role with your accountant.”

So, what does that mean? How can you make sure the lines of communication are open? And that you are proactively managing your money along with your financial professional?

Below is a checklist for you to use to help you make sure everything is A-ok with your hard-earned money.

1. Make sure your financial professional has experience with your industry, otherwise it will be difficult for them to advise you on common missteps or growth opportunities.

2. Ask for 3-5 references from current clients before you hire them.

3. When you search for a financial professional, interview them. They should have done their homework on your company. Ask them questions that you would ask an individual if you were hiring them as a manager or in a customer facing role. This will demonstrate that have an interest in your company's success.

4. Make sure they provide business consulting services. It's not enough to just help you file taxes, they are also there to help you grow your business.

5. Do they use up to date technology? Ask them which bookkeeping program they use. It should be cloud (online) based so that the information is updated instantaneously and allows you to access the same information they see at all times. If you're looking for an excellent program, I'm a huge fan of Xero.

6. Require that they provide monthly statements to you. Depending on your business, you may want them to communicate with you on a weekly basis. Each month they should provide financial statements to you with a brief analysis of their findings and offer a thirty minute consultation call so you can ask questions.

7. You should be double checking their work. I recommend having a weekly 30-minute money date to spot check your books and make sure that everything is as it should be---it's your money, honey!

And now I want to hear from you! Have you had a good or bad experience with an accountant? What did you like about them or what did you learn from the experience? Leave us a comment below.

Money & Mimosas is a lifestyle site for entrepreneurs who want to build businesses like celebrities. Click here to join our weekly newsletter for more practical business advice.

Meeting Kim Kardashian-West & the 7 business tips I learned

On Tuesday, the Commonwealth Club hosted Kim Kardashian-West. I attended the VIP reception, and although I was disappointed that we couldn't take selfies with her, I was more excited to hear her interview with Judge LaDoris Cordell.

Sept. 5, 2012 - Source: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images North America

Kim and the honorable Judge talked about race in America, the country of Armenia, the objectification of women in the media and how to be a successful entrepreneur.

As the first lady of fame and the queen of a multi-million dollar empire, Kim had some great tips for aspiring business owners. Below are my seven takeaways.

Judge LaDoris Cordell interviews Kim Kardashian-West in San Francisco.

June 30, 2015. Source: Danetha Doe/Money & Mimosas

1. Develop a strong work ethic. Hard work always pays off and Kim is the perfect example of someone with a fabulously strong work ethic. She wakes up at 6a every morning and sometimes doesn't stop working until 10p.

2. You can't rely on your beauty. When asked what is the biggest mistake she sees girls making who want to achieve big dreams is that they rely on their looks. You have to develop a skill and strong work ethic in order to reach your goals.

3. DO sweat the details. Kim notoriously pays attention to the minute of the minute details. This has especially served her well in the partnership with Glu Mobile for the mobile game, Kim Kardashian goes to Hollywood.

4. Maintain your hunger and hustler mentality. From a young age, Kim says that she fell in love with selling and being a hustler. This is clearly evident in her success to land numerous endorsement deals and project offerings.

5. Remain engaged and accessible. Kim prides herself on managing her own social media and having a direct relationship with her followers. Whether it's asking them for feedback on a product or meeting them on their special day or replying to a tweet, Kim maintains a sense of vulnerability and accessibility with her fans.

6. Focus on building your confidence. As a child, Kim was often teased for her body shape. During those difficult times, she was forced to learn how to build a sense of inner confidence and strength. This has served her and her business pursuits very well.

7. Find your passion and remain determined. At the end of the day, Kim is a girl that loves fashion and dreamed of being in the industry. And she never gave up. Once you discover your passion, never let it go.

8. BONUS: Always give back. Whether you're rich and famous, or not, you can always do something to help make our world a better place.

Now I'd love to hear from you! Which tip resonated with you? Let me know in the comments below.

Money & Mimosas is a lifestyle site for entrepreneurs aspiring to build businesses like celebrities.

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Self-Love Day 2015

A BIG thank you to everyone who was a part of Self-Love Day. I hope that you spent the day being gentle with yourself and acknowledging the amazing qualities you possess.

I was blown away by the beautiful selfies and touching captions you contributed. It was simply amazing to see you take a moment to share what you loved about yourself.

I launched the first Self-Love Day is on June 19. It is a day to put your needs and financial stability first. June 19 is also Juneteenth, a celebration to commemorate the abolishment of slavery in the U.S.

Income disparity and the lack of accessible resources to improve your financial literacy is arguably a new form of slavery. - Click to tweet.

“According to the Pew Research Center report in 2014, which analyzed data from the Survey of Consumer Finances from the Federal Reserve, the median net worth of white households in 2013 was $141,900, about 13 times that of black households at $11,000. For Hispanics the numbers are similar, albeit slightly higher, than those for blacks. In 2007, the median net worth of a Hispanic household was $23,600, and in 2013 it was $13,700”

— Tanzina Vega. New York Times. December 2014.

Self-Love Day is my small way of trying to bring attention to the need for financial independence and help you attain it through financial literacy and recognition of your self worth. 

Below are some of the selfies and the insightful comments you shared.

Money & Mimosas is a resource for lifestyle entrepreneurs. We are passionate about financial literacy & independence, and the freedom to live the good life.

Click here to join our newsletter for weekly tips on how to build a celebrity business.

#MoneyandMimosas: Reese Witherspoon in Rome

Happy Monday, fabulous! 

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This week's business tip: Always look for opportunites to promote your products or service. Whether you're at happy hour with the girls or galvanting in Rome like Reese Witherspoon.

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How was your weekend? What did you do for the solstice? I spent it soaking up the sun and sipping mimosas.

Grabbing brunch and mimosas with Chris Hooper, my new accounting friend based in Austrialia. #MoneyandMimosas

Last week I shared that Reese Witherspoon officially launched her Southern Lifestyle blog, Draper James.

And now she's on a fabulous promotional tour. 

Whether you're a celebrity or a regular entrepreneur like you or me, it's imperative that we promote the heck out of our lifestyle brand. 

But, how do we do it?

Here are three tips from Reese Witherspoon.

TIP #1: When in Rome...be sure to snap a quick photo with a well-respected and well-known individual. We can't all get the chance to meet Valentino, so consider capturing a photo with your local mayor or a well-known artist in your immediate area.

TIP #2: Capture the lifestyle. If you're brand exudes high-class and the arts, display photos of you visiting exquisite places. Maybe it's a fabulous museum in Rome or San Francisco. 

TIP #3: And of course, promote your products! If you're a fashion designer, wear your clothes when you go on vacation and travel to exotic places. And every other day of the week.

And now I want to hear from you! Which tip will you use to promote your lifestyle brand? Let me know in the comments below!

For more tips on how to build a business like the rich and famous, click here to sign up for my weekly #MoneyandMimosas newsletter. 

And don't forget to connect with me on Twitter, @danethadoe, and Instagram, @danethadoe.

Wishing you a week of bliss & beauty!

Danetha

#WorkoutWednesday: Summertime Fine Abs Part One

Alright, loves. Summer is here and this month's workouts is all about getting those abs Summertime Fine.

This workout had my arms and abs burning- I had to take a break!

Check out this week's  quickie 10 minute ab workout. 3 moves. 3 sets. Let's do this!

• 1 minute mountain climbers

• 1 minute plank

• 1 minute oblique crunches: 30 seconds right, 30 seconds left.

• Repeat 2 more times (3 sets total). Do this workout 3x per week.

Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor before engaging in this, or any, physical activity. Danetha Doe nor her companies will be responsible for any related injuries.

Danetha Doe is a celebrity business strategist and founder of the entrepreneur's lifestyle blog, Money & Mimosas. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram, @danethadoe.

#TastyTuesday: Banana-Chocolate Coconut Rum Smoothie

#CleanCocktail: Banana-Coconut Rum Smoothie

O.M.G. Not to toot my own horn, but I outdid my myself with this #cleancocktail.

The inspiration behind the drink was the simple fact that I was craving chocolate and bananas were looking extra good at the market down the street.

Like all my cocktails, I try to limit the amount of sugar because it's a sure way to get a bad hangover and it's just not good for us.

If you're looking for a healthy drinky drink for the summer that satiates your chocolate craving, check out this easy and super delish treat. *

Ingredients:

Makes one 8 oz. drink

• Half a banana. Sliced and frozen.

• 3 spoonfuls (approximately 2 T.) of cocoa powder. I used this fair trade, organic baking cocoa powder. You can also get it at your local Whole Foods. You can be as generous, or scarce, with the chocolate depending on how bad you need some chocolate ;)

• 1 shot of Malibu Coconut Rum

• 2 T. of water or coconut water. I used plain coconut.

Blend until smooth. Enjoy. 

*Muah*

Danetha Doe is a celebrity business strategist and founder of the entrepreneur's lifestyle blog, Money & Mimosas. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram, @danethadoe.

#MoneyMonday: How to use your celebrity to build a business like Jessica Alba

On June 15, Forbes will release its inaugural “America’s Richest Self-Made Women” issue. The list includes heavy hitters like Oprah, Madonna, Beyonce.

And on the cover is a woman quickly rebranding herself from movie start to mogul.

Jessica Alba, reportedly worth a sexy $200 million, is the co-founder of the Honest Company, a subscription-based brand for parents looking for safe products to use on their children. Beginning with diapers, Honest has since expanded to include skin care products and organic cleaning supplies.

The idea to launch the Honest Company came to Alba after she had her first daughter. She was looking for a safe, child-friendly detergent and chose to use a brand recommended by her own mother. Much to her dismay, Alba’s skin broke out in hives after washing her clothes leading her to research the product’s ingredients. Jessica quickly realized that this “safe” product and many other “child-friendly” products contained chemicals harmful to the environment and to children.

Like a fierce mama bear protecting her cubs, Alba went on a rampage and discovered how broken the U.S. regulations are in terms of protecting its citizens from toxic chemicals within consumer products. Jessica hypothesized that there was clearly a direct correlation to these unsafe products and the eerie rise in allergies amongst children.

In my post last month, I wrote how Jessica shows us the power of knowing your why in business. Click here to read.

She set out to find business partners and consultants to help her build a product line that families could trust were safe for their children, homes and environments. And the response has been incredible. The company launched in 2009, earned $10 million in revenue in 2012, $100+ million in revenue in 2014 and expected to break through $250 million in revenue in 2015.

Valued at over $1B, the company has received backing from Jessica Alba and venture capitalists including partners from General Catalyst, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Institutional Venture Partners. With growing success in the U.S., the Honest Company is expanding to South Korea later this year and possibly China in 2016.

With the combination of a fabulous, wholesome product line, avid mama supporters and Jessica Alba’s savvy celebrity presence, the sky is the limit for the Honest Company.

So how does she do it? How has Jessica Alba built a $1B company?

I covered Jessica Alba and her company in another post last month, highlighting the importance of identifying your “why” in business in order to be successful. 

As entrepreneurs, there is so much we can learn from her hustle. In addition to proclaiming your why, take some time to observe how Jessica acts as a spokesperson for her company. Granted, many of us do not have the platform as a Hollywood actress to work from, but you can certainly use your presence to drive sales and adoring fans to your brand.

Jessica Alba's Instagram feed is a combination of personal posts, glamour shots and the Honest Company.

As the co-founder and spokesperson for the Honest Company, Jessica poses with her own children to promote the company’s products. She is also a staple at legislative events discussing the importance of increasing regulation around toxic chemicals in our consumer products. Her personal Instagram is a refreshing combination of personal photos, glamour shots and Honest promotion.

Want to leverage your personal brand to create a sticky business? Here are three steps to take right now.

1. Identify your why. Why are you so passionate about your business and how do you plan on improving our world. Check out my post for more tips on how to dig deeper.

2. Be more active on social media. Mix personal posts, with inspirational shares and promotions about your business.

3. Get involved with politics. What cause does your business address? Attend local events that address these issues and be vocal about your stance.

Take Action: And now I want to hear from you. Which of these three tips will you implement today?

If you would like more tips on how to build a business like the rich and famous, sign up for my weekly newsletter.

Danetha Doe is a celebrity business strategist and founder of the entrepreneur's lifestyle blog, Money & Mimosas. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram, @danethadoe.

#TravelThursday: Paradise in Costa Rica

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you would have seen that I have been on a digital detox. My boyfriend and I took a much needed vacation to celebrate his dirty thirty.

We've been talking about travelling abroad for a long time and were finally able to experience the beauty of another country together.

We chose Costa Rica because he loves to mountain bike (he didn't do any riding this trip, next time!), the beautiful weather and opportunity to do hiking in the rainforest.

The areas we visited were La Fortuna, which is home to a gorgeous volcano and rainforest. We did a volcano tour for $35 per person, I highly recommend it. It's 6 hours and it ends in the hot springs with mud facials and Guaro cocktails. We stayed in this beautiful hostel for about $60 per night.

Then we travelled to Playa Arenal and stayed in the Arenal Homes. Here's a link to the Facebook page. 

We played in the warm ocean, read books and drank cocktails from 10a to 6p everyday at the beach bar, Lunas. Also check out the BeachFront for orange-carrot-tumeric tea and amazing burritos.

We ended the trip in the capital, San Jose and stayed in a traditional American hotel. Our only complaint is that their jacuzzi isn't hot- in fact it's downright cold. And no, it wasn't broken. Apparently, it's always that temp.

Danetha Doe is a celebrity business strategist and founder of the entrepreneur's lifestyle blog, Money & Mimosas. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram, @danethadoe.

Introducing Reese Witherspoon's lifestyle brand

Hi Gorgeous!

Did you hear about Reese Witherspoon's new business??

OMG. We are so in love with it. It's called Draper James  and it's a lifestyle brand with an online store. The vibe is Southern charm mixed with a blend of poised sophistication (totes Reese, right?) and will feature local Southern artisans. The products will include bed and bath linens, lingerie, handbags, home goods, fragrance and cosmectics, furnitiure, swimwear, stationary, baby gear and storage containers.

Time will tell how successful it will be. Our initial thoughts are that Reese should focus on 1-3 categories, initially, instead of offering every type of product under the sun.

But, in any case, we're really excited for its upcoming launch and wish her nothing but amazing success!

So...what can we learn from Reese? Here are 3 business tips:

1. Have a pre-launch strategy. In a world of social media, PR is a must. Her site doesn't officially launch until May, but she is generating buzz now.

2. Create a landing page that collects emails. Her store doesn't launch for another couple of months, but she has a destination site for consumers that may be interested. And it allows consumers to leave their email so she can stay in touch with them.

3. Get as much free marketing as possible. You know I'm all about having a business budget and staying within it! Reese snagged free press for her site in InStyle and Cricket. Now, we aren't all fabulous actresses that can get a story in InStyle, but we all have access to media. In Reese's case, Cricket is a site founded by one of her childhood girlfriends. Reach out to your girlfriends and ask them to spread the word about your new product offering.

Do you have a new product offering? Which pre-launch tip will you apply to your business?

Danetha Doe is a celebrity business strategist and founder of the entrepreneur's lifestyle blog, Money & Mimosas. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram, @danethadoe.

3 ways to build a brand like Carmen Electra

Hi Gorgeous!

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This week's wealth tip: Looking for a podcast that discusses the nuts & bolts of building wealth---that isn't going to put you to sleep? Check out So Money with Farnoosh Torabi. Named one of the Top 50 Podcasts by Inc Magazine, Farnoosh brings excitement and a refreshingly glamorous air to money topics. 

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Over the weekend, Carmen Electra celebrated her birthday. We not only love Carmen for her glamorous hair and beautiful personality, she also happens to celebrate the same birthday as our founder, Danetha Doe.

In true Carmen glamour, she rocked out this weekend in a stunning glittering mini dress. And even invited her fans to her birthday party through a Twitter and Instagram post.

So, what does Carmen's birthday invite to her fans have to do with your or my business?

Carmen is the perfect example of an entrepreneur who loves to let her community get to know her personal side and, at times, hang out with her.

If we know anything about you, we know that you are building a tribe of loyal followers and cheerleaders. People who love what you do and what you stand for, and will support and promote you forever and ever.

Carmen gets this. And her willingness to be open is one of the biggest reasons why she has such a supportive community. Being personal, kind, and open, feels good to the soul and is really good for business.

How can you apply this to your business?

Here are three ways to get your community more involved and build a brand like Carmen:

1. Show them the behind the scenes of your business. Are you rolling out a new program or celebrating a big accomplishment? Let them in on the fun with Instagram posts and tweets asking for their advice.

2. Have a private Facebook group. Offer free office hours and answer questions that your group members have about business or life.

3. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. If you're going through a challenging time or need help with something, let your community know! We're all here to help each other and your community would love to be able to support you.

Now we would like to hear from you. Did any of these tips help you? How do you get your community involved in your business and brand?

Leave a comment below!

Cheers,

The Team at Money and Mimosas

Helping kick ass, boss babes build wealth with style. Check out our program- the #1 financial resource for entrepreneurs.

www.moneyandmimosas.com