These women are leading the female entrepreneur rush to the Catskills

These women are leading the female entrepreneur rush to the CatskillsThese women are leading the female entrepreneur rush to the CatskillsSilicon Valley used to get all the fame for being the hotbed of entrepreneurial activity. Its got the big glamorous tech companies and those sprawling campuses. But in recent years New York has earned the title of Silicon Alley for its cluster of successful startups. It has also notably become an epicenter for female-founded companies (Rent the Runway, Glossier, Birchbox.)Researchfrom Dell found that New York welches the top city for female entrepreneurs (the Bay Area came in second.)And now it seems that drive to start businesses is moving just a bit north of the city, to the Catskills specifically. In case you hadnt heard, the Catskills are back and in a very big way. In addition to a resurgence of boutique hotels (Scribners) and inns, it is also seeing being reborn as a thriving foodie and artisanal retail scene. No more Borsch Belt, this place is full of chic breweries, restaurants, and stores in towns including Kingston, Hudson, Woodstock, Livingston Manor and Westkill. Lets just say it, the Catskills are the new Brooklyn.Included in this group of Catskill pioneers areAmna Ali and Jackie Brown, the co-owners and co-designers of Gather Greene, a new veranstaltung venue and nature retreat located in the Hudson Valley. Ideal for weddings with its sprawling mountain views but also a perfect space for a retreat with your coworkers or friends as it is spread out over 100 acres including woods and open fields and a quiet pond. With17 modern tiny house cabins and a grand event pavilion unlike anything else in the Hudson Valley, this takes glamping to a whole new level. It is your own personal Scandinavian wonderland but instead of a long flight, it is just a quick two-hour train ride from the city.So who are the women behind this architectural gem? Well, not architects actually.The two met while pursuing their graduate studies i n interior design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. They quickly bonded over design interests and work styles and the desire to make a career change.Alis background was in art and finance while Jackies was in art and education. During their time at Pratt, they worked out of the same studio, often problem-solving together late into the night.It was while they were in a furniture design intensive in Copenhagen, that both women became enamored with Scandinavian design, which influenced much of the inspiration for Gather Greene. After earning their degrees theyboth worked in exhibition design withinstitutions including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the American Museum of Natural History. But the idea for something that was their own continued to come up and eventually they established their own design studio.They worked together on several commercial projects, but Gather Greene would be the biggest and greatest one. They searched high and low th rough the Hudson Valley and in February 2016, they finally found what would become Gather Greene, situated between the Berkshire Mountains and the Catskill Mountains. After working night and day for two years (both women relocated to Hudson) Gather Greene will be opening this month to the public.Ladders spoke with them about the evolution of this project as well as the entrepreneurial Catskills.Why a space like thisWe felt there was an opportunity to fill a niche in the retreat and special event venue market, as well as create a space where we could allow our design dreams to flourish. A big part of our goal with Gather Greene was to create a space that allows guests to relax in one place with their family and friends for a full weekend, with less running around, and more quality time spent together. We also love the Hudson Valley and found this amazing property, so here we areThat we have very genuinely poured our hearts and all of our energy into this project. It has truly been a creative dream for us and we hope people feel that when they come here.The ideal work retreatWeve approached the design of Gather Greene with the idea that we are trying to create spaces that encourage people to be together in new ways and that also allow room for creativity and inspiration. Our pavilion does a great job of blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor which makes a novel backdrop for a variety of activities and events. We also have indoor rooms that we have designed for meetings and presentations, workshops or break-out sessions.Another of our favorite spots on the property is our shale quarry. The story weve heard is that the town had come in about 40 years ago and blasted out the quarry for the shale -which they use for the roads. They actually ended up blasting a bit too deep -and thats why we have our lovely little shale pond Its a really magical oasis that is completely surrounded by woods -we love to have bonfires back thereThe challenges of launching a space like thisAt many times we have felt that we did choose a nightmare Building from ground up and putting in all of the infrastructure has truly been a rollercoaster ride, and there have been moments of extreme frustration and doubt as well as moments that have felt immensely rewarding.We have many many ideas for the future and how we want to expand, but in the next two years we hope to host meaningful and inspiring events, retreats, and workshopsOn why so many female entrepreneurs are flocking to the CatskillsWe had never expected to find what weve found out here We have met an unbelievable number of women up here who have started or are starting their own businesses. Its actually been one of the greatest and most welcome surprises. There is this wonderful, supportive community up here its really genuine and we feel so lucky to be a part of it.

How Small Businesses Can Survive Economic Collapse

How Small Businesses Can Survive Economic CollapseHow Small Businesses Can Survive Economic CollapseHow Small Businesses Can Survive Economic Collapse Rossheim, Senior Contributing WriterIn any economic environment, hiring and employee terminations are two of the most critical responsibilities of small geschftsleben owners. In the recent recession, how to go about hiring employeesand how to firing anemployee can be life-or-death decisions for an entrepreneur. A wrong hire may cost your business more revenue than it can afford to lose an ill-conceived termination may bring on a lawsuit that the business cant survive.Thats why savvy small-business owners are taking more care than ever when they hire or fire even a single worker.The Hiring Beat Goes OnDoes hiring seem like a distant dream or an irrelevant business practice right now?Yet you still need to maintain a minimum workforce to avoid losing customers.While unemployment is high and rising, that doesnt always mean youll avoid comm onhiring mistakes. Its a mistake to assume that a glut of candidates equates to an enhanced pool of qualified candidates, says Ken Dzierzawiec, vice president at HR consulting firm FH Solutions Group.In this buyers labor market, small businesses will be inundated with applicants, says Roberta Matuson, president of Human Resources Solutions. Many small employers will just pick the first applicant that comes along. People dont take the hiring process as seriously as they should until its too late. Screening resumes carefully, probing deeply in interviews and doing background checks are as important now as ever.Jennifer Miller, owner of Printing Promotional Partners, attests to the volume of applications that a job posting can draw. Quality applicants are out there in force for employers willing to carefully screen a large pool, says Miller. The applicants I get now are very good some have four-year degrees.If youre inclined to take a chance on a candidate who could be overqualified, consider making a temp-to-hire offer. Contingent employees make sense, says Matuson. Its a great way to see how someone fits into your company.Plan Carefully Before You Begin LayoffsWhat if your finances are such that you must reduce headcount, say for the first time in years, or ever? Be careful how you handle employee terminations, and be humane. The rules of thumb for termination are to be fair, recognize length of service and qualifications, be truthful, and communicate the issues in an upfront manner, rather than let the rumor mill take hold, says Dzierzawiec.Have your layoff plan reviewed by an attorney, says Matuson. At least have a 10-minute conversation about how youre going to do it. Entrepreneurs who dont chart their layoffs carefully often have regrets afterward. Many small-business owners tell me, I had no idea that this layoff might be perceived as discriminatory. If you must terminate an employee, the most important thing is to do it kindly and appropriately, with bro ad advance notice to your workforce, says Alan Genitempo, a partner with Piro Zinna Cifelli Paris Genitempo. That way, when the time comes for layoffs, theres no trauma. Summoning a security escort for a terminated worker can invite a lawsuit, he says. Instead, have someone the employee knows walk them out.Genitempo, who most often represents plaintiffs, has been very busy during the recession. Ive been getting calls from at least four employees a week, he says. A year ago, he typically received one or two calls every two weeks.Looking for more information on how to hire or terminate? See the National Federation of Independent Businesss Small Business Toolbox for HR. Also useful is the SBAs Small Business Development Center. Finally, SCORE, a nonprofit partner with the SBA, provides resources and even free advice from experienced executives, many of whom guided businesses through the deep recessions of the 1970s and 1980s.

Seven bad habits that are holding you back at work

Seven bad habits that are holding you back at workSeven bad habits that are holding you back at workDo you want to take yur career to the next level but youre feeling a little deckenfries? These seven bad habits might be whats holding you back at work. No worries, though - its never too late to course correct.Youre overworking not taking time off for self-careWhat you do outside of the office is just as important as what you do at the office. In order to show up as your best and brightest self to work every day, self-care needs to be a top priority - and were talking quality self-care. Sitting on the couch scrolling through Instagram doesnt count. Find a self-care routine that feels really good for you. You can start a morning meditation practice, exercise, go for nature walks, laugh, play, take bubble baths - do whatever you need to do to feel refueled when you show up at work every day. This alone will make a huge impact on your performance at work.Youre settling for a job you like not loveIn the beginning of your career, being a yes girl that jumps at everything that is thrown herbei way certainly works in your favor. You gain experience, show your boss what youre capable of, and have the chance to try different things. However, once your career is established, being the yes girl can actually hurt your career. Just because you can do the job, doesnt mean that you should. I once heard Danielle Laporte say, If it doesnt light you up, youre not the right person for the job. I couldnt agree with this more. We are all meant to do work that is exciting and fulfilling. We shouldnt be settling for a job just because its the first thing we found. And oftentimes what youll find is that once you do start to follow those inner nudges and pursue work that youre truly passionate about, success will inevitably follow.Youre not truly believing in yourselfIt really sucks to admit this, but a lot of the time, the only thing holding us back from the career success we real ly desire is ourselves. We might doubt our abilities and not believe we can actually take our career to the next level. Thats where feeding your mind with powerful, uplifting content comes in. From my personal experience, once I fell down the rabbit hole of reading personal development books and listening to podcasts, my career completely transformed. I went from being an intern to being a full-time freelance writer in a matter of months. The power of our mind is absolutely mind-blowing. Use it to your advantage.Youre not asking for what you wantIn life and in the workplace, we tend to not ask for what we really want because we dont want to come off as pushy or bossy or were afraid of what other people might think. This bad habit is absolutely holding us back from the success we truly desire. How on earth are people supposed to know what we want if we dont ask for it? It just doesnt make any logical sense. You cant just wait around for really awesome career opportunities to fall int o your lap. You have to be proactive and voice your wants. If you know you deserve a raise, ask for it. If you want to be considered for the promotion, ask for it. If you have too much on your plate and need help, ask for it. You never know where one simple ask might lead you and your career.Youre keeping yourself smallAccording to this Forbes article, men are confident enough to apply for a job even if they only meet 60% of the qualifications. Women, on the other hand, wont apply for a job unless they feel they meet 100% of the qualifications. This statistic is wild and brings me to realize that we are the ones keeping ourselves small by not going after for the jobs that we truly want just because we feel unqualified. So the next time you landsee a job listing pop up that is your definition of a dream job, apply for it. No matter what the qualifications may be. At the end of the day, most qualifications are things that can be quickly learned, what really counts is if you have the c onfidence to get the job done. If you have that, youre golden.You complain too muchIts almost impossible to always be satisfied with every single little thing about your job. There are bound to be things that bug you or you simply just dont feel excited to do, but when you begin to vocalize your complaints, thats when you start to hold yourself back from thriving at work. That energy is toxic to be around and the employees that get promoted are the ones that are go-getters. Theyre willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and they focus on finding a solution to the problem instead of just complaining about it.Youre not managing your time wiselyThere are so many little aspects of a job that needs to get done every day that are oftentimes not your actual job. Were talking responding to emails, attending meetings, etc. And by the time you get back to your desk to actually get the important things done, youre mentally and energetically exhausted from the million little things youve already done that day. In order to really excel and shine at work, focus instead on getting the important things done first (ideally before lunch time) and leave the little things like emails for later in the day.This article first appeared on The EveryGirl.