We were lucky to catch up with Nichole Bailey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nichole, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

The landscape of the job market has drastically changed since we were in school. Previously our educational system was focused on producing graduates that could stay in the job market until retirement. With enhancements in technology, social media and the digital age I would enhance the educational system to match. Students should be taught more about entrepreneurship, finances, technology and even real estate in school.

Our parents were probably the last generation that would enter a job and retire from that same job. Now employees will probably have 5-7 roles before they retire. In order to ensure they remain competitive their professional skills have to be on par. The more competitive they are, the less they’ll lose in salary over their career. It’s important to network, attend mastermind sessions and learn everything in your industry to remain the best option out there. I desire for the educational system to produce students that are resilient, ones that can navigate through any adversity.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

With 15+ years working for Fortune 500 companies managing operations and marketing, I decided to take those learnings to support smaller businesses. Larger corporations can scale faster and sustain longer because of agility. They can bring the right people to the table and close deals faster.

Understanding smaller companies desire to scale the same way; unfortunately, without the right team, they’re limited. My business consulting firm connects the dots. We offer business strategy sessions aimed at mapping out the blueprint for success. We also offer management retainer services in marketing, operations, legal, and systems.

Professionally, I’m most proud of my ability to connect the dots for creative entrepreneurs and small businesses. I get under the hood and drive impact, influence, and income for them. When we develop actionable goals, execute them, and measure the success, it feels so liberating to look and say, ” We did that.” Now, let’s focus on the next goal!
There’s a direct correlation between your mindset and your ability to achieve your business goals. Strategy, creativity, leadership, productivity, and execution are all tied to your mindset. I’m committed to bridging the gap for my clients so they can shine in all areas.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The greatest lesson I had to unlearn was there’s power in saying no. I always pride myself on being a resource for others and helping them achieve their personal and professional goals. I realized after experiencing moments of burnout, that yes can also be enabling. I remember my father once saying, “Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” I started to shift my perspective on how I could empower others to dream and action for themselves. In not saying yes to everything, I started to help my clients get more comfortable in their business acumen, and their long-term vision. I’m here to be a supporter, an advocate and most importantly, a ally along the way and that doesn’t equate to doing everything.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

With an agency built on clients’ direct interaction with team members to meet deadlines and project management, I ensure my team always feels supported. I do this with regular team meetings, one-on-one sessions, and implementing their feedback. They’re on the ground supporting the clients; they know what they need to get their work accomplished. I honor their feedback and support their voice while clearing the path for them to succeed. This makes them feel invested in the company. The success of this company is correlated to them being supported. As a result, our morale remains high. I also publicly reinforce my team as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thebaileyinc.com
• Instagram: Thebaileyinc

Image Credits
Mick Photography