We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole Bird a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nicole, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
I found my very first client for MNICOLE six weeks after I officially launched in August 2022. I always think that it’s important to treat everyone as if they could be your future client or business partner because that’s exactly what happened to me. I was let go from my last job working in IT for a real estate firm, and part of my position with them involved sourcing vendors to help us on projects we lacked the knowledge or resources to complete internally. One of these vendors was an IT consultancy worked with us for around six months after I initially suggested reaching out for automation assistance. Well, after helping one of my favorite astrologers I connected with on TikTok to update one of the integrations on her website I decided I would be open to working with tech companies. I connected on LinkedIn with the owner of IT consultancy and he messaged to ask me if I was looking to find a some new work. The next day, we were on a Zoom call together with his CEO who let me know this was perfect timing as she was looking for assistance with her daily workload and client communications. We signed a contract for three months and the following week I began to help my now client with managing her daily schedule, meetings, starting conversations with leads, and general business management. I am so grateful that she has been my first client because she’s been so gracious with giving me advice for my own business and teaching me so many new skills with how she interacts with her own clientele and team members. I felt such a wave of empowerment and gratitude when I signed that contract and saw the name of my business, and yet again when I was building my very first invoice to send. It was a moment where I felt at peace and I was like even though being let of my last job was so terrifying, it all worked out for the best because it gave my own business.
Nicole, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’ve always been business minded, I grew up having dreams of working as a fashion designer of a hairstylist and knew that I was going to create impact – particularly for my fellow women. I started my first career as a hairstylist at age 18 and I loved many of my clients, particularly the eclectic ones, but I felt drained by the long hours of greatly physical work and I knew I wanted more relaxation and time freedom. After looking back on my life and finding so many examples of how I had manifested my goals by reforming my identity through my style, fashion, and personal aesthetic, I took to social media to build my community and share with my audience how they can do the same. Now, I operate my own online businesses which include an an international coffee shop with my wonderful boyfriend where we aim to help other entrepreneurs find the fuel for their goals.My largest aspect of my digital services business works with female business owners and female-focused brands in tech, beauty, fashion, and wellness industries to grow their online sales and improve their time freedom. I do this by offering social media services in user generated content, and general business task assistance like improving automations, business files, business documentations, and more. What sets me apart is I’m very versatile and I’m never afraid to try something new. The main things I want my audience to know about my brand and my work is this – I am here to enable women to experience the lives of luxury and adventure they deserve. By styling themselves authentically, they shine different. They will exude the confidence they need to hit those large goals. Those larger goals will continue to fuel their self-confidence and I aim to help every woman experience this for herself.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I first joined social media, particularly Instagram, in the summer of 2016. I had just gotten my first job working at Wendy’s and I purchased my first iPhone on Ebay so I could join the social media world and start acting on my goals of doing hair, makeup, and styling on camera. I started building my audience by following my classmates and really anyone I met. Naturally, as I started to follow more people I got more follower suggestions and started engaging with them as well. The best advice I can give someone who is first starting their social media journey is to not be afraid to show up on camera. People want to connect, and they will trust you and connect with you more if you can show up and speak on camera and show your face. It humanizes you. Also, follow back the people who follow you and engage with your content. There’s a weird culture of “oh I don’t want to follow you unless you follow me first” so take the initiative to invite in the users who have shown you “i like what you’re posting”. Share personal experiences and lessons you’re learning. Humans are happiest when we see progress, and by vulnerably sharing your own stories you continue to build your authenticity and trust.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn is “I have to do it all myself”. This mindset began for me in my teenage years when I learned very quickly that my parents would not – and could not- fully provide for me and meet my needs. I felt that I had to work on my own to achieve what I wanted and that I couldn’t rely on others to help guide me through dark situations. A story I’m very open about with my audience is that I had to move out of my childhood home where I lived during high school when I was 18. The experience of working every single day while living with my friend’s mom in order to stay in cosmetology school was so harrowing and draining – but I still managed to be the first person in my class to graduate. While I’m proud of it, this experience solidified the negative belief that I had to do everything myself and no one could ever help me. Really, what was going on is I was too afraid to let others in and for them to see me in my vulnerability. I’ve been with my boyfriend since I was 18 almost 19 and I very quickly had to learn that in order to make this commitment work, I have to be vulnerable and let him be here to help me during difficult times. Even now, I still struggle with letting people in but it’s a work in progress and I’m so grateful for every step made.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mnicole.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mnicolebird/ and https://www.instagram.com/mnicolestyle/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-bird-337985149/
- Other: TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@mnicolebird and https://www.tiktok.com/@mnicolestyle
Image Credits
Photos taken by Ariane Reina, Usman Ishtiaq, and myself Nicole Bird