[quote style=”boxed”]Find mentors. Read non-school books voraciously. Network like there’s no tomorrow. Say no to things I didn’t really want to do. Be less concerned with the other people’s opinions.[/quote]
Named a Woman Making A Difference by the Los Angeles Business Journal, Lisa Nicole Bell brings more than 10 years of experience to her role as the CEO of Inspired Life Media Group. Lisa and her team create media projects designed to move the social progress agenda forward. Partnering with brands like K-Swiss, Luna and Bellaboo, Lisa advocates for women in business as an international speaker, author and contributor to the Business Beware television show, which reaches more than 23 million homes. American Entertainment magazine named Lisa a Speaker to Watch and Woman 2.0 named her a Strong Female Entrepreneur to Follow on Twitter. She holds a degree with honors in business law and is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council, the Screen Actors Guild and Women in Film. Lisa and her work have been featured in dozens of media outlets including the Huffington Post, Forbes Woman, PBS, Under 30 CEO, FOX Small Business and more.
Where did the idea for Inspired Life Media Group come from?
It came from my realization that in modern society, we consume massive amounts of media and an overwhelming number of people are tech savvy. That means that there’s an opportunity to do what I call “hiding vitamins in junk food” by creating projects that are socially relevant and substantive while also being entertaining.
What does your typical day look like?
Every day is different, and I love it that way! If I’m in L.A. and I’m not going to a set, I’m usually up around 6:30 AM and in the swing of my day by 8:00 AM. The rest is the roll of the dice; I might take a break to grab tea with a friend, write by the beach or dance around the office. Because my work requires that I use both sides of my brain, I do my best to balance the stimulation throughout the day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
It starts with a white piece of paper and a pen and evolves from there. All of my ideas start in my head, move to the page, and then find their way to some medium of expression.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Digital commerce. Observing what people like Louis CK are doing with the marketing and monetization of their art is inspiring and exciting. The opportunities for artists are more lucrative and empowering than they’ve ever been and as a creative entrepreneur, I’m eager to see what unfolds.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
Working for Motherhood Maternity as an assistant manager. I had the job for less than a week and quit. I learned the importance of corporate culture. It’s not just a buzz word that people toss around; it’s a very real thing and prospective employees have to strongly consider whether they fit when making the decision to apply for a job or accept an offer. I was a horrible fit for their corporate culture for so many reasons and I knew it right away. I’m glad I didn’t force myself to stay there in the name of “giving it a chance.”
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Find mentors. Read non-school books voraciously. Network like there’s no tomorrow. Say no to things I didn’t really want to do. Be less concerned with other people’s opinions.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Write. I journal daily and there’s a certain magic to putting ideas on paper. I gain so much value from writing, even when I’m writing about something not related to my business or projects. Few things give me more clarity than my stream of consciousness on paper.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
The 1:1 method of social enterprise has become increasingly popular for impact-driven for-profit enterprises. Because healthcare is a pressing need in the developing world, I think it would be amazing to do 1:1 matching for healthcare. When I go to the dentist or doctor, I’d like to be able to give medical care or dental care to someone in another part of the world who needs it and can receive it for a fraction of the cost.
If you could change on thing in the world, what would it be and how would you go about it?
It would be the education system. I’d make entrepreneurship education mandatory and assign every student a mentor.
Tell us a secret.
Things are rarely what they appear to be.
What are your three favorite online tools and what do you love about them?
- Do.com: My team and I work out of Do. I use it to manage projects and assign tasks to my teams. It’s easy to use and helps us stay on track.
- Evernote: I store all kinds of stuff there. I love that it syncs and keeps all of my files current.
- Sleepyti.me: It’s a simple bedtime calculator that helps you determine when to go to bed or wake up to optimize your rest. Between traveling and an erratic schedule, this app helps me get the most from my sleeping hours.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. It’s a great primer on the importance of taking daily action that aligns with your values and goals.
What’s on your playlist?
A total mashup. Tchaikovsky, 90’s R&B, Jay-Z, Groove Theory, Maroon 5, Mariah Carey, Raphael Saadiq, Little Dragon…it’s really all over the place.
Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?
- @briantippens: He’s an HP director who is a champion of entrepreneurship. His tweets on innovation and diversity are must-reads.
- @reallifee: She’s super smart and offers brilliant advice on getting control of your schedule and your life.
- @daveursillo: He is a master at engaging followers and building community. He’s also an expert on alternative leadership who walks his talk.
When was the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?
A few hours ago. I saw something that said, “No, officer, I’m not drunk. I’m talking in cursive.” I’m a bit of a cornball and find a lot of random things hilarious.
Who is your hero?
The future version of myself.
What’s next for Lisa Nicole Bell?
I’m really excited about The Legacy Letters project, as it’s now a book and soon to be a live stage show and DVD. I like the idea of creating a virtual mentorship for women and girls through letters written by women who share their experiences.
I’m also working with my team on the American Dream Revised as we put the seeds for starting a money-making project into the hands of Millennials.
What is your guilty pleasure?
It’s a toss-up between unprofessionalemails.com and wtfqrcodes.com. Snarky things make me laugh and these sites are filled with the kind of sarcasm that cracks me up.
Connect:
Lisa Nicole Bell Website: www.lisanicolebell.com
Lisa Nicole Bell on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InspirationIcon
Lisa Nicole Bell on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LisaNicoleBell
Lisa Nicole Bell on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisanicolebell
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.