The 2017 QuickBooks Connect conference is far from boring when you have former supermodel Tyra Banks as a keynote speaker.
Perfect is boring. And sometimes the messy, the real, and the true is what truly connects. – Tyra Banks
If you haven’t heard of or attended the conference, you’re missing out on 3 valuable days of education and empowerment. The QuickBooks Connect conference is an annual event that brings entrepreneurs, small business owners, accountants & developers together under one roof to take advantage of industry networking and sessions that will help you take your career and business to the next level.
And Tyra Banks knows a thing or two about growing a business and building an empire. She landed a contract with Elite Model Management, one of the most reputable modeling agencies in the world, when she was in high school. Her popularity as an international fashion model grew rapidly and she became the first black woman to land a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Then she ventured into TV where she earned awards for her success as the host of “American’s Next Top Model” and “The Tyra Banks Show”.
Let’s not forget that Tyra Banks is also a business woman who has dived into the world of finance. She started Fierce Capital LLC, an investment firm which focuses on funding mostly women-owned businesses.
It’s safe to say that there is a lot to learn from Tyra Banks when it comes to media and money. Here are 2 takeaways that every career goddess should take note of on their career journey:
Differentiate Yourself
“Differentiation is everything,” says Banks. “You can’t just be better at something. Or shinier. Or newer. You have to be different”.
Tyra Banks taught a personal branding course at one of the most elite institutions in the world. As a guest lecturer for the Stanford Graduate School of Business, she helped build an interactive curriculum that focused on the value of a personal brand and how to pivot and evolve your brand.
Be Willing to Reinvent Your Career
Bank’s desire to constantly reinvent her career and unlock a new level of her potential helped her make many career-defining transitions from the runway to being the creator of America’s Next Top Model.
“The thing that is really difficult is when you don’t have footsteps to follow. But what you can do is look at people in different sectors who have done different things. I might be in this world and they are in that world but it’s all business,” says Banks.
Have the Knowledge But Be Willing to Delegate
“I applied to Harvard’s Executive education program. That gave me a lot of confidence. We studied accounting, finance, leadership, strategy, global markets, and all of these things I don’t have any business spending a lot of time doing,” says Banks. “But the fact that I know and have knowledge of that makes me a better leader and entrepreneur”.
Tyra also learned the importance of delegation and focusing on your strengths. “What ended up happening is that I started focusing on things that are not my strengths nor my interests. I realized [you should] have the knowledge, but delegate and focus on creativity and marketing.”
What is your favorite career tip? Leave a comment below to share your response.
The next QuickBooks Connect conference will take place from November 5th- 7th in San Jose, California.
Do you need help getting started with QuickBooks for your small business? Contact me at charlene@charlenerhinehart.com to learn more about our QuickBooks strategy session and training opportunities.