Ladypreneurs We Love

Self-Help Author & Motivational Speaker Nikki Novo

By Ladypreneur League | July 20, 2015

Meet Nikki Novo, author, speaker, blogging mentor and creative crusader. She’s written and edited for a few of our favorite publications and is on a mission to help women discover their purpose, calling and then to teach them how to create and share work true to that message. Cool huh?

Background

Name: Nikki Novo

Age: 32

Current location: Miami, FL

Where are you from?

Originally from Long Branch, New Jersey. I moved to Miami with my parents and siblings in 1990. My parents are Cuban

Education:

I received my Bachelor’s in Mass Communications and Marketing from Florida International University. I’m also a certified hypnotherapist with the International Association of Counselors and Therapists.

Business & Formal Title:

Self-Help Author & Motivational Speaker

What is your company slogan/mission?

My mission is to help women discover their purpose and calling and teach them how create and share work that is true to their calling.

The Grind

What did you do before striking out on your own? At what point did you realize you wanted to be an entrepreneur instead?

I was an editor and writer for several publications. I was an editor at Refinery29, MSN, NBC, and DailyCandy, just to name a few.

I decided to go off on my own when I saw myself building someone else’s brand yet again. I was working 10-hour days creating someone else’s brand. At that point, I had already been running my blog on the side for about three years, and I knew I wanted to help women find the answers that were within them. I was just scared to make the leap. So I took on some freelance writing work and just focused on spreading my message and helping as many people as I could.

Whenever you decided that you were ready to take the leap, what were your next steps?

The first thing I did was build my freelance work. I highly recommend before going off on your own, taking three months or so before the move to find yourself some steady freelance work — even if it’s not necessarily exciting or what you want to do. I locked in that work and basically did two jobs for three months (my full-time plus freelance work). Once I felt solid, I made the jump. I knew I wasn’t going to make money right away from my own work as an author and speaker, which is why I made sure to have freelance writing work secured. But, by being a freelancer, I was able to control my schedule, which allowed me to build my platform.

What is the biggest thing you overcame to launch?

I’d have to say respecting my schedule. Once you’re on your own and you find all these hours in the day, it’s really easy to get distracted and to allow outside forces to control your schedule. I learned to focus and make the most out of my day, which has been part of my success.

Would you describe your work as your “dream job”? Why or why not? What constitutes a dream job for you?

Absolutely. It took me a long time to find what my passion was. I learned it was writing a few years after graduating from college, But once I found personal-development writing, I really felt at home. If I weren’t doing this work, I’d probably be homeless because I can’t do work that isn’t fulfilling.

Any other projects/side hustles you’re working on? Tell us about them.

It’s always a hustle, right? I’m writing my second book, which is about finding your calling and work that is fulfilling. That’s the biggest project, but the one that gets pushed to the side the most because I’m trying to keep up with my day-to-day hustle!

Entrepreneurs live and breathe their businesses. How do you balance work and life? Do you think that’s even possible?

Geeze, I really don’t know what balance is, ha. What I have learned to do is integrate. The lines are kind of blurred at this point. For example, there’s no such thing as office hours for me. What I do is time block. Like certain hours are dedicated to certain people in my life — including myself!

What does your daily routine consist of?

I start off with a morning ritual, where I center myself through prayer and meditation. If I’m in the process of writing a book, I’ll wake up around 430/5am to start writing before my morning ritual. Around 7am the kids wake up and it’s time for breakfast, packing lunches, and getting both of them off to school (or camp). After drop off, I go to my home office or meetings, depending on the day, and I just start knocking out the to-do list. Sometimes, that includes writing, creating podcasts, speaking with clients, answer emails, shooting videos, etc. Every day is different, which is nice. And then I pick up the kids in the afternoon, we play, make dinner, do baths, and then bedtime. After that routine, I get to either enjoy time with my husband or I’ll teach at night or do consultations with my clients.

You have to do it and you hate it – what is your least favorite task to do running your business?

I don’t like paying bills, scanning receipts or answering emails, ha. I’m sure no one likes that. One day, I’ll hire someone who can help me with all of that, so I can spend the day creating and connecting with my people.

You’re on the verge of a business-lady-breakdown. How do you unwind?
I usually need to sleep, do Yoga, or just be with my husband (just us two).

Ladypreneur Living

What did you think you’d be doing now at age 10?

I really had no idea what I was going to do with my life as a child, which is why I do the work I do now: help people find their purpose and message. Because it really bothered me that I had no idea what I wanted to do, yet I knew I was made for big things. Now, I realize that a lot of people felt like that growing up.

Tell us 1-3 of your cannot-live-without ladypreneur apps.
I love Evernote.

Top 5 favorite cities?

Santa Barbara, New York City, Salt Lake City, Barcelona, Florence

Red, White, Sparkling or stronger?

Sparkling

Tell us the best place to eat in Miami. If it’s your kitchen, share your best recipe.

I have a few!

Words to live by:

See the positive. Speak the positive. Be grateful. Be real. Believe. Just do.

In 3 years you’ll be:

I’ll be smiling, observing a tribe of women change the world by living their purpose and sharing their messages.

What advice would you give to budding ladypreneurs interested in your industry?

I would say just start. Be consistent. Recognize your excuses as just challenges that are delaying your happiness. And always look within yourself for the answers. Lastly, answer your calling.