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Back in the dark ages, 2002, when technology was forcing us digital immigrants to really get on board, I read a piece in the Currents section of the New York Times by David Pogue that made me laugh out loud. It was about using your computer to create digital images–like FotoMat used to…
“Just connect the camera to the computer with a USB cable, copy your multimegabyte JPEG files to the hard drive; open the photos in an image-processing program; rotate and crop each one, adjusting the color; calculate the pixel density and desired output dimensions–and then click print. What could be simpler?”
I remember when I didn’t know what any of those words meant, and of course, now I do.
I just worked with my wonderful tech guru, Sean, to figure out how to download audios so I could include them in my blogs. I felt the same way I did when I started playing with images all those years ago–like a foreigner in a foreign land. And, you get to listen to my first attempt at recording and downloading wave files:Blog talk
Sean is a man of few words. We stick with the basics when he works on my tech issues which is perfect when you’re paying by the hour. Listen for interviews and client comments in the future.
…and my chiropractor, my insurance agent and a business consultant with whom I’d worked many years ago. These businesses were smart sending an off-season mailing to get their customer’s attention.
It works. I’ll definitely go into my local Chico’s to redeem the enclosed $10 gift card. Of course, there’s nothing available at Chico’s for ten bucks, so their thoughtfulness benefits them by getting me into their store when I hadn’t planned to go and making a purchase I hadn’t intended to make.
I just finished writing about 100 ‘warmest wishes’ cards to colleagues who’d sent me holiday cards last December. I don’t want to get lost in the pile, so I respond in July when mine is the only hand-written, first-class mail in their box.
There is no call to action in my cards to my clients and prospects. It’s more a means for staying top of mind which is what marketing is all about–showing up with your message and hoping it matches a need.
I’m quite sure Chico’s doesn’t feel as connected to me as I do to my clients. But, in both cases we’re taking the time to acknowledge the importance and value of the relationship. And that’s worth celebrating any time of year.
During my coaching training, and when I work with my clients, I often use a couple of tools I learned: Future Self and Life Purpose.
Here’s a dramatically abbreviated overview: In defining one’s Future Self you participate in a visualization that allows you to imagine what you’ll be like in 5, 10, 20 years. It provides substantial imagery and a comforting look at what’s coming. At the end of the visualization, you’re asked to give your Future Self a name. I chose Wise Woman.
The Life Purpose exercise incorporates some of the Future Self images as well as identifying a peak moment in your past. Through a process that is challenging and fun (again, I’m abbreviating), a life purpose statement is formulated. Mine is: I am the midwife who helps you deliver your creative ideas.
Here’s the ta-dah. In the current issue of O magazine I came across this sentence on p. 169: The French word for midwife is sage-femme, wise woman.
Felt like an exclamation point from the Universe.
When I wrote my book, Soul Proprietor: 101 Lessons from a Lifestyle Entrepreneur in 2001, I had a sense of what it meant to be a lifestyle entrepreneur. But not a definition that rolled off my tongue. I talked about the bottom line being more than simply a dollar sign, about loving what you do and about your work being a reflection of your life rather than vice versa.
(Click here to purchase your copy.)
I recently heard two women business owners talk about their decidely un-lifestyle entrepreneurial business. It was at a Ladies Who Launch event in Fairfield, CT. They created a very successful company for a sole (not soul) purpose–to sell it. They differentiated themselves from lifestyle entrepreneurs whom they defined as follows:
- Lifestyle entrepreneurs create their own way to make income, often doing something they’re passionate about.
- Lifestyle entrepreneurs strive to grow what they have created.
- Their intention is to have their lifestyle business support them for the rest of their lives.
- They have no intention of getting venture capital investors for the purpose of selling their company.
The second bullet point is not exclusive to lifestyle entrepreneurs. Every business owner wants to grow what they have, but the end goals are different. My business goals match up with the bullet points they discussed. I loved the clarity and would choose this way of life any day of the week.
Ryan Doran, reporter for the Fairfield County Business Journal, wrote a wonderful article about my upcoming retreat. It featured on the front page of this week’s edition. Click the link above to read the entire piece. Thank you, Ryan!
When my caller ID showed the message US News World Report you can be sure I picked up the line! How exciting to be interviewed by such an eminent publication. My main question was, “How did you find me?” but I graciously delayed asking until the interview was complete. Liz Woglemuth, the reporter, was unable to remember how she’d found me, which I guess is a good thing.
As you’ll see from the complete article, this was about telecommuting. I reminded her that my home office experience caters to entrepreneurs, which was fine with her. Here’s an excerpt from the full article:
Problem: Your home office doesn’t feel like an office.
You may underrate the importance of your physical environment in the beginning. You think you can work from anywhere. “For some people working from home the first time, they want to make sure they have a clearly delineated space,” Slim says. Keep the area clear, and make sure you have the tools you need—that your phone will work for teleconferences or that your Internet connection will carry bandwidth-heavy work applications.
Be straightforward about marking your territory. Jane Pollak, an entrepreneurship expert and coach, says she loves her renovated home office. “It really staked a claim that I’m serious, that this is my office,” she says. “I have friends who write ‘World Headquarters’ on the third bedroom door. It’s a way of saying: ‘This is where I go to do my work.’ “
My inspiration for this was hearing Rosita Perez, esteemed member (and my mentor), of the National Speakers Association.
My dear friend Kathryn invited me for a birthday lunch last week. We sat outside in her spectacular garden, ate a deliciously prepared macrobiotic feast, then went inside for her gift to me, a session of healing touch which she’s been studying.
In addition to being nourished and nurtured, Kathryn also inspired me with her description of an Omega Institute writing class she had signed up for. What hooked me was the enticement to the workshop provided by the instructor. “When people try to write stories they tend to drag the stories behind them,” says writer and cartoonist Lynda Barry. Rather, this inspirational teacher said, she wants writing to feel as though you are being pulled on water skis.
I was instantly struck by the power of that metaphor. Planning my Create Your Own Future preview party had exactly that feel. From the moment Laura Newman, my PR coach made the suggestion, I’ve felt as though I were being pulled by a speeding motorboat. It’s been an exhilarating ride as opportunity after opportunity flew into my life–Artifact, the spectacular venue; the women who are co-presenting with me, the interest of the press and the 70 women who have signed up to attend.
For more details on the event click here.
Years ago Anne Taintor and I met when we were each exhibiting our artwork at the Westport Creative Arts Festival. I’ve been following her career ever since.
She has branded herself brilliantly over the years and created a look uniquely hers. Whenever I see her products on sale I’m thrilled for her success. I was tickled to see her featured in O Magazine’s June 2008 issue. In an article enumerating 101 ways to say “no” they selected one of Anne’s hilarious message pins. I immediately went to place an order for 100. They are perfect fun gifts for my clients who find themselves giving away precious time.
However, when I selected the item to add to my cart I got the following message:
Sorry – Item 02316 is currently out of stock.
The good news and bad news about appearing in such a high circulation magazine is that everyone sees your product (good news), and if you’re out of stock the minute they want to order it, you’ve lost a sale and probably a customer (bad news).
I know I’ll return to Anne’s site next month to order this and several other products, but felt badly that her company hadn’t anticipated the volume created by Oprah’s enormous clout.
Scarlett De Bease, my wonderful Image Consultant, asked me to write a testimonial for her LinkedIn profile. I was very happy to oblige. But I knew that it would take me awhile to figure out exactly how to fulfill her request. I had never posted a recommendation on that social network before and assumed there were several steps to making it happen.
I responded to Scarlett’s request saying, go ahead and cut and paste the testimonial I gave you for the website. She gently let me know that it would have to actually come from my profile and wrote out the step-by-step instructions for posting. She saved me considerable time, demonstrated being pro-active and professional.
Scarlett took into consideration that I, too, am a busy professional and figured out a way to achieve her goal and help me at the same time. I was struck by this as it occurred shortly after another request that would have benefited from Scarlett’s forethought.
At a networking event last week someone approached me with kind words about how she’d been watching my career build over the years. She then asked if I would keep her posted on all the future events I would be attending. She was confident that she’d like to go to those too.
I’m not quite ready for Twitter where people post there whereabouts on a regular basis, but will add my networking travels on a regular basis. I requested that she, the requester, check my blog for the information rather than put the responsibility on me to let her know.
Listening to Andrea Adler’s CD, To Advertise or Not To Advertise, That is The Question, I heard validation for a practice I’ve already embarked upon–making an offering. Next Thursday evening, July 17th, I’m offering a sneak preview of my Create Your Own Future event to be held at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA next January.
Making an offering is based upon the same universal principle as tithing–that as we share our talents and resources, the universe returns the favor in kind.
Your offering can take the form of a gift certificate for your services, a donation of your art form or a lecture to a group, like the Rotary. Mine is a free demonstration of some of the experiences guests will have at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires–beautifully prepared and health-giving food, body awareness and movement, plus the experiential exercise I’ll provide to stimulate thoughts about each individual’s dreams and vision.
Here, says Adler, is why making an offering works:
- You give back to the community.
- You educate people about what you do.
- You make yourself available, visible, reachable.
- People are able to put a face and voice to your product of service.
All of these factors help to build trust. Please join me!
