You are currently browsing the monthly archive for May 2010.
I tried uploading this image onto my facebook page with no luck. Aarghh. I hate when that happens. My intention is to share with friends and family, but my technological ineptitude interferes and holds me back. Actually, I just look for another way.
I was delighted to have Peggy Garbus (far right) tap me on the shoulder at the Savor the Success event on Wednesday. She had traveled into the city with some other wildly creative women from Wilton, CT. Here I am with Laurie Davis (aka Glitter Fairy), Kate Woodman and Peggy. We’re trying to smile for two different photographers (ah, the papparazzi!). Hence the focus in two directions.
In March I conducted back-to-back goal-setting workshops for the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. One of the characteristics I noticed among the creative and talented men and women attending was an inability to focus. By spreading their abilities over a wide range of projects, nothing of note was getting accomplished. This is common, not only among artists, but all of us. Staying busy, but not productive, is the curse of our times.
I challenged the class individually and as a group to let go of the non-essentials in their lives and make a decision as to where to put their energies. Trying to produce art, get your website up-to-date, be active on facebook, cook dinner and go to yoga can squash any creative desire. My advice? Pick one and do it thoroughly, even if it means allowing some of the other areas of your life to slip. The satisfaction gained from doing one thing really well and to completion will lift all the other areas soon enough.
One volunteer attendee, Lana Peck, allowed me to drill down to help her find what she was truly passionate about. Lana has multiple talents, but where I noticed the strongest desire was around song-writing and performing. It’s pretty easy to spot this kind of yearning because it’s often accompanied by tears. Lana allowed herself to become vulnerable in front of the group and admit that if she could be successful in just one area, it would be performing her own music.
I knew what a risk it was for her to make that statement publicly. Huge! But the relief and satisfaction of getting those words expressed showed up in her wide grin. The final activity in the session was to write down a goal that each participant would accomplish by May 1 (the class met in early March). I asked Lana if she would commit to writing a song, performing it and sending me the video on youtube. I received an email from her last week saying it was in the works, and got the final link to her performance Monday morning. Take a peek…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8fchawZyiM
Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County
I’m just back from a great event for women entrepreneurs called Savor the Success. It will continue tomorrow, but I’m completely filled up. I met terrific women, heard great speakers and practically floated home afterward. I’ll be sharing quotes and thoughts I heard there for weeks to come. It was that rich.
My favorite speaker this morning was Poppy King, the Lipstick Queen now featured at Barneys and on HSN, who hails from Australia. She emphasized that her greatest successes invariably came after her biggest setbacks. (She doesn’t like the word failure). I also appreciated her profound understanding that “simple is hard.” She said there is “no nobility in being complicated.” Sticking to her vision of non-shiny lip color has been her hallmark of success.
She reminded me of my favorite woman business owner–Eileen Fisher–who has maintained her vision of simply beautiful garments in solid colors, high quality fabrics and attractive styles that enhance the wearer.
I’m often distracted by new promotions/seductions that lead me in a different direction than I intend for myself. Usually there’s a dollar amount that seems attractive. But when I stay true to my values, keep focused on my ideal client and in my groove of what I do best, I’m able to keep it simple and walk away from business that doesn’t serve my ultimate goal of leading remarkable women to uncommon success.
At my most recent Remarkable Women’s Network event in Irvington, NY at the Eileen Fisher LAB store, Sheila Longhi, an independent rep for Silpada Designs, and I had a chance to chat between small group breakout sessions. Since both of us have the role of host at events of our own creation, we have a keen eye for what works and what doesn’t.
There’s tremendous competition out there for busy people’s time, so both Sheila and I are respectful of and delighted by those who sign up for our events. Sheila has boiled her philosophy down to three words:
- Invite
- Remind
- Serve
She simply puts out the invitation and hopes that her audience will see the value in getting together with like-minded individuals in pursuit of business, networking, buying, selling or whatever the day’s proposition holds.
She’s not embarrassed to remind attendees of their commitment. With so much on our plates, it’s essential to say, “Don’t forget!” It’s part of the process, even though they may have rsvp’d weeks before. It’s necessary to reiterate the invite and the specifics of attending. I believe (I do this myself, actually) that invitees wait for final instructions.
The most important piece of Sheila’s formula is part three: serve. And I don’t mean coffee and tea! Be sure there’s value in what you’re offering. What will each participant take away when they leave? Are they walking off with something special?
What I love most to hear is about connections made, resources discovered, enthusiasm shared. Sheila, too, is all about giving to others. It’s a winning formula.
My Leadership tribe (the Jaguars) had a community call on Friday to reconnect after several months. We were talking about our edges–what each of us is working on in our coaching businesses–and what new identity we’re growing into.
I love the concept of edges because it helps me visualize where I am. The edge is the pinnacle on the mountaintop separating where I am currently in any given situation–personal or professional. On the left side is me wanting world renown for my new book, for example. On the other side is where I want to get to–multiple speaking engagements, fabulous sales and Oprah, of course .
I feel clueless at the moment of how to make that vision real. If I knew every step of the way, it wouldn’t be an edge. It would be like going to the grocery store with my list. We all face edges daily. Depending on your boldness, they vary greatly.
One of my tribe-mates had a wonderful analogy she’d read in Peanuts. That place in between wanting and having, that edge or transition, is like Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. I know on some level comfort will be mine again, but my security is being severely compromised in the process. That’s why I have my tribe.
