I am overwhelmed by the response to my request for feedback on my headshot. The request to you came out of a coaching session where I was encouraged to allow myself to be the center of attention–a place that does not come easily or naturally to me.

I love the idea of being fully comfortable in the spotlight and have challenged myself repeatedly to stand in that place and allow myself to revel in the attention. My coach asked me what would help me to remain present for those good feelings. “Breathing always helps,” I answered, knowing full well that I often forget this and don’t inhale.

While going through my coaching certification process years ago my supervisor asked me a similar question. “How can you remind yourself to be fully present with your clients?” Again, the answer was to take a deep breath to get centered in my own body. That breath would give a moment to connect with the soul who was dialing my number for my services. 

I devised a structure that would serve as a constant reminder of this easily forgotten necessity in my life and practice. I wrote the word BREATHE where I would easily see it every time. Not a coincidence that this reminder to take a breath when seeking connection was written on the receiver of my phone. 

Kate Eisemann recently shot dozens of images of me for a new headshot. I was still enamored of the one she did three years ago, but based on some feedback from an unbiased third party, I decided it was time to step out as a glasses-wearing woman business owner who also happens to be three years older–not that it shows…

I would love your opinion on the narrowed down selection of shots Kate took. She generously provided me with four re-touched options for consideration. Will you vote on your favorite via the comments section? 

The winner will be the one that goes onto my website and all my marketing materials for the next several years. No pressure!

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Blowing out candles at last year's party.

Most of you are taking today as a vacation day, so I’ll be brief.

I spent the past three days in NYC assisting at a coaches training course. It was an extraordinary experience being in a room with 18 very powerful coaches-in-training, two inspiring co-assistants and two master coach leaders, Nina McGuffin and Sam House.

Because I was so thoroughly engaged during that time, I’ve given myself today to play catch-up and rest. Also, since tomorrow’s my birthday AND Independence Day, I’m enjoying the quiet of no phones ringing and a chance to respond to 200+ emails waiting in my inbox.

I’ve got an awesome day planned tomorrow. I learned many years ago that if I wanted to have a special and memorable birthday, I would need to let people know it was an important day for me.

A dear friend has opened her home to members of our fellowship for a breakfast celebration. One of the great things about being born on a holiday is that everyone has the day off. If you get them early enough in the day (7:30-10am) , they haven’t left for the beach or backyard picnic yet.

My daughter and son-in-law got us all tickets to see God of Carnage, the Tony Award winner for Best Play in 2009 for tomorrow night. We’ll meet for dinner before the show, stay in Manhattan overnight, walk the High Line in the morning, then see Waiting for Godot at a Sunday matinee. It doesn’t get any better than this in my book.

I am blessed and very happy to be celebrating another year.

After a full day of assisting a coach training program I hopped the subway to my hotel, made a quick wardrobe change and took another subway to NYU where I was hosting a table for Women In Communications (WICI) at their Night of the Coaches. This was a brilliantly conceived event where coaches were showcased to members and guests of WICI.

The format was roundtable discussions (10 altogether) facilitated by coaches on subjects ranging from Crafting a Rock Star Pitch for Cover Letter and Interviews, to Negotiating in a Tough Economy and Building Your Freelance Career (my table). There were 10 women at each table, plus the coach and about 45 minutes to tackle the subject. I shared several tools and strategies for building a freelance business and opened the discussion to those in attendance. 

“Show, don’t tell” has become a favorite phrase for me. I can talk till I’m blue in the face about the value of coaching and get continuous blank stares. But, last night, when I paused the group as one participant lit about about copy editing, they all witnessed what happens when you are truly in your passion. This woman had asked about getting started doing freelance writing work. When I asked a question about what she liked about writing, she said, “I love helping my friends write essays for applications and making sure they’re letter-perfect [I'm paraphrasing.].” I suggested that she trust that pleasure and hang out her shingle, for now, in that capacity. “Trust that doing that will lead you to your next opportunity.” 

At my very first craft show, exhibiting my decorated eggs, a woman from Bloomingdale’s approached me–because I was there–and invited me to conduct a demonstration and workshop at the store. When you show up with your passion and make yourself available to opportunity, it comes knocking. Your job is to take action.

I had just read Terri Lonier’s brilliantly precise methodology for connecting colleagues and friends online in her weekly newsletter and wanted to share it with my readers. Then, I received the following email and thought, “Another great example of how social media is working!” [My editorial thoughts are inserted throughout.]

Good Morning Jane,

Your blog [I'm already feeling flattered] came to my attention through a Google Alert [If you don't already use these, here's the perfect example of how to]. Besides the jewelry connection, which I’ll explain in a moment, your blog resonated with me because of your mission and vision boards. [I had written that Oprah was in my jewelry box, but the word 'resonated' kept me reading. I'm a sucker for flattery.] I wrote a presentation…discussing the power of vision boards.

Back to the jewelry…I am a statement jewelry designer and etailer whose mission is to help women to define themselves by cohesively bonding their internal and external selves. [She's got me now! I love someone who can so clearly define her mission.] Although jewelry might not be an obvious path to this journey, identifying your style and asking yourself “who you are” really digs deep. At any rate, my site offer exclusive tools to help women make the best selections, shop smartly and give back to others. When you have a moment, please peruse www.stylefoliojewelry.com for more information. [I did. It's fabulous!]

Please understand that the intent of my email is to connect. Perhaps being on each others radar can lead to expanding our positive and proactive contributions [here's the WIIFM] for all the things we desire to manifest individually and collectively.

Regards,

Yvette Craddock – Founder + Style Director – www.stylefoliojewelry.com

Yvette and I have been in touch back and forth several times now, joined each others networks and communicated via email. I definitely feel connected. Last week I’d never heard of her, and now we’re promoting each other based on our mutual missions.

Finally, late last week my friend Leigh called to ask if I would introduce her to one of my colleagues who might help her make some valuable connections in the world of academia. It feels like I was just taught by two masters so that I could pass it on. I hope you will as well.

I could be wrong, but my hunch is that most people who are reading my blog are not in mourning for Michael Jackson or Farrah Fawcett. I am truly sorry for their untimely passing and respect their hard-earned celebrity stature. There are many places where this topic will have wide readership and opportunity for discussion. That said, I’ll move on.

I got a new action partner last week as the result of my visit to Provincetown. My good friend Doreen and I participated in a Mastermind Session during my short visit. In her share, Doreen mentioned wanting more accountability. Since she’s one of my favorite people on the planet and someone whose opinion I regard highly and seek out regularly, it made sense to ask, “Want to be my goal buddy?”

I asked without being attached to the outcome. I knew that it would be delightful to be in touch with Doreen frequently and share our visions and action steps. But I also knew that it would be equally okay if she said no. I’m already in a local monthly Mastermind Group, in addition to another that meets weekly. Both record goals. I enjoy being challenged and held accountable whenever I see an opportunity that feels like the bar is being raised.

In accepting my offer, Doreen said, “My feet are already hot.”

I do have a reputation for holding my clients’ feet to the fire. That’s why most sign on and also why many don’t. I like it that way.

I’ve been staring at two vision boards that hang on the inside of my closet door daily for several years now. The very first one I ever created, before these two, came to fruition within a short time. I made it by cutting and pasting images of the places, people and things I wanted in my life. I visited Japan, renovated our master bath, created a forum for high-level artistic women, entertained good friends and emulated Julie Morgenstern.

These two newer boards are taking longer to manifest. I’ve been gazing at yoginis in impossible postures, lap pools and exotic locales. And Oprah. I realized just how long I’d had these boards in my closet when Oprah’s picture fell off. The glue which had been holding her attached to my vision had dried up. I lovingly placed her image in my jewelry box so I could continue to envision having her in my life. I’m still not sure what I’m looking for–hence the vision board–I just know it includes Oprah in some form.   

The reason I’m writing about this is that I believe it’s important to know what you want and to place your ad with the Universe. Clients recently have told me what they don’t want: aggravating clients, too little income, work that bores them. Among other recommendations I always suggest a vision statement or board so that they will become crystal clear and focus on what they do want.

 I arrived in Dublin before 7am (2am EDT) yesterday, grabbed a cab and arrived at Linda’s doorstep before 8am. After a quick tour of her magnificent apartment and a short welcoming chat, I went right to sleep. 

When I got up, it was bright and sunny–not typical Irish weather–and we walked for miles around the city. 

Our conversations, after discussing her adjustment to living abroad, were about our families and then our businesses. Linda has always been a role model for me as well as a sounding board since we met in the late 70’s. We talked at length about where we were going in our companies and offered perspectives to each other. We each took into account the economy and technology and how to operate and thrive within those parameters. 

John joined us for dinner where we reminisced about the old days. I used to stay at their house in Guilford while exhibiting my work at the handcrafts fair there each summer. I admired their values then and I admire them still.

Click here to watch

Vacations in our house have always been affectionately referred to as vaycos. Not sure how you’d spell it, but it’s pronounced like the title of this post. Being married to a public school administrator (English Department Chair–retired since 2001) for all these years, the closer the calendar got to spring vacation, summer break or the winter holidays, the more joyful the household became with the impending promise of time off.

Since my calendar is no longer defined by school breaks but by my own decision making, I have declared these last few weeks in June “time for fun.” So many people, who are more school calendar based, are in transitions–graduations, reunions, weddings, etc. I know it’s a good time to plan time off and not frustrate myself waiting for prospects to get back to me or lining up meetings.

I started my vay-co status last Friday  accompanied by one of my closest friends. We trained into New York City to a Korean spa for an afternoon of massage, body scrub, facial, shampoo, sauna and steam bath ($130).

On Sunday I traveled to Provincetown with another good friend (Nancy Moon, who did the video clip above) where two more good friends own the Inn at Cook Street. We enjoyed each others’ company, great meals together (the breakfast at the Inn is awesome!), a walk up and down Commercial Street and the fresh Cape Cod air.

Tonight starts the most ambitious leg of vacation as I fly to Dublin to visit my dear friend Linda Carr,  the woman who gave me the biggest boost in my early days as a craft artist. Now, 30+ years later, she’s living in Ireland for two years and has invited me to play tourist with her. I’m so excited to travel there for the first time and have nothing on my schedule but exploration, friendship and relaxation.

Since entrepreneurs create their own futures all the time, this is a reminder to establish vay-co time on your calendar. When I say, via my tag line, that I lead remarkable women to uncommon success, I’m simply doing my job by practicing self-care and sharing the journey with you.