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L-R: Julie Hutchinson, Christie Bedair Carbo, Brett Barnes of Lifeworks, me, Kathleen Lake at LEAP/Lifeworks Pre-White Party Happy Hour 2009, Picture by Chad Harlan at ChadHarlan.com
Networking, to me, is some bit of a necessary evil. I don’t always feel so comfortable at big events with strangers, but I am working on releasing that. I do especially enjoy certain events and this last week, I went to a happy hour that was complete fun.
The event, hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas, was a philanthropy happy hour, held to promote the upcoming White Party fundraiser for LEAP/Lifeworks. It was a garden party full of drop dead gorgeous people who are just as beautiful inside as they are on the outside. Everyone in attendance was a direct volunteer or financial supporter of the LEAP organization and I was blown away by the quality of individuals there.
I was equally impressed with the organizers themselves. Pictured above in the middle is Brett Barnes, the Executive director of Lifeworks. Lifeworks’ mission is to transition youth and families from crisis to safety and success with education, housing resources, job training, life skills, and more. LEAP is one of their umbrella programs that connects executives and business people to Lifeworks via fund raisers, volunteer opportunities, and more.
So, I partied for a cause. I met some great people. I connected with other like minded social entrepreneurs and conscious philanthropists that see compassion as a prerequisite to doing great business. I felt like I was among “my people”. Networking isn’t so bad after all…
I love great marketing. When I see clever advertising, or an attractive brand, or an engaging headline, I smile. When an individual or company can cut through the noise, or do something differently, or use a turn of phrase in an interesting or amusing way, I notice. I experienced one of these great every day marketing examples this weekend and thought I’d share it with you to enjoy and appreciate too.
I took a small trip and stayed at Hyatt Regency DFW in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. It’s a rather nice hotel and the interior design is superb. It was also the most comfortable bed I have ever slept on in a hotel. My sweetheart and I both commented that we’d buy a bed like that for our home because of its comfort.
The hotel had also done a really nice job in the paint colors, the artwork, the rugs, the bedding - everything. It just worked and made even going to the ice machine an artistic, enjoyable experience. I remember thinking about how I could duplicate the look at home for myself because I liked it so much.
As I was gathering my possessions to leave I noticed a “Hyatt at Home” brochure. Hyatt sells everything I saw in their hotel! If I want to buy that uber comfy bed, I can! If I want to have that bedspread and those pillows, they’re mine. Isn’t that cool? Everything I experienced, down to the exclusive soap and shampoo, was available for sale.
To me, Hyatt has taken a huge leap forward to integrate marketing into their customer service experience this way. It’s clever and very calculated. Even if all you do is take that brochure, you relive their hotel experience. And, Hyatt doesn’t make beds and they probably don’t own a bath soap company. They simply negotiated a branding relationship with the vendors they already used to license and market what they were already doing. They looked at the total experience they were offering and figured out additional ways to monetize it for themselves - in a way that also benefits their customers.
Like I said - I adore great every day marketing examples. I think I will apply this one more fully to my own business today. How about you? Got any great marketing examples to share?
The last few weeks I have had the good fortune to attend several community events and they seem to have an overarching theme - moving beyond struggle and prejudice. As I shift my work and move more into woman empowerment advocacy and a bit away from pure business focus, I have had the good fortune to be introduced to several groups, so I want to start to share their info with you.
Beyond Words: founded 14 years ago by Nitsan Gordon–Giles, a professional dance/movement therapy counselor, this is a group that brings together Israeli, Arab, and Palestinian women to heal through movement, touch, and listening. I met Nitsan at a FLOW event last week and she was a gentle, focused and joyful person. She told her story how, as a child, she had to live in bomb shelters, and how she was tormented in US school by the other kids because she was the only Jew. Here is an excerpt from the Beyond Words website about why it’s important to undermine prejudice:
Why is it important to transform prejudices in Israel?
Mainly because as evidenced from our own past and that of so many others around the world, prejudice can lead to incredibly destructive, horrific actions.
Also if the “need” for prejudiced behavior is not addressed, it can be passed on to the next generation. In the Middle East prejudice permeates large sections of the region’s populations and transforming it in Israel is our responsibility as a sovereign state, and is within our reach, and possibilities.
We believe changes begin at home and in the community. As women are educated about their rights and taught to work through their fears and support one another, they realize that their lives could be different. Gradually they become stronger and better able to stand up for their own rights and the rights of their children. As their self confidence and awareness increase they are able to create a more open, loving, respectful and accepting atmosphere in their homes. Consequently their children grow up treating others with more respect, empathy and compassion and realize the many choices they have to solve every problem that do not include aggression and violence.
Because the Middle East is such a “hot spot” involving more than three of the worlds’ religions and much of the world’s supply of oil, the lack of stability in the Middle East affects and endangers the rest of the world and in fact the survival of humanity on this planet. It is therefore crucial to create programs that undermine prejudices and encourage dialogue, justice and a shared society.
As I prepare my Spirit to visit with Amma, my guru, this weekend in Dallas, I realize that I don’t respect silence as much as I could.
With the beautiful cacophony of chaos available in this modern world, I have not yet found a consistent time that I dedicate to stillness and silence. In the past, with some bit of inconsistency, I have known the joys and benefits of it. I logically get the value. But, still I don’t do it.
Today finds me making space for silence. I invite you to do the same.
A few days ago, as I was busily working at my home office computer, I heard a loud and attention getting thud at a window looking out over my backyard. Surprised, based on the volume, that the window had not been broken, I shot up to find out what had happen.
Much to my dismay, my window was to be the final thing one of the local birds saw as it passed into the next world. As my mind raced with thoughts of helping this often welcome visitor to my backyard, within a minute or two, those thoughts were no longer pertinent to the bird. Days later, oddly enough, those thoughts still continue for me.
As much I have tried to rationalize the bird’s passing, reconciling the happenstance that occurs for all of us in this crazy world we call Life, my mind wanders to the continuity of memory - the stubborn persistence of the colors, emotions, smells, songs, circumstances, and people that have been part of both the good and seemingly less good situations of my life.
Even today I can still vividly remember the final moments of my sweet dog Killer’s life two years ago. I can still touch that well of sadness in a moment like I am standing there right now, right here. I can still recall the first time I got a raise at work over 20 years ago - the joy, the satisfaction, the excitement. It’s easy to hear a song and have an entire decade of my experience come alive in full techicolor. I am certain I am not alone in noticing the power memories can have over the present.
The trick, it would seem, is to be able to let it flow over and through you and not allow the past to overtake your vision of Now. When the past weighs more than the Now, it’s not always so great. Honestly, isn’t a heavy devotion to the past the basis of prejudice? It’s not a Now experience - it’s a decision, already made, based on the past, being pushed into the future. Sometimes it’s not even your past but rather the experiences of your parents, or your friends. Maybe it’s not even based in actual experience or any actual facts, yet the emotions stay alive.
I would be remiss to not admit that many good decisions come from past experience - that’s the essence of learning, really. But, I believe learning has to continue to retain its value. Instead of letting an up-to-date analysis of situations rule, it’s just too easy to fall back to what I’ve seen before rather than collect additional information to consider. It’s like a shorthand method to help me through the many yes-no options I have during any - dare I say, every - day. Easy to understand but relatively dangerous to do.
It’s not usually in my best interest to let a stale view of the world continue forward. I recognize that an epiphany, or even a more gradual evolution of Spirit, can’t happen if I cling to the past. To deal with this, I’ve begun using The Sedona Method to move away from being locked into a long gone emotional state, which allows me to move forward with renewed joy and hopeful insight. It’s a simple set of questions that help me to let it go. I am certain it will help me in my business, in my relationships, and my life. It’s what I’ve had to use to let the memory of that little bird fade.
So, what about you? Want to share a situation where releasing your past helped you? I’d love to hear from you.
I enjoy mastermind groups, especially ones where the members really fit nicely together. This week, it was my turn to be in the hot seat with one of my groups.
This particular group is based on Law of Attraction concepts and includes life and love coaches, an artist, and myself. We bring our business or life issues to the table and ask for whatever help we need from the group. It is an eternal spring of epiphany, insight, enduring support, and creative ideas. It feeds me.
This last session, I talked about the transformation my life is going through, how I am shifting and how I felt I needed to go 40 days into the desert to figure out what to do next. One of the members told me she thought that I had already been in the desert and it was time to envision getting out. She also recommended to use my favorite every day actions to help me, so as I described the feeling I get when I am singing, she told me “Your Song is Your Eye”. Her statement felt like a lightening bolt up my spine.
They all commented next on how I use metaphor based in music and song to describe life - harmony, flow, tempo, beauty, scale, performance, being in tune. I had never really noticed it so much, but it was dead on. Could music, which I so often neglect, and song, which I am always longing to do more of, really be such an instrumental vehicle of spiritual growth for me? Apparently.
So, I made the commitment to sing every day as a sort of meditation. And, for those of you who don’t sing, here’s what I have to do to sing well - I have to activate and allow my natural and trained talent, relax my gut, breathe deeply, use a gentle and purposeful push without too much force, allow the words to take on a life of their own, be aware of singing to an audience but not overly concerned about it, practice, have confidence, become the Song. It is an immediate feedback loop that sends beauty out and relaxation in.
My singing is my way of letting Life flow through me. When I am singing well, it feels like I am having a conversation with God. That may sound corny, but it’s how I feel. And, it wasn’t until it was brought to my attention by loving friends that I realized it. Indeed my song is my eye.
So, now I’m wondering about you. What is your metaphor or life story vehicle? Do you have one? Do you perhaps use gardening to describe your point of view - cultivation, careful tending, weeding, and harvesting the fruits of your labor? Do you use sports - competition, discipline, training, winning? No life metaphor is better than any other but I am beginning to feel we probably all have one. What’s yours? You’re invited to share.
Be well!
Vicki
P.S. Here’s a small snipit of Time After Time from my first practice session with my new guitar friend. It’s our first time together, and it’s just an open mic recording, but it is nice - and it only gets better from here. Enjoy!
I find myself at a crossroads. For some time now, I’ve blogged about the how-to for women entrepreneurs. I can honestly say that I’ve done that with a loving and well-meaning heart. I’ve shared what I know, my point of view, and the many experts I have met. I have enjoyed my work.
But, here’s the deal - I feel like a fraud.
You see, I have a confession to make. I haven’t yet seen the success I wish I had, the success I’d like you to have. It doesn’t feel right to blog about something I barely feel I know.
So, SmartWoman Guides is shifting - today, now.
From now on, I am not going to hand out advice or words of wisdom about going this place, or doing that thing. I’m not going to assert anything for you. I am going to speak to you from my heart, from the place I’m at as I focus, change, and dare I say it - mention the elephant in the room.
What elephant, you ask? Like many of you I have met, I have a tendency to give to others first. Instead of nurturing myself, honoring my intuition, and taking time for my inner dialogue, I keep giving. Service is important, but, as I have said so many times, you put on your own oxygen mask first. This, I guess, is my way of doing that.
I pledge to offer a more intimate and deeply honest revelation of myself to you. I will allow and fully own my thoughts and feelings about finding my way in this world, making a living, sharing my gifts. I will let example be the teacher. If there is anger, fear or sadness, I will not hide it behind a mask of optimism. I will express it and release it hoping that, by giving myself permission to be more real, you too will do so in your own life.
This blog will shift more toward the inspirational and motivational issues of being a whole, contributing woman in this wonderful world I call home. I’ll discuss life balance, finding pleasure, discovering purpose and how I’m doing outrageous things to move myself forward.
The “professional marketer” in me is screaming bloody murder, saying “Don’t make this all about you! Nobody wants to hear that! People want to hear about what’s in it for them. They don’t care about YOU.” I acknowledge my approach won’t appeal to everyone. I pray that you will discover something you can relate to here. If not, then I thank you for your support up until now and bid you farewell and best wishes.
But, if there is anything I can take away from my SmartWoman Guides experience so far, it is this - you, fine reader, are an excellent person. You have a wealth of knowledge, a depth of experience, and an amazing ability to touch the heart of the matter. I feel without a shadow of doubt that I am in such fine company as I welcome this renewed commitment to the exploration of Life that I cannot possibly lose. I am among friends and I feel blessed.
My highest hope for this experience between us is that each of us learns our path, that we walk it through self-reliance, and that we are a comfort to each other as we find our way. So, I am retiring the “teacher” mode and am going to just express Vicki, with all her glorious quirks, pitfalls, and attributes. I will be honored for you to just express YOU too -not the roles you play, but the real Self inside. Consider this your official invitation.
Who is your ideal business client? Who is it that could benefit most from your services and products? If you said “Everyone” - go back to GO and do not collect $200.
Too often, beginning entrepreneurs don’t take the time to really figure out who is their ideal business client. Even if you have an offering that can appeal to a wide audience, it’s imperative that you have a specific, clear, and quantifiable understanding of exactly who that client is.
Here are some questions to help you identify your ideal client is for your business:
Demographic - gender, ethnicity, culture, geographic location, familial status
Age
Family orientation and attitudes - marital status, parents or not, traditional or alternative
Spiritually oriented
Where did they come to you from? - learning state (beginner/advanced),
Are they originally referrals? - who sent them and why
When they buy - after X amount of research, emergency/crisis basic, in advance
What is their buying cycle? -what time of day/month/year/life circumstance
Buying pattern - how much, how often
Terms - cash, credit, in house financing, monthly billing
Common concerns
Type of communication preferred - email, direct postal mail, phone, physical visit
Remember: Knowing clearly who your ideal client is will inform your marketing, your website copy, your emails, your sales scripting, and everything else. Talking to your prospects and screening them and only taking on clients that fit your required profile will save you money, time, and heartache.
To listen to the SmartWoman Radio show about this topic:
Lately I’ve noticed some interesting changes about my motivation. I find that when I watch a lot of doom and gloom news, I lose my steam. It’s also easy to realize how much time I could waste away if I watch TV during my work day. So, I figured you might be facing these same issues too and wanted to offer some suggestions to help.
1. Get TiVo or DVR
Rather than completely deny yourself your favorite daytime shows, try recording them to watch during a non-work time. Not only can you reduce your overall viewing time by fast forwarding through the commercials (well, except that adorably funny E-trade baby), you can also avoid interrupting your work day.
By recording these guilty pleasures and time shifting your viewing, you also avoid the resentment that comes from having to give them up completely. It’s an effect I call the “bonbon jealousy effect” - that sinking feeling that if you were only more successful or rich or clever that you could be sitting on the sofa eating bonbons watching Oprah instead of working. Well, by using TiVo or DVR, you can have the best of both worlds!
2. Do a mind-body connection reality check
When you are listening to the latest breaking report about an airplane crash, or war, or economic recession, take a deep breath and ask yourself how you are feeling. Are you jittery? Depressed? Anxious? Tense? Is this the feeling that you want people to feel working with you? If not, don’t choose it for your own environment either. You will absorb that negativity and you will pass it on, either to your kids, or your partner, or your clients. Dump the gloom.
I understand that you need to stay informed. But, do you have to watch hours of news about a catastrophe? You’d be better off taking action, like donating to the cause, or spending the precious time you have in this life with your family. And, more importantly, how much time do you spend watching uplifting, inspirational stories or maybe light hearted comedys? Shift the ratio a bit and you will notice it’s easier to work and stay happy. I personally recommend the laughing babies you can find on YouTube. Major medicinal value for your spirit…
3. Online video viewing counts as “TV”
I can’t tell you how many people I talk to that say they don’t “watch TV” but they spend hours online watching videos. Even a Twitter freak like me recognizes the perils of too much computer surfing. Not only will your arms, fingers, and shoulders begin to ache from overuse, but your eyes will start twitching and you’ll feel exhausted from viewing a glowy box for so long.
Commit to a window of time when you’re allowed to watch and absolutely, without exception, schedule time unplugged too. Sunshine is a marvelous thing and long distance viewing (versus close in like when you are watching your computer monitor) will preserve your eyesight. And, the life balance that occurs from incorporating various methods of interfacing with other people will help keep you on track.
My last thought is this - go for the good stuff. Watching reruns just to zone out isn’t really the best option. If a movie you’ve already watched comes on at 2 am when you have insomnia, don’t just zone out - make it special. Pop some popcorn, drink some wine, whatever, but refuse to participate in passive entertainment unless you are living it up when you do it - especially if it’s been there done that material.
Entertainment and distraction is an essential part of staying creative. Numbing yourself out with video isn’t part of that equation. So, pass the remote and truly enjoy what you watch. It can be fun and it can be part of a work at home life.
Together, we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman
