Finding your Howl in a Wasteland of Chatter

That gnawing feeling.

Those moments when you feel as fearful not to, as... TO.

The times you know you need to step it up to those really "big shoes."

This book has followed me. And now it's finally caught up.

And I think I'm finally ready to "grow up."

"It takes walking into the fire, it takes profound vulnerability, it takes letting go of the armor or disguise if you want to touch the Earth and feel its return embrace.... To do anything significant for others, we have to do it for ourselves first."

I barely know the author. Met him once... but he has forever become part of my pack.

I'm finally ready to howl. Join me?

www.writemindinstitute.com

Tangos, TGIF's and Time... is now on my Side.

On Tuesday, I danced with the stars.

No, I am not a ballroom dance professional. And no, I’m certainly not a star. But, popping in that DVD and dancing the merengue, samba and my own painfully portrayed version of “dancing,” well, it just made me smile.

Friday was a very good day, a TGIF day. For the last year, I’ve worked 7 days/week getting my business going. This weekend was different. Today I slept until 9. I ate pancakes in pink PJ’s at noon. And I put a purple post-it on my office door that says “Danger: Don't even think about entering until Monday.... or Di ;-) ”

I’m 40 minus 1 a week from Thursday. Every year around now, I’ve felt a dread. A funny kind of feeling- almost like falling.

Where have I been? What have I done? Where should I be?

And every year I've regrouped and refocused... Which always meant getting rid of those weekends off, the ridiculous dance DVD’s... and pink??

But something this week, this weekend and this year has changed. Something has made me reexamine my business, my priorities, my goals and my SELF.

Where I once only looked ahead, I now enjoy (and revel in) the moment. And where I used to lean only on past understanding, I now allow future possibilities a way to get in and expand my vision.

It’s a balance. It’s an unending learning experience. It’s an adventure that I can't wait to live!

And it’s really the only way I can be ME …be smart, be successful, be silly, be sexy, be sappy, just let loose, and truly shine.

"After You’s” and other Great Acts of Chivalry

I once worked for a man who led a charmed life, but was far from charming- except in one regard. He always opened the door for me.

Call me old-fashioned, but that very simple act seemed more powerful than even the most grandiose of gestures.

Simple.

Sweet.

Respectful.

And free.

I’ve seen this in business too. So often it’s the smallest things that make the biggest impact with your clients- promoting trust and appreciation while building a firmer foundation for future relationships.

So, give it a try. Pick up the phone, drop by to say hello, jot a quick note.

It's easy.

Try “opening the door” for your clients today.

Website Design- Flash or Just Too Flashy?

These are What Dreams are Made of. The American Dream. Dream a Little Dream of Me. Dream On. Dream Chaser. These Dreams.

At 8, my favorite puzzle was Disney's Sleeping Beauty. It had a princess, a prince and an evil dragon queen (nightmares the whole summer). It also had a backside. A two-puzzles-in-one type. Now that's scary!!

Luckily I have an engineering mind- like you, pop!

I'd sit for hours thinking of all the solutions and the best way to make things "piece together." But when it came down to it, the story line often overcame the process. And the "story" became more of my guide.

When you think about vision, you HAVE to define a clear path- short term, long term goals- you get the drift. It's like Jeff Dunham's purple puppet Peanut says..."FOCUS!!!"

But maybe it's not always so much what you want your clients to SEE, but how you want them to FEEL... (as in some heart) Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm painfully pragmatic when it comes to perfection. But can't there be a middle ground? Ok, scratch that- maybe just some give?

Flash.

Hmmm. I was SOOO in love with Flash when I first saw it....animated...like me;-) But seriously, let's really think about GOALS. We want folks to come back to our website- OFTEN. Why? To share in our successes, our goals for the future, our staff accomplishments, the account we just landed!

Why do you think most sites have a news or press release page? We want to CONNECT with our CLIENTS. Make them feel like they're part of something bigger than just the sales guy that sold them the car, or the dinner they ate at the restaurant. We want them to care about the source...and by source- it's you! The small business owner. The person who's passion started it all and the people who help keep it going.

Flash may be fun, but is it fleeting? Perhaps flash is just a typical "beauty queen"- all outward appearance, no substance.

Sound principles, a solid ground, real accomplishments, real people (don't forget the real people) . These are the most hits I've seen tracked, sometimes even more so than the "meat" of the company- like what you "say" you provide. These are the attributes to your site that aren't "flashy" at all. They're CLASSY. Big difference for the long haul.

So, maybe Hansel and Gretel were smarter than we thought.

They layed out a path of bread to make sure and get safely home (planners like me).

But they still lived in a Fairy Tale ;-)

Business Blinders

In the 80’s I wore my sunglasses at night. I only did it once, and then realized…it’s really dark out there.

But really, think how pop culture, an 80’s song, a movie, a movie star…or a fashionista can affect the way we think, dress, present ourselves, and even dream for the future (yea, I’ll admit I had the ‘Flashdance’ curly brown hair…I wasn’t always a blond!) But is it real?

It’s like "behavioral blinders."

Even Sarah Jessica Parker wasn’t kept for long with GAP- a brilliant, brilliant choice, but apparently too OLD for their buyers in the end. Funny how just about all their buyers AND "buyers" will be seeing her new movie in the next few weeks making it one of the most talked about movie openings in years. Sounds a little like the "cliques" aren’t clicking again, even outside of High School.

The point is- sometimes true image should top the perception of image- or even how you would desire to be perceived.

What is your company all about? How do you want to be seen? How can your business vision speak to others…in a REAL way. (Yea, REAL way…period.)

Esse Quam Videri

"To Be, Rather than to Seem." I love this motto- not to mention it’s the North Carolina State motto…I'm not a Cali girl anymore! But, the more I thought about this principle, the more I realized I didn’t have to play into the common perceptions of advertising, like "sex sells" or "if it bleeds it leads" like in the news. Advertising, marketing and PR can take the high road. The more enlightened ground.

Maybe, just maybe, if you really know your target audience, you can find that common ground that appeals to you both…blending real passions and common needs to reach that common goal. It’s about a targeted image- an educated approach. It’s something that you sell or provide because they have a need. And more importantly, something they can be proud to support for years to come- not just as the trends change.

Perhaps the most effective thing in business…and in life, is to make it simple and keep it real. And don’t forget to add some passion!

K.I.S.S…Keep it Simple Silly…Sassy…Sexy…you decide…it’s your business for goodness’ sake. Just keep it real.