August 18th, 2011
Have You Made Your Labor Day Resolutions Yet?
A number of Labor Days ago (before everything was online) the NYT had an op-ed piece exploring why Labor Day would make a better New Years, in that we are used to it representing a clean start, and presents better opportunities for new beginings.
As I remember, the premise was first, there is too much going on at the end of the year…too much stress to be able to seriously affect any real long-term changes you wanted to make.
Then, largely because the start of the traditional school calendar has so ingrained a rhythm in us, that end of vacation aside, for 
many there was both comfort and promise in starting anew each September, that it’d make the perfect opportunity to approach any resolutions with a better, more relaxed attitude.
Labor Day always resonated for me professionally…it was a time to take stock of the first 2/3 of the year, and re-evaluate goals for the last 4 months…that whole squirrel-gathering-nuts-for the-long winter thing, I guess?
In retail furniture in the last 3 decades, it was mostly been a pretty busy time, people planning and ordering things for their fall family and holiday events.
So far, this has been a good year for the refreshed home: healthy growth, new professional contacts, and some very interesting projects. I am so looking forward to the opportunity to both chill out and reflect this coming holiday.
Change is good, and frankly inevitable-why not be in charge of it, instead of waiting for it to happen?
Whatever your station or situation in life, it’s never too late to have a new beginning. HAPPY LABOR DAY!!
Tags: new beginings, overload, resolutions, take time
Posted in A Day In The Life, Better Health/Better Life, I'm Just Sayin' | No Comments »
December 10th, 2010
Seems the sweet spot is both shrinking and shifting in the discussion on if/how/when/where to use social media in business. In fact, am listening to a webinar on that topic as I write this.
The conversation focuses on the dichotomy of how to use the myriad of technologies to personally connect with the masses. But they are not using the word ‘dichotomy’, they’re talking about how to do it. Oh boy.
I have wr
itten about this before…I sincerely try to be honest with myself and separate out my lack of skills from my dislike of over-reliance on fake-friendly technology… yes, the kind that personally reaches the masses-and my belief that in the end, this is not how I’m going to best connect with clients.
Interior Decorating and Home Staging are intimate propositions. You invite me into your home-or your listing-I’m meeting your family, looking at, and touching your stuff. We talk about money, your hope, your dreams. To give me a frame of reference, I also ask about Staging and Decorating things that didn’t go so well. Pretty personal stuff.
I don’t have anything personal against the highly-wired, just probably wouldn’t feel comfortable doing business with them. And that’s ok. They might not be thrilled to work with me, either.
Isn’t that the greatest thing about being in business for yourself??
Earlier in the fall Loreena Yeo wrote a great post on what a brand is-and isn’t. I’ve saved the link and go back and read it from time to time. While I “still” don’t have all the answers, I sure have a lot less questions.
There is no ultimate best strategy, we all need to find who we are, and what we want to be first, then define our way. If that doesn’t work the way we want it to, we re-evaluate. Simple, right?!
Tags: my business, overload, social media, target market
Posted in Decorating, Home Selling and Home Staging, I'm Just Sayin' | No Comments »
September 17th, 2010
1. Sick of Telemarketers?
Every 31 days, FTC requires telemarketers to search their phone lists and delete any numbers found on the National Do Not Call Registry.
www.donotcall.gov lets you register home and cell numbers, and they stay registered, until you decide otherwise. You can also call from any phone you want to register 1.888.382.1222
2. Junk Mail
The average fadult receives close to 45 pounds of it each year!! If you are sick of recycling a small forest’s worth of paper, OR spending time un-clogging your In Box, the FTC recommends DMA Choice to establish junk mail and email preferences.
The online tool of the Mail Preference System first established in 1971, you address unwanted mail in 4 categories: Credit, Magazine or other sales offers, and Catalogs.
Direct mail is a green and cost-efficient way to shop, but everyone has different needs and preferences. Time spent noting your specific preferences will yield the best results Details at www.DMAchoice.org
3. Donate Life
While none of us know what the next day-even hour will bring, there are untold numbers of people hoping the next hour will bring them a phone call to give them hope, and a chance at a better life.
Leukemia strikes one in 29,ooo children in the US every year, and thousands of adults. www.bethematch.org is the National Bone Marrow registry that seeks matches for these and others with life-threa
tening diseases.
Thanks to a stranger’s grace, my friends Mary and Mike Carneiro’s son Mac received 27 blood transfusions, and is now a happy healthy 15 year old. Mike was since blessed to return the favor, and this past May, his ‘match’, Rachael Leisey became Mrs. Sean Neihart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC0kMCBZ3cc
Closer to home, there are nearly 10,000 NY residents-70% of them in NY-metro area-hoping that the next hour will bring a phone call, with news of a life-saving organ.
The Electronic Signature Act, signed into law earlier this year allows NYS drivers, and those with non-driver ID cards to register their willingness and preferences online.
While this makes you consider distinctly unpleasant possibilities, putting myself in the other positions-being asked to make that decision and not knowing my loved one’s preference, watching a loved one wait, suffer and possibly die, even being in need myself-are much, much worse.
www.savelivesnewyork.org will give you the facts, answer your questions and let you register and print out form immediately for your signature. Truth told, I had to go back to site twice. Take a deep breath and do it. Mine was mailed this afternoon. Maybe it’s my imagination, but the skies have never looked bluer, the air never smelled as sweet.
Tags: good idea, green home, overload, taking action
Posted in Better Health/Better Life, Community/Greater Good, GTK | No Comments »
July 11th, 2010
This is why you need to talk with a Home Stager.
Dobbs Ferry Road, Greenburgh, Sunday July 11th.
Tags: avoiding anxiety, home selling, market info, overload, taking action
Posted in Home Selling and Home Staging | No Comments »
