Get Rid of Dream-Killers

This week, be DELIBERATE about who you listen to you. Excuse yourself from those in your life who (discreetly) are not your fans or haven't given your new venture a high-5. 

Flood your mind with positive thoughts and with forward-moving people! 

Pursue your dreams ~~

Is Your Business Worth a Million?

What is your brand worth? 

What is the value of your business?

It's not the market valuation.

Definitely not the fees you charge.

Not based on an independent auditor.

Pure and simple, the value that you give to your brand is what it is worth. 

A diamond is initially a lump of black coal - until it is cut and polished. That process gives the diamond a sometimes $1M+ value.

Think about that regarding your business. Build and grow your business by doing things of great worth. Treating your business like a million dollar business already (even when it currently is not) will set it up to be a success - YOU decide!

(And yes, diamonds ARE a girl's best friend!)

Disclaimer: Alas, the purse in this post is not mine. It is The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse.

A Girl, My Shoes and a Mouse

Disney has recently started a campaign to capture kids that are still in the womb! Whether it is a genius marketing idea or just plain brainwashing, the giant media conglomerate knows how to reach its target audience.

I have to admit, the Mouse House sure knows how to market. Disney has its marketing techniques down to a science - its case studies could probably fill volumes. Its marketing gurus study their target consumers, figure out what those consumers want, and give them what they want. That is the most basic of marketing concepts.

Give the customer what he wants, and later he will think it's what he needs.

The other day, my girlfriend and her toddler daughter came for a visit. No sooner did they walk through the door that the little girl saw my fuzzy pink slippers, rip off her shoes, and put the fuzzies on! It was amusing, and it made me think, "She's only 2, but the girl that she is loves footwear!"

This little girl knows what she likes. And she went after it.  No cajoling or bribing required.

Consumers are still people who know what they want, want what they want, and (if truth be told) love the entire process of being courted in the marketplace. But they are bombarded on a daily basis with all kinds of marketing messages. From sun up to sun down, they are surrounded by billboards, bus signs, shop windows, posters, TV and radio commercials, pop-ups, and even the occasional banner-toting airplane. The consumer is grabbed, startled, and jolted into looking and, hopefully purchasing.

The more savvy marketer will, like Disney, study his subject. Figure out what that subject wants, and then delivers. No hard sell there. Pure marketing - at its best.

Back to my friend's 2-year-old. After a nice lunch and a quick jaunt at the neighborhood park, we came back to my apartment to relax. I had recently purchased a great pair of platform shoes that I wanted to show my girlfriend. Yes, you guessed it, the little girl saw my heels, stopped what she was doing, squealed with delight and proceeded to slip her tiny feet in my lady-size sandals.

Though this pint-size diva is only 2, she already knows a great pair of shoes when she sees them. Not that I think its wise to start a line of toddler stilettos, but the point is, know your target audience: what they want, what makes them squeal with excitement, and be the one to offer them your product or service. Plain and simple.

It's all about a girl and her shoes...

Another Made-Up Holiday

I will admit that it is with some annoyance that I view Valentine's Day.

When I was in grade school, it was a fun day: pestering my mom to take me to the store to buy a bag of those heart candies and a package of cards. Then coming home to write out the cards to my best friends, teachers, and maybe a boy I had a crush on, stuffing a few heart candies in the envelope, and waiting with anticipation until that great day arrived.

Unfortunately, the innocence and playfulness of Valentine's Day has been overshadowed by the frenzied commercialism of it. Jewelry retailers, flower shops, even Overstock.com gear up for one of their most profitable "holidays". It is no longer about love or romance - it's about buying the perfect red-laced or most blingy item possible to show your loved-one that you are no slouch. 

Truth be told, many unfortunate souls also make this day their shining moment of being loved by the greatest husband, boyfriend or significant other walking on this side of the world. Workplaces are fraught with delivery people wielding massive arrangements of flora, sprigs and sprays. Desks, tables and every conceivable flat surface have flowers galore sent to a spouse in order to shout "I love you!". Singles snicker at the boldness of it all, and some feel a tinge of alienation. This made-up holiday has a way of excluding a lot of people in the American population.

Let's return to the innocent school days of passing out Valentines to all our friends, teachers, and pets! Valentine's Day should be a whimsical day of outrageous, outward display of our affection for everyone we love - not just the romantic loves of our lives. Couples should not only declare their love to their "loves", but also to those singles who have helped, i.e. babysat or house-sat for them; singles should declare their love to their parents, siblings, good and best friends.

Valentine's Day should be not be filled with so much commercialism or pressure to buy something that gets tossed aside after a few days. A friend told me years ago, that we should tell those we love that we love them EVERYDAY. Hmmm - what a concept!

Happy Love Days!

No Strings Attached (And All That Nonsense)

By now many of you have probably seen the movie (or at least the movie trailer), "No Strings Attached",  a story about no-strings-attached sex between two friends. Ashton Kutcher is Natalie Portman's pal, and they have an arrangement to get together whenever the need arises and "use each other" for sex. And we know the formula: they end up falling for each other, and the meaningless sex turns into true, forever, happily-after love.

Though the premise attempts to redeem itself, the message is quite misleading, and sadly, there are many people out there that will unwittingly believe that such a relationship could truly become reality. Unfortunately, the message will also translate differently for a woman than for a man. Women will think along romantic notions (sighs and butterflies), and men will think they this is the best arrangement ever (playah!) - both will end up with nothing but fool's gold.

I realize that I am ranting about a movie, but let's face it - we can get caught up in the fantasy of movies. I read an article some time ago which postulated that women's ideas about men and romance might be heavily predicated by what the movies portray - consciously or unconsciously. Whether or not there is some truth in that, it is rather disconcerting to see movies like "No Strings Attached" playing up the "positives" of an otherwise no-win romantic situation. There is nothing redemptive about the "no strings attached" concept, in romance, in business, in life!

Unfortunately, real life does not play like out like the "No Strings Attached" premise. We're not in Kansas anymore - someone's heart will be broken.  Rarely will the "bad boy" be reformed by the "good-girl-next-door", true love will not materialize after a heated night of passion, nor will the rich heir to a fortune throw his inheritance away just because he falls hard for the poor servant. Fairy tales are just that - they make our hearts swell, as we cheer the underdog. But let's not subconsciously think that life can somehow mirror what we see on the big screen - not even an iota.

Ladies, value and esteem yourselves! Becoming a "mean girl" or thinking that the "Ugly Truth" will morph into something "sweet" and "cute" is not endearing in the real world. Guys, you can be strong and masculine, and espouse honor and integrity. Bad behavior a la "Jersey Shores" or "Housewives" is totally NOT cool! No matter how entertaining to watch on TV.

Being a "no strings attached" person is shallow and non-committal. No personal relationship, business, project, or career can survive and thrive with such a life-view. A life worth having is fully committed in all facets: love, relationships, work, and business. It's the stuff that fulfilled dreams and sweet successes. You gotta be all in, otherwise don't play at all.  

Is There Such a Thing as a Cheap Giver?

Last week I queried my friends about the concept of giving. My question was, "What are your thoughts on someone who professes to have a lot of money, but proceeds to give cheap gifts?" I got a gamut of comments and opinions ranging from "be thankful for whatever it is you receive, big or small" to "people who give stingily are also stingy in heart". Whatever the circumstance you are in: whether you had a lean year and had to tighten up on the monetary "value" of the gifts you gave or you have an amazing bank account that never depletes, I believe giving is a state of the heart.

It seems that the word "give" itself connotes generosity. One definition I found states [that to give is] "to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation". Synonyms that come to mind are: "bestow", "present", "offer", "provide". These words certainly convey an attitude of generosity. The thesaurus shows the word "generous" to mean "big-hearted", "giving". Wow! 

So is there such a thing as a "cheap" giver? Not really, if the "giver" is really giving with the fullest intention of what that word truly means. My take is that if you are not generous to give, or you give only to those whom you find "favorable", then you should not give at all. You are not a giver, you are a show-off with your money. It is an insult, an slap in someone's face to give without a "big heart". One of my respondents said,"If you give without really caring for that person, you might as well give them a box of poo". My, well-said....  

My Look-Back to Look-Forward

Because Chris Brogan's Ending 2010 inspired me to write this:

Looking back at my experiences of 2010:

• I rediscovered my "creative content" due to healing of some "stuff" in my life.
• I dealt with being unemployed for 2 years.
• But - unemployment pushed me toward launching On High Heels.
• I learned that the steps to entrepreneurship can be terrifying, but oh-so worth it.
• I've learned SO much from amazing SM & entrepreneur super-stars like Natalie Sisson, the Mashable crew, Liz Dennery Sanders, Melissa Cassera, Carol Roth, and just a whole host of inspiring people.
• I am throwing aside the intimidation factor, and harnessing the power of belief (though that sounds cheesy).

Looking forward to 2011, I see:

• Meeting more successful women (and men) entrepreneurs, and hearing their stories.
• Learning and applying their techniques and knowledge - and then passing them on.
• Gaining clients, building my business, and becoming more adept at what may well be the new model of business via social media.
• Becoming more recognized in my local community as the go-to-girl for publicity, marketing, and coaching. 
• Helping others believe in their creative content, and teaching them how to use it, show it, and make money from it.  
• Growth in publicity for Camp Laurel and Platform Color Style Salon (for who I willingly and lovingly offer my pro bono PR services, simply because sometimes, it's just about loving what I do). 

I don't know about you, but the challenges (and heartaches) of the past few years, made me realize my mettle.  That I CAN walk "On High Heels", and that making a difference is what counts!