Tell someone you love them.

In honor of my Dad on his birthday and Father's Day...

On this day,
Mend a quarrel.
Search for a forgotten friend.
Dismiss a suspicion
and replace it with trust.
Write a letter to someone who misses you.
Encourage a youth who has lost faith.
Keep a promise.
Forget an old grudge.
Examine your demands upon others
and vow to reduce them.
Fight for a principle.
Express your gratitude.
Overcome an old fear.
Take two minutes to enjoy the
beauty of nature.
Tell someone you love them.
Tell them again.
And again.
And again.

Sorry for the lapse...

I haven't abandoned you - I've just been crazy busy! I promise to get back to my more regular routine this coming week. Unfortunately, when things are busy some of my more favorite things to do take a backseat. I'm not complaining though, when work keeps me busy, I'm happy.

Oh, and I took my own advice last week (see March 24th post: Stuck in a rut) and took a design project that I just couldn't make sense of to a friend. After about 10 seconds of talking about it - the solution seemed clear. Funny that it was sitting on my desk for longer than I care to admit, but just talking it out to someone else was all I needed!

My own support group

Over the past seven years I have met some incredible people through having the business. I have met these inspiring people at trade shows, seminars where I spoke, or through other interesting people. I have learned to surround myself with people in different industries that know much more than I do in these other areas. It goes both ways, I enjoy mentoring other women and helping them through the parts where I stumbled.

I met Kimberly Wilson, Creative Director of Tranquil Space Yoga in DC, at a Women Business Owners workshop. I was speaking on a panel about "Big marketing strategies for small budgets" - I don't know about the big marketing strategies, but I sure had the "small budget" down. I noticed her walk in because she was dressed very chic and I just had a feeling that we would be friends. She came up to me at the end to tell me that she loved my story and we exchanged information. We got together the next week - eager to meet for lunch and share ideas.

At that lunch, I told her that I had been a part of a group for women business owners, but that I felt it was just for local networking (which I didn't really need) and that it seemed like their main goal was to participate in the ice-breaker at the luncheons so they could win a door prize. No real connections. I was looking for something deeper, a fusion of brainstorming and problem-solving, topped off with a little bit of emotional support and camaraderie. We decided to make our own group - pull in 2 or 3 other women in the same position and meet monthly. It was great right from the start - we would come to the group with a specific problem or idea we wanted to get feedback on and there we would find unbiased opinions, outside-the-box solutions and suggested resources. We talked about our personal long-term goals and at each meeting we would pinpoint five smaller goals for the next month that would get us closer to those long-term goals. There is a certain amount of accountability that comes with having to check in with someone. I knew that when I got to that meeting, I had to answer to my board.

Kimberly actually went a step further and created her own "Advisory Board" which I thought was brilliant. Five other business gurus (not sure how I got past the cut) meeting quarterly to help her with her business. I can only speak for myself, but I think I get as much out of her "board meetings" as she does - it's a real learning opportunity.

Kimberly is continually a source of inspiration for me. And with her new book, Hip Tranquil Chick, due out in November, it seems like nothing is out of her reach.

**To make your head spin, check out her bio on tranquilspace.com, and to hear me and Kimberly chat about being a "hip tranquil chick" in business, check out the Dec 19th podcast on hiptranquilchick.com/blog

Do you have your own "advisory board" - a support group, however informal, that you can bounce ideas off of?

Spring cleaning for your mind

We spent part of our 3-day weekend doing some outdoor spring cleaning; cleaning off our deck and screened-in porch in preparation for all the time we're going to spend outside over the next few months.

It got me thinking about "spring cleaning" on the creative front. Clearing out the clutter (literally and figuratively) that's blocking our creative process. Here are 2 tips that have helped me get a fresh start...

Literally:
Clear off your desk. Physically having the space around you clutter-free can do wonders for your creativity. Purge your area of anything that you aren't working on at the moment (keep in mind: it should only be one thing), and move all "pending" papers to another area. A good rule of thumb when going through papers is: file it, route it, or throw it away!

Figuratively:
Clear up your "to do" list. I have had items on my list that have been there through two different presidents. My advice is to either make that your project of the day, or move it off the list temporarily. Seeing that thorn in your side appear on your list every day only makes your feel bad for not accomplishing something and you start to gloss over it.

Do you have any tips for "spring cleaning for the mind"? Would love to know!

Pink Bubbles

I've been doing some simple meditations over the past couple of months and thought I would share one of my favorites that focuses on achieving goals. It was taken from Shakti Gawain's book, Creative Visualization. Creative visualization is the technique of using your imagination to create what you want in your life.

• Sit or lie down comfortably, close your eyes, and breathe deeply, slowly, and naturally. Gradually relax deeper and deeper.
• Imagine something that you would like to manifest. Imagine that it has already happened. Picture it as clearly as possible in your mind.
• Now, in your mind's eye, surround your fantasy with a pink bubble; put your goal inside the bubble. Pink is the color associated with the heart, and if this color vibration surrounds whatever you visualize, it will bring to you only that which is in perfect affinity with your being.
• The third step is to let go of the bubble and imagine it floating off into the universe, still containing your vision. This symbolizes that you are emotionally "letting go" of it. Now it is free to float around the universe, attracting and gathering energy for its manifestation.

May all your pink bubbles return to you!

Making the most of dryspells

I was talking to a friend recently who mentioned that business was excrutiatingly slow. She asked me how I get through the slower times without going insane. Unfortunately, dryspells don't just apply to owning your own business, it's natural to have a creative dryspell or a slump in just about any arena.

I'll admit, sometimes it's rough. I don't think I'll ever get over that nervous feeling I get when things slow down and I question whether things will ever be busy again!

I am always happier being busy, so for me, the key is to be busy until you really are. I create new projects by reassessing everything about the business. I redo sales materials, work on new product slants, send out press kits, and organize inventory. As it turns out, sometimes a dryspell is a blessing in disguise because it gives me time to really run the business, instead of just keeping up with it. So make the most of it, because sometimes there are no slow times, and then you are thankful for any break.

What do you do when you're in a slump? Are you in a dryspell you can't get out of?

Bees, Tents and Tavernas

As promised, I'm excited to share 3 books I really enjoyed reading on the trip...

"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd is a wonderful story about finding mothers in unlikely places. Beautifully written, it was easy to become attached to the characters and hard to put down.

"The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant. The author took one line from the bible and weaved a story around it. An amazing, heart-wrenching tale that keeps you entranced from start to finish. Have tissues ready.

"The Summer of My Greek Taverna" by Tom Stone. A memoir that's interesting to read as an entrepreneur (and somewhat frustrating) and a good summer vacation book.

Yassas! ("Hello" in Greek)

I'm back from Greece, stuffed with delicious food, slightly tanned and completely refreshed.

It was an INCREDIBLE trip - hard to even describe how wonderful Greece is. We went to Athens for 2 days (Acropolis is just as amazing as you would think), then flew to Santorini (a.k.a. Heaven on Earth), then took a ferry to Folegandros (no tourists, just an authentic and beautiful island), then back to Santorini for another incredible part of the island.

Highlights from the trip...

• Beaches with "sand" made entirely of smooth colorful pebbles.
• Sunrise - Yes, Kevin dragged my unhappy butt from the bed for a 30 minute hike straight up a goat path at 5:30 am, but it was well worth it.
• Sunsets - we based our day around what time the sun would set so we could see the show and bid a proper goodbye. Something I think we're missing out on here - what a way to live!
• Hikes - everything was actually a hike since Greeks don't believe in either flat paths or straight roads. One in particular was from one part of Santorini to another which was supposedly 6 miles, but I think it was really 9, especially since it was uphill most of the way, on an 8 inch wide path on a cliff with no guardrails, and the wind whipping around the mountain. I should at least get 3 extra miles for "degree of difficulty".
• Food - it was ridiculously good (I ate my weight in feta), and didn't have one bad meal. Plus you can make a meal out of appetizers - my favorite!
• Aegean Sea - it was clear to the bottom, even in deep water, and was this miraculous shade of turquoise that I swear can not be replicated.
• People - they were extremely generous and hospitable, taking the time to talk to us, giving us desserts made by their grandmothers and going out of their way to make us happy.

It was 11 glorious days being unplugged from everything and getting recharged at the same time.

So, I'm back and ready to blog. Read 3 books that I really enjoyed - so I'll pass along reviews shortly! What have you been up to?

"Bon Voyage" in Greek.

There's no way to say this without sounding obnoxious - so I'm just going to say it - we're off to the Greek Islands! This is a trip that Kevin and I have been talking about for years. We have always wanted to go and decided that this summer was our time! Being the controlling person that I am, I love to plan vacations. I revel in reading all the information, mapping out places to go, finding gems that are off-the-beaten-path, and making the most of our days away.

We're going to Athens (I have to see the Acropolis), then to Santorini (looks heavenly), then to Folegandros (a tiny island that's not touristy). I'm looking forward to reading a ton, seeing the Mediterranean, eating amazing food and spending some QT with the hubby.

I promise to provide a full report when I return. Hope you have a great week!

Getting MasterCard to create a commercial for you: Priceless

I saw a commercial for MasterCard the other day that really got my wheels spinning. They were offering the opportunity to write one of their well-known "Priceless" commercials. Immediately, I thought of using it to get a national commercial for the Soap Rolls. How great would that be to have a major commercial filmed and paid for by MasterCard about our little soap rolls? The story alone could get us great attention, and since I've always thought that we're just steps away from that huge "big break" - I thought this could be it!

I wrote the script in my head very quickly... something to the effect of, "Coming up with an alternative to a bar of soap: $450. Turning your house into a soap factory: $3000. Producing 400,000 soap rolls: X amount. Getting MasterCard to create a commercial for you: Priceless."

I went to their website to see about submitting the idea and was pretty bummed to see that they have two storylines already filmed - you have to just fill in the blanks. Wouldn't it be so much better to let people write the whole thing? The way they are doing it - it's still their idea.

Anyway - I think I might still try to submit it - just for the hell of it. What do I have to lose? A "big break" doesn't just land in your lap - it happens when you go out on a limb.

Keep the channel open.

A friend passed this along to me, and now I'm passing it along to you...

There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening
that is translated through you into action,
and because there is only one of you in all time,
this expression is unique.

If you block it,
it will never exist through any other medium
and be lost.
The world will not have it.
It is not your business to determine how good it is;
nor how valuable it is;
nor how it compares with other expressions.
It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly,
to keep the channel open.

You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work.
You have to keep open and aware directly
to the urges that motivate you.

Keep the channel open.

No artist is pleased.
There is no satisfaction whatever at any time.
There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction;
a blessed unrest that keeps us marching
and makes us more alive than the others.

-Martha Graham to Agnes Demille

Positive messages for kids

A prospective customer of our baby gear asked me yesterday about other empowering messages that I think are important to surround kids with. I'm not a parent, but I play one on TV - actually, I don't even do that. What I can offer is what I've learned from my parents and other parents that I admire. Rather than quotes, these are general ideas I like.

Encourage them to daydream. It sets a good precedent for dreaming big later on.

Foster their creativity. Always be encouraging when they are expressing their artistic side (when they draw huge circles on your suede couch with a purple marker, maybe not so much. Not that I know anyone that would do that. Again, so sorry, Mom) And for the love of god, let them color outside the lines.

Revel in their silliness. We all know that the sillies get shaken out of you quickly enough when you grow up, so let 'em be a silly goose now. Joining in wouldn't be such a bad idea for you either.

Don't be stingy with praise. And let them overhear you saying complimentary things about them to others.

Have any to add?

My Book List, "The unexpected" and Garden State

What are you reading? I'm looking for books to take on my trip and since I'm always suggesting books, I thought I'd turn the tables on you. Here is what is on my list so far- but it's not set in stone... Barrel Fever by David Sedaris (one of my favorite writers) The Summer of My Greek Taverna by Tom Stone (my sisters suggestion), The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (have been wanting to read this for ages), and The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (another suggestion from the sister). Have you read any of these or is there a must-read that I'm overlooking? Notice I am not bringing any business-related books... I'm giving myself a rest since that's all I've been reading.

"To put something in the world that was not there before, you have to be able to see that which others before you have overlooked. Both creativity and play involve appreciating paradox and the unexpected." - Author unknown

This CD is not new, but if you don't have it, you're missing out. The Garden State soundtrack is one of those CD's that you can listen to from start to finish without skipping any songs and you can hear it over and over and over and not get sick of it. I swear, if CD's could wear out, mine would have been dust long ago. The reason I bring it up is because I think it's good "thinking" music. I usually don't listen to music while I'm working - I've never mastered the art of being able to fully concentrate while singing - but with this CD I can. It's mellow and calming without putting me to sleep.

Fun and work don't have to be mutually exclusive

When I was little, I loved to go to work with my dad. I would get all dressed up and he would take me in for the day. I didn't just sit there and color or read - I worked! I would organize the entire office; clean out his desk, organize samples, and put everything back to working order. I think I liked it a little too much for an eight year old, but that's what gave me this impression that you were supposed to have fun at work. My organization skills were honed at that young age and my love for materials (art or office supplies) started early. But more importantly, it was ingrained in me that it was important to love what you do. My father always said that he loved his work, but the happiest part of his day was when he pulled into the driveway, coming home to see me, my sister and my mom.

What things in your career do you consider to be fun? How can you incorporate more of that into your job?

Re:fresh

In the past seven years that What Fun! has been in business, I've made a lot of changes as I go along. I've changed marketing tools, tried different PR tactics, and even altered my slant on the product. I find it necessary to keep things fresh by changing them up somehow, but it's helpful to revisit things from the past, since sometimes I change things just for the sake of change. When I find these things (usually accidentally), I rediscover something that is now new and fresh.

For example, I had the soap line registered at Greatrep.com years ago - it's a service that lists your products on a web site that store buyers frequent. After a year or two, I felt like I had tapped out their customers, so I cancelled my subscription. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I received an e-mail from them asking me to come back... I gave it a shot and not only did I get a ton of new inquiries for What Fun!, but also for Itsy Bitsy & Bold!

The second lesson here is to keep old clients on your mailing list - you never know when they will "rediscover" you!

Can you revisit anything from your past that might be helpful to you now?

What's it gonna take?

I read Marketing Outrageously by Jon Spoelstra while in Florida and I think this is one of the best business-related books I've read in a while. It's a quick read; concise and easy to digest. I didn't have to read and reread certain parts to process what he was trying to say.
A couple of take-away snippets...

• Ask yourself the question: What's it gonna take to _____ this year? (Fill in your own goal; triple my sales, write that book that's in my head, go back to school, etc) Spoelstra suggests writing down the question and keep it in your shirt pocket everyday, but I would recommend pinning it up in a good spot where you'll see it constantly. (Sorry, Mr. Spoelstra!) Anyway, making a list of answers to that question will make a daunting goal a little more doable.
• About a month ago, I used this quote, "Hit 'em where they ain't" when talking about taking a different avenue than your competition. Spoelstra's used the same quote, along with, "... Or more to the point: Hit 'em where they ain't strong." I find his examples really helpful in illustrating his points.
• Differentiate until you sweat. This not only goes for every company, large or small, but also any career; you want to differentiate yourself from everyone else. Play up the things that set you apart - even if it seems like it's a weakness at first.

Spoeltra's first book, Ice to the Eskimos looks really good too. It's next on my list! Let me know if you read either and what you got out of them.

5 reasons to get away...

I doubt you need these reasons, but just in case...

1. There's something about jumping on a hotel bed. I don't jump on my bed at home, but as soon as I enter my hotel room and see that King-size, perfectly made bed, I can't stop myself from being airborne.
2. Get some space - physically and emotionally. I usually don't realize how much I need it until I'm two days in and reveling in the fact that my surroundings have changed and that I don't have my daily responsibilities. I really feel like ideas come to me easier because I'm not bogged down by the day-to-day crap that gets in the way of creativity. Which leads me to #3...
3. Time to do things you can't find the time to do when you're home. When I'm home, there's always something to do; catch up on e-mails, do laundry, labels soaps, clean the kitchen, etc. When I'm away, I don't have those choices, so I get to read like it's going out of style and indulge in free time to think.
4. Get some sleep! Maybe it was the sun, maybe it was the black-out curtains, or maybe it was the relaxed state of mind. In any case, I fell asleep early and felt rested in the morning. Hallelujah!
5. Feeling refreshed when you return. I feel like I was away for a month, which makes me feel like I'm getting a fresh start on things. I came up with some new ideas while away, and am eager to keep up this level of excitement. Things that were bothering me before I left, don't seem so ominous right now.

What do you like most about getting away?

Lessons learned

The saying about learning more from your mistakes than your successes is something I totally agree with. A couple of years ago, I got a call from a company I was working with, asking if I would agree to a certain monetary deal. I completely take the blame for mishandling the situation, but I had just walked in from a great meeting when the phone rang, so I was in good mood, and caught off guard. Foolishly, I agreed to the deal on the spot and then beat myself up about it when I had a moment to review.

After a while, I realized that it was a small price to pay for the huge lesson I learned. From that point on, I never agree to anything (within reason) without sleeping on it first. Taking that time might reveal something you can't think of "in the moment". I always like to think that that one lesson shielded me from making a bigger mistake later. Whether it's true or not, at least I can sleep at night.

Sidebar #1: What would you like to see more of? Book reviews? Tips? Stories? Anything else that's missing? I am at your beck and call.

Sidebar #2: I'm headed to Florida for a couple of days, so you won't see any new posts till the end of the week. But I promise to come back refreshed and ready to blog!

One red paperclip

Had to share this. Amy passed this story along to me and I thought it was brilliant. Here's someone doing something really creative. Talk about turning things on their head to find a different solution!

Check out: oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com

What will you trade me for a 95-pound Golden Retreiever with a behavioral problem?

My line of sight

I try to focus on what's in front of me - literally and figuratively - and today it's all about the literal.

My desk is where I spend the majority of my time, so I make sure that when my eyes wander from the computer screen, I see things that motivate me or make me smile; inspirational quotes, funny pictures, my goals for the year, motivational notes and personal mementos. I don't have any rules for what gets pinned, taped or propped up around me - and I regularly rotate my little shrine. I like that wherever I look, I see something that makes me feel good.

What's in your line of sight?

Q&A: The big break

What was your first big break in the business?

Less than six months after my first trade show, I got a fax from a buyer for Nordstrom ordering for all their California stores. It was the biggest order I had received at that point, for a whopping $9000 (1/3 of my yearly pay at my last job) and I was shocked. It's not that I didn't see the company being a success or being big, it's that it made it real. Between the big name and the number of zero's behind the nine - it validated my venture. They didn't even try to drive my price down, which is why I will always have an undying love for Nordstrom. That, and the lounge-like bathrooms that could house a small village.

Oh yeah, and the shoes.

What do you consider to be your big break in your career?

My magazine "issues"

I have admitted before that I have an obsession for magazines. I have to be careful in the grocery store not to pick a slow-moving line, or I'll be tempted to pick one up and then it will be added to my ridiculous collection at home. The worst part is - my weakness is exacerbated by my job. 1. It's part of the market research I have to do 2. It helps me to read what my customers read 3. That's how I get most of our editorials on our products.

That said, I stumbled upon a new magazine called "Wondertime" and had to pass it along. After flipping through a couple of pages, I realized that it was different from all the other parenting magazines out there. The focus is on the "simple joys of raising a child, and to see the world as our children do - as an awe-inspiring place"

My favorite article ("Dalai Mama" by Catherine Newman) was written by a mom who strives to work less on her to do list and more on the here and now of raising her kids. Other articles ranged from how to raise a kind child to teaching your kid to love books to relaying your family's history. I loved the overall feel of the magazine and thought it was very well done. If you pick it up, let me know what you think!

What are your favorite magazines?

Success as a Springboard!

I was glancing through a book I haven't picked up in a while, "If it ain't broke... Break it" by Robert J. Kriegel and the first page I turned to had the word "Springboard" in bold - so it caught my eye. The section is about not sitting back and reveling in your success, but using it to get even further.

"Use success as a springboard, not as a pedestal. A pedestal is static and presents a big stationary target, which makes it easy for someone to knock you off it. A springboard keeps you in motion, continually reaching for greater heights."

I try to take advantage of some of our successes. For example, when I knew I was going to be on QVC, I sent out a press release about our good fortune to a number of magazines and newspapers and in turn, was featured in three publications. It wasn't just to let them know that they could buy our products at 4 am on QVC (that was a bonus!), but really it was to build credibility through the QVC name and get attention for the company by making our own news.

What have you used as a springboard?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I've been asked this many times, I guess because no one can imagine that you dream about making soap when you're little or majoring in soap-making in college (neither of which I did.)

I think I was a budding entrepreneur in the womb; I was probably developing products to sell to the other babies in the nursery. From very early on, I would create new products and be convinced that they would actually be brought to the marketplace. I created a cartoon strip that I honestly thought would be next to "Peanuts" in the Sunday funnies. I fashioned an E.T. figurine that had a toothbrush where his magic finger was; I was sure that would get kids to brush their teeth. I wrote a "family newspaper" that was chock full of breaking news about the other 3 people in my family, that I would then sell to these same family members for a quarter. I started a jewelry company called, "Bead it", a small symbol of my infatuation with Michael Jackson. When I found out 20 years later that someone had actually used that name for their store, my father said reluctantly that he knew he should have trademarked some of my ideas.

I wasn't just playing for the sake of play, I always thought the end result would be seeing it on store shelves. As I got older, career choices ranged from archeologist to veterinarian to magazine publisher, but I was constantly creating new products that fell just short of mass production.

It's interesting to think back on the things that you wanted when you were young and how things have changed (or not changed, in my case) My parental units fostered creativity and the belief that we could do anything, which I think ultimately led to my sister and I creating the line of empowering baby gear. When you believe that you are creative, confident and powerful, anything is possible.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Were certain paths encouraged by your parents?

The Pay-off of Spring

My sincere apologies for being M.I.A. for the past couple of days, but I am a firm believer in playing hooky every now and then, and when the cherry blossoms are out in D.C., I can think of no better excuse. Friday was one of those days -- a cloudless sky, 70-something degrees, and gasp-inducing pale pink blooms seemed to spring from nowhere. Again, I'm reminded why we put up with winter... the payoff is just so great.

Speaking of pay-offs, I sometimes wonder whether owning my own businesses are worth everything I've put into them; the money, the sleepless nights, the lack of a reliable paycheck, the stressful days when I'm ready to give it all up and be a meter maid (Not that I would do that - I think that's got to be a terrible profession. I hope my large readership of meter-maids doesn't revolt, but seriously, nobody is ever happy to see you.)

Anyway, I'm always amazed how one tiny, miniscule piece of news can send me on a high. Hearing from a magazine I've been trying to get into, getting word that a large chain is interested, or even getting an e-mail from a happy customer, can turn my day around and remind me why I chose this life. Just like a gorgeous spring after a particularly cold winter, I remember what I'm doing it for... because this is what I'm most passionate about and because I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

What is your pay-off? What makes it worth it for you?