Have you ever wondered if you are really in the right niche? Maybe you are just starting out and are unsure of which direction to go. Or perhaps, you’ve been in business a little longer and you’re still not completely clear if you have focused your niche in the right way. Every entrepreneur struggles with this at some point in their career. So how do you know when you get it right? [Read more...]
Are You Really in the Right Niche?
May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Do Your Shoes Fit Properly?
May 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Those size 8 sparkly, strappy sandals were really beautiful. The only problem was I am an 8 1/2. However, I truly could not resist. I had to have them. I brought them home, took them out of the box, put them on my shelf and stared dreamily at them. I fantasized about the night I would wear them. I had a big performance at the Wang Center coming up and I wanted to look spectacular from head to toe.
Fast forward to the event. Gown in place, voice warmed up, sexy sandals on. I was feeling hot to trot. Except about 1/2 hour into the event my feet started to hurt. Those thin little straps were digging into my flesh. By the time it was my turn to sing, I had to stop myself from wincing as I walked onto the stage. So much for the perfect scenario. Instead of feeling like a princess, I felt like a giant trying to walk on toothpicks!
I was paying the price for a mistake many of us make, [Read more...]
How to Make a Delicious Brand Cocktail…
May 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
After a recent trip to Jamaica, my 7 year old daughter said to me, “Mom, I miss hotel life…” Me too, Honey, me too. One thing I miss is having a lovely waiter bring me some delicious, frothy concoction to my pool side chair. On the plane ride home I was already thinking about how I could recreate some of the wonderful treats from vacation, but it won’t be the same. I’ve decided everything tastes better when you are wearing flip-flops.
There is something special about the poolside frozen drink. Sure you could order an ice-cold Coke or even a wine spritzer to quench your thirst, but where’s the thrill in that? When was the last time your Chardonnay came with a maraschino cherry and an umbrella? A good mixed-drink experience is a performance, a spectacle. It is a wild, fun ride that ends with a very happy customer. Hmmm, sounds like a recipe for good branding…
Here is my recipe for a crowd-pleasing Brand Cocktail: [Read more...]
Do You Have An Inspired Brand?
April 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment
You have business cards, check. Your website is up, check. You are networking, check. You even have some clients, check. You’ve done all the things you’re suppose to be doing to get your business up and running and now it’s running, but that’s about it. You don’t feel the way you thought you would at this point. Things aren’t as fun and exciting as you imagined they would be.
It happens to most entrepreneurs at some point. In the beginning you have all the enthusiasm of a kid on the last day of school. You can’t wait to open the doors and get out there, but something happens along the way and you lose steam. While it’s true, there is a lot of foot work to be done to lay a strong foundation for your business, you mustn’t lose the spark that set you on the entrepreneurial path in the first place in the process.
That spark is the core of your brand. It’s not the snazzy business cards, the zippy new tagline or even your great services or products that is going to attract people to your brand. How enthusiastically people respond to your brand is in direct proportion to the level of passion you exude towards what you do.
But what’s a girl to do if she’s lost that lovin’ feeling? It is essential you find ways to stay excited and inspired about your business. Here are a few ideas to get you back into your groove: [Read more...]
I’m Off That
April 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“If you off that, it means you don’t mess with it
But if you love that, it means you mess with it
Let me tell you what I mess with…”
I recently added a new song to my iPod called “I’m off that” by Pitbull. I downloaded it because it had a good beat, but really didn’t pay much attention to the lyrics until I went for my run and had a chance to listen more closely.
“Dirty money, I’m off that
Cleaning money, I’m off that
Phony money, I’m off that
Getting money, I love that”
Pitbull says over and over, “I’m off that, but I love that” listing all the things he no longer likes or desires and then declaring what he does love now. Even though the frame of reference is very different from my own experience, I LOVE the inference. It’s a song of letting go and upgrading. I thought it was such a great lesson. [Read more...]
Where’s The Party At?
April 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I love InStyle magazine. It’s so fun to look at gorgeous celebrities in the beautiful gowns they’ve worn to the Oscars or some fabulous party. Is there anything that makes a woman look better than a well fitted gown? I don’t think so.
When I was in college I would go with my girlfriends to Bloomingdales and try on all of the prettiest, most expensive gowns I could find. I’m sure the sales people hated us, but it was so much fun. Really, ladies, if you ever want a pick-me-up, I highly suggest you try it. Of course, in those days I was also performing a lot and actually did need gowns for my wardrobe. I had a reason to get dressed up, I was going on the stage.
A big part of creating a winning brand is knowing how to dress it up, but making it look pretty is only the beginning. In order to have success, you have to step onto the stage. You can’t just stand in the wings in your ball gown and expect your business to grow. It is a mistake I see many entrepreneurs make. They think because they have spent time and money getting their websites up or sharp new business cards or even a snappy new tagline, their work is done. In fact, it’s just beginning! [Read more...]
Turn Fantasy into Reality and Start Living the Dream
April 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“When I grow up, I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies
When I grow up, I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars, I wanna have boobies
When I grow up, be on TV
People know me, be on magazines
When I grow up, fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene”–The Pussy Cat Dolls
What did you wish for when you were a kid? Did you want to be famous? Did you love music or horses or maybe painting was more your thing? When I was a kid, I wanted very badly to be an olympic gymnast. I would practice hand stands for hours and hours, but alas, the closest I ever came to olympic glory was doing cartwheels for the half-time show of a donkey basketball game at our local high school. For those of you unrefined heathens out there, donkey basketball is played by grown men riding real donkeys up and down the court. True story, I could not make this up!
As a chubby grade-schooler living in rural Wisconsin, I had about as much chance of becoming an olympic gymnast as Courtney Love has of being elected president. I eventually let go of that dream and moved on to others. In 3rd grade I wanted to be an astronaut, in high school I wanted to be on the olympic volleyball team, in college I wanted to sing at the Met. None of these fantasies [Read more...]
Your Life is Calling, Are You Answering?
March 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Have you ever had one of the moments where you think “What the heck am I doing here?” I mean really, in the big picture, in that existential kind of way. I certainly have. In fact, I have spent a good chunk of my adult life exploring the answer to that very question. I was surprised recently, however, to realize not everyone spends a lot of time contemplating the purpose of their existence.
Ok, sure, I know most people wonder about the mysteries of the universe to some degree, but there is only so much time in a day to be reflective, right? There are bills to be paid, houses to be cleaned and businesses to run. Why should we while away our lives in pursuit of the unanswerable? Here’s the thing, I think we actually can find and know the answer to “Why am I here?” In fact, [Read more...]
Are You Afraid of a Little Dirt?
March 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Spring is officially here. Even though in some parts of the country it still looks like winter, there’s no denying the calendar. Soon enough the temperatures will rise and the birds will be singing again. As much as we appreciate the warmth and freshness of spring, it is also a time of hard work preparing the ground for new growth. The same is true for you business.
Let me ask you a question: [Read more...]
Is Your Brand Green?
March 15, 2013 By 2 Comments
Every brand has a unique personality and one of the best ways to express that personality is through the use of color. Every color also has its own personality. Have you ever noticed how differently you feel when looking at various colors? Dark colors can sometimes bring us down just as vibrant colors can infuse us with energy.
There has been a lot of research into the psychology of color and how it impacts human beings. Understanding how you want your brand to impact your audience is essential to choosing the right colors for your business and marketing materials. In honor of St. Paddy’s Day, here are the common psychological associations with the color green. [Read more...]
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