The One where I Catch Up

I have been stunned by the mildness of this winter and stunned by my inability to go for the whole season without catching some sort of cold or flu.  So I sitting here this evening struggling to keep my eyes open whilst I breath through my mouth like some sort of fish out of the water gasping for air.

So what have I been up to these days?  I am following up on my goal to only be positive and to send positive vibes out to the universe and I am feeling the love.
I have a few good decorating customers, I have been booking Cookie Lee shows and I have signed up two women to start their own Cookie Lee business.  I have met some wonderful women who run great events and really are looking out for the small business woman. And, best of all, my chapter of the Heartlink Network is really growing and we are developing some terrific friendships!

I spent some time visiting my son down in Myrtle Beach and am amazed at the progress he is making - we need some positive vibes on his job search - he needs one soon!

So I am going to retire to the warmth of my bed - which to be honest is too freaking hot with all this hot flash menopause crap - and try to get some sleep.
Wish me luck.

The One where I try to explain all my social networking....

I have been lapse is blogging so far this year because I have a focus.  And right now that focus does not include blogging - which I love - but which often takes a backseat to so much other social networking.

Yes, I said it- SOCIAL NETWORKING.

I am loving right now, Pinterest, and Facebook, and Twitter - quick & easy ways to get the information out there without having to be witty.

Wait, am I witty?  Not sure of that...

Anyways, I like each of them for different reasons.  Twitter, for example is that quick hit, make fun, comment on something relevant that you hope fills the universe with your positive vibes..or your snarky vibes.  Facebook, great for business networking, catching up with friends (real and virtual) and finding out about interesting events and such.  Pinterest?  Well, this is cool for those websurfing times and finding something interesting and not wanting to lose it....make a Pin board, yea!

I am also finding Pinterest great for my decorating clients, as I can find pieces I love and feel would work for their space, save them and direct my client to the board.  Clever, eh?

I know, right?

Don't even get me started on GetGlue or Foursquare (love the perks I get on there) or I am sure a gajillion other things I am missing.  I am to busy juggling these things...and blogging for my audience of 100 or so people - who never comment BTW.

Show a girl some love, eh?

While I try to explain all my social networking.

The One where Women drive me Crazy

I am part of several groups that are mainly women's groups and sometimes...well, I could just scream.  I just don't understand why these groups can't be run the same way as a regular business meeting.  Why, oh why do we have to be "careful" and "mindful" and all those other things? 

Let me talk about a few things that really should be different:

1) Meetings need agendas.  A meeting cannot be successful without everyone understanding the purpose and what is to be accomplished.  Don't send me a note that we are having a meeting on Wednesday without telling me why.  How can I be prepared?  For that matter, how can anyone be ready for a vague request?

2) Four women cannot talk at the same time.  There has to be an order of some kind.  Someone has to be the referee and keep the order and not be afraid to do so.  So many of the meetings I am on - whether a call or in person - turn into a free for all with multiple women talking and side conversations.  Would you do this at work?

3) Speaking of side conversations.....let's try our best to stay on topic.  If there is an agenda and we can keep it  to one person holding the floor at one time, then we actually have a chance to end a meeting on time.  Wouldn't that be nice.  Call a meeting for 7:00 and be done by 9:00?  Maybe you would have more women interested in joining the group!

I could certainly talk about this subject for hours, but I think that if we could somehow work on these three items many more women would be happy to be part of our groups and they would grow not shrink.  We need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and think like a businesswoman, that's how we thrive!

Maybe then I won't have to further discuss how women drive me crazy......

The One where I start off the New Year right

New Year, New Goals....yea, yea yea....

We all have that epiphany where we start the new year with lofty personal and professional goals only to fall flat on our faces right around the Super Bowl (very bad date for dieters..lol).  However, this year I would like to ensure that the goals I put in front of myself are reasonable and attainable.

We all remember those SMART goal sheets we got from our employers...and how we all hated them.

I will not be doing that.  But what I will be working on this year is the word "Growth".  Yep, that's it - one word.  I will be using that word as I work on my vision for each month and then for my reflection back each month.

Speaking only for myself, the choice of a word provides the opportunity for interpretation. For example, if at the beginning of a month my goal is to lose 2 pounds a week and I only lose 6 pounds total, I can look back at the end of the month and determine what my growth was or wasn't.  Did I get better at meal planning?  Did I not grow in my food choices - was I stuck in a food rut?

You all know my goals for the year regarding my Cookie Lee Jewelry business (see this blog post) and I know that for January my personal goals are to wake each day with a positive mindset, lose 4 pounds, talk with my son & hubby in encouraging ways and to read daily.

So yea, this is the one where I start off the new year right.