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Tuesday, May 31st, 2011Tic Toc What Are You Waiting For?
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
time's a tickin' / fail fast
Fail Fast-
It may sound like strange business advice, but I’ve invested a lot of money and years to learn this valuable lesson – so trust me.
If it seems harsh to propose failing fast, imagine the alternative of failing slowly – with the small heart attacks that never end year after year. Dare to fail fast.
Isn’t it true that everything we learn and know in life come from trial and error? From learning to walk, to starting a business, we fail in order to master. Sure, you should read all the “how to” business books and give thought to the business plan, but it will still be like learning how to swim by reading a book. It’s just not enough.
There’s been really fast (Wow Cookies-weekend) and really slow (Pike Place Market cafe-15 years) business failures in my life. My shelf life for ideas is now six months maximum. Whether I’m starting something new, or a project inside a current business, I get in, prototype, get it out there. Is it going to fly or not? The faster I know, the better.
I have no patience for perfectionists. When people tell me they are working on a business idea but waiting for the perfect time, location, or partner, my experience is that they will never launch. I don’t live in that world. You can have a Facebook page, twitter handle, and business card up today. You can design your book cover and put it out for comment before you even write the book. You can prototype a product/service and pretend you are in business before you actually take the real leaps. You can’t know what will happen (and I hope you succeed), but at the very worst your failure will be fast and you can take that idea back to the drawing board or simply pursue the next.
My two highest profit businesses as of today, were at one time certified failures. They later got reinvented, rethought, even “flipped” in an entirely new direction. They were fast failures of great value.
If you want to read more about the above businesses (and how I eventually made them work), check out my new book CRAVING SUCCESS.
CRAVE on TV!
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011CRAVE made the news! Watch this special segment all about the power of women entrepreneurs, straight off the heels of the CRAVE Denver guide launch!
What’s The Bravest Thing You’ve Ever Done?
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Continuing our monthly theme of risk taking in life and business we would like to share with you this great post from Chris Guillebeau:
The Bravest Thing – I asked this question last week and was flooded with hundreds of great responses. Here are many of them, with links to the people who were brave enough to share.
ferolea: Quiting my job go around the world was easy. Coming back… that’s the bravest I’ve been.
avalonmel: Agreed to teach uni computer science course to 130+ students when I was 22… and afraid of public speaking.
TylerLClark: I moved halfway across the country for an unpaid internship. At the end, they offered me a job. Glad I took the risk!
opheliaswebb: Called off my wedding. And killed a spider in the shower. Equally terrifying.
“My belief about fear and courage is that all of us are scared of all kinds of things, so the wrong approach is to pretend to be fearless. Instead, acknowledge your fears, but proceed anyway” (Chris Guillebeau).
Read more here and get started with taking your own life changing risks!
Image by NickNguyen
Bloggers To Watch Out For: Career Coaches
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Over the past few months, the number of people quitting their jobs was greater than the number of people losing their jobs. Savvy quitters build a support network before they take the plunge, and brilliant quitters enlist professional help. Enter: the Certified Career Coach. One part therapist. One part cheerleader. Two parts butt-kicking taskmaster.
Need a solid coach in your corner of the ring? Michelle Ward, Dyana Valentine and Chrissy Scivicque are at the top of their game.
Michelle Ward of When I Grow Up
whenigrowupcoach.com
I’ll admit it — I’m a tad biased in Michelle’s favor. She coached me out of my cubicle doldrums and into freelance bliss, so I owe her my firstborn child. A graduate of NYU / Tisch’s musical theater program and a certified life coach, Michelle brings theatrical flair and a “wagon full of enthusiasm” to every session. She recently raised her rates and is poised to explode, so book a free 30-minute consultation call while you still can.
For a weekly dose of self-exploration, bookmark Michelle’s ongoing blog feature: Tough Question Tuesday.
Dyana Valentine
dyanavalentine.com
Generous. Ambitious. A master of personal marketing. Dyana leads by example, and her clients feel the heat. By her own admission, Ms. Valentine’s coaching style is “not for the weak of heart.” She prides herself on helping self-starters finish what they started, using Community Psychology principles to light the way. As one client put it, “if I had to be shipwrecked on a desert island, I’d want Dyana with me.”
For a no-holds-barred explanation of the power of “no,” check out Dyana’s article on “No-gotiation.”
Chrissy Scivicque of Eat Your Career
eatyourcareer.com
Chrissy serves up a powerhouse combo platter — she’s a certified nutritionist AND an experienced career coach. Yum. As the creator of Office Arrow — a popular resource for administrative professionals — Chrissy has a firsthand grasp on the challenges of running an online business. She’s a clear communicator with a nourishing perspective on life, love and work — and all the snacks in between.
For a trio of tasty coaching treats, download Chrissy Scivicque’s free workbooks on stress management, time management and career reinvention.
ALEXANDRA FRANZEN is a writer + editor + organization freak. She designs rockstar resumes, leads personal branding jam sessions, writes marketing copy and teaches wallflowers how to hustle like a gangsta’. You can find her blogging up a storm at Unicorns for Socialism and tweeting away @alex_franzen.
CRAVE Book Featured on the Small Screen
Friday, May 7th, 2010
Click on picture to view video
Just in time for Mother’s Day, our CRAVE guides were featured on Twin Cities Live as the perfect gift for stylish moms everywhere! Watch the clip here and see our lovely books take center-stage!
Styling Your Space with Alexander Merchant
Friday, April 9th, 2010
If you want to make your house a home, or an office space more comfortable check out Alexander Merchant. This Austin-based architectural products and service company focuses on residential hardware and decorative lighting. With their expertise and knowledge owners Laurie Merchant and Susan Alexander can help you transform your space. If you are remodeling or building a home their business and staff can help with selections, technical information, and execution.
How would you describe your business in 3 adjectives or less?
Knowledgeable, Creative, Currant
What are your most popular products or services?
Sun Valley Bronze, FSB Hardware, Vibia Lighting, Hardware Renaissance, Visual Comfort Lighting
People may be surprised to know…
Business owners, Laure Merchant and Susan Alexander, met at McCallum High School here in Austin when they were both 14 years old.
What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?
Susan and Laurie owned a furniture refinishing business in 1997 and during that time they sold reproduction furniture hardware. As a supplement to the furniture hardware, they started selling more antique door hardware, which segued into new hardware. Since there are so many wonderful hardware and lighting manufacturers they decided to focus on representing manufacturers of new hardware. Their business now focused exclusively on new hardware manufacturers and designers.
Who is your role model or mentor?
Susan: My mom. She taught me to not back down from obstacles and to not be afraid to try.
What mistake have you made in your business that you will not repeat?
Laurie: Working to hard at the expense of a personal life, letting my business consume my life.
Susan: Ignoring my intuition regarding decisions.
How do you spend your free time?
Laurie: I spend time with my two children and my husband
Susan: I practice Tai Chi and always seem to find home improvement projects that keep me busy.
What is your indulgence?
No question there-chocolate
Where is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
Laurie: Vino Vino
Susan: Any good restaurant
Where is the best place to get a pedicure?
Laurie: G31 Nails on Guadalupe-no fuss
Susan: Polish on South 1st- nice atmosphere
Where is the best place to get a manicure?
Susan: Again- Polish
Where is the best place to find gifts?
Laurie: Toy Joy-since I mostly buy kids toys!
Susan: Love- unique and local.
What is your favorite salon?
Laurie: INNU, great trained staff with a focus on community
Susan: The whole works: a glass of wine and a hand massage, not to mention a great hair cut.
Where is the best place to buy shoes?
Laurie: Nordstroms
Where is the best place to buy clothes?
Laurie: Last Call
Who is the best local designer or artist?
Laurie: Steve Brudniak is a local artist I have always admired
What is the best gym or fitness club?
Laurie: YMCA
Susan: Austin Fitness Martial Arts- Allows for great cross training from Tai Chi to Kickboxing
Do It Yourself Design Inspirations We CRAVE
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
Spring is finally just around the corner. We are gearing up to do all our regular spring cleaning tasks – flip mattresses, wash curtains, and finally organize our junk drawers. One of the highlights of spring is rebirth and getting a new lease on life . Well, how about doing the same for your home or an old piece of furniture? Small changes are sure to make a large difference in any home! We love to turn to designspongeonline.com for inspiration and really love the before & after posts. Check out some of our favorite makeovers:
- From gloomy kitchen to apple green colored charmer
- From boring and granny-like rocking chair to modern rockin’ chic
- From an apartment that belongs in a Golden Girls flashback to a place that Carrie Bradshaw can call home!
Do you have any home DIYs plans for spring?
The Best Movies to Watch with Your Girlfriends
Monday, March 1st, 2010
What would we do without our girlfriends? They keep us sane when things get crazy, offer a shoulder to cry on when things get tough, encourage us to buy those shoes we just can’t live without, pig out on junk food with us after a bad breakup, and always, always make us laugh. One of our favorite things to do with our best gal pals is to pile onto the couch with plenty of buttered popcorn and indulge in a chick-flick movie-fest. Check out our picks for the movies to watch with your best girlfriends and start planning your next girl’s night in!
Beaches
Grab your tissues for this one. Its a tear-jerker but its also the story of a friendship that lasts a lifetime – CC and Hilary were totally BFF.
Thelma and Louise
Two best friends on a wild adventure, together until the end, and Brad Pitt? Sign us up!
Steel Magnolias
This one is another sob-story, but we love the story of this group of women who are there for each other through all of life’s ups and downs.
Bridget Jones’ Diary
Because Bridget’s kooky antics make us laugh every time and remind us everyone does silly things from time to time.
Fried Green Tomatoes
A testament to the strength of a woman and what she’ll do for her friends.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Because we all love Audrey Hepburn and we all have a little bit of Miss Holly Golightly in us.
Grease
A true guilty pleasure that we love to sing along to with our girls – a definite pick-me-up.
Sixteen Candles
Because we swoon over Jake Ryan and every girl’s high-school fantasy come true, every time we see it.
Dirty Dancing
Another guilty pleasure and classic that we know by heart and can watch with our girlfriends, time and time again.
Mean Girls
It may not be might not be your typical girl-power, female bonding kind of movie, but we all learn a lesson in the end – to support the women in our lives. Plus, its hilarious.
We could go on and on, but we’ll stop here and let you start planning which flicks to view at your next girl’s night. Hooray for girlfriends!