CRAVE CRUSH the urban girl's blog to all that you CRAVE

CRAVE Phoenix on TV

May 31, 2011 by Lilla | Comments (0)

Check out this great segment featuring our CRAVE Phoenix leader Shawna introducing CRAVE to the world:

Read more here.

Tic Toc What Are You Waiting For?

May 10, 2011 by Lilla | Comments (0)

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!

March 1, 2011 by Lilla | Comments (0)

CRAVE 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?

January 26, 2011 by Lilla | Comments (0)

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

Video: CRAVE Women Speak Out On Risk

January 25, 2011 by Lilla | Comments (0)

Over the course of this month, we’ve tackled risk from many angles – from no-nonsense strategic advice to more personal affirmations that risk can be very rewarding. What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your business? Maybe you’re thinking of taking that risk soon? If you’re craving a little adventure, stay tuned because we’ve got four fabulous CRAVE entreprenesses sharing their experiences with risk on video for your viewing pleasure! We encourage you to watch this video and explore this month’s blog posts as you develop your own risk-taking style. Enjoy!

To learn more about the CRAVE businesses featured in this video, check out their websites below.

Barbie Hull Photography

Dish It Up!

Bella Cupcake Couture

Popcorn Pavilion

CRAVE DC Book – Sneak Peek

August 4, 2010 by Lilla | Comments (2)

The CRAVE DC team is hard at work wrapping up the 1st edition of the CRAVE DC Guide: the urban girl’s manifesto! To ease the wait check out this cute video featuring some of the amazing women owned businesses  in the book! Also we are hoping to see you at our Pre-Launch Happy Hour Party – August 10th! ( click here for more info).

Stylish DSLR Camera Bags

July 29, 2010 by Lilla | Comments (0)

As the summer vacation season is upon us, how awesome would it be to capture those precious moments and memories in style? Tracy Foster, a local entrepreneur who loves photography but loathed carrying a boring, industrial-looking camera bag, recently launched ONA, a new line of high style camera bags for photo enthusiasts. The Nevis, ONA’s first bag style, is a handcrafted full-grain leather camera bag for women. The Nevis is designed to hold one DSLR camera with a lens attached, up to three small- to mid-sized lenses or other camera accessories, and personal items. So whether you’re photographing an afternoon at the park or a holiday on the Amalfi Coast this summer, now you can capture the moment in style! The Nevis retails for $329, but for a limited time you can take 20% off using code “ONAlaunch” at checkout.

onabags.com
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Twitter: @onabags

Bloggers To Watch Out For: Career Coaches

July 19, 2010 by Lilla | Comments (0)

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

May 7, 2010 by Lilla | Comments (0)

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!

Do It Yourself Design Inspirations We CRAVE

March 22, 2010 by Lilla | Comments (0)

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?