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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
Despite lingering fears of lay-offs, record numbers of people are quitting 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 dominatrix.
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!
You are invited to an evening with…PAPERISTA
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
PAPERISTA is a custom stationery studio specializing in Letterpress printing. Designs for wedding, baby and social events bring the joy and thrill back to sending such special pieces in the mail. Inspired by fashion and known for inventive uses of color, PAPERISTA is continually recognized for memorable stationery that leave recipients saying, “WOW.”
Meet the designer and view hot off the Letterpress stationery recently featured on Style Me Pretty!
Special evening discounts of 15-20% off regular priced items in both boutiques. Enjoy bubbly and fantastic giveaways galore!
Including:
- Custom Letterpress Stationery set by PAPERISTA (valued at $350)
- Wedding Coverage by Erica Loeks Photography for $1500 (normally $5000)
- Napa Valley Day Retreat: massages & resort access for two at Carneros Inn (valued at $450)
Date: Thursday, April 22, 2010
Time: 4:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: 2999 Washington Street, San Francisco
RSVP here.
*restrictions may apply; prize details given at the event
Generously supported by,
The Firm: shopthefirm.com
Bergine: bergine.com
And Something Blue: shopandsomethingblue.com
Erica Loeks Photography: ericaloeks.com
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?
Kick It Into High Gear: Fitness Tips for the New Year
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
Yes, we realize that we are already half-way through January, but we are just starting to get back on the exercise bandwagon after taking an extended break for the holiday season. And, if you are anything like us, we need something to jump-start our fitness routine if we are ever going to lose the “Holiday Five” that we’ve gained since Thanksgiving. Check out some great tips from local personal trainers below and get moving!
NRG Personal Training (nrgcpt.com)
Natalie Gangemi, a certified personal trainer and avid athlete is all about getting her clients to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Check out her advice:
1. You are what you eat! Track what you eat, either in a food journal or online on sites like FitDay.com, so you can see where you need to make changes and keep the calorie count under control.
2. Try suspension training – we have been hearing about this new craze everywhere recently. Try the at home version with the TRX Suspension Trainer (FitnessAnywhere.com).
3. And finally, for those of us always on the go, get the Lose It! application for your iPhone. This brilliant little application allows you to set goals and establish a daily calorie budget. Throughout the day, record your food and exercise, and try to stay within your “budget” for the day. With the hectic pace of our lives these days, this is a great tool!
Doce Vida Fitness (docevidafitness.com)
Jordan Veatch-Goffi, founder of Doce Vida has founded a company to empower women to feel beautiful, healthy and confident – no matter what their size and shape. She even took it one step further and created a line of stylish workout clothing for women and their active lifestyles. See her tips to a healthier you in 2010 below.
1. Eat well and eat natural. That means steer clear of processed sugar, read your food labels and keep your immune system running at peak perfection by eating organic and natural whenever you can. Plus, the more leafy greens and blueberries, the better! They are chock full of antioxidants.
2. Take vitamins. A multi-vitamin is a must, but also explore what other vitamins and supplements would work best for you, personally and what you are trying to achieve.
3. Finally, take care of your body fully – use natural and organic body products. Your body doesn’t need the extra chemicals in non-natural products.
Just a few ideas to jump-start your health and fitness routine in 2010 – get to it ladies!