– Jane
· · · Jane’s Thread · · ·
Talk About Creative!
I've never invested in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), but when I heard about the newest version of CSA - Community Support Art, I've reconsidered. Begun in Minnesota and now spreading throughout the country, these organizations are bringing art to local...
Some Macrobiotic Irony
I left for my annual Kushi Conference this afternoon--4 days in Basking Ridge, NJ with like-minded people being served delicious vegetarian fare, attending lectures, cooking classes and social events in a peaceful, offsite location. Since giving up my car when I...
A Bit of Brilliance from my AAA Agent
I stopped by my new AAA office to pick up a map and guidebook for a friend only to discover that my membership had expired. I was assigned a Travel Counselor and went through the renewal process with him. On inquiring about what happened to my status, I mentioned...
The Flattery-Based Approach
I got permission from my very funny and totally brilliant brother, Andy Goodman, to share an email he sent to me and my sisters. It's a perfect illustration of how to make an irresistible request. It rewards the ask-ee even before they've fulfilled the desired...
Who Would You Rather Be–Mary Martin or Mick Jagger?
On the recommendation of my most recent Apple tutor (!) I downloaded Mick, the unauthorized biography of Mick Jagger. I'd loved Keith Richards' autobiography Life, but Mick is an unrewarding chronology of a very complex guy. That said, I couldn't put it down, but...
Not Your Typical Balls of Yarn
I am delighted to share the story of this entrepreneurial success. This piece originally ran on FreeEnterprise.com, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce digital platform. by J.R. Reed Jul 16, 2013 “It is true of the nation, as of the individual, that the greatest doer must...
How Do You Show Up in the Heat?
I wanted to show a new friend and colleague the entrepreneurial community I recently joined. It was a 10 block walk from where we'd had lunch. After 3 blocks she paused and asked if I would mind if she reneged on the decision to visit In Good Company. The heat was...
SPANX, Really?!
It felt a little weird telling my newest client that something she just said made SPANX come to mind. Let me back up a second. During my coach training sessions several years ago, we soon-to-be-coaches were instructed and encouraged to blurt out whatever popped...
Transform Your Vision – a Simple How-To in 301 Words
Need a touch of inspiration? I wasn't looking for that particular brand of motivation when I headed out to the Brooklyn Museum and the highly touted El Anatsui exhibit there. But it's certainly what I left with. A Ghanaian sculptor working in traditional media like...
Bette Midler – Still Divine
My sister Meredith and I celebrate our birthdays in July, but decided to jump the gun by a few days in order to see Bette Midler's performance in I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers, which closed yesterday. What a thrill! Bette performed the part of the...
Please Read the Fine Print
I just received an email invitation to be part of THE NEXT BIG THING. Gotten any of those lately in your inbox? How do you tell what's real, worthwhile and in your sweet spot? My first turn-off was that the sender called me Janey. There are 4 people in my life who...
20 Feet From Stardom
I saw a phenomenal movie last weekend and have been thinking about its stars and message a lot since then. The film is about the women who have sung back-up for major recording stars and groups from Ike and Tina Turner to the Rolling Stones. It's not a diatribe on...
I Can’t Believe She Said That
There's a page in the current issue of MORE magazine called Notebook: Culture for Clued-In Women. There's a quote that I want to share with you. I wish that someone had told me that my own sense of unease about whether I really belonged was shared by everyone in...
Misplaced Anger
I have no reason to be annoyed with my alma mater, but must've been yesterday if my attitude was any reflection. There was a request for input from alumnae with experience in the area of substance abuse and recovery--one of my favorite subjects. I thought about it...
Overheard at an Interns Reception
There seem to be a lot of new normals out there these days. No matter which generation you're viewing the enormous technological changes from, in particular, they can be disconcerting. I was having coffee with a friend at the David Rubenstein Atrium, an indoor...