– Jane
· · · Jane’s Thread · · ·
Running on Empty?
How do YOU stay inspired, motivated, actively engaged? Never in my lifetime has that been more challenging than right now. I don't have to review for you all the reasons why. My question to you is, what can YOU do to keep your engine running and, dare I say,...
Do You Need to Know That NOW?
Years ago I was invited to address a group of out-placed executives who were considering entrepreneurship. I was the resident expert that day and was joined, in our circle, by a professor of entrepreneurship from a nearby university. One of the attendees asked how...
Baby Steps Reminder
If you're anything like me, you've got a juicy list of to-do's for 2021. And, if you're like me, you already feel behind. Aagh! Sorry about that contagious not-quite-good-enough gene. Sorry about mentioning contagion in the current environment... This is a reminder...
My Word for 2021 – Just Like Bergdorf Goodman’s
If the great city I live in is going to the trouble of providing a decorated tree, and retail stores are filling their windows with special displays for passers-by, the least I can do is be a witness. So last week, I hit the train and made a quick tour of...
Don’t Blame Me for 2020!
My choice for a Word of the Year in 2020 was TRANSITION (see last year's optimistic blog post). How prophetic was that? None of us knew in December 2019 what lay ahead. All those 20/20 metaphors for vision, the beginning of a new decade, this generation's form of...
Erik Hanson – Painter and Friend
Although my marketing plan for 2021 includes a weekly visit with a colleague, friend, client or new contact, I decided to get a head start. Last week I met up with Erik Hanson on the #1 train and rode with him to his painting studio in Bushwick. Erik recently heard...
An Invaluable Conversation with Donna Cash
I've been around long enough as a business owner to know this truth: trading money for expertise is a smart move. I hired Donna Cash last week to tell me all the secrets of the pillow industry, and did she deliver! We met by zoom, of course, as she is in Georgia,...
What’s On Your [Endless] List?
Before I could sit down to wish you all a serene and loving holiday season, I had to check things off my list. YOU are the priority, but my nagging mind reminded me that: The butternut squash would go bad if I didn't peel and cook it-- The gifts had to be shipped...
Discovering Saskia
What began as a way to fill an 8-hour day ended up being a rewarding, uplifting and satisfying adventure. I was at an intersection between my kitchen renovation completion and a rare day with no appointments on the calendar. My home studio is currently inoperable,...
Pillow Talk – Perfecting the Product
My Etsy shop opened a few weeks ago, and I've already quadrupled my prices. Considering the time and aesthetics that go into each design, I know that my pillows will have to be bought as art, not home dec. They bring beauty and style to any room they grace and are...
Don’t Judge Me!
My apartment is a mess. My kitchen renovation, delayed since July, is in its final stages, which means that there is currently a large plastic sheet dividing my living room from everything else. My brand new stove sits in the dining area. Pantry items and dishes...
So You Think Publishing is Glamorous
A NYTimes obituary for Daniel Menaker caught my eye a few weeks ago, because his wife's name was one I recognized, Katherine Bouton, the colleague and friend of a good friend. I called my friend to share my sympathy for this loss, and she suggested loaning me My...
Finding Joy During You-Know-What
This morning I opened up a red, Mrs. Fields' cookie tin to uncover a treasure trove of buttons. I spent close to an hour sifting through its contents, setting aside ones I'd like to use in my sewing projects and putting the rest back to return. They were gifted to...
Warning! Did You Receive a $200,000 Offer From Me?
If so, you were also a victim of my Instagram account getting hacked. I began to get messages from followers on Tuesday alerting me to this scam. I'm so grateful to you for: Not taking the bait Caring enough about my safety to sound the alarm The experience chilled...
Home (Not Quite) Alone
While we're all staying close to home or totally self-quarantined, there's a sense of aloneness. Many of us, however, have an unkind Board of Directors in our heads. I am compelled to offer three suggestions to combat those voices and/or a sense of isolation. Using...