– Jane
· · · Jane’s Thread · · ·
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
My birthday is sacred to me and also happens to be a national holiday – the Fourth of July. I’d planned a trip to California to be with family on The Day. My brother generously invited me to celebrate at a neighborhood restaurant near him. Perfect! I would party...
Self-Promotion Makes Me Want to…
How did you fill in the blank? Sing and dance? Run and hide? My gut response, appropriately, is puke. I didn't want that word choice in the headline, but believed that you'd click to find out more. I'm learning how to write catchy subject lines, so thank you for...
7 Reasons Why You Would Want Jane Pollak on Your Vendor List
When watching the HBO series Succession, I was struck by a pillow that rests opposite Logan, the billionaire patriarch of the family, as he sits on the couch. The sets for the show are opulent, and the detail of a particular textile and the character’s harmony with...
Need to Learn Clubhouse? Meet Tollisha Joseph!
I had the extraordinary privilege of connecting with Tollisha Joseph not once, but twice yesterday. There aren't many Saturdays (the rain helps) where I'm moved to blog, but after an infusion of The Official Glue, Tollisha's alias, I had to share! I'd attended a...
The Magical Art of Networking
Of the over 100 actions I've taken to build my new business this past year, eleven of them revolved around networking. When you see the word networking, does it conjure up name tags, handshakes and fake smiles? I used to think that way, but it has become a favorite...
Did You Know It’s Star Wars Day?
I participate in Caveday.org, an online study group, that starts off each 'cave' with a theme. Today's was a celebration of Star Wars. I drew a blank until the leader said, "It's May 4th, Star Wars Day. 'May the fourth be with you.'" Having seen one of the...
Fluke or Traction?
Do you ever have trouble discerning whether you've just received a lucky break or that all of your hard work is amounting to this stroke of kismet? A friend of mine used the expression, "The harder I work, the luckier I get," which answers that question for me....
Teeny-Tiny Quality of Life Changes
At the end of my shower this morning I was reminded of a small change I made in my routine years ago. I had complained to whomever, "Don't you just hate it when you finish luxuriating in a warm shower, then rip open the curtain, step out, grab a towel and freeze?"...
Old School and Proud of It
Visiting my grandsons in New Jersey last weekend, I was taken aback when Owen, the 7-year old, called something I'd done "so old school." Fortunately, my failing memory can't come up with the exact moment he used the phrase, only that I was temporarily startled,...
Virginia Kraljevic – A Most Abundant Artist
"There's no such thing as competition. There's so much abundance out there," said Virginia Kraljevic as our most ample conversation wound down. Her attitude didn't surprise me. Her drawings reflect someone whose heart is wide open and flourishing. Virginia is my...
Gentle Coaching Circles
As this Year of Everything Different comes up to its first anniversary, I am offering a different coaching program. "No one is looking for a boot camp these days," one of my advisory board members reminded me. "We're all looking for something gentle, supportive and...
Stop Waiting for Permission!
I gave a talk early this morning to a group of business owners. The feedback I got was so uplifting and motivating that I decided I need to bring my message to a larger audience. "I should post videos of me sharing my experience, strength and hope to the masses -...
My Latest Re-connection: Heidi Nehlsen
I've been over-achieving on my commitment to reach out each week for a 1:1 conversation as a means of networking, marketing and filling time till post-pandemic life resumes. I'm so excited by this self-assignment that I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. We're 7...
Surprising Advice from my Advisory Board
On my bi-weekly Visions zoom call this morning, I was taken aback by the advice given to me by two people I highly esteem. My memoir has been out for almost two years, has been listed on Amazon and other sites for that amount of time, and continues to sell, albeit...
Do You Ever Want to Say, “C’mon God!”
I feel like a whiny brat enumerating all that I'm doing on my own behalf to get my artwork out to the right buyer. In my case, that would be an interior designer or specialty home decor store with wealthy clientele. I'm following the instructions I give my clients....