– Jane
· · · Jane’s Thread · · ·
How Much Technology to Let In
My father didn't curse often, but he inevitably would when the phone rang during supper. This was the 50's and 60's--before answering machines, voice mail or even off buttons for the ringers. He hated that anyone from the outside world could disturb our family's...
I Want You Nervous
I recently gave a 20-minute sneak preview of my Create Your Own Future program. Wainwright House (a Welcome Home for Mind, Body and Spirit) had an all-day festive indoor/outdoor open house to introduce people to their wide array of offerings. They invited me to...
Attention to Detail
I spent 30 years creating intricate artwork and successfully marketing and selling it. My attention to detail was pretty intense, but I was humbled by what I witnessed during my recent stay at the Golden Door. I found their devotion to the customer's experience...
What Gremlins?
I posted Monday's entry (8/25) from the San Diego airport while waiting for my return flight to JFK. The draft, written a week or two earlier, was ready to go. Until I left for my Golden Door retreat, it accurately reflected my mid-August doldrums. It was amusing...
My Gremlins Are Partying
Lest you think that every day in this entrepreneur's life is bliss-filled and stress free, let me set the record straight. In the dog days of summer I have days that would drive many to drink, shop, abandon ship or nap. My phone stops ringing. A big prospect I'm...
Do’s and Don’ts of Pitching a Prospect
I met a businesswoman for coffee recently so that she could tell me about her company. I noticed myself turning off fairly soon into the conversation. Here's a short list of things that contributed to the disconnect. I offer them in the hopes that you and I will...
Resist the urge
I just received a compelling email marketing piece from someone I admire and learn a lot from. But, I'm not going to pursue the offer. I've got my own plan which I am following and don't want to get distracted. That's the major benefit of having a plan--sticking...
Gone Spa-ing
By the time this gets posted I'll have been at The Golden Door in Escondido, CA for the first of my seven day stay. I know I'll have lots to report about it when I return, but looking forward to it is almost as satisfying. For years extreme self-care has been a...
Networking or Socializing?
I had the pleasure last week of being invited to an authors' lunch and pool party at my friend and colleague's home in Greenwich. I've been declining most lunch invitations as they break up my work day. But I rationalized that this was work-related. Sheri is an...
Narrow Your Focus
Driving into downtown Westport I passed two antique stores in a row on the Saugatuck River. "Hmmm," I thought "they must know their market and can be located where there's not much parking." Antiques stores don't require the volume of spaces, say, that Costco...
Follow-Up With Anne Taintor
Here's why I love blogging! When I posted the piece about getting one's product into O magazine--and how it can unexpectedly temporarily overwhelm a business--my intention was simply to report what I noticed. The incident stood out for me because I felt a kinship...
Like Daughter, Like Mother
I could have written the following blog (I flatter myself...) word for word, but I didn't. It was written by my daughter Lindsey who is thriving in her entrepreneurial business as an author, speaker and training consultant specializing in career development for...
Small Business Advocate – Jim Blasingame
Jim Blasingame http://smallbusinessadvocate.com/ has a website full of useful information for small business owners provided by experts all over the country. I was fortunate enough to be connected to him through colleague Barbara Weltman . He'd interviewed me a...
Women’s Livers and Coaching
I had the privilege of hearing David Briscoe speak at the Kushi Institute Summer Conference on macrobiotics last week. I didn't know when I walked into his classroom how coaching and macrobiotics might relate to each other. (Had I known, I would have taken the...
It’s Like Spinach in Your Teeth
I received a gracious tweak from a colleague that I wanted to share. She'd noticed a misspelled word on my website and wanted to call it to my attention. Here's how she put it: "Just wanted you to know, as I am sure you're a perfectionist, that your Canyon Ranch...