Personal hobby: a one-time wonder or a permanent pursuit of enjoyment?

In a true spirit of a blog, I am inspired today to write down my thoughts and feelings about the performance last night.

Like anything that’s being anticipated for a long time, it went by in a fleeting moment. 14minutes, 35 seconds to be exact. The only way I know is because there is a DVD that we ordered and that’s what it says on a time stamp. If you would have asked me, I could have sworn that the whole thing lasted about 8.9 seconds.

Many rehearsals later; being worried that I would forget the steps; constantly reviewing them in my head and on video; armed with an awesome dress; tan to the point of no recognition; fabulous pedi/medi, hair, and make-up to boost – I did win the 1^st place in everything that I entered. Woo-hoo! 1^st latin competition! I’m very excited!

But honestly, to me it wasn’t about the win, although no question that’s nice too. “Remember the Moment” is my favorite phrase of all time and that’s exactly what I kept saying to myself. I tried to stay in the moment and enjoy the whole process. The preparation and anticipation. All of it!

Perhaps that’s why it doesn’t feel bitter sweet, like it would normally feel when something fun ends like that. I was present at each step of the way, I didn’t hold back, and I have no regrets. No “I wish I would have done this or that…”.

I’m not talking about messing up the steps – I did, and who cares! I’m not talking about leaving it all on the floor – I did, no matter how much it does not look it on video. I’m not talking about being great, let alone perfect – god knows I need so much more work.

I’m talking about enjoying and giving yourself to the whole process, committing to what needs to be done without skimping – so that there are no regrets the next morning. That’s my big lesson.

Of course, none of this would have happened without everyone who was involved and helped. It truly does take a village J. My family (Vitalik, Lilichka, and Katya B.) who lived through this with me every step of the way, my friends who sent their good vibes (too many to list), the “team” that made me beautiful (Doron, Lusya, and Ira) , the cheering section that energized the whole dance hall (again too many to list), and my teachers to whom I owe everything I know about latin dancing (Zhenya and Inna of www.SitiDance.com. To feel this support is unbelievably empowering and humbling at the same time. And I hope I gave them the reason to smile and have a little fun too.

Today is the day after. The dress is off. The eye-lashes are off. The make-up is off. What’s left are pictures, videos, and fabulous memories.

And the fire orange nail polish that keeps flickering as I type this – so bright, someone said, we’ll use it to guide us out in case of emergency.

Where do you go from here? Do you just relive this one moment, or do you pursue this further? Was this a one-time wonder (like sky-diving that one time). Or is this a permanent enjoyment? Is there a next time? For now, that remains to be seen…

2 ways to increase productivity in your home office So you can get more done in less time

1. Keep it to bare essentials. What I mean is that permanent contents on the top of your desk should be kept to bare essentials, so that your desk always has a clean and organized look and feel. When I say bare essentials, I really mean it. Here’s what my desk consists of: laptop, docking station, printer, fax, scanner, router, staple and tape dispensers, writing utensils, 2 pictures, 2 accessories, and some bragging items (more about that later). That’s it. And I have a decent size, U-shaped desk. Everything else has either been discarded, moved, or hidden. All reference binders are inside cabinets. All customer and project folders are inside file drawers. All samples and swatches are put away.

It’s ok to keep 2-3 feel-good things that make you smile. For me, they are photographs of my wedding and of my baby. One accessory is a small globe I received as a gift – it’s a reminder and an inspiration of the global vision for my business. The other accessory is a small plaque with my favorite quote: “Love the moment”. Everything else is behind closed doors.

During the course of the day, the only other things that belong on your desk are your calendar, to do list, and 1 folder on which you’re working. Yes, you read it right, just 1 folder. Not several on which you are planning to work later. Just one, because you can effectively work on only 1 thing at a time (multitasking is one of my least favorite words)

So look around your office right now and see what can be taken away, cut down, and hidden. You will be amazed how cleaning your desk increases your productivity. Here are some examples of things to eliminate:
a. Dry flowers
b. Baskets of fill
c. Mismatched frames of random art
d. Knick knacks
e. Multiple folders that you may or may not use on a daily basis
f. In-basket
g. Top-of-desk organizers

2. Designate a home. Everything in your office should have a permanent home, which is a place on your desk, in your drawers, or inside filing cabinets where things always go. For example, if a designated home for your, say, envelopes is in the right-hand side back corner of the 2nd shelf in the top cabinet, than that’s where they should always go. If a designated place for your, say, paperclips is a small bowl inside the top right-hand-side drawer, that’s where they should always go too. No but’s or if’s about it.

The home for every piece of paperwork is a file – just a simple manila folder. The home for vendor catalogs and price lists is a binder. You can easily store these away in a filing drawer and refer to them later. This way, you don’t have to deal with piles of paper, wondering what to do with them, while they irritate you on a daily basis and drain your energy.

When I work with my clients 1-on-1 as part of my GET IT DONE Mentoring Program, this is one of the areas where we spend some time. I help designers organize their businesses and mindsets by starting as small as organizing their desks, files, and physical environment, in which they operate every day. This is so important because, if we are to operate at the top of our productivity, our surroundings need to energize us, not bring us down; they need to support us in moving forward, not pull us back.

Look at everything that you use on a daily basis and decide on the “home” for these things. Having a home for everything you use not only makes you feel more organized and saves you time, but it clears up our head and energy to work on what’s really important to grow businesses.

In my GET IT DONE Mentoring Program, my clients particularly like this rule, because it’s so simple and they can easily implement it. Just remembering about it and catching yourself when you’re tempted to put something aside until later, is all it takes to make it work. Just remember, all your tools, reference materials, supplies, and files must go back full circle to where their designated home is.

Vision 2010 Awards. 1st Place in Whole Room Integration – Photos

Vision 2010 Awards. First Place in Whole Room Integration Category

Hubby’s Big B-Day Bash!

Here’s me raising my glass in a toast:  it is my honor and privilege to love you!

Everyone is dancing!!!

That’s me filming one of the toasts that was done in a very humorous poem.

Vitali and I (not sure why he is so serious-looking )

My sister Hilary (right), college friend Anna, and I.

#1 SECRET TO MANAGING THE E-MAIL INBOX

It is no secret that our e-mail inboxes get overflown with messages on the daily basis. Yet email is THE way of modern communication, so there is no ignoring it. How then to best balance our preferred way to communicate with getting the most out of our time?

Here are several helpful tips that I’ve picked up along the way and use daily.

1. Set up folders for those e-mails that don’t need checking on a daily basis. For me, they are: on-line magazines, e-zines from industry and marketing experts, invoices, and google alerts. When I get an e-mail on any of these topics, it automatically gets filed away, without even hitting my in-box screen. I then go through these on a weekly basis. Not looking at them every day saves me time and energy.

2. Don’t use your inbox as your to-do list. Your to-do list should be a comprehensive file, while your in-box is not. So it’s not enough to refer just to your inbox. And since you already have a to-do list (right?), why keep it in two places. When I get an e-mail that requires action, the item goes on my to-do list and gets filed away from my e-mail in-box screen.

3. Set up folders for everything. Much like you have physical folders in your drawers and virtual folders on your computer, you need to have folders for your e-mail. My list is long but here’s a sampling: customers, marketing, product, vendors. Many have sub-folders – for example marketing is broken down into advertising, pr, newsletter, direct mail, etc.

While all of the above tips are highly helpful, they are useless if you don’t do them. So I’ve come up with a way that I can actually implement them. Here’s my #1 secret for managing my in-box. Only check your e-mail when you’re in the position to deal with it.

So this means that you won’t check your e-mail because it’s the first thing in the morning and that’s just what you do. Don’t check it because you’re curious and you’re itching to hit the F5 button. Don’t scan it, only opening a few ones that you’re most interested in.

Although it sounds simple, think if you actually follow this advice. Unless you have time and energy to read, respond, delete, and move to folders – don’t be checking your e-mail. Otherwise it will become a big monster of unread, undealt with message that will hang over you and add stress to your life. Of course the idea is to simplify your life.

So there you have it: only deal with your e-mail when you’re in the position to deal with it. There are only four ways of dealing with e-mail: read, respond, delete, and file away. If you don’t have time, energy, and desire to do either one of these actions, it’s best to check it at a different time of the day.

4 Proven Strategies To Get More Done Quicker After A Conference

Going to a conference (physical or virtual) has always been very exciting for me. A perpetual student, I look forward to new learnings and the many potential improvements to my life and business.

But dealing with the ‘sea of notes’ and ‘to-do items’ afterwards has always proven challenging. How do you do it productively? How do you spend the least amount of time – for the best possible outcome. Here are my 4 proven secrets to conquer the post-conference overwhelm.

Take control of your notes. I use the ‘3 pen process’ when I take my notes. Blue pen for main notes. Highlighter for those items which I want to notice first when referring back through the notes. Red pen-to mark an arrow next to the action items.

When being discerning with your notes ‘from the get-go’, you make sure that no time is wasted when you get back to your office. You don’t have to re-read every quote, thought, or comment that you found interesting at that time. Being organized about the way you take notes during the conference, ensures you are most productive with your time after the conference.

Make an action list. Since you don’t have to re-read and go over everything that you wrote, you are ready to hit the ground running as soon as you get back. And your first step is to pair down your ‘sea of notes’ into one succinct action list. Simply pay attention to your red marks only, and make a separate list of your action items.

Prioritize. You have three choices: immediate priority, short-term, and long-term. Immediate items are easy, fast, you should have done them long time ago, they are no-brainers. Give yourself only two days to get them done.

Short-term priorities have 30-60 day span. Ask yourself: which of these action items have the lowest cost and will bring the biggest return?

Long-term priorities don’t mean ‘someday’ and certainly not ‘never’. Give yourself a time span of not more than 90 days.

Get it done! The best way to get done what you set out in your action list is to put them on your calendar. Spread out your calendar in front of you and plot each action item on a specific day of the week. Be sure to give yourself a start time and an end time. Resist interruptions. Work AS IF you’re going away on vacation – somehow that knowledge always gets us more productive.

7 ½ Proven Strategies to Get More High-Paying Clients

1. SPEAKING

Although many of us are petrified of speaking in front of groups, it is hands down, one of the best ways to get a new client. Why? Because after someone heard you speak, she is much more likely to know, like, and trust you. And people only do business with those they know, like, and trust.

2. SOCIAL MEDIA

If you think, social media is a waste of time, think again. Every day, many relationships are forged on facebook, twitter, and linked in. To have your profile on each one of these networks is a must. The next step is to participate! It is only through conversation and dedication of time, that you will start seeing results.

3. ON-LINE MARKETING

One of the best ways to get new orders, is to stay in touch with your clients. And one of the best ways to do that is through an e-mail newsletter (also referred to as e-zine). When done systematically and authentically, e-zines will keep you front and center in your clients’ minds.

4. DIRECT MAIL

This one may sound a bit scary, I understand. You may have questions like: what to mail, when to mail, how often, and to whom? I can tell you that frequency outpulls the size of your mailing piece. So it’s much better to mail a smaller card several times, then to mail a large fancy card – only once. The list of prospects can be easily rented from various sources that specifically deal with databases (i.e. infousa.com).

5. NETWORKING

This is one of the oldest ways of growing your business known to man. Oldie, but goodie, it is one of the most powerful ways to get in front of your prospect. They say showing up is 80% of the job. I say following up is 95%. If you don’t follow up, all the time that you spent getting the event, talking to people, distributing cards, and driving back is wasted if you don’t follow up afterwards.

6. REFERRALS & TESTIMONIALS

Everyone knows and says that their business is built on referrals. I think you’ll also agree that if we only rely on organic referrals, it will take an eternity to grow our businesses. The important note to remember here is that it’s our job to ask for them. The best way to do that is to let your customers know from your first interaction that you appreciate referrals. Set up systems in your biz to encourage and get them, so that they are not forgotten. Finally, put your testimonials on all your marketing materials!

7. PUBLIC RELATIONS

Free publicity – what could be better – right? But how do you get it? Like anything else, it takes dedication. It starts with good photos. Next you must know your publications’ editorial calendars. Finally, you must present yourself to the editors as a valuable resource. Position yourself like this: “How can I be of value to your publication?”

7 ½ Just do it!

All these strategies may sound overwhelming, as you’re already overwhelmed by the amount of work you have. So my advice is to pick one, that sounds like a ‘low-hanging-fruit’. Give yourself a deadline. And do it. Once done, pick the next ‘low-hanging-fruit’. And tackle the list one-by-one.

If you would like more in-depth information about all of these strategies, and more, you have to check out www.BusinessofDesignTelesummit. 10 design industry experts share their secrets about exactly how to tackle each of these marketing strategies.

Baby Anton is 7mo Today!

It’s so hard to believe how fast the time flies!!!  7 months already.  I remember the day that he was born like yesterday.  Here are some updated pictures of him!

Secret to Getting More Out Your Calendar

When it comes to scheduling appointments, we are usually more than eager to give everybody else the most convenient slot – most convenient for them that is. Inconveniencing ourselves in the process, we feverishly move things around, scrap our own plans, or forget to take care of ourselves altogether.

Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar?  It’s beginning of the year and you’ve made a resolution (once and for all) to get back into the gym.  You’ve even discovered a class that you really like and swore to yourself that you’ll go every week.  Then, usually after a few weeks, “life happens” and other commitments start creeping up:  from a deadline on a project to a phone call from a customer.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been guilty of this a lot!

Until I discovered a secret to productively managing my calendar, while still being responsive to and of service to my clients.

The secret is to CALENDAR your own appointments FIRST, then everyone else’s – second.

In the beginning of the year, before any other commitments take over, sit down with your calendar, and write in all the recurring commitments you have with yourself.  Here are mine:

1. Gym (yes, I also made that infamous resolution)

2. Hair appointments

3. I don’t get my nails done, but if you do, it should go here

4. Dermatologist

5. OB/GYN

6. Dentist

7. Anton’s (my son) appointments

After you’ve calendared your personal commitments, then write down all recurring professional commitments.  For me, they are:

1. IFDA – International Furnishings and Design Association

2. WCAA – Window Coverings Association of America

3. GKIC – Glazer Kennedy Insider Circle

The key is to put it down on your calendar those things that tend to go by the way-side, once you get busy with your day-to-day dealings. It seems to be ‘human nature’ to keep pushing off those things that ultimately make us healthier, more beautiful, and more energized – all in the name of a short-term gain.

One easy way to combat the human nature is to pre-empt it.  We pre-empt it by scheduling ourselves first, then everything else second.  It’s called honoring our needs instead of shoving them to the back burner.  And when we do that, our productivity soars!

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