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!

HOW SAFE ARE YOUR CHILDREN’S WINDOW TREATMENTS

Basic cord safety             

Children and window cords don’t mix. When window cords are accessible to small children, these seemingly harmless products may become strangulation hazards.

This is especially important with older window coverings that may not meet the latest national standard for window cord safety.

The Window Covering Safety Council is urging parents and caregivers to make the right choice and only use cordless window products in young children’s bedrooms and sleeping areas. Owners and renters should replace all window coverings in the home made before 2001 with today’s safer products.

And remember to always follow these basic window-cord safety rules:

  Install only cordless window coverings in young children’s bedrooms and sleeping areas. Replace window blinds, corded shades and draperies manufactured before 2001 with today’s safer products.     

    

 

 Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window cords, preferably to another wall.

   

      

Keep all window pull cords and inner lift cords out of the reach of children. Make sure that tasseled pull cords are short and continuous-loop cords are permanently anchored to the floor or wall. Make sure cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit movement of inner lift cords.       

  Lock cords into position whenever horizontal blinds or shades are lowered, including when they come to rest on a windowsill.

 

 

brought to you by: www.windowcoverings.org

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN LIFE WAS THIS GOOD!?

…When you were mesmerized by the flickering lights, music, swinging, AND rotating toys – ALL at the same time.  I bet you can’t.  Oh, so much stimulation for a little guy!  And so much joy!

« Older Posts — Newer Posts »