WAY COOL WEDNESDAY! Peek Inside Jessica’s Brain
Submitted by Jessica
If you ever have wondered what goes on inside my head when I’m in creative mode (which is almost all the time) then check out this beyond awesome music video by OK Go. This band had one viral hit a few years back with their music video for “Here It Goes Again” where they did some crazy stuff on treadmills. Well they definitely out-did themselves on this new video for their song “This Too Shall Pass.” Before I blab on any further, check it out!!!
Um, HELLO that is so cool. If that isn’t a testament to creativity beyond creativity, not mention patience, artistic talent, and good, clean, inner-child play time, then I do not know what is. This band is so cool for embracing a different way to express their music and I LOVE them for it! They say it took months to create the Rube Goldberg machine, and then 20 consecutive 18 hour days to finally get the perfect shot! I love how they are wearing the paint spattered clothes, and you’re wondering the whole time when they’ll get hit! So genius, and so inspiring! Let’s go create our own! Who’s in??
TAKE A LOOK TUESDAY! Stylish Flyer for a Stylish Company
Submitted by Jessica
Check out this promotional flyer I created for Catherine Cassidy and her company U*Styled! We wanted the direct focus on the flyer to be the Style Starter Kit, which is immediately visible in the first white box. The color photographs showcase the work she does for clients, and offers a sense of the personality of the brand. It is easy to consume for the reader, by using bold faces, colors, and a simple flow of direction for the eyes. I love the feminine color palate, which is girly and fun but still sophisticated.
There is enough information included so that the reader knows exactly what to expect without being overwhelmed by paragraphs of copy. The use of testimonials from satisfied clients (on the back side) is a great way to build trust and certainty that can help clear any doubts from potential customers. Another great help is the picture of Catherine herself so that the reader has a connection and remembers her before they have even met her! The bonuses are easy to see and help to sweeten the deal by showing exactly how much money can be saved by purchasing the offer.
If you think you could use a flyer like this one, rather than the boring one you printed off of Microsoft Word the other day… you know what to do!! info@designkrew.com
MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY! The Sweet Spot
Submitted by Jessica
What is in your heart? What is weighing you down? Where is your balance?
I just love it when I go to an event and get completely recharged. I don’t know if I have shared this before, but whenever I write articles for this newsletter I am really coaching myself too. What is personal is universal. We are all going through similar struggles and triumphs but the names of the characters change.
I was lucky enough to be surrounded by 10 other successful business owners at this event. I learned so many things about myself and about my fellow colleagues. It seemed that we all have a bit of struggle finding balance in what we give to our business versus what we give to ourselves and all the other areas of our life that deserve equal attention. One woman coined it as “feeling like you are always in finals week.” We all juggle so much.
There are some ways I have found to put balance back into my life despite the heavy work flow and many needs that life brings to us daily and I would love to share them with you!
5 ways to bring more balance into your business and life:
1. Pre-book non-negotiable time for yourself.
Some people, (especially entrepreneurs like moi) just never shut off. We are always thinking about our marketing, the next clients, our services, the next business trend, what our competitors are doing, I mean, the list is endless. It is so important to take the time that we need to clear space and give some love to ourselves. It comes back to the classic saying you cannot give what you do not have. So make a point to fill your well. Here are some great places to start:
* Look at your yearly calendar (if you do not have one…go get one) and block off your vacation time for that year. This will give you something to look forward to and you can feel proud that you have taken the effort to value yourself (and your loved ones if they get to come with you!)
* Pre-book massages, hair appointments, facials and other pampering, feel good activities. Block out the time on your calendar again and make a contract with yourself that no matter what is going on at the time you will not change your appointment! Most importantly, book your next appointment before you leave to continue self-nurturing.
* Say NO to work-through-weekends. Try to pick two days, even if its not Saturday and Sunday, where you can check out from the business and play! Say no to working on weekends unless you absolutely have to. It’s like having a mini vacation that allows you time to rejuvenate and show up Monday knowing that you have rested and given yourself some much needed R&R.
2. Sweat it out.
It’s a tried and true method of creating more balance and happiness. Exercise not only is great for your physical body it’s also wonderful for your mind. I know I would be a basket-case without my Yoga practice and what’s really helpful about it for me is that it’s at a set time and I know when to block out my schedule to commit some time for myself. Perhaps you can go to some classes at your gym or grab a buddy to set a time to work out together, at least until it becomes a habit. Try to sweat daily!
3. Create a ritual.
Some of us can have a really hard time shutting off or separating work mode to downtime, especially if you work from home. It’s a really great idea to create a ritual for ending your work time. Other than shutting down your computer try an additional “closing the day” ritual. This can include:
* Lighting candles and sitting for five minutes to reflect on your day and show gratitude
* Drinking a cup of hot tea
* Calling your favorite person even if its just to leave a message
* Doing a little dance
* Having your favorite snack
* Turning on a particular song The key is to make it ritualistic and somewhat similar every time. This will give your brain a cue to start its wind down process and know that it has permission to switch into relax mode.
4. Clear the mental space.
Whenever anyone comes to me stressed or overflowing with ideas, I always ask…did you write any of this down? You will be surprised at the amazing sense of clarity and balance that comes from writing. Please try this experiment for one week: Take 10 to 20 minutes each morning before you start your day and write from a stream of consciousness. This means writing without lifting your pen even if you end up writing “ummmmmmmm” over and over again. It allows a conscious dump of the endless thoughts going on in your mind so you can start your day with a fresh perspective and not feel the weight of overwhelm.
Talk about taking away the feeling of being in finals week! I have come up with some of my best solutions and worked out long standing challenges from this process. Most importantly when you clear the mental space in this way it allows you to let in what you really need.
5. Breathe and take breaks.
Um yeah, it may seem involuntary and obvious…but most of us take super shallow breaths all day long depriving our brain of the much-needed oxygen that helps it perform at maximum capacity.
* Set an alarm on your phone or calendar to take breaks at least two times daily (other than your lunch) and when it goes off actually stop what your doing take 2 to 3 really deep breathes
* Get up and move, go outside and get the blood flowing. A really helpful way to increase blood flow and energy is to do an easy forward fold. This is said to relieve stress and get blood flow to the brain.
* Another important tip is when you are on these breaks do not think about anything business or work related try to simply be in your body. Notice how you feel and give yourself what you need and give your nervous system a break. It’s the law for companies to allow breaks for their employees, why should your needs be any different.
Feeling balanced is essential for a fulfilling experience in any life situation. How can you enjoy your work if you feel like you haven’t taken care of yourself or shown your loved ones you care? …and, how can you enjoy your free time if you feel the anxiety and overwhelm of your work. By understanding that giving yourself balance and the 5 gifts above (that’s what I like to call them) is absolutely necessary to your over all success, you can bring a more enriching standpoint to the way you approach all things. Give yourself some extra love today and see how much its helps in every area of your life.
Happy Balancing!
FUN FRIDAY! designKREW Office Remodel!
Submitted by Jessica
So, remember last month when we talked about making your work space work for you?! I told you I would finish the remodel eventually!! Ta-da! Behold, my new and improved designKREW headquarters! Now I cannot take all the credit because the amazingly talented Jackie Page from alteryourspace.com was the driving force of the overall design! She was so amazing to work with if you need some guidance along your own path to a headquarter haven.
Ah, it feels so great to complete a project. I loved spending my (small amounts) of downtime to get creative and crafty with the space that I have to work with. And I know that in order to have a peaceful and productive work environment, I need to be happy with my surroundings. If a work space is untidy or if you’re just unhappy with the way it looks (you might not even realize it) but it can affect the way you work! Really, I promise! Now that I’m done and happy with the way my office and living areas are arranged, I am happier, more at peace, and get focused so quickly! When you look around and see things that remind you of who you are, what your business represents, and what you are striving to achieve (like with a vision board perhaps?) it’s easy to dive right into a project, problem, or assignment!
In January, I asked what are some ways you can make your work space work for you? Could you use a trampoline to get silly and shake out your creative side? What about rearranging furniture so you can take breaks from the computer screen and look out the window? If you’re in an office, get a small plant, put up some pictures to remind yourself of what you’re working towards, or of what makes you happy. Check out the pictures of the remodel below, and good luck with your own!
The magic desk with vase to match the brand!
The “in progress vision board and mighty server area!
The “creative corner” equipped with chalk board and trampoline!
The creative and comfy couch area
SUPER SECRET SHOT of my new bedroom decor!
TIPS FOR THURSDAY! The Recipe to Solve Your Top Marketing Challenge
Submitted by Jessica
Boy do I have a recipe for you! I can’t hold back my excitement with this, it’s as though my Grandma Alter’s secret pie crust recipe was being revealed (maybe in another article some time). I have been getting a lot of feedback from my clients about the struggles they face in marketing in their respective businesses.
There is one really major challenge that I repeatedly hear from the entrepreneurs I work with and that is TIME and not having enough of it. If you want to speed yourself to success then implement the below tactics and you will see results faster than ever before. Like the quick meal phenomenon that has swept our nation without all the calories and trans fat! SUPERSIZE THIS!
>Ingredients:
1 brand
1 person
1 business model
1 unlimited list
1 plan of action
1 mastermind partner or mastermind group
1 to 2 wealth/success/business coach
Salt and pepper AKA Take action IMMEDIATELY
>Prep:
Preheat: Show up to the kitchen with an open heart, ready to make a mess at times and excited for the results.
SERIOUSLY…GET EXCITED!!!
Read the recipe book: Educate yourself. Who is doing what you are doing at the next level and model after them. Go find seminars and books that discuss what you are after and immerse yourself. Take action immediately…please use this in all the steps discussed, this is your ultimate all purpose spice!
Get to know your eater: Survey your people, ask them what you want to know to make the ultimate “meal” for them. Believe me they will tell you what they want and you can only better serve them when you have more information. Know who they are, where they like to go on vacation, their age, their house hold income, what publications they read, where they shop, etc etc. Cook for one person: I don’t know about you but if you’ve had people over for a meal and one’s a meat eater and one’s a vegetarian and one’s gluten free and one only eats food that’s white, man is your head turning around in circles poltergeist style. Make your life easier…pick one…if you try to please them all you will go bananas! Then, always and only cook for that one person. Speak like you’re speaking to that one person, write like you are writing to that one person. ALWAYS.
Invite your guests: Build your list of connections. This can be done in a number of ways. If you have been to the http://www.designkrew.com/ you know that there is a space for people to leave their name and email so that I can be in contact with people interested in my services and what I am up to. You can also go to networking meetings where your target market participate, social online networking or even in causal one-on-one chance meetings. The point is to be in touch with your contacts on a regular basis. Always invite them to your “dinner parties”!
Set the table: Make a brand… and make a space that people are excited to come to. This really allows you, the business owner, to take ownership of what you are doing to be the host, if you will, of a fabulous party that only your “eaters” are invited to because it’s guaranteed that they will love whatever you make. So create a space that will resonate with them just as much as your products and services will. This allows all that you do to be congruent and harmonized for the overall experience.
As long as we’re on the food analogy…think about the most amazing restaurant you’ve ever been to. Everything from the greeting of the Maitre d’ to the last bite of dessert was just perfection. You may not remember the color of the tablecloths or how many prongs were on each fork or the flower selection but all were carefully chosen for one purpose and one purpose only…to give you an experience that you would enjoy coming back to. When you have a brand this is what is created for your clients and potential clients. The ultimate experience that they know will be the same when they visit again; creating a trust, a loyalty and repeat purchases! I can definitely help you with this!
>Mix It UP:
Take all the above elements and begin to mix them together with a plan. Some of you might be groaning in your seat…a plan…now you want me to write a plan! I can barely keep my head above all these emails and calls and yadah yadah…I have no time to make a plan!
Well remember that PREHEAT I mentioned before…getting excited…if you knew a plan was going to keep you focused and help you get out of the urgent and emergency mode and into the success mode, would you do it? I think you would!
SO don’t make it difficult, we are at prime time to map out our next year here. I would suggest making a list of the next 24 weeks (the next 6 months). Hop on a word doc or excel sheet and number 1 to 24 and just write your areas of focus for each week with one to five action steps.
>Bake: Get what I like to call Heat Support. Stick all these ideas and your plan in the hot oven and get some yeast that will make this puppy rise rise RISE!
Who’s on your team that will help you kick it up a couple notches?? I highly suggest getting a Mastermind partner or mastermind group. What the heck is this!? Have someone in your life, preferably another entrepreneur, that you can check in with once a week or once every other week to discuss ideas, growth potential opportunities, etc. Keep these conversations positive and focused, they are not times to complain and say “woe is me,” but a superb opportunity to step into your greatness and have a solid sounding board for all that is going on with you and your business.
Education again: YEP…never stop learning. Once you’ve learned something learn it again and again and again to really hone in on what possible. There are also always new trends and opportunities taking place and it is essential that you are on the cutting edge of that to compete in an ever changing economy.
And last but CERTAINLY not least…get a coach. I would not be where I am today without the coaching I have received. It has catapulted my business forward into the SUPER HOT zone. A coach knows where you want to go and can speed you there with tools and experience. Find a coach that is exactly where you want to be and learn from them without having to go through all the roadblocks that they have gone through. I am telling you
THIS IS THE SECRET ingredient.
Voila! You have the recipe to your marketing and business success. Can you smell it? Can you taste it?
>This Recipe Serves:
You and thousands if not hundreds of thousands of targeted potential clients
I have been implementing these very steps and the growth I have seen in the past 6 months would blow your mind! I have tripled my client base and tripled my income in a very short time frame! And I know you can do it too! If you want more information or to dive deeper on any of these topics I am here to provide information and top-notch resources for you
Happy Love Baking! 
WAY COOL WEDNESDAY! World On Fire
Submitted by Jessica
Check out this video for Sarah McLachlan’s song “World On Fire.” Rather than spend $150,000 on a music video, she decided to make the video for $15 and then donate the money she saved to people in need across the globe. It doesn’t ask for donations, it simply shows us how simple the needs are of people in poverty-stricken countries.
It reminds me of a video I posted a few weeks ago, for www.girleffect.org which shows us how $60 could buy a cow for a girl in Bangladesh, which could start a whole new life for her and change her future forever.
The people shown in this video don’t each need millions of dollars, they just need a chance to start their lives, to buy livestock and start a dairy farm, or get the simple medications to get well enough to work everyday.
I think this video gives hope that each of us, even if we are struggling with our own finances, can give small amounts that will still make a difference. Below is what Sarah McLachlan has to say about the video. Read, watch, enjoy, get motivated, and feel blessed for the life that you live.
“When Sophie Muller first approached me with her concept, I thought it was poignant and brilliant,” said McLachlan. “The song is about trying not to feel paralyzed when we see all that is wrong with the world, and remembering that even the smallest gesture can make a difference — corny but true. I wanted a video that wasn’t about me and wasn’t preachy, but one that would help shine a light on the tragedy and turmoil in the world and also show the beauty and strength of the human spirit. Sophie and everyone else who touched this video worked tirelessly and for free to make it happen. This was a labor of love for all the right reasons and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
For more info, CLICK HERE
TAKE A LOOK TUESDAY! Signed, Designed, Delivered…I’M YOURS!
Submitted by Jessica
How many emails do you send a day….no really come on… how many? 10, 100, 1000!!!??? Did you know that every time you send an email it’s a branding opportunity? Did your ears just perk up, maybe a little? We have all seen the auto-signature that simply looks like this:
Sincerely,
John Jacob
President & Founder
JJ Consulting Group, LLC.
Or maybe you might have even seen one with a logo thrown in there. BUT WHAT IF you could have a super shnazzy email signature that showed the world your branding, tag line and maybe even some key areas of focus for your business. Check out these examples below of customized email signatures that make every correspondence a marketing punch.
MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY! Dark Before the Dawn
Submitted by Jessica
I am sitting here writing this to you, honestly just coming out of frustration. Between having my brain packed with out-of-this-world information and two consecutive days of computer problems not being able to implement what I have learned (let alone work on client jobs), I’ll admit some old negative behavioral patterns crept to the surface. But looking back to this past weekend and the wealth of not only knowledge but wisdom I obtained, one of my HUGE “take-aways” was one little phrase: “Ahhh…To Be Expected”
They always say it can be the darkest before the dawn. As all these computer glitches kept happening, I kept asking myself why? Why now at this poignant time do things want to break down? I am so close to my goal and now an obstacle has come. Have you ever had a situation like this? Are you in one right now!?
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and is subject to cause a “looking inward.” So in these past two days of what could be construed as chaos and “unfair,” I just keep asking what is the message? What I am I to learn? I have repeated, “Ah…to be expected” many, many, many times, believe me! Because it’s true, things happen and as leaders we should always expect them to. The key is to not have it come from a doom and gloom place, but simply as information. What is the message?
Take a moment to think about any blocks, frustrations or “limitations” you feel right now in the growth of your business. How is your business trying to tell you to step up? If you listen the answers are there and you know what…they are to be expected!
Here’s the thing, I know I am moving into my next levels of business, things are expanding at such a rapid rate, that better, faster, newer equipment would serve me and my clients. Not only that but in this “down” time I was truly given the opportunity to create some better systems that will create better work flow between me and my assistant, refocus my big vision in why I am doing business, and to just reconnect and do some planning. When is the last time you did those three things? Or have you been stuck in the do one thing, next, next, next, next and so on and so forth. In this case, the dark was really the dawn, I just didn’t know it! I was literally being set up for success!
With this space, I can see that taking the time to having improved systems and equipment in place will actually help me to take on all this growth that I am experiencing in a much more enlightened way. And the funny thing is (just got the chills) they couldn’t find what was wrong with my computer! Thanks Universe! (Still going to upgrade though so I have a mega fast machine).
Problems will undoubtedly always come up, it’s when we don’t solve, that things begin to dissolve. And when we do solve, progress is made and happiness and growth can’t help but ensue. So I always love to leave you with some action steps to help you along your way because success is a choice people!
One: Next time a seemingly “unfair” or totally uncool situation presents itself to you and your business….GET CURIOUS and ask what is the message? What is the information being provided to me right now? How can the business grow from this? How many times has this happened? Is this really the same problem in a different costume?
Two: Take a step back to take a leap forward. Get quiet for one freakin’ second! I know you are being pulled in 9,000 different directions, I totally get it, but if you do not make a point to assess the situation, what good is any action you take. It’s like taking a leap off the building without checking for a ledge to land on! Give yourself a ledge, a net, a white fluffy cloud, you deserve it and your business depends on it.
Three: Reconnect with your purpose to find the solution. First, understand the problem and the message that is being delivered, and take a step back to really look at things to give yourself a ledge to land on. Then, you can reconnect to the purpose of why you do what you do and the big vision you see yourself moving into and make your action plan from that space. If there is one thing that has catapulted my growth, (besides online marketing structures <wink>), never make decisions from where you or your business is, but rather where you or your business wants to be. Set up the space for you to grow into, versus staying small in hopes that maybe, one day, just maybe I’ll get over there, where all the freedom, growth and money is. Make decisions as if you are already there!
That concludes my rant and rave.
Here’s a fab formula from this weekend that sums up this article:
Ah to be expected = Problems + Solutions = Progress
…therefore, Ah to be expected! = Progress
Happy Progress!
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