Will the Dogs Eat It?

Thanks Howard for that funny story.

Howard was a furniture man for decades - watching the rise and fall of Industry Giants throughout his career. One day he told us a story about a Dog Food Manufacturer and how they did what many were doing in the Furniture Industry. The Dog Food Manufacturer would go to their focus groups and gather wonderful and exciting information about what the Dog Owners wanted, and then they’d go back to their labs and create the most perfect, nutritious, “new & improved” dog food imaginable. Then they advertised, sent out thousands of dollars of samples and then they waited for the sales to ROLL in … but after a while, they noticed they weren’t rolling in at all. Oops, they realized they forgot to answer the most fundamental question: “Would the dogs eat it?”

I remembered his story after reading “10 Points to Better Posts”, “6 Tips to Get More Readers” and “How to Optimize your Keywords to Get more Bloggers”.

The advice “should” make me and my fellow bloggers a lot of “¢cents¢”, and these articles definitely make a lot of “sense”. But, I’m cautious - will it fit into my Alternative Marketing Theory about Reality Shows - (superior skill level, authenticity, resonance and likeability)?

No, I don’t think these articles will help as much as they’re meant to because I believe if I did all those things, it would be an exercise in OVERTHINKING!

Our website exists because we have developed a USP (our niche, or unique selling position). We want to introduce ourselves to women who are like us - who want to be the best they can be, and live life to its fullest. And if that’s what Alie James stands for, then we always need to be who we say we are - authentic, approachable, and without gimmicks.

Over the last ten years, I found that the best way to sell furniture is to “not try and sell furniture”, but to “try and sell myself”. I was given a great insight about successful salespeople by a colleague of mine. He said that successful sales people “sell best” to “their” customer - meaning - they find the people they can best relate to - in a natural, friendly conversationally way. That insight reveals why some people are more successful than others in sales - it’s because they are meeting more people during the day that they relate to and who trust them.

That’s exactly what we hope will happen during your visit with us - we hope you’ll like what we have and be able to trust us. That is relationship building … building a nation, so to speak.

So please, introduce us to the folks in your life that are most like you. If you like us, then I’m sure they will, too. That’s how we’ll build “Wings” (our Community). Our Community is going to be filled with like-minded Women, who want to make life simple, beautiful and complete.

Please …

& Thank You …

 

Greening … It

This was a happy morning. After 3 week of very hard work, I sent the last of my “Page by Page” files to Duncan. This was a very difficult exercise for me. The purpose of it was to take each page of the website and document which pictures, text, links to put on each page. Not only was it meant to give directions to Duncan, but it was also a work in progress for the website because I had to write all the text, and create all the graphics and slide shows, etc. But the hardest part of all of it was the thinking part. It was tortuous and tedious. Thankfully, Duncan said this was the “fun” part for him.

Definitely this was an exercise using the right and left side of the brain. I loved the creative part of this - the writing and creating of the graphics. But the technical, organizational part of it just about blew my mind.

Blew my mind - think about it - thinking so hard you felt your head explode? Don’t you admire people who think deeply like this all the time? I know I do, I know a few, and they fascinate me.

What’s the point of that “TMI” (too much information)? Well, I’m not sure, except I’m really celebrating this morning. I’m on my porch - the crickets are singing to me (certainly they know I’m listening to them), drinking my favorite morning beverage (coffee and cream), listening to a few birds, Maxwell (my black cat) is sitting right at my feet, , and it’s GREEEEEEEN everywhere.

Talking about green, the other day I had a really cool application between this beautiful tree and my Photoshop brushes. When I use certain brushes, I can paint all over the page - flowers, stars, leaves, swirls, etc. Take a look at my book cover, “Celebrity Makeover”. That was made using brushes to paint layer upon layer of sparkles and stars. The painting was just a matter of using the mouse to “flick?? the brush” here and there.

So when I look at how the leaves and branches “decorate” the tree trunk, it’s like they were painted with “leaf brushes”. Creation is like someone with millions of different brushes using millions of different colors, with millions of ideas about what to do with them. Amazing. Another Photoshop View of life for me.

I have exactly 1 hour before I have to stop Phase 1 of my morning and go into Phase II, which is get ready for work. Phase 3 is to Work. Phase 4 is to come back home. What Phase of your day is your favorite? I think Phase 1 is mine. That’s because I get to be in, and be comforted by my Dream Home.

Have a great day… really mean it, friends!

I’m … On … My … Way

I wish it were that easy.

What does that title mean anyway?

Well to me, it’s a statement that represents hope, movement, direction. I need that feeling of going somewhere, especially at this point in my life.

My kids are all grown. I know, you might wonder about them, so I’ll mention here that I have 3 girls and 1 boy, ages 21- 27. One day I’ll introduce them to you. But tonight I’ll just say that I loved every bit of being their mom and helping them “grow up”. That in itself, was constant movement.

And then one day, they flew off. That fly-away-day is supposed to be such a relief, but it’s hard for some people to be happy about it. For me, I am very happy for them, much more so than being sad for me. What I found to be hard, is to transfer the dedication I had for my kids to myself. This dedicated movement was much easier to give them than myself.

It seems to be far easier to get stuck in one spot, and start spining in one place rather than “getting on with it, and being on our “merry” way.

Everything I’ve written about in my books is meant to help myself, and hopefully others to overcome this difficulty. We must learn how to become comfortable with and comforting to ourselves. When we do, we really will be “on our way”.

We’ll be “On Our Way” to discover ourselves … “on our way” to look up, and rise above the things that bother us, “on our way” to experience new things.

That’s why we need this Community, which we’ve named “Wings”. Our tagline - just imagine - means that nothing has to be stagnant if you “just imagine”. Our Team - Wings -encourages movement - we remind each other to catch the wind, and rise above the everyday things that bother us.

In sales, we look forward to the few moments in the week or the month where our customers will start a “buying frenzy”. This means our customers, as well as ourselves, feed off the energy that arises from so many people focused on the same thing - buying furniture.

So let’s start our own “flying frenzy”. We’ll come together as a Community, and motivate each other to catch the wind …

Let’s … just imagine.

Making Cents {*!#} No Making Sense!

If ever I had something weird to report, this is it.

This title came to me from my dream this morning. The argument between “¢Cents¢” and “Sense” came from two of the judges. What was being judged was my paragraphs (these little blocks of text moving top write to bottom left to center …), as well as my dance on the dance floor. Both were being “slung around” from one spot to another spot. (I think this dream came as a direct result of watching So You think You can Dance last night for two hours, and then writing for another two hours after that.)

The one judge was saying to me it had to make “sense” to me (to win, it had to make sense). Another judge started the arguement {*!#}, no it had to make “¢” to me.

And then I woke up, and had to sort it out myself. Easy … it’s the chicken/egg dilemma. But my take on it is this:

To make “¢Cents¢” FOR you, it has to make “Sense” TO you.

Application:
For me, way too much of my llife is measured by the Cents/Hour I make. At the moment - not enough “¢Cents¢”. But the reality is that what I’m doing is the problem - it’s lacking “Sense” TO me.

Well, don’t be confused - this is truly an other-worldly message - to me, for sure, but maybe not you. Once again, it’s the same message delivered in another way that I got a few days ago. It was about “it”, now it’s about “¢Cents¢”.

What I believe the message is … The reality of the Reality Shows is that the contestants are doing what they love, they are exposed not only to a national audience and “Who You Know” Judges, but also to people we don’t know about, who can, and will help them realize their future dreams. Whether or not they make it to the top, they will still WIN! But the reason they are in this marvelous Win-Win situation in the first place is because they are doing what “makes sense” to them - dancing.

So my humble advice - don’t be like me, who has to focus on what “makes ¢Cents¢“. Rather, focus as much of your life as you can on what “makes Sense ” to you. This is the way to WIN!

Writing makes sense to me … Arbonne, Dream Home, Alie James makes sense …

{*!#} and {#!*}

Ok, got it … can do it … will do it!

A Diet Book for Tired-Of-Dieting-Dieters

Another diet book.  Thousands upon thousands of “wanna-be diet gurus” confusing most of us, most of the time with some recycled diet and weight loss idea. 

However, The Younger (Thinner) You Diet by Eric R. Braverman, MD is really different!  I’m inspired by a few things.  It approaches anti-aging, dieting and weight loss from a "brain perspective," not a "time and stomach perspective."  And Dr. Braverman uses an integrative approach in his medical practice, which puts him in the same niche as Dr. Andrew Weil.

The first rule that I use to evaluate a non-fiction book is to see if it sufficiently addresses the problem or situation addressed by the title and tag line. The title, The Younger (Thinner) You Diet, draws me in (as a resistantly aging baby-boomer) by suggesting that I can be younger and thinner with this particular You Diet.  What a hook!  It intrigued me!  Of course that’s exactly what I care about, and will likely care about for the next 20 years.  Next, his tag line, How Understanding Your Brain Chemistry Can Help You Lose Weight, Reverse Aging and Fight Disease, places him in a very unique niche as far as diets go.  Wow, this tag-line promises all this from “Brain Balance!”

Okay, did he succeed?  Yes, he delivered a do-able, anti-aging diet and weight loss book - one that I’m going to use.  Of course, not all of it appeals to me. The beginning of Part II offered quite a few details, along with the rational of the Diet.  For me, this was TMI (too much information) for my time constraints.  However, the latter part of Part II was filled with fantastic recipes, which he coded to the specific brain chemical deficiencies that I discovered in Part I, when I took his Younger Thinner Diet Quiz.  The quiz was so practical, and completely held my interest.  I also felt the results were quite accurate.

Another interesting part of Braverman’s book is how he uses herbs, foods and supplements to balance out the four brain chemicals, suggesting prescription medication as the last resort.  The premise he uses in his medical practice is mind-body balance, and it’s the foundation of this book.  I totally buy into this primal connection in regards to natural beauty, health and wellness. 

Would I recommend this book to you?  Yes.  I would suggest that you get a support group started of “Tired-of-Dieting-Dieters” because you can have a lot of fun identifying with someone who is deficient in the same brain chemicals as you are.  I always feel that accountability helps in our diet and weight loss journeys. 
 

OOOh … AAAh … No, the O’s have It!

Organization, Outsourcing, Opportunity

I was thinking about how to organize my small business so that I’ll be able to handle all the soon-to be-received website traffic.  For some reason, these 3 words came to mind.  I think these words properly sum up the best-selling book, “4 Hour Workweek”.  I was listening to the author’s interview the other day, and I think the concept is brilliant. 

So, I thought I’d let you know how, and why I’ll do certain things on this website.  For instance, I have several email addresses on the contact page.  Why would one person need so many addresses?  The answer is - organization.  That way I’ll already be one step ahead when I receive your email.  I’ll put on my “customer service” hat, or my “Wings” hat, or my “Party Planning” hat, etc.

Organization.  This is how you go about building a website, too.  It has taken me two weeks to write organizational charts for each page of this website, making them clear enough so that Duncan can build the pages the way I want them to look.  Nothing at all is easy about website-making.  (But Duncan to the rescue, if you need help.)

Outsourcing.  This is such a brilliant suggestion for today’s entrepreneurs.  I hope I’ll have a reason to do this one day.  There are brilliant folks all over the world who welcome your day to day tasks, and will professionally, and inexpensively do it for you.  They’re called “virtual assistants”. 

Opportunity.  I definitely have that going on.  Now sometimes, presented opportunities take you absolutely nowhere at all.  Once in a while, though, it’s something that happens which you never expect.   I guess like fishing.  Did you catch a little bitty brim, or a big ‘ole bass?  You won’t know unless the hook is in the water with bait on it. 

So, do you want Internet success?  Remember the 3 OOOhs.  Or, what about Life-success?  Or Mom-success?  Or Blog-Success.  The 3 Big OOOhs will help ya out …   

I wanted to say, “Mind your Manners!”

One of the most challenging behaviors that I have to adopt in a selling environment is to turn the other cheek, and walk away from a fight.  To work on a sales floor, you have to have some degree of aggression or assertion in order to survive.  So sometimes I wish I could just do what comes natural - FIGHT! 

It’s a fact - in today’s selling environment, most companies try very hard to please the customer, and teach their sales staff that 99% of the time, “the customer is right”.  Really, we do believe that, but for a sales person this is sometimes very hard to act out.  Here’s a story about what happened to me yesterday. 

A lady (my “up”) was shopping for bargains.  She said, “Well, if I buy this sectional, will you throw in this, this AND this?”  I laughed and said, “Well, if I threw in anything, they’d throw me out tomorrow.”  (We’re a company that can’t negotiate.)  This was supposed to be a funny way to say, no.  Her answer was, “Well THAT doesn’t concern ME!  So, I’m not interested. ”  (She was saying that loosing my job because of her was of no concern to her.)

Here’s how I felt.  I wasn’t upset with her, because that IS the truth.  Customers have no reason to be concerned with a salesperson’s life.  But, I also felt that that this one statement defined her character.  Not to be concerned whether or not you cost someone his/her job is a little sad, I think.  It shows lack of manners.

Well, that’s the way it is in the world of sales.  Ever so often, I get to meet a few very Classy people, who actually become friends of mine.  And usually every day, I meet some very nice, down - to - earth people.  But then, when I’m least expecting it, there’s a few folks that would sour my week if I let them - they’re the ones who give the “buying public” such a bad reputation. 

Anyway, I thought that perhaps you’d like to know what it’s like in my Furniture World.

Lighting Up … the Stage

During the last few weeks I just haven’t had time to watch my favorite shows - so last night I watched 3 hours of “So You Think You Can Dance”.  This show absolutely holds my attention - there’s a magic formula - adorable, loving hostess, relevant judges, unbelievable talent.  And of course the most important element - taking unknown, normal, everyday people and giving them a “break”. 

After 3 hours of it, I wanted more!!!  But here’s the point to this post.  It’s the same topic I’ve mentioned before … “it”.  As far as the Top 10 go, they all have “it”.  They are all beautiful, talented dancers.  But I’m realizing that there’s degrees of “it”.  I already think I know who will be the last 4 - Chelsie, Katee, Twitch & Will.  And who do I think will win?  I feel it’ll be Chelsie or Katee.  (Operative word is “feel” cause that’s who I’m connecting with.)  

I was thinking after 3 hours of it, what impressions were left (what “vibe” was still ”resonating”).  It was that they “sparkled” - and I mean transcending the physical part of the dance.  (The skill level on that show is so high that for most of them, their dances appeared flawless.)  But the sparkle is translated through their countenance of joy - their smiles, their eye contact, their personality.  

They were Lighting Up the Stage.  Their light consisted of energy, electricity, radiance.  That’s “it”. 

And sadly, I wish I had it to give away, too.  Can you imagine doing something you are 100% passionate about, that you can totally abandon yourself in … every day - whenever you felt like it?  Well for me … at least I know what my passion is.  It’s writing.  I also know what it’s not - selling furniture. 

But lately, I’m learning some lessons from the world of furniture …  One of my good friends at the furniture store has ”it” - his “it” IS selling furniture.  Almost every one of his customers leaves our store with so much happiness, simply because he’s added so much to their lives during the very  few moments he had with them.  Maybe to the world it only appears that he’s ”selling furniture”, but I know what he’s really doing - he’s actually giving them a little bit of “it”.  The lesson comes from observing both of us doing the exact same thing, yet having different countenances and different outcomes.  So here’s the lesson I learned about ”it” …   

Having “it” comes from doing “it”.  In other words, when you do what you love to do, you naturally and effortlessly give “it” away to those you come in contact with.   This is an example of perfect, perpetual motion - Get it, give it, get it back - get more, give more, get more back … amazing.

Let’s pursue “it” together, shall we?  I know what I need to “do”, so that I can get ”it”.  Do you know what you need to do?  Well here’s a couple of tips for you:

When you ”find you“, you’ll find what “it” is.  City Slickers, was one of my favorite movies … Curly told us to find that one thing.  Can’t remember the exact line, but it was powerful.  And lastly, one of my favorite lines about doing it comes from ”Secrets to Healthy Aging & Ageless Beauty” …  

“… you learned about Spirit Dance, which describes this natural and effortless way of living - the movin’, groovin’, and flowin’ life-dance that is ‘danced to the music of creation”.  And here’s one last secret for you:  Our dance is not confined to a small and musty dance hall, either.  Rather, we’ve been given the “dance hall of creation“- the breathtaking beauty of heaven and earth.”    

  So here’s to us … lighting up … our stage - today, tomorrow, and then some …

The Yin - Yang of Furniture

Today at work was a great day.  I didn’t sell anything, I didn’t get on the computer, I did visit with a sweet lady, but what made it nice is because I got to do a mindless task. 

I wrote sale tags for about 3 hours.  This is time-consuming, tedious work.  In fact, it’s mindless. 

Mindless activity is supposed to be beneath us, so “they” say, but I rather like it.  Finally, after days of mentally focused activity, I had an excuse to rest my mind and just think about whatever “came to mind”.   As you get to know my writings in “Secrets to Healthy Aging & Ageless Beauty“, you’ll realize that I believe that “less is more”. 

So, my theory held up.  This “less mind” (mindless) activity actually resulted in “more mind” for me.  What’s up, is really down?  What’s down is really up?  Oh yeah, what’s good is really bad … what’s bad is really good … yin or yang … oh I know - yin AND yang!

I know … weird, crazy Alie.  (no … maybe it’s really just interesting, normal, everyday stuff - we just don’t know it …)

My Dream Home Profile™

I think the Dream Home Profile™ is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever created.  The reason is because it gave me a preview of a home I would one day get to buy.  One of these days, I’ll document through pictures how the Design Elements of my Dream Home Profile™ are represented in the home I have today. 

Just so you know - Dream Home Profile™ is a very broad Matrix, whereas Inner Home™ and Inner Garden™ create more focused Matrices.  The lists below are my Inner Home™ and Inner Garden™ (and yes, there is a bit of duplication, but that’s ok).  One day in the near future, I will make available the rest of my Dream Home Program so that you’ll be able to expand your Dream Home Profile™ into your Inner Home™ and Inner Garden™.   

My Inner Home™

White Enamel deep tub
High Bed with Soft Mattress
Country Music
Lots of Trees, flowers in yard 
No clutter/minimal
Casual/Tommy Bahama furniture and ambience
2nd story bedroom overlooking trees
Vanity
Display for my antique glasses
Ledge looking out on trees
Big TV
Bar stools
Comfy purple chenille sofa
Soft, natural lighting, Prism lamp (Chicago style lighting)
Purple/sapphire blue/green/cream/butter color yellow/amber colors for paint & accents
Dark wood study
Porches
Outside grill
vanity
black furniture
fan for bedroom

My Inner Garden™

Soft grass
Yard - gardenia, iris,
The trees - lots of green
The light - open no shadows over house
Brick/stone (limestone)
Dark brown wood
Magnolia/mimosa/sycamore
Crepe Myrtle
Holly
Porch furniture
Ivy-on fence/walls/ground
Irises-blue/purple
Fragrant bulbs - crocus, hyacinth, daffodils
Grill
Herb garden - mint, aloe, tomatoes, catnip
Mosaic plant table

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