Journey On …

I’ve been forced to go on a journey. To leave the comfort of a job I grew to love. The economy? Perhaps part of the blame, but it’s more than that. Corporate has mandated, “culture change – take it or leave it.” Their tactics are brutal. Apply intense pressure; create something new. Deliver … a corporate birth.   

Home Interior Design and Decorating Ideas

How to naturally and intuitively
Design, Decorate & Furnish Your Home  

[Editor’s note: If you prefer, you can download the PDF with Pictures of this Post.  This is the script from my video, “Home Decorating Ideas | Personalized Room Design | Free Interior Design.”   You can watch it on YouTube or Go Here. And please, remember to share this video with all your friends ... thanks, Alie.] 

Hi there. I’m Alie James, Home Design Consultant. Today, I want to give you some great home decorating and room design ideas to help you get started on your Dream Home and be able to Design, Decorate and furnish your home – these are the same ideas I recommend to my Clients and they’ll help you with natural and intuitive Do-It-Yourself projects for your Home & Garden. 

Tapping into my experience of Home Design & Home Furnishings, I’ll tell you exactly how to Personalize your Room Design & HomeDecorating Style AND also how to save a lot of money when purchasing things for your Home. My sincere wish is for you to get to live in the Home of your Dreams! Also, at end of this video [article], I’ll tell you how to access a very good Free Interior Design service. 

The Warmth of Snow …

Winter visited yesterday morning.  It was snowing. 

I thought about calling my daughter since we always love the "idea" of snow.  But it was too early, so I soaked in the memory of it and went about my day. 

I’m certainly not ready for the cold, but perhaps it will be the cleansing I need.

Chill pills … I need a huge dose of them.  The economy has hit the Home Furnishings Industry very hard, but I’m involved with a company, which has decided to take things into a new direction.  So for me, I’m dealing with a double dose of economic woes.

Two nights ago, I dreamed about CSI, aligators and lots of blood around me; last night it was an invasion of ants.  I tried to think how those two traumatic things were related.  What was my Spirit trying to say to me?

Rather than go deeper into it, I’ll just say I need the "snow to fall and insulate me" for a while.  It’s probably time for me to hibernate - to go underground with a warm blanket of snow covering me, and wait until spring.  I just hope the winter isn’t too severe and the warm white snow blanket will stay put. 

Will you do some hoping for me?

Take a Chill Pill

This is not meant to be a cliché.  It’s a real suggestion because I’m just like you, personally experiencing stress & anxiety related to the econmy.  And, perhaps unlike you, I experience it all day at work because home furnishing sales are directly linked to housing, and the mental mood of the country.

 ♥

So, I know firsthand how difficult it is to remain stress-free, healthy and happy.  But, I also know that I have resources available - my own personal Chill Pills.  The Chill Pills I take aren’t related to drugs, alcohol or professional intervention.  Rather, they are self-help, natural things I do to "chill out".  Here’s my list, and hopefully some of these things will be great Chill Pills for you, too:

Watch the Dream Movie.  (I’ve watched it at least 50 times in the last few months, and I never get tired of it - it’s tremendously inspiring and soothing.) 

 

I sometimes treat myself to a massage if I need a high dose of chill.

 

I talk about my feelings to my closes friend and loved ones.  But I never talk about my anxiety to any one else.  How boring is that?  I prefer not to add a heavier load to those around me.  I try to stay calm and unafraid (I give myself lots of pep-talks.)

 

I try to add more "Favorite Day" elements to my day, and eliminate my triggers for stress.  (The "Favorite Day Finder" helps me identify the good and bad elements of my days.  It’s available in The Duck Directory, The Ugly Duck Makeover, and The Not So Famous Celebrity Makeover.)

 

I use the Awakenings Program from Centerpointe to de-stress whenever I have an extra hour of quiet time.

 ♥

So, if you need a little something to take the edge off things, just pop a few Chill Pills, and see if you don’t feel a little better.   And as our friend from England, Duncan, says … Cheerio! 

Dream … Maker

This is my reality  - for the moment. 

It’s 7:23am.  I’m sitting in my favorite chair, at my favorite place (my porch) with my favorite mug (creamy white) filled with my favorite beverage (cream & French roast coffee).  Next to me on my little stone table is a plate of fruit (strawberries, bananas, pineapple) and cheese (white cheddar) on my favorite plate (Tuscan red). 

The birds are singing and it’s about 70º.  I have my favorite throw (amber chenille) over my legs and feet with this computer on my lap.  I’m planning to write about another topic straight from my dreams (and it’s a very strange subject for a dream!)

Illusion is the topic, but I’m going to give it a twist.  It’s not about illusion and magic, but illusion in regards to reality.  In fact I’m thinking of these titles - “illusional reality” or “the reality of illusion”.  Let’s see which wins - if either. 

One of the ways I write is to just write and edit later - that way is comes from my heart.  Ok … I’m ready to tackle this … let’s see where it’ll take us. 

When I woke up the other morning - about 3:00am - I wrote down these words … “Illusion - what’s up is down, what’s down is up, what’s here is there, what’s there is here, what’s fast is slow, etc….”  I’ve written about this before - questioning what really IS truth.  And I think (I’m not checking to confirm this) I left it that truth had to do with perspective.  Whether it’s mine, yours, theirs, or other-worldlies. 

For now, let me use an example of Illusion from my World of Furniture - a real place, with a real punishment/reward system — sell furniture (get money to pay my bills - a great reward!) or don’t sell furniture (make no money … work very hard for nothing - a dreary punishment!).   Anyway, more to the point … I must consistently behave a certain way towards my customers, which is to be conversational, friendly, caring, questioning and solutions-oriented - in other words, it’s my JOB to form a relationship with a stranger.  I have to do it well so that they are comfortable with who I am when they leave (so that they will remember me if they return). 

Oh friends, so much of that behavior is simply learned and programmed - it’s the “illusion” or “hat” I put on when I enter the furniture store.  It’s so hard at times, too, because I would love just to be me (really me).  Rather than give a summary of me, just know that what I write in my posts and in my books is really me. 

Here is the application, though.  We all live a public life, a private life and let’s just say an “inner/spiritual life”.  Whatever we choose to reveal in our public and private lives - in other words, whatever reality we put out there there is a choice.  We can choose to be ourselves or not.  That’s the freedom we have that no one can rob us of.  But there’s one place that I suggest that we be true to ourselves - and that’s in our “inner life”.  This is where we make things real anyway - from the Spirit part of us - which (or who) is the Real Us! 

That’s what my books are about - “makeovers for you and your home” have to do with getting in touch with your Real Self so that you can live your dreams, and also be able to live in the home of your dreams. 

For most of the Non-Dreamers in the world … dreams are simply an illusion.  The here and now is the reality.  But to those of use who have relearned, or are in the process of learning, how to embrace our true selves and our dreams - it’s our dreams that we believe will eventually replace the here and now of today, and will one day become our NEW reality. 

Ok which title will win … how interesting, neither wins.  I realized that throughout this post, my  subject is more about believing and dreaming.  That’s reality.  And as we dream it, hopefully we’ll experience it “for real”.   

So … That’s all Folks … Talk to you soon and Love to you all …

Hope …

I woke up from a dream just 30 minutes ago - I quickly got my coffee so that I could write it all down.  I know this dream is a result of two MAJOR things I’ve experienced this week.  Let me tell you about these things and then I’ll explain the dream.

 ♥

1st thing:  After 4 years of writing my books and planning my website, I’m faced with the exciting (and looming) reality of finishing the project … which means - it’s now time to expose my "babies" to the real world … which means either I’ll make it as an author or I won’t … and ultimatley my success or failure will determine whether I’ve created a legitimate 2nd income, or simply established a hobby for myself.   So in preparation for this, I’ve been studying marketing ideas, and realizing how much I don’t know and how much money it takes to ‘do it right", according to the experts. 

 ♥

But there is something I must do, and it doesn’t cost a ¢¢¢ (just lots of sense) … it’s to concisely and confidently be able to explain EXACTLY who I am, what I do, and what makes me different.  In other words, what could possibly set Alie James and her books apart from all her competion in the Healthy & Beauty and Home Furnishings Industry?

So, that’s Reality Check #1. 

 ♥

The 2nd thing was Reality Check #2, and it was much more serious than the first … 

As you know, I work in the Home Furnishings Industry (in a Furniture Store).  I’ve made a living from this Industry and it’s been a very rewarding experience.  All of us in this industry have been experiencing very difficult times, as we are so closely tied to the economy - especially to consumer confidence, housing, the presidential election and GAS prices  - those things always affect it positively or negatively. 

 ♥

So ……………  we were visited this week from our reginal manager (Dan), whose mission was to bring us a Reality Check - a "state of the union" kind of speech.  And his message — the union just "ain’t so great".  But Dan also delivered a little bit more than the required "Reality Check".  He delivered "Hope" (at least I received hope from his message).  

 ♥

After his meeting, I realized that I didn’t feel too bad because I was hopeful that everything would turn out alright - I had "caught" his optimism.  But later, after I was speaking with some others, I found out that there were two very opposite points of view, and that perhaps I was being naive by adopting such hope.  

Ok - pretty emotionally draining week, don’t you think?  Well, here’s my dream:

The dream was about meeting a very old friend who was asking me to explain to her exactly what I was trying to accomplish with my books.  I was fumbling along, saying this and saying that, and she kept saying "no … they don’t need this", "no, … they don’t need that".  Finally, just a few seconds before I woke up, I said …

"I guess my books are about Hope" … 

 ♥

And then she reminded me that not everyone needed a message of Hope, only women who were very much like me (Diane).   When I woke up, I realized that there is so much energy and power in Hope.  Personally, it’s been "Hope" that gives me the enthusiasm, the optimism, the drive to get up every morning and give my best - to my friends, my family and my customers.  And now, more than ever, with such BAD NEWS, it’ll be hope that gets me going and through these challenging times. 

So, here are some of the things that I HOPE for:  I hope to maintain (and make even better) what I still have - my health, my youthful appearance, and thank goodness, my sexuality.   Also, I want to make the home I have my Dream Home.  And of course, I hope that I’ll continue working in the Home Furnishings Industry for a while longer.  

Here’s the bottom line - the Marketing Message from Alie James is … Hope … 
Hope that life can truly be Simple, Beautiful and Complete!

 ♥

In regards to Dream Homes … The Dream Home Profile™ has made it possible for everyone to have a Dream Home - because a Dream Home isn’t dependent on the amount of money or things you have - rather it’s about knowing exactly what you need to make "the place you live" (your home) "feel just like home". 

In regards to Health & Beauty, the market’s a little more defined - probably Alie James relates best to women between 39 - 69 years old.  "My hope" is to give hope to women who need it - who want to look and feel as young and beautiful as long as possible.  We women are transitioning between our "second season" and "third season"  (i.e., we’re starting to end "Summer" and begin "Fall"). 

So, to all my friends … use your Wings … 
And let’s hope for the Best Years of our Lives … Alie

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 …

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 …)

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