Oprah - You’re Going to Love Us!

Christine Lakatos and I are on a mission.  The Oprah mission.  We are self-publishing authors struggling to get exposure.  We have thousands of hurdles ahead of us, but we are determined to conquer them all.  We have the drive, the heart, the tenacity and NOW, we are allys. Read Christine’s recent Blog post, and you’ll understand how we met, and what an amazing a breakthrough she had with GOOGLE because of our alliance. 

I believe some of the important ingredients to our marketing success can be understood by watching a few of my favorite reality shows - The Apprentice, Survivor and American Idol.  Particularly, you’ll notice on the first two, it’s essential to have allies (at least at the beginning).  Luckily Christine’s and my books are complementary to each other, rather than competitive.  This is really fun - I will get to enjoy her victories and she’ll enjoy mine.  We’ll help each other race past our competitors.

We accomplished our first goal, which was to write reviews for each other - she wrote wonderful reviews of my two books, Secrets to Healthy Aging & Ageless Beauty and Dream Home Profile, and I wrote one for her book, My Diva Diet and posted it on Blog Critics.

That’s why I can confidently say, "Watch out Oprah, we have our eyes on you!"  Ladies, you can help us out by sharing our websites, books and posts with your friends.  Because of you, we’ll land a spot on Oprah and we’ll share our success with you.  How about it?
 

Just Give Me 15 Minutes …

of Fame. We all want it!  And by golly, if we don’t get it one way, we’ll try another. Then we start questioning ourselves … if only I could be … if only I could do … if only I could meet …. if only I were younger … taller, smarter, prettier, skinnier. You know what I mean. If only …

I, myself, am suffering from this desire for that illusive "15 minutes". But, I have to remember a few things from all my years of studying history. Although, I know fame is a function of the “who-you- know- world”, it’s even more a function of an “already planned” world – not from a religious point of view, but from a Historical point of view – (a cyclical one, not linear).

I’ve recently offered a taste of my thoughts about “cyclical history” in my first article to Blog Critic – “Taylor Swift & Friends – Millennial Entertainers Remove the Gloom”. As I wrote, much of what I believe was validated by the book, “The 4th Turning”, which I still use to uncover likely future events.

Another way I consider FAME, is as a function of “The American Dream – Idol Style”. (I’ll soon have this article written.) Let me just say three words – Skill, Authenticity & Resonance. Last night, for my New Years entertainment, I watched Taylor Swift on GAC (Great American Country) count down the Top 50 Videos of the Year. I was blown away (again) about how adorable and confident she is. The Hottest Girl in Country!

Anyway, out of 30 Videos, there was one that totally got me – Sugarland’s “Already Gone”.  It’s one my favorite Sugarland songs.  Take a look at the Video and I think you’ll see how it captures their “Star Quality”, especially when they look into the camera at about the 3.40 mark. Awesome – they are 100% transparent – That’s what draws fans to them. That’s why people relate – they are HONEST and TRUE to themselves … and they let us see them for who they are … just like Taylor.
 

I’m a Country Girl from way back.  America - We are Real Deal!  Like Miranda Lambert sings, we can be famous in our small towns, and in our own little circles.  I’ve got to remember that. 

 Watch other Videos

Sugarland’s YouTube Channel 

Taylor Swift’s You Tube Channel

Miranda Lambert’s You Tube Channel

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 …

 

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!

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 …

Take a Walk … Find some Truth!

The world of furniture is pathetic at the moment.  The question is whether it will recover or not.  The answer is OF COURSE, it will.

I’m a student of cycles - in fact, I’m fascinated by them.  I’m really rusty in what I know so here it is in a nutshell.  Everything is a cycle - there are very long cycles - 500 + years, there are business cycles, growth cycles, real estate cycles, planetary cycles, sunspot cycles … you get it.  The other thing hooked into this is the reality of "entropy", which means everything is fighing against the natural decline/decay of things. 

Healthy and proactive people and businesses know this, and reinvent themselves BEFORE they begin their decline.  They follow an "S" curve.  This means they grow, they plateau, and either begin their decline or reinvent themselves and begin a new "S" curve.

Yesterday I took a walk up my street and remembered about cycles and "S"s.  I made a loop.  I "worked hard" at walking up a hill, and I was thinking the entire time that I’ll get to the straight part any minute, in fact that was my goal.  And the straight part was easy … then I went down a steep hill, which was a slight bit of work.  Then, I naturally ended back at the straight part again.  

So I thought, hmm … just like life.  We struggle so to "grow up".  All of the sudden we’ve reached the plateau and walk along at a leisurely pace.  And then decline.  Maybe the deline part is the "fighting of the inevitable" and after that is the acceptance of it, so we just walk along evenly, till the end.

Ok, reality check.  Where am I?  The answer is - it’s all relative to what aspect of my life I’m inspecting.  Health wise, I’m in the first plateau.  Business wise, I’m climbing up the hill.  Age wise, I’m fighting the decline.  The good news is that I just started the decline (at least I’m claiming that to be fact.  The way I see it, I’m half-way to my goal of 110 years old.) 

Where are you?????

Imprint, Cluster, Coffee … The Code

This morning I had an experience that gave me great clarity into the concept of “imprinting” and The Code.  My cat is so naughty, as I trained him not to get on my bed but if you EVER give him an inch he’ll stretch it quite far. 

So, he was sitting on my bed looking straight at me the second I opened my eyes, not 5 inches away.  As frustrated as I was, this was an aha moment.  I thought, maybe that’s what it’s like for a newborn baby.  Maybe not the first second out of the womb, maybe when he/she is all swaddled … and all of a sudden he/she ”sees”. 

We don’t even know what he/she sees.  Perhaps “seeing” means the totality of the senses at that very moment - the 1^st aroma, feel, touch, taste, sound - a birth moment. 

That’s the moment of the imprint that is registered at the very deepest level of consciousness.  At least that is the Mom/or mom-like figure that a baby first experiences.  Was it good, was it bad and does this “drive” the baby with a sense of earth/time vs heaven/eternity?

The Code is about imprinting - getting to those “birth moments” of concepts and things - tangible and intangible.  Clotaire Rapaille is a man who does extensive work around the world trying to crack the code so that marketing can get to the deepest part of why consumers buy - his book really helped me to develop this website to be “on code” or at least, “code-friendly”. 

Also, one thing I’ve also tried to do on my own is to use “Clustering” as a means to unlock our own codes for things that are important to this Website - Health, Beauty, Home, Happiness.  Clustering helps us see things from a multi-sensual and multi-dimensional kind of way.  Clusters can be used for Self-Therapy, Artistic Endeavors, and as a part of the Matrix development of your Dream Home Profile^™.

Coffee !!!! - I’ll reveal my Cluster for coffee and then write about it.  It’s really strange …

Is this babble or profound?  Not quite sure.

 

Jewel’s Song

This post is to introduce you to the song, STRONGER WOMAN, by Jewel, as well as to formally introduce myself to you.  

Strength & Authenticity.  That’s what I get from Jewel’s song, “Stronger Woman”, and it’s a message that will hopefully encourage you as much as it does me.  I love the subtle message from her “official” video about “real women” underneath all the glitz and glitter.  If you want to see that video, click here to go to my UTube Channel and you’ll find it featured under “For the Girls”.  Anyway, I just love the words of the chorus:

“I’m gonna love myself more than anyone else
Believe in me, even if someone can’t see
A stronger woman in me

I’m going to be my own best friend
Stick with me till the end
Won’t lose myself again, never, no,
‘Cause there’s a stronger woman,
A stronger woman in me”

I hope through my talks, books, and website that I can bring something new (and of value) to your life.  Something that might help you realize your inner strength, as well as help you remember how important it is to love yourself.  If there’s one thing I do well, it’s that I really live the words of this song.  For as many years as I can remember, I have said to myself - “I love me - just the way I am” - even when people didn’t seem to understand me. 

I realize that there has to be a reason for You to want to read my books, invite me to speak at your gatherings, or visit my Website.  In the “Making New Friends” post, I mentioned ”resonance”.  But resonance only happens when you’re able to relate to the messenger, and to the message they bring.  Since I know this is true - I know that before you can even consider my message, you must be able to ”relate to” me, as the messenger.  That’s what I hope to accomplish by writing this blog.

I noticed while watching the season premiere of Nashville Star with Jewel, John Rich and Jeffrey Steele that they said over and over in as many different ways as they could say it to the hopeful contestants - ”Who are you?  Where are you coming from?  Why are you here?  Don’t fake it - let me see You.”    They were saying - ”Be Real, otherwise, don’t waste our time!”

I’m a MAJOR fan of American Idol, So You Think You can Dance, Can You Duet, Nashville Star, America’s Got Talent and The Apprentice - those reality shows that remind us of the American Dream - that everyday people can (and deserve to) realize their biggest dreams.  What I have seen EVERY TIME in these reality shows is that those who win are those with Authenticity, and who Resonate with the audience. 

I really do want to WIN your vote (and your family’s and friend’s), and I know there’s only one way to do it - that’s to be Authentic!  I promise, I will be real, and be me.  So right up front, I want you to know that every thing I’ve written, and will write in the future is, and will be, straight from my heart. 

Also I want you to know that in all my writings, I use a pen name - Alie James.  Alie is the name I chose to represent myself in my public life, and in my business.  My real name is Diane.  You might just say that “Alie” represents all that I am (or at least, think I am).  

A few years ago I did a little exercise about myself, using adjectives and nouns to describe who and what I felt myself to be.  A few days ago I decided to post this list under the title, ”Who is Alie?”  I thought that having this list would give you a good start to get to know me - both as Alie and Diane.  Diane is just my everyday name, but the name, Alie, is like my ambassador.  I guess in today’s terms, “Alie” is kind of like an “Avatar”.  She speaks on my behalf and represents all the things I feel in my heart - for myself and towards you.  So bottom line - pen name or not, you’ll get the real me in whatever I write.

Getting back to Jewel’s song, now.    

I believe we women must be strong - we must be able to look someone in the eye and speak with confidence from a pure, self-loving heart.  When we do, I believe we find that little bit of ”Extra”, which we can then add to our “Ordinary”. 

My purpose in this public arena is to make a positive difference through my writings and speaking engagements.  That’s why we’re in this together - it might just  happen that what I write and speak about will relate to you.  I think that most of us share a common journey … we want to live a beautiful life - we want to be strong, we want to love well, to feel well, and to be the “stars of all our tomorrows”.   Those are the things that are on my mind, and the things that I’ll write about.     

… So, here’s to Us! … and let’s thank Jewel for such an encouraging song, one that we’ll rally around and hopefully remind us how good it is to be ourselves!  

Making New Friends

I know that I’m NOT the life of the party.  My fun at a party or in any social setting is more from observation than interaction.  However; it’s time for me to learn how to become more sociable, especially as I grow Alie James LLC.  So I’m willing to make a small compromise.  I’ve decided to make some new friends by blogging.  However, I think it’ll only work if I write about things that mean something to me.  The reason I think this way is because of my two favorite shows:  American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.

One thing I’ve learned from watching IDOL and DANCE is understanding “it”.  One thing “it” isn’t is trying to be everything to everyone just for the votes.  Those who try that are eventually eliminated.  Those that stay on the shows, and eventually win are folks that are:

 Skillful

Likeable

Resonating

Authentic

So how does that apply to my blog???  (Oh but first let me say that the reason I’m trying to compare these shows to my Blog is to prove that the only way to “win votes” is to write about things that matter to me, not by writing about topics just to pull in an audience.)

Skill:  Well, I have the writing skill - I’ve been writing all my life.  In fact, in High School, I used to say I loved writing research papers.  I was a nerd before nerds were identified and named.  Bottom line:  I’m passionate about writing and researching things.

Likeability:  I can’t say that I’d win your votes right up front in the real world because I’m not that outgoing or talkative, but after you got to know me, I’m sure you’d find that I’m a very nice and kind person.  But this is where Authenticity comes in. I like who I am - a lot.  I’m a loyal friend and a great listener.  So, there are definitely a few folks who “like” me (and would vote for me)  - but they’re the ones who don’t care if I talk a lot or not.  But don’t you see?  That’s exactly who wins on Idol - those that stay true to themselves.

Resonance:  This is the key to “market share”.  It’s all mixed in with Likeability & Authenticity, of course, but this is the win or don’t win ingredient.  If you’re delivering a song/ a blog/ a painting /a speech … it has to have a message that relates to people, that’s called resonance.  And if enough folks relate to the message, then you get lots of votes.  Whether I resonate or not in the Web 2.0/Cyberworld/Virtual World is yet to be determined, but I’ll write about the things I like/love about my life or find interesting, and eventually, we’ll find out  if “America Votes me their next Idol” (i.e. reads my blog).     

… Let’s see … here’s some other words for “resonance”.  Electromagnetic vibrations …. frequencies … harmonics ….  that’s a start.  Yeah that’s me - my head’s elsewhere …