Inspirational Business

Elephants in Your Waiting Room? My Elephant Tale and a Trunk Sale

New readers may not know this about me yet, but I'm wild for elephants. So much, that in 2005 I went to Kenya and got up close and personal with them. Sure, I was well-protected by Samburu warriors with spears, but it was a pivotal experience to just sit and be with them in the wild. I also went to meet some of my conservationist heroes and visit some of the orphaned baby elephants I've adopted through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Here's a photo I took of one of the babies getting his bottle. Even though he's big, relative to our size, that's a milk-dependent infant about one year old.

After I got home from that trip, I continued to ask myself, "What can I do to help elephants?" Although I have some greater ambitions, I decided to start by doing what I already know how to do: Write. In 2006, I started a blog called Sacred Elephants.

Several publishers have been contacting me there (which makes my elephant-loving ears wiggle!) One of them is Tilbury House, an independent publisher that has two books by Carol Buckley, co-founder of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

Tilbury House asked me to participate in a virtual book tour, September 1-9, 2009. How it works is that each day, a different blog will be featuring a post about Tilbury House's elephant books. There are contests for readers who make blog comments or twitter about the tour. You can win free elephant books!

Additionally, the publisher will be tracking book sales through the end of 2009 and making a donation pledge to the Elephant Sanctuary.

I have both of the books being promoted:

• Travels with Tarra
• Just for Elephants

...and they're absolutely wonderful picture books, with a minimum of text that can be read in a few minutes. I think they'd be really nice for a waiting room, especially if you'd like something besides advertisement-filled magazines for a change!

Here's the link to the Sacred Elephants Trunk Sale & Virtual Book Tour (my date is 9/2/09.) Please take a moment to read about the books being promoted. Also, be sure to enter the contest to win a free book by commenting at the bottom of the blog post! The contest ends September 9th. Winners will be announced September 10th.)

Thank you for checking out the virtual book tour and joining me in my efforts to save elephants!

New MediSpa Reality Show: Addicted to Beauty

If you're reading via RSS or email, click here to watch the video.

I just finished work and was scanning television channels the other night, when I came across a brand new show on Oxygen network called Addicted to Beauty. [Tuesdays 10pm Eastern/Pacific. 9pm Central.] Although I hadn't seen a trailer for it yet, I was expecting it to be trash TV and was not disappointed.

Here is the Addicted to Beauty official show description:

In the new reality workplace dramedy, Addicted to Beauty, Oxygen pulls back the curtain on the tantalizing world of medi-spas as seen through the eyes of the larger-than-life staff at one of the country's hottest beauty enhancement facilities, Changes Plastic Surgery and Spa.

Addicted to Beauty follows the outrageous staff at Changes Plastic Surgery and Spa, located in Southern California. Dianne York-Goldman, socialite and marketing expert, has brought her over-the-top employees from her previous spa to help with this new venture with well-known plastic surgeon Dr. Gilbert Lee. The staff includes: Gary, the flamboyant and outspoken receptionist; Ronnie, the eccentric concierge; Natasha, Dianne's levelheaded assistant; and Shannyn, the whip-cracking spa manager. However, this group may be no match for Melanie (aka, "Mel"), Dr. Lee's no-nonsense office manager who is not afraid of giving out tough love.

The workplace antics get out of control when the staff must learn to work together for the common good of the business. As the pressure increases to get the spa up and running, personalities clash and chaos ensues. Natasha has to pick up Gary's front desk slack, Ronnie is completely averse to having Shannyn as his boss, and Mel becomes fed up with the incompetence of Dianne's staff. Overall, it's going to be a bumpy ride to success!

 

The real question built into the plot-line is this: Can a group of out-of-bounds narcissists put their individual ego needs aside in order to create success at a team level?

 

Despite the cringe-factor of watching our industry portrayed as a dysfunctional "dramedy," and my concerns over the public's perception, I think this is a show worth following. We can learn a lot from observing others' successes and failures! Thanks to television editing, it's all laid out pretty clearly, too. The show's producers want to create a cast of characters that we can love and hate.

 

Here's my quick reactions to the first episode and introduction to the cast:

 

Dianne (Co-owner & Director)
So much like other spa owners I know, she garners my sympathy. In the midst of a mid-life divorce and make-it or break-it business transition, she has her plate full and is overwhelmed! I think she'll get through it, but she better stop spending money on renting +50 carat jewelry for parties, and focus on getting her actual life together (not just the pretend life she's showing the public.)

 

Dr. Lee (Co-owner & Physician)

Very likable, Dr. Lee seems like the smartest and sanest one on the team. Like a lot of physicians, it seems he's looking for support in getting promoted by beauty-insiders. Are Dianne and team worth hitching his star to? It depends. But if he keeps coming across as well as he does on television, he'll reach the level of celebrity he seeks.

 

Melanie (Dr. Lee's Office Manager)

She seems normal enough. That's why she was edited out of the first episode. Normal = Boring in television! I need to see more of her.

 

Natasha (Dianne's Personal Assistant)

She's my show favorite. Natasha comes across as smart, capable, and with a refreshingly genuine personality. I'd consider promoting her from personal assistant to spa director!

 

Shannyn (Spa Director)

Her cosmetic enhancements are so over-done (the boobs! the lips! the immobile forehead!) that I question her judgment as a whole. It's hard to take her seriously! But then when she was actually speaking about spa management and giving Dianne a much-needed pep talk, I started to see the "real" Shannyn shine. She's got potential.

 

Ronnie (Spa Concierge)

He claims to want to be a makeup artist. If so, it's great that he's been getting experience in the business side of operations. But if Ronnie has talent (and I think he might) he's sabotaging his success with an overly sarcastic personality. Ugh. It might be funny if everyone's out having cocktails, but no one wants to work with a snark day in & day out.

 

Gary (Receptionist)

Primping in the mirror. Reminding (threatening) the manager that he is protected by the American Disabilities Act because he has ADD as a way to avoid taking responsibility for not completing a task on time. Whining. Gary is on thin ice! I'll be surprised if he doesn't get fired soon. Yet the softer side of me wonders if he might have a comeback-kid inside of him. He needs more training.

 

Okay, so I'm eager to know! What do you think of Addicted to Beauty?

Lighten Up the Season with Happiness

by Laurie Mazzarella

Recently, I had the opportunity to read a wonderful book by physician assistant and author, Blair Lewis. I had been thinking, searching and writing a lot about what happiness means to me and how I measure my happiness factor. Blair Lewis’ book, “Happiness the Real Medicine and How It Works” captured the essence of my search. He writes about how “happiness is our inherent nature”. It is inside each and every one of us! What then, keeps us from experiencing it fully?

Many of us search for happiness passionately. As a species, we invest a lot of time and money seeking it out. Whether we call it bliss, enlightenment or joy, we all want it, and we want more of it. Mr. Lewis’ book enlightens us to specific traits that happy people have. He also informs us of what specific blocks most of us have to experiencing these traits. Blair Lewis goes further by giving us specific natural tools that can help assist us through our blocks to happiness.

Blair Lewis takes us through his own journey towards happiness and shares a path that I expect most of us can personally relate to. Through his account, I was able to give structure to my own search. Additionally, since Mr. Lewis is a medical professional, he highlights the importance of happiness and its effect on the physical as well as mental and spiritual level. Holistic happiness! How much better does it get?

If you are interested in pursuing happiness or are wondering if you are happy at all, please read Blair Lewis’ book. It is inspiring, insightful and is sure to increase your happiness factor. If you know someone else who needs a little lightening up around this time of year, turn them on. Order an autographed copy by clicking here. You can also order through Amazon.com.

Start enjoying the light of the season. Look at the holiday lights. Enjoy the inspiration they bring and read this book. It will lighten up your search for true happiness.

Happy Holidays!

Laurie Mazzarella is a Strategic Coach for Holistic Businesses with Inspiration, Inc. Her goal is to assist you in being well and successful personally and professionally. She can be reached at (800) 507-1620 or click here for a free consultation.

Television: Kitchen Nightmares

by Jaya Schillinger

Has anyone else seen this show yet? I just discovered it last week.

You might have already seen Hell's Kitchen, a chefs-in-training contest with the cranky and demanding chef Gordon Ramsey. This show has a different premise, though he's still a tough coach with unwaiverly high standards.

Kitchen Nighmares (originally a UK show, now on Fox in the US) is a small business turnaround reality show. Failing restaurants sign up for a one-week business turnaround, allowing the camera crew to see all the ugly realities behind the scenes. The brutally honest consultant (Gordon Ramsey) proceeds to tear apart all the things that the business owners are doing wrong, then gets them back on track. He yells and swears a blue streak, yet the wake-up call is what the restaurant owners want and need. By the end of the episode I watched, the entire staff was crying tears of gratitude.

It's sensationalistic television, but there is so much to learn from it. Restaurants are not all that different from spas and wellness clinics in many ways. Both are service businesses. Both rely heavily on good management and staffing from a workforce of creative-types. You'll definitely laugh when you see how much worse some of these restaurants are compared to your own oasis of health and healing, yet I can all but guarantee you might be making some of the same mistakes. As a consultant, I watched with bemused recognition, especially when Gordon nearly fired the discount-obsessed general manager of one business, and pointed an angry finger at the owner of another saying, "You're the biggest problem here." He doesn't pull any punches with his tough-love approach. Because chef Ramsey needs to get the place turned around fast, he goes straight to the problems without sugar-coating it. Similarly, the people who are his "clients" take immediate action on his recommendations. It's impressive how quickly everyone works to get it done in one week. I'm sure the film crews add to the sense of urgency.

Here is the link to the show's summary page online:
Kitchen Nightmares.

Here is the link where you can watch past episodes online:
Kitchen Nightmares Streaming Video

Regular broadcast time is Wednesdays at 9pm on Fox.

Here's a short video snippet from You Tube showing chef Ramsey sampling a meal at one of the restaurants he turns around. The manager is completely embarrassed to hear the truth about their food.

What do you think about his approach? Is he too tough? Or do you see some value in the way he calls it like he sees it?

Music for Motivation: What Do You Listen to at Work?

Philly disco ball
Originally uploaded by fernando_graphicos

After a few non-stop days of working on a project, today's my wrap-up deadline--and I need to get my energy up! As soon as I poured myself a requisite cup of coffee, I impulsively dialed into the Disco/Funk collection on my iPod and turned it up loud. Nothing like a spontaneous disco party for one in the morning! Now instead of feeling weary of the computer screen, I'm in a great mood, and if I hit a stalling point in my writing, I just dance some more.

So what kind of music helps you break out into a different mindset at work? Do you like it calm, or prefer to rock it out?

Here are my top 4 disco songs of the morning (will open up iTunes so you can hear a sample.)

Shining Star by Earth Wind & Fire

Never Can Say Goodbye by Gloria Gaynor

Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton

Heaven Must be Missing an Angel by Tavares

What are some of your favorites?

Why Business People Speak Like Idiots

That's the title of a book on "no b. s. marketing" that one of my clients turned me on to. My client Dave is a copy writer on a mission to personalize the way business communicating gets done, and I absolutely agree. This book poses a fundamental question: why is it that people who are otherwise interesting, friendly, and good conversationalists, turn into double-speaking bores on auto-pilot when they write business materials? No one really wants to read what they're putting out on emails, memos, and websites. Why do they keep on spreading the bull? The book cites 4 main reasons why business people end up sounding like idiots.

The Obscurity Trap
The authors make an interesting point when they blame "copy & paste" for much of business' monotonous tone. Instead of writing fresh and relevant copy, many people just take worn-out paragraphs from things they've already written to fill up the page. (Who hasn't done this?) No wonder everything sounds alike--it's the same stuff over and over again. More crimes in the obscurity trap are evasiveness and jargon. This is rampant in corporate America, but you can see it everywhere. I notice this a lot in the holistic wellness fields: "access your higher consciousness," "quantum fields of infinite potential," etc. After awhile, it all starts to sound gimmicky--even if there's some truth in the statement.

The Anonymity Trap
In trying to sound "professional" many businesses end up being boring. Where's the humor? How about a little personality in that worn-out PowerPoint presentation? One of the things that really got me fired up on this topic is those "business" graphics you see all over the internet. You know, I'm talking about the ones with the handshake or serious-looking boardroom meetings. Equally bad are those anonymous nail & hair salon posters, like the ones with the dragon-lady hand clutching a fistful of cash. How about some real pictures once in awhile?

The Hard-Sell Trap
One of my favorite pet-peeves comes under this topic: the fake FAQ. Don't get me wrong, I love FAQ- style pages! But the business writers forget that FAQ stands for "Frequently Asked Questions," and they write leading questions that no real person would ever ask. Don't use jargon or stupid questions that lead your readers down a hard-sell pitch. Other hard- sell tactics are used when trying to deliver bad news. If the news stinks, don't try to cover it up with flowery descriptions. Just tell people the truth, apologize, and move on to a solution. Stop trying to sell more bull.

The Tedium Trap
If you want people to read you message, you need to make it easy. Not because people aren't smart, but because they're busy. If you make it too tedious to read, people will skip over your writing. The "tedium trap" is most obvious on the internet. I've noticed a disturbing trend towards websites that use .8 size grey font. Website & graphic designers think this looks cool, but no one over the age of 40 can read it. Don't be tempted to copy them in an effort to look sophisticated and "professional." That's the core message of this book: don't exchange effectiveness for mediocrity

If you're in a holistic business like a spa, salon, or alternative health care practice, don't think that business bull-speak doesn't apply to you. It may be even more important to you, because your business is all about making a connection with your client. Instead of copying others, it's always better to be yourself. Let your potential clients get an idea of what you're all about. Be funny. Be friendly. Be imperfect sometimes. One of my life philosophies is that it's always better to be rejected for being your SELF than to be accepted for being something that you're really not. Go ahead and take some risks and live authentically in your life and in your business.

Even if you've never bought a business book in your life, you'll enjoy reading "A Bullfighter's Guide: Why Business People Speak Like Idiots."

This easy-to-read guide uses outspoken humor to make hilarious examples of what NOT to do. It will definitely help you to rethink your marketing materials, while making you laugh at the wacky world of business communications.

[Click here to buy it.]

Book: "The Dip," on When to Quit & When to Stick

Stuck in a rough spot? Do your press through or bail out? That seems to be the core dialogue in Seth Godin's upcoming new book, The Dip: a Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit and When to Stick.

Guy Kawasaki posted an interview with the author of The Dip on his blog today, and I really think you should read it. It will make you think.

While reading the interview (since the book isn't released yet) I was thinking of one big dip I was in last year. On my way towards building my company to a national level, I've been making leaps and bounds in the quality of my work and depth of my holistic businesses niche. But this intense level of growth forced me into one of the biggest dips in my career--working 16-hours a day, every day, for months. I was doing the work of a team; I had the overhead of a team; and I had the client capacity of a solo-professional. I had to decide if I wanted to continue, because this pace isn't sustainable.

Seeing what Seth Godin calls "a dip," I knew I had to cross through this one. I'm 100% sure I'm on my path. Yet to get through the dip, I could clearly see another 6-12 months of more effort. I would have to bring in other coaches on my team, build out the system for them, train them, and market them. And that's not the hard part. The hard part is that I would have to do it without one extra minute of time. There would be more pain in the short term, to get to the other side. Yet somehow, I know I can and should proceed through this dip. It was a conscious choice.

What's happening now, 6-months after really owning my decision, is that I'm seeing the other side of the dip. I've got 2 new coaches on my team who are amazing. The Laws of Attraction are definitely working. The more committed I am, the more opportunities that arrive. I'm still in the overworking phase that I knew I'd have to go through as part of the dip--but this pain is secondary to the rush of energy that comes with seeing the other side of the dip in plain view. I've never been so tired and yet so energized at the same time.

Now, don't get the wrong idea from my story that all dips are supposed to be worked through. There are other pitfalls that should be avoided. It seems the whole point of the book is in knowing how to decide.

I'm pre-ordering that book from Amazon today. The release date is May 10th. [Click here to buy it.]

You really should at least read Guy Kawasaki's interview with Seth Godin.

And if you're up for sharing your stories on dips, I'd love to hear them. I think a lot of people would. You can leave comments online at the bottom of the blog post.

Humor: The Man Show Goes to the Spa

There's been a buzz in the spa industry about men being the next big customer demographic. I haven't seen any evidence of that being true--not in the mass numbers that marketers have been hyping.

This video shows what happens when "The Man Show" comedians Adam Carolla and Jimmy Kimmel go to the spa.
Warning: it's edgy adult humor and not for the easily-offended, or those whose computer speakers at work can be heard by others.

If you're reading via email or feed, click here to watch the video.

So what do you think? Will men become major spa-goers, or is it more of a recreational lark, like it is for these guys in the video? I'd really like to hear from the men on this one--especially if you don't already work in the spa industry.

PS: Those poor spa professionals! How'd you like to have these celebrities in your establishment?

Humor: Pranks at "The Office"

This is one of my favorite recent video clips from NBC's "The Office." I was watching it on my iPod while waiting in a long line at the post office yesterday, and started laughing out loud. Jim's continual pranks on Dwight are one of the best ongoing sub-plots in the whole series.

If you're reading via email or feed, click here to watch the video.

What do you think about pranks at work? It's not very common in holistic business culture, and probably for very good reason. Still, when I talk to my brother--who is a master prankster, I think we don't have nearly as much fun in holistic health as people in other jobs do. We're serious healers, right?

Or are we? Do you have any good prank stories to share? If so, let's hear them.

Television: Every Hero Must Learn His Purpose

I am really in a mood this week. Something has been awakening within me--nagging, pushing, frustrating me towards something greater. Do you ever feel that if you don't live out your fullest potential that you will just bust? I do. And since my life's work is about making a positive difference in the world by helping others live out their fullest potential, I sometimes get incredibly frustrated with the work I do through small business. Are we really putting in our best efforts here? Are we really truly committed to fulfilling our life purpose through holistic business, or is it just feel-good lip service? I told you I was "in a mood."

"Every hero must learn his purpose. Then he'll be tested and called to greatness." Quoted by Hiro, a character on the television show Heroes.

This month I've been spending a lot of time on airplanes, and dabbling in watching videos on my iPod. I'm one of those people who spends more time on the internet than in front of a television, so I'm not really clued into what shows are airing on a regular basis. But through the magic of iTunes and my iPod, I've started watching a few shows. There's a new one that I watched on my flight from St. Louis to San Francisco, Heroes, and it's been inspirational to me this week.

The basic premise of the show is that otherwise ordinary people start discovering that they have super-powers--they wake up to their calling. My favorite part of any super-hero story is the awakening process when they transform and grow into their powers.

"In recent days, a seemingly random group of individuals has emerged with what can only be described as "special" abilities. Although unaware of it now, these individuals will not only save the world, but change it forever. This transformation from ordinary to extraordinary will not occur overnight. Every story has a beginning..." Opening voiceover for episode 1.

I've only seen the 1st episode called Genesis so far, but the script has some good inspirational quotes and I like a few of the characters. My favorite character so far is Hiro Nakamura, a sweet white-collar office geek who's friends don't believe him when he enthusiastically shares his new experiences of being able to bend time-space to transport himself anywhere he wants to be. The pure joy he expresses upon teleporting himself from Japan to New York city is charming.

"I've been up here all night thinking about this. Thinking about my destiny...It's my turn to be somebody, Nathan!" Quoted by Peter, a character on heroes who tests his ability to fly.

I believe we all have a hero within us. It's our unique calling-- our gifts, talents, and contribution that help us rise above the mundane into a life of meaning. What are you letting hold you back? Show us what you have! Give it up to the world. It's your turn to be somebody.

Links about the program Heroes:

Buy episodes of Heroes on iTunes

Preview clips online. (Warning, these are spoilers if you haven't watched the episodes.)