Mind Reader????

This afternoon I browsed thru my 'short list' of fave blogs. Made up of some retailers, crafters, photographers, and designers. As I did, I found a post that made me sit back, nod my head in agreement, and nearly look over my shoulder to see if the writer was watching me. She so accurately described some of the thoughts and feelings I am dealing with, it was eerie. Read it for yourself: go and check out Alicia's post today at posie gets cozy (It's titled 'Martha, Anna, Ina')

For those of you who are 'fluent' in the blog world, you may already know Alicia. If you aren't familiar with her, once you get a look at her delicious blog, you'll be a returning guest! This woman, hailing from Portland, Oregon, is a font of creativity and imagination. She never fails to inspire me. Her good friend, Amy Powers of Inspire Company, is the same darling kind of girl - whimsical, innovative, and 'real'. I admire them both so much!

Alicia's post today is about overmarketing and authenticity. I won't attempt to rehash it, it's THAT good. The comments that follow it (38 at last count) are like opening a floodgate into the hearts & minds of consumers and artisans alike. I was shocked to discover that this feeling I have been having consistently for months is appearing in other people's minds as well!!!

What I want to add to it is this question:
As it relates to merchandising your products in your stores - whatever it is that you sell - can you read that post and those 38 comments, and come up with a way to present your goods in a NEW way, a way that whispers, gently, softly and graciously, inviting your customers to investigate? Can you create a connection between your busines and your customer, and rather than thrusting more and more and more AT them, find a way to OFFER them something wonderful that will meet a need, make life better, solve a problem? Can you rethink what 'selling' is, and approach it as 'sharing'? Can you help customers focus on a products' attributes, rather than a name brand or a logo or a marketing campaign??? Can we support local artisans and writers and chefs?

In other words, can we all stop with the hawking and pushing and strong-arming sales tactics this Holiday season, and become caring, helpful, knowledgeable resources with a smile on our face and true integrity in our hearts?

CAN we stop the Grinch of mass merchandising from ruining the holidays, please???
Yeah, I AM biting the hand that feeds me. I just think there is a better way than the tried and true. I respect Paco, but it's NOT all about the science of sales. After reading those comments on Alicia's blog, I know I am not alone in feeling this way. Share your thoughts with me, please.....

A Helping Hand....

Big Goings-On around Diva Central, let me tell you...
The Holiday Hullaballoo begins on Monday at Columbia Winery, so I'm in full prep mode this week.
I am also plotting and planning the total (and yes, extreme) makeover of my office, to accomodate some product development that needs to go on here after the Holiday rush is done in early December.

And to make the chaos complete, the guy who hosts my web site on his private server is shutting it down on Monday....my poor little web site will be homeless if I don't get my tuckus in gear. I accomplished part of the big move today, and will get some 'live' assistance tomorrow morning to complete the transfer from one server to another. God help me, I hope whomever it is who calls me is a patient soul.....the Diva is technologically disenfranchised, remember.

Would appreciate all prayers, thoughts, wishes, and crossed fingers you can spare over the next few days!!
(The blog won't be affected and if you need to contact me, just leave a comment here...)

That illustration reminds me of DD#1, the massage therapist.
Boy, I could really use one about now. And every day for the next month and a half.
It's just the flights to San Antonio that would be a problem..... ;o)

What's Your 'Imagination Quotient'?

This appeared in a recent issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine...it's a quiz for parents to take that will assist them in helping their kids develop creative skills by determining a childs' 'Imagination Quotient'. WHOA! What a concept! It's sponsored by Crayola, the ultimate creative tool. I tried to access the quiz at the link they gave (www.bhg.com/crayola) , but it's not working. You can go to this page at Crayola and download a PDF file that is a printable book of creative ideas for kids. I should say, they intend it to be for kids. Why on Earth should we adults not get to have some of the fun, too?? Download it, print it, and open up your mind!!!

Creativity and Imagination...these are highly underrated skills once we leave the kindergarten classroom. (Remember Robert Fuhlgum's book, "All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten"?!) But they are important and valuable throughout our lives - and in business.Without creative thinking skills, coping mechanisms, and expressive outlets, we'll go stark raving mad in a world like ours. Without the ability to imagine a new product, industry goes stagnant. Without the ability to express ideas and concepts in written words or drawings or animation, communication grinds to a halt. Without respect for the time, knowledge, ability, and effort it requires to perform creative tasks, less and less people pursue careers in the creative arts.

How do you rate YOUR 'Imagination Quotient'? Are you up there at the Disney "Imagineers' end, letting your ability to visualize and create and think innovatively serve you in many facets of your business? Or are you stuck at the bottom, in Never Never Land - never never have time to even THINK about being creative, too busy with the busy-ness of business? Or are you somewhere in the middle of the two: you know you have the ability to think creatively, to imagine new ways to do things, but you second-guess your sanity when you do something out of the box and then a shall we say 'creatively challenged' person questions your innovation? What about the people around you - your family, employees? Do you value THEIR creative ideas?

Creativity, Imagination, Wonder, Exploration are all tools in our arsenals as former children. We just need to rummage around and figure out where we left them on the road to adulthood. And when we do find them, we need to give ourselves permission to use them to enhance our lives and the lives of those around us. Especially the KIDS around us. They need examples of brave souls who value the individuality and imagination inside of everyone.
As my friend Steph says, "There's a little artist inside all of us....we just need to remember where we put her!"

Besides, a world without creativity sounds like a dismal reality show to me.
One I would watch even less than RockStar SuperNova (LUKKAS????) or Project Runway (JEFFREY?????).
Yipes.