Lip-Sticking

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Kodak Words

I have the distinct pleasure of sharing the following interview with you, today, dear blog readers. Jenny Cisney is a blogger for the Kodak, 1000 Words, blog. If you have not visited it yet, I suggest a hop over there today. Kodak has been hosting this blog for some time, and they get it. It feels good to know a big brand like Kodak, from my hometown, gets the blogging process and power. And, it feels even better to contact Jenny Cisney, ask for an interview (thank you Brian Niznsky), and have her say yes! She did this the day AFTER she arrived home! How super is that?

Enjoy.

Yvonne: Tell us your first thought as you stepped off of the plane in Beijing.

Jenny: The moment I stepped off the plane I was struck by how big everything was. Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital International Airport is considered the largest in the world. Beijing is a sprawling city that seems to go on forever. And it is chock full of people. It wasn't unusual to see hundreds of bikes parked together on a corner. Everything executed for the Olympics was done on a large scale.

The Birds Nest held 91,000 spectators. There were 70,000 Olympic volunteers. There were 2008 Fou drummers at the beginning of the Opening Ceremony. How do you communicate massiveness like this in a photograph? That was a challenge. A wide angle lens helps!

Yvonne: What was Kodak's goal in sponsoring the Olympic games? 

Jenny: There are so many opportunities for delivering a message at the games. First, we were showing visitors how to make, manage and move pictures. The Kodak Showcase at the Olympic Green had Kodak Picture Kiosks where people could download their pictures and make prints and photobooks. It was packed every time I went in there .

Our Graphic Communications Group played a big role at the games, too. We printed 1.2 million security or credential badges for the Games. We also had an image center in the Media Press Center to support the 1,220 photographers at the Games. It was a 20,000+ square foot facility with traditional and digital photographic products and services.

Our digital printing technologies were employed in an on-site production center to print postcards and a daily newsletter for the USA House and all their decorative graphics. Every photographer at the games will also get their personal selections printed in a photobook to take home. Our blogs purpose was to give a view of the Games different than medal counts. Our blog showed the fans supporting the games and the local culture through pictures and personal stories. Plugged-in Kodak focused on what Kodak was doing at the games and also had amazing sports photography from a pro photographer with press access.

Yvonne: What surprised you about China and the games?

A Garden Variety Family: Adopting from China

This week we have a Smart Woman Online interview. It's something I used to do on this blog every week, but I've gotten away from it. Perhaps this wonderful look at adopting from China will help get me back on track. Watch for more Smart Woman and Smart Men Online in the future.

Today we're talking with Karin Marlett-Choi. Karin helps out at WME Books on book covers and blogs. She's a talented young woman with a focus on the future. One focus of that future is the adoption of a child from China. Here she is - giving us the ins and outs...

Yvonne: You have a very nice blog called Garden Variety Family...that's focused on something specific. Tell us what the topic is and how you came up with the title.

Karin: The topic is 2-fold. First of all it is following the journey my husband I are taking to adopt our daughter from China. I have already blogged the paperwork phase of the experience now I follow it with the wait and and preparations to become first time parents adding to it the additional dimension of adoption.

The term “garden variety” means normal or everyday, nothing special. When I think about the words separately I wonder to myself how those 2 words came together to mean nothing special? Gardens to me are peaceful places that are about growth and diversity. All the different plants and flowers growing together are what make a garden.Variety is diversity something that I hold very dear. I took that contradiction as my title--while on a quest for an average family --my husband and I are already an transracial couple and we are looking to adopt a child from the other side of the world--not exactly average, huh?

In a perfect world I’d love our family to be viewed as normal but I also don’t want to be blind to our diversity but to celebrate our family just as other families are celebrated.

So, wrapped up in my title is the focus of the blog, to celebrate all kinds of families filled with the variety of a garden.

Yvonne: So, why blog the experience? What's in it for you? What's in it for me, the reader?

Karin: I would like to help rewire the responses people who are adopting sometimes get when they announce their happy news. As a society we learn appropriate responses for life events like sympathy for loss, congratulations for success and pregnancy... I want people to respond the same way to people who are adopting because it is something to celebrate and congratulate! I encourage questions, but reactions like: “Did you consider in-vitro?” or “Wow, that’s going to be expensive!” And, “Can’t you have any of your own?”-- just aren’t appropriate.

My blog is morphing to include celebrating adoption as well as challenging perceptions of traditional families, both of those who have adopted or plan to adopt and those who aren’t. I want to celebrate families that may not be viewed as “traditional.” After noticing that advertising and movies or television shows are really lacking in images of families who aren’t monoracial, I thought I would launch a project aimed at celebrating diverse families. A family is nothing more than a group of people who live together and love each other, right? People don’t have to look like each other to be a family. Gosh, we have pets who are considered part of the family and we share very few physical characteristics with them!

I am working on a project to celebrate families, I call it the Garden Variety Calendar. I am collecting images of diverse families to fill the months of the year.

I chose a calendar because it is the command center for lots of busy families. Seeing images of families that aren’t monoracial is essential for both monoracial families and families of diverse races. You rarely see that diversity represented in the media and if you don’t live in a very diverse area where are you going to see that? As a marketing guru yourself you know how much the things we see can form our opinions. If we see images of diverse families everyday then it will be treated as “family as usual.”

The goal is to sensitize both adults and children to the fact that it doesn’t matter if your parents are different races, if you are a different race than your parents, you have 2 moms or 2 dads, that you grandmother is your parent...it is about celebrating true family values--people who live together, love and nurture each other.

Yvonne: Is adopting a difficult process... share some of your experiences so far - and tell us how they made you feel as you were going through them.

Karin: It is a fairly straightforward process. I think it is actually easy but it is the steps, the scrutiny, the time that are hard. You definitely have to be good at reading comprehension!

The most difficult part is going through the approval process for USCIS (U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services). We have to get approval to bring a National of another country, into the U.S. to become a citizen. The hoops you have to jump through can seem silly. Each form we obtain, like one that outlines our financial status, has to be notarized, then the notary stamp must be certified by the county, then the state has to authenticate the county certificate after that the Chinese Consulate gets to authenticate the state. Of course everyone has to have money and the farther up the line you go the more expensive it gets!

A good agency will guide you through the process. Now that our paperwork is finished and in China, I think we are actually embarking on the most difficult part of the process, the WAIT! There are rumors that it could be close to 3 years before we meet our daughter! China is working to remedy the backlog of referrals for children. We just have to have faith that it is going to get better in the meantime we just have to just live our lives so that time goes by quickly!

Yvonne: This is pretty common, isn't it? I mean, everyone is doing it, right? Folks here in the U.S. are eager to adopt from overseas. Or, is that a misconception?

Karin: The rate of international adoptions is still below the rate of domestic adoptions in the United States. International adoption is more common than it was a few decades ago. The best statistic I have been able to find is that 1 person in 6 is touched by adoption.

I think the main attraction of international adoption is that you aren’t presenting yourself to be chosen by a birth family. Rather, your application is placed in a cue and you are matched with a child on a first come first serve basis. Also, with China adoption (as well as most other international adoption programs) as prospective parents you don’t “choose” your child. You know who your child is before you ever travel to meet them. I know people who have adopted abroad and were presented with several children to choose from to be their child. I personally, couldn’t make that kind of decision.

China’s program has been touted as very predictable and corruption free. I think that is attractive to a  lot of prospective parents. But again the wait--we didn’t predict that! As it is in life, an when people have children through birth you never know quite what to expect. We all have our challenges, right?

Yvonne: You and your husband must have had a lot of 'talks' about this before proceeding. What were your biggest worries? What worries you now?

Karin: One of the greatest things about our family plan is that we knew from before we were married that we would adopt. We knew that pregnancy would be difficult for us and decided that we were not going to seek invasive forms of having a family. Now, my main worry is starting my child-rearing years a little late and having the wait make it even later!

One thing I know is that starting with a toddler in a couple years is going to get me into shape. Thinking about that process scares me sometimes!

Join Karin in creating a wonderful new calendar celebrating a journey to create a family through adoption. 

Abraham Lincoln: Most Effective Leader says Doris Kearns Goodwin

Doris Kearns Goodwin: Pulitzer Prize Winning Author and Presidential Historian

I was asked if I'd be interested in showcasing this interview with former Harvard professor and Woodrow Willson Fellow, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and after looking at her subject - Abraham Lincolh - my all time favorite president - I could not resist. My comments are in red, however.

Ms. Goodwin is the author of several New York Times best-sellers, including No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt which was awarded the 1995 Pulitzer Prize in History and her latest book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln (Simon & Schuster, 2005). She is the recipient of the Charles Frankel Prize and the Sara Josepha Hale Medal. She was the first woman journalist to enter the Red Sox locker room [brave woman!] and has been a consultant and on air-person for PBS documentaries on Lyndon Johnson, the Kennedy family, Franklin Roosevelt, Abraham and Mary Lincoln, and Ken Burns’ “The History of Baseball.” Currently an NBC News analyst, Ms. Goodwin lives in Massachusetts and has appeared on “Meet the Press” and “The Colbert Report.”

Ms. Goodwin is leading the session, “The Ultimate Executive Office: Leadership in the White House” at the Fortune Leadership Forum taking place this week, June 26-27. Goodwin will share what management leaders can learn from leaders in the Oval Office. [would that I could have been there but... time, tasks, and family prevent.] Disclaimer: I did not compose this interview, but it serves its point well, so I am very happy to share it.

1.) Who is the best leader you've encountered during your career and why?

Doris: Abraham Lincoln is the most effective leader I have studied. While FDR's conduct as commander in chief during World War II is a close second, Lincoln possessed a greater array of emotional strengths that grounded his leadership style and allowed him to create the most unusual cabinet in presidential history comprised of his chief rivals for the presidency, each of whom thought he should have been president instead of Lincoln.

Throughout, he possessed an uncanny ability to empathize and understand other people's points of view. Over and over, he repaired injured feelings that might have escalated into permanent hostility. He shared credit with ease, assumed responsibility for the failures of his subordinates, learned from his mistakes. He refused to be provoked by petty grievances, to submit to jealousy or to brood over perceived slights. Time and again, he was the one who dispelled his colleagues' anxiety and sustained their spirits with his gift for storytelling and his life-affirming sense of humor. And he expressed his unshakable convictions in a language of enduring beauty.

2.) What are the two or three contributing factors to the crisis of leadership in this country today?

Doris: People have sometimes asked whether Lincoln could be elected today. I think if he were running today - even with his unfortunate beard (which he might be convinced to cut) and his curious stovepipe hat (which he might be convinced to discard) - he would win hands down for people would recognize instantly how smart, funny, clever and wise he is, but the harder question is whether he would run for office today given the state of our political climate.

Which raises the larger worry about whether our best people are entering public life. I think not -- due to the necessity to spend so many waking hours begging for funds before even beginning to compete, plus the intrusion of the press into one's private life, the ease with which one mistaken remark can undo a reputation and the difficulty of getting bipartisan cooperation even if one  [okay, I disagree on the beard issue... I like it, I would be disappointed if he shaved it.]

For more information on Doris Kearns Goodwin visit her website here.

I truly wish I could have been there to hear Doris speak. I wonder if political leaders can learn from business leaders and vice-versa. I wonder if politics has become too corrupt, to inner-focused, and too wedded to industry. In times like this, I wonder if those in the major levels of business and politics have a clue about the every day citizen, other than what she or he looks like when it's hand-shaking time.

I wonder what Doris would say to that?

Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough by Jonathan M. Tisch

No, not THAT Jonathan Tisch... although I wouldn't mind an interview with him. Anybody know him?

The Jonathan Tisch I'm writing about has a new book out called Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough: Reinventing the Customer Experience . When I was approached with a request to join a blogging book tour about this book, how could I resist? Before going into my short review of this book, I'd like to cite and compliment the other book tour bloggers:

Over at Customers Rock! the author shares some sites he believes embrace the idea of transparency:

• Bill Marriott’s Marriott on the Move Blog - http://www.blogs.marriott.com/
• Peter Greenberg’s Blog - http://www.petergreenberg.com/
• Howie Klein’s Progressive Politics Blog - http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/
• Seth Godin’s Blog – http://sethgodin.typepad.com/
• GM’s Fast Lane Blog - http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/ 

Brand Experience Lab reminds us that we need to treat customers with respect, ala Jon's book.

The Engaging Brand Blog reminds us that customers are reinventing the customer experience. Podcast to follow, her blog says.

Grokdotcom has a podcast already. I'm so jealous! We attempted to get Jon for a podcast but his schedule and ours did not mesh. Perhaps next time.

You'll love Vacant Ready's post on this book. Jon has some interesting things to say there about social media. (what a really cool guy he is!)

Today is my turn. You can also click in to Experience the Message for his take on the interview, tour, and book. He's up on today's schedule, also.

Friday will give Customer Experience Crossroads and Experienceology a chance to share their interviews. I hope you'll take time to check them out. Now, on to the good stuff..   

Smart Woman Online: Padme Livingstone

My Smart Woman and Smart Man Online series of interviews have suffered of late. It isn't that I don't have a long list of possible candidates - I do. It's that I don't necessarily have time to do the interviews. Or, to post them. (posting them can be time consuming...changing formatting from Word, adding links, and pictures)

I've resorted to what I hope is a good solution. I've asked a few talented people to just tell me four things they really want the world to know about them.

This week, I have Padme Livingstone - the author of Let's Not Call it Meditation: Practical Guidance for People Who Think They Can't Sit Still and Quiet the Mind. I met this delightful woman with the big smile a few months ago after she called me to talk about her book. It's self-published and she wanted some marketing advice.

Naturally, I said, "Start a blog." Although she hasn't done that yet, she has done a number of other things - seminars, articles, and word-of-mouth the old fashioned way.

Let's see what Padme considers four things the world should know about her (and her book).

Smart Man Online: Dr. Randy Gilchrist

This interview was very long in coming. I met Dr. Randy last year, when he wrote for advice on marketing to women online. We chatted, he hired me, and I thought what he was doing was fascinating, so... I asked if he would be a Smart Man Online interview. He said, yes.

A long time has passed since then...and I know life has changed for me. But, the best thing that's changed for Dr. Randy, is his new website and blog. Because of them, I think he's worth writing about and I wish him outstanding success. Here's a friendly, intelligent man who's out to change people's lives. Girl-people, especially. I think he could change yours - read on and see how.

Yvonne: Tell my readers your story - why did you start a career in the field of clinical psychology? And how do you hope to achieve success in it?

Dr. Randy: Hello everyone! I’m happy to share a little about myself and what brought me to the field of clinical psychology. Like most psychologists, my background includes considerable pain, difficulty, and struggle. Although I grew up with wonderful, supportive parents, my older brother and sister’s immense conflicts and difficulties sucked away the bulk of my parents’ time and energy.For years I felt emotionally alone, not understanding why the child causing the least problems (myself) received the least attention. I also struggled with shyness and social anxiety. However, this all  turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me.

I gradually developed a desire for a different adulthood—one where I could gain attention through positive efforts, learn the social skills to relate with a variety people, and help others to enjoy greater happiness in the process. More importantly, I came to feel that helping others find health and happiness would give true meaning and fulfillment to my life.

So naturally, the field of clinical psychology greatly appealed to me. For the last ten years as a clinical psychologist and hypnotherapist, I’ve had the privilege of helping my clients find greater health and happiness in their lives. As I help others work through their issues, I also receive much from them in return. Simply put, helping others achieve their personal and relational goals is what has come to define success for me—both professionally and personally.

Yvonne: Your field is full of unknowns, isn't it? And, voodoo magic? Explain it in real terms that real people can relate to.

Dr. Randy: Is the field of psychology full of unknowns? Yes. “Psychology,” the study of the mind, is known academically as a “soft science.” Why? Because psychological research can never fully “prove” anything or say exactly “what causes what.” Research is very important to psychology. However, the mind is too complex and variable to make absolute conclusions about. The best that psychological research can do is make conservative conclusions about what research “supports” or “shows.” Psychological unknowns include exactly how thinking affects feelings, how hypnosis works, and how the mind influences pain or healing.

The next question, if psychology is full of “voodoo magic,” is an interesting one. Mainstream psychology strives for respectability and shies away from most topics that cannot be researched in any clear, consistent way. Such “fringe” issues are commonly known as “parapsychology” or “pseudo psychology.” Examples of such “voodoo magic” issues include clairvoyance, mental telepathy, ESP, past lives regression, or astral projection. These mind topics cannot be supported through consistent research (although they are interesting).

Hypnosis, on the other hand, can actually be classified as either legitimate or voodoo. “Clinical hypnosis” as a therapy technique is strongly supported by research and is highly effective in promoting change and improvement—especially with weight loss, smoking cessation, and stress/anxiety management. This version of hypnosis is legitimate and highly respected in the field of psychology. Conversely, “stage hypnosis” falls under parapsychology. In this version of hypnosis, a hypnotist leads a group of subjects to act in extreme or outrageous ways in an attempt to entertain an audience. Unbeknownst to the audience, these subjects are not only being influenced by the hypnosis, but also an inner desire to please and perform in front of a crowd.

For more information on legitimate psychology and clinical hypnosis, see Psychology Today and check out this link, respectively

Yvonne: I know you are committed to helping all people, but that women are a focus for you. Why is that?

Dr. Randy: In the beginning, I didn’t really have a preference towards working with either gender. However, I quickly learned that the field of psychotherapy is primarily driven by women. I love working with women!

Women seek therapy for a wide array of reasons, such as relationship issues, mood issues, grief/transitions, panic/anxiety, and so on. They make up about 75-80% of my therapy clientele. Why? Well, women usually aren’t afraid to ask for directions—on the road, as well as in life.Also, women care. The more you care about something, the more willing you are to work at it and improve yourself.

The men who do come in to me in therapy almost always come in because of a woman somehow—generally a wife, girlfriend, or a mother. Typically, their relationship with a woman is threatened somehow and the therapy is a last resort. Nothing against us guys, but I feel that my male clients tend to be rather simplistic and linear. I can usually tell them why they are coming in before they actually say anything just by how they walk in. It becomes rather predictable. Women, on the other hand, are very intriguing, complex, and unpredictable. This complexity helps me to stay interested in my profession. It helps me be motivated to wake up in the morning and go to work.

Yvonne: Describe the steps to self-hypnosis - if that's a valuable tool women can use to make positive changes in their lives. If it isn't, why isn't it?

Dr. Randy: First, let me define traditional hypnosis. Traditional clinical hypnosis is where a professionally trained hypnotherapist like myself helps a subject get into a more receptive state for change through relaxing and focusing (commonly referred to as a “trance” state). Then, positive suggestions for change and improvements are given, which are then much easier to accept (because conscious resistance is minimized).

“Self-hypnosis” is basically self-directed hypnosis. Instead of an outside hypnotherapist leading the hypnosis session (either live or through audio recording), the person themselves leads the session. Steps for a sample self-hypnosis session include a person:

1. relaxing through deep breathing, closing their eyes, and clearing their mind,
2. visualizing a peaceful scene to absorb their conscious focus, and
3. repeating a brief positive phrase promoting change.

Self-hypnosis can be helpful to promote changes and improvements. However, hypnosis directed by an outside therapist is usually more powerful and effective. Traditional therapist-lead hypnosis has the advantage of relieving the subject of having to think of “what’s next” and the suggestions for change. All the subject needs to do in therapist-led hypnosis is to relax, focus, and go along for the ride. Self-hypnosis, on the other hand, is harder work and is therefore less effective.

Yvonne: Do you do group sessions, or are individual sessions better? What if we want to buddy-up with a girl-friend. Can you do two at once?

Dr. Randy: I do two kinds of therapy: traditional psychotherapy and clinical hypnosis. I sometimes do sessions of both with multiple people present: couples, families, friends, groups, etc. The advantages of family/group therapy is that they create a social support network that doesn’t exist individually. In addition, multiple people all working towards change can be even more powerful. However, these benefits seem to exist more with traditional family/group therapy than with hypnotherapy.

Although group hypnosis is fairly effective, personalized, one-on-one hypnosis is generally best. Good hypnosis needs to be “all about you.” The greater the relaxation, focus, and personalized suggestions for change, the better. Even listening to hypnosis audio CDs tends to be more effective individually than in groups. Why? Because it’s easier to relax and focus when alone in the session than when others are there. Others in the room during hypnosis creates a distraction and promotes self-consciousness. So yes, two or more may attend hypnosis sessions, but I generally don’t find it quite as helpful.

Yvonne: What's the strangest confession you've ever heard from a client - relating to why they are coming to you for help. (you may change their names to protect the innocent)

Dr. Randy: Wow. Let me think… I’ve had several, but one stands out for sure. I came to diagnose one particular client in 2000 as having “paranoid schizophrenia” because his mind had spilt from reality, with delusions and hallucinations convincing him of odd and sometimes scary things. Our one session together began with him wanting to let me in on “a secret.” His speaking was garbled and random, but I made out a warning about “the conspiracy” going on in our country that involved the FBI, the CIA, and the Post Office. (That’s right, the Post Office).

He stated that he was one of the few “special people” with the power to see “the little and big demons that were threatening to control this nation,” and that the CIA, the FBI, and the Post Office were in on the conspiracy. He told me that there was a cover up, that the demons would soon take over, and that the government was secretly in cahoots with them. He wanted to let me know all of this so that he wouldn’t have to carry this burden alone. I think he wanted me to start some sort of revolution against the government with him! Like an underground resistance or something. However, I must admit, I’ve never seen myself as much of a revolutionary.

After this bizarre session, I called his referring agency to find out that this client was a recent transfer from an inpatient mental hospital to a transitional half way house. No surprise there. The agency wanted to know if I thought he was “ready for society yet or not.” Obviously, I felt “not.” I’m still wondering what all of those demons were supposedly planning on doing to the country and what this client expected me to do about it! I guess I’ll never find out. He never returned.

Fortunately, such highly disturbed clients are a rarity for me in my current private practice. However, from time to time, these types of clients make me wonder a little bit—are they totally “crazy”- or maybe they know something the rest of us don’t? I’ll never know for sure. The more we learn about the mind, the more we know we don’t know about it. Remember, the world’s top experts once thought the earth was flat. Maybe we “experts” don’t know as much as we think we do.

Yvonne: Do you think having pets and communing with your cat or dog (or bird, etc) can be a form of therapy? Can you (or we) learn to hypnotize pets?

Dr. Randy: Personally, I love pets! I currently have 2 Siberian cats. In fact, I’ve had cats and dogs my entire life. Later when I went into this field, all of my feel good pet moments were validated. Endless research shows that having and communing with pets serves as a great stress reliever (for instance, this article talks about just that). Pets also correlate with lower blood pressure, longer life spans, and lower levels of depression. In my personal opinion, the best pets are the ones you actually pet (cats, dogs, rabbits, etc.), versus those you look at from afar (birds, fish, lizards, and so on). This physical touch stimulates bonding. Talking and sharing looks with them further enhances the bonding that much more.

Why are pets so great? They offer love, warmth, and acceptance loyally and unconditionally. Human relationships, on the other hand, often seem fickle, fleeting, and conditional. Rarely does a pet break your heart the way other people do (other than the occasional doo doo on your carpet, of course). What’s not to love about pets?

Regarding the question of if pets can be hypnotized, I’d say no—at least not with the clinical hypnosis that I am trained for. From my background, hypnosis requires the subject to verbally comprehend what is said, along with how it is said. Pets only understand the nonverbal half of the equation (except for certain well trained animals, perhaps). I know that there are pet psychologists and even pet hypnotherapists out there, but I would have to lump them into the field of parapsychology. Just my opinion.

Smart Man Online: Ted Murphy

Who said 2007 could come so soon? Was anyone else just totally unprepared? Oh, not for the celebration - we were way ready for that! But, for the whole "new year" kind of stuff? Like, writing 2007 on your checks? I have it on good authority (my local weather man's advice) that if you write 2007 on ten or twenty checks right now, you'll be safe. I'm also not ready for those resolutions. I'm not big on making resolutions in the first place - but this year, Tom and I decided we had to look 'back' in order to look forward. Which meant making some goals for the new year...and, I guess goals are a lot like resolutions, aren't they? FYI: you'll see some changes here.

After I write this post and introduce you to Ted Murphy of Pay Per Post (a controversial not-so-new blog advertising service), I'm going to hop over to Toby's blog, and Rosa's blog, and Jill's blog, and Susan's blog, and Kirsten's blog, and Suzanne's blog, and Jory's blog, and Jory's Mom's blog, and Michelle's blog, and Holly's blog, and Chloe's blog, and Mary's blog, and Stephanie's blog, and Elisa's blog, and Jane's blog, and Laura's blog, and Marti's blog, and Anita's blog, and Andrea's blog, and Benecia's blog, and Evelyn's blog, In Women We Trust, and a few dozen other blogs - to see what's up with their New Year's resolutions.

On to Ted: interview.

I was contacted by Ted's PR person, forgive me for not remembering who that was/is...but, the result was a nice chat with Ted about the whole Pay Per Post idea, and how his service works. Here goes...

Smart Woman Online: Chloe DiVita

Dear readers, I have a great privilege to offer today. An interview with my oldest child (oops...she probably doesn't want me to say that - but, she is the eldest)...Chloe DiVita [btw, that's pronounced 'Cloe,' like 'aloe' - NOT C-loE like Mar-E.]. Chloe lives far, far way on another planet, with her husband, Matt, and my granddaughter, Miah. Okay, it's not another planet, it's Colorado. But, that's soooooo far from NY that, it might as well be on another planet.

Chloe has always been an over-achiever - she applies herself to her work (and being a Mom) with an ethic I don't see in a lot of young people under 30, these days. I'm including her in my Smart Woman Online series because she has her own business, and she blogs. I think her comments are worth sharing, not because she's my daughter, but because she is so different than I am. She's working hard to build a business, while bringing up a daughter, and being a wife. I was a stay-at-home Mom, who did not have to juggle all the balls that Chloe is juggling. I'm proud to say she does a stellar job. As do many, many young women today.

She is representative of the generation of young women we call Gen X. She's careful about her health and her appearance, but not to a fault. She's devoted to her daughter, but doesn't think HER life should be lived through Miah. And she's a strong, smart, involved businesswoman, with a focus on how her work contributes to the world order, not just the bottom line. Read on for more...

Yvonne: Most of the readers of this blog are baby boomers, both women and men - I'm not sure how many younger women read it. I know one of the reasons you visit is because...I'm your Mom...but, which content or focus do you like best? In the marketing to women space, what concerns you most?

Chloe: I enjoy reading about women trying to break the marketing trends that people believe we are looking to be marketed in. Recently, Dove has done an excellent job at this. Their Real Beauty campaign has struck a cord around the world, and I hope it has a real impact. It was great to see that acknowledged on Lipsticking. Whether it’s hitting home for baby boomers or Gen Xers, doesn’t really matter.

I think my generation has a lot in common with the working women of the baby boom era. I see the same drive to make a difference in most women. Our methods may be different, but our end goal is usually the same. It’s that striving for making a difference - and that's what draws me in to this blog, more so than just because it’s written by my Mother!

I also believe that competition has become so fierce that marketing can be a make it or break it item. If women are not impressed with what is presented, or how, we simply move on and find what we are looking for somewhere else. We expect to be treated with respect, spoken to on a level that is far from condescending, and heard loud and clear. If a company cannot fill us with those feelings they will be overlooked quickly.

Yvonne: You are a talented young woman - I should know, I'm your Mom - you have accomplished a lot in your young life. Do you think much of what you've achieved is destiny - or - good, old fashioned hard work?

Chloe: I attribute most of my accomplishments to hard work, but there has definitely been some uncommon coincidences along the way that make me believe I’m destined to accomplish more. Part of that has been watching my Mother continue to defy the world around her and push the limits. With an example like that, how can I not succeed?! Not to mention that I easily get bored so I’m constantly finding ways to push the envelope a little further, and learn a little more.

Yvonne: We have to talk about...Miah! Let's go wayyyy back to the day she was born - what do you remember most? What's changed about how you view motherhood, since Miah's birth?

Chloe: The two things I think about most when I think about the day Miah was born are how perfect her little lips were, and how worried I was that her head would stay cone shaped! I also remember not wanting her out of my sight, and staring at the clock every second she was gone to have her first picture taken. Miah’s birth made me finally relate to, and understand, the saying, “Because I said so!” I can’t tell you how much I heard that growing up, and now it’s become one of my most popular responses. Becoming a mother brings a new understanding of what it is to be a mother, and why your mother did/said all those things growing up. It’s an amazing revelation.

Yvonne: On to your work - tell us about DiVita Inc.

Chloe: I incorporated DiVita & Associates, Inc in April of 2003 after 10 months of self-employment. It was really a timing thing. The job I was working in, in June 2002, pivoted on a good stock market, and that had crashed and wasn’t recovering. So all of a sudden my job went from full time to "occasional" part time.

Having learned to see the glass as half full from my wonderful mother, [I didn't tell her to say all these nice things about me, honest! Maybe it's because Christmas is so close...hmmmm] I decided to take advantage of the 6 weeks it would take to wrap up my position to start marketing myself as an independent bookkeeper. I had previously spent about 4 years at a local CPA firm that I still kept in contact with. I decided to visit them, along with some other associates I had and get the word out that I was seeking clients.

By the time my 6 weeks was up I had 4 clients requiring about 30 hours of work per week. It was a good start, so I went with it. My whole business grew by word of mouth, and before I knew it I had more work than time. Thus, incorporation and the hiring of my first employee. Since then the business has continued to grow, and over the past year at an alarming rate. I’m on track to nearly double my billings in 2006. Of course, with a staff of 5 and an office now, my expenses have gone up, too!

Yvonne: Why are you in a numbers business? You know I can barely add two and two! How did you get so smart?

Chloe: Numbers are only part of accounting. There is much in customer relations – when you are dealing with people’s money they tend to want to talk to you a lot and feel confident in you - and rightfully so! Number crunching and formulas do come easy to me. I’m not sure why. I did take a Calculus class in college because it was an easy A! I guess I just like problem solving and numbers, and that I am slightly crazy…ok VERY crazy. But in a good way. I try to balance being number smart and being people smart because it’s much easier to explain the numbers if you can relate to the person.

Yvonne: What role does the Internet play in your business? I know you just started a blog - how is that going?

Chloe: The Internet is a crucial to my business. Not only do we have online banking set up for most of our clients, but there are merchant accounts, credit card accounts, web based time tracking applications, an internet file sharing program, and more. When the internet is down for any reason, we all cringe because we have to go back to all that paper stuff!

Yes, we introduced our blog, DiVita Speaks, in May 2006. It’s been going well, although not getting the attention it deserves yet. I really enjoy the change in monitoring and writing a blog versus crunching numbers. I’m hoping to expand my blog time, and maybe someday take it a step further into more of a monthly newsletter. Currently we put out a quarterly newsletter to local clients and associates, but I’d love to expand that market and have it actually generate income. And, I was just accepted over at Quickbooks as a blog contributor. Watch for more of my words on bookkeeping, there. [interested in her newsletter? sign up here.]

Yvonne: Is DiVita Inc able to work with clients all over the U.S.? The world? Or, are you limiting yourself to Erie, CO? What's your preference?

Chloe: In today’s technology age there is certainly opportunity and the capability to work with clients from many different areas, but it can be difficult because filing forms and tax issues, like sales tax, vary state to state. I like being able to have face-to-face meetings with clients, and dealing with local banks, so for accounting purposes I plan to keep clients in the Boulder-Denver region. However, I would like to reach new areas with our newsletter, and obviously our blog.

Yvonne: How much shopping do you do online? What kinds of things are easy to buy online, and what kinds are hard?

Chloe: I would do all my shopping online if I could. For the most part I cannot stand the mall, the grocery store, office supply stores, and department stores. When I do go clothes shopping I am someone who picks up what I like, never tries it on, and usually ends up having to go back and exchanges things that don’t fit or don’t look right. I just can’t bring myself to deal with the encumbrances of the dressing room and the busyness. I do enjoy looking at catalogs, though.

Online shopping seems to have become easier over the past few years, and more reliable, so I believe most things are pretty straight forward. It’s quite easy to get books, software, office supplies, and anything paper oriented. Clothes have become easier for me because I’ve started to learn the sizes I wear in certain brands and can then buy things that fit….of course, there is still the “does it look good” factor.

And I’d really like to know why each clothing brand has to have its own sizing chart. Why can’t a 6 be a 6 and a Medium be a medium!!! The hardest thing to buy online that I have come across is furniture. Shipping charges usually make the trip to the store worth it. [good question on that clothing size thing - anyone reading who knows the answer?]

Yvonne: Do you have a role model for your life? Your work? Who is it...and what about this person inspires you? [no, I am not fishing for compliments - I really want to know.]

Chloe: I look for traits in almost everyone I meet that I can use to model myself. There are several individuals who amaze me completely, and who I strive to be like. My Mother (who has more ambition and motivation than ten people should have all together), my Mother-in-law (yes, that’s right! I do believe my in-laws are wonderful people), my Sister (who does anything and everything she puts her mind to), my brother-in-law (who just lost his wife of 10 years to brain cancer and has the best perspective of anyone I know), and my Husband who does an excellent job of dealing with me! But, I also think everyone has something to offer, and if people would find that 'something' more often, the world would be a happier place.

Yvonne: Ok...tell us an accountant's joke. :-)

Chloe: On my computer I have a cartoon that says “My 2 cents for only $10.” I’m not sure that is an accountant’s joke, but I like it!

Here’s another:

IRS’s new 1040-EZst: How much did you make this year:$______________

____________ Insert number from above and send to the IRS.

**********************************************************

There you have it, folks. Smart words from one smart chick. I hope it's okay to call her a chick. She's all grown up now, but...she's still my little girl.

Smart Man Online: Phil Gerbyshak

Today is a truly GREAT day. I promised - some time ago - to bring you an interview with a guy who is so inspiring, just the sound of his name makes me smile. But, his effect on my day goes beyond the smile of affection. When someone says, "Phil Gerbyshak" I think - happy, I think - sunshine, I think - GREAT DAY! That's Phil's mantra - to have A GREAT DAY! He has a book, a blog, and a focus on life that I think we should all carry around with us on a day-to-day basis. Read on to learn more about Phil Gerbyshak...

Yvonne: Your Make it a GREAT Day mantra is uplifting and invigorating. Is that because you're a happy guy, or because the phrase gives people energy, just saying it out loud?

Phil: I am a happy guy, and I enjoy pumping myself up by thinking GREAT instead of nice. The fact that it's full of energy when you say it is a nifty side benefit.

Yvonne: What brought you to the realization that people should have a great day, as opposed to a "nice day"... which is what we usually say to each other?

Phil: Nice is like fine...it's stale, it's tired, and it's boring. I have a friend who says, when you ask him how he's doing, "Just this side of perfect, and getting better all the time." I liked that, but that's not my style. I thought great would be a more appropriate adjective, and let's not forget the first part is 'Make.' Make it important because if you make something, you are responsible for it. If you have something, you might have been given it and it may not be something you want. I prefer to create, therefore Make had to be part of my mantra.

Yvonne: Tell us 4 things we can do to make today a GREAT day.

Phil: Only 4?

1.Say thank you to everyone who serves you today, and be very specific about why you're thanking them.

2.Take time for yourself, even if it's only 15 minutes, and focus on what you really want to achieve in your life. Then tell everyone you know your goal, in an affirmation sentence, and you'll be amazed at how the people that you tell will find ways to help you achieve your goal.

3.Smile at everyone you meet for a whole day. Notice people's reactions. You'll feel better, and so will the people you meet.

4.Buy my book 10 Ways to Make It Great!, read 1 chapter, and do at least 1 of the action steps today.

Yvonne: How hard was it to write your book? Did you ever suffer from writer's block? Did you ever wonder if you were doing the right thing?

Phil: At times, the writing was tough, and I thought of giving it all up, especially when I got near the end and needed to edit my book for what seemed like the millionth time to make it clearer and more concise. That was tough. Not only did I question if I was doing the right thing, I also wondered why I was writing a book. I questioned my purpose many times.

Yvonne: What do YOU do to make your days GREAT? When you're having a tough time (day, week, whole year!), how do you pull yourself out of the doldrums?

Phil: I smile a LOT! I try to smile at everyone I know. That helps most of the time. When I'm having an especially tough day, I have to get away from everyone else and take a walk or if I have time, a nap, and I try to think of what a GREAT day would look like before I get away from it all, and especially before I fall asleep. I try to consciously focus on that GREAT day while I'm in this mode, and often I can help myself dream about it, and that helps me get in a much better mood, even if it's just a 2 or 3 minute break.

Yvonne: I think your blog, and your writing overall, is really full of energy. When I visit Make it Great, I come away with a whole different outlook on my day. Have you always had this effect on people?

Phil: You are kind to say this, Yvonne, and I'm glad I have that effect on you. I wasn't always a positive, kind person. I morphed into this person when I realized that I was surrounding myself with other energy suckers like me, and this isn't who I wanted to be. I would say it was probably 5 or 6 years ago I decided to be all-positive, all the time, and though I'm still trying to be more positive, I think I got good at being positive 2 or 3 years ago.

Yvonne: Other than your own book, what's the best book you've read this summer? What book can you truly say inspired you beyond anything else you've ever read? (tell us the truth - are you a Harry Potter fan?)

Phil: I must say, I am not a fan of any fiction books, and force myself to read 1 or 2 per year just to broaden my horizons. I focus on self-improvement, motivation, business, and leadership books. I can't say anything has inspired me beyond anything I've ever read, this summer or really ever, so I'll share a few of my favorites from the past 6 months.

Career Intensity by Dave Lorenzo - a GREAT book that can help you crank up your career.

Focus Like a Laser Beam by Lisa Haneberg - this is an awesome book with great recommendations to start doing what's important, instead of doing everything. I'm still trying to implement much of this book in my life, as I suffer from doing too much of everything, instead of focusing like I know I should. I wrote an article about this recently, called, "No More Mr. Yes."

Winning with People by John Maxwell - Maxwell is my favorite author of all-time, and this book is full of tips about what's really important: people. This is the "How to Win Friends and Influence People for the 21st century," in my opinion.

Yvonne: You're connected to some fantastic people, via your blog. Care to share - cite some good blogs and why you think they're good.

Phil: I'll share 3 that give me my boost when I am down. As a leader, I realize my life is all about the people I serve, so these 3 blogs best help me serve the people that report to me, and the people around me.

Talking Story at Say Leadership Coaching - This blog is my all-time favorite, for many reasons. First and foremost, it's a community. Rosa Say is amazing at building community and making everyone feel welcome at Talking Story. The stories told there, either by Rosa or by commenters or by folks who contribute to her forum always inspire me. Also, Rosa talks about life, leadership, and management (and other stuff too) and I always learn a thing or ten.

Hello My name is Scott - That Guy with the Nametag, Scott Ginsberg. When I'm looking for the best way to connect with people, I read Scott's blog. It's uplifting, it's fun, and it's easy on the eyes to read. it's always full of energy and pictures, and stories we all can relate to.

The Chief Happiness Officer - Alex Kjerulf. Alex is so dang happy, he makes me smile every time he posts. He not only tells us we need to be happy at work (duh!) but he shows us why it will help us and offers little tips we all can do.

Those are 3 out of 40 that I love. All the blogs on my sidebars at Make It Great! are among my favorites, Lipsticking of course being among them. (aww...thanks, Phil! I am truly honored - as I so agree with your choices, here, and feel GREAT being among this outstanding group of bloggers - yourself included, of course!)

Yvonne: Do you think blogging is here to stay? Should CEOs blog?

Phil: I think blogging, or things like blogging, are here to stay. The quick post about the news, self-improvement, marketing, and really just about anything is an amazing way for people to rapidly share ideas that was not possible before. While it's far from perfect, I think blogs give us all a voice, for better or for worse. I think that'll keep it around for a good long while.

Should CEOs blog? If they care enough to share their input, they should blog, but really, CEOs should spend more time finding out what their customers are saying about them on their blogs, and find ways to implement the best ideas offered, and fix what's broken. They don't have to do it themselves, but they should take the time to learn about things before they spin out of control.

Yvonne: A big question a lot of people have about blogging is wondering how to get traffic. What do you do to bring more traffic in to your blog? Or, don't you track your traffic?

Phil: I love to link out to other sites that I find interesting, and leave comments on other blogs that I think are worthwhile. Most bloggers will at least go check out my blog once based on the quality of my content. This gives me some traffic.

I also try to post frequently on my blog, with high quality content and links. My message seems to resonate with a lot of people, and the more I write, the more people stay connected to my site and the more they keep coming back.

Honestly though, I find that huge traffic is not all that people think it is. I'd rather have 1 insightful comment that helps me and my readers out than 500 hits a day. I keep track of my comment plus trackback to post ratio (currently above .5, which makes me VERY happy) far more than I worry about how much traffic I'm getting. I completely missed my 10000 visitor, my 15000 visitor, and my 20000 visitor, but I did notice when the old odometer rolled over to 25k. That's pretty cool!

Yvonne: If you could change one thing about your best friend (whoever that may be), what would you change? If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Phil: Change one thing about my best friend...That's a tough question. My best friend is my wife, and I am very happy with how she is. The only thing I would change is I would wish that she was 100% happy with everything she touches, in life and in her career.

The one thing I would change about me...Another toughie! Let's see, I wish I were more disciplined to do some of the hard things I know I need to do to get things to the next level. I sometimes get bogged down in the minutae and forget about the important stuff, and before I know it, it's already 2005, I mean 2006.

Yvonne: Last question: who's better at making it a great day - women or men?

Phil: Based on the commentary I get on my blog, and the folks I read that motivate me the most, for me personally, I would say the women I have been able to interact with are making it better by about a 55 to 45 margin. Not insurmountable, but still leaves a lot to be desired for the guys. Don't settle for nice...Make it GREAT!

*********************************************

Ladies, take a bow! And, help the men in your life learn from Phil's example. Whenever I read his blog, or see his book, I realize that it's up to ME to make it a GREAT DAY. Knowing that, I also know that a little advice or help now and then doesn't hurt - so, I read Phil's book. Try it, you might like it!

Smart Woman Online: Lena L West Techie Extraordinaire

Today we have a dynamite interview with Lena L. West - a woman you should all get to know better. A woman that you WILL get to know better - as she will be appearing on this blog in the near, near future!

I met Lena via email when she wrote to me about blogging. The thing I was so fascinated with - and the thing I think you will find compelling, also - is that Lena, for all her technical knowledge, is as down to earth as they come. She's a real gal, through and through. She loves shopping, she loves meeting new people, she loves her fella, and all the usual girl things. But, it's those not so usual girl things that I was interested in talking about. So, we decided on an interview. Read on to learn more about Lena's Technology Diet.

In my discussions with Lena, and as a result of meeting her in person at Suzanne Falter-Barns's home last month (see note here), Lena will be a weekly contributor to Lip-sticking, on Mondays. She will write about technology - what's up, what's down, what's new, and more. If you are interested in having a weekly Q and A with Lena, to be posted on this blog, write to me and let me know. I'll discuss it with Lena, and we'll see what we can put together.

It's all about you - and your understanding, or lack thereof, of technology. I'm thrilled to be able to introduce The Technology Diet to you, along with someone who can see things from our point of view. Here's Lena...

Yvonne: Women and technology - that's a strange combination. I know I'm considered 'smart' when it comes to technology, but I have no doubt that there is still much to learn. What got you interested in this seemingly male topic?

Lena: First, thanks for adding the word ‘seemingly’ in there. It’s ironic that you ask this question…I get asked this a lot and it’s always amazing to me that after over a decade in this industry, people still ask me this. I always ask myself, ‘When are things going to change? How much longer before technology is not automatically associated – even remotely – with maleness?” I’d like to add that you are PLENTY smart and everyone has something to learn about something. Ask me anything about finances and you’ll get a deer-in-the-headlights look. :)

The short story is I got tossed out of the pre-law program I was in at University of Virginia (long story) and my parents told me I had to get a job. So, I did…at a law firm – which, needless to say, made my parents even angrier with me. During the time I was working at the law firm, we were still using DOS – Windows had not taken over as the operating system du jour (eek!) – so all the other paralegals naturally had problems finding their files, managing their directory structure, etc. I had a knack for it and as a result, they would always call me to help with their computer troubles. I was good at tit and became the de facto office tech peson. Fast-forward some years and here I am!

Yvonne: What kinds of things do women normally shy away from - technologically speaking?

Lena: I’ll give you a good example: I was speaking with a client today. Now, this woman is bright and accomplished by anyone’s standards. But, when she gets on the phone with me she finds it hard to put two words together and she feels the need to ‘speak geek’ and fails miserably in the process – though not for lack of trying. She kept saying that she didn’t know how to talk about “this stuff” (meaning technology). I told her that as long as she kept verbalizing that and introducing that idea to her brain, she would never get it and technology would always be a struggle for her. Thankfully she’s extremely coachable and she ‘got’ what I was saying right away and stopped the verbal self-sabotage.

Anyway…I think for the most part women – who even on our worst day are over-achievers – feel the need to be experts and when they can’t be an expert, they say, “I’m not good at this stuff”, and subsequently shut down. So, to answer your question, it’s been my experience that women shy away from keeping an open mind that they CAN understand technology. Women don’t really shy away from one aspect per se, the whole topic makes most women clam up.

In September, I’m speaking to a womens organization in Connecticut. The topic is ‘The Technology Diet: Stop Technology from Being a Pain in Your Assets’ and it should be interesting to say the least. I love working with women and showing them how to leverage technology to grow their businesses…because once they open up and get it – they REALLY go for it!

Yvonne: Tell us how you came to develop the Technology Diet.

Lena: The short story is I got sick of ‘just getting by’ financially. I believe that small businesses are the lifeblood of the global economy – and if that’s true then technology is the bloodstream. Many solopreneurs want to be able to look at all the exciting ways they can leverage technology for business growth but, many simply don’t have the financial resources to invest in a retainer-based consulting assignment- even if it has been proven to increase their revenue by 25-50%. So, we were starving a bit. (Although we continue to work with solopreneurs who have the vision, make the temporary sacrifice, pay the consulting retainer for 2-3 months and see revenues and productivity skyrocket within the same quarter.)

Now, you must know, that I’m COMPLETELY and UTTERLY jazzed by the whole concept of solopreneur-ism (is that a word?). I wasn’t going to give up on small businesses! So, we had to think of a way to work with larger clients without alienating the small business community that has come to know and trust us. We struggled with this in a major way – for over a year I think.

Then I had the idea that we would target small corporations – now, mostly mid-sized construction companies - for one-on-one, retainer-based consulting and then we’d create a group consulting program for the smaller businesses…thereby giving the solopreneurs access to us at a price point they can manage. I still didn’t know how I was going to do this logistically but, I knew I could do it.

Then, one night in the shower, I started thinking about what small businesses need the most when it came to technology. All of a sudden, in a flash, it came to me….they need a Technology Diet! They need to stop taking the all-you-can-eat approach (buying tech products just because the ‘experts’ say they should) and they need to stop being anemic (getting by on last decade’s technology because they don’t want to ‘deal’). Yes, they need a Technology Diet! I hopped out of the shower soaking wet, ran to my office and reserved technologydiet.com and the next day I outlined the curriculum. We launched last month, the program sold out immediately and we’ve even had requests for licensing!

Yvonne: When it comes to training - do you have to explain things to women, more than to men?

Lena: No way! Like I said above, once women get it, they get it and they’re off to the races! I do have to say that I explain concepts differently to our female clients. I find that women understand more quickly when I provide personal life analogies and men do better with business analogies. Don't kill the messenger, please.

Yvonne: Does technology command your entire life - or do you find time to play? What's your favorite non-work related experience?

Lena: Technology doesn’t command my entire life but, I do love it! My favorite non-work related experience is hitting the beach in Miami. I go as often as possible and it’s my get-away. I disappear to there often. I also have a fulfilling spiritual life and a great guy (Eric – whom you’ve mentioned on this blog!) who is truly my better half. I enjoy reading and especially writing. I recently received a scholarship to Roy William’s Wizard Academy as a result of a short story I wrote so, I have now fully embraced the fact that I’m a kick-butt writer. I’ve even taken on a few copy writing assignments – although admittedly for online sales letters…I just can’t leave technology alone!

Yvonne: So, what's the last book you read for FUN?

Lena: The last book I read for fun was Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins. Deep. As good as Behold a Pale Horse by William Cooper. I can’t say that Perkins’ book was ‘fun’ but, as someone who historically ignored world-relations, I needed the wake-up call.

Yvonne: Who inspires you - today?

Lena: Personally? My Aunt Agnes. She’s not a young person but she’s is so active, ‘with it’ and hip. She’s totally into fashion and is a true gourmand. When I went to a red carpet event at the Waldorf last year, she reminded me to check out the ladies powder room! (Yes, it’s called that.) She’s the cool Aunt that everyone would love to have. I talk to her multiple times a day and visit her often. If she can get up everyday and put on her best, I can, too.

Professionally?  Karen Kahn Wilson, Richard Branson, Ann Fudge, Marianne Williamson, Keith Ferrazzi, Anu Shukla, Barbara Corcoran, Sharon Stone, Michael Masterston and V. Cheryl Womack – all people who have built a fortune by doing business their way and kept the sense God gave them.

Yvonne: If you could be the lead actress in a major movie (one already made), what movie would it be, and which character would you be?

Lena: Ha! I’ve always wanted to act and I’m surprised I’ve never thought about this question. I would want to be Sharon Stone in the first "Basic Instinct." Talk about a character that’s beautiful, intelligent AND witty! Triple-threat! She was also probably a murderer but, that’s not the point. :) I’ve always liked Sharon Stone’s style so, yeah, her. I think maybe that every woman wants to be that character…totally in control, financially independent, shapely, all the guys want you…c’mon!

Although my friends think I’m most like Samantha from "Sex in the City."

Yvonne: Back to The Technology Diet - one of the things I see on the site is this question: Do you know what technology your business needs now - and 3 years from now? Hmmm... technology changes so fast, how can we ever know what we'll need 3 years from now?

Lena: Good question!  We actually go over this during the program. One of the WORST things business-owners can do is think they have to keep pace with technology. Hey- you don’t buy a new car every year, do you? Keeping-up-with-the-Joneses just isn’t smart (or safe) when it comes to technology. The deal is: develop a strategy (which is what we do during the Technology Diet), stick to it and if something new comes along…STOP and take the time to think about if it’s important enough to revamp or include it in your plan. If so, by all means evaluate it for your business needs before you make the investment. If not, toss the idea and focus on sticking to your strategy.

Yvonne: Last question: your cost for The Technology Diet is outstanding! Should readers sign up soon - or will you be holding this cost for awhile, yet?

Lena: Of course, I’m going to say, “Sign up”! But, seriously…we’re starting the next ‘semester’ and they should get in while the price is good. I don’t know when we’ll be increasing the price – ok, that’s a lie – but, I’m not going to say when here but, we will increase the price soon…and that’s not a marketing ploy…and I’m not saying that to make you think there’s no marketing ploy when there really is…and I’m not saying…oh, wait…I said that already.

Thanks for the interview, Yvonne! This was fun and what GREAT questions! I got to the last question and actually said out loud, "Oh, it's over?"

*******************************************************

There you have it, folks. Lena is funny, witty, and very smart. Her Technology Diet is a must for all small businesses. Watch for Lena's posts starting next Monday. Welcome Lena warmly, please! We're lucky to have her on board!