Lip-Sticking

If you, like many people, will be headed over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house — or anywhere else for that matter — you may stress out at the idea of stepping away from your business for days or weeks at a time.

Thankfully, we live in an era of technology and being out of the office doesn’t have to cause a catastrophe for your business. Here’s how to reduce that holiday stress, enjoy time with family and friends, and keep your business up and running.

Plan Ahead. Simply giving your customers a head’s up that you will be unavailable (or have limited access to email if you can’t go cold turkey) will eliminate much of the email you’d get during that time. Your customers are busy with their own holiday plans, so don’t expect too much activity while you’re away. 

• Take care of any assignments or projects that are due ahead of time.
• Ask your clients if they need anything before you leave. (Do this at least 2 weeks out.)
• Spend extra time now clearing your plate for your vacation.

by Yvonne DiVita

"It's great reconnecting," she said. Her voice boomed through the phone with a power that penetrated my entire body. It dominated her presence. I could see her speaking to me, through the miles between us, the phone line, the very air separating us.

"I agree," I said, without anywhere near as much impact, I am sure.

We talked business. We talked personal lives. We laughed. We shared a few stories. We took the frayed edges of our lost connection and began to repair them. The color of our lives improved. We went from gray to red... and variations between. 

I find it encouraging to talk to women on the phone when their very presence is demonstrated by the power in their voice. One of the areas I feel most strongly about is in the use of one's voice to accomplish goals and achieve more results. Women tend to be quieter. We tend to be gentle, if we need to push the other person in our direction. We shy away from the booming, startling voice of authority... the voice men use, mostly, when they talk business.

Dr Lorie Huston and Yvonne at WIPIN

by Yvonne DiVita   #friendshipendures

“This is an amazing event,” she said as we met in the narrow hall of the exhibit area for BlogPaws Denver, 2010. Her blue eyes sparkled like a sunny afternoon in June.

I have to admit, I was pleased with all the praise coming our way. The event was the second BlogPaws, here in Denver, back in our launch year. I remember the conversation so well because having someone of the stature of Dr. Lorie Huston compliment you is not something you forget.

“Thank you,” I said. We shook hands. We talked a bit more about why BlogPaws was created and how it could serve the veterinary world. We had a Vet track at the conference and Dr. Lorie was especially interested in that.

That was the start of an enduring friendship, and she accepted an invitation to join our unofficial board, which met mostly by phone each month. I came to rely on her insight and expertise. I came to appreciate her knowledge not only of blogging (wow, a veterinarian who blogs!), and using blogs effectively for a veterinary practice, but for many other things; for business, for life, for the good health of my pets, even for inspiration. Dr. Lorie inspired me to be more than I am, better than I am, and kinder to others.

by Yvonne DiVita

It may only be October but the New Year is looming. Somehow, once we hit September, the days and weeks pass by in a blur and before you know it, Jolly Old St Nick is arriving, with the celebratory night called New Year's Eve, hard on his heels. I wonder how St. Nick celebrates - does he just crash and heave a big sigh, and wait for his wife to bring him a beer? #thingsthatmakeyougohmmmm

Over the last two years, as I've worked more intimately in blogging and programs with brands, over at BlogPaws, my emerging and strong community of pet people who blog or tweet or just connect to make life better for animals everywhere, I've learned a thing or two about where we're going with this social media stuff. You know, the Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc...stuff. The stuff that is a direct result of blogging. 

Back in 1994, when I started blogging, we were brand new. "What's blogging?" folks would say, with that quizzical look on their faces, when we told people that's what we were about.

"It's... like an interactive newsletter, online," I would say. Or, "It's a conversation," Tom would say.

The blank looks persisted.

by Yvonne DiVita

"You're just so hard to work with!"

Harsh words to hear. Especially given the fact that I'm not hard to work with. Yes, I am proud and confident and I can be domineering. But, I also listen well and 99% of the time try to see things from the other person's viewpoint.

The incident causing this statement arose from an event that had happened several weeks prior. The person making the statement had worked with a competitor, a big competitor, to devise some online content that she now wanted ME to share. 

I was surprised. I was confused. I was ... slowly, a bit angry.

"I'm here, I'm focused on this also, as you know," I wrote to her. "It confuses me why you would work with <competing brand> when we have an on-going relationship and I am always at your beck and call to create content."

The answer to that statement was, "That makes me feel bad. Is that what you wanted...to make me feel bad? This wasn't my doing. It was <someone else>. I just participated."

Guest post by Katie Parsons

By now you’ve probably seen the viral “Like a Girl” video ad from Always that features men and women from different age groups performing physical actions like running or throwing a ball like (you guessed it) a girl. The ad, directed by women’s rights documentary maker Lauren Greenberg, has been hailed as an empowering one for both genders by proving that perceptions of what women can and cannot do are vastly man-made.

The ad joins a growing list of them that highlight strong, powerful women who are comfortable in their own skin, including those from brands like Dove, Pantene, and even athletic-wear manufacturer Under Armour. The ads first debuted online – an attempt to capture the attention of the 93 percent of millennials, ages 18 to 34, who do research online before deciding to buy and who are certainly more interested in the social messaging behind campaigns than older generations. On the surface, these ads are designed to be thought provoking and inspire an empowered feel for women. Are they really all that they seem though?

The non-profit organization Art as Action means a LOT to me. I've been on the board for 2 years and counting. While I don't perform, my daughter and granddaughter do. They embody the concept of Artivism, which is to perform in support of community, to share something bigger than the individual. This organization is focused on people, and the concept that art is fundamentally a part of the human condition. We believe:

the world needs ART. Art needs YOU

See below:

ART as ACTION nurtures & cultivates a wide range of Artivists including: 

• People with Parkinson's Disease who uncover their inner dancer through our Reconnect with your Body classes
• At-risk youth finding a safe space to explore their place in the world through our Young Artivists Performance Lab program at Attention Homes Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelter
• Veteran performers, both experimenting with new genres and embracing their primary art form
• Closet artists just discovering their creative potential through our Artivist Process

We do a fund raiser every year. This year, we are SO CLOSE to our goal... only a few hundred dollars off! I share the purpose of Art as Action with you, my dedicated readers, and ask you to consider a small donation. Think about it... you are part of the human condition. You are part of the art of being alive. You are part of a bigger purpose in this small world of ours. You may write a verse... we think Art as Action can help inspire that verse. 

Will your verse speak to the whole world, or will you continue to hide it away? Share it. Be one with Artivists like me, my daughter, and my granddaughter. Inspire your daughters and granddaughters. Share Art as Action with them.

ART helps us understand that which is bigger than ourselves.

ART as ACTION provides participants and audience members the opportunity to reflect on ourselves and explore the common feelings and experiences we all share.  Our programs and performances provide a place to discover unexpected connections and stop feeling so small and isolated that we stop contributing what is unique about us.  We embolden the distinct, rare creativity deep within each individual.

YOUR donation helps us compensate the human-power it takes to make our programs and performances successful.