Curious about Gardening: How Do You Plan Yours? Or Do You?

If you live in the States, you realize that one of the Memorial Day weekend traditions is planting your summer garden. So, I spent yesterday and part of today planting my new garden.

“Wait a minute,” you say, “I thought you just moved into a new apartment. They have gardens?”

Let me explain. In the apartment I just vacated, I was on the top floor and outside my bedroom window was a wonderful roof area with walls and spires. I used to go out through the window and work on my “roof garden” which was filled with pots, plants and even a small tree.

When I was planning my move to this wonderful new and spacious apartment, I remarked to the man in charge here that the only thing I would miss about my former living space was my “roof garden.” He e-mailed me that my “house-warming gift” from him would be topsoil and a garden they would dig up outside the door I use to enter the building.

He was true to his word. The garden was there, just waiting for this weekend.

In days long ago, I used to sit down and carefully plan my gardens. The idea was to create a well-designed and unified look with repetition of color and types of plants. During the past eleven years, I found that planting on the roof was quite different. I went for a combination of lots of color and variety. And, I tended to crowd the plants in their pots.

I discovered that I was delighted with the huge palette. An Oriental woman I had taken weaving with had always said, “You Americans are so funny with your careful color schemes. What you don’t seem to realize is that all colors work together.” She was right.

Now that I started to work on my new garden, I was in a quandary. The roof garden was really for my eyes only. This new garden, however, would be seen by others in the whole complex. I wanted to grow a few vegetables - the roof was just too hot for most - along with many of the colorful flowers I have grown to love.

I would not crowd the plants, and yet, even with the first purchases made on Friday, I discovered that the garden was bigger than I had imagined, so I went back for more plants today. More color and more variety.

It looks like my “Portfolio Career.” Variety and flexibility. I did plant the tallest at the back and made an effort to do some grouping by color and type, but overall the look is random. What a difference from the days when I so carefully planned on paper!

If anyone asks, I have my answer ready. “This year is my year for testing. You see, I just want to know what grows here successfully. That’s why there is such a variety.”

I am excited! The planning and planting were completed with fun and great expectation. As my crazy “Portfolio Garden” grows, I will take some photos and post them, so you can make your own decisions.

My questions to you are, “Do you have a garden? How completely do you plan it? Why not take a break from planning and let yourself go? You have my permission.”

And, do let me know how it turns out.

Curious about Nice: Is It Enough?

Yesterday I heard myself saying, “Yes, he’s not only a nice guy, he is also a great manager.” This started me thinking about nice, being nice and if being nice is enough to get ahead.

Personally, I don’t think being “nice” ever hurts, but in my experience(s), it isn’t enough. For example, when I worked as a server in restaurants, I was always more than nice to the guests. I discovered, however, that once I became super efficient, an excellent sales person and able to handle many tables at the same time with speed and accuracy, my tips soared. And, returning guests would usually ask for me.

I discovered that there is a plethora of different opinions about this:

• Leo Durocher is well known for his statement, “Nice guys finish last.”
• In answer to that, Addison Walker wrote, “It is not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game ever starts.”

Yes, I do favor Walker’s statement, but must admit that when it comes to picking men, I have many “nice” men friends, while for romance, I usually am drawn to the not-so-nice men. I know that this can be a detriment in lots of cases - for me and other women - for the nice guys.

When it comes to thoughts about getting ahead or succeeding in the corporate world, there are some other interesting thoughts:

• Melissa Hahn sums it up, “It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice.”
• Jimmy Durante gives his reason, “Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down.”
• As does Cyril Connolly, “Always be nice to those younger than you, because they are the ones who will be writing about you.”
• And also stated by Lord Chandos who wrote, “Power in a corporation becomes residual and dwells in the background. It is the ability to exercise nice matters of judgment.”

As I searched for thoughts on “niceness” I found some fun, funny and honest approaches that I think you will also appreciate:

• George Carlin, one of my favorite humorists and satirists said, “The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.”
• Will Rogers, in his inimitable style, said, “Diplomacy is the art of saying `Nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.”
• Michael J. Fox admits, “You've probably read in People that I'm a nice guy - but when the doctor first told me I had Parkinson's, I wanted to kill him.”
• Katherine Whitehorn makes the observation that, “No nice men are good at getting taxis.”
• While Lucille S. Harper points out that, “The nice thing about egotists is that they don't talk about other people.”

I would be remiss if I didn’t include Haim Ginott, my all time favorite child psychologist and writer for parents, who wrote, “If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others.” As a parent, we can so easily point out what a child’s weakness is, forgetting the strengths – or not mentioning them.

So, how about you? Are you “nice”? Yes, I work at it too. But, it really isn’t enough just to be nice. And, we can also be “too nice” which can serve as a detriment. But that is another whole blog.

Do comment, or send me your feedback! I love hearing from you.

Curious about Follow-Up: How to Use It for Outrageous Results

One of the greatest personal and professional tools I use and have used for “outrageous results” is follow-up. And I can say “outrageous” with a clear conscience. Why? Because so many people never bother with follow-up, it has become unexpected and almost non-existent.

I know that many on the Internet use autoresponders. I do too, and think they are wonderful. But, they are still not enough as far as I am concerned. For example, when someone signs up for one of my e-newsletters, he or she immediately receives, by autoresponder, free tips. As soon as I receive notice that they have subscribed with a legitimate e-mail address, I send them a personal letter of welcome, along with the date that they will receive their first copy of the newsletter.

Even though it takes time and slows down my handling of e-mail, I have found that very few ever unsubscribe and I have already established a bond with new subscribers. I even get e-mails right back thanking me for the welcome note.

I am also close to obsessive about follow-up when it comes to answering e-mails quickly and returning phone calls ASAP. I know that this is not the norm, because 90% of the time I receive notes and statements thanking me for my prompt reply. I know that I have been hired for jobs just on that basis alone. Yes - it is a bit outrageous.

For an opposite example, let me tell you about a case I experienced lately. I ordered a product from an Internet expert from whom I have been receiving an excellent e-newsletter. Because I have a PayPal account, I paid with an e-check, which takes up to five business days to clear. However, I never received a word from the expert saying, “Thank you for your order. We will process it as soon as we get notification that the check has cleared.” I figured the person in question must be too busy to answer.

Finally, the check cleared and I was given instructions to fax information that would be evaluated and then would be sent back to me by fax or mail - my choice. I never received a follow-up word that the fax had arrived. In my cover sheet, I asked that the answers be mailed, because I was having problems with my phone lines after my recent move. So, I was surprised to receive an e-mail asking for my fax number. Again, I mentioned that I preferred to be mailed. It finally came, and I e-mailed to say I had received it. You guessed it! I never got an answer to the e-mail acknowledging mine, or a follow-up asking if I was pleased with the results.

How do I feel? Even if the results had been superb - which they weren’t - I doubt that I would ever purchase anything more from this person or recommend them to anyone else.

You would also be amazed at how few people ever write a thank you note, either in an e-mail - so quick and easy - or by hand and then sent through the mail. It is so unusual to receive a hand written note today that it certainly separates you out as giving outrageous customer service.

Finally, I want to share a quote written by Robert Ringer: “And if you are guilty of not delivering on time, or not delivering what you promised, be quick to own up to your mistakes. Nothing conjures up more respect, from both customers and superiors, than being accountable for your actions (or lack of action). Everyone makes mistakes. That's not the problem. What creates a problem is when someone refuses to own up to his mistakes.”

Just another form of follow-up that will produce “outrageous results.”

Take the extra time to follow-up and you will notice a difference immediately. I guarantee it!

Curious about Clutter: Do You Have It? How to Avoid It!

Once I made the decision to move out of the apartment in which I had lived for eleven years, I realized that I needed help.

I pulled out the Feng Shui books I already owned and rushed to the bookstore for more. I even consulted an on-line Feng Shui expert. “Feng Shui practitioners believe that an invisible breath of life called chi runs through all things, and that by maximizing this energy we can improve our lives. This involves arranging our surroundings in harmony with Feng Shui principles, so that the energy works for us and not against us.”

Some of the books are quite complicated and also contradict each other in several areas. There is one important principle, however, that they all agree with and propose that we follow. That is to get rid of and clear clutter. What better time than during a move to a new space and surroundings.

Even though I consider myself an organized person, I found as I prepared to move that I had a huge amount of clutter to deal with. Jane Butler-Biggs in her excellent and useful book, Feng Shui in 10 Simple Lessons, she writes, “The answer is to remove things from our energy field that are not supporting our energy. This means more than reorganizing thing or putting them out of sight. It means removing them altogether and throwing them out, and this seemingly drastic measure is where, for many people, the difficulty begins.”

As I got into the right frame of mind and spirit, I followed Florynce R. Kennedy’s great advice, “Don't agonize, organize.” And it became more than just organizing. I became almost brutal in the purging of books, clothes, furniture, artifacts and stuff. I did what Butler-Biggs suggested by getting rid of older items - even when valuable - that I no longer used. They are sources of negative energy.

I am also finding that as I am setting my new space, I am re-considering every object, paper, picture and piece of furniture I place. I have already disposed of items I moved. My old tendency was to think that I should keep the item, so I would load up my storage area. Fortunately, my new storage area is small, so I only have room for the truly important items - knowing that I will need to get rid of them as soon as they no long possess positive energy.

And I feel wonderful!

As I started thinking about this blog, I realized that there are many - almost hidden - areas of clutter that deplete our energy level. Here are some that I have addressed, and you may want to work on:

• Books that I have bought, and feel I should read, but haven’t.
• Clothes that I purchased when I had a full time job in an office, but haven’t worn for years.
• Papers I carefully filed in the past and haven’t referred to in years.
• Furniture that is no longer comfortable or doesn’t fit the modern, clean cut style of my new home.
• Computer disks for programs I have never used and never will.
• Computer files that are out-of-date and of no further use.
• Old mail: both snail and e-mail.
• Gifts I have kept not because I liked them, but because they came from people I love.
• Cosmetics that were gifts and/or purchases that I don’t use.
• Shoes that were sharp, but that I haven’t worn in years.
• T-shirts and more t-shirts from events and activities in which I participated.
• Stained clothing that I kept for messy chores, but never wore.

I am sure you can make your own list. Once you have cleared the clutter, it is important to thoroughly cleaned the area(s) you have cleared. I almost embarrassed myself with all of the dust I discovered in my former space. And I thought I was a conscientious cleaner!

Two quotations that I hope will spur you on are:

• “I'm definitely a messy person... I know where everything is but I just can't organize. I don't make lists and find scripts on the laundry machine, and under my bed, or in the bathroom, kitchen. It's bad, I really need to take control.” - Katie Holmes
• “If you can organize your kitchen, you can organize your life.” - Louis Parrish

And for help with organizing, visit: http://lifeorganizers.com/ or visit your local library and ask for the section with the books on Feng Shui. Get rid of that clutter. You’ll be glad you did!

Curious about Flexibility: Do You Have It? Do You Want It? Do You Value It?

“Having flexibility is one of my top values.” I’ll give that statement a “5” where “5” is very true and the top score for that statement. This is the first statement on my “Portfolio Career” self test, and is also the statement that 95% of the time rates a “5” and sometimes a “4.”

Having flexibility is and has been a top value of mine for as long and as far back as I can remember. And I don’t only mean career flexibility.

Let’s start with physical flexibility. As many of you know already, I am a group fitness instructor. It actually pains me when I see class participants leave when we start our final stretching. In my opinion, one can’t stretch too much or too often.

Yes, our stretching is safer and more effective when performed at the end of an aerobic workout when our muscles are warm. As I tell my students, “We automatically lose 10% of our flexibility every ten years.” The advantages of having physical flexibility are less chance of pain or injury, a better quality of life and a more effective, quality workout.

Next is having a flexible attitude. Paul Kagame wrote, “Let no one think that flexibility and a predisposition to compromise is a sign of weakness or a sell-out.” I know that I have been accused of “waffling.” Personally, I feel that it is important to see all sides of a problem or discussion. I have learned that in most cases, there are three sides to every situation: my side, the other’s side, and the truth somewhere in the middle.

By being flexible, we can readily come to a win-win-win resolution for all involved.

“In the future, instead of striving to be right at a high cost, it will be more appropriate to be flexible and plural at a lower cost. If you cannot accurately predict the future then you must flexibly be prepared to deal with various possible futures.” - Edward de Bono

And then there is career flexibility. You can achieve this by making sure that you are never locked in by strict rules and regulations in you work life. Luckily, I have been able to achieve this by having flexible careers where I can manage my own time and type of work.

As one of my all-time favorite mentors, Tony Robbins says, “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.”

This doesn’t mean slacking off - I know that because of my flexibility and many careers, I often put in a plethora of hours working. The difference is that I am making the choices of what to be spending those hours working or not working on.

Here are some quotes that deal with flexible ideas. Just some food for curious thought - until my next blog.

• “There is an immense, painful longing for a broader, more flexible, fuller, more coherent, more comprehensive account of what we human beings are, who we are and what this life is for.” - Saul Bellow
• “The least flexible component of any system is the user.” - Lowell Jay Arthur

What do you think? Does flexibility rate high with you? I would love to read your comments