Curious about Simplicity - How Can It Affect Our Lives and Businesses?

Henry David Thoreau wrote, “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail.”

Recently, I have noticed that there seem to be more and more teleseminars that deal with “overwhelm” and how to handle our lives, goals and businesses without experiencing burnout.

I also purchased and started to read Mark Joyner’s new book, The Irresistible Offer. The book is written with simplicity and loaded with power. I couldn’t wait to visit his website. Through it I found Joyner’s free program called Simple.ology 101, defined as the “simple science of getting what you want.”

The more I read about it, the more I realized that I needed to try it. I am presently on Day 2, and will let you know how it works for me. You will find it at www.simpleology.com.

In the meantime, I started to think more about simplicity and its strengths. By cutting out clutter and simplifying our lives, I feel we can more easily develop clarity and balance. If you know how many careers I have stuffed into my “Portfolio Career” you are probably starting to think I am a true hypocrite.

Not so! I do experience borderline overwhelm at times, but by simplifying my approach to each task and each career, I have been able to keep my focus, my clear vision and stay on the straight lines.

In the spring, I moved into a brand new apartment, and used this opportunity to rid myself of a great deal of clutter that was slowing down my life and my business. I used Feng Shui principles along with a minimalist approach to planning the décor. The simplicity has more than enhanced my surroundings, it has helped double my business(es).

Ready for some good quotes?

• Leo Tolstoy said, “There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.”
• Lao Tzu counseled, “Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.”
• Leonardo da Vinci felt that, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
• And, Charles Dudley Warner wrote, “Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.”
• One of my all-time favorites, Frank Lloyd Wright, stated, “Organic architecture seeks superior sense of use and a finer sense of comfort, expressed in organic simplicity."

I did find, however, other quotations about simplicity that should spark some thinking and discussion:

• What did Henry B. Adams mean when he wrote, “Simplicity is the most deceitful mistress that ever betrayed man.”
• And, was Socrates up-to-date when he said, “Serenity, regularity, absence of vanity, sincerity, simplicity, veracity, equanimity, fixity, non-irritability, adaptability, humility, tenacity, integrity, nobility, magnanimity, charity, generosity, purity. Practice daily these eighteen "ities" You will soon attain immortality.” It is a tall order!
• Explorer Thor Heyerdahl wrote, “Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity.”
• And, this statement by the well known fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, will probably surprise you, “I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes.”
• Is the following true? Doug Horton believes, “The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity.”

There are many other simplicity quotes to live by. Keeping our days simple - not simplistic - can be a challenge, but I feel that it is worthwhile.

Just remember the words of the great poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity.”

Curious about Impressions: How Important Are They? Part II

As I promised in my last blog, I am writing a Part II about impressions. After doing some research for Part I, I realized that there is much more to the subject of impressions than the first or second impression we make on others.

Impressions that fill our lives from what we are exposed to when we are young, when we are in school, when we choose our careers, when we read, when we see, when we listen, when we travel are incredibly important. They are the forces that help to form who we are and what we become.

I challenge us to think about those impressions that had the greatest influence on forming who we are today. I count myself as fortunate to have had parents who were concerned with exposing me to art, culture, reading, travel, the importance of education and a wide range of experiences.

In this same vein, this somewhat disturbing statement written by Alan Keyes is what took me away from thinking solely about first impressions, “When we, through our educational culture, through the media, through the entertainment culture, give our children the impression that human beings cannot control their passions, we are telling them, in effect, that human beings cannot be trusted with freedom.”

I could relate more easily to Robert Frost who wrote, “The chief reason for going to school is to get the impression fixed for life that there is a book side for everything.” Yes, I have always believed this with a passion - probably why I own hundreds of books.

Loving clothes and fashion, I was excited to find the following quotation by the talented designer, Donna Karan, “Today, fashion is really about sensuality - how a woman feels on the inside. In the eighties women used suits with exaggerated shoulders and waists to make a strong impression. Women are now more comfortable with themselves and their bodies - they no longer feel the need to hide behind their clothes.” This goes back to the question of “packaging” that we discussed in Part I. I wonder how many of us have hidden behind our clothes? I know that I have.

We are just starting to scratch the surface of the strength and importance of our impressions. My life has been filled with a variety of interests and careers. My first majors in college were Math and Physics, so the following quotations spoke loudly to me:

• George Boole reminded me of one of my all time favorite math classes - non-Euclidean Geometry, “No matter how correct a mathematical theorem may appear to be, one ought never to be satisfied that there was not something imperfect about it until it also gives the impression of being beautiful.” Yes, it may be hard to believe, but the theorems we were proving were “beautiful.”
• Jules H. Poincare provides the segue to my next area of impressions, “A scientist worthy of his name, about all a mathematician, experiences in his work the same impression as an artist; his pleasure is as great and of the same nature.”

When I returned to college, after many years, my new major was Studio Art. Here are some artists’ feelings and reactions to impressions:

• I relate with fervor to this thought by Alfred Sisley, “I begin with the sky which can never be merely a background, the animation of the canvas, the surface, at times raised to the highest pitch of liveliness, should transmit to the beholder the sensation which possessed the artist... .The artist's impression is the life-giving factor, and only this impression can free that of the spectator.”
• And one of my favorite artists, Edward Hopper, wrote, “My aim in painting has always been the most exact transcription possible of my most intimate impression of nature.”

As a writer, I found the following advice toward writing to be so true:

• Nicholas Sparks suggests, “Above all, a query letter is a sales pitch and it is the single most important page an unpublished writer will ever write. It's the first impression and will either open the door or close it. It's that important, so don't mess it up. Mine took 17 drafts and two weeks to write.”
• And Lynn Abbey just adds to Sparks’ suggestion, “Some of the best advice I can give an aspiring author is trivial. Most times an editor doesn't know you from a hole in the wall when he/she opens the envelope containing your story. That manuscript is your avatar-it stands for you and makes your first impression.” Ah, yes, back to first impressions.

With that, I hope that I have created a platform for discussion and thought. I will leave you with just one more great impression and thought-provoking quote from Don Hahn:

“We are meant to express how we feel about life. It's like breathing: Inhale the experiences of life, exhale how you feel about them. We are at our best when we can turn our impressions into expressions. The equation goes like this: Impression without expression equals depression.”

Curious about Impressions: How Important Are They? Part I

It all started this past week in one of the excellent marketing forums in which I take part. One of our members asked for feedback on his updated website. A comment about first impressions and the importance of the “packaging” of a product - or even a person - led to a thought provoking thread.

As the discussion evolved, it was noted that even when we have a first far from perfect first impression, we may find that later impressions change our reaction and elicit better impressions and feelings. The example was given that even if the "packaging" (first impression) is ugly, if we enjoy the food that is contained, we will buy the product.

We have all heard the statement that we only have a few seconds to make a good first impression. The more I considered that, however, the more interested I became in “impressions” and decided to pursue the ideas surrounding them. You may have noticed that I am calling this blog, “Part I.” Yes, there will be at least a “Part II” because during my research, I found so many different approaches to the word “impressions” it deserves a second blog.

Let’s begin with the standard first “impression” idea. I am as guilty as everyone in that I often form a first impression of people I meet or am introduced to. Because I am the type of person who wants to like everyone, I work at dispelling that initial reaction. Very often - and much to my chagrin - my first impression proves to be true.

I also was brought up to believe that we should always consider the impression we are making on others - whether it’s a “first” or later impression. My mother stressed that one should never leave the house wearing hair rollers or crummy clothes. “You never know whom you might see at the store.”

So, how concerned should we be about the impression we are making on others?

• Pierre Bonnard wrote, “What I am after is the first impression - I want to show all one sees on first entering the room - what my eye takes in at first glance.”
• Dale Carnegie, the master of winning friends and influencing people, suggested, “Naturalness is the easiest thing in the world to acquire, if you will forget yourself - forget about the impression you are trying to make.”
• Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) wrote, “To find out your real opinion of someone, judge the impression you have when you first see a letter from them.”
• Jim Thome shared the following thought, “My dad told me when I went into high school, 'It's not what you do when you walk in the door that matters. It's what you do when you walk out.' That's when you've made a lasting impression.”

The impressions we make and are made upon us can go much more deeply. They can be triggered by our so-called “packaging” but also by feelings:

• Marian Anderson considered what legacy she was leaving, “I suppose I might insist on making issues of things. But that is not my nature, and I always bear in mind that my mission is to leave behind me the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow.”
• Andy Garcia is straightforward, “Everything I do in my life is very instinctual and in the moment. If I'm attracted to something, that's it. If I have reservations, those don't change till they're resolved. My first impression is how I go.”
• Henrik Ibsen summed it all up, “A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.” How true!
• And, Horace put a great deal of faith in what we observe, “What we learn only through the ears makes less impression upon our minds than what is presented to the trustworthy eye.”
• Talking about the “eye,” Sa'Di wrote, “Whatever makes an impression on the heart seems lovely in the eye.”

Lots of ideas about impressions to consider! I found many more that revolve around art, mathematics, politics, fashion and history. That’s why there will be a “Part II.” But, I must share these last two quotations - they are so interesting and a bit controversial, too:

• Sigmund Freud stated, “The impression forces itself upon one that men measure by false standards, that everyone seeks power, success, riches for himself, and admires others who attain them, while undervaluing the truly precious thing in life.”
• And, Michael Frayn believes, “You can create a good impression on yourself by being right, he realizes, but for creating a good impression on others there's nothing to beat being totally and catastrophically wrong.”

Are these true? What do you think? I love receiving your comments!

Curious about Mail: Are You Using It to Your Advantage?

Long ago, Abraham Lincoln rightly wrote, “If a fellow wants to be a nobody in the business world, let him neglect sending the mailman to somebody on his behalf.”

More recently John M. McHugh wrote, “Unlike then, the mail stream of today has diminished by such things as e-mails and faxes and cell phones and text messages, largely electronic means of communication that replace mail.”

You are probably wondering why I chose this topic?

I just returned from my yearly trip to Jonesborough, Tennessee, where the National Storytelling Festival is held. More than 10,000 people attend and listen to storytellers for three days and two nights. Not only are the stories filled with humor and pathos, they are also filled with wisdom and creativity.

One of my favorite storytellers, Kathryn Tucker Windham from Selma, Alabama, mentioned that she doesn’t use anything invented past 1950 and still manages to “get along just fine.” This means that she still has a rotary phone and no computer, cell phone or PDA.

From this statement, she proceeded to talk about mail (now called “snail mail” by those of us who communicate through e-mail). The woman sitting next to me said, “Amen. I would never get into e-mail.” Receiving more than 400 e-mails a day, I just can’t imagine not using it. But, I also love snail mail and find the advantages of using it.

Lincoln and McHugh are both “right on” in the above statements.

Yes, in this day and age we receive fewer and fewer hand written notes and letters. If you are at all like I am, they are contained in the first envelope(s) that I open. I also read the hand written post cards first - don’t you?

What this means is that if we want to be noticed, read and make a good impression, we need to send snail mail along with well written and courteous e-mails.

And, that brings me to my concern about mail of all sorts. Of course, we are all dealing with spam, but let’s consider just the handling of mail that we send or receive. Three quotes that made me think are the following:

• Peter Coyote stated the unfortunate, “I would say 90 percent of my mail and phone calls are from people who want some kind of help or succor or commitment from me to do something.” Is this the result of your mail?
• I applaud Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau for writing, “One has to get through a big pile of mail every day. I don't pass my letters on to a secretary; rather, I try to take care of all of them myself.” Having a quick and personal answer to snail or e-mail makes a huge difference. Your correspondents feel that you care.
• And, take to heart the final warning from James Fallows, “Always write angry letters to your enemies. Never mail them.”

Even if you are familiar with the Internet and e-mail, I feel that it never hurts to update our e-mail etiquette. The following websites have value in this arena:

• http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/65mailet.htm (succinct and to the point - current and easy to read and comprehend - covers the important points)
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/p_emailett.html (very complete, long but covers everything you need to know about e-mail)
• e-mail etiquette at about.com (thorough and an excellent source for those concerned with their careers).

Next time, however, you want to thank someone or make someone feel special, don’t forget snail mail. You will be amazed by the attention you generate!

Curious about Hope: How Important Is It? Is It Enough?

Ed Markey wrote, “Hope is the most important four-letter word in the language.”

And yet, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “He that lives upon hope will die fasting.”

I started thinking about the power of “hope” last week, when I noticed that a bunch of flyers had been posted around the gym by one of our personal trainers. They promised that if you joined her program, you could go down up to four dress sizes and lose up to 40 pounds. Notice the words “up to.”

Now, as a certified fitness instructor, I feel that if her promises are true she is doing or providing a program that is actually injurious. However, I realize that she is actually offering “hope” not truth. And, that the good part is that she may give clients enough “hope” that they will take the actions that will lead to smaller sizes and fewer pounds.

And, isn’t it “hope” that sells us on most of the purchases we make? We “hope” that a certain product or service will solve our problem(s). We “hope” that they will make us more attractive, will get us there faster, will make us smarter, or richer, or more respected - you pick it.

Let me remind you, however, that there are stipulations that come with “hope.” Just as Franklin hinted, “hope” is just not enough. Yes, I feel strongly that we need it, but I also know that just hoping that something will occur won’t accomplish it.

Webster’s Dictionary defines hope as, “desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment; expectation of fulfillment or success; to cherish a desire with anticipation.”

As always, I searched for quotes about “hope.” Some were quite positive and hopeful, while others provided food for thought. Following are only a small number of the ones I found:

On a positive note:

• Woodrow Wilson stated, “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”
• Terence spoke with great wisdom when he said, “You believe easily that which you hope for earnestly.”
• I love the following by Jacques Yves Cousteau, “If we were logical, the future would be bleak, indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope, and we can work.”
• Samuel Smiles helps us smile with, “Hope... is the companion of power, and the mother of success; for who so hopes has within him the gift of miracles.”

And a bit of questioning:

• Gloria Steinem uses the following description, “Hope is a very unruly emotion.”
• While Epictetus warns, “Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.”
• And, Norman Cousins said, “Hope is independent of the apparatus of logic.”
• Malcolm Forbes reminds us, “When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always get worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.” How true!

So, what do you think and feel? I would love to read your comments!