Archive for June, 2010

Just a moment I’m thinking…

It seems odd that I, of all people, would have to be discussing the importance of trusting your intuition. I come from a long line of highly intuitive women. It should be something I respect by now but apparently I may come from intuitive stock but I can’t always claim to trust and honor it.

Some time back I had a really strong intuition that an opportunity that was coming my way was not the right path to take. For reason that were part practical, part supportive and part investigative I chose to ignore the feeling in the pit of my stomach and went for it. It was a professional decision that I regret in some ways but in others it served as a wonderful lesson. Characteristic of most lessons, it confirmed what I already know but failed to take seriously.

In conjunction with all the bells going off loudly, came the first day I stepped into my role. There in front of me was the same desk I had seen fourteen years earlier in a whole other setting, the same lack of preparedness for my arrival and the inevitable laxidasical attitude. Instead of being able to do my job, I first had to tackle that lack of items necessary to start. It was a flashback that I didn’t enjoy but I weighed in thinking “All these years later I’m sure I can make this work.”

I was wrong again. It seemed my role was not clearly defined and often I became confused as to just what my purpose truly was. The title certainly didn’t match the day to day activities and I was getting a distinct feeling of being restricted, maybe not fully trusted to do my job. After hitting the level I have professionally and enjoying the partnerships established with wonderful people and organizations, it was foreign to feel so confined. I observed things I did not know could exist in the context of our work and ethically felt uncomfortable. It was also clear that though my intention was to do the best I could, my best was not required.  This was the wrong place for me to be and I should have trusted that little voice in my head; that feeling in the pit of my stomach and the deja vu that happened weekly.

So, why don’t we trust our intuition? It obviously has been implanted in us for survival reasons. It, more often than not, is completely accurate. It doesn’t require you to do anything prior, other than to have a thought or a movement that would warrant its very fervent arrival. It is a built in mechanism to aid us but still we question its validity. The only saving grace to all of this is that it never gives up trying to get our attention.

I can tell you right now, I’m apologizing to my little inner voice. I will trust it, honor it and know that it only has my best interest at heart.

HAVE YOU LEARNED TO TRUST YOUR INTUITION? (If not, I highly recommend you trust your built in, free alarm system)

Does the idea of owning your own business, working according to your core values, defining success on your own terms and affecting positive change interest you? Many women have taken steps in their life to do all of that and more but how they accomplish it has changed over the years.

Women entrepreneurs don’t even need a store front to make their professional dreams a reality. This virtual world has expanded rapidly, opening doors for women to develop a business that is unrestricted by international borders. Using the internet and leveraging the power of social media, women around the globe build relationships that strengthen their business and personal aspirations. One of those women is Jill Crossland.

Jill is a life and business coach who started in 2004, what was then, TimeFinders Coaching. Ever the forward thinker, as her company grew so did her recognition of the trend toward self branding. In 2008 she divided her company into Jill Crossland Coaching and TimeFinders Magazine.

She has just launched Create Your Team which brings together a team of professional women with specialized expertise. As one of those team members, I wanted to celebrate with Jill the launch of this site and through the following interview share with readers, one woman’s vision. It is my hope that if you are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur or want to use your expertise in unique way Jill’s story will help you move forward.

From inception to present day Jill gives insight into how a business can evolve, the importance of paying attention to the needs of clients, the wisdom to know you don’t need to do it all on your own and her own struggles with balance. Jill is also looking for women to lend their expertise; maybe through this interview the circle of relationship building will grow.

Take us back to the beginning – At what point did you decide to start what is now Jill B. Crossland Coaching?

It was more of an evolution. Most coaching sites were rather dry and it perturbed me that once you hung up from a client session they possibly didn’t have anything else to fall back on in the way of resources, information and support.  I wanted to provide them with more depth.

When I started it was more for midlife women because I had gone into coaching as a midlife woman and had some difficulty finding the information I needed in order to take that step. So, I thought a lot of other midlife women probably feel the same.

How has your vision for the business changed over the years?

As my demographic became clearer I was able to identify my market and it grew from there. Then it emerged that I was dealing with a larger age group. They were entrepreneurs either starting their business or mid point in their business development.

You have just launched a fresh site called Create Your Team Resources for the Busy Woman. What was your goal for the site?

I wanted it be very efficient, it is about creating a support system, realizing that we can’t all do it alone. When we have made the decision that we can’t do it alone, I want the site to be the place for services, help and support.

How do I find the right website? What is the right social media? How do I find the right babysitter for me to bring on to my team so that I accomplish what I need to with my business?

I thought if I could bring these people together in one area that would be my aim. It’s in its infancy but the goal is that all the resources would be on the Create Your Team site and it would be safe. A safe area to go forth with your team members. This is about women supporting women.

What do feel are the unique needs of women that would drive them to seek out the services offered through Create Your Team?

When I first became a coach everything was about packages, it was sold in big chunks. If you wanted to hire a coach you had to commit to this amount of time and this amount of money, it was the only way you could obtain success.  It was quite overwhelming.

In both my coaching and Create Your Team it is a realization that you don’t have to have full time help. If you have a housekeeper come in once a week that may work just fine; to give you enough time to accomplish what you need to in those hours. If you talk to your coach every month or every two months that may be what you require. The uniqueness is in the realization that it doesn’t have to be a huge chunk of time or money.

You can control who you hire and when you hire them. You can control what you spend; you don’t have to be intimidated into putting out large amounts of money. Women realize they would love to have a housekeeper, or web designer on call 24/7 but they can’t.  They may work out that they can afford it four times a month or once a month.

Isn’t this about flexibility?

Yes.  I know women who say to their accountant “I can do this part but I need you to do this part, I need you at this time of year for my year end.”  Years ago we weren’t saying the words “This is what I need from you” and “This is what I can afford to pay you.” That is very freeing. It enables women to grow their business; instead of sinking all their money into an accountant they can hire a web designer too, they can balance it out.

You have expanded your team of professionals to meet the needs of women and you intend to add even more professional women to provide their expertise. What are you looking for in future team members?

We are looking for financial advisers. I’d like to see life coaches, relationship coaches and business coaches who specialize in start up. We are not only looking for virtual businesses but those that have a physical store front presence. Housekeepers and dog walkers are also needed. For example: if you have a week where you can’t walk your dog this service is helpful. If a very entrepreneurial dog walking service wants to advertise I think they would do well on our site. For the busy woman who is tied up in meetings, she can give them a call.

We are not doing products, it is all service based. Create Your Team wants people who specialize in transitions, elder care, divorce, professional organizers, and time management experts.

Every woman’s needs are different. Create Your Team is the one place she can come to find both the coach and all her other needs in one area.

You have your coaching business, TimeFinders Magazine, the Life Deco Blog and the newly launched Create Your Team website…How do you balance your time?

I keep a very rigorous schedule even though like most of you I work from a home office. I keep a very tight schedule as if I’m walking into a corporation every morning.  I’m in the process of learning that when I don’t balance everything, something has to change. Like all women I have those weeks when it just doesn’t pull together and I just let go without guilt or stress.

I have my priorities – it is clients, website, my writing. Clients always come first. At the beginning of the day I start with their needs, and then I make sure the websites are where they should be and then last is my writing. We must always give the priority to our clients.

What have you learned about yourself in the process of building up the business?

I’ve learnt what I’m good at and I’m no longer hesitant in saying “I’m very good at this” or “I’m not very good that and I need someone else to do it.” I have stopped trying to do it all. I’m very happy to turn areas of my business over to the experts in their field.

The hardest thing I’ve learned is sometimes I have to let go of something I’ve enjoyed because there is just not enough time in my day. I’ve had to cut back on a lot my writing. I don’t put articles out as much as I’d like to because I can’t find the time, I miss that.

How are you going to define success?

My success falls in three different criteria; it is not a one stop success. In my coaching practice, to be honest, it comes from a certain number of clients and an income that is steady.  For the magazine, success will come when it is more self- sufficient as I haven’t sold advertising. The success will be advertising and recruiting more writers. I’m still on the cusp, I’m not offering as much as I would like to my readers.

Create Your Team success will be when we have that full range of services to offer. When I feel we have a good selection across the board and emails coming in that say, “Thanks, this helped.” It is nice to know you made a difference. Women have to give feedback really it’s the only way to grow our business.  It is the only way to know, “Is this working” What went wrong or what went really right. Constructive criticism is a wonderful thing.

Is there anything else you would want readers to know?

You asked me earlier what I learnt and I think I would like readers to know they need to embrace their uniqueness. I am unique, you are unique, and the readers of your piece are all unique. You are sitting comfortably in that uniqueness when you recognize your own needs.

It is all very well that we go to workshops, listen to our friends and read self help books. At the end of the day, at 3 o’clock in the morning, it is you that’s lying there worried or wanting to make the right decision, facing uncertainty and that is the unique position. Every woman needs to recognize what their needs are. They are not the same needs as that speaker they just went to see, as remarkable as she may have been, take from her what you need but then make it your own.

Life is not one size fits all. Take advice but take it and make it your own.

While Jill is the person behind the inception of your Create Your Team and will remain behind the scenes as it grows; it took a team to Create a Team. Alanna Morley designed both the website and Mean Business blog. She will also be the CYT manager. IT consultant Terri Pepin keeps the site running efficiently.   Women helping women is ever apparent as Jill Crossland Coaching and Create Your Team grows.

Many thanks to Jill for taking the time for this interview and for inspiring me in so many ways to grow as a business woman.

Violent protest at the G8 Summit in Toronto, Ontario., Canada turned parts of the city into a major conflict zone. As always peaceful protest is overtaken by the agenda of **** disturbers who can’t find another way to get their message across other than to burn cars, smash windows and throw bricks.

I have to ask the questions:

How effective is protests and demonstrations when they are drenched in violence?

Do you feel these thugs garner support by the average voter to join their cause?

Do these people reach the minds of the political leaders, causing them to rethink their positions?

What did they gain today?

Nothing! It did not sway anyone to see their point of view. In fact, if anything it has done the opposite. The legitimate protests that paraded down the street were overshadowed by black masked cowards. What is worse is that people lives were put at risk, businesses were shut down and the chaos that continues adds to the cost of what is already a very expensive undertaking.

Here is the hypocrisy that goes along with protesters such as these:

* They don’t like countries that commit violent acts upon its citizens but here they are committing violence, breaking the laws and generally holding a city hostage.

* They want people to be free to speak their mind without the fear of retribution but they shouted over the voices and stopped the advancement of legitimate, peaceful, fellow protesters.

* They oppose those that receive financial gain from Governments (including ours) that they deem corrupt but many of them are receiving Canadian tax dollars everyday through social assistance to keep a roof over their head and food in their stomach.

* They want Governments/Leaders to be accountable for the health of their citizens while they endangered the health and livelihood of many innocent citizens today.

* They don’t like police interfering and clashing with people around the world but they incite ours to do so.

Hey, I have protested before, I get the need to stand for something. I walked along the streets peacefully to voice my opposition to the invasion of Iraq. There are many things going on in the world that I try to do my part to change but non violence is the only way I know.

Young or old there are people throughout history who have made a difference by there own actions! These protesters are expecting these politicians to fix what they believe ails the prospective countries? Individuals can change the world; people who get up off their couch and begin to find ways in which THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. They volunteer their time in these countries to provide learning, infrastructure and health care. They sit and talk with tribes, communities, leaders and the like, to make a small initiative turn into large initiatives. They donate their money to organizations on the ground who have a better understanding of the issues and needs of the people.

Powerful, meaningful change should not come through violent outbursts but through the realization of hope, onward through the education of a people, from education to a showing of solidarity and eventually with a mass of voices who are capable of changing the future. Who do the people thank later? All those that provided their expertise along the way, those that sacrificed and challenged on their behalf. Great minds, large hearts, people who hold the values the leaders do not.

The violence I saw today did nothing and those protesters were representations of what they despise. They emulated the behaviours, anger, corruption and small minded thinking that keeps certain leaders in power. They need to take their masks off and take a good  look in the mirror.

Charge those that broke the law and if they are receiving any type of assistance from our Government cut them off. If they are paying citizens garnish wages to pay for damages. Right to protest, right to be prosecuted for crimes and damages. Welcome to democracy!

Yes, at this point some of you are going down the path of “This woman is an Iron Maiden fan?” Yes, I am! Along with my devoted heavy metal husband.

We just attended last nights sold out show in Vancouver and enjoyed it immensely. For those that are scratching their heads still trying to figure out what the draw may be to this band well I guess you have to be appreciative of superb musicianship and outstanding vocals.

There is different types of metal and without going into detail about that diversity, suffice-to-say there are bands who train and obtain a level that is untouchable. Iron Maiden is one of those bands. With legions of fans worldwide and generations past now bringing their children, it has become a family of sorts. Beyond the music they produce is the bands genuine appreciation of all the people that support them.

Even my mother, a trained classical singer enjoys watching the DVD’s with her beloved son-in-law. Bruce Dickinson, the singer, is really in a class unto himself. His mastery of vocal range and theatrics is really a treat to watch and now in his early 50′s you see no signs of him slowing down. A singer, a commercial airline pilot and fencer, he is a man that doesn’t do anything halfway. The other band members Steve Harris (bassist),  Nicko McBrain (drummer), and guitarist Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers; bring their high energy, precision and unparalleled performance to the stage and leave nothing behind.

What is also interesting is the historical elements to the songs. Many lyrics reference time in history, poets or individuals so that the listener is in essence learning while rocking. It wasn’t until after I met my husband that I truly appreciated that fact as well as the multiple layers that go into the songs themselves. Follow the guitars and watch as each musician adds in their unique piece, creating a tapestry that is masterful. (click on the song below and follow it through to see what I mean)

We have seen this band several times together and my husband has followed them since his youth. All in all I guess you can’t judge a person or a band without giving them a chance. If you have wanted to expand your musical tastes than I suggest you listen to Iron Maiden or just rent a DVD. See how millions around the world flock to watch these great musicians and a phenomenal singer bring metal to the highest rank it can be.

One song in the show Blood Brothers was dedicated to their friend and mentor Ronnie James Dio who lost his fight with cancer not so long ago. The stadium rose to honor this classy, heavy metal singer and it was appropriate that Iron Maiden reminded us to do so.

I have spent a little bit more time than I want in hospitals this year. Not me personally in the hospital but visiting others who have the misfortune to require surgery and care. It is very clear to me that there is serious problems with the system! Sure, we watch the news and we hear the tale of a person or family that complains how the health care system has failed them. You have a brief moment of angst, empathy and then it is on to the next story. It isn’t until you see it for yourself that you realize “Hey! Something is very wrong here!”

My brother-in-law was admitted to Mission Hospital to address a severe gall bladder attack, he was given some medication, told to book an appointment with his doctor and was released.  Complications arose due to a lack of urgency with his initial complaint of symptoms, so when he went to his doctors office jaundice and having difficulty breathing he was readmitted to the hospital. From there it was determined that he required EMERGENCY SURGERY and would need to be transferred to Royal Columbian Hospital.  That was three weeks ago.

He is still in the hospital due to multiple errors. No surgery occurred in a timely manner which made his situation worse. He was deemed by one Doctor not be a priority and as such was relegated to the hallway with fashioned bed linens tied to IV polls etc to give him partial privacy. There he laid in discomfort amidst all the traffic and the ever triggered buzzer going off to signify patients who wanted a nurse to attend their bedside.

No MRI on weekends meant he waited longer for information about his condition and at one point someone even considered sending him back home to Mission. However, as a result of all the delays he eventually was now a PRIORITY! Sick enough to warrant service he went in for surgery. Due to the wait time it was more complicated and there were measures taken to try to deal with progression of his condition. To make a long story shorter he recently underwent a second surgery due to an infection (flesh eating disease) no doubt caused by his first surgery and/or post operative care.

A procedure that should have been taken care of quickly with minimal hospital stay has turned into almost a month of panic and pain!

He has noted that there are good nurses who are trying to work in difficult conditions and there are nurses that maybe should get out of the profession. He has left a newspaper under his bedside cabinet which despite the brief presence of cleaning staff, it hasn’t budged an inch. He bled one day badly which sprayed onto the floor, it took two days before that was even cleaned up. He notes that several people around him have also come in for a surgery and ended up with two or three operations… most likely due to infection. There was one man who hadn’t had his bed changed in a week and they both realized care is different depending who is on shift.

In all of this I realized that the system I once defended is a joke! I was opposed to two tiered health care, secure with the notion that if I buy that hospital lottery ticket or vote for more dollars to be spent on British Columbia’s Health care that money was being spent wisely. Well, not anymore! If I could pay for better care I would do it! To see someone you love suffer, become sicker than they were going in, to watch a person lay in crowded corridor, to see cigarette infested entrance ways with staff and patients alike dumping their cigarette butts about, to see dried blood streaked across a floor in a common sitting area….I could go on but you get the picture.

All this money we are throwing this way isn’t going where it needs too. They have privatized where they shouldn’t and stayed public without proper oversight. They have closed hospitals and reduced availability of service to outlying areas and caused hospitals like Royal Columbian to be busting at the seams. Don’t bother to give me some reason to believe the system is working, I’ve seen with my own eyes multiple examples of failure. There is no preventative care, no immediate care and obviously poor post-operative care.

It sucks and God, forbid I end up in a hospital any time soon!

With a goal in mind to stop the Harmonized Sales Tax from being ripped from our wallets, British Columbian’s turned out to sign petitions. Over 10% of the voters in every riding put their pens to paper, did more than just talk, it was seemingly a success! The message was designed  to share with Premier Gordon Campbell our disdain for his lies and underhanded maneuvers to keep the public from having a voice on anything, in particular the HST.

With a traditionally apathetic voting public, who could have predicted a success of this magnitude; obtaining the necessary numbers to maybe get a referendum on the issue. Not surprisingly though, our dictator is not impressed. He fails to care for the opinions of constituents and their reasons for signing. Instead he feels that he knows best, he has the vision and we will learn to embrace it. Tough decisions come from our great leader, we are misinformed peasants. Premier Campbell will hit the road to share with all of us why he lied in the last election in regards to adopting the HST…no wait that’s not it…he will be making a sales call. You may want to get your sign up.. No Peddlers!

However, even one of his own, (with a conscience) Mr. Blair Lekstrom quit his job as Energy Minister to recognize his constituents opposition to the HST. Regardless of what happens, there is at least one person who had the sense to respect who pays his salary and spoke his truth. Others may find heads will role with the discussions of recall.

So, as we scramble to get some things paid for before the HST rams through our doors, we are offered a hand by our neighbours to the south.

“Come shop in the good old USA, show us your ID and you won’t have to pay the sales tax.” “Here, take advantage of up to a 9.5 % savings!”

“Well, thank ya partner, don’t mind if I do.”

In fact, my normal thinking to keep most of my dollars flowing to Canadian businesses has just shifted. My take home pay is really important to me and mine. We just don’t see fit to be throwing it back to a government and businesses that already over price and tax everything. My purse strings just got a lot tighter.

I think we’ll travel south, as it is so very close; we receive better service, more selection and we will be paying closer to what something is worth. Of course, some of my business will stay at home but I will be very selective. This hand just extended across the border and said…

“Hello, neighbour.”  “I will be happy to help out your economy a little. Your government seems mighty friendly, understands our plight and we are just plum tickled you would consider helping us.”

Lucky I have Nexus, the border line ups might be even longer after July 1st, 2010.

After what amounts to a few solid of weeks of letting my brain get jacked up on career development, twisted around world news and having it scroll down to do lists and contacts, I decided this afternoon it was Brain Break time.

My morning started out straight from shower to business; meetings and calls scheduled. Then it came to me, it is time to stop! My productive morning was complete and it was time to take off the business suit. For a few hours I resisted the temptation to think wholeheartedly about anything. Instead in the middle of the day I grabbed the blanket, picked up a book and began to read. Not for learning or research, just for pleasure and humor. I resisted directing my day and took no responsibility for what would get done and when.

We all have some control over what are days look like. Plenty of time is allocated, a full 24 hours. It is the strangest thing when one gets to the point where that pesky need to sleep gets in the way and 7 days in a week is just not enough. I’m sure if there had been a way to extend hours or days somebody would have tried to implement it. I’m guilty of such thoughts… “How can I squeeze out more?” I ask myself.

To give my brain a break, was a gift. I know it has a huge responsibility to keep my body going on top of everything else I lump in. Just taking time to go with the moments, sit and not think of anything major, just let it flow was important for me to try. Checking to see if I could still press pause and not feel guilty that I did so.

Pleasantly surprised I did just that, paused. Accepted only what I was willing to and discarded the rest. God knows, everything is filed somewhere. So maybe tomorrow I will check my brain mail but today I gave it a break.

What works for you? How do you give your brain a break?

Blogging is something I enjoy immensely! I’m sure many of you who have taken up this interest will relate to the following:

There are ideas flowing in my head constantly, news stories catching my attention, people to feature, interviews to conduct, organizations for readers to be introduced to, requests and referrals for topics…but it can be hard to keep up.

Instead of beating myself up for wearing all my hats and not being able to follow up individually on some of my posts, today I’m doing a BLOG MASH UP. A “WHERE ARE WE NOW?” montage.

IS GRAFFITI ART? (January 2010) After writing that post I was directed by a reader “Dante” to check out a really cool link. It is wild to watch, interesting and a true representation of the talent associated with graffiti artists. Check this out! How to draw graffiti characters Now, I want to revisit this again at a later date and incorporate the suggestions Dante shared. Until then, if you have an opinion share it and after checking out the video were you equally wowed? (I can only draw stick people so this impresses me considerably)

GOVERNMENT PENSION FOR SERIAL KILLERS (March 2010) This post got me going. I was angry to hear about this and I, like 50,000 other Canadians, signed a petition to bring forth change. Well, for once it didn’t die by a media frenzy that slowly fizzled out. No, instead it culminated into Bill C-31 titled ‘Eliminating Entitlements for Prisoners.’  We should commend those agencies, like the Canadian Taxpayers Association and Government leaders, who were willing to bring this to fruition. With the hope that our voices will be further heard, get in touch with the other party leaders via email and ask for their support! If we can’t get one of them to support this bill, it will be killed. (no pun intended) Prisoners like Clifford Olson will continue to receive pensions in addition to our paying for their health care, education, meals and porn.

I have written a couple or more posts on the topic of the lack of balanced coverage of women in sports; including a commentary Squire Barnes Plays of the Year who failed to provide any meaningful representation of women at all. I have to say, I still don’t see a lot of coverage. Recently, the only sport of significance was tennis, with an emphasis on the Williams sisters. (Great athletes) Venus sporting her self designed ‘Victoria Secret’ knockoff on the court gained attention but that isn’t what I’m looking for. Maybe I need to dig deeper, but TV just isn’t giving me updates. Are any women playing sports in the world right now? How are they doing? Are they winning? Losing? Developing a team? Trading players? Retiring? Inducted into a Hall of Fame?… WHAT’s HAPPENING?”

CHRISTOPHER PORTER DOLPHIN DEALER …now that garnered a lot of attention including from Mr. Porter. We have recently had a chance to talk further about his ‘Ex-dolphin dealer’ status and his new campaign ‘Free the Pod.’ Wanting to do our interview justice and truly inform you about Christopher’s viewpoint, along with his present and future plans; I will ask you to stay tuned. He was generous with his time and there is much to cover. Regardless of where you stand on Christopher Porter or captivity you are not going to want to miss it. Very informative and includes some insight from others who are fighting the cause to end dolphin captivity!

My coverage on HUMAN TRAFFICKING continues. It is an issue, that for reasons I have yet to know, is completely a must for me to research, write about and inform others. I cannot let this go. It is a tragic devastating crime which forces us to look deeply at our humanity and our appetite and tolerance for things that fuel the industry. The more I explore the more I know, along with the environment this (trafficking) is where we have truly dropped the ball. I had one young woman living in the United States contact me, as she was writing a paper on this issue. I’m excited for her and applaud her. As difficult as it is to address the complexities of trafficking, it is only by learning and talking that it becomes a cause that we as a society may take seriously. We must change the tide.

There you have it. I feel purged, ready to tackle topics further but until then I have tried to show you where we are now at Esteem Rising.

Hope you have enjoyed this post, if you want to add to any of these topics please comment or email.

I’m continuing my quest to convince Candice Olson to come to the west coast!

As I take my lunch break in my office I have turned on Divine Design,  this is an hour of Candice and I’m glad I took this time to eat my soup and sandwich. 

Readers know from a previous post entitled Candice Olson Divine Designer that I am a HUGE fan of this woman’s work. Right now I’m revisiting the episode where the Big Easy New Orleans style was incorporated into a couples kitchen and to see their reaction was amazing! Next we have a woman from South Africa that wants a space to be creative; a mother who wanted a room of her own. That need for an inspirational space is something I’m certain many of us can relate to and the way this was executed was nothing short of brilliant!

The problem with my obsession is like most home and garden talent featured on TV, few if any of the experts work or reside in Vancouver, BC. Sending letters probably won’t yield much chance of a visit from your favorite designer if you live on the other side of the country. That is not stopping me from trying to figure out how I can convince Candice to make a trip to my house.

I bought the Candice Olson on design book soon after it arrived in the stores. I loved the introduction which began with LIFE IS FUNNY! This is where she shared her own life/education/career transitions. She went from the sciences; psychology, biology, kinesiology, and chemistry to the arts. A four year degree in interior design has proved to be a very wise career choice. The combination of arts and science plus apparently a love of volleyball, which taught the value of teamwork, contributed to the making of a successful business. She claimed in her book “I don’t take myself too seriously” but there is no doubt that she does some seriously great designs! An interesting and fun woman.

There are few people who can make a book about home design into a life inspiring piece. Whether on the pages or the screen her personality and philosophies shine through. I may never meet this woman but what I can take away from watching her is be passionate about what you do, be realistic, surround yourself with talented and caring people both personally and professionally and have fun!

Hey Candice – Wishing you were here!