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Do you suspect you are playing small? It is time to Play Big with Tara Mohr

Published: 03/27/2013

Tara Mohr wants you to quit playing small and start Playing Big. When I heard Tara interviewed for the first time, I immediately googled her. I knew that she was a person I wanted to hear more from. I KNEW that she was saying something that many people needed to hear! Apparently I am not the only one, Tara has garnered national media attention with her message. She realized that it wasn’t the normal stumbling blocks holding women back, she realized that most women suspected themselvesof playing too small all along. Watch my interview with her and see what she means.

She says the script in your head might look something like this:

Times I played small:

*When I didn’t call back a magazine editor who was interested in my work, because I was too afraid of not being good enough.
*When I got obsessed with approval and social media stats as if they said something about me.
*When I assumed that the people I was intimidated of didn’t like me.
*When I lost faith in the value of my work.

It is time to PLAY BIG people! Like this:

*When I called back the literary agents, even though I was afraid.
*When I said yes to the opportunities I didn’t feel ready for, but that thrilled me.
*When I decided to choose the thoughts that felt most radical and original, and to wake up early and show up at the blank page so I could hear them.

Tara’s work reflect her own unique journey that reflects her hybrid background – her training as a life coach, her Stanford MBA, and her work on women’s leadership and on women’s wellbeing. You can read more about her here.

When we were done with the interview, we kept right on talking and I told her about my hopes for all the people who tune in to Smart Creative Women. I told her that I felt like we were on a journey to Play Big together! Then gave me an idea and I leapt at the chance. If you want to go through the course with me and use my affiliate link then I will set up 2 sessions of Clarity Coaching with you for free anytime during the course. This is a 6 month coaching program, she really wants to you to really GET IT and so do I. I am aware this is super short notice since the sign up closes tomorrow, Thursday, March 28th but I just didn’t want to wait another 6 months and spin my own wheels!

I looked at her payment plan and you can pay in monthly installments if one lump sum seems daunting. I was about to pay a personal trainer (at the gym) twice that!

This is what I believe: I can give you all sorts of ways to market your creative business. I can give you all sort of products ideas, tell you how to position yourself in the market, help you clean up your web presence BUT if in your mind you still think, “Creative people don’t ever make money” “I am not sure anybody will like what I am offering, in fact I am unsure of what I am offering!” “I just can’t think like a business person!” If those words roll around your mind, then all the other marketing tools don’t amount to much. You really have to reprogram how you view yourself. If you are ready to tackle all that, the way you see yourself and the nitty gritty marketing tools then let’s do this thing together!

You need to use this affiliate link that comes with 2 free coaching sessions with me at any point durin the 6 month program. I am excited, it feels pivotal AND fun!

If the timing is not right for you, that is perfectly alright, she will run it again. Watch our interview and tell me if some of the things she talks about resonate with you. Keep an eye on her, she is one to watch!

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Smart Creative Decor : Coffee tables in a small space

Published: 03/26/2013

From guest contributor Joy Uyeno

If you’ve been following Monica on Instagram, you know that she’s been on a hunt for the perfect coffee table for her TV room. Like so many homes here in New England, Monica’s house has rooms that weren’t really built for contemporary functionality, and this room is really narrow.

A traditional, rectangular coffee table was overwhelming in this space. She also tried two small square tables – not quite right. Because that gorgeous new couch is dark and the room is small, it’s important to choose a coffee table that doesn’t take up a lot of visual space

I chose three airy pieces that are barely there in terms of visual weight. They provide balance and a bit of personality.

Classic: When I ran across this table last weekend, bells went off in my head because I knew that it would go well with Monica’s style and it’s the perfect shape. It takes up minimal visual space, and best of all, since it’s oval, the incidence of banging knees on corners will go down to nil.

Fun & Airy: Then again, I love to combine unexpected pieces from different design eras. Lucite furniture is amazing for tight spaces because it takes up almost no visual space. This table also would also infuse the area with an air of whimsy.

Hip & Mobile: In a space this small, it can be helpful to have a table on wheels. While traditionally people like to have a table centered on the couch, having a smaller table off-centered frees up space and usually provides all the surface area you need. Industrial chic is also a fun design element to incorporate into a layered space.

Which will Monica choose? Joy, I have a padded bench in there now with the tags still on it (light and airy as you suggested.) I have commitment issues!

Classic: Clairemont Coffee Table

Fun & Airy: Peekaboo Clear Coffee Table

Hip & Mobile: Robert Side Table

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How to think about opportunities: My “ah-ha” moment

Published: 03/25/2013

Here are my thoughts on “opportunities.” It seems to be a word people that I hear people using often lately. The definition of the word opportunity is defined as : a set of circumstance that make it possible to do something.

Are circumstances coming your way? Are you reconginizing them? Are you acting as if the set of circumstances are already happening?

In this video I cover

1) What to do when one comes along (hello!! recognize them and act on them)

2) Making sure you repurpose opportunities (your time is valuable)

3) Making your own opportunities, get in the right mindset (you know me, this is where the rubber meets the road)

Additional videos to watch :

The Rotary Video: Managing your life with Clarity , this exercise will help you stay focused and may help you figure out if a given opportunity fits into your business.

Tom Henell on Execution! Big ideas mean nothing without executing! This is such a great video, it is about marketing but his thoughts about focusing on results are right on!

How do you think about opportunity? Have you ever let an opportunity pass you buy that you wish you had acted on?

This is your opportunity to SHINE!

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Who and What I am into this Week: Living with Passion and Style

Published: 03/22/2013

The universe is converging on me and it is telling me to clean out my house! Not that is it messy by any means, but I have quite a bit of STUFF and I think it is time for a gentle unload. It all began when I picked up this book by Jennifer Scott, author and editor of The Daily Connoisseur. I have a weak spot for anything that mentions French women’s style because I used to sit for hours in Paris and study them myself. I am mesmerized by anyone that can live a minimialst and chic lifestyle.

Jennifer Scott chronicles her months in Paris as an exchange student staying with an elegant family with an aristocratic heritage whom she refers to as Famille Chic. Jennifer is amazed to find this family living so stylishly and yet so simply. They surround themselves with family heirlooms in a very small apartment in the 16th arrondissement and purchase only the things they actually need. Say it isn’t true! When they do make purchases like wine and excellent food, it is the very best.

I have always wanted to purchase only quality items, clothing, furniture but the throw away mentality in America has driven my choices more than I care to admit. Could I really pare down to just the things that I treasured the most? I needed to know from Ms Scott herself! I immediately emailed Jennifer and asked her to come on the show. She said yes! And then she asked, “Do you think your audience would have any questions?” Do we? Oh, I am sure we do! Check out her website . If you have any questions put them in the comments and I will sneak a few in when I record our interview next Friday.

Lessons from Madame Chic propelled me to open my cabinets and set up a nice luncheon for my friend and new contributor Joy Uyeno. As I set the table I thought, I love my crystal. I love my dining room with all it’s sparkly things. WHY have we been eating in the kitchen? How could I ever have gotten to the place where we eat in front of the TV?

Joy took these shots. She makes things look prettier. Why not surround your every day tasks and event with thoughtful choices?

We had an arugula salad with toasted walnuts, strawberries and very nice prosciutto dressed with Ina Garten’s delicious creamy mustard vinaigrette. Yum! It was a lovely day. Oh, by the way, Chapter 4 of Lesson from Madame Chic is titled: Liberate Yourself with a 10 Item Wardrobe……pleeeeeeze, that is NOT going to happen.

Winners!! The winners of Annie Selke Co away are Debbie Sementelli from for the tote bag and Meg from Pure and Simple Blog for the book! I will be in touch!

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Paused for a programming note, help and fun

Published: 03/19/2013

I want what’s best for you, I want what works for me, Oy vey. Now I know why my favorite TV shows get moved around from Monday to Thursday to Tuesday! Programming or editorial decisions are hard. So I am asking you what day of the week would you like to see a new episode with a new guest? Does the actual day of the week matter or do you tune in when you can? I would love to know your thoughts. The goal at Smart Creative Women is to keep you inspired, on track, and encouraged. What I recently realized is that there was another word that kept popping up for me when I thought about Smart Creative Women and that word was FUN! If I were to really infuse who I am into the show, this business then…well, there has to be a good amount of fun!

So here it is MARCH and I have come up with my second word of the year and that is FUN. Admittedly, I had to go check on my first word of the year, it was DARING. Have I been daring yet? Hmmm, yes and no. I do have a couple of good (daring and fun) things up my sleeve. I feel another Extreme Dreaming Board coming on! I created a private pinterest board for the people who downloaded Smart Creative Dreaming. I have to hand invite everyone so be patient with me on that front. This leads me to my next announcement, I am looking for some part time assistant help. I need someone who is comfortable with basic web technology/social media if you have any graphic art skills it is a bonus but not required. Email me.

On to fun links!

Video:

I like to watch Garance Dore’s video’s and she has a new series called This is Trending. Garance is a fashion photographer and at the very end of the video as she is recording, she spots someone she thinks might make a good photograph. It cracked me up. I like that even though she is doing video, she can’t get away from her roots of being an observer. So what I think is “trending” is being yourself, doing what comes naturally for you and your personality.

Shop:

I always promise new guest that coming on the show is easy peasy but when I saw this from Etched and Sketched , I realized I may have been misspelling peasy. Luckily they come on the show anyway!

Fun idea:

When I was rabbit trailing on the internet, I was led to this tumblr site, The Perfect Bucket List and I found at TO DO that works for me. Not too late in 2013 to choose a another word for the year, right?

TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS WHAT YOU THINK! I need an executive board, don’t I? But only if they understand my love of chocolate, pretty scarves and sparkly things.

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Annie Selke on Pine Cone Hill, Dash & Albert and how she manages a mountain of inspiration!

Published: 03/14/2013

Yipee! It’s Annie Selke and I at her headquarters in Pittsfield, MA. Annie is an author, designer and founder the renowned home furnishing companies of Pine Cone Hill and Dash and Albert. Pine Cone Hill features bedding, sleepware, table linens and accessories (eek! fun! scarves!) with a bright, happy and contemporary vibe. Dash and Albert features unique, durable (hello! dog lovers) and affordable indoor and outdoor rugs. (Love them!!)

One of the reasons that I wanted to interview Annie, was to really get a sense of how she “dreamt big” about her future when she was just sewing cushions in her garage.You’ll get the details in this conversation. What I was so taken with is how much creative energy she has. I realized that if she can stay inspired and completely engaged as a right brained creative and STILL know and care about every detail in her warehouse, then I had better quit making ANY excuses in my business. No more using the excuse (yes, sometimes it is an excuse) that being creative means you don’t have good business sense. Annie is a perfect example being intensely creative running lifestyle brand and running a successful business. I was surprised to learn she works in photoshop on designs every chance she gets. Are you motivated yet? Watch the video and see how she does it.

Also scroll down the page and see details to enter to win an awesome rug tote bag or the fun design book written by Annie, Fresh American Spaces.

Smart Creative Women and Annie are giving away both a tote bag to one person and a book to another person. 2 winners! Of course, if you have Las Vegas good luck, you could even win both! Just post a comment below and tell us what you thought of the interview and that will be counted as your entry. If you want another entry and you have a twitter account, give the interview a shout out on twitter using the hash tag #DunkinDog. (Hee-hee, you have to listen until the very end to see why that is the hash tag) Annie can be found on twitter @AnnieSelkeCo and I can be found at @SmartCreativeW, just in case you aren’t already a follower! You have until 10PM EST March19 to enter. Good luck!

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My thoughts about online courses, continuing education, personal growth and fun

Published: 03/12/2013

Here is a mini riff from me as I received lots of emails this last week asking me about online courses. Everyone knows that I take them and enjoy them. I am actually pretty careful about which ones I take. In this video, I give you my thoughts and some criteria that I use in my decision making process. Sometimes I need to learn a new skill, sometimes I need to challenge myself personally and sometimes I just need some inspirational fun breaking it down like that helps.

I would love to hear your thoughts. Online education in the form of e-courses are relatively new and each download, class and course ends up being SO different, it can be difficult making decisions! Be nice in the comments…I am not here to judge any courses but I do think an open dialogue about whether or not they work for you is a good one to have. I do know I have signed up for continuing ed at Rhode Island School of Design (fabulous to live so close) and then not been able to drag my behind to late night courses in the middle the winter. Ugh. Working from home has become a great thing but I also like to meet people face to face. What do you do?