08 31

Blogs need vacations too

Posted Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 08:40am | No comments

photo by Nicholas Kennedy Sitton

I’ve decided to let this blog go on a little vacation.

She has been begging me for months to send her somewhere tropical. I kept telling her no, that she has work to do, that people depend on her to be there.

The other day she broke down when I shared the upcoming changes she would be making (curious? you can sign up for the monthly update here). She might have pitched a minor fit.

I finally agreed that she needs to be well rested and healthy for the fall. So, I let her book her travel plans and get away from it all. (She asked that her destination not be disclosed, so that the paparazzi don’t find her.)

She hasn’t booked her return flight yet. I hope it will be around the end of the September, although I can’t say for sure. I want her to be 100% ready to start working again.

My inner critic is telling me that I’m a bad entrepreneur who will stop getting clients because everyone will forget about me. The critic says, “Augusts are for breaks, September is for going full tilt again.” I’ve told that nosy nancy to calm down, take a chill pill, and stop thinking the world revolves around my blog schedule.

I’ll be hanging out on Twitter until the blog returns with a tan and propensity for cocktails at noon. Hopefully she’ll be ready to kick ass again.

08 30

First thoughts, and staying silent

Posted Monday, August 30, 2010 at 10:02am | No comments

Wings of Stone by Etsy shop Vicenzo Rizzo

Seeing this image reminded me to continue to speak aloud, my personal truth, as a feminist woman.

How often do we stay silent in fear?

Remember that:

First thoughts have tremendous energy. It is the way the mind first flashes on something. The internal censor usually squelches them, so we live in the realm of second and third thoughts, thoughts on thought, twice and three times removed from the direct connection of the first fresh flash. (Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within)

What are those first thoughts that you are squelching? For me, those first thoughts often have to do with the change I want to create in the world and the lifestyle I want to create for myself.

In what ways can we continue to speak up and speak out about our unique experience and the world we want to see become a better place?

08 27

Dealing with envy: a 4-step process

Posted Friday, August 27, 2010 at 09:51am | 2 comments

In this vlog I talk about my own experience with envy and share my simple 4-step process to gently banishing it from your life.

08 25

Why Not Wednesdays :: Ask for a Discount

Posted Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 09:23am | No comments

Here at Red Dress Studios, we are all about taking risks (so that you can build bodacious confidence muscles!). That is why every Wednesday I ask readers, “Why not?” do something daring, creative, and unconventional.

This month’s WNW Theme is Money. Taking risks with your money may seem irresponsible. Trust me, your confidence in the ability to earn (and then know what to do with those earnings) will skyrocket the more you step outside your comfort zone.

Cash Money Print by Etsy Shop Orange Beautiful

Remember the importance of asking for one thing that you want?

How about lower monthly bills?

This week, make calls to 3 companies to whom you make monthly payments and ask for a discounted rate. These could include cable companies, credit cards, local businesses, online service providers. Ask nicely, reasonably, and with gratitude.

But also think strategy. One option to use with your discretion: call to “cancel.” Many times companies will try to dissuade you from canceling a service by offering discounted rates for a period of months. (Credit monitoring services are a great example. Or so I’ve heard.)

Another tip: many phone companies have a “retention” department staffed with folks whose sole mission is to keep you as a customer. They may have more leeway to grant you what you’re asking for, so try asking to be connected straight to “the retention department.”

And while we’re being savvy about our cash flow, used the dough you’re saving each month to beef up your savings or pay down that high-interest credit card debt.

08 23

Red Dress Conversations #31 | Curvy Couture

Posted Monday, August 23, 2010 at 10:41am | No comments

This week’s guest: Anslee Connell of Savannah Red

Website: http://www.savannahredislove.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rockmygypsysoul

About Anslee

Anslee Connell is a Georgia-born singer, photographer, and full-figured clothing designer, who made her way to Austin during the summer of 2007. A handmade junkie herself, Anslee fell in love with Austin’s appeal of locally made crafts and couture, and thus began sewing together her own spunky pieces of artistic flair with an eco-consciousness that is so dear to her and the city she adores. Her soul is stitched into clothes that are made with vintage or otherwise recklessly abandoned fabrics and made to fit the curvy lady who dares to be noticed. “Be inspired, not influenced,” she says as it becomes her message to all people to challenge themselves: Whose eyes can you open? Keep yours deliciously peeled for SavannahRed, gorgeous.

Red Dress Challenge

How can you get inspired, not influenced, to create your own style? What will you stop be influenced by, and where do you need to go to find more inspiration?

Subscribe to Red Dress Conversations

You may subscribe to the podcast RSS feed via ITunes or another podcatcher - You’ll automatically get the latest podcast as soon as it becomes available. You can also subscribe via our ITunes page. Red Dress Conversations is published bi-weekly on Mondays.

08 20

The benefits of “winging it”

Posted Friday, August 20, 2010 at 09:44am | No comments

In this vlog, I talk about the differences between preparing heavily for something vs. just winging it.

(I think you might be guessing what I’m going to inspire you to do more of, but just in case you might want to watch the video.)

08 18

Why Not Wednesdays :: Get Out of a Hole

Posted Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 09:18am | No comments

Here at Red Dress Studios, we are all about taking risks (so that you can build bodacious confidence muscles!). That is why every Wednesday I ask readers, “Why not?” do something daring, creative, and unconventional.

This month’s WNW Theme is Money. Taking risks with your money may seem irresponsible. Trust me, your confidence in the ability to earn (and then know what to do with those earnings) will skyrocket the more you step outside your comfort zone.

Protection by Etsy Shop artbyjefflee

You don’t want consumer debt. The finance charges, the interest accrued, the dings to your credit score, and the cost of your sanity when it feels like you’ll never get out from under it.

Make a commitment right now to end your debt to a credit card company.

It’s time to take action. Take a deep breath and really look at the balances.

Then start with a schedule for payments and a long-term timetable for paying the debt off. When there’s an end in sight, you’ll begin to see that small steps will lead you out of debt. You’ll get there.

Then get that one credit card out of reach. Cut it up, hide it, or freeze it in a container of water. (If you want to make a purchase with that card, you’ll have to leave the water and card on the counter until it thaws. If you still need that purchase when it’s completely thawed, you’ve at least given yourself time to think.)

Enlist a support system, such as a friend who is also trying to get out of debt, or an online buddy like Mint.com’s new goal feature.

You can do it.

08 16

Dreams are not random

Posted Monday, August 16, 2010 at 09:59am | No comments

Original painting by Etsy shop Nay Arts

We custom build everything else these days. Why assume that you have to follow a one-size-fits-all for your dream?

Break the mold.

08 13

The elephant in this (virtual) room

Posted Friday, August 13, 2010 at 09:21am | 2 comments

I’m talking about the elephant in this (virtual) room in the video below.

p.s. This video was part of my monthly newsletter earlier this year. Join the cool kids here.


08 11

Why Not Wednesdays :: Raise Your Rates

Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 09:37am | No comments

Here at Red Dress Studios, we are all about taking risks (so that you can build bodacious confidence muscles!). That is why every Wednesday I ask readers, “Why not?” do something daring, creative, and unconventional.

This month’s WNW Theme is Money. Taking risks with your money may seem irresponsible. Trust me, your confidence in the ability to earn (and then know what to do with those earnings) will skyrocket the more you step outside your comfort zone.

Money birds by Etsy Shop theflashbulb

When was the last time you seriously considered giving yourself a raise?

Have you been monitoring the pricing trends within your industry, and how confident are you that your prices are aligned with the value of what you’re selling?

Setting the appropriate prices for your work or your time can be one of the most challenging parts of business. Whatever price-setting philosophy you use, take a moment to consider increasing what you typically charge. Have you recently hit any significant markers or achievements that would warrant a price increase?

At a minimum, next time you sit down to review your finances and make financial projections (you’re doing that on a regular basis, right?), set a timetable or a schedule for when you will increase your rates.

And make this clear on your website with simple language like “These rates are good through X.” This way, when the time comes to increase your prices, you can do it confidently, and with the sense that you earned it.

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