In Your Success Zone Blog

Falling in Love with Music Again

I am a Boomer and grew up with the Beatles, the Stones, and James Taylor. I followed indie rockers and saw Madonna's first live performance in NYC in 1983. I LOVED popular music of all sorts.

Then about 10 years ago, my connection with the music scene seemed to evaporate. I didn't know who was hot. I didn't have any new faves. I had spun off into my own version of "Oldies" radio.

That ended yesterday, when my fabulous hairdresser, Helen Ingersoll of Haven Salon in Hillsborough, NC, introduced me to Pandora.com.

Pandora asks you for a musician you like and then through magic of the "Music Genome Project" starts playing songs from that musician and others with similar songs. It is FREE streaming music, and you can set up any number of "radio stations" to suit your different moods. Of course, you can purchase the music you like too.

In two days I have discovered and rediscovered artists and music I have been missing for 10 years! I still like the music I grew up with, but I'm also appreciating younger musicians now. They expand my sense of creativity.

Thank you, Pandora and Helen, for helping me get grooving on my music once again!

Holiday Wishes

As we in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate the shortest days of the year, light is an ancient custom of hope and cheer.

In Orange Park, Florida where I am spending Christmas with my brother, we have made the trek to see the most enthusiastically lit house in the neighborhood. Many flashing multi-colored strands of light, numerous inflated decorations, and holiday songs playing from a boombox proclaim the homeowners' belief in light and cheer this time of year. Their decorations are not staid nor are the lights perfectly aligned in neat rows. 

To be frank, the decorations are a bit gaudy, messy, and flashy - kinda like life. The sheer exuberance of these decorations make me grin.

My holiday wish for you is a lightness in your life that makes you smile. HAVE A HAPPY!

My Creative Dentist

I don't usually think of creativity when I go to the dentist. My dentist, Dr. Scott Donner in Durham, NC, has taught me otherwise. 

Dr. Donner is very good with teeth, employs wonderful hygienists, and has the latest and greatest dental gadgets. 

What is really arresting is how HAPPY his office is: great music playing on the sound system; whimsical flowers, butterflies, and paintings everywhere; and pictures of hundreds of happy patients hanging on the wall. 

Dr. Donner has created this happy space himself. He is highly creative and has expressed his sense of fun by painting and decorating his office. He has run out of flat surfaces (yes, the ceilings are decorated) so he has turned his creative zeal to renovating a loft in downtown Durham. He was recently featured on the front page of the local newspaper for his loft renovation work. 

I am inspired by Dr. Donner and his sense of play. He certainly makes going to the dentist a happier occasion!

PS It turns out Dr. Donner's wife, Jennifer, is a Creative Entrepreneur as well. She owns a funky vintage shop called Dolly's in Brightleaf Square in Durham. Where will the fun end?!?

Time to Play!

Player Card
Voyagertarot.com

It's early June and it's hot here in Carolina. It's time to go to the beach or retreat to a mountain top to cool down! And most of all, it's time to PLAY!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I get awfully SERIOUS about my work. And that inevitably leads to drudgery. As a Creative Entrepreneur being BORED is definitely not my favorite thing - nor yours either, I'm guessing. What to do about all the heavy businesslike behavior?!? PLAY!?!

I listened to a wonderful podcast* with Bob Dunwoody yesterday. He's in the Financial Services business and has researched the habits of the most successful people in that industry. Bob reports that the top producers approach their work as a game. They let themselves PLAY at work! They're passionate, curious, and energized to see what they can do next to realize their vision (another key to success). They may be serious about their work, but they're not bored.

So here's your PLAY PASS. Do something today that lights you up and puts a "boing" in your business. Have you been thinking about a new offering but think it's too silly? Have you wanted to reach out to a colleague or associate but have been putting it off as too hard? Have you wanted to use your sense of humor in your marketing, but been afraid to look stupid?

Your PLAY PASS gives you permission to be playful today. There's plenty that is serious and boring in this big wonderful world. Add your dose of lightness. Invite your Creative Mind to collude with you to have some fun! You may be surprised at how much energy and spark you create by letting your creativity out to play today. Let me know how you like taking FUN to work!

* You can get Bob Dunwoody's podcast on the "Seven Rules of Success" at the iTunes Store. Once there, do a search for "Dorsey Wright". Bob's podcast is #129 from May 7, 2008. You can get it for free by clicking "Get Episode". Enjoy!