A New Year, A New Start

What I'm obsessing with lately is getting back to me.  Over the holidays, I tend to let everything go a bit and focus on spending time with family, which unfortunately means eating and drinking too much and my only workouts being walking through the mall while I shop for gifts.  It's important to have that time with family and friends, and I absolutely love it, but now that the month of parties and excess are over, I can't wait to get back to me.  What does that mean?  It means eating clean, working out, building my business, writing, the stuff I do for me.

Kombucha Gingerade

This January 1, eating clean meant starting with some Kombucha.  I love the gingerade flavor and I drink it whenever I have had a little too much fun the night before (think New Year's Eve).  It rebalances your body's acidity, is full of probiotics to help digestion and helps you detox by cleaning the liver.  I also have autoimmune disease, so this elixer help me to strengthens my immune system which clears my eczema, helps my thyroid, and releaves my general inflammations.  I keep a bunch of these in my fridge and try to have a few a week.  I would get bored if I drank the same thing every day, but three times a week and whenever I've had too much to drink the night before, and I'm good to go!  The rest of eating clean is just that, lots of organic protein with a base of fruits and vegetables.  Nothing processed, nothing refined.  Just the stuff that comes from the Earth to me with few steps in between.  Clean.

As for working out, I run and practice yoga.  This January, I'm keeping myself motivated by running in the Broad Street Run, so I need to train.  I've never run a long distance race before, so this is going to take some training.  Not to mention I haven't run since late October and I don't own a treadmill, it's all outside.  My goal is clock in 120 miles by Valentines Day, then focus on speedwork and kick in the real training.  My yoga practice has been even more neglected than my running.  I used to practice 3-4 times a week for 1.5 hours each.  I was strong, flexible, had no back problems, and felt great.  Unfortunately, I let that slip a lot, but I'm starting this year right.  I went to a one hour class yesterday and man am I sore!  I love being able to feel the muscles I've worked the day before.  I feel it in my whole arms, shoulders, chest, neck, back, glutes and obliques.  My abs and legs get worked when I run, so those don't hurt today.  Next time I'll go to the 1.5 hour class and hopefully I'll feel that in my legs, too.  So far so good!

Another thing that I haven't focused on over the holidays is a.muse!  After working 3 big events in the 6 weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, then traveling twice in late November and then getting ready for Christmas and New Year's, I really took some extended time off from my business.  In some ways I needed it because I would otherwise burn out, but really I can't wait to get back to putting on some work clothes and hitting the city for some meetings!  I've made some great connections this past year and am really looking forward to where my company can go.  It really is like a child, you birth this business with an idea in your head, then it slowly takes on a life of it's own.  I'm finding that a.muse has her own idea of what she wants and I just love watching her grow up! 

The last thing I want to be sure I do more of this year is write, and there are two primary places I need to focus on, this blog and my gratitude journal.  I'm committing to writing 3 times a week about the life of a.muse, and everyday writing in my gratitude journal.  I choose 5 things everyday that I am thankful for and write them down in a journal.  It really changes your focus in life and makes you notice more in your daily life.  I start finding myself acknowledging moments during the day as "this is going in my gratitude journal." It's a great way to live.

Okay, so that's my new start.  My New Year's Wish is that  everyone starts focusing on their own goals in this new year and we can all be better today than we were yesterday.  And keep checking back, I'll be writing 3 times a week!

Gratefully,
Sue

The Evolution of a Blog

Like my profile says, I have a real Renaissance soul, and am passionate about many things.  While I may have started out wanting this blog to be about my business, I find myself always thinking of things I could be blogging about, but they are not always necessarily about events or event planning.  I think my business may evolve into a business more about "Inspired Living" with branches that deal with parties, style, healthy living, travel, and general lifestyle branding, so why not start with my blog.  At least I'll find it more interesting, too!  So here are some new tags you can expect from me:

Style
 - Obviously dealing with fashions, but could also be hairstyles, shopping tips, makeup finds, random pictures of outfits I love.  This is one that spills out into a lot of places in my life, because I like pretty. 

Healthy Living
 - This is what inspired me write this post.  I was running and thought of the things that I wish I knew when I started running. That made me think I should post that somewhere for people to know, which lead me to this post.  Healthy Living could be healthy recipes, workout tips, inspiration, updates on my training, anything!

Gluten Free
- I could have put this with Healthy Living, but I'm thinking it needs it's own tag.  You see, I have autoimmune disease and it's effected directly with consumption of Gluten.  Since I've been gluten free (January 1, 2012), I have felt better than I have in years.  I'm always learning about new recipes, finding new products (wait till I post about GF beer), and learning tips about managing this lifestyle.

Home Decorating
 - See Style, I like pretty.  I love filling my surrounding with pretty things.  Even though I don't love my house, I do love my home.  I'm constantly making changes to it.  Updating room and collecting inspiration for upcoming projects around my home. 

Cocktails
 - Part of Events, for sure, but I've been on a kick for seasonal cocktails.  I'll post some for you.

Overheard at the Dinner Party
 - Okay, so this is a catch all for all of the things I find interesting in life.  Stuff I would talk about at a dinner party.  It could be politics (though not political), news events, interesting articles I've read, a conversation to start, anything!

Travel
 - This is already a tag, but I'll be able to do more with it now.  We travel a lot and I've already got a blog  devoted to our families bigger vacations but I thought I could elaborate more here, especially when it comes to travel tips, or plans I'm making for upcoming trips.

Entertainment
 - I love art, film, books, music, and great television.  I'll share some of my favorites, including the books I'm currently reading for my book club!  You might get turned onto a movie that you've never heard of, or a killer running playlist of music, or find the next book you have to read!

I hope you enjoy this journey with me!

Love,
Sue
the muse of
a.muse inspired living

The Boutique Event Planner

So I had lunch with an amazing woman the other day (You know when you meet someone and just know you're going to learn from each other and work well together immediately?  That was this lunch.), and after getting to know the type of business a.muse is, she described it as "boutique."  YES!  It's a boutique business.  That's the perfect way to describe a.muse.  I did some research and a woman named Sarah Petty has an ebook on the subject.  Here is some of what she has to say:

Boutique is a business model, a filter through which you, as a business owner, make decisions.  It’s a business that isn’t price sensitive, one that won’t compromise the client experience to save a few dollars. It’s competing on service, quality product and sensory experience rather than price. It’s being distinct, leaving an impression on your clients with each interaction. 

That is exactly what I do!  I'm not the least expensive, I'm not the most expensive, but I do provide the best customer service.  I answer my phone every time it rings, anytime it rings, unless I'm with a client.  I will work from 6 am until 11pm to get a project done right (which is also why I don't charge by the hour).  I have a philosophy that I will become a partner with each of my clients, not just a service provider.

The details set the boutique business owner apart... Mind-blowing service and a connection to each client is the admission price to compete that mass retailers cannot offer. Boutique businesses serve a special niche and have fewer customers by design.

That has also been another of my corporate identity.  I take on only a few clients each year because I do not want to compromise my level of service, or grow to the point of having employees doing the work for my clients rather than me.  I believe that no one I could hire will ever care as much or put as much effort into the work as I do.  "Fewer customers by design."  It's also why I'm not the least expensive.  I take on less clients and give more to each client.

Seth Godin, one of the best marketing minds in the world says, “Marketing isn’t about finding new customers all the time. It’s about finding products for your customers.” If you know your database well, if you view it as more than just a list of names, you’ll enjoy finding products for the customers you have instead of spinning your wheels casting a net in hopes of bringing in a big catch of new customers.

I already do this, too (sort of).  When I have a client, I listen to what they need and try to make connections for them, suggest other professionals they can use to solve their problems.  Part of becoming a partner instead of a service provider means that I do whatever it takes to help my clients succeed at their business.  I know Sarah is talking about finding something I can do additionally for them, but I take it a step further, if they have a need and I can't fill it, I will find someone else that can. 

...one final key ingredient is an extraordinary attention to detail that makes your clients’ experience with your business perfect... These little details set us apart from our competitors and the less expensive alternatives.

I once had a client ask me about my perfectionism.  She told me she was the same way in her professional life but that she's learned to let go of the idea that her outcome will be perfect because it never can be.  I told her that I would never let go of the idea that my service would be perfect.  I demand it of myself and everyone around me, and I always will.  Now, I'm an event planner, I know things come up in events all the time, but the way I handle the unexpected, the way I address those issues, the way the client experiences them, that is where my perfection really shines.  I work very calmly and quickly under pressure.  The guests and the client would never know that something unexpected happened because I will fix it before anyone notices.  That's perfection.  A perfect experience.  A perfect event. 

Trying Something New

I downloaded a free trial of Bento with its event planning template this morning.  Not sure if it's going to be successful or not, but I have 30 days to see if it works for me.  It has an integrated system for my mac, my iphone and my ipad, which makes me think I will definitely use it, but if it's not user friendly, I may stick to the excel spreadsheets I'm used to.  Stay tuned for my report!

A Letter to my Husband: Why I Need an ipad for Work

The newest ipad incarnation goes on sale today. I know, I know, I could just go buy one without permission from my husband.  It's only $499.  I have purchased plenty of less useful items that cost more than that without his permission; but I'm putting so much into the startup of my new business that I just can't do it.....  yet.  

So on to the title of this post:

Dear Jason,

I need to buy an ipad for my new business.  It's a tax write-off, so actually a.muse is going to buy it.   You see, it's actually imperative that I get one.  Let me count the ways....

As an event planner, I need to make presentations to clients, and what better way than to whip out my ipad and flip through beautiful pictures.  It's way less cumbersome to break out than my laptop, much more impressive, and would set me apart from my competitors.  Also, once I've landed the client, I usually bring them a printed full color page or two of my inspiration board, with pictures of examples of what I plan to do for the event.  It would have samples of linens, color themes, decor pieces, etc.  Now I wouldn't have to spend the money printing in color, I could just show them from my ipad.  Then, using printcentral, I could print one out for them at their office, right from the ipad.  In fact, I can print anything out anywhere.  I wouldn't have to carry around files and folders... think of how much we would save in ink and paper!

There is also an app called Bento that is specifically designed for event planners.  It helps with tracking contacts, vendors, tasks, expenses, location details, important files, emails and more, and link them to any of your events. They have templates for meetings, conferences, tradeshows, weddings, parties and fund raising events.  Winning!

I could also get the Square app and reader, which would allow me to accept credit cards.  It costs nothing until I swipe the card.  Right now, I don't have that capability and in order to to that, I would need a merchant account and all the cumbersome stuff that goes with it.  Not to mention I would probably have to write down the account information and come home to process the card, and by then it may not have been written down properly, it may get declined, the paper could get lost.  This way, I run the card right there in front of the client.  Done.  And it will immediately send them a professional receipt.  I can also use this software to track cash or check payments and send receipts for that.  Fab, right?  I could also use this to accept credit cards at fundraising events, saving my clients money and once again, setting me apart from my competitors (unless they read this blog).

For those clients that I charge by the hour, there is Timemaster which helps track time spent on projects and assigns them to different clients.  I would have portable access to the internet so I can get online anywhere, which is helpful because I'm on the go all the time.  I can even use it as an ereader so that I can read my books if I'm tired of surfing the web on trains, etc.  Again saving my back from having to carry books around with me. 

So, Jason, you see this is why I need an ipad for work.  The new one goes on sale today and I think we should take a trip to the apple store and test drive one! 

Your loving wife,
Sue
President
a.muse Events.

Website Launch!

enter the a.muse website

I've been on a bit of radio silence lately because I've been so busy getting my website ready to launch!  I designed it myself so it took up  a very good portion of my nights and days and my patient husband will finally get his wife back.  Please peruse through and send me some feedback.  Any and all suggestions are welcome!