What's in a Name?...Brand Identity

Parlay Creativity into Building Your Business.

We are into the second full week of 2007 and most of us have recuperated from all of our holiday parties and vacations. Now we are ready to make some changes, concentrate our efforts for Q1 and "parlay" our energies into ways in which we can grow our business.

Par•lay
•1. to use one's money, talent, creativity or other assests to achieve a desired objective, as spectacular wealth or success.
Cre•a•tiv•i•ty
•1. the state or quality of being creative
•2. the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.,originality, progressiveness, or imagination
•3. the process by which one utilizes creative ability

You may wonder," how does all of this apply to me and my business?" Many people are successful parlaying their money and talent but feel they need to be more creative. I think most people are creative, they just may not know how to use it or apply it to grow their business.

Here are some successful tips I like to use to help people connect with their creativity.

• Find your passion
• Share with enthusiasm
• Dare to be different
• Go the extra mile....can mean a fortune in follow-up
• Ask probing questions and listen to the answers
• If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, can you walk away and be satisfied? (This is particularly important for increasing time-management skills).

My passion is to parlay my creativity into helping people make positive changes in order to grow their business. I enjoy creating ways in which people can stand out from their competition, ways in which they gain the respect and business from old and new clients, ways they can show their appreciation and value, and ways they can further develop a great referral base.

After all.....change can make change happen!

Being GREEN and Making a Difference

I am searching for a way to express my enthusiasm and excitement after returning from my business trip last week, where I attended our Industry’s largest trade show for Specialty Advertising, Promotional Products and Corporate Gifts. I feel energized after walking the two enormous show floors visiting nearly 2000 booths filled with new ideas and products for 2007. I feel a surge of creativity flowing, new ideas keep racing through my mind as I am developing different ways in which I can help my clients bring more value to their business relationships.

One major focus at the show was global initiatives ..... being socially responsible, environmentally friendly.... and saving our natural resources. There are companies using natural fibers and recycled fibers in fashionable apparel-- and some of the other items include paper used for stationery, bookmarks, business cards and bags that have seeds implanted in the paper..... so that they can be germinated and grown outside; and then there's the “Magic” bean plants (in branded planters) that had inspirational messages and wishes laser engraved on them so as the planted beans sprout, people can see their wishes growing.

In a world that is constantly changing we have to continue to learn, challenge ourselves, change and grow. I keep a wonderful saying on my desk, "We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust our sails". So as many of you who have clients who might be starting on new paths and new journeys.... such as buying their first home, to clients who are looking into ways in which they can see their investments grow.... to baby boomers who are starting on a new life journey, there are many wonderful ways you can show them your appreciation.....and give back to the environment at the same time.