Gen Plus » Things to Ponder

A Sunflower on Mother’s Day!

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Mon, 09 May 2011 02:05:42 +0000

Love finding these treasures as I walk in different neighborhoods. This random sunflower is in front of a house in West Hills, California. So lovely.

Happy Mothers’ Day

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Sun, 08 May 2011 15:14:28 +0000

To all the moms, the world over, who give their hearts & souls to their kids, the moms who have & the moms who have not, those with their families intact & thriving & those whose deal with lives torn apart, to soldier moms & the moms of soldiers…

We know, those if us who are moms, that every day is our Mother’s Day-all the good & all the bad. This day is your badge of honor.

Have a great day, Mom.

News junkie

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:40:39 +0000

Like many others, I am a news junkie. The bright worm moon light has woken me up a bit earlier than usual & what do I reach for? My Droid & this fantastic thing called a news widget. A touch of my finger & I’m abreast of what is going in in Libya as of 6:15am or Japan,according to reporters from Reuters,CNN, Huff Post, Globe & Mail, &BBC just to name a few. I’ve not thumbed through a print newspaper in years, preferring to get the most current news online & via satellite TV. With unfolding crises I’ll remain glued to the set. I always want to do something to help but know I can’t, other than through a donation here or there. The Japan disaster is overwhelming & I cry watching the news, especially when a friend has shared some of the personal hardship her own family is facing, having lost their homes & living in evac centers in Japan.
I feel that I need to know, ought to be informed but the sense of helplessness is also overpowering. News overload and the feelings I’m experiencing are not uncommon. The remedy is to stay away from the news for a few days and get one’s mind back to daily life. Can I avoid the news? Not yet. As a citizen of the planet I need to know. But I’m a moment away from regrouping… I may yet decide to unplug this weekend. I know it’s not just me.

Patch.com…in case you haven’t heard

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:07:48 +0000

There is a cool hyperlocal online community publication called www.Patch.com. Hyperlocal because the news and features focus on what is going on, literally, in your neck of the woods. Owned by AOL, who are putting their considerable power behind it, it is growing quickly and seems to be catching on in a “best-kept-secret” vibey way.

I was asked to write a bi-weekly pet column for our Encino Patch, and have been doing so since the September launch. Thought I’d share a few of the articles — you’ll see they are punchy, fun, and very specific to my area. They are also all about dogs because of my other life, that of running a very busy, also hyper-local pet services business!

Hope you enjoy these few short samples, and check out if there is a Patch for your community!

Man’s Best Friend

New Year’s Resolutions

Holiday Hazards

Thanksgiving may be over, but my thanks are ongoing…

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:14:48 +0000

I hope you all had good Thanksgiving celebrations (US readers!). Thanksgiving is such a huge holiday in this country — a time where families and friends try to get together to spend a few hour eating and enjoying being together and giving their thanks for those who are important to them. With the way the cyberworld works these days, I really don’t know exactly how many of you read my posts on a daily basis — sure there are page stats, but some of you may read me through subscription, through social networks that stream in my blog, or even on websites that pirate my material. There are a lot of you and I appreciate your interest in my words. Regardless of where I stream to and through, I have a pretty clear idea of where in the world you are…and basically I have come to know, through you, gentle readers, your thoughts and views from countries all over the world.

There are many, many days where writers block sets in and the pressures of life are a bit overwhelming and I may leave a thought or a post for a few days…sometimes even a few weeks (I have about 5 posts pending — from valuable info from AARP to a local bit on a fabulous Farmer’s Market tour offered by Melting Pot Tours, to what I was able to buy from Home Goods for under $25 and more), but through it all, I get your comments, emails, facebook “likes”, twitter retweets, and it gives me a boost every time.

Thank you, readers, for finding my thoughts and strong opinions of interest to you. Thank you for taking the time to open that email, visit the site, send a comment or email. Every one means something to me. I try to answer everyone who writes, so if you’ve ever emailed me and I haven’t replied, assume your email was missed…with apologies.

For my Thanksgiving, I sent a thought of thanks to you. As I do every day.

Thank you.

Janet Wendy Spiegel

Every single day

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:40:36 +0000

I’m a social butterfly. One of those people who loves any sort of opportunity to chat with new people, experience exciting new things, see new sights. Very socially oriented.

As a result, and as a business owner, I LOVE networking events and social mixers. Most of the people who attend are in business for themselves, or, if in big business, responsible in some way for building their networks to best benefit their employers. I’ve gone to home-grown mixers, chamber of commerce, consulate events, alma mater brunches, political call campaigns, Canadian expat events, and temple-created business mixers. But I’d never been to a Jewish Chamber of Congress event.

A week or so ago there was a big LA business mixer in downtown Los Angeles and at that event my companion and I happened upon a literal wandering Jew. He had lost his booth! With a little of this, a map of that, he was on his merry way and invited us to stop by as we did our rounds. His booth? The Los Angeles Jewish Chamber of Commerce. Not only had I not heard of it, but, as a Jewish woman, I’m automatically attracted to Jewish community-oriented activities because it feels familiar. Of course we stopped by. Of course we got on the mailing list. And, of course, found out that there was a Jewish LA CC mixer just a few nights later.

We decided to go. And I’m so glad we did! An elegant little affair in the Millenium Biltmore in downtown LA (historic and lovely) and I have to say, I’ve NEVER had such a relaxed and wonderful time at a networking event as this one. Everyone was truly delighted to be there and everyone was open to talking to…well…everyone. The founder, Jeff Gurman, was all smiles and handshakes, welcoming everyone, introducing everyone. He started the LA Jewish CC a couple of years ago and I think he’s onto something. In any event, I’m definitely going to the next event. Here’s a pic of me and Jeff mugging for the camera.

But here’s what I really want to tell you about. I met a gentleman who was very understated and impressed the socks right off me. We had a nice chat, standing at the bar, and I learned that he had left a large brokerage firm about 8 years earlier to start his own company with a partner. Now a thriving asset management company, I was amazed at what he had been able to do in 8 short years. From a tiny office he now had 12 asset managers (brokers) working for him managing a large amount of wealth. He mentioned, in passing, that he had 100% client retention. I was floored. 100%? Over 8 years not ONE client has left him? Not one. The rest of his team was there wearing their power suits. He wasn’t wearing a suit…just a nice shirt…and taking the time to have a chat with an unwealthy stranger.

I don’t know that so many others would fall off their heels at the concept of 100% client retention in an 8-year span. But my whole business life has been about acquisition of new business and retention of old business, marketing and delivering service, and, most importantly, building relationships. His secret? Of course…it was all about the relationships he had with his clients. In 8 years, every single one of his clients got a call, every single day, to bring them up-to-speed on how their portfolio was doing. Through ups and downs. Every single day. I don’t talk to all of my immediate family every single day, but imagine how much more connected we’d feel if we DID touch base every single day.

Imagine how fantastic our business relationships would be if we talked to each of our active clients every single day. Maybe we, too, would have 100% client retention.

That’s what I got out of my first LA Jewish CC mixer. Now, go call someone.

A couple or three…

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:34:14 +0000

Every now and again, life on my own timeclock becomes so insanely busy that I can’t find the quiet time I need to write. When my daughter was in the hurried, harried schedule of the school year, I would get up at 6am, get her breakfast and school gear ready to go and after the whirlwind quick AM rush, I’d head back to my home for a calm breakfast and some thinking time, at least once or twice a week. Well, the last two weeks were the start of my busy season. I mean, it is always a bit insane,wearing two business hats (social media and pet services…I know, I know!), but as social media consulting tends to calm down over the summer, it’s a good fit with pet services, which heats up to a fever pitch in the summer.

As life would have it, I had a rush job, creating a website for someone who has been too busy in their business to ever worry about one (or social media) in the past just exactly at the same time as my summer services began in earnest. Plus, with no school for my daughter, 6 AM has morphed into 7AM (yeah…that’s me…sleeping in…LOL!), but that hour of “me” time, has virtually erased my writing time. And before I knew it, I discovered that TWO weeks have gone by without me posting on this blog. However, I did post (ONCE only) on my pet services blog and I think you’ll get a laugh at my adventures with de-skunkifying some four-legged guests.

As well, not posting means I couldn’t contribute to this past week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival (I could have sent in an old post, but that is irritating if you’ve already read it!), but John Agno, blogger at So Baby Boomer, put together a great carnival. Enjoy Blogging Boomers Carnival #168!

One person.

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:27:10 +0000

Here I sit, again, writing at my dining room table, with doors fully open, the smell of jasmine and roses, lavendar and rosemary gentlingin on the breeze. I’ve just been reading news reports and emails regarding the oil well explosion tragically killing 11 workers and the resulting break in the pipeline that is decimating the Gulf of Mexico and the life in it. How can we be on the same planet? In my small world, I try to do good deeds, treat others kindly, be a good role model for my child, and earn an honest living. My fruit trees, flowering garden and vegetable patch are a reflection of my desire to keep nature flourishing — at least in my home environment. As I learn about new things (like the food chain as depicted in Food, Inc.), I embrace that knowledge and do my best to be even more of a responsible creature who has been given the opportunity to share life on this planet with all the other creatures here. I’m one person. So it makes me feel a bit overwhelmed and under-powered, to think that one person can change the planet.

If you think about it, though, one person made the decision to build an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. You can say that a Board of Directors at BP made the decision, but ultimately, one person put the idea out there and pushed it forward. One person did something wrong in the construction that caused a weakness and ultimately an explosion. Doesn’t matter who, for the sake of this argument — but it could have been an overtired worker, engineer, planner, who put or didn’t put, the wrong thingamajiggee in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or didn’t adequately tighten a bolt. Or who was smoking next to flammable materials. Or who approved sub-standard materials in construction. Who knows? But it was likely one person who did one wrong thing that has killed a whole bunch of workers and now, untold amounts of marine and marine-dwelling life.

If a nuclear bomb went off, it would be one person who would be responsible for that decision. In whatever country, at whatever time. One person would say “go”, or one person would punch in a key code, or one person would turn a key, or one person would push a button, and our world would change forever.

The earth will continue, even if we destroy it. But human life and the creatures who live on earth could very well end. Because of one person.

The general belief is that it takes less muscles to smile than to frown. But according to one plastic surgeon, who looked at the basic muscle functions needed to create a smile and a frown, it takes 12 muscles to smile and 11 to frown. One more muscle to go to good from not so good.

Then, there is the myth of the 100th monkey (thanks to reader, Shelley, for passing that along yesterday), which was based on a real study of monkeys using water to wash sand from yams set out for them on a beach. As one monkey washed sand off the yams, other monkeys followed suit. Eventually all the food gatherers washed sand off their yams. They didn’t achieve critical mass in that the behavior didn’t spread outside their small group, but the concept is heart-warming.

I’m going to stick with the one more muscle to smile than frown theory, because as I look around my world, I seem to see more people frowning than smiling. Just a little more effort might be needed to smile. And as anyone who knows me knows…I’m a smiler. I’m constantly using that extra muscle. What if I apply that to the effort I might need to be the one person who adds to the critical mass to make the world a cleaner, healthier, better nutrified, more responsible and respectful place to be? And what if you do that too? Then we all add muscle to positive direction.

My choices? Shopping local — going to the Tapia Brothers farm down the street and to my local Farmers market. To grow vegetables. To compost and put my landfill back into the earth. To eat grass-fed, free-range beef. To purchase only free-range poultry and egg. To avoid corn and soy fillers (and most preserved food). To impact the multi-national businesses with my few dollars and cents. To continue to walk 4-5 miles a day. To be a creature of the planet. To be kind to animals. To give love to my child, my family and to humanity. To be mensch on this planet. One person.

What’s your choice?

Yes, the cocoa worked!

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Fri, 07 May 2010 23:31:54 +0000

I’ve gotten so many emails wanting to know if I’m sleeping better. Yes. I had my cocoa, had a good night’s sleep and am (almost) irritatingly enthusiastic once again. (OK…well…still just a tidge of an edge, but that’s wearing off.) The funny thing is that when I’m feeling a bit boxed in by too many thoughts, worries, stress, I actually get a physical feeling of claustrophobia. So thinking back to my week, I really did have a lot on my plate, but more than that is how I’m looking at expansion of my business.

I wear two hats — the first is as blogger/social media consultant. I LOVE this hat. When I can tug at someone’s heartstrings, make them feel good in their skin, pass along good info, make them aware of social or political issues they might not have been thinking about, it feels great. When I can help a small business start to make their mark online and they become part of the online world as a result…ahhh, that feels great! When I’m prepping for a seminar, I get a bit edgy, because I’m geared for the partipants to come out of the seminar armed and ready to create their online strategy; with every new client entering into social media in this rough economy, they deserve the most bang for their buck – so I have high expectations of my own performance and what I deliver to my clients.

My second hat is as the owner of a pet services company (Pooch Buddies, for those of you in LA!) — a great business, where I get to spend time with loving animals and their terrific owners, and best of all, enjoy all that nature has to offer. Green grass, blooming flowers, plenty of exercise and a reconnection with nature that I hadn’t even realized I was missing throughout all those years in the concrete jungle of corporate America.

As a result of spending so much time in nature, it is no surprise to me that stress gives me that feeling of being boxed in. And as with any good business model, you have to look to your expansion. In my case, with a growing business, I simply need more space. My dilemma has been how to deliver that space. Would my move take me back to concrete walls in a warehouse area? Or would it take me to a ranch, where the animals (and I) could delight in nature, but where the business would still operate out of my home environment? I’ve been taking moves in both directions, throwing it all up in the air like a bowl of spaghetti, and hoping the right answer would stick. It’s not that I won’t expand. I must expand — it’s the how that has had me in a tizzy.

In order to find my path, I go back to my tried and true. I work at my dining room table. I have a gorgeous office and no one understands why I default back to the dining room table — but it is because of the restorative view of my garden. That is where I become “un-boxed”, and reminded of the reasons that bring me joy in this new phase of life. And sitting at my dining room table today, is what convinced me that the ranch is the right plan. In the midst of a most hectic day, my dog let me know that she was about to chase the squirrels. As she ran out, in blew the smell of the roses from my garden.

Heck, I love having dogs hanging around. I enjoy being an urban gardener and watching my dog chase squirrels away from the fruit trees. I love having no concrete walls around me, taking my shoes off and walking in the grass, drinking cocoa with my child and taking in the smell of fresh lavendar and jasmine wafting in through my patio door. I realize I’m sharing a lot of myself personally (well…I kinda, sorta always do that anyways…kinda, sorta all of the time…), so I’ll tell you just a couple of other things that have happened over the years that I remembered while sitting at my table today. My clients have noticed that I’m really happy. Not fake “I’m being happy because my business face better be happy”, but real, in my heart and soul happy. A few of my clients have ended up quitting their jobs and finding different paths as a result of being inspired to take a leap of faith into an unknown business climate. It’s not without difficulty, especially when you choose a path of organic growth, but in the end, I am able to find the right journey for me. Yup, ranch it is.

Let’s lighten it up, shall we?

Janet Wendy Spiegel — Thu, 06 May 2010 06:01:44 +0000

Wow. What a week. Oil spill creating untold environmental damage. Volcanic ash clouding the heavens. Arizona immigration law. Floods and storms across Tennessee rival Katrina. Failed terror attempt in the Big Apple.

Did all this stuff always go on but we just didn’t know it before instant communications? There are so many dire things happening that in combination with the unendingly tough economy it can be a bit overwhelming and definitely make one get depressed.

I had a horrible week last week and it is continuing to this week. Not a horrible week because bad things happened to me…no…I was simply in a nasty (understatement) mood that just wouldn’t break. I wondered if this was a post-menopausal precursor to becoming a cranky older woman. Fortunately I got fed up with myself and bored of my pitifull self-pity funk. Yesterday, midday, I told myself to pull up my socks and get over myself. I’ve dipped back in a couple of times, but overall, my mind shift seems to have worked. My reality is that I’m usually UNusually optomistic and cheery…sometimes so much that people can think I’m not for real…but I honestly get out of bed on the sunny side and seem to hold onto that mood with or without the benefit of coffee.

Now that I’ve had a day of clear-headedness, I have found the source of my bad mood. Sleep — or rather, lack of it. Looking back, I’ve had a very bad week of restless sleeping. Because of worrying about whatever all of us worry about. Because of being overly invested in the news and worrying about the world and my ability or inability to help change it for the better. Because of economic concerns. Because of all the children’s meds (Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl) that were recalled. Because I didn’t walk enough and my new activity meter (MyTrak) didn’t give me a green light for the day. Because of the social media seminar I’m giving next Saturday. Because, because, because.

It’s almost 11 pm. I usually am asleep by 9 or 9:30 (up with the dogs and sleep according to farmer hours), so tonight I’m about to warm up a cup of delish cocoa, turn off the news, and free my mind for a good night’s sleep. Guaranteed that will have a positive impact on bringing light into my day tomorrow, regardless of what is going on in the rest of the world. Don’t fail me, cocoa…don’t fail me.