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Breathe

Breathe

by | Oct 26, 2019 | Uncategorized

This morning found me at the 6:00 a.m. Spinning ®️ class, silently cursing the extra scoop of ice cream I treated myself to and the extra chapter of the book that kept me up past my bedtime. So you can only imagine my reaction when the instructor said to the class “focus on your breath, not the discomfort in your legs”

 

After silently muttering to myself a few choice words that I won’t share here, the thought occurred to me…how many times in the day have I focused only on the discomfort of a situation, the discomfort of an interaction, or even looking at an opportunity with discomfort? In those moments, how many times have I stopped and taken a breath? Have I taken a breath to give myself more energy, to relax, to gain some clarity?

 

Well, I listened to my instructor, I started to breathe, really breathe, and what do you know, my legs felt better, my heart rate hit it’s threshold and stayed there, and everything became much more clear.

 

Sometimes life’s best moments of clarity can be found by simply taking a breath and enjoying the (bike) ride.

Giving Up

Giving Up

by | Oct 16, 2019 | Uncategorized

I’m taking advantage of an uninterrupted block of time to think about giving up.

Not giving up in the sense of throwing in the towel and quitting, but giving up the battle, giving up the fight.

I recently had an interaction that upset me. It challenged me in new ways and made me question a few things.  

After I had a chance to distance and digest, to rest and reflect, I was able to embrace the art of giving up. I gave up the internal and external fight I was having with this situation. I gave up the quest to be right and “win” based on principle.

I gave it all up.

But I didn’t give up on myself. The beauty in all of this is that since this happened I have gained more than I ever thought I would gain. I gained professional growth, I gained peace of mind, I gained more time to focus on communicating the experiences and stories that truly matter, and I gained an experience that has only proven to make me stronger.

 

For those of you who are thinking of giving up: my one piece of advice to you is Go For It! Just make sure you don’t give up on yourself ????#jaisycommunications #smallbusiness #marketing #hawaiimarketing 

Riding through phases

Riding through phases

by | Sep 28, 2019 | Uncategorized

I’ll be honest.

After glancing at the gym floor and seeing this at 6:00 in the morning before my spin class, my first thought was to turn around and walk out the door.

Sometimes I see things like this and I rise to the occasion. I puff my chest up and psych myself up.

Not this morning.

But, in the words of a dear friend of mine, I said to myself “I can do hard things” 

So I got on my bike, started the ride and took the entire 60 minutes of class one Phase at a time.

I was sharing with someone the other day the difference I see in being a business owner versus an employee. As a business owner not only am I working for my clients in helping them accomplish their goals, but I’m also working for my business in helping my business accomplish its goals. Setting strategy, ensuring all of the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, keeping up with trends in the marketplace and “filling the funnel” with business opportunities. 

“Is it hard?” She asked me. “Well, it’s not easy” was my reply. But being “not easy” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Just like today’s workout. “Not easy” can be Moderate, and I’m okay with that.

Moving through the phases of life can be Somewhat Hard sometimes. It can also be Hard. And there are days when it’s Very Hard. 

The beauty in these phases is just that. They’re PHASES. They too shall pass (sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly as was evident in today’s ride), but if I stay true to form, stay true to the effort I put in, I know I will come out of these phases stronger than if I had just turned around and walked out of class. And you know what? I did!!

So here’s to all of you who are riding through all of the phases in life, whether they be Moderate, Somewhat Hard, Hard or Very Hard. You’ve got this, and I’m glad to be along for the ride with you…

Seeking Comfort

Seeking Comfort

by | Sep 11, 2019 | Uncategorized

It’s been a week.

I was speaking with a trusted friend the other day about a situation I am grappling with professionally and how ”it’s making me uncomfortable!” I complained.

 He said “Humans are a lot like horses in that all horses want is to be comfortable, all they want is to be out in the pasture with their buddies and they know that the sooner they get their job done, they’ll be comfortable. Right now, you’re uncomfortable and you don’t like it, you want to be comfortable don’t you?”

 It got me thinking about this quote I heard about entrepreneurs “99% of what you have to do to grow your business is stuff you’ve probably never done before. Stuff that’s out of your comfort zone.”

This rings SO true for me!

 I’ve needed to stop myself multiple times over the last few months and give myself a bit of grace in that this is part of building a business, heck, this is a part of life! Part of life is being uncomfortable, recognizing it for what it is, and moving back to that sense of comfort (which in this case scenario was simply about me learning the lesson and moving on).

 So for those of you entrepreneurs in my life (you know who you are), know that you’re not alone in your uncomfortableness, and you’ve got an ally in me, cheering you on every step of the way!

 In the meantime, I think I’ll enjoy my cup of tea and a night in to celebrate being comfortable again ☕️

Enjoy the Journey

Enjoy the Journey

by | Aug 27, 2019 | Uncategorized

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Does anyone else feel as vexed as I do when asked that question? Well, maybe you love answering that question, maybe you’ve got a spreadsheet and graphs and a slick powerpoint presentation to go along with your answer.

I don’t.

I was asked a similar question about Jaisy Communications the other day and it gave me pause. Yes, I have a strategic plan for this company, yes I have goals and dreams, BUT what’s different now that I’m a business owner, is that I’m choosing to enjoy the journey.

I’m choosing to enjoy the creative process that comes from collaborating with my clients. I’m choosing to enjoy the struggles that go along with a growing business. I’m choosing to enjoy the meticulous planning that goes into each and every project with my clients, the hours of writing and strategizing and everything in between.

In a world made up of benchmarks and measurements and accolades as to who finishes first, it feels pretty nice to enjoy the journey with my clients and this business.

So whatever journey you may be on at the moment, I hope you’re enjoying it (at least a little bit), why not? 

Being of Service

Being of Service

by | Aug 6, 2019 | Uncategorized

I was asked the other day what my favorite job was. It took me a good minute to respond as I’ve been blessed with some pretty amazing jobs in my life. But the one that came immediately to mind was when I worked in Community Relations & Public Affairs for CU-Boulder and the City of Boulder. 

Why? Because it allowed me to Be of Service every day. Whether Being of Service was putting together programs for those less fortunate, or sharing the stories of incredible people doing incredible work. There was a need for good news, and I was able to help create those stories. *

On a recent trip to Colombia, we participated in an indigenous ceremony. We were asked to let go of the negativity in our lives and set one intention for the future. My intention was to Be of Service.

Is there someone in your life who needs some support? Be of Service by being a friend. Is there someone in your life who has wronged you? Be of Service by showing them what integrity looks like. Perhaps you’re feeling a bit down and out, Be of Service to yourself by listing two things you’re most grateful for. Or maybe your business is thriving but you need an extra shot in the arm, pull your team together to Be of Service to your community.

It works in almost any situation! Why? Well, for me, it gets me out of my own head at least for a little while and allows me to think of others.

So, here’s wishing you a great day, week, (or even year!) of Being of Service!

 

Sweet Smell of Success

Sweet Smell of Success

by | Jun 30, 2019 | Uncategorized

One of the things I missed most after leaving my former job was being able to wear a freshly picked puakenikeni flower in my hair every day.

I mourned the loss of that experience for a little while as I was told these flowers don’t thrive well where I live. I was told that they would be too hard to grow, that it would take a lot of time, a lot of sunshine, a lot of effort, and even after all that, I probably wouldn’t succeed. 

Well, I did it anyway, I bought a small tree, I’ve cared for it, watched over it, pruned it, nurtured it, and today, several months later look at what greeted me outside my door! 

Now I get to wear one of these beauties as I go to work in the business I’ve started, cared for, nurtured, and grown.

Success has never smelled so sweet…

See It Through

See It Through

by | Jun 18, 2019 | Uncategorized

I was given the opportunity to document the making of a Kaula Ili (rawhide rope) for one of my clients, and it has taught me a few things: 

To take pride in your work 

To be humble

To be kind 

And above all:

To See It Through 

How many times have you been faced with adversity and seriously contemplated taking the easier, softer way…the path of least resistance? If you are anything like me, maybe you have (just a few times right?).

Now think about the times when you have Seen It Through. When you have worked through the challenge, when you reached out for a hand to hold, or perhaps you’ve stopped for a spell to catch your breath before continuing on. You Saw It Through.  Do you remember that sense of accomplishment you felt? That sense of pride? 

That is what Seeing It Through gives me. Whether it is through witnessing the creation of a piece of cowboy art that is so significant to my client, or simply by suiting up and showing up, I can at least feel proud that I Saw It Through. 


Maybe you’ve got a bit of a challenge on your hands, or a project that has gotten so big that you need some assistance, here’s hoping you have the opportunity to See It Through, as it will be worth it in the end, I promise! 

Integrity

Integrity

by | Jun 2, 2019 | Uncategorized

I was taking my puppy for a walk this afternoon along a deserted road. It was that perfect “nap time” window in between completed Sunday chores and preparation for Sunday night dinner, and there wasn’t a soul to be seen. As my walking companion stopped to do her business, I had that fleeting thought (as I KNOW some of you fellow dog owners have had) cross my mind saying “nobody is around, and it’s really just fertilizer when it comes down to it, so…maybe I can leave it” 


Instead, I pulled the disposable bag out of my jacket pocket and stooped down to take care of it.  At that moment I heard a booming voice (literally out of nowhere it seemed) cry out “THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT!” I pulled myself up, looked around and here in this shed a gentleman had been working in his shop, completely unbeknownst to me! He continued “Nobody ever cleans up after their dogs and even worse! They leave it in a bag on my gate!”


Now, I’m not sharing this with you to get a pat on the back for cleaning up after my dog (but please go ahead if you’d like!).  I share this because it reminded me of integrity, one of the values our society sometimes forgets about in the age of cutting corners and instant gratification.  It’s doing the right thing when nobody is looking, it’s practicing kindness to a stranger not because it will get you an award, but because it’s the right thing to do. It’s not taking that shortcut in your professional life even though it could save you an hour or two. It’s taking that extra few minutes to share your knowledge with your competitor because paying it forward was how you were raised.


So to all of you who are reading this, here’s wishing you a week filled with integrity as you navigate your way through this beautiful thing called life! 

 

 

 

 

 

Delighting in Diversity

Delighting in Diversity

by | May 10, 2019 | Uncategorized

If you didn’t know I was from Hawaii, or currently reside in Hawaii and saw this photo, you may not know that it was a photo of the highest mountain in the world (when measured from its base on the seafloor) overlooking the pasturelands of what was once the largest singly owned cattle ranch in the world.  Both happen to be located here, on the Big Island of Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean!

 

Why do I bring this up?  Because it is a great example of how beautiful diversity can be.  Hawaii is SO diverse, not only are we blessed with incredible year-round weather, but this island in particular is home to 10 of the world’s 14 climate zones!

 

I attended a networking event this week and it was GREAT.  It was GREAT not only because it was free, not only because the food was delicious, it was GREAT because it was all about networking around and within the diversity of our businesses.  This was a space in which we were able to come to the table, chat about our businesses and collaborate on ways in which we can work together.

 

Hawaii allows that to happen for us.

 

Because we are located in the middle of the Pacific, we can’t afford to turn our backs on a new idea, or a new competitor just because it “might take away from our profit.”  We need to adapt to the ever-changing climate, and if someone is in that space, then why not collaborate?  For example, there was another business at this event that would be categorized as a competitor of mine.  Did I stand in the corner and refuse to talk to them?  Of course not.  I gave them my business card. I asked them about their business, what they loved most about it.  What their challenges were.  And it was GREAT.

 

So when asked about my client base, my answer is often “it is as diverse as this island” and that is the truth.  It’s a beautiful thing, delighting in diversity.

 

Here’s hoping you are doing the same for your own business, and if and when you need someone who can share your story or help you tell your own story.  Feel free to give me a call!