practical and meaningful

the climb

Two years ago today, I bought the Art Studio in Culver City. It is nice to reflect on how far we have come and nice to remember how hard it was in the beginning. I remember one day after dropping my daughter off at the bus stop, this song came on the radio and I pulled over and just wept. It has not always been easy, but it is worth it.

Download 08 The Climb

 

I can almost see it.
That dream I'm dreaming, but
There's a voice inside my head saying
You'll never reach it
Every step I'm takin'
Every move I make
Feels lost with no direction,
My faith is shakin'
But I gotta keep tryin'
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it, but
These are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most
I've just gotta keep goin', and
I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, but

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

Keep on movin'
Keep climbin'
Keep faith baby
It's all about, it's all about
The climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, woah

My year alone...New York City 1991

Found this in an old journal about my first year after college when I moved to New York City.

MY YEAR ALONE

Breaking into the work world is trying. Moving to a new city is hard. Leaving friends across the country is lonely. Now try doing all of these at once. New York is not exactly the kindest of cities. It is selfish, and hard, and insulting - but wonderful as well. It is true what they say about the energy here. Anyone can feel it. It captivates you.

On a schedule. My commitment to work. Not torn between a million people and activities. I live alone. Not just my own room - but my own apartment, on my owns street, in my own neighborhood. No one I know for miles...literally.  I have the greatest fireplace and loft bed and wood floors. High ceilings too. Since the leaves fell from the trees I can see the statue of liberty from my living room window.

A real quiet life I lead.  I Listen to music, work, write, try to play the guitar, cook, read, and I actually sleep sometimes.  After graduation I was blessed with five months of freedom and time. It was during this time that I worked hard on my writing, learned to knit, read a lot, and made decisions as to the course my life would take upon returning to the United States. I narrowed my options to the Peace Corps - or New York City. Quite opposite ends of the spectrum actually . But to have whisked myself off the the corps - I would have been expecting it to mold me - give me purpose - and extend my life as a traveller.

I needed something to make me learn. Force me to look inside, to look around and try to deduct some meaning in this world. I wanted to be a part of the work reality. So I came to New York. To learn about life and my limits and business. Amidst the concrete -lives every level of human existence. Poverty. Wealth. And so many struggling young people.  And I live here.

Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge with Kim and Chrissy - friends from Burbank who came to visit.

Me and Nancy on the roof of my apartment in Brooklyn Heights.

moving, more moving, and moving yet again

For someone who does not really like change, the past six months have been utter chaos with moving things from place to place, into storage, out of my warehouse, into a new space, & into new storage.

I keep settling in, organizing, and then moving again.

This time, it is to start construction on the Cafe which will be next to the Hollywood Art Studio. We should be open in a few months.  Wish us luck !

Entrepreneur's are turning the economy around without going to business school.

I call myself an accidental entrepreneur. I never would have expected that I would own a business - or three!  I am an artist who loves to travel and document the world with my camera. I spent my twenties traveling light with very low overhead and freedom to go as I pleased.  I always supported myself, paid my way through college, and was financially responsible. I started working and making my own money in 4th grade as a score keeper. Soon after, I started working for a family realtor friend - helping her run open houses and also cleaned her house, paid her bills, and did her laundry. After college, I bought a one way ticket to New York City and moved there (I had never been!) I started working young and I have a good work ethic.

I started my first company fifteen years ago and grew it organically. Two years ago I bought an existing business (with an SBA loan) and expanded it by opening a second location. This year I will open a cafe adjacent to the Hollywood Art Studio.  I truly believe that if you can start/grow/expand a business during a down economy and succeed - you will make it in the long run.

My college degree is in Humanities and Photojournalism. I do not have an MBA. There have been a few times where I have wondered if my businesses would be different had I gone to business school. Would I have been scared away from being an Entrepreneur if I had spent two years learning how to be in business and came out of it owning a hunded grand? I do not like having debt and I know I would have gotten a job to pay off the debt - rather than making my own way and starting my business.   Love this graphic from  Tony Shin and his creative team!

Created by: MBAOnline.com" title="" target="_self">

 

award speeches

The BEST speeches are the ones that SAY SOMETHING meaningful. When you win a big award, we know you have to thank the people (agent, manager, producter ,husband, kids) who helped you achieve the award - but on a televised awards show, the acceptance speeches should be based in something great to say.

I propose that each nominee submits a list of thank yous -and once the winner is announced - their list is projected on the screen behind them and posted on a website.  Let the winners have the time to say something important, speak from the heart and enjoy the moment - rather than wonder about who they are forgetting to thank, and outrunning the closing music.

Let the speeches be about something meaningful which also happens to be practical.

gift it forward and other meaningful presents

My favorite kind of gift exchange is where each person brings a gift that is practical or meaningful - it can be something you love (your favorite thing - a book, a candle) , a GIFT IT FORWARD gift - something you own (that you love) that you want to pass on (not a white elephant gift), or you can make something. Anything practical or meaningful.

Affirmations

When I love everything around me, I am constantly inspired.
When I have money in the bank, I am more able to think, feel, and live life.
When I invite people into my home, I am more connected and loving in the world.
When I am taking care of myself and eating right and exercizing, I have more to give.
Creating jobs and making money connects me to my community and my purpose.
Appreciate your life, find meaning in everything you do.
Eliminate what does not support your true self.
Love your life, work hard, play hard, be AWAKE.

painting by Adele Sypesteyn

productive and beyond

Most of my days are fragmented and super busy with too much to do and not enough continuous time to get it all done.  Yesterday I accomplished so much due to the fact that I had the full day to work and lots of people to help.

In twelve hours, I met with the architects and finalized plans for the cafe, met with an artist and created a workshop series for the art studio, reorganized various parts of the crafty warehouse, donated big heavy file cabinets, reconfigured the entire supply room at the art studio to make room for a knitting circle seating area with better light, moved a couch into my office, tore out the ugly counter and shelf in the bathroom, worked on new software system, relocated all the cake boxes to better storage, rearranged all the fridges and set up a mock layout of the cafe based on our finalized plans, decided to donate the big desk, shelves, and extra fridge and freezer, went to the tailor to get my jeans hemmed, taped crafty receipts, did banking, finalized payroll, booked a new show, worked on scheduling, had lunch with my husband, cleaned off all the sticky labels on the trashcans and fridges, with goo gone, cleaned the windows and swept, reduced some clutter, found some money, booked a party, bid on some restaurant supplies, worked on our budget, tightened up the operating agreement, got extra sets of keys made, replaced the broken fridge lights, booked someone to detail and wash the van, paid rent (x4), and strategized about ways to make it all work together and work well.

DONE.

 

i hate crushing little girls spirits

Today while friends were visiting, thier six year old daughter was playing in my daughter's room. My daughter wanted to set some boundaries so she came down stairs to ask the grown ups for some support. When the girls parents encouraged my daughter to "just tell her no", my daughter flat out said "I hate crushing little girls spirits". 

 

 

every day is a choice

 Every day is a choice to be together, to love each other, to be good to each other, to appreciate each other, to listen to each other, to respect each other, to stay together, and to choose each other.

 In the midst of everyday life we can overlook the part we play in our relationships. I am stirred and reminded everytime I witness a wedding, and everytime people I love split apart.

Choose love. And work hard to defend your choice every day.