If you ask me during the typical day if I like going on vacation, I would probably say no. It's not that I don't like spending time away from the office and with my family, it's just that it breaks up the routine. And when I'm in the routine, I'm in the zone!
But, when I do go on vacation and I am doing something active, I have a new prospective on work. I don't think about it until things quite down and I check my emails. I start to think about how to grow the firm and what to do to make it happen.
It also gives me an opportunity to read one of the several books I buy throughout the year. Interestingly, my daughter always laughs at me because whenever I'm in Border's Bookstore or Barnes and Noble, I head right over to the business section. I love business books and have a collection in my office and at my home.
I'm on vacation now. I'm in Keystone, Colorado. My family and I are skiing. The conditions are great and the weather has been beautiful -- perfect sunny day with blue skies and lots of powder!
On this trip, I started reading "The Diamond Cutter -- The Buddha of Managing Your Business and Your Life." I was told to buy this book from a CEO who felt it helped him grow and develop in business. It's really very interesting. The author is a buddhist monk but he was also in business and talks about his success.
He gets into the whole Karma thing and how thoughts and actions affect your future. He talks about business problems and why they happen (as a result of actions from the past). He also discusses quite meditation to solve problems. Hmmmm.... I might try it. Who knows, maybe I'll feel recharged when I'm not on vacation!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Traffic Jam...
I love to drive my car into the city. It's comfortable and has a great stereo system. Between satellite radio and the ipod, I can sit there all day!
Since we opened our new office, I've been driving into the city two to three days a week. The mornings haven't been bad. But, I learned that if you leave the city at a descent hour, it will take "forever" to get home. On most days, I've been leaving the city around 7ish.... and get home by 8ish....
On Valentine's Day, several of my staff members and I had a meeting in the city. We decided to leave the city by 4 pm to get home early to be with our families. My senior VP, Kristie, had her car and I had mine. She took home the publicity supervisor and I took home the new media director. She decided to go through the midtown tunnel and I made the mistake of going over the triborough bridge.
Over an hour later, I was still in the city and Kristie was in Queens. It took us over 3 hours to get back to our offices in Westbury!
I stayed calm and relaxed. Turned up the music. Smiled as people around me had road rage and happily got to know the new media director better than I did before.
Since we opened our new office, I've been driving into the city two to three days a week. The mornings haven't been bad. But, I learned that if you leave the city at a descent hour, it will take "forever" to get home. On most days, I've been leaving the city around 7ish.... and get home by 8ish....
On Valentine's Day, several of my staff members and I had a meeting in the city. We decided to leave the city by 4 pm to get home early to be with our families. My senior VP, Kristie, had her car and I had mine. She took home the publicity supervisor and I took home the new media director. She decided to go through the midtown tunnel and I made the mistake of going over the triborough bridge.
Over an hour later, I was still in the city and Kristie was in Queens. It took us over 3 hours to get back to our offices in Westbury!
I stayed calm and relaxed. Turned up the music. Smiled as people around me had road rage and happily got to know the new media director better than I did before.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Our New Lil' Office...
For years, I thought that one day I would open an office in New York City. But, I never thought we would open on Madison Avenue and 57th Street!
Our main office is in Westbury, Long Island. It's spacious, funky and colorful. As soon as you walk in, you hear the ipod playing new music and you see paintings by Olan and some other "starving" artists. When you walk in you can feel the warmth and the caring because the people who work there really are warm and caring!
After nearly 16 years, I think I finally have the formula right! We have a group of 15 people who work so well together. And, I think the hierchy works too. There's plenty of room for growth and movement!
So just recently, I decided that the time was right to take the "plunge" and open an office in NYC. To me, the location was most important. I know that when we moved from Long Beach to Westbury, we tripled our business. So opening up a satellite office couldn't be a bad thing. Could it?
I looked around awhile for the right spot and came across an office on Madison and 57th Street. It was perfect. A receptionist who greeted our guests, a full mail room, use of several different sized conference rooms and a fully loaded kitchen. The receptionist even screens all of my calls. What else could anyone want?
The only problem, it's tiny. But who has big in NYC anyway?
Last Saturday night I went to the Ward Nasse Gallery and found two paintings that I thought would work perfect in our new lil' space. That night when I went up to the suite, my son came with me and when he saw the space, he laughed. "Mom, this isn't an office, it's more like a closet!" he said.
But it's really not that small! We have a round table, four chairs, a stereo (my M.O.), a large filing cabinet and two amazing paintings. Today, one of my supervisors and I spent the day in the city office. We sat around the table and worked. We completely blocked each other out. We got so much done. The way we worked, reminded me of the time when I sat around the dining room table with staff and stuffed envelopes and sent out press releases. This was HJMT then... and this is HJMT now!
Our main office is in Westbury, Long Island. It's spacious, funky and colorful. As soon as you walk in, you hear the ipod playing new music and you see paintings by Olan and some other "starving" artists. When you walk in you can feel the warmth and the caring because the people who work there really are warm and caring!
After nearly 16 years, I think I finally have the formula right! We have a group of 15 people who work so well together. And, I think the hierchy works too. There's plenty of room for growth and movement!
So just recently, I decided that the time was right to take the "plunge" and open an office in NYC. To me, the location was most important. I know that when we moved from Long Beach to Westbury, we tripled our business. So opening up a satellite office couldn't be a bad thing. Could it?
I looked around awhile for the right spot and came across an office on Madison and 57th Street. It was perfect. A receptionist who greeted our guests, a full mail room, use of several different sized conference rooms and a fully loaded kitchen. The receptionist even screens all of my calls. What else could anyone want?
The only problem, it's tiny. But who has big in NYC anyway?
Last Saturday night I went to the Ward Nasse Gallery and found two paintings that I thought would work perfect in our new lil' space. That night when I went up to the suite, my son came with me and when he saw the space, he laughed. "Mom, this isn't an office, it's more like a closet!" he said.
But it's really not that small! We have a round table, four chairs, a stereo (my M.O.), a large filing cabinet and two amazing paintings. Today, one of my supervisors and I spent the day in the city office. We sat around the table and worked. We completely blocked each other out. We got so much done. The way we worked, reminded me of the time when I sat around the dining room table with staff and stuffed envelopes and sent out press releases. This was HJMT then... and this is HJMT now!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
What Is The Proper Etiquette?
Hey, does anyone out there know what the proper etiquette is for picking up the tab when you have a business lunch?
I ask because I attend business lunches almost every day. I meet with clients. I meet with prospects. I meet with business friends.
I always thought the rule of thumb was, if I'm "pitching" something, I should pay. If the other party is trying to "pitch" me, they pay. If no one is selling, you split the tab.
Sound right?
Well, recently I went to breakfast with someone who's been trying to get together for a long time. We talked a bit about his business and about mine. He tried to sell me a sponsorship for one of his upcoming endeavors.
When the waitress came by, he ordered an egg omelet. I ordered a single egg. I didn't think about who would pay for what until the bill came. It was $22 for breakfast. He quickly took the bill and put it on his side. I politely asked him how much I owe, and he told me $11. I started to think should I have not said anything and let him pick up the tab? Should I grab the bill and insist on paying?
I made the conscience decision to split the bill. But all I kept thinking was "Why should I pay $11 for a single egg?"
Later in the day, I went for lunch with a retired client. Since she no longer works, my thought was I was paying for lunch. When the bill came, she quickly grabbed it and when I asked how much, she said it was on her. That surprised me since I invited her and she's no longer employed. I graciously accepted the lunch and thought, whoever pays, it all evens out at the end.
I ask because I attend business lunches almost every day. I meet with clients. I meet with prospects. I meet with business friends.
I always thought the rule of thumb was, if I'm "pitching" something, I should pay. If the other party is trying to "pitch" me, they pay. If no one is selling, you split the tab.
Sound right?
Well, recently I went to breakfast with someone who's been trying to get together for a long time. We talked a bit about his business and about mine. He tried to sell me a sponsorship for one of his upcoming endeavors.
When the waitress came by, he ordered an egg omelet. I ordered a single egg. I didn't think about who would pay for what until the bill came. It was $22 for breakfast. He quickly took the bill and put it on his side. I politely asked him how much I owe, and he told me $11. I started to think should I have not said anything and let him pick up the tab? Should I grab the bill and insist on paying?
I made the conscience decision to split the bill. But all I kept thinking was "Why should I pay $11 for a single egg?"
Later in the day, I went for lunch with a retired client. Since she no longer works, my thought was I was paying for lunch. When the bill came, she quickly grabbed it and when I asked how much, she said it was on her. That surprised me since I invited her and she's no longer employed. I graciously accepted the lunch and thought, whoever pays, it all evens out at the end.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Meeting People Along The Way...
I meet with a lot of people. I attend networking events, fund raisers, galas and lots of committee meetings. The other day, I was invited by a business friend to attend the Networking Magazine "David Awards." I had never attended this event before and was amazed at how many people actually attended!
When I walked into the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, I could barely get through the door. There were so many people and everyone was practically on top of each other. After feeling totally claustrophobic and shaking hands and kissing practically everyone in the room, we were ushered up the stairs like cattle getting reading for a feeding!
After we sat down, we were inundated with speeches. I didn't really listen to most, but I was intrigued when I heard the President and CEO of Infosys. He talked about his life and how he got to where he is today. I heard him and I knew I wanted to meet him....
So I did. Today. I met him today. I'm not sure why. I had no agenda. I just wanted to meet him and talk with him. He told me he believed in reincarnation and was from India. I was interested in him. He told me that his marriage was prearranged and had to go back to India to meet his bride. He told me he had a daughter and had been happily married for 26 years. He talked about his hard work and how he continued to push forward when obstacles where in his way. He is someone I want to know for a time to come.
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in business and with our families that we forget that there are certain people we are meant to meet. Certain people who are supposed to come into our lives for one reason or another.... This person was supposed to come into my life. I'm not sure why, but I guess as time goes by, I'll find out!
When I walked into the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, I could barely get through the door. There were so many people and everyone was practically on top of each other. After feeling totally claustrophobic and shaking hands and kissing practically everyone in the room, we were ushered up the stairs like cattle getting reading for a feeding!
After we sat down, we were inundated with speeches. I didn't really listen to most, but I was intrigued when I heard the President and CEO of Infosys. He talked about his life and how he got to where he is today. I heard him and I knew I wanted to meet him....
So I did. Today. I met him today. I'm not sure why. I had no agenda. I just wanted to meet him and talk with him. He told me he believed in reincarnation and was from India. I was interested in him. He told me that his marriage was prearranged and had to go back to India to meet his bride. He told me he had a daughter and had been happily married for 26 years. He talked about his hard work and how he continued to push forward when obstacles where in his way. He is someone I want to know for a time to come.
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in business and with our families that we forget that there are certain people we are meant to meet. Certain people who are supposed to come into our lives for one reason or another.... This person was supposed to come into my life. I'm not sure why, but I guess as time goes by, I'll find out!
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