Trip to San Diego

18th March, 2011 - Posted by admin - No Comments

May 17, 2010

It has been an absolutely fantastic week in San Diego. I always seem to jump start my creative juices here. I see friends and have experiences that make me think about things in a completely different way. I went to an art festival and the dogs were plentiful (but Abby stole the show) and I must confess, I did buy some fantastic jewelry. My weakness is real unusual pieces and I found a stone (part of the amethyst family), that came from Israel I hadn’t seen before.

I also went up to Temecula (wine country even though I don’t drink) to see a friend and the mountains were spectacular. What is so great about this area is that you have mountains, water, hills, little neighborhoods all within short driving distances. Of course, then I go back to Miami Beach and the sunshine, humidity and buzz and love it too. Aren’t I lucky to have both choices. I think so!

Also took Abby to the dog park and she had her first experience with all these dogs running around, and though she ventured out a little bit (remember she is used to cats), she always came back to my feet and felt safest there. Tonight I go to a real estate seminar about California real estate (as a sub for my son) and it will be interesting to compare it with Miami and the rest of the country. I personally believe that although this is a hard time for many, it’s also time for a rebirth for people who has always wanted to change what they were doing and needed a push. As most of you know, I have gone through my fifth re-invention, and am a leading cheerleader for you to venture forth and try new things. So all of you S.O.B.’s out there, go for it and give birth to fabulous new ideas and thoughts–its’ your time.

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Question and Answer:

Q: I have always wanted to start a business, but now seems like such a bad time to do so with the economy the way it is. How should I start, what should I think about, and do I risk being a failure?

A: We all risk failure every day of our lives. If we aren’t failing, it means we aren’t trying anything new. Make a list of all your strengths and weaknesses. Although you should always try to improve your weaknesses, working on them to excess doesn’t really pay off. You are much better outsourcing them as soon as you can. You can also go to SCORE which is a group of retired execs who can be really helpful in pointing you in the right direction. You can get interns from your local high schools and colleges to help you and you can do little focus groups in your area to see if your idea has some merit. The main thing you need to be aware of, is that sometimes you aren’t creating a business, but buying yourself a job with a lot more responsibility, risk and time consumption . Do this because it’s your passion, can make a profit, and provide an excellent product or service. Know there are hidden expenses like insurances, taxes, inventory etc that you don’t think about. When you project your expenses, double them, and when you project your income, cut it in half. And know, that very day there are new businesses opening successfully, and well established businesses closing because they didn’t keep up with the changes. Regardless of what you decide–good luck!

If you have a question for Dr. Gayle, send iit to

gayle@spunkyoldbroad.com

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Tips:

1. Start off every day with a smile and a positive attitude. You’ll be surprised how things will go your way.

2. When you go out to eat, enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about the calories. As long as it’s only once a week, and the choice is fairly healthy, don’t feel guilty.

3. When wanting to make an impression, it’s your dress, your walk, your talk and your entire manner that shows her you are. Be conscious of all of it.

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