Hey ya’ll. I hope you’re doing well. All is good down South. 2012 has been great so far!

Recently – my grams was diagnosed with cancer and she’s been through a whole lot these last few months. It’s super tough seeing her have to deal with doctors, rough hospital stays, and lots of treatments… but she sure is a strong lady. She’s pushing through and fighting every inch of the way.

The other night I called to see how her most recent chemo treatment went and she was in good spirits. She asked me what I had going on and I was telling her about work, family and upcoming trips that I’m looking forward to. She knows how much I love to travel and she said I should be doing more of that. I should be living a little more while I’m young because you never know what could happen later on in life. She told me to enjoy my time even more and live more passionately.

I think about this conversation and realize how right she is. We all hear it often… but rarely do we ever listen. In this case, I hear her loud and clear. I am listening. And I am going to take that next step to live a little more. I hope you will take it with me.

My grams has been an integral part of my life and I see how she battles through all this yuck that is in her life right now. How she stays so positive and strong.  What an inspiration. She’s got a lot more to give to the world… so f*$k off cancer. Yea!

I’m off to Aruba next week… and shortly thereafter – Punta Cana. I plan to work a little less while I’m there and enjoy life a little more. Hold my better half closer and take in the peacefulness of loving and living more. Thankful for my grams to have reminded me about such an important lesson.

What are you doing today to live a little more?

(Oh and BTW, the picture above is of me and my sister Jessica. My grams was giving us some ’80′s perms!)

Chinese Astrology is a sixty-year cycle that combines the energy of five elements and twelve animal signs. This system is tied to the Lunar calendar. 2012 is called the Year of the Water Dragon. It begins January 23, 2012 and ends February 9, 2013.

Dragons are powerful and magical creatures. Dragon years are times of destiny and decision. The beneficial influence of Water encourages cooperation, sensitivity to others, and mutual understanding in pursuit of important goals. Water Dragon requires tough choices and a willingness to surrender what is no longer necessary. Although this may seem daunting, the proper use of Dragon energy attracts good fortune.

The Year of the Water Dragon is a leap year, or longer than average. This makes it an especially lucky year to marry. If you have been waiting to take a relationship to a deeper level, it’s an auspicious time to make the leap! (yay for me!)

Dragons go where others fear to tread. You can cope with stress and face challenges with a more hopeful attitude. It will be easier to do what is necessary to make progress toward specific goals. Dragon encourages patience and perseverance.

But building a foundation for the future takes time. Between February and April, work to resolve anything that creates disharmony in the family or community. In July the energy begins to shift. Many will face unexpected and challenging choices.

August and September brings transforming events (possibly connected with finance, war, or weather) that may grab the world’s attention. Water Dragon encourages a courageous and even relaxed attitude. There is nothing coming that you will not find a way through.

]]> http://thenodak.com/2012/01/happy-chinese-new-year-the-year-of-the-dragon/feed/ 0 http://thenodak.com/2011/12/what-i-learned-in-2011/ http://thenodak.com/2011/12/what-i-learned-in-2011/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:46:31 +0000 Chelsea http://thenodak.com/?p=2183

In Business:

• Always focus on growing a BETTER business… not necessarily a bigger one.
• Hire when you’re not in a hurry. Take your time on each person you interview. And look for five major qualities: 1-Personality, 2-Organization, 3-Proactive approach, 4-Plays well with others, 5-Has great ideas and is ready to use them.
• When you hire someone that isn’t working out, let them go right away. Don’t try to fit a square peg in a round hole.
• Implementing systems and processes saves money and time. This will also shape the strength of your business.
• Be really clear about your services and products – and don’t leave any room for questions or confusion. It will cost you money in the end.
• Empower your team to be all that they are. Don’t micro-manage. Let them do what they do best.
• Find the right clients – not just any clients.
• Get your team together (in person) as often as you can. It will make a huge difference and you’ll find there will be more people dedicated to the success of the company… and to you.
• Make sure to take care of your team in every way. They are the reason your business is successful.
• Always be there to support your team. Check in with them individually – just so they know you’re there to support them in any way.
• Laugh. A lot. And enjoy what you do. Because in the end… it’s just work.

In Life:

• Love more.
• Love bigger.
• Love unconditionally.

Happy New Year Friends! Much love to you!
-Chelsea

Hey ya’ll! Hope you’re doing well and gearing up for the holidays! I know I am.

Just wanted to check in quick and be sure you’re playing it safe during the holidays. Last weekend we were celebrating the holidays with Mark’s kids – and around midnight a drunk driver crashed into our parked car in front of our house. It was pretty scary, but I’m glad everyone is alright.

As I’m sure you know, I lost both of my brothers in drinking and driving accidents (separate accidents) and it will be something that will forever shape my life. If you have any sense at all this holiday season, please don’t get into a car if you’ve been drinking. I’m sure you have someone to call or a place to stay. I promise, you’ll be thankful you did.

You just never know what could happen. Play it safe. Have a blast on your holiday – celebrate, cheer… but don’t drive.

On another note…

Mark and I are spending the holidays at the beach. We’re excited to get some R&R and just hang out. We’re really looking forward to it. Each year we celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas… and it’s all about relaxing and preparing ourselves for big things to come in 2012.

What are you doing for the Holidays? I’d love to hear from you.

Enjoy and cheers to 2012. xxo

Hey all. I hope you have been keeping busy, enjoying life, and preparing for the holidays. I know I have.

For the longest time – I was afraid to slow down. Thinking it might be a bad thing… or a ball might drop. That totally freaks me out. But I realized that every once in awhile – we all need to slow the life and business train down, breathe, and reassess.

Don’t get me wrong. I love everything that is happening. Life is amazing. Business is great… and I’ve had every part in making all of this a reality. But – I really need to pull back for a bit and reassess everything that is currently happening. Making sure I’m making the best decisions for my business and my life.

When everything goes so fast – you don’t give things time and space. And I am now noticing that I need to give my life and business some space. Let it breathe, take a break – and really stand in awe at all that has happened – and most importantly enjoy what is happening right now.

I was recently published in a book after an interview I did over a year ago (that I forgot about!)… and now I’m able to look at it and say “damn, that’s awesome! I want to enjoy this”….

And that’s just what I’m doing.

The holidays are right around the corner. I want to enjoy my family time. I want to look after my family, spend more time with my grandma because she needs me, spend more time working on my relationship with my business, my relationship with my employees, colleagues… and really giving myself space to think and create.

Now is the time to really work on the foundation of everything. The amazing people that make up Solamar and the amazing people in my life – they are so important to me. I’m going to take the rest of this year and spend more time with them.

It’s the perfect time for this too! 2012 is near… and I want to make so much happen. I have so many ideas… and I’m going to use them next year. Stay tuned for some serious fireworks!

I encourage each and every one of you to wind down your year with friends, family and much space. Because I know that it will help you craft the next steps in your life. And you’ll start the new year on the right foot.

Much love to you!

Would love to hear what you’re up to. Comment if you are able!

I’ve been part of several teams in the past. None of them felt quite right. The culture was always off, not everyone was totally in it, or people were really hating having to go to work every day. It was corporate – what do you expect, right?!

At the beginning of October we had our very first ever Solamar Retreat. It was incredible. One of the best weekends of my life. For the first time ever, I flew the entire team into Birmingham and some of us met for the very first time – even though we have worked together for years. Crazy!

We spent the next two days getting to know each other more, figuring out how to tighten our bond as a team, collaborating on just about everything – and we even ate some really great food (the pic above is at my very favorite restaurant!).

It was one of the best business decisions I have ever made in my life. Yes, it costs a pretty penny to fly in and take care of 20+ people – but every single minute gave the company several more solid years.

We’re a team… supported by the best company culture ever. We support each other, we love the vision of Solamar – and we’re all in. It’s the best feeling ever.

I never thought I’d have a business quite like this. Solamar and the team have exceeded my expectations ten fold.  This company means even more to me now. I can feel the strength, the team is incredible – and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

—–

We also created a music video while everyone was here. It was super fun and we all were able to be a little dorky. Check it out here:

Hey everyone! Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written. Bad me! I hope ya’ll are rockin’ it in the free world. =)

I’m currently en route to LA (yes, Delta Go-Go wifi on the plane is a sweet, sweet thing!).  While in LA I’ll be hanging out with someone very, very cool. I can’t tell you all the details now. But stay tuned. I’ll leave you with – it’s going to be BIG. Seriously BIG. The next three days will be all about creating. Incredibly excited. Wish me luck!

This week I spent some time in Nashville – hanging with Journey, Foreigner and Night Ranger (like our pic?!). For those of you who know me well, you know that I’m a nut about music – especially ballads from the past. Ah… yes. Music back in the day is much different than it is now. I’ve learned to appreciate it that much more. Out of the three bands – my favorite was definitely Foreigner. They rocked the house!

As you may know – I took some time off from traveling in July and August – and now it’s back on the road for me. Creating, loving, building…. delish. Refreshed and ready to rock this world even more. But you’re probably wondering what I did with my time while I was home in Birmingham?! Well, I spent a lot of fun time with my fiance and his children. We started planning our wedding (which is June 30th 2012… on the beach – barefootin’). I worked IN my business in a really big way. I started at the core, and I’ve been working to establish better systems and processes that compliment our culture (and our clients of course!). Went to a gazillion baseball games. Watched Mark race in severeal motorcycle races (see pic below, he’s in the red) – and hit up both MotoGP races in the US (Indianapolis + Monterey). And to top all that off, adopted two adorable puppies (see more pics here).

I’m sure I’m missing something exciting and fun that happened… but I gotta get going. My battery is about to die and that is one thing that Delta doesn’t have. A plugin! =)

Hope you all are doing great. Would love to hear from you… comment below and tell me what’s up in your neck of the woods.

Much love.

Do you sometimes wonder why people do things the way they do? Why don’t they just do them the way I do? That would make the world an easier place to work and live, right? Well, not exactly.

Each of us has our own style that we bring to the table. The key to building a successful business and working together is understanding why we, and others, behave the way we do. True Colors® is a simple method for gaining insight into how this all works.

“Successful people know who they are and what their True Colors are… when you know what your core values and needs are and feel good about them, you can perform at your highest potential in every area of life. And when you share a working, mutual understanding of other’ core values and needs, you have the basis to communicate, motivate, and achieve common goals with utmost dignity, efficacy, and mutual respect.”

-Don Lowry, creator of True Colors. http://www.true-colors.com/

During the Solamar Retreat (Sola-Treat!) in October, the Solamar team will be taking a look at each of their true colors. We will be exploring what makes each of us tick and learn to appreciate the differences in one another. Appreciating these differences helps enhance cohesiveness, build collaboration and improve teamwork – which I personally think the Solamar team has a pretty good handle on already, but I may be a little biased.

Taking the true colors test and identifying our attributes more distinctly not only gives us an idea of who we are and how we operate, but it gives us insight into how others see us as well. Exciting stuff ahead for Team Solamar!

Here is a preview of each color style… what do you think your color is? (Taken from (c) 2005 Mary Miscisin, All Rights Reserved www.PositivelyMary.com.)

ORANGES
Oranges “squeeze the juice” out of each moment. Opportunistic, their driving force is freedom.  If they feel they do not have choices, they may just create some. Natural risk-takers, rules seem to be guidelines to aim for and are often flexible and negotiable.

BLUES
Blues are “True Blue troopers”, their driving force is relationship.  Before Blues make a decision, they check to determine how it will affect the people involved. They will go the extra mile, often putting the needs of others before their own.

GOLDS
Golds regularly “set the gold standard” and strive to be as “good as gold.” Their driving force is responsibility.  Conscientious, dependable individuals, they want to do the right thing, following established standards.

GREENS
The driving force for Greens is competency. Naturally curious, they thirst for knowledge and information and like to come up with solutions and systems for solving problems and inventing a better future. Preferring to keep their emotions to themselves they approach situations objectively. Remember “Keen Green.”

Guess which color I am?

Kari Harris
Customer Service
Solamar Marketing Agency
http://solamarmarketing.com

Almost everyone has one… living under their bed or maybe in a closest.

It’s a box. But not just any box. I call it my future box. Basically everything I want to see and do in my lifetime.

Have you ever watched the movie – Eat, Pray, Love – or maybe you read the book? Well, they talk about a box that they’ve kept since childhood. The box that Liz keeps is full of national geographics, tear outs of different countries – full of places she wants to see in her lifetime. The box that her friend has is full of baby clothes and toys that she picked up through the years – even though she didn’t have a child until recently – she knew she was going to and saved these items in her box for when she did.

It got me thinking about the box that I’ve compiled over the years. It’s full of things I want to marvel at someday… world landmarks, safaris, other cultures, books that teach different languages because I want to learn them all, a map that shows all the places I’ve been and ones that I really want to go to….

And then I have things to keep me grounded and remind me of where I came from…

A pendant and a tree ornament from my grandmother. My first watch that my dad gave me for my 9th birthday. A note that my mom left in my lunch box when I was heading out to a basketball tournament when I was in high school. Pictures of my family. Drawings from my nieces and nephew. Lots of love stuff from my family – which I adore and smile at every time I open my box.

It’s a cross between past, present and future. Where I’ve been… and where I want to go.

I look through it from time to time… it inspires me, motivates me, makes me feel powerful, passionate… and excited about the possibilities of what lies before me.

Today I’m going to add an amazing picture I found in a magazine — a cliff waterfall in Bali. I’m going to Bali someday – and I’ll take the leap – you can count on it.

So tell me…

Do you have a box like this? I’d love to hear about it. Comment below and tell me more…

Hey friends!

We’ve been busy getting comfy in our new office – and we finally got around to showing you a few pictures. Just click the link below to check them out! You’ll see where we get creative every day – and you’ll also meet a few of the Solamarites, too!

CLICK ME! CLICK ME!

More to come… this is just a taste for now. And be sure to stop by and visit if you’re in the South.

Much love,
Chelsea

P.S. I was recently featured in a great blog post – Read it if you’re ready to Play a Bigger Game Online… check out the details here.  Also, I was featured as Entrepreneur of the Week of Marley Majcher’s blog, too! Check it out.