A lot of companies have been using crowd sourcing to gain better access into the minds and desires of their consumers- but it is still a very underused approach. As used by Threadless- a tee shirt company that allows its community to upload and then vote upon which designs to actually produce- the crowdsourcing tactic is very effective. 

A.) You only produce only that which your consumers want to buy- resulting in lower risk and less unsold overstock.

B.) Asking for and then producing what your market wants produces a lower mark up and retail price.

Brilliant! So why aren’t more people utilizing this amazing tool? For a couple of reasons. One, it is not yet ‘the norm’ and companies don’t think to do it. Two, for some reason we all get a little sheepish when we think about asking for something… even if you are reaching out to the people you are trying to ultimately serve.

Solution- start asking. Do it in a fun way. Give incentives- even if they are just small things like a 10% discount or online access to ‘Behind the Scenes’ from a photo shoot. You will build your community, get real and valuable feedback and become a better supplier of what people actually want. Oh yea- and you will save numerous pounds (if not tons) of resources that would otherwise have been wasted. Nice.

The immediacy and the accessibility of the internet never ceases to amaze me- nor do the great minds that brainstorm up the best ways to put it to use. Alas, it was only a matter of time before ‘securitized fund raising’ would come to the fashion industry. 

It feels like a blend between KickStarter- an online site that allows people to submit ideas that they need funding for- and Threadless, the site that allows its community to upload designs that are voted upon to then go into production. One company is set to launch this initiative this fall called Fashion Stake.

Basically, ‘supporters’ of the brand give say $50 to buy into the brand and help with the upstart or raise for that year. In return they receive private showroom sessions, possible designer audiences, access to events such as runway shows, etc. It is like being an angel investor on a small scale with quite a few perks. Not sure if there is a monetary ROI, as the site is not yet fully live- but even if it is all given back in a non-monetized way it seems like a great way to support the brands and designers you believe in and be an active member of their evolution. Brands would be very wise to start developing the platforms to host this kind of engagement.

We have all had times in which we’ve felt pushed over or let down by an individual or a company that we are working with. It is very hard not to take it personally and to keep your emotions out of it. Yet, the best thing you can do is keep calm and carry on.

It is important to let them know how you feel- but to keep it simple and unemotional. So, state your disappointment and how you are going to proceed, but don’t go into it at great length or make stinging remarks that may feel good in the moment.

The world is a lot smaller than you think and even though you may have legitimately been wronged it is important to not close that door irrevocably. Take a few days, regain your even-mindedness and then reconcile the situation.

Are you waiting for everything to be perfect before… (fill in the blank)? It seems to me that a lot of people are. It is the easiest way to put something off or to let something hang in front of you that may in fact motivate you but will never be realized, because the surrounding situation isn’t perfect.

The trouble with waiting for perfection is that it actually doesn’t exist. So, if you have an idea that you want to bring into fruition- you need to ACT! Don’t wait for the universe to align. The fact that you had the thought is inspiration enough, it is up to you to see your idea through.

Recently, I read an article on optimism and pessimism. The basic point carried across was that typically people fall into one category or the other and the best way to tell is to see how you react to situations. So, if you are a pessimist the less than desired outcome of a situation will be accompanied by your thought that,  ”Well, I didn’t expect it to be that good anyways…” And if you are an optimist you will think to yourself, “What can I learn from that experience?…”

I found that I am caught somewhere between these two opposites. On the one hand I most certainly come away from every situation- good or bad- thinking, “What did I learn from that?” Yet, if I am honest, I also find myself going into things with low expectations, reasoning that that way I won’t be disappointed. Hm.  

The low expectations thing disturbs me. How can you ever expect to be a part of great things if your mind is always holding you back with the thoughts of how bad or un-amazing it will be? Being an optimist takes courage and a risk of disappointment. It isn’t the “safe” place that pessimists generate to ensure that they are always ‘pleasantly surprised’. Yet, I would much rather go through life, risking it all- including looking foolish- to see the wonderful and amazing things of life however they manifest, knowing that my mindset in attracting them with that very outlook will increase my odds of experiencing these great expectations.

During a dinner with fellow fashion media friends at Aspen Fashion Week, we naturally fell into the conversation of working in the industry and what we have all learned over the years. It was a wonderful sharing of knowledge, truths and lessons learned. 

One thing that really caught my attention was this idea of building a platform for yourself. Today, it really doesn’t seem to be enough to be simply a brilliant writer, photographer or person! Nope, today you need to build up a base that covers various areas that compliment one another and allow you move forward with force.

To me this does feel right, yet I get caught on the fact that it is a tricky balance. You don’t want to spread yourself too thin, but you do need to be out there. So, I recommend getting out a piece of paper and drawing out where you ultimately want to be. Then, draw arrows down from there into sub-categories (3 or 4) that will lead you there, and get even more granular by bullet pointing the specific steps you can take to get there right now. This is how I make sense of my overwhelming need to ‘do’ ‘create’ and ‘be’! It is wonderful to have those lofty goals hovering overhead, but you need real life action steps to get there- in about three other areas all at the same time.

I couldn’t agree more- at the TEDxEast conference in New York this past fall, a speaker made the same point. At first it feels a bit strange to accept that creativity flows from that which has already been created. But, once you wrap you head around it, you realize this truth and your mind begins to spiral off of this thought to imagine so many wondrous things inspired by the very things and people before you. Happy ‘stealing’!

(photo quote via artpixie)

Time really is our most valuable asset. When we are young summers last forever and that akward age of 13 seems like it will never end. Yet, as we get older time goes faster. Have you noticed that? It isn’t long before months and then years have gone by in what feels like a blink. It goes without saying that usually our lives fell like they are going faster because they also become fuller. You have more people you connect and interact with, events to attend, meetings to hold, emails to write, and the list goes on and on. It is easy to take on the superhero approach and think, “I can do it all!” The truth is, you can- but then you would have to give up sleep.

A better tactic is to implement Pareto’s Principle and the rule of 80/20. Basically, you identify the 20% that gives you 80% of your profit. So, if you are focusing on getting EVERYBODY on board for a project you are working on, realign to focus on the 20% that generate 80% of the results. This typically translates to honing in on the big players. Or, if you are selling a product or service, identify the top 20% of your target market, they are usually the ones that give you an 80% return.

We don’t have to be everything to everyone. Instead, we need to pinpoint where our 80/20 relationships are and focus our energy on the manageable 20%.

I recently received this question from a reader and am really pleased that I feel I can offer some advice on the matter.

The first thing, after you have accurately identified that which you would like to change, is to make up your mind with unwavering will power that you are going to change this habit. The good news is, as humans, we are creatures of habit- so to go from one habit to another is more easily done than one would think. This is really useful if you can shift a ‘bad’ habit to a ‘good’ one.

So, look at what you are trying to change and replace the ‘bad’ with a good habit you want to cultivate. An example would be, “I don’t want to overeat anymore” so you replace that thought with, “I drink a glass of water before each meal to help regulate my appetite.” The important thing here is to replace the thoughts associated with the bad habit with new ones corresponding to a good habit you want to develop.

It comes back to the law of the Universe- where you put your mind and attention is what you will reap. So, even if you are thinking “I don’t want to do that” you are affirming it by putting energy there.

I am really an advocate of making up your mind and just doing it! However, if you find this too difficult at first, you can start small and work your way up to the bigger goal of some of these very routine habits we all form. By exercising your will power, it will grow and so will your ability to quickly re-focus your energy and create the habits that are healthy for you.

Finally, environment is the strongest influence. So, if your habit is contingent on being around a certain person or people, you may want to spend less (or more, depending on which way you are going) time in their presence. Once you have built up your new habit you can go back to your normal schedule.

Some days I feel like I am fighting the beast of this wonderfully instantly interactive technology driven world we are now living in. It prompts me to sync my schedule and coordinate my contacts. To broadcast where I am and check-in for points. To shout out what is happening to me throughout the day and send cute emoticons to my friends.

The truth is, I actually really enjoy all of these ways of interacting and crossing over. Lately though, I have started to feel like I need to make sure I am running them and not the other way around. See, as humans we are creatures of habit, so it is easy for us to fall into a habit and stay there. It isn’t until someone or something breaks into that habit formed space that you step back and start asking questions.

Do I really need to check my twitter feed every spare moment? How about I just enjoy sitting in the sun and let my mind rest or think about something that brings me joy. Or, am I really reliant on my Google Maps to get me from point A to point B? What about exploring a new street while walking in the right direction?

I guess it really comes down to finding a balance. I think there a saying that states: “Everything in moderation is the surest way to happiness.” I really believe this, and I also believe that sometimes you need to be pulled out of your routine to see where and who you are.