backstory: I is Gonna Splash Actively in this Big Rain Puddle Again - 12/15/10 12:17 PM
Well, I guess you can say I am back. After a SHORTER break from staging and a LONGER break from blogging I have decided to come back in and splash around in this MUCH larger puddle called ActiveRain.
Why did I dry up and leave? Well, it is partially because of ActiveRain I left in the first place! You see I was noticed here by a consumer product technology company in California. After many discussions about social media in general, they asked me to come aboard and help create a splash for them in their industry using social media.
So about a year and 1/2 ago … (32 comments)
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backstory: Who was Stage It Forward's MYSTERY MODERATOR? - 08/02/07 04:40 PM
One of the things that makes Stage It Forward such a thriving and active group here in the Rain is the fact that the Moderator position is passed to someone new each month. Each month what is featured in the group as the "best to be read" for the day is selected by a different person with a different perspective. While a particular moderator might not pick what other's feel is "best" for the day, the fact that differing insights are welcome keeps the group vital and active.
In return for taking taking the time and making the commitment to the group, the moderator gets a … (24 comments)
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backstory: Held Within A Comment... - 03/22/07 06:52 AM
I woke up this morning thinking about my recent (NBC) post and the many thoughtful, supporting and encouraging comments that were made by so many... that I just had to do something to show just how much I appreciate all of your kind and generous words. So this is my "collective Comment of Thanks" to all your comments.
What is so odd about Active Rain, is that while you can find amazing and well written blogs that teach so much, share so much, and help so much... it is in simple short Comments where "volumes" are often spoken.
It is the Comment that gives Active Rain life. For in the Comment something magical happens … (59 comments)
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backstory: NBC picked up my blog... How do I EVEN BEGIN to thank Active Rain?!!!! - 03/19/07 11:35 PM
Today has been a day I will ALWAYS remember... and I have to thank ACTIVE RAIN for so very much of it.
Yesterday morning I discovered that NBC-5 TV in Dallas had picked up one of my recent posts from my "Pretty Blog" (which is my AR blog slightly re-constituted) and posted it on the station's website. I was flabbergasted. I was floored. I was thrilled. And I really wanted to thank Active Rain... However, my "thank you" was going to have to wait as I really wanted to also post my 3 Year Anniversary Post.
When I finally DID get to post my … (119 comments)
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backstory: First Appearing on "STAGE" 3 years Ago... TODAY! - 03/19/07 07:09 AM
Today, on the 3rd anniversary of my first home staging... I thought I would share the backstory behind my first staging experience and how it convinced ME that home staging works.
In March of 2004, a little after I had completed my studies in Interior Design, I was asked to stage a condo (that had a lot going against it) in Chicago.
I can remember thinking... "Staging? What's that?" You see, I really knew NOTHING about staging. So I went about researching what I could on the web. But unfortunately, at that time, there was not much information to be found, as there is today, but there was enough information that I got the … (27 comments)
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backstory: Recycling a Full Circle Moment - 03/16/07 10:31 AM
Last November I took a business trip to China. I went there because the professional designer "me" was needed, however to my surprise the personal "me" was profoundly impacted.
While I was in China, I visited both Hong Kong and a city called Shenzhen (45 minutes from Hong Kong via water taxi) on the mainland. During this trip it became quite apparent that Hong Kong was all about consuming, and Shenzhen was all about manufacturing.
Shimmering and sparkling, yet cluttered in EVERY nook and cranny of the streets of Hong Kong, were shops, stores and boutiques selling every conceivable thing we stuff into our lives.
In contrast … (62 comments)
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backstory: Standing Out in the Rain... a Lesson to take to Localism. - 01/04/07 01:10 PM
Yesterday it was announced that of the 27,229 blog entries* posted on Active Rain since its début on June 25, 2006 my "very personal" post entitled "The Gift of Tears" was voted the Most Memorable post for the year. First, I have to say WOW and huge thank you to all who voted!
And while I am flattered and grateful, it got me to thinking... Why? Why THAT post? Did that post REALLY have anything to do with Real Estate?
As a professional in the Real Estate industry I know that working with people is at the core of what I … (40 comments)
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backstory: The gift of tears - 12/15/06 07:00 AM
Well, when it comes to ActiveRain I have been kind of quiet all week long. While I've popped into the rain here and there... and made some comments, I have not posted. I didn't post for a couple of reasons. First, after reading many of the last few posts by Jeff Turner I have been moved deeply and profoundly and I am doing much reflecting, both personally and professionally. Next, since this was to be my 100th post, I wanted it to share something of value, something thought provoking.
Many of you who have read my posts have enjoyed my "unique" sense of humor. I've … (73 comments)
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backstory: I can’t hold it any longer… this old Blog-Dog is gonna hit his 100th Post. - 12/08/06 09:25 AM
Well I am about to a hit a personal milestone here in the rain. My next post will be #100!
And while that may not seem like a lot for some bloggers here in the rain... it is for me. You see prior to joining Active Rain I barely knew what a blog was... let alone write one. (Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?)
Anyway, now that I have been a part of all this am I am grateful for all I have learned AND the fun I have had. Yes... FUN! Fun has been for me part of my personal Return-On-Investment … (33 comments)
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backstory: BRING US BACK TO THE FUTURE... an invitation to all AR bloggers. - 11/06/06 06:47 AM
We all have been there... worked hard on a blog early on in our Active Rain blog careers only to see them fizzle and go nowhere.
You know the blog... the one that was well thought out, well written, sharing your wisdom and insight. BUT once posted somehow it went nowhere and just to become a drip of a drop in the Active Rain puddle.
Deep down you know it was good. But God forbid you would write another blog on the same subject, thinking... "been there done that!"
So, here is a 2nd chance to bring attention back a good posted message and get out there amongst the rain drops.
I invite you all … (14 comments)
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backstory: Visting the Edge of 2 Worlds - 11/05/06 08:22 AM
So I have been back for a week from my trip to China...and what a trip it was. While I went there because the professional merchandising/design advice of "me" was needed, the personal "me" was impacted.
Since returning I have been asked questions like: "How was it?" "Did you have a nice time?" "What did you think of China?' And each time I am asked, I am stumped for an answer.
Why stumped? Well the above pictures are 2 views of China I had out my hotel room windows. As I was taking them... I never realized they visually would capture the essence of my travel experience. They … (21 comments)
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backstory: Staged Property does NOT sell... BUT WHY? - 10/18/06 10:06 PM
Here is a set of Before & After pictures of a TOTALLY VACANT property we staged back in mid June and un-staged today.
IT DID NOT SELL. WHY? Was it because staging really does not help?
SOME nay-sayers might (and will) jump to that conclusion. I happen to have experienced far too many POSTIVE results because of our work to agree with that deduction.
Could it be because of the slow/poor market? Yes, that is a strong possibility. Actually the owner WAS able to rent it in the end.
OR COULD IT BE IT WAS PRICED WAY TO HIGH? YES, DEFINETLY in this case … (15 comments)
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backstory: The POWER of Blogging - 10/16/06 06:54 AM
Much has been asked about the power of blogging here on Active Rain. People want to know if it is "worth" it? They want to know if blogging generates business... will it make them more money?
Well in order to make money your blog first be seen… and it looks like my words are being seen by others.
One of those “others” noticing and mentioning my "pretty" blog (which is pretty much a mirror blog of my AR posts) is a cool blog site that until yesterday I never even heard of called Grow-A-Brain. Grow-A-Brain is a fine example of how realtor … (6 comments)
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backstory: Back-story... what we wish people REALLY knew about us. - 09/19/06 07:56 PM
Marketing typically crafts and packages "our messages" in perfected snippets we HOPE connect with our clients.
How often do we just wish that our clients REALLY knew us for who we were?
We wished they "got" our love for what we do… our commitment to being HONEST… our wanting to be 100% fair to all parties involved. We wish they knew what I call our "Back-story"... the reality of who we are as people not just someone trying to sell something for the sake of a sale.
As I participate more and more on Active Rain, I see the back-story of others … (3 comments)
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backstory: I CONFESS... I watch OPRAH and enjoy it! - 09/18/06 06:14 PM
So today opens the new season of Oprah. I am sooooo in need of a fresh Oprah "fix".
I recently was shopping for props for our prop library at IKEA here in Chicago and there was a woman that looked so much like Oprah... I had to ask. She just smiled and said that people always tell her she looks like Oprah.
Like Oprah, generosity beamed thru her reply.
It was in mid August and I need a good Oprah fix... it did hold me over.
WHY do I watch Oprah... because she puts herself out there.
Is Oprah right all the time? NO, … (17 comments)
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backstory: You might need a kleenix for this Labor Day blog - 09/03/06 05:57 PM
So this past week has been a week from staging HELL. That is right... I used the whole word. I didn't pussy foot around and use symbols like %$##. I called it like it was.
So to RELAX I rented an AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING movie: "Akeelah and the Bee" At one point I just turned into a puddle as the most beautiful and inspiring quote was read.
The more I read about "perfected marketing packaged personalities" I realize our laboring life at times can seem unbearable... but on this day remember it is what gives us purpose.
While these are not my words... they are … (17 comments)
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