I'm trying out the new ZPro for the business I run with Dave, Phantom Power Promotions.  Could you guys click on the banner on my profile and let me know what you think?

Currently, I'm trying to figure out how to separate my personal and professional profiles.  They seem to be one right now, and I don't want that.  I hope I figure out a way to change that.

Today I was reading about having a personal business manifesto beyond "make lots of money."

My first exposure to running a business was watching an ex-boyfriend start a web-oriented business with a partner.  The partner approached business from a purely profit-oriented standpoint that basically amounted to, "If we can screw people out of money and not do any real work, so much the better."  Needless to say, the business did not last long.  It worked that way for a few months, but then people noticed that they sunk a lot of money into a business that wouldn't return calls or make good on promises.  They took their money elsewhere, and then this guy had to then dream up another scheme.  This was his cycle.  He lived large for a few months, stringing people along and blowing their money on status symbols and frivolities, and then was destitute for six more until he found another sucker.

Even putting morals aside, it was a highly unintelligent way to approach business.  The value isn't in initial investment funds, but in repeat business and returning customers that will sustain you over a period of time, not just a few months.  Call me old-fashioned, but I like this idea of providing valuable services in exchange for my wages.   I wouldn't want to waste my money on someone who wasn't providing me with my money's worth, so why would I want to perpetuate that kind of situation?  I'm not a guest in this world - I live here.

So I will need to spend some time thinking about the personal principles I want to found my businesses on.  Profit, yes, of course.  And what else?  Honesty?  What about the customer who doesn't want honesty, only the answer he or she wants to hear?  What will I do then?  (this has come up before)  Environmental stewardship?  What happens when the recycled envelopes are twice as much?  Will it do any real good, or is it just a feel-good way to forget about genuine conservation?  Maybe I want to make an honest attempt to put the customer in a better place than they were before.  What if that requires a kind of work that is detrimental to me and my place in the world?  Then what?  Fair cost?  What happens when my personal expenses raise and must be covered - can I still offer low-cost services?

So many things to think about, and none of them are easy.  Yet I think it's worthwhile to think about these sorts of things and solidify the perspective I'm coming from so that I don't get swayed by easy answers.

Huh - for some reason, my picture was turned sideways when I logged in today.  I kind of like it that way, so I'll leave it. 

Happy summer solistice, everyone!  On this day, I am heartily grateful for:
a)  gorgeous summer flora and fauna, and the fact that I haven't killed my small vegetable garden yet
b)  air conditioning, and the fact that this is the first week of the summer that I've had to use it
c)  melons, berries, and pineapple (I have a free Jamba Juice smoothie coming up!)
d)  my returning health and the naturopath who has helped me get there
e)  my cat Goliath, who is tearing around the house with a bottle cap as if it was a drug that was absorbed by tossing into the air
f) my lovely husband, who continually surprises me with little words and gifts that mean so much

Dead man singing through
speakers and aether, echoes
in my headphones, lost.

Music that lifts my spirit and make me smile:

My Pet Dragon (I'm so in love with this band):
http://www.myspace.com/mypetdragon 

The Church (my all-time favorite since the 8th grade):  
http://www.myspace.com/thechurchbandofficial 

Peter Murphy (listening to Bauhaus, you'd never have guessed the directions this guy would take):
http://www.myspace.com/officialpetermurphyspace 

Micropixie (Hahaha!):
http://www.myspace.com/micropixie

Numina (my favorite meditation music):
http://www.myspace.com/numina 

The Autumns (these guys know how to rock with beauty):
http://www.myspace.com/theautumns 

If you buy CDs, try to buy them directly from the artist or the artist's label, instead of going through Amazon.com or something.  The artist gets a bigger cut of the profits this way because they don't have to pay commission to someone else.  Of course, you also want to support your local record store, so keep a balance :)

Personally, I'm fond of legal downloads!

If my Zaadz friend Laura in Westminster reads this, I've lost your contact info, so please send me a message!