July 28, 2010

Where, oh where, to network in Chicago?

Filed under: Local (Chicago),Networking — Tags: , , — lidia @ 2:31 pm

As I recently received a request from someone seeking Chicago networking events, I thought I would post a list of networking calendars that I’ve bookmarked.

Chicago networking calendars

And of course, I must mention Neighborhood Networking in Chicago, the monthly networking event that I co-host with my friend and fellow small biz owner, Elizabeth Lulu Miranda of Mercury Organizing Professionals.

Know of other Chicago networking calendars? Share the URL in the comments section.

July 14, 2010

Let’s clear the air in the office—literally

Filed under: Workspace — Tags: , , , — lidia @ 10:00 am

Snake plant (Sansevieria)

While I’ve recently kicked my outdoor urban gardening into high gear, I’ve always had lots of houseplants in my home and office. I recall my mom telling me long ago that plants clean the air—and by gosh, she was right.

Whether we realize it or not, our offices can harbor loads of air pollutants and irritants, such as laser toner dust, carpeting and dry cleaning chemical residue, and recirculated air. But our houseplant friends are here to save the day, helping to remove common air toxins—all while making your workspace more cheerful and inviting.

But don’t just take my (and my mom’s) word for it, read about a study from NASA on how houseplants help clean indoor air. Then go out and hit your local nursery.

Top air clearing plants:

  • Spider Plant
  • Philodendron
  • Peace Lily
  • Bamboo Palm
  • Janet Craig (Corn Plant)
  • Mother-In-Law’s Tongue (Snake Plant)
  • Gerber daisy
  • English ivy

Most of these plants are easy to grow in an office, with some needing little or no light (great for a windowless cubicle).

Read how to choose and care for houseplants.

July 13, 2010

Cleaning house = giving thanks

Filed under: Client Communication — Tags: , — lidia @ 10:00 am

In preparation for an upgrade, I started cleaning house on my Mac. As I filed away (and thought back on) completed design projects, I realized—wow, I have a lot of people to thank!

In this day and age, we are all grateful for the work we have, and especially the faithful clients and vendors we can rely on. But sometimes work gets busy, deadlines must be met and we forget to thank them.

Being a greeing card designer myself, I probably send more cards than the average person. But “cleaning house” sparked me to write some cards. Seeing the printed samples and computer files was the perfect visual cue to thank that print vendor who did an awesome job, or the client who has consistently sent work.

So, have you sent a thank you card lately?

Follow along and add your own “thank you” shoutouts using #ThanksTuesday

July 6, 2010

Let your clients inspire you

Filed under: Creativity — Tags: , — lidia @ 9:04 am

After recently creating a blog for one of my clients, I realized that I really wanted a new blog of my very own. This time, however, the goal was not to promote business or generate income, but simply to have some fun.

I recently started gardening on my city balcony. Being a novice gardener, I was doing lots of reading and research so I thought: why not create a place to share my gardening discoveries, as well as keep a diary of my urban garden that I can look back upon. With some encouragement from my writer husband, the urban gardeness blog was born.

I’ve been enjoying it immensely. Partially, because I have a place to save my gardening goodies, tips and photos, but also because it’s something I’ve designed purely for fun. It’s been awhile since I’ve done this, so I now realize how important it is to have some “just for fun” projects among your client and in-house projects.

So next time you’re working on a client project that piques your interest, see how it can inspire you to create a “just for fun” personal project.

Have a “just for fun” project started already? Share them in the comments section!