Imagine preparing your house for a dinner party for guests flying in from all parts of the world. Imagine creating a three-day educational conference covering subjects that all image consultants are dealing with in their businesses or with their clients. Think about arranging for food and lodging for a large group and keeping the expenses as low as possible.
I’ve been thinking about all of those things as we’re in the final stages of launching the first time ever Monthly Marketing Bundle Weekend Retreat. We have MMB members attending from three countries and numerous U.S.A. states. I’m getting texts and emails from members who are already enroute. It’s really happening!
Let me introduce you to Marjory DeRoeck and Carolyn Woodworth who helped me turn my daydream of getting MMB members together face-to-face in Sonoma for fun, networking, sharing, and learning into a reality. They jumped in and helped me with logistics, things I could have never handled on my own. There have been details galore, lots of scenarios to think through. With their help we’ve created a no-fee event. Members are paying food and lodging expenses only.
Marjory, Brenda, and Carolyn meet up to plan the MMB retreat
What’s scheduled for the weekend retreat
I think of June 11-13 as a cross between a three-day slumber party, a Wine Country getaway, a reunion of buddies who have mostly met over the phone but not in person, and a professional enrichment program.
Once we started planning it the ideas kept rolling in. In fact, Marjory at one point said, “No more great ideas, Brenda! We’re at the limit!” She’s been the anchor I needed. Just look at our agenda!
Video production for image professionals
Makeup techniques for the mature woman
Instagram for Image Consultants
How to conduct a first-time client Style Assessment
Instruction in working with clients purchasing new eyewear
An educational program by a leading jewelry designer
Three fabulous group dinners
Live entertainment at two of them including a standup comedy act by one of our own MMBers
Group table topic discussions on aging, creating presentation materials, VIP gifting to clients, money issues, and self-care practices
Prepping for the arrival of the MMBers including fresh baked cookies
So let me introduce the topic of stress into this picture because there has been plenty of that!
When you’re going crazy with ideas and then actualizing those ideas, it can feel like an avalanche. A fun one, but an avalanche nonetheless!
Dealing with stress
I’d been too busy to meditate for days but yesterday I told myself, “Why don’t you take just ten minutes to sit on your meditation cushion? Just ten minutes.”
So I did. It was heaven! Ten minutes led to twenty minutes of blissful calming down and getting centered. What a gift that was.
Caitlin, my office manager, was here to help me prep and get ready for Saturday when everyone will be arriving at my house at 9:30 a.m. ready for the festivities to begin. But we had our normal content writing to finish for the June 15th MMB delivery. We talked about taking our rough drafts with us and working over lunch. But when we got to Sunflower Caffe, working over lunch seemed like a bad idea. We gave ourselves a break and kept it business-free.
When we got back to the office I checked in with my friend who has volunteered to be my “client” for the my style assessment appointment. MMB members will get to see how I work with a first-time client. I asked her how she was doing with her style homework packet. She said, “I’ve got most of it done. But I was wondering: should I put the pictures I’m pulling out of magazines perfectly into a perfect folder and bring it that way?” Oh my gosh, we were laughing non-stop for a minute or more. The idea of the “perfect” anything was actually the perfect medicine for me. This weekend doesn’t have to be perfect. As an MMB member said who’s put on lots of corporate events told me yesterday, “Once it begins, it will have its own energy. It’ll all work out.”
Goody bags are ready for Saturday morning!
Destressing tools
So by dinnertime I realized that stress relief had come into my day in several ways.
Meditation
A work-free lunch hour
A belly laugh with a friend
Recognizing the desire for perfection and then letting it go
Asking for and receiving advice from a trusted colleague
It’s so easy to not take time for your own needs when you’re super-crazy-busy with projects. I need constant reminders myself.
How do you find me-time in the middle of big projects?
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Brenda Kinsel, an image consultant and author, founded Brenda Kinsel E.T.C. in 2009 to provide training, coaching and marketing support to stylists and consultants in the industry.
Dear Brenda and MMBers,
I continue to smile at all the crossover topics in Psychotherapy and Image Professionals. I wish you all playful learning as you gather together to share stories, insights, skill increasing considerations, integration, beauty and attunement with professionals in your passionate work.
For Stress Management–you have a Mindfulness Practice experiential which is one of the top tools I recommend. I might add some connection to Nature with the potential healing and inspiration that Brenda regularly mentions in her posts. Examples being– her walk in a neighborhood noticing colors and paint or materials that Nature enhances or inspires, flowers, animals and inspiration from views and people discovered while out and about. I think this will come about naturally–yet is worth mentioning.
Thank you all in advance for sharing some of the gems you unearth.
Sending nurturing care thoughts–for your MMB weekend.
We may need to ask you to speak at our next MMB Retreat! You have such great ideas, gems really, to teach us. I’m already excited at the thought of it! Thanks, Katherine, for your caring thoughts and inspiration!