Workshop...Social Networking Made Easy

As highlighted in today's blog, 'If I Show You, Will You Look', social networking has many positive aspects to help strengthen your company, your brand and your public profile.

But how does it fit into your daily life? How does it link to other aspects of your business?

I love to use the analogy of a horse race where you are the Horse and your customer is the Golden Cup, the First Prize.

Of course the horse has the ability to take part in the race and reach the winning post on its own but it's more likely to achieve first place, the golden cup and first prize, with a jockey and a trainer.

The jockey ensures that the horse is focused throughout the race and the trainer prepares the horse for the race, ensuring it's muscles are toned and flexed with sufficient nutrients for optimum fitness.

Social networking is the jockey. It helps you in your marketplace (the race) to position yourself against your competitors (the other horses).

Social networking works alongside other marketing tools (the trainer), such as your website, blogs, newsletters and personal face-to-face interactions, to make a strong connection with your customers.

Like any new technology it always take a while to work out best practices.

With over 20 years business expertise, our creative director Gwendoline is now bringing you our top tips on how to make it easy.

• We'll share with you our industry insights and how to take the slog out of social networking.
• We'll show you how to make it structured with clear objectives and goals.
• We'll teach you how to keep it simple but effective, maximizing those precious hours of your day.

Here's what one of our previous students had to say,

" A big thank you for all your valuable advice and help.

You made it fun and interesting."

We create all of our workshops individually for you.

As well as teaching you industry theory and best practices, we make our workshops practical and create a relaxed environment so that you go home with useful skills that can be applied straight away.

Contact us today to reserve your place on our limited workshops.

DATE: Tuesday 2nd March 2010

TIME: 10:00 - 12:00 am

PLACE: Saint Albans, Hertfordshire

PRICE: £35

TELEPHONE: 07841 519802

E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

My Life

Here's the speech that I presented today to an exciting group of business ladies:

"This year I'm celebrating 25 years since I moved down to the Sunny South from the persistently precipitating Pennines.

After achieving a degree in Business Studies, down in sunny Bournemouth, I moved to Hatfield to take up a position in IT. 3 company moves later and I'd made my way up to senior management. I was managing global projects, large teams and budgets in the millions.

But it wasn't enough. There was something missing.

When my father died of cancer, a week after my son was born, I decided it was time to take stock. Every spare minute I spent studying Interior Design with a prestigious London college. When I achieved Distinction in my exams I realised that I had a natural talent, flair and a passion for Interior Design.

It was then that I heard about Ann Maurice, the celebrity House Dr on the telly, who whizzes around people's homes taking them from shocking to striking. Fortunately for me she was offering a training course in London so I booked myself on and am now a House Dr consultant as well as an Interior Designer.

For you, this means that I'm professionally trained to undertake a quick and economic makeover as well as rip your homes apart and rebuild them into palatial palaces to fulfill all your dreams.

I work with divorced couples who need an independent person to prepare their homes for sale, families who haven't decorated for 20 years, couples staying put and extending until the economy improves, as well as single professionals and many, many more.

I consider myself to be a lifestyle designer because my focus is to create you stunning homes that work around your daily life.

I create a retreat for you, your haven - a place where you can relax and unwind - your perfect home."

Thought for the day...You can lead a horse to water!

As the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink it."

With this in mind you should remember that just because you give someone information or professional advice doesn't mean that they are ready to accept it or act on it.

Your advice is most effective when it is given at a point in time that is meaningful to them. At a time when they can apply the information and take positive action. Otherwise, you need to drip feed the information until they are in a position to respond.

For example, our clients are suprised when they have recommended us to their friend and that friend has not been in touch immediately. We, however, are not suprised as we know that their friend will be in touch when they are ready to take our professional advice on board.

Remember: just keep putting the water out for the horse and it will drink when it's thirsty.

Thought For The Day...Could Do Better

My daughter's just come home with her school report and I thought I'd dig mine out as it's such a long time since I read them. Here are some of the comments:

- She is a consistent worker who always gives of her best
- She always works well and cheerfully
- She has a very thoughtful approach to her work and always perseveres when the work becomes more difficult.
- She is capable of reaching the required standard, assuming she works hard.
- Her attitude and behaviour are excellent.
- A very capable student who always works to high standards.

Maybe you should take another look at your school report because mine are far more favourable than I remembered.

Have fun and let me know what comments you received.
Gwendoline.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR,
GA INTERIORS

Tel: 07841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: www.ga-interiors.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Thought for the day...Are you standing still?

"You can't own land, relationships or your children. All you own is your story, and you can't just stand still and hold on to it either - you have to live it."

Baz Luhrmann
Film Director, Screenwriter and Producer.

Thought for the day... Fine art can really make you sick!!!

Dr Graziella Magherini, author of The Stendhal Syndrome, studied more than 100 tourists in Florence and Italy who became ill in the presence of great works!

Their symptoms include heart palpitations, dizziness and stomach pains. The typical sufferer is a single person between 26 and 40 who rarely leaves home.

Dr Magherini believes the syndrome is a result of jet lag, travel stress and the shock of an overwhelming sense of the past. She says, "Very often there's the anguish of death."

The disorder was named after the nineteenth-century French novelist who became overwhelmed by the frescoes in Florence's Santa Croce church.

Why not try out the top spots: Michelangelo's statue of David, Caravaggio's painting of Bacchus and the concentric circles of the Duomo cupola.

Remember to take a friend with you, just in case!

Gwendoline,
CREATIVE DIRECTOR,
GA INTERIORS.

Tel: 07841 519802

My winter wonderland

Gwendoline,

Creative Director,

GA Interiors.

Tel: +44 (0) 7841 519802

E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: www.gainteriors.co.uk

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/gainteriors

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors

Twitter: www.twitter.com/gainteriors

Thought for the day...Take a step forwards and be counted

Today's thought for the day requires courage.

It's not about sitting at home in your snug and secure environment, it's about getting out and seeing what you can achieve.

Your aim should be to take on board something new, and it doesn't have to be something huge or magnificent. It could just be wearing a bold colour instead of black, or even adding a red lipstick or a bold tie to your sombre outfit.

It's about taking you out of your comfort zone to have the courage to take on board new experiences.

Not only will this make you more creative but it will also lift your self-esteem. We all have bad days when we need a little lift so practice today the skills you'll need for tomorrow.

Have fun and enjoy the day,
Gwendoline.
Creative Director,
GA Interiors.

Tel: +44 (0)7841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: www.ga-interiors.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Radio Verulam, Tracks of Your Life Sun 10Jan 2010, 10am

The place to be this weekend is snuggled at home listening to Radio Verulam.

This Sunday (10Jan2010) is the airing of our very own Creative Director, Gwendoline's Tracks Of Your Life (10:00 - 12:00 am GMT, 92.6FM).

It will be a fun filled session with Elspeth Jackman, from Radio Verulam, of Gwendoline's top 14 songs of her life.

Tracks Of Your Life will give you a personal insight into her life and her family with many of the songs having you dancing around the kitchen.

Don't worry if you're not close to a radio as you can even catch the airing on the internet, www.radioverulam.com. Bring out those iphones!

Why not compile your own top 14 songs today and pass the list onto your friends or post your list here and we can find the most popular songs.

Enjoy,
Gwendoline.
Creative Director,
GA Interiors.

Tel: +44 (0) 7841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: www.ga-interiors.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Thought for the day... Feed The Brain

Remember that your brain needs to be fed and nurtured just as much as your stomach.

What's for lunchdinner tonight then? - a thrilling novel? the daily tabloid? A research paper? Twitter postings? A blog article? - endless possibilities.

Why not take 10 minutes to read something different tomorrow? Choose something that you wouldn't normally review. Maybe you could borrow something from a friend and experience their interests and preferences.

Remember: if you always do the same things in the same way then you'll get the same results.

Shake things up a little tomorrow and let me know how this affects your day.

Enjoy,
Gwendoline
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GA INTERIORS

Tel: +44 (0) 7841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: http://www.ga-interiors.co.uk/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Thought for the day...Are you a SPANNER or a PLANNER?

ARE YOU A SPANNER?

If you're a SPANNER then you're continually throwing one into the mix. You worry about all of the things that might go wrong that you feel you can't do anything about. You're likely to be:

- reactive

- feel like the victim

- spend a lot of time worrying

- blame and accuse other people for the problems

- put off doing things for as long as possible

- fail to take action

ARE YOU A PLANNER?

If you're a PLANNER then you create and follow up on a plan of action to tackle problems. You focus on the things that you can do that might have a positive influence on the situation. You're likely to:

- take action

- be proactive

- feel in control of the situation

- be seen as leaders and strong people

Sometimes the difference between what is in our control and what is not is obvious. But often it's not clear, and it's this ability to distinguish that highlights whether you're a Spanner or a Planner.

From: The Mind Gym (http://www.themindgym.com/)

Share your thoughts with me today,

Gwendoline.

GWENDOLINE ALDERTON

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

GA INTERIORS

tel: 07841 519802

E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: http://www.ga-interiors.co.uk/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Praise Indeed...Our Recommendations

I thought I'd share with you some of the lovely comments we've received for our professional interior design services:

- "Thank you sooo much for all your wonderful help and support - you have made a huge difference to our lives."

- "My bedroom is amazing! It's everything I wanted! Thanks so much for your advice."

- "I just wanted to thank you for all your time, inspiration and efforts in giving me such a beautiful home. Each room most definitely has the WOW factor."

- "Gwendoline's ideas for interiors are always fresh."

- "Thank you for all your invaluable advice and help on the course, you made it fun and interesting."

- "Thank you for your help and guidance."

- "I just thought I would tell you that some very nice things were said about you at the meeting today and I really can't tell you who said them as it seemed that someone started and everyone joined in, but you were highly praised."

Receiving many comments such as these affirms our love and passion for interior design, and also highlights the strength of relationships that we create with our clients.

We design fantastic and refreshing interiors and design courses that have such a positive result on our client's lives.

If you'd like to find out more about how we can create your stylish dream property in 2010 then just give us a call today,
Gwendoline.

GWENDOLINE ALDERTON
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GA INTERIORS

tel: 07841 519802

E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk
Website: www.ga-interiors.co.uk
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Thought for the day...Are you a daydream believer?

Did you know that, according to US research, you can live approximately 6.7 years longer by being a little more creative?

Being creative isn’t just about hands on techniques such as knitting or sticky-backed plastic, it also relates to movement and music such as a good old boogie at the Xmas works do!

It’s anything that frees up your mind to think.

In one of my previous thoughts for the day I asked if you think about thinking. This isn’t as crazy as it sounds because you need to give your mind space to think and prepare for those creative thoughts.

This morning I went running to clear my thoughts and declutter my mind of the endless Christmas list that I need to achieve in the next few days.

Sure we’re all busy people but sometimes it takes just a few minutes to clear your mind and create that space for inspirational thoughts and ideas that will kick start you into positive action.

If you find it difficult to clear your mind then maybe you need to become a daydream believer?

It’s a way of dipping into your unconscious mind to make space for those creative thoughts, produce some original ideas, link together thoughts and ideas as well as make sense of concepts.

There are 3 ways of getting into this state of reverie (www.themindgym.com):

1) RELAX

This is where you quieten your mind and stop conscious thinking. The focus should be concentrated on your breathing.

For example, this is an exercise I used with my children when they were younger and had been excitedly charging around all day:

Imaging filling up an imaginary jug with the air that you breathe in. Make sure that you take deep breaths from the pit of your stomach so that the jug is filled to the very top.

Imaging emptying the imaginary jug of the air as you breathe out. Make sure that you exhale slowly and empty your lungs completely.

Breathe in deeply – hold for a second – breathe out deeply – wait for a second….

As your breathing slows your focus heightens and you experience a sense of relaxation.

2) VISUALISE A SPECIAL LOCATION

This is a visualised setting where you can relax and think clearly, somewhere you feel comfortable and safe. It can be a real place or imagined.

For example, this is visualisation that I use with my son when he has trouble sleeping because his head is buzzing with thoughts:

Imagine you’re on a soft sandy beach with the waves gently lapping and the sun shining down. There’s a boat in the distance that gets nearer with every in breath.

As the boat reaches the beach you get up and pick up a box that’s just next to you – it’s a box of your worries – and you put it into the boat. There may be a few boxes of varying sizes so you put them all into the boat.

As you sit back down on the beach you watch the boat get further and further away with every out breath. It gets smaller and smaller, your worries get smaller and smaller, until the boat disappears off the horizon.

You lie down on the soft supporting sand with the sun warming your heart and gently drift into a state of total relaxation.

3) INTRODUCE A CREATIVE GUIDE

This is someone that we trust, value and respect. It is someone that is wise and original. It can be a real person or an imaginary friend. Our creative guide may respond to us verbally, give us an object or show us an image.

For me, my creative guide is the people that I interact with each day. This may be friends and family or someone in my online social network group.

I’ve always felt like a sponge and have a great thirst for knowledge. I love quirky things, new ideas and taking myself ‘out of the box’. I’m a fan of self-development and have always loved the psychology of life.

All of these 3 processes require us to use all of our senses to bring ideas to life as much as possible. By using sight, sound, touch, smell and taste we make the experience richer and more engaging.

Be more creative and live approximately 6.7 years longer.

Share your thoughts with me today,
Gwendoline.

GWENDOLINE ALDERTON
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GA INTERIORS

Tel: 07841 519802

e-mail: Gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk
website: http://www.ga-interiors.co.uk/
linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Newsletter...1QJan2010 A Year Of Optimism

Here are some of the features we're highlighting in our first quarter 2010 newsletter:

- Interior Design Trends for Spring 2010

- Interior Design seminars and workshops for the creative mind

- Social Networking seminar for the business mind

- Exciting new initiative with Collinsons Estate Agents

- Listen to us on Radio Verulam

Make sure you're on our distribution list, visit our website (www.ga-interiors.co.uk) to sign yourself up today.

Have a great Xmas and a well earnt rest - there's a busy year ahead!
Enjoy,
Gwendoline.

GWENDOLINE ALDERTON
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GA INTERIORS

Tel: 07841 519802

website: http://www.ga-interiors.co.uk/
linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Thought for the day...If you can't convince them, confuse them!

DISARMING THE ENEMY

So there's a crisis, a disagreement, a fight? How do you cope with other people's Satir categories?

Sure, levellers are great - they'll keep their heads, stay in touch with their hearts, talk things through to win-win conclusion. But how do you handle the other, less user-friendly personality sub-patterns?

The thing is to realise the signs that a person is feeling bad. They may be stressed. They may feel under siege. They may want help.

So it just won't work if you add more negative emotion to the pot. Criticism, sarcasm, mockery or shouting will simply give the other person more to feel bad about - and they'll just up the ante-placating, blaming, distracting or cutting off at the neck.

Instead, you need to lower the threat level and allow things to chill.

If you can't convince them, confuse them. (American President Harry S. Truman recommending a distractor approach).

From: What makes people tick?
By: Susan Quilliam

Thought for the day...come crowding in upon your latter-day senses

Richard Ford
US Author

"construed...home just seems a provisional claim, a designation you make upon a place, not one it makes on you.

A certain set of buildings, a glimpsed, smudged window-view across a schoolyard, a musty aroma snifffed behind a garage when you were a child, all of which come crowding in upon your latter-day senses.

Those are pungent things and vivid, even consoling"

From: an urge for going (Harpers, Feb 1992)

Thought for The Day...Take Time For Others

Yesterday in my blog "Thought for the day... Tomorrow is more important than today" I said:

"When you wake up tomorrow really listen to the first person that speaks to you. Give them your time and effort, but most importantly your ear! Listen to what they're saying and try to understand their non-verbal messages."

This morning I gave my daughter my added attention and she rewarded me with a suprise note tucked in my handbag. It was totally beautiful and said, "I don't think I could ever put you into words - your loving, kind, happy, joyfull, peaceful, nice, pink and many more but you're more than words."

My day has been extra special. I hope yours was too.
Gwendoline.

GWENDOLINE ALDERTON
CREATIVE DESIGNER
GA INTERIORS

tel: 07841 519802

Website: http://www.ga-interiors.co.uk/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Thought for the day...Tomorrow is more important than today!

When you wake up tomorrow really listen to the first person that speaks to you. Give them your time and effort, but most importantly your ear! Listen to what they're saying and try to understand their non-verbal messages.

See how this affects the rest of your day. Does it make you more aware of your surroundings? Does it make you more considerate? Does it make you feel closer to that person?

Why not drop me a note and let me know. I'll let you know tomorrow how it affects my day.
Enjoy your day,
Gwendoline.

GWENDOLINE ALDERTON
CREATIVE DESIGNER
GA INTERIORS

tel: 07841 519802

Website: www.ga-interiors.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Thought for the day... Architecture is a vehicle for the telling of stories

#84: ARCHITECTURE IS AN EXERCISE IN NARRATIVE

"Architecture is a vehicle for the telling of stories, a canvas for relaying societal myths, a stage for the theatre of everyday life."

from: 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School
by: Matthew Frederick

Get your message across...Balloon Talk

I just love interesting facts and nonsense:

"In 1917, more than a decade before the first talking films, inventor Charles Pidgin patented a breakthrough way to stimulate speech on screen.

Before filming, balloons made of rubber or any other suitable material are concealed in each performer's mouth.

The balloons are imprinted with dialogue and characters simply blow up their balloons on cue, allowing their lines to be read just as if they were comic strip figures."

from: The Book of Lists
By: David Wallechinsky & Amy Wallace

Isn't this just a great invention and must have been absolutely hilarious to watch and experience. A real first of its time!

In today's terms it could even be seen as contemporary art.

If you decide to re-enact this out on YouTube please let me know the link:

GWENDOLINE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GA INTERIORS
Hertfordshire
England

tel: 07841 519802

Website: http://www.ga-interiors.co.uk/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors