Laughter is good for us, whether we’re in business or not.  However, at Woman on Business, I found an interesting post, Laughter is Serious Business by Chrysty Beverley Fortner.

Chrysty tells us that if you make her laugh, she’ll do business with you. So perhaps this is a good tip to keep in mind if you’re in a craft (or any other) business.  She also mentions how laughter is good for health, stress relief and your life in general.
I know when my mother had Alzheimer’s, laughter helped my husband, Mother and me get through this difficult time.  When Mother commented, “We …read more

This is a piece about giving serious thought to understanding the difference between a “traditional job” and a small, home-operated business.
I learned today, according to a key member of my business team that I am a “perfectionist monster”. That phrase took root in my mind more powerfully than if this person had called me a thief. And maybe I am. Because of my, so called, affliction or pre-occupation with details…perhaps I am stealing this person’s time.
My business is about perfection. Every detail has to do with managing customer expectations in the manner that was layed out in my business …read more

I wanted this be a light-hearted piece about one of my favorite office observations: the difference between how men and women talk at work. You know, men say things like: Boil the frog (ask your boyfriend what that means) or Get a leg up or Sh**ts and giggles…and women say things like do me a favor? or please, or I’m sorry, or thank you.
But I became side-tracked. As I was searching on-line for some references, I came across this Newsweek review of three new high-schoolish book titles of which the focus is how undermining, sneaky and downright mean women are …read more

I found out that that The Pet Set was mentioned in Rachel’s new magazine. Yay us, right? Somehow, as I always do, I shifted the focus of my little bit of success story away from myself, and in this case, to her success.
Friends and family wished me congratulations, but also seemed compelled to mention that Rachel “is sooo ambitious.”
Let’s see, she started with the whole 30 minute meals show, then added her travel shows, her new magazine, her upcoming chat show, her glorius new husband, great personality…she seems to have everything. How did she do it all?
There is probably a …read more

Or, how to feel and look fabulous traveling from home to work.
It’s 6:30am, you’re standing at your train stop, it’s freezing, your monthly ticket is somewhere at the bottom of your purse.
Instead of muttering how much you hate commuting and that you’re going to start looking for a job in your home town, here’s my top ten list of things to love about that chunk of time in the morning:

Keep saying to yourself that you are never going to get out of your PJs ever again.
Put all of your make-up on.
Change your shoes.
Read Rachel Ray’s new magazine but cover it …read more

Although I’ve had my own business for a little over a year, there are many lessons, experiences and memories from corporate life that I keep with me. Some of these details are inspiring, as they help me with the daily management of the-petset.com and some other references, make me shudder.
Like the day my boss through me into a lake. Let me elaborate:
Several years ago, I worked at a large international, luxury auto maker in New Jersey. Needless to say, the men:women ratio was enourmously unbalanced, in favor of men. You can imagine the fashion environment in a car company …read more