On Monday evening, I will be attending a cocktail party to benefit the Westminster Kennel Club’s Angel On a Leash foundation. — a charity dedicated to bringing together young patients with therapy dogs.

The use of therapy dogs has been shown to help reduce stress for pediatric patients and their families. Scientific studies are showing the many benefits, ranging from encouraging smiles and conversation, to motivating them during physical therapy. (Westminster Kennel Club)

Monday’s event has been coordinated on behalf of The Westminster Kennel Club, by Charlotte Reed, esteemed pet care expert and author, as well as frequent and celebrated ABC-TV’s, The View contributor.

I will be bringing several Pet Set products — which are among several fine donations to the event’s silent auction.

I’ll tell you what I will not be bringing — one of these absurd purses, currently seen on the streets of New York, in which, I might add you could fit a Josh the therapy dog, that’s how embarassingly gigantic they are.

(Image: Bill Cunningham/The New York Times)

Which actually leaves me in a bit of a pickle…what to wear to an event full of seriously dedicated dog people, and more importantly, the therapy dogs themselves?!

It may be fashion week, here in New York, but I think the therapy dogs have much more PAWnache.

Wish Me Luck!

For information about Angel On A Leash, call (212) 213-3212 or e-mail angelonaleash@wkcpr.org To order a poster or to learn more about The Westminster Kennel Club, log on to www.westminsterkennelclub.org

Post from: Blisstree

Westminster Kennel Club’s Angel On A Leash

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 model–from the get-go.

Everything has to look perfect, sound perfect — the web site has to work perfectly, the packaging has to be brilliant, my phone manner and sales approach have to be warm and geniune, the stamps I choose have to be consistent with the brand…every little thing is my responsibility.

If I am not the overseer of this perfection, than who is?

I do not have an assistant or a group of colleagues who sit with me and help strategize about details that keep the business moving forward. I have to think each and every little piece through myself.

The external partners upon whom I rely, have only to look at one portion of the business and that is the portion that they for which he or she is paid.

If this person walks away from me, it will be a disappointment — but I believe not a catastrophe…perfection is the name of this monsterous game.

I’m just saying.

Post from: Blisstree

Perfectionism. When is enough, enough?

It has become such a disturbing feature in my dream repertoire that I’ve been getting up in the middle of the night to work!

Here goes:

The dream is set at my old college campus; and it is final exam day. I am staring at a blank exam booklet and I realize that I didn’t spend one minute studying. Suddenly time is up and my answers are either incomplete or rubbish. Then, I realize that I am going to fail, so I ask if I can take the exam again, and the answer is always no — so I start to cry (in the dream).

There is that version or the one where I do not have enough credits to graduate.

I have 2 degrees and finished (a loooong time ago) with good grades. I have heard that dreams of this nature could mean that I believe I don’t have adequate “life tools” that I am unprepared.

Interestingly, if you tie those thoughts to how my career has developed, I guess you could make some connections. While I am now running my own small business, my efforts at corporate life were often miserable, in that I was so terrible at understanding how to engineer office politics and managing up that my stints at some of the largest Fortune 500 companies didn’t last.

Do you see any correlations? In the mean time, as I write this post, a producer of a TV show wants to interview me for a segment about The Pet Set…so maybe I’m ok?

Please let me know your thoughts.

Post from: Blisstree

Can you interpret my dream?

But here’s the thing…I thought that when I became my “own boss”, that those old feelings of guilt would disappear. You know what I mean, you’d call in sick (legitimately), spend the day in bed, watching Food Network — $40 A Day is on A-Gain! — but while you were supposed to be resting, you’d feel horrible for having taken the day off. At least I did.

So here I am, sick as a dog, coughing all over my computer — writing my blog and attempting to get Pet Set work done — why? Because I’d feel like a big baby if I didn’t. And that is why today’s post makes no sense.

So when you’re at work sniffling and hacking in everyone’s space…do everyone a favor and go home or don’t go in…no one wants you there. Seriously.

G’night.

Post from: Blisstree

Sick Daze.

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 different post in here about women being jealous of women or about why I can’t be excited for myself…but really this post is about ambition.

When I hear people say, “she’s so ambitious” — and it could be Rachel or it could be my neighbor…I start to ask myself, what is ambition?

Is it competitiveness? Is it drive? Is it how you were brought up? What is it? Are you born with ambition or can you learn it?

You’ve seen women in the office who have this quality, and no matter how hard you think you work, they will always be the ones who get ahead in business. Why is that?

Or am I just making you jealous?

Thanks for the mention Rachel, continued success.

Post from: Blisstree

I Wish I had Rachel Ray’s Ambition.

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 — yep, tons ‘o logo-ed polo shirts. And the politics and bad sexually explicit jokes, were horrendous.

As I reflect on this bit of history, my boss was a remarkably similar to Michael on The Office. He was a people-pleaser, a manipulator (I suspect a misogynist), a self-described “god’s gift to women” and mostly stupid.

This guy’s attempt a bonding with his group was an annual trip to a local lake, complete with beer and boats…and of course a token baseball cap with the company’s logo. BTW, the guys in our department routinely bonded at least twice a week at a local pub — but on these trips “the girls” got to go.

He hated me so much, at least that’s how I felt at the time. My reviews were never great, he made comments about my clothing, he even made a few personal remarks that were hurtful.

I hate lakes; I think their gross. I am more of an ocean/beach girl. Anyway, the day was progressing as planned, the guys are drinking and trying to manuever the boat we were all on,….brilliant, I know. And, doing cannon balls into the lake. And did I mention the drinking?

I hadn’t really been engaging with these guys; I was completely satisfied to sit in a corner of the boat and read magazines. At some point, my boss said to me, why don’t you go in the water, like the rest of the team, you’re not much of a team player are you?

I’m not a great swimmer, I reply. (The big clue).

I looked back down at the magazine, and no sooner said than done, he and his cronie, another moron from our team, lift me by the feet and arms and toss me overboard. They ignored my pleas for them to stop, they ignored the fact that I don’t swim well, and they had absolutely no concern about whether there were rocks in the lake, on which I could have cracked my skull. I was completely humiliated as my co-workers looked on — and laughed!

It’s just too bad a photo wasn’t taken. Later on, an attorney told me that I would not have a good sexual harassment case in court, unless maybe I could get a class-action going. Is that what it takes? Having as many  women as possible scorned or abused before an attorney or judge will take notice.

I resigned later that year, mostly because going into the office everyday was so demoralizing.

But, what I will say to you is…if you ever experience behavior such as mine, do not do what I did and hold it in or quit. Tell someone in HR right away. No one ever, I repeat EVER has the right to treat you with less than respect and diginity.

I don’t care if it was a car company or for the Queen.

Post from: Blisstree

World’s Worst Boss

I have a colleague who calls this affliction “Retail Therapy”…isn’t that a great phrase? I swear it really helps to clear the cobwebs.

But today, as I was in full retail therapy mode on line, I wandered to Kate’s Paperie. If you ever find yourself in the Soho area of New York, you have to stop in to this fabulous stationery store. (stationery being another of my retail loves.)

Browsing in Kate’s Arts and Crafts section of the site, I am reminded that Scrapbooking has become a very lucrative business, (if you happen to be fantasizing leaving 9-5 and starting up something for yourself.)

I am, of course, fully content with my own business, but if I had to think about starting something else, I might look into this Scrapping thing…if not for anything else but for all of the cool tools, papers and gadgets that you need to successfully create a scrapbook!

Here is what is known as a paper punch…who knew!

Let me know what you do to regain your focus and concentration.

Post from: Blisstree

Procrastination fascination…

I was distracted because not only was The Pet Set phone and fax ringing off the hook, but because it struck me that a). refinancing may become an issue and b). exactly where am I supposed to conduct my business, while all of this beautification is going on?

Simple you say? just move my office to a nother location in the house, right? No-can-do, because my computer (which is how I communicate to 90% of my clients) is run on cable and there’s only one connection in the whole house.

Much of the work will be done on the level of the house where I work every day. Picture it, dust, noise, a twitchy Labrador Retriever, chaos…

My question is: would you stay or would you go? Stay and endure, or rent a house nearby?

I’m hoping to stay, but let me know.

Post from: Blisstree

Where to hide during a home renovation?

My husband seems so excited to be getting away from the office, but I’ve got the jitters. Part of my anxiety might be that it will be the first time I’ll have been away from my responsibilities for The Pet Set and, recently Blog Fabulous and I worry about leaving things unattended.

I wonder if the problem is that I really don’t know how to have fun? I know how to laugh at a joke, I know how to plan a fun event, but I don’t actually know how to relax, have fun and enjoy the moment…could that be it? Maybe I’m too much of a homebody and the idea of packing signifies taking your possessions and leaving home. (although I did buy a spectacular evening bag for the trip.)

If you visit Start Up Nation, a great site to discover what it takes to start your own business, they always stress the importance of creating and implementing your life plan, before you ever start to consider your business plan. So that means really prioritizing the things that are important in your personal life, like vacations, in an effort to keep business and pleasure separate.

Or, could it be that I don’t think I deserve a vacation? (Calling Dr. Melfi!) If you are like me and have been responsible for many things while growing up and then venturing into the work place at a young age and then starting a business, you might be able to understand where I’m coming from. I never had a chance to learn how to have fun.

I hope you are not like me, and can take time from your busy schedules this summer, go somewhere great, enjoy your family…more importantly, yourself.

You deserve it…and you may return home with some fabulous new ideas.

Enjoy!

Photo: Bellagio Las Vegas

Post from: Blisstree

Vacation Las Vegas Style

You can never, ever cry at work…it can ruin your career — you know that, right? We’ve heard it over and over again from career development experts, and yet…sometimes it’s so hard to keep your emotions in check at the office. It’s like someone telling you not to get behind the wheel of your car after you’ve had a cocktail…do you always listen to that forbidding advice? I hope so, in both situations.

It’s easier for me as I sit in my home office, alone with the daily issues that affect the management of The Pet Set, but for those of you who cannot hide in your kitchen with your pjs on feeling sorry for yourself, I thought I should gather up a few thoughts.

According to a column written by Kate Lorenz, on CareerBuilder.com, here are some ways to you can better handle your emotions at work:

Prepare for difficult situations: Practice making your arguments or rehearse your responses with someone. The more prepared you are, the less likely it is that you will be blind sided by something that will turn on your tear ducts.

Don’t barge into confrontiononal situations: No matter what the situation is that is upsetting you, wait a while before charging into your manager’s office to complain. Give yourself some time to settle your emotions and think rationally about what you want to say.

Develop coping mechanisms: Taking a walk or getting outside to clear your head is a great way to deal with stressful situations, or excuse yourself from the situation and head to the restroom…take some deep breaths or just hide out in your cubicle and take a few minutes to relax.

Pay attention and listen to your emotions: If you are having a rotten day, feeling down in the dumps or just feel like you need a good cry, listen to those feeelings and act accordingly. Put off your review or don’t schedule a heart-to-heart chat with your boss.

Figure out what stops your tears: Maybe think of a funny situation, pinch yourself, or just get a cold drink of water…the trick is to identify your personal “stop” button before it is too late.

If you have had the misfortune of breaking down in front of someone, after you’ve collected your thoughts, go back to that person and talk about what happened.

I’m sure there are tons of great books, articles and blogs about this topic, if you come across something interesting that will help all of us, let me know.

Post from: Blisstree

There’s no crying in baseball…