Then there was Vered’s Women’s day

I summed up Bootcamp with the insight that meant the most to me: Get in line and stay in line.

If I had to sum up Women do business differently then for me the bottom line is to Think in Terms of Strategy and not in Tactics.  That’s a basic difference between short term and long term. I am for 80% occupied with thinking about the next day, the next week or maybe the next month. In other words, I deploy the one tactic after another. 

Oh, I understand the importance of strategy and if you had asked me last week I would have said, yes, of course I have strategies for my business. Since Women do Business Differently, I have to admit, that apart from having an amount that I want to earn by the end of the year, I actually have little to no strategies to make that happen. I am living from invoice to invoice, and project to project with too little to fall back on if I encounter a setback. 

It’s not even that I don’t have back end products to supplement my front end products. I do. But because I am constantly busy with the front end, and the short term, I have not given these back end products the attention they need. As a result, hardly anyone even knows about them!

What’s even more tragic (yes, I use the word tragic!) is that I even have more front end products, related to the one product that has me in its grip, just floating about, being wasted.

In my brainstorm team I was given several ideas for not only promoting my products, but also for building campaigns. And campaigns are what will create a sustainable customer base. And the funny thing was most of the ideas were strategies I had suggested to others to support their businesses but somehow I had not applied them my own business. I even know why…

But that’s for the next blog.

So, to sum up for now

STRATEGY INSTEAD OF TACTICS

NaNoWriMo day 30

Day 30

Well, I gave it my best shot, but didn’t quite make the 50k. I enjoyed making the effort and I am really pleased that, due to NaNoWriMo, my writing is once again a priority in my daily routine. It had been taking a back seat to any number of other activities every day that  my fear was that my current novel would never get finished. Well, having almost doubled the wordcount in November, revitalising the plot and getting to know my characters more intimately, my doubts have been eradicated.

I am almost there, people. The plot is as good as complete, almost every chapter has been worked out in detail. There’s lots of new dialogue and characters meeting each other and driving the plot along. The ending has been written, so I know where all the gaps in the narrative must lead to ultimately. So, I am satisfied.

Will I do it again next year? Lets just wait and see.

NaNoWriMo day 7

Having reached my target on Sunday for NaNoWriMo, Monday was a hard day. I ended up only writing about 300 words. And if I thought that was a poor result, yesterday had me writing quickly in my notebook before going to bed, after one of those really chaotic days when not only circumstances are confusing but your mind just won't seem to focus.

Being unable to concentrate on one idea or get control of my thoughts I decided to get back to basics. Basics for me means catching up on chores that I have been putting off. Cleaning the oven, microwave and dealing with other kitchen issues kept me busy all afternoon.

Then at the close of day, just when I thought I had narrowed things down to an approach that would get a new chapter started at least, two potential clients called and before I knew it I was racing against the clock to prepare the evening meal, fully determined to WRITE, WRITE, WRITE for the entire evening.

But, being there for a friend took priority, and hence, the sum total of my writing activities was reduced to a few scribbled notes before going to bed.

Anyhow, I now have two days backlog to catch up on. At least I have some notes to kick start this day 7.

NaNoWriMo day 5

By close of day 4

I had managed to get to the required wordcount to stay on track for the 50k target. Ik was really like pulling teeth yesterday. I should have known Sunday would be complicated. My kids, both in their twenties, were rambling in and out, filling me in on their bits and pieces, watching football on TV, and generally creating a rumble. Add to that that a really good friend had just lost her granny and was exchanging text messages with me which I continued to respond to.
We also have this tradition at my house that Sunday dinner be something special and I wanted to keep it that way. And after dinner we all settle down to watch So You Think You Can Dance, which has to be my favourite show of the week.
Well, with all of that going on, and exchanging posts with NaNoWriMo friends on FB I had my doubts about reaching the required word count. But, when I saw that some of my NaNo friends were already heading for 30k I was more determined than ever to at least achieve the minimum. At one stage I was typing blind while discussing algebra with my daughter - talk about split personality! At another, while fiction and reality merged, my typing almost mirrored the topic of conversation going on in my living room. How bizar is that?
I cooked my Sunday dinner, watched some TV, and at 11 o'clock last night was able to update my word count to well over 6600 words, sticking to the NaNo requirement.
Now I have to keep my fingers crossed that I haven't milked my creativity so much that I discover in a couple of hours that I have nothing to say or write today.
Day 5 here I come!

NaNoWriMo day 2 and 3

I was convinced I had such a quiet life (?!?) that sticking to a NaNoWriMo schedule would be absolutely no problem at all. I had even rounded off all other obligations on Thursday. But, isn't it funny how we suddenly have all manner of things to do, important things, things that have to be done NOW, so many that writing gets shifted up the agenda until there are almost no hours left in the day? Well, in my life that is clearly no different. I got up yesterday morning, knowing I had to get my glassses fixed and had planned that in in the morning. But then, instead of just getting on with the writing business when I came back I remembered I wanted to call a translator friend, check out my pals on facebook, call a customer (could have waited until Monday) and the list goes on.
BUT, and here's the good news, when I finally sat down to write, I churned out almost 1500 words within two hours, and you know what, it's not a bad piece of writing.
Before I went to sleep I even wrote down some rough notes on the same chapter and have a kick start for today's writing activities.

The Shift - from ambition to meaning

buy the DVD

A film about the spiritual teachings of Wayne Dyer.

Starts with enchanting music played on the piano, and the words, spoken by Wayne Dyer “thoroughly unprepared, we take the step into the afternoon of life. Worse still, we take this step with the false presupposition that our truths and our ideals will serve us as hitherto. But we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning”. 

The film then goes on to explain and illustrate this beautiful quotation.

Wayne Dyer, himself a successful writer of self-improvement books such as Pulling your Own Strings, and The Sky’s the Limit while in the morning of his life, felt his own shift into the afternoon of life and his calling to become a more spiritual writer and teacher. The result is the well-known, The Power of Intention and Change your Thoughts, Change your Life – Living the Wisdom of the Tao. His latest, The Shift, Taking your Life from Ambition to Meaning is the basis for the film.

The structure of the film is simplistic, easy to follow and thus appealing to a wider audience.  In brief, a film making team come to a beautiful seaside retreat to film Wayne Dyer as he speaks about The Shift. This interview is punctuated with secondary storylines, two or three individuals, couples and families who are also staying at the retreat and who, coincidentally illustrate Dyer’s theories. 

If you can get past this uncomfortable set up, then what Dyer tells us, and how this is illustrated in the secondary scenes is actually really inspiring, more so because of its almost childlike simplicity. 

In his studies, Dyer has discovered, both in men and women, that the morning of life is filled with striving to achieve external goals, ambitions, the need for recognition, monetary reward, social standing, though exactly how these goals are chased differs significantly between men and women. Then, as we approach the afternoon of life, these goals are replaced with more intrinsic ambitions. Internal satisfaction, deeper meaning to life, spirituality and self-realisation become the new drivers. Suffering is caused when we try to live the afternoon of life with the same program we applied to life’s morning. 

The characters in the second layer of the film, illustrate the different forms this transition can take. A mother who relinquishes some of her nurturing tasks to create space for her own creativity. The film maker who, having been fired from his job at a commercial network, has a light bulb moment and knows he has to make more inspirational films and the company executive, who takes a step back from his corporate ambitions and chooses for family. 

But, the most significant personal shift comes from another character entirely, and if you want to see who and how, then you will have to watch the film!

As I mentioned earlier, this is not a film filled with deep, intellectually challenging metaphors and symbols. It is designed to reach everyone. Wayne Dyer’s presence throughout the film, his gentle tone, and succinct way of explaining his discoveries were pleasant to listen to and for me at least, the lessons sank in. 

The Art Shop Presents: Guy Olivier Le Printemps

Once again I was privileged to be invited to opening of The Art Shop’s latest artistic exhibition – Le Printemps series from Guy Olivier. On a hot and sunny Monday afternoon I strolled in and was met by a wall of colour and passion. 

It’s manga, it’s burlesque, it’s decadence and opulence. It’s Toulouse Lautrec in the 21st century. But more than that, it’s a feast for the eyes and brings a smile to the face. 

With an almost perfect combination of colour, nonchalant composition and generous use of “straight from the tube” oil paints and stencils to create even more texture and depth, all applied in a seemingly effortless fashion, Olivier captures the “dangerous liaison” Parisian atmosphere so prevalent in the France of old.

Buxom ladies with scarlet lips drink wine and flutter eyelids behind elaborate masks, men wear bow ties, subtly drooling at the sight of almost naked breasts. 

Texture is enhanced by the stencils and thinner layers of paint just visible under the explosive top layers, applied in some places transparently thin and in others protruding thick.

The collection, exhibited as a whole against the wide expanse of the whitewashed wall, with plenty of floor space to stand back and take in the total effect, is tantalising, seductive and humorous. 

Well worth a visit. Thanks Maurice van Leeuwen for bringing this to Alphen aan den Rijn.

On being mediocre

I think the most difficult thing for me was realizing that, despite all my best (though unsuccessful) efforts at denying it, I might just be mediocre.

Mediocrity will of course ultimately result in being rapidly forgotten after death and is thus an enormous leveler.

However, the realization of possibly being mediocre may, if allowed, actually bring about a sense of peace, and permit me to slow down, perhaps just watch unlimited TV and stop chasing the illusory life that seems so much better than the one I am living.

Allowing the notion of mediocrity to sink in will offer release from constant activity and rainbow chasing and perhaps even create the space necessary to exist in the here and now, just accepting everything exactly as it is.

Accepting mediocrity is liberating. Just stop and smell the roses. Engage in an activity without hanging some unrealistic importance on it. Rediscover the intrinsic pleasure in everything I do.

Love the mediocrity, the ordinariness, love it.

More cross medial or intermedial creations



Cross media seems to be the theme of the day. Where I was privileged to experience the ultimate in cross media with the 3D film of Carmen, today I was lucky enough to enjoy the mixed/cross media work of printer and fine artist, Ronald Chapeau at The Art Shop, in my home town.


The Art Shop opened Ronald Chapeau’s exhibition last Sunday. Apparently, the opening attracted a lot of attention. I missed it, as I was at the opera! But this morning, having the space to myself to stand back and soak in the work was perfect for me.

Ronald Chapeau uses photographs of some of my favourite actors, in particular Al Pacino as the young Don Corleone (naturally against the backdrop of Marlon Brando, the Godfather himself) and Heath Ledger as The Joker from the batman film, The Dark Knight. He repeatedly uses the same photograph on several canvasses as the basis for his creations. Then by using screen printing techniques and exciting, daring, bright almost fluorescent colour, turns each one into a unique work of art. It is then apparent how an identical image can be made to evoke a different reaction, emotion, when used in combination with other colours or other subliminal items (such as newspaper cuttings or quotes) on the canvas. It is the combination that does something to the senses.

It is no accident that on one of the Don Corleone canvasses a Sudoku puzzle from the newspaper is visible. No accident that bright yellow and garish purple figure strongly in the Joker canvasses and are apparently thrown on carelessly as though the paints have exploded, while the words “I am a simple man, I enjoy either dynamite or gunpowder”, cross the canvas.

Ronald Chapeau has mastered the art of subliminally manipulating the observer’s reaction. Several media: film, newspaper and photography are churned together on a canvas and used alongside strong, decisive painting techniques to create something new.

And it is precisely because of the subtext contained in the narrative of each of the media, that the end result is so powerful and evocative.

Carmen 3D – the ultimate crossmedial experience

Door de voorstelling van de Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Londen, als 3D film te draaien, laat Theatercastellum, Alphen aan den Rijn, zien dat het een toonaangevend theater is. Gedurende bijna drie uur vanochtend werden wij in de wereld van Bizet’s Carmen meegenomen.

Kan iets tippen aan een live voorstelling? In één woord: Ja! Ik durf eigenlijk te stellen dat dit misschien een live voorstelling overstijgt. Waar bij een live uitvoering de kans bestaat dat je net te ver weg zit om alles echt te kunnen volgen, zit je met zo’n 3D film echt vooraan. Sterker nog, het is af en toe net alsof je zelf op het podium staat en een deelnemer bent. Carmen reikt haar hand uit en je wilt het vastpakken. Bloemblaadjes worden gestrooid en je wil ze van je gezicht afvegen. Koppel dat aan een fantastische surround sound en je zou bijna vergeten dat het alleen een film is! Ik ben erbij geweest en ik zeg met 100% overtuiging dat ik van deze voorstelling net zoveel genoot als van een live uitvoering, misschien zelfs meer.

Wat ik ook belangrijk vind is dat deze technologie de opera toegankelijker maakt voor een breder publiek. Waar je hier voorheen waarschijnlijk minstens een half jaar van tevoren kaarten voor moest reserveren en een aanzienlijk hoge prijs (zeker bij zo’n prestigieuze cast) zou betalen, kan je nu net zoveel genieten van de voorstelling voor een lagere prijs. En bij voldoende belangstelling kan een bioscoop ervoor kiezen om de film meerdere keren te draaien waardoor er meer mensen van kunnen genieten.

Ik geloof ook dat als dit aanslaat, opera eindelijk een groter publiek zal bereiken. Het wordt ook veel makkelijker om eens ‘iets aparts’ uit te proberen. Je hoeft immers niet naar een grote stad want de plaatselijke bioscoop kan deze 3D film ook draaien. Zeer laagdrempelig. En hoe zou dat kunnen zijn voor leerlingen van alle leeftijden om met een groep van school af en toe zo’n voorstelling bij te kunnen wonen. Fantastisch voor de algemene ontwikkeling.

Wat mij betreft is vanochtend een denderend succes geweest. Ik hoop dat dit maar een voorproefje is, slechts een begin. Ik verheug mij nu al op de volgende. Wie weet, Puccini en Madame Butterfly. Ik zal ervoor duimen! Ik heb ooit ‘Performance on the Edge’ gestudeerd aan de UvA. Wij deden onderzoek naar de meerwaarde van crossmedia en adaptation over alle soorten media. We leerden hoe je het beste een boek naar film kunt vertalen, hoe je van een toneelstuk een film maakt of de juiste manier om een film opnieuw te maken, om het scherper, moderner of gewoon anders te maken. Vanochtend was ik getuige van ‘the ultimate crossmedial ervaring’, dan wel van Live opera naar 3D film.

Theatercastellum, wat super dat je openstaat voor het nieuwste op het gebied van ‘crossover culture’. Ik ben er blij mee!