First Shoot – Then Aim

First Shoot – Then Aim

Common sense tells us that before we do something, we should have a plan.  That applies for our careers, for businesses and even for your whole life. A plan structures what we are doing and adds a timeline. So having a plan is helpful.

But what if the goal of the plan is not crystal clear? What happens if the goal of the plan depends on out-of-control factors? What to do if we are not sure if we like the goal of the plan (“Be careful what you wish for”). A lot of times it makes sense to just do something and then see what happens. After that there is still time for reflection.  This also reduces the fear of commitment.

A lot of people think about their home in the same way. For them the home is a piece of art in progress, that continually gets changed and adopted. We are living in times of Bohemian Style where mixing different elements and colors became fun.

When you first decorated a room you probably did not know what it looks like in the end, but you knew exactly how you would use this room and you expected the room to radiate a certain feeling. So you picked everything in this room in a way to achieve the desired look. The layout; the furniture; the lighting;  the accessoirs;  the art;  the colors and the fabrics.

You were probably quiet happy with your design, but soon you found other pieces that you liked to have in this room. Maybe the expectation of how the room should feel changed. Maybe suddenly the purpose  of the room shifted and you had to adapt.

The design of your home is not set in stone. Except for rooms with a public character, you should feel free to try out whatever you feel like in your home. Don’t worry – just do it. If you don’t like it, you can change it again. In doubt you can always consult an interior designer.

The important thing is that your home should provide you and your family with the right kind of energy to make you feel good, successful and HAPPY!

Hello again

Hello again,

After more than a year without writing anything on my blog I am finally back. What has happened in the last year? Well, a lot. I have looked deeper into, what moves people  to makes decisions. What makes a store attractive? What must a product have today to be successful? I probably still don’t know the answers to all of these questions, but I have gathered a lot of thoughts and ideas.

It is my that understanding, the customer today is looking for more than just a product. The times where people flocked to the stores and get carried away buying tons of mostly inexpensive merchandise are over. At least for the sophisticated customer that does intensive research before committing to a brand or a product. It is very important to know where the product was made, how it was produced, what is in the product, and what impact the product has for the customer.

The customer today also likes to build a story behind a purchase. How did he find a product? Was it fun to pick it out in the store? Why did he buy this product and not something else? Does the product still provide joy and happiness when it is at home?

This is where “Artful & Inspired Living” comes into place. In a world that’s cramped with stuff in attics, closets and garages, you have to choose carefully what you put around yourself. A lot of books are written about decluttering and minimalist style but I don’t think that’s the answer. You can learn how to get rid of things, but the key is to create an atmosphere of joy and pleasure at home.

A home provides the most happiness when it is filled with objects that create joy, provide wonderful memories or are simply practical and functional.  A home can be the fertile soil for great things and lift up its owner to a better life. “Show me how you live and I tell you who you are!” is a saying with a lot of truth.

I am very pleased to introduce two more companies that I am working with. The companies are based in Germany with the company FM Munzer, manufacturing high class sofas and the other company Hobbs Design designing and producing unique cabinets.  Both companies fit perfectly in the concept of Artful & Inspired . Please stay tuned for my next post to learn more.

The Meaning of a Home

Starting out a series of posts about modern living marketing and aspects about decorating emphasizes what influence homes have in our personal life.

The author of the book “House as a Mirror of Self” Claire Cooper Markus  explains that  what we place in and around our home are material expressions of our identity and self disclosure in a safe and private and environment. http://ced.berkeley.edu/ced/faculty-staff/clare-cooper-marcus

A home is more than a place to live in. Citing Claire Cooper Markus  a home fulfills many needs:

  • a place of self expression
  • a vessel of memories
  • a refuge from the outside world
  • a cocoon, where we can feel nurtured and let down guard
  • a place where we can feel safe

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Hello World,

Finally this is my first blog. After a long time of researching and studying I am proud to start my series of articles about modern living, marketing and aspects about decorating.

First I will begin with thoughts about the reason and importance of interior decorating and ways to make your home come closer to you. Second I will take a look at sustainable living and why it matters .Third I will write about a group of customers that will shape the way of marketing and sales, the millennials.

Read more

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