La Dolce Vita Retreats

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire; you will what you imagine; and at last you create what you will.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

One of the joys of starting La Dolce Vita Retreats has been the opportunity to meet other like minded-women who have left the corporate world to pursue a vision they have for a lifestyle and career that would would be most fulfilling.  This weekend I attended a networking event that was so inspiring because each of the women at the event had recently launched companies, despite the economic climate, and were forging ahead with thier visions.  I was delighted to see bright young women collaborating efficiently and cost effectively to market themselves.  They have developed  great concepts that fill a need for their niche audiences.  One such venture was a bridal magazine dedicated to Asian brides-to-be.  There is no other publication that focuses on ceremonial Asian wedding traditions, art form/design for cuisine,  or the Asian physical features.   I thoroughly impressed with the quality of the publication,  the product research as well as the editorial copy.

Patience is the name of the game.  I truly believe that pursueing a vision for which you have a passion provides you with an increased probability for success.  Nothing happens over night and sometimes, dire times are the right times to start a new company.  I have learned that there exist opportunities that might  not have been available to me in a better economy.  I think great ideas can develop from necessity.  I remember my mother saying “Necessity is the mother of invention”. 

This past weekend I had a chance meeting with a gentleman that just launched a travel magazine with a very unique criteria.  Just as when I launched La Dolce Vita, people questioned his prudence for launching such a product when the travel industry and other luxury market  industries are suffering, and the magazine publishing world is in a tailspin.  But, like me, he has faith that the economy will turn around and that travel is important to the human spirit.  And, although ezines are gaining a great part of the marketshare, there are still those of us who enjoy the experience of reading a real magazine or real book.

Surrounding oneself with individuals who are pursueing their dreams is paramount to success.  The connection keeps all in a positive frame of mind, supports you when you are feeling uncertain, energizes you when you witness another’s success and  keeps you hopeful and forging ahead in pursuit of your vision.

In my transition I have learned two important lessons.  Start each day with a gratitude ritual, a short ritual in which you acknowledge things for which you are thankful, for which you are fortunate.  Beginning the day with an attitude of gratitude creates a spirit of abundance that translate into positive energy.  Secondly, open yourself to opportunity.  Consciously be aware of all of your interactions, take things in stride. Look at challenges as opportunities in disguise, as a means to learn something new and add to your skills.

Until tomorrow!

Janice Briggs

One of the things I enjoy most is having dear friends to our home for dinner.  The whole process is thoroughly relaxing and fulfilling for me.  From planning my menu to doing my shopping at the various stores that carry my specialty items, to going to the farmers’ market for my flowers that I so enjoy arranging, to setting my table, preparing my meal and to finally welcoming my guests, it’s a ritual that spans over two days.  It’s a very sensual experience, as it pleases the five senses – the presentation (sight), the fragrances and aromas (smell), the melodies of carefully chosen music (sound), the tastes of the courses from apppetizers to dessert and the textures of various accoutrements (feel)- the finely embroidered vintage or Italian  linens, the smooth patina of antique silver and mother of pearl, the various textiles of pillows and throws…  

The best part, of course, occurs when the doorbell rings and greetings, hugs and kisses are exchanged and we settle in for a cozy evening of non-stop conversation, laughs and glimpses into each others’ souls.  For four or five hours I feel as though my life is perfectly balanced and full! 

Until tomorrow!

Janice Briggs

“Commitment: Carry on any enterprise as if all future success depended on it.” ~ Cardinal De Richelieu

Owning one’s own business can be a hair-raising experience.   I guess that’s why it’s so reassuring to have an occasional conversation with another business owner who is experiencing similar travails.  Just to compare notes, share our knowledge, commiserate, laugh at our mistakes and reassure each other gives us a burst of energy to continue forging ahead.   Each of us has a deep sense of committment.  We work longer hours than most individuals, having a sense of perserverance that borders on mania.   In hindsight, we have probably spent far too much money on the start-up,    Yet, at the end of the day, we glow when we speak about our concept, our dream.  We speak passionately about our why we endure the hardships of wearing many hats as we build for the future.  I am always amazed at the maleability and flexibility of which we are capable, the hidden abilities we have, but have not developed. Whether anticipated or not, being a business owner catapults oneself into arenas far beyond of our comfort zones.  My father used to always tell me ” Just jump in, Janice!”, whether it was into a pool of cold water or a new endeavor.  Nike says “just do it”.

Well, I definitely “jumped in”, although the swim has been challenging – upstream all the way!  If my father were alive, he’d be cheering me along, encouraging me to keep my focus on my dream, but never losing faith.   

I am always reminded of the film “Working Girl” when Sigourney Weaver says to Melanie Griffith ” Who makes it happen? YOU make it happen.”

Well, I’m making this happen, and although my Dad is no longer with me on this earth, I know he’s smiling and asking me “Who makes it happen, Janice?”

I make it happen.  I MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Until tomorrow!

Janice Briggs

When I first began my transition from the corporate world to the world of La Dolce Vita Retreats, one of the first things I established was a time for myself to do whatever it was I wanted to do.  I call this scheduled time “La Dolce Vita time”.  It just so happened that I chose to select each Monday as my La Dolce Vita Day but,  for others it could be a La Dolce Vita Hour each day, or a La Dolce Vita Morning once a week.  The idea is that you have a regularly scheduled time put aside for yourself, marked on the calendar as “busy”,  just like any other important appointment in your calendar.  It is a special time to honor yourself – your mind, your body and your spirit.  I see it as a critical component of health maintenance and encourage all of my clients to embrace this behavior.

Well, today I spent my La Dolce Vita Day dining and shopping with my two daughters.  Just pure, glorious girl time!  My younger daughter, Jackie, is re-decorating her family room and we were busy selecting fabrics for the accent pillows, trims, paint samples and so forth.  My older daughter, Stephanie, joined us for the hunt.  Once our mission was accomplished and we were extremely pleased with ourselves and our bargains,  we proceeded to have lunch at a most delightful little Chinese restaurant on Beverly Blvd.  I wish I could remember the name as it was absolutely delish and very reasonably priced!

Afterwards, Stephanie left for an interview with a law firm and Jackie and I began our journey back home through L.A.’s maze of traffic, chatting up a storm, which eased the almost two hour drive. 

I love my La Dolce Vita time as I am able to enjoy a few hours indulging in whatever, frivolous or not,  without feeling guilty.  If I want to stand on my head for 8 hours, I am entitled!  It’s my personal time to spend as I please.  (I’ll be the first to admit that it took me thirty years to give myself permission to do that.)

Today I collected another cherished memory of time shared with my girls.  And in my books, mother-daughter time reigns supreme. “Girl time”  is essential to our well-being …sharing, catching up, connecting, laughing, discussing.  It’s about nourishing our minds, bodies and spirits and establishing our personal history. 

Until tomorrow!

Janice Briggs

One of the things I learned when taking an incubator class from Ladies Who Launch was the necessity of “detoxing” one’s environment on a periodic basis.  The cleansing process has an incredible energy benefit.  Well, today we “detoxed” my husband’s closet.  He finally let go of some of the ties, sweaters, shoes etc. that had resided in his closet for years (perhaps decades) without use. 

Letting go is a really interesting process.  I can clearly remember holding onto a sweater because a very dear friend knitted for me. Even though I never wore it, as it never fit, I kept it as a memory or placemarker of a time in my life.  Perhaps it was the sleeves at different lengths and the crooked neckline that  imitated the incongruities in my life, a metaphor for the times, that compelled me to keep the item but, the time had clearly passed, as had the relationship and yet, I still hung on to the sweater that never fit.  Go figure!  When I finally gave it away, it freed me to move on.  That sweater actually has more of a presence in my reality as that metaphor than it ever had stored in my drawer!

Not to say that the same experience took place with my husband but it definitely gave him more space in his closet and reminded him of some pretty special clothing articles he had completely forgotten about.  Almost like a shopping spree!  I think he’s partially packed for Mallorca, Marbella and the south of France!

Until tomorrow!

Janice Briggs