The Queen of the Business Lunch Says…..

It’s that time again….Wine Week at Smith & Wollensky! This is one of the most unique opportunities to socialize and bond with your clients…but you have to be careful not to get drunk.

Wine Week is a unique collaboration between Smith & Wollensky and the domestic, primarily California, vintners. During lunch time, for just $10.00, guests are served 10 tastings of some of finest wines available. It’s not only the best deal in town…but it’s one of the most fun too. And this year, I’m excited to be a part of it. For the first time, I’ll be there signing copies of the new ‘Chicken Soup for the Wine Lover’s Soul’ anthology, to which I am a contributor. I will also have copies of my signature book ‘The Art of the Business Lunch’ available.

This is a great opportunity because the people that are come to Wine Week are fun-loving foodies…people who absolutely love fine wine, great food and a good time. I could not be more excited about the week! I ordered a few extra cases of the wine book, as I’m sure they’ll be flying out the door. The book has classic ‘Chicken Soup’ stories…heartwarming, funny, and universal.

One such story is about a Methodist family – teetotalers by nature. The woman wrote that her father, a minister, received a bottle of red wine as a Christmas gift the year before. After sitting in their cupboard for more than a year, he decided one day to open it. The woman said she was stunned, but as each member of her family took their first sip of wine ever, they felt the warm wine start to tingle, they each became wine lovers in that moment. Classic Chicken Soup.

My chapter is a bit more practical. In it, I share a technique on how to order wine when out with clients, even if you don’t know a cab from a meritage. Clients who don’t know their wines have always asked me how to get through this stressful situation. One man told me that he was so intimidated that he let his client order for the table and he ended up with a $1,000.00 expense receipt! You don’t have to be an oenophile, or wine connoisseur, to handle the situation with grace and sophistication. My technique, as laid out in the Wine Lover’s book will make you a superstar at any client dinner.

If you live in Las Vegas, make your reservation immediately for March 10th – 14th. It’s sure to be a sell out!

I always say that a great dinner is the perfect combination of great food and great company. Last night was no exception. My client, Bob, – who quickly became my friend when we worked together last year – invited me to join him for dinner at RAO’s at Caesars Palace last night. What a treat!

The wonderful hostesses seated us immediately, in spite of the fact that the reservation had gotten lost. They apologized that the only table they had was next to a group of 24 that was due to arrive in about a half-hour. Anyone who’s ever sat next to a rowdy bridal party or corporate function where the alcohol flows knows that it can get loud. We were curious about the group that unfortunately arrived early.

We braced ourselves, fearing the noise that would make conversation difficult. It never happened! This group was one of the most genteel, respectful and quiet groups. Yes, they were drinking…a lovely red that had been decanted for them. But they never got rowdy. This turned out to be treat # 3.

Treat #1 was the fact that Bob invited me to join him for dinner after arriving in Las Vegas early so that he could hear me speak. He is also a speaker, and so he was curious to hear my presentation and things just worked out great.

Treat #2 was the wine. Bob is a red wine drinker but he was such a gentleman, he let me select a white. We could have had wines by the glass, but he said he was up for a glass of white. Krista, the sommelier, helped us to select an Italian white that was delicious – a nice blend that was similar to a pinot grigio that was leaning toward a chardonnay. Whatever it was, it was wonderful…and the staff kept our glasses full of the cold white.

Of course the delights didn’t stop there. Treat #4 was the service. Our waiter was Robert. He pulled up a chair briefly to say “Hello” and tell us what to expect at RAO’s. It was such a sweet gesture. And his smile was consistent. I’m fairly tough on waiters, unless they impress me as being in complete control….and Robert was awesome. He was there when we needed him and not intrusive when we didn’t. Greg backed him up discreetly, which is nice when steeped in conversation.

Finally, there was the food: treat #5. Does “YUM” begin to cover it? Bob’s dish of Chicken with peppers was unique, delicious and flavorful. The chicken was apparently seared to where the skin and flesh was crispy – like you’d expect in an Asian dish, only the taste was pure Italian. The peppers and slices of sausage contributed to the distinctive flavor and texture of this remarkable dish. I had a shrimp dish that was equally delicious. The Caesar salad was really nice, too. And did I mention the bread? I was sorry I took a piece of crust as it wasn’t long before I had polished off the entire slice. Once I started, there was no going back.

So – five treats in one night is about five more than one can expect. I guess you could say our conversation was treat #6….we didn’t stop! Bob has traveled everywhere….twice! He knows so much about so many topics…and the fact that he also speaks and is a trainer gave us a lot of stories to share. He’s such a nice guy.

I knew what I was doing when I wrote “The Art of the Business Lunch.” This was the second time I got to have dinner with Bob and the more I get to know him, the more I enjoy his company. There really is nothing like breaking bread to build a relationship. So….who are YOU taking out to lunch this week?

I just got home from an amazing SuperBowl party at my friend’s home. Bob & Ellen Bouterie live in a fabulous area of Henderson, Nevada – just a few minutes from me, and while I had hoped to visit several friends, personal matters prevented me from stopping at a few homes on my way to B & E’s. BTW - when they first had blueprints drawn up for their home, I baked a cake to resemble what i thought the home might look like. It wasn’t far off - and while the cake was delicious, the home is MUCH prettier!

It was everything you could hope for. While a storm blew through the valley, we did tequila shots and stayed warm. The game was INCREDIBLE – (so sad that the Patriots didn’t make history – but, hey – perhaps it was Karma’s turn to shine). I am thinking about the New York fans and how, because of 9/11, I still, six years later, want them to have the victory. The Giants and Eli Manning really pulled this one out; it was incredible….the kind of game you’d expect to see in a Movie-of-the-week. They triumphed over the only undefeated team in decades. They outplayed their opponents, although the teams were certainly well-matched. But the final score came in the last minute – and it was breathtaking! Kudos to the NY Giants for this amazing win! BUT that wasn’t all.

The Bouterie’s party was everything I love about socializing – great friends, great food, great times. They went with a south-of-the-border theme…and everything was done with festive fiesta colors – a great contrast to the blustery winter storm outside. The margaritas were delicious, the food was world-class and we talked, watched the game, the commercials and boy, did we ever laugh! Upon leaving, I told Bob & Ellen that the next time I have a dinner party I am inviting their friends, too! One of the reasons I love visiting their home so much is because I enjoy their wonderful friends as much as they do! We all just get along so well. And the love I feel from Bob & Ellen is so special – being their friend is one of my greatest gifts in life.

I hope you had a great SuperBowl party, too. Now it’s back to work. The next holiday is two weeks away with Valentine’s Day. I can’t wait to indulge with some imported chocolate. In the meantime, I want to work more than ever and book some great speaking engagements – helping others to improve their lives and discover the joys that life has to offer.

Last night I attended a mixer for the Las Vegas Hospitality Association. The last LVHA mixer, at Margaritaville, a few months ago proved to be great fun. I got to see some of my favorite people and the networking was superb. In fact, thanks to Chris Meyer at the LVCVA, I thought I might be heading to China to speak soon! Even though that hasn’t yet come to pass, at least I got my passport renewed.

Last night’s event was held at Body English at the Hard Rock. After a busy time networking and saying “HI” to friends old and new, my friends and I decided to head over to FIREFLY on Paradise Road, between Sands Avenue and Flamingo. I had met the chef/owner, John Simmons, at a previous LVHA event (at Chef Live), where he made some incredible shrimp scampi. I’ve made it over to the restaurant a couple of times since then. It is always packed and consistently awesome.
I rendezvoused at the Hard Rock with my cousin, Renee Hale, president and owner of “Always Creative,” an event planning company. She brought along Jodi Stiner, whom I adore. Jodi works for Gannett Publishing in Las Vegas.

Renee has shared that she wasn’t a fan of TAPAS, Firefly’s specialty, until she traveled to Spain this past year. She explained that she just didn’t “Get it” until she experienced it first-hand. So off we went to FIREFLY and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest. It was outrageous!

We actually didn’t have to wait since we were willing to sit in the lounge, which easily accommodated dining, in spite of the low seating. It wasn’t awkward at all, as many places with lounge seating can be. Our waiter, Paulo, towered over us at 6’1”. His accent contributed to the atmosphere; we could have been anywhere…. anywhere in the south of Spain or on the Brazilian coast. That is one of the most extraordinary qualities of Las Vegas – it magically transforms itself from Italian villa to Spanish restaurant to sandy beaches, depending upon where you go.

We ordered Sangria that had been marinating with fruit for three days. I insisted we order the bacon-wrapped stuffed dates. This is a tough one to get your friends to try; I didn’t want them on my first visit to Firefly, either, but they are now my confirmed favorite. Ted Allen, Queer Eye’s food guru, said, ‘if you want to make someone happy, feed them bacon.’ I couldn’t agree more.

The menu at Firefly is one of those where you can’t decide what to try because it all sounds divine. I have to warn you – it IS!

We also ordered shrimp in lemon garlic butter, cheese-stuffed red peppers, and grouper filets breaded with panko. EVERYTHING was perfect. We should have stopped there, but we indulged in a dessert. Hey, one dessert split three ways can’t hurt too badly. We dove into this amazing cake, dulce des leches, that tasted like it had melted ice cream over it. It was rich, creamy, and a little bit gooey. Wet cake…can dessert be any better than that?

We were so content, in spite of the fact that we hadn’t really eaten that much. A few bites of this and a few bites of that can be so much more satisfying than an endless meal. We ate slowly, drank our wine and, as I recall, laughed our butts off over things I can not share with you here. What a wonderful evening it turned out to be.

My cousin and Jodi were the best company. We were so happy to be free to enjoy such a great night. The next time you can’t decide where to go, make tracks for Firefly. It’s my new favorite in Las Vegas.

In spite of the fact that I love a great dinner out, I am willing to compromise this for convenience. Sometimes, I would rather have a mediocre dinner if it’s close to home than to drive a half-hour to some fabulous place on the Las Vegas strip. We certainly have enough outstanding places to dine…and I love my favorites. But if I can stay in Green Valley, I’m even happier.

Perhaps because I can cook and enjoy a gourmet meal any time I want, dining out is delightful just for the experience, if not the food. I love to have a different wine, good company and, of course, not having to do the dishes afterward always makes a dinner out special. And besides…how badly can a restaurant mess up a dinner?

Well, I inadvertently put that question to the test this past Friday night, as I joined an old friend, (whom I had not seen in about 12 years), for dinner at Kennedy at The District. Paudie is a charming Irishman who takes junkets of golfers from Las Vegas to Ireland to play the finest courses there. I would have enjoyed his lovely accent if I had been able to hear it! White noise can be a big problem in restaurants, which is why I’m won’t usually go to a touristy-type place that attracts a loud crowd or plays their music at gratuitously loud levels. But I didn’t expect Kennedy to be so noisy.

At lunchtime, Kennedy is always quiet, since it’s nearly deserted. It’s always easy to meet someone there for good conversation or business, especially when compared to the other popular lunch spots in Green Valley. P.F. Chang’s and The Cheesecake Factory both have great food, but the customer service at Chang’s is hit-or-miss and they are both extremely loud rooms.

We were meeting late – 8PM for a drink and dinner. I figured the happy hour crowd would likely be gone by then. Think again. There were so many loud drinkers there! When I joined Paudie, he had been seated at a small two-top in the back, near the kitchen entrance and right near a high-bar table. I would have asked to be moved if I had been the first one seated, but I wanted to be flexible, so I sat. That was a big mistake and one of the waiters bumped into me so many times I lost track.

You know how it is when you haven’t seen someone in a long time and you have so much to share? Our server interrupted us constantly, looking for our order. I thought it was fairly obvious that we hadn’t yet looked at the menus. We finally ordered. My steak came out well done and past the point of being edible. I really hate to send anything back. In my book I talk about how awkward it can be, when one of you is eating and the other one is not. But I really had no choice. Hey, it happens.

So while I waited for a steak I could eat, my friend, who was obviously hungry, ate his steak. We visited. Finally, the GM came by with my new steak and made WAY too big a show of serving it. Especially since they had ruined the original in the first place! Oh – and they got the side order wrong, again. I feel why bother asking for something if your request isn’t going to be heeded.

The other waiter continued to bump into me and then slammed a glass of water down on the table so hard I was surprised it didn’t shatter. After dinner, my friend asked them to wrap up my steak to go. They brought it back and set the bag on the floor. Food should never, ever touch the floor! It doesn’t matter how well it’s been wrapped up – it’s still food and the floor is still the floor.

The GM eventually offered to move us to yet another noisy spot in the restaurant and we moved. Then he came over to apologize again. Now, remember that I hadn’t seen my friend in more than ten years and we really wanted to talk a bit. The interruptions were incessant. Most restaurants have a hard time discerning between good, sincere service and laying it on too thick. This was a case of the latter. (This is one of the reasons The Palm at the Forum Shops is my favorite – their servers always know when to stop by and when to give you your space.)

Since I had shared our problems with the GM on my way to the ladies room, things only got worse. When the GM came back to our table, we were very polite and said we understood the challenges of running a restaurant/bar, but he went on and on about his personal challenge since he took over Kennedy. We just wanted him to leave us alone.

Then, as if on cue, one of the waiters scurrying behind Paudie tripped; a tray of glassware and dishes crashed to the ground just inches from us. At this point, we just laughed. All in all, it was a ridiculous night. The steak was very tender by the way. I ate it the next day. It’s a nice room and could be so much more if they taught better customer service to their staff and tried putting themselves in their patron’s shoes. If you’ve ever had a bad experience (or good?) at Kennedy, feel free to share it here! Thanks - Robin

We have many silent killers in our midst: High blood pressure, ovarian cancer, heart disease….illnesses that hide out doing their work until it’s much to late to do proper battle with them.
My friend and neighbor, Alison Sinclair, was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. (I’ve capitalized this disease because I’m giving this evil beast the respect it deserves…it’s a nasty bastard.)
I met Alison through a mutual friend who had known her husband professionally. Alison happened to live on my street, so it was only natural that eventually we would become friends.

We began the friendship by taking our dogs for walks together. Her Tommy is half Shih Tzu and half Maltese, a wonderful combination of breeds! My Shih Tzu, Georgie, a.k.a. ‘The Princess,’ is a diva extraordinaire. Georgie gets pushed in a pink jogger stroller that features a pillow, (a gift from Alison) that reads, ‘The Little Princess Sleeps Here,’ along with a crown. Oh, and it’s pink, of course.
Tommy is the easiest dog I’ve ever cared for. He will eat anything (Georgie is allergic to nearly EVERYTHING!). He sleeps when you are working, plays when it’s playtime and LIVES to go for a walk. When Alison went out of town, I was asked to ‘babysit’ him. During the day, he would sit at my feet while I typed. I occasionally forgot he was here…since he was so quiet. At night, his presence was more stated, as he crowded our bed. Georgie was used to the shotgun pillow, and when Tommy commandeered it, someone (guess who!) went into a major pout mode!
Many morning walks lead to a cup of coffee (for me) and cocoa (for Alison), and the evening walks would often end up with a glass of wine. Sitting at either of our kitchen counters, we shared our busy days. Alison became a real estate agent a few years ago and was really awesome. Her light blonde hair and blue, (bordering on violet) eyes, along with her Australian accent, made her a sensation with her clients. She would dress impeccably and drive clients around in her Mercedes and absolutely WOW them. She sold so many homes in a market that had crashed, you might have thought that she was giving them away! Her success was dynamic and she was unstoppable…until her diagnosis.

The doctors gave her about six months to live. That’s a terrible option! What are you supposed to do with SIX months? Sure, we all joke that under those circumstances, we would see the world, run up all our credit cards, buy whatever our hearts desired…but if you’re in pain, which she was, none of those seemed like a very good option. She took off for a hospital in New York. The flight almost killed her.
She didn’t know she had major blood clots in her legs and in her lungs. The altitude made them worse. She was rushed to the hospital in New York, her legs in pain, gasping for air. Sloan-Kettering did what they could and sent her home to Las Vegas. I guess you can take the same pills here as anywhere.
I sat with Alison on her back patio a few days before she began her chemotherapy. We even had a short glass of wine. Hell, we could have had cigarettes, too, if we’d known what was in store.

The next three months she was in seclusion. She had a friend from Australia come to stay with her. Her friend believed she was doing what was in Alison’s best interest by allowing her to haunt the halls of her home (as the friend put it), frightened and isolated. I am so angry with her friend for not allowing Alison’s many, loving friends to visit her. I know that we would have been able to assuage her fears of dying and brighten the days she had left.

Alison had discovered an awesome Botox doctor and we went together several times, making sure we defied our age brilliantly. She was a beautiful woman who really cared about her appearance. (In Neuro-linguistic programming, she would have been EASILY pegged as “Visual.”)
The illness was turning her yellow. To me, it looked like she had experimented with the earliest self-tanning creams that hit the market in the 80’s…you know that shade: kind of pale yellow/orange, kind of unnatural?! Her eyes grew more violet as her body failed to eliminate the toxins. I didn’t notice her discomfort that evening on her patio when I commented on her appearance. I, too, am visual and if I see something, it’s likely on my tongue before I even think to edit myself. I told her how beautiful her eyes were, but I had also mentioned the unique shade of her skin. I wish I could take it back. Knowing how self-conscious she was about her appearance, I didn’t realize she would have thought the worst of my comments.
It wasn’t until later, when she developed a rash from one of the drugs, that her friend shared how upset she was that she looked like a schoolgirl with measles. Such trivial things to worry about at such a time!

Her friend wouldn’t let us see her again. Each of her friends would e-mail me and ask if I’d seen her, since I was right down the street. I know that at one point, her white blood cell count was so low that she would be risking infection to visit with friends. But that wasn’t the case all the time. I know her friend thought she had her best interest at heart, but I think it would have been much better to have friends around the past few months….the last few months.
Well, we friends finally got to see our dear friend, as she lay dying in the neighborhood hospital, just five minutes from her lovely home on my street, her newest Mercedes in the garage, her new laptop collecting dust. This was the laptop she and I had sat at for hours, looking at pictures of her kids, the dogs, the ‘Fabulous 50’s’ party we had thrown together. Georgie and Tommy would lie next to each other as we drank our wine and laughed, sharing stories of work and life.

How can someone so vital disappear from our lives so suddenly? She was barely 50 years old. She loved living here in the states and being successful and beautiful. The week that she was diagnosed, we sat on her sofa one evening talking. She told me how surprised she was at the outpouring of affection from her friends and coworkers. Her office created a training program and named it ‘The Sinclair Initiative.’ She suddenly had flowers everywhere and friends calling from all over the world, asking what they could do to help. She had never felt so loved in her entire life.
I guess the people in her life weren’t demonstrative enough to share their feelings for her every day. As I shared at her funeral, she said to me that evening, ‘You know, in spite of everything, the diagnosis, the prognosis, and everything that I’m going to have to deal with, this has really been the best week of my life.’ What a terribly sad revelation. To live a life filled with love surrounding you and to be unaware of it.

It’s been about six weeks since Alison’s passing. I miss her every day. Sure, there were occasional weeks that passed when we were each too busy to even grab a minute together…dashed e-mails or voice mail talking to voice mail. We laughed about it, thinking we had forever.
Now, whenever I make a pot of soup, (she loved my soups!), put out a bowl of mixed nuts, (yeah, she loved those, too), or do any of the things I used to do while Alison sat in the kitchen and kept me company, I am overcome with the sense of loss I feel. It seems as if we’re just on a hiatus – she’s showing homes and I’m off speaking somewhere or busy writing articles. Then I realize that is it….there will never be another evening spent laughing or talking about the day we had. There would be no more running to her beloved Stirling Club for cocktails or taking the ‘kids’ to the District for a walk along the shops.
Of course there is a lesson in all this…several lessons, actually. First of all, we need to live our lives as though each day is our last. We must take care of our bodies and eat our fruits and veggies (even when we’d rather have just meat and potatoes or cake). We need to share with others how much they mean to us…EVERY day, not just when we find out their days are numbered. Our lives are so very delicate. So are our hearts. Without love, they may wither and die. Whether you tell your friends, your family or your little doggie that you love them, be sure to do it often and with passion.
Alison, there are fresh nuts out on the counter and there’s wine in the fridge. I bought some of that pate you love so much today, and some interesting new cheeses to make our wine visit extra special. Stop by any time. I miss you so much.

Why has “The Secret” become so controversial ~ what are people thinking? I think the “real” secret is that we need to remember to use common sense when we evaluate the information that is put in front of us!
The Secret has been around for more than 1,000 years! Okay - not the book or DVD from Rhonda Byrnes, but the principles behind “The Secret” have certainly been around since time began. One example of how long the secret has been around is St. Augustine. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) took great pains to create and project a powerful image of himself beyond the churches and towns where he wrote and taught in Roman north Africa. He succeeded in this self-presentation beyond his wildest dreams. He believed that we could become that which we focused our thoughts upon.
Prentice Mulford was a “new thought pioneer,” who lived between 1834 and 1891. His belief in the principles of the secret are on his gravestone: “Thoughts are Things.” His books and essays include such “new age” titles as “Thoughts are Things,” “Your Forces and How to Use Them,” “Think Yourself Wealthy: How to Attract Riches Through Thought,” and “The God in Yourself.” Think “The Secret” is new? It’s been around for AGES, but now it has a shiny new ribbon and an endorsement from Oprah, the queen of pop culture, as well as the attention of Larry King, the Today Show and every other news or talk show on every network.
I appreciate that one of the teachers in the Rhonda Byrnes edition of “The Secret,” James Arthur Ray, has managed to pull away from the pack. He says that while “The Secret” talks about thoughts and feelings, we also need ACTION behind those to make them effective. Sitting on your butt and wishing for things isn’t going to make them so. If that is the problem that people have with the secret - the oversimplification of our thought process – then I understand. As Ray put it recently, “If we become what we think about, then in school I would have become a busty cheerleader!” Again, let’s please use our common sense!
The principle that thoughts are things is so simple it doesn’t deserve all of the controversy that surrounds it. Apparently, some people just feel the need to go against popular thought (which normally is not such a bad thing!) The gifts of the universe are presented in this simple thought and yet people choose to argue about it, rather than take action and realize their dreams.
Think about it…The Secret simply says that thoughts are things and we become what we think about. If we focus on illness, trouble or drama, that is what will manifest in our lives. Perhaps at the root of the controversy is the fact that many people don’t want to accept responsibility for where they are. It’s easier to blame society, our parents, our jobs and anything else we can rather than understand that we are actually able to manifest the things we want in our lives. I am oversimplifying all of this, but I believe that we can, in many ways, create our own lives.
A radio station broadcasts a signal, whether anyone has their radio turned on to receive it or not. And even though no one may be listening, it doesn’t mean the signal isn’t out there. Similarly, our thoughts emanate from our minds and go out into the universe. There they are picked up by whatever “radio receivers” are tuned in to our thoughts. Many people understand this is the principle at work when the phone rings and they answer it to find it’s a friend that they were just about to call. (I always joke that some people just don’t need phones!) My sister and I can tell what each other is thinking more often than not. Mothers often have this with their children. Is it telepathy? How can we use this gift constructively?
The Secret simply says “Thoughts are things; we become what we think about.” This is also the foundation of “The Law of Attraction,” which is as real as the law of gravity. I love Raymond Holliwell’s book, “Working With the Law,” a simple explanation of how the laws of the universe work, particularly the Law of Attraction. Defying these laws is akin to defying the law of gravity. You can choose not to believe in gravity, but if you drop your pen, it will still fall to the ground, regardless of what you believe. If you think about being successful, and you write down your thoughts about how your life is already successful, in the form of an affirmation, it won’t be long before success will start to find you. You put it out there, like the radio station, and the elements that are tuned to your frequency will start to respond. It really is magical.
My father, Dr. Erwin Jay, used to make us listen to Earl Nightingale records as a way to discipline my brother, sister and I when we were kids. He wanted a way to give us constructive criticism whenever we would misbehave. I literally grew up listening to Earl’s deep voice reminding us that a “…good attitude equals good results; a bad attitude equals bad results.” Not a bad way to teach your children. Earl called his philosophy “The Strangest Secret” and explained that “Thoughts are things; we become what we think about.” If you think about success, you will attract success. Likewise, if you think about being depressed, it won’t be long before you find yourself depressed. I remember hearing Dr. Wayne Dyer speak, telling the audience that he never gets depressed…that he does not even know how to be depressed – to which one lady responded, “THAT’S depressing!”
Think about how it feels to have good health, and before long, you may find yourself enjoying long walks or gym work-outs. Think about how driving your new luxury car will feel and pretty soon, you are likely to find yourself working harder, instead of knocking off early with your friends to grab a beer. You must first SEE YOURSELF as that person you wish to become, doing the things that person would do.
At least this latest version of the secret has gained widespread publicity and attention so that people who have never heard of “The Law of Attraction” before may actually try using it and find for themselves that they can create a better life for themselves.
Last but not least, I have this wonderful poem from Henry Van Dyke framed and placed where all of my guests to my home will see it. It was written quite some time ago – Mr. Van Dyke passed in 1933. I hope you find it in your heart to bring forth love ~ Robin
THOUGHTS ARE THINGS

I hold it true that thoughts are things;
They’re endowed with bodies and breath and wings:
And that we send them forth to fill
The world with good results, or ill.
That which we call our secret thought
Speeds forth to earth’s remotest spot,
Leaving its blessings or its woes
Like tracks behind it as it goes.

We build our future, thought by thought,
For good or ill, yet know it not.
Yet so the universe was wrought.
Thought is another name for fate;
Choose then thy destiny and wait,
For love brings love and hate brings hate.

Henry Van Dyke

I always keep a very clean house – straightened, well-organized (even if the closets and drawers could stand some straightening). But since I’ve been working from my home office, I’ve found that my work and everything involved with it has started to take over the entire house. If you work from home, I’m sure you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about!
 My cousin, Jodi Manfredi, called me last week to share that she needs to come to Las Vegas to attend the funeral of a friend. Of course I told her that she and her son could stay with me. I couldn’t begin to tell her the state of my guest room. It looked like downtown Baghdad on a good day. (If you think I’m exaggerating, check out the “before” photo!)
 

You might wonder what commercials, capitalism and medication have to do with one another. Or what they have to do with me.  I’ve wanted to share thoughts on this for a long, long time.
 

I have many friends who reach for medication whenever anything doesn’t feel right. Whether it’s a headache, a sore muscle, tension, they can’t sleep, their spouse is on their nerves or they sneezed an extra time. They are killing themselves. And if you are like my friends, you, too, may be jeopardizing your health.
 

It’s one thing to be sick, as in “I have to go to the doctor” sick. You’re really ill, bleeding or have symptoms that won’t stop. But how about the aforementioned minor symptoms? WHY do people think they need to reach for something as soon as they have a sleepless night or a headache? Read on….
 

Your body is displaying symptoms because something is wrong…but medicating it is only going to cover it up – NOT get to the root cause of what is actually wrong. I just read in Newsweek that 1.5 MILLION deaths each year are caused by taking prescription medication! That’s alarming.
 

I’ve studied metaphysics, healing energy, quantum physics and am even a graduate of Dr. Deepak Chopra’s course, “The Magic of Healing.”  I know as much or more than the average person about how to have a healthy body. (Although sometimes knowing what we SHOULD do doesn’t necessarily mean we will do it!  I’ve plowed through a bag of potato chips on occasion or dived into a bowl of ice cream for two while watching TV- a definite “no-no” for anyone who wants to eat in a healthy manner.)
 

I love how Oprah has been featuring Dr. Mehmet Oz as a guest on her show, educating the public about their own bodies in a way that no doctor has been able to do before. As Chopra has a gift for explaining energy, Dr. Oz has a gift for making medicine easy to understand. We all know we have an omentum now – the part of our tummies that grows huge. Some men call it their “garage” and wear their belts cinched under theirs. He pointed out that no woman’s waistline should measure more than 32”…men have a little more leeway.
 

So we are beginning to learn about our bodies and that’s a really good thing. So WHY do we keep popping pills for whatever ails us?  That is where commercials (and capitalism) come in.
 

Our society is based on capitalism. Our huge buffets and plates-o-plenty are a direct result of this. If you own a restaurant and you want to differentiate yourself by offering a greater quantity of food per order, you can do so. If you prefer to offer health-conscious entrees, you can do that, too. Capitalism allows people to market to any group they choose to target and send their message loud and clear. This is where the commercials come in. If you don’t tell the people what you are offering, how will they know? All in all, it’s not a bad system. But it is taking a toll on us.
 

Why pay $5.00 for a small burger when you can get a HUGE burger for the same price? We value our values! Whether we need or want a bigger burger, if the bigger one is the same price, why, we’d be downright foolish to purchase the smaller one!  If a super large soda is only $1.00, why would we pay that for a regular size soda? Are you getting the picture? Because our country was founded on free enterprise and a capitalistic economy, business owners are free to offer whatever product they want, as long as it’s legal, to whomever they choose. It’s all about the freedom, baby! 
 

So what’s the downside? Bad things start to happen when businesses try to sell you something you don’t need, by convincing you to believe that you need it. I remember years ago reading about “Halitosis.” The marketing company for a mouthwash invented it, and literally created a word for a “disease” that didn’t even exist…in an effort to convince people they had it so they would use their client’s mouthwash. Now it’s become a real word, meaning “bad breath.” How’s THAT for a successful marketing campaign?
 

I heard a new ad on the radio for a bad cold, with a nickname like “The Terminator.” Of course the description of how dreaded this particular strain of cold can be was followed with the “answer” – a new cold medicine. Ta-daa!
·        Problem + Solution = Sale!
 

How many times have you heard your friends or coworkers share that it’s “Cold and Flu Season”? Guess what? There is no such thing! Alka-Seltzer used to warn that a “Summer cold is a different animal, an ugly animal, oooh.”  Contact cold capsules used to have dancing girls singing “Button up your overcoat, when the wind is free. Take good care of your cold, you belong to me.” SO if there are summer colds and winter colds, what the heck is “Cold and flu season” and when is it? Are you with me yet?
 

We are bombarded with illness/cure messages all day long – in magazines, on billboards, on television and radio. I used to sell advertising, so I’ve heard and seen most everything. Some ads sell with image….a “cool” dude smoking KOOLs, an empowered woman smoking Virginia Slims. They aren’t all bad. I love the ads for American Express that feature Ellen DeGeneres, claiming she dances to her own tune. There is no harm in that type of ad. The cigarette ads that seem to say, “You’ll be sophisticated with this cigarette in your mouth,” however, I have a problem with.

Now back to the meds. Where was RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) last year? It didn’t exist! I have found that if I sit all day at my desk, my legs may feel restless at night. If I work out for 30 minutes on my cross-trainer during the day, I’m usually asleep by the time my head hits my pillow.
 

The challenge is this: it’s easier to take something to treat a problem than to actually fix it.
 

I have a girlfriend who told me she has to take a sleep aid a few times a week. Her job keeps her mind active when she’s trying to sleep. She has two kids and a husband. I’m sure I can’t begin to imagine what must be racing through her head. Her time is precious, too. Squeezing in a 30-minute workout would cut into her sleep time or quality family time. There are a million reasons why she can’t work out or eat healthy. She’s not alone. We all eat on the run. (Usually we grab that oversized $5.00 burger and a super large drink!) I am not unsympathetic. Quite the contrary. I look at my friend and I see someone who has swallowed not just the big burger, but the whole “Halitosis” remedy. Can’t sleep? Don’t change your job or your lifestyle!  Just take this wonderful pill and get that good night’s sleep your body needs. She’s a victim and she doesn’t even know it.

It takes tremendous discipline to manage your time so wisely that you can take care of your family, your job, and your spouse, let alone have time for friends, fun, shopping, cooking or a movie! Entrepreneur Magazine’s latest edition featured a story on time management. There was, unfortunately, nothing new in the article, other than the fact that many of us are slaves to our “connections” – and check our e-mail too frequently during the day. Designating certain times to go through our inboxes should help a bit. I just hope that reading this will encourage you to make any necessary changes or to feel a bit more disciplined about your life so that you can ultimately enjoy it a lot longer.
 

Don’t fall victim to the trap of commercialism. From now on, consider who is selling you something and why. If it benefits them more than it benefits you, walk away.