Can This Improve Productivity?

There’s something extra delicious and relaxing about taking a vacation day. Slipping off (like playing hooky) to the beach or the lake or the mountains one day when all the rest of the world is working. It’s like you get extra relaxation and rejuvenation that somehow isn’t possible on a weekend, even if you were to do the exact same thing.

I think there’s power or energy in the idea that you’re “supposed to be working” but you’re not. I don’t know about you, but it’s nearly impossible for me to ever turn off the cell phone – which is also my business line – and not turn on the computer for a whole 24 hours. God forbid the world could need something from me.

Yesterday I conducted an experiment and did just that. I found a fairly uninhabited section of beach, parked myself under my umbrella wearing factor 50 sun screen, and basically did nothing for several hours. More than once I had to stop myself from turning the phone on, just to see who may have called. And yes, I should have left the phone at home, but I brought it with, you know,  just in case of an emergency.

I’ve just finished reading Esther and Jerry Hicks’ book “Ask and It Is Given.” In it, they contend that if you’re not getting all that you desire in life, it’s because you are vibrationally not matching what it is you are asking for. And the only way to increase your vibration is to bring more joy and happiness into your experience. To not try so hard to make things happen. So I decided to see what happens when I stop pushing so hard. (note, this is not to say stop taking action; it is about being more relaxed, less stressed about it.)

I did feel a lot better and had more energy at the end of the day. I’m thinking of making this a monthly exercise. Let me know if you’d like to join me.

PS: I still got burned, so bring extra sun screen.

How’d You Get on Rachael Ray?

Ever since I announced that Zen Crunch was chosen to be Snack of the Day on Rachael Ray’s daytime talk show, people have been asking me how I did it. It’s not a big secret and I’m happy to share a bit of the behind the scenes.

Back in January, my fab PR expert Sara Becker got the name of the Snack of the Day segment producer and I sent her a letter along with a box of Gratitude Cookies. I’m good at sending stuff out, and not so good at follow up later. That’s why I’m so grateful to have Sara. She called and emailed the producer to find out if she got the box, if she liked the cookies, if she thought they were a good fit for Snack of the Day, etc.

She did like The Gratitude Cookie™, but felt they’d been giving away too many cookies recently and preferred to diversify.

No worries, Zen Rabbit also has Zen Crunch! So I sent another letter along with a couple bags of Zen Crunch. Once again, Sara was on top of the follow through and two weeks later we got word from the producer that YES! Zen Crunch would be included as a Snack of the Day in taping the following week. Now, she asked, could we overnight 160 bags of Crunch to New York for distribution to one studio audience?

Um, yeah, I think we could do that!!! I did, they taped the show and another two weeks later it aired.

So simple. Like most things in life, it really comes down to follow up and persistence. Okay, and maybe finding the right person to contact.

PS: Did you miss the show? See the local news coverage, which includes the Snack of the Day clip here: http://www.tinyurl.com/wptv324

Rachael Ray’s Snack is Zen Crunch

On Tuesday, March 24th, Rachael Ray’s Snack of the Day is Zen Crunch! Set your TIVO to record. Not sure what station and time the show’s on in your market? Click here to find out.

Rachael Ray

And in case you haven’t yet heard about the newly famous Zen Crunch, it’s kind of mix of granola and nut brittle.  It starts with a base mix of coconut, oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and a sweet caramel-type nectar that binds it all together.

Then one version includes dried cranberries, cashew pieces and white chocolate chips. A second version includes dried cherries, almond slices & semi sweet chocolate chips.

Rachael Ray audience members each received an eight-ounce bag of the treat. To get yours, simply go to ZenCrunch.com.

Zen Crunch

A Contrast in Perspectives

This morning I attended a State of the Economy breakfast, put on by the Executives’ Association of the Palm Beaches, a group of which I am a proud member. The speakers at this event were nationally syndicated radio hosts Ken and Daria Dolan. Of course I expected talk of gloom and doom, fear and scarcity because that’s the common theme when discussing today’s economy.

Ken Dolan seems like a nice, somewhat easy-going guy. Daria, on the other hand, a little more high-strung and opinionated. I’m sure some of it was their “act.” But wow, I just got a lot of “no one in Washington knows what the heck their doing and there’s pretty much no way this plan is the right way to go” energy along with my eggs and potatoes.

What one of my fellow Exec members got out of the morning was posted on Facebook as “sell all your stock holdings to force the market further down to keep congress from continued spending.” That and “at least 100 more banks will fail this year, so put your assets in gold.”

If you know me or you’ve read some of my posts here, or on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, you know that while I’m not an ostrich with my head in the sand, I basically subscribe to the theory that we live in an abundant universe. Thoughts become things. What you focus on is what you get more of. I don’t listen to the news and I don’t like being in the company of those who talk about how “bad” things are.

They are what they are, now let’s move on.

To be fair, Ken did offer a few trends to watch in terms of growth industries, including leisure, web casting and design, alternative medicine and wind and solar energy.

But all in all, I left there feeling an intense need to immerse my mind in some Wayne Dyer, immediately.

In the afternoon, I attended the Kravis Center Corporate Partners luncheon. The speaker was Peter Georgescu, Chairman Emeritus of Young & Rubicam, Inc. What a different perspective! He said creativity and values will pull us from today’s economic morass and then proceeded to expound upon how he optimistically sees that happening. He talked about free enterprise as the driving force for the next century and the need for fair, responsible and transparent values. Instead of talking “China and India will own us” he advised that we need to compete with those countries as allies or partners, not as enemies or we will all fail. He said there are actually some things they do better than we do.

He emphasized the need for improved education on all levels, as well as the importance of teaching creativity. Because in the end, we must have the best educated and most creative people, as that’s how we “win” against other countries.

He ended his speech with the comments that he “sees blue skies ahead” and “we are beginning to see how we are all connected.” In contrast, I felt pretty good on my way out of that presentation.

PS: The one common point the breakfast and lunch speakers made was that it is up to each of us as individuals to take responsibility for ourselves, our families, our businesses and the future of our country. So let’s get busy.

Big Girl Trade Show

A big change is brewing at Zen Rabbit and I’m eager to tell you about it. BUT, I will restrain myself until the whole concept is created, so I can share it with you in full. One component that I can tell you about is that Zen Rabbit will be exhibiting at the Great American Dessert Experience in Atlanta, April 7-8. This show is not open to the public. However, I do have some admission tickets to give a way at my discretion. So if you are in the Atlanta area or will be those two days and you want to get in and eat, let me know and I can hook you up.

One hint for you about the big announcement, at this show, Zen Rabbit will publicly unveil it’s brand new retail packaging.

Zen Rabbit created many new aficionados this past Saturday at its Green Market debut at the Abacoa Green Market in Jupiter, Florida. From my area, I could see the local and organic produce stands, a soap maker, a bread baker, some artists. There were more vendors there but it was so busy, I could never leave my booth to check out the rest. Thanks to everyone who stopped by.

I had a couple of retail packaging prototypes on the table. These are packages I’m considering creating for gourmet and specialty food stores, coffee cafes and other retail locations. Based on how many people wanted to buy them, I’m guessing they’ll do well.Since I now know how to put up the canopy, look for Zen Rabbit there next week and the rest of the month of March.

Are you in Palm Beach County this weekend?

Feed your craving for Zen Rabbit cookies! Pick up a dozen this Saturday at the N*E*W Green Market at Abacoa Town Center. From 10am to 2pm, Zen Rabbit will be creating new addicts and supplying the current ones. Come by our canopy and mention this posting to get $2 off your one dozen bag.

You can also get some fresh, organic fruits and veggies from the local farmers who will be there.  See you Saturday!

What is “Natural”?

There was an article in the business section of the Palm Beach Post on Monday about the use of the word “natural” in the food industry. Apparently the Food and Drug Administration does not have a formal definition for the word, nor does it plan to create one in the near future. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a definition that applies to meat and poultry products which states a product is “natural” if it doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients and is only minimally processed.

The problem with not having a clear definition is that food and beverage manufacturers can make their own rules in regards to labeling. Deceptive labeling leads to confused consumers. Of course many consumers, who can’t be bothered to learn about nutrition or read labels, see the term “natural” and think, “oh, this must better for me than the product that doesn’t say that.”

So you end up seeing products containing high-fructose corn syrup labeled as “all-natural” when, in my book, high-fructose corn syrup is not at all natural. All-natural to me means no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. If it requires a chemical process to make it, it’s not natural. Bottom line – pay attention to what you’re eating!

Debut of Rabbit Rouser Online!

Three weeks ago I made a commitment to my friend Lara to start a blog by the end of June. Oops. With all that was going on before vacation, didn’t quite make it.  

Now that I’m back into the full swing of business, I put it at the top of my priority list. And, voila! Here is the first blog posting.

Since Zen Rabbit already has an offline, printed and mailed via USPS newsletter called “Rabbit Rouser,” it just makes sense to continue the name to the online version. Of course here I won’t be limited to a legal size document and can post more detail and more frequently.

Enjoy!