Daphne Cochran-Shapiro » Daphne

Thinking of Starting Your Own Business?

Daphne — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:20:46 +0000

When considering owning your own business, you first need to ask yourself some basic questions:

Do I have a passionate desire to have my own business?
Do I want 100% of the responsibility and the decision-making?
Am I willing to commit myself to my business by working hard?
Do I have the confidence and discipline to make my business successful?
Do I have an entreprenuerial spirit?

Starting a new business is a life-altering event and can be likened to a marriage. It takes commitment and desire; you’ll be tied to your business 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Just like in marriage it will take work and will have highs and lows. But if you can answer those questions with a certain and resounding “Yes!” then starting your own business can be an intensely satisfying and rewarding adventure.

Once you’ve decided that you really do want to start your own business and have decided on what type of business you want, its time to start gaining knowledge and information about being in business. There is a learning curve you’ll need to go through in order to get started! Some areas you’ll want to focus on are: industry knowledge, administrative and organization processes, money management, creating a business plan, marketing, and time management. Acquiring this knowledge beforehand is immensely helpful to making your business a success.

Many women have their own successful business; you can, too! Take your passion and your innate talents, mix in learning and development, and you’ll shape your business into an enjoyable and profitable life adventure!

To Your Success,

Daphne Cochran-Shapiro is an Author & Poet, Designer & Crafter, and Entrepreneur who specializes in working with folks needing design assistance. My goal is to empower you to be the best you can be in ALL your endeavors. I invite you to browse my sites and share your comments on my works!

Know Thy Self

Daphne — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:41:54 +0000

These are some questions that came to mind one day while sitting in my car during a lunch break. I had been reading Journey Beyond Words – a miracles studies book channeled by Jesus to Brent A. Haskell. The section I had been reading discussed discovering what our values are in our lives. There are no “right” answers…..but the questions can serve to bring you to self-knowledge and self-awareness.

Enjoy the process, be honest, and remember that you are truly loved.

From the Course:

“What happens to perceptions if there are no judgments and nothing but perfect equality? Perception becomes impossible. Truth can only be known. All of its equally true, and knowing any part of it is to know all of it. Only perception involves partial awareness. Knowledge transcends the laws governing perception, because partial knowledge is impossible. It is all one and has no separate parts. You who are really one with it need but know yourself and your knowledge is complete. To know God’s miracle is to know Him.”

“Do not perceive yourself in different lights. Know yourself in the One Light where the miracle that is you is perfectly clear.”

Who am I?
Why am I here?
What do I want to do?
How can I serve?
In what areas of my life am I doing well? Doing poorly?
What do I value?
How do I perceive time?
What am I afraid of?
How do I define Love?
What is my opinion about God (the Creator, a Higher Power)?
How do I treat others?
How do I treat myself?
What are my beliefs and feelings about death?
How do I view the society I live in and my place in it?
How do I handle anger?
What has my past been? What does it mean to me now?
How do I define peace?
What has been my most peaceful experience?
Do I feel like a victim of the world?
What are my natural talents? Do I use them?
How do I perceive my body?
Can I quiet my thoughts and be at peace? If so, how? If not, why not?
What are my significant relationships in my life?
What physical activities do I participate in?
Do I care for my body healthfully?
What are my opinions about Nature? Do I care for the Earth?
What emotions do I enjoy? Dislike? Feel neutral about?
How do I perceive my soul?
Am I able to forgive myself and others?
Do I feel isolated and alone or one with the Universe?
Am I loving everyday?
Do I want to be right or happy?

Enjoy the process!

Crochet Tools & Equipment

Daphne — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:22:10 +0000

Here’s a list of some basic tools and equipment you’ll need when working on crochet projects.

Scissors – a small, pointed pair to trim yarn ends and cut yarn
Yarn Needles – with long and wide eyes to sew crochet pieces together and to weave in tails
Other Needles – for attaching embellishments and other sewing uses
Pins – glass-headed for blocking crochet, plastic-headed for pinning crochet pieces together, forked Japanese pins for blocking lighter pieces
Clips – used for holding crochet pieces together when seaming
Tape Measure – with inches and centimeters to measure your work
Ruler – good for measuring blocks and small items
Size Gauge – good for checking the size of your hooks
Row Counters – helps in keeping track of how many rows you’ve done
Stitch Markers – extremely helpful so you can count stitches or rows (I make my own with beads and jewelry components *s*); bobby pins or safety pins can also be used
Notebook & Pen/Pencil – for tracking pattern changes and measurements
Plastic Box with Compartments – for keeping all your tools organized and easy to locate
Hook Storage – use a plastic box or zippered cosmetic bag to store your hooks; keep the metal hooks separate so they don’t scuff the others
Sock Blockers – to shape your socks once they are complete
Quilter’s Color Palette – for color design
Iron – for blocking crochet pieces

Happy hooking! *grin*

Care2.com – Click to Donate!

Daphne — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:37:57 +0000

a very quick and easy way to take action in a variety of causes:

Join Care2.com’s Race to Stop Global Warming!

Join Care2.com’s Race for the Rain Forest!

Join Care2.com’s Race to Save the Baby Seals!

Join Care2.com’s Race for the Oceans!

Join Care2.com’s Race for the Big Cats!

Join Care2.com’s Race for the Primates!

Join Care2.com’s Race for Children!

Join Care2.com’s Race for Pets!

Join Care2.com’s Race to Stop Violence Against Women!

Join Care2.com and the Breast Cancer Fund’s Climb to End Breast Cancer!

I’ve been doing this since 2000.

Get Involved!

Are We Jaded?

Daphne — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:18:07 +0000

I received the most recent e-mail newsletter from EnlighteNext magazine and it had a great link to a video of an interview between the talk-show host Conan and the comedian Louis CK.

It’s great because it makes you stop and think about how amazing our lives are in this day and age and how we take so much of it for granted. The technologies we use in our everyday lives were unknown a relatively short time ago (think cellphones, internet, video games just for starters).

Take a look at the video and then stop for some moments of reflection and gratitude. We live in amazing times with amazing technologies and luxuries. Don’t take anything (or anyone!) for granted. Renew your childlike sense of wonder. Be happy, and for goodness sake, don’t be jaded!

It’s all wonderfully amazing, this thing we call Life!

Here’s the link to the video:

Everything’s Amazing and Nobody’s Happy

Enjoy, and Smile!