Green screen & crooked glasses

It seems that I will try anything once for my business Ovaleye.  In the past few years I have sat in front of green screens with funky broken sunglasses and pretended I was in the tropics when there was a snow storm outside. I vlog, podcast, pose for photos and do whatever I can to market my business. You will find me on BlipTV, Youtube, Facebook, twitter, Itunes, instagram and I am sure others that I don’t even know about.

Through the years I have done some crazy things to be active in our small community. For a few years I danced on stage while my daughter Jenn took classes at a local dance studio. A bunch of us moms decided to take classes too. There are a few costumes I saved that I would NEVER try on again! I tried tap dance one year and I wore what looked to be a leotard with green sequins and fishnet stockings on stage at my daughter Jenn’s recital. One year I danced to All that Jazz in a small black dress and top hat and not only danced on stage at the recital more than once but also danced in our local parade to advertise the recital! The last dance I did when the kids were in high school was the year I started my music store.  I danced on stage to Lenny Kravitz American Woman and Aerosmith’s Pink while wearing a pink shower cap, pink fuzzy slippers and robe. Then top the dance off all of us moms on stage take off the robs and shower cap to go-go boots and a short mini dress and dance in front of many community members and friends of my kids!

Today I topped the stunts when my daughter and husband who are my partners in business filmed another stunt of mine for our business. I still don’t think I have gone as far as I can yet…

I am willing to dance again to get Ovaleye out to the masses if needed I just might need a little wine this time. Check out our latest vlogs, podcasts and fun at Ovaleye.tv

Kathy K Nelson – Chief Decision Maker at Ovaleye.com

My fav day is with my grandson!

The conversations that I have with others lately are about how do you balance your lifestyle?  I have to laugh at the subjects that are talked about now compared to when I had kids. Back then, there were no iPhones and laptops just gameboys and very large cellphones.  Our fist cellphone was a heavy, large big battery with an antenna. It was huge and we had to put it on the floor of our car when we went anywhere.

My lifestyle is filled with technology and family and I love it! I use my iPhone for everything! My new favorite tech gadget is my iPad2. I don’t know what I did without it. These two gadgets help me balance my life of owning a tech business and enjoying family. I am able to have a life outside the office. Meaning I can spend quality time with my grandson while staying connected with our business. I can go boating and have my wi-fi plan on my iPad to help our members from just about anywhere on the water.  My iPhone is always in my back pocket or laying on our table in the middle of the house (centrally located in our house). I even receive phone calls on the back of the motorcycle while riding with my husband on weekends and vacations. While he drives I can talk on the phone using our helmet speakers. Warning I do sound funny! My iPhone goes everywhere with me.

The services that I provide allow my iPhone to receive and send email that are saved in my email client. My blackberry never let me save these I would always have to cc myself in the email to keep any copies. I have access to all emails from my iPhone and I can open a browser while emailing someone. I can also make appointments and meeting on my iPhone and it will go to my main calendar and my partners calendars too.  When our business associate wants to share an important document with me I can check it out from my iPhone and edit it, then I can add the edited version to our shared file on our server.  I am also able to answer all business calls using VoIP wherever I want. Late at night I can answer my business line from my comfy chair in my den if I want and have my iPad open to look up something.  These little great services make a huge difference in my life and help with balancing both worlds.

I do not have kids at home anymore. I can not speak for moms that are home 24/7 with little kids running businesses and trying to balance their lives. I can provide this for my daughter who is also my business partner and she can run a business and stay home with her son. That is why I love what I do and how every day I make sure I can provide this for all of the members of Ovaleye.

Kathy K Nelson – Chief Decision Maker at Ovaleye.com

I have kicked up my energy this past year and it feels good. But I had to get some help to boost my workouts, work schedule and even when I do house work and cooking in the kitchen.

If you need an extra boost in getting your tail in gear like I do, I suggest playing fun music as loud as you can take. I like mine loud!

I believe a playlist can be your life story. Music makes me happy and has helped with growing up and peer pressure, moving to a new state, starting new businesses and family memories like our daughter Jenn walked down the isle to Queen’s “Somebody to Love”.

My playlist:

1. Gunpowder & Lead – Miranda Lambert

2. Viva la Vida – Cold Play

3. Born This Way – Lady Gaga

4. Rumour Has It – ADELE

5. Sabotage – Beastie Boys

6. Water – Brad Paisley

7. Kick Out The Jams – Rage Against the Machine

8. Fuel – Metallica

9. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson

10. Let’s Go Crazy – Prince

Kathy K Nelson – Chief Decision Maker at Ovaleye.com

Photo shoot with Connie's daughter watching

Late Friday night I reflected on my week of meetings and accomplishments.  You get so involved in creating new systems for your business and making sure your clients are well taken care of that you can forget to take a step back and really look at what you are creating.

Last night I realized the meetings that I have each week with my associates include their kids in some way. This past month my meetings all included “mom look at this” and happy laughter in the background during skype meetings. Maybe a tantrum or two mixed in… This made me happy that my business supports moms and dads and their lifestyle.

I love what I do and how my business connects with working moms and dads balancing their lifestyles and enjoying the little things like kids walking into the meetings with spiderman outfits and my office has cute art work from all the kids.  I couldn’t have asked for a better business setting,.

Kathy K Nelson – Chief Decision Maker at Ovaleye.com

Kathy & BMW

It’s finally here! That time of the year where you hear the roar of bikes driving by our house. The motorcycles get out and we all enjoy time in the sun. Tracy and I have always wanted a bike to ride to our favorite destinations. We waited until our kids had grown up to enjoy our motorcycle. A few years back we decided we would look at bikes in Seattle and I actually saw this bike first pull up and I asked the owner if he was selling it. He did want to sell and a few hours later we had our dream bike.  Tracy and I have enjoyed long trips and short trips each year. We took it with us to Yosemite, Santa Barbara and all over Washington state. Hopefully we will get to Canada this year.

This photo was taken last weekend when the sun came out and it was the first official warm day in the NW. Tracy and I just got out and had fun in the sun. This photo was taken next to a pretty park where we walked along the river. A perfect day after a long hectic week. To many more fun filled days with our bike.

Kathy K Nelson – Chief Decision Maker at Ovaleye.com

I have done two photo shoots for Ovaleye in 5 years.  The last photo shoot was indoors and mainly head shots. This time  we were trying story boards and a few locations. Our plan for our new website is to focus more on imagery.  Jenn and I interviewed Crispy Bikinis last month on Using Imagery to Communicate Company Culture and Values and how this helps sell your products to your target market. We planned a fun filled day of 3 shoots for our new website. The first shoot at a clients store, the second outside on a beautiful trail and the third at our headquarters.  We had planned for about 10 people in the shoot for 4 hours. Each one planned for timing of the guest and locations.  The weather channel said that day we could expect sun, wind and rain. A typical day in the northwest.

We woke up to sickness and storms one right after the other. I still hoped for sun!  Scheduling our time that day with our team, sicknesses and helping clients was a challenge in itself.  I got in my car to go to the first shoot of the day and forgot chocolate and ran into a local store to get a big bag for our guests. My hair and makeup was just right for the day. The man behind me in line said to take a look outside at that fun weather. NO! The wind was carrying the rain sideways along with leaves and branches. He mentioned to us that his former line of work was a weather man and this is what you call a squall. Cool! No, I turned to him and asked how long do you think a squall will last? I have a photo shoot outside. He replied all day and laughed so hard as I ran to my car. He did offer me his umbrella as he was laughing.  Needless to say my hair didn’t cooperate for the shoot after that.  As we all got out of our cars our umbrellas almost snapped in two!

One shoot was canceled after we all piled into the store drenched. But in the end, the day progressed nicely and I learned so much! Photographers work amazingly well with these situations. While I might have been stressed our photographer Jenner Tai, did an amazing job with the day of revised shots. Our website designer now has a bunch of great shots to work with and we have another shoot scheduled for a time when the weather should cooperate with an outside shoot in the northwest.

Everyone had a great time and now I know even more about the planning of a photo shoot and how anything can go! Thanks to all that participated that day and we ended with a glass of wine and chocolate. A perfect ending to a fun stressful fun day!

Kathy K Nelson – Chief Decision Maker at Ovaleye.com

My core strength is very important to my health, family and business. One of the most important goals this year is to build my core strength.  This will help me accomplish my other goals too. My core strength actually is in charge of my everyday tasks and well being.

For the past 4 years I have struggled with some hip issues. These issues have prevented me from doing things that I love to do. I had tests done and therapy and have educated myself in what to do next. Of course there is always surgery and I have been in to see a surgeon too.  But it all comes down to ME!

What I have found these past few years with my business Ovaleye and myself we are one.  If I feel bad my business suffers.  I have been consumed at times with how to proceed with my issues and how to feel better to take care of business.  I am a young grammy and I am active too. Pain and the unknown does not inspire people it just keeps us from our goals.

The beginning of 2012 has brought many great insights and goals to focus. My core strength! We are not just talking muscles here but also the strength you give yourself to work through hurdles and to move forward. I believe that working on your core strength will bring you joy and make you feel good too.

Each year I get stronger. Each year I find more strengths that I didn’t even know I have. I have met with a few trainers over the past few years and they have all helped me strengthen my hips and I am grateful. But this past year after educating myself I found myself telling the trainer what I want now.

I have worked with Jim my trainer at our local gym for about a year now and I have found that I am stronger and more confident than I have been in years.  Having the core strength to live a healthy lifestyle helps me get to the goals I have set easier and with confidence. My pain in my hips only happens every so often and it’s mainly when I wear the wrong shoes or stand too long.

• Core strength for me is learning how my muscles work together to build a foundation so I’m able to crawl, climb and run around with my grandson.
• Core strength keeps me sitting tall while I work long hours.
• Core strength gives me the confidence to do anything to build my business.
• Core strength takes a lot of stamina to keep strong!
• Core strength keeps me healthy for my family

Here is to a strong and successful year!

Kathy K Nelson – Chief Decision Maker at Ovaleye.com

Team Ovaleye

This is our team! Who makes everything possible minus one… Tracy Nelson who had to stay back and keep tabs on everything.  Let’s start with the one guy who is a huge part of the Ovaleye team.

Tracy Nelson – He is my husband, father of Jenn & Kenny & Grandpy to baby Donogh. Here are a few facts about Tracy:

• Doesn’t require sleep
• Likes boating & long motorcycle rides on our BMW
• Like peanut butter sandwhiches

Here are a few facts about Jenn (shortest girl in the photo):

• Her son is gifted
• She loves to camp & ride dirt bikes with her family
• A great cook when she cooks (her squash enchiladas are the best)

Here are few facts about Connie who is the tallest of the group:

• She embraces motherhood to the fullest of anyone I know
• Every business in our community wants to hire Connie
• She makes a great latte

A few facts about Carissa who is wearing the glasses in the photo:

• Mother to spiderman
• She is a nerd with a big heart
• Has the best peanut butter cookie recipe

A few facts about me (Kathy) the blond on the left:

• Happy grammy
• I listen to kick out the Jams by Rage Against the Machine every morning at the gym
• Made my son learn to cook

Kathy K Nelson – Chief Decision Maker at Ovaleye.com

My world is growing as we speak! It’s a world of my life as a growing small business owner and trying to do it all.  Each day that goes by I try not to think of all the ideas and things I didn’t accomplish like this blog I would love to update more often.  It’s a never ending battle of …ok my day just flew by but there is always tomorrow.  I can actually see my dream. It’s right in front of me each day. It’s Ovaleye, its my lifestyle and it’s my family.  I have dreamed it so much that I can actually see it.  It’s like a carrot dangling on a string in front of me and I keep trying to grab it.

My world is always looking forward now. I think that the saying “all in or nothing” is so true.  My world is all Ovaleye. My world is cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping just like everyone else with a full time job. In fact our closet and dresser have been in the laundry room and our dishes lately have been paper. My shopping is amazon.com or a quick run around the store after getting out of the office for a meeting. My times with family are priceless too.

When you put your “all” into your business you will see big results. The part that can be very frustrating to most business owners is that “all” can be really hard to give all the time.  So my “all” is what I can give heart, body and soul. The rest I have the best team at Ovaleye to give me their “all” to get us all to our goals and dreams.. That is why that carrot is so close I can feel it.

Woo hoo I got a blog post done! I can celebrate! Or should I run a lap around the office or clean something or …

It’s February 2012 and we are celebrating a healthy heart month! As an entrepreneur it’s important to be healthy and full of energy. How will you compete and be successful if you are tired, grumpy and not focused?  I seem to have really gained energy and focus lately. Well it could be that I L.O.V.E what I do each day and who I work with.

You have to take good care of yourself and really focus on your strengths in business. I’ve recently listened to and read a lot on how as business owners, we can sabotage ourselves when it comes to following our path to success.  I have become more focused on creating a lifestyle that helps me get to my goals in the next two years because of this.

I have BIG goals and I won’t talk about those now, but what to quickly share how I will be focusing on my strengths to get to those BIG goals in two years or less. Most of us have a hard time focusing on ourselves and what our strengths are.  Here are 10 strengths I came up with and I think this is a good exercise for everyone to do.

1. FAMILY

2. Healthy Lifestyle

3. Living in a great community

4. Love of knowledge of everything business

5. Like a good challenge

6. Consistent with  business practices

7.  Building good customer relationships

8. Being authentic

9. Creative thinking

10. Always thankful for everything

What are your strengths that will help you along the way to success.

Kathy K Nelson – Chief Decision Maker at Ovaleye.com