Vivacious…
Welcome to Denise Reed craziness of practical problem solving…this is the continuing saga of living in a world of entrepreneurs, creatives, and just being a part of some awesome business adventures taking flight. I’ll be sharing the highlights of what I experience in hopes that it will inspire you!
My first highly successful business adventure which continues to grow is The Concierge Office Suites. It’s a full-service office space in downtown Chattanooga, TN. We help cultivate businesses through providing a business environment that goes beyond “renting an office.” The whole concept is built around the idea of concierge services making it happen for our clients. The business was established in 1995, I was able purchase it in 2006. This business is beyond incubation. We’re full-on soaring.
We’re in the flap around stage of this business, and we've taken off. Let the craziness begin. My husband and I began a 40-acre commercial broiler poultry farm in 2014, Wing and a Prayer. We are celebrating it's successful sale in January of 2023.
I’m sure you’re sensing a theme here of flight. No, I’m not a pilot, at least for a literal plane. I do feel like a pilot for the businesses I’ve been involved in over the course of my life. I check the business flight path, equipment to get the job done, flight personnel to make it happen and away we go! This whole flying thing began when my parents told me I could do anything I set my mind to do. I remember watching my Dad fly off on business trips from the airport. I was fascinated by the whole experience ever since. I love to travel, meet new people, and encourage other people to soar beyond where they are in life. I've been speaking in public consistently since 2006 sharing what I've learned in hopes that I could help another business person avoid some pitfalls in their business. Pull up a comfy chair and check out my adventures here.
Many thanks go to Kyle Miller with Thin Gypsy Thief Studios for the awesome web page header photograph!
The Latest From the Blog
How I Started My Live Streaming Podcast Journey
Join me, Denise Reed the president of The Concierge Office Suites, in my very first live stream using StreamYard broadcasting over diverse social media platforms—Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube—I am excited about stepping into 2024 with renewed vigor. I want you to be a part of this new chapter. The Concierge Office Suites, a venture that has thrived since 1995, offers insights into private office rental, virtual office positioning, event rental spaces, and business concierge support. This video livestream and podcast opens the door for more individual connections as I promise more exciting announcements for 2024.
In a bid to help others become more effective marketers, I’m determined to stress the importance of sharing your unique story. Through my own personal journey, I discovered that one’s story is a compelling reason for others to care. As I reflect on transformative “a-ha” moments that help me identify the significance of storytelling, I was led to work with a storytelling coach, Melissa Reeves, CEO and founder of Story Fruition.
My commitment to storytelling brought me to a competitive level, where I not only participated in a speech competition but traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to compete. This video below emphasizes the power of starting where you are and sharing your authentic story since it offers a glimpse into my passions and motivations. Check out my personal anecdotes, from working in my grandmother’s gift shop in the Pocono Mountains to supporting my single mother’s professional monogramming enterprise encapsulating the entrepreneurial spirit that led me to establish The Concierge Office Suites.
The live stream below wraps up with an emphasis on the transcendent importance of personal stories to form the bedrock of personal and corporate branding. I urge you, my live-stream audience, to anticipate more engaging and riveting content in the future. Watch, get inspired, and prepare to release the power of your story into the world as I’m sharing mine.
#justapointofview #itsthelittlethings #livestreaming #podcasting #storytelling #pursuitofhappiness
The Naked Truth and The Emperor’s New Clothes
Wow! I’m right on point for the naked current truth of social media in “The Emperor’s New Clothes and the Naked Current Truth.” I keep asking myself what makes an “Influencer” influential and how do you really know person “X” is a “thought leader”? I’m questioning what I see and hear lately and it’s not because of my age.
When you have a marketing background you understand what goes into creating influence. It takes imagination, repetitive positioning of your point of view, and ad spend. Let’s hope that you have the secret sauce to build awareness. Sometimes it’s the number of times you’re in front of your audience or the fact an already established “Influencer” wants to share what you’re doing or selling to validate you or your brand. Just thought I should share this for all the sheeple out here.
Your real power is understanding how a brand is built. Pay attention to the real value, the real service, and the actual quality of what you’re getting. Don’t be caught like the emperor with no clothes! If you are caught “naked,” walk proudly down the street. People will talk about your confidence and crazy. You will definitely stand out. That’s the point if you want to be recognized. It’s #justapointofview.
Overcome Obstacles: Deal with the Elephant in the Room
We’ve all experienced some kind of “elephant in the room.” You know, it’s that big issue that nobody eagerly wants to address. Your elephant issue may appear to take up mountains of time and energy. I am well versed in only having so much time and being down to ‘battery saving’ levels of energy myself. This proverbial elephant can become like a computer program running in the background slowing down your operating system’s ability to find your peace of mind! It is no surprise that maybe your elephant issue can be tough to talk about. One type of elephant may be a project that needs to be done, but because of all the urgent tasks that keep popping up you don’t ever create the steps or resources to get that important thing done. Then you may have an emotional elephant around a sensitive topic that can be hard to bring up. Ignoring your elephant can lead to unease and tension – not to mention all the energy spent having to perpetually walk around the darn animal. I know we would all rather avoid facing that difficult issue, our elephant.
So, why not try to tackle that elephant project that is becoming too big to ignore anymore? Try acknowledging there actually is an elephant size issue. This is the start for working through to common ground for a sensitive issue or a huge project. The problem, your elephant, will never be resolved if you don’t take an adult time out and evaluate possible steps to resolve it. We’re back to the old saying, how do you eat an elephant? Remember the answer is one bite at a time. I don’t know about you, but I’m not into eating elephants. I’ve come up with all kinds of excuses for my elephants whether they were conversations or projects. I’m starting to realize life is WAY too short to keep spending all this time walking around or even carrying my elephants. It is time to put my elephants down and stop wasting time walking around them when there could be a clear path if the darn elephant gets out of my way! I’m working through my elephant size issues.
We can find elephant size solutions for projects that actually work. The process is simple. It’s just not easy when you have something as big as an elephant to tame. The real secret is to continue to improve on what you’re doing. The idea of always improving on what you’re doing will whip that elephant right down to a size you can manage. As an elephant tamer, it just takes:
- Think time to define exactly what the problem is.
- Planning to find the resources, people and the how to resolve the elephant issue.
- Breaking down the elephant size issue into bite size tasks.
- Execution of your bite-size tasks.
Before you know it, this elephant-sized project has moved on!
I don’t want you to think I forgot your emotional sized elephant. Is your emotional elephant a sensitive topic that people avoid discussing either out of anger, fear or discomfort? Resolving this elephant-size issue may be more tricky to resolve, because you’re dealing with how people feel. Dealing with people’s feelings isn’t always predictable. However, ignoring the elephant in the room can cause tension and unease, and hinder progress. It’s time to confront the elephant head-on, despite its size and presence:
- Being able to even acknowledge there is a problem for not only yourself but others will keep you from tripping over this elephant.
- Discuss this emotional elephant openly and calmly. If you can’t speak calmly, your message may not be heard.
- We can work together to find a solution. It takes speaking and listening to have a conversation. Make sure you calmly repeat what you thought you heard. Use these active listening skills and clarify points of view as you go.
The whole goal is to reach a perspective you can both live with that makes this emotional elephant one you can live with.
Let’s not let any elephant be it a project or a feeling continue to run around in the background and take up our precious time and energy. Life is so short! It truly is better to address any elephant sized issues and move forward toward a resolution or accomplishment. Happy elephant taming!