Loving Life Blog

Spur of the Moment Reflections

Me and The Phantom of the Opera November 13, 2013

Filed under: Broadway,Entrepreneur,Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 7:57 pm
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I’m coming home for Christmas! As I bought the ticket and the excitement started rushing up in me, the Christmas song started playing in my mind, “I am coming home for Christmas”, by Peter Jöback.

Then, it hit me…

Peter was a musical artist and rising star when I grew up. My cousins neighbor was his friend, and we were cheering for him when he participated in the “Melodifestivalen” – the pre-contest for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Peter was also managing the audition for the choir to the Lasse Kühlers Dansskola – the dance school where I ended up going for 5 years prior to the Ballet Academy. I was so so nervous for the singing audition. “Vem kan segla… ” (One of the easiest tunes there is.)

Peter was also “one of the Special Guests” in the US tour of Robert Wells Rhapsody in Rock with shows in Chicago, Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and The Civic Theatre in San Diego 2005. The show, that was the incentive to register my company “Go Blue Promotions” (now dba Herringbone) – while working our butts off to get 1000 people in the audience in San Diego, so my friend Ylva Andell Elias could be a local guest artist singing on stage.

Rhapsody in Rock Peter Jöback

Peter, is now the Phantom of the Opera. On Broadway.
http://youtu.be/r9Mkxw91nK0?t=2m6s

Three years ago I got the question: “Name three things you would do when you become a millionaire.” I think we had 5 minutes.  I shared it in an earlier post: I have a Dream. This was one of the 3 things:

Realize the vision of the Herringbone platform, selecting a true Herringbone story from Africa and turn it into a musical on Broadway, NYC – with performing cast from Africa.

That particular extension of the “Herringbone platform” was not something I had not thought before. But it stayed with me. And last week I got a non-profit in Africa wanting to use the solution – once it is created. (A minor hook).

The future will tell. Maybe I will have Peter to thank for reaching Broadway. Or I will manage the audition for him to be part of the cast…

Is it only me, or is your mind also taking loops like this? What is your dream? You may as well put it in words now… you never now.

What ever happens: Thank you for the music. Peter Jöback with Rapsody in Rock, and Ylva Elias at San Diego Civic Theatre exactly 8 years ago, November 13, 2005:

Enjoy,
Johanna

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The Magic of Gratitude in Action November 4, 2013

Filed under: coaching,Entrepreneur,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:23 pm
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OK – so I have had this book since the beginning of the year: The Magic, by Rhonda Byrne, who is one of the authors behind the Secret. “Ja, ja… the law of attraction crap – in your dreams.” One could think. Or one could give it a try.

So I got this book for Christmas, and I decided to give it a shot. It is a 28 day practice. Gratitude practice on different aspects of life. Starting with the past, with an aim to build a foundation, create closure to and set different situations in a enhanced supportive and positive light. Relationships, health, money, work…

I came to day #16 in the beginning of the year. And then I drifted away from my morning routine.

Last week I spoke at an event that had the theme “Freakout Moments” – for female entrepreneurs. One of the other speakers was Kariz Matic (The Matic), and the key take away from her story was: “Small or large events, every day – I meet them with gratitude”. The extreme situation she had experienced was (more…)

 

Making a Whoopi? November 1, 2013

Filed under: Entrepreneur,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:13 pm
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Johanna Making a Whoopi Shoes

An entrepreneurial freakout moment, a business turn around, or simply: making a Whoopi?

Read more on Bone Up! Blog at Herringbone.

Photo by: StevenGregoryPhotography.com – warmly recommended for event photography, professional or children portraits as well as tongue-in-cheek business photos.  

Whoopi photo credit: Annie Leibovitz

Originally posted at ShoeRumors.com 

 

Let it end September 23, 2013

Filed under: coaching,Entrepreneur,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 11:26 pm
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“Oh – so you feel upset. Read this.” – thanks Universe! It’s sometimes fascinating what messages come your (my) way and how timely they are.

IMG_0289

Give up anger toward others and yourself.

See that the force of any heated reaction is not strength.

Remember that for any and everyday action of force, there is an equal and opposite one.

This explains why the fighting never ends.

Let it end.

Let it end. Give it a laugh. Begin again. How would you do it this time? How would you interact or react, this time? What would make this the greatest way possible. What would you do? What small thing would make a difference?

Just checking. Now, go do it.

Johanna

 

Cinderella’s shoes weren’t as tiny as you thought September 21, 2013

Filed under: Entrepreneur,Promotion — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:07 pm
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Some things do give you a special smile.

Having had a friend stay with me for a few days and get the inspiration to a new Cinderella Story… is fantastic. This is what she posted to me at the time of the opening reception of the one-year anniversary shoe exhibition: Cinderella – The Right Shoes.

Cinderella’s shoes weren’t as tiny as you thought.

Having read it to the end, I am curious: who is the president in the beautiful shoes? I would be happy to see the current presidents wife, Michelle Obama, wear “my shoes”.

Because I know she could. And she would love them.

Thank you Abi Post for “let[ting] a story out in the wild”!  Including your lovely Brittish vocabulary.

I did enjoy. Hope you do too.
Johanna

LLXLLQ Shoe Exhibition

 

WILD September 11, 2013

Filed under: Entrepreneur — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 4:23 am
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September 11, 2013. Today, exact 12 years ago, I was one hour from a layover in New York in the air.

We returned to Ireland, as we were not allowed to enter the US air space.

A very special time to move to the US.

A commitment of 4 months – max 9 – at a non profit, became 12 years including 8 years in finance for a pharma company, and 4 years of running my own business Herringbone – marketing business expanding your footprint. Making voices heard for positive change.

And today, I find myself in New York. Having represented a Swedish eco-friendly designer Anna Oels-Lindell, GreenBlackDress and showcased an Italian shoe line for hard to find larger sizes LLXLLQ that I launched for a client during the last year, on two different runways, during New York Fashion Week.

Life is indeed fascinating if you allow it to take you places. And, if you make them happen.

New York, New York.
Johanna

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Can you do me a favor, lady? August 30, 2013

Filed under: Entrepreneur,Promotion — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:05 pm
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A conversation at the bus stop.

A conversation at the bus stop.

6.15am. On my way to volunteer at GLIDE and serve breakfast to those who need.
I buy a coffee to get change for the bus and overhear a conversation: “After 38 years together they finally got married.”
Inspired of the beauty of it I turn around and say “did I hear 38 …”
“Yes. Two ladies”, the two men say and nod their heads.
“Oh, I’m happy for them” I say, and start walking out.
“And can you do me a favor, lady?” one man expresses. “No, please…” the other man says.
“Yes, what?” I ask.
“Can you get a little heel? Just a little heel?”
“I have heels. I have them in my bag here. I work with shoes” – and hand him my card.
“All ladies should wear heels. All tall ladies should have high heels. And a pin in their back. You know why? To keep their back straight, because they have low self esteem.”
That is exactly my finding with most women who have big feet.
Last comment by the man: “I used to wear 5 inch heels myself – and I used the run the beat out of them all”, holding my card in his hand.

 

LLXLLQ – beautiful larger size shoes – including heels – for women. And of course, those men who enjoy the occasional heel. If the shoe fits.

 

Johanna

 

Sex+Design… in the City. August 8, 2013

Filed under: Entrepreneur,Promotion — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 8:03 am
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Last night I stopped by the SF Launch of BRAVE NEW WORLD – the latest edition of the coffee table magazine Sex+Design, that is issued quarterly.

“Sex+Design Magazine is a pull-no-punches publication exploring the counter-culture of urban life. Sex+Design highlights the balance between sophisticated living and downtown debauchery. Writers from the New York Times, Paris Review and Juxtapoz are featured along with art, design and photography from a number of cutting edge worldwide artists.”

As I was walking around I was thinking of a possible feature of shoes… and on my way out I couldn’t resist testing the footprint. See – it fit right in!
Every where else, these red LLXLLQ shoes stand out. I get so many complements. I even got advised by a guerrilla publicity specialist to do a campaign ‘Where are the red shoes”. Well… I think they have found a home.

Although – what’s the point if you don’t make a mark. You want to be seen – no? I guess the setting would be different… a different setting that makes the LLXLLQ shoes stand out. That they do at Dolce Amore, 1477 Van Ness and Pine in San Francisco. Come on by – Shoe Exhibition “Cinderella – The Right Shoes”. Opening reception tomorrow at 5-7pm. RSVP Here.  Exhibition open until August 31st. Man or woman, size 10-12 in shoes or not – you will enjoy. The food is delicious too.

I bet – a shoe closet like what you will witness there, was never seen in Sex in the City.

Stand tall in style,
Johanna

Sex+Design_It_Fits_Right_in_LLXLLQ
 

I Love Vistaprint August 6, 2013

Filed under: Entrepreneur,Promotion — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:19 pm
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I find life amusing. Recently I have ordered killer deal printing jobs from Vistaprint. Of course they up-sale in the end of the purchasing process, and you end up buying more. Maybe. This time they offered me the car magnets that I have had the intention of getting for a very long while. I just didn’t get to getting the right help I thought I needed for the design. Well, this offer at the end of the purchase was so in-expensive, so I just used the same image for the car magnet as for the front of the business card, and hoped that the  file quality was good enough.

The print job was mailed sooner than expected, and I was very pleased with the result. It was with great enthusiasm that I displayed the “LLXLLQ – Size 10-12 Handmade Italian Shoes” on my golden Subaru. One of the first stops outside a friends house, someone past by and after reading on my car stated that “That is a very specialized niche”. That is true. Only for women with larger sizes shoes.

To my great disappointment I lost one of the car magnets on my first drive on the high-way. I think it was a bad sample, because I noticed that it felt like it came off very easily. Now, that doesn’t matter, because Vistaprint replaced it with no comments more than providing a guide sheet.

Vistaprint replaces keywords for large size shoes

That’s the background info. Yesterday I was walking around with the “I love Vistaprint” thought in my mind. I should take a photo and tweet them, sharing my love and appreciation. Thinking – I wonder if they would retweet – would that lead to more cross marketing.

Early this morning I was submitting a press release for distribution. Using the free version, there was an add in the beginning of the press release, that happened to be Vistaprint. Interesting.

Later today when I was looking at the press release report – this is what I find:

“Search Phrases – this report lists top 5 phrases that visitors used in search engines to find your release on PrLog.
1. vistaprint”

Mind you – this was a search engine optimized press release with keywords – for large size shoes. Isn’t that wonderful – I didn’t even tweet my love to vistaprint – and they have already sent me traffic. Hm. The power of thought… or the power of unconditional love. Vistaprint – the company that keeps giving.

Vistaprint – Thank you!
Johanna

Below is a preview shot by StephenGregoryPhotography.com, of the LLXLLQ shoe, named after the founder Lucia. The shoe is one of many that is installed for the Shoe Exhibition August 9-31, with opening reception 5-7pm Friday August 9. join us at that event – more info and RSVP: www.therightshoes.eventbrite.com

And yes – below is also the bespoken car magnet of LLXLLQ from Vistaprint. The car is on brand.

LLXLLQ Shoe Exhibition at Dolce Amore - Thank you Vistaprint

 

I need a MEGAPHONE June 27, 2013

Filed under: Entrepreneur,Promotion — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 1:17 pm
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In the Starbucks line this morning:

“Excuse me, may I ask which shoe size you wear?”
“For what? Size 9.”
“Ah – then you are too small. We’ve just launched a shoe line for women with size 10-12. It is so difficult to find shoes that size, and when I see women who I think could be my size, I ask.”
“Oh I don’t know – I am size 9 in men’s shoes.”
DO YOU GET THE PICTURE? I need a megaphone… size 10-12, Italian handmade shoes…. LLXLLQ

Please SHARE this and send your friends and friends of friends with larger sizes shoes my way. Have them sign up for the newsletter http://bit.ly/LLXLLQnews , using campaign code “FRIEND” and they will receive a very special offer on top of the 15% for signing up for the newsletter.

If you act now they can participate in the LLXLLQ shoe giveaway by June 30, 2013: http://splur.gy/r/dz2v4

LLXLLQ_SHOW_OFF_YOUR_COLORS

 

 
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