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“Everyone knows something you don’t… learn from them.” It’s a simple phrase, but one that’s resonated with me for decades. I’m not even sure where I first heard it, but it’s become part of who I am and how I approach life. Long before Blue Gypsy. Long before I was speaking at conferences or teaching classes. Before I ever became an Online Sales Counselor. It’s a mindset I’ve carried with me from experience to experience…country to country. I learned it years ago while traveling the world. Every place I visited…
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We live in a business world that often rewards the illusion of perfection. You’ve seen it. Polished LinkedIn profiles, shiny headshots, carefully curated captions that make it look like everyone’s got it together all the time. (I mean check, check, check I have all those things going on!) It’s like we’re all somehow superheroes in blazers…well not me, I don’t think I own a blazer. It seems like we are dodging failure, fear, and insecurity with a winning smile and our own business taglines and philosophies. But let’s get real…
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Let’s talk about something not often discussed in professional circles, but very real for so many of us, especially those of us who seem like we’ve got it all together on the outside. High-functioning depression. It sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? Functioning. Depressed. But it’s not. Is it a clinical term? No probably not. (Well definitely not…I looked it up!) What does it mean? It means showing up to work, meeting deadlines, staying upbeat in meetings, helping others, being productive, and all the while, carrying a quiet, heavy weight…
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I remember the first time I used AI to help me write and organize something. It was June 2023, and I was finally thinking seriously about putting my house on the water in Virginia onto the short-term rental market. My dad and I bought this house while I was still working on wooden schooners, and it was my place to go between boat jobs. Up to this point, I was an expert at couch surfing. Later it became my peaceful retreat, and I even lived there the first year I…
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Let’s pick up where we left off. In Part 1, we explored the idea that we naturally value what we prioritize. Our calendars, to-do lists, and mental energy are often the truest indicators of what really matters to us. But if that’s true… what happens when we feel like we’re stuck between two values? Welcome to the tug-of-war between professional growth and work-life balance. This is one of the most common internal battles people across all industries are fighting quietly, every day. Two Good Things, One Big Tension “I want…
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Lately, I’ve swapped my mindless Facebook scrolling for something a little more intentional, LinkedIn. Fewer ads, more inspiration, and the chance to connect with friends and colleagues in the industry. So when I came across a post from Morgan Lurz, President of Cannonball Moments, I had to stop the scroll. She wrote: “Forget work-life balance—what we truly value is what we prioritize. I’ve been knee-deep in interviews lately, and nearly every candidate brings up that elusive ‘balance.’ But here’s the truth: balance is a myth. Progress happens when we go…
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In face-to-face communication, body language accounts for a significant portion of how we understand each other. According to one of the most often-cited (though frequently misunderstood) studies by Dr. Albert Mehrabian, communication is broken down like this when expressing feelings or attitudes: 7% is the actual words spoken 38% is the tone of voice 55% is body language (facial expressions, gestures, posture, etc.) Now, important context here: those numbers apply only when a person is communicating emotions or attitudes, not all forms of communication. If you’re giving directions to…
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Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away. It’s a good time to remember the importance of gratitude—not just for the food and fun… and hopefully days off, but for the people who make our journey meaningful. At Blue Gypsy Inc., Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the abundance in our lives: the opportunities we’ve embraced, the challenges that have made us stronger, and the partnerships that continue to inspire us. Gratitude is at the heart of what we do. It fuels our purpose to help Online Sales Counselors…
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You may or may not have noticed that I didn’t create any new blog posts in October or November… for those of you who follow me on LinkedIn or social media, you know I lost one of my greatest mentors at the beginning of October. My father. From an early age, my dad taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, and kindness. He led by example, demonstrating the importance of integrity in everything we do. His unwavering support and encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams and…
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Marketing, sales, and online sales are all on the same team. We need to put that into practice, especially when it’s easy to slip into a scarcity mindset. Recently I heard two different stories that inspired this blog post. One was of someone at leadership level disparaging OSCs and what they do…because numbers are down. The other was of salespeople disparaging OSCs and what they are doing…because numbers are down! In the first case, I don’t have access to current numbers, but in general if this sentiment is coming from…
Why I Never Stop Learning
“Everyone knows something you don’t… learn from them.” It’s a simple phrase, but one that’s resonated with me for decades. I’m not even sure where I first heard it, but it’s become part of who I am and how I approach life. Long before Blue Gypsy. Long before I was speaking at conferences or teaching classes. Before I ever became an Online Sales Counselor. It’s a mindset I’ve carried with me from experience to experience…country…
Vulnerability Is Not the Opposite of Strength
We live in a business world that often rewards the illusion of perfection. You’ve seen it. Polished LinkedIn profiles, shiny headshots, carefully curated captions that make it look like everyone’s got it together all the time. (I mean check, check, check I have all those things going on!) It’s like we’re all somehow superheroes in blazers…well not me, I don’t think I own a blazer. It seems like we are dodging failure, fear, and insecurity…
High-Functioning Depression: Pushing Through with Grace
Let’s talk about something not often discussed in professional circles, but very real for so many of us, especially those of us who seem like we’ve got it all together on the outside. High-functioning depression. It sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? Functioning. Depressed. But it’s not. Is it a clinical term? No probably not. (Well definitely not…I looked it up!) What does it mean? It means showing up to work, meeting deadlines, staying upbeat…
Fiddler’s Green, My First Dance with AI, and Why You Still Need Your Own Voice
I remember the first time I used AI to help me write and organize something. It was June 2023, and I was finally thinking seriously about putting my house on the water in Virginia onto the short-term rental market. My dad and I bought this house while I was still working on wooden schooners, and it was my place to go between boat jobs. Up to this point, I was an expert at couch surfing.…
We Make Time for What We Truly Value – Part 2: Resolving the Tug-of-War Between Growth and Balance
Let’s pick up where we left off. In Part 1, we explored the idea that we naturally value what we prioritize. Our calendars, to-do lists, and mental energy are often the truest indicators of what really matters to us. But if that’s true… what happens when we feel like we’re stuck between two values? Welcome to the tug-of-war between professional growth and work-life balance. This is one of the most common internal battles people across…
We Value What We Prioritize: Rethinking Balance and Growth
Lately, I’ve swapped my mindless Facebook scrolling for something a little more intentional, LinkedIn. Fewer ads, more inspiration, and the chance to connect with friends and colleagues in the industry. So when I came across a post from Morgan Lurz, President of Cannonball Moments, I had to stop the scroll. She wrote: “Forget work-life balance—what we truly value is what we prioritize. I’ve been knee-deep in interviews lately, and nearly every candidate brings up that…
Leading with Empathy to Address Fears, Objections, or Concerns in New Home Sales
In face-to-face communication, body language accounts for a significant portion of how we understand each other. According to one of the most often-cited (though frequently misunderstood) studies by Dr. Albert Mehrabian, communication is broken down like this when expressing feelings or attitudes: 7% is the actual words spoken 38% is the tone of voice 55% is body language (facial expressions, gestures, posture, etc.) Now, important context here: those numbers apply only when a person…
A Thanksgiving Message from Blue Gypsy Inc.: Embracing Abundance, Gratitude, and Connection
Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away. It’s a good time to remember the importance of gratitude—not just for the food and fun… and hopefully days off, but for the people who make our journey meaningful. At Blue Gypsy Inc., Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the abundance in our lives: the opportunities we’ve embraced, the challenges that have made us stronger, and the partnerships that continue to inspire us. Gratitude is at…
Mentoring, Coaching, and Goals for The New Year
You may or may not have noticed that I didn’t create any new blog posts in October or November… for those of you who follow me on LinkedIn or social media, you know I lost one of my greatest mentors at the beginning of October. My father. From an early age, my dad taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, and kindness. He led by example, demonstrating the importance of integrity in everything we…
We Are All on The Same Team
Marketing, sales, and online sales are all on the same team. We need to put that into practice, especially when it’s easy to slip into a scarcity mindset. Recently I heard two different stories that inspired this blog post. One was of someone at leadership level disparaging OSCs and what they do…because numbers are down. The other was of salespeople disparaging OSCs and what they are doing…because numbers are down! In the first case, I…