TheresaCaldwell.com

Open Mind, Closed Mouth

Sometimes the best thing a communicator can do is be quiet. Listen - not just with your ears. Open your mind and heart to what is being communicated, whether there are words or not.

Try it with me (via my shaky, cell phone video), for a very short time, at El Matador State Beach in Malibu, CA. My son suggested seeing the beach, which was delightful.

 

Photographer Craig Wolf really captured the beauty of the beach, in case you want to see it through the lens of a true artist.

 

Tasty Tips

I love farmers markets. If you haven't been to one lately, you owe it to yourself to find one. And take some cash.

In addition to the tasty treats available at farmers markets - all of it fresh and local - if you take the time to talk to the vendors you can learn a lot as well.

Here are a few recent tips I got from some farmers market vendors:

Listen to the wisdom of people who care about you. The ones who share it with love and your best interests at heart, of course. You don't have to do everything they suggest, but why not explore at least some parts of their advice?

Be able to relate to your customers. Really engage people who show interest in your product or service, instead of just going for the sale. That means sharing information, genuinely listening to their concerns, and making yourself available for follow-up questions.

Bring as many aspects of yourself as possible to your business. A baker who started out studying engineering was fun and inspiring. Plus, his breads are awesome! I've had waaay too many baked goods at farmers markets. The good news is the better it tastes, the less you need. One fantastic croissant replaces three bland ones any day.

You can keep up with my entrepreneur profiles on the Kingstowne Patch website. The business people I talk to all have a great deal of wisdom, but they rarely wear it like a crown. They just do what they do, one day at a time, and help keep our national economic boat afloat. Let's help them whenever we can.

Try It, You'll Like It

I'm old enough to remember the old Alka-Seltzer commercial where the guy repeated that he was told to "Try it, you'll like it" at an event where there was food. He tried it. "Thought I was gonna die." I was a kid, but I always loved how his wife said from the bed, "You ate it, Ralph." That was back when you had to sit through commercials, but even today you'd probably watch him groan "Try it, you'll like it" as often as possible.

Recently I decided to try something different, and visit a cigar shop for a Kingstowne Patch article. I didn't try one, but I liked going into a place I would normally ignore. The people and the place were really cool. Plus, I got answers to questions I'd always had about cigars, such as why some of them were priced so much higher than others. Check out the article for the easy answer.

How often do we refuse to try something, thinking that if we do we'll feel like we're "gonna die" before it's over? Most of the time nothing happens. Of course that may be because we didn't bother to try.

Summer is a good time to try something new. Go ahead! Try a new activity, exercise class, conversation with someone you've wondered about. I think those are the best, because the worst thing that usually happens is the conversation is very short.

Try a new food. One that's supposed to be good AND good for you. If things don't go down well, or some other gastro-intestinal violation takes place, there's always Alka-Seltzer.

Audrey Chapman Show-June 2011

June is my first full month back at WHUR-FM's The Audrey Chapman Show in more than two years.

It's very exciting, but as Dr. Akmal Muwwakkil said to me today, "Humans don't like change." To make things even more interesting, which is how they always work with me, I will be filling in for Audrey this Saturday. Dr. Muwwakkil is the guest for the first hour.

Below is the schedule for the month. Join me!

“THE AUDREY CHAPMAN SHOW” - WHUR-FM

Saturdays, 8:00-10:00 a.m., Live with Callers

This month’s focus: How we define ourselves, and how that definition affects our relationships with others.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4th

Topic: YOU WON’T GET LOVE BY RESCUING OTHER PEOPLE

Guests: Dr. Akmal Muwwakkil, author, “Sweet Mysteries of Life”

            Dr. Allen Berger, author, “12 Smart Things to Do When the Booze and the Drugs Are Gone,” “Love Secrets Revealed”

You are so loving and supportive of the person who is struggling with addiction. You will do anything for that loved-one who is doing their best with whatever challenge comes their way. Are you sure you’re not rescuing them to win their love? Tune in to find out.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11th

Topic: ALL THAT GLITTERS AIN’T GOLD

Guest: None

We’ve all seen them: couples that are blissfully happy and everything’s going their way. But sometimes relationships look better on the outside than they are on the inside, and here you are judging yourself and your relationship by what you see. Forget them! Focus on your own life and love – or lack of them – and what you can do to make them better.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18th

Topic: “FATHER” YOURSELF

Guest: Local Fathers

Ahead of Fathers Day, consider how to care for yourself in the deep ways associated with “father.” In our hearts, “father” means more than “male parent.” To “father” is also to be a leader and protector. Unfortunately, for too many it means stranger, or one who has in some way brought pain. Here is an opportunity to define it for yourself.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25th

Topic: BLACK WOMAN REDEFINED

Guest: Sophia Nelson, author, “Black Woman Redefined”

We’ve passed the first decade of the 21^st century and black women still face negative stereotypes, including First Lady Michelle Obama! Join this discussion about ways many black women are tackling today’s challenges and you can, too.

BE A PART OF EVERY SHOW! Call 202-432-9487 or 1-800-221-9487.