Dec 29, 2009
SPECIAL EVENT- Empowering Women- Coming FEB 3rd!
SAVE THE DATE!
Devon Fleming's
6:00-9:00 pm
NO COST!
Oct 8, 2009
Tory Burch Event- Party Pictures!
PHOTOS by Jeanna Shepard Photography 203-536-1230
Devon Fleming and Tory Burch
Devon Fleming and Tory Burch 
Oct 2, 2009
Sep 9, 2009
Jul 26, 2009
The Household CEO "Leadership Counts" by Devon Fleming July 23 New Canaan News
The Household CEO- Leadership Skills
When I started my business in 2002, I was both excited and overwhelmed by all details that came with it. It required change – in myself, in my home and in my relationships. To get some guidance over the years, I’ve read a lot of books on management from some of the top experts in the country including Jack Welch, one of the most successful CEOs of all-time and known for his leadership skills, I believed his proven methods and management philosophies could help this Household CEO learn to manage the business and family. After all, for modern women, isn’t running a household similar to running a business and managing the various divisions of life – home, family, health, career, and friendships?
Jack Welch turned a huge manufacturing giant into one of the world’s most agile enterprises using his personal formula for success: The 4 E’s of Leadership - Having the Energy to handle situations, being able to Energize others, having a healthy competitive Edge and then being able to Execute. These are Welch’s traits and positive habits that we household managers can employ to reach our own personal success.
I am a naturally energetic person and normally love the thrill of the ‘professional game’ but within my own household, it has been tough to focus on positive energy during the past months given the economic downturn. But, since my kids look to me to set the tone at home and need my energy to harness the spirit and morale needed to accomplish their own roles and responsibilities, I make it my business to stay empowered. I don’t have the luxury of quitting my ‘job’ so I must have the energy to handle the tasks at hand.They rely on me to lead them and how lucky am I to have this opportunity?
To be the best “me” for them, I use a 24-hour plan to find the energy – taking every day as it comes and only planning one day at a time. I focus on the tasks I need to accomplish for EACH day only. Part of that plan includes keeping my food intake in check by eating energizing, nutritious foods and exercising often which is key for my stamina and mental strength. I also employ techniques like mediating and positive affirmations – it’s amazing how a quick deep breathing exercise in the car while waiting for my daughter can re-energize me for the rest of the day!
Secondly, Welch speaks of energizing others, finding ways to spark others to action. This is my $64,000 question as a parent: how do I motivate the kids in a healthy way? It is particularly difficult to do within your own family as emotional baggage can get in the way. I try to think of myself as the coach or cheerleader of my family, rather than the dictator (though I have been known to have my dictator moments.) I try to inspire them to want to try harder. I reward good behavior and try to find growth opportunities in their defeats. I try to outline a vision and then include them in a plan for making that vision a reality – even some as simple as how to spend the day can be energizing is everyone is involved in the planning. Then, I stay focused on the aspects of the plan that build confidence and stay enthusiastic. Also, I’m not afraid to point out my own mistakes and use myself as an example of how to do things better in a situation. I get the most results with rewarding or promoting my team. The carrot on the stick always works better than the ‘what the heck is your problem’ route.
Having the Edge – or knowing you’re on the right path for yourself and your family – is a difficult trait as well. Welch reinvented GE based on the belief that change was good and necessary. Wouldn’t most household managers love to learn how to reinvent their own families to meet the needs and demands of this new economic world we live in? It requires many tough decisions like cutting out unnecessary expenses, prioritizing activities and thinking long-term while trying to provide in the short-term. It’s tough! We are all learning to produce more output with less input. It requires different abilities - flexibility, adaptability and responsibility – but ones that are good for everyone in the long run. This doesn’t happen overnight and there is no such thing as perfection. I strive for progress rather than perfection.
Lastly, execution is key. Results speak for themselves. By keeping track of the progress and goals my family is achieving helps put life in the proper perspective. I try to reward the family with a bonus for each milestone that is reached. Simple, inexpensive recognition tactics - homemade diplomas or baking a batch of favorite cookies – go a long way. At family meetings, speak of persistence and consistency as a key behavior for achieving results. Use examples of famous sport figures, heroes or others who never gave up under extreme circumstances. What did they do to reach their goals? They tried harder, practiced more, learned more about their industry and emulated other successful people. I’m am a role model for my children, but other role models are important, too.
At the end of the day, a CEO uses the power of example to lead. Each day brings a new opportunity to start over or change. To quote Mr. Welch, “Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.”
Devon Fleming is considered the area’s Home and Lifestyle Expert. She writes books, articles, blogs, and other online content. She provides ‘Fairfield County Living Tips’ on four local radio stations and appears on area TV providing lifestyle segments and “solutions for the modern woman.” For more information, visit www.DevonFleming.com.
When I started my business in 2002, I was both excited and overwhelmed by all details that came with it. It required change – in myself, in my home and in my relationships. To get some guidance over the years, I’ve read a lot of books on management from some of the top experts in the country including Jack Welch, one of the most successful CEOs of all-time and known for his leadership skills, I believed his proven methods and management philosophies could help this Household CEO learn to manage the business and family. After all, for modern women, isn’t running a household similar to running a business and managing the various divisions of life – home, family, health, career, and friendships?
Jack Welch turned a huge manufacturing giant into one of the world’s most agile enterprises using his personal formula for success: The 4 E’s of Leadership - Having the Energy to handle situations, being able to Energize others, having a healthy competitive Edge and then being able to Execute. These are Welch’s traits and positive habits that we household managers can employ to reach our own personal success.
I am a naturally energetic person and normally love the thrill of the ‘professional game’ but within my own household, it has been tough to focus on positive energy during the past months given the economic downturn. But, since my kids look to me to set the tone at home and need my energy to harness the spirit and morale needed to accomplish their own roles and responsibilities, I make it my business to stay empowered. I don’t have the luxury of quitting my ‘job’ so I must have the energy to handle the tasks at hand.They rely on me to lead them and how lucky am I to have this opportunity?
To be the best “me” for them, I use a 24-hour plan to find the energy – taking every day as it comes and only planning one day at a time. I focus on the tasks I need to accomplish for EACH day only. Part of that plan includes keeping my food intake in check by eating energizing, nutritious foods and exercising often which is key for my stamina and mental strength. I also employ techniques like mediating and positive affirmations – it’s amazing how a quick deep breathing exercise in the car while waiting for my daughter can re-energize me for the rest of the day!
Secondly, Welch speaks of energizing others, finding ways to spark others to action. This is my $64,000 question as a parent: how do I motivate the kids in a healthy way? It is particularly difficult to do within your own family as emotional baggage can get in the way. I try to think of myself as the coach or cheerleader of my family, rather than the dictator (though I have been known to have my dictator moments.) I try to inspire them to want to try harder. I reward good behavior and try to find growth opportunities in their defeats. I try to outline a vision and then include them in a plan for making that vision a reality – even some as simple as how to spend the day can be energizing is everyone is involved in the planning. Then, I stay focused on the aspects of the plan that build confidence and stay enthusiastic. Also, I’m not afraid to point out my own mistakes and use myself as an example of how to do things better in a situation. I get the most results with rewarding or promoting my team. The carrot on the stick always works better than the ‘what the heck is your problem’ route.
Having the Edge – or knowing you’re on the right path for yourself and your family – is a difficult trait as well. Welch reinvented GE based on the belief that change was good and necessary. Wouldn’t most household managers love to learn how to reinvent their own families to meet the needs and demands of this new economic world we live in? It requires many tough decisions like cutting out unnecessary expenses, prioritizing activities and thinking long-term while trying to provide in the short-term. It’s tough! We are all learning to produce more output with less input. It requires different abilities - flexibility, adaptability and responsibility – but ones that are good for everyone in the long run. This doesn’t happen overnight and there is no such thing as perfection. I strive for progress rather than perfection.
Lastly, execution is key. Results speak for themselves. By keeping track of the progress and goals my family is achieving helps put life in the proper perspective. I try to reward the family with a bonus for each milestone that is reached. Simple, inexpensive recognition tactics - homemade diplomas or baking a batch of favorite cookies – go a long way. At family meetings, speak of persistence and consistency as a key behavior for achieving results. Use examples of famous sport figures, heroes or others who never gave up under extreme circumstances. What did they do to reach their goals? They tried harder, practiced more, learned more about their industry and emulated other successful people. I’m am a role model for my children, but other role models are important, too.
At the end of the day, a CEO uses the power of example to lead. Each day brings a new opportunity to start over or change. To quote Mr. Welch, “Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.”
Devon Fleming is considered the area’s Home and Lifestyle Expert. She writes books, articles, blogs, and other online content. She provides ‘Fairfield County Living Tips’ on four local radio stations and appears on area TV providing lifestyle segments and “solutions for the modern woman.” For more information, visit www.DevonFleming.com.
Jun 26, 2009
The HOUSEHOLD CEO Column by Devon Fleming New Canaan News June 25, 2009
New Canaan News Published my first article June 25, 2009
Summertime can be a wonderful time of year. It can also be daunting, as so many modern moms are faced with finding activities for the children, and given the economic climate budgets are on the minds of many. With the added summer fun and lack of a regular schedule for the kids, household managers have less time to handle the day-to-day tasks of staying organized and on top of the house, handling the finances and generally keeping everyone happy and healthy. Household CEOs – my term for today’s modern women who may or may not work outside the home but definitely run the ship at home - are leaders by nature. We are the ultimate multitaskers, yet few of us use our business smarts when managing life at home. The time has come to take the business of living seriously, using tools and proven business methods to get things done. The profit of this mindset is extra quality time with your family, friends and yourself. Who doesn’t want that?
Your Communications Plan
Every business needs to be able to convey its mission and its plan – whether it is to attract new clients, find investors, sell a new product or manage employees – communication is key. The same is true in the family, your team players. I am continually amazed at how few families actually sit down together and communicate (effectively) towards their common mission. Given the technological advances, so many of us are ‘virtual families’- we communicate electronically and spend less and less time together. When I find myself texting my 15 year-old daughter more often than I see her, it’s time for an in-person communications intervention.
So, what’s your family’s plan for the summer? What’s already scheduled (camps, family trips, visiting relatives, etc)? What’s pending? What goal or goals does each member want to accomplish? These questions and more can be addressed a fun family meeting. In my house, we pick an “easy” night like Sunday or Monday, make a fun meal like tacos and make your own sundaes to set the tone, and then make a plan for the next week, month or even the whole summer. As the CEO, keep things on track by printing out an agenda for each person and assign a family “secretary” to take notes. Encourage creative brainstorming where no idea it too “out there,” even if it’s unlikely to happen this summer. The idea is that your family it getting to know each other, you’re identifying short-term and long-term goals and needs, and it’s fun right in the moment! Your daughter wants to go to Paris? Write it down. Your 13 year old son wants to build a rocket? It goes on the list. Your husband wants to golf at least once a week? Put it in writing. Don’t forget to include some of your needs and goals, too! Household CEOs often need to be reminded of that!
Once everyone’s ideas are on the table, discuss the feasibility of each and make plans where you can. Determine each member’s general responsibilities of the household as well as any additional ones to help them reach their goals. If you son wants to build the rocket, perhaps he needs to research any local resources to help him (a rocket club?) and then earn the money to buy it? How will he do that?
In our house we find it helpful to create a chart of chores and goals. Rewarding good behavior or ‘promoting’ their privileges is a nice motivation. If your kids are old enough to have email, send them updates on their progress during the week and friendly reminders if you see areas that need more attention. Continue to schedule family meetings to discuss the progress made and check in to see if anyone has changed their goals. Just as with any business, the ability to adapt to changes and new circumstances is vital – helping your family by checking in and letting them know it is okay, and often the best decision, to re-assess a goal and change course if needed.
The result of this communications plan? A family who knows the plan – the overall family plan and their own personal one. With clear goals, each member of the family can feel secure and confident in the weeks and months ahead. And, if you’re really lucky, you’ve just cut down on the number of times you’ll here “Mom, I’m bored!”
Devon Fleming is considered the area’s Home and Lifestyle Expert. She writes books, articles, blogs, and other online content. She provides ‘Fairfield County Living Tips’ on four local radio stations and appears on area TV providing lifestyle segments and “solutions for the modern woman.” For more information, visit www.DevonFleming.com.
Summertime can be a wonderful time of year. It can also be daunting, as so many modern moms are faced with finding activities for the children, and given the economic climate budgets are on the minds of many. With the added summer fun and lack of a regular schedule for the kids, household managers have less time to handle the day-to-day tasks of staying organized and on top of the house, handling the finances and generally keeping everyone happy and healthy. Household CEOs – my term for today’s modern women who may or may not work outside the home but definitely run the ship at home - are leaders by nature. We are the ultimate multitaskers, yet few of us use our business smarts when managing life at home. The time has come to take the business of living seriously, using tools and proven business methods to get things done. The profit of this mindset is extra quality time with your family, friends and yourself. Who doesn’t want that?
Your Communications Plan
Every business needs to be able to convey its mission and its plan – whether it is to attract new clients, find investors, sell a new product or manage employees – communication is key. The same is true in the family, your team players. I am continually amazed at how few families actually sit down together and communicate (effectively) towards their common mission. Given the technological advances, so many of us are ‘virtual families’- we communicate electronically and spend less and less time together. When I find myself texting my 15 year-old daughter more often than I see her, it’s time for an in-person communications intervention.
So, what’s your family’s plan for the summer? What’s already scheduled (camps, family trips, visiting relatives, etc)? What’s pending? What goal or goals does each member want to accomplish? These questions and more can be addressed a fun family meeting. In my house, we pick an “easy” night like Sunday or Monday, make a fun meal like tacos and make your own sundaes to set the tone, and then make a plan for the next week, month or even the whole summer. As the CEO, keep things on track by printing out an agenda for each person and assign a family “secretary” to take notes. Encourage creative brainstorming where no idea it too “out there,” even if it’s unlikely to happen this summer. The idea is that your family it getting to know each other, you’re identifying short-term and long-term goals and needs, and it’s fun right in the moment! Your daughter wants to go to Paris? Write it down. Your 13 year old son wants to build a rocket? It goes on the list. Your husband wants to golf at least once a week? Put it in writing. Don’t forget to include some of your needs and goals, too! Household CEOs often need to be reminded of that!
Once everyone’s ideas are on the table, discuss the feasibility of each and make plans where you can. Determine each member’s general responsibilities of the household as well as any additional ones to help them reach their goals. If you son wants to build the rocket, perhaps he needs to research any local resources to help him (a rocket club?) and then earn the money to buy it? How will he do that?
In our house we find it helpful to create a chart of chores and goals. Rewarding good behavior or ‘promoting’ their privileges is a nice motivation. If your kids are old enough to have email, send them updates on their progress during the week and friendly reminders if you see areas that need more attention. Continue to schedule family meetings to discuss the progress made and check in to see if anyone has changed their goals. Just as with any business, the ability to adapt to changes and new circumstances is vital – helping your family by checking in and letting them know it is okay, and often the best decision, to re-assess a goal and change course if needed.
The result of this communications plan? A family who knows the plan – the overall family plan and their own personal one. With clear goals, each member of the family can feel secure and confident in the weeks and months ahead. And, if you’re really lucky, you’ve just cut down on the number of times you’ll here “Mom, I’m bored!”
Devon Fleming is considered the area’s Home and Lifestyle Expert. She writes books, articles, blogs, and other online content. She provides ‘Fairfield County Living Tips’ on four local radio stations and appears on area TV providing lifestyle segments and “solutions for the modern woman.” For more information, visit www.DevonFleming.com.
Jun 12, 2009
The Pink Party! JUNE 4TH
WHAT A TERRIFIC TIME!
STAY TUNED FOR MY NEXT APPEARANCE To PROMOTE THE PINK PARTY JUNE 18TH
Jun 2, 2009
NEW BOOK LAUNCH 300 on RSVP!!
COME for PINK-TINIS, FAB FOOD and FAB PEOPLE!
JULISKA FLAGSHIP STORE
465 CANAL STREET
STAMFORD CT
JUNE 4TH 6-9PM
Local press is covering the event- photogrpahers, video crews- wear something PINK!
Cheers
Devon
May 16, 2009
FASHION ICON BOOK SIGNING RICHARDS TODAY
Come meet Ira Neimark, former CEO of Bergdorf's at Richards TODAY
He will be signing his boook- "Crossing Fifth Avenue to Berdorf's" An Insider's Account of the Rise of Luxury Retailing..
RICHARDS
659 Greenwich Ave
Greenwich CT
2:00-4:00 TODAY
Susan Kane Catering is providing Champagne and refreshments!
He will be signing his boook- "Crossing Fifth Avenue to Berdorf's" An Insider's Account of the Rise of Luxury Retailing..
RICHARDS
659 Greenwich Ave
Greenwich CT
2:00-4:00 TODAY
Susan Kane Catering is providing Champagne and refreshments!
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