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Laura Thieme

Bizresearch President – 11 years - 2008

Fisher College of Business Lecturer on Search Marketing

OSU Russian Studies Grad – 1993

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29th August 2008

T. Boone Pickens - An Inspiration at 80 Years Old

I want to meet T. Boone Pickens - in fact, I want to work with this man.  As a pregnant woman nearing seven months pregnancy, as a blogger, as an environmental advocate, as a search marketing expert, as an entrepreneur who is interested in wind power, and solar energy and alternative fuel solutions, I want to meet him.  But as an entrepreneur even moreso, I want to know what I can do to get more involved in developing wind power solutions.  While I certainly have a lot on my plate with being a business owner, and having a child in the next three months - if I could choose my next accomplishment in life, it would be to start a wind power generation project, or to be involved in a partnership with such initiatives. 

So how does T. Boone Pickens fit into this interest?  You’ve probably seen his energy ads.  You might have even Googled this guy, wondering who the heck he is.  And, you might have seen him grace a few magazine covers.  You might have checked out his website, www.pickensplan.com,  per the ads, or even ‘friended’ him on Facebook.  The more I read about this person, the more I’m impressed.  He is 80 years old, and driven by the desire to impact significant change not just in his own life, but in business, international economics and in the environment.  Not to mention, he knows how to make a few million or billion dollars for that matter. 

 As a 40-year old woman having her first child, wondering about the future for herself and child, it’s inspiring to know that there are people in life that never quit trying to change the world - even at the age of 80!  Learn more by visiting the sites above. 

I have to get some sleep - and take care of baby girl Melina right now - but I continue to learn more about wind power, development and Pickens - thanks for the inspiration.

27th August 2008

Lucky The New Dog Cannot Possibly Be a Labrador Retriever 1 reply

I’ve been so focused on work at home and work at the office, that I feel I’ve recently been neglecting Lucky, the new dog. I rescued Lucky as she ran in and out of traffic on busy High Street in Clintonville, OH about a year ago (November 2007). She was and still is extremely energetic - in fact that is the best way to describe this dog. Most people state when they see her jump around - “That dog has a LOT of energy!” She does settle down, eventually, and in fact is becoming a better dog with a heckuva lot training and patience.

Lucky, new dog, not a labrador retriever

So what kind of dog is Lucky? What kind of breed, you say? Many think she’s a black lab - in fact, almost 99% of people that run into her think she’s a lab mix. If you see this dog run, you can tell that she’s in another category - some have said Greyhound or Whippet mix. Here is another Whippet dog reference. This Whippet reference talks about how they are happiest curled up next to their owners on a couch - which is truly the way Lucky is. She wants to sleep up against you. She nestles in pillows much like a cat would - or perhaps beyond a cat. In fact, my cats Monroe and recent rescue neighbor cat Bentley adore her! They follow her, play with her, and play hide and seek.

Lucky is truly liquid fast when she runs. She tucks her legs much like you see dogs in cartoons - I can just hear the cartoon sounds of a Scooby Doo animation! She runs in small circles and does this often, to get whatever excess energy she has out of her system.

She is definitely a sight hound. I’ve never seen a dog lift her head straight up into the sky to watch a plane fly overhead. She also has quite the nose. When I was showing my house, and would leave with her and come back after a realtor showing, Lucky would follow that new scent wherever they’d been. I could depend on Lucky showing me wherever there was a change in scent.

So, I often think she might have some whippet in her, moreso than Lab, as they are also sight hounds.

Lucky recently on an entertaining dog walk with her friend J.J.
Lucky - on recent walk with her friend, J.J.

Okay - so why is this breed stuff so important? Well, because the more you know about your breed, the more you know what is good for a dog to do? What are their natural traits so you can exercise them, right? We’ll call my little lake exercise a failed exercise in testing her for Lab traits.

SO, I took Lucky to the park, hoping to introduce her to some dogs and a little lake water action. Lucky doesn’t enjoy getting bathed all that much - but how about a spin at the lake?

Well - Lucky has now swam, sank, and had to be RESCUED by a quite nice looking young man at Antrim Lake the other day. Pretty funny in hindsight - only ’cause she had a good ending of course - and yes, she’s fine.

I had her on a new harness (the third one at least), and lead and let her jump around in the water. Once she got the hang of it, she frolicked in the water. But then she caught sight of the other big dogs running around in the water, retrieving their kongs, or sticks or whatever. So, Lucky followed - why not? She jumped in and realized soon that she was swimming. I have seen many dogs swim, and somehow Lucky did not look like she was doing all that great. I mentioned my concern through a few giggles to the guy standing next to me, that somehow didn’t look quite right. He dismissed it and said his dog looked just the same when he was learning to swim.

Lucky seemed to do more swimming in vertical motion, without forward progress to me. But she eventually made it to where we stood and jumped around as if she’d discovered something grand! I asked the guy if she went in again, if he’d be willing to run in and rescue that dog - considering I’m approaching 7 months pregnancy and not sure I should really be jumping into the lake to save my dog in my current state. But Lucky progressed again, seeing another dog, out into the water and began to swim out. The other dog came in, but Lucky seemed to be moving nowhere fast, other than possibly beginning to sink. She was thrashing about. Her paws stretched upward, and her nose tipped upward in such a way that distress was beginning to settle in. I could see that I was going to have to go in for her. The nice guy to the right of me, who’d just said he’d rescue her if anything happened - yeah - well - he just stood there. I threw my leash and keys on the ground and began to take off my shoes - not yet believing I was about to go in, in my popped belly pregnant state, and have to swim to get my dog out of the water.

Now play the Chariots of Fire theme in your head for the next part of the story. So, along comes this gorgeous blond young man, out of the blue, from behind me - saying - Does this dog need to be rescued? I exclaimed “YES!” He threw off his shoes, charged into the water and swam out to Lucky. Within seconds, they were both up to their necks in the water - and Lucky hopped onto him like a baby with her front legs stretched out around either side of the man’s neck. I was a little concerned for a moment that she could pull him down a bit, but they were fine and moved into the gravel shore of the lake. I thanked him enormously - and at that point, noted his dog and girlfriend, and then watched him walk off with them trying to squeeze out the water from his shorts. Yes, sigh, nice view! I turned back to my dog who was already running around and having fun with the other dogs. It took alot to get Lucky to come back to me again, as she was so excited by this attention and crisis of the moment, that she simply wanted to go back and play with the other dogs in the water.

I finally collected my dog and decided that she was Lucky again to be alive, and that the next time, if ever, we jump into the water, we’ll have a doggy life jacket on and some way to retrieve her, as opposed to allowing her to retrieve doggy balls in the water.

So much for my trip to have Lucky dog swim. Yep - anyone tries to tell me that dog is a Labrador Retriever - not so sure about that. I’ll have to check her for webbed feet - like Labs are supposed to have for swimming ease. Poor girl!

Cody, my chow of nearly 13 years, she was not a swimmer either - she hated the water. She liked to frolic at the shoreline and that was it! Some dogs are just not meant to be swimmers.

23rd August 2008

Lilac Hues - Pink Attraction - Signs of Having a Girl

Not once in my adult life have I ever had so much attraction to pink or lilac.  Well, I love Lilacs - the flowers - which bloom in the Columbus, Ohio area around Easter, depending on whether it falls early or late in March.  But other than that, not much of one to feel attracted to pink or purple or a lighter version of the latter - lilac.  I had the nursery color picked out - ivory, right?  Or white, with a trace of pink, right?  Sure enough I end up with lilac - the slightest hint of lilac is now on my nursery walls.  What a change from sunset yellow! 

Think Pink - When It's a Girl You're Having!

I walked into Lenscrafters the other day to get some replacement frames for the glasses I rolled over, apparently the new weight is not good for a little pair of glasses - and found myself gravitating towards frames that were deep purple.  When I walked into the doctors’ room to try on a pair of contacts, I found myself seeing only one color in the entire room.  It was the pink in the Method soap dispenser on the countertop.  Tonight, I went to the grocery store and purchased fruit - I noted the pink frosting on the sugar cookies and thought they looked really good.  Was it the pink icing, or was it the cookie?  I think it was the pink - it made me think of having a girl.

Of course, the scary thing - would be - after I’m decorating all in pink - if I was having a boy!  Twice today someone mentioned that they thought it’d be pretty funny if I was going to have a boy.  I said that they should definitely not humor themselves in such a way and try to keep on talking about something else so I don’t get too caught up in this train of thought.  Oh well - that’s what gift receipts are for - at Babiesrus.com, right?  Sigh.  Not something I’m choosing to worry about for now. 

The bigger challenge in my life right now is preparing for Melina from a work perspective as well as coordinating all the other things that will happen in the next couple of months.  I am a problem solver by day, and often even when I try to sleep.  As a search marketing and web analytics analyst, I’m constantly presented with challenges and people’s problems that no one else can figure out.  So, transitioning someone into my position or transitioning out of that position, so I can do something else with  my life - are all part of the plan ahead - for as much as one can plan - there is always fate ahead of you, and destiny perhaps throwing something different to change your path faster than you can blink.  How I transition out of an 11-year plus business role model into something different so I can be okay to step aside and guide another into my position - is something that requires a lot of thought, planning and smart decision making.

It’s only the beginning of the challenges ahead - but I observe many of my esteemed female colleagues doing this often.  They manage, somehow, to handle house manager, baby or child manager, and work manager all in one - some husbands are there 24/7, some aren’t as expected, and yet the women charge on.  Now, not all women I know are like this - sometimes I see the men heading up everything including doing a more than a fair portion of child rearing.  However, some of my closest clients and vendors have become my closest female friends - and I see them lead at home and at the office.  I’ve had the good fortune of being surrounded with strong female leaders in my life whom I have deep respect for at home and at work.  I can only hope to live up to some of that strength as a mother and simultaneously maintain my business relationships, clients, and employee management responsibilities as a manager and business owner.

So despite running a business, and being in charge of so much, at the end of the day, regardless of whether I have worked an 8-hour shift at my office or pulled a 12-hour work day with a few breaks, I come home to my newly designed nursery in the making.  I am attracted to a slight shade of lilac and what it embodies.  I forget about the 12 hour day I’ve just ended, which is surrounded by shades of bold red and goldenrod.  Here, I shut the nursery door, lay down in white and pink pillows, and cover myself with a white eyelet duvet cover with tiny embroidered pink threaded flowers.  I finally fall asleep at  peace, wondering what the days and months ahead will hold for baby girl Melina and I.  I do not think of work - I think of my baby girl.  I think about the crib’s arrival soon, and the little girl’s clothes I’ve picked up as a result of a friend’s baby shower gift.  Somehow, this insomnia I’ve had for months seems to settle - and once I fall asleep, I truly rest with sweet dreams of the little one growing inside of me.

10th August 2008

Laughter & Tears Along the Fertility Path 1 reply

I love being pregnant.  There are many things that are good about being pregnant.  I’m not sure I could tell you one thing that’s bad about being pregnant - well, it would have to be not being able to have one margarita on a hot summer day, or any other day for 9 months.  But you learn to improvise quickly on that one - virgin drinks are just as tasty - well almost that is.

Margarita on the Rocks - The Real One
Courtesy of Bestofla.blogspot.com

So, this weekend was incredible!  It really started with two friends sending early baby shower gifts, unexpectedly, last Thursday.  One girlfriend sent a high-chair and the other sent a Jungle Gym, where the baby gets entertained (we hope).  I woke up Friday with extra energy, and met the day’s tasks and challenges with a little extra energy. 

High Chair from Babies R Us
BabiesRUs.com - high chair

Saturday was a big day - I went on a maternity tour at Riverside Hospital, which is one of two hospitals I can choose from for my delivery of Melina.  A friend of mine, who assesses babies for development, is very familiar with all the hospitals and she knew things that most nurses won’t share.  We saw the newborns in the nurseries on both floors and it was amazing to me.  I held back a few tears.  We had a great time talking and laughing about various things.  We came back and looked at my rooms to decide what to do about crib preparation, etc.  She offered help in so many ways, and for that I’m so incredibly thankful.  What’s amazing to me is when women who want to be moms, but haven’t yet had the luxury of such opportunity in their lives, still want to help you - even though they can’t totally relate to your pleasure or joy - they still have good hearts - and want to help.  That feels so good, you have no idea — and for this I am so very thankful.

Funny Moments:

I went to Babiesrus.com to measure the crib - no, not to peek on my registry - and sat in the glider that I’m anxious to buy (yes, it’s on my registry, but I love that thing and hope I can wait).  I noticed seven or so people sitting in the gliders, with teddy bears in their laps.  All of a sudden, I realized I was sitting in the free “breastfeeding” seminar which was just beginning to start.  I looked at the time slots on the yellow sign, and realized I was in for an hour and a half seminar - oh boy!  I had fun - hey, I was gliding and my feet were up on the glider ottoman, which is to die for.  I was introduced to the doulas in Columbus, as well as received information on the La Leche group in town, which I had heard a lot about.  I did, however, by accident, drop my baby “teddy bear” and that caused quite a laughing stir in the little seminar.  Oh boy -

Today I went to Vineyard church to give thanks, cried a lot in tears of joy and thanks, and watched my tummy move about during church.  The music was kinda loud - so Melina heard it - she’s going to come out singing worship songs.  

I came home to visit with a girlfriend I haven’t seen in over a year - and we reconnected and laughed so hard we cried.  I’m dropping a lot of things on my tummy lately, when I sit down to eat, or drink, and today it was a piece of broccoli.  What was funny though - is Beth asked if things were getting stuck in my growing bra or anything, and I said not really - but then I looked down in there, and at that very moment, there was a big black carpenter ANT in my bra, in between you know what!  Well, I shrieked and was sorry, or glad to see that he/she was crushed - between my ya know whats!  Now that’s a first on two counts - I pulled him out and we laughed so hard, we cried good tears of humor. 

To a good weekend - to giving thanks for being pregnant and loving every minute of it - well almost every minute of it.

  

4th August 2008

Harvesting Creativity

How do you harvest creativity?  Some of us, by personality type, or more creative than others.  Some of us, likely me, are forced into it by survival tactics in 20 years of professional life.  However, whenever I’m feeling less creative in the workspace, I look beyond that into people, places and perhaps things that might inspire me.  The more creative I feel in my personal life, the more it bleeds into my business world. 

 My latest inspiration - pregnancy, of course, for those who’ve been following that.  I remember about seven or so years ago, a guy I was dating telling me that I needed a hobby.  At the time, I couldn’t think of one thing that I wanted to take up as a hobby.  I’ve since changed course - I picked up golf as a hobby prior to pregnancy, and have played for nearly five years (four if you can’t forget this year where I’ve not played once since becoming pregnant), photography, poetry and horseback riding.  I suppose some would say travel, but to me, travel is my workplace or I make it my workplace so I can enjoy it in more ways than one. 

I’ve seen some fascinating places - but photography is a hobby that has arisen out of travel, and it’s likely one of my favorite things to do - capture photos, post them, print them, frame them and adorn the office walls with more artwork.  I’m behind on my Antarctica gallery at the office.  But hey, I got pregnant and some how have not made the time since to go in and work on that creative outlet.

So, how do I harvest creativity in the pregnancy realm?  I find that my lifestyle has already changed, in preparation for baby, so I’m choosing to stay connected to professional colleagues who are jet-setting around the world, through Facebook, emails, phone calls and more lunch and evening dates than ever before.  Because I’m at “home” more, I tend to write more.  I also have bouts of insomnia, and a few things that affect the brain’s stimulation, so I’m choosing to write my way through insomnia.  Because I’m taking more time to write through blogs, Facebook and emails, I’m finding more friends are reconnecting.  Business is resulting as well. 

In addition to Facebook, blogs, and social networking, I’m working with a close friend, whom I’ve reconnected with since I became pregnant, on creative projects for Melina Francis.  That renewed creativity at home, often spills into the workplace in a variety of ways. 

Creativity is about being resourceful in my opinion.  You need inspiration, but when you have to figure out a way to resolve an issue, you have no choice but to be resourceful.  Money is not always available to be resourceful, so you have to find a way around that too.  Resourcefulness is intelligence, if acted upon and used wisely, and earns high marks in my book.  I’m often amazed at how certain men and women in my business world are incredibly resourceful.  They tend to be creative in their solutions to a wide variety of problems in both their business and personal life. 

So I tend to want to surround myself with creative people, as they’re enjoyable to watch - their journeys in life, what they desire to achieve, and what they tend to accomplish - all quite impressive.  They are often well-cultured, not because someone else is paying the tab, but because simply put, they make things happen, and quickly.

Watch the news, watch a meaningful movie that inspires emotion and thought, read a book, read something historical, surround yourself with creative people, take a walk - a long walk, pay attention to the wildlife and flowers around you, artwork in places you travel, travel to some place you’ve read about, listen to music - and take a lot of photos - slow down to enjoy what’s around you -  and inspiration might come from that. 

What’s next?  Doing something with that creativity - applying it in a useful way.  I’ve always found that my creativity led to business which led to revenue - which led to satisfaction and contentment and pride. 

If nothing else, you’ll likely have a more interesting day than channel surfing, or playing video games, or sleeping.  Although it is 1:39 a.m. in the morning, and I probably should at least consider the latter.

‘Night.

2nd August 2008

Power of Positive Energy & Faith in Something Beyond the Simple Things in Life

As I tossed and turned last night, or more like early this morning, I thought about the power of negative energy.  After work and putting together baby shower invitations with a girlfriend, I went to see a friend of mine who happens to be an old boss from my job prior to starting Bizresearch.  We have a very comfortable friendship - he is on his second marriage, and likely the most content I’ve ever seen him in 13 years.  His interests have changed dramatically and his new wife is more than willing to explore the world right along with him.  They are just over 50, but a young 50 as they are extremely active.  He met her in Yoga class a few short years ago, and they’ve been together ever since.  I attended their wedding last year, and it’s funny how some people can turn “hippy” in some ways, but keep their white collar about them in the work environment.  They both share a positive energy and faith in one another - and as a result they seem to be quite happy, and are experiencing so much together. 

Picture from Scubadivinghelp.com - similar to Scuba Diving by my friend and his bride in Greece on their honeymoon
My friend and his wife went to Greece on their honeymoon
and went scuba diving - at the age of 49.  See alt tag for source.

He and I were talking about some personal issues in my life, as we have many times, and he described me as a very hopeful person.  He said that it’s a good thing to be so hopeful, to be optimistic, to want to see things turn out well.  The only risk would be if expectations were not met, that were in the form of faith and hope.  He stated he was proud that I had actually pursued a realization of my dreams, unlike many who talk but never do anything.  I find that many complain but never do anything.  They just want to talk about  it.  He has seen me lose my job for eating poppy seed bread, get accused wrongly of doing morphine as a result of eating poppy seeds, and start Bizresearch.  He’s seen me train for a marathon, and finish on a torn ligament and air cast.  He’s seen me grow Bizresearch from nothing to something bigger than expected.  We’ve even done a seminar together once in Indiana.  He’s now in a similar business.  I’ve watched him talk about me to colleagues, introduce me, and must admit I enjoy the way he describes how I overcame struggles. 

Challah Poppy Seed Bread
Not the poppy seed bread I personally ate -
I just happened to like the picture
but this would cause you to test positive for
morphine in a drug test at the office

So how do people overcome struggle?  How do they persevere? It’s called having faith, hope, tenacity and having support from a close group of people at all times.  My dear shiastu friend once talked to me about how heros/heroines always have helpers along the journey.  I thought of the old folklore stories I had studied in college (Polish and Russian folklore), and all involved a hero and several helpers along the way or journey that served some purpose to getting the hero to the end of the journey, or to achieving his/her dream.  Reference to women warriors in folklore and history.

I have had many helpers or assists along my journeys in life.  Some are there forever, some are there for just a moment in time - but they help me achieve my dream.  Assists can take forms in many ways but at the bottom of it all, it’s important to have positive energy, faith, and hope in the impossible.  When positive energy wanes, or faith or hope subsides, you need helpers to remind you of why you set out for the journey to begin with.  Sometimes we lose sight of the purpose behind our journey.

On the way to Antarctica - from Ushuaia, Argentina
On the way to Antarctica in December 2007
staying overnight in Ushuaia, Argentina - port to Antarctica

As you know, I’ve been blogging about a fertility journey for a while now, and have described that in many ways this journey began as a child, but developed further when I turned 21 or so.  Choices contribute to your journey, sometimes good, sometimes not so good, as do people.  The question is who will be there to support the fertility journey or any journey you choose at the beginning?  Will you get the support you hope for from those you most expect it?  Possibly not, but one thing I can promise you, if you look, and if you try to maintain positive energy, faith and perseverence, you are likely to find the most unlikely supporters along the journey. 

Helpers on my journey to Antarctica, a stopping point in Buenos Aires
Helpers on my way to Antarctica, strangers before this day
New friends, introduced to me by another industry friend
These people you see above, plus a U.S. friend out of Boston,
saw to it, that everything I could possibly need, I had
To no benefit to them, I might add.

The form of the assist or the helper can be divine, human, animal, or just an insight you may gain.  So when the chips have you down, look to surround yourself with positive energy and only those who share your vision.  Don’t surround yourself with negative forces, as they can pull you down, and in fact may have the evil hope of wanting you to fail perhaps out of jealousy or something less daunting. 

I thank all of you who have supported me along all stages of the fertility journey, as well as many other journeys I have chosen in life, including but not limited to:

Going to Russia on my own at the age of 25, and working there for three months

Running a marathon in 1995 - training, supporting injury, and finishing it

Starting a business in 1997, with nothing to stand on

Going to Antarctica in 2007

Speaking in many foreign countries and places, achieving new business out of each engagement - and serving those client relationships and new friendships

Supporting my business, client relationships in general - and wanting to see me succeed.

Thank you - and you know you who are - for supporting me at times

Thank you even more to those of who - whom are few - who’ve supported me through every single journey I’ve ever sought out to take - from start to finish line and all stages in between

I look forward to sharing this next journey with my daughter, Melina Francis.  There is such happiness and the hope of sharing life with another, who at this moment, needs me.  One day she will not need me, but in the meantime, I look forward to being there, to being present, and to maintaining a positive energy about me and her, and to have faith in something and someone impossible.