Comments on: Oprah, you’ve got it wrong http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/ Success only runs one direction.... Wed, 16 May 2012 17:26:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Missing the Big Picture | Conservatives for America http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-2890 Missing the Big Picture | Conservatives for America Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:16:38 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-2890 [...] it’s not the first time that Oprah has advocated individual financial responsibility in the face of an economic downturn, [...] [...] it’s not the first time that Oprah has advocated individual financial responsibility in the face of an economic downturn, [...]

]]> By: Missing the Big Picture : America's Right http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-2889 Missing the Big Picture : America's Right Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:05:17 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-2889 [...] it’s not the first time that Oprah has advocated individual financial responsibility in the face of an economic downturn, [...] [...] it’s not the first time that Oprah has advocated individual financial responsibility in the face of an economic downturn, [...]

]]> By: stanley http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 stanley Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:20:34 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-1134 Cinda, your article states that Oprah suggested people do this for a WEEK.. Sometimes we gotta turn it all off and reboot. I doubt that anyone would or could last longer than a week of buying nothing but food items. Oprah's not perfect, that's for certain. If she was suggesting to stop all spending until further notice, I can see why you'd get alarmed and want to sound the warning. But as stated in your own article, she just suggested taking a week and showing ourselves what is really needed and what is not (as needed). I went through a period years ago where I tried to stop all "unnecessary" spending and it ended like a train wreck. Having dessert every day is unnecessary. Having dessert isn't. Buying hand made soap for every person I know is unnecessary. Buying it for myself is not. What our economy needs is moderation. Learning how to live within our means. Spending with thoughtfulness and responsibility. You wrote these last two lines. And I agree with you. Thanks. <em>Editor’s note: ”My bad” for not further explaining the program’s message in the original post. Oprah’s suggestion was to start with one week, then expand beyond that, with the goal of creating a new no-spending lifestyle. Definitely more than just a short term reboot. Sorry I wasn’t more clear about that back in March when this was written.</em> Cinda, your article states that Oprah suggested people do this for a WEEK.. Sometimes we gotta turn it all off and reboot. I doubt that anyone would or could last longer than a week of buying nothing but food items.

Oprah’s not perfect, that’s for certain. If she was suggesting to stop all spending until further notice, I can see why you’d get alarmed and want to sound the warning. But as stated in your own article, she just suggested taking a week and showing ourselves what is really needed and what is not (as needed). I went through a period years ago where I tried to stop all “unnecessary” spending and it ended like a train wreck. Having dessert every day is unnecessary. Having dessert isn’t. Buying hand made soap for every person I know is unnecessary. Buying it for myself is not.

What our economy needs is moderation. Learning how to live within our means. Spending with thoughtfulness and responsibility. You wrote these last two lines. And I agree with you. Thanks.

Editor’s note: ”My bad” for not further explaining the program’s message in the original post. Oprah’s suggestion was to start with one week, then expand beyond that, with the goal of creating a new no-spending lifestyle. Definitely more than just a short term reboot. Sorry I wasn’t more clear about that back in March when this was written.

]]> By: Jamie Harkins http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-1030 Jamie Harkins Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:07:59 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-1030 I have to say I agree with Gregg...I am a huge supporter of local independent businesses, with a caveat. That caveat is only ones that are doing business in a responsible way. You think you've seen bubbles? Wait until the real bubble bursts when companies all over the world can't just ignore the social and environmental costs of what they produce...we consumers have been getting off easy for decades! We have got to stop the over-consumption that is leading to the decline of every living ecosystem on Earth. I think Oprah's point is very useful - people won't stop buying forever, but it will teach them that they can "need" less. And what little I still do buy does come from local stores...but to be honest, a local store importing tee-shirts from sweatshops is no better than a big box doing the same thing. I have to say I agree with Gregg…I am a huge supporter of local independent businesses, with a caveat. That caveat is only ones that are doing business in a responsible way. You think you’ve seen bubbles? Wait until the real bubble bursts when companies all over the world can’t just ignore the social and environmental costs of what they produce…we consumers have been getting off easy for decades! We have got to stop the over-consumption that is leading to the decline of every living ecosystem on Earth. I think Oprah’s point is very useful – people won’t stop buying forever, but it will teach them that they can “need” less. And what little I still do buy does come from local stores…but to be honest, a local store importing tee-shirts from sweatshops is no better than a big box doing the same thing.

]]> By: susan hayes http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-927 susan hayes Sun, 17 May 2009 11:36:46 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-927 I saw that show and thought the same thing. Small business is what makes this great nation tick. I emailed Oprah (whom i love) and told her that she was sending the wrong message at the wrong time. If everyone listened to Suzy Orman and started going out only " ONcE a Month", that would, negatively, impact our economy tremendously. The hospitality industry makes up almost 1/4 of our nations economy.Imagine what an impact that would make!!! So many people rely on it's survival. She was SOOOOO wrong. Thank you for your thoughts. susan hayes I saw that show and thought the same thing. Small business is what makes this great nation tick. I emailed Oprah (whom i love) and told her that she was sending the wrong message at the wrong time. If everyone listened to Suzy Orman and started going out only ” ONcE a Month”, that would, negatively, impact our economy tremendously. The hospitality industry makes up almost 1/4 of our nations economy.Imagine what an impact that would make!!! So many people rely on it’s survival. She was SOOOOO wrong. Thank you for your thoughts. susan hayes

]]> By: Gregg http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-756 Gregg Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:56:15 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-756 Just stumbled on this article...I gotta disagree with Cindy. I think what the nation needs most is to break the habit of spending beyond means. The very best way to do that is to "reset the levels", so to speak, by stopping all spending for awhile -- but only long enough to forget the old habits and allow new ones to arise. For some people, this may be a few days...for others, a month. What we DO NOT need is to flip-flop back & forth between underspending and overspending, like a bad diet (and I think that's where the diet metaphor ends: unlike dieting, forgoing spending for awhile will not cause a rebound). Just stumbled on this article…I gotta disagree with Cindy. I think what the nation needs most is to break the habit of spending beyond means. The very best way to do that is to “reset the levels”, so to speak, by stopping all spending for awhile — but only long enough to forget the old habits and allow new ones to arise. For some people, this may be a few days…for others, a month. What we DO NOT need is to flip-flop back & forth between underspending and overspending, like a bad diet (and I think that’s where the diet metaphor ends: unlike dieting, forgoing spending for awhile will not cause a rebound).

]]> By: Ghost of henry hyde http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-219 Ghost of henry hyde Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:15:07 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-219 Karen: I agree with your sentiments about bricks and mortar. I have both kinds of business and both have their strengths and weaknesses. There's nothing like human contact and only the B&M approach really gets you that. Good luck with your bidness! Karen: I agree with your sentiments about bricks and mortar. I have both kinds of business and both have their strengths and weaknesses. There’s nothing like human contact and only the B&M approach really gets you that. Good luck with your bidness!

]]> By: Karen http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-218 Karen Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:30:35 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-218 I think it may be time for all of us who participate in the bricks and mortar end of retail to really think about why we are where we are and not "at home" in our "home studio". Since the name of my store is New Orleans At Home, I do have some ambiguity. What can I do in my store that I couldn't do at home? What is it that makes me want to unlock that door each morning and flip on the lights? Wouldn't it be easier to just walk into the "studio" and get down to work? Well, it would. BUT - for me, and I suspect for a lot of others, there is the magic and passion that comes from having that store. It is your special world into which you invite commerce, friends, creativity, profit, and the community. It is the public statement that you are a viable and visible part of the community. It is the public part that really says it all. You are willing and wanting to put it all on the line every day that someone can walk by or open the door and come in. It is your stage, your canvas, your bottom line. For some, that would be an impossible thing to even contemplate. For us, it is the real challenge and the real thrill. Rather than trying to justify my existence, or spend time fretting over what the rest of retail is doing (i. e. home studios, internet) I have come to realize that my real competition is whatever someone else might spend their cash buying. It is the automobiles, jewelry, clothes, books, and yes, stationery with which I compete. And if I concentrate on what I do best my time is better spent. I have learned the hard lessons that retail teaches us - there is no such thing as "fair" unless we are the ones producing fairness; there is no such thing as the perfect vendor who will always stand behind you and support you come Hell or high water ( and believe me, I know about the high water part!); and there will always be something that is causing me to lose sleep at night. Think back 2 or 3 years and see if you can remember what it was that was such a worry for you. Every day brings a new challenge. To sum it up - it seems that in the stationery world the lessons that I learned in the home textile world are just being put on your table. There isn't a vendor around that wouldn't accept an account if it would better the bottom line. Some are more up front about it, others will sell you down the river. But what comes around goes around - or however that goes! Just do the best you can, enjoy everyday, think outside the notecard box and do something bold. Start a pen pal club (see Cinda's blog) and teach youngsters all about the joys of paper and pen. Have a "design a note" contest at the local schools. Get your best vendor to donate big time (discontinued stationery? cards?) to a local retirement center or hospital through you and your store (I just made that up, but it sounds good - in fact I made them all up, but see, that is the fun! That is what we do!). Most important, don't loose faith. You do what you do because you love it. Your store is your stage, and you are the star. Time to just start singing!! I think it may be time for all of us who participate in the bricks and mortar end of retail to really think about why we are where we are and not “at home” in our “home studio”. Since the name of my store is New Orleans At Home, I do have some ambiguity. What can I do in my store that I couldn’t do at home? What is it that makes me want to unlock that door each morning and flip on the lights? Wouldn’t it be easier to just walk into the “studio” and get down to work? Well, it would. BUT – for me, and I suspect for a lot of others, there is the magic and passion that comes from having that store. It is your special world into which you invite commerce, friends, creativity, profit, and the community. It is the public statement that you are a viable and visible part of the community. It is the public part that really says it all. You are willing and wanting to put it all on the line every day that someone can walk by or open the door and come in. It is your stage, your canvas, your bottom line. For some, that would be an impossible thing to even contemplate. For us, it is the real challenge and the real thrill. Rather than trying to justify my existence, or spend time fretting over what the rest of retail is doing (i. e. home studios, internet) I have come to realize that my real competition is whatever someone else might spend their cash buying. It is the automobiles, jewelry, clothes, books, and yes, stationery with which I compete. And if I concentrate on what I do best my time is better spent. I have learned the hard lessons that retail teaches us – there is no such thing as “fair” unless we are the ones producing fairness; there is no such thing as the perfect vendor who will always stand behind you and support you come Hell or high water ( and believe me, I know about the high water part!); and there will always be something that is causing me to lose sleep at night. Think back 2 or 3 years and see if you can remember what it was that was such a worry for you. Every day brings a new challenge.

To sum it up – it seems that in the stationery world the lessons that I learned in the home textile world are just being put on your table. There isn’t a vendor around that wouldn’t accept an account if it would better the bottom line. Some are more up front about it, others will sell you down the river. But what comes around goes around – or however that goes! Just do the best you can, enjoy everyday, think outside the notecard box and do something bold. Start a pen pal club (see Cinda’s blog) and teach youngsters all about the joys of paper and pen. Have a “design a note” contest at the local schools. Get your best vendor to donate big time (discontinued stationery? cards?) to a local retirement center or hospital through you and your store (I just made that up, but it sounds good – in fact I made them all up, but see, that is the fun! That is what we do!).
Most important, don’t loose faith. You do what you do because you love it. Your store is your stage, and you are the star. Time to just start singing!!

]]> By: Kerry http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-216 Kerry Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:45:08 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-216 Again, on home based business. With all do respect to cottage industry, I cannot understand Claire's comment as to how a home based business supports it's local ecomony. Hiring employees, paying property tax on commercial space. etc? In my mind, home based business seems to support it's owners existence, rather than give back to the ecomomy to which it resides. Again, on home based business. With all do respect to cottage industry, I cannot understand Claire’s comment as to how a home based business supports it’s local ecomony. Hiring employees, paying property tax on commercial space. etc? In my mind, home based business seems to support it’s owners existence, rather than give back to the ecomomy to which it resides.

]]> By: Melissa Hill http://alwaysupward.com/blog/oprah-you%e2%80%99ve-got-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-211 Melissa Hill Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:06:22 +0000 http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=1481#comment-211 I admittedly am an Oprah fan. I don't agree with everything she says but I am a fan. In this instance I think it is very interesting that the creator of Oprah's Favorite Things and the O List has publicly encouraged an economic 'anti-stimulus package'. This is a very mixed message. I admittedly am an Oprah fan. I don’t agree with everything she says but I am a fan.

In this instance I think it is very interesting that the creator of Oprah’s Favorite Things and the O List has publicly encouraged an economic ‘anti-stimulus package’. This is a very mixed message.

]]>