Project: Dr. Seuss’ Advice on Risks and Rewards

Between his made-up words, make-believe worlds and tongue twisters – and even his fictitious doctoral title and multiple pseudonyms – we associate him as a child’s leader. He is our loveable, well known Dr. Seuss.

Dr. Seuss’ brilliance was destined for children’s literature, but his wisdom encompasses entrepreneurs and all those willing to take a risk. Whether you are diving off the literal or figurative diving board, the climb is the lesser frightening task. It is the first bounce that takes the most might.

Maybe you will have to keep your eyes shut, maybe you will have to summon all your strength. However, when it comes time to ask why you are doing what you are about to do – why or whether you should jump, Seuss has some sage advice:

• “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” – Dr. Seuss

That is what always prompts the journey. Right?

• “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” – Dr. Seuss

Your dreams are not supposed to align with others’. That’s why they are YOURS.

• “To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” – Dr. Seuss

Your idea may be the next BIG idea. Pursue it and its purpose. The world needs more thinkers who are doers.

• “Oh, the things you can find if you don't stay behind!” – Dr. Seuss

If life is a risk, do you have what it is to be a taker? Do not let fear keep you from checking out of your comfort zone.

• “I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.” – Dr. Seuss

Creativity: Breathe it. Live it. Embrace it. Love it.

• “It is better to know how to learn than to know.” – Dr. Seuss

Be humble and happy to learn from those around you. Satisfaction guaranteed to a wiser you.

• “You have to be odd to be number one” – Dr. Seuss

Touché! Be bold, bigger than life and go with your gutsy.

What is odd about you? How will you be the world to one person? How will you wake up your brain cells? How will you Seuss up your lifestyle?

-The Green Couch

Project: 'Tis The Season To Shop Local

We are all going to do it at some point and time this season. Maybe we’ll try to avoid the masses by filling our online carts. Maybe we’ll send a loved one out on Christmas Eve. Either way, 'Tis the season to shop local. And here are

5 Reasons Why It Matters Where You Pull Your Wallet Out:

1. You will be supporting an independently locally owned and operated business - you know, those charming mom and pop shops that line the sidewalks or maybe those empires that bear the last name of the town’s founders - those taxes are re-invested back into your community.

2. You will be supporting the successful employment rate in your community and create energy among farms, organizations, schools and families for continual development.

3. You will become more than a tourist location, recognized as an economically sustainable community.

4. You will make a valuable purchase not just a reasonable purchase. (And will be valued as a customer more, too.) Shopping local encourages the wellbeing of every hand involved from owner to conceptualization, to the manufacturer, to the salesperson to the purchaser to the person receiving the gift. And you are responsible for that.

5. You will have proprietary rights. You are not shopping from a chain or Fortune 500 company; therefore shopping from someone that represents a unique and distinguished brand.

Scotch tape, a roll of wrapping paper a spool of ribbon or two. These things are important. But when you get ready to double check your list, make sure you check off these five things. Stay Local. Shop Local.

Happy Thanksgiving,

-The Green Couch Project  

Project: Three Ways To Show Appreciation To Your Community This Thanksgiving

From the Plymouth plantation to Pinterest, we’ve come a long way to learn creative ways on how we can show our appreciation during the season of thankfulness. 

In one short month of 30 days we not only stuff a turkey and our face but we come up with clever ways on how we can catch a customer’s attention on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

How can we increase our net worth from in the red to in the black? (Sorry Santa, but black is the new red this Christmas! How we wish we could say!)

So, is Thanksgiving then just a myth when all we focus on is sales rather than giving thanks? How, as a corporation, can we make a bigger impact in the community? How can we give back other than giving sales? How can we show our neighborhood that we appreciate our clients and/or those that are near us?

Here are a few things that we’ve learned over the years that have changed the way we think and have warmed the hearts of many:

Volunteer: While others are scarfing down food we’ve been cutting, wrapping and sealing scarfs for local charities so others can keep warm during the cold weather. And it is warmed our hearts as well!

Care for Your Clients: Surprise visits can have a negative or positive outcome but when you come bearing cookies or other edibles, it is pretty much a guarantee success for happiness. And delivering them in person is the icing on the cake!

A Day Off: So Black Friday is equally a tradition to Turkey Day, but over the past few years the trend has become accepted as normal for stores to be opened on Thanksgiving. Over the past few weeks, however, stores have begun announcing their hours or lack thereof, for November 27th, 2014.

The CEO for DSW (Designer Show Warehouse), Michael R. McDonald shared the following:

“This holiday season, you’ve probably seen or read about all the retailers opening their doors as early as 6:00pm on Thanksgiving Day. We have decided not to follow that trend. Instead, we believe family comes first, and you should be home celebrating with them on this special holiday. This means none of our stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day. In addition, no stores will be open before 7:00am on Black Friday.”

So how can you show appreciation to your community this Thanksgiving? How will you achieve impact vs. profit?

-The Green Couch Project

Project: The Pinky Promise

There is a time and place for stop signs, and that is when they prevent us from harm and protect our health.

However, when we have a purpose in life, there’s a time we have to overcome the personal stop sign that keeps hindering us from achieving the next step to success – however we may define it.

So we as The Green Couch Project created an initiative: Whether we are speaking to ourselves or proclaiming them to the world, allowing ourselves to become vulnerable publicly, it shows a certain strength. It proves that we all have our weaknesses, and we have something we are striving towards and refuse to back down from – we will not stop at the stop sign.

By sharing this, we are making a proclamation. We are letting others know what is going on in our lives, challenging others to see that nothing will stop us from our dreams. We are asking them to hold us accountable along that journey by joining their pinky in the pinky promise!

•    Download And Print It
•    Red Ink It, So It Can Be Read
•    Snapshop A Selfie
•    Upload It To Social Media
•    #SpillYourGutsy

-The Green Couch Project