The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

"The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

- Eleanor Roosevelt

"But what minutes!

Count them by sensation,

and not by calendars,

and each moment is a day."

- Benjamin Disraeli

"Summertime and the livin' is easy..." So goes the gorgeous and melodious song from the musical Porgy and Bess.  Here we are in the throes of July, a vacation summertime month for some.  A time for new and varied experiences for others.  Maybe we'll be able to, at long last, kick back, put our feet up and find a nice shady spot underneath the branches of a favorite tree.  Maybe it's a time to pick up that book that we have been meaning to read so that we can be re-freshed and re-created through the power of words and ideas.

If you haven't already done so, now is a great time to pick up a book written 25 years ago by Stephen R. Covey entitled The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  We might have heard of the book, but have we actually taken the time to read it?  It's a powerhouse, a wealth of wisdom and insight.

Check out the title - it's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  Effective, not Successful.  All three contestants missed this question on a recent Jeopardy show.  They tried to put the word 'successful' in the title, rather than the word author Covey chose, 'effective'.  Perhaps we are a bit obsessed with the concept of being successful when maybe we might want to try to be more effective in our personal lives and in running our businesses.

At any rate, here are the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:

Habit 1 - Be Proactive (Principles of Personal Vision)

Habit 2 - Begin with the End in Mind (Principles of Personal Leadership)

Habit 3 - Put First Things First (Principles of Personal Management)

Habit 4 - Think Win/Win (Principles of Interpersonal Leadership)

Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood (Principles of Empathic Communication)

Habit 6 - Synergize (Principles of Creative Cooperation)

Habit 7 - Sharpen the Saw (Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal)

In presenting workshops and seminars, Covey said the Habit 5 "Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood" is the most often requested topic of the 7 Habits.

Best wishes for a terrific summer!  May you be energized by the resources at your fingertips and in the world around you this summer.  May your life be enriched as you work on bringing principles such as those listed above to fruition.  May you enjoy the journey to becoming a complete and fulfilled person in your private and in your professional life.

Godspeed!

Lydia

FL Crooks & Co

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How Mediation Can Improve Your Outlook

How Meditation Can Improve Your Outlook

Alden Wicker

When I graduated from college I was 20 pounds heavier than I am now. It took three years to drop all that weight, slowly but surely. Ceasing to binge drink like a college student likely helped, but I attribute the bulk of the loss to yoga and meditation.

Yoga and meditation both helped me get in tune with my body and mind. They’re tools that teach you how to slow down and assess what is going on. You learn to be honest with yourself, to gently probe down to uncover the real reason behind your actions.

After picking up meditation on the regular, I found myself having gentle, honest conversations with myself whenever I started craving junk food. “Are you actually hungry?” “Um … let me see … yes. But not super hungry.” “What do you want?” “Cupcakes!” “Really?” “Well, I want something sweet.” “How sweet? Because last time you ate a cupcake you thought it was … a bit too much.” “That’s true. And I don’t really feel like eating a cupcake by myself today. That’s sad. Maybe I could just pick up a fruit smoothie.” “Lovely idea, my dear!”

And if meditation helped you cut the junk from your diet (as studies have indicated) why can’t the same thing hold true for your closet? Fashion is loaded with just as much—if not more—emotional baggage. There’s emotional shopping, just like emotional eating. And we lie to ourselves all the time when it comes to clothing: about fit, about whether we’ll actually wear it, about how it will transform our lives.

Yes, building an excellent wardrobe takes mindfulness.

Mindfulness in Shopping
First, you have to get familiar with your likes and dislikes, and the shape of your body. It may seem silly to meditate on your clothing, but with the amount of money you’re spending on stuff you end up hating? Just go with it.

Close your eyes and imagine what you were wearing when you felt most beautiful. What was the fit? The color? What did it evoke for you? Hold the image of your favorite outfit in your mind and examine it from all angles. What kind of fabric is it made out of? How does it make you feel emotionally? How does it feel against your skin?

When you see images of models or celebrities or fashion bloggers, acknowledge the feelings that they evoke in you. Jealousy? Inadequacy? Yearning? Pity? Hostility? An eye roll? Ask yourself, if you find yourself coveting the clothing you see in ads, why you covet it so. Perhaps you long to be at the beach yourself, so a beach-y Ralph Lauren ad draws you in. Then address the fact that buying a Ralph Lauren bikini won’t put you on the beach or win you a man with a chiseled jaw. That it’s just clothing.

A Pendleton Sweater, made to last.

Not to say that meditation means you won’t ever shop again! It just helps you make better decisions. Maybe, when you see a certain Pendleton sweater, you recognize it as something you would just love. The fit and colors are just perfect, and you’ve been repeatedly searching for just such a sweater in your closet to throw on and coming up short. It could be, quite honestly, a great addition to your closet. 

 

In any case, always sit with the idea of the clothing you want to buy for a few minutes, a few hours, or even a few days. Turn it over in your mind and see how your emotional connection to it changes. Perhaps, like an toxic friendship that doesn’t serve you, it falls away. Or perhaps, after some time, you realize that it would serve a useful and beautiful purpose in your life. There’s no right answer, as long as you’re being honest with yourself.

This careful, thoughtful, honest approach to fashion has a couple benefits. First, it will save you money as you let go of impulse shopping. Second, it will lead you naturally to well-crafted, lifetime pieces, instead of fast fashion bought on a whim and then stuffed under the bed.

Mindfulness in Organization
Mindfulness and meditation come in handy when you’re cleaning out your closet, too.
Oh, boy, do we lie to ourselves about our closet. That piece of clothing you haven’t worn in two years. Why do you keep it? “Because it’s beautiful!” you might say. But dig deeper. Perhaps it’s a designer brand that represents prestige to you. Perhaps it’s a suit that represents a fear of getting fired and having to interview for new jobs. Perhaps it represents fitting in with your college friends, or being the kind of person your parents want you to be.

Acknowledge the emotions that letting go of your clothing brings up. But also recognize when clothing isn’t serving you anymore. That your first J. Crew sweater you could ever afford is pilling, and you now can afford better. That you work in a field that never requires suits, and that is awesome. That you like wearing black, and that is OK because Mom and Dad can’t tell you what to do anymore.

Lay the items where you can see them and let them be there for a few days so you can get used to the idea of letting them go. Then let them go! Consign, donate, or recycle them. And watch space open up in your closet for new and better things.

You know, like that Pendleton sweater?

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Your Dad Wants a Present!

Several years ago, a book entitled "The Five Love Languages" was written by Gary Chapman.  In his book, Chapman outlined 5 areas that can help us connect with one another and improve our most important relationships.  Those five areas are:

1. Acts of service

   

   FLCrooks.com for
   Father's Day Gift Ideas

2. Quality time
3. Gifts
4. Physical touch
5. Words of affirmation

Ah!  Take a look at the center of the list, #3 Gifts.  While celebrating Father's Day this Sunday, June 15th, why not honor your dad or the special men in your life with a great gift from FL Crooks & Co.

Your dad needs clothes, yes? 

How about choosing a quality Patagonia shirt with a colorful plaid fabric?  Or what about choosing a Forsyth of Canada shirt which have never been more awesome - in a colorful array of pink and lilac shades as well as dreamy blues and minty greens.  And speaking of color, Alberto pants are featured in a fadeout twill with your choice of blue, green red, or taupe.  Levi cargo shorts are available in a cool assortment of colors - camo, khaki, navy, etc. and are priced for only $29.99.  Tommy Bahama shirts, shorts, pants and swimwear are always a plus to any summertime wardrobe.

Your dad need shoes, yes?

For summer sandals, Olukai and Keen have the perfect footwear that will put a spring in his step and a smile on his face.   For outdoor wear, look no further than Merrell.  For work and for dress, Johnston & Murphy feature incredible footwear.

Your dad needs accessories, yes?

Hats make terrific gifts at summertime.  We've got some cool styles from Broner, the British line Gorin, and Kangol too.  Brighton belts are always a favorite.  Native eyewear is functionable and fashionable!  How about a pair of Happy Socks - only $12!!

Remember - your dad wants a present this Father's Day!  And what a great way to show him that you care - with a gift from FL Crooks & Co.  Love You Dad!

Happy Father's Day 2014!

Lydia


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The End of the ‘Wear It Once’ Trend

Melissa Wall

Zady.com

I know little to nothing about fashion trends. The vagaries of the fashion industry are as incomprehensible to me as a turbine jet engine. But I do know that one of the most important trends of the decade– perhaps of the era – is currently being set by the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Sophia Loren, and, perhaps most notably, Kate Middleton.

It’s the trend of wearing the same clothes more than once.

We all know that celebrity-dressing habits are the epitome of crazy excess. In the age of constant selfies and nonstop public scrutiny, celebs set a gold standard for conspicuous consumption when it comes to fashion – and not without good reason, given that it can be a career setback to be “caught” wearing the same outfit twice. But while we may want celebs to dazzle us with ever-changing looks and sleek poses in magazines, this whole “life as costume drama” trend comes at a cost. Namely, we’re reinforcing a completely unsustainable way of consuming items of clothing that has ramifications on everything from the supply chain to the water table to our own pocket books.

Kiera Knightly in her now-famous wedding dress, which she wears often

The habits of the famous trickle down into normal behavior, and in the age of social media, where everyone is the star of their own digital feed, wearing a dress twice (or at least, being seen wearing a dress twice) has become an actual worry for the rest of us. Think I’m exaggerating? One 2012 survey found that 80 percent of women buy new party outfits out of “fear of being ‘Facebook tagged’ in the same clothes more than once.”

All this vilification of double-wear means one thing: women (and men, but the marketing and magnifying glasses tend to be aimed more at women) are buying more clothes than we need. Tons more. We’re wearing something for purposes of having it look cute in a digitally-blasted photo, then shoving it into a closet crevice – or, worse, throwing it away – and moving on to the next item.

It’s obvious that wearing an article of clothing once and then chucking it is wasteful. But when you look at the volume of waste it produces, the global footprint, and the resources taken to sustain all this waste, you get an idea of just HOW wasteful. Wasteful to the point of harmful. Wasteful to the point of destructive on a global scale.

Deep down, we all know this is ridiculous – it’s a trend based on an illusion, all staging and spectacle, signifying nothing. Even celebs don’t toss out a designer blouse or pair of jeans after its first wear. Still, we keep on participating in a cultural norm that is harming our environment, wasting our hard-earned cash, putting garment workers at risk, and ultimately doing no good to anyone.
 
Imagine if we reversed the trend to go the other way? I remember the first time someone pointed out that I was wearing the same dress in a Facebook photo that I’d worn a year earlier. It didn’t occur to me that the comment wasn’t a compliment – “it’s such a lovely dress, it stood out twice!”

I was naïve, but it’s a naivete I’m choosing to hold on to. I love finding clothes that I can wear again and again, unique items that I know I’ll never get tired of reaching for in my closet, and rediscovering. I own a dress I bought at a sample sale that I’ve worn to no less than 5 weddings in the last 4 years– it’s become a good luck charm, at least in my eyes. Look, I’m wearing the green silk shift! You two will be happy forever! It’s tough to pinpoint what, if anything, we gain from treating clothes like disposable box cameras. But it’s clear what we lose – the real pleasure that comes from ownership of a beautiful, quality item, and the relationship and significance that can develop from wearing something unique over time. We rob ourselves of the narrative around a particular cocktail dress, the memories attached to the parties it’s seen, the formal dinner party, opening night at the ballet, the dates gone bad (or good). Over time, clothes can become more than just fodder for a social media snapshot – they become part of our personal history. They may even become heirlooms for our daughters. If the price of that is losing potential clout on Facebook, I’ll happily pay it.

Spring into Style for Mother's Day!

Spring into Style this Mother's Day!

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it."

 - Mark Twain

May is a wonderful time to celebrate the beauty of nature and the long-awaited-for warmer weather!  As the buds and flowers simply burst all around us and the landscape comes alive with color, we celebrate the ones who gave us life - our mothers!

Lydia & Chelsea in 1994 on
Mother's Day.

The modern holiday of Mother's Day was created by Anna Jarvis in the early 1900's.  After the passing of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis in 1905, Anna wanted to find a way to honor the sacrifices that mothers make for their children.  With financial backing from John Wanamaker, a prominent Philadelphia department store owner, Anna organized a Mother's Day celebration in Grafton, West Virginia at a Methodist Church in May of 1908.  Six years later, in 1914,  President Woodrow Wilson established the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

One hundred years after this official proclamation, on this Mother's Day, 2014, show your mother how much she means to you by a special gift from FL Crooks & Co.  Spring fashions have never looked prettier nor have been more appealing!

Christian & Meredith introducing our
new line of  My Flat in London bags.

One line in particular that the FL Crooks staff is especially excited about is a new line from Brighton jewelry called My Flat in London.  This whimsical collection features handbags of various sizes, pouches, and a full line of jewelry.  Meredith Brill, FL Crooks' Brighton and My Flat in London sales representative exclaimed, "When you see it all together on the store floor, it's like WOW!"  Designed by Jan Haedrich, the inspiration behind the line includes bows, scarves, crowns, and the Queen B!  The motto for My Flat in London is "Be Pretty, Witty and Wise, Fulfill Dreams, Create Inner Style,
Be Happy and Eat Cupcakes!

Mother's Day - a day to say "Thank you, Mom!  You are the best, and you deserve the best!"

Three cheers for Mothers in the merry month of May and always!

Everyone loves a good love story! - February 26, 2014

Everyone loves a good story, and a good story doesn't get any better than this.  It's a love story.  It's a sugar and spice and everything nice story.  It's a Pandora story.  Pandora... you know the bracelets, necklaces, and rings that have created such a sensation. 

Our story takes place on March 9, 2013.  A young man picks a young lady up in his Chevy Silverado.  They head to Clear Creek State Park and proceed on a walk to Bear Rock, a faithful scenic old rock in the park.  There is snow on the ground.  It's a scenic path that leads up to an ultra-cool scenic overlook.  The sky is aglow with promise.

The young lady sees that he has a Pandora box and is puzzled.  She wonders, "Why would be bring me a bead here?  That's really random!"  He gets down on one knee, opens the Pandora box, and... the letters WYMM jump out of the box and spread throughout the sky.  James says what the letters state, "Will you marry me?"  And Jena says, "Yes!" 

Yes, in the spring a young man's fancy is said to turn to love.  James and Jena's path will soon lead to a march down the aisle in May.  The couple will wear the excitement and sparkle that they felt on this special March day.

For your wedding attire for this special occasion, look no further than FL Crooks & Co in downtown Clarion.  

For over five years now, the staff at FL Crooks & Co has been utilizing Jim's Formal Wear for all of your tuxedo prom and wedding attire needs.   Over 300 vest and tie combinations are possible.  The color range includes black, grey, white, navy, tan, brown, and new for Spring 2014 is black with camouflage lapels.  Shoes come with the tuxedo.  Prices for tuxedos start at $69.99 and go upwards. 

Come in a few months ahead of the big event if you can, but two weeks time is really all that is needed (except during Prom season when a little more notice is helpful).  If you can't come in person, call your measurements in at 226-8020 or 1-800-320-6902. 

It's the season of love, so get dressed for the occasion - whether it be for a prom, a wedding, or another special occasion.  FL Crooks & Co - we love a good story!  We love to make you look and feel your absolute best! 

Love and peace-

Lydia

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The Best Word of Mouth for a Store is this...

In his book “Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping” Paco Underhill states that ‘probably the single best word of mouth for a store is this: They’re so nice down at that shop’. At FL Crooks & Co in downtown Clarion, we strive to be the best that we can be in terms of superb customer service as well as offering fashionable garments, shoes, and accessories of unsurpassable quality and value. And this has been our mission now going on our 109^th year!

FL Crooks & Co is always adding new lines of clothing for men, women, and kid’s too:

       *Jack Victor tailored clothing;
       * Robert Graham shirts;
       *Frye boots;
       *Tees by Tina;
       *Alex & Ani bracelets;
       *Hobo wallets;
       *Salaam tops;
       *Eva Varro tops.

Some of our biggest sellers consistently are Hart Shaffner & Marx suits, Alberto Ceramica slacks, Spyder sportswear, Smartwool socks along with powerhouse The North Face for the entire family. Our fine footwear includes UGG boots, Merrell, NAOT, Dansko, Keen, Johnston & Murphy, Timberland, Jambu, Crocs, and ‘smooth as butter’ Frye boots. The women will be bringing back Yellow Box for Spring 2014. Our jewelry inventory just keeps getting better and better with beautiful collections from Pandora, Alex & Ani, Kameleon, and Brighton including handbags.
 
We are always happy to bring to the table as many “Made in the USA” products as possible including the following:

• Keen shoes and boots,
  
• Bill’s Khakis;
  
• Leegin belts;
  
• Ibex outdoor;
  
• Stormy Kromer coats and belts;
  
• Selected Wigens caps
  
• Smartwool socks;
  
• Hart Shaffner & Marx suits;
  
• Hardwick clothing;
  
• Tees by Tina.

Internet marketing specialist Cynthia C. has been hired in August 2013 to complement the staff of 7 full-time and 3 part-time personnel. Cindy is coordinating FL Crooks’ Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube, and Vimeo accounts. The store features over 10,000 items on their www.flcrooks.com website, begun in 1998. Check us out on-line and do follow us!

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Wishing you and yours much love, joy, peace, and contentment in 2014!