Sunday, August 21, 2022

The Art of Possibility

Right before I left my house to head to the airport for my trip to Belize, I decided to grab a random book from my bookshelf entitled, The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life. I assumed it would be an interesting read but had no idea how eye-opening it would be as I started reading it moments after the airplane hit the blue sky. 

As a marketing professional working in entertainment, it's a constant grind that's fun but also tiring. So, taking time to think about my contribution to the world and how I can be a stronger leader often gets postponed to tackle an important business priority. Luckily, I took off a week from work to relax and ask myself some important questions:

  • How can I be more creative?
  • What am I not doing as a leader that could help me?
  • How can I make a bigger impact?

Yeah, I know, these questions are loaded but The Art of Possibility helped me begin to answer these and go a bit deeper inside of myself to explore even more possibilities. Here's first quote I underlined in the book:

"The frames our minds create defineand confinewhat we perceive to be possible."

These words came after having reads do the well-known 9 dot puzzle challenge in which you have to join all nine dots with four straight lines without taking your pen off the paper. Take a look and try it out! As I tried to do it, I kept wondering how to keep the lines within the small box. I didn't think of the possibility to go outside the box. After the answer was revealed by the authors, they go on to explain how the puzzle may appear unsolvable inside a particular point of view until you look at it within a different framework... and then new possibilities emerge! Isn't this true about life? Many of us try to put everything in a box, including ourselves, because our minds have been conditioned to create constructs that often don't exist. By page 15 in the book, I felt like my questions were already starting to be answered: Don't try to fit inside the box. 

Trying to fit within a box is the opposite of truly being creative, and often makes people feel stuck. It's sort of like working a job that makes you go into the office every day, sit at a specific space, eat at 12pm for lunch, do the same daily tasks, and that's it. There's no freedom to ever work from home or maybe eat at a different time. Over time, complacency or a lack of motivation often occurs in some form as well as a feeling of what's the point? What this book made me realize, or wake up inside of me is, we can choose our perspective. Instead of creating limitations in our mind from a place of lacking, let's think of what's possible and use innovative thinking to hit our goals. 

What if we all had the power to wake up each day and say: How will I be a contribution today?

There's no right or wrong answer. Truthfully, as I thought of my answer, I came up with a blank. I feel like I contribute all the time both personally and professionally. I think another question is important to help answer the first: what would have to change for me to be completely fulfilled? 

I felt a bit stuck until I came across Rule Number 6, which is a chapter in the book that's all about not taking yourself seriously and lightening up. The pressure that I put on myself to be perfect, have all the answers, and avoid mistakes is way too high. There's value in making mistakes, accepting that things will often change, and knowing most things just ain't that serious. I definitely know that to a certain degree and use humor to connect with others but I need to apply this rule as often as possible. 

"When we follow Rule Number 6 and lighten up over childish demands and entitlements, we are instantly transported into a remarkable universe."

"Mistakes can be like ice. If we resist them, we may keep on slipping into a posture of defeat. If we include mistakes in our definition of performance, we are likely to glide through them and appreciate the beauty of the longer run."

What would we all do if we weren't afraid? If we lean into our creativity and didn't try to fit into a box. What if we could learn from our mistakes in a way that's supportive and encouraging? This book made me realize how much I hold myself back sometimes, and tend to look at things within a box point-of-view. Just because I consider myself to be a creative and open-minded person doesn't mean I can't fall into this way of thinking. Great news: I'm human and that's okay. I'm recommitting to kicking open the box and always asking, what's possible that I'm not seeing? How can I contribute in ways that are innovative and fulfilling? 

I'm so excited to go on this journey of discovery with self-compassion and curiosity. I encourage you to find a book on your bookshelf that's been collecting dust and read it. Chances are you bought it for a reason and it'll be a positive experience. If you've read something recently that made a big impact, please share it in the comments of this post. 

Stay curious!

Sunday, April 28, 2019

How to Use An Amazon Locker

An Amazon Locker is easy to use, quick (at times), and convenient.



I've been using Amazon Lockers for several years, and it's always surprising to me that many people I know still haven't heard of them. I live in a big city where there are plenty of lockers so I'm sort of spoiled; they aren't in every city. Let's go over a few things I like and don't like about these:

What I like about Amazon Lockers:

  • I can return items at no cost to me
  • They are easy to use
  • Same day or two-day shipping still applies
  • I can get in other shopping (grocery, etc.)
  • You can pick up a package in your PJs

What I don't like about Amazon Lockers:

  • Parking can be difficult if it's a high-traffic business
  • You can't order large items such as a TV, microwave, or vacuum
  • They can be hard to find 
  • If they're inside of a small business, people can often be in the way
  • They are only in certain cities
  • Sometimes the lockers are full
To learn more about Amazon Lockers, check out this video I made called, The Amazon Locker Experience



Have more questions? Comment and let me know. I will definitely answer = ) 

Friday, October 14, 2016

6 Amazon Prime Perks You Probably Don't Know About


Millions of people have an Amazon Prime Account, including myself. And if you don't, you're probably using a friend's account to make purchases. We've all been there and done that!

What surprises me the most about Amazon Prime Members is the lack of knowledge regarding the perks they get simply by having an account. Truth is, I didn't even understand all of the benefits until earlier this year, which is why I would like to share some of them with you.


6 Amazon Prime Perks You Probably Don't Know About

1. Free Same-Day Delivery: As an Amazon Prime member, you can choose to receive FREE Same-Day Delivery on qualifying orders that are $35 or more. Currently, Amazon does same-day delivery in select metro areas.

2. Amazing Prime Pantry Deals: According to Amazon, "Prime Pantry is a store where Prime members can shop for groceries and household products in everyday package sizes." Basically, you can buy everything you need from Prime Pantry: toothpaste, dog treats, soap, snacks, detergent, etc. Not only is it convenient, but also saves $$ by offering coupons and special deals exclusively for its members. Each box has a $5.99 delivery fee, but you can often get it waived via a special promotion. I was able to get a $5.99 Prime Pantry credit by simply waiting a few extra days to receive one of my Prime shipments. Make sure you look out for these special offers because they pop up frequently, and don't always stick around.

As of now, if you buy 5 select items, you will get FREE shipping on your Pantry box.


3. Amazon Family: Do you need some damn diapers? Currently, as a Prime member you can save 20% on diaper subscriptions, and other products in Amazon Family. You can order through Alexa without having to subscribe. But, that's only the beginning of the many Amazon Family perks. You also get: access to Amazon's huge children's music library, coupons, Amazon Household, Prime Video, Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, Baby Registry Rewards, and much more!

4. Prime Music and Video: As an Amazon Prime member, you have access to thousands of Prime Video titles ranging from movies to television shows. What's better than unlimited streaming? NOTHING. Plus, Prime Music gives you access to AD-FREE music! We’re talking over a million songs (U.S. only).

5. Unlimited Photo Storage: I was paying over $4 a month to store my photos... until Prime Photos came along and saved the day! Yes, it's true, you can securely store photos for FREE as an Amazon Prime member to your Amazon Cloud Drive. Additionally, members also have easy access to saved content on multiple devices, and automatic photo backup.

6. Restaurant Delivery: First off, make sure you enter in your zip code in the Prime Now app to see if there are restaurants that deliver to your area. As a Prime member, you can place orders for one-hour or two-hour delivery in select areas. What's really cool about this perk is the ability to have more than food delivered; you can also have gifts and daily essentials deliveries to your doorstep as well.

So, those were 6 quick Amazon Prime Perks you probably didn't know about. Keep in mind: Amazon frequently updates their services and product features. So, if you're interested in a specific perk please make sure to get all of the details on Amazon's website.

Have more perks I didn't cover? Write them in the comments section!

A few bonus perks:

Twitch Prime: Prime members get "exclusive discounts on physical games, pre-orders, and new releases."
Amazon Dash Button: With the press of a button, get your favorite household item. In case you need help setting yours up, check out my video: How to Set Up Your Amazon Dash Button.

Monday, July 11, 2016

UNBOXING - Amazon Prime Pantry - My First Box!

 Prime Pantry Box

I recently purchased my first Amazon Prime Pantry box and felt so excited to get it in the mail! I went ahead and ordered it when my box was only around 80 percent full since I had a credit on my account that would cover the $5.99 fee. When I first received the box, I was surprised by the size and weight of it. But, it completely makes sense because I ordered numerous items.

Since so many people ask me what I buy on Amazon, I decided to make a video of me opening my first Amazon Prime Pantry box. Check out the video here:



I added a detailed list of what I purchased so you can see the cost of each item. And so you can see what you're missing out on if you don't have an Amazon Prime Account. Try to guess the total after you see all of the items. I bet you'll be wrong!

My Amazon Prime Pantry Box: What I Bought

1) Charmin Ultra Strong Toilet Paper 6 Mega Rolls (click on image for more info)


2) Q-Tips Cotton Swabs, 500 count


3) Tide Original Scent Liquid Laundry Detergent, 50 Fl Ounce (2 count)


4) Bob's Red Mill Large Flake Nutritional Yeast


5) Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Bath Tissue, 12 count


6) Jif Peanut Butter, 40 oz


Total = $44.77

Exactly. That's all I paid!

This is when you give yourself permission to buy yourself something real nice like...

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Prime Day 2016: 10 Questions & Answers to Help You Save Money


If you're an avid Amazon shopper such as myself, you know all about Prime Day and what deals are being offered. However, if you're busy or haven't had the time to research Prime Day, certain details about the global shopping event may not be clear. So, I'm going to answer 10 questions that will help you save money on Tuesday, July 12th! You'll definitely want to be informed; many analysts are predicting that Amazon's Prime Day could double in sales compared to last year.
Let's get into the questions and answers:

10. What is Prime Day and how long does it last?

Last year, Amazon decided to start Prime Day to celebrate its 20th anniversary, which is essentially "a one-day only global shopping event exclusively for Prime Members" according to Amazon. It begins on Tuesday, July 12th at 12am Pacific Standard Time and lasts one day.

9. Can anyone shop on Prime Day?

No. You must have an Amazon Prime account in order to have access to the 2016 Prime Day deals. My suggestion is that you get a Prime Account ASAP. Then, once you've done that, quickly create a shopping list so that you're able to take advantage of the best deals. Since there will be over 100,000 items on sale for Prime Day, it's critical that you're organized because the hottest deals will be the hardest to get! Did I mention you may win $1,000 by creating a Shopping List?

8. How will I know when an item from my Shopping List goes on sale?

You need to download the Amazon app on your phone immediately. Stop what you're doing now if you don't have it yet, and get that app on your phone. Once you've done that, enable notifications so you know when a deal is on sale. Here's how it will work: Amazon will send a notification to your phone if an item in your Shopping List is a Prime Day Lightning Deal. You will then need to place the order.
7. Should I purchase a 99-a-year Amazon Prime Membership?
Absolutely! And, Amazon is NOT paying me to say that. I avoided getting a Prime account for a long, long time. When I finally did, I realized how much money and time I was saving by using it. You're going to read many websites that tell you to get the Prime Membership and then cancel it after Prime Day. But, I think you should keep it! Why? You get access to Prime Pantry, which allows you to save major bucks on household, beauty, and other products. You also get free photo storage, discounts on diapers, access to Amazon shows, and much more. Email me at Lauren@TheLHFactor.com with any questions.

6. What kind of items are going to be on sale for Prime Day?

Since there will be over 100,000 items on sale for Prime Day, I can't go over each one. But, here are some of them: televisions, watches, Kindle products, and even special experiences with musical artists such as Flo Rida and Blink 182. Amazon is saying that products from almost all departments will be going on sale on July 12th. So, I would just expect that whatever you have in mind will be offered at a discounted rate on Prime Day. 
To give you an idea of what you may be saving, for last year's Prime Day there was a deal that gave Amazon Prime customers 30% off Xbox Ones. There were also deals that included 47% off headphones, 30% off cameras, and 50% off Kindle Fire HDs. 

 

5. Do I have to purchase a product right away, or can I wait since it's in my cart?

If you want to ensure that you get the deal for that product, you should definitely make the purchase immediately. When you're shopping on Amazon, please remember that simply placing an item in your cart does not reserve it. You have to place an order to complete the purchase. So, make sure you receive a confirmation email on Prime Day to make sure you placed the order. 
Do not get caught up in the other deals and start wasting 30, 40 or 60 minutes. You don't have time for that!

4. Am I actually saving money by shopping on Prime Day?

Unless you have access to MAJOR discounts on popular electronics, fitness equipment, music, and much more the answer is YES. This week, Amazon rolled out an early Prime Day deal: a 32-inch television with a Fire TV stick for only $120. oh, and a Dell Desktop was on sale for around $700. See more of the deals you missed out on here. So, on certain items you may be able to save up to 60% if not more.
ADVICE: Do research before you start shopping and creating your Shopping List. Although I believe you will find awesome deals, it doesn't mean you are getting the best deal. So, make sure to do comparison shopping! Go on other retail websites and look at what they are charging for the items you'd like to purchase on Prime Day.

3. Can I just sign up for the Amazon Prime free trial?

Of course you can! Amazon offers a free 30 day trial period that you can use for Prime Day. Take a look at the terms and conditions if you decide to go that route. Keep in mind: You will have to give payment information in order to begin the free trial. After the 30 days, you will be automatically charged if you don't cancel in time.

Know of someone who could use an Amazon Prime account? Use the link below to send them a nice surprise:

Shop Amazon - Give the Gift of Amazon Prime 

2. Will other websites have good deals on that day?

Maybe. Many sites want to compete with Amazon's big day, and will offer decent deals. I would encourage you to start researching those websites now so that you don't waste time on Prime Day trying to figure out your options. In order to save the most money, it's important that you know the answer to this question before July 12th. 

1. Any other ways I can save money?

Use Prime Now. Prime Members who make their first order through Prime Now (using promo code 10PRIMENOW) will save 10 bucks AND also get a promo code for an extra $10 to shop on Prime Now in the future. This is only in select cities so make sure you check the list first!
With the above questions now answered about Prime Day 2016, you should be on your way to save money! It's all about being organized and doing your research ahead of time. Make sure to create your Shopping List and download the Amazon shopping app. Make sure to enable notifications AND 1 click ordering.
Have more questions? Email me: Lauren@TheLHFactor.com!

You still have plenty of time to start your FREE AMAZON PRIME trial. Click below to begin:


Tuesday, July 5, 2016

#LaurensHelpDesk: How to Delete A Post From Facebook


Although there are 1.65 billion active users on Facebook according to Statista, that doesn't mean everyone knows how to use the popular social media network. Truthfully, if you're not familiar with Facebook, it can be confusing to use. And, as a Marketer, I often get questions about social media--ranging from simple to complex.

So, this is why I decided to start #LaurensHelpDesk in which I answer questions about marketing, social media, and much more (such as Amazon). No question is a dumb question! For the first #LaurensHelpDesk, my trusted side kick--Violet--chose the questions from a pile of many! Francine out of Wisconsin asked me,

How do you delete a post from Facebook?

Good question, Francine! Check out the YouTube video I made answering your question:


Also, here are the steps to delete a post from Facebook just so you have it:

1) Log in to your Facebook account
2) Go to your timeline (some also call it "profile")
3) Find the post you want to delete
4) Click the arrow symbol at the top right corner of the post
5) From the list of options, select "delete"
6) Confirm the deletion
7) Refresh your page to confirm that the post has been deleted

If you have anymore questions, feel free to email me at Lauren@TheLHFactor.com!

Also, add me on Twitter: @WriterAlexis and use #LaurensHelpDesk to submit your questions.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Amazonaholic The Web Series - Watch Episode #1


I've been shopping on Amazon for years. However, last year I started using Amazon Prime multiple times a week. I was getting packages so often that it became a joke at my job (that's where I had packages delivered). My co-workers eventually called me a "Prime Addict" and thought I was an unofficial spokesperson for Amazon. As the weeks went by and the boxes kept coming, I started to agree with them.

In October of last year, I jokingly said to my colleagues that I was going to start a web series called, Amazonaholic. Then, I started to give the idea some serious thought and had a conversation with myself (I have many of those). 

"Do I love Amazon Prime?"

"Am I an Amazonaholic?"

"Could I write a ton of scripts about Amazon?"

The answer to ALL of those questions was YES. So, that's when I decided to spend one evening brainstorming what Amazonaholic  the web series would be. After several hours and a few glasses of wine, I had over 5 episodes written. That's when I realized I had to make them, and approached several actors I know. Luckily, they all wanted to be a part of the project and thought it would be fun. My cousin who is the CEO of Librium Pictures came on as the Director. It all came together quickly and easily!

In March of this year, we filmed the first 4 episodes. Here are a few pictures from the set:




It was a ton of fun to be in the videos and also work on set with Angela Burris (Director) and Shannon O' Conner (Actress). Please check out the first episode here:


Like, comment, and subscribe to my YouTube channel, please. Thanks! Hopefully one day Amazon will sponsor the series = )