Thank You & Happy Holidays

On December 15th, 2011 by Rich

My business year is up. I always take the last two weeks of the year off. This doesn’t mean that I am finished with business, but rather I do not have office hours. I work wherever I am. I feel liberated this time of the year. My intensity diminishes and I can enjoy everything around me, especially holiday goodies. During the year, I am a creature of habit, and no matter where I am in the world, I am focused – some people call me “intense.” I usually am of “the simple minded purpose mindset,” and rarely get distracted. When the holidays arrive, I know that business rarely gets done, and it’s more of a time for relationship building and renewing old friendships. melslife keeps growing. Within a couple of days, you will find many new melsreviews. I want to thank everyone in the melslife family and wish them a happy holiday – no matter where you are in the world or what they celebrate. We appreciate your hard work and contribution in helping us build one of America’s largest healthy living sites for young people around the globe. Everyday I read emails from our users, and their satisfaction is the gift that keeps on giving. Happy New Year.

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Thanksgiving Hangover?

On November 29th, 2011 by Rich

I ate too much. Yes, the Thanksgiving holiday got the best of me, but everything sure tasted good. After four days of not working out, I hit the pool, and got back to my routine of swimming 1.5 hours a day. Initially – let’s say the first 15 minutes – it was difficult. I was already out of shape, but after awhile, the adrenalin kicked in, and I felt great. I could feel the calories slowly burn off. I usually try to eat only 1500 calories per day, but during this Thanksgiving holiday, I am sure I topped 3500 calories per day. Coffee cake, cookies, and pie add up. Was it worth it? Of course it was. Life is about living in balance, family, and enjoying the moment.

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Healthy Holidays?

On November 8th, 2011 by Rich

The holidays are approaching. This is the time of year most healthy living people go off the reservation and throw caution to the wind. I know that I can be guilty of it too. I love holiday foods, tradition, and ceremony. I like to have lots of meals with friends, and get caught up on their lives. My 1500 calorie (per day) diet gets challenged. I love tasting all of the holiday centric desserts. I even like fruitcake. Don’t forget the Soynog too. Whatever I eat or drink, I try to do it with moderation. A bite here…and a bite there. My problem is that I get lots of desserts – just ask my family or friends – and I take tastes from each of them. Pastries have been my hobby – especially breakfast goodies – for years. This is also the time of the year to reflect, and remember the moments that has made this year special, sad, or even disappointing. Sometimes I learn more from my mistakes than I do from my successes. Even in these tough economical times, find something that you can indulge in, and enjoy the moment. It does not have to be expensive. Celebrate your life, and be grateful for what you have, and not upset with what you don’t have.

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Sometimes I Wish

On October 18th, 2011 by Melissa

Last night as I was dozing off, I was thinking about all of the wishes I might wish in a day. I think I did a post about wishing before because I was reading a book called The Wishing Year and wishing is really such an interesting concept.

Sometimes I wish I could win the lottery so that money wasn’t an issue and I could travel and pay back my grad school loans without having to downgrade my lifestyle. And sometimes, though I buy a lottery ticket, I secretly wish that I don’t win because if I do then people from my past will start coming out of the woodwork to be my friends again…and that would just be awkward.

Sometimes I wish that I had figured out my career path earlier on and taken advantage of all of the opportunities I had at college. But then I realize that I had to do what I did to get where I am now…and now I am happy career-wise.

There are times I wish that I lived abroad, or in New York, and that I ate pizza more and stopped worrying so much when I did (because in my mind, pizza, if eaten too often, could just end up on your thighs). But, of course, after wishing these things, I realize that I am happy where I live and that I can always visit any place abroad, or New York (and I do often)…and that pizza is good, but it tastes better when I don’t eat it all the time.

My most simple wishes are the ones I stick to always, there are my “go tos,”if you will. And they are:
1. That my boyfriend will make me coffee in the morning because somehow mornings are better when he does
2. That everyone I know will be healthy and really happy–not just happy, but really happy
3. That no one will have to worry about money for much longer
4. That the girl I tutor each week who is living in a transitional shelter will know what it’s like to have a home
5. That my brother has a great time in college and takes advantage of every opportunity (since I wish I did)
6. That my friends and I will always remain close–because I am so grateful for them
7. And, that I will always have enough money to buy fresh produce, healthy food, and travel somewhere fabulous once a year

…that’s all : )

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A New Idea?

On October 18th, 2011 by Rich

Sorry, but I have not been blogging lately. Thank you for all of your email. I – and melslife – are okay. I have had a laser focus on a new business that I have been developing in the mobile space that – hopefully – will redefine the television-viewing paradigm. It’s been very exciting and intellectually stimulating. Besides perfecting an idea, there is also lots of technology involved, and I have been learning a whole new business. One of the highest compliments that I have received lately is that a prominent mobile executive told me that I had received my PHd in mobility. Our business plan is now days away from completion, and the real struggle begins to raise gobs of money in this tough economy. What I have learned over the years is that ideas – and more importantly management – matter. While I believe we will have our traditional ups and downs, I do believe we will raise the money, and Richmel will have its second “tech investment.” melslife keeps growing, and everyday I am amazed about the amount of people who know and follow us. While melslife does not make money, it is rewarding to be one of America’s healthy living choices for living a balanced life style. Will melslife ever make money? Eventually. What people do not realize is that the more content that is created on the Web, the less valuable it becomes. Today, Web revenues not made on impressions, but rather search and mCommerce. We could make money, but I do not want to put up ads that I would not want to discuss with my kids – you get the idea.

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Natural Products Show East

On September 29th, 2011 by Rich

The National Products East Show was fun, and we met many nice people and entrepreneurs. We tasted many gluten-free pizzas, cookies and cakes, crackers, and sauces. You will soon be able to read our melsreviews. Gluten-free seemed to be the theme of this year’s show. What always troubles me about shows like this is that there are many people who exhibit their products that are struggling to survive, and the show is their “Hell Mary” pass. Unfortunately, it takes much more than just having a good product. A company needs cash-flow for production, marketing, and distribution. Passion is one thing. Building a business is quite another. Too many of the exhibiters are not creative enough with their products, and produce cloned products. Instead of creating a market, they are now competing in one against more well established brands and well funded companies. Rarely will shows like the Natural Products Show or Fancy Food Show put them on the map.

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Gratitude

On September 29th, 2011 by Melissa

I recently went to a restaurant called Cafe Gratitude, a delicious vegan concept that originated in San Francisco and has finally made its way to Los Angeles.  The menu items have inspirational names like “I am happy” (aka a veggie burger, or something of the sort), and when you order, you feel a little silly.  Except for the fact that all of the servers re-enforce this concept of inspiration and gratitude.  It’s not like most other Los Angeles restaurants which are buzzing with frenetic energy even on a Tuesday night.  After you eat at Cafe Gratitude, you do feel grateful.  For one, you’ve just consumed delicious food that’s actually good for you.  And also, you’ve just been in a positive environment–that in itself is cause for gratitude.

It’s actually an interesting concept–being grateful, that is, because it’s something we are taught to do (say “thank you”), but how often do we actually express gratitude for the things we have and the people we love?  Lately I have been feeling this overwhelming amount of gratitude for everything, really.  I just had a birthday and even the simplest well wishes on my big day made me grin from ear to ear.  The fact that my family came to meet me for lunch, baked me a cake, and wrote me extremely thoughtful cards made me so grateful to be part of such an amazing family.  I just launched a jewelry line and the way my friends helped me to promote it absolutely amazed me.  People posted about it on their Facebook wall, emailed their friends, and are going to buy some of my jewelry.  I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to these friends, though I am trying little by little.

Every day I have been trying to thank someone for something, little as it may be.  Today when I purchased a juice at Whole Foods, I profusely thanked the guy who took my order and rang me up.  The woman who ordered a juice before me had scolded both people working behind the counter for no reason (I was a witness!), and I would like to think that my little expression of gratitude made up for her obnoxious behavior.

What we don’t realize is that being grateful for the little things makes a difference.  I am grateful for the big things (like being able to pay my rent and having food on the table) and just as grateful for the little things (that I don’t have a long commute to work and that the people at Trader Joe’s smile and make conversation when I am checking out).

So on that note, to anyone who reads this blog, thank you!  Now go thank someone else : )

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Natural Products East Show

On September 21st, 2011 by Rich

melslife is on its way to Baltimore this week for the Natural Products East Show, which is a natural food show where we can sample everything that is being sold in the healthy living space, connect with friends and companies. We always find many new products and passionate entrepreneurs. During the show, we focus primarily on melsReviews and check out the supplement area for new Superfood finds. Based on past shows, it takes about 4-6 hours to walk and eat our way through the show floor. melslife has always been about living life in balance without preaching, and being committed to healthy living. We want to thank the thousands of people who visit our site daily. We enjoy reading all of your emails, and researching some of your suggestions. I wonder what will be the new “it” product at this show?

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Out of Work?

On September 19th, 2011 by Rich

Over the course of my day or week, someone usually asks me to help out a friend who is “transitioning,” which is code for out of work. I gladly reach out to these people and offer them whatever kind of assistance, advice, and contact information they need. I know what it’s like to struggle. Being in the entertainment business, I know first hand about disappointment and not making money everyday. Quite often, entertainment people can go years without making any money. What I have noticed lately is that many people down on their luck do not follow-through with me after we’ve connected. I do not know if they have given up, did not like what they heard, or felt redefining themselves was beneath them. The world is a different place today. No one really needs anyone or anything anymore. You have to make yourself valuable, relevant, and be knowledgeable about the opportunities of technology, globalization, and have excellent social engagement know-how. Today, people are brands. If you do not track on Google, good luck. No matter how desperate one is there is no excuse for bad manners. One should always thank people for their time, and err on the side of being polite, and well mannered. Think about it, would you hire someone who did not thank you for your time?

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Friendships & Heathy Living

On August 29th, 2011 by Rich

I am very lucky when it comes to friendships. I have had my own company since 1988 and have traveled the world extensively. Throughout the years, I have made many good friends from all walks of life. My professional friends range for entertainment executives to politicians, my hobby friends range from bakers to small entrepreneurs, and my traveling friends range from ticket agents to global roadrunners. One guy I got to know pretty well lives on planes Monday through Friday, and then picks an Asian city to crash in for the weekend. I have been thinking about friendship lately because my youngest child just left for college, and I know that I am going to miss his daily friendship. I knew this time would come, but it is still sad. What is great about friendships is…that you do not need to see or talk to your friends everyday. A friendship is built on trust, respect and mutual admiration. There is a security guy I know that works in one of my favorite New York hotels. I do not see him often, but when I do, I hear all about his family, and we get caught up. I have known him for at least 15 years, and he is always nice to me. When you are a foodie like me, there is always a commonality with friends – or an interest – in what is my or their latest food discovery. I focus on breakfast pastries and cookies. I am probably the only media executive who is an expert on brownies. In my younger days, I was hired by many department stores and regional cook-offs to judge brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Also before I became a vegetarian, I judged many chili cook-offs in Texas. From these experiences, I still have many passionate foodie friends. Next month, I am off to the Natural Products Show in Baltimore where I will meet with many of my healthy food friends, taste their goodies, and review them – along with “mel” – for melslife.

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