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Why I Dislike the Word "Follower", and You Should, Too

As a business person, and a lifetime student of mentors and influencers, I often think about simple marketing flaws that companies make, and completely miss their mark because they underestimate the size of their audience. All messages that come out of your account, be it twitter, Facebook, blog, YouTube, Instagram, or Pinterest speak to MILLIONS of people, even if the majority of your audience seems to have a very small following. Many companies and public figures refer to their audience, customers, and fans as simply "followers". I dislike the word "followers", and make sure it doesn't creep up into my lexicon. 

Let's look at twitter. My biggest mentor and influencer, Gary Vaynerchuk, for example, has 126K tweets • 1796 photos/videos • 1.12M followers, and follows 7,624 people. I am one of his 1.12M followers, and (amazingly so) he is following me back. In fact, Gary Vaynerchuk and I follow each other on Twitter  since I met him at his #jjjrh book signing. My personal twitter has 1.3K subscribers, and my business twitter has 10.5K, but I don't like to call these people "followers", I prefer to call them "like-minded people". Every time you say a word, or write something, you are connecting to "like-minded people", who gravitate towards you because something you believe in resonates with them. I don't see a reason anyone would subscribe to my blog, Pinterest, or Twitter, other than receiving information they believe will resonate with them, and that is why these connections matter. 

Businesses and public figures who connect with their audience on a human level are always more successful and more influential than those who send out generic messages to "followers" and never reply to fan comments and questions. We are all people, when you connect with like-minded people, they will feel compelled to re-tweet, re-post, or otherwise share your content with their group of like-minded people ("followers"). Someone finds out about your philosophy or product from a friend, or someone they are subscribed to on twitter, they like it and re-post to their network, and all of a sudden you are exposed to a whole community of people who think what you have to say is valuable to them and their audience. This is how things work on social media - it's just like the old concept of "word of mouth", but this time, you are reaching millions of ears and making valuable connections no ads can rival with.

Blankets of Love - Bedspread Drive for Casa Hogar Sion Orphanage

I would like to personally invite you to do something very special for some amazing kids at the Casa Hogar Sion orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. If you have read my blog about Corazon de Vida Foundation, you will know that the Mexican government doesn't provide for the orphanages, and the kids rely on generous donations from kindhearted people, to have access to essential supplies, even toilet paper and soap. 

The last time I was at the orphanage, the woman who takes care of the children said they desperately need blankets (bedspreads) for the girls dorm, boys dorm, and the nursery. I thought I had secured a donor, but since I haven't heard back regarding these blankets for the last month, I decided to take action and organize a "bedspread drive" just in time for Valentine's Day. It is not a very big amount of items, and I know that together we can all pitch in, and "blanket" these sweet kids with our love and care! Here is the list of what they need:

The girls dorm needs 26 twin comforters.

The boys dorm needs 12 twin comforters.

The toddlers need 12 crib size covers.

I think that is extremely feasible, right, guys? If we can get a blanket or 2 each, we will get this done before February 14th, and already on the bus to the orphanage on February 21st! 

I have worked hard on creating this baby registry on Amazon, so those of you who are located far away from me, can still help the kids out by purchasing a blanket online!

The Link tells you how many of which items we need: http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/3AEFNC929HITT

You can also bring the blankets to my office at: SAIAN Natural Clinical Skin Care 7525 Ethel Ave Suite M, North Hollywood, CA 91605

Love you all, and thank you for your generosity!

Dasha Saian

How To Become The Biggest Small Company

Trade shows are always wonderful, because my team members and I get to connect with other skin care professionals and vendors. Even though I have been participating in trade shows for the past 8 years, they never annoy me, or wear me out. Sometimes I hear vendors say they don't do trade shows anymore, because they feel they have outgrown shows, and don't want to spend the time and money. I don't agree with this philosophy, because as a professional brand, we owe it to the industry to show up, and give support to the estheticians. Isn't it great to receive free training, samples, discounts, demos, get answers to your questions, compare products, or just get to know the company philosophy and team? I think personal interaction is the best advertising, and maybe this is the reason my brand, SAIAN Natural Clinical Skincare,  is often referred to as "the biggest small company"! I want to give you some advice that will help you better understand what it means to be "the biggest small company", and how this will work for your advantage!

Oh, and this is me being interviewed by the amazing team of SpaBooker about my company's social media success! Which brings me to my first major piece of advice: 

Pay It Forward

This is a simple, yet majorly underestimated, and underutilized way of doing things, and you know what they say: "how you do anything, is how you do everything". It cost me absolutely zero dollars to mention SpaBooker in my blog, and give you a link to their site http://www.booker.com where you can sign up for scheduling services for your spa, salon, vet's office, or any other appointment-based business, and they paid me absolutely zero dollars to do this. Why did I just give them exposure? Well... you may also wonder why they interviewed me about social media, if I paid them nothing, and  they got nothing out of it but content. Content gets out there, people click on photos and videos, and do further research on things that they deem interesting and useful. It just so happens that some of their fans and customers may see me and become interested in what I have to say, and many of my readers will click on this link and see what awesome services SpaBooker can offer for their business. Magical, isn't it? Quite!

Respect Your Competition 

When we were little, we have always heard our parents and teachers say: "respect your classmates, play fair, etc.", but what happened to some of us once we grew up and established our own companies? Sadly, many people still don't believe in "playing fair", and outwardly put down other brands' philosophy, ingredients, practices, or anything else that they can think of, only to look better on that dirty background. Don't go down that drain, I beg you! Respect is something we owe to each other, as competitors in the same field. You surely feel how hard it is to wake up every day and go to work, try to make your current customers happy, gain new ones, spend money on ads, put out social media content, send a million e-mails, have issues with engineers or chemists, deal with UPS, pay the bills, make sure employees are saying the right things over the phone, and a plethora of other things we, as business owners, do. Respect your competitors as human beings, and that is all. Human beings who are also trying their best to succeed in a world of competition.

Offer Amazing Customer Support

We have friendly personnel in the office M-F 9am-5pm, ready to take your phone call, greet you with a delicious cup of cappuccino, or send you an e-mail signed with a happy face, and when the day is over,  another nice person is ready to answer your questions live on our site http://www.saian.net. Why is this important? Why do we keep answering your questions, even after you have placed the order, and completed the transaction? Why do we walk you through the steps of a collagen facial for an hour, even if you haven't completed the transaction? Human reasoning - when you know you're not alone, you feel empowered to use the product! You have help, you have support, and you know you're not a number. Our staff gets to know the customers, and remembers their preferences, and their favorite items. It's amazing to see our regular customers at the trade shows, and get to take photos with them! Several women have told me they always try my quinoa recipes, and love them! What a wonderful way to be a someone's favorite brand - teach them the way you eat, and they will always remember you, even at meal time! 

Don't Sell Out

I know it sounds quite ugly, but the message is plain and clear - if you wish to stay cozy and small, there is no need to become a giant conglomerate. Everyone wants financial freedom, the ability to place bigger orders with vendors, more global distribution, an easy and beautiful life, going to the bank and depositing money. That's great, but what is your passion? Mine is every single one of my products. They proudly bear my mother's last name, and that is what makes them my biggest passion... I don't want my passion on the shelves of Walmart, or a copy of my passion in Luohu mall in Shenzhen, somewhere between the fake MAC mascaras, and plastic spray-painted J'Adore bottles. I will stay small, stay true, and stay authentically professional forever. This is my promise to my mother. 

I hope you will find your passion, too, and I will support you 100%!

Organic Acorn Squash Stuffed with Wheat-berry Pilaf

I love creating beautiful and healthy dishes, and I'm always trying to use new ingredients! Have you tasted wheat berries? When cooked correctly, these little gems will burst with flavor, and nourish you. Wheat berries are delicious, nutty, wholesome, filling, and a wonderful alternative to rice! I love salads, but what better way to present this delicious vegan feast, than in a perfect heart-shaped squash "dish"?  This recipe has "love" written all over it! 

Ingredients (all-organic)
1 cup wheat berries
3 cups water
pinch of salt
1 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 large sweet onion
1 medium red bell pepper
1 carrot
1/4 cup raw pecans
1/4 cup raisins
curly parsley
2 butternut squashes

The first thing I do, is put my wheat berries in with the water to boil with the salt, since they will take about an hour to get soft and ready. At the same time, I start to work with my squash - I cut them in half along the ridges so they resemble 2 hearts. (I use the ridges as my guides to cut evenly). I use an ice-cream scoop to remove the seeds, and also cut more squash out of the middle. This not only helps to make sure the squash cooks all the way through, and isn't raw when I stuff it after baking, but also allows more stuffing to fit inside. I am quite resourceful, so I save the squash I remove, and will use it tomorrow with my breakfast millet kasha! ;)

When the squash halves are ready and hollowed out, they go into the oven at 380 deg, for about an hour. I like to check up on them, to make sure they don't overcook (but it's unlikely).

At the same time as the wheat berries are cooking, I sauté the onions, carrots, and bell peppers in the coconut oil in a separate pan, and once they are soft, I add them to a large ceramic bowl, and add the raisins and pecans to the mix. 

You will know the wheat berries are done when you see that they have become transparent and plump. About an hour is what they need, with the lid closed. Once you feel they're ready, transfer them into the bowl with the sautéed vegetables and mix well. You will need to make sure the wheat is completely coated in the oil while it's hot, so it can absorb that moisture and stay plump!

Last step is to add the curly parsley, mix well, and spoon into the ready roasted cups! Voila! All done :) This will rock your world, I promise!

Organic Vegan Lentil Soup With Sautéed Arugula and Oven/Toasted Butternut Squash

Winter is the perfect season to indulge in soups, and to roast squash! If you have never made a lentil soup, now is the time, and this recipe will make you fall in love. I make my amazing all-organic vegan lentil soup with sautéed arugula and oven/toasted butternut squash sprinkled with cinnamon, and serve it with rustic olive bread and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds! This perfect meal with warm your heart and nourish your body and soul! 

Ingredients (all organic)

4 cups water

1 cup green lentils1 tablespoon extra–virgin coconut oil

1/2 cup chopped sweet onion

3/4 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup arugula

1 cup creme

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

salt to taste

In the oven

1/2 butternut squash

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

The first thing I do, is preheat the oven to 350 deg, oil my baking sheet with the coconut oil, and put in my chopped squash. I chop it in cubes and douse it with cinnamon before spreading it out on the baking sheet. This is the most delicious thing you will ever taste, and I don't even want to begin describing the aroma which will spread throughout your home... Pure bliss, pure cozy comfort and love! You will want to only roast the pumpkin for about 30 minutes, and then take out the baking sheet and cool.

Heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and arugula, and sauté until soft - about 10 minutes. In a large pot, add 4 cups of the water (or you may use chicken stock) to the lentils, and bring to a boil. Next, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until lentils are tender, about 35 minutes. You may add a pinch of salt at this time. Last, add the creme, and stir in well.

Add the vegetables to the pot, and puree with a hand-mixer until everything has become well-blended. Plate the soup, spoon the roasted pumpkin in the center, and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds, and enjoy! The perfect vessel for this heavenly meal is rustic toasted olive bread! I hope you will enjoy as much as my family does, because this soup was eaten, and everyone asked for seconds!

Millet Quinoa With Kale

Winter is in full effect, and some comfort food is just what the Dr. ordered! I love combining grains, beans, and greens for a complete vegan-protein meal that only takes 15 minutes! In this simple recipe, I use millet - one of the most digestible and non-allergenic completely alkalizing grains. If you haven't tried millet, I sincerely hope you give it a shot - not only is millet a prebiotic which feeds the microflora in your inner ecosystem, but it is also full of protein, magnesium, and serotonin - which will boost your mood! One of millet's best advantages is that it has a low Glycemic Index (GI), so the carbs will digest slowly, keeping you full longer!
 

Quinoa is an ingredient I use quite frequently, and I try not to repeat my recipes. As you know, quinoa is full of protein, and comes in 3 different colors - white, red and black. The white quinoa is fastest to cook, black takes about 5-7 minutes longer, and red is somewhat in the middle of the spectrum. I usually bring the pot to a boil, cover with a lid, and keep for 7 minutes. The red quinoa is tougher than white, so you will need to add 5 minutes to your cooking time to make it softer! For this recipe, I am using red quinoa.

INGREDIENTS (I only use organic):

1/2 cup red quinoa

1/2 cup of millet

1 cup of white beans

1 carrot

1 bunch of kale

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1 tbs coconut oil

1 clove of garlic 

juice of 1/2 lemon

salt to taste

Add 1/2 cup dry quinoa and 1 cup water to the pot and bring to a boil. Let boil for 5 minutes, cover with lid, and keep for about 7 minutes. Do the same for the millet, in a separate pot. I dislike boiling the two grains together, because they have slightly varying cooking times. I want to make sure that both are cooked through, and neither is mushy. When you open the lid, you should see that all water has evaporated. Combine the quinoa and millet in a large ceramic or glass bowl, and start working on your kale. I never use the entire leaf for cooking, because the stem is just too rough, and is hard to chew. I "devain" the leaf by cutting the stems out, and chop up the leaves into 2-inch pieces. Sautee the carrots, garlic, and kale in the coconut oil on low heat until soft. Add the mixture to the bowl, and top with fresh parsley. Take your lemon half, and squeeze the juice on top of the mixture. Give the whole thing a toss, and you are ready to plate! I also like to add some avocado, for a creamy treat - you will love it! Enjoy, and have a powerful day!

Simple Buckwheat Pancakes

I grew up in Russia, and buckwheat is a grain we eat daily. Russians make buckwheat "kasha" for breakfast, and enjoy it with milk and a sprinkling of sugar (just like cereal), they make it as a side for meat and eat it for lunch and dinner. It is a relatively inexpensive grain, and our National staple, even more so than potatoes.  You will be surprised to know that buckwheat used to be in deficit during the communist times! My mother used to have to wait in line and purchase her ration with a coupon, and the only people who were given access to it were diabetics, since this was the approved low-sugar food they were allowed to consume to stay stable, and not spike. 

Not only is buckwheat a delicious, fluffy, and warm comfort food, but it is also good for you! Did you know that buckwheat is one of only few alkaline grains? This means that it won't feed candida, and won't cause inflammation and acidity imbalance in the body. This recipe will not only satisfy your taste buds, but will keep you full without spiking your blood sugar - so it's low on the GI (glycemic index) and absolutely satiating. 

Ingredients (I only use organic):
1 cup soy milk
2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
3/4 cup buckwheat flour
2 medium eggs

2 drops of vanilla extract

I learned how to make crepes years ago from Jamie Oliver, and his best advice has been to separate the egg whites from the yolks, and beat them just until fluffy, before adding to the rest of the ingredients. After doing this, combine all ingredients in a big bowl, and mix well. I preheat and grease my cast iron skillet with a bit of coconut oil, and pour the pancakes. Once I see that they become porous all the way through, I flip them, and remove from the skillet just seconds after that. You will easily get the hang of it - nothing too complicated! 

A great way to eat these is with a drizzle of raw honey and some organic berries, but you can also have them with anything your heart desires - peanut butter, yogurt, anything! You will love these, and make them often. Enjoy! 

Book Review: "The Paris Architect" by Charles Belfoure

Those who know me, usually see me carry 2 or 3 books in my purse... Last month I switched books, leaving "The Paris Architect" on my nightstand, but I revisited it, and finished it in two days! Belfoure's heart wrenching novel so intensely drew me in, that I couldn't put it down, no matter how much I tried. 

This book is an incredibly intense, heartfelt story set in wartime Paris, of a young Frenchman who didn't consider himself a good Christian, but agreed to conspire in a plot to hide Jews from the Gestapo.  The dangers Jews faced, the conditions they had to live in, the persecution, the pain of families being separated, and the courage of the gentiles hiding and rescuing people they hardly knew just because they were fellow human beings. This book will open your heart, and prove that people are inherently good, they can nurture, love and care for others, no matter the religion. Tears rolled down my face as I read the last chapter, and a warm feeling of pride for the human race came over me. Who could have known that an architect could write in such a genius manner. Bravo, Mr. Belfoure!

Home Is Where the Peace Is

"Wow! That's quite a lot of books you have there!" - exclaimed my friend as she sat in my car. I looked back, and giggled - I had almost forgotten that the back seat of my car looked like a bookshelf- I'd gotten so used to it over the years. I carry a book in my purse, I keep another book on my desk at work, and you should see my bed stands! Books have a very special place in my heart, because they come from a place of love, and carry associations that warm my heart.

While my mother was getting adjusted in the USA, I was raised my my grandmother, my father's mother, in Moscow, Russia. As you can imagine, the only ladies who ever came into our house were in their 60s, just like my grandmother, and (since fancy candy was scarce, and they were all engineers and abhorred pointless dolls) I always received books as gifts. My birthdays were filled with books, all signed by friends and classmates, and those gifts were all carefully arranged in the "library" that my grandfather built himself in one of the hallway hollows. This was a miniature room with a chair, and bookshelves that towered from floor to ceiling. Yes, I was the youngest proprietor of a library, and that was my safe haven.

I had severe problems with my kidneys when I was a child, so I spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital. I remember my hospital roommates always being rude, so I tried not to leave my room for a long time. My roommates had stolen from me, destroyed my belongings, and eaten the food my grandmother had so lovingly prepared for me, so instead of leaving the room  to play, a stayed and read. I read about Egyptian pharaohs, about the Incas and Mayas, I read all of Chekhov and Pushkin, Lermontov and Grimm brothers. I loved Dumas, and imagined the 3 Musketeers fencing their nemesis with épées in my hospital room! 

My days were filled with inpatient appointments, and reading, and one day, my grandmother came in the evening and announced that we were going home! I was discharged, and I could sleep in my own bed! It was about 7pm, and already dark outside when we left, and I remember how the snow crunched under my boots, and how great the fresh, cold air felt inside my nostrils! It was freezing cold, but all I wanted was an ice-cold can of coke and real food. Everything tasted delicious when I was home - even the air had a different taste, and it was amazing! 

Years later, I am re-living my hospital experience with my mom. While she undergoes her doctor's visits, lab work,  MRIs, avastin infusions, ultrasounds, and chemo preparations, I read, and float away on the loving clouds of books. We typically spend 2 to 5 hours a day at the hospital, about 3 times a week, and there is no better time than the moment we both know we are done for the day, and are going home! That moment that she tells me what she feels like having for dinner, and how extremely famished she is (and there is no way she is eating anywhere other than home!) 

There is no place like home. No place that can comfort you, and make you feel well and healthy. That's why home is where our peace is. I sincerely hope you all have spent a beautiful Holiday with your families, and give gratitude for your home today, and every single day you have the privilege of sleeping in your own warm bed, and making yourself a meal in your own cozy kitchen.

On Growth and Learning

Accept the possibility of learning from others, from nature, from your mistakes, and from your victories. Relax, and release your attachments from prejudices, and preconceived notions. Be open to everything.

The Most Beautiful Affirmation

Whatever happens in your life, whatever thoughts you may have, whatever changes come your way, know that the universe is always working in YOUR favor, and YOU are SAFE. Let things unfold and don't jump ahead of time. The universal power has a plan for you, and everything will unfold in the right time sequence.