Onward Hunter Douglas Certification!

A few weeks ago, I received a good dose of inspiration from an email I received. Only seven individuals became Hunter Douglas Certified Professional Dealers in June; a designer whose work I admire was one of the seven. Quite an feat - HD sent out an email notifying all dealers of their accomplishment! This program is thorough and encompasses a wide range, from Hunter Douglas products such as Skyline and Silhouette, to window covering basics, to professional development.

In a followup note to my congratulatory message, this designer wrote, "There is no better time to invest in yourself than when business is a little slow (summer and economy)..." And those words were the impetus I needed to continue my education in the window fashions industry. It's so easy to just sit back, relax, and wait for the clients to call. It's much harder to be proactive, especially when it's summer, it's sunny, and the livin' is good!

There are so many great ways to keep on learning from your lawnchair - boot up your laptop, and look for the great webinars on offer, or browse through the plethora of articles online. I'm disappointed I had to miss a webinar on social networking by Debbie Green of Minutes Matter Studio, coming as it did in the middle of an installation, but will keep my eyes open for the next one. Grace McNamara's Vision Magazine always has lots of interesting, informative and beautifully presented articles to delight the eye as they inform the mind. TrendSpot Blog... Oh, la, la! And I could continue...

But I would much rather have you share your favorite inspirational educational informational blogs/websites/magazines/ezines with all of us!