“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”
Helen Keller

After months of planning, scheming, researching, learning, hoping and dreaming, we’re finally going live with The Brightside Group and The Screaming Pillow!

Looking On The Bright Side is the vehicle – both for me and for you – to show that there are pearls among the dust, bright sides to every situation and people who light candles in the darkness.

While The Brightside Group is dedicated to Katy and Sven (see “The Story“), I want to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who have contributed in making this dream a reality.

Firstly, to my mother, Colette Said, who was the inspiration for the Screaming Pillow. Without her creative and wacky imagination, there would probably never have been a product like this. Not only did she provide me with the idea, but she has been there every step of the way – from her little pad in Eastbourne – offering her opinions and thoughts on designs, inquiring about marketing and distribution, as well chatting across the world, (courtesy of  Skype) to keep abreast of my progress.

Colette Said and daughter, Gabrielle

My husband, Frank, has been a constant source of strength – from encouraging me to put together a business plan, brainstorming about PR ideas on our long walks through town and adding his very valuable two-cents worth in every area of the business — and my feline companion, Gracie, has been a constant physical presence, walking across the computer screen at the most opportune moments.

My wild and wonderful women friends in the TBD Group have been a great source of information, contacts, laughter, multiple bottles of wine and pounds of chocolate (as every girls’ group should be). Roberta (“networking queen”) Chadis, Donna Rice, Francie King, Paula Gaull and Peg Reny have all contributed something worthwhile through their PR and marketing expertise (in addition to their very worthwhile friendship).

A big hug to Suzie Weldon who has trodden many of these paths in her past and kept reassuring me that “it’s all product development” when things took longer and became more challenging than originally planned. I’ll never forget her asking me on a bright Tuesday morning “do you prefer vodka, gin or tequila” as we came upon yet more hurdle. And more hugs to the creative and kooky Katy Bratun who spent so much of her time sketching and coming up with designs and images for me.

Jay Duchin (of Duchin Productions) has provided fantastic and fun business ideas as well as introducing me to Jackie Moldau of Velocity Screenprint and Embroidery. Jackie and Rick both went way beyond the norm in customer service, working outside normal business hours and bending over backwards to help me in the midst of my first crisis.

When it comes to bending over backwards, Jack Jackson of OnMessage PR has been a gem as well as a good friend. And Susan Spencer who is now embarking on her one year teaching stint in Samsun, Turkey, has spent hours writing and rewriting copy, news releases and articles.

And when it comes to social media and out-of-the-box PR ideas, it doesn’t come much better than Bobbie Carlton, my social media guru, who’s great with tweeting and linking and lots of other virtual magic tricks.

As with every new business, there are so many people who participate in making it happen and it’s good to know you’re all out there when the shadows start to fall and Gracie’s the only one I can talk to.

As Victor Hugo said, “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”

Or, in the words of Woody Allen, “I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. “