My skin doesn't do too well with make-up. I love it, absolutely love it - but my skin and my allergies do not, and it's only on very rare occasions that I can war a bit of powder or foundation for a few hours. Yep, pretty tough for a girl...

I am nevertheless fascinated by cosmetics, and by the work of make-up artists. I would watch them work and do makeovers for hours. In my eyes, a makeover is a quest to find inner beauty, some sort of a human remodeling project, and you know how much remodeling and modernization projects are dear to my heart.

There is something special about the idea of rebuilding, remodeling, reorganizing... it's sort of a moment of extreme honesty and extreme power. First, honesty - because to be ready for a makeover we have to defy the idea of perfection and admit that we are not perfect. And well, I was in gymnastics as a kid, so yes, perfection is deeply rooted in my mind... So, honesty first - strip down the perfection, admit to the brokenness, and acknowledge the need for reconstruction. Second, power: the power to shape and rebuild something innovative, visionary, daring, and fearless. The power to create, to materialize an idea in the tangible world, to find that inner beauty, to build something and watch it grow on its own.

And what in Heaven's name is this blog post about?

Business.

Yep, business - successful, efficient, streamlined, business.

But then, to keep it simple, this blog post could be summarized in four words: Thank You Tamara Lackey.

Thank you, really.

Ok, for those of you who have not heard the name Tamara Lackey before... please go visit her website: www.tamaralackey.com

Tamara is an amazing artist and businesswoman. And, she is an amazing teacher, speaker, and mentor. What makes her especially awesome is that she comes to photography from a business and communications background, and thus she has a much deeper understanding of business and marketing than most of us human beings :)

Earlier this year, in the midst of a work-life-profession-business-everything reorganization, I reached out to Tamara for an advisory session. My expectation was plain and simple to get some good business critique and advice, and a bit of help finding my way through the chaos.

Well, yes, that is what you expect of a mentoring session.

But Tamarra's advisory sessions are not just mentoring sessions, they are life-changing sessions.

In 90 minutes she took a honest look at my whole professional and business life and the chaos just dissolved. Objectives and purposes became clear, business structure changes, branding and divisions of the brand made sense, the website got a complete remodeling, and my mind and belief system got a bit re-wired as well.

Yes, it was that simple. We have many old sayings in medicine, and one that I have used very often (and still do) is 'paging is a sign of weakness'. Truth is, at times you come to the sudden realization that you need someone's help. And it may be as much as a conversation or even a word - and finally everything finds its place, and confusion disappears.

And, I got to join Tamara for her "Work. Life. Balance" workshop with creativeLIVE in Seattle, which was an amazing experience that I will eternally be grateful for. And another experience I highly recommend as well: watch Tamara's classes on creativeLIVE, and if you have a chance attend one of her talks or workshops. You can find more about her workshops and mentoring sessions on her website.

Photo by Andrea Devisser, who made a small miracle with my BlackBerry :)

Today my company is structurally sound, we have a consistent brand culture and service mission, and I am tying to walk in the direction of a more balanced professional life. All of that thanks to someone who took 90 minutes away from their busy schedule to take a close look at my business and help me sort it out. It takes a special someone to do that.

It was an unexpected, and very welcome, total makeover.

Thank you Tamara!

E.