QR codes are trendy right now. They started out as a hip, underground things. Kids put QR codes on band stickers then slapped them on mailboxes as a way to announce raves, secret shows and other clandestine things. (Ok, they started at the post office, but that story is not sexy) Now they are everywhere….
I tried a little experiment at Thanksgiving. I went to visit my parent who had just moved. They didn’t have internet, phone or TV yet. Not even mobile. They live in some kind of weird zone not covered by any cell tower. I was without internet for 2 WHOLE DAYS. My heart stopped, I started…
Everyone and his dog talks about productivity. I’m going to add my two cents to the discussion because I learned about productivity the hard way: by insisting I didn’t need anyone else’s advice. Stomping my foot and proclaiming “I’m going to do it all myself!” Then doing nothing because my lists we’re intimidating and overwhelming. Salamatize…
The holiday season is about to begin and with it comes stress. To add to the holiday stress, this is the busy season in some industries. All that busyness is a recipe for tension, battles and all-around ugliness. I want to share some tips on diffusing those battles, whether we’re talking about irritable customers, unhappy…
I was sitting on the train checking out a stranger’s tattoos. He caught me looking intently at the one on his forearm. He said “Jack Sparrow” by way ofexplanation. I looked away blushing because a) I got caught staring, and b) it was kinda lame. My new friend Jack Sparrow got off at the next…
Manatees are real, unlike a lot of the myths you hear about starting a business, particularly an online business. Much of what happens in a business is not sexy and not fun. It’s tedious and boring. Worse- you don’t HAVE to get it done. There’s no boss to demand it. You have to make yourself…
As promised last week, my thoughts on why Borders Books is going out of business. Warning: for those of you used to my brevity, I break with convention here. Attracted by the giant yellow 70% off signs, I wandered into one of the larger Border’s Books & Music locations. If you didn’t know, Border’s (BGI)…
Borders Books & Music is going out of business. I got my start in marketing and bookkeeping there, so its been on my mind a bit. Next week, I’ll share a post on what they did wrong and how you can prevent those mistakes in your business. (Tip sheet subscribers already saw that content. What? You’re…
I had a convo a few weeks ago with Iain Gray at Ten More Clients.** It came up that working for yourself is an emotional rollercoaster. For every step forward in the business you have to grow as a person. Hits you take in business feel intensely personal. One of the (many) emotional issues that comes…
Step 1. ASK. Seems obvious right? It’s the most overlooked step. A lot of people try 1 of 2 strategies: 1) make a huge ruckus and hope to be noticed or 2) sitting quietly in a corner looking sad and pathetic in hopes that someone will notice and take pity. Neither strategy is particularly effective….
