1) 5 signs Apple’s era of dominance is over (read)
2) Can you do one page a day? (read)
3) Genius pizza box (see)
4) Steve Jobs was a low-tech parent (read)
5) Illustrated twitter typos (see)
Author: Garth Beyer
Cut The Thread Or Make It Work
There are those who need to be fired. Certainly those, be they individuals or groups, who you need to cut the thread to.
The majority of time, I would argue, you can gain much more from making it work.
What no one may have told you about “making it work” is you do not need to make it work in the way you had originally imagined it working.
Making it work, by definition, involves moving variables, involves changing expectations, dates, deadlines, numbers, email responses. It involves facing a new direction from where you stand when you decide to make it work rather than to cut the thread.
Often times “making it work” means turning the efforts into a one-man show.
Often times “making it work” means trying something different, something never done before.
Often times “making it work” means taking the risk you should have taken at the start.
Stay Positive & The Show Must Always Go On
Photo credit
Enlighten Others
What It Means To Be An Artist
“The function of art has always been to break through the crust of conventionalized and routine consciousness… Artists have always been the real purveyors of news, for it is not the outward happening in itself which is new, but the kindling by it of emotion, perception, and appreciation.”
That’s John Dewey. Written 1927.
Can’t say it’s changed in the last 87 years. Can you?
Stay Positive & Make Sure You’re Making Art In Some Way Or Another
Photo credit
Enlighten Others
Customer Service – Complete Mistreatment
We’re all in the field of customer service.* Some live casual lives, only just touching customer service on the surface. Others actually have “customer service” in their job titles. As any person in the latter situation can attest (and if you use your imagination enough, anyone in the former situation can attest), sometimes we’re completely mistreated by the people who we are there to try to help.
It seems almost puzzling how someone could call wanting OUR help, but act so ignorant, so rude, so hateful; as if we’re not human.
As humans, it’s devishly difficult to be friendly and willing to help someone who is acting the complete opposite toward us.
Here’s what gets me through those frustrating, stressful, red-face-flushing times… I fire them.
They’re not who my product or service targets. They’re not who I want my team to have to endure. They’re the part of the 80 percent of work that only accounts for 20 percent of results. (Some people I would argue fall under the 90/10 group.)
As humans, it’s also natural to want to please everyone.
You can’t. So don’t.
Stay Positive & Release Your Stress
*Let me know if you want me to explain how.
Photo credit
Enlighten Others
The Green Light
Who are you waiting for to turn the light green for you? Who are you waiting to tell you to GO? Whose validation are you waiting to receive before you start moving forward, before you launch, before you step on the gas?
If the answer isn’t “myself,” then you’ve given too much power to someone who doesn’t need it and who will only abuse it .
Don’t wait for anyone to give you permission, to pick you, to say your idea is worthy. Find out for yourself. Better yet, go make it worthy.
Stay Positive & You Control The Light, You Control The Worth
Photo credit
Enlighten Others
The Truth About Great Advice
You won’t be motivated by it. In fact, you’ll likely want to run the other way.
A mentor of mine recently reminded me that “you can get your story, you can get the sources you need for it if you make enough calls; as long as you put the effort in, you will get what you need.”
Essentially, as long as you try, and keep trying, and never stop trying, you’ll succeed.
Not very motivating is it? But it’s true. It works. It’s sound advice.
Stay Positive & Will You Take It?
Enlighten Others
20 Ways To Boost Your Client Connection
PR freelancing has its downfalls, but one particular positive piece about it I love is the chance to connect with a client (be it a person, a business, or perhaps an actual PR agency). Here are 20 ways you can honor, strengthen, and leverage that connection.
1) Do one unexpected thing a week for them.
2) Ask for promo gear. (shirts, mugs, pens, etc,.)
3) Work with, not for.
4) Have their birthdays written on your calendar.
5) Connect them with other like-minded people they have yet to meet.
6) Ask a lot of questions – business and personal.
7) Write blog posts for them without being requested to.
8) Post on review sites. (Must love & trust your client)
9) Share your weekend goodies with them Monday morning. (cookies, cakes, dip, etc,.)
10) Be forward and transparent about your experience working with them. (Keep a work journal they can view anytime)
11) Fire the clients consuming 80 percent or more of your time, energy, money, etc,. (Unless, of course, you only have one client…)
12) Meet up on their turf.
13) Meet up on your turf.
14) Meet up outside each others’ turfs.
15) Friend as many other employees or team members of theirs as possible.
16) Remind them each week of what you’re thankful for.
17) Be forward with what you see is working annnd what you see isn’t.
18) Challenge them.
19) Always have one piece of the puzzle you work on together.
20) Consider at the end of the day.
Stay Positive & Every Business Is In The Business Of Connecting
Photo credit
