Category Archives: Creative thinking
Art of Conversation: Stories vs. Opinions
I’m an introvert, and as such I’m hesitant to walk up to strangers at functions or events and just start talking. It makes me uncomfortable, but after the party I always kick myself for not being more ‘open’. Recently I sketched out some ideas for how to get over this. Here is the final analysis.
The most powerful way to cement a connection
We all have wants. With the explosion of social media, it’s easier than ever to want. Fitness, food, cars, clothes, music, movies, bicycles, you name it. Part of the success of social media lies in tickling the “iWant” nerve. But needing something, or someone, is completely different. If you have a professional relationship with somebody,
What if you feel you’re not doing enough? (Prepping for WDS 2012)
I’m less than 24 hours away from flying to Portland for the second annual World Domination Summit (twitter: #wds and #wds2012). Last year’s event was truly amazing, and I wrote updates on day one and day two straight away, while sipping coffee at Stumptown Roasters attached to the Ace Hotel. Reading those updates again, I
Writing a personal manifesto
The great Seth Godin had a recent post discussing personal agendas, and the irony that most of our own agendas are spent completing other people’s agendas. This is pretty powerful stuff (especially when presented in Seth’s straight-to-the-point style). When you are spending your time and energy only on projects that other people can check off
Overwhelming greatness
A great passion of mine (and a vocation – both daytime and on the side) is wine. I’ve been involved in the wine business for almost twenty years now, and as a result I have great friends that find similar love in the enjoyment of fermented grape juice. It’s not uncommon for us to get
People to follow: Laura Roeder
Every now and then I like to feature somebody who I suggest you follow. The criteria is simple: dynamic individuals doing significant work, consistently and with passion. These are pure endorsements, done without compensation and without affiliate links. I first met Laura Roeder at the World Domination Summit 2011 last June. I happened into her
Why we are insanely jealous of artists
At a certain point, usually in our youth (but once and awhile in adulthood, for some more that others) we stand alone in front of the mirror with thumb raised and sing along to a song that is pounding out of the stereo. And during our dream sequence, we see thousands of screaming fans before
What do you waste time doing?
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about this site recently, and my personal ambitions when it comes to business building and social media. I just finished a great week with Ryan Opaz of Vrazon.com (Ryan is one of the top wine bloggers in the world and knows more about social media than almost anybody I’ve
The Nine Lives theory of doing work that matters
One of the many reasons people get exhausted at ‘real jobs’, especially in a corporate environment, is the amount of ‘one-off’ work that is done. In other words, work that is used for one purpose, one moment in time, and never used again. This is endemic in the corporate world, where the idea that filling
Doing the great work, fast and now
The Resistance, as Steven Pressfield calls it, is a powerful force indeed against creative energy. You feel the spark of a new idea, and you feel the adrenaline rush to the brain saying “Yes! You are creating” and you feel even just for a moment completely invincible. All creative thoughts and endeavors exist in that
