January 2010
49 posts
Student Good-Bye Letters
22 years ago (in another life, it seems) I was a student-teacher for a semester during my senior year at S.U.N.Y. Brockport.
It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
Digging around some old paperwork this morning, I found the “good-bye” letters my students wrote me.
Here are some excerpts:
“You have what it takes to be a good teacher, except a few...
An Investment Like No Other →
Start a small business and the world makes sense.
Esquire article by Ken Kurson.
What makes a successful new product. →
To succeed, a new product must…
1. promise to solve a problem - with people saying “finally!” when they hear it;
2. and then deliver on that promise.
By Mark Hurst - Good Experience blog
Windtamer: A Friend to the Earth →
Some former colleagues of mine are on a quest to “bring wind power down to earth.” I believe in them and you should too.
“The financial crisis has created a unique opportunity to redefine
success in...”
– 2009 B Corporation Annual Report
What Could You Live Without? →
NY Times Opinion piece by NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF.
“Everyone has too much of something, whether it’s time, talent or treasure. Everyone does have their own half, you just have to find it.”
People Who Really Matter - 2010
The February 2010 issue of Esquire magazine contains a feature article listing the People Who Matter. I know it’s a men’s lifestyle magazine and all, but I always expect more from people - so, yes, I was disappointed.
Here are their people who matter: 1. Barack Obama 2. Dana White 3. Ellen DeGeneres 4. Blake Lively 5. Jerry Brown 6. Rod Blagojevich 7. Robert Gates 8. Nancy...
How MarketingProfs Manages Its Brand on Twitter... →
Nice interview. Shows how one business is doing it right.
What Does Your Workout Playlist Say About You?
Mine probably says ‘stuck in the 80’s, cliche-driven and passingly acceptable.
But here it is anyway:
1. L.A. Woman, The Doors
The perfect song to start out a workout. Kind of eases into itself, then rocks it pretty good toward the end. Perfect for warming up, doing a few sit-ups, and getting you geared up to move some weight. Yeah, get your MoJo risin’!
2. Rock and...
B Corporations →
I’ve only recently heard about B Corporations, but I find the concept fascinating. Can they be profitable and still save the world?
The Linchpin Posts →
From Seth Godin: Podcasts, interviews and guest posts about my new book: Linchpin. These are from the official media tour. The public reviews and more you can find on the lens at the bottom of this page.
5 Things I Hate About Branding Experts →
Point #1 is what it’s really all about. Slapping a new coat of paint on a used car doesn’t it make it new or run any better. Brands are not manufactured, they are grown.
How are you doing with your New Year's... →
Neat site to see what others have resolved to do. Also contains some really good advice.
ten9eight →
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. In November, a documentary movie — “Ten9Eight” — was released that tracked a dozen students all the way through to the finals of the NFTE competition. It is the most inspirational, heartwarming film you will ever see. - THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Conan’s Good-bye: 10 of 10 in Leadership,... →
At a time that anyone serving the public is aware of the importance of brand and reputation management. It’s still rare to see a fine example of a response to a tough situation that shows authentic, human leadership. The recent NBC / Conan O’Brien situation had so much press that millions of people were following it.
Conan O’Brien’s farewell came after what could be called an unseating, what may...
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10 Ways to Be More Positive
I’ve made a conscious effort to be more positive this year. What’s amazing about this is that the more positive you get, the more you believe in the possibility of things. And the more you believe in that, the more things actually become possible.
Here are a few ways you can bring more of the positive into your life:
1. Surround yourself with a circle of influence.
Right at...
How to Change a Job Title Into a Mission →
Do your employees have titles or missions? I’m guessing the former. If you really want to get the cracking, you should develop a mission, intent, and values…
Burger King bar debuts in Miami →
It’s good to be the King! As a marketer, I love this idea.
Will cable's wireless gamble pay off? →
All eyes will be on the cable operators to see whether their wireless offerings take flight in 2010. Several of the major cable companies have wireless efforts in progress.
The Science of Motivation →
Carrots don’t matter. What matters, matters!
Today I Was Not Just Another Number
If you don’t think social media can be powerful, connecting and completely necessary, then think again.
I was on Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist today reading her charming, thoughtful take on rodeos and racism - Martin Luther King Day Special: Racism is alive and kicking. (Hello, McDonald’s) - and, like 344 others, I left a comment.
I left a comment because every so often...
Great Answer
On her blog, Theresa Lauren asks, What does love feel like?
Of the many responses, the one that blew me away was from patrickdanger:
“Like hiding a little bit of your fire inside someone else and hoping they don’t let it go out.”
What's Your Sentence? →
It might define your purpose!
Pursue Your Real Dreams
Over the past few months I’ve taken a very, very hard look at myself. I’ve re-evaluated everything. For the first time in my life I feel like I’m on a path I have chosen, rather than an aimless wander.
In my quest to be ideal, I’ve started a ‘masterminds’ like group here in Rochester to assist in the pursuit. Below is a quote from one of the members that...
Ready to Write an E-book? →
Nice overview on how to write, design, sell and market your very own e-book.
“No one can possibly achieve any real and lasting success or “get...”
– J. Paul Getty
Scale Your Caring. Or Your Brand Won't Survive →
Nice video post from Gary V.
New is Hard
I woke up this morning at 5:30am to exercise. It was kinda hard.
To do it again tomorrow is going to be real hard. But new is hard. And that’s OK.
They say that doing something new for only two weeks turns that new thing into a habit. And habits are easy!
In my quest to regain the fitness I have lost over the last few months, I’m going to have to struggle through these next two...
Built to Last: heirloom design →
As an inventor, Saul Griffith has spent a lot of time thinking about how to make useful things. Griffith has been arguing that we need to stop buying things and then throwing them away so quickly. In short, we need more “heirloom design.”
Excellent, thought provoking article.
Tony Hsieh Slide Deck for Business Mastery Pres →
Check out the slide deck. Tony is the king!
Sales Meeting Deliciousness
Back home after a quick three day sales meeting.
Sat through two full days of presentations and another day of meetings.
Survived two nights of food, booze and challenging conversation.
And in the end - it’s the 1:00am bar conversations that really stood out - and actually meant something to me. All the other stuff was the side dish, the potatoes next to the steak.
And the steak...
Inspire your fans! →
You want to inspire fans? Answer letters like this one! Impressive.
On a Scale of 1 to 10, How Weird Are You? →
Great interview with Zappos Chief Executive Tony Hsieh. Company culture is job 1.
“Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People...”
– Steve Jobs
Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your... →
Watch the lecture. Read the book. I’ve done both numerous times. It never fails to inspire. It never fails to make me want to be a better person. It never fails to remind me that their are amazing men and women in this world who we can learn so much from.
Get out out of your own circle. Expand it. Grow!
“I harbor for good and bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,
Nature without...”
– Walt Whitman
Start Your Own Community. I'm Starting One in...
After reading The Great Work Blog this morning from Box of Crayons - it is very clear to me that I need to start my own community - right here in Rochester, like Henry Ford and many others have done.
Call it Masterminds or whatever you want - but surrounding yourself with people who can help, motivate, inspire and and even learn from you is a great way to keep yourself moving forward.
If...
Start Launching the Grenades!
Let’s promise to start launching Cube Grenades tomorrow.
I love Hugh’s take: these are Social Objects.
I am taking this concept into my next ad meeting.
Stop Wishing. Right Now.
I was reading over my older journals today, gathering ideas for an e-book I’m working on, when I noticed something remarkable. Sad. And very telling.
These journals are filled with nothing but, “I wish….” Every other line seemed to be filled with “I wish” this and “I wish” that. Intermingled with the “I wishes” were the “I...
“I inhale great draughts of space,
The east and the west are mine, and the north...”
– Walt Whitman
recoupIT Sends Me Happiness
My father-in-law is a huge fan of recoupit.com and has purchased quite a bit of electronics from them in the past year. So on his recommendation, I purchased a refurbished Xbox 360 for my oldest son, as his old one had finally bit the dust.
Unfortunately the refurbed unit kept freezing up, so I needed to send it back for a refund or replacement.
No problem.
In my first e-mail to recoupIT, I...
“I know I have the best of time and space.”
– Walt Whitman
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Twitter Becoming Plumbing →
Good article from NY Times writer David Carr. Twitter is here to stay.
2 tags
How to Raise Naïve Kids
I am naïve. I admit it.
I blame my parents. I blame myself.
It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I finally did the math and realized my older brother was born 5 months after my parents wedding. What!?!
How come nobody told me!
We thought you always knew, they said. Of course they would think that. What idiot doesn’t know March is only 5 months after October? Well, one who never thought to...
3 tags
My Workout Room Wall of Inspiration
In honor of one of the most common new year’s resolutions - getting back in shape - here’s a list who’s currently on my workout room wall of inspiration. See list below.
My wall of inspiration started after reading Dean Karnazes’ Ultramarathon Man. His book was so inspiring that I wanted to be reminded of it every day. So Dean became the first picture on the wall. The...