In December I did an intensive Improve and Writing class at The Second City. In March I went to the first Satire and Humor Festival in New York City. For April, I’m doing Camp NaNoWriMo (the mid-year call-to-action for November’s National Novel Writing Month). All of this started with one of my goals for this…
DetailsUgghh! You just got Facebook down and everyone is fleeing Facebook. Now it’s all about the video! Why read something in five minutes when you can watch it on a video in less than two minutes? All the while you are thinking, “if people just knew about me they would buy right away, because my…
DetailsDear Mom and Dad, I know I’m only three, but I wanted to remind you of some things you taught me in preparation for preschool. I’ve been listening to the news lately–I’m in the room, you know! With all of the political division and vitriol ( the opposite of civil public discourse!), it looks like…
DetailsMy husband and I went to Café El Tapatio in Niles the other night (very lively and delicious, fyi). There was a sign taped to the door saying “Menudo served on Saturdays and Sundays.” It was a cold night. We were planning for chicken soup and margaritas to warm up. Out of curiosity—maybe this was…
DetailsDear Mom and Dad, I know I’m only three, but I wanted to remind you of some things you taught me in preparation for preschool. I’ve been listening to the news lately–I’m in the room, you know! With all of the political division and vitriolic public discourse, it looks like you adults could use…
DetailsOne of the coolest things I remember from college was finding a really interesting article or short story that someone has slipped under the door of my dorm room. A scribbled note might say “Thought you would like this.” Or “Would you please read this and give me your opinion?” It might be a wild…
DetailsAs a small business owner I like as much “objective” structure and framework as I can create. In life, technically, we are all making it up as we go. The “My Three Words” (a la Chris Brogan) exercise is a way to frame things I’d like to see more of for the coming year. They’re…
DetailsMy back had only been out of whack for a week and I hadn’t posted a word about it anywhere. How did Facebook already know? Right in my feed was an ad for a ‘free back pain relief lunch seminar’ in my area. “Creepy,” I thought. More like science, when it comes to the sophisticated…
DetailsAccording to the U.S. Small Business Administration, about 30 percent of businesses fail in their first year. 50% fail in their first five. Yikes. Why? Uncontrollable circumstances (lack of financial stability, economic turn down, etc.) aside, two reasons rise to the top: The business didn’t stand out from other similar businesses or the owner didn’t…
DetailsHow to Find Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP, also known as Unique Selling Point) I know you’re busy. You’ve got a business to run after all! So finding your USP will only take 15 minutes. Write these three points down on a sheet of paper or word processor, leaving space underneath. (You can…
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