tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15482046918492713452024-03-08T02:49:54.382-08:00Drew NobleI help organizations engage users and grow.
Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-7855913052313076632014-08-25T12:28:00.000-07:002014-08-25T12:50:23.985-07:00Guide to Nails that last 2 weeks without using Gel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">This is my system for doing my <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">nails</span>. My manicure often lasts 2 weeks and involves no UV stuff or gel systems. I prefer this system because I don't particularly want it to be difficult for me to take my nail polish off. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wipe off your old polish with acetone. Don’t moisturize your hands.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wash your hands and dry them. Don't soak them. Soaking makes the nail more moist and it makes the nail polish peel easier. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buff your <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">nails</span> a bit - once every few weeks. I use this: <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/revlon-crazy-shine-nail-buffer/qxp332155" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.drugstore.com/<wbr></wbr>revlon-crazy-shine-<span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">nail</span>-<wbr></wbr>buffer/qxp332155</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Push your cuticles back with an orange stick - I personally don't use cuticle remover at all because I feel like it’s not good for you. If you'd like to remove some dead skin from your <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">nails</span> soak in the tub for an hour the day before you do your <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">nails</span> and scrape off the dead skin with a cuticle stick. I know, that's gross. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apply base coat. I use <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">Nail</span> Tek Foundation II, that I buy from <a href="http://drugstore.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">drugstore.com</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apply color in 2 thick coats. Paint your dominant hand first. Work from your pinkie to your thumb - less of a chance to scuff your <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">nails</span>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't brush the nail-polish off or scrape it off the bottle - use the full drop if you can.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Avoid your skin at all costs -even leaving a gap between your finger and your <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">nail</span> is better than getting it on your cuticle or the side of your <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">nail</span>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apply topcoat, just one coat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wait two hours while it dries.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moisturize with oil or lotion. I think the best hand lotion I've ever bought is hemp one from Body shop. <a href="http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/bath-body-care/hands-feet/hand-care-products/hemp-hand-protector.aspx" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.thebodyshop-usa.<wbr></wbr>com/bath-body-care/hands-feet/<wbr></wbr>hand-care-products/hemp-hand-<wbr></wbr>protector.aspx</a>. This will actually cure damaged skin and heal blisters and cuts as well.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apply topcoat every few days on top of the other top coat. I don’t care what brand of topcoat - they all seem the same to me.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't wash dishes or put on gloves when you do.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">Advanced techniques:</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="color: #222222;">Ombre: </span><span style="color: #042eee;"><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OAvvtPEsng" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.<wbr></wbr>com/watch?v=2OAvvtPEsng</a></u></span><span style="color: #222222;"> (note: she is missing the part about soaking the sponge in water before applying paint. Also, you can use less paint and do several coats of sponging, which makes it look more professional and even). You can apply glitter polish to make it blend the colors together nicely as well. </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Matte: </span><span style="color: #042eee; font-family: inherit;"><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlNrTgbvMJE" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.<wbr></wbr>com/watch?v=FlNrTgbvMJE</a></u></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">Stamping:</span><span style="color: #042eee;"><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_ctgBxLLXA" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.<wbr></wbr>com/watch?v=O_ctgBxLLXA</a></u></span></span><br />
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-39738077173927620452014-03-06T16:21:00.000-08:002014-03-06T16:22:34.516-08:00Advice for my 14-year-old self<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I got my first degree, I made the decision when I was 18 years old. Everyone told me that I should chose something sensible, which is the best way NOT to live up to your potential that I've ever heard. It's a pretty lame response to the fear of not being able to support yourself. Why be mediocre at something sensible when you can be amazing at something ridiculous?<br />
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I love my first degree- but I remember feeling totally lost about why exactly I was doing it (it certainly didn't come from an inward desire to get a management degree, or any understanding of my own likes and dislikes.) My internal sense of direction took 23 years to develop. When I think back to high school and college - I wish I had developed it a bit earlier. It's a horrible feeling to feel out of control.<br />
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If I could go back in time and talk to my 14 year old self, before college, before high school, and before the insanity people put high-school age children through, I would tell her:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Figure out what you want and what you love, and how you want to spend your time.</li>
<li>Get the best education money can buy in your field.</li>
<li>Don't worry about grades in high school. Spend time doing projects in your free time that you are interested in. If your studying gets in the way of that, work around it.</li>
<li>Go on Youtube and look up how to do your hair and stuff. People judge you on appearances and you've got to get it together at some point. </li>
<li>Focus on doing things just for you that nurture you and are good for you. </li>
<li>If you don't like what someone's telling you - stop listening.</li>
<li>If someone's preventing you from doing something, instead of assuming it's because you aren't good enough, find a different path that will lead you to what you want. </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
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This sounds like the making of a snotty and self-centered anarchist. I'm a firm believer that the kinder and more understanding you are of yourself the more understanding and love you'll have for others. If I could have gotten to that realization sooner that would have been great - but the path I'm on didn't have that on it until a bit later. That's OK.<br />
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I don't find that being kind to myself gets in the way of my intense desire to help others - that desire is why I became a consultant in the first place. I can't seem to get away from consulting. :)<br />
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-86377371453298148762013-12-08T20:27:00.004-08:002014-03-08T11:18:29.324-08:00Learning to Write (Screenplays)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">I'm in the process of writing a screenplay right now - I wrote half of it once before, thought it was bad, and deleted it or lost it on purpose. Now I'm a few years older I started thinking that actually, it could be quite gratifying to rewrite it after having experienced five or so more years of life. I used to write quite a lot (for myself) and I still write for myself. As you probably can guess by now I hate really long lists or lists where the items on the list are too similar. I lose interest after even a single item on the list feels monotonous. Here's what has helped me feel more confident about clicking away on the keyboard without thinking too much:</span><br />
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Read:</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Stephen-King/dp/0743455967/ref=tmm_mmp_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=" target="_blank">On Writing</a> - Stephen King (the $1.31 version is fine) - Even if you've never read a Stephen King book (I haven't), it's still an easy-to-read book on writing simply.</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Write every day: <a href="http://750words.com/" target="_blank">750 Words</a> - Low-pressure, simple writing platform with some interesting tools (my metadata tells me that I'm more self-important than most but curse less) </span></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">For your first year, use these prompts: </span><span style="color: #3400ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u>http://creativewritingprompts.com/</u></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">then these: </span><span style="color: #3400ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u>http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/thirteen-writing-prompts</u></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">then these: </span><span style="color: #3400ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u>http://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/</u></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> The reddit ones are hilarious: The robots have taken over -- and they're incompetent ", "You are holding a rotten orange, convince me to eat it."</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Read screenplays:</span></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">My favorites are The Apartment: </span><span style="color: #3400ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u>http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/apartment.html</u></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">, </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Almost Famous: </span><span style="color: #3400ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u>http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/almost_famous.html</u></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> , </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">The Man with Two Brains-</span><span style="color: #3400ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u>http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/m/man-with-two-brains-script.html</u></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">, </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">An Affair to Remember: </span><span style="color: #3400ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u>http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/an_affair_to_remember.pdf</u></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">I have no idea why I chose these or if my mom suggested them. I think I read The Man with Two Brains in her office one day. I haven't even seen An Affair to Remember. How all of the drama of a film can come through a bunch of type-written dialogue is one of the most amazing things about a great screenplay. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">One of the better places to read scripts: </span><span style="color: #3400ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u>http://www.dailyscript.com/</u></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> with less ads. </span></li>
</ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Join: </span></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.stage32.com/" target="_blank">Stage 32</a> - FB meets LinkedIn for people in the film industry, </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/" target="_blank">Vimeo</a> - watch films from people who aren't famous yet, </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.actorsaccess.com/" target="_blank">Actorsaccess</a> - find talent/be talent</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Watch: </span></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Gilbert on Genius (no more TED talks, I promise)</a></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikAb-NYkseI" target="_blank">Neil Gaiman on Art-making and Creativity</a> </span></li>
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-6014165086924897792013-02-28T10:17:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:27:57.364-08:00Let's have a Moratorium on...And 4 Ways I Kill Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Can we please stop....</h4>
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...When someone wants to sit down on the train and the person sitting down in a row with an empty seat gets UP and gives the person the INSIDE seat, instead of scooting to the inside seat themselves.</div>
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...Using startup industry lingo/confusing and indirect language in articles advertised on social media and meant to appeal to everybody.</div>
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...And, as always, taking photos of one's food at restaurants.</div>
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And here's 4 fun things I do on the Internet:</h3>
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Youtube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lockpicking&oq=lockpicking&gs_l=youtube.3..0i10j0l8j0i10.720.3061.0.3257.11.11.0.0.0.0.112.650.10j1.11.0...0.0...1ac.1.752pWoFXfMg" target="_blank">stuff</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJnF5sPqBeM" target="_blank">I</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsKS35ztV6A" target="_blank">want</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=interior+design+small+spaces&oq=interior+design+small+spaces&gs_l=youtube.3..0.17394.19162.0.19258.13.5.0.8.8.0.56.229.5.5.0...0.0...1ac.1.r4V0MpTwTkk" target="_blank">to</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=budget+tutorial&oq=budget+tutorial&gs_l=youtube.3..0j0i5l9.1004886.1007341.0.1007520.17.16.1.0.0.0.63.727.16.16.0...0.0...1ac.1.IzV1ifz-OUw" target="_blank"> learn</a>. </h4>
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(In order: lockpicking, nail art, dubstep dancing, interior design for small spaces, and budgeting.)</div>
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/" target="_blank">Polyvore</a>. </h4>
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Polyvore is hard to explain, even when you see this picture.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cR_SsQrkTtY/US-TnIV0b-I/AAAAAAAABOk/KGV9fAoC2pE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-28+at+10.30.28+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cR_SsQrkTtY/US-TnIV0b-I/AAAAAAAABOk/KGV9fAoC2pE/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-02-28+at+10.30.28+AM.png" height="243" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's a sort of way to create outfits based on mood, or colors, or something you read in a magazine, or a famous person, or an event. Then, you save the outfits and other people can see them and vote on them. It's a good way to make your personal style more interesting, which is important if you're in the public eye (and especially if you're a woman). I realize this still sounds very dorky. Ok, here's something else: Polyvore has 1.4 million registered users that create 30,000 fashion sets each day. This data is what Polyvore sells to department stores and designers. As opposed to Pinterest, which doesn't <a href="https://help.pinterest.com/entries/21981951-How-does-Pinterest-make-money-" target="_blank">make</a> <a href="http://www.refinery29.com/2013/02/42619/how-does-pinterest-make-money" target="_blank">money</a> at all. Internet companies are strange indeed.<br />
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Learn some new <a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/" target="_blank">workouts</a>: </h4>
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I love this website.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--7DW9lB8Xto/US-cE4B_MaI/AAAAAAAABO4/gjb5Exwa0_E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-28+at+12.03.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--7DW9lB8Xto/US-cE4B_MaI/AAAAAAAABO4/gjb5Exwa0_E/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-02-28+at+12.03.30+PM.png" height="173" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the only place I ever go to figure out what to do a the gym. If you're around 30, then you are probably aware that things are not bouncing back like they used to. And the fastest thing you can do to make yourself look hot again is lifting weights +stop eating so much. The link sends you to the exercises page. What I do is just pick an upper body muscle group and a lower-body muscle group, choose 3 exercises that look fun from each (they have videos showing exactly what you're supposed to do), set my timer for 45 minutes, and go do those at the gym. Then, in a day or so, I choose different muscle groups and different exercises and do it again. I am not a personal trainer and I haven't consulted one, but I'm not seeing any loose flab on my body and it's giving me much better results than just cardio alone. And as Penelope Trunk will tell you, <a href="http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/04/08/plastic-surgery-is-the-next-must-have-career-tool-maybe/" target="_blank">what you look like matters at work</a>.<br />
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Mess around on <a href="http://www.eatthismuch.com/" target="_blank">Eat This Much</a>.</h4>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fsK6SAb-G3k/US-dMyQgVcI/AAAAAAAABPA/tdI7NQENYHQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-28+at+12.08.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fsK6SAb-G3k/US-dMyQgVcI/AAAAAAAABPA/tdI7NQENYHQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-02-28+at+12.08.26+PM.png" height="264" width="320" /></a></div>
I love how much you can play and customize the meal plans on this website in such a short amount of time. It will give you meal plans based on how much time you have to cook, what your dietary restrictions are, how many calories you want to eat (and coach you on how much you should be eating), and what percentage of protein, fat, and carbohydrates you'd like to eat in a way that is beautifully-arranged and intuitive. It's just a nice simple platform that does one thing well. Good for people who get overwhelmed with planning meals but definitely want to remember to eat. </div>
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-62344335613917798842013-02-10T18:09:00.001-08:002014-03-08T11:31:32.046-08:00Unfinished Projects: Hacks for the Distracted, Overworked, and Unmotivated<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have so many unfinished sewing projects, and I think, because I'm processing some other things in my life and trying to move forward in a major way, I'm organizing and paring down so that I can have clarity and tie up some things that have been hanging around the house for years.<br />
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Managing these unfinshed projects is a great excuse to talk about my little hacks that allow me to complete an enormous amount of projects and feel like an awesome accomplisher of things. Whoohoo. This is how I organized my unfinished sewing stuff, but this is the system I use for moving forward in a lot of areas of my life (for example, with all of the books I plan on reading this year):<br />
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Take photos of all of my unfinished projects. This helps me remember all my projects at a glance. If it helps to make them pretty, try <a href="http://pixlr.com/express/" target="_blank">Pixlr</a>, an online photo-editing program that is incredibly rich. </li>
<li>Upload them to my <a href="https://trello.com/" target="_blank">Trello</a> board. If you don't know what <a href="https://trello.com/" target="_blank">Trello</a> is, it's an awesome board sort of like post-its but on the internet. You can share them or assign them to others, and archive them when they are complete. I have 4 rows of "cards" that are broken up into: To Do Week of [Current Week], Spiritual, Mental, and Physical. I put the unfinished sewing projects into Mental, because I think they are helping me clear away both Mental and Physical clutter. </li>
<li>I take a look at my google calendar and figure out when I'd like to work on these projects. Some I am excited to work on, and some I need motivation for. I block the hours in my calendar, and I decide if the ones I need motivation for should be something I do with friends, or hire someone to help me with. </li>
<li>If I need help getting motivated, I post a task on <a href="https://www.taskrabbit.com/dashboard" target="_blank">TaskRabbit</a>, Facebook, or ask a friend to come over for craft day. I'll also create a reward. I keep a list of treats I've been wanting for myself on <a href="http://keep.com/">Keep.com</a> or Pinterest. I did a project for Keep last year. It's a pretty cool platform, similar to Pinterest but everything must be able to be purchased. </li>
<li>At some point, I have to actually do the work. If the calendar announcement goes off and I can't bring myself to do it, well, it could be because I didn't have enough free time in the week, so I make an effort to take more time for myself, and reschedule for the next week. Or, I just do it anyway, then later feel tired yet satisfied. </li>
<li>The best part of this process is when I get to archive a card, because that means it leaves the board forever. It's satisfying. I think I might be a good candidate for of a project management platform that uses <a href="http://www.bunchball.com/resources/driving-user-behavior-game-dynamics-and-behavioral-economics" target="_blank">gamification</a>. Or maybe I can invent one. </li>
</ol>
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Anyway, here's a bonus collage of all of the projects I've finished this month.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ck-VqbVfA-w/URhSc-s9YBI/AAAAAAAABOQ/82mkYMwwncg/s1600/SewingCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ck-VqbVfA-w/URhSc-s9YBI/AAAAAAAABOQ/82mkYMwwncg/s640/SewingCollage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-36545372031606609512013-01-16T14:56:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:31:11.284-08:00Be honest about what you suck at and create a way to never do it again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm not a naturally organized or put-together person. A large part of the reason why I am successful is because I have an amazing support system and I hire people to do the things I do not do well, which by the way, is quite a few important things (such as paying bills on time). Here are some other things I am not very strong in:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Taking photos</li>
<li>Feeling motivated to go out and party (I don't drink alcohol, so it's not the same.)</li>
<li>Accounting</li>
<li>Detailed forms</li>
<li>Repetitive tasks</li>
<li>Organizing</li>
<li>Following up after a project is completed</li>
<li>Tracking the answer to a problem through 18 different channels</li>
<li>Managing stress</li>
<li>Taking financial risks</li>
<li>Laundry</li>
<li>Doing things I don't want to do</li>
</ul>
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I've managed to build a pretty successful consulting practice, despite not being able to do a lot of the things most humans need to be able to do to feed, house, and cloth themselves. How could anyone successful be so bad at so many things?!<br />
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I have an amazing support system to help me. Most of the time, if I don't do something well I either create a system where it is done automatically or isn't needed at all, or I hire someone to do it. Why spend time trying to learn to be good at accounting when you could be focusing on the things that you are excellent at, and working with someone else who does it well? Unless you want to become better at accounting and you have the time to devote to it, it's better just to build it into your system. A great support system is the difference between the CEO of a fortune-500 company and a struggling stay-at-home entrepreneur. Instead of making yourself feel ashamed and guilty by asking questions like, "How can I convince anyone that my ideas are good if I can't even get organized? Who wants to work with someone who doesn't have it together?", ask a friend, do a trade on Facebook or Craigslist, or pay someone to help you do the things you aren't good at so that you can move forward.<br />
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If everyone had to face their demons about paperwork, or ironing, or whatever bogus stuff your parents used to yell at you about before we could do anything else, we'd never do anything interesting. </div>
Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-70408459512466490482013-01-16T14:22:00.003-08:002014-03-08T11:30:55.498-08:00Getting what you want: 80% Why, What, Where, Who, When and 20% How<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There are really important reasons that you don't you just..you know, do the thing that you want to do.<br />
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Most of us who begin the process of creating goals report the feeling of being "stuck" at some point or another. Sentences like, "I don't even know where to start" and "What am I supposed to do?" and any attempt at suggestions by friends are usually met with, "Yes, but I can't do it that way for [reasons x,y,z]" So, in the past, we have ended up doing pretty much nothing but a lot of talking.<br />
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Being stuck is such an awful feeling. The thing I hear most from friends who are trying to start their own thing, like a coffee shop, buy a home for investment purposes, or start a website, is "I don't know how to do it." Ok. You know HOW to do it. Of course you know HOW to do it. Google it, and you'll find 1) The books you need to read to learn about it 2) Someone who has done it before describing exactly how she did it 3) An online forum or in-person meetup of like-minded individuals.<br />
But I think what most people mean is: "There are way too many steps between what I'm doing now and the thing I want to do, and it's way too confusing for me to figure out, so I'm shutting down."<br />
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Which is totally understandable. I don't think humans naturally deal with multi-stepped plans very well, at least not without a lot of support and planning.<br />
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I just finished reading this article about New Year's Resolutions (Are people still making these?) He outlines one really basic part of reaching goals. They have to be really, really specific. Detailed and specific goals sort of bypass the whole "too-many steps" thing that makes it so hard for humans to get things done, because either you're going to draft a basic e-mail to send to a potential client demographic by 2:30 this afternoon or you aren't. If your goal is "Get all my e-mails sorted out" it's hard to know where to start, what to do, or when you've finished.<br />
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I find really magical things start to occur when I start asking for exactly what I want. I have a friend who goes into the thrift store looking for something incredibly specific, and walks out 2 minutes later with the thing that she wanted in her hand.<br />
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Even very, very unrealistic goals start happening when you get really specific about them. While I don't believe that the universe wants to provide you what you want, I do believe that when you get specific about goals your subconscious can work at creating it. So even though it seems like something is happening magically, it's actually YOU that created it. You just weren't aware of it.<br />
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So here's one process that you can use to have a clearer idea of exactly what you want:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Make an inspiration collage.</u></div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li> Grab a stack of magazines, a glue stick, scissors, and a piece of thick paper of any size. (Two pieces of 8.5x11 paper are a good size for me.)</li>
<li>Set the timer for 10 minutes, and start browsing through your magazines, tearing or cutting out the pages that you are drawn to. Don't think too hard about this process. You are trying to tap into your less obvious wants and desires, so just rip out the pages without thinking. Go quickly, because you've only got 10 minutes!</li>
<li>Set your timer for another 5 minutes. Cut out the parts of the images that were interesting to you and glue them to your thicker piece of paper in a way that makes sense to you. Again, don't think too much about it, just go with your gut feeling. * An important note - Make sure if you have cut out images of people whom you associated with yourself that you cut out any faces and do not include them in the collage. It sounds weird, but you want these images to lose their identities in order to replace them more easily with your own.</li>
<li>Once your collage is all glued and assembled, take out a piece of paper, and going around your collage, start the sentence "I am the one who...." and say the first thing that comes into your mind about each picture in the collage. For example, perhaps I cut out a steaming mug of coffee. The first thing that might come to mind would be to say, "I am the one who always has time to chill out and relax for 5 minutes." or maybe "I am the one who nurtures myself through buying my favorite coffee without worrying about the price." Everyone chooses different images that mean something to them, and it doesn't have to make sense. It's coming straight from your subconscious brain. Make sure to write these notes down.</li>
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The next day, or the day after, get out your inspiration collage and your notes, and make another list. When, where, who, and how. Under each "I am the one who..." statement, make a note of when you want this to happen, where it will happen, who you need support from to make it happen, and how it's going to happen. I'm often less concerned with the how, because so much of the time the how is often the last 20% of the project, and I end up walking into my goals effortlessly. (At least it feels like no effort, but in reality I've probably been working really hard.)</div>
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I think that book The Secret talks about something similar, but it's not much of a secret. :)</div>
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-66795934639550196622013-01-01T12:29:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:32:58.117-08:00Reflections on 2012: When Are We Doing Enough to Be Awesome? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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During this time of year, a lot of us reflect on the 2012 and consider what worked and what didn't. This is my little reflection on 2012.</div>
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Once in a while, I am afraid I am not awesome enough and that if I don't become awesome soon, then I'll be too old to EVER become awesome. </blockquote>
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This feeling often comes about when I'm in a particularly sensitive mood, and I see a poised and lovely woman about my age, and she seems to be effortlessly flying through so many awesome parts of her career and life. She has nicer clothing than mine- she makes an effort. She looks like someone everyone can trust and spend time with. She looks fun. </blockquote>
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And I feel as if convincing other people to give me money in exchange for providing a service (e.g. consulting) is absolutely the most unlikely thing that will ever happen to me; how could I have tricked so many people into paying me up to this point? I feel scared, like my clients may drop me as soon as they realize I am not a good choice, and that I will eventually become homeless. </blockquote>
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From not having a job, because everyone secretly thinks I am awful. </blockquote>
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I know this is irrational. But it still <i>feels</i> true once in a while. And it makes me think and plan wildly to prevent this impending homelessness. </blockquote>
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I have been homeless. Sort of. </blockquote>
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When I was 12 the woman my dad was sort-of dating at the time kicked me out of her house after an incredible screaming match with my dad, probably to punish him, and I went to stay with a friend for two weeks before we drove to California with all of our belongings. My dad slept at his office. My friend had a very abusive stepfather, and I slept on their couch, witnessing and hearing him slap her and her sister around most nights. Luckily, he never touched me. Save for the uncomfortable sexual innuendoes he would make in the presence of me and his step-daughters. </blockquote>
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I believe that situations much like the one above are probably the source of a lot of feelings of fear, sadness, and anger in our adulthood. When you're young, pathways are created in your brain based on feelings that you have during certain situations. They are created to protect you, so that you can survive to adulthood without having a nervous breakdown, or putting yourself in dangerous situations. But they may not be that useful anymore, since I hope we've figured out how to take care of ourselves pretty well by now. </blockquote>
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I think we all have to remember the difference between thoughts and feelings, and when things feel absolutely impossibly scary, to take a breath, step back and say "Ok. That is a feeling. My thoughts are telling me that I am doing OK. Even great. Right now, my feelings are firing little neurons in my brain, probably leftover from childhood. Thank god I don't have to be in that same situation ever again." And hopefully we can all move forward, trying the scary things we know in our brains to be good decisions, even though our feelings may be sending off sparks. </blockquote>
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I want to share that there is room in the world for all women to be effortless and confident and perfect and to take risks and to be perceptive and clever and beautiful, just as they are. Even women who are afraid, not perfect, tentatively trying new things, and unsure of quite what they are doing. </blockquote>
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You are providing the world with what it wants right now by being who you are. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
I spent most of 2012 listening to others, which was the theme I decided on in the beginning of January last year. This year's theme is "Let it flow." I hope to navigate 2013 with peace and balance, letting choices come into my path and lovingly deciding what I want to create with them. I wish the same for you. </blockquote>
</div>
Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-55834715136128315572012-12-29T16:54:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:28:49.557-08:00A Seriously Useful and Not Lame "Gifts for Men" Post<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I thought shopping for guys was super hard, because everything they want is always really expensive and/or they don't give good specific suggestions. It's always something like "I want a watch." What watch? A $60 watch can look awful or ok depending on what kind of style you're looking for and if you're being ironic. Most women can give a list of stuff we want in any price range when asked, because we're observant like that. Anyway, I spend most of Christmas day trolling for a Christmas gift for a man, and for the first time in my life I found some really yummy places to buy stuff for guys that's in multiple price ranges, well-made, unique, not kitschy or something stupid like a fancy shave brush (men don't use that stuff and if they did they would already have one) or something boring like a spa day. Commence collage:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfD1QGAit4M/UN-KLiZ7tiI/AAAAAAAABMY/ddlDpQLdggQ/s1600/mensgiftcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfD1QGAit4M/UN-KLiZ7tiI/AAAAAAAABMY/ddlDpQLdggQ/s640/mensgiftcollage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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From right to left:<br />
1) <a href="http://www.miansai.com/shop/home.php" target="_blank">Miansai: Men's jewelry and accessories, made in America and vintage-seaworthy</a> (between $75 and $105)<br />
2) <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/braceletcool" target="_blank">Super affordable, imported leather bracelets (like the ones we saw in Greece)</a> ($3.50)<br />
3) <a href="http://www.oki-ni.com/" target="_blank">SILENT By Damir Doma beanie</a> from Oki Ni (£56)<br />
4) <a href="http://www.oki-ni.com/" target="_blank">Nixon Axe wristwatch</a> from Oki Ni (£150)<br />
5) <a href="http://www.oki-ni.com/" target="_blank">Undercover Wool bracelet</a> from Oki Ni (£80)<br />
6)<a href="http://www.jwhulmeco.com/" target="_blank">Weekend Satchel Carry-On Bag from J W Hulme</a>, another American-made product ($790)<br />
7) <a href="http://www.oki-ni.com/" target="_blank">Raf Simons hair pin from Oki Ni</a> (I actually really want this for myself) (£95.20)<br />
8) <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rubybliss" target="_blank">Rough and western-looking leather and metal bracelets for men</a> ($45)<br />
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Or, you could make your own <a href="http://www.inspirationrealisation.com/2012/09/diy-bottega-veneta-woven-leather.html" target="_blank">here</a>, at Blog Inspiration and Realization.<br />
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-21456443108854859472012-12-27T18:46:00.000-08:002012-12-29T15:12:43.624-08:00You Should Make a Painting - I Did<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W58MdNopvGc/UNz_b0OcJwI/AAAAAAAABME/J2oVvJfOrs8/s1600/painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W58MdNopvGc/UNz_b0OcJwI/AAAAAAAABME/J2oVvJfOrs8/s640/painting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I haven't painted in about six months. It feels good. I have a room in my house that is my studio. I've been absolutely ill for the last three days, and that's always a great time to make gesso. I make my own gesso and my own oil and acrylic paint. I think that alone is well-worth a very expensive art school education. Here's an <a href="http://37signals.com/svn/posts/3362-everyone-should-make-a-painting" target="_blank">article</a> from 37 Signals, telling you to paint. 37 Signals is a company that makes <a href="http://37signals.com/" target="_blank">amazing web-based applications</a> in Chicago, and they have an interesting blog about all kinds of things. I agree that you should make a painting but I have some qualifiers. but I'll let you read the article, and then scroll below for my comments:<br />
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1. "Don't use crappy paint" Use decent paint. It's a waste of time and money. Don't get one of those all-purpose packs of different colors, either. Pick out the colors you like one by one. It's more fun to make paintings with colors you are excited about. If you want a list of basics, get: Cadmium red, cadmium yellow, titanium white, burnt sienna, yellow ocre, ultramarine blue, phthalo green, carbon black. That's enough to make a huge range of colors. You should choose some special ones that you like, too.<br />
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2. "Get something to paint on. Canvas works. Do you have your own woodshop and like to make things ten times more complicated than they need to be? No, then don’t stretch your own canvas. " Please either stretch your own canvas or get some panels if you don't want the hassle. Store-bought canvas (unless purchased from an art student) is totally unusable, in my opinion. It's so much more fun to have a good-quality surface with good-quality gesso and good-quality canvas or linen. It doesn't matter if you don't think your paintings are very good. You might as well enjoy the process of painting, and an important part of that is using good-quality materials. You should get a bunch of canvas, some heavy-duty stretcher bars (all of this blick or other companies will ship to your house), a staple gun, staples, and watch this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cm6JlY57Zg" target="_blank">youtube video</a>.<br />
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3. "Rig up an easel. You can paint on a tabletop or on the floor, but I think it is really important to learn how to paint from a vertical position." Why? Also, it's cheaper just to put some plastic on the wall, and some brown paper, and put a couple of nails in the wall and hang a canvas on that and paint.<br />
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4. "Your painting is going to suck. Don’t worry about it." Not necessarily. It might be good. Don't worry about good or bad. It's not really your job to decide what's good and bad anyway, as you are not an art critic. Just make a painting, and if you find yourself stagnating or getting to comfortable, try something that makes you uncomfortable. Or violently ill, even.<br />
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5. "Think about what color you want to make when you are mixing. Mixing paint is way cool, but have a plan in mind." It's good to do this, but also good to not think too hard and go by intuition sometimes, and see what works for you. I do both, and I think it's important to not rule any practices out.<br />
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6. "Don’t squirt random colors next to each other and mush them together. That will only create a bunch of dirty, ugly colors." Some of my favorite colors are dirty colors all mushed together. I absolutely love the complex colors mixing a bunch of stuff together can create.<br />
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7. "Adding white often helps." Adding white never helps. Adding white makes things washed out, quite literally. It decreases the pigmentation and makes colors less vibrant. White is great, when it is used as white or a white-synonym. Try making colors based on what is next to them. Yellow, blue, green can all look white when put next to certain colors. There are no rules, though. White can sometimes be a crutch, so look out for that.<br />
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8. "Avoid adding black to colors to make them darker. That’s bush league. " I think he's trying to say that black can be a crutch, too. I often mix black and purple together to make lovely purple-black, or black + phthalo green makes green-black. Also, very purple and very green and very blue and very brown can become black, no need to add anything labeled "black. They will often be more engaging to the eye since they are more vibrant, even though they may look completely black.<br />
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9. "Only jerks try to sell art" Just don't try to sell your art to your friends. It's more useful to have them come over to talk about your paintings, and get their feedback. Ask them for emotions or metaphors they think of when they look at your work. Ask them for positives and negatives, and take both with a grain of salt. Having someone tell you that your art sucks, and that your ideas and your very being suck by association, is one of the most awful and freeing things that will ever happen to you. Knowing that you can and do have dumb ideas, and that that is completely irrelevant, will free you to focus on your vision. Follow your vision to the letter, regardless of criticism or praise, even if you can only devote 1 hour a week to it, and you'll have a much better chance of having a fulfilling life.<br />
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All in all, I really liked the article, which was written by an artist who went to some art schools in Chicago, like I did! Also, for a bit of a bonus, I've created a<a href="http://www.dickblick.com/lists/wishlist/XSHRAB8L2XV5R/items/" target="_blank"> list</a> at Blick.com so that you can get started without thinking too hard about details. </div>
Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-10978190131200175392012-12-18T14:54:00.001-08:002014-03-08T11:26:09.212-08:00In Austin in November<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I arrived in Austin at 4, and before 5:30 we were passing out tote bags and drinking tea on the front porch of this coworking space in Austin (people love porches in Austin). It's a full 20 degrees warmer here than in Chicago this time of year. We passed out about 150 tote bags, with all kinds of Austin-y things inside for travelers coming to the city. It's a great idea to give to house guests. One great way to find local stuff that isn't too expensive to give away, is to go on Etsy and search for something like a magnet, and search by location, sorting by the lowest price. Anyway, I made a collage of all the sight-seeing I did while I was there, for your pleasure!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q8R9r_lVDg/UNDzeKWaaDI/AAAAAAAABLw/yn9gf21qzWI/s1600/Austincollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q8R9r_lVDg/UNDzeKWaaDI/AAAAAAAABLw/yn9gf21qzWI/s640/Austincollage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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I saw a beautiful <a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/7816" target="_blank">tower of junk</a>, a <a href="http://dmcband.org/" target="_blank">zombie marching band</a>, lots of food trucks including a <a href="http://www.gourdoughs.com/" target="_blank">donut truck</a> I ate from twice, and of course clear blue skys. </div>
Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-73426639206557760902012-12-18T13:10:00.003-08:002012-12-29T19:14:23.374-08:00Pricing Your Services<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been reading <a href="http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/5-reasons-your-content-marketing-must-address-price/" target="_blank">this article</a> about putting pricing on your website after getting annoyed at how many venues don't list pricing on their websites. Seems like it should be a very transparent system and when it's secretive it looks sketchy. Even very large and popular event venues don't list pricing. I won't bother listing them - it's pretty much everyone.<br />
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It's a very well-thought out article. It's made me want to try to figure out a way to put pricing on my website. I work on a per-project basis, and I happily try to work within the budgets of clients. I base pricing on how many hours I think it would take me and my team, include any emergency or follow-up services the client may need, and then make sure I give them a few free hours, usually because I like them and want them to succeed. So how do I make this into a transparent pricing system that is easy to understand?<br />
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It works something like this:<br />
(My hourly rate which is $75 at this particular time in 2012 x how many hours I think it would take me and my team to complete the project successfully, not including some free time and support that I love to shower my clients with, and that usually goes on infinitely in to the future) + any reimbursables the client wants me to list upfront, such as event help, transportation, supplies = cost. This is a good time for an infographic.<br />
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Defining what success means with a client early-on means that I always have a good guess how much a project is going to cost right away. Everyone's definition of success is based on so many individual factors, which may be hard to lump into categories. Also, I can do many different types of projects. Anyway, this is my attempt at actually sharing important knowledge. But I really feel like sharing my favorite knitting patterns. I've been trolling Ravelry hardcore, despite my discipline with not starting any new projects until I finish 3 old ones I've been working on for months.<br />
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-32186446131288190092012-12-11T16:33:00.001-08:002014-03-08T11:26:34.997-08:00Cool Signage Idea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4OfdGBsoNM/UMfQb24BNRI/AAAAAAAABLY/Pg-FsO92a-M/s1600/magenta_he01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4OfdGBsoNM/UMfQb24BNRI/AAAAAAAABLY/Pg-FsO92a-M/s640/magenta_he01.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Chalkboard skulls. Great signage to direct people to drinks, food, or the bathrooms. From <a href="http://www.iamhome.us/" target="_blank">Iamhome</a>. </div>
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-24753275525658543772012-12-11T16:26:00.003-08:002014-03-08T11:32:26.161-08:00The $100 Startup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I love <a href="http://100startup.com/" target="_blank">this website</a>. It's basically a website to advertise his book, but it is so much more than that.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4oHUV31wwbk/UMfOspg4nSI/AAAAAAAABLQ/WFEqwW-W6tQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-12-11+at+6.22.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4oHUV31wwbk/UMfOspg4nSI/AAAAAAAABLQ/WFEqwW-W6tQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2012-12-11+at+6.22.29+PM.png" height="140" width="640" /></a></div>
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The language is compelling, and the resources are so great, beautifully designed, inspirational, and helpful. When you click on "Resources" you'll get a whole list of downloadable pdfs that outline, in one page, how to execute some major principles of starting a business. They are great resources, and I recommend everyone thinking about starting a business (and not quite sure what you don't know but need to) to take a look at them.<br />
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A simple idea, executed well. I love when that happens!<br />
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-57621325012903083492012-12-11T14:43:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:28:12.725-08:00Fete Market Favorites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATLQqDbSl9Y/UMezup5_E8I/AAAAAAAABK0/nSUBix0YSF0/s1600/Fete+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATLQqDbSl9Y/UMezup5_E8I/AAAAAAAABK0/nSUBix0YSF0/s640/Fete+collage.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
Fete Market was in the Fulton Market district, at <a href="http://www.room1520.com/" target="_blank">Room 1520</a>, another cool Chicago venue. There were so many interesting vendors there, I took some pics of my favorites. From top left: The entrance, <a href="http://www.archapothecary.com/" target="_blank">Arch Apothecary</a>, <a href="http://www.sirandmadame.com/" target="_blank">Sir and Madame</a>, <a href="http://dorusmhor.com/" target="_blank">Dorus Mhor</a>, <a href="http://dinnerparty.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Dinner Party</a>, a chandelier.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXjVAzPxeZ8/UMe1SI-DKRI/AAAAAAAABK8/ktrbWhhULZY/s1600/hot+chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXjVAzPxeZ8/UMe1SI-DKRI/AAAAAAAABK8/ktrbWhhULZY/s640/hot+chocolate.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
I had a hot chocolate that was ridiculous, from <a href="http://www.hotchocolatechicago.com/" target="_blank">Hot Chocolate</a>, who had a booth there. Look, it fits in this perfect little hole in the concrete wall.<br />
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-37994956617402023152012-12-11T14:16:00.001-08:002014-03-08T11:28:32.205-08:00Visiting Dose Market, a Craft and Maker Fair<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8StHD-bpBxQ/UMegeX2KQVI/AAAAAAAABKg/Q1_bTZYmo70/s1600/Dose+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8StHD-bpBxQ/UMegeX2KQVI/AAAAAAAABKg/Q1_bTZYmo70/s640/Dose+collage.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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I went to Dose Market this Sunday for their holiday version of Dose, called Holidose (ha), which is a Chicago crafter and maker fair in the <a href="http://www.rivereastartcenter.com/chicago/" target="_blank">River East Arts building</a>. The venue was beautiful, and would make a great place for a stunning (and probably high-budget) wedding. It was so much fun! I wish I had grabbed more or better photos. I bought some pastries at a really yummy bakery that had a table there, but there were other beautiful things as well, like <a href="http://www.imaginaryanimal.com/products/wooly-pancake-4" target="_blank">beautiful handmade felted cloud coasters</a>, awesome jewelry made from <a href="http://www.elysemarievieni.com/" target="_blank">cheap costume jewelry all twisted together</a>, <a href="http://www.turtlehillstudio.com/" target="_blank">beautiful terrariums with neon sand</a>, gourmet cotton candy that <a href="http://www.spin-spun.com/" target="_blank">made the whole room smell lovely</a>.<br />
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-72353032644629397852012-12-10T14:00:00.001-08:002014-03-08T11:33:36.150-08:00Hiring Your First Assistant Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As promised, here is a form you can use to submit on Craigslist, Task Rabbit, local college forums or job boards, and your personal Facebook, if you feel comfortable with that.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Title: Personal Assistant for [insert your job or goal here]</b> <b>in</b> <b>[location you would be meeting with this person. You want an assistant who lives close to you.]</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I am looking for a Personal Assistant for [how many hours per week or month]. [Talk about what times and days typically work for you, and how close you would like your assistant to be to you.]</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm a [Talk about your age, job, hobbies, and personally traits here. Are you upbeat, do you have a busy schedule or would you like to be busier? It gives the person applying an idea of who you are. ] </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I have [what kind of goals?] goals that I need your help with. I am not very strong in [list your weaknesses] and I would like someone to provide me with focussed support on an ongoing basis. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I need help with: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
[bullet point list of all the tasks you see this person working on]</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I would like someone with the following experience or qualities: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
[For your first assistant you may not know what you are looking for, just make sure that you are looking for things related to what you need help with, and not more. No one likes being lowballed for the experience they have. In the meantime, here's an example of what I might list.]</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">-simple graphic design skills and a good eye for photography </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">-good with Excel </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">-providing accountability and consistency </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">-methodical and logical </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">-interested in startups/technology (the company I work with is in this field) </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">-interested in finance/investing </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">-interested in personal development </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">-thrifty </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pay: [Your rate here. Will you offer a higher rate after a 6-month review?]</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The hiring process is as follows:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
[This is important! It's important to give people an idea of what they would be participating in, and when they will expect to know if they've gotten the job or not. Here's an example of my process, feel free to copy. ]</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">We talk on the phone for 10 minutes and see if we have a connection.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">We meet for a working interview for 2 hours, with pay! This would probably take place at my office.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">We schedule a set day to work together that is ongoing.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please e-mail me with your intro e-mail and your resume pasted into the body of the e-mail.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
[A nice closing and a thank you]</div>
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Fielding the massive amounts of applicants you'll get is kind of a part-time job, but I tend to only look at applicants until I have 5 good candidates. I set up the 10 minute interviews with those 5 and choose 2 from those interviews. Then I set up the working interviews and make my final choice in the evening of the final interview, and e-mail both candidates right away with my decision. Actually, to be honest, I e-mail the one I've chosen first to make sure he or she still wants the position, then I e-mal the other applicant.<br />
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Anyway, now you know a little bit more about how I operate. I've had an assistant for years, and this has been my system that I've tweaked to what I consider pretty close to perfection.<br />
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-68230261192124938772012-12-10T13:36:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:34:11.466-08:00Hiring Your First Assistant Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"The president is just a person with a large support system." I forget who said it first, but it might have been Hutt Bush, a business coach and consultant who is totally awesome.<br />
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If you have at least a little bit of money coming in, you can afford to hire an assistant as long as you budget wisely. I spend a portion of my monthly budget each week on things that give me the support I need to live my life to the fullest, like an assistant. Maybe you are saying that you don't need an assistant. That's ok, you don't have to get one. But I've had an assistant for years, and I think it's a huge part of my support system. An assistant helps me run all aspects of my life more fluidly. With her, I become the person I want to be. Without her, I think I would be more like the person I was in college- disorganized, not as reliable, and stressed out from all of the ups and downs of my energy levels. If you are ready (note: ready means ready to pay, ready to commit), feel free to use the suggestions below to find someone to give you regular support and help you reach your goals:<br />
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Assistants are all over the place. You can post an ad on TaskRabbit or Craigslist. More about that later.<br />
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How much expertise do you want? paying $10/hr will get you a very different level of expertise than $15/hr. Are you comfortable with training someone on some of the skills you need? If so, $10/hr may work for you. I need more expertise and I'm not willing to train for most things, so I pay a little bit higher.<br />
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How much time are you willing to spend each week? If you give a minimum and maximum time approximation each week, it makes people much more comfortable with relying on you for part of their income.<br />
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Make a list of tasks you are not very strong in. Make a list of goals you would like to reach in the next 6 months and 1 year. Most assistants will not stay with you longer than that, which is totally fine. Unless you are paying $80,000 per year, you are simply someone's transition from college to full-time work, or a stay-at-home mom's part-time gig until she gets bored (or pregnant again).<br />
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If you answered these questions, you have most of the information you need to make an ad on Craigslist or TaskRabbit. My second post will have a form to use that you can fill your own information on. This post is very text heavy - no yummy pictures this time.<br />
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<br /></div>
Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-5798656353220396352012-12-04T11:36:00.000-08:002014-03-08T11:34:58.485-08:00My Favorite Colors for Logos and Banners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I use <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/" target="_blank">colourlovers</a> a lot to help clients choose palettes for websites, logos, banners, and events. It's also one of those websites that makes time disappear because it's so fun to browse. Some of the color combinations are very yummy indeed, and make me want to paint my house, or start a line of sweaters. These are my favorites right now:<br />
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<a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/2564580/Faded_Wallpaper" target="_blank">Faded Wallpaper</a> would be a beautiful color scheme for an Etsy shop selling vintage textiles, upcycled grandma stuff. It feels very Anthropologie and reminds me of some sparse and modern houses on Apartment Therapy.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pdk7bq6y4e8/UL5O2moE7wI/AAAAAAAABIk/D5swa7NkbbM/s1600/COLOURlovers.com-Faded_Wallpaper.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pdk7bq6y4e8/UL5O2moE7wI/AAAAAAAABIk/D5swa7NkbbM/s400/COLOURlovers.com-Faded_Wallpaper.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/2564569/maga_pelaxternun" target="_blank">Mala Palaxturnun</a> for a startup website with a strong call to action, such as a fitness website, or the <a href="http://iwillteachyoutoberich.com/" target="_blank">iwillteachyoutoberich</a> type, and a brand identity based around movement.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xoypq-dffd0/UL5PKOm2yrI/AAAAAAAABIs/9Xo_FpgAXGk/s1600/COLOURlovers.com-maga_pelaxternun.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xoypq-dffd0/UL5PKOm2yrI/AAAAAAAABIs/9Xo_FpgAXGk/s400/COLOURlovers.com-maga_pelaxternun.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/color/F02311/Sex_on_the_Floor" target="_blank">Sex on the Floor</a> is such a magical reddish orangy red. It is a great color for an independent consultant with a strong and fun-loving outlook. OH, wait. It's my title color for my blog.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgQmkEmDFDg/UL5PWW2x-3I/AAAAAAAABI0/aShCjh7fcrk/s1600/COLOURlovers.com-Sex_on_the_Floor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgQmkEmDFDg/UL5PWW2x-3I/AAAAAAAABI0/aShCjh7fcrk/s400/COLOURlovers.com-Sex_on_the_Floor.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-44150781440583346822012-12-03T12:30:00.001-08:002014-03-08T11:35:21.080-08:00What do I do?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A lot of people have never heard of the job title Community Manager, and I suppose it's one of those things like "Account Executive" in that one Community Manager with one company could differ very much from another. Even my boyfriend sometimes has a hard time figuring out what I do. I'll explain it, then, in two ways.<br />
<br />
<b>What do I do? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I create and engage communities based around a company's presence and culture.<br />
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<b>What does that mean? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Well, it could mean cultivate an engaged online community with online events such as pop-up chat rooms, twitter events, and a beautiful and interesting virtual space that makes connecting with others fun and easy and meaningful.<br />
It could also mean connecting people and cultivating passion among users in real life through on-brand events aligned with the values and mission statement of the company.<br />
I am the local extension and human face of a company, and my purpose is to connect users to each other first, the company second, and the community third.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F1rZXEMAa9M/UL0LavEA9jI/AAAAAAAABIQ/YAzeAnwOxyw/s1600/IMG_20120616_093042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F1rZXEMAa9M/UL0LavEA9jI/AAAAAAAABIQ/YAzeAnwOxyw/s400/IMG_20120616_093042.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-86757442965915182962012-11-30T14:46:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:35:38.099-08:00Event Planning 101 Infographic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I am trying out <a href="http://app.piktochart.com/" target="_blank">Piktochart</a> this week, and I made you all an infographic! Meet my Events 101 Infographic! I designed this infographic to share the most basic planning steps for throwing a party for friends, clients, customers, or potential customers. I know it is not the prettiest infographic in the world. I am still learning! Here it is, click for larger: </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://i48.tinypic.com/szv5o6.png" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5H6mEVkoCxU/ULk2yGRP0xI/AAAAAAAABH8/sryBzYxreOI/s640/Eventplanning101Infographic.png" height="640" width="292" /></a></div>
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-43752109021565945662012-11-30T13:15:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:36:05.702-08:00Toys<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sqgeIwyEUxw/ULkhsaNuTDI/AAAAAAAABHo/cSMk_s0o3pI/s1600/Toy+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sqgeIwyEUxw/ULkhsaNuTDI/AAAAAAAABHo/cSMk_s0o3pI/s640/Toy+collage.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Why can't I just have interesting and beautiful art all around me instead of furniture?<br />
Orange granny, silver figurine, and lilac wall sconces are from the coolest <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/nashpop" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>.<br />
The knitted <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sea-urchin-3" target="_blank">sea urchin</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/big-snowy-owl" target="_blank">owl</a> are from Ravelry. You can make them yourself!<br />
The green book is from another <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Thenibandquill" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>, the Nib and Quil.<br />
The wolf and dino plaques are from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/snew" target="_blank">Snew</a>.<br />
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I think I can probably make all of these things at home if I set my mind to it, but I guess lately I have been focusing on work and not so much on crafts. I had 11 events this month. Five in Austin and six in Chicago. I don't even have curtains in the house yet, and I think that should be step one. I'm tired, and all I can do is look at toys and art on the internet. </div>
Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-31947572903655673872012-11-30T12:50:00.000-08:002014-03-08T11:36:43.010-08:00Iceland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rngp84UIaSg/ULjHp2hIPXI/AAAAAAAABHU/nbsqvqMWcps/s1600/Iceland+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rngp84UIaSg/ULjHp2hIPXI/AAAAAAAABHU/nbsqvqMWcps/s640/Iceland+collage.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
(Iceland Pics from Flickr)<br />
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A plane ticket to Iceland is $800. There are some beautiful Airbnb places there for $300 per week, in nice-looking towns, one on a tiny island with a single tiny town on it. It looks awesome. If I had 3 weeks in iceland, I would paint and hike. Maybe I'd try to paint while hiking.<br />
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Sometimes when I'm stressed I want to get away and not be responsible for anything or to anyone. I don't even want to get to know new people, only to experience life as an observer. </div>
Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-35112763990462122192012-11-28T08:29:00.000-08:002014-03-08T11:37:21.358-08:00Cranberry <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_eq_GvwDpCE/ULY6-BlH2KI/AAAAAAAABHA/iShPz1BOFsk/s1600/Cranberry+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_eq_GvwDpCE/ULY6-BlH2KI/AAAAAAAABHA/iShPz1BOFsk/s640/Cranberry+Collage.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
1. <a href="http://www.bhg.com/thanksgiving/indoor-decorating/pretty-thanksgiving-centerpieces/#page=16" target="_blank">Better Homes and Gardens</a><br />
2. <a href="http://www.carluccios.com/" target="_blank">Panettone boxes from Carluchos</a><br />
3. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/perivar/2345648765/" target="_blank">Red barn from Per Ivar Somby's flickr</a><br />
4. <a href="http://www.alisaburke.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Inspiration from Alisa Burke's blog</a><br />
5&6. Pinterest<br />
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A great event can come from a simple theme. I love the idea of putting a bowl of halved cranberries in the middle of a big table, and some different colored inks and handmade papers, and letting guests create their own art to take home.<br />
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If I had Panettone in the house I would probably make bread pudding with it.<br />
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The red barn picture was taken in Norway, and if you click on Per Ivar Somby's flickr link you'll see his photos of the Northern Lights, too. It makes me want to visit Norway!<br />
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548204691849271345.post-72887135631548409182012-11-10T10:55:00.000-08:002014-03-08T11:40:11.119-08:00What to Do the Morning of an Event <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-723JYJZomcM/UK2I3Gs7CtI/AAAAAAAABFA/jmMb7v5rP-0/s1600/Paleo+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-723JYJZomcM/UK2I3Gs7CtI/AAAAAAAABFA/jmMb7v5rP-0/s640/Paleo+Collage.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">This is my pile for taking to the cooking class today. Thank goodness I'm taking a cab. I'm bringing extra pots, pans, measuring cups, bowls, and cutting boards for the chef. I'm also bringing branded pens and notebooks for people to write notes down during the class. The pile in front is small napkins, just in case, a pile of gift cards for the venue owner, who is giving us the use of his space for free (I also bought him <a href="http://shop.sicklesmarket.com/products/cake-vintage-disposable-serving-papers/" target="_blank">this</a>), a blue sharpie, some extra twine, the sign in sheets and a little picture frame with the company logo in it, and the mini-menus for the table (more about those later). Whew. </span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Now for some useful information: The best way to make your morning stress-free when you have an event later that day, even in the evening, is to complete everything the night before and set it out in organized piles by the front door. </span></div>
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Here are the only things you should be doing the day of the event: </div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Re-confirming meeting times with staff, vendors, venues or calling people to tell them you are on your way</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Working out</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Getting ready (clothes should still be picked out the day before, ideally)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Eating a healthy meal</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Calling or scheduling a driver or cab</li>
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That's it. Does it require super-human organization? No, just regular-human organization, and a good support system. </div>
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Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238539598186541681noreply@blogger.com0