Edison or da Vinci

Do you want to "think better" or do you want to "think different?"

Thinking better is solution based.
Thinking different is idea based.

Thinking better produces things.
Thinking different creates things.

Thinking better requires a trial and error mentality.
Thinking different requires an error and trial mentality.


Thinking better requires experience.
Thinking different requires experiences.

Thinking better means to learn from our mistakes.
Thinking different means to make mistakes so we can learn.

Thinking better requires brainstorming.
Thinking different requires stormy brains.

Thinking better affects the bottom line.
Thinking different affects the top line.

Guess what?

Can't have one without the other.
One thinks differently to get better and one thinks better when they are different.

Making cake...and eating it too.

Yummy.

A Little Insomnia Randomness

Nothing like getting up at 3:30 to jog the brain a little...

Legos and mechanical pencils are both inherently oxymorons. Legos are full of structure and creativity all at once. Mechanical pencils imply welcoming of mistakes and perfection at the same time.

Don Draper is a lot like Tony Soprano.

In life, having balance is the great equalizer.

Plugging into people who "get it" is energizing.

Compliments never get old.

I have come to the conclusion, the mid-life crisis is very real.

To be able to plug in, one must un-plug.

When you hit your 40's...it isn't about how much you work out...it's about what you put in.

Hydrate the body...caffeinate the mind.

Telescopic or Microscopic? Both...if you can.

As we go through it, it's all about the goal. When we achieve it, it's all about the journey.

And finally...

Coffee really is a good thing...especially on mornings like this.

Don't forget about your roots.

First of all, I want to apologize for not getting any content out sooner. I am now doing a lot more writing for clients and for business purposes and quite frankly, my personal blog has suffered. Thus, today's topic...






When we first get into a job, we really don't know what it is about the job that we enjoy.

When our job transitions into a career, that's when the light goes on. That's when the A-HA moment happens.

I draw the comparison to when you first enter college. You take general studies courses because you have to...not because you want to. If you are lucky and hit on your calling with your major, you really start to produce takeaways that stay with you your whole life.

The problem with our business side of our lives though is that we lose the things that we really enjoyed doing because of the all of the other things we have to do. Want to v. have to.

For me, it's writing.

So...here I am doing a lot more writing but not for myself...and that's wrong. If I follow this pattern where I no longer do something personally that I enjoy, the translated skills to the professional level will no longer bear the fruits it once did.

Lesson learned.

Thought I would just plant that seed today...

Seconds anyone?

No matter how much you do to avoid it...

No matter how many people you talk to ahead of time...

No matter what.

It will happen.

Second guessing. Monday morning quarterbacking. Armchair CEOs.

They are all around us. No escaping.



Here is the good news...

The more Monday morning quarterbacking you have in your life...

The more foreign territories you have explored. The more land mines you have detonated. The more chances you have taken. The more arrows you have in your back because you have blazed new trails. The more rules you have amended.

The more you've done.

Next time you feel like people are second guessing you...just remember who was there first.

More randomness...

Perspective is a wonderful gift. Remind yourself often.

Timing is truly everything.

Don't define yourself by what you do...define yourself by who you are.

Smile and the world will smile with you...frown...and you are all alone.

What is it in a Bloody Mary that truly heals?

Encourage imagination.

Look for moments of clarity in your life.

I have come to the conclusion...we try to define ourselves in our 20's by a proactive act that we initiate. We get redefined in our 40's by a reactive act that usually happens to us or around us.

The more you look at the glass half full, the more full the glass appears.

Say thank you more than you think you need to.

The older extraverts get, the more they appreciate being alone. I think the opposite is also true.

Coffee and red wine...both great elixirs that help you think. One starts your brain going in the morning. The other helps it wind down at night. Both serve a purpose.

Don't plug into negative people. Typically...their negativity is contagious.

Innovators and adapters...both are needed.

Always be thinking about how you can make someone's day.

If you are seeing something that you don't like...change your viewing angle...you might like it better then.

Passion goes a long way.

Music can motivate.

Play...often.

Comfort zones are like hotels...they weren't meant to be permanent addresses.

And finally...

1.) Engage and learn.
2.) Have fun.
3.) Take ownership.

Thanks to the coffee this morning. Wonder what the wine will bring tonight.

Advertising or advice?

Writer's note; I am now writing much more professionally than I have been so sometimes I may stray from the personal and "double dip" into the professional if that is OK with you.








Ahh…Don Draper. Now he was an Ad man.

Remember those days?

Imagine not having a clue what your brand stood for? What your brand meant? Hell, you probably didn’t even know your business was a brand. You walked into the “Ad Exec’s” office and he sold you a concept. It was creative. It made sense.

Then…the magic happens. He puts his creative team on the job. Slick, well produced TV ads. The voice of God radio ads. Full page layouts in the daily newspaper. And…they worked. People actually came into your business and wanted to use your product or service because of the advertising.

Let’s fast forward to now.

Those ads don’t work as well do they?

How come?

Because we no longer believe their claims, propositions, promises or customer testimonials. They became cliche and contrived. They were no longer relevant.

Who do you trust now? Your friend or your ad man? Do you want advertisements or advice?

This is where social media marketing comes in. Social media has conversations…not sales pitches. It focuses on communities…not customers. Creates value based loyalty…not price based transactions.

Don’t get me wrong…you still build a brand by mass media…but you build the why behind the brand with social media.

Ahhh…but which social media platform do you use and how do you use it?

Don’t know…haven’t had a conversation with you about your community yet. Once I do…I will know which way to go.

The "Big Game" maybe isn't as big after all...