Good Afternoon, Happy Tuesday!
Two takeaways from the Oscars on Sunday night...
Birdman - I watched the first third of this movie over the holidays, found it totally confusing and annoying, and turned it off. I shared this with one of my friends who said, "How couldyou not like that movie? The whole soundtrack is drumming?!". Considering that fact (which is a pretty interesting story) and since it won Best Picture, I'm going to give it another shot.
- The Martin Scorsese Apple Commercial - I'm on an 'action-packed' kick this year and this commercial inspired me. Talk is cheap. Watch the commercial and here are five other great points from Martin's 2014 NYU commencement address.
I feel blessed to be out every day meeting an eclectic group of people and businesses. This monthly digest reflects my journey through sharing new sales & business ideas, Chicagoland happenings, new music for your soundtrack, and other things that caught my eye along the way. I always appreciate your replies, thoughts, and ideas - as well as taking time out to enjoy it.
Featured Colleague
Idea Lemon - can't figure out how to tell your story? Join Idea Lemon on March 19th for a workshop in personal branding and storytelling. Their "Discover Your Inner Awesome" workshop teaches you how to express your core person in an elevator pitch so you can make more connections, and make them more memorable. Sign up at http://bit.ly/X4Ujj6.
Idea Lemon - can't figure out how to tell your story? Join Idea Lemon on March 19th for a workshop in personal branding and storytelling. Their "Discover Your Inner Awesome" workshop teaches you how to express your core person in an elevator pitch so you can make more connections, and make them more memorable. Sign up at http://bit.ly/X4Ujj6.
Sales Beat
The summer I was supposed to graduate, I did an in internship at ADP. My job was simple, yet overwhelming - cold-call every business, in every building, in downtown Chicago. I had three months to do it. When it was over, I was hooked on sales. It was the thrill of creating something from nothing. Here are five more reasons to love sales.
Shark Tank's entrepreneur fan-base continues to grow and for good reason. It's an entrepreneurs substitute for The Bachelor. The 'sharks' on the show have amazing tales of success and failure. Here is one of them sharing their Top 10 Tips for Entrepreneurs.
Stories stick in our head. No one remembers bullet points on a Powerpoint presentation. How do you manage to not only tell your company's story, but also your own? Many variables at play, and I always see people struggle here - too much, too little, too confusing, too many acronyms, not adapting to their audience. My friends at locally-based Square Planet offer some great ideas about story-telling and how to engage your audience.
Shark Tank's entrepreneur fan-base continues to grow and for good reason. It's an entrepreneurs substitute for The Bachelor. The 'sharks' on the show have amazing tales of success and failure. Here is one of them sharing their Top 10 Tips for Entrepreneurs.
Stories stick in our head. No one remembers bullet points on a Powerpoint presentation. How do you manage to not only tell your company's story, but also your own? Many variables at play, and I always see people struggle here - too much, too little, too confusing, too many acronyms, not adapting to their audience. My friends at locally-based Square Planet offer some great ideas about story-telling and how to engage your audience.
What I'm Up To
Things are busy with work as we prepare to move our office out of Willis Tower and up to River North. The new office space is getting completely gutted and will provide us with a state-of-the-art facility. I'll miss the views from the 46th floor, but will gladly ditch the security dance and riding multiple elevators. See you at State & Hubbard as of April 1st (no joke)!
In continued support of IL Fatherhood Initiative, I am doing LinkedIn Lunch-n-Learn sessions. In lieu of payment, I'm accepting donations in support of their cause: Actively engaging fathers in the education of their children. If you know anyone that would have interest, please drop me a quick note - thanks!
Things are busy with work as we prepare to move our office out of Willis Tower and up to River North. The new office space is getting completely gutted and will provide us with a state-of-the-art facility. I'll miss the views from the 46th floor, but will gladly ditch the security dance and riding multiple elevators. See you at State & Hubbard as of April 1st (no joke)!
In continued support of IL Fatherhood Initiative, I am doing LinkedIn Lunch-n-Learn sessions. In lieu of payment, I'm accepting donations in support of their cause: Actively engaging fathers in the education of their children. If you know anyone that would have interest, please drop me a quick note - thanks!
Off Beat
Sadly, it seems that not a month goes by when I don't hear about someone getting cancer. All types, all ages, and all over the country. The statistics are starting to scare me, but this TED talk was both stunning and enlightening.
Long ago, I used to call myself a "social smoker." Tackling that idea, this is one of the funniest anti-smoking commercials I have ever seen (disclaimer: bodily function ahead that my 18-month-old thinks is the funniest thing in town right now).
Long ago, I used to call myself a "social smoker." Tackling that idea, this is one of the funniest anti-smoking commercials I have ever seen (disclaimer: bodily function ahead that my 18-month-old thinks is the funniest thing in town right now).
Chicagoland
As a little kid riding in the backseat of the car, I remember thinking about how cool it would be to have a bridge from wherever we were, to my final destination - as the crow flies. And now as a big kid driving that car (in Chicago rush-hour), I STILL think about how cool that would be. So, while drumming on the steering wheel helps get me through it, I'll still dream. The podcast "Curious City" discusses Chicago traffic patterns, complete with graphs - good stuff.
As a little kid riding in the backseat of the car, I remember thinking about how cool it would be to have a bridge from wherever we were, to my final destination - as the crow flies. And now as a big kid driving that car (in Chicago rush-hour), I STILL think about how cool that would be. So, while drumming on the steering wheel helps get me through it, I'll still dream. The podcast "Curious City" discusses Chicago traffic patterns, complete with graphs - good stuff.
Music
Spotify Playlist - February always brings the announcement of summer festival line-ups. I still like to peruse the bands, sadly knowing full well I will not be going. While Lindsay and I plan to continue to attend at least one family-friendly fest a year,Bonnaroo does not fall into that category. If I were magically 25 years-old again and mostly responsibility-free, the bands on this playlist are the ones I'd go watch.
Drumming Clip - for those of you that think John Henry Bonham was the greatest drummer of all time, he actually learned all his moves from this guy.
Spotify Playlist - February always brings the announcement of summer festival line-ups. I still like to peruse the bands, sadly knowing full well I will not be going. While Lindsay and I plan to continue to attend at least one family-friendly fest a year,Bonnaroo does not fall into that category. If I were magically 25 years-old again and mostly responsibility-free, the bands on this playlist are the ones I'd go watch.
Drumming Clip - for those of you that think John Henry Bonham was the greatest drummer of all time, he actually learned all his moves from this guy.
Quotes
The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible. - David M. Ogilvy
The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work. - Harry Golden (1902-1981)
An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field. - Niels Bohrohn (1885-1962)
The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work. - Richard Bach
After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible, is music. - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
I hope you enjoyed the newsletter and found something of value for yourself or someone you know. Thank you again for your remarks, recommendations, and referrals that many of you have shared. Go have an action-packed week!
The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible. - David M. Ogilvy
The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work. - Harry Golden (1902-1981)
An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field. - Niels Bohrohn (1885-1962)
The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work. - Richard Bach
After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible, is music. - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
I hope you enjoyed the newsletter and found something of value for yourself or someone you know. Thank you again for your remarks, recommendations, and referrals that many of you have shared. Go have an action-packed week!
