More than a living

[NOTE: I’ve been struggling with the title on this one for three days. And, while I can’t quite capture the idea in the headline, I still feel that this is imperative to get off of my proverbial chest.]
People are quite protective of their “tools.”
Oooh. Tools. They’re oh-so-valuable. Lah-di-dah.
Their software. Their methodology. Their ways of doing […]

You’re special.
And I don’t mean that in a touchy feely way. Although if you feel like you need it, go ahead and take it that way.
But take it this way, as well:
You’re special. You’re not general.
You’re special in what you demand. You’re special in how you present yourself. You’ve  had your share of ups and […]

I was thinking about Kumquat, again. Constantly.
This time, I was trying to figure out why the idea behind Kumquat appealed to me, so that I could explain to other people why its an important shift in thinking.
Somehow, “I think it’s a good idea” just doesn’t carry that sort of cache I’m seeking.
And then it dawned […]

I was chatting with Toby, this morning, about his “Professional Peer Referrals” post. And as I was describing my issues with the whole “pay to play” concept, something dawned on me.
I have a really, really hard time charging people for intangible work that I enjoy.
Now, what–he says, gracefully sidestepping the “oldest profession in the world” […]

You ever been around someone–you, me, anyone–trying to come up with a “rough estimate,” off the cuff?
As opposed to a smooth estimate? A solid estimate? An exact guess? Whatever. Oxymorons aside. Bear with me. I have a point. No really. For once.
Anyone trying to create a rough estimate out of thin air tends to go […]

Toby’s recent post on personal brand highlights some critical questions we should all be asking ourselves. Why? Because we’re obligated to take care of ourselves.
It’s not adult day care, folks.
And what’s the end result of building all of this value? Crafting all of this personal brand?
Well, it reminds of an anecdote that I use more […]

Are you managing your Personal Brand? Is it worth more today than it was a year ago?
Your brand value (alternatively - credibility, or reputation) is the incremental compensation you should be receiving over and above candidates in the same professional arena. Sometimes the “value” is cash. Often it’s opportunity.
Your brand should be distinctive in the […]

As Kathy Sierra has taught me time and time again, a solid visual can really drive home your point.
I’m sorry? A picture is worth a thousand words? Hmm. That sounds like an interesting quote. You should consider maybe shopping that one around. Me? I’ll stick with the claim that Kathy taught me about visuals and […]

When I first headed out on my own, one of the common responses I would get to my incessant bragging was “Wow. Getting to work on your own schedule. That’s like having unlimited vacation.”
Yes, that’s true. It is like having unlimited vacation. But if I don’t get my work done, I don’t get paid.
Which got […]

Happened upon Andy Monfried’s You ain’t gonna learn what you don’t want to know when I was pointed to the post Value creation in a startup.
Two things occur to me:

Andy can craft a meandering rant that rivals even my best attempts, and for that, I have nothing but the deepest respect. Especially because he seems […]