Square Zebra

"Fox: A Division of Orange Julius."

As I look into the possibility of doing some advertising... I've started to inspect the good vs. the bad. But some are just diabolically wrong.

1 - Oral B's "Brush-Ups" Although the product I promote, especially for those of us who must spend time in close proximity with those who still have spinach in their teeth from a salad they ate 3 weeks ago... the commercial is lacking in ... well... everything except annoyances. A bunch of peppy-pretty-people in an array of blue suits prancing up and down a subway station singing dancing the new, soon to be released Broadway hit "Ohh, Awww, Brush!" I haven't found the commercial online - but the blue enhanced flash url is NYC overload for even the trendiest of people: www.oralbbrushups.com

2 - Pepto-Bismol has gone to some low forms in advertising but when a petite blond standing in line to use the copier needs to grab her butt and start singing about diarrhea, I change the channel in horror. I guess the clincher is the website url: www.diarrhea.com (I kid you not!)

3 - Any add promoting the new Fox Summer line up. Seriously, even the summer is to long to put Method and Red on the air. http://www.fox.com/methodandred

I miss the good ol' days: http://www.roadode.com/classic.htm

Gmail

I am not getting enough gmail - someone pop me off a note! d.lafleur@gmail.com :)

I'm just so flustered:

As mentioned in the previous post, I was at the same table as Mikelann Valterra today at lunch. Now you might ask yourself - Who is Mikelann Valterra? Why let me tell you - She is a future Oprah guest! (Oprah might not be aware of this.)

Mikelann wrote one of those books where light bulbs go off and you say "Whoa!" Basically the one that hit me was the acceptance of "Thank you" rather then monetary value. As a matter of fact, I remember stating in review once (ok, maybe every review I have ever had) that I would prefer the thank you rather then a raise. How stupid was that? Please don't mistake, a thank you is an important part of doing your job but don't substitute them for paying your bills.

Barabara Stanny eats lunch too!

I was lucky enough to score a seat at a luncheon today with presenter Barbara Stanny at the WAC. (I also sat one seat away from Mikelann Valterra! But that's for the next post.) One of my favorite Stanny books is "Prince Charming Isn't Coming." I really like that book. But today she went over 4 points of making money. Thus listed:

1 - Have the intention to earn: Say it - do it.

2 - When you think you can't... do it anyways: Be a bit uncomfortable - stretch yourself to make things happen.

3 - Ask for what you want: If your mouth is shut nothing will happen.

4 - Create a support system: Cast out those that demean your goals.

Even saying as such I think the most important point Barbara made was: "If you don't deal with your money, your money will deal with you."

Web Site

I know we did a sneak peek of the new front end design last month.. but it has been ditched. If you are curious to what I went with.... here's a small sneak peek of the future of Square Zebra design... (well at least for right now.) Whatcha think? :) ****"Whatcha think" is in reference to good thoughts only****

Moving Business Forward:

Two weeks or so ago, I started goal writing for Square Zebra and personal accounts. This is the first time I have actually written anything down on paper in a formal fashion. (Writing down on napkins while drinking martinis apparently doesn't count.) Anyways I realized there were some inner blocks going on to some of these goals. Things I actually tackle pretty much on a daily bases. For example, I'm shy and loath initiating first or even second contact. That's not so good in the networking world. I was in the middle of looking towards others blocks to building this business when I ran across re:invention post on the 15th:

A great read for those of you who are passionate about digging your own business grave. The short list:

1. Ignore your own strengths and weaknesses
2. Stop learning, reading, listening altogether.
3. Believe that you can succeed for free without sweat equity.
4. Try to get before you give.
5. Fail to set goals and measure results.
6. Forget about focusing.
7. Fail to change with changing circumstances.
8. Try something once and then quit.
9. Consider yourself to be more important than your customers.
10. Sit back and wait for "it" to happen.
11. Listen to other people's negative words.
12. Don't believe in your ability to succeed and let every feeling of discouragement prey upon you.

Kirsten goes on with some of her own added reasons. I think I have fell into the trap of every one of these at least once. (Maybe some more then that... say like 64 times.) Thing is now that they are in black and white for me to stare at I don't have an excuse to not succeed. Do you make excuses for your failures?

Net:

I was having a quick conversation with my CPA the other day over at B&N and I mentioned to her that I wasn't sure how to prepare for taxes with Square Zebra. She smiled and said "Oh, Danielle... you don't have to worry about taxes till you make Net." To which I replied... "I don't have any other choice but to make Net!"

She's driving over Saturday to go over my accounts with me. *whew*

Blog that book!

I love this idea: "Blog your book."

Jason Chervokas is blogging one chapter at a time his book titled "Electricity." No matter if this is your subject matter for a novel or not...(what can I say? I love trashy romance)..... what an ingenious idea. I love that can get chapters in a RSS feed.

Found via VC blog:

Swimming

My new thing is to go swimming for three hours every day. Simply because the pool at our complex is now open for the summer. Frankly, did you know that 3+ hours taken out of every day for 'relaxation/me time' is a HUGE chunk of time when it's all said and done? I must admit, when I'm doggy paddling away I barely notice a minute pass.

I love not being in a cube during the summer! :)

Writings..

As mentioned earlier, today was my monthly writing group meeting. Today's topic was "Living in the Moment" Thought I would share my ponderings on that subject matter.

"Maybe living in the moment isn't so much a proactive of focus but rather a proactive of confidence. Believe in your ability to trust your instinct, your knowledge, and your soul.

Have the self-assurance in what you are doing, where you are going and who you are with. It is a conscious choice that you have made. Give that choice the respect it deserves. The more aware of the choices we make allows responsibility to manifest itself in us, thus giving confidence to who we become. And in doing so creating a greater freedom in life to "be in the moment.""

Is it just me, or does it always boil down to responsibility to our own actions? :)