Day 22 : Global and Local Warming is Killing the Corporate Climate.

It's a global economy. I've gotten to work with a ton of great companies, mostly based here in the US of A, but some in Canada and across a few big ponds, too. It's fun, because I'm mindful of what I choose to do, so I know my work is supporting things that I support, too.

If there's one thing that the past year or two have taught us (auto and music in"duh"stries, I'm looking at you), it's that this over-the-top corporate atmospheres just don't have a place in our world anymore. The more people sucking the life out of a business, the less that actually gets done.

Instead of having these big bureaucratic entities creating fat in a business and slowing every process down, filling it with red tape, or delaying it so long that it's no longer relevant, I see more and more people instead whittling down their businesses to lean, progress machines, with direct networks to the other businesses or freelancers that will get their tasks done, feeding the economy and keeping everyone proactive.

People get so excited at a straight answer, a direct time-frame, a job completed. I know, seems silly, doesn't it? Isn't that what a business is supposed to do? But so much of what most businesses do is just...idle. Motion is the key.

So that's where I've been the last few days. In motion. How about you?


(Oh, and here's how I feel about the auto in"duh"stry. Check out the info on the video link for more back story).

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Day 21 : Always have enough shipping boxes.

Today's message is pretty literal. We spent a lot of time today looking for a proper shipping box. So I ordered a ULine catalog so we can avoid this in the future.

My very awesome partner recently launched his luthier/guitar repair shop, and I will use the rest of my post to sing his praises. In the words of his latest client, "As they say in the kung-fu movies, "Your skills are superb!" ". I've known this all along (Paul built my custom Strat, and has done setup and repair work on every other guitar in our collection), but it's awesome to see everyone else in the world getting hip to his mad skillz.

I'll be setting up his shop page on our site over the next few days. Look for it!

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Day 20 : You - The Walking Billboard

Since so much about my business seems to have changed over the last couple of months, a bit of a makeover was in order this weekend for our billboard. And by "billboard", I mean "me", since I'm the walking representation of my business to the outside world.

It's easy, especially when you're dealing mainly with clients and customers online, to forget that when you're out among the general populace, you're still representing your business. Especially when your business is "you" (musicians--heed this), how "you" appear has an impact.

I don't subscribe to the 'normal business attire' aesthetic. I don't have a normal business, so why should I? But I don't want to be a slob (it goes along with the ethos that "just because you can work in your PJ's doesn't mean you should"). So the modern girl got herself a few modern pieces. Thanks to Mr. Recessionpants, I hadn't been able to do that in awhile, and my studio gear was, to be blunt, no longer modern enough to earn that tagline. So there.

This is a pretty superficial post on the surface, but there's a lot to be said for how the right suit or the right pleather pants make you feel pretty good, which in turn makes you stand a little taller, and do your job a little better (even if your job includes wailing into a microphone). Don't let yourself slip into wardrobe doldrums. It's not good for the clients!

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Day 19 : Sleep Study #45894754 : How much coffee DOES it take...

...to keep one little producer awake for almost a whole day? A lot less than it used to!

In my younger days, it was nothing for me to pull an all-nighter and catch up on the next night. But as a mature woman of *ahem* now (old enough to know better), I've discovered the art of the Power Nap. So when I needed to knock out a few things by deadline this week, I put my new superpower to use and hit the couch for a few hours around dawn, and was good as new for the new day's tasks.

Now, I probably (from a health perspective) should have worked in another nap in there during the day...but sometimes, it's just not possible.

I've got some rest and rejuvenation coming up over the weekend, and...oh yeah. More work! And that's ok, too. It's better to be tired at the end of a busy day, than worn out from stressing over where the next check is coming from.

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Day 18 : Go Your Own Way

There is a certain magic that happens when you lead, even if you're just leading yourself.

Uncertainty follows followers. Am I doing this right? Will it be approved? Always checking...comparing...questioning.

Uncertainty follows leaders, too. When there aren't footsteps to follow, you rely on your gut, and that's a risk.

But if you're going to be uncertain anyway...isn't it better?

It's been a great week, all because I've don't things my own way, I've spit my truth, I've gone after what I wanted. Nobody leads me better than I do.

And isn't Dolores' cover awesome? Why was she not a bigger rockstar? She should have been a leader.

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Day 17 : Make Something Great.

Today was one of the best kind of days where I got to assist in helping someone make something great. It's artistically beautiful, it's going to be high quality in presentation, and it makes my heart happy. Everything should be like this.

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Day 16 : Keeping your company depends on the company you keep.

I've done a lot of work in the personal development/business growth field, both as an editor and producer, and just as a fan of that kind of stuff. I've been pretty open about that here. But it's getting a little controversial, and now a colleague of a colleague is in big, big trouble, for doing something I really don't agree with (sweat lodges are sacred places for experienced people, people), that has lead to a horrific tragedy.

It makes me glad that lately I've pulled back my affiliate relationships, and just started flying solo a little. It's harder to get attention...but better in the long run.

It's not just the FTC regulations (which, by the way, I find to be awesome). I don't like 'censorship', which isn't what I see happening. I think that it's enforcing a level of transparency that makes businesses hold themselves to higher standards. Plus...the "duh" factor. Did we not know that colleagues were giving each other kickbacks for mentioning their products to the others' readership? It's already pretty blatant, methinks. But let's get some numbers!

What it is though is my gut level reaction to a lot of straight-out used car salesman-type shilling. I don't like where it's going. It doesn't feel organic and good to me. So I don't want to have to apologize for it down the line, when it's not even my doing. And I definitely don't want to be tied to anything as awful as what's happening in Sedona right now.

It's like that friend in junior high. Your parents knew he was trouble, right? They don't want you hanging around him! But they just don't see the good in him that you do. You lose your other friends because you'd rather hang out with this hood rat. Pretty soon, everyone assumes you're a hood rat, too (even if you haven't done anything to earn such a title). Eventually, the relationship fades, but your reputation doesn't.

You are who your friends are, in the eyes of most. In life, who cares? But in business...watch your ass. Better safe than sorry!

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