Heart House Charity Fashion Show Fundraiser - Angels on the Runway

Buy your tickets now for the August 23rd Charity Fashion Show to benefit Heart House in Austin, Texas.

The 2nd Annual Heart House Charity Fashion Show: Angels on the Runway is the premier fashion show of the season, including a reception with food, drinks, entertainment and a sensational silent auction.

Original designs by Robert Comstock and Joanna Ruley-Garza along with new lines by emerging designers Stephanie Montes and Stephanie Jimenez. With a New York fashion director at the helm, we expect the show and Austin Monthly Magazine’s VIP Afterparty to be one of the best events of the year!

As a new event in 2007, which drew over 500 people, the Heart House Charity Fashion Show was a tremendous success and named one of the Top Ten Fashion Events of 2007. Now in its second year and with larger goals in mind, Heart House will reach a larger audience of 600 attendees, in addition to tremendous media sponsorship engagement with Austin Monthly Magazine and Mix 94.7 Radio.

This event will raise $80,000 to be used to support the expansion of Heart House . Heart House’s innovative afterschool program is a daily program for school-age children in neighborhoods known for high crime, high unemployment, and lack of affordable, quality care for children. At Heart House, children have year-round access to caring adult mentors, homework assistance, art enrichment, computer learning, and literacy programs. Children at Heart House show significant improvement in every area of their social and academic development once enrolled in this model youth development program. Net proceeds will allow Heart House to open its doors to more at-risk children in Austin.

Buy your tickets, come have fun - food - drinks, and support an amazing charity. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday night in Austin.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Great Customer Service From My Local UPS Store

I am sad with UPS, but LOVE Kevin at my local UPS Store on Far West Boulevard in Austin, Texas.

The below is my FRIDAY RANT. But it is my blog, I can rant if I want to.

When you read this story, you most likely will say "Oh well....get over it. That is their policy. You screwed up. Shoot, it is only $13.00. Corporate policy is corporate policy, if they make exceptions for you (and all other idiots like you) it will hurt their bottom line. UPS can't be responsible for dumb things their customers do, etc....". And yet, even with my being at fault, there is still an important lesson for us all:

Last week I was scheduled to be on a radio show and needed to send a copy of my book to the host. The interview was scheduled with short notice, and I needed to send the book fast. I dropped into the UPS store and shipped off my envelope via UPS.

The next day I had a delightful discussion with Kate Delaney on her "America Tonight" program. She never mentioned that she had not received the book, and I never assumed otherwise.

Last night I got a message that the package was returned because there was no suite number listed in the address (in my rush to mail the book, I had mistakenly omitted the suite number from the shipping label). I returned the call to give them the full address, only to find out that to re-ship the package would cost me another thirteen dollars.

WHAT? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I once had a package come back to me by the US Postal Service and they reshipped it at no fee (apparently that is not the USPS policy, but that is what happened). I got a little snippy with Kevin at the UPS Store, as the need for the book getting to Ms. Delaney was no longer existent, but since I had already paid $13 and autographed the book, I thought she still might enjoy getting the book..... yet the expense to resend was silly. Plus, to drive over to the store to pick it up is just a big hassle. I told him to just toss the package, as there was no way I could get there to pick it up for several days, and I would not pay again.

Admittedly I was a little snippy over the phone, as I was upset (even if part of my anger was at myself for not correctly addressing the envelope).

Kevin called me back a few minutes later to explain that this was a UPS policy (which I understand). He also explained that this is the policy of all shipping companies. I could not understand why they needed my phone number on a package if they were not going to call me if they had difficulty making delivery.

Kevin was gracious and friendly.

He possessed excellent customer service skills and said he would send the package out again anyway (I am sure incurring the cost on his own store charge).

THAT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE SEEN IN AGES!!!

The customer screws up, and the parent company has a strict policy, and yet the local business person goes out of his way to make it all right.

Kevin not only just earned all my shipping business (I will drive past other shipping stores to go to the Far West UPS Store location from now on).... But I will tell this story always. Not only on my blog, but any chance I can when I speak at local events. Receiving proper customer service and finding a business professional that goes out of their way to make a customer happy (even when the customer made the mistake) is wonderful to experience.

Why is it wonderful to experience? Because it happens so rarely in our world these days.

If you live in Austin and you have a package to ship....seek out his retail store as they "Get It".

Have A Great Day.

thom

Political Passion Can Cloud Your Noggin

I admire people who have passion. The world is changed by those who believe deeply and take action to follow their convictions. It is fun to watch those who embrace a cause and work to cultivate their ideas into a new reality.

However, unchecked passion can also make you look small minded or idiotic.

If you are wildly passionate an occasional reality check will make sure that your passion is not clouding your judgement. It happens all the time, especially when political issues are involved. People get so dedicated to what they want, that they actually can cause harm to others.

If you feel very strongly about an issue (that has more than one point of view behind it), take a minute to consider the points of view of those with opposing views. Are these people really "evil", "uneducated", or "self-serving"? Have you thought that your passionate point of view is as much of the problem as the person on the other side of the issue?

It is the rare and exceptional person who can emote themselves in the other person's shoes and look for the positive in the others argument. Instead, most people dismiss the other side as "wrong" and actively look to discredit them at every turn.

I respect passion. I think that it is that spark that makes things happen and advances so many causes that make the world a better place. However, when it comes to politics, passion is sometimes the root at the core of gridlock. Everyone loses when hot-headed idealists lock horns.

Lets look at the upcoming United States presidential election. We have gotten stuck in a "red state / blue state", "I hate Bush / I hate the Clintons", "You are wrong / I am right" mentality that leaves everyone with a sour taste in their mouth about the whole process .... and no progress or change can ever occur.

We are beginning to witness the attacks from both fringes against Barak Obama and John McCain. Just four years ago the Democrats were floating the idea of McCain as a possible running mate for John Kerry, now he has become the devil. Similarly the Republicans are trying to discredit Mr. Obama at every turn, taking his ideas for change and labeling them as naive inexperience.

I often think that if George W. Bush cured cancer the other side would say "What about diabetes?" Or if Bill Clinton was to solve world hunger, somebody would complain that there was no dessert.

I recently had a politically charged conversation with a person who had strong political beliefs. She was 100% convinced that she was right and the other half of the country was wrong, misguided and self-serving in their beliefs. When I pointed out the the US electorate was pretty evenly divided, she exposed her disdain for all who did not agree with her viewpoint. She believed that there was a vast conspiracy on the other side of the fence, avoiding any wrong doing by those who share her politics.

Both sides of the political spectrum have guilt of indiscretions over the years, but when I pointed this out, she looked like a deer in the headlights. Her passion had left her blind. Her blood pressure was through the roof as she thought about the upcoming political election. If her side lost, she was sure that it was the end of the world.

Look around, you are surrounded by people with political passion. The election year can be fun, and we can all learn from the process, but do not let your desire for a candidate or cause leave you cloudy. Never be disrespectful to your friends and co-workers who do not share you beliefs.
Instead, have conversations where you try to understand their motivation. You will not change their mind, so why debate and hurt feelings. I have seen friends and family split over curse passionate exchanges that had no basis for the sharp verbal lashing.

Examine all you read in the paper and online or view on television. Decide if it is divisive or enlightening. I try to avoid all that is divisive, even if the person shares my views.... as nobody wins when politics gets ugly (although all we have these days is ugly politics).

Why do I write about this on my blog....because I think if one is not careful, their political passions can spill over into personal and business lives. Reputations can be tarnished if you act like a political prima donna. Remember that you still need to be respectful of people who many not share your desires for a candidate or issue if you want to earn their respect.

This does not mean that we will all agree. In fact, it is our ability to respectfully disagree that makes life worth living. But everyone must remember the "respectful" part or we all get weighed down and there is no fun for anyone.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Convio Rides Record Profits, But Stays Private For Now

Every time you hear news that does not involve the presidential candidates, (Is Barak Obama just another Paris Hilton? Or is John McCain too old to serve?) , former presidential candidates (John Edwards being rumored through the blogosphere...ah, but alas all is hush-hush in the traditional media!!!.....) , or future presidential candidates (Hillary 1012)..... you hear the woes of the economy. Bad news is all that is reported, unless it is oil company profits...and then that too is seen as bad news!

But not all businesses are reporting the negaitves. Today one of my favorite local home-grown Austin success stories, Convio, announced their earnings. The company announced record revenues of $14.7 million for the second quarter of 2008, a 35 percent increase over the same period last year.

I love it when local companies are succeeding....it warms my heart and gives me hope for the future of the technology industry in my Central Texas region (and beyond).

Convio has been long expected to go forward in persuit of an IPO, but good companies cannot go public in a bad economy....so it is expected that they will pull their current registration and continue to expand their horizons as a private company.

While Austin (and the tech industry in general) needs to see more companies make it to the public stage, I think that Convio is smart to wait out this current environment. The way I see it, if they are making money, they will survive to fight another day.... and we all know that historically downturns are always followed by up ticks. We forget this when we are struggling with the dips, but it sure is fun to ride the waves up high.

For companies and for individuals, timing is half the battle on the road to success. I expect that their stong financial position today will make Convio look even better when the IPO window re-opens in the future.

About Convio

Convio is the leading provider of on-demand constituent relationship management software and services to nonprofit organizations to enable nonprofit organizations to more effectively raise funds, influence public policy and support their missions by leveraging the Internet to build strong relationships with constituents. The Company’s online constituent relationship management, or eCRM, solution includes a suite of on demand software modules for fundraising, advocacy, email marketing and Web content management complemented by a portfolio of best-in-class consulting services.

Convio's clients include American Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Sierra Club, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and National Public Radio. For more information, please visit http://www.convio.com/

Have A Great Day

thom

A Networking Guide for Women

Announcing:

Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide For Women
(New Year Publishing, 2008)

Along with my co-author, Marny Lifshen, I am happy to announce the release of my third book, "Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide for Women".

This book expands on the "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow And Keep Your Business Relationships" brand, being the first in a series of books that will cover a variety of areas including: real estate, the legal profession, online networking, and several other industries and professions.

We are very proud of this book and look forward to hearing your feedback.

The book is now available for purchase on Amazon.com and through Barnes and Noble.

It makes a great gift!!!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Austin, Texas Is Not NEW To Technology - But Yes, It Does ROCK!!!

Wednesday night the folks from Mashable.com had a party in Austin and over 400 people from the local tech community showed up to network, party and advance the excitement about Austin's technology machine. It was an amazing event, and everyone in the room had a great time. They partied like it was 1999.

This morning Mashable.com has a post titled "Austin As Next Web 2.0 Hub". The post praises this Shangri-La on Lady Bird Lake as an amazing emerging center for technology entrepreneurship stating:

"Taking a look around at the hundreds of native Austin-ite folks that were there showed me that we have a similar burgeoning Web 2.0 community here in Texas that could potentially give California and New York a run for its money."

While few in the room were really Austin "natives" - as few people in the business community were born in Austin (the population has doubled over the past two decades with huge migrations of people seeking the unique business and lifestyle that the area offers) - the article makes it sound like Austin is a newcomer to world of technology. Texas has been making waves in technology for over twenty years.

Well over a decade ago Austin emerged on the national scene as a "hot spot" for tech entrepreneurship, innovation, investment and success. While many under the age of thirty do not remember the boom boom days of the late 1990s, Austin is no new comer to the line up of Silicon Valley runners up.

It is interesting that the article credits SXSW Interactive with the success of Austin being on the tech map. I think that SXSW certainly puts the spotlight on Austin, but the local tech community was rocking long before the tech arm of SXSW became what it is today. From the outside looking in it might seem like a chicken or egg -- but Austin's technology community has much deeper roots than today's twenty-somethings can remember.

The most meaningful point of the post was:

"[Will Pate] observed that Austinites, unlike some startups elsewhere in the country, really have no regrets about not being in the Valley."

Amen. Austin is Austin. The pulse of the city is unique and Austinites have no desire for the business community to mirror the Silicon Valley. Those who live here often have an unnatural love affair with their life in Central Texas, and with that comes an acknowledgment that we are who we are.

It is exciting to see the fresh dose of enthusiasm pumped into the local tech scene. The Mashable party was no less spectacular than the "High Tech Happy Hours" that rocked the city in 1998-2000. Those who remember those energetic happy hours at the millennium change know about the days when everyone had an idea that was the New New Thing. That feeling was again in the air on Wednesday night.

While Austin is not a new discovery for the world of tech, it is still the city that whose culture blends perfectly with the spirit of entrepreneurship and lifestyle. The best days are still to come!

And THANK YOU to all the folks from Mashable.com for a GREAT party. I look forward to the next one!

Have A Great Day.

thom

America Tonight with Kate Delaney

I was just interviewed on Kate Delaney's nationally syndicated "America Tonight" radio show.

She is a most delightful radio host who covers the overnight hours on over 200 stations around the country, and we chatted for 15 minutes about the power of business relationships and networking. Her personality shines, and those who listen to the radio overnight (I am usually asleep) must really enjoy the enthusiasm she brings to every topic.

I have done several radio interviews, and am not used to staying up until midnight, but WOW, how fun it was to talk with Kate.

Here is the information on her show:

America Tonight is topical, fun, interesting and covers everything from breaking news to contemporary lifestyle issues. It's general talk, non-political, lifestyle oriented. It's entertainment, games, contests, and nightly features like movie and DVD reviews. On any night you'll hear a guest that could be a top newsmaker to an author with a best selling book. The show appeals to the 26 million people who are awake between midnight and 6 am, including truckers, 3rd shift workers and insomniacs. And this active audience is on the phones with their opinions.

Kate Delaney is a seasoned national broadcast personality. An Emmy award winner for her special report on the AIDS epidemic in New Mexico, Kate also is one of only two women to ever host a Sports Radio Talk Show in a Top 10 market - WFAN, New York and KRLD, Dallas. Now, she's your host for great talk radio every night.

Her guests have included some of the biggest names in politics, entertainment and sports - Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Senator Joe Biden and Libby and former Senator Bob Dole, George Lucas, Leslie Neilson, Bette Midler, O.J. Simpson, Cameron Diaz, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman Ted Williams, Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas. (and Thom Singer!!!)

Have A Great Day.

thom

Blog Post Piracy

I received many emails about my post about "The Treasury of Human Intelligence". People seemed to like the concept, and the name / term "The Treasury of Human Intelligence".

Several folks asked me if came up with the term or if I borrowed it. I had come up with it, but as many things, I was not sure if I had read it someplace and subconsciously recreated it while writing my original blog post.

Thus, I googled the term to be sure I was not plagiarizing some other person's catchy phrase (as I have been asked to expand upon this short article for a presentation by the same title to a group this fall). Besides my post, there was only a single unrelated reference to something written in 1909. (apparently 99 years ago someone else used the words "The Treasury of Human Intelligence" as a title --- interesting!)

Alas, I had not stolen the term (the 1909 article or book was not on my reading list!), and it did not show up on any other websites, with the exception of some random blog, Qassia, who had lifted my entire blog post from four days ago - VERBATIM, and did not give me the credit as the author. They had even submitted the post to Digg under their own byline.

Holy Blog Piracy, Batman!

They even left the "Have A Great Day" at the end of the post, which is how I end every post on this blog. Arrrrrrrgggggg, Pirates!!!

Now I doubt that the term "The Treasury of Human Intelligence" will catch on as the next great theory of interpersonal relationships, business development and networking.... but just in case it does, I want to make sure that Oprah Winfrey has ME on her show and not this "Qassia" person.

Anyone who has produced creative products will have sensitivity to those who would steal their intellectual property. When people lift other's work (without giving them proper credit) they are not making deposits into the treasury of human intelligence. In fact, it is just the opposite. Plagiarism creates a situation where they are in a karma overdraft, with no overdraft protection issued by the treasury. This is not an action that helps the original author, but instead it causes pain and frustration.

The Blogosphere is populated by a variety of unique and giving souls who bare their hearts and spin their words to challenge, inspire, entertain, and educate others. But the dark side often rears its horns and spoils the pool for everyone. Piracy on the high seas or on the internet is equally evil.

I challenge all who read this post to make deposits to The Treasury of Human Intelligence and find ways to encourage and support other people to overcome obstacles and achieve success. Be the catalyst that help somebody win. When you give, you will get.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Networking - The Life Blood of Your Company's Future

CEO's like to see results. While theories are nice to ponder and spreadsheets look pretty, they fail to have the impact to the bottom line. Regardless of your job title or function, you should be looking for ways to help drive your company toward success. Results are always noticed and rewarded.

All opportunities come from people. I do not care what industry you work in, doorknobs and ink pens do not bring you new clients (unless you are an innovator in the doorknob and ink pen industries...and even then, your product alone cannot make things happen). Other people are the catalysts that lead you to potential customers knowing you exist.

Are you working hard to connect the dots and make new connections with those who can bring you new business? Or are you fooling yourself in to believing you are too busy to network???

It happens everyday - professionals make excuses as to why they do not got to networking events or keep their precious relationships alive and thriving. If you are not cultivating your connections, your contacts are withering on the vine. Soon they will be dead. You can be replaced in the minds of those who can refer business. OUCH.

Think about it this way: If you have a relationship / friendship with someone who can be a good referral / information source and you are not talking to them regularly..... your competitor is probably talking to them.

Guess what? Out of sight is out of mind.

You need to constantly be communicating with your network, growing relationships and keeping friendships up to date or you will wake up and have nothing.

CEO's hate to lose. Those who see relationships as the life blood of their company's future would blow a gasket to know that many of their employees just don't care about investing the time in making, growing and keeping business relationships. Go ahead, ask your CEO if they cares if you just ignore people as long as you do a good job at your assigned tasks. Tell him or her that you think creating relationships with other people is a waste of time, and thus you just wont do it anymore. Think he or she will care?

Not networking is a gift to your competitor. They should send you a hand-written thank you note!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Have your read one or more of my books? If yes, THANK YOU.


Click here to view a list of my current and pending book titles.

Also, we just released "Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide for Women" - it makes a great gift!

The Treasury of Human Intelligence

I have been thinking much about how knowing creative and interesting people can help one solve any difficulty. Alone we can be stagnant, but when you network with a diverse group of individuals... combined intelligence will create new opportunites for all.

Throughout history man has been plagued with challenges. Individuals and societies have repetitively conquered and thrived despite overwhelming obstacles. Recessions, depressions, World Wars, plagues, personal setbacks, weather catastrophes and other mishaps have always been part of the human condition.

Yet even when man triumphs, the next day someone somewhere if fraught with self-doubt, disaster, and peril of their own. We do not always learn from others, and bad things still can happen randomly. However when we do connect with others who can assist us in removing setbacks, the results are often atmospheric in nature.

When we bond with others and share ideas, we combine their knowledge, skill and creativity with our own - we can create amazing opportunities to achieve.

This "Treasury of Human Intelligence" is open and available to everyone if we just show up to make deposits and withdrawals. There is no interest due, and the terms are simple: share with others, and be open to taking what they have to offer you in return. Sometimes the exchange is equal, often they will prosper from your transaction, and then there are the times when you will shine in the sunlight of the interchange.

The point is that you have to show up at "The Treasury of Human Intelligence" with a motivation of mutually beneficial success for all. Selfish hearts are not welcome for long, and will be expelled.

I am excited when I find others who can openly discuss challenges. Those who do not hide behind facades and ego have a way of sharing perspectives that can bind with my own to show me new directions and paths toward success. I love it when I can be the person who helps another brainstorm and germinate an idea that gets them excited.

I have seen projects where people do not share their input for fear of being viewed as silly or stupid. This is a shame, as their words could have inspired the group toward new heights. Many rock solid success stories come from when those possible silly ideas get meshed together with the mind candy of another to become a viable new concept. Exchanges in the Treasury of Human Intelligence is where you discover the seeds that grow into the masterpiece of life you long to create.

Look around you, there are people everywhere who are longing to join you in this exchange at the Treasury of Human Intelligence. Reach out to others and let them know you are here to cultivate ideas together expand each others possibilities.

One person can think his own thoughts, but two or more can have a synergy that can instantly change everything.

Pick a restaurant or coffee house near your office and plan to meet there every Friday for breakfast or lunch. Let others know that it is the meeting of your local chapter of the Treasury of Human Intelligence. Together with those who show up you can share your thoughts and find links to others who will also want to excel. Who knows what could happen. When your network realizes what you can offer, the right people will appear to provide you with their intellect and together all will soar.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Your Perception Is NOT Always Reality

What you think about an issue makes it true. For you. Our perceptions are our reality, but not the only reality.

This is a very hard concept for many to understand. Human beings are very sure that the world is as they know it to be, but we miss the fact that others see things differently. Our personal experiences and beliefs effect how we interpret everything, and this can lead to dangerous misunderstandings.

This is very visible during a time of a major political event, like the United States presidential election. Passions run strong and people divide themselves into competitive camps. The more they jump in behind their candidates, the more they learn to hate and disrespect the other side. I feel everyone would benefit if all those involved in politics were required to site three new things they respect about the people on the other side before they could be allowed to talk about their own world views. Rather than slamming the competition, we should learn from them.

But myopia happens in the business world, too. People often surround themselves with those who are most like them and who share their focused points of view. This creates walled cities within industries, communities, organizations and companies.... and those who are not part of "the club" are dismissed as useless, annoying or just plain wrong.

The most successful business professionals realize that their perception is not the only one (or always the right one!), and create networks compiled with people who have a variety of backgrounds, education, disciplines and personality types. They respect those who have different opinions and look for ways to expand their own ideas to uncover not just any way to tackle a challenge, but for the best way that will lead to more business.

When you face challenges in your business, try to expand beyond the "we have always done it this way" mentality and look for ways that others are tackling similar problems. There is always someone out there who has a creative way to circumvent the commonplace. Make that person part of your inner-circle and mutually find ways to expand your own horizons.

Do not let tradition, the economy, the competition or your own tunnel vision stop you from success. There is a way for you to accomplish more... you just need to look at your world from another angle. I am confident that there are always new solutions to beat down old problems. You just have to be tenacious about uncovering the prized idea.

I have written before about the concept of "Big Tent Thinkers". Become a person who lets more people under your tent and share with them your largest challenges. You will be surprised how much others in your life want to see you succeed and will help you chart your course. One never knows whose perception will create new reality you seek.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Vacation Over - Heading Home

All good things must come to an end. I write this blog post from Bellagio, Italy as the sun is coming up on a beautiful Thursday morning - the last day of our vacation. Tomorrow we fly home.

My family and I spent two weeks in Italy with my in-laws. One week in Venice and the other in Bellagio (on Lake Como). Both cities were wonderful, and made for one very relaxing and exciting vacation.

I did not realize how much I needed a vacation. I work a lot and am always on the go, and the down time was like a battery re-charge. Every morning I woke up before everyone and went for a sunrise walk along the water and sat at a sidewalk cafe (before it opened, they had internet access on the patio) and checked email, blogged and caught up on any news in the world. By 8 AM I was back at the apartment and making breakfast.

Many think that checking email on vacation is a bad thing...but for me it kept me from coming home to thousands of emails and a nightmare of "catch-up". It gave me peace of mind and I was able to handle some minor questions that would have fallen through the cracks otherwise.

We spent our time in both locations exploring a variety of tourist sites, neighborhoods, villas, restaurants, and other interesting venues. The people were amazing, the food delicious, and one particular wine (made from wild grapes) kept bringing us back to a small establishment, Bellagio Point (an internet and wine cafe), each night before dinner. The owner, Bruno, recommended great restaurants and knew the answers to all our Bellagio related questions. He is also an artist, who hand paints beautiful murals on wine bottles. His familiar smile and his bar's great atomsphere were welcoming.... plus the kids could get on a computer and play on Webkins for 30 minutes, which kept them plugged into their normal life (and was a good thing for them to look forward to while touring a museum or church, which might have been a bit boring for them!)

My daughters, ages 11 and 6, really enjoyed the trip. While they are too young to fully appreciate all they saw, they relished in the uniqueness of Venice and the beauty of Lake Como. Additionally, they loved spending the whole day, everyday, with mom, dad, grandma and grandpa. Many question our sanity on bringing kids so young on such a vacations (this was their third time to visit Europe), but they were troopers.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we have a rule in Italy - "Gelato everyday, sometimes twice!!!" This seems to keep the kids going, as we try new flavors at different Gelaterias every time. Also, they fell in love with Italian Hot Chocolates...which were good, but way to much like drinking a melted Hershey bar for my tastes. They will have a big reality check when we return to Austin and return to limited amounts of such treats / sweets. Heck, ice cream every day is not a good idea.... but while on a two week vacation.... why not?

All of my blog posts the last few weeks have directly or indirectly related to vacation.... as I have had vacation on the brain. I look forward to getting back to more normal blog postings, but I have learned that vacation is important....and hope to hang onto my newfound serenity. My creativity is currently high, and my enthusiasm about the tasks at hand for the next few months is at an all-time level.

I am grateful for all that I have in my life. My family, my friends, my job, my writing and professional speaking career, and this blog (and those of you who read my stuff). A little time away from your daily routine does wonders for helping one appreciate all the good things in their life. I have a big wave excitement hitting me and look forward to tackling many projects this fall.

Next week, my third book; "Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide for Women" will be released (now available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble). I have been working on this project with my co-author, Marny Lifshen, and our editor, Leslie Morris, for over a year. We are very excited about this new product. It is the first in a series of books that will exand upon "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships". Please check it out and tell a friend!!!

Well, I am off to make breakfast for the family and then catch a ferry boat to explore one last day on Lake Como.

Ciao.

Thom

Take A Morning Vacation

I love the solitude of the early morning. While on vacation I always wake before my family (not with an alarm, just because I am an early riser). I take this time to explore the area, catch up on emails, read a book, or just sit in a cafe and observe life going past me. There is a peaceful feeling to have that time to decompress and prepare for the coming day.

Even at home, a half hour sipping a latte before going to the office while reading the paper gives me the downtime needed to collect my thoughts and gain focus.

I think everyone should schedule themselves a morning vacation every chance they get. Just thirty minutes (an hour is you can), where you do something you enjoy. Sit still or go for a run. Read or write. Pray or think. Just avoid the computer, IPod or television. Make this short excursioin all about connecting with yourself. This is soul time.

I am not sure that morning works for everyone, I know a lot of people who can never seem to motivate to get out of bed and there inner-self stays asleep until noon. So you do not need to take my "morning vacation" literally, a 3 PM or 9 PM getaway I am sure would work just as well. I just like the morning.

Once you get into the habit of your morning vacation, you will find it to be an important part of your day. While I cannot do it everyday, as I have a lot of other responsibilities (taking the kids to school, work-related breakfasts, etc....), I do cherish the mornings when that time is available and I make it a priority. Without it I could never accomplish all that I do.

Think about your daily schedule. Do you have personal time built into your routine? If not you are cheating yourself (and everyone around you) from performing at your peak.

Have a great day.

thom

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

Remembering to be inspired is hard. No matter who we are or what we do, routine sometimes takes over and completing tasks seems most important. But we all have that spark inside us that gets us jazzed up, and we can easily recapture that feeling of WOW.

You know what I am talking about. Entrepreneurs feel it in the early stages of their business. If they were not inspired, they would not and could not have taken the steps to launch their companies. We feel it in love-relationships when we first meet that someone special and cannot get enough time to just stare into their eyes.

Sometimes all it takes to discover your inner inspiration is to break the cycle of your routine and do something different.

I never used to be a big fan of extended vacations. I could not have imagined being away from the office for two weeks at a time, and for over a decade limited myself to long weekend trips or a few extra days a Christmas. The fear of 100 - 150 emails per day piling up in my inbox would give me the chills. I feared that co-workers and clients would think I was a slacker if they got "out-of-office" replies for more than a couple of days. And worst of all, I mistakenly convinced myself that I could de-compress with just a few days away.

I have now found that the Europeans have the right idea with their extended holidays (their other good idea is "the siesta", but working an afternoon nap into the American workday is not something I think will ever happen).

Taking a long trip in the summer gives one something to look forward to for months in advance, and I have found that I become more inspired about my career and other goals after having some time away.

Co-workers seem to rise to the occasion and find ways to help and support those who are traveling, not resent them (God, I hope I am right!!!! he he). Emails are easy to manage from the road, and with a small investment of less than one hour each morning, I answer 90% of all questions and delete the huge amounts of spam or other useless messages that seem to clutter the inbox constantly.

Most of all, it is at about day ten of a vacation when I really start to find the peace in my soul that I think we all need do badly in the high pressure world in which we live. What a shame it would be to never reach that peace or to have to fly home immediately upon uncovering that sense of Nirvana.

You also do not need to travel to an exotic location for your time away. A friend of mine told me about his boss who takes a 14-day at home vacation every year (there is a catchy name for doing this, but I cannot remember it..."home-cation" or "near-cation"???). He is "away" from the office in the same manner as if he was on the opposite side of the world. His family gets 100% of his time and they never leave the city where they live.

Regardless of what you do, find a way to get away, it will show you the way back to inspiration.

The 80's band The Go Go's had it right with the song "Vacation" - it is not wanting to get away, it is "having to get away". Try it, you won't regret it.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Images of Venice

I enjoyed my week in Venice, Italy. It has become my favorite city to visit on the planet. Before going I was cautioned by others that the city was over-crowded with tourists, expensive, dirty, and smelly. However, I learned that an experience is only in the heart of the person who lived the experience. One can never know how they will react to something until they have walked their own path.

Never again will I believe another's negative review of travel. One person's oyster is another's pearl. We were told that three or four days was enough, and we found seven too few. We did all the tourist things (yes, the high price of a gondola ride is worth it!!!), but we most enjoyed the places that were off the beaten path, and asked our hotel for restaurants that were only for Venicians. Alas, we ate like royalty.

Yes, Venice is expensive. Sure, there are a lot of tourists. I did not think it was dirty or smelly, other than the scents of the amazing food from all the wonderful restaurants. If you ever have the chance to go there..... do it.

Below are some of my photos that I hope you enjoy.

thom

Get Lost and Found By Following Others

It is good to be a leader, but an important quality of a successful leader is to also know when to follow.

Sometimes those who lead in business forget that they are not always in the same position of control in all areas of life. When you are part of any group, there comes a time when you need to "go with the flow" or put others wants, needs and desires ahead of your own.

You do not always have to call all the shots!

I have encountered people who bully their way through all the relationships in their life. They bark orders at all and assume people will jump at their every whim. These people drain the fun out of most situations and alienate as a hobby. The sad part is they often do not know what they are doing.

I have discovered that when I go along with others is when I grow and expand. Instead of taking charge all the time and having to make every decision, I let those around me lead me into new types of situations. If you always cover every selection you live in a monotone world.

While on vacation in Venice, Italy with my family, my young daughters were constantly being taken along to museums, restaurants and other tourist spots. They had their own ideas about what shops to pop into or when to get gelato. We allowed them to do these things (the rule in Italy is "Gelato Everyday, Sometimes TWICE!).

We even invented the "Get Lost Game", where individually with each kid I would allow them to wander the streets of Venice for one hour while I followed. I gave no direction and they could go any which way through the narrow and maze-like streets. It was a wonderful adventure to see them make choices at each bridge, canal, corner and passageway. They felt empowered and together we had a great adventure. At the end of the time, it was up to dad to find the way back to the hotel!

When you follow others you can discover books, movies, restaurants, music, theatre, vacation spots, friends, and many other type of experiences that can be life changing. You never know when something simple will expose you to an internal "WOW".

If you think you are always right, you are most likely mistaken. Take some time to just run with the energy of those people who share in your life, and see where their direction leads you. Get lost from you daily routine and explore new. New experiences await. At the end of the journey you can always find your way back (if you want to!).

Have A Great Day.

thom

Tuesday Night By Gondola

I think that too often people get caught up in the circles of their own life and they forget that the world is not just what they view on a daily basis.

Imagine living in a large city in the United States. You probably commute to work via a car, fighting your way through traffic lights to reach the highway. Once you are on the major thouroughfair, your stop and go tapping on the brakes all the way to the office.

Maybe you pop in at Starbucks for your morning cup of coffee in a to go cup and jump back in the car. Whatever you do, it is your routine and you probably think little about how different a day can be for other people around the world.

Without even touching on the conditions in under developed countries, it is facinating to visit other cities to see that things can be vastly different, and yet amazingly similar.

I live in Austin, Texas - which by all accounts is an fantastic place to live, work and raise a family. The population of the greater Austin area is close to 1.6 million people. Venice, Italy's surrounding area has about the same number of people, and yet these two wonderful cities are so different.

I wish I could explain how taken I am with Venice. It is a city like no other that I have ever seen. The things you see on television and in the movies do not do it justice. Before arriving I was warned by others that Venice in the summer can be hot, overrun with tourists, expensive, smelly and dirty. While all of those things are based in some truth, those who only see that part of the Venician world have missed one of the true wonders of the world.

The city is a metropolis that sprung from the water over 2000 years ago, and has a rich history and architecture like nothing eles I have ever encountered.

A few years ago the U.S. Insurance industry freaked out over "mold" growth in homes. The scare was so large that you could not get insurance on a piece of property is you had ever spilled a glass of water. Meanwhile Venice is surrounded by water and these palaces that line the Grand Canal have survived hundreds of years of a game of give and take with the sea. It makes me laugh at those State Farm guys.

There are no cars in Venice and finding coffee to go is virtually impossible. There are no Starbucks in Italy, and when you want that morning expresso you stand at the bar and drink it with the locals. You smile and talk to those around you who are interested in discovering where you are from and how long you will be visiting their beautiful city. That does not seem to happen in the long lines of an American coffee house.

The talk in the media about how the world hates America seems to be highly overstated (sorry CNN), as everyone I have spoken with has been wildly friendly, and interested in discovering more about Texas. People are just people, and those I have seen (locals and fellow travelers) are trying to have a great day the best they can.

You walk a lot in Venice. You also take the bus, but that bus is a very old large water craft that circles the Grand Canal. There are no cars, or other vehicles, in the main city. The streets are a series of twisting and turning alleys that all look the same, and yet are spectacularly different.

The La Fenice Opera House was burnt to the ground in a raging fire in 1996, and was restored in 2003. Only the facade of the building and a few other back rooms survived, but to tour the new theatre was an amazing testiment to what can be accomplished. The grand theatre looked spectacular, and was true to the design of the 100 year old hall that had stood before. What struck me was the the Italians had the resolve to make it as it was, where it was - and damn, it is incredible. To the the detail of the craftsmanship and know it was created just 5 years ago is inspiring. Even my 11 year old found the theatre a highlight of the trip. Wow.

The pace of life is slower in Venice (in a good way). People are not in a hurry. The locals appreciate that they live in the surroundings of breathtaking beauty. One person told me that his "home city is one of the world's best museums", and he cherished living here.

I cannot seem to get enough of Venice. The camera shutter goes off like telegraph machine as each turn of a corner brings something eye-catching.

We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

Have A Great Day.

thom

A CFO Is More Than A Bookkeeper and Other Things That Are On My Mind

I recently heard a seasoned business executive say that the biggest and most crippling mistake that entrepreneurs make is that they do not realize the importance of having the correct experience level in key roles at their company. Too often people hire people quickly to "fill a position", and make decisions based on a gut feeling that they just "like" the person.

Additionally, many entrepreneurs mix up important business terminology and use the verbiage interchangeable. Are marketing, business development, sales, PR and networking all the same thing? Does one skill set mean the person can perform in all five disciplines? Many entrepreneurs think they understand these areas of business (and some do), but often they hit a wall when they are expecting a magic bullet and getting no results.

Things gets worse when it involves the money. Far too many falsely believe that "CFO" is just another word for "bookkeeper". They hire anyone who can add numbers to run their finance department with more of a concern for the individuals salary requirements than they put on expertise.

Think for a minute about these terms: CFO, finance professional, accountant, bookkeeper, controller and CPA. All of these are different, and people whom hold these roles have a variety of levels of experience.

An entrepreneur needs to understand the numbers of his company, and just hiring someone to oversee the finances without being personally engaged is a mistake. Cash is king. Your financials are the lifeblood of the company and for this reason you must find the right person to help model, forecast, and control finances.

I work for an operational accounting firm, and thus I am surrounded by amazingly experienced financial professionals. While I am not a "numbers guy" (I am much more the sales and marketing type), their views have rubbed off on me. I have become educated on the need for understanding and interpreting a company's financials in a business of any size. This is not an area to be entered into lightly.

However, I often witness entrepreneurs who are "winging it" when it comes to the numbers. This is not good. If you run a business and feel light in the numbers arena, then you have to be sure that you become educated not just about how to read your balance sheet and income statement.... but also on what and who you need in your finance department.

Ask a lot of questions of your bankers, lawyers, auditors, and other trusted advisers and they will gladly point you in the right direction to find the guidance you need. Why will they so readily help you? Because they need for your company to succeed in having the right financial oversight in order for you to have long term sustainability (and pay their invoices!!!!).

The company I work for can also help you in these areas, see www.vcfo.com for more information (yes, a commercial in the middle of my blog).

Have A Great Day.

thom

You Know You Are A Catholic

You know you are Catholic:

When you watch a Star Wars movie and they say, "May the Force be with you," and you respond, "and also with you."

*****

The above is credited to Garrison Keillor, and originally sighted Methodists...but it works either way...and it made me laugh.

And then you go to the church hall for donuts!!

Happy Sunday!

thom

Blogging Dirty Tricks

I know this will get me in trouble, but I am posting it anyway!

Friday I got the following email:

Currently, we have your site Some Assembly Required, listed on our blogroll at www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress

We are going to delete those links on the blogroll that do not have a reciprocal link for us.

Please put a link to us and let us know so we can keep you in front of our readership!!!

Thank You!

Yikes. I do not know these people and I NEVER get traffic to my blog from them. I have always hated the concept of maditory link backs on blogrolls. I list many great blogs in my blog roll, but never do I want those writers to feel obligated to link to me. Sure, I love links as much as the next blogger....but this made me so mad that I blogged from my vacation.

It makes if fake if you demand the other to link to you...and if you threatten to delete them, is that not like payolla of some kind? It is just icky.

Have a great day.

thom