One Louder

Ugly is the new pretty

HeatherLeigh — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:46:00 GMT

Looks like we consumers respond more favorably to commercial images that look like "us." This is all fine and good except when we are talking about politicians. I don't want a politician that's like me or worse (cheaters!). I mean, I get the product advertisement stuff. I am skeptical of anything that looks "too good." But there is a line to be drawn. I don't need clear skin or every hair in place. But I do want that car to be cleaner than mine and I do want the people making the rules to be smarter than me. Much.

Managing your social media

HeatherLeigh — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:38:00 GMT

Even if you don't engage social media for work (I do, obviously), there is a lot of information coming through different accounts and profiles and it can be hard to manage all of it. Fast Company has a short article (for the n00bs, OK, I admit) to help you streamline.

Is this abra cadabra business creepy or is it just me?

HeatherLeigh — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:50:00 GMT

I can't decide. Either weird and creepy or weird and cool?

I won't be making it into the office today...(cough, cough)

HeatherLeigh — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:03:00 GMT

Gawker gives you the rules on using sick days (hint: don't use them when you are sick because that is no fun at all).

The hangover day has been a topic of conversation. Some people feel it's OK as long as you don't do it a lot. Me? I like to punish myself for drinking too much (why is that a lesson we have to learn over and over in life?). So I work through it...sometimes I even run it off.

When I have managed people, I have always been cool with the impromptu day off. If you don't have anything on your calendar, skedaddle. No need to act sick.

Uncluttering at work...

HeatherLeigh — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:40:00 GMT

I struggle with time management. I get my stuff done, but the issue of "time" always comes up. Yesterday, someone mentioned that everything I was talking about with regard to my life outside of work was about time too (Do I have time to get this all done before I put my house on the market? Is this the right time in my life for this? Can I have time to make a good decision about this? This would all be/feel different if it happened at a different time. Jebus, I can't believe I am 41....where did the time go? Hah.). So yeah, time is on my mind. Time and attention are my currency.

Anyway, time management. I'm a list maker.I'm also a list ignorer. So you can see how that works out for me. At times, I live and prioritize by post-it note. Sometimes I find that things do actually go away if you ignore them and I'm kind of OK with that. They weren't important; they were just clutter. Speaking of which, I sometimes organize by making piles. Gah, I hate admitting that because then I can't feel as superior when I watch Hoarders on TV.

So yeah, uncluttering. I don't need all the stuff around me to make me feel like me. And I want to be more free. And I want to answer a question: how do I know what is important? At work and in my life. I'm still working to answer that question in my life and it feels like giving birth. I'm currently crowning. At work, well, I can use some tips. Because we are all in the same boat.

Unclutterer pretty much rocks when it comes to making the most of what you have (stuff, time) and getting rid of what is not important (my friends may notice that the theme of unitaskers figure prominently on Unclutterer and in my vocab). Your life-life probably isn't much like mine (most of you), but work? I bet we struggle with some of the same things. So I found this post particularly helpful.

Why do you need it? Just because it's there? And Steve Jobs told you that you do?

HeatherLeigh — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:46:00 GMT

iPad. Lord have mercy. I don't even think I have a joke that has not already been said before. I'd say I'm speechless, but I don't do speechless.

I had a conversation last night with someone that is super cheesed-off that their music content is being held hostage by Steve Jobs and I have totally been there. Switching over to a Zune, for me, wasn't out of blind loyalty. I used my iPod for years. I researched what to do when the screen froze. I bought music on iTunes. I felt comfortable. And this is exactly what is wrong with my life. Just because something is comfortable doesn't mean its right or even good...or preferable. Comfort inspires laziness to your detriment. I hesitate to talk too much here about how much I love my Zune because ridiculous fanboys annoy the hell out of me. So maybe I go to the extreme by holding back my praise because I care too much about what you think of me. Oh jeez.

Anyway, at some point, I totally fell out of love with my iPod. And the *idea* of being locked into a content format started to make my blood boil. I rarely get angry (usually annoyance and disappointment fill my anger void). But it just kind of built up over time, partially because I did it to myself. I was in an unhealthy relationship with my iPod. I even bought new shuffles when my old ones crapped out. I'm not proud. Dear iPod, it was fun while it lasted but it's time for me to move on.

I feel more liberated and in-control now. Yeah, control. I like it. And now we have to hear about the iPad. Look, I'm not a fan of the way Steve Jobs does things, not because his products aren't beautifully designed (because they are!) and not because their marketing sucks (because it doesn't). It's just that he designs them for him, not us. He thinks he knows better. And we let him tell us what we need. Lemmings.

I have friends that have an iPhone. I have certainly mentioned before that I am not a phone person. In my exploration of my own ego, I have acknowledged the fact that I am not important enough to need to be reached at a moments notice. It's true. And there are no "family emergencies" in my life. And more interestingly, I most certainly do not need an "app for that." I think that people adopt technologies because they are there, not because they make their lives better. I have realized that my most precious commodities are time and attention. And I'm stingy with them. So no, I don't want to be playing with eFart, or iFart or whatever. I get that some people use their phones as entertainment. I use mine to check my email and send/receive text messages and the occasional phone call. So yeah, my reaction to the iPhone was that it was super interesting from a marketing perspective, but otherwise: meh. At least for me. If I want to be entertained, I'd like to explore other options. Like books. The kind made of paper (sorry Kindle).

And then comes the oddly-names iPad. And the luke-warm reaction, except by the most loyal fans. And the fuss about the name. And then we are asked to compare the feedback with that of the iPod. And I can't help but think to myself (in my very best Carrie Bradshaw voice), that even though we have been here before, shouldn't we know better this time? Especially because there are already other technologies filling the same need.

When the iPod came out, the concept was new to most of us (I need a way-back machine but I believe the concept was new to most of us). And so, yeah, people got excited, before they thought long and hard about their long term content. And iPad is entering a more crowded market. But there is this underlying thing that is still kind of bugging me. And it's that many of us are letting Steve Jobs tell us what we need because he thinks it's cool. And it might actually, be cool. But if we adopt every cool thing, our lives get all cluttered (ooh, there's that clutter thing again and that may be, in fact, what this blog post is really about) with moderately cool stuff that improves our lives not one little bit. So while comparing comments about the iPod with comments about the iPad isn't a huge surprise, especially from someone trying to push for the less favorably reviewed iPad, hoping that it achieves the same level of success that the iPod did ("remember, kids, that you thought you didn't need the iPod too and look what happened"). I guess that I am just hoping that overall, people think more critically about what this thing is actually going to do for them. Does it make your life *better*? And does it *really* make your life better or are you assuming it does, just because Steve Jobs says so?

The possibility of not getting a job because of those jello shots

HeatherLeigh — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:57:00 GMT

Apparently, we sponsored a survey that found that the majority of recruiters had declined to pursue a prospect/candidate because of information they found about a candidate online.

Wow....so this makes me realize that it has been a while since I worked a desk. I admit that. But I still have an opinion. And it's complicated.

I am sure that recruiters could point to a large number of hires they made, good hires, where if they had searched the person online, they would not have hired them. We look at online info about a person as evidence of how they "are" but it's really just how they "were." I am not that embarrassing girl from the 80s. Ever do or say something you regret? Online? Yeah, me too.

Some recruiters start out looking for a reason not to hire someone. I'm not sure why they do this other than an ego-driven hazing ritual. I like to hire people. I do my due-diligence to make sure we are hiring the right people but I tend to start from a place of "yes." So if I decide not to hire someone, the reason is a good one. And it is notable how fast a "yes" can turn to a "no" in an interview, but anyway. A lot of the stuff you find online about people does not constitute a good reason, in my opinion. So what if your candidate likes to dress up in a bunny suit as long as they don't do it at work? They call it "personal" time for a reason. I don't judge.

I think if companies want to do some sleuthing, they should have a consistent back-ground check program and if some of that includes online fact (or picture) finding, that's OK. I can imagine some egregious stuff is out there (and I am not saying to overlook it) but I think that by-and-large, people (recruiters, hiring teams) are getting scared off by beer bongs and strongly worded opinions. Perhaps a little more open-mindedness and a dose of reality are called for. Because seriously? Seventy percent of recruiters have chosen not to hire someone because of something they found online? Perhaps those recruiters might try to walk a mile in someone elses bunny suit.

My mouth is open while you are cleaning my teeth, please make yours closed

HeatherLeigh — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:33:00 GMT

Occasionally, I understand grumpy people. I feel sorry for the ones with bad teeth.

I kind of like going to the dentist. It's like a free treatment: my teeth get extra blingy and my insurance pays for it. I don't really mind the poking of the pointy thingies or the gritty grindy toothpaste thing. But there is something about the dentist I don't like. It is the talking. I am held captive, forced into a conversation against my will. And I start to wonder if hygienists are people that really require a lot of attention and have chosen a profession where they get it. With minimal interruptions. And that awesome squirt gun.

What makes it worse is that my gal is super sweet and chirpy. And so the bad thoughts running through my head about folding up my drool bib really nice and pretty and seeing if it fits in her mouth? Yeah, I don't feel good about those.

So just to be clear, I get blingy teeth, but I am subjected to an annoying one-way conversation and I get a massive helping of guilt on the side. Awesome.

Decluttering, Act 3...the hard drive and the scanner

HeatherLeigh — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:35:00 GMT

Sometimes to get rid of stuff, you have to buy stuff.

Last night I had dinner with my neighbors and was a little sad hearing that a 9 year old would be bummed that I am moving to Seattle (it's just 12 miles, little one!). The plan is to not tell her until the "For Sale" sign goes up in the front yard. And also to assure her that this move means that she won't have to wait until she is 12 to have sleep-overs at my house. I'm a softie. I love that kid. I love her siblings too but they can't sleep over until they are 25.

We also played the fun game of putting dibs on all of my stuff. I believe that all my yard stuff is accounted for as well as my DVD player (I think I have used it maybe 3 times in the last 5 years), wrapping paper and a dresser. This is the closest I have ever been to doing something that the idea of sends chills down my spine: a garage sale. (OK, grammar police, knock yourself out with that sentence because I still can't figure it out...and enjoy my jacked up punctuation too).

My decluttering act today? I just bought an external hard drive for my computer. A couple months ago, I scanned all my recipes and tossed the hard copies. All except for the ones that were written by my granny. I miss her and can still picture her hands making her apple pie. Which brings up a good point: balancing out the practical and the sentimental is hard. I think I apply sentiment where it doesn't need to be. I'll be extra vigilant sorting through my stuff.

I'm a "just in case" person. I save bank records, receipts for oil changes. Argh. I have notebooks full of stuff like this; very organized and unnecessary notebooks. It's all going digital. I have always thought of myself as a pen and paper person; a list-maker. But I have never had trouble throwing away a list. I just don't need all this other paperwork cluttering up my life. So, my goal over the next week is to scan my notebooks...all 8 of them (ah jeez!). And weed through my cookbooks and get them down to ten...just ten. I can do it!

Decluttering (Act 1, Act 2)

HeatherLeigh — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:56:00 GMT

Today I am reminding myself that decluttering my life is probably best done in baby steps. This weekend, I decided that a personal situation (should I have put quotes around that?) was cluttering up my brain. So I put it on ice. The situation (not to be confused with "the situation"...oh gawd, the web traffic I may get from that...please, no). If I am going to focus on simplifying my life, it doesn't just mean the stack of magazines by the door. It means handling things like an adult and focusing on what is in my control right now and what is best for me. And trusting that I am in the right place for good things to happen. Anyhoo.

I decided to document some of my acts of decluttering. Watch how mundane they seem at first. It's laughable. But I am working up to the big stuff. The goal is to get "unstuck." And while I document the steps for myself, I am cluttering up your blog reader. I am sorry, but...here I go.

Step one: Planning for the big stuff/preparing for getting out of my house. Called bathroom contractors (because I really cannot ask anyone else to put up with the 1968 bathroom I inherited...it is horrible!). It's going to take a little time to pry me out of this rut. Doing something like moving out of the house I have been in for 9+ years is super-daunting. Right now, I am looking for the small things I can do to get ready and trying to focus on those. And not thinking ahead to what the big things are. I was talking to someone this weekend and they said that they had noticed that I am stuck; not in my ideal situation but just comfortable enough: in the suburbs, friends I really love in my neighborhood, living at the top of a hill. Jebus, that hill is such a metaphor. I need to take my foot off the brakes a little and let myself roll down.

And step two: removed myself from a bunch of aliases at work. The worst thing that could happen is I don't get a mail that wasn't an absolute requirement that I see in the first place. It's almost definitely my ego that tells me that I need to be on these aliases, because I am very, very important (I am not) and need *all* of this information. Most of it sits in my inbox and then gets deleted. But not before it makes me feel either a) annoyed or b) like a failure for not doing a better job of keeping up on my mail. Enough of that.

And taking deep breaths. And trusting myself. This is going to be good.

My complicated relationship with stuff

HeatherLeigh — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:09:00 GMT

I've been thinking a lot lately about my stuff. Like, all my *things*. I know this is a little weird. It's probably more reasonable to think about one thing like your car, or your kick ass doll collection (sorry...kidding). But with all the exploring I have done to help me understand my world and what makes me happy, stuff comes up. Like, actual stuff. And it's complicated.

I may have mentioned in the past that when I first started making money; beyond what was actually required to pay rent and feed myself, I started acquiring. Different people react to the same thing in different ways. For me, not having meant having as much as I could get my hands on, once I had the cash. And an Old Navy opened up near me around this time. Synchronicity!

When I imagined what I wanted my life to be, the picture in my head included things. If you ever take the time to investigate the pictures in your head, there's some pretty interesting stuff there. Fairly recently, I realized that when I pictured myself and "family," it was someone else's family at a big dinner table and I was passing someone something. I appear to be pretty comfortable in this picture. Anyway, the life picture with things. It kind of looks like a Martha Stewart magazine shoot, which makes a lot of sense because I was reading a lot of that stuff. Articles about these ridiculous things to have or make that were totally unrealistic to the point of being masochistic. I kept all those magazines too. You know, in case I wanted to learn how to flock my own nest.

Anyway, given this (and it's sad commentary on the state of my own psychology back then), I started acquiring. Speaking of flocking a nest. Clothes and every unitasker I could get my hands on. If I had to ask myself if I was happy back then, I would probably say no. Not because there was anything specific making me unhappy (though the stuff didn't help), but because I didn't realize that you had to work to be happy.

Even recently, I've had a conversation with a friend and then realized that we just spent an hour talking about "things". Five years ago, that would have felt like a good conversation because I surely would have gotten information about where to buy good things, good things I hadn't thought of yet or the best....how to organize all the things you have. Whee! Now, I find myself observing the conversation and asking myself what good it is doing me. The stuff I buy now is better stuff (pay the money for the good stuff and buy it once) but it's not because of that that my relationship to my stuff has changed.

People will tell you that your stuff doesn't make you happy (just like money). And I disagree to a point. I can find some happiness in some things (a good Chloe bag). But it doesn't work if I am not already happy. And generating that kind of happiness takes a lot of work. Buying the Chloe bag is easy. It's really simple to say that things are bad; our attachments to things are bad. But I'm working to strike more of a balance...find the middle path. This means finding the peaceful ground between austerity and luxury. This means I can treasure things, but not to the exclusion of things that are more important. And really, for me, not too many things. Did I mention my limited attention span?

Lately, this has meant that I have been very mindful of my feelings toward things. This week I heard myself say out loud that I fantasized about selling everything and disappearing. That was an honest thing to say, but I didn't exactly pull it from the top of my consciousness. I was kind of surprised to hear it come out of my mouth. I think that what I was feeling is a growing ability to separate my self (2 words) from the things that I had previously used to define me. I don't even want to look back on the blog post I wrote when I bought my car. I cared so much. I still really enjoy my car but it feels different now. It's a thing. And if I were to lose it, my life doesn't change that much (I'll tell you where it's parked...keys are in it). I feel lighter. And yet I am still surrounded by my stuff; much of which shows up on my doorstep in a brown box (thanks interwebz!). Life is a struggle.

So I am not going to sell all my stuff and hit the road. I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be (in life, in general, so many things are going right). Not because any being says so but because my life feels really comfortable to me right now. I am learning so much from things that bring me pain and I am thankful every day. Every. Day. But I do feel like a change is coming. I am almost worried about the people in my life seeing this because I don't know what it means. What I feel like I am being drawn toward is simplicity and putting myself in the right place for good things to happen to me. I'm thinking of selling my house. And I am thinking that what I am going to do, I have to do alone. Even if I am not "alone," I am doing it alone; it's *my* change. And I am probably writing this to work it out.

The things that made me happy don't work for me any more. And if I really think about it, they never did. This would all sound sad if you didn't know that I am really starting to know what does make me happy and it's within my control (because it's not like I can change my personality overnight). I guess you could say that I am getting my house in order on the inside and putting it on the market on the outside. In the past, I would make changes to get away from something negative. This feels very different.

This wasn't exactly where I planned to go with this blog post. I should probably also make clear, because I am blogging at work, that I am NOT interviewing for a new job. This isn't about that. I'm still totally committed to my work and excited about what it could be bringing this year. And trust me, I am going to hover over that "publish" button for a little while before I post this. Writing about my stuff, which actually started because I wanted to link to what Penelope had to say about her stuff, is making me realize that "my complicated relationship with stuff" doesn't exist in a vacuum and there is something else going on here. And I think that I may have been hovering over the "publish" button too long.

How relevant is that liberal arts degree in the workplace?

HeatherLeigh — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:30:00 GMT

In a recent New York Times article (and I kind of want to punch myself for just typing that), Kate Zernike discusses degree selection and the adjustment colleges and universities are making due to shifts in the social and economic environment. Some schools are doing away with liberal arts degrees like English and philosophy because of a lack of connection between the subject matter and the future profession. It's not really that the universities don't see the connection (though their arguments aren't particularly compelling: you need to know how to write well in the professional world), it's that enrollments are down which makes me think that the students and their families don't see the connection.

When I selected a major, I was "strongly encouraged" to select business. Ah, that precarious time in my life when I wasn't confident enough to fight the power and study something that inspired me. Ah well, the business degree has come in handy. Or has it?

I kind of envied those more educated in the humanities; they are so much better at interesting conversation. My grasp of the classics is seriously lacking. Canterbury Tales? I have no idea. I also hate opera and the symphony for anyone keeping score on how unsophisticated I am. All those things people are supposed to pretend they like? I can't muster the energy. But books? Ooooh, how I love books.

I hear discussion about the balance of the liberal arts and the more "practical" elements of the curriculum. And those are both important. But I think I learned the most at college outside of the classroom. And I am not talking about beer bongs and fraternity parties. There's a social element that I also think is very important, which is also achieved through a liberal arts education. I'm not defending the practicality of that kind of education just based on the social aspects of college life. Just saying it needs to be discussed.

I know that colleges and universities are businesses and their product is the new graduate. And so maybe you (or they) measure the quality of the product based on the first job out of school. But for the person (and their parents or other influencers) entering school; paying for school, there is a potential lifetime of impact that education is going to have on the individual. Colleges make decisions around getting their product out the door, consumers make their decisions taking into account a much longer product life. See the disparity?

People need to think about how the university and the degree are viewed by employers throughout the life of the individual; specifically in the argument about whether or not a liberal arts education is relevant anymore. First job out of school? Your degree can be really important, especially if you aren't using personal connections to get it (and honey, if you've got them, use them). As time passes, the balance of focus shifts away from the education and toward experience. At some point in your career, is it possible that people won't give a rip about whether you went to college at all? Yeah, totally. And frequently where I work. I guess what I am saying is that the discussion I see isn't really about whether or not a more "practical" degree choice is going to impact you throughout your career, but the part it plays in preparing you for your first job. Because all that foundational good learnin' that helps you through life? Well much of that can be achieved through a course of study focused on the humanities. I mean, did anyone take any philosophy classes? That stuff is hard! I took an art class once that almost made me cry (how am I supposed to know what the artist was feeling when he painted that hub cap? A hubcap!).

I don't really have any agenda in defending the liberal arts education, now that I have totally written about how it mostly only matters in your first job out of college. My degree is in business. And I am not sure if it's just the romantic notion of reading and writing, art, etcetera that really appeals to me. But let me throw 2 more things at you:

Waldorf schools (AKA Steiner Schools). I saw part of a documentary about different types of education in some parts of Europe relative to their more western alternatives. You know, "we" (westerners) start kids out young learning the alphabet and numbers. In the Waldorf system, children engage in play until the age of 7. It's supervised play, but it's different than what we do here. And studies have found that countries that utilize the Waldorf system actually have students that not only catch up but surpass the standardized test scores (math and science) of western countries later in their education. I can't name the studies...I thought I was just watching an interesting TV show, not prepping for a blog post. But they are out there. Stick with me. I don't really understand all the factors that underlie the outcome. I'm just saying that there is something there. And maybe it's not just about little kids but bigger kids too. Maybe there is a benefit of not pushing a college student into to a too narrowly-focused field of study so soon. Maybe, where play can be foundational to grade school learning, we can extrapolate that exploring the arts can be foundational to later learning. I don't know. Just something to think about.

Second thing: Daniel Pink. I've mentioned his book, "A Whole New Mind" a couple of times before but am guessing only the few die-hard One Louder readers among you (not sure you are out there of if that's just the crickets) could even recall. Anyway, the book talks about the shift in the current economy from a workplace that values left-brain thinking to one that outsources left-brain dominant tasks and see right-brain thinking as a valued talent differentiator. Well, if you think about the "professions" versus the liberal arts, which one is more right-brain focused and which more left? Mmm hmm. Great book, by the way, if you are looking for something to read. Of course I liked it; Righty McRightbrain over here.

I'm not qualified to advise anyone on education decisions, universities or individuals. And I am definitely not defending or promoting anything. I'm just saying that I think what we are experiencing is a point-in-time perspective that is reactive to the job market and that the solution may not be as simple as it seems.

(And I am on some pretty impressive cold meds right now, so don't blame my USC education for my coherent writing skills today...or lack thereof)

I have to admit, I am not sure this is a good idea.

HeatherLeigh — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:02:00 GMT

Bill Gates starts Twittering.

I can't say for sure that it's not a good idea. I have just seen so many people, important people even, jump on the blog or Twitter bandwagon; because it's gained popularity, probably because someone is telling them they should do it, that I am wary. Very few have done this well. And boy do you have a microscope on you if you are someone like BillG.

So when I see something like this, I think back to some of my learnings from blogging. Not because I am important (I'm not...and not nearly as smart as him either). But because being effective at social media requires an investment; not just in time, but also in authenticity. It's an investment that not everyone is comfortable with or can even make work if they are. There's some little thing that people who are effective at this social media thing have; part voice, part mind share juju, part motivation and I'm pretty sure some pixie dust is involved. Here are some of the questions I would ask myself (not my marketing team!), if I were Bill.

1) Does this support a strategy?

Trendiness is not a good reason to adopt social media. Because when time gets tight, other priorities come up, and/or "the top of my head" is devoid of new things to post, authorship gets hard. And at that point, your marketing team are exactly the wrong folks to help you out. Sorry, marketing people. You have an important job that is about controlling the message. It's a job pretty inconsistent with social media. And I can spot marketing content a mile away. I'm not the only one. I'm not saying that marketing people don't get it. I'm just saying that asking your marketing team to be responsible for blog or Twitter content is like asking Paula Dean to write a diet book. Not a good fit. I know I am going to get it for this one.

2) Is that strategy long-term?

Social media relies on the building of community. And once you have built it, you kind of have to live in it for a while. If you don't, you will be missed. And your followers will feel toyed with. And then they will undo some of the good.

3) Does the tool have staying power?

Today's Twitter is tomorrow's ??? Seriously. Remember MySpace? (OK, not ready to put the nail in the coffin just yet, but I have a hammer in my hand)

4) Do the benefits of usage of the tool supersede the cost of my time?

Simple ROI equation. For someone like Bill, there has to be some significant R to justify that I. And his I costs way more than my I. Better garner some big-a** R. All I'm saying.

5) Do I know who my target audience is and how this tool can target them?

One of the most common social media mistakes I see, regularly: people don't take the time to understand who their target audience is. I have a feeling that Bill (and whomever else might be involved) has an idea who his target audience is. Because marketing folks can be really good at this exercise. The intended audience needs to be effectively matched to the tool. Well, actually the other way around.I tell people that the strategy comes first and then the tool. Well, part of the strategy is knowing your audience and that of the tool. If Ashton and all his followers are part of your desired audience, you're golden. Oh, I suppose there are some other twitter followers too.

6) Do I have something interesting to say? Frequently enough to not only attract but engage?

This, I have struggled with. And I am sure that I am willing to say some things that Bill would never say. He has a more interesting and important life than I do, but he also has more limits. Because the market doesn't care much if I rip on Steve Jobs, but if he does it. Well...you know. And when you do say something and it starts a dialog, then you have to respond. And that's not always convenient, especially when you are trying to help solve the world AIDS epidemic.

Anyway, we will see what will become of this. I definitely wish Bill a lot of luck with this. What can I say? I like the guy. This almost had to be Bill's idea and authenticity and reach should have been really important pieces of what they are trying to do here. But I'm not really sure what the point is yet. And I am pretty sure that Bill's marketing and PR people aren't going to tell me.

You drop food on the floor

HeatherLeigh — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:22:00 GMT

Do you eat it?

My household just became considerably less angsty.

(Source: SF Weekly Foodie Blog)

Inspiring manifesto

HeatherLeigh — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:51:00 GMT

I haven't shopped at lululemon yet, though all my girlfriends talk about it. I may have mentioned that I have started training for a marathon (did I mention that here or only on facebook?). And I'm still trying to figure out what gear I need. I believe that lululemon is in my future. Cute athletic-wear gets my butt in gear.

Anyway, in the meantime, check out their company manifesto:

I LOVE it! I've become one of those people that talks to myself in simple affirmations. It's helpful to me. They are reminders of things I know but can forget when my mind gets wrapped around something imminent (and usually negative). So telling myself "this too shall pass" or asking myself my favorite questions, "is this important?" (as in, will I care about this a year from now?) or "is this productive?" help me unlatch my mind from that distraction and focus on something positive. So far, there have been no emblazoned coffee mugs or t-shirts. Just simple reminders that help me navigate my day in a more positive way. If you see me looking like I am talking to a voice in my head, rest assured...I am.

So you can see why this manifesto appeals to me. I'm such a sucker. I'm totally more interested in shopping there now.