Good thing we don't make any mistakes in Marketing at Blue Sky Factory. Ha ha. In all seriousness, you have an excellent point. I think one thing that goes hand in hand with taking a step (or steps) back to see what may be broken is not being afraid to try new things. As you've done already at BSF – drop a button on a few pages, update some forms, toss in an eBook offer, etc. The worst thing that can happen is nothing (well, that's not *entirely* true, but you get my point).

Happy to have a ninja like you on our squad.

DJ Waldow
Director of Community, Blue Sky Factory
@djwaldow

I love Justin's post. And to answer his question: I'd rather be interesting, because I've never been popular (at least, not in high school or college!) so I'm not sure I'd be too keen on becoming popular now! I'm comfortable with being unpopular and interesting.

How about you? For someone who likes to wake up to the sound of ambulances and tweets about snorting potato salad, you must be interesting. amirite or what?

An extreme example… We once had very odd statistics concerning event-tracking in our web analytics software. We were sure that the software was set up wrong; something had to be broken… because the data was showing a large percentage of individuals downloading the same file multiple times per visit.

After engaging several technical support people and wasting a lot of time troubleshooting the software, it was determined that everything was set up properly. People *were* repeatedly downloading the same file. The problem was in the design of the page… the interface was awkward. A quick change there and the data sorted itself out.

This stuff also applies to offline events as well. Imagine a campaign where your analytics is showing amazing conversion data at great cost-per-conversion. No sales materialize. Its tempting to blame the sales team for not converting the leads. A bit more digging though could easily determine that the campaign itself is flawed, as its drawing in the wrong people.

Great post Chris!

You'd probably be very interested to read Justin's post here: http://www.justinkownacki.com/2010/03/16/would-...

Would you rather be interesting or popular. Your comment reminded me of it.

You'd probably be very interested to read Justin's post here: http://www.justinkownacki.com/2010/03/16/would-...

Would you rather be interesting or popular. Your comment reminded me of it.

When I saw the title of the blogpost, I was thinking you were STAYING in a hotel named Ceviche!

One food safety note, though: You should never defrost anything in warm water. Cold water, gently flowing, is best. it's actually the motion of the water more than the actual temperature that is responsible for the defrosting (thermogenics, ya know!) While I'm sure it's fine to do this for your single serving of fish, it's generally not a good practice if you're defrosting anything larger like say, a turkey! You want all parts of the protein to remain OUT of the temperature danger zone at all times.

I see so many people blogging about the same things, especially in the social media marketing/pr circles. Everyone talks about the importance of quality of content. Everyone talks about building relationships and trust. Everyone talks about being passionate. Everyone talks about doing things differently from the competition.

There are a bunch of people right now on Twitter claiming to be social media rockstars, gurus, experts, etc. and all RT-ing every little post you and Chris Brogan and Seth Godin and the other social media leaders churn out. And yet, many of those very people are just blogging about what they saw you and the other social media people write about, thinking that is the key to success. You and the other folks became successful because you did something different. You went beyond replicating the characteristics of the successful people you saw.

So, that last step you mention is really important.

1. Given the ADHD nature of the social media crowd, if you can't find mention of your original post on Twitter search, it's fair game because it's gone from memory.

2. My disclaimer on my site reads in part:
“I reserve the right to do whatever I want on my personal web site”.

Very good analogy. Simplicity in everything we do can benefit our business, marketing and lives.

To add to the thought… Photography is one of the main elements people look at when landing on a Web site. Photography should not be afterthought (as it often is). Ask yourself, does a cheap generic photograph really cut through the noise and represent your company? It's amazing how many business will take a poor snap shot with the closest digital camera to represent their product or service to the world. What kind of impression is that leaving?

The same can be said for design, writing and strategy. Just because a photograph is in focus, well composed and properly exposed doesn't mean it will get anyone's attention, just like your marketing.

Rosh

I finished the post –(from Chris Brogan’s recommendation)- pleasantly surprised and, indeed inspired.

The one line “You don’t have to believe. You merely have to do” is a fantastic synopsis of the battle to be creative despite fatigue, distractions and the responsibilities of everyday life. It is a powerful and confrontational statement which accepts the high and lows as equal in opportunity to do good works.

I'm sure your recent job change had a dramatic effect on this balance. I bet it's incredibly invigorating to realize that barriers from your last position just aren't there (e.g., government regulations!). Maybe you're surrounded completely by people who have seen the new media light, too. Whatever it is, I'm glad your fire is burning fiercely. Can't wait to see what you accomplish next.

http://www.peachesenrisotto.com/risotto-style-p...

I”m a long time reader, but a first time commenter (at least I think), and I didn't want to be presumptuous or appear spammy.

Recently I learned a new way to cook pasta, that I feel should have been obvious but never thought to of, thanks to Mark Bittman of the NYT. I've been cooking my pasta 'risotto' style by introducing small amounts of water or chicken broth after a quick caramelization of the pasta in a little oil, garlic and shallot. This method requires more active participation in the process, but produces some of the most amazing pasta I've ever had.

A general note about pasta. (This is my wife's note because by tastebuds were stunted for many many years – till I met her ) Most people overcook the pasta and it tastes like mush. NEVER EVER cook the pasta beforehand and serve it with the meal hours later. You cook the pasta right before you serve the meal.

Many restaurants ALSO overcook their pasta. When you are paying 15-25 bucks for pasta the least they can do is cook the noodle properly. It SHOULD have a BIT of resistance to the tooth, the noodle should be somewhat firm, but not “tacky” as you say. Mushy pasta in a restaurant is a sign of poor quality control. Mushy pasta in an Italian restaurant is blasphemy.

My wife (and generations in her family before her) has a similar trick with the pasta sauce except that she immediately puts a ladle or 2 of sauce on the pasta after it has been strained and put in a pot. She mixes the sauce into the hot pasta so that every noodle is coated with sweet sauce. THEN she puts the pasta noodles on the plates and each plate gets another ladle or two of the sauce.

THEN – she freshly grates some Parmesan cheese over it all. Delisioso!

DJ Waldow
@djwaldow

@SuzanneVara

I know this isn't what you're writing about in this post – but when the title said “Calls To Action”, thats the actions I thought off – the ones that help those people

Being authentic and having substance is the first step in creating a personal br@nd. I still think though we are talking about personal imaging over personal branding.

I have thought about this alot as well:
http://www.youbrandinc.com/personal-branding-is...

PS. Nice use of link text in “best _________ company”, after all….. who searches for company names right?

And Nicolette Chinomona makes a very good point in the comments. It is much easier to be a brand clone of another because you can't be personally hurt/rejected when you create a false image of yourself. But in marketing, advertising and branding (even history has proven) the spoils go to those who are able to step outside of the box, invest in themselves and take a gamble. Few people ever became wealthy or successful by being a lemming.

The biggest mistake I see do-it-yourselfers make is being a part of the contextual network right out of the starting gate.

I accept the challenge, after all, where’s the excitement in life, if you can’t be yourself? Great post, made me really reflect on some of the choices I’ll have to make in personal branding and I like the way it was blunt and to the point. Briefly blogged my thoughts on my super fresh blog nicolettec.posterous.com. I’ll keep reading you.

Great post, interesting stuff to ponder.

When I first started my business, I clouded my brand with offering too many services. When I distilled my skills to their purest element, I discovered that while I am a fine marketer and a fine PR rep, what I do best is write. And I started putting myself out there accordingly. Since doing that, my business has increased tremendously, not to mention the fact that I'm enjoying it a heckuva lot more.

Don't be a dittohead. Thanks, Mr. Penn!

“You’ll have to let go of an awful lot that you think is you” – This is gold. Everyday we wake up meet new people, learn new things, gain new insights … we change our thinking. We need to give ourselves permission to let the old die off to make room for the new.

A lot of what have been writing lately, hits home big time. Finding the essential quality within ourselves is the greatest journey anyone could take. If I may offer some humble advice, don't try to find your essential quality, let it find you. Be still and don't fill every waking moment with activity. Make some time for quiet reflection. This I have found has been a great asset in discovering what I, David Murray, is all about… well kind of

And that's another point I'd like to make. Don't worry too much on pinpointing or defining your essential quality. Like all things such attempts of labeling defeat the purpose, in my opinion. Things like quality, passion, personal brand exist outside of us. At least that is what I've learned….