business cards...really?
The other day we rush printed new business cards for some of us heading to SXSW. (Check out my new title!)
You can't go to a major conference like SXSW without cards, right? Wrong. I handed out about four cards. Maybe five, if you include the card that was required to get a free t-shirt at the Veer booth.
And for me, SXSW was all about meeting people. I met hundreds of new people. Some amazing people. Some really smart people. The thing is, they don't need my card. And I don't need theirs. If we made a mark on each other, we know how to find each other - and we've probably already connected on Twitter.
People like Steve Rubel are really proud of the fact that their Twitter ID is now on their card. (We've been doing this for years.) I ask: do we really need cards at all?
We are in desperate need for a universal contact exchange (that people are willing to adopt) that does not involve paper. Plenty of companies have invented this, but no one has created a product that's hit the hot button. Yet. This has to come soon. Maybe Google, Facebook or Twitter will make it happen. Or maybe we'll just keep printing rectangular squares with website addresses on them.
How many pieces of paper have you left behind, recently?
Labels: green, productivity, sxsw, trends, twitter, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
1 comments
Friday, March 05, 2010
it's friday. your boss doesn't really expect productivity today anyway.
I am guessing that if you download this app today, you will get nothing done all day, AND be a big hit at your office. Just a suggestion.
Labels: creativeinspiration, iphone, productivity
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:11 AM
0 comments
why do day traders need better setups than internet workers?
Couldn't you use few more browser windows? Wouldn't this make your cube just a little more delicious? Just wondering.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:04 AM
0 comments
Thursday, February 25, 2010
easy reader RSS ready for action
I'm always surprised at the number of people who don't use RSS readers. (In reality, it's probably the minority of internet users that do.) And if you're not using an RSS reader, you're probably spending way more time reading a lot less than the rest of us.
If you fall into this category, Laura Newman points to a really simple, fun reader called Feedly that looks almost like a magazine page. Looks easy, looks nice, and will save you hours and hours of reading and clicking the old fashioned way.
Labels: productivity, rss, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:03 AM
0 comments
Thursday, February 11, 2010
it's time to celebrate lousy meetings
Ever wonder how much money you waste in unnecessary meetings?
Now you can calculate the exact value of a lousy meeting, with the handy new Meet or Die tool. Complete with cute alien blob host, Goolah. From @gregverdino.
Labels: creativeinspiration, productivity
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:45 AM
0 comments
Monday, February 01, 2010
could you take a vacation from email?
Here's a cool auto-reply email that harks back to the old days when people took vacations. Without laptops. Or mobile devices. Or wifi.
From @lauranewm
Labels: email, productivity
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:53 AM
0 comments
Friday, January 22, 2010
why you're not getting any work done
Ever wonder where your ten hour work day disappears to? Check out the Hierarchy of Digital Distraction, and all will be clear.
Labels: productivity, social media, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:50 AM
0 comments
meet your personal assistant on twitter
Twuition is like your personal assistant on Twitter. Want to know the temperature in Miami? Ask Twuition. Or the nearest location of a business? Twuition to the rescue.
Here's how it works:
Type in the appropriate hashtag (ie: twuitionweather, cityname), and @twuition will respond to you with the answer.
There are currently four or five hashtags being serviced that include weather, locations, product pricing and a couple of others. It's all paid for by sponsored tweets. (Which, since you don't expect Twuition to be a real human, we suppose is ok.)
Labels: productivity, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:25 AM
0 comments
Thursday, December 31, 2009
a fun way to stop looking like an idiot
Send this to everyone in your office (we did), and get them schooled on the 10 words that are embarrassing to spell incorrectly. This is especially important in the age of email and tweetdom.
If you're making New Year's resolutions, you might want to start with making sure everyone on the team knows the difference between there, their and they're, as well as your, and you're.
Pretty pictures and excellent copywriting make it feel like fun, instead of learning. From @gregverdino.
Labels: blogging, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:45 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
run my errand: like having interns on call
Run my Errand is a new service that gets someone else to do your chores for you.
From Mashable: You import your Facebook data via Facebook Connect. Once done, you just add the details of your errand, when you need it done, where it should be done, and who should run the errand. Once posted, a RunMyErrand runner will pick up the task and execute it.
Most errands are completed by a background-checked errand runner for less than $10. Sounds like a win. The startup company is funded by the Facebook Fund and currently only available in Boston - but plans on spreading to 14 other cities soon.
Labels: facebook, productivity, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:49 AM
3 comments
Thursday, August 06, 2009
clean up your messy desktop
PC users: here's what looks like a cool new tool that lets you organize your messy desktop into need little groups. Without losing your Hannah Montana desktop background. From Steve Rubel.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:22 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Gen DIY just does’t like middlemen
Pink ladders and music—it’ll connect in a sec. Eric over at ideasonideas raises some good points about the music industry and where it’s at right now. He sums it up in a way that I think many people would agree with: I want to pay those who make the music, but not the people in between. But this leads to something bigger I think. We just don’t want middlemen in anything. Travel agents? See ya. I use Kayak, Expedia, and so on. Salesperson help you pick out that washer dryer? No thanks. Epinions said it sucks. Wait for the evening news? I have Twitter. Pay a designer to spruce up a family room or redo a bathroom? Ehhh, no thanks, I have Trading Spaces. This facilitating of your inner DIY is in no small part a result of the growth of search. No matter what the topic, you are now an expert with no need for middlemen.
Labels: productivity
posted by mtlb @ 11:30 AM
2 comments
Monday, May 11, 2009
share documents on twitter
File this under "wish you thought of it."
Twitdoc lets you upload documents and photos, and then share them on Twitter. Huge.
Labels: productivity, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:57 AM
0 comments
Monday, April 27, 2009
get your tweet on while the boss watches
You have a need to tweet. Your boss needs you to work. Instead of managing your time or using some of the awesome social tools that make it easy, you could just pretend to work, while tweeting the day away.
Thanks to Spreadtweet, you can now disguise Twitter as an ugly, borriffic spreadsheet. So you're tweeting and your boss is smiling. Until the end of the day, when your work is still there. From Buzzfeed.
Labels: productivity, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:09 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 30, 2009
never make a decision alone again.
You'll need an invite code to give this a try now (don't ask us, we're locked out too), but Hunch looks like it might be a cool tool.
Hunch looks to be a site that helps you make decisions. Like a magic eight ball, but we assume (just a hunch) that there's a bunch more logic applied. Not that the Magic Eight Ball can't make good decisions. Outlook good.
From Steve Hall.
Labels: productivity, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:16 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 16, 2009
send large files super easy
Need to send a large file to a client or vendor, but don't have access to FTP? Confused by FTP, or not even sure what the heck it is? Not to worry.
Senduit allows you to upload a file, send a private link to your recipient, and give it a deadline. Like that. Simple. Easy. Awesome.
Labels: productivity, technology, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:06 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 02, 2009
how to actually get some work done
Social media tools getting in the way of your productivity? Too many tweets, blog posts, Facebook updates and FriendFeeds? Not to worry - Mac users. Freedom is here.
Freedom is a tool (Mac only, for now) that disables your network for a time period that you assign. So you can't check Twitter or Facebook. No matter how much your brain says you need to. The only way to get your social fix back is to restart your computer - which should be enough of a deterrent to make you wonder...do I really need to tweet? Now?
(It's like having a militant IT staff that you control!)
From Tim Ferriss, the President of productivity, via Twitter.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
2 comments
Thursday, January 29, 2009
we don't need money
There's a nice post on ThreeMinds that reminds us of why and how people work in the new digital economy. For decades, studies have proven that employees are not motivated primarily by money. Lori's post is a nice reminder to this point, and has some nice links, quotes and thoughts on the topic. From an older Seth Godin book:
The passionate worker doesn't show up because she's afraid of getting in trouble, she shows up because it's a hobby that pays. The passionate worker is busy blogging on vacation... because posting that thought and seeing the feedback it generates is actually more fun than sitting on the beach for another hour.
Seth had another great related point in Tribes, about how so many people spend 50 weeks in jobs they hate for 2 weeks of time they can enjoy. Shouldn't that be the other way around? For many digital workers, that's definitely the case.
(Coworker Chris ponders this while working in a spinning teacup, above.) Thanks Lori for a great reminder to why we're all here, and to make sure our priorities are aligned for the rest of the year!
Labels: productivity, trends, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:16 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 26, 2009
some wise career advice. pass it on.
Brian Morrissey has posted some really, really good career advice from David Verklins (the guy in the suit, pictured above). Here's what Mr. Verklins recommends to people just getting their careers going:
1. Work harder than your boss.
2. Never follow a superstar.
3. Look for turnarounds
Details on the three magic points to success at Brian's blog.
Labels: creativeinspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:09 AM
1 comments
Monday, January 19, 2009
paper: never crashes.
You're a creative person. You wear a bunch of hats. Sometimes during meetings, you need to take notes. Sometimes you need to draw pictures. Now there's a notebook that lets you do both. The Doane Paper notebooks feature grids and lines. So both sides of your brain can be splendidly happy.
Lovers: these will make excellent Valentine's Day gifts for the creative superstar in your life. From Mark Wolfe, via Twitter.
Labels: productdesign, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:17 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 05, 2009
be ready to fail
Eric Karjaluoto from SmashLab, and creator of MakeFive, has some very realistic but depressing advice for you. If you're considering a startup this year, you should expect to fail.
Eric shares in Why your web startup will fail the things that you can expect to happen in a typical year of a startup. He details the stuff that the retired dude from the Small Business Administration might not be able to tell you over coffee at the community center. And he speaks from experience.
This is a great reality check for anyone planning a new startup this year. Do it because you love it. Because you believe in it. Not because you think you're going to get bought by Google and sit on the beach. Get ready to fail!
(Failed cake image from the yummiest fail blog in the land, Cake Wrecks.)
Labels: productivity, smallagency, web2.0, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:45 AM
1 comments
Monday, December 29, 2008
what you can learn from a rented dvd
Chris Brogan writes about how he was inspired after watching the special features portion of the Iron Man DVD. He sums up how success can be reached by achieving three layers: vision, creation and execution.
He's onto something. Every successful director needs to communicate his vision to hundreds (if not thousands) of people involved in the production process. And if that process is going to work, then the creation and execution have to be aligned with his/her vision. Not an easy feat.
There's a great lesson here for any leader of any organization, team, or brand, large or small. Check out Chris' post, and the enlightening discussion in the comments over at his blog.
Labels: branding, creativeinspiration, film, inspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:34 AM
0 comments
poker: the ultimate business learning tool
Tony, the world-famous CEO to Zappos, has a wonderful post illustrating how everything that he knows about business, he learned from playing poker. He's actually working on a book with the same theme - so consider this your sneak peek!
Labels: creativeinspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
1 comments
Monday, December 22, 2008
how to make a good impression
BusinessWeek has some smart advice on making a good impression. Seven rules that should be common sense to each of us, but sometimes you need a good reminder on how things work. The end of the year is a good time for that.
This was the number one bookmarked site on Delicious yesterday, so apparently we could all use some brushing up. Pass it along.
(If all else fails, you can show up with a plate of burgers. Sara says that works like a charm.)
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:21 AM
4 comments
Thursday, December 11, 2008
appy holidays from google
If you've thought about totally dumping that Microsoft Office application that takes six minutes to startup on your computer, now may be the time to check out the Google desktop apps. They've bundled everything together in a cute holiday way. They call it Appy Holidays.
The Google elves have created templates, holiday themes, and everything that you'll need to organize, communicate, print or publish your holidayness. Mmmmmm. Google. Almost as good as chocolate.
Labels: google, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:16 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
your holiday gifts can now communicate via twitter
Spent a load of cash celebrating cyber Monday yesterday? Have a load of goodies on the way to your house? Wouldn't it be great if they could 'tweet' you about their location?
They can!! Thanks to TrackThis, you'll get tweets when your package leaves the warehouse, arrives in the distribution center, gets on the delivery truck, and when it's delivered to your door.
This is one of the most awesome Twitter tools yet. Found on HeyStephanie.
Labels: productivity, social media, twitter, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:08 AM
4 comments
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
stop checking your email. right now.
You've read all of the productivity books, and subscribed to the work efficiency theories. So you know it's a bad idea to let your inbox control your every moment of every day. And yet it's got a hold of you, like heroin. Or a good chocolate chip cookie.
Thankfully, you can let go. Because Jared and his team of super geniuses have created a wonderful new tool. AwayFind. The video above explains exactly how it works better than I could ever write in a sentence here.
We met Jared at SXSW last year, and were immediately impressed. We just hope that he remembers us when Google buys his new product for 86 katrillion dollars.
Labels: productivity, web2.0, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:18 AM
1 comments
Friday, November 14, 2008
we're going to disneyworld!
Not a lot of posts today, as Plaid heads to Orlando for our annual planning meetings. Each year we take a long weekend, go somewhere fun, and reinvent our company. We look at every process, procedure, success, failure, goals and desires and ask ourselves how we can do better.
We've held these meetings for years, and with great success. Each year we get better, grow faster and evolve our brand. We highly recommend the same for any small agency, business or even divisions from larger companies.
We bring the core team from our CT office, and it's a blast. Yes - there's hours of meetings to be had, but they're done by the pool, at the bar, or anywhere where the sun shines or cocktails are served.
We'll also get some free time to visit DisneyWorld. A few of the Plaid crew have never been there, which should be a gas. We're already talking about which Disney characters we need to get pics with. I'm on a quest to find the love of my life, Snow White.
Plaid (and BrandFlakes) will be back in action on Monday morning, with mouse ears on.
Labels: plaid, productivity, self promotion, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:08 AM
1 comments
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
are you working 2.0 style?
Zen Habits has a fun breakdown showing the difference between the workplace 2.0 and workplace 1.0. And by 1.0, they probably mean the workplace of a couple of years ago, not a bunch of years ago, like MadMen. If the 1980's were workplace 1.0, then the MadMen must have been workplace .50, Beta.
Which means that when we move to workplace 2.5, we'll probably combine 2.0 habits with .5 habits. So if you're an early adopter, you should be drinking whiskey and smoking right now, while working with deep focus. Or something like that.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:24 AM
0 comments
Monday, September 15, 2008
tech crunch 50. the yammering starts now.
Now that TechCrunch 50 is over, it's time to review the list and see what's hot, what's happening and what works.
The big winner in the bunch is Yammer - a Twitterish tool made just for the people within your company. This has got to be a wonderous tool for big companies, but we think it has value for small firms, too. We're using it to share quick ideas, thoughts and stuff that might not be worthy of a group email, but worthy of discussion or chat. Other firms seem to be doing the same.
We've done a quick review (meaning we looked at the descriptions and clicked through to the sites) of the other TechCrunch 50 companies, and here's the stuff we like:
Schryk
LiveHit
Devunity
OtherInBox
Me-trics
iCharts
Dropbox
Closet Couture
TrueCar
Want to learn more? Watch all of the videos. It's the next best thing to being there. Interesting side note: All the good urls are gone. If you're starting a brand, it's almost a necessity to invent a word, or have a url that's a string of words.
What are you loving from the fab 50?
Labels: adindustry, productivity, technology, trends, twitter, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:46 AM
0 comments
Thursday, August 07, 2008
how to get business at a social event
Jon Ray (shown above doing the world famous Brian Shaler jump) has some excellent advice for how to get business at the tweetup later today. Or the 2.0 party that's happening in your neighborhood. Or wherever you might be going to meet other people that you'd like to be doing business with. Five easy tips that make sense. (Brian Shaler jump optional.)
Labels: adindustry, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM
0 comments
Monday, August 04, 2008
search can be beautiful
Tired of all the Cuil hype? Check out Viewzi, a search engine that supplies results in a visually inspiring manner, while giving users several options to review their results. I'm not sure how long this has been around, but it looks to be a pretty cool tool. Thanks Rob!
Labels: google, productivity, search
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:04 AM
4 comments
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
start tracking everything
Ryan Kuder has turned us onto zeaLog, a new social measuring tool. Use it to keep track of, measure, graph and track whatever you're doing. And then share and compare with friends from across the world.
It's a simple, fun tool to use, and I wonder what kind of mashups might be possible. Like would it be possible to make a social version of a running tool, similar to NikePlus?? Could graphs be embedded into other media? Lot of possibilities and ideas are churning...
It's in beta now, but sign up (or beg someone more popular than me) for an invite.
Labels: mashup, productivity, social media, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:59 AM
5 comments
Thursday, July 24, 2008
a tool you need right now
How many times have you been in a situation where you didn't want to type notes into your iPhone, but weren't carrying your heavy Moleskine notebook or your laptop around? "I'll remember this idea." Yep. We've all been there, and you know you'll never remember that grand idea, website, or other snippet of genius that you're not writing down.
You need Field Notes. This is an awesome product that we discovered while on the Plaid tour. What cell phone cameras are to digital cameras, Field Notes are to notebooks and laptops.
They fit in the back pocket of your jeans. You can bend it, drop it, write on the cover and never stress about it. Just big enough, just small enough.
We're using them on tour for show notes, reminders and things that we need to remember for later. Mine is pictured above. And it's awesome.
What's in your pocket?
Labels: productivity
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:23 AM
5 comments
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
steve woodruff is waiting for your genius
Steve Woodruff is a really smart dude. Like many of us, he's recognized the need for a new super tool to confaburate all of the many, many social media tools and devices that we need into one snazzy dashboard. One dashboard, where you can control everything. Only one problem: Steve isn't really a developer. But he knows that as a community, we're filled with designers, developers and girl geniuses. So he's doing something.
Steve Woodruff is crowd designing the ultimate dashboard, deemed MetaMee. Check out his posts (part 1), (part 2), (part 3) and the latest on his blog. Be enlightened or inspired by watching the thought and development process. Or pitch in with ideas and direction to make it better. This is the ultimate tool waiting for your input.
I want this product now. Right now. Can you hurry up and help Steve finish the design process and start coding? Or can some VC company just give him a kabillion dollars to develop this tool today? Productivity is waiting.
Labels: creativeinspiration, mashup, productdesign, productivity, social media, web2.0, webdev
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:27 AM
2 comments
Monday, June 30, 2008
let's go drink champagne and kiss each other at midnight.
Duct Tape Marketing has some really, really wise advice. Treat tomorrow (July 1st, in case you don't have a calendar handy) as if it were JANUARY 1st. It's your halfway point.
How are you doing with your goals? With your budgets? With your brand plan? With your personal life? What a great time for reflection and course correction.
Photo courtesy of Times Square NYC.
Labels: branding, creativeinspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
how to be interesting
Russell Davies details 10 wonderful tips on how to be interesting.
This is all fantastic advice for any creative person. Or business person. Or human. Send it to a friend.
And then incorporate some of the 10 tips into your life. Because you know that we all talk about you behind your back, and we really think you're pretty boring. It's time that you do something about this little problem you have. Get interesting.
(Coworker Steph gets interesting by munching 8 pixie sticks at once, and not spewing. Photo evidence above.)
Hat tip to GapingVoid, via Twitter.
Labels: creativeinspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
Friday, May 09, 2008
hot to be a superstar
Advergirl has a sweet series of posts all about improving your career in the advertising industry. Most would apply to any industry - so pass them along to your friends.
Start at Advice for Newbies, or Advertising agency interview tips, or explore around on your own. And you don't have to be a girl to get in on the learning. Seriously great advice for any knowledge workers: man, woman, or elf.
My fave: Be as valuable your fifth year as your first year.
Labels: adindustry, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
0 comments
Thursday, May 08, 2008
everything you ever needed to know about moleskines
Love Moleskine notebooks? As much as us? Want to try and bring them into your life? Wondering if you're addicted to them? Check out The Ultimate Guide to everything Moleskine.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:21 AM
1 comments
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
no really, i'm working.
If you use Facebook for business and pleasure (it's like a good mullet - business in the front, and party in the back), then you're going to love the new Get Stuff Done application for Facebook.
Organize, create lists, share files - this is one of the most robust applications that I've ever seen on Facebook. They've actually thought out how you might use Facebook as a project planner - and by the looks of it, supplied everything you need to get started. See a detailed overview on 5ThirtyOne. So, what are you waiting for?
Labels: facebook, productivity, social media, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM
3 comments
Thursday, April 03, 2008
people don't understand your emails
As an experiment in productivity, I've recently given up answering my phone. I'll take scheduled calls (and of course, conference calls), but don't pick up the phone randomly anymore. It's cool, because I"m staying on task, and really being more productive. Really.
But this new study shows how misunderstood emails can be. And how clear a phone call can be. Damn. Productivity foiled again.
Labels: productivity, trends, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:13 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 17, 2008
sched.org: people really dig this
Some are saying that the big hit to come out of SXSW this year is Sched.org. You can view the schedule I attempted to stick to here.
People used it to get a feel for what was happening at the conference, to see what their friends might be doing, and to keep track of where they were supposed to be going. It exports to your iPhone, and so much more. I saw it open on countless laptops while at the conference.
Made by Chirag Mehta and Taylor McKnight, this is certainly a tool that has some wonderful opportunities - and at the very least, should be a part of every future conference.
Labels: productivity, social media, sxsw, tradeshow, web2.0, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:28 AM
0 comments
never let a meeting run over, again.
This is a blog has discovered the secret to corporate productivity. And it doesn't involve lighting the conference room on fire. Or duct taping anyone's mouth shut. (Although, those would be very good, in some companies.)
Introducing the TaskWatch. A whiteboard with a clock built into it. You can schedule an agenda around a clock that's in everyone's view.
They should have wall sized versions of these installed across the corporate world. Like world leaders should band together today, and require it. The end of senselessly long meetings. Thanks for saving the world, This is a blog!!
Labels: productivity, technology, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:54 AM
0 comments
Thursday, February 14, 2008
how to give yourself the power of ten people
Feeling like there aren't enough hours in the day? Like sleep is getting in your way? Chris Brogan has the most excellent post on scaling yourself. To do more, be more and enjoy more. Really, really good read.
You'll have to find the six million dollar man leisure suit on your own.
Labels: productivity, web2.0, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
2 comments
Thursday, January 03, 2008
more cool work environments for your office envy
We love other people's offices. We're in the midst of our own addition/renovation at Plaid, and love checking out other people's cool spaces.
I've posted before about This Ain't No Disco and you've probably seen the Cool Hunter post that made its rounds. Now Core 77 has just discovered an awesome blog devoted to cool commercial interiors. They've even featured a bunch of your favorite web 2.0 offices. Nice.
Labels: architecture, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
two new habits to form in 2008
Happy New Year to all of our clients, friends and BrandFlakes readers!
The new year is the perfect time to form new habits and routines. I visit a lot of clients and brands across the country, and am always surprised at how many marketing folk still aren't using RSS to read their blogs, and are still a flutter about Twitter. If you fall into this category, I'm begging you to explore. Start now, with two easy resolutions:
1. Use an RSS reader. If you don't know where to start, Google's reader is awesome and easy. You'll be up and reading in minutes. Add blogs frequently. Whenever you come across something you like. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can read a HUNDRED blogs.
2. Start a Twitter account. You don't even have to Tweet. Not at all. But follow some other people who do. You can start with the NY Times, or Techmeme. Look at other people in the industry, and who they follow. (Look me up, too!) And now, check your Twitter feed a few times a day. I guarantee you'll be more informed.
Here's to more information, more fun, and more social/marketing/branding/design goodness for 2008!!
Labels: productivity, rss, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:07 AM
6 comments
Monday, December 31, 2007
some other people's top 2007 lists
We're far too lazy to create a BrandFlakesForBreakfast top list of 2007. We're still technically, on vacation, after all.
But we have bookmarked some other people's lists, for you. We've culled through the crap, so that you don't have to. Here's a couple of worthwhile 2007 Best of/Top Ten lists for you:
Best of Zen Habits in 2007
Top NYC stories of 2007.
Top Ten innovation mistakes. This is a good one.
Best Internet Marketing Blog posts of 2007. Another really good one.
Top Albums of 2007. (I know this is a polarizing subject - so I just took the laziest approach. Cool Hunting's list was the first in my RSS. So I now declare that one the best.)
Top Ten Ways to use Twitter.
The WTF moment of 2007.
And, while I could care less about football, and didn't even enjoy the Twitters of the Patriots game, here's a Top 10 list for the Giants fans.
And last but not least, LifeHacker's list of top 2007 lists.
Happy New Year to all of the Brand Flakes readers around the globe. May your year be filled with BrandFlakes deliciousness!
Labels: holiday, newyork, productivity, social media, twitter, web2.0, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:12 AM
0 comments
Friday, November 30, 2007
how to be creative while surrounded by december stress.
All of your projects are due in just three weeks. It's all got to be done before the holidays. And the family stuff. And the Xmas shopping. And your boss expects breakthrough creative.
Take a deep breath, and bookmark this sweet advice on maximizing creativity from LifeClever. SERIOUSLY. This is outstanding advice.
(The Cherry Chocolate Rain video is for your enjoyment only. Has really nothing to do with this post.)
Labels: adindustry, creativeinspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM
1 comments
Monday, November 19, 2007
present like a superstar. be like an actor.
Here's some outstanding advice on presentations. From Darren Barefoot. A writer, technologist, marketer and actor. If you're really serious, maybe you could dress in some Shakespearean garb. Your boss will dig that.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:46 AM
0 comments
Monday, November 12, 2007
why that programming dude is ignoring you
Here's a really cool essay titled The Nerd Handbook, that may shed some light on what's going through that massive brain of your co-worker, the coder.
Labels: productivity, right-brain, webdev, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM
0 comments
Friday, November 09, 2007
delicious office space
As we prepare for adding some additional space to our agency, this post on SwissMiss feels extra delicious. Imagine spending your day in a cupcake? Sweet. For real.
Labels: creativeinspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:17 AM
0 comments
Thursday, November 01, 2007
IT: let your employees on facebook.
These kinds of stories make me sick.
Where's My Jetpack writes about his recent experience at a gig within an in-house creative agency in a large corporation. Their management/IT department has blocked employees from seeing many sites. To 'protect' them, and 'keep them productive.' As if they were pets.
I constantly meet with clients who can't see their own videos on YouTube, can't create Facebook profiles, can't see what the competition's doing, and can't see what's going on in the marketplace.
Yet, they're expected to generate marketing and brand campaigns that will connect with this world that they're not allowed to experience.
How about we just trust our employees? How about we give them access to tools that let them do a better job? How about we let them connect with the real world? And hold them accountable for performance, rather than their web surfing history?
(The pelvic thrust video is for those of us that enjoy internet freedom. Isn't it great?)
Labels: branding, facebook, marketing, productivity, social media, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
2 comments
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
stand up and rejoice! google added a presentation app
Now, you'll never have to attach a PowerPoint deck to an email ever again. Can't wait to dig into this. Google just added a presentation application to their suite of Google docs. Mmmmmm. Google.
Labels: google, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:42 AM
0 comments
Friday, September 14, 2007
other people's desktops
I love seeing how other people work. When I visit friends and clients, I always love hearing about new tools or techniques that they use for productivity. And to see their desktops. Both real and virtual.
Lifehacker has a sweet couple of posts showing (and detailing) other people's desktops. They even show some desktops using that older, archaic operating system - Windows. ;-) Really cool.
Labels: mac, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:28 AM
0 comments
