C.C. Chapman's Blog, page 39
July 19, 2013
Brookmill Farm
When I got the invite to attend a retreat in New Jersey, the images that filled my head looked nothing like the tranquil landscape I would find when I arrived at Brookmill Farm in Lambertville, NJ.
This beautiful estate was perfect for the work we had to get done and while I can’t share who and what we were talking about quite yet, I did want to share the beauty I saw while there.
Plus, when you have an office like this for a few days how can you not be productive?
July 12, 2013
Interview With Dave and Deb of The PlanetD
As a lover of travel and someone who is working on being hired to do more travel writing and travel photography, I’ve had fun getting to know some of the main players in the space.
Last year when I was the keynote speaker at TBEX, I had the pleasure of first meeting Dave & Deb from The PlanetD. They run one of the most popular travel websites out there and couldn’t be nicer people in person.
Dave and Deb are an adventure travel couple who have been married for 16 of their 22 years together. A t...
July 10, 2013
A Visit With the Subway Global Challenge Winners
I was asked by YSN to join them and the winners of the first ever Subway Global Challenge for a day of meeting the team at Subway Headquarters in Milford, Connecticut.
It was a great day full of briefings and information overload from every aspect of the global business. While I had heard that Subway was still very much a family business, I wasn’t ready for just how friendly and welcoming everyone we met was going to be.
What I loved most was that almost anyone you talked to would instantly sta...
July 1, 2013
How a Photo From Africa Inspired Me to Make a Purchase From Austin
Every day I teach companies and organizations the importance of content. I explain to them that you never know when something might drive a sale.
Every day I also get asked how to measure the ROI of content and social media. For years I’ve explained that while you can measure many things, there are many aspects of this world that you can not measure unless you are set up to do so.
That is the story I want to tell you today.
Esther Havens is a humanitarian photographer. Her work is breath taking...
An Amazing Week Begins
Directly in the middle of a country-wide heatwave, I’m excited for the days ahead this week.
Most of us will be cracking a cold beer, throwing something on the grill and spending time with our friends as we watch the 4th of July fireworks. I know that is exactly part of my plans!
This week is starting off a bit off kilter, but I’m eager for the days ahead.
Thursday, we will be having our annual Chapman Chill and I’ll be roasting another pig. Without all the nervous energy of last time, I’m psych...
June 24, 2013
Finding the Flow
The coffee has reached room temperature. The bitter bite reminds me that it is time to refill the cup again. Morning will not move forward without this action.
Refilled I can once again type. Let the words pour forth with the hopeful goal of something worth keeping.
Choosing the music that will fill the room is of equal importance. This morning the new Blake Morgan album is chosen and the fingers find their groove.
Finding the flow is something we strive for. We crave it like a donut junkie on S...
June 18, 2013
The Circle of Life for a Writer
Later today I’m catching a flight to LAX for the final stop of the book tour for Amazing Things Will Happen.
The life of a writer is an interesting one.
You finish writing the book and wait. It finally hits shelves and you hustle. The tour ends and you find yourself planning the next one.
This is the circle of life for a writer. You never truly stop and you are always moving in a crazy circle.
You come up with an idea for a book.
You write the book.
You hustle, tour, pimp and do everything in your...
June 14, 2013
Quality Time
Technology continues to enrich our lives.
One look at this summer’s Camp What-A-Wonder and all it will offer to families and you can’t argue that the world we live in today allows children to wonder, learn and become educated in an unlimited variety of ways.
As a father of two amazing kids, I know how important it is that I spend as much quality time with them as possible. They need to see that living a blended life of work, play and family is the best way to live a content life.
Our family make...
June 13, 2013
My Second Third Tuesday
Canada is a lovely country and whenever an opportunity arises that will bring me across the border I jump at the opportunity.
Monday found me in Ottawa and Tuesday in Toronto.
Very different cities that both have always welcomed me in the past and I was eager to return.
The first night venue was small and it saddened me not to see more familiar faces in the crowd. Sitting in high back chairs found at bars in every corner of the globe the audience was engaged and entertained. We laughed, smiled a...
June 11, 2013
Writing on the Road
As a writer on-the-go I quite often find myself writing wherever I find time to sit down and pull out my laptop for a bit.
Today, I’m in Toronto and the view is not bad for crafting words as you can see.
The road does tend to be a cruel writing partner at times.
You are constantly filled with inspirations from the sights, sounds and strangers and yet there are moments you want to do nothing more than plop like a dead fish on your hotel room bed.
But, those of us who have chosen this insane life o...
