Randi Zuckerberg's Blog, page 41

Ten Ways To Bring Your Past Into The Future

Of all the new things technology allows us to do, it’s funny how much we use it to recall our favorite memories of days gone by. Whether we’re pulling up the lyrics to Bell Biv Devoe, taking a quiz to find out which Muppet we are, or tracing our family tree, the Internet has made nostalgia a communal experience. Check out the best ways to create your own digital time machine:

1. Pull up old-school music videos. Back in the day, watching a music video meant sitting through hours of House of Style and The Real World (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). Now, if you want to home-karaoke Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” or re-memorize the Madonna “Vogue” dance you knew by heart in 1990, you’ll be set after just a few searches on Vevo. We won’t tell—but the YouTube views don’t lie!

2. Take a look, it’s in a book. (No, really.) If anything proves the value of nostalgia online, it’s the phenomenal success of Reading Rainbow‘s Kickstarter campaign. The classic kids’ show’s perfect fundraising storm capitalized on the passion of new parents who grew up with the show and wanted to pass that love on to their children. So far, the project has raised more than five times its original goal of $1 million and will fund a new mobile app and free resources for schools to carry the educational program.

3. Search the Wayback Machine. Curious what Yahoo! looked like in 2000? Or want to remember how The New York Times covered the great NYC blackout of 2003? A simple search through the Internet archive can take you back to almost any point in time with a screen capture of specific dates and sites.

4. Three letters: #TBT. The origins of #TBT, or #throwbackthursday, are murky—some attribute it to a single Instagram user, @bobbysanders22, who posted the tag back in 2011. But regardless of where the trend started, scores of Instagrammers and Facebookers are using the weekly hashtag to share baby photos, old vacation stories, Halloween costumes of yore, and everything in between.

5. Find vintage clothes. There’s nothing more satisfying than scoring a crazy bargain. While scouring the best thrift shops in town was our M.O. at one time, it’s now a lot more fun to browse gently worn Louboutins on The Real Real.

6. Make new photos look old. Just because you were in Prague last week doesn’t mean your photo can’t look like you took a steamship there at the turn of the century. Using filters on photo-sharing apps like Instagram, Hipstamatic, and Flickr can make any photo look like a treasure you found in the attic or a print on which you spent hours getting the exposure right. And we can’t seem to get enough.

7. Sweat to the oldies. It’s summer. You’re in the car with the windows rolled down. The radio is playing the same Bastille song over and over again. What to do? Switch on the XM and find the ’90s alt rock channel, of course. Satellite radio channels are the definition of niche — sure, you can find the newest indie tunes. But you can also listen to all Nirvana all the time on the Lithium channel.

8. Pass down family recipes. As our parents and grandparents get older, the thought that the family recipe for fried chicken might be gone forever someday may have crossed your mind. The adorable Cooking With Grandma series demystifies “you add a little bit of salt, a little bit of pepper, some mind-your-own-business, and a whole lot of love.”

9. Force your favorite shows from childhood on your kids. If the newly released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action movie is any indication, ’90s nostalgia is alive and well. Fortunately, your kids and the younger set at the office needn’t suffer from missing the references. Clips and full-length shows are all on YouTube — everything from TMNT to 90210 and Saved by the Bell. 

10. Find out what your neighborhood looked like before you got there. No, there wasn’t always a Starbucks on every corner. Historical photos on Google Street View are changing the way we look at our neighborhoods and helping us think creatively about what we want them to look like in the future.

By Laura Hertzfeld

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3 New Tech Devices for Back to School

By Alexandra Rice

As the school year begins, your kids are probably wishing for the hottest new devices. But students need more than the latest tablet or smartphone, and it makes sense to step off the beaten path and find technology that will enhance their school experience. Here are my top three picks:

StickNFind Keeping track of belongings can be a challenge, especially for busy students. When I was 16, I lost my new phone at the mall, and even though I did everything to retrace my steps, that phone never turned up. To replace it, I had to use my older sister’s upgrade, which still is a topic of debate years later at our holiday gatherings.

If I had StickNFind back then, I would have avoided the family drama. This Bluetooth finder system uses stickers about the size of a quarter that you attach to notebooks, backpacks, keys, phones and anything else you don’t want to lose. Its radar screen app is compatible with iPhone, iPad and Samsung devices, and it tracks up to 20 stickers within 100 feet and notifies you when items move in or out of range. StickNFind has a pager to locate lost items by sound and an LED feature to help you see stickers in the dark. One of my favorite features is the “lost sticker” option that notifies all StickNFind users in the area to be on the lookout for your lost item. A two-sticker pack retails for $49.99.

Airbac Backpack One of my friends put her son’s backpack on the scale and all the hardcover books and other supplies weighed in at a whopping 13 pounds. That’s a lot of weight for a kid, and it makes me remember when my back and shoulders ached from lugging a backpack at school all day. When another friend recently told me her daughter had developed serious back issues that their pediatrician blamed on her heavy backpack, I started wondering if technology could offer a healthier solution.

It turns out there is a better way: the Airbac backpack, which uses an air support system to move weight away from your upper back. The results include improved posture and the feeling that you are carrying only half of the actual weight. Other features include shock absorbers to cushion impact when walking or running with the bag, and the air system also protects both your back and fragile items. The Airbac school backpacks start at $49.99.

Livescribe 3 Smartpen Note-taking comes with risks — students could miss what the teacher said, get sick and have to stay home, or lose an entire notebook, which means big trouble when a test is on the horizon.  But for about $149, the Livescribe 3 Smartpen takes the uncertainty out of paper notes. When you write with the pen on Livescribe paper, which comes in a spiral notebook and can be photocopied at home, the device records everything you write, creates an audio file and allows you to convert handwriting into text. Students reviewing paper notes can tap any word and the pen plays back the audio of that lecture at the point when the notes were taken.

The paper notes eventually become part of a permanent digital archive with the Livescribe app, which syncs written notes to your iPad or iPhone, or through Wi-Fi, which processes them into an Evernote account. My younger twin sisters, who are still in high school, love these pens because if anyone misses a lecture, they can share their digital notes with each other.

Today’s latest devices help make sure that sloppy notes, lost keys and even sore backs don’t ruin a school day. And with this list, plus discounts on other items, you could find your back-to-school shopping for new tech more productive than last year.

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Let Your Tablet Entertain You

Have you noticed that more people are canceling their cable in favor of streaming services? Many viewers now watch movies and television shows on their tablet devices via platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Video, and Hulu Plus. With the rising costs of cable, nixing that bill can save you a chunk of money every month.

Not only are tablets great for streaming movies and television, but they also offer many more entertainment options, such as gaming and streaming music. Thanks to their portability, tablets are perfect for commuting and traveling. They can easily be used on airplanes, train rides, and at work or school.

If you’re considering ditching your cable service and relying on a tablet for your entertainment, take a closer look at all the ways a tablet will satisfy your needs.

Streaming Music

Tablets are great for streaming music at home, work, school, or in transit. Companies like Spotify are quickly realizing this and rewarding tablet users with free service. For example, last December, Spotify announced free on-demand streaming of over 20 million tracks, plus playlists and albums.

“It turns out that tablets are becoming the new desktops,” Spotify said in a press release, stating they want to improve the experience of discovering, managing and sharing music via tablets.

Playing Games

Is game play more to your liking? Tablets can certainly accommodate this form of entertainment. Tablets offer high-resolution graphics and fast action for gaming, whether you prefer Candy Crush or Modern Combat.

If you’re planning to play a lot of games on your tablet, be sure your device comes with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU (graphics processing unit) built in. The Adreno GPU from Snapdragon will significantly enhance your gaming experience by displaying beautiful, crystal-clear graphics on your tablet. Your games will come to life with the Adreno GPU, which supports robust 2D and 3D graphics and is exceptionally quick to respond to your taps and swipes as you play. The GPU is also conservative in its battery consumption, allowing you to play longer between battery charges.

If you’re in the market for a new tablet, check out the Sony Xperia Z2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 LTE, both of which feature the Adreno GPU for a great gaming experience.

Watching Television and Movies

Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video are the kings of streaming television and movies to your tablets. They are so popular in fact, that they have their own critically acclaimed series (e.g., House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black).

Streaming services are generally very affordable, which is why so many people are comfortable switching from traditional cable to streaming services. Netflix streaming costs $8.99 per month, and Amazon Instant Video is included free with Amazon Prime’s yearly membership. Hulu Plus is $7.99 per month.

What’s more: users can even connect their tablet to the television so they can watch their favorite Netflix or Hulu content on a larger screen. Simply plug your tablet into an HDMI connector (like a multimedia dock or HDMI dongle) and HDMI cable and hook up to the HDMI input in your television. Now you can stream your content on the TV.

Whether you’re an avid video gamer, a music aficionado or you’re trying to save money on your cable bill, tablets are a great device for satisfying your entertainment needs.

Jennifer Thayer is an editor at the technology blog Freshly Techy. She enjoys covering other subjects like entertainment, food, and deals. Follow her on Twitter to see what useful tricks and fun tips she uncovers next. 

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Let Your Tablet Entertainment You

By Jennifer Thayer

Have you noticed that more people are canceling their cable in favor of streaming services? Many viewers now watch movies and television shows on their tablet devices via platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Video, and Hulu Plus. With the rising costs of cable, nixing that bill can save you a chunk of money every month.

Not only are tablets great for streaming movies and television, but they also offer many more entertainment options, such as gaming and streaming music. Thanks to their portability, tablets are perfect for commuting and traveling. They can easily be used on airplanes, train rides, and at work or school.

If you’re considering ditching your cable service and relying on a tablet for your entertainment, take a closer look at all the ways a tablet will satisfy your needs.

Streaming Music

Tablets are great for streaming music at home, work, school, or in transit. Companies like Spotify are quickly realizing this and rewarding tablet users with free service. For example, last December, Spotify announced free on-demand streaming of over 20 million tracks, plus playlists and albums.

“It turns out that tablets are becoming the new desktops,” Spotify said in a press release, stating they want to improve the experience of discovering, managing and sharing music via tablets.

Playing Games

Is game play more to your liking? Tablets can certainly accommodate this form of entertainment. Tablets offer high-resolution graphics and fast action for gaming, whether you prefer Candy Crush or Modern Combat.

If you’re planning to play a lot of games on your tablet, be sure your device comes with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU (graphics processing unit) built in. The Adreno GPU from Snapdragon will significantly enhance your gaming experience by displaying beautiful, crystal-clear graphics on your tablet. Your games will come to life with the Adreno GPU, which supports robust 2D and 3D graphics and is exceptionally quick to respond to your taps and swipes as you play. The GPU is also conservative in its battery consumption, allowing you to play longer between battery charges.

If you’re in the market for a new tablet, check out the Sony Xperia Z2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 LTE, both of which feature the Adreno GPU for a great gaming experience.

Watching Television and Movies

Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video are the kings of streaming television and movies to your tablets. They are so popular in fact, that they have their own critically acclaimed series (e.g., House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black).

Streaming services are generally very affordable, which is why so many people are comfortable switching from traditional cable to streaming services. Netflix streaming costs $8.99 per month, and Amazon Instant Video is included free with Amazon Prime’s yearly membership. Hulu Plus is $7.99 per month.

What’s more: users can even connect their tablet to the television so they can watch their favorite Netflix or Hulu content on a larger screen. Simply plug your tablet into an HDMI connector (like a multimedia dock or HDMI dongle) and HDMI cable and hook up to the HDMI input in your television. Now you can stream your content on the TV.

Whether you’re an avid video gamer, a music aficionado or you’re trying to save money on your cable bill, tablets are a great device for satisfying your entertainment needs.

Jennifer Thayer is an editor at the technology blog Freshly Techy. She enjoys covering other subjects like entertainment, food, and deals. Follow her on Twitter to see what useful tricks and fun tips she uncovers next. 

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OneDay, A Movie-Making App

Right now, my youngest child is a precocious three-year old. While she can talk up a storm and has a rather impressive vocabulary (a gift of being the third child, it seems), one of my favorite things about the way she talks is when she doesn’t quite get it right. I love the way she says “bruders” for “brothers” and “I goed” for “I went”. These are just a couple of the things I’m sure I’ll never forget. Until I do.

You see, I know that I will, because there were the types of things my boys—her big “bruders”—said that I swore I’d never forget either. But now I close my eyes and try with all my might to remember the way they told me things—mispronunciations, silly facial expressions, and all.

I was recently introduced to OneDay, an easy-to-use app that was created to help parents like me hold on to these must-never-forget expressions and moments. The app captures conversations on video, then packages them into a keepsake movie.

Using the OneDay app—which is free now, though I’m told that will likely change— you choose from pre-existing question sets (e.g. “About Mom”, “When You Grow Up”, and “Your Favorite Things”) and record your child’s response to each of the 10 questions on the subject. You can save each answer, skip a question, or re-record an answer as you go. When you reach the end of the question set, the app stitches together all the questions and answers—in less than a minute, based on my experience—to create a wonderful interview, starring your kid.

Not only are the videos easy to create, they’re really fun for families to make together. Each of my children (ranging in age from 3 to 8 years old)—even the camera shy ones—loved answering the questions and then seeing themselves as the star of a “movie”.  And I loved how some of their answers surprised me, even though I think I know everything there is to know about my kids.

My tween niece who was with us when we were playing with the app asked me to interview her, too. She chose “Advice for Your Parents.” Once I created the video, it was easy to save to my camera roll and text to her…you guessed it…parents. In the app, there are sharing options as well, making completed projects simple to send to others or post to social media sites.

Since OneDay just launched a few weeks ago, there are some coming-soon features worth noting. Future updates will target people other than kids (think grandparents and significant others), include customized question sets (I can’t wait for this one), and more background music options (right now there’s a single default soundtrack).

Parents, this is one app you’ll want to remember. Because there are some things you just don’t want to forget.

By Amy Heinz

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OneDay, A Movie-Making App For Now So You Can Remember Later

By Amy Heinz

Right now, my youngest child is a precocious three-year old. While she can talk up a storm and has a rather impressive vocabulary (a gift of being the third child, it seems), one of my favorite things about the way she talks is when she doesn’t quite get it right. I love the way she says “bruders” for “brothers” and “I goed” for “I went”. These are just a couple of the things I’m sure I’ll never forget. Until I do.

You see, I know that I will, because there were the types of things my boys—her big “bruders”—said that I swore I’d never forget either. But now I close my eyes and try with all my might to remember the way they told me things—mispronunciations, silly facial expressions, and all.

I was recently introduced to OneDay, an easy-to-use app that was created to help parents like me hold on to these must-never-forget expressions and moments. The app captures conversations on video, then packages them into a keepsake movie.

Using the OneDay app—which is free now, though I’m told that will likely change— you choose from pre-existing question sets (e.g. “About Mom”, “When You Grow Up”, and “Your Favorite Things”) and record your child’s response to each of the 10 questions on the subject. You can save each answer, skip a question, or re-record an answer as you go. When you reach the end of the question set, the app stitches together all the questions and answers—in less than a minute, based on my experience—to create a wonderful interview, starring your kid.

Not only are the videos easy to create, they’re really fun for families to make together. Each of my children (ranging in age from 3 to 8 years old)—even the camera shy ones—loved answering the questions and then seeing themselves as the star of a “movie”.  And I loved how some of their answers surprised me, even though I think I know everything there is to know about my kids.

My tween niece who was with us when we were playing with the app asked me to interview her, too. She chose “Advice for Your Parents.” Once I created the video, it was easy to save to my camera roll and text to her…you guessed it…parents. In the app, there are sharing options as well, making completed projects simple to send to others or post to social media sites.

Since OneDay just launched a few weeks ago, there are some coming-soon features worth noting. Future updates will target people other than kids (think grandparents and significant others), include customized question sets (I can’t wait for this one), and more background music options (right now there’s a single default soundtrack).

Parents, this is one app you’ll want to remember. Because there are some things you just don’t want to forget.

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Knozen, the App to Watch Out for at Work

By Ashley Mateo.

The average American works over 40 hours a week, which means we’re spending a major chunk of our life in the office. So, it makes sense that the line between co-worker and friend would blur, making some of our professional relationships more personal. It’s a tricky tightrope to walk, especially when your work issues are taken personally, or personal issues affect your work. And, now, a new app is threatening to erase that line for good.

It’s called Knozen, and it lets your co-workers rank you based on personality. By pitting two co-workers against each other and having other co-workers ask questions about them (like, “Who’s more likely to leave work early for a date?” or “Who’s more conventional?”), Knozen builds a crowd-sourced personality profile. Your rankings are visible on your profile, revealing your strongest traits to all you network with. Oh, but the people who rank you? They’re anonymous.

In order for Knozen to work at your company, at least seven people need to sign up for the app — that helps maintain anonymity. But, the questions are designed to be positive, so the app doesn’t become a personality-bashing platform (thankfully). Still, it’s the kind of thing that makes you sit up a little straighter in your cubicle chair, answer emails just a little bit faster, and be on your best behavior while you’re on the clock.

 

 

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5 Apps To Help You Perfect Your Selfie

By Ashley Mateo

We are living in the age of the selfie. The word has made it into the dictionary, Scrabble games, and even has its own song. But the perfect selfie itself can actually be quite elusive — and we all have the photo streams full of duplicate shots to prove it. Why, exactly, are we so concerned with self-portraiture? Well, in the digital era, a picture is worth a thousand words. Take online dating: Even OK Cupid admits that your photo is all that matters. On top of that, scientists from the University of York say that it’s possible to predict first impressions of someone solely based on their social media pics. Yikes.

Moral of the story: It’s time to perfect your selfie. Luckily, the only tool you need is already in your pocket, or your purse. There are countless apps out there to help you fine-tune your photos, so we culled the top five. Download them from the app store, and put your best face forward.

Perfect 365: This app’s tools covers all the basics: smoothing skin, zapping blemishes, nixing under-eye circles, whitening teeth and so much more. The key is in the intensity — use the sliding scale to keep yourself from looking too airbrushed or Photoshopped. (There are also dozens of celebrity-inspired makeup pre-sets, if you’re into that kind of thing.) Free, iPhone and Android.

Selfie Cam: You know that awkward moment when you’re fumbling with one hand, trying to press the camera button? And then when you take the pic, you’re doing that bizarre, intense stare because you’re focusing on the camera? No more. Selfie Cam has a rotary-dial control that only needs one thumb to operate, and a self-timer that gives you enough time to get into the perfect position (please, no duckface). Free, iPhone and Android.

CamMe: This app goes one step further, and lets you take hands-free photos of yourself. Prop it up against some kind of surface (the wall, your purse, whatever) two to 16 feet away, then pose, raise your hand and close your fist to activate the camera, and voila! It operates by sensing hand motion, so no more cropping in awkward shots with your inner elbow in the corner. Free, iPhone

YouCam Perfect: Another editing app, YouCam Perfect’s Auto Beautifier instantly touches up your picture — from lightening dark spots to smoothing lines — as soon as you snap the shots, then lets you take it further on your own. The best part: You can erase background objects (like a random stranger or that copy of 50 Shades of Grey on your nightstand) with the app’s object remover. Free, iPhone and Android.

VSCO Cam: This app isn’t designated for selfies, but it will generate the best photos your camera is capable of. The editing tools are the best out there (for free, at least), and let you make post-shot adjustments to the brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness — all the tools you’d find in iPhoto or any desktop editing software. Plus, the filters only enhance the photos, rather than make them look like they were shot in the 1970s. Free, iPhone and Android.

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Get Busy Slowing Down

By Adrianna G. Bevilaqua

Just last week I was on the road for work shuffling through an airport with my Bluetooth on as I tried to dial into a conference call.  I kept trying to remember that dang access code as I toggled between the screen of my outlook, which stored my dial in number, and the actual keypad where I could enter the number. As I approached my Delta gate I saw one of my co-workers was eating gelato and reading the New York Times. As I sat down and ripped open a Luna bar I felt overwhelmingly self-conscious. I had become so proficient at hyper-tasking that somewhere along the line I crossed over to spastic.

In a world moving at the speed of light, it’s no surprise that many of us get swept up in the current. But how do you find your way back to “sure” and get grounded when the universe continues to accelerate around you? I have observed some of the more grounded (and wonderful) people I know to steal their hacks for giving themselves a minute while still giving their all to the people and things they love most.

KILL 2 (or 3) BIRDS WITH 1 STONE: Consider integrating socializing in with other things that make you feel great. A friend, Briana Redman who works with me at DeVries Global and always comes from a place of yes, told me that instead of scheduling endless summer happy hours with contacts, she’s trying out new activities. Recently she took a colleague to an aquatic aerobics class, and they laughed all the way through it. So instead of scheduling three things—a workout, a happy hour, and an activity she’s been dying to try, Briana has combined all three. Well played.

RESET YOUR “COMPASS”: Recently I was listening to a presentation about “want-it-all women” – a demographic of busy women in their 30s that want happiness at home, at work and with their friends. One of the speakers said that the want-it-all-woman’s smart phone was her compass, guiding her through life. The reference made me want to chuck my phone into one of the rivers of Manhattan. I sought some advice from my always zen-friend Carolina Santos-Neves, Chef & Managing Partner at Comodo and Colonia Verde. She recommended simply putting your phone out of sight. At night, let it charge in another room while you recharge and avoid using it as an alarm clock so it doesn’t become the last or first thing you see.

EMBRACE UNSTRUCTURED PLAY: I’ve learned an important lesson from my husband: Having nothing to do doesn’t mean you do nothing. It just means you don’t have an outlook calendar stacked on the weekend as if you only have 24 hours left on the planet. By adopting my hubby’s rule of “unstructured play” on the weekends, I come back from the weekend feeling refreshed versus over-scheduled. Take for example a simple trip to Home Depot. Instead of scheduling a trip to pick things up for the house, we stumbled in one day on a whim and decided we would add flower boxes to our balcony. What could have felt like a chore became a delight.

BRING IT IN: I read somewhere that staying in is the new going out. While reading this I smugly thought whoever wrote it doesn’t live someplace where it’s worth going out! I have since changed my tune. Even as a New Yorker, there’s something liberating about living in a place of infinite possibilities and making the simple choice that where you want to be is exactly where you are. But to avoid becoming a pariah, next time you’re making plans with a friend suggest hanging in together instead of going out. There is something so easy and awesome about having a good friend over to watch The Leftovers on Sunday night while taking down a row of Thin Mints together.

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How Starting A Blog Changed My Career Path

By Holly Rust

Two years ago I read an article in a prominent business magazine discussing the importance of having a blog for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit. The article expressed how blogging not only builds brand awareness, whatever that may be, but it also broadens your network ten-fold. We all know it’s not so much about what you do – it’s who you know. Equipped with this new knowledge, my passion for writing and storytelling, and my desire to do something “more” with my life, I started Mother’s Guide to Sanity. At the time I was still working around the clock and barely making my day-to-day obligations, but I knew if I made time for this new venture it would lead to amazing opportunities – and it has.  Not only has my blog given me a voice in the online world, but it has also renewed my faith and confidence in myself from a business perspective.

These last two years have been a roller coaster and opened doors for me I never thought possible. My continued success in the blogging world coupled with my extensive experience in the corporate world has allowed me to start my own freelance business where I write any business-to-business or business-to-consumer materials, as well as consult small businesses on how to grow their brand and network through blogging and social media. I’ve also been invited to host speaking engagements where I discuss topics ranging from budgeting and forecasting to marketing and product launches and establishing your brand in today’s market. Lastly, I landed several gigs as a contributing writer for sites like this one.

If you’re thinking of starting a blog (or a business) here are some helpful tips I’ve learned over the last two years.

Believe in yourself. The question you need to ask yourself right now is, “Why NOT me?” All you need is confidence, the Internet and a voice. Don’t depend on others to believe in you. At first many won’t understand what you’re doing or look at you like you’re crazy, but remember it’s not their job to believe in you – it’s yours. They’ll come around eventually.
Don’t be afraid of failure. Failing is relative. Make goals for yourself that are attainable, and when you do meet some, consider it a win! When you’re realistic with yourself and your timeline for success you’ll find it easier to meet your goals. If you don’t meet a certain goal, pick yourself up and keep going. Your next big break may be lurking just around the corner.
Don’t take things personally.  Everyone has an opinion and that’s just what they are – opinions. When you put yourself out there, someone will always try to discourage or discredit you. Sometimes feedback can be a gift but it can also be a curse. Try to surround yourself with positive, likeminded, supportive people.
Use the Buddy System. Work is always more fun when you partner with someone. I encourage you to buddy up with a person you admire and make them your accountability partner. My success would not have happened as quickly or have been as sweet if it wasn’t for my new friends and business partners encouraging me each and every day.
Network. Go out. Meet people. Join groups. Attend conventions. Every city has Associations, Fundraisers, Networking groups, etc. Spend a few hours a week connecting, whether that be in person or online. Be social and your business will grow. Also, always ask how you can help someone else, even if you’re unsure how they can help you. Karma is real – and helping others grow their business will only ensure the growth of yours.
 Talk – A lot. Always speak about your new ventures to anyone who will listen. Use social media to connect and inform. Even if no one responds with a “like”, don’t worry—they are watching.
Step outside your comfort zone.  I can’t stress the importance of this enough. Once you have the confidence to do this, you’ll soon find new talents you never knew you had. At first I was afraid to put myself out there because of how judgmental people can be, but for every negative comment there have been ten positive ones.
DON’T GIVE UP. This is my MOST IMPORTANT piece of advice! Rome was not built in a day. Those who only strive for instant success and gratification will not succeed. Look at everything as an investment. Do research on people you admire and I guarantee you’ll find that most of them were not overnight successes. You want to build a business with a strong foundation, not a house of cards. If you give up too soon or try to take short cuts, you’re just setting yourself up to fail.

Treat any new venture like a business and it will reward you like a business. Mother’s Guide to Sanity is far from being a profound pool of knowledge and it doesn’t dramatically change other people’s lives, however it does spread joy and has opened many doors for me. No, I haven’t found a cure for cancer (yet!), but I’ve met amazing people, sharpened my skills, started a business, and made a lot of parents laugh along the way.

 

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