Make ‘em LAUGH!
August 29th, 2008 by Allen VoivodA tour-de-force performance from the guy who isn’t Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain. That’d be Donald O’Connor, and he just kills!
Happy Friday…
Posts from the 'Mood Boosters' Category
“What if…”
August 16th, 2008 by Lani and AllenWhat if…
…the power is already within you?
…you overcame your fears today and allowed yourself to dream big?
…you already have all the tools, resources, and answers you need to get started — or to finish! — successfully?
…the world is literally chomping at the bit for what you and your business have to offer?
…you knew you had plenty of money coming into your bank account for the next six months to do and be everything you want, and that money will EXPLODE because of your actions?
…you threw down the gauntlet and declared exactly what you want, what you stand for, and what you’re worth?
…your success story is no different than those of the multi-million and billionaires you read about in Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Fortune, et al?
…every “challenge” life and business chucks at you really does contain the gifts that ultimately lead you to the ripest, most fabulous and prosperous opportunities?
…time IS on your side, EVERYTHING has played out perfectly so far, and you’re in EXACTLY the right place and frame of mind to become your wildest, most kick-butt vision and version of yourself?
Seriously. What if?
Font comedy at its best
August 10th, 2008 by Lani and AllenHelp Children’s Hospital Boston work more miracles
June 5th, 2008 by Allen Voivod
On the right there is Anthony Theos. Anthony’s mother Joy is a lifelong friend of Lani’s, and as a couple we’re good friends with Joy and her hubby Tony. The photo is from 2003, not long after Anthony was born.
If you look close (it’s a small photo, after all), you can see the scar on his chest from where doctors at Children’s Hospital Boston had to open his chest up and operate. I’ll spare you the details - suffice it to say, the Theos family spent Anthony’s first months of life at Children’s Hospital Boston, and the odds of Anthony’s survival were not good at all.
Five years later, you look at Anthony and if you didn’t know it, you’d never be able to guess what he went through. [That's him on the right, with his younger brothers Dominic and baby Luca.] He has a perfect boy’s life, and it’s all because of the people at Children’s Hospital Boston, who took such good care of him.
This coming weekend is the annual NSTAR Walk for Children’s Hospital Boston, and Lani and I will be walking with the “Awesome Anthony” team to raise awareness and funds for this incredible institution. In the words of Joy and Tony:
As you know, Children’s Hospital Boston is a very special place to us! Each year as this fundraiser approaches, we reflect upon our time spent there. Living the first couple months of Anthony’s life within the walls of this hospital was unexpected and heartbreaking to say the least. Yet, as we look back on the experience so much more stands out in our minds. We are forever grateful to the brilliant doctors and nurses who saved his life while at the same time managed to support and show compassion to us as parents.
The dedicated people who work there continue to make a difference in our lives as Anthony continues with his treatment. His ongoing good health is due to their care! We are thankful to them every day and fundraise so they will be able to conquer the health challenges that we, along with other families, face.
And, our team is growing with each year! We are honored to walk with two other children, Delaney & Maddy, who have been patients at Children’s Hospital. Our three little angels will be walking (or riding) 7 miles to help other children who face challenges smaller and much, much larger than theirs.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Help us help them, and Children’s Hospital Boston, with your contribution. Lani and I hope to raise $150 each to the cause. You can contribute under Lani’s name or my name, and please - even it’s just a couple of dollars, every little bit helps. Thank you.
[One more photo for you - that's our son Joe on the left, who'll be doing the Walk with us as well. Anthony's in the middle, Dominic's on the right.]
Taxes: The Poem, The Wretched Abyss, The Tribute
April 15th, 2008 by Lani VoivodMy Dad is a Chronic Forwarder.
You know the type - he gets emails from thrice-removed acquaintances, then shoots these vague, sometimes amusing, more often trite or senseless emails to 20 or more people in his contacts list. I’m among those 20+ people.
A while back he sent me this fun little jaunt about taxes. What better way to celebrate April 15th than to share a depressing, cynical, and utterly painful poem about how the government taxes us into helpless submission - in life and death?
Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax him until he’s good and sore.Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
‘Taxes drove me to my doom!’And when he’s gone,
We won’t relax,
We’ll still be after the inheritance TAX!!
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Perm it Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fe e Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge
Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges
Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the
world.We had absolutely no national debt, had the
Largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.What happened?? Can you spell ‘politicians!’
And I still have to ‘press 1′ for English.
Thanks, Pappy! In the ultimate act of cooperative cynicism, I’ve posted this jolly rant in our “Mood Boosters” category. Happy Tax Day!
Another “Secret” page-a-day reminder
April 10th, 2008 by Lani VoivodThis is a victorious year for me in many, many ways.
- I’m staying home with my beautiful little baby boy (now six-months old!) while my incredible husband handles virtually all of our client work, invoicing, bill-paying, blogging, outreach, and so on
- We’re just 52 hours away from getting on a plane for a three-week revival experiment at an ocean-view townhome in Malibu, CA - where we’ll visit with Grandma Rose (Allen’s mom), handle VIP client work remotely, hang out with dear friends, meet with our pals at Mattel, and PLAY, PLAY, PLAY…filling our creative and Vitamin-D-deprived wells at Sea World, Venice Beach, Lego Land, the San Diego Zoo, and at lots of playgrounds in and around Santa Monica, Encino, and West LA (for our energetic kindergartner)
- I’m actually keeping up with my Page-A-Day calendar!
I think this is a first for me, actually. Year after year, I’ve seen the date freeze sometime during the first week of February. Whether it’s been comics by Gary Larson, Scott Adams, or Darby Conley, excerpts by and from ”Women Who Do Too Much,” “Wild Women,” “Witty Women” or even quips and quotes from my beloved Erma Bombeck and SARK, I’ve never been able to stay with it. I don’t know. I get bored or forgetful or something.
This year, though, I’ve been devouring the little medidations from The Secret, as regularly as I’ve ever managed to do anything. Little bite-sized chunks of inspiration - some of it corny or floofy according to my Inner Critic, but I’m doing my best to get over that part of myself - that come just at the right time, and say what I need to hear.
Every now and then I give myself permission to throw one down here on the blog, just in case it’s destined to connect with YOU, the person who’s decided to read today’s post. So, here’s the one I tore off from April 4th:
When you are in the flow with the Universal intelligence, you have unlimited access to all wisdom and all power to bring your dream into reality. When you are in tune with the infinite, you can feel the power of the energy rush through you, urging you on. Your heart is on fire with passion, you feel alive, and you know you are going to achieve what you conceived. You can taste it, feel it, and see it as though it is in your hands now. When you are in tune with this power, inspired action flows. It is like being on a river and being carried by the force of the current. Everything is effortless and you can feel the power of the Universe propelling you toward your desire.
Allen and I are co-owners of a company named “Epiphanies, Inc.” At the heart of our business is a belief that BOLD INSIGHT PLUS JOY-FILLED ACTION (aka “The A-Ha!“) is the key to happiness, success, and prosperity.
For today’s businesses - whether they’re solo-owned or multi-million-dollar joints - the high-payoff actions involve finding the right channels or platforms to blast out their messages, missions, or visions in powerful ways that connect with their Ideal Audience.
Right now, the channel and platform I have on hand is our blog. I’ve got a napping baby and very little time, but I’m getting THIS post (an imperfect mix of context, inspiration, ideas, message reinforcement, and reminders) to you.
Did it work? Was it worth it?
If you’re reading this post, PLEASE, drop a line in the comment field and let me know you were here. Let me know you took time out of your busy day to scan these words, and if you happened upon anything useful, entertaining, interesting, inspirational, or remotely impactful, please let me know what it was.
If anything, I just want you to see that, if you’re reading this - however you got here, and for whatever reason - even imperfect, quick blasts into whatever channel, platform, or “Content Catapult” you have at the ready is good enough.
Because, while I wish I had time to create all the YouTube videos, online tutorials, e-books, service packages, and information empires that are swirling around in my head, the only thing I have the time and tools to do today is to write this meandering post…
Which was inspired by my desire to share the April 4th “Secret” with you. 
That’s what I get for saying it out loud
April 2nd, 2008 by Allen VoivodSpecifically, I was looking out the window this morning, and said to Lani something like, “This is the part of Spring I hate.”
The snow, which used to be a pristine white, is now glaringly dirty. The roads up and down our little mountain hideaway are covered in sand and salt and downed tree branches. I think we adequately handled our basement leak issue from last year, but the record snowfall has me concerned about our drainage situation.
“Find the beauty in it,” Lani says in reply.
If I had a nickel for every time Lani’s offered to tweak my brain and outlook like this, I’d beat Warren Buffett on the billionaire list.
I used to resist these tactics mercilessly and ridiculously - to the detriment of our business, and even our marriage. I’d like to think that 2008 has seen me turn a corner. if I’m not spontaneously changing the color of my glasses from puce to rose, at least I’m letting Lani swap them out for me with little to no protest these days.
So I looked back outside, and saw that the movement from winter to spring is messy. Just like life. Just like the entrepreneurial lifestyle we’ve embraced. Perfectly natural. Not to be hated, but I don’t have to love it, either. Just accept, expect, and embrace.
And once the melting is over, riotous growth will be the order of the day.
What can you look at differently in your business and life today? For those of you who claim to hate marketing, how can you find the joy in talking to people about what you do, and why you love doing it?
Who wants to be a BILLIONAIRE?
March 14th, 2008 by Lani VoivodWondering how you can bring more wealth into your life? Why not stalk your favorite billionaire, and see what you can learn from someone who knows the tricks of the wealth-accumulating trade?
I just flipped through a “Special Issue” of Forbes mag — the March 24, 2008 issue — which is dedicated to “The Richest People in the World,” “1,125 Billionaires,” to be exact. Some of the numbers and tidbits here were fascinating enough to inspire me to share them in a blog post.
Here’s a highlight reel…
- Turns out you can “Track a Billionaire” with customizable RSS feeds at www.Forbes.com/lists.
- Re: Billionaire Content: You can add Forbes content about billionaires (or other subjects they cover), to you social media pages (like Facebook, MySpace, iGoogle, etc.) or to your own site at Forbes.com/lists, too.
- Read billionaires’ bios, see their pics, sort ‘em by name, rank, and worth, and globe-peep their home bases with Forbes interactive maps at www.Forbes.com/billionaires.
As for a few excerpted fun facts:
- “The 20 richest people on the planet are worth a total of $661.4 billion, or at least $20.8 billion apiece, $3.3 billion more than last year’s minimum.”
- Warren Buffet kicked Bill Gates off his #1-richest-man-in-the-world throne, where he had been sitting pretty for the last 13 years.
- “For the first time, the number of billionaires [Forbes] identified topped 1,000.”
- “On Feb. 11, [Forbes] counting day, the combined net worth of all billionaires was $4.4 trillion, up $900 billion from last year.”
Recession? What recession? Apparently, there’s PLENTY of money and opportunity out there to be had.
As micro-biz owners and lifestyle entrepreneurs, it’s our job to figure out how we can leverage our own unique talents, knowledge, and expertise to tap into this mind-blowing well of abundance.
Oh, and have fun while we do it. That’s important, too.
What Steve Martin can teach you about your own marketing and branding
March 11th, 2008 by Lani VoivodI just read Steve Martin’s memoir about his early years forging ahead into the entertainment business, Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life. It’s an unpretentious, honest, and insightful romp into the heart of storytelling, the naivete of youth, and the inescapable truth that success takes patience, perseverence, and roll-up-your-sleeves WORK.
One of Martin’s experiences in particular struck me as a great metaphor for MARKETING and BRANDING.
You remember The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, right? Remember how an appearance on Carson was often the make-or-break litmus test for anyone trying to make it in show biz - especially comedians? Martin shares what the reality of his first “Big Break” revealed:
There was a belief that one appearance on The Tonight Show made you a star. But here are the facts. The first time you do the show, nothing. The second time you do the show, nothing. The sixth time you do the show, someone might come up to you and say, “Hi, I think we met at Harry’s Christmas party.” The tenth time you do the show, you could conceivably be remembered as being seen somewhere on television. The twelfth time you do the show, you might hear, “Oh, I know you. You’re that guy.”
Martin’s first appearance on The Tonight Show was in October of 1972. After a few appearances, he experimented with a schtick that got him “demoted” to appearing with guests hosts instead of Johnny himself. Still, Martin showed up whenever he was invited, and kept working on his material, doing his best, and sharing his style. After proving himself, he was re-invited to a Carson-hosted episode (on which Sammy Davis Jr. was also booked), and he finally got his Big Break. The camera panned over to Carson doubled over in laughter during Martin’s routine, and thus a Comedic Star was endorsed to millions of TV viewers.
This happened on Martin’s 16th (!!!) Tonight Show appearance, in September of 1974.
Martin started dabbling in magic and entertainment as an employee of Disneyland in the summer of 1955. That means it took 17 years just to play and dabble and fail and put things OUT THERE before he made it to the Tonight Show stage for the first time.
THEN it took TWO MORE YEARS of: Working things out in clubs, in his head, and on paper; sharing, honing, and experimenting with content to all types of audiences; saying “Yes!” to opportunities at inopportune times; trusting the process; not getting all down and gloomy when “results” weren’t showing up as quickly as he thought they should have, etc., before Martin’s work really paid off, in his own estimation.
Doesn’t this sound like the small biz owners’ experiences with marketing? We want our one-shot efforts to PRODUCE RESULTS, darnit! We want to know our time, energy, and money aren’t wasted, that we’re investing in the right things to make our businesses successful.
But like all good things in life, building your Content Kingdom, your Brand, and your relationship with your Ideal Audience TAKES TIME.
Wanna know the funniest thing, though? After his killer appearance in 1974, what Martin himself said was “…the first one I could really call a smash,” he had an encounter with a woman in an antique store the very next day. She asked him if he was the boy who was on The Tonight Show the night before. When Martin said yes, she blurted, “Yuck!”
It just goes to show that even when you’ve done your job to the best of your ability, even when you’ve put as much of your message, mission, and vision OUT THERE for your Ideal Audience to consume in as many ways as you can with the time and resources you have on hand, you’re still not right for everyone.
Guess what? You’re not supposed to be! Martin himself ended up being one of the most successful, commercial, influential comic talents of all time, going on to write books and screen plays, star in movies, and win prestigious awards like Emmys and Grammys and such. Turns out the opinion of that chick in the antique store didn’t really thwart his own ascent too too much.
So while you’re thinking about new ways to have fun connecting and communicating with your own Ideal Audience, enjoy a clip of one of Steve Martin’s appearances on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson, below. :)
What are the chances I’d have opened that one?
March 10th, 2008 by Allen VoivodI rarely open email forwards, and even more frequently delete them if the sender doesn’t add a little note at the beginning to explain just why they were compelled to send the thing along.
But I happened to open the one pasted below. And it’s bizarre, because I’d just been thinking about how it’s our fifth year in business. How 80% of businesses supposedly fail in the first year, and 80% of the remainder fail within five years, and if we make it through this year, we’ll have beaten some pretty incredible odds.
Not to mention how tough it got in the latter half of 2006, when the option of “quitting” started to look attractive for a little while there.
That said, here’s a little Mood Booster for you, and for those of you who aren’t comfortable with use of “God,” do like Julia Cameron of Artist’s Way fame advises, and treat it as an acronym for “Good Orderly Direction,” a nameless force in the universe that is constantly looking for opportunities to help you on your journey:
The Fern and the Bamboo
One day I decided to quit…. I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
“God”, I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”
His answer surprised me.
“Look around,” He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
“In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.”
He said, “In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.
“In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.”
He said. “Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant.
“But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it