I've learned that...

• Sunday nights are meant to rest. What needs to be tackled on Monday can be tackled on Monday.
• Everything isn't as bad as it seems.
• You need to take a minute to think through things.
  
• People can be needy and demanding. They can also be logical and understanding.
• You need to separate work from personal.
• If you put your hardest effort into something, it will show.
• Loving what you do makes it all worthwhile.
• You're probably smarter than you think you are and should never doubt yourself.
• Sleep is needed. 4 hours is not enough and you don't get bonus points for "pulling an all nighter."
• Everything works out in the end.
  

Event Planning- Just make sure you have a damn good time

Photo Credit: Kelly Samardak, Just an Online Minute.

Planning events can be stressful. They can be a pain in the ass. Exhausting. Trying to find a venue can take up more time than you want. Working with the vendors takes time and patience and attention to detail is a must at all time. You have to keep your cool and manage a to do list that goes on for days.

But they can also be amazing. The feeling you get when the room is packed and you stand in the corner patiently watching everyone come in. Watching people smile, laugh, drink and have a good time because you planned something that was worth an hour of their time to come. The moment when you actually realize you can enjoy yourself and figure out what it is that went so right versus what went so wrong.

Events are successful to people for many reasons. Some people see success as the amount of people that come through the door. Some people see success as the vibe of the room, the response to the presentation or the fact that no one got too drunk to function.

There was a great post by Nancy Lublin featured in Fast Company about not having press attend an event. As a PR person, I totally understand that the main goal at an event like the one Nancy talks about is to get press. She lists some great tips about what to do--check them out.

When I was at Carrot and helped to organize Digital DUMBO, I did always want press to come. It helped get the word out about the event and get people to come. (It was also part of my job) But, while it was always a goal, I was always more concerned about the people at the event having fun. Why? Because I knew that that would help bring the press. At the end of the day, while I want a great recap in Kelly's Just an Online Minute post, I also wanted to see tweets with the #digitaldumbo tag and replies to @digitaldumbo from the attendees talking about how fun it was.

For those looking to start an event and get coverage, don't worry about the media first. Worry about your guests and throwing a great event. If it's a good time (and worth their time), they'll show. They'll want to come and attend the talked about events and get reactions from those enjoying the event. In one way, I think that's a better environment to bring the media into. Rather than planning an event for media, plan an event for your guests, throw a good party and make sure everyone has a good time.

You'll have a great review of the event written up the next day :)

Google Fast Flip

Horizontal Scrolling of the top news stories. "It combines qualities of print and the Web, with the ability to "flip" through pages online as quickly as flipping through a magazine. It also enables users to follow friends and topics, discover new content and create their own custom magazines around searches."

It's my new home page. Check it out. You can also share articles(via email---no social sites yet. Really Google?) and "Like" them.

A free box of Uncle Ben's rice should come with every new iPhone purchase.

I accidentally knocked a glass of water on the nightstand next to my bed last night. What was nearby? Well, my brand new MacBook and my iPhone. I quickly grabbed the MacBook as I am still remembering the feeling I had putting $1300 on my credit card for it. Luckily nothing was damaged as the case was shut so I just needed a towel.

Relieved I then looked at my iPhone. SOAKED. I freaked out. Took off the case and started blow drying the phone. The earpiece had no sound. No ringing. Nothing.

Quick thinking I ran and grabbed a box full of Uncle Ben's uncooked brown rice as I remembered a blog covering what to do if you ever got your phone wet. Poured it into a bowl and placed my iPhone in covering everything. The idea here is the rice will absorb all of the moisture from the phone. I could only hope that in the morning the phone was working.

It did. All is well now. And use this tip if it happens to you.

The Best of the VMAs according to Twitter and the funny folks I follow.

Using social media to live update during major performances (Super Bowl, The Oscars, etc..) is always fun. Tonight's MTV Video Music Awards were definitely "interesting" with a ton of unexpected happenings perfect for the snarky Twitterati to comment on.

I present to you some of my favorites from tonight's #vmas from the people I follow:

Kanye West storming of the stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Music Video:

Baratunde Thurston:

1. is there someone running against Kanye West in 2010? If so, let's raise $400K for that person. #vmas #youlie
2. i would pay HELLA money to see Kanye & Joe Wilson tour together. just yelling whatever comes to them #vmas #youlie #wwkd
   

Pink: Kanye west is the biggest piece of shit on earth. Quote me.
TheBalcony: kanye beats lady gaga for most surprising dick move of the night...

The Taylor Swift performance that started on a "F Train":
Noah Mallin:Taylor Swift is on the whitest, youngest, F Train ever.
Maury Postal: Anyone know where I can find the fabulously lit F-Train Taylor Swift was on? It would really accent the rotting hobo I usually see.

Beyonce's Performance:
Maury Postal: Beyoncé is the best ventriloquist in the business. #girlyouknowitstrue
Michelle Collins: Also they should give a VMA to whoever waxes Beyonce. Always a stellar job. #VMAs

Lady Gaga Accepting Best New Artist in Full Red Outfit:
OMGICU: Lady Gaga says that her award is " for God and for the gays." She also wore a human torch outfit.
Christina Coster: Looks like Lady Gaga stepped into a Slim Jim #VMAs

Serena Williams:
Lindsay Robertson: Serena Williams just told Taylor Swift she was going to shove that Moonman down her fucking throat.

Lady Gaga's Birds Nest Outfit:
@vonverena: Gaga's 4th outfit appears to be a sno-cone. #VMAs

9/11

Every generation has a "I remember where I was that day" moment. For my parents it was the day JFK was shot. For mine, it's 9/11.

It was the first week of college as a freshman at the University of Rhode Island. I had just crossed the quad hearing my peers talk about New York and the World Trade Center. Being a New Yorker I definitely picked up the pace to get back to my dorm and to a TV.

And there it was.

Today is a day for remembering. And I can't believe it's already been 8 years.

FINALLY

Did anyone else wonder why The New York Times didn't have a Twitter share button? This may explain the wait.

A quick and simple brand

When people say it's hard to build a brand (personal or larger) I can't help but say BS. With the internet at everyone's finger tips, setting up a blog, Twitter, Facebook...you can do it.

If people still say "they can't" I like to point them to examples of individuals who have built one for themselves succesfully. Not people with thousands of followers or fans, but people who have a single presence that people can use as a valuable resource.

Perfect example: I came upon Cosmo Guy Online on Tumblr the other day. The blogger is quick to post the latest sightings of the four famous ladies from Sex and the City filming around New York. He also has a Twitter.

Why does this work?

1. People want to read this and are interested.
2. No one else is providing this information.
3. The branding is consistent and simple.
   

Cosmo Guy, or as he describes himself: "Welcome to your ultimate guide to all things Sex and the City with Cosmo Guy, your sex expert!" Awesome job.

Why I love technology.

I get to Skype chat with my best friend and her 2 year old who live in Orange County.

In search of a new perspective

"Practically everybody in New York has half a mind to write a book-and does."-Groucho Marx

Does anyone else feel like everywhere you turn another book is being made about the fascinating hipsters, Twitter quotes, fatty foods...you name it...that have appeared in our Internet streams? Some are awesome. Some are not. Some are questioned as to why they're a book and others will make the authors a lot of money causing many of us to scream "They made a book off of THAT?"---Yes. Yes they did and you wish you thought of it first.

When coming across the Groucho quote (in a book I just ordered), it made me think about the people in New York and all of the interesting things and events that really need to be put down on paper. There are so many brilliant people here wandering the city streets and taking it in. SO many of them need to write a book (or blog) for others to read. And most, never will.

If you look at your current stream of content, what REALLY strikes you as the most interesting? When is the last time you said "WOW, I really enjoy reading his/her updates because they really make my day." I think the last time I said that was when I discovered the ever hilarious "Shit My Dad Says." Now, it's not like I don't like what my friends and colleagues are posting, it's just that I know what to expect from them. I like that and find it as a key part to my day, but I'm looking for someone or something that can provide a different perspective from the ordinary.

For example: I noticed that Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter just recently moved to New York. (I know this because I follow him on Twitter. Many of you do too I'm sure.) He's expressing his first week or so here taking Twitpics and marveling at the great city around us. It's really fun to live his "move to New York" experience via his updates. Just from a few simple updates I can tell that he's having an amazing time here already. (Not surprising at all.) I like when he posts these updates.

There are some people I wish could write books here in New York. Or tweet. Or blog. Just share. Here are some of mine, what are some of yours? (And note that these are not public figures. In my mind, all public figures would be fascinating to watch live stream.)

• The doorman of that upper east side apartment building that helps the ladies who lunch bring in their Bergdorf bags.
  
• The subway conductor who takes thousands of New Yorkers to their jobs and destinations every day.
• The CEO of that major bank who really just wants to tell us all what's REALLY going on and how he REALLY feels.
• The guitarist that plays in Washington Square Park every Sunday.
• The homeless woman who always seems to have a smile on her face on 42nd Street when I pass.