Yesterday I went to the 6th Annual NYXPO for Business at the Javits Center. As someone who works out of a SOHO (small office home office) it’s important that I remember to step away from my computer and get into an environment where I can meet other small business people and solopreneurs. And there were plenty of them at the convention.
After checking out the vendor booths I was ready to dig into some of the sponsored seminars. I admit the speakers are almost always using the seminars as a platform to peddle their services or sell a recently published book. And that’s fine. Because with few exceptions, I almost always walk away with some shiny new nuggets of information on how I can approach my work more effectively.
The highlight for me was a session with Joe Abraham, the CEO of BOSI and author of Entrepreneurial DNA. Besides being a phenomenal speaker, his presentation on how to be a successful entrepreneur offered a new and eye-opening spin on how to use your entrepreneurial tendencies to your business advantage. I walked away with a better understanding of why certain aspects of my business are fun and easy for me while others can be a huge pain. There’s a free assessment you can take on his website above. Personally, I can’t wait to learn more from his book.
A special shout out to style coach extraordinaire Susan Sommers who I was very happy to run into and spend time with. I was sorry to miss Kristin White of Exacting English. She is a phenomenal writer and editor if you need help with copy on your marketing materials or presentation…especially geared to non-native English speaking business people marketing to an American audience.
Mary Maru
Anthony and I spent a week in Ft. Lauderdale at the end of October. It’s been several years since we were down there. And I have to say, I’d forgotten how beautiful the beaches are. From that point of view, it’s really not so different than being in the Bahamas…except much easier to get to.
We almost rented bikes…not sure what happened to those plans.
One afternoon we took a drive down to South Beach. Neither of us had been. And I was curious about the art deco scene there. I have to say, Ocean Drive…the strip along the beach…did not disappoint! Here’s Anthony in front of the gift shop.
And waiting just inside were these outrageously fun miniature furniture pieces from a variety of design styles. I think the furniture looks super cool in dollhouse size. The store was filled with kitsch and I’d love to share more. But the ‘no photos’ sign caught my eye just after I’d snapped these shots. Boo.
Fantastic beachy deco architecture along the strip. And I just loved all the art deco type on the restaurants and hotels.
Sometimes you’ve got to have a destination when you walk so you don’t end up going way too far. This was ours on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale…tap the pier and then head back.
Mary Maru
Another fun discovery made after hitting some of my favorite stores in the Flatiron District was this display of carefully hand-decorated upcycled coffee cups.
Sprint sponsors Prow Art Space in the ground floor gallery of the Flatiron Building. Until the end of this year this showcase of intricately detailed coffee cup drawings will be on display. And the artist herself,
Gwyneth Leech, makes appearances working her art within the display space so you can see her in action if you happen by while she’s there.
Mary Maru
One of the things I really love about living in NY is that you don’t have to try very hard to find cool things to look at. Anthony and I were just coming back from a post gym meal at one of our favorite healthy food eateries, Village Natural, when we noticed several people with their cameras out. I looked around to see what all the fuss was about when I noticed the mural of these giant eyes on what used to be the variety store on the corner of 10th and Greenwich that carried all sorts of kitschy items…like political bobble heads and severed appendages…before the place burned down a couple years ago. It’s nice to see something interesting to look at instead of a vacant storefront. And how can you not love a mural that looks right back at you.
Mary Maru
The Alphabet 2 from n9ve on Vimeo.
We all know our ABCs. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy this charming motion graphics video of the alphabet by Italian design studio N9ve. Via
fastcodesign.com.
Mary Maru
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