# Escape From Cubicle Nation

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## Posts

- [Articles](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/articles/)
- [Come see the wonderful things my people accomplished this year!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/01/05/come-see-the-wonderful-things-my-people-accomplished-this-year/): The fabulous and inspiring London crew of the Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop. Photo by my favorite activist entrepreneur , photographer and friend TMS Ruge. (Note to regular blog readers -- my site crashed today, so this is a re-post of the 12/31 original. I lost all the comments, which is a major bummer, but
- [The Price is Right Interview Series: Ramit Sethi](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/02/the-price-is-right-interview-series-ramit-sethi/): So far this week, we have learned about the big picture of pricing in small business from John Jantsch, and tips on the inner game of pricing from Mark Silver. Today we get some great, detailed information about transitioning from giving away all your content for free on a blog to selling well-priced products and
- [7 Rookie Legal Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make (And How to Avoid Them)](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2014/12/01/7-rookie-legal-mistakes-entrepreneurs-make-and-how-to-avoid-them/): On this Cyber Monday, I wanted to share an important article from my dear friend and trusted IP lawyer Rachel Rodgers. Having been in business for 18 years, and worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, I have either lived through or seen just about every mistake you can make in business. The legal mistakes can be
- [How to think like a marketer and sell like a superstar - interview with John Jantsch](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2014/05/27/how-to-think-like-a-marketer-and-sell-like-a-superstar-interview-with-john-jantsch/): When I first started writing about small business marketing many years ago, one of the first people I heard about was John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing. John had a great reputation, a solid business and a well-respected and highly trafficked blog. I referred many clients to his first book, Duct Tape Marketing. Then to
- [Scaling up Excellence: An interview with Stanford professor Bob Sutton](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2014/02/28/scaling-up-excellence-an-interview-with-stanford-professor-bob-sutton/): Many entrepreneurs dream of starting a business in their garage, scaling it, then selling it to Google for a billion dollars. Such things rarely happen. But scaling happens every day, in our career, our business or our workplace. We are constantly trying to improve ourselves, share our ideas, and put in systems and infrastructure that
- [Cool link about using LinkedIn to build your small business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/08/07/cool-link-about-using-linkedin-to-build-your-small-business/): I have been a member of LinkedIn for a couple of years, but have not used it at all to market my business. I just got a short email from the service that shared a video of a small business owner , Sasha Strauss from Innovation Protocol who has used it to generate lots of
- [Celebrating the body of work of my clients in 2013](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/12/31/celebrating-the-body-of-work-of-my-clients-in-2013/): Happy New Year's Eve! 2013 has been a very special year for me. In addition to working with some amazing people, traveling to great events and having fun with my family, I wrote a brand new book, Body of Work: Finding the Thread That Ties Your Story Together that I believe will define my own
- [Search for good stories and good stories will search for you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/12/27/search-for-good-stories-and-good-stories-will-search-for-you/): Any professional journalist will tell you that maintaining an objective point of view is a critical part of telling an accurate and interesting story. Boston Globe reporter Billy Baker maintained this principle when he went in search of an interesting story about someone on the #19 bus line in Boston. He found it, through the
- [How to create a full-color, full-contact body of work, courtesy of Beyonce](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/12/13/how-to-create-a-full-color-full-contact-body-of-work-courtesty-of-beyonce/): Much to the Internet's amazement yesterday, without any prior buzz or warning, Beyoncé dropped a brand new album straight to iTunes, complete with 10 brand new videos. Post by Beyoncé. She said: "I see music. It is more than just what I hear. When I connect to something, I immediately see a visual. Or
- [Extrasensory customer experience](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/07/extrasensory-customer-experience/): The other day, I went with my husband and baby son to the Apple store here in Scottsdale, Arizona to pick out an iPod for my birthday. I thought it was time to get with the 21st century and walk around like everyone else with little white headphones in my ears, especially since I am
- [How to make sure your work aligns with your values](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/12/06/how-to-make-sure-your-work-aligns-with-your-values/): A mentor once told me that the only way you truly know what your values are are when they are violated. Like when a key partner betrays your trust. Or when you try a new marketing strategy that makes you feel disingenuous. Or when you are encouraged as a kid to tease someone at school,
- [Meaning at work, teens and the power of the underdog - Interview with author Josh Shipp](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/12/05/meaning-at-work-teens-and-the-power-of-the-underdog-interview-with-author-josh-shipp/): I have always been a huge fan of underdogs. Josh Shipp started his life without a safety net. Abandoned at birth by his mother, he spent most of his youth bouncing between foster homes, growing increasingly disillusioned and angry. He finally landed in a home with a family who gave him the kind of support
- [Why the pause before the first bite is better than the bite itself](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/11/27/why-the-pause-before-the-first-bite-is-better-than-the-bite-itself/): You know that moment, when you are looking around the table at your family and friends who are clutching their silverware in anticipation of the steaming, delicious food that sits on the plate before them? If you are in a Navajo household, this pause is a good 20 minutes while grandma does a lovely blessing
- [What story does Google tell about you?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/11/20/what-story-does-google-tell-about-you/): It is hard to imagine life before the web. If I have to do anything -- make soup, download a Mod in Minecraft for my son or get someone to haul away trash from my garage, the first place I go is Google. After scanning past the sponsored links (why don't I trust those?) I
- [Launch Special: 4 Perks with your Body of Work](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/11/13/launch-special-4-perks-with-your-body-of-work/): I have been preparing for this moment for a very long time. After writing and publishing Escape from Cubicle Nation, I had no idea if there would be a future book, or what it would be. Over time, ideas came slowly, like whispers from a far away room. Then they gradually got louder, until one
- [The Must-Read Book of 2013: Adversaries into Allies by Bob Burg](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/11/07/the-must-read-book-of-2013-adversaries-into-allies-by-bob-burg/): When you think about it, navigating your life is a series of negotiations. In the course of a day, you may try to influence: Your new puppy to use the restroom outside Your customer to buy your product Your kid to brush his teeth Your neighbor to vote for your candidate Your boss to support
- [Lessons Learned and Inspiration Gained from Body of Work Live ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/11/01/lessons-learned-and-inspiration-gained-from-body-of-work-live/): Last weekend, I kicked off the launch of my new book, Body of Work (which ships on December 31, 2013) with a live event in Phoenix, Arizona. I was joined by an amazing line-up of speakers, who shared deep and meaningful lessons and stories with the 75 people assembled. I was very thoughtful in my
- [Where are you on the great work scale? Take the quiz](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/10/09/where-are-you-on-the-great-work-scale-take-the-quiz/): Have you ever gotten the perfect job, or client, or gig, and after doing the work for awhile, found that it was not anything like you imagined? A good friend moved all the way across country for a job opportunity that sounded like a dream on paper. Only after working there for a few
- [Why you need to dive deep into duende](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/10/06/why-you-need-to-dive-deep-into-duende/): Glenis Redmond, sharing her beautiful poetry at Design Your Life Camp. Photo by Lynn Buckler Walsh. I just spent three days in a hotel on a lake in Georgia, in a room filled with creative people, art, inspiration and poetry. I was at Patti Digh's first annual Design Your Life Camp. One of the participants
- [Side Hustle & Flow Interview Series: Michael Bungay Stanier](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/10/01/side-hustle-flow-interview-series-michael-bungay-stanier/): The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series is designed to inspire hard-working corporate employees to either start a side hustle if they are interested in eventually starting a business, or to keep going with their existing side hustle through the inevitable challenge of limited time and energy. So far we have profiled Chandoo, Willie Jackson,
- [Live your life so that you DIE EMPTY: Conversation with Todd Henry](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/09/19/live-your-life-so-that-you-die-empty-conversation-with-todd-henry/): There are some people I meet who I instantly feel not just a connection with, but true kinship. Todd Henry is one of these people. I first met him when he interviewed me about my book Escape from Cubicle Nation on his wildly popular podcast, Accidental Creative. I was intrigued by his work with creatives,
- [How to get what you want in 2014](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/09/18/how-to-get-what-you-want-in-2014/): I always laugh when people comment that I seem to be very productive. I think it is based on the illusion created by social media, when all we see are celebrations of finished blog posts, or program announcements, media coverage or photos of glamorous travel. I have huge spaces of bumbling around, head scratching and
- [Quitting your job and moving to a new house? You may be next star in HGTV series ... ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/09/06/quitting-your-job-and-moving-to-a-new-house-you-may-be-next-star-in-hgtv-series/): One of the fun things about writing a blog about quitting your job to start a business is I get some interesting press requests. This one from HGTV came across my inbox yesterday, and thought it was really fun. Here is the description of what they are looking for in ideal candidates for a new
- [Promote Yourself: The New Rules for Career Success with Dan Schawbel](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/09/05/promote-yourself-the-new-rules-for-career-success-with-dan-schawbel/): Many years ago, when I was in the early years of blogging at Escape from Cubicle Nation, I heard about a young man named Dan Schawbel who was writing like crazy about personal branding and millennials in the workplace. His name and face were everywhere, as he wrote for his own blog, as well as
- [How to get your groove back](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/09/03/how-to-get-your-groove-back/): Sweat poured down my face as I leaned back with my hands over my head into a backward bend. I listened to the yoga teacher's instructions. "Hold it, way back, fall back, more back, push back..." My whole body was shaking, and I felt a mix of exhaustion and rage. When we finally came back
- [Work from the heart ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/09/02/work-from-the-heart-2/): My Mom forwarded this to me today, from Linda Graham. I thought it was a perfect Labor Day post. My wish for you is that you always have work that is connected to your heart, and that we work together to ensure that all people find dignified and meaningful employment. --- May your work excite
- [Report from super secret Motorola phone launch at Google headquarters - Moto X ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/08/02/report-from-super-secret-motorola-phone-launch-at-google-headquarters-moto-x/): (photo courtesy of Motorola, and compiled by TerriAnn van Gosliga from Cookies and Clogs) On July 11, after teaching all day at creativeLIVE, I was whisked away in a black town car to Google headquarters for a top secret meeting organized by Guy Kawasaki. I didn't know anything about the topic of the meeting, just
- [Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Eleanor Mayrhofer](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/08/01/side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-eleanor-mayrhofer/): The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series is designed to inspire hard-working corporate employees to either start a side hustle if they are interested in eventually starting a business, or to keep going with their existing side hustle through the inevitable challenge of limited time and energy. For some reason, I stopped doing these interviews,
- [How to leverage new school year energy to kickstart a killer Fall](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/07/29/how-to-leverage-new-school-year-energy-to-kickstart-a-killer-fall/): Here in Arizona, my kids start school next week. I just got the suggested school supplies list from their teachers, and it brought back great memories from my own elementary school experience. One of the things I loved best about the start of a school year was buying new school supplies, and, if we were
- [How to go from big idea to action](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/07/09/how-to-go-from-big-idea-to-action/): At the World Domination Summit this weekend, I delivered a workshop for 200 motivated people, who had all kinds of big dreams to change the world. Some of their goals were to: Close the income gap between men and women Heal the corporate world Create a bestselling book and tour the world speaking Build a
- [How to sell the first 1,000 copies of your book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/06/27/how-to-sell-the-first-1000-copies-of-your-book/): The book publishing industry is in such upheaval these days that many authors, even those who have been very successful with traditional publishing, are searching for useful, relevant information to help them move more books. One of the first questions that publishers will ask an aspiring author is "how big is your platform?" followed quickly
- [The more you do it, you'll get through it](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/06/13/the-more-you-do-it-youll-get-through-it/): My daughter and I had an impromptu "Take your daughter to work day" today. We wanted to record a video for you, with a bit of advice to help your business along. Here goes! (Direct on YouTube here: http://youtu.be/OVKv4nInuMU Enjoy your day! -Pam and Rosie
- [Care to join me live for a 3-day class in San Francisco - for free?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/06/11/care-to-join-me-live-for-a-3-day-class-in-san-francisco-for-free/): Happy Tuesday! I have been in the throes of writing my new book, which is why you might hear some crickets chirping over here on the blog. It has been a combination of excitement, terror, exhilaration and exhaustion. Because I believe in Full Color, Full Contact Living, it is so worth it, for the satisfaction
- [Turn your questions into answers: Interview with Dan Martell](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/06/06/8292/): Imagine that you are driving down the road and you get a call from your office that a VC is interested in talking to you about investing in your business, but the only time they have to meet with you is tomorrow at noon. You have never put together a pitch before, and feel slightly
- [Announcing ... Fantastic lineup of Spring classes from Power Teaching students](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/05/20/announcing-fantastic-lineup-of-spring-classes-from-power-teaching-students-2/): In March/April, I ran another small session of my Power Teaching class. Another extremely smart and enthusiastic group joined in intensive study of effective training design and development, and worked on real, live classes that they are launching this Spring and Summer. I love teaching this class for three reasons: It is exceptionally energizing to
- [Why writing your book doesn't have to be scary](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/04/25/why-writing-your-book-doesnt-have-to-be-scary/): I am delighted to feature a guest post today from my friend and fellow coach, bestselling author Debbie Rieber. Debbie is in the business of helping people get the books in their heads written, sold, and out into the world. As someone who is writing a book now, I know that we authors need all
- [It just got easier to book yourself solid](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/04/09/it-just-got-easier-to-book-yourself-solid/): When I started my coaching practice, I felt extremely awkward when I talked with prospective clients. Asking for a sale felt like torture. And I was so excited about anyone at all hiring me for my services that I didn't really consider whether they were a good fit or not. Thankfully, seven years ago I
- [10 Ways to Develop a Mastery Mindset](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/04/05/10-ways-to-develop-a-mastery-mindset/): In today's world of hacks, shortcuts and instant money-making blueprints, I think we have lost appreciation for slow-brewing mastery in our work. Through the years, I have worked with many martial artists, cultural leaders and business mentors who have taught me that trying to finish first in a short race is not only stressful, it
- [Why we all need each other](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/03/04/why-we-all-need-each-other/): Pictured: The oldest and youngest members of the Slim canine family, Shoki and Rocky, demonstrating how we need each other, despite our differences Have you ever gotten stuck in an endless loop in your own head? You start out excited to complete a new project. You get properly caffeinated. You choose the perfect background music.
- [Confession of an entrepreneurial optimist](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/03/15/confession-of-an-entrepreneurial-optimist/): I am cruising into my 17th year in business. Seventeen years of creating things, connecting with people, figuring out what I want to do, what people need and inviting them to pay me to help them get things done. It has been fun. Really, really fun. I remember when I first started blogging and everything
- [It is not about you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/02/22/it-is-not-about-you/): I spend a lot of time each day talking with new entrepreneurs who are excited about starting a business, but fear they may not have the credentials, credibility or experience to pull it off. They sweat about their business idea. They sweat about the fact that someone else has been in the space much longer,
- [Why Managing Sucks and How to Fix It - Interview with Jody Thompson](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/02/20/why-managing-sucks-and-how-to-fix-it-interview-with-jody-thompson/): In 2010, Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson released their first book Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It, based on their experience leading a "Results Only Work Environment" (ROWE) while they were at Best Buy. In a results-only workplace, employees can do whatever they want whenever they want, as long as the work gets
- [Did you know 1099s are due January 31, 2013?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/01/28/did-you-know-1099s-are-due-january-31-2013/): Running a business is no laughing matter. Not only do you have to develop and deliver a great product or service, but you have to find people kind and willing enough to take out their credit cards and pay for it. Then there are taxes. If you are used to being paid as an employee,
- [12 Ways to Grow Your Business in 2013](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/01/16/12-ways-to-grow-your-business-in-2013/): When I first started to blog in 2005, I was new to everything in the online business world. I had run my consulting business exclusively on referrals for ten years, so I was eager to learn as much as I could about reaching an audience using online tools. Honestly, it felt a big dream sprinkled
- [The first step in your 2013 plan - anchor the why, the whom and the what](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2013/01/02/the-first-step-in-your-2013-plan-anchor-the-why-the-whom-and-the-what/): A new year can feel like a fresh-smelling sheet just taken off a clothesline in a Swiss village. Or it can feel big and daunting, like staring off the side of a big cliff. However this new year shows up for you, before you put your head down and start working, I recommend anchoring yourself
- [Check out the wonderful things my clients shipped in 2012!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/12/31/check-out-the-wonderful-things-my-clients-shipped-in-2012/): On this last day of 2012, as we prepare for a rocking 2013, I am tremendously proud to celebrate and share the people I have been lucky enough to work with this year. Clients came from individual coaching and programs and classes like Power Boost Marketing. While I served over 400 people, given the nature
- [Why your marketing is not working](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/12/03/why-your-marketing-is-not-working/): I get lots of questions about marketing. "What new techniques should I be using to grow my business? I have been (blogging) (Tweeting) (attending a networking group), and I don't seem to be getting many results." "How long have you been doing it?" I ask. "For two whole months!" the person says. . We
- [Embracing the mess of 2012 to invite the grace of 2013](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/12/27/embracing-the-mess-of-2012-to-invite-the-grace-of-2013/): What has this year been like for you? Most people have had a whole series of accomplishments. Everything from finishing a blog post to getting the kids fed, clothed, out the door and on time for school three days in a row to winning an award or making a bunch of money on a product
- [The road to healing from heartbreak](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/12/20/the-road-to-healing-from-heartbreak/): Some years are marked by tremendous challenge and heartbreak. This year, some people very close to me experienced unthinkable losses. My friend Suzanne lost her 22 year old daughter to a heart attack, only to lose her daughter's best friend to the same cause a few months later. My friend Laurie was diagnosed with Ovarian
- [I once was blind, but now I see ... with help of course](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/12/10/i-once-was-blind-but-now-i-see-with-help-of-course/): Today's guest post is from my friend Jennifer Boykin, the "Midlife Midwife -- Delivering Hot Flashes of MidLife Mojo." Her site Life After Tampons is a mix of heartfelt, humorous inspiration for those of us women in, or on our way, to midlife. This post, however, is for all of us. :) --- I once
- [The two most important stories of your life](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/12/06/the-two-most-important-stories-of-your-life/): I was talking with a client the other day who was entering the job market after spending an extended period of time doing a mix of freelance work and raising children. He was concerned about holes in his experience, and the impact they would have on securing a good job. He felt scared, uncomfortable and
- [Scale your business by avoiding the entrepreneur's trap](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/12/04/scale-your-business-by-avoiding-the-entrepreneurs-trap/): Starting a business can be a huge challenge, with a million things to learn, and the uncertainty of landing your first customers. Once you pass that gauntlet and develop a thriving business, another snag appears -- lack of focus, overwhelm and even burnout from trying to do everything yourself. In this interview, longtime business system
- [Thankful ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/11/21/thankful/): I do love this Thanksgiving season, when we take a collective breath, and reflect on all the goodness and richness around us. Including copious amounts of pie. My daughter has been singing this song all week, and I thought it was an appropriate summation of the things I am thankful for too. To view directly
- [4 Questions to get 2013 off to a roaring start](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/11/02/4-questions-to-get-2013-off-to-a-roaring-start/): I love planning. It could be a Virgo thing, since the smell of flip chart paper and new pens is almost as sweet as fresh leaves on a fall day. With November at our feet, it is a great time to start to plant some seeds for your 2013 career and business plans. I recorded
- [How does your business grow? One seed at a time](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/10/31/how-does-your-business-grow-one-seed-at-a-time/): We often think about business marketing in epic terms, like coordinating a six-figure launch, or undertaking a massive Facebook advertising campaign. In fact, most stable, enduring businesses grow one small seed at a time. One helpful Tweet at a time. One presentation to a small audience at a time. One prospective client call at a
- [Secret to Success: Try daily. Smile. Stay in your lane. Build strength.](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/10/23/secret-to-success-try-daily-smile-stay-in-your-lane-build-strength/): In Arizona, school starts on August 8. My daughter Rosie started kindergarten this year. On the playground, there is a set of monkey bars. Kids line up for a turn to cross. Many of Rosie's peers were already flying across the bars with confidence on the first day of school. One girl would smile as
- [We Did It Ourselves: Highlights from Power Boost Live 2012](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/10/19/we-did-it-ourselves-highlights-from-power-boost-live-2012/): Power Boost Live participants feeling in the zone at the end of two days together There are times as a business owner, or an artist, or a scientist, or an engineer, when you just have a hunch that something will work. The only way to know for sure is to test it. I had that
- [Effective culture is simply clarity amplified](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/10/10/effective-culture-is-simply-clarity-amplified/): Photo credit: Robert Fogarty Today I am thrilled to share a guest post from my dear friend and mentor John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing. John is a marketing consultant, speaker and author. John has been instrumental in shaping my small business education, but more importantly, he has modeled the type of clarity, integrity
- [The tyranny of needing to be liked](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/10/05/the-tyranny-of-needing-to-be-liked/): I had a massive insight yesterday, spurred by a conversation with my best friend Desiree, that may have just provided the key to a more satisfying, far-reaching and valuable work life. I discovered that it is OK if not everyone likes what I say, do or believe. And even more than that, If I continue
- [Ode to my 5-year old girl](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/10/01/ode-to-my-5-year-old/): Most of what I remember on October 1, 2007 was walking around my neighborhood in endless circles, hoping to feel some strong contractions coming soon. You took your time, little one, to come to the world. But when you came ... it was like a freight train hit me. A sure sign of what was
- [Announcing ... Fantastic lineup of Fall classes from Power Teaching students](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/09/26/announcing-fantastic-lineup-of-fall-classes-from-power-teaching-students-2/): In August, I ran another session of my Power Teaching class. Another extremely smart and enthusiastic group joined in intensive study of effective training design and development, and worked on real, live classes that they are launching this Fall. I love teaching this class for three reasons: It is exceptionally energizing to share my passion
- [How to build a strong business community](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/09/25/how-to-build-a-strong-business-community/): I push myself to continually challenge my assumptions about business. I actively solicit advice from friends and mentors, because I want to grow and develop as a person, in addition to growing my business. But sometimes, I get very stubborn. Last year, I got lots of advice for building higher priced walls between me and
- [Working in the growth zone: between stretch and panic](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/09/03/working-in-the-growth-zone-between-stretch-and-panic/): The other night in mixed martial arts, I had my tip test, an interim exam before testing for a full-color belt. You work with one partner all class, running through different drills, so that the instructor can evaluate your technique. I always have great training partners. They are focused, hard-working and strong. Usually, they are
- [3 Things that will kill your training program or event](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/08/29/3-things-that-will-kill-your-training-program-or-event/): I have been designing training programs and events for over two decades. In all this time, I have learned by trial and error critical things to avoid. 3 Things That Will Kill Your Training Program or Event Focusing on what you want to teach, not what your audience needs to learn It is easy to
- [I am writing a new book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/08/24/i-am-writing-a-new-book/): At 3am on October 31, 2008, I wrote the final sentence of Escape from Cubicle Nation, saved the document and got ready to send it to my editor. Only I couldn’t open my email because at that very moment, the Internet connection for my entire neighborhood went down. It was frosting on a caffeine-fueled, sleep-deprived
- [Do you have grown up goals and toddler leadership?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/08/17/do-you-have-grown-up-goals-and-toddler-leadership/): Yesterday, I had a wonderful series of coaching calls with clients that are all making huge leaps and bounds. They made plans, worked hard, got great results, and now are totally on track to see their big visions realized. After some cheering and virtual high-fiving, they got kind of quiet. And each of them expressed
- [Living fully on borrowed time](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/08/16/living-fully-on-borrowed-time/): It might have been somewhere between my fourth and fifth solemn swear to get off of Facebook and start writing my overdue guest post that I got a chill up the back of my neck. "This is how I am choosing to spend my time. My precious time, away from my kids, away from my
- [Why you need an exit plan even if you love your job](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/08/13/why-you-need-an-exit-plan-even-if-you-love-your-job/): I am the first to admit that not everyone is cut out to own a business. It can be challenging, stressful and unpredictable at times. If you do not have a high tolerance for uncertainty and risk, it may not be the best career move. But even if you do not want to consider full-time
- [How to run your own race](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/08/10/how-to-run-your-own-race/): Photo: ABC News/Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Have you been obsessed with the Olympics? I am exhausted after staying up until 11pm every night this week, but I just cannot get enough of the games. The gold medal finishes are so exciting. Who doesn't love the flair and fun of Usain Bolt? The joy of the USA
- [How do you know when is the right time to quit your day job?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/12/06/how-do-you-know-when-is-the-right-time-to-quit-your-day-job/): As the saying goes, if I had a nickel for every time someone asked me "When is the right time to leave my day job?", I would be rich. Just the other day, I received the following email: "Can you recommend a good strategy for leaving the "cube nation" when there are limited job opportunities
- [7 Ways to give a great interview](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/08/08/7-ways-to-give-a-great-interview/): The other day, I got an email from a friend that said: "I would love some guidance on getting interviewed. I've been interviewed several times on various radio shows and such. And I don't think I do a very good job. I'm generally comfortable with public speaking and teaching. But if I don't really connect
- [Lessons from Jonah Lehrer's public demise](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/08/01/lessons-from-jonah-lehrers-public-demise/): photo source: CBS News It has been big news around journalism and literary circles the past week that best-selling author and New Yorker writer Jonah Lehrer admitted to making up some facts in his book Imagine: How Creativity Works. From his statement: “Three weeks ago, I received an email from journalist Michael Moynihan asking about
- [How to get back into the writing groove when you have been busy, distracted, lazy or all of the above](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/07/31/how-to-get-back-into-the-writing-groove-when-you-have-been-busy-distracted-lazy-or-all-of-the-above/): Even though most of you reading this blog no longer enjoy long, luxurious summers filled with sleeping in, chasing bugs, trips to the library and endless episodes of Power Rangers, you may find that your normal prolific writing pace has slowed a bit in the month of July. (I think the real question is why
- [5 Ways to ask for help when the going gets tough](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/07/12/5-ways-to-ask-for-help-when-the-going-gets-tough/): I work with a lot of smart people. Folks who have done amazing things in their careers, raised great children, changed their communities, created fine pieces of art and solved complex problems. As they are starting up their business, they often hit a wall if they can't figure something out. Many get paralyzed, and lose
- [Escape podcast:  Interview with Martha Beck](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/15/escape-podcast-interview-with-martha-beck/): The first of my interview podcasts is now available: Interview with Martha Beck: Your left toe holds the clue to your right life. It is about 40 minutes long. Martha is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You are Meant to Live and a
- [A very personal victory](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/06/29/a-very-personal-victory/): Pictured: Master Kelly Fiori, East West MMA, and me. There was an eleven-year period in my life when I was known primarily as a fanatically dedicated martial art student, instructor, and youth mentor. From the first time I stepped inside the Mission Dolores Gymnasium in San Francisco for my first capoeira class in 1987, I
- [Why we misjudge introverts and what we can do about it](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/06/27/why-we-misjudge-introverts-and-what-we-can-do-about-it/): Popular American business culture says that the more someone "participates" by talking aloud during a meeting or networking event, the more "active," "friendly" and "supportive" they are. This (erroneous) definition ignores the fact that many quiet, introverted people are also "active," "friendly" and "supportive," just in a different way. In this interview with Barbara Saunders,
- [Are you missing out on the adventure of your craft?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/06/25/are-you-missing-out-on-the-adventure-of-your-craft/): I was pretty fearless in my teens and twenties. I figured out how to get myself to Switzerland as an exchange student at 16, with little money and no contacts. I had many adventures in college in Mexico and Colombia, often traveling alone and having some dangerous experiences like being held up by knife point,
- [Do you believe in your idea?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/06/20/do-you-believe-in-your-idea/): If you set big goals, you probably spend a considerable amount of time worrying: If others think the idea is good enough If someone else would do it better than you If anyone will support it, or invest in it If you will be judged, ridiculed or humiliated if you try to attain it This
- [How to start a movement and make a movie without a plan](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/06/15/how-to-start-a-movement-and-make-a-movie-without-a-plan/): The I'm Fine, Thanks Crew, left to right: Grant Peelle (Director), Adam Baker (Producer), John Cropper (Camera Op), Dustin Koester (Sound), and Bryan Olinger (Director of Photography). I first met Adam Baker through stumbling across his site, Man vs. Debt, a few years ago. I was fascinated by his journey, documenting how he and his
- [The dirty little marketing secret no one is telling you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/06/07/the-dirty-little-marketing-secret-no-one-is-telling-you/): A lot of entrepreneurs get all twisted up about branding. Either they think it is some huge, expensive thing that is only for large companies, or they get obsessed with nailing a complete brand strategy before taking the first tiny step in building a business. Neither extreme is true. In this podcast conversation with brand
- [How do you make a product into a habit?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/06/06/how-do-you-make-a-product-into-a-habit/): When starting a business, attracting customers and making sales is a huge priority. It is so exciting to see orders roll in, and people begin to talk about you online. But in order to build a solid business, you need to go far beyond initial sales -- you have to create a connection and a
- [Report from test drive of HP Folio 13 Ultrabook](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/06/05/report-from-test-drive-of-hp-folio-13-ultrabook/): Last month, HP approached me about testing out a new Folio 13 Ultrabook laptop, and reporting on the experience. Hewlett-Packard was my very first client when I started consulting 16 years ago in Palo Alto, California, so I considered it a wink from the universe, and gave it a try. They gave me a unit
- [Great way to start the new year:  set up a personal board of directors](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/02/great-way-to-start-the-new-year-set-up-a-personal-board-of-directors/): I may have set a new record for the shortest time from concept to production for a podcast: 20 minutes ago, I shared on Twitter that my best friend, Desiree Adaway, set up a personal board of directors last year and just sent me her annual report. Desiree is the Senior Director of Volunteer
- [How to compromise for work-life balance](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/05/29/how-to-compromise-for-work-life-balance/): Today's video has a guest host to help me describe an example of why and how to work compromise into your work. I find it ironic sometimes that one of the benefits of being self-employed is setting your own rules and having a flexible schedule, yet I can still get really rigid about my office
- [Grow your business through referrals: expert interview with Bob Burg](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/05/21/grow-your-business-through-referrals-expert-interview-with-bob-burg/): This is the week of talent show finals: Dancing With the Stars contestants will be smiling and swirling on stage tonight, and American Idol contestants will sing their hearts out tomorrow for the grand prize. If there were a reality show for Nicest Person on the Internet, Bob Burg would be in the finals, graciously
- [Announcing ... Fantastic lineup of Spring classes from Power Teaching students](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/05/16/announcing-fantastic-lineup-of-spring-classes-from-power-teaching-students/): In April, I ran another session of my Power Teaching class. Another extremely smart and enthusiastic group joined in intensive study of effective training design and development, and worked on real, live classes that they are launching this Spring. I love teaching this class for three reasons: It is exceptionally energizing to share my passion
- [Are you acting like a celebrity sheep with your marketing plans?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/07/are-you-acting-like-a-celebrity-sheep-with-your-marketing-plans/): The business model for the young and glamorous has gotten very clear to me: 1. Go somewhere to "be discovered" for your good looks and fabulous abs 2. Become a famous model or dancer 3. Start acting 4. Have some really public, screwed up relationships and get married and divorced a few times 5.
- [Expand your comfort zone, expand your market](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/05/14/expand-your-comfort-zone-expand-your-market/): Isn't it wonderful to get to a place in your business or career where you don't have to work very hard to make a happy, healthy living? Jim Collins calls it the "sweet spot" and Martha Beck calls it "The Promise Land" in her four-square model of change. Before you get to this spot, you
- [Let the wild rumpus start](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/03/06/let-the-wild-rumpus-start/): As soon as I read this passage to my three-year old from the classic book Where the Wild Things Are, I felt a wave of pleasure and a flash back to my own childhood. I had forgotten how ripe and tantalizing the words were; perfectly chosen, crisp, simple and powerful: And when he came to
- [Speaking marketing nonsense?  Get a gang member coach](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/21/speaking-marketing-nonsense-get-a-gang-member-coach/): Garr Reynolds of my favorite Presentation Zen has given me good reason to finally share my idea for curing corporate executives of incomprehensible language by posting his "Dimensionalizing the paradigm" and other marketing speak. For many years, I lived in San Francisco, and carried on a dual life. (I know what you are thinking -
- [How blogging changed my life](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/04/27/how-blogging-changed-my-life/): Once upon a time, I was sitting in my home office in Mesa, Arizona with a tiny baby boy in my arms, and a big idea in my head. "What if I could help all those people I met in my years consulting in large corporations who wanted to start a business?" It felt like
- [It is finally real:  The Escape from Cubicle Nation book will be published by Penguin Portfolio/Berkley](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/13/it-is-finally-real-the-escape-from-cubicle-nation-book-will-be-published-by-penguin-portfolioberkley/): After many months (years!) of talking about writing a book, it is finally a reality. I am delighted to announce that Penguin Portfolio/Berkley will be publishing both a hardcover and paperback version of Escape from Cubicle Nation. It is scheduled for publication in the Spring of 2009. The book will be a comprehensive guide for
- [Gloria Steinem says Ms. Magazine was a "blogging culture with 19th century technology"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/11/gloria-steinem-says-ms-magazine-was-a-blogging-culture-with-19th-century-technology-2/): I hinted the other day that I was going to interview Gloria Steinem, the renowned feminist, author and modern day cultural icon of women's liberation. The conversation came up as a result in her participation in Greenstone Media, the first women-owned national radio network which is launching this week in New York. I am going
- [Small Town Rules That Can Help Your Business, No Matter the Size](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/04/26/small-town-rules-that-can-help-your-business-no-matter-the-size/): Becky McCray and Barry Moltz have just released their new book Small Town Rules: How Big Brands and Small Businesses Can Prosper in a Connected Economy. It is a fascinating resource with genuinely new insights for everyone in business. In my 20-minute interview with Becky McCray, we discuss: Common misconceptions people have about small, local
- [Calling on your inner badass to step up to the plate](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/04/24/calling-on-your-inner-badass-to-step-up-to-the-plate/): Dine' (Navajo) Chief Manuelito In the seven years that I have been parenting, I have had a few less than proud moments. Like the potato chip for dinner situation. And the losing the birthday invitation that my 4-year old had been looking forward to all week, resulting in a missed party. And, well, I don't
- [Nancy Duarte revolutionizes publishing ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/04/19/nancy-duarte-revolutionizes-publishing/): Let's just get this out of the way: Nancy Duarte is my hero. She is a member of my High Council of Jedi Knights because she models integrity, creativity, leadership and innovation in every day and every way. I adore her and drool over her work. She is also the author of two best-selling books
- [Who is on your High Council of Jedi Knights?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/08/02/who-is-on-your-high-council-of-jedi-knights/): Do you ever have moments in your life when you wish that you could tune into The Force, use your telepathic powers and call Yoda for advice? I do. We talk a lot about the importance of business experts or professional mentors in the context of career development. But when you want to do something
- [The truth behind what you need to do to develop true expert status ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/04/17/the-truth-behind-what-you-need-to-do-to-develop-true-expert-status/): Amplify Your Expert Status - Pam Slim Keynote at Infusioncon from Pamela Slim on Vimeo. Earlier this month, I was honored to present a keynote at Infusioncon, the user conference for Infusionsoft. Infusionsoft is a local Gilbert, Arizona business that provides marketing automation software for small businesses. It is a great product, that I use
- [Update on our 23-year old career-challenged wannabe ballplayer trapped in dreaded job](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/21/update-on-our-23-year-old-career-challenged-wannabe-ballplayer-trapped-in-dreaded-job/): Last week, I published a question (see post here) from a 23-year old reader (whom I called "Gentle Reader" at first, and who has since shared that his name is Jon) who was trying to decide whether to give up his (loathed) financial services job to spend the summer playing professional baseball in Germany. Although
- [Is your resistance to asking for help drowning your dreams?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/04/16/is-your-resistance-to-asking-for-help-drowning-your-dreams/): Some weeks, I imagine what would happen if I had a hidden camera in my office. You would all be appalled to watch me move from one distraction to the next, carefully avoiding the one thing that I really need to get done. "Jeez," you would say, "Why can't she just stop distracting herself and
- [Who holds you accountable for doing great things?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/04/13/who-holds-you-accountable-for-doing-great-things/): I had a couple of compelling questions and thoughts these past few days that inspired this video. The main questions are: who holds you accountable for doing great things and why do you create? See directly on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVgi1RLuelk I can't wait to hear your thoughts. Find Lemonade Detroit here and Erik Proulx here.
- [The only thing worse than beginning ... is beginning again](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/04/11/the-only-thing-worse-than-beginning-is-beginning-again/): I have spent the last seven years helping people start things, usually businesses. There are so many fears and doubts that get in the way of beginning something new, but when people overcome them, there is nothing quite like it. Starting something is hard. But starting again, after success, is even harder. Ze Frank just
- [Reduce headaches, delight your clients and amp your creativity](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/04/10/reduce-headaches-delight-your-clients-and-amp-your-creativity/): My beloved art station. Pardon the crooked angle of the photo. :) My kids are art fanatics. It doesn't matter the medium - pen, crayon, paint, clay, even lipstick -- there is nothing they would rather do than spend hours making things. The center of our home is the family room/kitchen, where most activity takes
- [How to avoid being "fan boy" or "fan girl" when building relationships with people you admire](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/25/how-to-avoid-being-fan-boy-or-fan-girl-when-building-relationships-with-people-you-admire/): Over the years, I have developed deep respect for authors like Jim Collins, Martha Beck, Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin, Kathy Sierra, Steven Pressfield and Isabelle Allende. I adore the wit and creativity of people like Ze Frank and Hugh McLeod. I appreciate the down-to-earth business wisdom of John Jantsch, Rich and Jeff Sloan and Andrea
- [How do you keep your footing when your life explodes?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/03/15/how-do-you-keep-your-footing-when-your-life-explodes/): Me, Guy Kawasaki and Sohaib Athar, SXSW 2012 When I was writing my book in 2008, I was looking for some examples of real people who had interesting business models. One of my blog readers, Sohaib Athar, was a software developer from Pakistan, who had experimented with many different work configurations, before settling on doing
- [How do you introduce yourself?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/26/how-do-you-introduce-yourself/): If you are in the go-between stage from employee to entrepreneur, you may find yourself frazzled when asked the question "So, what do you do for a living?" at parties, networking events and neighborhood gatherings. You have the opportunity to introduce your role in your new venture by responding: "I am a clothing designer specializing
- [5 Steps to maintaining your cool when faced with stinging criticism](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/03/04/4-steps-to-maintaining-your-cool-when-faced-with-stinging-criticism/): Yesterday morning, I came home from giving a presentation at Laid Off Camp Chandler. I was feeling so good after spending an hour with a room full of positive and eager participants who wanted to know about starting a business. The event was hosted at Gangplank, and watching all the presenters who had come in
- [Small fires](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/29/small-fires/): Photo by Allison Titcomb This month, Charlie Gilkey and I hosted our fifth Lift Off Retreat with a small group of extraordinary entrepreneurs. We spent four days at the secluded Saguaro Lake Ranch where we had deep conversation, and took deep action, about business model design. At the end of the retreat, as we were
- [How to nail the content for your next presentation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/24/how-to-nail-the-content-for-your-next-presentation/): I wanted to share a secret that has really helped my students in Power Teaching create strong, effective classes and presentations. It has nothing to do with fancy slides or elaborate technology, it has to do with nailing the specific content that will be the most useful for your audience. Learn more in the video
- [How to establish credibility in front of a crowd without being a complete blowhard](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/23/how-to-establish-credibility-in-front-of-a-crowd-without-being-a-complete-blowhard/): We have all squeamed through this scenario: You sign up for a conference and get really excited about learning critical things to grow your career or business. You invest time, money and energy to clear your agenda so you can be there. The lights dim and the first speaker is introduced. They look friendly and
- [Whatever the question, "create" is the answer](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/22/whatever-the-question-create-is-the-answer/): Rosie in the kitchen, solving all the world's problems with a paintbrush The night before the Grammys, host LL Cool J was interviewed by Piers Morgan on CNN. The interview covered a lot of ground, including how LL Cool J (born James Todd Smith) came out of a very tough childhood and created a solid
- [S is for Strength](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/18/s-is-for-strength/): (This post is part of the “Blog Crawl of Self-Love” hosted by Molly Mahar of Stratejoy. Find out more about The ABC’s of Self Love Blog Crawl + Treasure Hunt here.) I waited a long time to have my first child, which according to many of the doctors I saw meant my age was counted in
- [What's your mantra?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/16/whats-your-mantra/): The Salt River which runs through Saguaro Lake Ranch In a few hours, Charlie Gilkey, Angela Wheeler and I will kick off another Lift Off Retreat at Saguaro Lake Ranch. It is hard to describe the feeling of anticipation that comes before Lift Off. There is a special magic that occurs that is unlike any
- [On second chances](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/14/on-second-chances/): My Mom and Larry on a favorite hike in West Marin I was 23 and in my first job out of college at the Marin Community Foundation in Larkspur, California. My Mom worked down the street. We met for lunch at our usual spot, and my 55-year old Mom started gushing like a teenager. She
- [Taking People With You: Interview with CEO and author David Novak](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/09/taking-people-with-you-interview-with-ceo-and-author-david-novak/): In a departure from my normal entrepreneur interviews, in this podcast, I talk with Yum Brands CEO David Novak who talks about how to create a great culture for your startup. Although he is the head of a huge corporation, he talks about core building blocks that apply to any stage of business. His book
- [Tracking your right life: Interview with Martha Beck](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/06/tracking-your-right-life-interview-with-martha-beck/): Those of you who have been following my work for awhile know that I have been heavily influenced by my coach mentor Dr. Martha Beck. Her book Finding Your Own North Star changed the course of my life when I read it nearly a decade ago, and eventually led to my Escape from Cubicle Nation
- [Are you massively wrong about the size of your market?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/02/are-you-massively-wrong-about-the-size-of-your-market/): I walked in my son's Cub Scout meeting late last night, and ran into the wife of our den leader. She is a wonderful person; an engaged mother, passionate volunteer and airline pilot. "I am so sorry for being late," I said. "I was teaching a class." "No problem at all, where were you teaching?"
- [A concrete example of how to get yourself to "do the work"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/02/01/a-concrete-example-of-how-to-get-yourself-to-do-the-work/): Golden Gloves contender Amanda Wang and Pamela Slim. Photo by proud cousin Abe Cajudo. They say the best way to learn something and reinforce positive behavior is to teach it. So here, 5 minutes after gaining insight while on a walk to Starbucks, is my advice to help you "do the work" (said channeling Steven
- [Growing with your business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/01/24/growing-with-your-business/): Rosie (3) and Josh (5), my kids and the heart and the soul behind my work Before having kids, I was told all kinds of stories about what my work life would be like post-childbirth. I have been working since I was twelve, and ran a successful consulting practice for ten years before becoming a
- [5 ways to calculate the value you provide with your services](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/09/5-ways-to-calculate-the-value-you-provide-with-your-services/): I had a good conversation yesterday with someone who was new to self-employment and was really baffled by the process of setting an hourly rate for his services. I went over a framework for understanding value that I learned from a prior client, Skip Miller, who wrote ProActive Selling. When calculating the value your
- [How to build a powerful and profitable mailing list](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/01/17/how-to-build-a-powerful-and-profitable-mailing-list/): If you have studied small business marketing, you may have heard the frequent cheer "The money is in The List!" And indeed, creating a strong email marketing list is a powerful foundation for any business, online or offline. In this video, I give you a few things to think about as you are establishing your
- [Bigger goals mean more resistance - don't back down!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/01/12/bigger-goals-mean-more-resistance-dont-back-down/): Happy 2012! If you followed my planning videos in December, you may have defined some nice juicy goals for yourself this year. And as you have started to execute those plans, you may have already faced some challenges and resistance from your market. My best advice? Don't back down. Here's why: (Direct link to YouTube
- [What it looks like to walk in the direction of your goals - or not](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/01/11/what-it-looks-like-to-walk-in-the-direction-of-your-goals-or-not/): I came across a funny and realistic video yesterday on Facebook by Sonja Alarr, a wildly creative life coach who captures what happens when you want to move towards your goals, but find yourself running in the other direction. (Watch on Vimeo at this direct link: http://vimeo.com/20876606 This was her first video, and I think you
- [How to step clearly and powerfully into the new year](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012/01/03/how-to-step-clearly-and-powerfully-into-the-new-year/): All this new year talk can get overwhelming, can't it? Between plans, resolutions and goals, it is easy to get frustrated before the first week of January is over. Let's step back from the pressure of big goals and talk about some practices that will anchor productive behaviors, the key to consistent progress throughout the
- [Check out the wonderful things my clients shipped in 2011!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/31/check-out-the-wonderful-things-my-clients-shipped-in-2011/): On this last day of 2011, as we prepare for a rocking 2012, I am tremendously proud to celebrate and share the people I have been lucky enough to work with this year. Clients came from individual coaching and programs and classes. While I served over 400 people, given the nature of my work, many
- [A spot of advice for the holidays](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/23/a-spot-of-advice-for-the-holidays/): Before I close up shop for the year, I had a tiny bit of advice for any awkward moments around the holidays. I hope they help. Feel free to write them on flash cards and pull them out at opportune moments. You define your own success. Don't worry about how others define theirs. Laughing with
- [4 questions to ensure 2012 will be your best year yet](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/21/4-questions-to-ensure-2012-will-be-your-best-year-yet/): As my last working week of the year draws to a close, I wanted to share a final video in the 2012 planning series to help you get the new year off to a productive, profitable and enjoyable start. This one has nothing to do with flip charts, spreadsheets or action items, it has to
- [Announcing ... Fantastic Fall Line-up of Classes from Power Teaching students](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/08/announcing-fantastic-fall-line-up-of-classes-from-power-teaching-students/): In July of this year, I ran a class called Power Teaching. An extremely smart and enthusiastic group joined in intensive study of effective training design and development, and worked on real, live classes that they are launching this Fall. The experience was particularly wonderful on three levels: It was exceptionally energizing to share my passion
- [The secret to creating great classes, programs and presentations](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/20/the-secret-to-creating-great-classes-programs-and-presentations/): Some of the most fun I had this year (well, that I can blog about anyway) was delivering a class called Power Teaching to a large group of creative, talented and enthusiastic entrepreneurs. I wanted to share a key takeaway from the class, that I have applied over and over again in the two and
- [How to get out of your own way as an entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/14/how-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-as-an-entrepreneur/): Last week, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Koren Motekaitis, a good friend and former client who has a radio show called "How She Does It." One of the reasons that Koren and I really connect is that we both have backgrounds in sport coaching in addition to being life coaches. She runs
- [New Year goals got you paralyzed? Tiny steps win the race](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/13/new-year-goals-got-you-paralyzed-tiny-steps-win-the-race/): It was around August 15, 2008 and I should have been in the process of finishing my book. A Word document stared me in the face with a bunch of chapters filled with random blog posts, quotes, disconnected paragraphs and a few usable pages. I felt like one of those poor souls on the Hoarder
- [The deeper root](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/07/the-deeper-root/): It is 3am and you wake up suddenly, hearing the beating of your heart echoing in your ears. The clock ticks slowly by your bed, and darkness blankets your windows. "How am I going to do this?" you say to yourself. Finding a way to make your mortgage payment, living through a tense day at
- [Quick tips for kickstarting your marketing planning for 2012](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/06/quick-tips-for-kickstarting-your-marketing-planning-for-2012/): I have been feeling a bit of angst around the Interwebs from business owners who are brewing with ideas at the end of this year, but do not quite know how to organize them into the shape of a marketing plan for 2012. To get you started, I wanted to share two tools that I
- [Beware of fancy formulas and slick shortcuts](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/05/beware-of-fancy-formulas-and-slick-shortcuts/): When I used to teach the Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira, new students would come in for their first class and watch the more advanced students doing flying kicks and ariel cartwheels. "Wow, how long before I can do that?" some would ask. "Oh, in a few thousand push ups and sit ups," I would
- [Big news about Lift Off in 2012](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/12/01/big-news-about-lift-off-in-2012/): The brilliant, amazing, talented and wacky crew from Lift Off 4, In Portland, OR August, 2011. Photo by Abe Cajudo. Have you ever been so proud of something that your heart feels like bursting? That is how I feel about the community of people Charlie Gilkey and I have worked with in four Lift Off
- [The power of gray areas, and how they will improve your holidays](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/11/23/the-power-of-gray-areas-and-how-they-will-improve-your-holidays/): We were sitting around the kitchen table eating dinner earlier this month. Josh looked at my husband Darryl. "Dad, did you know that Mom's tribe stole your land?" Without missing a beat, Darryl said "Why yes, son, I did." I tried not to spit out my food. Such discussions are not uncommon around our household,
- [Is there hope for corporate work life reform? Dispatch from Work Life Focus Conference](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/11/15/is-there-hope-for-corporate-work-life-reform-dispatch-from-work-life-focus-conference/): I spent three days in Washington DC last week, two blocks from the White House, at the Work-Life Focus: 2012 and Beyond Conference, put on by the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Families and Work Institute. In attendance were many human resource professionals who spend their time trying to find ways to make
- [How can the entrepreneurial community help returning veterans?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/11/11/how-can-the-entrepreneurial-community-help-returning-veterans/): Yesterday, I sat in a large conference room at the Washington DC Capital Hilton and listened to Colonel David Sutherland talk about his experience as a member of the armed forces for the past 26 years. Colonel Sutherland is the Special Assistant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff with principle focus on Warrior and Family
- [Is your business idea a teen crush or mature relationship?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/11/07/is-your-business-idea-a-teen-crush-or-mature-relationship/): It was 1979 and I was thirteen. In seventh grade, I should have been focusing on getting a good grade in English and excelling at my first job washing dishes at Swensen's Ice Cream Parlor, but I was too busy thinking about Mike Keller. Ah, Mike Keller. Handsome, mysterious, with long feathered hair and a
- [Why you need to begin marketing months before selling anything](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/11/04/why-you-need-to-begin-marketing-months-before-selling-anything/): I talk to a lot of emerging entrepreneurs who have the view that marketing starts when you have a completed website, clear offer, snappy elevator speech and crisp business cards. This assumes: Marketing is only about selling services You must have your brand (and offers) nailed before you can go to a networking event You
- [Confessions of a Runaway: The Stuff Nobody Tells You About Escaping Cubicle Nation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/11/02/confessions-of-a-runaway-the-stuff-nobody-tells-you-about-escaping-cubicle-nation/): Image Credit: tibchris on Flickr I had the great pleasure of working with Carmen Sognonvi few years ago, when she was still a corporate employee working diligently on her side hustle, which at the time was a speaking and consulting business focused on race and racism. She was amazing at what she did, and impressed
- [Do you want to rock your business results in 2012?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/10/26/do-you-want-to-rock-your-business-results-in-2012/): A couple of months ago, I sent out a survey that many of you were kind enough to fill out about the kind of support you were looking for in the next year. Hundreds of people responded, and I spent a lot of time reviewing the data and delving into the specific needs that were
- [Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Alexandra Levit](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/10/20/side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-alexandra-levit/): The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series is designed to inspire hard-working corporate employees to either start a side hustle if they are interested in eventually starting a business, or to keep going with their existing side hustle through the inevitable challenge of limited time and energy. So far we have profiled Chandoo, Willie Jackson,
- [Stuck coming up with a Big Idea? Host an idea party](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/10/19/stuck-coming-up-with-a-big-idea-host-an-idea-party/): You know the feeling, staring into a blank computer screen, desperate to come up with Your Great Novel or Next Big Startup Smash or Fancy New Program That Will Delight Everyone. Dullness fills your brain, and desperation rises from your chest into your throat as you realize that you have no ideas, or ideas
- [My favorite blog posts from the last 6 years](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/10/05/my-favorite-blog-posts-from-the-last-6-years/): My kids Rosie and Josh have grown with my blog. Photo by Lewis Stewart, otherwise known as grandpa. Six years ago today, I hit "publish" on my very first blog post. I was on maternity leave from my consulting business and was taking care of my son Josh, who was seven months old. I took
- [Have you ever fallen into "compare and despair?"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/10/04/have-you-ever-fallen-into-compare-and-despair/): We have all been there. While writing a sales page, we wonder if there are any good examples out there of a similar type of product or service. So we jump on the Internet, hit Google, and find: Someone who is not only delivering the exact same product or service that you are creating, but
- [The technique-power-speed method of growing a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/29/the-technique-power-speed-method-of-growing-a-business/): When I first started my blog and coaching business six years ago, I didn't know anything about online marketing. In fact, I didn't even know what a blog was before I had to create one as an assignment for a class. Every single piece of technology involved a huge learning curve. I would try to
- [Do you master the one non-negotiable skill of a successful entrepreneur?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/26/do-you-master-the-one-non-negotiable-skill-of-a-successful-entrepreneur/): I get motivated by big successes. I am the biggest sap in the world for underdog stories. I cried at the Chrysler Detroit Superbowl commercial. It is so inspiring to see awesome creative endeavors, or to see an entrepreneur knock it out of the park with a new business. In my role as a coach,
- [Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Glen Southern](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/22/side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-glen-southern/): The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series is designed to inspire hard-working corporate employees to either start a side hustle if they are interested in eventually starting a business, or to keep going with their existing side hustle through the inevitable challenge of limited time and energy. So far we have profiled Chandoo, Willie
- [The agony of your current launch is building endurance and strength for the next](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/21/the-agony-of-your-current-launch-is-building-endurance-and-strength-for-the-next/): I have one week until my belt test in my martial arts class. In the weeks before the test, my instructor puts the fire under us so we have the skills and endurance to handle the 3+ hour testing gauntlet. Last night, I was partnered with a teenage student who was feeling the pain of
- [Perfectly flawed Monday get-er-done challenge](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/19/perfectly-flawed-monday-get-er-done-challenge/): Warning: this video may contain references to Pam's marathon Glee-watching weekend. You have been warned. See this video on YouTube here. It pleases me that some of you may read the title of my post and think that this Monday challenge is flawed. That is my point. We often spend weeks trying to muster up
- [How you eat is how you work](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/16/how-you-eat-is-how-you-work/): Or so I found out when I had my first call with my dear friend and annoyingly insightful weight loss coach Susan Hyatt. I talked her into coaching me around health and wellness, because I felt like I was missing a key ingredient in being a well-rounded entrepreneur. Or more accurately, I had become a
- [How getting laid off twice in two years got Joshua Waldman a book deal](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/09/how-getting-laid-off-twice-in-two-years-got-joshua-waldman-a-book-deal/): I had the pleasure of working with Joshua Waldman last year, and was very impressed with his tenacity and creativity. He had a dream to write a book about his passion for using social media in job search, and he moved this into reality when he secured a deal from Wiley to write Job Searching
- [Buy a book, save a life](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/07/buy-a-book-save-a-life/): In college, my major was International Service and Development. I spent significant time in Latin America, working on projects that used education as a tool for grassroots self-empowerment and social change. I remember working in a day care center on the outskirts of Bogota, Colombia. One day, I made the mistake of picking up one
- [Care to help shape Escape in 2012?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/09/02/care-to-help-shape-escape-in-2012/): Hello Escape Readers! I am getting ready for a long weekend (and a live John Legend (the original Side Hustler) concert in a few hours -- woo hoo!). I am formulating plans for streamlined and supremely useful products and services for 2012. I put together a short survey to collect your input and ideas. If
- [Now Then: A mid-life battle cry](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/08/28/now-then-a-mid-life-battle-cry/): This morning, like every August 28 morning for the last 45 years, my mother tells me the story of my birth. It was a hot San Anselmo day, and my mom's water broke as she was hanging laundry in the backyard. Our neighbors waved from the curb as my dad sped her to Kaiser Hospital
- [Want a career in public speaking? Listen to this interview with Nick Morgan](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/08/26/want-a-career-in-public-speaking-listen-to-this-interview-with-nick-morgan/): Who has not fantasized about being a professional public speaker? Can you imagine how great it would be to fly to exotic locations and get paid large sums of money for a one-hour motivational talk? Before you quit your day job, Nick Morgan, Harvard-trained communication expert, founder of Public Words and author of Trust Me
- [The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Jenny Blake](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/08/23/the-side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-jenny-blake/): The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series is designed to inspire hard-working corporate employees to either start a side hustle if they are interested in eventually starting a business, or to keep going with their existing side hustle through the inevitable challenge of limited time and energy. So far we have profiled Chandoo, Willie Jackson,
- [Do you have a judgment-free zone?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/08/22/do-you-have-a-judgment-free-zone/): My Mom spent the last part of her career as a Patient Care Supervisor for her local Hospice. If you are not familiar with Hospice, it helps patients and families through the last stage of terminal illness, including the process of death itself. People would often ask my Mom: "Isn't it depressing to work around
- [What I have learned from 15 years in business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/08/16/what-i-have-learned-from-15-years-in-business/): Fifteen years ago today, on August 16, 1996, I rolled over slowly in bed. My head was throbbing. I could hardly breathe. I felt weak. It was my first day as a self-employed person. I was in the middle of a wicked bout of pneumonia, and at that point, all I knew was that I
- [The upside of economic constraints](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/08/09/the-upside-of-economic-constraints/): My country is obsessed with choices. Common thinking says: more is better. "Have it your way!" "31 Flavors!" "The Land of Opportunity!" The upside to endless choices is you are filled with wide-eyed possibility. The downside to endless choices is you are filled with wide-eyed possibility. The global economy just delivered us a handy set
- [On hope](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/07/29/on-hope/): If you watch the news on any given day, there is a lot to be discouraged about. Just this morning, I read about: The gut-wrenching murder of a 10-year old girl at the abusive hands of her own family Political paralysis in making a decision on what to do about our country's debt Grim economic
- [Do your prospects and customers know WHY you are in business?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/07/26/do-your-prospects-and-customers-know-why-you-are-in-business/): This month, I have been having a great time teaching a new class called Power Teaching. I believe that teaching is a critical part of marketing, coaching, consulting and presenting. When you take a teaching approach in business, it strengthens your relationship with customers and extends the breadth and depth of your offerings. About 150
- [Poquito a poquito](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/07/19/poquito-a-poquito/): Amanda Wang and her trainer Moises, inside the historic Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn During my trip to New York, I had the good fortune to meet up with my good friend and client Amanda Wang. I have written and spoken about Amanda many times, including in my TEDx talk about the power of the next
- [Overwhelmed with possibilities when plotting your career? Try this approach](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/05/overwhelmed-with-possibilities-when-plotting-your-career-try-this-approach/): Having a gigantic selection of career possibilities is a good thing, right? Not so much if you have a huge desire to make a change in your life and feel overwhelmed by choices. It reminds me of my single days, when I didn't have my handsome, warm husband at home. In any social situation, there
- [The 20X Rule](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/07/13/the-20x-rule/): Much of my time spent coaching is egging my clients on so they get websites done, pitch new clients and test and try new products in the market. The enemy of a new entrepreneur is endless planning and perfection. After celebrating that they did take a serious step, I often get a slightly dejected email
- [Productive tips for The Accidental Creative](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/07/08/productive-tips-for-the-accidental-creative/): I had the great pleasure of interviewing Todd Henry, author of the new book The Accidental Creative: How to be Brilliant at a Moment's Notice. After years of putting together teams of highly creative people, Todd learned that there were some secrets and patterns that helped them be happy, healthy and productive. He formed a
- [The best path to freedom? Claim your authority](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/07/01/the-best-path-to-freedom-claim-your-authority/): What is a Fourth of July without a pep talk? Do you do pep talks for Canada Day too? If not, let's set the precedence. (If you can't see the video player, watch on YouTube here) Do you want to see success and growth in yourself and your business? Claim your authority. Be a professional.
- ["Brushing teeth is fun" vs. "Eat candy now."](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/06/30/brushing-teeth-is-fun-vs-eat-candy-now/): A lot of my clients struggle when putting together offers for their market. "What would really help them is if they would take the time to set up good accounting systems. But how sexy is that?" "I want to tell my clients to grow and eat their own organic food, but I know they are
- ["Do whatever the hell makes you happy" interview with Derek Sivers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/06/29/do-whatever-the-hell-makes-you-happy-interview-with-derek-sivers/): Before I interviewed CD Baby founder Derek Sivers, I asked my Twitter followers "What questions do you have for @sivers?" Someone asked "How extensive was his business plan?" When I asked him that question, he started laughing, because the founding of what would become a multi-million dollar powerhouse in the world of independent music distribution
- [How to stay connected when your number of connections grows](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/06/22/how-to-stay-connected-when-your-number-of-connections-grow/): People ask me quite often how I can keep up relationships with so many people as my in-person and virtual network grows. The short answer is: I can't. It would be pretty impossible to keep track of 22,000 people on Twitter, or what is now hundreds of students and clients. I do, however, get great
- [Blow up traditional careers in favor of bodies of work](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/06/21/blow-up-traditional-careers-in-favor-of-bodies-of-work/): What do you want to be when you grow up? What is your thing? What is your niche? What is your major? What will your specialization be in (law) (medicine) (engineering) (art)? Social norms push at us relentlessly to make decisions about a singular work path. Choosing well, we are told, will set us up
- [Is your company built to sell?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/04/27/is-your-company-built-to-sell/): I have been in business for myself for fifteen years. I can't count the number of fun projects, amazing clients and life-changing opportunities this path has provided for me. But it wasn't until yesterday, when I was reading John Warrillow's Built to Sell, that I got the profound feeling that I was a total beginner
- [Are you ready to take massive action on your business? ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/06/09/are-you-ready-to-take-massive-action-on-your-business/): Photo by Ivan Martinez, Lift Off 1 Alumni Two years ago, Charlie Gilkey and I met at a social gathering at South by Southwest. We connected immediately, and began to talk about our work coaching creative entrepreneurs. "Coaching is great," we said to each other, "But can you imagine what would happen if we had
- [How to strike a balance between giving content away for free and earning a living](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/11/21/how-to-strike-a-balance-between-giving-content-away-for-free-and-earning-a-living/): I am the first person to tell you that blogging and podcasting can completely change your business. It has done gigantic wonders for mine: brought clients, partners, a book deal, friends, press coverage and intense joy since I love to write so much. This is not to say that it is not hard sometimes to
- [Success dysmorphia](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/05/24/success-dysmorphia/): I was talking with my good friend Erik Proulx last month about the various projects we are working on. Erik is the creator of Lemonade, a documentary about laid off ad agency employees who remade their lives. He is working on a follow up film called Lemonade: Detroit about the disarming resilience of a city
- [The Upside of Fear](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/03/04/the-upside-of-fear/): Photo by Ben Wood. Last week, I had the tremendous opportunity to participate in Ignite Phoenix, an exceptionally fun, creative and energizing event, led by a fantastic team of volunteers here in Arizona. The Ignite concept is explained from the Ignite.OReilly site: What Is Ignite? If you had five minutes on stage what would you
- [How to become a masterful presenter with Nick Morgan, author of Trust Me](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/02/19/how-to-become-a-masterful-presenter-with-nick-morgan-author-of-trust-me/): I spent many years speaking to groups across the country, and even teaching presentation skills to hundreds of salespeople and engineers. It was always fascinating to me since it combined so many favorite subjects: motivation, communication, fear, physical movement, design and creativity. In today's podcast with Nick Morgan, I took my learning to a whole
- [Are creative people doomed to scraping out a miserable existance?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/08/are-creative-people-doomed-to-scraping-out-a-miserable-existance/): I love creative, complex, funny people. When I see a photo or video or clever ditty or hear great music or read a deep, insightful essay it makes my heart expand. This is the case with supremely talented fine artists or wacky creative geniuses like Hugh McLeod, who did the above gapingvoid cartoon. Or ZeFrank,
- [Learn to tune OUT to tune IN to great progress in 2009](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/12/31/learn-to-tune-out-to-tune-in-to-great-progress-in-2009/): About halfway through writing my book this year, I hit the wall. I looked at the volume of online notes, stacks and stacks of resource books and hundreds of pages of blog posts and I froze. The task of writing a book felt too enormous to accomplish, and I got completely overwhelmed. So I gathered
- [Time to get serious about strengthening your systems](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/12/04/time-to-get-serious-about-strengthening-your-systems/): When I was about ten years old, our roof got in some serious disrepair. We lived in a house built in 1906, and the creaky beams and bones of wood were showing their age. The wooden shingles had been damaged by years of rain and wind, and water started to leak through the ceiling. My
- [The biggest loser:  Pam's community service announcement](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/23/the-biggest-loser-pams-community-service-announcement/): I am happy to announce that I have bestowed a new title on myself today: The world's biggest loser. Ok, to be fair, not an all-around totally clueless loser, but in the case of not having a file backup plan in place for my main computer, I win the prize! Last night, after I tucked
- [You do not lose your brain when you have kids](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/29/you-do-not-lose-your-brain-when-you-have-kids/): In about two hours, it will be three years since I gave birth to my son Joshua. Since I waited until the age of 38 to have kids, I had no idea what the experience would be like, or what impact it would have on my life and career. But I did hear things like:
- [Perfectionists are losers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/02/perfectionists-are-losers/): Almost a year ago, I was interviewing my young, bright friend Ramit Sethi on my radio show. At the ripe age of 26, Ramit had already started a screaming hot blog with a huge following (I Will Teach You to Be Rich, a personal finance blog for college students and recent graduates), gotten 2 degrees
- [Announcing newest little startup around the Slim household](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/10/06/announcing-newest-little-startup-around-the-slim-household/): Hi Everyone! Just a personal note to let you know that we welcomed Angela Rose Slim into the world on Monday night, October 1. She is a happy, peaceful and healthy little girl. As in my previous experience with Josh, after going through the birth process, I have tremendous admiration for every single mother in
- [Are you hiding behind the curtain of a powerful mentor?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/09/06/are-you-hiding-behind-the-curtain-of-a-powerful-mentor/): When you are just starting out in business, it makes sense to search out those that are more experienced, successful and connected than you, right? I have said as much when talking about finding a mentor to guide your entrepreneurial efforts. You may even find yourself working with these bright stars, helping to grow their
- [Start smart:  5 quick ways to set up business processes on the fly](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/07/start-smart-5-quick-ways-to-set-up-business-processes-on-the-fly/): If you are just launching your business, chances are, setting up business processes and infrastructure is the last thing on your mind. Usually, you are more concerned with things like: How in the world will I get new customers? Will my business idea work in the real world, or am I deluding myself? Was I
- [In the trenches startup story:  VC turned entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/03/in-the-trenches-startup-story-vc-turned-entrepreneur/): Any entrepreneur who has sat opposite a venture capitalist in a pitch meeting has probably entertained the fantasy of switching roles, and seeing the VC squirm. Nataly Kogan, CEO of the online community Workitmom, has done just that by choice, and given up her fast-track VC career in New York City for the daily highs
- [Entrepreneurs who love too much:  Tackling the dilemma of wanting to do it all](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/31/entrepreneurs-who-love-too-much-tackling-the-dilemma-of-wanting-to-do-it-all/): This month's ezine is related to last month's issue with a slightly different twist: while it can seem easier to shed projects and tasks that you are "just not into" anymore, how about if you love everything you are doing? Read on for some thoughts on how to maintain your creative spirit while getting things
- [How to build a strong and creative brand](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/27/how-to-build-a-strong-and-creative-brand/): Marilyn Scott-Waters has been an artist all her life, but found that her corporate role as Art Director at Nike was pinching her soul. So she ventured into the world of freelance, and as part of her business built a gigantic following with her whimsical paper toy site thetoymaker.com. On today's radio show, hear her
- [Dipping your toes in the side of the pool will get you nowhere:  dive in!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/25/dipping-your-toes-in-the-side-of-the-pool-will-get-you-nowhere-dive-in/): I had a powerful and visceral lesson about the importance of doing vs. analyzing yesterday that has tremendous implications for wannabe entrepreneurs. My two-year old son Josh had his first swimming lesson. We haven't taken him swimming too much in his short life, but when we have, he has enjoyed it, so I thought he
- [5 Reasons to consider downsizing your vision of an ideal life](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/23/5-reasons-to-consider-downsizing-your-vision-of-an-ideal-life/): I don't often offer advice to think small or shrink dreams as I find that most people need to get comfortable with embracing their desires, rather than repressing them. But there can be times when your expectations for what you must have in order to be happy are actually based on some unhealthy beliefs or
- [How to shake up "soul numbing" as a result of long-term cube exposure](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/20/how-to-shake-up-soul-numbing-as-a-result-of-long-term-cube-exposure/): After reading some of the comments on my last post, "If you are stuck in a cube and dying to get out, how does it specifically feel?" I was compelled to write about a common phenomenon I encounter in some of my clients: soul numbing. Barbara caught my attention with her grisly but powerful description
- [If you are stuck in a cube and dying to get out, what does it specifically feel like?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/): I am in book writing mode today, working on the chapter which describes the conditions that led up to the current state of corporate life, and the subsequent impact on the emotional lives of its cube inhabitants. Although I get tons of wonderful and detailed emails from the "cube oppressed" around the world, I would
- [What to do when you hit the "starting a business is too hard" wall](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/17/what-to-do-when-you-hit-the-starting-a-business-is-too-hard-wall/): Even the most optimistic and motivated aspiring entrepreneur will reach a point where frustration or anxiety grinds progress to a halt. This is otherwise known as "hitting the wall." It can happen when doing things you hate such as: Making sales and marketing calls Trying to crank out a first draft of a book or
- [Facebook, MySpace and Linkedin Conundrums:  Are there any rules for social/business networking?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/12/facebook-myspace-and-linkedin-conundrums-are-there-any-rules-for-socialbusiness-networking/): Unless you have been hiding under a rock, as a person who deals with the business of networking on the internet, you are aware that Linkedin, Facebook and MySpace are important places to see and be seen. If you are growing a business and want exposure and connection with your target audience, it is critical
- [I'm speaking in Phoenix Tuesday, July 10 - Please come!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/09/im-speaking-in-phoenix-tuesday-july-10-please-come/): I am happy to say that the nice folks at Refresh Phoenix, "a community of designers and developers working to refresh the creative, technical, and professional culture of Internet developers in the Phoenix Metropolitan area," have invited me to join their monthly gathering tomorrow night to talk about the whys and hows of escaping the
- [Should formal education and entrepreneurship mix?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/06/should-formal-education-and-entrepreneurship-mix/): There is a lot of debate in entrepreneurial circles about whether the best way to learn about starting a business is by just doing it, or by going to school and getting a degree. My guest on today's radio show, Peter Burns, has a very interesting perspective on this topic, as he has both been
- [Presentation tips for budding entrepreneurs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/05/presentation-tips-for-budding-entrepreneurs/): If you are a budding entrepreneur, live presentations are great ways to test your content, build relationships and get to know the needs of your target audience. You can start very small, with a handful of neighbors in your living room, or if you are more experienced, in a larger setting such as a regional
- [Let freedom ring](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/04/let-freedom-ring/): Here in the U.S., we celebrate July 4 as a national holiday, marking the day that our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence and officially cut governing ties with colonial powers in England. It is a strong and compelling document that provides a lot of inspiration for a lot of people. Of course I take
- [How do you know when it is safe to call yourself an expert?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/03/how-do-you-know-when-it-is-safe-to-call-yourself-an-expert/): It is often tricky to know when it is safe to call yourself an expert in your field. If you have done any research on marketing and PR, you know the benefits of "expert" designation: free press and the trust and credibility of potential customers, which lead to more sales. But it can feel presumptuous
- ["I'm just not into you" - Kicking lukewarm passions to the curb](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/01/im-just-not-into-you-kicking-lukewarm-passions-to-the-curb/): We just passed the mid-year mark with the celebration of Summer Solstice on June 21. I always consider it a good point to take stock of my life and make adjustments to ensure that the year progresses in a way that is personally satisfying and professionally rewarding. This month's ezine issue, "I'm just not that
- [From cube farm to the open road:  you CAN turn a passion into a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/28/from-cube-farm-to-the-open-road-you-can-turn-a-passion-into-a-business/): When Dan Wulfman and his wife Sheri Ballard met on a bus in rural Spain during respective career escapes in 1989, little did they know that their love of travel would eventually lead them to ditch their corporate lives behind and build a business helping families have fun and easy adventures on the road. Married
- [What to do when your work dries up, key client disappears or industry grinds to a halt](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/26/what-to-do-when-your-work-dries-up-key-client-disappears-or-industry-grinds-to-a-halt/): Most entrepreneurs who have been in business for any length of time have experienced a heart-stopping phone call or email that changes their mood from easy-going confidence to sheer panic and desperation. If the moment came with a soundtrack, it would yell SCREEEEEEEEEEEECH! And despite the fact that you know that you should always be
- [Small business, big life:  inspiring advice from Louis Barajas](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/22/small-business-big-life-inspiring-advice-from-louis-barajas/): As a very appropriate follow up to my global education rant yesterday, I will be having a conversation today with Louis Barajas, financial expert, entrepreneur and author of a few books, the most recent being Small Business Big Life: Five Steps to Creating a Great Life with Your Own Small Business. Louis' roots are in
- [Warning:  teaching our kids about the world is "un-American"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/21/warning-teaching-our-kids-about-the-world-is-un-american/): I normally keep my personal, non-entrepreneurial rants out of this blog. But when I read the front-page story "Global studies bid dies" in the Arizona Republic, I could not keep my astonishment to myself when I read some quotes from our Arizona legislators. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mark Anderson from my hometown of Mesa,
- [Book to read for generations from any letter of the alphabet:  Brazen Careerist](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/20/book-to-read-for-generations-from-any-letter-of-the-alphabet-brazen-careerist/): Awhile back, I took off my earrings, smeared vaseline under my eyes and challenged my smart blogging counterpart Penelope Truck to a virtual smackdown over a blog post. I got interesting responses from my readers, and she was very civilized in her reply, much to her character and credit. I promised to write a review
- [Specific request to Phoenix home-based entrepreneurs who sometimes work out of coffeeshops](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/20/specific-request-to-phoenix-home-based-entrepreneurs-who-sometimes-work-out-of-coffeeshops/): I just got a ping from someone doing a story on Phoenix and home-based entrepreneurs who spend at least a couple of hours a week working out of a coffee shop to "minimize home distractions." I do occasionally, especially when I have to write something uninterrupted. The only stipulation is that you go somewhere besides
- [Soul-wrenching insight on creative blocks from The War of Art](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/18/soul-wrenching-insight-on-creative-blocks-from-the-war-of-art/): I was stunned and awed this weekend when I read a great book on creative blocks called The War of Art by Steven Pressfield (thanks, Kelly, for suggesting it!) Best known as a novelist of books such as The Legend of Bagger Vance, Gates of Fire, Tides of War, and The Last of the Amazons,
- [If you missed Seth Godin's live Dip Tour, tune in to a couple of free calls](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/18/if-you-missed-seth-godins-live-dip-tour-tune-in-to-a-couple-of-free-calls/): Recently, I wrote about my pleasant experience hearing Seth Godin talk live about his new book The Dip here in Tempe, Arizona. A lot of folks chimed in with their perspective from live events in the Bay Area, Boston, Salt Lake and Ann Arbor. As a way to continue discussion (and promotion, no doubt!) about
- [The best Father's Day lesson a Dad can give](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/17/the-best-fathers-day-lesson-a-dad-can-give/): Photo credit: Sergio Lopez, the nicest and best damn wedding photographer I know. My Dad gives me the best gift any father can give a child each and every day: he absolutely loves his work. He is a photojournalist, and from the time I can remember, he has involved me in the process of taking
- [I would rather be Don Cheadle than George Clooney](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/15/i-would-rather-be-don-cheadle-than-george-clooney/): One of the best parts of building a business is fantasizing for hours about the heights of fame you will achieve. You imagine giving a warm, familiar hug to Oprah, or Jon Stewart, or seeing your face plastered on a gigantic billboard in Times Square, like the one I saw of Sean "Puffy" Combs that
- [Do you love your work enough to be interviewed on the "Pursue the Passion" tour?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/14/do-you-love-your-work-enough-to-be-interviewed-on-the-pursue-the-passion-tour/): One of my fellow Phoenecians, Brett Farmiloe, is a young, creative and inspiring storyteller who is launching his second "Pursue the Passion" tour across the U.S., complete with a 29-foot RV. James Whiting and Noah Pollock will join him on the cross-country adventure. Last year, Brett and 2 friends toured the country interviewing people who
- [Knowledge of the learning process will help you through the stumble-bumble stage of new entrepreneurship](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/13/knowledge-of-the-learning-process-will-help-you-through-the-stumble-bumble-stage-of-new-entrepreneurship/): If you are transitioning from a "safe" corporate job to entrepreneur, chances are you are doing a lot of new things. It is amazing how much there is to learn when you start a business for the first time; from forming new work habits to web design to bookkeeping to product development to sales and
- [I always knew there was a link between good blogging and good kissing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/12/i-always-knew-there-was-a-link-between-good-blogging-and-good-kissing/): My buddy Andy Wibbels just distracted me from a post I have been trying to write all morning by his "Asking for Link Exchanges is Tacky." In his no b.s. way, he says: "I hate hate hate when I get emailed out of the blue by somebody I’ve never met and they want me to
- [Book to read if "finding your life purpose" weighs heavily on your mind](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/11/book-to-read-if-finding-your-life-purpose-weighs-heavily-on-your-mind/): A coaching colleage, Dr. Brad Swift, recently published a book based on the last 11 years of his life's work called Life on Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life. It piqued my interest since I talk to a lot of people who ask the question "Is there something more to life than my tired
- [Are you in the mom (or dad) closet?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/07/are-you-in-the-mom-or-dad-closet/): Nataly Kogan, a former venture capitalist who very recently flew the corporate coop (yeah Nataly!) to co-found a company called Work-it Mom, recently wrote a blog post calling for perspectives on what she calls the "coming out of the mom closet." It was spurred by a conversation with a potential contributing writer to her site
- [Ode to print journalists](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/05/ode-to-print-journalists/): I have been reading about the death of newspapers for sometime now and have seen the decline myself by anemic daily editions that land at my doorstep. But it wasn't until I read the following line in Seth Godin's book The Dip that I got nostalgic: "If you work at a big-city newspaper, you can
- [Striking a balance between being rich and being famous](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/04/striking-a-balance-between-being-rich-and-being-famous/): People are drawn to entrepreneurship for a variety of reasons including work/life flexibility, the opportunity to contribute something meaningful to the world, the chance to make a lot of money or the platform to get known as an expert in your field. Regardless of your intentions, chances are you want to make money at what
- [Words of wisdom from an insightful teenager:  Ben Casnocha from "My Startup Life"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/01/words-of-wisdom-from-an-insightful-teenager-ben-casnocha-from-my-startup-life/): Thanks to my buddy Ramit, (with an earlier nudge from Kare) I was formally introduced to the teen entrepreneur sensation from San Francisco Ben Casnocha, author of the recently published book My Startup Life: What a (very) young CEO learned on his journey through Silicon Valley. (Perhaps my favorite comment from a reader of Ramit's
- [Your "confusion" at making a big change is more likely fear of the truth](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/31/your-confusion-at-making-a-big-change-is-more-likely-fear-of-the-truth/): "The truth? You can't handle the truth!" -Jack Nicholson, from A Few Good Men I have a lot of conversations with clients that start out like this: "I really want to do something different than what I am doing now, but I just don't know what it is" "I have two job opportunities, and am
- [What we can learn from Guy Kawasaki's "Web 2.0, User-Generated Content, Citizen Journalism, Long-Tail Social Media Site" venture](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/30/what-we-can-learn-from-guy-kawasakis-web-20-user-generated-content-citizen-journalism-long-tail-social-media-site-venture/): I have been watching the development of Guy Kawasaki's new venture, Truemors, from the sidelines for the last couple of weeks, fascinated by both the business idea and the reaction in the blogosphere. He took a subtle approach to the launch at first, hinting at the kinds of input he wanted from his blog readers.
- [Obsession with the competition is a luxury of the over-funded](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/): Any business-minded consultant or entrepreneur will tell you that you need to know about your competition. It is an important part of understanding your market and differentiating yourself from the rest of the herd. But some business owners get so focused on every move a competitor makes that they completely lose focus on their own
- [Zen and the art of Honda maintenance](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/25/zen-and-the-art-of-honda-maintenance/): I have been wanting to have a "public" conversation about Pat Cadam's business for close to a decade. And now I finally get to on my radio show today. Pat runs a shop called Pat's Garage in San Francisco. He services Hondas, Acuras, Subarus and Hybrids. Any semblance of a traditional garage stops there. His
- [Lessons from Seth Godin's talk about "The Dip" in Phoenix today](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/24/lessons-from-seth-godins-talk-about-the-dip-in-phoenix-today/): In April, I mentioned that a local business owner, Matt LaPrarie, was trying to organize enough people here in Phoenix for a stop on Seth Godin's tour to promote his new book, The Dip. The goal was to get a few hundred people interested enough to drop $50, in exchange for 2 hours of presentation
- [Can a single word define your brand?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/22/can-a-single-word-define-your-brand/): I was reading the Duct Tape Marketing blog yesterday and came across a post that really got my wheels turning ... What's the Measure of One Word? I think I even dreamed about it, one of the unfortunate side effects of being a serial blogger. In it, John Jantsch says: "It's absolutely essential that you
- [How to go from vague idea to concrete business concept](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/21/how-to-go-from-vague-idea-to-concrete-business-concept/): A blog reader recently wrote an email and shared his frustration at being stuck in a corporate job and hating it, but not knowing how to begin a new business in a new field. To answer this question, in this week's podcast (6 1/2 minutes -- go here to listen), I outlined a number of
- [Do you have a book inside, dying to get out?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/18/do-you-have-a-book-inside-dying-to-get-out/): Those of you who have hung around this blog for awhile know that I have been in the process of working on a book for quite some time. I have since discovered that for me, to loosely paraphrase Hilary Clinton, "it takes a village to write a book." I suspect that I am not alone
- [The flying arse assessment and other great book promotion ideas](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/17/the-flying-arse-assessment-and-other-great-book-promotion-ideas/): My friend and favorite professor Bob Sutton, author the very popular book The No Asshole Rule, just released another fun assessment to test your "arsehole-ness" when traveling as an air passenger called The Flying Arse. The mainly humorous, but very telling questions point to whether or not you are the source of aggravation to fellow
- [Take the struggle out of building a great business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/11/take-the-struggle-out-of-building-a-great-business/): You will run into some people in your life that make you proud to represent your profession. Andrea Lee is one of those people for me -- she is an insightful, smart, productive, collaborative and incredibly fun coaching maverick that has helped shape a much-needed new direction for the profession. And to top it off,
- [Compulsive obsession with details will save your neck when giving presentations](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/10/compulsive-obsession-with-details-will-save-your-neck-when-giving-presentations/): It is funny how short, simple conversations have lasting impact. My Dad is a photojournalist and when I was about 8 years old (1974!), he shared some tips he had learned from giving lots of presentations and slideshows: "Always bring extra slide projector bulbs, as you never know when one is going to burn out.
- [Pamela Slim and Penelope Trunk smackdown](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/08/pamela-slim-and-penelope-trunk-smackdown/): I love Penelope Trunk, journalist, blogger and author of the new book Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success (my review coming soon). She has strong opinions, is smart, even sassy, and is not afraid to take a stand challenging long-held assumptions about the world of work, especially from the perspective of the up and
- [Opportunity to tell your great story of transformation from drone to happy camper](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/03/opportunity-to-tell-your-great-story-of-transformation-from-drone-to-happy-camper/): Every once in awhile, I get a call from press folks with interest in doing a story featuring members of my blog community. I always love it, as it is an opportunity to highlight some of the great work that YOU are doing! I have to maintain confidentiality out of respect for the source, but
- [New freelance resources including useful articles and job boards](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/01/new-freelance-resources-including-useful-articles-and-job-boards/): I recently became aware of some new resources for freelancers and consultants that I think you should check out! I found the first, Freelanceswitch, as I was following an incoming link to my blog from someone else's (sorry - I forget whose). They describe their site as: "A Community & Resource for freelancers of all
- [Package your smarts so you can make money in your sleep](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/26/package-your-smarts-so-you-can-make-money-in-your-sleep/): The words "passive revenue stream" have always been quite musical in my ears as I imagined the joy of getting my toes painted while knowing that hundreds of customers from all over the world were happily typing their credit card numbers to download electronic products from my website. "Passive" may be a bit misleading, as
- [Controversy is good:  go ahead, disagree with me!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/23/controversy-is-good-go-ahead-disagree-with-me/): If you were raised in a conflict-averse household like I was, you may find that this early history seeps into your business and you are afraid to upset anyone with a controversial product or service. Big mistake! The most successful (and interesting) businesses take a stand and create something different, unique, and meaningful for their
- [Nice Wall St. Journal Online Small Biz Blog List](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/20/nice-wall-st-journal-online-small-biz-blog-list/): Today's Startup Journal (part of the Wall St. Journal online) has a feature on what small business owners can learn from blogs. I am thrilled that Escape from Cubicle Nation made the list, and invite you to check out the others, some of which I am familiar with, and others that I am eager to
- [Hot topic for cube dwellers ... how to prepare financially to start your own biz](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/19/hot-topic-for-cube-dwellers-how-to-prepare-financially-to-start-your-own-biz/): This week on the radio show, I am interviewing Lynnette Khalfani, a former Wall St. Journal reporter for CNBC, on the topic of preparing financially for the move from employee to entrepreneur. She has written a number of successful books including Zero Debt, The Money Coach's Guide to Your First Million, and her new one,
- [Searching for your perspective on the timeless "what work am I meant to do?" question](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/17/searching-for-your-perspective-on-the-timeless-what-work-am-i-meant-to-do-question/): One of the best parts of my work is helping people figure out deep and meaningful personal questions such as "What am I meant to do with my life?" It is also one of the most challenging parts of my work, since the process to discover the answer is totally different for different individuals. Through
- [I have a "great job," lots of money, responsibility and respect.  Why aren't I happy?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/12/i-have-a-great-job-lots-of-money-responsibility-and-respect-why-arent-i-happy/): In the late 90's, I had a lot of fun conducting career development classes inside network giant Cisco Systems, which at that point was experiencing the benefits of an insane stock price increase. As follow up to the classes, I had one-on-one sessions with the participants to discuss their personal career aspirations and goals. One
- [I know we can get 500 people to Phoenix to hear Seth Godin live, right?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/09/i-know-we-can-get-500-people-to-phoenix-to-hear-seth-godin-live-right/): I have been a Seth Godin fan for a long time, since back in the days when each issue of Fast Company magazine was the size of a phone book, and he was a contributing author. (Was I the only one that would get an intense thrill at receiving a fresh issue in the mail?
- [Free Escape Q&A Call at 3pm EST](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/04/free-escape-qa-call-at-3pm-est/): Sorry for the late notice -- I almost forgot to tell you that today is our monthly free question and answer call where we discuss whatever is on your mind on the topic of leaving your corporate job to start or grow your own business. I now have a web page that lists all the
- [Is your inner tiger choking on a short leash?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/02/is-your-inner-tiger-choking-on-a-short-leash/): Watching my two year old scream, yell, laugh and uninhibitedly cavort these last few days inspired this month's ezine article about how we let our natural spirit and creativity get caged by social pressures, limiting beliefs and the dulling rhythms of everyday life. I recount one of my favorite martial arts stories about the time
- [Resource for new and experienced bloggers:  Clear Blogging](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/28/resource-for-new-and-experienced-bloggers-clear-blogging/): I don't know if many you know this, but I started this blog in October of 2005 as an assignment for a class I was taking about getting known in the online world. I was moving from a very person-to-person model of outreach and marketing in my consulting business to one where I needed to
- [Tips on how to get your spouse to support your entrepreneurial dreams](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/21/tips-on-how-to-get-your-spouse-to-support-your-entrepreneurial-dreams/): I feel very lucky that my husband is totally behind me and my business, and shows nothing but enthusiasm and support for what I do. He is also an entrepreneur, so is used to managing risk and uncertainty in the job arena. I know this is not always the case: I hear a lot of
- [Escape Podcast:  Cash flow is king](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/19/escape-podcast-cash-flow-is-king/): Catch this week's podcast episode here. It is about 7 1/2 minutes long. Here is what is covered: For all of you who have just made your first sale, congratulations! You should jump up and down and dance a jig at your accomplishment. Very soon, however, you will discover that a closed sale does not
- [The key to small business success:  be the sharpest knife in the drawer](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/14/the-key-to-small-business-success-be-the-sharpest-knife-in-the-drawer/): A few years ago, I hosted a holiday dinner at my house and my Mom helped me cook. After rifling through my kitchen drawers, she pulled out a half a dozen dull and inferior knives, all which would pulverize a tomato, instead of creating crisp and clean slices. "Do you have a good knife?" my
- [When you change, all your relationships change](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/13/when-you-change-all-your-relationships-change/): One of the unexpected parts of heading towards your right life is discovering that sometimes those around you are not ready, willing or able to see you change. This can result in disagreements, fracturing or even ending long-term friendships and relationships. If you are in the process of moving from a corporate employee to an
- [Please join me and Bob Sutton on the radio tomorrow, 3/9 at 11am PST](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/08/please-join-me-and-bob-sutton-on-the-radio-tomorrow-39-at-11am-pst/): After a long planning cycle, I am very excited to announce the launch of my new internet radio show, debuting tomorrow with my favorite University Professor Bob Sutton, author of the very celebrated book The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't. You can join in on the conversation by
- [How to recover when your work stability slips out from beneath you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/08/how-to-recover-when-your-work-stability-slips-out-from-beneath-you/): I just got a message last night from a friend who has been employed in a job that he really dislikes for at least the last 10 years. He has been busily working on an entrepreneurial project on the side, and has been trying to figure out how to make the transition to full-time entrepreneurship
- [Free escape call tomorrow at 3pm Eastern](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/06/free-escape-call-tomorrow-at-3pm-eastern/): Where did the month go? It is already time for our monthly free-wheeling Escape from Cubicle Nation call on any topic you choose. It happens to fall on my Mom's birthday, so don't forget to remind me to call her! Details: Escape from Cubicle Nation Teleclass Date: Wednesday, March 7 Time: 3pm Eastern or GMT
- [Don't know what you want?  A picture paints a thousand words](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/28/dont-know-what-you-want-a-picture-paints-a-thousand-words/): If anyone out there is trying to create a vision of your ideal life or business and is tired of staring into a devastatingly blank computer screen or pad of paper, I encourage you to shift directions and think visual! In this month's ezine, I describe a number of tactics to discover your creative vision
- [Don't commit these mailing list mistakes](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/27/dont-commit-these-mailing-list-mistakes/): One of the best ways to begin a friendly and non-intrusive relationship with prospective customers is to build a mailing list of people who are interested in you or your business concept. One of the easiest ways to do this is to offer a useful free report or piece of information, then follow up with
- [Is your business idea the next YouTube or a Jump to Conclusions Mat?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/22/is-your-business-idea-the-next-youtube-or-a-jump-to-conclusions-mat/): We would all be rich venture capitalists if we had the specific formula, knowledge and insight to decide which new business ideas were destined for millions in sales and which were destined to bring emotional and financial heartbreak to its founders. As an entrepreneur, how do you know if your idea is the next YouTube
- [Escape Podcast:  Cut through work paralysis by replacing "perfect" with "good enough"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/21/escape-podcast-cut-through-work-paralysis-by-replacing-perfect-with-good-enough/): Click here for this week's 6 1/2 minute podcast episode: Cut through work paralysis by replacing "perfect" with "good enough." If you are anything like me, you sweat the details of your business, wanting to make sure that everything is flawless and of the highest standards. The problem is, in a rapidly moving world and
- [Overwhelmed with too much to do or life in general?  5 tips to make things easier](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/20/overwhelmed-with-too-much-to-do-or-life-in-general-5-tips-to-make-things-easier/): I have often said that the journey to entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. There are times, whether they be at mile 10 or 22 of your 26.2 mile journey (which begins again as soon as you finish it), that you feel overwhelmed, tired, discouraged, uninspired or simply lifeless. Instead of employing the self-flaggelating
- [The love train stops in Mesa, AZ for Glenda Watson-Hyatt's virtual book tour](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/14/the-love-train-stops-in-mesa-az-for-glenda-watson-hyatts-virtual-book-tour/): Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! I thought it fitting that today I am one of 40 stops on my good buddy Glenda Watson-Hyatt's virtual book tour, promoting her autobiography I'll Do it Myself. I have lots of love and good thoughts for her, and I have written about her publishing journey in my ezine in the
- [Escape podcast:  Interview with John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/12/escape-podcast-interview-with-john-jantsch-of-duct-tape-marketing/): I have written about Duct Tape Marketing in the past, as it is a well-known and respected small business marketing resource. I had the good fortune to interview its founder John Jantsch for my podcast and ask him all kinds of questions that I get from my readers all the time such as: If I
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation takes to the airwaves](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/07/escape-from-cubicle-nation-takes-to-the-airwaves/): After some serious thought and gentle cajoling from my buddy Robert from iscatterlings, I have decided to start the Escape from Cubicle Nation Radio Show on VoiceAmerica. I first read about VoiceAmerica from my buddies Denise and Patsi of The Blog Squad, who recently started their show Blogging & Beyond. My show launches on March
- [The critical importance of "beginner mind" when starting a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/06/the-critical-importance-of-beginner-mind-when-starting-a-business/): We all get cocky sometimes and think we know a lot about a lot of things. This is probably true; your life experience and education have given you a rich body of experience that you should be proud to share with others. However, if you go into entrepreneurship for the first time with an attitude
- [Are you ready to start your business?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/05/are-you-ready-to-start-your-business/): One of the scariest issues facing aspiring entrepreneurs is knowing if you are ready to jump into the process of starting a business. Common questions include: Is my business idea good enough? How can I find time to design my business while working full-time, spending time with my family and getting enough sleep? What should
- [The "Big Four" every entrepreneur needs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/02/the-big-four-every-entrepreneur-needs/): I get a lot of questions about very specific areas of setting up a small business such as: Should I set up my business as a S Corporation or a LLC? (Two examples of U.S.-based business structures) Do I need liability insurance? Should I make people sign a non-disclosure agreement if I share details about
- [Finding grace in the throes of gut-wrenching failure](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/01/finding-grace-in-the-throes-of-gut-wrenching-failure/): This month's ezine topic is a juicy one, if you are anything like most people who struggle with failure ... I think we have a very skewed view of success and failure in our modern-day society. I find it hard to reconcile the concept that "failure is good" with the reality that "failing is gut-wrenching,
- [Escape podcast:  Take the brute force out of your fears](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/29/escape-podcast-take-the-brute-force-out-of-your-fears/): All aspiring entrepreneurs have fears about starting a business. These fears pack tremendous emotional punch and can stop you in your tracks if you aren't careful. Listen to my 7 minute podcast on the topic by going here: Take the brute force out of your fears by dissecting them. Fears can be: No one will
- [How not to be a cultural knucklehead in a global business world](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/24/how-not-to-be-a-cultural-knucklehead-in-a-global-business-world/): These days, even the smallest-scale entrepreneur working out of her home office in Boise, Idaho can have a circle of clients and partners from around the world. She may have an Australian graphic designer create her logo. She may manufacture her product line in China. She may hire technical developers and e-commerce experts from India.
- [Choosing between a crack pipe and a shot of wheatgrass juice](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/18/choosing-between-a-crack-pipe-and-a-shot-of-wheatgrass-juice/): Living in the world of abstraction, it is easy to think that making decisions about the direction of your business will be straight-forward and simple if you have done the hard work of setting life priorities, choosing a target market and creating a business plan. Reality is much more complex. Yesterday, I had a jolt
- [Interview with Randal Pinkett, Apprentice winner and author of Campus CEO](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/17/interview-with-randal-pinkett-apprentice-winner-and-author-of-campus-ceo/): One of the great perks of being a blogger is that I get to talk to a lot of really interesting people. A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by Randal Pinkett, last season's winner of The Apprentice and author of the new book Campus CEO. This book was written as an all-encompassing how-to
- [Doing business in your bathrobe](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/12/doing-business-in-your-bathrobe/): In the spirit of relationship-based networking and promotion that I just talked about, I am happy to share info on the contest my buddy Kristie T is promoting called Doing Business in Your Bathrobe. I have to admit that some days, I am so groggy from late night emailing that I begin my work day
- [The near delusional ecstasy of kick-butt administrative support](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/10/the-near-delusional-ecstasy-of-kick-butt-administrative-support/): If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I am a big fan of outsourcing tasks that you are either not capable of completing (like taxes, creating legal documents or whatever is your skill gap) or loathe doing (like filing, making changes to your website or responding to
- [What questions do you have for Martha Beck about what business to start?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/09/what-questions-do-you-have-for-martha-beck-about-what-business-to-start/): I mentioned awhile ago that I am going to start doing some expert interviews for my bi-monthly podcast. The first one this month is with Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Own North Star and O Magazine monthly columnist. I have no professional boundaries around Martha -- I love, adore and worship her as I
- [8 Outdated notions of entrepreneurship from Brazen Careerist](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/09/8-outdated-notions-of-entrepreneurship-from-brazen-careerist/): Penelope Trunk offers great advice in her weekly column for the Boston Globe and Brazen Careerist blog. I always love a woman with "brazen" attached to her name, and Penelope lives up to the tag line. She just wrote a great post on 8 Outdated notions of entrepreneurship that is worth checking out. A few
- [Yes' are great, nos are great, maybes will kill you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/08/yes-are-great-nos-are-great-maybes-will-kill-you/): Throughout much of the late 90's and early 00's, I had Skip Miller as a client, CEO of M3 Learning and author of Proactive Selling. He is a very energetic guy and has been highly successful with his approach to teaching people how to sell. Skip and I always enjoyed the contrasts of our personalities.
- [A simple way to plan your revenue targets](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/04/a-simple-way-to-plan-your-revenue-targets/): As a new business owner, it can be kind of overwhelming to figure out how to meet your annual revenue targets. In the midst of pages and pages of notes, research, business plan drafts and product ideas, you can get very stuck. So set aside your MBA and PhD-trained minds for a minute, and play
- [Bob Knight: the perfect mascot for "The No Asshole Rule"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/03/bob-knight-the-perfect-mascot-for-the-no-asshole-rule/): I have had an advance copy of Stanford Professor Robert Sutton's book The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't for a couple of months now and have been waiting for the right time to weigh in with my thoughts. You may say that Robert and I bonded over the
- [Still time to sign up for free call 1/3/07](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/02/still-time-to-sign-up-for-free-call-1307/): I just realized that January 3 is upon us tomorrow ... the date of this month's free Escape from Cubicle Nation teleclass. Details: Escape from Cubicle Nation Teleclass Date: Wednesday, January 3 Time: 1pm Eastern (10am Pacific, 11am Mountain, 12pm Central, 6pm UK - updated, I had 5pm before, which was wrong - sorry! )
- [Create your media plan for 2007!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/20/create-your-media-plan-for-2007/): I have had my eyes opened wide this year to the value of getting mainstream media to notice and promote products and services and to include expert quotes in articles. Through the sole vehicle of this blog, I attracted the following press this year: Business Week People Magazine Jane Magazine The Boston Globe The Baltimore
- [Need last minute gift ideas for the creative person on your list?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/18/need-last-minute-gift-ideas-for-the-creative-person-on-your-list/): My favorite Garr Reynolds of Presentation Zen just put together an extremely cool list of gifts (mainly books) based on what he has read or used this year. I wanted to buy almost all of them, since even though I am not a designer, I love books about design. One or a couple would make
- [Input on expanded podcast for 2007](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/11/input-on-expanded-podcast-for-2007/): I got a huge brainstorm last week as I was thinking about ways to expand on and improve my podcast for 2007. To this point, I have kept it very short and succinct, with the idea that busy corporate employees don't have hours of time to spend listening to recordings. It seemed like the 5-7
- [Fascinating BusinessWeek article - "Smashing the Clock"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/08/fascinating-businessweek-article-smashing-the-clock/): My Arizona buddy Pete just sent me the link to a really fascinating article by BusinessWeek online that chronicles the bold experiment by Best Buy to "smash the clock" and not require headquarter employees to observe any kind of fixed time schedule. In my rant to CEOs awhile back, my point #8 was "Focus on
- [Business 101](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/06/business-101/): After yesterday's post about Grand Canyon University, the new college focused on entrepreneurship, my Dad sent me this cartoon. (I don't have the source, but knowing him, it is most likely from The New Yorker) It was too funny not to share, given the topic of this blog. Thanks Dad! P.S. My Dad has read
- [Announcing the top 10 Pam's Favorite Things!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/01/announcing-the-top-10-pams-favorite-things/): Wow, has this been an exciting two weeks. Since announcing the Pam's Favorite Things contest, I have gotten lots of great submissions. I have a strangely maternal feeling about all of them ... I want everyone to succeed and grow their business! But because I know that a big part of business involves positioning and
- [Traps to avoid when discussing your career with relatives over the holidays](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/30/traps-to-avoid-when-discussing-your-career-with-relatives-over-the-holidays/): Maybe because the Favorite Things frenzy is coming to a close tomorrow, I had holidays on the mind when writing this month's Get a Life ezine. The topic is helping you navigate through the sometimes emotionally charged waters of describing your new business or career ideas to your family and relatives. Why is it that
- [How to avoid fright-inducing link sharing and networking techniques](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/31/how-to-avoid-fright-inducing-link-sharing-and-networking-techniques/): In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I would share some tips for not frightening the crap out of people you admire by employing scary network or link-building techniques. Here is a ghoulish handful that spring to mind: The "I want something" email. So much of networking protocol can be boiled down to high school
- [Top 10 entrepreneur song list](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/24/top-10-entrepreneur-song-list/): Like David Letterman and Guy Kawasaki, I am fond of top 10 lists. For awhile now, I have been trying to come up with a top 10 song list for wannabe entrepreneurs. I jot notes in my "little black idea book" whenever I think of one. I don't have hours and hours to sample music
- [Great writing on writing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/17/great-writing-on-writing/): I have always been a big fan of great writers, as I was raised in a household of voracious readers. My father is a photojournalist and my mother has always loved to read. My older sister is an editor, and although my brother ended up being a scientist, he toyed with the idea of being
- [Remembering the lessons from my dear friend Carlos Aceituno](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/28/remembering-the-lessons-from-my-dear-friend-carlos-aceituno/): Yesterday I got some heartbreaking news that my dear friend Carlos Aceituno passed away from heart failure. It was completely unexpected and there were no real warning signs besides headache and fatigue. He was in his mid-40s. I met Carlos 20 years ago in San Francisco in my first capoeira class (that is the name
- [Labor of love](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/04/labor-of-love/): My first job was at Swensen's Ice Cream Parlor in San Anselmo, California. I was 12 years old. My nursery school pal's Mom was the owner of the store, and I am sure I broke some labor laws by working so young. But I loved it. It was 1978 and I admit that my main
- [Every choice comes down to two things:  fear or love](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/23/every-choice-comes-down-to-two-things-fear-or-love/): I like to live my life as consciously and as happily as I can. With the current state of the world, it is easy to get dismayed, overwhelmed, discouraged and afraid. The things we have to fear are very real: violence, hatred, scarcity and destruction. But amidst this chaos, I have found a very basic
- [What's in a brand name?  More than you think](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/13/whats-in-a-brand-name-more-than-you-think/): If you have gotten through the tough part of dreaming up a product or service, analyzing your market, defining your niche and doing a first draft of your business plan, you are ready for the fun part: choosing a name for your business. Although certainly a creative exercise, it isn't always as easy as it
- [Before you create your business plan, create your life plan](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/19/before-you-create-your-business-plan-create-your-life-plan/): The first thing most aspiring entrepreneurs do to move their great idea forward is create a business plan. This is a critical and important step, but if you create it without first considering what kind of life you want to live, you may find yourself disillusioned with your business success. So before you create a
- [Developing your entrepreneur chops?  Get comfortable with tough feedback](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/15/developing-your-entrepreneur-chops-get-comfortable-with-tough-feedback/): The first time you get tough feedback as a new entrepreneur, it can really kick you in the gut. Most of us learn to accept feedback reasonably well working for a big company. If you are a salesperson and someone hates your product, it may not feel great, but you probably won't lose sleep over
- [The sweet spot of your work](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/10/the-sweet-spot-of-your-work/): Today has been a good day. Thanks to a nice plug in Guy Kawasaki's blog, I have gotten all kinds of new visitors and supportive comments on my recent post. It made me realize that at this moment I am getting closer to what I once heard Jim Collins refer to as the sweet spot.
- [Open letter to CEOs, COOs, CIOs and CFOs across the corporate world](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/04/open-letter-to-ceos-coos-cios-and-cfos-across-the-corporate-world/): I am writing to you as a newly minted rebel. My main purpose in life is to take your best, your brightest, most creative, hard-working and passionate employees and sneak them out the hallways of your large corporation so that they are free of the yoke of lethargy, oppression and resentment. It hasn't always been
- [Freedom is not a state of employment, it is a state of mind](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/19/freedom-is-not-a-state-of-employment-it-is-a-state-of-mind/): Many people want to break into the world of entrepreneurship because of the freedom that it espouses. If you are working inside corporate walls, you can often feel smothered, choked and oppressed. As my best friend Desiree likes to say, "you feel the boot of The Man pressed up against your neck!" The reality is
- [You can hate it or love it](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/04/you-can-hate-it-or-love-it/): I am a big Mary J. Blige fan, as much for her soulful beats as for her honest and upfront lyrics that often turn into personal anthems. After listening to my favorite CD No More Drama hundreds of times, I had a bit of trepidation about how her new CD Breakthrough would measure up. But
- [Would you publish your personal story if you knew it would help others?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/30/would-you-publish-your-personal-story-if-you-knew-it-would-help-others/): It is the end of the month already, and that means that I have just published my latest issue of Get a Life called Would you publish your personal story if you knew it would help others? It profiles the wonderful story of the creative and dynamic Glenda Watson Hyatt who is writing her autobiography
- [In need of a bit of distraction?  How about the "ugly shoe of the week?"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/20/in-need-of-a-bit-of-distraction-how-about-the-ugly-shoe-of-the-week/): I found my way to the reverant and delightful Doryn's Dish today and read about a hilarious site called Shoewawa which features an Ugly Shoe of the Week. I was rolling on the floor after viewing some of these doozies. You really can't work all the time, so please take a break and check these
- [What do "A List" bloggers have that I don't?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/15/what-do-a-list-bloggers-have-that-i-dont/): It is becoming common knowledge that blogs are an excellent way to build credibility and begin to connect with the people in your market. For those of you who have just started, you may be eagerly watching your statistics and get very excited when you see that 10 new visitors have stopped by your blog.
- [5 Ways to Avoid Death by To Do List](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/30/5-ways-to-avoid-death-by-to-do-list/): This month's Get a Life article is now online: 5 Ways to Avoid Death by To Do List. I was inspired to write it by my own state of temporary insanity. My original topic was “Setting Positive Intentions,” since we are in the month of January and Chinese New Year starts on January 29. But
- [Our book is up for an award! Cast your vote](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/11/25/our-book-is-up-for-an-award-cast-your-vote/): In all the excitement of my book launch, it would be hard to top the moment I handed the very first copy of the final book to my Dad. He was a constant source of support and inspiration while I wrote the book (not to mention my whole life), and is even featured in the
- [The Zen of Social Media Marketing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/20/the-zen-of-social-media-marketing/): I am lucky enough to have some fantastic young mentors, like Ramit Sethi and Shama Kabani, who demonstrate by their drive, smarts and tremendous business building skills that you don't have to have years of experience to be a really successful entrepreneur. Both have grown their businesses with steady, consistent use of social media, in
- [Lessons on fear, focus and career from the crew of the USS Nimitz](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/06/09/lessons-on-fear-focus-and-career-from-the-crew-of-the-uss-nimitz/): photo credit: Jenny "The Bloggess" Lawson Of all the places I thought this blog might take me, the last would be aboard an aircraft carrier. That is exactly where I ended up last weekend, invited by Guy Kawasaki as part of a bloggers embark hosted by the US Navy aboard the USS Nimitz, stationed off
- [The link between leaving your small cube and thinking big](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/08/the-link-between-leaving-your-small-cube-and-thinking-big/): I think it was fate that Michael Port released his new book The Think Big Manifesto within a few days of the release of mine. Becoming comfortable with thinking big and gathering the courage to leave a "safe" life in a cube behind walk hand in hand. So I interviewed Michael about his book in
- [Ready, set, new $100 Business Forum programs open for registration!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/03/17/ready-set-new-100-business-forum-programs-open-for-registration/): February has been a rocking month. Chris Guillebeau and I launched the very first $100 Business Forum, filled with 150 active, enthusiastic entrepreneurs. They dove into daily lessons and worked on a huge variety of different businesses, sorting ideas, testing marketing copy, exploring business models and encouraging each other through fears. We were joined by
- [My manifesto](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/12/my-manifesto/): While reading Startup Nation by Jeff Sloan and Rich Sloan, I decided to follow their advice and write a personal manifesto that is the basis for all the work I do. After working inside corporations for so many years, I was a bit turned off by the term "mission statement" as I had seen so
- [I am grateful for the snot on my sweater](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/09/i-am-grateful-for-the-snot-on-my-sweater/): I put on a black sweater this morning and was halfway pleased with my reflection in the mirror. A few minutes later, my stuffy-nosed son Josh cleaned his nose on it, creating a snail trail from one side to the other. As I looked at my son and then back at my sweater, I was
- [Guy Kawasaki, FedEx Conspiracies and Zebras in Botswana](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/04/guy-kawasaki-fedex-conspiracies-and-zebras-in-botswana/): Wonderful things happen when you publish a book. I have been sitting behind my computer for the last few days, marveling at the support, creativity and enthusiasm of my blog readers. News has traveled from unexpected places, and the reception of the book has been amazing. I updated my original "The book is here" post
- [Top excuses for not starting your business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/08/top-excuses-for-not-starting-your-business/): I did a guest post for Ramit Sethi this week on his blog I Will Teach You to be Rich where I discussed some common fears that hold you back from starting your business and how to overcome them. Ramit's lead-in to my post cracked me up: A couple weeks ago, my friend Pamela Slim
- [Lessons from the road: fears, tears and goat cheese](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/07/08/lessons-from-the-road-fears-tears-and-goat-cheese/): Inaugural workshop group in the Bay Area. Photo: Eugene Chan I am just settling down to recap the first leg of my book tour and workshops in the Bay Area and Portland. I had two amazing groups of warm, supportive and hard-working participants who taught me more than a few things about the concepts covered
- [Are you desperate to prove your way is The Way?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/): The other weekend, my family and I headed north to escape the heat and relax. Our kids were playing in an open square, and someone approached my husband with a flier. "We are doing a free event up the road, with dance and music demonstrations," she said. Since we thought the kids might enjoy it,
- [I am taking the show on the road - is your city on the list?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/15/i-am-taking-the-show-on-the-road-is-your-city-on-the-list/): I am exceptionally excited to share that I am heading out on the road this summer to visit with my creative, charismatic and smart blog and book readers. I have chosen a few cities to start with that either: Already have a good group of people ready to help organize an event Are in locations
- [Are you ingredients looking for a recipe?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/18/are-you-ingredients-looking-for-a-recipe/): I spend a lot of of my time working with people who are trying to figure out what to do for a living. I usually start by sending them on an internal expedition, examining the nuances, thoughts and feelings of their body, mind and spirit for clues about what interests them. They carry around notebooks
- [Great advice for aspiring authors: interview with co-author, The 100 Best Business Books of All Time ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/22/great-advice-for-aspiring-authors-interview-with-co-author-the-100-best-business-books-of-all-time/): My love of books goes back to when I was about three years old. As soon as I could form the sentence "I want to go to the library," my Mom or Dad would take me every week to get a new stack of books. I remember the smell as I entered the San Anselmo
- [Recommended product: Marketing for Nice People](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/25/recommended-product-marketing-for-nice-people/): Ever since I read Sonia Simone's Is Your Tribe Holding Your Down? post on Copyblogger, I have been fascinated to learn more about the "third way" marketing approach which takes all the good "tribe building" skills which Sonia says the Cool Kids have (many of whom are broke) and the "actually make money from your
- [Update on book tour and live workshops: Bay Area, Portland, Seattle, Chicago and Wash DC now live!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/06/09/update-on-book-tour-and-live-workshops-bay-area-portland-seattle-chicago-and-wash-dc-now-live/): For those of you who have not been following my updates on Twitter, I wanted to let you know that I have finalized details for a live one-day workshop in a number of cities across the U.S. Registrations are pouring in, and I am beyond excited to meet many of you in person in your
- [Learn fantastic relationship-building skills with me, Keith Ferrazzi and Daniel Pink on 6/11](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/06/10/learn-fantastic-relationship-building-skills-with-me-keith-ferrazzi-and-daniel-pink-on-611/): I sometimes have a flair for the dramatic when talking about important business building ideas. I am dead serious about this one: The topic of this call is the secret to the universe, and will radically alter the course of your destiny if you apply it. What I mean by "secret to the universe*" is
- [How to know if a work challenge is building or busting your chops](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/06/11/how-to-know-if-a-work-challenge-is-building-or-busting-your-chops/): The other day I got a panicked text message from a client. "Help me Pam. I am totally scared. Call me." Expecting to hear the worst, I called him right back. "What's going on?" I said. "I just got asked to take on a big project and I am scared out of my mind" he
- [Open letter to recent college graduates](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/06/12/open-letter-to-recent-college-graduates/): Congratulations! Making it through four or five years of college requires concentration, stamina and discipline and you should feel very proud of yourself. I am proud of you. I imagine you have been getting looks of pity from friends and relatives since you are graduating in one of the bleakest economic climates since the Great
- [Overloaded corporate employee w/entrepreneurial dreams needs your advice](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/06/16/overloaded-corporate-employee-wentrepreneurial-dreams-needs-your-advice/): It has been awhile since I have done an "open source coaching" post. These have been some of my very favorite times on the blog, since the advice from my readers is so specific and supportive. Past posts include: The 23 year old ballplayer trapped in a cube and the follow up post with input
- [Instant mood lifter: thank someone for a job well done](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/06/24/instant-mood-lifter-thank-someone-for-a-job-well-done/): I am sitting in the Phoenix airport about to take off for the first leg of my book tour in Silicon Valley, CA and Portland, Oregon. I arrived at 4:30am since my husband dropped me off before work. My flight takes off at 6:15am. The entrance to the departure curb was blocked off for maintenance,
- [The big 5 mid-year game-changing questions](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/07/13/the-big-5-mid-year-game-changing-questions/): I can still taste the barbecue from last weekend's 4th of July cookout. We had heaps of green salad, fresh corn, roasted green chilies, grilled steak and watermelon. Then it dawned on me: half the year is over. What happened? First: The Review What a year this has been. Normally optimistic New Year plans and
- [Whip out the kleenex for the update on Jon the 23-year old ballplayer](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/07/20/whip-out-the-kleenex-for-the-update-on-jon-the-23-year-old-ballplayer/): I know that it is not really fair to favor one blog reader story over another (it is kind of like favoring a child over another -- they are all loved, just different!), but the Jon the Ballplayer series of questions and community response was one of my all-time favorite experiences blogging. Background For those
- [Scrappy content can juice up your brand](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/07/22/scrappy-content-can-juice-up-your-brand/): I just got back from Chicago, where I delivered my book workshop to the latest group of incredibly interesting and diverse entrepreneurs-in-the-making. Their willingness to share and support each other was truly amazing to witness. At a certain point in the day, I stepped back and watched them have at it. Here is a shot
- [Valuable coaching advice straight from the horse's mouth (and nose)](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/08/04/valuable-coaching-advice-straight-from-the-horses-mouth-and-nose/): I stared up at the large nostrils above me, breathing hot air right into my face. My heart was beating fast and I had a tense grip on the rope which was attached to the side of my horse's head. "Get your personal space back," Koelle said, giving me instructions from the side of the
- [Update from Jon the Ballplayer's Mom](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/08/09/update-from-jon-the-ballplayers-mom/): For those of you around the U.S. who have been attending my workshops, I shared that the favorite part of my blog is when the community jumps in and participates in supporting someone who is pursuing a dream. My "Jon the Ballplayer" series is one such example. I have now run quite a few posts
- [Great advice for web-based entrepreneurs by expert Bob Walsh](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/08/10/great-advice-for-web-based-entrepreneurs-by-expert-bob-walsh/): While there are many core business practices shared among any type of startup, web-based companies have a unique set of opportunities and challenges. Perhaps no one has studied these unique challenges more than Bob Walsh, author of 5 books, the most recent being The Web Startup Success Guide. Bob has learned his field from the
- [Book tour update (new cities added!) and happy long weekend!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/09/04/book-tour-update-new-cities-added-and-happy-long-weekend/): So I was all set to write a long post today, then I realized that 85% of the working population in the U.S. were scooting out of their cubicles early to go have a last fling in the sand or tiptoe through the tulips for Labor Day. Which led me to want to do the
- [Reduce overwhelm, expand your reach and have more fun with partnerships](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/09/10/reduce-overwhelm-expand-your-reach-and-have-more-fun-with-partnerships/): Working for yourself can be hard. With the singular goal being "Create your own paycheck," some former cube-dwellers have days when they long for a little more direction. As awful as goal setting can be inside corporations, at least you know what to do, what the measurements are and when to deliver results. If you
- [Smash your goals with a mastermind group](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/09/21/smash-your-goals-with-a-mastermind-group/): The biggest obstacle to business success is not lack of a great idea, but poor execution. New entrepreneurs, lacking expertise or perspective, often struggle alone with starting or growing their business. It doesn't have to be this way! In my latest podcast (30 minutes - listen here), seasoned business coach and long-time small business expert
- [Working motherhood: a love letter ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/10/01/working-motherhood-a-love-letter/): Two years ago today, I was waddling in circles in my neighborhood with a huge belly, hoping that either I would go into labor or pass out with enough exhaustion to finally get a good night's rest. Thankfully, Angela Rose Slim was born later that evening. The two years since have been incredibly wonderful, action-filled,
- [Leap, don't fall, into the new year with Autumnal Equinox ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/09/22/leap-dont-fall-into-the-new-year-with-vernal-equinox/): Today at 2:18pm PST, Autumnal Equinox pushed us into the last stretch of the year. Each year this happens, in addition to jumping for joy that 100+ degree temperatures will end here soon in Arizona, I always realize that there are three precious months to get cleared out and revved up for the new year.
- [Weekend update: Escape workshops in London and Los Angeles](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/10/02/weekend-update-escape-workshops-in-london-and-los-angeles/): Photo of my special Atlanta Web workshop taken by Willie Jackson. See his complete set here! Happy Friday! Before I head into the weekend, I wanted to give you a quick update on the book tour. Dang, have I had a great summer! Me and longtime blog reader Mark Spieglan at Chicago workshop. I hit
- [Whom do you suggest for November blog series on pricing?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/10/04/who-do-you-suggest-for-november-blog-series-on-pricing/): Spurred by some great emails and goading about my own pricing from friends and clients, I am really interested in doing a week-long series on my blog in November about pricing for small business. It is a topic that involves a lot of art and science, and tends to bring up many strong feelings and
- [How are you going to Crush It in 2010?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/10/08/how-are-you-going-to-crush-it-in-2010/): I have been a fan of Gary Vaynerchuk for many years, enjoying his in-your-face enthusiasm and style on Wine Library TV and his own blog GaryVaynerchuk.com. Gary used social media, crazy hard work and heart to grow his Dad's (successful) brick-and-mortar wine business from $4 million to $60 million in five years. He has been
- [The beauty of dirty laundry](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/10/19/the-beauty-of-dirty-laundry/): At the management conference I attended in Pärnu, Estonia last week, we had a speaker from Denmark, Morten Lund, a long-time entrepreneur who had, among other things, made good money investing in Skype. As he launched into his presentation, he said: "I have founded over 88 startups. And at the moment, I am bankrupt." Due
- [Last chance to attend live Escape from Cubicle Nation workshop in 2009](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/10/28/last-chance-to-attend-live-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop-in-2009/): The fabulous and enthusiastic crew from last week's Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop in London. Photo by the handsome and talented TMSRuge. I communicate on Twitter so frequently that I just realized some blog readers may not know that my last live Escape from Cubicle Nation workshop will take place on Wednesday, November 4 at
- [Spreading the addiction of the TED conference one city at a time](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/10/30/spreading-the-addiction-of-the-ted-conference-one-city-at-a-time/): There are few things that get me fired up late at night like watching TED videos. For the uninitiated, TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and is a conference that takes place once a year. The videos from TED are shared free on their website, and the talks are enough to get you standing up
- [10 ways to stimulate the economy with your brain](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/11/05/10-ways-to-stimulate-the-economy-with-your-brain/): I don't know about you, but I get mighty tired of reading newspaper articles and blog rants about the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of stimulus money on our economy. What makes me frustrated is that we waste hours a day fighting with each other about things outside of our control, instead of using our own brains to do
- [How to get your mojo back](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/11/22/how-to-get-your-mojo-back/): My legs were trembling uncontrollably as I strained to maintain my squat. Sweating and looking in my trainer's eyes, I realized that I had only completed five deep lunges. Back in the day (now, more than 15 years ago) when I was in the prime of my martial art training, I would pound out 200
- [Happy Thanksgiving!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/11/26/happy-thanksgiving/): Before I start on a cooking frenzy, I wanted to make sure to tell all of you how much I am grateful for your friendship. My son Josh (pictured above!) calls you all "my students"and reminds me daily to share things with you. So from my family to yours, enjoy your day. For those of
- [The Price is Right Interview Series: John Jantsch](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/11/30/the-price-is-right-interview-series-john-jantsch/): I am thrilled to kick off a week-long series about pricing in small business with an interview with John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing. John is a well-known authority on small business marketing who has a very popular blog and speaking platform. Despite his solid business background and decades of experience, the thing I like
- [The Price is Right Interview Series: Mark Silver](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/01/the-price-is-right-interview-series-mark-silver/): So much of what you learn about pricing focuses on the external market. But in the daily practice of being an entrepreneur, much of the confusion and angst about pricing comes from an inner feeling. Mark Silver, co-founder of Heart of Business, has a very unique perspective on the inner game of pricing which is
- [The Price is Right Interview Series: Andrea J. Lee](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/03/the-price-is-right-interview-series-andrea-j-lee/): Andrea J. Lee, CEO of Thought Partners International LLC has been a huge influence on my approach to business since I read her book Multiple Streams of Coaching Income in 2006. She is one of those rare individuals who combine clear business intelligence with wit and humor. Her coaching is said to be a combination
- [The Price is Right Interview Series: Alexis Neely](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/04/the-price-is-right-interview-series-alexis-neely/): "There are a lot of business owners out there who are giving their stuff away for free because they don't know enough about pricing. That was my story," says Alexis Martin Neely, our next guest in The Price is Right Interview Series. Alexis is a lawyer and founder of two million dollar businesses. She is
- [The Price is Right Interview Series: Sherri Garrity](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/05/the-price-is-right-interview-series-sherri-garrity/): To round out the pricing series, I talked to my fellow business coach Sherry Garrity from Corporate Fugitive who illuminates some of the specific pricing challenges faced by corporate employees transitioning to entrepreneurship. The three main challenges she talks about in our interview are: Under-dreaming: thinking too small about the vision of what your business
- [Tiny steps make major leaps](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/08/tiny-steps-make-major-leaps/): Most of you know by now that I am on a quest to get my mojo back. After five years sitting in front of my computer screen eating Oreos, writing blog posts and producing two kids, I thought it was time to get back in shape. My first tentative step was to join a gym
- [The game changer: a client-centered, natural business model](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/10/the-game-changer-a-client-centered-natural-business-model/): photo by @ChrisLee, art on slide by Jeffery Slim. Great content does not make a business Standing on a stage in front of a group of smiling and supportive audience members, I felt on top of my game. The message resonated, the content was useful and the delivery connected. I had done my job. Afterward,
- [We did it! Escape from Cubicle Nation makes both Reader's/Editor's Choice Best Small Biz Book of 2009 lists!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/09/we-did-it-escape-from-cubicle-nation-makes-both-readerseditors-choice-best-small-biz-book-of-2009-lists/): I am very thrilled to report that with your help, Escape from Cubicle Nation made both the Editor's Choice and Reader's Choice Best Small Business Book of 2009 lists at Small Business Trends! I sincerely appreciate your voting, tweets, Facebook hurrahs, emails and encouragement. The complete lists are here: Reader's Choice Best Small Business Books
- [How to choose a business to start](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/11/how-to-choose-a-business-to-start/): In my travels around the country this summer and fall promoting my book, I ran into a lot of people who were frustrated because they had a whole slew of ideas and could not choose which business to start. Inspired by a great idea seeded by my members of Quickstart to Self-Employment, I shared the
- [New program for the new year - $100 Business with Chris Guillebeau](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/01/11/new-program-for-the-new-year-100-business-with-chris-guillebeau/): Happy New Year! As I mentioned in a post last September (Reduce overwhelm, expand your reach and have more fun with partnerships), I have been working really hard behind the scenes on a number of new programs and partnerships to deliver more value and support to my clients and blog readers. This has added tremendous
- [Two specific tools for tuning up your mental game of entrepreneurship](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/01/16/two-specific-tools-for-tuning-up-your-mental-game-of-entrepreneurship/): Business models, pricing structures and marketing systems are all critical pieces of running a business. It is important to study them and experiment with what works for you. But do you know what really trips up a lot of entrepreneurs? The mental stuff. Emotions. Self doubt. Loneliness. Insecurity. I wrote two articles for American Express
- [Guest post by Seth Godin: You are not a cog](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/01/26/guest-post-by-seth-godin-you-are-not-a-cog/): I have never had a guest post on my blog before. Until now. Seth Godin wrote a special post for EfCN to celebrate the launch of his new book Linchpin. It comes out today -- check it out here. You are not a cog If you have your own business, you've already taken a huge
- [Your all-or-nothing attitude will bring all stress and no progress](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/02/02/your-all-or-nothing-attitude-will-bring-all-stress-and-no-progress/): I can always tell when new entrepreneurs are starting to crack under the pressure of decisions. They say things like: "I know everyone tells me I have to choose a specific niche, but I really don't want to limit myself to only working with one type of person!" "What if I spend all this time
- [How do you want to lead your life?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/02/08/how-do-you-want-to-lead-your-life/): I had a very interesting coaching conversation the other day with a bright young woman. We were talking about her desire to expand her business and play bigger in the world. (And don't worry, I asked her permission to tell this story. And no, that is not her picture, it is a stock photo :)
- [The long winding road to doing what you love](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/02/11/the-long-winding-road-to-doing-what-you-love/): Those of you who have followed this blog for the last few years know that I believe in structuring a business around what you love. You also know that it is not always easy to find the business in the passion. What better way to explain the subtleties of this sweet dilemma than this lovely
- [How to start a business without destroying your relationship](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/02/12/how-to-start-a-business-without-destroying-your-relationship/): One of the unspoken stressors for new entrepreneurs is convincing a partner or spouse that starting a business is a smart idea. The rigors of start-up life require a whole new set of communication skills to ensure that you keep your relationship strong while you build your business. In this 30 minute podcast interview (go
- [Business advice from a 94-year old barber](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/02/16/business-advice-from-a-94-year-old-barber/): The LA Times ran a beautiful story this morning (covered in our local paper the Arizona Republic) about Elvie Lewis, a 94-year old barber in Los Angeles who is still cutting hair. The article says: His regulars travel from as far as Palmdale, Calif., to the three-chair shop on South Normandie Avenue in Los Angeles
- [Winter musings](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/02/20/winter-musings/): My kids are sleeping and I felt inspired to share a few things on my mind. This has been a very wonderful and busy first quarter. I have been creating and running at least four programs. Watching people learn, grow, get stuck, get unstuck and blast forward into new businesses has been really invigorating. Each
- [Kicking Make a Referral Week into Gear](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/03/10/kicking-make-a-referral-week-into-gear/): I am an unabashed fan of John Jantsch from Duct Tape Marketing. He is not only a small business marketing genius, he is an exceptionally nice guy. So when he asked me to participate in the second annual Make a Referral Week movement over at his blog, I jumped at the chance. The goal of
- [Strategic planning is for the birds](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/03/25/strategic-planning-is-for-the-birds/): I grew up in a large, rambling house in San Anselmo, California. It was built in 1906 by (rumor has it) drunk Irish brothers. It was a house that had "character," which was a kind thing to say when the roof started caving in and the planks sagged on the front porch. As the years
- [Creator of "Lemonade" movie coming to Phoenix to share hope, inspiration for career reinvention after layoffs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/03/29/creator-of-lemonade-movie-coming-to-phoenix-to-share-hope-inspiration-for-career-reinvention-after-layoffs/): These past two years have been really tough here in Phoenix, Arizona. Our economy exploded during the building boom in 2003-2007. Then things tanked. Dramatically and quickly. Tens of thousands of people were laid off in just about every industry. A recent report by Andrew Johnson of The Arizona Republic said: "In total, the state
- [Happy 5th birthday to this blog's primary inspiration](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/03/29/happy-5th-birthday-to-this-blogs-primary-inspiration/): Five years ago today, I was marveling at the miracle of my first baby, Joshua Littletree Slim. Three months later, as I was holding him close right before a conference call for my old consulting business, I tensed up at the thought of re-engaging with a project that was not of interest to me anymore.
- [9 Ways ziplining is like escaping cubicle nation to start your own business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/01/9-ways-ziplining-is-like-escaping-cubicle-nation-to-start-your-own-business/): This is a guest post from my long-time blog sister Glenda Watson-Hyatt. You can read about our connection through her post below. I like to refer to her as the "Left Thumb Wonder," since she writes using only her left thumb. As I mentioned in my presentation in Vancouver (hopefully I will have the video
- [Where does your job sit on the loathing scale?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/13/where-does-your-job-sit-on-the-loathing-scale/): In my work with corporate clients who want to leave their job to start a business, I often make reference to a loathing scale. This is a quick indicator of how critical it is to make short-term plans to leave a job, versus a much longer side-hustle path. Imagine a ruler from 1-10. One is
- [What's your side hustle?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/02/whats-your-side-hustle/): My friend's teenage daughter informed her the other day that she was enrolling in a nail technician class at high school. The friend, who has been prepping her daughter for a good college education since she was a toddler, was less than thrilled. "Why are you taking a beauty school class instead of an advanced
- [Expand our markets, one segment at a time](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/12/expand-our-markets-one-segment-at-a-time/): I am happy to report that your enthusiasm is high for a blog series on expanding our markets. Mine is too! So I will kick things off tomorrow (Tuesday), with the "Professional services" category. My vision is to share some starter ideas in the original post, but then let you all go crazy as you
- [Expanding our markets: Professional services](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/13/expanding-our-markets-professional-services/): This is the first post in a two-week series about using our collective wisdom to help expand the markets for our business. Per Annie Binn's suggestion in my original post to not have one new post each day for six days (which could be kind of overwhelming), I will spread this out over a couple
- [Remember who you are](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/15/remember-who-you-are/): My friend Hugh McLeod, brilliant artist and author of the must-read Ignore Everybody, is running a series of guest posts on his blog called Remember Who You Are. The series so far is here. He was kind enough to ask me to contribute, and my guest post was published today. It brought me to a
- [You don't need permission](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/21/you-dont-need-permission/): It's official -- another dream come true. Hugh McLeod of gapingvoid.com designed a business card for me. Here is his explanation. Thank you so much Hugh! I have been a huge fan of his work dating back to when I had three daily readers. His creativity and insight were very inspiring, and still are. My
- [Expanding our markets: Artists](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/21/expanding-our-markets-artists/): Example of wonderful image created by graphic artist David Billings, aka Sparky Firepants. I commissioned this with @CharlieGilkey for our Lift Off Retreat participants, as a sticker on their Moleskine notebooks. Time flies when you are having fun! This is the second post in a three-week series about using our collective wisdom to help expand
- [Which of your lives is real? ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/29/which-of-your-lives-is-real/): I got this email from a book reader today. He was kind enough to let me post it, with a tiny tweak to the "from" and "to" cities to protect his identity. This is why I wrote the book. Hi Pam, I was traveling today on return flight home to New York from Indianapolis. I
- [When is it time to ditch your home office?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/30/when-is-it-time-to-ditch-your-home-office/): Some of you know that I recently moved from a home office to a small office about ten minutes from my house . It was the greatest thing I have ever done, besides marrying my husband and having kids. Which, ironically, sort of spurred the move. Here is the teaser for the post I wrote
- [Expanding our markets: Brick and mortar edition](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/05/05/expanding-our-markets-brick-and-mortar-edition/): Image from my favorite car repair shop on the planet, Pat's Garage in San Francisco. I have been bowled over by the fantastic suggestions and supportive communication flying back and forth on my first two "Expanding our markets" posts, Professional Services and Artists. Thanks to everyone who participated so far! Your enthusiasm is contagious. Today
- [Useful, pragmatic guide for building a great life and business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/05/18/useful-pragmatic-guide-for-building-a-great-life-and-business/): I have been extremely lucky this year to work directly with Chris Guillebeau, founder of the great blog The Art of Nonconformity and upcoming book of the same name. By the time this month finishes up, we will have worked with 450 positive, optimistic and smart entrepreneurs in our $100 Business Forum program. The one
- [The grace in falling apart](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/05/25/the-grace-in-falling-apart/): There is a dark, ugly and awkward place that many self-help enthusiasts don't want to tell you about. Sometimes it comes up from behind and hits you in the head like a wooden plank. Like when you get scary results back from a cancer test, or learn your spouse is cheating, or lose your job.
- [The Fight Within Us: One woman's crusade for awareness, healing and inspiration](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/06/07/the-fight-within-us-one-womans-crusade-for-awareness-healing-and-inspiration/): There is a reason Rocky has stuck in our consciousness for a few decades. It feels great to watch someone faced with adversity dig deep and win one for all of us. Amanda Wang's fight has all the great elements of Rocky with an added twist. Amanda is a graphic designer who lives in New
- [How to use social media to create an audience that wants to hear you speak](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/06/14/how-to-use-social-media-to-create-an-audience-that-wants-to-hear-you-speak/): I had a fantastic time last week participating in a conference at Harvard's John F. Kennedy Center for Public Leadership. The event was for professional speakers and those who relate to their business, like book publishers, speaker's bureaus, meeting planners and author agents. It was hosted by public speaking wizards Nick Morgan and Nikki Smith-Morgan,
- [How can you go to your customers instead of hoping they come to you?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/06/16/how-can-you-go-to-your-customers-instead-of-hoping-they-come-to-you/): I am often racked with guilt as I recycle many works of art created by my son Josh at school. Each day, he runs up to me with excitement and shares his latest creation of pyramids of Egypt, or scorpions or, in his current craze, penguins in Antarctica. I cringe as I drop them in
- [Sales tip: work a little old school outreach into your new school marketing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/06/17/sales-tip-work-a-little-old-school-outreach-into-your-new-school-marketing/): (image from the wonderfully kitshy Kitchen Retro) My friend Andy Wibbels once said that if you get the same question more than three times, you should think about creating a product that answers the need. My version is if I have the same conversation with more than two coaching clients, I must write a blog
- [Thank You Dad](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/06/20/thank-you-dad/): Thank you Dad for: Your love of words and books. Believing in the craft of writing and photography. Walking through your own growth and learning despite the pain. The way you get excited about a fresh issue of The New Yorker read in front of a warm fire. Spending hours, and years, picking up cans,
- [The new body of work: fear, attitude, clarity and power](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/06/21/the-new-body-of-work-fear-attitude-clarity-and-power/): Today is the first day of Summer, and the official launch of a new storm of work for 2010 and 2011. Those of you who follow me on Twitter have heard me talk about the new book in progress. It has been welling up inside me like an electrical storm, inspiring me with ideas and
- [Note to younger self: you were right](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/06/25/note-to-younger-self-you-were-right/): When I was 19, I spent a year of college in Mexico, in the state of Michoacán. Half the time I lived with a family in the city of Morélia, and the other half in a small farming village called La Colonia Benito Juárez. In Benito Juárez, I spent my days talking with the young
- [Find joy in the terror of starting something new](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/07/01/find-joy-in-the-terror-of-starting-something-new/): I cleared my throat to try to get their attention. But with the jackhammer pounding outside the room where I was speaking and someone constantly opening the door, I wasn't making any progress. A small group in front of me appeared slightly interested in what I was saying, but others had left the room entirely,
- [A small group of committed people](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/07/19/a-small-group-of-committed-people/): First Lift Off crew, Phoenix, Arizona, February, 2010. Photo by the wonderful Ivan Martinez, another Lift Off #1 Alumnus. We have a more serious picture, but who wants to see that? “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead
- [How not to get old, jealous and bitter once you are famous](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/07/19/how-not-to-get-old-jealous-and-bitter-once-you-are-famous/): Robert Plant, Photo Credit Rounder Records I read a fantastic interview with Led Zeppelin member Robert Plant, conducted by Larry Rogers in the Arizona Republic on July 16. The full interview is here. Plant, who is coming to Arizona to play with Patty Griffin in advance of a new album dropping in September, described his
- [Final sprint to support "The Fight Within Us" - spread the word!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/07/28/final-sprint-to-support-the-fight-within-us-spread-the-word/): Kiera Van Gelder and Amanda Wang, speakers at the National Alliance for Mentally Ill Convention. They spoke on the "Courageous Women in Recovery" panel. A few months ago, I wrote about Amanda Wang's courageous and brilliant project The Fight Within Us, a documentary she is producing to raise awareness about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a
- [Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen: The secret to your success](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/08/23/connectors-mavens-and-salesmen-the-secret-to-your-success/): Malcolm Gladwell has contributed many great books and ideas to the business stream over the years with Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers. But Tipping Point has changed the way that Charlie Gilkey, Michele Woodward and I do our work with job seekers and entrepreneurs. In Chapter Two of Tipping Point, Gladwell describes three special types
- [You are officially granted permission to create a non-perfect first website](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/08/25/you-are-officially-granted-permission-to-create-a-non-perfect-first-website/): There are a few conversations I have so often with my coaching clients that they must become blog posts. This is one of them. Here's the deal When you first start out in business, experts from all over the planet tell you that you must have a targeted niche, a clear and compelling brand and
- [Don't be shocked that your family is kryptonite to your superpowers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/03/dont-be-shocked-that-your-family-is-kryptonite-to-your-superpowers/): Many of you in the U.S. may be headed to family barbecues on Labor Day, where you will meet a variety of your relatives over grilled corn and chicken. In your daily lives, vast numbers of fans may hang on to every word of your marketing or career advice. Or revel in your ability to
- [Embrace the naive, unconventional weirdo that lives within you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/08/embrace-the-naive-unconventional-weirdo-that-lives-within-you/): I spend so much of my time hanging out with smart, creative, slightly crazy and rebellious people that I forget there are legions of folks out there who question their sanity when wanting to break away from convention. Sonia Simone, someone I worship and adore, wrote a brilliant post about this on Copyblogger yesterday, Why
- [I'm not one book, not yet a pair of books ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/10/im-not-one-book-not-yet-a-pair-of-books/): It has been awhile since I have checked in with you on my latest creative projects. Metaphor of the moment Do you remember the last day of high school? There is an air of excitement, and at the same time time, slight dread at leaving your childhood behind and starting "real life" at college. For
- [Worried your market isn't big enough? Think again.](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/06/worried-your-market-isnt-big-enough-think-again/): On Saturday night, my plane from San Francisco dropped down above the Phoenix metro area. I saw miles and miles of lights beneath me, stretching out over all corners of the valley. We flew over the financial district, and I saw a row of big skyscrapers. The floors of each building were undoubtedly crammed with
- [The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Chandoo](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/14/the-side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-chandoo/): I have been doing a lot of writing and speaking about the side hustle these days, and I got a brainstorm to profile people who successfully transitioned from corporate employee to thriving entrepreneur by using this tactic while still employed. I am naming this series The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series. I will run
- [Go ahead, make my smoothie](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/17/go-ahead-make-my-smoothie/): Last night about eight o'clock I was sitting at the kitchen table reading a magazine. Josh ran up to me and said "Mom! Let's make a smoothie!" "No," I said. "Why not?" pleaded Josh. "Because it is night time," I said. "So what?" said Josh. "And we don't make smoothies at night," I said. And
- [Stay healthy while working a jam-packed schedule: Weigh in with suggestions!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/20/stay-healthy-while-working-a-jam-packed-schedule-weigh-in-with-suggestions/): Get it? Weigh in? I got a great email this morning from a long-time blog reader who was asking for suggestions to stay fit while working a full-time job, doing a side-hustle and taking care of his family. An excerpt: One of the big things I'm struggling with
- [The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Willie Jackson](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/23/the-side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-willie-jackson/): Last week, I kicked off a new series on the blog called Side Hustle and Flow, which profiles people who had full-time corporate jobs and worked on their side business until they were able to quit and do it full-time. Chandoo was the first person profiled, for parlaying his love for Excel into a full-time,
- [How to flip on your winner switch](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/24/how-to-flip-on-your-winner-switch/): Mr. Fiori said "GO!" and four of us who were laying on our backs flipped over on our stomachs and dove for the two black training pads that were sitting in the center of the mat. "FIGHT FOR IT!" he yelled, as we wrestled each other for control. I twisted and clutched a corner of
- [Happy birthday to my sweet girl](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/01/happy-birthday-to-my-sweet-girl/): photo by Benjy Feen at Google Headquarters When I was at the 140 Conference in San Francisco last month, Jeff Pulver shared a wonderful perspective that all of our tweeting and blogging and flickring and facebooking and general social media shananigans will become a digital scrapbook for our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Because
- [What's the process for making money in my sleep, and where do I begin?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/28/whats-the-process-for-making-money-in-my-sleep-and-where-do-i-begin/): Entrepreneurs have big dreams. I want to quit my deadly job and create an online business that pays at twice my salary. I want to write a best-selling book and be on Oprah. I want to create a start-up in my garage that makes me a young millionaire. I want to speak at the TED
- [When strengths attack](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/29/when-strengths-attack/): The more time that goes by, the more convinced I am that Marcus Buckingham is absolutely right when he says: "people are dramatically more effective, fulfilled and successful when they are able to focus on the best of themselves." He calls it the strengths revolution, and says that the corporate mentality of focusing employee development
- [The Side Hustle and Flow Series: Dan Schawbel](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/30/the-side-hustle-and-flow-series-dan-schawbel/): The Side Hustle and Flow series profiles real people who started their career in large corporations, and worked a side hustle until they were able to quit their job and support themselves full-time as an entrepreneur. Chandoo started the series with his Excel business. Followed by IT consultant-turned web developer Willie Jackson. Today I bring
- [Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Carmen Sognonvi](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/21/side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-carmen-sognonvi/): The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series is designed to inspire hard-working corporate employees to either start a side hustle if they are interested in eventually starting a business, or to keep going with their existing side hustle through the inevitable challenge of limited time and energy. So far we have profiled Chandoo, Willie Jackson,
- [Can you answer these 5 questions about your business? ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/20/can-you-answer-these-5-questions-about-your-business/): In the last three weeks, I have attended three conferences: Wealthy Thought Leader in San Francisco, Conquer & Grow in Las Vegas, and BOLO 2010 in Phoenix. All were crawling with smart, motivated and optimistic entrepreneurs. Since I had many, many conversations with both the speakers and the participants, I noticed an interesting phenomenon: many
- [When PowerPoint attacks - and improv fights back](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/12/when-powerpoint-attacks-and-improv-fights-back/): Last June, I had the privilege of speaking at Harvard University at Nick and Nikki Morgan's Public Words Speaker Forum. One the second day of the event, we were treated to presentations from some of Public Words' clients, who were videotaping their talks for speaker reels, and to examine their style in detail. One such
- [The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Laurie Gay](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/13/the-side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-laurie-gay/): The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series is designed to inspire hard-working corporate employees to either start a side hustle if they are interested in eventually starting a business, or to keep going with their existing side hustle through the inevitable challenge of limited time and energy. So far we have profiled Chandoo, Willie Jackson
- [New hub of forward momentum: Escape Velocity](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/22/new-hub-of-forward-momentum-escape-velocity/): I just started contributing to a group blog started by Chris Brogan called Escape Velocity. In its own words: Many pieces go into achieving escape velocity from situations that hold us in their grasp. Maybe you don’t like your job any more. Maybe you’d like to be home with the family more often, instead of
- [There is warmth](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/11/05/there-is-warmth/): Deep within you, under the heaps of doubt and clutter of stress and buzz of busyness, there burns a slow fire. The Diné (Navajo) call it the crystal fire. It is the spark of life that keeps your body moving, that allows all your organs to work together in glorious harmony so that blood gets
- [Unicorns, rainbows and work-life balance](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/26/unicorns-rainbows-and-work-life-balance/): I felt a little hand on my shoulder at 5am this morning and the breath of my son Josh's voice in my ear. "Wake up Mom, it is time to go downstairs!" The morning sky was still dark. The birds were still snoring in their nests. I dragged myself out of bed and headed straight
- [More support for the work revolution: Rise of the Cubicle Farmer](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/29/more-support-for-the-work-revolution-rise-of-the-cubicle-farmer/): Last week, I was lucky enough to be interviewed by the lively crew from Rise of the Cubicle Farmer, AJ Leon, Melissa Leon and Tony Leon. They are whip-smart creative entrepreneurs from New York City who had the crazy brainstorm to travel around the country interviewing people who left their corporate jobs to start a
- [What to do when you have the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/11/19/what-to-do-when-you-have-the-funk-the-whole-funk-and-nothing-but-the-funk/): Image source: Jon Oliver and Funk Inc. The entrepreneur journey is not all gumdrops and rainbows. Some times you get tired, frustrated, impatient and downright sad while trying to convince the world your product is the greatest thing since John Travolta met Saturday Night Fever. If you find yourself in a bit of a funk,
- [Double your learning speed and cut your mistakes in half](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/11/12/double-your-learning-speed-and-cut-your-mistakes-in-half/): (image from genkaku) One of the great perks of my job is I have clients and blog readers who come with all kinds of business ideas. Alpaca farming. Software startups. Energy healing. Green energy consulting. Mental health advocacy. And perhaps my favorite, posted to my public coaching page a few days ago: Hi Pam, I
- [Black Faces in White Places: Interview with author, entrepreneur and Apprentice winner Randal Pinkett](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/11/15/black-faces-in-white-places-interview-with-author-entrepreneur-and-apprentice-winner-randal-pinkett/): In his newest book Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness, (co-authored with long-time business partner Jeffrey Robinson) author Randal Pinkett discusses some unique challenges and opportunities facing African-American professionals who operate in environments where they are clearly the minority. Randal was the winner of Season 4 of
- [Old school in a new age](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/11/23/old-school-in-a-new-age/): Some of you may know I used to train and teach the martial art of Capoeira. I learned so many lessons about coaching and building a business from this experience. Like the one that inspired this new post on Escape Velocity. Here is a taste: --- I always could tell which new students were going
- [Never Get a Real Job: Interview with author Scott Gerber](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/08/never-get-a-real-job-interview-with-author-scott-gerber/): Scott Gerber, twenty-six year old columnist for Entrepreneur and author of the new book Never Get a Real Job: How to dump your boss, build your business and not go broke, does not mince his words. He believes that many of the entrepreneur evangelists out there are selling snake oil when they encourage people to
- [If John Legend were still best known for being an Excel Cowboy](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/02/if-john-legend-were-still-best-known-for-being-an-excel-cowboy/): It is no mystery to regular readers of this blog that I am a massive John Legend fan. Not just for his music (which I adore), but also because of his life story, and how it relates to the core message of Escape from Cubicle Nation. I even wrote about him in my New York
- [The road to sales success happens one step at a time](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/10/the-road-to-sales-success-happens-one-step-at-a-time/): Darryl Slim (my husband) and Kiowa Gordon (teen star in The Twilight Saga) I just got back from the award ceremony for the American Indian Chamber of Commerce in Phoenix, Arizona. My husband Darryl won American Indian Small Business of the Year. Standing on stage next to him when he accepted the award, I felt
- [The new age of mentoring](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/14/the-new-age-of-mentoring/): There are few things that get me more excited than working with young people. Many of you know that I used to teach martial arts in the San Francisco Bay Area, and co-founded the Community Action Project. I still get fired up when I think of the beauty and power in those young men and
- [Do you make these data security mistakes?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/27/do-you-make-these-data-security-mistakes/): Note the rather uncharacteristic post title from my recent blog hack. The humor of the particular spam title and my post image was not lost on me. Call me the poster child for the need for a structured, secure data security plan: In 2008, the hard drive on my brand new iMac failed four months
- [Impact is the key to success in the new year](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/01/03/impact-is-the-key-to-success-in-the-new-year/): In the feeding frenzy that is the beginning of the new year, we are loaded up with to-do lists and action items. This fresh year exuberance is good for a week or two of vigorous activity, then it starts to wane once the new year glow recedes from our collective consciousness. This is why it
- [New Year's wishes for you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/21/new-years-wishes-for-you/): On this full moon, lunar eclipse and Winter Solstice day, I just wanted to say thank you all for being here. My friend Tzaddi Gordon of Thrivewire designed a special e-card just for you. View the card here. May we all find peace, joy and abundance in the new year.
- [Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Desiree Adaway](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/01/21/side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-desiree-adaway/): The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series is designed to inspire hard-working corporate employees to either start a side hustle if they are interested in eventually starting a business, or to keep going with their existing side hustle through the inevitable challenge of limited time and energy. So far we have profiled Chandoo, Willie Jackson,
- [The upside of adversity](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/22/the-upside-of-adversity/): Any business book worth its salt will tell stories of adversity faced by the most successful businesspeople. You learn of catastrophic product launches, bankruptcy, divorce and health scares, all part of the hero's journey to becoming a wealthy, successful entrepreneur. Entrepreneur success formula Register business name Get website up Have massive humiliating failure Have massive
- [A Christmas tale I have never forgotten](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/24/a-christmas-tale-i-have-never-forgotten/): It was Christmas Eve, 1956. My Dad was leaving the office of his first job as reporter/photographer/sports editor/weatherman at the Roseville Press-Tribune, driving his 1954 Mercury Sedan to his parent's farm house for dinner. It was bitter cold outside. He had a freshly-cut $25 bonus check in his pocket, a fortune for his $57.50 weekly
- [Come see the wonderful things my people accomplished in 2010!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/31/come-see-the-wonderful-things-my-people-accomplished-in-2010/): The inaugural crew of Lift Off Retreat, held in February, 2010 in Phoenix, AZ On this same day last year, I assembled a post where I invited people I had worked with in any capacity in 2009 to share something they were proud of accomplishing. The resulting post totally filled my heart and delighted my
- [Your 2011 marketing planning in a nutshell: Avatars, Ecosystems and Watering Holes](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/01/05/your-2011-marketing-planning-in-a-nutshell-avatars-ecosystems-and-watering-holes/): I taught a class in December called Ethical Selling That Works that was all about understanding and using the steps in the selling process to connect with your market in a non-pushy, but effective way so you can grow healthy revenue. One of the modules we covered was about Avatars, Ecosystems and Watering Holes, and
- [Paris in the springtime, Akumal in the winter, Belarus in the fall](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/01/25/paris-in-the-springtime-akumal-in-the-winter-belarus-in-the-fall/): In my late teens and early twenties, I was quite the world traveler. I stayed a week in Paris in the springtime, during Easter break from my Swiss high school where I spent my senior year as an exchange student. Butter from croissants dripped down my chin, and the romance of the city took my
- [Behind the scenes with a successful app developer: Patrick Thompson](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/01/26/behind-the-scenes-with-a-successful-app-developer-patrick-thompson/): I had the good fortune to meet Patrick Thompson at my Portland Escape from Cubicle Nation workshop in 2009. At the time, he had left his corporate job as a director of software engineering and was working on a speed-reading app called QuickReader. Patrick said that at 46 years old, he realized that it was
- [From lawyer to baker: Lessons on passion, listening and cake with Warren Brown](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/02/from-lawyer-to-baker-lessons-on-passion-listening-and-cake-with-warren-brown/): If you had been a fellow passenger on the Green Line train in Washington DC, looking at handsome young lawyer Warren Brown staring out the window, you may have thought he was composing his next great novel, or thinking about scaling Mt. Everest. Instead, he was formulating a new recipe for chocolate cake: "Dry chocolate
- [New look, new things brewing at Escape from Cubicle Nation!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/08/new-look-new-things-brewing-at-escape-from-cubicle-nation/): Hello dear friends! Today is an exciting day of adventure and new beginnings for me. My big brother turns 50 years old today (Happy Birthday Brian!) and my website gets a brand new look. As I mentioned in my recent post about Growing with Your Business, this year is all about creating useful products and
- [Want to win in business? Be a scientist](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/09/want-to-win-in-business-be-a-scientist/): I am frequently asked by clients and reporters what is the key ingredient to entrepreneurial success. A great idea? Financial backing? A charismatic founder? A bulletproof business plan? Great selling skills? These things can certainly help. But what will make or break your entrepreneurial journey is: The ability to be a scientist. What I mean
- [In need of a bit of distraction?  How about the "ugly shoe of the week?"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/20/in-need-of-a-bit-of-distraction-how-about-the-ugly-shoe-of-the-week-2/): I found my way to the reverant and delightful Doryn's Dish today and read about a hilarious site called Shoewawa which features an Ugly Shoe of the Week. I was rolling on the floor after viewing some of these doozies. You really can't work all the time, so please take a break and check these
- [What do "A List" bloggers have that I don't?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/15/what-do-a-list-bloggers-have-that-i-dont-2/): It is becoming common knowledge that blogs are an excellent way to build credibility and begin to connect with the people in your market. For those of you who have just started, you may be eagerly watching your statistics and get very excited when you see that 10 new visitors have stopped by your blog.
- [What's in a brand name?  More than you think](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/13/whats-in-a-brand-name-more-than-you-think-2/): If you have gotten through the tough part of dreaming up a product or service, analyzing your market, defining your niche and doing a first draft of your business plan, you are ready for the fun part: choosing a name for your business. Although certainly a creative exercise, it isn't always as easy as it
- [Announcing the top 10 Pam's Favorite Things!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/01/announcing-the-top-10-pams-favorite-things-2/): Wow, has this been an exciting two weeks. Since announcing the Pam's Favorite Things contest, I have gotten lots of great submissions. I have a strangely maternal feeling about all of them ... I want everyone to succeed and grow their business! But because I know that a big part of business involves positioning and
- [Yes' are great, nos are great, maybes will kill you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/08/yes-are-great-nos-are-great-maybes-will-kill-you-2/): Throughout much of the late 90's and early 00's, I had Skip Miller as a client, CEO of M3 Learning and author of Proactive Selling. He is a very energetic guy and has been highly successful with his approach to teaching people how to sell. Skip and I always enjoyed the contrasts of our personalities.
- [Bob Knight: the perfect mascot for "The No Asshole Rule"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/03/bob-knight-the-perfect-mascot-for-the-no-asshole-rule-2/): I have had an advance copy of Stanford Professor Robert Sutton's book The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't for a couple of months now and have been waiting for the right time to weigh in with my thoughts. You may say that Robert and I bonded over the
- [Fascinating BusinessWeek article - "Smashing the Clock"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/08/fascinating-businessweek-article-smashing-the-clock-2/): My Arizona buddy Pete just sent me the link to a really fascinating article by BusinessWeek online that chronicles the bold experiment by Best Buy to "smash the clock" and not require headquarter employees to observe any kind of fixed time schedule. In my rant to CEOs awhile back, my point #8 was "Focus on
- [Escape Podcast:  Cut through work paralysis by replacing "perfect" with "good enough"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/21/escape-podcast-cut-through-work-paralysis-by-replacing-perfect-with-good-enough-2/): Click here for this week's 6 1/2 minute podcast episode: Cut through work paralysis by replacing "perfect" with "good enough." If you are anything like me, you sweat the details of your business, wanting to make sure that everything is flawless and of the highest standards. The problem is, in a rapidly moving world and
- [The love train stops in Mesa, AZ for Glenda Watson-Hyatt's virtual book tour](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/14/the-love-train-stops-in-mesa-az-for-glenda-watson-hyatts-virtual-book-tour-2/): Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! I thought it fitting that today I am one of 40 stops on my good buddy Glenda Watson-Hyatt's virtual book tour, promoting her autobiography I'll Do it Myself. I have lots of love and good thoughts for her, and I have written about her publishing journey in my ezine in the
- [The critical importance of "beginner mind" when starting a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/06/the-critical-importance-of-beginner-mind-when-starting-a-business-2/): We all get cocky sometimes and think we know a lot about a lot of things. This is probably true; your life experience and education have given you a rich body of experience that you should be proud to share with others. However, if you go into entrepreneurship for the first time with an attitude
- [The "Big Four" every entrepreneur needs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/02/the-big-four-every-entrepreneur-needs-2/): I get a lot of questions about very specific areas of setting up a small business such as: Should I set up my business as a S Corporation or a LLC? (Two examples of U.S.-based business structures) Do I need liability insurance? Should I make people sign a non-disclosure agreement if I share details about
- [Free Escape Q&A Call at 3pm EST](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/04/free-escape-qa-call-at-3pm-est-2/): Sorry for the late notice -- I almost forgot to tell you that today is our monthly free question and answer call where we discuss whatever is on your mind on the topic of leaving your corporate job to start or grow your own business. I now have a web page that lists all the
- [Don't know what you want?  A picture paints a thousand words](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/28/dont-know-what-you-want-a-picture-paints-a-thousand-words-2/): If anyone out there is trying to create a vision of your ideal life or business and is tired of staring into a devastatingly blank computer screen or pad of paper, I encourage you to shift directions and think visual! In this month's ezine, I describe a number of tactics to discover your creative vision
- [Don't commit these mailing list mistakes](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/27/dont-commit-these-mailing-list-mistakes-2/): One of the best ways to begin a friendly and non-intrusive relationship with prospective customers is to build a mailing list of people who are interested in you or your business concept. One of the easiest ways to do this is to offer a useful free report or piece of information, then follow up with
- [Searching for your perspective on the timeless "what work am I meant to do?" question](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/17/searching-for-your-perspective-on-the-timeless-what-work-am-i-meant-to-do-question-2/): One of the best parts of my work is helping people figure out deep and meaningful personal questions such as "What am I meant to do with my life?" It is also one of the most challenging parts of my work, since the process to discover the answer is totally different for different individuals. Through
- [I have a "great job," lots of money, responsibility and respect.  Why aren't I happy?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/12/i-have-a-great-job-lots-of-money-responsibility-and-respect-why-arent-i-happy-2/): In the late 90's, I had a lot of fun conducting career development classes inside network giant Cisco Systems, which at that point was experiencing the benefits of an insane stock price increase. As follow up to the classes, I had one-on-one sessions with the participants to discuss their personal career aspirations and goals. One
- [If you missed Seth Godin's live Dip Tour, tune in to a couple of free calls](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/18/if-you-missed-seth-godins-live-dip-tour-tune-in-to-a-couple-of-free-calls-2/): Recently, I wrote about my pleasant experience hearing Seth Godin talk live about his new book The Dip here in Tempe, Arizona. A lot of folks chimed in with their perspective from live events in the Bay Area, Boston, Salt Lake and Ann Arbor. As a way to continue discussion (and promotion, no doubt!) about
- [The best Father's Day lesson a Dad can give](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/17/the-best-fathers-day-lesson-a-dad-can-give-2/): Photo credit: Sergio Lopez, the nicest and best damn wedding photographer I know. My Dad gives me the best gift any father can give a child each and every day: he absolutely loves his work. He is a photojournalist, and from the time I can remember, he has involved me in the process of taking
- [Do you love your work enough to be interviewed on the "Pursue the Passion" tour?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/14/do-you-love-your-work-enough-to-be-interviewed-on-the-pursue-the-passion-tour-2/): One of my fellow Phoenecians, Brett Farmiloe, is a young, creative and inspiring storyteller who is launching his second "Pursue the Passion" tour across the U.S., complete with a 29-foot RV. James Whiting and Noah Pollock will join him on the cross-country adventure. Last year, Brett and 2 friends toured the country interviewing people who
- [Book to read if "finding your life purpose" weighs heavily on your mind](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/11/book-to-read-if-finding-your-life-purpose-weighs-heavily-on-your-mind-2/): A coaching colleage, Dr. Brad Swift, recently published a book based on the last 11 years of his life's work called Life on Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life. It piqued my interest since I talk to a lot of people who ask the question "Is there something more to life than my tired
- [Words of wisdom from an insightful teenager:  Ben Casnocha from "My Startup Life"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/01/words-of-wisdom-from-an-insightful-teenager-ben-casnocha-from-my-startup-life-2/): Thanks to my buddy Ramit, (with an earlier nudge from Kare) I was formally introduced to the teen entrepreneur sensation from San Francisco Ben Casnocha, author of the recently published book My Startup Life: What a (very) young CEO learned on his journey through Silicon Valley. (Perhaps my favorite comment from a reader of Ramit's
- [Your "confusion" at making a big change is more likely fear of the truth](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/31/your-confusion-at-making-a-big-change-is-more-likely-fear-of-the-truth-2/): "The truth? You can't handle the truth!" -Jack Nicholson, from A Few Good Men I have a lot of conversations with clients that start out like this: "I really want to do something different than what I am doing now, but I just don't know what it is" "I have two job opportunities, and am
- [What we can learn from Guy Kawasaki's "Web 2.0, User-Generated Content, Citizen Journalism, Long-Tail Social Media Site" venture](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/30/what-we-can-learn-from-guy-kawasakis-web-20-user-generated-content-citizen-journalism-long-tail-social-media-site-venture-2/): I have been watching the development of Guy Kawasaki's new venture, Truemors, from the sidelines for the last couple of weeks, fascinated by both the business idea and the reaction in the blogosphere. He took a subtle approach to the launch at first, hinting at the kinds of input he wanted from his blog readers.
- [Lessons from Seth Godin's talk about "The Dip" in Phoenix today](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/24/lessons-from-seth-godins-talk-about-the-dip-in-phoenix-today-2/): In April, I mentioned that a local business owner, Matt LaPrarie, was trying to organize enough people here in Phoenix for a stop on Seth Godin's tour to promote his new book, The Dip. The goal was to get a few hundred people interested enough to drop $50, in exchange for 2 hours of presentation
- [How to shake up "soul numbing" as a result of long-term cube exposure](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/20/how-to-shake-up-soul-numbing-as-a-result-of-long-term-cube-exposure-2/): After reading some of the comments on my last post, "If you are stuck in a cube and dying to get out, how does it specifically feel?" I was compelled to write about a common phenomenon I encounter in some of my clients: soul numbing. Barbara caught my attention with her grisly but powerful description
- [What to do when you hit the "starting a business is too hard" wall](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/17/what-to-do-when-you-hit-the-starting-a-business-is-too-hard-wall-2/): Even the most optimistic and motivated aspiring entrepreneur will reach a point where frustration or anxiety grinds progress to a halt. This is otherwise known as "hitting the wall." It can happen when doing things you hate such as: Making sales and marketing calls Trying to crank out a first draft of a book or
- [I'm speaking in Phoenix Tuesday, July 10 - Please come!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/09/im-speaking-in-phoenix-tuesday-july-10-please-come-2/): I am happy to say that the nice folks at Refresh Phoenix, "a community of designers and developers working to refresh the creative, technical, and professional culture of Internet developers in the Phoenix Metropolitan area," have invited me to join their monthly gathering tomorrow night to talk about the whys and hows of escaping the
- ["I'm just not into you" - Kicking lukewarm passions to the curb](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/01/im-just-not-into-you-kicking-lukewarm-passions-to-the-curb-2/): We just passed the mid-year mark with the celebration of Summer Solstice on June 21. I always consider it a good point to take stock of my life and make adjustments to ensure that the year progresses in a way that is personally satisfying and professionally rewarding. This month's ezine issue, "I'm just not that
- [Warning:  teaching our kids about the world is "un-American"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/21/warning-teaching-our-kids-about-the-world-is-un-american-2/): I normally keep my personal, non-entrepreneurial rants out of this blog. But when I read the front-page story "Global studies bid dies" in the Arizona Republic, I could not keep my astonishment to myself when I read some quotes from our Arizona legislators. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mark Anderson from my hometown of Mesa,
- [The biggest loser:  Pam's community service announcement](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/23/the-biggest-loser-pams-community-service-announcement-2/): I am happy to announce that I have bestowed a new title on myself today: The world's biggest loser. Ok, to be fair, not an all-around totally clueless loser, but in the case of not having a file backup plan in place for my main computer, I win the prize! Last night, after I tucked
- [How to avoid being "fan boy" or "fan girl" when building relationships with people you admire](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/25/how-to-avoid-being-fan-boy-or-fan-girl-when-building-relationships-with-people-you-admire-2/): Over the years, I have developed deep respect for authors like Jim Collins, Martha Beck, Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin, Kathy Sierra, Steven Pressfield and Isabelle Allende. I adore the wit and creativity of people like Ze Frank and Hugh McLeod. I appreciate the down-to-earth business wisdom of John Jantsch, Rich and Jeff Sloan and Andrea
- [Valuable coaching advice straight from the horse's mouth (and nose)](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/08/04/valuable-coaching-advice-straight-from-the-horses-mouth-and-nose-2/): I stared up at the large nostrils above me, breathing hot air right into my face. My heart was beating fast and I had a tense grip on the rope which was attached to the side of my horse's head. "Get your personal space back," Koelle said, giving me instructions from the side of the
- [Update from Jon the Ballplayer's Mom](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/08/09/update-from-jon-the-ballplayers-mom-2/): For those of you around the U.S. who have been attending my workshops, I shared that the favorite part of my blog is when the community jumps in and participates in supporting someone who is pursuing a dream. My "Jon the Ballplayer" series is one such example. I have now run quite a few posts
- [Leap, don't fall, into the new year with Autumnal Equinox](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/09/22/leap-dont-fall-into-the-new-year-with-vernal-equinox-2/): Today at 2:18pm PST, Autumnal Equinox pushed us into the last stretch of the year. Each year this happens, in addition to jumping for joy that 100+ degree temperatures will end here soon in Arizona, I always realize that there are three precious months to get cleared out and revved up for the new year.
- [We did it! Escape from Cubicle Nation makes both Reader's/Editor's Choice Best Small Biz Book of 2009 lists!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/12/09/we-did-it-escape-from-cubicle-nation-makes-both-readerseditors-choice-best-small-biz-book-of-2009-lists-2/): I am very thrilled to report that with your help, Escape from Cubicle Nation made both the Editor's Choice and Reader's Choice Best Small Business Book of 2009 lists at Small Business Trends! I sincerely appreciate your voting, tweets, Facebook hurrahs, emails and encouragement. The complete lists are here: Reader's Choice Best Small Business Books
- [Creator of "Lemonade" movie coming to Phoenix to share hope, inspiration for career reinvention after layoffs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/03/29/creator-of-lemonade-movie-coming-to-phoenix-to-share-hope-inspiration-for-career-reinvention-after-layoffs-2/): These past two years have been really tough here in Phoenix, Arizona. Our economy exploded during the building boom in 2003-2007. Then things tanked. Dramatically and quickly. Tens of thousands of people were laid off in just about every industry. A recent report by Andrew Johnson of The Arizona Republic said: "In total, the state
- [Happy 5th birthday to this blog's primary inspiration](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/03/29/happy-5th-birthday-to-this-blogs-primary-inspiration-2/): Five years ago today, I was marveling at the miracle of my first baby, Joshua Littletree Slim. Three months later, as I was holding him close right before a conference call for my old consulting business, I tensed up at the thought of re-engaging with a project that was not of interest to me anymore.
- [What's your side hustle?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/02/whats-your-side-hustle-2/): My friend's teenage daughter informed her the other day that she was enrolling in a nail technician class at high school. The friend, who has been prepping her daughter for a good college education since she was a toddler, was less than thrilled. "Why are you taking a beauty school class instead of an advanced
- [You don't need permission](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/21/you-dont-need-permission-2/): It's official -- another dream come true. Hugh McLeod of gapingvoid.com designed a business card for me. Here is his explanation. Thank you so much Hugh! I have been a huge fan of his work dating back to when I had three daily readers. His creativity and insight were very inspiring, and still are. My
- [The Fight Within Us: One woman's crusade for awareness, healing and inspiration](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/06/07/the-fight-within-us-one-womans-crusade-for-awareness-healing-and-inspiration-2/): There is a reason Rocky has stuck in our consciousness for a few decades. It feels great to watch someone faced with adversity dig deep and win one for all of us. Amanda Wang's fight has all the great elements of Rocky with an added twist. Amanda is a graphic designer who lives in New
- [Final sprint to support "The Fight Within Us" - spread the word!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/07/28/final-sprint-to-support-the-fight-within-us-spread-the-word-2/): Kiera Van Gelder and Amanda Wang, speakers at the National Alliance for Mentally Ill Convention. They spoke on the "Courageous Women in Recovery" panel. A few months ago, I wrote about Amanda Wang's courageous and brilliant project The Fight Within Us, a documentary she is producing to raise awareness about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a
- [Don't be shocked that your family is kryptonite to your superpowers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/03/dont-be-shocked-that-your-family-is-kryptonite-to-your-superpowers-2/): Many of you in the U.S. may be headed to family barbecues on Labor Day, where you will meet a variety of your relatives over grilled corn and chicken. In your daily lives, vast numbers of fans may hang on to every word of your marketing or career advice. Or revel in your ability to
- [I'm not one book, not yet a pair of books](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/10/im-not-one-book-not-yet-a-pair-of-books-2/): It has been awhile since I have checked in with you on my latest creative projects. Metaphor of the moment Do you remember the last day of high school? There is an air of excitement, and at the same time time, slight dread at leaving your childhood behind and starting "real life" at college. For
- [Worried your market isn't big enough? Think again.](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/06/worried-your-market-isnt-big-enough-think-again-2/): On Saturday night, my plane from San Francisco dropped down above the Phoenix metro area. I saw miles and miles of lights beneath me, stretching out over all corners of the valley. We flew over the financial district, and I saw a row of big skyscrapers. The floors of each building were undoubtedly crammed with
- [What's the process for making money in my sleep, and where do I begin?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/28/whats-the-process-for-making-money-in-my-sleep-and-where-do-i-begin-2/): Entrepreneurs have big dreams. I want to quit my deadly job and create an online business that pays at twice my salary. I want to write a best-selling book and be on Oprah. I want to create a start-up in my garage that makes me a young millionaire. I want to speak at the TED
- [New Year's wishes for you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/12/21/new-years-wishes-for-you-2/): On this full moon, lunar eclipse and Winter Solstice day, I just wanted to say thank you all for being here. My friend Tzaddi Gordon of Thrivewire designed a special e-card just for you. View the card here. May we all find peace, joy and abundance in the new year.
- [Your chance to offer advice to creativity-impaired cube dweller with career conundrum](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/13/your-chance-to-offer-advice-to-creativity-impaired-cube-dweller-with-career-conundrum/): Sometimes I like to write headlines like that just to freak out professional writers. But here is a real email I got from a "gentle reader" (I love to use this Miss Manners term) who said he would be happy to get your input about his situation: "I came across your site while trying to
- [10 ways to maintain your sanity while hustling your startup](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/05/20/10-ways-to-maintain-your-sanity-while-hustling-your-startup/): Last week, I was the keynote speaker at the Willamette Angel Conference, an exciting and dynamic all-day event where 6 lucky startups got to pitch their businesses to angel investors, for an ultimate $200,000 prize. The grand prize winner was Montrue Technology, an Ashland-based Company who developed an emergency department information entry system for the
- [There are times to stand your ground: Don't back down](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/05/19/there-are-times-to-stand-your-ground-dont-back-down/): On Tuesday night, I stared at the punching bag in front of me and felt totally depleted. Not only did I not have any physical strength, I didn't have any emotional strength. I wanted to whine, whimper and even cry. I wanted to back down. Thankfully, I had a partner on the other side of
- [Why women will change the world, and how you can help](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/05/18/why-women-will-change-the-world-and-how-you-can-help/): Angela Rose, seizing the day I am the mother of a bright and loving three-year old daughter. She is funny, she is sassy, she is intelligent, and she is creative. As she goes through her life, I will do my very best to remind her how powerful and capable she is. I know her father
- [In search of business model excellence: Interview with Alex Osterwalder](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/05/17/in-search-of-business-model-excellence-interview-with-alex-osterwalder/): Two years ago, when I was on my book tour, I had the great fortune of speaking at a management conference in Estonia. There were a number of other speakers there from Europe, including Morten Lund and Alexander Osterwalder. Alex's presentation was about business models, and I was immediately drawn in by the clear and
- [Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series: Gwen Morrison](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/05/16/side-hustle-and-flow-interview-series-gwen-morrison/): The Side Hustle and Flow Interview Series is designed to inspire hard-working corporate employees to either start a side hustle if they are interested in eventually starting a business, or to keep going with their existing side hustle through the inevitable challenge of limited time and energy. So far we have profiled Chandoo, Willie Jackson,
- [How to change the world through your keyboard](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/05/11/how-to-change-the-world-through-your-keyboard/): Me delivering the very first printed copy of my book to my writing mentor, my Dad. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Arizona Book Awards, honoring local authors who had published great books with local publishers. The focus of my talk was about my own journey as a writer, from passionate
- [What if you accepted fear?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/05/05/what-if-you-accepted-fear/): I had a great connecting day today. From an early morning breakfast meeting with a dear friend and mentor to inspiring phone calls with both colleagues and coaching clients, I got to talk with a lot of interesting people. All of them are at very different stages of the business cycle. Some of them have
- [5 Steps to break your huge goal into testable bits](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/05/03/5-steps-to-break-your-huge-goal-into-testable-bits/): I had the good fortune to present a workshop at Laid Off Camp Phoenix this weekend, the free all-volunteer workshop put on for laid off folk in the Phoenix metro area. It was pretty overwhelming to see a room filled with 300 smart, eager professionals and realize that all of them were looking for work
- [Every blogger should  have an Andy Pels](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/04/22/every-blogger-should-have-an-andy-pels/): Pictured L to R: my bonus mom Dee, Andy's wife Blythe and kids, me and my kids, Andy Pels, and Abe Cajudo. Photo by Lewis Stewart (Pam's Dad). I started this blog in October of 2005. And like most newbie bloggers, I had about five regular readers -- my Dad, my sister, my best friend
- [Team Challenge: High Value Activities and Wielding a Small Stick](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/04/22/team-challenge-high-value-activities-and-wielding-a-small-stick/): Happy Friday! I got really inspired by my interview with Steven Pressfield this week. For those of you who don't know Steven, he is a best-selling novelist and author of the classic War of Art, required reading for anyone who aims to use their brain to earn a living (thinking that may include you all
- [The agony of creative blocks and how to remove them](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/04/20/the-agony-of-creative-blocks-and-how-to-remove-them/): I always know right before I am about to slip into hell. The day starts out innocently enough. I brew a strong cup of Peet's French Roast. Then walk outside barefoot to get the paper, stopping to smell the fresh air, and see the bright sun peeking up from behind the Superstition Mountains. The stillness
- [Announcing ... The Escape from Cubicle Nation Community](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/03/04/announcing-the-escape-from-cubicle-nation-community/): Happy Friday to you all! I am thrilled to officially announce that as of yesterday, nestled inside this very blog, there is a membership site called The Escape from Cubicle Nation Community. This is a paid private area where you can network with your peers, work on business plans, share ideas, cook up joint venture
- [Do your strongest values hold you back?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/04/11/do-your-strongest-values-hold-you-back/): I have a thing for freedom. I don't know exactly when it started, but I imagine that being on the "controlled" side of an extremely controlling relationship in my 20's seared it into my emotional consciousness. I learned that without freedom, the light of the world was dimmed, and fear dominated my life. So once
- [Are you focusing on the right activities this business season?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/04/08/are-you-focusing-on-the-right-activities-this-business-season/): I had a stimulating conversation yesterday with my business partner Charlie Gilkey about the seasons of business. Have you noticed that since the first part of Spring, there has been a huge uptick in offers, programs and product launches? That is not a coincidence, since Q2 is a time when the market is very open
- [2 Reasons your sales are stalled or non-existent](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/04/05/2-reasons-your-sales-are-stalled-or-non-existant/): Selling is a tricky thing. In addition to making sure that you create something truly useful that people will get value from, you have to clearly identify your ideal client. And figure out the ecosystems and watering holes where they hang out. Then there is the sales letter -- a slippery thing even for a
- [Think something is impossible? Gather your body of evidence](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/03/31/think-something-is-impossible-gather-your-body-of-evidence/): Last Saturday, I dusted off my mat and headed to the gym for what I thought was a nice, relaxing yoga class. I hadn't been in a few months, and was looking forward to stretching out my weary muscles and doing some deep breathing. But between my last class and this one, the time for
- [Gifts from my 6-year old](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/03/29/gifts-from-my-6-year-old/): Six years ago today, I saw the wrinkled little face of my boy, Joshua Littletree, for the first time. I had never seen anything so beautiful. Our bond was formed, that has lasted over sleepless nights and sunny days, and more diaper changes than I can count, and falls and scrapes and hot chocolate and
- [The Art of Enchantment - Interview with Guy Kawasaki](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/03/08/the-art-of-enchantment-interview-with-guy-kawasaki/): Those of you who have read my blog for a long time or have heard me speak know that I often reference a key moment in Escape from Cubicle Nation's history, when one incoming link from venture capitalist and blogger Guy Kawasaki turned my tiny audience into a massive wave of new subscribers. It certainly
- [Welcome to the Escape Community Launch!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/23/test/): Hello new Community members! I am so excited to welcome you "behind the curtain" of Escape from Cubicle Nation, where we can all share information, collaborate, toss around ideas, experiment and get questions answered. For those of you who have spent time with me, read my book or read my blog, you know that I
- [Why we need to listen to our younger generation (my TEDxPhoenix talk)](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/28/why-we-need-to-listen-to-our-younger-generation-my-tedxphoenix-talk/): Last year, I was asked to speak at TEDxPhoenix, a self-organized local offshoot of the global Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) Conference. The theme was "Optimists and Catalysts." Given the caliber of any TED-related event, I got a little freaked out about choosing a topic for my talk. I thought about a humorous anti-cubicle rant
- [Downloadable version of "My Declaration of Independence" now available](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/30/downloadable-version-of-my-declaration-of-independence-now-available/): A number of you asked for the downloadable version of my Flash movie My Declaration of Independence to play at those moments when interminable meetings and cube life get the best of you. Find it on YouTube here. My secret wish ... that you "accidentally" play it instead of your canned, boring presentation at a
- [Your declaration of independence](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/23/your-declaration-of-independence/): My Declaration of Independence, August, 2005. YouTube link here. Five years ago, when this blog was just a year old, I got inspired to create a little motivational presentation for my then tiny audience. I called it My Declaration of Independence, and it was originally done in Flash by my dear friend Darron Padilla. To
- [Figure out the entrepreneur equation - call today at 11am PT/2pm ET](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/23/figure-out-the-entrepreneur-equation-call-today-at-11am-pt2pm-et/): While it may sound like I need some hobbies, there is nothing I like more than sitting around talking about the specific ins and outs of what it takes to go from a great idea to a profitable and engaging business. Today, I get the chance to do just that with authors and entrepreneurs Carol
- [Did you ever just want to walk away?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/22/did-you-ever-just-want-to-walk-away/): "Didn't you ever want to get up from your desk one day and just walk away, not to go get a latte, but I mean walk away and not come back?" So asks Margaret Roach in her mesmerizing book trailer, and wonderful new book, And I Shall Have Some Peace There: Trading the Fast Lane
- [Energy comes from right people, right partners and right work](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/21/energy-comes-from-right-people-right-partners-and-right-work/): photo by Ivan Martinez I spent the last four days surrounded by amazing people and hair-raising energy at Lift Off Retreat, co-lead by my partner Charlie Gilkey. Flipchart pens flew, markets were dissected with fierce intensity, and believe it or not, singing and dancing occurred. There was a moment on Day 3 when I realized
- [Evil Plans required reading for doing good](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/17/evil-plans-required-reading-for-doing-good/): Now that I have been blogging for more than five years, it seems like I have always known a big group of smart, creative entrepreneurial world-changers. I forget what it was like when I first started, transplanted from San Francisco, cloistered with a new baby in my suburban Mesa, Arizona home, feeling alone and like
- [All is not equal](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/16/all-is-not-equal/): I was sitting on the bench last night inside the dojo, watching my son Joshua kick and punch in his mixed martial art class. I drank in the joy of seeing little kids focus intently, and the pure cuteness of seeing Bruce Lee moves from kids who come up to my waist. Then I got
- [No matter how busy you get, there are some things you should not forget](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/16/no-matter-how-busy-you-get-there-are-some-things-you-should-not-forget/): All of us are very busy. We have consuming jobs, families, businesses to manage and errands to run. If you are in the process of simultaneously working full-time as an employee and building a business on the side, your time pressures are even more extreme. This is no excuse for letting certain things slide. I
- [How not to appear as a desperate suitor when selling your services](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/16/how-not-to-appear-as-a-desperate-suitor-when-selling-your-services/): Those of you who have been around Escape for awhile know that I love to use dating metaphors when talking about sales and marketing. Part of the fun of such metaphors is that most people in the world have experienced humiliation and agony in pursuit of one they love. I still haven't gotten over the
- [I will never be smarter than a 5th grader](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/02/14/i-will-never-be-smarter-than-a-5th-grader/): custom valentine made by Michael There are certain moments when I know I chose the right career path. A few weeks ago, I had one of them. I was given the privilege of addressing a jubilant and delightful 5th grade class of gifted students at an elementary school in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The teacher, Mrs. Elvira
- [What kind of business structure makes sense when starting a business?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/01/14/what-kind-of-business-structure-makes-sense-when-starting-a-business/): (if you can't see the video, go to this link on YouTube) I have been lucky enough to have been locked away in my office for the last two days with Kyle Durand, my good friend and seriously fierce business adviser. Kyle is an attorney and a lifelong entrepreneur, and has a special interest in
- [Create momentum by swallowing a frog every day](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011/01/10/create-momentum-by-swallowing-a-frog-every-day/): I hope you all are having a great start to your new year! I have noticed a marked difference in my business output and general mood by implementing a concept a learned from my friend Charlie Gilkey, called swallowing a frog. It refers to taking care of the non-glamorous, but very necessary tasks that are
- [Amanda Congdon in my backyard - live video!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/27/amanda-congdon-in-my-backyard-live-video/): I was happy to see the interview video up on the Amanda Across America site late last night from our conversation last week in my backyard about life, work and introducing yourself. I swear, we didn't choose the cactus as a prop - it lives on our back table as these are the only kind
- [Make more of the *right* sales ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/27/make-more-of-the-right-sales/): Do you ever wonder why you have a lot of "great prospects in the funnel," but not a lot of closed sales? It could be because you don't have a clear understanding of the sales process, and how to use it to move the right opportunities forward and weed out the rest. This 16 minute
- [Fear got you by the throat? Fire up your inner warrior](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/10/13/fear-got-you-by-the-throat-fire-up-your-inner-warrior/): If you are feeling scared, stressed or overwhelmed by fear right now for whatever reason, this one's for you. You ARE worth protecting! Fear got you down? Fire up your inner warrior from Pamela Slim on Vimeo.
- [How you do one thing is how you do everything](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/22/how-you-do-one-thing-is-how-you-do-everything/): It is normal to have trepidation about going down the entrepreneurial path from the perch of a corporate job. That's why I was not surprised when my new client expressed concern about learning all the things required to go into business for herself. "I know how to work. I do great work," she said. "But
- [Career in the era of the side hustle](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/09/07/career-in-the-era-of-the-side-hustle/): At the beginning of August, I had the great pleasure of speaking to Google employees at their headquarters as part of the Authors@Google series. I admire a company that is confident enough to bring the "Escape from Cubicle Nation Lady" in to talk with their smart and creative employees. Some run screaming from me and
- [Selling services without being sleazy](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/08/09/selling-services-without-being-sleazy/): One of the most challenging parts of being a new entrepreneur is getting comfortable with sales. I looked to one of the smartest young entrepreneurs I know for a bit of advice -- Ramit Sethi, founder of I Will Teach You To Be Rich and a new course on earning more money. In the four
- [Who do you think you are?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/07/01/who-do-you-think-you-are/): In March of this year, I had the great privilege of attending and speaking at Andrea J. Lee's event The Wealthy Thought Leader in Vancouver, Canada. My topic is Who do you think you are? It is about leadership, authority and backbone. I hope you enjoy it! Who do you think you are? from Pamela
- [Great advice for presenters: Rage Against the Slideument](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/06/23/great-advice-for-presenters-rage-against-the-slideument/): I am on a Nancy Duarte kick this week. Yesterday, I participated in her webinar on how to create powerful, effective presentations. She has such great perspective, based on her work as expert slide/presentation coach at TED. Today, she tweeted about this video made by Bianca Woods, a Master's degree student in Education Media Design
- [When life gets you down, try a little loving kindness](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/31/when-life-gets-you-down-try-a-little-loving-kindness/): It is easy to take life for granted when things are going well. When they aren't, you feel anxious, fearful and uncomfortable. In the midst of an incredibly busy two weeks with tons of writing projects and appointments, my 4-month old baby girl Angela got really sick. Hit by a respiratory infection likely transmitted by
- [Crazy brainstorm of the day: Expand Our Markets Week](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/04/05/crazy-brainstorm-of-the-day-expand-our-markets-week/): I got a big brainstorm today on the way back from picking up my son at school today which was about expanding our markets. This weekend, I spent a lot of time with Lemonade creator Erik Proulx who was in town for our rocking Laid Off Camp Phoenix. In many conversations about topics ranging from
- [Embrace your competitors](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/07/embrace-your-competitors/): It has taken me almost 40 years to realize that I have nothing to fear from the smarter, better looking and more organized competitors in my field. Probably around preschool I became aware that there were some students in the class that wore better clothes, got their assignments done faster and always shot their hand
- [Why Women Who Do Too Much Housework Should Neglect It for Their Writing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/25/why-women-who-do-too-much-housework-should-neglect-it-for-their-writing/): This is the title of Chapter Ten of one the most delightful and inspiring books I have ever read ... If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland. I heard about it on Guy Kawasaki's Blog and immediately bought it. I am a sucker for books on writing
- [Announcing Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop in a Box](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/03/11/announcing-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop-in-a-box/): I am thrilled to announce the launch of a new product that has been a long time in the making: Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop in a Box. This product was created with video footage of my New York workshop that I delivered last summer at the Roger Smith Hotel to a fantastic group of
- [Do more great work, even if you live in a cubicle](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/02/22/do-more-great-work-even-if-you-live-in-a-cubicle/): Do more great work with Michael Bungay Stanier from Pamela Slim on Vimeo. I am so glad that there are people like Michael Bungay Stanier working with people who choose to stay inside corporations by choice or convenience. Michael has been doing wonderful work at Box of Crayons for many years and has infectious enthusiasm.
- [4 lessons on learning from your mistakes](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/30/4-lessons-on-learning-from-your-mistakes/): At the risk of belaboring a small point (and repeating a bit of the story from my last post), I couldn't help but write this month's ezine article on learning from your mistakes since my word bumbling was so fresh in my mind. Here is the article: --- This week I was flying high from
- [Question for you: what stops you from testing your biz ideas early? What helps?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/01/28/question-for-you-what-stops-you-from-testing-your-biz-ideas-early-what-helps/): I am really obsessed with the topic of test often and fail fast. I wrote a whole chapter about it in my book, and still feel like I barely scratched the surface. By "test often and fail fast," I mean the ability to create a very small prototype or sample of your product or service
- [Registration now open for $100 Business with me and Chris Guillebeau ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2010/01/18/registration-now-open-for-100-business-with-me-and-chris-guillebeau/): Good morning! I am excited to give you the registration link for the program I told you about last week that I am co-teaching with Chris Guillebeau. We will be working intensively with an inaugural group in a month-long program aimed to power-charge your micro business. See all the details here, and if you are
- [How can you find great mentors?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/28/how-can-you-find-great-mentors/): When people come to me with questions about how to start or run their business, one of the most frequent pieces of advice I dispense is: Find yourself a great mentor. The reason a great mentor is so effective is that you can learn from someone who has already walked down your path and therefore
- [Response to Chris Brogan about Overnight Success](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/10/25/response-to-chris-brogan-about-overnight-success/): Sitting in the Dallas airport after having spent the weekend speaking and participating in Milana Leshinsky's Coaching Millions Super Summit, I watched Chris Brogan's 3-part video series on Overnight Success and felt my heart melt. I related to so much of what he talked about, since I have spent so much time this summer on
- [Overwhelmed with marketing?  Start with your niche](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/16/overwhelmed-with-marketing-start-with-your-niche/): After people sign up for my ezine, I like to follow up with an email that asks them the biggest question that they have about starting their own business. I get hundreds of responses, and one of the most popular ones is "How do I market my business?" There are many components of setting up
- [How to have the "I want to quit my job" conversation with your spouse](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/19/how-to-have-the-i-want-to-quit-my-job-conversation-with-your-spouse/): I have been very intrigued with a sub-theme that has emerged from many conversations with corporate employees who want to become entrepreneurs: How can I tell my spouse that I want to quit my job without him/her getting scared and/or defensive? I fondly call this "The Conversation" and pick up the same amount of anxiety
- [Tips for creating a smoking personal brand](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/08/22/tips-for-creating-a-smoking-personal-brand/): A few days ago, I was lucky enough to participate in the Social Media Arizona conference, a day-long event for corporate employees and entrepreneurs who wanted to learn how to use social media effectively in their business. My presentation was called How to amp up the personal in your brand. I uploaded it to Slideshare
- [You are perfectly normal if starting a business makes you crazy](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/08/13/you-are-perfectly-normal-if-starting-a-business-makes-you-crazy/): There are a few things I routinely say to new entrepreneurs. The most frequent is: You are not crazy, even though you may feel crazy. I am not just trying to be nice; there are real reasons why making a big life change feels uncomfortable, awkward and crazy. Read the reasons at my new post
- [Help yourself to some content stew](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/07/23/help-yourself-to-some-content-stew/): I just wrote about creating scrappy content yesterday. Here is an example of something I put together as a refresher for my audience at the Martha Beck Coach Convention which was held in Chicago last week. The metaphor is Content Stew, and it is my way of explaining how to identify a content strategy for
- [Open letter to employees across the corporate world](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/08/open-letter-to-employees-across-the-corporate-world/): It felt good to share my thoughts the other day on what I really wanted to say to CEOs, COOs, CIOs and CFOs across the corporate world. In this "Eleventh Hour" of our world filled with scary things like war, terrorism, genocide and corruption, I don't want to silence my true voice anymore. I want
- [Great new entrepreneur question needing your advice: challenge with spouse](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/02/04/great-new-entrepreneur-question-needing-your-advice-challenge-with-spouse/): I am getting excited about the "open source career coaching" possibilities, as my friend John Fritz recently called the "Jon the ballplayer" series. So here is a juicy one for your input. I am withholding my opinion on this first (for you Tom ;) but will share my view once I read yours. Says Gentle
- [Demystifying the art and science of knowing what to charge for your services](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/29/demystifying-the-art-and-science-of-knowing-what-to-charge-for-your-services/): A couple of weeks ago, a reader named David wrote inquiring about an offhand comment in a recent post about mentoring where I said: "A ten-minute conversation with an older female business owner about the link between gender and compensation totally changed the way I thought about charging for my services in my consulting business."
- [Painful reminder that you shouldn't waste a minute of your life](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/10/07/painful-reminder-that-you-shouldnt-waste-a-minute-of-your-life/): I go to the same Starbucks every morning to get my latte and have befriended one of the managers named Amy. The other day she told me that her son was in Iraq. He had been on a tour of 6 months and came home for a few weeks before going back about two weeks
- [All the world's a stage and we are merely players](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/31/all-the-worlds-a-stage-and-we-are-merely-players/): I had a vivid dream early this morning that was so perfect in message, so vivid in detail and so funny in its twisted paranoia that I just had to share it with you. ****************** I was chosen as the lead in a play to be performed at a large local theater. I was studying
- [Is it ever safe to call yourself an expert?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/20/is-it-ever-safe-to-call-yourself-an-expert/): Of all the overused, hyped-up marketing nouns out there, "expert" has to be near the top of the heap. It is used so often that people have (rightfully so) become very suspect of the word. An interesting thing happens, however, to many perspective entrepreneurs ... they feel so frightened about calling themselves an expert that
- [Eight ways to get media exposure to boost your business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/27/eight-ways-to-get-media-exposure-to-boost-your-business/): In any economic climate, there is always a silver lining for entrepreneurs. The one I have been mining lately is a chance for some good media exposure as a way to support and strengthen my business, especially in light of the upcoming release of Escape from Cubicle Nation. The last two months have been great:
- [Take back the economy](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/02/23/take-back-the-economy/): The few of you who have known me since my early twenties know that I have a bit of a rebel spirit.At nineteen, I had plans to change the world, redistribute wealth and solve poverty. You know, typical youthful enthusiasm.Then, after spending a few years studying and living in South America, I saw that some
- [Resource if you want to write a book to help move your business forward](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/02/26/resource-if-you-want-to-write-a-book-to-help-move-your-business-forward/): I am happy to support my good friend Sophfronia Scott today, in the launch of her book Doing Business by the Book. Sophfronia really helped me to organize my thoughts as I was writing my book. She is an extremely smart (Harvard grad!) down-to-earth person (you can trust her), and has spent a lot of
- [What to do when you have the "good problem" of client overload](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/28/what-to-do-when-you-have-the-good-problem-of-client-overload/): On this month's group coaching call, I was surprised to find that most of the participants were not cube dwellers getting ready to leap, but rather seasoned entrepreneurs who were overwhelmed with the amount of details they were juggling in their thriving businesses. Michael Port, who I have mentioned many times and interviewed for my
- [Is life just one damn thing after another?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/02/is-life-just-one-damn-thing-after-another/): I am always a bit perplexed when people ask me how to come up with new material for a blog. I say, let it come to you! Like this conversation I described on my new post for Martha Beck's blog. I was halfway through writing on another topic when I got this call on my
- [Introducing Herdi'Oflo - Indonesian basketball star and hip hop singer](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/02/introducing-herdioflo-indonesian-basketball-star-and-hip-hop-singer/): I have the coolest readers. Just got an email from the very positive Indonesian entrepreneur/athlete/musician Herdian Mohammad about the soft launch of his website. http://herdioflo.com/ I love the flavor and spirit of his brand. And having corresponded with him for a few years, I know he is a really nice person, committed to his country,
- [How to develop an entrepreneurial mindset](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/05/how-to-develop-an-entrepreneurial-mindset/): For this week's podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Gary Schoeniger, founder of the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative. Gary has a really interesting story -- from dead broke desperate handyman to successful entrepreneur. Over the last 15 years, he has interviewed hundreds of successful entrepreneurs to discover which skills are critical for starting and running
- [Steven Pressfield discusses The War of Art for entrepreneurs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/08/steven-pressfield-discusses-the-war-of-art-for-entrepreneurs/): Some of you may remember that I got all excited about Steven Pressfield's book The War of Art and covered it in my podcast. After I finished the recording, I emailed Steven to ask if he would be willing to do an interview with me about the concepts in the book, namely how entrepreneurs can
- [Help ME help YOU](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/09/help-me-help-you/): How many times have you talked to a new acquaintance and heard him or her say "Just let me know if there is anything I can do for you!" What was your response? For most people, it is a polite smile and "thanks." Boy, are you missing an opportunity! The more time I spend in
- [Book update and request for information](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/12/book-update-and-request-for-information/): Good afternoon! I hope all of you are doing great on this Monday. (Anyone have a case of "The Mondays?" -- Insider Office Space joke) I wanted to give you an update on the Escape from Cubicle Nation book, and to request some input. (For new blog readers, here is the background on the book.)
- [The joy of reading about another leap](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/14/the-joy-of-reading-about-another-leap/): Thanks to Lisa Solomon, I found this gem of a post from Danny Evans, author of Dad Gone Mad who expressed his joy at realizing his dream of writing books. Excerpt:One night, about a year ago, I decided to quit dreaming. Every day, every night, for 20 years, the dream was exactly the same –
- [Do you and your lizard live in a van down by the river?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/22/do-you-and-your-lizard-live-in-a-van-down-by-the-river/): Hi everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts this week -- I have running around a bit more than usual and didn't have time to write. I just finished this post for Martha Beck's blog. It is on a favorite topic: lizard fears that get in the way of you realizing your dreams. And I
- [Want more clients?  Get out of your mental ghetto](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/26/want-more-clients-get-out-of-your-mental-ghetto/): When I taught teenagers martial arts, I spent a lot of time in San Francisco's Mission district. A lively Latino neighborhood, it was filled with activity, twelve kinds of chili peppers in outdoor markets, loud music and killer restaurants. It was also home to two gangs: the norteños and sureños. Each wore their designated color
- [Are you selling your entrepreneurial soul if you take a day job?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/29/are-you-selling-your-entrepreneurial-soul-if-you-take-a-day-job/): I was really excited to do this interview with Andy Wibbels of www.andywibbels.com after I heard that he took a "day job" as Marketing Manager at Six Apart. I have known Andy for a long time and have always admired his candor, sass and brand, as well as his business sense. Since he has done
- [Clucking-like-a-hen-proud at friend/client's biz launch](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/30/clucking-like-a-hen-proud-at-friendclients-biz-launch/): 05 Doing the work I do is not always easy. Not everyone is ready to trudge through the psychological dungeons, business labyrinths, relationship conundrums and financial fears to make the leap from corporate to entrepreneur. But when someone does, I cannot describe how elated it makes me feel. My whole body gets tingly and I
- [Why work sucks and how to fix it free call - join us!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/01/why-work-sucks-and-how-to-fix-it-free-call-join-us/): I am delighted to participate in a conversation about the corporate and entrepreneurial workplace led by Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It co-authors Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson. I have read about them for quite awhile now with interest, after learning about their wild (and successful) experiment to turn workplace expectations upside down
- [How to be creative when you feel like a brick of concrete](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/02/how-to-be-creative-when-you-feel-like-a-brick-of-concrete/): One of the great paradoxes of deciding to design a new phase of your life like starting a new business, looking for love or creating relief from clutter or financial chaos is that in order to do so, you must have your creative mojo fully engaged. However, the conditions that created a desire to change
- [Graphic designers looking for a little exposure ... enter Alltop badge contest](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/11/graphic-designers-looking-for-a-little-exposure-enter-alltop-badge-contest/): The ever-twittering Guy Kawasaki shared a link to a small contest his latest project is promoting: The Alltop Badge Faceoff. You may not win, but your name and work will get out there in front of people who have their fingers in many pies. And if you do win, you may see your work on
- [Have a great product idea that you want to bring to market?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/06/have-a-great-product-idea-that-you-want-to-bring-to-market/): Are you a garage inventor with a great new gadget that you would love to see grace the shelves of stores worldwide? For fun, why don't you try out for the PBS show Everyday Edisons? (You may note that this follows my "Do something wacky" recommendation in my previous post about re-juicing creativity) For the
- [Economy got you down?  Get out of the fetal position and start seeing the pockets of gold around you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/11/economy-got-you-down-get-out-of-the-fetal-position-and-start-seeing-the-pockets-of-gold-around-you/): The excitement of an economic boom is intoxicating. I lived and worked in Silicon Valley right in the middle of the "web crack" growth period. There was a buzz in the air that lifted everyone's feet a few inches off the ground. People were meeting and pitching and partnering and hiring and planning on taking
- [How do you know which of your inner voices to trust?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/18/how-do-you-know-which-of-your-inner-voices-to-trust/): My post on Martha Beck's blog this week deals with anxiety that arises when in pursuit of your dreams. It is more common than you think! Enjoy. --- A core part of Martha's approach to life coaching is the concept of the Body Compass. Housed deep inside you, your compass is always pointed True North,
- [Profiled on Entrepreneur.com:  Weekend Entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/20/profiled-on-entrepreneurcom-weekend-entrepreneur/): Michelle Anton, author of the Weekend Entrepreneur blog on the Entrepreneur.com network, was kind enough to publish an interview with me on her site today, Living Happily Ever After Escaping the Cubicle. Check it out, and leave a note! The focus of Weekend Entrepreneur is entrepreneurial ventures you can start on the side of a
- [Interested in a "what should I do with my life" workshop?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/20/interested-in-a-what-should-i-do-with-my-life-workshop/): Most of you who read my blog know that I love to work with people in corporate jobs who have a hot idea for a business but are perplexed by how to make it happen. That is the primary focus of my coaching work, and I try to stay clear on that, to follow my
- [Sick of feeling stuck?  Focus on the greater good](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/01/sick-of-feeling-stuck-focus-on-the-greater-good/): Two days ago, I received an email from my favorite "adopted professor," Dr. Srikumar Rao. I met Dr. Rao a couple of years ago when he called after reading my Open letter to CXOs blog post. As soon as I heard his voice, I relaxed and smiled, since he exuded joy even over the phone.
- [You can do good and do well:  lessons from "The Go-Giver"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/02/you-can-do-good-and-do-well-lessons-from-the-go-giver/): I have a pile of books to read and review next to my bathtub. The Go-Giver: A little story about a powerful business idea sat there for awhile, until I finally picked it up the other evening and started reading it. I was drawn in by the simple story, and got more and more encouraged
- [The trick to nipping late-night Oreo nashing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/08/the-trick-to-nipping-late-night-oreo-nashing/): For a bit of a change, this week I focused my Martha Beck post on the relation of eating habits and the brain. Those of you who know me well are aware of my late-night sweet attacks, when I feel as if I cannot write a single word unless I have a big pile of
- [What song captures the spirit of your company brand?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/11/what-song-captures-the-spirit-of-your-company-brand/): I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Minneapolis musician Owen Sartori filled a need I didn't even know I had, a theme song for Escape from Cubicle Nation: The Cube. Another thought came to mind while writing the chapter of my book called "Define the spirit of your brand": what song captures the essence
- [Wonderful brand and adoring audience-building lessons from Grammar Girl](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/15/wonderful-brand-and-adoring-audience-building-lessons-from-grammar-girl/): I had the great pleasure of attending a lecture and book signing this evening by Mignon Fogarty, better known as Grammar Girl. For those of you unfamiliar with her work, two years ago she began her weekly 5-minute grammar podcast as a hobby and quickly saw it explode on iTunes. Today, she has an average
- [Lots of juicy tidbits for home-based businesses](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/24/lots-of-juicy-tidbits-for-home-based-businesses/): You might remember my post from a few weeks ago where I mentioned BusinessWeek's solicitation for pictures of home-based offices. They sorted through entries and came up with their favorite ten, published today (alas, Kathy's airstream trailer was not included, most likely because she didn't submit her photo). I think my favorite is the last
- [The subtle tricks to creating an effective vision board](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/30/the-subtle-tricks-to-creating-an-effective-vision-board/): You must have been living under a rock if you missed the hoopla of The Secret last year, and the associated buzz about the Law of Attraction. I know my readers range from the strongly skeptical to more woo woo than Jeffrey Osborne. But I hope all of you like a post that I just
- [Blog basics for beginners:  Interview with Nathan Bowers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/08/05/blog-basics-for-beginners-interview-with-nathan-bowers/): I get a lot of questions about blogging from people who are considering starting a business and are new to the social media world. So does my friend Nathan Bowers, who is a web developer by trade, and also an artist/musician and all-around renaissance guy. Nathan and I connected on Twitter recently and started a
- [Interested in a "blog to book" SXSW panel w/ me, Hugh McLeod, Kathy Sierra and Ariel Waldman?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/08/08/interested-in-a-blog-to-book-sxsw-panel-w-me-hugh-mcleod-kathy-sierra-and-ariel-waldman/): When I had the great opportunity to talk to the head of my publishing company a few weeks ago, I asked him his advice for new writers. Without missing a beat, he said "write the book." This is easier said than done, as my mind always races ahead to the fun part, like marketing and
- [Since you may have voting on your mind ...](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/08/25/since-you-may-have-voting-on-your-mind/): Hey Everyone! All this talk about voting in the news reminded me that we just have a few more days to garner support for the panel idea at SXSW that I talked about a couple of weeks ago. Summary of panel: Me, Hugh McLeod, Kathy Sierra and Ariel Waldman talking about how to turn a
- [Quick, do something!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/01/quick-do-something/): This weekend during a wonderful trip to Sedona, I was talking with my son Jeffery about his paintings in progress. He had done a lot of work on a number of canvases, but found finishing the paintings was difficult. So I recalled the advice I wrote about a few months ago from my friend Ramit
- [Social good:  a natural extension of entrepreneurship?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/09/social-good-a-natural-extension-of-entrepreneurship/): I have a theory I am postulating in The Book that once people disconnect from the "my corporate job sucks and I am trapped in cubicle hell" world and start a successful entrepreneurial venture that they naturally become more compassionate and interested in social change. I think this is due to a number of reasons:
- [Heads up on two interesting opportunities](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/04/heads-up-on-two-interesting-opportunities/): Two of my favorite mentors have some interesting programs going on: Rich Sloan of StartupNation alerted me to the 2nd annual Home-Based 100 competition which highlights entrepreneurs like me who do work in the midst of laundry/toddler/toy/crumb-laden environments (wait, maybe that is only me -- the rest of you may have much cleaner home office environments).
- [The Contrarian Effect:  Atypical sales advice from Michael Port](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/10/the-contrarian-effect-atypical-sales-advice-from-michael-port/): Even though I am a bit annoyed (ok, jealous) by the ease by which people like Michael Port, Seth Godin and Guy Kawasaki seem to spin out gigantic volumes of books, posts, products and communities in their sleep, I am happy to let you know about the new book Michael just released with coauthor Elizabeth
- [How many Lehman employees do you think have backup plans?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/15/how-many-lehman-employees-do-you-think-have-backup-plans/): My heart broke as I watched dejected Lehman Brothers employees carry their personal effects out of their offices on Sunday. As much as they were aware of strain in their company, if they are like typical corporate employees, most did not expect the bankruptcy outcome. I was so fascinated to see this right as I
- [The growing email overload:  more like killer algae or kudzu?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/10/the-growing-email-overload-more-like-killer-algae-or-kudzu/): OK, I am having serious metaphor issues. As I am cleaning the first chapter of the book, "I have a fancy title, steady paycheck and good benefits. Why am I so miserable?" I am working on a section called "blood from a turnip." You know what I am talking about, where your life force is
- [How are you feeling, really?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/22/how-are-you-feeling-really/): I asked my friends on Twitter the other day (in typical 140 character limit fashion): "question for day: given financial meltdown, where are healthy corners of market? needed services, useful products, etc."In addition to useful answers like "anything that serves the wellness/lifestyle needs of boomers, driven by unchangeable demo shift, not short term trend or
- ["Joyful participation in the sorrows of the world"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/25/joyful-participation-in-the-sorrows-of-the-world/): What to say with today's news? I came across this quote while reading a tribute to a dear friend who passed away two years ago:"All life is sorrowful; there is however an escape from sorrow; the escape is Nirvana – which is a state of mind or consciousness, not a place somewhere, like heaven. It
- [Blog Action Day Today - It doesn't have to be about money](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/10/15/blog-action-day-today-it-doesnt-have-to-be-about-money/): I did not want the importance of Blog Action Day to slip by even though I am up to my eyeballs in final edits on the book. For those of you who haven't heard:On October 15th bloggers everywhere will publish posts that discuss poverty in some way in support of Blog Action Day. By all
- [Ready to lead your tribe?  Join me, Seth Godin, Daniel Pink and Keith Ferrazzi on Monday](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/10/23/ready-to-lead-your-tribe-join-me-seth-godin-daniel-pink-and-keith-ferrazzi-on-monday/): Some books just get under your skin. That is how I feel about Seth Godin's latest book, Tribes. I have been aware of the book for awhile, when I joined Seth's experimental online community named Triiibes a few months ago. I had to laugh when I saw the name for the first time, since I
- [Entrepreneurs, who doesn't need an Online Business Manager?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/11/03/entrepreneurs-who-doesnt-need-an-online-business-manager/): There are a few people who have truly contributed leaps and bounds to my understanding of running a business online. Tina Forsyth is one of those people. I met her through my participation in lots of teleseminars about Multiple Streams of Coaching Income, a collaborative venture between Tina and coaching maven Andrea Lee. Tina helped
- [Who says following your dreams shouldn't be hard?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/11/10/who-says-following-your-dreams-shouldnt-be-hard/): I was on a coaching call with a client. We were reviewing his target market, business model and strategy. At about halfway through the call, his voice got choked with emotion. "I have just put so much effort and energy into this and am not seeing the results I expected. I know I am meant
- [Isn't it about time for a little Reality Check?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/11/17/isnt-it-about-time-for-a-little-reality-check/): Seems like just about everyone has an opinion these days about what to do in our current state of dismal affairs. Buy low, sell high. Run back to the safety of your job. Do like The Great Depression and build The Next Great Thing . Market like hell. Live on Top Ramen and Dollar Store
- [Bounce back from failure](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/11/24/bounce-back-from-failure/): Who doesn't love the film Rocky or hearing about how J.K. Rowling lived near destitute while her Harry Potter manuscript got rejected by scores of publishers right before hitting it richer than the Queen of England? A lot of our view of failure in popular American culture is romanticized. The fact is, while you are
- [Ready to freelance?  Learn from Michelle Goodman of "My So-Called Freelance Life"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/15/ready-to-freelance-learn-from-michelle-goodman-of-my-so-called-freelance-life/): Just about an hour ago, Daniel Kehrer asked me (on Twitter of course!): Are you finding lots more folks going freelance because of the economy? Glad you asked Daniel! In today's podcast, I talk with Michelle Goodman, author of the new book My So-Called Freelance Life. It is chock-full of information for people who are
- [Martin Luther King Jr., standing on a corner in Mesa, Arizona](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/19/martin-luther-king-jr-standing-on-a-corner-in-mesa-arizona/): My three-year old son Josh looked at my husband and I the other day."Mom -- you, Angela and I are yellow. Dad and brother Jeffery are brown."Looking at me, Darryl tried to explain the color differentiation from his traditional Navajo perspective."Son - you and Angela are made up of both your Mama and your Daddy.
- [Stuck?  You may need somebody to stand by you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/02/03/stuck-you-may-need-somebody-to-stand-by-you/): A friend mentioned today that we are in another age of "creative destruction." In other words, everything we got comfortable with is being blown to bits. Consider these statements which may have seemed very reasonable a short while ago: Jobs are stable Big banks don't fail My retirement accounts are safe My home will maintain
- [Do you have a safety net?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/02/19/do-you-have-a-safety-net/): In today's economic climate, I am not surprised that there is HUGE interest in figuring out how to set up a backup plan or safety net in case your job or business goes away.At the same time, I find that clients, blog readers, and the working population in general is not quite sure how to
- [Personal branding insight from young expert Dan Schawbel](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/04/07/personal-branding-insight-from-young-expert-dan-schawbel/): I will never forget reading Tom Peter's article The Brand Called You in Fast Company Magazine in August 1997. Growth in Silicon Valley was sizzling hot, and the fresh perspective on personal marketing was totally new and exciting. 25-year old Dan Schawbel felt the same thing when he read the article, although it was many
- [The book is here!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/04/30/the-book-is-here/): After years of writing, researching, connecting and a bit of late night agonizing (at least in the last months of writing!) the Escape from Cubicle Nation book is finally ready to see the light of day. It hits bookstores today, Thursday, April 30. I couldn't help but use a picture of my son Joshua for
- [Wow.  There is some serious fear out there.](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/03/12/wow-there-is-some-serious-fear-out-there/): Thank you so much to everyone who participated in my brief survey a couple of weeks ago which asked a simple question: What gets in the way of defining a clear backup strategy and safety net in case your job goes away? One hundred sixty-seven of you responded, and it was amazing how many people
- [Final push to make a referral to a fantastic small business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/03/13/final-push-to-make-a-referral-to-a-fantastic-small-business/): This has been a great week over at Duct Tape Marketing, as a whole series of experts have shared tips, perspectives and tactics for building a great referral business as part of Make a Referral Week. There is a recorded 90-minute conversation with three of the top experts in referrals, Ivan Misner, Bob Burg and
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation Book Officially on Pre-Order Today!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/03/16/escape-from-cubicle-nation-book-officially-on-pre-order-today/): Hello from the hustle and bustle which is South by Southwest! I am delighted to let you know that my Escape from Cubicle Nation book, officially hitting the shelves on April 30, is now available for pre-orders. All of you dear blog readers have been so tremendously supportive of me while I was writing it
- [Let Ramit teach your kids to be rich](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/03/25/let-ramit-teach-your-kids-to-be-rich/): As a parent, there is nothing I want more than for my kids to be happy. So I make sure they eat well, and have lots of time to play. I nurture their imaginations and read to them and take them outside so they appreciate nature. I make sure to give lots of hugs, and
- [Plant a hundred flowers and watch what blooms](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/04/09/plant-a-hundred-flowers-and-watch-what-blooms/): Yesterday, I looked at the list of things to do to get ready for my book launch on April 30 and I got a little overwhelmed. There were articles to write, interviews to schedule, review books to send and journalists to contact. It seemed like each time I crossed one thing off the list, twelve
- [Welcome New York Times readers!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/04/18/welcome-new-york-times-readers/): I was really pleased to write an essay in this Sunday's New York Times entitled Is This the Time to Chase a Career Dream? Despite so much conversation online and off about the death of traditional journalism, I was extremely honored to write for such a well-known and well-respected publication. I learned so much through
- [Update from Pam before wild week](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/04/25/update-from-pam-before-wild-week/): I am writing this on my way to Sedona, where I am going to relax for a couple of days before starting what is sure to be a busy and exciting adventure. So many of you have been with me on this journey for a long time, trading emails and blog comments, talking with each
- [Free Entrepreneur Strategy Roundtables with Sramana Mitra](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/02/13/free-entrepreneur-strategy-roundtables-with-sramana-mitra/): I have recently started to read blogger and Forbes columnist Sramana Mitra. She has a really fascinating perspective as the founder of three start-up companies, and adviser to hundreds of others. She wrote the book Entrepreneur Journeys Volume 1 (I guess that means there will be more volumes coming!) which I haven't seen yet, but
- [Ready to freelance?  Learn from Michelle Goodman of "My So-Called Freelance Life"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/15/ready-to-freelance-learn-from-michelle-goodman-of-my-so-called-freelance-life-2/): Just about an hour ago, Daniel Kehrer asked me (on Twitter of course!): Are you finding lots more folks going freelance because of the economy? Glad you asked Daniel! In today's podcast, I talk with Michelle Goodman, author of the new book My So-Called Freelance Life. It is chock-full of information for people who are
- [First sneak peek at the galley version of the Escape from Cubicle Nation book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/01/10/first-sneak-peek-at-the-galley-version-of-the-escape-from-cubicle-nation-book/): Good day everyone! I had to share my enthusiasm upon receiving the first bound galley version of the Escape from Cubicle Nation book. It has been a long time in coming, and all you blog readers have been CRITICAL in its development. View the footage here (Direct YouTube link here): We still have a ways
- [Join the free Escape from Cubicle Nation newsletter!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/12/31/join-the-free-escape-from-cubicle-nation-newsletter/)
- [Make way for a killer 2009:  Release any lingering agony from 2008](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/12/22/make-way-for-a-killer-2009-release-any-lingering-agony-from-2008/): Whatever your business, job situation, balance of your 401(k), personal situation or region of the world, you have to admit that 2008 was a doozy. It certainly was for us here in the Slim household. We had more exciting and terrifying rides in my husband's business than either of us had ever experienced. The perfect
- [$2,500 scholarship opportunity for enterprising 20-something - spread the word](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/12/17/2500-scholarship-opportunity-for-enterprising-20-something-spread-the-word/): I hate to sound old and gushy, but what the heck. I am so PROUD of my young mentor Ramit Sethi, co-founder of PB Wiki and blogger at www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com. Note I said menTOR, not menTEE. Ramit has taught me a lot of things in the couple of years I have known him, but his latest
- [Isn't it about time for a little Reality Check?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/11/17/isnt-it-about-time-for-a-little-reality-check-2/): Seems like just about everyone has an opinion these days about what to do in our current state of dismal affairs. Buy low, sell high. Run back to the safety of your job. Do like The Great Depression and build The Next Great Thing . Market like hell. Live on Top Ramen and Dollar Store
- [Who says following your dreams shouldn't be hard?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/11/10/who-says-following-your-dreams-shouldnt-be-hard-2/): I was on a coaching call with a client. We were reviewing his target market, business model and strategy. At about halfway through the call, his voice got choked with emotion. "I have just put so much effort and energy into this and am not seeing the results I expected. I know I am meant
- [Update from Pam](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/11/04/update-from-pam/): Hello everyone! I know it has been a bit quiet on this front in the last couple of months, so I wanted to give you a quick update about what has been happening, to be followed by much more later! First and foremost, I finished the first draft of the book! It was an amazing,
- [Entrepreneurs, who doesn't need an Online Business Manager?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/11/03/entrepreneurs-who-doesnt-need-an-online-business-manager-2/): There are a few people who have truly contributed leaps and bounds to my understanding of running a business online. Tina Forsyth is one of those people. I met her through my participation in lots of teleseminars about Multiple Streams of Coaching Income, a collaborative venture between Tina and coaching maven Andrea Lee. Tina helped
- [Phoenix-only request: want a free money makeover from The Arizona Republic?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/10/23/phoenix-only-request-want-a-free-money-makeover-from-the-arizona-republic/): This just in from a friend at our local paper, the Arizona Republic: RECEIVE A MONEY MAKEOVER FROM THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC The Arizona Republic has enlisted the help of financial coaches to examine a family's specific financial problem or goal and come up with recommendations. Readers must be willing to share their story and suggested
- [Blog Action Day Today - It doesn't have to be about money](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/10/15/blog-action-day-today-it-doesnt-have-to-be-about-money-2/): I did not want the importance of Blog Action Day to slip by even though I am up to my eyeballs in final edits on the book. For those of you who haven't heard:On October 15th bloggers everywhere will publish posts that discuss poverty in some way in support of Blog Action Day. By all
- [Stop searching for the perfect job and start finding your life's work](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/10/01/stop-searching-for-the-perfect-job-and-start-finding-your-lifes-work/): Many of us have talked at length about the pursuit of a meaningful, rewarding career. We have lived through tyrannical bosses, mergers and acquisitions, exhausting work and travel schedules and various states of financial panic. We saw the job market explode and shrivel before we knew what to do about it, and comforted far too
- [Stop searching for the perfect job and start finding your life's work](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/10/01/stop-searching-for-the-perfect-job-and-start-finding-your-lifes-work-2/): Many of us have talked at length about the pursuit of a meaningful, rewarding career. We have lived through tyrannical bosses, mergers and acquisitions, exhausting work and travel schedules and various states of financial panic. We saw the job market explode and shrivel before we knew what to do about it, and comforted far too
- ["Joyful participation in the sorrows of the world"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/25/joyful-participation-in-the-sorrows-of-the-world-2/): What to say with today's news? I came across this quote while reading a tribute to a dear friend who passed away two years ago:"All life is sorrowful; there is however an escape from sorrow; the escape is Nirvana – which is a state of mind or consciousness, not a place somewhere, like heaven. It
- [Self promotion for wimps](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/09/05/self-promotion-for-wimps/): It is hard to describe how much I loathe those lengthy sales letters with red ink and highlights and 22 testimonials of perky business owners who transformed their life or business by implementing a revolutionary "turn key system." What infuriates me more is how despite my loathing and mockery of the format, I feel myself
- [No excuse to forgo business and marketing plans](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/08/27/no-excuse-to-forgo-business-and-marketing-plans/): My original and only business plan for my company was based on a Dr. Suess book. I wish I were kidding. Owning up to my liberal arts major and rebellious roots, I didn't think I needed a "real" plan. And, for the most part, I did fine for a decade, securing lots of clients and
- [Channelling Olympic focus to finish The Book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/08/12/channelling-olympic-focus-to-finish-the-book/): I have been fascinated watching the faces of Olympic athletes just before they compete in a race. Swimmer Michael Phelps has a quiet and intent look and is always connected to his iPod. Gymnast Raj Bhavsar has a look of calm and peaceful confidence. I imagine that they have the following thoughts right before competing:
- [Interested in a "blog to book" SXSW panel w/ me, Hugh McLeod, Kathy Sierra and Ariel Waldman?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/08/08/interested-in-a-blog-to-book-sxsw-panel-w-me-hugh-mcleod-kathy-sierra-and-ariel-waldman-2/): When I had the great opportunity to talk to the head of my publishing company a few weeks ago, I asked him his advice for new writers. Without missing a beat, he said "write the book." This is easier said than done, as my mind always races ahead to the fun part, like marketing and
- [Did you make an abrupt life change and live to tell about it?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/08/04/did-you-make-an-abrupt-life-change-and-live-to-tell-about-it/): A New York Times journalist is writing a book on people who make seemingly abrupt life changes like picking up a serious sport, or starting a business or returning to school, and about why and how these things succeed. The request:"I'm looking for adults who have created transformations, who started out as one thing then
- [Have you been simmering a business idea for years?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/16/have-you-been-simmering-a-business-idea-for-years/): I am working on a chapter of my book about testing and prototyping business ideas. I would love to talk to a few people who have had a great business idea kicking around for years, but have yet to do anything about it because they don't know where to start. Ideally I would like a
- [Scared of forming a partnership?  You should be if you don't follow this advice](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/07/scared-of-forming-a-partnership-you-should-be-if-you-dont-follow-this-advice/): A couple of months ago my husband was in discussion with some business associates who wanted to form a joint venture construction company. Since just about everyone I have ever met in business has told me to run screaming from partnerships, I was quite leery of the whole idea. So in addition to asking a
- [Scared of forming a partnership?  You should be if you don't follow this advice](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/07/scared-of-forming-a-partnership-you-should-be-if-you-dont-follow-this-advice-2/): A couple of months ago my husband was in discussion with some business associates who wanted to form a joint venture construction company. Since just about everyone I have ever met in business has told me to run screaming from partnerships, I was quite leery of the whole idea. So in addition to asking a
- [Can Ex-Boss Object When Ex-Employees Start Businesses?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/03/can-ex-boss-object-when-ex-employees-start-businesses/): Nice gem of an interview with an employment lawyer from the always smart Marci Alboher , author of the New York Times blog Shifting Careers: Can Ex-Boss Object When Ex-Employees Start Businesses? This is often a very sticky issue, and I suggest you really follow the advice described in the article. Nothing would be more
- [Follow up on "What should I do with my life workshop"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/02/follow-up-on-what-should-i-do-with-my-life-workshop/): Last week, I floated the idea of running a 15-week workshop based on Martha Beck's book Finding Your Own North Star. A number of people expressed interest, so I put together a detailed outline and chose dates. Based on the number of people on the list, I proposed two distinct groups, since I don't want
- [Follow up on "What should I do with my life workshop"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/02/follow-up-on-what-should-i-do-with-my-life-workshop-2/): Last week, I floated the idea of running a 15-week workshop based on Martha Beck's book Finding Your Own North Star. A number of people expressed interest, so I put together a detailed outline and chose dates. Based on the number of people on the list, I proposed two distinct groups, since I don't want
- [You can do good and do well:  lessons from "The Go-Giver"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/07/02/you-can-do-good-and-do-well-lessons-from-the-go-giver-2/): I have a pile of books to read and review next to my bathtub. The Go-Giver: A little story about a powerful business idea sat there for awhile, until I finally picked it up the other evening and started reading it. I was drawn in by the simple story, and got more and more encouraged
- [Interested in a "what should I do with my life" workshop?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/20/interested-in-a-what-should-i-do-with-my-life-workshop-2/): Most of you who read my blog know that I love to work with people in corporate jobs who have a hot idea for a business but are perplexed by how to make it happen. That is the primary focus of my coaching work, and I try to stay clear on that, to follow my
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation now has a theme song:  The Cube by Owen Sartori](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/16/escape-from-cubicle-nation-now-has-a-theme-song-the-cube-by-owen-sartori/): Sometimes things fall in my lap that I don't even realize I am looking for. A few months ago, I got an email from Owen Sartori, a cube-dwelling computer programmer-turned full time musician from Minneapolis. He said:"Hi Pam! I love your blog and wrote a song that you might really enjoy. It could be Escape
- [Media request:  woman 40 + who wants to make big career change and needs help](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/13/media-request-woman-40-who-wants-to-make-big-career-change-and-needs-help/): This has been a busy week in the media department! I got a request from a major magazine looking for the following:"We are looking for a woman over 40 who is making a major career change and needs some help from our new advice column. Examples could be giving up her career on Wall Street
- [The Red Mahogony Luxury Paneled Cubicle with Dark Cherry Hardwood Floors](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/06/13/the-red-mahogony-luxury-paneled-cubicle-with-dark-cherry-hardwood-floors/): How is this as inspiration for making the best of a less-than-ideal situation? Jared Nielson sent me this picture this morning and I couldn't help but share it. He says:In an era of socialized information technology, there is the opportunity to re-capitalize the space and demonstrate that originality trumps equality, that shoving capitalists into socialist
- [Clucking-like-a-hen-proud at friend/client's biz launch](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/30/clucking-like-a-hen-proud-at-friendclients-biz-launch-2/): 05 Doing the work I do is not always easy. Not everyone is ready to trudge through the psychological dungeons, business labyrinths, relationship conundrums and financial fears to make the leap from corporate to entrepreneur. But when someone does, I cannot describe how elated it makes me feel. My whole body gets tingly and I
- [Have a cool setup in your home-based biz?  Share it with BusinessWeek!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/16/have-a-cool-setup-in-your-home-based-biz-share-it-with-businessweek/): BusinessWeek Online was kind enough to ask me to share the following project with my blog readers, knowing that many of you work from home offices. They want to create a photo essay of readers' standout home-based offices. What exactly qualifies as "standout?":" We are looking for unique spaces from which you run your home-based
- [Introducing Herdi'Oflo - Indonesian basketball star and hip hop singer](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/02/introducing-herdioflo-indonesian-basketball-star-and-hip-hop-singer-2/): I have the coolest readers. Just got an email from the very positive Indonesian entrepreneur/athlete/musician Herdian Mohammad about the soft launch of his website. http://herdioflo.com/ I love the flavor and spirit of his brand. And having corresponded with him for a few years, I know he is a really nice person, committed to his country,
- [Advice for "scary times" like recession, war and environmental destruction](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/01/advice-for-scary-times-like-recession-war-and-environmental-destruction/): Training martial arts was one of the best ways I learned about fear. I studied the Afro-Brazilian style of capoeira, which combines acrobatics, dance and martial arts. Sparring, called "playing" in capoeira, is not divided by weight class or gender. So it was common for me to face much larger and more seasoned players. There
- [Advice for "scary times" like recession, war and environmental destruction](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/05/01/advice-for-scary-times-like-recession-war-and-environmental-destruction-2/): Training martial arts was one of the best ways I learned about fear. I studied the Afro-Brazilian style of capoeira, which combines acrobatics, dance and martial arts. Sparring, called "playing" in capoeira, is not divided by weight class or gender. So it was common for me to face much larger and more seasoned players. There
- [What to do when you have the "good problem" of client overload](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/28/what-to-do-when-you-have-the-good-problem-of-client-overload-2/): On this month's group coaching call, I was surprised to find that most of the participants were not cube dwellers getting ready to leap, but rather seasoned entrepreneurs who were overwhelmed with the amount of details they were juggling in their thriving businesses. Michael Port, who I have mentioned many times and interviewed for my
- [If you sent me an email recently -- please send again!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/25/if-you-sent-me-an-email-recently-please-send-again/): Thanks to all who commiserated with me about my recent hard drive crash on my new iMac. It made for quite an exciting couple of days! Final report: I got all my data back, except for everything in Outlook. That includes current and archived emails, contacts and calendar information. This is not all of my
- [Exceptionally rich and juicy post on becoming "lifestyle entrepreneur"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/24/exceptionally-rich-and-juicy-post-on-becoming-lifestyle-entrepreneur/): If you have been living in the corporate environment for a long time, it is easy to have the mentality that you must go from full-time demanding job to full-time demanding entrepreneurial enterprise. This really doesn't have to be the case, as so clearly illustrated in a resource my buddy John Ahrens found (another example
- [Exceptionally rich and juicy post on becoming "lifestyle entrepreneur"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/24/exceptionally-rich-and-juicy-post-on-becoming-lifestyle-entrepreneur-2/): If you have been living in the corporate environment for a long time, it is easy to have the mentality that you must go from full-time demanding job to full-time demanding entrepreneurial enterprise. This really doesn't have to be the case, as so clearly illustrated in a resource my buddy John Ahrens found (another example
- [Happy Earth Day from me and Yoda](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/22/happy-earth-day-from-me-and-yoda/): Inspired by the hyper-positive video blogging wizard Gary Vaynerchuk, I set out to test my iMovie capabilities today so that I could mix some video posts in with the written ones on this blog. I also thought it was an opportune time to introduce my new buddy Yoda, who is keeping the force with me
- [Confession:  my new passionate crushes](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/21/confession-my-new-passionate-crushes/): The first time I saw the term "professional crush" was on my friend Andy Wibbel's blog, and it refers to an episode of Seinfeld where George Castanza has a "non-sexual crush" on one of Elaine's boyfriends. Unlike Matt Dillon, Benecio del Toro or Matthew McConaughey (I know, such the prototypical hunky blond, but ladies, can
- [Do you really HAVE to do anything?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/16/do-you-really-have-to-do-anything/): Today's Martha Beck post is one of my favorite subjects ... "have to" vs. "choose to." Just ask my husband what happens in my household when he utters "I have to do this." Reason #25 to be very wary of marrying a life coach. Enjoy! If you have ever watched the Discovery Channel, you have
- [Small business recession-proofing wisdom from John Jantsch](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/14/small-business-recession-proofing-wisdom-from-john-jantsch/): If anyone has a pulse on the small business market these days, it is John Jantsch from Duct Tape Marketing. And I love this advice from a recent post on what to do in the current (dare we officially call it a) recession:Some marketing experts may advise you to expand your marketing reach when times
- [Is there such a thing as a cool job?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/14/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-cool-job/): My friend Alexandra Levit just wrote a book called "How'd You Score That Gig? A Guide to the Coolest Jobs- and How to Get Them." Her book bubbled up from lots of conversations with friends at social gatherings where inevitably one person would describe a cool job that no one had heard of. Despite what
- [See Presentation Zen in Action at Google Talk](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/08/see-presentation-zen-in-action-at-google-talk/): I am an unabashed fan of both the person Garr Reynolds (a humble and very solid guy) and his work, the book and blog Presentation Zen. I wrote a review of the book awhile ago, and have been happy to see it climb the bestselling ranks. Garr just spoke to the folks at Google about
- [Forget the professionals - coach yourself!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/04/forget-the-professionals-coach-yourself/): It doesn't matter how long I have been in business, or on the planet. Pesky, life-sapping, self-esteem-eroding thoughts creep into my mind and make it hard to take care of the business of the day. At an extreme, they stop me from realizing my dreams, and on a smaller scale they impact the quality of
- [Shout YES from the rooftops](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/04/01/shout-yes-from-the-rooftops/): The following is a new post on Martha Beck's blog ... which has finally moved to a permanent home on her new website. Feel free to add the feed to your reader when you visit! --- When I was younger, I went crazy for Salsa. I don't mean the kind involving chopped tomatoes and chili
- [Your personal brand can run but it can't hide online](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/27/your-personal-brand-can-run-but-it-cant-hide-online/): Two stories struck me funny when I put them together: My friend Jason Alba from Jibber Jobber wrote a review of Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream, a new book by Barbara Ehrenreich which follows her "inside investigation" of the job market, resume writers and career coaches. I have not read
- [Your personal brand can run but it can't hide online](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/27/your-personal-brand-can-run-but-it-cant-hide-online-2/): Two stories struck me funny when I put them together: My friend Jason Alba from Jibber Jobber wrote a review of Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream, a new book by Barbara Ehrenreich which follows her "inside investigation" of the job market, resume writers and career coaches. I have not read
- [You weren't meant to have a boss by Paul Graham](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/22/you-werent-meant-to-have-a-boss-by-paul-graham/): One of the things I am really enjoying about Twitter is quick access to really great stuff around the web. Via following Hugh McLeod of Gaping Void, I found this gem by Paul Graham. It is called You weren't meant to have a boss and is thought-provoking, especially for programmers. It is also perfect fodder
- [You weren't meant to have a boss by Paul Graham](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/22/you-werent-meant-to-have-a-boss-by-paul-graham-2/): One of the things I am really enjoying about Twitter is quick access to really great stuff around the web. Via following Hugh McLeod of Gaping Void, I found this gem by Paul Graham. It is called You weren't meant to have a boss and is thought-provoking, especially for programmers. It is also perfect fodder
- [Example of creative entrepreneur who "gets it"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/20/example-of-creative-entrepreneur-who-gets-it/): My husband and I had a couple of different marriage celebrations. The first was a traditional all-night ceremony in a tipi about 4 years ago with mostly my husband's relatives, and another was a couple of years ago where we had both families fully represented and mixed our cultures (mine Anglo Saxon and Darryl's Navajo).
- [Example of creative entrepreneur who "gets it"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/20/example-of-creative-entrepreneur-who-gets-it-2/): My husband and I had a couple of different marriage celebrations. The first was a traditional all-night ceremony in a tipi about 4 years ago with mostly my husband's relatives, and another was a couple of years ago where we had both families fully represented and mixed our cultures (mine Anglo Saxon and Darryl's Navajo).
- [Clear flash of branding insight from Tom Asacker](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/19/clear-flash-of-branding-insight-from-tom-asacker/): Thanks to Chris Wilson from The Marketing Fresh Peel, I found this gem on branding from a clear eye: Who am I? What is my brand?Me.What is my promise, personality, and positioning?Me. Me.What do I want to say? How should I say it?Me. Me. Me.If only I can get the details right. If only I
- [I finally broke down and signed up with Twitter](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/18/i-finally-broke-down-and-signed-up-with-twitter/): After publicly contemplating the usefulness of Twitter awhile back, I finally decided to just sign up and try it. Enough people were touting the benefits that it seemed a fun experiment. I am at http://twitter.com/pamslim for all you twitterers or tweetie birds or whatever you call yourself out there! I think it was worth joining
- [Free monthly coaching calls now on one sign-up page](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/17/free-monthly-coaching-calls-now-on-one-sign-up-page/): I have been offering free monthly group coaching calls for anyone interested in leaving their cube for the last year or so. It has been a great way to talk about specific issues faced by cube jumpers, as well as get dialogue going between blog readers. I set up the calls since I was overwhelmed
- [Was Nancy Reagan right?  How just saying NO can change your life](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/14/was-nancy-reagan-right-how-just-saying-no-can-change-your-life/): One of the questions that persists in my working life is "How can I help people find out what work they are meant to do?" Career assessments, online personality profiles and analytical tools can help answer the question, but they often fall short. This is because while addressing "What do I think I should do?",
- [You can't beat free:  startup consulting from StartupNation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/13/you-cant-beat-free-startup-consulting-from-startupnation/): I just read about a cool new service from my friends at StartupNation: consulting advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. It is called the Start me Up Program and is free to StartupNation members. My philosophy about using outside resources to build your business is get as much as you can for free! I am always surprised
- [You can't beat free:  startup consulting from StartupNation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/13/you-cant-beat-free-startup-consulting-from-startupnation-2/): I just read about a cool new service from my friends at StartupNation: consulting advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. It is called the Start me Up Program and is free to StartupNation members. My philosophy about using outside resources to build your business is get as much as you can for free! I am always surprised
- [Realistic expectations for making money in your startup business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/10/realistic-expectations-for-making-money-in-your-startup-business/): Sometimes I feel a bit schizophrenic, on one hand encouraging people to not stress so much about leaving their corporate job to start a business, and on the other hand feeling extremely uncomfortable about all the "start a business in 30 days in your bathrobe" nonsense that permeates the internet. Sparked by a blog post
- [Interested in consulting as a career path?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/10/interested-in-consulting-as-a-career-path/): I just did a guest post on my friend Ramit Sethi's blog, I Will Teach You to be Rich, on the subject of consulting as a career path. His audience is college students and recent college grads so I focused the article on those less experienced in the workforce, but hopefully there are some nuggets
- [EfCN now has search](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/07/efcn-now-has-search/): Inspired by a tip when I had coffee with John Jantsch the other morning (thanks John!) I added Google Custom Search to the upper right-hand of this blog. I should have had search capabilities a long time ago, but got lazy. Thanks to all of you who goaded me to do it (Pete W. and
- [Required reading for those that work on the web:  Connect! by Anne Zelenka](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/07/required-reading-for-those-that-work-on-the-web-connect-by-anne-zelenka/): I have been meaning to write a review of this book for a long time. It has sat in my coveted spot by the bathtub, and as a result, has water stains on key chapters. Once I spill coffee on it, it will join my short stack of truly great reference books. Connect! A Guide
- [Now THAT is perfection](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/06/now-that-is-perfection/): Thanks to my friend and long-time blog reader Carla Golden, I found this beautiful clip of two dancers. According to Carla: She was a teenage dancer in China, having trained from early childhood, when she lost her left arm in a car accident. Depressed, she turned away from dancing for awhile. But when asked to
- [Queen for a day, thanks to the Pakistani Spectator](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/06/queen-for-a-day-thanks-to-the-pakistani-spectator/): My very kind friend Ghazala Khan from the Pakistani Spectator conducted an interview with me and posted it this morning. Read it here. I think the lead quote is one that I will have to frame and put above my desk. Yesterday, I was a woman overwhelmed with emails, concerned with the volume of dirty
- [Are your thoughts keeping you stuck?  Time for some belief busting](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/03/05/are-your-thoughts-keeping-you-stuck-time-for-some-belief-busting/): Time for another tool on the Martha Beck blog ... --- The other day, I was talking with my client Laura (not her real name) about her big, audacious business idea. She had shared lots of background information on the project over email, and it was clear to me she was wildly informed about the
- [Congratulations to another corporate employee flying the coop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/27/congratulations-to-another-corporate-employee-flying-the-coop/): I have to say that I LIVE for emails and blog posts like the following I got this evening from Paul Lefebvre: Hi Pam, Another happy reader here who has made the jump into their own business. Thank you for your blog; it was a great help. This is my blog post about my change:
- [New to business or in business and struggling?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/26/new-to-business-or-in-business-and-struggling/): I just got wind of an interesting opportunity for the right business owner who is struggling a bit and could use some "public" (aka live media) coaching. Do you fit this profile: Interesting person with a good story to tell Interesting business that many people could understand and relate to Significant challenges in your business
- [5 reasons entrepreneurship is the best personal development on the planet](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/26/5-reasons-entrepreneurship-is-the-best-personal-development-on-the-planet/): If you want to grow as a human being, you could climb really tall mountains. Or run marathons. Or study the great written works. Or study yoga in an ashram. Or ... you could put your entire livelihood at risk and become an entrepreneur. I don't think running a business is for everyone. But I
- [Pam keynoting for new Club E chapter in N. Scottsdale 2/28](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/21/pam-keynoting-for-new-club-e-chapter-in-n-scottsdale-228/): I am excited to be the kickoff speaker for a new chapter of Club Entrepreneur in North Scottsdale, Arizona next Thursday, February 28 at 5pm. Club E is a wonderful group that has a great cross-section of all-age entrepreneurs and wannabes. If you are in the area and want to come join us, please do!
- [Welcome!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/20/welcome/): Welcome New York Times Readers! For an introduction to this blog, start here. Regular reader? See EfCN featured in the Times today! Go on, leave your job!
- [Why would you want to walk through the Ring of Fire?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/19/why-would-you-want-to-walk-through-the-ring-of-fire/): I have had quite a few new visitors lately, so for those that aren't familiar with this standing feature, I do a guest post once every two weeks on Martha Beck's blog. She is my mentor, and the person who taught me the life coaching skills that I use every day on my clients, my
- [Nice guys do finish first:  Shoestring Branding stands out](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/18/nice-guys-do-finish-first-shoestring-branding-stands-out/): I just took a peek at the new small business page at Alltop (which I told you about last week) and was delighted to see my friend Mario Sanchez made the page, alongside other experts like Tim Berry, StartupNation, Duct Tape Marketing and Fast Company. His blog is called Shoestring Branding and has all kinds
- [Pam's podcast calling in sick](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/18/pams-podcast-calling-in-sick/): Quick apology: Last week I mentioned I was going to resume my podcast today. Unfortunately, I got bronchitis, so I would at best sound like Lauren Bacall and at worst break into ghastly coughs in the middle of trying to explain my point. Kindly grant me one week to recover, and I will be back
- [Pam's podcast calling in sick](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/18/pams-podcast-calling-in-sick-2/): Quick apology: Last week I mentioned I was going to resume my podcast today. Unfortunately, I got bronchitis, so I would at best sound like Lauren Bacall and at worst break into ghastly coughs in the middle of trying to explain my point. Kindly grant me one week to recover, and I will be back
- [The secret to a fun and thriving business? Be a matchmaker](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/14/the-secret-to-a-fun-and-thriving-business-be-a-matchmaker/): Some of the most common questions I hear from new and aspiring entrepreneurs are:How can I get the word out about my business to influential people in my market? How can I get people to link to my blog or website? How can I get mainstream press coverage? How can I find great mentors?There are
- [Sneak peek at Guy Kawasaki's new project](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/08/sneak-peek-at-guy-kawasakis-new-project/): I don't think Guy sleeps very much, given his advising, mentoring, managing, writing, speaking and blogging schedule. Apparently all this is not enough activity: he is at it again with a new project from the Truemors team. It is called Alltop, and basically it is a web-based dashboard or table of contents for your favorite
- [Sneak peek at Guy Kawasaki's new project](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/08/sneak-peek-at-guy-kawasakis-new-project-2/): I don't think Guy sleeps very much, given his advising, mentoring, managing, writing, speaking and blogging schedule. Apparently all this is not enough activity: he is at it again with a new project from the Truemors team. It is called Alltop, and basically it is a web-based dashboard or table of contents for your favorite
- [Great marketing tips from Small Business Trends](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/04/great-marketing-tips-from-small-business-trends/): John Jantsch tipped me off to a great resource over at Anita Campbell's Small Business Trends: Top Experts Dish with their Best Kept Marketing Secrets. My tip: Be yourself. Lying takes too much energy.
- [Update on free calls and podcast](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/04/update-on-free-calls-and-podcast/): Free Monthly Calls A number of you have been asking when I am going to resume my free monthly Escape from Cubicle Nation calls, where whoever feels like it jumps on the phone with me for an hour to discuss all things cube-fleeing related. The answer: right away! I am hosting a call this Wednesday,
- [Is there a conspiracy by The Man to keep you down?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/02/01/is-there-a-conspiracy-by-the-man-to-keep-you-down/): It is February 1, and time for another post on Martha Beck's blog. This time, I chose one of my favorite expressions as a topic: Is there a conspiracy by The Man to keep you down? At times, especially if you work in a cube, it sure does feel like it. But living your life
- [Last call for meatball ... sundae that is with Seth Godin](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/28/last-call-for-meatball-sundae-that-is-with-seth-godin/): For Saturday Night Live fans out there, you remember "Coffee Talk with Linda Richman,"played by Mike Meyers? As I wrote last week, tomorrow is your opportunity to hear some "Meatball Talk" with me, Andy Wibbels, Tim Sanders and Seth Godin. We're discussing Seth's new book, Meatball Sundae, which has great perspectives on how you can
- [Are you keeping your clients dependent by trying to be a superhero?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/25/are-you-keeping-your-clients-dependent-by-trying-to-be-a-superhero/): My two and a half year-old son Josh is constantly trying to rescue people. If he sees someone distressed on the news, or a child crying at the mall, he will turn to me with a serious look on his face and say "Mom! I am going to save them!" He then evokes the spirit
- [New audio program to help entrenched employees launch out of their cubes](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/23/new-audio-program-to-help-entrenched-employees-launch-out-of-their-cubes/): Last year, up until about 5 minutes before having a baby (ok, a week!) I was putting the finishing touches on an audio product that I created to gently nudge entrenched employees out of their cube. It was too much to launch a new baby Slim and a product at the same time (my first
- [Come discuss "Meatball Sundae" with me, Andy Wibbels, Tim Sanders  and Seth Godin 1/29](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/22/come-discuss-meatball-sundae-with-me-andy-wibbels-tim-sanders-and-seth-godin-129/): I have been enjoying my copy of Seth Godin's latest book, Meatball Sundae. It discusses fourteen marketing trends that we all face this year, in thought and action-provoking signature Seth style. The Meatball Sundae metaphor refers to boring company brands (meatballs) throwing whiz-bang new marketing strategies (ice cream sundae toppings) on top of their business,
- [Come discuss "Meatball Sundae" with me, Andy Wibbels, Tim Sanders  and Seth Godin 1/29](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/22/come-discuss-meatball-sundae-with-me-andy-wibbels-tim-sanders-and-seth-godin-129-2/): I have been enjoying my copy of Seth Godin's latest book, Meatball Sundae. It discusses fourteen marketing trends that we all face this year, in thought and action-provoking signature Seth style. The Meatball Sundae metaphor refers to boring company brands (meatballs) throwing whiz-bang new marketing strategies (ice cream sundae toppings) on top of their business,
- [Any juicy stories about parents horrified by your desire to start a business?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/21/any-juicy-stories-about-parents-horrified-by-your-desire-to-start-a-business/): I am working on a chapter of the Escape from Cubicle Nation book about getting your friends and family on board with your idea to start a business. For the section about talking with your parents, I am looking for a specific example of someone's parents who freaked out (initially at least) when you told
- [Lessons learned from 4-day win experiment](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/20/lessons-learned-from-4-day-win-experiment/): I promised to report back today on the success of my 4-day win, which I shared earlier this week on Martha Beck's blog in Death to procrastination: Use the 4-day win to get your goals moving. I encouraged readers to share their own goals and we got some specific examples from Mike, Andy, Latarsha, Rosalind,
- [How to break up with your boss](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/18/how-to-break-up-with-your-boss/): I just got word of this article from Details Magazine which offers advice for "How to break up with your boss." Excerpt:Up until about a year ago, Michael Rogers had lunch or cocktails a couple of times a week with the CEO of the New York public-relations firm where he worked. They’d split a plate
- [Press request:  Women over 40 who made career change without safety net](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/18/press-request-women-over-40-who-made-career-change-without-safety-net/): I just got an inquiry from a journalist looking for the following: "Women who have made a successful career change "without a net" (meaning no huge financial savings or rich partner in the wings). The women need to be over 40 now (and either over 40 or near that when they made their career change).
- [Death to procrastination:  Use the 4-day win to get your goals moving](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/15/death-to-procrastination-use-the-4-day-win-to-get-your-goals-moving/): Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything you want to get done in the new year? If so, you may enjoy my latest post on Martha Beck's blog about a concept she calls the 4-day win. It takes big, audacious goals and helps you to break them down into easy-to-accomplish bites. It is
- [Ten laws for better email from Bad Language](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/14/ten-laws-for-better-email-from-bad-language/): I love Matthew Stibbe's blog Bad Language because it is so crisp and clean and useful. He has an excellent post on writing emails that you should all check out. It does not contain earth-shattering information that you have never heard, but it is crisp, clean and useful. Kind of like your emails should be
- [Survey results from Escape from Cubicle Nation readers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/14/survey-results-from-escape-from-cubicle-nation-readers/): Thanks again to everyone who took a few minutes to complete my survey. I asked for your input on both what was unique about this blog and what you thought would be helpful to include in a book. The results were tremendously interesting to me, and re-affirmed the path I was taking with my book
- [Last chance to take Escape from Cubicle Nation book survey](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/11/last-chance-to-take-escape-from-cubicle-nation-book-survey/): Hey folks, happy Friday! Today is the last day my survey is open for the Escape from Cubicle Nation book proposal. Explained here. Thanks to all who have contributed already! There is so much great information. Made me blush! I will close it at 5pm Pacific today, then share the results with you tomorrow. Shouldn't
- [Test your knowledge of entrepreneurship](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/10/test-your-knowledge-of-entrepreneurship/): Scott Shane, Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western University and author of Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths That Entrepreneurs, Investors and Policy Makers Live By, alerted me to his quiz, which I promptly took. I scored 50%, while my buddy Guy Kawasaki scored 40%. At least I don't feel so bad! It is
- [The world is getting more global every day](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/08/the-world-is-getting-more-global-every-day/): I always crack up when I hear the expression "the world is getting more global every day," since it brings me back 12 years ago to a presentation by a very senior investment adviser at my last "real" corporate job:"People keep saying the world is getting more global. The world has ALWAYS been global." I
- [Wickedly clever parody of "make a million with my 22-step start a business system"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/03/wickedly-clever-parody-of-make-a-million-with-my-22-step-start-a-business-system/): Ah, it is late and I should be in bed, but somehow one link led to another and I ended up at "Gabe and Max's How to get the Dreamlife of Your Dreams Using the Internet, via Henry Copeland at the Blogads blog. I hope you enjoy these 5 minutes as much as I did.
- [Wickedly clever parody of "make a million with my 22-step start a business system"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/03/wickedly-clever-parody-of-make-a-million-with-my-22-step-start-a-business-system-2/): Ah, it is late and I should be in bed, but somehow one link led to another and I ended up at "Gabe and Max's How to get the Dreamlife of Your Dreams Using the Internet, via Henry Copeland at the Blogads blog. I hope you enjoy these 5 minutes as much as I did.
- [Quicko survey for Escape from Cubicle Nation book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/03/quicko-survey-for-escape-from-cubicle-nation-book/): Ok, blog readers, this request fits within the NO EXCUSES mantra for me in 2008 ... I am really, seriously, working on a proposal for the Escape from Cubicle Nation book. Those of you who have read me for awhile know that I have been rolling the idea around my head for a long time.
- [New year, new blogging gig with Martha Beck](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2008/01/02/new-year-new-blogging-gig-with-martha-beck/): Happy New Year! I am so excited about this year I can hardly stand it. I am looking at a fresh, clean desk that I spent 3 hours working on yesterday. I shredded 2 garbage bags worth of old documents, put up new pictures on my bulletin board and wrote the following on my white
- [The road to hell is paved with self improvement](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/12/31/the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-self-improvement/): If you are like me, right now you are sitting back and thinking about all the great things you are going to accomplish in 2008. Goals like: I will wipe out 50% of my debt I will take the "shake out of my fries," by losing weight I will finally quit my job and start
- [Happy New Year from my family to yours!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/12/24/happy-new-year-from-my-family-to-yours/): Happy New Year Everyone! I really appreciate all of your comments and emails this year. I am really looking forward to 2008, not just for the projects that I have on the burner, but also to see the great creativity you unleash through your new businesses. I feel very blessed to be part of your
- [New design book for the ages:  Presentation Zen](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/12/17/new-design-book-for-the-ages-presentation-zen/): There are few books I have read that give me goosebumps. Presentation Zen: Simple ideas on presentation design and delivery is one of them. By means of context, everything about the book is a "sweet spot" of my interests and attractions. I adore photography, and the images used in the book (from my favorite image
- [Perfect example of a targeted niche:  back fat](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/12/13/perfect-example-of-a-targeted-niche-back-fat/): I was watching the news this evening and squealed in delight at this example of a targeted niche. A local personal trainer developed specific exercises to pinpoint that tricky area of the body known as "back fat." As soon as I heard that, while I was stuffing a cupcake in my mouth, I reached back
- [5 business ideas just waiting for an entrepreneur ... like you?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/12/12/5-business-ideas-just-waiting-for-an-entrepreneur-like-you/): I spend a lot of time thinking about business ideas as I am wandering around the house collecting recyclables, or burping my baby or pulling my two-year-old off a tall chair as he prepares to fly across the room like Spiderman. If I were more motivated, or interested, or cut out to have a huge
- [The importance of one word, and an apology](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/30/the-importance-of-one-word-and-an-apology/): I spent a lot of time writing a post on pricing yesterday. As a suggestion for one of the points, I directed readers to check out a conversation with Robert Middleton and Alan Weiss on value pricing. After listening to the conversation myself, I noticed that Alan didn't mince words and might come across as
- [Don't fence me in:  branding advice for the multi-talented](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/28/dont-fence-me-in-branding-advice-for-the-multi-talented/): Through a wonderful series of events including the recent Personal Branding Summit, I exchanged emails with Marci Alboher, columnist and blogger for the New York Times. Marci wrote a book called One Person/Multiple Careers: How the Slash Effect Can Work for You. She chronicles the careers of people who are multi-talented, such as a school
- [Don't fence me in:  branding advice for the multi-talented](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/28/dont-fence-me-in-branding-advice-for-the-multi-talented-2/): Through a wonderful series of events including the recent Personal Branding Summit, I exchanged emails with Marci Alboher, columnist and blogger for the New York Times. Marci wrote a book called One Person/Multiple Careers: How the Slash Effect Can Work for You. She chronicles the careers of people who are multi-talented, such as a school
- [Frighteningly formatted but strangely addictive list of common errors in English](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/20/frighteningly-formatted-but-strangely-addictive-list-of-common-errors-in-english/): I am fascinated by the English language. Even though I make a lot of typos and grammatical errors which my readers are kind enough to quickly point out, I take special note of common errors like "effect vs. affect" (one is a noun, the other a verb). So imagine my delight when I stumbled upon
- [Do you have to have an interesting life to use Twitter?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/19/do-you-have-to-have-an-interesting-life-to-use-twitter/): I try to stay on top of social media trends since they affect a lot of my clients and blog readers. One that I have been trying to wrap my mind around is Twitter, which in their words is "a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of
- [Excellent reading for those paralyzed by fear of leaving their job](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/16/excellent-reading-for-those-paralyzed-by-fear-of-leaving-their-job/): One of the best ways that I learn about my readers is by regularly checking incoming links to my blog. It was this way that I found an excellent article by Mike Ambrose, a communications guy who writes Krooz: Comments on Communication and Culture. In Mike's words,"The past two weeks have been rough! I developed
- [Expert networking techniques from a playground-savvy 9-year old](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/14/expert-networking-techniques-from-a-playground-savvy-9-year-old/): Most new entrepreneurs dread networking. The thought conjures up sweaty palms and overcooked chicken, awkward pauses and a pounding heart. But it doesn't have to be that way! The other day, I learned some simple and powerful networking techniques from 9-year old Austin on the playground in my suburban community. The story: I was standing
- [Monday revolutionary pick-me-up](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/12/monday-revolutionary-pick-me-up/): Sometimes we have everything ready to start a business and just need a motivational kick in the pants. John Jantsch from Duct Tape Marketing put together a short audio to serve this purpose. I really agree that entrepreneurship is a revolutionary act. Listen and enjoy! John has a lot figured out -- starting with 118,000
- [Tips on cutting the ties and saying goodbye from Psychology Today](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/09/tips-on-cutting-the-ties-and-saying-goodbye-from-psychology-today/): One of the most common questions I get from cube dwelling wannabe entrepreneurs is how do I know when it is time to quit my job? This question is not just about how much money you have in your bank account or the state of your business plan, it is also about having the emotional
- [There is no "and" in "brand"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/08/there-is-no-and-in-brand/): Well, technically there is, but this catchy phrase quoted by Andy Sernovitz in today's Evangelizing Evangelists to Build Your Business and Build Your Brand talk was a great takeaway. (sign up today to receive access to the recording) Guy Kawasaki and John Jantsch immediately grabbed on to the phrase, which Andy reminded them was copywritten.
- [There is no "and" in "brand"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/08/there-is-no-and-in-brand-2/): Well, technically there is, but this catchy phrase quoted by Andy Sernovitz in today's Evangelizing Evangelists to Build Your Business and Build Your Brand talk was a great takeaway. (sign up today to receive access to the recording) Guy Kawasaki and John Jantsch immediately grabbed on to the phrase, which Andy reminded them was copywritten.
- [Check out Personal Branding Summit November 8](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/11/07/check-out-personal-branding-summit-november-8/): My buddy Jason Alba from JibberJobber has organized a pretty cool free learning event tomorrow, entitled Personal Branding Summit. Details are here. It includes some of my favorite marketing and career types like Guy Kawasaki, John Jantsch, Krishna De, Richard Bolles, Phil Gerbyshak and Debbie Weil. Sign up for individual sessions that cover all kinds
- [Bring your (or someone else's) kid to your startup day](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/10/31/bring-your-or-someone-elses-kid-to-your-startup-day/): There are few things that I feel as passionate about as the importance of mentoring our young people. By "our young people," I am referring to my kids, your kids and every kid everywhere. I believe we are all responsible for the youth in the world, regardless if they live in our neighborhood, or come
- [Bring your (or someone else's) kid to your startup day](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/10/31/bring-your-or-someone-elses-kid-to-your-startup-day-2/): There are few things that I feel as passionate about as the importance of mentoring our young people. By "our young people," I am referring to my kids, your kids and every kid everywhere. I believe we are all responsible for the youth in the world, regardless if they live in our neighborhood, or come
- [Reality vs. theory in a high-growth, bootstrapping business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/10/25/reality-vs-theory-in-a-high-growth-bootstrapping-business/): One of the real lessons of getting older is seeing more and more of my idealistic proclamations of youth blown out of the water. These are things like: I will never work for a large, multinational oil corporation (I wasn't an employee, I was a consultant - does that count?) I will never feed my
- [8 Strategies to get the most from painful or awkward life transitions](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/09/26/8-strategies-to-get-the-most-from-painful-or-awkward-life-transitions/): Given my current state of flux (4 days till baby is due and counting!), in this month's ezine, I thought I would share some tips for getting through the rough, uncomfortable part of major life transitions. It can be a disorienting time, but it has its upsides too!Here is the article:---These days, life doesn't stay
- [The power of hard deadlines to get things done](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/09/12/the-power-of-hard-deadlines-to-get-things-done/): I love to blame my Dad for my propensity to finish my work just-in-time for a deadline, since I have memories of him hunched over a typewriter late at night, furiously finishing a story the night before it was due. But since I am 41 years old, that is a bit of a cop-out since
- [Looking for rigid Phoenix, AZ work environments willing to get more flexible on national tv!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/09/04/looking-for-rigid-phoenix-az-work-environments-willing-to-get-more-flexible-on-national-tv/): Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire and Good Morning America Workplace Correspondent just sent over a special request for Phoenix-based businesses: "Right now we're looking for women in the Phoenix area to participate in a special GMA segment focused on workplace flexibility. Specifically, we're looking for women who work fulltime and are in great
- [Questions about leaving your corporate job and starting your business?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/09/04/questions-about-leaving-your-corporate-job-and-starting-your-business/): As I get ready to take a little time off when the baby comes (due at the end of this month), I am holding my last monthly free-for-all Escape from Cubicle Nation call tomorrow, Wednesday September 5 at 3pm Eastern time. To register, go to this page. I will most likely pick these up again
- [It takes a village to raise a one-person business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/28/it-takes-a-village-to-raise-a-one-person-business/): Some entrepreneurs have a hard time asking for help, preferring to do everything themselves, from computer software and hardware installation to billing to licking stamps. I often have the opposite inclination, which is to outsource or shortcut just about anything I can think of. Is it so bad to consider whether I can hire someone
- [Reduce your dread of marketing and sales](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/23/reduce-your-dread-of-marketing-and-sales/): Most new entrepreneurs are freaked out by the prospect of marketing and selling themselves to prospective clients, because they believe that the whole field is slimy, pushy and disingenuous. Michael Port, author of Book Yourself Solid: The Fastest, Easiest and Most Reliable System for Getting More Clients, Even if You Hate Marketing and Selling, debunks
- [Resource-rich post for women entrepreneurs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/20/resource-rich-post-for-women-entrepreneurs/): Thanks to Rich McIver from businesscreditcards.com for alerting me to this great list they compiled on their blog with tons of information for women entrepreneurs (and good info for men too!). Check out The Woman Entrepreneur's Toolbox: 100 Networking Resources, Guides and Links. There is a real mix of eclectic and practical, and I look
- [Embrace synchronicity in your business and enjoy the results](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/20/embrace-synchronicity-in-your-business-and-enjoy-the-results/): You may notice that the closer you get to your right life and business, the more frequently coincidence, synchronicity and serendipity occur. Once thought the purvey of mystics and dreamers, more and more business people are embracing insight and intuition as a critical business skill. In this week's podcast episode (about 7 1/2 minutes, found
- [The secret to great relationships with mentors?  Reciprocity](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/17/the-secret-to-great-relationships-with-mentors-reciprocity/): I can honestly say that my business would have failed miserably without great mentors. Since the first day I opened my doors (11 years and 2 days ago!), I relied upon the good faith, support, advice and encouragement of smart and experienced mentors. In addition to helping with general questions (How much should I charge
- [Your company brand is only as strong as your technical support](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/15/your-company-brand-is-only-as-strong-as-your-technical-support/): Although there are certainly more stressful days to endure, like climbing Everest, brokering a major peace treaty in the Middle East or launching a new business, yesterday was frustrating, draining and generally unpleasant. My blog went down out of the blue, after functioning perfectly well for nearly two years. I was clued in by some
- [Testing RSS feed](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/15/testing-rss-feed/): Hello Escape from Cubicle Nation readers! I am finally back on line and wondered if a few of you who subscribe to my feed would mind leaving a comment to this post letting me know that the feed is working properly for you. It has been broken all day, and I think it should be
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation layout is experiencing technical difficulties](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/14/escape-from-cubicle-nation-layout-is-experiencing-technical-difficulties/): I apologize to my blog visitors today -- with no provocation or re-design on my part, my blog layout is acting up for some reason. I have never had problems with this before, so I am working with Typepad technical support to resolve it. It must be related to the wonderful plug I got from
- [9 Ways to keep hucksters, shucksters and slimeballs at arms length when starting your own business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/08/09/9-ways-to-keep-hucksters-shucksters-and-slimeballs-at-arms-length-when-starting-your-own-business/): A smart and thoughtful reader Ashton recently sent me this email which really got my brain going: "I'm interested in perspectives on how to deal with people who do not act in good faith and lie, cheat, steal, and take advantage of others in business. I've had a few people come through in my professional
- [Think you have what it takes to win the "StartupNation's Home-based 100" Contest?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/13/think-you-have-what-it-takes-to-win-the-startupnations-home-based-100-contest/): StartupNation just launched a very fun and attractive competition for home-based entrepreneurs: The StartupNation's Home-based 100. Aiming to shed glory and exposure on the oft-neglected sector of home-based entrepreneurs, it is the first annual ranking of the best-performing home-based businesses in the U.S. The categories include: Greenest Home-based businesses that have a positive environment and
- [Think you have what it takes to win the "StartupNation's Home-based 100" Contest?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/13/think-you-have-what-it-takes-to-win-the-startupnations-home-based-100-contest-2/): StartupNation just launched a very fun and attractive competition for home-based entrepreneurs: The StartupNation's Home-based 100. Aiming to shed glory and exposure on the oft-neglected sector of home-based entrepreneurs, it is the first annual ranking of the best-performing home-based businesses in the U.S. The categories include: Greenest Home-based businesses that have a positive environment and
- [Pursue the Passion Tour first-hand impressions](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/10/pursue-the-passion-tour-first-hand-impressions/): Last Monday, July 2, the 4-man crew from the Pursue the Passion Tour, James, Brett, Zach and Noah pulled their gigantic RV in front of my house and bounded inside for the very first interview of the 2007 tour. I got excited just seeing the bus itself ... their sponsor Jobing.com did an amazing job
- [Free-for-all escape your cube call Wed, June 6](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/06/05/free-for-all-escape-your-cube-call-wed-june-6/): For some reason, I keep forgetting to blog about our free monthly Escape from Cubicle Nation calls. They happen the first Wednesday of each month. This is a no pressure, participatory, open conversation among readers of this blog where we talk about whatever is on your mind related to escaping the cube and starting a
- [Try "unwork" to cut your tasks in half and double your income](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/15/try-unwork-to-cut-your-tasks-in-half-and-double-your-income/): In my conversation with Andrea Lee on Friday, we talked about a multitude of ways to reduce the struggle in building a great business. One of the most interesting concepts was what she calls "unwork." To explain it, she asked the simple question:How could you double your income by cutting your workload in half?To many
- [Try "unwork" to cut your tasks in half and double your income](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/15/try-unwork-to-cut-your-tasks-in-half-and-double-your-income-2/): In my conversation with Andrea Lee on Friday, we talked about a multitude of ways to reduce the struggle in building a great business. One of the most interesting concepts was what she calls "unwork." To explain it, she asked the simple question:How could you double your income by cutting your workload in half?To many
- [Use classes and workshops to get stuff done](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/07/use-classes-and-workshops-to-get-stuff-done/): This week's podcast is short (just under 4 minutes) and focuses on a good way for you to learn and get things done in your business. Listen here. Most small business owners have big plans to develop new services, re-invigorate marketing efforts or enhance online offerings. But if you are working alone, sometimes the tasks
- [How commercializing graffiti got Mary out of her cube](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/04/how-commercializing-graffiti-got-mary-out-of-her-cube/): Actually, Mary McPhail was a Vice President and may have had her own office, not a cube. But her story of how she went from employee to entrepreneur and owner of the fun and creative business Wonderful Graffiti piqued my interest, and led me to ask her to be a guest on today's radio show.
- [Frustrated by stalled progress?  Celebrate small wins](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/30/frustrated-by-stalled-progress-celebrate-small-wins/): Who among you has not felt frustrated by stalled progress on your dreams, and the seemingly endless flow of tasks to complete? I firmly believe that we make real progress in our lives when we don't just look to huge wins and the realization of ambitious goals as success, but rather celebrate the small ways
- [You CAN do good and do well](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/27/you-can-do-good-and-do-well/): (click image to enlarge) I know that there are a lot of good-hearted people out there who want to use their lives to make positive change in the world, but who also have the entrepreneurial bug and need to take care of their families. Contrary to popularly-held beliefs which say that you must forgo any
- [Guy Kawasaki talks to me today about changing the world and avoiding market research](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/13/guy-kawasaki-talks-to-me-today-about-changing-the-world-and-avoiding-market-research/): I really enjoyed my conversation with Guy Kawasaki this week, as we pre-recorded today's radio show on the topic of "Changing the world by empowering entrepreneurs." It airs today, details below. We talk about contributing meaning to the world through your ideas, how to express your idea succinctly, a primer on venture capital and the
- [Excellent post on usability tips for your blog, gleaned from dozens of bloggers' experiences](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/10/excellent-post-on-usability-tips-for-your-blog-gleaned-from-dozens-of-bloggers-experiences/): I just came across this excellent post on blogging usability tips from Tom Johnson of I'd rather be writing. He describes twenty different examples in very clear language, accompanied by helpful graphics. It doesn't necessarily have new or revolutionary information, just a great reminder of the basics needed to start a solid, useful blog. He
- [Excellent post on usability tips for your blog, gleaned from dozens of bloggers' experiences](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/10/excellent-post-on-usability-tips-for-your-blog-gleaned-from-dozens-of-bloggers-experiences-2/): I just came across this excellent post on blogging usability tips from Tom Johnson of I'd rather be writing. He describes twenty different examples in very clear language, accompanied by helpful graphics. It doesn't necessarily have new or revolutionary information, just a great reminder of the basics needed to start a solid, useful blog. He
- [The brave new generation of entrepreneurs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/04/05/the-brave-new-generation-of-entrepreneurs/): (Click image to enlarge) Join me and my guest Ramit Sethi of iwillteachyoutoberich.com on Friday's episode of Escape from Cubicle Nation Radio to talk about all that we can learn from the next generation of entrepreneurs. I love Ramit - he is smart, funny, hard-working, and a no-BS kind of guy. He started his entrepreneurial
- [Identify your true passions so you start a business you love](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/30/identify-your-true-passions-so-you-start-a-business-you-love/): (Click image to enlarge) Join me today in a conversation with one of my favorite people on the planet, Dr. Srikumar Rao, professor at Columbia and London business schools and author of Are You Ready to Succeed? Unconventional strategies to achieving personal mastery in business and life. Dr. Rao teaches a very popular course on
- [The importance of a strong business foundation:  you can't build a house on smoke and mirrors](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/26/the-importance-of-a-strong-business-foundation-you-cant-build-a-house-on-smoke-and-mirrors/): I have had a few interactions lately with some entrepreneurs who have been in business for a number of years, but are struggling terribly to make money in their business. Usually, they ask questions like: "Do you have any advice for how I can close more sales? My expenses are just about the same as
- [The importance of a strong business foundation:  you can't build a house on smoke and mirrors](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/26/the-importance-of-a-strong-business-foundation-you-cant-build-a-house-on-smoke-and-mirrors-2/): I have had a few interactions lately with some entrepreneurs who have been in business for a number of years, but are struggling terribly to make money in their business. Usually, they ask questions like: "Do you have any advice for how I can close more sales? My expenses are just about the same as
- [Interview with "Renaissance Entrepreneur" Steven A. Darden 3/23](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/22/interview-with-renaissance-entrepreneur-steven-a-darden-323/): (Click image to enlarge) I am very excited about this week's radio show, as I get to interview my good friend and very interesting entrepreneur Steven A. Darden. Steve has created a business that reflects his diverse talents and interests, and allows him to have the kind of life that makes him happy and
- [Interview with "Renaissance Entrepreneur" Steven A. Darden 3/23](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/22/interview-with-renaissance-entrepreneur-steven-a-darden-323-2/): (Click image to enlarge) I am very excited about this week's radio show, as I get to interview my good friend and very interesting entrepreneur Steven A. Darden. Steve has created a business that reflects his diverse talents and interests, and allows him to have the kind of life that makes him happy and
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation Radio 3/16:  Rich Sloan of Startup Nation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/15/escape-from-cubicle-nation-radio-316-rich-sloan-of-startup-nation/): (Click image to enlarge) This week's radio show is with guest Rich Sloan, co-founder of Startup Nation. We are going to talk about how to avoid the overwhelm of 1,001 details in your head when you think about starting your own business. Rich will share some of his own interesting and inspiring entrepreneurial background, and
- [Escape podcast:  Networking tip - use the phone!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/03/05/escape-podcast-networking-tip-use-the-phone/): We all get comfortable using email to introduce ourselves to people we find compelling or share common business interests with. It is a quick and painless way to connect with people all over the world. But with the influx of email in everyone's inbox these days, as an alternative, why don't you try picking up
- [Come celebrate entrepreneurship and social media in Arizona with me and Robert Scoble on March 1](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/15/come-celebrate-entrepreneurship-and-social-media-in-arizona-with-me-and-robert-scoble-on-march-1/): OK, I don't know Robert Scoble yet, but he will be keynoting the Revolution in Marketing Conference at Grand Canyon University here in Phoenix, Arizona on March 1. The topic will be "How entrepreneurs can use social media responsibly and effectively." I will be on a panel later that morning of Arizona entrepreneurs on the
- [Love her or hate her, what you can learn from Rachael Ray about building a brand](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/02/13/love-her-or-hate-her-what-you-can-learn-from-rachael-ray-about-building-a-brand/): Here in the U.S., the media darling of the year is the 30-Minute Meal perky cooking diva Rachael Ray. It seems that her brand and media presence jumped from a whisper (a few cooking shows and cook books) to a scream (a talk show, magazine, product line, pet advice, etc.) all in a short period
- [I live for these emails](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/25/i-live-for-these-emails/): The absolute best part of writing this blog is when I get emails like this from my readers:"I wanted to let you know that I've left my University job of 12 years to do workflow consulting. I read David Allen's book "Getting Things Done," which made a huge improvement in my life and lead to
- [Announcing my new coaching program with StartupNation!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/22/announcing-my-new-coaching-program-with-startupnation/): After a lot of creative brainstorming and work, I am thrilled to announce the fruits of a juicy collaboration with StartupNation which is the 10 Steps to Open for Business Coaching Program. This is a 12-week coaching program starting on February 14 (Newsflash: due to a timeline switch in testing the online environment, we pushed
- [No more boring press releases:  Redefining the relationship of PR, traditional media and bloggers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/12/no-more-boring-press-releases-redefining-the-relationship-of-pr-traditional-media-and-bloggers/): It is kind of amazing how convergence happens. Last night, I finally got to attend the Phoenix chapter meeting of the Social Media Club. The room was packed, and it felt so good to get out from behind my computer screen, and see some real live human beings that I had only met before through
- [Escape podcast:  Stop playing small](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/01/01/escape-podcast-stop-playing-small/): Yesterday, I wrote about 12 ways to become more free in the New Year. One of the 12 ways was "Freedom from playing small." Fear of playing big is one of the most significant fears facing aspiring entrepreneurs. It is what keeps us mulling around ideas in our cube for years at a time while
- [12 ways to feel more free in 2007](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/31/12-ways-to-feel-more-free-in-2007/): New Years is my favorite holiday of the year. I get filled with a huge sense of optimism, creativity and imagination. Rather than getting overwhelmed with New Year's Resolutions, I tend to think about the major ways in which I want to use my life for good. This year, my overwhelming purpose is to use
- [Off to the coast](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/22/off-to-the-coast/): In a few hours, I am taking off with my family to the Bay Area in California where we will spend some nice, relaxed time with my family over the holidays. I am looking forward to a lot of things (FOOD is one of them! Here in Mesa, AZ, Taco Bell is considered haute cuisine),
- [Lichen as a business strategy](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/19/lichen-as-a-business-strategy/): There are few things that I remember well from high school biology. For some reason, I have always remembered the lesson covering lichen: "Lichens are composite, symbiotic organisms made up from members of as many as three kingdoms. The dominant partner is a fungus. Fungi are incapable of making their own food. They usually provide
- [Escape podcast:  When is your branding "good enough" to start marketing?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/18/escape-podcast-when-is-your-branding-good-enough-to-start-marketing/): If you are just starting to market your business, you might feel a little exasperated when trying to choose a perfect brand name. It may feel like until you do this, you can't move forward with any marketing plans and you feel stuck and frustrated. Go here to download or listen online. In this episode
- [Escape podcast:  When is your branding "good enough" to start marketing?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/18/escape-podcast-when-is-your-branding-good-enough-to-start-marketing-2/): If you are just starting to market your business, you might feel a little exasperated when trying to choose a perfect brand name. It may feel like until you do this, you can't move forward with any marketing plans and you feel stuck and frustrated. Go here to download or listen online. In this episode
- [How to network:  for introverts](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/15/how-to-network-for-introverts/): I am a total stats nerd and really pay attention to traffic and incoming links. It actually is kind of fascinating to see who finds the blog and how they get here. Through this means, I noticed a whole lot of visits from a great blog post titled "How to network: for introverts.", from Business
- [Avoid becoming the stressed-out, overworked entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/13/avoid-becoming-the-stressed-out-overworked-entrepreneur/): One of my readers recently asked this very astute question:"Some of the people I know that actually own a business (most of them selling some sort of product or franchise), they complain that they work a lot more than on a regular job. You can see them working weekends much more than other people. I'd
- [Know any deserving single Mom entrepreneurs who could use free marketing info?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/08/know-any-deserving-single-mom-entrepreneurs-who-could-use-free-marketing-info/): John Jansch of Duct Tape Marketing, arguably the best small business marketing site out there, just informed me that he was conducting a search for 25 deserving single Mom entrepreneurs who would like a free copy of his upcoming book. It all came about after an email he received from a reader:"I am interested in
- [The all-in-one, too much information viral meme chain response](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/08/the-all-in-one-too-much-information-viral-meme-chain-response/): I definitely have issues. Starting about a week ago, some very wonderful, fun and spunky blog readers began pinging me and asking me to participate in a couple of memes, starting with Shannon Cherry of Cherry Communications and Mommy, Inc. Shannon asked me to participate in the "Come as you are" meme, where you take
- [And the runners up from Favorite Things are ...](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/07/and-the-runners-up-from-favorite-things-are/): Last week, I published the list of my 10 favorite gift ideas. The process of selection was extremely difficult, and I distinctly remember a point in the afternoon on Friday when I questioned my sanity for undertaking the task. It felt like choosing between children ... how can you really pick a favorite without upsetting
- [I'm heading to the Social Media Club of Phoenix event on 12/14 - join me!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/05/im-heading-to-the-social-media-club-of-phoenix-event-on-1214-join-me/): I am so glad that local Phoenix blogger Matthew Moran found me and told me about the upcoming Social Media Club event on December 14. This is a very recently-formed group of people interested in Social Media/Web 2.0/Blogging and Podcasting kind of stuff in the Phoenix area. I was so jazzed to find out about
- [I'm heading to the Social Media Club of Phoenix event on 12/14 - join me!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/05/im-heading-to-the-social-media-club-of-phoenix-event-on-1214-join-me-2/): I am so glad that local Phoenix blogger Matthew Moran found me and told me about the upcoming Social Media Club event on December 14. This is a very recently-formed group of people interested in Social Media/Web 2.0/Blogging and Podcasting kind of stuff in the Phoenix area. I was so jazzed to find out about
- [Escape Podcast:  Proud member of the Island of Misfit Toys](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/04/escape-podcast-proud-member-of-the-island-of-misfit-toys/): Check out today's episode of the Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast: Proud member of the Island of Misfit Toys. It ran 7 minutes 23 seconds this time ... still enough to steal a break at work. Here is what is covered: Do you often feel like the oddball in your family, your job or your
- [Cool drawing from Gaping Void's blog of The Work Manifesto](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/03/cool-drawing-from-gaping-voids-blog-of-the-work-manifesto/): I am delighted that Hugh McLeod of Gaping Void published The Work Manifesto Today! Thanks Hugh! I love the picture that accompanies it ... I hope it is ok to share here (I lifted it from his blog), and go here to see the post on the Gaping Void site. This may be uncool to
- [Cool drawing from Gaping Void's blog of The Work Manifesto](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/12/03/cool-drawing-from-gaping-voids-blog-of-the-work-manifesto-2/): I am delighted that Hugh McLeod of Gaping Void published The Work Manifesto Today! Thanks Hugh! I love the picture that accompanies it ... I hope it is ok to share here (I lifted it from his blog), and go here to see the post on the Gaping Void site. This may be uncool to
- [Dang am I excited to see Lynnette Khalfani on Oprah](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/30/dang-am-i-excited-to-see-lynnette-khalfani-on-oprah/): I just got a message today from Lynnette Khalfani, a former collaborator on an article I wrote for Startup Nation called 3 Steps to Financially Prepare for Starting Your Own Business. She is going to be on Oprah tomorrow, in a segment on dealing with financial windfalls. Lynnette found me through my blog right before
- [My entry into Hugh McLeod's call to change the world:  The work manifesto](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/29/my-entry-into-hugh-mcleods-call-to-change-the-world-the-work-manifesto/): Inspired by the brilliant J Train Minifesto written by my buddy John Dodds of Make Marketing History, Hugh McLeod of the popular blog Gaping Void put out a call for less-than-500 word "minifestos" that can change the world. Probably the most famous manifesto, in the internet world anyway, is the Cluetrain. Hugh wrote his own
- [My entry into Hugh McLeod's call to change the world:  The work manifesto](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/29/my-entry-into-hugh-mcleods-call-to-change-the-world-the-work-manifesto-2/): Inspired by the brilliant J Train Minifesto written by my buddy John Dodds of Make Marketing History, Hugh McLeod of the popular blog Gaping Void put out a call for less-than-500 word "minifestos" that can change the world. Probably the most famous manifesto, in the internet world anyway, is the Cluetrain. Hugh wrote his own
- [The mind/body connection and its relation to blogfat](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/28/the-mindbody-connection-and-its-relation-to-blogfat/): Come January, you will be most likely deluged by "get rid of that holiday flab" commercials till you can't stand it. So I don't want to harp on that angle, since I find it personally demotivating to exercise for reason of my jiggly thighs or emerging love handles. In fact, that just makes me want
- [Favorite Things deadline Tues 11/28 and Free Escape call 12/6](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/27/favorite-things-deadline-tues-1128-and-free-escape-call-126/): I hope everyone had a nice weekend! I wanted to share a couple of reminders today. Promote your product or service! My Pam's Favorite Things contest deadline is tomorrow, Tuesday November 28 at whatever time I fall asleep (usually about midnight Mountain Time U.S. (GMT -7). I encourage you or your entrepreneurial loved ones to
- [Much to be thankful for](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/22/much-to-be-thankful-for/): Knowing that Thanksgiving is upon us tomorrow in the U.S., I thought I would take a minute to express my extreme gratitude for all the people who have come into my life in the past year. Most have come right here through this blog, which has become a comforting, occasionally raucous and always interesting place
- [Free at last](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/21/free-at-last/): Another one of my frequent blog readers and commenters, J. Timothy King, informed his friends, family and cyberspace in general that he gave notice at his job and will be formally self-employed by Thanksgiving. After talking about parallels with recent episodes of Roswell that he was watching, he said:"Wednesday morning, as my wife was faxing
- [Escape Podcast:  The customer likeability factor](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/20/escape-podcast-the-customer-likeability-factor/): A conversation with a client last week got me obsessing about ways to further support and encourage him in his entrepreneurial endeavors. And as I spent more and more time thinking about it, I had a deep insight: The fact that I care so much about this client is a great clue that I am
- [Plastics, young man!  How to use market trends in your quest for the perfect business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/17/plastics-young-man-how-to-use-market-trends-in-your-quest-for-the-perfect-business/): If you have ever seen the classic movie The Graduate starring a fresh-faced Dustin Hoffman, you surely remember the scene where his parent's friend tells him "Plastics, young man!" imploring him to start his career in the latest booming industry. I fondly recalled this quote as I eagerly dove into December's issue of Entrepreneur Magazine,
- [Ready for some fun?  Submit your product for 'Pam's Favorite Things 2006'](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/15/ready-for-some-fun-submit-your-product-for-pams-favorite-things-2006/): I can't stop from cracking up at my hubris even when writing the title to this post, which makes me want to write it even more. Oprah be damned, I am taking this entrepreneurial bull by the horns. I had a very fun brainstorm today while talking to my very creative friend Marilyn on the
- [Ready for some fun?  Submit your product for 'Pam's Favorite Things 2006'](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/15/ready-for-some-fun-submit-your-product-for-pams-favorite-things-2006-2/): I can't stop from cracking up at my hubris even when writing the title to this post, which makes me want to write it even more. Oprah be damned, I am taking this entrepreneurial bull by the horns. I had a very fun brainstorm today while talking to my very creative friend Marilyn on the
- [Get a grip on yourself before the holiday onslaught](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/14/get-a-grip-on-yourself-before-the-holiday-onslaught/): I don't know at which moment my overwhelm registered last week; maybe it was when my husband asked if I had called a contact that I had jotted down on a piece of paper and left God knows where; perhaps it was when I saw with annoyance that in my haste to get things done
- [Extremely handy time zone planner](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/14/extremely-handy-time-zone-planner/): Do you often scratch your head to set up meetings with various partners all over the globe? I am particularly vexed by this since in Arizona, we don't observe Daylight Savings Time and so half the year we are on Pacific Time, and the other half we are on Mountain Time (we are now on
- [Great article:  10 Laws to Help You Thrive as an Entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/10/great-article-10-laws-to-help-you-thrive-as-an-entrepreneur/): My good friend and emerging business partner Philippa Kennealy, author of The Entrepreneurial MD Blog (we're just beginning some joint venture projects to benefit both our audiences) just wrote an excellent article called 10 Laws to Help You Thrive as an Entrepreneurial Physician. I realize most of you aren't doctors (as she is), but the
- [I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit, people like me!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/10/im-good-enough-im-smart-enough-and-doggonit-people-like-me/): If any of you did not grow of age in the 80's and 90's watching Saturday Night Live, you may not be familiar with Al Franken's character Stuart Smalley, a self-help junkie who is addicted to 12-step programs and cheesy affirmations. There were some really funny skits, including one with Michael Jordan, where Stuart tries
- [I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit, people like me!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/10/im-good-enough-im-smart-enough-and-doggonit-people-like-me-2/): If any of you did not grow of age in the 80's and 90's watching Saturday Night Live, you may not be familiar with Al Franken's character Stuart Smalley, a self-help junkie who is addicted to 12-step programs and cheesy affirmations. There were some really funny skits, including one with Michael Jordan, where Stuart tries
- [Baltimore Sun Blography podcast interview available](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/08/baltimore-sun-blography-podcast-interview-available/): I recently did a podcast interview with John Lindner of the Baltimore Sun that just got published in two parts. John's podcast is called Blography (subscribe here), and discusses the worldwide blogosphere. We had a really nice discussion, covering topics not only related to escaping Cubicle Nation, but also how blogging impacts business and business
- [Technology foibles](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/08/technology-foibles/): I have learned an important lesson in the last few days when my internet connection went on the blink - I have no backup plan! Thank goodness that I didn't have a lot of internet-based classes going on, otherwise I would have been really stuck. I ended up doing emergency email at the local Starbucks,
- [Escape podcast:  The curse of competence](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/06/escape-podcast-the-curse-of-competence/): Happy Monday! It is podcast time again, and this episode focuses on the curse of competence, or how to avoid starting a business based on a skill or ability that you get great rewards for but are very burned out on. Go here to access the podcast - this time it is under 5 minutes,
- [Is entrepreneurship a state of mind or state of employment?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/11/02/is-entrepreneurship-a-state-of-mind-or-state-of-employment/): Greetings from the great state of Texas where I am on the road to do a little consulting gig. I have been giving some thought lately to the idea of what it means to be entrepreneurial. An obvious answer is when you own your own business and generate your own income. But another definition could
- [The delicate art of business partnering](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/30/the-delicate-art-of-business-partnering/): One of the first things you learn as a new entrepreneur is that you cannot possibly do everything yourself. There are too many details involved in running a business to rely on any one individual. Many people are used to going to a lawyer or accountant for business advice, but have you ever thought about
- [Escape podcast episode 5:  Beat negative self-talk when starting a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/23/escape-podcast-episode-5-beat-negative-self-talk-when-starting-a-business/): Listen to the latest episode of the Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast! When you decide to start your own business, you might find yourself plagued with all kinds of negative self-talk like: I am a terrible salesperson I don't have the self-discipline required to be a successful entrepreneur I will never be able to start
- [Top 5 nitpicky mistakes made by new entrepreneurs that drive me crazy](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/20/top-5-nitpicky-mistakes-made-by-new-entrepreneurs-that-drive-me-crazy/): One of the fun things about my work is that I get exposure to a lot of different marketing materials from emerging entrepreneurs. Lately, I have seen a few annoying things that really undermine a professional image. If you have committed these sins, please don't feel judged ... just fix them asap. Sharing an email
- [Pam's travel pic roundup](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/18/pams-travel-pic-roundup/): I have been on the road and interacting with "real live human beings" (no offense, my virtual friends!)more in the last month or so than I have in about 2 years. My first foray out of the desert was my whirlwind trip to New York last month to meet Gloria Steinem, then I went to
- [Pam's travel pic roundup](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/18/pams-travel-pic-roundup-2/): I have been on the road and interacting with "real live human beings" (no offense, my virtual friends!)more in the last month or so than I have in about 2 years. My first foray out of the desert was my whirlwind trip to New York last month to meet Gloria Steinem, then I went to
- [The power of one thought](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/11/the-power-of-one-thought/): Sorry it has been a little quiet on the desert front ... I have been traveling this week and write from Americus, Georgia where I am spending the week working with Habitat for Humanity's Youth Program. It is kind of rare that I go on the road anymore due to my little guy, but this
- [Escape Podcast:  Reduce your marketing dread](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/09/escape-podcast-reduce-your-marketing-dread/): It's that time again! I publish the Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast every other Monday. Go here to listen. In this episode, I cover three things that help new entrepreneurs overcome their dread of all things marketing: Readjusting your marketing mindset Clearly defining a niche Selecting and creating a marketing plan In case you can't
- [Why Sprint's PR person lost his job and will never contact another blogger again](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/07/why-sprints-pr-person-lost-his-job-and-will-never-contact-another-blogger-again/): I may be late to the game with this, but I was in hysterics reading Joel Spolsky's post Amazing X-Ray Glasses from Sprint! from his excellent blog, Joel on Software. I realize that this blog is frequented by software engineers, a profession I clearly don't have, but his writing is so good and funny and
- [Why Sprint's PR person lost his job and will never contact another blogger again](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/07/why-sprints-pr-person-lost-his-job-and-will-never-contact-another-blogger-again-2/): I may be late to the game with this, but I was in hysterics reading Joel Spolsky's post Amazing X-Ray Glasses from Sprint! from his excellent blog, Joel on Software. I realize that this blog is frequented by software engineers, a profession I clearly don't have, but his writing is so good and funny and
- [Your advice for 17-year old Alexius?  Stay in school or hit the streets?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/06/your-advice-for-17-year-old-alexius-stay-in-school-or-hit-the-streets/): I am totally busy trying to get ready for my trip to Georgia this weekend (I'm teaching a consulting skills workshop for the staff of the Youth Programs at Habitat for Humanity next week - can't wait!) but I couldn't pass up the opportunity for you to share some advice for 17-year old Alexius who
- [The ultimate compliment:  Interview by 20-something Ramit Sethi](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/06/the-ultimate-compliment-interview-by-20-something-ramit-sethi/): I don't know about the rest of you 40-to-50-somethings, but I sometimes fear that as I get older my rapport with the young generation will turn into "long-winded old person lectures bored young person rolling his eyes." Something must happen when you pass the 40-year mark that makes you feel compelled to share all the
- [Overwhelmed with too much to do?  Outsource everything possible](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/05/overwhelmed-with-too-much-to-do-outsource-everything-possible/): There are a handful of things that I do very well. Some, such as consulting or speaking, bring in cash which is handy to do things like pay the mortgage, buy diapers and indulge in my book-buying habit. But there are a bunch of other things that I either don't do well or hate to
- [How to get experience and credibility when you are just starting your biz](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/03/how-to-get-experience-and-credibility-when-you-are-just-starting-your-biz/): Olivia, one of my readers from Australia, sent a thought-provoking question the other day that I felt would be a good discussion-starter for those beginning a business. She writes:"I've decided I'd love to do professional organising (only just emerging in Australia), and am reading lots of excellent books on the actual work/counseling and also marketing
- [Give yourself permission to suck](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/10/02/give-yourself-permission-to-suck/): In this month's ezine, I share my lifelong struggle with perfectionism, a characteristic identified by a school buddy in fourth grade in our new-age encounter group called "rap." She said that I always had to be "Perfect Pam" and it bugged her. (I grew up in Marin County, California which was the hotbed of touchy-feely
- [Come join me on first-ever Q&A call 10/4](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/26/come-join-me-on-first-ever-qa-call-104/): I don't know about you, but I have been *buried* in emails lately and have felt in serious slacker mode for not getting back to people quickly enough. I was sharing my tale of woe with my coach and she suggested hosting a free teleclass every month to connect with my readers and offer an
- [Come join me on first-ever Q&A call 10/4](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/26/come-join-me-on-first-ever-qa-call-104-2/): I don't know about you, but I have been *buried* in emails lately and have felt in serious slacker mode for not getting back to people quickly enough. I was sharing my tale of woe with my coach and she suggested hosting a free teleclass every month to connect with my readers and offer an
- [Escape Podcast 3:  How do you decide which business to start?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/25/escape-podcast-3-how-do-you-decide-which-business-to-start/): It's that time again! I just posted the third episode of the Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast. It is about 6 1/2 minutes long and covers the following topic: Many people have questions about which business to start. But most approach the task from the wrong angle, believing that if they just think about it
- [A little bit of self-indulgent feedback requested for my book project](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/22/a-little-bit-of-self-indulgent-feedback-requested-for-my-book-project/): Can I enlist your help again for the Escape from Cubicle Nation book project? You have been so helpful so far and I really appreciate it. When I was in New York, I met with my book agent and we discussed my "positioning" for this project. As any of you who have written or pitched
- [5 ways to get out of "job" mentality when starting a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/21/5-ways-to-get-out-of-job-mentality-when-starting-a-business/): I have talked a lot this week about breaking out of some of your mental models so you can make a quantum leap in your life and work. When you start your own business, it is tempting to look at it as you would an employee job. You may believe that there is one definitive
- [5 ways to get out of "job" mentality when starting a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/21/5-ways-to-get-out-of-job-mentality-when-starting-a-business-2/): I have talked a lot this week about breaking out of some of your mental models so you can make a quantum leap in your life and work. When you start your own business, it is tempting to look at it as you would an employee job. You may believe that there is one definitive
- [Another one makes the leap!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/20/another-one-makes-the-leap/): A reader who is a "government lawyer" and writes basquette case, an anonymous blog about her plan to quit being an employee and open her own law firm officially gave notice yesterday. Her detailed description of telling her boss begins:"Yesterday, the DeathStar exploded, into a million little shiny pieces floating in space. OK, only in
- [My strange personal connection to the Patricia Dunn/HP Story](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/19/my-strange-personal-connection-to-the-patricia-dunnhp-story/): As I was browsing the magazine rack at the Newark airport last week, I saw the cover of Newsweek with the picture of Patricia Dunn, embattled Chairman of Hewlett Packard's board. I read the story with great interest for the following two reasons: I used to work for Patricia Dunn many years ago at my
- [Is it crazy to feel guilty about success?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/18/is-it-crazy-to-feel-guilty-about-success/): Andrey Butov recently shared this post that he put on the discussion group at the Business of Software, a part of Joel on Software. I thought it had so many implications for anyone just starting their own business full-time that I asked if I could blog about it here in order to get your perspectives.
- [I almost successfully crashed the World Business Forum in New York](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/15/i-almost-successfully-crashed-the-world-business-forum-in-new-york/): After my whirlwind event on Tuesday night at the launch of Greenstone Media (more stories to follow, once I get my hands on a couple of pictures for the post ... just to give a flavor, have you ever been to an event with Gloria Steinem, the lead singer of Twisted Sister and Deborah Norville
- [Don't miss this free teleclass by Professor Srikumar S. Rao on 9/15](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/14/dont-miss-this-free-teleclass-by-professor-srikumar-s-rao-on-915/): You know how I am always harping on learning as much as you can while still in your corporate job to prepare you for entrepreneurship? Here is a great opportunity to do just that and it won't cost you a cent. Professor Srikumar Rao is an accomplished, wise, supportive and delightful man who teaches a
- [Don't miss this free teleclass by Professor Srikumar S. Rao on 9/15](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/14/dont-miss-this-free-teleclass-by-professor-srikumar-s-rao-on-915-2/): You know how I am always harping on learning as much as you can while still in your corporate job to prepare you for entrepreneurship? Here is a great opportunity to do just that and it won't cost you a cent. Professor Srikumar Rao is an accomplished, wise, supportive and delightful man who teaches a
- [Gloria Steinem says Ms. Magazine was a "blogging culture with 19th century technology"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/11/gloria-steinem-says-ms-magazine-was-a-blogging-culture-with-19th-century-technology/): I hinted the other day that I was going to interview Gloria Steinem, the renowned feminist, author and modern day cultural icon of women's liberation. The conversation came up as a result in her participation in Greenstone Media, the first women-owned national radio network which is launching this week in New York. I am going
- [Podcast episode 2:  Plan your life, then plan your business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/11/podcast-episode-2-plan-your-life-then-plan-your-business/): This week's podcast is on the topic of the importance of thinking about your ideal life before you get busy writing your business plan. It is just under 4 1/2 minutes. I included a simple exercise you can do when you have a few minutes time. Please let me know how it goes, if and
- [Calling all 20s-early 30s women who made the leap from corporate to entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/06/calling-all-20s-early-30s-women-who-made-the-leap-from-corporate-to-entrepreneur/): It has been a busy media week ... I just got a ping from someone looking to talk to a few young women in their 20s-early 30s who successfully made the leap from corporate employee to entrepreneur. Are you such a woman, or does your wife/daughter/former colleague/neighbor or niece fit this criteria? You were indeed
- [There must have been a few surprised Intel employees amidst the cuts](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/09/05/there-must-have-been-a-few-surprised-intel-employees-amidst-the-cuts/): I read the news today that Intel plans to cut 10,500 jobs, or 10% of its workforce. Savings are said to be about $3B a year after the inevitable couple years of adjustment. Whenever I read things like that, I can't help but think about the dramas unfolding tonight in the kitchens and living rooms
- [Take baby steps when planning a business while still employed](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/31/take-baby-steps-when-planning-a-business-while-still-employed/): This month's Get a Life issue focuses around a topic hot in the minds of potential entrepreneurs: How do I find time to plan my business when I have the responsibilities of a day job, errands and family?Here are some ways I came up with (details in the article link above): Create a master list
- [Startup Nation Poll](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/30/startup-nation-poll/): I have referred many of you to Startup Nation since I think it is an excellent source of free information about the nuts and bolts of starting a business. They also have a rapidly growing community forum which many members find helpful for real-time interaction and feedback on questions about starting a business. I have
- [Downloadable version of "My Declaration of Independence" now available](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/30/downloadable-version-of-my-declaration-of-independence-now-available-2/): A number of you asked for the downloadable version of my Flash movie My Declaration of Independence to play at those moments when interminable meetings and cube life get the best of you. Find it on YouTube here. My secret wish ... that you "accidentally" play it instead of your canned, boring presentation at a
- [Request:  Self-employed person without employees working with same](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/29/request-self-employed-person-without-employees-working-with-same/): I just got a request from a media colleague for the following: "My ideal example is self-employed person with no employees who is working on a project with several other self-employed people who also don't have employees." If you work in the U.S. and seem to fit this description or know someone who does, please
- [Announcing Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast Episode 1](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/28/announcing-escape-from-cubicle-nation-podcast-episode-1/): Greetings everyone! I am pleased to introduce my first, raw, unedited and low-techno version of the Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast. It runs about 7 1/2 minutes. I have been thinking about doing a podcast for a long time, not (just) because it is the hip thing to do, but because I love the idea
- [Care to weigh in on Glenda Watson-Hyatt's book title?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/25/care-to-weigh-in-on-glenda-watson-hyatts-book-title/): A few weeks back, I wrote with delight that my buddy Glenda Watson-Hyatt won a marketing makeover contest to help launch her book I Can Do It Myself. Since she has cerebral palsy, she can only write with her left thumb. And she has finished her book! (I tell her how pathetic I am since
- [Care to weigh in on Glenda Watson-Hyatt's book title?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/25/care-to-weigh-in-on-glenda-watson-hyatts-book-title-2/): A few weeks back, I wrote with delight that my buddy Glenda Watson-Hyatt won a marketing makeover contest to help launch her book I Can Do It Myself. Since she has cerebral palsy, she can only write with her left thumb. And she has finished her book! (I tell her how pathetic I am since
- [The reality of working from home](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/24/the-reality-of-working-from-home/): I had a delightful conversation today with the smart and interesting Matthew Stibbe of Bad Language. I was determined to master the art of Skype, which another friend from over the pond told me about, Erica Douglas of Career Mom Radio (I am going to start being a regular contributor to this show, which is
- [I need to get out more](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/21/i-need-to-get-out-more/): I looked in the mirror the other day and noticed that I was appallingly, glaringly white. Of course I have been white all my life, so it shouldn't have come as a surprise. But this variety is the pasty-no trace of sun-dark circles under the eyes-kind of white that is the direct result of not
- [Requesting quick feedback on draft outline of The Book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/18/requesting-quick-feedback-on-draft-outline-of-the-book/): I wrote to all of you a few weeks ago that I was getting serious and finally writing my book. Many jaunts of procrastination, indecision, jolts of caffeine and crinkly foreheads later, I have pieced together an outline which I would like to run by you. Keep in mind it is a first draft. When
- [Nice list of entrepreneurial sites from Lifehack.org](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/16/nice-list-of-entrepreneurial-sites-from-lifehackorg/): For those who don't know, Lifehack.org is a site:"dedicated to life hacks. Danny O’Brien linked together the words “life” and “hacks” and created a phrase that enable to describe any hacks, tips and tricks that get things done quickly by automating, increase productivity and organizing. This site is built around this theme. It is a
- [Happy anniversary to me!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/15/happy-anniversary-to-me/): OK, please allow me a moment of tremendous self-indulgence ... I was talking with a reporter today and he asked me how long it had been since I left my corporate job. I scratched my forehead, looked at the calendar and did the math - and realized that the last day I wore pantyhose as
- [Who are you writing for?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/14/who-are-you-writing-for/): There is a lot of blogging about blogging, including ways to increase your Google and Technorati rankings, get more traffic to your site and increase the pool of readers who subscribe to your RSS feed. Certain notables such as Guy Kawasaki have written about it, as he very publicly set out his intentions to crack
- [Here is a picture of my 10 million dollar yacht](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/11/here-is-a-picture-of-my-10-million-dollar-yacht/): So much of the advertising, writing and propaganda about entrepreneurship, especially in the world of internet marketing, contains exuberant exclamations like: "Here is a picture of me cavorting with supermodels in the French Riviera, all while listening to pings from my Blackberry each time money pours into my bank account!" or "I was an oppressed
- [Is there a sure-fire way to know if your new business will be a success?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/07/is-there-a-sure-fire-way-to-know-if-your-new-business-will-be-a-success/): To save you reading time, here is the short answer: NO. I wish there were a secret formula to ensure that the business idea you have been madly brewing in your mind is going to generate enough income to compensate for your current salary as an employee, if not much more. Unfortunately, there are many,
- [Thanks for the "boost back" from My Declaration of Independence](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/04/thanks-for-the-boost-back-from-my-declaration-of-independence/): Humbled is the only word I can think of to describe all the wonderful traffic to this blog and passionate emails I have received from those of you who have viewed My Declaration of Independence. Over 5,000 people have viewed it in the last 2 days, in great part due to endorsements from two people
- [Thanks for the "boost back" from My Declaration of Independence](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/04/thanks-for-the-boost-back-from-my-declaration-of-independence-2/): Humbled is the only word I can think of to describe all the wonderful traffic to this blog and passionate emails I have received from those of you who have viewed My Declaration of Independence. Over 5,000 people have viewed it in the last 2 days, in great part due to endorsements from two people
- [How do you know where to start with your marketing activities?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/08/02/how-do-you-know-where-to-start-with-your-marketing-activities/): I had a long phone conversation the other day with a very smart and interesting pair of entrepreneurs. He was just starting a new video production business after retiring from 30+ years of being an employee, and she was a long-time salon owner looking to stop working so hard and build in some higher-revenue services
- [Money really does grow on trees, the $186 temple, three legged frogs and other tricks to improve your relationship with money](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/31/money-really-does-grow-on-trees-the-186-temple-three-legged-frogs-and-other-tricks-to-improve-your-relationship-with-money/): In my latest ezine issue, I tackle the topic of developing a healthy emotional relationship with money. Napoleon Hill in his famous book Think and Grow Rich categorized six groups of fear faced by human beings: fear of poverty, fear of criticism, fear of ill health, fear of loss of love, fear of old age
- [A special boost for wannabe entrepreneurs:  My Declaration of Independence](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/27/a-special-boost-for-wannabe-entrepreneurs-my-declaration-of-independence/): Just in time for Peru's Independence Day (What, you didn't know that it was tomorrow?), we have put the final touches on my Flash movie/inspirational message My Declaration of Independence. I sat up in bed late at night on June 21 (Summer Solstice) and thought "Wouldn't it be fun to create a little multimedia message
- [Great small business reads for summer from 800-CEO-Read](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/26/great-small-business-reads-for-summer-from-800-ceo-read/): I just came across this very useful list of recommended reads for entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs-to-be that is put out by the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship: http://read.ducttapemarketing.com/2006/07/a_great_list_of.html I will not buy one more book until I make it through the stack on the edge of my bathtub. Remind me to buy some stock in Amazon, as
- [Fortune admits Jack Welch is wrong - ranking employees really is stupid](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/25/fortune-admits-jack-welch-is-wrong-ranking-employees-really-is-stupid/): I try keep posts which rail against corporate life to a minimum and focus instead on concrete tips for helping people escape their job and start their own business. (Although a good rant is cathartic at times!) Lord knows there are enough people blogging about how miserable it is within corporations. But when I picked
- [I'm finally getting serious and writing "The Book" - Escape from Cubicle Nation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/24/im-finally-getting-serious-and-writing-the-book-escape-from-cubicle-nation/): Well, things are suddenly cooking on the book front and I am working with an agent to create a proposal for the book I have been simmering inside my head for the last 8 months ... Escape from Cubicle Nation. (Not surprised by the title, eh?) I have always known I wanted to write a
- [I'm finally getting serious and writing "The Book" - Escape from Cubicle Nation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/24/im-finally-getting-serious-and-writing-the-book-escape-from-cubicle-nation-2/): Well, things are suddenly cooking on the book front and I am working with an agent to create a proposal for the book I have been simmering inside my head for the last 8 months ... Escape from Cubicle Nation. (Not surprised by the title, eh?) I have always known I wanted to write a
- [How to have the "I want to quit my job" conversation with your spouse](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/19/how-to-have-the-i-want-to-quit-my-job-conversation-with-your-spouse-2/): I have been very intrigued with a sub-theme that has emerged from many conversations with corporate employees who want to become entrepreneurs: How can I tell my spouse that I want to quit my job without him/her getting scared and/or defensive? I fondly call this "The Conversation" and pick up the same amount of anxiety
- [Who is on your bus?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/15/who-is-on-your-bus/): I heard Jim Collins introduce a simple concept at a Fast Company conference in Phoenix in 2000 that has stuck in my mind ever since. It was just before his book Good to Great was published (a read I highly recommend!) and he was explaining some of the fundamental concepts of how mediocre companies can
- [If you don't feel like reading, listen to me gab on Lifestyle CEO Radio](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/13/if-you-dont-feel-like-reading-listen-to-me-gab-on-lifestyle-ceo-radio/): This link just in ... the recording from an interview I did on Monday with Donna Maria Coles Johnson from Lifestyle CEO. It is a whole hour and we covered a lot of territory about how to leave your corporate job and start a business. Enjoy and thanks for listening! P.S. You will probably notice
- [If you don't feel like reading, listen to me gab on Lifestyle CEO Radio](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/13/if-you-dont-feel-like-reading-listen-to-me-gab-on-lifestyle-ceo-radio-2/): This link just in ... the recording from an interview I did on Monday with Donna Maria Coles Johnson from Lifestyle CEO. It is a whole hour and we covered a lot of territory about how to leave your corporate job and start a business. Enjoy and thanks for listening! P.S. You will probably notice
- [59 is the new 65 and other reasons to start your business NOW](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/13/59-is-the-new-65-and-other-reasons-to-start-your-business-now/): On Monday, Donna Maria Coles Johnson and blog reader Mark Wooten both alerted me to a cover story in USA Today called Many Americans retire years before they want to which talked about the fact that many Americans are being forced to retire much earlier than planned due to layoffs and downsizing. When workers are
- [Good things DO happen to good people!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/10/good-things-do-happen-to-good-people/): A couple of weeks ago I blogged about a web makeover contest that a colleague was promoting. As fate would have it, a good friend and extremely worthy candidate won the contest ... Glenda Watson Hyatt. Through a screening process, she made it to the "final four," then people voted on the winner. She came
- [Can you get VC money and mentors if you don't play hockey with Guy Kawasaki?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/05/can-you-get-vc-money-and-mentors-if-you-dont-play-hockey-with-guy-kawasaki/): A reader sent a really thought-provoking email to me last week. To paraphrase, "It seems like a lot of the strategies for getting mentors or investment money only make sense for people with big school connections or influential work buddies. I am a self-made man and do not have the kinds of connections others do.
- [Can you get VC money and mentors if you don't play hockey with Guy Kawasaki?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/07/05/can-you-get-vc-money-and-mentors-if-you-dont-play-hockey-with-guy-kawasaki-2/): A reader sent a really thought-provoking email to me last week. To paraphrase, "It seems like a lot of the strategies for getting mentors or investment money only make sense for people with big school connections or influential work buddies. I am a self-made man and do not have the kinds of connections others do.
- [Useful links to take into your weekend](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/30/useful-links-to-take-into-your-weekend/): I realize that I had forgotten to let you know about a few articles I wrote that were published at Startup Nation in the Advice for the Unhappily Employed series. I am working on a couple of more articles for this series profiling successful entrepreneurs, so I will share those later. Getting in Position to
- [As Rosanne Rosanna Danna would say, "Never Mind!" - Retracting FC Post](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/27/as-rosanne-rosanna-danna-would-say-never-mind-retracting-fc-post/): Well, it was bound to happen sometime with all the blogging I have been doing lately: I fell victim to a Rosanne Rosanna Danna Rant. For those of you not lucky enough to know this Saturday Night Live character played by the tremendously talented late actress Gilda Radner, she was a special commentator on
- [As Rosanne Rosanna Danna would say, "Never Mind!" - Retracting FC Post](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/27/as-rosanne-rosanna-danna-would-say-never-mind-retracting-fc-post-2/): Well, it was bound to happen sometime with all the blogging I have been doing lately: I fell victim to a Rosanne Rosanna Danna Rant. For those of you not lucky enough to know this Saturday Night Live character played by the tremendously talented late actress Gilda Radner, she was a special commentator on
- [Dr. Seuss aside, what I did RIGHT when starting my business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/21/dr-seuss-aside-what-i-did-right-when-starting-my-business/): A few days ago, I shared that I am coming up on a decade of self employment and have been reflecting on lessons learned along the way. I wrote what I did wrong when I started my business. Now it's time to highlight the positive. What I did RIGHT when I started my business: I
- [Great way to find marketing blogs:  vote for Marketing Sherpa Awards](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/21/great-way-to-find-marketing-blogs-vote-for-marketing-sherpa-awards/): I found out through John Jantsch's Duct Tape Marketing Blog that Marketing Sherpa is hosting their annual Reader's Choice Blog & Podcasting Awards. He mentioned that in addition to asserting your opinion through voting, it is a great way to find some cool new blogs, all of which have been nominated by readers. Go check
- [Don't put things off](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/20/dont-put-things-off/): I got a message from my friend Sophronia Scott today, who runs a business called The Book Sistah which helps aspiring writers get their books written and published. In her message, she said:"Forgive me if I'm a bit out of sorts today. I'm still reeling from some terrible news. Earlier this month I received a
- [Don't put things off](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/20/dont-put-things-off-2/): I got a message from my friend Sophronia Scott today, who runs a business called The Book Sistah which helps aspiring writers get their books written and published. In her message, she said:"Forgive me if I'm a bit out of sorts today. I'm still reeling from some terrible news. Earlier this month I received a
- [Writing a Dr. Seuss business plan and other questionable things I did when I started my business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/16/writing-a-dr-seuss-business-plan-and-other-questionable-things-i-did-when-i-started-my-business/): This August marks two important milestones: a decade of being in business for myself, and my rite of passage from age 39 to 40. I am looking forward to both with great anticipation as each decade has brought tremendous learning and growth. I look forward to my 40s, and from what I hear from Oprah
- [It's not too good to be true: Win $12,000 web makeover or 2 free Southwest tickets!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/14/its-not-too-good-to-be-true-win-12000-web-makeover-or-2-free-southwest-tickets/): Two friends of mine are offering some cool free deals: Suzanne Falter-Barns is sponsoring a Marketing Makeover Contest with over $12,000 worth of donated prizes from some of the smartest net marketers on the web. Here are the guidelines:Nominate yourself or a friend as one of the Worst Net Marketers out there. You must have
- [It's not too good to be true: Win $12,000 web makeover or 2 free Southwest tickets!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/14/its-not-too-good-to-be-true-win-12000-web-makeover-or-2-free-southwest-tickets-2/): Two friends of mine are offering some cool free deals: Suzanne Falter-Barns is sponsoring a Marketing Makeover Contest with over $12,000 worth of donated prizes from some of the smartest net marketers on the web. Here are the guidelines:Nominate yourself or a friend as one of the Worst Net Marketers out there. You must have
- [Tony Awards presenter chokes his lines and teaches important presentation skills lessons](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/12/tony-awards-presenter-chokes-his-lines-and-teaches-important-presentation-skills-lessons/): I was flipping through the channels last night and happened upon the Tony Awards, which focuses on live theater. I have a strange fascination with awards shows, so I kept it on long enough to see one of the most painful chokes by a presenter that I have ever seen. Paul Rudd, an actor I
- [Is starting a business impossible when you are the sole income earner in your family?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/09/is-starting-a-business-impossible-when-you-are-the-sole-income-earner-in-your-family/): I have been a little surprised at the large volume of emails I have gotten from people concerned about starting a business when they are the only income earner in their family. These are working dads with stay-at-home wives, working moms with stay-at-home husbands, or working singles with financial responsibility for their parents or younger
- [Nice link wink from David Batstone in Worthwhile and Gain](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/07/nice-link-wink-from-david-batstone-in-worthwhile-and-gain/): I was very delighted to have my Open Letter to CXOs post mentioned today in David Batstone's newsletter the WAG (Worthwhile and Gain). I first heard David in a teleclass led by the coaching giant Andrea Lee and was very impressed with him. Among many other things, he is the National Endowment for the Humanities
- [Is a soloist or small business owner really an entrepreneur?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/06/is-a-soloist-or-small-business-owner-really-an-entrepreneur/): I got a thought-provoking comment from my reader Murali the other day that I thought was worth posting about. In discussing whether or not you needed an MBA to be a successful entrepreneur, he said: "Many often call self-employed people as entrepreneurs. I disagree. Rich Dad-Poor Dad offers a striking distinction between to understand it
- [How to use affiliate marketing programs without coming across as slimy](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/05/how-to-use-affiliate-marketing-programs-without-coming-across-as-slimy/): I became aware of affiliate marketing programs through my study with a few successful web entrepreneurs like Robert Middleton, Suzanne Falter-Barns and Ali Brown. For those unfamiliar with what Affiliate Marketing is, Wikipedia has a nice definition: "Affiliate Marketing is a widespread method of promoting a website, in which an affiliate is rewarded for every
- [There is nothing wrong with you](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/06/02/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-you/): I have had this postcard, drawn by John Callahan, for many years in my "Food for Thought" binder which contains words and pictures to laugh, cry and be inspired by. Every time I read it, I laugh out loud. I think it captures a sentiment felt by so many people: life is not measuring up
- [What is the best way to learn what you need to make a big career change?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/31/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-what-you-need-to-make-a-big-career-change/): This month's issue of Get a Life covers the topic What is the best way to learn what you need to make a big career change? I received so many emails from folks that felt overwhelmed with what they needed to learn to start a business that I wanted to help you brainstorm easy ways
- [All the world's a stage and we are merely players](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/31/all-the-worlds-a-stage-and-we-are-merely-players-2/): I had a vivid dream early this morning that was so perfect in message, so vivid in detail and so funny in its twisted paranoia that I just had to share it with you. ****************** I was chosen as the lead in a play to be performed at a large local theater. I was studying
- [Carnival of Entrepreneurship - May 25, 2006](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/25/carnival-of-entrepreneurship-may-25-2006/): Welcome to this week's edition of carnival of entrepreneurship! I am delighted to act as your host. It was a bit of a challenge sorting through all the submissions and choosing just seven. I tried to include a diversity of topics and authors so that entrepreneurs of all different backgrounds would find some value. Here
- [Pam's Interview on Small Business Podcast](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/25/pams-interview-on-small-business-podcast/): I was interviewed for Small Business Podcast yesterday by Tim Bourquin of TNC New Media. Tim conducts a few interviews a week about topics relevant to small business owners or owners-in-waiting. We packed a lot into the 15 minutes: how to prepare to leave your corporate job and start your own business, what holds people
- [Pam's Interview on Small Business Podcast](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/25/pams-interview-on-small-business-podcast-2/): I was interviewed for Small Business Podcast yesterday by Tim Bourquin of TNC New Media. Tim conducts a few interviews a week about topics relevant to small business owners or owners-in-waiting. We packed a lot into the 15 minutes: how to prepare to leave your corporate job and start your own business, what holds people
- [Cricket:  10  Pam:  0](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/23/cricket-10-pam-0/): Although this has nothing to do with growing a business, I have to share that a cricket has gotten the better of me. For the last 10 nights, it has loudly serenaded me from its secure location under the lining of our couch downstairs. I usually work late at night in my upstairs office after
- [If you want to start a business and you are still employed, clear your plate](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/23/if-you-want-to-start-a-business-and-you-are-still-employed-clear-your-plate/): It is hard enough to maintain work/life balance if you are a full-time employee in a corporate job. But if in addition to these responsibilities you are also plotting to start your own business on the side, you may find yourself overwhelmed with priorities. Starting a new business involves a lot of work, and you
- [What the heck is a vlog?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/22/what-the-heck-is-a-vlog/): They say that good businesspeople surround themselves with people smarter than they are. I must be doing something right since my readers are constantly sharing good information that really helps my understanding of entrepreneurship and business in general. I can generally keep up with technology, but I do admit that growing up we were the
- [Catch me on the radio tomorrow, May 20](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/19/catch-me-on-the-radio-tomorrow-may-20/): I will be interviewed on Startup Nation radio tomorrow, May 20 at 7pm Eastern Time. Here is the info. If you miss the broadcast on your local station, it will be available via podcast starting on Monday. I am excited to be on national radio and look forward to hearing what you think. Enjoy your
- [Call for submissions - Carnival of Entrepreneurship](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/18/call-for-submissions-carnival-of-entrepreneurship/): I am hosting next week's edition of the Carnival of Entrepreneurship. For those of you not yet familiar with blog carnivals, they are a collection of posts on a particular topic edited by a different host each week. Scott Allen, creator of the Carnival of Entrepreneurship explains it this way: "The Carnival of Entrepreneurship is
- [Who should be the revolutionary icon of the corporate worker?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/11/who-should-be-the-revolutionary-icon-of-the-corporate-worker/): First off, I would like to say thank you SO MUCH to the thousands of you who have read, blogged about and passed on my recent Open Letter... post. (I can't say enough about how gracious Guy Kawasaki was to have recommended it - I feel like the equivalent of an author picked for Oprah's
- [Joel Spolsky on pricing strategies](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/09/joel-spolsky-on-pricing-strategies/): It is hard to imagine that I would enjoy reading a 5,000 word essay on the nuances of software pricing strategies, especially since it includes graphs, bar charts and terms like "Net present value." But Joel Spolsky, CEO of Fog Creek Software and writer about software development, management, business and the Internet is the ultimate
- [Not sure if you should start your own blog?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/08/not-sure-if-you-should-start-your-own-blog/): I realize that if you are reading this, you are familiar with what blogs are and may even have one yourself. But for some of the readers of my monthly Get a Life ezine, it is all new stuff. So I weighed in with my thoughts for reasons to read or write blogs in this
- [Bye Bye Boardroom:  Confessions from a New Breed of Stay-at-Home Moms](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/03/bye-bye-boardroom-confessions-from-a-new-breed-of-stay-at-home-moms/): I found reference to a great new book in the always helpful Kristie T's Home-Biz-a-Palooza blog. I am going to buy a copy as soon as I find the energy to go downstairs and get the credit card out of my purse (it has been a long day!). It is called Bye Bye Boardroom: Confessions
- [Too much to do and not enough time?  Forget perfect!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/01/too-much-to-do-and-not-enough-time-forget-perfect/): My clients often write or call in a state of overwhelm and panic as their to do lists grow mammoth and the energy required to start a new business (especially while still employed) seems impossible. I am having one of those moments myself. I have the good fortune to be writing a series of articles
- [Real life example of "how to kiss corporate life goodbye"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/28/real-life-example-of-how-to-kiss-corporate-life-goodbye/): Through the Carnival of Entrepreneurship, I ran across this entertaining post by Chris Pearson called How to: Kiss Corporate Life Goodbye. Chris details his experience leaving a corporate job and setting out on his own to design websites for a living. He has a nice lead in and tease: "Does the idea of a corporate
- [Real life example of "how to kiss corporate life goodbye"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/28/real-life-example-of-how-to-kiss-corporate-life-goodbye-2/): Through the Carnival of Entrepreneurship, I ran across this entertaining post by Chris Pearson called How to: Kiss Corporate Life Goodbye. Chris details his experience leaving a corporate job and setting out on his own to design websites for a living. He has a nice lead in and tease: "Does the idea of a corporate
- [How to get more action at your blog](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/26/how-to-get-more-action-at-your-blog/): I was very pleased to read Guy Kawasaki's excellent post The 120 Day Wonder: How to Evangelize a Blog. In typical Kawasaki fashion, he outlines 10 concrete, specific steps you can take to get more action, links and buzz going about your blog. I had lamented in What do the "A List" bloggers have that
- [Why do some struggle with their life purpose while others seem born knowing it?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/25/why-do-some-struggle-with-their-life-purpose-while-others-seem-born-knowing-it/): I was watching Oprah today (one of the benefits of a flexible work at home schedule!) and was blown away by the profile of a 10-year old boy named Noah McCullough. According to Oprah's website, "Noah McCullough has been called a presidential prodigy. Even though he's only in fifth grade, he plans to run for
- [Unhappy with unequal wages?  Wear red on Equal Pay Day, Tuesday, April 25](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/24/unhappy-with-unequal-wages-wear-red-on-equal-pay-day-tuesday-april-25/): I ranted a few months ago about my displeasure that in this day and age women (and people of color) are still making less than men for equal work. It seems like the folks at the National Committee on Pay Equity are actually doing something about it by promoting Equal Pay Day. They describe it
- [Why good accountants are like Yoda](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/17/why-good-accountants-are-like-yoda/): I am the world's worst accountant. I am serious. I love looking at numbers when someone else prepares them, but I get really cranky, exhausted and headachy (if that is indeed a word) when I have to do the bookkeeping myself. Early in my business career I learned that a good accountant can
- [Want to understand your "body compass?"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/14/want-to-understand-your-body-compass/): I had the great pleasure of being interviewed yesterday for an audio segment by The Happy Path coach Sandra Sinclair. She is beginning to build a series of monthly interviews with experts in the areas of life transformation and change. We had a live session where I walked through an amazing exercise that I learned
- [Want to understand your "body compass?"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/14/want-to-understand-your-body-compass-2/): I had the great pleasure of being interviewed yesterday for an audio segment by The Happy Path coach Sandra Sinclair. She is beginning to build a series of monthly interviews with experts in the areas of life transformation and change. We had a live session where I walked through an amazing exercise that I learned
- [Discussing spirituality and entrepreneurism ... should I go there?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/13/discussing-spirituality-and-entrepreneurism-should-i-go-there/): I was having a coaching conversation with a dear friend and client today and she turned the tables on me. "I notice that in your blog posts and ezine that you rarely talk about anything spiritual. But working with you and knowing you personally, I see that is a big part of what you bring
- [The 3,000 hits in one day result of reddit.com](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/11/the-3000-hits-in-one-day-result-of-redditcom/): I am always looking for ways to build up traffic to my blog so that I can spread my message to those who need it, and establish a strong platform and community of people interested in the next phase of my work. I don't remember where I read it, but I heard about a website
- [How the techno-geeks kicked my ass for my own good](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/10/how-the-techno-geeks-kicked-my-ass-for-my-own-good/): In my time as a corporate consultant, I spent many years teaching classes and facilitating meetings in the heart of Silicon Valley. I moved down there after spending 12 years in San Francisco, where I held down my last known "real job." I grew up somewhat of a granola head in Marin County (the place
- [Be careful what you wish for - you just may get it!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/09/be-careful-what-you-wish-for-you-just-may-get-it/): It can be discouraging and frustrating to sit back in life and realize that you are not living up to your full potential. But what if you have overcome such obstacles and set out a very clear positive intention for your life (such as starting your own business) and actually plow ahead and make it
- [Why is it so scary to go from corporate drone to entrepreneur?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/06/why-is-it-so-scary-to-go-from-corporate-drone-to-entrepreneur/): Many of you are chomping at the bit to leave the suffocating confines of your corporate job. You loathe the weekly meetings you have to attend, fall asleep at endless hours of boring Powerpoint presentations and feel your lifeblood dripping down your chair as you gaze at a never-ending stream of meaningless emails. You fantasize
- [Is saving $1,000 a year worth giving up my latte habit?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/04/03/is-saving-1000-a-year-worth-giving-up-my-latte-habit/): I always try to heed the advice of wise financial council that recommend a whole number of ways to cut expenses, reduce debt and live a prosperous and conscientious life. The only advice that I have trouble heeding is the one that all seem to give ... Did you know if you cut out your
- [Escape Your Cubicle Illustrated Poem](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/30/escape-your-cubicle-illustrated-poem/): A very kind and encouraging blog reader Danny sent me the link to this illustrated poem by David Henry Newman entitled Escape Your Cubicle. It really is quite delightful. I promise it will make you smile. The author is apparently "a computer geek who spent 5 long years toiling away in various claustrophic cubicles
- [What my baby son has taught me about living my dreams](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/29/what-my-baby-son-has-taught-me-about-living-my-dreams/): One year ago today, I was lying in a hospital bed gazing at a miraculous tiny baby that I had just given birth to. Joshua Littletree was tiny and perfect. I was on a tremendous high from making it through the most intense experience of my life. (During the peak of labor, I can only
- [Three ways to take the fear of failing head on](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/28/three-ways-to-take-the-fear-of-failing-head-on/): One of the biggest concerns I hear from aspiring entrepreneurs is the fear of failing. "What if no one buys my product?" "What if I find out that I am totally unmotivated working out of my home and I watch Oprah instead of tending to my business? "What if I use up all my savings
- [Announcing my personal rebranding!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/27/announcing-my-personal-rebranding/): For those of you who have been paying attention, it has been a little quiet on the blog front this week. This is due to the fact that I got married on Saturday! While I had committed my lifelong love to my husband Darryl in a ceremony two years ago, we had not done the
- [Planning by the light of the moon:  Spring Solstice is here!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/20/planning-by-the-light-of-the-moon-spring-solstice-is-here/): I can hardly believe that Spring is here already! It is by far my favorite season, as it carries an air of hope and rebirth and sunshine and everything good. I looked at my resume a few years back and realized that almost every job change I had made was in the Spring. Those of
- [Finally someone gets it:  who REALLY makes the world go round](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/18/finally-someone-gets-it-who-really-makes-the-world-go-round/): It is so refreshing to read what has been a core belief of mine for years ... that the people in the most mundane and humble of jobs are the true powerhouses in the universe. Guy Kawasaki describes this in detail in The Art of Sucking Down. I was raised by kind and thoughtful parents
- [Do you really have what it takes to make it?  How to channel both Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/17/do-you-really-have-what-it-takes-to-make-it-how-to-channel-both-paula-abdul-and-simon-cowell/): All of us have internal negative voices or gremlins that make us doubt ourselves. Aspiring entrepreneurs can be most affected by these as they are attempting to try something risky and challenging. If your business idea doesn't fly, you can't blame your boss or the evil corporation you work for - it is your fault.
- [Which of these images says "escape" to you?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/16/which-of-these-images-says-escape-to-you/): I often get inspired to write posts after seeing a particularly strong image. Maybe this is because I am the daughter of a photographer. This was the case last evening as I was searching a number of stock photo sites for images that conveyed the feeling of "escape." A few just stopped me in my
- [Which of these images says "escape" to you?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/16/which-of-these-images-says-escape-to-you-2/): I often get inspired to write posts after seeing a particularly strong image. Maybe this is because I am the daughter of a photographer. This was the case last evening as I was searching a number of stock photo sites for images that conveyed the feeling of "escape." A few just stopped me in my
- [More resources for "What do 'A List' bloggers have that I don't?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/16/more-resources-for-what-do-a-list-bloggers-have-that-i-dont/): My friendly reader Steve submitted some questions in response to yesterday's blog post What do "A List" bloggers have that I don't?: Wow you read my mind. I was going to ask a very similar question. Pam can you suggest some more sites to promote a blog at? I am working on a list for
- [More resources for "What do 'A List' bloggers have that I don't?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/16/more-resources-for-what-do-a-list-bloggers-have-that-i-dont-2/): My friendly reader Steve submitted some questions in response to yesterday's blog post What do "A List" bloggers have that I don't?: Wow you read my mind. I was going to ask a very similar question. Pam can you suggest some more sites to promote a blog at? I am working on a list for
- [Prologue to "Five easy ways to discover what you are meant to do with your life"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/13/prologue-to-five-easy-ways-to-discover-what-you-are-meant-to-do-with-your-life/): Barbara Walters Price took the bait and answered the 5 questions that I posed in my recent post Five easy ways to discover what you are meant to do with your life. Given the title of her post, Still don't know what I was meant to do with my life, it is clear the questions
- [Prologue to "Five easy ways to discover what you are meant to do with your life"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/13/prologue-to-five-easy-ways-to-discover-what-you-are-meant-to-do-with-your-life-2/): Barbara Walters Price took the bait and answered the 5 questions that I posed in my recent post Five easy ways to discover what you are meant to do with your life. Given the title of her post, Still don't know what I was meant to do with my life, it is clear the questions
- [Is "do what you love the money will follow" a bunch of new age crap?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/10/is-do-what-you-love-the-money-will-follow-a-bunch-of-new-age-crap/): I was having a conversation with a good friend the other day about choosing a work situation that was vastly more interesting than the drugery she was currently doing. She said: "I know that I am really burned out on the work that I am doing with my current company. But I know that I
- [Is "do what you love the money will follow" a bunch of new age crap?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/10/is-do-what-you-love-the-money-will-follow-a-bunch-of-new-age-crap-2/): I was having a conversation with a good friend the other day about choosing a work situation that was vastly more interesting than the drugery she was currently doing. She said: "I know that I am really burned out on the work that I am doing with my current company. But I know that I
- [Carnival of the Vanities #181](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/09/carnival-of-the-vanities-181/): Today has been a very good day: Blog carnival hosts Daniel M. Harrison from Carnival of the Vanities and David Daniels from Carnival of the Entrepreneurs were kind enough to include my posts in their issues. For those of you not familiar with what a blog carnival is, Blog Carnival describes it this way: "A
- [Valuable PR Advice from a Fortune Insider](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/06/valuable-pr-advice-from-a-fortune-insider/): Even if you are starting up a tiny one-person consulting firm or selling a simple product, you should establish yourself as an expert in the eyes of the media. Suzanne Falter Barnes drummed this into my head as I partook in her Get Known Now class, and now Guy Kawasaki confirms it in his very
- [Five Easy Ways to Discover What You Are Meant to Do With Your Life](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/06/five-easy-ways-to-discover-what-you-are-meant-to-do-with-your-life/): There are a few people I run into who know EXACTLY what they want to do with their lives but just can't quite figure out how to make it happen. For the vast majority of the others, their struggle is to figure out what work are they meant to do while here on the
- [Has life got you exhausted?  Be gentle with yourself](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/03/has-life-got-you-exhausted-be-gentle-with-yourself/): Sometimes I can be an entrepreneur on fire, dashing out articles, products, advice and consulting with a snap in my fingers and a spring in my step. Ideas flow and work gets done on my mile-long checklist. But then there are those times that life interferes and it seems all work comes to a halt.
- [Afraid to make a major career change?  Get advice from Dr. Philippa](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/03/01/afraid-to-make-a-major-career-change-get-advice-from-dr-philippa/): If you have been reticent to change careers due to a huge investment of money or time, you must read the current issue of Get a Life which tells the story of Dr. Philippa Kennealy. She has made a major career shift from doctor to entrepreneurial coach. I met her through a class that we
- [Do you have to drip slime to sell your services?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/22/do-you-have-to-drip-slime-to-sell-your-services/): I used to equate the act of selling with obnoxious, slimy used car salesmen that were all about hustle. I would get sick to my stomach when thinking about cold-calling a prospective client, or handling a project negotiation. But then I had the good fortune of working with sales training guru Skip Miller. In my
- [My Dad was right:  cubicles are bad for your health](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/21/my-dad-was-right-cubicles-are-bad-for-your-health/): When I first started writing this blog and came up with the title "Escape from Cubicle Nation," my Dad told me the story of one of his first run-ins with cubicles in the late 1980's. He was working as a photographer for a large utility company. One of his assignments was to take pictures of
- [Benefit of blogging:  new friends and supporters](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/20/benefit-of-blogging-new-friends-and-supporters/): I have been on the blog scene for a short time but have already run across some truly wonderful and supportive virtual friends. It is always a pleasant surprise to get an encouraging message from someone like Francis Wade, a management consultant in Jamaica who told me "Please keep on writing!" after I thanked him
- [Quick and easy way to set up an LLC](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/15/quick-and-easy-way-to-set-up-an-llc/): I am ashamed to admit that I have been in business for almost 10 years and only recently set up my company to be a Limited Liability Company or LLC. All this time I was operating as a sole proprietor, which almost every lawyer will tell you is not the smartest way to reduce personal
- [Bottle that positive feedback - you'll need it later!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/14/bottle-that-positive-feedback-youll-need-it-later/): Lately I have been coaching a couple of creative, fabulous and talented women who are at different stages of growing their businesses. Despite the fact that I believe that they have what it takes to really be successful, in their pursuit of freedom they occasionally run up against a gut-gripping fear, doubt, anxiety or plain
- [Bottle that positive feedback - you'll need it later!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/14/bottle-that-positive-feedback-youll-need-it-later-2/): Lately I have been coaching a couple of creative, fabulous and talented women who are at different stages of growing their businesses. Despite the fact that I believe that they have what it takes to really be successful, in their pursuit of freedom they occasionally run up against a gut-gripping fear, doubt, anxiety or plain
- [Has your lack of passion made you "phone it in?"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/13/has-your-lack-of-passion-made-you-phone-it-in/): The sharp and savvy Kathy Sierra from Passionate has written another thought-provoking post entitled Re-igniting passion. She wrote it after meeting a group of inspired students while presenting at the Canadian Student Engineering Conference. She asks: "I don't know what they put in the water up there, but we could use some down here. Because
- [Has your lack of passion made you "phone it in?"](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/13/has-your-lack-of-passion-made-you-phone-it-in-2/): The sharp and savvy Kathy Sierra from Passionate has written another thought-provoking post entitled Re-igniting passion. She wrote it after meeting a group of inspired students while presenting at the Canadian Student Engineering Conference. She asks: "I don't know what they put in the water up there, but we could use some down here. Because
- [Breakthrough Ideas for 2006 Part II](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/08/breakthrough-ideas-for-2006-part-ii/): The other day I posted the first ten of twenty Breakthrough Ideas for 2006 from the February 2006 edition of the Harvard Business Review. Here are the second ten, pulled from Page 53. My comments about new business ideas based on these ideas are in red. (Remind me next time to just choose highlights from
- [Terry Tate, Office Linebacker](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/08/terry-tate-office-linebacker/): I had forgotten how funny the Reebok short of "Terry Tate, Office Linebacker" was until I saw it again today. It spoofs what many of us would love to have in a corporate environment - a football enforcer to handle egregious co-worker behavior. My favorite has to be the recycle scene. http://reebok.com.edgesuite.net/lastexit_terrys_world_dsl.mov
- [How will you take advantage of the Breakthrough Ideas for 2006?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/07/how-will-you-take-advantage-of-the-breakthrough-ideas-for-2006/): One of the biggest skills of a successful entrepreneur is being able to quickly synthesize what is going on in the world and translate opportunities into viable businesses. A good way to do this is to read newspaper, magazine and journal articles and ask yourself "what impact might this have on the business environment?" With
- [Why are women still paid less than men?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/06/why-are-women-still-paid-less-than-men/): I am still grumbling about the statistic that I just read from 101 Facts on the Status of Workingwomen, published by the Business and Professional Women's Foundation: "In the year 2004, full-time workingwomen were paid only about 76 cents for every dollar paid to men. The wage gap is even wider for women of color
- [Top 10 Reasons NOT to go in business for yourself](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/03/top-10-reasons-not-to-go-in-business-for-yourself/): Although I spend most of my time evangelizing about the benefits of entrepreneurship, I do want to throw a little reality out there for those who may look at it only through rose-colored glasses. Here are ten reasons why you may NOT want to start your own business: #10: You can't blame your lame
- [How does this help my user kick ass?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/02/how-does-this-help-my-user-kick-ass/): Kathy Sierra over at Passionate has the right idea as she explains in excellent detail what we need to keep in mind when developing, producing and marketing our products and services. In her post It's the {?}, stupid! she says, "Do you know what the "comma-stupid" phrase is for your product or service? In other
- [Presentation Zen does it again:  Yoda vs. Darth Vader](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/01/presentation-zen-does-it-again-yoda-vs-darth-vader/): Oh how I delight in this blog! Garr Reynolds from Presentation Zen posts a hilarious piece about Contrasts in Presentation Style: Yoda vs. Darth Vader. I am convinced that Darth Vader consults with Corporate America on PowerPoint design. Yoda, on the other hand, is a creative entrepreneur's role model. Let's hear it for less bullet
- [Want an alternative way to discover yourself?  Try SoulCollage](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/02/01/want-an-alternative-way-to-discover-yourself-try-soulcollage/): In my usual meandering around the web, I found a very interesting site called SoulCollage. They offer a variety of products, the cornerstone of which is a book called SoulCollage. The book describes how to create your own deck of cards, each which represents a part of your soul, or personality. This card featured is
- [How do you measure a year in your life?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/30/how-do-you-measure-a-year-in-your-life/): My good buddy John sent me this email the other day. He is currently in a corporate job but will bust out to start his own business as soon as the time is ripe. He says: "I made the fatal mistake of reading the lyrics while listening to 'Seasons of Love' from the Rent CD:
- [Support Habitat for Humanity with Paper Houses Designed by Marilyn Scott-Waters](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/26/support-habitat-for-humanity-with-paper-houses-designed-by-marilyn-scott-waters/): I feel a bit like a proud friend at a wedding who introduced the wonderful bride and groom. Last month, I wrote an article about my new buddy Marilyn Scott-Waters, known as The Toymaker, called Use your superpowers for good: how to align your creative gifts with work that pays. After I interviewed Marilyn for
- [Call in well today](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/24/call-in-well-today/): In the last week or so I have been writing about how you can get back in touch with your real feelings so that your creativity flows for starting your own business. I find that it is hard to get in touch with my creative self when I am doing the same old thing in
- [5 things you can do to get your business idea moving while still employed](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/23/5-things-you-can-do-to-get-your-business-idea-moving-while-still-employed/): If you are one of the legions of cubicle dwellers who long to do something about your great business idea, you may feel stuck in analysis paralysis. Ideas, plans, concerns, questions, fears and excitement all swirl around in your mind and create a cloud of gooey muck that stops you from getting anything done. Here
- [The sad downfall of Leif Garrett](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/19/the-sad-downfall-of-leif-garrett/): I don't know why it struck me so hard, but I was very saddened to see the mug shot of Leif Garrett today on the news. Back in the 70's when I was just a tweener, I was in love with him, Scott Baio, Matt Dillon, and a whole host of other teeny bopper stars.
- [How to get back in touch with your real feelings so you can be an empowered entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/18/how-to-get-back-in-touch-with-your-real-feelings-so-you-can-be-an-empowered-entrepreneur/): Yesterday I wrote about how you learn to lie to yourself about how you feel when you are in a corporate job. If you are stuck in this rut, here is a great exercise I learned in a workshop with my heroine Martha Beck that helps you identify your "body compass" which will help you
- [Do you know how you feel?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/17/do-you-know-how-you-feel/): In the high-flying late 90's, I spent some time teaching career development classes in Silicon Valley. I will never forget a class I taught to managers at Cisco Systems, which was then the biggest fat cat on the block. Administrative Assistants were driving to work in BMW sportscars and many people were retiring rich in
- [Does anyone have advice for an entrepreneur's dream business?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/16/does-anyone-have-advice-for-an-entrepreneurs-dream-business/): I received the following email from Dan last week: "Pamela: I just signed up for your free reports. I have had a life-long dream of starting a business of historical and authentic Old West and Frontier "reenactments." Instead of the "annual" dates that are celebrated in this country, I would like to take important events
- [Does anyone have advice for an entrepreneur's dream business?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/16/does-anyone-have-advice-for-an-entrepreneurs-dream-business-2/): I received the following email from Dan last week: "Pamela: I just signed up for your free reports. I have had a life-long dream of starting a business of historical and authentic Old West and Frontier "reenactments." Instead of the "annual" dates that are celebrated in this country, I would like to take important events
- [What is your soundtrack?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/14/what-is-your-soundtrack/): My 9-month old son Joshua is basically a happy guy. He wakes up with a smile on his face and generally cracks up at what is going on around him. But occasionally, especially when he is forced to be in his carseat for a long stretch of time, he gets very cranky and cries as
- [Do constant reorganizations drive you nuts?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/14/do-constant-reorganizations-drive-you-nuts/): If you have been anywhere near corporate life in the past ten years, you have probably been impacted by a reorganization or "reorg." This is where a company changes its organizational structure. From the employee perspective, reorgs are often interpreted to mean: More work Confusion Another stupid management decision intended to upset and frustrate me
- [Dilbert's blog](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/11/dilberts-blog/): Scott Adams just jumped into the blogging world with his launch of Dilbert.blog. He just has a few (hilarious) posts up, but an amazing amount of comments! Each post brings hundreds of replies. It is quite humbling! I remember clearly when Dilbert burst on the scene. I see it now as the beginning of
- [Dilbert's blog](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/11/dilberts-blog-2/): Scott Adams just jumped into the blogging world with his launch of Dilbert.blog. He just has a few (hilarious) posts up, but an amazing amount of comments! Each post brings hundreds of replies. It is quite humbling! I remember clearly when Dilbert burst on the scene. I see it now as the beginning of
- [Ready for a provocative book title?  How about 'Dick*less Marketing'?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/11/ready-for-a-provocative-book-title-how-about-dickless-marketing/): Before you get your undies in a bunch about the title of this post, this refers to a book written by the author of the Lipsticking Blog, Yvonne DiVita. Her blog focuses on smart marketing to women online. In her recent interview on how to get more traffic to your blog with Andy Wibbels, she
- [Ready for a provocative book title?  How about 'Dick*less Marketing'?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/11/ready-for-a-provocative-book-title-how-about-dickless-marketing-2/): Before you get your undies in a bunch about the title of this post, this refers to a book written by the author of the Lipsticking Blog, Yvonne DiVita. Her blog focuses on smart marketing to women online. In her recent interview on how to get more traffic to your blog with Andy Wibbels, she
- [Results of Entrepreneurial Challenges Survey](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/10/results-of-entrepreneurial-challenges-survey/): I read the latest issue of Entrepreneur magazine which featured the results of the Entrepreneurial Challenges Survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The survey interviewed CEOs and founders of 340 fast-growth businesses with an average of $31.5 million in sales and a 259 percent compond annual five-year growth rate. Interestingly, "retention of key workers" was the biggest
- [Can you do well by doing good?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/07/can-you-do-well-by-doing-good/): Many people inside corporations long to break out and build a business around their passion. But often, they cannot see that the kinds of things they are passionate about could ever generate as much revenue as their corporate positions. This may have been true in the past, but I think with new business opportunities afforded
- [Is entrepreneurship really for you?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/06/is-entrepreneurship-really-for-you/): The Sloan Brothers from Startup Nation have done it again with an excellent article titled Is entrepreneurship really for you? I struggle with this issue a lot as I have all kinds of wannabe entrepreneurs asking me for validation that they truly can make it on their own. My first response is always it depends.
- [How to zap negative thoughts that devour your dreams](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/04/how-to-zap-negative-thoughts-that-devour-your-dreams/): If you are contemplating becoming an entrepreneur, you have to admit that a part of you is just a little bit crazy. While your "homie fish" are swimming protectively together in a comfortable school, you are flapping off in your own direction, unsure of when a giant shark or squid will chomp your head off.
- ['My own private cubicle' illustration by Frank Wu](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/03/my-own-private-cubicle-illustration-by-frank-wu/): Every once in awhile I look at the referral source for visitors to this blog. If they are a result of a Google search, I often find some great sibling sites. I found this wonderful illustration of My private cubicle by Frank Wu from the search "trapped in a cubicle picture." He captures the angst
- ['My own private cubicle' illustration by Frank Wu](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/03/my-own-private-cubicle-illustration-by-frank-wu-2/): Every once in awhile I look at the referral source for visitors to this blog. If they are a result of a Google search, I often find some great sibling sites. I found this wonderful illustration of My private cubicle by Frank Wu from the search "trapped in a cubicle picture." He captures the angst
- [Go in search of your people](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/02/go-in-search-of-your-people/): One of the keys to not only marketing your business but defining what your business should be is defining your "target market." This term never really inspired me before, and I would often get stuck trying to define it any more specifically than "people who hate their jobs" or "people who want more happiness in
- [Pam unplugged](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/01/02/pam-unplugged/): Happy 2006! I am back sitting at my desk after 10 glorious days of spending time with my family in California. I made a conscious choice to NOT check voicemail, email, post blogs, check my webstats or write any articles while on vacation. It was just what I needed to rejuvenate and get a gust
- [Dear reader weighs in on networking](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/22/dear-reader-weighs-in-on-networking/): My kind and prolific reader Matthew Cornell mentioned this blog in his interesting and thought-provoking Matt's Idea Blog. He referenced my thoughts on networking, and he and his readers shared some great ideas. Check it out at Networking surprises: some recent (unexpected) but successful outcomes.
- [Death by cubicle](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/22/death-by-cubicle/): In his gripping post Death by Cubicle, Matthew Sheahan captures the spirit, mood, despair and insanity felt by some people trapped inside Cubicle Nation. Exerpts: "Sometimes I think that I will suffer a death by cubicle. Not that the place where I work presents any mortal danger. If the walls of my cubicle collapsed and
- [Remember today is Winter Solstice ... good day for planning!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/21/remember-today-is-winter-solstice-good-day-for-planning/): Awhile ago I wrote about my non-traditional planning cycles in Planning by the light of the moon. I almost missed the fact that today is Winter Solstice, and an excellent day for putting those plans and affirmations out there for what you want to attract this coming season. My plans for the next 3 months:
- [Use your superpowers for good:  how to align your creative gifts with work that pays](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/21/use-your-superpowers-for-good-how-to-align-your-creative-gifts-with-work-that-pays/): Happy holidays everyone! My latest issue of Get a Life is now up and running. It is a timely and inspiring tale of Marilyn Scott-Waters, otherwise known as The Toymaker. She is an escapee from Cubicle Nation who now runs a very successful online paper toy business. The best part is that most of her
- [Please realize that we are all self-employed](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/19/please-realize-that-we-are-all-self-employed/): My friend John forwarded a very heartwrenching article today from the San Jose Mercury News entitled Working their way back up. It is a study of the "underemployed," those those that were high-flying in the boom days, and now are barely getting by with low-wage jobs. I wish that I could reach every person in
- [Why I have an enduring love affair with working for myself](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/14/why-i-have-an-enduring-love-affair-with-working-for-myself/): After all these years owning my own business and being a free agent, I still get chills and butterflies in my stomach when I think about how cool it is that I work for myself. My entrepreneurial journey started in 1996 when I quit my corporate job as Director of Training and Development for a
- [How do you stick it out in your corporate job when you are almost ready to break free?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/13/how-do-you-stick-it-out-in-your-corporate-job-when-you-are-almost-ready-to-break-free/): I can feel the pain of my people out there in corporate jobs who are not quite ready to quit and start their own business. It is so hard to stay in an environment that you know doesn't agree with you. I am currently working on a corporate gig while I write my book. It
- [Attract what you want by getting very clear about your vision](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/12/attract-what-you-want-by-getting-very-clear-about-your-vision/): Back in October, I wrote Post your big vision and watch it come alive to encourage people to write in their dreams for becoming an entrepreneur. A dear reader Ryan wrote in today and shared his vision: I will create a form of business that helps those in need while allowing me to work for
- [Turning your hobby into a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/09/turning-your-hobby-into-a-business/): Startup Nation has once again provided an excellent article on Turning a Hobby into a Business. I really enjoy the content in their newsletter and website. They make things very straightforward and easy to understand.
- [I never thought I would be stunned by PowerPoint](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/07/i-never-thought-i-would-be-stunned-by-powerpoint/): I came across an amazing blog that is called Presentation Zen. This link brings you directly to the highly informative and entertaining post "Gates, Jobs and the zen aesthetic". I am amazed at how knowledgeable and talented the creator of this blog is. He offers wonderful guidance on creating beautiful and effective presentations. I once
- [I can finally talk about my secret work for Seth Godin's Squidoo!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/07/i-can-finally-talk-about-my-secret-work-for-seth-godins-squidoo/): In the last month, I participated in a "secret" beta group of users that worked in Squidoo, the new and interesting venture by Seth Godin and other friends. You really have to see it for yourself to understand it. In Squidoo, you create "lenses", like the one I created - check it out! I was
- [I can finally talk about my secret work for Seth Godin's Squidoo!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/07/i-can-finally-talk-about-my-secret-work-for-seth-godins-squidoo-2/): In the last month, I participated in a "secret" beta group of users that worked in Squidoo, the new and interesting venture by Seth Godin and other friends. You really have to see it for yourself to understand it. In Squidoo, you create "lenses", like the one I created - check it out! I was
- [Need help starting a blog?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/06/need-help-starting-a-blog/): Blog gurus Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff have just announced the launch of a new product that should help some of you move from fear and anxiety about starting a blog to action. It is called Confessions of a Reluctant Blogger and it profiles none other than my favorite publicity mentor Suzanne Falter-Barnes. They detail
- [Find yourself a good mentor](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/05/find-yourself-a-good-mentor/): I have been perusing some of the online community boards like Craig's List and Google Groups in the area of entrepreneurship and starting a small business. People out there are hungry for information about all kinds of things, from marketing ideas for new products to instructions for obtaining a business license. Connecting with people online
- [Sharing the pain of a typo](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/01/sharing-the-pain-of-a-typo/): I have been focused on growing my Get a Life ezine subscriber list this month, so I contacted Lorraine Carol of Simply Virtual Works about her Article Submission Service. All sounded great, so I submitted a couple of articles for her to distribute to various ezine directories. When I was reviewing the confirmation emails today,
- [Are intentions a bunch of new age baloney?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/12/01/are-intentions-a-bunch-of-new-age-baloney/): The very charismatic and successful online entrepreneur Ali Brown, otherwise known as The EZine Queen, posted a note in her Online Mastermind Forum about her Goal Card Technique. She has 5-7 goals written down on several colorful index cards, and she reads them aloud, morning and night. They are things like 'I make $50,000 each
- [Building your business muscles takes work every day](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/30/building-your-business-muscles-takes-work-every-day/): I don't know about you, but I often wish the "Make a million dollars in 30 days while doing your nails on your coffee break!" emails and promotions were really true. Wouldn't it be great if building your own business was easy and effortless? That there was a secret formula that, once applied, would net
- [Cuba libre!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/29/cuba-libre/): My friend Michael cracked me up with this sign-off after he read this blog ... CUBA LIBRE! Translated from Spanish, it means "Free Cuba," and I believe it refers to the fight for Cuban independence. Although I don't drink, I know it is also a mixture of rum and coke. I feel it is a
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation banner winner!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/29/escape-from-cubicle-nation-banner-winner/): Well, the votes are in, and we have a tie for the top two banners! Since so many people liked banner #2, I think I will actually incorporate both of them into the brand for this blog. I am going to alternate months with these banners and see how that works! Here are the results:
- [Are you a human google?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/28/are-you-a-human-google/): I have been reading Andrea Lee's Multiple Streams of Coaching Income. She has coined an interesting term: "Human Google." She uses this in reference to your ability to take an overwhelming topic and narrow it down and explain it simply for your target audience. The problem, she says, is that there is too much information
- [Balancing a big vision with current reality](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/28/balancing-a-big-vision-with-current-reality/): My hubbie and I had an exceptional insight this weekend while we were visiting Sedona with my family over the Thanksgiving weekend. We want to live there! For those of you not familiar with Sedona, Arizona it is a truly beautiful place with gorgeous red rocks and lots of healing energy. It is about 2
- [5 steps to not let the power of a paycheck stop you from starting your own business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/22/5-steps-to-not-let-the-power-of-a-paycheck-stop-you-from-starting-your-own-business/): My November issue of Get a Life tackles a topic central to many of you out there in corporate jobs who want to make the leap into entrepreneurship: how can you deal with financial insecurity? For tips, read 5 steps to not let the power of a paycheck stop you from starting your own business.
- [Check out Entrepreneur Exchange for good online resources](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/21/check-out-entrepreneur-exchange-for-good-online-resources/): Through a process of searching for keywords today, I ran across a really good blog by Ross Mayfield, CEO of Socialtext. He opened Entrepreneur Exchange, an online "wiki" (read his blog for more explanation) that has all kinds of good resources for budding entrepreneurs. His blog post of October 7 explains what it is about.
- [Add your vote for Escape from Cubicle Nation banner](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/20/add-your-vote-for-escape-from-cubicle-nation-banner/): I am choosing a new banner for this blog and I would love to have you help me select a good one! My good friend and graphic designer Gino Squadrito of Lasercom Design made 3 different banners. Please vote for your favorite here. I will post the winner here, and you will see it displayed
- [Comment on survey results here](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/19/comment-on-survey-results-here/): Final results are in from the survey I published last month entitled "How satisfying is your work life?" You can view the results here: Survey Results. Let me know what you think about them!
- [How new perspectives on old products can open huge market opportunities](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/17/how-new-perspectives-on-old-products-can-open-huge-market-opportunities/): Until I became a mom, I had no idea what a big role baby wipes would play in my life. I no longer go anywhere without them in my purse, car or suitcase. But adult wipes, a new twist on the multi-billion dollar toilet paper market, kind of took me for surprise. When I first
- [Back in the saddle after visiting Cubicle Nation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/16/back-in-the-saddle-after-visiting-cubicle-nation/): I have been out of contact for the last couple of days since I took a trip back to California to meet with one of my corporate clients. I have agreed to do a couple of projects with the express purpose of generating some income so that I can continue to write my book, Escape
- [Tuning into clues about the work you are meant to do](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/10/tuning-into-clues-about-the-work-you-are-meant-to-do/): You may struggle with finding the exact work that you are meant to do. This is different from work that you like to do or are good at. This kind of work comes from a powerful, natural place. It often has been locked in the basement of your mind since it may not be what
- [Truly no strings attached free consulting resource](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/09/truly-no-strings-attached-free-consulting-resource/): When I posted last night's entry Learn before you leap I forgot about a great free resource for budding entrepreneurs. Service Corps of Retired Executives, or SCORE, is an organization that is affiliated with the Small Business Administration. It provides extremely low-cost seminars on a variety of topics relevant for prospective or existing small business
- [Learn before you leap](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/08/learn-before-you-leap/): There are two areas that I recommend anyone pondering entrepreneurship get a firm grasp on: solid accounting practices and legal matters. If you don't understand these two areas and just open for business, you can get in hot water pretty fast. If you have been an employee, you may be used to having taxes automatically
- [How to get the most out of your corporate experience](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/07/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-corporate-experience/): You may be in the awkward stage of entrepreneurship: realizing that you want to start your own business yet not feeling quite prepared to venture out on your own. This is the perfect opportunity to get the most out of your corporate experience so that you gain momentum toward your goal but still secure your
- [Building my Brand Journal:  One person at a time](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/05/building-my-brand-journal-one-person-at-a-time/): The last two weeks have been full of activities to build my brand and get my ideas out to the people I care about the most: creative, passionate, spiritual and stifled entrepreneurs that are living in corporate jobs across the globe. I have soon realized that I cannot do any of it alone. The gals
- [Rich Dad Poor Dad advice for wannabe entrepreneurs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/03/rich-dad-poor-dad-advice-for-wannabe-entrepreneurs/): I had the good fortune of meeting Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki today in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is a very down-to-earth person and was very warm and courteous. I told him that I was writing a book called Escape from Cubicle Nation and he was very encouraging. He told me about some reasearch
- [Does your environment match your intentions to leave the corporate world behind?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/02/does-your-environment-match-your-intentions-to-leave-the-corporate-world-behind/): Yesterday I attended a free conference call by Vicky White called "Feng Shui Strategies to Attract Your Perfect Clients." I have found a lot of value in examining how my environment supports or detracts from my life, so I always am interested in learning new things that can help my clients. Vicky shared the story
- [Planning by the light of the moon](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/11/02/planning-by-the-light-of-the-moon/): For some reason this past June, I got an overwhelming feeling that I needed to do something significant to mark the passing of the Summer Solstice. I know that somewhere many generations back in my English/Welsh/Scottish/Irish heritage that my ancestors paid close attention to the changing of the seasons and the power of the natural
- [Perfect example of escapee from Cubicle Nation in O Magazine](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/10/31/perfect-example-of-escapee-from-cubicle-nation-in-o-magazine/): In the November issue of O Magazine, Patrice Clayton's Harlem Tea Room is featured in the "great food" section. In her words: "I realized I wanted my own business," Clayton says. "I'd come from a corporate background, done my MBA in Ohio, and worked in marketing. I'd always had entrepreneurial urges. I knew I wanted
- [Useful and free webinars from startupnation.com](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2005/10/26/useful-and-free-webinars-from-startupnationcom/): Jeff and Rich Sloan of Startup Nation just created the first of 10 webinars called StartupNation's Ten Steps to Open for Business. The first webinar is called Create a Life Plan and it addresses what I have been blogging about on this site: before you begin your new business, you must first define who you

## Pages

- [Home](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/)
- [Module Four: Sales Systems and Planning](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/ethical-selling-that-works/module-four-sales-systems-and-planning/): How was Module Three? I hope you feel more comfortable approaching new people about your product or service. For Module Four: Open the handout (link below), or print it out if you want to take notes. Listen to the audio file. You may download it to listen a mobile device, or listen on your computer.
- [Module Three: The Art of the Approach](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/ethical-selling-that-works/module-three-the-art-of-the-approach/): How was Module Two? Taking the time to define your Ideal Client Avatars, Ecosystems and Watering Holes will totally change the sales game for you. It will be so much easier to plan specific marketing and sales activities when you have this information. For Module Three: Open the handout (link below), or print it out
- [Module One: The Sales Process](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/ethical-selling-that-works/module-one-the-sales-process/): Welcome to the first module of Ethical Selling That Works! To get the most out of the program, I recommend the following steps: Open the handout (link below), or print it out if you want to take notes. Listen to the audio file. You may download it to listen a mobile device, or listen on
- [Module Two: Your Ideal Client Avatars, Ecosystems and Watering Holes](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/ethical-selling-that-works/module-two-your-ideal-client-avatars-ecosystems-and-watering-holes/): How was Module One? I hope you got good insight into the nuances of your own sales process. For Module Two: Open the handout (link below), or print it out if you want to take notes. Listen to the audio file. You may download it to listen a mobile device, or listen on your computer.
- [Free Calls](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/free-calls/): I host free monthly calls to address common questions such as: Why doesn’t traditional career advice apply anymore? What skills are critical to stay competitive in today’s job market? What do I do when I am doing everything right but nothing is happening? How do I connect different elements of my career and weave it
- [Contact](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/contact/): Pamela Slim Ganas Consulting LLC (my company name) 3514 N. Power Road, Suite 113 Mesa, AZ 85215 Phone: 480-455-1441 (This goes directly to my assistant, Sheila) Email: support (at) pamelaslim (dot) com Twitter: @pamslim To find out about Pam's current projects, visit pamelaslim.com
- [About Pam](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/about-pam/): Email: pam (at) pamelaslim (dot) com Twitter: @pamslim Visiting from the media? Click here to visit my press page. Pamela Slim is an award-winning author, business coach and speaker. She spent the first 10 years of her business as a consultant to large companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Charles Schwab and Cisco Systems, where she worked
- [Coaching](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/coaching/): Pamela Slim is no longer working with new coaching clients, but highly recommends these colleagues to help you launch or grow your business. To find out about Pam's current projects, visit pamelaslim.com
- [Power Teaching Bonus Pack](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-teaching-bonus-pack/): Power Teaching Bonus Pack I've got a special bonus pack I'm making available for past Power Teaching participants just like you. Master classes on pricing and promotion from three of the brightest minds in the world of business This brand new level of Power Teaching addresses a key question that many past Power Teaching students
- [Power Teaching](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-teaching/): Power Teaching What do you remember most from high school? Bell bottoms? Bad hair? Chemistry experiments gone terribly wrong? Inhaling? Grabbing a kiss behind the bleachers? I hope that each one of you also remembers a special teacher or principal that inspired you to become passionate for English or Science or Algebra or Band. My
- [Module Two: Design Basics](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-teaching/module-two/): How was Module One? For Module Two: Open the handout (link below), or print it out if you want to take notes. Listen to the audio file. You may download it to listen a mobile device, or listen on your computer. Do the homework, outlined in the handout. Power Teaching - Module 2 (mp3)(Right Click
- [Module Four: Materials and Measurement](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-teaching/module-four/): How was Module Three? For Module Four: Open the handout (link below), or print it out if you want to take notes. Listen to the audio file. You may download it to listen a mobile device, or listen on your computer. Do the homework, outlined in the handout. Power Teaching - Module 4 (mp3)(Right Click
- [Module Three: Power Tools](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-teaching/module-three/): How was Module Two? For Module Three: Open the handout (link below), or print it out if you want to take notes. Listen to the audio file. You may download it to listen a mobile device, or listen on your computer. Do the homework, outlined in the handout. Power Teaching - Module 3 (mp3)(Right Click
- [Module One: Name It to Claim It](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-teaching/module-one/): Welcome to the first module of Power Teaching ! To get the most out of the program, I recommend the following steps: Open the handout (link below), or print it out if you want to take notes. Listen to the audio file. You may download it to listen a mobile device, or listen on your
- [Awesome Client Support Station](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/coaching-resources/): Congratulations! We are so excited to get started working with you to help accomplish all of your dreams and goals. Here you will find everything you need to assist you in your coaching with Pam so bookmark this page! First we'll start with a welcome video from Pam & Sheila: New clients Fill out the
- [Introduction](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-teaching/introduction/): Hello Power Teachers! I am so excited you have joined us! This will be the place to download all the class materials and access the recordings. Kindly bookmark it and visit often! :) This program is designed in four modules, which build on each other as the class progresses. Learn at your own pace --
- [Power Bundle Overview](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011holiday/power-bundle-main/): Thanks for purchasing the 2011 Holiday Bundle! Click the logos below to gain access to your courses:
- [Power Teaching - January 2012](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/oiatr8907tr49qdfa97/): Hello Power Teachers! It was SO great to work with you! This page will remain up for you indefinitely, only for the January-February 2012 class. It contains ALL the course content and recordings of feedback calls from your class. Kindly do not share this link with someone who is not enrolled in the class. I
- [POWER Bundle Interviews](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012-holiday-power-bundle/welcome-power/power-bundle-interviews/): Ramit Sethi Ramit has gone from part-time college blogger to multi-million dollar web entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author of his book I Will Teach You to be Rich, and media personality. His blog iwillteachyoutoberich.com has hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and his courses consistently fill with thousands of students. I consider Ramit the king
- [Intensive, In-Person Strategy Sessions with Pam](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/intensive-in-person-strategy-sessions-with-pam/): Do you have some really big goals for the next 12 months, but don't know exactly how to make them happen? Do you want hands-on input and advice on your career or business that results in a concrete plan? Do you have an idea for a book, or series of content that you want to
- [Press](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/press/): Email: pam (at) pamelaslim (dot) com Media Appearances | Radio Appearances | Story Angles | Interview Questions Bio: Pamela Slim is an award-winning author, speaker and leader in the new world of work. She spent the first 10 years of her solo practice as a consultant to large corporations such as Hewlett-Packard, Charles Schwab and
- [Module 4 - Skyrocketing Sponsorships](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/partnership-playbook/module-4-skyrocketing-sponsorships/): Sponsorships have the triple benefit of increasing cash flow, visibility and opportunity. In order to get the ears of executives at large companies, you need to deeply understand what they are looking for, and to make sure that you prepare yourself to be the most attractive partner possible. In this lesson, you will learn: 12
- [Hire Pam to Speak](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/speaking/): photo credit: @Benjy Feen from Authors@Google talk Pamela Slim is a dynamic and seasoned presenter. She has delivered hundreds of presentations over the last thirteen years to corporations, associations and non-profits. From the World Domination Summit, Portland, OR 2011 Core Speaking Topics Include: Ethical Selling That Works How to go from Corporate Employee to Entrepreneur
- [Backbone Recordings](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/backbonerecordings/): Week #1 Audio: http://pcs.audioacrobat.com/download/19ddf514-1f1d-7f49-f5dc-1782e51f29d4.mp3 Homework: https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/downloads/backbone1.pdf Backbone Update Week 1 from Pamela Slim on Vimeo. Week #2 Audio: http://pcs.audioacrobat.com/download/9f309b4e-75f9-d089-3251-0a271cd151f3.mp3 Homework: http://escapefromcubiclenation.com/downloads/backbone2.pdf Backbone update - Week 2! from Pamela Slim on Vimeo. Week #3 Audio: http://pcs.audioacrobat.com/download/Backbone3071310.mp3 Homework: Backbone_ClassThree Video update: Backbone Update Week 3 from Pamela Slim on Vimeo. Week #4 Audio Recording: http://pcs.audioacrobat.com/download/backbone4072010.mp3 Homework: Backbone
- [Quickstart to Self Employment for Laid Off Camp Phoenix](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/quickstart-to-self-employment-for-laid-off-camp-phoenix/): Thanks so much to all of you who attended Laid Off Camp Phoenix! I am so proud of my fellow volunteers, and inspired by what will happen in your life when you apply all that you learned on Saturday, April 30. My gift to you is an audio program called "Quickstart to Self Employment." You
- [2012 Holiday Power Bundle](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012-holiday-power-bundle/): We are so sorry, this offer has expired! Have an absolutely lovely holiday season. Happy New Year! -Pam and Sheila
- [Introduction](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/ethical-selling-that-works/introduction/): Hello Ethical Salespeople! Doesn't it feel great to get your sales groove on in a way that makes you feel like a clean, lean, pristine selling machine? I am so delighted you joined me on this adventure. This program is designed in four modules, which build on each other as the class progresses. Learn at
- [esrecordings](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/esrecordings/): Hello Ethical Salespeople! Doesn't it feel great to get your sales groove on in a way that makes you feel like a clean, lean, pristine selling machine? I am so delighted you joined me on this adventure. Recordings from the classes, update videos and suggested resources will all be posted on this page 24 hours
- [2012 Holiday POWER Bundle](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2012-holiday-power-bundle/welcome-power/): * * * Bookmark this page! * * * I would like to welcome and thank you for purchasing the 2012 Holiday POWER Bundle! What better way to celebrate the holidays than with the gift of learning how to sell more in 2013! You have made a wise choice to purchase now it's time to
- [Mind Talk and Delivery](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-presentations/module-4/): Managing Mental Chatter, Lizard Fears and Presentation Delivery DOWNLOAD MP3 Homework for class 4: Make a presentation plan Choose your power ritual Review "obsessive compulsion with details" checklist Deliver your talk and celebrate! Although Pam will not respond to each homework submitted, sometimes knowing that someone will be reviewing it can motivate you to complete
- [Graphics](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-presentations/module-3/): Designing Engaging Visuals Download MP3 Homework for class 3: Decide on the form of visuals Sketch out ideas on paper research slide designs you like Create first draft of slides Although Pam will not respond to each homework submitted, sometimes knowing that someone will be reviewing it can motivate you to complete it. If you
- [Presentation Structure](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-presentations/module-2/): How to Structure Just the Right Amount of Content Download MP3 Homework for Class 2: -Write one sentence summary of your speech -Brainstorm what is important to your audience about this speech -Emotionally -Intellectually -Use Post-its to brainstorm ideas for topics -Choose STAR moment -Draft version 1 of preso content Although Pam will not respond
- [Choosing a Power Topic](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-presentations/module-1/): How to Choose a Compelling Topic Download MP3 Homework for Week 1: Capture notes from visualization exercise Describe ideal audience Identify your ingredients/strengths Brainstorm topics Validate/research content Describe how fits with your Body of Work Although Pam will not respond to each homework submitted, sometimes knowing that someone will be reviewing it can motivate you
- [Introduction](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-presentations/introduction/): Hello Power Presenters! I am so excited to get started working with you! This will be the place to download all the class materials and access the recordings. Kindly bookmark it and visit often! This program is designed in four modules, which build on each other as the class progresses. Learn at your own pace
- [Power Presentations](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-presentations/): Strong, in-person presentations are a great way to get known, build your network and attract clients. So why is it that most people get overwhelmed about presentations? Live presentations are scary, and bring up many lizard fears It is hard to keep your audience from getting bored or overwhelmed There are a ton of moving
- [Ethical Selling That Works](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/ethical-selling-that-works/): Is there proof ethical selling really exists? Or is it just a comforting idea some people invented to help themselves sleep better at night? I think it does exist. I ran a profitable consulting business for years. I thought I knew everything I needed to know about how to get clients. One day, after I’d
- [Spark and Hustle](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/sparkandhustle/): Thank you so much for attending my presentation at the San Francisco Spark & Hustle event! Here are some videos which I hope will help you to grow your business. I would love to stay in touch with you -- sign up here to join my monthly newsletter, and hear about upcoming programs and events.
- [Module 1 - Power Start](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/partnership-playbook/module-1-power-start/): Let's get started! This first lesson will give you a very solid foundation for choosing the right partners, and setting up things the right way once you get rolling. Specifically you will: Define the specific skills, values, strengths and experience that you are looking for in a potential partner Create criteria for making the very
- [Power Teaching - Wait List](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-teaching-wait-list/): Power Teaching What do you remember most from high school? Bell bottoms? Bad hair? Chemistry experiments gone terribly wrong? Inhaling? Grabbing a kiss behind the bleachers? I hope that each one of you also remembers a special teacher or principal that inspired you to become passionate for English or Science or Algebra or Band. My
- [Business Background](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/business-background/): First Name * Last Name * Preferred phone contact number for coaching sessions Back up phone number Preferred Email * Skype handle, if you have one Twitter handle LinkedIn Profile Facebook page Preferred method of contact PhoneSkype Please list any websites pertaining to your business What do you hope to accomplish in our time working
- [Bonus Activity: Power Presentation Challenge](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-presentations/bonus-activity-power-presentation-challenge-2/): Bonus Activity Week 5/6: July 2-12: Power Presentation Challenge To add some fun and spice to the class, I will encourage all students to participate in a fun presentation challenge where you can: Submit a 5-minute clip of your presentation for the Power Presentation Challenge A special committee will review the entries The top two
- [Expert Interviews](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/partnership-playbook/expert-interviews/): The following expert interviews are full of fantastic tips, insider information and honest feedback about what works and doesn't work in creating healthy and profitable partnerships and sponsorships. This is the activation stage of this course, where you take specific ideas and move with them to close some sponsors. We would love for you to
- [Module 3 - Seamless Systems](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/partnership-playbook/module-3-seamless-systems/): Once you have a good partner in place, and clear legal agreements, you are ready to build great products and services together. In this lesson, you will learn: What do you need to track? How do you design a smooth customer experience when more than one partner is involved? How do you decide how much
- [Module 2 - Legal Agreements](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/partnership-playbook/module-2-legal-agreements/): Ask our legal expert Kyle Durand how much he has earned in the past few years mediating ill-defined partnerships and helping clients out of tax messes and you will understand the massive importance of setting up clear legal agreements and financial systems. This lesson walks you through the very specific things you need to take
- [Introduction](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/partnership-playbook/introduction/): Welcome to Partnership Playbook! Desiree and I are so delighted that you invested in this course. We cannot wait to hear the many ways you use it to increase your impact, exposure and most importantly income! Please view this short welcome video to learn how to get the most out of the course. If you
- [Follow up materials from Pam Slim talk at ICF SF on 5/9/12](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/follow-up-materials-from-pam-slim-talk-at-icf-sf-on-5912/): Hello Bay Area ICF friends! I had so much fun meeting you last week. I loved our discussion, and hope it led to much food for thought. Here is the Slideshare presentation that includes the audio narration. I embedded it on this page, and you can also view it on Slideshare at this link: How
- [Escape From Cubicle Nation Podcast](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/podcast/): Advice, support and encouragement to stop being a corporate prisoner and start your own business Subscribe on iTunes →
- [Escape From Cubicle Nation Community](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/escape-from-cubicle-nation-community/): Welcome to the EFCN Community! Call Recordings Welcome to the Community Call Recordings Page! Here you will find recordings from all of our group calls. They are listed in order of most recent first. They are download links, so click on the link below to download the audio to your favorite listening device. 8/16/11
- [Power Teaching - July 2011](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/power-teaching-materials/): Hello Power Teachers! I am so excited to get started working with you! This will be the place to download all the class materials and access the recordings. Kindly bookmark it and visit often! :) Watch this welcome video for a little bit of context: If you have any questions about the class, please use
- [2011 Holiday Power Bundle](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/2011holiday/): 2011 Holiday Power Bundle
- [Which sales are the best for your business?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/best-sales/): Tweet
- [SMAZ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/smaz/): Hello SMAZ friends, and welcome to my home base! I hope you enjoyed the presentation today, and got some new ideas for spreading the buzz on social media while you are speaking. Do you know my very favorite resources on speaking? Garr Reynolds (@presentationzen) who has written 3 great books on presentation design: Presentation Zen
- [Call Recordings](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/escape-from-cubicle-nation-community/call-recordings/): Welcome to the Community Call Recordings Page! Here you will find recordings from all of our group calls. They are listed in order of most recent first. They are download links, so click on the link below to download the audio to your favorite listening device. 8/16/11 - Personal Finance Expert Call with Manisha
- [30 Day Power Teaching Challenge](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/30-day-power-teaching-challenge/): What do you remember most from high school? Bell bottoms? Bad hair? Chemistry experiments gone terribly wrong? Inhaling? Grabbing a kiss behind the bleachers? I hope that each one of you also remembers a special teacher or principal that inspired you to become passionate for English or Science or Algebra or Band. My favorite musician/activist
- [Congratulations, you are confirmed in the 30 Day Power Teaching Challenge!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/congratulations-you-are-confirmed-in-the-30-day-power-teaching-challenge/): I am thrilled to work with you! You will receive an email in the next couple of days with complete details to prepare you for the course, including call-in numbers, and pre-class instructions. As a reminder: The live classes are on: Wednesdays, July 13, 20, 27 and August 3 5:00-6:00pm Pacific/8:00-9:00pm Eastern If you have
- [Support](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/support/): If you have any questions or problems with the course please send me an email below. If you are having any technical difficulties, please be specific as possible when describing the problem. What were you trying to do? Which product are you trying to access? What browser, computer, etc are you using? This will allow
- [Trusted Advisor Affiliate Sign Up](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/trusted-advisor-affiliate-sign-up/)
- [Alumni Affiliate Sign Up ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/alumni-affiliate-sign-up/)
- [Escape From Cubicle Nation Affiliate Signup](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/affiliate-signup/)
- [Book Old](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/book-old/): Escape from Cubicle Nation is now on sale at major online and brick and mortar retailers. Featured in these publications: Buy the book by clicking on the link of your retailer of choice: Amazon Barnes and Noble Borders 800CEORead (great for bulk orders) Indie Bound (to find a local independent bookstore) Alternate formats: Audio book
- [Book Tour](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tour/): Photo: Inaugural Group from Bay Area Workshop at the awesome The Music Within Us school! Photo taken by Eugene Chan. The tour is on! See below for confirmed dates and locations, and add your name to the mailing list to hear about dates for your cities listed below. If you have a strong feeling I
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop - Portland, Oregon](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop-portland-oregon/): Portland Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: June 26, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And I cannot wait to meet YOU, and to work on your plans to start a business, or start
- [Chicago Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/chicago-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): Chicago Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: Friday, July 17, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And I cannot wait to meet YOU, and to work on your plans to start a business, or
- [Seattle Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/seattle-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): Seattle Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: Friday, July 10, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And I cannot wait to meet YOU, and to work on your plans to start a business, or
- [Washington D.C. Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/washington-dc-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): Washington D.C. Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And I cannot wait to meet YOU, and to work on your plans to start a business,
- [Bay Area Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/bay-area-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): Bay Area Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm Mountain View - near San Antonio and 101 I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And I cannot wait to meet YOU, and to
- [Atlanta Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/atlanta-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): (Pictured: me and Lisa Chu, host of the first Escape from Cubicle Nation workshop at her music school The Music Within Us in Mountain View, California. Photo by Eugene Chan.) Atlanta Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: Friday, August 14, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm Defoor Centre, 1710 Defoor Avenue, NW, Atlanta I am so excited.
- [New York City Escape from Cubicle Nation & Become a Career Renegade](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/new-york-city-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop-become-a-career-renegade/): New York City Escape from Cubicle Nation & Become a Career Renegade Saturday, September 12 - 9:00am - 4:00pm Roger Smith Hotel, Starlight Room, 501 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017 I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And
- [Charlotte Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/charlotte-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): Charlotte Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm Convenient location coming soon! I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And I cannot wait to meet YOU, and to work on your plans to
- [San Francisco Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/san-francisco-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): San Francisco Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: Friday, August 28, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm (My birthday!) San Francisco State Downtown Center, 835 Market Street, near Powell I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And I cannot wait to
- [Dallas Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/dallas-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): (Pictured: me and Lisa Chu, host of the first Escape from Cubicle Nation workshop in Mountain View, California. Photo by Eugene Chan.) Dallas Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: (Escape workshop discussed in USA Today!) Friday, September 25, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm Location: Cohabitat, in uptown. Details below! I am so excited. After spending four
- [London Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/london-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): (Pictured: me and Lisa Chu, host of the first Escape from Cubicle Nation workshop in Mountain View, California. Photo by Eugene Chan.) London Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: Monday, October 12, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm Location: 32 Broadwick Street, London, W1A 2HG. 4 minute walk from Oxford Circus tube stop. In heart of Soho.
- [The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make that keep them from earning 7 figures](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/amp-your-income-free-call-923/): I held a call today, Wednesday September 23 at 9:30am PST (12:30pm EST) with coaching dynamo Milana Leshinski. Download the call recording here, for those who missed it: Click here to download… And her link to the free e-book, followed by info about the Coaching Millions Summit where I will speak in October is here:
- [Los Angeles Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/los-angeles-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop/): Photo: Pam Slim and David Eckoff, at our Atlanta workshop in August. Escape from Cubicle Nation Workshop: Los Angeles! Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - 8:30am - 4:00pm I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And I cannot wait to
- [Book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/book/): Amazon.com Barnes and Noble 800ceoread.com Borders Indie Bound Featured in: Synopsis Despite grim headlines about the economy, you DON’T have to stay in a job you intensely hate. There’s a better opportunity waiting out there, and escaping from cubicle nation is easier than you think. Pamela Slim spent a decade traveling all over the country
- [ROCK 2010 coaching special](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/rock-2010-coaching-special/): "There are years that ask questions, and there are years that answer." -Zora Neale Hurston This quote struck me profoundly as I reflected on our collective experience in business for 2009. What a year it has been! Many of you have been holding on to your businesses or cubicles as if they were bucking broncos,
- [Rebuild Your Backbone. Because you are good enough, smart enough, and doggonit, people like you.](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/rebuild-your-backbone-because-you-are-good-enough-smart-enough-and-doggonit-people-like-you/): I work with a lot of people on a day-to-day basis who are trying to do great things in the world. Like start businesses. Or social movements. Or write books. Or rock their career. Or build relationships with engaging, creative, connected people. And despite the fact that every single one of them is smart and
- [publicwords](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/publicwords/): Thanks so much for letting me share my thoughts with you at the Public Words Speaker Forum! Here are links to the stories and posts I talked about. Jon the Ballplayer Series (this links to the last post, but there is a summary of earlier posts on that page) Open Letter to CXOs Across the
- [My Declaration of Independence](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/my-declaration-of-independence/): Welcome to Escape from Cubicle Nation! I hope the Declaration of Independence presentation got your engine revved up. I am Pamela Slim, and I have been writing on this site since October, 2005. I also wrote a book of the same name, which came out in April of 2009. If you want some more resources
- [Coaching Circle - Early Stage Business Architecture ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/coaching-circle-early-stage-business-architecture-phoenix-az/): Phoenix Coaching Circle Description from Pamela Slim on Vimeo. Is it time to stop talking about your business ideas and start building your business? Are you certain you want to leave your corporate job in the future but don't know exactly what to do next? Do you want some input on business and marketing plans,
- [Chris Guillebeau and the Unconventional Book Tour Hit Phoenix 12/12!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/chris-guillebeau-and-the-unconventional-book-tour-hit-phoenix-1212/): Entrepreneurs, innovators, big thinkers, world travelers and those interested in an unconventional life will be thrilled that author Chris Guillebeau is coming to Phoenix on December 12 as part of his Unconventional Book Tour Who is Chris Guillebeau? Chris is a writer, world traveler, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner. His mission is to help people live
- [New York City Escape from Cubicle Nation & Become a Career Renegade](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/new-york-city-escape-from-cubicle-nation-workshop-become-a-career-renegade-2/): New York City Escape from Cubicle Nation & Become a Career Renegade Saturday, September 12 - 9:00am - 4:00pm Roger Smith Hotel, Starlight Room, 501 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017 I am so excited. After spending four years behind my computer screen writing my blog, and then book, I am hitting the road. And
- [Cancel Subscription](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/escape-from-cubicle-nation-community/support/cancel-subscription/)
- [Support](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/escape-from-cubicle-nation-community/support/): If you have any questions or problems with the course please send me an email below. If you are having any technical difficulties, please be specific as possible when describing the problem. What were you trying to do? What browser, computer, etc are you using? This will allow us to help you more quickly! [contact-form
- [Partnershipmaterials](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/partnershipmaterials/): Hello Superheros! This is the page that will contain all of our class recordings, handouts, videos and supplementary files. Please bookmark it for future reference! And do not share it with mere mortals who have not paid to participate in class. We do not want to dilute our powers. The call-in information for all classes
- [Community FAQ](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/escape-from-cubicle-nation-community/support/community-faq/): Where can I download past coaching and trusted advisor call recordings? How can I subscribe for email updates when a forum topic is updated? How can I update my profile? How can I see new posts that have been added since I last logged in? Where can I download past coaching and trusted
- [Startup Tools](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/escape-from-cubicle-nation-community/startup-tools/): ESCAPE COMMUNITY VIDEO LIBRARY Thawing out your soul from corporate employment Creating your life plan Why THIS business idea? Defining the problem your business solves Who is on your bus? Ideal partners and customers Overcoming fears that hold you back Choosing a business model Understanding your money perspective Marketing your business Testing and prototyping your
- [Please Login to view this content](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/please-login-to-view-this-content/): You have reached an area of the site that is only available to customers. Thank you! [loginform]
- [Member Only Blog](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/escape-from-cubicle-nation-community/member-only-blog/)
- [Forum](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/escape-from-cubicle-nation-community/forum/)
- [Please login to access Ethical Selling That Works](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/ethical-selling-that-works/please-login-to-access-ethical-selling-that-works/): If you are already a member, please login with the form on the sidebar. If you are not yet a member, click here to find out more.
- [Pamela Slim's Blog](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/pamela-slims-blog-2/)
- [Lightening Round---Thank you!](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/lightening-round-thank-you/): Thank you so much for scheduling a lightening round coaching session with me! I am delighted to work with you on a specific part of your business idea. Please fill out this form with background about exactly what you would like to cover with me during our session. Don't worry if you can't answer all
- [Audios](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/audios/): As thanks for subscribing to the Escape from Cubicle Nation newsletter, please enjoy this short audio class to help you leave your cubicle and start your business. Each recording is about 10 minutes long. Recording #1 Recording #2 Recording #3 Recording #4 Talk soon! -Pam
- [Workshop Questionnaire](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/workshop-questionnaire/): [contact-form 2 "Workshop Worksheet"]
- [Archive](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/archive/)
- [About the Site](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/about-the-site/): If you have just stumbled upon Escape from Cubicle Nation, welcome! Subscribe here. My name is Pamela Slim and I am a writer and coach who helps corporate employees evaluate the decision to quit their job and start a business. To learn a little more about me and why I write this blog, look here.
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## Events

- [Escape Community Coaching Call](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/event/escape-community-coaching-call-3/): 623-255-3832 pin: 493595# Look up local number Listen online and submit questions
- [Escape Community Coaching Call](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/event/escape-community-coaching-call/): 623-255-3832 pin: 493595# Look up local number Listen online and submit questions
- [Trusted Advisor Call](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/event/trusted-advisor-call/): 623-255-3832 pin: 493595# Look up local number Listen online and submit questions
- [Escape Community Coaching Call](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/event/escape-community-coaching-call-2/): 623-255-3832 pin: 493595# Look up local number Listen online and submit questions

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/uncategorized/)
- [Managing your business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/managing-your-business/)
- [Marketing your business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/marketing-your-business/)
- [Defining the work you are meant to do](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/defining-the-work-you-are-meant-to-do/)
- [Podcast](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/podcast/)
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation - The Book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/escape-from-cubicle-nation-the-book/)
- [Becoming an entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/becoming-an-entrepreneur/)
- [Leaving the corporate world](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/leaving-the-corporate-world/)
- [Building your personal and business brand](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/building-your-personal-and-business-brand/)
- [Book Review](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/book-review/)
- [Pam's Building my Brand Journal](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/pams-building-my-brand-journal/)
- [Media request](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/media-request/)
- [Cool business ideas](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/cool-business-ideas/)
- [Networking and building relationships](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/networking-and-building-relationships/)
- [Shameless plugs for my own products](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/shameless-plugs-for-my-own-products/)
- [Guest posts on other blogs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/guest-posts-on-other-blogs/)
- [What is Escape from Cubicle Nation?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/what-is-escape-from-cubicle-nation/)
- [Free Monthly Escape Teleclasses](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/free-monthly-escape-teleclasses/)
- [Readers who made the leap](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/readers-who-made-the-leap/)
- [Pam's videoblogs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/pams-videoblogs/)
- [Productivity and Lifehacks](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/productivity-and-lifehacks/)
- [Reminders to live your best life now](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/reminders-to-live-your-best-life-now/)
- [Pam's Speaking Gigs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/pams-speaking-gigs/)
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation Radio](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/escape-from-cubicle-nation-radio/)
- [Speaking and presenting](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/speaking-and-presenting/)
- [Rant](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/rant/)
- [EFCN Community](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/category/efcn-community/)

## Tags

- [pamela slim](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/pamela-slim/)
- [writing a book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/writing-a-book/)
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/escape-from-cubicle-nation/)
- [career change](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/career-change/)
- [new york times](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/new-york-times/)
- [upside of recession](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/upside-of-recession/)
- [innovation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/innovation/)
- [guy kawasaki](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/guy-kawasaki/)
- [marketing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/marketing/)
- [book promotion](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/book-promotion/)
- [personal branding](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/personal-branding/)
- [dan schwabel](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/dan-schwabel/)
- [Me 2.0](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/me-20/)
- [young entrepreneurs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/young-entrepreneurs/)
- [escape from cubicle nation book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/escape-from-cubicle-nation-book/)
- [small business books](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/small-business-books/)
- [start a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/start-a-business/)
- [where the wild things are](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/where-the-wild-things-are/)
- [writing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/writing/)
- [communication skills](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/communication-skills/)
- [doing business by the book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/doing-business-by-the-book/)
- [sophfronia scott](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/sophfronia-scott/)
- [book marketing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/book-marketing/)
- [make a referral week](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/make-a-referral-week/)
- [duct tape marketing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/duct-tape-marketing/)
- [empowerment](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/empowerment/)
- [entrepreneurship](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/entrepreneurship/)
- [presentation skills](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/presentation-skills/)
- [speaking](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/speaking/)
- [nick morgan](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/nick-morgan/)
- [trust me](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/trust-me/)
- [authentic communication](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/authentic-communication/)
- [safety net](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/safety-net/)
- [backup plan](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/backup-plan/)
- [sramana mitra](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/sramana-mitra/)
- [entrepreneur journeys](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/entrepreneur-journeys/)
- [start up](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/start-up/)
- [high tech](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/high-tech/)
- [strategy consulting](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/strategy-consulting/)
- [creative destruction](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/creative-destruction/)
- [overcoming adversity](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/overcoming-adversity/)
- [layoffs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/layoffs/)
- [optimism](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/optimism/)
- [press tips](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/press-tips/)
- [HARO](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/haro/)
- [Peter Shankman](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/peter-shankman/)
- [public relations](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/public-relations/)
- [bill strickland](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/bill-strickland/)
- [pursue the passion](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/pursue-the-passion/)
- [career advice](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/career-advice/)
- [follow your passion](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/follow-your-passion/)
- [race](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/race/)
- [martin luther king](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/martin-luther-king/)
- [jr.](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/jr/)
- [freelance tips](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/freelance-tips/)
- [freelance](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/freelance/)
- [michelle goodman](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/michelle-goodman/)
- [my so-called freelance life](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/my-so-called-freelance-life/)
- [when should I quit my job?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/when-should-i-quit-my-job/)
- [life planning](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/life-planning/)
- [career planning](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/career-planning/)
- [should I quit my job?](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/should-i-quit-my-job/)
- [planning](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/planning/)
- [new year resolutions](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/new-year-resolutions/)
- [small business planning](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/small-business-planning/)
- [new year](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/new-year/)
- [emotional healing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/emotional-healing/)
- [law of attraction](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/law-of-attraction/)
- [barry moltz](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/barry-moltz/)
- [bounce](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/bounce/)
- [failure](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/failure/)
- [internet marketing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/internet-marketing/)
- [small business marketing](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/small-business-marketing/)
- [reality check](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/reality-check/)
- [rich sloan](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/rich-sloan/)
- [andy sernovitz](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/andy-sernovitz/)
- [business advice](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/business-advice/)
- [author teleseminars](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/author-teleseminars/)
- [challenge](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/challenge/)
- [winning](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/winning/)
- [entrepreneur mindset](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/entrepreneur-mindset/)
- [career path](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/career-path/)
- [financial crisis](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/financial-crisis/)
- [stress management](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/stress-management/)
- [killer algae](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/killer-algae/)
- [email overload](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/email-overload/)
- [productivity](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/productivity/)
- [metaphors](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/metaphors/)
- [perfectionist](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/perfectionist/)
- [ramit sethi](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/ramit-sethi/)
- [jeffery slim](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/jeffery-slim/)
- [ivan martinez](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/ivan-martinez/)
- [creative blocks](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/creative-blocks/)
- [palo alto software](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/palo-alto-software/)
- [plan as you go business plan](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/plan-as-you-go-business-plan/)
- [tim berry](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/tim-berry/)
- [john jantsch](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/john-jantsch/)
- [business plans](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/business-plans/)
- [archie mcphee](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/archie-mcphee/)
- [sxsw](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/sxsw/)
- [communicatrix](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/communicatrix/)
- [southwest airlines blogospondent](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/southwest-airlines-blogospondent/)
- [promotion](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/promotion/)
- [creativity](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/creativity/)
- [motivation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/motivation/)
- [Raj Bhavsar](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/raj-bhavsar/)
- [panel picker](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/panel-picker/)
- [blog to book](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/blog-to-book/)
- [hugh mcleod](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/hugh-mcleod/)
- [kathy sierra](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/kathy-sierra/)
- [ariel waldman](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/ariel-waldman/)
- [Escape from Cubicle Nation Podcast](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/escape-from-cubicle-nation-podcast/)
- [blogging basics](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/blogging-basics/)
- [new bloggers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/new-bloggers/)
- [high council of jedi knights](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/high-council-of-jedi-knights/)
- [mentors](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/mentors/)
- [positive visualization](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/positive-visualization/)
- [vision board](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/vision-board/)
- [how to make a vision board](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/how-to-make-a-vision-board/)
- [the secret](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/the-secret/)
- [martha beck](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/martha-beck/)
- [BusinessWeek](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/businessweek/)
- [home-based business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/home-based-business/)
- [working from home](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/working-from-home/)
- [grammar girl](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/grammar-girl/)
- [mignon fogarty](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/mignon-fogarty/)
- [branding](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/branding/)
- [lean on me](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/lean-on-me/)
- [bill withers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/bill-withers/)
- [losing weight](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/losing-weight/)
- [famine brain](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/famine-brain/)
- [sugar habit](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/sugar-habit/)
- [jonathan fields](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/jonathan-fields/)
- [partnerships](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/partnerships/)
- [partnership advice](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/partnership-advice/)
- [joint ventures](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/joint-ventures/)
- [employer agreements](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/employer-agreements/)
- [shifting careers](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/shifting-careers/)
- [starting a business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/starting-a-business/)
- [the go giver](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/the-go-giver/)
- [networking](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/networking/)
- [building your business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/building-your-business/)
- [value](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/value/)
- [building business relationships](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/building-business-relationships/)
- [fan boy](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/fan-boy/)
- [fan girl](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/fan-girl/)
- [Finding Your Own North Star](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/finding-your-own-north-star/)
- [what should i do with my life](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/what-should-i-do-with-my-life/)
- [career coaching](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/career-coaching/)
- [weekend entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/weekend-entrepreneur/)
- [side gigs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/side-gigs/)
- [creative anxiety](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/creative-anxiety/)
- [The cube](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/the-cube/)
- [owen sartori](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/owen-sartori/)
- [music for entrepreneurs](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/music-for-entrepreneurs/)
- [cubicle nation](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/cubicle-nation/)
- [cubicle decorating](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/cubicle-decorating/)
- [economic despair](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/economic-despair/)
- [small business strategies](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/small-business-strategies/)
- [everyday edisons](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/everyday-edisons/)
- [pitching your own product](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/pitching-your-own-product/)
- [inventions](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/inventions/)
- [why works sucks and how to fix it](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/why-works-sucks-and-how-to-fix-it/)
- [cali and jody](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/cali-and-jody/)
- [michael port](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/michael-port/)
- [fixing corporate culture](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/fixing-corporate-culture/)
- [photography business](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/photography-business/)
- [employee to entrepreneur](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/employee-to-entrepreneur/)
- [entrepreneurial mindset](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/entrepreneurial-mindset/)
- [lizard fears](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/lizard-fears/)
- [matt foley motivational speaker](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/matt-foley-motivational-speaker/)
- [BusinessWeek Online](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/businessweek-online/)
- [home-based business offices](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/home-based-business-offices/)
- [dad gone mad](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/dad-gone-mad/)
- [danny evans](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/danny-evans/)
- [people making the leap](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/people-making-the-leap/)
- [realizing dreams](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/realizing-dreams/)
- [asking for help](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/asking-for-help/)
- [steven pressfield](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/steven-pressfield/)
- [the war of art](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/the-war-of-art/)
- [matthew scott](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/matthew-scott/)
- [men at pause](https://escapefromcubiclenation.com/tag/men-at-pause/)
- [gary schoeniger](https://escape