Blog

Your problem is never your problem. There’s always something bigger, deeper and more important. THE CHALLENGE IS: If you never identify what that is, then you’ll really have a problem. Today we’re going to explore a collection of these common problems, along with the bigger issues that accompany them:1. Age isn’t the problem, attitude is. It doesn’t matter how old the dog is. If the new trick matters to…

You’ve chosen an uncertain path. You’ve adopted an inconvenient lifestyle. You’ve embarked upon an unconventional journey. You’ve felt the voice inside you growing more urgent. You’ve committed yourself enough so you can’t turn back. IN SHORT: You’ve decided to play for keeps. This is the critical crossroads – the emotional turning point – in the life of every young artist. I’ve been there myself, and here’s a list of…

[ View the infographic! ] “Everyone should wear nametags, all the time, everywhere, forever.” That’s my thesis, philosophy, dangerous idea and theory of the universe. My name is Scott, and I’ve been wearing a nametag for past four thousand days. And after traveling to hundreds of cities, a dozen countries, four continents, meeting tens of thousands of people, constant experimentation and observation, building a enterprise and writing a dozen…

“Acts of friendliness in moments of anonymity.” That’s why I wear a nametag: To invite people to join me, to remind the world that face to face is making a comeback and to create spontaneous moments of authentic human interaction infused with a spirit of humor, playfulness and connection. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, a nametag is worth a thousand stories. Here are my most…

When the economy sucks, everyone is trying to save money. And there’s no shortage of ways to do so. But what about saving time? Saving energy? Saving face? Saving emotional effort? THE REALITY IS: Saving isn’t just about spending less – it’s about becoming more. Today we’re going to explore several areas where you can practice the art of cheap:1. Abstinence is cheaper than moderation. I’d rather say no…

Most of the things we’re afraid of, aren’t. Fear is sneaky like that. Always wearing disguises to throw us off. THE GOOD NEWS IS: If you can identify the fear behind the fear, you can beat it. More than that – you can use it. As a compass. As a fuel source. As an invitation to evolve. Today we’re going to explore a collection of fears, the bigger fears…

I wear a nametag twenty-four seven. But sometimes that’s not enough. THE REALITY IS: Approachability is more than just face-to-face. It’s about being findable. It’s about being reachable. It’s about being knowable. Straight from my monthly column with American Express Open Forum, here are six ways to increase your digital approachability:1. Build online knowability. Since day one, you’ve been beaten over the head with three words: “Know your customer.”…

I recently booked a room at the Sofitel New York. When I arrived, their system showed no record of my reservation, nor did they have any open rooms for walk-ins. A bit annoyed, I ended up staying across the street at a competing hotel. No problem. But when I got my credit card statement, Sofitel still billed me. Turns out, they documented my reservation after all. The problem was,…

I never went to the career fair. I just hired myself and got to work. And after ten years, I still haven’t been fired. That’s the cool part: When you hire yourself, you stay free. When you hire yourself, you call the shots. When you hire yourself, you don’t have to wait. When you hire yourself, you execute what matters faster. When you hire yourself, you remove the threat…

“Acts of friendliness in moments of anonymity.” That’s why I wear a nametag: To invite people to join me, to remind the world that face to face is making a comeback and to create spontaneous moments of authentic human interaction infused with a spirit of humor, playfulness and connection. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, a nametag is worth a thousand stories. Here are my most…