Welcome to SighBrrr™ Monday

Such a nice long holiday break.

Sigh.

Have to put on the down coats all week.

Brrr.

Back at work after extended amounts of time with the family.

Sigh.

It’s getting darker and colder earlier.

Brrr.

A week full of work after a half week last week.

Sigh.

Everybody’s  catching up, nobody’s actually talking to each other, leads are cold.

Brrr.

After the popularity of Black Friday (and Grey Thursday) and Small Business Saturday, days are getting all kinds of wacky names.

So you can call today Cyber Monday for the deals you’re hoping to get online.  Or ChiBear Monday in honor of yesterday’s win over the Vikings, or High Bar Monday for the goals you’ set before the ball drops in 35 days.

Or just SighBrrr™ Monday.  Describes the way most folks feel today. 

So put on your coat and get outside, breathe in some cool fresh air, and get ready for Giving Tuesday.

10 things Idea Creators can be thankful for

1. Aggregators.  Impossible to overexpress my appreciation for people who collect and then redistribute wonderful things.  Like Dave Pell and Maria Popova.   The former collects 10 stories a day and wraps them in his own twisted brand of biting humor.  The latter collects gobs and gobs and gobs of items every day, each one unique and interesting.  Both of them find stuff that save massive amounts of time and provide massive amounts of inspiration.

2. Originators.  People who are out there doing their own thing, which then becomes our thing.  Amy Krouse Rosenthal has been bringing loveliness to us for years.  Unique voices like hers are not easy to find so when you do, do whatever the legal and friendly version of stalking is.

3. Storytellers.  Find them wherever you can.  TED Talks is the obvious go-to; they can be hit or miss, but some of them are incredibly inspiring.  The most amazing talks are usually the most amazing stories.  Case in point:  Bill Strickland.  An unassuming speaker, a ridiculously riveting storyteller.  “There’s nothing wrong with poor people that sunlight, affection and dignity can’t cure.”

4. Collaborators.  Conferences like Chicago Ideas Week and techweek.  Weeklong petri dishes for connection and creativity.  It’s worth the price of admission to be surrounded by smart, creative people. Stock up on keychains and t-shirts but make sure you take part in the speeches, panels and exhibitors. Same's true of creative work spaces/incubators like 1871.  A staggering amount of invaluable fodder at your fingertips.  

5. Good Health.  Waking up every day and having the physical and mental ability to be in the idea business is never to be underestimated.

6. Independent coffee houses like Filter, Swim and Star Lounge in Chicago.  Infinite thanks for allowing us to do business without an office. For others, rent can be late.  For us, rent can be a latte (and a sandwich if you’re there during lunch).   When you’re surrounded by the energy of like-minded creative thinkers, you’re in business.  BTW, please tip heavily.

7. (Saving the best for last) Clients.  I’ve never had a client I didn‘t love.  They all have their quirks and some are more challenging than others, but without them, our ideas would go nowhere.  Be open and honest and Get Naked, and accept every one with a smile of appreciation and when necessary, a grain of salt. And when things get tough, here’s a thought:  turn your most challenging clients into ones that inspire you the most.  Aim to be over-and-above creative for them and solve their problems in ways they would never see. It could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

8, 9, 10.  Red wine, great cheese, and crusty bread.  For all the obvious reasons.

Six things to fear once the FOMO meme goes away

I’m assuming that by now you’ve heard of FOMO.  

FOMO, of course, stands for “Fear Of Missing Out,” a term coined by entrepreneur and blogger Caterina Fake last year, and was initially defined, in her words, as “what happens everywhere on a typical Saturday night, when you’re trying to decide if you should stay in, or muster the energy to go to the party.” 

What it’s become is the way social media has crowded our lives with gabillions of choices, and how we now need to constantly worry and wonder about missing out on something more interesting or exciting.

As memes go, it’s as au as courant gets.

The buzz around FOMO has continued, from South by Southwest to Mashable to the New York Times.  So in honor of FOMO and all the timely angst it brings to us 2012-ers, here are some more “Fear Of’s” that can help guide us until we find our way to the next great meme.

FOBBOTCS (Fear of being behind on the cool shows)

For people like me who don’t watch Breaking Bad, The Wire, Downton Abbey, or Boardwalk Empire.  Homeland provides my TV-watching awesomeness and it’s about all I can muster.

FOWUBTAGO (Fear of waking up before the alarm goes off)

Unless you like not getting enough sleep.

FONSYKE (Fear of not seeing your kids enough)

For any parent who works too hard or travels too much, you know what I’m talking about.  For Doggie-Only Parents, FONSYDE is just as bad (Sorry feline lovers, FONSYCE isn’t quite the same thing).

FORMATT  (Fear of repetitive meetings all the time)

You may already be living through this hell if you work for a living.

FOOEYS (Fear of outsiders eating your sandwich)

Those who know me know that this really only applies to  me because I make really good sandwiches.

Good luck managing your way through FOMO and any other “FO’s” you might be experiencing.  And remember, for every person out there who you think is having more fun, there are two more who are sure you’re having waaaay more fun than they are.