Tell me you don’t want to watch Arrested Development in this beanie? Tell me?

LINK:  WOOUF

I attended Alt Summit last week and will be spending a few days recapping my favorite nuggets of info. Feel free to check out Part 1 and Part 2.

What, you ask, is a resource party? We’ll get there, friends. We’ll get there. (If you’re impatient, Amy has a great post on my resource party at Alt Summit).

[Image Credit: Ana Cuba]

A few caveats:
1. I did not invent The Resource Party. I simply adapted it from this awesome book I’ve told you about before. The Renaissance Soul. Buy it. (link directs to my affiliate store) Also, we did something drastically similar at Mighty Summit last summer. It was awesome.
2. The Resource Party should be done with a circle of friends you trust. There is a difference between sharing resources and asking for contacts. I hate the word contacts, by the way. Because they’re people. Stop calling them contacts.

[Image Credit: Benjamin Acree]

OK, now that we got that out of the way, hereby are The Rules to a Successful Resource Party:

1. Invite 10-15 of your closest pals to your house for wine and cheese. Wine isn’t necessary, but suggested. Cheese is necessary.
2. Pass out an index card and pen for every gal present and seat your guests in a circle.
3. Each guest is asked to write a small list of three items they’d like help accomplishing. It could be (a) brainstorming a new business / marketing idea, (b) conquering a massive stack of laundry, or (c) finding the perfect foundation for your skin tone. Whatever.
4. One by one, each guest is asked to read their first item aloud. No one is allowed to speak but the person reading their card. This is important for maintaining structure and keeping a resource party from lasting 87 hours.
5. Here’s where it gets fun. If another guest can help the person reading their item with said item, that guest raises their hand. The reader of the item then makes a note that, for example, Martha can help her choose the perfect foundation.
6. The exercise continues until everyone present at the circle has read one item.
7. Break time! Go get another glass of wine and find the person who has offered to help you with your item. Exchange info, make a plan and sit back down in your chair for round two — the second item on your list.
8. Rinse, repeat and help each other.

[Image Credit: Cabinet de Fumisterie Appliquee]

Did that make sense? I failed Technical Writing 101.

Anyway, its a rousing good time. BUT, I can’t stress this enough:

A resource party shouldn’t be abused. It’s not created so you can shortcut through life and simply swap “contacts.” It’s designed to get in the habit of helping deserving creatives that struggle with some of the things you don’t struggle with. It’s designed to build each other up — to support, encourage, inspire and yes, be resourceful. We all have something to give, and we’re all totally awesome.

Go forth and resource party. Report back, and then maybe help me find the perfect foundation, OK?

I haven’t been able to get behind tie-dye quite yet, except for when it looks like Mercury’s Jupiter’s atmosphere.

LINK:  WORK OF WAVES

I like this piece very much. Yes. Very, very much.

LINK: CELINE MEYRAT

Tom Storm photographs world landmarks as reflected in a single bubble. This is insanity, you guys. Go. See. Now.

LINK:  TOM STORM
via: MY MODERN MET

Eek! I can’t take anymore! Entirely too awesome.

LINK:  FILIPPO MINELLI on FLICKR
via: SUSU

I don’t want to know how much this is, so don’t tell me. Deal?

p.s. Those little lion head feet kill me!

LINK:  PEDRO SOUSA

I attended Alt Summit last week and will be spending a few days recapping my favorite nuggets of info. You can read Part 1 right here.

I mentioned yesterday that my panel with Liz and Maggie was all about advertising, which is a pretty divisive topic. And if you know me at all, you know I hate making waves. So… this was a toughie.

I was thrilled that the panel was so well-received and learned that whether you love advertising or hate it, everyone appreciates a bit of transparency. Which is awesome, because transparent is my middle name. Super.

Speaking of transparency, here’s a breakdown of my segment of the panel, which includes 4 tips to rock out advertising and sponsored content:

[Image Credit: DescribeTheFauna]

1. Re-invent the wheel.
Get creative. This dude Jason rents out his torso every day. And we all remember the Million Dollar Homepage genius. Brainstorm ideas that are sure to surprise and the benefit is twofold: (1) your sponsors have something new and shiny to embrace, and (2) buzz will generate into other industries you haven’t yet reached.

Not sure how to brainstorm? Throw a resource party. I’ll talk more about this tomorrow.

[Image Credit: The Darling Child]

2. Test the waters.
Sponsored content and managing sponsors requires balance and a pretty intense time commitment. Rather than jumping in with a full-blown, massive project (like, say… an entire home renovation – ha!), test the waters with a few choice sponsors on a smaller scale. Bonus? You’ll introduce your readers slowly to the idea of sponsored content and you’ll better learn your value.

[Image Credit: Eleanor Hardwick]

3. Know your strengths.
If you’re not gifted in the realm of project management (read: me)and negotiating (also read: me) working with sponsors is going to be a rough ride. Find someone who is skilled in this area that you trust, and barter with, learn from or hire them to assist you in this project. Sometimes we need to suck it up and admit that we’re not gifted in every single area of our business.

[Image Credit: Jesper Christoffersen]

4. Less is more.
Because I post all the time, I have more wiggle room with sponsored content. In short, I like to keep my sponsored content at 5% and editorial at 95%. But, this is my personal choice. There are no rules (only suggestions!) with sponsored content, so its important to be gracious if other bloggers choose to run more advertising-related posts than you’re comfortable with. It’s a personal choice, so let’s all be friends about it, OK?

So. That’s a quickie rundown of my segment of the panel. Tomorrow we’ll talk about brainstorming awesome ideas for generating income, sponsors and ideas on your blog. Stand by!

p.s. Update: I just realized that since we’re talking advertising, it’s high time I thanked my sidebar friends over there. Go say hello!

Well this one’s going straight to the wish list.

LINK:  ELLERY

Catherine always makes it so hard to choose just one.

LINK:  CATHERINE RYAN