My daughter is visiting. She's 28 and lives in San Francisco with her 10 year old son, Eli. She's an aerial artist who supports herself by writing grants for a non profit charity. ( There I managed to paint an outline of her in two sentences that does her justice!) She's affectionately referred to as "mini me" and "Darling Dee".
When she was growing up I went through several bouts of serial dating. I was the hot mama! Even her college friends said so - a MILF (A title I was proud to own I might add!) Short blood red spiky hair, size 2 and buff from training, with a killer wardrobe and a passion for sexy high heeled shoes. I have a nose piercing. I think she liked having a sexy mom. She certainly liked borrowing the shoes from my closet.
But I'm married and post cancer these days, and perhaps not so sexy. Today she stopped as she passed the bathroom where I was combing my long hair before dinner. "Oh Mom", so sighed. "You and your hair!"
I asked her what she meant. "Well it used to be so hot and short and sexy," she told me. "Now you have that cutesy pink clip in it with bling,..its just not your style!"
OK, I admit I was sad. 'This isn't my style either' I told her later. This is just what happens when you have to take drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis, and you've had gall bladder surgery, and your hair is post anesthesia! It gets a bit dry and brittle as you get older...and its almost white, so as my color grows out I have roots! I can't wear it up, tussled on my head in a sexy knot with white roots! The spiky red hair was totally cool back when Annie Lenox ruled and I lived in Asia and San Francisco. Here in the almost south, it's a bit harsh and unexpected on a slight 52 year old. It frightens off the natives! The best thing I have heard said about it was that it made me a bit unapproachable and intimidated most men. (Not to mention women...who all thought I looked too much like competition and wanted me as far from their husbands as possible.I was rarely invited to dinner parties when my hair was short and spiky!)
The long brownish/red straightened hair is pretty and sophisticated. My husband likes it. It doesn't intimidate anyone. Its easier to tie back and 'clip'. But I do mourn "the look" that made everyone comment. My crowning glory has gone the way of my fast fun youth. One day Darling Dee will understand when its just not cool for her to wear her Mohawk anymore!
Ok, I just had to wrote it....
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Show me the money....
Instead of complaining, (which I realize has been the majority of my bogging so far, ) I thought I might try and post something helpful.
How to manage account collections in a small business.
This is a subject dear to my heart: If you don't manage your collections you won't stay profitable and remain in business. I am a publisher and all my income comes from advertising. For most of my customers, advertising is a long way down the list from rent and the electric bill. It's also low priority when American Express is calling asking for payment in full on all the product you bought at the trade show!
I believe that I offer very good value for money and that our publications produce real results for our customers. I want to stay in business and I insist on getting paid. That does not always make me popular. I have been called some really nasty things for going after a bill. Too bad! Until recently I was single, and not getting paid meant not paying my mortgage. I have have extended credit during hard economic times to new customers to attract business. But I am not going to be an easy mark.
Rule 1. Document
Every customer gets a contract. It has their name, signature, address, social security number and tax ID. It has a minimum of two phone numbers and an alternative contact name on it! It has been reviewed by an attorney and the credit bureau: The wording is airtight. It is collectible in a court of law.
It also states, as does every other piece of marketing material and pricing information a customer gets, that all discounts and deals are null and void once that bill becomes delinquent. This can be a very good negotiating point later on.
I use Quickbooks for my accounting. Its' fairly easy to master and keeps very good records for tax purposes. It already has collection reports and past due account information, so finding the list of scumbags (I mean valued customers) who owe you money should not be hard. Enter every invoice and make sure even cash payments are entered into the system. I always give a receipt for cash from a receipt book that is numbered.
Rule 2. Document
My invoices are due net 15 and they say so. On the invoice itself, on the contract, on the sales information packet and on my collection letters. I give 15 days grace period and then the bill is past due. At the 30 days mark customers get a 'past due' statement. It's stamped past due! It shows their account transactions from the last 0 balance (even if that was a year ago.) If they paid something in the last 30 days they get a cute pink sticker - " Please note new balance, thank you for your payment."
At 40 days past due they get a phone call, which is documented on their account. "We're trying to close out the books from last month and we noticed you hadn't paid your invoice. Did you receive one? I know things can get lost in the mail." This gives the customer an "out"; a way to save face and offer to pay right away.
Half of them claim they didn't get an invoice. So we mail and email a duplicate. We ask the to take care of the bill right way and if possible we pick up a check. Half of them pay up.
At 50 days they get another phone call: "Hi, we spoke last week and we still haven't received your payment, would you like to make an arrangement? If we don't get your payment in ten days interest will start to accrue. Please refer to your contract for the details" At this point you are probably leaving a message on a machine. These are your problem clients.
At 60 days they get a registered letter. " Here is your past due statement of all the activity on your account together with your invoices. We have added interest. (Compound, from the 30 day point after the first bill came due. If they make a payment and I know them, I sometimes do not add interest for that month.) All your discounts are now void and your account balance has been adjusted accordingly. (This one is definitely a shock for them as that bill has now substantially increased and you've added interest to the no longer discounted price.) We must hear from you regarding payment or an arrangement's to pay in 10 days or less. If we haven't heard from you by that date we will refer your account to an attorney. The attorney will add fees and further interest. You will be reported to credit bureaus. We don't want to do this and I am sure you don't want us to either, so please call."
A small percentage will now call upset and appalled that you increased their invoice and added that much interest. They will tell you some story about their sick mother, or that they had a client bounce a check on them...whatever. About 20% will pay some or all of the bill in an payment arrangement. Be prepared to call them weekly and collect the check in person. Be prepared to leave many messages on that answering machine. Be prepared to negotiate that interest. "Look, I will take off the interest if you pay this in full in three payments."
Who collects?
Account Executives have the best relationship with your clients so they should make the first calls. You should never make calls as the business owner. If possible have a spouse or friend make those second calls. Don't hesitate to play "good cop, bad cop". If you know the client well, it may be appropriate to call them and tell them that the account is heading to collections and you're personally asking them to take care of this matter. Be prepared to lose customers!
Rule 3. Use an Attorney.
Although you may have to pay fees upfront, attorneys are by and large far more efficient at collections than a credit collection center. If that bill is under $200 you may want to write it off at this point. The fees may out weigh the results. But a decent attorney can get 50% of the deadbeats to pay within a month. Some will go bankrupt and others will have to be garnished which could take forever.
We typically invoice 80 - 90 customers per month. I have less than 2% of my accounts enter collections, but it may take me a year, and a lot of calls and leg work, to get paid in full. I write off about 4 accounts a year. And I'm pretty happy with that :-)
I just had to wrote it...
How to manage account collections in a small business.
This is a subject dear to my heart: If you don't manage your collections you won't stay profitable and remain in business. I am a publisher and all my income comes from advertising. For most of my customers, advertising is a long way down the list from rent and the electric bill. It's also low priority when American Express is calling asking for payment in full on all the product you bought at the trade show!
I believe that I offer very good value for money and that our publications produce real results for our customers. I want to stay in business and I insist on getting paid. That does not always make me popular. I have been called some really nasty things for going after a bill. Too bad! Until recently I was single, and not getting paid meant not paying my mortgage. I have have extended credit during hard economic times to new customers to attract business. But I am not going to be an easy mark.
Rule 1. Document
Every customer gets a contract. It has their name, signature, address, social security number and tax ID. It has a minimum of two phone numbers and an alternative contact name on it! It has been reviewed by an attorney and the credit bureau: The wording is airtight. It is collectible in a court of law.
It also states, as does every other piece of marketing material and pricing information a customer gets, that all discounts and deals are null and void once that bill becomes delinquent. This can be a very good negotiating point later on.
I use Quickbooks for my accounting. Its' fairly easy to master and keeps very good records for tax purposes. It already has collection reports and past due account information, so finding the list of scumbags (I mean valued customers) who owe you money should not be hard. Enter every invoice and make sure even cash payments are entered into the system. I always give a receipt for cash from a receipt book that is numbered.
Rule 2. Document
My invoices are due net 15 and they say so. On the invoice itself, on the contract, on the sales information packet and on my collection letters. I give 15 days grace period and then the bill is past due. At the 30 days mark customers get a 'past due' statement. It's stamped past due! It shows their account transactions from the last 0 balance (even if that was a year ago.) If they paid something in the last 30 days they get a cute pink sticker - " Please note new balance, thank you for your payment."
At 40 days past due they get a phone call, which is documented on their account. "We're trying to close out the books from last month and we noticed you hadn't paid your invoice. Did you receive one? I know things can get lost in the mail." This gives the customer an "out"; a way to save face and offer to pay right away.
Half of them claim they didn't get an invoice. So we mail and email a duplicate. We ask the to take care of the bill right way and if possible we pick up a check. Half of them pay up.
At 50 days they get another phone call: "Hi, we spoke last week and we still haven't received your payment, would you like to make an arrangement? If we don't get your payment in ten days interest will start to accrue. Please refer to your contract for the details" At this point you are probably leaving a message on a machine. These are your problem clients.
At 60 days they get a registered letter. " Here is your past due statement of all the activity on your account together with your invoices. We have added interest. (Compound, from the 30 day point after the first bill came due. If they make a payment and I know them, I sometimes do not add interest for that month.) All your discounts are now void and your account balance has been adjusted accordingly. (This one is definitely a shock for them as that bill has now substantially increased and you've added interest to the no longer discounted price.) We must hear from you regarding payment or an arrangement's to pay in 10 days or less. If we haven't heard from you by that date we will refer your account to an attorney. The attorney will add fees and further interest. You will be reported to credit bureaus. We don't want to do this and I am sure you don't want us to either, so please call."
A small percentage will now call upset and appalled that you increased their invoice and added that much interest. They will tell you some story about their sick mother, or that they had a client bounce a check on them...whatever. About 20% will pay some or all of the bill in an payment arrangement. Be prepared to call them weekly and collect the check in person. Be prepared to leave many messages on that answering machine. Be prepared to negotiate that interest. "Look, I will take off the interest if you pay this in full in three payments."
Who collects?
Account Executives have the best relationship with your clients so they should make the first calls. You should never make calls as the business owner. If possible have a spouse or friend make those second calls. Don't hesitate to play "good cop, bad cop". If you know the client well, it may be appropriate to call them and tell them that the account is heading to collections and you're personally asking them to take care of this matter. Be prepared to lose customers!
Rule 3. Use an Attorney.
Although you may have to pay fees upfront, attorneys are by and large far more efficient at collections than a credit collection center. If that bill is under $200 you may want to write it off at this point. The fees may out weigh the results. But a decent attorney can get 50% of the deadbeats to pay within a month. Some will go bankrupt and others will have to be garnished which could take forever.
We typically invoice 80 - 90 customers per month. I have less than 2% of my accounts enter collections, but it may take me a year, and a lot of calls and leg work, to get paid in full. I write off about 4 accounts a year. And I'm pretty happy with that :-)
I just had to wrote it...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Being sick and self employed....
I was told today that I should take the next two weeks off work to recover from the removal of my gall bladder. Laughing hysterically I informed the nice discharge nurse that I would be returning to my home, and hence my office, and hence my computer by 2 pm this afternoon...and look, I'm early!!
As most of you self employed types will attest, being seriously ill can be a catastrophe when you have a business to run. Just like the rest of the working adult world we get sick with colds, flu, a pulled muscle, a broken arm etc. Unlike those with a paid job and a generous employer (i.e my husband), we do not get paid when we are ill. It's bad enough if you don't get sick pay from your job, but at least there's long term disability in most cases or even SSI if its serious such as cancer. I know that's not much money or much comfort but when the only income you have is from the daily activity you produce....well its scary.
Last year I had breast cancer. They told me I would be unable to work at all for 6 - 8 weeks and then back on light duty for 4 more. I was in despair. My magazine is published monthly. At best I have a 5 day window near the end of each month when I can relax enough to get housework done and weed the garden! If I am really careful and manage my time, I can squeeze in a week with my daughter in San Francisco, or even a road trip with my man. (Of course I pay dearly for that when I get back and have to cram billing and accounting into 2 days instead of 5, and designing the next months edition into 3 days rather than 7.) The prospect of being sick for months with chemo etc was a daunting prospect and I seriously wondered if I could continue to work. Then I wondered how I would survive if I didn't continue to work!
Cancer made me really get my act together. I delegated, I organized, I managed the processes of my magazine carefully. I figured out how to do as much as I could with a dropbox, logmein and cloud computing. My iPhone was absolutely my best friend. When the iPad came out I bought version 2 and love it. I can work anywhere! I paired down my busy work and concentrated on the key things that I needed to personally manage each month that were bottom line issues. Somehow it worked and I put out my magazine 5 days after a double mastectomy. I was in pain, I was tired, but I was determined...and self employed.
This time it was my gall bladder and my first mistake was checking into a local doctors office rather than driving to Vanderbilt in Nashville. (I keep telling myself I have to give the local physicians a chance, and then I do ...and I tell myself it will be the last time LOL) The doctors here are generally fine. They care, they're personable and their staff have the ubiquitous southern charm. But they over test, over operate and over book! Of course that's just my opinion, but this is my blog!
I went to the emergency room over 10 days ago with a bad gall bladder - Start the $ signs rolling because these docs are self employed! During the first 10 days I have had an endoscopy, CT scan, 6 sets of blood work and saw four doctors. (And they wanted to do a Colonoscopy as well!) Each billed me for an office visit, hospital visit, and tests. After three days I went home. By Monday I am writhing in agony...simply unable to eat, drink or sleep. back to the hospital for another day and a half. It took 10 days to get my gall bladder taken out! 10 days of being too sick and on too many pain meds to really work.
Being self employed is great. I love it. AND, being sick and self employed can be catastrophic. I guess figuring what to do about that and how to head off a disaster is a whole new blog! For now I just want to keep healthy...and I'm waiting for that horrendous bill from the hospital and those 4 doctors. I'm sorry but taking two weeks off from work is just not an option for the self employed.
OK, I just had to write it!!
As most of you self employed types will attest, being seriously ill can be a catastrophe when you have a business to run. Just like the rest of the working adult world we get sick with colds, flu, a pulled muscle, a broken arm etc. Unlike those with a paid job and a generous employer (i.e my husband), we do not get paid when we are ill. It's bad enough if you don't get sick pay from your job, but at least there's long term disability in most cases or even SSI if its serious such as cancer. I know that's not much money or much comfort but when the only income you have is from the daily activity you produce....well its scary.
Last year I had breast cancer. They told me I would be unable to work at all for 6 - 8 weeks and then back on light duty for 4 more. I was in despair. My magazine is published monthly. At best I have a 5 day window near the end of each month when I can relax enough to get housework done and weed the garden! If I am really careful and manage my time, I can squeeze in a week with my daughter in San Francisco, or even a road trip with my man. (Of course I pay dearly for that when I get back and have to cram billing and accounting into 2 days instead of 5, and designing the next months edition into 3 days rather than 7.) The prospect of being sick for months with chemo etc was a daunting prospect and I seriously wondered if I could continue to work. Then I wondered how I would survive if I didn't continue to work!
Cancer made me really get my act together. I delegated, I organized, I managed the processes of my magazine carefully. I figured out how to do as much as I could with a dropbox, logmein and cloud computing. My iPhone was absolutely my best friend. When the iPad came out I bought version 2 and love it. I can work anywhere! I paired down my busy work and concentrated on the key things that I needed to personally manage each month that were bottom line issues. Somehow it worked and I put out my magazine 5 days after a double mastectomy. I was in pain, I was tired, but I was determined...and self employed.
This time it was my gall bladder and my first mistake was checking into a local doctors office rather than driving to Vanderbilt in Nashville. (I keep telling myself I have to give the local physicians a chance, and then I do ...and I tell myself it will be the last time LOL) The doctors here are generally fine. They care, they're personable and their staff have the ubiquitous southern charm. But they over test, over operate and over book! Of course that's just my opinion, but this is my blog!
I went to the emergency room over 10 days ago with a bad gall bladder - Start the $ signs rolling because these docs are self employed! During the first 10 days I have had an endoscopy, CT scan, 6 sets of blood work and saw four doctors. (And they wanted to do a Colonoscopy as well!) Each billed me for an office visit, hospital visit, and tests. After three days I went home. By Monday I am writhing in agony...simply unable to eat, drink or sleep. back to the hospital for another day and a half. It took 10 days to get my gall bladder taken out! 10 days of being too sick and on too many pain meds to really work.
Being self employed is great. I love it. AND, being sick and self employed can be catastrophic. I guess figuring what to do about that and how to head off a disaster is a whole new blog! For now I just want to keep healthy...and I'm waiting for that horrendous bill from the hospital and those 4 doctors. I'm sorry but taking two weeks off from work is just not an option for the self employed.
OK, I just had to write it!!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
She Works Hard For her Money.....
Grrrrr.....
Why is the concept "I publish a magazine as a business venture" so hard for some of my customers to understand? Do they really think I do this for some egotistical hobby? (Yeah, that right...I just love to work this hard just to see my name in print each month.)
As the Editor-in-Chief I get to choose what goes into the publication. That all too important content which holds the ads together and pays the printers is my decision. I have to source it, either write it or have it written, and then edit it...all of it! 76 + pages every month. To help give the magazine varied and interesting content we accept advertorials and 'informational articles' from advertisers, in fact we offer space on a regular basis: You buy a six month ad, we'll try and get you some article space to talk about buying a new home, or flea and tick medicine for dogs...whatever it is you are trying to promote. This is a complimentary extra to the advertising you have already purchased and its a great way to promote your product and to brand you as the local "expert".
Some business owners like to write, and have the educational background and training to produce quite good magazine material. Counselors, medical personnel and educators in particular often submit copy that finds its way into PP & F. Their customers and patients see it, compliment them and their business grows. "My doctor writes a column in that parenting magazine," their customers tell each other.
All is well until I have a month where I have more copy than space...a last minute event comes up that I think is worthy of printing than an article on Thumbsucking for instance. Their monthly contribution to our glorious publication is a few days after copy deadline. So, I bump the complimentary promotions article and run what I think is better content for the magazine. An article on the MDA walk-a-thon coming up in three weeks.Then the abusive emails begin...
Apparently, I don't know how to run my business! I should giveaway valuable page space because everybody wants to read about 'manipulative personality disorder" (or something like that). The section title they have been given is theirs! Howe dare I use it for anyone else? They forget that it was my suggestion to write for the magazine and that it's free. Other publications see their articles and call them about advertising and articles. I do not appreciate them enough. I have disappointed their clients. I have inconvenienced them...they are never writing for me again!
But they have forgotten a couple of important things. I have the largest circulation in a 200 mile radius of any publication except the newspaper (and they won't get their rantings published in there.) My readership is their exact target audience. I edit their sometimes overly wordy and confusing drivel so that their content is interesting and readable. And the most important thing...the articles they have published are possibly the best branding and marketing they can get.
So, by all means take your sand box toys and move on. I will be fine. I have many more businesses asking for space and they are only too eager to get free publicity. People, I need an income just like you do.I don't have a rich grandma, or the luxury of being financially supported by an aging millionaire. If I wish to live like a princess (and I do, I do...) it will have to come from the sweat of my own brow!
OK, I just had to write it!
Why is the concept "I publish a magazine as a business venture" so hard for some of my customers to understand? Do they really think I do this for some egotistical hobby? (Yeah, that right...I just love to work this hard just to see my name in print each month.)
As the Editor-in-Chief I get to choose what goes into the publication. That all too important content which holds the ads together and pays the printers is my decision. I have to source it, either write it or have it written, and then edit it...all of it! 76 + pages every month. To help give the magazine varied and interesting content we accept advertorials and 'informational articles' from advertisers, in fact we offer space on a regular basis: You buy a six month ad, we'll try and get you some article space to talk about buying a new home, or flea and tick medicine for dogs...whatever it is you are trying to promote. This is a complimentary extra to the advertising you have already purchased and its a great way to promote your product and to brand you as the local "expert".
Some business owners like to write, and have the educational background and training to produce quite good magazine material. Counselors, medical personnel and educators in particular often submit copy that finds its way into PP & F. Their customers and patients see it, compliment them and their business grows. "My doctor writes a column in that parenting magazine," their customers tell each other.
All is well until I have a month where I have more copy than space...a last minute event comes up that I think is worthy of printing than an article on Thumbsucking for instance. Their monthly contribution to our glorious publication is a few days after copy deadline. So, I bump the complimentary promotions article and run what I think is better content for the magazine. An article on the MDA walk-a-thon coming up in three weeks.Then the abusive emails begin...
Apparently, I don't know how to run my business! I should giveaway valuable page space because everybody wants to read about 'manipulative personality disorder" (or something like that). The section title they have been given is theirs! Howe dare I use it for anyone else? They forget that it was my suggestion to write for the magazine and that it's free. Other publications see their articles and call them about advertising and articles. I do not appreciate them enough. I have disappointed their clients. I have inconvenienced them...they are never writing for me again!
But they have forgotten a couple of important things. I have the largest circulation in a 200 mile radius of any publication except the newspaper (and they won't get their rantings published in there.) My readership is their exact target audience. I edit their sometimes overly wordy and confusing drivel so that their content is interesting and readable. And the most important thing...the articles they have published are possibly the best branding and marketing they can get.
So, by all means take your sand box toys and move on. I will be fine. I have many more businesses asking for space and they are only too eager to get free publicity. People, I need an income just like you do.I don't have a rich grandma, or the luxury of being financially supported by an aging millionaire. If I wish to live like a princess (and I do, I do...) it will have to come from the sweat of my own brow!
OK, I just had to write it!
Friday, June 10, 2011
It's better to ask forgiveness....
I think it was one of my first employers who taught me this lesson:
It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission...
I like to pull that thought out of my hat whenever I am motivated to accomplish something that I know will be questioned by a third party. It's not that I can't usually persuade people to see my point of view, or the value of my idea, but sometimes I just don't want to go through the motions. The information I need is available, just from the usual channels I am supposed to get it from. The thing I want or need is in the store room, I just don't have a requisition for it. I'm not supposed to be involved in that decision, but if I make a discrete phone call I can probably influence it. The truth is I would rather ask forgiveness after the fact than ask permission to act.
Sometimes, I get away with murder! Sometimes, this philosophy comes back to bite me in the ass.
Today I was bitten. I knew the minute I opened the email that I had been caught being slightly disrespectful to someone else's opinion, and their expended time and energy. It wasn't that I was altogether wrong but I had not explained my thought prossess appropriately and in the course of acting expediently (and, if I am being honest, on my own agenda) I had been rude. Which leads me to another one of those little sayings I live by...
If you're wrong, say so...
A swift apology was in order. The person I offended has been diligently trying to do her job and I was not making it any easier by going around her. So I told her I was very sorry and acknowledged my evil intentions.
The grown-ups I like to deal with are the ones who can tell you when you're full of it and accept an apology if its swift, forthright and thorough. (Not, "I'm sorry if I have offended you" when you know damn well they couldn't give hoot.) It's something I tried to instill in my kids when they were younger. You won't get punished for saying you are sorry. As an adult I can forgive and get over it. There is something cathartic about cleaning up a little mess, apologizing and moving on.
But I doubt I will ever give up acting without permission sometimes because, more often than not, I get away with it and that's a huge payoff!
It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission...
I like to pull that thought out of my hat whenever I am motivated to accomplish something that I know will be questioned by a third party. It's not that I can't usually persuade people to see my point of view, or the value of my idea, but sometimes I just don't want to go through the motions. The information I need is available, just from the usual channels I am supposed to get it from. The thing I want or need is in the store room, I just don't have a requisition for it. I'm not supposed to be involved in that decision, but if I make a discrete phone call I can probably influence it. The truth is I would rather ask forgiveness after the fact than ask permission to act.
Sometimes, I get away with murder! Sometimes, this philosophy comes back to bite me in the ass.
Today I was bitten. I knew the minute I opened the email that I had been caught being slightly disrespectful to someone else's opinion, and their expended time and energy. It wasn't that I was altogether wrong but I had not explained my thought prossess appropriately and in the course of acting expediently (and, if I am being honest, on my own agenda) I had been rude. Which leads me to another one of those little sayings I live by...
If you're wrong, say so...
A swift apology was in order. The person I offended has been diligently trying to do her job and I was not making it any easier by going around her. So I told her I was very sorry and acknowledged my evil intentions.
The grown-ups I like to deal with are the ones who can tell you when you're full of it and accept an apology if its swift, forthright and thorough. (Not, "I'm sorry if I have offended you" when you know damn well they couldn't give hoot.) It's something I tried to instill in my kids when they were younger. You won't get punished for saying you are sorry. As an adult I can forgive and get over it. There is something cathartic about cleaning up a little mess, apologizing and moving on.
But I doubt I will ever give up acting without permission sometimes because, more often than not, I get away with it and that's a huge payoff!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Blank Pages
Oh yes, this is intimidating!
My first blog will set the tone for future masterpieces (I hope.) My mother didn't start writing seriously until she was my age and I can see why. I always have a lot of ideas in my head and a desire to write them for all the world to read. But a blog? The pressure is building...
Ah well, lets take another leaf out of Mum's notebook and just do it! Here's what motivated me:
Life is a series of collisions with the future; it is not the sum of what we have been, but what we yearn to be.
Jose Ortega y Gasset
Every month I have space for an editorial in my magazine. It started as a page, but as the magazine grew and matured my editorial space often disappears to a 1/4 page or less. I plan that this blog gives me the opportunity to express myself: To tell the world what I really want to say, unconstrained by the magazine. It will be a more accurate reflection of my values and beliefs. I guess my readers will be the judge.
My first blog will set the tone for future masterpieces (I hope.) My mother didn't start writing seriously until she was my age and I can see why. I always have a lot of ideas in my head and a desire to write them for all the world to read. But a blog? The pressure is building...
Ah well, lets take another leaf out of Mum's notebook and just do it! Here's what motivated me:
Life is a series of collisions with the future; it is not the sum of what we have been, but what we yearn to be.
Jose Ortega y Gasset
Every month I have space for an editorial in my magazine. It started as a page, but as the magazine grew and matured my editorial space often disappears to a 1/4 page or less. I plan that this blog gives me the opportunity to express myself: To tell the world what I really want to say, unconstrained by the magazine. It will be a more accurate reflection of my values and beliefs. I guess my readers will be the judge.
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