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- On Writing: Keep it short and sweetAugust 31
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Need examples of witty writing with few words?
Check out The Listings in The New York Times’ Weekend Arts section. You’ll find some succinctly superb snippets under Long-Running Shows. Here are my favorites from last Friday:
Billy Elliot The Musical
Ballet dreams in coal countryMamma Mia
The jukebox musical set to the disco throb of AbbaChicago
Jazz Age sex, murder, and razzle-dazzleWest Side Story
Romeo on Juliet’s fire scape, once againWicked
Oz rivisitedMary Poppins
SupernannyWhat are your favorite examples of ultra-short writing that packs a punch? Share away.
- Having trouble pre-ordering your iPhone 4? Use the Apple Store app insteadJune 15
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I’ve been trying to order an iPhone 4 since 1am this morning. But AT&T’s crappy networks and Safari’s session expirations were preventing me from getting closer to My Precious. Thankfully, the new Apple Store app on the iPhone worked like a breeze. It took me two minutes to pre-order. Give it a try.
After you make the reservation, the app might give you an error if try to reserve another one. So I guess it’s one per customer.
- Does your portfolio have to be fancy?May 19
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On June 5th, I’m reviewing portfolios for AIGA SF Portfolio Day. While I love talking to students, I’m already dreading one thing: the “fancy” portfolio. By fancy, I mean a hardbound book with embossed lettering, ultra expensive paper, and precious unreadable typography. Or maybe it’ll be encased in a large metal box with tricky clasps and handles. Or better, it’s a wooden box with a special key to unlock it. Nauseating.
Your portfolio doesn’t need extra doodads, tassels, sequins. If your design work and writing is awful, it’s still awful no matter how much you dress it up. And since student work almost always is terrible, I’m much more interested in your enthusiasm, how well you think, and the quality of your writing.
Good portfolios are simple, unassuming, and relatively cheap to make. Even a humble wire-o bound portfolio works. Big images, lots of process work, readable type, and good writing is all you need.
So if you’re a student, don’t shell out $400 dollars to make a precious museum-piece portfolio. Instead pay down your student loans, or spend the money on an HTML/CSS class.
It’s old, but here’s
- Don’t check your work email at homeMay 7
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Four years ago, I started forwarding my work email to my personal email account. The reason? One inbox for all email is easier to manage. It’ll my make life simpler, right?
Not.
Turns out, all it did was stress me out at home and on the weekends. There’s always an annoying email about a problem I can’t do anything about since I’m not in the office. And usually, the sender finds another way to solve the problem.
More emails just meant more worry.
So, this weekend I’m completely separating my work email from my personal email. If there’s a real urgent need to get a hold of me, then call me. ;-)
- When to quit your jobMay 6
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When you’ve stopped learning on the job, it’s time to quit.
After looking at all the jobs I’ve had, I realized one thing: when I stopped learning, I became much more keenly aware of other job factors like salary, office space, and vacation time. Boredom makes it way easier to obsess about money and perks.
The jobs where I learned the most were the ones I stayed the longest. I’ve been at DDO for over three years and expect to be here for a long time.
Why?
Because the office has a culture of learning, sharing, and mentoring. We even get an education budget every year. Free classes? Hell yeah.
A job that teaches you keeps you interested. It also makes you nimble and adaptable when major changes happen—like a downfall in the economy or a shift in technology standards. This versatility makes you more employable now and in the future.
Of course, money and perks matter too. But they’re not permanent. The skills and knowledge you learn on a job stick with you for a lifetime. The education you gain can’t be taken away from you.