Today's edition is called the U.S. Patent Office Edition because The U.S. Patent Office opened for business on this day in 1790, established to protect the work of young America's inventors. The first patent granted was to Samuel Hopkins of Vermont, for a new method of making fertilizer. Annually, more than 185,000 patents are granted. The Patent and Trademark Office also is a … [Read more...]
How to Win at Freelancing Without Killing Yourself
How do you describe freelancing? Do you consider yourself a freelancer? Want to become one? The idea of freelancing can take my forms. It’s malleable like play-dough, which is a good thing! Why? Because it can be endlessly molded to fit your talents, experiences, passions, and pursuits. But for all of its appeal, a freelancing lifestyle is not without its challenges, … [Read more...]
Book Writing for Dummies
Are you sure you want to write a book? This book? Get on with it then. Wow – stop right there. A book, yes. A bestseller, a masterpiece, even a novel, hell no – if that's what you're after, you're on your own. Well, I'll help you part of the way. I wrote a book last year. Nothing exciting, it's about Plato. But it's a book, and it's published. And now I'm half way through the … [Read more...]
Open Thread: What Three Big Tasks Will Move you Forward, Today?
Productivity is one of the things I'm struggling with right now. Something that has worked for me, however, is a mindset of accomplishing three things each day. Every week on Sunday night or Monday morning, I write down 10-15 of the biggest tasks I have on my plate to move me towards my goals. These tasks vary and can take as little as five minutes to as long as 5 hours. The … [Read more...]
How to Get Over the Worst Thing Ever
Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones, someone whose life is filled with sunshine and rainbows 24/7. Your family is healthy, you’ve got all your limbs, and you never burn your tongue on your soy latte. To those of you who fit this description, good for you. I don’t think you exist, but if you do, give yourself a nice pat on the back. For the rest of us mere mortals, life can … [Read more...]