MONKEYZ BLOG

Everyone has a story, and everyone likes to hear a good story. It’s a unique quality of being human. Heck, even cave dwellers told stories. In fact, for millennia, before we had writing, oral storytelling was the only way history passed from one generation to another. Stories were also “told” through cave paintings, hieroglyphics, singing,…

When you talk to others, do you fully engage? Do they? I was watching a discussion panel the other night on TV. It became readily apparent that the talking heads really weren’t listening to one another. Each was simply waiting for a moment of quiet as the cue for when it was his or her…

Ideas are the lifeblood of the entrepreneurial spirit. They are the sparks of innovation, the kernels of “what might be.” But ideas alone are not success. Ideas represent potential. Without execution, ideas are just that—ideas. They are pie in the sky dreams and wishful thinking. Many ideas fail to see the light of day—whether they…

I am sometimes amazed by the contents of my email inbox, particularly tailor-made messages and offers designed just for me. Of course, as a marketer and entrepreneur in this digital age, I shouldn’t really be that surprised. I get it. Opt-in lists, segmentation, targeted offers from online shopping venues I frequent, and more allows email…

“If you build it, he will come,” may be a classic movie quote (number 39 all time on The American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movie Quotes), but as a business maxim, it just doesn’t pass muster. Let’s face it, there are no guarantees in business. As any entrepreneur, business owner, and executive knows, you could…

With just under 17 months to the finish line, the 2016 race for the White House is underway. Hillary Clinton ended months of suspense (insert monkey sarcasm here) by finally making her bid official over the weekend. She joins fellow Democratic hopeful and former Governor of Maryland, Martin O’Malley—plus GOPers Rand Paul and Ted Cruz,…

Many think that we are building something new with our mission to build a garment district in Seattle. Nothing could be further from the truth. A Garment District in Seattle has been over 100 years in the making with companies like Filson’s being established here in 1897, and Nordstrom in 1901. The garment industry’s history…

If you’ve been anticipating getting your hands on the new Apple Watch, your long wait is nearly over. You can pre-order it starting April 10, and it will be available April 24. If you’re still on the fence as to whether this new device is right for you—like me—check out Apple’s latest video overview for…

In a few days, Major Leaguers in Florida and Arizona will be breaking camp and opening up the 2015 Major League baseball season. Each team will have gone through the arduous and sometimes tedious process of winnowing their rosters to 25. Presumably, these 25 players represent the best of the best (let’s face it, even…

I make a point of doing regular pro bono work for a number of businesses and organizations. Some of it’s purely voluntary because it’s the right thing to do, while some of my efforts are at least partially motivated by a desire to further my business prospects. While I’d like to claim my motivations are…

I make a point of doing regular pro bono work for a number of businesses and organizations. Some of it’s purely voluntary because it’s the right thing to do, while some of my efforts are at least partially motivated by a desire to further my business prospects. While I’d like to claim my motivations are…

Can you feel it? The sun’s rays are warmer, the Santa Ana winds are dying down, and soon crocuses and other early bloomers will be on full display. Spring is definitely in the air. With each spring comes a sense of renewal. Though we in southern California don’t have the seasonal shifts our friends to…

Can you feel it? The sun’s rays are warmer, the Santa Ana winds are dying down, and soon crocuses and other early bloomers will be on full display. Spring is definitely in the air. With each spring comes a sense of renewal. Though we in southern California don’t have the seasonal shifts our friends to…

The smartphone and tablet wars are ongoing. Every 6 to 12 months, we get a new barrage of tantalizing photos and cryptic descriptions of the latest this and the latest that—sleek new gadget designs and powerful new software that promise to be bigger, better, faster. In all honesty, though, it all seems a bit “more…

The smartphone and tablet wars are ongoing. Every 6 to 12 months, we get a new barrage of tantalizing photos and cryptic descriptions of the latest this and the latest that—sleek new gadget designs and powerful new software that promise to be bigger, better, faster. In all honesty, though, it all seems a bit “more…

Mardi Gras seemed to come and go this year with little fanfare. In fact, if New Orleans hadn’t been featured as a backdrop to some of my favorite TV shows, I might not have noticed its arrival and departure at all—though I do recall seeing an online feature on Rio de Janeiro’s “Carnival” celebration .…