MONKEYZ BLOG

Business success is as much about timing as it is about having good ideas and working hard. In my “world” timing encompasses things like pace and execution, of knowing when to “hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em” as Kenny Rogers would say. Most of us—at least those of us NOT in retail—try to take…

With December passing by in its usual blur—what with Holiday parties, gift shopping, year-end celebrations, year-end jitters (hey, it happens!), and general merriment—I got to thinking about how “mobile” everything has gotten these days. So what if I leave home without checking an online price to comparison shop? It’s no problem. Out comes my trusty…

Not so long ago, if you had a great idea for a business, some personal initiative, and the willingness to work hard, you could usually find accessible dollars and/or investing partners who could set you on your feet and on the path to success. These days, with the economy still lackluster on the heels of…

The Holidays are fast approaching and the season of giving is upon us. It’s also a time for service and reflection. Last year around this time, I wrote a Blog about the “art” of serving and honoring others, which seems an especially fitting theme again this year. My wish is that we could all serve…

We all know the death knell of any business is stagnation. You have to be constantly improving, innovating, and growing your business or else run the risk of falling behind. And in this economy, you can’t afford to fall behind. Chances are you’ll get left in the dust and never recover. The same goes for…

Yesterday I read that a survey found 45% of Americans across all income levels would rather skip “Christmas” because the holiday season simply brings too much financial pressure. Many blamed retailers for over commercializing the holiday to the point where consumers have to go into debt just to keep up with “The Joneses”! That’s just…

The 2012 Presidential election is over . . . finally. Are you as exhausted as me from the wall-to-wall coverage and the ceaseless campaigning and spin that we’ve been inundated with since, it seems, the last election? Does it feel like we’ve been treading water for the past year or two, simply waiting for this election to…

As many of you know, after four years of developing Barrel O’Monkeyz into a full service virtual marketing firm, I have decided over the last four months to shift my attention towards my next big venture. With that being said, my blogging will not stop nor will my creativity, ideas and the fun that go…

Watching “Superstorm Sandy” roll up the eastern seaboard last week—albeit from the comfort and safety of my west coast apartment!—got me to thinking about crisis management. Namely, what would I do if disaster struck, natural or manmade? How would I respond personally, professionally? Of course, living in California means I should already be quite aware…

Mark your calendars for the 12th Annual “Celebration of Hope Gala” benefiting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, to be held November 16, 2012 at Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic brain disorder that results in the loss of all mental and physical capabilities. Presently, there is no effective treatment or…

Sometimes we’re just doomed to have a bad day. For most of us, we can simply slide by under the radar until things start looking up again. For others, especially those on bigger stages (presidential debates, anyone?), it’s not so easy to lay low. But being dealt lemons rather than sweet oranges doesn’t have to…

Let’s face it. Regardless of our political or philosophic leanings, we all want pretty much the same things out of life. We want good health. We want to love and be loved. We want good jobs at good wages. We want to be safe and secure here at home and abroad. We want our kids…

Mark your calendars for the 12th Annual “Celebration of Hope Gala” benefiting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, to be held November 16, 2012 at Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic brain disorder that results in the loss of all mental and physical capabilities. Presently, there is no effective treatment or…

Mark your calendars for the 12th Annual “Celebration of Hope Gala” benefiting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, to be held November 16, 2012 at Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic brain disorder that results in the loss of all mental and physical capabilities. Presently, there is no effective treatment or…

How you behave is important. It sets the tone for how others perceive you—what they expect, whether they can depend on you, whether they can see you filling a certain role (be it as an employee, significant other, parent, teacher, or some other position of responsibility). How you behave supersedes everything else about you. It’s…

With presidential and local campaigns in high gear, I got to thinking about how heavily these campaigns rely on public relations. After all, winning an election is as much about public perception as it is about policy and decision-making. So who do you think, so far, is winning the PR battle? Take a look at…