Well, I suppose my first message should be to welcome you to my blog. It's probably kind of silly, being that these things are in reverse order (meaning if you use it as intended, you'll read my welcome message last.)

But regardless, welcome.

I hope to make this blog somewhat useful - this isn't going to be a place for me to post angsty thoughts and/or complain about the government. Instead, I'm going to talk about marketing, writing, business... that sort of thing. Oh, it won't be all work, and I'll certainly try to be interesting and entertaining.

Another thing I'll strive for is to make this blog accessible to anyone. Meaning a marketing manager of a Fortune 500 company will get something out of it, as will Dave of Dave's Seeds and Slugs.

Ok, how often will I write? Probably several times a week. However, I reserve the right to ignore it for a week or so without penalty. Maybe even two weeks if I'm feeling particularly rebellious. But I do guarantee one thing - you're not going to come here and see the last entry a month ago. To me, that's just bad business (there will be more on that later.)

Anyway, thanks for showing up, and we'll speak (read? write?.. whatever) soon.

I have Jury Duty all this week. I'm really not very happy about this, as Jury Duty is rough when you work for yourself. In essence, I have to go do the jury thing, then come home and do the work I normally would have done during the day. However, there is little I can do, so it does no good to complain.

Today, right out of the box, I was selected to sit on a jury for a civil case. I was questioned by the lawyers, and promptly sent home. I really don't know why - all I did was answer honestly when questioned about my opinion regarding the basic details of the case (a civil lawsuit.)

Really. The lawyer said "Do you have a problem with the merits of the case as presented?" I answered with "Yea - it sounds like a frivolous scam to me" (which it did.) This got a chuckle from the courtroom, and also got me a big black checkmark next to my name. I was asked to leave about five seconds later.

I'm on call all week - I hope I don't have to go back.

My week of Jury Duty is over. Thank goodness.

I had planned to write a lengthy essay about how unjust it is that self-employed people have to serve and all that, but now that my week is over, my interest in doing that has definitely waned. I can't be called back for six years, so now I'm looking at the jury system in an entirely new light: As long as I don't have to go, I'm all for it.

Also, I am pleased I did not have to sit on any trials. All things being equal, I'd just as soon not be one of the people deciding the fate of a guy named Edgar "Drill Bit" McNulty. In fact, I'd rather just avoid sitting in the same room as Edgar, thank you very much. 

I have a bit of writing work to catch up on, which is why there isn't another thought-provoking marketing entry this week (bad thoughts count too, right?)

Have a nice weekend!

Dan

I just read this the other day...

A pint of Guinness (or just about any beer) has fewer calories than a pint of Skim Milk. I didn't know that, and found it interesting. 

The Guinness is probably healthier for you as well. I know I prefer it to Skim Milk when given the choice (which, when you think about it, would be an odd choice, wouldn't it? Like someone saying to me: "ok Dan - To drink, we have either Guinness, or Skim Milk. What'll it be?")

Anyway, I just wanted to share this little fact, as Guinness is one of the better beers out there.   

I had a guy contact me last week about joining a marketing company. I'm really not interested in joining any company, but who knows - maybe there was a six figure contract and a corner office to be had (complete with vague, un-definable work goals.) So I go take a look.

Right away I get turned off. Because the site had a line I just despise: "We work hard, and we play hard"

I've heard that phrase before. Specifically, in job interviews during the late nineties, early 2000's (I've asked this before, but have we come up with an agreed-upon name for this decade yet?)

For those of you who weren't part of the dot-com boom and bust, let me explain what that phrase generally means. It means "you will work six to seven days a week, ten to twelve hours a day. Then, once a month, the company owner throws a beer blast on his boat."

I was told those exact words by an interviewer in October of 2000. I remember them well, because I laughed so hard I almost spit on the guy.

So wait, let me get this straight... I'll work six to seven days a week, so the owner can have enough money to buy a boat (and beer, apparently.) And once a month, I get to go on this boat? And have a few beers? Excuse me if I'm under whelmed.

This may seem attractive to fresh out of college kids. They are easy to exploit. But I was 34 at the time. So I laughed instead.   

And now that I'm 40, I prettymuch chuckled at this marketing company's website. I wish them all the luck in the world, but I'm not into "playing hard" these days.

Anyway, that wasn't the reason I didn't contact them, but I thought it funny that someone was still using that line.

Enjoy what's left of your Monday.