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# MaryLou Kayser

Strategic Orientation for the Algorithmic Age

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://maryloukayser.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Representation and Range in the Age of AI](https://maryloukayser.com/representation-and-range-in-the-age-of-ai/) - When “Where are the women in AI?” reveals more about search behavior than representation. A terrain read on leadership in algorithmic environments.
- [When The World Is Silent And Still](https://maryloukayser.com/when-the-world-is-silent-and-still/) - It was cold this morning when I ventured outside for my walk. High gray clouds covered the sky, making the barren trees appear all the more naked. Winter is definitely approaching, with only two weeks until solstice. I walked briskly, filling my lungs with deep breaths. Each one was sharp on the intake from the cold. I
- [I Don’t Google Anymore, and I’m Paying Attention to What That Changes](https://maryloukayser.com/i-dont-google-anymore-and-im-paying-attention-to-what-that-changes/) - A reflection on how the way we find information is changing—and why paying attention to that shift matters more than mastering any tool.
- [By a Factor of Gazillion](https://maryloukayser.com/gazillion/) - Q3 of 2014 wasn't the best showing for Google's bank account. Profits in this quarter were down (albeit slightly) from a year earlier, and boy oh boy, are people taking notice! Digital conversations lit up social media brighter than the view from space of Los Angeles at night. Is this the beginning of the end
- [The Notification That Didn’t Deserve Me](https://maryloukayser.com/the-notification-that-didnt-deserve-me/) - After I woke up this morning, I made a mistake. A small one, but one I’ve been working hard not to repeat, especially in the wake of my latest book release. I went into the other room, unplugged my phone from its charging cable, and brought it back to bed with me. What did I
- [What Stayed with Me in 2025](https://maryloukayser.com/what-stayed-with-me-in-2025/) - I didn’t experience 2025 as a year of big declarations or clean lines. It was more subtle than that. Things clarified slowly, often in ways I didn’t anticipate, and usually when I stopped trying to extract meaning and simply paid attention. As the year comes to a close, a handful of realizations have risen to
- [Lessons Learned from a Launch](https://maryloukayser.com/launch-lessons/) - note to readers: The following post is my original work, written by me without the assistance of artificial intelligence. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! I came of age on the Internet during Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula days. If you've been around the Internet for as long as I have, you probably remember
- [My 81 Year Old Mom Got Covid and Lived](https://maryloukayser.com/my-81-year-old-mom-got-covid-and-lived/) - My 81 year old immunocompromised mom tested positive for Covid on Monday, August 16, 2021. Chances are excellent that what she contracted was the vicious delta variant making the rounds right now. My family had been spending time together at our summer camp in Maine when she got sick. After a hiatus in 2020, eight
- [Reflections on Publishing 400 Podcast Episodes](https://maryloukayser.com/400-podcast-episodes/) - When I first launched my podcast in January 2014, I was flying blind. For the most part. I'd read one eBook about the topic. Watched a video or two. Listened to a few podcasts. Back then there wasn't much available about podcasting, unlike today where it seems as if everyone has a podcast or a
- [What Happened When I Tried Teaching Generative AI to Smart People](https://maryloukayser.com/teaching-generative-ai-to-professionals/) - What happens when smart people push back on AI? I found out the hard way. This story might surprise you, and make you think twice.
- [Dumbing Down](https://maryloukayser.com/dumbing-down/) - Reflecting on the media portrayal of men and women in ads—how it’s changed, how it hasn’t, and why it still matters more than we think.
- [When the AI Firehose Turns On: Why Strategic Volume Is a Sign You’re Doing It Right](https://maryloukayser.com/ai-content-overwhelm/) - Feeling buried by AI content? Here's why that firehose of output might be the best thing to ever happen to your thinking.
- [A Mirror, A Map, and A Machete: How to Stay Human in the Age of AI](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-stay-human-in-the-age-of-ai/) - In a world shaped by algorithms, distraction, and AI, this essay explores what it means to stay human—with clarity, courage, and your own damn map.
- [AI for Solopreneurs (and Smart Teams): How to Use It Without Selling Your Soul or Losing Your Mind](https://maryloukayser.com/ai-for-solopreneurs-and-small-teams/) - Discover how solopreneurs and thoughtful leaders can use AI as a strategic partner—without the overwhelm or enterprise price tag.
- [How to Respect the Stop (When You Are Wired to Keep Going)](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-respect-the-stop-when-you-are-wired-to-keep-going/) - Life gets better when you learn how to respect the stop.
- [I Asked AI a Simple Question. Its Response Wrecked Me.](https://maryloukayser.com/i-asked-ai-a-simple-question-its-response-wrecked-me/) - I wasn’t expecting much when I asked AI this question.Just a practical answer. Maybe a new perspective.Instead, it hit me with a truth so sharp, so undeniable, that I had to stop what I was doing.And then I cried.The Question That Opened a FloodgateI asked AI for help with something I’ve been wrestling with for
- [AI Literacy and the Art of Thinking in a Certain Way](https://maryloukayser.com/ai-literacy-and-the-art-of-thinking-in-a-certain-way/) - Most people view artificial intelligence as a tool, like fire, something to be mastered, manipulated, or feared. But AI, like fire, is also an environment. It has reshaped the landscape we now inhabit, whether we acknowledge it or not.The question is not whether AI will spread, but how we will engage with it.I didn’t always
- [Ditch Your "To Do" List for This](https://maryloukayser.com/ditch-the-to-do-list-for-this/)
- [Big Dreams and the Gardens at Versailles](https://maryloukayser.com/big-dreams-and-the-gardens-at-versailles/) - If you've ever seen a garden, chances are good during your visit that you've paid the most attention to the glorious and colorful blooms, plants, and shrubs. Chances are good you didn't come to the garden looking for intruders like weeds and pests. Master Gardeners spend a fair amount of time planning what to plant
- [Seek the education you can’t buy](https://maryloukayser.com/seek-the-education-you-cant-buy/) - As another year comes to an end, and you’re thinking about what could be ahead in the new year…Making your list of goals, developing your vision, planning, dreaming, plotting…Consider adding this one to the list:Seek the education you can’t buy.What do I mean by that? What does that even look like?Here are some ideas:1. Embrace failure
- [What I've Learned about AI [so far]](https://maryloukayser.com/what-ive-learned-about-ai-so-far/) - Artificial intelligence, aka, AI, has made quite a splash for itself since ChatGPT hit the scene a couple of years ago.Since then, I've embraced this new era of creativity and technology with [ahem] open arms.I believe life is always expanding. Each era has its suite of tools and advancements that both excite and challenge the
- [Give Yourself Six Months](https://maryloukayser.com/give-yourself-six-months/) - Give Yourself Six Months to Get Into the Habit of Practicing Radical Honesty, Self-Care, and Self-LoveSix months of radical honesty, self-care, and self-love can transform your life.I look back at where I was six months ago (mid-March 2024) -- and I’m amazed at my progress and what I've achieved.All because I committed to giving myself
- [The Anti-Pivot: Staying the Course](https://maryloukayser.com/the-anti-pivot-staying-the-course/) - Over the last few years, the word pivot has made its way into the collective conversation.Prevalent in the tech world, pivoting is the new black.It’s as if no one is allowed anymore to stay the course on any project, idea, or concept if it isn’t immediately a huge culture hit and/or ringing the billion-dollar cash
- [How to Embrace Your Writing Voice Authentically](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-embrace-your-writing-voice-authentically/) - In a world full of noise and opinions, finding and owning your unique voice as a writer can feel like a challenge.People ask me all the time:How can I differentiate myself from everyone else who is writing today?My answer:Get clear about your point of view and don’t apologize for having it.One of the most empowering
- [Are You Addicted to Your Phone?](https://maryloukayser.com/are-you-addicted-to-your-phone/) - A guy I once dated had a habit of scrolling Facebook when we went out to eat instead of fully engaging with me. It bugged me, but in the beginning I gave him a pass. I was too in love with him to say anything. Once the initial blush wore off and I saw how
- [So Lonely](https://maryloukayser.com/so-lonely/) - A successful songwriter once said when asked about what it takes to write a hit song:“Find a new way to help people not feel so lonely.”BOOM.Mic drop.Across the generational spectrum and the globe, people of all ages and countries report feeling lonely today.Loneliness is so widespread, it’s now considered an epidemic of monstrous proportions despite
- [It's Not What You Think](https://maryloukayser.com/its-not-what-you-think/) - Creative expression is not what you think.It's not for the likes or the accolades or the social influence or big fancy mansion on the cover of Architectural Digest.Creative expression defies explanation in almost every situation. Can anyone really explain RUSH's extraordinary catalog?As a working Artist, or creative entrepreneur, or whatever title is en vogue at
- [The problem with pictures](https://maryloukayser.com/the-problem-with-pictures/) - There’s a dark side to pictures I recently discovered. A discovery that caught me off guard and has me thinking about the problem with pictures.
- [The Price of Attention](https://maryloukayser.com/the-price-of-attention/) - Our most precious asset isn’t our investment portfolio or real estate holdings.Nor is it our closet stuffed with clothes, the jewelry we wear, or our car.It’s not our house, job title, awards, partner, children, or vacation villa on the beach.Our most precious asset is our attention, which is why every tech company on the planet
- [River Book Unboxing from a Real Fan](https://maryloukayser.com/river-book-unboxing-from-a-real-fan/) - As a writer, receiving an unsolicited unboxing video of my latest book -- or any book, for that matter -- is always exciting.And humbling!Many creatives aren't as skilled at soliciting reviews from our audience as we are at creating what we make. We certainly don't run around with huge self-promotion banners hoping people will take a
- [Poetry as a portal to your next breakthrough](https://maryloukayser.com/poetry-as-a-portal-to-your-next-breakthrough/) - Poetry as a portal for your next breakthrough?Consider some of the most quoted lines of poetry:"And miles to go before I sleep" (Robert Frost)"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways" (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)"In Xanadu did Kubla Khan" (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) [Quick side note: RUSH incorporates this poem into its song “Xanadu,” one of
- [Either Way You Win](https://maryloukayser.com/either-way-you-win/) - Have you noticed how memes show up in your life exactly when you need their message?This one recently appeared in my feed on Instagram. I don't know who originally wrote it. Otherwise, I'd credit this insightful person.I've named it the "either way you win" meme. I needed this message because I recently didn't get something I
- [Book Launch Day: Introducing The River Only Runs One Way](https://maryloukayser.com/book-launch-day/) - Book launch day is always an exciting time in an author's life!I'm proud to present to you my latest book, The River Only Runs One Way. Available everywhere books are sold."Mary Lou's poetry is a powerful reminder to lead with empathy and to find beauty in our journey toward self-discovery. Her work challenges us to
- [Writing and Trauma](https://maryloukayser.com/writing-and-trauma/) - Writing and trauma go together in more ways today than at any other time in our history.Perhaps because the Internet now gives everyone the opportunity to write something about anything any time, from any place, we see content more often about trauma and suffering than in the past in memes, videos, social posts, and blogs.Perhaps
- [Poetry makes you a better leader](https://maryloukayser.com/poetry-makes-you-a-better-leader/) - Poetry makes you a better leader.That’s a bold statement. I get it.But hear me out.Did you know that there are numerous evidence-based benefits of incorporating poetry into your personal development and leadership practice?Things like:1. Enhanced Emotional Intelligence:Research: Studies show that reading and writing poetry can improve emotional intelligence by helping individuals better understand and express
- [Real intelligence is sexy](https://maryloukayser.com/real-intelligence-is-sexy/) - I’m a fan of AI and have been using various applications in my work for years. It’s definitely a time saver for certain tasks like brainstorming ideas, cleaning up grammar, and formatting copy quickly. I’m also enjoying the AI DJ on Spotify that just popped up as an option in my account. It’s a fun new
- [Mastering the Art of Self-validation](https://maryloukayser.com/mastering-the-art-of-self-validation/) - Let’s forget the Internet for a minute.All the fans and followers we’ve amassed. Or are amassing. The ones who like what we share.The ones who comment on what we share.The ones who respond to our newsletter with a personal message.The dopamine hits we get when these things happen.(I recognize the irony of my opening statement as
- [Why most people lead lives of quiet desperation](https://maryloukayser.com/why-most-people-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation/) - "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation."So wrote Henry David Thoreau in his journal during his time at Walden Pond. They ring as loud and true today as they did in 1845.Nearly 200 years later. You would think that by now, people would have gotten the memo about waking up, becoming more self-aware, and then
- [The profound power of boredom](https://maryloukayser.com/the-profound-power-of-boredom/) - Do you allow yourself to experience boredom?Or are you part of the:74 percent of Americans who feel uneasy leaving their phones at home 71 percent who check their phones within the first 10 minutes of waking up or 47 percent who consider themselves “addicted” to their phones (source)Do you rush for your phone to fill the empty
- [Mercury Retrograde Effects](https://maryloukayser.com/mercury-retrograde-effects/) - I will begin with a disclaimer:I am not an astrologer. Nor am I trained in the art of interpreting celestial activities and the impact such activities can have on humans.What I write here is purely from personal experience, observation, research, and opinion and should be taken as such. Mercury Retrograde EffectsA couple of years ago, a
- [Questioning the Unseen Rules that Shape Our Lives](https://maryloukayser.com/meaningful-legacy/) - In the intricate dance of life, we often find ourselves following a set of rules that have been ingrained in us since childhood—guidelines that dictate our choices, behavior, and experiences. These rules, at times invisible, shape the path we tread.It is an essential part of our journey to become aware of these rules and, more
- [More Experiences Less Stuff](https://maryloukayser.com/more-experiences-less-stuff/) - Two trends to pay attention to in the coming years if growth and expansion are on your to-do list. More experiences less stuff are part of the equation.
- [How Non-Fiction Writing Has Shifted in the Last 10 Years](https://maryloukayser.com/how-non-fiction-writing-has-shifted-in-the-last-10-years/) - Hey there, creative professionals, aspiring non-fiction authors, and fellow book / writing / creativity enthusiasts! Let's chat about the rollercoaster ride that non-fiction authors have been on in the past decade. It's been quite a journey, with some significant changes shaping the way we approach writing.All writing has shifted significantly in the last ten years, and
- [The Truth about Truth](https://maryloukayser.com/the-truth-about-truth/) - The truth about truth is two things can be true at the same time. It's the meaning we assign to truth based on our beliefs that can cause problems.
- [Preparing for Success by Anticipating Your What Your Future Self Would Tell You](https://maryloukayser.com/future-self/) - Picture this: You're sitting down with your future self over a cup of coffee (or tea, if that's more your style).They're looking back at you with a knowing smile, ready to drop some truth bombs about your life choices. And trust me, they've got some nuggets of wisdom that'll make you sit up and take
- [The Biggest Mistakes You Make When Trying to Charge What You're Worth (And How to Avoid Them)](https://maryloukayser.com/charge-what-youre-worth/) - The Frustrating Reality Most Creative Professionals FaceHave you ever felt completely stuck when trying to charge what you're worth?You're not alone. Despite our best efforts, many creative professionals (especially women) struggle with undervaluing our services.I’ll never forget the time when I quoted a potential client my rate for helping her with her website. This was
- [Make It Until You Make It](https://maryloukayser.com/make-it-until-you-make-it/) - Make it until you make it.Don't know who coined that phrase, but it’s a cool twist and play on the more common phrase “fake it til you make it."And with it comes a deeper meaning.Instead of simply pretending to be something you're not until you achieve success, "make it until you make it" encourages continuous
- [World Poetry Day 2024](https://maryloukayser.com/world-poetry-day-2024/) - World Poetry DayWorld Poetry Day is March 21 each year.To honor poets and poetry for World Poetry Day this year, I made a video of me reading a poem that will appear in my forthcoming collection later this spring.The poem is called "Always the Words" and I dedicated it to a man who was one
- [Reaching the Summit](https://maryloukayser.com/reaching-the-summit/) - On the outskirts of Eugene, Oregon is a popular hiking spot called Spencer Butte. It offers several entry points for reaching the summit: 2 miles round trip; 4 miles round trip; and 5 ½ miles round trip. Each way is ranked on a difficulty scale from moderately easy to challenging. The 2 miler is ranked moderate
- [Look How Far You've Come](https://maryloukayser.com/look-how-far-youve-come/) - When was the last time you took a few minutes and acknowledged how far you've come in your life?We are four full months and a few days into this new year. January first probably seems like forever ago.It does for me.And A LOT has happened in my life since the ball dropped in Times Square.Look How
- [History Doesn't Repeat Itself](https://maryloukayser.com/history-doesnt-repeat-itself/) - Mark Twain once said:"History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes.I've been a fan of Mr. Twain's since I was required to teach The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to high school juniors back in the days of my public school teaching career.We read other pieces Twain wrote, too, but Huck Finn was a centerpiece of
- [Are You Hanging Around the Right People?](https://maryloukayser.com/are-you-hanging-around-the-right-people/) - On my bi monthly Mastermind call yesterday, one of the men in my breakout group said how being on the call was a priority for him. “The most important thing for me today is to be here,” he said. “I need to be surrounded by people who are on a similar path as I am.”This part
- [I don’t want to 10x my productivity](https://maryloukayser.com/i-dont-want-to-10x-my-productivity/) - Posts on LinkedIn about increasing your productivity get thousands of likes, comments, and shares. They are often accompanied by incredibly busy infographics that cram in multiple stats and frameworks as if this makes the content more interesting, important, or valuable. Words like “crush” and “efficiency” are liberally used.Words like these stress me out.I see posts
- [Do This Instead to 10x Productivity](https://maryloukayser.com/do-this-instead-to-10x-productivity/) - A follow up to yesterday's post about the whole 10x productivity conversation. In the time since I wrote and published yesterday’s post about 10xing your productivity, I’ve thought about what bothers me about the general productivity conversation on social media.Turns out being more productive isn’t what vexes me.Rather, the splinter irritating me is the manner in
- [I didn’t look at my phone](https://maryloukayser.com/i-didnt-look-at-my-phone/) - I recently took my car to a local service station for its annual state inspection. I decided not to look at my phone while I waited.Instead, I decided to pay attention to the activity happening around me and listen to what people were talking about.The shop isn’t large, and neither is the lobby. 100% all
- [The Power of Pre-validated Content](https://maryloukayser.com/the-power-of-pre-validated-content/) - Anyone who uses content as part of their business (and that's a good portion of the population these days) knows that coming up with new ideas from scratch can become a drain after a while.It's not easy being original every time you want or need to post something!Enter pre-validated content, content that already has a runway
- [LinkedIn Week in Review: The Creator Economy](https://maryloukayser.com/linkedin-week-in-review-the-creator-economy/) - As another week comes to a close, I’m reviewing the content I’ve shared on LinkedIn.[You can see that content and follow me on LinkedIn by clicking here.]For this first official edition of what I'm loosely calling my LinkedIn Week in Review, I will highlight what my posts explored for the last five days.This is part
- [Embracing Change and Finding Peace: Unlocking the Power of 'The Far Unlit Unknown' Framework](https://maryloukayser.com/embracing-change-and-finding-peace-unlocking-the-power-of-the-far-unlit-unknown-framework/) - Note from Mary Lou: You may want to have a pen and paper handy to reflect on the questions in this post. Ever felt like life's throwing too much at you, leaving you lost in a whirlwind of emotions? Maybe you're dealing with change, loss, or just trying to figure out who you are. It
- [Welcome to Being Human](https://maryloukayser.com/welcome-to-being-human/) - Welcome to being human. You will love and hate it here. That's what makes it so damn worth your time. Don't let it pass you by!
- [The Process of Self-discovery [Part 1]](https://maryloukayser.com/self-discovery/) - I recently spent a week at a small leadership retreat in the North Georgia Mountains. It. Was. Magical. The leaves were at their peak of color. The sky was crystal clear and so blue it hurt my eyes to look at it for too long. Seriously, the dazzling display of color and natural wonder in this
- [Vote for Pedro](https://maryloukayser.com/vote-for-pedro/) - Vote for Pedro and all your wildest dreams will come true. That's a promise anyone can get behind.
- [Embrace the Unreasonable: A Path to a Remarkable Life](https://maryloukayser.com/unreasonable/) - It's time to get unreasonable with yourself if you want to experience a new kind of life. Because you're not satisfied with the one you're living now, right?
- [Trade Show Success -- How to Not Get Sucked into a Giant Pit of Misery](https://maryloukayser.com/trade-show-success/) - 5 Unconventional Tips for Trade Show Success -- These tips apply to anyone who plans to attend a trade show as a patron or a vendor.
- [Things Won't Go as Planned](https://maryloukayser.com/unplanned/) - Things won't go as planned. Don't let that stop you from enjoying where you find yourself. Keep your North Star in sight and all will work out.
- [When a Writer Finds an Owl Feather](https://maryloukayser.com/owl-feather/) - On my walk through the Maine woods yesterday, I found a barred owl feather. I've walked through the Maine woods hundreds of times in my life and have found a few feathers now and then. Blue Jays. Nuthatches. Crows. This was my first barred owl feather. Naturally I immediately affixed all kinds of meaning to
- [My Dad Would Have Been 85 Today](https://maryloukayser.com/my-dad-would-have-been-85-today/) - August 10th has always been a special day for me and my family. It was my Dad's birthday. If he were still alive, he would have turned 85 today. I'm writing this post from my family's summer place in Maine, a camp my dad built in 1976 mostly on his own, but with some help
- [These Three Skills Just Might Be the Secret to Living the Good Life](https://maryloukayser.com/living-the-good-life/) - Living the good life.Who isn’t interested in that?The problem is, living the good life as it’s been presented to us through the media over the years seems to be more and more out of reach with each passing day.Headlines scream doom and gloom 24/7 and have been since I can remember. Another recession is looming!
- [The Far Unlit Unknown Now Available on Audible](https://maryloukayser.com/unlit-audible/)
- [This is the part of writing and publishing a book no one talks about.](https://maryloukayser.com/writing-publishing-book/) - This is the part of writing and publishing a book no one talks about. When you put a search into Google for why to “write a book” -- or “what are the benefits of writing and publishing a book" -- the list of usual suspects pops up. Credibility. Reach. A book can serve as your
- [Lessons Learned from Sunburn [Memorial Day Weekend Reflection]](https://maryloukayser.com/sunburn/) - In my adolescence, Memorial Day weekend was the official start to “laying out” season, although I often began working on my “base tan” in April. If you are of a certain age, you probably remember laying out.You’d call up your friends and arrange for everyone to meet at the beach or someone’s backyard pool for
- [AI Is Not the Problem](https://maryloukayser.com/ai-is-not-the-problem/) - Want to Listen Instead? Catch this post on the Play Your Position Podcast here! My nephew is graduating from high school in June. I've been witness to his secondary education for the last two years. When he talks about his classes, what I hear him say sounds way too much like when I was in
- [Poetry Is the New Pop](https://maryloukayser.com/poetry-pop/) - "Poetry is the new pop." So says Jimmy Kimmel on his iconic talk show about why poetry matters, why it's enjoying a golden age right now, and how it makes all of us -- and our lives -- better. (I love you for this, Jimmy Kimmel. And your tight pants.) April is National Poetry Month,
- [AI and the Writer](https://maryloukayser.com/ai-and-the-writer/) - Do we have to worry about artificial intelligence replacing writers? ABC News featured a story tonight about artificial intelligence and Chat GPT4, specifically. Naturally, the piece was infused with warnings about AI and its potentially negative effects on humanity (e.g. job elimination). Alarming stories get more eyeballs and ultimately sell more ads. But do we
- [Copy of a Copy of a Copy](https://maryloukayser.com/copy-of-a-copy/) - Are robots coming for our jobs? This is a question that people have been asking for several decades. It may seem that this question is new, but technology has been with us for a lot longer than we often recognize in the moment. Whatever’s newest and most unfamiliar and seems disruptive becomes what we focus
- [Destiny](https://maryloukayser.com/destiny/) - Destiny might lead us to the path, but the rest is up to us. Decide wisely and often. You never know where it will lead. And remember to document your journey. In a journal. With photos and videos. No matter what you tell yourself, you will never be in the exact same place again, with
- [Following Your Inner Compass](https://maryloukayser.com/inner-compass/)
- [Write It Down](https://maryloukayser.com/write-it-down/)
- [The Rarest Thing in The World](https://maryloukayser.com/the-rarest-thing-in-the-world/) - Yesterday I wrote about why we are not here to be average. You can read that post here if you missed it. In that post, I shared a list of five ideas that help support the big idea that being average is nothing to aspire to. The first idea on that list is this: The
- [There Is Always Room for the Best](https://maryloukayser.com/there-is-always-room-for-the-best/) - When I'm feeling stuck -- and I do feel stuck from time to time -- I move myself out of inertia via a couple of tricks I’ve picked up along my journey. The first trick is the title of this post. There Is Always Room for the Best Reminding myself that there is always room
- [You’re Not Trying to Serve Everyone](https://maryloukayser.com/not-everyone-is-your-client/) - You're not trying to serve everyone, just the right people. This concept took me a long time to comprehend when it came to building a business. Like most business rookies, I wanted to believe that what I had to offer would appeal to the masses. Of course, all the business experts I was learning from repeated
- [You’re Not Here to Be Average](https://maryloukayser.com/not-average/) - In the early 2000s, I worked for a company where one of the messages the leadership team drilled into our heads was: “You’re not here to be average.” The products we sold were not average. The sales team was not average. The owner of the company was not average. And these were good things. I
- [Stop Living for the Algorithm](https://maryloukayser.com/algorithm/) - Oh, the algorithm. That invisible force that has taken over so many lives. It certainly controlled mine for a while. All with the hopes that I'd figure out how to get more people to know about me and my unique brand of stuff. I can remember spending hours trying to figure out how to make
- [What Is Poetry?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-is-poetry/) - What is poetry? Poetry is a conversation. With the self and all its wild and crazy parts. The heart, certainly. The soul, yes. The eyes. Ears. Lips. Feet. Right hand. Left hand. Belly button. All of it. All the parts. What is poetry? Poetry captures moments. Moments you can put together into something magnificent, like
- [Is Artificial Intelligence Bad?](https://maryloukayser.com/is-artificial-intelligence-bad/) - Is artificial intelligence bad? If you've been hanging out on social media recently, I suspect you've caught sight of the latest avatar phenomenon generated by artificial intelligence. Use of an app called lensa.ai to create these selfies has surged lately, particularly by people on Instagram. I got in on the game after seeing someone I
- [Hello world!](https://maryloukayser.com/hello-world/) - Welcome to Starter Templates Sites. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!
- [Monotonous Consistency](https://maryloukayser.com/monotonous-consistency/) - Monotonous consistency. Ugh! Sounds horribly boring, doesn’t it? Who would intentionally choose that for a daily tagline? My brain screams, “Noooooooooo!” with added reverb effects when it sees those two words together. Yet. Monotonous consistency is the fuel that runs the engine of dream fulfillment. It separates the small pool of true professionals from the
- [New Book Announcement](https://maryloukayser.com/new-book/) - I'm excited to announce the recent publication of my latest book, The Far Unlit Unknown, through my independent imprint, Kingfisher Media Publishing. Now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powell's Books, and wherever books are sold, The Far Unlit Unknown is a fantastic addition to your personal library. It also makes a terrific gift. Why This
- [Shedding](https://maryloukayser.com/shedding/) - For anyone on an intentional path of self-discovery and personal transformation, letting go of what no longer works is an essential part of the process. As we imagine what we want to become, what we are and what we have been don't serve us. We must ask: What is one idea of yourself you need
- [Put Yourself in the Path of Something](https://maryloukayser.com/path/) - To get anywhere new in life, you have to put yourself in the path of something. There’s no other way around it and you won’t know how it’s going to turn out. The fun is in finding out what happens when you're out there. While achievement isn't as simple as following a 1-2-3-4 set of
- [How to Be More Creative](https://maryloukayser.com/more-creative/) - People ask me all the time how to be more creative. Raking leaves is one way. So is taking a walk. Movement of any kind helps. Over the years I’ve discovered a distinct correlation between physical activity and creativity. Specifically—the more active I am, the more creative I am. Yesterday I spent an hour raking
- [Let’s Talk about Content Anxiety Syndrome](https://maryloukayser.com/content-anxiety-syndrome/) - Content Anxiety Syndrome (CAS) is a relatively new player on the block of mental health disorders. It’s a term I made up to describe what too many amazing people experience in today’s #hustleculture The relentless pressure to create and post content. For business. For personal branding. For being relevant. For SEO. For backlinks. Since coming online
- [Audio Trends Worth Noticing](https://maryloukayser.com/audio-trends/) - More people are listening to audio content today than in the past. Almost half (46%) of the U.S. population listens to spoken word audio content daily. (Source = the latest Spoken Word Audio Report released from NPR and Edison Research.) The report also says Gen Z is consuming more audio content than other generations. This is
- [Creatives Are Leaders, Too](https://maryloukayser.com/creatives-are-leaders/) - Many creatives don’t think of themselves as leaders. That's too bad because the world needs more people to help us all become better through creative work. If you’re a creative, you’re a leader. What you produce -- aka “the work” -- is an extension of your leadership and is often a catalyst to inspired action.
- [What Kind of Leader Are You?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-kind-of-leader-are-you/) - Leaders are often described in one of two ways: Sage from the Stage Guide on the Side An either/or scenario. A Sage from the Stage is someone who is in charge. The buck stops here kinda gal or guy. The one who knows all. The final word. A Guide on the Side is someone who
- [The Only Business Model You’ll Ever Need](https://maryloukayser.com/business-model/) - Have you noticed how often too many simple ideas get caught in the net of complexity when they don’t need to? A friend and I were recently discussing how many businesses complicate things. And then wonder why they aren't doing well. “There are only two things every business needs to do to win," he said.
- [The Thing about Kindness](https://maryloukayser.com/kindness/) - Kindness is getting more airplay these days across social media. Maybe because life feels harder and more overwhelming. Maybe because we put so much pressure on ourselves to keep up, hurry up, get more sh*t done in less time. Maybe because negativity surrounds us from every direction. Even when we set up boundaries against it.
- [The Thing about Best Practices](https://maryloukayser.com/the-thing-about-best-practices/) - When I was in higher education, leaders often used the term “best practices.” It got tossed around like a beach ball in faculty meetings, department meetings, and at the beginning of each school year when our superintendent addressed everyone in the district. Best practices is a catchall phrase that sounds good. It sounds important. Makes
- [Self Promotion Isn’t a Four Letter Word](https://maryloukayser.com/self-promotion/) - Self promotion is an essential part of everyone's life these days. Regardless of how you earn a living, self promotion will be part of that equation. Yet most people would rather pull their hair out, jump off a bridge, or run a gazillion miles in the other direction than promote themselves. I get it. I'm as
- [What Do Writers Do All Day?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-do-writers-do-all-day/) - Many people are curious about what do writers do all day. Sometimes I lean against a cabinet in the living room that has floral wallpaper and look at a collection of fine china tea cups. It's surprisingly Zen. And it affirms for me that I will never put floral wallpaper in my house. (Love you,
- [Decisions](https://maryloukayser.com/decisions/) - It can be one of the biggest and most bitter pills of all to swallow. Realizing that we haven't made decisions we: a. could have; b. wanted to but ultimately didn't c. just plain didn't What's that line from "Freewill" by RUSH? Oh ya. "If you choose not to decide / you still have
- [No One Handed Us a Manual](https://maryloukayser.com/no-one-handed-us-a-manual/) - The other night I had dinner at my aunt and uncle’s house. Sitting around the table were representatives of four generations: one Traditionalist (aka the Silent Generation); two Baby Boomers; two Gen Xers; and two Gen Zers. Glaringly missing was a Millennial but I was informed the next day when I told my daughter about
- [The Thing about Finding Your Purpose](https://maryloukayser.com/the-thing-about-finding-your-purpose/) - These days, there’s a ton of talk about finding your purpose and then living it. For many, finding your purpose is The Holy Grail of being human. It’s a terrific sentiment, one I support. People like Simon Sinek have made a fortune from explaining why we all must start with why. The challenge is, of
- [Art for the Win](https://maryloukayser.com/art-for-the-win/) - August is often a month when I unplug, spending more time with pencils and paint than with my iPhone or a keyboard. It's when I take myself on artist's dates (thank you, Julia Cameron) to local galleries, book stores, and outdoor spaces where I can observe humanity from a different angle. Art, like life, is
- [Grief and the Leader](https://maryloukayser.com/grief-and-the-leader/) - Seven months ago, my dad died. Those of us closest to him knew he was slowing down and feeling more tired than usual, but we didn’t know he was suffering from an aggressive form of leukemia until it was too late to do anything about it. As he lay unconscious on a ventilator in the
- [Be Grateful for All of It](https://maryloukayser.com/all-of-it/) - The worst thing you can do is look for an easier way. Because you’re essentially telling yourself you don’t have what it takes to do the thing. Developing an intentional gratitude practice over the last few months has fundamentally changed the way I experience life, allowing me to do things that at one point in
- [[Full Circle Marketing Book] Where Trust Goes, Money Flows](https://maryloukayser.com/full-circle-marketing/) - Full Circle Marketing is the title of Wayne Mullins's latest book and it's going to help thousands of people get better results from their marketing efforts.
- [Doing Nothing](https://maryloukayser.com/doing-nothing/) - Right now, what do you want to be doing?Because someone somewhere right now is doing the exact thing you want to be doing (but aren't).-Writing a book-Starting a business-Closing a business-Planning an adventure-Exploring a different career path-Shifting gears-Updating a resume-Sailing a boat-Saying "I love you"-Remodeling a kitchen-Creating a landing page-Doing nothingThe last one on this
- [Tom Brady Has Trolls](https://maryloukayser.com/tom-brady-trolls/) - How learning that Tom Brady has Internet trolls transformed the monster of the 7x Super Bowl champion I'd created in my head into a human who is just like the rest of us. Minus all those rings, of course. And the bank roll. And Gisele. Confession time. I used to hate Tom Brady. Nevermind his
- [When You Missed Posting about National Produce Misting Day on Social Media](https://maryloukayser.com/missed-social-posting/) - Okay, so I’m a little slow to pick up on all the special days and themes of celebrations that exist in America. Forget Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, or the Fourth of July. Celebrations in this country expand way beyond the arrival of pumpkin-spice lattes and Halloween inspired Reese’s Peanut Butter cups tumbling into supermarket aisles in
- [Calculated Risks](https://maryloukayser.com/calculated-risks/) - In 49 B.C., Julius Caesar led his army to the banks of the Rubicon, a small river that marked the boundary between Italy and Gaul. Caesar knew Roman law forbade a general from leading his army out of the province to which he was assigned. By crossing the Rubicon, he would violate that law. "The
- [What are you waiting for?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-are-you-waiting-for/) - Too many people wait. They wait for the money to show up. They wait for the wind to blow in the right direction at the right speed. They wait for someone else to give them permission to do whatever it is they are waiting to do. Don’t be too many people. What are you waiting
- [Write to Inform](https://maryloukayser.com/write-to-inform/) - Warren Buffett is responsible for the quote in this graphic.“To succeed, I don’t need to be Shakespeare; I must, though, have a sincere desire to inform.” Love the Oracle of Omaha, a bard of our times! We Write to Inform Whew! Anyone else feeling a ton of relief right about now? I don't know about
- [Red Light Green Light 1-2-3](https://maryloukayser.com/red-light-green-light-1-2-3/) - When I was a kid one of my favorite games to play outside was Red Light, Green Light, 1-2-3. A bunch of us from the neighborhood would meet up in the court behind my house or in someone’s driveway. We’d choose one person to be the traffic cop while the rest of us went to
- [Is Your Writing Working the Way You Want It to?](https://maryloukayser.com/is-your-writing-working-the-way-you-want-it-to/) - Most of us rely on our words to drive business forward these days. In her 2014 bestselling book Everybody Writes, Ann Handley pointed out the obvious: If you work in the Knowledge Industry, you will be expected to write. Not just once in a while to complete assignments like you may have in school. But
- [Wide or Deep?](https://maryloukayser.com/wide-or-deep/) - When I was growing up, my parents encouraged me to explore and try new things. I was granted access to a range of opportunities, everything from woodshop to baking to sewing to growing tomatoes. Their parenting philosophy allowed me and my brother plenty of room to discover what we liked and didn’t. As such, I
- [Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t](https://maryloukayser.com/nobody-wants-to-read-your-sht/) - Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*T (and other tough-love truths to make you a better writer) is the name of the book where you can find this quote. The book is by Steven Pressfield and whether you are a writer or anything else, you should have it in your private library. Here's why. -Nobody Wants
- [Successful People Write](https://maryloukayser.com/successful-people-write/) - All of these people are just like the others: -James Hetfield-Brené Brown-Langston Hughes-Jennifer AnistonAdd this list:Serena WilliamsMarcus AureliusLady GaGaWarren BuffettBlake SheltonAnd the list continues exponentially from here. Successful People Write Aside from the obvious connection among these people (they are each famous and wealthy) ... the more subtle and important link is:The practice of writing.Often
- [The Great Digital Migration](https://maryloukayser.com/the-great-digital-migration/) - The great digital migration for businesses began as far back as the late 1990s. Once people realized the Internet was here to stay and not some weird science fiction fad, businesses have been slowly but surely transforming everything from operations to generating leads to how they search for and onboard talent. Today ads for going
- [You Only Get One Chance to Do Something for the First Time](https://maryloukayser.com/one-chance/) - One Chance How about this for a reason to do something new? To see if you can. I recently read an article about the novelist John Verdon who said that the advantage he had when he wrote his first book was he’d never written a book before and he wanted to see if he could
- [Let’s Admit It: Everyone Secretly Hates Writing Content](https://maryloukayser.com/writing-content/) - Very few people I talk to about writing content for growing their business tell me they absolutely love it. What's far more prevalent is the sentiment expressed in this post's title. Everyone -- even people like me, and I actually love to write most of the time -- hates writing content at the levels required
- [3 Questions to Help You Develop Your Point of View](https://maryloukayser.com/point-of-view/)
- [For Your Reconsideration](https://maryloukayser.com/for-your-reconsideration/) - Do you remember a book you were assigned to read when you were in school that you did not like?For me that book was The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.It was required reading in the 9th grade curriculum and I could not stand it.I didn’t understand why we had to read a
- [The Past Is a Foreign Country](https://maryloukayser.com/the-past-is-a-foreign-country/) - I love this quote.It belongs in that exclusive category of “hit you between the eyes and make you think” quotes. In two short sentences, no less.More profound than 99.99 percent of tweets, decades before tweeting was a thing.According to Wikipedia, “Leslie Poles (LP) Hartley CBE (1895 – 1972) was a British novelist and short story
- [Shakespeare and Your Business](https://maryloukayser.com/shakespeare-and-your-business/) - So let’s talk about Shakespeare and your business for a minute. We all know that writing plays a central role in growing awareness about who we are, what we do, why it matters, and who can benefit from being in our ecosystem of products and/or services. That’s content marketing 101. Words form the backbone of
- [Starting Over](https://maryloukayser.com/starting-over/) - It’s not too late. Even if you think it is, it's not. Your past doesn’t have to define your future — unless you choose it to. Yes, you can start over. Anytime. Anywhere. Right now. Go!
- [The Purpose of Goals](https://maryloukayser.com/purpose-of-goals/) - Think about a goal you set for yourself recently. Chances are it has something to do with achieving something, aka success. Success is a word that can be defined a million different ways. e.g. time to pursue personal interests like watercoloring, bird watching, writing children’s books, travel. e.g.2. doing work you love with people you
- [Your Greatest Power](https://maryloukayser.com/your-greatest-power/) - The greatest power any of us has is the power to choose.Every thought is a choice whether you are aware of it or not.Your greatest power, therefore, is your power to choose one thought over another.I’m convinced at this point in my life that part of becoming fully ourselves involves learning this universal principle.What I
- [Getting the Right Words vs. Getting the Words Right](https://maryloukayser.com/getting-the-right-words-vs-getting-the-words-right/) - I work with independent consultants, coaches, and freelancers who are committed to building satisfying businesses that pay them well and give them the time freedom for plenty of play and fun. As such, one of the things we focus on when we work together is the first clause in the title of this blog post
- [The Great Transformation of Work](https://maryloukayser.com/the-great-transformation-of-work/) - As the Great Transformation of Work continues, understanding that your creative ideas have value is an important part of the shift into ongoing success. Which leads to two important questions: How are you growing your creative skills? What problems do you help people solve?Clock-punching is a thing of the past, a relic of the industrial
- [Proving Yourself](https://maryloukayser.com/proving-yourself/) - Which is more satisfying for you: The feeling you get from achieving a goal because you wanted to achieve it? Or... The feeling you get from proving yourself to someone that you could achieve the goal? Two different drivers of thought and behavior. I’ve done both and can say each has its own reward factor.
- [Perfection Is a Big Fat Lie](https://maryloukayser.com/perfection-is-a-big-fat-lie/) - On December 2, 2019 I began a variation of my 40+ year writing practice.I decided that I wanted to write a letter to myself every day for a year.479 days later, a stack of paper sits on my desk that is nearly four inches high and weighs what a decent rainbow trout from the Kenai
- [Be the Answer](https://maryloukayser.com/be-the-answer/) - When I was teaching in formal education, I showed up every day with a commitment to making learning interesting and fun for my students. For the 90 minutes they spent with me, I wanted to be the easiest answer to the question they had that day, which always was: What's in it for me? That's
- [Plans vs Goals](https://maryloukayser.com/plans-vs-goals/) - I’ll admit I have confused these two things in the past.They aren’t the same thing.A goal is not a plan and a plan is not a goal but they are connected.A goal is a destination, like the Muse, a 5-star luxury hotel on the south of France.A plan is how you’re going to get to
- [Great Expectations and Great Horned Owls](https://maryloukayser.com/great-expectations-and-great-horned-owls/) - We have several Great Horned Owls living in the woods by our house. We hear them every night like clockwork -- hooting and carrying on with each other. It's really amazing and wonderful!Our neighbor spotted one of them in a tree across from our houses today and I was able to capture this photo. I
- [Priorities](https://maryloukayser.com/priorities/) - A good friend sent me an article today about a fiction writer who finally got her book published once she made writing a priority. The entire article was great, but the line that stood out to me was this one: " No one else will make your writing a priority. Only you can do this."
- [Dear 2020](https://maryloukayser.com/dear-2020/) - Dear 2020, In light of the recent change of year from you to ‘21, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for doing the best you could given what you were handed. No one anywhere will say that you were easy. Many have called you any number of names including cruel, heartless, cold,
- [Happy New Year 2021](https://maryloukayser.com/happy-new-year-2021/) - It’s the last day of the year almost no one expected. I think there was a guy in 2014 or thereabouts who warned everyone about a future global pandemic. But as is the way of predictions, he couldn’t say exactly when it would happen. If only, right? How different 2020 would have been had we only known
- [Leaders Are Readers](https://maryloukayser.com/leaders-are-readers/) - Leaders are readers......might as well look stylish and badass as you peruse your favorite book or blog!I've been a fan of Caddis Eye Appliances for about a year. I don't go on my computer without first putting them on.I've really noticed a difference. My eyes aren't as tired after logging several hours in front of a
- [Two Kinds of Tired](https://maryloukayser.com/two-kinds-of-tired/) - When I worked as a rafting guide in Alaska on the Kenai River, I worked long days. I was up at six and often not to bed before eleven. My days were full of preparing the gear and the rafts, serving a salmon bake to guests before heading down the river, cleaning up after the
- [5 Books to Keep You Moving Forward](https://maryloukayser.com/5-books/) - I received a great tip this morning on a catch-up call with someone in my network. His name is Josh McLean. He is an author, podcaster, and all-around amazing human. We were talking about ways to stay motivated and remind ourselves about what we're doing and why we're doing it. One of the things that
- [Your Next Move](https://maryloukayser.com/your-next-move/) - Want better results in your career or life? Consider making your next move improving your self-image. This is nothing new. Our successes and failures are tied directly to a concept Socrates talked about all those thousands of years ago: How we see ourselves. When we change the image we have playing on the movie screen
- [The Best Book](https://maryloukayser.com/the-best-book/) - The best book is the one you are reading right now. It could be a comic book, a textbook, a book about how to cook the most delicious Thanksgiving ever. What's in the book isn't nearly as important as the act of reading the book. That said, the best book I'm reading right now is
- [America Is Still Burning](https://maryloukayser.com/america-is-still-burning/) - America is still burning. Three months ago I wrote about America burning here. The America burning I wrote about back in June was more on the figurative side of things. In the wake of George Floyd's death, conversations about racial injustice and systemic racism dominated kitchen tables from coast to coast. Opinions ran hot. The
- [Fantasies vs Dreams](https://maryloukayser.com/fantasies-vs-dreams/) - The difference between fantasies vs dreams. Fantasies live in the head. Dreams live in the world. All you have to do is run the miles to make your dreams come true.
- [Why You Don't Have to Be Afraid of Google](https://maryloukayser.com/why-you-dont-have-to-be-afraid-of-google/) - Ever hear that old cliche, the cream always rises to the top? Well, it's alive and well in the online marketing world, with a little extra help from Google. The challenge is, many small online business owners are worried that if they do something wrong, Google will "slap" them and close out various accounts they
- [Fascinating People: My New Blog Post Series](https://maryloukayser.com/fascinating-people-my-new-blog-post-series/) - One of the keys to success online is taking the relationships we build in our social media sites offline. Picking up the phone and calling someone, arranging a Meet-Up at a local restaurant or coffee house, or getting together for a meal will take the relationship to an entirely new level. In the spirit of
- [WTF America?](https://maryloukayser.com/wtf-america/) - I hovered the mouse pointer over the cancel button as my mind raced back and forth between whether or not to click it. The cancellation in question was for the flights I’d booked for my kids back in April when JetBlue offered risk-free booking for future travel -- no cancellation or change penalties should travel
- [The Very Busy Spider](https://maryloukayser.com/the-very-busy-spider/) - The other morning I walked into the main area of my house and saw a spider had built a web above the dining room table. Her silks were attached to two pillars: one of the chairs at the north end of the table and the Christmas Cactus that sits in the center of the table.
- [Milestones](https://maryloukayser.com/milestones/) - If your life were a country and you had a topographical map of that country tacked up on a wall, what milestones would be pinned on that map? Yesterday, I put a special pin on the map of my podcasting journey -- pin #300. That’s right, yesterday's episode of my podcast Play Your Podcast is
- [Could Jealousy Be Interfering with Your Quality of Life Right Now?](https://maryloukayser.com/could-jealousy-be-interfering-with-the-quality-of-your-work-or-life-right-now/) - [su_vimeo url="https://vimeo.com/362637360"] Ah, jealousy. That green-eyed monster we learned about when we were kids. A friend had something you didn't. A schoolmate brought something super cool and amazing to show and tell that all the kids in your class couldn't stop talking about. A cousin went on an exciting trip to a dude ranch while
- [5 Addictions You Probably Don’t Realize You Have](https://maryloukayser.com/5-addictions-you-probably-dont-realize-you-have-but-are-affecting-your-quality-of-life/) - My good friend and fellow podcaster Tracy Imm of the Brave Girls podcast recently interviewed Joy Sutton, the Director of Corporate Communications at American Addiction Centers, a leading provider of both residential and outpatient addiction treatment services. Their conversation got me thinking about addiction and how pervasive it has become in this country, especially to
- [We Are 90 Days Away from the Start of a New Decade. Are You Ready for the 2020s?](https://maryloukayser.com/we-are-90-days-away-from-the-start-of-a-new-decade-are-you-ready-for-the-2020s/) - Forget AI, robots, and the potential for CBD oil to change the world for a moment. I realize these are hot topics right now, but in the big picture, they are still way out there while most of us are still somewhere over here. I'm not against long-term planning or getting in front of trends
- [What Used to Work in Online Marketing Doesn’t Anymore](https://maryloukayser.com/what-used-to-work-in-online-marketing-doesnt-anymore/) - What used to work in online marketing for generating leads and building a business doesn’t anymore. Some tough love coming. Stop here if you can’t handle the truth. Did I just say that?! Yes. Yes, I did. Here’s how I know this is true and why it's a really good thing. Consumers these days are
- [Dear New Social Media Connection Who Is Now Spamming Me](https://maryloukayser.com/dear-new-social-media-connection-who-is-now-spamming-me/) - I imagine you're a super nice person. Your profile photo indicates that anyway. You may have a family, kids, people you love and care about, who love and care about you. I’m sure you are just as eager to earn a good living as the next person. Believe me, I get it. And I'm sure
- [[Video] Content Creators Planner Review](https://maryloukayser.com/video-content-creators-planner-review/) - I wanted to start this new week in the new month with a product review of a fantastic new content tool I recently discovered called the Content Creators Planner. Because I not only create content for clients but also for my own business development efforts (e.g. this blog post counts in that equation), having a
- [What If Success Was More Like Swedish Visiting Cake?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-if-success-was-more-like-swedish-visiting-cake/) - I still read magazines. Partly because I grew up with them. Partly because I like getting them in the mail alongside the water and gas bills. In an era of digital everything, print magazines may seem old-fashioned to certain crowds. While I love scrolling my iPhone as much as the next person, I also happen
- [Ten Years](https://maryloukayser.com/ten-years/) - When I started this blog more than ten years ago, I didn't know much about the Internet. Ten years ago, blogging was a new term to me, as was just about everything else having to do with the Internet and working online. What did I know ten years ago? Writing. Thinking. I love writing. I
- [Memo from Mother Nature](https://maryloukayser.com/memo-from-mother-nature/) - To: My Human Family From: Mother Nature Re: On personal leave until further notice Dear Humans, It is with a great deal of thought and consideration that I have decided to take some much needed personal time off to reflect on the current conditions of the planet. Doing so will give you all the chance
- [Why Small Business Owners Should Not Give Away Services for Free [COVID19]](https://maryloukayser.com/small-business-owners/) - I just jumped off Instagram to write this post because what I saw on someone’s wall about small business owners got me fired up. What I saw made me realize I’ve been thinking about doing what the meme says not to do: offer my services for free right now because so many big-time online leaders
- [10 Unofficial Rules for Virtual Conference Calls in a COVID19 World](https://maryloukayser.com/10-unofficial-rules-for-virtual-conference-calls-in-a-covid19-world/) - Let's face it. Virtual conference calls are the new normal. As everyone scrambles to figure how to best conduct virtual conference calls so that business keeps going, the need is here for a quick list of simple rules anyone can follow to ease the transition from working together in the office to god-only-knows-where-Tom-from-accounting is calling
- [I See You, Human](https://maryloukayser.com/i-see-you-human/) - Hello Human, I thought it would be good for me to write to you. Your posts, tweets, videos, memes, and articles of late have been consistent and nothing if not honest. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with me during this time. Speaking of these times -- wow. What can anyone say except
- [Don’t Be Surprised If This Happens](https://maryloukayser.com/dont-be-surprised-if-this-happens/) - It’s Thursday morning. Day 5 or 20 or even 30 of your new normal, depending on your particular situation. By now, you’ve survived the hardest part of transitioning to being at home -- Day 3. Why is Day 3 the hardest? Because unlike Days 1 & 2, which are characterized by a flurry of frenzied
- [Feeling Bone-Tired Lately? It’s Not Your Imagination](https://maryloukayser.com/feeling-bone-tired-lately-its-not-your-imagination/) - During my first year teaching high school, the change to what my life had been like before teaching was colossal. Unused to the constant demands of students, faculty meetings, lesson planning, and addressing a new class every fifty minutes, I was in bed each night by 9:00 at the latest. During my prep period, I
- [It Won’t Be This Hard for Long](https://maryloukayser.com/it-wont-be-this-hard-for-long/) - I’ve been working from home for 15 years. In 2005, I left a safe and secure teaching job with healthcare and retirement benefits to pursue my dream of entrepreneurship. Many people thought I was crazy. Some even called me irresponsible and foolish. Still, I persevered. I knew what I was doing was right for me.
- [How COVID19 Can Inform a New Model of Higher Ed](https://maryloukayser.com/covid19-higher-ed/) - My son has been home from college since mid-March when his school sent its student body home because of COVID19. He takes his classes online now. It’s been a mixed bag. Part of the challenge is professors are facing the same stress as students about showing up for work in an online environment. It’s new
- [Not Afraid of Storms](https://maryloukayser.com/not-afraid-of-storms/) - On my walk the other day, I witnessed a young hawk practicing its aerobatics. It was taking full advantage of the stiff wind blowing down from the Columbia River Gorge. Dark clouds rimmed the horizon, a clear sign of the inevitable storms heading our way. The hawk could not have cared less. I was walking
- [Today is one of those days.](https://maryloukayser.com/today-is-one-of-those-days/) - Today is one of those days. My emotions are raw. Seemingly innocuous things trigger tears. Things like hummingbirds drinking from the red glass feeder or my cat stretching after waking up from his nap. For some reason, I keep thinking about my parents who -- thankfully -- are vibrant and healthy 3,000 miles away from
- [And Then Something Happens](https://maryloukayser.com/and-then-something-happens/) - Humanity has a habit of going along on autopilot thinking our lives are always going to be this way. And then something happens. A tornado hits.Terrorists attack.A virus spreads. We panic. We protest. We scream. We show up at state capitols armed and ready to take out anyone who doesn’t do what we believe is
- [The Craziest Pyramid Scheme of All Time [via Ramit Sethi]](https://maryloukayser.com/pyramid-scheme/) - Ramit Sethi hates a pyramid scheme and is really, really smart. I have considered him a virtual mentor for several years, and have invested in both his book and his online courses. That's why I am totally stealing this line from him for today's post. You can see the video from which I stole this
- [America Is Burning](https://maryloukayser.com/america-is-burning/) - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA all-star and hall-of-famer, recently wrote an op-ed piece in the LA Times about why African Americans are protesting, looting, and fighting in city streets across the United States. This quote says it all: "I don't want to see stores looted or even buildings burned. But African Americans have been living in
- [Leadership Excellence Rule #1 -- Get All the Help You Can](https://maryloukayser.com/leadership-excellence-rule-1-get-all-the-help-you-can/) - I used to resist asking for help. After all — I studied Emerson and Thoreau in college and fancied myself a modern-day Transcendentalist for awhile. I believe in self-reliance as much as the next red-blooded American! And as a woman? Even more important culturally to prove I have my shit together. That I can do
- [We Are All Tech (ACT-W Conference Notes)](https://maryloukayser.com/we-are-all-tech-act-w-conference-notes/) - One of the many insights I picked up from attending the ACT-W Conference this past weekend in Portland, Oregon is that every single business is now a tech business. Doesn't matter what you do or who you work for. We are all tech. Artists. Entrepreneurs. Parents. Educators. Athletes. Designers. Baristas. Pastors. Tech, tech, and more
- [Setting the Table](https://maryloukayser.com/setting-the-table/) - Regardless of whether you’re running a business of one or a business of millions, your long-term success will be predicated on the culture you establish in your place of work. • My completely unscientific findings point to this truth. Conversations with people on the front lines of their companies and brands tell me so. Recalling
- [Collected Entries (2008-2009)](https://maryloukayser.com/collected-entries/) - Anybody Got a Knife? Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 09:10PM Over the weekend I went river tubing with some friends. It was a gorgeous day -- 95 degrees and clear skies. The water level in the river was still fairly high from spring run off, so the water was moving faster than usual for the 4th
- [At the End of the Day, It's All about the F Word](https://maryloukayser.com/at-the-end-of-the-day-its-all-about-the-f-word/) - I know what you're thinking. And I like it. I like it because you like the f word as much as I do and that is a very good thing. I like it because it means you have made the transition from being controlled to controlling yourself. You have taken back what is rightly yours
- [London, Lagerfeld & Leadership](https://maryloukayser.com/london-lagerfeld-leadership/) - [su_quote cite="Karl Lagerfeld"]People who say that yesterday was better than today are ultimately devaluing their own existence.[/su_quote] I just returned to the states after spending two glorious weeks in the UK and Ireland. My son studied this past semester in London, living with a homestay family and learning about life in one of the most
- [It Has Nothing to Do with Winning the Lottery](https://maryloukayser.com/winning-the-lottery/) - Saw a post on Facebook today that read: "If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to donate a big portion to your cause." My response to this is: Why not donate now? Supporting a cause you believe in has nothing to do with winning the lottery and everything to do with your mindset around
- [7 Important Questions Every Writer Must Ask [Writing Template]](https://maryloukayser.com/writing-template/) - Writing remains one of the cornerstones of digital content. The demands for fresh, original content on websites, blogs, social channels, and in email marketing put pressure on content creators and business leaders everywhere to consistently produce and publish engaging and useful content to multiple platforms. This is where having a useful writing template can come
- [Expand Your Brand, Write a Book [Video]](https://maryloukayser.com/write-a-book/) - It's time to write a book. Not just any book. Your book. That's the general consensus around here, anyway. Time to put to bed all the excuses about not having enough time, not knowing where to start, not feeling qualified, etc... and own up to the fact that you have a unique set of
- [How to Tell Your Story in 3 Simple Steps](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-tell-your-story/) - I was watching Shark Tank last night and one of the teams pitching the sharks was floundering. Made up of two young, enthusiastic Silicon Valley types, the team focused its pitch on the features of its breakthrough brain supplement, which amounted to little more than a coffee-flavored sugar cube. Words like "L-Theanine" and phrases like
- [Why Naming My Cat in Honor of Marijuana Wasn't Such a Bad Idea after All](https://maryloukayser.com/kittens/) - The guy on the corner had a box of kittens. I was walking home from school on my usual route when I saw them. Their tiny heads were poking out, and my heart melted. On the side of the box, someone had written in black marker: "Free Kittens." They were mostly gray. One of them
- [How One Book Has Made Me $75,000](https://maryloukayser.com/one-book-made-75000/) - In a world of billion dollar IPOs and buyouts, $75,000 can seem like what's in the change jar the ultra wealthy keep at the back of their walk in closets. But for anyone who understands and values money, $75,000 is $75,000. Nothing to sneeze at. When I wrote and self published my first book Personal
- [Discover Some of the Best Secrets of The New Economy...](https://maryloukayser.com/discover-some-of-the-best-secrets-of-the-new-economy/) - With the constant bad news coming at us everyday, is it even possible to succeed in the New Economy? Watch this video here and learn from Mary Lou why this New Economy is perfect for anyone with a dream and a desire to create wealth...
- [Are You Honestly Willing To Do What It Takes?](https://maryloukayser.com/are-you-willing-to-do-what-it-takes/) - When I first started my journey into building a home based business, I did not have the foggiest idea of what I was doing. And let’s face it: anyone who builds a business at one time was a rookie. Floundering around, looking lost, full of self-doubt. Especially people like me who come into this business
- [What Are You Wearing?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-are-you-wearing/) - Home based business entrepreneurs face an interesting dilemma each day. Unlike employees who have to go to work someplace else each day, the home based entrepreneur may only have a few feet to walk from bedroom to boardroom to get to their office. The dilemma is, what should a work-at-home business person wear? Of course,
- [Creating A Vision Board](https://maryloukayser.com/creating-a-vision-board/) - First, Watch this Video Below about Creating a Vision Board... Creating a vision board, aka dream board, is an essential part of the home based entrepreneur's journey. Because the human mind is designed for images, assembling a board of images that reflects your goals and dreams can create powerful results for entrepreneurs. I have created
- [Video Tips for Your Blog Part I: What Do You Say?](https://maryloukayser.com/video-tips-for-your-blog-part-i/) - Videos are probably the most compelling part of blogs these days because viewers are expecting to see them, even demanding to see them. It is very rare to find a blog in the Internet Marketing arena without video. And since ALL the successful bloggers and Internet Marketers use video, I figure it is wise to
- [Video Tips for Your Blog Part 2: Using Lighting and Camera Angles to Look Really Good Online](https://maryloukayser.com/video-tips-for-your-blog-part-2-using-lighting-and-camera-angles-to-look-really-good-online/) - Watch this video about how to utilize two simple video production strategies that will help you look really good on camera! Looking good on video is not as difficult as you might think, especially when you pay attention to two very important elements: lighting and camera angles. Did you notice in the video above how
- [Try This Simple Trick When You Feel Stuck in Life](https://maryloukayser.com/try-this-simple-trick-when-you-feel-stuck-in-life/) - It happens to all of us at one time or another. We feel stuck in life. Artists. Musicians. Athletes. Moms. Dads. Teachers. Writers. The dog in this photo. I bet even Bill Gates and Oprah have felt stuck. It just happens. Lately, I have been rolling around in the same mud pit for quite some
- [Simple Ways to Make Sure Your Internet Marketing Videos Enhance Your Personal Brand](https://maryloukayser.com/simple-ways-to-make-sure-your-internet-marketing-videos-enhance-your-personal-brand/) - Okay, so you have discovered the power and potential of online marketing, particularly with videos. With the vast resources out there on the World Wide Web for publishing and promoting your internet marketing videos, the possibilities of creating your personal brand using video have never been greater, or faster. And in today’s business world, speed
- [Why You Absolutely MUST Create Your Personal Brand to Succeed in The New Economy](https://maryloukayser.com/why-you-absolutely-must-create-your-personal-brand-to-succeed-in-the-new-economy/) - Want to know one of the fastest ways to succeed in the New Economy? Create your personal brand. That's right, folks. In this day and age of Web 2.0, it really is all about you. And if you aren't managing yourself, you will get left behind by those who are. Personal branding isn't just for
- [5 Rules for Succeeding in the New Economy](https://maryloukayser.com/5-rules-for-succeeding-in-the-new-economy/) - Things change and happen so quickly these days, it’s hard to keep up with everything and always be in the loop. Right now, there is a lot of talk about the economy – 18 months have passed since Wall Street collapsed, and many people are still trying to figure out who to blame for the
- [Personal Branding Mistakes with Social Media You MUST Avoid](https://maryloukayser.com/personal-branding-mistakes-with-social-media-you-must-avoid/) - Went to a party over the weekend and had a little too much fun that was documented on film? Having a disagreement with a colleague, friend, or associate? You would be wise in today's age of personal branding and social media to keep these things to yourself. This is arguably the biggest social media mistake
- [Leaders Are Readers...Here Are Some Personal Recommendations](https://maryloukayser.com/leaders-are-readers-here-are-some-personal-recommendations/) - Successful people read... there is no getting around that fact! Indeed, the books you don't read won't help you grow and transform! The good news is, there are so many reading options available now for people who may not enjoy traditional reading, but want to gain new knowledge: there are downloadable books from places like
- [Writing a Business Plan for Your Online Business: If You Haven't Already, What's Stopping You?](https://maryloukayser.com/writing-a-business-plan-for-your-online-business-if-you-havent-already-whats-stopping-you/) - I have a very important question for you: Have you written up your business plan for your online business? If you have, congratulations! You may count yourself among the ultra elite in this line of work, the top 1% of online business professionals who have taken the time to map out the nuts and bolts
- [A Sneaky Way to Burn Extra Calories throughout the Day without Even Trying](https://maryloukayser.com/a-sneaky-way-to-burn-extra-calories-throughout-the-day-without-even-trying/) - If you work from home like I do, you probably sit in front of your computer for several hours a day. Common knowledge tells us that too much sitting and not enough body movement can result in several health problems including weight gain, muscle atrophy, and back problems. While I am committed to a daily
- [Prescription...Fish Oil?](https://maryloukayser.com/prescription-fish-oil/) - Stop the presses. There's a new drug in town. It's called Lovaza, and this one is made with fish oil, well-known for its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, to be specific. It promises to lower the levels of triglycerides in user's blood. Studies have shown that high levels of these fats can be dangerous
- [ANOTHER Sneaky Way to Burn Extra Calories When Working in Front of Your Computer](https://maryloukayser.com/another-sneaky-way-to-burn-extra-calories-when-working-in-front-of-your-computer/) - In my first post about a sneaky way of burning extra calories during the day, I recommended that anyone working in front of a computer all day replace their chair with an exercise ball. The response to that post was terrific, so I thought I would share another sneaky trick for burning extra calories with
- [Social Media 201 Conference a HUGE Success!](https://maryloukayser.com/social-media-201-conference-a-huge-success/) - Unlike the stereotypical cloudy/rainy day Seattle is known for in the spring, yesterday's weather was picture-perfect, providing attendees of the Social Media 201 Conference a gorgeous backdrop for our day filled with valuable content. And while crowds of Tea Partiers gathered on Washington State's capitol steps 60 miles south protesting taxes and the government, more
- [Lose Weight While Watching TV! (Thanks, Doctor Oz!)](https://maryloukayser.com/lose-weight-while-watching-tv-thanks-doctor-oz/) - Okay, I admit...the title of this post sounds like one of those cheesy infomercial come-ons. It was a cheap attempt on my part to draw readers in with a play on that infomercial vibe... But if you are still reading, then it worked and got your attention. :) And no, I am not going to
- [The Heros Journey and Online Marketing](https://maryloukayser.com/the-heros-journey-and-online-marketing/) - When I was teaching, one of my favorite units of the year was the Heros Journey. I loved helping students understand the Heros Journey pattern and then watch them as they applied it to all sorts of things, everything from television advertisements to sporting events to Disney movies to popular music. The concept of the
- [From Success to Significance (aka S-2-S)](https://maryloukayser.com/from-success-to-significance-aka-s-2-s/) - S-2-S, or Success to Significance, becomes important to many Entrepreneurs as their businesses mature. We all know life is so much more than the money we earn. But we also know that money gives us choices, and allows us to do things of significance that not having money doesn't allow. I think everyone would agree
- [Are You Treating Your Online Efforts Like A Hobby...Or A Business?](https://maryloukayser.com/are-you-treating-your-online-efforts-like-a-hobby-or-a-business/) - Years ago, when I first got started in my Network Marketing business, I attended a training at which one of the top Field Leaders spoke to us about being successful. His question to everyone in the room was, "Are you treating what you're doing here like a hobby or a business? Because this can become
- [How to Be an Online Hall-of-Famer (It's Easier than You Think...)](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-be-an-online-hall-of-famer-its-easier-than-you-think/) - My son Ben plays Little League. He loves the game, but like all the boys on his team, he puts a lot of pressure on himself to perform really well every time he takes the field, both on offense and defense. I understand this desire. It's universal for anyone who wants to succeed in what
- [How to Change Your Life? Brian Tracy Answers](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-change-your-life-brian-tracy-answers/) - Last week, I wrote about 3 simple ways to write better blog posts. For those who didn't catch that post, you can read it here. In the time since writing that post, I have listened to an interview with Brian Tracy conducted by Success Magazine's founder Darren Hardy. One of the many gems Mr. Tracy
- [How to Find Your Passion](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-find-your-passion/) - Finding your passion in life is a hot topic these days. With the success of many books on the subject of how to find your passion, including Gary Vaynerchuk's Crush It and Janet Attwood's The Passion Test, it is clear that many people are seeking more passion in life, particularly in the work they do.
- [The Most Powerful Marketing Force Today (And How to Cash in on It)](https://maryloukayser.com/the-most-powerful-marketing-force-today-and-how-to-cash-in-on-it/) - For anyone building a business today, whether online or offline, there are many marketing strategies to choose from. The Internet has opened up doorways to sales success that businesses a generation ago only dreamed about. And many "old school" techniques like attending local networking events bring consistent and fantastic results for many small business owners.
- [Can Entrepreneurs Take a Vacation?](https://maryloukayser.com/can-entrepreneurs-take-a-vacation/) - It's one of the biggest dilemmas people who work for themselves face: Can entrepreneurs take a vacation? Especially during the summer months, when images abound of families frolicking at the shore or boating on a lake, that pang to get away for a few days and totally let go can get pretty strong. For folks
- [Read This ONLY If You Want to Blast Your Online Credibility into the Stratosphere](https://maryloukayser.com/read-this-only-if-you-want-to-blast-your-online-credibility-into-the-stratosphere/) - One of the greatest benefits of being a member of a Tribe is forming meaningful relationships with super intelligent and gifted people from around the world. People who have skill sets and wisdom you don't have but can learn from. When my personal journey with the Empowered Tribe began seven months ago, I had the
- [The Blog Mastery Awards](https://maryloukayser.com/the-blog-mastery-awards/) - How surprised I was when I discovered a message on Facebook from my good friend Don Enck. In this message, he wrote: "A little while ago, Belinda Cunningham initiated a bit of fun and a pay it forward idea that I hope you will be happy to be part of. She had written a post
- [2 Simple Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Blog](https://maryloukayser.com/2-simple-ways-to-protect-yourself-and-your-blog/) - Discover two simple ways to protect yourself and your blog.
- [Unrealistic Expectations Knock Most People Out of Business](https://maryloukayser.com/unrealistic-expectations-knock-most-people-out-of-business/) - The headlines are sooooooooooo seductive: "Everyone Will Want This!" "See How I'm Raking in Thousands of Dollars Every Week with No List!" "There Has Never Been A Program As Powerful That Generates Endless Leads for Your Business!" And on and on the parade of promises marches across our computer screens, enticing and amazing us with
- [Benefits of Sitting on an Exercise Ball](https://maryloukayser.com/benefits-of-sitting-on-an-exercise-ball/) - For anyone who works on computer or sits all day, you understand the physical side effects doing this has on the back and neck. One solution I have found works great is sitting on an exercise ball. Watch the video here for more details about the benefits of sitting on an exercise ball have on
- [What Can 2 Lamps at a Garage Sale Teach You about Online Marketing?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-can-2-lamps-at-a-garage-sale-teach-you-about-online-marketing/) - I've had these two lamps for years. In another time in my life, they framed the couch in my family room. Their uniqueness generated many comments from visitors, and served as a decorating focal point. I really liked the lamps, but when I moved into my current home, I didn't have a place for them.
- [Note to Entrepreneurs: Be Like Germany](https://maryloukayser.com/note-to-entrepreneurs-be-like-germany/) - I just returned from an overseas trip to Germany and the Czech Republic. The time away gave me a chance to connect with my daughter (who was touring with her girl choir) and to reflect upon my professional life. Life was hectic leading up to the day before departure, so I didn't do much research
- [Book Review: Recessions End by Michael Everett](https://maryloukayser.com/book-review-recessions-end-by-michael-everett/) - As so many new relationships go these days, the one I formed with Michael Everett was born in social media. Specifically, Facebook. If I recall correctly, Michael was one of Facebook's recommendations in the "people you might know" column that appears to the right of the feed on your profile. After a preliminary read about
- [Warren Buffett Is a Voice of Reason in the New Economy](https://maryloukayser.com/warren-buffett-is-a-voice-of-reason-in-the-new-economy/) - Warren Buffett is a voice of reason in the new economy.
- [How Your Blog's Comments Can Hurt Your Personal Brand](https://maryloukayser.com/how-your-blogs-comments-can-hurt-your-personal-brand/) - I subscribe to several professional blogs and as such, receive notifications about posts that may be of interest to me. This morning I followed one of the links that intrigued me, and was led to a video about a young entrepreneur from Silicon Valley who is doing business in an unusual way. Great interview --
- [The Often Overlooked Power of Blogs](https://maryloukayser.com/the-often-overlooked-power-of-blogs-2/) - This month marks my third anniversary as a blogger. My first entry into the blogosphere was a rant in October 2008 about the Wall Street meltdown. At the time, I had no grand plan for my blog, but merely the need to air my opinion about a cultural event that stirred me at the core.
- [Could Your Online Profile Photos Be Hurting Your Business?](https://maryloukayser.com/could-your-online-profile-photos-be-hurting-your-business/) - They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In business, it could be worth thousands of dollars, gained or lost depending on the message it sends.
- [What's Your Word for 2012?](https://maryloukayser.com/whats-your-word-for-2012/) - Choosing one word to define your theme for the coming year can reap big rewards. What's your word for 2012?
- [Are Business Cards Obsolete in a Digital World?](https://maryloukayser.com/are-business-cards-obsolete-in-a-digital-world/) - Are business cards obsolete in a world obsessed with smartphones and tablets?
- [Is ICANN Leading Us Toward Vanity Domain Names?](https://maryloukayser.com/is-icann-leading-us-toward-vanity-domain-names/) - Based on a recent report about what's going on at ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the opportunity to buy a vanity domain name like dot Coca Cola or dot Nike may not be that far away.
- [Why Google Plus Will Blow Facebook Away](https://maryloukayser.com/why-google-plus-will-blow-facebook-away/) - While Facebook may have the current social media edge, Google has big plans to take over that coveted spot with Google plus.
- [Guy Kawasaki's Simple Business Plan Template](https://maryloukayser.com/guy-kawasakis-simple-business-plan-template/) - If you have been looking for a simple business plan template, look no further.
- [The Best 99 Cents I Ever Spent](https://maryloukayser.com/the-best-99-cents-i-ever-spent/) - They say the best gifts come in small packages. They also say gifts will come into your life when you are ready to receive them. I had an experience recently where both of these ideas came true. At the end of October, I was at the Goodwill Superstore with my daughter, who was on the
- [What Comes First, Passion or Purpose?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-comes-first-passion-or-purpose/) - Recent comments on a LinkedIn post got me thinking about this question. Context: A writer applied ten business success principles (based on his book of the same ten business success principles) to the KPop phenom PSY song Gangnam Style. It was a classic exercise in trying to dissect what made this one song a worldwide
- [What To Do When Everyone's Looking](https://maryloukayser.com/what-to-do-when-everyones-looking/) - The recent media circus surrounding two big sports stories – namely Lance Armstrong and Manti T’eo – puts another exclamation point on the page of the paradoxical era we’re living in. Namely, an era of expected transparency coupled with a win-at-all-cost framework guiding and shaping decisions down to the very last tweet. Given the circumstances
- [Is It Time for a Website Makeover?](https://maryloukayser.com/is-it-time-for-a-website-makeover/) - At some point in every business's life comes the time for a website makeover. Outdated design and functionality are two of the most compelling reasons to invest in a website makeover, but there are plenty more. Rising customer expectations, keeping a competitive edge in a fierce economic climate, and business expansion are each driving forces
- [Gaining Perspective: Getting Started](https://maryloukayser.com/gaining-perspective-getting-started/) - Gaining perspective may take a conscious effort and at first, can seem like a luxury in this task-oriented world. But it is an essential activity for anyone who wants to grow and expand in business and in life. Far too often, we get caught up in our routines for a variety of reasons: routines are
- [Gain Perspective, Lose the Overwhelm](https://maryloukayser.com/gain-perspective-lose-the-overwhelm/) - Today's video is a follow up to yesterday's message about how to gain perspective and move away from feeling overwhelmed. Enjoy and share! :)
- [What Have You Bought for Your Business Lately?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-have-you-bought-for-your-business-lately/) - Everyone in business today knows how important it is to invest time and money into things that will lead to growth and expansion. In today's video, I ask a simple question: What was the last investment you made into growing yourself or your business and what results have you experienced from that investment? Perhaps it
- [The Big Ask](https://maryloukayser.com/the-big-ask/) - Sometimes getting what you want in life hinges on one simple thing. Watch this video to see what it is!
- [Branding and Social Media -- Don't Serve SPAM on Your Facebook Table](https://maryloukayser.com/branding-and-social-media-dont-serve-spam-on-your-facebook-table/) - When it comes to branding and social media, there is no room for SPAM on any of your social tables.
- [Growing Your Business with Twitter](https://maryloukayser.com/growing-your-business-with-twitter/) - Growing your business with Twitter can seem overwhelming to anyone who is new to the social media scene (all those hastags!). But in this follow up post to my first Twitter musing, I want to reiterate how powerful a platform Twitter can be for the strategic business builder. But first, a quick story. As a
- [Personal Branding Secrets for Beginners Book Signing Event](https://maryloukayser.com/personal-branding-secrets-for-beginners/) - The Book As part of the launch of the trade paperback version of the new and revised version of my book, Personal Branding Secrets for Beginners, I will be taking part in a local author book signing event later this week. Thanks to my friend David Zagorodney, I've been invited to be one of the featured local authors
- [3 Big Business Lessons from Berry Picking](https://maryloukayser.com/3-big-business-lessons-berry-picking/) - My friend Jill's backyard is exploding right now with fruit. Strawberries, Marion berries, raspberries, and two kinds of cherries are ripening faster than she (and willing friends like me) can pick. Yesterday afternoon, she invited me to come over to harvest the day's bounty. In about an hour, we picked what is pictured in the
- [In Under 5 Minutes, Sally Hogshead Can Show You Your Highest Value](https://maryloukayser.com/sally-hogshead/) - What's YOUR Fascination Advantage? What kind of first impression do you create? How do others see you? One of my personal heroes in the Personal Branding space is Sally Hogshead, a brilliant and fascinating woman who's got a book coming out on July 1st called How the World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through
- [Connecting Parenting, Business and Storytelling for Conversions with Purpose on Parent Entrepreneur Power Podcast](https://maryloukayser.com/connecting-parenting-business-storytelling-conversions-purpose-parent-entrepreneur-hq/) - What do parenting and entrepreneurship have in common? Turns out, plenty. On her popular podcast, Parent Entrepreneur Power, Mary Kathryn Johnson dives into the many parallels between raising children and building a business. What she's learned from 44 interviews so far with parent entrepreneurs is that success with kids and success with business doesn't have
- [The Art of Social Media Book Review](https://maryloukayser.com/art-social-media-book-review/) - I just finished reading The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users by Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick. In full disclosure, I have not read one other review of this book. I deliberately stayed away from Amazon during the pre-launch because I wanted a clear and completely objective experience with the content of
- [22 Ways to Create Compelling Content [Infographic] - Holy Kaw! - Holy Kaw!](https://maryloukayser.com/22-ways-create-compelling-content-infographic-holy-kaw-holy-kaw/) - Despite the enormous amount of information both past and present available on any given day, the desire for fresh content seems to be as strong as the desire for food and drink. With no end in site. It appears as if the world has become obsessed with content. But not just any content. Consumers want
- [Trust the Center](https://maryloukayser.com/trust-center/) - During the rush of the holidays, when commotion is at an all-time high, it's important to take time to stand back from the chaos and reflect. When I feel like I'm getting sucked into the turbine of externally-generated expectations, I turn to the ancient wisdom of philosophers like Lao Tzu, whose words remind me to
- [What Used to Work](https://maryloukayser.com/used-work/) - What used to work doesn't anymore. Things aren't the same as they used to be. You aren't the same person you used to be. Not yesterday. Not a month ago. Not a year or 10 years ago. You want to be. You want to wake up and have your body, your mind, your career, your
- [The Oregon Ducks Are America's Team](https://maryloukayser.com/oregon-ducks-americas-team/) - With a handsome win (59-20) over Florida State at the 2015 Rose Bowl yesterday, the Oregon Ducks are currently America's team. Case in point: I received a text from my sister-in-law who lives on Long Island featuring a photo of my nephews watching the game wearing head to toe Oregon Ducks gear. "What a game!"
- [Blue Yeti Review](https://maryloukayser.com/blue-yeti-review/) - With an eye on podcasting in 2014, I knew I couldn't use the microphone that's built in to my Logitech wireless headphones (sound renders too tinny). While this microphone is fine for Skype calls and Google hangouts, it's not so great for recording instructional products or podcasts at the level consumers expect. Enter my new
- [The Sharing Economy and All Those Courses](https://maryloukayser.com/the-sharing-economy/) - [su_note]This post was inspired by a conversation I had recently with the amazing Melissa Nickelson who truly understands the power of harnessing the sharing economy. Thanks, Melissa! :)[/su_note] Just about everyone I know faces the dilemma of having too many courses gathering dust on their shelves or hard drive. I bet you're thinking about the
- [(New and Improved) Customer Service Success Secrets](https://maryloukayser.com/customer-service-success-secrets/) - Every now and then, an email shows up that promotes a NEW AND IMPROVED version of something that doesn't need new and improving but sure sounds tantalizing when put next to that catchy phrase. Today the message was promoting an ebook about customer service success, specifically how to deliver stellar kick-ass effective customer service. Like
- [Surprise! List of Top Jobs for 2014 Doesn't Include This One](https://maryloukayser.com/top-jobs-for-2014/) - Forbes just released its list of top jobs for 2014. Given our tech-centered and energy-hungry economy, many titles on this list come as no surprise. Anyone wanting to become a Software Developer, Web Developer, or Petroleum Engineer, for example, has a bright future. There are more jobs than applicants in these fields, and the pay
- [When You Do the Math on the 99 Percent Formula for Success](https://maryloukayser.com/formula-for-success/) - [su_quote cite="Charles Kettering"]99 percent of success is built on failure.[/su_quote] This quote about the formula for success makes a regular appearance in images on both Twitter and Facebook. It's popular among the entrepreneurial crowd, most likely because it's validating. It's validating because those of us who run businesses are all too familiar with how much
- [Are You Building a Breaking Bad Business?](https://maryloukayser.com/building-breaking-bad-business/) - At the Golden Globes awards ceremony last night, the creator of the hit AMC show "Breaking Bad" -- Vince Gilligan -- talked about the early days of the program when "viewership was low" and they had no choice but to run on belief and faith in their vision. Several years later, "Breaking Bad" concluded its
- [How Far beyond Zebra Are You Willing to Go?](https://maryloukayser.com/i-know-that-already/) - How far beyond zebra are you willing to go? For anyone building a team, a business, a super amazing, incredibly scrumptious, world-changing enterprise... You probably want to go far. Very far. But once out there in that exciting Savannah of growth and expansion and dreams coming true, beware these four momentum killing words. On their
- [The Benefits of Podcasting](https://maryloukayser.com/benefits-of-podcasting/) - It's one thing to read about the benefits of podcasting. It's another thing all together to experience the benefits of podcasting. Why Podcasting Is Exploding With its growing popularity and high content value when planned and executed well, podcasting is fast becoming THE way of sharing a mission, message, or just plain old entertainment with
- [3 Benefits of Attending the Oregon Governor's Marketplace for Small Businesses](https://maryloukayser.com/governors-marketplace/) - The Oregon Governor's Marketplace is an annual event in the spring that brings state and federal agencies to the Salem Convention Center in a reverse vendor situation. Small business owners attend to learn about how they can get contracts with these agencies, as well as network with other small business owners. I attended this year's
- [Don't Stuff the Twitter Bra (aka Build a Twitter Following You Can Be Proud of )](https://maryloukayser.com/build-a-twitter-following/) - Twitter is an amazing platform for anyone who is interested in expanding their network, keeping up with trends, and sharing content in real time. It's the go-to social media channel for many professional athletes, celebrities, and business professionals, and can lead to amazing connections and build valuable relationships. As with other social media channels like
- [It’s Just Lunch](https://maryloukayser.com/just-lunch/) - The ad shows a slough of attractive people smiling and laughing together while eating a meal, watching a sunset, and taking a walk along a tree-lined path. Their activities are the fairy tale for many busy single professionals who just can’t seem to find the time outside of their crammed schedules to court a potential
- [What It Comes Down to](https://maryloukayser.com/comes/) - The art of worship is the same whether we kneel at the alter of our local church or we stand in a row of our beloved sporting sanctuary. Or both. On Sunday morning across this country, people gather together week upon week to pay tribute to our respective Source and seek its mighty wisdom through
- [How to Sleep Better at Night](https://maryloukayser.com/get-good-nights-sleep/) - School teaches us to get permission from an outside authority to know whether or not our work is good enough. In order for this to happen, committees in other states develop standards that all people at specific ages are expected to meet, complete with rubrics and corresponding numbers indicating a scale of achievement levels from
- [Right Game, Wrong Stadium](https://maryloukayser.com/right-game-wrong-stadium/) - Have you ever felt like you’ve shown up too late in the game to play? Ever wish you had jumped on a trend before the masses? I felt that way when I entered the world of the Internet a few short years ago. I had so much to learn that, by the time I really
- [Stu McLaren: "I Decided To Sell My Business"](https://maryloukayser.com/stu-mclaren-decided-sell-business/) - Building a business is one of the greatest creative acts of all. It takes time. It takes planning. It takes a lot of energy, experimentation, and expletives. And it is a process littered with both triumphs and disasters of the tallest order. But like any creative act, building a business is tremendously rewarding, especially when
- [This Might Not Work](https://maryloukayser.com/might-not-work/) - The chance that the latest project you’ve dreamed up might not work is very high. Every successful person alive can list dozens of “failed experiments” for every one that succeeded. Where you want to take notice is in the aftermath of the project gone sideways. Did it spur a new round of experimentation? Or did
- [Turns Out Creativity Drives Business Results](https://maryloukayser.com/turns-creativity-drives-business-results/) - The most seductive aspect to Big Data is it can trick us into believing things about us that may not be accurate. The emphasis on "data mining" for insights into consumer behavior has grown exponentially in the last few years, all in the name of how companies can sell more shit. Intangible yet highly valuable
- [Every Decision](https://maryloukayser.com/every-decision/) - When I was growing up, my family spent our summers living in a tent on a piece of lakeshore property my parents owned. The day after the last day of school, we’d make the 400+ mile drive from Long Island to Maine in the family van pulling a wooden trailer my father had built and
- [What Makes The Most Successful People Successful?](https://maryloukayser.com/makes-successful-people-successful/) - What makes the most successful people successful? Is it graduating from a prestigious college or university? Is it winning a reality TV show? Is it crowdfunding a million dollars? Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows, of course, that there is no magic bullet for achieving success or making someone successful. There is no
- [Just Don't Give Up](https://maryloukayser.com/just-dont-give/) - It's that time of year when pressure builds to be and do more. More parties. More presents. More food. More expectations. Anne Lamott -- the Queen of don't give up quotes -- understands this and reminds us to stay hopeful in spite of these [manufactured] demands on our time and money. That it's hard for
- [10000 Kicks](https://maryloukayser.com/10000-kicks/) - The late Bruce Lee lived by a strict philosophy that guided him daily. Among other things, he believed in mastery over self vs mastery over others, and despite being one of the best martial artists of his time, he remained humble, believing he could always get better. One of the quotes he is most known
- [Shake the Bowl](https://maryloukayser.com/shake-bowl/) - Most mornings, at an hour when I should still be asleep, my cats jump onto my bed and announce that their world isn't right and what am I going to do about it? Their mews mean one of two things: “I need to go outside” or “The food bowl needs attention.” Either way, I’m doomed
- [Going Small](https://maryloukayser.com/going-small/) - Tune in to any sports channel and chances are excellent the phrase "Go big or go home!" will be heard during the course of the broadcast. The phrase has become synonymous with offering encouragement in the athletic world, that winning requires all involved putting forth every ounce of focus, energy, and attention in order to
- [The Question that Never Makes the End of the Year in Review List (But Should)](https://maryloukayser.com/question-never-makes-end-year-review-list/) - It's the end of the year when we reflect on the last 365 days and ask ourselves any variation/combination of the following questions: 1. How'd I do? 2. What did I do? 3. What didn't I do that I said I wanted to do? 4. How can next year be different? The one question that
- [Why the Latest Productivity Apps Won't Work](https://maryloukayser.com/latest-productivity-apps-wont-work/) - For two weeks in the spring of 2013, I kept a meticulous record of how I spent my days from the moment I woke up until my head hit the pillow at night. My log of choice was one of those black and white marbled notebooks. Everything I did -- from writing a post
- [You’ve Got a Business to Run](https://maryloukayser.com/youve-got-a-business-to-run/) - You’ve got a business to run...and the content you create or curate is the fuel that keeps the engine humming and the lights on. It’s what will allow you to go the distance, to see the sights, to make the ride a trip of a lifetime. Without relevant content your clients and customers are eager
- [3 Reasons a Conference Needs to Be a Part of Your Content Strategy](https://maryloukayser.com/3-reasons-a-conference-needs-to-be-a-part-of-your-content-strategy/) - With the spotlight shining brighter than ever before on leveraging the Internet for growth and profit, entrepreneurs and companies can do themselves a big favor when they consider adding a conference or live event into the mix of their ongoing content strategy. Conferences are big business and for a big reason: They work. On many
- [Keeping Score](https://maryloukayser.com/keeping-score/) - [su_quote cite="Grantland Rice"]For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes - not that you won or lost - But how you played the Game. [/su_quote] Keeping Score Paul from Queensland, Australia had a problem. Bound to his desk as an office worker for eight hours a day, Paul was
- [Standards](https://maryloukayser.com/standards/) - Yours. Theirs. Yours come from within. Theirs come from without. To succeed, being fluent in both is essential. Knowing when to draw the line, when to bend, and how to articulate why you stand for what you do also comes in handy. The 13 protesters and their anchors who dangled from the St. John's bridge
- [Too Late](https://maryloukayser.com/too-late/) - In a hi-speed hi-tech world, it's easy to be fooled into thinking the window of opportunity has already passed, that it's too late to... Buy the stock Start the project Change direction Take the trip Invest the money The marketplace has lulled us into believing it's an either/or split -- with severe consequences regardless of
- [Forward Progress](https://maryloukayser.com/forward-progress/) - [su_quote cite="Alfred Montapert"]Don't confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but doesn't make any progress. [/su_quote] Imagine a quarterback under center. He receives the ball and pulls back into the pocket, scouting for a receiver down field. One has broken away from the line and is open and ready to catch the quarterback's
- [Excellence](https://maryloukayser.com/excellence/) - Not every brand is striving for excellence. Some brands are perfectly content being just okay. And we buy from them because there’s a huge market for just okay products. It could be because of their price or the overall quality of the thing. Just okay passes muster for many. Today at the grocery store I
- [Breakthroughs](https://maryloukayser.com/breakthroughs/) - Breakthroughs happen, not in the post-game flurries of confetti glinting around you in the spotlight and sticking to your hair as legions of adoring fans continue to cheer your name from their seats long after the clock has ticked down to zero. Breakthroughs come in the early morning hours somewhere between darkness and early light
- [A Matter of Mattering](https://maryloukayser.com/a-matter-of-mattering/) - A growing trend in marketing and advertising these days is pointing out how much something matters. Have you noticed this? Mazda: “Driving matters.” Whole Foods: “Values matter.” TiAA Cref: “Your money matters.” It’s not surprising, actually. Our attention spans have shrunk significantly in the last few years, with no help to reverse this trend on
- [Starting Today](https://maryloukayser.com/starting-today/) - Today is the day millions around the world will commit to starting something new. Starting today... One year ends. A new year begins. Starting today. Everything is possible.
- [Success Is a Math Problem](https://maryloukayser.com/success-is-a-math-problem/) - My daughter called the other day to talk about her classes at school. "I'm failing O-Chem," she said, sounding more depressed and frustrated than I've heard her sound in a long time. "Well," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "You certainly aren't the first college student to have Organic Chemistry bring you to your
- [Rescue Fantasy, Business Style](https://maryloukayser.com/rescue-fantasy-business-style/) - One of the things I enjoy about staying in hotels is getting a complimentary copy of USA Today each morning. Some hotels slip one under your door. Others have stacks of the daily placed strategically around the lobby and in the hotel restaurant. For a Gen Xer like me, who grew up reading the Sunday
- [Play Your Position](https://maryloukayser.com/play-your-position/) - On a recent visit back east to see my family, I attended my 10-year old nephew’s soccer game. Unseasonably cold for April, my sister-in-law and I stood on the sidelines bundled up in our winter parkas, watching the boys run up and down the field. At that age, boys come in a range of shapes
- [What Happens If No One Reads Your Blog?](https://maryloukayser.com/no-one-reads-my-blog-and-thats-okay/) - For the record, the title of this post could be any of the following: What happens if no one listens to my podcast? What happens if no one watches my videos? What happens if no one downloads my music? Regardless of what comes after the “no one” part, the sentiment is the same. At the
- [Personal Branding with Video](https://maryloukayser.com/personal-branding-with-video/) - I recently had the chance to sit down with Jeany Park, CEO and Founder of Compass Rose Video for an interview about personal branding, small business and entrepreneurship. Jeany pulled out all the stops and created an amazing set where the interview took place. She is a fantastic host and asked the right kind of
- [How to Plan Your Summer Reading List](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-plan-your-summer-reading-list/) - My son came home on the last day of school this year with a big smile on his face -- and his assigned summer reading list in his backpack. Familiar titles from the literary canon include Beowolf and Wuthering Heights, books I [vaguely] recall reading from my own high school and college days. My paternal
- [How to Leave Your Mark on the World](https://maryloukayser.com/leave-your-mark/) - A super popular topic online these days is about the power of impact and how to actually make a difference in the world. These days, more and more people want to leave their mark, the way Steve Jobs talks about in this famous quote: "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change
- [How Committed Are You to Your Personal Brand?](https://maryloukayser.com/how-committed-are-you-to-your-personal-brand/) - When I wrote Personal Branding Secrets for Beginners back in 2011, my intention was to provide a short, simple, and useful primer on personal branding for people who were new to the concept. A lot of people had a lot of questions. Fast forward five years, and the terms personal brand and personal branding are
- [5 Little Known Facts about Ghostwriting](https://maryloukayser.com/5-little-known-facts-about-ghostwriting/) - As an author entrepreneur, I get a lot of questions about writing (Does it still matter? -- "More than ever!"), publishing (Traditional vs. Self? -- "Self."), and what I think the future of books looks like in a digital era ("Promising" is my most common answer). I don't get too many questions about ghostwriting, but
- [How Much Does Amazon Self Publishing Make?](https://maryloukayser.com/amazon-self-publishing/) - In the last few years, self publishing on Amazon has seen tremendous growth, with more independent (aka “indie” authors) grabbing market share from the Big 5 publishers. Both the Kindle and CreateSpace platforms, made available for self publishers by Amazon, offer a fast path to any thought leader looking to put a book into the
- [What's Really behind the Comments at the Olympics Is Not Sexism](https://maryloukayser.com/sexism-olympics/) - I grew up with a gentle, kind man for a father. I witnessed him love my mother, openly acknowledge her and appreciate who she was and what she did, both inside and outside of the home. I've never not seen my dad respect and revere her. Married for 54 years, they are still best friends.
- [2 Podcasts and 1 Book [recommendation]](https://maryloukayser.com/2-podcasts-1-book-recommendation/) - I was chatting with my friend Elizabeth the other day over some lovely northern California Sangiovese. We'd met up for happy hour and it was a glorious, sunny afternoon. She asked me how my podcast was going. I told her I had just recorded an amazing conversation earlier that day with a man who is
- [Election 2016](https://maryloukayser.com/election-2016/) - It's Election Day today. Finally. America will have voted for a new president. The political ads choking our televisions, mail boxes, and newsfeeds will stop. Twitter will return to normal, filling up again with silly gifs of kittens rolling on dashboards and professional athletes making weird faces. We can all breathe again and continue with
- [5 Decision Making Mistakes to Avoid](https://maryloukayser.com/decision-making/) - Decision making mistakes aren't always the end of the world. Sometimes bad decisions lead us to our greatest growth. It's part of the whole "fail fast" movement first popularized by sales expert Tom Peters and explored in articles like this one by John Donohue in the New Yorker. The basic idea is that the faster
- [The Feeling You Get](https://maryloukayser.com/the-feeling-you-get/) - The feeling you get when you stand back and admire work you have done can best be described this way: A crazy mix of self-generated chemicals forms a cocktail of intense emotion ranging from elation to exhaustion inside your brain and body. You feel like you can conquer the world and sleep for a week
- [You Can't Write a Book in a Weekend](https://maryloukayser.com/cant-write-book-weekend/) - Write a book in a weekend! promises a popular program aimed at aspiring authors. Write a book in 90 days or less! promises another. These are seductive headlines for sure, attracting thousands to enroll in the programs they're attached to every year. Who wouldn't want to speed up the process of getting a book into the
- [5 Exceptional Books to Kickoff Your New Year Right](https://maryloukayser.com/exceptional-books/) - I love reading. I grew up with books and around books. My parents had a bookcase overflowing with books in every room of their 1895 Victorian home. Many of those books are still there, which is one of the reasons I love going back to visit. One of the highlights of each visit is seeing
- [10 Surprising Ideas for Having an Extraordinary Year](https://maryloukayser.com/extraordinary-year/) - It's been extra cold already this year. Unusually high winds from the northeast have howled throughout the days and nights for the last week. I don't mind the wind as it's like a vacuum in reverse, cleaning out the atmosphere and bringing with it a change in air quality. Change is good. Change promises possibility.
- [Being the Best](https://maryloukayser.com/being-the-best/) - I’ve been reading Seth Godin’s book The Dip this week. If you haven’t read this book, I recommend it. In a nutshell, The Dip is a book about helping readers figure out when to keep going, when to quit and “having the guts to do one or the other.” Sounds simple enough, but it really
- [Snow Day](https://maryloukayser.com/snow-day/) - Today is a snow day. The second one in a row. Most of the city is shut down. Schools are closed. For any of us living on a hill or mountain, we are housebound unless someone has snow tires or chains. But even many of those who have the means to get out choose to
- [Snow Day Part 2](https://maryloukayser.com/snow-day-part-2/) - The snow is still here. So is the ice. Covering the city from east to west, it holds thousands hostage in its glacial grip. Snowmageddon Portland rages on. Many people are complaining. "I have cabin fever!" they post on social media. "When will #snowmageddon end?!" they wail. "Please please PLEASE don't close the schools another
- [Productive Bursts of Activity in Short Bursts of Time](https://maryloukayser.com/short-bursts-of-time/) - I'm doing an experiment with short bursts of time. I'm writing this blog post using a timer set for 25 minutes and no more. When it buzzes, it buzzes. I will lift up my hands like the contestants on "Chopped" and step away from my keyboard. No cheating. No sneaking back five minutes later and
- [Beyond the Mic Drop: What All Marketers Can Learn from Lady Gaga's Super Bowl Halftime Show](https://maryloukayser.com/lady-gagas-super-bowl-halftime-show/) - If you were one of the billions of people who tuned into Lady Gaga's Superbowl halftime show yesterday, you witnessed a professional marketer who knows exactly what she's doing, why and when. Beyond her stunning aerial acrobatics, fiery costume with matching boots, and dramatic mic drop / football catch, Lady Gaga also showcased why she
- [What Are You Willing to Do for Free (to Be Truly Free)?](https://maryloukayser.com/willing-to-do-for-free/) - I was listening to James Altucher and Daymond John chat about business on James's podcast today. Daymond talked about the time when he was just getting started, before his mega hit company FUBU took off, when he was willing to give his knit hats away for free. "You always have to ask yourself," he told
- [No End Date](https://maryloukayser.com/no-end-date/) - Think about this for a minute. If you start a podcast...when is it "done?" If you start a blog...does it have an expiration date, like a carton of milk or a bag of chips? If you open a Facebook account (or any other social media platform, for that matter)...does it come with a countdown buzzer
- [5 Ways to Manage Daily Micro Stressors](https://maryloukayser.com/5-ways-manage-daily-micro-stressors/) - Micros stressors are a 21st century scourge. We have become so accustomed to them, we often don't recognize how these mini nuisances are irritating us to the point of suffering from multiple modern day ailments like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and stress. Lots and lots of stress. Some of the Worst Culprits Some
- [Where March Madness Can Lead Us](https://maryloukayser.com/march-madness/) - Like a lot of people these last two weeks, I’ve been following the NCAA basketball tournament. My bracket was busted in the first round, but I have the Oregon Ducks winning it all and they are set to play in the Final Four tonight against North Carolina. Go Ducks! No talking head has picked them
- [Maybe the Dream Is Actually the Chase](https://maryloukayser.com/chasing-your-dream/) - Maybe we need to re-imagine this entire notion of "chasing your dream." Maybe the dream is actually the chase. So you get the house, the car, the clothes, the girl, the guy. Now what? When the vehicle that takes you where you said you wanted to go no longer runs. Then what? Maybe the dream
- [Travel Is Truth](https://maryloukayser.com/travel-is-truth/) - “Travel is truth,” said Luis Vargas, the first of 19 speakers at TEDxPDX earlier this month. The sold out audience of 3,000 cheered wildly as he shared his idea worth spreading. Peppered with insight, emotion and plenty of humor, his talk set the stage for a full day of thoughtful, engaging and super smart performances
- [What Is Waiting to Happen in Your Life Now?](https://maryloukayser.com/transition/) - It’s that time of year again. Graduation announcements are filling our social media news feeds and showing up in our mailboxes, both virtual and snail. I am among millions of parents who will watch a child don a cap and gown, walk across a stage and receive a certificate embossed with an emblem, their name
- [7 Ways Quitters Win](https://maryloukayser.com/quitters-win/) - Most of us have heard a variation of the popular Vince Lombardi quote: "Winners never quit and quitters never win." While that meme may have worked back in the mid 20th century when the world was very different, it’s not so relevant today. Winners actually quit all the time, and here’s seven specific ways those
- [I Watched a Friend Dying on Facebook Live Today](https://maryloukayser.com/watched-friend-dying-facebook-live/) - I watched a friend dying on Facebook Live today. Her name is Emma, and she has cancer. It came on her like a tsunami not that long ago and has showed no mercy. Within months of her public announcement of: "I have cancer!" she rallied around her prognosis with superhuman strength, love and more courage
- [The Power of Saying No](https://maryloukayser.com/the-power-of-no/) - Last night I attended a 2-hour personal safety training. The last time I took any kind of self-defense class was in high school. While the nature of predators hasn’t changed much in 30+ years, the way to recognize them and fend them off has. One strategy I was taught back in the 80s recommended carrying
- [The Courage to Start Now [Recommended Reading for Summer 2017]](https://maryloukayser.com/courage-start-now-recommended-reading-summer-2017/) - We're just a month into summer 2017 and if you're a book lover like I am, you're thinking about what to read by the lake, ocean or river. Maybe you already have your reading list put together; maybe you haven't started making one. Either way, I recommend adding some or all of the following books
- [A Strange Fluctuation of Light [Notes on the Solar Eclipse 2017]](https://maryloukayser.com/eclipse/) - I have a confession. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t interested in the solar eclipse. Like, at all. It wasn’t until my dad started talking about it when I was on vacation with him in Maine earlier this month that I realized my non-interest was stemming more from not liking all the
- [Turn Your Mess into Your Message](https://maryloukayser.com/turn-your-mess-into-your-message/) - I wish I could take credit for this post's subject line, but that little gem -- "turn your mess into your message" -- comes from one of my favorite online mentors, Jim Kwik, host of the Kwik Brain Podcast and all around awesome human being. It got me thinking about how our greatest gifts to
- [[Bitcoin] Where Money Might Be Going](https://maryloukayser.com/bitcoin-money-might-going/) - “The fried chicken here is soooooo good,” my son reminds me after we’ve been seated. He’s been touting it ever since he had it for the first time a few weeks ago. We are at Tasty and Sons, a restaurant on North Williams Avenue in Portland, Oregon's trendy area of restaurants. It’s a rainy, raw
- [A Little Party [Notes on University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business SPM Holiday Social]](https://maryloukayser.com/spm/) - The University of Oregon's Lundquist College of Business Sports Management Program (SPM) Holiday Social and Networking Event is in full swing when Tucker Barney points proudly at a shirt lying on one of several work tables in the White Stag Innovation Lab. “I built that!” he says. Not designed. Not sewed. Built. It’s a word
- [Is It Better to Share Goals or Keep Them Private?](https://maryloukayser.com/better-share-goals-keep-private/) - Is it better to share goals or keep them private? Ah yes. 2018 is here! We all know the drill. On January 1st as we celebrate a new year, billions are making lists of their goals. Things we want to accomplish in the next 365 days. Health, wealth, relationships, career, spirituality. Common categories full of
- [Is Self Help Selfish?](https://maryloukayser.com/is-self-help-selfish/) - [su_quote cite="Will Rogers"]Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. [/su_quote] Want to improve your relationships? Having trouble sleeping? Off track in your career? Coping with addiction? Looking to hone your leadership skills? If you’re like many people, you’ll try to find the answers to these
- [[Video] It Feels Good to Be Endorsed](https://maryloukayser.com/video-when-someone-endorses-your-work/) - It feels good to be endorsed. Reading or hearing about the good work you do can provide sustenance on those days when you wonder if you can go another inch. If what you do matters. If any of it makes sense. Enter the pleasant surprise to discover someone has taken the time to endorse some
- [An Unusual Way of Thinking about Joy](https://maryloukayser.com/8146/) - I had first seen the star guardian weekender bag in the Pendleton catalog over the summer. Then, I saw it again over Christmas break in the Pendleton outlet store for $75 less than full retail. Still, I didn’t buy it. In hindsight, I wish I had. From the moment I saw that bag in the
- [When in Doubt, Go Back to Basics](https://maryloukayser.com/back-to-basics/) - Today's post is inspired by that iconic men's college basketball coach, John Wooden. Coach Wooden was famous for instructing his players to go back to basics when things got out of control. You don't have to be a starting player for UCLA or any other team to take this advice. When life starts to get
- [When Famous People Take Their Lives](https://maryloukayser.com/when-famous-people-take-their-lives/) - Outside my home office window, I have a view of my front yard which features several shrubs, a handful of potted plants and half a dozen bird feeders. My cats love to crouch against the cement porch stoop and watch birds fly on and off the feeders throughout the day. If one of those birds
- [The One That's in Your Hand](https://maryloukayser.com/the-one-thats-in-your-hand/) - [su_quote cite="Zen Humor"]Today I will live in the moment. Unless the moment is unpleasant, in which case I will eat a cookie. [/su_quote] There’s a great story I heard today about a man who lived with eight monks for 15 days. During his time with the monks, one of his assignments was to wash dishes.
- [Make that Six](https://maryloukayser.com/make-six/) - I would add a sixth book to the list of the most important business books I posted a few days ago. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. [su_quote cite="Lao Tzu" url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi"]Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place.[/su_quote]
- [Small Biz Brand Acceleration Workshop](https://maryloukayser.com/small-biz-brand-acceleration-workshop/) - Know to Grow! "A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all." - Michael LeBoeuf Are you a small business owner who is tired of seeing customers walk away from your offer because they don't understand what you do? When was the last time you mapped out in the tiniest detail who your
- [Until It's Not](https://maryloukayser.com/until-its-not/) - My daughter and I were sitting on the front porch yesterday, enjoying the sun and visiting with each other. Just home from her freshman year in college, she’s brimming with excitement for the summer ahead and having time off from her studies to work and earn some money. “I wonder what we were doing on
- [The Freedom Journal](https://maryloukayser.com/the-freedom-journal/) - Accomplish Your Goal in 100 Days! Sounds pretty awesome, right? Read on to learn more about this incredible project created by my podcasting colleague and friend, John Lee Dumas. January Is Almost Over! 1/12th of 2016 is already gone. Time flies when you’re having fun! One of my favorite things to do in January is
- [Vernal Pools](https://maryloukayser.com/vernal-pools/) - Awareness is growing for the important role vernal pools play in our ecosystem. Home to and breeding ground for creatures such as spotted salamanders, wood frogs, and fairy shrimp, these often overlooked and misunderstood patches of standing water are far more significant to the overall health of the natural environment than once believed. Each pool
- [Compared to What](https://maryloukayser.com/compared-to-what/) - In a highlight reel world, carried in our pockets 24/7 no less, it’s too easy any more to trick ourselves into believing everyone else is richer, thinner, smarter, happier, better than we are. Comparing becomes its own sport, knocking out far too many potential players from playing the game before they even have a chance
- [Word of Mouth](https://maryloukayser.com/word-of-mouth/) - [su_quote cite="Seth Godin"]The brand of the future...is patient, consistent, connected, and trusted. The new brand is based on the truth that only comes from experiencing the product, not just yelling about it. Word of mouth is more important (by a factor of 20) than TV advertising, and the remarkability word of mouth demands comes from
- [Could You Be Addicted to Starting?](https://maryloukayser.com/could-you-be-addicted-to-starting/) - I have a confession to make: I'm a start addict. I LOVE to start new things. Always have since I can remember. My computer's hard drive is loaded with all manner of projects I've started. The notebooks I've been keeping since I was 10 are crammed with creative ideas. Some have come to fruition. Most
- [“Time to Bring in the Professionals”](https://maryloukayser.com/time-to-bring-in-the-professionals/) - Home Depot has done a magnificent job of branding itself around the do-it-yourself (DIY) culture. The ads they pay a lot of money to run during major league sporting events emphasize this side of their brand with a quick and powerful punch line: “More saving, more doing.” Backed by gorgeous high-def videos of happy, confident
- [A Matter of Timing](https://maryloukayser.com/a-matter-of-timing/) - On the Master List of Human Challenges™, timing lands somewhere in the top 5, depending on the day. When it comes to creating and publishing content, timing has more to do with our audience's readiness for it than it does with our own agenda. We only have to look at some of Western history's great
- [The One that Got Away](https://maryloukayser.com/the-one-that-got-away/) - Early in my teaching career, when I was still wet behind the ears and still developing my professional confidence, I lost sleep at night from thinking too much about the one or two problem students who just didn't "get it." You can imagine the kind of kid I'm referring to. The kid whose main means
- [My First Year in Podcasting](https://maryloukayser.com/first-year-podcasting/) - One of my favorite quotes of all time is by Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun. She says: "The days are long, but the years are
- [The Night Before](https://maryloukayser.com/night/) - We've all heard stories about various superstitions and rituals athletes have around play offs and championship games. What they do and don't do the night before the Big Game. Turns out catching a local showing of "American Sniper" or binge-watching "House of Cards" episodes on NetFlix may have more sway in the following day's performance
- [Losing](https://maryloukayser.com/losing/) - When expectations are high for your latest project, what hurts so much is not the loss if things don’t go as everyone imagined they would. All things being equal in terms of preparation, practice, and getting to the meeting on time, what hurts the most when your side isn’t picked your contract isn’t chosen your
- [This Is the Year](https://maryloukayser.com/year/) - Complete the following sentence: This is the year ________________________. What? What will you declare about: Yourself? Your work? Your relationships? Your money? What will this year be about? So often, our declarations can be boiled down to simple math problems. This is the year I will exercise more. This is the year I will eat
- [Shaking Hands](https://maryloukayser.com/shaking-hands/) - At the conclusion of an athletic event, it is customary for the opposing teams to meet each other on the field of battle and shake hands. This gesture of manners and good faith helps bring closure to a well-fought competition, anchoring in each participant a feeling of good will and faith in the spirit of
- [Work Is Good](https://maryloukayser.com/work-good/) - When I was a kid, I liked to work in the yard with my Dad. Raking leaves into piles and then transferring them into a red wheelbarrow were two of my favorite outdoor chores with him. We had a compost pile where the leaves were dumped and eventually turned into rich dark soil for the
- [Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come from a Store](https://maryloukayser.com/maybe-christmas-doesnt-come-store/) - May your Christmas today be filled with things that don't come from a store. May your Christmas today be joyful, and more.
- [If Only](https://maryloukayser.com/if-only/) - During challenging times, when things don’t go the way we wanted, in the face of disaster and disappointment, it’s easy to hop a one way train to If Only with a stop along the way at the beguiling town of Should’ve. Both destinations are mighty alluring in a battered state. Far simpler to just go
- [It’s a Start](https://maryloukayser.com/start/) - Try this the next time you’re feeling like your project has stalled and nothing is going the way you want it to. Grab a piece of paper and write down everything that’s happened so far with your project. Nothing is off limits. Everything is fair game. After a couple of minutes, put down the pen,
- [Because You Want to](https://maryloukayser.com/want/) - The only reason you should do anything is because you want to. If you're doing anything because you feel you have to, something's wrong. Next time you feel this way, go back and deconstruct the steps you took to land you in a place of have to vs want to. That exercise will reveal one of
- [Censorship, in a Statement](https://maryloukayser.com/censorship-statement/) - In a statement released today from the White House, President Obama let North Korea know that its dictator doesn't have the right to impose censorship on the United States. [su_quote cite="Barack Obama"]We cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship here in the United States.[/su_quote] While I commend the President
- [On Learning and Experience](https://maryloukayser.com/learning-experience/)
- [Gratitude, Joy, and...Relief for Marcus Mariota](https://maryloukayser.com/gratitude-joy-relief-marcus-mariota/) - Looks like it's turning into Marcus Mariota theme week around here at Mary Lou Kayser dot com. What can I say? He makes great content. :) As predicted, Marcus Mariota of the Oregon Ducks was awarded the Heisman trophy in New York City last night. Looking dapper (and fidgeting quite a bit) in a becoming
- [Marcus Mariota Will Win the 2014 Heisman](https://maryloukayser.com/marcus-mariota-magic/) - Tonight in New York City, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner will be announced. Three nominees are on the ballot this year. The University of Oregon's Marcus Mariota will win it hands down, to the surprise of no one, because he's the best player in college football right now. He will accept it graciously, in his
- [All in](https://maryloukayser.com/all-in/) - The question each of us has to ask ourselves every day is, are we all in with what we're doing? Does our project hold enough weight to keep us focused, stalwart, brimming with excitement and enthusiasm even when things get rough? Forces everywhere conspire against us on our mission to be all in. Commitment to
- [Hacked](https://maryloukayser.com/hacked/) - It was late June of this year when I awoke to discover I’d been hacked. A black screen with menacing red writing flashed at me upon arriving on my website. As the letters scrolled across the screen, the message taunted: “You’ve been hacked! You’ve been hacked! You’ve been hacked!” in a sickening, sing-songy way. For
- [57 Channels](https://maryloukayser.com/57-channels/) - Amazon is running an ad right now for its product called the “Fire Stick,” a device not much larger than a USB drive that gets plugged into a smart television whereby viewers then have access to over 200,000 TV episodes and movies for the ultimate binge viewing experience. Because apparently, in our accelerated technology-driven world,
- [Options](https://maryloukayser.com/options/) - When all is said and done, what we think we want more than anything is options. It’s not so much the thing (i.e.the mansion, the Tesla, the month-long vacation in Bali) that options afford. It’s having the option to have the thing if we so choose. Never in our history have we had as many
- [Creating Content Your Audience Loves](https://maryloukayser.com/creating-content-audience-loves/) - A few days ago, I wrote a post about how important it is to keep top of mind the truth about what others think about what we do all day. When it comes right down to it, the truth is, no one cares about what we do all day as much as we do. The
- [Win the Day](https://maryloukayser.com/win-day/) - The power of having a mantra is two-fold. First, it’s an internal gauge that serves at all times, both good and bad. It stands for what is most important, driving decisions during periods of uncertainty, loss, and celebration. It keeps us centered while moving forward. Second, it’s an external beacon, declaring to the world: This
- [The Problem with Ideas](https://maryloukayser.com/problem-ideas/) - [su_quote cite="Arnold H. Glasow"]Ideas not coupled with action never become bigger than the brain cells they occupied.[/su_quote] The other day a guy I know was lamenting about how so many of the products he sees presented on the television show SharkTank are ones he thought of “years ago” but didn’t have “the creativity to make
- [Content Marketing Lessons from Shrek](https://maryloukayser.com/content-marketing-lessons-shrek/) - When it comes to getting noticed in today’s ever expanding content bazaar, I’m reminded of that scene in the original Shrek movie when Shrek is seeking someone to accompany him on his mission. Donkey -- desperate for a friend and ever eager to be of value to someone -- jumps up and down shouting, “Pick
- [No One Cares about Your Baby](https://maryloukayser.com/no-one-cares-baby/) - One of the greatest joys in life is creating something that is truly yours. Children fall into this category. As do businesses, inventions, books, songs, paintings -- and chocolate chip cookies made from your family's secret recipe. Upon presentation to the world, people will coo about, fuss over and coddle your baby. It will seem to
- [Of the Season](https://maryloukayser.com/season/) - Right around Thanksgiving, an avalanche of holiday-themed ads tumbles down on consumers as predictably as losing daylight right around five o’clock. If you happen to be a football fan, the deluge of ads with an “of the season” theme for every good attached to your niche is particularly intense. (And one of the drawbacks of
- [As a Discipline](https://maryloukayser.com/discipline/) - Winners make a habit of moving on from any setbacks that come their way, as they inevitably will. As a discipline, they choose forward motion on all levels, developing a daily practice for their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual game. Across all fields and industries -- from the Arts to Medicine to Business to Sports
- [A Poem for Thanksgiving](https://maryloukayser.com/poem-thanksgiving/) - Thanksgiving Prayer
- [The Problem with Web Talent](https://maryloukayser.com/problem-web-talent/) - [su_quote cite="Lizzie Widdicombe" url="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/11/24/programmers-price"]In Silicon Valley, where businesses are fueled by venture capital, the 'talent wars' have reached epic proportions. [/su_quote] My friend Paul* has a problem. Paul is a small business owner who, like so many others in his position, needs to have someone on staff who can manage his company’s web properties. He’s
- [Show Don't Tell](https://maryloukayser.com/show-dont-tell/) - Actions speak louder than words. Show don't tell. Put your money where your mouth is. I found myself repeating these idioms and variations thereof throughout my career as an English teacher, reminding my students that when it comes to writing, the active voice is always superior to the passive voice. Readers want to become a
- [One Fan's Tribute to Oregon's Marcus Mariota](https://maryloukayser.com/marcus-mariota/) - [su_quote cite="Marcus Mariota"]My parents always told me to be respectful to anyone you meet and to live your life that way. There's no reason to be angry or impolite. Just be who you are and respect everyone you meet.[/su_quote] Today is most likely Marcus Mariota's final game playing for the Oregon Ducks in Autzen Stadium.
- [Creative Collateral Damage](https://maryloukayser.com/creative-collateral-damage/) - People who create for a living are no different than soldiers fighting a war. They must put themselves onto a battlefield every day to get their job done. The enemy isn't "out there" for us to hunt down and eradicate. The creative warrior's enemy is forever within. In an era of an insatiable desire for
- [Here's Your Sign](https://maryloukayser.com/heres-sign/) - In 1985, David Bradford was driving along a familiar stretch of the I-15 freeway when he saw a sign for a company called Novell. He’d heard about the great things Novell was up to and so, decided to get off at the exit for the offices and walk in to see what was going on.
- [PowerPoint and the Black Death of Storytelling](https://maryloukayser.com/powerpoint-black-death-storytelling/) - When PowerPoint came on the scene on May 22, 1990, people were genuinely excited. A disruptive technology of its day, PowerPoint promised to make presenting information cool, cutting edge, and sexy. And in all fairness, it did just that. For a little while. But like any hot new thing, PowerPoint became a victim of its
- [A Matter of Convenience](https://maryloukayser.com/matter-convenience/) - In a two income household where both parents work offsite, arrangements outside the norm have to be made when the thermometer reads 101 degrees and your child’s cheeks are burnt crimson. Decisions about whether or not one parent stays home or if outside reinforcements are brought in and what that means need to be discussed
- [With Philanthropy, It's Not the Size of the Gift that Matters](https://maryloukayser.com/philanthropy-size-gift-matters/) - The headline reads across the web: Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and wife Connie give University of Oregon $50M. $50M is a lot of money. Any organization or institution that receives a gift of this size now has the means to expand its contributions to the world through research, class offerings, scholarships, etc. For the
- [On the Way to the Top](https://maryloukayser.com/way-top/) - When a team is on the way to the top, a fierce and loyal set of fans is never far away. They are the ones who have shown up in the rain, sat in near-empty stadiums, and remained true even throughout the years when things were most grim. Being a true fan can test even
- [How John Lee Dumas Made 720 My New Favorite Number ](https://maryloukayser.com/720-new-favorite-number/) - "What does it take to be an Entrepreneur? Join us as Mary Lou shares her Entrepreneurial mindset and an inside glance at her journey to becoming a successful Entrepreneur." This was my introduction last month when I sat down and chatted with John Lee Dumas for episode #720 on his wildly popular podcast, Entrepreneur on Fire. It was such an
- [In the Club with Big Data](https://maryloukayser.com/club-data/) - In a climate bloated with information, making thoughtful and accurate decisions can be challenging. Have you ever kept your Twitter feed open for a bit and watched the new tweets compound minute after minute? It’s enough to make you want to run back -- fast -- to ancient times, like 1993. Multiply your one feed
- [What Will Your Verse Be?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-will-your-verse-be/) - Bravo, Apple. You just aired your latest commercial for your newest product -- the iPad Air. And is it ever a good one. Perhaps your best to date. With Robin Williams channeling "Dead Poets Society" as he narrates your exquisite copy, coupled with direct passages from Walt Whitman (a quintessential man of 19th century disruption)
- [Possibly in Paris](https://maryloukayser.com/possibly-paris/) - When we’re kids, it’s easy to imagine what it would be like. To be the founder of the NBT (next big thing). To win the Superbowl someday. To fall in love at first site with the man or woman of our dreams. To work as a high paid international photographer who has breakfast in Shanghai
- [Nothing Spectacular, Everything Well](https://maryloukayser.com/nothing-spectacular-everything-well/) - To have a winning season, a team has to focus more on doing nothing spectacular and everything well. This approach isn’t sexy, and rarely makes the late night highlight reels. It doesn’t generate that one signature play that everyone talks about forever moving forward. It doesn’t create just one star on whose shoulders the entire
- [Go to Grow](https://maryloukayser.com/go-grow/) - If you stretch a rubber band long enough, it will eventually snap, at which point it’s no longer of use as it was originally intended. Knot a few snapped rubber bands together, however, and you have created something new entirely, something that could be the solution to a different problem. When that tension starts to
- [Solving the Dandelion Problem](https://maryloukayser.com/solving-dandelion-problem/) - In his iconic book The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles talks about a Universal law known loosely as the “more life philosophy” which states that no matter the circumstances, Life will always find a way to grow more of itself. In short, Nature cannot be stopped. Consider dandelions. The bane of suburban lawns everywhere,
- [Peyton Manning: "Sometimes, It’s Just Bad Football"](https://maryloukayser.com/peyton-manning/) - After losing to New England last night, Peyton Manning faced the usual bevy of reporters and fielded their usual bank of uninspired questions about what went wrong. When asked what he attributed the loss to, Peyton quipped: “Sometimes, it’s just bad football.” In typical post game fashion, the reporters pressed him to elaborate on what
- [The {Spooky} Difference to Your Attitude One Word Can Make](https://maryloukayser.com/spooky-difference-attitude-one-word-can-make/) - When I was a high school English teacher, the part of the curriculum I liked teaching the least was grammar. Not because I don't understand grammar. And not because I don’t like grammar. (I was one of those weird kids who actually enjoyed diagramming sentences in middle school.) The reason I didn’t look forward to
- [3 Creative Ways for How to Make the Most of Attending a Conference ](https://maryloukayser.com/3-creative-ways-make-attending-conference/) - Listen to the Podcast Version of This Post Here! [sc_embed_player fileurl="http://traffic.libsyn.com/playyourposition/PYP20_Conference_Success_Principles_mixdown.mp3"] All right! You just went to a conference and it was awesome (or not so much) and now you’re back at the office facing what was on your plate before you left. Now what do you do? If it hasn't already, a
- [The Secret of Surviving Sending Your First Born to College](https://maryloukayser.com/secret-surviving-sending-first-born-college/) - My daughter moves into her dorm room on Monday. These past few days have been filled with shopping trips, checklist revisions, packing boxes, and making decisions. What to bring? What to leave behind? The school she picked is only two hours away, but it could be two doors down the street and I'd still be
- [ Creative Problem Solving with a Parrot, a Pool and a Palm Tree](https://maryloukayser.com/secret-power-parrot-pool-palm-tree/) - Walk along Ocean Drive in Fort Lauderdale and you will see several signs that announce a Margaritaville Beach Resort is coming soon. The building is under construction, with bare concrete blocks rising up from the sandy beach giving shape to the eventual enclave that is set to open in July 2015. Surrounding the property is
- [Today Is Someday](https://maryloukayser.com/today-someday/) - Today is someday. Not yesterday -- that was one day you can never get back. Not tomorrow -- it may not come for you. Today is someday to: Work on your relationship Eat a healthy meal Read something inspirational Write in your journal Take a walk through your neighborhood Play with your pets Read a
- [The 5 Word Sentence that Will Destroy Your Business](https://maryloukayser.com/destroy-your-business/) - Americans are proud about a handful of fundamental tenets that make America what it is: Life. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness. Along with these three biggies, the Declaration of Independence is loaded with other telling words about the values that shape our country. These words and concepts continue to drive a multitude of daily decisions
- [In Defense of the Long Vacation](https://maryloukayser.com/defense-long-vacation/) - My daughter -- who starts college in September -- has always enjoyed hearing stories about herself as a child. But in the last few months, as her high school days came to an end and the first chapter of her adult life looms ever more immediately on her horizon, she has become relentless about hearing
- [The Story of Our Freedom](https://maryloukayser.com/story-freedom/) - The 4th of July is the most American of any holiday we celebrate. The story of our freedom and about how this nation was founded is one that never gets old and continues to resonate around the world with people who are searching for liberty. Despite our collective cynicism these days about our dysfunctional government,
- [From FOMO to JOMO -- It Was Only a Matter of Time](https://maryloukayser.com/fomo-to-jomo/) - From FOMO to JOMO -- there's a new acronym in town. It was only a matter of time. With the relentless onslaught of information coming our way from every screen, surface, and speaker... It's time for a new acronym to capture the collective mood of a certain tribe. Namely, the tribe that was formed and
- [Bad Website Practices -- Nothing Screams "It's All about Me!" Louder than This](https://maryloukayser.com/bad-website-practices/) - Okay, I think I have just had THE most annoying website experience ever. Because I don't know the website-in-question's owner, I will not disclose his name or the URL. The purpose of this post is not to bash anyone. Besides, I want to save you from the pain I just experienced. And it's not so
- [3 Tips for Better Content Marketing ](https://maryloukayser.com/3-tips-for-better-content-marketing/) - Content marketing is an essential ingredient for operating in the current digital landscape. Just about every business these days either has a content marketing strategy or knows it needs to develop one. The quality of content marketing strategies varies wildly across all industries, however, and there's a lot of room for experimentation, expansion, and improvement. The
- [Facebook Lookback Taps into the Power of Storytelling](https://maryloukayser.com/facebook-lookback/) - Facebook is celebrating its 10th birthday this month (hard to believe!) and as part of its celebration, it has tapped into the power of storytelling with the recent roll out of its Facebook Lookback. The Facebook Lookback is a 1-minute movie that highlights photos and posts of the user since he or she joined. Anyone
- [Would You Pick Yourself?](https://maryloukayser.com/would-you-pick-yourself/) - Imagine the following. You're out with some friends and you start talking about ideas. One thing leads to another and before you know it, primitive sketches of the "Master Plan" appear on a napkin. Everyone's excited. You're thinking: This One Could Be It. It's easy to get excited in the early stages of anything that
- [The Truth about Online Engagement](https://maryloukayser.com/online-engagement/) - Saw this tweet today: [su_quote]Social Media drives engagement, engagement drives loyalty, loyalty correlates directly to increased sales.[/su_quote] Put in diagram form, this tweet represents a common online engagement progression model: Social media engagement --> greater loyalty --> more sales. I don't dispute this model as I have seen it work first hand, but it would be
- [Doing the Right Thing for Customers](https://maryloukayser.com/doing-the-right-thing-for-customers/) - In an age of transparency, what with social media and all, doing the right thing for customers should be number one on every company's "What We Do Here" list. With the ability to broadcast unhappiness to thousands of people with one post or tweet, customers can cause a big fuss and potential headache for companies
- [Why You Need to Learn How to Tell a Story Well](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-tell-a-story-well/) - When you know how to tell a story well -- bonus points when it's your own story you're telling -- you considerably increase your chances of: [su_list icon="icon: smile-o" icon_color="#0b14c0"] Not being boring Making someone smile Making someone laugh People remembering you Feeling good about yourself and the world in general [/su_list] Certainly, there are
- [Happy New Year!](https://maryloukayser.com/happy-new-year/) - This is an image of the holiday card I sent out from my business for 2014. I love the design and wanted to post a picture of it here to extend the message. Happy New Year to all! 2014 will be great. Do everything you can to take advantage of the opportunities that come your
- [How to Win Big in 2014](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-win-big/) - With four days left in 2013, this is the time of year when everyone reflects on the last twelve months -- and makes predictions for the coming twelve. The range of ideas, opinions, and prognostications about being successful in 2014 are as varied as the colors in a kaleidoscope. If we're being honest, however, the
- [Go Ahead -- Crying at Christmas Is Okay](https://maryloukayser.com/crying-at-christmas/) - Thank God winter solstice has come and gone. Days in the northern hemisphere are now getting longer. Even though winter has officially begun, the change in light is far more important than the change in seasons. The truth is, the darkest time of year physically is, for millions of people, the darkest time of year
- [Thanks for a Great Season from an Oregon Ducks Football Fan](https://maryloukayser.com/oregon-ducks-football-fan/) - When my grandmother was alive, she went to opening day at Fenway Park every single year. Born in 1913, she had just entered kindergarten when the Red Sox won the World Series in 1918. She would never see them win another title. A die hard fan if there ever was one, my grandmother cheered for
- [The 5 Most Important Business Books of All Time](https://maryloukayser.com/most-important-business-books/) - The 5 most important business books of all time are not officially business books at all, which is precisely the reason I have put them on this list. The titles will probably come as a surprise to most. What, no Stephen Covey? No John Maxwell? No Seth Godin? Sorry, those authors belong on a list,
- [One of the Best Movie Scenes ](https://maryloukayser.com/one-of-the-best-movie-scenes/) - One of the best movie scenes is in "Billy Elliot" when the main character, Billy Elliot, is being questioned about a recent altercation with a fellow applicant during his visit to the Royal Ballet School in London where he wants to study. With numerous strikes already against him (working class background, father who struggles with
- [7 Business Predictions for 2014](https://maryloukayser.com/business-predictions-for-2014/) - Predictions are interesting in that they are popular as one year ends and another is about to begin, lots of people love reading them, and unless they are really "out there," they are almost always spookily spot on. That said, what's just over the horizon in the coming year? Here are 7 business predictions for
- [This Is What It Feels Like](https://maryloukayser.com/this-is-what-it-feels-like/) - This is what it feels like to be a devoted fan of a team that has been riding a wave for a long time and has suddenly tumbled off the surf board: sick to my stomach, depressed, disappointed. While I feel sorry for myself and all the other Duck fans who had high hopes for
- [What I Saw at the Airport](https://maryloukayser.com/saw-airport/) - A Best Buy vending machine: because you never know when the craving for an iPad Mini might hit.
- [My Twitter Story](https://maryloukayser.com/my-twitter-story/) - My Twitter story is this. About a month ago, I became active again on the micro blog after nearly three years of complete dormancy. I went from the long standing, "I just don't get Twitter" to my fresh perspective of "Twitter is freaking amazing!" Like to the point of tweeting several times a day and
- ["If Today Was a Shape" Children's eBook Published, Available on Amazon](https://maryloukayser.com/if-today-was-a-shape-childrens-ebook-published-available-on-amazon/) - With an easy to read rhyme and delightful illustrations, If Today Was a Shape is designed for young readers who are just learning about shapes.
- [The Great Gatsby: Why It's More Relevant than Ever](https://maryloukayser.com/the-great-gatsby-why-its-more-relevant-than-ever/) - With F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby back on the silver screen this week – all pimped out with a hard core soundtrack featuring Jay Z – it’s hard not to get swept up into the seductive excesses of 1920’s America…and think about how familiar it all seems (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, anyone?) That
- [It's Never Too Late](https://maryloukayser.com/its-never-too-late/) - I was at a social function not too long ago where I overheard a woman in her mid-forties declare: "Well, you can't go reinventing yourself at my age!" I just about spit out my drink. "Of course you can!" I heard myself say, more loudly than I'm used to. It was one of those moments
- [The Unbearable Lightness of Blogging](https://maryloukayser.com/the-unbearable-lightness-of-blogging/) - Hello. If you are reading this post, I want to thank you for taking time out of your already jam-packed day to read my writing. You could be here for a number of reasons: you enjoy reading. You are one of my friends. You are one of my parents (hi Mom and Dad!). You happened
- [Don't Worry about What You're Missing](https://maryloukayser.com/dont-worry-about-what-youre-missing/) - In an age when choices are more plentiful than ever, it's easy to get distracted and never get anything done. Someone somewhere even came up with a term for this condition: Shiny New Object Syndrome (SNOS). Scroll through any social media feed these days and what do you see? Photos of the latest live events
- [What's Really Going On Behind the Social Media Revolution](https://maryloukayser.com/whats-really-going-on-behind-the-social-media-revolution/) - What's really going on behind the social media revolution? One woman explores the bigger picture.
- [This Post Coming to You Today from 35,000 Feet](https://maryloukayser.com/this-post-coming-to-you-today-from-35000-feet/) - What you can now do on a plan!
- [Curious vs Interested](https://maryloukayser.com/curious-vs-interested/) - Curious and interested often come dressed to the party in similar outfits. On the surface, they look exactly the same. They are bright, shiny, full of energy, and smile a lot. But take a closer look and you will see that beyond the superficial similarities, these two characters are not much alike at all. Learning
- [The Teacher Who Inspired The Lonely Electron](https://maryloukayser.com/the-teacher-who-inspired-the-lonely-electron/) - The Lonely Electron is delighting audiences everywhere, but it wouldn't have come to life had it not been for an inspirational science teacher that triggered the imaginations of its two authors. There's an old saying that goes: behind every great man is a great woman. Well, I'd like to extend that saying to include: behind
- [The Lonely Electron: What Becoming an Amazon Bestselling Author Looks Like](https://maryloukayser.com/the-lonely-electron-what-becoming-an-amazon-bestselling-author-looks-like/) - It's hard to describe the feeling you get when you see your book published on Amazon for the first time. It's even harder to describe the feeling you get when you learn that your book is a bestseller on Amazon. This is why I shot a quick video of my daughter and her best friend
- [On Becoming an Amazon Bestselling Author ](https://maryloukayser.com/on-becoming-an-amazon-bestselling-author/) - Yesterday, my daughter and her best friend – two Juniors in high school – each became an Amazon bestselling author. I am so proud of them! They wrote a terrific little book together called The Lonely Electron: A Story about Atoms, Electrons, and Making Friends. It is already getting many positive reviews. Yesterday, it hit
- [3 Reasons Why Good Writing Matters More than Ever](https://maryloukayser.com/3-reasons-why-good-writing-matters-more-than-ever/) - In a search and content based world, the need for good writing has never been greater. Indeed, good writing matters more than ever because expectations are at an all time high. People are growing tired of garbage sites, garbage emails, and hollow promises. This wasn’t the case a few years ago when the Internet really
- [The Top 10 Reasons to Self-Publish](https://maryloukayser.com/the-top-10-reasons-to-self-publish/) - The top ten reasons to self-publish infographic just came out. Guy Kawasaki is behind it as he recently published a new book called APE, which stands for Author Publisher Entrepreneur. It's a terrific presentation of why self-publishing really is the way to go these days for anyone who wants to get a message out into
- [Google Authorship Is Good for So Many Reasons](https://maryloukayser.com/google-authorship-is-good-for-so-many-reasons/) - Google Authorship is good for so many reasons, but for the sake of time I will share three. If you are serious about expanding online in any capacity, you will want to learn about Google Authorship and how to incorporate it into your overall online strategy. Why Is Google Authorship Important? 1. We Live in
- [Improve Online Engagement Using Images with Quotes](https://maryloukayser.com/improve-online-engagement-using-images-with-quotes/) - Of all the content posted on Facebook and other social media channels, images with quotes get the most engagement. Some images with quotes go viral, like the one about Mr. Rogers and Newtown. Other images with quotes stay closer to home, and may only get passed around among friends and family. If part of your
- [The Rush to Content Creation: A Cautionary Tale](https://maryloukayser.com/the-rush-to-content-creation-a-cautionary-tale/) - The paradox of Internet content creation is this: the appetite for great content is enormous and seemingly endless, but great content cannot be rushed -- when it is, you end up with a lot of the same stuff everywhere you go, only slightly different. Consider this thought from MG Siegler of TechCrunch: "The problem with
- [Self-Publishing Journey: Formatting Your Manuscript](https://maryloukayser.com/self-publishing-journey-formatting-your-manuscript/) - It's a new year and exciting things are going on in self-publishing! Watch this video now... Self-Publishing Journey Some of my readers are aware that in 2012 I joined forces with two dynamic business partners, Leta Russell and Holli Rovenger, and formed a new self-publishing company called PublishPromoteProfit.com. We have been working very hard
- [Beyond the Talent](https://maryloukayser.com/beyond-the-talent/) - Beyond the talent of any team, business, or organization is something less obvious and more powerful than what meets the eye.
- [A Woman's Place: Then vs. Now](https://maryloukayser.com/a-womans-place-then-vs-now/) - In the wake of this week's presidential boxing match debate, it's so nice to finally know where my place as a woman is! I mean, I've really been struggling to figure out where exactly I fit in. I love to cook, but I've never really taken to the kitchen as my place. Housewife doesn't fit
- [The Best Superbowl Commercial for 2012](https://maryloukayser.com/the-best-superbowl-commercial-for-2012/) - Among the dogs and babies and beautiful bodies, there was one Superbowl commercial that stood head and shoulders above the rest this year. It wasn't tantalizing or seductive or funny. It wasn't cute or clever or witty. It was poignant, thoughtful, reflective, raw. It took viewers to a deep, private place no other commercial in this
- [What You Will Miss](https://maryloukayser.com/what-you-will-miss/) - What I did not anticipate when I made the switch from employee to entrepreneur is what I would miss from the workplace. Turns out, this is fairly common. Running a business from home has many benefits – the cliché of working in your pajamas, for one – but the truth is, for all its challenges,
- [Running the Amazon Kindle eBook Numbers](https://maryloukayser.com/running-the-amazon-kindle-ebook-numbers/) - More than 5,000,000 people got an Amazon Kindle during the holidays. And just about every one of those Kindles was empty of content.
- [Are SOPA and PIPA This Generation's McCarthyism?](https://maryloukayser.com/are-sopa-and-pipa-this-generations-mccarthyism/) - We have a long history with freedom of speech and censorship in this country, with the arts and entertainment industry a long-suffering victim at the center of that history. This is what makes SOPA and PIPA so ironic.
- [About Your Website](https://maryloukayser.com/about-your-website/) - On the web, your first point of contact is most often your website. Old adages such as you never get a second chance to make a first impression apply online as well as off.
- [Is Social Media Stunting Your Growth?](https://maryloukayser.com/is-social-media-stunting-your-growth/) - While social media platforms have tremendous power to build a brand, share a message, establish and grow relationships, it also has just as much power to amplify the holes in your life.
- [Should You Pay to Have a Mobile Website?](https://maryloukayser.com/should-you-pay-to-have-a-mobile-website/) - If you have a business and your website is NOT mobile friendly, you are leaving a lot of money on the table. But should you pay for a mobile friendly website or use a free service to generate one? This post explores both options.
- [Note to JC Penney: Make Sure Your Quick Response Code Is Up to Date](https://maryloukayser.com/note-to-jc-penney-make-sure-your-quick-response-code-is-up-to-date/) - New technology, like the quick response code, is fun for a lot of reasons. It's hip. It's trendy. It creates buzz. For the businesses who use it, the quick response code has that "We're cool" factor. It's no secret in the marketing world that the quick response (QR) code is the latest trend to enter
- [Which Tablet Is On Your Holiday Wish List?](https://maryloukayser.com/which-tablet-is-on-your-holiday-wish-list/) - New data has emerged about popular tablet models just in time for the frenetic holiday shopping season. With the recent release of Amazon's Kindle Fire, having a tablet is all the talk. Big name gadget producers are answering in droves, each competing with what many believe is the Mac Daddy Tablet of all, the iPad2.
- [Does the Bootstrap Metaphor Still Work in Today's Economy?](https://maryloukayser.com/does-the-bootstrap-metaphor-still-work-in-todays-economy/) - "Sociologists say that those who've managed to pull themselves up by their bootstraps often want to see others do the same." Today marks the second month "anniversary" of Occupy Wall Street. Like a lot of people, I've been trying to wrap my arms around this movement, seeing it as both a nuisance/waste of time/resources as
- [Don't Delay: Offer More Value to Generate More Cash for Your Business](https://maryloukayser.com/dont-delay-offer-more-value-to-generate-more-cash-for-your-business/) - Anyone doing business wants to get more leads, who can then be turned into loyal, repeat customers who are eager to spend more cash on your products and services. The question so many business owners ask these days is, "How do I get more leads into my sales funnels?" The answer is fairly straight forward.
- [How to Capitalize on The Mobile Movement ](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-capitalize-on-the-mobile-movement/) - The mobile movement is gaining momentum. I witness smartphone usage every day, not only in business settings, but out and about in routine situations. I can't tell you how many times I have to honk my horn at the car in front of me when the light turns green because the driver is looking down
- [Is Social Media the Next Dot Com Bubble?](https://maryloukayser.com/is-social-media-the-next-dot-com-bubble/) - Is social media the next dot com bubble? A growing number of tech leaders think so.
- [My Personal Apple Timeline (A Tribute to Steve Jobs)](https://maryloukayser.com/my-personal-apple-timeline-a-tribute-to-steve-jobs/) - In the wake of Steve Jobs' death, a woman remembers her own personal timeline with Apple computers, beginning with the Apple ii.
- [The C-Word](https://maryloukayser.com/the-c-word/) - It's been a crazy week at Facebook. With their most recent "makeover," Facebook has managed to frustrate, excite, rile up, and send people scrambling -- all as a result of a few tweaks to their code. Talk about power! To cause so many reactions from one end of the spectrum to the other is frankly,
- [Remembering 9/11 from 40,000 Feet](https://maryloukayser.com/remembering-911-from-40000-feet/) - Yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It was a day full of stories, of remembering. Anyone old enough to remember that fateful day has a story to tell, and in today's post, I wanted to share with readers a message I received yesterday from a friend who is a flight attendant with JetBlue Airlines.
- [The Hottest Luxury of the New Economy](https://maryloukayser.com/the-hottest-luxury-of-the-new-economy/) - In Thomas J. Stanley's most recent book, Stop Acting Rich...and Start Living Like a Real Millionaire!, Dr. Stanley exposes the truth about millionaires most people either don't want to believe or just don't know: Frugality is the name of the game for the majority of seven figure earners. Dr. Stanley revealed this truth in his
- [Why The High Skilled Unemployed May Have to Start a Business](https://maryloukayser.com/why-the-high-skilled-unemployed-may-have-to-start-a-business/) - We have all read the headlines about the unemployment rate in this country holding steady in and around 9%. Those statistics are indeed grim, if not downright depressing. And to add insult to injury, job candidates these days are required more than ever to be currently employed in order to be considered for a job
- [Has Your Dream Turned Into A Nightmare?](https://maryloukayser.com/has-your-dream-turned-into-a-nightmare/) - Has overwhelm turned your dream into a living nightmare? It doesn't have to be that way.
- [What Gets You Motivated?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-gets-you-motivated/) - The Get Motivated Seminar is a huge production that has traveled around the world inspiring people from all backgrounds to think more positively, work toward goals, build bigger businesses, among other things. It's flashy and at times a bit over the top with pyrotechnics and confetti falling from the ceiling, but generally speaking, it's a satisfying way to spend eight hours.
- [After The Event: A Lesson In Networking](https://maryloukayser.com/after-the-event-a-lesson-in-networking/) - So you've just come home after an amazing live event. You feel inspired, motivated, and eager to put into action the principles you learned. Looking through your notes, the handouts, and the pile of business cards you collected from all the people you met, you wonder where you should start. What will you do with all this stuff? Will you actually use it or will it end up in a box or drawer somewhere, taking up space in your already crowded closets or garage?
- [Want To Make More Money? Banish This Word From Your Vocabulary Forever](https://maryloukayser.com/want-to-make-more-money-banish-this-word-from-your-vocabulary-forever/) - Back in the day when I was just getting started in my network marketing business, I attended a team training at which the company's top field income earner was speaking. I had heard this man speak at previous events, and what he had to say was always useful. On this particular day, he was sharing
- [Blogging: More Pain Than Profit?](https://maryloukayser.com/blogging-more-pain-than-profit/) - In the race to gain followers, a fan base, and loyal readers, bloggers are up against a huge wall of time commitment (or outsourcing). I have been a huge blogging advocate for years, one of blogging's champions. A blog is where you create your home online. It is the place to showcase your thoughts, your
- [A Sure Fire Way NOT To Get The Sale -- Part 1](https://maryloukayser.com/a-sure-fire-way-not-to-get-the-sale-part-1/) - For anyone using the Internet with the goal of making sales... Let's review. Here is a list of the bare minimum tasks to complete in order to get leads for your product or service from the Internet: 1. Conduct keyword research related to product/service. 2. Buy a relevant domain name. 3. Host that domain name.
- [When The President Speaks, Entrepreneurs Should Listen](https://maryloukayser.com/when-the-president-speaks-entrepreneurs-should-listen/) - Like millions of others on Tuesday night, I watched President Obama address the nation in his State of The Union Address. As an entrepreneur, I want to know what the President has to say, not just about tax codes and growing the economy, but about everything. Because America is still seen around the world as
- [Finding Purpose In Your Life](https://maryloukayser.com/finding-purpose-in-your-life/) - Finding purpose in your life can be as tricky as finding your eyeglasses when they are stuck on top of your head: sometimes it is so obvious, you miss it altogether. And the sad reality is, millions of people miss fulfilling their life’s purpose because they are too busy doing other things. They never slow
- [How To Get Better Blogging Results In 2011](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-get-better-blogging-results-in-2011/) - Like any other tool in a New Economy Entrepreneur's toolbox, a blog serves an important purpose in our overall business game plan. Knowing how to maximize our blog's usefulness only adds value to our bottom line and gets us better blogging results. Because blogging is a big commitment, it only makes sense that bloggers would
- [Looking For A Simple Strategic Planning Worksheet For 2011?](https://maryloukayser.com/looking-for-a-simple-strategic-planning-worksheet-for-2011/) - Like many people who spend a lot of time online, I have opted in to my fair share of email lists. I have a special account that I use exclusively for this purpose so I am not constantly wading through the latest and greatest offer in order to find the email I really need to
- [Not Everyone Is on Facebook...Deliberately](https://maryloukayser.com/not-everyone-is-on-facebook-deliberately/) - "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." ~ Henry David Thoreau, Walden 1854 I recognized his crooked smile,
- [Why I Will Read More Fiction in 2011 ](https://maryloukayser.com/why-i-will-read-more-fiction-in-2011/) - It's that time of year, when the impulse to reflect on what has happened over the past 12 months is too strong to ignore. Thus, as the final days of 2010 come to an end, I will add my own lists to my blog showcasing what has influenced me and my work in the last
- [Success Leaves Clues (Reflections on a Windy Day)](https://maryloukayser.com/success-leaves-clues-reflections-on-a-windy-day/) - Have you ever heard the saying, "Success Leaves Clues?" There is a reason so many of us study people who are successful. We are looking for clues about how we can be successful, too! I made this short video about how to increase your odds of being successful. Watch it now... Just like the food
- [Expect the Unexpected](https://maryloukayser.com/expect-the-unexpected/) - Ever hear the phrase "expect the unexpected?" I heard it a lot growing up, in Girl Scouts, at the dinner table, in school. Seems like all the adults in my life wanted to embed this lesson into my head so as I went out on my own and navigated through life, I would be able
- [Oops...Did You Wander into the Wrong Class?](https://maryloukayser.com/oops-did-you-wander-into-the-wrong-class/) - Remember what it was like your freshman year in college when you walked into one of your required survey classes for the first time? Hundreds of faces just like you staring ahead in the huge lecture hall, each mind wondering, "How am I going to get through this semester?" It's no different here on the
- [The Social Network](https://maryloukayser.com/the-social-network/) - Just got home from seeing The Social Network with my 11-year old son who is both a computer lover and budding entrepreneur. And I have to say, watching the story with my son of how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in the dorm rooms of Harvard enhanced my overall enjoyment of the film in a way
- [Why You Should Listen to Huck Finn](https://maryloukayser.com/why-you-should-listen-to-huck-finn/) - Mark Twain was a literary genius. That is why every year millions of high school students around the country are assigned his stories and books to read. Books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn stand the test of time because they have timeless lessons and principles to teach us, year after year. I have long
- [How to Overcome Writers Block Part 2](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-overcome-writers-block-part-2/) - "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." ~Charles Dickens "Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are." ~Malcolm Forbes "It's not the blowing of the wind that determines your future, but the set of the sail." ~Jim Rohn Quotes. We love them. We post them
- [How to Overcome Writers Block Part 1](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-overcome-writers-block-part-1/) - It happens to all writers. You sit down to write -- for your blog, for your marketing campaign, for your email auto-responder series -- only to find yourself staring at the screen, your mind blank for what to write about. So you get up, walk past the sink full of dirty dishes for the 20th
- [Are You Investing in The Hottest Commodity Right Now?](https://maryloukayser.com/are-you-investing-in-the-hottest-commodity-right-now/) - If you were to walk out on a street in any major city this afternoon and ask passersby what they think the hottest commodity is right now, what do you suppose the most common answers would be? Gold? Oil? Wind Power? While each of the preceding answers are indeed hot commodities, they are not, according
- [How to Write Better Blog Posts](https://maryloukayser.com/how-to-write-better-blog-posts/) - Who among the blogging community does not want to write better blog posts? After all, for many of us online marketers and business builders, our blog is the pearl of our Social Media oyster, the place from which so much of our income originates. With content being king on our blogs, having great posts is
- [Predictably Irrational: The Keys to Your Success May Be the Opposite of What You Think](https://maryloukayser.com/predictably-irrational-the-keys-to-your-success-may-be-the-opposite-of-what-you-think/) - One of my favorite sitcoms of all time is Seinfeld. One of my all-time favorite episodes of that quirky show is called "The Opposite." In it, George decides that every decision he has ever made in his life has been wrong, and that his life is the exact opposite of what it should be. George
- [Is It in Our Best Interest to Accept All Friends on Facebook?](https://maryloukayser.com/is-it-in-our-best-interest-to-accept-all-friends-on-facebook/) - It’s a typical Tuesday morning. You open your email account and find the following message in your in-box: “John Smith wants to be friends on Facebook.” There is no personal message from John Smith regarding how you two are connected. Your brain begins to percolate: “John Smith…John Smith…who the Hell is John Smith and how
- [An Overlooked (Yet Powerful) Social Media Tool Part 1](https://maryloukayser.com/an-overlooked-yet-powerful-social-media-tool-part-1/) - Ever be the last or next to last person chosen for a team when you were a kid? If so, then you know the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach and how awful it feels. Unless you are like Donkey from Shrek, who could withstand just about any social shunning Shrek could dish
- [Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs, 21st Century Style](https://maryloukayser.com/personal-branding-for-entrepreneurs-21st-century-style/) - 21st century businesses have already seen tremendous changes in how they operate day to day in a very short period of time. The Internet, Smart Phones, Social Media, and Video are undeniable forces in today's business world, and savvy entrepreneurs are not only paying attention to these forces, but using them to their greatest advantage
- [The Sweetest Words an Entrepreneur Could Ever Hear](https://maryloukayser.com/the-sweetest-words-an-entrepreneur-could-ever-hear/) - Being an entrepreneur is one of the greatest -- and most challenging -- of life's experiences. Long days, personal sacrifices, little money (at least in the beginning), and always so much more to do than time allows can make even the most stalwart of business owners long for relief. Anything from a weekend get-away with
- [Want to Be Wealthy? Here's Your Best Bet](https://maryloukayser.com/want-to-be-wealthy-heres-your-best-bet/) - It's become a fantasy of many hard-working Americans: play the lottery, win the big pot, and then live a new life with all the luxuries and ease one could possibly want and never have to worry about money again. But research suggests overnight riches can actually cause more harm than good in the long run,
- [Beware the Lizard...It Wants to Take Over Your Brain!](https://maryloukayser.com/beware-the-lizard-it-wants-to-take-over-your-brain/) - I don't know about you, but it seems that just when I get things moving in the right direction, the Lizard comes along and tries to derail my efforts. I am talking about my Lizard Brain, that primitive part of my noggin that wants to stifle and destroy anything that threatens it and my survival.
- [If a Cruise Ship Showed Up in Your Driveway, Would You Climb Aboard or Pretend It Wasn't There?  ](https://maryloukayser.com/if-a-cruise-ship-showed-up-in-your-driveway-would-you-climb-aboard-or-pretend-it-wasnt-there/) - It occurred to me after having a conversation the other day with a new friend from the Tribe that I have not always responded to the Universe's tap on my shoulder. So, I made this short video this evening as a means of clarifying some things for myself, and wanted to share it with you
- [In a New Media World, Is Privacy Dead? ](https://maryloukayser.com/in-a-new-media-world-is-privacy-dead/) - In his classic tale of mind-control and totalitarianism, George Orwell described a world in which pervasive government surveillance was the norm and individual privacy some far-fetched fairy tale of an idea. Indeed, 1984 made waves when it was first published in 1949, and is perhaps even more disturbing sixty years later as our culture moves
- [Earning A Living with Your Passion: A Letter from Monterey](https://maryloukayser.com/earning-a-living-with-your-passion-a-letter-from-monterey/) - The other day, I opened my email and discovered a letter from my niece who is a junior at Stanford University this year, spending her spring semester studying biology at the Hopkins Marine Station in Monterey, which is one of Stanford's satellite campuses. What strikes me most about this letter is how it oozes with
- [Want A Custom WordPress Blog?](https://maryloukayser.com/want-a-custom-wordpress-blog/) - For anyone reading this post who wants a blog, the general consensus among Internet Marketers is that WordPress is the way to go. Why? Because Google LOVES WordPress and in this Internet Marketing game we are playing, making Google happy is what it all comes down to. If Google does not like your site for
- [A Good Friend, a Bottle of Wine, and a Pizza: A Story of Making Peace with Your Past to Empower Your Future](https://maryloukayser.com/a-good-friend-a-bottle-of-wine-and-a-pizza-a-story-of-making-peace-with-your-past-to-empower-your-future/) - Eight months ago, I had reached a point of total stagnation, not moving forward, and in many ways, slipping backwards in my life. Nothing was going the way I wanted. Despite the warning signs I now see in hindsight were all around me, the quicksand of doubt had its grips on me, sucking me into
- [A Quick Little Spring Break Post about Passion](https://maryloukayser.com/a-quick-little-spring-break-post-about-passion/) - Had the chance to spend some time on the Oregon Coast with my kids and their friends during Spring Break last week. It was good to get away and have some time outside on the beach with some of my favorite people in the world. The weather was just spectacular, and since I had packed
- [The Creative Entrepreneur](https://maryloukayser.com/the-creative-entrepreneur/) - When it comes to making a name for yourself in today's professional environment, whether you are a budding entrepreneur, established business owner, or traditional career person, thinking creatively as well as like an entrepreneur will serve you very well and lead you to opportunities you never knew or believed could exist for you. Hence why
- [Want to Avoid Bankruptcy? Be Sure to Follow These 5 Essential Health Tips ](https://maryloukayser.com/want-to-avoid-bankruptcy-be-sure-to-follow-these-5-essential-health-tips/) - True or False: Losing your job is the single most common cause of bankruptcy. Would it surprise you to learn the answer is false? While Entrepreneurs typically don’t worry about losing our jobs, the reality is, everyone is vulnerable to the leading cause of bankruptcy, employed or self-employed. The leading cause of bankruptcy today is
- [You Check the Oil in Your Car Every 3000 Miles...But When Was the Last Time You Checked Your Passion?](https://maryloukayser.com/you-check-the-oil-in-your-car-every-3000-miles-but-when-was-the-last-time-you-checked-your-passion/) - Every 3000 miles. That's what the experts recommend when it comes to getting the oil checked and changed in our cars. The theory? Better ride. Better gas mileage. Longer life to the car. But what about your passion for life...When was the last time you had that checked? I have noticed that people are pretty
- [Thank You Seth Godin](https://maryloukayser.com/thank-you-seth-godin/) - Dear Mr. Godin, I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you personally for the work you have done in your life. While I imagine all of your endeavors have been meaningful to you in one way or another, I am particularly grateful for the books you have written, especially your latest, Linchpin. Linchpin
- [What Things Would You Say If You Could?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-things-would-you-say-if-you-could/) - Is there anyone reading this post who has not wished you could go back in time and say something to someone? Thanks to the inspiration of Jackie Hooper, a 24 year old woman from Portland, Oregon, now you can. The website, The Things You Would Have Said, has been up for a year and is
- [Legos, Internet Marketing, and the Age of Customization](https://maryloukayser.com/legos-internet-marketing-and-the-age-of-customization/) - Legos sure have come a long way. My son, who is ten, LOVES Legos (are there any 10-year old boys who do not love Legos??). Recently, he discovered an online program that allows users to build custom Lego sets. 3 hours after download, he had built several versions of the same custom car and had
- [Hard Work and The Power of Plastic Shoes](https://maryloukayser.com/hard-work-and-the-power-of-plastic-shoes/) - There once was a man who was the oldest of 14 children who came to this country from Mexico to make a better life for himself and his family. Born to a Mexican father with no formal education and a Peruvian mother with a doctorate degree, Carlos* understood the value of both hard work and
- [Nutritional Supplements: Watch Out for These FTC Red Flags](https://maryloukayser.com/nutritional-supplements-watch-out-for-these-ftc-red-flags/) - Did you know that "Freedom of Speech" does not apply when promoting nutritional supplements? If you or anyone you know is affiliated with a nutritional supplements company and are accused of making false claims about your company's products health benefits, the 1st Amendment to the Constitution will not protect you in a court of law.
- [What Internet Dating Teaches Us about Building Successful Home Based Businesses Online](https://maryloukayser.com/what-internet-dating-teaches-us-about-building-successful-home-based-businesses-online/) - Internet Dating and Online Business Building and Marketing have a lot in common. Consider the following "steps" most people go through who are looking online for someone to meet: Step 1: Explore the possibilities through photos and profiles on sites like Match.com, eHarmony, etc. Step 2: Invite people of interest to connect with you via
- ["Updates Are Now Ready for Your Computer..." But How about Your Health?](https://maryloukayser.com/updates-are-now-ready-for-your-computer-but-how-about-your-health/) - Ever notice that little window that pops up periodically in the lower right hand corner of your computer screen? The one that reads: "Updates are now ready for your computer...Click here to install these updates." How often do you actually follow these directions, click the "click here" button and get the recommended updates for your
- [Rekindling the Spirit of Exploration: ](https://maryloukayser.com/rekindling-the-spirit-of-exploration/) - America needs to embrace a spirit of exploration again. As a culture, we have been settled for far too long and the damage can be seen everywhere you look. People are dissatisfied... There's a constant, discordant hum everywhere you go. Can you hear it? "I hate my job." "I'm bored with my life." "I want
- [Are You a New Economy Entrepreneur?](https://maryloukayser.com/are-you-a-new-economy-entrepreneur/) - If you are like most people, you have heard the phrase "new economy" tossed around in the news over the last couple of years. And of course, you know the word "entrepreneur." But perhaps never the two together. So what is a New Economy Entrepreneur, anyway? And could you be one? You will soon see
- [The Paradox of Saying Thank You ](https://maryloukayser.com/the-paradox-of-saying-thank-you/) - I did something today I have not done in a long time. Way too long, actually. I am embarrassed to admit it publicly like this, but I think many people will relate to what I am about to write. I called my most loyal customers and thanked them for their business. The funny thing is,
- [Hey Baby, What's Your Content?](https://maryloukayser.com/hey-baby-whats-your-content/) - We've all heard that old pick-up line: "Hey Baby, what's your sign?" And we all know that typically, besides a drink in the face, asking that question usually gets you nowhere. Far better to ask genuine questions of whomever you are interested in getting to know better, and in return, providing interesting, genuine answers to
- [Why Saying Thank You Will Increase the Value of Your Personal Brand 100-Fold](https://maryloukayser.com/why-saying-thank-you-will-increase-the-value-of-your-personal-brand-100-fold/) - Take a minute and think about the last hand-written thank you note you received. I bet you could tell me the name of the person who wrote it and some details about the day you got it. And you know what? I would also bet that whoever that person is has a pretty high quality
- [(Thank Goodness) The Road of Life Is Paved with No's](https://maryloukayser.com/the-road-of-life-is-paved-with-nos/) - My daughter woke up this morning, bright-eyed and excited. Today the list of who got what part in the school musical would be posted for all the kids to see. The play this year is "Annie," and my daughter had auditioned for two roles, Grace and Miss Haddigan. She did not have a preference for
- [What Is Your Core Motive?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-is-your-core-motive/) - Ever wondered why you do things the way you do? Or why others do what they do? For example, why are some people such great connectors, while others just plow through life, moving from A to B, without batting an eye? Dr. Taylor Hartman, a great friend of mine, has spent his professional life studying
- [What the Tiger Woods Drama Can Teach Us about Living an Authentic Life](https://maryloukayser.com/what-the-tiger-woods-drama-can-teach-us-about-living-an-authentic-life/) - Have you ever heard the old phrase, "Truth is stranger than fiction?" The Tiger Woods drama shows us exactly why this line rings true. It would be hard to believe his story if it was presented in fiction form (and candidly, it's difficult to believe it in non-fiction form!). But once you get below the
- [Olympic Lessons](https://maryloukayser.com/olympic-lessons/) - Have you been enjoying the Winter Olympics this week? I sure have! I love the competition, the excitement, and learning about the different athletes and the road they've taken to get to Vancouver. Watching the games, I can't help but compare the athletes with their dreams, personal struggles, disappointments, tremendous work ethic, and tenacity to
- [Avoid These Huge Mistakes When It Comes to Creating Your Home Office](https://maryloukayser.com/avoid-these-huge-mistakes-when-it-comes-creating-your-home-office/) - Chances are if you are reading this post, you either work from home or are contemplating working from home. While one of the benefits of working for yourself as an Internet Marketer is having the freedom and flexibility of working from whatever location you want (think Maui, the Bahamas, your own private island in the
- [Decorating A Home Office for Maximum Productivity](https://maryloukayser.com/decorating-a-home-office-for-maximum-productivity/) - Most people are so excited about going into business for themselves, they forget to take a little time to decorate their home office. The difference between a home office that is just thrown together (think a kitchen table with a laptop and a milk crate at your feet) and one that reflects some thought and
- [What Did They Pay You To Give Up On Your Dreams?](https://maryloukayser.com/what-did-they-pay-you-to-give-up-on-your-dreams/) - It happens to most people. It has probably happened to you. At some point on the road of life you came to a fork. One direction promises security and safety. A paycheck with benefits. The other promises uncertainty, possibly no paycheck. At least not for awhile. Years, even. Certainly no benefits. But potentially a huge
- [How Do You Define Quality of Life?](https://maryloukayser.com/how-do-you-define-quality-of-life/) - How do you define quality of life? For me, life is meant to be bountiful, creative, ecstatic, filled with joy and purpose. The quality of my life is determined by my mindset about what I do so I can tap into these things each and every day. Life is not meant to be about "just

## Pages

- [Home](https://maryloukayser.com/) - Author, speaker, and advisor helping people reclaim focus, creativity, and meaning in a noisy world. Live like you mean it—before the scroll wins.
- [The Signal Session](https://maryloukayser.com/the-signal-session/) - Something real → something you can hear There’s something you’ve been trying to say—this might help you hear it Hey If you read my recent piece about AI, music, and identity, you already know where this is coming from. I’ve been experimenting. Not to become a musician.Not to get it “right.” Just to take something
- [Welcome Military Creator](https://maryloukayser.com/mcc/) - If you attended my talk, I’m really glad you’re here. If you didn’t attend, you’re still in the right place to tell the story only you can tell. Get the Creator Identity Field Guide Here's what's happening. Most people were never taught how to build identity, tell meaningful stories, or operate in algorithmic environments. My
- [Start Here](https://maryloukayser.com/start-here/) - Welcome. Let's get you oriented. You’re here for a reason. Maybe you read It’s Not You, It’s the Algorithm.Maybe you heard me speak.Or maybe you’re high-performing — and quietly tired of feeling pulled in ten directions at once. At some point, most driven people notice moments like these: You open your phone to check one
- [Speaking](https://maryloukayser.com/speaking/) - Your People Are Operating in Unmapped Terrain. Let’s Help Them Navigate It. Today’s teams are overloaded by tech, drowning in noise, and craving clarity.They don’t need another hype session.They need sharper navigation skills — and a way forward. Ideas That Disrupt the Default Book MaryLou Kayser for Your Next Event These sessions reorient the room.They
- [Media](https://maryloukayser.com/media-2/) - Conversations That Cut Through the Noise Author of It’s Not You, It’s the AlgorithmSpeaker on leadership, attention, and navigating algorithmic influence. MaryLou Kayser is a keynote speaker and bestselling author who equips leadership teams with practical navigation skills for operating in high-pressure, digitally saturated environments. Her work bridges technology, psychology, and human agency — helping
- [Contact](https://maryloukayser.com/contacts/) - Let’s start with what you need. Speaking inquiry, corporate training, media request, or something else—send a note here and I’ll point you in the right direction. Speaking Corporate Training Media / Podcast General Inquiry Podcast EpisodesHost of the Play Your Position Podcast—interviews + insights on leadership, life, and what it means to show up fully.
- [Programs](https://maryloukayser.com/programs/) - High Standards Without Drift Leading Yourself in Algorithmic Environments High performers are not struggling because they lack ambition. They’re operating inside systems that amplify urgency, compress reflection, and reward constant reactivity.Over time, even disciplined leaders begin to feel cognitive strain.This work restores internal calibration — so high standards stay intact without eroding judgment, clarity, or
- [About](https://maryloukayser.com/about/) - Most people believe they are making free, informed choices about how they live, work, and create. They’re not wrong, but they’re not as free as they think. In a world shaped by algorithms, defaults, and invisible optimization, many of the most consequential decisions now happen before we experience them as decisions at all. What we
- [Podcast](https://maryloukayser.com/podcast/) - The Play Your Position Podcast launched in 2014 with a focus on what happens when people decide to answer the call to leadership and why it matters.
- [Essays](https://maryloukayser.com/blog-2/) - Read the foundations Featured Essays This is where I write about attention, agency, creativity, and what it means to stay human in an algorithmic world. These essays connect to my work on It’s Not You, It’s the Algorithm and explore what I’m noticing—personally and culturally. If you’ve ever felt distracted, compressed, or slightly disconnected from
- [Like You Mean It](https://maryloukayser.com/mean-it/) - A guided 6-week reset (or 2-day intensive) for professionals and teams to reclaim focus, creativity, and agency in the digital age.
- [Book](https://maryloukayser.com/book/) - Your Attention Is Being Hijacked. This Book Helps You Take It Back. In a world designed to distract you, It’s Not You, It’s the Algorithm helps you slow your scroll, sharpen your mind, and start paying attention to your life again. This wake-up call isn't soft. It comes with real insight and staying power. Available
- [Your Reset Starts Here](https://maryloukayser.com/your-reset-starts-here/) - You Just Hit Reset Your Algorithm Reset Toolkit is ready. Download it here. Thank you for investing in yourself and in your attention. The scroll doesn’t own you — and now you’ve got the tools to prove it. Inside this toolkit, you’ll find: -A 5-part framework to catch yourself before autopilot takes over.-Daily prompts to
- [Toolkit](https://maryloukayser.com/toolkit/) - Practical tools to reset your focus, reclaim creativity, and set boundaries. Download the Algorithm Reset Toolkit™ by MaryLou Kayser.
- [The River Only Runs One Way](https://maryloukayser.com/river-book/) - “Life will break you/Love anyway/People will disappoint you/Believe in them anyway.”Mary Lou Kayser shares this theme in her much-anticipated new collection of poems.
- [About Me](https://maryloukayser.com/about-me/) - Live Like You Mean It. If you’re the one people count on—and you’re quietly counting on something more—I help you find it. Then build it. On your terms. Through powerful keynotes, strategic coaching, and thought-provoking programs, I help seasoned professionals re-center, reimagine, and reclaim their direction in an age of digital pressure and personal drift.
- [Books by Mary Lou](https://maryloukayser.com/books-by-marylou/) - Featured Books by Award-winning Author, MaryLou Kayser The River Only Runs One Way: Poems The much-anticipated follow up to The Far Unlit Unknown, this latest collection of poems explores familiar themes including love, loss, hope, and grief, with an emphasis on our relationship to time and the changing natural world. Tender, poignant, and self-reflective, The
- [How I Got Here](https://maryloukayser.com/how-i-got-here-2/) - How I Got Here A story about risk, reinvention, and not handing your life over to the algorithm. When I was six years old, I fell in love with an electric typewriter. The SNAP of the keys. The warm hum under my fingers. The ding that said: keep going. That typewriter lit up my brain
- [Mary Lou Kayser -- Home](https://maryloukayser.com/mary-lou-kayser-home/) - Mary Lou Kayser writes, speaks, and teaches about the power of personal transformation for wealth, wisdom, and wellbeing.
- [Mary Lou Kayser -- Home](https://maryloukayser.com/mary-lou-kayser-home/) - Mary Lou Kayser writes, speaks, and teaches about the power of personal transformation for wealth, wisdom, and wellbeing.
- [Mary Lou Kayser -- Home](https://maryloukayser.com/mary-lou-kayser-home/) - Mary Lou Kayser writes, speaks, and teaches about the power of personal transformation for wealth, wisdom, and wellbeing.
- [The Algorithm-Proof Leader | Workshop for Clearer Thinking](https://maryloukayser.com/the-algorithm-proof-leader/) - Reclaim your focus, creativity, and clarity. A leadership experience for professionals ready to think deeply and lead boldly in the age of algorithms.
- [Write Your Book](https://maryloukayser.com/write-your-book/) - Write your book with Mary Lou Kayser and elevate your status as a leader, thinker, creator, and expert in your industry.
- [AI for Creators and Entrepreneurs](https://maryloukayser.com/ai-for-creators-and-entrepreneurs/) - LIVE Workshop | tuesdays, march 25-April 15, 2025 1-2 pm [edt]:The AI Edge: Think Better, Work Smarter, Get Aheadwith Mary Lou KayserA Limited Beta Opportunity to Master AI for Real ResultsIf You're Not Using AI to Think Faster and Work Smarter, Someone Else Is—and They’re Already Ahead.What if you could think faster, create better, and
- [Well Hello Mary Lou Kayser](https://maryloukayser.com/well-hello-mary-lou-kayser/) - Meet Mary Lou Kayser: Your Partner in Dusting off Your Dreams, Bringing Your Ideas to Life, and Busting Free from the Status Quo
- [AI Literacy Training](https://maryloukayser.com/ai-literacy-training/) - The AI Conversation You’ve Been Waiting to HaveEmpower Yourself. Equip Your People. Elevate Your Results.You know AI matters.You’re just not sure where to start, what’s real, or how to use it in a way that actually benefits you.The problem?Most conversations about AI are either:Overhyped nonsense—exaggerated claims that AI will take over the world and replace
- [The Creativity Effect](https://maryloukayser.com/the-creativity-effect-2/) - The Creativity Effect is a personal framework for building a rich and fulfilling existence while inspiring others to do the same.
- [Unlock Your Creativity](https://maryloukayser.com/unlock-your-creativity/) - Your Unique Perspective. Your Bold Vision. Your Lasting Impact.Discover how The Creativity Effect™ can inspire and empower you to achieve your goals. Whether you’re looking to elevate your leadership, spark innovation, or create meaningful work, let’s explore the possibilities together.Transform Your Ideas Into ImpactYour creativity has the power to shape ideas, inspire action, and leave
- [The Far Unlit Unknown](https://maryloukayser.com/unlit-book/) - Discover the The Transformative Power of Poetry 6x9172 pagesISBN 979-8-9877923-0-8 hardcover $24.95ISBN 979-8-9877923-1-5 softcover $17.95ISBN 979-8-9877923-2-2 ebook $7.99 Step into the far unlit unknown and be a witness to the greatest experience of all: Your Life. This book is an invitation to explore the depths of personal introspection and grace through the lens of poetry. Transcending
- [Media](https://maryloukayser.com/media/) - MEDIA CONTACTFor more information, questions, to receive a review copy, or to schedule an interview, please contact:Sharon CastlenINTEGRATED BOOK MARKETINGPO Box 321Kings Park NY 11754Contact Info HereASSETShigh res imagehigh res imageMEDIA KITBio of MaryLou Kayser [Click Here to Download]Sellsheet -- The River Only Runs One Way [Click Here to Download]Sellsheet -- The Far Unlit Unknown
- [Book Reviews](https://maryloukayser.com/book-reviews/) - Praise for Mary Lou Kayser's latest two books, The Far Unlit Unknown and The River Only Runs One Way.
- [Events](https://maryloukayser.com/events/) - Events Featuring Mary Lou Kayser Upcoming Events 04.18.2024 / bellingham, wa village books & paper dreams 6-7 pm pdt The Far Unlit Unknown: Book Reading & Signing 04.22.2024 / lake oswego, oregon 8:30-10 am pdt Speaking: Personal Branding in an AI World for Job Seekers 04.25.2024 / vancouver, wa white oaks books 6-7 pm pdt
- [People Code Coaching](https://maryloukayser.com/people-code-coaching/) - People Code Coaching with certified ambassador Mary Lou Kayser offers an enlightening perspective on the driving forces behind our behavior.
- [Confluence](https://maryloukayser.com/confluence/) - Why join us at the Confluence Collective Retreat? Because gathering is an art. And there's still so much more work to be done.
- [Recommended Resources](https://maryloukayser.com/recommended-resources/) - The following recommended resources are ones I use for growing, running, and managing the various aspects of my business, creative practice, and personal life.Technical ResourcesThrive Themes Web DesignMy website improved in every way when I installed Thrive Themes. I use their sophisticated conversion-focused theme called Bookwise for this website. Great customer service, exceptional tutorials, and
- [Success Stories](https://maryloukayser.com/success-stories/) - What satisfied clients say about working with Mary Lou Kayser Writing and Publishing “You are awesome! Thank you again for your skill and generosity of spirit in helping me get my book completed and into the world.” Geri Ann Higgins, Author 30 Days of Sense-ational Self-awareness: Feel More Connected to The Present Moment and Yourself
- [Writer](https://maryloukayser.com/writer/) - You could call writing for me a calling. An obsession. An I-don’t-have-a-choice kind of deal. It's as necessary for me as breathing.
- [Elevate Your Expertise Program](https://maryloukayser.com/elevate-your-expertise-program/) - Work with Mary Lou Kayser in this dynamic program to elevate your expertise into a body of thought leadership for a future that needs you more than ever.
- [Work with Mary Lou](https://maryloukayser.com/work-with-mary-lou/) - The best of what's next on your leadership journey is one decision away. I believe our greatest personal and professional experiences exist in a place just beyond the edge of our current existence. A place I call the far unlit unknown. I believe so much in this place, I wrote a collection of poems about
- [Terms and Conditions](https://maryloukayser.com/terms-and-conditions/) - Mary Lou Kayser Affiliate Program Terms of Service Agreement By signing up to be an Affiliate in the Mary Lou Kayser Affiliate Program ("Program") you are agreeing to be bound by the following terms and conditions ("Terms of Service"). Mary Lou Kayser reserves the right to update and change the Terms of Service from time
- [Elevate Spring 2021](https://maryloukayser.com/elevate-spring-2021/) - Your Best Leadership Work Is Still Ahead of You And this is where things get really interesting. This is the good stuff. The stuff you've dreamed about for yourself (but haven't done anything about -- yet). The stuff you've seen others enjoying. The stuff that's been waking you up at 3 in the morning for
- [Terms of Use](https://maryloukayser.com/terms-of-use/) - These Terms govern your access to, usage of all content, Product and Services available at https://maryloukayser.com website (the “Service”) operated by The Kingfisher Group, LLC (“us”, “we”, or “our”). Your access to our services are subject to your acceptance, without modification, of all of the terms and conditions contained herein and all other operating rules
- [Privacy Policy](https://maryloukayser.com/privacy-policy-2/) - Welcome to https://maryloukayser.com (the "Site"). We understand that privacy online is important to users of our Site, especially when conducting business. This statement governs our privacy policies with respect to those users of the Site ("Visitors") who visit without transacting business and Visitors who register to transact business on the Site and make use of
- [Disclaimer](https://maryloukayser.com/disclaimer/) - ” Success takes work, and our clients put in the effort to overcome obstacles when they face them. Your professional situation is different so your results will be different. Each person’s success also depends on his or her background, dedication, desire, motivation, and goals. The testimonials and examples used are not intended to represent or
- [PBS](https://maryloukayser.com/pbs-2/) - The Book that Added New Clients to My Business & $100K+ to My Bottom Line... And No...It Wasn't Hundreds of Pages Long (
- [pbs thank you](https://maryloukayser.com/pbs-thank-you/) - Awesome! Here's Your Free Download!You can also check your email for a link to the book and a few fun extras :-)Additional goodies :-)Hang out with me on: [thrive_global_fields id='10'][thrive_global_fields id='14']Get weekly inspiration about doing work that matters from my podcast..."Mary Lou brings terrific energy and excellent questions to these inspiring conversations with business owners and
- [Press Kit](https://maryloukayser.com/press-kit/) - Mary Lou Kayser is a business strategist, bestselling author, podcast host, book writing and self publishing coach, editor, and the Founder and CEO of The Kingfisher Group, LLC who is committed to guiding others on their journey toward business and creative success. A well-respected and popular business owner and coach, she guides emerging and seasoned
- [Manifesto](https://maryloukayser.com/manifesto/) - I believe the secret to success for every person lies within the imagination. The human ability to imagine puts us in a category of our own within the animal kingdom, and is arguably our greatest resource of inspired ideas and innovation. My mission is to provide opportunities through my work for people to leverage the
- [Videos](https://maryloukayser.com/videos/) - Introduction to Mary Lou Kayser This short "Explainer Video" focuses on one of my most popular services: helping you turn your ideas into a book. My most recent interview with Jeany Park of Compass Rose Video. Gives you a good overview of who I am and what I can do to help
- [Welcome Fire Nation!](https://maryloukayser.com/fire/) - Download the guide here! "7 Types of Stories Fire Nation Ought to Master" Download the eBook Now! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name
- [The Lonely Electron](https://maryloukayser.com/the-lonely-electron/) - Get Your Copy of "The Lonely Electron" Today! Simply Click the Image of "The Lonely Electron" Now... Book Description: Meet Jorge. Jorge is a young electron, and all he wants to do is make some friends. But because he is not part of a pair bond, he is left wandering around the outside of a

## Categories

- [Writing](https://maryloukayser.com/category/writing/)
- [Leadership](https://maryloukayser.com/category/leadership/)
- [Imported Entries (September '08 - June '09)](https://maryloukayser.com/category/imported-entries-september-08-june-09/)
- [Strategy](https://maryloukayser.com/category/strategy/)
- [Other](https://maryloukayser.com/category/other/)
- [Blog](https://maryloukayser.com/category/blog/)
- [Self-awareness](https://maryloukayser.com/category/leadership/self-awareness/)
- [Poetry](https://maryloukayser.com/category/writing/poetry/)
- [AI](https://maryloukayser.com/category/ai/)
- [Personal Growth](https://maryloukayser.com/category/personal-growth/)
- [Creativity](https://maryloukayser.com/category/creativity/)
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- [Uncategorized](https://maryloukayser.com/category/uncategorized/)
- [Foundations](https://maryloukayser.com/category/foundations/)

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