So What Do Mean "Hand Made?"

Believe it or not kids there are still artists out there that don't use the computer to get everything done.

Enjoy!

Putting A Contract Out On Yourself

If you're unemployed and searching diligently hopefully you will entertain an offer (ideally two). With that said it is important to remember a few keys points before accepting that next step in your career. Remember that each person's needs and career desires are different. For some health insurance is important, others it might be culture but regardless be sure to have everyone on the same page before 'day one.'

• First and foremost, get the offer in writing from the perspective employer (email is fine, but make sure there's a hard copy being sent behind it).
• Get a full job description. Don't put yourself in a situation where people assumed your role meant more, or less than it does. Within this description be sure that success criteria is listed, this is very important if part of your role is developing new business.
• Get a defined list of health care (include dental and eye coverage) and life insurance programs.
• 401k? Do they match, and to what percentage?
• Is there a travel percentage expectation in a standard month?
• Do they have profit sharing?
• Outline any specific computer type (operating system), office materials or additional allocations that will be needed prior to acceptance.
• Miscellaneous: Cell phone reimbursement (include apps', if your position should have an understanding of mobile trends), company credit card and defined departmental budget. Is there parking or tolls outside the standard day that could accrue against you?
• Continuing education: Will money be put aside for additional education, seminars or conventions for your position?
• Relocation: Will they pay for the move? Will they provide packing services? Will they find you a home or will that be your responsibility? If they will not find you a home, do they have corporate housing or apartments? And IF your previous home does not selling within "X" number of months will they purchase it at market value?
• Additional protection: Ask that if you are laid off for any reason that there is a built-in severance allocation of three months or more. This is especially important if you moved to take the job.

Needless to say you won't win them all. Remember, it's important to understand that you need to make sure that you get everything buttoned up prior to starting the job. Chances are extremely slim that you'll get anything after signing the employment agreement. A good employer wants to keep you happy as much as you want to do a great job for them. So get it all in writing and start a job on the right foot.

The Joy In Random Banners...

And the fall of all mankind from time-to-time. Just remember if your banners are "in rotation" you never quite know what you're getting paired with!

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly...

A beautifully touching film by one of my closest friends...

Happily Whoring Your Tweets

I've know Ted Murphy for a great deal of time and have always had respect for his successes. He's an entrepreneur in the interactive and social space and we've been friendly over the years. Ted's most recent brainchild should come as no surprise to you knowing his past successes:

• MindComet
• Social Spark
• Pay Per Post
• Izea

He's spearheaded the utilization of social media tools for use in advertising. While so many people seem to loath some of these practices, I have to side with the simple fact that they will work within a given lifespan. Mr. Murphy's always done a phenomenal job at keep pace with the technological market and exploiting it on its bell curve.

New to his bag of tricks is this:

Sponsored Tweets : Twitter Advertising

View more documents from Ted Murphy.

The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly In Florida

Florida is known for a great many things, the beaches, world-class theme parks, and its weather…Its ever changing, godforsaken weather. What you may not know about Florida is not only are we a wonderful melting pot of cultures and influences, we have some of the worlds most insane weather patterns. What does this mean? LET THE NEWS WEATHER CHANNELS NAMING BATTLE BEGIN!

We have the most intense Doppler, high-definition, interactive, extended forecasted, radar centric, three dimensional, storm tracking, lighting counting, hurricane prognosticating, red-alert creating, surf-level testing, web cammin’, heat indexing, pollen counting, dew point measuring, humidity sucking, current conditions including space aged technology in the world, ported directly into your soon to be demolished by a tornado “modular home”.

So we’re off to the race for your attention with:

• Doppler 9000
• Intellicast
• Accuweather
• “Weather On The One’s”
• Digital Doppler X3
• The Weather Authority
• The Weather Center
• Just Weather
• Weather For You

And those are just the Central Florida naming cesspool! That being said, I think we as creative’s owe the people of this great nation some names with a bit more ass to it. Ergo, I humbly submit the following naming options:

• The Weather Doopler – “Weather should be a mystery”
• MANGLASAURICAL 12,000 Laysar!
• Stormical Weather Wizards
• RAINDAR v3.0
• Stormbattical Conquistadar
• Troppler Defensive Grid System (TDGS)
• Skynet – Weather Terminator
• Gridmaishion Weather Matrix

Thoughts?