I attended a presentation at SXSW that showcased one of Amazon.com’s first homepages. Look how far they’ve come!
I admire Amazon.com for so many reasons, one of which is that they will try to delight customers at every turn. And if they don’t get it quite right, they’ll just try again. The point is they try with what they’ve got, listen, and give it another go. They experiment, tinker, and explore. We should follow their example.
As I’ve continued to speak with new start-ups, I’m reminded of one simple-to-say and sometimes difficult-to-execute idea: get work out into the world. Now. Don’t wait for perfect. Perfect’s not coming, but opportunity is. Welcome the guest at the door and the lessons they bring.
Show the world what you’ve got – it’s the only way to know if it’s worth having.
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
4 thoughts on “Leap: Pull an Amazon and Get Your Work Out Into the World”
I actually wrote down when I found amazon.com in my day planner at the job I had back then, I still remember it (kept that planner page for a long time!). I was sooooo excited. (BOOKS!) I really wish they’d bring back the Eyes feature so you could sign up to know when your favorite authors had new books out. They’ve made other changes or added things that I (and others no doubt) requested. And they do continue to delight, and give me things I hadn’t realized I wanted!
I actually wrote down when I found amazon.com in my day planner at the job I had back then, I still remember it (kept that planner page for a long time!). I was sooooo excited. (BOOKS!) I really wish they’d bring back the Eyes feature so you could sign up to know when your favorite authors had new books out. They’ve made other changes or added things that I (and others no doubt) requested. And they do continue to delight, and give me things I hadn’t realized I wanted!
LikeLike
That is so cool – this is why we’re friends 🙂
LikeLike
Just what I needed, Christa. Sometimes the reach for good enough, gets in the way of putting myself out there.
LikeLike
Get yourself out there, Adela. Don’t let anything hold you back!
LikeLike