Month: November 2013

Ethics, New York City, travel, vacation, work, writer, writing

Beautiful: Integrity, Ethics, and Character are Non-Negotiables in Freelance Writing

Christa Avampato
What a beautiful world that would be
What a beautiful world that would be

I don’t ever write anything unless I believe it and support it 100%. That kind of standard has a price. I have a client that wanted me to write a post about crime in Central Park. This is a perfect topic for me because I live on the park and go at least once a day with Phin. I’m very passionate about the park and I like to share my passion for the place with readers. In the past couple of months, I’ve been alarmed by the crimes reported in New York City’s parks, Central Park included. In addition to analyzing crime stats of Central Park for the piece for this client, I also wanted to include a list of safety tips, particularly geared toward tourists who visit the park for the first time.

The client wants a rewrite. They want the piece to be softer and to position the park as a very safe place as opposed to being more data and safety-oriented. They also want it filled with links back to other parts of their site that have nothing to do with crime. I won’t do the re-write and here’s why:

1.) Crime and safety are not soft subjects and they are not topics that should be sugar-coated. Balanced certainly, but being soft on crime in content development is irresponsible. Readers need to armed with the facts: Central Park is far safer than it was 20 years ago and visitors still need to keep safety top-of-mind. They shouldn’t take safety in Central Park for granted because crime is down compared to 20 years ago.

2.) I’m protecting the site from a potential PR disaster. Let’s say that a tourist reads this “softer” article on crime and is lulled into a false sense of security during their visit. If something should happen to that visitor and they say, “I read on (name of site) that Central Park is so safe and look what happened to me” the site could be held responsible. That’s not a risk I’m willing to take with someone’s safety.

3.) Link loaded pieces, under the guise of content marketing, are no better than spam. A few links are helpful. 20 links in one article looks ridiculous. Whenever I see a piece loaded with links, I don’t even read it because I assume it is no better than a paid advertisement. I think this type of piece crosses an ethical line for the sake of marketing. I’ll leave that to other people who want to write those kinds of pieces. It’s not for me.

I did publish the piece, as is, on Allvoices.com. As freelancers, we cobble together our living from a number of different sources. Every dollar counts and sometimes it can feel like we’re backed into a corner, subject to extreme editing (many times by people who are not writers, nor editors) for the benefit of paying clients and at a detriment to our own standards. It’s tough to walk away from money. It’s even more difficult to walk away from money for work I’ve already done and won’t be paid for because I refuse to compromise my principles. However, I go to bed every night with a clear conscience knowing I’ve helped a lot of people and not harmed any. And that’s much more important.

business, product, product development, work

Beautiful: The Power of a One-Product Brand

Christa Avampato
Spanx
Spanx

Focus. Every time I think of entrepreneurs I admire, they all have this one quality in common.

My friend, Alex, has mentioned the story of Spanx founder Sara Blakely to me several times over the years. Sara created a women’s hoisery product that shook up an industry. At 42, she is the only female self-made billionaire in the world.

I’ve been inspired by Sarabeth Levine of Sarabeth‘s restaurant and specialty food company ever since seeing her a while back on a morning talking show. Sarabeth turned her family’s 200-year-old recipe for Orange-Apricot Marmalade that she made in her kitchen into a company that now has a jam factory, 9 restaurants, and an entire specialty food company.

Frownies are another amazing product created by a single female entrepreneur, Margaret Kroesen, who continuously turned difficult circumstances into business opportunities with her beauty products. She created her original wrinkle-reducing facial pads in 1889 for herself and her daughter to reduce fine lines and wrinkles without harsh skin treatments.

These entrepreneurs built companies based upon one single product that they perfected. These women created a simple product they loved and then pounded the pavement to get it into the hands of people who would benefit from it. What one, simple product can you build, perfect, and sell to begin crafting your story and your fortune?

change, dreams, Second Step

Beautiful: Small Steps

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

I’m all for big leaps. Big, daring gestures that signal a new beginning. I’m also a fan of small steps, those tiny changes we make in our day-to-day that add up over time through dedication and hard work. Tiny steps can be frustrating. We want so much to move forward quickly and efficiently. When we’re ready for change we want it right here, right now in a big way that we can feel and others can see. However, there is so much beauty, so much learning in those tiny steps. They are no less worthy and deserve every bit as much celebration as the big ones. They pave the way, too. So don’t wait and save yourself for the opportunity to take a big step. If you can take a small one today, then do it. It’s still progress. It still has value and meaning. It helps prepare us for the big step that eventually we will be able to make.

kindness

Beautiful: Kindness Makes a Comeback

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Have you noticed that the world is getting kinder? That it’s making criminals out of meanies? That people clamor to be a part of something good? Between the appreciation for veterans, massive outpouring of love for Batkid, and limelight shed on bullying in pro and college sports teams, this week alone is proving to be a triumph for niceness, appreciation, and courage in the face of difficult circumstances. For too long kindness has been underrated. We have awful sayings like “nice guys / gals finish last” and “sticks and stones…” I’m glad that we’re turning the tide, that nice is getting the press it deserves. Let’s create a world where nice people finish first every time and where name calling isn’t tolerated under any circumstances. That’s the world I’m excited to build. Are you in?

dreams, Second Step

Beautiful: Why Not You?

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

We focus too much on obstacles. We think about all the competition, how difficult it is to do the things we want to do. Here’s what I know: it’s all hard. Everything has its challenges. There isn’t a single dream out there that lacks its fair share of stumbling blocks. Challenges show us just how much we really want something. Do we give up at the first sign of difficulty or do we find another way around, over, and through anything that blocks our path? Challenges reveal our dedication. They test us. And in the end they save us time by giving us new skills, renewed strength, and the knowledge of whether or not this is a dream that’s worth chasing down. When you think about your dreams, stop asking yourself, “Why me? Why should I be able to do this?” and starting saying, “Why not me? Why shouldn’t I have every dream I’m willing to work for?” Pretty soon, it won’t be a question of if. Only a question of when.

adventure, dreams, Second Step

Beautiful: Stop Waiting and Build

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

You might think you need a class, or a degree, or more experience, time, or money. Maybe you do. Or maybe too many people have questioned your ideas and your dreams and that’s worn you out. Maybe the doubt demons rally every time you start to think it might be time to take a chance. If I had to place a bet, I’d say you’re abundantly ready to make your move. You have what you need, and most importantly, you have heart. And passion. And ambition. You can learn the rest as you go, and there will be a lot to learn but that’s part of the fun. And the adventure. You can’t continue to bury dreams. You can’t settle for being less than you know you can be. You have to rise up. Take a chance. Let go. And see where the path leads. Put one foot in front of the other. Take it step by step. Day by day. Before you know it, you’ll be running. Then flying. Then taking others along with you. You’ve got what it takes. Now go show the world. Go do. Be. Build.

technology, Twitter

Beautiful: I’m the Featured Guest Today on Rocksauce Studio’s Twitter Chat #appdevchat About the Power of Storytelling for Your Mobile App

Christa Avampato
Rocksauce Studios
Rocksauce Studios

I’m honored and excited to be the featured guest today on Rocksauce Studio‘s Twitter Chat #AppDevChat. We’ll talk about the power of storytelling in a mobile app. Including the way the information ladders, written content, art, and user experience, we’ll explore how all of these pieces hang together to create a property that users love. #appdevchat is a weekly program. I’ve participated in the last few since connecting with Rocksauce after Advertising Week and they’re a blast. I’ve learned so much and connected incredibly talented people through them.

The details
Time / Date:
1pm – 2pm Eastern on Thursday 11/14/13

How to participate / follow:
Typically, we meet here: http://www.tchat.io/rooms/appdevchat. You can also follow along on Twitter and participate in the discussion by typing #AppDevChat into the search box at the top of your Twitter homepage.

Structure:
There will be a series of 8 questions asked by Rocksauce Studios to guide the discussion. Just respond with an answer or comment to any of the questions that intrigue you. You’ll also be able to ask questions as well.

Catch up later:
If you aren’t able to join us live, don’t worry. All of the tweets from the chat will live on long after it’s over. You’ll be able to get to it through the #appdevchat hashtag and the fabulous Michael Manning at Rocksauce will post a recap. To see what a recap looks like, click here to check out the one from last week on wearable tech.

Why I’m doing this
I love technology, stories, culture, and business. I live at this intersection and I write about it all day, every day. This is a topic close to my heart and always at the top of my mind. In 2010, I worked on my first mobile app project at American Express and I’ve never looked back. The projects I did at American Express changed the way I view technology and my role in its development. I can’t wait to share with and learn from everyone at #appdevchat!

creativity, Second Step, work, writing

Beautiful: Creative Order in the Mess

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Do you feel like you’re making a mess by following your heart? That happens. Every day, I have to sift my way through a to-do list that’s always too long and never done, competing sets of priorities, different opportunities that fly across my eyes and get lodged in my mind. Last night I got to 8:00pm after working since 6:00am and I left like the spaghetti that was coiled around my dinner fork as I sat at my computer, still playing catch-up. I had to laugh at myself. Why did my desk seem to get more cluttered, not less, as the day went on?

I sat in the middle of my mess – on my desk and in my mind – and tried to see the beauty. It was there. It always is. Inspirations on scraps of papers in separate piles, contacts scribbled on my whiteboard, reference material tacked on my cork boards, an endless slate of tabs open in my internet browser.

I grabbed Phin’s leash and we took a spin around the chilly block in the dark. Winter’s settling in again and I’m looking forward to it. I always do. A time for hunkering down. The darkness outside always reminds me of the light within. It lets me be alone in my thoughts. It gives me time to play in my favorite place, my imagination. It also hides just enough of the messy work of creativity so that I can’t really be bothered by my ability to only see the very next step and not the whole staircase of my path.

In the dark, I plod on one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. Inch by inch. I build whatever it is I’m building brick by brick, without a set blueprint nor timeline. The thing with creative work is that you can set the stage but you can’t force the action. It comes in bits and pieces and you have to grab them as they arrive. I always find walking helps them rise to the top. We actively move them out of our minds and into being.

I got back home with Phin. He headed for his warm bed. I went back to my desk. The mess was still there – after all I am by choice flying solo with this work so no one else is going to do this for me – but now I could see the order appearing. On its own terms, though getting clearer all the time.

care, decision-making

Beautiful: We discover our nature via nurture

Christa Avampato
From the cover of Far from the Tree
From the cover of Far from the Tree

In the book Far from the Tree, author Andrew Solomon shares the idea of nature via nurture rather than the classic nature versus nurture. His argument is that the traits that are nurtured within us are the traits that rise to the surface of our lives. We are all born with inherent tendencies, good and bad. Whether or not certain traits are borne out in our lives is not nature or nurture. The two work together. Are we raised to bring the best parts of our character into being or are we raised to tap into the less desirable parts of our character?

We can’t do much to change our initial gut reactions. Nurture helps us to modulate our actions, and reduce the time between our instinctual reactions and purposeful actions. We are who we are. There is no changing that. Who we become is largely a matter of influence and choice so choose wisely and mindfully. Embrace the fact that what we nurture within us will be our legacy.

dreams, faith, time, youth

Beautiful: Today’s Reality Was Once Just a Dream

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

No matter where we are in life, there were internal and external battles we had to win to get here. If I’ve learned anything about people over the many years I’ve spent elevating people watching to a high art, it’s that everyone, everywhere, is fighting something every day. Always healing. Always overcoming.

I’m proud of the life I’ve built because of what I had to live through to get here. It’s so improbable on so many levels. If I were to go back and talk to a younger me, 5, 10 or 20 years ago and tell her what life would be like at 37, I’d never believe it. To make a living as a writer, to live where I live, to be blessed by amazing people in my life, to love and be loved so deeply and with such conviction, to have healed so much so I can offer the opportunity to heal to others, I wouldn’t believe it. 17-year-old me would never have been able to fathom it. I can barely believe now, in the midst of living it. It was a journey I never imagined.

When I think of all the dreams I have now, they seem improbable at best. They are so big, much bigger than me. And in those moments, my journey over the past 37 years is a great comfort. I close my eyes and I try to hear the wise voice of 57-year-old me, telling me that all the dreams I have at 37 are only the beginning of what’s in store for me over the next 20 years. I imagine her telling me about incredible things I will do that I have not even been able to fathom because right now they are actually impossible. Someday, and someday very soon, they won’t be because our world and our capabilities are changing, accelerating, so fast. The future is going to be amazing.

Then I open my eyes and take a full deep breath. I feel buoyed by confidence rather than weighed down by too-heavy dreams. I remember that today’s reality is so much more than any 17-year-old me in a tiny rural town ever thought possible. And that keeps me going. I may not be able to see around the bend, but it’s enough to know that someday I will.