I tell wonder-filled stories about hope and healing
Author: Christa Avampato
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.
“The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends.” – Brad Bird writing as Anton Ego of Ratatouille
Uber and Airbnb are two companies that challenge traditional industries. They face uphill regulatory and consumer battles every day. Can they be trusted, relied upon? Every new idea, product, service, and place faces this challenge: doubt. I love the new because it indicates growth, creativity, and evolution. I’ve made a pledge to befriend the new – to be open to new ways of thinking, doing, and being, for myself and of others. Will you join me?
Have you ever thought of posting a project to Kickstarter? Inventor Ryan Grepper and his COOLEST Cooler have quite a few lessons for us about perseverance, timing, and content. Ryan’s first COOLEST campaign in December 2013 wasn’t successfully funded. His revamped campaign that launched this month was successful and funded at 13,676% of its goal! I studied Ryan’s two campaigns and this is what I learned that I will apply to my own Kickstarter projects. I hope these insights help you, too!
1.) Timing matters
Ryan’s first campaign for his cooler was timed to hit around Christmas time. Few people are thinking about coolers during the winter months. Timing his new campaign in July, prime time for summer products, worked much better. Also, holiday time is an expensive time of year for people with gift giving and this impacted his ability to raise the needed funds.
2.) Keep the total as low as possible
Ryan wanted to raise $125,000 the first time. His second campaign had a total of $50,000. Consider how much you really need to do a project, not how much you’d like to have.
3.) Get to the point
On Kickstarter, get to the “what” as soon as possible in the description. Explain the product clearly and succinctly with features prominently placed as soon as possible in the description. Put the detail further down in the write up.
4.) Have clear rewards
It’s common for Kickstater giving levels to have different rewards. Make sure those rewards are clear and listed early on in the general description.
5.) Have FAQs and answers
Think of likely FAQs that people may have about the campaign and answer them on your page.
6.) Be conscious of giving levels
Think carefully about the number of giving levels you have and the range of the options. Kickstarter’s community is filled with people who can give modest amounts of money so make sure to have plenty of opportunities for support at the low and mid-tier giving levels.
7.) Keep shipping simple
Many people, myself included, feel cheated when it comes to online shipping. The original COOLEST campaign had complicated language concerning international shipping. In the second campaign, that language is cleaned up and that seemed to have an impact on the number of international supporters.
8.) Don’t give up. Learn and revamp!
I love that Ryan didn’t give up on his idea nor on the Kickstarter campaign just because the first time wasn’t successful. He asked a lot of questions, reflected on his experience, learned, and tried again. After all, you can’t beat someone who doesn’t give up!
Congrats to Ryan and his COOLEST team! Have you run a successful Kickstarter? What advice do you have for readers?
“Your attention is precious. Don’t squander it. Don’t let anyone or anything steal it from you. Own your attention — it’s all you really have.” -Jonathan Harris
Your attention is your greatest asset because it harnesses your energy and time. Here are 5 ways I safeguard mine:
1.) Keep a book of ideas
My friend, Crystal, bought me a journal for my birthday with the words “brilliant ideas” on the cover. I use it to house my ideas about anything and everything, brilliant or not. This journal reminds me to tap in.
2.) 6 impossible things
Influenced by the famous quote from Alice in Wonderland, I just started writing down 6 impossible things before breakfast to get my creative juices flowing first thing in the morning. More on this in a future blog post!
3.) Meditate
It doesn’t have to be an elaborate, complicated practice. I sit up in bed when I wake up, close my eyes, and just focus on my breath for a few minutes. I remind myself that I am strong, healthy, and capable. I silently express my gratitude that I am alive and that I get to have another day to make a difference – my singular goal every day.
4.) Let go of “stuff”
I’ve never been a big “stuff” person. I don’t have fancy clothes, jewelry, or household items. After my apartment building fire almost 5 years ago, I became even less materialistic and I live without very many personal items at all. I recently had to downsize to take a short-term sublet as I figure out my next step in life. Giving away even more things to people who really needed them made me so happy. My life is richer with fewer physical possessions.
5.) Consciously look for beauty
On Monday, I went to the park with my nieces. My 4-year-old niece, Aubree, said, “Nan (her nickname for me), look!” She was staring out at the lake. “I don’t see anything,” I said. “What are you looking at?” “Look at the sunshine,” she said. “It’s so beautiful!” She is a wise little lady. The sunshine was beautiful. And I was missing it. Everywhere you go, look for beauty. It’s there and it inspires.
Time hasn’t passed you by. Your time is right now, today. Grab hold of it and mold it exactly the way you want it to be. Life unfolds exactly the way that it’s supposed to unfold and the timing of it isn’t your responsibility. Give your best, do your best, and live your best in this and every moment. Do that, and the timing will take care of itself.
“What should I do now?” It’s a daunting question. There are so many options; so many different paths I want to explore. I’m struggling to balance my curiosity and focus. This idea has helped: just add good things one at a time. And while you’re at it remove bad things one at a time. Suddenly, life just got a lot more fun and a lot less scary. What good thing will you add to your life today?
I encourage authenticity in all people, and their right to make every choice that is right for them. It took me a long time to be proud of who I am at my core. I:
Love children and love love though I know the traditional family set up isn’t for me;
Grew up without enough and learned that I am enough;
Believe equally in the ancient wisdom of yoga and modern technology;
Am a New Yorker who lives in peace;
Am petite in stature and bold in personality;
Believe I have to be prepared to be lucky;
Have a plan and can let it go;
Am tough and fair, kind with a fierce sense of justice.
Who are you, contradictions and all? I’d love to hear from you!
At some point we’ve all said to ourselves, “Take what you can get. Something is better than nothing.” Take the volume on that train of thought and turn it down to zero. Better yet, kick it to the curb and let it stay there, as far away from you as possible. Your time, mind, heart, and talent have an infinite amount of value. Don’t let anyone or anything make you think differently.
“Stay away from those boxes,” said Alec Horinman, my leadership professor from my MBA program at Darden. It was a phrase he often repeated in class and one he recently sent to me when I wrote him to let him know how much his teaching influenced my career and life everyday. The boxes Alec refers to are: the boxes we put ourselves into, the boxes others put us into, and the boxes we put around others.
Boxes are tempting. They give us order, comfort, and predictability. With boxes, we can stop thinking because we’ve already passed judgement. But they’re dangerous. They close us off to possibility, change, and growth. I’d rather take comfort in possibility, change, and growth. They are the things we can really count on.
Put away the boxes. Better yet, burn them. You don’t need them, nor do you need anyone who’s intent on using them.
Here’s my game plan for life: I’m always prepared for the new. New people, places, experiences, ideas, points-of-view, opportunities. My life doesn’t go according to plan; it goes according to heart.
