Category: business

business, dogs

Beautiful: My Experience with The Spot Experience – The Best Place for Dogs in NYC

Christa Avampato

A few weeks ago I went looking for a new place to board my sweet dog, Phineas. I’ve been boarding him at a place in New York City that is expensive and mediocre when I have to go out-of-town and can’t take him with me. I don’t mind the expense, but for what I pay I want stellar service for both of us.

Enter the advice of Abigail Michaels (an apartment concierge service retained by my apartment building management company at no cost to tenants) and several of my friends who are also dog parents. They all told me to check out The Spot Experience. I called the location on the Upper West Side at 72nd Street, spoke with the incredibly friendly staff, and made an appointment for Phineas to take his temperament test the next day.

From the moment we entered The Spot Experience, I knew we found the right place. It was serene, incredibly clean and tidy, and the staff was expecting us. Lucas, the manager on duty, took us back to explore the backyard, complete with plenty of grass and a pool. I was amazed at the space that they have. It was empty as the dogs were inside resting after their afternoon of play.

“Where are they?” I asked.

“You can see them through that window right in front of you. There are about 50 dogs back there right now,” he said.

“How come I can’t hear them?” I asked.

“Because we have a ‘no bark’ philosophy.”

I looked at Lucas, completely confused.

“We believe that while your dogs are with us, we should create a calm and inviting environment for all of them,” he said.

Sure enough I took a look through the window and all of the dogs were relaxed, lounging around on cots, and enjoying their downtime. The Spot Experience has a strict cage-free policy, 24-hour professional care, a complete set of grooming, daycare, and boarding services, and a webcam so pet parents can log in from anywhere in the world and see how their dogs are doing.

Being a true dog’s dog, Phineas passed his temperament test with flying colors and began his plot to figure out how to move into The Spot Experience for good. (I must admit that I was trying to figure out how I could move in, too!) The next day, I had Phineas stay over night at Spot while I went to DC to visit friends. He waltzed in (the staff immediately greeted him by name), got his treat, and never looked back. I had a wonderful weekend with my friends and knew that Phineas was in the hands of expert caregivers. All for the same price that I paid for mediocre service at the other pet services company.

If you’re looking for a place to keep your best furry friend safe and cared for while you’re away, I encourage you to run to The Spot Experience. Phineas and I are glad we did.

business, creativity, entrepreneurship, writer, writing

Beautiful: Restarting My Examiner Column on Entrepreneurship

Christa Avampato

Examiner-LogoIn early 2009, I started writing a business column for Examiner.com. Over the course of 15 months, I published 130 articles, many of them interviews with entrepreneurs. Invigorated and inspired by President Obama’s election, I wanted to lend a hand to entrepreneurs who courageously moved forward during the darkest days of the economic recession. I knew I could do that through my writing. I also wanted to find the courage to start my own business so I thought interviewing brave entrepreneurs would help me, too. A number of them became friends of mine; all of them provided me with the inspiration and confidence I needed to strike out on my own. Quite a few of them – OXO, Airbnb, Behance, Squarespace, and Divvyshot among them – have gone on to experience phenomenal success. I wrote first e-book based on 27 of these stories. You can download that book for free here.

I stopped publishing on Examiner in mid-2010. Since then, I’ve been involved with a lot of different ventures and Examiner.com has grown substantially. Now I’m returning to it to honor and serve entrepreneurs again. Even though I stopped publishing, Examiner never removed my column. You can still see all of the pieces I wrote from 2009 – 2010 and starting today you will be able to read all my new features going forward. Today’s piece is my SXSW V2V wrap-up. I’ll publish the links to all my future stories on this blog, my Facebook page, and my Twitter feed. You can also subscribe to my column by clicking here.

books, business, career, work

Beautiful: My New Book – Your Second Step: What to Do After Your Leap

Christa Avampato

I’m writing a new book called Your Second Step. And here’s why: the hardest step of any journey is the second one. The first step is filled with excitement for something new. You’ve pumped yourself up, done your research, and put in all the time to figure out where you’re going, what you’re doing, and why. Everyone lines up to cheer you on – “quit your job”, “start your own company”, “move to a new city”, “go out with that special someone who caught your eye”, “get on that plane ride halfway around the world”. Go go go! You can do it!

Everyone loves a new beginning, but a slightly older beginning is something else entirely.

Step 2
That second step can be brutal. It means you are committing to continue to the third step and beyond. Some of the excitement and adrenalin of that first step has worn off. You put so much energy and effort into that first enormous step that you’re exhausted. The parades that promised to stick around for your marathon of change all went home just after the starting gun went off. They went back to their own busy lives, and they took their signs of encouragement, cow bells, and orange slices with them.

Maybe you’re already facing some adversity, failure, or disappointment early on. You created a beautiful plan, and its not unfolding the way you want it to. You closed the door on your old life, and the Universe is not holding up its end of the bargain by opening up that proverbial window. And it promised it would!

Guess who else is here? Our old friends – Fear, Regret, and Pride. And though you successfully turned down the volume on that little nagging voice at the back of your mind, it somehow wrestled a megaphone out of the hands of your faithful companion, Courage, and is now making up for lost time with a very loud proclamation: “You can’t do this! There’s still time. You can go back to where it’s safe and predictable if you turn around right now. Last chance. Be reasonable!”

And I want you to take the second step? Really? Yes. Yes, I do.  

My new book
This summer I wrote my first full-length play (I’m heavily editing it before sending it off to festivals) and now this book, my next big writing project, is based on a conversation that an old friend of mine and I are having about how to remain true to our life’s mission. How do we tirelessly keep living an authentic life, especially when the going gets tough?

When I responded to my friend’s first email, I realized that my response was actually the outline for my new book, The Second Step. I know a thing or two about what it takes to move beyond the first step of a journey. I know all about procrastination disguised in research and wrapped up in drawn out strategic planning sessions. I learned a lot by falling flat on my face, over and over and over again, literally and figuratively. I understand the excuses that we dress up as reasons. And good heavens, do I know all about that nagging little voice of self-doubt, energy vampires, profound disappointment, 3am nightmares, serious financial worries, sacrifice, and fear so intense that it causes hives. I. Get. It. It’s a bitch. But it’s no match for my grit, stamina, and determination. And it’s no match for yours either.

Your Second Step will help you discover your own strength for the journey through a wide variety of methods – from yoga and guided meditation (you knew that was going to be in there, right?) to business know-how to inspiring stories and resources that I use all the time to healthy food recipes that will keep you fueled for success. I’ll be there with you throughout the journey – way beyond the second step.

Most of all, this is going to be fun. This is not some boring exercise manual or stale business book. I’m going to share my own story like never before. It’s about time that I get these stories out into the world so that they can help you. Stay tuned for more updates in the weeks and months ahead by going to Your Second Step website.

business, career, time, work

Beautiful: Take the Time to Lean In

Christa Avampato

I lean in every single day and I’m happy about it. It all boils down to this: What am I most committed to? Where do I find joy? My answer: at the intersection of ancient wisdom (my yoga) and modern technology (my work). I love to make, write, and teach. And I really love to help other people live the lives they want. I lean in by spending the vast majority of my time doing those things and so far, so great.

I made my choices about my career and my life, and I’m thrilled with them. Sure I have tough days, but they’re all purposeful and that purpose keeps me going, especially when there are (very large) bumps in the road. I don’t tell myself, or anyone else, that I can be everywhere and do everything. I can’t do it all, and why on Earth would I ever want to? I want to spend as much time as I can doing things I love with people I love in a place that I love. For me, that’s the best way to live.

So am I leaning in? You better believe it. I’m leaning in to a life that’s everything I want it to be. And that is enough.

action, business, creativity, decision-making, entrepreneurship, product, product development, profession

Beautiful: My Company Pivots – a New Direction for Chasing Down the Muse

Christa Avampato
My new business card

As I head to Vegas this morning to be part of the mentor program at SXSW V2V, I’m excited to announce that my company, Chasing Down the Muse, is making a shift to place more emphasis on making products. I used my summer in LA to figure out my next career steps. I moved away from everything and almost everyone I know to figure out what mattered most to me.

Here’s what I learned: While I’ve enjoyed the strategy, communications, and marketing consulting projects I’ve done this year, I miss spending the majority of my time ideating, making, launching, and iterating products. Time to change that! Don’t get me wrong – the strategy, marketing, and communications is vital to having successful products and I plan to continue that work; now I want to bring the actual making of products back into my daily work life. Want to work together on product-based projects? Drop me a line!

This summer I’ve spent every day involved in the process of making and it’s been a complete delight. I have always believed that the surest way to a fulfilling life is to follow the joy wherever it leads. So I’m taking my own advice. I’m going for it – let’s roll!

Check out the Chasing Down the Muse website to see what I’m creating and to get a few freebies that will help you find your direction, too.

Up tomorrow: Why I lean in every day

art, business, creative, creative process, creativity, music, technology, time, writer, writing

Beautiful: What We Can Learn About Time from Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines, Black Sabbath, and Angry Birds

Christa Avampato

robin_thicke_blurred_lines_album_cover_ARIA_120613_640x360Singer Robin Thicke has something to celebrate. After 10 years in the business, the 36-year old has his first #1 album with Blurred Lines. His first album never got out of the triple digits. Think Thicke has grit to stick with it for all these years? The band Black Sabbath recorded music for 46 years before their album, 13, hit #1 in June. The crackerjack team over at Rovio Entertainment created the wildly popular app, Angry Birds, after creating 51 other apps.

Age has nothing to do with it
Hollywood, Broadway, Silicon Valley, and American Idol have created a culture obsessed with youth. The wild rise of Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and other tech moguls in their 20s has caused a dangerous and unfortunate fixation on youth among the venture and investor community. Many VCs and investors refuse to even hear the startup pitches of any founders older than 30. We bemoan getting older and so we nip, tuck, pluck, lie about our age, and workout to the point of breaking our bodies, never happy with how we look or where we are along life’s path. Robin Thicke is 36. Ozzy Osbourne is 64. Peter Vesterbacka, one of the Angry Birds creators, is 44. If you think you have to be at the top of your field before you see your first wrinkle or gray hair, think again.

Success takes time and talent
When we aren’t as successful as we’d like to be at something right off the bat, we often throw in the towel. Too often and too soon, we sulk back to our homes, hide under our beds, and hope for brighter days ahead. Sometimes we resign ourselves to the idea that time has passed us by. Don’t do that. Figure out what worked, what didn’t work, and try again with this knowledge in-hand.

If your work isn’t its own reward, then find other work
Success is a personal and daily process. Even if I never receive any kind of critical acclaim as a writer, I’ll never think of the time I spend writing as a waste and I’ll never stop writing. The act of writing, putting my story out there and knowing that it helps others, is all the reward I ever need from it. Certainly critical success on a large scale would be lovely, but I don’t sit down every day and write with that as a goal. I’m trying to tell a story as honestly and as clearly as possible. If you’re working only for external rewards, you are wasting your time and setting yourself up for enormous disappointment.

If you found work you love, stick with it. If you get up every day, excited to create something, then keep creating. If your work fills your heart as it grows your portfolio, then you’re on the right track.

business, determination, opportunity, passion, product, product development, time

Beautiful: A Lesson in Persistence from Life is Good

Christa Avampato

good-yoga-studio-baulkham-hills-meditation-relax-stressMy friend, Moya, sent me this video yesterday. It is a 3-minute video interview with the Founders of Life is Good. Here’s what I love about it:

1.) They are honest about the fact they have made every single business mistake in the book.

2.) By all accounts, they failed for 5 and a half years before they hit upon their “Life is Good” slogan with their mascot, Jake. And here’s the best part – it wasn’t even their idea to put that slogan and character on a t-shirt. They had a ton of t-shirt designs taped to the wall of their apartment and they invited a bunch of friends over to get their feedback on the designs. Their friends are the ones who pushed them to put the slogan and Jake on a shirt and sell it. It was an immediate hit.

3.) They have a very clear, simple, and elegant business proposition: spread optimism. They don’t care what products they make; they care about the message that’s infused into each one of those products. Life isn’t great, and it’s sure as hell not easy, but it is good. And that’s why they want people to know.

Click here to view the video.

business, entrepreneurship, mentor, SXSW

Beautiful: Grab One of My Remaining Mentor Slots at SXSW V2V

Christa Avampato

It’s almost here!

The inaugural SXSW V2V conference in Vegas runs from August 12th – 14th. I’m giving 6 mentor sessions to new and would-be entrepreneurs on August 13th. Half of them are already gone. If you know someone going who might want to spend some time with me in one of my remaining sessions, send ’em on over to this link to sign up: http://mentor.sxswv2v.com/mentors/53.

Thanks y’all!

business, entrepreneurship, SXSW, technology

Beautiful: I’ll Be a Mentor at the Inaugural SXSW V2V Conference in Las Vegas This Summer

Christa Avampato

I’m excited to announce that I’ve accepted the invitation to be a mentor this summer at SXSW V2V in Las Vegas from August 11th – 14th. (For the official announcement of mentors, click here.) I love mentoring and am honored to play a part in shaping this important event and program.

What is SXSW V2V?
“SXSW V2V is the newest addition to the SXSW family of events, joining SXSW Music, SXSW Interactive, SXSW Film, SXSWedu and SXSW Eco. SXSW V2V is an extension and re-imagining of the legendary SXSW experience with an emphasis on the creative spark that drives entrepreneurial innovation. This four-day event brings the startup and venture capital communities together with the creative industries that have helped to make SXSW so special. V2V serves innovators and entrepreneurs from across all the industries at the core of the SXSW Family of events – technology, music, film, fashion, health, education, sustainability, and more – as they learn the skills, make the connections, and find the inspiration to take their ideas and talents to the next level. You can learn more by reading the FAQ.”

How does the mentor program work?
The goal is to give mentees a chance to ask career-related advice from a well-established professional. Mentees will be able to sign-up for mentor sessions prior to V2V.

How does the mentor program fit into V2V?
The mentor program will be the cornerstone of V2V. The goal is for experienced professions to personalized one-on-one counseling to less experienced professionals. Mentors will be will be available to counsel you on your ideas, projects, portfolios, pitches, startups, and aspirations.

Registration for V2V is now open. I’ll have more details on the mentor program as we get closer to the event. Stay tuned!

business, kindness, success, work

Beautiful: The Only 7 Words You Need to Be Successful

Christa Avampato

There is no better business plan, no better company culture, and no better personal mantra than this. Live it, share it, and inspire it in others.

2Jessica