Just wanted to give a quick update. I haven’t posted here in a L-O-N-G time and I hope to change that as one of my New Year’s resolutions…we’ll see.

For now, let me say that I’m lucky to have been approached by my friend Dave to join forces and write on a new site.

With the coming year, I think I’ll be changing the topics on DC a bit and keep writing about design and business on the new one.

Please go check it out and post your thoughts!

Thanks!!

You want to know a great way to help your local economy? Yep, that’s right, get out there and Help Your Local Economy!!

Make an effort to buy goods and services from your independent retailers and service providers!

The 3/50 Challenge proposes that you spend a total of at least $50 a month at three different locally owned businesses that you want to keep around.

If you have a local grocer, make an effort to buy some of your groceries from them. If you have a favorite local restaurant, make an effort to visit them on a regular basis.

Every little bit helps!

Have you ever been sick before? Ever been really sick while running your own business? 

If you are your staff, how do you make it work? 

Have you ever had one of those days where you just can’t get out of bed, or at least, can’t get any work done because you’re sick?

What do you do? Do you ask for an extension on that looming deadline? Do you tell your clients? Or, do you just tough it out?

I just had a round of the stomach flu fly through the family, including myself. And, I was wondering what’s the best thing to do.

So, please share your thoughts? (This question applies to everyone.)

So, I just overheard a definition on Word Girl that I found really intriguing.

Well, it wasn’t as much of how they defined “Jiberish”, but how they used it in their example.

A person was asked to describe their business in five words. That’s all…five.

Can you do that?

Hey, wouldn’t it be great if you could know what people are saying about you? Good or bad??

Well, you can and it’s really easy to setup.

Google can send you an “alert” on what it’s hearing about whatever topic you like…even you!

I use it to listen for my name and my company’s name. Then, once a day, I get an e-mail with whatever it finds.

Check it out for yourself!

http://www.google.com/alerts

Have you ever been out to dinner, had a great meal, walked out and grabbed your cell phone just to stare at it? Asking yourself, “Who should I phone first?” I mean really be taken back, all deer-in-the-headlights, because you wanted all your friends and family to know about this awesome restaurant, that’s priced great… 

That’s what social media is all about.  Let me change things up a bit with that scenario.

What if you left the place, grabbed the blackberry, logged onto facebook, updated your status giving a quick blurb. Jumped over to brightkite, checking in at this fine place, then jumped over to twitter to do some more of the same and ending your musing in front of your computer, giving a nice detailed update on your blog.

Sounds crazy? Maybe. Will there be more and more tools to share your thoughts and life with everyone, I’ll bet on it.

So, a decision has to be made. Do you start getting your feet wet now, or miss out on that great meal??

I’ll start to share my thoughts about what I use.

But, please share yours, too!

Lifehacker has a great post on saving money. I’m a big fan of number 7.

Top 10 Ways to Save Money in a Recession

Looks like Walgreens is reaching out to offer some help with health insurance costs on small business. 

Check out the Crain’s Chicago business article.

“Walgreen offers health program for businesses”

http://www.openforum.com/finance/video_electionsmallbusiness.html