White space can be used in the design of our lives as well, not just the design of magazines and websites and ads. By using white space in our lives, we create space, balance, emphasis on what’s important, and a feeling of peace that we cannot achieve with a more cramped life.

Life’s missing white space by Leo Babauta

If you read this post (and comments), you’ll see why I’m taking credit for what the USA will be wearing on Sunday at the Ryder Cup. It’s worth noting that I’ve known a bit about the uniforms for a while now…

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I communicate and how (in)effective I am. I interrupt, don’t always think before I speak and often appear not to be listening. This article on social etiquette really got me thinking about how etiquette in communication is often ignored and how we need to focus on our manners when we’re interacting with others.

These thoughts illustrate how important it is to be aware of what we are saying with the advice to even think about what we will say before blurting it out. What this process will effect is putting the importance of other people ahead of our own. Having respect for ourselves in our social interactions and exhibiting good manners ourselves is very important, but making sure that those around us are not embarrassed, belittled or made to feel inadequate or inferior in any way is the most important.

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s very likely I begin to refer to this blog as my commonplace book. Great term that captures what this thing is.

Commonplace books were a way to compile knowledge, usually by writing information into books.

Too often I think an approach to defining strategy is all-inclusive. Usually it takes a definition of strategy and then people/systems to follow. As I was reading this article on Jurgen Klinsmann and his brief flirtation with the US Soccer team, I was struck by his thoughts on defining the US Soccer brand of play.

You just have to go ahead and define it and say: ‘This is what we are going to build. Do you buy into it?’ You won’t get everybody being on board. You will lose probably 20 or 30 percent on the way. And then you have to tell players or even staff people: ‘You have to move on. I have to get other people on board who believe in this system, who believe in this style of play.’

I believe this mentality to branding/strategy is one of the smarter approaches, but is used less frequently as there’s a large (and, many times, wasteful) effort to “gather consensus.”

This is an amazing idea: CAPTCHA advertising. Basically, it’s replacing those annoying and hard-to-read words you have to type when registering for a user name with advertisements and slogan’s (i.e., ads).

“Ads are just getting bigger and louder as attention online is getting so scarce,” said Solve Media CEO and founder, Ari Jacoby. “So we’re fishing where the fish are,” he said, referring to this untapped space where users are forced to spend time. (via Kottke)

This is the mostexerent advice on blogging and social media.

Enjoy the world of blogging & social media – be honest & represent who you are, don’t be like the many bloggers that project another persona. Treat it as if it is your own diary cum scrap book.

Why I love blue shirts.

I find nearly two thirds of my shirts to be in the blue family. Why? Because a blue shirt is always right. Oxford, pinpoint, gingham or stripes…the variations are endless but the truth is sound. ?

Bring your own resealable bottles, Poland Spring containers, jerrycans, whatever. Or you can get one at the store. Select your grade (red, white, or rosé). Pump. Print receipt. ?

This is only THE. BEST. THING. EVER. It’s like a gas pump, but with wine. Fill ‘er up.