Tag Archive for 'business cards'

Zak’s Third Annual Favorite Things List

Published on December 2, 2009 in Shopping. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Zak’s Favorite Things of 2009

Archipelago Botanicals Coconut Sugar Scrub

abcoconut-scrub

This coconut scrub has a fresh scent and enough grit for brisk exfoliation.  Chock full of natural oils, it’ll keep you moisturized and smelling shower fresh for hours.  Unlike many edibles-scented beauty items, this one is not super sweet, nor does it remind you of a candy or food product.

Moo.com minicards

mooEven though I love the design of my business cards provided by my employer, I don’t always want to advertise my job.  Sometimes I’m looking to make new friends or plug my blog.  Accordingly, I need calling cards of my own.  Moo.com makes custom calling cards simple.  Though I could buy full-size cards, I prefer the mini-cards since they’re easy to tuck into your bag or your back pocket.   With 100 cards per order, you can provide unique images for each of have duplicates created of one or more design.  They’re a great way to express yourself and your interests to the different circles your travel in.

Chocolate Salty Oat Cookies

saltyoat

Since moving to the DC Metro area, I’ve discovered Chocolate Salty Oat Cookies, which are available at the Teaism locations around town.  The creator found the perfect balance of salty and sweet in these oat cookies; I like to pretend they’re healthy since they are oatmeal cookies, but I’m pretty sure they don’t skimp on the butter.  If you don’t live in the area, you can order them directly from Kayak Cookies.  The creator now lives in Massachussetts, though she licenses the recipe to Teaism.

Turtle Mountain’s So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage

Coconut_Bev

You can’t have cookies without milk, but when you’re lactose intolerant, you need another option.  If you’re a fan of all things coconut like me, consider this tasty beverage alternative.   Chock full of healthy medium chain fatty acids (MCFA), I have a glass of So Delicious every morning with a splash of OJ stirred in.   In Original, Unsweetened and Vanilla, it’s great with cereal, oatmeal, and pancakes.   Most importantly, it helps keep you full throughout the morning.

Monkey Brains!!

monkey brains

Since we’re on the subject of breakfast food.  Can we talk Monkey Brains?  No, not those brains; I mean the best oatmeal out there.  Though I prefer strawberry, it also comes in bluberry and raspberry flavor.  No high fructose corn syrup in this product means no sugar guilt for you.

Michael Stars Tees

stars tee

A tee is not just a tee when it’s from Michael Stars.  Though the one size fits most fit isn’t ideal and the pricing is almost to my absurdity cut off, they’re a great investment given their fit and quality.  They’ve got just enough stretch to fit most, but enough elasticity to spring back to their original form. These tees look great dressed up or with jeans, and as someone who prefers solids to prints and other zany imprints, the color range provides something for everyone.  While not every style will fit every body, I’m eagerly awaiting the next sale on the styles I love to stock up on a few.

Ode Magazine

ode logo

Ode is an upbeat magazine focused on people working to change the world in big and small ways. In a world full of bad news at primetime, it’s great to get an issue of Ode or a read  their weekly e-newsletter to see what’s right with the world.   What else is there to say about it?

Creed’s Virgin Island Water

creedwater

I’ve never been much for perfume, but I have to admit Creed’s Virgin Island Water sends me to my happy place.   Though it typically retails for well over $200, ebay will score you a great deal.  Given the strength of this unisex scent, a little goes a long day.  It’s a scrumptious tropical beach smell.  Since I’m not a perfume expert, I share the breakdown of the notes from Creed‘s site.

  • Top Note: Essence of copra (the white inner portion of the coconut); lime of the Antilles; white bergamot and mandarin orange from Sicily.
  • Middle Note: Hibiscus, ginger, ylang-ylang and Indian jasmine.
  • Bottom Note: Sugar cane and white rum of the Antilles, musk from Tonkin

Traditionally, I think that fragrance would be way too busy, but it’s just right.  And with the wintertime doldrums setting in, it can’t hurt to keep a bottle near by.

And that wraps my 2009 list of Favorite Things.

Previous Lists: 2007, 2008

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Networking must: business cards

Published on July 1, 2008 in Business. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Whether or not your company shells out for business cards, it’s in your best interest to have a set and keep several on your person at all times. Anytime you leave your apartment (and when your roommate has guests) you have an opportunity to build your network.

There’s nothing worse than making a connection with some one, and neither party has readily available contact info.

Last year I ran into a friend at an event.  Having just started at a new job, she didn’t yet have business cards.  Her solution was to jot down her info over and over again in a mini-spiral bound notebook to distribute.  I wondered why she didn’t just type up her info in a word doc and cut and paste a dozen times per page over two columns.  Seemed like a simpler and less time consuming way to go.   And then there’s my friend who jots down her deets on a post it note. . .it’s not the best first impression you can make, and there’s no guarantee the other person will be able to read your handwriting.

Make it easy on your self and order your own cards.  Vista Print literally gives away boxes of business cards, offering 100 different designs.   If you want to be a little more creative, visit Moo.  While you can choose from a variety of designs on the site, for the same cost you can personalize their products. They offer adorable mini-cards, and you can upload the graphics of your choosing to grace the flipside of the card.  What’s really cool is that for every box of 100 cards (at $19.99 plus shipping), you can upload up to 100 images, so you can have each card be entirely unique, or you can stick with one signature image. I’m waiting for my latest order to arrive, using 10 different images.

They just introduced full-size business cards this month.  Though a bit more expensive at $21.99 for 50 cards, they offer the same customization options.  And until July 31st, you can take 20% of your full-size card order by using the discount code 2TJWUN when placing your order.

Having your own cards looks professional and leaves one less thing to think about when networking socially or for work.  Always keep a few in your pocket, preferably the left pocket,  so while you shake with your right hand, you can whip out your cards with your left.

As a random aside, I recently ordered a pack of their stickers (uploading about 80 different images) to decorate my new MacBook, which is just too white.  It looks like I’ll need to order one more book of them to full cover the white spaces, but I’ve definitely made my computer my own.

Past post on business cards: Golden Rule of Networking

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Golden Rule of networking

Published on September 23, 2007 in Business. 0 Comments Tags: , .

I’ve been on a merry-go-round of networking events since spring because the cardinal rule of job hunting is: it’s who you know not what you know. Have I ever learned that connections are everything! I can respond to one job ad after another I find on the web, and my application will fall into a blackhole reserved for stray mittens and socks. On the other hand, when my resume gets passed along via a connection, I typically get a response within days. Thus the need to commit to ongoing networking every chance I get.

It’s easy enough to collect business cards. Introductions are made, small talk is had, cards are swapped. But to keep the connection going past the follow-up e-mail….there’s the challenge. Rather than look at networking as a way to help yourself, see it as an opportunity to help other people. Every person I meet, I look for a window — who do I know that would be a connection for that person or is there a need that I can help fill. The contacts that I can help out in the short term, tend to the be the people I’ll keep in touch with over the longer term. It makes sense, I most want to be affiliated with people who help other people and aren’t stuck in the Marcia, Marcia, Marcia line of thinking. The golden rule: do for others what you want others to do for you, gets you a lot further than just a “great meeting you” follow up.

PS. If you’re looking to work out the nerve to do some serious networking with or without alcohol as a social lubricant, check out these two books: How to Work a Room, Revised Edition: Your Essential Guide to Savvy Socializing by Susan RoAne and Work the Pond! Use the Power of Positive Networking to Leap Forward in Work and Life by Darcy Rezac (enjoy the frog fables at the start of each chapter).

PPS. If your company isn’t coughing up the business cards or you’ve got a side gig, it’s time to buy your own cards. It’s unbelievable the number of people who don’t carry cards; every time you leave your house, you could cross paths with any number of people vital to your personal and professional development.

For under $25, Moo will print and ship you 100 mini-cards. Trust me (I just ordered a set), they’re conversation starters. You can opt to use their designs or can upload your own graphics. You can upload up to 100 images, 10 copies of 10 images, 20 copies of 5 images, 1 copy of 100 images on the back of each mini-card. Five rows of text on the front to make your pitch and spread the word.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more on your calling cards, FineStationery is a great option. Just about every person I meets comments on the cards I bought through the site. If I had a nickel for every person I sent to FineStationery….

For some serious business card inspiration, check out this flickr album of roughly 500 ingenious business cards designed to make a statement.