Ten Rules for Web Startups

Ok, granted this list has been everywhere over the past few days, but it really is that good.

Even for those of us who already have a biz (and therefore might be a bit late in the game to a list like this), there is still valuable information here. #4 rang very true for me:

"#4: Be Picky
Another perennial business rule, and it applies to everything you do: features, employees, investors, partners, press opportunities. Startups are often too eager to accept people or ideas into their world. You can almost always afford to wait if something doesn't feel just right, and false negatives are usually better than false positives. One of Google's biggest strengths—and sources of frustration for outsiders—was their willingness to say no to opportunities, easy money, potential employees, and deals."

This is a great reminder that the world will not hinge upon whether or not we're in a particular magazine at a particular moment, or that if Neiman Marcus comes a 'knockin, we don't have to immediately say "SIGN ME UP!" (ok, someone might seriously need to remind me of this if Neimans does come a 'knockin).

The Thanksgiving Grateful Hacks: Paperbride style

Taking a cue from Gawker and their fab roundup of what all sorts of media peeps are thankful for, here is my list (in no particular order):

*that I have finally (and wholeheartedly) kicked my six can a day diet coke addiction (Hollah for Perrier!)
*cheesy (yet delicious) TV shows such as "My Fair Brady," "America's Next Top Model," "Making the Band 3" and "Miss Seventeen"
*the fact that I can enjoy above shows because of the magic of: tivo, tivo & tivo (try explaining to your friend that you can't go out tonight because you have to stay home and catch "Miss Seventeen"--it ain't pretty).
*movie theater popcorn
*greg-n-oliver
*stem cell transplants
*Jet Blue
*beautiful, creamy, colorful paper
*our heart stopping Statue of Liberty/bridge/pretty water view
*Dansko clogs
*Clorox wipes
*my loud, hungry (oftentimes bizarre) family
*the transfirmer
*friends that could testify that I'm the worst caller/stay-in-toucher out there, but don't dump me anyway
*the internet
*bread from Balthazaar
*the Container Store
*scented Henri Bendel candles
*the fact that I finally decided to take the leap and start my own business (and that the universe has pretty much just aligned with me since)
*Justin Timberlake
*our doorman Frank
*french fries
*Canal Street Louis Vuitton knockoffs
*feather beds
*all my blog readers
*my reputation as a great gift giver
*the Union Square farmer's market
*central AC AND heat

Happy Thanksgiving :)

Googlelicious

I can't think of a day that's gone by in recent memory when I have not used Google-- and when I say "use" I mean probably 5 to 10 times a day average. They've got it all: searches, maps, phone numbers, photos, videos, dictionary definitions, etc. I use "etc" because google now offers so much, I can barely keep track of it.

Thankfully, I'm not alone. The folks at TipMonkies.com put together a fantastic reference for us all: The Ultimate Guide to Google Services.

My fave new google service (which, shockingly, did not make the list) is their Pedometer service which allows you track the mileage of your runs/jogs, or in my case, brisk walks.

To keep up with google's new services in the future, check back with Google Labs.

10 most practical blogs for entrepreneurs

I must confess I have a love/hate relationship with About.com.

On various internet searches on all sorts of topics I've come across both mountains of crap and sometimes delicate pearls of wisdom. Thankfully, these days the pearls of widsom seem to outweigh the crap, and I really dug this article on the Top 10 Most Practical Blogs for Entrepreneurs.

There are some great blogs included such as WorkHappy.net and HomeOfficeVoice.com.

Here's my problem: there are so many amazing, fantastic, info-filled blogs out there now, I have no time to actually do work. I guess I need to sked an hour each morning for blog reading? That should fit in nicely around 4am between waxing the floor and doing an exercise DVD.

How to boost your blog traffic

Here is a fab article from PaulStamatiou.com on boosting traffic to your blog.

I actually went to Technorati right away to claim my blog(s) and am trying to work some of the other suggestions as we speak. This is especially timely for me since I've been a major blogging slacker lately and could use all the help I can get.

I don't mean to be a slacker...really I don't.

Savin' it for a rainy day?

Apparently, those of us in the world of the self-employed are not saving our dough very well. We can barely agree to pay ourselves a salary, and if we do, anything left over goes straight back into the biz. "You have to spend money to make money," right?

Well, the flipside of this is that we all might be screwed come our 65th birthday. I'm guilty of this myself. I saved every little penny of my 15% allowable yearly contribution to my 401k at my last job, but since flying solo: nada, zip, zilch, nuttin.'

I guess we need to take on the concept that oprah likes to throw around a lot: if you are not taking care of yourself, you can't really take care of anyone else. So scrimp! Save! IRA it!