O’Reilly author Scott Berkun on the art of being independent
Ask any geek what book he would keep if he could have only one, and odds are it would be an O’Reilly book. Seriously, I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that most of what I know about programming, I learned from the books with the funny little animals on the cover. This is a publishing house that chooses authors either because they are masters of their craft, or because they know how to write exceptionally well. In the case of Scott Berkun, whose book The Art of Project Management was published last April, I suspect it is both.
I haven’t had an opportunity to read his book yet, but after exchanging a few emails with Scott, I know I want to, even though project management isn’t central to what I do for a living. Because Scott has a way of making just about everything he says interesting. So let’s find out a little more about one of Biznik’s newest members, shall we? [And Scott, if you haven’t started on another book yet, allow me to suggest a title for you: “The Art of Being Independent.” You’ve got a lot to say on the subject, and you’d score a Biznik home run with that one, baby]
Q: You recently published a book called The Art of Project Management. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to write the book?
I was a program manager at Microsoft for a long time and worked on some important things like Internet Explorer and Windows. I learned from some of the best people across the the industry and, after leaving the company to write books, I wanted to capture what I knew about leading and managing teams before I got hit by a bus and forgot it all. So, should a bus be waiting for me after this interview, I’ll be ok.
Q: In your essay “Good, evil and technology: a fun philosophical inquiry,” you muse about the nature of good and evil and how it applies to technology. Google, perhaps, was thinking along similar lines when they wrote their corporate moto, “Do no evil.” Why do you think they chose that, and do you think it’s possible for them, or any other major corporation, to really do no evil?
I’m still in recovery from studying philosophy in college, but I do recall that good and evil are slippery things. They’re tricky words that play dead until you get into the details, and then they’re hard to hold on to. I think the Google founders responded to growing up in the Microsoft era, where the industry leader was, oh, I don’t know, getting sued on a weekly basis by half of the major democracies in the world and had their CEO cross examined in front of the known universe. That has to impact any entrepreneural mind in one way or another. But as Google is learning, good and evil are relative, not absoulte. Any action you take can seem evil to someone with a different criteria than yours, especially when you cross competitive, cultural and national boundries. It’s noble to try what they’re doing: it’s certainly more than Microsoft did in terms of decreeing an ethical stance. But where’s the tech company that’s saying “We try to do good?”
So I do think corporations can maintain an ethical standard, just like people can. But just like for people, ethical and moral standards are burdens that their competitors will rarely choose to bare.
Q: A line you wrote in an essay, “Why I left Microsoft,” is particularly succinct: “I ran to Microsoft to escape my fears of failure. I left Microsoft to define my own idea of success.” So, how do you define success for yourself today?
Frankly, I’m just glad not to be dead yet. I’m a fan of low expectations but big goals, so waking up at all is nice surprise in my book. But practically speaking, I think success is having independence, making commitments and being of use, finding guts to take risks (and extra guts to learn from them), and laughing at as many things, with as many people, as possible.
Q: What does someone like yourself see as valuable about participation in a business networking group like Biznik?
As an independent I don’t have a team of people and their opinions waiting for me at work every day - there is my dog, but unless we’re talking about chasing cats or rolling in the mud, he’s pretty quiet on most issues. So I need to be proactive in finding people to exchange ideas, learn from, trade skills, contacts or fun arguments with.
Q: As someone who has done this successfully, what piece of advice would you offer someone starting their own company or independent service? What’s the biggest mistake to watch out for?
Expectations. When you’re on your own you realize all the little things you never thought of that you need to suceed. So you have to plan for a year or two of uncertainty and learning before you expect to make the kind of living you’re hoping for. Looking back, it would have been smart to join something like Biznik when I was getting started. Being independent is more difficult, but more rewarding: once you get past the curve.
Q: How are you progressive?
Actually I think I’m a total throwback. I like old ideas that have stood up over time. There’s a design philosophy called the timeless way of building, and I try to practice a timeless way of living. Good people, good food, good ideas, good sarcasm: if I have those things around me not much else matters: I’m a happy man.
Q: In addition to the essays you’ve published on your website, you also publish a blog. What’s your take on blogging and what sort of an impact do you see it having on how we communicate?
Blogs have simply lowered the hurdle to web publishing. It’s even easier than before - that’s it. There’s good and bad that comes with making publishing of any kind easier, because there’s less restraint: the flood gates are open. I think the real bottleneck is people who can write well: no technology can fix that. So it’s writing ability and an interesting mind, that make a blog, or writing of any kind, good. The tools, by this point, are irrelevant towards that. It’s communication talent that’s in short supply.
Scott Berkun, whose communication talent is in no short supply, has a website at www.scottberkun.com. It is a treasure trove of useful and interesting stuff. My favorite part is Scott’s essays (he’s published 50 of them here, and counting), which are about everything from “How to pitch an idea” to “Why software sucks (and what to do about it.)”
He writes regularly in his blog, which is at www.scottberkun.com/blog
0 Comments Bizniks enjoy cocktails, sushi and Liberty
Biznik members got a real treat last night - a special members-only preview of Andrew Friedman’s bar at 517 15th Ave. East on Capitol Hill, Liberty. More than 30 of you showed up despite the monsoon rain, making it our largest turnout yet! Andrew and his staff really busted out to get the place open for us, thanks you guys, and chef Jeffrey Snodgrass fed us sushi all night. Dina Lydia had her digital genie hat on, and has already posted photos of the event for us on her website.
And I heard last night about the first successful real estate deal that happened entirely through Biznik members working together - can’t wait to blog about that one, stay tuned.
1 CommentYour profile is there, but is anybody home?
I have a quick new feature announcement for you today: we’ve started logging all of the different kinds of “activity” that you can have on Biznik, and displaying the date and time of the last activity under your photo on your profile page, if you have a photo (another incentive for those of you who don’t to upload one!)
Now we’ll have an immediate indication of who’s active on the website. If you have had no activity recorded since we started logging, nothing will display. It’ll also allow displaying results on the membership page and elsewhere by most recent activity, for example, which should be interesting.
What constitutes “activity?”
- Viewing another members profile
- Sending an email to a member
- Giving a referral to a member
- Introducing a member to someone using the site tools
- Inviting someone to join Biznik
- Updating your profile
- Posting a new photo
- Posting a promotion
- Logging in
- Giving a testimonial
- Updating your keywords
Actively yours,
/dan
Dina Lydia, Costume Goddess
Dina Lydia Johnson wears a lot of hats. And a lot of other things she’s designed and made herself. So many things, in fact, that many people simply know her as the “Costume Goddess.” But there’s a lot more to this Seattle fashion diva than funky outfits. Let’s inquire, shall we?
Q: Your Biznik profile lists a lot of skills: graphic designer, illustrator, photographer, writer, and dancer, among others. But the thing that really catches my eye is your title, Costume Goddess. How’d you come into that?
I’m originally from the East Coast; I moved to Seattle in 1996, after 6 years in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I started taking bellydancing classes in Albuquerque, where it’s very popular. I was a professional seamstress, so of course I started making costumes for myself and others. A friend named me “Costume Goddess” and I used that for my online advice column: “Ask the Costume Goddess”. Naturally I purchased the domain name. I feel a catchy name is very important for a small business.
Q: There’s something about putting on a costume that is incredibly freeing. I do it all the time myself, as an active participant in the Burning Man community here in Seattle. What do you think that is? What’s the appeal of costumes for you?
In a costume we are able to don a different character, like an actor, along with the clothing. That frees us from the constraints of our everyday personality. Even a minor costume piece can have an effect. An elaborate one has the power to change our persona in the eyes of others and ourselves as well.
To me, thinking up and constructing the costume pieces is an absorbing creative challenge. Then while wearing them, I enjoy the compliments and attention. It’s an ego trip of sorts, but the eye candy also gives pleasure to onlookers, so no one resents the grandstanding.
This is a natural for a celebration or holiday, but also appropriate for many political demonstrations. Many times I’ve seen suitably costumed participants bring smiles, cheer, and extra energy to their compatriots.
Everyone remembers the costumed one. An elected official who meets thousands of citizens will recall the person in a so-and-so costume. This is a big advantage. Also, it catches the eye of media types looking for novelty. Another advantage.
Q: It looks like you’ve found quite a niche with your book series, “The Costume Goddess Tells All.” Can you tell us a bit about the books, and how you came to publish them? Has it been successful?
I became known, through my advice column, in the international online bellydance community. Then I was asked to contribute a costume article to “The Bellydance Book” by a first-time small publisher. It was more like a whole chapter, in the end.
After that, I was convinced I should write my own costuming book. I had seen one self-published book on the topic, and I thought it sorta sucked, especially the crude drawings of figures, with arms as long as their legs, and hands that looked like mittens. Ugh! I knew I could do better, because I at least studied figure drawing in art school! And I have freelanced as an illustrator/graphic designer.
Long story short: every publisher turned down my beautiful proposal. I decided to self-publish this complicated how-to book.
I learned everything by the seat of my pants: digital photography, home modeling shoots, photo-retouching, dealing with a printer, setting up a commercial website, and so on. My sister, who is an editor, proofread the text.
I knew NOTHING about page layout. An acquaintance who said she knew Pagemaker agreed to collaborate with me on that. But she flaked out on me. I had to learn that too, at the last minute. The stress almost killed me…but I survived. Honestly, I had a 102-degree fever while doing the finishing details! My husband did, and still does, much of the legwork and helped me set up a business database and so on.
My first book was “Flattering Costume for Bellydancers.” Six more followed in the next five years. I’ve come out with a second edition of each, with even better photos and illustrations.
I have individual customers in about 20 countries, and wholesale to 7 or 8 vendors as well. So I can say it’s a success, but there’s no way I could make a decent living on the income of the book sales and the custom work alone. Luckily, my husband supports my creative ass.
Q: You mention that you’re a liberal activist. What causes are you passionate about, and how do you promote them?
The invasion of Iraq did it for me. I am an antiwar activist first. The other outrageous power abuses of the Bush administration go along with that. Before GW Bush, I never was passionate about political causes; or at least felt I was one person who had no power to affect important events. I had never been a “joiner”.
I marched in that pre-invasion “Not in Our name” demonstration. Then I found the Dean campaign.
I took a position of leadership in the local Dean campaign, because someone had to do it in my area. That was most unlike me. But I never looked back. I joined the local Dems and was elected a precinct officer…because Dean urges us to “become the party.” I host a Democracy for America group.
I joined my local peace activists and we demonstrate often. We lobbied Maria Cantwell’s office.
I participate on political blogs every day and keep myself informed.
Q: What inspires you creatively?
You might ask, what doesn’t? Almost anything can inspire a right-brainstorm.
I am enthralled by theater and dance. In the past, animals, still life, and faces fascinated me. Now political concepts enter into many of my creative endeavors.
Q: Have you been part of a business networking group before? What do you hope to get out of your membership in Biznik?
I tended to be a solitary worker most of my life…probably missing out on a lot.
In Albuquerque, I was freelancing as a caricature artist, so I joined cartoonists’ guild. It turned out most of the members were adolescent males, so I didn’t continue long.
I don’t know what I’ll get out of Biznik. I’m going with my hunch that it might be a fun and productive thing to swap stories and contacts with other creative self-starters.
Dina Lydia’s website is costumegoddess.com. Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll find there:
- Caricature gallery - fun!
- Costume Goddess Book Series
- Belly Dancers for Democracy - shake the vote!
Ballard’s BalMar is so Biznik
Lara and I dropped by Ballard’s newest and largest bar, the BalMar, for a cocktail this evening. And while we were sliding from bar to couch to back room in this 4,000-square-foot living room, we found ourselves saying things like “Wow, this place looks like it was designed for a Biznik event.” And I suspect it was, really, because one of the co-owners is Andrea Martin. She’s the motive force behind Space City Mixer, the hugely successful 10,000-member Seattle singles group.
The back room upstairs at the BalMar
Biznik and a singles group are different animals, of course, but one thing we certainly have in common is a thirst for public spaces where people can meet and get to know each other. And the BalMar certainly looks like a place where that can happen, in style. Most interesting to us is a large back-room area upstairs, which is surrounded by low couches. It looks like a perfect space for up to 25 people to get down to Biznik (see photo).
The only thing stopping us for now is the BalMar stereo system, which pipes loud music into that part of the bar, and can’t be independently controlled. But Dwayne, a BalMar manager, told us they’re currently working on fixing that, and sometime next month we’ll be good to go. So look for a Biznik event at the BalMar sometime very soon.
Why design matters: Nadja Haldimann on beauty, identity and visual language
Nadja Haldimann speaks four languages fluently: Swiss German, German, English, and Design. Design, for her, is “a unique visual language” that she’s created over 20 years of growing up with the spare, precise aesthetics of her native Switzerland, followed by design school in Vienna and San Francisco, and capped more recently by eight years as a product designer at Microsoft. She quit that job earlier this month to launch her own design career in Seattle.
When we hired her to design the Biznik logo, we thought we were hiring someone to create something beautiful that would identify and promote this business networking group. But we discovered right away that we’d hired someone with far more talent than that. Because Nadja isn’t just a designer - she is a true branding expert. For her, ideas flow from a passion for understanding, and before she puts pen to paper, she wants to know everything. And in the process of learning all about our business, something funny happened–we learned a lot about our business.
It was a process that I didn’t want to end. But when it did, we knew we’d received a lot more than we paid for. And, she created a logo that not only is beautiful, but also a stunning visual metaphor that says “this is what Biznik is all about.” But let’s hear directly from her on the subject, shall we?
Q: How did you end up here in Seattle?
I was born and raised in Basel, Switzerland and moved to Vienna, Austria when I was 20 years old to attend fashion design school. A year later I decided I wanted a broader education in design so I moved to San Francisco where I studied graphic design at the California College of the Arts. The year I graduated was an interesting year, packed with new emerging technologies and a wider use of the internet which allowed me to jump from traditional print design to software and web design. This opened up new opportunities for me and I moved to Seattle where I started my 8 year career as a User Interface Designer at Microsoft.
Q: What did you do at Microsoft?
For the first few years I was a product designer in charge of designing a number of different features for Microsoft Money and Microsoft Office. In 1999 I moved to the Office group where I was responsible for the look and feel, the brand and the functionality of the Office suite of applications. I worked on office XP, Office 2003 and Office 12. I had a team of 5 designers working for me and together we helped design the new command model for Office 12 which will ship later this year. About a year ago I moved to the Real Time Communication group where I was responsible for the look and feel and the branding of Live Meeting and Communicator, two new Office family applications that allow users to collaborate remotely.
One of the most memorable projects I worked on while a designer at Microsoft was the Center for Information Work; a conceptual project to explore a future version (5-10 years in the future) of Office where all applications are tightly linked together allowing the users to communicate and work from a variety of remote locations. We ended up winning a gold IDEA design award for this project, which was one of the highlights of my career.
Q: What made you decide to leave Microsoft?
After 8 years at Microsoft I decided to move on to explore more variety in design. I learned a lot about branding one of the most recognized products in the world. I gave presentations to small and large audiences at Microsoft talking about my approach to develop a new look and feel and brand for software applications. I collaborated with usability engineers to design products that are not only visually appealing but also easier to use through better visual flow and hierarchies.
Q: What’s next for you? What are you excited about doing in 2006, and beyond?
I think 2006 is going to be a really exciting year for me. Joining the Biznik group has introduced me to new people and contacts and opened some interesting opportunities for me.
Recently I started my own freelance graphic design firm called Gimbo Design. My main focus is on branding, corporate identities and web presence. I am excited to have a variety of clients from financial institutions to restaurants and startup internet companies. I enjoy working closely with clients to build their brand and design strategies. This is something that was difficult to achieve at a company the size of Microsoft.
Fashion design is another passion of mine that I hope to explore in my new career. My business partner and I are planning to develop a simple yet sophisticated high-end line of fashion accessories based on our Swiss heritage. The focus of the line will be on quality and precision, with a trendy, eye-catching edge that sets us apart from the rest. We already have some great ideas that we hope to put into motion. We are working on getting things into place with manufacturers and vendors so that we can get some of our products into stores by the end of the year.
In addition to graphic design and fashion design I am in the process of creating a series of large scale paintings based on images that I have carried around in my head ever since I was a small child. They are visions of another world, a parallel universe where neither time nor gravity exist and everything is in a constant state of motion, co-existing in perfect balance and harmony. After carrying these images with me for more than 30 years I finally decided to let them out to share the experience with a larger audience. I have recently started working in a studio space in pioneer square and I am hoping to have my first show: “Transcessive Paintings” sometime this summer.
Q: When I think of your work, I think “elegant, sophisticated, and precise.” How would you describe your approach to design?
Well, thank you. My design is strongly based on the simplicity and precision of Swiss design principles. I strive to create both visually stunning as well as highly conceptual designs that communicate a message and spark conversation. When I started design school in San Francisco, I had already lived with Swiss design aesthetics for more than 20 years. I was able to infuse that sense of precision and structure with an experimental and conceptual twist that allowed me to develop a unique visual language that I now use. I tremendously enjoy working with clients, understanding their unique needs and then helping them tell a visual story that captures the essence of their message.
Q: You say your work is “highly conceptual.” What does that mean, in practice?
Conceptual design means that I communicate information through visuals. I strive to create visually stunning designs, but that’s just the icing on the cake at the very end of the project. My design process goes much deeper than what immediately catches the eye. When I approach a new project, I first educate myself about my clients and what they want to communicate. Then I create a message and translate that into visual metaphors. The shapes, colors and final combinations of elements is not a random artistic expression, but rather a result of a highly thought through process that contains all the key elements to communicate a message.
For example when I designed the Biznik logo I thought about the human interactions that take place within a professional organization. Members join to meet other working professionals and make business contacts and connections. I used the visual metaphor of two links to show that connection. The links are contained in a circle which represents the organization itself and if you look closely then you can see that part of one link is slightly protruding from the circle. To me that represents an open environment where connections are made and not locked in but rather encouraged to come and go to take on their own lives outside of the organization. I purposely angled the corners of the links to give them an edge. Biznik members are radical professionals, so a round link would have been too soft for the message that I wanted to communicate. I could go on for about 20 more minutes but I think that’s enough information to explain my thought process.
Q: What kind of clients are you looking for?
As I mentioned earlier, I strive to have a diverse mix of clients from various industries. I love learning about different businesses and products and am excited by the challenge of developing new visual languages appropriate to those businesses.
Q: You and I have been a member of the same Burning Man tribe, The Space Virgins, for a couple of years now. To say that you’ve blossomed creatively during that time would, I think, be an understatement. At least in terms of how you dress! How has Burning Man and your participation in the burner community influenced you?
Funny you should mention that. All my life I have been a very motivated and creative designer. During my time at Microsoft I constantly questioned existing design processes and customs and invented new and innovative ways to push the limits and develop forward thinking designs. But I think Burning Man ignited something inside of me that was dormant for a long time. All of a sudden I found myself designing an entire collection of costumes and sewing them for myself and several of my friends. I also started designing funky flyers and posters for party invitations and rediscovered an artistic and experimental side of me that I was not exercising at work. Burning man allowed me to fully express myself creatively without restrictions or judgment. I met a lot of incredibly motivated and talented people with whom I create art together. I now consider many of these amazing people my closest friends and part of my daily inspiration.
Q: Has your membership in Biznik proven worthwhile yet?
Absolutely! I decided a few months ago that I was going to start my own company and immediately joined Biznik to see if I could find freelance clients. Before I even had a chance to leave Microsoft, I already had more clients than I had time for without even doing any self promotion. In addition to freelance clients I also got contacts for an accountant, a trademark lawyer and all kinds of other useful people that I am working with today. Biznik is the reason why I can do what I do today, thank you!
Q: Is design important for small business owners?
Yes, design is very important for small businesses, as a matter of fact, it’s much more important than people realize. You have heard the expression that a book is judged by its cover. Small businesses especially need to have a professional appearance. Just doing good work or having high quality products isn’t enough anymore with all the competition out there. The perception of a business or product is often more important than the product itself and one way perception is measured is through visual appearance. Good design can help a small business rise above their competition. The cool thing is that it’s easier today than ever before to create that perception of quality and reliability through a sophisticated and well designed website, logo and business card.
Q: What’s the biggest design mistake that you see small business people making?
The number one problem that I see with small businesses is that they do not invest in well designed business cards, websites, or brand design. They believe that it’s more important to get their name out there and hope that the product or service will speak for itself. This puts them at a great disadvantage in comparison to their competitors who may have invested in these areas. In the long run this could cost them a lot more money through losing customers and jobs to more professional looking competitors. I have often worked with clients to upgrade their brand and websites resulting in the perception that their products or services are of higher quality.
Christopher Braxtan on buying and selling real estate in Seattle
When Seattle real estate agent Christopher Braxtan purchased and moved into the home across the street from mine last year, I knew I was going to like him before we even said hello. I knew this because he has the same bumper sticker on his car as I have on mine–a little white oval that reads simply: BRC. (If you don’t know what that means, here’s a hint.)
Christopher has worked in real estate in Seattle for 10 years, and has been a licensed Realtor since 1999. So he’s a great person to ask about buying or selling property in this town. And one of the things I’d like to know is: How have Internet services like Craigslist affected buying and selling a home? Let’s find out more about Christopher, and see what he’s got to say about that…
Q: Where are you from, and how’d you end up here in Seattle?
I’m from Minneapolis by way of Sarasota, FL. Minneapolis is a beautiful city; it’s similar to Seattle in many ways, but it’s smaller, colder in the winter and hotter in the summer. I spent a few years in my early twenties living on a beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast. I spent most of my time there going to school, organizing events for my school’s environmental activist group, writing and performing spoken word and generally enjoying myself. It was a great life while it lasted! I also lived outside of Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho and Randolph, Utah when I was 14 and 15.
I ran out of things to do in Florida, I had a friend in Seattle and I missed the mountains and living in a city, so I moved out here. Now I can’t imagine being based anywhere else in the US.
Q: How did you get interested in selling real estate? How long have you been doing it?
I was broke when I moved here in 1996. I found a job managing a small apartment building on Capitol Hill so I wouldn’t have to worry about writing a rent check or adapting my lifestyle to a regular schedule. That got boring real quick because the work was unfulfilling and I still wasn’t making enough money, so I started to diversify by providing more services related to property management. By 1999 I owned and operated a small apartment renovation business and was managing more than 140 rental units. The next step forward seemed obvious to me; I earned a license and started selling real estate. The first office where I hung my license was The Landmark Group in Madison Park.
Q: Why are real estate agents like yourself necessary? Can’t I just go online and find the house I want to buy?
As a buyer, you don’t have anything to lose by hiring a real estate agent and you have a lot to gain. Even though the buyer’s agent is legally and ethically bound to represent the buyer, in Washington State buyer’s agents are usually paid by the seller. Some people find a bit of success looking on Craig’s List, searching real estate websites, reading classified ads and attending public open houses in their quest for a home, but only real estate agents have access to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is where 99% of homes for sale are listed. And only your agent can get physical access to most of the homes that are listed for sale.
Every homebuyer should hire a structural and pest inspector so they aren’t surprised by physical defects after purchasing their home, but your real estate agent is trained in detecting design obsolescence and other flaws that are not brought to light by a structural or pest inspection. Perhaps more importantly, your agent’s knowledge of zoning regulations and building codes allows her or him to quickly determine if your intended use is well suited for a particular property.
While you could hire an attorney to provide advice on your purchase and sale contract, your real estate agent specializes in negotiating contracts for the purchase and sale of real property. This service is central to what we do for you. There are a lot of sharks out there, and you need an expert to help negotiate the repair of flaws found during inspections, closing dates and escrow money. Buyers and sellers also benefit from an experienced professional’s market familiarity when evaluating the fair market value of property for sale.
Your real estate agent will also work with your escrow agent and the title insurance agent to navigate the terms and conditions of your transaction and solve the unexpected problems that frequently arise. Experienced agents also have relationships with lenders. When you consider that mortgage lenders are not required to be licensed and have minimal oversight in our state, it’s clear that referrals from your agent can be invaluable.
For people selling real estate, it is counter-productive and dangerous to act without an agent. A particular home seller might be more than capable of pricing their home, creating and managing an effective marketing plan, preparing their home for sale, negotiating a purchase and sale agreement and handling routine escrow and title issues, but it takes time, knowledge and experience to do these things effectively. It can be especially difficult for an unrepresented seller (or buyer) when unexpected complications arise during a transaction. Many people are also capable of preparing their own taxes, but they lack the experience and knowledge of an accountant or a tax attorney, and their time is better spent on other pursuits.
Craig’s List and the Sunday newspaper are great places to advertise a home for sale (I’ve used them myself), but the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) provides much greater exposure for your home for sale and only your agent can list homes there. A few days ago I spoke with someone who is selling his home without an agent. He was very pleased because he had received 30 inquiries regarding his home and had shown it to six prospective buyers in the first week it was listed on Craig’s List. When similar homes are listed on the MLS and an MLS key box is installed, they frequently receive hundreds of inquiries and multiple showings on the very first day that they’re listed. You want to receive the best price for your home, so you want as many buyers as possible to see it.
Your agent will also ensure that you are in compliance with fair housing laws, which can be trickier than most people think. It is not uncommon for socially conscious and well-intentioned people to accidentally violate fair housing laws. Your listing agent also has the experience and market knowledge necessary to help make your home more appealing to prospective buyers.
Perhaps most importantly, a talented and experienced agent will negotiate the best possible terms for your sale and spearhead the resolution of any issues that arise out of a buyer’s home inspection, title insurance, escrow or any of the terms and conditions of the transaction.
I’d also like to point out that buyer’s and seller’s agents have an intimate knowledge of how our real estate market functions, and this specialized knowledge is essential for making your transaction go smoothly, close on time and be as profitable for you as possible.
Q: What sets your real estate business apart from others?
Quality of service and added value. I limit the number of clients I work with at any one time to ensure that everyone who hires me receives a level of service that surpasses industry standards; nobody works harder to satisfy their people than I do. I also employ a team of specialists to assist with coordinating transactions, manage marketing programs, prepare homes for sale, and provide legal consultation. I shoulder the entire cost of using these specialists so I can ensure the best possible experience for my clients. And unlike many other agents who use a support staff, I am always accessible through email or my cell phone. Other unique services available to my clients include complimentary financial planning services, complimentary interior design services, complimentary moving truck rentals and complimentary home warranties.
I strongly believe in giving back to our community and supporting positive social change. I have a standing offer to all my future clients: hire me to help you buy or sell a home and I will contribute a significant portion of my commission to a not-for-profit organization that we choose together. The contribution can be made anonymously or in your name, and it does not need to be a tax-deductible contribution.
Q: Any great anecdotes or crazy stories from your years of selling
real estate?
Well, there is a house on 7th Ave NW in Greenwood that a young couple purchased as their first home together. It was a very nice house that had been rented out by the seller. One of the last tenants kept a boa constrictor as a pet, and the pet escaped on moving day. Nobody could find the beloved snake and it was assumed that it had slithered off into the neighborhood, so the seller decided not to mention it to his agent or the buyers.
Approximately 10 days after moving in, the young couple awoke to a loud bump in the night. They followed the sound to the finished basement, where they saw that a tile from the drop-ceiling had fallen into a sink. One of them stood on the counter near the sink and shined a flashlight into the void above the ceiling, where they were terribly shocked to encounter a three-foot-long serpent, coiled in repose, flicking its tongue at them. An exterminator was hired the following day to evict the stubborn reptilian tenant (who survived), and the buyers’ agent ensured that the seller paid the cost of the eviction.
Q: What’s the value of a group like Biznik to you?
Community is important, and working with people that I have an affinity for is a pleasure. Among other real estate agents, my ethics and personal goals are unique and my standards for success are exceptionally high. Bizniks also tend to be unique and successful people. With Biznik, I see a potential for making business in Seattle more productive for a broader range of people, and I see the possibility of doing business with more people who share my worldview. Through Biznik I can assist kind and conscious people in using their homes to achieve financial goals and gain personal autonomy, and Bizniks can help me affect positive social change through my real estate practice. And I have a hell of a lot of fun at the meetings.
Christopher Braxtan’s website is BraxtanRE.com.
Why blogging matters
In case you’re wondering whether blogging can make a difference to your business, let me show you how dramatically it’s affected our business networking group here at Biznik. We launched the current version of this site on Nov. 2, 2005. After an initial spike in traffic, not unexpected when you do announce something new, things settled down to a flat average of about 30 visits a day (see the horizontal arrow on the graph, below). DL Byron and Co. had previously turned me on to blogging at the Blog Business Summit here in Seattle, and I thought, hmm, let’s try this.
Initially the blog didn’t make much of an impact (although it did get the attention of a Microsoft VP). I trace the turning point to a post I did on Eric Wilson on Dec. 13th (see second arrow on the graph). That was the point where it occurred to me that the most interesting thing to blog about is, no surprise, the people who make up Biznik. We’ve got some truly interesting people here, doing incredibly interesting things. Check out how the curve has risen steadily ever since (with predictable holiday dips):
I’ve been interviewing members ever since, and I’m going to stay focused on that (occasional rants aside). The blogging thing is so impressive (the blog accounts for 1/3 of our current page views), that I’m working on tools that will allow any member to contribute content to the blog, because I know you all have a lot of interesting things to say, and I’d like Biznik to be a vehicle for you to say it. And I suspect you’ll pick up some business from saying it well. Because blogging is big mojo, baby.
It’s the evil, stupid: why Google gives me faith in business
Google’s decision to face down the Bush administration over its subpoena of user records makes me want to jump up and dance. Because it’s an example, on a mega scale, of something I believe on a local scale - that your business can literally make the world a better place. Money ain’t the root of all evil, kids. It’s what you do with it that matters. Or, in this case, how you behave in the process of making it.
Yeah, I know, we’re accustomed to hearing stories all the time about how business is raising hell in the rain forest or squandering their employees pensions or making “no compete” bank on the war. The corrupting influence of large sums of capitol are well known. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The progressive movement as a whole, and in particular small business people like us (who account for the vast majority of the 23 million businesses in the United States) would do well to examine Google’s moto, “Do no evil.” Instead of going off in a hundred directions, like we progressive types always are (Free Leonard Peltier! Save the rhino! Support the troops!), how about uniting against something simple for a change.
It’s always easier to be against something than it is to be for something — look how far the Republicans have ridden that horse in “the war on terror.” As it stands today, I’m not sure what the Democratic party stands for. They stand for a lot of things, depending on who you ask. But they’ve proven to be almost totally ineffective as an opposition party. And after six years of the Bush administration, there’s a whole lot of evil out there that needs attention. So on a big level as we start thinking midterm elections this year, and a small one as we run our businesses every day, how about keeping it simple: It’s the evil, stupid.
And thanks, Google, for giving me faith in the power of business.
Your first “Weekly Biznik stats and update” is in the mail
Shortly after 3:30 pm this afternoon, Biznik members received the first of what will now be an automatic weekly mailing. It’s a nicely formatted weekly stats and update message. Members who don’t want to receive the mailing can, of course, opt not to receive it. But I think you’re going to want to have this one lighting up your in-box, because it’s full of good stuff:
- A summary of how many times your profile has been viewed by other members of the business networking group, including links to the names of members who have viewed it, if they were logged in.
- List of upcoming events, shown by date with link to view full description. This is a great way to see at a glance what’s coming up, without visiting the website.
- In the Biznik Blog: A recap of the most recent five blog entries, with headline and first 50 words of the post. By request from several members who want to keep up with the blog but don’t use RSS.
- Tips: Miscellaneous suggestions for growing your business networking skills, reminders on where to find things on the website, etc.
At the bottom of each mailing is a link to unsubscribe yourself. If you do unsubscribe, you can add yourself back later by simply logging into your account, and editing your profile. The setting that controls whether you receive weekly mailings is the last field on that form, at the bottom.
I hope this weekly email proves useful. I caught one bug already, that affected members whose profile had not had any views during the past week. So if that was you and you saw some funny formatting, rest assured it’ll be gone next time you receive it. I also added your name to the subject line, which wasn’t in the first mailing, for a more personal touch, which you’ll see next week.
Finally, for those of you with serious spam blockers, you’ll need to make sure that you’re set to accept messages from info@biznik.com. Enjoy.
Succeed — and make the world a better place
One of the things progressive people have overlooked, to our own detriment, is the vital importance of business success in our lives. As a group we’re more prone to talking about the ill-gotten gains of faceless mega-corporations than we are talking about (and sharing with like-minded people) how we’re growing our own businesses. Without letting the bastards off the hook, it’s time we start holding ourselves accountable for our own business success.
That’s what Biznik is all about: creating a vehicle for doing business with people who share your values. People you actually like. It’s about creating a vehicle for learning from them, inspiring them, succeeding with them. And ultimately promoting your deepest values through your shared success. It’s about focusing your energy on building the world as it can be, more than worrying about the world as it is.
And it all starts with your business, and mine. Take a few minutes to browse through the growing list of Biznik members. There’s a lot of talent here already! Drop them a note, or drop someone in their referral network a note to find out more about someone you’re interested in hiring or collaborating with. Come to one of our events. Better yet– suggest a topic for a meeting, or offer to lead an event. Let’s get serious about making the world a better place through our own success.
Happy Hour at Kozak’s
Last night we held our first happy hour business networking event in a public venue. Two dozen people attended. This was a leap from the private homes in the past where I played hostess and was respnosible for purchasing all the wine and snacks ahead of time. Though Kozak’s on Capital Hill in Seattle was very accommodating, gave us our own corner of the dining room, and offered to close the bar to the public if our numbers got too high, it just wasn’t right. Noise was a big problem.
Our previous happy hour events have been by far our most inspiring for members. After 1 to 1.5 hours of socializing, I’ve led the group through some free-form business brainstorming. During this exercise, each person spends two minutes introducing themselves and their business, followed by 2-3 minutes of questions. The result was typically a good five minutes of conversation and very productive brainstorming.
Last night this exercise proved to be impossible with the noise level where it was, and after each person spent a minute introducing themselves, we needed to adjourn. As a result, the event was finished around 8pm and most folks had left by 8:30.
If you arrived later, we’re sorry we missed you. We’d like to continue to include the brainstorming aspect of our events in the future, if we can find venues in Seattle where that works. So we’re on the hunt. If you would like to suggest a venue, please drop an email to: info at biznik dot com.
Howard Gutknecht: Spotlight your most important ideas
Something that Howard Gutknecht said at one of the first Biznik events last May has really stuck with me: most people will forget 98 percent of everything you say during a business presentation within 24 hours. In my case I guess you could say it’s 99 percent, because I don’t remember anything else he said that particular day. But it doesn’t take a photographic memory to know that being able to present your ideas effectively can sometimes be the difference between success and failure in business.
Howard has spent much of his 18-year career helping others present their ideas effectively, or, as he likes to say, helping them perform “practical magic.” As a business presentation coach and trainer, Howard regularly helps people move beyond natural fears or shyness to deliver knock-out presentations. And, he says, it’s a skill almost anyone can learn. Well, let’s hear about that…
Q: Tell us about yourself and what you do for a living.
I’ve spent most of my work-life doing things that were a natural follow-on from getting a degree in psychology from the University of Washington: marketing and training. I met and fell in love with someone skiing Colorado, and moved back to Chicago to be with her, and while I was there I worked in marketing, then went to work for a company that trained business people to do presentations. The clients were ad agencies, steel manufacturers, banks–just about anyone who had a complex product or service to explain. The leverage that our training gave them was immense–particularly in using effective visual aids to explain technical developments, statistical trends, risk, human resource issues and solutions, competitive analysis, etc. That’s pretty much what I do today: help people develop really effective visual aids, and then rehearse them with video feedback, so they’re more effective and feel more comfortable doing a presentation, and so that the audience can really appreciate the points they’re making and understand them better. Even now I feel awkward trying to depict all this in words, when I could show the above ideas much more effectively using timelines and company logos, and other visual representations.
Q: How long have you been doing this?
I’ve owned my own business for 18 years. I started with two partners and we attracted Weyerhaeuser, MCI and Microsoft as clients. I’ve done work for Apple, McCaw, Kenworth, Nike, Premera, Intermec, Fluke, Regence, Providence Healthcare. It’s fascinating learning about their organizational issues and helping their people explain solutions more effectively. Whenever I see a Kenworth truck going down the highway I think of all the technical presentations on which I’ve helped.
Q: What excites you about helping people perform at their best?
It’s funny but I still remember a guy named Mike Schmidt with MCI, who’d only been with them for two months. He was the junior person in a workshop of 14 - including his boss, his boss’s boss, and his boss. He really took to heart the opportunity to show how hard he was willing to work. All of them had an evening assignment the night of the first day of a two-day workshop. He must have been up half the night working on his visual aids and rehearsing. The next day he had the best presentation. He’d worked in humor, a personal story. It brought tears to my eyes seeing him do so well. That was 15 years ago. There was another instance where an administrative assistant with a software company, Diane Leighton, became one of their lead product demonstrators–she was amazing. I don’t think it was any natural talent so much as their willingness to practice.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Burning Man experience. What has it
contributed to your personal and work life?
When I first went to Burning Man it was fascinating to be a part of a village with Ramez (Mez) Naam’s group. They were so organized and had such a great plan for creating a great theme camp installation. Both by watching them and each year since, it’s been an ongoing learning experience to see how volunteers can work together, respond creatively to adverse weather conditions and other problems, and have fun flexing the plan to suit what’s really going to work there on the ground. It’s fun to catch myself grumbling and remember “Hey, we’re here to have fun, get something creative to happen, interact with people, provide them something interactive and fun.” That’s it! Wouldn’t it be great if every day were like that?
Q: You’ve been really active in Biznik since we started out last May.
And I’ve noticed that you’ve given out a lot of referrals, but
haven’t yet received any in return. Has group membership been a waste
of your time? How do you find it useful?
I really think of this as spreading some seeds around and not really being able to water them or do much of anything to “make them grow.” I’ve been surprised sometimes in the past that someone says “Hey, Howard, I used to work for XXX company and I know the training manager’s name is _________. Is that a good lead for you?” And three months later I’m there doing a workshop for a dozen of them, or coaching the CEO and helping her with her PowerPoint visuals. That is going to happen.
Howard’s website is: www.com2020.com
Howard’s blog is: www.com2020.com/notebook
Keep track of your business referral network
When you use Biznik to refer business to another member, the website keeps track of who’s giving business to whom, and rewards referrals with a gold star. But as long as we’re keeping track, why not display the photos of the members you’re referring business to, and those you’re receiving it from? As of this morning, you can do just that. You now have your own visual “referral network” on your Biznik profile page (users who have not yet referred business inside the Biznik business network won’t notice any change).
It’s works similarly to how “friends” work on other popular social networking sites, only you can’t simply invite someone to be your friend - you have to refer business to them, or they have to refer business to you, in order for them to appear in your referral network. This means your network will likely grow more slowly, but the connections will potentially be more valuable, at least from a business perspective. If someone is in your referral network, it says “I’ve done business with this person” in some form, and therefore anyone else considering doing business with him or her might view you as a recommendation resource.
What is a referral?
A referral is information about a specific job opportunity that you have for another member, or vice versa. There is currently only one type of referral, but they are broken into two categories for display in your referral network - TO you, and FROM others. When you send a referral, it should include a name and contact information so that the person you are sending the referral to can follow up with an individual. For example, if you have a friend who tells you she’s shopping for a home, and do you know any good real estate agents? You might say “Yes, I know this great realtor in Biznik - I’ll refer him to you.” Then you would find the agent’s Biznik profile, click “I have a referral for…” and fill out and submit the simple form, making sure to include your friend’s name and contact info.
Another common way of using the referral form is to refer yourself to someone when you need a service. By the way, the referral now has to be accepted by the recipient, before it’s credited to your or their account. Hopefully that will cut down on the flake factor that a few members have reported (a flake in this case is someone you refer business to, but never hear anything back from). At the same time, it will allow you to quickly reject referrals that you’re simply not interested in or able to follow up.
Accepting a referral is like saying “I can do this, and I will follow up on this in a timely way.” Right now there is no way to rate your experience with someone in your referral networking. But I’m working on that - soon you’ll be able to “tag” the people in your referral network, with words that describe the interaction you’ve had with them.
Member page display improvements
Biznik is approaching 150 members now, and the membership page has been taking a long time to load. So I’ve made some changes that improve the way members are sorted and displayed. “Active” members (who have attended at least one business networking event) and “web-only” members (who have not yet attended a business networking event) are now split onto their own pages, and displayed 52 members per page. You can browse through additional pages for both types of members. I’ll be adding some additional sort options later, including the ability to sort all members by most recent activity.
Additionally, you can now view photographs of web-only members, the same as you can for active members. So why not log in to your account and post a photo if you haven’t yet?
Biznik is an MLM-free zone
Last week, representatives from a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, attended the lunch meeting. Though great guys, I’m sure, we would rather not put ourselves–or our members–in a position of potentially being pitched on a business opportunity when our members already have services or products to market, so we’re taking steps to ensure you won’t have to endure that kind of pitch in the future.
Please read the policy below. We’re currently working on a Terms of Service and a FAQ page. Our policy on MLMs will be included in both of those documents, but basically the policy is very simple: No MLMs will be allowed in Biznik.
If you’d like to read some more information about MLMs, here’s a couple sites - http://www.mlm-thetruth.com. Though clunky and in desperate need of a new design, it contains a wealth of information that answered our questions and shed some light on a murky subject. And mlmsurvivor.com - if a company you represent is listed on this site, Biznik is NOT the group for you.
———————-
Biznik MLM Policy
Biznik is a networking group for independent professionals. Everyone who joins Biznik does so as a professional representative of a specific business within a particular field, and participates in Biznik to promote his or her products and services.
The success of any multi-level marketing (MLM) industry is founded upon developing an ever expanding network of people who join in the MLM business itself, as opposed to simply promoting a product or service. We are not in favor of having a member suggest to other members that they change fields or add a new field to their business.
As founders, we find that we refer our friends, families and clients to specific products and services from fellow members. However, we are not comfortable with possibility that they would ever be put in a position of being pitched on a business opportunity such as the type provided by MLMs.
Many business networking groups exclude MLMs from their membership. Though it possible for a representative from a MLM to only promote their products inside a network and not recruit new members/sellers to their industry, we are not interested in trying to enforce such a policy, and therefore have made the decision to exclude MLMs from membership to Biznik.
Andrew Friedman’s new bar, Liberty, will open soon in Seattle’s Capitol Hill
If all goes to plan, sometime before the end of the month Andrew Friedman’s new bar, Liberty, will be open for business on 15th in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. I dropped in to check the place out earlier this week, and to see if Liberty will work as a venue for Biznik happy hour events. And while in its unfinished state it appears a tad on the small side for our business networking events, what it lacks in size it should make up in comfort (big couches everywhere) and value: Andrew offered us happy hour drink pricing all evening long for Biznik members. Let’s see, cheap drinks, comfy couches…Guess what? We’ll be holding our happy hour on Jan. 29th at Liberty. And as long as we’re here, let’s find out a little more about Andrew and Liberty…
Q: Tell me a bit about yourself. Are you from Seattle? Do you have a background in restaurants or bars?
I have lived for the most part in Seattle since 1991, actually. In that time, I have owned an espresso stand, the Capitol Hill.net internet cafe until 2000, and after that an English school in Bangkok, Thailand. I’ve been working on getting this bar going for about a year.
Q: Where did the name Liberty come from–how did you come to choose that name?
The name Liberty is the last of a long list of names, and the best of all of the choices. The name itself came to me in a book that I was reading, and there was a British naval ship in the early 1800’s called the HMS Liberty, and that name just was immediately obviously the name for the bar for many reasons.
Q: Tell us more about the bar.
Liberty will be a neighborhood bar, that serves a full alcohol menu with a lot of really well made drinks, specializing in reasonably priced wines and a revolving menu of tap beer and lots of bottles.
Liberty is designed to be comfortable, and to that end we have comfy couches in the front, booths in the window, and more booths across from the bar, which is a fantastic 16-foot piece of natual red oak.
Liberty will serve sushi, but sushi is just our version of bar food, so even though the sushi will be of a really great quality, we are by no measure a restaurant, but like sushi ourselves, and will have that for the food for the bar.
Additionally, Liberty will host fund raising parties for community groups a number of times a month, plus have events such as alcohol/wine tasting events, iPod nights where you can bring in your iPod and decide what we listen to, an industry night every week, and a really friendly staff.
Liberty is located at 517 15th Ave. E. on Capitol Hill. We will hold our January 29th business networking event at Liberty, see the calendar for full details.
Andrew’s bar website is http://www.libertybars.com
Eva Enright: Witchy Wonder House Cleaning
Ever wonder what a witch and her broom could do for your home? It’s not a question I lay awake at night pondering, either. Actually, it never once occurred to me that a witch would stoop to use a broom in such a chill, domestic way. Nevertheless, when I first learned about Eva Enright’s business, Witchy Wonder House Cleaning, I found myself intrigued in a subject that I’m otherwise not so keen on: house cleaning.
Here’s Eva’s value proposition: For significantly less than you’d pay elsewhere, Eva will clean your house, AND banish any evil spirits that might be hanging around the place. For the former she’ll use her broom and other cleaning supplies she brings with her; for the latter she’ll use white sage smoke (or a more significant banishing ritual, if you’re really fucked).
Call it woo-woo if you like. But you’ve got to be impressed with a girl who’s willing to look beneath the surface in her quest for clean. And while I’ve never used her services myself, Lara and I did hire another member of Eva’s coven (and fellow Biznik) Bennie Sack, to clean our house (with spectacular results that I’ll blog about another day).
Eva is a prime example of who we’re trying to enable with Biznik: creative people who have put their own personal twist on otherwise perfectly normal (and perfectly boring) professions, with results that are truly interesting. And, let’s hope, profitable. This is a network of business people who aren’t afraid to show up with their personality showing. It astounds me how much of mainstream business is utterly incapable of doing this. What are they thinking? They’re missing a huge opportunity, not only to be authentic, but to make money, too. But I digress. I’ll get out of the way and let Eva describe what she does in her own words.
Q: I think it’s really intriguing the way you’ve integrated witchcraft with housekeeping. And the name of your business, “Witchy Wonder Housecleaning,” is just brilliant. What inspired you to link the two?
Being honest and True to Self has enriched every facet my journey thus far. Weaving who I am, a “Witch” with what I do, “House Cleaning” seemed to be in alignment with that truth. I am a “Kitchen Witch.” Meaning, my craft is about my intentions and the practical applications therein.
Q: Do you think that adding the witch angle to your (forgive me) otherwise fairly mundane business has helped, or hurt you get clients?
Having been in the corporate muck since I was 15 years old, I wanted a filter that would put me in touch with the right clients. The label “Witch” and terms such as temple, altar and banishing has made that possible. This my way of supporting the energy sensitive community.
Q: What exactly is a witch? Tell me a little more about how you’ve made that a part of your life. Is it a community?
I would dare to say my definition of Witch is vastly different from that of other Witches. The three-fold law is very simple, and seen in one form or another in many paths: ”Harm none,” and the energy you put out will come back three fold. An awareness of the cycles of the moon, planets and seasons are also incredibly important. Defining and acknowledging the elements, and the God and Goddess both within and without.
It’s also responsibility to my energy, and that which I put out into the world. Oh, and yes there is a huge community. Widdershins newspaper gives just a snip of activities and groups in the area. Not to mention I am a member of a Coven as well.
Q: How have you avoided being burned at the stake? Heh heh, just kidding. But seriously though, have you ever met anyone who is scared of you, or worse, when they find out you’re a witch? Or do modern day witches have it much easier than their persecuted sisters of the past?
I have worn my pentagram in public and had the “Devil” question asked of me several times. I used to teach Ceremonial Magick classes and have come into contact with many judgmental folks over the years. However, I also have a rather large tattoo on the back of my neck and wear four-gauge spirals in my ears. And many other fashion choices that make me equally as scary, I suppose. Nevertheless, I have met the most wonderful people in my life. I wear my soul on my sleeve. It occasionally gets stepped on.
I don’t know if Witches have it easier today. I find it hard to really get clear information on the past. Our history seems to be so muddled. I think it best to look to the future, and the here and now.
Q: How do you find clients? Do you advertise your business?
I advertise in Widdershins, I put flyer’s out at the local shops and the rest of my biz comes from word of mouth.
Q: Are you affordable? If I hired you, how does it work? That is, how long does a typical cleaning take, and how often do you recommend cleanings?
First off I charge $25.00 per hour of service. I supply everything needed to get the job done. Generally this is about $10 less per hour that the average service. I always do the sage smudging for free.
Typically a client schedules 2-3 hours of service every other week. Which equates to $100-150 per month. I have several occasional clients who want a deep cleaning every now and then, which can run 3-4 hours, depending on the size of the house.
Think about it this way: having your sheets changed every week, along with your floors and toilets scrubbed, not to mention the dusting, disinfecting and sage smudging. You’ve got super clean house for about $200 per month! And that figures in a rather large three-bedroom house with moderate traffic.
Q: Do you have a particularly memorable cleaning (or witching) experience that you can relate?
I have not always been a clean freak. I used to scrub my toilets once a month if I was on task! I have noticed that my environment affects my mood. When I come home to a clean house, incense burning, candles, background music… My home actually centers me. Brings up my mood.
When I come home to a dirty floor, messy bed, dust and dirt everywhere, it depresses me. I have helped many clients experience this energetic shift. The creation and maintenance of sacred space is vital to our health and mental sanity!
Q: How’d you find out about Biznik?
I have a coven sister who is a long time Burning Man participant. She turned me on to Biznik. I have yet to go to a Burning Man event but I am working on it.
Eva’s business, Witchy Wonder House Cleaning, is based in Everett. She says she will travel to Seattle to service clients in this area. Eva’s Biznik profile has more info.
Dennis Dilday: a flexible chiropractor
That Dennis Dilday is a flexible guy should be no surprise. After all, he’s a chiropractor, and a Tai Chi instructor. But as I discovered recently, he takes flexibility to a level rarely seen in the medical profession–to scheduling appointments.
When I called to schedule a visit, I wasn’t sure what time I would be able to arrive at his office. “No problem,” he said. “We’ll fit you in whenever you get here.” And that’s exactly how it worked. Not just for me, a first-time client, but for all his patients. While I was chatting in his office, the phone rang more than once, and Dennis was all “Sure, come on down whenever you can make it, I’ll fit you in.”
I don’t know much about chiropractice medicine. But now that I’m pushing 40, I’d like to know more. So I asked Dennis a few questions, both about himself and his practice.
Q: Where are you from, originally?
I’m from Twisp, Washington.
Q: How did you get interested in becoming a chiropractor? Where did you
go to school?
In 1978 I had a GI Bill to spend and was on the path to becoming a naturopath when I hurt my back. The first chiropractic doctor I met gave me the book “Magical Child” by Joseph Chilton Pearce, and I became convinced after receiving care for a while of the importance of spinal adjusting. That same chiropractor–and every other one I spoke with at the time–recommended Palmer College of Chiropractic. Palmer is where chiropractic was discovered in 1895, and Palmer produced the vast majority of all chiropractors prior to that time and at that time, and the State of Washington Chiropractic Examining Board was particularly fond of Palmer grads (being made up mostly of same).
Q: How long have you had a practice here in Seattle?
My practice is in Everett, 20 minutes north of Seattle on I-5. We’ve been in our current location for 20 years. Thankfully we are located near the intersection of I-5 and highway 526 (Exit 189), so we are easy to get to and easy to find.
Q: How is your practice different from others like it?
Many people are under a lot of pressure: places to be, people to see, things to do. They feel stressed, which is one of the reasons they suffer and seek our help. From the time they call for their first appointment we let patients know that coming here is a relaxing experience. Gradually they get that we really are OK with them being a little earlier or later than whatever is written down. We understand if something comes up and they have to reschedule, or if something has already come up, they are already apologizing, no sense in making it any more of a negative. One way we reduce just that kind of stress is by being gentle about making appointments - their life is already too full. We encourage them to call when they know when they can get in, even if it’s while they’re driving by, or to just stop in if they can’t call. Once they realize how easy it is, they relax. And that’s part of a positive clinical response. It goes way beyond just having a clean bathroom.
We take the same relaxed approach to every other aspect of caring for patients, whether it’s handling their account or helping them deal with their attorneys, other providers or insurance companies. Our system is designed to be as unobtrusive as possible while still covering all the bases. We do it this way so that we can focus on what really is important: the clinical issues that matter to their quality of life. We attract patients who appreciate this approach, patients who notice that we are listening, notice that we do not lecture them about past transgressions. Like not doing their exercises. They notice that we stay on top of their account and insurance issues without being concerned about those issues. Compared to what they are used to getting for their health care dollars, they know we are great deal. In the end these patients usually start to think that for some reason they are being treated special, which is fine with us.
Q: What do you hope to get and/or give from your membership in Biznik?
This has been a year full of insights and serendipity, a year of increasingly acute intuition and openness to possibilities. I believe this process started as a natural outcome of the meditative effects aand strategic approach taught in Tai Chi. It was accelerated through the use of the meditation tapes I have listened to daily for the past year. Anyway, Biznik appeared though I wasn’t actively looking for it and I recognized it as a potent way to connect with people and leverage energy (tai chi again).
As a person who has done a few things, aquired some skills, and has a little to share on a few subjects, I am interested in offering what I can to those interested. It is equally exciting to me to have conversations with interesting people who have done some of the same or similiar things and aquired some of the same or similiar skills; people who have an interest in advancing our mutual understanding and experience.
Oh yeah, and I want referrals and more business. It can be as difficult to find a decent chiropractic doctor when you need one as it is to find a decent anything else. So, for example, not only are we a good choice for health care locally, but if your mother in Texas needs care we can find her a good chiropractic doctor there too - or at least improve her odds.
Likewise, we need people we can refer to in the Seattle area. I try hard to meet and see the office of any health care providers that I refer to because it’s so intimate. For other services or products being able to meet and talk at a gathering can make it possible to get completely comfortable with making referrals.
On a little different level I’ve always been able to put “having a life” somewhere above “making a living” but the guiding principle behind both is that it be fun. There is always room in my schedule for more people who want to have fun. I enjoy the idea of being part of a network of people who actively use the network to be of service to others and themselves.
Dennis’s website is www.doctordilday.com.
Biznik wants a Seattle accountant
Something I’ve heard a lot recently is members asking for an accountant. Last week there were several people asking for accountants on the announce list, and the question came up at the lunch meeting Thursday, too.
So, are there any Seattle accountants out there who want to join Biznik? We’re virtually all self-employed professionals, or running our own small businesses, and there’s about 125 of us now, so there’s likely some significant business waiting for you here. Join Biznik