Brian Monahan aka CoachBriany

It’s been about a week now.  I think I have a vacation hangover.  I don’t want to work and all I want to do is blog.

Do you ever feel like you need a vacation after your vacation?

Seth Godin, posted today about Icons like Marilyn Monroe, Jackson Pollock and Mona Lisa being unbroken.

If its not broke don’t fix it, when seeking to create an icon; seek to build a new one versus replace an existing icon which is still working.

With less than 5 minutes on Cuil.com a new search competitor for Google, I am wondering if it is actually the subject of his post.

That’s a B*&ch!

But it’s the truth.  I am currently reading the book “Satisfied Customers Tell 3 Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3000″ by Pete Blackshaw.  I had the opportunity to see him speak at a release for another product, but I can tell you he is on to something.

Since I am focusing on positive things for the next 21 days.  Tell me about your good consumer experiences.

Mine is seeing the movie “Wall-E”,” I highly recommend it.

I bet you don’t “Derf” is Fred backwards.  Why is Fred backwards I don’t know but Derf Magazine is one of my favorite websites.  Derf is simply “The Onion” for Cincinnati.”

Although, I am married now, I wish I had the opportunity to take advantage of the Derf Dating feature.  For my Cincinnati readers, I hope you enjoy.

I have been submitting story ideas to Derf over the years and I have had no luck getting published.  Send me a few of your ideas and we will see if we can get “Fred” to notice.

I could not pass this one up.

“Lars and the Real Girl” is a phenomenal movie about perspective & people. Lars the key character in the movie played by Ryan Gossling is a emotionally stunted man living in a small town.

Lars for the most part is socially stunted and keeps to himself. He is living in his families garage until he learns of an online website where you can purchase anatomically correct plastic dolls.

Lars sees this as an opportunity to break out of his shell. He purchases one of these dolls (naming her Bianca) but creepily carries on a relationship with this doll bringing her to parties and social gatherings. At first Lars is the talk of the town and the butt of the joke but Lars and Bianca win over the town.

Eventually the town embraces Bianca as a real person taking her to social events and even competing with Lars for time with her.

Eventually Lars find himself growing more social and starts to fall in love with a “real girl” Margo. Margo is a quirky girl from work. Lars finds himself in a dilemma and his only option is to allow Bianca to die.

The movie is so sweet and charming that I found myself falling in love with Lars and Bianca. Bianca became a real person.

I miss her.

Check out the movie you love it.

Why are you calling the AV Dude out Seth?

There are many factors besides the room and food that go into a successful meeting. Audio visual, stage layout and decorations all should be taken into account. Seth Godin’s post on How to Organize a Room is the rare occasion where somebody outside the event business understands the nuances of a successful meeting.

With that in mind, Seth Godin is one of my absolute favorite authors and his post is speaking to the choir about How to Organize a Meeting Room until he gets to this part.

VGA cables: Have more than one. Switchers are cheap. Nothing worse than having speakers stumbling around swapping laptops. And put the cables and the laptops up front, not in back to be controlled by a tech guy who doesn’t care quite as much as you (or the speaker) does.

I disagree, with his statement above. Another tip for organizing a meeting room is to have an Professional Audio Visual Partner. A professional audio visual company first and foremost realizes their goal is ensuring the presenter is comfortable and has created the proper environment to deliver their message.

I personally have been producing meetings for nearly 15 years. I lay awake at night asking myself have I covered the bases.

A live meeting is the same as a live Broadway show. We must rehearse and plan for the problems that “WILL ARISE!” We only get one opportunity to get it right. However, a Professional AV Company will have put in place the backup plans and equipment which will prevent the audience and often times the presenter from noticing.

Often times meetings are planned and audio visual support is an after thought. I recommend if you are in the business of planning meetings you develop a relationship with a top notch AV professional. Like all business a vested partner makes all the difference.

Seth, the show must go on. Please add to your list hiring an AV company that is equally invested.

P.S. We’re still friends.

Tonight instead of watching TV, my wife and I worked on our handshake.

We could not stop laughing.

Here is some inspiration for you from YouTube.

My neighbor said, “they will never make it in that location.”

I transplanted these lilies from and obscure location in my back yard to my front planter.  I wanted them in a location where I could see them every day.

Last year they did not do that well, but this year they popped up with a vengeance.

Follow your heart, its always worth the chance.

Since I am looking to create a little  balance in my life, I have turned to some old hobbies.

I saw an idea for a plant stand in a Shabby Chic furniture book.  My mother in law, who saves everything, had boxes of shutters.  Here is the prototype.