One of the upsides I've found in my 100 days of freedom is the time and space to explore some national parks that were new to me. On my last trip through Arches National Park, I had the chance to take a trail to the top of elephant butte.
Every once and a while, I get to do something really fun. It often has to do with the circus, because I have awesome circus friends. They have a low-hanging trapeze in their kitchen:
So I jumped at the chance to fly this weekend with the Imperial Flyers and their high-flying trapeze. I've flown with them before, and always had a good time. I even made it to the video reel, watch at about the 1:00 mark to see my knee hang (the very basic move they teach beginners like myself).
Thanks to all the flyers for the trapeze lesson. I shall return!
This has to be the coolest new word I've heard in a while. You can read what it means, or you can listen to the brillant Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson explain it and its relationship to a black hole. I guarantee it has nothing to do with dinner!
I have to credit my friend Daniella for this find. Let me state right off the bat that I'm not a Foodie. I think the whole food thing can be way to pretentious if not kept under control. I believe in real food (i.e. I understand all the ingredients), but past that, let's be realistic folks.
So my friend Daniella hands me this sample of 479 popcorn. I'm trying to cut out sweets, so I wait weeks to try it. After a day of cross country skiing, I brake down and submit to the caloric hammering of such a sweet treat.
It's the lightest and most lovely carmel popcorn I've ever tasted. The flavor is called Fleur de Sel Caramel. Very pretentious, but also very delicious. The little blurb on the back of the package intrigued me, it's from the founder:
"My fondest childhood memory is of playing cards with my family while devouring fresh popcorn made by Mom in a hand-cranked stovetop popper...Along the way, I discovered that 479 degrees is the optimal tempature for popping corn...."
Anyway, it's delicious. Try some if you get the chance.
This business idea was inspired by my friend Wylie. He's literally too busy to get a haircut. It's sad. He looks like a shaggy dog, not exactly his clean-cut, J.Crew style. I actually feel for him- he can't find 60 minutes to quit working and go to a barbershop.
I have a solution, I think it's genius, and please tell your stylist friends about it. I want a mobile stylist. Restaurant is to food truck as barbershop is to mobile stylist. Instead of paying rent, buy a truck or some other vehicle that can be retrofitted with barbershop chairs and a sink. Get a tank for water, a way to heat it, and a drainage system, and you're ready to roll. Make it simple, but comfortable (men just want to be serviced). There is at least one company that's doing this in LA. Another example rolled through Denver a few years ago.
The clientele will come to you, but have a regular schedule of about 20 office buildings and park outside that building on a regular day. Example: on the third Tuesday of every month, I'll be parked outside Wylie's office building. Use a little technology to let clients signup for spots online. Have an app that shows where you will be on such and such a day.
Want weekend income? Park outside a mall or a weekend gathering. I'm willing to bet a number of guys will stop in because it's convenient and what guy wouldn't rather get a shave and a haircut than accompany his significant other shopping?
I realize this isn't a terribly scalable business, but I think the convenience factor matters more these days than ever. What other businesses could become mobile if they really thought about it? Let me know your thoughts.
I wish I had thought of this phrase myself, but I can't take credit. Apparnetly I owe Jim DuBay for the idea. I am officially looking for my next gig. I'm consulting in the meantime to keep me solvent, but I am at the same time empowered to time my time before jumping into anything new.
So far it's been great. It's also a chance to seriously question the value of alarm clocks and business casual attire.
I intend this to be a series of posts. More to follow.
