Chris Bonney

Could Mad Men Be The Future?

2009-11-12T12:50:52-06:00

My wife and I spent the last three months getting up to speed on the hit series Mad Men on AMC. We rented seasons one and two and would watch up to three episodes in one night. It's an addicting show. Donald Draper and his dark twisted lifestyle even haunted me in my dreams. I couldn't get him out of my head. We eventually got caught up to the third season, which just ended last week. We watched the last three episodes in real-time, when it was actually scheduled to play. Who does that anymore? But we suffered through the...

What Are You Afraid Of? Change The World Today Through One Single Email.

2009-08-11T10:30:51-05:00

Why wouldn't you say something nice to someone in email today? Why just keep it formal and professional? Why fear vulnerability? Why fear that an email is "forever"? What would happen if you were exposed in email, not saying something derogatory or sarcastic or mean or condescending, but saying something pleasant and uplifting? What would happen if you emailed your mom right now and simply said, "I love you?" What would happen if you emailed your best employee and simply said, "Your work here is greatly appreciated?" What would happen if you emailed your vendor and said, "I know I've...

Even I Can't Get Email Right Sometimes

2009-07-30T21:37:03-05:00

The other day I called State Farm to see about changing my auto insurance to them. The process required a couple email exchanges and those seemed to go just fine. Later, when I was talking to the agent he said, "Chris, after I Googled you and found out who you were, I went back and read all the emails I sent to you to see if they were good enough." I, of course, responded that I'm not that picky actually and certainly am not perfect on email myself. To illustrate that very fact, below is an email exchange that went...

Email: The First –and Largest– Social Network

2009-07-25T18:58:20-05:00

Something I've tried to articulate on my blog a few different ways, but this post sums it up best.

Inspiration From The Email Jerk

2009-07-13T23:15:10-05:00

Last year I commented on Gary Vaynerchuk and his inability to deal with his overload of email and his surprising self-centered approach to a solution. I'm curious as to how that method is working for him all these months later. Tonight, I stumbled across this video of him speaking at a Web 2.0 conference. In all sincerity, I found it one of the more inspirational public addresses I've seen in a while. His rough-around-the-edges approach bodes well and his passion for what he does goes without saying. He is the genuine article and isn't afraid to put it out there....

3 Secrets To A Killer Blog

2009-06-02T21:10:27-05:00

As I ramp up for a few speaking gigs coming up in the next month about blogging, I'm reminded of the basics. The true essence of a master blogger. Yes, focusing on a particular audience is important. Yes, being a good writer helps, too. But what I'm thinking of is the essentials. The DNA of a great blog. Here are the three secrets to a killer blog: 1. PASSION: If you ain't got, we're not feeling it. You must desire to tell people your opinion or to solicit feedback or to dispel advice. Whatever you do on your blog, it...

Are There Too Many Blogs? Or Master Your Google Reader In The Next 30 Minutes Or Your Money Back

2009-05-05T18:13:00-05:00

As a blogger, I, of course, follow many blogs. Well, let me rephrase that: I used to follow many blogs. After bouts of following over 50 blogs at one time only to be frustrated and overloaded, I decided to pare down. I spent a year trying to follow just 10. No luck. Still, just too darn much to take in. A New Plan So, I settled on a new plan. I will follow 5 blogs religiously for 3 months and then follow my next favorite 5 blogs for 3 months and so on for a year. The blogs that get...

Is Email Still Relevant In This Web 2.0 World?

2009-04-22T22:36:31-05:00

Okay, to start I must admit my blogging has been slagging quite a bit lately. I'd like to say I'm all over it from here on out, but I can't say that I will be. I'm on Twitter now and while blogging is a fantastic outlet for more complex topics of discovery, I find Twitter relevant, easy and I have much greater reach there than here. (Maybe you could subscribe to this blog and help change that!) But what loving Twitter has made me contemplate is: Where does email fit into all of this? There are definitely bouts of email...

Do You Know What The 3 Biggest Email Mistakes Are?

2009-03-12T22:41:02-05:00

My buddy and fellow email management dude, Randy Dean, was just featured in a podcast interview where he talks about the three biggest mistakes he sees people make when it comes to managing their inboxes. He talks across the globe on email management to hundreds of companies and thousands of people, so he's seen it all. Can you guess what the 3 mistakes are? They might surprise you. Find out here. It's a quick and very informative listen. Also, check out my updated Squidoo lens here. It reveals the new name for the book I'm attempting to write.

In Case You Don't Quite Get Twitter Yet

2009-03-09T03:55:00-05:00

Hear Evan Williams, one of the founders of Twitter, talk at TED about how Twitter is changing the world.