There are many types of entrepreneurs. From artists, accountants and attorneys to web designers, chefs and writers, all entrepreneurs must wear many hats to make their businesses grow. This month we offer tips for entrepreneurs, such as Working a Room, Romancing Your Audience, and Getting Media Placement in Top-tier Press. Our favorite entrepreneur of all time is one of our founding fathers Benjamin Franklin, who we consider to be the ultimate entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. Ex-con Dave Dahl founded Dave’s Killer Bread and grew it into a $250 million dollar business. After surviving a brain aneurysm, Tess Padmore brings a unique lens to entrepreneurship—one rooted in dignity, representation, and wellness. We have a new book review this month of a great but not so new book, Amsterdam by Ian McEwan. We also offer a new perspective of Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. The notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein showcased a first edition of Lolita in his sensational Upper East Side mansion.–Patricia Vaccarino
The True Brand of the People—Benjamin Franklin by Patricia Vaccarino
Ben Franklin’s colorful life, his legacy, his brand is on our money: the quarter and the hundred dollar bill. His name is onwarships. He is the namesake for many towns, counties, educational institutions, and companies. All of these things were done in his name, not by him, but for him, because he stood for honor, integrity, loyalty, dignity, and fairness. More than two centuries after his death, his brand has endured and he has achieved the status of a cultural icon.
Entrepreneur Spotlight on Tess Padmore by Zoë Caldwell
Tess Padmore didn’t plan on becoming an inventor—but like many entrepreneurs, her journey began with a moment of exclusion. After surviving a brain aneurysm, Tess took up swimming as part of her recovery. The movement helped her body heal—but returning to the pool also surfaced a deeper problem. When her swim cap stopped fitting her textured hair, she went looking for alternatives and quickly realized there were none.
Do You Think You’re Sexy by Patricia Vaccarino
Romantic love is one of the most powerful of all human experiences, and there is a lot to be said for perfecting the practice of romancing your audience. If you want to be attractive to your audience, here is some advice for you to think about.
Dave’s Killer Brand by Patricia Vaccarino
If you want to get great press, you need to tell a great story. Sometimes it can be a challenge to come up with a good story that is in total alignment with your business or your persona. Dave’s Killer Bread is a good product and a great story. The brand touches on a universal human condition: sooner or later we all suffer enough to seek redemption and to reinvent ourselves
How To Get Picked Up in Top-tier Media
There is no greater credibility for you and your small business than getting authentic news coverage. To get a larger audience, you want to shoot for top-tier press. Let’s take three heavyweight contenders—The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. How do you get in? ––Patricia Vaccarino
Everything Is For Sale by Annie Searle
The checks and balances are straightforward, designed to prevent a concentration of power in any one branch. Yet as the last seven months have shown us, there have been no laws passed by Congress and no vetoes of Congressional bills because the President is ruling by executive order – hundreds of them, to date.
A Rational View of Capitalism vs Socialism in America & History by Nick J. Licata
President Donald Trump declared that America will never be socialist. He’s beating up a strawman, since there has never been a fully socialist country. That’s because, throughout history, every country, whether it considers itself socialist or capitalist, engages in capitalism to some degree, which is essentially the existence of a marketplace, where goods, services, information, and labor are exchanged.
Whether you are an entrepreneur pursuing business or artistic goals, there are plenty of opportunities to meet face-to-face. Networking opportunities abound. In meeting venues of any size, keep in mind the best practices that will help you succeed. –Patricia Vaccarino
NOTES FROM THE WORKING CLASS: Young Flesh
In sickeningly sweet, florid prose, Lolita tracks the lewd obsession of a middle-aged man for a twelve-year-old girl. The man Humbert Humbert is sick, a pervert who victimizes a girl-woman. Why is the story of a pedophile still touted as one of the celebrated works of the 20th Century? –Patricia Vaccarino
Featured Book Review: Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
There is a lot going on in Amsterdam that has little to do with either the Dutch city or the death of Molly Lane. Ian McEwan deftly weaves multiple leitmotifs that are subtle and breathtaking. Aside from being a brilliant writer, Ian McEwan is downright clever. Amsterdam is well worth the read and deserving of the 1998 Booker Prize. – Patricia Vaccarino