Category: Positivity

This post originally appears on Metromix Detroit as part of my regular contributions to the site.

‘Tis the season to be thankful. The Thanksgiving holiday is a perfect time to reflect on all the things we’re grateful for, from friends and family to health and housing. Those items are all on my thankful list, but there’s another important one that rounds out my top five – living in metro Detroit.

Take a minute to look around you. Yes, metro Detroit and our state as a whole have faced some pretty tough times throughout the past few years. But, there are countless reasons to be grateful for living here and having the opportunity to experience all the amazing people, places and organizations that comprise metro Detroit. Maybe we’re not as swanky or entertainment-centric as New York City, but it’s impossible to get bored living in this region.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I give you five awesome reasons to be thankful for metro Detroit:

1. Venues that offer fun and unique activities
Tired of the same old dinner and a movie every weekend? There are plenty of “out of the box” activities to choose from in metro Detroit when you’re in the mood for something different.

Painting With a Twist recently opened in Ferndale. Find a friend or a group, bring your favorite wine or other beverage and paint a picture of your choosing. A local artist leads you in painting the picture step-by-step, and you get to take home a beautiful work of art at the end (no artistic skills required!).

“I coin this place as the brand new fun in town,” said Michelle Lewis, Painting With a Twist owner. “Painting With a Twist is a place where you can come and open up your creativity and/or unwind while sticking to a budget. Opening Painting With a Twist is my way of giving back to the place that has given me so much.”

If painting isn’t your cup of tea, check out:

• Glow ‘n bowl and Rock ‘n Bowl with DJs spinning at The Majestic’s Garden Bowl.
• Culinary Escapes’ food tours of metro Detroit.
• Wine tasting events and wine making classes at Vintner’s Cellar or one of the many wineries in metro Detroit.

2. Dive bars that are way more “cool” than “dive”
Sure it’s fun to hang out at a brewery or dance club, but the dive bars sprinkled around town are a whole different experience that add some character to metro Detroit.

“The Old Miami is one of my favorite dive spots in Detroit,” said 29-year-old Norman Witte from Pontiac. “There’s always a great vibe at the Old Miami. It’s also a fun place to watch bands and perform because they do a great job of supporting local artists like my band Lune Noir, which is doing a show there on December 4.”

The Old Miami also has one of the coolest outdoor areas in the city, with its funky lawn ornaments and cozy outdoor chairs and porch swings.

Some other local dive bars that are more than worthy to be your evening hangout of choice are Gusoline Alley and Nancy Whiskey’s.

3. Restaurants with scrumptious breakfast and brunch menus
It’s no secret that metro Detroit has earned it’s bragging rights for the continuously growing list of impressive restaurants that populate our area. Us breakfast lovers are the real winners because many of those restaurants offer breakfast and brunch menu items that will make your tummy do a happy dance.

“Metro Detroit has an incredible nightlife, and after a night of excess, no one wants to wake up and make breakfast,” said Joe Hakim, a 29-year-old St. Clair Shores resident and founding member of The Hungry Dudes. “There’s nothing better than an Irish omelette from Hilton Road Cafe or biscuits and gravy from Mae’s.”

There are so many good breakfast and brunch spots to choose from, but consider eating at Toast, Café Muse, The Pantry Restaurant or Jumps the next time you’re yearning for some breakfast goodness.


Pumpkin pancakes from Toast in Ferndale

4. Artistic organizations and creations
If you haven’t experienced at least one of the creative organizations and inventions that exist in metro Detroit, then you’re seriously missing out. Our region’s creative culture has busted out of its shell, and local artists and creative pioneers are making lots of noise so metro Detroit becomes well known around the world as a region of innovation.

Case in point: i3 Detroit, a non-profit public workshop dedicated to blending art, technology and culture through classes, co-working and collective thinking.

“The motivation behind i3 Detroit was to get inventors, builders and hackers out of their garages and basements and into a social setting where they would share resources, knowledge and contacts,” said Nick Britsky, a 29-year-old Royal Oak resident and founding member of i3 Detroit. “i3 Detroit has led to a number of creative projects and connections nationwide. Make Magazine even called us the biggest hackerspace in the country.”

i3 Detroit is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to creative works and organizations in metro Detroit. There’s also:

• Handmade Detroit, an organization started by a group of crafting chicas who believe in the unique value of handmade goods, the act of creation and good old community building.

• Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project, located on Detroit’s east side. Tyree has used everyday, discarded objects to create a two-block area full of art, color and symbolism. The Heidelberg Project is recognized worldwide as an artistic expression that has preserved and beautified forgotten neighborhoods.

• Chazz Miller’s Public Art Workz. Chazz’s goal is to revitalize northwest Detroit into a world-class public art showcase using murals as the catalyst for change. Chazz and his team create murals through the metro Detroit area and provide a vehicle for individual expression through lessons, tutoring and after school arts activities that bring together professional artists, art teachers and art enthusiasts.

5. And finally…the people
The companies and organizations I’ve mentioned so far are just small pieces in the huge puzzle that when put together, comprises everything that makes metro Detroit so fun, unique and special. But, it’s really the people who live here who make this region extraordinary.

I am most grateful this Thanksgiving for everyone locally who has touched my life in some shape or form. So I encourage you to not only visit the places that make metro Detroit so hip and happenin’, but get out in the community, meet your neighbors and continue doing things that make this great region shine.

Before you do that though, chow down on some turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing, and have a happy Thanksgiving!

There’s a creative phenomenon happening with men worldwide during the month of November, and it involves growing mustaches.

For many people, especially those striving to raise awareness about prostate cancer, the month of November is better known as “Movember.” Mo-what? According to the website, the name derives from the slang for mustache (The Mo) combined with November.

Much like the pink ribbon is the symbol that represents breast cancer, mustaches on men have become the symbol for raising awareness about prostate cancer, which is the number one cancer affecting men. Movember challenges men to change their appearance in order to change the face of men’s health. Men who grow a ‘stache and participate in Movember are encouraged to gather donations that benefit prostate cancer research and programs that support people with the disease. Funds raised through Movember’s U.S. campaign will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Movember is happening all across the world, so you can likely find a group or person to support somewhere close to where you live. In the Detroit community, we have a group of dedicated men who have committed to embracing the scratchy ‘stache all this month. They are Team Backchannel, and you can follow along with their progress (and have a few chuckles if you’re used to these guys without mustaches!) on their website and with the #teambackchannel hashtag on Twitter.

If you’re able to, please consider donating. Team Backchannel’s goal is $5,000, and they have currently raised $658. We’ve almost hit mid-November, so I encourage you to help this great group of guys get closer to their goal. You never know if/when prostate cancer will touch your life, if it hasn’t already, so do what you can now to support those looking for a cure and helping people who currently have the disease.

Good luck, Team Backchannel, and thank you for taking a stance against prostate cancer.

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I spend a ridiculous amount of time reading material that is related to public relations and social media because I love what I do. While constantly educating myself about what’s going on in my industry is extremely important, it’s also good to branch out and read material that’s interesting, but not related to my career.

My Google Reader is filled with a hodgepodge of blogs, so I thought I would share four that I find positive in nature, interesting and valuable. I hope you can add a few, if not all, of these blogs to your reading list so you can start learning from them, too.

1. My Escape Velocity – Chris Brogan’s human business and new media blog is wildly successful, and I learn a ton from it. But I like the new direction he and the other contributing writers are taking with this blog. My Escape Velocity is meant to serve as a resource to help people build skills in specific areas, such as self-improvement, business, money and books.

2. Productivity501 – Who couldn’t use some advice when it comes to beefing up productivity? There are a million and one distractions in this world that make it too easy to stray off course. The writer at Productivity501 is dedicated to sharing tips and tricks to help readers increase personal productivity.

3. Zen Habits – This is not an undercover blog by any means, and you may already read it regularly. But if not, you need to – especially if you lead a busy and stressful life. The tagline sums the content up perfectly – Smile, breathe and go slowly. The content on Zen Habits centers on the theme of finding simplicity in the chaos of daily life. Sometimes I seriously want to reach through my computer screen and hug the author (Leo Babauta created the blog, but he frequently features guest writers) because it has been “one of those days” and the post on Zen Habits brings me back to sanity. This blog is a bit off the norm because there are no comments, social sharing options or ads. Simplicity truly is a beautiful thing.

4. The Real Time Farms Blog – A few pals of mine in Ann Arbor, MI run Real Time Farms, which is a relatively new company that helps local consumers understand where their food comes from. People can discover fresh and local food near them and share pictures and information about local farms and farmers markets. So of course, the blog is full of scrumptious looking food. It also features stories and experiences that various writers share related to fresh and wholesome food. The photos on this blog are stunning, and you’ll find value in the content even if you aren’t from the Ann Arbor, MI area.

Your turn! What are some of your favorite blogs that have nothing to do with your work or industry?

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The same thing frequently happens to me on Sunday nights. As I’m finishing up tasks that needed to get done over the weekend and planning for the upcoming week, the anxiety starts to set it. Anxiety about what I didn’t get accomplished during the weekend. Anxiety about the week to come and everything on my to-do list. Anxiety about having anxiety.

I bet many of you reading this are nodding along in agreement. Even when we’re fortunate enough to be doing everything that we love (which should always be the case, but sadly isn’t for everyone), it’s nearly impossible to avoid feeling the pressure that comes along with commitment and responsibility.

Here’s a quote from Seth Godin I’ve saved that I want to share with you as you’re kicking off another week:

“Anxiety is nothing but repeatedly re-experiencing failure in advance. What a waste.”

Kind of puts anxiety into perspective, doesn’t it? I strategically keep this on my to-do list in Evernote so that I’m reminded to take a step back and chill the heck out every time I look at that list and start feeling anxious. Consider doing something similar. Write this quote on a Post-it note and put it on your desk or computer. Or, if this quote doesn’t do much for you, find a similar one and refer to it when you’re feeling overwhelmed. When stress and anxiety levels soar, subtle reminders that help us keep our cool can make a world of difference.

Do you do anything particular when you’re feeling anxious or stressed? Are there any quotes/words of advice similar to Seth’s that you carry with you?

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Every week I come across a nonprofit or not-for-profit that is spreading the word about a cause or event to raise donations. It’s tough to stand out among the competition, and I always love finding an organization that does something creative to differentiate itself. That’s why when my pal Ryan Doyle, founder of the Live to Give Foundation (I’m linking to the Twitter page because L2G is in the process of getting a new website), told me about a new and unique initiative he’s involved in, I was more than happy to help share the news.

Ryan and the rest of his L2G team have partnered with University of Michigan football player Mike Martin to change the world one tackle at a time. Mike has been fortunate enough to find athletic success, and he’s using that success to do good in his community. Mike has been an active volunteer with C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and other organizations, but his partnership with L2G is his first large-scale philanthropic effort.

Ryan started L2G to make charity more personal by connecting donors, recipients and the community to their efforts through video documentaries, live streaming, social media outreach and much more. In less than three years, this team of 15 students and young professionals (all under the age of 24) has raised more than $50,000 to help 10 Michigan families in their time of need.

Mike and L2G will be raising awareness for each other’s efforts for the remainder of 2010, which will include a launch party in Novi on October 22 to celebrate the next evolution of L2G, as well as several other unique fundraisers on the University of Michigan campus. Their goal is to raise $15,000 to $20,000 for a cause (yet to be determined) that will benefit communities of southeast Michigan. Most importantly, 100 percent of every single dollar donated will directly benefit the state of Michigan.

Check out Mike’s promo video for the L2G partnership (bonus, it includes some funny outtakes at the end).

So, how can you help support Mike and L2G’s efforts to do some good and help those who are less fortunate? You can check out, and if you’re so inclined, “like” Mike and L2G’s Facebook pages. You can rally some friends and attend the launch party. You can spread the word about this initiative on your social networks, through a blog post and via any other way you deem appropriate. And of course, you can donate to help Mike and L2G reach their goal (it’s tax deductible!).

Thanks to Mike, Ryan and the entire L2G team for being agents for change!

Think about a time when you felt invisible to the world. Maybe you stood up for something you strongly believed in, but no one listened. Maybe you tried to rally support for a person, cause or organization, but people were too busy to help. Maybe you just wanted your voice to be heard, but it seemed like no one cared. Maybe you tried to make friends at school or on a sports team, but people ignored you.

It straight up sucks to feel rejected and invisible, doesn’t it? Even the most social and extroverted people have felt lonely and misunderstood at times. Now imagine feeling that way, day after day, because sadly you’re part of a demographic that often gets overlooked. Imagine you were homeless, and hundreds of people passed by you every day without casting a glance in your direction. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness each year. And that’s only in our country! I don’t think I will be alive to see the day when every single person on this earth has a home, but I know many homeless people will have the opportunity to let their voices be heard, all thanks to Mark Horvath and InvisiblePeople.tv.

About 16 years ago, Mark had a thriving career in the television industry. A layoff led to relocation, which led to more layoffs, which led to foreclosure, which eventually led to Mark being homeless. The only personal belongings Mark was able to salvage were some photos, furniture, his phone and a camera. After experiencing life without a place to call home for awhile, Mark decided he wanted to do something to make those were invisible become visible. He used what little money he had to buy a domain name and create a WordPress theme with intentions of shooting video of homeless people and sharing them with the world. Mark almost scratched the whole project because he had to sell his fancy editing equipment and couldn’t do what he was so accustomed to doing – putting together well-packaged video pieces. But this ended up being a blessing in disguise because the raw footage is real and impactful. Mark wasn’t sure anyone would watch when he first started posting the videos on his site. Slowly but surely, people did pay attention to what Mark has created. A lot of people. Continue reading “The Homeless Have a Voice Thanks to Mark Horvath and InvisiblePeople.tv”

The weeks fly by so fast that sometimes we just go through the motions without really living life. Sometimes we are oblivious to what’s happening around us or how long it’s been since we’ve done something we have deemed as important. It’s incredible how six months can feel like six hours when we’re caught up in a whirlwind of activities week after week. It’s easy to lose focus on what truly matters.

I was talking to my great aunt on the phone the other day about work, wedding planning and all the other activities I’m involved in. She told me it’s great to stay busy, but to always be sure I’m dedicating time to the important things in life. She used to work so much that she would forget what day it was. She also said that decades of her life went by too quickly, and she ended up looking back and realizing too much time had passed since she had done certain things. I remind myself constantly that I never want to get to that point. Continue reading “22 Important Questions to Ask Yourself”

When Jeff Pulver, 140 Characters Conference founder, visited Detroit a couple weeks ago to meet with our team about  140conf Detroit on October 20, he asked us all to make a short video to share our thoughts about the conference.

The main point I want to get across about this conference is that just because it’s taking place in Detroit doesn’t mean it’s a Detroit or Michigan conference. We really want support and participation from all across the country, particularly the states in the Midwest. Midwesterners can drive a few hours to spend a day meeting new people and hearing inspirational stories. Yes, I’m looking at you Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Columbus, Toledo and Cincinnati. To help rally the troops in the Midwest, Jeff is venturing on a road trip August 22-28 to stop in a few cities, meet the community and hopefully encourage people to attend the 140conf Detroit in October. So, if you know of anyone from Michigan, the Midwest, across the country, or heck, even across the world, who has a story to tell about the real time Web impacting the real world, please spread the word.

Here are my thoughts about the conference. I encourage you to do something similar…whether it’s writing a blog post, creating a video or tweeting nonstop about 140conf Detroit for 48 hours straight (OK, that might be extreme!). 😉

Can’t get enough of 140conf Detroit? Check out our blog, Facebook event and LinkedIn group.

Darren Rowse, aka ProBlogger, recently challenged bloggers to a seven link challenge post – linking to seven posts that fit into seven themes, which mostly relate to your blog. This seemed more like a fun exercise instead of a challenge, and I welcomed the opportunity to dive back through my almost three year’s worth of posts. So here goes…

1. Your first post. I originally used Blogger for my blog before I moved my posts over to WordPress earlier this year. I wrote my very first post on Aug. 19, 2007, and it was titled Who Knew? I basically say that I finally gave in to blogging and can’t believe how social media obsessed I’ve become in the short amount of time that I’d been out of college. My how my blog writing has matured! I went from rambling about everything and anything to focusing on six main themes.

2. A post you enjoyed writing the most. This one is a tie because I couldn’t decide between Collaborate With Metro Detroit’s Creatives at Tweetea and Five Important Lessons Learned at My First PR Job. The Tweetea post marks the beginning of me becoming heavily involved in my local interactive community. I remember how happy I was when I came home from my first Tweetea because I met some amazing people and knew this group would grow to be a staple in the community. The post about my first PR job was nostalgic for me because it was an opportunity to reflect on what I learned during my first three years at a PR agency. I distinctly remember enjoying the experience of writing both of these posts.

Continue reading “ProBlogger Challenged Me…And I Listened”