Yellow Dog Consulting

Sales & Marketing Consulting for solo-preneurs.

November Pop Culture Round Up!

by // Leave a Comment

imagesIt’s that time of the month again where I share what I’m watching, reading and listening to. Please make sure to share your suggestions in the comments, I’m always looking for good pop culture!

Watching

Holy crap folks, I saw Gravity this weekend. Everything I’ve heard and read about this movie said THIS is the reason to go to the movies. And they were absolutely correct! See it in 3D and prepare to be afraid of space. For 5 minutes after the movie I sat in my seat catching my breath. I don’t think I breathed for the last 75 minutes (of a 90 minute film.). Seriously. Go see this. Take your family, or get away from your family for a couple hours and go see it. Trust me on this one. WOW. WOW.

My DVR continues to be filled with the usual lineup: The Walking Dead (The Governor’s back!), Homeland (Saul knew where Brody was? WOAH!), Masters of Sex (trust me on this one), Parks & Rec, Parenthood, New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. You get the idea. But, my husband & I are really enjoying the Esquire Network. Yeah, like the magazine. 2 shows specifically: The Getaway, where a celebrity takes a trip for 3 days to a very cool city. Paul Feig’s trip to Boston was a BLAST, and I love Rashida Jones more for her London trip a couple weeks ago. We also have enjoyed Brew Dogs, which inspired our recent weekend down in San Diego. If you’re a craft beer fan, AND like guys with Scottish accents, THIS is the show for you. Set your DVR and prepare to do some vacation planning!

Reading

I just finished The Husband’s Secret which I’d read some good reviews of. I really enjoyed the book. I like the 4 different stories that all come together kind of thing. My suggestion though: Skip the epilogue, it’s pretty cheesy and could ruin the book for you, it adds nothing.

I had a great chat with my comic book shop guy the other day when I was picking up the latest The Walking Dead issue. My Thanksgiving reading will now include Saga, Y the Last Man (I’ve mentioned Y before, I started it this summer, thanks dad!), and Ex Machina. I will also be buying comics for some of the older kids in my family for Christmas, someone has to raise these kids right!

Listening

I’ve got the usual slew of Podcasts keeping me entertained as I drive around the Puget Sound (and down to Oregon for Thanksgiving) right now. As I write this I’m revisiting one of my favorite albums ever, Beck’s Odelay.

Christmas is right around the corner, and I refuse to play Christmas music until Thanksgiving. Someone on Twitter mentioned last night that Josh Groban’s Christmas album is the best ever. And since I couldn’t reach through twitter and slap her, I figured I’d make my list here: Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Oakridge Boys (I knew I married into the right family when my first Christmas with them this album came on), Bob & Doug McKenzie (2 turtlenecks, and a Beer…in a tree), any Starbucks Christmas album works as good background music, as does A Charlie Brown Christmas album. Fun Fact: My Christmas CD’s stay in the car. Mostly because it’s the only places to listen to CD’s, and the only time I listen to CD’s in my car is over the holidays. What holiday albums do you love to listen to this time of year?

So there’s my round up for the month. Hopefully there’s a few suggestions here to get you through the Thanksgiving weekend!

October Pop Culture Round Up

by // Leave a Comment

images-1It’s that time of the month, where we talk Pop Culture. Granted, at Yellow Dog Consulting, we always have time to talk about Pop Culture! Here’s a few things I’m enjoying recently!

Reading

I’m currently reading Y The Last Man graphic novels, and just finished volumes 4 & 5 this weekend, which means I’m half way through the series. It’s got some ups and downs, but over all I’m enjoying the series!

I’m still loving Lazarus & am almost caught up on The Walking Dead. I just picked up The Husband’s Secret which I’m hearing great things about. I have some traveling coming up and needed a book on my Kindle! I’ll let you know what I think, as always.

Watching

I am not great at watching movies. I like them, but don’t get around to it like I should. My DVR is usually too full with TV shows to watch a movie. But last weekend I watched The Kings of Summer, and it was AWESOME. I mentioned earlier this year that I really enjoyed The Way Way Back, and this is in that same vain. Nick Offerman (aka Ron Swanson) is fantastic in it, and the main character is a kid from Seattle! I HIGHLY recommend this movie. There is a snake scene, you’ve been warned…

As for TV, my DVR is pretty full this fall with some of my favorites returning, and some GREAT new shows. The Walking Dead (it’s back, HOORAY!!!), Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD (not amazing, but really fun!), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (my favorite new comedy), Homeland (oh Carrie…), Masters of Sex (Lizzie Caplan!), Parks & Recreation (London!), Top Chef (Go Seattle gal!), and a slew of others I know I’m forgetting…

Listening

I need to find some new podcasts I’ve decided. I’m pretty caught up on Grantland, The Nerdist, and WTF with Marc Maron. What podcasts do you enjoy?

I am also enjoying the new Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience 2 of 2…

So what are you reading watching & listening to this fall?

Client Management and TV Finales

by // Leave a Comment

imgresIn my pop culture filled world, the fall means season finales, season premiers and series premiers. I love this time of year from a pop culture perspective. My DVR is on overload and my evenings are prioritized by serial killers, super heroes and city council women.

The season finale of Dexter was almost two weeks ago now. I’m still not sold on it. I feel like Dexter got away with being a dead beat dad, and leaving his son in the hands of another serial killer. I’m glad he’s a logger in Oregon and alone, but really bummed he left his kid. My disappointment over the finale is like we can often be with clients. You want what’s best for them, but it’s their company, their show, and their decisions. Sometimes they aren’t going to agree with you, but you have to trust they’re making the best decision for their company (or character or TV show…). It’s not what I wanted, but it works for them.

Returning shows are just like current clients. I could not WAIT for the season premier of Parks & Recreation, my favorite TV show. And it didn’t disappoint! Always on top of it’s game and so FUN. Just like a great client. They show up, ready to do the work, and are on top of their side of the agreement. It makes it easy to work with them and I enjoy the work we do. Isn’t this what we all strive for in business?

Series Premiers? It’s just like that initial client meeting. You may have high hopes (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and it comes together quickly and seamlessly. That’s always great. Or you may be 15 minutes into the meeting and realize there’s no way they can afford you or are really ready to work with you, and really they just want free advice. Hello Michael J. Fox Show (the pilot was bad and I didn’t even make it half way through the second episode. So disappointed!) We’ve all been there, and it’ll happen again but hopefully in time we learn to spot those duds earlier and save our self the time and energy!

So there you have it folks, my feeble excuse to merge a review of TV premiers with client management lessons. What shows are you enjoying this fall? What clients are you excited to be working with or prospects do you REALLY want to work with this fall?