Shoes for the Soul

It's really amazing to me what a new pair of shoes can do to inspire. Maybe this phenomenon is limited to my brain-space, but I truly find that with the right pair of shoes, I feel I can accomplish just about anything.

:-D

SXSW 2010 Registration Kicks off

Can it be here so soon? Why yes, yes it can! Registration for SXSW 2010 officially launches Monday, August 3rd -- get your registration in now for the best hotel choices. :-D

Attendance at the SXSW Interactive portion of the conference has continued to increase each year by leaps and bounds. They seem to continue to attract A+ folks to speak in both their Keynotes and Panels. Last year the Guy Kawasaki and Chris Anderson keynote was pretty interesting and 2008 was all abuzz with the Mark Zuckerberg interview by Sarah Lacey.

Overall, the thing I enjoy the most are the connections I make during SXSW. It is truly an amazing networking event -- with a tad* bit of entertainment thrown in for good measure.

I've been to every SXSW conference since 2003, so if I can answer any questions for you, feel free to send them my way.

*Note: YMMV :)

Fake it till you believe it

"Fake it till you believe it" is something the marketing director at my former employer is known to have said on occasion. Really the idea is that no matter your frame of mind, if you 'fake' it, then ultimately you'll start to believe it and actually feel differently about the situation. And certainly that sentiment rings true now that a job search is at my doorstep. Putting yourself in the right frame of mind for a job search in this economy can feel a lot like a 'Fake it till you believe it' moment. You have to believe that you are a superstar and radiate that confidence in how you approach new opportunities (notice I said confidence, not arrogance!).

On to lighter fare... I read my Horoscope every once in a while for entertainment. Read today's offering for Tarot.com (I'm a Capricorn BTW):

It's healthy for you to reestablish yourself today, especially if the ground recently shook beneath your feet. Although you're most comfortable when you know where you are and where you are heading, you might not have that luxury now. Although you are regaining stability, you may not want the same things you once did. Give yourself time to set different goals before you try to figure out your new course.

Hopefully that means good things are on the horizon. :)

Water Scofflaws Beware!

Really ... what a great word... scofflaws.

I can tell you that right now my yard is a virtual dustbowl, after more than 30 days of 100+ degree heat and record-breaking lack of rain. In what has to be the worst drought we've had in 100 years, cities around Texas are encouraging residents to report on illegal watering.

So Texans, here's a recipe for baking cookies on the dashboard of your car. Enjoy!

Exits and Moving On..

This week QuickArrow announced their acquisition by NetSuite, bringing this chapter in my work experience to a close. QuickArrow, an Austin Ventures portfolio company, survived when the tech bubble burst in Austin in 2001 and was back on a track and poised for growth when I joined in 2005. Being part of a start-up that grew up and ultimately achieved an 'exit' is certainly something I'm proud to have been a part of, but that feeling of success is mingled with a certain amount of sadness.

Someone said it feels like the last day of school or that there should be a year-book for us all to sign. I know what they mean. Being a part of a small company meant wearing a ton of hats, always pitching in and having a feeling that I was really making an impact every day. Of course, the people I worked with were a huge part of what I loved about being there every day. From Wii Bowling Tournaments to setting off the building fire alarm on Halloween (someone brought a 'fog machine') -- I'll have lot's of great memories to take with me.

While I'll miss my co-workers in the days ahead, I'm excited to turn the corner and see what is in store for me now. I'm ready for a new challenge and a fresh opportunity to help another company achieve the same kind of success and growth that I did at QuickArrow.

Top Notch - An Austin Institution

There are certainly plenty of places that Austin locals think of when they think of places that have been around ... well... forever. For me, one of those is Top Notch on Burnet Rd. This old-school drive-in has changed it's decor very little since it opened in 1961, and has been featured in movies from Dazed & Confused to Varsity Blues -- but that's not why I go.

Classic, simple menu featuring char-grilled burgers and fried chicken that will make you want to slap-yo-mama, this place is the real deal. In my household, the favorite is the 'Longhorn special' -- a two-patty burger with 1000 island dressing -- that must have been an answer to the 'Big Mac' when it was put on the menu.

So, if you're feeling nostalgic or want to have a truly classic Austin experience, then I highly recommend.

Photo credit: auslunch.com

SXSW Panel Picker - Voting Coming Soon!

Get your engines ready for the SXSW Panel Picker Voting process, starting on August 10, 2009. Want to go to SXSW this year? Want to have a say in the panels they put on the list? Then VOTE!