Welcome to complete guide for uncovering your unique fabulosity—a.k.a. the archives of my e-newsletter, communicatrix | focuses. Each issue contains:

1. An article about Getting There Faster (with actionable tips!)
2. Some must-see/read/hear media recos
3. A silly pen-and-ink sketch by yours truly

If you like what you see, please consider subscribing. Archives will always be here (and free!), but subscribers get the goods first. Especially because I can be somewhat lax about getting back issues up on the site.

And if you know of someone else who might benefit, please share it with them. We’ll both appreciate it!

xxx
c

2009

Reinventing yourself (05/09)

Some perspective and tools for grappling with fast-paced change, one of my least-favorite phases (and one you can bet ain’t going away anytime soon).

PLUS… a memoir about changing the world that will inspire you to do the same, a brilliantly curated site chock-a-block with fantastic images that never fails to amuse and delight me, and a free, don’t-even-have-to-give-up-your-email-addy PDF about how to make your blog kick maximum ass in minimum time.

» Read the May 2009 issue
» Subscribe, dammit!

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Now, more than ever, you need to play (04/09)

Making even a wee bit of room for structured, purposeful, but still whoop-dee-doo time and activities can work wonders for getting your creative juices flowing and, ironically, improving your work output. How it’s worked (and not) for me, plus a few ideas to give a test drive.

PLUS… a site that provides a steady infusion of delightful and thought-provoking juxtapositions of words and pictures, a free tool that makes both concentration and sharing a workspace easier, and a jargon-free, freak-friendly book on communication you won’t want to hurl across the living room at your partner.

» Read the April 2009 issue
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Control what you can (03/09)

The quickest way to vanquishing fear—and promoting fabulosity—is to apply considered effort towards the things within your grasp. This month’s issue offers three ways to do just that.

PLUS… a fun, free tool that’s equal parts delight and utility (and that really will help you keep on track with your goals), a site full of delightful, hilarious story jokes told by masters of the genre that serves as stress relief and motivation to hone your own storytelling (and joke telling) skills, and the rebirth of a blog by one of the brightest, most controversial voices out there on change and the marketplace.

» Read the March 2009 issue
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Turning hated tasks into personal gold (02/09)

The stuff that challenges us can end up being not only the stuff that makes us grow better/stronger/faster, but also the stuff we love the most. Here’s a different take on how to think about the not-so-fun inevitabilities of life, plus (as usual) some things to monkey with if you want to put the theory into practice.

PLUS… a site (and email newsletter) that manages to serve up the most important news of the day in a fun, fresh way; a site chock full of inspiring thoughts with a musical flavor; and a dopey but seriously fun online tool I guarantee you’ll find at least one interesting use for.

» Read the February 2009 issue
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Getting to fabulosity incrementally! (01/09)

Getting to fabulosity the incremental way—10 minutes at a time—while allowing yourself the delicious freedom to be the imperfect work of wonder you are.

PLUS… a treasure trove of fun & easy writing tips/tricks/ideas to get you out of the hole and back on the page, a bee-yoo-tee-full WordPress theme that makes blogging easier and SEO better than ever before (even for non-techies!) and a funky-perfect CD from an African musical genius that will engage your soul while it energizes your body (and leaves your mind free to work).

» Read the January 2009 issue
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2008

Special holiday woo-woo edition! (12/08)

A few concrete methods of coping when you’re living through “interesting” times.

PLUS… a nifty, light, fun-to-use screen grab utility that lets you be more social with your pictures, a couple of fantastic new site finds for culture vultures who especially dig on books and movies, and a movie available on DVD that is so uplifting, you cannot watch it without becoming a better, happier person.

» Read the December 2008 issue
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Keeping your eyes on your own paper (11/08)

Sometimes life moves the guy next to you along a little faster than it does you. How do you not only cope with that potentially fraught inevitability, but move through it with grace AND learn you a little sumpin’-sumpin’?

PLUS… a book from a marketer that will inspire you to reach way beyond the goals you’ve set for yourself (and for a great reason), a terrific online/email support group that puts the theory of many-minds (and hearts) into beautiful practice, and some mesmerizingly awesome storytelling yours for the download.

» Read the November 2008 issue
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Making space for your voice (10/08)

Some personal experience (and a few suggestions that came out of it) on how to create the kind of room you need in order to facilitate the change you want.

PLUS… the incessant hammering on my pal, Chris Brogan, pays off in spades for YOU, a fantastic podcast devoted to the fascinating art of the cover song, and the one book to buy on creating great presentations if you’re only buying one.

» Read the October 2008 issue
» Subscribe, dammit!

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Communicator, teach thyself! (09/08)

Getting yourself out of a jam and onto the next level by applying a few really simple procedures.

PLUS… a no-hassle time-tracking device that will send you an eye-opening summary of where you wasted—er…spent your time that week, more get-started-with-social-media resources than you can shake a stick at and a look down a rabbit hole that will have you seeing things from a whole different perspective.

» Read the September 2008 issue
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How to Sound Like Yourself (08/08)

A step-by-step method for figuring out what you want to say and then saying it with your own, personal style.

PLUS… a treasure trove of fascinating and groundbreaking interviews on the internet, my new-favorite book on writing (wait’ll you hear the title!), and a sure-fire and stylish (and pretty cost-effective) way of staying in touch with people and commemorating the special events in their lives.

» Read the August 2008 issue
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Project Thinking: the Friend of Fabulosity (07/08)

Creativity rules, but sometimes, applying a little left-brain thinking, structure and discipline can ease the creativity birthing process. Some tools for turning your fantabulous creative notion into physical reality.

PLUS… an amazing repository of how-to articles on social media, Colleen’s Dirty-Little-Secret tv addiction, and a wonderful book uses the power of listmaking to help you harness your dreams, and does it with style and grace.

» Read the July 2008 issue
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First, let it be sucky (06/08)

An explanation of why it takes so damned long to get good at something, and some tips and tricks to get you through the long, long gap between taste and ability.

PLUS… a fantastic, 100%-free resource to connect you with journalists, authors and other word-spreaders telling stories, a terrific free e-book on solopreneur marketing and promotion and a great author’s finest work of writing.

» Read the June 2008 issue
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How to spread the word of you (05/08)

Part 2 of my series on personal branding covers the basic building blocks of branding–more elemental than you might think! Stuff like…your haircut! The typefaces you use! And other stuff that won’t cost a penny extra, but can help focus and telegraph the youness of you.

PLUS… another reason the British are wiping the floor with us, television-wise, a super-short rave about the Twitter all the kids are talking about (and how you should maybe think about using it) and some shameless pimpage for a kick-ass book I wrote the introduction for.

» Read the May 2008 issue
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Demystifying (and de-nasty-fying) personal branding (04/08)

Part 1 of my down-and-dirty how-to on personal branding, mainly dealing with the “why” behind it. Includes questions to ask yourself, to get you thinking about what it is about you that you want to share with the world.

PLUS… my very favorite online resource for videos that are inspiring and educational (and often, hilarious) all at once, my swoon-fest plug for an outstanding singer-songwriter much beloved by the geeks (who is, himself, a model of personal branding) and my rave about the living, printed proof of one of the most outstanding volunteer programs I’ve ever seen for the benefit of young women.

» Read the April 2008 issue
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Meeting people made easier (03/08)

Some guidance on making networking more gainful, less painful, using the sad lessons of my experience plus some good tricks from acting and other tawdry pursuits

PLUS… a self-help book (and audio program) that’s a classic for good reason, some suggestions on why using them in tandem might be a good idea, and my plug for a social networking aggregator that streamlines the process of getting information from a bazillion different places.

» Read the March 2008 issue
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Homework for your enjoyment (02/08)

Tips for making speeches more memorable (for your audience) and more memorizable (for you), culled from years in the copywriting/acting trenches.

PLUS… a haunting, Oscar-nominated film well worth a view, a site chock-a-block with thought-provoking, inspiring short films, and my favorite tool for turning URL behemoths into short, user-friendly links.

» Read the February 2008 issue
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Get the help you need to be truly fabulous (01/08)

Ways to find the group of advisors, idea generators, editors and other friends in need you’ll want, both online and off, to create your own best support network.

PLUS… a consistently inspiring twice-weekly newsletter, a book with more creative jumpstarting projects than you can shake a stick at and a shameless plug for the greatest online music delivery system I’ve found yet.

» Read the January 2008 issue
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2007

Prep now for a better 2008 (12/07)

My favorite resources for creating meaningful goals, fun projects and other cool structures that make change pleasant (as opposed to the pain in the butt it usually is).

PLUS… A shameless plea, a book that will make you think differently about the seemingly mundane objects in your life, and an exquisite film about a man who communicated better using 1/1000th of himself than most of us do using our whole bodies.

» Read the December 2007 issue
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7 ways to improve communications skills messing around on the Internet (11/07)

Farting around on the internet no longer has to be an utter waste of time!! Check out this rundown of the best social networking sites, plus some innovative ways of using them.

PLUS… improve your vocabulary while helping eradicate hunger, the best (and funnest!) newsweekly in eons AND a podcast for smart people masquerading as a podcast about S-E-X.

» Read the November 2007 issue
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Stick to simple to make it stick (10/07)

A simple, straightforward series of steps for developing a successful piece of communication.

PLUS… a great social networking site for big readers, a book about talking to kids that works amazingly well for grownups, and a BBC miniseries that held two continents AND the communicatrix in thrall.

» Read the October 2007 issue
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MacGyvering your way out of creative blocks (09/07)

When inspiration eludes you, sometimes the most effective thing is to do-it-yourself with whatever’s handy (hint: not always duct tape). Here are a few cheap (or free) ways to stir it up.

PLUS… two creative visionaries who work in very different media, and a blast of hilarious TV from the vault, courtesy of YouTube.

» Read the September 2007 issue
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Better writing through exhaustion (08/07)

The more what you say/write/create comes from “the truth of you,” the better the chance it will land properly with someone else. This month offers simple, effective exercises for connecting with your authentic voice.

PLUS… a meme to get you involved, a book about battling your demons and a film about finding inspiration in a really unlikely place.

» Read the August 2007 issue
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Geeky ways to become a better communicator (07/07)

A few lifehacks stolen from the nerds that can help you increase the quality and quantity of your output.

PLUS… some really smart (and inspiring) resources on decluttering and a brilliant documentary on a filthy poet.

» Read the July 2007 issue
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How to talk to anyone in the universe (06/07)

A good script to help focus your thoughts on the person (or people) you’re communicating with. Applicable in writing, speaking, designing, what have you.

PLUS… a new site where you can tell your stories (and read other people’s), a heartwarming biography by one of America’s finest, funniest writers about his muse, and a little-seen gem from the Criterion Collection.

» Read the June 2007 issue
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Say it better in two easy steps (May 2007)

A few dandy ways I’ve learned to keep the ideas flowing, for when the Muse decides to take an unannounced holiday.

PLUS… a delightfully fun site for exploring your creativity, a hilarious biography and a rock-’em, sock’-em blaxploitation gem.

» Read the May 2007 issue
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