Neatorama posted some awesome pics of people using books as art for non-literary purposes.  Some of them you have to do a double take!

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...

An interesting way to hide your tech addiction?

You can actually buy this on Etsy.

 

Seth Godin offered some interesting insight on the changing nature of the economy and the nature of business in general. Cookie cutter is out and finger paint is in, but not without the ever present risk of getting a little messy!

"The old economy offered a guarantee--time plus education plus obedience = stability. The new one, not so much. The new one offers a chance for you to take a chance and make an impact."

"The nature of the last era was that repetition and management of results increased profits. The nature of this one is the opposite: if someone can tell you precisely what to do, it's too late. Art and novelty and innovation cannot be reliably and successfully industrialized."

I see this every day working in the social media space. Messaging becomes less controlled and more conversational and business leads come from building relationships and providing valuable content, not producing more and being the best bargain.

I was lucky enough to spend last weekend in Southport, N.C. with my mom.  We stayed at Lois Janes Riverview Inn right on the water and explored the quaint town and surrounding beaches.  We relished in the great food, sand and sun for a long weekend away and definitely got some much needed R&R.  Here is a little look back at our weekend courtesy of Instagram:

Front porch rockers...

Old school keys...

and gnarly trees...

Springtime in the Old North State... Good morning... Gourmet breakfast... Sandy beaches.. Wildflowers... Fresh caught shrimp... and of course some classic BBQ and sweet tea...

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. 
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 
It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.

- Marianne Williamson

I recently finished reading Delivering Happiness: A path to profits, passion, and purpose by Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com. The book was an easy read and offered a very transparent look into how Zappos got its start, and what has made it one of the best places to work, revered for its culture and customer service.  Hsieh shares candid employee annecdotes and staff e-mails while offering insightful takeaways about business ethics and standards. One of my favorite excerpts were his "Tweets to Live By" at the end of several chapters:

"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself" - Soren Kierkegaard

"If you have more than 3 priorities then you don't have any" - Jim Collins

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit" - H.S. Truman

"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of the work is the same" - Carlos Castaneda

I would highly recommend the book to anyone whether they are an entrepreneur, small business owner, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or even your average employee (cheers!).  The insight offers great tips and a reminder to keep yourself, and your business in check.

"The circumstances, struggles, and attacks you face are not the ultimate determining factor of the kind of life you live. How you use them is. And there isn’t a single situation in your life that can’t be used for your good and God’s glory." - Pastor Steven Furtick