2023
- March 20 ... bought a new keyboard.
- March 14 ... made a suggestion.
- February 23 ... listened to a live webinar.
- February 07 ... received an unexpected note in the mail.
- January 30 ... scheduled a client newsletter for 8:15 AM.
- January 17 ... made one small edit.
- January 09 ... read one statistic.
- January 05 ... updated the copyright notice on my web site.
- November 21 ... heard about some snow.
- November 17 ... found a broken link.
- October 31 ... wasted the morning.
- September 26 ... have four things I plan to do.
- September 22 ... found a typo.
- September 20 ... heard a story about the subway.
- August 23 ... am one year older.
- August 03 ... read an article about National Potato Month.
- July 29 ... went to the marketing gym.
- July 26 ... spoke with a restaurant owner.
- July 19 ... spoke with a new independent consultant.
- June 27 ... have been unemployed for 22 years.
- June 02 ... received a sales pitch.
- May 31 ... am breaking my own rule.
- May 25 ... went to somebody’s web site.
- May 09 ... am in Maine
- April 21 ... had three newsletter topic ideas in a row.
- April 18 ... watched the Boston Marathon.
- April 11 ... found a dime in my office parking lot.
- March 30 ... was asked a question.
- March 21 ... received three emails on the same topic.
- March 01 ... returned a call from a stranger.
- February 22 ... received a cryptic email.
- February 14 ... have been a father for 29 years.
- February 10 ... received a follow-up email from Staples.
- February 09 ... accidentally sent the wrong email to a client.
- February 07 ... watched an ad for weather.
- January 07 ... “wasted” half an hour on the phone.
- January 05 ... had to rewrite a client newsletter.
- January 04 ... printed out a new weekly activity sheet.
- December 13 ... am not in Starbucks.
- December 10 ... published an article on LinkedIn.
- December 07 ... had a blood test.
- November 23 ... wrote a 1,300 word newsletter for a client.
- November 11 ... received three emails.
- November 05 ... threw Jeff Bezos’ book in the trash.
- October 21 ... was a speaker at an online conference.
- October 14 ... have been married for 32 years.
- October 07 ... spoke with an independent consultant.
- October 05 ... am sending you an email.
- October 01 ... have a new computer hard drive.
- September 30 ... celebrate 22 years.
- September 27 ... was turned down by a prospective client.
- August 18 ... heard from a client.
- August 11 ... received a request to connect on LinkedIn.
- July 28 ... spoke with a friend.
- July 25 ... had a “get to know each other” Zoom call.
- June 30 ... ignored a movie.
- June 25 ... am back in my office.
- June 23 ... have been unemployed for 21 years.
- June 21 ... turned down a request.
- June 14 ... had my oil changed.
- June 09 ... sat inside a Starbucks.
- May 12 ... almost ignored a new client.
- April 05 ... received an email from Kelly Rourke.
- March 26 ... had a coaching call.
- March 23 ... reread the draft of a client newsletter.
- March 17 ... resent a webinar invite.
- March 15 ... have switched to the Oxford comma.
- March 08 ... copied an old newsletter.
- March 03 ... broke the email rule. Again.
- February 25 ... wasn’t sure what to do next.
- February 24 ... had a telemedicine call with my doctor.
- February 08 ... unsubscribed from Michael Lewis’s podcast.
- January 21 ... got an email from a prospective client.
- January 15 ... was asked to work on an additional project.
- January 04 ... am moving slowly.
- December 22 ... got to my office late.
- December 07 ... disagreed with my designer.
- November 24 ... had two unsatisfying interactions.
- November 23 ... have done three things.
- November 17 ... made a mistake.
- November 13 ... got an email from my brother.
- November 11 ... resent my newsletter.
- October 29 ... purchased a patio umbrella.
- October 28 ... was asked about my services.
- October 21 ... received a question from a long-standing client.
- October 13 ... received an email that missed the mark.
- October 07 ... did not win the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
- October 06 ... broke my own rule.
- September 23 ... fired a client.
- August 31 ... am preparing for vacation.
- August 19 ... really like my clients.
- August 06 ... read a client’s newsletter.
- August 03 ... heard a “red flag.”
- July 28 ... sent emails to a bunch of people.
- July 23 ... did not get hired.
- July 14 ... celebrate 100 years.
- July 07 ... am kind of embarrassed.
- June 17 ... got to my office at 10 am.
- June 09 ... logged into an old client’s LinkedIn account.
- June 05 ... received two emails.
- May 26 ... heard an old song on the radio.
- May 13 ... read an article about cruise lines.
- May 07 ... began work with an old client.
- May 04 ... am thankful for backup.
- April 29 ... did not record a video.
- April 23 ... lost some newsletter subscribers.
- April 22 ... encourage you to produce more content.
- April 20 ... read about a brown-eyed girl
- April 15 ... completed a client project.
- April 11 ... received an email about the Corona virus.
- April 09 ... called my health club
- April 06 ... am not sweating the small stuff.
- April 01 ... am wondering.
- March 30 ... shaved.
- March 27 ... emailed my friend Martin.
- March 26 ... received another “wash hands” email.
- March 24 ... got to work late.
- February 24 ... closed the door on a prospective client.
- February 07 ... had someone unsubscribe from my newsletter.
- February 04 ... wrote my newsletter.
- January 30 ... called an electrician.
- January 14 ... planted another seed.
- January 10 ... read about a new bus route in Michigan.
- January 02 ... well, OK, this started yesterday.
- December 02 ... received a new pair of glasses in the mail.
- November 14 ... sat next to a client in a meeting.
- November 13 ... received a follow-up email from my bank.
- November 07 ... heard a radio ad for a rug company.
- November 06 ... am watching my office building being painted.
- November 01 ... told somebody my last name over the phone.
- October 18 ... received an email from a financial planner.
- October 17 ... am thinking about yesterday.
- October 14 ... have been married for 30 years.
- October 07 ... did not win the Nobel prize in medicine.
- September 24 ... have three questions for you:
- September 23 ... am checking the stats of my most recent newsletter.
- September 04 ... was asked what my hourly rate is for copywriting.
- September 03 ... am publishing content.
- August 26 ... heard an interesting quote.
- August 22 ... received a birthday email from my dentist.
- August 01 ... spoke to a human being.
- July 24 ... attended a networking lunch event.
- July 03 ... am going home early.
- June 21 ... spent all morning rewriting my home page.
- June 20 ... read an article about email newsletters.
- June 10 ... have been talking with the cable company.
- June 07 ... had a conversation about newsletters.
- May 30 ... sent an email to a bookkeeper.
- May 22 ... received an email from my local library.
- May 08 ... have run out of teenage children.
- May 01 ... scared away a prospect.
- April 18 ... checked my “broken links” report.
- April 17 ... am reviewing some statistics.
- April 10 ... swallowed six pennies.
- April 09 ... received an email looking for advice.
- March 26 ... ate some oatmeal.
- March 20 ... sent my taxes to my accountant.
- February 28 ... got a call from an old client.
- February 20 ... read that YouTube has updated its community guidelines.
- February 12 ... read a story in someone’s newsletter.
- February 05 ... spent way more time than necessary.
- February 04 ... am working at Panera Bread.
- January 25 ... talked to someone who doesn’t have a Twitter account.
- January 23 ... received an email with a long email signature.
- January 21 ... will be speaking with a prospective client.
- January 16 ... watched a three-minute YouTube video.
- January 10 ... had my credit card compromised.
- January 08 ... had a call with a new client.
- December 20 ... was turned down by a potential client.
- December 11 ... got buried in the bureaucracy.
- December 06 ... sent out a promotional email for a friend’s product.
- November 27 ... was hired by two different former clients.
- October 30 ... was hired by a new client.
- October 18 ... received a spam phone call.
- October 10 ... was charged a $10 cancellation fee.
- October 02 ... have yet to hear from the Nobel committee.
- October 01 ... sent a snail mail follow-up to webinar attendees.
- September 19 ... left my computer’s power cord in a client’s office.
- September 14 ... sent a survey to subscribers, asking about an upcoming webinar.
- September 13 ... began work with a new client.
- September 11 ... had breakfast with a friend, a financial planner.
- September 05 ... didn’t charge somebody for my advice.
- August 15 ... received a friendly email from an online vendor.
- August 08 ... got an email from a new client.
- August 06 ... read a useful article about e-newsletters.
- August 01 ... mailed three birthday cards.
- July 16 ... reread the newsletter I published last Friday.
- June 27 ... received a thank you gift in the mail.
- June 15 ... begin work again with an old client.
- June 14 ... read a story about a viral video.
- June 13 ... saved $50 off my monthly Verizon bill.
- June 04 ... have new license plates for my car.
- May 31 ... received an email with an odd greeting.
- May 23 ... read something in a magazine.
- May 01 ... am writing something very complicated.
- April 26 ... am rewriting somebody’s bio.
- April 17 ... got an email from Beth.
- April 13 ... forgot my computer at home.
- March 28 ... saw my doctor.
- March 19 ... sent an email to webinar registrants.
- March 16 ... referred one colleague to another.
- March 06 ... received an email called Significant Digits.
- February 28 ... am in love with Staples of Milford, Massachusetts.
- February 27 ... had breakfast with a new colleague.
- February 14 ... received an email from Norm.
- February 13 ... am working on my back-up computer.
- February 08 ... am writing a newsletter.
- February 07 ... called a doctor’s office.
- February 06 ... called “Customer Service.”
- February 02 ... am writing about the “Today I” message I sent you yesterday.
- February 01 ... got a call from my neighbor, Rick.
- January 25 ... sent a special offer to people on my newsletter list.
- January 09 ... got to my office about an hour later than planned.
- January 05 ... received an odd compliment.
- December 20 ... received an email from Accurate Consulting Group.
- December 14 ... was mentioned in a client’s newsletter.
- December 07 ... received a check for $440.20.
- December 04 ... received two emails.
- November 21 ... got an email from Ken.
- November 16 ... saw my doctor.
- November 15 ... went to the supermarket.
- November 10 ... went to the doctor.
- November 06 ... am contacting podcasters.
- October 30 ... tried to send someone a thank you note.
- October 24 ... have been asking for help.
- October 11 ... spoke with a potential coaching client.
- September 20 ... am in need of a handyman.
- September 13 ... received a follow-up call from Verizon.
- September 12 ... have a new profile photo on LinkedIn.
- August 23 ... had a difficult discussion with a designer.
- August 21 ... am plugged back in.
- August 17 ... was asked a question by a client.
- August 07 ... was asked by a prospect, “Why should I hire you?”
- July 28 ... renewed my driver’s license.
- July 26 ... sent a thank you note.
- July 24 ... suggested a wording change.
- July 05 ... received a nice email from a long ago contact.
- June 13 ... am creating a new webinar.
- May 23 ... listened to a company CEO talk on the radio.
- May 19 ... had a good idea for a future newsletter.
- May 18 ... read about an interesting finding.
- May 08 ... have a son turning 18.
- May 02 ... moved an app on my phone to my home screen.
- April 27 ... received a newsletter.
- April 03 ... received an email from my bank.
- March 31 ... didn’t give up.
- March 24 ... have a new office chair.
- March 01 ... got a new sign-up for my newsletter.
- February 28 ... sent out a “last chance” reminder for my webinar tomorrow.
- February 23 ... got an email from Amazon.
- February 21 ... was notified of a failure.
- February 14 ... published a client’s newsletter.
- February 08 ... stated a fee to a prospective client.
- January 31 ... am waiting to hear back from a prospective client.
- January 30 ... deleted one of these “Today I” posts before sending it.
- January 11 ... added text alerts to my company credit card.
- January 05 ... have been contacted by two prospective clients.
- December 22 ... unsubscribed from about the 10th mailing list this week.
- December 20 ... spoke to two real estate attorneys.
- December 07 ... received a chilly email.
- December 02 ... drove 30 minutes for a meeting.
- November 30 ... got some new business cards in the mail.
- November 17 ... am helping a new client prepare for their newsletter launch.
- November 03 ... listened to an election-related anecdote on the radio.
- October 18 ... met with a prospective email newsletter client.
- October 14 ... am celebrating my 27th wedding anniversary.
- October 13 ... was asked a simple question.
- October 04 ... bought some paint.
- September 27 ... sent a second email to my list.
- September 19 ... walked away from a potential project.
- September 15 ... started my snowblower.
- August 26 ... am in control of my office air conditioning.
- August 23 ... got an email from my accountant.
- August 15 ... read three blogs/newsletters.
- July 27 ... got a call from somebody looking for “Ralph.”
- July 19 ... closed the door on a prospective client.
- July 15 ... received a gift from Michelle.
- July 06 ... received an apology note from a vendor.
- June 23 ... am celebrating.
- June 16 ... called my attorney.
- June 07 ... got an email from a friend.
- May 27 ... got an email from somebody I had hired.
- May 24 ... read an email from August 2015.
- May 13 ... received an email from a prospective client.
- May 05 ... have 601 subscribers to this blog.
- May 03 ... spoke with somebody about maybe hiring him.
- April 26 ... rewrote parts of my web site.
- April 14 ... received a request to edit something I wrote.
- April 06 ... heard from two members of my Content Club.
- April 04 ... have accomplished nothing.
- March 23 ... took my dog to the vet.
- March 21 ... heard from a friend who got laid off last week.
- March 17 ... told a potential client that I wasn’t a good match.
- March 10 ... launched something early.
- March 08 ... told a prospect I could probably help her.
- February 24 ... used up a $50 Starbucks gift card.
- February 12 ... made $400 in 7 minutes.
- February 02 ... received a newsletter.
- January 28 ... asked for a 50% deposit from a new client.
- January 26 ... answered a newsletter question.
- January 18 ... sent a bunch of “nice to meet you” emails.
- January 13 ... got an email from my graphic designer.
- January 05 ... spent 90 minutes on the phone with a consultant.
- December 16 ... got to my office at 10am.
- November 30 ... spoke to a prospective client.
- November 24 ... am finishing a book about storytelling.
- November 05 ... received a question via email.
- November 03 ... gave somebody his deposit back.
- October 28 ... got an email from my friend, Robert.
- October 27 ... am six weeks into testing a new idea.
- October 22 ... stood up while presenting a webinar in my office.
- October 20 ... didn’t sign a contract.
- October 13 ... still have not heard back from the Chamber of Commerce.
- October 09 ... ordered more photo stamps.
- October 08 ... had someone thank me.
- October 06 ... wrote in Calibri.
- September 30 ... am asking for testimonials.
- September 28 ... sent a check.
- September 24 ... “wasted” two hours in the middle of the day.
- September 17 ... shared the newsletter of one client with another.
- September 14 ... took control.
- September 11 ... got a note from an email newsletter client.
- September 09 ... repeated myself.
- September 01 ... am reviewing something I finished writing yesterday.
- August 26 ... met with a prospective client.
- August 14 ... threw out a good story.
- August 11 ... launched something new.
- August 10 ... offered a discount.
- August 06 ... took a walk.
- August 04 ... didn’t get hired.
- July 21 ... asked my attorney to review a contract.
- July 15 ... still haven’t heard back from a new client.
- July 13 ... suggested that a client purchase a domain name.
- July 02 ... sent a survey to my newsletter subscribers.
- July 01 ... read a blog post from Bernadette Jiwa.
- June 22 ... celebrate 15 years since I left my last job.
- June 22 ... woke up early.
- June 17 ... told somebody to start writing.
- June 16 ... sent away a prospect.
- June 11 ... got an email from Jana.
- May 28 ... read an article about robots.
- May 20 ... am unhappy with Budget Rent A Car.
- May 18 ... read a quote by Joseph Campbell.
- May 12 ... have been fooling with my web site.
- May 08 ... am waiting to hear back from my tech guy.
- May 06 ... replied to a newsletter that I received.
- April 14 ... received a signed contract and deposit in the mail.
- April 13 ... got an email from Sharon (she’s a writer).
- April 02 ... reposted a newsletter I wrote last year.
- April 01 ... read an email newsletter success story.
- March 31 ... have lost 9 newsletter subscribers.
- March 26 ... received eight email newsletters.
- March 17 ... got a visit from 1992.
- March 11 ... listened to a salesman at my local coffee shop.
- March 10 ... called the 800# on the side of the Grey Poupon jar.
- February 24 ... was hired by a new client.
- February 20 ... got an email from my gym, asking me where I’d been.
- February 18 ... went to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
- February 09 ... am listening to artificial coffee shop noise.
- February 04 ... got hired by a terrific new client.
- January 19 ... received a holiday card at my office.
- January 14 ... earned $177.30.
- January 12 ... updated the copyright on my web site to 2015.
- January 08 ... am thinking of switching to a Mac computer.
- January 06 ... got a call from a prospective client.
- December 17 ... listened to a telemarketer.
- December 10 ... helped someone simplify the way she describes her work.
- December 08 ... went to the web site of someone whom I met the other day.
- December 03 ... asked someone, “What type of client is a perfect match for you?”
- December 01 ... got an email from someone who wanted to know about fees.
- November 24 ... got together for 90 minutes with my friend Deborah.
- November 18 ... received an enthusiastic thank you email from a client.
- November 11 ... am preparing for a webinar that I’m presenting tomorrow.
- November 07 ... received a snail mail letter from my friend Dianna.
- November 03 ... received two books in the mail from Mike Michalowicz.
- October 28 ... make some edits to a page on my web site.
- October 20 ... had lunch with my friend Will.
- October 16 ... found a broken link on my web site.
- October 10 ... took my dog for a walk in the woods.
- October 08 ... received 8 chocolate bars in the mail.
- October 07 ... received a wonderful email note.
- October 02 ... finished up a year-long marketing class.
- September 30 ... added LinkedIn and Twitter icons to my web site header.
- September 29 ... got a nice note in the mail.
- September 26 ... didn’t send a promotional email to everyone on my list.
- September 16 ... sent out a promotion for a webinar I’m offering tomorrow.
- September 11 ... posted long format content on LinkedIn.
- September 04 ... began work with a new client.
- August 28 ... updated my web site to include my mission in life.
- August 14 ... was talking to another solo professional at the gym.
- July 18 ... heard somebody walk past my open office door.
- July 15 ... launched a new product.
- July 14 ... received a newsletter from a company.
- July 03 ... got my lawnmower fixed.
- June 26 ... am asking for help.
- June 17 ... bought a new laptop computer.
- June 11 ... launched the Blue Penguin affiliate program.
- June 09 ... am thinking about an important question.
- May 30 ... have been hired for two new projects.
- May 29 ... received a nice testimonial.
- May 07 ... joined a service called Clarity.
- May 05 ... helped a client “prelaunch” his web site.
- May 01 ... didn’t feel like coming to my office.
- April 28 ... spoke with a lawyer.
- April 23 ... spent 10 minutes connecting with people on LinkedIn.
- April 14 ... have been thinking about something.
- April 04 ... attended a small networking breakfast.
- March 24 ... decided to create a 60-day video course.
- March 21 ... gave someone a copy of my book.
- March 18 ... launched a free, 5-day video course.
- March 17 ... received a “please unsubscribe me” email.
- March 13 ... have 84 new subscribers to this blog.
- March 06 ... sent my mom a birthday card from my computer.
- March 05 ... made $2,500 in one hour.
- February 25 ... rolled out a new one-hour webinar.
- February 21 ... published my newsletter.
- February 18 ... spent time on a low priority project.
- February 13 ... received an invitation for a “meetup.”
- February 10 ... reformatted my computer hard drive.
- February 06 ... celebrate 26 years since the day I first met my beautiful wife.
- February 05 ... finished preparing for a talk I’m giving tomorrow.
- January 30 ... connected one client with another.
- January 29 ... received a complaint.
- January 23 ... made a note in my calendar.
- January 20 ... am celebrating Penguin Awareness Day.
- January 17 ... read an article about making your blog standout.
- January 15 ... announced my pricing webinar for next Wednesday
- January 14 ... went to a 9AM meeting, an hour’s drive from my house.
- January 08 ... realized that I’ve never heard back from a new client.
- January 07 ... have been fooling around with a service called MindMeister.
- January 03 ... received an e-mail from “Christopher McIntosh, Publisher.”
- January 02 ... am back at work after a full week off.
- December 10 ... am loving a service called SoundGecko.
- December 09 ... turned down an invitation to speak at a business event.
- December 02 ... left myself a voicemail.
- November 26 ... began reading a book about explanation.
- November 22 ... was invited by a client to their “holiday open house.”
- November 19 ... am publishing my 100th entry on this blog.
- November 14 ... asked the guy who serviced my snowblower:
- November 11 ... spent all afternoon trying to post a video on my web site.
- November 06 ... quoted a price to someone and he said,
- October 31 ... have been writing “Happy Halloween” in my emails.
- October 29 ... called someone back who had left me a message.
- October 24 ... purchased a new URL for the Today I web site.
- October 01 ... sent a friend a link to an article.
- September 30 ... was in Starbucks with an hour to kill before a lunch meeting.
- September 25 ... spent half an hour after breakfast reading a business book.
- September 23 ... decided I won’t take on any new business until November.
- September 17 ... attended a business conference (Constant Contact’s #onecon)
- September 13 ... launched a new blog.
- September 11 ... gave a client a free copy of one of my webinars.
- September 09 ... sent a joke gift to a client (actually, it was last week).
- September 05 ... added 21 new subscribers to my newsletter list.
- September 04 ... printed out a short version of my bio.
- September 03 ... Spent 45 minutes on the phone with an old client.
- August 26 ... subscribed to the Boston Business Journal.
- August 15 ... called my own voice mail.
- June 28 ... am going on vacation for a week.
- June 20 ... recommended a book to my friend, Jim.
- June 18 ... spent two hours writing in a coffee shop.
- June 13 ... offered to sell 50 copies of my book
- June 07 ... paid $789.50 to a designer
- June 06 ... took a 20 minute walk outside
- June 05 ... received an email from a newsletter reader
- May 29 ... responded to an email from someone
- May 24 ... sent a handwritten thank you note to someone
- May 10 ... received the email below from my bookkeeper.
- May 07 ... spent an hour sitting in my office,
- May 06 ... had some work done
- April 30 ... sent a thank you note
- April 25 ... bumped into a guy
- April 22 ... received a note from One Year Program alumnus,
- April 19 ... took responsibility for a mistake
- April 17 ... am leaving early to go home
- April 11 ... listened to a radio program
- April 10 ... picked up my son Jon’s sneaker from the dry cleaner.
- April 04 ... spent 20 minutes on the phone
- March 29 ... wrote a newsletter
- March 28 ... drove 45 minutes
- March 27 ... politely badgered a client
- March 19 ... used my “lines I don’t cross.”
- March 15 ... well, actually, this was a few days ago.
- March 13 ... read for about 30 minutes
- March 12 ... cancelled a $9.95 per month charge
- March 10 ... am working in my office
- March 08 ... received an email from my buddy
- March 05 ... spent half an hour on the phone with a client
- February 28 ... sent a book to someone
- February 27 ... took a 30-minute nap
- February 21 ... ordered a book on Amazon for a client
- February 15 ... spoke to a guy named Paul.
- February 14 ... sent a “check-in email”
- February 12 ... read an article that talked about being more likeable.
- February 11 ... feel sick.
- February 06 ... was hired by a woman I’ve known for years,
- February 04 ... received about 25 requests
- January 31 ... met an old client for coffee.
- January 30 ... noticed that I was getting a bunch of newsletter subscribers
- January 29 ... read an article in the Boston Globe
- January 28 ... got an email announcing a free webinar.
- January 25 ... returned a phone call