The personal blog of Brad Slavin — manager at DuoCircle. Essays on startups, the 4-Hour Work Week, technology, business, and health.https://www.bradslavin.com/en-ushttps://www.bradslavin.com/2014/05/01/jfs-curb-appeal-event-helping-seniors-san-diego/https://www.bradslavin.com/2014/05/01/jfs-curb-appeal-event-helping-seniors-san-diego/I volunteered for a JFS Emerging Leaders event where we helped a woman named Angel, who had broken both of her arms to clean her house and to tidy her back and front yard. Watch the video to hear moreThu, 01 May 2014 13:16:21 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2014/05/01/jfs-feeding-america-san-diego/https://www.bradslavin.com/2014/05/01/jfs-feeding-america-san-diego/I was lucky enough to have had my camera at the JFS San Diego Feeding America volunteer event. I was able to ask a few questions of Ashley Harrington about their mission and purpose for the JFS EmergiThu, 01 May 2014 13:13:24 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2012/11/08/thinkcontact-new-website-is-live/https://www.bradslavin.com/2012/11/08/thinkcontact-new-website-is-live/The website for my newest application ThinkContact is live. We have not recieved Apple application approval yet and we are hoping to have it with in the next seven days. ThinkContact will help you sorThu, 08 Nov 2012 09:12:53 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2012/11/08/market-research-founder-institute/https://www.bradslavin.com/2012/11/08/market-research-founder-institute/Week two of Founder Institute and we are working on Market Research. I am working on project two FormActivate with my co-founder and we are making a strong push to define our market and get funding. RWed, 07 Nov 2012 18:52:58 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2012/11/06/think-contact-has-been-submitted-to-the-apple-store/https://www.bradslavin.com/2012/11/06/think-contact-has-been-submitted-to-the-apple-store/Sort your contact by occupation rather than by name. http://www.thinkcontact.com Read more ›Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:03:10 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2012/10/29/vision-and-values-founder-institute/https://www.bradslavin.com/2012/10/29/vision-and-values-founder-institute/Here is where we stand. Things are going well for us in the technology area, we reciently completed some new integration into the platform to expand our reach into the medium business arena. FollowingSun, 28 Oct 2012 17:14:10 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2012/10/17/i-was-just-accepted-to-founder-institute-san-diego/https://www.bradslavin.com/2012/10/17/i-was-just-accepted-to-founder-institute-san-diego/I have some really exciting news to share with all of you. I was just accepted into an early-stage startupaccelerator called the Founder Institute http://www.fi.co During the span of the four month prWed, 17 Oct 2012 13:22:39 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2012/03/16/my-baby-is-ugly-from-concept-to-a-nearly-functional-mvp/https://www.bradslavin.com/2012/03/16/my-baby-is-ugly-from-concept-to-a-nearly-functional-mvp/394 days ago I posted to HackerNews that I not only had a startup idea but after a few brief conversation I had also "secured" some funding to build an MVP. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2223764Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:17:14 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2011/12/02/direct-and-to-the-point/https://www.bradslavin.com/2011/12/02/direct-and-to-the-point/“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.??? –Oscar WildeThu, 01 Dec 2011 21:39:04 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2011/08/23/kane-miller-socialadr-com-4-hour-work-week-interview/https://www.bradslavin.com/2011/08/23/kane-miller-socialadr-com-4-hour-work-week-interview/The 4 Hour Work Week book has influenced thousands of people to create better lives. One of the ways that people who want to create better lives come together is via in persons meetings. By facilitatiMon, 22 Aug 2011 21:20:18 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2011/07/26/linkedin-apply-with-linkedin-button/https://www.bradslavin.com/2011/07/26/linkedin-apply-with-linkedin-button/The apply with Linkedin Button has been released which allows businesses to accept job applications from users via their Linkedin profiles. The small button is just a peek at the way that I think LinkTue, 26 Jul 2011 03:37:57 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2011/06/02/google-announces-1/https://www.bradslavin.com/2011/06/02/google-announces-1/I wrote last time about Google Offers and today they have finally released it to the public. Floyd's Coffee Shop in Portland is the first official Google offers location. As I was writing this the numWed, 01 Jun 2011 21:39:08 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2011/03/18/agile-user-story-cards-for-keynote/https://www.bradslavin.com/2011/03/18/agile-user-story-cards-for-keynote/As a non-programmer I was struggling to find a way to build user stories. So I created this quick keynote template. Please be aware that I have only watched some Youtube videos on the subject and I amThu, 17 Mar 2011 22:38:05 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2010/09/07/swiffer-wetjet-modification-with-sugru/https://www.bradslavin.com/2010/09/07/swiffer-wetjet-modification-with-sugru/The swiffer wetjet is a great product to clean your floor but one you run out of fluid you are beholden to their proprietary cartridge for a refill. This is the perfect kitchen adaptation of RazorbladMon, 06 Sep 2010 20:00:24 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2010/07/01/sugru-smart-hacks-super-pack/https://www.bradslavin.com/2010/07/01/sugru-smart-hacks-super-pack/Today I received my Sugru Smart Hacks Super Pack from the UK. For those of you who don't know about Sugru you can find http://www.sugru.com and on Facebook at http://facebook.sugru.com. Sugru is a silWed, 30 Jun 2010 19:30:41 GMTSilicone RubberSilly Puttyhttps://www.bradslavin.com/2010/06/21/standing-desk-experiment/https://www.bradslavin.com/2010/06/21/standing-desk-experiment/Using a standing desk to supercharge your life. You may not be familiar with the concept of a standing desk, but they have been around for hundreds of years. Some of the greatest thinkers of our timeMon, 21 Jun 2010 15:34:19 GMTDesk DesignEben PaganProductivityhttps://www.bradslavin.com/2010/04/18/migrating-email-to-google-apps/https://www.bradslavin.com/2010/04/18/migrating-email-to-google-apps/I just helped a friend migrate her email to a Google Apps Hosted account. While there are a number of ways to migrate your existing email to a Google Apps account I have found that using the unix commSun, 18 Apr 2010 13:17:27 GMTCommand Line OptionGoogle Appshttps://www.bradslavin.com/2010/03/29/undercover-boss-an-amazing-tv-show/https://www.bradslavin.com/2010/03/29/undercover-boss-an-amazing-tv-show/Undercover Boss just shook my cage. I have been following the 4 Hour Work Week low information for over 4 years now. I own a TV but I don't have cable so it keeps things simple – every now and Read moSun, 28 Mar 2010 20:46:50 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2010/03/22/fear-of-getting-fired/https://www.bradslavin.com/2010/03/22/fear-of-getting-fired/I am about 45 minutes into the Movie Up in the Air oh-man what a heartbreaking movie thus far. The part that was the most disturbing was the part where people are asking what they should be doing thatSun, 21 Mar 2010 19:55:02 GMTfearmy lifehttps://www.bradslavin.com/2010/01/16/there-is-a-big-difference/https://www.bradslavin.com/2010/01/16/there-is-a-big-difference/between thinking about doing something and doing something that you have been thinking about.Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:40:16 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2010/01/13/disney-social-action-give-a-day-get-a-day/https://www.bradslavin.com/2010/01/13/disney-social-action-give-a-day-get-a-day/Lisa shared a website with me last night about social action, volunteering and of all places Disneyland. The meat of the matter is – Disney wants to inspire a million people to volunteer a day of servWed, 13 Jan 2010 07:58:49 GMTactionDisneydisneylandLisasocial actionwebsitehttps://www.bradslavin.com/2010/01/05/the-darwin-awards-for-2009-are-out/https://www.bradslavin.com/2010/01/05/the-darwin-awards-for-2009-are-out/My rules for keeping out of the running.. Use dynamite sparingly Look before you leap Don't jump back in the lake Leave the balloons to the movie Up. http://www.darwinawards.comMon, 04 Jan 2010 16:23:45 GMTdarwin awardshttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/12/10/fire-extinguisher-for-flame-wars/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/12/10/fire-extinguisher-for-flame-wars/Where was this post three weeks ago? http://www.bitrebels.com/geek/do-not-feed-the-trolls/ A great article about the love hate relationship that trolls have with the Internet community in general. TheWed, 09 Dec 2009 21:40:15 GMTarticlegeekInternetinternet communityloverelationshiptrollshttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/23/linkedin-its-like-a-network-in-the-dessert/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/23/linkedin-its-like-a-network-in-the-dessert/A while ago I posted about linkedin, and I just saw this video today. It pretty much sums up how most people feel about the site. It has gotten to be a wasteland of connections with almost everyone loSun, 22 Nov 2009 16:45:04 GMTlinkedinvideowastelandhttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/20/a-rose-by-any-other-name/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/20/a-rose-by-any-other-name/Dear Brad of brad-slavin.com Sorry for the confusion and the upsurge in traffic. I hope the redesign goes well. BradFri, 20 Nov 2009 10:38:03 GMTconfusionredesignupsurgehttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/18/traffic-information-about-the-video/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/18/traffic-information-about-the-video/I have had some emails requesting some insight into where the traffic is coming from. Well it started with Engadget yesterday and then spread to twitter and a few other sites. I am not really sure ofWed, 18 Nov 2009 13:52:16 GMTanalyticsEngadgetskitchyoutubehttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/18/lots-of-youtube-email-in-the-inbox/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/18/lots-of-youtube-email-in-the-inbox/Now that's a lot of mail in the inbox… Last count 1740 video comments, almost 400 additional contacts. Not bad.Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:28:05 GMTVideo Commentshttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/18/comment-conversion-rate-for-youtube/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/18/comment-conversion-rate-for-youtube/I was reviewing the comment to views conversion rate on the youtube video and it really sucks. I think it works out to be .006% views to posts. Not complaining, but on the blog the numbers are yet unkWed, 18 Nov 2009 12:25:54 GMTBlogConversion Ratehttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/17/microsoft-store-video-front-pag-engadget/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/17/microsoft-store-video-front-pag-engadget/I woke up this morning and my cell phone was vibrating, I thought that it was a server that had gone down and these were the inbound emails…but alas it was just the deluge of emails from Youtube aboutTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:02:47 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/16/microsoft-store-in-mission-viejo/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/16/microsoft-store-in-mission-viejo/Last night on our way to a birthday party at the Derby Deli & Dueling Piano Bar – Lisa and I stopped in at The Shops at Mission Viejo mall to kill some time. Traffic from San Diego was a Read more &#8Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:56:49 GMTBlack Eyed PeasDueling Piano BarMicrosoft StoreMission Viejo Mallhttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/02/top-online-marketing-resources-and-websites/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/02/top-online-marketing-resources-and-websites/A quick list of some of my favorite marketing resources, Marketingsherpa.com – One of the top research firms that track with is and is not working in all aspects of marketing. Well known for their chaSun, 01 Nov 2009 17:49:47 GMTExcellent MarketingWeb AnalyticsWeb Strategisthttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/01/initial-meeting-confirmation-email/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/11/01/initial-meeting-confirmation-email/Whenever we set an appointment with our client over the phone, it is a good idea to follow up your conversation with an email outlining your objectives. The folks at The Whetstone Group, sales traininSun, 01 Nov 2009 15:41:33 GMTAppointmentCredibilityEstablishing Trusthttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/10/29/google-voice-now-for-cell-phones/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/10/29/google-voice-now-for-cell-phones/My favorite Google Voice feature is the ability to have all of my voice-mails transcribed and emailed to me. Most of the time there is about an eighty percent accuracy, or when it stumbles I can listeWed, 28 Oct 2009 20:56:00 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/10/06/asking-a-client-for-a-positive-online-review-of-your-business/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/10/06/asking-a-client-for-a-positive-online-review-of-your-business/Chasing down positive review for your business can be daunting. Here is a quick template that I put together to ask for a positive online review using one or more of the common online review servicesTue, 06 Oct 2009 15:18:48 GMTbusiness reviewclient templateshttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/10/02/local-banks-win-out-over-mega-banks-in-san-diego/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/10/02/local-banks-win-out-over-mega-banks-in-san-diego/The Background Story – My Quest for a local bank in San Diego About a year ago I opened an additional business account at Regents Bank in San Diego after checking with the bigger national banks in towFri, 02 Oct 2009 13:01:47 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/09/18/facebook-fml/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/09/18/facebook-fml/I just had my first Facebook FML – I guess it had to happen sooner or later. I went to high school with Rachel.Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:15:18 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/09/18/dan-kennedy-information-marketing/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/09/18/dan-kennedy-information-marketing/Just got off of conference call with Dan Kennedy where he discussed his A to Z marketing strategy and his info summit. Just like most info marketers he gave some real information, held back some of thThu, 17 Sep 2009 18:03:41 GMTMarketing StrategyRisk Reversalhttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/09/10/the-tough-enonomy-is-invading-the-schools/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/09/10/the-tough-enonomy-is-invading-the-schools/Lisa gave me the most amazing birthday present ever she enrolled me in Machine Shop Basics for some personal development. I have always wanted to learn how to run a lathe and a mill, I love the feel oWed, 09 Sep 2009 21:29:53 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/08/28/dan-ariely-are-we-in-control-of-our-decisions/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/08/28/dan-ariely-are-we-in-control-of-our-decisions/A amazing video on decision and how context and the default changes the results.Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:07:18 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/07/18/utterguys-com-poor-customer-service/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/07/18/utterguys-com-poor-customer-service/Utterguys.com you are at the top of my list today – Customer service is just so critical. I just got off the phone with Jason over at the UtterGuys.com – Its about 1pm on Saturday in Florida. I placedSat, 18 Jul 2009 10:01:58 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/05/08/is-hummingbird-the-twitter-automation-tool-worth-the-money/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/05/08/is-hummingbird-the-twitter-automation-tool-worth-the-money/Hummingbird claims to be the software that the “Twitter Elite” don’t want you to know about. The developers claim that by using Hummingbird software you can automate to the building of a huge twitterFri, 08 May 2009 16:15:56 GMTHummingbirdTweettwitterhttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/03/17/earth-class-mail-a-better-way-to-handle-physical-mail/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/03/17/earth-class-mail-a-better-way-to-handle-physical-mail/Earth Class Mail is a service that I have been looking at for a long time as a solution to my bad habit of NEVER checking my mailbox. They have a system that handles physical mail via email it is ReadMon, 16 Mar 2009 22:23:26 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/03/08/faa-confirms-data-breach-45000-people-affected/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/03/08/faa-confirms-data-breach-45000-people-affected/Looks like the government is at it again. Doing their best to keep our information safe (subtle irony here). There were 48 files that were breached from a server containing information on over 45,000Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:02:30 GMTemployee identity thefthttps://www.bradslavin.com/2009/02/18/mediatemple-review/https://www.bradslavin.com/2009/02/18/mediatemple-review/Sick and Tired… This describes my year long spiral into unhappiness with Mediatemple.net. Fantastic reviews online, but overall a really crappy provider. I use a service called Pingdom.com which trackTue, 17 Feb 2009 19:55:32 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2008/12/12/facebook-worm-in-action/https://www.bradslavin.com/2008/12/12/facebook-worm-in-action/Today I received a strange email from a friend on facebook. She is not the type to send random spammy emails so when I got this I was a little suspicious. Knowing a little about how this virus was goiThu, 11 Dec 2008 17:29:17 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2008/12/04/the-story-of-stuff/https://www.bradslavin.com/2008/12/04/the-story-of-stuff/Lisa showed this to me a few months ago and it has been drilling my head about consumerism and "stuff" in general. It is certainly worth the few minutes it takes to watch the presentation on the websiWed, 03 Dec 2008 16:07:32 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2008/10/29/linkedincom-milestone/https://www.bradslavin.com/2008/10/29/linkedincom-milestone/Last night I hit a personal milestone on the social networking site Linkedin. I have 300 business connections and contacts from all over the globe. I have been a member for about 3 years and with my nTue, 28 Oct 2008 20:01:41 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2008/10/29/i-forgot-to-vote/https://www.bradslavin.com/2008/10/29/i-forgot-to-vote/Perhaps it was my lack of desire, perhaps it was the late night of blogging…no matter what the excuse – make sure that you don't forget to vote. Watch this video to see how important each and every voTue, 28 Oct 2008 19:54:00 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2008/08/09/writing-a-book-on-marketing/https://www.bradslavin.com/2008/08/09/writing-a-book-on-marketing/I have started to write a book.. the working title is the "math of internet marketing." The intention of the book is to provide a workable framework for businesses to design, optimize and measure theSat, 09 Aug 2008 14:36:20 GMThttps://www.bradslavin.com/2008/07/21/i-am-running-for-president/https://www.bradslavin.com/2008/07/21/i-am-running-for-president/I got sent an email from a friend… Talk about 6 Degrees of separation. I always knew that there were other Brad Slavin's in the world, but its fantastic to see one that is really making a difference.Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:24:27 GMT