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WFH during COVID lockdown

This was my “home office” when COVID lockdown started and Apply Digital‘s physical office was closed. I took this photo to remind myself of that moment in time and to remember that I am one of the very lucky, privileged people during this pandemic. First, I have a supporting partner who is able and willing toContinue reading “WFH during COVID lockdown”

Your Clients Will Thank You for Charging More

I started my career in the creative service industry 20+ years ago, and I’ve heard everyone from freelancers to agency owners sigh about the same things over and over: “I should just get a job somewhere because my income can’t cover my living costs” “I feel like I’m on a hamster wheel and burning out.”Continue reading “Your Clients Will Thank You for Charging More”

Incentivizing referrals with money is awkward

There’s something awkward about incentivizing referrals with money. I can’t help but cringe every time I see someone offering or asking for a referral fee. The first time, also the last time, I was involved in a referral arrangement was 11 years ago. An organizer of a popular industry event offered to refer new businessesContinue reading “Incentivizing referrals with money is awkward”

What would you change if you owned the company?

What would YOU change if you owned the company? It’s a question I asked MailChimp employees sitting on stage in front of a large crowd at an industry event back in February. The awkward silence that followed let me know I had maybe crashed the party, but I wasn’t sorry – it’s an important question.Continue reading “What would you change if you owned the company?”

What makes a great job interview?

What makes a great job interview? For me, a good marker is that both the candidate and interviewer feel energized, not drained, when it’s over. To do that, I focus on creating a natural dialogue and getting candidates to share their values and personality as much as possible. Here are the 3 interview questions IContinue reading “What makes a great job interview?”

Why I Don’t Miss Being a Boss

“Delivery for B. Liu?” “Yep, that’s me. You can bring it up.” Five minutes later, two guys were shuffling down the office’s hallway carrying an enormous package: my brand-new, high-tech, full-body massage chair, which I planned to keep in the office until I moved to a bigger house in a few months. As they crammedContinue reading “Why I Don’t Miss Being a Boss”