Anita Bruzzese is the author of 45 Things You Do That Drives Your Boss Crazy. We were fortunate to meet her at a conference we attended a few months back. She had a great post recently, where she discussed a game she played with her kids called, “Which would you rather?” —— —— With this game, you present your fellow players with a choice. For instance, I asked Mary-Lynn which she would rather give up for a month – chocolate or her cell phone. —— That was a tough question, but I would give up chocolate. My phone is my mobile device; there’s no way I could live without it for a month! —— Hmmm … Mary-Lynn with no chocolate. I’d plan to be away that month! —— A fun way to keep a conversation going When we discussed conversation continuers recently, we said that games are one way to keep a conversation going. This is a great example of a game you could play to do that. For example, you could ask …  —— Who would you rather work for – a boss who’s super-demanding or a boss who’s never around? Anita posed more great questions in her post. —— If you check out her post, you can see how I answered the questions she asked. —— A fun way to improve strategic decision-making Decision trees are a great way to visualize possible business strategies, since a business can be thought of as a series of either / or options. Sounds like a ramped-up version of “Which would you rather”, doesn’t it? Question 1 leads to Question 2 and so on. For example, let’s say you plan to start a restaurant. Play “Which would you rather?” Which would you rather open – a big restaurant or a small restaurant? Let’s say you choose bigg … with two g’s of course! Which would you rather be – part of a franchise system or an independent? You really want to create your own brand, so you want to be independent. Where would you locate – in a strip center or a free-standing building? You could do some research to determine which one seems to work better for restaurants like the one you plan to start. We could keep going, but you get the idea. The reason you create the decision tree is to see the impact of your choices. For instance, if you chose “franchise” for the second question, they may specify whether you’re inline or free-standing. A fun way to teach your kids critical entrepreneurial skills Play this game with your kids and help them develop critical entrepreneurial skills! Just add the “decision tree” dimension one question at a time. So instead of asking your kids to think of one question, ask them to think of three – the initial question and a follow-up question for each of the possible answers. They’ll be thinking like an entrepreneur in no time! Get the tips and tools you need to be a BIGG success. Subscribe to the Bigg Success Weekly – it’s FREE! Next time, we’ll examine a highly-touted way to pay off your mortgage early. Until then, here’s to your bigg success! Subscribe to The Bigg Success Show in iTunes.  Subscribe to the Bigg Success feed. Related posts 6 Great Ways to Keep a Conversation Going  (Image by sundstrom) Less

Today’s Topics: Samba, Olympics, voting, politics, Parenting, Textbooks, and printers PodCamp Philly September 6 and 7 Back Channel Links Tumblr Blog Grinds The Everything Feed: Friendfeed The RSS Feed for this Podcast With so many different news hungry topics dominating the internet lately its interesting to see the cool stories that surrvive long enough to catch on. We hit [...] Less

*crunch* These Lynx commercials are getting more and more creepy with time. Which makes them a lot more interesting to me... "Filming in Los Angeles was shot by director Tom Kuntz via MJZ, with executive producers David Zander and Jeff Scruton, producer Scott Kaplan; director of photography Harris Savides ."(Source: Duncan's) Post produced at The Mill, Los Angeles, by visual effects supervisors David Parker and Robert Kolbeins with their team. Chocolate suit developed at Stan Winston Studio. Editor was Carlos Arias at Final Cut. Sound design by La Casa. Telecine by Stefan Sonnenfeld at Company 3. Developed at Vega Olmos Ponce, Buenos Aires, by executive creative director Hernán Ponce, copywriter Mario Crudele, art director Martín Ponce. Questi spot di Lynx diventano sempre più inquietanti col tempo. Il che me li rende molto più interessanti... "Le riprese a Los Angeles sono state dirette da Tom Kuntz per MJZ con i produttori esecutivi David Zander e Jeff Scruton, ed il produttore Scott Kaplan; direttore della fotografia Harris Savides ."(Fonte: Duncan's) Post prodotto presso The Mill, Los Angeles, dai supervisori agli effetti visivi David Parker e Robert Kolbeins col loro team. Il costume di cioccolata è opera di Stan Winston Studio. Montaggio di Carlos Arias presso Final Cut. Progetto del suono: La Casa. Telecine: Stefan Sonnenfeld presso Company 3. Sviluppato da Vega Olmos Ponce di Buenos Aires. Direttore creativo esecutivo: Hernán Ponce; copywriter Mario Crudele; direttore artistico: Martín Ponce. DOWNLOAD (HI RES): Scarica Chocolate Man. [Mirror][Format: MPEG-4 - Size: 16 MB - Running Time: 40 sec.] WATCH: Guarda Chocolate Man in finestra.[Format: MPEG-4 - Needs: Flash] DOWNLOAD (ALT.): Scarica Chocolate Man.[Format: Ogg Video - Size: 6 MB - Running Time: 40 sec.] WATCH (LOW RES): Guarda Chocolate Man in finestra.[Format: Flash Video] LINK: Visita The Mill. LINK: Visita MJZ. LINK: Visita Final Cut Edit. LINK: Visita La Casa Post Sound. LINK: Visita Company 3. LINK: Visita Stan Winston Studio. CODECS: Ogg - Flash Less

*crunch* These Lynx commercials are getting more and more creepy with time. Which makes them a lot more interesting to me... "Filming in Los Angeles was shot by director Tom Kuntz via MJZ, with executive producers David Zander and Jeff Scruton, producer Scott Kaplan; director of photography Harris Savides ."(Source: Duncan's) Post produced at The Mill, Los Angeles, by visual effects supervisors David Parker and Robert Kolbeins with their team. Chocolate suit developed at Stan Winston Studio. Editor was Carlos Arias at Final Cut. Sound design by La Casa. Telecine by Stefan Sonnenfeld at Company 3. Developed at Vega Olmos Ponce, Buenos Aires, by executive creative director Hernán Ponce, copywriter Mario Crudele, art director Martín Ponce. Questi spot di Lynx diventano sempre più inquietanti col tempo. Il che me li rende molto più interessanti... "Le riprese a Los Angeles sono state dirette da Tom Kuntz per MJZ con i produttori esecutivi David Zander e Jeff Scruton, ed il produttore Scott Kaplan; direttore della fotografia Harris Savides ."(Fonte: Duncan's) Post prodotto presso The Mill, Los Angeles, dai supervisori agli effetti visivi David Parker e Robert Kolbeins col loro team. Il costume di cioccolata è opera di Stan Winston Studio. Montaggio di Carlos Arias presso Final Cut. Progetto del suono: La Casa. Telecine: Stefan Sonnenfeld presso Company 3. Sviluppato da Vega Olmos Ponce di Buenos Aires. Direttore creativo esecutivo: Hernán Ponce; copywriter Mario Crudele; direttore artistico: Martín Ponce. DOWNLOAD (HI RES): Scarica Chocolate Man. [Mirror][Format: MPEG-4 - Size: 16 MB - Running Time: 40 sec.] WATCH: Guarda Chocolate Man in finestra.[Format: MPEG-4 - Needs: Flash] DOWNLOAD (ALT.): Scarica Chocolate Man.[Format: Ogg Video - Size: 6 MB - Running Time: 40 sec.] WATCH (LOW RES): Guarda Chocolate Man in finestra.[Format: Flash Video] LINK: Visita The Mill. LINK: Visita MJZ. LINK: Visita Final Cut Edit. LINK: Visita La Casa Post Sound. LINK: Visita Company 3. LINK: Visita Stan Winston Studio. CODECS: Ogg - Flash Less

Can't see the video? Watch this video now in a browser or download this video now. In this final installment of our TCHO Chocolate trilogy, Xeni and Pesco go on a magical mystery taste test tour -- think Willy Wonka meets The Trip. Former NASA software developer Timothy Childs founded the tech-minded chocolate company, and was joined by WIRED co-founder Louis Rosetto. In previous BBtv episodes we learned about the hacked-together, home-tinkered machines and high-tech wizardry that keep their factory humming. Today we dive in to the genetics of chocolate plants, and the hedonics -- the tasting experience -- of the finished product, where science meets sensuality meets sugar. Oh hell, who are we kidding, you guys? We sat around and GOT HIGH on neuroactive cocoa alkaloids. We freebased theobromine and we LIKED IT. We liked it a LOT. Warning: this episode is NSFC (not safe for chocoholics). Previously on Boing Boing tv: * TCHO, part 1: chocolate origins. * TCHO, part 2: magical machines, mysterious molecules. Related: read a feature about TCHO by David Pescovitz in the current issue of MAKE Magazine, Timothy and the Chocolate Factory . Here are some iPhone snapshots from Xeni on Flickr: TCHO, Boing Boing tv. (Special thanks to Amy Critchett, and Wayne & Breanna) Less

Can't see the video? Today on Boing Boing tv, Xeni and Pesco dive deeper into the magical chocolate factory founded by a NASA software developer. In this installment of BBtv's 3-part series on TCHO Chocolate, we learn more about the hacked-together, home-tinkered machines and high-tech wizardry that keep the factory running. The philosophy is "scrappy, not crappy," as founder Timothy Childs explains. TCHO's R&D lab contains such diverse components as Space Shuttle tape, a modded RONCO turkey oven, stone grinders used in Indian restaurants, and deconstructed space heater parts from the local hardware store. Next, we zoom in to the molecular-level science behind this most delicious confection. Science buffs, rejoice! This episode is as fun for your eyes and brain as the "obsessively good" chocolate is for your mouth -- Polymorph fun for the whole family. Warning: this episode is NSFC (not safe for chocoholics). Previously on Boing Boing tv:* TCHO, part 1: chocolate origins. Related: read a feature about TCHO by David Pescovitz in the current issue of MAKE Magazine, Timothy and the Chocolate Factory . Here are some iPhone snapshots from Xeni on Flickr: TCHO, Boing Boing tv. (Special thanks to Amy Critchett, and Wayne & Breanna) Less

Can't see the video? Watch this video now in a browser or download this video now. Xeni and Pesco visit TCHO, a homebrew chocolate technology startup hacked together by a space shuttle technologist, Timothy Childs, and the founder of Wired , Louis Rosetto. In part one of BBtv's multi-part exploration of Tcho, we begin in the lab, and learn about the origins of chocolate: it's a weird looking fruit with biological roots in faraway tropical lands. How this fruit is cultivated, harvested, and cured determines the flavor of the final product, and we learn about the hedonics -- the sensual nuances -- of this exotic and temperamental element. Related: read a feature about TCHO by David Pescovitz in the current issue of MAKE Magazine, Timothy and the Chocolate Factory . Here are some iPhone snapshots from Xeni on Flickr: TCHO, Boing Boing tv. (Special thanks to Amy Critchett, and Wayne & Breanna) Less

Podcast Number One-hundred-sixty-three Seattle is a great town and an exceptional spot for food and a growing reputtation for fine chocolate. Lorene and Barry interview Michel Brotman of Simply Seattle and the Chocolate Box. Michels' company conducts tours of chocolate factories in Seattle. The next time you are in Seattle, or your send clients to Seattle, do yourself or your clients a favor and book a tasty tour of Seattle's chocolate hotspots. In show number 117 back in August of 2007, we interviewed Susan Foster the author of "Smart Packing for Today's Travelers." With airlines charging for checked baggage it may be time to go back and review what Susan had to say. Check out the new AGENT2AGENT forum at http://agent2agent.lefora.com/forum/ This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com. Check out Blubrry . It's a great place to be a listener. You can comment on podcasts you listen to and you can sign up to be friends with the podcasters on the Blubrry Network . Go over to Blubrry, sign up and become my friend. I would like to get to know all of you! Stop by my travel business site Special Destinations where you can just browse or create your own account and blog. Would you like to get more information about the travel business, about life and about business in general? Check out my personal blog at http://www.hometravelagent.net/WordPress/ Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com Magic Slim "Crazy Woman" (mp3) from "The Essential Magic Slim" (Blind Pig Records) Buy at eMusic Buy at Pure Tracks Buy at Amazon Buy at GroupieTunes Buy at mTraks Download More On This Album Less

Podcast Number One-hundred-sixty-three Seattle is a great town and an exceptional spot for food and a growing reputtation for fine chocolate. Lorene and Barry interview Michel Brotman of Simply Seattle and the Chocolate Box. Michels' company conducts tours of chocolate factories in Seattle. The next time you are in Seattle, or your send clients to Seattle, do yourself or your clients a favor and book a tasty tour of Seattle's chocolate hotspots. In show number 117 back in August of 2007, we interviewed Susan Foster the author of "Smart Packing for Today's Travelers." With airlines charging for checked baggage it may be time to go back and review what Susan had to say. Check out the new AGENT2AGENT forum at http://agent2agent.lefora.com/forum/ This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com. Check out Blubrry . It's a great place to be a listener. You can comment on podcasts you listen to and you can sign up to be friends with the podcasters on the Blubrry Network . Go over to Blubrry, sign up and become my friend. I would like to get to know all of you! Stop by my travel business site Special Destinations where you can just browse or create your own account and blog. Would you like to get more information about the travel business, about life and about business in general? Check out my personal blog at http://www.hometravelagent.net/WordPress/ Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com Magic Slim "Crazy Woman" (mp3) from "The Essential Magic Slim" (Blind Pig Records) Buy at eMusic Buy at Pure Tracks Buy at Amazon Buy at GroupieTunes Buy at mTraks Download More On This Album Less

When a great pair comes togetherand merges into one, it's simply irresistible.Introducing: Dick and Beaver. Apparently, Mr. Dick Thompson made a commercial for his own marriage. A quanto sembra, Dick Thompson ha realizzato uno spot per il suo matrimonio. as seen on Shortsville DOWNLOAD (HI RES): Scarica A Wedding Commercial.[Format: MPEG-4 - Size: 4 MB - Running Time: 1 min.] DOWNLOAD: Scarica A Wedding Commercial.[Format: Quicktime - Size: 4 MB - Running Time: 1 min.] DOWNLOAD (ALT.): Scarica A Wedding Commercial.[Format: Ogg Video - Size: 3 MB - Running Time: 1 min.] LINK: Visita Dick Thompson Presents. CODECS: Ogg - Apple Quicktime Less

Yes it is late, But it was so good i had to do it TWICE. Follow me on Twitter to get the weekly play by play On Today’s Show: Vikings, Monkeys, Robots, Coffee, Chocolate, Keyboards, Beer Tech Cruft Viking DNA? Spray on Explosive detector This is how you build an empire, Wii Giant Fabric keyboard, Big anyone? The hour is at hand, [...] Less

Food Philosophy Video #26: Lillie Belle Farms Chocolates My favorite chocolatier Jeff Shepherd joins the Pastry Princess and me for a tasting of Lillie Belle Farms' newest, spiciest, creamiest chocolates, including cayenne caramels and blue cheese truffles. I luvs me some Lillie Belle. http://www.lilliebellefarms.com Music: Beau Hall ( http://www.beaurocks.com/ ) Food Philosophy is a production of the Culinary Media Network ( http://www.culinarymedianetwork.com/ ). Less

Learn to make Banana pops! 1 package Chocolate Covered Banana Pops Kit 5-6 bananas Follow instructions on package. Enjoy! Steffy and Jessy like to sit outside on summer nights and watch the moon with their banana pops, find your own cool way to eat these delicious treats! Less

Food Philosophy Video #26: Lillie Belle Farms Chocolates My favorite chocolatier Jeff Shepherd joins the Pastry Princess and me for a tasting of Lillie Belle Farms' newest, spiciest, creamiest chocolates, including cayenne caramels and blue cheese truffles. I luvs me some Lillie Belle. http://www.lilliebellefarms.com Music: Beau Hall ( http://www.beaurocks.com/ ) Food Philosophy is a production of the Culinary Media Network ( http://www.culinarymedianetwork.com/ ). Less

Food Philosophy Video #26: Lillie Belle Farms Chocolates My favorite chocolatier Jeff Shepherd joins the Pastry Princess and me for a tasting of Lillie Belle Farms' newest, spiciest, creamiest chocolates, including cayenne caramels and blue cheese truffles. I luvs me some Lillie Belle. http://www.lilliebellefarms.com Music: Beau Hall ( http://www.beaurocks.com/ ) Food Philosophy is a production of the Culinary Media Network ( http://www.culinarymedianetwork.com/ ). Less

ReMARKable Palate Video #34: Modern Dwellers Chocolates, Part 2 Chef Mark continues his chat with Martha Brigham of Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge in Anchorage Alaska. We learn about some of the unusual (and some may say, crazy!) flavor combinations of their chocolate truffles! Music: "Go Fish" by Big Money Grip, from the Podsafe Music Network. music.podshow.com The ReMARKable Palate is a production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com food, food podcast, ReMARKable Palate, Culinary Media Network, Gilded Fork, Chef Mark, Alaska,chocolate,Gilded Fork Less

ReMARKable Palate Video #34: Modern Dwellers Chocolates, Part 2 Chef Mark continues his chat with Martha Brigham of Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge in Anchorage Alaska. We learn about some of the unusual (and some may say, crazy!) flavor combinations of their chocolate truffles! Music: "Go Fish" by Big Money Grip, from the Podsafe Music Network. music.podshow.com The ReMARKable Palate is a production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com food, food podcast, ReMARKable Palate, Culinary Media Network, Gilded Fork, Chef Mark, Alaska,chocolate,Gilded Fork Less

ReMARKable Palate Video #34: Modern Dwellers Chocolates, Part 2 Chef Mark continues his chat with Martha Brigham of Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge in Anchorage Alaska. We learn about some of the unusual (and some may say, crazy!) flavor combinations of their chocolate truffles! Music: "Go Fish" by Big Money Grip, from the Podsafe Music Network. music.podshow.com The ReMARKable Palate is a production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com food, food podcast, ReMARKable Palate, Culinary Media Network, Gilded Fork, Chef Mark, Alaska,chocolate,Gilded Fork Less

ReMARKable Palate Video #34: Modern Dwellers Chocolates, Pt 2 Chef Mark continues his chat with Martha Brigham of Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge in Anchorage Alaska. We learn about some of the unusual (and some may say, crazy!) flavor combinations of their chocolate truffles! Music: “Go Fish” by Big Money Grip, from the Podsafe Music Network. music.podshow.com The ReMARKable Palate is a production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com Less

ReMARKable Palate #134: 19th Annual US Pastry Competition Chef Monica Glass, the "Pastry Princess" joins me to discuss the 19th Annual US Pastry Championship, which brings together some of the top pastry chefs in the country to create sumptuous cakes, luscious bon bons, and inventive sugar and chocolate sculptures, this year with the theme "Under the Sea". ReMARKable Palate is a production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com food, food podcast, pastry, chocolate, ReMARKable Palate, Culinary Media Network, Gilded Fork, Chef Mark Less