Resources | Occasional Friday Reading List

A bit of a random list but here are 5 articles and resources I've been finding interesting/helpful/inspirational, business-wise lately:

1. New York Times Business—Corner Office: Can You Pass a C.E.O. Test?
Great advice and thoughts on business leadership from an interview with Greg Brenneman, chairman of CCMP Capital. An excerpt on business plans: "...quickly step back and say, “What are the two or three things that really matter?” And I find in the world that people don’t really do that often. They just dive into all this detail and start using acronyms and buzzwords ... if I can’t simply put what needs to be done on one page, I probably haven’t thought through it very well."

2. creattica.com
creattica.com offers a HUGE wealth of design inspiration, updated constantly. I've been poring over it every time I'm stuck on a design or just looking for ideas.

3. Eye Magazine 38—The Myth of Genius
Eye Magazine is full of thoughtful articles on design but this article particularly made me feel better about not always feeling inherently brilliant. An excerpt: "The myth of genius — which promotes the artist as a lone, pioneer – emerged when craftsmen first strove to become respected members of an elite. ... Michael Howe, in Genius Explained suggests genius is not natural, but the result of hard work, perseverance and the stubbornness to struggle on where others give up." Word.

4. The Maine SEO Blog: How to Write the Best, Most Clickable Title Tags
This blog on SEO and SEM (from Portland web design gurus Flyte New Media has tons of great info—but this article rang lots of bells for me since I find myself often pressing the point with clients that yes, page titles DO matter; they matter a LOT if you care about SEO. Now I'll just point them here.

5. Design*Sponge Biz Ladies
The Design*Sponge Biz Ladies series was founded in 2006 in order to connect local women running their own art and design-based businesses. (But the advice offered certainly is helpful to non-ladies as well!) Biz Ladies is currently a regular Tuesday feature on Design*Sponge, and archives having to do with legal tips, wholesaling, PR, etc. are archived online.