Spherical Cow Consulting Uncategorized Category
Index Cards – They Never Go Out of Style
Posted on August 10, 2022 Leave a Comment
Long ago, probably when I was in middle school (so, around 12 years old), my teachers introduced me to the power of index cards. Whenever I was researching for a paper or studying for an exam, the process started by taking notes on index cards. Each card would have its own fact and source. At […]
Embracing the Uncomfortable
Posted on March 5, 2022 Leave a Comment
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been exploring social media in entirely new ways. I’ve learned a few things along the way: 1) I have a long way to go to use hashtags effectively, 2) my video processing skills are laughable, 3) I feel ridiculous on TikTok. So, why am I spending so much time […]
Can a Freelancer Actually Have a Side Gig?
Posted on February 17, 2022 Leave a Comment
Why yes, yes she can. And in my case, that side gig is something I’ve been working on with my friend Laura Paglione since July of last year. Who knew it could take so many months to get a ‘simple’ idea off the ground? This all started when I threw open the virtual doors to […]
You Don’t Have To Be Good At Everything
Posted on July 9, 2021 Leave a Comment
I am good at a lot of things when it comes to my career. I’m good at developing adaptive processes, managing people, and organizing activities. That said, I’m not good at creating formal, strict processes, working alone, and operational task management. I can’t begin to tell you how powerful it is to finally figured out […]
Where Did All the Energy Go? Working with Volunteers
Posted on June 21, 2021 Leave a Comment
Have you ever noticed how many people, at least in Western cultures, think money is kinda dirty? That there is some kind of nobility about working towards a greater good without monetary compensation? An idea that people spend time on only because they believe it is good, fun, or otherwise meets some kind of intrinsic […]
But There’s No Pressure: Organizing and Facilitating a Virtual Workshop
Posted on June 4, 2021 Leave a Comment
Earlier this year, a team within Google reached out to me for advice on engaging with the people in the IAM field who would give them the feedback they needed to progress their WebID project. Since WebID is all about federated identity on the web — one of my favorite topics — and the engagement would let […]
Be Brave. Say No.
Posted on April 16, 2021 Leave a Comment
Being a freelancer, while not for everyone, is my idea of a fantastic career. I get to build my ideal job. I get to see the big picture across organizations and even entire industries. I get to interact with some of the most brilliant people on the planet. But to have room for all of […]
The Gaps Are Where Life Gets Interesting
Posted on March 19, 2021 Leave a Comment
One of my favorite parts about starting a new contract (which also applied to starting new projects when I had a more traditional day job) is hearing the goals, dreams, and aspirations the client has for the work they want me to take on. Not only do I get to listen to smart people talk […]
The Power of the Outline
Posted on August 7, 2020 Leave a Comment
Congratulations! You’ve been asked to contribute some written material to a newsletter, blog, e-book, or how-to guide. Now that the initial excitement is wearing off (which usually takes me about 1-2 minutes), the existential dread of facing a blank page is setting in. As an editor, I can usually tell when someone has written their […]
Public Speaking Tips for Virtual Conferences
Posted on July 30, 2020 2 Comments
It’s common advice that you should watch and listen to yourself via a recording in order to improve your public speaking skills. There are few things more uncomfortable than doing that, but I had an opportunity this week to discover something even more uncomfortable: watching and listening to myself on a recording with 50 other […]