May 11, 2009
After I married an Australian I discovered that New Zealanders and Australians were rather a different breed of people from each other. In fact I think I spent ten years discovering how very different they are. However after last nioght’s performance by Wil Anderson I’m once again reminded in just how much Australians and New Zealanders have in common.
While Wil had definitely taken his show and added a New Zealand swing into it (There may have been a Hamilton joke 
), there was no doubt that Australian humour is in fact very very funny. I’ve heard few people moan that some of the comedians they’ve seen haven’t made them laugh very much this year. So when a man can come on stage and talk about the recession, abortion, and religion and still make me laugh, I’m impressed.
Personally I can’t imagine how hard it is to keep people laughing and entertained for an hour (well I can do it, but only after two bottles of wine per person watching and lets face it, anyone’s funny after that!) But here he was, keeping our interest, making us laugh, and surprisingly making us think. – and when he said he may run over time, I know I wasn’t alone in being delighted (Though the general consensus in the girls toilets is the last five minutes were torture to bladders pressurised by laughing!)
I walked out of the show last night thinking it is so good it was to go see some intelligent, thought provoking comedy. It was more than the “I’m single and I have SO much baggage about my ex that I can write a show about it” comedy we so often see. It was political, spiritual and still so very very funny. Wil Anderson was seriously fun.
Will Anderson is “playing” (is that what you call it? ) at the Herald Theatre from yesterday til the 16th. 8pm. GO!
May 8, 2009
I was asked to come and talk to a new client this week. They had a range of different writing and marketing needs that were going to be outsourced.
We got talking, and found I was on the same page immediately. The vibe as good, the creative juices flowing, and within half an hour we had mapped out a long term effective plan to take them where they wanted to go.
He asked me for my quote, I gave it and I walked out thrilled that I’d both nailed it and picked up a great client
Until I got home.
Yes I HAD nailed it. Completely. But there was an email there saying the ideas were perfect…and they were getting someone inhouse to get the work done.
CRAP.
I have had a talk to a range of people about this, and the lesson is learnt. The thing is I’m GREAT at coming up with ideas. It’s probably my biggest asset. So from now on I’m taking a leaf out of other freelancers books and putting those ideas on the clock. First ten minutes? Free. After that, it’s an invoice baby. Ideas, they can be worth their weight in gold…
May 8, 2009
I wrote last week about the rebranding- we had a first day yesterday- you can watch the clip, AND see my haircut in action! 
For those of you without broadband…
May 1, 2009
Well my six weeks on TV3 as the dating expert on Sunrise has come to an end. Every Friday for the last six weeks I’ve been there, talking about dating and LUURRVE, and loving every bit of it.
For those who didn’t see it today, here is my piece on how to deal with rejection (It’s also gives some great job seeking advice as it’s about the impact of confidence on your success.)
But I’m not going from your screens- oh no! They’re just changing things round a little and I’m going to be doing something else- even more exciting!. And while we are…I need a little bit of a spruce up!
So Rodney Wayne is kindly taking me under their wing on Monday at their Newmarket Store and are going to give me a new look! I’m really looking forward to it- I’m going to post before and after pics so you can see what they’ve done.
Go Rodney Wayne!
While I’m talking about cool help- for the last six weeks I’ve been dressed by Chocolat who have got such a beautiful range- I’ve had lots of amazing feedback and have become addicted to several pieces- intensely wearable and feel great. (And when you get compliments every time you wear something you KNOW it’s great!)
I’m going to be still wearing Chocolat as I love their range, but Zebrano has kindly offered to help dress me for my Sunrise spot.- which means I’m going to be wearing clothes from alot of different awesome New Zealand and Australian designers. It’s coolness (that’s my attempt to create an “in” word that fits my geeky chick thing 
)
April 23, 2009
I’m going to tell you a little story- but because it’s kind of sorted and I don’t want to RUIN the business I’m talking about it’s not going to be specific- I’m not into making people destitute through my writing!
A few weeks ago I was talking to someone who had a new product that I thought was cool. Now like many freelancers I do get alot for free. People often thank you for help with a treat here and there. But I don’t expect it, or request it (Unless anyone out there has a free laptop? I’d whore myself out for a free laptop….) But this person said if I met and talked through a few ideas, sharing my connections, then he’d give me a sample.
I thought that sounded fair. After all I was going to sell the concept of it over and over again to my contacts- not for any financial reward at all- just because it really was something quite special. So I agreed and met him a few hours later.
I spent around half an hour giving him ideas and connections. They he told me that he couldn’t afford to give me one, but I could buy one. I was a little surprised, and in fact a little disappointed- only because it felt like he was reneging on his original deal. I bought one anyway- and I passed it along to a few major contacts- only as they were friends. I was admittedly not feeling in the least obliged to do a big sell. I would have if he’d given me the product- just out of gratitude (it cost under $30 so there wasn’t a huge ticket attached to the item)
Fast forward to this week. I was talking to one of my contacts who suddenly thanked me for finding this cool product. He was so sold on it he wanted to buy a very large quantity. As we talked I told him the story of the “once was free but then I paid for it” item and it all suddenly turned around. ‘The deal was off all for the sake of someone not giving away a sample.
Now that wasn’t my intention. But it was the result.
There are a few things from this….
1. If you say you are going to give something away and then don’t it doesn’t create a good impression
2. Free can pay.
It doesn’t stop there. I realised it was unfair to have this happen without the person knowing, so I rang to explain. To be honest I probably should have done so earlier. We talked about the impact one little free thing does, and we worked through it – though he still may have lost the contract, it’s probably a very important lesson to have learnt. Free can go a long way to building your business if used correctly.
April 16, 2009
It’s funny how often our personal and private lives work in parallel. I wrote on my dating blog today about how important it is to represent yourself on a date as honestly as you can- so as to be liked for who you are, rather than for who you think you should be.
To be honest, it’s the same in business, particularly when working with a range of clients. While I’m a big believer in finding a common meeting point with anyone I talk to, which can mean one facet of my personality may show more with one contact than another, it’s so important to talk to clients, contacts and “bosses” (for lack of a better word) with honesty and respect. I might show a different side to different clients, but it’s all me they see- not a persona.
It goes both ways however. I recently let go of a very very dear project to me when it became clear one of the chief people owning the company showed a basic lack of respect for the work I had, until that moment, so gladly done for the company.
I’ve never worked for someone because of the money. In fact, I’ve let a few high paying jobs go because I can’t work for something or someone I don’t believe in. I think, as I chose to write for my career, that I can choose to use that gift or talent to do as much good stuff as I can. I guess it’s the true limitation of my talent. Give me a cause, a person, a goal to believe in and I’m there. Otherwise my words stumble upon each other and I’m found lost, and without any joy in my work.
I think a little respect goes a long way. Talking to people like you care about them covers up a whole other measure of rights and wrongs. And people will always work harder for someone who both respects and is respected.
April 14, 2009
In the last few weeks I’ve met a few of my facebook friends in the flesh for the first time. Yes. I’m one of those people who has facebook friends that I’ve never physically met before.
Luckily for me I was drunk with the first one so I had no shame- barrelled up and introduced myself and we got chatting. Actually found we had some cool stuff in common and it was great. After all social networking IS meant to be about being social right?
Then I saw another at the museum yesterday. Cold sober, in the cold light of day I wasn’t so confident. It’s a weird thing. You’re thinking, hmm where do I know that person, then you think, hell it’s from facebook, and then you think, well do I say hi to a virtual contact, or do you not? Then you think, keep it virtual, so you wait till the next day and say “hi” on their wall instead.
ahh….social networking sites. bringing the world together
(Oh and for those who twitter, my twitter is rgoodchild. feel free to follow. I LUFFS twitter! And yes, I’ve got people on twitter I’ve never met too. )
April 1, 2009
On of the cool things is I get to see how people find my site. I wrote about my use of the words shag and shagging on TV3 Sunrise a few weeks ago….and apparently quite a few people search for the phrase “shagging in the morning” every week. Who knew? I figure someone’s getting lucky!
April 1, 2009
Ok, as movie reviews go, this is going to be pretty crappy. NOT cos I thought the movie was crap- in fact I thought it was one of the most endearing, and belly laugh inducing movies I’ve caught for a long time. But who in their right minds allows anyone who is going to write about a movie not one but THREE vodka cocktails that, I must say, were beautifully pink, and then expects them to write an intelligent review? They obviously have a far higher esteem of my ability to hold my liquor than is quite deserved.
But it was a great movie to go to. I picked up some good lines (When wanting to score apparently you say nothing, let the tenson build then hit them with “How about it then?” Apparently works every time) and it was fab to hear Rhys Darby’s flattened kiwi tones throughout the movie.
There is one thing I really need to bring up as it was fundamental to the whole experience. Pride comes before a fall my friends. Oh yes it does. It’s best not to gloat about the coolness of your seats to others before the movie, particuarly when you get it wrong, and in fact their seats are considerably cooler than yours. Who knew row a is the back row? At least our M and M’s were the same colour.
Oh, and one more thing. After drinking the said cocktails, watching the movie and then needing to go to the toilet, where you accidentally drop your phone and it lands facing up in one of the toilet cubicles it is perhaps best to not make a quip that you were so turned on by the “lesbo action” in the movie you thought you’d start a collection of your own girlie pics… apparently people take you seriously. Women visibly took an intake of breath and shrank agasint the toilet walls.
Ahh.. but the movie? LOVED IT. Recommend it. Though I swear on all that is good and pure, that there is no way, and I mean NO way I would have ever considered shagging the vast bulk of the DJ’s on that boat. Not even the lesbian chef
Now there’s a sinking idea….
