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Update: My Year Without Facebook
In January of last year I effectively quit Facebook. My reasons were many, and you can read all about it in my original post. It was a long time coming, and the catharsis of actually going through with it was rather satisfying. Most of all, this was an investment in my own mental health. A year later I’m happy to report that this investment has paid significant dividends. I’m happier, I have more focus, and I feel much more connected to people. – Read More –
Video: My Creative Mornings Chicago Keynote on “Genius”
Back in August I had the honor and pleasure to give the keynote address at the Chicago chapter of Creative Mornings. The theme for August was “Genius” and presenters around the world gave their take on it. Below is the video of my talk plus a second video with excerpts from the Q&A afterwards. Please enjoy. – Read More –
On Dismantling My Facebook Account
Last night I did something that was frankly a long time coming. Something that, if I’m honest with myself, I’ve wanted to do for quite a while but lacked the courage. That is, I dismantled my Facebook account.
I didn’t suspend it, or delete it entirely because there are “Like” pages that I need to manage, and because I think Facebook can still serve me and my clients in a valuable way as a broadcasting platform. I look at how Seth Godin, Tim Ferriss or other public figures use Facebook, and while I don’t fancy myself a public figure in the same way, I understand the necessity of why they use Facebook the way that they do. It’s not an input for them, and it can no longer be one for me. – Read More –
Introducing Salzmoto
As I look back over the past six years of feeding content to this site, it’s been an interesting mix of subject matter. I’ve written about everything from in-prompt-to product reviews, to cars, to motorcycles, to just general making. Most of that content has been about scooters and motorcycles. In particular, the Ride Log and Wrench Log have been where most of my long-term readers have come from.
Well those two key features have a new home. That home is now over at Salzmoto, although Salzmoto is much more than just a new home for that blogging. Salzmoto is actually my moto-centric company. Salzmoto is also a destination.
Over the years I’ve done a lot of online curation — a lot of finding great content and sharing it with others on venues like MotoringFile, BimmerFile and ScooterFile. What I’m doing on Salzmoto is creating content that hopefully other curators will want to share with their audience. That means doing things. It means building bikes, having adventures, making tools, and sharing those experiences with the world (with some advertising in place to cover costs).
In addition, Salzmoto serves as a writing portfolio to showcase the work I do for clients like Blue Cat Motorcycle and Motoworks Chicago. In time I hope to showcase even more commission work for projects of all sorts.
In the meantime, if you were a regular reader here, be sure to plug in over at Salzmoto. In fact, I’m going to be re-directing all my moto content over there in the coming days. In particular, be sure to sign up for Salzmoto Premium. What’s that? It’s a way for me to connect more directly with readers over email. I’m going to be sharing exclusive content, offers, story drafts and looking to my audience for input on future projects. This isn’t spam. You’ll get the very best of things I don’t just post on the blog.
UPDATE: Salzmoto began as a brand for my motorcycle-related activities. It has since expanded to be a full-fledged company. We’re taking on our first partners and employees. Our mission: provide world-class digital marketing support for the motorcycle industry. Our work takes a number of different forms, but it starts with content marketing, website creation and hosting, SEO, analytics, email newsletter management, and vendor management. If you need assistance with your motorcycle-related business, we can help.
Ride Log: My Year in Bikes 2013
Nearly two years ago, The Mrs and I embarked on an adventure to Chicago. We each had work opportunities too good to pass up, so we left the Twin Cities for Chicago and all the challenges that living in one of the world’s largest cities would bring. In short, it’s been fantastic. Our professional experiences have been terrific and we’re both thriving in our new digs. Beyond our working life, the move to Chicago meant getting to know an entirely new motorcycle and scooter community. It’s also meant big changes in my fleet of bikes and significant adjustments to when, how, and what I like to ride.
– Read More –
Wrench Log: Failure is always an option. Part one.
From day one, I knew I wasn’t going to leave my GL1100 alone. The whole point of owning the bike was not just for its size and capability, but as a project. I’ve long admired many of the “naked” Goldwing projects I’ve seen. Last season, I was able to bring the bike up to mechanical snuff. This season, in a terrific change, I’ve mostly been riding it. Sure, I replaced the fuel pump and un-linked the brakes, but besides a failed starter relay, most of the work I’ve done to the GL this year has been elective. – Read More –
New to the fleet: 1971 Honda Trail 70
There are few certainties in life, yet there’s one thing I know for sure: I married well. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve heard a guy say “I used to have a bike, but my wife made me get rid of it.” I have one consistent, unapologetic response:
“It sounds like you should have married better.” – Read More –
Ride Log: A new bike and a bearded lady. Part three.
July 19, 2012 — I hate riding a motorcycle with a full backpack. It’s uncomfortable and makes it tougher to scan the road quickly. On that muggy July evening though, I didn’t care. Atop my ’74 Honda CB450 Supersport, I was threading through the heart of south Minneapolis, quite literally riding into the sunset. I wasn’t alone either. To my right was a bright gold Honda CB350 ridden by a guy maybe a couple years younger than me. We’d both just come from Third Thursday at BlueCat Motors and for the moment anyway, we were headed in the same direction. His Dunstall pipes and my single race exhaust sang a growling duet of vintage motor biking as we cruised up Lake St toward a purple sky, the chain of lakes, and Uptown. – Read More –