We’ve got seven days left before 2012. And much like how we do when we have any deadline left to anything, we’ll mostly ignore it until the last possible second. With that, a few ideas on things you can do this week (come on, it’s not like you’re actually that busy this week) that’ll make the next 52 weeks a little easier. Back up, clean out. This week is the perfect chance to upgrade your computer without spending a cent. Back up all your important files to multiple places, then go through your applications one by one: If you don’t remember the last time you used one, trash it. Do the same thing on your iPhone or Droid, and all [...]

As we come towards the end of the year, I wanted to write a post reflecting on what I was hoping to see next year. And of course, for inspiration, I turned to the Internet, which led me, in no particular order, to the following: Cats, goals, dogs, fails, Lindsay Lohan, cats again, Gawker, coffee, coffee makers, naked women, and finally, Wikipedia, where I somehow wound up reading about hobos. But the interesting thing about hobos was this – Not only did they have their own code, (as made popular in the Mad Men episode of the same name), but they also had their own ethical code. That’s right – Hobos had a code of ethical conduct, one to which [...]

This isn’t a social media or marketing post. If you’re looking for that, check back in a few days, I’m sure I’ll have something for you. This is a personal post. You ever meet someone at the gym who does nothing but Cardio? Daily? Like, every single day, you show up at the gym, and they’re on the bike or the stairmaster, biking or climbing to some invisible goal known only to them? What’s the difference between them, and the person who smokes two packs a day, other than the former has much better lung capacity than the latter? I submit, not much difference at all. I say we’re all slaves to some addiction, whether we call it an addiction [...]

As of October 25th, 2011 (Anyone tell me why October 25th is special? Specifically, October 25th, 1985?) shankman.com has a brand new look! Cleaner, faster, and much more relevant to what I do for a living. I’m excited about it, and I hope you are, as well! I’d like to give mega-props to Pete Czech, founder of the New Possibilities Group, for the incredible job he and his team have done on this rebuild. If you ever find yourself in need of some amazing technical work, you can’t do any better Welcome and enjoy! -Peter Shankman

Another in the popular “How To Be Taken Seriously” category. It all comes down to personal trust, whether you’re a one-person shop, a small business, or a multi-billion dollar corporation. As I’ve mentioned a few times already, I finally bought an apartment in Manhattan. Years of renting have come to a close as I signed close to 1,453 documents over the course of an afternoon in exchange for two lock keys and one mailbox key. I’m a homeowner. Yes, it’s scary as hell, with each day bringing up more scariness excitement than the day before. But the one thing that keeps me smiling is this: Because I own, I can create. Or, in less dramatic terms, I can mold my [...]