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| Why I'm Getting A SCUBA Certification |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Friday, November 20, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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I've recently enrolled in a SCUBA certification course. Last night, I finished my pool skills and took my final written exam. The next thing to do is an ocean dive, which is something I'll do in the next few weeks before the water gets too cold. (Don't worry, I'll have a wet suit and my instructor has been doing this for over 20 years so he won't allow me to do anything dangerous.) The logical question is why have I thrown down $500 for a SCUBA certification (and eventually a few hundred dollars in equipment) when I don't even have a boat? 
| Too Cute Tuesday: Hand Turkeys |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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Wait a minute, it's not Tuesday! Oh, that's right, we moved TCT to Wednesday this week (Wicked Cute Wednesday) because Sue had visiting relatives. But even the best laid plans sometimes don't materialize...  Enter a few unrelated family crises among the TCT regulars (Is it me or are the holidays coming?). Christie and I ended up just crafting at my apartment and tabled Sue's craft for next week. But what craft would we do now that plans had changed? Looking to our sister group Wicked Cute Wednesday, we decided that hand turkeys would not only be an easy and slightly campy way to go but would also provide us with a random Thanksgiving decoration for next week. The cocktail is a fun nod to last night's meteor shower, appropriately called 'meteor shower'. Materials
Paper
Markers or colored pencils
Hard surface Cocktail of the Day: Meteor shower
| This Week In Business: Switched Around Week Edition |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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What happened to Too Cute Tuesday? Nothing! It's just that this week it's going to be on Wednesday. So the usual 'this week in business' update has been switched to today. (Interestingly, Too Cute Tuesday has branched off into Wicked Cute Wednesday in St. Louis, which is more convenient for Sarah's graduate school schedule. Be friendly with them on Facebook, too. The crafting and cocktail movement is spreading!) Good news is plenty has happened since last week: I found the one...well, accountantwise anyway.
The relationship between a small business owner and her accountant is important. They can help you make good decisions and help you plan the future of your business as they learn about your hopes, dreams, and fears. Sure, I am making it sound touchy feely but seriously, you end up working a ton with this person and there has to be some clicking if it's going to be a functional relationship. I've been shopping around and I was looking for someone who would educate me on the things that I could learn about yet do what I couldn't.
| Marketing Monday: The Juice 2.0 Conference |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Monday, November 16, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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If you want to organize a good conference, take a lead from the Juice 2.0 folks! Meanwhile, if you think your business should be profiled as part of Marketing Monday, do contact me. What I Learned Losing The Juice 2.0 Conference Pitch ContestIn my world, no news is bad news. If I have something good to say, I'll change my status update of Facebook, tweet, write a blog, or call my mother (or all four).
It is no coincidence that I was pretty quiet online Friday and Saturday, in part because I didn't even make round one of the pitch session. (And in part because there was no working internet connection at this conference!).
I will say that the conference was a worthwhile one to attend and that I will go back when they have the follow-up version two years from now. Here are some general observations from my two days at Juice 2.0 Conference:
| This Week In Business: Pitch Session Edition |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Thursday, November 12, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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To many, I am known for my charm and my habit of procrastination, no more so by my sometimes copy editor/ oftentimes friend John. I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a few sets of eyes to look at a one page pitch I was going to present this coming weekend. "When's it due?" he asked. "Tomorrow," I said. I added a little wink, you know, for charm. He proceeded to tell me I should be more on top of this kind of stuff and that's when I told him I had decided to go to this pitch session the day before. Another exciting week at Breaking Even Communications!  I will be presenting my 'pitch' at the Juice Conference for a chance at $25,000 in funding.
Would a little capital make me sleep easier at night? Definitely! But just as important as winning the grand prize would be to get the opportunity to present in front of funders and get some feedback on my business. (OK, it might rock a little more to win, but still...) According to the email information I got, there are about 40 participants. Gulp. Here's me getting my game on for Friday.
| Two Years Later |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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Many people think this blog is more about me than it is. Most of the time, I am writing about 25% of my life, carefully chosen parts even. I figure my name and business are on this publication and there is a certain level of formality I keep in the interest of clients and potential clients reading it. There is personality behind things certainly but I bet if you think of more controversial topics, you'll notice they aren't on the Breaking Even blog. In addition to self protection, I also feel that the topics I cover (saving money, business, marketing) are a bit more interesting to my audience than a blog about all things Nicole Ouellette would be. (I mean, I'm not Oprah!) But it's hard to ignore this date and what it means personally. So I won't. Two years ago, my life changed when my father unexpectedly drowned.
| Too Cute Tuesday: Salt Dough Ornaments |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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This month, Too Cute Tuesday is changing up its usual format of cheap crafting and cool cocktailing and helping some of our regular crafters with projects around their houses. This first week, it was Christie's turn. Christie is super-excited about having a Christmas tree in her apartment but was bummed to know she didn't have enough ornaments to decorate it (and doesn't have lots of money to throw at the problem). Enter the TCT team and salt dough ornaments! A perfect pairing with our November Christmas craft was 'Early Christmas' suggested by our TCT cocktail consultant. 
| Marketing Monday: Stingy Scoundrel Book |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Monday, November 09, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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Every Monday I profile a person or business doing something cool to promote themselves online. Think there is someone I should consider? Contact me and let me know! Breaking Even began as a personal finance blog back in 2007. Since then, it's become about business and other things on occasion but a money theme, even if barely noticeable at times, runs throughout. (It's no coincidence, for example, that TCT crafts mostly cost under $10 to make.) When asked what my blog is about, I say "Money. Well, kind of." That said, I still follow a lot of personal finance and money bloggers and when Phil Villarreal sent me an email a few months ago about reviewing his how-to-save-money book and I accepted, because I like books, especially when they are free and go with the theme of my blog. I noticed a few weeks after our communication that reviews of his book were all over the blogosphere. Then, his book became a New York Times bestseller. How'd he do it? 
| Book Review: Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Sunday, November 08, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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 One of my favorite things of being a money blogger is getting great books to review. I always manage to learn something and having to review the book forces me to read about financial stuff, which honestly I find boring a good part of the time.
I read Phil Villarreal's book in stolen moments these last few weeks, out of pleasure and not out of obligation (this review is already a couple months late). It was a busy time and the one to three page chapters were perfect for a quick fix.
Phil reminds me of John who I consider one of my very best friends. Like Phil, John used to work in newspapers and has this snarky sense of humor that comes from intelligence and self deprication (rather than stupidity and making fun of others). Phil is the exact kind of guy you want to be friends with, and also the kind of guy you can learn a thing or two from. A few of my favorites:
| On Getting And Maintaining A Manicure |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Friday, November 06, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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A few weeks ago, I had a friend visiting for the week. The last day of his visit, Phil told me he had a surprise for me. "Don't make any plans for 3 o'clock today." he said cryptically. Needless to say, I was pretty curious. When we pulled up to the Bar Harbor Spa, I got excited. Clearly I was in for a treat, and something I would never buy myself in a million years. "We're getting manicures." he said. Fun! What I didn't expect was for people to actually notice it, and treat me differently.
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