From Mascot to Master, A Sitcom Writer's Triumph

From Mascot to Master, A Sitcom Writer's Triumph

If you knew nothing about breaking into the entertainment industry, and didn't graduate from Harvard, and didn't have rich parents, what would you do? If you were from a place where most people returned home after college, got married young, and lived the 9 to 5 life, how would you convince your loved ones that going off to Hollywood was a good idea?

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The Mystery Brunette with the Killer Voice

The Mystery Brunette with the Killer Voice

She introduces you to people who grace the covers of magazines. The stars of pop culture suddenly become personally interesting (but so do anonymized guests at a chi-chi wellness spa, for instance). She gives you a front row seat, and her narration seems like the voice that's in your head, only smarter. People actually write about her writing, so you know she's on an out-of-this-world trajectory. And unlike most mystery women (link below), she is also heartbreakingly human and vulnerable. Likable, too.

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His Photographs Turn Dance Into Sculpture

His Photographs Turn Dance Into Sculpture

When Alan Cumming appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, he made sure to discuss his album cover that was taken from a photograph by Jordan Matter. The shot, part of a collection of nudes that appears in Jordan's new book Dancers After Dark, the follow up to the New York Times Bestseller Dancers Among Us, is breathtaking. In my opinion, it is a monumental achievement.

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The Surfer's Life Artist and Battles of the (Personal) Brand

The Surfer's Life Artist and Battles of the (Personal) Brand

Jimmy Buffett received a welcome gift on New Year's Eve: a hand-painted surfboard from SoCal's "Surf Life Artist" Nelson Ruger. Nelson had been a Broadway designer, and had worked for Apple, and even designed theme parks, but he had a vision of how his life as an artist was meant to be: bringing a little Aloha into the lives of those who appreciated his work. And here he got the opportunity to bring Aloha to Margaritaville.

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The Voice of the Greatest Show on Earth is the "Wealthiest Man in Show Business"

The Voice of the Greatest Show on Earth is the "Wealthiest Man in Show Business"

P.T. Barnum once said, "The noblest art is that of making others happy." Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson takes that quote to heart. A classically trained singer, he understands what so many successful artists and entrepreneurs discover, often later in life: that true success comes when the emphasis is on giving, making others happy, rather than self-promotion.

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New York's "Mr. Moo," the Hip-Hopping Rock Star Ambassador of Cheese

New York's "Mr. Moo," the Hip-Hopping Rock Star Ambassador of Cheese

Politico calls him "The Prince of Cheese." The Wall Street Journal and the New Yorker love his story. He has become synonymous with artisan cheese and cheesemongering--the art of purveying cheese--which has, ahem, come of age in the 21st century. And despite his cheese royalty lineage--his grandfather was the importer for Dean and DeLuca and Zabar's--the embrace of "maker-to-monger" came after a long and twisty entrepreneurial journey.

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Mighty Odd KidLit, and When a Bidding War is All About Popularity

Mighty Odd KidLit, and When a Bidding War is All About Popularity

Her hugely popular series "The Popularity Papers" has been called, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" for girls. But that's unfair, because a) each page is hand-drawn and handwritten, b) boys love the series, too, and c) she had never even read "Wimpy Kid" when she chose to go with "Wimpy Kid's" publisher, selecting from six houses vying for her work.

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The Miracles of Hal Elrod, the Man Who Died and Came Back to Life

The Miracles of Hal Elrod, the Man Who Died and Came Back to Life

For most of my life, I was a night owl. Starting a little more than 5 years ago, I went through a series of transformations to better my life, and one of my greatest and most difficult transformations was going from a night owl to an early bird. When people heard what I was doing, many told me about this amazing book, The Miracle Morning, widely regarded as “one of the most life-changing books ever written”. I read it (and listened to the audio book), and I was inspired. When I started up my podcast, "How I Broke Into," Hal Elrod was on the short list of people I just had to interview.

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How Jill Miller Built a Global Fitness Phenomenon

How Jill Miller Built a Global Fitness Phenomenon

She overcame heartbreak and conquered obstacles that would have defeated many other people. She has hundreds of certified teachers teaching her method worldwide. She often appears in national media. And she has a whole slew of brilliantly branded products that must be the envy of every starry-eyed fitness wantrepreneur. But she is no overnight success... 

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When The "Today" Show's Melissa Garcia Walked Away from a Career and Seized Upon a Calling

When The "Today" Show's Melissa Garcia Walked Away from a Career and Seized Upon a Calling

She had a lucrative law career, but held her breath and decided to jump off the proverbial cliff... to become an inspiration to thousands (millions?) of women, and a few men, too. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about style or fashion, and have definitely held some preconceptions about style and fashion. Celebrity stylist Melissa Garcia destroys those preconceptions, and then some. 

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The Mind and Motivation of Brooklyn Mack, Elite Athlete and Artist

The Mind and Motivation of Brooklyn Mack, Elite Athlete and Artist

Before him, only legends and superstars like Mikhail Baryshnikov had won the gold medal at Varna. He and Misty Copeland made history when they starred together in "Swan Lake." As one of the world's greatest athletes and artists, Brooklyn Mack--a true champion in every sense of the word--relentlessly pursues perfection every single day. And it was a joy for me to see him light up as he reflected on his greatest triumphs.

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We Talked Serious Startups with John Maddox

We Talked Serious Startups with John Maddox

He's interviewed the founder of Fast Company magazine and podcasting legend John Lee Dumas. I'm proud to say that John Maddox, Nashville entrepreneur and host of "Let's Talk Serious Startups" has interviewed me this week. We discuss the music industry, time management, favorite resources for business, favorite business-oriented books, and what I would advise my younger self.

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How He Sustained a DJ Startup for Decades

How He Sustained a DJ Startup for Decades

He didn't plan to make this his career; his future seemed to be in radio. No, this was something fun to do, and earn some money on the side. But that's the funny thing about the best small businesses: when the joy outweighs the work, profit--financial and emotional--often follows. Or, as Confucius said, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

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Vinyl's Cinematographer Reed Morano, A.S.C. is a Superhero

Vinyl's Cinematographer Reed Morano, A.S.C. is a Superhero

It is a rare feat to be able to peek into the future, but I am pretty positive that we will see Reed Morano, ASC receive an Oscar in not too many years. Whether it is for directing or cinematography remains to be seen. But talent alone is not what makes Reed heroic; she approaches her art, craft, and life with humility, grace, and introspection, and her insights about being an accomplished woman in a male-dominated field are profound. 

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Count Basie, Harper Lee, and 'The Big Lebowski': Everyone's a Critic (with Gene Seymour, The Everyman Critic)

Count Basie, Harper Lee, and 'The Big Lebowski': Everyone's a Critic (with Gene Seymour, The Everyman Critic)

Reports of the demise of criticism have been grossly exaggerated. Sure, the type of critic wickedly portrayed in Oscar winner Birdman may find very few customers, but, in this age of "on demand content creation," audiences crave the nuanced observations and heartfelt feelings from a longtime critic and reporter such as CNN's Gene Seymour.

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A Crash Course on Taking on Centuries-Old Brands... and Succeeding

A Crash Course on Taking on Centuries-Old Brands... and Succeeding

When you are getting 90+ ratings and Gold Awards, when Forbes is saying your flagship artisan spirits product is "far superior" to that of your counterparts, waxing poetic and promising "trust me when I say you will love this rum," it would make sense that you would charge an arm and a leg for such a product, right? Wrong. Conventional wisdom doesn't help you compete against the billion dollar big boys.

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Good Enough May Be the New Perfect, but This Married Couple Seem to Do It All Effortlessly

Good Enough May Be the New Perfect, but This Married Couple Seem to Do It All Effortlessly

Warner Brothers scooped up the rights to John's page-turner "American Pain" shortly after the manuscript sold to a publisher. Hollee singlehandedly oversees one of West Virginia's hottest salon/day spas. They are both published authors and university professors. And, with two sons, they are a tight-knit family.

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Freedom Hacking Her Way from Welfare to $1 Million

Freedom Hacking Her Way from Welfare to $1 Million

Kimra Luna is an online rock star. Maybe not in the literal sense. But people get excited about her and for good reason: she has an amazing rags-to-riches story, and managed to quickly build a brand and community in a way that has attracted the likes of Forbes and Business Insider.

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