Everyone who pre-ordered my book, “A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything” was entered to win this stunning framed canvas reproduction of the cover painting. So, who won? Tune in and find out! Learn more about the book at https://aChanceOfAwesome.com …
[Read more...] about Revealing the Winner of the “A Chance of Awesome” Framed Canvas!
Woot! A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything is now available to pre-order! (It'll be released on August 8, 2109.) All pre-orders will be signed by me and you’ll be automatically entered to win this sharp 20″ x 20″ framed canvas reproduction of the art on the cover! But that's not all! We also have limited edition Baker's Dozen and Fab Four Dozen packages available for people interested in buying a bunch of books to share with friends, employees, donors, clients, and sworn enemies. They come with some pretty sweet bonuses, like mini canvases …
[Read more...] about Why you’ll definitely want to buy at least 13 copies of A Chance of Awesome
I recently had a chance to give a TEDx talk in McHenry, Illinois, which is just outside Chicago. I probably prepared more for this speech than any other I've given, and it was one of the shortest I've ever delivered. I'm excited to finally be able to share the video here. What was the talk about? Here's the description: Face it, adulting is hard. There are deadlines to meet, bills to pay, and rules aplenty we have to follow. Most of these rules keep order in what would otherwise be a chaotic world. But are all “rules” equally important? Maybe there are some rules we’d be better off not …
[Read more...] about My TED Talk About Rules That Don’t Exist
Wondernite is an exclusive art collecting event where I premiere never-before-seen originals and limited edition artwork. This year, guests got all gussied up and joined us at the beautiful Park Hotel, Madison’s only Capitol Square hotel, for an unforgettable evening. And it sure was. Here are a few notes (and a bunch of photos!) from the second annual Wondernite... "Thank you! I took a chance on a night not knowing what to expect and attended solo. I really had a blast and would absolutely attend more events! Thanks so much ❤️❤️" –Carrie Ouradnik My brother …
We were thrilled to help Goodwill with a fundraising event they dubbed "Escape Adulthood Recess." Designed to be a break from the workday, we worked with the fabulous folks at Hayes Marketing Services and the Goodwill Northern Illinois team to create a successful networking luncheon that raised a lot of money and created a lot of positive buzz. We were so impressed by the work that Donna Hayes and her team did to create such a magical event. Kim decided to follow up with her to get more information on all that went into it, how she was able to pack the room, and to glean some tips that …
[Read more...] about How to Create a Successful and Adultitis-Free Fundraising Event
The theme for the sixth Escape Adulthood Summit was "Shine On." It's always good to be reminded that even on the darkest days, the sun isn't gone, it's just hidden. This Summit was a call to look for the light during our seasons of darkness, and to bring light to others, by sharing our talents and kindness. For the third consecutive year, it was held at The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond, which is a beautiful spot in the middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin, miles away from the Adultitis-ridden pace of everyday life. As always, the line of people waiting to enter buzzed with …
I was recently interviewed on two great podcasts that are definitely worth a listen: In an episode of The Idea Medic Podcast by Tara Roskell, we explore a bit of my journey from cartoonist to speaker and author, and talk about my artistic style and where I find inspiration. We also discuss ways to escape adulthood and the benefits of bringing fun to business. Meanwhile, my friend Neil Mathweg has started a podcast for people who live in (an especially recently moved to) Madison Wisconsin. I was honored to be the first guest on the I Love Madison Show, where we talked about finding your …
[Read more...] about Listen In For Ideas on Creativity, Finding Inspiration, and Tinkering
A few years ago, I had the chance to visit some art galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona. Although much of the art was truly impressive, I was taken aback by the extreme levels of Adultitis that permeated everything. Everyone was so serious and stuffy. Making art is a joyful experience for me – as I’m sure it is for many of the artists who had their work on display – but in those galleries, that joy was missing. Big time. Kim and I have worked hard to marry my art into my speaking programs in a meaningful way. This past year, we spent hours and hours brainstorming the idea of creating some sort …
Too many people treat the calendar as the utmost authority on what constitutes a good reason to celebrate. If a holiday is written in fine print on a particular day in the calendar, we assume it’s safe to throw a party. But the truth is that every single day is a holiday; it’s just that most days, what to celebrate is up to you. If a reason seems good enough to you, well then, it’s good enough. The Celebrate Everything calendar was created for those times when you’re just not sure what to celebrate, as well as for those people who need permission first. Of course, disregarding a …
[Read more...] about Get Your 2018 Celebrate Everything Calendar!
I recently had the great pleasure of being featured on Jeffrey Shaw's Creative Warriors podcast. It was one of the best interviews I've been a part of, mainly because Jeffrey was so well-prepared. Since he'd read my book, Penguins Can't Fly +39 Other Rules That Don't Exist, he came armed with some great questions and we were able to go much deeper, more quickly than usual. I think you'll find it to be a worthwhile listen. Among other things, we discussed... Where the rules that don't exist come from, The danger in being realistic, Why you might not want to wear clean …
