Recently one of my favorite clients reached out to me. My Word Publishing (MWP) came to me looking for a solution to manage their award-winning authors, editors, and designers early this year. Others had pitched them custom solutions with price tags upwards of ten thousand dollars. I knew right away there was a better way. So I immediately set to work creating a demo of Teamwork to show them a world of possibilities.

About My Word Publishing

My Word Publishing is an agency that helps authors navigate the world of self-publishing with integrity and honesty. As a result, they have a dedicated group of authors, many of whom return to publish with them multiple times.

I’ve worked with creatives and in Project Management for over 20 years. So, the opportunity to create a CRM and Project solution that supported an agency of creatives was music to my ears.

Challenge

MWP Owner Polly Letofsky, coincidentally the first woman to walk around the world, and I met to discuss MWP’s needs. MWP has a range of users at various skill levels. Teamwork offered a solution robust enough for experienced users but easily accessible to novices. 

Polly was looking for a solution that could help her predict and track revenue. But, she also needed a way to track the hundreds of activities across projects. Teamwork Project and Teamwork CRM seemed to be the perfect pairing. So we set about trying to show just how we could pull it together.

Top MWP Needs

1) Manage Basic CRM Needs
2) Unique Project Management for Each Author/Book
3) Author Management (at low or no cost)
4) Manage a rotating group of editors and designers
5) 3rd Party Tool Integration

How Teamwork Met the Challenge

1) Manage Basic CRM Needs

The first thing MWP needed was a way to log new and returning authors. While more robust CRM’s are on the market, the price point and seamless integration with Teamwork Project made Teamwork CRM the obvious choice. 

In a matter of minutes, we were able to design lead and opportunity workflows from the moment an author reached out until a new contract was signed. The ability to add custom fields and workflows was a huge bonus, and one MWP took full advantage. But there was another surprise waiting that I will discuss more later on. Hint, it has to do with 3rd party integration.

Once an Author signed a contract, MWP was ready to move them into the project management phase. Because of Teamwork’s seamless integration, a consultant needs only create a new project based on an existing template. So let’s take a closer look at that phase.

2) Unique Project Management for Each Author/Book

Each Author follows a specific path for their book, but the nuts and bolts are relatively consistent. Leveraging Teamwork’s Project and List Templates, we devised a series of unique one-click templates. Each is easily adjustable to meet MWP’s particular needs, from ala carte projects to genre-specific books with specific requirements. 

Each New Book project has a dedicated team to help the Author through every phase of their book journey. Teamwork helps provide structure, guidance, and granular permissions to allow just the right amount of transparency. That power enables MWP to manage all facets of its business seamlessly.

The ability to manage all edits, changes, and resources was no problem using Teamworks file management. We took things one step further by integrating with DropBox to reduce bloat and keep file storage costs down.

3) Author Management (at low or no cost) / 4) Manage a rotating group of editors and designers

Another concern MWP had was the number of licenses required to manage their ever-changing number of authors. They were thrilled that they could leverage collaborators at no cost. Yet another significant aspect of Teamwork Project is its flexibility and awareness when it comes to shifting team members. Not tieing up user licenses is a big selling point with Road ASchooled Customers, and MWP was no exception. 

Editors and designers often come and go on projects as well. Since they require minimal interaction with Teamwork, Project MWP was thrilled that they too could be Free collaborators.

5) 3rd Party Tool Integration

I mentioned a surprise back in part 1, and here it is. Zapier integrations. Zapier, for those unfamiliar, allows non-coders to create powerful integrations between seemingly disparate systems. 

In MPW’s case, they use Acuity on their websites to manage meetings. It just so happens Teamwork Project and Teamwork CRM can leverage Zapier alongside Acuity. In a matter of minutes, we set up a fully automated solution. When a user fills out a selected time in Acuity, Zapier instantly creates a new lead, activity, and contact in Teamwork CRM.  

My Word Publishing Teamwork Project & CRM

By using non-proprietary and established technology with a long life ahead of it, My Word Publishing was able to feel secure in its decision not to build a homegrown solution.

In the end, we were able to create an entire agency solution in under 30 days, including planning and training. That aggressive schedule would not have been possible without Teamwork. Additionally, edits and changes are a breeze. Self Publishing a single book contains nearly 200 individual tasks. Having every step accounted for through Teamwork brings MWP and its authors peace of mind.

Next Steps

If you’d like to try out Teamwork for yourself, you can get started FREE with a 30-day trial. After that, you can choose to continue with a paid license or use a limited but powerful feature set FREE FOREVER. 

I highly recommend, at a minimum, the base version as it opens up many possibilities at a crazy low price point. We use the Pro Plan starting at only $10 per month to manage all Road Schooled Projects. If you need extra help getting started with Teamwork Project in your organization, drop us a message, we’d love to help you out.

Like what you see? Read more helpful content in the Road Schooled Journal

Do you have a small business or Side Hustle and always dreamed of taking credit cards, but the process seemed too complicated? Well, it looks like VENMO is finally here to change all that.

I recently tested the new plan out for my 16-year-old daughter’s art business, phiaTcreates.com — We were able to set her up in minutes, and now she can accept credit cards at a lower rate than most credit card services offer. Want to learn how for your business? Read below to get all the details based on my personal experience.

What is VENMO?

You can skip ahead, but for those that don’t know, read on. VENMO is a company that allows friends and families both living in the US to exchange money at no charge. In 2013 they were acquired by PayPal for 800 million dollars. For good reason, apparently, because in 2020, the company generated $159 Billion in total payments and $450 million in revenue.

VENMO has become increasingly more popular. Users are getting more creative as well. Recently, on a trip through Portland, I saw a homeless man holding up a sign that read, “Cash preferred, but Venmo Works too!” It included his Venmo account as well. I looked it up, and it seemed legit. I had no idea who I was actually sending money to, so I didn’t continue. As a rule, it is best not to send money to people you do not know. But, I must give the man props for creativity.

VENMO for Business

Unlike the personal version, Venmo for business allows users to take full advantage of a VENMO payment on their web page or in person for their goods and services. In addition, a business account is easily attached to your personal account in a matter of minutes. 

Many restaurants are already offering such service by placing a QR code on their receipts to expedite and increase touch-less payments. 

VENMO Business Fees

VENMO does not charge any monthly fees, which really helps those just getting started. They are also offering zero seller transaction fees during a users’ first month through 6/30/2021. After the preliminary period, the charge is only 1.9% + $0.10 per transaction.

For example, for a $100 sale, you would receive $98.

$100 x 1.9% = $1.90

$100.00 – $1.90 = $98.10

$98.10 – $0.10 = $98

Using a credit card to send money personally through Venmo includes a 3% fee charged to the sender. However, credit card purchasers are exempt from the 3% purchaser fee when interacting with business accounts.

 Like any similar program, fees can change at any time. But while there is no monthly fee, the barrier to entry risk is negligibly low.

VENMO Business Uses

I recently saw VENMO for Business used in a very creative way. For example, a musician at a Colorado backyard BBQ had his QR code set out. Anyone could scan this code, give him a tip or buy his t-shirts and CDs.

Other’s often use personal VENMO for tips, which seems to be a grey area of the terms and agreements of VENMO. Since a tip is not a direct exchange for goods or services.

The advantage of switching to a business account is to let users pay with a credit card and scan a QR code. Additionally, it’s much easier to scan a QR code than type in a VENMO account name, especially after a few adult beverages.

Some may continue the current approach to avoid the business fees. They may not want to collect only $0.88 on a dollar tip. However, people may tip more if they can use a credit card. Those who continue such usage could ultimately lose their account should VENMO go that route. Also, it bears repeating that tipping may get become forbidden in a future revision of the terms.

VENMO Business Profile

Venmo also offers business profiles. This solution allows small businesses to be found within the APP and generate more sales.

VENMO QR KIT

The VENMO QR Kit ships to your home for free (including $0 shipping). It includes lanyards, stickers, and a tabletop display. After a customer scans your QR code, they are taken directly to your VENMO account to complete the transaction.

 (It’s unclear when this promotion ends) 

Finals Considerations if You’re Thinking of Trying VENMO for Business

1) Even if you do not plan to use the business plan right away. It’s worth setting up now to take advantage of the FREE QR CODE KIT. Some may be scared off by the fees. But fees for payments are a normal part of doing business. 

2) Anyone paying your business must have a VENMO account. However, consumers are becoming increasingly more comfortable using such services. VENMO, ZELLE, PAYPAL, GooglePay, AppleMay, and more becoming available daily.

3) Taxes due from Venmo Personal or business payments are 100% the responsibility of the receiver. Additionally, VENMO’s terms of service explicitly prohibit using personal accounts for business purposes. This excerpt from their terms reinforces that:

“Venmo may NOT otherwise be used to receive business, commercial or merchant transactions, meaning you CANNOT use Venmo to accept payment from (or send payment to) another user for a good or service, unless explicitly authorized by Venmo.”

With the addition of Business accounts, with fees, VENMO may likely attempt to crack down harder on those that violate these terms.

You will need to be a personal VENMO user first to create a VENMO Business Account. 

4) I initially struggled to set up my account because it can ONLY be done from the VENMO APP, not the website. Unfortunately, I could find no reference to this requirement at the time of this writing. But knowing that one item may save you some frustration.

5) With no fees, there’s really no risk to get started, so give it a try today.

To get all the details and get started today, you can read VENMO’s official Getting Started Guide!

I do not work for VENMO. Nor do I benefit from anybody signing up. I am merely sharing my experience to help others. In fact, VENMO only allows referrals on a one-to-one basis through the app. 

Instead, it was the multitalented, energetic, and inspiring Cheryl Ilov that got me to sit down, look inside and try to consolidate my thoughts. As someone who sees connections in everything, it can be impossible for me to stay on topic. What others may see as tangents I simply see as connections. 

Cheryl leveraged her FemiNinja powers and 14+ years of Ninpo Tai Jutsu Training to somehow harness an hour of coherent thoughts. I am incredibly grateful to have spent the time with her. In a world that wants us to find our niche, it was refreshing to be approached by someone who understands the value of diversity and connections. 

Enough talking; I do plenty of that with Cheryl. If you’d like to hear more, you can click here. Or jump over to Apple Podcasts to download and take me on a walk with you! 

Please let me know what you think in the comments, and be sure to check out Cheryl’s other fantastic interviews with a diverse group of guests.

Click Here to Listen!

Be a Guest on the Femininja Project

If you believe you have an intriguing story to share or are not sure, reach out to Cheryl. She can help you find your unique voice and offer you a platform to share it.

There’s always plenty to do, so staying awake is tempting. But I am tired. Really tired. Last night we went to a Latin restaurant’s soft opening for an early Birthday dinner. When we arrived, we learned they had lost our reservation. After a moment, they found us a table but neglected to tell us they didn’t yet have their liquor license, no birthday margarita for this guy. That was until I got home. The ones I make are better and less expensive than most restaurants, or so I’ve been told. But cheaper and better always mean more, so perhaps that is why I’m so tired? 

I check my phone and see birthday wishes rolling in. I know my friend Jill will attempt to get her wishes in before my friend Michael. They affectionally refer to each other as Newman and Jerry from Seinfeld. At least I assume it’s affectionally? It’s early enough that the competition has not begun. However, I do have one message from a dear college friend Mark. 

He is always so good at reaching out on special days. I suck at this. When I got married in 2001, he had a job that would often bring him to Colorado. Some of my best memories are him and I eating pizza and drinking beer on my first house’s back deck. He also came and stayed with me during hurricane Katrina after my dad was unexpectedly killed in a car accident.

Perhaps that’s why I am writing this morning, after being dormant for so long. Mark asked me what I was going to do today. He wished me a day of adventure or time for reflection, my choice. Quite a nice gift if you ask me. From what I see in front of me, I chose the latter. 

Oahu

A couple of weeks ago, the family and I went to Oahu. It was a delayed trip from 2020. Originally intended to celebrate my Hawaii 5-0 birthday. Being that I was still 50 when we went, it still worked. Since coming home, we have tried to watch movies filmed on Oahu and specifically Kualoa Ranch. It is most famous for being the Jurassic Park filming location, followed by the TV show LOST and over 100 more. Including 50 First Dates, which we watched last night as an accompaniment to those margaritas. There’s that 50 again. 

Something about this movie always gets me. It stars Drew Barrymore as Lucy and Adam Sandler as Henry. Lucy suffers from short-term memory loss. Each day Lucy wakes up and has forgotten the previous. A cow in the road caused her dad to swerve into the tree. He broke a few ribs, but Lucy’s head injury forces her to relive the events leading up to the accident, each day over and over. 

Her dad and brother hide the truth of her condition from her for nearly a year. But Henry tries a new approach. Instead of hiding the truth, they create a video to watch each morning when she wakes up. The video tells Lucy what happened, who she is, and what she has done since but does not remember.

If you just watch the movie as a comedy about sharks only biting you when you touch their private parts, you might miss this gem of a message. The moment is an exquisite reminder of how rarely we appreciate what we’ve accomplished. We are so focused on what’s next that we forget all that we have done.

Throughout the movie, hidden within the silliness is a beautiful story of love, commitment, and a willingness to fall in love every day. At times, throughout my 51 years, that is something I’ve strived toward. It’s not always about finding the next thing. It’s about remembering and appreciating where you’ve been and with whom. Finally, an excuse to use whom instead of who! Yay words!

That doesn’t mean I don’t continue to seek adventure in the great wide open, Ariel style. It does mean if I were a merman, I probably wouldn’t trade my voice for knobby knees and a land-loving prince.

In the movie, Adam Sandler is working toward leaving Hawaii and sailing to Alaska for a year. This leads him to settle for one-night stands with tourists until he meets Drew Barrymore’s character, Lucy. It seems like their relationship is based on his inability to commit and a fear of the mundane. He can leave because Lucy won’t remember. Also, the newness of each day makes their time together feel fresh.

I imagine this is why most people drift apart. They are looking for the spark and fail to recognize the fire it started. Sometimes you just need a little oxygen to keep things going. So stop trying to smother every breath I take, Sting! My apologies; internal monologue found its way to my fingers.

Stop looking for the spark, and appreciate the fire that it started!

— Spoiler Alert Section —

Look, the movie came out 16 years ago. If you haven’t seen it yet, that’s on you. But you can’t say I didn’t warn you. Toward the end of the movie, we see Drew waking up in bed. Next to her is a recycled saki bottle. No, that’s not true, but it would be so cool. What is next to her is a videotape that says, “Good Morning, Lucy.” Like each day before, she watches and learns about the accident and her current life. 

At the end of the video, you hear Henry say, “now put on a coat and come upstairs. It’s cold out here today.” Before you have time to remember that the whole film was in beautiful Hawaii, Drew looks through her bedroom window. It is revealed to be a porthole. The camera pans back, and you see Henry and Lucy’s dad standing on the deck of his sailboat off the coast of Alaska. At that moment, you realize he has found a way to live his dream and be with the woman he loves.

— Spoiler Alert Section Complete —

I feel a lot like that. For those that know my wife Beth, she has given me the rope to explore and be free, but always find my way home. That’s why I made her this mirror for her so many years ago. Technically it was to be a September anniversary present. It took me a little longer. But it still made a nice Christmas present.

There’s actually one more meaningful moment in the movie that always makes me cry. Still, I’m leaving that out for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie. 

So as I reflect back on 51 years, I am grateful for all the days that have gotten me here. Sure they haven’t all been the bee’s knees. Which, by the way, is a fantastic prohibition-style cocktail, made even better when you replace the gin with Mezcal. Just one more of those things, after 51 years on the Third Rock from the Sun, that you learn. Coincidentally, 3rd Rock from the Sun never filmed at Kualoa Ranch. But, Snowden starring Joseph Gorden-Levitt, who played Tommy Solomon in the show, did shoot scenes there.

Each day that I wake up, I have a chance to make the most of my life. I don’t always get that right. But that’s what the next moment is for.

There’s one more scene in the movie that I love. Lucy says to Henry, “Can I have one last first kiss.” That’s how I want each day of however many more I have to live to be, One last first Kiss at a time!

This morning, Mark, Brian’s brother-in-law, reached out to me. He had read my article before hopping in his car. A moment later, he got in the car, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s song, “Between Two Worlds,” came on.

Long After Dark

It’s an odd song, even for XM, because it was never a radio song. It was on the band’s album, Long After Dark. Their 5th album in about as many years.

The most popular song from that album was written by guitarist Mike Campbell. “You Got Lucky.” The music sounds like an Ennio Morricone Sergio Leone film score had a baby with a groupie! Ennio also passed away in 2020, after living to be 92 and completing more than 400 film scores. In the end, the gunslinging sound of the song was not a band favorite; but fans love it. It was rarely played live until much later in their career.

You can’t blame anyone for ignoring Long After Dark. They were still listening to the band’s previous album, Damn the Torpedos. That album is practically a greatest hits album. Ultimately going double platinum in Canada and Triple Platinum in the US.

The penultimate song on Long After Dark is Between Two Worlds. For me, the title conjures feelings of loss and spirituality. But that’s the funny thing about song titles. They are not always what they seem. The song appears to be about a rockstar’s struggle between life at home and the road’s temptations.

Things Aren’t Always What They Seem

The last song on the album drove me to write a coda to my other article. It’s called A Wasted Life. Again, with the misleading song titles. This one sounds like it setting you up for a painful journey — on the last track, no less!

But that’s the genius of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They would set you up to believe one thing, only to reveal something entirely different. Brian’s art did the same thing. Audiences would swear they knew what was coming, only to discover that they were once again tricked once he flipped the canvas over.

He did this with portraits of Bono, Martin Luther King, and more. My favorite was John Lennon. Using the song, A Day in a Life, as the finale, he would spin the canvas to reveal most of what he had painted was meant to distract. Finishing a perfect portrait of Lennon in less than a minute. 

The First Promo Video I ever Created with Brian.

Our skills were both improving in November 2004. But every time I look back at this video, it reminds me of all that was possible.

No Life is Wasted if it is Lived Fully!

The song A Wasted Life is a call to life. To live to the fullest. Something Brian encouraged his friends and audiences to do. The lyrics are a declaration of love. They are from someone who can see the pain that someone else is going through. A desire to climb just a little higher.  

A Wasted Life 

— Lyrics by Thomas Earl Petty 

Don’t have a wasted life

I know you have to feel a little used up 

And no one can give you enough 

Baby hold on tight

Don’t have a wasted life 

I love you too much 

Don’t have a wasted life 

I love you too much

They give it to you from the time you’re born 

You keep tryin’ to make one more score 

Baby it’s alright 

You gotta stand and fight 

So when you’re lonely and you feel let down 

You can call me I’ll come around 

And treat you nice 

Don’t have a wasted life 

I love you too much uh, uh, uh, don’t have a wasted life”

GO LIVE!

Brian was driven. He had always had a new plan. But like many of us, when his goals went unrealized, he could feel down. Even when some dreams were realized, he held himself to a high standard. Wanting and knowing he could reach higher and do more. I will forever be grateful for the inspiration that he unknowingly bestowed upon my daughter, Sophia.

It can be challenging to look at someone from the outside in. Someone seemingly so full of life, that seems to have it all. Only to realize they, too, are human. They may appear successful, but are they happy?

It breaks my heart to think of Brian not flipping meeting me at the airport and flipping me off, with a big smile on his face. Calling me with a joke that I couldn’t, or at least shouldn’t repeat in writing. Or sending me a text calling me some foul name, just to get my attention, before asking for help on his latest project.

To everyone reading this, GO LIVE! Revel in your successes and let go of any harsh self-criticism. To Brian, I hope with all of my heart, you are happy somewhere in the universe. Know, you didn’t live a wasted life; you just left us too soon.

I’ll sign off as we did at the end of each trip. Love you, Buddy! You don’t have to say it back. But if you could send a cloud in the form of a middle finger, I’d really appreciate it!

Brian Olsen – His Art in Action!

Photos from the Brian Olsen Vault.

Most from the incredible Emily Griffith! A few are from my personal collection.

You can read more about some of our adventures together here.

My exploration of self and the great unknown inspires others to seek out, commit to, and navigate their own unique journey towards truly being Alive! 

Many people have come to know me for riding a motorcycle, traveling, writing, and sharing photos over the years. However, I also had an entire life as a traveling musician and road manager. Overlapping that time, I was an Operations Manager, a VP, and even a CTO of a small but successful software company. However, when I start writing about some of these topics, it can really throw off some of the people that only know me through social media. I’ve literally had people tell me, “enough already, just tell us about the ride, man!” Well, no more. I have held myself back for way too long.

To those who want just the ride reports, I apologize. I have too many interests to only speak about a single topic. I also tend to see everything as connected. I can easily connect Chicken Sue of Chicken, Alaska, and bass player Jaco Pastorius. 

Chicken Sue, The Pie Lady of Chicken, Alaska

I had the pleasure of meeting Sue, the Pie Lady of Chicken Alaska. She shared great stories, served up an amazing breakfast, and sent us on our way to Dawson in the Yukon with tasty desserts in our saddlebags.

Jaco Pastorius Chicken

Epic Performance of Jaco’s the Chicken with a Full Band and Soul Intro

I can appreciate those that want to stay on one topic. But, as someone with diverse interests and a compulsion to share, I sometimes cannot help myself. In fact, when I learn something, if I don’t share it with at least one person, I can’t move on. I literally walk around with a sense of guilt!

I learn a ton from people that share my interests. But I often learn much more from those with something new to offer. Be it a new subject or merely a different perspective. When I was focused on motorcycle travel photography and writing, my motto was, “Don’t Go Anywhere, Go Somewhere.” This was inspired by my then, 4-year old daughter not wanting to run errands, but to go have an experience. From her lips to the tagline of my website! Thanks, Kiddo!

Over time this has morphed into “Don’t Do Anything… Do Something.” It is a battle cry for living fully and making moments count. Laster, I attended a one day class offered by Success Magnified’s Mary Gaul. I gathered feedback from friends and co-workers. At the workshop, I compared and contrasted how people perceived me against how I perceived myself. After some fun but intense introspection, I came up with what is referred to as my Pinnacle Gift Statement:

My exploration of self and the great unknown inspires others to seek out, commit to, and navigate their own unique journey towards truly being Alive! 

This awareness changed everything for me. I wasn’t a number, a letter, or anything that could be put in a box based on a personality assessment. I believe there is value in such tools; Strength Finders, Myers Briggs, DiSC, etc. My favorite being the Enneagram. But these assessments are all starting points, not limiters. They are a way out, not something to hold you down.

Ultimately, I am committed to living my life fully and inspiring and helping others do the same. This means I bring a lot of thoughts and ideas to the table. Sometimes I get it right. Sometimes I don’t. Some things I say will connect with others; others will not. That is ok. In certain spiritual and recovery circles, a famous phrase is, “Take what you need and leave the rest.” Regardless of your connection to those circles, it really is excellent advice to anyone striving to feel fully alive! I encourage everyone to approach their life in this way. Chances are we get one shot. Make it count!

Citrus Oregano Slow Cooked Pulled Pork

Sides

Pickled Red Onions and Broccoli Slaw

Sauces

Lime Mayo & Green Chile

I pulled (Pun intended) this together quickly for my NOOM friends. I apologize for the lack of pics. But, I can assure you it is delicious! I will be making it again soon and will add pics.

The original recipe is listed as NO LONGER AVAILABLE at Krogers, so I have put our version here.

Lime Pulled Pork

8 hours · This hands-off shredded pork recipe takes just minutes of prep before it cooks low and slow to tender, pull-apart perfection.

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 8 Hours

Total: 8 Hours 15 minutes

Serves: 10

Ingredients

3 lbs. Pork shoulder

2 Bay leaves

1/4 cup Cilantro, fresh leaves

3 cloves Garlic

2 Limes

1 Onion, medium

1 Orange, large

2 tsp Oregano, dried

1/2 cup Chicken broth

1 1/2 tsp Salt

OPTIONAL: 12 Slider buns

Instructions

1. Sprinkle all sides of pork with Oregano and salt. If the slow cooker has sautee function, sear meat on all sides, about 3 minutes per side.
   1. My cooker does not have this function, so I brown mine in the over first.
2. Make 3 slits in the pork. Insert 1 or more garlic cloves in each slit
3. Add Bay leaves, broth, onion, orange, and lime juices.
4. Cover and Cook for 8 hours until pork reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Remove pork and shred with two forks (Be careful, it will be hot!)
6. Place back into the liquid in the slow cooker OR if you like your pork crispy like I do you can do one of the following:
   1. Crank your smoker to its highest heat. Use searing grates if you have them. Toss some of all of the pork onto the reheated grates to crisp them up.
   2. No Smoker? You can broil the meat in the oven or in a cast-iron skillet.
      1. These options give the meat a decadent “fried” flavor.
         If you need more liquid as it crisps you can spray lightly with Avocado Oil, but I prefer to use juices from the slow cooker to avoid adding any hidden calories.
7. These can be served on sugar-free buns or bread, but I often skip the bread and double down on the pork.

Per Serving: 440 Cal. 26g Total Fat. 9g Sat Fat. 0g Trans Fat. 96mg Cholesterol. 520 mg Sodium. 22g Carbs. 2 G Fiber. 5g Sugar. 27g Protein.

Sides

Quick Pickled Red Onion

Super easy and tasty!. Tames any spice and turns the onion bright pink!

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes ( I recommend making in the morning and letting sit all day, as the pork cooks)

Total: 30 Minutes

Serves: 10

Ingredients

1 Red Onion, sliced thin

1 clove garlic

1 cup vinegar (white, apple cider, rice wine, or a combo)

2 Tbsp. white sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp. Salt

Instructions

1. Place onion and garlic in a glass bowl (set aside)
2. Pour vinegar into a small saucepan. Store in Sugar and salt until fully dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
3. Once boiling, pour the mixture over onion and garlic. Stir to evenly coat onions.
4. Put the lid on the glass container and refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 10 minutes ( I prefer to let it sit all day). The onion will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week!

Per serving: 20 Calories. 0g Fat. 0mg Cholesterol. 90mg Sodium 4G Carbs. 0G Fiber. 3g Sugar. 0g Protein

5-Minute Broccoli Slaw

Prep: 5+ minutes

Cook: 0 minutes

Total: 5 minutes

Serves: 10

Ingredients

1 bottle (12 oz) ranch dressing

2 Tbsp. mustard ( I prefer Dijon)

`1 pkg. Coleslaw

16 oz. broccoli florets

1/2 red onion

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, whisk ranch and mustard
2. In a large bowl, combines the remaining ingredients
3. Fold in the sauce from step 1, refrigerate until time to serve

Per Serving: 230 Cal. 20g Total Fat. 3g Sat Fat. 0G Trans Fat. 10mg Cholesterol. 450mg Sodium. 12g Carbs. 1g Fiber. 7g Sugar. 2g protein.

Tip: You can lower the fat and calories mostly by altering your choice of ranch dressing.

Sauce Options

Lime Mayo

A delicious, light, tangy mayonnaise spread

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 0 minutes

Total: 5 minutes

Serves: 10

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. lime juice

1.2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. lime zest

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. refrigerate until ready to serve. Mayo will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week!

Per Serving: 160 Calories. 18g Total Fat. 3g Sat Fat. 0g Trans Fat. 10mg Cholesterol. 135mg Sodium. 0g Carbs. 0g Fiber. 0g Sugar. 0g Protein.

Santiago’s Green Chili

I skip the Lime Mayo and go right for Green Chile! My go to is Santiago’s Green Chile – it can be found in the frozen section of most grocery stores.

There are vegetarian options in other brands that reduce fat and calories even more. 

Santiagos is approximately, 80 Cal, 5g Carbs, 6g Fat, 2g Protein per 4 oz serving.

You unleash your genius upon the world and . . . 

CRICKETS! 

Why, because you failed to take the steps necessary to be heard. SEO gets all the buzz when it comes to being listened to, and rightfully so. Even if you do not want to put in the work to boost your writing through SEO, you owe it to yourself to have a good headline.

Whether blogging on your own site or posting to a shared community such as Medium.com, a good headline is what opens the door. Getting people to read our stories is why we publish what we write. 

If our Headline doesn’t grab readers, then they will never see our stories. If you want to be seen, then taking the time to improve your Headlines is a no brainer. 

This post, for instance, was initially titled the very uninspiring CoSchedule Headline Studio. It scored 32 out of 100. Using the tips provided in Headline Studio, I changed the title to “Writing Great Content, But Not Getting Seen? Help People Find You with CoSchedule Headline Studio!”

Using the simple steps provided by Headline Studio, I increased my score to 78 and my title ranked higher than 80% of other writers with similar titles. Read on to learn how easy it is to do for your own headlines.

There is a delicate balance between being seen and being creative. For example, I recently wrote a piece called #MakeAmericaRockAgain. I thought I was “clever,” making the title a hashtag. When I checked it on several online tools, it rated poorly. In Headline Studio, it received a dismal score of 23!

Each tool I tested offered helpful criticism. But only Headline Studio helped me fix it. Helping me raise my Headline up to an honorable 73. By changing my Headline, I vastly increased my potential for visibility in searches. 

Headline Studio has a Free and Premium version. The free version is excellent, but the premium version is unbeatable if you are serious about your Headlines and Story Titles.

You can try it for FREE, but it also has a Premium option, which is well worth the nominal price. There are other free options on the market. But, their features do not come close to Headline Studio. 

Other tools tell rate what you have created. Headline Studio guides you toward making your Headline rise about the rest in addition to that primary function: color-coded suggestions, word replacement, structural scoring, and more. 

If you are comfortable fixing your own Headline, then a free option might be plenty. However, if you are serious about standing out, read on to learn more about Headline Studio. 

I also really appreciate the history function. Allowing you to quickly look back over your changes. Perhaps a previous version with a little tweaking is more to your liking. Jump around different versions until you find the exact right solution.

Headline Studio also has a Google Extension that allows you to quickly analyze headlines that you find on the web. This is a great way to learn from both good and bad headlines. 

Ok, enough gushing. Let’s take a look at this powerful tool in action. I will use the Headline I mentioned earlier to provide a real-world example. The full piece can be found on this website as well as on Medium.com.

As I mentioned, I began with the Headline, #MakeAmericaRockAgain, which was rated a 23. Rather than guessing how to fix it, Headline Studio walked me through a step-by-step process to improve it.

To get started, I simply add the Headline into the Headline Studio and Select Analyze.

A moment later, the Headline is analyzed for several essential items that can be improved upon. These are:

Word Balance (Common, Uncommon, Emotional, and Power Words)

• Competition
• Word Count
• Character Count
• Headline Type
• Reading Grade Level
• Sentiment
• Clarity and Skimmability

Below I break down each of these. Not necessarily in the order above, but as I used the tool to get to a Headline, I was ready to roll out.

Word Balance

When writing a Headline, your goal is to use a combination of Common, Uncommon, Emotional, and Power Words. It can take several attempts to find the balance. Headline Studio makes it easy by highlighting each word in your Headline.

Word Count, Character Count, Headline Type, Reading Grade Level, Sentiment, Clarity

Each of these categories works together to create a great headline. A good headline gets clicked on when its length is around 12 words and about 70 characters.

Ultimately, my Headline scored well in 3 out of 4 of the word balance categories. Lacking in Emotion according to the tool. More on that under Sentiment below.

Questions (Headline Type) trigger curiosity. Keeping the reading level low also increases the likelihood that your story will be clicked.

MyHeadlinee received a positive score for clarity. Minimal words getting right to the point.

I hesitated to add the single word question, “Disheartened?” as suggested. At first, it felt forced. But doing so increased my score by 10 points. However, it lowered my readability score (reading grade level). 

After deliberating and looking over some additional factors, I decided the ding on readability was worth the higher overall score.

Keeping the question to a single word of the Headline and distributing word balance resulted in a positive Clarity score. 

Sentiment

My post was rated as neutral, lacking a strong positive or negative statement (See Previous Graphic). I tried several options to increase sentiment. In the end, I felt the words “disheartened” and “desperate” conveyed enough Emotion for my personal taste.

COMPETITION {PREMIUM}

My favorite function of the tool is COMPETITION. You may not think you are competing with your writing. But you are competing when it comes to ranking in Google. The tool evaluates “competition” based on similar headlines. Then it links to and analyzes these headlines.

SUGGESTIONS {PREMIUM}

The other top premium feature is Suggestions. Based on an algorithm, the tool will suggest replacement words to boost your post. I sometimes found the suggestions do not make the best grammatical sense.

For example:

“Disheartened? Who is Desperate Sure to Make America Rock Again?” Score = 75

That ranked higher than:

Disheartened? Who is Desperate Enough to Make America Rock Again?

Score = 73

“Sure” is the suggested replacement for “Enough,” ranking the title two points higher. But, it loses readability. 

Skimmability

Skimmability is an excellent visual for seeing what your reader will see. Google searches present a reader with countless options. Six out of 10 of my headline words rank well for skimmability. This increases the likelihood that myHeadlinee will be clicked on. In google searches capturing these highlighted words is the difference between being seen and being ignored.

Summary

Finally, when you attempt to increase any single category, you risk lowering one or more other types. This is natural. It is also where the art and, ultimately, your judgment come into play. A fluke Headline can occasionally and unexpectedly rank highly. But, you have a far better chance of success when following the tool’s algorithm.

I made several attempts to refine my score. Ultimately increasing my score by 50 points! I decided my score of 73, outscoring 75% of my competition, was good enough to publish. Time will tell.

You don’t want your headlines to seem too contrived. Your goal is to be seen, so you readers click and read your story. Let the tool guide you, like a GPS. But don’t be afraid to try a detour or two. 

Whether you write full stories or are merely trying to rank on social media, Headline Studio will help you master the art of the Headline! 

Try it for FREE Today with up to three premium Headline Features!

As an aside, I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the CoSchedule Team. I was shocked to experience real people on their chat support. With so many companies switching to BOT support, I cannot express how refreshing this was.

The team has been superior in answering all of my questions. They offer other tools as well, and I very much look forward to using and reviewing them for the Road Schooled Community in the future. 

Try CoSchedule Headline Today!

Unlimited Free Headlines. Three Free Premium Headlines.

Get Mine!

Less than 24 hours ago, I found myself lying in a room with three women, none of which I knew. It’s Election Day, so what better day to get F . . . . well, you know.

The sign on the door said #2, the music blasting through the speakers was Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water. It’s riff being one of the first every new aspiring guitar player learns. Some even convince themself this makes them a guitar player, and they dare to continue at it for years, not that I know anyone like that. Most people know the sound of the song. Yet, few know how close the song came to never exist.

Ian Gillan Deep Purple

Singer and lyricist for Deep Purple, Ian Gillan, was faced with two roads diverging in popular music’s lexicon. In 1969, Ian found himself fronting an early incarnation of Deep Purple while also embodying the role of Jesus as the lead singer on an artsy, musical side project.

The project was led by now legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice. When producers saw no commercial value in a show they called Jesus Christ Superstar, the two decided to make a two-disc concept album in the vein of The Who’s Tommy.

In 1970 while Deep Purple was scratching out a name for themselves as a band, SUPERSTAR featuring Ian on lead vocals was released as a single. It was soon a smash hit. Community theaters and some more open-minded churches were staging local, albeit unauthorized productions.

Jesus Christ Super Star Tour

In July 1971, Webber and Rice responded by mounting their own concert tour of the album-opening in Pittsburgh, PA. Ian was offered the role of Jesus but declined to participate. He wasn’t prepared to lose his spot as the band’s lead vocalist and felt it would be selfish to ask the other members to wait on him.

October of the same year, the show was set for a Broadway run, again without Ian. It was widely panned by critics, fans, and even its co-creator Webber. Yet, it still ran for over 700 performances and was nominated for five Tony’s. None of which it won.

Here is How that Played Out

We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline

Lyrics and Explanations

We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline

Ian found himself in Montreal, Switzerland, on December 1, 1971, with the rest of Deep Purple. There he collaborated on the lyrics and sang about little more than a journal entry of the day’s events.

To make records with a mobile

The band planned to record a new album using a mobile unit — a portable recording studio in the back of a truck. It could be brought to the location to capture live recordings. Standard now, but novel at the time. More on that in a moment.

We didn’t have much time

Frank Zappa and the Mothers

Were at the best place around

The band listened on as Frank Zappa and the Mother’s of Invention were completing a rare afternoon concert.

They burned down the gambling house

It died with an awful sound

The location was preparing to shut down for the winter after the Mother’s set. Deep Purple was moving into the space to write and record new music.

During The Mother’s performance, keyboardist Don Preston was lighting his keyboards on fire with his playing. Then some idiot in the audience set off a flare gun. Burning the theatre and casino next door to the ground.

With little time to react, musicians and fans alike helped one another escape the fiery blazer. Minimal injuries were incurred, but several places were burned to ash.

Swiss time was running out

It seemed that we would lose the race

With everyone safe, the band found themselves in desperate need of a new location. Recording albums is more than sex, drugs, and rock and roll. It is also suits, budgets, and schedules.

We ended up at the Grand Hotel

It was empty cold, and bare

They quickly relocated to the less than inspiring Grand Hotel with the mobile unit in tow.

But with the Rolling-truck-Stones-thing just outside, ha

Making our music there

The Mobile Unit that band used was an early savvy investment by The Rolling Stones. It has been used for nearly 30 years to record some of the biggest albums of all time, including Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Simple Minds, Iron Maiden, Dire Straits, Buddy Rich, and many more. However, it was Deep Purple that immortalized a taken for granted but integral part of recording equipment into one of the most endearing classic rock songs of all time.

With a few red lights, a few old beds, huh

We made a place to sweat

They didn’t hold back their disgust when describing their new location.

No matter what we get out of this, ha

I know, I know we’ll never forget

That last line is a fantastic reminder that we have no idea what can come from the ashes of the unexpected. The “ha” feels like an inside joke. Like perhaps they thought they were working on a throwaway song. Perhaps a B-Side or a piece buried on side two of the album. Indeed not an enduring rock classic

Believe it or not, this all was going through my mind. Just as Linda, one of the ladies in the room, asked me to roll over to my left side. My empty stomach rumbles. I barely feel the sensation of cold air as the back of my gown is opened by Joy. Yep, that’s her real name! I am instantly asleep, and Colonoscopy number one is underway. That’s how you get familiar, with a capital F, with a stranger, on Election Day.

That’s right! Operating Room Music, three women, each expert in their field, and my first colonoscopy had me not distracted during the 59th quadrennial U.S. presidential election. Not to be confused with The Who’s Quadrophenia, perhaps my favorite concept album.

For anyone struggling to hear the results of the election, let it go. Eventually, one of two people will be President. There are over 328-million people in the United States. If we embrace the uniqueness and diversity within ourselves, our families, our communities, we are unstoppable.

The last thing we need is another excuse not to do our best.

We do NOT need politicians or a political party to tell us how to be better human beings.

We CAN do that regardless of who sits as President.

We ARE our own mobile unit, capable of greatness! ​

Deep Purple, a rock band, wrote an accidental, unexpected, and enduring hit song by not giving up. Even when their makeshift recording studio burned to the ground. They gave thousands of wanna-be-rock stars hope. They showed a riff simplified and played on one finger could live forever! Even more than Sabbath’s previously released, Iron Man.

Even more than Sabbath’s previously released, Iron Man. Even those that heard Seven Nation Army first, by The White Stripes, eventually go back to discover Smoke on the Water!

Bomp, Bomp, Bomb

Bomp, Bomp, Bomp, Bomb.

Bomp, Bomp, Bomb

Bomp, Bomb.

Anyone can play, sing, dance, or apparently put on makeup to this riff! My daughters and I are kicking things off with our own versions.

Guitar, TikTok, and Ukelele!

https://youtu.be/jZC3Htwvrjghttps://youtu.be/Qn3vZ_Vasaghttps://youtu.be/GhirXm2cmWs?list=PLOgcTciswhneoSQPK0qx10ObRZYpHeaS_

Create and post your own version online. Sing the riff, pound it out on Tupperware, or on trash cans, create an interpretive dance. Whatever you feel!

Be sure to hashtag your performance with #DeepPurpleChallenge and #MakeAmericaRockAgain

Then add a link to your performance in the comments below. Please keep it word free and non-political, unless you use the original lyrics.

Let’s create a viral noise heard worldwide. Show that we do not need permission to do better or to be better and let’s Make America ROCK Again!

We are only immortal for a limited time.

On this day in 2012, my dad was hit and killed by a car. He was riding his motorcycle home from the grocery store when a vehicle pulled out in front of him. If you have followed my writing for any length of time, you’ve heard the full story, so I won’t go into detail. You know the impact that this event has had on my life the past eight years.

I am not big on dates, neither was my dad. He was notorious for missing birthdays and holidays. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt when I was a kid. But, as I grew up, I began to see the beauty of living a life devoid of linear living.

Now, as I enter my half-century of life, I realize I don’t feel much older than I did when I was in my 20’s. Sure my body doesn’t always cooperate. However, when I don’t focus on the past, greener grass, or better days ahead, I can really get lost in the present’s beauty.

This past week I completed a 9-day family road trip to California. The last trip with my dad, California, was our destination. We only made it as far as Vegas due to mechanical issues. This week I drove past many of the same places we passed through on our last ride. During this trip, I felt but grateful and sad. 

But, today, like it or not, represents the day that my dad was taken from this earth. While it doesn’t hurt more than other days, it can carry its own weight of awareness.

Broken down off of 128 outside of Moab. Faulty Valve Stem!

Today, I had the chance to talk to my dad’s wife, Helena, and my sister, Tami. I’d like to take a moment to share a bit about their stories with you today.

Helena’s Story

This morning, Helena shared with me how, after 8-years, it was time to let my dad out of the box that holds his ashes. In life, my dad often felt his possessions were boxed. He was always waiting for the day to fully express himself. After his passing, his ashes were shared between Helena, my sister, and me. 

Helena has felt that my dad has traded his boxed possessions for himself by keeping his ashes in a box. A genie in a bottle waiting to get out. She chose this year to bury his ashes alongside a rose bush in their backyard. 

Her decision seemed logical to me as she has a degree in horticulture. Then she shared a story from early in her relationship with my dad. It was before she became “edumacated” about flora. It turns out, before her training, she managed to kill several of my dad’s rose bushes when she prematurely trimmed them. From these pictures, it looks like she has improved her relationship with roses and found a fantastic way to honor him.

Helena Photos

Tami’s Story

My sister has always had a fondness for feathers. Often equating them with a sign from our dad. 

My day ended with a walk, as it often does. My sister texted me with a rather shocking revelation. She asked, “did you realize that dad passed away on 2112?” I didn’t get it at first. He died on 10/21. A few steps further into my walk, I pieced it together. He died on the 21st day of October 2012, 2112!

As a bass player, the musician in me has a long life love of the band RUSH—specifically Geddy Lee, the band’s vocalist, and bass player. The motorcyclist and writer in me were immediately endeared to Neil Peart, the band’s drummer. While he is known as one of, if not the best drummer to ever live. But I fell in love with his voice as an author or motorcycle storyteller.

Neil’s influence completely changed the direction of my life. His writing bonded my dad and me together. It only fits that my dad passed on 2112. I can’t help but think that he alone has been holding onto this irony and wondering when we would catch on. 

Early in our riding days together, I gave my dad my copy of Neil’s book Ghost Rider after one of our rides. It’s the tragic story of Neil’s attempt to heal after the death of both his wife and daughter within a year. He rode his motorcycle nearly 80k miles from Canada through South America. That book was a gateway to the future he and I would share for the next several years. When he passed, it was one of the few possessions that I took back. 

For non-Rush fans, 2112 was the band’s defiant and defining album. When their record label threatened to drop them if they didn’t produce a radio-friendly hit. The band responded by releasing a twenty-one and a half minute dystopian suite made up of seven songs, filling the album’s entire first side. The album became a turning point for the band. They went on to have massive success and unparalleled career. I never did get my dad to a RUSH show, but he became a fan of Neil’s writing and drumming.

Just an escape artist | Racing against the night | A wandering hermit | Racing toward the light

The quote above is from the song Ghost Rider, from the album Vapor Trails. It is my all-time favorite Rush Album. After its release, the band rarely played songs from it live. It was painful for Neil, as it lyrically primarily deals with losing his wife and daughter. I had been a Wandering “Adventure” Hermit long before this song came out. Just another connection that would stay with me over the years.

Rush Photos

A sampling from the many times I was lucky enough to see RUSH. I never took many photos, preferring to enjoy the show. The final photo is thanks to my friend Evan. He invited me to the bands R40 opening night in Tulsa, OK. It was the bands final tour and the last time I saw Neil. A week later I headed out to ride the Pacific Northwest Coast. I had hoped to catch the band one more time along the way, but wan’t able to make schedule align.

In January of this year, Neil Peart passed away, days before my dear friend artist Brian Olsen. Their losses hit me incredibly hard. Then the world was crippled by COVID-19. By the time my dad’s death day came this October, I, like the rest of the world, had been put through the wringer. 

The tragedies of this year do not make today any less important. But to me, today is a reminder that each day matters. We cannot embrace the good days any more than grieve the bad ones or we risk missing out on all the days in between.

I miss my dad. But I am grateful that our good days and past struggles have brought me where I am today.

To everyone who has lost someone in their life, my heart goes out to you. May you find a way forward that brings you happiness in your future and peace with your past.

Prayer of Hope

Based on Neil Peart’s lyrics from the RUSH song Ghost Rider.

Carry your phantoms through bitter wind and stormy skies, from the desert to the mountain — from the lowest low to the highest high.

May you keep on riding North and West, then circle South and East, finding beauty even when there is no peace. 

Though there are shadows behind you, there is no way of knowing what lies on the road ahead. So, you ride on, knowing that nothing can stop you now, or ever!