How to Maximize Company Potential in a Growth Phase - Mike Germano

In Chapter 19 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "What New Challenges as You Grow Your Business?"  Germano shares how as the company grows and provides more client services, there is a need to illustrate and maximize value to the client.  He also notes the importance of setting expectations internally with a fast growing team.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

How to Be Happier by Turning Work Projects into Play - Jason Anello

In Chapter 5 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "When Are You at Your Best?"  Anello notes he is at his best when happy and shares how he does it.  By turning work projects into play activities Anello achieves happiness and personal best.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

Finding Meaningful Work in a Surge of Passion - Jason Anello

In Chapter 6 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "What Makes Your Work Meaningful?"  He notes that meaningful work does not always mean paid work and how in those surge moments of passion, he finds work worthwhile.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

How Hands On Work Enlightens Creative Career - Jason Anello

In Chapter 7 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "How Has Hands On Experience Changing What You Believe is Possible in What You Create?"  Through his life and career, Anello finds success leads into management and, as a result, removal from hands on work.  He shares how he has created a career where he can maintain the hands on work that drives his passion to create things which unleash an audience pleasing experience.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

Developing a Creative Leadership Style - Jason Anello

In Chapter 8 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "What Does It Mean to Be a Leader in What You Do?"  He finds leadership comes at the intersection of communication and curiosity.  By honing his approach to finding and presenting ideas he earns the respect of those around him and create a demand for his services.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

Pros and Cons of Short and Long Term Project Work - Jason Anello

In Chapter 10 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "What are the Pros and Cons of Project Based Work?"  Anello details what he has learned working in both shorter and longer form projects and what he has found most meaningful about each type of work.  He goes further into how he is using this experience to think about his future.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

How Permanence Plays into Marketing Career - Jason Anello

In Chapter 11 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "What Role Does Permanence Play in Your Work?"  Anello makes the case that his creative marketing work is the antithesis of permanence.  He notes how so few of life experiences are actually permanent and that understanding this has helped him better embrace the ups and downs of life and career.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

How to Make Consumer Experiences More Memorable - Jason Anello

In Chapter 13 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "How Do You Create More Memorable Consumer Experiences?"  Anello notes this is wholly based on understanding your audience and learning what drives them.  He puts this in context of a Sungevity ice cream truck he build and how it tied into a residential solar power marketing campaign.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

How to Be Confident When Presenting New Ideas - Jason Anello

In Chapter 14 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "How Do You Create Hope and Dispel Fear When Introducing New Concepts and Ideas?"  Anello takes the approach that no matter what gets presented there will be sides taken.  He finds it is less about taking a particular side and more about having the patience and understanding to find consensus and buy-in.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

The Humbling Experience of Building a Company - Jason Anello

In Chapter 15 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "What Has Been the Most Humbling Experience to Date Building Your Company?"  He is amazed the amound of work required building the business foundation at Manifold Partners.  From business development to operations, Anello finds great challenge in all the elements required to run not just creative projects but also all aspects of a business.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

How to Handle Rejection - Jason Anello

In Chapter 16 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "How Do You Deal With Rejection?" Anello shares how he has learned to be creative when facing adversity and rejection.  He uses an example from his college experience and shares how what he learned in that experience has been useful managing rejection in his career.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany.

Finding Obstacles When Seeking Advice and Coaching - Jason Anello

In Chapter 17 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "At this moment in your life, where are you seeking advice and coaching?"  Anello shares the challenge he is finding as he seeks advice and mentoring to get help learning business operations.  In seeking experience and knowledge he shares the difficulties he faces finding the right mentor and the right advice.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

How Jason Anello Uses His Network to Make Career Decisions

In Chapter 18 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "How Do You Use Your Network to Seek Help Making Career and Life Decisions?"  Anello shares how he takes an indirect approach to gathering advice and insight from his relationships.  He shares his approach to keeping in touch and how he draws knowledge and feedback from his network.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

How Changing Surroundings Promotes Creativity - Jason Anello

In Chapter 19 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello "How Has Changing Your Surroundings Made You More Creative?"  Anello finds releasing himself from routine work places opens his eyes to new ways of thinking about ideas and problems.  Moreover, he finds going to the places he thinks would be least stimulating often prove to be the best places for creative thinking.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

Cathy Erway on What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder

In Chapter 1 of 16 in her 2012 interview, author and food writer Cathy Erway answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?"  Erway shares that with age she finds it easier to say no and to be more selective with what projects she pursues. 

Cathy Erway is an author and food writer living in Brooklyn.  Her first book, "The Art of Eating In" developed from her blog "Not Eating Out in New York".  She earned a BA in creative writing from Emerson College.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: What is getting easier and what is getting harder in your life?

Cathy Erway:  It's easy, it's really easy to dive into so many projects when you're young, and just do it endlessly, tirelessly. But it's hard to say no to a lot of things too. So right now I'm finding it easier to say no, and trying to whittle it down into what's-- what I wanna focus on, what's most important. And, you know, I love doing side projects too. But, you know, you have to be a little more selective about it, so, I think I'm getting better at that.

Cathy Erway on Testing New Ideas and Committing to Projects

In Chapter 6 of 16 in her 2012 interview, author and food writer Cathy Erway answers "How Do You Balance Experimentation and Commitment in the Projects You Pursue?"  Erway notes how she will try anything once, using a pop-up supper club as an example.  Over time, she learns to whittle down her pursuits around her core competencies or strengths. 

Cathy Erway is an author and food writer living in Brooklyn.  Her first book, "The Art of Eating In" developed from her blog "Not Eating Out in New York".  She earned a BA in creative writing from Emerson College.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen:  How do you balance experimentation and commitment in the projects you pursue?

Cathy Erway:  I should probably be better at that. But experimentation, I--that's something I can't live without. So I definitely experiment and I try at least once--anything, anything you throw at me, I will try it. So like this new supper club or pop-up at Milk Bar, sure I will give it a try. Or this recipe idea in my head that doesn't yet exist, I'll give that a try. You know, commitment means you found that it's a great recipe and you wanna keep making it, maybe you wanna hone it, and, you know, so it comes to whittling down all these things that you try, so I think it can't hurt to keep trying as many things as possible.

Erik Michielsen: And when is it time to narrow that focus because you can only afford so many things on the table at the same time?

Cathy Erway:  Probably now. It's wise to whittle things down to what you're the best at, so--what you're core competencies are. So, "Should I give up this blog? Or should I give up this documentary film series that I co-host? " Well, you know, this is more in line with my career, so, the writing, that is, the blog. So maybe that's something I should keep.

Erik Michielsen:  Those choices can be hard, huh?

Cathy Erway:  Yeah, they can be hard, and you always think, like, "Maybe I can do everything." Well, you can try that, too and see how it goes, but probably not as often as you’d like.

Why Not to Kill Your Creative Project

In Chapter 7 of 16 in her 2012 interview, author and food writer Cathy Erway answers "How Do You Evaluate When to Continue a Project and When to Kill It?"  Erway notes she is less about killing projects and more about putting them on the back burner or shelf so she can return to them down the road. 

Cathy Erway is an author and food writer living in Brooklyn.  Her first book, "The Art of Eating In" developed from her blog "Not Eating Out in New York".  She earned a BA in creative writing from Emerson College.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen:  How do you evaluate when to continue a project and when to kill it?

Cathy Erway:  Ooh. When to kill a project? It doesn't sit right with me to kill projects. I always like to think that, you know, they're on the back burner and that you can return to them but always change them up and shape them, and they'll evolve too. So in that sense, I don't think, you know--I had this idea of writing an essay collection a while ago. I didn't so much kill it but put it off and, you know, I think it'll probably be better in the long run that I did that. If I ever get to finishing it, that is. So if you start something, you're never--you're not gonna kill it, I just don't think, it's still with you somehow unfinished in its own, you know, kind of caught in the, just caught in that moment...

Erik Michielsen: File it away. Shelve it but always know that that shelf is accessible.

Cathy Erway: Right, right. Yeah.

Cathy Erway on Finding Purpose Writing Healthy Food Recipes

In Chapter 9 of 16 in her 2012 interview, author and food writer Cathy Erway answers "How Do You Create Hope and Dispel Fear When Introducing New Recipes and Foods to Others?"  Erway embraces the challenge of showing foods and ingredients in new recipes.  She finds the visual and written elements of her food blog help her more effectively communicate that message to her audience. 

Cathy Erway is an author and food writer living in Brooklyn.  Her first book, "The Art of Eating In" developed from her blog "Not Eating Out in New York".  She earned a BA in creative writing from Emerson College.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen:  How do you create hope and dispel fear when introducing new recipes and foods to others?

Cathy Erway:  Well, I like to always challenge the conventional by having somewhat strange or unusual combinations maybe or techniques or just ingredients that are less commonly used. And I like to show them in a new light by just, you know, doing a delicious recipe that hopefully comes through in the instructions and in the photos.

Basically, that's the best I can do, and I think that that's always actually a huge mission of mine because I would make these things and tell people about how great they were, but without the evidence of like a photo or like the written recipe that you can wrap your head around, it doesn't go through, so this is really one of the reasons why I write my blog, is to showcase it.