One Is the Loneliest Number. So Let’s Call It Twelve

(With a Special Request for You, Dear Reader, in the Post Script)

One year ago today, Kelly Erickson boldly sent a little post out into the world, launching the Maximum Customer Experience Blog.

Twelve months have flown by, and my world is forever changed. Lucky, lucky me.

Experience Design. What is it all about? And why do you need it? That’s been the mission of MCE, to answer those two questions, one little tease at a time. If you get the essence of your blog-writing down to two sentences you will never wonder what to write about, I guarantee you. In a year, I’ve rarely strayed.

Without further ado, the lists of twelves.

Note: I get a great number of searches, perfectly pinpointed to our discussions, coming here for exactly the right things: Customer Experience, Experience Design, Pain Points, Growing Your Small Business, and others. Let’s not talk about those, because they are not silly enough and it’s a birthday party!

Hang on a minute, I have to put my partyboots on. Yes, friends, as some of you have long suspected, I really own purple suede boots.

12 Long Tail Search Terms That Real (Strange) People Used to Come to This Site

1.  “kelly erickson” “paws” (He or she spent over 8 minutes on the site, people, because y’know, I am all about paws here! Can you say “sticky search term”?)

2.  navel angst (Glad I could help… I think…)

3.  open fire grow maximum client (Chestnuts roast there sometimes, too.)

4.  when you are still a wimp as an adult (Grow balls. I have no other advice.)

5.  handsome Canadians (I get way too many hits for this term—is it so difficult to walk down the street and see one?)

6.  papier mache dragon trophy (When I’m not all about paws, I am all about papier mache. Oh, yes.)

7.  poptarts/make your own poptart (I am all about… Oh, forget it.)

8.  what happens when libraries close on weekends (Umm, you can’t get books.)

9.  what is the number for brand riffs (If I even knew what you were talking about, this is one I’d consider answering.)

10.  share kelly erikson (I wish you would! Then maybe I could gather more strange terms for my next birthday post! But SPELL IT RIGHT, please…)

11.  sales of mclobster (Brett, you did this to me)

12.  pictures of a person growing to a next level (This frightens me in more ways than I could possibly name)

13.  BONUS: arnie’s artic cat in novar, ontario (HOW can I possibly come up in a search for this?)

12 People Who Would Never Believe I Get Search Engine Traffic From Their Names

1.  Dave Balter (Okay, he’d believe it, I did a couple of posts discussing his brilliance)

2.  Chris Brogan

3.  Naomi Dunford

4.  The Other Kelly Erickson (*sigh,* still #1)

5.  Bill Gates (#2, in number of folks coming here after searching for something about him)

6.  Bob Hoffman

7.  Guy Kawasaki

8.  Brett A. Legree (Is that your middle initial, Brett?)

9.  Taylor Lindstrom

10.  Gordon Ramsay

11.  Lou Reed

12.  Mr. Rogers

12 Topics You Should Never Write About (Unless You Want This Kind of Reader, in Droves)

1.  Giving away the milk for free

2.  Dead mice

3.  Harvey’s

4.  McDonald’s

5.  Peeing on electric fences

6.  Leonardo DiCaprio

7.  Toupees

8.  Never falling in love again

9.  Ersatz anything (Friar…)

10.  Bowling balls (see #7)

11.  Kid Rock

12.  The Yellow Pages

12 People Who’ve Made the Last Twelve Months Funnier, Sweeter, Smarter, and More Inspirational for Me and MCE

(No pushing in line—alpha order, folks)  ::hugs:: and a link to my favorite Customer Experience posts

1.  Amy, Write From Home

2.  Brett, 6 Weeks

3.  Caroline, Caroline Middlebrook and Life Should Feel Good!

4.  Friar, The Deep Friar

5.  Glenn, Customer Service Experience

6.  Graham, Strong White Papers

7.  James, Men With Pens

8.  Janice, Painting a Day

9.  Sonia, Remarkable Communication

10.  Steph, In Other Words

11.  Steve, All This ChittahChattah

12.  Wendi, Life’s Little Inspirations

13.  BONUS 1 (You know I can’t stick to thanking 12 people): Brian, Copyblogger (I’ve said it before, MCE wouldn’t be here without him)

14.  BONUS 2: The Kid

15.  BONUS 3: Mom and Dad

And to all the other folks who really should get a mention here, because I am devoted to you and thrilled that you are devoted to me, a *big, big thank you.*

As a blog author, you, dear reader, are my customer. I strive every day to remember that this “business” is all about you.

The minute I chose to start a blog, I made that choice. From readability to information to entertainment (c’mon, it has to be fun, at least some of the time, right?), I’m here for you. Without each and every reader, this would be nothing more than a diary.

We create Maximum Reader Experience every day, together.

As I blow out the candles on this twelfth month (237th post, for those of you who are keeping track, with a beautiful 2,315 comments), let me tell you what I’m wishing.

I wish for daily Tweets and a million Stumbles.   *ahem* No, seriously…

I wish for wonderful word-of-mouth growth in readers; I wish I could have conversations with more of you here in the comments and as I learn about you back at your own blogs; I wish to help you to flourish in your workaday life, to create the Experience you want for yourself, your colleagues, and your customers. I wish to get your head nodding and to give you an occasional grin.

I wish for your business, your heart, and your mind to grow, and I wish for your person and your family to be well.

My very best regards,

Kelly Erickson

P.S. Writing a birthday post, it seems to me, should be done by a guest poster. At my 100th post I jumped right in with gusto. Here at twelfthmonth, Happy Birthday to Me seems to be causing me fits of self-examination angst, which is nothing like navel angst (unless it is?).

>>So I would love it if you all, my devoted readers, would put a link in your comments today mentioning your favorite post here at MCE. It would be a lovely birthday gift to see what has touched you, helped you, or made your laugh the most. Thanks in advance!<<

Stuck in a Rut

I don’t do this too often, folks, but I’m going to send you away today. Chris Houchens at Shotgun Marketing Blog wants to wake you up, and he’s got a really neat take on getting fresh Perspective. You know I’m all for that.

Go read muscle shoals has got the swampers. It’s a great quick read for your Friday.

Grow and be well,

Kelly Erickson

Oops! I’m Doing It Again

Believe it or not—and if you’ve read my posts Off-Topic, On the Weekend, Naomi Dunford’s “I Never Called It a Meme,” Meme, Get In On the Action, and You Definitely Don’t Want to Know These 8 Random Things About Me, you may have a hard time believing it—I generally try to resist memes here at Maximum Customer Experience.

I’m not too good at avoiding memes, however, and blogger Peter Kim has pinpointed one reason why: The Ego Trap catches me. As Katherine Hepburn said in The Philadelphia Story, “Oh, we’re going to talk about me, are we? Goody.” Her character didn’t mean it. The gist of The Ego Trap, which I heard about through John Moore, the no-b.s. author of Brand Autopsy, is that I do mean it, even though maybe I don’t mean to mean it. See what I mean?

Goody!

Awards Rock!

This week the trap snapped shut on me when I was given the Oops! award by the achingly funny Urban Panther to start me on my meme-y way.

The Panther thinks we’re funny here, which yes, I am trying to be, and she knows Dorothy Lamour. So I can’t resist her invite.

Thinks we’re funny?

Yes. Please read the Panther’s take on MCE’s humor. Proof that you, dear reader, are part of the team here.

Funny Girl

If you’re newish to the blog and you’re wondering what’s so funny about Experience Design, here are a few that come to mind, when I think of Maximum Customer Experience getting goofy:

Free Slippery Advice, Today Only

I Know It Was Earth-Shattering! But I Lost It in Bed!

Observing: Are You a Bulldozer or a Zen Professor?

Guy Kawasaki Wrote Me an Email Today

Giving the Cow Away, but the Milk’s Not Free!

Tip of the Week: Sex and Maximum Customer Experience

Observing Boomer Angst

Rules, rules:

The Oops award was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their humor and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. When you receive this award it is considered a special honor. Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to others.

The rules for passing this honor on:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Oops” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

My turn to lavish praise: Where Do I Go to ROFLOL?

This was very hard to narrow down to five, because as it turns out, I like a little funny with my small business inspiration and education, so I read blogs by a lot of folks whose sense of humor brings home their message. That’s maximum blog-reader experience, to me. Without further ado:

The newest winners of the Oops! Award, in order of when I first found their scintillating (and sometimes titillating) senses of humor online, because yes, I have a system to keep track of such things, and because no, I couldn’t put them in order of whose blog I love best. I wouldn’t know where to begin!

Tag, my friends, you are oh, so funny, and (read those rules) you are IT! I can hardly wait to see who you’ll tag!

Naomi Dunford’s IttyBiz

Entrepreneurship: What to Do When You’re Scared Sh*tless. What a title! Though I didn’t leave my first comment for a couple of months, I fell for this post and the previous day’s on IttyBiz. A quick read in the comments may amuse you, to see how many other folks found Naomi on the very same day.

Now, Naomi, I know you don’t want to play, but remember you owe me one? And I love ya.

And dear, dear readers: once, I was afraid. I was petrified. (If you hear Gloria Gaynor in the background, you are OLD. Like me.) Of Naomi’s self-described “potty mouth.” I grew strong, and I learned how to get along, because I can not give up reading what she has to say, any day she drags herself to the keyboard to say it. I’m warning you so you’re ready, but don’t you dare stay away.

Nick Cernis’ Putting Things Off

Suave and self-effacing, with a gorgeous blog where he gently recommends, never insists, you follow his lead, Nick Cernis is the blogger who’d enliven my dinner parties with whispered asides if only fate hadn’t placed him on the bonny British isles. Then again, were he not there, he wouldn’t be who he is, so my dinners must suffer but my reading never will.

The post where I fell for Nick’s ever-so-mannered wit: Warning: If You’re Using These Job Titles, Stop Right Now! I’ve never stopped reading, and neither will you.

Sonia Simone’s Remarkable Communication

Slightly snarky business blogger is how I’d describe Sonia. Her dead-on advice, delivered with a wink, always gives a giggle and a head-nodding lesson in effective communications. Will she hate me for mentioning that she’s also written a few novels, which my local library had on the shelves, so I checked her out a couple of months ago and got a few more giggles? Let’s find out.

Her Free 115-Page Tutorial on Marketing to Women was so incisive I was instantly hooked. Have a look.

Taylor Lindstrom’s Rogue Ink

Tei is young (blog-wise) and popular, so naturally in this extended high-school arena we call the blogosphere I am insanely jealous. She’s also sharp as a tack, so I’m hooked. I first fell off my chair with laughter and recognition when I read this superb post: The War on English: So It Begins.

Whether she’s defending the English language or letting the comments turn into the fanfest she calls a pub, she’ll get you with her ability to skewer absolutely anything. She’s also deadly with a fancy sword. Side-splitting, indeed!

Bob Hoffman’s The Ad Contrarian

Bob is living proof of the power of guest blogging and commenting, because I found him through his devastatingly funny guest post on Copyblogger, A Cranky, Skeptical Loudmouth Looks at Social Media Marketing then realized he was everywhere commenting, then took a look at his blog and almost bust a gut going through his archives. Heck, even when he’s bemoaning a lack of backlinks, he’s just painfully funny.

My favorite post from just after I discovered The Ad Contrarian: The Cluefree Manifesto. If it doesn’t help you to take yourself less seriously (and maybe make you choke on your morning espresso) there is no justice at all in the world.

BONUS: Because rules were made to be broken, my sixth fave funny blog, and the only one that may never advance your business in any way but will be glad to tell you about (inner) truths and (outer) body parts we at MCE never discuss.

The Urbane Lion’s Den

I thought his woman would tag him, but the Panther demurred. Well, your intrepid Experience Designer can not leave this fine and funny new voice off her list. When I first began reading The Urban Panther, she was in the midst of a series on Dressing to Land a Man which had me laughing out loud at every turn.

How to really land yourself a good man! was his response, the first post by the Lion that I read, and when I got to his abhorrence of baseball caps on anything but baseball players (I’ve been mocked publicly, but that’s how I feel), I knew he was a kindred spirit. A smart, off-kilter, nothing’s sacred, incorrigible, urbane scamp of a kindred spirit, but a kindred spirit nevertheless.

Have fun clicking around here at MCE, and at a few of the places I go to exercise my right to roar with laughter and scare my neighbors. Happy, happy Friday.

Thanks so much, Panther. I’m really flattered.

Grow and be amused,

Kelly Erickson

A Monday Series

You need easy, you need breezy. Sure, you want to grow your business this summer but I hear you: “Kelly, please, don’t make me do anything this week!”

I have a heart. I hear you. Click, order, read. Ten books that will make you laugh and think and plan your company’s course, without breaking the bank: most are light enough to pack up and read at the beach instead of those Danielle Steeles your sister-in-law keeps trying to loan you.

If you’re burnt-out, antsy, and need to revitalize your attitude as much as your business, this is the series for you. Experience Design for beach-dreaming business owners comes to your summer Mondays.

Summer Is a Great Time to Read a Book—or 10

The Milkshake Moment: Overcoming Stupid Systems, Pointless Policies and Muddled Management to Realize Real Growth by Steven S. Little

Are you keeping your own company from growing? You wouldn’t do that consciously, but business growth is a tricky balancing act. It’s all about people, starting with those inside your business. This book is an easy read full of tips you can act on to position your firm for growth.

Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas

Dana Thomas’ book is light, entertaining, and keenly perceptive. You won’t learn the secrets of the universe but you may key in to why it’s a good time to be Dunkin’ Donuts, IKEA, or Target, and what your strategy should be going forward into uncertain times.

Why Johnny Can’t Brand: Rediscovering the Lost Art of the Big Idea by Bill Schley

If I tell you that this witty, yet informative read can be had right now for less than 6 bucks (currently “bargain priced” at Amazon.com), will you run and get it? Right now. Very, very cool book.

Strategy and the Fat Smoker: Doing What’s Obvious But Not Easy by David H. Maister

You’ve heard me recommend easy changes, you’ve heard me nudge toward tough ones. David Maister is firmly in the latter camp, and he’ll kick your behind or at least make you own up to why you’re resisting doing what you know is good for your business. The hot business read of 2008.

Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands by Jeff Fisher

This book will set you back a bit more than the others on this list but not too much for this colorful, real-life-example packed classic. After you’ve read the book, applied all the lessons, and become a fan, you’ll want to visit Jeff’s LogoMotives blog, where you can also click through his wonderful portfolio.

Accidental Branding: How Ordinary People Build Extraordinary Brands by David Vinjamuri

I don’t agree with everything in this book. Or, to put it better, I don’t agree with the happy notion that “accidental” is a good way to “brand.” But I love the stories in this book, stories of owners with passion and drive that we can all get inspired by on a butt-draggingly hot summer day.

Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace by Gordon MacKenzie

Winner for greatest title, and a real zinger on the creative process. Fun fact for all you writers out there: the book was originally self-published. Now there’s an inspirational story for your beach bag.

What Clients Love: A Field Guide to Growing Your Business by Harry Beckwith

If a summer read for your business is one that never makes you break a sweat, then this is it. Not one of you was reading blogs back when it was published, but you’ll appreciate his blogger’s style: short, sweet, and to the point. Take a lesson, go apply it, come back for another hundred lessons some other day. His real blog claims to be “coming soon,” but this is like taking a great blog in your pocket. Okay, you might need an oversized pocket.

Punching In: The Unauthorized Adventures of a Front-Line Employee by Alex Frankel

If you aren’t one now, chances are you’ve been one: a retail drudge. Whether you want to reminisce, choose your next corporation to work in a low-end job for (hint: Steve Jobs will sign your paychecks), or figure out how your employees may be viewing you and put those ideas to work for you, this sometimes-catty yet insightful book is a must-read.

Funky Business Forever: How to Enjoy Capitalism by Jonas Ridderstrale and Kjell Nordstrom

This wild book on differentiation and change management is completely updated for 2008, and an even better read than it was before. Like a splash of icy cold water on the day your office air conditioner breaks, these guys will wake you up and getting you thinking in brand-new ways.

What business book have you read this summer that entertained, inspired, and motivated you? Drop a comment with your recommendation below!

Grow and be well,

Kelly Erickson

I’ll See You in Sydney—House Party!

While Jacob’s finishing up the Grand Tour, I’ve been invited to house-sit again this week, and I gotta tell you—today, his house is rockin’.

Please take a moment right now to click over to 7 Female Graphic Designers That’ll Rock Your Socks Off Though they may be fewer in number, women in design are making strong contributions to the bottom lines of businesses around the globe with fresh work that hits the target (market) every time, and wouldn’t you know, I’m always on the lookout for the best of the best. Fresh perspective; amazing work; profitable results for their clients. Who doesn’t want that?

If you missed my raving about Just Creative Design with my last guest post, let me tell you that my favorite European traveller Jacob Cass has got a fresh perspective of his very own. He rocks my socks off weekly with insights, design work, and resources that you’ll find nowhere else on the www. I highly recommend you become a devoted fan.

Remember, Jacob and I are looking forward to your comments about these 7 Female Graphic Designers, so head on over now!

Welcome

New to Maximum Customer Experience? Welcome, Just Creative Design readers. As you’re looking around, the Best of MCE Blog links in the sidebar are a great place to start. I hope you’ll leave a comment to say hello, then subscribe and become part of the Experience.

Grow and be well,

Kelly Erickson

P.S. Just for the ladies (and the men who love them): Milton Glaser says Women Will Never Be Rock Star Designers. Have a read (after you’ve checked out Just Creative Design, of course!), then c’mon back and have your say.

crazysexycool* We’ve got it all here today!

crazy

The dust isn’t settled on this move yet. I spent 10 hours yesterday after my regular work, putting the finishing touches on the new, improved Maximum Customer Experience Blog, getting ready to invite you all in. I envisioned a quiet evening of making feeds and stats function for tonight. In the wee small hours of Tuesday morning, I headed over to Technorati to tell it that maximumcustomerexperience.com http://maximumcustomerexperience.com is open for business, when what to my wondering eyes should appear…

Ho Ho Ho!

… but a ping from Jacob Cass, and eight tiny reindeer! Is this what would happen if Santa came early—a surprised look, and a desperate scrambling to make things ready?

Loyal MCE readers, I planned to tell you about this road trip on Thursday, but my favorite Australian graphic designer/ blogger/ European gadabout moved the publish date up on the q.t. and caught me entirely by surprise.

If you don’t know Jacob yet, he’s a great writer, a wonderful resource for easy-to-understand graphic design tips and tricks, and a man with a huge career in front of him. I am frequently in awe of his ability to pare both writing and design to their perfect essence. Our blogs were born only a week apart, so I am also frequently… jealous.  :)

sexy

To stir the pot over at JCD, I’ve written an article called Dudes and Dolls and Design Decisions.  Oh, yeah, let’s talk about sex. Jacob calls it “unusually quirky and informative.” Gee, thanks.

Now y’all go tell him, it might be quirky, but that’s not unusual for me! Please click over there, and leave plenty of comments so Jacob will know you opinionated folks stopped in while he was busy being a bon vivant on the Continent.

And Welcome!

Welcome, fellow Just Creative Design readers. Please pardon the dust and have a look around. The “Best of” links in the sidebar are a great place to begin to get a feel for Maximum Customer Experience—right after you’ve said Hello in the comments, of course!

I hope you’ll love the blog, and subscribe to become part of our community. Then the next time I put out the call to my opinionated readers, you’ll be right there to answer it!

cool

Thanks, Jacob. I’ve said it a few times already, and I’ll say it again. I hope your vacation is unforgettable.

Grow and be well,

Kelly Erickson

*Grammy-winning album by TLC, three dolls with… what rhymes with dolls?

When I Saw the “From” Line, I Did Think It Was a Joke

The reason Guy wrote to me was:

1. Because Leo’s Been So Quiet?

No, this wasn’t anything like that letter I got from Leonardo DiCaprio. I wasn’t expecting this letter, either, but no trees were harmed and I loved getting it.

1. Because he heard I’m switching from TypePad this week?
2. Because he knew I hadn’t finished my Thursday post?

This last is because I’m consumed by switching to WordPress, but I’m assuming he didn’t know that. (Nearly ready and making me very happy, thanks for asking.)

1. Because I’m a Big Boy* on Alltop now?

Yes!

You, of course, are subscribed to Maximum Customer Experience (No? Over there on the left. I’ll wait), so you don’t need another way to find me, but there I am, in the new-ish Customer Service section of Alltop.

Good morning, Alltop!

I have a lot of good things going on with the MCE Blog right now, and this, friends, is the cherry on top.

For those of you who don’t know who on Earth I am talking about, Guy is not just the dude behind this cool new spot called Alltop, which he likens to an “online magazine rack” and I call a place to find only the very best of what’s being written for the web. To quote Wikipedia, Guy was “one of the original Apple employees responsible for marketing the Macintosh in 1984.” This is why his smile is always so incredible.

He’s a venture capitalist now, a very well-known blogger (please read How to Change the World today—his post Hindsights is a must), and the author of a book I loved from the minute I first read it, The Art of the Start.

Many of my own can’t-miss blogs are also featured on Alltop, including Church of the Customer, Customers Are Always, Planning, Startups, Stories, Damn! I Wish I’d Thought of That!, Brand Autopsy, Men With Pens, and IttyBiz. All the biggest Big Boys are there, like Seth Godin, Inc., and Entrepreneur, and a bunch of other faves I’m forgetting to mention. Click around; the categories simplify your search, what’s there is hand-picked, but you’ll still get lost for a while. In a good way.

Guy and I aren’t close buddies, so I won’t quote his email, introducing himself and telling me I’m listed on Alltop, but I will quote what I wrote back to him in part:

I’d like to tell you how very cool it is when as big a “name” as yourself says Hi, and introduces himself as if anyone writing a blog for over three minutes doesn’t already know your name. *big smile*

Well, folks, I gushed a little. Alltop is some very fine company to be in, true, but the gushing was really because of his charming letter.***

I’ve got to work a little Customer Experience lesson in here: Never get too big for your britches, and someday folks may gush about your “Aw, shucks” style.

Does this banner make my butt look big? ‘Cause I was thinking of having it printed on my jeans.

Aw, shucks. Thanks, Guy.

We will return to the serious matter of growing your business with Maximum Customer Experience in our next article. In the meantime, consider this fair warning. You’ll need to update your bookmarks and feeds and email subscriptions very, very shortly. I love my readers and you have spoken loudly on this subject, so it’s on its way. Besides, I gotta get better digs if I’m gonna have Guy Kawasaki’s friends coming to visit with all of us.

Thank you, dear reader. Our conversations are what makes the MCE Blog a neat place to hang out.

Grow and be well,

Kelly Erickson

*I know, I know. Not a boy. But if I wrote “big girl,” I couldn’t tie in with one of my favorite posts, on lessons from the Big Boys. (She’s a wily one, that Kelly.)

**I can not tell you how much joy spellcheck brought me on this post. The highlights included offering “winkled” for Wikipedia, “Haydn” for hadn (hadn’t, missing the apostrophe and the “t”), “Iscariot” for DiCaprio, and “gonad” for gonna. Normally I don’t share my Maximum Spellcheck Experience but oh my goodness you had to know, didn’t you?

***The first email he sent was standardized. (Proving that standardized letters can still be perfectly written.) The second email, writing back to me, was personal. Nice Guy.

Thank You, Random.org

Yeah, we’re going a bit OT today. If you don’t want to get Whacky, come back next time.

The world is a cruel place, and my fabulous readers have found that out this week. In spite of some stellar efforts that made my stats (which I really don’t obsess over, Tei) do cartwheels, not a one of you has left the required quotation in the comments of last Thursday’s amazing review of a life-altering work of non-fiction.

You won’t mind my telling you, stats or not I was miffed.

Plus amazon wants my money, because Jeff Bezos and I are like this, and he’s been watching the (distinct lack of) drama.

What to do? Sad for an Experience Designer to admit, but this Experience has not resulted in a giggly winner jumping up and down.

Until now?

I woke up today at an excruciating hour, and remembered somebody mentioning this cool random number generator which they used on their blog to give away something. Hey, I’ve got something I can’t give away! Perfect! I got up, I hunted it down, and looked at the number of comments on my review last week.

I typed “18” into the random number generator. No snickering, for a very niche blog I think that’s a nice number.

I’m not 6 Weeks or Men With Pens or even the occasionally very wild Writing Forward (thanks, Friar), but I love my commenters, because you’re smart and you make me think, as well as letting me make you think a bit. (Who says I can’t link out purely for fun?)

It’s decided: I’ll give A Whack on the Side of the Head to the commenter whose number comes up, since y’all found better things to do this week than to locate this reference to my age, on a post which followed and mentioned my birthday:

What’s that? Oh, thanks. Don’t look a day over 38 3/4, do I?”

That post has been restored to its former glory, so the reference to my age is no more. It has been there all week, though, you hunters. No crying that it was too difficult.

I Bet You Think This Song Is About You, Don’t You?

I typed in “18.” Yeah, I said that already. I hit “Go,” or whatever their button said. It spits it out: 11.

I count down, 1, 2, 3,… oh, darn, the eleventh comment is my own. This could get sticky, since I leave quite a few comments.

I tried again. Didn’t you read the title?

Number 10, you may stand up. And for those of you who are sick of this tease, it’s that Quebecer who was the only one to jump up and down at all in those comments, so it sorta seems fair anyway, even though he was wrong and then got Bright Shiny Object Syndrome and forgot to get it right.

Mr. Chartrand, if you feel like emailing me a secret post-office box address that you only keep for a week so I won’t send you flowers daily after this, I’ll talk to Jeff and we’ll get that book right out to you. ‘Cuz I’m not going to disappoint Roger.

The rest of you? Buy the book already. It will alter the way you look at your world. No kidding.

Grow and be well,

Kelly Erickson

I Feel Just Like a Certain Prize-Fighter…

Yes, folks, it’s been 25 years since Roger von Oech wrote A Whack on the Side of the Head. I’m going to confess now, so you don’t go back through every one of my posts trying to find the one where I mentioned my age, do the math, and then pin me down to whether I really read it at that age…

Nevermind. Go back and read every single one of my posts. First one to find the post where I mention refer to* my age, and leave a comment here quoting that post, gets a copy of the 25th Anniversary Edition. Really. My age will only be mentioned in that post for one week, and then I’m taking the mention out, so after you read this, get going! You have to quote it—just knowing how old I am ‘cause I talk elsewhere doesn’t count.

… so I confess. The side of my head has only been sore for about twenty years. From the moment Roger von Oech’s deceptively simple book came into my life, I have been whacking myself on the side of the head whenever I get stuck, in any sphere of my life. On the list of life-transforming books, this is easily in my top ten. His quirky creative-thinking vocabulary is so much a part of my life, that it wasn’t until reading the 25th Anniversary Edition of A Whack on the Side of the Head that I even realized how many of his ideas are part of how I approach life every day.

What’s A Whack to you?

• Permission to let go of conventions
• Hundreds of new ways to look at your same-old stuff
• Brilliant sillyness, delivered fresh every time you crack open a page

This is a book you can not read the same way twice. With a fresh problem on your mind, you will find a whole new book in your hands.

If you own the 1983 classic or a revised edition, fear not. I dug out my old copy and found delightful updates, timely additions, and revisions that made me smile, like the wonderful random-word page.

Working on your company’s Experience Design? Give yourself a Whack. New ways to look at your Vision, your direction, and at reaching your Ideal Customer, are already rattling around in your head. This will shake those ideas free. (And if not, give VisionPoints a call. We’re already Whacked.) Stuck on a personal problem? Another Whack. Can’t imagine what to write for tomorrow’s blog post? I dare you, put your finger down anywhere on that random-word page in chapter eight.

I sold A Whack to my mother two weeks ago. She sat down with my copy and fell for it instantly, made me tell her about my love for all things Roger von Oech, and told my father to order her a copy on amazon as we continued talking. By the time they got home from their visit to Delaware, the book was waiting for her. I’m not making this up. I’m just that good.  :)

Dear Reader, I won’t leave you hanging. Why is Kelly telling me about this book? you ask. Well, I’m a big fan of Cam Beck’s and I read his posts devotedly. When he did a smart review of the new Whack at Chaos Scenario, I dropped him a line to say that his photo looked like my entire library, including my very well-worn Whack. If a book’s worth keeping, it’s worth dogearing beyond all reason, to me (and to Cam, apparently). To my unending surprise, Mr. von Oech read that comment and wrote a lovely email, asking if I’d like a review copy of the 25th Anniversary Edition.

Kelly does not say no to free books. Especially to new editions of books she already loves by people who’ve changed her life.

Your intrepid author wants your small business and your life to be changed by her suggestions. That’s what I’m here for at the Maximum Customer Experience Blog, and that’s what we do at VisionPoints. Lofty, I know, but it’s me. I’ve loved this book for half my life, and you will, too.

Oh, there is that one trick: First one to find the post where I mention refer to* my age, and leave a comment here quoting that post, gets a copy of the 25th Anniversary Edition of A Whack on the Side of the Head, straight from me to you. Because I love my readers.

Grow Whacky and be well,

Kelly Erickson

*I don’t think I’m being too difficult, here, but just in case: there is only one direct reference to my age in all the posts here at MCE. Maybe that clarifies, or maybe y’all need to think a little more creatively. If you think you’ve found it you’ll quote it here, right, and not worry about looking silly? ‘Cause I’m itching to give this book away…

Buy it now on amazon:

A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative

25th Anniversary Edition (2008)

by Roger von Oech

The Cake That Took Six Months to Bake

Image by Vidiot

It all started with a baker’s dozen, 13 articles on Experience Design. Nearly six months later, the Maximum Customer Experience Blog blows out the 100th candle, and slowly but surely gathers a loyal band of readers, from business owners, to entrepreneurs, to writers, designers, and friends, and the category we all fall into: Customers, discussing Experience together.

I took my time with it, and I hope that’s worked for you. Thanks, dear reader, for taking a few minutes from your busy day to read, comment, and share the MCE Blog. Without you, it’s just a journal.

It’s My Party, So…

A round-up at a blog birthday is about as traditional as thanking your Mom and Dad at the Oscars, and I love a good tradition. Without further ado:

Top 7 Most Viewed Posts

1. Tip of the Week: Be Transparent, or, (One More Reason) Why I Heart Jeff Bezos

2. What’s Hot Now: 39 Inspirations With Sticking Power

3. 7 Secrets of McDonald’s Customer Experience

4. Leonardo DiCaprio Sent Me a Letter Today

5. Repeat After Me: I Do Not Need a Logo

6. Why TypePad Doesn’t Want Your Comments

7. Experience Design 101 (This is the one that started it all, folks, so if you feel like starting from the beginning, enjoy.)

Top 7 Search Terms

1. McDonald’s 90 second guarantee (*sigh* Not what one hopes to be known for)

2. Customer pain points

3. Kelly Erickson (People find me that way? They must be trying pretty hard)

4. Restaurant

5. McDonald’s secrets (I’m sensing a theme here)

6. Target Experience Design

7. Internal stakeholders

7 Strangest Search Terms, aka, The Long Tail at work

1. “i like to look at things upside down” (You, too?)

2. .typepad martinis (I’m sure this had to be a disappointment)

3. babes (Thank you)

4. cheese customer experience blog (Cheesy, sometimes…)

5. Manage Customer Experience Kelly (Yup)

6. Kelly Erickson Dallas (Nope)

7. Kelly Erickson sugar (Wrong again)

Kelly’s 7 Favorite Posts

1. When Is Experience: New York All You’d Expect From Paris?

2. Plain-English: “Pain Points” in Experience Design

3. Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great

4. Lyndon’s Window

5. Tip of the Week: What Would a Kid Say?

6. Key Concepts in Experience Design

7. The Web Is a Great Big Yellow Pages and Five Other Tech Truths Your Customers Won’t Tell You

7 Things Your Small Business Needs for Maximum Customer Experience

1. Vision

2. Direction

3. Strategic research

4. Emphasis on the Details

5. Friends & Family

6. Propheteers

7. Innovation

& Integrated Experience Design!

Keep coming back, folks. As Lou Reed sings, it’s the Beginning of a Great Adventure. Glad you’re here.

And thanks, Mom and Dad.

Grow and be well,

Kelly Erickson

The Biggest P.S. in Blogging History:

7  13  All the Bloggers Who Rock This Customer’s Experience Every Time

(and a link to the one article you must not miss from each)

Amy, Write From Home

Brett, 6 Weeks

Brian, Copyblogger (without whom you might not be reading this)

Caroline, Caroline Middlebrook

Charlie, Trust Matters

Crystal, Big Bright Bulb

Darren, ProBlogger

David, Change Order

Harry, Men With Pens

Jacob, Just Creative Design

James, Men With Pens

Mark, Unconventional Thinking Blog

Mike, Simplenomics

Naomi, IttyBiz

Paul, Idea Sandbox

Scott, HELLO, My Name Is BLOG

Seth, Seth Godin’s Blog

Tim, Planning Startups Stories

For inspiring me, for challenging me, for your breathtaking insights, and most of all, for your humor. Thank you guys.

Looking for just the right thing for MCE’s birthday? Comment today, comment often, and subscribe to the Maximum Customer Experience Blog. The gift of your comments is precious to me.