by Dean Bardouka | Aug 25, 2016 | Grow, Wanderings
You hear it all the time. You see the inspirational memes in your timeline and feeds. “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” or “Follow your PASSION” with some icon of a heart or freaking smiley face – but all they...
by Dean Bardouka | Nov 23, 2015 | Featured, Wanderings
As we all continue to process the horrible attacks on Beirut, Paris, Iraq and Nigeria, many politicians on both sides of the aisle are calling for us to reconsider taking any more refugees from war-torn Syria. Some are even suggesting we send back the ones that are...
by Dean Bardouka | Nov 5, 2015 | Featured, Grow
There I was sitting in the small dark theatre on a random Wednesday with my eyes welling up as I fought the streams trying to push their way out. It was a one woman performance called “Oh My Sweet Land” written by Amir Nizar Zuabi meant to help humanize...
by Dean Bardouka | Oct 28, 2015 | Featured, Live, Love
I still remember the day like it was yesterday. I had recently hit the end of my six weeks of severance pay (It was the first time I had gotten laid off from a job in my adult life). I had already cashed in part of a 401K to keep things afloat (and would cash in the...
by Dean Bardouka | Oct 26, 2015 | Featured, Work
Chances are when you start out and are thinking of ways to tell your story, you won’t be sure it is going to work or if people will listen. I mean, what if you pick the wrong message, image, project, etc. to talk about? This can be intimidating to the point that many...
by Dean Bardouka | Jul 27, 2015 | Featured, Work
The best kind of storyteller knows her audience and tells them riveting tales that pertain to their lives, dreams, ambitions and even their fears. She doesn’t need to convince them that they want to hear her story, she has them hooked at “Once Upon a...
by Dean Bardouka | Jul 24, 2015 | Featured, Love
Growing up where and how I did, put some “interesting” core personality traits in me. One is that when I meet a person for the first time, I am automatically sizing them up: Are they a threat? What is their intent? I am skeptical of everyone and everything...
by Dean Bardouka | May 7, 2015 | Featured, Work
There are some very successful blogs out there that focus on what to do and how to do it in our industry–actually, there are quite a few. Some of them even promise they will teach you the “secret” to becoming an overnight marketing success (for a price of course), see...
by Dean Bardouka | May 4, 2015 | Featured, Love
If you sit and visualize the times folks have helped you out when you were really in need; or, count out the times friends/loved ones/strangers carried you when you couldn’t quite muster up the strength or resources to carry yourself; remember each time someone spoke...
by Dean Bardouka | Apr 9, 2015 | Featured, Live, Work
I love almost anything that has two wheels and a motor. There is just nothing like the feeling of jumping on a motorcycle or scooter and riding to…well…just about anywhere. My first love in that space was vintage Italian motor scooters, Lambrettas to be precise. From...