Anthony Gucciardo, owner and president of Consulta Meta is excited. He says anyone who books the companyâs full Aurora | 360 Experience is in for a treat because theyâll have an experience very few people ever have.
Theyâll be viewing the Aurora Borealis from a private plane. "The Aurora Borealis is truly one of the world's greatest celestial phenomenon, and we are proud to offer this unparalleled experience. It's a bucket list worthy moment you'll never forget. We can't wait to get airborne!"
 With flights scheduled to take-off either February 8th or 9th (the flight date will be chosen a few days earlier based on Aurora forecasts; the trip is from February 7th to 11th, 2019), the five-day package not only offers serious bragging rights, but will provide high-altitude views of the spectacular Aurora in the Yukon sky. Â
With only 80 seats available, the Aurora | 360 Experience gives passengers the unique opportunity to fly above the clouds and witness the Aurora Borealis closer than ever before.  As part of the package the passengers get to learn more about the Aurora Borealis from renowned guest speakers including Dr. Christa Van Laerhoven (B.Sc. Physics & Astronomy/ Ph.D. Planetary Sciences), William Murtagh (White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as the assistant director for Space Weather, Energy, and Environment Division), and Pierre Paquette (Astronomy Ambassador of The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada).
"Last year, passengers saw the Aurora Borealis just nine minutes after take-off and the lights continued for 3 straight hours says, Robin Anderson, Global Marketing Manager at Tourism Yukon. We hope they break that record this year!" Once on board, guests can relax and enjoy the incredible views while sipping a celebratory gin from Yukon's award-winning Yukon Brewing company and Canadian Aurora photographer, Neil Zeller will assist with helping passengers to take their own Aurora photos. Â
 There are two Aurora | 360 flight options available:
1.   Aurora | 360 flight only for $1,045 (taxes included)
2.   Aurora | 360 Experience: Includes the Aurora | 360 flight, 4 nights accommodation in Whitehorse, 3 distinctive Yukon-flare dinners, cultural activities, entry to Takhini Hot Springs, a guided tour of Yukon Wildlife preserve and more for just $2,939 CAD (taxes included)
 To learn more, adventurous travelers can visit www.aurora-360.ca or contact event organizer, Kalin Pallett (867-335-6469) ([email protected])
If youâve always wanted to visit Iceland, then now is the time. Thatâs because, WOW air, Iceland's premiere economy airline, is offering special $99 one-way fares from 8 U.S. cities to Reykjavik in August, September and October!
The discounted flights will be available from Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Cleveland(CLE), Dallas â Fort Worth (DFW), St. Louis (STL), San Francisco (SFO) and Pittsburgh (PIT) to Iceland(KEF).
Fares are on sale now and will be offered on select flights between August 6, 2018 and October 26, 2018. Tickets can be purchased at www.wowair.us.
SkĂșli Mogensen (pictured below), founder and CEO of WOW air says, "We hope that Americans can take advantage of these low prices and enjoy Iceland in the coming months."
On August 7th - 11th visitors can participate in Reykjavik Pride and then stay to cheer on thousands of runner on August 18th for the Reykjavik Marathon before celebrating Reykjavik Culture Night on the 19th.  Film buffs interested in attending one of the biggest and most diverse cultural events in Iceland can come to the Reykjavik International Film Festival from September 27th - October 7th. September and October are also considered the start of the Northern Lights season, and these low price flights give travelers the opportunity to see this natural phenomenon.
The $99 fare includes all taxes, fees and carrier charges. Available for travel August 6, 2018 â October 26, 2018. The offer applies to 800 seats on selected flights during the travel period and is subject to availability. Restrictions and baggage fees apply.
How to score the best IG friendly pics while you shop in Miami
South Florida malls are playing the IG game with photo-friendly backdrops and objets dâart that are perfect for living-your-best-life selfies. Here are three of our favorites. Â
Brickell City Centre, Miamiâs newest open-air shopping mecca boasting over 100 retailers, has made use of its last remaining storefronts by transforming them into living, lush flower walls complete with neon signs, benches and fun phrases. The mall has partnered with local florists Oh My Garden, What The Flower(OMG, WTF) to bring bright foliage to Miamiâs concrete jungle. Shoppers can snap pictures at any of the four flower murals and post them to Instagram with the hashtag #brickellcitycentre.
Aventura Mallâs Aventura Slide is a 93-foot glass-and-steel slide designed by German sculptor Carsten Höller. The slide is free to ride. Guests can act like a kid again and take a boomerang coming out of the slide or take some avant-garde shots in front of it. In addition, there are over twenty pieces of art from local and internationally renowned artists throughout the mall. The slide is part of the mallâs recent $214 million expansion.
Miami Design District places an emphasis on bringing design, high fashion, art and architecture together. Each nook and cranny of the district features art installations like the Flyâs Eye Dome, the Le Corbusier statue or the Jungle mural. This creative playground allows adults to use their imagination and act like a kid again.
Stay in these army barracks turned lodge in San Fran
Close to the city but located in a lush 300-acre forest, the Presidio at the Lodge is ready for travelers.
The closest lodging to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the renovated, historic Lodge at the Presidio features unparalleled views of the bridge, the Presidioâs lush 300-acre forest, the San Francisco Bay, and the city skyline. Located in the heart of a national park, yet close to downtown San Francisco, the Lodge is a great getaway for nature-loving and urban travelers.
Jean Fraser, CEO of the Presidio Trust says, âWe are so excited to welcome guests to a new hotel in the Presidio. Visitors can spend days exploring this national park as well as nearby downtown.âÂ
The Lodge is the newest gem in the transformation of the Presidio from army post to world-class visitor destination. The three-story 42-room Lodge at the Presidio occupies one of the five identical Montgomery Street Barracks built between 1895-97 by the U.S. Army to accommodate six artillery companies, a Calvary troop, and two infantry companies. It is one of 470 structures in the Presidio on the National Registry of Historic Places.
BridgeStreet, the business personâs Airbnb, has just opened a new hotel in Paris, the Mode Aparthotel.Â
Known for their smart apartment/long term stay units, BridgeStreet markets to the business executive who travels globally on a regular basis.
Their new Paris location is in the heart of the prestigious 16th arrondissement, close to the Arc de Triumph and nestled in a quiet street off Avenue Victor Hugo. Mode Aparthotel is the combination of two beautifully restored 19th century, neo-renaissance buildings with a brand-new building adjacent to a tranquil courtyard to enjoy and relax. The interior spaces are classic and modern in harmony â with specially-commissioned artworks in the public spaces, studios and apartments.
In addition to the modern amenities you'll find at any accommodation (high speed Wi-Fi, guest lounge, 24/7 concierge) the 48 purpose-built studios and apartments are outfitted as an apartment with a dedicated working space, a kitchenette, and crockery and cookware included.
"Business travel today is catching up to the growing demands of a new generation of business traveler,â says BridgeStreet's Chief Operations Officer, Brian Proctor. âWhile new technology and duty of care must be considered, culture and authenticity matter and Mode embraces the very best of Paris. We're tremendously proud of creating this experience and excited to share it with travelers around the world.â
The immediate area around Mode Arc de Triomphe boasts some of Parisâ best boutiques, stores, restaurants, museums, galleries, and international schools. The property is also conveniently close to the corporate headquarters of some of the leading names in business, finance, industry and fashion, as well as numerous embassies, consulates and missions. Mode is minutes from the local Metro station, 15 minutes from Gare du Nord, and 35 minutes from Charles de Gaulle International Airport.
BridgeStreet has properties in 1,650 cities and 81 countries, providing serviced apartments, homes and extended-stay solutions to over 5,000 clients.
Summer is approaching fast and itâs time to start putting together your super practical and super sexy summer wardrobe at prices that are under $100. Here are some great suggestions on where to start:Â Zara, Akira, Kosmios, Asos, and Shoptiques.Â
Do you love Prosecco? Do you love to travel? Well, now you can combine your two favorite things into one great adventure.
Prosecco lovers with a sense of wanderlust can now enjoy the ultimate in gourmet travel with the launch of Prosecco Escapes, a brand-new travel platform offering specialist food and wine adventures to the heart of Italyâs most lauded Prosecco production regions.
Prosecco Escapes specializes in trips to the enchanting Conegliano Valdobbiadene, nestled at the foot of the Alps, fringed by the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and set to the backdrop of the dusty pink Dolomites. It lies within the province of Treviso, itself a treasure-trove of artisan produce, delicious food and medieval architecture.
Guests will be able to immerse themselves in the world of Prosecco, with wine tasting, vineyard visits and meetings with sommeliers. In addition to the Prosecco masterclasses and tasting sessions, the all-inclusive option includes guided tours of Venice and Treviso. The short getaways with a difference are available as a full bottle all-inclusive four-night packages, express self-guided trips with two nights charming countryside accommodation or a fully tailored custom label break, with bespoke itinerary for an exclusive experience.
As part of its launch, the brand is also looking to partner with travel agents and distributors to further expand its network.
To find out more, explore the package options or to request a bespoke itinerary, visit https://www.proseccoescapes.com/
Is your name Meghan, and your manâs name is Harry?
If so, then Mercure London Kensington and Mercure London Hyde Park are offering a complimentary nightâs stay for you both on May 19th. Book by end of day May 16th to enjoy this incredible package. Â
Loved-up couples named Harry and Meghan will be treated to a luxury stay at the hotel along with a complimentary breakfast. To apply, Harrys and Meghans (or Megans) need to send a photo of both of their IDâs to [email protected].Â
A limited number of couples will then be invited to stay at either Mercure London Kensington or Mercure London Hyde Park. Couples must show ID on their email application and on arrival at the hotel. The offer is subject to hotel availability. Those chosen are responsible for covering any additional costs incurred during the stay (dinner, drinks, travel etc). Check out Mercure Hotels, here mercure.com
Get a view of the marriage procession almost from the palace
Book a room at The Rubens at the Palace (and bbar & Restaurant next door) which overlooks  Buckingham Palace and the Queens Gallery. The hotel is steeped in regal history with great historical links to the Queenâs London residence. The Rubensâ site formed part of the grounds and stabling of the original Buckingham House, renamed Buckingham Palace in the mid-1700s.) There is no better location to see the regal pomp and ceremony leading up to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. With elegant accommodation and exceptional dining, experience palatial luxury in the heart of Victoria.
Brownâs Hotel and The Balmoral present a Grand Royal Experience with Simon Rhodes, Her Majesty The Queenâs cousin
Rocco Forte Hotelsâ British properties have partnered with Simon Rhodes, second cousin to HM The Queen to launch the ultimate Royal Experience. Over the course of six days, Brownâs Hotel in the heart of Mayfair and The Balmoral, Edinburghâs iconic landmark hotel, will offer guests exclusive access to the principal occupied palaces and private estates in England and Scotland. Due to the exclusivity of the accesses provided and the availability of the notable hosts, this experience will only take place between May 31st and June Thursday 7th. Places are available for up to six guests and it can be booked by individuals or as a private group experience. Prices start from ÂŁ40,000 per person and includes:
Five night stay at Brownâs Hotel in a Classic Suite including daily breakfast (Friday 31st May â Tuesday 5th June)
Two night stay at The Balmoral hotel in a Castle View Suite including daily breakfast (Tuesday 5th June â Thursday 7th June)
Visit to St Jamesâ Palace, Buckingham Palace, Sandringham Estate, Windsor Castle, The Palace of Holyrood and Glamis Castle
Dinner at Brownâs Hotel, Lunch at Berry Bros & Rudd, Lunch at York Cottage Dining Room, Lunch at Chartwell House, Dinner at The Balmoral hotel, Dinner at Archersâ Hall
All transportation is included between hotels and residences visited as part of the tour, including trains between hotels and private helicopter to Sandringham Estate from London.
A Royal Kensington Treat
To celebrate not one, but two weddings of the Queen's grandchildren this year, The Milestone Hotel and Residences, just opposite Kensington Palace, is offering a money-can't-buy "Royal Kensington Wedding Package." Both Prince Harry, who will wed American actress Meghan Markle in May, and Princess Eugenie, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York (Prince Andrew and "Fergie"), who is marrying wine merchant, Jack Brooksbank, reside at Kensington Palace, so it is only fitting that Kensington's best hotel should celebrate their unions by creating its own "Royal Wedding" package for its guests. Valid until November 30, 2018, the Royal Kensington Wedding Package includes:
Champagne cocktails on arrival
Two nights' accommodations in a Grand Master Suite
Full English breakfast each day (breakfast in suite, if preferred)
Private two-hour tour of Kensington Palace with a certified Blue Badge guide
Bentley limousine transfer for Kensington/Knightsbridge shopping trip
Royal Afternoon Tea on one day
Souvenir wedding gift from Kensington Palace
Photographic consultation and session with local Kensington photographer Lucy Elliott with palace backdrop
Pre-wedding beauty and relaxation treatments with resident beauty therapist Fiona Keane
5 really unique Motherâs Day presents for the Boss mom!
One: Now this isâŠ.unusual but hey, maybe your mom might be into it. Hasbro's Joy for All Companion Pets responds to petting, hugging and motion, somewhat like real cats. So if mom would like a âpetâ without all the hassle, this may be perfect for her.Â
The cats are soft and cuddly and inspired by real feline breeds, features VibraPurr technology for purrs that sound and feel like real purring and have movements that mimic a real cat. Companion Pet and Care Guide and four 1.5V C Alkaline Batteries included.
Two: Tushy is a modern bidet that quickly attaches to your toilet using water from the hot and cold water pipes in the bathroom. The company says having a Tushy will save mom big bucks on buying loads of toilet paper every year and may transform her âhealth, hygiene, and life.âÂ
Three: Is your mom big on bicycling? Does she love to travel? Then check out these incredibly sophisticated biking expeditions. Purchase one for her. Itâs a trip sheâll remember forever.
Cairo to Cape Town Cycling: TDA Global Cyclingâs epic bike expedition takes riders from the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt, to Cape Town and South Africa. Â
Karma Cambodia: Grasshopper Adventures' tour from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh includes friendly faces, delicious food, rich culture, and great riding.
Red Rock Riding: Sojourn Bicycling & Active Vacationsâ new Northern Arizona tour leads riders through the beautiful Prescott National Forest, Skull Valley, Mormon Lake, and the iconic Red Rock Scenic Byway. (photo by Brett Sayles)
Canada on Two Wheels: Â Enjoy country roads and bike paths through farmlands and small villages from Canadaâs capital city to the heart of French-speaking Quebec. Â
Cycling Down Under: Ride through Australiaâs coastal wine country, southern Outback and Great Ocean Road, then past New Zealandâs sheep-filled hills, hot springs and glaciers.
Four: The Picture Care Phone lets your mom know who sheâs calling with this corded picture speakerphone. Ten large memory picture buttons let her quickly dial anyone (including you). Other features include one-touch speed dialing memory, a red 911 emergency key, a Redial / Pause key and a flash key for call waiting. Desktop and wall mountable.Â
Five: Wallsauce sells really artistically stunning nursery wallpaper designs for the modern mom. From cute animal illustrations to regal patterns, Wallsauce.com has a vast range of designs suitable for âpalacesâ of all sizes. All of its childrenâs wallpapers are made to measure and available on a choice of high-quality materials including peel-and-stick wallpaper. Designs are supplied in panels so that installation is clean and simple. To find your wallpaper fit for a royal baby, head to Wallsauce.comâs collection of children's wallpaper.
Now more than ever, travel apps (and some online sites) are available to help us get our s**t together when traveling.
Thereâs no more reason to whine about expensive flights, costly hotel rooms and suites or even customs lines at international airports because wherever you want to go next, thereâs an app to make your trip easy, affordable and time-saving. See below, six of our faves to do just that. (Photo above by Bruce Mars).
Planning Your Trip
Hipmunk
Hipmunk from Concur is fast and easy with a comprehensive travel search platform that allows you to navigate between commercial flights, trains, and charter flights to hotels and vacation rentals through Airbnb. Their website, mobile app, and AI-powered bots can save you time and money by comparing top travel sites to show flights or hotels at the cheapest price.
Trip
We like Trip because it allows you to plan your daily travel itinerary right from their app. Figure out where youâre going and then decide where to sleep, eat and explore for every destination. Organize your daily activities with the app. Trip by Skyscanner Tribes saves you time and money by sorting recommendations based on reviews, personality and searching the web for the best hotel deals, whether youâre on the road for business or away for the weekend for fun. You can also post instant reviews and make postcards for friends and family with the pix from your camera roll!
Where to Stay
Hotel Tonight
HotelTonight offers a well-chosen list of hotels you really want to stay in and theyâre at reasonable prices because the bookings are literally last minute. HotelTonight offers well-crafted photos and a choice of property types from luxury to modest boutique hotels. The app is cleanly designed and easy to use, and you can find lists of amenities for each hotel, allowing you to match your personal faves with the property offerings.
Suiteness
We couldnât find a mobile app on the iOS platform for Suiteness but it looks as if you can book everything directly from their website. Suiteness specializes in suites only, that can accommodate 4 or more guests; you can book select suites as well as connecting rooms. A personal concierge comes with every booking and they can help with anything: hard-to-get restaurant and club reservations, unique experiences â you name it. Suiteness is growing - hoping to add more cities soon - but right now you can book suites at hotels from Atlanta to Hawaii and from Houston to London.
Managing Your Flights
TripCase
The TripCase trip manager allows you to bundle your bookings, including hotels, car rentals and attractions, with your flights. Go to TripCase to assess total travel time, type of plane, indoor airport maps and airline phone numbers. You can save receipts and even order a car service like Uber directly within the app!
Getting Thru Customs Quick
Mobile Passport
Most of you have heard of Global Entry, right? The $100 in convenience you pay to get through TSA Security quickly as well as airport Customs lines. Well, what if we told you there was something potentially better than Global Entry and itâs free?
Thatâs what the creators of Mobile Passport are promising. While itâs currently available at only 24 airports and 1 cruise port, with Mobile Passport, you fill out your flight information on your phone as soon as you land, answer the usual customs questions, and if you have nothing to declare, you're issued an electronic receipt good for three hours.
Once off the plane, you have a dedicated line, usually the same line that diplomats and airline staff use. A customs agent may ask to see your passport, but the entire process is a lot faster than other options. It's free and authorized by U.S. Customs. As with all the apps above (except where noted), look for Mobile Passport in the iOS or Android app stores.
New company, Hayden Cudworth is about to disrupt and tip the engagement ring business on its head. Itâs a hassle-free, cost-free shopping service where the entire ring choosing process happens at home; pushy salesperson not included.
Hayden Cudworth allows clients to select and try on five engagement rings and/or wedding bands from their home.
Replicas of the chosen rings are delivered to the home letting couples make the selection by themselves or consult family and friends to find the perfect ring outside the high-pressure environment of a jewelry store.
Once the final ring is chosen, itâs custom-made in the ideal size and choice of metal finish: yellow gold, rose gold, white gold and platinum. Pricing is also very competitive as Hayden Cudworth is direct to consumer, with no middleman involved, which keeps costs low. Average cost of an engagement ring? $7,000. Cudworth, $4,500.Â
Instead of a traditional engagement ring purchase experience which can seem male-driven, Hayden Cudworth says they offer a modern, joint shopping experience. Find out more, https://haydencudworth.com/how-it-works/
If you love chocolate, if you love champagne, if you love boating, then this summer do something a little different. Can we give you a suggestion?Â
How about floating down a river in Champagne, France on a "Champagne and Chocolate" themed luxury barge?
The Barge Lady, an American based broker for French barge cruises, is organizing a "Champagne and Chocolate" theme cruise aboard the 6-passenger hotel barge Johanna. Chocolate dishes, desserts, and bon-bons will be served daily, along with French-inspired gourmet meals using seasonal produce, locally sourced meats, and market-fresh cheeses. Spirits and wines will be poured at lunches and dinners, with hand-selected Champagne pairings.Â
In addition to eating and drinking, youâll disembark at small ports in Champagne every day and can look forward to escorted excursions led by the bargeâs tour guide, tastings at champagne houses, and exploring the village of Hautvillers where Dom Perignon first invented that fizzy brew we all love so much. Walking and bicycling are available every day if you ever want to burn off some of that sugar and alcohol.Â
The English-speaking crew of three make sure that guests are well looked after, and that their champagne flutes stay full. Rates for the 6 night, 7-day cruise on the Johanna begin at $22,500 for a full-boat, private charter of six, and includes chauffeured transfers to and from Paris; all meals including two dinners ashore; open bar including Champagne, wines, and spirits; all special Champagne and Chocolate excursions, and use of the onboard amenities. Â The Johanna cruises in Champagne from July to October in 2018 and 2019. For more information, visit www.bargelady.com, or call 800.880.0071
The romance of Paris on a rainy day... What could be better than a view of the Eiffel Tower, a cozy corner, delicious food and great wine... Book a trip to Paris this summer. Why not? Start here.Â
Get it: Four Seasons private residences in Anguilla
Got a spare $725k-$10mil? Then weâve got a place for you! Four Seasons is offering private residences ranging from one-bedroom Deluxe Studios to five-bedroom Beachfront Villas for sale in Anguilla.Â
On sale for $â72â5,00â0 to over $1â0 million, theyâre not cheap but they certainly are luxurious. Designed by renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler, the residences feel sophisticated and modern with a little bit of cozy comfort thrown in. Â
Services are indulgent and divine including private chefs for in-room dining and catering, theyâll also stock the fridge and pantry with your familyâs must-haves, from a sweet arrival treat to breakfast necessities to the islandâs freshest fish. Donât want to arrange anything yourself? Then call the 24-hour concierge whenever you like.Â
Amenities include three pools: the infinity Sunset Pool, the Aleta Pool with its signature cabanas and the beachfront Bamboo pool. Eat somewhere new every day with five dining destinations including Coba and Sunset Lounge. After youâve filled up, hit the sports pavilion, Sea Center, with its tennis workouts on three courts, rock climbing, putting on the golf green, kite surfing or bocce. Off-resort, take a bike ride or kitesurf, snorkel, sail or boat.
Canât wait to find out more? Visit Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla at anguillaprivateresidences.com.Â
Made with real flowers and moss, Analogue Watch Companyâs new Botanist Collection unisex watches, âhelp customers stay connected to nature all year long,â says founder and lead designer Lorenzo Buffa.Â
Buffa says Botanist marries fashion, art, and nature to create a one-of-a-kind timepiece. More details - including how to buy one for yourself - are in their Kickstarter campaign.
If you want some of the best luxury travel experiences money can buy, then Steve Sims is your guy.Â
Sims is the founder of Bluefish, a luxury concierge company that delivers personalized travel, transportation, and entertainment services to corporate executives, celebrities, and professional athletes. Sims, who has been invited to speak at Harvard, the Pentagon, and has been featured in major media all around the world (from The Sunday Times and China Post to The Wall Street Journal) has just released a new book, BLUEFISHING: The Art of Making Things Happen.Â
Sims has been able to make his clientsâ wildest dreams come true, from a wedding at the Vatican to being serenaded by Andrea Bocelli, to powerful business introductions to moguls like Elon Musk. In his book, Sims opens up his personal playbook and shares his fool-proof tips, techniques, and strategies to help readers break down any obstacle and turn their dreams into reality (North Star Way; October 17; Hardcover; $24.99). Whether itâs climbing Mount Everest, launching a new business, or applying for a dream job, Sims insists you can make incredible things happen for yourself by applying his insightful strategies. We snagged an interview with Sims below and you can learn more at stevedsims.com.Â
Q: Steve, you had a long list of odd jobs before you started your concierge service Bluefish. How did you go from making insurance calls to founding one of the most unique luxury companies in the world?
SS: My mentality never changed. I always believed you focus on the positives and not the negatives. Whenever I had to do a report sheet how many ânoâsâ or rejections I got, I would always leave it blank and just celebrate the victories. So therefore my success always outweighed my losses.
I was always the Irish kid that asked âwhy?â and I donât think that ever changed, even now. Someone says, âOh, we can do this!â and Iâll ask back, âGreat, but can we do that?â If I then get the answer âOh, I donât think so,â I still immediately ask âWhy?â So Iâm still interested in asking that question.
Q: Can you give us some examples of the âimpossibleâ things youâve made happen with your work?
SS: A few are: In a closed academia museum in Florence, I set-up a table of six at the feet of Michelangeloâs David where no food or drink were even allowed in the museum. I kicked everyone out and set up a table, and had Andrea Bocelli come in and serenade.
Iâve also sent people down to see the ruin of the Titanic. I have put people on the back of a Moto GP demo bike for a 200-mile an hour motorcycle ride, and Iâve sent people up to the edge of space out of a Russian military station, and have had people do unarmed combat training with Navy Seals. Thatâs to name a few things there.
Q: Why did you think BLUEFISHING should finally be a book out in the world?
SS: I am tired of how people think they can get along without communicating. It is still the only thing we have no âoutâ for. People donât care about relationships. They have 20 business cards for people and they have no relationship with any of them. So Iâm all about the relationship, and all about standing out: Branding, marketing, being your own person, keeping your own word. I believe itâs time to use the technology we have to reinforce the old-school values we should keep.
Q: Where and in what ways do you think new entrepreneurs are misallocating their time and money these days?
SS: Following the crowd. If everyoneâs doing emailing theyâre doing campaigns, then theyâre doing email campaigns, if everyoneâs doing Twitter campaigns, theyâre doing Twitter campaigns. If everyoneâs got a pretty advert, theyâre doing pretty adverts. Itâs always the newbie that gets the most attention. If everyoneâs doing pretty adverts, do an ugly one. If everyoneâs doing great videos, do a hand-held one with your handycam. Go the opposite way every single time. Youâll aggravate, youâll fail, but when you get it right, you only have to get it right once.
Q: You always say âuglyâ works. Can you explain that a little more? Whatâs so great about ugly?
SS: Yeah, keep it rough around the edges! Weâve seen too much Photoshop now. People donât believe what they see. They literally donât believe it. They see a pretty girl walking on a beach in some photograph in a magazine, knowing full well theyâve made her slimmer and taller (even though she was probably hot to start with). So keep it raw and impossible to misunderstand. Thatâs where the ugliness comes in.
Q: Whatâs one of your favorite secrets from the Bluefish playbook you included in your new book here?
SS: There are quite a few! Iâve become quote proud of this little baby. I would have to say: 1.) Using SMS texting, video texting is brilliant; 2.) I also really believe in asking âWhyâ three times, and 3.) I am a fond believer in clearing out the vampires.
Q: And finally: Whatâs the most âimpossibleâ achievement you ever made possible? (Even if for your own life?)
SS: I donât do anything impossible. They say itâs only impossible until somebody does it. As soon as you label something âimpossibleâ you put yourself behind an eight ball. Donât even do that to yourself! You want to do something? Brilliant! Letâs do it.
Donât put it up on a pedestal and make it harder than it originally was.
